Commentaries

Communication skills, more important than you think
July 21, 2015 — One of the biggest challenges we all face is trying to decide what we want to be. For the longest time I worried that I didn't have a "real" calling. I didn't want to be a doctor or a nurse or a lawyer. I was just an Airman. Doing what Airmen do: CDCs, OJT, getting qualified on vehicles and on test equipment, learning stuff on the computer... MORE

Teamwork: the common thread wherever life takes us
July 21, 2015 — When we take the oath to join the military, our future is wide open and we are eager to start the journey. Most of us quickly learn that teamwork is one of the most important elements of success. It's the same whether we sign on for active or Reserve duty, as enlisted, officer or Defense Department civilian. Teamwork has always been the key... MORE

Structure and discipline
July 14, 2015 — I recently briefed an Enlisted Force Structure lesson at the First Term Airman Center and asked the Airmen, "Was their first duty station what they expected?" Almost all of the Airmen answered no, it wasn't what they expected. They stated that it's too relaxed and it seemed like there was no discipline in comparison to what they learned in Basic... MORE

The end of an era is marked by the inactivation of the 17th Airlift Squadron
July 13, 2015 — As commander, I have the honor of leading our greatest people through the good times as well as the challenging times. And today, on the 17th of July, I reflect on one of our recent challenges when we inactivated the 17th Airlift Squadron on June 25th, 2015 at 11:17 am. To give you an idea of how much of an impact the 17th had on our operations,... MORE

Col. John Lamontagne, 437th AW commander

Leadership in a time of austerity
July 6, 2015 — The financial crisis of the late 2000's created a political environment that allowed for significant cuts to Federal Government spending. The Budget Control Act of 2011, commonly known as sequestration, spread more than $900 billion worth of cuts equally between domestic and defense spending over 10 years. The cuts were designed to be... MORE

Time to say goodbye
July 6, 2015 — Team Charleston,The change of command for the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston is once again upon us. Only a short time ago I stood before you and pledged my best; for all of you and the command which I was charged with leading. My time in this unique role is almost complete. In the coming week we will gather once again to pass the... MORE

“The Game” and what it taught me
June 24, 2015 — With the exception of family and close friends, most people don't know that I started swimming at age six and continued through most of my time in college.Being part of a large military family, swimming was something my parents could easily get us involved in wherever we moved. It was a way to involve us in an instant community and for us to... MORE

Reflections on teamwork…and a good read!
June 23, 2015 — "The challenges they had faced together had taught them humility--the need to subsume their individual egos for the sake of the boat as a whole--and humility was the common gateway through which they were able now to come together and begin to do what they had not been able to do before."- Daniel James Brown, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans... MORE

Col. Scott Sauter, 315th Airlift Wing vice commander

Leading millennials to success
June 17, 2015 — Are you getting as much workplace productivity out of the millennials as you should be? The majority of Airmen in the Air Force today fall into the age group that constitutes being a Millennial (born in the 80's or 90's). Millennials are identified as being well educated, skilled in technology, very self-confident, able to multi-task and very... MORE

Excellence in all we do; at home and at work
June 16, 2015 — While trying to decide which topic to discuss as a commander, I thought about subjects my squadron deals with including: suicide, substance abuse and DUIs. However, I realized I am very excited about being a new parent. The new responsibilities of parenthood challenge me to think about myself with regards to our Air Force core values. In... MORE