the yankee courier may 2017 - home of the 103rd airlift … yankee...(u.s. air force photo/tech....

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Air National Guards-men assigned to the 386th Expedition-ary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here are undergoing a transition during their deployment here. These Airmen de-ployed from the 103rd and 145th Airlift Wings, from Connecticut and North Caro-lina respectively, have come together to maintain the C-130H Hercules cargo air-craft.

The desert assignment is Connecti-

cut’s first time being deployed with the airframe while for North Carolina, it is last time it will deploy to maintain the Hercules.

“We are new. We did A-10’s before this,” said Tech. Sgt. Chad Wink, a 386 EAMXS engine mechanic. “It’s our first deployment with the C-130’s and their last deployment with the C-130’s.”

“A lot of us are just learning the C-130 because it’s our first deployment with the bird,” said Wink. “It’s nice to partner up with another unit that’s had

them for a long time.”

The job of maintaining the C-130H Hercules is one piece of the puzzle in the Air Force’s fight against ISIS. This aircraft supports critical missions by deliveries cargo and personnel downrange support-ing critical missions.

“We just keep the planes flying,” said Staff Sgt. James Srackangast, 386 EAMXS crew chief. “You actually feel the pride of helping defeat ISIS, dropping the equipment off and getting to the guys

(See High on page 3)

The Yankee Courier Vo lume 61, No. 5 "F idel is Et A ler tus" May 2017

Deployed Flying Yankees keep Herc flying high By Tech. Sgt. Kenneth McCann

386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

A C-130H Hercules is towed on the flightline at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia April 24, 2017. The aircraft, which is assigned to the Con-necticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing, delivers cargo and personnel downrange in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kenneth McCann)

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Editor in Chief Maj. Jefferson S. Heiland Please email all submissions for

The Yankee Courier to:

[email protected]

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 Public Affairs Chief Maj. Jefferson S. Heiland

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

6-7 May 3-4 Jun 0 July

5-6 Aug 9-10 Sep 3-4 Oct

DRILL SCHEDULE

C O M M A N D E R’S C O L U M N

Good day fellow Flying Yankees and greetings from the Mid-dle East. As you read this, the deployed men and women of the 103rd Air Control Squadron are winding down our over-seas mission as members of the 727th Expeditionary Air Con-trol Squadron. Famously known as “Kingpin,” we provide an integral part of the world’s largest and most effective Air Con-trol Squadron delivering an indispensable combat capability in a complex air campaign across the CENTCOM AOR. King-pin is the preeminent Tactical Command and Control organi-zation directing combat missions for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and the Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf. Our deployed squadron consists of more than 360 Airmen from the Con-necticut Air National Guard, active-duty Air Force, as well as Soldiers, Marines, and coalition partners from Great Britain, Australia and Denmark. We operate from multiple undis-closed locations across the region, leveraging strengths in-herent to each respective service, component and nation, and fusing efforts into a singular capability. Kingpin cohe-sively overcomes these inherent challenges every day to or-chestrate the 24/7 command and control of airstrikes, Close Air Support, ISR, and air refueling missions in a diverse and dynamic combat environment. We have accomplished some remarkable feats during our tenure at Kingpin to include many firsts in the CENTCOM battlespace. Throughout our time in the AOR, we have amassed over 69,000 mission execution hours, controlled thousands of airborne assets, and maintained a remarkable 99.05 percent equipment uptime rate. We have improved

data link architecture across the theater, vigorously inte-grated our coalition partners, seamlessly executed dynamic air operations and flawlessly executed the daily air tasking order, all while maintaining a safety record lauded by CENT-COM, AFCENT, and even the ACC/IG. Yes, even in a de-ployed environment, IGEMS and MICT are part of everyday life. The Airmen of the 103rd have worked hard and dis-played a level of mission fo-cus and professionalism that is unparalleled. It has been a privilege and honor to proudly represent our Airmen and state. Despite the extremely high ops tempo, we’ve also had Airmen complete online college credits, CCAF degrees, PME requirements, AFSC upgrade requirements, as well as ac-complishing personal and professional goals. As we continue our mission focus, we are also preparing for re-deployment back home. Ensuring families and loved ones are prepared for our return, while handing off our expe-riences, lessons learned, and procedures to our incoming ACS brethren is a welcomed task. In closing, I would like to extend a special thanks to the wing for the continued sup-port and assistance, whether to ACS members in garrison ensuring continuity of operations, or to the financial, person-nel, medical and logistical requirements that come with such a large-force deployment. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

By Lt. Col. John P. Sorgini Commander, 103rd Air Control Squadron Commander, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron

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who are out there on the ground.”

Even in the excitement of supporting the fight against ISIS, Wink said that maintainers often face lots of different operational challenges that come in the way of maintaining the aircraft.

“It’s a remote location, so it’s hard to get all the parts we need,” said Wink. “The environment, it’s a very rough envi-ronment for the engines and you really have to keep on top of them to make sure they are not ingesting to much dirt. We have to keep everything clean.”

Wink said that he is proud to have volunteered for the deployment and looks forward to helping future deploy-ers from Connecticut.

“We are going to go home with all that knowledge. People who haven’t been here are going to be looking at us,” said Wink. “Hopefully we are setting standard for the next deployment.”

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Staff Sgt. James Srackangast, 386th Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron crew chief, checks a propeller on a Connecticut Air National Guard C-130H Hercules April 24, 2017, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Srackangast is deployed from the 143rd Airlift Wing in Charlotte, N.C. in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircraft, deployed from the 103rd Airlift Wing in East Granby, Conn., is capable of delivering personnel and cargo downrange in the support of the fight against ISIS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kenneth McCann)

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Above—KABUL, Afghanistan—That’s gonna leave a mark! In early 2014, the Afghan Air Force received C-130H models so that they could continue to progress in taking over operations from Coalition forces and flex their own air power. Maintenance air advisors from Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air (TAAC-Air), 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, work alongside AAF counterparts helping them develop a capable and sustainable air force. It has become customary for USAF crews deployed there to paint a barrier wall with the tails representing their unit and state. According to Master Sgt. Dennis Coughlin, the Flying Yankees have left their mark! “I'm here with guard guys from Montana, Illinois and North Carolina. Illinois already had a tail on the wall from a previ-ous deployment. There were two unpainted tails left so CT and MO got them. This wall shows all the previous units that have come here to train the Afghan air force. Now CT will be permanently remembered,” he said in an email. (Photos courtesy of Mas-ter Sgt. Dennis Coughlin) Below left—Southwest Asia—Staff Sgt. Matityahu Geller of the 103rd Air Control Squadron currently de-ployed to the 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, earns recognition in theater as the Warrior of the Week and accepts the award from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Vice Commander, Col. Kevin Eastland and Acting Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. James Long. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. John Sorgini) Below right—Staff Sgt. Alex Hernandez, a member with the 103rd Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight and currently deployed to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, poses for a photo op after tacking on a stripe. (Photo courtesy of Maj. Chris Pagoni)

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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.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

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

The Judge Advocate General's Corps —Discipline Report 1Q and 2Q 2017

Discipline is crucial for any military organization. The 103rd Airlift Wing leadership prides itself on having a fair and transparent discipline structure. A key aspect of maintaining discipline is deterrence. When members of an organization know what spe-cific acts of misconduct their fellow service members are being disciplined for most often, they can hopefully learn what miscon-duct to avoid. This report contains all involuntary discharge and demotion actions that were initiated within the wing during the first and second quarters of FY2017. The information that follows demonstrates two noteworthy trends. First, in regards to administrative discharges, six of the nine cases involved drug abuse and four of those were for mari-juana. By way of comparison, for all of FY2016, there were only two marijuana cases (out of seven drug cases total). All mem-bers need to be fully aware that, regardless of any state changes to medical or recreational marijuana use laws, as a member of the armed forces, there is absolutely no change in policy for ille-gal drug use, including marijuana.

You should also note that all six of the demotions during this period (and one of the administrative discharges) were due to fitness failures. The rank of the individuals demoted included one Staff Sergeant, two Tech Sergeants, two Master Sergeants and one Senior Master Sergeant. Again, comparing to all of FY 2016, there were a total of eight demotions for fitness failures. Members need to understand that failure to comply with fitness requirements can be career ending. If anyone has any questions regarding these offenses or sta-tistics, please feel free to contact Lt. Col. Bob Statchen, Staff

By Lt. Col. Robert R. Statchen

103rd Staff Judge Advocate

“If you can’t get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell them to wear, how are you going to get them to die for their country?” – General George S. Patton Jr.

Involuntary Administrative Discharges (9 total) Drug Abuse: 5 —Prescription Drugs (1)

Hydrocodone —Marijuana (4)

Fitness Failure: 1 CDC Failure: 1 Multiple Basis: 2 —Drug Abuse (Cocaine) and Misconduct

(Government Credit Card Abuse) —Erroneous Enlistment and Failure to Attain

Required Job Skill Proficiency

Demotion (6 total) Failure to Maintain Fitness Standards (3 or more fail-

ures in 36 months): 6

On Sunday June 4, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in the SFS classroom in Building 78, we will be hosting a training in the BreathBodyMind practice of controlled breathing and movement. Offered by Amy Otzel, LPC, who is a retired CT ANG Behavioral Health Provider and Iraq War Veteran, she will train Airmen in techniques which are proven to increase physi-cal and psychological resilience to and recovery from stress, and im-prove sleep, mood and relaxation. Amy has been in training and as-sisting with training other teachers of this practice and is devoted to bring healing techniques to veter-ans and military members. The orig-inators of the BreathBodyMind method are Patricia Gerbarg, MD and Richard Brown, MD, both pro-fessors in the field of psychiatry in New York. They have taught the method to multiple trauma survi-vors here and abroad, such as those affected by Hurricane Sandy, 9/11, and residents of South Su-dan. The human body has amazing capacity to restore and heal itself, but can only do so in a state of re-laxation. In today’s world, and espe-cially in the world of service mem-bers, there is no shortage of stress, pressure and even trauma. The abil-ity to calm the “fight or flight” re-sponse is vital to healing and recov-ery from stressful experiences, and we must be intentional in our efforts to do so since the stress and anxie-ty response tends to perpetuate it-self, picking up new things to worry and stress about along the way. The nervous system of your body consists of two parts, the Sympa-

thetic and Parasympathetic sys-tems, which represent two-way com-munication between the mind and body. The Sympathetic system acti-vates us, raises alertness and heart rate and initiates the fight, flight or freeze response. This is an adaptive response as long as we have the resources to handle the stressor or problems we have encountered, and the stress ultimately abates. However, when the stress is chron-ic, this stress response can become toxic and damaging to our bodies in several ways (inflammation, blood pressure, depression). The Parasympathetic system is the one that lets us know that the stress is over, the danger has passed, and we are in a safe envi-ronment. This is where restoration and healing can occur. The nervous system in your body is mostly invol-untary, as it is designed to respond to changes in our environment. It responds to both our external world, and to our internal world, such as our thoughts. In fact, the nervous system doesn’t know if you are ac-tually in some type of conflict, or if you are mentally re-hashing the con-flict, thinking about what happened and evaluating your behavior or per-formance. Of all these processes, only one can be controlled voluntarily, and that is breathing. By changing the pattern of breathing, we can change the messages sent by the body to the brain. When our brain begins to receive massages that we are calm-ing, we can begin to experience the more positive emotions. Mindful Movement techniques, such as BreathBodyMind, Yoga, Tai Chi and other martial arts can foster these essential skills and promote and restore resiliency. They improve at-tention, mental focus, and situation-al awareness, improve cardio-

respiratory function, high-altitude endurance, and blood pressure. If we can find a technique that works for us, we can impact our physical and mental health in a significant way. If you would like to join us on the June Drill Weekend, please RSVP to me at 292-2561. It is important to get a number of participants in or-der to adequately meet needs, and out of courtesy to our voluntary pre-senter. If you have any further sug-gestions for training or workshops please let me know of your ideas. As your DPH, my door is open if you feel any situation requires some further discussion or assistance. I can be reached via my office phone, 860-292-2561, mobile phone 860-519-8125, or by email at [email protected]. Please note that my office is now in Build-ing 78, and can be reached by the door marked “Joint Force Headquar-ters”. I remain open to feedback about the program, about needs that exist on the base and sugges-tions on how to meet them. I would also be interested in any ideas for future articles for this newsletter.

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by Linda U. McEwen, LCSW Director of Psychological Health 103rd Airlift Wing

Special training to reduce stress? Do hold your breath...

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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

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I tell my friends and family if they ever need proof that there are good people in the world, come spend a day with me to see how much support and care surrounds the military community. At least weekly I receive calls and emails from local and national organiza-tions asking what they can do to show their appreciation for the de-ployed members of the Connecti-cut Air National Guard. From do-nated laptops for those deployed who need a means to communi-cate with their loved ones back home, to care packages, to pallets of coffee, to fundraisers for fami-lies in need, it never ceases to amaze me that there is always someone looking to help. For those of you interested in helping and not sure where to start, the Airman and Family Readi-ness Center is always looking for volunteers! We have regular Family Readiness Group meetings during the month and we are looking to expand our network by offering op-portunities to connect on drill weekends. While many outside organizations have shown their support and that is always appreci-ated, I think it is equally important

that we take time to take care of each other as members and fami-lies of this unit. I understand time is always an issue. Work. School. Kids’ sched-ules and activities. Maybe even finding time for yourself. I know you’re thinking, “The days don’t seem long enough to fit everything in! How could I possibly fit volun-teering on my plate?” Well, first, it feels good to give back. It offers a change of perspective and breaks up the “deployment rut.” You’ll find yourself in the company of oth-er families within the unit and you can share experiences. There’s something refreshing about being around people who understand what you’re going through. Second, volunteering offers a

way for you to showcase your strengths. If you’re a graphic artist, photographer, event planner, yoga instructor, love working with kids, or have any other skill or talent you’d like to share, please let me know! We can find a way to fit your interests into our volunteer pro-gram. If you want to help on drill weekends or if you’d like to help on an event-by-event basis, we could use your help in that capacity too. My team and I are in the process of coordinating two large, fun events

(one for kids, one for adults) this fall and now would be the perfect time to jump into the planning mix! Don’t be concerned about the time commitment – if you’re interested we can work with you. And finally, we are a fun group of people to be around! We come from all different walks of life and have a wide variety of military ex-perience and backgrounds. So whether you’ve retired from the Air Guard, have been a part of the unit for years, or just joined recently, you’ll find your place! Volunteers help make the unit stronger by building morale and a sense of community. When volun-teers, the outside organizations, and military members work togeth-er, the results are incredible! I hope you’ll take part!

Help Us Make a Difference by Kasey Timberlake, Airman and Family

Readiness Program Manager

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MSgt Richard Marks

Maj Alexander Rio

SSgt Mastroianni

Major Eric Wismar

MSgt Christopher Sixt

SSgt Amir Lowen

SrA Derenik Vartanyan

LtCol Gregory Behr

MSgt Christopher Hodges

SSgt Andrew Faust

2LT Joseph Hayward

MSgt Tony Dultz

TSgt Sarah Lorenzini

TSgt Jennifer Starrett

MSgt Joel Mcclay

SSgt Sara Duquette

SSgt Zachary Crawford

SSgt Steven Kernstock

MSgt Vincent Carucci

TSgt Theresa Righi

SSgt Leopaldo Otero

SrA Brian Bursiewicz

SrA Kevin Duong

SSgt Steven Young

AMN Brian Altamirano

SrA Jacob Hannagan

SSgt Benjamin Reiser

SSgt Kent Cremer

SrA Matthew Cerri

TSgt Matthew Meyers

TSgt Joseph Hancock

A1C Razulallah Wallace

SSgt Jennifer Casey

SrA Tomasz Wdowiak

A1C Andrew Major

SrA Robert Shopey III

Congratulations to Our Flying Yankee Fitness Warriors!

99.3—95 PERCENT

94.9—90 PERCENT

Pretty much everyone has noticed by now that the original Ghostbusters still has the best lines (not to mention Bill Freaking Mur-ray), but did you know that it also has some of the best OPSEC advice ever from an 80s movie – “Don’t cross the streams!” Think of all the data streams in your digi-tal lives – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Pokémon Go, TELNET, YouTube, Netflix, Steam, your bank, SkyNet and such. Now think about all of the newly digitized (and generally poorly secured) aspects of your physical lives – smart TVs, smart refrig-erators, smart washing-machines and dry-ers, smart thermostats, smart light-bulbs, smart-locks, smart-safes and digital security systems, smart watches, smart cars, smart phones, dumb drivers, and ever-increasing electronic monitoring of public spaces. Have you noticed an odd pattern of appar-ently increasing intelligence in the formerly inert aspects of your life, all of which are firmly convinced that they need your email address, myface profile and spacebook credentials before you can use them? Does your apartment automatically post more interesting things about your life than you do? Joking aside, what should you do when your refrigerator and other Internet of Things (IOT) devices ask for your email ad-dress? If you listen to security researchers like those who present at DEFCON and

BLACK HAT, the answer is simple – treat them like a drunk with a megaphone, and decline to provide secrets (like your email address/password credentials). If you de-cide you need to use IOT devices, and you want them connected to the internet and you want them doing IOT stuff for you be-yond merely compromising your Wi-Fi and home networks, then you should really set up a dedicated email account for just IOT devices that you keep isolated from your banking, shopping, gaming, etc. If your toaster and your bank have the same pass-word, you’re doing it wrong! ALWAYS CHANGE THE DEFAULT LOGIN ON IOT DE-VICES! There are so many terrible default settings on IOT devices that hackers are using botnets composed entirely of camer-as, refrigerators, light bulbs, and thermo-stats to attack websites and networks. Home security cameras are some of the worst offenders in this regard, as they not only serve as little computers ready to do the bidding of anyone who guesses the in-credible secret of “admin” and “1234”, but also provide anyone watching with live vid-eo feeds of whatever the user thought was important enough to monitor. Going through the trouble of setting up a home security system, but leaving the default login is like carefully locking the door on a convertible with the top down, and hiding the key in the cup holder with your wallet and phone. Another thought to keep in mind if you’re somewhat tech savvy is that many modern routers enable users to set

up less privileged guest networks that are firewalled from your main home network. This doesn’t prevent device colocation tracking, but using one for your IOT devices can reduce the amount of things your snooping Snoopy snow-cone machine di-rectly compromises. The bottom line is that a lot of people who make a living by collecting your infor-mation want access to all of your infor-mation streams. If you want to keep your personal information (as well as our snazzy Air Force Critical Information) private and secure, and avoid total protonic reversal, don’t cross the streams! Mind your digital hygiene, and don’t give your stuff away for free! Last Word – In 1984, when Venkman, Spengler and Stantz were first slinging protons, if some-one was chasing down a flame-breathing monster with an advanced electronic de-vice in a public space, he was a Ghostbust-er! Today, they’re just playing Pokémon Go.

“Don’t Cross the Streams!” By Staff Sgt. Eric Norman

34IS/Hotel Flight

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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: [email protected]

MSgt Elizabeth Toth

Retention Office Manager

[email protected]

(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

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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

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 fur-ther questions can be directed to our office.

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,

(Continued on page 13)

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

Wed: 1130—1530 Sat: 0900—1530 Sun: 1200—1500

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 [email protected] [email protected] Force Development / Base Education & Training (Bldg. 2) DSN 220-2442, Comm 860-292-2442 [email protected] Sustainment Services (Bldg. 24) DSN 220-2778, Comm 860-292-2778

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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.

May Ancillary Training.

ANG FLM Green Dot 2017 ANG Transgender Awareness

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 children between the ages of 6-weeks to 12-years old. Openings are currently available in Enfield, Windsor Locks, and Windsor. For more information, contact your unit First Sergeant, SMSgt Missy Kelly, or TSgt Selva Cabrera at 292-2788.

MILITARY ASSIGNMENT OPPORTUNITY #17-05 The following special duty position exists within Force Support Squadron:

Position Title: STUDENT FLIGHT COORDINATOR

AFSC: N/A Additional Duty

Open Date: 15 March 2017

Close Date: 15 May 2017 Eligibility: Open to the grades of Technical Sergeant through Master Sergeant. Must hold a 7-skill level. Must have passing fitness results (two consecutive >80) or (one >90) on the most recent test. Must be financially stable. Must meet minimum USAF and ANG standards and overall image must exceed mini-mum standards. Requisite skills: Must demonstrate core values, mentoring abilities and serve as positive role model. Prior military or civil-ian experience in Training, Psychology, Education, Social Work or a closely related field, with emphasis on training and educa-tion skills training techniques, and educational curriculum devel-opment. Must possess strong organizational, supervisory, lead-ership and interpersonal skills. Must demonstrate awareness and competence in dealing with sensitive issues specific to trainee population.

Position Description: If selected, you will be required to han-dle the responsibilities needed for the daily operation of Student Flight. This position prepares new members for duty with the CT Air National Guard. This position will require the development, planning and organizing of relevant training curriculum deemed necessary for preparation of Basic Military Training School. You will be required to track the status of each flight member and counsel the Trainees as needed. You must function as an advi-sor on personnel programs, career progression, promotion is-sues, family needs, financial matters, professional military edu-cation, and recognition programs. In addition to normal duty hours, the candidate should expect to perform long and irregular work hours and frequent contact by Trainees during the month. The Student Flight Coordinator reports directly to the Student Flight OIC (FSS). This is an excellent opportunity for someone who desires to be a First Sergeant. Application Process: Applications by qualified personnel can be made by providing: a one page personal letter explaining their desire for this assignment, chronological military resume (using the format in AFH 33-337, Tongue and Quill as a guide-line), and current fitness assessment results. Packages should be addressed to FSS/FSMPM. All qualified applicants will meet an interview board. Specific questions should be directed to SMSgt Mike Fennessey or MSgt Shannon Turner.

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Go ahead, complain to me...no, seriously

Most people on base identify the IG or Inspector General with Inspections. You would be correct as the majority of the IG staff at Bradley are associated with the inspection process. Please always remem-ber their motto, “Inspect to improve” as well as “Mission Ready=Inspection Ready.” However, this article focuses on the other area of responsibility for the IG office, Complaints. My name is Maj. Steve Falusi and I’m your complaints resolution specialist. The complaints office’s primary mission is to hear, you guessed it, complaints of unit members. Specifically, to provide a griev-ance channel when no other means of redress/appeal exists. For example, if you have a problem with the PT process, there is an Air Force fitness assessment appeals process. So if you were to come into my office and want to file a complaint about the PT process, I would direct you to follow the appeal process that already exists. Another important thing to remember before coming to my office to file a com-plaint is that you should always attempt to resolve your complaint at the lowest possi-ble level. Your chain of command is the primary and preferred channel for pro-cessing and resolving complaints. Howev-er, no one may deny you access to an IG complaints resolution member. I have briefed all commanders that they are nev-er to try to restrict a unit member from reaching out to me if they have a concern. In many cases, complaints are referred back to command for address, so you

should always start there. Now that we’ve covered the two largest reasons not to file a complaint, I’d like to better prepare you for filing a formal com-plaint. You will need to be able to answer the following question—who did what to whom in violation of what guidance and when did this violation take place? If you can’t answer this question then you probably do not have a valid com-plaint. Supervisors and commanders make decisions that are not always popular, however simply disagreeing with a deci-sion in not a grounds for an IG complaint or investigation. The primary areas of interest to my office are that of Reprisal, Restriction and Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Reprisal is defined in AFI 90-301 as “Taking or threatening to take an unfavor-able personnel action or withholding or threatening to withhold a favorable per-sonnel action on a military member for making or preparing to make a protected communication.” The next logical question would then be, what is a protected com-munication (PC)? A PC is when you talk with a Congressmen, IG or someone in your chain of command about something you believe may be a violation of a law or regulation. For more details on reprisal,

look at AFI 90-301 Chapter 6. An example of this might be a supervisor threating to or actually having you work midnight shift as punishment because you talked to the IG. Restriction is defined in AFI 90-301 as “Preventing or attempting to prevent members of the Armed Forces from mak-ing or preparing to make lawful communi-cations to Members of Congress and/or an IG” For more details on restriction, look at AFI 90-301 Chapter 7. Ordering you not to talk to the IG about some perceived violation would be an example of re-striction. Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) really must all be defined separately. Fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of infor-mation for personal gain. Waste can be described as Extravagant, careless or needless expenditure. A definition of Abuse is providing products or services that are inconsistent with accepted prac-tices or clearly not reasonable or neces-sary. Extreme cases of FWA can result in a criminal investigation, such as using gov-ernment gas in your personally owned vehicle. If you suspect something like this please reach out to my office so that I can look further into it. Hopefully this helps better describe what the IG Complaints office’s mission is here at the 103rd. I’m located in building 24, across the hall from the legal and EO offices and next to finance. Please do not hesitate to visit me on any UTA weekend if you have any questions. If you need to get ahold of me off UTA hours there is other contact information on the door to my of-fice.

by Maj. Steven A. Falusi

103rd Inspector General Office

A C-130H Hercules sits on the bitterly cold ramp at Bradley Air National Guard Base this past winter. (Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Amy Robison)

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The Yankee Courier

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

, 20

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hich will be incorporated into Air Force Instruction 3

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

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hip Pons)

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The Yankee Courier

AFPAAS is a web-based application used to account for and as-sess the needs of the Air Force personnel and their families fol-lowing a catastrophic even such as a Hurricane or Tornado. AFPAAS is the sole source for accountability actions and pro-vides Air Force leadership real-time feedback on the status of individuals impacted by a manmade or natural disaster. Leader-ship, Airmen and their family members will use AFPAAS to attain 100 percent accountability and assessment in support of real-word or exercise events. AFPAAS is applicable to Air National Guard Active Duty Title 10, Active Duty Title 32, State Active Duty, drilling Guardsmen (Traditional & ANG Technicians), and DEERS-enrolled family member of these categories. In the event of a catastrophic event where normal reporting channels are not viable, AFPAAS pro-vides a tool to report status, current location, update emergency contact information and requests for assistance. This system

helps leadership account for personnel and to make decisions that support you and your family. In the event of a catastrophic event that displaces you from your home or office, you may contact someone with internet ac-cess and ask them to use AFPAAS on your behalf. You can also access AFPAAS from any computer or request assistance from local authorities and relief agencies. If you do not have internet access you should contact your command representative or the Air Force Personnel Readiness Cell at 800-435-9941. The AFPAAS website is located at https://afpaas.af.mil and is re-quired to be on all unit recall rosters. All members are required to validate their AFPAAS infor-mation yearly. The procedures for this can be found on the 103rd Force Support Squadron’s SharePoint page under Readi-ness and then AFPAAS. For more information please contact your unit AFPAAS POC or the 103rd Installation Personnel Readi-ness Superintendent, Master Sgt. Kristina Owren at 860-292-2572.

103rd Airlift Wing Base AFPAAS POC

Master Sgt. Kristina Owren

On April 26th the Service Member and Family Support Center (SMFSC) honored Connecticut National Guard volunteers who are an integral part of the programs and events that are planned throughout the year. Volunteers were treated to din-ner at the Taphouse 150 in Cromwell, CT which included a social hour and musical selections by the 102nd Army Jazz Band. The evening rounded out with presenta-tion of appreciation certificates and a spe-cial honor for Harold Bernstein who has been the unofficial “Photographer” of the SMFSC. His dedication and amazing abil-ity to capture the joy of the Service Mem-bers and Families who attend our events and programs is valued by our staff. There are many opportunities to volun-teer with the Service Member and Family

Support Center. If you are looking for short or long-term opportunities reach out to us at 1-800-858-2677 and we can con-nect you with a volunteer opportunity.

Connecticut National Guard volunteers honored Submitted by Wendy Hagen

CTNG Family Readiness Support Assistant

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TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM (TDP) Administrator Change If you are a traditional guards-man or a dual status techni-cian and you have TRICARE DENTAL you should have re-ceived notification that effec-tive May 2017, United Concor-dia is taking over for MetLife as the TRICARE DENTAL pro-gram administrator. You should see the monthly cost for your sponsor account as a deduction on your military LES. It will say DEBT PAYMENT in the deductions block. If you also have a family account, you should receive a paper invoice for May (payment is due 23 Apr). If you would prefer to have this paid automatically from a credit

card or bank account you can set that up at www.ucctidp.com http://www.ucctidp.com or contact United Concordia at 1-844-653-4061 for further assis-tance. Please also ensure your dentist is aware of this change for claims/billing purposes. It is also possible that your den-tist is not 'in network' with Unit-ed Concordia even though they were with MetLife. As a result, certain procedures/exams may cost you more out of pocket. You can review United Concordia's fee schedule at https://www.uccitdp.com/dtwdws/member/article.xhtml?content=member-dental-costs.

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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, pro-grams, or offers that contribute to members’ morale and welfare is pub-lished solely as a service to members as space allows. Remember, you may ask discreetly for a military discount anywhere.

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May 2017 Menu

Saturday, 1100-1300

•Burritos/Salad

•Chicken

•Pork Carnitas & Beef

•Spanish Rice

•Black Beans

•Corn

•Salad Bar

•Assorted Ice Cream

•AGRs & Officers: $ 5.55

Sunday, 1100-1300

•Stuffed Shells

•Baked Ziti

•Meatballs

•Garlic Bread

•Green Beans

•Cucumber & Tomato Salad

•Salad Bar

•Italian Ice

•AGRs & Officers: $ 5.55

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AB SANTANA, ANGELA 103 STFL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT APPRENTICE AB WALSH, KAYLA 103 STFL HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT APPREN-TICE AMN VELEZ, MARCOS 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C DIBACCO, MADISON 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C HAMILTON, CHARISSE 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C PLEASANT, TRISTAN 103 STFL USAF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING A1C BLAZAS, BRENDAN 103 STFL AEROSPACE MEDICAL SERVICES APPRENTICE PHASE II A1C BRENNAN, COREY 103 STFL AIR TRANSPORTATION APPRENTICE A1C CHICOSKI, CONNAR 103 STFL AEROSPACE MEDICAL SERVICE APPRENTICE PHASE II A1C ESSEL, ERNEST 103 STFL HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING/REFRIGERATION (HVAC/R) APP A1C GILDEA, CARISSA 103 STFL SECURITY FORCES APPRENTICE COURSE A1C GUERIN, SEAN 103 STFL SERVICES APPRENTICE COURSE A1C HEWES, SADIE 103 STFL BASIC PHOTOJOURNALIST COURSE - USAF A1C JIMENEZ, BLADIMIL 103 STFL PERSONNEL APPRENTICE A1C KATT, KAYLA 103 STFL AEROSPACE MEDICAL SERVICES APPRENTICE PHASE II A1C KEAVENEY, SAMUEL 103 STFL SECURITY FORCES APPRENTICE COURSE A1C MCLANE, HALEY 103 STFL DENTAL ASSISTANT APPRENTICE A1C SANTOS-WAGNER, KENDYSHA 103 STFL FLEET MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS AP-PRENTICE

A1C SAVOIE, HALEY 103 STFL ALL SOURCE INTELLIGENCE FUNDAMENTALS COURSE A1C STANDISH, KIMBERLY 103 STFL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT A1C TYNAN, CHRISTIAN 103 STFL GROUND RADAR SYSTEMS APPRENTICE SSGT MEYER, JOSHUA 103 CES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CRAFTSMAN MSGT GONZALEZ-SMITH, JENNIFER 103 FSS HUMAN RESOURCE ADVISOR (HRA) ORIENTA-TION COURSE SRA BAKER, AMBER 103 LRS DCAPES – WING LEVEL OPERATORS TSGT KEENAN, DAVITT 103 MXG ACC COMBAT AMUNITION PLANNING AND PRODUCTION MSGT PIERCE, STEPHEN 103 MXG MAF MAINTENANCE SUPERVISION AND PRO-DUCTION MOBILE TRAINING COURSE

CAPT PERSAD, JESSICA 103 MDG SQUADRON COMMANDERS COURSE MAJ RIO, ALEXANDER 103 MDG SQUADRON COMMANDERS COURSE LT COL LISELLA, MICHAEL 103 MDG BIOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING BE203 SSGT LEONE, DANIEL 118 AS AIRCREW FUNDAMENTALS – FLIGHT ENGI-NEER 2LT SARWAR, AARON 118 AS COMBAT SYSTEMS OFFICER (T-6)

PROMOTIONS: TO AMN (E-2) AB JUSTIN J. HIPPOLYTE, 103 ACS TO SRA (E-4) A1C BRIAN D. GLEASON, 103 CF A1C HUNTER A. MOSS, 103 ACS A1C JIGAR U. PATEL, 103 LRS

A1C KENNETH L. DUCLOS JR., 103 ACS A1C KEVIN V. DUONG, 103 MXS A1C SAVY M. MEACH, 103 MXS TO SSGT (E-5) SRA BRADFORD C. HOOVER, 103 ACS SRA DYLAN W. IRISH, 103 CF SRA ERICH C. BUHAGIAR, 103 MXS SRA HERBERT COGGESHALL III, 103 MXS SRA JEFFREY B. KOZIKIS, 103 MXS SRA JESUS A. RAMOS, JR., 103 AMXS SRA ROBERT A. KEY, 103 ACS SRA RYAN M. LOCKWOOD, 103 SFS TO TSGT (E-6) SSGT FRANCISCO RAMIREZ, 103 CES SSGT JASON R. DUFOUR, 103 SFS SSGT JEREMY T. BOWCOCK, 103 AW SSGT MEGHAN R. CABRERA, 103 FM SSGT MICHAEL C. QUAGLIAROLI, 103 SFS SSGT MONICA L. COX, 103 SFS

APPOINTMENTS/ENLISTMENTS: Dubois, Leslie LRS 2S0X1 Dorio-Oquendo, Joshua OSS 1P0X1 Azeredo, Melyssa ACS 3E1X1 Sorant, Kyle CES 3E7X1 Rynich, Christopher ACS 3D1X1 Hoyt II, James MXO 3S2X1 Anderson, Justin MXS 2A8X1 Serro, Jeffrey FM 6F0X1 Robles, Arielle MXG 3A1X1 Tryon, Thomas 118th Bailey, Robert OSS Roman, Michael ACS Flores, Shirley FSS

RETIREMENTS: COL JAMES GALLOWAY MDG 34 YRS MSGT DANIEL DUMOUCHEL LRS 20 YRS MSGT ERIN HURLEY LRS 20 YRS

Graduations, Promotions, Appointments & Retirements

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Connecticut Air National Guard Bradley ANGB C-130H

The 118th Airlift Squadron/103rd Airlift Wing, Bradley Air National Guard Base is located in East Granby, Connecticut, approxi-

mately halfway between cities of New York and Boston. We are currently accepting application packages from prospective candi-dates interested in attending Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) scheduled for FY18.

All application packages must be postmarked by 1 JUNE 2017.

UPT Selection Board—5 AUGUST 2017

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 Capt. Mike Jacoby: [email protected]

Send all Packages and Correspondence to:

CT ANG / 118th Airlift Squadron BLDG 22 100 Nicholson Road

East Granby, CT 06026

the yankee courier may 2017 - home of the 103rd airlift … yankee...(u.s. air force photo/tech....

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