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Commentary Search

  • Running for others

    In the words of Vince Lombardi "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."I used to run for myself, I loved running and everything about it. However, with time comes change, and instead I now run for

  • Making every day matter

    "No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets." -William BordenAs of this writing, I've been alive 17,789 days. That's 426,936 hours and 25,616,160 minutes. In the course of this time, I've been blessed to laugh frequently, engage meaningfully, and grow constantly. At the same time, I've experienced my own

  • Writing a better story

    "After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world." -Philip PullmanAs you likely have all heard me say since my arrival, human beings are moved by stories. Stories stir the soul, ignite the imagination and engage our hearts and minds in a way no other

  • America: An airpower nation

    After more than a decade of seemingly interminable conflict, the American people have grown weary from long wars abroad and increasingly preoccupied with a sluggish economy at home. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center reveals nearly 60 percent of voters favor removing U.S. troops from

  • EOD world revealed to deployed Airmen

    The world of explosive ordnance disposal is unfamiliar to many Airmen. When danger strikes or a bomb is cordoned off, all they know is a team shows up and miraculously the threat is gone. It seems like an adventurous job, but it is a very serious and an extremely intense career field. While most

  • Manas sentinels sendoff fallen warriors

    It is overcast this early morning at Manas, but familiar. I'm joining other comrades-in-arms to pay respects to a few Fallen Warriors. I felt this same way years ago while standing in formation as a first lieutenant anxiously waiting for my first Honor Guard detail at Bourne National Cemetery,

  • The Heroes of CrossFit: Keeping the community going

    Hero WOD, every CrossFitter knows the term, and every CrossFitter knows that for the next 24 hours after you've completed it, you're smoked - complete muscle exhaustion. But all cramps and bruises aside, you will finish it.A WOD is the CrossFit workout of the day, programmed in blocks to improve all

  • Christmas in July

    Southwest Asia is hot! How hot, you ask? Ask any one of the Airmen conducting base defense operations wearing 25 to 40 pounds of extra gear designed to protect them from dangers when it's 110 degrees. At times it can be difficult to keep their morale up, to say the least, but not on Aug. 8! The 64th

  • Today's Air Force leaders need to RIP into the mission

    The Air Force is experiencing a multitude of challenges as it begins to plan for the post Operation Enduring Freedom world. Sequestration, budget pressures, force structure changes, changing culture, etc. are creating stresses that are unnerving even the most stalwart Airmen. Nonetheless, as Marine

  • Host nation invites Grand Slam officers to Iftar dinner

    Sunday I was lucky enough to be invited to an Iftar dinner hosted by a local military leader at his Falcon Sanctuary. Iftar literally means "to break fast," and refers to the evening meal after sunset when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan.Annually, the military leader