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COMMENTARIES

  • Shortcuts, discipline and safety

    I'm not a fan of Bob Villa; for the younger crowd who might not know who I'm talking about, just picture a live-action Bob the Builder. Just the sound of high-rpm power tools makes my middle finger ache. One week before graduation and commissioning, and two weeks before getting married, I was

  • Being "Joint" isn't a new concept

    Although "Joint Basing" is a relatively new term in our military lexicon, the concept of "joint" especially as it relates to military operations is not. In fact, joint operations date back to the time of Alexander the Great, when he realized the need to develop a comprehensive resupply plan. He

  • General Findley: 'A dream worth living'

    "The best dreams happen with your eyes wide open." I once heard an announcer make that statement at a golf tournament in describing his experience in winning one of golf's major tournaments.Well after 35-plus years of active duty military service, Sandy and I have hit the "back nine." I think that

  • Comprehensive Airman Fitness: Diary of a wimpy Airman

    Unfortunately, my story begins like many Airmen out there. I started my career as a lean, mean, fighting machine. Eight years and three kids later I found myself on the physical training fringe. What do I mean by that? I spent the last seven years of my career barely making it by. Each test, I swore

  • Now, more than ever, the Air Force needs first sergeants

    It was 1998 and I was assigned to the 92nd Transportation Squadron. My first sergeant was a force to be reckoned with. To put it plainly, she scared me to death. One day, while sitting in a briefing at Airman Leadership School, I vaguely listened to the first sergeant's panel. To my dismay, my first

  • Working to find balance in an unbalanced world

    Whether you are a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" individual, American culture can quickly create unbalanced lives. Stress, whether financial, work related, family, relationship or sickness-related, can create an imbalance. Our culture doesn't promote healthy whole persons, instead it

  • FTAC: not so mundane

    Mandatory is not a word that invokes a sense of enjoyment or pleasure. After recently completing both Basic Military Training and my technical training school, mandatory was a word I was all too familiar with. Upon arrival to my first duty station here at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, I knew

  • Leadership must be earned daily -- with RESPECT

    Leadership is not given, ordained or a right. It doesn't come from position or rank. Leadership must be earned every day. Any Airman can be a leader as long as they are disciplined in their positive daily habits. Andrew Carnegie once said, "The older I get the less I listen to what people say and

  • 10 years later: What makes you remember 9-11?

    Ten years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, I am like many Americans who were affected by the attacks on America. However, when I look back at the memory of that day, one word comes to mind -- spaghetti.So why spaghetti? It's really about the overall story of that day and how Americans responded and have