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  • Lessons my mustache taught me

    In February, Mustache March was a grand idea. In my mind's eye, I saw myself proudly strutting through the squadron bristling with masculine whiskers, fending off fawning admirers while humbly accepting effusive compliments on my bodacious mustache. Yet, as with many things in life, reality was far

  • The Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement

    In 1976, President Gerald Ford signed the Executive Order recognizing February as Black History Month. Men and women of all races across the nation take time out in February to celebrate, educate, and honor all contributions made toward African American History.This year's theme was "Civil Rights in

  • Overcoming barriers: African-American women in the military

    The reasons behind America's Civil War and why people fought are numerous. For one woman, freedom was the only reason needed. While working for the Union Army as cook and nurse, she was also an armed scout and spy. In fact, she would become the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war when

  • Heritage Months: don't hate, celebrate

    The United States of America has a rich and diverse ancestry that helped build this great nation, and our military draws its strength from our country's rich tradition of diversity. This is one reason why the military recognizes the achievements and contributions made possible by that legacy during

  • Support from wingmen helps defy once-impossible goals

    Since I can remember, I have always had an aspiration to join the Air Force, but joining meant an ample amount of physical activity, even after basic training, with yearly, if not twice yearly, physical fitness tests. A timed, mile-and-a-half run is the standard distance ran on the cardiovascular

  • Humility the mark of true leaders

    One of the best lessons I learned about "true leadership" was from a guy who lost an election.For people too young to remember, the presidential election of 1992 was a hard-fought, cantankerous campaign. One of the issues those opposed to Bill Clinton brought up was that he had managed to avoid

  • Spiritual resiliency: How to think about the holidays

    Have you ever noticed that we are called "human beings" and not "human doings"? It is something worth thinking about. It seems we are constantly doing and doing more and more. As we approach the holidays I would like to encourage you think more about your being and less about your doing to relieve

  • The B-2 comes to Missouri

    On Dec. 17, 1993, amid much fanfare, the first B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, tail number 88-0329, landed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. While the flight from Edwards AFB, Calif. had been a relatively short trip for the aircrew, the journey to field the bomber at Whiteman had taken years.That journey

  • A Time to be Thankful

    Strikers,In 1621, the Pilgrims set aside a day to be thankful for a plentiful harvest after surviving a devastating winter.This year we, too, have much to be thankful for. We are blessed to live in a country where we enjoy freedom many others do not possess. This freedom came at a high price for our