Commentary Search

  • Monday - What's behind that screen?

    Imagine this scenario. Tuesday morning at 10:45 a.m., everyone is working at their desks going about their day -- then the network stalls. SharePoint is down, e-mail is unresponsive and Web sites are inaccessible.As a result, the 22nd Communications Squadron jumps into action and notices an

  • 22nd AMXS: Maintaining Superior Warfighter Support

    As I write this we are celebrating another outstanding year for our Air Force. This is a time when we pause to take stock of all of the contributions of those who serve and who have served before us as warrior Airmen. In doing so, and as the new commander of the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, I

  • My transformation

    When I was asked to write something about my recent fitness success story, I was not sure how to approach the subject. Obviously I did a lot of hard work and sacrificed my time to get in better shape, but that is no different than any other person.I believe that my success is derived from mental

  • Caring isn't free

    I read an article a few years ago from the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force that talked about service to others and how much it costs an individual to give of themselves. He wrote about material possessions and how our society places value on them based on cost. The main point of his article

  • Take care of self, each other

    Since my family and I arrived at McConnell, I have been very impressed by the great people of Team McConnell and the surrounding communities. I have witnessed how you superbly generate aircraft day in and day out. I am astounded at how you deployed to a forward location in our most recent nuclear

  • McUS: It's all about you

    The Air Force at times speaks its own language of acronyms. To the outsider, the three-letter acronyms of AFI's (Air Force Instructions), UDM's (Unit Deployment Manager), PTL's (Physical Training Leaders), ROE's (Rules of Engagement), and SOP's (Special Operating Procedures) are as foreign as

  • A walk across McConnell -- The road to 'Ready'

    No base has a single path to getting and sustaining "Ready." The journey begins with the base's establishment and the road curves and divides to meet the base's mission. As threats emerge, and the wing's priorities and vision evolve, our planning adapts to keep us on track. At McConnell, it is

  • Developing 'Mental Toughness'

    The Department of Defense and the Air Force have been investing millions of dollars and manpower to help prepare warriors for the stress and mental fatigue of deployment. The pre-deployment program called "Landing Gear" helps Airmen understand and cope with the mental and physical strains of stress

  • It’s All About Loyalty

    Other commanders have written eloquently in this space about many different aspects of the wing vision (Superior Warfighter Support!), mission, and priorities (Ready Mobility/Ready Airmen & Families/Ready Base). I've learned something from every one of them. In the 349th Air Refueling Squadron,

  • Personal Readiness

    Our wing has over 450 members deployed and we have sent two people to the NCO academy with less than a weeks' notice. I have seen an Airman die and the Servicemember's Group Life Insurance go to his ex-spouse leaving nothing to care for a current spouse and children. These are examples of why