Commentaries

Are we preparing next generation of Air Force leaders?
April 8, 2010 — In an article for this forum about a year ago I wrote, "The ultimate goal of all leaders should be to grow their replacements. We should be training our followers to be at least as good a leader, preferably a better leader, than we are now." I learned this from my first squadron commander, who was an outstanding leader and mentor. He was always... MORE

Are we preparing the next generation of Air Force leaders?
April 7, 2010 — In an article for this forum about a year ago I wrote, "The ultimate goal of all leaders should be to grow their replacements. We should be training our followers to be at least as good a leader, preferably a better leader, than we are now." I learned this from my first squadron commander, who was an outstanding leader and mentor. He was always... MORE

Are you a warrior Airman?
March 26, 2010 — A warrior you say? You may be thinking, "I am not a Soldier or a Marine." You are right, we are Airmen, and we are all warriors. Just because we don't all shoot guns at bad guys or drop bombs on targets does not mean we aren't warriors. Webster's Dictionary defines a warrior as, "a person engaged or experienced in warfare." In our military, today... MORE

Drug use ends Airman's career
March 26, 2010 — Last week, a serious message was sent to all Airmen at Andrews that illegal drug use in the Air Force is simply not tolerated and will be punished. On March 2, Senior Airman Jacob Marshall, a 316th Security Forces Squadron member, was convicted in a court martial of two counts of drug use.Airman Marshall was identified by the Andrews Air Force Base... MORE

The cost of a DUI
March 19, 2010 — One night, I attended a party at a friend's house. After having what I thought was a couple of drinks, I decided to drive home. More than half way home, I sped up to make a yellow light and the police pulled me over. I thought that I was fine getting through the sobriety test, and I was until the very last part. They told me to say a part of the... MORE

Tobacco and your oral health
March 19, 2010 — It is well known that tobacco is highly addictive and can cause serious diseases such as cancer, lung conditions (including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, chronic bronchitis and asthma), high blood pressure, and heart disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoke is the leading preventable cause of death in the United... MORE

Naval Air Facility Washington's history at Andrews
March 12, 2010 — Navy and Air Force servicemembers have served together at Andrews for more than 50 years. While we serve every day together on this base and jointly cooperate for operational successes, I know that many Airmen and Sailors are not familiar with the background of the Navy's presence alongside our Air Force partners at this installation. To be sure,... MORE

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

Even in a war zone, life can bloom
January 15, 2010 — It was my first deployment as a military rabbi to Afghanistan, outwardly to celebrate Hanukkah with other Jewish personnel. Yet, despite the joyous holiday celebration, my most vivid memories center on other experiences at Bagram Air Base. I'd like to share some of these memories with you.Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles -- I had never seen... MORE

Ways to keep a resolution
January 8, 2010 — According to some recent news articles, 40 to 45 percent of Americans make at least one New Year's resolution. And, apparently, most of us make it to Valentine's Day before giving up. Fortunately for Joint Base Andrews, we have year-round services at our disposal to make most of our resolutions a reality. Let's take a look at what USA.gov listed as... MORE

Turning the Corner
December 18, 2009 — We celebrate another holiday season - already - and reflect on the end of a year and a decade. It has been a time of war and adversity, but it has brought out the best, strongest and bravest side of our military community. Moreover, Andrews looks back on a remarkable year - after determined pursuit of increased pride, teamwork and fitness, it is... MORE

Tips for holiday spending
December 11, 2009 — As we approach the holidays, the air is filled with the sights and sounds of festivities, which help put us in the mood to make others happy. And, as we all know, it is not uncommon to do so by bestowing gifts on our loved ones. Gift giving is a great gesture, and as a leader, I encourage you take care of the ones close and dear to you. However,... MORE

The Crucible of Thanksgiving
December 4, 2009 — We have seen a year of change in our nation, at Joint Base Andrews, and surely in our personal lives - and we should take this time to reflect. In doing so, we count our many blessings, old and new, because they give us perspective that can elude us amidst life's pains and losses. Do we take time to also reflect on these challenges and are we,... MORE

Customer service is not a department
December 4, 2009 — This past week we celebrated Veterans Day. While Memorial Day honors the memory of our fallen soldiers, on Veterans Day we honor the service of all of our military veterans. The freedom we take for granted has been paid for by the sacrifices made by our veterans. Sacrifice describes selfless good deeds accomplished for the benefit of others. These... MORE

Service success tips
December 4, 2009 — I'm often asked the question of what it takes to be successful in our Air Force. Honestly, that's a very difficult question to answer as there are so many things that could be considered critical to individual-or even team-success. Sure, performing our assigned duties and accomplishing the Air Force mission is priority one and we should all focus... MORE

The Pursuit of Excellence
November 6, 2009 — In today's fast paced society it is often said that the average person's expectation is to have information, goods, services and all the little important things in life when they want them, and normally that is now. Of course, one must sometimes question whether it is reasonable to assume or maintain that expectation. Do we think of the things that... MORE

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