27 Jul 2011

Caring for people remains a RAF Mildenhall focus

The Air Force's 2011 Caring for People Forum concluded in Arlington, Va., July 21, and addressed several initiatives focusing on issues affecting Airmen and their families.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz was a guest speaker at the forum, which addressed many of the same issues Team Mildenhall's Air Force Community Action and

17 Mar 2010

The Turning Point commentary: Conservation = $avings

Melting polar ice caps, El Nino weather, carbon emissions ... is the sky falling Chicken Little? It may very well be.Regardless, what can't be disputed is that like many people around the world, I'm paying careful attention to energy consumption.Will this help reduce the carbon footprint? You bet it will. Guess what else it will do?It'll help me

3 Mar 2010

The Turning Point: Helping spouses cope with deployment

Lasting memories of her husband's embrace and recollections of him boarding the plane for Afghanistan were fresh as the young mother made her way down a winding British road, heading to a medical appointment.With determination, her eyes pierced the lingering fog and remained focused on each bend and wind of the road - all the while her mind was

26 Feb 2010

The Turning Point: SCRA could be money-saving tool for junior Airmen

How high is high?For a basketball player, high is about 304.8 cm - what they need to jump to slam-dunk the ball.For a KC-135 pilot, high is about 50,000 feet - the Stratotanker's operational ceiling.For an 8-year old child dreaming of becoming an astronaut, the moon is pretty darned high.Still, for a junior-enlisted Airman or their family member,

19 Feb 2010

The Turning Point: Mildenhall launches new single parent support group

Imagine standing outside amid hurricane-force winds and a torrential downpour of rain. Like a curious child, imagine trying to balance yourself by leaning forward as the rain and wind sting your face - knowing all the while that leaning just a fraction in any direction would send you tumbling over.If this scene is vivid now, try to imagine lifting

11 Feb 2010

The Turning Point: Breaking domestic violence cycles

In the business of war, violence sometimes can't be avoided. In fact, millions of Americans bank their lives on the fact that servicemembers will not hesitate to take action when it's required. Sometimes emotions can erupt like a volcano - but just as the Department of Defense doesn't respond to humanitarian actions with brute military force,

1 Feb 2010

The Turning Point: Social media proves valuable information tool for families

Imagine flipping through a newspaper or magazine while the radio plays in the background and the kitchen TV broadcasts the evening news ... Bling! Bling! Bling!Oops - the Blackberry rings, and there's a message in the inbox. It's too large to view on the small hand-held screen so you fire up the laptop.Ah! There it is - a friend out in Texas sends

27 Jan 2010

When life reaches 'The Turning Point'

Somewhere on base there's a junior enlisted Airman balancing their checkbook and realizing that even after raising their right hand and enlisting, they still live paycheck to paycheck. Elsewhere on base there's a Department of Defense civilian who seems to be sick every morning and can't quite shake their drinking habits. They realize this can't