Commentary Search

  • Symbolism

    This week we celebrate Flag Day, June 14. Originally developed to celebrate the birth of our nation's flag, it has grown into a national day of recognition that dates back to President Truman's official signing of the Act of Congress in 1949 that designated  June14 as National Flag Day. Most

  • A place for everything; everything in its place

    Just like some of you, my family and I are right in the middle of yet another move, our ninth in our Air Force career.There are boxes everywhere in our house. Life simply doesn't slow down enough to make it as smooth of a transition as we would like it to be.Each time, after the dust settles from a

  • What are you paying attention to?

    Recently, General Paul Selva, Air Mobility Command commander, sent each one of us an e-mail titled "Responding to Tragedy." In that e-mail, the boss talked about aerial and ground accidents resulting in human and materiel tragedies associated with complex to routine tasks. He also wrote about making

  • People: Our primary weapons system

    A famed military analyst, Carl Builder, once wrote that the U.S. Air Force could be said to worship at the altar of technology. We rely on technologically advanced weapons systems to provide global vigilance, reach and power for America and her allies.Indeed, these tools help guarantee full-spectrum

  • PTSD a four letter word we shouldn’t be afraid to use

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a four letter "word" that we should not be afraid to say in public. For many people, their knowledge of PTSD is limited to media or movie portrayals like the "The Hurt Locker."It is important that as a community we go beyond these accounts and become

  • Be a Wingman: Understand the signs and symptoms

    The intrinsic responsibilities bestowed upon us as Wingmen, supervisors and members of the military, revolve around a creed of looking out for one another. Why is it that we tend to ignore those who are spiraling downward?Often times, we as military members get fixated on our job and tasks-at-hand,

  • That narrow way

    How do you define a leader? Is a leader the individual who creates an atmosphere of teamwork and camaraderie in the workplace? Someone who quickly and easily gathers support to accomplish that short-notice tasker from your boss? Is a leader someone you place your trust in to get you through the

  • IG the avenue to resolving your issues

    "I don't know if I'm in the right place" or "my friend told me to come here" are the most common phrases I hear when someone walks into my office with a complaint. In most cases, they have exhausted their chain of command and feel they have nowhere else to turn for help. At other times, they are in

  • Of symbolism and 'zero tolerance'

    This week we celebrate Flag Day, June 14. Originally developed to celebrate the birth of our nation's flag, it has grown into a national day of recognition that dates back to President Truman's official signing of the Act of Congress in 1949 that designated 14 June as National Flag Day. Most

  • Hats off to dad

    Ever since I was a kid, every time there was a TV close-up of a pro-athlete scoring a touchdown or hitting a homerun, he almost always looked into the camera, smiled, waved and yelled, "Hi mom!" While I certainly understood his desire to let his mom know he was thinking about her, I always wondered