Apr 19 - Joint Base San Antonio

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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.
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Apr 19 - Joint Base San Antonio

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