Commentaries

Reveille
April 24, 2012 — The other morning I was heading out of the gym to begin my morning run when an Airman (he was wearing Air Force PT gear) said, "You might want to hold on a minute, Reveille is about to start."The same thing has happened at the end of the day. I distinctly remember one occasion where I went to walk out the front door around 4:30 p.m. and there were... MORE

Tricare Prime travel benefit
April 24, 2012 — While working in TRICARE offices, I was surprised to learn many people did not know the TRICARE Prime Travel Benefit can help cover the expenses of traveling to specialty medical care. To receive this benefit, a primary care manager must deem a TRICARE Prime patient needs medically necessary, non-emergency specialty care and refer them to seek that... MORE

Navy and Air Force team has long history of success
April 18, 2012 — 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of two pivotal actions of World War II - Doolittle's Raid and the Battle of Midway. As we continue to build joint relationships and communications between our local bases, I thought it would be germane to look back and pay tribute to past historical joint success; success that would ultimately usher in the 20th... MORE

Lt. Col. James Doolittle and Capt. Marc Mitscher pose with United States Army Air Force crewmembers aboard USS Hornet (CV-8), April 1942. (U.S. Navy photo)

"Never take counsel of your fears"
April 11, 2012 — In times of rapid change and uncertainty, it is human nature to get distracted and to perhaps even become fearful. With the dynamic changes occurring in the Department of Defense, some of you may be feeling somewhat rudderless in predicting what lies ahead for you as an individual and as a military professional.The often-used quote, "Never take... MORE

The ABCs of safety
April 10, 2012 — Safety is a combination of attitude, behavior and control, both on and off the job!· Attitude is your frame of mind when you approach a given situation.· Behavior is what you will do about the situation.· Control refers to making your surroundings safe.A safe attitude means staying alert and focused on the job at hand. There is no horseplay and you... MORE

Mentoring
April 10, 2012 — If you have attended a promotion ceremony, you have probably heard the message that the people being promoted are selected not because of their past performance, but because of their recognized potential for increased responsibility. When it is time to pin or tack on your new rank, you will recognize you didn't earn the promotion on your own. As I... MORE

Airmen are not disposable
April 4, 2012 — With the recent expiration of black boots, I want to share an example of how for years I took care of my boots and still continue to take care of our Airmen today. Now you may be asking yourself where I am going with this, but come with me for a couple of minutes and I will explain. When I received my first pair of boots in basic training, I... MORE

Diamond Tip: Use social media wisely
April 2, 2012 — Are you an online networking connoisseur? Do you Twitter your Facebook status to your friends on Myspace? Today's Airmen tend to use social networking websites to document their lives. Airmen use social media to communicate, and meet new people, share pictures with each other or express their feelings.But be careful with the power of technology... MORE

Weighing in on the final four
March 28, 2012 — University of Kentucky Wildcats versus Louisville Cardinals; two schools from the bluegrass state, their respective campuses less than 70 miles apart, will face each other on the grandest stage in NCAA Basketball, the Final Four, deep in the heart of Bayou country. The schools haven't faced each other in NCAA tournaments since the Midwest Regional... MORE

Do values hold their weight?
March 28, 2012 — Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. Steven R. CoveyVery early one Saturday morning I found myself being awakened by the sound of screeching metal, violent jolts and flickering lights; those few seconds which seemingly lasted an eternity... MORE