Year of the Air Force Family short story competition coming soon Published Dec. 15, 2009 By Maj. Belinda Petersen Air Force Services Agency Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force Services Agency officials are accepting short story competition entries on myairforcelife.com, starting Dec. 20 through Feb. 14, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family. This is an opportunity for Airmen to express through their short story, what living the Air Force life means to them, their family, and their friends. Acceptable entries will be 300 words or less in Microsoft Word uploaded to http://www.myairforcelife.com. The subject of the short story is "The Air Force is a great place to live, work, and play." Once uploaded, visitors to the site can vote for their favorite stories. Entries with the highest number of votes will become finalists. One winner in each category (youth and adult) will be selected to win an Apple MacBook laptop and a $500 Best Buy gift card valued at about $2,000. The winner in the adult category will have their story featured in Military Spouse Magazine, in the May 2010 issue. Recently, Air Force Services Agency officials launched MyAirForceLife.com to help Airmen stay connected, informed and engaged in programs as part of the Year of the Air Force Family. "The site features programs and competitions that will roll out through the year. We are focusing on the 'play' part of 'The Air Force is a great place to live, work, and play' campaign," said Ms. Debbie Karnes, Air Force Services Agency spokeswoman. "There's something for everyone: short story, video short, original song, and photography competition. The site also offers a place for visitors to provide quips and quotes on how the Air Force has enriched their lives in the 'Roger That' section." Earlier this year, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley designated July 2009 to July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family, a period to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of the diverse Air Force family including active duty, Reserves, Air National Guard, single Airmen, civilians, spouses, children, retirees, and community partners. "Taking care of families is a solemn promise we make to each Airman and family member," said Secretary Donley. "Sense of community is a cultural trademark of the Air Force, and we will seek ways to nurture it as part of the larger 'Year of the Air Force Family' effort." To find details on the contest and to enter, Airmen and eligible patrons of Air Force MWR programs can log on to http://www.myairforcelife.com.