JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Joint Base Charleston Retiree Activities Office held an information fair for Charleston area retirees and their spouses at the Charleston Club here Nov. 6.
The fair is held annually to bring retirees and spouses in the area together for an informative morning of briefings on issues and current events affecting the retired military community, accompanied by a light breakfast and an open floor for attendees to peruse various information booths.
"We've come for two or three years in a row now," said Jeffrey Waters, a local retiree.
Mr. Waters, who was joined by his wife Patti at the fair, said the annual fair keeps his wife up to date on what she has available as a beneficiary, as well as a spouse.
"It's the one thing that really helps to keep the retirees and spouses informed on what's going on," he continued. "Especially with the new stuff that's coming out, it helps from year-to-year."
Setting up a special parlor at the fair, the 628th Medical Group made a strong showing, with an entire room dedicated to providing medical information.
Helping agencies from the 628 MDG included the Drug Demand Reduction, Mental Health, Third Party Collections, Pharmacy, TRICARE, Population Health, the Health and Wellness Center, Dental and Physical Therapy.
"We were trying to cover all the bases of what we offer through the Medical Group," said Airman 1st Class Nathan Bozman, a mental health technician who was the project organizer for the 628 MDG. "I think it went great. It helped out a lot of people. They got a lot of information out here today."
Typically held each fall, the fair also garnered support from around the base and local community, including local area veteran organizations, financial institutions and the 628th Force Support Squadron.
Approximately 125 retirees and spouses attended this year's event, and each year the Retiree Activities Office strives for more.
"This is our big event, but our office is available to retirees anytime," said Charles Short, director of the Retiree Activities Office on the Air Base. "We are kind of a referral agency. People come to us with a problem, and we know who to talk to and get them in touch with the right people."
For more information on retiree services, Retiree Activities Office on the Air Base is available at 963-2228.