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Commentary Search

  • Where were you when the world stopped turning?

    "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?"These words from a country song by Alan Jackson are stirring. It's a song we all wish did not have to be written. "Where were you on that September morn?" What were you doing? Do you remember? Most importantly - what did you learn?We may not appreciate

  • Global Strike Command celebrates two years of success

    On August 7th, it will have been two years since Air Force Global Strike Command was activated to be "a new major command focused and dedicated to the nuclear and conventional global strike mission--a key component of strategic deterrence."When we set out on this path two years ago we understood the

  • Facing and overcoming change

    "The waiting is the hardest part. Everyday you see one more yard. You take it on faith. You take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part." These words by Tom Petty come into my mind every time I'm waiting for something. I believe military families do more waiting to hear what is next than

  • Be a wingman

    When I was in Baghdad in 2007, the war was in its most violent period since the fall of Saddam Hussein. I felt ill-prepared for the chaos and death that seemed to be persistent on a daily basis. I had left the Pentagon for the desert to be the number two man in Iraq's version of the Secret Service.

  • National security: Teach family, friends to salute

    During a recent visit to Air Force Global Strike Command's F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, reminded us there continues to be threats to this great nation. These threats are from nations far away as well as from people who want to do

  • Northern tier character, toughness

    Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to observe the 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron personnel performing a procedure called "destructive break in" at one of our remote launch facilities. This procedure was required because of an inoperative secondary door, also known as the B-Plug. The B-Plug

  • Perfection can be deadly

    I'm so fat; so ugly and disgusting. How could anyone even want to speak to me? How could anyone ever love me? I must be perfect, no matter what it takes. And I don't care if my methods hurt me. These are just a few of the thoughts that run through my head when I look in the mirror; and these are

  • Take a moment to honor other's sacrifices

    I read a comment on a social networking site by a military spouse and former military member asking "Why do they play Taps so loud at 11:00 p.m.?" I could take this as an inquiry into the history of Taps, but more likely it was a complaint that Taps was annoying.During a previous assignment of mine,

  • Standards: Go above, beyond the expected

    As members of Air Force Global Strike Command's "best ICBM wing", the nature of our mission requires us to adhere to standards and to go above and beyond what is expected of us. Not only does our command demand it, but our nation depends on us to do the job right the first time, every time.We are

  • Professionalism on- and off-duty

    Nearly one year ago, my military training instructor Tech. Sgt. Daniel Mckeown told members of my flight to never get complacent. Yet, it wasn't until I arrived at Minot that I began to fully understand the true value and meaning of those words. Fresh out of basic military training and technical