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  • An Airman reflects on 67 years

    Today, Sept. 18, marks the 67th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force’s conception. In 1947, the Air Force evolved as its own branch of service from the U.S. Army Air Forces. This momentous occasion in history is a well-known fact, something with which all Airmen should be familiar. But what does the

  • From one Airman to another: Thank you

    Editor's Note: Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden served as a co-emcee for the 67th Anniversary Air Force Ball at Club Eifel at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 13, 2014. The following letter was read during the Ball. It is based on McFadden's day of reporting on two World War II-era Airmen's visit to

  • Tempus Fugit -- looking back, looking forward

    The movie tone calendar rips off the sepia colored days, clicking with that old-time sound. Days and years seem to pass as fast as seconds when you are lost in melancholy. It seems like it was just yesterday, but all the days past are yesterday. Yesterday, I walked by a desk in one of the shops and

  • Weird animals helping our Saber children

    Maybe you saw it, maybe you didn't, but the Saber chapel was recently converted into a beast of sorts. The annual Vacation Bible School, or VBS, was held Aug. 4-8 with this year's theme being "Weird Animals: Where Jesus' Love is One of a Kind." With 150 children signed up and 45 volunteers

  • Stress Out

    It just builds; day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment. It is usually not a tidal wave but more like the tide coming in. Each day a little higher, covering more of what was uncovered. First thing you notice is that you're a little edgy - maybe a little less patient with those around you.

  • Operational Security at Home: Think like the wolf

    It's been said that a person's home is their castle. And just like the castles we visit all over Germany, there was always an adversary that would seek to breach their defenses. The same can be said of your home. Sometimes, the adversary, which may be a thief, a former spouse, or any other potential

  • JAG corps announces 2015 law school programs

    Officers interested in continuing to serve the Air Force as a Judge Advocate are invited to apply to the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program. Officers selected for FLEP have the opportunity to attend law school at Air Force expense while also continuing to receive full pay,

  • My road to fitness

    I recently found a picture of me from 2012 at the combat fitness gym during a "Murph," an intense workout meant to challenge you and honor fallen warriors. No, I was not participating in the one mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 sit-ups, 300 squats and another mile run event. I was running beside someone

  • Think Operational Security

    There are multiple approaches to security as a whole. Common access cards, security guards, network intrusion detection systems, encryption technologies, communication security equipment-- all are valuable additions to an organizational security program. At the core, however, the strength of any

  • Diversity, performance and mission success: A commander's perspective

    How does a front-line Air Force fighter squadron, tasked to deliver combat air power at a moment's notice, incorporate and encourage the broad principles of diversity into its effort?  Quite simply, we cannot accept anything less than a diverse team to achieve mission success.  For a combat fighter