19 Apr 2011

Would you rather work harder or work smarter?

In the words of a well-known song,"You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser"You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger ..."Time asks no questions it goes on without you, leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace ..."Today's Air Force is expected to do as much or more than it always has, but with much lower

18 Apr 2011

Keys to success help all meet milestones

Hello Wolf Pack! This year has been packed with successes, tragedies, new relationships, celebrations, traditions, and lessons learned and shared, all to make us more resilient. You, Wolf Pack, have added depth, character and color to my life, you've challenged me to lead, and you've made me get out of my comfort zone (and the proverbial box) on

14 Apr 2011

Sexual assault prevention begins with each Airman

The day we move away from home for the first time is a big stepping stone for most of us. It is the first time we are truly on our own, no longer dependent on our family to provide us with shelter and food. While most of us are excited to move out, there are small considerations that should come to mind during that time, one of them being personal

13 Apr 2011

Biological, chemical warfare agents have roles in today’s, yesterday’s wars

"Gas, gas, gas!" is a phrase many of us have heard during exercises and readiness training. No matter how long you have been around the military, whether you are new to the Air Force or near retirement, we all have heard of biological and chemical warfare agents. We have all done the computer-based training, hands-on training, briefings, numerous

8 Apr 2011

Proper litter carry ensures patient safety

Your alarm goes off, it's 4 p.m. on day four of a base exercise, and the weather is one of Kunsan's cold, snowy, winter nights. After reporting to work and finding your wingman, you begin the waiting game. Soon enough your patience is rewarded and the alarms start to sound. You hear the order for post-attack reconnaissance teams to begin sweeps of

30 Mar 2011

Be mindful of hydration, exposure, clothing to prevent heat-related injuries

Imagine a hot, balmy, late spring day in South Korea. That was the setting in May 2002 at Osan AB, where I had my own personal experience with heat exhaustion. Three medics and I were on an initial response team during an operational readiness exercise. We were called to a scenario with multiple patients on the flight line. As we arrived on scene,

29 Mar 2011

Strong performance relies on strong relationships

Here in the 8th Fighter Wing, a good working relationship with others can make the difference between mission success and mission failure. Although this may seem obvious, I have witnessed situations at Kunsan where improved working relationships between agencies would have led to increased productivity and less frustration.Building solid working

23 Mar 2011

Faster legal assistance is just a click away

The new Air Force Legal Assistance website makes it easier and faster for you to get the legal documents you need. Whether you are at home or at work, you can fill out all the paperwork you need to get a power of attorney or a last will and testament. In the past, you were required to go to the legal office to fill out a questionnaire with all the

23 Mar 2011

How do you measure success?

Some of us measure our success by the rank we wear, the ribbons on our chest, or the degrees we earn. It seems like a simple question to answer, but achieving success takes hard work and dedication. Succeeding in today's Air Force takes a personal commitment and sacrifice to put your service before yourself, having the integrity to do your job the

22 Mar 2011

Security forces NCO remembers challenging first 'intruder'

One thing I've learned throughout my 14-year military career, is that all stories, at least the ones worth hearing, began with the same four words -- "So there I was!" This story is no different. So there I was, a slick-sleeved, beret-wearing security forces member. I was so excited to take part in my first air base defense exercise. I knew exactly