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  • Professional organizations – good for more than just an EPR bullet

    Late this past summer, I found myself thrown into leading a professional organization called the Rising Four. The Rising Four is for Airmen in the ranks of Airman Basic through Senior Airman, and aims to get Airmen out of their dorms, meeting new people and helping out in their communities. When I agreed to become the president, I didn't really

  • Stay prepared, even after inspections are over

    Now that all the major inspections are over, there should be one thing that resonates with all of us, the satisfaction of a job well done and having all of them behind us. But before we move on to the next big issue on our schedule (and there will be one, I guarantee it), I ask that you reflect on what it took to prepare for, and be ready for, all

  • Mentoring – Are you involved?

    What is a mentor? In Greek mythology, Mentor was a friend of Odysseus and was asked to look after Odysseus' son Telemachus when Odysseus left for the Trojan War. In modern times, the word has come to mean a trusted friend or counselor. The mentor is usually someone senior and more experienced who looks after a more junior colleague. The noun has

  • Trust in one's professionalism is a two-way street in the Air Force

    A few years ago I overturned a 4-wheeler while vacationing in the mountains and broke my shoulder in three places. As a result, I was forced to trust my life and well being to other medical professionals. As a physician I have often asked others to trust my training, knowledge and judgment in matters that involve their health and well being. I have

  • As the weather changes, so too should your driving habits

    Driving at this time of the year, most of us will be heading to work or home right at dawn and dusk. This means at one moment you could be staring directly into blinding sunlight and minutes later you are in the dark. Both limit your visibility. Have a good pair of sunglasses available and ready to be worn to minimize the effects of the bright

  • It pays to volunteer

    Back when I was a co-ed at Michigan State University, some of my fellow students and I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) in Lansing, Mich. It was my first time volunteering with the organization and it was an experience that changed me forever. I had always been an avid volunteer, especially as a young teenager, but I had volunteered most

  • I am Air Force Energy

    October is Energy Action Month. This year's theme is "I am Air Force Energy." As the theme implies, whether you are a military member, civilian or contractor, your ideas are vital to improving efficiency. In the last 6 years, Airmen in Air Mobility Command have reduced aviation fuel consumption 4 percent, ground fuel consumption 6 percent and

  • Deployments: A test of integrity, service, and excellence

    Take a look at your uniform. The multi-shaded patterns that we wear are not designed to blend in with stateside environments. Our airman battle uniforms are a daily reminder that our other "office" is downrange and it often has no walls. As Airmen, deployments are an important part of our calling and are a test of our integrity, service and

  • Now is the time to give back

    Have you ever received a military discount when you made a purchase? Or have you received a free meal from a local establishment on Memorial Day or Veterans Day? Well here's your chance to return the favor by helping your local or national community. By now most of you have probably received some sort of contact regarding the Combined Federal

  • Relating to 9/11

    We have just observed the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the heroic and fatal struggle by the passengers on Flight 93 against the hijackers of their aircraft. In some ways, it seems like just another piece of bad news that happened somewhere else many years ago. So, how do we
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