Commentary Search

  • Are You Really Ready for Retirement (I mean REALLY)?

    In March of 2007, I wrote a column for the base paper in which I addressed some important financial decisions that one should take early in their career in regards to planning for retirement. That column can be viewed at the following web site: http://www.aviano.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123044868.

  • ARIs--What is it going to take?

    As another weekend approaches here at Ramstein, one thing is a sure bet--there will be yet another alcohol-related incident. A bold statement some may say, but maybe not. Looking at the numbers on alcohol related incidents since the beginning of the year, the stats don't lie. It's not like we don't

  • Sex, Drugs, & Rock-n-Roll

    The song "Sex & Drugs & Rock-n-Roll" by Ian Dury became a hit single in 1977. Since then, we've had this edgy three-word phrase to play around with, and pop culture periodically revisits it. It's one of those tongue-in-cheek phrases, embodying a cocktail of truth, sarcasm, desire, & fear. We yearn

  • Take the Saver Pledge

    "Become a Military Saver!" "Take the Saver Pledge!" "Enroll today at www.militarysaves.org!" Expect to see and hear these and other Military Saves messages sweep across military installations during Military Saves Week, Feb. 24 - March 2. Military Saves was developed through a cooperative agreement

  • Airman moved by impact of America's friendship toward Tanzania

    The Eagle has landed. It's one step for us and one giant leap into the hearts and souls of the Tanzanian people.The entire city came out to welcome President George W. Bush during the first day of his visit to Tanzania. Thousands lined the streets of the capital city here, some waving American

  • General Johnston bids farewell

    Editor's Note: Brig. Gen. Rich Johnston, 86th Airlift Wing commander, will relieve command to Col. William Bender Dec. 19 at a change of command ceremony. General Johnston has been assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe Director, Plans and Programs. To our Kaiserslautern Military Community family: it

  • Kicking the habit: Breaking down from a personal perspective

    Editor's note: This is the third part of a three part series documenting a smoker's attempt to quit. In starting this story, I can't help but think; how do I tell more than 7,000 people I failed? In reality, it's not the 7,000 people I care about telling, it's the three at home that have the most

  • Kicking the habit: Chronicles of smoking from a personal perspective

    Editor's note: This is the first part of a three part series documenting a smoker's attempt to quit. The Great American Smokeout was Nov. 15. I started smoking when I was 16. I did not have a steady home. It was difficult finding a place to stay most nights. When I could, I spent the night at my

  • Kicking the habit: First week of quitting from a personal perspective

    Editor's note: This is the second part of a three part series documenting a smoker's attempt to quit. The Great American Smokeout is Nov. 15. While I was in the smoker's cessation class, I was told the first seven days of quitting smoking are always the most difficult. This is the time the majority

  • Marriage enrichment is TIME well spent

    It's been nearly 10 years since my husband and I attended pre-marital counseling with an Air Force chaplain, and not an anniversary goes by that I don't think about the valuable lessons that came from those one-hour sessions over the course of six weeks.Looking back, I see that this counseling was