Commentaries

From the 18th Air Force commander
December 16, 2014 — Mobility Airmen,This was a challenging year for our command, and mission success would not have been possible without your dedication and hard work. In the face of budget uncertainty and force management decisions, you continue to effectively accomplish the mission on a global scale in an environment with insatiable demand for the capability you... MORE

Carlton Everhart II, Lieutenant General, USAF, Commander

Courage, purity and justice
December 16, 2014 — There's a famously hilarious scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) where Sir Bedevere is trying to teach the peasants how to determine, scientifically, if someone is a witch. Witches, of course, must be burned, so therefore they must be made out of wood ... and we all know that wood floats. So he eventually asks the peasants, "What else... MORE

Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The modified Staff of Aesculapius symbolizes the warrior ethos application of the medical profession to the aerospace mission of the Air Force. The lightning bolt represents the strength and power of Airmen and victory.

Happy birthday Eagles
December 8, 2014 — This Thursday, Dec. 11, marks the 15th Airlift Squadron's 74th year of getting the job done. From our founding in Duncan, Texas, where pilots were flying two engine prop planes, to today, travelling the globe in the mighty C-17 Globemaster III, the 15th AS Airmen have proudly answered our nation's call. Here is a brief history of the 15th and the... MORE

Holiday blues
December 3, 2014 — Holidays can be a very stressful time of the year for a lot of people due to the added pressure of traveling to visit relatives and all the extra money we seem to spend to make this year better than the last. Be aware of how worn out physically and mentally you are getting and take some time for yourself. There are plenty of ways you can combat... MORE

Mentorship and development
November 18, 2014 — We constantly use these words and say we are growing our Airmen, but what are we really doing in the mentorship and development process?Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." I think understanding and applying this thought to the principles of mentorship at all levels will help us... MORE

We have the most amazing men and women serving in the military
November 14, 2014 — Joint Base Charleston Airmen and Sailors participated in last weekend's Veterans Day Parade in downtown Charleston. We had a formation of approximately 80 Airmen and Sailors of all ranks, from E-2 to 0-6. As we made our way out of the staging area and onto the official parade route the formation came to a stop for about 30 seconds. Standing on the... MORE

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

Everything happens for a reason
November 12, 2014 — Sometimes life can be frustrating because people and events enter our lives that seem to conflict with our life plan and our best interests. However, we always need to remind ourselves that everything that happens in our life happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or as a result of "luck." Whether it be love, illness or sheer stupidity,... MORE

Pride and ownership: attention to detail!
October 31, 2014 — "Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure."-Gary Ryan BlairDrawdowns, force shaping, lack of personnel ... do more with less. It's been a common mantra since I joined the... MORE

Recognizing Airmen is always a best practice
October 23, 2014 — A few years back, I had the pleasure of a company grade officer group mentoring session with Chief Master Sgt. Gary Colman, USAFE command chief master sergeant. At the time, my unit was prepping for a higher headquarters inspection and I asked him to share his thoughts on why some units garnered best practices while others were marginal. His reply... MORE

Who is your Wingman?
October 20, 2014 — Who is your Wingman?Have you really given this question much thought? Recently, during preparation for my own feedback session using the new Airman Comprehensive Assessment form, I did. Many of us have determined that our spouse, best friend or even a favorite co-worker is our one-and-only Wingman. But, is this one person really in the best... MORE