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    Celebrating African American/Black History Month

    Have you ever wondered why Black History Month is celebrated in February or what started it all? Referred to as "The father of Black History," Carter G. Woodson paved the way and laid the foundation for what is now called African American/Black History Month. It began in 1926 as "Negro History Week," a one-week celebration to promote the value of

  • De-Mystifying WIC

    "At first I was really overwhelmed," said Melissa Filkins, wife of Senior Airman C.J. Filkins, 28th Communications Squadron radar technician, when it came to starting South Dakota's Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program. "But, it was pretty easy once I got the hang of it." Mrs. Filkins, along with 200 other families at Ellsworth Air Force Base,

  • The four lesser-known risks

    Many Airmen may have heard human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for cervical cancer, but they may not know that taking birth control pills can be yet another contributing factor.While the best way to survive cervical cancer is to catch it early by screening regularly with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test, here are four lesser-known risk factors for
  • Shari Campbell, wife of Tech. Sgt. Jason Campbell, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of material control, talks about her experience as a military spouse at the Holbrook Library, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 19. Mrs. Campbell said whenever her family moves to a new base she prefers to live off base – in order to be a part of the community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Vanessa Edwards)

    Spotlight on Spouses: Shari Campbell

    Overseas assignments, kids, deployments and TDYs -- these experiences can all be part of the marriage package for a military spouse. For Shari Campbell, wife of Tech. Sgt. Jason Campbell, 28th Maintenance Operations Squadron NCO-in charge of material control, and mother of three, they are nothing new. "I grew up as an Air Force brat," she laughed.
  • The definition of family has many different meanings, but to servicemembers it takes on a whole new significance. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Senior Airman Kasey Close)

    My Military Family

    People say, "You can't always pick your family," and the same goes for your office in the military.Being in the military is difficult enough, with long hours, training exercises and deployments. It begins to a take toll on a person. So who can you turn to? Your family? Or the people in your office who are going through the same thing?Before I left
  • In an effort to curtail government travel card abuse and delinquency, Air Force officials are piloting an unprecedented controlled spend account concept through Sept. 3 with an expected service-wide rollout of fall 2010. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

    New Air Force Travel Card available to Airmen

    The Air Force is in the process of implementing a new travel card called the Controlled Spend Account. The card may be used to pay for travel expenses for a deployment, temporary duty assignment or permanent change of station to a new duty location. Here are just some of the highlights of this new program:1. All travelers will have a CSA and no

  • JAG Corps announces law school programs

    Airmen interested in obtaining a law degree may have the opportunity to pursue their goal, on the Air Force's dime. The Air Force is offering to send qualified applicants to law school, and pay for their education.There are two programs available to go to law school as an Air Force officer- FLEP and ELP: Applications for the Funded Legal Education

  • Air Force expressions

    Perhaps the most meaningful and profound reason for serving in the U.S. Air Force is to secure the blessings of liberty. Airmen have the solemn duty of defending a nation whose political values and institutions secure freedom and justice for both its citizens, and others. Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental, and most cherished, liberties.

  • “A Day on, not a day off”

    With the New Year already here, Jan. 17 is approaching fast.Some may recognize it as just another federal holiday; for others it is a day to celebrate much more. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the holiday recognizing one of America's greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is often remembered for his famous "I Have a Dream" speech
  • Approximately 250 wreaths honor the graves of veterans at the Black Hills National Cemetery, S.D., Dec. 11. More than 50 Airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., volunteered to lay wreaths on the graves during the 2010 Wreaths Across America ceremony, held annually on the second Saturday of December in honor of veterans who have passed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)

    Sacrifice #384

    It was one of the coldest mornings of the winter season thus far, when we gathered at the Black Hills National Cemetery. The temperature was a scant 14 degrees and the winds made it feel sub-zero. I was one of hundreds who sacrificed the warmth of his or her home on this Saturday morning to honor the veterans of South Dakota and around the world.
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