Commentary Search

  • Child custody considerations for military members

    Many service members have custody of, or visitation rights with children whose other parent is not the service member’s current spouse. A parent's military service can present a number of issues related to child custody. Deployments and frequent relocations may require service members to give up

  • From the Top: Passing the Torch

    The ending of any assignment is bittersweet, and the end of this one is no different. As I prepare to transition into the next phase with my family, I am excited but also a bit sad. We have accomplished so much together over the last four years, and it will be hard to leave the incredible people and

  • New mantra must be 'People first, mission always'

    Today's Airmen are busy. Whether its high ops tempo, constant deployments or low manning, our Airmen are being asked to do more and more every day. Nothing is more important than accomplishing the mission -- except for taking care of the people you supervise.

  • A ‘major’ change in my life

    I grew up seeing the wonder of aviation as a boy through my father who was an Air Force maintainer.Watching an aircraft slip to the skies has always been majestic and incredible to witness and I knew I wanted to experience it. In college, I joined Reserve Officer Training Corps and looked at

  • The ‘Dirty Dozen’: what it means to serve as a Reservist

    When I was the spouse of a reservist (which was the better part of my five years of marriage), I didn't get it. My husband would work his normal work week, then square away his uniform on Friday night for drill on Saturday and Sunday. Come Monday morning, he was back at work, and I had no concept of

  • Volunteerism affects positive change

    Throughout our military careers, we often talk of being a volunteer force, a subset of our culture that has volunteered to serve our country in the profession of arms.Without disrespect to anyone currently in uniform or those that have served before me, I have always been in conflict over the

  • Innovation: Never stop improving

    "Another article on innovation?" you say. I don't have to tell you that there are more challenges across the Air Force than any time that I can recall: manning reductions, reduced budgets, infrastructure we can no longer afford, new requirements; response to advanced cyber threats, and the cherry on

  • Transitions can bring challenges

    Several professional athletes have suffered career ending injuries. They had devoted their life, and a boat load of energy, to their sport.  Be it baseball, football, basketball or even another sport like golf, swimming or bowling these individuals spent time, effort and talent in their craft.One of

  • Challenge yourself: Never give up, never quit

    I once read that newly created cells in our bodies do one of two things: they either begin to decay or they become more vital.These cells choose their path based on what we demand of them. If we are sedentary, our brains signal our cells to decay; but if we exercise, our cells get the signal that we