4 Jun 2007

The men who don't come home

I went to visit my brother this weekend. He's a typical 18-year-old; cocky and arrogant with plenty of spit and vinegar flowing through his veins. As a recent graduate of Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga., he is now a crucial piece in the backbone of the U.S. military and one of the key factors in this country's war on terrorism. I have a

4 Jun 2007

Commander outlines seat belt usage policy

Protecting our resources is everyone's responsibility and Team Malmstroms' number one resource is our personnel. On average, 100 people still die daily in the United States because they didn't wear their seatbelts; the average in Montana is one death every three days. I'm proud to say we have made significant progress in reducing the number of

24 May 2007

Commander's thanks

As everyone knows by now, Team Malmstrom experienced a tragic event last Friday when Snowbird 2, Capt. Shawn McCaughey, crashed during rehearsal for the weekend's air show. At the request of the Snowbird team, we still held our open house without their performance and invited the community to come out and witness our folks showcasing our

17 May 2007

Live by a higher code

As an 11 year veteran of the Great Falls Police Department and a retired Air Force member, I have been charged with the daunting task of trying to reduce alcohol-related crime in the city and at Malmstrom Air Force Base. I have found this to be an uphill battle to say the least. From trying to speak to the Airmen on base to working with the

17 May 2007

General Chilton sends 101 CDS message

Each year, we conduct an Air Force-wide summer safety campaign during the 101 Critical Days of Summer. This tradition started in the early 1980s and was developed to counter the traditional increase in Air Force mishaps and fatalities occurring between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Fortunately over the last five years, the number of Air Force-wide

10 May 2007

Success depends upon teamwork, synergy

Teamwork is essential to the success of any unit. Take an automobile for example. A vehicle needs more than a good engine to get you to where you want to go. It also needs a good transmission, carburetor, steering, tires, electrical system, fuel system and cooling system just to function at a basic level. For it to run smoothly, all of these need

10 May 2007

AADD: Use, don’t abuse program that saves lives

Every Airman assigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base works hard to do their part in our mission to provide the United States with its strategic deterrent. We are in a very serious business with far-reaching consequences ... and we are the very best at what we do. (Just look at the over 40 Air Force Space Command-level and higher awards we have won

10 May 2007

Socrates was right, culture shapes character

Today's newspaper, radio and television news broadcasts are full of morally horrific stories of famous personalities caught making inappropriate comments of a demeaning nature. From racial slurs uttered in comedy clubs, to the vocal debasing of women in popular music genres, this mad societal desire for "shock and awe" entertainment only results in

10 May 2007

20 AF/CC sends safety message: ‘Know Your Limits’

Memorial Day is fast approaching and this year's campaign for the 101 Critical Days of Summer will begin on May 25. The annual campaign was established by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force because we find ourselves or place ourselves in high-risk situations during the 15 weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The goal of the campaign is to

3 May 2007

First impressions can set tone for career

I'll never forget when I first reported to my Officer Training School flight commander, Capt. Charles Brown. After "laying down the law," he asked if I had any questions. This was my first opportunity to make a good impression and I knew just what to ask. On my way to OTS, I spent the night with a friend who was a recent graduate of the Air Force