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  • Don't serve cold fries

    Last week, we had the distinct honor and pleasure of hosting the fifth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor (retired). Chief Gaylor spent a couple of days visiting with us and sharing a multitude of stories about his tenure as chief master sergeant of the Air Force. He spoke at several

  • Mother's Day from afar

    Card, check. Flowers, check. Chocolates, check. Dinner with mom . . . check? Wait, you don't live close enough to your mother to take her out to dinner. How do you handle Mother's Day when the "military life" is involved? With more than 300,000 active duty members in today's Air Force, this is a

  • How do you think?

    Every now and again, I get lulled into an erroneous reality that we are all like-minded soldiers firing on the same eight cylinders heading towards a common goal of defending our nation. Fortunately, this false perception is usually short lived. Every day I witness incredible diversity of thought

  • Airman's Creed enhances our heritage

    Last week our Air Force leaders, General T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff and Chief Master Sergeant Rodney McKinley, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force proudly released the new Airman's Creed that provides all Airmen with a tangible statement of the beliefs we should hold most dear.

  • Take pride in being an Airman

    Hey, "Airman!" Yes you, I realize you may wear the rank insignia of a colonel, field or company grade officer, senior noncommissioned officer or noncommissioned officer; however, we are all Airmen. How many of you would stop or turn around in acknowledgement if you heard someone shout out, "Hey

  • Remembering the golden rules

    Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) when you thought how much simpler life was when you were a kid? Some of the rules we learned as kids still apply to us as adults. Robert Fulghum, in his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, says some of the things he learned as a

  • Planning ahead can ensure success

    Planning ahead for personal and professional success is important! Last week we were very fortunate to host Col. James Miner and Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Hadeed from Air Mobility Command's Airmen Development and Sustainment Office who visited Travis as part of the Force Development Road Show. During

  • Customs, courtesies demostrate pride in self, service

    Growing up as a young man in the South, my mom and grandmother insisted on two things: first, always be courteous and polite; second, always be respectful ... especially towards my elders. As I reflect back on the values and beliefs those two influential women instilled upon me, I now realize they

  • Can change be good in the AF?

    A wise man once said to me "only a baby with a dirty diaper likes change." However, every one of us, from the Airmen turning the wrenches to the general briefing the President, knows that change is a constant in the Air Force today. We have all been briefed on manpower reductions and Air Force Smart

  • USAF Bands are in the fight

    I'm still amazed when people stare at me and say, "Our Air Force has bands? What do you do? You mean Tops in Blue? Oh, I see... you play the National Anthem for a change of command." I guess with bands at only ten continental United States locations and four non-continental United States locations,