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  • The 'happy' medium between OPSEC and social networking: Can it be achieved?

    I can recall sitting in my office at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, when I first realized that e-mail was going to revolutionize our way of doing business. I remember thinking to myself, 'Wow, I just got an e-mail from a two-star general congratulating me on my promotion to lieutenant colonel.' In the

  • Fast track to losing stripes

    April 17 started off just like every Friday. Wake up, get ready for the night shift and get through the work day to start my weekend. What I didn't see coming was the decision I would make at the end of my night, a decision that would ultimately put my career at risk. I made a choice that would

  • Heavy lifting in today’s military

    Our country just celebrated Memorial Day on May 25, and this month are celebrating Independence Day on the 4th of July. Sandwiched in between these two significant holidays, the 94th Airlift Wing deployed one aircraft, along with maintenance and operations personnel, to participate in Operation

  • Being safe is key

    As the new wing Chief of Safety, I wanted to introduce myself to you and say how gratifying it is to know and see the seriousness with which our military tackles safety in general. It's rewarding to witness our military's determination to not only learn from our past mishaps, but to also be

  • Die Vergessene Luftbrüke (The Forgotten Air Bridge)

    May marks the 60th anniversary of the end of an extraordinary and massive effort to save the city of Berlin from a Soviet blockade, which was designed to bring the people of the western sector of town to their knees. The U.S. Air Force, along with the U.S. Navy and allies from around the world,

  • The American Airman

    You will not find their names etched in granite or marble stone; or on neatly placed placards with accompanying pictures lining the hallways and corridors of the Air Force's numerous buildings and edifices; nor recorded in great literary text and canonized in the books of our Air Force history

  • Dog tags identify more than the present

    My first instructor at USAF pilot training barked: "always wear your dog tags when you fly so we'll know who you are." Since I feared the guy, I did as I was told. Those two small disks, embossed with my name, social security number, blood type and religion have almost always dangled around my neck.

  • A part of history

    In all honesty, I don't truly think it has hit me yet; that we actually have our first African American President. Yes, I have met and talked with him, but it will take some time for this to really soak in. I grew up in a school with a very small number of minority students and in a time when there

  • Fulfilling a dream

    On January 20, 2009, I braved the frigid temperatures of Washington D. C. to be a part of history and witness the inauguration of the first African American President of the United States of America, along with my husband, daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren.The experience was awesome and

  • History through my eyes

    As I boarded the bus bound for the 2009 Inauguration, all I could think about was that 'History is about to be made and I will be there to witness this great moment in time.' As I reflected on past marches and other large gatherings, I had no idea of the impact of being a part of such a crowd would