March UTA News & Notes Published March 2, 2010 MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- This is a compilation of news bits Airmen and families can use to prepare for the upcoming UTA weekend. Welcome new 129th members! Tech. Sgt. Justin Daniel Shook, 131st RQS Staff Sgt. Garreth Alvarez, 129th MXS Senior Airman Linda Hooks, 129th LRS Airman 1st Class Alexander Betetta, 129th MXS Airman 1st Class Jabraun Copleand, 129th MXS Airman 1st Class Eryn Donnely, 129th OPS Airman 1st Class Leon Ewart, 129th LRS Airman 1st Class Kevin Lau, 129th MXS Airman 1st Class Scott Lykke, 129th MXS Airman 1st Class Cursenda Patino, 129th MXS Airman 1st Class Nevin Pavithran, 129 MXS Airman 1st Class Michael Soriano, 129th MXS Congratulations! The following members were recently promoted to their current rank. Staff Sgt. Adam Vanhaaster, 131st RQS Staff Sgt. Byron Estrada, 129th CF Staff Sgt. Nicole Mancillas, 129th CF Staff Sgt. Angelo Reyes, 129th MXS Staff Sgt. Nicholas Reyes, 129th MXS Thank you! Wish the following retired, separated and transferred members well and thank them for their service at the 129th. Capt. Haley Gilbertvalencia, 129th MXG 1st Lt. Hans Jagow, 130th RQS Master Sgt. Elmer Labugen, 129th MXG Tech. Sgt. John Golos, 129th LRS Tech. Sgt. Joney Culpepper, 149th CBCS Tech. Sgt. Brock Woodward, 129th RQS Tech. Sgt. William Todd, 129th MSF Tech. Sgt. Aaron Houghton, 129th MOF Staff Sgt. Jessica Beall, 129th MXS Staff Sgt. Avinesh Raman, 149 CBCS Staff Sgt. Kang Ahn, 129th AMXS Staff Sgt. Vihn Taylor, 129th SFS Staff Sgt. Brian Bachman, 129th RQW Staff Sgt. Thomas Beall, 129th AMXS Staff Sgt. Mark Elledge, 129th MSS Staff Sgt. Joseph Machado, 131st RQS Senior Airman Gary Palmero, 129th MOF Airman 1st Class Grant Martinez, 129th SFS Airman Kurt Ponce, 129th St Flt 2010 UTA Schedule March 6-7 April 10-11 May 1-2 June 5-6 July 10-11 August 7-8 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 129TH RQW Prayer Breakfast Mar 7, 2010 (Sunday of UTA drill weekend) 11:30 - 12:30 in Building 650,maintenance conference room Family readiness Post It In this issue, Carolann Wunderin, the Airmen and Family Readiness Program Manager, provides valuable information from Sesame Street's Talk, Listen and Connect Series, a limited promotion for FREE Admission to military members and their families, a showcase about the Year of the Air Force Family at Beale AFB and our featured Volunteer of the Month. To view the newsletter please visit http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100302-059.pdf 129th alumni heritage association scholarship recipients Congratulations to the following recipients of the 129th Alumni Heritage Association 2009 scholarship. · Senior Airman Jamie Enea, 129th SFS, will be receiving the SMSgt Delluchi Scholarship · Senior Airman Jamieson Prevoznak, 131st RQS will be receiving the Gen. Santos Scholarship · Airman 1st Class Kayla Sather, 129th MDG, will be receiving the Col. Lina Ruppel Scholarship · Airman 1st Class Mathew Webster, 129th SFS, will be receiving the Col. Kenney Scholarship Each recipient will receive $1,000 from the 129th AHA. The scholarships will be presented at the annual AHA Old Timer's Luncheon on Wednesday, Mar. 24, 11:30 a.m., at the Loyal Order of Moose Hall, 20835 Rutledge Rd., Castro Valley. CA National Guard Education Assistance Award Program The Education Assistance Award Program is still accepting applications for the 2009-2010 academic year. The application period for the 2010-2011 academic year will open April 15, 2010. Start working on your education plans now! For more information, including frequently asked questions, go to www.calguard.ca.gov/education. Feel free to contact Katrina Beck at 916-854-4255 or katrina.beck@us.army.mil with any questions or concerns. 2009 CA ANG Year in Review Hot off the presses is the annual California Air National Guard Year in Review booklet. This booklet is the commanders annual summary of the highlights for each wing and the CA ANG as a whole. It is the "one stop shopping" document highlighting all of our accomplishments. You can download the electronic version here: http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100302-052.pdf. Print copies will be available April UTA. Above & Beyond Master Sgt. Michael Kenny, a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist with the 129th Rescue Wing was featured in February's issue of "Above & Beyond". This monthly publications captures and highlights the accomplishments of our National Guardsmen to senior leadership, public affairs officers at all levels, and the general public. To view the article, please visit http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100302-055.pdf. Women's Military History Month Celebrate the 2nd Women's Military History week Saturday, March 20, 2010, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. The "Ladies Day" celebration will be held at Twin Towers United Methodist Church, 1411 Oak Street, Alameda at the corner of Central Avenue and Oak Street parking garage. The keynote speaker slated to address the celebration is Brig. Gen. Charlotte L. Miller, California National Guard assistant adjutant general, Army Division. The guest of honor is Capt. Mary Jennings, HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot with the 129th Rescue Squadron and Purple Heart recipient. The celebration will include resource sharing and professional networking, reading of the Governor's proclamation of "Women's Military History Week" and the 10th District American Legion Color Guard. Uniform of the day or appropriate civilian attire is recommended. Please bring a piece of memorabilia from your service years, as they will be displayed for the celebration. RSVP by March 7, 2010 by calling 510-748-6881, registering online at www.twintowersumc.org or email celebrate_military_women@twintowersums.org. Strong Bonds program single Airmen/Soldier weekend retreat March 20-21 the Strong Bond Program is holding a singles retreat at the Rancho Cordova Marriott Hotel. The Strong Bonds Single Soldier/Airmen Program is designed to help you establish relationship goals and gain essential skills to help you make a good choice prior to picking a partner for life. To register please visit http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=Readyfamilies&fm=2. For more information visit http://www.calguard.ca.gov/readyfamilies/Pages/default.aspx or call June Sato at 916-361-4957. Strong Bonds program marriage enrichment retreat June 12-13, the Strong Bonds Program is holding a marriage enrichment class at the Rancho Cordova Marriott Hotel. Strong Bonds Marriage Enrichment is recommended for deployment cycle support, both pre/post deployment, and comes in as a critical skill set for reintegration. It's also considered a viable skill-building tool for developing resiliency in couples. Whether you've celebrated one anniversary or twenty, as a Guard couple you can anticipate more excitement and expect more challenges than the average civilian couple. Long separations, frequent relocations, and the stress of deployment can subject military marriages to extreme hardship. Register online at http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=Readyfamilies&fm=2. For more information visit http://www.calguard.ca.gov/readyfamilies/Pages/default.aspx or call June Sato at 916-361-4957 Free admission to California Academy of Science From February 1st through March 15th, 2010, the Academy is saluting those who serve their country and community in their everyday lives - Firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and teachers will receive free admission to the California Academy of Sciences located at 55 Music Concourse Drive in San Francisco. The Academy is the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. It's a stunning architectural achievement with hundreds of unique exhibits and nearly 40,000 live animals. To participate, individuals must show proof of occupation and a valid ID at the ticket window. This discount applies to one individual admission only and cannot be combined with other offers. For more information call 415-379-8000 or visit http://www.calacademy.org/visit/ Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo is touring San Jose Cirque du Soleil is proud to welcome members of the military with a discount of 10% on non peak week day performances. To select this offer, click the military discount when you purchase tickets at www.cirquedusoleil.com/SJ. OVO will premiere February 4 under the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau at San Jose at Taylor Street Bridge. OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.