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  • Lt. Col. John Lyons

    Taking care of your Air Force family

    Last July brought an end to the Year of the Air Force Family -- a year devoted to providing Airmen, their families and local communities information regarding the variety and scope of programs offered by the Air Force. This year-long dedication centering on our families and the communities we live in was the first time in my career that I'd
  • KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- An Airman reviews an M8 paper book to identify the chemical agent on the Airman's M8 paper. (Courtesy photo)

    Active, passive M8 use can help detect chemical agents

    For everyone who would love to know everything about the M8 detection paper, I just so happen to have that information.M8 paper can be used one of two ways, active and passive. The active method is the act of taking a piece of M8 and placing it in a suspicious pool of liquid. The paper will immediately change colors.The passive method is the
  • KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Medical technicians from the 8th Medical Group decontaminate a patient during a local exercise. Knowing how to decontaminate yourself, others and equipment is key to surviving a chemical attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

    Immediate, operational decontamination knowledge saved my life

    I remember one time when knowing how to properly perform immediate and operational decontamination saved my life. My buddy and I were walking around the base perimeter when out of nowhere a crop duster flew directly over us and sprayed the area. My buddy looked at me and said, "That dude is way off course." That's when we heard the attack sirens go
  • Capt. Jason DeSon

    Know your heritage and fly lead

    The 2011 Chief of Staff of the Air Force reading list came out Jan. 21 and one of the books that made the list was "Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds." This name should sound familiar to the Airmen of the 8th Fighter Wing. Yes, the room you pass by on the way to Mongolian barbecue in the Loring Club is named after him. If you
  • Lt. Col. James Wilkerson

    The wingman concept: Strive to "get it"

    Here is the scenario: you're in the gym and notice two individuals tossing weights around without note of who is around them or care to the damage they may be causing. Finally, someone has had enough and ventures over to speak with them. Not wanting to eavesdrop (but we all like to, right?), you overhear one ask our virtual do-good-er, "What is
  • KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Master Sgt. Kelly Butterfuss, 8th Medical Group clinical medicine flight chief, administers the FluMist vaccine to an Airman here Sept. 3, 2010. The vaccine is mandatory for all active duty, Department of Defense contractors and appropriated funds employees and offers the best chance to protect people against the flu. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

    Cold and flu season is here - protect yourself

    The cold and flu season is definitely here and will likely be around for several weeks. In this part of Asia, an increase in respiratory ailments tends to coincide with the colder weather, similar to what happens in North America.Cold and flu viruses are spread primarily by breathing airborne virus particles, usually from someone coughing or
  • Maj. Daniel Huffman

    What motivates you?

    You know what motivates me? A Chinese buffet with plenty to eat and a reasonable price, or a $5 Kentucky Fried Chicken all-you-can-eat buffet full of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans, or even a seafood buffet with shrimp and fish, especially on a Friday. What also motivates me is the sheer ability to know you can push through any
  • KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Staff Sgt. Danyette Washington, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, properly marks simulated M8 paper using the Kunsan Air Base Ability To Survive and Operate guide as a reference. The Kunsan AB ATSO guide was developed to enhance the Wolf Pack's ability to survive and operate in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah)

    Why does Kunsan have an ATSO Guide?

    Kunsan is a high-threat area with a quick turn-around of personnel. So the Kunsan Air Base Ability To Survive and Operate guide was developed to enhance our ability to survive and operate in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear environment. This ATSO guide explains how we operate at Kunsan before, during and after attacks. It gives you
  • Col. Richard Palmieri

    Be who you ought to be

    This month, we celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., toward equal rights for all Americans. Dr. King was an amazing leader with a remarkable message that I simply cannot summarize in a short commentary. However, as I listened to our MLK Celebration guest speaker, he said something that really resonated - "be who you ought to
  • KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Staff Sgt. Danyette Washington, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management technician, shows proper wear of Mission-Oriented Protective Posture gear. MOPP 4 correctly. The mask carrier is closed, gloves are under the sleeves, sleeves are secure, simulated M-9 tape is between the straps on the bottom of the pants, pants are secure over the boots, M-9 tape is placed on sleeves and wrists, and the Velcro and retention cord are secure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah)

    Correct wear of MOPP gear is critical to safety, survival

    Many times when it is time to go to Alarm Blue Mission-Oriented Protective Posture 4, we are quickly putting on our MOPP gear and don't have the time to meticulously check to make sure that we are in MOPP gear correctly. Unfortunately, not being in MOPP gear correctly can seriously harm you or even take your life.There are many mistakes that as a
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