SOUTHWEST ASIA †-†Deployments are different after you have a child. I just never realized how different deployments would be once I became a parent. This deployment I am a mother. Sometimes I wonder how a mother could leave her 1-year-old baby like I have done, as if I am abandoning my child in some way,…

- It is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, but character is more often than not developed through suffering. It is when we are stretched to our limits that we find we have the ability to go even farther.  Every coach or teacher knows and counts on this to achieve greater performance.  Perhaps…

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio†-†Last fall the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center leadership team from across the country assembled at a strategic offsite with the purpose of assessing progress in delivering on what we call “the revolution in acquisition and product support.” Building on our tremendous progress since the organization’s inception in 2012, we…

Through our character – an opportunity to reflect on important issues in our community – Fear can cripple us and cause us to miss out on important events in life. But fear (or a sense of awe) can also be beneficial.  One author stated it this way, “When we go to places like Glacier Point…

At approximately 5:08 p.m., Dec. 30, 2013, I was checking my Facebook messages and I noticed an alarming post from an Airman I knew, stating “F*** life, I’m tired of trying.” At that point, I began to read her previous posts. There was a lot of troubling information in them that led me to believe…

- How do you face a crisis of conscience?  Do you have a rule (or a set of rules) that will meet every requirement?  Is there a secret formula that will guarantee a clean conscience at the end of the day?  My guess is that one rule or a secret formula does not exist that…

Many of you haven’t personally heard of the Civilian-Military Group or know who they are composed of, but I can attest and ensure you that hundreds of Edwards Airmen and their families have been the recipients of their generosity and unwavering support. As an Air Force First Sergeant, I’ve had the distinct pleasure and honor…

Through our character – an opportunity to reflect on important issues in our community – This Friday we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. Although commercialism dominates the celebration, there is a historical background to the day that can benefit us. The holiday is named after Valentinus, a third century Roman who was imprisoned for performing “illegal” weddings for…

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – Recently, I volunteered to write an article on mentoring, thinking I was pretty good at putting words on paper. If only it were that easy. The honest fact is I’m not really sure how to explain mentoring. After 19 years in the Air Force, I just know it…