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  • In the Old Days

    "In the old days" is a phrase young military members often hear from us older or 'mature' military members. When I use the phrase, it is not intended to conjure up the memories of your grandfather who walked to school, uphill both ways, in 10 inches of snow; it is meant as an introduction to another

  • 'This isn't my Air Force anymore'

    Recently, in the Columbus AFB Commissary, two retired Airmen approached a member of the BLAZE team. Both were very polite, but had several questions and concerns about our current Air Force. One asked if we were still required to wear hats outside and salute officers. Multiple Airmen had been seen

  • Recognition is always a best practice--but you must practice it to be best

    A few years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing the USAFE Command Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman give a talk on recognition and how it is a vital leadership responsibility. Chief Coleman had learned over a 30- year career that regardless of position, rank or time in the service, recognizing fellow

  • Making a difference

    We are confronted with challenges every day in the Air Force. Sometimes, those challenges appear so overwhelming and difficult, it seems like we will never make a difference. It is sometimes difficult to see how we can change or fix things in our organization.For instance, in the early 1960s, the

  • Living the dream today

    It is not my intent to recite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s entire biography. I will not give you a guilt trip about the sins of our ancestors, and I will not pretend we have achieved the vision of Dr. King. While I would agree we as a nation have made tremendous strides in race relations, there is

  • Following the dream ... today and the day after

    The time has come once again to celebrate the vision and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the month of January, we remember what then seemed "a voice crying in the wilderness." How could America of that time transition to the America of the dream? Was Dr. King a man born before his time?

  • Week-long emphasis to focus on cell phone, seatbelt use rule violators

    The wing commander has designated Jan. 11-15 to be seatbelt and cell phone emphasis week. Why would the wing commander do something like this? Well, the safety office has been monitoring and tracking improper use of cell phones and poor seatbelt usage on the installation since last April and we have

  • Team Malmstrom: What does it really signify?

    Of all the bases I have been assigned, this is the first one that has introduced the base as an entity and the personnel assigned as a "Team." I found it interesting in the beginning and really did not understand why we used the connotation, "Team Malmstrom." I didn't know if it was because of the

  • What Kind of Gas Are You Producing?

    No, this is not an article on the effects of methane gas on the ozone layer and its contribution to global warming. It is, rather, a view on the importance of mentorship in sustaining our Air Force. Former Air Combat Command Commander, Gen. Hal M. Hornburg once said, "Airmen are the gas that makes

  • Air Force family forges bonds, eases strain

    As Airmen, many times we put service before ourselves to accomplish the mission. It's what we signed up for, and it's what we're trained to do. Even so, what is more than a little difficult is when mission requires us to put service before our spouses and children. The Air Force does a great many

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