Commentaries

Happy 50th Birthday to the BSCs
January 21, 2015 — When you think of someone who works in the Medical Group, you may think that we are all doctors, nurses or dentists. But, if that's what you thought, then you'd be missing out on the most diverse group of scientific and health related specialists in the Air Force. We are the Biomedical Sciences Corps, the "BSCs," and during the last week of... MORE

Setting Priorities: What’s Important and Why?
January 20, 2015 — Setting priorities is imperative in both our personal lives and our work lives. Setting priorities not only enables us to employ time management principles, but properly distribute other resource allocations, such as funding, manpower and other less tangible effects in order to achieve our goals. I see examples literally every day that require... MORE

No More Knee Jerk Responses
January 13, 2015 — Have you ever given an inappropriate hand gesture to someone who just cut your vehicle off in traffic? Well, "Road-rage" or aggressive driving, is considered a ticketable offense. To prevent knee jerk responses, we must have the ability to self-manage and control our emotions and to be self-aware. By doing this, we are using emotional... MORE

Be a Mentor
January 13, 2015 — Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." For those of you who are, or have been a mentor, you understand the meaning of these words. I can still remember my first day, late in December 1982, at my first duty assignment in the 342nd Missile Security Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. I had... MORE

A New Year, New Resolutions
January 13, 2015 — After arriving at Joint Base Charleston this summer, I outlined three priorities for the 437th: "Mission! Airmen! Fun!" As we often use New Year's resolutions as an opportunity to reflect on where we are and where we would like to go, I hope these priorities also offer you a guide for creating this year's resolutions.What resolutions will you... MORE

Col. John Lamontagne, 437th AW commander

Don't blow your top!
January 7, 2015 — How many times have you spoken something in a moment of anger or emotion only to regret it later? I know I have! As military professionals we owe it to ourselves, and those we supervise and lead, to take a deep breath and cool down before we attempt to correct or mentor them. I make it a habit to take 24 to 48 hours between the infraction and the... MORE

Stay committed in 2015
January 7, 2015 — Say goodbye to 2014 and welcome to a new beginning. Well, at least for a little while.I bet you have a New Year's resolution and I bet it has been the same ... year after year after year.If your resolution, like many people, is to lose weight, more than likely your resolution will result in two or three trips to the gym. Then February will come and... MORE

It's yours ... own it ... period.
January 7, 2015 — It's yours ... own it...period.No insightful examination of life and its lesson would be complete without this simple lesson. It applies to anything and everything. The real trick is to understand how to apply it."It's yours" is simply a statement that one should take ownership. Asking an individual to take ownership of their own actions is quite... MORE

From the Air Mobility commander
December 17, 2014 — AMC Airmen,The holidays present us with an opportunity to reflect on the past year, recognize the accomplishments of our incredible team, and refocus for even greater prospects in the new year. To all of our Total Force mobility Airmen and families, thank you. Thank you for your dedication to delivering our country's rapid global mobility,... MORE

Trust
December 17, 2014 — In mid-November, we held a series of 628th Air Base Wing CC Calls and talked about our wing priorities and special interest items. We followed that up in December with visits to the squadrons and staff directorates to talk further about how we can ensure supervisors at the lowest levels are translating the priorities into action. Through the CC... MORE