An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Commentary Search

  • Mission Support: behind the headlines

    Have you ever looked up at a helicopter or aircraft in the sky and wondered "what does it take for that thing to fly?" If you haven't, don't feel bad. Most folks would answer with the obvious ... pilots and maintenance personnel. But there's more to the story. That's where the advisers of the 443rd

  • Standards

    Will you please roll down the sleeves of your freaking flight suit and un-cuff your ABUs?It starts with basics. While certainly not rocket science or brain surgery, uniform standards and how you live up to them tell a good deal about who you are as a military member. I have never met an outstanding

  • Legacy of Leadership -- Decade of Dominance

    October 7, 2011, will mark a decade since America began combat operations in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom commenced with the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron as the lead B-1 unit. Ten years later the "World Famous" Thunderbirds are stationed in Southwest Asia with the 379th Air

  • Humanitarian mission adds perspective

    Afghanistan -- Anxiousness, excitement and curiosity. Those feelings are how I felt when I went "outside the wire" for the first time. In the Air Force, my job is to work in a communications squadron. I work with records management, SharePoint, Freedom of Information Act program, publications and

  • On the bright side

    We've all heard the briefings on resiliency. At home station, resiliency comes easier, because I have my husband and daughter to lean on. I know that no matter how bad of a day I am having, seeing the two of them at the end of the day always makes me happy. When I was tasked for my deployment I felt

  • For my family

    Departing for a foreign location can be a challenging time for many families. Deployment usually won't make a family stronger if it isn't strong from the beginning. If there are problems with finances, health, communication or trust, adding thousands of miles of distance will only aggravate things.

  • 9/11 never forget 24-hour ruck march

    Ten years ago, the American people faced the most significant attack on homeland soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. As we reflect on the magnitude and scope of the last decade, one word comes to mind linking both of these tragedies, "sacrifice." Sacrifice in all forms, is what the men

  • Never forget

    It was a day like any other, but one I'll never forget; it was beautiful, with the sun rising behind the New York City skyline. I was a seventh grader sitting in class waiting for my teacher to call attendance. Nothing seemed different from the day prior. Children were in the corner rushing to

  • Remembering Ladder 4, Engine 54

    At the memorial service for firefighter Dennis Scauso Oct. 27, 2001, New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani called the efforts of the Fire Department of New York the "largest single rescue operation in the history of the United States."The loss of 343 firefighters on Sept. 11, 2001, doesn't diminish that

  • September 11 reflection

    The day before I left for my deployment to Afghanistan, I spent time valuable time with my wife Megan and two daughters Abigail and Maleyna. We had a large barbeque that afternoon with close family and friends. Abigail was in her bathing suit running through the sprinkler with her cousins in the