July 31, 2014 Wingmen help couple with painful loss of child Editor's note: Having the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change is the definition of resilience, and that's something the Air Force wants all personnel to have as they deal with the stress that is part of their daily lives as they support the Air Force mission. A group of five
July 31, 2014 McChord pilot continues to inspire Airmen (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In 2009, a young Air Force lieutenant in pilot training thought his dreams of flying in the Air Force were crushed following a recreational boating
July 21, 2014 Defender builds routine to achieve goals Staff Sgt. Jesse Galvan enjoys being in the Air Force and what brings him equal enjoyment is the pursuit of fitness, specifically body building.Even before he joined the Air Force, he always had an interest in body building and in the new age of social media, he found himself providing fitness tips
July 14, 2014 "Solicit help; don't hide" Over the years, the term "Wingman" has evolved in the Air Force. The traditional military definition of a Wingman refers to the pattern in which fighter jets fly. There is always a lead aircraft and another which flies off the right wing of and behind the lead. This second pilot is called the
June 30, 2014 First sergeant, mother learns meaning of resiliency She had just endured perhaps one of the greatest endeavors of her life, returning home after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. A single mother of four, Master Sgt. Shalien Edmondson was finally home, but unbeknownst to her, the threat to her life would remain.While on leave just a few weeks upon
June 27, 2014 Sergeant's fight with testicular cancer leaves scars Master Sgt. Sean Arnold takes most things in stride, even being diagnosed with testicular cancer.The 60th Operations Group resource manager said he's "not even remotely shy about this," cracking jokes and making puns about the life-threatening battle he's faced during the past 19 months in the most
June 27, 2014 JB MDL daughter raises money for cancer research It takes a village, or in this case, a base to raise a child. When the 12-year-old daughter of Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Kress was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2013, her village came to her aid. Her family received an outpouring of support from the military community, at Joint Base
June 19, 2014 'Never Quit' brings resiliency message to Barskdale Members of the 307th Bomb Wing were able to meet a couple of America's top athletes here during the American300 Tour 'Never Quit Series. Three-time Olympic skier Emily Cook and U.S. Paralympic Curling Team captain Patrick McDonald came to the base June 5."The mission of the American300 Tours is to
June 13, 2014 Tinker Airman receives ACC award A Tinker Airman is the Outstanding Department of Defense Service Member with a Disability Award winner for Air Combat Command.Tech. Sgt. Chad Molenhour lost his leg in a near fatal motorcycle accident two years ago, but with a positive attitude, remains on active duty with the 552nd Air Control Wing
June 4, 2014 Angel of the Battlefield: One year later More than 2,000 service members have died and almost 20,000 have been wounded fighting in Afghanistan. Becoming one of those statistics was not what Senior Airman Taylor Renfro had in mind when she deployed there in 2013. But on May 29, 2013, two weeks before redeployment home, the vehicle she was
June 3, 2014 Seeking Help: Combating prescription drug abuse Editor's Note: This feature is part of a 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs series on "Airmen seeking help".I felt nothing. I was just going through the motions day-in and day- out. It all changed once I found an escape. I looked forward to coming home every day and self-medicating until I passed out and
May 27, 2014 Air Force mental health programs encourage seeking help The number of Airmen seeking mental health care has increased over the last five years-- and this is a trend Air Force leaders encourage, according to a lead psychiatrist with the office of the Air Force Surgeon General. A mental health encounters report issued by the Air Force Medical Operations
May 23, 2014 Tyndall Airman conquers cancer Being resilient is something the Air Force strives for in every Airman, but when true resiliency is needed, some Airmen find it within themselves. Senior Airman George Lintala, 325th Logistic Readiness Squadron materiel management journeyman, was born and raised in Spain and joined the Air Force in
May 2, 2014 Cancer survivor leads Air Force survival school -- "I'm thankful that it was me and not my wife or kids," said Col. William "Bill" Thomas, on his diagnosis with throat cancer while studying at the Air War College in February 2011. According to the Mayo Clinic, throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in the throat, larynx or tonsils.
May 2, 2014 Wounded warrior finds new place in the AF family Faith and trust in what we cannot see.Those words are etched into his skin, right above a scar that, by itself, embodies the journey he has undertaken. The spider web of pink lines starts midway up the inside of his right arm and continues nearly to his wrist, following the path doctors took as they
May 1, 2014 Grief sessions help Airmen heal When a person goes through loss, they may be instantly overcome by grief, or it might take days, weeks or months to set in. The emotions may flood in at once or come in manageable stages. When a person is grieving, there is no set formula for what is happening or how to overcome, but there is help.A
April 29, 2014 Life in Military Family Teaches Resilience, Kids Say This is the eighth in an occasional series of blogs by Master Sgt. Jennifer Loredo for Operation Live Well. Loredo is the senior enlisted advisor for the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program. She is also a Gold Star Wife. In 1986, then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger
April 23, 2014 Against all odds When it comes to caring for their children, most parents will go above and beyond. Whether it's a scraped knee, or a fever, mom and dad always try to make it better. But what if you found out your child had a rare condition with a nearly 100 percent fatality rate? What if your sick child hadn't even
April 17, 2014 Air Force strong The past year has been full of emotional highs and lows for Maj. Adam Davis and his wife, Adrianne, after enduring and surviving, as he points out, two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013. Among the highs for them has been the emotional support they have received
April 15, 2014 Providing eyes for another (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The rope cinched tightly around my waist. Patricia Walsh, a paratriathlete, clung to my elbow entrusting me, not only with her life, but also the end