COMMENTARY SEARCH

  • ‘Missing Man’ symbol of loss

    The missing man formation is one of the most profound demonstrations of honor and respect a flying unit can bestow. The very makeup and maneuvering of this formation demonstrates the concept of a cohesive team and how each member of that team counts. When a member of that team is lost, the others

  • Forty aces credited to 56th

    The Air Force Historical Research Agency recently credited Capt. Eugene O'Neill Jr. with his fifth victory during World War II, making him the 40th ace of the 56th Fighter Wing. As I learned of this major milestone in our wing's history, I couldn't help but think back on one of the most rewarding

  • Lead from front

    Leadership. As Airmen this is a word that we hear all the time. In light of this, the word can sometimes become watered down to where we think we have nothing to do with leadership. Is leadership just a buzz word that we have nothing to offer to affect its outcome? Does leadership strictly apply to

  • Disciplined Airmen lead to disciplined life

    As I prepared to prepare (procrastination!) for this commentary, I remember beginning the all important first step -- brainstorming! I bounced from topic to topic, everything from the recent F-35 excitement to the roles supervisors have in today's Air Force to what was on sale at the base exchange.

  • CGOC, commissioning opportunities to be had

    A question often asked of company grade officers is "What was the path you took to receive your commission, and what did that commissioning source entail?"Some are parents with children interested in pursuing a commission in the Air Force, others ask on behalf of friends and others are interested in

  • Luke 1 departs, praises Thunderbolts

    We serve the Constitution of the United States; that is the oath we all take at the beginning of our careers and periodically throughout our service. From what I have witnessed here at Luke Air Force Base, we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing.We are training the World's Greatest

  • Effective leadership requires both iron hand, velvet glove

    Gen. George Patton said, "A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances."In short, as varied the situations we find ourselves in as leaders, so too are the potential approaches we take to leadership. When I was entrusted to serve as the 56th Medical Group's first sergeant, my first

  • The Military Family

    We all make choices. Some choose to be service members; others choose to be married to one. In my case, I chose both. Military life is full of challenges and sacrifices that we and our families make every day. We deal with things like relocations and deployments, which can cause extra

  • What kind of leader are you?

    What type of leader are you? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself the question, "What type of leader am I?" If so, how would you answer? Would you say you're a team leader, a motivator or a person who inspires? Better yet, if your Airmen were asked what kind of leader you were, what would they say?

  • Doing right not always easy

    "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching." - C. S. Lewis "To see what is right and do it not is cowardice." - ConfuciusWho hasn't heard the saying, "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching?" Integrity is one of our Air Force core values; it is a