USAF SNCO Academy 07E, Flight 24

We spent the afternoon driving Grandma (visiting from Michigan) to my uncle's graduation from the Air Force's Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex in Montgomery, Alabama. Though we had to drive through the remnants of Hurricane Humberto, it was well worth the trip.

NCOs are the backbone of our military -- the tactical leaders and technical experts who ensure our force remains effective and capable. And who "protect" young junior officers from themselves. Tom, who will be up for Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) later this year, spent most of his career in Nebraska with the 1st Airborne Command & Control Squadron (1st ACCS, the guys who fly the National Airborne Operations Center). He is now on staff at Pacific Air Forces in Hawai'i.

Grandma, BTW, was a Marine in World War II. OOO-rah!