Commentaries

  • Critical Days of Summer Safety Message

    With summer at the doorstep, I want to reinforce one of my top priorities, safety. As I've said many times, people are truly our most precious resource. To make this a fatality-free summer, each of us must be fully committed to two key principles. First, we must be real wingmen by watching out for

  • SARC's Remarks

    Sheppard had another winning Sexual Assault Awareness Month on the books! Hopefully, you took notice of our 4-foot high, wooden-teal ribbons at the gate entrances and participated in the Target Hardening/Target Intervention classes. Some of you may have even attended our first professional symposium

  • Lorenz on Leadership -- Sustaining a wingman culture

    On April 20, a 22-year-old man with a history of violence walked into a bookstore in Wichita Falls, Texas, and started shooting. He wounded four women, then drove to a bar and killed an employee outside before he drove home and took his own life. This tragedy sounds like so many we hear about on the

  • Celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day

    "If the military had wanted you to have a spouse, they would have issued you one." Remember those words? Well, that was then and this is now. Today's military recognizes the importance of the military spouse and their contributions to the mission by declaring Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 7.

  • What legends are made of

    Legends sometimes wear capes and fly around the skyscrapers of downtown. They sometimes pull a sword from a stone and command a table of knights. And sometimes legends sit quietly on a tour bus and share stories of fighting for your freedom before you were even born.That is how I met retired Col.

  • Eyes Right

    At some point during your assignment at Sheppard, there is no doubt that you will be affected by at least one of our parades. Whether you are fortunate enough to participate or you hear the beat of the drum and the melodic tone of the brass or you simply see the crisp movements from afar, Sheppard

  • Small but crucial details

    I didn't know it was happening. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Please, tell me how I can fix this. I feel terrible. These are all things we say when someone we love is recovering from something that could have been prevented or stopped, if we had just paid more attention. When I was 13 years old,

  • First Command: AETC first to influence Airmen

    To the men and women of the First Command, I leave Air Education and Training Command after spending the past 20 months honored to be your vice commander. Boy, have you taught me a lot! Thank You. Thank you for your tremendous devotion, service and professionalism. We call ourselves the First

  • An Ounce of Prevention

    On a Saturday morning, you step out of your residence in base housing to find that your driver's side window of your vehicle has been broken out. Upon further exploring the inside of your vehicle, you discover your CD case containing all of your favorite CDs is missing along with the envelope you

  • Approach troop formations with caution

    No matter where you go you may have to wait in line. Even when we are driving, waiting in line is always a possibility while on Sheppard. In your travels around the base, sooner or later you are sure to encounter one of the many troop formations that are marching to and from training. They may be on