Goodfellow and Community information, events and activities Published Oct. 14, 2014 GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- MONTHLY OFFICE CLOSURES Every third Thursday of the month the following agencies are closed at the times noted. The 17th Medical Group is closed all day. For questions contact 1st Lt. Matthew Steele at 325-654-3088. The 17th Comptroller Squadron is closed after 11 a.m. For questions contact Staff Sgt. Eric Canull at 325-654-3741. The 17th Military Personnel Section is closed after 1 p.m. For questions please contact the MPS at 325-654-1801. NEWS BRIEFS NEWSPAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE The deadline to have articles or photos in the Goodfellow Monitor is 10 calendar days prior to publication date. Submissions are subject to approval editing by the 17th Training Wing Public Affairs staff. Email submissions or story ideas to 17trw.pa2@us.af.mil. SPOUSES MEET AND GREET Spouses "Meet & Greet" will be Monday, April 6 at 6:30 pm in the Rio Concho Clubhouse, 2025 Longhorn Drive, San Angelo, TX. This event is kid friendly and open to EVERYONE. Join us for light snacks and drinks. Email goodfellowmeetngreet@gmail.com for more information. CONSIDERING HAVING YOUR WORK PUBLISHED? If you are considering having your work published, contact Public Affairs to determine if your product requires a formal Security and Policy Review. PA provides an expert review of material proposed for public release by DOD members and contractors. The process ensures material proposed for public release is accurate, does not contain classified material and does not conflict with established AF, DoD or U.S. policy. Contact 17 TRW/PA, 325-654-3876 for more information. RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM Would you like to have a team for the 2015 Relay for Life? Please attend the team captain's meetings 5:30 p.m., April 14, and/or May 12, St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 2506 Johnson Ave. There is a registration fee that can be paid online, or at one of the team captains meetings that you attend. The Relay is at the Angelo State Multi-Sports Complex Field June 5. For more information on the Relay, contact Diane or Ron Hoelle at 325-654-5512. EVENT CENTER RENOVATION DETAILS The Event Center's ballroom and bar area will be closed for renovations Feb. 17 to June 1. The bar will temporarily be located in the Texas Star room and will host social hour on Fridays. The Cyber Zone will remain open as usual and the Event Center will continue to host bingo on Tuesday nights. For more information, contact Jessika Fauley at 325-654-3247. RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE (RAO) The Retiree Activities Office (RAO) mission is to answer retirees' questions and/or provide contact information about available retiree service providers. The RAO is located in the wing headquarters building in room 119-E and is open Tuesday through Friday 10 to 12 a.m. The phone number is 325-654-4462, and email is 17TRW.CVR.RetireesActivity@us.af.mil. Volunteers are needed to assist Retirees and their beneficiaries in the office and answer the phone Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact Mr. Robert Adams at 210-240-7424 or Mr. David Sullins at 325-654-5932 if you are interested in volunteering. LEARN ENGLISH You are invited to free English classes. We have classes for all levels. The classes are held every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Southland Baptist Church, 4300 Meadow Creek Trail, San Angelo, 76904. Childcare for all ages is provided For more information or to register, please email xworks@suddenlink.net or call 325-949-9633. NEW EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOURS The 17th Training Wing Equal Opportunity office is expanding its duty hours, in order to better serve personnel. The hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information, contact EO at 325-654-3898 or 325-654-4690. TEXAS VETERAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM The Texas Workforce Commission has launched a new initiative to assist veterans who deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn in their transition back to civilian life in Texas. The goal of the Texas Veteran Leadership Program is to provide direct assistance to veterans and their families to obtain employment, education, health care and other benefits that the veteran has earned through military service. For more information, contact Steven Goligowski at 325-653-2321, ext. 1288, or email: steven.goligowski@twc.state.tx.us HOUSING OFFICE MOVE The 17th Civil Engineer Squadron Housing Office has moved to building 140, which is located within the same building as the Mathis Fitness Center. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Housing can provide assistance with off-base housing in San Angelo, privatized housing on base and dormitories for officers, prior-service students, and permanent party. For more information, contact 325-654-3498. FLU SHOTS FOR BENEFICIARIES The 17th Medical Group is now offering the flu vaccine to all eligible beneficiaries at the Immunizations Clinic 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information or questions, contact the Immunizations Clinic at 325-654-1484. NEW VETERINARIAN Dr. Natasha Idom Allen is Goodfellow's new veterinarian located in building 736. Office hours are Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Health certificates, physical exams, vaccines and some tests are offered, but the veternarian cannot provide surgical assistance. For more information, call 325-654-3251. AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION IS BACK The Concho Chapter of the Air Force Association is back. AFA is committed to supporting the Air Force, Air Force families, and aerospace education through coordinated joint efforts of dedicated AFA members, donors, organization, and corporations. All enlisted ranks, officers and civilians are encouraged to join. For more information please contact the president, Capt. Jason Naaktgeboren at 325-942-2036 or vice president 2nd Lt. Sonya Yelbert at 325-654-3067. PATRIOTIC BLUE IS RECRUITING Patriotic Blue is looking for volunteers to join in singing the national anthem and other selections. They sing at various community events. Practice is in the event center recreation room from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday. All events are voluntary and no specific time commitment required. If you are interested, please attend one of the practice sessions or send an email to PatrioticBlue@us.af.mil. TAYLOR CHAPEL CATHOLIC MASS CHANGES Roman Catholic confession is 8 a.m. Sunday and weekend mass is 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Weekday mass is 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. WING HONOR GUARD IS RECRUITING The 17th Training Wing Honor Guard is looking for recruits to serve on the Honor Guard for one year. Missions include rendering funerals, color guards, ceremonies, celebrations, weddings, and changes of command. Recruits must complete the 5-day Initial Training Course and will be held to the highest standard of appearance, behavior, and military bearing. For more information about joining the base honor guard, call 325-654-1685 or 325-654-3341. ONLINE APPOINTMENTS FOR MPS CUSTOMER SERVICE Online appointments for the Military Personnel Section Customer Service for CAC & ID Cards is available at https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil. Walk-in service is still provided; however, appointments receive priority service. For more information, call DSN 477-1801 or commercial 325-654-1801. AIRMAN AND FAMILY READINESS CENTER Airman and Family Readiness Center office hours: Monday, Wedensday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stay connected to employment opportunities and upcoming employment workshops by joining the employment email distribution list. For more information on individual consultations, job search process, career planning, personal development, resume writing and interview skills, contact the A&FRC at 325-654-3893 or fsc.programs@us.af.mil. NEW BENEFITS ADVISORS There is now a Department of Veteran Affairs benefits advisor at the Airman and Family Readiness Center available to assist all service members, veterans and family members with questions about VA benefits and services they may be eligible to receive. To schedule an appointment, call 325-654-3893 or stop by the A&FRC. ASU SCHOLARSHIP COVERS TA COST DIFFERENCE Angelo State University is offering a scholarship to Active Duty military who apply for Tuition Assistance to cover the cost difference between what Air Force TA covers and their cost of tuition and fees. The ASU VETS Center is the point of contact for all students interested in this scholarship. The POC, mr. Russ Baker can be reached Wednesdays at the Goodfellow AFB Education Center in room 209 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Email russ.baker@angelo.edu or phone, 325-486-6618. EDUCATION LEVEL UPDATES FOR AIR FORCE MEMBERS Officer and enlisted members are responsible for ensuring their Educations Levels are updated and current according to AFI36-2305, Chapter 3. Officers should update their Masters Level work after 15 hours to reflect their Bachelors +15 status. To update records, contact the Education Center at 325-654-3314 for more information. PASSPORTS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL No-fee passport applications are no longer processed at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. They are processed in the Norma Brown Building, Room 128, the Military Personnel Section, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 325-654-1801 or 325-654-1802. BASE INPROCESSING FOR PRIOR SERVICE STUDENTS, OFFICER STUDENTS AND PERMANENT PARTY Upon PCS arrival to Goodfellow, your first stop will be the Military Personnel Section, Norma Brown Bluiding, first floor, for base inprocessing. Base inprocessing hours are 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Monday-Friday. If you arrive at Goodfellow after 11:00 a.m., you must report to MPS the following duty day. You are required to bring three copies of your PCS orders and military ID. GCSC SAMS THRIFT STORE The Goodfellow Combined Spouses' Club Soldiers Airmen Marines Sailors Thrift Store hours of operation are Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The thrift store is located in building 736. All proceeds from the store go back to Goodfellow and the community. SIGN UP FOR MiCARE MiCare is the Air Force's online confidential messaging service that allows you to securely communicate with your healthcare team. Micare uses and benefits include: requesting medication renewals, requesting and receiving test and laboratory results, asking questions of your health care team, avoiding unnecessary office visits and more. Contact the 17th Medical Group for information on signing up for MiCare. CLEP TEST REGISTRATION PROCEDURES CHANGE National Test Centers, including Goodfellow, now require a registration ticket for admittance to CLEP testing. Go to https://clepportal.collegeboard.org/myaccount, create an account, register for the CLEP exam of choice, and print the generated ticket that must be presented to the examiner at test time. Call 325-654-3314 for additional info. CLEP AND DSST TESTS The Wayland Baptist University National Test Center will offer both CLEP and DSST tests 5 p.m., Wednesdays, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.Thursdays. To schedule a test, call the Education Center customer service desk at 325-654-3314. WING IG OFFICE The 17th Training Wing Inspector General's office is located in building 300, across from the Event Center and is open from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 325-654-5289, 325-654-4054, or e-mail 17trw.ig@goodfellow.af.mil. RECYCLING AT GOODFELLOW Paper: Office paper, including envelopes. Catalogs, magazines and newspapers. Shredded paper must be in tied plastic bags. No strings or plastic straps. Privacy Act material can only be placed in gray locked bins. Plastic: Plastic containers #1 and #2 only, all colors. Plastic PETE #1, soft drink and juice bottles, HDPE #2, milk jugs and some laundry detergent bottles. Look for the recycle triangle at the bottom of the container for the plastic type. Cardboard and Packaging Material: Corrugated boxes, brown paper and packaging paper used in household moves must be placed in the cardboard dumpsters located throughout the base. No pizza boxes. Glass: No caps or lids. Aluminum Cans: Beverage cans only. No scrap metal, aerosol cans or pie pans. For more information, call the recycling center at 325-654-3375. REPORTING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE Individuals who suspect fraud, waste or abuse must report it to their commander, security forces, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment or the 17th Training Wing Inspector General. Stop by building 300 or call the FWA Hot Line at 325-654-3048. Identities of callers or writers are fully protected. For more information, call 325-654-5289 or 325-654-4054. RESPITE CHILD CARE HELPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN All eligible active duty Airman with a special needs child may receive up to 12 hours of respite child care per month for each eligible child. This is a free program and helps with special needs that can be moderate or complex. For more information on about eligibility, finding a provider and how to apply check out these frequently asked questions and answers. http://www.goodfellow.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140403-011.pdf. FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM The Family Child Care Program affords providers the opportunity to stay at home with their own children while providing a positive experience for children whose parents must work in the community or on Goodfellow. The FCC Program provides child care in an individual's home during the work week, evenings, shift work, or weekends. For more information, call the FCC office at 325-654-4779. TRICARE FOR YOUNG ADULTS Family members of active duty or retired service members who meet eligibility requirements can purchase TRICARE coverage on a month-to-month basis through the TRICARE for Young Adults program. Eligibility requirements are: between ages 21and 26; not married; not eligible for other employer coverage. For more information, call TRICARE at 800-444-5445. DEERS/ID CARD APPOINTMENT SYSTEM The Military Personnel Section DEERS section implemented an appointment system for customers. Walk-in hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 'appointments only' are from noon to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, customers need to call the DEERS sections at 325-654-1801 or 1802. EXCESS OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AVAILABLE The Goodfellow Air Force Base Excess inventory site allows all Team Goodfellow members to reutilize excess office equipment and supplies and is available at https://goodfellow.eis.aetc.af.mil/17TRW/Excess/default.aspx. For more information, send an email to 17fss.fsmm@us.af.mil. STAY INFORMED WITH STRAIGHT TALK During emergency situations on Goodfellow, the Public Affairs office will activate its automated Straight Talk Line. The Straight Talk Line is an authoritative point of contact that provides current, accurate information about the situation. Remember; call the Straight Talk Line at 325-654-3877 to get the latest updates during emergency situations.
