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Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians

Commentaries

  • Fairchild senior NCO reflects on dignified transfer mission

    I could hear the voice over the two-way radio call out "wheels rolling." That was everyone's cue to get into position and not move. Everyone was at parade rest waiting for the families to arrive. I was nervous, more nervous than at any point in my military career. My heart was pounding so loud I was

  • The weight loss 'secret'

    Two controversial topics that often dominate the headlines in our country are obesity and weight loss.We are bombarded day and night with advertisements for weight loss pills, diets and workout contraptions. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 34 percent of American adults 20 years and

  • Surviving rape: A mother's perspective

    It began with the phone ringing at 5 a.m., which is never a good time for a phone call. It was my 18-year-old daughter sobbing, saying she was at the police station. I asked her what she had done (not my best parenting moment). Then, she said she had been raped, and my heart stopped. I told her that

  • Remembering roots

    (Editor's note: The following commentary was written in honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.) I've always been taught to never doubt yourself in the face of adversity, that to do so would, over time, kill all the potential you have been given in life. With this in mind, I would like to

  • CJCS sexual assault prevention response

    Commanders and Leaders of the Armed Forces:Sexual assault crimes strike at the health, welfare and dignity of our service members and undermine the readiness of our Force. As military professionals we must fully understand the destructive nature of these acts, lead our focused efforts to prevent

  • How it works in the real Air Force

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy recently issued a call to arms for all enlisted Airmen in his perspective paper: "Now is the time for bold leadership."In this message, he states it is up to the enlisted force to lead with integrity and return stability to the enlisted performance report

  • Five enduring areas of performance

    As a group commander and a colonel in the Air Force, I often have the opportunity to mentor people. Throughout the many mentoring, counseling, feedback and other sessions where I've assessed performance and provided direction for future improvement, five enduring areas of performance have emerged as

  • It takes Airmen from every specialty to get job done

    Recently, two of our U.S. Air Forces Central Command Airmen were criticizedonline by other Airmen for receiving Bronze Star decorations after completion of theirdeployments to Afghanistan. I'd like to take this opportunity to explain the rigorous awards board process and emphasize the meticulous

  • Time to change our EPR culture

    The second I pinned on staff sergeant I knew I could do it. I could be the NCO the Air Force wanted me to be. I could write fair enlisted performance reports and prove the naysayers in airman leadership school wrong. Sure, what we learned might "not be the way it's done in the real Air Force," but

  • If you write it, own it

    Two recent stories on the Air Force's web page drew significant reaction in the site's comments section. Both a story on finance troops being awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the news that Air Force Space Command was ending wear of flight suits by non-aircrew personnel drove more comments than any