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COMMENTARIES

  • Ups and downs are a common theme in our AF lives

    This Spring has been a whirlwind of activity with the normal ups and downs of life. School is out for families with children, which brings family fun vacation time. However, that can also add extra stress for parents with kids being around the house or needing to find additional childcare. There are

  • How systems work

    When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was take things apart to see how they worked. I wasn't always able to put these things back together. Approximately 50 percent of the time, I'd wait for the item to no longer be serviceable before I'd begin dismantling it, so it didn't really matter

  • Taking care starts with you

    I hope all of you here at home station get a break sometime this summer to enjoy the company of family and friends and relax. To those whom are deployed, thank you, and your families, for your sacrifices and for the important work being done around the world. I don't have any pithy quotes from

  • Maintenance verses Repair of our Airmen

    This commentary is not about aircraft, vehicles or even any mechanical components. It's about our Airmen in general and how we manage the care and feeding of them throughout their careers. The maintenance verses repair concept is borrowed from the maintenance community and speaks to how maintenance

  • Proud to be embarrassed in uniform

    Have you ever been embarrassed to be in your uniform? I have. Now before every chief on base starts typing an email to the wing commander demanding my head let me explain myself, and then let's see if some of you can remember having been there too.You see, it usually occurred when I had to stop off

  • This Memorial Day remember those who served and make safety a priority

    Each and every day of service you give to our Nation, you are honoring the men and women who have given their lives in defense of freedom. With the Memorial Day weekend upon us, please pause a moment to reflect on those who came before us. Courageous men and women whose selfless devotion secured the

  • Fairchild senior NCO reflects on dignified transfer mission

    I could hear the voice over the two-way radio call out "wheels rolling." That was everyone's cue to get into position...and not move. Everyone was at parade rest waiting for the families to arrive. I was nervous... more nervous than at any point in my military career. My heart was pounding so loud I

  • New pet import rules for European Union and the United Kingdom

    As permanent change of station season starts, it's important to plan ahead for all of your dependents, including the family pet. New rules and regulations have tightened the import of animals into the European Union and the United Kingdom, but the Veterinary Treatment Facility has you covered if you

  • Developing mental toughness

    The Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force has invested millions of dollars and manpower hours into preparing warriors for the stress and mental fatigue of deployment. The Air Force uses a program called Landing Gear to help Airman understand and cope with the mental and physical strains of

  • Find the courage to listen

    As the son of an Air Force pilot, I learned some very pointed and quick lessons from my father early in life. One lesson he taught me as a young man and reinforced prior to his passing, has stayed with me to this day. "Remember Joe, you don't learn when you talk, you learn most when you listen," he