Dec. 5, 2011

Kids and deployments

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Deployments can be stressful for everyone - the active duty member, the spouse, family members, the children and even the family pets. Trying to get everything ready for the deployment can take its toll, but it can sometimes distract families from the inevitable reality that they will be temporarily separated. When we deal with the immediate

Nov. 17, 2011

PSU scandal shows why integrity preached in military

FORT EUSTIS, Va. — Legendary former head football coach of the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions Joe Paterno showed a lack of integrity. There's a sentence I never thought I'd type or see in print. After all, "JoePa" had been the school's head coach for 46 years. Paterno, the all-time FBS leader in victories with 409, had been the figurehead who was so

Nov. 7, 2011

Thank a veteran

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — A few days ago I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few items after work. A lady stopped me on my way out of the store."Excuse me, I'd like to say something to you," the woman said. She said "thank you." She thanked me for my service and for her and her family's freedom, and told me to be safe no matter where in the world I was located.

Oct. 31, 2011

Energy Action Month – How our choices affect the big picture

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — It's the last week of Energy Action Month. Last week we learned how we can make certain choices in our energy use to make significant differences in our nation's energy demand. That "cultural change" is already happening all around us. Fortunately, not any one group of people has to take on the cultural change alone. All of us are doing it. We are

Oct. 19, 2011

Contractors integral to government success

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Do you know that contractors have become an integral part of government activities? It is often difficult, however, to distinguish between contractors and civil service employees. Government employees work side by side with many of the contractor employees, often times who were once government employees themselves, such as retirees, former military

Oct. 6, 2011

Effectively using renewable energy

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Last week we learned how we can make certain choices in our energy use to make significant differences in our nation's energy demand. How we manage our energy demand affects our energy supply as well. This week we will look at where we get our energy from or the supply side of the equation. First, let us divide our energy supplies between

Oct. 6, 2011

As energy demand increases, efficiency is critical (2)

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — So, what is energy demand? Demand is everybody's part of the energy equation. Whatever the kind of energy, use is called demand. Turn on a light at home and that's 14 watts of demand. (You do use compact fluorescents, don't you?) Start up the air conditioning system on base and it demands between .6 and 1.2 kilowatts per ton of cooling. Your

Oct. 6, 2011

October is Energy Action Month

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — It's that time of year when we begin to really think about the energy we use. The days are getting shorter and our lights are on longer. The nights are a little brisker, and toward the end of the month some of us may turn the heat on. Just as in the spring when we prepare our work places, homes and cars for warm weather, we now prepare for the

Sept. 8, 2011

Honoring those who died by the way we live

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — In remembering days like Sept. 11, the question we often ask each other is "Where were you that day?" Maybe we should ask each other another question instead--"How have the events of that day inspired you to invest in your community and your country?"That may sound blunt, especially to my fellow Airmen and Soldiers. After all, we have all taken the

June 22, 2011

Take advantage of training opportunities early in your career

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — The Air Force provides some of the best training in the world, building Airmen into highly-skilled technical experts. This begins in basic training and technical schools, where we learn our trade, followed by on-the-job training and professional military education. Airmen continue honing their craft throughout their careers.However, while some