Commentaries

Restoring the respectability of the NCO corps
August 28, 2012 — Noncommissioned officers, I need your help. I need your help in restoring the NCO corps to the level of respect and prominence it held in the Roman Army when the Centurion was respected not for his rank, but for his demonstrated leadership. Respect for the NCO corps appears, to me, to be at an all-time low, while respect for the SNCO seems to be... MORE

Children: The True Unsung Heroes
August 28, 2012 — I recently attended a course to improve my public presentation skills. In one of the exercises they asked us to give a presentation on a subject we felt passionate about with a call to action. With all the heroes I personally know, there was no doubt in my mind what I would talk about. It was only a two-minute speech, but after I told this class of... MORE

Diamond Tip – Back to School
August 22, 2012 — When I woke up my seven-year-old for his first day of school recently, he rolled away and grumbled, "I don't want to go to school." I rubbed his back and tried to encourage him. "It'll be fun! You'll get to see all your friends and its good exercise for your brain." I felt like such a hypocrite because I have been putting off school myself. I... MORE

Dee's story
August 21, 2012 — I met her at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, S.C. in 2008. I thought to myself she is the most beautiful person. She was filled only with good intentions, a pure heart and her tiny stature contained so much personality that she could walk into a room and light it up simply with her presence. She was the person to emulate. She was always a happy,... MORE

Staff Sgt. Katie Gieratz, 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs photographer, displays photos of her friend Daigerry Leon, Aug. 17, 2012, at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, S.C. Leon was killed by a drunk driver in September, 2011. There are numerous programs available to Airmen to get them home safely, such as Airmen Against Drunk Driving, which can be contacted at 963-AADD (2233) on the weekends. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chacarra Walker)

Back to the Basics
August 21, 2012 — Toward the end of the third grade, my family moved to a small town in Utah. Given the small number of kids my age, it was easy to meet most of them within a very short period after arriving. But it was also somewhat of a problem as there were only a few kids my age to meet. I was having a hard time finding good friends. Once summer arrived and... MORE

A letter to the 18th Air Force Airmen
August 15, 2012 — To the Airmen of our great global mobility enterprise: thank you!Last week I had the honor of becoming your 18th Air Force Commander. I can honestly say there are few experiences more rewarding and humbling than command, and even more so when it is command of our Air Force's largest Numbered Air Force. Although my recent assignments were outside of... MORE

Diamond Tip: Be wary of DMAA
August 15, 2012 — If you happen to be taking one of the popular energy and weight loss supplements that contain DMAA, you may have realized these products can't be found on base anymore. That's because there have been reports of products containing DMAA, also known as dimethylamylamine, causing heart attacks. The Department of Defense has pulled the potentially... MORE

"Is your job fun?"
August 14, 2012 — "Is your job fun?," my son asked me one evening. It was an innocuous question that left me speechless, unable to answer succinctly. Fun? ... Generally rewarding, fulfilling and worthwhile, but simultaneously fatiguing, frustrating, and at times, all-consuming. Don't misunderstand me; I love my job and know it's my calling. However, it dawned on me... MORE

The power of “AND”
August 7, 2012 — A-N-D - three tiny letters making one small word that makes a huge difference.I have been thinking a lot since I arrived at Joint Base Charleston about how the Navy and the Air Force are now operating under one umbrella to streamline business and generally make things more efficient. As a result, I started thinking about the Naval Health Clinic... MORE

Captain Richard Joralmon, Naval Health Clinic Charleston executive officer. (Courtesy photo)

Welcome home…
August 7, 2012 — Every child has a dream of what they want to do when they grow up. For some, it is sports, for others, it's to become a doctor, nurse, dancer, actor, lawyer or even to work in a skilled trade. My dream was to be an officer and specifically a pilot in the United States Air Force. My family was not immune to the sacrifice a military family makes, but... MORE