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  • Juggling challenges, responsibilities, can be difficult

    Managing the various challenges and responsibilities in life has often been compared to the skilled art of juggling. Most of us began by learning to juggle school and extracurricular activities. During our high school years, we discovered the wonderful new world of dating and needed to improve our

  • Stepping away from swivel chairs

     As I prepare to retire after more than 29 years of service to the Air Force, I want to leave supervisors with one last piece of advice ... "No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair." Now Gen. George Patton may have expressed that sentiment more than 60 years ago, however, it reflects how I

  • Your legacy defined

    Recently, I caught myself thinking about my former supervisors and how each one played a part in my development as an Airman and as a chief. Some were exceptional examples of professionalism, commitment to duty and leadership, like my first one Staff Sgt. Henry Pregnall III, while others filled in

  • Preparation critical to smooth deployments

    As we continue in the Global War on Terror, the opportunity to deploy is high. As Airmen, all of us can expect that we may have to deploy as part of the AEF structure or on extended TDYs to support our equally heavily-tasked sister services. No matter the type and place of deployment though, there

  • Recognition invaluable to mission success at McChord

    When was the last time you told your Airmen they're doing a great job? While recognition is often overlooked, it's one of the most important tools every organization has. Recognizing great work reinforces your organization's goals. It sets the example for what you want to see

  • Knowing your role key when working as part of a team

    It is truly an honor to be a member of Team McChord. This is my second assignment here and I could not be happier. In fact, a year ago when I submitted my Airman Development Plan to the Air Force Personnel Center, my number one location to command was McChord.The reason I wanted to come back to Team

  • The hardest job I've ever had could have been prevented

    I can still remember the events years later as if it happened yesterday. It was a pleasant summer evening and my family and I had just returned from my son's baseball game. We were getting ready to enjoy some dessert when I received a phone call from the noncommissioned officer in charge of the

  • Exceptional Airmen help inspire future generations

    The Air Force's core values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do - guide our service's strategy, which we implement through our three overarching service priorities: win today's fight, take care of our people and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. Without recognizing

  • Never underestimate the power of a thank you

    A few months ago I was in uniform at the base gas station when an older gentleman from the lane next to me peered around the pump and said "thanks for your service". As I said thank you back I realized his ball cap read something about being a Purple Heart recipient. I wondered why was he thanking

  • Every Airman is an Air Force recruiter

    I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did at the Air Expo last weekend! As the new commander of the 361st Recruiting Squadron, it was a great opportunity to see our recruiters in action. Did you see them? I saw hundreds of them. All you had to do to spot a recruiter was look in a