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  • Amity – purposeful connections

    Over the last year, these have been some trending questions posed from airmen I’ve met at First Term Airman Center or in casual conversation. Hearing these questions and living in the climate with the highest suicide rate and in my own loneliness, I thought to myself, ‘How can I help myself and help

  • We're all recruiters

    We’re the face the public identifies with the armed forces. We’re ambassadors for our military and our country no matter where we are around the globe. We’re all members of the United States Air Force. We’re all Airmen.We’re all recruiters.

  • Capturing history, one shot at a time

    Some children grow up wanting to be doctors, actors, professional athletes or business owners. However, life doesn’t always turn out the way that you have envisioned it in your mind. For some, that realization happens when they complete high school, and have to make a decision on the next step in

  • On this Rock

    The Air Force often talks about our resilience and heritage. With our service celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and the 18th Wing celebrating its 90th, we are constantly looking to our past for ways to honor, motivate, and inspire our Airmen. There are boundless opportunities to learn about

  • Life of a Warrior

    “I am an American Airman…I am a Warrior”…so begins the Airman’s Creed.  But what does it mean?  The Warrior ethos is a rich amalgam of distinctly human virtues, rooted in nature, and wrought by conflict.  “Warrior” is an identity, as much a part of oneself as any character trait but not easily

  • My Iwo Jima Experience

    Long before I stepped onto the KC-135 Stratotanker, I couldn’t contain my anticipation and excitement. I kept thinking about how great and rare of an opportunity I was being given.

  • Army hosts Okinawa Missile Defender of the Year Banquet

    KADENA AIR BASE, Japan — The 1-1 Air Defense Artillery hosted the fourth-annual Okinawa Missile Defender of the Year Banquet Nov. 22.The event that has come to embody the spirit of the air defense artillery community in Okinawa, as well as the rest of the Pacific. Sponsored by the Missile Defense

  • Green Dot equals do something

    In December 2015, I was notified that I was nominated to be part of a new program related to sexual assault prevention training - Green Dot. Initially, I had no idea what Green Dot was all about. All I knew was that it concerned sexual assault.It wasn't until I went through the training that I

  • Taking off the stripes: a personal look at depression

    Taking off your stripes is a common expression in the military when you're having conversations with people who outrank you -- maybe overused or cliché in the opinions of some. When I say that for this commentary, this isn't as Airman 1st Class Nicholas Emerick; this is as Nick Emerick, a kid from

  • Police week honors security forces legacy

    It was President John F. Kennedy who, in 1962, proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officer's Memorial Day, one of many significant milestones celebrated annually during National Police Week.  As a Security Forces Airman, Police Week provides an opportunity to showcase our unique profession while honoring the