Commentaries

Ready for inspection!
November 25, 2013 — Inspectors are coming! Inspectors are coming! Are you ready for our next inspection? Have you completed all of your checklists? Are you fully compliant in every area? Can you pass the "white glove" test? Quick, paint the grass green and put on your best uniform. Stress out for the next few weeks preparing for our big compliance inspection. Pull... MORE

Situational leadership
November 25, 2013 — Perhaps now, more than ever, the need for situational leadership is paramount. Adversity has come in the form of a significantly reduced budget, civilian furloughs and government shutdown. We continually confront the enormous problems of preventing suicide and ending sexual assault in our Air Force. All of these challenges must be overcome while... MORE

What I believe, the next chapter
November 18, 2013 — Though it hardly seems possible, it has been 19 months since my family and I arrived at Joint Base Charleston and I penned "What I Believe, Part 1." During this short time, it has been a true honor for me to serve alongside the many outstanding warriors and civilians who live, work and play on JB Charleston. Accordingly, as I prepare to depart for... MORE

What about the elephant in the room?
November 18, 2013 — Have you ever worked in a section that was tense or maybe hostile and it was related to personality differences, work ethic, supervisory style, etc.? It was clear to you who or what the big elephant in the room was, but you dared to address it for fear of a conflict. As a result, the elephant remained in the work center and you continued to be... MORE

Know when to say when
November 18, 2013 — Know when to say when ... this is a phrase often associated with anti-DUI campaigns, but really applies to all facets of your life and Comprehensive Fitness. I'm not talking about "everything in moderation," but rather the willingness to be strong enough to seek help when you need it.Often times we overlook the small or nagging problems within our... MORE

The Next Generation of Connection
November 6, 2013 — Not too long ago there were two accountability systems called "Roll Call and Recall". For the Roll Call, you came to your work center, someone yelled out your name and you said, "Here or Present" or if it was a Recall, your phone rang and you said hello and acknowledged the individual on the phone. Until recently, "communicate" meant to talk... MORE

Being in a hurry gets you no where
October 30, 2013 — Have you ever sped to work because you felt like you were running late? Have you ever watched the cars around you that are in such a hurry? Have you complained multiple times about the cost of gas?When you are running late for work, or trying to get to your destination quickly, you tend to speed. Rushing around, swerving in and out of cars because... MORE

Reveille and Retreat
October 30, 2013 — Reveille and Retreat: Signifying the beginning and end of the duty day, as well as paying respect to the United States flag as it is ceremoniously raised or lowered. What is my role in upholding this custom?MILITARY:Reveille: Uniformed military members, to include the Physical Training, or PT, uniform, face the flag or the music and assume the... MORE

A Maxim on Leadership
October 30, 2013 — Oscar Wilde was known for saying, "Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." True, we can learn valuable lessons from our mistakes but consider the following remark from Benjamin Franklin: "Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other." In other words, there is no substitute for experience but we can also learn from... MORE

Rock Solid Integrity
October 30, 2013 — A military recruiter found a young man who met all of the requirements and was ready to enlist. Once the recruiter explained the importance of being truthful on the document, the applicant began filling out his paperwork. But when he came to the question "Do you own any foreign property or have any foreign financial interest?" he looked up at the... MORE