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.
Change of Command
437th Logistics Readiness Squadron change of command: Lt. Col. James Petrick will relinquish command to Lt. Col. Stevan Kaighen during the 437 LRS change of command ceremony June 19 in Building 407 at 2 p.m. For more information, contact 1st Lt. Gary Jaffe at 963-5085.
437th Security Forces Squadron change of command: Lt. Col. Seth McKee with relinquish command to Maj. Christopher Callis during the 437 SFS change of command ceremony June 26 in the Charleston Club at 10 a.m. For more information, contact 1st Lt. Zachary Carey at 963-3641.
437th Civil Engineer Squadron change of command: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Todd will relinquish command to Maj. Richard Sanders during the 437 CES change of command ceremony June 26 in the Charleston Club at 1 p.m.
Spotlight
Airman Leadership School commandant position opening: The Charleston AFB Airman Leadership School is accepting applications for the commandant position. Seeking to expand career opportunities? Desiring to mold tomorrow's leaders today? Master sergeants with managerial experience may apply for the ALS commandant position. The report no later than date is set on or before Jan. 4, 2010. Packages must be submitted no later than the close of business July 10. Contact Master Sgt. Beth Dickens, ALS commandant, at 963-4074 for any questions, or via e-mail at
beth.dickens-02@charleston.af.mil.
Charleston Battery military appreciation night: The Charleston Battery professional soccer team is sponsoring a military appreciation night at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island June 25. Tickets are free to all active-duty military, reservists, retirees, dependents and DoD employees. Tickets are also available for pick up at the 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Offices, Outdoor Recreation Center and the base marketing office. For more information, contact the 437 AW PA office at 963-5608 or the 315 AW PA office at 963-2034.
AMC seeks 2009 Air Force Marathon participants: The annual Air Force Marathon will be held Sept. 19 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. An Air Mobility Command sponsored active-duty team will be selected upon submitting an AF Form 303. Submit forms to the Fitness and Sports Center by July 3. All others interested in competing are encouraged to do so at their own expense. For more information, call the Fitness and Sports Center at 963-3347.
Airman and Family Readiness Center events are held at Building 500 unless otherwise noted. To sign up for an event, call 963-4406.
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.
SC employment services: A representative from the South Carolina Employment Services will be here June 24 to meet with job seekers. Half-hour appointments are held from 10 a.m. to noon. Individuals seeking an appointment must register online before the appointment at www.scjoblink.org.
Heart link spouse orientation: Spouses of military members can learn Air Force culture, traditions, military language, benefits, services and mission, all while making friends July 25. Reserve a seat no later than July 18. Childcare issues will be addressed at time of registration.
Parenting workshop classes are held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Enhancing resiliency in children: Brown bag lunch workshop June 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for parents who want to ease military lifestyle challenges and create a supportive environment for their children.
Time management and organization for teens: Brown bag lunch workshop for parents and teens June 29. Learn to balance and organize responsibilities with time for having fun.
Effective discipline for school-age children ages 6-9: Learn effective tools for setting guidelines, shaping behavior, and discipline July 6.
Effective discipline for pre-teens and teens ages 10-17: Learn effective guidelines for setting rules, limits and consequences July 13.
Around the base
Junteenth celebration: Come out and enjoy a guaranteed good time. The 2nd annual Junteenth Celebration will commemorate the Junteenth holiday. Activities will take place June 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the base picnic grounds. There will be music, educational opportunities and a lot of fun. Enjoy a delicious fish platter for a $6 donation. For tickets, please contact Senior Master Sgt. Leroy Lewis at 963-4634, Senior Master Sgt. Debra Mosley at 963-2537, Master Sgt. Angela Powell at 963-6017, Tech. Sgt. Kenneethia Kennard at 963-3662 or Shelia Reed at 963-3785 no later than June 16.
Charleston AFB celebrates National Olympic Day: As part of National Olympic Day celebrations, former Olympic swimmer and Atlanta native Carlton Bruner will make an appearance at the Charleston AFB Youth Center June 23 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. From 1992 through 1996, Bruner was considered one of the top swimmers in the world in both the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events. Olympic Day is a worldwide commemoration of the June 23, 1894, convening of the first International Olympic Committee meeting in Paris and the founding of the modern Olympic Games.
Fall culture class: Enrollment for the Fall Introduction to Culture class starting Sept. 7 is currently open. Registration started June 8, 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 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 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 to drop July 1: Persons considering a federal student loan consolidation of their variable-rate loans should seriously look into doing so immediately after July 1. At that time, interest rates on these consolidations will drop 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.