7 Mar 2012

My cup runneth over

I've found the majority of military people tend to have type "A" personalities. This means we don't seek help and believe we're capable of handling everything on our own. Sometimes, everything hits you at once. You find yourself in the midst of one of those weeks where despite all you have on your plate, others keep piling it higher and higher. It

2 Mar 2012

Ethics and core values

Ethics, core values and the military professional; why do I want to discuss them and are they really so important that they deserve this effort? Some concepts and definitions will follow that may help you understand the importance of how ethics, core values and being a professional interact.Let's begin by defining the word "profession." The noun,

23 Feb 2012

The tower, the tea room or the trenches...where are you?

As our country tightens its belt, so will our military. Therefore, sound decisions are more critical than ever. Differing perspectives can help leaders at all levels make smarter decisions, understand impacts and have a clear view of reality.Most of us have heard the expression "living in the ivory tower." This 19th century phrase usually carries

13 Feb 2012

Accomplishing the mission during difficult times

The best organizations, the best teams and the best people find ways to accomplish their mission even during the most difficult of times. We know our Air Force is heading into a difficult time that will be characterized by fewer people and less money than we would like, while our overall mission -- to defend our nation in air, space and cyberspace

3 Feb 2012

How is your "State of the Union?"

A couple of weeks ago, President Obama gave his 2012 State of the Union address. In his address, the president laid out for the American people where he thought the country was strong and weak and presented ideas of where he thought we should focus our national efforts to strengthen our economy and overall prosperity. The simple process of taking

9 Jan 2012

C’mon Man!

Many sports fans enjoy 'C'mon Man', a popular segment on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown studio show where the ESPN hosts look back on the week's boneheaded sports plays and, after describing the play and showing it on video, the host ends by saying loudly, 'C'mon man!'If you haven't watched the segment, you likely can still relate to the term. You

30 Dec 2011

The Cost of a No-Show

A missed medical appointment means a physician, technician and nurse suddenly find themselves with time on their hands that should have been filled by a patient seeking health care. Although the brief break from a particularly hectic day and the chance to reduce the pile of paperwork may be appreciated, the access to appointments, productivity and

30 Dec 2011

Remember! Celebrate! Act! A day on, not a day off!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January in the United States. The holiday is commemorated around the time of Dr. King' s birthday, which is January 15, 1929. It celebrates the life and achievements of Dr. King, an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to

28 Dec 2011

2011: A year in review

The year 2011 was action-packed for Team Barksdale, the local community and our nation. It was filled with exciting projects and events, deployments of hundreds in the 2nd Bomb Wing and multiple major inspections. It was also a year of tragic loss of fellow Airmen and service members.The beginning of the New Year brought in prominent changes. In

16 Dec 2011

Drive or Ride? You decide

Have you ever been a passenger in a vehicle while the driver was not paying attention, speeding or driving recklessly? You're overwhelmed by the feeling of not having control. You tense up slam your foot to the ground to apply your passenger brake (as if that would help), and brace for an impending impact. We've all, at one time or another,