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  • The Ultimate Fighting Championship: Air Traveler vs. Carry-On

    Most air travelers will admit they "people watch." When I travel, one of the more spectacular events I enjoy watching is when people attempt to find a place to store their overstuffed carry-on baggage. Sometimes a fierce bout takes place, much like an ultimate fighting championship match; nonstop

  • Common Experiences Start Early: an OSP PA reflects on exchange

    Subject matter experts from various disciplines have been exchanging experiences here since June 1 as part of Operation Southern Partner. Some discuss commonalities in how they protect aircraft, assets and ensure safe operations. Today I joined Kevin Walston, Air Combat Command public affairs chief

  • 'Bystanders' key during Critical Days of Summer

    Across the Air Force, commanders will soon begin to warn their staff about the dangers associated with summer activities as part of the Critical Days of Summer safety campaign. This period of barbeques and water skiing, fireworks and family vacations is the time of the year our Airmen are most

  • Let the 'Endowment Effect' take hold of Airmen

    Which is more valuable, the house you own now or the house you intend to purchase when you PCS? Which is more valuable to the mission, your job today or your former assignment? If you're like most people your subconscious will value what's in front of you -- literally on your desk or in your home --

  • Reaching out on South American deployment

    Imagine a child who only has one meal a day, or one who spends hours in the dump looking for something to eat or sell. While these circumstances may seem unthinkable, my deployment to South America gives me the chance to combat this type of poverty on a daily basis. Two months ago, I deployed with

  • Don’t let ‘Cracks’ turn into ‘Fractures’

    When rocks break apart from mountains, the resulting landslide can be forceful, dramatic and extreme. The start of these spectacular occurrences is most often a small crack, a slight fault in the structure or tiny amounts of water seeping into fissures causing weakness in the mountain's formations.

  • Communication key to climate

    In the coming weeks, you will begin reading and hearing a lot about climate. Not the type of "climate" that's warming or cooling, but the type of climate your organization creates in the workplace. Every three years, Air Force officials take a focused look inside our organization to discover what's

  • Positive attitude can develop opportunities

         In July of 1944, a young Paul Airey floated aloft a breeze over the farmlands of Hungary, having just bailed out of his war-torn aircraft. After destroying the secret radio documents he kept in his jacket, he lit a cigarette and searched for a place to hide from the enemy. As he got closer to

  • Airmen: First on the scene, make lasting impressions

    On my way to work the other day, I saw a minor car accident. A sedan full of teenagers slammed into the bumper of a Lincoln Towncar driven by an elderly gentleman. Immediately, a uniformed Airman leapt from his truck to provide aid. After checking on the occupants of each vehicle, the Airman began

  • Relax: It's the Holiday Season!

    Let's face it: our job is inherently stressful. Whether it's a time-sensitive target or a time-sensitive performance report, stress is an inevitable part of the military career. Stress has a personal cost, both to your health and your pocketbook. In this month's Money magazine, Patricia Gray