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  • Why Korea?

    Last summer our wing's fighter squadrons, supported by hundreds of maintenance and support professionals, F-15E fighter aircraft and personnel, as well as the 726th Air Control Squadron stationed at Mountain Home, were directed to the Pacific and deployed to South Korea. In less than a month, after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed the

  • Wolf Pack SARC tackles sexual assault

    April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As this month and your year at the Wolf Pack passes here are some statistics to be aware of. An American is sexually assaulted every two and a half minutes. In the Air Force, one in three women and one in eight men are sexual assault victims at some point in their life. More importantly, at least two thirds

  • Coping with Loss

    Death is never easy to come to terms with; but, it is particularly stunning when it is sudden, unexpected, and targets someone who had only just begun to fill the pages of their life. Recently, Kunsan lost a valuable member of the Wolf Pack. As the chaplain noted during the memorial service, the death of that member leaves us with many questions

  • Fight, flight….or breathe: Some thoughts on managing stress

    A zebra grazes tranquilly on the African plain. It's a beautiful, sun-dappled day. The zebra glances up, and locks eyes with a lion ... closing in for the kill. Instantly, the zebra's body kicks into survival mode: muscles tense, heart rate accelerates, and breathing becomes rapid and shallow -- preparing the zebra for intense muscular effort.

  • Remember family members when considering suicide

    Thirty years ago today, Dec. 29, my father changed my life, as well as the lives of his other family members, forever. He took a shotgun and shot himself in the head. His death certificate reads, "Self-inflicted gunshot wound." I can't tell you how many times I've heard people joke about something being so bad, "that I should just shoot myself."As

  • Happy Holidays from PACAF leadership

    With the holiday season fast approaching, Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean and I and the entire HQ PACAF staff and our families want to offer a sincere thank you to the entire Pacific Air Forces team--military, civilians and family members--who have enabled continued success for our command in the Asia-Pacific region in 2009.This time of year allows

  • This Veteran’s Day share the legacy

    We recently concluded our fall gathering of senior PACAF leaders where we were joined by Vietnam veterans Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Ritchie and former Navy corpsman and Honolulu Advertiser publisher Lee Webber. General Ritchie is an acclaimed ace with five kills, and Mr. Webber defended against an enemy siege at Khe San for 77 days in 1968. In the

  • Ego check: A smack in the face by reality can be a good thing

    I majored in psychology in college, so Sigmund Freud was a fixture in many of my studies. I was constantly quizzed on Freud's theories of the ID, ego and superego. Freud's theory of the ego stated that the ego developed later in childhood after needs were met and the child began to experience life. The ego was based on the reality principle;

  • COMPACAF Announces Kick Off of Combined Federal Campaign

    Fellow Airmen, last year the men and women of Pacific Air Forces contributed via personal donations more than $2.3 million to the Combined Federal Campaign--their contributions helped make a difference through a multitude of charities. As Airmen, you live a voluntary lifestyle of serving others that truly makes a difference every day to thousands
  • Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces Commander

    General North Addresses Pacific Airmen

    Fellow Airmen, I am grateful to return to Pacific Air Forces and for the opportunity to once again serve alongside many friends, partners and allies in this vast and important region. It has been my privilege to serve among America's finest Airmen throughout the region and alongside our counterparts in the Pacific Command area of responsibility. I
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