• Reach past the surface -- be a true mentor, guide, friend

    Supervisors, you need to know your Airmen, and you need to know your peers. It's a simple-sounding task that is surprisingly difficult to execute.Really getting to know your fellow Airmen usually requires asking personal questions that go beyond the facades posted on social media sites. As

  • We welcome visitors to our tribe, to our homes

    (Editor's note: President Barack Obama proclaimed November National Native-American Heritage Month. He will host the 7th White House Tribal Nations conference later this year, bringing together leaders of 567 tribes to explore opportunities for progress, with a focus on young people. One of those

  • What motivates you?

    Motivation is an idea that is used to explain behavior. It is the reason for people's actions, desires and needs.What motivates you?Is it a pay raise, promotion, family or friends?When I applied for an ROTC scholarship back in the early 1980s, my motivation was monetary. I needed money for college.

  • The importance of mentorship

    When I worked at U.S. Africa Command, the organization took steps to connect its member countries and cultures, to include referencing local proverbs during meetings.The most frequently mentioned saying was; "If you want to travel fast, travel alone; if you want to travel far, travel together."This

  • A goal without a plan is just a wish

    A wise commander once told me that you miss 100 percent of the shots that you do not take.He was not referring to basketball games or golf, firearms or call of duty.Can you imagine what professional basketball would be like if Michael Jordan had given up on playing when he was cut from his high

  • How to be a Great Wingman: A fighter pilot's perspective

    I recently had the privilege of hosting a couple of squadron tours for some of Vance's youngest enlisted Airmen from the 71st Medical Group because of the outstanding initiative of Tech. Sgts. Dave and Jennifer Dibello. While briefing these young Airmen, I correlated what it means to be a fighter

  • The Power of Influence

    As a deputy director of a force support squadron, it has become very clear to me that mentoring is the key to an organization's success. My mentors have shown me that being a mentoring leader and not a dictator, builds unity, loyalty and dedication to the mission among your followers. In other

  • From D-Day to today: Spiritual health remains key

    VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Comprehensive Airmen Fitness is a combination of programs and activities designed to make Airmen resilient so they can make good life choices.CAF is composed of physical, mental, social and spiritual components or pillars. Numerous agencies on base are available to

  • Is there enough time to go back and do it over?

    In today's fast-paced world we all feel pressure related to time. At any one time we are all tackling projects, tasks and other obligations in both our professional and personal lives that place demands on the precious hours and minutes in our 24-hour day. Add in the time we want to spend with

  • Anniversaries are a time for reflection

    New Year's, anniversaries, birthdays, sunrises, sunsets, etc...we have an almost instinctive desire to measure time, and significant moments in time are often when we stop to reflect. Did we get everything accomplished today? Are we where we want to be in life? Have we met our goals? Do we have