In the event of a major accident at Bradley Air National Guard Base, members of the 103rd Airlift Wing must be able to deliver a response immediately. For this reason, as part of an annual training require-ment, the 103rd Airlift Wing con-ducts a Major Accident Response Exercise (MARE). Each year, the MARE tests the interoperability of several sections on base, including the fire depart-ment, safety, aircraft maintenance and security forces. This year’s ex-

ercise was based on a simulated scenario in which part of the land-ing gear on a C-130 collapsed. Ef-fective communication between each section was key to the suc-cess of the exercise. “The fire department responded very well today,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kirkland Foran, Inspector General Office Superintendent. “Security forces worked well with the incident command and Base Safety held a safety board and did their review process. Needing to know how many individuals were on the plane to work those aspects to get the

teams out there quickly and appropriately, communication was instrumental in keeping things safe. Communication is key in every exercise and in the real world,” Foran said. MARE participants were evaluat-ed on response effectiveness. Sec-tions performed well in the exer-cise, however, there is room for im-provement. MARE participants will continue to train throughout the year, and there will be improve-ments made to the exercise sce-nario that include additional simu-lations of various types of major accidents.

(See Fan Strike on page 4)

The Yankee Courier Vo lume 61, No. 10 "F idel is Et A ler tus" November 2017

Knowing what to do when the fan takes a hit by Tech. Sgt. Tamara Dabney

103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

A firefighter assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing Fire Department responds to a simulated aircraft incident Oct. 15, 2017, during a Major Accident Re-sponse Exercise on the flight line at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. Along with the 103rd Security Forces Squadron, the firefight-ers were among the first responders to the incident, despite that many of their major players from previous years were not present. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sadie Hewes)

The Yankee Courier Page 2

Please email all submissions for The Yankee Courier to: usaf.ct.103-aw.mbx.aw-pa@mail.mil

The 103rd Airlift Wing Mission is to train, organize, and equip personnel to provide an operationally-ready component of the militia to:

—Deploy and employ as directed in support of national objectives —Support the office of the governor and provide resources in emergencies —Participate proactively in programs benefiting the community and its members

Access the Yankee Courier online at www.103aw.ang.af.mil

Commander Col. Frank N. Detorie Vice Commander Col. Roy V. Walton

Contents of The Yankee Courier are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of the Air Force. The editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 103rd Airlift Wing (AMC), Connecticut Air National Guard, Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. 06026 www.103aw.ang.af.mil

4-5 Nov 2-3 Dec 6-7 Jan 10-11 Feb 3-4 Mar

7-8 Apr 5-6 May 2-3 Jun 23-24 Jun 4-5 Aug

DRILL SCHEDULE

COMMANDER’S COLUMN

BLUF: Tell us your medical information promptly including medications, surgeries, hospitalizations, or counseling and you will maintain compliance. These are wise pearls to make your experience at the Medical Unit smooth. Over the years there have been many people who question our authority to make deci-sions that may contradict your medical documentation. We aren’t being cavalier - we are doing our job. AFI 10-203, para 2.12.2.states, “Only consider recom-mendations from civilian (non-MTF) clinical consultants that are related to, or describe, functional limitations. (T-2) AF providers are the final authority on deployment, medi-cal retainability, and physical limitation recommendations (see paragraph 3.7 of this Instruction). (T-1) Note: ARC Air-men will ensure the ARC medical unit receives civilian pro-vider medical documentation within 90 days of the en-counter (T-1).” In paragraph 3.7 it also states, “External duty limita-tions (civilian or sister service). All AF personnel must re-port changes in physical status to their AF military medical unit. (T-1) Duty limitations from a nonAF provider are a rec-ommendation and must be entered on an AF Form 469. (T-1) AF providers retain final mobility recommendation au-thority. (T-1)” Additional key information is in paragraph 2.18.1. “Report any new medical condition, medical conditions that potentially affect deployability, or any change in medi-

cal status, to the appro-priate medical provider at the time of onset. (T-1) The Airman must also re-port all medical/dental treatment obtained through civilian sources to the appropriate military medical authority IAW AFI 41-210. (T-1) See AFI 48-123 for additional guid-ance regarding ARC.” AFI 48-123, paragraph 10.4.2. states, “Each ARC member is responsible for promptly (within 72 hrs) reporting an illness, injury, disease, operative proce-dure or hospitalization not previously reported to his or her commander or supervisor, and supporting medical facility personnel IAW AFI 36-2910. Any concealment or claim of disability made with the intent to defraud the government results in possible legal action and possible discharge from the ARC.” We may call your PCM/PCP to clarify what they mean by PT restrictions because many times the paperwork doesn’t make sense. We routinely receive documentation indicat-ing that an Airman cannot do any portion of the APFT, but their medical diagnosis doesn’t give us the rationale as to why. For instance, shin splints would not necessarily pre-

(See CC on page 3)

By Lt. Col. Sean Brennan Commander, 103rd Medical Group

Page 3 The Yankee Courier

vent you from doing the aerobic event and it should have no bearing on push-ups, sit-ups, or abdominal measure-ment. Communication with the civilian providers allows us to build rapport and help them understand whether or not the Airman can continue his/her career in the military or whether we will need to pursue a waiver to maintain the service member’s career. We want a healthy Air Force and want everyone to be able to maintain their military affiliation, but understand that some medical conditions will disqualify an Airman from future service. The second portion of AFI 48-123, para 10.4.2, pertaining to willful concealment or claim of disability with the inten-tions of defrauding the government has received much news in the recent public. Recently there has been much publicity of personnel claiming disabilities to increase VA disability ratings, ie defrauding the government. The civil-

ian electronic medical record has been used to refute many claims, leading to legal actions against these per-sonnel. We do not want this for our personnel. With more and more information being placed in the electronic medi-cal record, we have routinely found medical diagnoses, diseases, and dispensed medications that our service members have not been forthright in reporting, which is a direct violation of this regulation. This has to be brought to the attention of the Group Commander and Legal to address the issue and to assess the intentions. This has to be dealt with and can result in legal action and/or dis-charge. Integrity--Communicate honestly and promptly. Service before self—tell us what is going. Excellence In All We Do—we are here to maintain a fit Force. Be responsible and notify us promptly (within 72 hours) of any illness, injury, disease, operative procedure, or hospitalization. We are here to assist you in continuing your career, not bring it to an end in disciplinary action.

(CC from page 2)

“For this exercise, it was limited in nature be-cause of the limited amount of time that we had,” said Foran. “If we had more time, we could institutionalize more aspects to it, such as outside agencies to respond and more simulated scenarios with car-go being hazardous, munitions being onboard, or bodies that may be affected from the hazards that were on a plane that crashed,” he said. The success of the MARE and the improve-ments that are made each year are a testament to the hard work being done by members of the 103rd every day. If a major accident were to oc-cur on base, the 103rd Airlift Wing would be ready to respond rapidly and effectively. “Overall, it went quite well,” said Foran. “With more time comes more training and we will con- tinue to improve. Hopefully the real-world scenar-

io never happens,” he said.

(Fan Strike from page 1)

Page 4 The Yankee Courier

A firefighter assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing’s Fire Department arrives on scene to assess a simulated aircraft incident Oct. 15, 2017, during a Major Accident Response Exercise on the flight line at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. Along with the Security Forces Squad-ron, the firefighters were among the first responders to the incident, despite that many of their major players from previous years were not pre-sent. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sadie Hewes)

Tech. Sgt. Kent Cremer of the 103rd Security Forces Squadron, Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn., runs a rope around a simulated damaged aircraft Oct. 15, 2017, during a Major Accident Response Exercise. Security forces Airmen were the first responders to the exercise, despite that many of their major players from previous years were not present. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Airman 1st Class Sadie Hewes)

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

Illustration by Master Sgt. W.C. Pope and used with written permission from WellnessProposals

The National Guard Psychological Heath Program identifies 5 components of resil-iency: Emotional Wellness, Physical Well-ness, Spiritual Wellness, Social Wellness and Family Wellness. Part Two of our se-ries is about Physical Wellness. There are a series of articles written by NGB staff that can be found at the page below, with practical steps and ideas to stabilize and strengthen each pillar in our lives. If you should desire more info, the full articles written by NGB can be found here: https://www.jointservicessupport.org/PHP/Wellness.aspx. “Physical Wellness,” as you may guess, amounts to way more than passing your PT test every year. It is taking stock of your health on a regular basis, and en-gaging in good prevention practices to ensure your health. This may be the far-thest thing from your mind at age 20 or even 30, but as you age it becomes more and more critical, so embracing a healthy lifestyle early on can prevent having to play “catch up” with health problems lat-er. Balanced Physical activity and know-ing your physical limits is critical to main-taining physical wellness, as is avoiding substance use and excessive alcohol consumption. Do not smoke; wear hel-

mets and seat belts, practice safe sex, and get adequate sleep. Most important of all, listen to your body; pay attention to all forms of pain and discomfort. Warning signs that atten-tion is needed include pain in joints or muscles, difficulty breathing, substance abuse, appetite changes, poor diet, or any unusual symptoms should not be ignored. Find a primary care doctor you can work with and see that person ac-cording to recommendations. There is a strong connection between all four pillars of wellness, as you may have guessed. Chronic stress is both a physical and emotional issue, and can affect how we relate to our family and friends, and the pursuit of Spiritual Well-ness will promote our serenity, security, and motivation to maintain all of the above. According to the Movember Founda-tion for men’s health, men across the world die an average of six years younger than women, and much of this is prevent-able. Awareness and practice of good health in all the five areas is critical to maintaining wellness throughout your life span. As always, look out for each other, but also reach out to peers when you need to talk. We all may need some help or coaching when we feel stuck in any area. And count me in, your friendly local DPH, hanging out here in Building 78, as among your supports, with your health

and well-being at the top of my priority list! Thank you for your time in reading this article, and I hope you will check out the resources. As always, I can be reached via my office 860-292-2561, or by email at linda.u.mcewen.civ@mail.mil. I am available to assist any Ct. ANG personnel or family member with this or any issue. I remain open to feedback about the pro-gram, about needs that exist on the base and suggestions on how to meet them. I would also be interested in any ideas for future articles for this newsletter!

Page 5 The Yankee Courier

by Linda McEwen Director of Psychological Health 103rd Airlift Wing

Pillars of Wellness Part 2: Physical Wellness

Page 6 The Yankee Courier

With the largest marathon races offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to top finishers, distance running can be a lucrative sport for marathoners. However, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), one of the most popular marathons in the United States, does not offer prize money. So, what motivates thousands of people from all walks of life to compete in the MCM? During a routine office meeting in March, the thought of run-ning the 42nd MCM suddenly popped into the mind of Senior Master Sgt. David Frates of the 103rd Airlift Wing. Then, on a whim, he declared to everyone in the room that he would run the MCM in October. At the time, he had yet to ever run a marathon in his life, so the MCM would be a new challenge for him. Alt-hough Frates may have had second thoughts about his an-nouncement after the meeting, he knew that he couldn’t take back what he said. He did not want to reverse a decision that he had made in front of his fellow Airmen. “I made the challenge during a staff meeting back in March because I’d heard about the marathon,” said Frates. “Everybody was like, ooh that’s really hard. Then, I was just thinking, yeah, this is going to be hard, but I just said it to the whole room, so now I have to do it.” Frates essentially made a verbal contract with himself and he refused to break it. He began a months-long training program that included running several shorter races leading up to the MCM. Feeling obligated to follow through with the decision to run the race helped to motivate Frates to train. Nevertheless, when the day of the race finally came, he found that he needed anoth-er source of inspiration to get him to the finish line. “Some of these guys at the race are missing legs, or they have burns all over their bodies or they are blind, and they still go out and challenge themselves,” Frates said. “There is nothing in my life that I can see that would compare to those challenges. So, knowing that they would be there waiting at the finish line to congratulate me, I thought, “There is no way that I’m not going to finish this. I can’t stop.” Tech. Sgt. Michael Stearns of the 103rd Security Forces Squadron, who also completed the 42nd MCM, was also inspired by fellow runners.

“I’ve seen people out there from all walks of life, from teenagers to people well in their 80s, and a lot of military veterans who are amputees,” said Stearns. “There was a guy who looked like a quadruple amputee on a skateboard. He had a tiny little sneaker on, and he was just trucking along. If they can do it, then obviously, I want to try my best to finish it too. That’s one of the things that helped me cross the finish line. It’s like, look at these people passing me. That was motivating.” The final stretch of the MCM is an uphill trek to the finish line, located at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Each year at the cul-mination of the race, runners share their MCM experiences with the public. When asked why they ran the MCM, also known as “The People’s Marathon,” participants gave several reasons; some people said they do it to honor a loved one in the military, while some want to raise money for charity. Others run the MCM to celebrate a long journey to physical fitness. Both Frates and Stearns agreed that Airmen should consider running the MCM because it could make them better physically and mentally. “There is a physical aspect to it, which is part of being an Airman—challenging yourself physically, but there is also a mental aspect of it,” said Frates. “You’ll come to a point where your body has little or nothing left to give you. Despite all of the training you’ve done, it’s not going to be your body that gets you through it, it will be your mind. I think that whether you do it in a marathon or do it in another way, Airmen should challenge themselves physically and mentally.” “Coming off of a PT failure a few years ago, I swore I would never let that happen again,” said Stearns. “I had gained a lot of weight and, overall, I just wasn’t healthy. I wanted to make a positive change in my life, but I needed a goal to get me there. When you have 26 miles that you have to run, I think it helps you stay focused. I would recommend this to any Airman.” The Marine Corps Marathon is held annually in Arlington, Vir-ginia and Washington, D.C. on the last Saturday in October. Any-one 14 years of age or older is eligible to participate. Sgt. Stearns is already looking forward to running the race next year. “I swore right after that I would never, ever do another one, but then two or three days later I’m already trying to plan a trip back again.”

What Motivated two Airmen to run the Marine Corps Marathon?

Members of the 103rd Airlift Wing pose for a photo at Bradley Air Na-tional Guard Base, East Granby, Conn., Oct. 27, 2017. The members completed the 42nd Annual Marine Corps Marathon held in Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Tamara R. Dabney)

by Tech. Sgt. Tamara R. Dabney

103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

Senior Master Sgt. David Frates of the 103rd Airlift Wing poses with fellow members of Sheepdog Impact Assistance (SDIA) after completing the 42nd Annual Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 22, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The race was the first marathon that Frates had ever completed. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Tamara R. Dabney)

The Yankee Courier Page 7

This time of year, we are looking for cash donations to purchase Thanksgiving meals for some of our heroes who may be down on their luck. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is a non-profit or-ganization made up of military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS professionals – society’s protectors, our “Sheep Dogs.” We have 19 chapters and teams across the US, and more than 4,000 members, volun-teers and supporters nationwide, including in Connecti-cut. Help us sponsor a local Sheepdog family for Thanksgiv-ing. Donate on SheeDogIA.org or directly with SMSgt Da-vid Frates in the CE Squadron.

For more information:

SMSgt David Frates

(860) 292-2576

Page 8 The Yankee Courier

ID card appointments are available at Bradley ANGB Tuesdays and Thursdays, 0800 – 1130 & 1300 - 1500, with evening hours every third Thursday of the month.

*UTA weekends are reserved for uniformed military members only.* Schedule an appointment online at:

https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil/appointment/building.aspx?BuildingId=478

The Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act created a new military retirement system that blends the tra-ditional legacy retirement pension with a defined contribution to Service members Thrift Savings Plan account. The new Blended Retirement System goes into effect on Jan 1, 2018. All members serving as of Dec. 31, 2017, are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system. No one currently serving will be automatically switched to the Blended Retirement System. Though they are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system, Reserve Component Service members who have accrued fewer than 4,320 retirement points prior to Jan 1, 2018, will have the option to opt into the Blended Retirement System or remain in the legacy re-tirement system. The opt-in/election period for the Blended Retirement System begins January 1, 2018, and con-cludes on Dec. 31, 2018. *All service members who enter the military on or after Jan. 1, 2018, will automatically be enrolled in BRS. For more information, log on to www.MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 1-800-342.9647 or DoD Blended Retirement System http://militarypay.defense.gov/BlendedRetirement

Got CCAF? You may have a CCAF degree and not even know it! The Air Force Virtual Education Center or (AFVEC) is your educa-tion hotspot. You can retrieve transcripts, look up courses that apply to your CCAF degree, track progress of tran-scripts sent to CCAF, and verify completion of degree programs. If you are actively pursuing your education, AFVEC can help you get one step closer. If you have a college degree, continuing education credits, or are looking to apply civilian education to your CCAF, official transcripts should be sent from the granting institution directly to: CCAF/DESS, 100 South Turner Blvd, Max-well-Gunther AFB AL 36114-3011. The CCAF staff will review your transcripts and decide which of your academic credits to accept. Allow 4-6 weeks for processing and then check AFVEC for your updates.

(Continued on page 9)

103 FSS Customer Service Hours Mon, Tue, Thurs, & Fri: 0800—1530

Wed: 1130—1530 Sat: 0900—1530 Sun: 1200—1530

Military Personnel Section (Bldg. 2) DSN 220-2368, Comm 860-292-2368, DSN 220-2775, Comm 860-292-2775 Fax: DSN 220-2784, Comm 860-292-2874 usaf.ct.103-aw.mbx.fss-helpdesk@mail.mil usaf.ct.103-aw.mbx.fss-promotions@mail.mil Force Development / Base Education & Training (Bldg. 2) DSN 220-2442, Comm 860-292-2442 usaf.ct.103-aw.mbx.fss-dpecdc@mail.mil Sustainment Services (Bldg. 24) DSN 220-2778, Comm 860-292-2778

Page 9 The Yankee Courier

Please be advised that AFI 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluations regulation has been updated as of 8 Nov 2016. Several changes have been made so it is advised to please review and become familiar with these updates. Any further questions can be directed to our office. Also note that it has recently been dis-covered that initial EPRs for NPS airmen (20 months after Date of Enlistment) are not automatically populat-ing into vPC. These evaluations have to be manually generated until ARPC corrects it. As always, if you need any help please let us know. Please see below for an updated EPR timeline.

The new SRP has become effective as of 1 OCT 17. Remember that there is a now mandatory form required for this process: AF Form 418.

November Ancillary Training

Combatting Trafficking in Persons

Do you need reliable child care on during drill weekends? If so, the Home Community Care Program (HCC) can help! The HCC Program is an at-home, state-licensed daycare for chil-dren between the ages of 6-weeks to 12-years old. Openings are currently available in Enfield, Windsor Locks, and Wind-sor. For more information, contact your unit First Sergeant, SMSgt Missy Kelly, or TSgt Selva Cabrera at 292-2788.

Page 10 The Yankee Courier

Editor’s Note: The Yankee Courier makes no official endorsement of any business, group or policy, for-eign or domestic. It is always the in-dividual unit member’s responsibility to make wise and sound decisions relative to any information provided herein and, as such, the editor shall

at all times be held harmless. Adver-tisements and information on spe-cial discounts, programs or any of-fers that may contribute to mem-bers’ morale and welfare is pub-lished solely as a service to mem-bers and only as space may allow.

Page 11 The Yankee Courier

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is a non-profit organization made up of military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS profes-sionals – society’s protectors, our “Sheep Dogs.” We exist to engage, assist and empower our fellow Sheep Dogs with continued service opportunities and provide the camaraderie that may be missing after a shift or tour of duty ends. We currently have 19 chapters and teams across the US, and more than 4,000 members, volunteers and supporters nationwide. Be on the ground floor as Sheep Dog Impact Assistance builds a team in Connecticut! Throughout the year, we host challenging events in which our fellow Sheep Dogs can participate. Particularly for those injured in combat or the line of du-ty, SDIA’s Outdoor Adventures give Sheep Dogs a chance to see how far they have come since being injured, and remind them that no matter the obstacle, they can overcome it with their brothers and sisters by their side. Participants have a new focus, revitalized self-confidence, and are reminded that they can continue making a difference in their communities and for their country. Past adventures have included obstacle races, skydiving, whitewater rafting, big game & bird hunts, ruck marches, & scuba diving.

When Mother Nature strikes our communities, we are quick to deploy Dis-aster Response Teams to the affected areas. Deployed SDIA Members are able to use their skills to provide immediate “impact assistance” through tree and debris removal, muck-out operations, covering damaged roofs and windows, distributing food & water, and other meaningful tasks. Help-ing our fellow citizens & Sheep Dogs, while working alongside peers, facili-tates healing and gives many a renewed sense of purpose.

For more information: SMSgt David Frates (860) 292-2576

Go to sheepdogia.org to donate,

volunteer, or become a member today!

ENGAGE — ASSIST — EMPOWER — SERVICE — ADVENTURE

Page 12 The Yankee Courier

What is the difference? I get this question a lot. Let me go over both and hopefully this will clear up any questions you have on these. Tuition Waiver: Connecticut Program for guardsman in the CT Air National Guard that provides 100% tuition to all state schools. State schools include UCONN, Central, Eastern, Southern, Western and all community colleges. To use this ben-efit, fill out the CT Tuition waiver form, sign it and give it to supervisor, they will give to your Commander to sign to verify that you have been a satisfactory participant in the unit. Your CSS will send to TSgt Starrett in JFHQ who will provide a certificate to the VA office at your school. You will get a bill like every-one else however it will get stamped waived. You can find a copy of this form in the reten-tion office or on our SharePoint page: https://eissp.ang.af.mil/org/103AW/Pages/

default.aspx. Tuition Assistance: Program for all AGR or active duty members only. This program covers up to $4,500 of classes per year. The cap per semester hour is $250. TA must be applied for at the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC), via the AF Portal. Once there, click on “Start a funding Request” on the right and follow the prompts. TA must be applied for every single term. It covers tuition only; no fees or books. College courses utilizing Military TA must be applicable to a degree. TA will be denied to Airman with UIFs, failed PT test, or a referral EPR. The point of contact for this is Rachael Cossingham; she can walk you through the process or help you change your degree plan. Comm: 781-225-5944 DSN: 845-5944 Email: Rachael.Cossingham.1@us.af.mil

MSgt Elizabeth Toth

Retention Office Manager

Elizabeth.j.toth.mil@mail.mil

(860) 292-2574

Tuition waiver vs. tuition assistance

WHAT IS THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM? The Yellow Ribbon Program was established by the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows colleges, universities and other degree granting schools in the Unit-ed States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expense that exceed the tuition and fee amounts payable under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The institution can contribute a specified dollar amount of those expenses, and the VA will match the contribution, not to exceed 50% of the difference. To receive the benefits you must be en-rolled in an approved program offered by an institution participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. To see a list of schools in the United States that participate please visit: www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/yellow_ribbon/yrp_list_2016.asp. AM I ELIGIBLE? You may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program benefit if you: - Have 100% Post 9/11 GI Bill (36 months active duty)

- Were discharged from active duty for a service connected disability

- Are a dependent with 100% Post 9/11 GI Bill HOW DOES IT BENEFIT ME? The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays all in-state tui-tion and fee charges at public schools and tuition and fees not to exceed a na-tional cap at private schools. Out of state students and those attending private schools may receive additional funds to help cover costs under Yellow Ribbon Pro-gram. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CAP UNDER POST 9/11? The maximum amount for tuition and fees under the Post 9/11 change every academic year. For academic year 2017-2018, the maximum annual reimburse-ment for those attending a private or for-

eign school increased from $21,970 to $22,805.34. The monthly housing allowance for those taking online training exclusively increased to $840.50 person. These rates are effective August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018.

Yellow Ribbon Program FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Page 13 The Yankee Courier The Yankee Courier

AB TARIQ, MOHAMMAD 03 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C ANDERSON, JUSTIN 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C CHOOTHESA, MICHAEL 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C LABARRE, BRITTANY 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C ORDILLE, RYAN 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C THOMPSON, SHANNAE 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C TOLES, DAMOND 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C WOHLLEBE, ANDREW 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C DIBACCO, MADISON 103 STFL SERVICES APPRENTICE COURSE A1C LEE, JUNE 103 STFL BASIC MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CORPSMAN PROGRAM A1C TOSSES, KAYLA 103 STFL AVIONICS FUNDAMENTALS A1C VAZQUEZ, JALISSE 103 STFL GROUND RADAR SYSTEMS APPRENTICE SRA SMITH, JEROME 103 STFL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNDAMEN-TALS – ELECTRONIC PRINCIPLES

SRA THAXTON, ALEXANDER 103 CES AIRMEN LEADERSHIP SCHOOL SRA DZIEWALTOWSKI, AMY 103 LRS AIRMEN LEADERSHIP SCHOOL 2LT LAMBERT, RICHARD 103 MXG TOTAL FORCE OFFICER TRAINING SRA PETERSEN, ROSS 118 AS EMERGENCY PARACHUTE AND WATER SUR-VIVAL TRAINING 2LT EDGAR, JORDAN 118 AS SUPT TRAINING, PHASE 1 T-6A PREFLIGHT & PHASE 2 T-6A PRIMARY

PROMOTIONS: TO MSGT (E-7)

DEREK J. EGERMAN, 103 CES ERIN D. RIVERA, 118 AS JAMES N. MELE, 103 CES JASON, L. WYNKOOP, 118 AS MICHAEL G. SCHWEITZER, 118 AS TUFIC A. PAONE, 118 AS

TO TSGT (E-6)

SSGT CANDI M. HOWARD, 103 FSS SSGT JOSHUA V. MEYER, 103 CES TO SSGT (E-5) SRA KELSIE L. GORMAN, 103 LRS

TO SRA (E-4) A1C BRITTANY M. SYLVIA, 103 ACS A1C CALEB P. CAVANAUGH, 103 CES A1C STEPHEN M. KRUMENACKER, 103 LRS TO A1C (E-3) A1C BRIAN L. ALTAMIRANO, 103CES A1C DIANA A. TENORIO, 103 AMXS APPOINTMENTS/ENLISTMENTS: Cole, Ty 2W0X1 Dunn, Michael 12M3B Sousa, III, Thomas J 2A6X1 Roman Diaz, Jesus 2A5X1 Schaitel, Andrew 4N0X1

Graduations, Promotions, Appointments & Retirements

Page 14 The Yankee Courier

This year help us to continue supporting two amaz-ing organizations. The Soldier On group from the VA Hospital in Leeds, Massachusetts, and the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. As in years past, we are looking for general items to donate to these men and women to include: new winter clothes, outerwear and boots. Bed linen and comforter sets. Robes and slippers. Basic toiletries and some fun and personal items would be helpful also. Past donations have included digital ra-dio/alarm clocks, local pro/college team gear, books (reading or puzzle/activity) and movies. Please take a moment to consider these people

who have given so much to our country and find themselves depending on your help to survive. They fought for us; please help us fight for them!

NEW ITEMS ONLY FOR DONATIONS

POCs for DROP OFF

LOCATIONS

MSgt Kristina Owren

860-292-2572 or 860-331-1220

103 AW Building 2 (FSS)

100 Nicholson Road

East Granby, CT

SMSgt Kendra Ross

860-986-1591 103 AW Building 24 (both en-

try/exits) or

Hartford Armory - Room 214

360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT

TSgt Rodriguez-Velez Marisol

1Lt Sarah Gwinn

TSgt Jason Beaudry

MSgt Justin Taylor

MSgt Lynne Bolduc

SrA Annie Thibault

A1C Lumpkin Daysean

MSgt Key Ryan

A1C Jimenez Blad

TSgt Labrecque Justin

SrA Serro Jeffrey

SrA Westling Conor

Colonel Stephen Gwinn

A1C Blazas Brenden

SrA Jennifer Lenzi

A1C Santos-Wagner Kendysha

A1C Nye Jared

SrA McIntosh

CPT Turk Michael

Major Joshua Linden

MSgt Jason Palma

MSgt Reynolds Crystal

MSgt Joshua Sheldon

SrA Pesce Ryan

1Lt Scott Duguay

TSgt Nicholas Kent

SrA Thaxton Alex

SSgt Jazmine Thomas

SSgt Andrei Libert

A1C Shanielle Copeland

TSgt Perez Monica

SSgt Bardwell Leon

SrA Ruffin Briana

A1C Dibacci Christina

SSgt Cass Kathleen Cass

A1C Kathryn Puza

SSgt Albani Christopher

A1C Keaveney Samuel

SSgt Dimauro Robert

SrA Elizabeth Rakich

CMSgt Jeanne Daigneau

SrA Adam Collomy

SSgt Lyew Andre

A1C Reynolds Brittany

A1C McKenney Ryan

SrA Precious Baker

SrA Marissa Ruiz

LtCol Todd Grocki

LtCol John Saunders

SSgt Gregory Araujo

MSgt Rozum Paul

TSgt Varnet Jonathan

MSgt Derrick McCluskey

MSgt Babcock Christopher

SrA Penna David

A1C Buonanducci Katelyn

TSgt Michael Frechette

Congratulations to Our Flying Yankee Fitness Warriors!

99.9—95 PERCENT

94.8—90 PERCENT

Collection Dates are from October 6th thru December 8th

Thank you in advance for your support! Thank you, Daniel J DeFranco, President New England Friends of Veterans Phone: 413-459-6973, Email: sgtd1@live.com Thomas E Estabrook Jr, Vice President New England Friends of Veterans Phone: 413-627-3728, Email: tom.estabrook@outlook.com.

The Yankee Courier

Nov 2017 Menu

Page 15

Saturday, 1100-1300 •Roasted Turkey

•Baked Virginia Ham

•Roast Beef

•Stuffing

•Mashed Potatoes

•Sweet Potato Casserole

•Steamed Corn/Carrots

•Cranberry Sauce

•Dinner Rolls & Corn Bread

•Corn Chowder

•Salad Bar

•Sandwich Bar

•Assorted Holiday Pies

•AGRs & Officers: $ 5.55

Sunday, 1100-1300

•Salisbury Steak

•Baked Chicken

•Lemon Pepper Fish

•Whole Grain Rice

•Green Beans

•Chicken Noodle Soup

•Salad Bar

•Sandwich Bar

•Oreo Brownies

•AGRs & Officers: $ 5.55

Page 16 The Yankee Courier

Revisions for Air Force tattoo standards applicable to the Total Force take effect Feb. 1

, 20

17

. The guid-ance, w

hich will be incorporated into Air Force Instruction 3

6-2

90

3, D

ress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, and several others, applies to all m

embers of the R

egular Air Force, as well as R

e-serve and G

uard components. (U

.S. Air Force photo illustration by Senior Airman Chip Pons)

Page 17 The Yankee Courier

With hundreds of our Airmen deploying overseas this year, a new era of Flying Yankees history is being made. Now the first wave of deployers has come home, and many of you have brought memorabilia and photographs of your adventures back with you. Do you have photographs of our C-130s in foreign lands? Did you bring home some souvenirs of your stay in an interesting locale? Have you made a video of your friends working (or play-ing) hard during their deployment? Would you like to have your role in Flying Yankees history documented and celebrated?

If you’re a deployer who answered “yes” to these questions, please contact Maj. Draegor at DSN 220-2468 or d.e.draegor.mil@mail.mil. As the base historian, I am currently putting together two exhibits on the history of the Connecticut Air National Guard, and I need as many photos and souvenirs of your time on deployment as I can get! One exhibit is located in the Ops Building and focuses on OG personnel and the C-130H mission. The other exhibit will be placed in the Hartford Armory, and will be a celebration of Flying Yankee history from our first deployment in World War I to the ongoing deployments today.

Making History with the Flying Yankees

h ps://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/usaf‐revitalizing‐squadrons

Page 18 The Yankee Courier

Start Planning Your Personal Finance Resolutions The end of the calendar year is rapidly approaching. Start thinking about some personal finance resolu ons to ring in the New Year! Read Your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) from myPay. Many of you probably receive deposit no fica ons di-rectly to your smartphones from your bank. Instant informa on is great but knowing everything about your paycheck is even be er. Please sign in to myPay regularly and review your LES for accuracy. Are the following correct? Rank (Grade), Pay Date, Years of Service, BAQ Type (dependency status), tax exemp ons, deduc ons (TSP, SGLI, Spousal SGLI, TriCare Dental). There are a lot of items that impact your pay. It is be er to verify these reg-ularly so discrepancies are caught and fixed sooner than later.  Get Rid of Your Debt—Make it a regular habit to pay off a por on of your credit card debt beyond the minimum payment. If you can pay off even an addi onal $25 or more per month, your debt will steadily decrease. Pay Your Savings First—Savings o en come in last when you're budge ng, a er bills and expenses. Let's turn this around. When you're budge ng, make sure you factor in your savings as though it was a bill. A er you're paid, "pay" your savings account instead of wai ng to put in what's le over. Build an Emergency Fund—The best thing you can do for you, your family, and your peace of mind is to build an emergency

fund. That way you can roll with the rainy days when they inevita‐bly come. As with paying your savings first, make paying your emergency fund first a priority. Most experts recommend saving at least 3‐6 months’ worth of expenses. If that seems overwhelm‐ing, try to get to $1,000 first, and you'll have a buffer. Crea ng Habits with Automa c Deduc ons—Dealing with per‐sonal finance requires discipline. Make it easier on yourself through automa c deduc ons. To really get your savings and emergency fund going, set up separate accounts outside of your main checking account. Then, have regular amounts automa cal‐ly deducted from your paycheck. Let's say you automa cally de‐duct $50 a week into a savings account. By the end of the year, you'll have $2,600. Not bad for $50 that you probably wouldn't even miss. Live Off Of Last Month's Paycheck Once you've built an emergency fund of 3‐6 months, you're ready to level up to the next part, which is living off of last month's paycheck. The way to do this is to save the equivalent of one month's paycheck outside of the emergency fund or your savings. You don't need to do it all at once, as building up that amount will take me. But once you do, you won't be living paycheck to paycheck. Contribute to the TSP—With automa c enrollment and simple choices regarding investments, the Thri Savings Plan has been called "a model for all 401(k) plans." Compared to civilian 401(k) programs, the costs of administering the plan are much lower since the investments are all index funds that track the market rather than being ac vely managed. That results in greater sav‐ings that are passed directly to you. Since all members of the armed forces can contribute, start now if you haven't already. Even if re rement is a long ways away, the long tail of compound interest means you'll be very grateful to your younger self for making such a sensible decision.

Page 19 The Yankee Courier

Bringing Faith to the Fight Our Mission is YOU! As a committed resource, the

103rd AW Chaplain Corps supports the mission of the CTANG by promoting the spiritual and relational well-being of our Airmen and their families with pastoral

care and a nurturing presence.

WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN, TURN TO US! THE CHAPLAIN TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU!!

PROTESTANT SERVICE

SATURDAY @ 1600

CATHOLIC SERVICE

SUNDAY @ 1600

ALL SERVICES WILL BE HELD IN BLDG 78 IN THE CHAP-LAIN OFFICE ON DRILL WEEKENDS

Our office is located in Bldg 78

Office Phone is 292-2445 or 292-2479

CPTF’s two cents

Submitted by Lt. Col. David Fecso

Commander, 103rd Comptroller Flight

Editor’s Note: The 103rd Airlift Wing makes no official endorsement of any business or product. Information on special events, discounts, programs, or offers that contribute to members’ morale and welfare is published solely as a service to members as space allows. Remember, you may ask discreetly for a military discount anywhere.

Page 20 The Yankee Courier

Editor’s Note: The 103rd Airlift Wing makes no official en-dorsement of any business or product. Information on special events, discounts, programs, or offers that contribute to mem-bers’ morale and welfare is published solely as a service to members as space allows. Remember, you may ask discreetly for a military discount anywhere.

Page 21 The Yankee Courier

Page 22 The Yankee Courier

Page 23 The Yankee Courier

Page 24 The Yankee Courier

Connecticut Air National Guard Bradley ANGB C-130H

The 118th Airlift Squadron / 103rd Airlift Wing, Bradley Air National Guard is located in East Granby, CT, approximately halfway

between New York City and Boston. We are currently accepting application packages from prospective candidates interested in attending Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) scheduled for FY19.

All application packages must be postmarked by 8 DECEMBER 2017.

UPT Selection Board – 10 FEBRUARY 2018

All packages will include:

Cover letter detailing your desire to be a pilot with the 118th Airlift Squadron

One page résumé chronicling your military service as well as civilian education and work history

Last 3 OPRs/EPRs (if applicable)

TAFCSD for commissioned officers if applicable

PCSM/AFOQT/TBAS Scores (https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil)

Official College Transcript

USAF Flying Class I Physical, SF Form 93 (Report of Medical History), or FAA Flying Class III

Three letters of recommendation

Copy of any civil aeronautical licenses and/or ratings

Copy of last page of log book containing civilian flight time

Prerequisites: Less than 5 years of prior military commissioned service prior to UPT start date

Be under the age of 30 as of the UPT start date

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited University or College

Achievement of qualifying scores on the AFOQT

Pass a USAF Flying Class I Physical

No UCMJ actions, DUI/DWI or a history of drug/substance abuse

If selected, projected training in FY18 will be as follows:

Academy of Military Science (Commissioning) – 8 weeks

Undergraduate Pilot Training – 54 weeks

C-130 School – 7 months

Basic Survival Training – 3 weeks

Water Survival – 3 days

Home Station Seasoning – 90 days

You will incur a 10-year service commitment upon completion of UPT. This can be served in a full or part—time Guard status.

For further information or questions you may contact 1st Lt. Scott Duguay: scott.b.duguay.mil@mail.mil

Send all Packages and Correspondence to: CT ANG / 118th Airlift Squadron

100 Nicholson Road East Granby, CT 06026