Commentaries

Confessions of a professional thief
March 31, 2014 — My name is Lt. Col. Pat Miller, and I am a thief. Now you may be thinking, how is this possible? Thievery goes against our core values and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In turn, I'll argue the opposite. Because of a commitment to "Excellence in All We Do," I better myself and others by stealing. The real question you need to ask is, what is... MORE

Let your conscience be your guide
March 31, 2014 — Let your conscience be your guide.That's pretty simple advice. We all remember the story of Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket and from our childhoods, and the horrible outcomes when Jiminy's advice was disregarded. The interesting thing is, following your conscience is great advice whether you're young or old, child or adult, wooden or real.I find that... MORE

Taking off the training wheels, experiencing the Warrior Ride
March 27, 2014 — It's early Friday morning, and bitter cold, the kind of unwelcoming cold seldom felt in the morning air in the usually warm LowCountry. A frigid breeze seeps into my mouth and chills my blood from the inside out. I would've stayed inside my car all day, avoiding this unpleasant air if only I could. I sat in my car with the heat turned up, listening... MORE

Ronald Mayfield, Warrior Ride cyclist, takes a moment to relax on his bike March 21, 2014, at the Hampton Park in North Charleston, S.C. In 1996, Mayfield received head injuries that caused severe weakness on his right side along with a speech impediment. After years of recovery, Mayfield’s speech has greatly improved and he is now one of the Warrior Ride’s strongest cyclists. The Warrior Ride is a non-profit organization that uses adaptive bicycling and other morale building events, such as kayaking and golf, as a tool for recreation and rehabilitation for our injured war heroes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Clayton Cupit)

Conditioning is key to inspection effectiveness
March 27, 2014 — The Unit Effectiveness Inspection has been over for a few months now. Thank goodness we survived but now what? Do we just wait until the fall of 2015 and start scrambling for the next UEI? No, we don't! It's like running a marathon. You don't practice the week or so before the big run. You condition your body for months to prepare for the big day;... MORE

Don't turn away
March 26, 2014 — Consensual sex.Sexual assault. They are not the same thing.Sexual assault is a brutal crime against another person's most prized possession: their self-esteem.All of us in, or associated with the military, know sexual assault is a problem. According to the Department of the Defense, there were 3,374 cases of sexual assault reported in 2012. Those... MORE

The shadow of a leader
March 24, 2014 — James Baldwin, an American author noted for his works on personal identity, states, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." No matter how great the message, the message can be drowned out by conflicting actions. As a leader, what message do you send? What shadow do you cast?The... MORE

Keep calm and carry on
March 24, 2014 — Historical perspective is a useful tool, particularly when facing "new" challenges. Often, the past helps put the present into context and serves as a guiding framework for success. I often reflect on the great many challenges we overcame in the past year, and I notice the attitude of our team is not unlike the attitudes of those who triumphed... MORE

Professional military image
March 7, 2014 — After a Tuesday morning First Sergeant Council meeting, I was approached by two first sergeants with several great questions and a few awesome points to ponder. However, one particular question stood out and made me think. The question was, "What does professional military image look like?" This particular question was in reference to the Fitness... MORE

What’s next?
March 4, 2014 — In the wake of the Air Force trying to shed approximately 25,000 personnel, there will be a lot of personnel left wondering ... what's next? As a leader, I feel it is my responsibility to do everything I can to arm personnel with the tools they will need to make a smooth transition to the civilian world, but the next step is up to them. I can try... MORE

Why Do I Serve?
March 4, 2014 — I have been asked many, many times throughout my career why I joined the military and/or why I reenlisted. Typically, I make light of the question by answering, "for the fortune and glory." My response usually gets a little chuckle which lasts just long enough for me to change the subject. So why would I want to change the subject? Maybe because I... MORE

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