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COMMENTARIES

  • 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

  • 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

  • AF psychologist: wingman concept saves lives

    I was recently deployed as a psychologist on short notice to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in May of this year. Since my return to Charleston AFB, I have been enjoying time with my family and the cooler weather. I have had many people tell me that Al Udeid is a good place to be deployed if you have to

  • The consequences of one bad decision

    I want everyone to imagine laying in a small metal bed with one eye open trying to fall asleep...frightened someone might drop a locker on you as they get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. You are periodically thinking of loved ones back home ... reminiscing about past memories and

  • High-ops tempo produces character, persistence

    I came across a "Dear Boss" letter that caught my attention. The author, an Air Force captain, wrote to the then Tactical Air Command commander, Gen. Wilbur Creech. The captain wrote, "Well, I quit. I've finally run out of drive or devotion or rationalizations or whatever it was that kept me in the

  • The Air Force family and how to find a Wingman

    As we approach Wingman Day at Charleston AFB, I'd like to share a personal story and some views on what it means to be a Wingman. Fourteen years ago and brand new to Hill AFB, Utah, my husband Gary was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma (brain tumor). After the initial identification, things

  • Airmen have many ways to meet their emotional, mental needs

    Seventy percent of 1st Combat Camera's missions this year will be in support of the Army. Combat Camera Airmen are embedded with infantry units, documenting house sweeps, convoys and patrols. Their images short-circuit enemy propaganda, ensuring they cannot claim fault where there is none; they

  • Reflecting back upon Sept. 11, 2001 through memories and songs

    As another year goes by, most of us can't help but reflect back to what we were doing five years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. I'm a country music fan, and many of the songs I hear on the radio make me often think back to that day. There is the Alan Jackson song that asks, "Where were you when the world