• Building your personal chimney

    Recently, while sitting in a class on resiliency, I listened to a facilitator use the four pillars of a building to demonstrate how to cope with life. At that moment, I recalled how my father taught me at a young age in a similar manner. When I would approach him with a situation that hadn't turned

  • HRDC develops Airmen

    In our abbreviation filled world of the Air Force Reserve, one you may have seen is HRDC, also known as the Human Resources Development Council. One of the roles of HRDC is implicit in its name: to assist in the personal and professional development of our Airmen. What may not be obvious is HRDC

  • Taking charge of your career

    Are you prepared and being proactive in your career, or are you hoping the old saying "good things happen to those who wait" is true? As an Air Force reservist with more than 20 years, I've seen folks miss great opportunities. As a traditional reservist years ago, I remember having to work hard to

  • Personal, professional integrity

    Do you stop at a stop sign in the middle of the night, when there are when there are no other cars around? Do you give back the extra money when a cashier gives you too much change? Do you still text while driving? These are all instances of personal integrity. Do you make sure your uniform is

  • Retirement: Time passes quickly, so make sure you have a "Good Year"

    Are you going to have a good year?"I've learned it's not just the new reservists who are uncertain of how the Reserve retirement points system works but seasoned Citizen Airmen as well. Originally, I was one of them. I had probably been in the Reserve a few years when the military's personnel arena

  • No pencil eraser for social media mistakes

    In February 2010, Pentagon officials authorized using social networks on unclassified military computers. They believe the benefits of social media outweigh security concerns. However, operational security has always been a military constant and that has not diminished with the advent of social

  • Easing the hearts and minds of those at home

    Walking out the door to process for yet another deployment, my youngest daughter stepped in front of me with tears in her eyes and pleaded for me not to go. I picked her up, held her close, and promised to be back soon. My oldest daughter knew I was going to be gone longer than I told her sister.

  • No faux pas gift giving

    When I departed my first duty station in the 1990s, I thought it was exceptionally nice of my co-workers to host a going away dinner in my honor and shower me with gifts. Little did I know, at that time, of the Joint Ethics Regulation which governs gifts for Department of Defense employees. I'm

  • Air Force leaders issue Veterans Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy send the following Veterans Day message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force:America is built upon the achievements and the sacrifices of veterans. On Veterans