Commentaries

The day America lost its innocence
September 11, 2014 — I was nine years old. I looked up into the blue, September sky, and saw a plane flying overhead. I thought about the people inside, who they were, where they were going, and why they weren't about to go to school like me. I often looked at planes; this was not out of the ordinary for a child who had been deemed "easily distracted." In the hours to... MORE

For information on combating stress and stress-related reactions, contact the 36th Medical Group on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, at 366-9355. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariah Haddenham/Released)

Finding light through darkness
May 1, 2014 — (This story is part of the "Commentaries" section on AF.mil. These stories capture the experiences of Airmen from a first-person perspective.)Keeping a secret that defines you, that has shaped your life for nearly three years now and is sure to shape the rest, a secret that you go to sleep with every night and wake to every morning is sometimes... MORE

Senior Airman Dennis Sloan, 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, walks on the Joint Base Charleston flightline in search of a photo May 5, 2013. A victim of sexual assault, Sloan says his passion for photography "keeps (him) breathing" and offers solace from his otherwise painful memories. (U.S. Air Force photo/ SrA George Goslin)

Flight for life
March 20, 2014 — Last November, I was offered a chance to support a mission to Afghanistan, which I jumped on before I even knew the full details. My mission, as I had chosen to accept it, would have me rendezvous with an imbedded Washington Post duo in Afghanistan and escort them back to the U.S. I was also document an aeromedical evacuation and the life-saving... MORE

Personnel from the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility load patients on a C-17 Globemaster III at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 19, 2013. The CASF’s primary role in the aeromedical evacuation mission is to evaluate patients’ medical records, stage patients and secure appropriate transportation for higher-level care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aaron Stout)

Think before you act: It only takes a second for your actions to go viral
March 18, 2014 — Have you ever done something you wish you could take back? Said something mean ... wrote something inappropriate ... behaved in a way that was disrespectful? I'm sure you have or you wouldn't be human.However, in today's society some of these behaviors never go away, even if you tried to delete them. They are documented in Facebook status updates,... MORE

Finding balance in the deployed, home station environments
January 28, 2014 — Many talk about finding balance the professional and person, yet for so many of us, especially while deployed, our work blends into our life. Finding balance to me means ensuring my energy stays level and I'm able to easily manage all the roles in my life. In the deployed environment, life can be complicated in that while there are less roles for... MORE

Becoming an "Airman"
January 15, 2014 — In my time spent serving my country, I've learned something very important. Being in the Air Force is not the same as being an Airman.I didn't really understand what that meant at first, but I have my own thoughts on this key difference.Being in the Air Force, to me at least, means that you wear the uniform, have a rank and follow orders. Being an... MORE

"Zuhls' Rules" - Synthesizing Leadership & Management
December 23, 2013 — This is the third of a three part series which explores leadership, management and synthesis, or combining, of the two. The purpose is to make us better problem-solvers in our 21st Century Air Force.As we discussed in the previous two articles, to be a successful leader one must understand and employ basic management principles. The best leaders... MORE

Zuhls’ Rules – Management
December 19, 2013 — Editor's Note: This is the second of a three-part series designed to explore leadership, management, and synthesis of the two. The purpose is to make us better 21st Century Airmen.In the first commentary in this series, we recognized our Air Force needs leaders capable of dealing with the complex and dynamic issues facing us today. Additionally, we... MORE

Zuhls' Rules - Leadership
December 12, 2013 — Editor's note: This is the first of a three part series designed to explore leadership, management, and synthesis of the two. The purpose is to make us better 21st Century Airmen through reflection and action. People around the world are saying our country is in "trying times" and that we've "lost our role as the world leader." Perhaps we've... MORE

Join The Great American Smokeout/Turkey Trot 5K run!
November 18, 2013 — Are you thinking about smoking? Are you thinking about smoking a turkey? Maybe The Great American Smokeout and Turkey Trot are for you. In collaboration with the Fitness Center, the Health and Wellness Center will kick off the annual Smokeout and Turkey Trot with a 5K run scheduled on Nov. 21 at 7:30 a.m. at the West Fitness Center. The Fitness... MORE