SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Get mentored or get left behind. Air Force development opportunities are becoming more competitive and without proper guidance an officer stands the chance of missing important milestones.

As my time here at Madigan comes to an end, I am once again reminded of what an honor it has been to be the director of Health Services leading Madigan Army Medical Center as your health care provider on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. — Since shortly after its birth as a separate service, American Airmen have worn the color blue.

Last week, the Soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division celebrated resiliency through fitness as we conducted our first Bayonet Week since the division reactivation in October of 2012. Through sports competitions, we sharpened our competitive edge, reconnected to the Warrior Ethos, strengthened our professional bonds and learned once again the importance of trust. Taking time to conduct team-building exercises and events is critical to all excellent units and teams.

I recently stood in line at a base dining facility behind three Soldiers, marveling at their conversation as we waited.

Over the last 12 years of war, our Army has demonstrated exceptional competence, courage and resiliency in adapting to the demands of war and accomplishing the mission.

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — I was recently sitting on my uncle’s porch in Compton, Calif., when my uncle began playing Al Green on a new stereo system he had just purchased.

Armed Forces Day, Freedom Fest on July 4 and JBLM’s Air Expo are special days we share with our friends in neighboring communities.

Space-available travel on Air Force cargo and charter aircraft is still a great way to save on travel expenses, as my wife and I relearned recently by catching the “Spirit of Freedom” flight from SeaTac Airport to Yakota Air Base, Japan.

I think most would agree that professional athletes must be at the top of their game if they are going to compete and be successful. However, can we in contrast apply the same paradigm to Soldiers? I would say, “Yes.” It’s not too far of a stretch to place Soldiers and professional athletes in the same category.

Coming home from a deployment can be tough. I’ve been on six so far, but the last one was by far the hardest to come back from. Not because I had such a great time but because so much had changed in my life while gone.

From the implementation of the national budget sequester to the recent announcement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel of deep future cuts in military spending, a new season is dawning for our armed services.

Throughout our careers, we’ve all been told the importance of timely and honest feedback. In fact, it’s required to be documented on every performance report.

Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a rut and not being challenged on the job? You may be eligible and qualified for one or more Air Force special duty assignments will change up your current routine. I have have worked in three special duty assignments which have given me unique perspectives on my Air Force career.

In his Marching Orders, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Ray Odierno, communicated his intent and priorities to the Army. His intent is to sustain a high-quality, all-volunteer Army that remains the most decisive land force in the world; provide depth and versatility to the Joint Force; remain agile, responsive and effective for Combatant Commanders; and ensure flexibility for national security decision makers in defense of the nation at home and abroad. He also placed special emphasis on adapting leader development to meet future security challenges in an uncertain and complex environment and foster commitment to the Army.

Some short-lived Cinderella stories and truly excellent teams competing at their best during the NCAA basketball tournament last month were a college basketball fan’s dream come true. As each team strived for a win to advance to the next round, it became clear that star players don’t always get the job done, become injured, or the glamour goes to their heads. That’s when the coach reached back and pulled from the bench, not always grabbing the star player but nonetheless a key player to the team. The deeper the bench’s talent, the further the team advanced in the tournament.

I’m not sure when I first heard ‘do more with less’, but I expect that some derivative has been in the vernacular longer than any of us have been alive.

If you aren’t a Soldier leaving the military or a veteran seeking a career change, please find one and tell him or her my story. The Army Career and Alumni Program works, and I am proof.

Our organization is without a doubt the greatest on the face of the earth. We recruit, mold, and retain energetic highly competent driven professionals with “can-do” personalities and attitudes. Otherwise known as you!

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON — In honor of April’s Month of the Military Child, I created a Top 10 list of the qualities I most appreciate about children from military families. Their amazing service and sacrifice deserve a much longer list, but I figured this would at least be a start.

It may be time, but sometimes it’s hard to leave the ‘hooah’ behind. Military skillsets gained and deployment experience, along with the camaraderie built with fellow Soldiers can make the prospect of transitioning to civilian life daunting. And that’s even before you factor in the struggling economy and job market.

What does it take to succeed?

I love the aroma of hot coffee filling the house when I step in the door on a cool day, and I like the social dynamic of making a pot to share with others. I never thought I would want one of those machines that makes single cups of coffee until my wife gave me one for my birthday. I argued they were too expensive, but she gave me one anyway!

As we work together to promote the health and wellness of America’s military family, let me just say what an honor it is to be your Director of Health Services at Madigan Army Medical Center.

When I joined the Air Force years ago, I was just looking for a way out so that I would not become a societal statistic. After graduating high school, I went to a recruiter and asked to be around airplanes. He said, “(Your job) is air transportation.” This was the start of my profession.

Through the last decade, the Army has enjoyed very robust funding. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, it is inevitable that funding will become more constrained. A more austere fiscal environment is unique to many of our Soldiers, but it is not without precedent. We will not sit back as a victim of circumstance; we will utilize this as an opportunity to refocus our efforts to develop our core competencies. While this presents challenges — further complicated by the uncertainty generated by the Sequester — we will adapt, move forward and continue to train.

Throughout history women have long fought for the right to be included in many facets of society. From the right to vote to breaking into traditionally all-male professions, the list of victorious battles and achievements goes on and on.

Over the past 12 years, our Army’s Soldiers and infrastructure have been thoroughly tested, preparing for and executing counterinsurgency and stability combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those missions have supported multiple peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief deployments in other countries. At the same time, Soldiers participated in exercises that shaped the environment, built enduring partnerships and formed lasting partner capacity.

So you noticed the tattooed arm on the front page this week. Let me explain.