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  • A chance for me to say thank you

    I'll be honest; it didn't dawn on me until yesterday. I can understand if you forgot, or didn't notice. It's easy, after all, with last-minute taskers, performance reports to write, doing the daily tasks asked of us - a lot of times I think these recognition months become white noise. You hear it,

  • Providing eyes for another

    The rope cinched tightly around my waist. Patricia Walsh, a paratriathlete, clung to my elbow entrusting me, not only with her life, but also the end result of the race.I was terrified.Knowing that I was about to race a mile in the murky, rough Hudson River to start the rigorous triathlon was hard

  • Understanding a dream

    The helicopter touched down, the blades sliced through the air and the wind raged all around me as I climbed on board. Rapidly buckling myself into the gunner's belt and I looked down from the opened door and watched in disbelief as we rose further away from the ground. With the violent wind still

  • The last bite

    Shake, take, salute and pose for a photo--Tyndall's 2014 March Enlisted Promotion Ceremony was carrying on as usual. I raised my camera, waited for the grip and grin moment and then took the photo of family members tacking on the member's stripes. As I raised my camera, getting ready for the next

  • Successful PCS secrets

    Permanent change of station season is almost upon us, and with it being a busy time in a military family's life, it is good to start preparing ahead of time.The secrets to a successful PCS are preparing early and personally taking control of your household goods movement. The best place to start is

  • Thoughts on nation building

    I've often joked that I went to Iraq to fly something more modern than a 50 year old airplane; that aircraft being the mighty combat Cessna used for Iraqi pilot training. The reality, however, was that I was blessed to partner with a nation for a year to help re-ignite their smoldering Air Force

  • Weapons School program back up, running

    USAF Weapons School Class 13B was cancelled as a result of sequestration and marked a significant event in the history of the weapons school. The school was at a cross-road. The fiscal realities of the future meant difficult choices about the future of the school had to be made. Initial proposals

  • A handshake to remember

    The stress finally started to permeate upon the realization that tomorrow I would come eye to eye with one of the most recognized faces in the world.I was excited since I first received news Jan. 12 that I would get to see Air Force One land at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and possibly have

  • The frozen apple drops

    I traveled to N.Y. on leave to spend the holidays with my family. Within hours of arriving, an ice storm shut down my entire county and others surrounding it.Frozen in, I had time to reflect on the last year and the journey, which transformed me from a civilian into an Airman.As I thought about the

  • Stepping Forward

    Recently I came across an interesting quote from Admiral Togo Heihachiro, Commander of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Tsushima in 1905: "If your sword is too short, take one step forward." Given the environment of reduced budgets, fiscal challenges and potential manpower shortages facing