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24 Jan 2008
Military medical care not bad deal
Recently I had the opportunity to get firsthand experience with our medical system. I thought it would be good to share what I learned and observed during my experience. It all started back in late April. I went to see my primary care manager about a breathing problem, and I was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist downtown. I received a
24 Jan 2008
Instill Pride in Luke Air Force Base
As I look around the installation, I am incredibly proud of the men and women who accomplish our mission of training the world's greatest fighter pilots and maintainers while deploying mission ready warfighters. This mission couldn't be accomplished without your professionalism, commitment and pride. Pride comes in many forms - such as the way we
13 Nov 2007
Happy veterans day from a veteran
This will be a different Veterans Day for me this year. Last year I spent Veterans Day as part of an Air Force provincial reconstruction team in Qalat, Afghanistan, doing an in-lieu-of mission. I guess I never considered myself or members of my generation as veterans. That is a pretty lofty title that conjures up visions of someone else, older,
12 Oct 2007
Heritage, tradition, celebration important to remember, pass on
An important anniversary was honored in September as in preceding years, and it is something I'm proud to celebrate. It's our Air Force's birthday and celebrating it helps us recall our heritage as well as symbolize our current mission. Our service's birthday gives us an event to honor the service and sacrifice of Air Force men and women. I have
12 Oct 2007
It's 'my' base
I have the best job in the Air Force. As the support group deputy, I get to enable the wing mission and I look forward to working at "my" base every day. Part of my Monday routine is to cruise the base and look for problems that popped up over the weekend. I regularly see people who have made Luke "their" base and their home. For instance, I
4 Oct 2007
Leaders: Be successful, have fun along journey
In your military career you experience many educational milestones -- basic training, technical school, PME and one other major milestone -- your responsibility as a supervisor. I classify this as a milestone because becoming a supervisor is an educational event that continues throughout your career. I remember several supervisors distinctly. I
28 Sep 2007
Past leadership traits still relevant for future
Under the authority of the National Security Act of 1947, the U.S. Air Force was born on Sept. 18, 1947, when W. Stuart Symington became our first Secretary of the Air Force. Contemplating our 60th Anniversary theme, "Heritage to Horizons... Commemorating 60 Years of Air and Space Power," we can see similarities between the challenges our early
21 Sep 2007
Transformation to a warrior
In October of 2006, I found out that I was deploying to Iraq. I was not happy. Are you surprised? Read on to learn the rest of the story. My husband and I are both active duty stationed here at Luke. We had a plan already developed for the future, and deploying was not part of it. I was going to finish my degree, we were going to expand our family
7 Sep 2007
Deployment challenges foster greater commitment to service
Having just returned from my second joint (U.S. Army) deployment, I'm filled with the same feelings of pride and satisfaction as when I returned from Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004. Deployments are mentally and physically challenging and typically strain family relationships. The combination of working long hours, being exposed to enemy fire and
20 Jul 2007
America's freedom gained through other's courage
What is courage? The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self- possession, confidence and resolution." July 4 was a profound date for all of us, and it was fantastic we got to celebrate and commemorate our 231-year history as a nation. It's