JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
To submit a news brief, send an e-mail to 628abw.dispatch@charleston.af.mil. Make the subject line "NEWS BRIEFS." Submissions must be received no later than close of business the Friday prior to publication.
Specials:
Blue Star Museums free admission: The National Endowment for the Arts along with the non-profit Blue Star Families has started a new summer program called Blue Star Museums, a partnership with more than 750 museums across America to offer free admission to all active-duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Museums in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking part in the Blue Star Museums initiative. In addition to 30 children's museums across the country, participating museums represent a broad range of art, history, science and cultural topics.
To obtain a list of participating museums in the area, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Click a state on the map to see a list of museums.
Events:
Saturday
Extreme summer heat bowling: Every Saturday night from 9 to 11 p.m., it's OK to get extreme at Starlifting Lanes Bowling Center. During July, we'll give you two hours of bowling, shoe rental, hot music and cool lights for just $5. There will be drawings for great prizes each night. No RSVP required. Call 963-3315 for more information.
Fit family bike ride: Come join us for an easy ride through base housing July 17 at 9 a.m. All ages are welcome! Individuals attending will need a bike, helmet and water bottle. Everyone attending the bike ride should meet at the Youth Center fifteen minutes prior to the start. Contact the Youth Center for more information at 963-5684.
Wednesday
S.C. employment services: Meet with a South Carolina job services representative to help in your job search and provide limited resume assistance July 21. Individuals seeking service must register online and identify job leads before arriving at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Building 500. This service is first-come, first-serve. Walk-ins begin at 10 a.m. Call 963-4406 to register.
Thursday
Pottery class: Come play in the clay! No art skill or experience needed. This is a DePLAYment program and free for tag holders. The cost for these two-part classes for individuals who are not tag holders is $20 per person. Classes are held in the Arts and Crafts Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates, all of which are Thursday evenings: July 22, Aug. 12 and 19 and Sept. 16 and 23. Prior sign-up is requested. Call 963-4936 for more details.
Framing class: Here's a great way to learn a very useful skill or hobby on your lunch hour. Each Framing 101 class consists of two sessions, held on consecutive Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to noon. Instruction is free, with the students paying for their materials to build their own frame. Students are asked to bring a picture no larger than 16-inch by 20-inch to the first class. Please, no canvases or needlepoint. Prior registration is needed. Each class size is limited, so register early for the class date you would like to attend. Class dates are: July 22, Aug. 12 and 19 and Sept. 16 and 23. Call the Arts and Crafts Center at 963-4936 for more information.
July 23
AMC Icon auditions this month: Applications for auditions for this year's local AMC Icon singing talent contest are now being accepted. Application deadline is July 23. Joint Base Charleston competition is Aug. 11 at the Charleston Club. Local top prize is $500. Top active-duty winner will represent JB CHS in command competition Oct. 21 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Command-level first place winner receives $1,000 and the opportunity to audition with Tops In Blue. All contestants must be at least 18 years old. For more information on "AMC Icon" and to download an entry form for the local competition, log on to www.jbcharleston.com and click on the "icon" logo.
Latin Night at the Club: Looking for an evening out with great music and a dance style that actually encourages you to hold on to your dance partner? Come to Latin Night at the Charleston club July 23 at 9 p.m. and have fun dancing to a rhythmic Latin beat. If you don't know how to salsa or Cha Cha Cha, we'll have dance lessons at the beginning of the evening to give you and your partner some pointers. Music will be provided by the area's top Latin DJ, Luigi Bravo of Latin Groove. There is a $7 per person cover for the night. The kitchen will stay open until 10 p.m., and there's drink service until 2 a.m. No reservations needed.
July 24
Heart Link: Make new friends and create a support system in a fun-filled environment by learning what benefits you are entitled to as a military spouse. Break the code on the military language and learn exactly what you got yourself into by attending Heart Link at the Airman and Family Readiness Center July 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to register call 963-4406.
July 25
Kayak adventure trip: Join the Outdoor Recreation Center July 25 as they explore some of the most picturesque waterways in the South. This one-day trip is open to all experience levels of kayakers and make great family outings. The $35 per person cost includes transportation, kayak equipment, safety gear, life jackets, parking fees and trip guides. Departure time from the Outdoor Recreation Center is 9 a.m. and the return time is around 4 p.m. Space is limited on this trip, so sign up early. Call 963-1732 for more information.
July 27
Resume II: A one-on-one class will be offered July 27 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Airman and Family Readiness Center. For more information call 963-4406.
July 28
Credit repair solutions: Learn about credit scores, building credit and how to protect your credit on your own in a class July 28 from 8 to 9 a.m. Separate fact from fiction and how to avoid scams that offer empty promises. Class will be held at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. Call 963-4406 to sign up.
Pinch your pennies until they squeal: Learn how to have a good quality of life on a budget July 28 from noon to 1 p.m. Call 963-4406 to reserve your seat.
Career status bonus/redux briefing: If you are close to your 14.5 year mark in the military and have the word "choice" listed on your current leave and earnings statement, then you have a choice between two retirement plans. The Airman and Family Readiness Center is hosting a career status/redux briefing July 28 from 1 to 1:45 p.m. For additional information or to register call 963-4406.
Education and Training:
Funding change to testing: Effective Nov. 20, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) will only fund a military member's initial examination fee for each subject College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST (previously known as the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) and Excelsior College Examinations (ECE) 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 Building 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:
After school care: Registration is now underway for the 2010 through 2011 After School Program at the Youth Center. This program is accredited and a leader in the community. Transportation for the after school care will be provided from Hunley Park, Riverbends, Lambs, For Dorchester, Eagles Nest and Oakbrook elementary schools. The program is open to children ages 5 (and in kindergarten) to 12. Registration is accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shot records with current H1N1 vaccination and LES/pay statements must be available at time of registration. Call 963-5684 for additional details.
Commissary/BX advisory council: The next quarterly Commissary/BX Advisory Council will convene July 22 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the 628th Mission Support Group Conference Room. Contact Ed Wigim at 963-6255 if you have any items or issues for discussion or recommendation.
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. This is a voluntary class focused on helping participants manage anger and stress and learn more effective ways of communicating their emotions. 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.
Summer reading registration: The 2010 Base Library Youth Summer Reading Program is underway through Aug. 7. The theme this year is, "Voyage to Book Island." This program is designed to encourage and improve reading skills among youth. To register for the program, stop by the Base Library and pick up a summer reading packet. All books in this program must be checked out from the base library. For more information on this and other base library programs, call 963-3320.
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 Building 503, Room 201. Air Force Instruction 36-3205 mandates that eligible Airmen who are separating 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 on Joint Base Charleston: Girls in grades four to six, or six to seven are eligible for membership in the Girl Scout troop on JBC. Meetings are held at Building 245 on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. for fun, earning badges and getting to meet other girls. Please contact Carolyn Kolva at 743-5020 for more information.
Updates and Closures:
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.
Base shredding area open: The base shredder has been repaired. To make an appointment, contact Airman 1st Class Miguel Batista at 963-3289 or Airman 1st Class Dawn Voigt at 963-8270.
Base pool open: The base pool is now open for the summer. Season passes are on sale at the Outdoor Recreation Center. There will be no-cost lap swimming and military training Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon. Open swimming will be Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Without a season pass, the daily entrance fee during open swim times is $2.50 per person. The ORC is also taking reservations for pool parties. Parties can be booked at the base pool for Tuesdays through Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. with a maximum group size of 100 people. Call 963-1732 for more information.
Free pool admission for Airmen: All Airmen E-1 through E-4 now have free entrance to the base pool anytime during open swim times, which are Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. The pool is closed Mondays. Call the pool office at 963-3344 for additional information on pool activities and events.
Retiree activities office now at new location: The Joint Base Charleston Retiree Activities Office has moved to Building 503, Room 122. The hours of operation remain 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call 963-2228 or e-mail rao@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 Building 500, Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Betsy Crump at 963-4411.
Military News:
Civilian Force Development Reference Center: The Air Force recently launched a Civilian Force Development Reference Center on the Air Force Portal for civilians and supervisors to learn about CFD framework, tools and programs designed to help civilians focus on professional development. An introductory video by Gen. Howie Chandler, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, a webinar introducing the CFD framework, programs, tools and an evaluation to provide feedback have been placed on the CFD Reference Center. You can get the reference center 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. Beginning Feb. 1, Airmen, their families and retirees will have access to this website to complete online worksheets for wills, advance medical directives and powers of attorney and submit customer feedback about their office experience. 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.