Commentaries

  • Moral courage and feedback

    One of the privileges of command, being a supervisor, and arguably, being a trusted family member and friend, is shaping and influencing others' lives. We increase our humanity through relationships, and it requires an uncommon commitment to value all people and seek to help them achieve their very

  • Ascending to spiritually mature leadership

    Imagine for a moment a four-tiered fountain. The bottom basin is broad, but shallow, and each next higher level of the fountain gets progressively narrower, but deeper, until the narrowest and deepest tier at the top of the fountain. Representing stages of spiritual maturity, each next tier up the

  • Task Force Black Remembered

    As the U.S. and NATO allies and partners realign mission focus in southern Afghanistan, OSI ends an era. Task Force Black (TFB), also known as Expeditionary Detachment (EDet) 2413, has reached its End of Mission and rolled up its trademark Jolly Roger flag and unit logos. As these symbols are

  • Filling the 'white space'

    Quiet times of reflection are crucial to innovation and creativity. For me the best solutions, decisions, ideas, and connections develop when I am reflecting either by myself or with others, when I am taking time to listen with no agenda, when I am not in a rush to move on to the next event.

  • Desert Storm veteran influences daughter’s call to service

    The 30th anniversary of Desert Storm was Jan. 17, 2021, and I have come to the quick realization that my biggest motivation for joining the military in the first place was my father, former Staff Sgt. Larry Shanes of the U.S. Marines.

  • February Fitness Tips

    Here are five tips for having a healthier 2021 and a dumbbell ab workout with some surprising core-challenging moves.

  • Being a good wingman….What does it really mean?

    In the Air Force, we talk a lot about being a wingman, but what does that really mean? I'm sure if you polled your fellow Airmen, those answers would vary significantly. The wingman concept is probably most notably known for its use in the fighter community. By positioning their aircraft just behind

  • How to be a great wingman

    What does it mean to be a great wingman? Does it mean you say hello to everyone you come in contact with regularly? Does it mean you make yourself available to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? If you answered yes to all, then you are on the right track.

  • 302 AW command chief explains Non-Extended Active Duty program

    One of my duties, and with Chief business, is to highlight and provide information about beneficial programs so you can make the best decision about your Air Force career. One of those program requirements is the Non-Extended Active Duty (EAD) which is the pathway for an enlisted member to become an

  • LEADING THROUGH ADVERSITY

    Am I the only one that thought 2020 was a crazy, yet revealing year? From the COVID-19 pandemic, the wildfires that plagued Australia, the missile attack on Balad Air Base, the untimely death of the great Kobe Bryant, to the numerous protests of the racial injustice that struck the United States at