It's been a year since I last reported for duty as an active-duty Airman, and what an eventful year it's been! New York's been a great time so far, I've worked with some incredible people, supported a phenomenal mission, caught up with some old friends and watched a Hell of a lot of the Yankees.

So here's to a year of freedom! I've never regretted my decision to leave, but I'll forever take the utmost pride in the fact that I was fortunate enough to wear the uniform of the world's greatest air and space force.

At the same time, there isn't a day that passes where I fail to remember those in uniform, still fighting the good fight:

No excuse: Military women should never be in such a position and the solution must come top down. We need stronger leaders that are not misogynists, that can control themselves around young women (and you know who you are) and actually create safe environments. When our female warriors need to worry more about their fellow servicemembers than the enemy, there's a real problem that requires immediate attention. Of course, it's easy for me to take this stance on such an obvious issue, but in the military culture, I wasn't brave enough to stand up to this injustice. I regret not speaking out more when, in my opinion, I saw the roots of this in action at Kirtland. While I never saw a woman assaulted, there was clearly an old boys network that sowed the seeds of this culture. That black mark stays with me.
Well, at least the Pentagon's putting it's best foot forward to rectify this. Or maybe not. (incredible)
And keep the families of Lt. Col. Thomas Bouley, the crew of the B-52 that crashed off the coast of Guam, the 10 servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan this month.
Take a moment to read this piece on fallen warrior Dustin Canham, the brother of Oregon State catcher Mitch Canham.
This is beginning to get ridiculous.

Labels: Air Force