Patriot | page - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

PATRIOT | NEWSWESTOVER PATRIOTS |Teen leadership summitsscheduled for summerLEADING CE >> Maj. Robert Russo took command of the 439thCivil Engineering Squadron Feb. 5 from Lt. Col. Paul Goliber. CE,one of 15 squadrons of the 439th Airlift Wing, comprises about150 reservists.Post-9/11 GI Bill gets betterRecent legislative changes toPost 9/11 GI Bill will enhanceeducation opportunities andmake the program easier to use.These changes will be effectiveAug 1.Changes include:-- Establishing a national cap of$17,500 annually for tuition andfees at a private or foreign school,graduate study and out-of-statestudents--Paying vocation training,apprenticeships, and on-the-jobtraining;includes tuition costsand living stipend.-- Crediting Guardsmen forsome time served on Title 32and Title 32, sec 502f funding.Specifics will be announcedsoon-- Allowing students andspouses on active duty to receivethe stipend for books andsupplies-- Pro-rating housing allowanceto exclude payments when studentsare not taking courses-- Permitting reimbursementfor more than one license andcertification test-- Reimbursing fees for nationaladmission tests, such as the SAT,ACT, GMAT, GRE and LSAT-- Allowing eligible membersparticipating in the VA's VocationalRehabilitation andEmployment benefits to choosebetween the VA's housing allowanceand the VR&E's subsistenceallowanceFor more information, goto gibill.va.gov or contact theTotal Force Service Center at800-525-0102.Westover reservists may alsocall the base education andtraining office at 557-2042.Airman & Family Readiness Center eventsMarch 8: Key Spouse Meeting - 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.;March 12: Joint Force Military Family Readiness GroupGathering - Springfield Technical Community College;April 9 - Month of the Military Child Celebration; April 15 -Volunteer Appreciation LuncheonFor more information, contact Airman and Family Readinessat 413-557-3024 or visit www.westoverafrc.orgROBI NS AIR FORCEBASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Officialsfrom the Air ForceReserve and Air NationalGuard announced the 2011 AirForce Reserve and ANG TeenLeadership Summit locationsJan. 5.The Air Force Reserve andANG Teen Leadership Summitlocations this summer arein Dahlonega, Ga.; Estes Park,Colo.; and Washington, D.C.The summits combine highadventureactivities withleadership classes to allowteens to tap into their leadershippotential and discoverhidden strengths while developinga sense of belongingto the Air Force community,officials said. Teens with a parentin the Air Force Reserve orANG can attend one of the freesummits. Deadline for applicationsis April 8. Participantsmust be 14 to 18 years old.Application instructions areavailable at georgia4h.org/AFRANGTeenSummit.Teens must answer essayquestions and complete codeof-conductand transportationforms to attend one of thesessions. The first summit isthe Classic Teen LeadershipSummit June 19 through 24 inDahlonega, Ga.During the summit, participantswill take part ingroup activities such as highropes, zip-line canopy tour,white-water rafting, hiking,fishing, archery and survivalclasses. The participants willalso attend leadership classesthroughout the week.A new summit this year isthe Capitol Teen LeadershipSummit July 25 through 29 inWashington. Attendees willfocus on citizenship, characterbuilding and high adventure.Their experience will includeexploring the wonders of thenation's capital, such as monuments,memorials and theSmithsonian museums.They will also have the chanceto meet with their congressionalmember or a member of hisor her staff. The last summit isthe Adventure Teen LeadershipSummit Aug. 9 through14 in Estes Park, Colo.During the summit, participantswill take part indaily adventure activities includinghiking, mountainbiking, horseback riding, horsecolt training, arts and crafts,woodworking, technical rockclimbing, and archery. Leadershipclasses taught throughoutthe week include the SevenHabits of Highly EffectiveTeens.They will gather for programsincluding campfires andsongs, musical performancesand environmental educationclasses. For more information,send an email to Stacey.young@us.af.mil or call 800-223-1784, extension 70971, oremail brandi.mullins.ctr@us.af.mil or call 800-223-1784,extension 72090.(Courtesy of Air ForceReserve Command PublicAffairs)