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  • The most wonderful time of the year

    What a wonderful time of year it is. We've all worked very hard this year and we all deserve a joyous holiday break; a time to reflect and be thankful for all of our successes and accomplishments. Live it up Team McChord, you've earned it!This holiday season will surely be filled with all kinds of

  • What inspires you?

    Inspiration? With all that is going on in the world, what do we have to be inspired about? What inspires you? Lately, the United States has struggled to answer that question. As military members, you and I confront our nation's challenges head on. Aside from our current global conflicts - the

  • The rainbow at the end of the drive

    I had a lot to do and no time to do it! It was just one of those days. I had a million things going on, but nothing seemed to be getting done. On top of the pile of projects I already had going, I was tasked with a big responsibility that I wasn't sure I had time for. I was behind on my college

  • A time for reflection

    My fondest holiday memories growing up are of the long road trips to visit my grandparents and to spend a long holiday weekend with a dozen cousins, sitting at the kids' table wondering when I would get to move up to the "big" table. Today, I am proud to say that I sit at the "big" table, but I

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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,