Commentaries

  • North Texas aviation pre-dates Sheppard

    Over the last four decades, Sheppard has played a major role in training military pilots and mechanics. Few people are aware, however, of an earlier era, during the First World War, when Wichita Falls was also a training site for military pilots and mechanics. Call Field was located on pastures and

  • Back to school safety isn’t child’s play

    Help keep your children safe from unintentional injury by teaching them safe ways to travel to and from school. Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths among children ages 5 to 14, and for 23 million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on

  • Tornado? Natural disaster? Are you covered?

    If you've been following the news lately, you're reminded that disasters, whether man-made or natural, take many forms. Military members face the potential for catastrophic losses of personal property from a number of events, not just a bad permanent change of station move. Which leads to the

  • Next week -Your chance to make a Fantastic First Impression

    Next week is a busy week for our base. Beginning Monday we'll be assessed by a visiting Environmental Safety Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program (ESOHCAMP) team led by Col Eric Wilbur from Lackland AFB. Tuesday is our base cleanup day. Wednesday, Maj Gen Gould, our 2 AF/CC,

  • Sheppard one of the most diversified training bases in the Air Force

    Known as one of the foremost authorities on military matters in Congress, Morris Sheppard, for whom the base is named, first entered national politics in 1902, succeeding his father John L. Sheppard in the House of Representatives. In 1912, the Texas Legislature appointed Mr. Morris to fill a

  • Doing the right thing when no one's looking

    I was leaving the Levitow Fitness Center July 27 around 7:15 a.m. after flight physical training. When walking towards my car, I notice a note tucked in the drivers side door handle. I thought to myself, "I wonder what this is all about?" I unrolled the note to read: "To Whom It May Concern, I

  • The time is now to prepare for the future

    Preparing for the future is something that all of us should do, but too often delay or never get around to it. Are you in that category? The one who will do it "tomorrow?" The one who says, "It's not the right time?" Well, make tomorrow today and the time right. Get ready for the future now.

  • Let's keep Sheppard looking good

    If you've been outside much this week, you've realized that a normal Texas summer has finally arrived. It's stopped raining and temperatures are soaring into the 100s. Fortunately, with all the rain we've had, the base still looks lush and green, unlike a typical August when things have already

  • Base to be assessed for environmental, safety, occupational health efforts

    ESOHCAMP is a rather large acronym for a very big program. It stands for Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program. Just about everything we do on the base is subject to an environmental regulation, law or directive, and therefore, subject to enforcement

  • Farewell to two Team Sheppard giants

    One of the constants of our military lifestyle is the seeming unending turnover of senior leadership. Every year, approximately half the commanders of our squadrons, groups, and wings change over, with the vast majority turning over during the summer months. This year has been no exception with four