Commentary Search

Commentaries

  • How to be a great wingman

    What does it mean to be a great wingman? Does it mean you say hello to everyone you come in contact with regularly? Does it mean you make yourself available to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? If you answered yes to all, then you are on the right track.

  • Being a good wingman….What does it really mean?

    In the Air Force, we talk a lot about being a wingman, but what does that really mean? I'm sure if you polled your fellow Airmen, those answers would vary significantly. The wingman concept is probably most notably known for its use in the fighter community. By positioning their aircraft just behind

  • Mandatory perspective, brought to you by COVID

    Work-life balance is not unique to the military, neither is it a new one. As far back as the 1970s, Harry Chapin wrote and performed perhaps his most famous song, “Cat’s in the Cradle”. In the song, he tells the story of a father who is always too busy to play with his young son. Finally, as the

  • Flowers are red

    I have a 45-revolutions-per-minute vinyl record of “Flowers are Red” by Harry Chapin that hangs in a frame above my desk. In an office otherwise filled with mementos that span many of my previous assignments, it is the most significant thing. During childhood, my father would often play and sing

  • No One Cares About the Pro Bowl Anyway!

    Look at your team dynamics. Do you think your team is prepared to win the Super Bowl? I am not exactly referring to the NFL but to the Air Force mission in our case. We all want superstars on our team. We want them in our squadrons and on our flights. But what about the role players? Not everyone

  • Be a Light Against Suicide

    Even during the winter solstice when the world is plunged into darkness, you can be a light against suicide. I want to highlight the need for many of us who celebrate a festive season of lights to not forget our friends and family who struggle with suicidal ideation and depression. According to

  • Service Before Self: A seasoned Airman's perspective

    Don’t misunderstand what we expect of you when it comes to service. We need balanced Airmen. Our leaders want you to take care of yourselves and your families. It’s critical for readiness and service.

  • Resiliency matters

    Remember, everything is not about you! It’s about the Airmen and families around you more than you think … and they’re watching and feeding off of you. The reason I laced my boots this morning was because I know I have a family and a body of Airmen depending on me to be there for them today; they

  • I lost $200 to an email

    We at the 436th Communications Squadron hope everyone practices good information protection habits. Be aware that attempts like this can happen to anyone. Ensure you are blocking spam and using strong passwords, so that you don’t end up like Tommy!

  • It’s what you don’t say that matters

    How many of us throw around our words without pausing to decide if what we feel we need to say actually needs to be said. This lexical abstemiousness might best be summarized by the verse, “A fool gives full vent to [their] anger but a wise man quietly holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11). Or as the