CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
To submit a news brief, send an e-mail to airlift.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.
Spotlight
Airman Leadership School instructor position opening: The Charleston Airman Leadership School has an opening for a Professional Military Education Instructor in January 2010. Are you a highly motivated and dedicated staff sergeant with a Community College of the Air Force degree? Can you multi-task? If so, this job's for you. ALS Flight instructors provide the Air Force's future leaders with the skills necessary to fulfill their supervisory responsibilities within the enlisted force structure and lead our Airmen of tomorrow. This is a four year controlled tour, which will allow you the stability to reach your professional and personal goals. Please contact the ALS Commandant, Master Sgt. Beth Dickens at 963-4074 or by e-mail at beth.dickens-02@charleston.af.mil for application information. The deadline to submit packages is Sept. 1.
Fall sports and school physicals: The 437th Medical Group will conduct fall sports and school physicals Aug. 12 on youth dependents ages 9 to 19. Call 963-6880 to make an appointment. Additional physical appointments will be made available depending upon the demand.
Top 3 meeting: Are you a master sergeant or above? Do you have a line number for master sergeant? If so, then the Charleston Top 3 Association is looking for you. The Charleston Top 3 Association mentors Charleston Airmen; making leaders who make a difference while positively impacting the base and community. There are also new features at the Top 3 meetings: a senior NCO professional development session discussing such topics as senior NCO promotion boards, Air Force Aid, as well as standards and discipline. The Top 3 meets the second Wednesday of each month at noon in the Charleston Club. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12. For more information, please e-mail Master Sgt. Michelle McMeekin at michelle.mcmeekin@us.af.mil or Senior Master Sgt. William Brown at william.brown8@charleston.af.mil.
Airman and Family Readiness Center events are held at Building 500 unless otherwise noted. To sign up for an event, call 963-4406.
Educational opportunities: Meet one-on-one, by appointment, with an expert who will help you reach your educational goals Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Career Status Bonus: Find out if it's a wise choice Aug. 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. If you joined the military on August 1, 1986, or later, you must make a choice between two retirement plans between your 14-and-a-half year mark and 15-year mark in the military.
Bundles for babies: Parents can learn useful tips and the importance of budgeting for their new addition Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be a free bundle for each expectant child.
Hurricane briefing with Bill Walsh, Live 5 Meteorologist: Do you know what to do in the event of a hurricane? Find out Aug. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. if you're prepared for this year's hurricane season. Light snacks will be provided and sack lunches are welcome.
S.C. employment services: Meet with a S.C. job services representative Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon for limited resume assistance and help in a job search. Individuals seeking service must register online and identify job leads before arriving for the appointment.
Outside the Continential U.S. permanent change of station: A PCS can be challenging ... an OCONUS PCS can be even more challenging. Get a jump start of your overseas move Aug. 13 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and receive a destination specific packet.
Troops and spouses to teachers: Want to become a teacher? Counseling and assistance will be provided Aug. 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification and employment leads in a effort to help service members and their spouses transition to a new career as public school teachers in targeted schools.
Family pre-deployment briefing: Families of Airmen deploying within the next 30 days can meet Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. The briefing gives information about deployments and tips for a successful deployment for Airmen and their families.
Reintegration seminar: There is a reintegration seminar held Tuesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. for Airmen returning from a deployment to help them reintegrate back into their family lives.
Parenting workshop classes
Time management and organization for teens: Learn to prioritize and organize responsibilities while allowing time for fun Aug. 10 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Effective discipline for school-age children 6-9: Learn effective tools for setting guidelines, shaping behavior and discipline Aug. 17 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Effective discipline for pre-teens and teens ages 10-17: Learn effective guidelines for setting rules, limits and consequences Aug. 24 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Around the base
2009 Air Force Ball: This year's Air Force Ball is scheduled for Oct. 3 at the North Charleston Convention Center. To purchase tickets for the Air Force Ball 2009 see unit's representative.
Pharmacy prescriptions must be picked up within seven calendar days: Due to space constraints, filled prescriptions can only be stored in the pharmacy for seven calendar days before being returned to stock. Patients who do not pick up their prescriptions within the seven-day window must request the next prescription fill in person and return the next day to retrieve the medication. If there are special circumstances and the pharmacy needs to hold a prescriptions a little longer, call the pharmacy at 963-6808 and they will make every reasonable effort to accommodate.
Fall culture class: Enrollment for the Fall Introduction to Culture class starting Sept. 7 is currently open through the Air University Portal Web site. Air University is looking to enroll 320 students. For any questions regarding the course, call Katie Gunther at 334-953-9017 or Olin Goodhue at 334-953-7197.
More storage available: The recreational vehicle storage lot has available spaces for boats, campers or trailers not exceeding 30 feet in length for individuals living on or off base. The fee is $35 per month or $360 per year. For more information, contact the Outdoor Recreation Center at 963-5271.
Educational resources available: Parents of school-age children can access educational resources to support their child's math and reading skill development by registering for a free account at www.soarathome.org. For parents who are relocating, the site offers a test students can take on state learning standards and directs students to a tutorial that will improve their skills if needed. Student Online Achievement Resources cover skills in math, reading and language arts for students in grades 3-12.
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.
Airman's Attic needs volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help at the Airman's Attic located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center at building 500 Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sort donations and assist customers. There is also a need for individuals who own a truck or a trailer to volunteer as delivery drivers. Volunteers are eligible to participate in the base Recognizing Achievement and Volunteer Excellence program, which provides monthly incentives based on the number of hours volunteered. For more information, call 963-4408.
Lost and found: The 437th Security Forces Squadron maintains lost and found items. Call 963-3605 or 7266 to inquire about a lost item. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 31-206, security forces will not take custody of property, besides weapons, left with another installation agency.
ID Registration: Persons over the age of 16 issued a Department of Defense identification card are required to register in the new Defense Biometric Identification System at the Visitor Control Center or the 437th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Section, Building 503, weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and weekends at the VCC from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 963-7807.
TSP transfers to Roth IRAs: Separated Thrift Savings Plan participants and active participants eligible for age based in-service withdrawals now have the option to transfer all or part of TSP withdrawal payments to a Roth Individual Retirement Account as well as to traditional IRAs or other eligible employer plans. Keep in mind that members must meet eligibility criteria and they must pay tax on any amount that is transferred into a Roth IRA for the year of the transfer. For more information, see the "Questions and Answers" on the TSP Web site or the TSP tax notice "Important Tax Information About Payments From Your TSP Account," available from the TSP Web site, www.tsp.gov, or by calling the Thrift Line at 877-968-3778.
Lower cost hearing aids available for military retirees: Naval Health Clinic Charleston is now participating in the Retiree At-Cost Hearing Aid Program. RACHAP makes hearing aids available at significantly reduced costs to retired military service members. The program is available for those who are under 65 years old and enrolled to a primary care manager at NHCC or to the 437th Medical Group. Those receiving 10 percent or more disability from the Veteran's Administration are not eligible for hearing aids through RACHAP. Anyone interested in obtaining a hearing aid through RACHAP should call the Naval Health Clinic directly at 743-3709. Those wishing to change their primary care enrollment to NHCC should call 800-444-5445 or visit the TRICARE Service Center at the Naval Health Clinic on Rivers Avenue. For more information on the services available at NHCC, go to www.nhchasn.med.navy.mil.
Interest rates on federal education loans drop July 1: Persons considering a federal student loan consolidation of their variable-rate loans should seriously look into doing so immediately. Interest rates on these consolidations have dropped to a historic low and will be "locked in" for the life of the loan, potentially saving thousands of dollars in interest for borrowers. Federal student loans that were taken out before July 1, 2006, have variable rates. Interest rates on federal consolidation loans are capped, meaning they cannot go higher than 8.25 percent. Borrowers who have variable-rate federal loans who consolidate them after July 1 can lock in these new low rates:
· Stafford Loan Consolidation (In-School/Grace Period): 2 percent
· Stafford Loan Consolidation (Repayment Period): 2.50 percent
· PLUS Loan Consolidation: 3.38 percent
Some of the important aspects of this initiative are:
· Borrowers who have already consolidated their loans cannot take advantage of the drop in interest rate.
· Persons with loans originated after July 1, 2006, are not eligible for the new lower rate.
· Private student loans cannot be included in a federal consolidation loan.
· Borrowers who are still in school cannot consolidate their loans until they graduate, as Congress repealed the early repayment status loophole in 2006.