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Commentary Search

  • Don't wait to obtain crucial documents

    I learned these past months that having "advanced medical directives" and other documents make a family emergency more manageable. It is one less issue to fix when emergencies arise.I remembered that someone called them advanced directives during an event held to provide them for families here at

  • F-15 maintenance; the relationship between jet and maintainer

    The life of a 173rd Fighter Wing maintainer at Kingsley Field, Oregon has fundamental qualities; first off you will be busy...really busy. The base routinely prepares 12 jets on a given day so 10 can fly in the morning and eight of those can fly in the afternoon. Every morning this creates a beehive

  • New ANG personnel working in Air Combat Command's Logistics

    The Air National Guard has integrated aircraft maintenance and logisticians personnel within Air Combat Commands Logistics directorate for more than fifteen years. Since inception, the goal was to ensure ANG personnel enhanced combat capability for the commander of ACC and the ANG.So how is that

  • 15 seconds: A rude awakening

    Gut-wrenching screams, the shattering of glass, and the unforgettable sounds of metal twisting and bending all around me as my truck rolls over and over again. I thought those were going to be my last memories.April 12, 2012, started out like any other Thursday for me. I woke up early enough to take

  • Mission first, people always

    I am truly humbled and proud to serve as your wing command chief and look forward to serving with you all.I'll be honest. There were plenty of times during my career I did not see myself staying in, much less attaining such rank and position. As most can attest, a career in the Guard is a bumpy one.

  • Thankful to those who would stop to thank a uniform

    It's 6:15 p.m. at the Wal-Mart in this small central Missouri town. Aisle 17, Health and Beauty. A woman pushes her cart toward me; in the seat, a young child - perhaps her grandson - squirms; he's had his fill of shopping. The woman tries to catch my eye. When she does, she smiles and says, "Thank

  • Commander's Comments: Four Pillars of Total Force

    I recently attended a briefing given by the Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt., James Hotaling. The briefing was held to discuss the vision for the ANG laid out by Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, the director of the ANG, because of the challenging fiscal times that lie ahead. I wanted to share

  • Navigating the storms of stress

    Mid-summer greetings! In previous articles I have emphasized the importance of staying healthy and strong by taking care of basic things in life such as diet, rest and exercise. I have reminded everyone that when we attend to the basics we fortify personal resilience, and are thus better prepared to

  • Being a good Wingman takes practice, determination

    We all need a good Wingman from time to time. Please be that Wingman when you notice that someone is having a hard time! Use the "ACE" model to reach out and help, and maybe even save a life.Ask: Take a moment and check in with the person. Ask how they are doing, and ask directly, "Have you thought

  • Summer's rapids and bike paths carry equal risk

    A friend of my father whom I have known since I was a child, Mel, gave me my first safety lesson when I was about 10 years old.I was standing short and skinny, in 1978, above a Class III river section with a helmet, a life jacket and a big, black truck tire inner-tube, and he said, jokingly, "Hang