May UTA News and Notes Published May 10, 2011 129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- Airmen and families can use this compilation of news bits to prepare for the upcoming UTA weekend. 2011 UTA, ORE and ORI Schedule Use the following schedule for drill attendance as opposed to the TAG special order M-1. May 14-20: Phase I ORE - May 14-15: May UTA - May 16-17: Phase I ORE - May 18-20: Annual Training (as designated by Commander) June 4-5 July 9-10: RUTA (May 16-17 as designated by Commander) August 6-7: Ancillary Block Training September 10-11 October 1-7: Phase I/II ORE - Oct. 1-2: UTA - Oct. 3-4: February 2012 RUTA (as designated by Commander) - Oct. 5-7: Annual Training (as designated by Commander) November 5-6 December 3-10: Phase I/II ORI - Dec. 3-4: UTA - Dec. 5-10: Annual Training (as designated by Commander) Congratulations! The following members have recently been promoted to their current rank. - Tech Sergeant Gregorio Enriquez, 129 LRS - Tech Sergeant Michele Masso, 131 RQS - Staff Sergeant Razvan Sonea, 129 LRS - Senior Airman Silvino Reyes, 129 LRS Thank you for your service! We wish the following retired, separated and transferred members well. - Chief Master Sergeant Scott Simpson, 131 RQS - Senior Master Sergeant Thomas Detar, 129 MXG - Master Sergeant John Huerta, 129 LRS - Master Sergeant Anja O'Neal, 129 MXG - Staff Sergeant Jamie Enea, 129 SFS - Staff Sergeant Christopher Gonzalez, 129 FM Well done, graduates! The following Airmen graduated from Professional Military Education this month. - 2nd Lieutenant Davis Brown, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science - 2nd Lieutenant Ian Freeman, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science - 2nd Lieutenant Andrew Hedin, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science - 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Russek, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science - Master Sergeant Jessica Brown, USAF Senior NCO Academy Virtual Record of Emergency Data (vRED): Is it current? vRed is an official document required by law for you to provide the Air Force with emergency contact information. This information is used in the event you become a casualty and for designating beneficiaries for certain benefits in the event of your death. It is your responsibility to keep this information current, and completion of this program is mandatory. If any of the information changes, the vRED should be updated as soon as possible. Delays in next of kin notification are most often associated with incomplete or outdated information. Review of your vRED must be completed annually. You should receive an email notification on your birthday requesting you to review your Record of Emergency Data. To review and make changes to your vRED, go to AF Portal and click on virtual MPF (located under Top Links, left side of screen). After entering virtual MPF, click on Record of Emergency Data (located under Most Popular Applications, bottom left side of screen). If you've made any changes, please print a copy and submit it to your UDM, to be filed in your deployment record. Air Force officials eliminate exception to short-tour credit Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz approved rescinding a temporary policy established in 2003 that allowed Airmen to receive short-tour credit for overseas TDYs of at least 181 consecutive days. The effective date of the new policy will be announced at a later date. Although the policy change primarily affects Airmen who deploy to a hostile fire or imminent danger pay area, it also affects a small number of Airmen serving TDY in certain remote areas. Go to http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123252966 for more information. VA/DOD Smart Phone App Helps Veterans Manage PTSD Veterans dealing with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can turn to their smart phones for help anytime with the PTSD Coach application created by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. PTSD Coach lets users track their PTSD symptoms, links them with local sources of support, provides accurate information about PTSD, and teaches helpful individualized strategies for managing PTSD symptoms at any moment. The free PTSD Coach app is now available for download from the iTunes store and will be available for Android devices by the end of the spring. Go to http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp for more information. Government Facebook pages: Quick, easy, beneficial While on Facebook, take a moment to search the realm of government agencies offering easy access to their help and information. These pages can be used to connect to their official websites, gather contact information and often post or send messages for quicker responses. Below is a list of helpful Facebook pages to search: - 129th Rescue Wing - The Post-9/11 GI Bill, U.S. Department of Veterans - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - United States Air Force - Airman Magazine - Department of Defense (DoD) - Military OneSource - AAFES, Your Military BX/PX (Official Page) - Tutor.com Online Tutoring for Military Families - Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP)