Andrewsgaz 032814

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINTMILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS,MD.DCMILITARY.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 | VOL. 3 NO. 12

AFRC commandchief visitsAndrewsreservists

7Senior ResourcesForum connectscitizens,opportunities

3 Chaplain’s officeholds first worshipservice in years

8

BY CHRIS BASHAMSTAFF WRITER

E. Terri LaVelle cameto Washington, D.C. aftermore than 20 years as a reg-istered nurse and ordainedBaptist minister in Chica-go. “The job was supposedto last six months, and Istayed six years,” workingat the intersection of faithand politics, LaVelle said.She then took a positionwith the Democratic Na-tional Committee, “workingwith members of Congresson both sides of the aisle.Our goal was to help themremain centered.”As she listened to Con-

gressmen speak of theirexperience of being “called”to public service just as shefelt she had been “called” toministry, LaVelle sought tohelp them find a place formoral reflection and spiri-tual community as theyworked. LaVelle returnedto the DNC to work withthen-presidential candidateBarack Obama’s campaign,before joining the VeteransAdministration as direc-tor of the Center for Faith-based and NeighborhoodPartnerships in 2009.The Center works to “in-

form, engage and educate”

veterans about the pro-grams the VA and other or-ganizations have available.Partnering with churchescreates a natural opportu-nity for the VA’s outreachprograms.“Many people, when

they need help, go to whereis familiar: their church,mosque or synagogue.Those organizations didnot know the VA struc-ture, or the services the VAhad to offer,” LaVelle said.“They don’t have to becomeexperts. They just have toknow what is available toveterans.”The Center offers train-

ing for clergy and lay lead-ers who work with veteransthrough their faith-basedorganizations, explain thechallenges of re-integrationinto society after combat,and help congregations setup veterans ministry pro-grams that are tailored toeach congregation’s veteranpopulation and their needs.After five years of outreachefforts, approximately 10area churches have pro-grams run in coordinationwith the Center, focusing onhomeless and at-risk veter-ans, those working throughpost-traumatic stress dis-order and other injuries,

creating food pantries, jobsearch resources and otherofferings as each congrega-tion sees both a need andtheir ability to meet it.VA spokeswoman and

veteran Ndidi Mojay said,“In the military, it is veryfamiliar to have a chap-lain corps, where they haveseveral different represen-tations of different faiths.It transfers into the VA.There’s a continuum, and ittranslates well into how weadvocate and get the ser-vices and attention to theirprograms.”Moving VA-type resourc-

es and trained clergy backinto their home churchesto start programs for vet-erans can bring out formerservice members who mightbe anxious about the poten-tial repercussions of report-ing their needs to a govern-ment agency.“A lot of times, these are

needs our veterans have,especially women, who willnot report homelessnessbecause of fear of theirchildren being taken fromthem. So, they come forthings you can offer dur-ing the day, like resumewriting,” LaVelle said. “It’sall based on what the con-gregation identifies as the

needs of the veterans intheir community.”Much of the work focus-

es on helping combat vet-erans work through whatMojay called, “moral injuryand spiritual guilt.” Gettingpast those feelings aboutwhat they were called to dofor their country can helpveterans move on to takecare of themselves andtheir families. It can alsohelp them return to thefaith communities in whichthey were raised.“Some challenges mili-

tary people do doing wartime, all their life theywere taught not to dothese things. They comeback they’re dealing withspiritual injury, moral in-jury and guilt,” LaVellesaid. “Some of them do notfeel worthy of coming intowhat is considered a sacredspace.”The Center works in

partnership with Voca-tional Rehabilitation andEmployment, the SalvationArmy, the United MethodistChurch, Catholic Charities,Goodwill and other orga-nizations, especially thosewhich focus on serving vet-erans. Beyond training, the

Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships serves veterans

PHOTO/CHRIS BASHAM

The Snyder-Farmer Post of the American Legion ofHyattsville erected the Memorial Peace Cross at the con-vergence of Baltimore Avenue, Bladensburg Road andAnnapolis Rd in Bladensburg to honor 49 Prince George’sCounty men who died in World War I. The cross was dedi-cated July 13, 1925. A group recently filed suit to removethe cross from public land. see VETERANS, page 8

The Prince George’sChoral Society performeda selection of patriotic mu-sic in honor of the 200thanniversary of the Battleof Bladensburg, in part-nership with the Anacos-tia Trails Heritage Area,at Publick Playhouse inCheverly, Md. The March22 concert, “A Tribute toAmerica: A Salute to OurVeterans” explored his-torical songs and hymnsof the War of 1812 era andbeyond accompanied by

short presentations abouteach song’s history andbackground. The eveningalso featured an Elvis im-personator and a silentauction.Senator Victor R.

Ramirez (D-Dist. 47) pre-sented a citation from theMaryland General Assem-bly honoring the PrinceGeorge’s Choral Societyfor 52 years of service andartistic contribution to thePrince George’s Countycommunity.

Choral societysalutes veterans

PHOTO/CHRIS BASHAM

Trumpet soloist McNeal Anderson plays a pocket trumpetMarch 22 at Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Md. as part ofthe Prince George’s Choral Society Tribute to America: ASalute to Our Veterans program.


As the school year nearsits end, high school stu-dents are starting to planfor prom season. For girlswho are homeless, in thefoster care system or oth-erwise at risk as identifiedby their school, prom plan-ning can seem like a Cin-derella fantasy. March 15,2014, the Baltimore-basedPriceless Gown Project re-turned to Prince George’sCounty for the fifth yearin a row to provide stylish,well-fitted prom gowns forfree.Approximately 150 stu-

dents, often with sisters,mothers and others onhand to provide fashionadvice, gathered at Jeri-cho City of Praise Churchin Landover, Md., to try onnew and gently used gownsdonated by area formal-wear stores and individu-als. This year’s turn-outwas much smaller than the2013 event, making waittimes shorter and selectionmore generous. Thoughlast year’s prom-goersmainly were students fromFrederick Douglas HighSchool, Lester said thatthis year students came

Priceless Gown Projectbrings prom glamor

Jeanna Bruce, of Baltimore, helps girls choose gownsto try.

PHOTOS/CHRIS BASHAM

From left, Diana Fennell, who is running for Maryland House of Delegates District 47-A (Dem) and her daughter,Miss Black Maryland USA DeJanee Fennell lead a discussion on how to choose a prom gown.

see PROM, page 10


Coach Darnell Franklinof the Morningside Mon-archs adult flag footballteam isn’t sure where he’llfind funding for the youthflag football, cheer leadingand dance program his teamis planning for Morningside,Md. What he knows, is thatit is going to happen. Frank-

lin said he has spoken witha Pop Warner football coachin Northern Virginia whomay be able to get him someused youth uniforms, al-though the team logos willhave to be replaced. He’sgoing to call local sport-ing good stores and keeppursuing funding avenuesnow that it has become in-

Monarchs play, planyouth program

see YOUTH, page 4

2 Friday, March 28, 2014Andrews Gazette

HOTTICKETSAround Town

Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications,9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no wayconnected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the UnitedStates military. The appearance of advertising in these publications,including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement

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COURTESY OF THE RETIREEACTIVITIES OFFICE

Housing Grants AvailableThe Department of Veterans Af-

fairs has about $600 million ingrants for nonprofit organizationsand consumer cooperatives thatserve veteran families occupyingpermanent housing. The Support-ive Services for Veteran Familiesprogram is designed to assist verylow-income veteran families whoare homeless or at imminent risk ofbecoming homeless. It uses a “hous-ing first” model, an approach whichcenters on providing homeless veter-ans with permanent housing quicklyand VA health care, benefits andservices as needed. Grantees securea broad range of other services forparticipants, including legal assis-tance, credit counseling and housingcounseling. Grantees also offer tem-porary financial assistance for short-term assistance with rent, movingexpenses and emergency expenses.VA will make awards based on a na-tional competition. In FY 2013, VAawarded approximately $300 millionin SSVF grants. They served morethan 100,000 veterans and familymembers. A Housing and Urban De-

velopment report last year estimatedthere were 57,849 homeless veteranson a single night in January, an eightpercent decline since 2012 and 24percent less than in 2010.

Benefits WebsiteAir Force retirees interested in

accessing benefits web pages shouldestablish a Department of Defenseself-service log-on identification ac-count. The common log-on, developedby DoD and Veterans Affairs, allowsbeneficiaries to access various ben-efit websites with a username andpassword. You are able to access per-sonal information, health care eligi-bility and personnel records and canreview Servicemembers’ Group LifeInsurance elections or convert SGLIto Veterans’ Group Life Insurance,all from one log-on account. Retireesand family members are able to ac-cess information 24/7. Go to www.myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/dsaccess.

Dental ScreeningsThe 79th Medical Wing’s Ad-

vanced Education in General Den-tistry program at Joint Base An-drews and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is offering dental examina-tions for retirees and dependents.

Interested persons should call theBolling Retiree Activities Office at202-767-5244 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.on Wednesday, April 23. Dental tech-nicians will review the caller’s dentalhistory, looking for conditions thatmeet the needs for resident training.Selected retirees and dependentswill be scheduled for examinationsWednesday morning, May 7, at theAndrews dental clinic, and Wednes-day, May 14 at the Bolling clinic. Thegoal is to schedule 96 examinations– 48 at each location. Those selectedwill be considered for appointments,probably starting in October andrunning through next summer.

The Retiree Activities Office is open10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday throughFriday. Visit the office in Building1604 at California and ColoradoAvenues or call us at 301-981-2726.Our e-mail address is [email protected]. Call the office before your visitto ensure a volunteer is on duty. TheRAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil; Under “Helpful Links” clickon “Retirees Activity Office” for infor-mation on retiree subjects, includingpast copies of “Retiree Corner.”

Retiree Corner

March 28-30The Adventures of Robin HoodThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,

2700 F Street N.W., Washington, D.C.7 p.m. Friday, 1:30 pm, 4 p.m. Saturday-SundayFamilies can enjoy the tradition of D.C.’s theater scene

at the Family Theater. For information call 202-467-4600.

March 29SWAN Day Staged Reading MarathonNational Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York

Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Support Women Artists Now Day offers staged readings

of plays by American female playwrights. For informationcall 202-783-5000.

March 29Southern Relief Societies in the Civil WarSurratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clin-

ton, Md.4 p.m.Lt. Col. Carol Walker-Randell speaks on the role of civil-

ian relief societies in tending soldiers and the communityat large during the American Civil War. For informationcall 301-868-1121.

March 30Ibert, Mozart, Joplin, etc.Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, River-

dale, Md.2:30 p.m.The Riversdale Woodwind Trio performs. For informa-

tion call 301-864-0420.


With my boyfriend overseas, mostof my children living with my ex-hus-band and many of my friends flungto the four winds, sometimes I feellike my entire social life is containedinside my laptop. The Internet con-nects us all, and I am grateful.A friend asked, this week, just

how many relationships are dam-aged by Facebook. I can see her point,but fortunately for me, being able totalk on Facebook with one son andsee his latest artwork posted there isa pure joy. Finding people who havebeen through situations similar tomy own, who live halfway acrossthe country and whom I’d never oth-erwise meet, is inspiring on days

when things are not going the wayI’d hoped. Skyping with another sonabout the issues of the day makesup--a little bit--for not being ableto see him as much as I would like.And of course I am thankful that myexperience as a Navy girlfriend issmoothed out by the chance to fol-low his installation on Facebook andsee him on Skype. In a lot of ways, itmakes the world seem much smaller.Sometimes, though, I spend a

moment or two in the presence of areal, living, breathing person. And Iam reminded that those connectionsmatter, too.This week, the maintenance guy

came by to check out my sorry dish-washer. It takes a while to listen toall the cycles on a dishwasher, sohe spent some time here. We talked

about my houseplants and the localbar scene, and by the time he lefthe’d found a new band for my son tojoin. He’s not just the maintenanceman. He’s a softball player who likesto grab a hotdog from the cart myfriend sets up just to the side of thefield, during games. He’s proud of hissister’s singing voice. He thinks wemight have met somewhere before,years ago. He’s bringing me a newbox of dishwasher detergent laterthis week. I think we’re friends.Today, a delivery man dropped

off another package. I thanked himas he caught his breath. The stairsto my third-floor apartment are agreat tool for assessing people’s car-diac fitness and separating the men

CommentaryReach out and touch somebody’s hand

see COMMENTARY, page 5

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3Friday, March 28, 2014 Andrews Gazette


Senior citizens fromacross Prince George’sCounty gathered March 22,2014 in District Heights,Md. for a Senior ResourceForum including presenta-tions by representativesof the Maryland State De-partment of Aging, PrinceGeorge’s County Depart-ment of Aging, UnitedCommunities Against Pov-erty, Pepco, AARP and thePrince George’s CountyBoard of Elections.“You worked a long time

for these benefits, and yourelected officials and othersare here to make sure noone takes them away,” saidevent co-sponsor PrinceGeorge’s County Council-man Karen Toles (D-Dist.7).Maryland State Depart-

ment of Aging representa-tive Jim Hill spoke of thesimilarities between theCivil Rights-era fight to endracial discrimination, andthe struggles older Ameri-cans face against age dis-crimination today. Quotingformer President LyndonB. Johnson, Hill said, “’Ifour cause is just, and if ourhearts are right, I am con-fident that we shall over-come.’ We’re going to beatage discrimination,” in hir-ing, housing and services.Attendees learned about

opportunities for olderadults and their caregiv-ers as well as people withdisabilities, from PrinceGeorge’s County Depart-ment of Aging representa-tive Deborah McBroom.Explaining programswhich can help lower taxes,provide food supplementa-tion, subsidize energy bills

or compensate low-incomeresidents who are payinghigh rents, McBroom said,“The best thing you canhave as you are aging, is aplan.”For seniors planning to

volunteer in the communityor re-join the workforce af-ter a break, Department ofAging representative LisaJenkins gave a briefing onthe Foster Grandparentprogram and Retired and

Senior Volunteer program.Prince George’s CountyBoard of Elections Chair-woman Dr. Beatrice Tignorencouraged seniors to be-come temporary, paid elec-tions judges for the upcom-ing elections, and to recruitharder-to-find Republicanand independent-registeredvoters. even if they have tolook outside the county tofind registered voters whoare available to participate.

Senior Resources Forumconnects citizens, opportunities

PHOTOS/CHRIS BASHAM

Christina Arrington of the Maryland Department of Agingexplains the Senior Community Service EmploymentProgram to interested attendees at the Senior ResourceForum held March 22 at a community center in DistrictHeights, Md.

The Honorable James L. Walls, Mayor of District Heights,Md., discusses the challenges facing senior citizens inPrince George’s County.

BY CAPT. ERIKA YEPSENSECRETARY OF THE AIRFORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS

By Dec. 31, every Air-man will be required toprovide their servicingfinance office with docu-mentation for all depen-dents as part of Air Forceaudit readiness efforts.This one-time, Air

Force-wide recertificationprocess will allow the AirForce to validate Airmen’sbasic allowance for hous-ing entitlements, ensur-ing every dollar of the$5.4 billion the Air Forcespends annually on BAHis fully auditable.“When we say the Air

Force is not audit com-pliant, that doesn’t meanthat money is missingor being misspent,” saidDoug Bennett, the deputyassistant secretary of theAir Force for financialoperations. “Generally, itmeans that we lack therequired documentationfor our spending to beconsidered auditable. Inthe case of BAH, we needAirmen’s marriage cer-tificates, birth certificatesfor children and divorcedecrees that require childsupport properly docu-mented by our financeoffices to ensure we canaudit $5.4 billion in AirForce spending.”Beginning this month

and continuing throughDecember, Air Force fi-nance offices will contactby e-mail Airmen across

the total force to notifythem of their responsibil-ity to provide dependentdocumentation. Their fi-nance office will tell themexactly which documentsare required. Airmen whorecently provided docu-mentation may not berequired to do so again.Airmen should wait to benotified by their financeoffices rather than bring-ing in documentation un-solicited, Bennett said.Waiting to receive notifi-cation will eliminate un-necessary duplication ofeffort for some Airmen.Once notified, Airmen

will have 30 days to pro-vide the required docu-ments to their servicingfinance office or havetheir housing allowancestatus reduced to singlerate. Deployed Airmenand those on extendedleave or temporary dutywill be given special con-sideration in meeting the30-day deadline.The push for re-val-

idation of dependentdocumentation comes asthe Air Force prepares tomeet financial improve-ment and audit readinessrequirements laid out inthe 2010 National De-fense Authorization Act.The Air Force currentlyretains dependent docu-mentation for six years,which is insufficient tomeet audit readiness re-quirements. This one-timere-validation will ensureAir Force compliance with

audit requirements, Ben-nett said.“America entrusts

the Air Force not only tospend taxpayer dollarswisely and efficiently, butalso to account and justi-fy that expenditure,” saidAir Force Chief of StaffGen. Mark A. Welsh III ina recent memo. “Prepara-tion for this importantand legislatively man-dated effort rests in thehands of every Airman,not just the financial com-munity.”Although re-validation

of Airmen’s dependentswill be a one-time re-certification, Airmen willcontinue to play a vitalrole in the Air Force’s au-dit readiness. Starting in2015, independent audi-tors will visit work sta-tions for Airmen to reviewprocesses, procedures andtransactions that directlyimpact the Air Force’s fi-nancial statements.“Ensuring we have the

proper documentation toaccount for every expendi-ture in a very large budgetis a difficult but essentialeffort,” said Dr. Jamie Mo-rin, the assistant secre-tary of the Air Force forFinancial Managementand Comptroller. “Becom-ing audit-ready will helpus demonstrate to theAmerican public that weare responsible stewardsof taxpayer money at atime when we must makeevery dollar count.”

Airmen must re-validate dependents

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

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

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creasingly clear that the Townof Morningside, which originallyseemed inclined to provide mon-ey to cover league fees and uni-forms for the adult team whichpractices out of Douglas Patter-son Park each Sunday afternoon,in exchange for a program whichwould teach sports and encour-age local youth to serve in theircommunity.“I contacted (Vice Mayor) Eal-

ey, and he says it’s all about themoney, now. And (CouncilwomanSheila) Miss Scott said she’d getback to me, but I haven’t heardfrom her,” said Franklin.A player for an opposing team,

calling himself “T-Warrior,” saidthat organized youth sports pro-grams like the one Franklinhas launched in his native Cap-itol Heights, Md., and plansto bring to Morningside fill aneed that a previous genera-tion of players might have sat-isfied with pick-up games and

other unstructured play. Therelationships young men forgeon the playing field, however,last a lifetime, if nurtured overtime — and feed the occasionalmouthful of trash talk.“Kids this generation don’t

come out like we did. I don’tknow. I played against Coach,here, back in the 80s at Quanti-co,” said T-Warrior. “He should betired of losing to me. This is oldMarines, here. This is how we do.”Monarchs player and Mary-

land Titans coach Bryan Fisherof Waldorf said, “most of theseguys are here for the love of thegame. They played tackle foot-ball in college, got injured, stillplay, are still athletic. FromPop Warner on up, it’s all aboutthe camaraderie. Listen to thecoach, play the game.”Sidelined by a shoulder in-

jury, Fisher watched his team-mates practice, pulling asideyounger players to give play-by-play guidance on what will makethem more successful, and whatmight cause them to run afoul ofofficials during league play.“No matter what happens, you

have three seconds to execute. Beready, prepare, execute,” Fishersaid. “I’ve been playing on thisteam for a couple of years, andplaying with a lot of these guyssince we were all young, back inthe day.”Frustrated by the seeming lack

of support, for the youth programFisher remarked that PrinceGeorge’s County has, “all thesefields, but no one uses them.”Stacie Wade, wife of Morn-

ingside Mayor Kenneth “Chrys”Wade, called youth programsthat funnel into adult league

sports, “a really effective influ-ence,” on young people on theedge of choosing their pathsin life. The divide on the TownCouncil over funding the teamsprings from factions influencedby the town’s Recreation Com-mittee, which Wade said is or-ganized through Prince George’sCounty’s Recreation and Parksdepartment, not the town itself.“There are men from different

walks of life, on this field. Theyhave male models, military, busi-ness owners, labor. It would begood to meet all these men whodo different things,” and whoplay together for the love of thegame, Wade said.Next week’s Andrews Gazette

will feature continuing coverageof Morningside’s flag football is-sue, including an interview withthe Recreation Committee.

PHOTOS/CHRIS BASHAM

“T-Warrior” of B United talks trash with longtime flag football rival and Morningside Monarchs coach Dar-nell Franklin (right) March 23 at Douglas Patterson Park in Morningside, Md. “He should be tired of losingto me,” said T-Warrior. “This is old Marines, here. This is how we do.”

Morningside Monarchs players and fans react to a play during prac-tice just outside of Joint Base Andrews. The Monarchs have playedadult league flag football for the past three years out of Douglas Pat-terson Park, and plan to start a youth program this season.

YOUTH, from page 1

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BUELVAS WINS 89TH WING

CHIEF’S CHOICE FOR MARCH

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Chief Master Sgt. Ed Edgar (center) Joint Base Andrews Chief’s Group President, recog-nizes Staff Sgt. Sara Buelvas, 89th AW Flight Attendant, March 13, 2014 at the 89th AWFligth Attendant Call on Joint Base Andrews, Md., for winning the Chief’s Choice awardfor the month of March. She was selected by executive vote from three other nomi-nees. Buelvas was nominated by her Chief Enlisted Manger, Chief Master Sgt. AndreaFalcher (right of Edgar) for her part in facilitating deliberate enlisted development in the89th Wing.

BY AMAANI LYLEAMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

With warmer weather comes peakmoving season, so when orders are inhand, people should plan ahead to ensurethe most hassle-free relocation, a seniorofficial who oversees personal propertymoves for military families said in a re-cent interview.Navy Capt. Aaron Stanley, the personal

property program director for U.S. Trans-portation Command’s Military SurfaceDeployment and Distribution Command,told the Pentagon Channel that peakmoving season is a moving industry phe-nomenon in which government and pri-vate sector moves compete for the sameresources during busy summer months,typically between the Memorial Day andIndependence Day holidays.“Whether moving this summer or any

time, do your homework, be flexible andknow what your rights are,” Stanley said.The main moving issue is volume: Most

families opt to relocate after their chil-dren are out of school for the year, he said.Stanley said the Defense Department

conducted 520,000 moves last year, withabout about 40 percent occurring fromMay 15 to Aug. 15, with similar numbersprojected this year.Stanley encouraged those with a per-

manent change of station move on thehorizon to propose multiple windows ormoving dates for consideration.

“By having multiple dates in mind, wehave the best chance of getting you thedates you’re after,” Stanley said. “And be-cause of the busy summer season, the bet-ter you understand what the movers aresupposed to do on your behalf, the better[prepared you will be] to hold them ac-countable to do exactly that.”By using the online Defense Personal

Property System, DOD personnel andtheir families can self-counsel and submittheir applications online, track their ship-ments, file a claim and settle directly withthe moving company to get full replace-ment value of lost and damaged goods, asopposed to depreciated value offered inthe past, Stanley explained.“There are some changes being made

to the claims module that should make itmore user-friendly,” he added.Officials have been responsive to cus-

tomer feedback, Stanley said, and henoted that a higher customer survey re-sponse rate — currently at about 35 to45 percent — would improve their abil-ity to see that the best moving companiesget the most business in moving militaryfamilies.“That customer satisfaction survey is

the underlying foundation for the pro-gram, and its best-value approach ac-counts for 75 percent of the formulae toallocate shipments for (transportationservice providers),” he said. “More feed-back means a better program and goodshipments to the right companies.”

Transportation official urgesplanning before PCSmoves

BY MAJ. CARLA WIESE375TH MEDICAL GROUPDISEASE MANAGEMENT

Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, oc-curs in the colon, also known as the largeintestine or large bowel, and the rectum,which is the passageway that connectsthe colon to the anus.Colon cancer, when discovered early,

is highly treatable. Even if it spreadsinto nearby lymph nodes, surgical treat-ment followed by chemotherapy is highlysuccessful. In the most difficult cases —when the cancer has spread to the liver,lungs or other sites — treatment can pro-long and add to quality of life.Most colon cancers develop first as

colorectal polyps, which are abnormalgrowths inside the colon or rectum thatmay later become cancerous. Colon canceraffects men and women of all racial andethnic groups, and is most often found inpeople 50 years or older. It is the thirdmost common cancer in the United States,behind only lung and prostate cancers inmen and lung and breast cancers in wom-en, and the second leading cause of cancerdeath.But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be

this way. If everyone 50 years or older hada regular screening test, as many as 80percent of deaths from colon cancer couldbe prevented. Colon cancer screeningsaves lives. Screening detects precancer-ous polyps and allows them to be removedbefore turning into cancer. Screening alsohelps find colon cancer at an early stage,when treatment often leads to a cure.So please, take control of your life and

your health — if you’re turning 50 or areexperiencing abnormal symptoms, getscreened. Urge those you love to do thesame.

Colon Cancer and AgeNinety percent of new cases and 95

percent of deaths from colon cancer oc-cur in people 50 or older. However, coloncancer does not discriminate and can hap-pen to men and women at any age. Whilerates for colon cancer in adults 50 andolder have been declining, incidence ratesin adults younger than 50 years has beenincreasing.

Colon Cancer and Ethnicityand RaceJews of Eastern European descent

(Ashkenazi Jews) may have a higher rateof colon cancer. Partly because of dispro-portionate screening, African-Americanmen and women have a higher risk of de-veloping colon cancer and a lower surviv-al rate (about 20 percent higher incidencerate and 45 percent higher mortality rate)compared to Caucasians, Asians, Hispan-ics and Native Americans. The risk ofdeath is also increased for Native Ameri-cans and Alaskan Natives.

Colon Cancer andFamily HistoryPeople with a first-degree relative

(parent, sibling, or child) who has coloncancer have between two and three times

the risk of developing the cancer whencompared to those without a family his-tory of the disease.

Colon Cancer Survival RatesSince the mid-1980s, the colon can-

cer death rate has dropped due in partto increased awareness and screening.By finding more polyps and cancer in theearlier, local and regional, stages, it iseasiest to treat. Improved treatment op-tions have also contributed to a rise insurvival rates. The five-year survival ratefor colon cancer found at the local stage is90 percent; the five-year survival rate forcolon cancer found at the regional stage is70 percent and the five-year survival ratefor colon cancer found at the distant stageis 12 percent.

Screening CanReduce Your RiskEarly detection is vital--over 90 per-

cent of all cases of colon cancer can beprevented with recommended screening.Despite its high incidence, colon can-cer is one of the most detectable and, iffound early enough, most treatable formsof cancer. If you’re 50 or older, getting ascreening test for colon cancer could saveyour life.Here’s how: Colon cancer usually

starts from polyps in the colon or rec-tum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn’tbe there. Over time, some polyps can turninto cancer. Screening tests can find pol-yps, so they can be removed before theyturn into cancer. Screening tests can alsofind colon cancer early. When it is foundearly, the chance of being cured is good.Professional guidelines emphasize the

importance of a regular screening pro-gram that includes annual fecal occultblood tests, periodic partial or full colonexams, or both. Leaders in the field haveestimated that, with widespread adoptionof these screening practices, as many as30,000 lives could be saved each year.According to the American Cancer So-

ciety, the best advice about diet and activ-ity to possibly reduce your risk of coloncancer is to: Increase the intensity andamount of physical activity; limit intakeof red and processed meats; get the rec-ommended levels of calcium and vitaminD; eat more vegetables and fruits andmaintain a healthy diet; avoid obesityand weight gain around the midsection;and avoid excess alcohol.Treatment depends mainly on the loca-

tion of the tumor in the colon or rectumand the stage of the disease. Treatmentfor colorectal cancer may involve surgery,chemotherapy, biological therapy or radi-ation therapy. Some people have a combi-nation of treatments. Treatment for coloncancer is sometimes different than treat-ment for rectal cancer, although treat-ment can be local therapy or systemictherapy.To find out more about colon cancer,

preventative screenings and treatmentsgo to: www.ccalliance.org.

Colon Cancer screeningsaves lives throughearly detection

with arthritic knees from the boys whocan take two stairs at a time and neverwince. He told me about a time when anexercise equipment manufacturer had aspecial. Four residents on the third flooreach ordered a new machine. He carried20 packages up those stairs, one by one.At 85 lbs. each, by the time he finished

that one run, he was pretty wiped out.Those little stories aren’t much longer

than the average Facebook post. Nobodyelse is going to see them, “like” them, orshare them. But, we did. Those connec-tions aren’t better than the ones I findand nurture online, but they still matter.They’re part of what makes each of uspart of a larger community. And again, Iam grateful.

COMMENTARY, from page 2

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JBA BuzzWhat historic woman has had the greatest

impact on your life?

Retired ArmySgt. 1st ClassCurtis Peet,Walter Reed Na-tional MilitaryMedical Centercomputer pro-grammer

Lia Rios, As-sistant CampusDirector, EmbryRiddle Aeronau-tical University,Joint Base An-drews

Arlene Rodri-guez, Sales As-sociate

Tech. Sgt. Lo-gan Ray, 811thSecurity ForcesSquadron flightchief

“Harriet Tubmanhas had the great-est impact on mylife because she ledslaves to freedomthrough using theUnderground Rail-road when it wasvery dangerous todo so.”

“Esther Blake is thehistorical female whohas had the great-est impact on my lifebecause she openedthe door for the AirForce to be equal inregards to gender.”

“Michelle Obamahas had the great-est impact on mylife because she isstrong, intelligent,and she fights obesityby running a healthyeating campaign forchildren called, ‘LetsMove.’”

“Joan of Arc has hadthe greatest impacton my life becauseshe was a Frenchmilitary war hero whofought for her coun-try, died for her ownbeliefs, and brokeboundaries whenit came to womenfighting in the Frencharmy.”

CAPTION THIS

Send your silly captions for this week’s photo to [email protected]. The funniestones will be used in a future edition of The Andrews Gazette.

BY DEBBIE GILDEAAIR FORCE PERSONNEL CEN-

TER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Eligible active duty of-ficers and Department ofthe Air Force appropriatedfund civilian employeescan apply now for interme-diate and senior develop-mental education opportu-nities, Air Force PersonnelCenter officials said March24.Maj. Yulanda Bogany,

AFPC officer developmen-tal education chief, saidofficer nominations withcommander endorsementswill be accepted beginningMarch 25 and are due toAFPC by April 22.The civilian application

window opened March 14and applications are dueto AFPC by May 1, ac-cording to Loretta Brown,AFPC civilian leadership

development chief. Civil-ian applicants must benominated by their localleadership for CDE.Officer and civilian se-

lections will be announcedin November.Various opportunities

exist for those interestedin continued growth andleadership, said Bogany.Intermediate programs

include the Air Commandand Staff College, AirForce Institute of Technol-ogy, international servicesprogram opportunities, avariety of fellowship andinternship programs andmore. Senior programsinclude Air Force and de-fense fellowships, ArmyWar College, Air Commandand Staff College with anAir War College follow-on,international services se-nior development programopportunities and more.

Requirements and eli-gibility vary depending onthe program, and submis-sion requirements differfor officers and civilians,so applicants should care-fully review the programguide, available on themyPers website, beforepreparing application doc-uments.

Officer ProcessOfficers apply for de-

velopmental education us-ing the AFPC secure web-based 3849 form, which isaccessible via the myPerswebsite. Eligible officersand their senior ratershave access to the formthrough April 22.“If you haven’t updated

your AFPC secure accountwithin the last 120 days,you’ll need to re-establishthe password and registeryour common access card

to be able to complete your3849,” Bogany said.Officers must be nomi-

nated by whoever theirsenior rater was on Feb. 1,even if the applicant hassince changed station orwill change station beforethe application windowcloses. Senior raters whodo not have a secure ac-count or who have not ac-cessed their account with-in the past 120 days alsoneed to update the accessinformation.Once in the secure site,

applicants must identifythe education preferencesin priority order. Appli-cants may request in-res-idence and equivalencyprograms, but must priori-tize those as well.IDE equivalency credit

can be awarded for somePhD and master’s degreesthrough the Air Force In-

stitute of Technology, theChief of Staff of the AirForce Captains’ Presti-gious PhD program, Olm-sted scholars and WhiteHouse fellows programsand a variety of other op-tions. SDE equivalencecredit is also possiblethrough such PhD and fel-lowship programs. Eligibleofficers may request thatcredit on the 3849 duringthe IDE or SDE eligibilitywindow.School of Advanced Air

and Space Studies programgraduates of the School ofAdvanced Military Stud-ies, the School of AdvancedWarfighting and the Mari-time Advanced Warfight-ing School who are pursu-ing a faculty developmentSAASS-sponsored PhD mayrequest SDE equivalencycredit upon successful com-pletion of comprehensive

exams and admission toPhD candidacy under theterms of the school they areattending, if they are “all-but-dissertation” complete,Bogany said.Officers selected for IDE

or SDE will incur a three-year active duty servicecommitment, and officerswho do not successfullycomplete their program willincur a two-year ADSC. Of-ficers in their last year ofeligibility who do not wantto be considered for IDE orSDE may decline consider-ation on the 3849.All applications must be

complete, including seniorrater nomination, by April22, when the 3849 accesswindow closes. Applicantswill be considered by re-spective career field devel-opment teams and those

Developmental education application windows open

see EDUCATION, page 7


What makes our repre-sentatives in governmentwork together for the bestinterests of all Americans?What can help Americanvoters understand our po-litical system and use itto communicate with theirrepresentatives? What canrevive the American politi-cal system so that votershave hope and enthusiasmfor their part in the elector-al process? Stephen Tryon,former senior vice presi-dent of Human Resourcesand International Businessat Overstock.com, believeshe has found a pathway topositive political change.In his new book, “Account-ability Citizenship,” Tryonexplains how people canbecome educated voterswith the power to engagegovernmental leadership.“Because of my experi-

ence in business and in themilitary, I’ve been involvedwith performance manage-ment my entire adult life.I’ve gotten or given a ‘re-port card’ of sorts through-out my career,” Tryon said.“Why shouldn’t elected of-ficials have a performancemanagement system phi-losophy, and a report cardfor public servants as well?”Tryon said he is passion-

ate about politics and wrote“Accountability Citizen-ship” because of the oath

he swore to support and de-fend the Constitution.“When I exited the Army,

I watched as we dialoguearound elections. It’s justvicious,” Tryon said. “In2004 and 2008 and as I ap-proached 2012, why did thismake me so angry, to see theway we attack each other?”Convinced that the mod-

ern “information stream”feeds visceral, emotionalresponses on the part ofthe electorate, Tryon be-lieves that societal changesa generation ago have cre-ated a society in which ma-ny struggle to feel hopeful.“It started in 1972, with

the deregulation of cabletelevision, the lowered vot-ing age, the informationexplosion and the deregu-lation of radio. There’s anexponential increase in thechannels through which in-formation comes. It’s lesscontrolled and uniform,which opened up the scopeof business and business

marketing,” Tryon said.Trying to make media “asjuicy as possible,” in thesearch for attention, candistort the facts.“This makes people feel

powerless and hopelessabout our system, and thatis cancer. That attacks theAmerican Dream.”Tryon’s book encourages

both voters and candidates

to use nonpartisan, on-line resources such as thePolitical Courage Test onvotesmart.org. The test al-lows candidates to expresswhere they stand on a slateof issues as they are promi-nent in society. Thoughpoliticians once focused onhonestly explaining wherethey stood on the issuesso that voters could decide

who to support, “Less than20 percent of candidates inthe past two elections tookthe Political Courage Test.I asked politicians why, andeither they gave me no an-swer, or their answer was, ‘Ican’t take this test becauseit exposes me to too muchpolitical risk,’” Tryon said.For Tryon, this common

lack of political courage isa key cause of strife in themodern American politicalsystem, and of the powershift from the people tothe politicians and partybosses.“After 21 and a half

years as a Soldier, theseare the people we’re elect-ing, that vote on sendingour sons and daughters toIraq, Afghanistan, everyother place where they’reexposed to physical risk,and they won’t take politi-cal risk? That’s unaccept-able,” Tryon said. “Electionsare not a shell game, wherethey capture more votes bytricking people into think-ing they believe in onething, and will vote for an-other.”As political parties dis-

courage their candidatesfrom clearly spelling outexactly where they stand,what they think and howthey will vote once they’rein office, “It’s a hugelyimportant red light thatthere’s something wrongwith our system,” Tryonsaid. “We need to get back

to the ethic of candidatesputting country first andstate your case and let thechips fall where they mayon election day.”Tryon acknowledges

that taking a firm andclear stand on issues willcost candidates some votes.But it might just encouragehigher voter participation.“No matter how you

write a position, you’re like-ly going to want to qualifymost of your positions, andas you do you’ll be attackedon that position. But youknow what? That’s whatpolitics is. That’s just a dayin the office, and you needto expect that, handle that,embrace that as a way toget your message out. Youcan’t run away from it,”said Tryon. “It muddies thewater, creates confusionon the part of the elector-ate, feeds a sense of hope-lessness and is why peopledon’t vote.”To Tryon, “The solution

to just about every prob-lem we face is to get morepeople to participate, vote,have an opinion based onwhat they believe in.” Hisgoal, in writing the bookand in running as a can-didate for a Congressionalseat in his home state ofUtah, is to create what hecalls “a wholesome consen-sus around what we all careabout.”

‘Accountability Citizenship’ seeks political change

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

see BOOK, page 10


BY STAFF SGT. AMBER RUSSELL459TH AIR REFUELING WING

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Air Force Reserve CommandChief Master Sergeant CameronB. Kirksey visited members ofthe 459th Air Refueling WingMarch 14-16 to gain first-handinsight on daily operations.In order to advise Lt. Gen.

James “JJ” Jackson, Air ForceReserve commander, on mattersconcerning the health, morale,welfare and effective manage-ment of more than 55,000 activeduty and Reserve enlisted mem-bers at more than 66 locations,Kirksey spoke to Airmen to gaina full understanding of the is-sues they face, and to acknowl-edge their achievements.“When I go before Congress

and the Hill and give my testi-monies, leaders want to know,‘What are your Airmen’s con-cerns, what are their heartburns,what do we need to do as leadersof this great nation to continueto have the world’s greatest AirForce?’” Kirksey said.Kirksey visited each unit

here, and saw motivated Airmensweat, improvise and unite toaccomplish their respective mis-sions.The East Fitness Center was

filled with fit-to-fight test takerswhen Kirksey arrived.“We want to completely elimi-

nate fitness failures,” Tech. Sgt.Eustaquio Devilla, 459th Aero-medical Staging Squadron medi-cal technician and fitness moni-tor, said in a one-on-one conver-sation with Kirksey.

Kirksey advocated group orsquadron level mock fitness ini-tiatives and challenges to com-bat failures, and he encouragedmembers to stay motivated byworking out in between unittraining assemblies.“It’s not just about a fitness

test; it’s about being fit for life,”

Kirksey said. “When you under-stand fitness at that level, youlose the 28-day lag and incorpo-rate working out and proper nu-trition into your daily lifestyle..A ‘fitness test’ will become some-thing you can do every day.”The command chief witnessed

adaptability, dedication andteamwork at the AeromedicalStaging Squadron. The unit un-derwent a block training wherenurses, doctors and medical tech-nicians performed a group of dif-ferent skill sets they need to keeptraining standards up-to-date.Due to a shortage of space, the

crew had to move their trainingoutside at a moment’s notice. Ina “train as you fight” perspective,it was a regular day at the officefor the integrated team.“In any kind of setting we

have to work together,” said StaffSgt. Karin Nelson, ASTS medicaltechnician. “The nurses do onething, the doctors do one thingand the techs do another, buttogether it’s one mission we areworking to accomplish.”Kirksey acknowledged their

ability to adapt and overcome,and took note of their circum-stance to follow up on acquiringmore space.“With the turbulence of this

budget exercise and budget fire

drill we are going through, onething that can’t be taken awayfrom us is gratitude; recognitiondoesn’t cost us anything,” he said.Kirksey coined two members

of the ASTS for their lean-for-ward approach in helping Air-men access mental health care.The leader acknowledged

that many significant changesin the Air Force can come fromthe lower enlisted ranks duringhis sit-in at a meeting held bythe Rising Six, an organizationat the 459th ARW for technicalsergeants and below.“If you lay down a founda-

tion and build a platform whereeveryone can bring their uniqueskill sets and identities, you canonly grow and expand upon that,”Kirksey said. “When others cansee the footprint of what you’redoing and accomplishing as acouncil, the Rising Six will soar.”Kirksey provides leadership

and guidance as the command-er’s representative to numerouscommittees, councils, boards,military and civilian functionsworldwide.“I’m here for you,” Kirksey

said. “I’m here to let you knowwe are going to be OK. Let meknow your concerns and I willpercolate them up the chain ofcommand.”

AFRC command chief visits Andrews reservists

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ STAFF SGT. AMBER RUSSELL

Command Chief Master Sergeant Cameron B. Kirksey, Air ForceReserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., discusses fitnesstesting with Tech. Sgt. Eustaquio Devilla, 459th Aeromedical StagingSquadron medical technician, March 15, 2014 at the East Fitness Cen-ter here. Kirksey spent the day with members of the 459th Air Refuel-ing Wing to gain first-hand insight on daily operations throughout thewing.

THE CAPITAL WHEEL

SPINS OUR WAY

PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES

The Awakening, a 70-foot statue of a giant embedded in the earth,frames the partially built Capital Wheel at National Harbor in Ft. Wash-ington, Md. Once completed, the 175-foot wheel will hold approxi-mately 336 passengers, at an estimated $15 per ride.

The ominous hand of The Awakening, a 70-foot statue of a giant,appears to grasp at the National Harbor’s newest attraction, the Capi-tal Wheel. Still in its early stages, the 175-foot attraction is scheduledto open to the public in May. The wheel will have 42 closed, climate-controlled gondolas, each seating eight, and will operate year-round,with 1.6 million LED lights, fully programmable, with a spectrum of16.7 million colors.

selected will be forwarded to theDevelopmental Education Desig-nation Board, which convenes inOctober.Full eligibility criteria and ap-

plication requirements are avail-able on the myPers website athttps://mypers.af.mil. Enter “De-velopmental Education” or “IDE/SDE/CDE” in the search windowand select the Personnel ServicesDelivery Memo 14-19.

Civilian ProcessThe Civilian Developmental

Education Board will convenein September to consider high-potential employees for educa-tion opportunities that best suittheir career goals and the needsof the Air Force, said Brown,AFPC leadership developmentchief.“The Air Force has an ongo-

ing need for capable leaders andwill continue to develop currentand future Airmen - civilianand military - to expand theirknowledge and increase theirunderstanding of the role theyplay in national security,” said

Brown. “Developmental educa-tion enables us to develop thoseleaders, and positively impactsretention efforts, as well.”Approximately 700 civilians

between GS-07 and GS-15 (andequivalent grade) will be se-lected for schools and programsthat range from Squadron Of-ficer School to Air War College.Applicants must be nominatedby their local leadership andendorsed by their chain of com-mand, said Brown.All applicants must meet

basic eligibility requirements,including have the appropriategrade and education levels re-quired for the specific programand two years in the Air Forcecivil service by May 2014. Com-pletion of intermediate or seniorlevel professional military edu-cation is also required for seniordevelopmental education appli-cants.Nomina t i on pa ckage s

are prepared and submittedthrough the myPers website.Packages must include a com-pleted AF Form 4059, Air ForceCivilian Competitive Develop-ment Nomination Form, withthe appropriate level signature;

a resume (per guidance on thewebsite); a master’s degree ap-plication form if applying for amaster’s program, a letter of ac-ceptance if applying for AFIT, asigned mobility agreement andsigned waiver request (if appli-cable).Required documents and full

completion instructions as wellas a complete list of opportuni-ties and criteria, are availableon the myPers civilian force de-velopment page.The Civilian Strategic Lead-

ership Program will also acceptapplications from GS-14 and 15employees willing to accept mul-tifaceted challenges designedto prepare them for increasedresponsibility in functionaland enterprise-wide positions,Brown said. Prospective nomi-nees have until May 1 to apply.For more information and ap-

plication instructions for civil-ian developmental education,including CSLP, go to myPers athttps://mypers.af.mil and scrolldown to the force developmentlink.For more information about

other personnel issues, visitmyPers.

11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The U.S. Air Force announcedMarch 21 that several units herereceived Air Force-level awardsfor their accomplishments.Air Force District of Washing-

ton was awarded the Air ForceOrganizational Excellence award

for the time period of Jan. 1, 2011to Dec. 31, 2012.The 11th Wing was awarded

the Air Force Outstanding UnitAward for the time period of Jan.1, 2011 to Dec.31 2012.The 79th Medical Wing was

awarded the AFOUA for the timeperiod of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012.

The 844th CommunicationGroup was awarded the AFOUAfor the time period of Jan. 1 toDec. 31, 2012.Congratulations to these or-

ganizations and members, whohave clearly set themselvesapart.

Joint Base Andrews receivesmultiple Air Force-level unit awards

BY KATHLEEN CANFIELD779TH MEDICAL SUPPORT SQUAD-

RON

Have you ever wished youcould talk with someone abouta concern or issue? At MalcolmGrow Medical Clinics and Sur-gery Center, the BehavioralHealth Optimization Programmakes it easy for you to get help.The program embeds Internal

Behavioral Health Consultantswithin the primary care clinic tohelp address and resolve behav-ioral health issues.“BHOP is a convenient, easy

to access, collaborative way tohelp people with common behav-

ioral concerns. We are excitedabout the chances we get to helppeople improve health and per-formance,” said Lt. Cmdr. HeidiDaniels, Clinical Psychologist atMalcolm Grow Medical Clinicsand Surgery Center.At Joint Base Andrews, the

BHOP program is co-locatedin the Family Health, InternalMedicine, and Pediatric Clinics.The program offers educationalgroups on sleep enhancement,management of chronic pain andpathways for making behaviorchanges.IBHCs confer with both Pri-

mary Care Managers and pa-

tients. They provide educationand intervention for more than40 health/mental health topics.Common referral topics includesleep problems, weight manage-ment, smoking cessation, anxiety,depression, pain management,motivation, relaxation trainingand goal setting.“There is no referral required

to see a consultant and appoint-ments can be booked through thefront desk of the clinic. In addi-tion, same day appointments areavailable,” Daniels said.For more information on the

BHOP program, contact your pri-mary care manager.

Behavioral Health Optimization Programoffers mental health consultation

EDUCATION, from page 6


Center serves as a clearinghouse for visionary ideas.“People call and say they have a building to use for

veterans’ housing, and we help them figure out if thebuilding meets safety requirements. If they say theyneed money, maybe HUD/VASH vouchers can help.We help them find who best can assist the group orindividual with meeting that need, with what eachfederal agency does,” said LaVelle, who added that13 other federal agencies in addition to the VA havefaith-based centers, each with their own emphasis.For many veterans, their challenges come from one

basic fact of military life: Frequent moves and deploy-ments remove them from the community that wouldhelp them.“Usually, when an active duty person is no longer

in the military, wherever they end up (for their lastduty station), they stay in that location. That’s beenone of the unique challenges. If I’m 22 and from Chi-cago and my deployment ends and I’m in Oklahoma— I don’t necessarily have the resources that I wouldhave if I went back home,” said LaVelle.Even though going home might make sense, “they

want to stay because they’re wrapping up on-the-jobtraining or education. Military bases with a heavypresence of employers who hire veterans to be govern-ment contractors — it seems to be easier, especiallyif they come from a rural area or an urban center. It’seasier to stay around resources and friends and ad-vantageous opportunities,” said Mojay. “But you havea group of friends with the same recent experiencesand around the same age. The challenge becomes, ifI’m beginning to have problems, my cohort can’t iden-tify. The military atmosphere encourages an ‘I’m re-silient and can handle things’ attitude, so veteransmight not want to mention what doesn’t seem normaleven though it is normal, considering what you expe-rienced.”Pastor Helen Fleming of Douglas United Method-

ist Church in Washington, D.C. looked into partner-ing with the Center after attending a Veterans Dayprogram at Trinity University.“I heard women veterans had been raped and

abused; I had no idea,” Fleming said. She returnedto her church and launched the Women Veteran Re-source Center in partnership with 11 area congrega-tions. Aside from continuous support services, theWomen Veteran Resource Center locations join for an-nual events such as job fairs and benefits days, to helpveterans apply for governmental benefits. For somefemale veterans, Fleming’s outreach focuses on help-ing them re-learn the more feminine sides of them-selves, after standing strong for their country.“Etiquette in social and business arenas are so im-

portant. We soften them down a little bit with a littlebit of grace...get them prepared for the world of work,”Fleming said.To learn how your faith-based or neighborhood or-

ganization can help veterans, visit www1.va.gov/cfbn-partnerships or email [email protected].

VETERANS, from page 1

BY JONATHAN STOCKAIR FORCE SURGEON GENERAL

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Air Force has re-cently completed imple-mentation of its securehealth care messaging sys-tem, MiCare, to all 76 of itsmedical treatment facilitiesworldwide.As of March 1, more than

360,000 Air Force healthcare beneficiaries and 2,300providers have signed up forthis service, which allowsthe patient and provider tocommunicate on a securenetwork regarding non-ur-gent health care concerns.The MiCare network also

allows beneficiaries to viewtheir health care record,make appointments and fillprescriptions and allowsproviders to push importantpreventative care updates tothe members.Overall, Airmen, their

families and beneficiariesusing MiCare can expecta decrease in trips to theMTF and more personalcommunication with theirhealth care team.

What’s happeningwith MiCare at theMTFs?“At the beginning of

MiCare ’s deployment,MTFs were instructed tohave 25 percent of ben-eficiaries empaneled bythree months and 50 per-cent within a year,” saidMaria Faison, a NurseInformatics, MiCare proj-ect manager with the AirForce Medical OperationsAgency. “However, we havehad many MTFs surpassthis goal within a couplemonths because the por-tal’s processes are now up-dated to allow users to e-register and be transferredmore easily between MTFsduring PCS season.”Many MTFs have been

using creative marketingideas to inform their ben-eficiaries about MiCareand the many reasons whythey should be using it.Clinics have been placingposters at facilities, up-dating their waiting roomvideos to include MiCareinformation, and some areeven creating videos foruse on social media.Although many MTF’s

MiCare programs have notbeen up and running untilrecently, a few bases cur-rently leading in partici-pation are Dyess Air ForceBase, Texas, with 63 per-cent of patients, followed

closely by Hurlburt Field,Fla.; Robins AFB, Ga.; andMaxwell AFB, Ala. ThePentagon has just crossedmore than 50 percent par-ticipation in the program.“These bases have had

the support of leadershipand are utilizing high-performance teams fromwithin to constantly moni-tor their progress and im-prove local practices tomake MiCare a more effec-tive system,” Faison said.

How does MiCarecompare withothers?Although they use a

different name for theirsecure messaging system,both the Army and Navyhave made considerableprogress signing up users.The sister services haveenrolled roughly 523,000users combined, as of Feb.28. This joint venture hasmore than 850,000 com-bined users through allservices, as well as 7,600providers and more than17,500 primary care teammembers using the system.The civilian sector is al-

so moving toward offeringmore patient portals sincethis service will assisttheir beneficiaries to make

smart non-urgent care de-cisions rather than sittingin a waiting room or goingto an urgent care facility.“So far, everyone is hit-

ting the same roadblocks ontrying to increase partici-pation further where thereis reluctance to trust newtechnology,” said Col. Gwen-dolyn Johnson, the deputyfor Clinical and BusinessAnalysis Division and a Mi-Care project lead. “The besttools to breaking the bar-rier are through educationand internal marketing. Ifthe staff can realize howMiCare can empower andengage our patients, thentheir enthusiasm will showand increase more patientenrollment.”A recent secure mes-

saging satisfaction surveydemonstrated that 97 per-cent of more than 13,000survey respondents weresatisfied with their securemessaging transactionand more than 86 percentagreed it helped themavoid a trip to an emer-gency room or an MTF fora medical problem.To find out more about

MiCare please visit www.afms.af.mil/MiCare or askyour health care team dur-ing your next visit.

AF health care messagingservice now fully implemented

BY STAFF SGT.BRENT SKEEN

459TH AIR REFUELING WINGPUBLIC AFFAIRS

The 459th Air RefuelingWing chaplain’s office helda worship service March16 at the 459th Aeromedi-cal Evacuation Squadronauditorium.It was their first Sun-

day worship service inyears and wing ChaplainMaj. Joshua Kim said thathaving these services willstrengthen the communi-ty while encouraging the

spiritual growth of thosewho come here.More than 40 members

showed up for the 20-min-ute service, which focusedon the first of the TenCommandments. The ser-vices are slated for eachSunday on Unit TrainingAssembly weekends from11:10 to 11:30 a.m.“We are encouraged

with the outcome today,”Kim said. “We will see howthis progresses and whereGod leads us.”

Chaplain’s office holds first worship service in years

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/STAFF SGT. BRENT SKEEN

Capt. Damon Broucher, a chaplain for the 459th Air Refu-eling Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Md., preaches to morethan 40 members March 16 at the 459th AeromedicalEvacuation Squadron auditorium.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC GIANT KILLER

PHOTO/BOBBY JONES

A photographer jumps for joy as his tripod-held camera captures his depiction of kill-ing the 70-foot ‘Great Awakening’ sculpture March 25 on the banks of the PotomacRiver at National Harbor.

COMMENTARY BY AIRMAN1ST CLASS AARON STOUT11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Last November, I wasoffered a chance to sup-port a mission to Afghani-stan. I jumped before Ieven knew the full details.My mission had me ren-dezvous with embeddedWashington Post reportersin Afghanistan and escortthem back to the U.S. Ialso documented an aero-medical evacuation andthe life-saving measuresimplemented to save ourwounded warriors.As military members,

sometimes we are askedto sacrifice life and limb toprotect the values we holddear. Unfortunately, ma-ny of us may never reallycome to realize this untilour first trip down range.My epiphany came

when a Marine, severelywounded by an impro-vised explosive device, wasloaded onto the back of theC-17 Globemaster III andsecured in place directlyacross from where I sat.I vividly remember thethought I had: “Does hehave arms or legs?” Thetubes and wires that werekeeping him alive were toonumerous to count, almost

as though he was buriedthoroughly under vines ina vineyard; it was surreal.From the moment he

was on board, peopleswarmed him, pushingbuttons, checking gaugesand writing stuff down.A whirlwind of medicsand doctors all focused onkeeping him alive and giv-ing him the best in urgentcare.Thankfully, the military

has learned a great dealfrom this and prior con-flicts. It has taken thoselessons learned to set inplace myriad precaution-ary measures to ensurefirst, the saving of ourlives, and then our limbs -and it seems to be working.Maj. Matthew Weber, a

medical service corps of-ficer at the 86th Contin-gency Aeromedical Stag-ing Facility at RamsteinAir Base, Germany, said,“we are seeing the lowestnumbers of injured troopsbeing evacuated out of the-ater since the beginning ofthe war.”Due to this particular

Marine’s critical condi-tion, the doctor in Afghani-stan deemed the best carepossible for him would beavailable at Walter Reed

National Military MedicalCenter, Bethesda Md., sohe was evacuated out.I noticed something

once we were on our wayto Ramstein: There was adivide between the peoplecaring for him and thosecaring for the other in-jured on the aircraft; all ofhis care was done by thesame three people.It was explained to me

during the flight by Maj.Shane Runyon, a nurse10th Expeditionary Aero-medical Evacuation Flight,attending to the Marine,that the three of themwere not members of theAE team but were theirown team, a Critical CareAir Transport Team. Theyare a more specializedteam for critically wound-ed patients who need to

maintain a certain level ofcare during transport.The AE team took care

of the other, less severe,but no less important, pa-tients on the aircraft.When speaking to Maj.

Juan Sanchez, a flightnurse with the AE team,he told me, “the ultimategoal of the AE mission isto have critically injuredpatients out of theater and

back stateside within 72 -96 hours.”During the flight, I

saw his foot twitch andthought, “Oh my gosh! He’swaking up!” With urgency,I went to tell the teamtaking care of him. Run-yon explained that he wasbeing kept in a semicon-scious state that allowedhim to respond to the teamwith simple head nods buthe would never rememberthe flight.We eventually landed

in Germany and all thepatients were unloadedby classification of theirillness or injury and thentransported to LandstuhlRegional Medical Cen-ter, Landstuhl, Germany,where military personnelfrom Afghanistan, Kuwait,Africa and parts of Europeare treated and evaluatedfor return to their dutystation, or home for moreextensive care.While at Landstuhl,

Lt. Col. David Zonies, thechief of trauma and criti-cal care, explained how to-day, approximately 99 per-cent of troops that makeit into the system survive.The challenge comes fromgetting an injured troop

Flight for life

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS AARON STOUT

Lt. Col. Richard Lorraine cares for an intensive care patient during a flight back to JointBase Andrews, Md., Dec. 19, 2013. Lorraine, a member of a Critical Care Air TransportTeam belongs to the 111th Medical Group.

The Penn - Jersey Branch of the Second (Indianhead) Division Association will haveits annual reunion May 2 - 4 at the Continental Inn in Lancaster, Penn. All veteransof the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division are invited, in particular those in the adjacentstates of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District ofColumbia. For more information, call Jack Woodall at 610-274-1409 or send an emailto [email protected].

Attention, 2nd InfantryDivision Veterans

see FLIGHT, page 10

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from many schools in thecounty.While waiting for their

20-minute shopping slot,girls enjoyed a performanceby Baltimore-based, inspi-rational rapper Lil Key, afitness class, raffles, a com-edy performance and a viewinto the world of beauty con-tests provided by Miss BlackMaryland USA DeJaneeFennell.Though choosing an el-

egant gown for a specialevent can feel stressful forgirls who have little experi-ence with formalwear beforeprom, Fennell reminded at-tendees that the clothes theywear are just part of the fun,even during a pageant com-petition.“I pick what’s trendy,

what Miss USA and MissUniverse are wearing, andwhat will go well with myskin and my hairstyle,” saidFennell. “It’s all how I’m feel-ing, my mood and the color Iwant to wear.”Volunteers helped the

girls find gowns that fit andflatter, as well as accesso-ries like jewelry and shoesto complete their look. Then,the Glam Gurus took over,providing makeup tutorialsand full makeup kits to takehome.The ladies of Jericho

City of Praise also providedetiquette lessons for girls onhow to enter or exit a lim-ousine gracefully, how tonavigate a formal place set-

ting at dinner and how to setthe tone of the evening withtheir date.“They are queens. They

are in their gowns and it’s anelegant evening for them,”said Elder Linda. “You’ve gotto help train the guys.”The Priceless Gown Proj-

ect collects new and gentlyused gowns and accessoriesform businesses and indi-viduals throughout the year.Each season, staffers evalu-ate the gowns on hand to culldresses that are out of style,said Vice President CatonyaLester. Gowns in sizes 18-24are especially in demand.For information, visit www.pricelessgownproject.org.

PROM, from page 1

PHOTOS/CHRIS BASHAM

Glam Gurus Lead MakeupArtist Storm Hazel of Wash-ington, D.C., demonstrateshow to achieve a prom-wor-thy look using more boldcosmetics than studentswould normally choose forthe school day.

Tryon is working on acompanion publication, the“Accountability CitizenshipWorkbook,” to be publishedthis summer. He sees it asa tool that can help vot-ers apply his “report card”system to a range of issuesfaced by voters as they con-sider Congressional candi-dates. The point, he says, isto help voters explore their

own views and learn whatto expect from candidatesonce they’re in office, not toconvert voters to any par-ticular viewpoint.“There are an awful lot

of structural things thatwe ought to do to get peopleexcited about the access togovernment and makingyour vote count. More par-ticipation is better,” Tryonsaid. “We have more in com-mon than we do things thatseparate us.”

BOOK, from page 6

the immediate, lifesavingmedical treatment theyneed on site and gettingthem to the nearest medi-cal facility.We talked about the

measures the Air Forcetakes with its doctors toensure they stay proficientas they are pulling themout of the theater with thedraw-down.The doctors are being

embedded into universities,including the University ofMaryland, to ensure theystay current.Usually, the wounded

that are not categorizedas urgent or critical areprepped and transported tothe 86th CASF the eveningbefore they fly out.As a result of the wound-

ed Marine’s condition, hewas not sent to the CASFbut was held at Landstuhluntil the aircraft was ready

to receive him.I met back up with the

Marine on my flight backto Andrews. He instantlyseemed different, bettereven. He was more con-scious and was no longerintubated, though he stillhad heaps of tubes andwires strewn across him.Due to crew rest limi-

tations, the CCATT whohad brought him this farswitched out and anotherteam tended to his care.Upon landing at An-

drews, he was greeted by afellow Marine and usheredoff of the aircraft and onto abus that took him to WalterReed.With shrapnel in his

lung, arm and various oth-er places in his body, theMarine survived becausehe made it into the system.As skilled as the enemyhas become at injuring ourtroops, we have becomemore skilled at saving theirlives.

FLIGHT, from page 9

WING REFUELS NEW F-35 FIGHTER JET

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ STAFF SGT. KATIE SPENCER

An F-35 Light-ing II fighter jetfrom the 33rdFighter Wing,Eglin Air ForceBase, Fla.,approachesthe boom of aKC-135 Strato-tanker from the459th Air Refuel-ing Wing, JointBase Andrews,Md., March 12over the plainsof Texas. Thetanker met withthe fighter jetat 27,000 feetin the air for anaerial refuelingmission.

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