Commentaries

The true meaning of Wingman, Shipmate
August 11, 2017 — Given that the Air Force and Navy birthdays occur in September and October, respectively, it is appropriate to think on what it means to be a true Wingman and Shipmate in today’s force. Today the United States military force is the most powerful force in history with a presence felt on the sea, on the land and in the air all around the world. Our... MORE

Honored to be in Charleston
August 3, 2017 — If asked many years ago what my dream job would be at this time in my career, being a commander at Joint Base Charleston would be on the top of the list. My operational career started here at Joint Base Charleston (then Charleston Air Force Base) back in January 1999. I met my wife during that assignment and we always hoped for a return... MORE

Mentoring to mold the New Navy
July 27, 2017 — Training Sailors is the primary mission of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Training Unit here but mentorship is also paramount. In the fleet we often hear the phrase, “train your relief.” Therefore, a primary goal of mine is to teach young Sailors the fundamentals of the Nuclear Navy as well as how to be an outstanding Sailor... MORE

Silent victims of domestic violence
July 12, 2017 — June was Men’s Health Month and a perfect time to highlight an important and sometimes overlooked issue. There is a general assumption that women are always the victims in an abusive relationship. Even in our progressive society, oftentimes we continue to marginalize, isolate and disbelieve the existence of domestic violence against men. The... MORE

628th ABW historian documents contingency operations
July 12, 2017 — According to Air Force Instruction 84-102, Historical Operations in Contingencies and War, “The primary mission of all Air Force unit historians is the production of periodic histories. In the context of this AFI, these histories cover “contingency” activity and form the foundation of all subsequent efforts to document the Air Force’s mission... MORE

Fix your own car
June 16, 2017 — Preparing your automobile for summertime road trips doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think. We all like saving money and driving a reliable car. Often these circumstances don’t coincide. Luckily, Joint Base Charleston has an answer for this dilemma. Located on the JB Charleston-Weapon Station, just off Redbank Road, is the Auto Skills Center... MORE

Joint Base Charleston is a special place
June 14, 2017 — Joint Base Charleston is a special place for a host of reasons. With the myriad of strategic logistics, airlift, nuclear power training, development, sustainment and support missions, every military operation in the world is touched by those who serve here. In that way, it truly is “The Launch Point for the Nation’s Resolve”. The missions here... MORE

Does a security deposit include a maid and butler?
June 13, 2017 — For many service men and women the inevitable permanent change of station move can be a frustrating and tedious crusade, filled with piles of moving boxes, random scraps of masking tape and the smell of bleach. Before leaving, you take a last look around your apartment. The feeling of relief drains any energy left to inquire about the hefty... MORE

What the flag means to me
June 8, 2017 — It is the beginning of June, the Memorial Day weekend has just passed, and I am driving onto one of the local barrier islands for lunch with my family. The town has taken care to place American flags on all of the downtown poles in observance of the upcoming summer holiday season and I have to admit seeing this always fills me with pride. When I... MORE

Teamwork more important than ever during uncertain times
June 8, 2017 — The week before Memorial Day I flew as part of a large formation exercise consisting of 21 C-17 Globemaster IIIs alongside our active-duty and Army partners. I was reminded in a poignant way – times are uncertain and we could get “the call” at any moment. Multiple hotspots exist in just about every corner of the globe and, over the past few... MORE