• Meet my Air Force FAMILY

    The Air Force family ... may sound cliché to some; but when I think of what my Air Force family means to me, I think of all the wonderful people I've met, the places I've been, the missions I've supported and the opportunities the Air Force way of life has afforded me.I break down the word family as

  • Layers of leadership

    Remember the movie "Captain America?" The main character tried to join the Army under different names and in different cities, yet he was always denied because of his size and perceived notions about his abilities. This comic book hero eventually overcame his lack of physical attributes, and

  • Family, mission, fun

    Commander's priorities - something every Airman hears from the first day an officer assumes command of a squadron, group or wing to the day he or she relinquishes that command and another officer takes the reigns. To the average junior lieutenant or enlisted airman these priorities may seem

  • "Laws of War" essential for a free country to prevail in a modern world

    The Air Force flies, fights and wins in air, space, and cyberspace while complying with the laws of armed conflict. These rules are also popularly known as the "laws of war" and "international humanitarian law." Broadly speaking, the laws of war govern when a nation may use armed force and establish

  • Fighting obesity leads to lower healthcare costs

    "Certified Healthy"In February, Joel Urdang, the Vance Health Promotion Program coordinator, and I were in Norman for an awards luncheon for schools, businesses, restaurants and the like that were "Certified Healthy Oklahoma." Vance was honored as one of these, thanks to Joel's efforts here. During

  • America – a “Spending” culture

    "Spend, Spend, Spend. It's the American Way" was the title of an article published in the New York Times in 2012. The article purported that spending is seen as a virtue in our collective, patriotic American consciousness. I am a financial counselor with the Airman and Family Readiness Center here,

  • Love has a language - five in fact

    We were blind May 17, 1986 -- our wedding day. Sharon and I expressed traditional wedding vows to each other without fully understanding what we were doing.We said, "I take you," but we failed to see that "you" included our respective families of origin.We said, "To have and to hold," but we failed

  • Force management programs -- threat or opportunity?

    I started as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991, just as the Gulf War was wrapping up. The Air Force was about to enter a Reduction in Force.As I began my career of Air Force service I saw significant reduction to our force structure. Cadets that were nearly guaranteed a pilot training

  • Making today count

    There are a lot of changes happening within the Air Force today as well as the continued debates in our government concerning the future of all military personnel.With debates on military benefits that range from medical care to retirement pay, and with the looming force reduction boards, it would

  • Vance AFSA Chapter 990 -- a year in review

    What a year for Chapter 990 of the Air Force Sergeants Association at Vance.Every AFSA chapter is charged with ensuring folks know the importance of being a registered voter, the impact of effective letter writing campaigns, and just getting down in the weeds to recruit members. This chapter has