Aug. 8, 2012

Finding spies and gunmen before it's too late

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were

Aug. 6, 2012

The Art of Motivation

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — It is often very easy to supervise someone who is doing what is expected, but what about those troops who have wandered off the path? Webster's Dictionary defines motivation as, "the instance of providing another with a reason to act in a certain way; inducement; incentive." There are essentially five reasons why people do not meet expectations of

July 30, 2012

An NCO's perspective on leadership - Dad taught me well

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — "You can never go wrong, by doing what's right." These words were repeated my entire life by my dad. They were not just words though. My dad proved this to me through his actions as a father, and as CEO of an electric-motor repair business in Alabama. I was fortunate to learn the characteristics of what it takes to be an effective leader by

June 29, 2012

Days of anguish: one chaplain’s POW journey

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — Military chaplains have served in every war in the history of our country, risking their lives, by providing ministry to troops on the battlefield where the bullets are flying. Per the Geneva Convention, chaplains are not permitted to carry weapons, so they enter the battlefield armed only with their faith. In the spring of 1938, U.S. Air Force

June 25, 2012

Tips for New Parents

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — Although having a baby can be a joyous event, it can also be a time of anxiety. Nothing can truly prepare someone for what lies ahead once the baby arrives. However there are some tried and true tips that can ease the transition into parenthood. Although they might seem odd initially, establishing good habits in the beginning can benefit the entire

June 25, 2012

New Parent Support Secrets Revealed!

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — Pregnant women often receive much advice, some unsolicited, while pregnant. Although some of this information can be quite useful, there is other information that can be useful. Here is our list of new parent support secrets that can help you prepare for your child: · Take a tour of the hospital where you will deliver. The tour is free, and it can

June 13, 2012

The greatest gift: An Airman's experience donating blood

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — "Your blood donation is a precious gift of life." These words stood out as I read the preliminary-donation guidelines every donor must look over prior to giving blood. It resonated deeply with me as I sat at the Langley Air Force Base Chapel Annex Building on a recent muggy afternoon. I have always readily donated blood when the opportunity is

June 12, 2012

The long road to CCAF

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — One of the first conversations I had with Airmen when I arrived at my first duty station was centered on how I couldn't earn a Community College of the Air Force degree. To say I was angry would be an understatement.When I joined the Air Force Jan. 13, 2009, I was automatically enrolled into the CCAF, with the promise that if I put in the time and

June 4, 2012

Mentoring is not just an Air Force buzzword...paying it forward pays the Air Force back

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — There is a lot of discussion on enlisted leadership and our noncommissioned officer corps. Why we are where we are, and what we need in order to ensure we develop Airmen to take our place, and lead the future Air Force?However, my words are not about what was said or why. It is about how to get our future leaders where we want them to be as our

May 29, 2012

Are you a bone-marrow donor? You could save someone’s life today

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — In 2004, I had been stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, for about a year. One day, while walking into the base exchange, I was approached by an individual standing by one of the many tables that we associate with trying to sell us something or pedal information. This person was just like you and I, another military member, but the difference was