11 Jan 2010

My protective shell

I thank God as I stand in my protective shell of Air Force Blue. It's like I work in a building in a city full of other buildings, and I watch them fall down all around me. My building is the Air Force, and the buildings all around me represent the unfortunate decline of our economy. Times are tough and I am grateful for what I have ...

10 Dec 2009

Tips for healthy resolutions for the whole year

As the first few months of the New Year slip away, do you find your resolutions slipping away as well? Resolutions should be reasonably attainable so that you are setting yourself up for success rather than disappointment. Try focusing on small intermediate goals that will ultimately lead you to your primary goal. Do not expect to be perfect and

9 Dec 2009

Healthy resolutions for the whole year

As the first few months of the new year slip away, do you find your resolutions slipping away as well? Resolutions should be reasonably attainable so that you are setting yourself up for success rather than disappointment. Try focusing on small, intermediate goals that will ultimately lead you to your primary goal. Do not expect to be perfect. Aim

1 Dec 2009

Saint Nick cell phone safety message

'Twas the night before Christmas; well, actually the day,And Santa was busy, preparing his sleigh;Loading it down with gifts of good cheerWhile Mrs. Claus took care of all the reindeer.As nighttime approached, Santa grabbed his coat and hat,Then turned on his GPS to look at the map.He hopped into his sled and then flew out of sightAs Mrs. Claus

12 Nov 2009

Promoting family resiliency

Developing military family resilience is a process unique to each military family. No two military families have the exact same struggles and successes any more than any two civilian families. Yet, there are some commonalities that military families share in the quest to build resilience.What is "resilience" and how does the term apply to military

19 Oct 2009

One empty aircraft parking spot

Members of the 20th Fighter Wing, If you had driven the Shaw AFB flight line late Thursday evening you'd have seen rows of F-16 aircraft parked in lighted shelters, with dedicated maintainers buttoning up the jets for the night. But one row was different. One row had an empty parking spot. One ladder still lay on the ground, and one crew chief

13 Oct 2009

Flu vaccinations now availible

The seasonal flu vaccine is currently available to all military family members at the 20th Medical Group's immunizations clinic during the following hours: Monday 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1

6 Oct 2009

How do we hold ourselves accountable?

Accountability. "Our definition of accountability and how we enforce it may differ somewhat, but the need to establish and maintain standards is core to military service," Col. Ted Uchida, 20th Mission Support Group commander, said recently. "Each of us has a responsibility to ourselves, our superiors and our subordinates to establish and maintain

23 Sep 2009

Worst-case scenario survival handbook: Shaw edition

Most people stationed at Shaw probably take the opportunity to leave the local Sumter area for the weekend. Some people may leave to meet friends in larger cities and some leave for vacation. Chances are, if you left Sumter on the weekend of Sept. 18 to 20, you drove through the torrential rains that soaked the South. Particularly in Georgia, the

14 Sep 2009

Remember 9/11

On September 11, 2001, I was at my duty station near the Pentagon when an airliner slammed into the building at 500 miles per hour. In a moment of time, my life, along with millions of others throughout America and the world, changed. The memories of that day that are as vivid and haunting today as the day they occurred. It's still seeing the eyes