Commentaries

2015 Winter/Holiday Message
December 2, 2015 — The winter holidays provide an opportunity to relax and celebrate with ourfamilies and friends. It's also an opportunity to re-establish a properwork-life balance by enjoying the seasonal festivities and activities.We work diligently all year to reduce mishaps, and we should not ignorethose effo1is during the much-deserved break. Sadly, last year... MORE

Remember heroes of Pearl Harbor
December 1, 2015 — With Pearl Harbor Day approaching quickly, I want to remember the 2,403 Americans that paid the ultimate sacrifice that day. This day is particularly important to me because my grandfather was in Pearl Harbor during the attack and survived. One of my best memories is taking him on a dependent cruise. I still remember the enjoyment on his face... MORE

Motivating Airmen
November 25, 2015 — What motivates you? Just as important, what motivates your Airmen? I think we can all agree that today's Airmen are the most educated and most talented to ever have worn the uniform. However, for us to remain effective and to continue to strengthen our world's greatest Air Force, we need to know what motivates each and every one of... MORE

Serving with gratitude
November 18, 2015 — This time of year leading to the holidays is one of my favorites! Just look at the opportunities to celebrate over the past two months. We celebrated birthdays for Joint Base Charleston, the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps marking different milestones for each while taking time to reflect on our heritage and past accomplishments. We continue to... MORE

They're coming!
November 13, 2015 — "Here come the men in black." Do you remember that song or the movie featuring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones? In the movie, MiB agents wore black suits and black sunglasses as part of their work attire. They also had that "flashy thingy" that erased memory. Well, the good news is those men in black suits are not coming. However, the ones with... MORE

Exercise Ultimate Reach up close
November 13, 2015 — I have been part of the Air Force for five years, and I've seen numerous C-17 Globemaster III's in the air or heard them while spending time with my family. However, I never really thought about where the plane was heading or what was inside.After experiencing exercise Ultimate Reach 16-1 and traveling half-way around the world to airdrop the... MORE

Pilots from the 437th Airlift Wing conduct their preflight checks aboard a C-17 Globemaster III at Zaragoza, Spain, Nov. 7, 2015, during exercise Ultimate Reach 16-1. The exercise is an annual U.S. Transportation Command sponsored, live-fly exercise designed to test the ability of 18th Air Force to plan and conduct strategic airdrop missions with the 82nd Airborne Division. Four C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 437th Airlift Squadron out of Joint Base Charleston, S.C., participated in a seven-ship formation to airdrop more than 500 U.S. Army and Spanish military jumpers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jared Trimarchi)

November--month of the military family
November 10, 2015 — Team Charleston,Each and every day, men and women from Joint Base Charleston are workingaround the clock and at locations all over the world to keep the missiongoing. Your selfless service ensures not only the defense of our nation,but the protection of our future. This call of duty to our nation does notcome without a high cost, though. At the... MORE

Have We Become an Air Force of Distractions?
November 4, 2015 — All of us had our own reason for joining the Air Force - maybe it was to escape a bad family situation, maybe it was for an education, maybe it was patriotism, perhaps a love of flying or travel, or maybe just an urge to be part of something greater than ourselves. Some of us may have even just stumbled into this business without any real... MORE

I Know Who, What, When and Where...but Why?
November 3, 2015 — Leading by example can be a heavy burden, but it is the burden we choose to carry when we don the uniform each day. As leaders, we should focus on showing others "how" to be an American Airman who embodies the Core Values. We should also explain "why" it matters to serve with the utmost integrity because the "who, what, when and where" will then... MORE

Do the right thing … Even if no one is watching
October 28, 2015 — "Integrity in all we do." It's something that is drilled into us when we join the military. -. But what does it mean to you and how do you incorporate it into all aspects of your life?When we act honestly and adhere to a moral code based on the idea of right versus wrong, we are exhibiting integrity. To put it simply, integrity is choosing right... MORE