Commentary Search

  • 3 essential elements of our success

    We are the uncontested best Air Force on the planet and it is Airmen that make us great. What is it about Airmen that differentiate us from other services and organizations? What makes the Air Force immensely successful? The Air Force has sent me to countless hours of professional military training

  • Tips for coping with a crying baby

    All babies cry, and as you have or may soon learn, crying can be very frustrating to parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers may try everything they can think of to calm and quiet the baby, but in spite of their efforts, the baby keeps crying. Usually the first thought that comes to mind is

  • A year in the life of a wing anti-terrorism officer

    As my one-year tour in the 509th Bomb Wing Antiterrorism Office draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on my experiences as the alternate wing AT officer. Nearly a year ago, I was going about my duties in the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron consolidated aircraft support

  • Whiteman: a team of top performers

    Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of officiating our quarterly awards breakfast and recognizing our top performers in both civilian and military categories. During the ceremony we honored some of Whiteman's best, and recognized their truly impressive accomplishments over the last quarter ... a

  • Having the 411 before needing 911

    I frequently get asked why we have been doing so much training and education about sexual assault prevention. Most people do not believe they will ever be impacted by a sexual assault. Sexual assault is a pervasive problem throughout our culture, not limited to the military. Sexual assault is one of

  • Military perception becomes reality

    It wasn't until I was a senior in college that I considered a career in the Air Force. One of the many benefits pointed out to me was the possibility of a 20 year retirement. The idea was appealing, but at that point in my life, retirement was an abstract concept. Twenty years seemed like

  • Excellence ... it’s what we do

    We all know the Air Force core values ... "Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do." I've noticed over the years that people seem to focus on or only hear about the first two, and we forget about excellence. Why is that? Is it because excellence is expected? Or has it become

  • Focus your energy on what’s important

    To what do you commit your time and energy? What does your unit work together to accomplish every day? What is your unit preparing to tackle next and are you ready as both an individual and work group? Leaders and followers at all levels have a much greater chance of success if they are committed to

  • Serving our Airmen, mission

    Since the Revolutionary War, morale, welfare and recreation programs have been recognized as an essential part of America's military. Back in those days, Services focused on fundamentals such as providing food and shelter. Commanders knew the important role combat support had in contributing to

  • Eight key leadership lessons for all Airmen

    Bob Vasquez has spent more than 35 years watching Air Force officers -- first from his vantage point as a noncommissioned officer and now as an instructor at the Air Force Academy. He's seen junior officers do some good things, and he's seen them do some stupid things that stand in the way of their