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  • DUI/DUA prevention key to safety, success

    Driving under the influence remains ever-present in our Air Force today, causing the possibility of physical and legal consequences to those who do it, but also the possible death or injury of others. Ellsworth, of course, is not immune to DUIs and even cases of drinking underage. There have been 24 DUIs and 22 DUAs as of Sept. 17; this is equal to
  • (From right) Airman 1st Class Ray Wahl, Staff Sgt. Daniel Chin and Staff Sgt. Ruben TrejoSanchez, Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard members, fold a flag before a funeral service held at the Black Hills National Cemetery, July 31. The service was held for a retired Air Force master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane)(Released)

    Honor guard -- a higher purpose

    Last month, as I assumed the duties of the 28th Bomb Wing director of staff, I did not realize with the job came such a unique responsibility - commander of the Ellsworth Honor Guard. At first, I was flattered by such a lofty designation, but I quickly discovered how truly remarkable the men and women who make up our 57-member team are to the wing
  • (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Senior Airman Marc Lane)

    Move away from your computer

    The Air Force Professional Development Guide states, "Subordinate leadership development is one of the most important responsibilities of every Air Force leader. Developing future leaders should be one of your highest priorities. Your legacy and the future of the Air force rest on the shoulders of those you prepare for greater responsibility." This

  • Leadership is action, not position

    As one of the newest squadron commanders at Ellsworth, one of my first priorities was to educate the members of my squadron on my leadership philosophy. The purpose of this article is to share this philosophy with you. The tenets are basic but sometimes assumed or taken for granted. At the end of the day, they are simply the vector for a humble

  • Embracing change

    Benjamin Franklin once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." While this quote holds to be true, it neglects to mention one, clear inevitability - the certainty of change. Change is all around us, and whether it is pleasant or unpleasant; gradual or immediate; minor or substantial, it must and does occur.
  • Airmen ride their motocycles while a video crew shoot footage for a new motorcycle safety DVD Jan. 24 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The video will be a part of a safety DVD used by the military and is set to release in the spring. (U.S. Air Force photo)

    Air Force motorcycle policies protect riders, others

    According to the Department of Defense, there have been 50 servicemember fatalities resulting from private vehicle accidents since the beginning of the 2008 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign. Of the 50, only five were from the Air Force, a great reduction from the 19 fatalities our service experienced last year. Yet still, with the hard

  • Are you willing to cross the line - is it worth the risk?

    It's an awesome point in one's life when a young man or woman chooses to take a bold step of faith, raises their right hand and swears to defend our great country against all enemies foreign and domestic. From that point on, whether enlisted or officer, one sets off on a difficult path that requires much dedication, hard work and fortitude in order
  • The Prairie Rattlesnake is the only venomous snake native to South Dakota. Their color varies from light brown to green, with a yellowish belly. They are recognizable by not only the rattles at the end of their tails, but also by their triangular-shaped head. Several sightings have occurred across Ellsworth due to higher amounts of precipitation and increased temperatures. (Courtesy photo/www.nps.gov)

    Increased rains, increased snakes

    In recent weeks, snake sightings have increased throughout various parts of Ellsworth. These sightings, coupled with warm weather, are due to the recent heavy amounts of rainfall pushing the snakes upward from their usual living habitat. The three snakes sighted most often are: the Plains Garter Snake, the bull snake and the Prairie Rattlesnake.

  • Integrity -- more than just a word

    Integrity First is one of our core values. All Airmen are expected to know and live by this and the other two core values: Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do. While raising my three boys, I often thought about what they saw me do. What kind of example would I set for them if I didn't live my life with integrity? I'm not taking any high

  • Remembering the cloth and paper

    In late May 1776, three men from the continental Congress, including Gen. George Washington, visited a struggling upholsterer and asked her to sew a flag - Mrs. Betsy Ross took their request to heart. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress declared the flag of the United States would have thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and the
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