Commentaries

Commentary: Well done, this is your trophy
December 8, 2016 — If you haven’t heard the news, our wing was honored in October with the Raincross Trophy for being selected as the Best Wing in Fourth Air Force. This is a big deal. It means that of the 16 Wings and one group within 4th AF, we’re the best... MORE

From Left, Maj. Gen. John Flournoy Jr, 4th Air Force commander; Chief Master Sgt. Mark Barber, 315th Airlift Wing command chief; Col. Cherie Roff, 315th Mission Support Group commander; Lt. Col. John Robinson, 315th Operations Group vice commander (seated); Col. Gregory Gilmour, 315th AW commander; Tech Sgt. Tim Kelly, 315th AW Safety; and Col. Sharon Johnson, incoming 315th Maintenance Group commander, pose with the Raincross Trophy Oct. 20 after the 315th AW received the award at the Raincross Trophy Dinner in Riverside, California. (Courtesy photo)

The Importance of Good Character
December 1, 2016 — Someone once said that people of genius are admired, people of wealth are envied, people of power are feared, but only people of “character” are trusted. Without character…you cannot be trusted, and if you be cannot be trusted…you cannot lead. The word character comes from the Greek, meaning "to make a mark." Your character is your mark on the world. Character can be defined as the sum of one’s characteristics. Whereas, strength of character, is to have strong characteristics that are of value to others and to one’s self. Said another way, the ethical values we all strive to represent are characteristics, while strength of character is the extent to which you execute your values... MORE

Command Chief Master Sergeant, 315th Airlift Wing

It’s your health - be involved
November 30, 2016 — There are many healthcare options these days—patient-centered care, medical home, access to care, population health, etc. and the fact is, we will all need healthcare at some point. However, what is our level of accountability? The nation is moving into a system focused on health and not healthcare, but is that the only significant change for... MORE

Happy Holidays for all…including you
November 30, 2016 — The holidays are supposed to be one of the most joyous times of the year and studies show this is the case. The majority of Americans do feel positive emotions like happiness, love and high spirits during the season. However, some people experience negative feelings, like anxiety, grief and stress. Many people, trying to create the “perfect”... MORE

Spending more on gifts won’t bring more holiday happiness
November 21, 2016 — Commentary: The holidays are approaching once again, and so the season of gift giving is upon us. Its arrival is marked by barrages of nonsensical advertising and holiday specials on everything from sweatshirts to new cars to payday loans... MORE

Commentary: The holidays are approaching once again, and so the season of gift giving is upon us. Its arrival is marked by barrages of nonsensical advertising and holiday specials on everything from sweatshirts to new cars to payday loans.

American Shipbuilding and the Charleston Navy Yard: A Link to the Past
November 15, 2016 — In the 1720’s a large merchant ship sank at Browns Ferry on the Black River in Georgetown County approximately an hour northeast of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. At the time of the sinking, Benjamin Franklin was a young man in his 20’s and George Washington was not yet born. The Browns Ferry carried 25 tons of bricks made on a local... MORE

In 1976, approximately eight thousand people line the banks of the Black River in Georgetown, South Carolina to watch as the early 18th century colonial merchant ship at Brown's Ferry is raised.

Everyone wants your money – recognizing and combating cyber crime
October 28, 2016 — Winning the lottery or owning our own prosperous business is a dream most of us share. Every day through e-mails, text messages, websites and social media, people are promised opportunities to make a lot of money and become financially independent. Many times, these are false promises. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. One of the... MORE

Pikachu and why you need to be aware of using mobile apps
October 28, 2016 — There are over 2,000,000 apps available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store. One very popular app, Pokemon GO has opened its users up to criminals. The Better Business Bureau warns of scammers leveraging the app by sending phishing emails to deceive victims into thinking they need to pay for the game. Another app released this... MORE

Navy Corrections - A History
October 19, 2016 — Over the last century, the U.S. Navy corrections system has evolved to mirror corrections practice and philosophy used by civilian institutions around the nation. By replacing the “Articles for the Government of the Navy (Rocks and Shoals)” with the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1951, progressive improvements in the treatment of naval... MORE

Mindset Matters Most
October 18, 2016 — “Words matter, actions matter more and mindset matters most,” defines my command philosophy for the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA). As leaders the words we choose are crucial to communicating the right message. Furthermore, we must model and practice what we preach because our actions will certainly communicate an even... MORE