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COMMENTARIES

  • Why are we here?

    I would like for each of you, on Sept. 11 and the days that follow, to consider three questions or more appropriately one question three times. Why are we here? Why are we here? We are here to remember those who lost their lives eight years ago today on Sept. 11, 2001, and those who continue to do

  • Living among patriots

    Every place I live I try to make sure I have an American flag, with no rips or tears, properly displayed in the front of my home. It's not because I'm overly patriotic, it's because I'm so thankful that I live in the United States and that I have the privilege of serving as an Air Force Airman. The

  • A lifetime history lesson in a day

    Rarely in the career of an Airman can you learn so much about Air Force history in such a short time. For me, it fell into one day. That day, July 22, happened when I went to Air Mobility RODEO 2009 at McChord AFB, Wash. My job was to work my public affairs role in highlighting the competition. On

  • An equation for success: Aptitude plus attitude equals altitude

    Aptitude and attitude are both essential attributes for success. Aptitude and attitude will ultimately determine your altitude. It's a notion I see proven again and again by the members in my organizations and at duty stations throughout our Air Force. A proper focus coupled with an ever-expanding

  • Without a bone marrow donor, I wouldn't be here today

    A couple of months after I PCS'd to McGuire Air Force Base, I started to get sharp pains in my abdomen. Like a normal hard-headed male, I thought to myself, "No big deal, the pain will go away." The pain continued to get worse, and after ten days I finally broke down and swallowed my pride. I went

  • Life is too short; don't let it go up in smoke

    My uncle died April 30 from lung and brain cancer, most likely caused by smoking for 50 years. He was diagnosed with cancer less than three months ago.Likewise, my father died from lung cancer in 2004 after more than 50 years of smoking. His diagnosis came about eight months prior to his death.As

  • Who has the most important job in the Air Force?

    Some years ago (I won't say how many), an Air Force Academy cadet visited my base on Operation Air Force. She asked me a question that caused me to do some real thinking. She said, "Sir, I want to be a real leader in the Air Force someday. To do that, I think I need to be in the career field that is

  • Core Values: Don't leave your job without them

     As leaders, we are each charged to ensure the Air Force Core Values are adhered to on and off duty. They are briefed and discussed in numerous venues and commanders and supervisors are on a continual quest to relate them to daily activities and successful mission accomplishment. Under the Back to

  • Unsung heroes

    Irena Sendler, a 5-foot pistol of a woman, defied the Nazi regime and risked her life to save more than 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. She was a Polish Catholic social worker who smuggled children out of the Ghetto during 1940-42 and into the care of many Christian families, convents,

  • Freedom...at 24,000 feet

    Our air refueling mission bore the call sign "DUCE 01." It was printed in capital letters written with a red marker on a dry-erase board in the planning room for the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron. It was 3:47 p.m. on April 9. I sat in the room with seven aircrew members from the 2nd ARS as they went