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  • Experiencing the Airlift/Tanker Association symposium for the first time

    I was one of twelve Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base who were fortunate enough to attend the 47th annual Airlift/Tanker Association symposium in Nashville Tennessee this past week.The three-day symposium is an annual convention held to ensure that American military forces continue to have the

  • Leadership Lessons: End-of-year spending; fumble or touchdown

    It happens every year, millions of dollars spent within the last couple of weeks of September. Fiscal year 2014 was no different. In fact, it was more shocking than previous years in that Team Grand Forks more than tripled typical end of year spending. How can this be? After all we started the year

  • Leadership Lessons: A Global Hawk Perspective

    Being a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilot is a very rewarding job.  Even though the career field has only scratched the surface in terms of operational capabilities and growth, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aggressively becoming the way of the future in the Air Force, and presently the

  • Commander's Corner: Influenza vaccination, you and your IMR

    A new influenza vaccination (aka flu shot) season: a time with not only new hopes and dreams, but also new coughs, new sneezes and new opportunities to miss important and potentially life-changing events.But fear not, YOU can change this. Do the right thing. Make yourself better. Be the warrior and

  • Colonel Friend, General Abrams, and an M60A1

    The hot war in Vietnam was winding down in Southeast Asia and I really had not planned to go into the military.  Nevertheless, instead of being drafted, I enlisted.  After nearly three years in the reserves, I volunteered to go to West Germany on active duty.  It was the height of the Cold War and

  • Leadership Lessons: But for one Airman!

    Airmen in today's Air Force are charged with upholding standards. All of them. All of us! It is easy for anyone to Monday morning quarterback any situation after all is said and done, hindsight is 20-20. But how often do our Airmen take the time to think about the consequences of the actions they

  • Leadership Lessons: Let’s all be real Airmen

    "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling is much worse. The person who has nothing for which they are willing to fight, nothing which is more important than their own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance

  • Leadership Lessons: It's not just 'taking advantage'

    It was more than twenty years ago, and I had decided to go to a house party with friends. I made the decision to partake in a couple alcoholic drinks (I was underage). My low tolerance for alcohol and my drinking inexperience led to a drunken state in which I needed to "lie down for a bit." I had

  • Integrity in Check: One wild night

    When I first joined the Air Force, I remember hearing stories from my recruiter, fellow trainees and even the drill instructors about what happened at technical school. Things like wild parties and other shenanigans.All throughout basic training I told myself, I won't let that happen to me. I've got

  • Leadership Lessons: Building a philosophy against stress

    I have only been in the Air Force for four short years. However, in this time I have noticed how workplace stressors can have a drastic effect on Airmen depending on how they react to them. These stressors have an impact on the unit, the mission, and the member's personal life. I know I have not yet