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  • Fitness is our daily mission

    There is a reason your recruiter was required to conduct a preliminary fitness exam prior to processing you for basic training. They are held accountable for sending only fit and worthy members into military service. After that step, it becomes a personal responsibility.The Professional Development

  • A Challenge to Airmen: Approach, Observe, Learn and Ask

    Our deployed location here is a smaller representation of any operational base back home. Every day I'm 'stoked' by the chance to talk with Airmen from around the installation and I'm constantly amazed by the jobs entrusted to our young people--to get our jobs done well, we must work with these

  • I completed my first half marathon, and so can you!

    I arrived for my third deployment Dec. 21 much like most folks do physically. I could pass my fitness test with no problem, but no way could I run a half marathon. So let me tell you about how I ended up running one anyway.TrainingFive weeks prior to the race, my longest run was five miles and I

  • Rhapsody in blue: 10 years molds an Airman

    Ten years ago, I couldn't wait to see the new "Star Wars" movie. So naturally, that's what I focused on during that fateful bus ride on my way to begin basic military training. Thinking about lightsaber fights and epic space battles distracted me from second guessing this life-changing decision.But

  • Mentorship: Release your inner Miyagi

    An abundance of information has been published regarding leadership lessons: the secrets of effective leaders, how to motivate people, and a whole host of other leadership-focused topics. All of them are designed to make the reader a better leader, increase the effectiveness of people working for

  • Open Ranks: Supervisors: if the job stinks, empower - don't task!

    In public affairs, I've done almost everything: photographing aircraft mishaps at 1 a.m.; coming in at 5 a.m. and not leaving until 10 p.m. for high-level tours and stories; working holidays and weekends supporting base events; and hundreds of ceremonies (yes, in 14 years I've done at least one or

  • Successful organizations are built around a strong core

    Maintenance advisors of the 802 Air Expeditionary Adviser Squadron utilized a strong core of motivated Afghan maintainers to develop an aircraft generation capability for the Shindand Air Wing. A team of five select members of the Afghan air force maintenance group passed a quality assurance

  • 380th AEW and 908th EARS KC-10 Extender year in review

    One of the biggest challenges I have faced during my time as a deployed commander is getting service members from other communities and specialties to understand what air refueling is all about. It is very easy for all professionals to lapse into jargon when talking about their accomplishments and

  • Lt. Gen. Goldfein: An Iraq end-of-mission message

    As we enter the 2012 fighting season, I wanted to share what the final days in Iraq felt like here in the AOR [area of responsibility]. Many of us have spent the majority of our adult lives engaged in the campaigns to first free Kuwait, then contain Iraq and then free Iraq. For our Airmen, it is all