An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

COMMENTARIES

  • The bottom three: Leaving your mark

    I recently came across a series of questions, the origin of which is somewhat sketchy. I take no personal credit for them, but I think they offer an excellent opportunity for all of us to reflect on our roles as leaders. The questions posed here are not direct quotations, but capture the essence of

  • Every Airman is an ambassador

    Sept. 18, 1997 was a special day. It was the Air Force's birthday, the 50th birthday of the youngest of the armed forces in America. For me and a room full of nervous civilians, it was the day we swore oaths and shipped off to our services' basic training. As the bus rolled out of the Montgomery,

  • Shaking hands

    I think I blend into the local community fairly well. As far as I can see, the only thing that gives me away is the Department of Defense sticker on my windshield and my Michigan license plate. But on a recent trip to town, I realized there was something more significant and slightly less tangible

  • Reinvigoration: a necessity for today's Airmen

    With chilly, grey weather and lots to do at work each day because of our Air Force's continued high operations tempo, it's easy to get stuck in a rut. The kind of rut that sucks the enjoyment out of what you do, and makes you feel somewhat robotic as you complete your daily tasks. While there are

  • 'Awesome adventure' DAFB member reports from Afghanistan

    I will never forget March 8, 2006. On that day, my commander notified me of my selection for promotion to the rank of senior master sergeant. My family and I were very excited. On the evening of that same day, my commander notified me of my selection for a 365-day deployment to Afghanistan. These

  • Military Readiness ... a family affair

    Military operations and humanitarian relief responses have increased substantially since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While at the same time, the Air Force is decreasing in size. In short, a limited number of troops are handling an unlimited amount of missions around the globe. This

  • The Air Force's most valuable resource

    Transformation. Modernization. Force shaping. Lean reengineering. Recapitalizing the force. If you're an active duty member in today's Air Force, chances are you've heard one of these buzzwords that all allude to the myriad of changes taking place across our service. Multiple, radical changes are

  • Service: Ask yourself what it means to you

    Imagine yourself asking a military veteran from your hometown, "What does service mean to you?" Chances are you'll get an earful in return. In the Air Force, we have the core value of service before self. However, before anyone thinks this is a lecture on core values -- hold on. There's a lot more

  • Thanks for being mine: A letter to my sweetheart on Valentine's Day

    With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I would use this opportunity to write to my wife, letting her know how much her sacrifices mean to me. After I wrote it, I realized it could be a letter from any Airman to his or her spouse of many years. The names of the operations may vary