ArmedForces.com

Team Andersen finished its National Police Week observance May 17 with a retreat ceremony at the 36th Wing headquarters building here.

National Police Week occurs each year during the week of May 15 in recognition of the service and sacrifice of members of U.S. law enforcement agencies. The week was established by Congress in 1962 as a way to recognize those law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty protecting others.

"Police Week is important because it brings personnel together who serve in the law enforcement community and helps the capacity to enhance cooperation among law enforcement," said Staff Sgt. Dwight Schweiger, 36th Security Forces Squadron police services.
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Thirty-one active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and U.S. Navy members graduated from the basic security operations course May 16 at the Pacific Regional Training Center here.

Members of the 736th Security Forces Squadron Commando Warrior Flight operate the PRTC and train frontline defenders from the Pacific area of responsibility on U.S. Central Command and regional training requirements to support contingency missions and home station security.

During the 17-day course, students received in-depth training about convoy operations, counter improvised explosive devices, navigation techniques, advanced weapons tactics and other skills to promote base and mobile security. These skills are most vital to defenders when deploying downrange.
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Currently, more than 700,000 civilian government employees will be furloughed up to 11 days before the end of the fiscal year, and local banks on Guam are looking to offer financial support for affected civilians.

Pentagon Federal Credit Union and Bank of Guam, both of which have branches on Andersen AFB, are offering various options for affected civilians and are willing to help as much as they can to relieve the financial stress of sequestration.

"The main thing is that we ask members who feel they are going to have a problem meeting their obligations to contact us, as options are available," said Lynne Franklin, Andersen's Pentagon Federal Credit Union manager. "We encourage people to come in and we are willing to help."
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In late 1944, a U.S. Army commander and his troops ventured to Guam for an air strip construction mission, enabling B-29 Superfortress' to launch air raids on mainland Japan. The finished product, North Field --now Northwest Field-- is still in use today.

Almost 60 years later, Army Capt. Jeffrey Beeman, 523rd Engineer Company commander, took charge of construction efforts on the same site his grandfather, Army Col. Herbert Brown, former 854th Aviation Battalion commander, completed before the end of World War II.
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Airmen from the 36th Medical Group recognized National Nurses Week here May 6-12 by testing knowledge and skills of nurses and medical technicians. The theme this year was focused on delivering quality and innovation in patient care.

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year in honor of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing and her medical contribution during the 1854 Crimean War.

"(This) week is a time where all the hard work, dedication and countless hours that nurses and technicians put in day in and day out, year 'round is highlighted and appreciated by other health care professionals," said Tech. Sgt. Sharnta Bullard, 36th MDG ambulance services NCO in charge.
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After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary layoffs will now be necessary.

During a town hall meeting May 14 at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va., Hagel told Defense Department employees that most will be required to take 11 furlough days beginning July 8, one per week, through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.
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Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage.

TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments electronically.

The Defense Manpower Data Center notified current TRR and TRS beneficiaries directly by email, and new beneficiaries were informed in their welcome package information when enrolling.
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Certain practices and skills are necessary in order to be safe drivers. Sharing a road with multi-million dollar aircraft while paying attention to unique light signals and road signs could makes the process more challenging, which is why driving on Andersen's airfield requires special training and certifications.

After the unit commander identifies the personnel's need for airfield driving privilege, each driver trains with their unit airfield driving program manager. Once all training requirements have been met, personnel are then certified by airfield management and issued an airfield driver's license, also known as the AF483 competency card.
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Members of the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight taught safety and history to 43 George Washington High School students during a field trip here, May 1.

As part of students' curriculum on World War II in relation to Guam's history, Andersen EOD invited students to their facility to get a first-hand lesson on munitions and other artifacts that were used during the historic period.

"Visiting the base and interacting with the military helps us teach this portion of the curriculum," said Dave Nelson, GWHS history teacher. "We can teach them in the classroom all day, but to physically see and experience what the military does here really reinforces what we teach."
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Being a mother in the military can be a difficult job, and Mother's Day is a day to recognize mothers and all they do for their children.

Staff Sgt. Kirsten Roberts, 36th Force Support Squadron Gateway Inn front desk supervisor, balances a life of being an imagination pilgrim with her daughter and serving on active duty in the military.

During the week, Roberts finds herself caught up in the stresses of work and becoming a certified lactation consultant. But she tries to find as much time as possible with her husband and her daughter.
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About three weeks ago, severe drought conditions were issued for 13 islands and atolls in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Team Andersen members, with support from the local community, are currently gathering water to deliver as soon as possible.

Tech. Sgt. Paul Alfred, 36th Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, who is originally from Likiep, one of the affected atolls, has been leading the efforts and has already collected about 500 gallons of water on behalf of Andersen.
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Growing up in Green Bay, Wis., with a passion of revisiting the past through history, Team Andersen's historian now spends his days gazing at the Hindu Kush Mountains as many ancient historical warriors saw, including Cyrus the Great, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great.

Jeffrey Meyer, 36th Wing historian, currently spends his days deployed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, starting each day ready to document Air Force history in Southwest Asia, but his path of recording history started more than three decades ago with sunken ships.
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A Medal of Honor recipient toured Andersen Air Force Base, and spoke to members of Andersen's Top Three, May 3.

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Don Jenkins, one of the 85 living Medal of Honor recipients, spoke to approximately 40 senior NCOs about his experiences as a young soldier and expressed his opinion on being a senior leader.

During his speech, Jenkins spoke about leading younger Airmen, and their tendencies to change and grow, especially during war.

"I was young in the military once, and things can change fast," Jenkins said. "I'm the only private first class to get an Article 15 at 10 a.m. one day, and less than 24 hours later be put in for the Congressional Medal of Honor by my leadership for my actions in Vietnam."
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Charged with setting up a landing zone in the island of Luzon, Philippines, paratrooper "Sergeant Castro" jumped from an HC-130 Hercules but then lost all communication with controllers. With intelligence showing evidence of his survival, it was up to the Airmen from the 36th Mobility Response Squadron to come to his rescue.

Through a simulated rescue mission, members of the 36th MRS tested their endurance, team work and knowledge at Tarague Beach here May 2.

Three six-man teams completed a four-and-a-half-mile course with seven different challenge station designed to promote team building, physical fitness and squadron morale. In accomplishing these tasks, 36th MRS members demonstrated their proficiency at organizing, equipping and leading cross-functional forces as the initial Air Force presence at forward operating locations across the Pacific area of responsibility.
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