22 Aug 2011

Please, hang up and drive

If you've been in the Air Force for a while, you might know the name Gary Kunich. He worked for European Stars and Stripes around the time I first entered the Air Force in 1999. He retired in 2006 as a master sergeant, but he has never put down the pen: today he writes for local publications in his adopted hometown of Kenosha, Wis.Today, he has a

26 May 2011

AF leaders issue Memorial Day message

To the Airmen of the United States Air Force and their Families:As we pause this Memorial Day to honor those who have died in service of our great Nation, it is also useful to reflect on what this day of remembrance reveals about the character of our nation and its people. History records that Maj. Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand

25 May 2011

Class of 2011: Your future starts today

To the United States Air Force Academy Class of 2011 -- congratulations! You've earned the right to celebrate! You'll remember May 25, 2011, for the rest of your lives. You've spent the last four-to-five years learning, training, preparing and giving of yourself to be here with your classmates to finally celebrate this momentous day together.

25 May 2011

AOG: Congratulations, Class of '11

On behalf of the Association of Graduates and the nearly 43,000 compatriots who have graduated from this great institution, I want to extend my hearty congratulations to the Class of 2011 and welcome you to the Academy graduate community. You have made it through four challenging years, and now you will take your place in the most technologically

18 May 2011

The last ride

I handed a coin to the driver saying, "You are taking my brother-in-law on his last ride. I don't want you to forget this."No one who knew Maj. Philip Ambard will ever forget him. He was born in Venezuela, but loved his adopted country passionately. He joined the U.S. Air Force, quickly moving up the ranks and being selected for senior master

2 Dec 2010

Overcoming a PT test failure

Throughout my 15 years in the military, I have always struggled with passing my physical fitness test. I'm not a huge person, and I am very active in sports. I run three to five times a week and coach youth sports as well. But no matter what I did, I always came very close to failing my PT test, often passing by a mere 0.55 pts. In October 2009, I

17 Nov 2010

Carbon monoxide: the silent killer

Two cadets were driving westbound on Interstate 70 en route back to the Air Force Academy in 1983 following a Thanksgiving weekend shared with family and friends. A nasty snowstorm had set in, making travel treacherous. Conditions on this Kansas stretch of interstate soon became impassable as the terrain, winds and heavy snow created deep drifts.

12 Nov 2010

Winning the CIC Trophy: A grad's perspective

Starting with my recruiting trip to the Air Force Academy as a high school senior, I was taught that losing to Army and Navy was not an option. As an athlete you want to get on the field and not only compete, but win every game. During the week of practice leading up to a service academy game, the desire to win and the intensity at which you

25 Oct 2010

Safety office to runners: be visible, alert

Few bases offer the combination of scenery and challenging terrain that the Air Force Academy provides for runners. However, those who decide to run on base have to be aware of their surroundings and highly visible to motorists, especially during the early morning or early evening hours.Runners who are running with the direction of vehicle traffic

5 Oct 2010

Cadet Wing welcomes Class of '80 to Falcon Heritage Forum

The Fall 2010 Falcon Heritage Forum, themed "Class of 1980: Architects of Transformation," is scheduled to be held at the Air Force Academy Oct. 4-6.The Class of 1980, as the first Academy class with female graduates, is a prominent icon of diversity, equality and personal transformation. The challenges its members faced closely parallel the