After retiring from the U.S. Army, the greatest organization in the world, I went to work for the U.S. Air Force. I was apprehensive, but grateful for the job opportunity.

Over the years in the Army I must admit I did my share of making fun of the Air Force − wimps − and I missed the discipline of the Army.

I now want to say a great big thank you to the men and women and civilian employees of the Air Force. I have found them to be professional, caring and great people to work with, especially my current office at RAF Lakenheath in England.

Everyone here works together to get the job done and looks out for each other. If someone has a need, others reach in to fill it. If someone is deployed, he gets a lot of attention from his home station to make sure he knows he’s not forgotten. That also works for the deployed soldiers; they know they can count on the folks here to take care of their families.

Although I occasionally still pick on the Air Force — they do jumping jacks instead of the side straddle hop — I want to say thank you to them and the U.S. Air Force for giving this displaced retired Army sergeant a home.

Shirley BarlowRAF Lakenheath, England

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