Commentaries

The Air Force owes me
August 9, 2011 — Many of us have experienced the excitement and anxiety that consumes our thoughts while waiting for the results of a promotion board. Many years ago, an Airman I knew was gutting out the days before the board results were released and mentioned that she had better be a school select as well as being promoted because, in her words, "the Air Force... MORE

Living a life grounded in core values
August 9, 2011 — Professionalism, pride and honor are all attributes we possess as military members. For members of the United States Air Force, our core values of integrity, service and excellence provide the foundation for our members that ground us and center our actions. Honor, courage, and commitment are the core values that guide the United States Navy. These... MORE

Change of Command is not just about standing in formation
August 8, 2011 — Every summer, the military undergoes a massive permanent change of station cycle where personnel are reassigned and relocated to new duty stations. Like many others, my family and I received orders, packed up our belongings and traveled across the country to South Carolina. A few days after arrival, I took command of the 628th Aerospace Medicine... MORE

Diamond Tip - New AFI, same responsibility
August 2, 2011 — I'm sure by now you're aware that the long awaited revision of Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, was released July 18. As a matter of fact, it was the subject of an article in this very newspaper a few weeks ago. The updated instruction consolidates a great deal of guidance which has been... MORE

Service in lieu of self
July 27, 2011 — In the waning days of World War II, in the backwater of the Pacific Ocean, the cruiser USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine. The enemy torpedo killed 300 of the crew outright, leaving many more wounded and struggling to stay alive in the chaos that ensued. The ship went down in only 12 minutes, leaving 900 survivors floating 350 miles... MORE

Diamond Tip
July 20, 2011 — What is the first thing you notice about a person when you meet them? It could be their looks, what they are wearing, or perhaps it's the way they carry themselves. Remember the old saying, "you can't get a second chance at a first impression"? I distinctively remember meeting my first supervisor as a newly assigned Airman. When I arrived at my... MORE

The Army is in Charleston
July 20, 2011 — Since taking Command of the 841st Transportation Battalion last month, I have to say that the reception by Joint Base Charleston personnel and the local community has been terrific. However, as I have made my way around town I have realized that many people still do not know the U. S. Army has an active presence in Charleston. Last week I was... MORE

Career Assistance Tip
July 13, 2011 — If you are a first term Airman within 15 months of your Date of Service and are looking to do something different, you might want to think about retraining for a different job. The Air Force provides these opportunities through the Retraining programs. As a first term Airman, once you are 15 months from your DOS you can apply to retrain into any... MORE

628 ABW commander excited to continue JB CHS excellence
July 13, 2011 — First, let me say thanks to the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston community for the warm reception that my wife Phylis and I have received this past week. It is clear that hospitality is an important tradition in the Lowcountry and JB CHS is no exception to that rule. For Phylis and I, yesterday's change of command left us feeling very... MORE

Career Tip - Leadership Pathways
July 6, 2011 — Are you an Airman, officer or civilian in a leadership position and feel that you could use more training? Maybe you recently had a major change in your life and are having struggles. Are you a dependent who's spouse is currently deployed or on a remote assignment? If so, Leadership Pathways is the program for you. Leadership Pathways is designed... MORE