Commentaries

Resiliency starts with a talk
January 30, 2013 — I was driving a beat-up Toyota 4Runner covered in dust, with an interior worn-out by hard use and a steering wheel that wobbled badly along the perimeter at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.Beyond the fence line, the terrain was arid and bare except for a few dwellings and basic agricultural fields. I was taking a National Geographic TV cameraman... MORE

Gearing up for the CUI
January 29, 2013 — Most of you are aware that the Joint Base Charleston team is preparing for an upcoming Consolidated Unit Inspection, or CUI. The road to success began months ago, and our preparation efforts will continue until we are visited by the evaluation team in December 2013.Why is there another inspection after all three wings successfully completed our... MORE

Col. James Fontanella, 315th Airlift Wing commander. (Courtesy photo)

Diamond Tip: Getting back to basics
January 23, 2013 — Have you ever watched a football game and heard the announcer say one team is more talented than the other, only to watch the alleged "weaker team" win the game? If you've seen a game like this, it's often because the losing team had issues with the basic fundamentals of the game. They could have turned the ball over, blocked incorrectly or missed... MORE

Pace line riding: A lesson in leadership, mentoring and teamwork
January 23, 2013 — I went bicycle riding last weekend and noticed a team of riders passing on the other side of the road in a pace line. This tight, wheel-to-wheel formation allows riders to slice through the wind while working together to cover the miles. What may appear perilous to the untrained eye is actually very efficient and effective. The ride begins with an... MORE

Influenza Season
January 16, 2013 — On Jan. 2, many of us reinvigorated the physical pillar of Comprehensive Airman Fitness. So, you shook off the post-holiday blues and resolved to stick to your resolutions past the second week of January. You started working out regularly, hitting physical training sessions with renewed spirit and even managed to skip the Buffalo Chicken dip at the... MORE

Physical fitness: Struggle between mind, body, pain
January 10, 2013 — Losing weight isn't easy. It took me almost five months to accomplish my goal of losing 40 pounds.I am physically average, but mentally I am tough. To lose the weight, I motivated myself after I experienced a humiliating personal setback. I was serving in a position which my old eating habits did not support. In June 2012, I was released as a... MORE

"Fit for Freedom" Fitness poster, high resolution file available upon request. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Adamarie Lewis-Paige, photo by Abner Guzman)

Diamond Tip: "Back in my day"
January 8, 2013 — I'm sure everyone has heard a friend or family member start a conversation by saying, "back in my day." I recently used this phrase myself and afterwards, I had to chuckle because I had become my father. I had referred to a period in time just 14 years ago. Am I justified to use that phrase after only 14 years?Determining whether a reference to the... MORE

SPAWAR celebrates 2012 accomplishments
January 8, 2013 — I'd like to bring to your attention some of the great things that have happened at Space and Naval Systems Center Atlantic recently. A celebration to commemorate the rapid acquisition, integration of electronics and delivery of more than 27,000 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles sent to Iraq and Afghanistan was held at SSC Atlantic's Vehicle... MORE

Welcome to 2013
January 8, 2013 — Hopefully everyone had a great holiday season and wonderful New Year. I am honored to serve with you and look forward to another great year here in the low country. For most people, a new year brings those wonderful things we always think about; the New Year's Resolutions. I find it fascinating how we take these goals and shove them to the... MORE

Appropriate material in the workplace
December 19, 2012 — I remember many years ago as a young Airman in the maintenance career field, I would come to work and during my break time I would read some of the "literature" left lying around the work area. I would read Maxim or Fitness and Health Magazines and nobody said a thing about it. I was oblivious that magazines like this could be harassing to some... MORE