Andrews 111315 flipbook

an independent publication of comprint military publications at Joint base andrews, md. dcmilitary.com friday, november 13, 2015 | vol. 4 no. 45

Air Force NeWSFacebook executive discusses Lean-In Circles with cadets,

Page 4

HeALTHDiabetes Awareness Month,

Page 3

coMMeNTArYThe importance of mentorship,

Page 2

By BoBBy JonesStaff Photojournalist

A cadre of Reserve Marines from various units on Joint Base Anacos-tia Bolling, (JBAB) Washington, D.C., partnered with the staff of Harley Da-vidson of Washington D.C., to kick off the Toys for Tots season and a ‘Stuff Da Truck’ Drive for new toy donations at the Fort Washington dealership on Nov. 7.

“Being a former Marine, anytime that I can do anything in association with the Marine Corps or the Toys For Tots program and also be able to give back to less fortunate kids is first and foremost from the dealership’s agenda as well as my own personal agenda,” said Luowell Duckett, Fort Washing-ton Harley Davidson general manag-er. “Contributing to Toys for Tots is

something pretty near and dear to my heart.”

During the day-long event, the Ma-rine volunteers accepted toys and monetary donations from local pa-trons at the store entrance and loaded toys inside a seven-ton Medium Tacti-cal Vehicle Replacement cargo truck.

Master Sgt. Ricky Ali, 2nd Civil Af-fairs Group, expressed feelings about supporting the Toys for Tots campaign during the past few years. “For me, it’s fulfilling for me when I see their faces light up when they received the toys. I like bringing joy to the kids that don’t have toys or the parents who don’t have the means,” said .Ali, a reservist who served as assistant coordinator during the 2011 Toys For Tots Drive

toys for tots, Harley davidson kick off holiday season

Bobby Jones

Marine volunteers from Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C. and a group of Ruthless Riderz, pose for a group shot during a Tots for Tots and Stuff Da Truck’ drive Nov. 7 inside of Harley-Davidson of Wash-ington, D.C. see toys, page 6

By LesLie C. smithStaff writer

Prince George’s County held its 5th annual Veterans Stand Down and Homeless Resource Day at the Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Com-plex in Landover on Nov 7.

The event was hosted by Prince George’s County, County Executive Rushern L. Baker III; Maryland Na-tional Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services. Each year the aim of the event is to provide a “one day, one stop” oppor-tunity to provide resources to Prince George’s County veterans and home-less residents. On-site services such as dental and vision screenings, edu-cation assistance, on-site application of Veteran Administration and De-partment of Social Services benefits, legal support and mental health as-sessments were provided.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards was on hand to speak with residents, vendors and service providers at the event. She emphasized the need for more consistent service every day for

veterans.“The importance of doing it around

Veterans Day is one thing, but what we need to do for our veterans needs to take place every single day of the year,” Edwards said.

“What the stand down does – which I think is so amazing – is that it brings

together every piece of comprehen-sive services that veterans can need or want into one place. So veterans can come and walk from one place to another on their own – not on a tele-phone, not through email – rather in person, face-to-face, to resolve their

fifth annual veterans stand down serves local prince George’s residents A one day, one stop opportunity for local residents to access resources, services

Leslie C. Smith

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (center), along with Betty Hager Francis, DCAO Health, Human Services and Education (left center); and Gloria L. Brown, Director of the Dept. of Social Services (right center), take a moment to pose with Brianna Simpson and Anthony Broxton of MNCPPC Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Veterans Program at the 5th Annual Veterans Stand Down and Resources Day.

see stand down, page 3

By LesLie C. smithStaff writer

The first Salute to American Veter-ans Ball will be held Nov. 21 at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House and Conference Center in Fredericks-burg, Va.

This event was born at lunch among several friends – Ozzy Ramos, founder of H.O.M.E and retired Marine Corp CWO3; Dr. Andy Walker, retired Lt. Col Air Force; Melvin Allen, Retired Marine GySgt.; and Milton Bratton, retired Navy Chief Petty Officer; and Lucy Merced, Marine Corp veteran.

“A bunch of us from the different services were in the restaurant and we were just talking; and, out of that conversation, someone mentioned the military balls – the Marine Corp ball. We started reminiscing about them a little bit and one of the common de-nominators that came out of that con-versation was once we transitioned out of active duty the opportunity to go back to those types of things weren’t there.”

Retired from the Marines for about 10 years, Ramos shared, “I’m still a Marine at heart. I still live a way of life as though I was a Marine. Many of

inaugural salute to american veterans ball arrives on nov. 21

see salute, page 4

Andrews Gazette2 Friday, November 13, 2015

Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications,

including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affilia-tion or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.

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maxine minar, [email protected]

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Bobby Jones, [email protected]

around townHot tickets Commentary

By Lt. CoL. SCott LinCk71st Student Squadron

commander

When I worked at U.S. Afri-ca Command, the organization took steps to connect its member countries and cultures, to include referencing local proverbs during meetings.

The most frequently mentioned saying was, “If you want to travel fast, travel alone; if you want to travel far, travel together.”

This was an effective rallying cry that reminded the various or-ganizations within the command that success wasn’t measured by individual achievements, but by the success of the entire team.

For any team to achieve sus-tained, ever-increasing success it needs to do more than just work well together. It needs a process to refresh and grow leaders from within.

That process is mentorship. As defined by Air Force Manual 36-2643, “Air Force Mentoring Program,” mentorship is “a rela-tionship in which a person with greater experience and wisdom guides another person to develop both personally and profession-

ally. This relationship will help achieve mission success and mo-tivate Airmen to achieve their ca-reer objectives.”

Although mentorship has been around for a number of years, it hasn’t been widely implement-ed. This could be due to high op-erations tempo, limited under-standing of how to establish a mentoring program, or frequent personnel changes.

Whatever the reason, it is time to break the cycle where new per-sonnel struggle with the same issues faced by those that came before. Leaders need to establish meaningful connections with sub-ordinates to foster and develop the diverse strengths, perspec-tives, and capabilities of all Air-men.

These connections are arguably more critical in a time of fiscal austerity and shrinking force structure. Each remaining Air-man becomes more important, increasing the need for leaders to develop structured programs to pass wisdom, information, and advice.

Where to begin? AFMAN 36-2643 provides the basic informa-

tion needed to establish a mento-ring program. It outlines the roles of mentor and mentee, how com-munication is passed between the two parties, suggests goals for the program, and provides links to additional resources.

From there the path is up to you. As an example, the 71st Student Squadron established a mentoring program centered be-tween flight commander and stu-dent pilot. They meet five times during training; essentially hav-ing a conversation each time the student transitions to or from each training phase.

Feedback has been overwhelm-ingly positive, with participants reporting they are consistently learning new things about them-selves and the Air Force; prepar-ing the mentees to successfully assume future leadership roles.

Mentoring is best defined as a process of engagement. No one can mentor without connection. Leaders must actively seek out opportunities to establish these connections to ensure that all members of the Air Force team are prepared to “travel far and travel together.”

The importance of mentorship

Good Dental CareThe American Dental Hygien-

ists’ Association recommends brushing teeth twice daily, floss-ing every day, rinsing with anti-microbial mouth rinse and chew-ing sugar-free gum. Tricare’s dental coverage is separate from its medical coverage and enroll-ment eligibility determines your dental program. The Tricare Re-tiree Dental Program is for retir-ees and eligible family members as well as National Guard and Reserve members who, regard-less of age, have transferred to Retired Reserve status. Dental clinics at Joint Base Andrews and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling offer limited root canal (endodon-tic) and gum disease (periodon-tics) services for selected retirees. If your dentist has recommend-ed root canal or gum treatment, the clinics may be able to help. Accepted patients have to sus-pend Tricare Dental coverage

while being treated. A letter from your dentist, stating which tooth or area that needs to be treat-ed along with any X-rays is re-quired. To schedule an evaluation appointment, call the Andrews clinic at 240 857-5029 or Bolling clinic at 202-404-5519.

Health Care OptionsOpen enrollment to enroll or

change health insurance plans began Nov. 1 and ends Jan.31. Most Tricare beneficiaries don’t need to worry about open en-rollment. However, for those not eligible for Tricare, have lost or are losing coverage, or may qual-ify to purchase a Tricare premi-um-based health plan can use this time to check other health coverage options. Local coverage for these can be found at Health-Care.gov or call 1 800 318-2596.

Premium IncreasePremiums for Tricare’s benefit

plan for adult children between 23 and 26 years old will increase on Jan. 1, to $306 per month for Tricare Youth Program (TYA) Prime, and $228 per month for TYA Standard. The National De-fense Authorization Act of 2011 requires TYA premiums cover the full cost of health care received by Tricare beneficiaries. The open enrollment season ends Jan. 31. Lower cost plans may be avail-able depending on income and residence.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please consider joining the volunteer staff. Vis-it the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO website is www.andrews.af.mil.

Retiree Corner

November 13-15Mid-Atlantic Equitation FestivalThe Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave-

nue, Upper MarlboroMAEF is a premier indoor competition for equita-

tion riders of all ages. Modeled after the New En-gland Equitation Championships, this competition is a showcase for equitation riders in the Mid-At-lantic states. The show is a USEF recognized horse show and offers a USEF Medal Class, ASPCA Ma-clay Class, WIHS Equitation Jumper Phase, age group division championships in addition to our Sunday featured finals. Admission is free to the pub-lic. Call 434-242-8937 or visit www.midatlanticeq.com or www.showplacearena.com

November 14Jean Carne8 pmHarmony Hall Regional Center, 10701 Livingston

Rd., Fort WashingtonCarne is an accomplished performer on piano, clar-

inet and bassoon, and has been singing since the age of four in her church choir. After winning a music scholarship to Morris Brown College, she began her recording career in 1969 and later performed with Duke Ellington. ($) Call 301-203-6070 or visit www.arts.pgparks.com

November 14National Harbor Holiday Tree Lighting CeremonyNoon to 7 pmNational Harbor, 165 Waterfront St, National

HarborKick off the season at National Harbor — a full

day of holiday fun, topped off by the annual tree lighting. There will be plenty of holiday activities from the opening weekend of the Harbor Holiday Market to live music and holiday movie screenings. There is holiday enjoyment for everyone at National Harbor. Visit the Tree Lighting Ceremony page for schedule of activities throughout the day. Free. Call 1-877-628-5427 or visit www.nationalharbor.com.

November 14Marietta House Museum, 5626 Bell Station Road,

Glenn Dale2-4 p.m.Foods of the season will be served including pump-

kin spice and autumn savories. Cost is $25/person Ages 14 and up. Call 301-464-5291; TTY 301-699-2544

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

Andrews GazetteFriday, November 13, 2015 3

By AndritA Spencer779th Medical Group

Diabetes Awareness Month is held every No-vember to raise awareness about diabetes and promote healthy living. As part of this effort, the disease management team at Malcolm Grow Med-ical Clinics and Surgery Center will have an in-formation table set up at the Joint Base Andrews Commissary, on Nov. 12, from 2 — 4 p.m., to dis-cuss diabetes, answer questions, and pass out in-formational material.

Diabetes is the name of the disease that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or does not efficiently use the insulin produced. In-sulin is an essential hormone that is necessary for maintaining life. This hormone converts the nat-ural sugars, glucose, in food into usable forms of energy. Individuals who have diabetes are unable to regulate daily glucose fluctuations in the body.

Chronically high glucose levels can have deadly consequences.

“Diabetes is one of the leading causes of dis-ability and death in the United States. One in 11 Americans has diabetes, which is more than 29 million people. Another 86 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing di-abetes,” said Lt. Col. Maria Teresita Vida, 779th Medical Group, disease management chief.

“If you are overweight, have high blood pres-sure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk for developing diabetes. The good news is that making healthy lifestyle changes can greatly low-er your risk. To help prevent diabetes, watch your weight, eat healthy, and increase your physical activity,” said Vida.

For more information about diabetes or to enroll in education classes, contact your primary care provider or your clinic disease manager.

Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics, Surgery Center promotes Diabetes Awareness Month

AF File Image

issues and to make sure they get the services they need,” Edwards added.

“I just love this; I come very single year because it means a lot to me. My dad served 30 years in the Air Force. I’m a military brat through-and-through,” Edwards joked.

“I believe I honor his service by honoring the service of our veterans,” Edwards shared, summing up the feelings of many involved in the event.

Gloria L. Brown, Director of

Prince George’s County De-partment of Social Services, noted, “We’ve seen the popu-larity grow and we’ve worked hard to promote it because we want our veterans to know about it. I think one of the biggest hurdles we face is get-ting our veterans to accept assistance. We are trying to do a more robust job of letting them know they are entitled to these services and really trying to get them to partake of the work we are doing on their behalf.”

“We’re excited about the

vendors that have turned out and the partners supporting us and want to support the veterans in Prince George’s County consistently,” said Brown while also noting that Prince George’s County is the first county to establish an Of-fice of Veteran Affairs.

Betty Hager Francis, Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Health, Human Services & Education, stressed how important the event is on the agenda of the County Execu-tive. “This event is just so im-

portant to the County Execu-tive. He encourages [the staff] to reach out and do as much as we possibly can for the veter-ans in Prince Georges County who need the assistance.

“Many of our veterans are doing fine out there but there are some veterans that are having a hard time and Coun-ty Executive Baker wants veterans to move into and re-main in Prince Georges Coun-ty. He wants any veteran hav-ing difficulties to reach out to either the Department of So-cial Services or Department

of Family Services which has an Office of Veteran Affairs to provide support and resources to veterans.”

Attendees were also provid-ed the opportunity to access shower and laundry facilities, provided free haircuts along with a free breakfast and lunch.

For more information re-garding the Department of Social Services and the De-partment of Family Services Office of Veteran Affairs visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.

Leslie C. Smith

Numerous volunteers came out in support of the Veterans Stand Down and Resources Day at the Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Complex on Nov. 7. Reginald Williams, retired Army; Kendall Phillips, Dr. Henry A. Wise High School; Santia Spruell, KIPP PC-Aim Academy; and Addie Simpson Horne, Dept. of Social Services served at the sup-ply table.

Leslie C. Smith

Emilia Avola, Public Health Nurse with the Prince George’s County Health Department, provided one of nu-merous health checks at the 5th Annual Veterans Stand Down at the Wane K. Curry Health Complex on Nov. 7.

stand down, from page 1


us still represent our service as though we were on active duty.”

“Someone came up with the idea to start a ball, and to have it benefit a cause. They suggested my organization H.O.M.E.,” Ramos said.

“We thought we would invite active duty, reserve, retirees – whatever — if you’re a veteran, this is an evening we can all share camaraderie and hearken back to the traditions we experienced in the mili-tary in celebration of our patriotism,” Ramos said.

“Blindly we said let’s do it,” Ramos joked. The group embarked on planning the event and Com-cast eagerly offered their involvement, providing the host for the evening — anchorwoman Elena Russo.

The group has invited a variety of guest and per-formers for the evening.

The keynote speaker is General Hecht Jeffery Horne, retired US Army Brig. Gen. and founder of iVet Solutions and featured speaker is Sgt. Major Patrick Austin active Army. There are plenty of sur-

prise guest and presentations with a little bit for everyone. And yes – plenty of music with live enter-tainment and Noize Ninjaz deejaying the event.

Proceeds from the event will benefit H.O.M.E. along with several local grassroots organizations benefitting veterans and youth programs.

H.O.M.E. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Virginia, dedicated to youth caus-es and a variety of humanitarian issues. Originally founded by Ramos as an HIV prevention organiza-tion for at-risk youth, during the years, the organi-zation has expanded to include general humanitari-an causes including the military — active duty and veterans.

“We soon realized the problem was deeper than just getting awareness among youth; it started in the home. It starts when they are young; time needs to be invested into our kids keeping, them around positive things in order for them to socially mobi-lize. We were finding out that there were things that would make kids go astray and make bad decisions,” Ramos noted.

“These kids started to get away from reality and

start making decisions, start hanging with the wrong types of people coupled with peer pressure and the seduction of gangs along with drugs and al-cohol,” Ramos said.

“We soon realized the problem was greater and wanted to do things to keep these kids on a posi-tive path. It takes effort and involvement,” Ramos added. “We knew we needed to transition from HIV prevention to youth development organization and evolved to humanitarian causes,” Ramos said.

The event is for all armed forces and the gener-al public. Tickets are still available and a block of rooms are reserved at the Fredericksburg Hospital-ity House and Conference Center for special pricing.

The event is dress to impress — tuxedo/suit, gowns/dresses. “Active duty is encouraged to wear their service dress uniform; and the retired person-nel can wear theirs if you can still fit,” Ramos said laughing.

To attend the event or to learn more, visit http://iwannagohome.org/events/american-veterans-ball/, email [email protected], or call 540-288-7100.

By Ray BowdenU.S. Air Force Academy

Public Affairs

A leading Facebook official encour-aged U.S. Air Force Academy cadets to break through their personal gender and cultural bias’ and understand the importance of equality Nov. 6.

Sheryl Sandberg, the social media giant’s chief operating officer, spoke from the stage in Arnold Hall to pro-mote Lean-In Circles, a peer network-ing program she created that has been co-opted by the Defense Department.

Studies show men’s abilities are overestimated, women’s abilities are underestimated, men get promoted based on potential, and women are promoted based on their accomplish-ments, she said. Overall, Sandberg told the cadets, women and minorities are “systematically underestimated” in any organization.

“If you look at progress in society, the military has often led, like you did with desegregation,” she said. “Equality doesn’t just benefit society

or the military as a whole — it bene-fits you.”

The Defense Department is trying

to capitalize on Sandberg’s ideas and the Academy is advocating for Lean-In Circles where cadets can get in-

volved.“Lean-In Circles encourage everyone

in the Air Force to take time out and get to know each other on a personal level,” said Col. Carrie Bausano, the vice commandant of the Academy’s culture and climate office.

By participating in Lean-In Circles, cadets can make strides in breaking through racial, gender, cultural and religious barriers, she said.

“Males and females can be part of the circles,” Bausano said. “The circles can adapt to any mix, to any individu-al who wants to make a change. From what I’ve seen, it’s very positive when people sit and share their experiences. Only good can come out of it.”

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter ad-vocated for the program in September.

“The DOD is a learning organization and Lean-In Circles give our people a way to do what they do best: learn through mentorship, peer-to-peer and bottom up, by brainstorming with col-leagues and by being able to let their guard down,” he said.

Facebook executive discusses Lean-In Circles with cadets

U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan

Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, chats with cadets on the stage at Arnold Hall Nov. 6. Sandberg was at the Air Force Academy to discuss Lean-In Circles, a peer networking program she created that is being used by the Defense Department.

Salute, from page 1

By SenioR aiRman Joshua R. M. Dewberry

11th Wing Public Affairs

The U.S. Air Force Band performed for Veteran’s Day at Maryland Public Televi-sion in Owings Mills, Md., Nov. 4.

The ensemble performance is entitled, “America’s Veterans: A Musical Tribute.”

“The most cherished part of our mis-sion is honoring those who have served; so collaborating with MPT for this Salute to Veterans is a real honor,” said Col. Lar-ry Lang, U.S. Air Force Band commander and conductor. “This year’s show is a com-memoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, with musical selections and video from the 60s and 70s, using that very iconic music as a soundtrack for

our Vietnam veteran’s stories. It’s been a blast preparing for this show and we hope everyone will tune in to watch.”

This year’s musical celebration consists of performances by the U.S. Air Force Band, the Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air Force Band’s premier rock band, Max Impact.

“I felt so honored just to be a part of the audience listening to the beautiful music the band played,” said Tech. Sgt. Karen Blackburn, 11th Wing Regional Command Post controller. “It means so much to service members to know our struggles don’t go unnoticed, especially to the efforts by the veterans who came before us.”

US Air Force Band plays tribute to veterans

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Joshua R. M. Dewberry

The U.S. Air Force Band poses for a photo at the Maryland Pub-lic Television studio in between takes during a live recording of the band performing their Veteran’s Day tribute compositions in Owings Mills, MD., Nov. 6. The ensembles consist of the U.S. Air Force Band, Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force, and Max Impact.


The Securi ty Forc -es Blot ter i s intend-ed to keep members o f the Joint Base Andrews Commu-nity informed and aware o f the cr imes and o f fenses that occur throughout the base each week . I f you have any in-formation that may help Securi ty Forc -es so lve a cr ime or prevent a cr iminal act , p lease contact BDOC (Base De-fense Operat ions Center ) at 301-981-2001, CRIME STOP LINE 981-2677 COPS or the inves -t igat ions sec t ion at 301-981-5656.

Oct. 31 at 4:16 p.m.:

Security Forces respond-ed to the dormitories for reports of vandalism. The individuals were identified on camera damaging Government Property in one of the dayrooms. Damages con-sisted of multiple holes in the walls and ceiling, and damages to a Foos-ball table. The individ-uals were apprehended and charged accordingly.

Nov. 2 at 2:50 p.m.: Security Forces re-ceived an anonymous tip through the LiveSafe App regarding an ille-gally parked car. Secu-rity Forces were unable to make contact with the owner.

Nov. 3 at 12:55 p.m.: Security Forces respond-

ed to a vehicle accident involving a Government Owned Vehicle. Further investigation revealed the driver was backing up and came in contact with a parked vehicle causing minor damages.

As A ReminderPlease remember,

while driving on the in-stallation you must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, ve-hicle registration and proper Military Iden-tification or approved installation access cre-dentials. All credentials must be up to date and presented at the time they are asked for.

For reporting any emergencies or

non-emergencies please feel free to utilize the “LiveSafe” App. “Live-Safe” is an anonymous reporting app that can be downloaded for free on your smart device.

There has been an in-crease in reported van-dalism on the installa-tion. If you witness any vandalism taking place call Security Forces at 301-981-2001.

Any person involved in a vehicle accident must report it to Security Forces as soon as possi-ble. All vehicle accidents regardless of damage must be reported within 72 hours. Any report af-ter that will not be tak-en.

Security Forces Police Blotter

By BoBBy JonesStaff Photojournalist

On a brisk but brilliant Hal-loween morning, a team of Leidos volunteers rolled up their sleeves and put on hard hats to donate their time and efforts to building two homes in Alexandria.

Led by Mike Coogan, Leidos Director of Corporate Respon-sibility and Communications Relations, several staff mem-bers and non-company affili-ated volunteers carefully and meticulously nailed insula-tion to the outside structure of the dual homes.

According to Coogan, the Habitat for Humanity effort in the Northern Virginia area is part of a much larger enter-prise-wide campaign called a “Month of Service.”

“It’s actually sever-al-months-long throughout the year and across the coun-try,” said Coogan.

“We’ve had a long-time re-lationship of supporting Hab-itat for Humanity before our company separated when we were SAIC, but not on the scale of involvement we’re committing to now. We have been working with Habitat NORVA in nearly a dozen oth-er states over the past couple of years,” said Coogan.

“I firmly and personally be-lieve, that from a corporate standpoint, giving back to the community is really enhanc-ing the communities where we live and work. I think this is an excellent example of this program – that it is doing ex-actly that. Working side-by-side with the family members who are going to live in these homes is personally satisfy-ing,” Coogan added.

Coogan noted that both recipient families are from war-torn section of Somalia, who worked feverishly beside Team Leidos members, thank-ing them for their humanitar-ian efforts toward completing their new homes.

Mohamed one of the soon-to-be homeowners noted, “Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. It doesn’t give handouts, but hands-up, that’s what I really like about it. It’s also interesting to have been here when they start-ed the placement digging, so I know the foundation of my home and definitely what’s inside the walls,” said Mo-hamed.

“I’m stilling learning, but I’ll also be able to do repairs. I was not expecting to be select-ed but I was surprised when I received a call that my family was chosen,” said Mohamed, who enrolled in Fairfax Coun-ty’s First-Time Homebuyers

Program, before learning about Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia.

“The selection process is easy and everybody can try, but there must be certain cir-cumstances why you need a home and you must make a certain level of income. Your income cannot be too high and too low so that you can pay back the loan. I can’t wait for it to be finished. My family and I really need it. ”

Originally from Eritrea, Anna left the country during a war of independence to even-tually live in Fairfax County.

She smiled warmly and en-gaged with the Team Leidos members, eagerly helping others apply wall insulation on the outside of her perspec-tive home. Habitat NORVA selected her family for the home which will benefit her sister, who has cerebral palsy, and her younger brother.

According to the architect in charge, the house specifi-cations have energy efficient features and both owners will receive 30-year interest free loans. Both homes are tenta-tively scheduled for comple-tion by 2016.

Volunteers support Habitat for Humanity for war-torn families

Bobby Jones

Volunteers from Leidos install insulation to a home during a Habitat for Humanity event Oct 31.

Bobby Jones

Team Leidos volunteers receive safety instructions prior to working on site.


U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant/Released

Tech. Sgt. Thomas White, Air Force District of Washington unit train-ing manager, plays one-on-one with G-Wiz, Washington Wizards mascot, on the court of the Washington Wizards after a Salute to the Stars event at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Nov. 9. The event included watching the team’s practice, a player meet-and-greet and bagging food for homeless military veterans.

Wizards Salute Military

Bobby Jones

LCpl. Danjie Siegars, personnel retrieval and processing specialist, ac-cepts toy donations from a motorist at the entrance of Harley-Davidson of Washington D.C. in Fort Washington Nov. 7.

at JBAB in Washington D.C.A native of a poverty-stricken area

in Mali, Ali felt humbled by the giving experience of the program and gener-osity of Americans. “Being from Africa where people don’t get new toys, the Toys for Tots Campaign is great. The toys there are mostly hand-made by them.”

“The riders always come out in droves just to support Toys for Tots and thanks to Harley-Davidson, who’s been a huge supporter over the years; because without their support and other organizations across the com-munity we wouldn’t be able to accom-plish our mission,” said Staff Sgt. Ste-ven Nutter, 2nd Civil Affairs Group, JBAB.

“What I get from working within this program is just the pure happi-ness and joy of knowing what the end result will be; and that the toys are go-ing to kids to help bring smiles to kids who wouldn’t have gotten anything,” said the Logistics/Embarkation Chief.

Despite the rain, a dozen members of the Ruthless Riderz arrived at the dealership to donate several new toys the Toys for Tots and ‘Stuff Da Truck’ drives. The riders were comprised of civilians and veteran Marine Corps, Navy and Army members who talked with the JBAB Marines volunteers, sharing stories after donating to the annual event.

The store offered visitors free food and refreshments and a chance to par-ticipate in raffles and Spin the Wheel for free prizes.

Toys, from page 1


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By Tech. SgT. Karla V. lehman94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The Thrift Savings Plan provides military members a 401(k)-like sav-ings plan, which allows members to contribute pre-tax dollars thereby reducing current taxes, and accumu-lating long-term, tax-deferred savings and earnings, which can supplement future retirement income.

Participation is convenient through payroll deduction, and account man-agement can be done on the internet. Open season enrollment is not an is-sue and members can enroll, make changes, and update at any time.

The amount members can contrib-ute changes annually. Members may elect to contribute any dollar amount

or percentage of basic pay. However, your annual dollar total cannot ex-ceed the Internal Revenue Code lim-it, which is $18,000 for 2015 through 2016. For members who are age 50 or will turn 50 this calendar year, may be eligible to make additional contri-butions to their plan, called “catch-up contributions” up to $6,000.

The Thrift Savings Plan is an im-portant benefit designed to help mem-bers save for their future. The plans offers all participants:

• Tax deferral on contributions• A choice of five investment funds

and additional life cycle funds.• A loan program• In-service withdrawals for finan-

cial hardship or after age 59 and a half

• A choice of post-separation with-drawal options

• TSP Survivor Withdrawal Options• The ability to transfer money

from other eligible retirement savings plans into your TSP account

According to the Defense Finance Accounting Service website (http://www.dfas.mil/), members may elect Roth or traditional TSP contributions. Traditional TSP contributions are de-ducted pre-tax; taxes are deferred un-til you withdraw your contributions.

Roth TSP contributions are taken af-ter-tax. If members elect to contribute to TSP, the contributions will be de-ducted from their pay account.

Contributing as much as you can to TSP retirement coverage is simply a smart financial move. Further in-formation on TSP as well as election forms may be obtained at https://www.tsp.gov/index.html. You may also find information from the command or in-stallation personal financial counsel-ors, or the finance office.

Benefits of Thrift Savings Plan

U.S. Air Force graphic/Staff Sgt. Daniel Phelps

The Thrift Savings Plan participation is convenient through payroll de-duction; and account management can be done on the internet.


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By TRICARE.mIlCommunications DivisionDefense Health Agency

It’s time for open enrollment; the time of year when people can enroll in or change their health insurance plan. The open enrollment period for HealthCare.gov is underway now until to Jan. 31 for 2016 coverage.

How does this affect you? Most TRICARE benefi-ciaries don’t need to worry about open enrollment. However, for beneficiaries who are not eligible for TRICARE coverage, have lost or are losing cover-age, or may qualify to purchase a TRICARE pre-mium-based health plan you can utilize this open enrollment period to see if there are other health coverage options that work best for you and your family.

If you want to explore your local coverage options outside of TRICARE, go to HealthCare.gov. You can find out if you qualify for financial assistance and review coverage plans offered in your area without having to submit an application. Just indicate that you don’t currently have coverage when using the portal.

When using the portal, go to the “Individual and Families” tab on HealthCare.gov, and click the “Get Coverage” tab. From there, click the “$ Will You Save?” section near the middle of the Web page. After selecting your initial options, use “Get Ready to Apply” where you can enter family size, income and your state and/or zip code of residence to get an

estimate of available coverage and costs, including available plans, premiums, and cost shares. If you are under 30, you can get personalized health cover-age options on HealthCare.gov.

After exploring the Health Insurance Marketplace options, you can use TRICARE.mil to compare TRI-CARE premium based coverage and costs to the marketplace plans. You can also compare TRICARE plans online with our “Compare Plans” tool. If you need additional help, call the HealthCare.gov toll free line at 1-800-318-2596, or for for the hearing and speech impaired dial 1-855-889-4324, or contact a local person or group in your area for assistance. Visit their “Contact Us” page to enter a zip code to find contact information for individuals and organi-zations in your area.

If you are currently enrolled in a premium based TRICARE plan and decide to use a non-TRICARE option, you need to submit a disenrollment request to your TRICARE regional contractor. Be sure not to disenroll from your current TRICARE coverage un-til you confirm the start date of your new coverage so that there is no gap in coverage and you aren’t pe-nalized or pay a tax penalty for each month that you and the other individuals listed on your tax form do not have coverage. Once the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System records your disen-rollment date, the Defense Manpower Data Center responds to queries from the Federal Hub that you do not have minimum essential coverage from the Department of Defense.

Beneficiaries losing TRICARE coverage due to separation or discharge, divorce, aging out, etc., may qualify to enroll for alternate coverage during a special enrollment period. They must apply for marketplace coverage within 60 day of losing their TRICARE coverage. You can find more information online at HealthCare.gov.

Don’t forget that the Affordable Care Act requires most Americans, including TRICARE beneficiaries and DOD employees, have minimum essential cov-erage. Most TRICARE plans meet this requirement, but if you want to explore health care options out-side of TRICARE, make sure to visit HealthCare.gov during open enrollment.

What TRICARE beneficiaries need to know about open enrollment, marketplace


By Ed BarkErNaval Education,

Training Professional Development,Technology Center Public Affairs

DOD VOLED offering virtual educa-tion fair Nov. 19

By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center Public Affairs

In an effort to expand the reach of military voluntary education and help make higher education accessible for all service members, veterans and family members, the Defense Depart-ment’s Voluntary Education Program will host its first virtual education fair Nov. 19.

The online fair is designed to enable members’ participation from any-where in the world, helping them get a head start on the information needed to reach their education goals.

Taheesha Quarells, the military evaluations program manager for the Defense Activity for Non Traditional Education Support (DANTES), said this inaugural online education fair will serve as a pilot for future events and offers several advantages over lo-cal education fairs.

“We wanted the virtual education fair to act as a force multiplier, work-ing in conjunction with the services’ education centers to offer service members a greater variety of school

options,” Quarells said. “Each of the 43 schools participating in this fair have both online and face-to-face programs, and are currently members of the Servicemembers Opportunity College Degree Network System. SOC DNS schools have simplified credit trans-fers and reduced residency require-ments making it easier for students to complete degree requirements.”

Registration is required to partic-ipate, but takes only a few minutes and is anonymous, asking only for a unique username, location, email, ma-jor interest, education level, and how participants heard about the fair. Ad-vance and day-of registration for the virtual education fair is available at https://dodeducationfair.com/signup.html.

Representatives from participating schools will be available via live chat from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST to accommo-date different time zones. The fair is designed to offer an informative, pres-sure-free experience, where members can learn about:

- Schools having a signed agreement with the Department of Defense to provide a quality education to service members and military spouses

- Financial aid options to help defray the cost of your education

- Degree and certificate program of-ferings

- Cost of tuition and fees- Post-9/11 GI Bill benefitsDuring and after the fair, several

prerecorded video information ses-sions will be available including: top high-growth career fields and degrees, resources for choosing a school, and bridging education and credentialing. Information from schools participat-ing in the fair will be accessible online after the event, as well.

Edward Hodge, the manager of vol-untary education services at the Air Education and Training Command, said that one unique aspect of the virtual education fair is participation of education counselors representing each branch of the armed forces, of-fering real-time counseling during the fair.

“In light of military members’ im-mersive use of technology to make social connections, manage their fi-nances, purchase goods and services, etc., it only makes sense for the Air Force to participate in the DOD Virtu-al Education Fair,” Hodge said. “Think about it: Air Force members stationed around the globe will chat virtually, in real-time, with counselors on sub-jects such as tuition assistance, the Community College of the Air Force, establishing education goals, for-cred-it testing, and a host of other higher education topics. Without a doubt, this

is an exciting time for Air Force educa-tion services.”

Quarells added that rarely will ser-vice members and their families find so many resources in one place and the virtual education fair is perfect for those who might not have an educa-tional support office nearby.

“Depending on their location, it can be challenging for service members to find answers to their education ques-tions quickly,” she said. “During the virtual education fair, not only will they be able to speak with someone from DANTES or a counselor from their service, but they will also be able to chat live and get real-time answers from Federal Student Financial Aid and post-9/11 GI Bill representatives.”

For additional information about the DOD Virtual Education Fair, visit www.dodeducationfair.com.

DOD VOLED offering virtual education fair Nov. 19


Copyright © 2015 University of Maryland University College

To the men, women and families who have served our great nation and to those who have giventheir lives in service to our country, we thank you for your commitment, dedication and sacrifice.

We honor your service with

• 90+ programs and specializations, many in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, IT, businessand management, to help you succeed.

• Dedicated veterans advisors to help you find the right program for you and make the mostof your education benefits.

• A range of resources specifically for veterans, including the Veterans Resource Center, a one-stopsource designed to give you the support you need to succeed in school and in your career.

Read our tributes and thanks atmilitary.umuc.edu/thanksvets

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