Commentary Search

  • Supervising Airmen

    "It doesn't take an incredible supervisor to make a strong Airman successful, it does however take an incredible supervisor to mentor and develop an average Airman to become strong," Master Sgt. Bruce Cuppy, my NCOIC shared those words with me in 1992 before assigning my first Airman to supervise,

  • The water is rising

    Do you feel like you are drowning in work? Ever been assigned to a job only to realize that there is more work coming in than you can handle? I have. And maybe you have too. When faced with this situation, I am reminded of the following story. Two boats enter a storm. Each one is taking on water. On

  • Lead from the front

    "Lead from the front," these four words were written to me on a baseball that was given to me by four individuals that I had the pleasure to lead into, and out of Iraq. I had spent 14 years in the Air Force and never really knew what leading was, until I went into a hostile fire zone with 12 other

  • Are you ready to keep answering the call?

    Throughout 2008, we experienced our share of strategic highs and lows as a service that shared a common purpose of defending the Constitution of the United States and interests of our great Nation. Whether it was the many lives saved on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the resignation of

  • Tankers: From a Question Mark to Today’s Fight

    Air refueling operations continue to be amazing aerial feats, especially for people who witness the process for the first time. As mobility Airmen, we consider it simply part of what we do but, in reality, it is quite remarkable to have two aircraft meeting less than 50 feet apart at more than

  • Change is Inevitable; your response is what’s important

    What is it about change that irritates people down to their very toes? The academic world will tell you that change challenges our individual perception of status quo. It evokes a fear that what we are used to will be eliminated and replaced with uncertainty and doubt. So far, I agree with that

  • The greatest generation, then and now

    In his book entitled The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw honors the selfless heroes of World War II who sacrificed and gave everything to ensure we remain a free and prosperous nation. On the jacket he writes: "In the spring of 1984, I went to the northwest of France, to Normandy, to prepare an NBC

  • How would an accident report read?

    As an aircrew member, I ask myself, "how would an accident report read," when I'm flying and faced with a decision not directed in our technical orders and regulations. Asking yourself this prior to a decision may help you anticipate some of the items an accident report may note and can keep you

  • AMC unveils new mission statement and focus areas

    This June, I issued a call for all Air Mobility Command personnel to "return to basics," and I thank you for the renewed attention you've given to our core values and our mobility mission while restoring the Air Force's good name with your daily, outstanding mission accomplishment. Today, we build

  • My part of the big picture

    Recently I had the pleasure of flying on a KC-135R Stratotanker incentive flight. Having never been associated with military life, it was very different for me to get used to all the customs, courtesies and dress codes of the military. Going through Basic Military Training changed my life