A Final Salute: Reflections On 25 Years Of Service
by U.S. Air Force Todd Berenger
377th Air Base Wing
September 1, 2026

Twenty-five years ago, I raised my right hand and entered the United States Air Force just days before September 11 changed our nation forever. On August 3, 2026, I prepare to render my final salute and retire after twenty-five years in uniform.

As I look back on my career, I don't think first about awards, promotions, or even the missions; I think about the people. The Air Force took me farther than I ever imagined ... from the missile fields of North Dakota to the X-37B recovery team, an assignment in Moscow, Russia supporting the Atlas V launch program, and ultimately the Air Force Safety Center.

Those assignments changed where I went, but the people I served beside changed who I became. If I could leave the next generation of Airmen with only a few lessons, this is my advice...

Take ownership of your own development.

One of the greatest strengths of the Air Force is that your leaders genuinely want you to succeed ... even if one day you outrank them. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn. Use your education benefits, seek mentors, volunteer for difficult assignments, and never stop investing in yourself. Every investment you make in your own growth eventually strengthens the people around you.

Leadership is always on display.

People notice far more than what you say. They notice whether you are prepared, whether you uphold the standards you expect from others, and how you treat people when no one is watching. Long before you wear additional stripes or assume a new title, someone has already decided whether they would follow you.
Invest in people.

One lesson changed my career more than almost anything else, train your replacement.

Early in my career, I was told I couldn't leave an assignment because no one could replace me. From that day forward, I made it my mission to ensure there was always someone ready to step into my role. It opened doors for me, but more importantly, it opened doors for them. Knowledge only becomes a legacy when you pass it on.

Don't be afraid to struggle.

Every Airman experiences setbacks. Every career has seasons where simply staying afloat feels like an accomplishment. During those moments, don't confuse today's challenges with tomorrow's potential. Progress is rarely perfect, but moving forward, one step at a time, is still progress.

Before I leave, there is one final thought I hope you'll remember. You are a product of your environment. Every day, you help create that environment for someone else. Make it one you would want to be a part of. The people around you will shape who you become, just as you will shape those who come after you. Build a workplace where people are encouraged to learn, trusted to lead, and challenged to grow.

When we create environments where people genuinely care about one another, the mission has a way of taking care of itself. As I stood at the flagpole for my final salute today, I realized something. It wasn't the uniform that made these twenty-five years meaningful.

It was the privilege of serving beside extraordinary Americans who chose service before self every single day. If I had the opportunity to do it all again, I would raise my right hand without hesitation. To every Airman just beginning your journey, take care of one another, stay curious, never stop improving, and leave every organization better than you found it ... One day, you'll stand where I stood today, rendering your own final salute. When that day comes, I hope you look back not only with pride in what you accomplished, but with gratitude for the people who helped you become who you are.

Aim High!

By SMSgt Matthew Livesay
Air Force Safety Center

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