Commentaries

Joint focus; better for national defense
June 21, 2011 — Six months into a realignment which brought Air Mobility Command's joint bases and Base Re-Alignment and Closure-affected bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, I'm happy to say we're seeing the positive effects of joint basing and working through the growing pains together by building a culture of joint training and... MORE

Joint Airmen are still Airmen
June 21, 2011 — Airmen at Air Mobility Command's three Joint Bases and at the two AMC bases where missions are evolving as a result of previous Base Realignment and Closure decisions are immersed in joint training and operations every day. This is a key part of ensuring America's military remains the most efficient and most feared capability in the world. But... MORE

Career Assistance Tip: Good supervisor?
June 15, 2011 — Have you ever had a terrible supervisor? Or, have you ever had a really good supervisor? I bet you remember them. In today's high pace Air Force, how many of you can juggle the mission work load along with the supervisory workload? Being a good supervisor or a bad supervisor can be summed up in one short statement: "Do you take care of your... MORE

Followership
June 15, 2011 — "Followership" is a key to success for our military. We all must be good followers, no matter our rank. We all must follow at some point in our career. No one starts at the top ... we must work our way up through the ranks. Followership is defined as the ability or willingness to follow a leader. Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241 talks about followership... MORE

Using the ‘one team, no seam’ concept for upcoming ORI
June 15, 2011 — As members of Joint Base Charleston, under the moniker of the 121st Air Expeditionary Wing, ramp up for the Operational Readiness Inspection, it's important we stay focused and keep our bearing relative to what we have accomplished in preparation for the ORI and what is yet to come. An ORI is hugely demanding, but the reward is validation that we... MORE

Col. Steven Chapman, 315th Airlift Wing commander

Have a plan
June 8, 2011 — Are you getting ready to separate or retire? Are you ready to transfer back into the civilian world? Remember, one day we will all have to leave the military, and unless you have a great financial portfolio, you will probably have to find another job. So, before you make this decision ensure you have a plan in place to help you better cope with the... MORE

Wingman redefined: a guide for teamwork
June 8, 2011 — "Wingman." It's a word that elicits a range of reactions. Upon hearing it, some will straighten their spines with pride. Others will roll their eyes with disdain. It has become both a powerful concept and an overused term. When I ask Airmen what the word wingman means to them, the most common answer is "motherhood." Somewhere along the way, in our... MORE

Have you attended PME recently?
June 1, 2011 — I just graduated from the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy and had some time to think about what Professional Military Education means to me. Are you one of the thousands who have just completed a level of PME and thought, "Nice information, but it will never work in my shop?" Well I have to admit, that used to be me. I have completed all... MORE

Keep an eye to the sky
June 1, 2011 — It's official. Another hurricane season is here. During the last few years, Charleston has been spared the wrath of Mother Nature as storm after storm has pounded into Florida, North Carolina and the Gulf of Mexico. We watch the news, plot the storm's movement on our little storm plotters and pray the storms remain at sea. For those of you new to... MORE

Remembering why we are here: An Airman's Perspective
June 1, 2011 — Every year we take time to remember the sacrifices our military members have made to protect our freedoms and our interests at home and abroad. Sometimes we never fully understand the reason behind why our young men and women are sent into harm's way, or why they sometimes have to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedoms remain intact. To... MORE