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Commentary Search

  • What is the Environmental Management System?

    Have you heard of EMS? It's been around for a while, and if you haven't heard of it by now, you've probably been living under a shell. If this is your first duty station, then you're off the hook. Let me fill you in on some information. Executive Order 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental,

  • Saving a life is easier than you think

    The Bone Marrow drive has been in full swing for the last few weeks and it is quickly coming to a close. Over the last couple of weeks you have seen an article from a donor and a recipient. Tech. Sgt. James Westdrop was diagnosed with leukemia and survived only because someone took the time to

  • Why should you vote?

    The most fundamental threat to any democracy is voter apathy. In the 2008 presidential election, voter turnout was 61.7 percent of the electorate. It was the highest voter turnout since 1960 (at 64 percent). It is encouraging that more Americans than in the past two generations went to the polls. It

  • My last Rodeo

    That sounds like a country western song doesn't it? "My Last Rodeo." And since I'm in the latter stages of my career, it very well could be my last Rodeo. I have had the honor of participating in Airlift Rodeo since 1984. I was a brand new co-pilot in C-141s at Norton AFB in Southern California.

  • Military customs and courtesies

    Fellow Airmen, Last year, our protocol office published the below article on customs and courtesies in the base newspaper. It is time that we as Airmen refocus (again) on these timeless traditions that in no small way distinguish us from the broader civilian community.  Appropriate conformance to

  • A story of giving: Donate time, marrow to save a life

    The C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program first contacted me while I was at the Basic Instructor Course down at Sheppard, AFB. The center contacted me and said I was a potential match for an 18-month-old boy with Beta Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that reduces the

  • RSVP 101

    Customs and courtesies are a large part of our military culture and are profoundly rooted in pride and tradition. While we all learn the basics in formal training environments throughout our careers, we sometimes need to be reminded of the appropriate action to take in a given situation whether it

  • Service before self -- It’s not just for Airmen

    I recently returned from a deployment in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. It was an amazing experience to work with other deployed Airmen in the execution of our combat mission. For four months, I worked with Airmen from all kinds of specialties. Each of us took great pride in our

  • Without a bone marrow donor, I wouldn’t be here today

    A couple of months after I PCS'd to McGuire Air Force Base, I started to get sharp pains in my abdomen. Like a normal hard-headed male, I thought to myself, "No big deal, the pain will go away." The pain continued to get worse, and after ten days I finally broke down and swallowed my pride. I went

  • NCOs: Be the example

    I remember my first duty section as an airman basic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. We had 17 buck sergeants in the shop. These gentlemen were the heart and soul of the unit. I admired them for their wisdom and work ethic. They could answer all my questions and would take me out and show me how to