Apr 19 - Joint Base San Antonio

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E 5 0 2 n d A I R B A S E W I N G 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TEXAS • Vol. 70 No. 15 • April 19, 2013 

Volunteers 

Age is just a number 

Commentary 

The reality of sequestration 

Page 2 

Milestone 

Tuition assistance restarted 

Page 3 

sports 

Fort Bliss wins military basketball tournament 

Page 15 

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin iinuma 

Trinidad Garcia explains to Demetris Hardy about insurance coverage for volunteers. Garcia has been a volunteer at the 59th Medical Wing’s Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center 

for more than 20 years and Hardy is a WHASC credential specialist. Volunteers at WHASC will be recognized by Maj. Gen. Byron C. Hepburn, 59th MDW commander, at a ceremony 

Wednesday as a part of National Volunteer Week. Story Pages 10-11. 

INSIDE | Commentary 2 News 3 Community Briefs 13 What’s Happening 14 Sports 15 ONLINE | http://www.jbsa.af.mil

commentary 

PAGE 2 TALESPINNER April 19, 2013 

Sequestration real, though 

effects not hitting home, yet 

Joint Base San Antonio 

Lackland 

Editorial Staff 

BR I G. GEN. THERESA C. CARTER, 

JBSA/502N D AIR BA SE WI N G, 

CO M M A N D E R 

TO D D G. WH I T E, 

JBSA/502N D AIR BA SE WI N G 

PU B L I C AF FA I R S DI R E C TO R 

By L.A. Shively 

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs 

Although the dreaded sequestration 

hit March 1, government offices remain 

open, looming furloughs have 

been delayed, curtailed military tuition 

assistance was reinstated and the federal 

government was funded through the rest of 

this fiscal year. 

As a result, much of the ballyhoo surrounding 

sequestration seems distant, even 

unreal, like the clamor rising from heated 

disputes between opposing political parties 

over how to manage the federal debt. But 

make no mistake, the battle is real, lines 

have been drawn and the outcome is not 

completely clear yet. 

So, what exactly is that dark cloud 

known as sequestration? 

The battle is over how the federal budget 

– revenue from income taxes, payroll 

taxes, corporate taxes, customs duties and 

excise taxes – is spent. Sequestration is an 

across-the-board series of automatic cuts to 

federal spending equal to $109 billion per 

year originally passed as part of the Budget 

Control Act of 2011 known also as the debt 

ceiling compromise. The intent of sequestration 

was to reign in federal spending 

that has reached nearly $17 trillion. 

Sequestration was originally slated to 

kick in Jan. 1 and cut $109 billion this 

fiscal year and for each of the next 10 

years. The idea was that these cuts were 

to be so burdensome that Congress and 

the president would quickly reach a deficit 

reduction agreement together. That never 

happened. 

Bergquist Gate Closure 

Bergquist Gate is closed for an extended period of time due to 

construction. Signal lights will be off and barriers will be in 

place to prevent traffic from entering through the gate. Camp 

Bramble access will be maintained. All traffic is directed to 

Gateway East Gate. 

According to Jeffrey Zients, deputy director 

for management of the Office of Management 

and Budget, bipartisan majorities 

in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate 

voted for sequestration as a mechanism to 

force Congress to act on further deficit reduction 

and sequestration itself was never 

intended to be implemented. 

“Yet, a year and a half has passed and 

the Congress still has failed to enact balanced 

deficit reduction legislation that 

avoids sequestration,” Zients wrote in a letter 

to House Speaker John Boehner March 

1. 

Labeling sequestration a “blunt and 

indiscriminate instrument” Zients described 

the cuts required as deeply destructive to 

national security, domestic investments and 

core governmental functions. 

Lawmakers listened and those original 

$109 billion in cuts slated for this fiscal 

year were lowered via a House continuing 

resolution that settled on $85 billion 

in cuts instead and gave agencies more 

flexibility with allocating their funds. That 

legislation expired March 27, but the House 

passed another resolution providing funding 

through September. 

Both resolutions are good news, but 

agencies will still have to trim programs 

and furlough employees in order to balance 

the federal budget as per sequestration 

over the next 10 years. Sequester cuts 

are slated to trim $109 billion each year 

through Fiscal Year 2021 and are supposed 

to amount to $1.2 trillion in total budget 

cuts. 

No programs are supposed to be cut, 

only scaled back under sequestration. 

Cuts are supposed to be distributed evenly 

between domestic and defense programs, 

with about half affecting defense discretionary 

spending such as funds for purchasing 

weapons, base operations and construction. 

Certain low-income programs such as aid 

for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and 

the Low Income Home Energy Assistance 

Program are subject to cuts. 

Mandatory spending on programs like 

Social Security, Medicaid, low-income programs 

like Temporary Assistance for Needy 

Families or TANF (welfare) and the Supplemental 

Nutritional Assistance Program 

(food stamps) are exempt from sequestration. 

Military salaries are exempt but some 

benefits such as TRICARE could be affected. 

Federal civilian personnel will be furloughed. 

According to the Congressional 

Research Service, sequestration may not 

reduce the pay rate of a federal employee. 

But a furlough, which is unpaid time off, 

is basically a pay cut and may affect leave 

accrual. 

Widespread economic constriction has 

not been felt as a result of the sequester. 

The U.S. stock market recently rose to a 

See EFFECTS Page 8 

OS CA R BA L L A DA R E S, 

JBSA-LAC K L A N D PU B L I C AF FA I R S CH I E F 

ALEX DE L GA D O 

IN T E R N A L CO M M U N I C AT I O N S CH I E F 

MA N AG I N G ED I TO R 

671-4111 

MI K E JO S E P H, 

SE N I O R WR I T E R 

JO S E T. GA R Z A, III, 

SP O RT S/STA F F WR I T E R, 

DO RO T H Y LO N A S, 

DE S I G N/LAYO U T 

Office 

1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102 

Lackland AFB, Texas 

78236-5103 

671-2908; 

(fax) 671-2022 

Email: tale.spinner@us.af.mil 

Commander’s Action Line: 

actionline@lackland.af.mil. 

Straight Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS) 

For advertising information: 

Prime Time Military Newspapers 

2203 S. Hackberry, 

San Antonio, Tx 78210 

210-534-8848 

This newspaper is published by Prime 

Time Military Newspapers, a private 

firm in no way connected with the 

U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written 

contract with JBSA-Lackland, Texas. 

This commercial enterprise Air Force 

newspaper is an authorized publication 

for members of the U.S. military 

services. Contents of the Talespinner 

are not necessarily the official views of, 

or endorsed by, the U.S. government, 

the Department of Defense, or the 

Department of the Air Force. 

The appearance of advertising in 

this publication, including inserts or 

supplements, does not constitute 

endorsement by the Department of 

Defense, the Department of the Air Force 

or Prime Time Military Newspapers, of 

the products or services advertised. 

Everything advertised in this 

publication shall be made available 

for purchase, use or patronage without 

regard to race, color, religion, sex, 

national origin, age, marital status, 

physical handicap, political affiliation, 

or any other non-merit factor of the 

purchaser, user or patron. 

Editorial content is edited, prepared 

and provided by the Public Affairs Office 

of the 502nd Air Base Wing. All photos, 

unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air 

Force photos. 

Deadline for submissions 

is noon Thursday the week prior 

to publication.

news 

April 19, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 3 

Ne w s in Brief 

Tuesday 

top III sponsors career fairs 

Three defense technology and intelligence 

career fairs take place next week 

at Joint Base San Antonio locations. 

The Lackland fairs are Tuesday, 10 

a.m.-2 p.m., at the Kisling Community 

Center on Security Hill and Thursday, 10 

a.m.-2 p.m., at the Gateway Club. 

Other fairs at JBSA locations include 

Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Parr 

Officers Club, Randolph; and April 26, 10 

a.m.-2 p.m., at the Sam Houston Community 

Center, Fort Sam Houston. 

Sponsored by the Lackland, Randolph 

and Fort Sam Houston Top III Associations, 

the fairs are open only to military, 

government civilians and contractors who 

already have access to military installations 

with a valid Department of Defense 

identification card. 

For more information, visit http//:www. 

TransitionCareers.com. 

Wednesday 

fiesta in blue concert 

The United States Air Force Band of 

the West’s annual Fiesta in Blue concert 

is Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the Bob Hope 

Theater at Joint Base San Antonio- 

Lackland. 

The performance is free; however tickets 

and base access are required. Tickets 

are available at the JBSA-Lackland and 

JBSA-Randolph Information, Travel and 

Ticket offices, or the JBSA-Fort Sam 

Houston ticket office. 

For more information about Fiesta 

in Blue or other USAF Band of the West 

performances, visit http://www.bandofthewest.af.mil 

or http://www.facebook. 

com/bandofthewest. 

April 27 

prescription drug ‘take back’ d ay 

The Drug Enforcement Agency “Take 

Back” Day on Joint Base San Antonio- 

Lackland is April 27. 

Old, outdated or unwanted prescription 

medications can be turned in for disposal 

at the Satellite Pharmacy parking lot, 

between the main base exchange and the 

commissary, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

For more information, call Charles 

Nail, 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 

at 671-9470/83 or Lisa Frantz, 802nd 

Security Forces Squadron, at 671-2262. 

See related story, Page 8 

Air Force empowers families to 

triumph over childhood violence 

By Capt. Megan Fitzsimmons 

59th Medical Wing Pediatric Clinic 

April is Child Abuse Prevention 

month, and the Air Force is empowering 

families to triumph over childhood 

violence. 

According to experts from the National 

Center for Injury Prevention 

and Control, more than 740,000 children 

are treated in emergency rooms 

as a result of violence every year; that 

is more than 84 children each hour. 

Every year, more than 3 million reports 

of child abuse are received by 

state and local agencies – a staggering 

six reports every minute. 

The key to avoiding childhood violence 

is prevention. Families who 

have stable and nurturing relationships 

are less likely to experience 

childhood violence in their homes 

than families who are unstable. 

Children need parents who can 

identify and provide for their needs. 

Parenting can be difficult and stressful, 

and sometimes they need support, 

resources, and guidance to take the 

best possible care of their children. 

Air Force, Army restart tuition assistance 

By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri 

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs 

The Air Force and Army have officially 

restarted military tuition assistance, 

effective April 10. 

The services restarted the program 

as a result of the Consolidated and 

Further Continuing Appropriations 

Act of 2013, where Congress called 

for the military tuition assistance program 

to continue in the current fiscal 

year. 

As a result of the restart, the programs 

will resume the same benefits 

as before. 

Airmen and Soldiers are eligible 

for up to $4,500 per fiscal year and a 

maximum of $250 per semester hour 

or quarter hour equivalent to cover 

tuition and allowable fees, which is 

There are several protective factors 

that can help lower the incidence 

of child abuse: 

• Build a strong bond with your children 

by making time to do activities 

together. 

• Find the best positive coping strategies 

for your family. 

• Enforce discipline with clear limits 

and boundaries for children older 

than 15 months of age – with expectations 

based on their age and development. 

• Understand the basic development 

for a child’s age. 

• Recognize your own limitations 

and know when to ask for help. 

• Be socially active! Being active 

is healthy for both the parents and 

children. 

• Have a good support system and 

know who to call if there are questions 

or problems. 

These protective measures are important 

for families since they reinforce 

one another. 

Resources available to military families 

include: 

• Military One Source (available 24/7, 

365 days a year): 800-342-9647 

• Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland 

Family Advocacy Program: 292- 

5967 

• Child Welfare Information Gateway 

website: http://www.childwelfare.gov 

• National Parent Helpline: 1 (855) 

427-2736 or http://www.nationalparenthelpline.org 

• Born Learning: http://www.bornlearning.org 

• Parents Anonymous: 903-629-7588 

or www.parentsanonymous.org. 

unchanged from before. 

Military tuition assistance is not 

available retroactively to cover courses 

taken and paid for using any other 

funding source during the suspension 

of military tuition assistance. 

“Military tuition assistance will be 

the same program service members 

are used to,” said Russell Frasz, 

Director of Force Development, 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower 

and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air 

Force. “The same policies and procedures 

will be in place.” 

With this change, current and future 

Airmen and Soldiers will be given 

another tool to develop professionally 

through advanced education. 

“Voluntary education and military 

tuition assistance programs continue 

to be integral to the recruiting, retention 

and readiness of Airmen and 

contribute to institutional competencies,” 

said Kim Yates, the Air Force 

Voluntary Education chief. 

“Fiscal constraints create a challenge 

that Air Force leadership continues 

to work through,” Frasz said. 

“We strive to meet the needs of Airmen 

and the Air Force.” 

According to the Deputy Chief of 

Staff of the Army, Soldiers can request 

tuition assistance for the remainder 

of fiscal year 2013 by accessing the 

GoArmyEd portal at https://www. 

goarmyed.com/Login. 

For more information, call 221-1738 

(Air Force) or 221- 0853 (Army). 

Information for this article came 

from the offices of the Secretary of 

the Air Force for Public Affairs and 

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army.


Early preparation paves way for smooth PCS 

By Alex Salinas 

JBSA-Randolph Public Affairs 

With military members expected 

to permanently change stations most 

often from May to August, they are 

encouraged to think early about 

moving, one step at a time. 

“The first thing is to be really flexible 

with your schedule,” said Staff 

Sgt. Ryan Kerkove, 802nd Logistics 

Readiness Squadron Personal Property 

Processing Office assistant NCO 

in charge. “During peak PCS season 

especially, give yourself time for all 

appointments.” 

As soon as members get their orders, 

the Department of Defense’s 

Defense Personal Property System 

portal website at http://www.Move. 

mil is a good first stop. 

“Members set up their own applications 

for self-counseling that 

generate important paperwork to 

take to PPPOs,” said Senior Airman 

Raymond Hogan, 802nd LRS transportation 

assistant. 

Online self-counseling informs 

members about monetary allowances 

to help them decide if they want a 

government-assisted general household 

goods shipment or if they want 

to move themselves, formally called 

a personally procured move. 

The website also gives members 

the option to file and settle a claim 

directly with transportation service 

providers, which are moving companies 

that are listed. 

A permanent change of station 

stateside or overseas may determine 

what baggage items to take, 

what items to place in a household 

goods shipment and what items to 

store away. 

“DPS is a great resource, even 

before you get orders,” said Tech. 

Sgt. Stacy Parker, 802nd LRS PPPO 

NCO in charge. “I recommend looking 

at (http://www.)Move.mil before 

visiting our offices.” 

Parker said an online session with 

the DPS portal website is a “proactive 

approach” that can help other 

people moving gather questions to 

ask before the big move. 

Along with having a flexible 

schedule, members should also give 

themselves at least three weeks 

to fill out their online moving application, 

schedule any necessary 

appointments and work on their 

separate Military Personnel Flight 

out-processing checklist among other 

things, Kerkove said. 

Kerkove added that people need 

to set aside time to clean up by getting 

rid of unwanted items, holding a 

yard sale or donating items to charity. 

Members should contact PPPO 

staff immediately when they receive 

their orders, Hogan said. 

For more information, call JBSA- 

Randolph at 652-1848 or 1849; JB- 

SA-Lackland at 671-2821 or 2823 

and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 221- 

2812 or 1605. 

U.S. Army photo 

As soon as members get their orders, the Department 

of Defense’s Defense Personal Property 

System portal website at http://www.Move. 

mil is a good first stop.


Congratulations to the 

following 64 Airmen 

for being selected as 

honor graduates among 

the 728 Air Force basic 

military trainees who 

graduate today. 

320th Training Squadron 

Flight 279 

Nicholas Cottrell 

Benjamin Holyoak 

Taylor Mcintosh 

Dylan Newbrough 

Justin Sneed 

Flight 283 

Seth Balla 

William Byrd 

Ryan Labat 

Flight 284 

Kelsy Babbitt 

Jamie Holden 

Elizabeth Loader 

Flight 289 

Viraj Chitnis 

Jacob Evans 

Troy Parker 

James Privateer 

Daniel Spear 

Mark Yearby 

321st Training Squadron 

Flight 283 

Seth Balla 

William Byrd 

Ryan Labat 

Flight 284 

Kelsy Babbitt 

Jamie Holden 

Elizabeth Loader 

Flight 289 

Viraj Chitnis 

Jacob Evans 

Troy Parker 

James Privateer 

Daniel Spear 

Mark Yearby 

Flight 290 

Nicholas Althouse 

William Hyatt 

Ryan Potts 

Matthew Starbird 

Joshua Sutton 

Scott Taylor 

322nd Training Squadron 

Flight 287 

Devin Tillman 

323rd Training Squadron 

Flight 277 

John Hulsey III 

Patrick Keith 

Tylan Murray 

Robert Nash 

Quintin Salazar 

Flight 278 

Jordan Lapo 

Joshua Lewandowski 

James Rogers 

Flight 281 

William Wells 

Flight 282 

Jacob Baker 

Raul Chong 

Derrick Flitcroft 

Tyler Powers 

Ian Radandt 

Robert Schweibold 

Jacob Stubblefield 

326th Training Squadron 

Flight 275 

Mark Jamison 

Landen Jiral 

Rexall Williams 

Flight 276 

Tess Brackemyer 

Brittany Saiers 

Alexandra Teubel 

331st Training Squadron 

Flight 285 

Elias Baase 

Blake Coble 

Donovan Kennedy 

Christopher Mazza 

DaleRansom 

Richard Shank 

Flight 286 

Adam Baker 

Tyler Christensen 

Hunter Ervin 

Kyle Forsyth 

Christopher Goldberg 

Peter Harig 

Sean Kennedy 

Trenton Lefaive 

Zachar Manzella 

Trevor Morgan 

Michael Nemec 

Michael Ray 

Top BMT Airman 

Nicholas Cottrell 

320th TRS, Flight 279 

Most Physically Fit 

Male Airmen 

Caleb Savage-Buck 


Isaac Hansen 

323rd TRS, Flight 282 

Dakotah Zacot 


Patrick Culhane, Jr. 

321st TRS, Flight 289 

Female Airmen 

Samantha Moade 


Kristian McMahon 

322nd TRS, Flight 288 

Kibby Werner 


Lauren Lozano 


Male Flights 





Female Flights 




322nd TRS, Flight 288 

Top Academic Flights 










321st TRS, Flight 290


Lackland ISD to accept off base high school transfers 

By Mike Joseph 

JBSA-Lackland Public Affairs 

Transfer applications to Stacey 

High School for the 2013-14 academic 

year will be available at the 

high school beginning May 1. A limited 

number of students for grades 

9-12 will be accepted. 

“The Lackland Independent School 

District is facing severe budget cuts 

due to the sequestration,” said Dr. 

Bernie Roper, Lackland Independent 

School District superintendent. 

“Opening a limited number of transfer 

slots at the high school will allow 

the district to generate additional 

state funding and a small percentage 

of increased federal aid.” 

LISD altered its high school transfer 

policy in response to reduced federal 

funding from sequestration. The 

district receives approximately half 

of its annual funding from the federal 

government. LISD is not allowed 

to collect tax revenue because it is 

located on federally-owned land and 

receives Impact Aid in lieu of collecting 

tax revenue. 

Previous policy allowed only students 

who lived on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland 

or the Medina Training 

Annex to attend Lackland schools, 

although students who met certain 

exceptions could request a transfer 

By Alex Salinas 

JBSA-Randolph Public Affairs 

With summertime approaching, 

Department of Defense identification 

cardholders 18 years and older can get 

to one of the district’s schools. 

“We will still have some exceptions 

for off base students,” Roper 

said. “Students in PK-8 who move off 

base during the school year will be 

allowed to remain at their school for 

the remainder of the grading period 

or longer if space and instructional 

staff are available; however, they will 

not be allowed to stay past the current 

academic year. 

“All students who were on an approved 

transfer as of Dec. 18, 2009 

will also be allowed to apply for a 

transfer each year until graduation,” 

he said. “Off base high school students 

who complete the ninth grade 

with us are also eligible to apply for 

a transfer annually until graduation. 

Regardless of the situation, students 

must submit a transfer application 

and meet the transfer eligibility criteria 

each year.” 

District officials said the updated 

high school transfer policy allows students 

who meet the eligibility criteria 

to be considered for enrollment. 

Transfer applications are for one 

academic year at a time and are not 

guaranteed for subsequent years. 

However, officials also said a student 

who continues to meet eligibility 

criteria can expect to have their 

transfer renewed if instructional 

space and staff are available. 

a boating license valid at Joint Base San 

Antonio’s Recreation Park at Canyon 

Lake by completing a two-hour safety 

and education course. 

The course, offered at all JBSA locations 

for $2, consists of an educational 

Prospective transfer students must 

meet all of the following eligibility 

criteria: 

Provide evidence (current report 

card and high school transcript) that 

demonstrates a grade of 75 or higher 

in each course for math, English, science 

and social studies. Exceptions 

may be considered for more rigorous 

courses such as AP, IB, or dual credit. 

In addition, applicants must have 

a grade of 70 or above in all other 

courses, including electives. 

Be able to graduate on the Recommended 

High School Plan within four 

years of beginning the ninth grade, 

unless otherwise indicated by a student’s 

current Individual Education 

Plan. 

Provide evidence that indicates 

passing scores on required state 

standardized tests from the state in 

which the student was previously enrolled. 

Provide evidence of satisfactory 

conduct grades. 

Provide discipline records to indicate 

the student has not been assigned 

to multiple in-school suspension 

consequences or any higher level 

consequence such as out-of-school 

suspension, disciplinary alternative 

education program or expulsion 

within the current and previous 

school year. 

movie produced by the Texas Parks and 

Wildlife Department and a written test 

of multiple choice and true/false questions. 

Jennifer Meyers, 902nd Force Support 

Squadron recreation assistant, 

said the course helps to produce a 

savvy customer base. 

“The course assures guests using our 

equipment are fully knowledgeable in 

how to operate it,” she said. 

“When people are prepared, they are 

more inclined to be calm and are more 

familiar with watercraft as they are 

getting safety briefs when they check 

out the equipment,” said Jonathan 

Clifton, JBSA Recreation Park general 

manager. 

“The course goes to great lengths to 

get people familiar with safe practices, 

rules of the water and how to handle 

Provide attendance records that indicate 

the student has achieved a 90 

percent or higher attendance rate in 

the current and previous school year. 

Applicants whose attendance rate 

falls between 85-89 percent may be 

reviewed for consideration if all the 

above criteria have been met. 

“The new transfer policy is an excellent 

opportunity for off base high 

school students to attend Stacey High 

School and receive a great education 

in a small school environment,” Roper 

said. “We are proud of our academic 

success and hope that off base 

military-connected students will take 

advantage of this opportunity. 

“Lackland ISD has not determined 

how many students will be accepted 

at each grade level, 9-12,” the superintendent 

said. “We will have a better 

idea of how many slots will be available 

after we conduct new student 

registration in August. Our priority 

continues to be our on-base students. 

Acceptance of transfers will be on a 

first come, first served basis.” 

Transfer applications will be time 

and date stamped upon receipt and 

will be considered in the order in 

which they are received until all 

available slots are filled. For information 

on eligibility criteria or the 

transfer process, contact Stacey High 

School at 357-5101. 

Course issues JBSA-wide boating license 

Photo illustration courtesy JBSA-Randolph FSS 

many common situations and problems,” 

Clifton added. 

“Additionally, the information in the 

movie is what will be on the test,” Clifton 

said. “Customers should expect to 

spend about two hours to accomplish 

the course.” 

Upon completion, DOD members receive 

a two-year license that enables 

them to rent and operate motorized 

watercraft at Canyon Lake. 

Registration for the course is not required. 

“Customers just need to show up 

within normal business hours, have 

their DOD ID card and ample time to 

complete the course before the testing 

site closes,” Clifton said. 

The course is available from 9 a.m. 

See BOATING Page 9


MOTORCYCLE SAFETY RALLY 

Photo by Robbin Cresswell 

Senior Airman Mackenzie Orgren negotiates the limited space maneuvering skills 

challenge during the Motorcycle Safety Rally held at the Joint Base San Antonio 

Motorcycle Training Range April 12. More than 80 motorcyclists participated in 

the rally, which was sponsored by the Joint Base San Antonio Safety Office.


EFFECTS from Page 2 

record high in March and home prices are rising. 

Some job growth has been noted in the private sector. 

During an April 2 press conference, White House 

spokesman Jay Carney insisted that the effects of 

The 2013 sequester includes the following for a 

total of $85.4 billion in cuts: 

• $42.7 billion in defense cuts (a 7.9 percent cut) 

• $28.7 billion in domestic discretionary cuts (a 5.3 

percent cut) 

• $9.9 billion in Medicare cuts (a 2 percent cut) 

• $4 billion in other mandatory cuts (a 5.8 percent 

cut to nondefense programs and a 7.8 percent cut 

to defense programs) 

The following budget cuts under sequestration are 

not all-inclusive; figures are estimates based on information 

from the Office of Management and Budget: 

• Aircraft purchases by the Air Force and Navy are 

cut by $3.5 billion 

• Military operations across the services are cut by 

about $13.5 billion 

• Military research is cut by $6.3 billion 

• The National Institutes of Health get cut by $1.6 

billion 

sequestration were hard to measure because the 

budget cuts were a “moving picture.” 

“When you’re dealing with these kinds of acrossthe-board 

forced budget cuts in the middle of a 

fiscal year and you’re having to make all sorts of 

adjustments to account for them and to reduce your 

expenditures accordingly,” Carney said adding, “that 

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

are cut by about $323 million 

• Border security is cut by about $581 million 

• Immigration enforcement is cut by about $323 

million 

• Airport security is cut by about $323 million 

• Head Start gets cut by $406 million, removing 

70,000 kids out of the program 

• FEMA’s disaster relief budget is cut by $375 million 

• Public housing support is cut by about $1.94 

billion 

• The FDA is cut by $206 million 

• NASA gets cut by $970 million 

• Special education is cut by $840 million 

• The Energy Department’s program for securing 

our nuclear weapons is cut by $650 million 

• The National Science Foundation gets cut by 

about $388 million 

can be on the plus side where furloughs may take 

place a little later, or on the minus side where things 

may be more immediate. 

“There are constant adjustments being made at 

each agency as they deal with their budget in terms 

of what the impacts of sequester are,” Carney said. 

“But they are real.” 

• The FBI gets cut by $480 million 

• The federal prison system gets cut by $355 million 

• State Department diplomatic functions are cut by 

$650 million 

• Global health programs are cut by $433 million; 

the Millennium Challenge Corp. sees a $46 million 

cut, and USAID a cut of about $291 million 

• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is cut by 

$55 million 

• The SEC is cut by $75.6 million 

• The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 

is cut by $2.6 million 

• The Library of Congress is cut by $31 million 

• The Patent and Trademark office is cut by $156 

million 

Courtesy OMB 

prescription drug Take Back day observed april 27 

By Chanel S. Weaver 

Army Public Health Command Public Affairs 

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will 

be observed locally and nationwide April 27. 

Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, 

the day is specifically set aside to allow an 

opportunity to empty medicine cabinets, kitchen 

drawers, purses and pillboxes of unwanted, unused 

and expired prescription drugs, and take 

them to authorized collection sites in local communities. 

Brooke Army Medical Center will have two locations 

to turn in prescription drugs from 10 a.m. 

to 2 p.m. The first is at the San Antonio Military 

Medical Center medical mall area and also at the 

Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Refill 

Pharmacy, located in Building 2401 on Scott and 

Harney Roads. 

At JBSA-Lackland, people can drop off these 

items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilford Hall 

Ambulatory Surgical Center Satellite Pharmacy, 

located between the main base exchange and the 

commissary. 

At JBSA-Randolph, turn in unwanted prescription 

drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at the 

main base exchange satellite pharmacy, Building 

1040, in the BX mall area. 

There will be certified law enforcement personnel 

physically present at the drop-off locations for 

the duration of National Prescription Take-Back 

Day activities, per DEA protocols. 

Drug overdoses and brain damage linked to 

long-term drug abuse killed an estimated 37,485 

people in 2009, the latest year for which preliminary 

data are available, according to a report by 

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“Drugs now kill more people than motor vehicle 

accidents in the U.S.,” said Maj. Clifton Dabbs, a 

physician and epidemiologist at the U.S. Army Public 

Health Command. 

Prescription drug use has increased over the 

years in the military. About 17 percent of military 

personnel reported misusing prescription drugs, 

including stimulants (other than methamphetamine), 

tranquilizers/muscle relaxers, sedatives/ 

barbiturates, pain relievers, anabolic steroids, and 

erectile dysfunction drugs, according to the 2008 

Department of Defense Survey of Health-Related 

Behaviors. 

As in the civilian population, pain relievers were 

the most commonly misused/abused type of prescription 

drug across the military services and in 

the Army specifically. 

According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration’s National 

Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 70 

percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers 

got them through friends or relatives, a 

statistic that includes raiding the family medicine 

cabinet. 

Dabbs said that the abuse of opiates is becoming 

more prevalent across the Army. 

“Our surveillance shows that there is a rapid increase 

in the numbers of Soldiers being diagnosed 

with opiate dependence or abuse since 2005,” said 

Dabbs. 

Opiate drugs are narcotic sedatives that depress 

activity of the central nervous system, reduce pain 

and induce sleep. When misused, opiates can become 

deadly. 

“Opiates act centrally on the nervous system and 

can actually suppress your ability to breathe,” said 

Dabbs. 

For this reason, it is important to get rid of painkillers 

as soon as possible. 

“It is highly recommended to flush any narcotic 

pain killer down the toilet when they are no longer 

needed for the treatment of pain in which they 

were prescribed,” said Dabbs. “This is because 

the risk of someone stealing them, taking them 

by accident, and or the temptation to use them 

recreationally when drinking is too high and the 

consequences can be deadly,” said Dabbs. 

While flushing is not a recommended disposal 

method for many drugs, Dabbs’ advice about opiates 

is seconded by authorities such as the Food 

and Drug Administration. 

Dabbs also pointed out that drugs can lose 

potency and effectiveness if they are stored 

See TAKE BACK Page 9


BOATING from Page 6 

to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at Randolph’s Community 

Services Mall, Building 895 and 9 a.m. Monday 

and Thursday and 1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday at 

JBSA-Lackland’s Outdoor Recreation, Building 871. 

At JBSA-Fort Sam Houston’s Outdoor Equipment 

Center, Building 1111, the course is available from 

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 8 

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. The course can also be taken 

starting at 8:30 a.m. every day to take the course at 

the JBSA Recreation Park. 

For more information, call JBSA-Fort Sam Houston 

at 221-5224, JBSA-Lackland at 925-5532, JBSA- 

Randolph at 652-5640 and the JBSA Recreation Park 

at 830-226-5065. 

Edwards Aquifer Level 

in feet above sea level 

STAGE II 

CURRENT LEVEL 648.8' 

Normal - above 660’ 

Stage I - 660’ 

Stage II - 650’ 

Stage III - 642’ 

Stage IV - 640.5’ 

Stage V - 637’ 

For water restrictions, visit www.jbsa.af.mil 

FOSTER a 

PUPPY 

Call 

671-3686 

TAKE BACK from Page 8 

improperly or kept too long. 

Since the opportunity to dispose of unwanted 

and expired medications comes around only once 

a year, Dabbs thinks it’s an opportunity that should 

be seized. 

“In the interests of both health and safety, it’s 

best to rid homes and barracks of unneeded prescriptions,” 

Dabbs said. “Disposing of old prescriptions 

through the Take Back program removes the 

risk of misuse and precludes accidental overdose 

by children or pets.” 

For personnel who are unable to visit an authorized 

collection site, the Food and Drug Administration 

recommends disposing of prescription 

medication by taking the medication out of 

its original container and mixing with kitty litter 

or used coffee grounds, then double bagging the 

item, and putting out with the trash. 

Past Prescription Drug Take Back Days have 

been very successful, according to the DEA. More 

than 488,000 pounds of unwanted or expired 

medication was collected at 5,263 take back sites 

Sept. 29. 

For more information on National Prescription 

Drug Take Back Day or to locate a local collection 

center, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration 

website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ 

drug_disposal/takeback/index.html or the Food 

and Drug Administration website at http://www. 

fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm107163.pdf

PAGE 10 TALESPINNER April 19, 2013 April 19, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 11 

Ordinary people doing 

extraordinary things 

National Volunteer Week runs Sunday through April 27. It highlights 

the vast contributions volunteers make every day to improve communities 

across the nation. 

“Some volunteers might say they volunteer to keep busy, feel a sense 

of accomplishment, gain work experience, refresh their skills, camaraderie 

or various other reasons,” said Terryca Fuller, Wilford Hall 

Ambulatory Surgical Center Office of Volunteers director. 

“Most of our volunteers will tell you they want to give back to their 

community,” Fuller said. “I think the tasks most of our volunteers 

accomplish are invaluable. It frees up the staff to focus solely on the 

patient. 

“And by volunteering, you could change a life – maybe your own.” 

The director says 

“Trinidad is a wealth 

of knowledge... 

Nate brings a 

youthful eagerness...” 

Terryca Fuller 

Photos by Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma 

Above: Trinidad Garcia, a Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center volunteer for more than 20 years, greets a visitor to the center. Garcia volunteers at WHASC four days a week. Right: Nate Olech 

discusses a point with Terryca Fuller, WHASC Office of Volunteer Services director. Olech, a high school junior, is a WHASC volunteer. 

By Mike Joseph 


Age is only a number at opposite 

ends of the timeline for two Wilford 

Hall Ambulatory Surgical 

Center volunteers. 

The difference in age between Trinidad 

Garcia, soon to be 93, and Nate Olech, 17, 

is just that – a number. 

Terryca Fuller, WHASC Office of Volunteer 

Services director, welcomes Garcia’s 

experience and Olech’s youthfulness. 

“Trinidad is a wealth of knowledge since 

my assistant and I are fairly new to our 

jobs,” said Fuller, who came to WHASC 

position last year from the Airman and 

Family Readiness Center at Joint Base San 

Antonio-Lackland. 

“She can always tell us how something 

might work or where to go in the center 

to find different offices,” Fuller said. 

“She never minds performing the smallest 

tasks. She’s an example of professionalism 

to both young and old. 

“Nate brings a youthful eagerness to 

learn any aspect of our office and he’s 

very willing to carry out any task given 

to him.” 

Garcia and Olech are bound not only as 

volunteers but by the Air Force and their 

desire to help others. 

Garcia is a retired Air Force NCO, a 

World War II veteran and a WHASC volunteer 

for more than 20 years. She has also 

been honored with a Volunteer Excellence 

Award from the Air Force Chief of Staff. 

Olech is the son of an active duty Air 

Force major, a pharmacist assigned to 

WHASC. The home-schooled teenager, a 

high school junior, has planned out his 

future. It includes becoming a psychiatrist 

and joining the Air Force. 

A WHASC volunteer since January, 

Olech also has an impressive accomplishment: 

achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, 

the highest rank in Boy Scouts of America. 

He was 16 years old when he became an 

Eagle Scout, a level accomplished by only 

one in 100 who enters scouting. 

Both Garcia and Olech have a wry, playful 

sense of humor. 

“Nate has a great sense of humor that 

keeps all of us laughing,” Fuller said. “He 

loves to talk with Miss Trinidad about her 

military and lifetime experiences.” 

“Miss Trinidad is hilarious,” said Olech. 

“It’s been a lot of fun; she’s probably the 

most fun person I’ve ever talked to. She 

has many great stories. It’s a kind of different 

spectrum because there’s 75 years 

between us.” 

Then Olech’s humor came out. 

“I guess we get along because she hasn’t 

decked me yet,” he said. 

Garcia said being a volunteer “keeps my 

mind busy. I’ve got to be busy.” 

Her dedication and passion as a volunteer 

jump out immediately. However, her 

ability to relate life experiences and also 

make light of a situation or herself like 

a standup comedian also endears her to 

others. 

On why she volunteers: “I don’t like 

soap operas.” 

On her age: “You know, I’m going to 

be 93. Do I look 93?” Told no, she quips 

back “How old do I look?” 

On how being a volunteer keeps her 

young: “I guess so. But I’ll tell you a secret. 

Talking to seniors bores me. I live in 

a retirement community and you have to 

be at least 55. The people I associate with 

there are those young ones.” 

On her office duties: “I do a little 

bit of everything. But right now I’m at a 

standstill. I have macular degeneration in 

my left eye, my hearing is bad, my knee 

hurts and I have a walker. I tell you, I’m 

falling apart.” 

On office errands: “I do errands. Even 

though my knee hurts, I just take one step 

at a time – I don’t give up. Of course when 

I do errands, it takes me forever and a 

day.” 

On giving up driving: “I gave it up seven 

years ago. When I started seeing double, 

the doctor told me to give up driving or 

before I knew it, I’d be pushing up daisies. 

When I gave up my car, oh, did I cry! But 

I didn’t want to push up daisies.” 

Olech said he feels a little pressure from 

family, friends and “Miss Trinidad” to set 

a good example. 

“My brother’s 14 and almost an Eagle 

Scout, so he understands; my sister’s only 

six years old,” said Olech. 

Then, without skipping a beat, he 

quipped, “she’s only 4 feet tall so she has 

to look up to us.” 

Olech then turned serious, speaking 

words of wisdom beyond his years. 

“Being a volunteer here and helping 

people is awesome,” he said. “You do it 

because you want to, not because you 

have to.” 

Bythenumbers 

239 54 

33,064 

current volunteers 

volunteer equivalent of full-time employees 

46,638 

61,132 

$ 

4 

passengers transported in 2012 by 

Step Savers 

people helped by the clinic information 

desk in 2012 

amount Youth Employment Skills program students can 

bank in grant funding per volunteer hour 

$ 

7,000 

$ 1,000,000 

volunteer hours in 2012 

proceeds from volunteer auxiliary popcorn sales 

dispersed to various military organizations 

savings generated by volunteers


TRICARE expands assistance 

to reduce tobacco use 

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. 

American Forces Press Service 

The Defense Department is committed 

to helping troops, their families and 

all beneficiaries of the TRICARE health 

care plan reduce their reliance on tobacco 

products, a TRICARE official said 

here today. 

During an interview with American 

Forces Press Service and the Pentagon 

Channel, Paul Fitzpatrick, TRICARE’s 

“Quit Tobacco” program manager, said 

TRICARE has increased tobacco cessation 

aid for beneficiaries. 

Tobacco cessation medications and 

prescription medications now are available 

to TRICARE patients through military 

treatment facilities, pharmacies, 

and TRICARE’s mail-order pharmacy 

program. 

“And we’re very excited to be able to 

offer these cessation aids to help people 

quit smoking (and) quit dipping,” Fitzpatrick 

said. 

A Code of Federal Regulations final 

rule, effective March 29, authorizes the 

health care organization to implement 

a more comprehensive program. 

“The DOD is committed to creating 

and maintaining a healthy fighting 

force,” Fitzpatrick said. “We know that 

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines 

use tobacco at a higher rate than the 

American public.” 

Fitzpatrick, who is a retired Army officer, 

noted that troops’ tobacco use is 

at a 5- to 10-percent higher rate than 

that of the public, depending on the age 

demographic. 

“TRICARE estimates that more than 

$500 million are devoted to tobacco-related 

illnesses and diseases. And those 

are not just the long-term illnesses like 

cancer and emphysema. It also includes 

the short-term consequences of tobacco 

use, which include an increased number 

of sick days and longer healing time for 

those who are smokers and dippers,” 

he said. 

“With promotion of a healthier lifestyle, 

we expect that more people will 

See TRICARE Page 16

community 


LocAL Briefs 

Wednesday 

retIred enlIsted assocIatIon meetIng 

Retired Enlisted Association 

Chapter 80 meetings are held at the 

Gateway Club every fourth Wednesday 

of the month at 1 p.m. 

For more details, call 658-2344. 

THursday 

wIreless sale at eXchange 

The spring mega wireless sale 

at the Lackland and Troop Store 

North Exchange mobile centers 

ends Thursday. Video-capable smart 

phones with 4G LTE connectivity will 

be available. Shoppers can also enter 

for a chance to win one of three 

55-inch televisions to be given away, 

along with other prizes. No purchase 

is necessary to win, but shoppers 

must enter in person to be eligible. 

May 2 

safetalk traInIng class 

A SafeTALK training class is May 

2, 8-11 a.m., at Freedom Chapel. 

The class teaches Airmen to recognize 

suicide warning signs. 

Pre-registration is required. To 

register, call 671-4208 or email 

C H A P E L SERVICES 

PROTESTANT 

Freedom Chapel -Building 1528 

Sunday 

Contemporary Service 9:30 a.m. 

Religious Education 11 a.m. 

Gospel Service 

12:30 p.m. 

Wednesday 

AWANA 

6 p.m. 

Hope Chapel -Building 10338 

Sunday 

Contemporary Service 11 a.m. 

Spanish Service 

12:30 p.m. 

Airmen Memorial Chapel -Building 5432 

Sunday 

Liturgical Service 

8 a.m. 

DENOMINATIONAL 

BMT Reception Center –Building 7246 

Sunday 

Church of Christ 

7:30 a.m. 

Gateway Chapel -Building 6300 

Saturday 

Seventh-day Adventist 12:30 p.m. 

Education Classroom -Building 5200 

Rm. 108 

Sunday 

Christian Science 

7:30 a.m. 

natalia.guajardo.ctr@us.af.mil. 

May 10-11 

l pa g to perform musIcal 

Tickets are on sale at Arnold Hall 

Community Center for “Quit Trippin’ 

– It’s the ‘80s,” a musical comedy 

production by the Lackland Performing 

Arts Group. 

Performance dates are May 

10-11 and May 17-18, 7 p.m. each 

evening. Ticket prices, which include 

light hors d’oeuvres, are $20 each 

for adults; $15 each for age 65 and 

older; $10 each for technical training 

students; and $5 each for children 

under 12. 

For details, call 671-2619/2352. 

May 18 

parkIng lot flea market 

A flea market in the Warhawk 

Fitness Center parking lot is from 8 

a.m.-noon. 

Vendor spots are $10 or $15 with 

table. 

Call the Skylark Community 

Center at 671-3191 to register or for 

more information. 

inForMaTional 

aIr force assIstance fund 

The Air Force Assistance Fund 

ROMAN CATHOLIC 

Freedom Chapel -Building 1528 

Sunday 

Religious Education 

9 a.m. 

Mass 

11 a.m. 

Monday – Friday 

Daily Mass 

11:30 a.m. 


Saturday 

Reconciliation 

4:30 p.m. 

Mass 

5:30 p.m. 

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN 


Sunday 


8 a.m. 

THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 


Tuesday 


Thursday 

LDS Institute 

Sunday 

LDS Service 

6:30 p.m. 

6:30 p.m. 

8 a.m. 

JEWISH 


Friday 

drive at Joint Base San Antonio- 

Lackland continues through May 3. 

For campaign information or to 

make a donation, contact 1st Lt. 

Ryan Nichols at 925-5721 or a Unit 

Project Officer. 

m a d hatters Volunteers 

The Mad Hatters, a group of male 

and female volunteers, use their 

needle skills to make hats for recovering 

cancer patients dealing with 

hair loss from therapy in support of 

the military community. 

The group not only makes adult 

hats but has expanded to pediatric 

patients. The Mad Hatters also 

make bonnets, mittens and bunting 

along with lap afghan blankets for 

wounded warriors. 

The Mad Hatters meet every 

second Tuesday of the month, 9:30 

a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Freedom Chapel. 

Persons interested in joining the 

group can call Patti Bouchard at 

673-5185, the Wilford Hall Ambulatory 

Surgical Center Office of 

Volunteer Services at 292-6591 or 

email wnifc6164@att.net. 

logIstIcs readIness contact InformatIon 

The 802nd Logistics Readiness 

Squadron Customer Service 

Sabbath & Kiddush 4 p.m. 

Sunday 

Religious Education 12:30 p.m. 

ISLAMIC 

Global Ministry Center -Building 7452 

Friday 

Jummah Prayer 1:15 p.m. 

Sunday 

Religious Education 9 a.m. 

WICCA 


Sunday 

Military Open Circle 12:30 p.m. 

Freedom Chapel –Building 1528 

1st Tuesday 

Military Open Circle 6 p.m. 

OTHER FAITH GROUPS 


Sunday 

Buddhist 

10 a.m. 

Gateway Chapel -Building 6300 

First, third and fifth Saturdays 

Eckankar 

12:30 p.m. 

First, third and fifth Saturdays 

Baha’i 

11 a.m. 

For more details, contact Freedom Chapel - 671-4208 • Gateway Chapel - 671-2911 • Hope Chapel - 671-2941 

is the primary focal point for all 

supply-related questions, concerns, 

complaints, Zero Overpricing Program 

and Defense Reutilization and 

Marketing Office transactions. 

For additional information, call 

customer service at 671-2575/ 

3611/3801, 925-1490/1049/1048 

or email 802lrs.customerservice@ 

lackland.af.mil. 

resIdency program seeks patIents 

The Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical 

Center Endodontic Residency 

Program, Air Force Postgraduate 

Dental School Department of Endodontics 

is offering free treatment 

for patients who require root canal 

therapy. 

The service is available to 

military retirees, their immediate 

family members and family members 

of active duty service members. 

Patients must have been diagnosed 

recently with an endodontic condition 

requiring root canal therapy. 

Eligible patients should obtain 

a written consultation from their 

referring dentist and bring it to the 

dental clinic during normal duty 

hours, or fax it to 292-6431. Patients 

will be selected based on the needs 

of the endodontic training program. 

For additional information, call 

292-7831/3974. 

dental program seeks patIents 

Dunn Dental Clinic is screening 

patients for dental care limited to 

surgical treatment of gum diseases 

and defects. 

All eligible Department of Defense 

beneficiary categories will be 

screened for potential treatment as 

teaching cases, including dependents 

of active-duty members and 

retirees. 

Patients who have been informed 

by a general dentist that they require 

extensive periodontal therapy, such 

as advanced gum treatment or gum 

surgery, are eligible for evaluation. 

Routine dental cleanings are not 

accepted. 

To schedule an evaluation 

appointment, call 671-9364 or 

have your dentist email the periodontics 

department at aegdperio@ 

gmail.com. 

talespInner submIssIon deadlIne 

To submit items for community 

briefs, email tale.spinner@us.af. 

mil by noon Friday the week prior to 

publication. For additional information, 

call 671-2908 

JBSA-LACKLAND 

KEY FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES 

Air Force Aid Society 671-3722 

Airman & Family Readiness Center 671-3722 

Airman’s Attic 671-1780 

American Red Cross 844-4225 

Base Post Office 671-1058 

Bowling Center 671-2271 

DEERS 800-538-9552 

Exceptional Family Member Program 671-3722 

Family Child Care 671-3376 

Legal Office 671-3362 

Library 671-3610 

Medical Appointment Line 916-9900 

MPF ID Cards 671-6006 

Outdoor Recreation 925-5532 

TRICARE Info 800-444-5445 

Thrift Shop 671-3608 

Enlisted Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandesc.org 

Force Support Squadron http://www.lacklandfss.com 

Lackland ISD 

http://www.lacklandisd.net 

Officers’ Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandosc.org 

JBSA Public website http://www.jbsa.af.mil 

My Air Force Life http://www.MyAirForceLife.com


WHAT'S 

Family Support Events 

HAPPENING 

All classes, seminars, meetings and events are held at the Airman and 

Family Readiness Center, BUILDING 1249, unless noted below. 

Call AFRC at 671-3722 for additional information. 

Monthly 

Meetings 

Today 

XX Resume writing techniques, 11:30- 

1:30 p.m. 

XX Air Force Basic Military Training 

spouse and parents’ seminar, BMT 

Reception Center, Building 7246, noon. 

Call 800-973-7630 or 671-4057. 

Monday 

XX Five-day Transition Assistance 

Program, mandatory pre-separation 

briefing and Form 2648 are required 

prerequisites, 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m. 

XX Family readiness briefing, mandatory 

for personnel deploying longer than 

30 days or going on remote assignments, 

10:30-11 a.m. 

XX Post deployment briefing, required 

for all Airmen returning from deployment, 

802nd Logistics Readiness 

Squadron IDRC briefing room, Building 

5160, 2:30-3 p.m. 

Tuesday 

XX American Veterans national service 

officer available by appointment only, 

8 a.m.-noon. To make an appointment, 

call 773-354-6131. 

XX Transition Assistance Program, 7:45 

a.m.-4 p.m. 

XX Exceptional Family Members 

Program, Challenging Behaviors, noon- 

1:30 p.m. 

Wednesday 


a.m.-4 p.m. 

XX Understanding the Veterans Administration 

claims process, 10 a.m.-noon. 

XX Awana Club meeting, Freedom 

Chapel, 6-8 p.m. Call 671-4208. 

Thursday 


a.m.-4 p.m. 



Reception Center, Building 7246, 1 p.m. 

For additional information, call 800- 

973-7630 or 671-4057. 



a.m.-4 p.m. 




Call 800-973-7630 or 671-4057 for additional 

information on the BMT spouse 

and parents' seminar. 


XX Interview With Confidence, 10 

a.m.-noon. 

XX Family readiness briefing, mandatory 

for personnel deploying longer than 

30 days or going on remote assignments, 

10:30-11 a.m. 

XX The Federal Employment process, 

taught by Office of Personnel Management, 

1-4 p.m. 

XX Post deployment briefing, required 

for all Airmen returning from deployment, 

802nd Logistics Readiness 

Squadron IDRC briefing room, Building 

5160, 2:30-3 p.m. 


XX American Veterans national service 

officer available by appointment, 8 a.m. 

-noon. Call 773-354-6131. 

XX Pre-separation briefing, mandatory 

for all members retiring, pre-registration 

required, 9 a.m.-noon. 

XX Disabled Transition Assistance 

Program, 11:30 a.m.-noon. 

May 1 

XX Awana Club meeting, Freedom 

Chapel, 6-8 p.m. Call 671-4208. 

May 2 



Reception Center, Building 7246, 1 p.m. 

Call 800-973-7630 or 671-4057. 

May 3 




Call 800-973-7630 or 671-4057. 

enlisted spouses’ club 

The Lackland Enlisted Spouses’ 

Club meets every third Tuesday of 

the month at the Balfour Beatty 

Community Center, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 

For more information, visit 

http://www.lacklandesc.org. 

officers’ spouses’ club 

The Lackland Officers’ Spouses’ 

Club meets monthly. For dates and 

times, or more information, visit 

http://www.lacklandosc.org. 

military council of catholic w o m e n 

The Military Council of Catholic 

Women meets the first Friday of 

the month, 9:30 a.m., at Freedom 

Chapel. For additional information, 

call 671-4208. 

On the web 

http://www. 

lacklandfss.com

sports 


Photo by Alan Boedeker 

Ft. Bliss guard and Tournament Defensive Player award winner Jon Reed goes for a layup around the opposition during the team's title victory over Tinker Air Force Base Sunday. 

Fort Bliss triumphs in national military basketball tournament 

By Jose T. Garza III 


After the buzzer sounded at the end 

of the National Military Varsity Basketball 

Championship, Fort Bliss' basketball 

team huddled together and danced 

around in a circle celebrating its 92-79 

victory over Tinker Air Force Base. 

It was the celebration of the culmination 

of a three-day tournament 

that began on April 12 at the Warhawk 

Fitness Center. Fort Bliss played 

six games, including three exhausting 

games on Sunday without food or 

drinks in its system. 

Fort Bliss guard Jon Reed, who 

scored 12 points and won the Tournament 

Defensive Player Award, rejoiced 

in the celebration, feeling there will not 

be another Ft. Bliss basketball team 

like the one he is a part of currently. 

“If you look at positions one through 

five and our bench, we have people 

who can play each position, which is 

why we are so deadly,” Reed said. “A 

lot of teams don’t have the same bench 

play that we have, so that is why you 

won’t find another team like this.” 

His teammate, forward Cliff Tucker, 

scored a team-high 24 points and 

earned the Tournament Most Valuable 

Player Award. 

“I just wanted to do whatever I could 

to help my teammates out,” Tucker 

said. “I am thankful for my teammates 

and thankful for winning MVP.” 

Tucker and Reed agreed “effort, 

heart, and determination” got their 

team through the tournament. 

Fort Bliss Head Coach Paul Riley 

was proud of his team for surviving the 

tournament through pure will power. 

“They wanted the championship too 

much. I knew they could do it as long as 

they put their minds to it,” he said. 

Fatigue did not factor in for Ft. Bliss 

in the first half, as it mounted a 48-25 

lead going into halftime. 

It would set in the middle of the second 

half, as Tinker rallied to cut its 

deficit to eight for a 71-63 score. 

The runners-up tried to stay within 

distance, but Ft. Bliss matched them 

basket for basket ultimately building 

its lead back to 88-72 with five minutes 

left. 

“We just kind of let them back in 

the game because some of our guys 

got tired,” Tucker said. “Once Tinker 

cut its deficit, we worked to get our 

lead back.” 

“I told my teammates to keep 

their head up and not let up. All we 

had to do was close this game out,” 

Reed said. 

Riley said Fort Bliss’ championship 

victory was the completion of a goal 

that was in doubt at the start of the 

season. 

“There were some players who did 

not think it was possible to win the 

championship,” Reed said. “As the 

season went on, the players started 

believing.” 

Tinker Head Coach Clarence Griffin 

was not disappointed with the loss. 

He was satisfied with the season after 

Tinker won the Central United States 

Military Basketball Championship to 

advance to the tournament as the No. 

1 seed. 

“Out of all the teams that participated 

in this tournament, we came in 

second and we can’t feel bad about 

that,” Griffin said. “I’m happy with how 

things turned out for my team and I 

think we were successful.”


Upcoming 

cyber o u t l a w s golf tournament 

The Gateway Hills Golf 

Course hosts the Cyber 

Outlaws Golf Tournament 

May 3. The tournament costs 

$40 per person and teams 

must have at least four 

people representing. Prizes 

are awarded to top foursome, 

longest drive and closest to the 

pin. Sign-in registration starts 

at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start 

of 8 a.m. Contact Tech Sgt. 

John Rose at 977-3507 or Lt. 

Jonathan Hogan at 977-3771 

for additional information. 

bowling center power outage 

The Skylark Bowling Center 

will be closed Monday due to 

a scheduled power outage. 

League play is also cancelled 

for that day. The bowling 

center is scheduled to reopen 

Tuesday. 

aaph m o n t h 5k 

The Asian American Pacific 

Hertiage Association hosts 

a 5K at Stapleton Park on 

Security Hill May 15. Contact 

Master Sgt. Regina Scott 

at 671-5894 for additional 

information. 

indoor cycling classes 

Indoor cycling classes are 

held Tuesdays and Thursdays 

at 6 p.m., and Saturdays and 

Sundays at 8:30 a.m. in the 

Warhawk Fitness Center. 

The classes are designed 

for all fitness levels. Cost is 

$2 per class. Call 338-2837 or 

email jodi.hilliard@yahoo.com. 

National military tournament 

showcases armed forces basketball 

By Jose T. Garza III 


The National Military Varsity Basketball 

Championship Tournament was more than 

just a competition to determine the military’s 

best basketball team. 

It was a showcase of the Armed Forces’ 

elite basketball players displaying their 

skills in front of Joint Base San Antonio- 

Lackland patrons in preparation for the 

Armed Forces Basketball Tournament in 

the fall. With All-Air Force and All-Army 

basketball camps set in the fall, the tournament 

was a preview of how fierce the 

Armed Forces’ best basketball players will 

compete to earn spots on both teams. 

The All-Air Force Basketball Camp is 

scheduled to take place at the newly renovated 

Chaparral Fitness Center October 

16 through November 2. The Chaparral 

recently completed a 60-day renovation of 

its court that will reopen May 1. 

The newly renovated gym makes JB- 

SA-Lackland Fitness and Sports Director 

Dwayne Reed happy because he has the 

opportunity to host the basketball camp 

for the second consecutive year. 

“It’s just nice to have a nice facility to 

host the tournament in,” Reed said. 

Patrons witnessed seven teams from 

the Central United States Military Basketball 

Conference, Pacific West, Washington 

Area Military Athletic Conference and 

Southeast Military Athletic Conference 

play in the three-day tournament that 

began April 12 to determine the military’s 

best base varsity basketball team. Fort 

Bliss, Texas ultimately prevailed when 

it conquered Tinker Air Force Base, 

Okla. to become National Military Varsity 

Basketball Champions Sunday. 

Photo by Alan Boedeker 

National Military Varsity Basketball Championship MVP Cliff Tucker cuts the net after his Fort Bliss 

basketball team defeated Tinker Air Force Base for the championship Sunday at the Warhawk Fitness 

Center. 

JBSA-Lackland Fitness and Sports Director 

Dwayne Reed was happy with the 

competition, which he described as intense. 

“Every team had good quality 

players so it made for a good tournament,” 

Reed said. 

He also said he would like to host the 

tournament again next year, but he is willing 

to let other bases host. 

“I’m not opposed to sharing the wealth,” 

Reed said. 

TRICARE from Page 12 

want to quit smoking,“ Fitzpatrick 

said. 

TRICARE now offers Zyban and Chantix, 

Fitzpatrick said, as well as a whole 

host of nicotine replacement therapies, 

including traditional patches, gums, lozenges, 

nasal spray and inhalers, which 

now are available through prescription 

at no cost to the TRICARE beneficiary. 

“The development of access to pharmaceutical 

drugs has been in the works 

for a couple of years now,” Fitzpatrick 

said. “We are adding these medications 

to our host of cessation resources that 

TRICARE has had in place for a number 

of years.” 

Tobacco cessation medications are 

available to all beneficiaries ages 18 

and older in the continental United 

States. “The prescription medications 

are currently not available through the 

mail-order pharmacy overseas, but may 

be available through the military treatment 

facility pharmacy, if they carry 

(them),” Fitzpatrick said. 

TRICARE’s tobacco cessation aids 

also include a 24/7 chat service via 

instant messaging, toll-free telephone 

coaching assistance available around 

the clock, and face-to-face counseling 

with a certified tobacco cessation counselor 

that can be arranged through a 

primary care provider. 

“Tobacco cessation is very important 

to the Department of Defense because 

we are looking to build and maintain a 

healthier fighting force,” he said. “And 

we know that tobacco use is a negative 

indicator to a healthy force. The 

DOD wants to be, not a follower, but a 

leader in reducing tobacco use in the 

military.” 

Fitzpatrick also talked about Operation 

“Live Well,” DOD’s holistic approach 

to a healthy lifestyle and healthy 

living. 

“It addresses not only tobacco cessation, 

but (also) the challenges and 

threats (of) obesity among our fighting 

force and our family members, as well 

as good nutrition,” he said. “Operation 

Live Well is a program that looks 

at the entire person and their healthy 

lifestyle.”

Apr 19 - Joint Base San Antonio

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