Commentary

“History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower USAFE has been entrusted with an incredible responsibility – to defend freedom and democracy.  We’ve performed this mission flawlessly for more than 60 years and continue to rise to the occasion.  […]

Q Last week I was driving toward the West Gate to
leave the base. It was almost dark. I was coming around the curve.
There was a bicyclist riding in the right lane bottlenecking traffic.
There was a bicycle path parallel to the road just on the other side of
the curb. The rider was wearing a yellow reflective belt. However,
because the rider was bent over, the belt was barely visible. This
created an unsafe situation for the rider, a traffic hazard for the
motorists, and a traffic slow-down.  I realize that a bicycle is a
vehicle and has certain rights on the road. However, if there is a
bicycle path parallel to the road, shouldn

As USAFE Wingmen, we rely on each other every day to make responsible
choices when faced with hazards on and off duty. Our military community
depends on this culture to preserve our war fighting capability. Every
action is weighed against a desired benefit. When we weigh risks, we
must honestly appreciate the full value of our health and lives. In
USAFE, we must assume risk. Our daily training and execution efforts
involve a necessary level of risk that we assume for an important
benefit: mission accomplishment.
Uncontrolled hazards and unsafe acts represent an unnecessary risk to our team and our mission.