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  • Own your A’s

    When I was very young, my best friend and mentor was my Grandfather. To me, he was a larger than life, somewhat scary, John Wayne-esk type of man. He taught me so many things, but there were a few things that stuck with me the most: Do things right the first time, and take care of your things by

  • Resilience: Mind, Body, Social And Spirit

    "Our job is to fight and win the nation's wars. We'll never be good enough at it; we've got to get better every day. It's not an easy task, which is why Comprehensive Airman Fitness is so important,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. “Our focus must be on the well-being and care

  • The Value of Tradition

    When I walked into the 422d Communications Squadron a little over a year ago, I was amazed to see the heritage room…the Tiger's Den.  It was immediately obvious to me there was a lot of pride in this unit…my new squadron.  The legacy equipment, the historical documents and memorabilia, the earned

  • The Importance of "Do It Right"

    When I arrived at my first duty station as a young A1C, one of the first things my NCOIC, MSgt Randall Keller did was ask for me to build an RG-58 test cable, which is just simply a cable very similar to what connects your cable box to your TV set. He explained that, in addition to meeting all of

  • Situational Balance for Work and Life

    Finding a proper work-life balance can sometimes seem to be an impossible task. We think 50/50 is the true concept of balance, but realistically with what work and life throws at us, it is around 80/20. What we really need to do is find the right balance at the right moment in our careers and the

  • Never again

    Perspective comes in many ways. When I was at a previous assignment, I thought my 45-minute bus commute to work was horrible, but then I PCS’d and had an hour plus drive to work every day. Turns out sitting on the bus, being able to read, listen to music, or even sleep a little wasn’t that bad. I

  • It Might not Always be This Way

    “Look at the size of that flag,” I exclaimed, pointing at a massive Stars and Stripes that nearly blocked out the sun as it unfurled. It was flying high above a car dealership, one of many that dot New Jersey’s busy state highways. My father was driving, and without letting more than a moment pass,

  • What Lessons Will You Teach?

    You're likely wondering, "What lessons could be taught from a simple personal encounter?" Well, upon arrival to work each day I greet my front office staff with a hearty “good morning” and ensure I follow each task request with a “please” and “thank you.” It’s just a small thing, but I personally

  • What Makes a Good Wingman?

    In my office, in a tattered picture frame, I keep a small black and white copy of an old photograph. To many people entering my office the photo of six young men standing locked arm-in-arm would seem unremarkable. However, the photograph means so much more to me.  The picture was actually captured

  • See Something Say Something

    Everyone, from Squadron Commanders to our First Term Airmen, spouses, dependents, civilians, contractors, mission partners and community, all play an important role in safety and security, including operational security (OPSEC). It is the responsibility of all base personnel to contribute to the