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  • What SAPR stand down day is all about

    Ever since I can remember, I enjoyed helping people. It was something that brought me great happiness. Helping support my friends, family and co-workers was always something that I felt was my mission to do. I felt a personal responsibility to serve others and to relieve the pain of those around me

  • It's About the Fairness of the Process

    Occasionally, folks around the base will ask me after a court-martial, "What do you think about the result?" The question comes up more often when the accused member is acquitted or when the punishment appears to be somewhat lenient. This occasionally causes me to scratch my head a bit. The apparent

  • What I learned from amputees: it wasn't what I expected

    A number of years ago, I had the privilege to serve as a chaplain in a training program at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, formerly known as Brooke General Hospital. The program included rotations through a number of different sections on the medical campus. I served two rotations at the

  • Strength in diversity: Col. Bargery's perspective

    As a young U.S. Air Force captain, I served with British forces in a special exchange program. As the only American in an intense and stressful six-month selection course, I was forced to quickly adapt to the special culture into which I'd been thrust. The unique, two-year assignment that followed

  • Step up to address toxic leadership

    Whether we like to admit it or not, toxic leaders exist in our Air Force, from front line supervisors to commanding officers.Every Airman must recognize and confront toxic leadership, because it undermines good order and discipline, corrupts the force from the inside out and is counter to a healthy

  • Zero

    33 - the number of Airmen who have taken their own lives as of April 12, this year. 66 - the number of Air Force moms and dads who have to bear the grief of losing their son or daughter to an untimely and preventable death this year. I have children of my own, and I can't even bear to think about

  • Apply OODA Loop before making commitments

    How many times have you wanted to quit something you were doing? As children, we were often tired, bored or just done with an event but Mom or Dad would not let us stop. I know I did this with my kids. I told them that if they chose to compete for a place on a sports team or take on a project, that

  • The Emotionless Leader: trusted and respected by Airmen

    "I don't want to hurt her career..." "He's the best NCO I've got. I don't want to see him lose a stripe..." How many times have you heard someone in a leadership position make statements such as these when contemplating disciplinary actions when an Airman or NCO makes a terrible decision? Whether

  • I love inflation!

    I'm a ball. Yeah, you heard me right. I didn't say I'm having a ball. That's what my momma did when she gave birth to me. I'm a sports ball - the "basket" kind to be more specific.We sports balls have it pretty rough. My cousins and I may have different functions, but we all, without exception, have

  • 'I never thought it could happen to me'

    We all think, "That'll never happen to me." We've all read the statistics and heard the slogan, "Distracted driving is deadly driving" on AFN. But be honest: Are you always as attentive as you should be? I'll admit it here now that I'm not. Yes, I've taken my eyes off the road to change the radio