JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
To submit a news brief, send an e-mail to patriot@charleston.af.mil. Make the subject line "NEWS BRIEFS." Submissions must be received no later than close of business the Friday prior to publication.
Events:
For a complete listing of base facilities' holiday hours, log on to www.jbcharleston.com/holidayhours.pdf.
Dec. 29
Credit repair solutions: Learn what it takes to improve your credit score without paying a service to do it for you. Briefing will be held in the Military and Family Readiness Center, Bldg. 500, Dec. 29 from 8 to 9 a.m. Call 963-4406 to reserve your seat.
Dec. 31
New Year's Eve at the Charleston Club: Join the Charleston Club, Friday, Dec. 31 as 2010 drifts away and 2011 slides over the horizon. Joining us to welcome the New Year is Charleston's one and only First Class band. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1 and are $20 per person for Club Members and dates; $30 per person for non-members. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more information, tickets and reservations, call or stop by the Club's office.
Jan. 3
Investing demystified: Learn the different types of investments with simplified terminology for a better understanding. Class is Jan. 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. in Bldg. 500.
Jan. 4
First time homebuyer workshop: Learn all about how to buy a home from A-to-Z at this workshop held Jan. 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Bldg. 500.
Jan. 5
Thrift Savings Plan simplified (civilian and military): Learn about the TSP, its purpose and how it can help fund your retirement. Class is in Bldg. 500, Jan. 5, Feb. 16 and March 2 from 8 to 9 a.m.
Jan. 12
Credit repair solutions: Learn what it takes to improve your credit score without paying a service for it. Class meets Jan. 12 from 10 to 11 a.m. in Bldg. 500.
Special Announcements:
Stress Coping workshops: Learn how to cope with life's stresses without pulling your hair out. Workshops meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Health and Wellness Center Classroom and are open to everyone. Call 963-4007.
Sleep habits: On average we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep. Shouldn't you know more about it? Learn effective sleep habits and how to get your best zzzzz's. Workshop meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the HAWC Classroom and is open to everyone. Call 963-4007.
Air Base Library closure: The Air Base Library is closed until 9 a.m. Jan. 3, 2011, for shelving installation. Office hours for out-processing personnel are held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers are asked to keep their library materials until we reopen in January. Wireless internet will be available during this time, but customers will not have access to the building. The Library staff will be available to answer telephone questions and will have limited access to the collection for emergency checkout needs. Customers should call ahead to confirm the availability of a needed item. Full library services will be available at our Branch Library at the Weapons Station located at 2316 Red Bank Rd, Bldg. 732, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Riverfront Race Festival Volunteers: Volunteer opportunities are available for the Riverfront Race Festival, Jan. 15 to 16. The marathon, half-marathon, 10k and 5k road races benefit Youth Endowment for the Arts. For more information, e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Marsha Alterman at marsha@charlestonmarathon.com or go to www.riverfrontracefestival.com.
Riverfront Race Festival Charleston Youth Marathon: For children ages 7 to 17 and in good health, the Riverfront Youth Marathon is a modified marathon where your child can run or walk 25 miles prior to the actual Riverfront Race Festival. On Jan. 24, 2011, the children will then run or walk the last 1.2 miles of the race course. Children must keep a log of the miles they run prior to the event. For more information contact Mike Campbell at mike@charlestonmarathon.com or go to www.charlestonmarathon.com.
Become an MUSC Research Hero: The Pediatric Metabolic Syndrome Study is recruiting overweight children, teens and young adults, age 4 to 21, to assess risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. Participants will receive a free state-of-the-art assessment including a nutrition analysis, labwork, body composition, metabolic rate and heart ultrasound. Parking is free and compensation is available. Contact Janet Carter, 792-4717 or e-mail catjan@musc.edu.
Education and Training:
Funding change to testing: Effective Nov. 20, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support will only fund a military member's initial examination fee for each subject College Level Examination Program, DSST, previously known as the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, and Excelsior College Examinations exams. Due to the change, all military members taking CLEP, DSST or ECE examination on or after May 20 will be informed they will not be allowed to retest with DANTES funding, on that specific exam, if they do not obtain their desired passing score. However, re-testing will continue to be available on a personally-funded basis. Individuals who took a test prior to May 20 must retest prior to Dec. 11. For additional background and details, call 963-4579.
Records management training: Records management training is scheduled the last Tuesday of every month in the conference room of the 2nd floor in Bldg. 302 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Members can sign up on the Enterprise Information Management website. For any questions or concerns, contact Airman 1st Class Francisco Bastian or Airman 1st Class Miguel Batista at 963-8270.
Meetings and Registrations:
Healthy Thinking Workshop registration: Do you find yourself feeling angry or stressed more often than you would like or regret how you act when you are upset? Do you wish you could express yourself more clearly and be more assertive? Consider registering for the Healthy Thinking Workshop. The workshop is divided into four, 90 minute sessions held on consecutive Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with a new group beginning the first Wednesday of every month. To sign up or for more information, contact Family Advocacy at 963-6972.
Palace Chase, Palace Front briefings: The new in-service recruiter, Master Sgt. Robert Denehy, will be conducting Palace Chase and Palace Front briefings at 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month in Bldg. 503, Room 201. Air Force Instruction 36-3205 mandates eligible Airmen who are separating to be informed about the benefits and opportunities available to them within the Reserve, such as cross training, continued service, retirement, education, medical insurance and promotion. For more information, contact Sergeant Denehy at 963-4499.
Girl Scouting: Girls in grades kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to join Girl Scout Troop 895 at the Chapel Annex on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Come join us to have fun, experience new activities and meet new friends. Contact Patti Donahue at 618-363-5230 or pdonahue@sc.rr.com for more information.
Updates and Closures:
New website debut: The MAFRC has a new site on the web at www.jbcharleston.com/family/afrc. Whether single or married or an immediate family member and regardless of branch of service, the MAFRC serves all active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retirees and civilian employees.
NAF Human Resources Office relocated: The Non-appropriated Fund Human Resources Office has moved from Bldg. 503 on Hill Boulevard to the Naval Weapons Station at 2316 Redbank Road, Suite 100, Bldg. 725. This building is in front of the theater and the pool. The new number for the NAF Human Resources Office is 754-6569.
NAF HRO opens satellite office: The NAF Human Resource Office now has a satellite office available on Joint Base Charleston in Bldg. 322, Room 222. The office is open Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m. on a walk-in basis and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon on an appointment basis. The commercial phone number is 963-7068. This is part of an effort to reach all potential customers, since the main Human Resource Office has moved to the Naval Weapons Station, Bldg. 725, next to the Fitness Center. The commercial phone numbers at the Naval Weapons Station are 764-7065 or 764-7068. Most transactions, including job searches and applications, can be done on www.NAFjobs.org then selecting the Charleston from the drop-down box. Call the main HRO for more information.
Trespassing notice: The small arms firing range is located off Arthur Drive on Range Road near the munitions operations area and explosive ordnance disposal building. Do not trespass into the surface danger zones; they are identified by posted warning signs. Trespassing is not only illegal; it is dangerous because of gunfire. Personnel requesting entry into firing range impact zones must contact the security forces combat arms noncommissioned officer in charge at 963-1121 or via e-mail at 437sfs.catm@charleston.af.mil.
Airman's Attic in need of donations: The Airman's Attic needs household items, children's clothing to size eight, appliances, food and furniture. If anyone has items that have been gently used, consider donating them to the attic. Donations can be dropped off at Bldg. 500, Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Betsy Crump at 963-4411.
Military News:
North Auxiliary Air Field hunting permits: Hunting permits for the recreational hunting program at North Auxiliary Air Field can now be purchased at the Joint Base Charleston-Air Base Resources Office. The Environmental Official is located in Bldg. 247 on the first floor. The hunting program is open to active-duty, Reserve and retired military, as well as Department of Defense civilian employees. Permits can only be issued to hunters who have a valid South Carolina hunting license and big game permit. The fee for a hunting permit for NAAF is $20. For more information, call the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron at 963-4020.
Base Shredder: For members who would like to make an appointment to shred unclassified documents using the base shredder, please use the sign-up sheet on Joint Base Charleston's Enterprise Information Management, EIM website at https://eim.amc.af.mil/org/628cs/RecordsManagement/default.aspx. Hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Upon completion of using the shredding area, members must take their shredded material with them and place it in the recycling bins on base, being sure to empty the bags.
Civilian Force Development Reference Center: The Civilian Force Development Reference Center is now on the Air Force Portal for civilians and supervisors to learn about CFD framework, tools and programs designed to help professional development. The reference center is accessed through the AF Portal > Life & Career > Force Development > Civilian Force Development Reference Center. Contact Joint Base Charleston Employee Development Specialist, Kathyann Hopkins at 963-4493 with questions.
Online legal assistance: The Air Force Legal Assistance website can be viewed at www.aflegalasssitance.com. Airmen, their families and retirees have access to this website to complete worksheets for wills, advance medical directives and powers of attorney. The 628th Air Base Wing Legal Office provides notary services from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on normal duty days. In addition, the office provides attorney consultation on a walk-in basis Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. for active-duty members in uniform, and 1 to 3 p.m. for all others.
Retraining opportunity: The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is seeking exceptional staff sergeants and technical sergeants with less than 12 years of service. Airmen must have an outstanding military record, be able to qualify for a top secret clearance, and have a stable personal and financial situation. AFOSI is a Federal Law Enforcement and Military organization. AFOSI investigates felony level crimes, frauds and counterintelligence violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law which negatively impacts Air Force operations worldwide. Airmen who think they are up to the challenge should visit the AFOSI homepage at www.osi.andrews.af.mil and call 963-3248 to set up an appointment.