COMMENTARY SEARCH

  • Master self for physical fitness

    It's been said one thing is a constant -- change.We are seeing this more and more in the Air Force with programs such as force management, but change can be beneficial. This is especially true when it comes to mastering yourself for your physical fitness test.The Air Force Chief of Staff emphasizes

  • You are what you eat

    "You are what you eat."This is a generic statement or a notion. It implies that if you eat healthy, you will be healthy. But how true is this in the world today?What we eat, drink, wear, drive and buy is often an attempt to construct a social identity. It lets others know who we are and lets us

  • Knowledge equals power

    The phrase "knowledge is power" is said to originate from Sir Francis Bacon in 1597. Personally, I remember learning the phrase from the old television show "School House Rock" theme song. The key idea behind the phrase is the more knowledge you accumulate, the more "power" you will have. Here is a

  • ‘The butterfly effect’

    Shortly after taking command, the Wild Duck Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge requested I explain to his Airmen exactly what the pilots would be doing on training missions during an upcoming temporary duty. I was embarrassed that he had to ask. In this specific case, I had thoughtlessly

  • Advise Airmen of rights before asking questions

    Every day supervisors are faced with challenging scenarios and situations that require them to engage in efforts to help their Airmen. When this engagement is due to a negative act such as theft, damage to property or other possible legal violations, we must resist the instinct to question them

  • Innovative followership, leadership

    Innovate, innovate, innovate. We hear this all the time in today's leaner military. It's a rather catchy word and sounds very impressive. However, innovation has to begin somewhere. Can followers innovate? Can leaders innovate? I submit the answer to both questions is a resounding "yes."

  • How to know everything, yet know nothing

    You have probably heard the adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." What does this really mean? I've personally heard it referenced when discussing promotions, but I've also heard it when talking about getting things done. These are really interrelated. If you can work your boss's boss's

  • Balance, key to successful AF life

    I believe proper balance is the key to a successful life in the Air Force. Over the years I've come to realize that it takes a concentrated effort to maintain balance between a professional life as an Air Force member and personal or family life. Both require constant learning, adjustments,

  • Avoid claustrophobic career

    I have heard many times that education is the great equalizer.The Air Force takes in people of all races, cultures and backgrounds and unifies them under simple beliefs and values. The enlisted force structure serves as the common language for force development, and education plays a major role. We

  • New form second chance to do EPRs right

    Without fail, every time I am around a group of young NCOs, there is one subject guaranteed to come up -- the enduring question of "How can I write a stronger EPR for my Airman?"My answer to this question is fairly standard and is one that a chief shared with me many years ago. The easiest path to