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Show 4 Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES TIMES July 10, 2014 Air Force Art Program highlights Reserve Airmen Air Force News Service WASHINGTON — Lt. Gen. James Jackson, the chief of Air Force Reserve, and Maj. Warren Neary, the Air Force Space Command historian, presented two pieces of art depicting Reserve Airmen in operational roles to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, recently. Neary, also a reservist, painted Bandage 33 and Showtime after Welsh highlighted the stories behind each piece during his speech at the Air Force Association conference last year. Jackson said these paintings depict the vital role citizen Airmen play in every mission set given to the Air Force. "The Air Force Reserve brings operational capability every single day," Jackson said. "We see that because we're in every mission set the Air Force has." Bandage 33 is of a medevac mission flown out of Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Two Reserve Airmen, Capt. Adriana Valadez and Senior Airman Amanda Pena, were deployed to the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Kandahar, and their flight picked up Tech. Sgt. Zach Rhyner, an Air Force combat controller, after he was critically wounded in March 2013. En route, Rhyner's condition worsened, prompting Valadez to call for immediate di- version into Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The aircraft encountered turbulence upon approach, making it difficult to apply pressure to Rhyner's wounds. Valadez and Pena strapped themselves to the side of the litter, making it possible for Valadez to apply pressure through the landing, taxi and transportation to the hospital. "It is this moment that I worked to capture in the painting," Neary said. "They saved his life." The second painting shows Reservist Lt. Col. Kevin "Showtime" Sutterfield, an F-22 Raptor pilot with the 477th Fighter Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. SCOTT M. ASH/U.S. Air Force Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III looks at the painting, "Bandage 33," with the artist, Maj. Warren Neary, in the Pentagon on June 20. Neary, a U.S. Air Force Reserve historian contributed "Bandage 33," and another work, "Showtime," through the Air Force Art Program, and Chief of Air Force Reserves Gen. James ZJJ" Jackson unveiled the two pieces for Welsh. New school directory guides parents of special-needs kids By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON — A permanent-change-ofstation move prompts its own challenges, but family members with special-needs children face another complexity when looking for the right schools at their new home, a Defense Department official said. Ed Tyner, acting deputy director of DoD's special needs program, told DoD News that service members and their families can find a comprehensive tool in the newly updated Education Directory for Children with Special Needs, which addresses opportunities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Available on the Military OneSource website, the directory gives parents guidance to make informed decisions on new school districts, programs and services for specialneeds children. "DoD is supportive of all families with special needs," Tyner emphasized. The directory has been available for about four years. It initially covered 15 states with the largest military populations and certain special needs, such as autism, intellectual deficits and behavioral concerns, Tyner said. In addition to those needs, the new directory includes "the whole gamut," from speech and language to learning disabilities to physical impairments, he said. The new directory, Tyner said, is "much more comprehensive." Tyner noted that the directory is an education resource that's also useful to families without specialneeds children. Navigational tools provide family members with tips on transitioning between schools by providing questions to ask and offering forms to download. "It's organized in a way that makes it very [userfriendly]. The feedback we've gotten from families has been great," Tyner said. The directory comprises two components: one on early intervention for children up to age 2, and another for school-aged children and young adults up to age 22, and both provide a substantive guide of tools and resources to make education transitions easier during a PCS move. While the directory on Military OneSource neither compares nor rates schools, it will walk family members through school districts near the installation and lists what schools offer for special-needs education opportunities and services, as well as enrollment numbers, Tyner explained. "Contacts are listed so family members know who to call for more information," he said. Other tools in the directory include a checklist to give family members questions to ask at the new school and tips for organizing school records and other advice to help in the transition. A common theme is that families look for spe- cial-needs education opportunities that are comparable to the school resources from which they're moving, Tyner said. Laws ensure that special-needs education must provide comparable services, he added. "Parents need to be sure the individualized needs, goals and objectives for their child are being met," he said, even though the new school might be organized differently. "The directory has been designed to help parents make better decisions, and it gives them information and tools as they work with their family members' special needs," Tyner said. "It shows the commitment by DoD to really put resources where they need to be for these families." A Hill Air Force Base Exceptional Family Member Family Support Specialist can also be reached 801-586-2611 or email efmpfs@us.af.mil . DREAM SMILES Don't deal wit12 the pain amore. Call Ecigion Eft: U•now! 7 - 31 - 14 78082003W. Ste. PA Swoons% LIT 84075 wiessoripcimanssmileacam 801-770-3C00 Airmen encouraged to review contact info By Staff Sgt. Ian Hoachlander Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIORANDOLPH, Texas — When Airmen go through major changes in their life, such as marriage, a permanent change of station, or having a child, one of the first things that should come to mind is, "I have to update my Virtual Record of Emergency Data," or vRED. While this is not always the case, it is imperative Airmen update their emergency data when major changes occur and at least annually to ensure their family is taken care of during a time of crisis. The DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data, is the official source document required by law for Airmen to provide emergency contact information and beneficiary designations to the Air Force in the event an Airman becomes a casualty. The vRED, accessible through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight, satisfies that requirement. "It is vital for Airmen to understand the purpose of the vRED and understand the importance of its accuracy," said Todd Rose, the Air Force Personnel Center casualty matters division chief. "Delays in next of kin notification are most often associated with in- complete or outdated information. "Completion and annual validation of the vRED is mandatory and is the responsibility of each Airman," Rose said. Airmen can access their vRED thru the myPers website at https:// mypers.af.mil . Once at the myPers' home page Airmen should click the "Update my Virtual Record of Emergency Data" link. This will take them to a page directing them how to access their vRED. "When important life-changing events such as marriage, divorce, or a change in address occur, the vRED should be updated as soon as possible," said 1st Lt. Brian Meredith, the AFPC casualty services officer. "Having a complete and accurate vRED ensures the Air Force Casualty Services Branch can provide prompt and accurate casualty reporting, dignified and humane casualty notifications, as well as efficient, thorough and compassionate follow-on assistance to surviving families." For more information about emergency contact data and other personnel issues, visit the myPers website or contact a casualty assistance representative at the nearest Airman and Family Readiness Center. 2nd FRAME* for YOU a Friend, or Family Member BUY CONTACT LENSES ONLINE AT www.MILITARYCONTACTS.net 'Second free frame must be of equal or lesser retail value as the lust frame. Customer only pays for the lenses and extra features. Complete pair purchase required on both pairs. Second free frame must be purchased with the first pair and at the same date and time. No dispensing fee. Cannerbe combined with any other discount, coupon or insurance plan. 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