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  • That is how one learns we are a team

    When I started at the 349th Air Mobility Wing as a non-prior service Airman more than 15 years ago, I really had no idea what being in the Reserves was all about. When I showed up on my very first day at the hospital auditorium as a newly-minted major, a master sergeant pulled me aside and helped me

  • Hold the line

    I grew up in China as an only child. Six years ago, I moved to the United States because my mother wanted me to get the best education. I promised myself that while I pursued my education, I would make a difference worthy of crossing the Pacific Ocean.

  • Black and yellow represent: commitment, community

    Our profession is often paradoxical. We intimidate, yet we inspire. We deliver combat power to oppose our adversaries, yet also deliver hope to those in despair. I experienced such a paradox on a mission this week.

  • The Airman's responsibility to dissent

    I am nearing the end of my 20-year career with the Air Force. As I prepare to walk proudly away from service to my country, I can’t help but spend a few moments reflecting on my years.

  • It's not about me

    I was raised in Lima, Peru in a household where food was scarce, I shared a bed with three siblings and my grandmother and the clothes were hand-me-downs. I learned to appreciate my family and the little things. Although migrating to America at the age of 10 was one of the smartest moves my family

  • Searching for Private First Class Roberto L. Lopez

    This is a brief and microscopic view of another person’s service.When I started military service in 1993, I was given an artifact with a story behind it. It was a Silver Star in an old, worn case. The story came from his relatives who said it belonged to an uncle, Roberto L. Lopez. The name was

  • A simple thank you goes a long way

    In today’s instant gratification world, we are easily disgruntled if something doesn’t happen immediately. Because we are used to our cell phones and social media, we have become less and less inclined to deal with the human element of the mission.