Commentaries

  • Families: The Quiet Warriors

    Wikipedia describes Veterans Day as "an annual American holiday honoring military veterans." It goes on to describe a veteran as "a person who has or is working in the armed forces, or a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation or office." At the risk of alienating my brothers

  • Character Corner: My honor is my life

    While I was in high school,before many current cadets were born,I read a quote in a book that has stuck with me to this day: "My Honor is My Life."That quote has remained with me because it embodies what the first core value says -- Integrity First. Honor is not something that you can turn on and

  • Preventing domestic violence is everyone's business

    A woman is physically assaulted in her home every 15 seconds in the United States. In El Paso and Teller counties, five people died during domestic violence crimes in 2008. Abused women commonly experience fear, shame, depression, anxiety, difficulties sleeping and confusion. But not all domestic

  • Character Corner: Cadet learns important lessons through honor probation

    My name is Cadet 1st Class Robert Mobley and I am a Class of 2009 cadet at the Air Force Academy. I am still here because I committed a violation of the honor code last semester. I was very fortunate to be granted the privilege and opportunity to serve on honor probation. While most people think

  • Safety: Winter snow season approaches

    Mother Nature will bestow winter upon us with its share of snow storms, icy road conditions and adverse weather. Once again, the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron has geared up for the snow season. As you drive around the base, you will notice that snow route signs and snow gates are in position. These

  • Character Corner: Ways of being

    Leading and teaching are two prominent activities at the Air Force Academy,and they embrace some similar and very important ideals. Modeling a sense of being and authenticity is one of those common ideals. Parker Palmer, author of "The Courage to Teach," recently gave a speech in Denver exhorting

  • Character Corner: Why CCLD?

    Thursday, the Center for Character Development became the Center for Character and Leadership Development. This change is more than skin deep -- the new center has new capabilities, new focus areas, a new mindset, and eventually a new building. These are all designed to help all at USAFA become more

  • Character Corner: Break the habit

    "It's only a lot of reading if you read it all." This line, spoken by a prep school exemplar, predictably drew strong applause from the school-weary audience. Another line, often greeted with chuckles and nods, comes far more frequently and usually from more mundane speakers: "You only get in

  • Character Corner: Who's watching

    Several years ago, a young man who had grown up in our church was receiving a very special professional honor.During the service,many people looked on in admiration as he,who had grown from a child to a young man in their midst, was showing that he had pursued a high calling and had been recognized

  • Eight years later, a tragedy remembered

    It's been eight years exactly since the fateful day when 19 men with hearts full of hatred flew airliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pa., eight years since our nation lost its innocence. Eight years later, I have a hard time finding words adequate to