Courage is having the strength – moral and physical – to do what's right, even in the face of adversity. It's about stepping up when things get hard. It's about speaking up when you see things that are unfair or wrong. Courage keeps us honest. It allows us to admit when we're wrong, and to try to be better. When we are courageous, we learn from our mistakes, we stand up for what's right, and we're proud of who we are.

Commitment means doing your best. It's about looking for ways to get the job done, and sticking with something even when it feels impossible. Commitment is about living and breathing our values at all times. We're committed to serving New Zealand. We respect our country and our people, we honour each other, and we work together in difficult situations. We don't give up.

Comradeship means respecting what makes people different. It's about treating others as you’d like to be treated. We are a family. We work together as a team, recognising we are stronger together. Comradeship is about being inclusive. As a Defence Force we say no to racism, sexism, heteronormativity, homophobia, xenophobia, and all other forms of hurtful behaviour. We go one step further and do what we can to prevent, stop, and report actions we don't stand by.

Integrity means conducting yourself honestly, ethically and to the highest professional standards – even when no one is watching. It's about doing what you say you're going to do, and accepting responsibility when you fail to. People who own up to their actions and accept the consequences - good or bad. They learn from their failures and help others to avoid the same pitfalls. When you have integrity, people trust you to act on your values and do the right thing.