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  • Be a Wingman: Understand the signs and symptoms

    The intrinsic responsibilities bestowed upon us as Wingmen, supervisors and members of the military, revolve around a creed of looking out for one another. Why is it that we tend to ignore those who are spiraling downward?Often times, we as military members get fixated on our job and tasks-at-hand,

  • Live to ride, ride to live another day

    Some memories are Kodak moments - the kind you want to recall again and again. Others are more sinister, hanging around unwanted, as a reminder of life's darker side. One such ominous memory combines one of my greatest joys and my greatest fear into a valuable life lesson.On a beautiful, warm summer

  • The difficult discussion

    Death is a subject that all too often no one wants to talk about until there is no option. Usually we only discuss it when confronted with death due to the loss of a family member, friend or co-worker. We are a unique group of people here. We face death each time we walk through the doors of the

  • Words of wisdom: my parting shots

    April marks my last month with the 445th Airlift Wing. It's been a wild ride and I as I close out my time as the commander of the 445th Civil Engineer Squadron; I humbly offer some tidbits I've picked up along the way:"Eighty percent of success is just showing up." -Woody Allen. You might be the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Plumber's plan to become pilot is no pipe dream

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)With a lot of hard work and a little patience, the dream of becoming a pilot with the Air Force Reserve is beginning to become a reality for a plumber

  • This is how we do

    The other night I was driving home from work listening to the radio. A commercial came on for Mountain Dew and Jason Aldean, a popular country singer, said, "This is how I do" -- then went on to explain his life philosophy. Later I saw a commercial with another music star that was advertising for

  • Thanksgiving: A time to count your blessings

    What will your Thanksgiving be like this year? Perhaps it will include the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, marathon naps, or lots of football. Will it involve preparation for the next day, early morning, bargain shopping? On the other hand, will you, after consuming 3,500 plus calories from all of

  • Ignoring the voices in the crowd

    One of the Air Force core values is integrity. Integrity is often defined as doing what is right when no one is looking. That is a huge part of what it means to have integrity. There are a lot of rules and regulations that govern our conduct as Airmen whether we are on duty or off. Often no one will

  • Service obligation starts by telling employer

    In any relationship, it's important to have open lines of communication. That's particularly true for Citizen Airmen when they deal with their civilian employers.When you are going to be away from your civilian job for military service, you are required by law to notify your employer before starting

  • Don't miss 2012 teen leadership summits

    Have you ever imagined going rock climbing, horseback riding, white water rafting, or scaling a high ropes course? How about waking up every morning for a week witnessing the beauties of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains or the fresh smell of pine and the sound of rushing water of a national forest?