Scobee inducted into the AFRC Order of the Sword

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Matlock
  • Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command

Lieutenant General Richard W. Scobee, Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, was inducted into the AFRC Order of the Sword at Washington, D.C., July 12, 2022.

The Order of the Sword is the highest honor and tribute noncommissioned officers can bestow upon an individual.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Reserve Timothy A. White led the ceremony as Chief Master Sergeant of the Mess.

"I can speak from the heart about this man all day," said White. “There wasn’t one day that I came into work, that I did not know that this man to my right [Scobee] didn’t have my back. I am completely honored and privileged to have been his wingman for the past three and half years. I can tell you, that all the things we went through, I couldn’t imagine having a better leader in the seat, to lead this command.”

The ceremony included a presentation of the Order of the Sword proclamation, a ceremonial scroll signed by the attendees attesting to Scobee’s service and leadership, and the bestowal of a personal sword.

During the ceremony, Scobee expressed his gratitude to the Airmen for inducting him into the order.

“You have no idea what an honor it is to be up here with you all. I cannot put into words, how much this means to me,” said Scobee. “As I look around at some of the incredible Airmen in this room, I just want to say thanks. There has been no greater privilege than to serve with each and every one of you. From Janis and I both, thank you for all that you do.”

He also noted that the Command’s success was a testament to the Reserve Citizen Airmen’s eagerness to serve. 



“The one thing you can take away from the team here is collaboration,” said Scobee. “It wasn’t about anyone singularly shining. It was about our command. We looked at readiness and we got after that, we looked at resiliency and that was a tough one too, but the one thing we especially looked into was reforming the organization. How do we make this place better and make this is a place everyone wants to show up.”

Scobee said everyone has the option to leave. “There is nothing binding you to the organization except your need to serve, and that is because service is in us all,” he said. “That is what makes us an unstoppable force”

The AFRC Order of the Sword is patterned after two orders of chivalry founded during the Middle Ages in Europe. During the ceremony, noncommissioned officers honor their leaders and pledge loyalty by presenting them with a ceremonial sword. The sword symbolizes truth, justice and righteous power, and it serves as a visual token, proclaiming the individual is a “leader among leaders.”

To find out more about the order of the sword, click here.