FORT SAM HOUSTON JBSA HOTLINES DOD Safe Helpline 877-995-5247 SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 JBSA Sexual Assault Hotline VOL. 58, NO. 35 808-SARC (7272) JBSA Domestic Abuse Hotline 367-1213 A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON JBSA Duty Chaplain 221-9363 ARNORTH CHANGE OF COMMAND Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan addresses U.S. Army North military members, family, friends and distinguished guests after assuming com- mand of ARNORTH during the change NMETC COLLECTS BACKPACKS FOR KIDS PAGE 3 of command cer- emony at the Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle Friday. For article and more photos, turn to pages 10-11. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Wynn Hoke MICC Government Purchase Card BAMC COMMANDER HOLDS TOWN HALLS PAGE 6 program efforts earn DOD recognition By Daniel P. Elkins 2015 efforts during the General ing offices, 31 Army command MICC Public Affairs Office Services Administration SmartPay customers, 12 GPC Level-3 Training Forum in Washington, hierarchies, more than 12,000 A Government Purchase Card D.C., Aug. 2-6. Sumpter is the cardholder accounts and program officer at Fort Sam deputy director for program de- approximately $750 million in Houston was recognized earlier this velopment and implementation for annual spending. month by officials from the office defense procurement and acqui- “The fact that you were able to of the undersecretary of defense sition policy at the office of the maintain MICC GPC operations and for acquisition, technology and undersecretary of defense. improve overall program perfor- logistics for improving program Sumpter underscored the size mance … despite the departures of performance while greatly reducing and scope of the Mission and the MICC GPC chief and a business delinquencies command-wide. Installation Contracting Command manager is highly commendable,” Leroy Griffith was presented a GPC Program, which is the larg- Sumpter wrote. letter of appreciation by LeAntha est in the Army and during fiscal NEW TOURNIQUET WILL SAVE LIVES PAGE 13 Sumpter to acknowledge his fiscal 2015, included 32 MICC contract- See MICC, P3 PAGE 2 NEWS LEADER SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 FORT SAM HOUSTON New directive: officers must be vetted before promotions are confirmed A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – FORT SAM HOUSTON By C. Todd Lopez said Albert S. Eggerton, Department of the Army Editorial Staff Army News Service chief of Officer Selection inspector general, the 502nd Air Base Wing/JBSA Board Policy. restricted portion of the Commander A change to Army “Consequently, some Army Military Human Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle regulations now requires officers confirmed by the Resource Record and that the Army determine Senate were not discov- a query for suspension 502nd ABW/JBSA the suitability of each ered to have adverse or of favorable personnel Public Affairs Director Todd G. White officer considered for reportable information actions. promotion before that of- until just prior to ap- “Adverse informa- 502nd ABW/JBSA ficer’s name ever crosses pointment.” tion” can include, among Public Affairs Chief the desk of the Army According to Army other things, SHARP-re- Bill Gaines secretary. Directive 2016-26, “a lated offenses; domestic While the Army has post-board screening assault or child abuse; Writer/Editor Steve Elliott always investigated of- initiated by the direc- DUIs/DWIs; possession ficers to ensure they are tor of Military Person- or involvement with Layout Artist suitable for promotion, nel Management will be child pornography; Joe Funtanilla in the past such vetting Photo by C. Todd Lopez conducted on officers positive urinalysis; false usually took place at the A new change to Army regulations ensures that officers selected by selected for promotion to swearing; patterns of same time that senior boards for promotion meet the standards for exemplary conduct laid captain through colonel misconduct; or ongo- News Leader office: Army, Defense and out in U.S. law, before their names are forwarded to the Secretary of and chief warrant officer ing investigations or 3170 Stanley Road congressional leadership the Army. 3 through chief war- cases under review with Building 2750 were considering them, rant officer 5 before the Criminal Investigation JBSA-Fort Sam Houston rather than before. before their names are rassment for the individu- results of the promotion Command, the Depart- TX 78234 Now, the directive forwarded to the sec- al and the service. selection board are for- ment of the Army, the 210-221-1031 published July 18, re- retary of the Army for “Previously, the Army warded to the secretary Inspector General or DSN 471-1031 quires officers who are certification. did not systematically of the Army.” their unit. selected for promotion The previous concur- screen all officers recom- The post-board screen- Similar changes have News Leader Advertisements: be vetted for mental, rent vetting process mended for promotion ing includes a review of been made for officers EN Communities physical, moral, and sometimes resulted in the or federal recognition for information in official who are being consid- P.O. Box 2171 professional fitness and Army having to remove adverse or reportable in- files maintained by the ered for promotion to San Antonio, TX 78297 meet the standards officers from promotion formation prior to nomi- Army Criminal Investi- first lieutenant or chief 210-250-2052 for exemplary conduct lists, resulting in embar- nation or confirmation,” gation Command, the warrant officer. News Leader email: usaf.jbsa.502-abw.mbx. [email protected] Blended Retirement System modernizes retirement This Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the News Leader are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed plan for uniformed services; goes into effect in 2018 by, the U.S. government or Department of Defense. It is published weekly by the 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio- The National Defense and a percentage of a serve at least 20 years. significant incentive in re- percent today. It is one of Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office, 3170 Authorization Act for service member’s pay The change to a taining a career military the most wide-reaching Stanley Road, building 2750, Fort Sam Fiscal Year 2016 created with a defined contribu- Blended Retirement System force and has served the and significant changes to Houston, Texas 78234; 210-221-2030, DSN 471-2030. Printed circulation is 10,000. a new military retire- tion plan, similar to the is a key step in modern- Department of Defense military pay and benefits Everything advertised in this publication ment system that blends civilian equivalent of a izing the military’s ability to and service members of the last 70 years. For shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, reli- elements of the legacy 401(k)-style retirement recruit, retain and main- well for decades. Howev- the first time, service gion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, retirement system with system, where the service tain the talent require of er, 81 percent of service members will receive physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user a more modern, 401(k)- member and the U.S. the future force. The plan members who left before automatic and match- or patron. If a violation or rejection of this style plan. government both contrib- provides additional options reaching 20 years of ser- ing DOD contributions to equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print The new Blended ute to the retirement. to attract and manage vice, had no government their retirement and have advertising from that source until the viola- Retirement System goes The new Blended a military force, which retirement benefit. control over their invest- tion is corrected. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the 502nd into effect Jan. 1, 2018 Retirement System pro- requires ever-increasing The new Blended ments. ABW/JBSA Public Affairs Chief. The News Lead- and combines the legacy vides service members diverse and technical skill Retirement System will The Department’s im- er is published by EN Communities, 301 Ave. E, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210-250-2052, a 20-year military retire- an automatic and match- sets in an evolving global now ensure nearly 85 mediate focus is on edu- private firm in no way connected with the U.S. ment system in which the ing portable contribution economy. percent of military mem- cating and training more government, under exclusive written contract U.S. government provides retirement plan, while The legacy defined- bers leave the service than two million active, with the 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office. The civilian monthly retired pay maintaining a traditional benefit military retire- with retirement savings, printer is responsible for commercial adver- based on years of service pension for those who ment system was a as opposed to just 19 See RETIREMENT, P17 tising. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Joint Base San Antonio Joint Base San Antonio Air Force. Stories and photos for publica- tion consideration may be e-mailed to usaf. http://www.facebook.com/JointBaseSanAntonio http://www.twitter.com/JBSA_Official http://www.JBSA.mil [email protected] Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston http://www.samhouston.army.mil/pao by close of business Thursday. http://www.facebook.com/JBSAFortSamHouston http://www.twitter.com/JBSAFSH SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 NEWS LEADER PAGE 3 News Briefs NMETC donates to JBSA 2016 Build-A-Backpack Drive Holiday Hours For By Petty Officer 1st Class since 2010 to help JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Jacquelyn D.