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  • Pros do not outweigh cons for tobacco use

    The use of tobacco is a constant battle. I have struggled with on and off tobacco use since I was 15 years old. Quitting tobacco is not an easy battle to win, but with the right weapons it is possible. Mark Twain said, "To quit smoking is one of the easiest things in the world. I must have done it

  • Standards - our lives depend on them

    As members of a uniformed military service we take an oath to faithfully obey the orders of the president and the commissioned officers appointed over us. We are also expected to uphold, maintain and comply with numerous standards in the performance of our duties. For most of us, maintenance of

  • TPCP requires more info, offers same coverage

    The Third Party Collection Program is a congressionally mandated program that authorizes military medical treatment facilities to bill private health insurance plans for services provided within the respective medical facility. The success of the TPC program is dependent on the medical facility's

  • Networking websites can present risks and pitfalls during hiring

    The rapid growth of social-networking sites creates several risks to employers, supervisors and commanders. A 2010 survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 45 percent of employers use networking sites, such as Facebook, to evaluate prospective candidates. Employers, like the Air Force, must be

  • Why do "they" always win awards?

    Doesn't it make you upset when you see the same people always winning awards, getting the recognition that you feel you deserve? So you ask yourself, "What can I do to improve my chances to make things better for me?" "How can I win these awards?" There are several ways to be successful at getting

  • Success is a personal choice

    Williams Jennings Bryan said, "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."Even after 16 years in the military, it continues to surprise me how often I hear military members make comments regarding others who always

  • Your own "gotta do's"

    Balancing work, family, time, and money are challenges we all face, no matter what we do. I read the book "Life Matters" by Stephen Covey and he lays out three "gotta do's" to help you find the right balance to fit your situation. The "gotta do's" are to validate expectations, optimize effort, and

  • When opportunity knocks

    How many times have you answered the phone and someone on the other end has said, "Hey, have I got an opportunity for you?" It happened to me the other day when the Air Force Personnel Center called and had an opportunity for one of my lieutenants. The question that came to my mind was, "How the

  • Your work is more than just a job

    At the Air Education and Training Command Symposium we had the opportunity to hear the Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Mike Donley, speak about the team work involved to launch and fly a two-ship, F-16 Fighting Falcon formation in Afghanistan in support of combat operations. From the pilots,

  • Selling Altus

    I want you to think back to the time you were notified that you had an assignment to Altus AFB, Okla. What happened next was probably the same or similar to what most experience once they are notified of a PCS move here and others find out about it - you probably wanted more information about where