Commentary Search

  • Recognize, reward all Airmen’s achievements

    Last month the Air Force announced a new combat action medal will be unveiled in April to recognize Airmen who have participated directly in active combat, on the ground or in the air. The new medal is designed to highlight the combat part of being an Airman, a part of an Airman's accomplishments

  • Use internal conflict to strengthen your unit’s solidarity

    The military is unique because each member comes from diverse places, and we each have different perspectives, goals and personalities. Each unit also has different individual missions that call for different resources. So where does conflict fit in? Conflict may cause some heartache, but if the

  • Thanks for being mine: A letter to my sweetheart on Valentine's Day

    With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I would use this opportunity to write to my wife, letting her know how much her sacrifices mean to me. After I wrote it, I realized it could be a letter from any Airman to his or her spouse of many years. The names of the operations may vary

  • Volunteering proves to be win-win in every situation

    Most of us probably have taken the time to help a friend or family member in need or may have been the person who needed help. In our country, we are fortunate to have the comforts we have. The power of volunteering is a huge contributor to our comforts, and I highly encourage everyone to volunteer.

  • Be prepared for upcoming Air Force changes

    Recently the Air Force announced that if voluntary separation goals are not met, a reduction in force will involuntarily separate officers who have been commissioned for more than six and less than 12 years. This announcement comes in addition to other force shaping initiatives already underway.

  • Diversity part of Air Force’s past, present, future

    The road to diversity and acceptance has not always easy in this country, but the military has long led the way. From African-American soldiers in the Revolutionary War to the Tuskegee Airmen and the Japanese-American regiments of World War II, Americans of every race have shown their equality in

  • New year calls for motivation to accomplish our mission

    Looking back, I see all the accomplishments we've made in the past year. From months of preparing for an Operational Readiness Inspection to surviving heavy winds and rainstorms, our Airmen are still accomplishing the mission. A new year can mean new stresses, but we have to remain motivated. A lot

  • What I’m Thankful for this Thanksgiving

    This week we celebrate Thanksgiving and some get to enjoy a well-deserved four-day weekend (and mouth-watering turkey) with their families and friends. Traditionally, this is also the time of year when we contemplate what we're thankful for and this year is no exception. Team McChord has much to be

  • Don't let the holidays bog you down

    While holidays can bring feelings of joy, the Air Force is a challenging culture where families experience unique stressful situations. Whether related to separation, finances or other issues, it's not uncommon to hear stories of Airmen going through holiday stress. One year, I remember putting my