10 Oct 2007

Why we do it, again and again

I'd like to think another four months away from my wife and two young daughters is for a good reason. No one has tried to knock down the Sears Tower or detonate a bomb at the Superbowl, so maybe we are doing some good over here - fighting the bad guys in their backyard instead of ours. Things really do seem to be better in Iraq and Afghanistan. The

6 Oct 2007

3 deadly sins of supervision

We can't afford to have weak supervisors. With manpower being scarce, the Air Force at war cannot afford sloppy supervision. I am not talking about a poorly written feedback form or a late EPR. I am speaking of methods that if adopted by supervisors, can cause the degradation of discipline and eventually get people killed. 1. BEING AFRAID TO BE THE

29 Sep 2007

Back to Basics

I recently took command of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and I must admit it has been a dream come true. To command an organization as outstanding and motivated as this one has been especially rewarding. What's more, the squadron has an undeniable role in the mission of this wing and is leading the charge in transforming this base

16 Sep 2007

Every Airman is an ambassador

Prior to my first deployment here, I wasn't sure where it was on a map. My perspectives of Arabs, Muslims and Islam were based on a steady diet of CNN and Fox news reports that depicted the Middle East as a region filled with violence and disdain for Westerners. Although every region has its problems, my two tours here have opened my eyes to an

9 Sep 2007

Spiritual fitness important as physical fitness

Are you fit enough to return home? I have noticed while deployed here that people are willing to endure a lot to keep their bodies in shape. They will perform with meticulous precision diets, weight-lifting and aerobic routines, cycling feats, chin-ups, sit-ups and push-ups. It takes discipline to complete these routines and discipline is never

9 Sep 2007

A little courtesy goes a long way

It's hot - 114 degrees on a cloudless day. The sun is beating down relentlessly. You're driving along in your truck with the air conditioning at full throttle. There are about a dozen servicemembers waiting at the bus stop around the corner. You don't have a care in the world; it's just another beautiful day in the desert. As you turn the corner,

2 Sep 2007

Active listening key to effective communication

How many times have you found yourself involved in a discussion, meeting or dialogue where the most important thing on your mind was waiting for an opportunity to say what you were thinking? Communication is a fundamental cornerstone to improving your interpersonal skills. For communication to be effective there must be three key elements: the

26 Aug 2007

‘Mission first’ creed essential for successful operations

Log on to the base's home page and you'll see the words "Mission First!" It is a creed military people must live by to fulfill our promise to our nation's leaders that we'll accomplish the tasks set before us. Unfortunately, many servicemembers here may misinterpret the meaning of "Mission First!" After all, the word "first" implies that something

19 Aug 2007

Diversity promotes teamwork

Have you ever heard the phrase "There is no 'I' in "team?" In fact, there is no "U" in team either. For many years we have been accomplishing feats in magnitudes never before envisioned, and teamwork was the main ingredient for those accomplishments. Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Professional Development Guide, states "Team stands for Together

10 Aug 2007

First impressions are lasting

How many of you believe in first impressions? We have all heard that first impressions are lasting impressions. From the first day I arrived it was easy to notice the great Airmen assigned here. I've been assigned a little more than two months and all of you continue to perform brilliantly and all have left a very proud, positive, professional and