July 17, 2009 Good mistakes Is there such a thing as a good mistake? You bet. For example, in our profession, if you're uncertain about calling the room to attention, call it to attention. If you're uncertain about saluting, salute. If you're uncertain about saying "sir" or "ma'am," say "sir", "ma'am." If the action wasn't
July 17, 2009 Doing the right thing is a choice Every day we wake up, we are faced with many decisions that personally affect us as well as those around us. They range from what we decide to eat or being on time for our obligations, to what type of effort will we put forward during our workday. Yet each of us has the ability to choose to be a
July 8, 2009 Don't fear failure Some of the people I admire the most are the ones who have the ability to keep moving ahead despite setbacks in their lives. I believe if you live long enough you will see challenges along the way; and if you don't believe me, just keep on living. But my question is: "Do you let your setbacks stop
July 8, 2009 The American Team The fifth 314th Airlift Wing goal is to "Represent our Air Force to our community, joint partners and allies," and as we reflect on our nation's 233nd birthday, I'd like to expound on the partnership between the military and our community, the American people. I've stated many times that we all need
July 8, 2009 There's no "I" in team There is no "I" in team. You may have heard this term used before, but I beg to differ. I say there are "I's" in team. Without two or more "I"ndividuals, you cannot have a team. According to Webster's desk dictionary, team is defined as: "A group of persons joined together in some action or
July 1, 2009 Get outside and enjoy As we approach the Fourth of July weekend we should all feel fortunate to have so many opportunties for fun and exploration in our backyard. Arkansas has 52 state parks; many national parks including Hot Springs, the Buffalo National River, a portion of the Trail of Tears National Historical Trail;
June 30, 2009 Slow down to get there faster This week put into perspective that being the first out of the gate doesn't guarantee finishing on top in a race or in our professions. In our give-it-to-me-my-way-and-give-it-to-me-now society, we end up repeating things we should only have to do once. This typically happens because we are in such
June 30, 2009 What motivates you? Motivation doesn't always come easy. You see it from time to time, you expect it from others and sometimes you look deep within yourself to find it. For me, it manifests itself within my children, when I put on the uniform or when I witness a selfless act. It's been said that if you want to make
June 25, 2009 Celebrate Independence Day safely As we celebrate our independence, I want to thank each one of you for bravely serving our country and providing this nation's blanket of freedom. We all agreed to serve our country during a time of war, accepting the risks and dangers involved--and our country needs us now more than ever. As we
June 25, 2009 Preventing the next suicide In January 2009, the number of Army deaths from suicide outpaced the number of soldiers killed by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. The Air Force has also seen an increase in suicides from the previous year. Little Rock Air Force Base has had an increase in suicide-related behaviors since