Family Ties Family Ties - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

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PATRIOT | NEWSFEATURE|FAMILY SUPPORT >> Staff Sgt. Cristina Posada, 439th Security Forces Squadron,gets a group hug from her daughter, Gisellle, and husband Marvin. The Posadafamily isonly one of the hundreds of families that Westover’s Airmen and Family Readiness Center supports. (photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Biscoe)continued from page 7“We have been told we do morethan we have to do, but if we havethe answer or solution, why notprovide it?”Westover members have benefitedfrom this approach to familysupport in areas such as financialconsulting, emotional support,education opportunities and jobhuntingassistance.“We have provided VA loaneducation courses, resume developmentclasses and we havea computer bank that memberscan use for various purposes,” saidTech Sgt. Rachel Pfeiffer, Airmanand Family Readiness Centertechnician.One notable Airman and FamilyReadiness program is “OPERA-TION Pillowcase.” They takepictures of military memberswho deploy, print the photos onpillowcases, and provide them freeto their families.This very popular program cameinto being after the Sept. 11, 2001terrorist attacks and during theincreased deployments in supportof Operations Enduring and IraqiFreedom.“We have provided more than4000 pillowcases since we startedthis program,” said Sergeant Pfeiffer.“It’s not just children whoget the pillowcases. We have hadboyfriends and girlfriends ask forthe pillowcases too.”“OPERATION Pillowcase’s”reception has been so positivethat the program is now going AirForce Reserve-wide.“We have presented this programat many conferences and it hascaught on,” said Sergeant Babin.Dawn Lawlor, wife of MasterSgt. Dan Lawlor, 42nd Aerial PortSquadron, knows the benefits ofthe Airmen and Family ReadinessCenter and the difference the staffand its volunteers make.She is a volunteer with theKey Family Member Program,an organization of volunteersthat checks in on families withdeployed reservists with periodicphone calls. Ms. Lawlor also haspillowcases that feature a photo ofher husband and an American flag.Sergeant Lawlor recently returnedfrom a four-month deployment toJoint Base Balad in Iraq."All five of my kids have the pillowcases.They love it. They call itthe 'Daddy pillow.' These pillowcasesare awesome for the kids."Ms. Lawlor is reassured from thebase's network of people who callto check on her. "Because we're aReserve base, we need something,"she said. "I'm really glad the basehas the Key Family Member Programand family support. I still getphone calls from the first sergeant(Senior Master Sgt. TimothyMaguire) and the chief (ChiefMaster Sgt. Bruce Westcott).The staff members are involved inmany different facets of reservists’quality of life and providedneededassistance for not only Air Force“We are a purple organization. We arenot only here for members of the 439thbut for tenant units on base.”-- Master Sgt. Kimberly Babinmembers but the joint community.“We are a purple organization,”said Sergeant Babin. “We are notonly here for members of the 439thbut for the tenant units on base.We also have supported Barnes(Massachusetts Air NationalGuard) and Bradley (ConnecticutAir National Guard).”“With all the services the Airmenand Family Readiness staffprovides, it would be hard toimagine what servicememberswould do without it,” said TechSgt. Rebecca Duvall, Airmen andFamily Readiness technician.“I think you would find we havean approval rating of 99 percent,”said Sergeant Babin. “We’re alwayshere for anyone who needsus.”Col. Robert Swain, 439th AWcommander, and Tech. Sgt. MargaretSullivan, staff technician,received the award at a DefenseDepartment awards banquet heldat the Pentagon Feb. 13. “Thisprestigious award is a testimonyto the extraordinary dedication ofour Airmen and Family ReadinessCenter staff,” he said.
Dental health is a major factor in overallhealth – and a major factor in military readiness.With dental issues provoking the mostmedical profiles, the Department of Defenseis changing requirements and offering help.The implementation of Preventative HealthAssessment/Individual Medical ReadinessTeen summit camp sign-up deadline is April 6Children of current Air Force Reserve andAir National Guard need to apply by April6. for this summer’s Teen Summits.Application and criteria are on line at www.georgia4h.org/AFRANGTeenSummit.The summits are scheduled for July 13-17, atWahsega 4-H Center, Dahlonega, Ga. andJuly 27-31 at the Jekyll Island 4-H Center,Jekyll Island, Ga.The summits will focus on developing anawareness of programs and services availableThree Patriot Wing Airmen receive Article 15 punishmentsEDITOR’S NOTE: Publicationof Article 15 punishments is intendedto serve as a deterrent to membersof the 439th Airlift Wing.This article covers three Article 15s,which are nonjudicial punishmentsunder the Uniform Code of Militaryto Reserve and Guard family members.Activities include high/low ropes course,rock climbing, white water rafting, environmentaleducation and leadership classes,sea kayaking/canoeing, dolphin tours, biking,a day at Cumberland Island NationalSeashore, and more.The summits are open to all 15-18 yearolds.For more information, call StaceyYoung at (478) 327-0971, or e-mail at Stacey.young@afrc.af.milPATRIOT | PAGE 9Reservists may apply for free dental exams at medical facilityby Senior Master Sgt.Sandi Michon(PIMR) in late 2008 now requires reserviststo provide dental exam documentation oneyear after the date of their previous exam (ifthe dental exam is done prior to a year, thenthe subsequent exam is due one year from thatnew month.) Previously, regulations requiredreservists to have a dental exam annuallywithin six months of their birth month, eitherthrough their private-practice dentist or viatheir military medical exam.Justice.A senior airman from the 42ndAerial Port Squadron misusedthe government travel card whileon annual tour. The reservist receiveda reduction in rank to thegrade of airman first class.photo courtesy of 4-H WahsegaA senior airman from the 439thMaintenance Squadron, on activeduty orders, tested positive for theuse of marijuana. The memberreceived a reduction to the gradeof airman first class and a generaldischarge.Every third year, a military dental examsubsitutes for the annual civilian exam. Toincrease readiness and reduce reservists’financial hardship to provide dental exams,the Reserve Health Readiness Program(RHRP) will provide free dental exams toreservists that apply.The RHRP is a Department of DefenseHealth Affairs initiative which provides inclinicdental exams through a nationwidenetwork of civilian dental providers.Interested reservists should access anIndividual Request Form from their unit’shealth monitor, or contact Senior AirmanDaryl Szyp at Westover’s medical squadronat 413-557-2644. Reservists can visit a clinicwithin 50 miles of their residence and theexam will count for both civilian and militaryexam requirements.Westover’s dental section is also trying tocoordinate an RHRP group event at the basein April to help reservists satisfy their dentalrequirements for free.According to Lt. Col. Michael Szostak,Westover’s chief dental officer, the base needs50 interested Reservists to merit a groupevent. Information about the April event isforthcoming.“Dental health is pivotal to readiness andwe are trying to help reservists comply withrequirements,” said Colonel Szostak. “It’sultimately to the reservist’s advantage topursue dental health, as there is a strong linkbetween oral health and general health.”He said dental infections can be systemicand spread to other parts of the body.Maj. Linda Reichler, base dental officer,related an example from her active duty timeat Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. “An active-dutymember developed a brain abscess from atooth abscess and nearly died,” she said.Any questions about the requirementchange or the free exams should be directedto Airman Szyp.A senior airman from the 42ndAPS accessed and stored pornographyon a government computerwhile deployed.The Airman received a suspendedreduction in rank to thegrade of airman first class and areprimand.
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Page 3 and 4: EDITORIAL | Maintenance pride focus
Page 6 and 7: a little R & R:PATRIOT | NEWSKEEPIN
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Family Ties Family Ties - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

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