Commentary Search

  • Suicide prevention: A leadership challenge for all

    Every time a life is lost in Pacific Air Forces I am alerted. All are tragic in different ways, but among the most troubling is when it involves a suicide. During the course of my 35 years on active duty, I've learned that we cannot prevent every suicide attempt. More importantly, I've learned that

  • Letters from Iraq: Outside the wire

    My day began at 5 a.m. by attending the "guard mount" along with the other Airmen who would be conducting a patrol outside the wire. This morning, a salty old master sergeant was in charge and methodically discussed the concerns of the day. His manner bespeaks of a veteran who has clearly performed

  • The Value of Service

    I learned a big lesson on service Aug. 4, 2008, when Eielson had the rare honor of hosting President Bush on a refueling stop as he traveled to Asia. It was an event Eielson will never forget -- a hangar full of Airmen and Soldiers getting to see the Commander in Chief up close, and perhaps even

  • Sole Survival…One Step at a Time!

    All well-built structures possess a solid foundation. The exact same can be said for the human body. Our feet are the rock-solid structures designed to take the punishment we put our bodies through on a daily basis. This article can help people understand the fundamentals necessary for the proper

  • That’s Odd, My Foot Seems To Be Stuck To The Ground

    When I was told last year that I had been hired to be the chief of safety for the 374th Airlift Wing, two thoughts came to mind. First, I thought "they obviously don't know all the unsafe things I've done growing up, or else they'd never have picked me." Followed by, "maybe they do know, and think

  • Common Sense

    While many articles on safety are limited to one specific subject such as driving under the influence or using a grill too close to a building, this article will focus on what I consider the greatest tool to fight safety mishaps: common sense. Statistics have consistently shown that the 101 days

  • Negative effects of shoplifting

    Oh, the difference a year makes. In 2007, only 74 misconduct incidents were processed through the Yokota Conduct Adjudication Program, the lowest in recent history. YCAP is the civilian and dependant misconduct authority on base. This year, 2008, we are on pace to shatter that low record. Of the 74

  • Every Airman ... an airpower advocate

    The Marines live by the motto "Every Marine ... a rifleman." This ethos is foremost in the mind of every Marine, young and old. It's a simple motto, but it sums up what the Marine Corps believes as paramount in the employment of their service. Every Marine, no matter what her or her specialty, is a

  • Veterans – Ambassadors for Life

    This past summer we dedicated the Atterbury Memorial Park and Pacific Legacy Pathway on Hickam Air Force Base as a tribute to the many Pacific Airmen who graced these skies over the last 90 years. As we celebrate Veterans Day, we honor not only the contributions of those enshrined throughout this

  • Drinking and driving: Is it worth it?

    The following commentary was written by an Airman here who was punished for driving under the influence. His leadership asked that this Airman remain anonymous. Drinking and driving. Is it really worth it? Is it worth risking your promotion, your career or possibly your life? Although the "obvious"