Cliff Gonzales Recreation Assistant, 452 FSS Hometown: Riverside, California 0630 The smell of percolating coffee is my signal to get up and get my day in gear. 0730 After viewing about one half-hour of my favorite news channel, I make my way in to the office to do my part as a Team March member. 0807 My first…

With world Autism awareness month coming to an end, I wonder, being the parent of a child affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and part of military leadership, did it help? Specifically, has military leadership become any more aware of the trials and tribulations that raising a child with ASD can have on military families?…

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) — Do you have Airmen who depend on you? If so, are you ready for when unthinkable tragedies strike? How about an accidental death, a suicide, battlefield casualty, or even murder, are you prepared to inform families, friends and coworkers? Prepared or not, the aftermath of such an event may…

ORI stories: As told by Maj. Kevin Marzette, 50th Aerial Port Squadron Having served time in the U.S. Army, the most profound compliment that can be rendered to a fellow soldier is, ‘I would go to war with you any day of the week.’ Well, my experience during the recent Operational Readiness Exercise, Sept. 16…

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — By now, most Americans are aware of America’s fiscal crisis. The national debt is at $16.5 trillion and rising. The fiscal crisis is driving the need for budget cuts across the federal government. The Defense Department makes up approximately 20 percent of the federal budget, so we should expect the…

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) — “That night, my whole world turned upside down,” said Airman Samantha Smith, a sexual assault survivor in the Air Force. On the night Smith was recalling, she became a victim of sexual assault and took her first of many steps down the road to recovery. That night, Smith…

Maj. Anna B Ruiz Unit: 452 Mission Support Group Job: Executive Officer Hometown: Holtville, Calif. Hobbies: Photography, traveling, skydiving and gardening Two years ago, on Easter, I was at San Onofre Beach on Camp Pendleton when an earthquake struck Mexicali, Baja Calif. I’d recommend that you maintain your situational awareness. If indoors, drop to the…

These days, we hear a lot about the many different resources available in the military. If you are in need of financial help, you can choose from various military programs being offered. If you have legal issues or questions, most military bases have a legal staff that provides tons of helpful information.  On the other…

 SOUTHWEST ASIA — I felt like everyone knew how stupid I was and because I made bad choices, he got away with it. I did make really bad choices — choices that allowed me to put myself in a position to get sexually assaulted, just two months after turning 21 years old. My story is not that…

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) — When I was first assigned a position to lead people in the Air Force, I was expected to be, among other things, a safety cheerleader, encouraging my team to avoid mishaps and work safely. This was a bit new to me and I found most safety lectures I sat through in…