News

Dietician warns of diet pills
February 23, 2007 — Recently the Federal Trade Commission has fined multiple manufacturers of weight loss products for making false claims. "There are no miracle diet pills," said Capt. Monica M. Whent, 79th Medical Support Staff Clinical Dietetics chief. "The best answer for weight loss is proper nutrition and exercise." The largest fine was against the marketers of... MORE

New passport rules change to enter U.S.
February 23, 2007 — All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document or a Form I-551, Alien Registration Card, as of Jan. 23, if applicable, according to a statement from... MORE

Andrews begins JSOH preparations
February 20, 2007 — In less than 100 days, the 2007 Joint Service Open House will kick-off May 17 when media will have an opportunity for interviews of featured performers and to preview the static displays. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for May 18 and the show will commence for invited guests and Department of Defense identification card holders. The annual open... MORE

Andrews fitness centers give second chance to keep New Year’s resolutions
February 20, 2007 — The 316th Services Squadron 2007 fitness program, themed 2007 ... A Fitness Revolution, is scheduled to begin Sunday. ''The only way to get in shape, lose those extra pounds and get those nice abs is to exercise and maintain proper nutrition," said Charles F. Rose, 316 SVS fitness centers director. ''Though our new year has passed and many of us... MORE

ABUs to be worn in AEF 7/8
February 20, 2007 — The new Airman Battle Uniform is scheduled to be distributed to deploying Airmen as early as March and to basic trainees as early as October. According to a recent release by Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C., the initial wear and distribution plan for the ABU will begin with deployers in air and space expeditionary forces seven and eight... MORE

99 AS members step forward in time of need
February 13, 2007 — Deployed members from the 89th Airlift Wing were supporting the mission in the Horn of Africa when they aided an elderly South African Feb. 1 in Nairobi, Kenya. While the deployed members were preparing to go to dinner at a hotel, Tech. Sgt. Bryant K. Billingsley, 99th Airlift Squadron Flight Attendants Scheduling chief and 379th Expeditionary... MORE

Maj Gen Smolen speaks to Airmen at Andrews
February 13, 2007 — The Air Force District of Washington commander held a commander's call Jan. 30 at the base theater to explain several upcoming events for AFDW bases. ''We have a unique mission in the AFDW, and it's an important one," said Maj. Gen. Robert L. Smolen, AFDW commander. ''We're the only Air Force command whose day-to-day mission is focused on the... MORE

National Children's Dental Health Month begins
February 13, 2007 — February is National Children's Dental Health Month. The 79th Dental Squadron is celebrating the month by increasing awareness to parents and children of the importance of oral health with a strong emphasis on prevention through good home care and routine dental visits. Conveying the importance of oral health early in a child's life will pay... MORE

Servicemembers able to receive free admission to theme parks
February 9, 2007 — Active Duty, active Reserve, ready Reserve and National Guard servicemembers, and up to three of their dependents have the opportunity to visit any of Anheuser-Busch's nine theme parks with free admission through the end of 2007, as part of the company's "Here's to the Heroes" tribute. "Here's to the Heroes" provides a single day's free admission... MORE

316 SFS changes entry procedures
February 9, 2007 — New base entry procedures will begin Thursday for all personnel who do not normally have access to Andrews. "The new procedures will secure the base more efficiently and account for persons not affiliated with the military," said 1st Lt. Scott A. Haselden, 316th Security Forces Squadron assistant operations officer. All personnel escorting guests... MORE

Tour Ambassadors welcome visitors to Andrews, share Air Force, Team Andrews story
February 5, 2007 — A slowly diminishing staff and the threat of a very popular program fading into a shadow of itself was the dire situation for the Team Andrews Tour Program. "The 316th Wing Public Affairs office is charged with managing the popular program," said Ron Bickerstaff, 316th Wing Public Affairs Community Relations chief. "However, with a cut in staff,... MORE

Health and Wellness Center offers classes to improve lifestyle
February 5, 2007 — The 79th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health and Wellness Center continues to hold Health and Weight Awareness classes twice a month for servicemembers, dependents, retirees and Department of Defense civilians.According to Air Force Instruction 10-248, Fitness Program, all Air Force servicemembers must be physically fit to support the Air Force... MORE

AFSO 21 delivers initiatives to 89 MXG
January 29, 2007 — The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century era is here, and with units Air Force-wide scrambling to do more with less, the 89th Maintenance Group is beginning to flex its AFSO 21 muscle. A six-person resource improvement team recently brought to the forefront nine initiatives that would save a maintenance group division many man-hours, cut... MORE

89 OG, MXG team up to work smarter
January 29, 2007 — The 89th Operations Group and the 89th Maintenance Group are working together, using Air Force Smart Operations initiatives to improve their work proficiency. The day-to-day operations taking place at Andrews requires an ''immense amount of data flow," according to Maj. Tim Runnette, 89 OG current operations chief and one of the leads on the AFSO... MORE

Andrews members experience life as school principal
January 26, 2007 — Six servicemembers at Andrews had a close-up view of a day in the life of a public school principal in Prince George's County when they participated in the Fourth Annual Principal for a Day program Jan. 18. "It was an outstanding experience for me," said Col. James Vechery, 89th Airlift Wing vice commander and participant in Principal for a Day at... MORE

SVS opens multipurpose fitness center, focuses on health for 2007
January 26, 2007 — The West Fitness Center opened two new indoor basketball courts recently, kicking off their 2007 Fitness Revolution program. "The multipurpose fitness area used to be four tennis courts," said Charles Rose, 316th Services Squadron fitness center director. "It was one of three indoor tennis centers in the entire Air Force." The basketball courts... MORE

Airmen learn tools to travel outside US
January 26, 2007 — The Global War on Terrorism has transformed the way the Air Force prepares and executes the mission. It has also changed the way members of the Department of Defense should prepare for any travel, official or unofficial, outside the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii or United States possessions. Deployment, temporary duty and permanent... MORE

MPF begins online appointments
January 19, 2007 — A new online appointment system for obtaining new Common Access Cards was implemented at the 316th Mission Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight Jan. 9. "Staff Sgt. Phillip Ronnlof, 316 MSS MPF customer support NCOIC, was instrumental in the development of the appointment system," said Capt. Tracy A. Barnett, 316 MSS customer support chief... MORE

Legal office to train for base tax assistance
January 19, 2007 — Servicemembers at Andrews will soon be able to receive assistance in filling out their 2006 income tax forms from volunteers trained as tax preparers. Servicemembers currently serving as tax advisors in their units will help with tax preparations under the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, said Capt. Sophia B... MORE

New trail enhances perimeter protection
January 19, 2007 — A base jogging trail that skirts the base perimeter fence here was funded by Air Mobility Command as an antiterrorism initiative. The trail starts at the Maryland Gate, travels along the fence line past the North Gate, and continues all the way to Fetchet Avenue near Child Development Center 3 on the east side of Andrews. The completed project is... MORE

Andrews bids farewell to President Ford
January 16, 2007 — MORE

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md --The casket bearers from the Joint Service Honor Guard place the casket of former President Gerald R. Ford into the loader during the departure ceremony held in his honor Tuesday.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher J. Matthews)(RELEASED)

Personnel specialists provide combat support to deployed Airmen
January 16, 2007 — "First in, last out" is the battle cry of the Personnel Support for Contingency Operations team, better known as PERSCO. It's definitely the case during a deployment at Balad Air Base, headquarters to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, where PERSCO is responsible for processing more than 7,000 Air Force personnel as they arrive and depart. The... MORE

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Channa Johnson, 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group PERSCO team member, briefs Airmen upon their arrival to Balad Air Base, Jan. 2. Sergeant Johnson is deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alice Moore)

Program ensures health of pregnant workers
January 16, 2007 — All pregnant Active Duty Air Force members and Department of Defense civilian employees whose work areas are designated as an occupational risk are required to be in the Fetal Protection Program, which the 79th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Flight administers. Other DoD civilian employees are encouraged to participate in the program... MORE

89 OG to transfer SAM FOX excellence to C-17
January 16, 2007 — A five-man flight attendant shop under the 89th Operations Group is aiming to transfer the SAM FOX tradition of excellence from a blue and white executive jet to a C-17. The team, called the Special Airlift Program, services customers such as the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State who are used to flying on the blue and white jets and are... MORE

316 MSG's 2007 plans
January 16, 2007 — Gate construction, road reconstruction, family housing improvement and an increased number of outdoor recreation programs and equipment are some of the plans the 316th Mission Support Group has scheduled for 2007. "We can expect a few more detours and challenges as our 'Andrews ... Make It Yours' efforts continue," said Toni Koppen, 316 MSG deputy... MORE

Joint Base Andrews News