Commentaries

The Company: Part III
May 27, 2015 — There is a picture in my office of a young man standing in front of a North American BT-9 aircraft. The BT-9 was the primary trainer aircraft for Army Air Corps pilots who served before and during World War II. When I look at the picture, two things cross my mind. First, I think about the young man in the picture. Secondly, I think about the... MORE

The Four Cs
May 19, 2015 — Our lives are made up of hundreds of thousands of interpersonal interactions in both the personal and professional arenas. When new members arrive to our group, I discuss four important "Cs": competency, compassion, courage and communication. These four C's are vital to the optimal performance of any unit and every interpersonal... MORE

Diamond Tips: Never Ever Would I Ever
May 13, 2015 — Have you ever found yourself in front of your commander for other than honorable reasons thinking, "How did I get here?!" How about running slowly around the track on the last leg of your PT test or not having enough stamina to push out that last push-up, suddenly realizing you will fail this component of the fitness assessment? Or, what about... MORE

315th AW welcomes new command chief
May 13, 2015 — Greetings 315th Airlift Wing! I am Chief Master Sgt. Mark Barber, your new command chief.Let me begin by saying that I am honored and extremely humbled by this opportunity. In addition to providing the commander with the enlisted perspective on a number of different issues, I am responsible for ensuring the wing's mission, vision, priorities and... MORE

What we do matters
May 8, 2015 — I grew up in Yorktown, Va., and once a year during high school; we would take a field trip to Washington, D.C. The trips usually included walks through The Mall (that's where all the monuments and memorials are), a trip or two to an art museum and then it was back home to reality. Going to D.C. was always a sobering experience, but never hit me... MORE

Senior Airman Samantha Varden shakes hands with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A, Cody during a recent visit to Washington D.C. Varden is the 437th Airlift Wing command chief's executive admin. (Courtesy photo)

Stop and Smell the Roses
May 8, 2015 — Okay ... I'm going to ask a stupid question. Are you leading a busy life? I would assume the overwhelming majority of you who are reading this article answered with a resounding "YES!" In today's world, this is no surprise. Let's face it; our personal lives can be busier than our work lives. This is especially true if you are married and/or raising... MORE

This is my Air Force
May 8, 2015 — This is my Air Force. This is my base. This is my wing. This is my duty section. This is my work area. This is my profession. These are my tools that I use to perfect my profession in my work area of my duty section in my wing on my base for my Air Force. I am responsible for more than just the tools of my trade and the perfection of my craft. I am... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Hughes, 437th Airlift Wing command chief

The formula for success
May 6, 2015 — As I am out and about talking with Airmen, one topic that consistently comes up is the new Enlisted Evaluation System. "What will the new EPR look like?" "How many people will get the highest promotion rating?" "Why did we need to change the system?" These are just some of the questions that I routinely hear. However, probably the biggest... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Bronson, 628th Air Base Wing command chief

One Team-No Seam!
May 6, 2015 — One Team-No Seam is a common term we use in the U.S. military to describe our total force capability and the relationship we have between the active and Reserve forces. While our forces are very different in many ways, in today's Air Force we have managed to cultivate a seamless environment between the two components.Joint Base Charleston is a... MORE

AMC Commander reflects on his first year
May 5, 2015 — To the men and women of Air Mobility Command, I can't thank you and your families enough for the hard work and sacrifices that you make each day. You are an unrivaled, Total Force team - active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen - and you make rapid global mobility a reality.In the year since I took command, I've truly been impressed by... MORE