Commentaries

Andrews Community Fund improves morale, readines
October 3, 2012 — One of the benefits of being part of a "military family" is that you know your family always has your back. For many, the Air Force Aid Society has helped them in times of financial strain. But, AFA loans have specific criteria before being approved.What other options are there if an Airmen or Sailor cannot meet that criteria? The Andrews Community... MORE

Get fit with HIIT
October 1, 2012 — Would you like to increase the effectiveness of your cardio or aerobic workouts? Do you sometimes feel like you don't have enough time to do an effective workout? Are you interested in losing weight, increasing your cardio/aerobic endurance, or bulking up? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be interested in "High-Intensity... MORE

Strength in adversity
October 1, 2012 — (October is Suicide Prevention Month. This story on Resiliency, is the third in a series of three dedicated to this cause.)Bad things happen to all of us. Sometimes it is just a minor irritant, but at other times, it is a major hurt. How we deal with these setbacks is the key to our resilience.Resilience is a current buzzword a lot of folks are... MORE

The Nellis Mental Health Resiliency Element opened a new web page designed to be a one-stop shop for information on helping resources Feb. 15.

Step in: Ask, Care, Escort
October 1, 2012 — (October is Suicide Prevention Month. This story on Intervention, is the second in a series of three dedicated to this cause.)By nature, I am not the most observant person. I never notice my wife's change of hair color or style, I am never certain if the outfit is new or not, and I could not tell you the last time the kids took a bath. That last... MORE

Unabashedly seek help
October 1, 2012 — (October is Suicide Prevention Month. This story is the first in a series of three dedicated to this cause.)I am a patriotic American male, a full-fledged member of the profession of arms and I've always considered myself as a completely self-sufficient senior noncommissioned officer. Simply put--tough. Or so I thought!During my last deployment to... MORE

Strength, Resiliency, and Knowing Your People... Key Elements of Suicide Prevention
September 20, 2012 — Suicide prevention is more than training, it's more than a pamphlet; it is about people - our greatest asset. When someone chooses to take their own life, the loss has a great impact on family, friends, and our military mission. For those who've been affected by suicide there are a lot of questions which usually go unanswered: "Why?", "How could... MORE

A culture of change
September 18, 2012 — When I first joined the Air Force, many years ago, most of those who had been in a while had rounded out their bodies as they had rounded out their careers, eventually acquiring a pear shape so common that it was used in most cartoon depictions of Air Force NCOs. Air Force NCOs were viewed as skilled technicians, persons who worked with their hands... MORE

What legacy will you leave behind
September 18, 2012 — From the moment you entered the world, since you inhaled your first breath, spoke your first word, or took your first step, you have been building a legacy you'll leave behind for those who follow after. You may not realize it, most of us don't think that far down the road, but your actions or inactions have led you further down the path toward... MORE

The Adventure of Life
September 11, 2012 — "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing," said Helen Keller. "Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." I could not agree more! Nevertheless, I have met many people over the years who have thought that religious people of faith live... MORE

Ethical Wills
August 21, 2012 — We all know of the will; a legal document with which we bequeath money and objects to loved ones and organizations upon our death. But, have you ever heard of an ethical will? It is a letter, usually written by parents to their children, in which parents bequeath advice, life lessons, love and hopes about the life they wish their children to... MORE