ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The Airman's Creed is the last thing members of the 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations Executive Driving Service see before they push the doors open and leave for their mission. It is posted prominently at eye-level and serves as a proud reminder of their purpose. It is the standard that they strive to meet and exceed 24/7.
The Airman's Creed states: "I am an American Airman. I am a Warrior. I have answered my Nation's call." American Airmen, warriors, answered their nation's call, indeed.
The Airmen who make up the EDS team have been handpicked by leadership and are among what Chief Master Sgt. Timothy W. Tate, 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron superintendent, refers to as "the shiny pennies." Their work calls for professionalism, precision, perfection and polish 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The EDS members are among the few who have been called upon to, not only serve the country, but serve the nation's top military leaders in a role that only Andrews provides and has for over a decade.
The EDS team serves not just as guardians of freedom and justice, but they also serve as protectors for their clients, called principals. The principals, who are usually three-star and four-star generals, rely on the EDS team to get them from Point A to Point B quickly, safely and reliably. As part of the preparation for this prestigious position, EDS drivers, called operators, undergo intense three-day Air Force OSI training that instructs them on evasive driving techniques, like those seen in movies. They learn how to drive at speeds of 110-plus miles per hour and to take turns at 75 miles per hour. They defend not only their country; they defend the principals' lives, as well.
Though it sounds cliché, their task is a true 'no fail' mission, one that fellow EDS Airmen depend upon each other in order to see the mission through. By constantly communicating with each other to determine schedules and destinations, relying on experience, making on-the-spot leadership decisions and trusting their intuition, the EDS team works together like a six-ship formation to insure the mission's successful completion.
EDS Airmen make it their duty to go the extra mile for their customers. For the principals, the Airmen are much more than chauffeurs who drive them around town; they are family. As the only driving service in the entire Air Force, EDS offers a service that is coveted - and even more appreciated - by those who use it.
"I find their service simply invaluable," said Lt. Gen. Terry L. Gabreski, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "I know that I can rely on them to get me where I need to go safely and on time, every time."
On time, every time is something that the EDS team takes pride in. It has been said by those in LRS ops that the operators can get their principals from the Pentagon to the Capitol in five minutes, despite heavy traffic.
"Our EDS team is required to know D.C. They know every nook and cranny; they know schedules and when and where traffic is light and where to avoid if traffic is heavy. It is not unusual that if the Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force says he needs to go up to Dover AFB, Del., we take him up there, and if traffic is a problem, we know back roads and country roads too," explained Tech. Sgt. Rudi Funn, 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations Executive Driving Service NCO. "It's what we do, and we take pride every single day in our mission."
It is this extra pride in details that the EDS team takes to the next level. They have an iron, ironing board, starch and mirrors on the walls in the ready room to ensure the operators are always looking professional.
Tech. Sgt. Rudi Funn, 316th LRS EDS NCOIC, carries a pocket-size copy of the creed out of his pocket and gives each member of his team a laminated copy.
"We all walk around with the Creed in our pocket," Sergeant Funn explained. "The Creed is the Creed. It's our principles. It's our foundation. It will help them become a better Airman - and ultimately a better person. If you live by the Creed and you strive for its standards, you will be successful."
Success is the standard for the LRS' EDS team.
"A minute of our principal's time has a greater value than anything monetary. They can't afford to be late. They can't afford to miss a meeting. It is our goal to take that pressure off of our principals so they don't have to worry about getting from 'Point A to Point B'; they have greater things to think about than traffic," Sergeant Funn explained.
With these standards, there is no room for error.
"This is a no fail mission, there's no other way to explain it," Chief Tate explained. "We are charged with protecting our nation's senior AF leaders, making this a high stress job. These superior performers have honed their ability to observe, orient, decide and act. This gives them the necessary edge to secure their principal. In the end, we need a strong finish. Our folks don't walk to the finish line; they run."
Serving as more than vehicle operators to their fellow LRS members, the EDS team often serves as role models.
"It's not uncommon to hear the younger guys say they want to be in EDS," Sergeant Funn said. "What do I need to do to get to that point?' Why? Because they see the finished product, the service we provide, but they don't see all the things that go on behind the scenes and all the work that goes on to get to that point. Want to join the EDS team? You've got to be a leader. You've got to be able to make decisions on your own. You've got to be a self-starter. That's who we're looking for to join our team."
"We're looking for shiny pennies for our EDS team - you know the kind, the kind that stands out among the pack," Chief Tate said. "They're sharp. They're professional. They are leaders. Simply put, they are an Airman's Airman."