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  • The secret to success is TAP

    The Transition Assistance Program class I took from April 14 - 18 was an eye-opening experience. As the manpower and personnel flight chief for Spangdahlem Air Base, I see the "behind the scenes" of all of these Force Management programs that have been in effect so far this year. Now, as an officer whose Air Force Specialty Code and year group were
  • Finding light through darkness

    (This story is part of the "Commentaries" section on AF.mil. These stories capture the experiences of Airmen from a first-person perspective.)Keeping a secret that defines you, that has shaped your life for nearly three years now and is sure to shape the rest, a secret that you go to sleep with every night and wake to every morning is sometimes
  • Protect yourself from feral animals

    One huge safety risk that poses a threat to all members of the base is the potential to contract diseases from feral animals.A feral animal is a creature that has not been domesticated or has escaped and become wild.When coming into contact with feral animals, some animal lovers inadvertently contribute to the buildup and increase of feral
  • Who told you 'You can't vote?'

    Voting - it is a vital right we in the Armed Forces defend every day. By exercising your right to vote, you are letting your voice be known and telling your civic leaders that you care what decisions are being made. As Andrew Lack, CEO of the Bloomberg Media Group, said, "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote." For such an
  • A unique NATO partnership

    If you were to research the Netherlands, you may find information on Amsterdam, wooden shoes or the numerous canals that flow through this small country located in northern Europe. Not many people know we have a small team performing a unique NATO mission in the town of Volkel.At Volkel, you will see U.S. Air Force personnel alongside their Dutch
  • Bystander intervention matters

    Bystander intervention or stepping in during a potentially dangerous situation can make a huge difference in the lives of those involved. Below is the story of a Spangdahlem Airman who stepped in to stop a potential sexual assault. A few weeks ago, I was out with a group of my friends at a local bar. We had been enjoying each others' company, and a
  • Reflections on hell

    Morris Stein, grandfather of Tech. Sgt. Erica Stein, 606th Air Control Squadron, native of Pittsburgh, Pa., is a survivor of the Holocaust. In honor of this Holocaust Remembrance Day, Stein has shared her family's story. Any views or opinions presented in this commentary are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the
  • Step up to address toxic leadership

    Whether we like to admit it or not, toxic leaders exist in our Air Force, from front line supervisors to commanding officers.Every Airman must recognize and confront toxic leadership, because it undermines good order and discipline, corrupts the force from the inside out and is counter to a healthy organizational climate. What does toxic leadership
  • Combat readiness training prepares Airmen

    EDITOR'S NOTE: Airman Nuckolls participated in the 606th Air Control Squadron's combat readiness training exercise here April 13-18. The weeklong exercise simulated a deployment with both instructors judging their every move and volunteers serving as opposition forces to test their effectiveness.  The following is his story as the unit's public
  • It's all about perspective

    In January 2009, my life abruptly arrived at a fork in the road. While my squadron was making final preparations for our six-month deployment, my wife was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. We were living near Misawa Air Base, Japan at the time, and being a remote base, we were medically evacuated to Tripler Army Medical Center,
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