Commentary Search

  • 0-0-1-3; a New Year’s resolution

    It's hard to believe that 2006 is behind us and we are now well into the New Year. Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2007 and, if so, how is it going so far? Did you know that over the last five years, the Air Force averaged 5,300 alcohol-related incidents per year? The adverse effects of

  • Being aware to protect ourselves

    The military is notorious for developing its own "secret" code word. When it comes to Air Force language, "For your SA" or "FYSA" are common ways to say "For your situational awareness." Many of us have probably received an e-mail from our superiors or subordinates that had FYSA affixed to the

  • Driving safely: coming and going

    Sometimes our busy schedules get the better of us. We get in a hurry and try to squeeze in 12 hours of activity into an eight-hour day. With all this hustle and bustle, we tend to take shortcuts and lose our situational awareness. Before you know it, you’re in a minor traffic mishap that could have

  • Thoughts from ‘over there’

    Memorial Day was especially significant for me this year. I’m currently deployed with dozens of Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., many of whom have deployed several times since 9/11. Although we didn’t have the day off on Monday, the sight of a combat-damaged Humvee in our cargo yard on

  • A look back, ahead

    I recently had the honor of participating in the retirement of two master sergeants who, after already vowing to spend their lives together, celebrated their service together. Their personal stories were about honor, integrity and living our Air Force’s core values. They were stories about shoes

  • Drinking and driving, not worth the risk

    Recently, I was awakened by a 5 a.m. phone call. Unfortunatly, the subject was all too predictable. “Sir, this is a notification from security forces. Senior Airman Snuffy has been picked up for DUI after crashing his car downtown. We’re awaiting further details.” Most of the time those details

  • Sharing personal pain, learning lessons

    Drinking is not bad, if done responsibly. It is drinking to get drunk that is dangerous and stupid. Years ago, when I was a kid, my next door neighbor was killed by a drunk driver in the middle of the day while riding his bicycle down the street. This tore apart families and left them forever

  • 101 Critical Days of Summer - Airmen saving Airmen

    “Airmen Saving Airmen” is a great way to think about this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign. It fits nicely with leadership's desire to foster and continue building a safety-conscious Wingman culture across the Air Force. Memorial Day weekend has come and gone,  … and it marked the

  • Where our boots have taken us

    Many nights I shuffle home from work, kick off my high heeled shoes, and stumble over my husband’s combat boots. At those times, I often ask myself, “Where have his combat boots taken him?” I know exactly where my combat boots have taken me. In 1992, I was a bright-eyed 20-year-old woman with

  • Leadership equals responsibility

    Leadership takes many forms. But one critical element in any form of leadership is taking care of people. As supervisors, we help our Airmen seek out and take advantage of educational and training opportunities, put them in for awards and help make them competitive for promotion. However, taking