March 5, 2012

Why do we wait?

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — As I approached the exit of a building, I noticed a group of Airmen, both commissioned and NCOs, standing as if they could not open the doors to leave. I wondered if the doors were locked or if there was some type of exercise going on that prevented the group from leaving the building.A technical sergeant noticed my quizzical look and provided the

Feb. 28, 2012

What can you do to stretch yourself and your budget?

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — A previous wing command chief of mine always carried rubber bands in his pocket. He used them as a visual aid when he talked to young Airmen to demonstrate how you as an Airman will be stretched... challenged to do great things. As an installation comptroller over the past several years, the typical budget story for me at the beginning of the

Feb. 22, 2012

Mentorship 101... breaking down the basics

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — What is mentorship to you? Many of you have already stopped reading this article for fear of involuntary narcolepsy... allow me a minute to peak your interest before move on to something more exciting. I promise to spark something in you. There are many great sources of mentorship available. However I would like to focus on why we need to mentor

Feb. 6, 2012

Preparing for a successful ORE

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — The 633rd Air Base Wing will conduct a Phase II Operational Readiness Exercise at Langley Air Force Base Feb. 13 to 15. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare Airmen for combat operations with a focus on training. While Langley is no stranger to inspections or deployments, this will be the first Phase II on the base in more than three years.

Jan. 30, 2012

Lead from the front: An Airman’s experience shadowing a chief for a day

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — The phrase "with rank comes great responsibility" exemplifies the rank of chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Their days begin early and end late. There are more duties than hours in the day. Along with these responsibilities, they must uphold the highest level of military standards.To give Airmen insight into the roles chiefs fulfill

Jan. 24, 2012

Stalking is Lame – and it’s Illegal

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — January 2012 marks the ninth consecutive year that National Stalking Awareness Month is observed. Most people don't think they could be stalked, but according to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 3 million people over the age of 18 report being victims of this crime each year. Ninety percent of those stalked, know who the stalker is. In

Jan. 18, 2012

Looking back, surging ahead: The commander’s perspective

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — There is nothing like the end of a year to cause one to pause, reflect back on what has occurred, and then look to the future. This same concept can be applied to a military unit as well. The 633rd Air Base Wing had quite a 2011, even though it was less than a year old. Standing up in October of 2010, the 633rd ABW and Joint Base Langley-Eustis had

Jan. 10, 2012

Making the right choices this election year

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — The celebration of the start of 2012 brought with it many things that will make this year different than 2011--all those New Year's resolutions, renewed speculation about the accuracy of the Mayan calendar, and, of course, presidential election season.If you have been following the Republican presidential primaries over the past few weeks, you may

Jan. 5, 2012

Leadership – a new perspective for 2012

JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va. — Americans succeed - academically, professionally, on the battlefield and in business. From the time our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, through the Civil War, the Great Depression and the war in Iraq, Americans have tenaciously overcome formidable obstacles requiring remarkable determination. To overcome such challenges, we have

Dec. 9, 2011

TRADOC commander sends holiday wishes, urges safety

FORT EUSTIS, Va. — The winter holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to visit Family and friends, take much needed time off from our daily routines, and reflect on accomplishments of the past year. I extend my heartfelt appreciation and special holiday greeting to all TRADOC Soldiers, civilians, and Family members, especially those with deployed loved ones.This