Commentaries

I am not alone
March 4, 2010 — Recently at work, I thought I was having a heart attack. My head was hurting and my left shoulder was aching. In addition, I had a horrible pain in the center of my chest. Since these are symptoms for women having a heart attack, my supervisor and co-workers came to my aid and took me straight to the emergency department. Not only was I given... MORE

George Washington as a military leader
February 25, 2010 — The example set by George Washington during his military career validates an argument Gen. Maxwell Taylor, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made in his article, "Military Leadership: What Is It? Can It Be Taught?" He provides four categories: professional competence, intellectual capacity, strength of character and inspirational... MORE

Mentorship grooms Airmen into leaders
February 20, 2010 — Recently, our squadron completed a unit climate assessment. While most aspects of the assessment were positive, I noted that a few of the younger Airmen in the squadron felt they had no clearly defined "mentor" available to them. The operations tempo in our squadron is extremely demanding and volatile, but the men and women of the mighty 99th... MORE

Chocoholics: Take heart this Valentine's Day
February 16, 2010 — Editor's note: Information found in this article is collaborated from HealthNewsDigest.com, WebMD.com and about.com. The Air Force in no way sponsors or supports the opinions, views and positions of these organizations. The content found herein is for informational purposes only. The military prioritizes good health - after all, we have modern... MORE

Who is your family?
February 5, 2010 — Who is your family? A common answer would be your parents, spouse, children and others who share a common ancestry. That answer is accurate, but I believe it is limiting. My preferred definition expands "family" to include those with whom I share a solemn bond and common purpose. By that definition, all of those who answer to the title of Airman... MORE

Are you prepared to weather the storm?
January 29, 2010 — We are now in February and by now you have either kept your New Year's resolution or you have already dropped it; let's hope you have kept your promise. It is difficult to stay focused on resolutions, such as saving money, enrolling in a higher education program, or starting a new fitness program. We always seem to encounter challenges and... MORE

A story of hope in Haiti
January 29, 2010 — In the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake, a hopeful story emerged from the ravaged country. The story involves two heroic sisters, government officials and politicians, medical crews and the U.S. military.The two American sisters, Jamie McMutrie and her younger sister, Allison, had been volunteering for years at one of Haiti's orphanages... MORE

Shadowing the base commander
January 26, 2010 — I work as a 316th Force Support Squadron lodging guest service representative, but on Jan. 13, I shadowed Col. Steven Shepro, 316th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander for a day.Our day started at 6:30 a.m. with CrossFit in the Tactical Fitness Center. Eventhough, I'm not a stranger to the many workout routines, every CrossFit workout is challenging... MORE

Visit an Air Force 'memorial'
January 26, 2010 — I recently attended the "Stars and Bars" gala, where 78 lieutenants and captains gathered with generals to learn from their experiences.The evening's main speaker, Maj. Gen. Darrell Jones, Air Force District of Washington commander, answered the often asked question, "What do I need to do to be successful?" The general's answer was to visit an Air... MORE

Leaving a Legacy
January 26, 2010 — To be effective leaders, we should set standards that will help us in making moral decisions and imparting the necessary tools for leaving a legacy to our future Airmen.Inherent in our military culture are core values. Let's look at them as if looking at the structure of a house: When building a house, you must have a solid foundation. The first... MORE