September UTA News & Notes Published Sept. 8, 2010 MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- This is a compilation of news bits Airmen and families can use to prepare for the upcoming UTA weekend. Welcome New 129th Members! - Capt. Kevin Quinn, 129th OSS - Master Sgt. Summer Mize, 129th MDG - Staff Sgt. Joel Bakamis, 131st RQS - Staff Sgt. Garrison Simpson, 131st RQS - Staff Sgt. Richard Sousa, 129th LRS - Senior Airman Donna May, 129th MXS - Airman 1st Class Adrian Dang, 131st RQS - Airman 1st Class Jonathan Jordan, 129th MXS - Airman 1st Class Joe Sandoval, 131st RQS - Airman 1st Class Robaire Welch, 129th MXS Congratulations! The Following Members Have Recently Been Promoted To Their Current Rank. - Tech. Sgt. Leiv Arnesen, 129th AMXS - Staff Sgt. Ronel Marcellano, 130th RQS - Staff Sgt. Leah Simpson, 131st RQS - Senior Airman Yaohui Chen, 129th RQW - Senior Airman Eric Kelly, 149th CCS - Senior Airman Brian Jaramillo, 129th SVF - Senior Airman Daniel Otis, 131st RQS - Senior Airman Kayla Sather, 129th MDG Thank You for Your Service! We Wish the Following Retired, Separated and Transferred Members Well - Senior Master Sgt. Alice Duerr, 129th LRS - Staff Sgt. Cristine Billings, 561st Band 2010 UTA Schedule September 11-12 October 2-3 November 6-7 December 4-5 Religious Services Schedule Services take place every Sunday morning of UTA drill weekend in Building 650 - Catholic Mass: 10:15-10:45 - Non-denominational services: 11:00 - 11:30 2011 UTA ORE and ORI Schedule In accordance with the memorandum for all 129th Rescue Wing members sent out by Col. Amos Bagdasarian, the 129th RQW Wing Commander, the following dates are scheduled for 2010 and 2011 Unit Training Assembly's and Super Drills for the Operational Readiness Exercises in preparation for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection. These dates are to be used for drill attendance as opposed to the special orders M-2 dated Dec. 1, 2008 and M-1 dated Oct. 1, 2009 that were sent out by the Adjunct General. Note: All 129th RQW members will be on military status when performing ORE or ORI events. January 8-9 February 5-6 March 5-6 April 9-11 - CRTC Training (April 11 required if identified by unit commander) May 10-15 - Phase I/II ORE (6 days) June 4-5 July 9-10 August 6-7 September 10-11 October 1-6 - Phase I/II ORE (6 days) November 5-6 December 3-9 - Phase I/II ORI (7 days) Feb 2012 UTA moved to Dec. 5-6 2011 The 129th RQW Credited 946 Lives Saved! While supporting joint operations in Afghanistan with the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, the 131st Rescue Squadron has earned the 129th Rescue Wing an additional 7 combat saves since the last reporting period. Saves included local nationals, U.S. military members and Afghan National Army soldiers. The 131st RQS current deployment statistics include 37 saves, 137 assists and 136 missions. United States Senate Youth Program Seeks Delegates from DoDEA The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The 49th annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 5 - 12, 2011. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by Senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as participate in a meeting with a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $5,000 College Scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. ANG youth are eligible. If their high school principals, guidance counselors or social studies teacher don't have the USSYP application they may inquire directly to their state selection contacts using the USSYP website: http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/. Additional information on the overall United States Senate Youth Program is available from http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/. TRICARE Retired Reserve Launches For the first time, members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60, the so-called "gray area" retirees, can purchase TRICARE health coverage for themselves and their eligible family members with the Sept. 1, 2010 launch of TRICARE Retired Reserve. Retired Reservists may qualify to purchase TRR coverage if they are under the age of 60 and are not eligible for, or enrolled in, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. They must also be members of the Retired Reserve of a Reserve component and qualified for non-regular retirement. For instructions on how to qualify for and purchase TRR go to www.tricare.mil/trr. For calendar year 2010, the TRR member-only monthly premium is $388.31 ($4,659.72 yearly), and the member and family monthly premium is $976.41 ($11,716.92 yearly). Premiums will be adjusted annually. The comprehensive health care coverage provided by the premium-based TRR is similar to TRICARE Standard. After purchasing TRR, members will receive the TRICARE Retired Reserve Handbook, which includes details about covered services, how to get care and who to contact for assistance. For more information please visit www.tricare.mil/trr or http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100908-088.pdf. Defense Secretary Gates Answers Our Questions U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivered a speech to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Francisco, Aug. 12, 2010. After the speech, the audience was granted with a question and answer session, where secretary Gates offered interesting perspectives on Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, etc. On one hand Dr. "Gates expressed Great concern within the Middle East region as well as with North Korea," said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Underwood, the 129th Rescue Wing Human Resource Advisor, who was a member in the audience. "On the other hand he communicated his "optimism" regarding his initiatives to heighten support and funding for servicemembers in uniform, reduction in contract spending, the state of Iraq 10 years from now." To view the speech please visit http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1498&41498=20100813. Coleville Commissary On-site Sale Take advantage of spectacular savings on popular grocery items at the Commissary On-site Sale. The Fallon NAS Commissary is hosting an On-site Sale Sun. Sept. 19 from 11:30a.m. to 1:30p.m. at the Coleville Marine Corps. National Guard and Reserve members, military retirees, and active duty military service members and dependents can take advantage of the great savings at the Commissary. Sale items may include paper products, soap and cleaning products, canned goods, sodas, sport drinks, water, laundry detergents, and a variety of other products at savings of 30 percent or more! Customers must present an appropriate Department of Defense ID card that authorizes commissary privileges in order to shop. Cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards are accepted for payment. The use of coupons is highly encouraged! For more information please visit www.commissaries.com or contact Wendy Matuszak 775-426-3420 or wendy.matuszak@deca.mil. For information on pre-ordering meat, please e-mail Wendy prior to Sept. 13. Air Force Encourages Employees To Cash In On Ideas A multi-service focused contest, called the Innovation for New Value, Efficiency & Savings Tomorrow Awards, runs Aug. 9 through Sept. 24. The Department of Defense-led program is designed to produce money-saving ideas that improve the way the DOD operates. Civilian and military employees are encouraged to share their ideas online at www.defense.gov/invest. VA's Home Loan Program Continues To Stay Strong Mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs continue to have the lowest rate for serious delinquency and foreclosures in the industry. For more information read the related article at http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123218643. To obtain more information about the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, veterans can call VA at 877-827-3702. Information can also be obtained at http://www.homeloans.va.gov. Electronic Cigarette Use The Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Charles Green, has released a memo to alert all Airmen about the safety concerns regarding electronic cigarettes. "E-cigs" are battery-operated devices that look like conventional cigarettes and deliver nicotine as a vapor. Advertisements claim these are a healthier. To view the memo please visit http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100908-083.pdf. Should you have any questions regarding the use of electronic cigarettes, my point of contact is Lieutenant Colonel Dan Kulund, AFMSA/SG3O, (703) 588-7267, DSN 425-7267, or dan.kulund@pentagon.af.mil. Military Discount for Oakland Raider's Tickets All Military personnel and their family & friends will receive a special purchase opportunity through the Raiders Corporate Manager Link. By purchasing you will receive no extra per ticket fees and better seating locations. You can save even more if you attend the Nov. 7 Veteran's Day Game. Veteran's Day game Nov. 7th - Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs @ 1:15pm - 1st & 2nd level seating available for $25 per ticket - 3rd level seating available for $20 per ticket - Use offer code T10USA at https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=raiders&o=705&g=143 All other games - 1st & 2nd level seating available starting at $61 per ticket - 3rd level seating available starting at $26 per ticket - Use offer code T10MG at https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=raiders&o=705&g=142