Commentary Search

  • A testimony to the wit of today's Airmen

    Initiative, ingenuity and creativity: these are traits leaders search for everyday to take their organization to the highest level of performance. These traits are not easy to cultivate. Some have said the military is, by nature, a compliance and discipline-oriented organization. From the beginning,

  • Investing in health pays dividends

    Most Airmen may have heard of the Thrift Savings Plan. Well, there is another investment Air Force members might consider taking advantage of - an investment in our health. If this investment is not started as a young adult, it can be started later. However, just as with saving money for the future,

  • Take a breather with the 'Five Ps'

    A quick glance at the wing's calendar shows that within the past year, we have had more than our share of challenges and inspections, excelling at most. With so much behind us, we may finally have an opportunity to catch our breath and reflect before meeting our next challenge. As a fighter pilot, I

  • Put your career on 'manual focus'

    It is amazing how often incidents and occurrences seem to parallel in your life. A year ago I purchased a new digital camera for my wife. While we were discussing its amazing features, she said that since she wasn't comfortable with all of the latest technology, she would probably leave the camera

  • Philosophy, feedback go hand-in-hand

    Feedback and philosophy are strange bedfellows to be sure, but since honest feedback, both given and received, can be a significant emotional event, a little philosophy can help all of us make the most of the experience. One of my favorite philosophers, Karl Jung, wrote about the importance of a

  • Force protection inconveniences keep Incirlik safer

    "Hey, lets go down to the Alley." "Not tonight, they changed the curfew again. We have to be on base at 10 p.m." "What! They are messin' with my social life! There is no reason for these changes!!" You may have heard similar conversations in recent weeks. Every American on Incirlik is probably very

  • Change, transformation are constant

    The one constant in the Air Force is change. Politicians today use the term as a buzzword to appeal to potential voters; we live it everyday (in our culture). The latest change will be the soon-to-occur merger of the 39th Services Squadron and 39th Mission Support Squadron. Together, they will

  • Every crash brings two collisions

    Contrary to popular opinion, people do not die in automobile crashes. Instead, they die from a separate event caused by the automobile crash called "the human collision." The human collision is a secondary crash that usually takes place inside the car when the occupant hits the dashboard,

  • Mishaps begin long before they occur

    We've all heard the phrases: "Avoiding mishaps is just using common sense," "Can you believe what the big dummy tried", "Accidents happen, nothing is 100 percent safe," and "Darwin's Theory - mishaps are just weeding out the weak ones." Personally, I'd call these misconceptions. As a mishap

  • The Enlisted Perspective; Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

    The 21st Century Air Force is truly expeditionary, so it is imperative we are all prepared to meet mission challenges. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is often the first step to accomplishing this goal. A healthy lifestyle not only boosts energy levels, endurance, and reduces stress in every day