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  • Know rules regarding gifts between employees

    Moving season is quickly approaching, folks often want to show appreciation to departing leaders, coworkers and subordinates with parting gifts. Following some simple rules on gift giving will avoid trouble and prevent embarrassment as well. These rules apply to gifts exchanged between Department of

  • Leadership: Learn to laugh through good, bad

    I was born in New York. I was raised by an Irish cop, and went to Catholic School. I have four sisters and one brother. Sounds like a stereotypical Irish Catholic family and it is. We yelled, prayed and laughed a lot in my family. The yelling was because there were eight of us. The praying because

  • Leadership: Is it in you?

    Good leadership is an attribute we should all aspire to attain; unfortunately not everyone makes the effort to achieve it. Good leadership is a skill that is very attractive to employers and employees alike. Who wants to work for or hire for a bad leader? I think the answer is no one. So, how do we

  • Friday nights and flashing lights

    We all understand that drunk driving is illegal, dangerous and incompatible with the expectations of being an Airman. Usually, when we discuss drunk driving, we talk about evenings that went wrong or people who injured or killed others because of poor and selfish decisions. I want to tell a

  • Giving thanks during the holiday season

    As 2008 draws to a close, we have been, and will be, presented with many opportunities to "give thanks." Early last month we watched as our election process ran its course with many giving thanks that their various candidates were victorious. Many more were giving thanks that all the political ads

  • Good to be a "Bad Guy"

    I once worked with a senior master sergeant who I often praised for his willingness to be "the most-hated man in the room." This comment always did two things: shock everyone within earshot and bring a smile to his face. Most of the people who heard me say this simply thought I was insulting him,

  • Are you a carrot, cgg or coffee bean?

    Adversity is no stranger to anyone in the Air Force, but we each handle it in our own way.I found the story below on several different websites, but none listed an author. It's one of those simple analogies about life that "speaks" to me; I hope you can use it in your life as well. How do you handle

  • A Devotional Moment: Giving Thanks

    I'm convinced that many of us have it all wrong about Thanksgiving. Now don't get me wrong, I love the football games, the Macy's parade, the turkey, the stuffing, being stuffed and the feast-induced nap on the couch. What we have wrong, I'm convinced, is why we give thanks. We don't give thanks

  • Are you 'in' the Air Force?

    This past week marked an important milestone as I crossed my 16-year mark in the Air Force. Ironically, I was home on leave where it all started when this milestone occurred. As my dad introduced me to several of his friends, many of them asked me the same question: "What do you do?" My answer now

  • Veterans understand sacrifice, cost of security

    When we joined the Air Force, we became part of a special group--a group of Americans dedicated to a purpose larger than ourselves. This Veterans Day, we honor all those who have served and who are serving--Americans who understand service and who know that freedom is not free. The security and