April 10, 2013

Air Force restarts tuition assistance

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The Air Force has officially restarted military tuition assistance, effective immediately. The service restarted the program as a result of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, where Congress called for the MTA program to continue in the current fiscal year. As a result of the restart, the program will resume the same

April 3, 2013

Hagel to return part of his salary during furloughs, spokesman says

WASHINGTON — In solidarity with the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian employees facing furloughs, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he will voluntarily return part of his salary to the U.S. Treasury, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said April 2.Though furlough-exempt as a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed official, Hagel will commit to

April 1, 2013

Air Force reservists and retirees eligible for TRICARE healthcare programs

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — TRICARE has affordable healthcare programs available for all Air Force Reserve retirees - including "gray-area retirees" and actively-participating Air Force reservists, no matter what orders they are on.Reservists who retire before age 60 are eligible for TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage while they are in the "gray area." This is the waiting

March 27, 2013

New Air Force 'Better Foods. Better Bodies.' healthy-eating campaign pilots at three bases

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — The Office of the Air Force Surgeon General and Air Force Medical Operations Agency Health Promotion office have launched a pilot campaign recently focused on motivating Airmen and their families to eat healthier. The campaign - which adopted the tagline "Better Foods. Better Bodies." - aims to raise awareness of healthy food options, increase

March 21, 2013

It Takes a Village

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE Calif. — "Hey, Mom, guess what!"It was an innocent start to a recent conversation with my son that served as a real wake-up call for me. When my 10-year-old told me someone had asked him if he wanted to get high, my first reaction was to begin interrogating him with a barrage of who, what, where, and how's. But he was looking at me to see my reaction, so I

March 19, 2013

2013 Teen Summit accepting applications

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard announced the 2013 AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summit are currently accepting applications through April 15. The AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summit locations this summer are in Dahlonega, Ga., and Estes Park, Colo.The Leadership Summit is a week-long camp for 14-18 year old dependent teens of current Air Force

March 19, 2013

940th Wing Bracket Challenge

BEALE AFB Calif. — In honor of the NCAA Basketball Tournament the 940th Wing, Beale Air Force Base Calif. has created a tournament of their own. But instead of college teams, you will be able to vote for your favorite aircraft in history of the Air Force. The tournament is broken up into for "regions" with eight aircraft in the following

March 18, 2013

13th Reconnaissance Squadron to be deactivated

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — When the Air Force Reserve Command announced the deactivation of the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Jan. 25, no one at the reserve unit on Beale Air Force Base, Calif., was shocked, but they were surprised. The future of the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30 has been a topic of congressional debate since the Presidential Budget, released last February,

March 15, 2013

Don't Drive Drunk This St. Patrick's Day

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — As St. Patrick's Day approaches, drivers are reminded not to get behind the wheel if they've been drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports over 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving a drunk driver during the St. Patrick's Day holiday from 2006 to 2010. "Whether you're gathering with friends at the local

March 14, 2013

Reservists lend helping hand to 9th CES

BEALE AFB, Calif. — The structure fire that swept through the 9th Civil Engineering Squadron building on Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Jan 21, destroyed millions of dollars of equipment and left 191 personnel without a workplace. But, thanks to the squadron's reserve counterparts, a big part of the unit wasn't incapacitated for long.Displaced 9 CES active duty and