29 Jan 2013

What's it all about, Altus?

Using the lead off line from the theme song written by Burt Bacharach for the 1966 movie "Alfie" and performed by the British singer Celia Black and others , I thought I'd share my thoughts on why we're all here - work-wise, that is. For me personally, whether it was when I worked in the Mission Support Group for 10 and a half months when first

29 Jan 2013

Air Force challenges - analog leadership is part of the solution set

What does the average American do 60 times and 35 times each day? If you said the average American sends 60 texts and 35 emails per day...you'd be right. In fact, more than 90 trillion emails are sent annually around the globe. Make no mistake; we are part of an integrated, digital world. For the most part, the tools and systems that help us

24 Jan 2013

Mission success requires collective effort

During the past couple of months, members of the 58th Airlift Squadron flew 16 operational airlift missions in support of Air Mobility Command and United States Transportation Command. As I think about the amount of support required to complete these missions successfully, I realize the idea of being appreciative of all the people and units

16 Jan 2013

A call to action -- Three ways to combat sexual assault

While moderating the U.S. Air Force Facebook page recently, I came across a question I found personally difficult to answer. The question was asked by a concerned parent preparing to send a daughter to basic training in light of a widespread sexual assault investigation. She asked, "Will my daughter be safe?"It's difficult to reassure parents about

2 Jan 2013

A culture of professional respect

As proud members of the United States Air Force, we chose to join the military and live up to its standards...emphasis on chose... we asked to be a part of this great organization. By doing this, we voluntarily subjected ourselves to a code of integrity, service and excellence that in many cases even exceeds the standards set forth in other

27 Nov 2012

Discover more of your benefits at commissaries.com

With new features and more savings opportunities for customers, www.commissaries.com is becoming the place savvy commissary shoppers check before heading to the store.The latest addition to the site is the "Commissary Rewards Card," which is now available at all commissaries. Customers use the website to load digital coupons on their cards,

21 Nov 2012

Commander's message to Altus AFB Airmen

It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind, especially with the holidays just around the corner. A stressful day can quickly lead to bad decisions--skip a five-mile run for an additional hour at the office or consume a 1,000 calorie, fast-food meal in your car on the way to an appointment. If not immediately corrected, those bad habits can

20 Nov 2012

The Great American Smokeout and how it began

Since the 1970s the third Thursday of November has been known as the Great American Smokeout. This is an annual event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society that challenges people to stop using tobacco for the day. Tools are also made available to help people quit for good.The idea for the Great American Smokeout grew from a 1971 event in

19 Nov 2012

My journey back to normal

Between August 2009 and March 2010, I lost myself during my deployment to Afghanistan. I remember coming off the airplane and seeing my family and knowing that my world would never be the same again. It took me almost 1.5 years to put my life back together. My family and co-workers greeted me coming out of the secure area of the airport and as I

9 Nov 2012

Yikes! Is this turkey done?

Seeing pink as you're slicing into your beautifully browned holiday turkey is enough to strike fear into the heart of any cook, no matter how experienced they are. Follow these few tips to avoid that scene this holiday season.First, make sure your turkey is completely thawed before being prepped for the oven. Thaw in the refrigerator, on a tray, to