• The day "My Dream" came true

    February is African American Black History Month, a time set aside to highlight the achievements of African Americans. As an American I am more than proud of the contributions made by my ancestors to making this world a better place to live.The life that I live now would not have been tolerated in

  • Martin Luther King Jr. holiday: A day on, not a day off

    "Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."      Reverend Doctor Martin King Jr. was a great man, and his legacy

  • Tobacco Cessation

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that there are more deaths caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined.  Every year, smoking causes about 480,000 deaths in the United

  • New COMPACAF shares focus, commitment to Airmen

    Last month, I was presented the greatest opportunity of my Air Force career -- I became commander of Pacific Air Forces.I want to tell you how honored and humbled I feel to be here. Standing in front of our Pacific Airmen and accepting the PACAF flag from General Welsh was an incredible experience,

  • Fire Prevention Week

     "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives, Test Yours Every Month".· Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration (a large disastrous fire) that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned

  • Dealing with disappointment

    "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.We all have to deal with disappointment at some time in our lives. Truly, we deal with disappointment on a regular, even a daily basis. That meal wasn't as good as it looked. That relationship was an

  • Quit...or press on? Osan to Kunsan Ride - 7th Edition

    On a hot Thursday in August 2008 it began. I had been in the Republic of Korea for about seven months, was a pretty active cyclist and loved to explore. I had never ridden further than 70 miles. On this Thursday, in a passing conversation, a much more accomplished cyclist in the medical group

  • The Courage to Continue

    The Courage to Continue Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood...and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost        Robert Frost reminds us that some roads are similar but you

  • The five "P"s to overcoming and avoiding running injuries

    Readiness in the military is critical to success.  Part of being "ready" is being as fit as possible at all times, on any given day.  We never know when we may have to call on our physical fitness to "Defend the Base, Accept Follow-on Forces, and Take the Fight North."     One of the most popular

  • Recognition

    I often get asked the question, "Why are awards so important?" The text book answer is they recognize sustained performance on and off duty. Imagine coming to work and never receiving a "thank you" or pat on the back for a job well done. Most of us dislike being recognized in public, especially in