• Thoughts on "Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States"

    I, (Full Name) having been appointed a (Rank) in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this

  • Be fit, be firm, be fair, have fun – a Chief’s guide for success

    I entered the Air Force when I was 19 years old as an airman basic and learned early on that success was achievable. I learned, and put into practice, four simple attributes that helped me get to where I am now. Be fit, be firm, be fair and most importantly -- have fun.Be Fit. Being fit is more than

  • Understand deliberate development

    According to AFI 36-2618, paragraph 5.1.6, senior NCOs must, "Deliberately develop junior enlisted Airmen, NCOs, and fellow Senior NCOs into better followers, leaders, and supervisors."My Air Force story begins with a senior master sergeant who had a reputation for being extremely strict and mean.

  • Faithful to a proud heritage

    "We are a nation at war." In 2007, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, then chief of staff of the Air Force, used those six simple but strong words to begin his letter to Airmen that accompanied the new Airman's Creed.Moseley had a bold vision for the Airman's Creed. In his letter, he said it was all about our

  • Vance – That’s the one with the beach right?

    No, it's the one in Oklahoma - with the pool. When I am questioned about my assignment here, I find it comical when I tell people I requested this assignment and they can't believe it.It's true though - I asked for it, and I got it. I couldn't be happier either.The welcome to the installation was

  • Find your purpose to reap your reward

    A couple of months ago, I had my first opportunity to attend the pinnacle event that has defined Vance for more than four decades - a student pilot graduation ceremony.Seeing all of the misty-eyed moms and proud dads beaming at the accomplishments of their young Airmen made me incredibly proud of

  • Fatigue management, the dangers of micro sleep

    As the Air Force continues to increase its operational tempo, the number of Airmen suffering from fatigue will continue to increase. Fatigue is a subjective experience that is abundant, pervasive and insidious. In other words, it affects everybody, in everything we do, and we often don't know how

  • Contractors keep AF in the fight

    Sequestration, shutdown, furlough, force shaping, reduction in force -- these are lean times, and it seems we are all asked to do more with fewer people and resources. Under the circumstances, it is easy to lose sight of our overarching mission as we buckle down to conserve resources while meeting

  • Giving your life for your country

    Often times, you will hear that those who wear the uniform are willing to give their lives for their country. The image created in the mind is typically of a brave sacrifice in the face of enemy action or a dangerous mission that required the ultimate commitment with a heroic result and a fatal

  • Taming the “Tyranny of the Urgent”

    Many Airmen lead incredibly busy lives, full of unfinished tasks. We often wish that we had more hours in the day to fit it all in. In our professional lives, budgets remain tight, the Air Force is shrinking, and we are challenged to do more with less. Yet the demands on our time never seem to