Commentary

On April 22, Earth Day was recognized by more than a billion people in 192 countries. First celebrated in 1970, it is designed as a day to honor the Earth and bring attention to environmental issues.

Our Air Force is undergoing significant changes as we move toward becoming a smaller, more capable fighting force. As we progress, the need for Airmen to step forward and fill the gap has never been more important, and the leadership they display will make all the difference.

For anyone who knows me, it’s no surprise I love animals. Specifically, I love dogs, and even more specifically, I love my dogs as though they are my children.

As I sat in my commander’s office, I thought to myself, “Am I the best person to write about stress?” After all, I am a new first sergeant, new to an overseas location and new to the line-side of the Air Force. What could I possibly know about stress?

One of my favorite movies is called “The Mighty.” It’s about an awkward boy with learning disabilities and an unmistakably large stature and his friend who is riddled with birth defects, plaguing his ability to stand and even walk on his own. The two rely heavily on each other to fill in their personality and learning gaps.

A diverse force is our unique advantage in providing forward-based combat power for America.
Diversity of cultures, beliefs and ideas are ever-present in our professional and personal lives. These differences among Airmen make us more effective.

We are approaching the time of year where Fasching celebrations occur in many towns and cities in the local area, including Ramstein-Miesenbach and Kaiserslautern. This annual event is a pre-Lenten carnival, during which celebrants don creative costumes to chase away the evil spirits of winter in preparation for spring.