Commentaries

Diamond Tip: Teamwork
October 16, 2013 — Please bear with me as the tone is set for this article. I coach a little league football team in the local Summerville area. We were having a good season, cruising along winning football games. One fateful Saturday we found ourselves behind on the scoreboard for the first time, the coaches saw no issue as we know what our guys are capable of. What... MORE

The Government Shutdown’s Silver Lining
October 16, 2013 — As I write this commentary, we are in the tenth day of the partial government shutdown due to the lapse in appropriation. Hopefully, by the time this paper has hit the stands and you are reading this, a budget or continuing resolution has been passed, and the government has reopened. It certainly has been a tough road for all employees, whether... MORE

Delicious ambiguity
October 8, 2013 — "The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry..." Robert Burns"Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity" -- Gilda RadnerLike most of you, I have an established routine in the morning as I get ready for work, to include what route I... MORE

Diamond Tip: Deployments, are you prepared?
October 8, 2013 — As I prepare for my upcoming deployment I ponder what an Airman deploying for the first time might think. Since this is not my first deployment I have a good idea of what to expect and how to prepare. However, I think back to SrA Kasch and how nervous I was before departing on that first adventure. I would like to cover a few key topics that should... MORE

CFC, Government Shutdown: a challenging combination
October 2, 2013 — It's almost impossible to be generous without steady income.Over three months ago, planning and coordination started for this year's Combined Federal Campaign at Joint Base Charleston. Each year, the CFC is the campaign for federal workers to benefit local and national charities.Joint Base Charleston resides in the Coastal Carolina CFC region,... MORE

Is it worth it?
October 2, 2013 — I received an e-mail the other day showing the Office of Special Investigations' highlights of the most recent contracting-related criminals within the Air Force arrested for bribery. I immediately said to myself ... "Wow, was it worth it?" The list was rather small ... only four people; however they were all enlisted personnel. One was a staff... MORE

Diamond Tip: No regrets
September 25, 2013 — Throughout my career I have held many things dear to my heart; the sound of the national anthem, the gentle waving of the stars and stripes and being the best Airman I can be. These are just a few of the things I reflect on when I go home. In the evening, as I transition from master sergeant, Airman and defender of our nation to father, husband and... MORE

Everything I wanted to know about leadership I learned watching a hockey game
September 25, 2013 — As a kid, I remember a cold February night back in 1980. The Winter Olympics were on television and the big event for the night was the United States versus the Soviet Union in ice hockey. The U.S. team was all amateur college students who had only started training together seven months prior to that cold February night. The Soviets, on the other... MORE

Be an ambassador
September 24, 2013 — Recently, Joint Base Charleston celebrated 20 years of flying, fixing and supporting C-17s. During the two-day celebration, senior leaders entrusted Team Charleston to overcome obstacles and serve as welcoming hosts. To accomplish this mission, everyone (regardless of rank, position or service) was asked to put their best foot forward and help in... MORE

Diamond Tip: Healthy relationships
September 18, 2013 — Human beings are, at one level or another, very much social creatures by nature. We need to interact with one another. Lack of communication is the root cause of many of our conflicts. Communication involves listening and giving feedback on the message received. As technology advances, it becomes easier to stay in touch via social networks, but... MORE