COMMENTARY SEARCH

  • Military life requires balancing act

    Answering the call to duty and being in the military is no easy task. Many sacrifice so much serving our country. This all goes hand-in-hand with the core value of "service before self."I think we could all agree the biggest sacrifice made is the time taken away from family, friends and personal

  • Make time for Airmen, NCOs

    We are all very busy these days. Our force is shrinking but our mission stays the same. I often hear people complain that they just do not have enough time. Two things leaders at all levels need to make time for are our Airmen and junior NCOs.Leaders are often stretched so thin that they neglect to

  • Culture change requires new way to think

    The racist comments made by Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, shocked the nation and were met with extreme displeasure by most Americans.Though the details can be heavily debated, it's safe to say that most Airmen believe the comments were inappropriate for one reason or

  • Luke 1 bids farewell to Thunderbolts

    As I look back on the past 20 months as commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, I'm humbled by everything that this team has accomplished. I'd like to highlight a few of those successes and milestones, but first I want to start off with a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Team Luke for your hard work,

  • Listening: Required for great leaders

    What makes a leader?You can ask anyone this question, and you may get a different answer every time.When I think of the great leaders I've had the honor and privilege to work with, I think of all the similar traits and qualities they shared. The most important quality of all is their ability to

  • New Arms Race: STEM education ensures future force

    Selecting a degree or training program is a major decision with far reaching impact. Reasons for pursuing certain degrees vary, from improving one's current skill set to achieving long term goals. One's decisions may be influenced by class availability or the goal of "checking a box." However, as

  • Standards: Foundation for enlisted

    "Standards of Conduct, Character and Military Bearing" is a title familiar to us all as one of the enlisted performance report blocks. However, the term "standards" is much broader than that and includes all the rules and regulations that govern our daily lives as professional Airmen. Whether it is

  • Are you up for the challenge?

    We in the Air Force are facing challenging times as both individuals and organizations. We are in the middle of several force shaping efforts to trim nearly 25,000 Airmen from our ranks. I want to look at the trials facing many squadrons, groups and wings across the Air Force.Initially, these

  • Integrity first: Having courage to speak up

    As a kid my dad always asked me questions he already knew the answers to, testing my integrity throughout my childhood. As a strict military father, he taught me at an early age that a man's word is everything, and as I grew older, it developed into having integrity in every aspect of life. The

  • Airmen have responsibility to do uniform proud

    "You never get a second chance at a first impression." - UnknownWhile this saying holds true in many facets of our daily lives, it carries an increased weight and sense of responsibility for us as service members. Not only does this apply to our physical appearance, but also in the way we carry