October's Post It's, Promotions and News Picks Published Oct. 1, 2011 By Senior Airman Ashley Ramirez 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- Here is the latest news and information that you need to know from the 146th Airlift Wing! This month's UTA we are privileged to have California Adjutant General Major General David Baldwin visiting us. Please help us welcome him and observe all customs and courtesies. Welcome our newest Airmen to the 146th! Staff Sergeant Michael Lee Ebel Airman 1st Class Christopher Cole Hicks Senior Airman Hector Luis Colon Airman Danielle L. Dupont Congratulations to our recent graduates from Formal Schools! Airman 1st Class Navid Haghdan, Cyber Transport Apprentice Staff Sergeant Christopher Glassford, Material Management Apprentice Airman 1st Class Betsaida Castellanos, Emergency Management Apprentice Farwell to our retirees and separations! Master Sergeant Lucky Madsen, 115th Airlift Squadron Dining Facility Menu: Saturday: Mushroom Soup Jamaican Jerk chicken Grilled Cuban Pork Chops Belize Style Sweet Potato Rice Pilaf Baked Plantains Broccoli Spears Corn on Cob Sunday: Italian Meatloaf Marinara Grilled Chicken Breast Spinach Fettuccini w/ Broccoli cheese sauce Green Bean Medley Italian Vegetable Blend Oven Roasted Potato Medley Religious Services: Catholic Mass: 1100 Protestant Service: 1230 Both services are held in the Commanders Conference Room, Bldg 119 C-130Js improve Bagram's airlift, airdrop capabilities Here is just a piece from the latest news article on the deployed members of the 146th Airlift Wing! For the full article please visit the link on the 146th AW public web page http://www.146aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123273571 The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron recently filled its ranks with C-130J Hercules aircraft and aircrews as two new units ripped in to comprise the squadron. Almost two dozen C-130Js and a full complement of aircrew and maintenance personnel split between California Air National Guard's146th Airlift Wing and Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing replaced C-130H-model guard units from Alaska and New York. "Our mission is airlift and airdrop to all the forward operating bases within country," said Lt. Col. Bill Willson, 774th EAS commander and C-130J pilot. "The primary way the forward operating bases get supplies is by airlift or airdrop. We are their lifeline of sustainment." The previous guard units Willson's crews replaced maintained consistently high, fully mission capable and sortie effectiveness rates, but his people are ready to tackle the challenge and set the bar even higher, since the C-130J model is considered the "latest and greatest." Free child care offered for members during UTA weekends Members of the 146th now have the opportunity to take advantage of FREE child care during UTA weekends. Two locations, one in Oxnard another in Camarillo, are providing free care for a total 12 children during regularly scheduled UTA weekends from 0600-1800. Meals are included and proper paperwork needs to be filled out as well as a copy of the child's shot records. This service is open to every member that is on UTA status and rank does NOT matter. For more information contact Tech Sgt. Amanda Smith at 805-986-7829. 2012 and 2013 UTA Schedule now available online The UTA schedule for 2012 and 2013 for the 146th Airlift Wing is now available for members to view and print. The schedule is available on Sharepoint with a link on the front page. Be sure to get your copy! Zumba comes to Channel Islands Fitness Center Zumba Classes will be offered by a certified Zumba fitness instructor, 1500-1600, Wed/Thurs/Fri beginning Fri, 23 Sep, in the Wing Fitness Center. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before participants know it, they're getting fit and their energy levels are soaring! There's no other fitness class like a Zumba Fitness-Party. It's easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning students. Also there is no speaking on a microphone the moves are simple to follow it is all guided by 'feeling' the music or hand signals. This instructor's format is more fitness related incorporating a great deal of core and leg work. There is also High intensity interval training in it. Please bring water, sweatband, towel etc. Although it is high intense everything can be modified. This is the beauty of this class everyone can do it! It is also great for kids and men enjoy it too! Organizations of Interest come to the Channel Island's Café The Veterans Affairs (VA), Focus Project, Coalition to End Domestic Violence and SAPR will be available in front of the DFAC from 1030-1330 This Saturday (October 1) to talk with you about their programs and help answer any questions. VA is also available to brief on Saturday from 1000-1030 and 1330-1600. Contact Kim Evans to schedule briefs. Kim Evans (Wing DPH) is available for private counseling consultations, resource and referral on both Saturday and Sunday of UTA and during the week. New TRICARE Prime enrollees pay adjusted annual fees Military retirees enrolling in the TRICARE Prime health plan after Oct. 1 will begin paying slightly higher annual fees, Pentagon officials announced Sept 30. The fee change for fiscal 2012 means the plan will cost $260 per year for members and $520 per year for members and family. The increase amounts to an additional $2.50 per month for individual members and $5 per month for members and family, officials said. Active duty service members receive health care with no out-of-pocket costs. Annual fees for retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime prior to the Oct. 1 change will remain at $230 and $460 until Oct. 1, 2012, officials said. Retirees in Tricare PRIME have a catastrophic cap of $3,000, and TRICARE Prime co-pays are not changing, they added. "We are committed to offering the best possible health care system for our entire military family," said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "This modest annual fee increase allows us to responsibly manage our costs in line with other secretary of defense initiatives announced earlier this year." Survivors of active duty deceased sponsors and medically retired services members and their dependents will be exempt from an annual increase, effective from the time they renew their enrollment or first enroll in TRICARE Prime, officials said, noting that the TRICARE benefit is among the nation's most affordable health care plans. All service members, military retirees and their eligible family members have TRICARE benefits regardless of prior health conditions. "The department is committed to maintaining the same unique health care protection we have always offered our warriors, both current and retired," Woodson said. "To sustain our military health system we are working hard to streamline, become more efficient, and achieve cost savings. Together, we can manage our costs responsibly and continue to provide care for our service members, retirees and their families." Time for annual flu vaccination The Air National Guard has begun rolling out this year's flu vaccinations to service members as they look to get ahead of the approaching flu season. The Center for Disease Control recommends everyone getting vaccinated, and it is mandatory for all military personnel. The flu season happens in the winter, but the Air National Guard wants to try to have everyone immunized before the flu season so that we(Airmen) have [the vaccine] in our system. Usually it takes about two-to-four weeks to start working in your system to prevent [the flu]. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Michele Miller, superintendent of public health and prevention for the Air National Guard, also highly recommends yearly immunization against the flu virus. "It prevents and breaks the chain of infection," Miller said. "As a result of our Guard members getting it, it won't affect our mission and our members will continue to stay healthy. This leads to less time spent actually being sick and lessens the chances of spreading it on to someone else." Some signs and symptoms of the flu are: sore throat, fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue. If you do get sick, please seek the advice of your healthcare provider. TRICARE beneficiaries are authorized to receive immunization at participating TRICARE retail network pharmacies at no cost. Call (877) 363-1303 or go to http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/pharmacy to find participating pharmacies and verify eligibility. Deadline nears to apply for special stop loss pay Only a month remains for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. Officials extended a previous deadline to Oct. 21 to allow more time for eligible people to apply. "The nation has rallied behind this effort -- the military services have been joined by the White House, Congress, the [Veterans Affairs Department], veteran and military service organizations, and friends and family members around the world," said Lernes Hebert, the Defense Department's director of officer and enlisted personnel management. "Despite these remarkable outreach efforts, some people may still not yet have applied. If you think you are eligible, and have not yet applied, now is the time to do so." The special retroactive pay was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status. When the special pay began Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for the benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, officials said, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts, including multiple direct mailings, public service announcements, and continuous engagements with military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets. To apply, or for more information -- including submission requirements and service-specific links -- go to the DoD stop loss website.
October's Post It's, Promotions and News Picks Published Oct. 1, 2011 By Senior Airman Ashley Ramirez 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- Here is the latest news and information that you need to know from the 146th Airlift Wing! This month's UTA we are privileged to have California Adjutant General Major General David Baldwin visiting us. Please help us welcome him and observe all customs and courtesies. Welcome our newest Airmen to the 146th! Staff Sergeant Michael Lee Ebel Airman 1st Class Christopher Cole Hicks Senior Airman Hector Luis Colon Airman Danielle L. Dupont Congratulations to our recent graduates from Formal Schools! Airman 1st Class Navid Haghdan, Cyber Transport Apprentice Staff Sergeant Christopher Glassford, Material Management Apprentice Airman 1st Class Betsaida Castellanos, Emergency Management Apprentice Farwell to our retirees and separations! Master Sergeant Lucky Madsen, 115th Airlift Squadron Dining Facility Menu: Saturday: Mushroom Soup Jamaican Jerk chicken Grilled Cuban Pork Chops Belize Style Sweet Potato Rice Pilaf Baked Plantains Broccoli Spears Corn on Cob Sunday: Italian Meatloaf Marinara Grilled Chicken Breast Spinach Fettuccini w/ Broccoli cheese sauce Green Bean Medley Italian Vegetable Blend Oven Roasted Potato Medley Religious Services: Catholic Mass: 1100 Protestant Service: 1230 Both services are held in the Commanders Conference Room, Bldg 119 C-130Js improve Bagram's airlift, airdrop capabilities Here is just a piece from the latest news article on the deployed members of the 146th Airlift Wing! For the full article please visit the link on the 146th AW public web page http://www.146aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123273571 The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron recently filled its ranks with C-130J Hercules aircraft and aircrews as two new units ripped in to comprise the squadron. Almost two dozen C-130Js and a full complement of aircrew and maintenance personnel split between California Air National Guard's146th Airlift Wing and Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing replaced C-130H-model guard units from Alaska and New York. "Our mission is airlift and airdrop to all the forward operating bases within country," said Lt. Col. Bill Willson, 774th EAS commander and C-130J pilot. "The primary way the forward operating bases get supplies is by airlift or airdrop. We are their lifeline of sustainment." The previous guard units Willson's crews replaced maintained consistently high, fully mission capable and sortie effectiveness rates, but his people are ready to tackle the challenge and set the bar even higher, since the C-130J model is considered the "latest and greatest." Free child care offered for members during UTA weekends Members of the 146th now have the opportunity to take advantage of FREE child care during UTA weekends. Two locations, one in Oxnard another in Camarillo, are providing free care for a total 12 children during regularly scheduled UTA weekends from 0600-1800. Meals are included and proper paperwork needs to be filled out as well as a copy of the child's shot records. This service is open to every member that is on UTA status and rank does NOT matter. For more information contact Tech Sgt. Amanda Smith at 805-986-7829. 2012 and 2013 UTA Schedule now available online The UTA schedule for 2012 and 2013 for the 146th Airlift Wing is now available for members to view and print. The schedule is available on Sharepoint with a link on the front page. Be sure to get your copy! Zumba comes to Channel Islands Fitness Center Zumba Classes will be offered by a certified Zumba fitness instructor, 1500-1600, Wed/Thurs/Fri beginning Fri, 23 Sep, in the Wing Fitness Center. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before participants know it, they're getting fit and their energy levels are soaring! There's no other fitness class like a Zumba Fitness-Party. It's easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning students. Also there is no speaking on a microphone the moves are simple to follow it is all guided by 'feeling' the music or hand signals. This instructor's format is more fitness related incorporating a great deal of core and leg work. There is also High intensity interval training in it. Please bring water, sweatband, towel etc. Although it is high intense everything can be modified. This is the beauty of this class everyone can do it! It is also great for kids and men enjoy it too! Organizations of Interest come to the Channel Island's Café The Veterans Affairs (VA), Focus Project, Coalition to End Domestic Violence and SAPR will be available in front of the DFAC from 1030-1330 This Saturday (October 1) to talk with you about their programs and help answer any questions. VA is also available to brief on Saturday from 1000-1030 and 1330-1600. Contact Kim Evans to schedule briefs. Kim Evans (Wing DPH) is available for private counseling consultations, resource and referral on both Saturday and Sunday of UTA and during the week. New TRICARE Prime enrollees pay adjusted annual fees Military retirees enrolling in the TRICARE Prime health plan after Oct. 1 will begin paying slightly higher annual fees, Pentagon officials announced Sept 30. The fee change for fiscal 2012 means the plan will cost $260 per year for members and $520 per year for members and family. The increase amounts to an additional $2.50 per month for individual members and $5 per month for members and family, officials said. Active duty service members receive health care with no out-of-pocket costs. Annual fees for retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime prior to the Oct. 1 change will remain at $230 and $460 until Oct. 1, 2012, officials said. Retirees in Tricare PRIME have a catastrophic cap of $3,000, and TRICARE Prime co-pays are not changing, they added. "We are committed to offering the best possible health care system for our entire military family," said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "This modest annual fee increase allows us to responsibly manage our costs in line with other secretary of defense initiatives announced earlier this year." Survivors of active duty deceased sponsors and medically retired services members and their dependents will be exempt from an annual increase, effective from the time they renew their enrollment or first enroll in TRICARE Prime, officials said, noting that the TRICARE benefit is among the nation's most affordable health care plans. All service members, military retirees and their eligible family members have TRICARE benefits regardless of prior health conditions. "The department is committed to maintaining the same unique health care protection we have always offered our warriors, both current and retired," Woodson said. "To sustain our military health system we are working hard to streamline, become more efficient, and achieve cost savings. Together, we can manage our costs responsibly and continue to provide care for our service members, retirees and their families." Time for annual flu vaccination The Air National Guard has begun rolling out this year's flu vaccinations to service members as they look to get ahead of the approaching flu season. The Center for Disease Control recommends everyone getting vaccinated, and it is mandatory for all military personnel. The flu season happens in the winter, but the Air National Guard wants to try to have everyone immunized before the flu season so that we(Airmen) have [the vaccine] in our system. Usually it takes about two-to-four weeks to start working in your system to prevent [the flu]. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Michele Miller, superintendent of public health and prevention for the Air National Guard, also highly recommends yearly immunization against the flu virus. "It prevents and breaks the chain of infection," Miller said. "As a result of our Guard members getting it, it won't affect our mission and our members will continue to stay healthy. This leads to less time spent actually being sick and lessens the chances of spreading it on to someone else." Some signs and symptoms of the flu are: sore throat, fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue. If you do get sick, please seek the advice of your healthcare provider. TRICARE beneficiaries are authorized to receive immunization at participating TRICARE retail network pharmacies at no cost. Call (877) 363-1303 or go to http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/pharmacy to find participating pharmacies and verify eligibility. Deadline nears to apply for special stop loss pay Only a month remains for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. Officials extended a previous deadline to Oct. 21 to allow more time for eligible people to apply. "The nation has rallied behind this effort -- the military services have been joined by the White House, Congress, the [Veterans Affairs Department], veteran and military service organizations, and friends and family members around the world," said Lernes Hebert, the Defense Department's director of officer and enlisted personnel management. "Despite these remarkable outreach efforts, some people may still not yet have applied. If you think you are eligible, and have not yet applied, now is the time to do so." The special retroactive pay was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status. When the special pay began Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for the benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, officials said, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts, including multiple direct mailings, public service announcements, and continuous engagements with military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets. To apply, or for more information -- including submission requirements and service-specific links -- go to the DoD stop loss website.