Battlefield Airman Training Group activated at JBSA-Lackland

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Photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan SnyderU.S. Air Force pararescuemen, from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron secure the area after being lowered from a U.S. Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk during a mission in Afghanistan. Pararescue teams assault, secure and dominate the rescue objective area using any available Department of Department or allied, air, land or sea asset. See story page 10 and 11.

Battlefi eld Airman Training Group activated

at JBSA-Lackland

TALESPINNER June 10, 2016commentary

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Brig. gen. BoB LaBrutta

502nd Air BAse Wing/JBsACommAnder

todd g. White

502nd ABW/JBsAPuBliC AffAirs direCtor

oscar BaLLadares

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senior airman Lynsie nichoLs

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By Staff Sgt. Daniel Phelps94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.

Last week I received devastating news. My wife and I were sitting on the couch, watch-

ing “The Voice” and perusing Facebook during commercial breaks, when I came across a status that shocked me to my core.

A friend posted a status that our friend, Jeremy, took his life. I couldn’t be-lieve it. I had just seen Jeremy posting on social media not long ago. The last time I saw him in person was when I was in Kansas City a year ago for my brother’s wedding.

I began digging through Facebook for any information on him and what hap-pened to assure myself this couldn’t be real. Finally, I came across Jeremy’s page and saw a post from his dad confirming my deepest fear.

Jeremy had taken his own life the night before and his body was discovered this morning. I told my wife the news. She looked at me with the same expression I first felt – utter disbelief. I showed her the status from his dad. Her disbelief also turned to shock.

As we reflected on our friendship with Jeremy, it was fairly easy to see the path that led him to this decision. A few years ago, a friend of mine and Jeremy’s put

himself in a situation where he forced a cop to shoot him, what is often referred to as “suicide by cop.” At the time, Jer-emy lived with him and was a witness to the fateful event. I can’t imagine what that was like.

Many of us in that friend circle had our worlds shaken by the incident — Jeremy more than anyone. For a long time, Jeremy threw himself into alcohol. After a while, Jeremy seemed to be recovering. He found a girlfriend and they grew serious. They moved in, adopted a couple of puppies and were discussing marriage. This was the state Jeremy was in the last time I saw him before I moved to Atlanta. He was genuinely happy and getting healthy.

A few months ago, I found out he had broken up with his girlfriend. From what I can tell, after that moment, his life

started spiraling out of control. It was painful for me to live half way across the country, viewing his struggle from a social media window and not be able to be there. I don’t know if anyone else tried to reach out to him.

His brother said Jeremy was struggling with some deep, dark secret issue and was unwilling to talk to anyone about it. At one time, my wife tried to talk to him before the latest spiral to see how he was doing. Jeremy refused to admit anything was wrong.

Jeremy didn’t try to get help and de-nied there was a problem. Now, it’s too late. I can’t help but wonder what his life would be like if he had sought help sooner. Maybe he and his girlfriend would be married now. Maybe they would have a baby on the way.

If you are struggling with an issue, please talk to someone. Find a friend.

The chaplain’s office is a great resource. They can be reached at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland at 671-4208, JBSA-Randolph at 652-6121 or JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 221-5007. The Mental Health Clinic can be reached at JBSA-Lackland at 292-7361, JBSA-Randolph at 652-2448 or JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 916-1600.

If you know someone who is struggling, try to get them to open up and seek help. Do everything you can for them. Life is precious. Help is there.

Don't struggle: find help before it's too late

Courtesy graphic

June 10, 2016 TALESPINNER PAGE 3newsAIR FORCE SEEKS 2016 GEICO MILITARY SERVICE AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Air Force offi cials are accepting nomina-tions through Sept. 12 for the 2016 Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) Military Service Awards. The GEICO Military Service Awards annually recognize enlisted Total Force members from all branches of service for contributions to military or civilian communities.

The three award categories are drug and alcohol abuse prevention; fi re safety and fi re prevention; and traffi c safety and accident prevention. The accident prevention category applies only to vehicle- or motorcycle-related accomplishments.

The award period is Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016. Contributions may also span a period of several years, be ongoing or have been accomplished during the award period. GEICO will select recipients in each category from all nominees submitted by each of the branches of service. Those recipients will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., next spring.

Search for eligibility and application procedures on myPers with the keyword “GEICO.” For more information, go to http://www.myPers.mil. Individuals can request a myPers account by following instructions at http://www.retirees.af.mil/mypers/index.asp.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2016 SIJAN AWARD

The Air Force Personnel Center is cur-rently accepting nominations until Aug. 31 for the 2016 Lance P. Sijan U.S. Air Force Leadership Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of total force offi cers and enlisted leaders who demonstrate the highest qualities of leadership in the performance of their duties and personal conduct.

Nominees will be rated in several areas to include their scope of responsibility, profes-sional leadership and leadership image. The award categories are senior offi cer, junior offi cer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted. The award period is July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016. Each major command, forward operating agency or direct reporting unit may submit one nomination in each of the four categories.

The Sijan Award, established in 1981, is named in honor of the late Capt. Lance P. Sijan, the fi rst U.S. Air Force Academy gradu-ate to receive the Medal of Honor. He was posthumously awarded for his determination while evading capture by the North Vietnamese and during his subsequent

News in Brief

See NEWS IN BRIEF Page 12

By Karen ParrishDOD News, Defense Media Activity

The Department of Defense’s new retirement system will affect some 2.2 million people who all need to get smart on what it will mean.

Two subject-matter experts from the department’s personnel and readiness branch described the issues involved to DOD News: Army Sgt. Maj. Lu-ther Thomas Jr., DOD Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division senior enlisted advisor, and Wayne Boswell, DOD direc-tor of fi nancial readiness.

Thomas described the four-phase overall training program planned for the Blended Retirement System, or BRS, as “a very comprehensive fi nancial edu-cation strategy.”

The leader training module is avail-able on the Joint Knowledge Online por-tal (http://jko.jten.mil/), at Military One-Source (http://www.militaryonesource.mil/) and on DVD at deployed, shipboard and other remote locations.

Thomas, who has reviewed the mod-ule, said he’s impressed with the tools available in the training.

“I’m going to have service members whose situations are all different. I can go online to JKO, click ‘launch the class,’ and get the specifi c information I need

to talk to my service member one on one,” he said.

While leaders are required to take the fi rst round of training, it’s also avail-able to those who aren’t yet in leader-ship roles, Thomas said.

The online availability will also help family members learn about the new retirement system, Boswell noted.

“We know a lot of these decisions will be made around the dinner table, with families’ input in terms of the impact of lifelong fi nancial decisions,” he said.

The training is designed to inform leaders about BRS “to be able to trans-late this for their members,” Boswell said.

The learning strategy for BRS in-cludes four separate modules:

• Leader training, began June 1 • Training for installation and com-

mand fi nancial counselors will roll out in the fall

• Opt-in training for current service members, which begins January 2017

• Service members who join after January 2018 will receive training dur-ing their fi rst months of service

Everyone serving as of Dec. 31, 2017, will be grandfathered under the current retirement system. Service members who have served fewer than 12 years on active duty or accrued fewer than 4,320

retirement points in the reserve compo-nent will have the option of remaining covered under their current retirement system or enrolling in BRS. Those with more than 12 years active duty or more than 4,320 retirement points in the re-serve component will stay under their current system.

Both men emphasized that while training will happen at all levels, the decision on whether to opt in belongs to the individual. Leaders will be in-formers of – not advocates for – the new system.

Service members who join on or after Jan. 1, 2018, will automatically be en-rolled in BRS. Members eligible to opt in to BRS will have until Dec. 31, 2018, to decide if they want to switch to the new plan.

“Under the current system, only about 19 percent of service members actually leave with some type of retire-ment benefi t.” Thomas said. “We be-lieve under this new system, about 85 percent of those who serve, if they serve two years or longer, will be able to leave with some type of portable retirement benefi t that they can take with them to a future employer.”

The “blending” in BRS comes from

See SYSTEM Page 13

Department of Defense graphicImplementation timeline for the military Blended Retirement System.

DOD ramps up training on Blended Retirement System

Leader TrainingBegins Eligible Opt-in

Members Notifi ed

JUNE 1 NOVEMBERDECEMBER 31

OPT-INWINDOW

Opt-inTraining Begins

JANUARY

Final EligibilityDate for

Grandfathering

DECEMBER 31

2017

BRS Goesinto Effect

JANUARY 1

20182016

June 10, 2016 TALESPINNER PAGE 5

Sailors commemorate the Battle of MidwayBy Master Chief Natalie DymondNaval Technical Training Center Lackland Public Affairs

Naval Technical Training Center Lackland’s staff and students at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland commemorated the 74th Anniver-sary of the Battle of Midway June 3.

The Battle of Midway took place June 4 – 7, 1942.

Under Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy code-breakers identified Midway as the object of enemy intentions.

Despite being outnumbered, Nimitz concentrated his forces around Midway and utilized the island as if it were a fourth aircraft carrier. After several days of bat-tle, the Japanese Navy retreated as four of their carriers were lost.

The Battle is often referred to

as the turning point in the Pacific during World War II. The victory created a momentum shift where U.S. naval forces became an insur-mountable offensive force against the Japanese.

Nimitz cited the battle as being “a glorious page in our history.”

“America’s Navy is the ‘un-matched’ prominent global sea power today, due to the Sailors and Marines who took the fight to the enemy at the Battle of Midway,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Martin, NTTC Lackland commanding officer, in his remarks to the crew. “The Japanese Navy may have outnum-bered America in ships, planes and Sailors, but not in bold and decisive leadership. Our Sailors ‘stand the watch’ today, thanks to those who sailed and fought at the Battle of Midway and in the Pacific campaign during World War II.”

“The ceremony today was a great representation of what the United States Navy stands for and its strong sense of pride in its rich history and traditions,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan West-field, who served as the master of ceremony.

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 23,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.

Photo by Chief Master-at-Arms Natalie DymondCmdr. Jeffery Martin, Naval Technical Training Center Lackland commanding officer, and Lt. Cmdr. Robert Collett, executive officer, render salutes during a moment of silence during the Battle of Midway wreath laying ceremony June 3 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

TALESPINNER June 10, 2016

By Jeremy GerlachJBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

Any dog owner can picture the scene: it’s the start of a workday; with a briefcase in one hand and coffee in the other, you head out the door and turn to see “man’s best friend” sadly watch-ing you leave.

But for military working dogs and their handlers, most days bring an opposite experience. For them, the beginning of a day means a packed slate of training, patrolling, policing and watching each other’s backs.

“If you’re a regular cop, you have another security forces member with you, but for canine handlers, your dog is your partner,” said Staff Sgt. Kristopher Hyatt, 802nd Security Forces Squadron MWD handler. “That companionship. It’s like working with your best friend every day.”

While Hyatt recently arrived from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and is getting to know his new partner, Devil, Staff Sgt. Mark Devine, 802nd SFS MWD handler, has had a bit more experience with his dog, Jany, who he has been with for more than two years.

“As a canine handler, you can see the real im-pact your work has on your partner,” Devine said. “Your dog is a direct reflection of yourself.”

But before a dog becomes a grizzled veteran like 8-year-old Jany or 4-year-old Devil, most start out as an impressionable puppy in an on-base breed-ing program at the 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Dogs that aren’t bred at JBSA-Lackland are bought from off-base programs, with about 85 percent of these canines coming from Eastern Europe. Almost all Department of Defense work-ing dogs come through JBSA-Lackland at some point in their lives, whether through the breeding program or training initiatives with the 802nd SFS.

These dogs generally begin training anywhere from a year and a half to three years old and have careers that typically last until age 10.

When a handler first gets a dog, whether the dog is still in training or in active duty, the “train-ing” first starts with the handler playing and caring for the canine before beginning obedience lessons.

“We actually don’t give them any commands for the first couple weeks, we just spend time with them to build rapport and to build trust,” Devine said. “That way, when training starts and we have to be more focused, we have the authority to train them correctly.”

Once trained, canines are generally split into two categories: patrol dogs, who help secure base perimeters and apprehend intruders, or dual-purpose dogs, who also run detection checks for explosives and narcotics.

“He helps pick up on things that you overlook,” Hyatt said. “I’ll be sitting in my car at night and Devil notices every single thing that goes past our

window and starts barking.”While dogs are typically regarded as a strong

military asset for their keen sense of smell and detection abilities, Devine said that military work-ing dogs have another crucial ability that often is overlooked.

“Dogs are a huge psychological deterrent,” Devine noted. “Most people looking at an officer by himself at a gate and think, ‘O.K., he’s just another guard.’ A dog has a more intimidating impact.”

On a daily basis, a MWD team will go through patrol work, obstacle course and obedience train-ing, and run contraband tests at checkpoints. In times of emergency, qualified dogs also lead search teams responding to missing persons reports or launching a manhunt for intruders.

“This isn’t a job for the lazy,” Devine said. “And that goes for both the handler and the dog.”

That’s not to say these dogs are bland, perfect automatons. Every dog has a distinct personality and working style, and each dog has gotten into its fair share of mischief.

“Jany has gotten loose a few times at the 802nd SFS kennel compound,” Hyatt chuckled. “But for some reason, Jany loves to go for the squeegee or the rake, pick it up and run around the yard. It

802nd SFS offers look inside life of military working dogs

See DOGS Page 8

Photos by Senior Airman Krystal WrightJany, 802nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog, plays with her handler, Staff Sgt. Mark Devine, 802nd SFS MWD handler, during obedience training June 3 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Devine builds rapport and trust with Jany during obedience training and play time June 3 at JBSA-Lackland.


By Amy RollinsSkywrighter Staff, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

When an Airman gets dressed for his or her job, he or she dons apparel and equipment that were developed, produced, deployed, sustained and mod-ified by a group of fewer than 20 people working at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The Air Force Uniform Office, or AFUO, located at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, has been at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base since its inception in 1947. It receives pro-gram requirements and direction from the Air Force’s chief of staff; Manpower, Personnel and Services; Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection; and combatant commanders. Through the years the office has de-signed men’s and women’s service dress uniforms, utility uniforms, mess dress uniforms, maternity uniforms, sweaters and physical training uniforms.

The uniform items and equipment are designed to enhance Airmen’s appearance, performance and combat

readiness.All new designs as well as continuous

product improvements are developed with user input and involvement in fit and wear tests. When a technical data package is complete, it is provided to the Defense Logistics Agency or DLA or Army and Air Force Exchange Service or AAFES for procurement. The AFUO has technical responsibility for clothing items until they are retired from the sys-tem. Through the Continuous Product Improvement program, the AFUO is able to identify, track and resolve issues on sustained uniform products.

The office manages 500 items used on a more regular basis, but the total number of items for which it is respon-sible is in the thousands. The AFUO products are worn by the newest Airmen entering the service through senior leadership. The office’s clothing designers, textile technologists, pattern designers, fabricator, engineer and pro-gram manager juggle multiple projects to meet user requirements.

“I find it amazing that such a small building and such a small group of 19 talented people can perform a task that

will outfit the entire Air Force,” said 2nd Lt. Adam Samlowski, the AFUO program manager. “I find it very inspiring.”

Several years ago, the AFUO inten-sified its focus on continuous product improvement, said Tracy Roan, clothing

designer and manager of processes that certify optional items procured through AAFES.

Among the prioritized CPI programs

AF uniform office designs new modifications for entire force

Photo by Amy Rollins(Left to right) Tracy Roan, clothing designer; 2nd Lt. Adam Samlowski, program manager; Yvonne Wilson, section chief of clothing and textiles; and Maggie Tanner, pattern design-er, review a prototype of a women’s service dress uniform item at the Air Force Uniform Office, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

See UNIFORMS Page 9


looks like someone is trying to clean the grass.”Both Jany and Devil can run into minor bits

of mischief while searching cars or properties, Devine said.

“They see bright children’s toys and they will think of them as their toys,” Devine laughed. “Or when you’re walking around a high-ranking of-fi cial’s house and you are worried they might go to the bathroom on somebody’s lawn.”

Despite these challenges, MWDs share a strong bond with their handlers.

“I choose working with dogs over handling guns any day,” said Hyatt.

“To that dog, you’re his one and only,” Devine added. “Once you’ve built that rapport, you are his pack and he’ll do anything for you.”

This bond often results in handlers adopting their partners following the dog’s retirement from military service.

“These dogs are not house dogs,” Devine cau-tioned. “They are fully trained, so it would take some patience and care for them to adjust to civilian life.”

Dogs that are adopted or fostered out must be approved by command as “socially capable” of liv-ing a civilian life. Canines that are too aggressive or have unique issues are cared for by the military.

“A lot of these dogs won’t be adopted,” Devine said. “That’s because they’ve been conditioned to approach some things as a threat that other dogs

would not be threatened by.”But for the canines that can adjust to civilian

life, being adopted by their partner is a best-case scenario.

“If that dog gets to go home with you and live on your couch, that’s the good life for him,“ Hyatt said.

At the end of a long career, the professional bond between a retired military working dog and his handler has one last advantage – the dog knows what his humans are up to when they leave for work in the morning.

DOGS from Page 6

Photo by Senior Airman Krystal WrightDevil, 802nd Security Forces Squadron military work-ing dog, chews on a toy after properly following com-mands during obedience training June 3 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Call 671-3686

The Department of Defense dog breeding program needs families to foster puppies for three months.

Potential foster families need:• time and patience to raise a puppy

age 12 weeks to six months, • a stimulating and safe home environment, and• a desire to help raise a military working dog.

Foster a puppy

The Department of Defense dog breeding program

Foster a


was the service dress uniform, which has been placed on hold while the team addressed user needs on the Airman battle uniform and associated organizational individual equipment.

The current service dress shirts had not been up-dated since 1986.

“This CPI was an excellent opportunity to improve the shirt fit, appearance and care and utilize technical advances in fabric,” Roan said.

To gather research for the program, a survey issued through the office’s portal page drew 2,600 responses and “a lot of really great feedback on what the users wanted to see be changed and identify problematic areas of the shirt,” she said.

The office compiled the information and undertook a fit evaluation of the current shirt two years ago to see it on users. After reviewing anthropometric data and survey responses, prototypes were developed and test assets were procured. The women’s overblouse and tuck-in shirt will be tested first, then the men’s shirt in mid-June at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Because service dress is seldom worn at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, a test has been arranged at the Pentagon from mid-July to mid-August, Roan said. The Pentagon offers the greatest opportunity for wearers who wear service dress at least four days per week. All technical data will be given to the DLA at the

end of September.“Building an aircraft takes a number of years, but

we’re able to see our initial prototype the first year and the final product is generally on the shelf in about three years,” said Yvonne Wilson, the section chief, clothing and textiles. “It’s pretty exciting. What makes us unique is that we have one design that has to fit all body types which is unlike industry.

“We have one design that we have to make work for everyone,” she added. “The challenge is to make sure we fit the user and can accommodate their needs and job function.”

Another challenge to the new service shirt design was the office’s intent to reduce the number of al-terations, Samlowski said. Many people choose to have alterations made to create a neater and sharper appearance.

The new shirt will reflect a combination of regu-lar and athletic sizing systems, Wilson said, seeking to reduce the need for as many alterations, thereby being more cost-effective.

“While it gives you flexibility to fit more people if you expect they will have the shirt altered, it puts the burden on our user,” Roan said. “We’ve really worked hard to adapt our patterns to the ever-changing phy-siques of what we expect our Air Force users to be. They are fit people.”

The updated men’s service dress shirt will offer a more tapered fit, much like the old athletic fit, she

added, rather than the previous classic fit.Yet another focus has been on lengthening the ser-

vice dress shirt to address user concerns. That develop-ment needed to be done in advance of improvements to the men’s trousers and women’s slacks and skirts, which could have a waistband redesign to reflect a more modern, professional cut.

One challenge the AFUO faces is the diminishing number of textile suppliers; all its products must be U.S.-sourced as required by the Berry Amendment.

Roan’s past career involved working in industry; she noted how different designing for military service members is.

“It’s still textiles, it’s still apparel but it has new chal-lenges you don’t have in industry. For the most part, it’s being restricted to U.S. fibers and textiles that limit our choices, so we have to make that work for everybody,” she said. “It’s so fulfilling when you are able to ac-complish that. I think our users are super-appreciative when we are able to accomplish that.”

Focus groups, surveys and questionnaires will be utilized to obtain feedback following fit testing.

“A lot interaction occurs with the participants,” Wilson said. “We don’t look at comments as complaints, but rather as concerns. If we aren’t designing a garment suitable for its use, then we have failed in our mission.

“Every Airman has to have our product,” she said. “We are the only office in the entire Air Force who can say that.”

UNIFORMS from Page 7

By Chief Master-At-Arms Natalie Dymond Naval Technical Training Center Lackland Public Affairs

Capt. Young Jae Kwon of the Republic of Korea navy toured Naval Technical Training Center Lack-land May 26.

Kwon serves as chief of planning in the ROK’s Ministry of National Defense, Department of Criminal Investigation Command. Lt. Cmdr. Hyeong Jin Jun, his interpreter, and Kwon visited various law enforce-ment facilities including NTTC Lackland, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and a Naval Criminal Investigative Service field office.

The ROK navy military police is an integral

law enforcement and force protection partner for American ships entering ROK ports. In order to en-hance the military police training program, Kwon’s visit included discussions about requirements and procedures for security training, as well as curricu-lum and educations systems in use.

“We value our history nation partnerships,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Martin, NTTC Lackland commanding officer. “The opportunity to share our training and experiences in the master-at-arms knowledge skill set here at NTTC Lackland is an absolute honor. Spending time to review lessons learned and best practices for training benefits us all and makes op-erations for our nation’s sea powers a reality.”

While touring NTTC Lackland, Kwon visited the Master-at-Arms “A” School and observed “crimes and crisis” scenarios, M500 shotgun live fire and experienced the small arms training simulator first-hand. Kwon also visited the Military Working Dog fa-cility where he was able to see a student demonstrate the six phases of aggression with a patrol MWD.

The Center for Security Forces provides special-ized training to more than 23,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.

For more information about the Center for Secu-rity Forces, visit us at http://www.navy.mil/local/csf.

For more news from the Center for Security Forces, visit us at http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csf.

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ CENSECFORHQ.

Republic of Korea Navy visits NTTC Lackland

June 10, 2016 TALESPINNER PAGE 11PAGE 10 TALESPINNER June 10, 2016

New Air Force unit activated to better train elite combat Airmen

Airmen from the 823rd Base Defense Squadron and 38th Rescue Squadron ground themselves as an HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 41st Rescue Squadron hovers above them during a medi-cal evacuation at Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter

Above: Col. Roy Collins (left), 37th Training Wing commander, passes the Battlefi eld Airman Training Group guidon to Col. Ronald Stenger, inaugural commander BA TG, during the BA TG activation ceremony June 2 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.Left: Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Thompson (right), Battlefi eld Airman Training Group chief enlisted advisor, unfurls the BA TG guidon for Col. Ronald Stenger (second from left), BA TG incoming commander, and Col. Roy Collins, 37th Training Wing commander, during the group’s activation ceremony June 2 at JBSA-Lackland.

Photo by Senior Airman Krystal Wright

Photo by Staff Sgt. Marissa Garner

By Staff Sgt. Marissa GarnerJoint Base San Antonio-Lackland Public Affairs

For the fi rst time in U.S. military history, the Air Force activated a unit solely dedicated to train the service’s ground component, June 2 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

This ground breaking initiative addresses the growing need for fi fth-generation warriors who integrate air and ground operations on the joint battlefi eld.

“Our mission at the Battlefi eld Airmen Training Group is to select, train and mentor Airmen for global combat operations,” said Col. Ronald Stenger, inaugural commander of the BA TG and special tactics offi cer. “We will breed quiet professionals, infused with a warrior ethos and fueled by scholarship and innovation.”

Members of the group will consolidate and streamline training for the Air Force’s conven-tional and special operations ground forces. These ground forces include combat control-lers, pararescuemen, special operations weath-ermen and tactical air control party Airmen.

BA TG leadership aims to improve processes

and programs across fi ve pillars – recruiting, manpower and leadership, equipment, infra-structure and curriculum. The effort starts with successful BA leadership forging and de-veloping Airmen for the battlefi eld, according to Stenger.

“Much like when the Air Force separated from the Army in 1947 to have Airmen lead air power, this allows BA TG leaders to lead Battlefi eld Airmen training across the entire enterprise,” Stenger said.

The BA TG, a subordinate unit of the 37th Training Wing, replaces the 342nd Training Squadron and will lead fi ve new BA training squadrons activated later this summer. The squadrons consolidate and organize already existing training courses under BA leadership.

The units include three pipeline squadrons dedicated to each career fi eld; one instructor qualifi cation and prep course squadron in-cluding advanced employment training such as military free fall; and a support squadron. Overall, the group is spread across eight geo-graphically-separated squadrons and detach-ments in seven different states, including:

• 350th BA TS, initial entry course, JBSA-

Lackland• 351st BA TS, pararescue training course,

Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.• 352nd BA TS, combat control/special

operations weather training course, Pope Army Airfi eld, N.C.

• 353rd BA TS, tactical air control party training course, JBSA-Lackland

• Detachment 1, BA TG – training support squadron, JBSA-Lackland

The activation of the group and the squad-rons will also aim to reduce costs and increase effi ciencies across the pipeline to produce high-ly-qualifi ed Battlefi eld Airmen. Now, trainees will permanently move from one unit to an-other as they complete training required by each individual squadron.

Previously, a trainee would return to JBSA, which served as the hub between attending their lengthy schools.

At any given time, there are between 1,000 and 1,500 Airmen in BA training. On average, only 20 percent of those trainees will graduate as a Battlefi eld Airman.

“The Air Force is looking for special individ-uals to be part of our elite ground component

as Battlefi eld Airmen and special operators,” said Tech. Sgt. Mario Jaramillo, a top recruit-er for Battlefi eld Airmen in San Antonio. “We need confi dent, physically fi t candidates who refuse to quit in the face of insurmountable challenge.”

Battlefi eld Airmen are the critical ground link between air assets and ground forces, ac-cording to Stenger. They are trained to oper-ate as a ground component to solve ground problems with air power, often embedding with conventional and special operations forces. Battlefi eld Airmen can accomplish missions such as surveying a dry lake bed in Africa as an airfi eld, rescuing military personnel from behind enemy lines or calling in precision air strikes on enemies.

“This activation is more than an unfurl-ing of a fl ag,” said Col. Roy Collins, 37th Training Wing commander. “It serves as a notice to all who would do us harm that America is prepared to respond with high-ly trained, skilled warriors, always ready to answer their nation’s call.”

(1st Lt. Katrina Cheesman, 24th Special Operations Wing, contributed to this story.)


captivity as a prisoner of war after being shot down Nov. 9, 1967.

For more information, go to http://www.myPers.mil. Individuals can re-quest a myPers account by following instructions at http://www.retirees.af.mil/mypers/index.asp.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ANNUAL AIR FORCE BALL

The Air Force is hosting their an-nual ball, which is scheduled Sept. 16 at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. This year’s theme is “You are what makes our Air Force Diverse!” Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with the main event at 7 p.m. The ticket prices and sales contacts are still undetermined.

2016 AIR FORCE CLUB SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Over the past 17 years, the Air Force Club Scholarship Program has provided college tuition assistance to more than 440 Air Force Club members and their family members. The Air Force Club Scholarship Program is offering this program again this year.

In the past, entrants were asked to submit an essay. Although this option is still available, this year applicants are encouraged to submit a video instead. The topic for either the 1,000-word essay or fi ve-minute video is “your Air Force story.” The judges want to hear how the appli-cant has been impacted by the best Air Force.

Entrants can go to http://www.myairforcelife.com/Clubs/Scholarship.aspx to complete their entry form, submit their essay or video link, and upload the two letters of recommendation.

VOLUNTEERS NEED FOR NATIONAL OBSERVANCES

The equal opportunity offi ce is looking for volunteers to arrange events for future observances. The observances include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month in June; Women’s Equality Day on Aug, 26; Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15; and Native American Month in No-vember. For more details, call the EO offi ce at JBSA-Lackland at 671-4284, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston 295-0552 or JBSA-Randolph at 652-3705.

NEWS IN BRIEF from Page 3

Congratulations to the following 66 Airmen for being selected as honor graduates among the 662 Air Force basic military trainees who graduate today:

320th Training Squadron–Flight 405Dylan Fivecoate Brett Thierry

–Flight 406Josiah Fedorshak Jonathan Gobel Daniel Goodman Brian Guiney James Stevick

321st Training Squadron–Flight 411Adedamola Adeniran Kenneth Couture Medina Escalera Joshua Martinez Nguyen Nguyen Esteban Rosales

–Flight 412Ross Gavin Khalen Henriksen Cameron Kelleher Jacob Newcomer Jack Reis Tyler Rymarczyk Joseph Walston

–Flight 413Ethan Akers Brandon Sermon Jonathan Walworth

–Flight 414Joyce Baptista Erin Berry Chelcie Clark Jennifer Hach Paige Trowbridge

322nd Training Squadron–Flight 401Jeffrey Brown Joshua Farol

Trevor Halstead Curren Hebert Nathan Mayo

–Flight 402John Bucher Iv Richard Cabrera Blake Harris Jared Henry Bryan Le Levi London Austin Owings Michael York

–Flight 403Andrew Boos Nicholas Duvall Jean St Caleb Worthington

–Flight 404Shannon Costello Nicole Harris Kamilah Hobbs Hannah Lansing Megan Mara Angela Mason Dinda Obrien Meghan Vaillancourt

323rd Training Squadron–Flight 408Benjamin Antonelli Tristan Dieseldorff Justin Koivula Jarrett Moon Michael Nowobilski Austin Thoreen David Waterman

–Flight 409Jesse Maurier Ryan Pfrogner

–Flight 410Paige Golay Alexandria Hamblin Tristen Saucier Desiree Starks

Top BMT Airman Hannah Lansing 322nd TRS, Flight 404

Most Physically Fit–Female AirmenYasmeen Ahmad-El322nd TRS, Flight 404Hannah Lansing 322nd TRS, Flight 404Diana Goldaracena- Salazar322nd TRS, Flight 404Avylyn Cress322nd TRS, Flight 404

–Male AirmenWilliam Ducham 322nd TRS, Flight 402Joshua Lykans 322nd TRS, Flight 403Michael Sopha322nd TRS, Flight 401Nicholas Bess322nd TRS, Flight 401

–Female Flights321st TRS, Flight 414322nd TRS, Flight 404323rd TRS, Flight 410

–Male Flights322nd TRS, Flight 402322nd TRS, Flight 403322nd TRS, Flight 401 320th TRS, Flight 405321st TRS, Flight 412321st TRS, Flight 411323rd TRS, Flight 408 320th TRS, Flight 406321st TRS, Flight 413323rd TRS, Flight 407 323rd TRS, Flight 409

Top Academic Flights321st TRS, Flight 413321st TRS, Flight 412323rd TRS, Flight 408 321st TRS, Flight 403 321st TRS, Flight 414 322nd TRS, Flight 404321st TRS, Flight 411320th TRS, Flight 406323rd TRS, Flight 407323rd TRS, Flight 409322rd TRS, Flight 402320th TRS, Flight 405323rd TRS, Flight 410322nd TRS, Flight 401

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!BUCKLE UP AND WEAR YOURS!


NEWS IN BRIEF from Page 3

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Gross Air Force News Service

The Air Force’s top enlisted leader addressed the new enlisted perfor-mance report and gave insight to feedback he’s received during his latest edition of CHIEFchat at the Defense Media Activity at Fort George G. Meade.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody encouraged Airmen to forget about the old EPR system and to embrace the new.

When changes to the EPR system were announced last year, they were accompanied by policy to help guide supervisors and commanders through the new process. However, from the feedback he’s received, Cody under-stands that Airmen in the fi eld have been trying to bridge the gap between the old and the new.

Trying to fi nd their way, Airmen

have deviated from the policy and tried to assume what might be need-ed. Cody acknowledged that their ef-forts, although “not ill intended,” are not helping the Air Force move for-ward with the changes.

“The best thing you could do is for-get about the old system,” he said.

Cody expressed that the new sys-tem is very detailed in what raters can and can’t say on an EPR. This includes veiled promotion statements, or bullets that imply an Airman has been or should be operating at a higher rank.

“That doesn’t mean that we don’t have Airmen of a lesser rank fi lling in for positions of a more senior rank,” Cody said. “We’re not expecting them to perform at the level of the person who would be at that higher rank.”

Force support squadrons and the Air Force Personnel Center are mon-itoring for veiled promotion state-

ments and, if they are included, are returning the reports to the rater.

“We’ve reduced the amount of lines on the report,” Cody said. “That can be just a wasted line when you can actually be talking about something the Airman did.”

Cody stressed that promotion-eligible Airmen should be critiqued on their performance and perfor-mance recommendation and not on who signed off on the performance recommendation.

“Do not give any consideration to the level of endorsement, beyond the fact they received stratifi cation and they were stratifi ed,” Cody said. “That’s what’s important, not who signed it, because we all work for different people.”

Only a certain percentage of Airmen will be given the top two promotion recommendations, the highest recom-mendation being “promote now,” and

the other being “must promote.” Most of the other Airmen will then fall un-der the “promote” recommendation.

Cody said it seems that most leaders around the Air Force seem to think the EPR system is heading in the right direction. The only way to ensure it continues to improve is through open, honest feedback.

“It does take questions just like this, coming back to the Air Force and ensuring that we’re getting some in-sight into what might be taking place” Cody said.

He said this is a time for open dia-logue and that Air Force senior lead-ers are listening.

CHIEFchat is a recurring initiative, designed to give Airmen around the world a direct connection to the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. The chief received questions via video message, social media outlets and from members of a studio audience.

CHIEFchat: EPRs heading in the right direction

the combination of the Thrift Savings Plan and an annuity provision for those who retire after 20 or more years. BRS will use the annuity formula currently in place: the average of the service mem-ber’s highest 36 months of basic pay times 2.5 percent of his or her years of service — but the 2.5 percent is adjusted downward by half of a percentage point, from 2.5 to 2 percent.

The Thrift Savings Plan is currently offered to service members without gov-ernment contributions, but under BRS several changes take place.

After the fi rst 60 days in service, all members will be enrolled in TSP and receive an automatic government con-tribution of 1 percent of basic pay into their account each month.

Additionally, the service member will be automatically enrolled with a 3 percent contribution from their own pay. After two years of service, the government will match the member’s contributions up to an additional 4 per-cent. In total, members can get up to a 5 percent government contribution on top of what they contribute each month.

BRS also includes a mid-career continuation pay at about 12 years of service, as a further incentive to continue serving toward the traditional 20 years to qualify for monthly

military retired pay.Congress enacted BRS following upon

the recommendations of the congression-ally-mandated Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commis-sion, Boswell said, adding that the com-mission heard from “a vast swath” of stakeholders and subject-matter experts who “are very interested in the military and are connected to the military” when making this recommendation.

So while those in BRS may see part of their pay deducted for TSP contribu-tion, Thomas said, “What’s happening is they’re going to have to help contribute to their retirement, just like in the civil-ian world. It’s still the service member’s money.”

The new system offers the potential for a greater retirement income than the current system for “disciplined savers,” Thomas noted, adding that with DOD’s 1 percent contribution plus matching contributions, members who contribute from their own pay, even in amounts as small as the cost of a pizza or movie each week, could end their ca-reers with potentially sizable savings for retirement. And those who don’t retire won’t walk away with empty pockets.

“When they go into a new job in the private sector or public sector at [age] 24, 25, 26, they don’t start with zero,” Thomas said. “They start with the re-tirement savings they accumulated

[starting] 60 days after they joined the military.”

The new system will add to the ben-efi ts of military service, Boswell said.

“I think lifelong success comes from self-investment and self-preparation,” he said. “I think service members who

leave after four years leave with a lot: they leave with skills, experience, [and] education. They’ve had their mettle tested to some degree.”

With BRS, those leaving service will have skills, education and fi nancial re-sources, he said.

SYSTEM from Page 3

One of the best things about ICE is that people can let service providers know when they do a great job, not just for poor service. It takes fi ve minutes or less to submit a comment at http://ice.disa.mil.

TALESPINNER June 10, 2016 communitySATURDAYLACKLAND THRIFT SHOP $5 BAG SALE

The One Stop, building 5460, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and both the Airmen’s Attic and Cinderella’s Closet will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more informa-tion, call 671-3608.

WEDNESDAYEMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP

Join the Military & Family Readiness Center staff for a day of employment readiness courses from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are shoulf to bring their resume. The classes will include the Federal employment process, resume writing techniques, interview with confi dence and dress for success. The courses will be held Wednesday and July 20 at M&FRC, building 1249. Pre-Registration is required for classes as sizes are limited. Business casual is encouraged. Call 671-3722 to register or for details.

THURSDAYPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

The 59th Medical Wing and the

Gateway Performance System are hosting professional development courses at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center’s Innovation Center, room 1C31. The Airmanship course is at 2 p.m. Thursday, while Leading, Coaching, Mentoring, and Empower-ing Effective Team Members is at8 a.m. June 17. Register at https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/OO-ED-AE-25/Pathways/Registration/Registration.aspx. Walk-ins are welcomed.

JUNE 17PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT

Caregivers have the opportunity to build a peer support network, share experiences and information with a safe place to talk. A light lunch will be provided. The group meets 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Airman Medical Transition Unit on the fi fth fl oor of Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. The next meetings will be June 17 and July 22. For details, call 557-2018.

HEARTS APART: CONNECTIONS OVER COFFEE

Spouses separated from their loved ones due to deployments and remote tours are invited to the Hearts Apart: Connections over Coffee, at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The June 17 meeting will be a potluck lunch and participates will discuss the emotional cycle of deployment. The July 22 meeting is a dessert potluck and will review ways to comfort a child during deploy-ment. Register for the June meeting by Monday and the July meeting by July 18. For details, call 671-3722.

JUNE 18PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT

Youth Programs give parents a break from their children through the Give Parents a Break/Parents’ Night Out program 1-5 p.m. Kids, ages 5 (in kindergarten) to 12 years old, will be provided snacks and entertained with activities and games. The cost is $25 per child with a multiple-child discount or free with Give Parents a Break referral. For details, call 671-2388.

JUNE 21EFMP FAMILY MOVIE EVENT

The Exceptional Family Member Program and the Military & Family Readiness Center invites Joint Base San Antonio families to a sensory-friendly showing of the Peanut Movie from 1:30 -3:30 p.m. at Arnold Hall. Call 671-3722 for details.

BOOTS TO BUSINESS

The Small Business Administration is hosting a 2 day entrepreneur-ial education workshop, Boots to Business. The class will discuss the opportunities and challenges of business ownership, review steps for evaluating business concepts, foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan and information on SBA resources avail-able to help access start-up capital and additional technical assistance. It will be held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21 and 22 at the Military & Family Readiness Center, building 1249.

JUNE 22BUNDLES FOR BABIES

For expecting parents assigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland the class covers a variety of topics to include the cost of raising a child, Women, Infants and Children, Family Advocacy, New Parent Support Programs, Pediatric Dental Clinic and car seat safety. Active duty and active duty spouses from Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard participants receive a free gift from the Air Force Aid Society at the end of class. It will be held 1-4:30 p.m. at the

Military & Family Readiness Center, building 1249.

JUNE 23PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

The 59th Medical Wing and Gateway Performance System are hosting professional development courses at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center’s Innovation Center, room 1C31. “Preparing for the Public Speech CLEPDSST” is 2 p.m. June 23 and 30 while “Building a Toolkit for Effective Bullet Writing — Painting a Performance Word Picture” is 8 a.m. June 24.

Register at https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/OO-ED-AE-25/Pathways/Registration/Registration.aspx. Walk-ins are welcomed.

JUNE 24TROOPS TO TEACHERS

Troops to Teachers assists eligible military personnel in pursuit of teaching as a second career.

Topics include counseling, referral and placement assistance, identifi es required certifi cations and employ-ment opportunities.

It will be held 1-3:30 p.m. at the Military & Family Readiness Center, building 1249.

LOCAL BRIEFS

Air Force Aid Society 671-3722Airman & Family Readiness Center 671-3722Airman’s Attic 671-1780American Red Cross 844-4225Base Post Offi ce 671-1058Bowling Center 671-2271DEERS 800-538-9552Exceptional Family Member Program 671-3722Family Child Care 671-3376Legal Offi ce 671-3362Library 671-3610Medical Appointment Line 916-9900MPF ID Cards 671-6006Outdoor Recreation 925-5532TRICARE Info 800-444-5445Thrift Shop 671-3608

Enlisted Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandesc.orgForce Support Squadron http://www.lacklandfss.comLackland ISD http://www.lacklandisd.netOffi cers’ Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandosc.orgJBSA Public website http://www.jbsa.milMy Air Force Life http://www.MyAirForceLife.com

JBSA-LACKLAND KEY FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES—PROTESTANT WORSHIP SERVICES

Freedom Chapel – Building 1528Contemporary Service Sun. 9:30 a.m.

Religious Education Sun. 11:00 a.m.

Gospel Service Sun. 12:30 p.m.

Youth Ministry Mon. 6:00 p.m.

—LITURGICAL SERVICEAirman Memorial Chapel – Building 5432 Sun. 9:45 a.m

Religious Education Sun. 10:45 a.m.

—CHURCH OF CHRISTNew BMT Reception Center – Building 6300 Sun. 7:30 a.m. (Rm. 175)

—SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTGateway Chapel – Building 6300 Sat. 12:30 p.m.

—CHRISTIAN SCIENCENew BMT Reception Center – Building 6300 Sun. 7:30 a.m. (Rm. 113)

—ORTHODOX CHRISTIANAirmen Memorial Chapel – Building 5432 Sun. 8:00 a.m.

—PENTECOSTAL Religious Education Building 6300 Sun. 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. (Rm. 112)

—WICCANew BMT Reception Center – Building 6330Sun. 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Auditorium)

Freedom Chapel – Building 1528Wicca Open Circle 1st Tues. 6 – 7 p.m.

—REFUGE STUDENT CENTERBuilding 9122 (Tech Training & TDY Students) Wednesday 6 – 8 p.m.

Thursday 6 – 8 p.m.

Friday 6 – 11 p.m.

Saturday 12 – 9 p.m.

Sunday 11 – 5 p.m.

—JEWISHAirmen Memorial Chapel – Building 5432Sabbath & Kiddush Fri. 4:30 p.m.

Religious Education Sun. 1:30 p.m.

—ROMAN CATHOLICFreedom Chapel – Building 1528Religious Education Sun. 9:00 a.m.

Adult Religious Education Sun. 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Mass Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sun. 11:00 a.m.

Youth Ministry Sun. 4:00 p.m.

Reconciliation Sat. 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.

Note: Reconciliation(s) may be scheduled by appointment

—ISLAMICGlobal Ministry Center – Building 7452Jumu'ah Prayer Fri. 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

—BUDDHISTNew BMT Reception Center – Building 6330 Sun. 10:45 a.m. (Rm. 175)

—ECKANKAR Gateway Chapel – Building 6300 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays 12:30 p.m.

—BAHA'IGateway Chapel – Building 6300 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sun. 11:00 a.m.

—THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTSGateway Chapel – Building 6300Religious Education Tues. 6:30 p.m.

LDS Institute Thurs. 6:30 p.m.

LDS Service Sun. 1:00 p.m.

—LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNODGateway Chapel Building 6300 Every third Sun. 3:30 p.m.

CHAPEL SERVICES

For more details, contact Freedom Chapel - 671-4208 • Gateway Chapel - 671-2911


By Jose T. Garza IIIJBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

President Barack Obama signed a proclamation June 1 declaring the month Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

The annual observance honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City where a police raid of the Stonewall Inn – a gay club – turned violent as patrons rioted against the police, weary that they were regularly targeting gay clubs. The demonstrations fol-lowing the riots were regarded by many as the fi rst ma-jor protest on behalf of equal rights for homosexuals.

Almost a half-century later, the group earned an-other victory June 26, 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in all 50 states.

Despite the landmark victory, those identifi ed as LGBT still face uphill battles in everyday life according to Catalyst, a non-profi t organization that accelerates diversity in the workplace.

Nearly one in 10 LGBT employees left a job because of an unwelcoming environment.

The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland's Equal Opportunity Offi ce’s daily mission is to promote a diversework environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers that could prevent military members from rising to their potential. To promote that mission, they conduct community relations edu-cation classes to new service members arriving at

JBSA-Lackland that instruct them how they can use the EO program in the event of discrimination.

LGBT members and any JBSA employee discrimi-nated against have two options to deal with intolerance: an indirect or direct approach.

“Members who choose to take an indirect approach can e-mail a third party or their chain of com-mand to make a complaint,” said Master Sgt. Michael Nelson, 502nd Air Base Wing EO superintendent. “If they want to make a formal complaint with our offi ce, they can contact us or walk into make an appoint-ment. We will take your information down and assign a specialist to set up an intake with you to explain the purview and complaint process on how to resolve the issue.”

If a complaint falls under the EO purview, members can select an informal or formal process with the offi ce.

Individuals who choose an informal process can fi le an offi cial complaint at any time on how they want the situation handled. The EO will directly investigate the situation if they choose to a formal approach, which must be taken within 60 days following the incident.

Nelson encourages JBSA members to talk to the low-est level possible to ensure their problems are resolved.

“If something as simple as the commander saying ‘knock it off’ and the behavior stops, that is great,” he said. “It is your right to come to a work-place free of discrimination. If people don’t want to talk to somebody about what they’re going through then they’re just enduring the harassment.”

The master sergeant hopes all individuals participate in LGBT observance events at JBSA to hear group members various success stories.

“If you belong to the LGBT, it is your chance to hear success stories from someone you can relate to,” Nelson said. “If you don’t belong to the group, you can hear those stories and realize there are stories from your community and that we are all the same.

There will be a lunch and learn, titled “What is Pride?”, 11:30 a.m. June 28 at the Air Force Basic Military Training Pfi ngston Reception Center. In ad-dition, there is a Pride Month Volleyball Tournament 1 p.m. June 10 at the Gillum Fitness Center.

For more information, contact the EO offi ce at JBSA-Lackland at 671-4284, JBSA-Randolph at 652-4376 and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 221-0218.

JBSA-Lackland Equal Opportunity Office promotes diverse work environment in recognition of LGBT Pride Month

By Robert GoetzJBSA-Randolph Public Affairs

One of the keys to a safe, enjoyable summer is sound decision making.

One of the soundest decisions people can make –whether they’re swimming at the beach or lake, playing one of their favorite summertime sports or barbecuing in the backyard – is to stay sober or minimize their alcohol consumption.

The Air Force loses Airmen every year because of al-cohol-related accidents — 26 in fi scal year 2015, includ-ing three from Air Education and Training Command — but it doesn’t have to be that way, said Joint Base San Antonio safety and mental health professionals.

“Many people take advantage of the great weather summer provides,” said Staff Sgt. Dominick Fugazzi, 502nd Air Base Wing safety technician.

“Firing up the grill, having some ice cold beers and spending some quality time with your friends and family at the beach or on a boat is a common summer day. However, when alcohol is involved, have a plan.”

Fugazzi said people should follow measures such as staying hydrated, pacing themselves, knowing

their limits, designating a driver, staying aware and taking extra precautions.

“Staying hydrated is the foundation of safe summer drinking,” he said. “Alcohol prevents the reabsorption of water into the bloodstream by inhibiting the hormone ADH. The dehydrating effects of alcohol combined with sweating in the sun can create a serious lack of water in your body.”

Fugazzi said alcohol consumption is especially risky when a person engages in physical activities such as swimming.

“Drinking alcohol can bring out the risk-taker in you while simultaneously inhibiting balance, coordination and judgment,” he said. “You should be particularly wary of swimming during or after drinking. All swim-mers should wear a life vest on open water, but the risk of drowning increases with alcohol. Impaired swimmers are more likely to misjudge distance, the strength of the current, the temperature of the water and their own strength as a swimmer.”

When it comes to driving, the only good decision is staying sober or having a designated driver.

If a designated driver is not available, Armed Forces Against Drunk Driving is a great option, said Capt. Erik

Ringdahl, 359th Medical Operations Squadron clinical psychologist.

AFADD is a nonprofi t volunteer program that pro-vides free and safe rides home to military members. The AFADD JBSA’s phone number is 710-7171.

Fugazzi said boat operators must also be sober.“It should go without saying that there should al-

ways be a sober designated driver whenever traveling by car,” he said. “The same goes for boating. One in fi ve reported boating fatalities involve alcohol, and a sober presence will not only keep the boat operating smoothly, but ensure any drinkers stay safe.”

Ringdahl said a person is intoxicated when he or she is over the legal limit of alcohol, as a blood alcohol level between 0.08 and 0.10. However, even one alco-holic drink can be too much.

“One drink being too much is contingent upon, but not limited to, the size of the drink and the alcoholic content of the drink, as well as the individual’s drinking habits and ability to metabolize alcohol,” he said.

Ringdahl said the consequences of intoxication in-clude, but are not limited to, problematic behavior or

Staying sober, reducing alcohol use contribute to safe summer

See SUMMER Page 16

Courtesy graphic


By Prerana KorpeAir Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

Men, compared to women, are more likely to smoke, drink, make unhealthy choices and delay regular checkups and medical care. While mental health issues are more common in women, men are much less likely to seek care, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Many of the major health risks faced by men can be prevented or treated with early diagnosis, said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Lori Diseati, chief of NIH Health Promotions, Air Force Medical Operations Agency. She encourages men to adhere to recommended screenings and routine check-ups, including mental health care, which can lead to fuller, healthier lives.

In the U.S., the top causes of death among adult men include heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Diseati added that 70 percent of diseases that kill are preventable. Lifestyle changes can signifi cantly lower the risk of the greatest health threats.

Diseati provided these men’s health tips and guid-ance for better health and better care:

• Of the active duty force, more than 48 percent are overweight and more than 15 percent are obese per body mass index standards. Signifi cant health benefi ts can be realized by losing as little as

10 percent of your body weight.• Stress and poor sleep contribute to heart

attacks and stroke. Regular physical activity can help to reduce stress and is associated with lower rates of dementia, better libido and better mental health. Exercising as little as 10 minutes a day can lead to an increased lifespan. The recommended target for each week is 150 minutes of exercise. It is recom-mended that adults get at least six to seven hours of restorative sleep each night. If you do not feel refreshed after a night’s rest on two or more nights per week, seek help from a primary care provider to learn how to get better sleep.

• Men over the age of 20 are at an increased risk for heart disease. Factors which can increase this risk include a strong family history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure and leading a seden-tary lifestyle.

• Men age 35 and older should be screened for cholesterol disorder. Health care providers can administer a blood test for screening.

• For men over 50, regular screening is critical to preventing colorectal cancer. Men with a family history of cancer or who have other diseases should get screened more frequently and see a specialist about this recommendation. Prostate cancer is no longer heavily screened. However starting at age 40, men should have a discussion with their primary care manager to discuss if screening is necessary.

• Men who have been regular smokers should have a screening for aortic aneurysm. An ultrasound of the aorta is recommended for men between the ages of 65 and 70.

“In terms of health behavior and a healthy lifestyle, there is a strong movement towards mindfulness —the state of active, open attention to the present,” Diseati said. “When we observe our actions, we can make better decisions if we step back and think about why we are making the decisions we make. It is im-portant to be more deliberate in our actions. This is the foundation for making desired health changes.”

To make an appointment for a regular check-up, call 916-9900.

Air Force Men’s Health Month promotes better health, care

TRICARE recently announced coverage of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS, as a treatment for major depressive disorder. TMS is used when other depression treatments have not been effective.

Research shows that only half of the patients treated for depressive disorder with medication and talk therapy achieve any success. Consequently, there is a need to try an alternative treatment like TMS. During a treatment, an electromagnetic coil is place against the patient’s scalp. The coil deliv-ers a magnetic pulse through the skull, inducing a low level electric current. The patient receives multiple pulses over several seconds, with each treatment session lasting about 40 minutes.

TMS is non-invasive and treatments are typically done in an outpatient setting without anesthesia. The electromagnetic pulse stimulates nerve cells in the region of the brain that controls mood and depression. Because treatment is typically repeti-tive, you may hear the treatment called repetitive TMS or rTMS. Benefi ciaries are covered for one session per day for fi ve days up to six weeks.

This new benefi t is effective immediately, and is not a part of a pilot or demonstration program, but a part of the basic TRICARE benefi t. For more information, visit http://www.TRICARE.mil.

(Source: TRICARE)

New coverage of treatment for major depressive disorder

Air Force graphic

psychological changes such as inappropriate sexual or aggressive behavior, mood swings and impaired judge-ment; slurred speech; lack of coordination; unsteady gait; nystagmus (or bouncing of the eyes); impairment in attention or memory; stupor and coma.

The physiological effects of alcohol on the body are also numerous, he said.

“Alcohol can impact the brain, heart, liver, pan-creas, mouth and immune system,” Ringdahl said. “Alcohol has also been shown to impact an individual’s

thoughts, feelings and behavior.“Drinking over a long period of time has been associ-

ated with cardiovascular conditions, stroke, cancer and high blood pressure,” he said. “Cirrhosis of the liver is common among overuse of alcohol. Fatty liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis can also develop over time with excessive alcohol consumption.”

Ringdahl said active-duty members should be espe-cially mindful of alcohol consumption because arrests for public intoxication and driving under the infl uence can result in administrative actions such as reductions in rank and pay, extra duties, jail time and dismissal.

He urged Airmen to be responsible.“Have a plan and stick to it,” Ringdahl said. “There

should always be a sober wingman in the group when drinking. The right time to make a plan is before you take your fi rst drink.” Fugazzi said the Air Force’s 0-0-1-3 policy is sound advice – zero drinks for those under 21 years of age, zero DUIs, a maximum of one drink per hour and a maximum of three drinks per night.

In addition, the Air Force offers the Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, or ADAPT, which promotes readiness, health and wellness through four tiers of activities, he said.

SUMMER from Page 15


The Air Force Medical Service is working to increase patient-and family-centered care through-out all operations. Patient centeredness is critical to AFMS’ delivery of safe, effective, high quality care. But what is patient centeredness?

“Patient centeredness is respecting our patients’ preferences, needs and values, and making sure patients’ values are guiding all clinical decisions,” said Col. (Dr.) John Oh, Air Force Medical Support Agency, preventive medicine chief.

“Supporting patient centeredness is like saying you like puppies,” he added. “Who is going to say, ‘I don’t support patient-and-family-centered care’?”

Yet too often, the needs of the health care system drive the delivery of care.

Oh cited one extreme example of when he tried to schedule an appointment with a civilian provider years ago.

“I was told the provider scheduled patients in sequence so that there would be no gaps,” he said.

“So the first caller would be given an appointment at 1 p.m., the second would get 1:15, etc. This was not a system designed around needs of patients!”

While that may be an extreme example, there remain many ways to improve patient centeredness today. Removing limits on family visiting hours is an example of a patient-and family-centered best prac-tice, said Lt. Col. William Fecke, Air Force Medical Support Agency, Medical Support Programs Division chief.

The Institute for Patient-and-Family-Centered Care and the National Patient Safety Foundation rec-ommends allowing families to visit their hospitalized loved ones 24/7.

“Patients and families are our partners in making sure health care is safe and effective, and we should welcome their active engagement,” he said.

Improving patient activation and engagement, as part of patient centeredness, also leads to better outcomes and safer care.

“Activated patients are less likely to be readmit-ted, experience a medical error, suffer poor care coordination and lose confidence in the health care system,” said Col. Timothy Stevens, Air Force Medical Support Agency patient centeredness project officer.

Patients have access to an increasing amount of health information available on the internet that —when obtained from reputable and quality sources — can be a force multiplier, Oh said.

“Providers sometimes joke about patients coming in with a list of 20 things they read about on the internet, but in general we should welcome and en-courage patients to get more involved in their care and partner with us,” he said. “We can provide safe, effective care if patients are comfortable speaking up, asking questions, voicing concerns and express-ing their preferences.

(Source: Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs)

Air Force Medical Service embraces patient centeredness

By Bo JoynerAir Force Reserve Command Public Affairs Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Making sure medical records are up to date and accurate could save Airmen selected for a random drug test a lot of trouble.

In addition to testing for illegal substances, random drug tests also screen for a number of prescription medications, including amphetamines and opiates like morphine or oxycodone, among others.

“If an Airman pops positive for one of these pre-scription medications during drug testing, he or she needs to have a valid prescription for it in his or her medical records,” said Dr. Don Jenrette, Air Force Reserve Command, Drug Demand Reduction Program manager. “If not, a determination has to be made if the member is taking the drug illegally or if he or she simply does not have the proper documentation in his or her medical records.”

Taking the drug illegally can lead to legal action or even discharge from the Air Force. Having to prove that they have a valid prescription can lead to a lot of headaches for Airmen, including possible disciplinary action for not ensuring their medical records are correct and unnecessary work for the medical squadron.

“According to Air Force Instruction 48-123, (“Medical Examinations and Standards”) it’s the members’ responsibility to ensure their medi-cal records are up to date and correct,” said Col. June Cook, Air Force Reserve Command Medical Services Directorate chief of professional services.

“Primarily, making sure your medical records are up to date and correct is a readiness issue,”

Cook continued. “Having an accurate picture of a member’s health status enables the medics to give an accurate assessment to the commander of the person’s mission capability. Secondarily, accurate records eliminate a lot of unnecessary work for our people and the member.”

It’s a waste of time when medical personnel have to jump through hoops to find out that an Airman had the prescription to begin with, said Chief

Master Sgt. Daniel Kupcho, Air Force Reserve Command Aerospace Medicine Division manager.

“Taking a few minutes to make sure your new

prescription gets reported to your medical unit could save you a lot of time and frustration in the future,” he said.

The Air Force has entered into data exchange agreements that allow for some medical informa-tion to flow automatically from a civilian health care provider to a military member’s medical unit.Airmen should always check to make sure the cor-rect information makes its way into their records, Kupcho said.

For more information, contact a local medical squadron or drug demand reduction office.

Improper documentation of medical records: A prescription for problems

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Battlefield Airman Training Group activated at JBSA-Lackland

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