Commentaries

Integrity - doing the right thing even when ... everyone's watching?
March 20, 2013 — Integrity First: The Air Force's first core value is defined as doing the right thing even when no one is looking, but, is that really when our moral compass is tested ... in the safety of solitude, when there is no pressure to conform and no opportunity to be judged? Sometimes. Other times, our integrity is tested for all to see. I was walking... MORE

Inappropriate Conduct at Work
March 19, 2013 — Do you occasionally make jokes or engage in discussions about sex while at work? Do you utilize racial or religious slurs in the duty section? Do you feel since no one complains about these behaviors nothing is wrong? Do you feel these behaviors are acceptable because you work in a predominantly male or female duty section? If you answered yes to... MORE

Diamond Tip: Maintaining fitness standards
March 19, 2013 — As a first sergeant and former Unit Fitness Program Monitor, I have seen a fair share of our service members who failed a fitness assessment test and then told me they didn't know what score was required to pass, what their responsibilities were or simply saying, "I didn't know." While these may just be excuses for failing a FA test, I thought I... MORE

Protecting our most valued resource in austere times
March 13, 2013 — As the initial shock of sequestration settles in and begins to take effect, uncertainty and frustration will most assuredly abound. How will we get the mission done? Where will we get the money to maintain equipment or facilities? Who will sustain this program or initiative? Many of the things we have done for years or become accustomed to over... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Earl Hannon, 628th Air Base Wing command chief

Luxembourg American Military Cemetery
March 13, 2013 — Supplying our commitments in Southeast Asia, Joint Base Charleston aircrews often find themselves stopping at U.S. Air Forces of Europe Air Bases. Keeping our C-17 Globemaster III assets on the move usually means aircrew have just enough time to grab a fresh hot dog at the Shoppette before entering crew rest for the mission's next leg. While... MORE

(Left) Airman 1st Class Meghan Servais, 17th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, (center) Airman 1st class James Moss, 17th AS loadmaster and 1st Lt. Daniel Klepper, 17th AS pilot, perform a Retreat Ceremony and fold a U.S. American Flag during a trip to the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg. More than five thousand American service members, who were killed in action during World War II, including Gen. George Patton, are buried here. (Courtesy photo)

Let us try
March 13, 2013 — As an engineer, I'm faced with lots of problems and expected to develop solutions. I ask my team to look at different ways to attack an issue and most times, they come up with innovative solutions. Nowhere is this more present than in deployed locations. I just returned from a deployment and was honored with the responsibility to command the 577th... MORE

Lt. Col. Aaron Altwies, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

Hey, there's some dirt on your lip!
March 13, 2013 — Yes, I too hear this howl from my compadres in the Operations Support Squadron ... but it is Moustache March! I've heard Airmen opine that it is a practice attached to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball's "March Madness." They would be wrong. Many Airmen throughout the world observe Moustache March and have for decades for one... MORE

Master Sgt. Brett Hopkins, 437th Operations Support Squadron First Sergeant

Leadership during uncertain times
March 6, 2013 — It seems like every week the headlines on the front of Air Force, Navy orArmy Times, or the major news outlets brings more bad news about the coming budget cuts, force reductions or other issues that will impact our units.Just last week, the most recent budget debate known as sequestration culminated with yet to be determined impacts to us all in... MORE

Diamond Tip
March 6, 2013 — In the next couple of weeks, we'll see two of the best first sergeants I've ever had the privilege to serve with retire. They epitomize what all shirts stand for and they will always bleed Air Force blue. So, for this Diamond Tip, I would like to convey the history and code of all first sergeants in honor of the retirements of Chief Master Sgt... MORE

An Airman's narrative
February 27, 2013 — As the youngest military branch in the Department of Defense, the Air Force has moved very rapidly from a fledging flying force born from the Army, to a premier independent Air Force that can bring force or hope to bear in any corner of the globe. Our rapid development since 1947 has also meant that we accept change readily in order to remain... MORE