Commentaries

Good followership reveals the leader inside
April 6, 2010 — I know, here we go again with that "a good leader must be a good follower" stuff. This statement is true, so take some time and really listen because some things are worth being repeated.If you take time to understand the people at the bottom of the pool, you will know how your subordinates feel when you're the one on top of the pool. With this... MORE

Master Sgt. Stephen Wilkerson, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant

Commander’s comments
March 31, 2010 — Air Force senior leaders continue to emphasize physical fitness. However, the perspective is what's distinctive about this emphasis -- the individual lifelong benefits you, and the Air Force as a byproduct, realize from your fitness. It is a big piece of readiness; being fit means we are more productive in the daily mission. It was great to see so... MORE

Col. Brian Robinson, 437th Airlift Wing vice commander

The 'Elite 8' lessons from March Madness
March 30, 2010 — Would you believe I picked Butler to make the Final Four ... and the Mountaineers to win it all? While I'm at it, I'm picking the 628th Comptroller Squadron to beat the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in the intramural basketball finals! While some may say, "Paik (pronounced Pack) is talking smack," here are eight things we can all embrace... MORE

Lt. Col. Seung Paik, 628th Comptroller Squadron commander

Charleston first sergeants getting the run around
March 29, 2010 — Like everything, running takes commitment, and with the recent changes to the physical fitness test, you will have to dedicate more time and energy to ensure you are ready. With a few exceptions, most of us hate running. It's painful. It is hard work. You have to put seemingly "more important" things aside to get that hour on the track. However,... MORE

From left, Master Sgt. Steven Hart, 628th Communications Squadron first sergeant, Master Sgt. Kristina Mullins, 15th Airlift Squadron first sergeant and Master Sgt. Christopher Boyer, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant, join for the Riverfront Festival half-marathon Jan. 16, 2010, in Charleston, S.C. The senior NCOs are members of the first sergeants running team. The team recently participated in the Cooper River Bridge Run annual 10K running event, which begins in Mount Pleasant and ends in downtown Charleston. (Courtesy photo)

How do elephants dance in the sky?
March 26, 2010 — If you want to know how, just ask the United States Air Force. They actually wrote the book on it, and I got to see it in action ...The SkyChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen recently completed a trip to the Middle East, and I was able to ride back home on his aircraft, saving the taxpayer dollars and me the pain of an... MORE

A MacDill AFB, Fla., KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a Charleston C-17 Globemaster III March 9, 2010. Aircrews of both airlifters and tankers perform regular training to execute the tedious task of mating the two machines from thousands of feet up in the air, where one crew serves as a lifeline to the other. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis Henry)

Get it done: the honest truth on pursuing education
March 24, 2010 — Don't be like me and wait too long to get serious on meeting the Air Force's educational requirements for officers.There was always too much work to be done for me to be going to school; at least that's what I told myself. I have a wife and four kids, so there are a lot of family responsibilities and definitely not any extra time to devote to... MORE

Maj. James Blackman, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron commander

Hold others accountable, it’s your duty
March 16, 2010 — We are living in a society where it is so easy to blame someone else for everything that happens to us, especially the bad. In an effort to adjust to the high operations tempo and constant demands of today's Air Force, I believe we have lost the essence of accountability.It is difficult for me to understand why Airmen are still having problems with... MORE

Commander's Action Line
March 16, 2010 — The Commander's Action Line is your direct link to me as the commander of Joint Base Charleston. I would ask that you first, give the appropriate base agency a chance to solve the problem, but if you don't get a satisfactory answer, call me at 963-5581, or send an e-mail to 437aw.action@charleston.af.mil.This forum is your opportunity to make Joint... MORE

AMC commander: 'Air Mobility Airmen continue to answer the call'
March 16, 2010 — When the President announced 30,000 more U.S. troops were needed in Afghanistan, it was no surprise that mobility Airmen would play a major role in helping make this a reality. In fact, many of you at home and abroad have already worked overtime to ensure the first wave of troops reached Afghanistan safely and quickly.Without affecting your... MORE

Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., commander of Air Mobility Command, visits with
Airmen at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in February. During the visit, Lt.
Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg,
N.C., presented an "Iron Mike" statuette to General Johns for the support
AMC provided in transporting the 82nd Airborne Division into Haiti. (Air Force
photo)

Command Chief’s Corner
March 16, 2010 — Have you ever thought about how the phrase, "hindsight is 20/20," applies to our Air Force?It means that if we had the chance, we could go back and change the way a particular situation played out. We would be able to prevent a mishap or change an outcome to better suit our needs. Unfortunately, we cannot go back in time and change things for the... MORE