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  • Another great week; some team standouts

    Last week marked the kickoff of the holiday party season around MacDill. All over the base and within housing, I am observing holiday lights and festive gatherings. Our Coalition Partners also sponsored their annual Coalition International Night, which was well-attended and received glowing praise.

  • There I Was: 'Service with a smile'

    I am a health services management craftsman, so being tasked to perform as a force protection escort and working with security forces was different but exciting. I volunteered to deploy to the second busiest Aerial Port of Debarkation in U.S. Central Command, 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron,

  • Being a good holiday leader, wingman

    The holidays are a time for togetherness, sharing and reflection. Unlike last year, the wing is not gearing up for an Operational Readiness Inspection immediately following the new year, so more of our military brothers and sisters will be headed home for the holidays. Since this is normally a time

  • Contracting for 180 days in the combat zone

    Contracting is a career field that does not get lot of attention. Most people are not able to identify what contracting professionals actually do. The majority of individuals just assume contracting professionals are hired to make deliveries or perform some type of service for the government. In

  • Rekindle that holiday spirit

    We have reached that time of year again. We have reached that special time that used to give you butterflies in your stomach when you were seven years old. The time when you just had a couple days off for Thanksgiving, and the next major holiday is a magical one. And while toys were your every

  • DV airlift - a team sport essential to mission success

    In my time as commander of the "Finest DV Airlift Squadron on the Face of the Planet," I've learned a few truths: 1) there's no substitute for proper, detailed planning. 2) The DV is never late; he just accomplished an itinerary change, and didn't tell you in advance. 3) Teamwork is essential to

  • 'There I Was': First deployment surprise - joined Operation Unified Protector

    There I was ... lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer for my first deployment, and it was originally set up for me to go to Southwest Asia for three months. When the time came for me to begin my out-processing I was pleasantly surprised to find out from my supervisor a few days before I

  • Answering 'The Call'

    I often ask myself what draws young Americans to join the military and once in the Service, what keeps them there. If we think about it, the vast majority of military members joined after 2001 so most were aware the nation was involved in an extended period of contingency operations and the

  • Operation Unified Protector integrated operations

    Conducting air operations in today's dynamic environment requires a total force effort and no weapon system throughout the Air Force has embraced this ethos as wholeheartedly as the tanker community. While it is true the majority of KC-135 assets reside within the Air Reserve Component, it is the

  • 'There I Was': Helping our human race by doing my civic duty

    As a member of the Armed Forces, when you hear the word deployment, many thoughts go through your mind. First and foremost, the time spent away from family, then the stress of out-processing, and finally the wrapping up of the little details. During this particular deployment, I was tasked as a