COMMANDER’S CORNER: VALENTINE’S DAY - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, February 8, 2018 Vol. 62 No. 6 Deputy Secretary of Defense visits Air Force Space Command, National Space Defense Center Air Force Space Command
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan visited the National Space Defense Center and Air Force Space Command units here on Feb. 5 to discuss military space operations with DoD, National Reconnaissance Office and AFSPC leaders and to receive mission and training updates. In addition to the NSDC, Shanahan also toured the 1st and 2nd Space Operations Squadrons at Schriever AFB. He then visited the 4th Space Control Squadron at Peterson AFB. “Space superiority is critical to our nation’s warfighting capability,” said General Jay Raymond, commander of the Air Force Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Force Space Component Command. “Today’s visit by Secretary Shanahan provided us a unique opportunity to showcase our Airmen and their critical missions.” The NSDC is a partnership organization, strongly sup- ported by both the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, that develops and improves U.S. ability to rapidly detect, warn, characterize, attribute and defend against threats to our nation’s vital space systems. The NSDC directly sup- ports space defense unity of effort and expands information sharing in space defense operations among the DoD, National Reconnaissance Office, and other interagency partners. The NSDC recently transitioned to 24/7 operations on January 8, marking a significant step for the expanding, interagency team focused on protecting and defending the nation’s critical space assets. “We were honored to host Secretary Shanahan and we greatly appreciated the opportunity to reinforce the critical partnerships we’ve built with the intelligence community and our interagency partners,” added Gen. Raymond. “He was able to see first-hand how we’re improving our space situational U.S. Air Force photo by Dave Grim awareness and expanding our space-based capabilities in this PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — U.S. Air Force Gen. Jay Raymond (right), commander of Air Force Space Command, welcomes increasingly contested domain.” Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan (left) to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, Feb. 5, 2018. TRICARE: New and Improved By Airman 1st Class Alexis Christian 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — TRICARE enacted new changes to their pol- icies to help modernize the health care system to better serve military members, their families and retirees Jan. 1, 2018 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Listed below are a few changes that have al- ready gone into effect and the pharmacy changes to expect Feb. 1, 2018 from TRICARE collateral collected from the 21st Medical Group. ■■ Beneficiaries were automatically enrolled in their respective plans Jan. 1. ■■ The North, South and East regions consol- idated into two, East and West. Having two regions will improve the support between the two, especially when beneficiaries move. ■■ Health Net Federal Services, an American health insurance provider, has taken over the West region contract. ■■ TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra were merged into TRICARE Select. ■■ Co-pays and Premiums have gone up. ■■ Referrals are no longer needed to visit urgent U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Alexis Christian care, as long as you are not active duty. See TRICARE page 8 PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — This graphic provides easy-to-find Tricare contact information for the West region for the 21st Space Wing service members. The West region is part of TRICARE’s, newest, two-region system.
INSIDE News 1-14 Briefs 4 Crossword 19 Blue blood Vietnam AF Week Classifieds 18 moon medicine in Photos Page 5 Page 13 Page 10 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, February 8, 2018 www.peterson.af.mil 21ST SPACE WING COMMANDER’S CORNER Valentine’s Day
It is fitting that as we celebrate Valentine’s Day during for his friend and contacted Military One Source. Even the month of February, we spend some extra time think- By Lt. Col. though his friend is not a military member and lives ing about the people we care about. My kids have already in another state, Military One Source proved to be started the annual ritual of deciding which Valentine’s James D. Ulrich a wealth of information, providing us with support cards and candy they want to hand out to their class- locations, phone numbers, and great advice on how to mates. But beyond the flowers, chocolates, and cards we help his friend. The Airman took advantage of these exchange, it’s important for us to take that extra step 21st Space Wing options and worked aggressively with his friend’s par- and truly engage with our family, friends, and fellow ents to ensure they knew how seriously the situation Airmen (capital A to include all ranks and our valued was and what they needed to do to help. This Airman civilian co-workers). demonstrated intrusive leadership and I’m happy to Having been in command for just over 6 months, I’m report that his friend is currently getting the help that regularly surprised at just how many challenges our questions and accepting that personal relationships may he so desperately needs. folks face on a daily basis. Members who often seem to be be impacted. It means being prepared that a relationship Are you willing to be an intrusive leader? I can guar- thriving and crushing their day-to-day jobs are often the may get a little messy and you will be getting involved same ones who are going through serious challenges. The antee that my Airman is glad that he trusted his instincts in someone else’s personal business. However, I assure and took the difficult steps to ask for help, confront his Air Force does an outstanding job providing our Airmen you that you won’t regret the decision to ask the difficult with numerous avenues to seek help. Yet I’ve learned that friend, and involve other people to provide support. He questions and confront a friend or co-worker if your gut all too frequently, members who are struggling don’t seek didn’t do it alone, he asked for help and utilized a variety out that help. This is where you come in. tells you something is wrong. of resources and his friend is alive today because of it. We A term I’ve heard that addresses our responsibility I was recently inspired by one of my own Airmen who never truly know what is going on in others’ lives unless as Air Force members is “intrusive leadership”. The im- trusted his gut and allowed a relationship to get messy. we invest the time to connect and ask difficult questions. plication of this term is that leaders will take the extra The member approached me at a Commander’s Breakfast While Valentine’s Day serves as an annual reminder to steps necessary to dig a little deeper when checking on and asked for advice as he had a friend back home who let your friends and family know you care, don’t forget to the well-being of a fellow Airman. It means asking hard was talking about suicide. Together we looked at options take the extra step to find out how they are truly doing.
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If students have questions about the $2,000 scholarship grants is straightforward. scholarship program application, they should Requirements include providing a completed call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 two-page application; the student’s official or email them at militaryscholar@scholar- transcript indicating a minimum cumula- shipmanagers.com. tive GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for DeCA photo No government funds are used to sup- high school applicants, or college transcript JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Scholarships for Military Children recipients from the port the Scholarships for Military Children indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of McGuire Commissary at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, pose for a photo. Pictured from left: Program. Commissary vendors, manufac- 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students al- Rebecca George, Nicholas Romano, Patricia Thomas, Sandra Schoenewald, Allison Lardner, Kerry Foley, turers, brokers, suppliers and the general ready enrolled in college; and a typewritten Colleen Foley and Zaniya Lewis. public donate money to fund the program. or computer-printed essay of 500 words or the scholarship,” said Marye Dobson, the books, lab fees and other expenses. less, and no longer than two pages. Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships All rules and requirements for the pro- -DeCA- This year’s essay question addresses the program liaison. gram, as well as links to frequently asked About DeCA: The Defense Commissary effect of the internet on modern society and The two-page application, your high school questions and the downloadable application Agency operates a worldwide chain of com- the family: “With the development of high or college transcripts and the short, typed are available at the Scholarships for Military speed internet, you are now living in a world missaries providing groceries to military essay all have to be submitted in one package. children website. personnel, retirees and their families in that is completely different than 20 years ago. Eligibility for the program is determined Fisher House also recently added a custom What are the pluses and minuses for society a safe and secure shopping environment. using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility scholarship search engine to the site, tailored Commissaries provide a military benefit, and the family? How would you address the Reporting System database. Applicants to military families, called “Scholarships for saving authorized patrons thousands of dol- minuses?” should ensure that they, as well as their spon- Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available lars annually on their purchases compared The Scholarships for Military Children sor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and on mobile devices or computers at military- Program was created in 2001 to recognize have a current military dependent ID card. scholar.org. to similar products at commercial retailers. the contributions of military families to The applicant must also be planning to attend Students enter brief background informa- The discounted prices include a 5-percent the readiness of the fighting force, and to or already be attending an accredited college tion and educational goals and the search tool surcharge, which covers the costs of building celebrate the role of the commissary in the or university, full time, in the fall of 2018 or will identify military-affiliated scholarships new commissaries and modernizing existing military family community. The program is be enrolled in a program of studies designed they may be eligible for based on their input. ones. A core military family support element, administered by Fisher House Foundation, to transfer directly into a four-year program. Once the search is complete, students receive and a valued part of military pay and benefits, a nonprofit organization that provides assis- Applicants who are awarded a full schol- a list of scholarships with a summary of eli- commissaries contribute to family readiness, tance to service members and their families. arship to attend a college or university or gibility requirements, points of contact and enhance the quality of life for America’s mil- “With the deadline to submit your appli- receive an appointment to one of the military links to the scholarship provider’s website. itary and their families, and help recruit and cation for the Fisher House Scholarship for academies or affiliated preparatory schools Students can elect to have a PDF file of the retain the best and brightest men and women Military Children fast approaching, make are not eligible to receive funds from this results immediately emailed to them for use to serve their country. sure you double-check the list of items re- program. A full scholarship is usually defined in selecting which scholarships to apply for. See Scholarship page 12 quired to be submitted to be eligible for as one that provides for payment of tuition, According to Brian Gawne, vice president