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Show HILLTOP TIMES BRONZE STAR Hilltop TIMES March 24, 2011 Got your orders? First thing, go see the TMO BY MARY Lou CORNY TO DO LIST Hilltop Times editor B STAFF SGT. HEATHER SKINKLE/U.S. Air Force Col. Keith Knudson, 419th Fighter Wing commander, awards Tech. Sgt. Fred Schoeffler, 419th Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the Bronze Star award for his heroic efforts while deployed. Schoeffler's actions made it possible for two wounded soldiers to be safely evacuated and three convoys to return to the base. FALCON HILL NATIONAL AEROSPACE RESEARCH PARK EUL updates continue D uring non-peak traffic hours watch for heavier truck traffic on "M" Street while they haul additional fill dirt to the south Parking Lots of 1248 and 1258. This effort is to level the ground in preparation for the new gate entrance road and for sewer installation. These events will continue through March. Be aware of parking and traffic impacts at Popeye's Restaurant while grading the ground prior to the forming of the curbs and gutters during March. Watch for trucks along the west side of Wardleigh Road which are hauling dirt to the new access road site. The fill dirt is being used to construct an access road south of Building 891 to be used when the north end of Arsenal Road north of Building 891 is closed. The Wardleigh Road conveyor belt will continue to assist with the construction process by moving large amounts of dirt over the road thereby mitigating traffic disruption during the ICBM facility construction. Looking ahead The Enhanced Use Lease Program Management Office (PMO) at Hill Air Force Base is currently working with project stakeholders to continue planned construction for the initial development areas. Sunset Ridge Development Partners (SRDP) estimates construction will be complete on the first commercial office building, which is located inside the base fence line, by spring 2012. The new West Gate and Security Forces Squadron groundbreakings are scheduled for spring 2011 and infrastructure and utility lines are currently being installed. SRDP will actively market and pursue potential leasing commitments while the government PMO works closely with the developer and Military Installation Development Authority to continually increase project success. FAMILY From page 1 eration Enduring Freedom grinds on and other contingency operations brew on the horizon, more families are experiencing multiple deployments. Families' needs have shifted. Dr. Bridgette Cantrell cites research showing that "warriors on their third and fourth tours of duty have much greater rates of mental health challenges than those on their first or second deployments. Time, and the wear and tear, has become a daunting enemy. For eginning April 1, the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office in Colorado (JPPSO-COS) will implement a minimum three week notice for all shipments. This will affect local moves, non-temporary storage pick-ups and releases, and Direct Procurement Moves. Personally Procured Moves (PPM), or better known as "DITY," are not affected under this notice. Therefore, the Hill Air Force Base Traffic Management Office (TMO) is required to comply with this directive as with other Department of Defense installations under a JPPSO area of responsibility. All Airmen and DoD individuals who use the TMO would be well advised to get in and make an appointment as soon as orders are issued, said Joseph Moore, 75th Air Base Wing Traffic Management Officer. "We can better help them help themselves if they come into this office first to establish a move date prior to giving notice vacating quarters, regardless of whether they are on base or downtown," said Moore. "If something changes after your packing dates are confirmed, a date change request is always an option to push it back if need be — however it rests heavily on the transportation service provider (TSP) if they can accommodate it. There's no guarantee that they can but at least you have a stronghold to get things set in motion." Moore said that every summer there is an influx of military and DoD employees who change their permanent stations. "It puts a strain on the transportation industry to try and meet their demands to move their property," he said. "With the implementation of the Defense Personal Property System things have changed. "In order to help smooth the transition from one base to another, separating or retirement, they are asking for a minimum three week window in order to accommodate packing date requests," Moore said. Housing moves on base within Boyer Hill Military Housing are included within this three-week minimum. "One of the biggest things that we experience in PCS moves in the summer is that our customers give notice to their property managers first before coming into our office to secure packing dates," he said. "We can't use vacating your quarters, be it military or civilian housing, as a justification to get property picked up sooner rather than later. JPPSO-COS is on stand by and they are geared (for the three week minimum window). Shipment requests with less than the minimum three week requirement will undergo close scrutiny. Even with a three week minimum notice, members should give us alternate dates because the original requested pack dates might not even work out," Moore added. "Last year we experienced a backlog of shipments that could not be picked up and it was due to the inability to find enough drivers to move the property," he said. This is an effort in order to avoid that scenario this year. There will be a few exceptions to the minimum three week rule, but they will be the exception not the rule: • Orders issued at the last minute will have to have a Report No Later That Date, or RNLTD, to the next permanent duty station within three weeks in order to have the families — the weight of these deployments is magnified when they are ill-prepared for the tremendous emotional change and upheaval that may develop from these circumstances." With that in mind, the focus of the training sessions will shift. The Chapel has invited Dr. Cantrell, a subject matter expert on the topic of family reintegration, readjustment and resilience, to help participants find ways to support and tend to those living with the pressures of multiple deployments. Topics include "Couples Issues," "Local Support for Families," "Child Issues," "Self Care," "PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury Psycho-education," and "Coping Strategies." In order you are anticipating orders please do everything possible to make sure you have done your part in working with the military personnel flight (MPF) so your orders can be processed in a timely manner. O If O Get your orders and see the Traffic Management Office first thing. O Be as flexible with your dates as you can — be prepared to provide alternate dates for the TMO/ JPPSO-COS personnel. O Remember that even if you are moving from off base to on base or one house to another in base housing the minimum three week notice still applies. O If you are selling a house, at the very first opportunity you have a close date make an appointment with the TMO and get things rolling. These will be considered on a caseby-case basis and just because you have to vacate does not mean you will be able to be serviced sooner rather than later. In all cases, be advised the sooner you contact the TMO the better. O Contact the TMO at (801) 7752849 or (801) 775-3828, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m to set up your appointment. O Please visit www.move.mil to register for a DPS account which will be required for claims, arrange for release of property from storage and for additional transportation information. It is not a requirement for scheduling an appointment with the TMO. it classified as short notice. Example: Orders issued April 1 with a May or June RNLTD to the next PDS will not be processed as short notice. Orders issued April 1 with a report date of April 15 would. The responsibility is on the Airman to make sure all requirements are met with the Military Personnel Flight (MPF) in order to get orders cut as soon as possible. The three week window means three weeks after the initial appointment with a counselor in the TMO. That does not mean the initial call or the initial contact that is made with the TMO. Moore issues two other important reminders after counseling: Call the TMO if you have not been contacted by a TSP or received a confirmation e-mail within 10 days of the first pack date. That way the customer will be supplied with the appropriate TSP contact information or head off any potential booking delays with JPPSOCOS. If a member is barely within the three week window, supply alternate dates. Even with the three week window it's possible the pick-up date might need to be a week later during the busiest time of the year. To contact TMO and set up an appointment with a counselor call (801) 775-2849 or (801) 775-3828. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to get the most out of the sessions and build maximum resilience in the marriage, it is best that both members of the married couple be present at the sessions. As for the rest of the retreat — it will stay the same. Families will still enjoy the wonderful lodging, the beautiful scenery, the activities for children and families, the memory-making moments, and the great food. And attendees will recognize one other thing that hasn't changed: The goal is still to make Air Force families stronger and more resilient to the stresses imposed by deployments. For more on Dr. Cantrell visit her website at http://www.heartstowardhome.com . 3 |