1. Palmer Station on the Palmer Sweet life.

Luxury cottages. Gourmet dining. Spa and wellness center. Senior life is sweeter here. Call 803.739.5040.

stillhopes.org/indigowoods

Peninsula [Antarctic Peninsula], 2. McMurdo Station in McMurdo Sound near Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano in the world, and 3. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Sta- tion near the geographic South Pole. At least, that was true when I

was deployed on the Coast Guard ice breakers USCGC Burton Island [WAGB-283] and USCGC Northwind [WAGB-282] in the 1975 and 1976 seasons for Operation Deep Freeze. Once the ships were engaged in

It brought to mind an experience that I had as a second lieutenant that taught me a leadership lesson concerning commander’s expecta- tions, perceived or otherwise. As an additional duty, I was ap- pointed as the squadron’s public af- fairs representative. As such, my task was to write articles and take pho- tographs in various squadron work centers to highlight the important work squadron members were doing. Camera in hand, I showed up at one of our maintenance shops to take pictures to use with an article I was writing. When I entered the work area where I wanted to shoot, I noticed that it was cluttered with tools and the like. I deemed it not very photogenic

and off-handedly commented to the senior NCO in charge, “I’m sure the commander would want this place cleaned up before I take pic- tures.” There was one hidden flaw

18 MILITARY OFFICER OCTOBER 2015

in my well-intended guidance: I had never, ever broached the subject with the commander and was sim- ply speaking off the cuff. This seasoned maintainer saw

right through my deception and shot right back at me, “Lieutenant, you really have no clue what the colonel thinks.” This brief interaction with one older and wiser taught me one of the commandments of leadership: Do not use the commander’s name in vain.

—Col. Bill Malec, USAF (Ret) O’Fallon, Ill.

Antarctic Accuracy [“See the 7 Continents: Antarc- tica,” Rapid Fire, August 2015 men- tioned] “Palmer Station on Anvers Island, the only research station in Antarctica.” As far as I know there are three year-round U.S. Antarctic research stations on the continent:

breaking the channel into McMurdo Station for the annual supply ships to refuel and restock provisions for the winter-over parties, the helicop- ters chopped to the National Sci- ence Foundation in McMurdo to fly scientists around for their respec- tive scientific missions. —Lt. Cmdr. Leonard “Mickey” Strong, USCG (Ret) Life Member via email

New Edelweiss Rules An item of interest, if you have not heard: The Germans have stopped any guest from using the [Edelweiss Lodge and Resort Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC)] unless you are stationed in Germany. This is vital information to retirees like myself who use the lodge. The info is available on their website [at www.edelweisslodgeandresort .com/reservation-eligibility]. —Lt. Col. Don Bowie, USAF (Ret) Portland Chapter, Life Member via email

Editor’s note: Read more about this recent AFRC policy change on MOAA’s website, http://www.moaa .org/afrcedelweiss.

For submission information, see page 6.