Fairchild briefs Published April 8, 2009 FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The following is a list of upcoming Fairchild events, education briefs and volunteer opportunties. Highlighted Events: FREE Red Cross Classes The Red Cross on FAFB is pleased to offer two free Health & Safety classes in April. Adult CPR/AED/ First Aid will be held on April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Deel Community Center. Infant, Child CPR/AED/First Aid will be held on April 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. also at the Deel. Registration is open to all veterans, active duty members and their dependents. Please call 326-3330 x 221 to register, or stop by during Red Cross office hours at the Airman & Family Readiness Center, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up early - space is limited! Office Closure and Relocation The Military Personnel Section, Civilian Personnel, Customer Service and Casualty Affairs Office have re-opened in building 2040 - the old Communications Squadron building, next to 92nd Security Forces Squadron and across from Command Post. For more information contact numbers the following numbers: MPS Customer Service: 247-4029 MPS Career Development: 247-3226 MPS Force Management: 247-9200 Casualty Affairs: 247-4488 CPO Customer Service: 247-4834 Upcoming Events: Volunteer week 2009 Volunteers are one of America's most important assets. More than 61 million people volunteer annually, according to a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That represents more than a quarter of the entire U.S. population. The week of April 19 to 25 is designated as National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting the week. Team Fairchild is fortunate to have many selfless individuals who volunteer their valuable time to assist our installation and local community. Many of their efforts take place behind the scenes and sometimes even go unnoticed. In order to give proper recognition to our wonderful volunteers, Team Fairchild will hold a Volunteer Recognition Event on April 23 beginning at 10 a.m. at Club Fairchild. All volunteers who reported hours will be thanked for their work and commitment, and several awards will be presented. Refreshments will be provided. All Fairchild personnel, and their families, are invited. Ongoing Notifications: Involuntary retraining notification Air Force officials have announced phase II of the 2009 non-commissioned officer retraining program for retraining for AFSCs with overages to AFSCs with NCO shortages. The involuntary phase (phase II) is scheduled through May 31. Contact local MPS for complete details and a list of available retraining-in and -out of AFSCs. Document Automation, Productive Service For all 92nd Air Refueling Wing print request such as posters, storyboards, graphics, logos, pamphlets, factsheets, booklets, magazines, large photos, and document conversion, contact DAPS in the following areas: DAPS Puget Sound, Bremerton, Wash. (360)476-2640 DAPS Bangor, Silverdale, Wash. (360)315-4005 DAPS Fort Lewis, Fort Lewis, Wash. (253)967-4544 DAPS Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Wash. (509)527-7231 DAPS EDMS DDPW Puget Sound, Puget Sound NSY, Wash. (360)476-8606 Plan ahead and allow a five to 10 business day turn around. May 15 and 16: Relay for Life The theme for the 25th anniversary Relay for Life is "Go for the Gold." Team registration fees are $100, which pays for the team t-shirts. Teams are nine to 15 members. If you would like to be a sponsor for the event, the $100 fee is waived. Teams and Survivors can register at www.relayforlife.org/cheneywa. Any questions, contact Lori Ruff at 235-8441 or 299-6035 and Carol Golden at 235-2905. Airmen's Diaries The Airmen's Diaries program is intended to directly link deploying Airmen with U.S. based media outlets in their hometowns or communities surrounding their current duty station. This direct connection allows Airmen to tell their stories in an incremental dialog format. The concept relies on submissions in a journal entry format, which can be published in newspapers or blogs in order to share Airmen's personal deployment stories. Deployed Airmen are valuable Air Force communicators and their missions and experiences provide excellent opportunities to build public trust and support. Any Airman interested in this program is required to work with the public affairs office prior to being involved with the program for operations security and media guidance. For more information or to get involved, contact the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office at 247-5705. Air Force Space Camp The Air Force Services Agency is offering the Air Force Space Camp from July 26 to Aug. 1, at Huntsville, Alabama. The camp is a residential six-day program that shows youth firsthand what it takes to be an astronaut. Activities include simulated space shuttle missions, training simulators, rocket building and launches, scientific experiments, and lectures on the past, present, and future of space exploration. More information on the camps is available at www.spacecamp.com. The camp is divided into two age divisions: ages 12 to 14 for the regular camp and ages 15 to 18 for the advanced camp. All lodging, meals and program costs are at no cost to participants. Selectees will be required to fund their own transportation to and from the camp. An application, interview, educational transcripts, and resume are required. Please pick up application materials at the Teen Center. Application deadline to Youth Programs is April 10. For more information call John Smith at 247-5531, or the Teen Center at 247-8043. Sign up for British Soccer Camp British Soccer Camps is the largest soccer camp provider in the U.S. and Canada. Over 100,000 players will learn the "Challenger Way" in camps and clinics. "The Challenger Way" focuses on challenging players to improve with maximum participation, maximum touches on the ball, and maximum fun. There are no line drills, no long speeches and lots of encouragement. Sign up now to participate in the 2009 Aug. 17 to 21 season. Visit http://www.challengersports.com for more information. Free: Learn a new language Rosetta Stone Online Language Learning Center accounts are currently available for active duty personnel assigned to Fairchild. Rosetta Stone gives you the flexibility to fit language learning into your life whenever it's convenient. There are more than 30 languages, including the "investment" languages, like Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Persian, Hindi and Pashto, that the U.S. Department of Defense deems critical to national security. Visit the Base Library, call 247-5556 or email brian.gaw@fairchild.af.mil for more information. Free: Preschool Story Time at the Library Every Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m. the Library will be offering free Preschool Story Time. For More information call 247-5556. Pet care requirements for on-base housing With the significant changes in our local weather, owners are reminded of their responsibilities for pets that are allowed outside. Fairchild Air Force Base Instruction 31-101 paragraph 8.20.5.3 states: Keep the pet properly fed, sheltered and watered. Pets must have continual access to water throughout the day. Pet owners will provide an adequate weatherproof shelter appropriate for the season. Children's story hour every Tuesday at the Family Oasis Enjoy a good book with the children every Tuesday at the Family Oasis 10 to 11 a.m., where storytellers will share their favorite books and adventurous stories with the kids. Contact the Deel Community Center at 247-2619 for details. Playgroup time at the Family Oasis Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday the Family Oasis will host a free kids playgroup from 3 to 4:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend. Call 247-2619 for more information. Make the most of your money The Personal Financial Counseling Program offers a variety of free financial services to Airmen and their families. The program includes family budgets, spending plans, credit management, debt liquidation, taxes, veteran's benefits and more. Normally $150 for each session, the program is offered free to all military members and families. For more information, contact Steve at 247- 2246. Gas Mask fit testing Bioenvironmental Engineering hours for gas mask fit testing are Mondays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to bring your mask and eyeglass inserts. For fit testing under the Base Respiratory Protection Program, fill out the Medical Evaluation Questionnaire, Fairchild Air Force Base Form 227. Fit testing and training is held the first and third Thursday of every month 1:30 to 4 p.m. Do not smoke for two hours prior or eat or drink (except water) 30 minutes prior to a fit test. For appointments call 247-2391. 92nd LRS mobility, weapons name change The 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron mobility and weapons have changed their name to Personal Protective Equipment. If you require personal protective equipment bags or weapons drop in Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., or Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. For short-notice deployment requirements, unit deployment managers should call 247-4930 or 247-2154 for appointments noon to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Webcams for deployed spouses The Airman & Family Readiness Center now has operational Web cameras in the Discovery Center. Family members can talk directly to loved ones in some deployed locations. Stop by from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week or call the A&FRC at 247-2246 to schedule an appointment during after-hours use. They also have Web cameras to check out for home use. Readiness and deployment information is available for your family needs. Fairchild swim teams Be a part of one of the two Fairchild swim teams. Practices are held at the indoor pool; all levels of experience are welcome and swim all year. The Aqua Aviators Novice Swim Team meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. Participants are 18 years and under. The monthly cost is $30. The free Masters Swim Team meets Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Participants must be over the age of 18. Call Cherese McCoy at 247-2991 or stop by the pool during practice times for more information or to sign up. Brazilian Jujitsu every first, third Tuesday Brazilian Jujitsu lessons are available at the Survival Fitness Center every first and third Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Classes are $20 monthly and are available to members and dependents of Fairchild age 16 and older. For more information call Staff Sgt. Aaron Kuckovic at 247-2301 or Tech. Sgt. Gregory Karlis at 247-5394. Public Health walk-in hours for pre-deployers In an effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the pre-deployment medical process, Public Health has established walk-in hours for medical processing of pre-deployers every Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Customers will continue to be seen outside of these hours Monday through Friday by appointment only. Appointments can be made in person or by calling 247-8486. Thrift Shop accepting consignments and donations The Thrift Shop is currently accepting consignments and donations for spring and summer clothing. Thrift Shop hours are: Mondays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and the first Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call the Thrift Shop at 247-5913 for more information. Attention all Fairchild communication systems users The use of government communication systems such as, but not limited to, telephones, fax machines, computers, computer networks (including internet access), cellular phones, PDAs, BlackBerrys and hand-held radios constitutes consent to monitoring. Also, please ensure that all government owned and issued telephones, fax machines, PDAs, BlackBerrys, cell phones, hand held radios and standalone computers have an attached DD form 2056. For more information call David Brown at 247-4583. Education Briefs: Online CLEP/DANTES New CLEP/DANTES online preparation materials have been added to this site: http://snipurl.com/1mpnm. See 'testing' under Programs and Services for the latest test descriptions, open courses, video lectures, audio streamline, outlines and quizzes on multiple subjects. Leadership Skills Class Develop your leadership skills through Force Development Education courses offered free of charge every month at the Base Education Center. FDE offers an opportunity for your personal growth with courses in career management, effective communication, productive relationships, giving effective feedback, understanding leadership growth and developing cooperative learning in training programs in the workplace. The class is open to all military and civilian personnel; however, some courses are limited to certain ranks. Contact Dennis Ottmar at 247-4209 or email dennis.ottmar@fairchild.af.mil with any questions about enrollment. Park University Military family scholarship Park University offers a 15-credit hour scholarship for spouses (non-military) and dependents of active duty military personnel. If you have been a Park student for not more than one year at the time of application, or you will be applying to become a student with Park for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year, with a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 and 4.0, you may be eligible for this scholarship. Application deadline is April 15. For more information call the Park University Office at 244-2020. All consortiums and visiting student agreements must be approved by the host institution Registrar and home institution Registrar and received in the Student Financial Services Office, Park University before the beginning of the term for which aid is being requested. If not, the consortium/visiting student agreement will not be processed. No exceptions will be made. Therefore, students who want a consortium/visiting student agreement to be processed need to start their paperwork early, or they will not be paid for the consortium hours. Students will also need to be responsible to ensure the Registrar at the host institution completes and forwards the form to the Fairchild Campus Center in a timely manner. Park University students receiving Pell Grants or student loans, be aware the process of dropping a class may change your eligibility for them. If Park is required to return a portion of an amount already awarded, the student will be responsible for any balance resulting from the return of the loan or grant money. Before dropping classes, check with Student Financial Services to determine if your loan or grant eligibility will be affected. Any questions, call 244-2020. Credit classes are offered by the Institute for Extended Learning and are accredited through Spokane Falls Community College and follow the curriculum adopted by and standards established by SFCC.