Commentary Search

  • Squadron key spouse program -- direct link to mission success

    Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", which is a phrase our military families are all too familiar with. She also said, "You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to

  • Surviving the sandstorm

    Physical acclamation to any deployed location can be a challenge, but acclamation to the Middle East can be especially challenging. Even six years of living in the South did not prepare me for the heat I have encountered, but worse than the heat is the frequent sandstorms. Just a few days after

  • Leadership and the mentor

    As the dust settled on my third full night in Afghanistan, I wrote my thoughts in a journal I carry with me whenever I'm on a deployment. I wrote, "I could not imagine how Afghanistan would be or even dream of what my eyes would see. A war torn country under Taliban rule, as seen on the faces of the

  • Ellsworth Top 3: SNCOs Making a Difference

    The Ellsworth Top 3 Association executive council along with our membership is excited and proud to play a role in strengthening our wing and community programs. The Top 3 consists of senior non-commissioned officers across the wing. Five members hold executive officer positions and another 23

  • Letters to Iraq extend gratitude, hope

    In this day and age, the hand-written letter from home is a lost art. Pen and paper have been replaced by E-mails, cell phones, instant messages and video chats. Despite being a lost art, every couple days, mail comes into the work center by the cart full. Most of the mail consists of packages with

  • A Fourth of July to remember

    To most Americans, the Fourth of July is a day of celebration, a day of rest and a chance to spend time with family. For deployed military members who are separated from their families, it is pretty much just like every other day. Though there are some special decorations at the dining facility and

  • Attitude check - It's what you make it

    Air Force Financial Services Center "He's got an attitude problem!" No one wants to hear these comments about themselves. I think most people truly want to be happy and positive, and most don't set out each day to have a bad attitude. But, sometimes, it just happens. Or, does it? I have met lots of

  • Put TRICARE on Your Pre-Deployment Checklist

    If there's one universal rule in the military, it's that pre-deployment days can be hectic. With so much going on, it can be easy for servicemembers to overlook their TRICARE benefits; however, ensuring that dependents have proper health care coverage is an important item to add to a pre-deployment

  • We Put Bombs on Target

    It's a special honor and privilege to be taking command of the mighty 28th Bomb Wing. My wife, Ellie, and I are both very excited about rejoining Team Ellsworth and taking on the responsibility of preparing and deploying our Airmen for combat. This is, of course, no simple task, but we look forward

  • Tips to help boost your eco-friendly tool kit

    Not everyone has the time, money or resources to purchase eco-friendly products or plant a tree. It takes time to research what green alternatives are out there, and even more time (and probably some expertise) to determine if the product lives up to its "green" label. Fortunately, there are a few