Kadena Base Bulletin, Jan. 5 Published Jan. 4, 2011 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- To submit an announcement for the base bulletin, please email a short paragraph (NOT bullets) containing essential information (who, what, when, where, why, and how) to kadena.basebulletin@kadena.af.mil. Announcements typically run for two weeks beginning two weeks prior to an event. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday to be included in the weekly bulletin email sent on Wednesday. NO FEDERAL ENDORSEMENT OF PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS OR ACTIVITIES IS INTENDED. In the bulletin this week at Kadena: NOTICES Fire safety tip - parking awareness New selective re-enlistment bonus list Kadena HRO closure 18th Medical Group Closure 18th Medical Group Exercise Information Changes to Naha Airport Shuttle Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's Class Baggage fee changes Kadena ITT closures Kadena Tax Center free tax services UPCOMING EVENTS MLK Day observances Kadena Commissary Sidewalk Sale Space-A Travel Workshop Kadana's 4th Quarter Awards Ceremony Kadena Falcons Men's Varsity Basketball Team tournament Okinawa Diplomats Youth Futbol Club Soccer Tryouts Banyan Tree Golf Course Four-Person Scramble Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's class Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby classes VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 2011 Okinawa Marathon Kadena Tax center OESC Thrift Store volunteers Kadena High School Airmen Against Drunk Driving Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates Tops in Blue volunteer opportunities NOTICES Fire safety tip - parking awareness It takes two minutes for a small fire to grow into a devastating fire. It also takes two minutes for a fire truck to readjust to a situation because access to streets are hindered by cars parked on both sides of small streets, blocking fire hydrants, and vehicles parked around islands. Within that time it could be your belongings that perish, or worse a family member. In order to prevent a bad situation the Kadena Fire Department is asking everyone to be aware of parking in housing. Ask yourself, "could a big fire truck get into my area?" If the answer is "no," speak with your neighbors. Walking an extra block is a lot better than losing everything you own. If you have any questions, please contact Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Ruffenach with the Kadena Fire Prevention office at 634-4500. Also, don't forget to test your smoke detectors. New selective re-enlistment bonus list Airmen should contact the career development element at their servicing military personnel section to determine their eligibility to re-enlist with a SRB entitlement. Kadena HRO closure The Kadena Human Resources Office (HRO) will be closed Jan. 6 from 2-4 p.m. due to carpet cleaning. The HRO will re-open Jan. 7 at 8 a.m. 18th Medical Group Closure The 18th Medical Group will be closed Jan. 17 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. In case of emergency, please call 911 on-base, 119 off-base, 098-934-5911 from a cell phone, or go directly to the U.S. Naval Hospital Emergency Department. For after-hours acute medical or dental needs, call medical's Okinawa Clinical Answering Service (OCAS) at 643-4245 or 098-970-5555 then dial 643-4245 (off-base or using cell phone). For dental, contact the provider on-call at 080-2721-0412 or 639-2324. 18th Medical Group Exercise Information Kadena Clinic will be participating in and supporting our Wing's readiness exercise Jan. 18-21. We will continue to provide medical care, but there may be some delays in service. Changes to Naha Airport Shuttle Effective Jan. 18, the Naha Airport Shuttle will operate two routes a day, seven days a week excluding U.S. federal holidays, PACAF family days and Typhoon Condition 1. Schedules will be posted at the AMC terminal, in the Shogun Inn and at www.kadena.af.mil. Passengers on official orders will have priority. If the schedule does not work for your needs and you have 12 or more passengers on official orders, please contact Vehicle Dispatch at 634-4505 to make other arrangements. In accordance with DoD 4500.36-R and AFI 24-301, transportation will not be provided to commercial airports based solely on the traveler's rank, position, prestige or personal convenience. For more information, contact Vehicle Dispatch at 634-4505 or 634-3345. Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's Class The next Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's Class is Jan. 11 at 7:30 a.m. in Bldg 3621. Registration will start at 7 a.m. Entry to the class requires each attendee to have a copy of their current appointment letter. One copy of the letter will not admit two, three or four attendees. Supervisors do not require a letter unless they will also serve as a primary or alternate. People who attend without a letter will get credit for attending but will not receive a certificate of training. The class takes most of the day and has a final exam. Passing score is 80 percent on first attempt or 70 percent on any subsequent attempt. Only a drink vending machine is available, attendees should bring snacks. Baggage fee changes Kadena AMC Passenger Terminal is announcing the excess baggage fees have changed from $110 to $112. This greatly affects members in PCS status when using the Patriot Express flight. Baggage allowance is, except as noted, passengers are authorized to check two pieces of baggage not to exceed 70 pounds each (140 pounds total) and 62 linear inches (the sum of the length plus the width plus the height). Single items exceeding 70 pounds and/or 62 linear inches shall be counted as two pieces and, therefore, fulfill the allowance for a passenger. Space-R passengers may purchase space for personal excess baggage. Baggage exceeding the normal baggage allowance shall be considered excess. Excess baggage not authorized in the travel order is considered personal excess and shall be paid for or disposed of by the passenger. Space-R passenger's authorized excess baggage must be stated in the passenger's travel orders, expressed in pieces allowed. Kadena ITT closures Kadena Information, Tickets and Travel will temporarily close on Saturdays due to manning constraints. For more information, contact Kadena ITT at 959-4322. Kadena Tax Center free tax services Active duty, DoD civilians, SOFA status contractors, and DoDDS teachers as well as the dependents of these sponsors are eligible for the free tax service. Only tax returns prepared by a Kadena Unit Tax Advisor can be electronically filed at the Kadena Tax Center. We cannot prepare your State return if we did not prepare the Federal. For questions or an appointment, please call 634-9480/7418. UPCOMING EVENTS MLK Day observances: This year's MLK observance at Kadena This year, the MLK Day Committee on Kadena hosts several events to reinvigorate, educate, and improve each other. For school-aged children We will offer school-aged children the opportunity to participate in art projects and essay contests. These efforts will be coordinated by Staff Sgt. Kirsten Cook at 634-1800. 'Letter from Birmingham jail' Our first event is an analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s, "Letter from Birmingham Jail," led by Lt. Col. Seung Paik, on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at the Officers Club. This letter has been reproduced by Stanford University. Some of you may have written papers on this historical letter in high school or college. Everyone is welcomed to participate in the discussion. The only request is to read the letter prior to the discussion. The invitation is open to all educational levels, so do not be afraid to show up, teach, and learn. You can R.S.V.P. at this link: https://einvitations.afit.edu/Byrd154/anim.cfm. Luncheon On Wednesday, Jan. 12, there will be a luncheon at Officers Club from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The guest speaker is Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth O. Wright. Tickets cost $10. If you would like to R.S.V.P. and/or pay with your credit card on a secured site you may visit this link: https://einvitations.afit.edu/King267/anim.cfm or see your respective Group representative. Gospel fest On Friday, Jan. 14, there will be a Gospel Fest at Kadena Chapel 1, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The cost is free and the attire is civilian business casual. The goal for this multicultural event is to celebrate that America has made a huge change that so many in the world still struggle with. You can R.S.V.P. at this link: https://einvitations.afit.edu/MLK152/anim.cfm. 5K run/walk The final event will be the 5K Run/Walk at the Risner Fitness Center on Saturday, Jan. 15, with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. Not only is this an event to enhance our physical abilities and health, but it also gives us the chance to actively participate in our right and freedom to run and walk together. Kadena Commissary Sidewalk Sale The Kadena Commissary is holding a Sidewalk Sale Jan. 14 - 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special deals on great products. For more information, call 634-1314. Space-A Travel Workshop The Kadena Airman & Family Readiness Center offers a free monthly Space-A Travel workshop to inform and educate service members and their families on Space-Available traveling. A representative from the AMC Passenger Terminal will brief and answer any questions you have. Upcoming workshops will be Jan. 24, Feb. 28, and March 28. The workshops will continuously be offered on the last Monday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. Please call 634-3366 or stop by the A&FRC, bldg. 220 to register for the workshop. Kadana's 4th Quarter Awards Ceremony The time for Kadana's 4th-Quarter Awards Ceremony is approaching. Effective this quarter, the ceremony location will be the Keystone Theater. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Jan. 27, but group award nominees must report at 2 p.m. for practice and name verification. For more information, contact Master Sgt. Chad Pettyjohn at chad.pettyjohn@kadena.af.mil. Kadena Falcons Men's Varsity Basketball Team tournament The Kadena Falcons Men's Varsity Basketball Team were crowned champions of the Pacific as they defeated the home favorite Osan Defenders 92-82 in the championship game of the 2010, 25th-annual PACAF Christmas Tournament held at Osan Air Base, Korea. The Falcons will be competing in their next tournament at Camp Hansen Jan. 7-9 and at the annual MLK tournament at Camp Foster Jan. 14-17. For more information about the team, contact Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth Wright, Falcon's head coach, at 630-4141 or by email at Kaleth.wright@kadena.af.mil. Okinawa Diplomats Youth Futbol Club Soccer Tryouts The Okinawa Diplomats Youth Futbol (Soccer) Club is holding its two-day tryouts Jan. 15-16 at the soccer fields in front of Camp Lester Naval Hospital. Weather back-up dates for the tryouts are Jan. 22-23. Tryout Registration is 8-9 a.m. Saturday and tryouts are 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday. The ODYFC will field a 10-U, a 12-U, and a 15-U team this spring. The spring season runs from Jan. 22 to May 15. Prospective players must attend both days of tryouts. This is a competitive soccer club that competes against Japanese schools around Okinawa. All SOFA dependents welcome. For more info contact Matt Vogel, the club president, at vogelokinawa@gmail.com or Greg Obar, the vice president, at russellobar@hotmail.com. For additional information, visit www.leaguelineup.com/diplomats. Banyan Tree Golf Course Four-Person Scramble Banyan Tree Golf Course will be hosting a Four-Person Scramble Tournament Jan. 15 at 7 a.m. shotgun start, with the sign-up deadline Jan. 12. Players may choose their own team of four or sign up as three or less and be paired by draw. Handicaps will be used to flight the teams. Golfers without an official handicap are welcome to sign up as well.. $40 includes greens fee, cart fee, tournament fee, prizes / giveaways, lunch buffett, and a great time! To sign up visit the Banyan Tree Golf Course Pro Shop (Kadena building 12). For more information, call 959-3900. Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's class The next Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager's class is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 7:30 a.m. in Bldg 3621. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Entry to the class requires each attendee to have a copy of their current appointment letter. One copy of the letter will NOT admit Two, Three or Four attendees. Supervisors do not require a letter unless they will also serve as a Primary or Alternate. People who attend without a letter will get credit for attending but will not receive a certificate of training. The class takes up most of the day and has a final exam. Passing score is 80 percent on first attempt or 70 percent on any subsequent attempt. We only have a drink vending machine so please bring your snacks with you. Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby classes The Kadena American Red Cross will be conducting healthy pregnancy, healthy baby classes for expectant mothers plus her spouse or friend for five Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. beginning Jan. 19. This class covers early pregnancy, labor and birth, and the first few months postpartum including family planning. Each participant needs to submit a refundable textbook deposit of $15.00. To enroll, please call 634-1979 or stop by the Red Cross office in building 220. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 2011 Okinawa Marathon Volunteers from groups, squadrons, private organizations, or as individuals are needed to provide water or cheer on runners at stations along the base route through Kadena during 2011 Okinawa Marathon, Feb. 20. Those interested are encouraged to attend a meeting Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Schilling Ball Room (Bldg # 455). If you will volunteer as group, you can send one representative to the meeting. For volunteer sign-up or more information, e-mail hideaki.sakihama.jp@kadena.af.mil or call at 634-1595. Kadena Tax center The Kadena Tax Center is looking for volunteers for the upcoming tax season. Kadena has traditionally had one of the best tax programs in the Air Force. For tax year 2009, Kadena Tax Center Unit Tax Advisors (UTA) helped prepare 4,992 returns, saving servicemembers over $730,000 in tax preparation fees. Airmen interested in volunteering should check with their leadership before volunteering. Dependent spouses are also eligible to volunteer. For information or to submit UTA names, contact Elaine Reeves, Chief Tax Advisor, at 634-7825 or by e-mail at elaine.reeves@kadena.af.mil. OESC Thrift Store volunteers The OESC Thrift Store and Uncle Sam's Attic is always in need of hard working volunteers to sort donations, hang clothes, stock merchandise and help organize our uniform room. This is the perfect place to volunteer, have a great time, and get to know others - all while helping a worthy cause since our profits are donated to local American and Japanese charities and organizations. To volunteer, simply come in during our business hours and read and fill out our volunteer handbook. Business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kadena High School tutors Kadena High School is looking for volunteer tutors and mentors for the Homework Academy offered to students Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the first and third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to noon. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Susan Paul at susan.paul@pac.dodea.edu or 634-3455. Airmen Against Drunk Driving Each shift requires a three-person team: a dispatcher, a driver, and a passenger. The first shift goes from 9 p.m. to midnight, and the second from midnight - 3 a.m. Service will be provided on weekend nights during those hours to all Team Kadena members. AADD is located at the USO. Volunteers will have access to the internet, cable television, movies, and video games. Please contact the Executive Schedulers, Airman 1st Class Scott Cole or Senior Airman Jared Micks, to volunteer. You can also find us on global, listed under AADD Executive Council. Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates The SARC is looking for TRAINED victim advocates. If you were previously trained as a Victim Advocate and would like to continue serving at Kadena, please send an email to 18WG.SARC@Kadena.af.mil to volunteer. Note: We are not currently recruiting for new, untrained advocates, only previously trained. Must be military or GS Civilian. Dependents are not eligible. Tops in Blue volunteer opportunities The Tops in Blue Team will be at Kadena Air Base Jan. 13-16. Schilling Community Center is looking for volunteers for Jan. 14-16 to setup, usher, escort DVs, backstage, and tear down. The show times are Jan. 14-15 at 6 p.m. at the Keystone Theater and Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. If you would like to volunteer, please send an e-mail to Jordan.hodnett@kadena.af.mil with the following information: name, rank, squadron, phone number, desired event position, and day you want to volunteer. Family members of volunteer are placed in reserved seating one hour prior to shows.