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COMMENTARIES

  • There I was...: Of close calls and the value of training

    There I was on my first deployment as an aircraft commander. My goal was to keep my head down, fly a lot and do everything I could to not get noticed. I wanted to successfully fly the missions that were assigned to my crew and me, while not bringing attention to myself for being the new guy or the

  • Trying to live, Living to "Tri"

    Our friendship started in the early hours of June 24, 2012, when I was hit by a truck as I crossed a street. The first time we met I was lying unconscious on a stretcher in a trauma bay within Barnes-Jewish Hospital's emergency department. Scott Farber was the trauma surgery resident on call working

  • Attention to detail: difference between life, death

    Air Force Military Training Instructors instill the three Air Force core values into every Airman during Basic Military Training: Integrity, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. The excellence ideal is instilled through countless hours of meticulous clothes folding, drill, cleaning,

  • Galvanize

    It's time for us to galvanize. These are the redundant words of my favorite running tune. The true definition of the word galvanize involves a chemical-electroplating of steel or iron with zinc to make it ultimately corrosion proof.My interpretation is simply to come together to become stronger. On

  • We can really learn from kids

    It wasn't until recently that I learned there is truly something beautiful about being appreciated.In the last six weeks I have been volunteering with Junior Achievement. Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and

  • Leadership starts with why

    I recently had the unique privilege to spend time listening to and talking with Simon Sinek, author of the 2012 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force's Reading List book, "Start with Why." If you have not heard him speak, read this book, or perhaps watched his technology, entertainment and design

  • Back to nutritional basics

    I was watching a commercial on TV the other day, advertising the virtues of one of those ubiquitous energy drinks. The gist of the commercial was, that the little bottle contained all the micronutrients (in the form of a couple vitamins) and caffeine one needed to fuel your body for several hours.

  • There I was...: Of angels and heroes who kept us safe

    There I was taking my first step off of a C-17, arriving in a foreign land. I felt from that point on that my life would never be the same.I saw, I heard, I ran to and hid what I had grown accustomed to during that temporary life. During most nights as I lay in my bed in my wooden room in Bagram,

  • Airmen taking care of Airmen ... what truly matters!

    Last week, the 437th Airlift Wing experienced the sudden loss of one of our own - Maj. David Diehl passed away Wednesday, April 17. The entire 437th AW and Team Charleston family mourns the loss and shares our deepest sympathies with his wife Nicole and his children, Paige, Luke and Juliet, the rest

  • Leadership recalibration PME style

    If I have learned anything in more than 30 years of life it is how to deal with being wrong. Even with the best intentions, I miss the mark a lot more than I like. The frequent lessons in humility have made me well versed in admitting when I'm wrong. In the case of the NCO Academy I can happily