Freedom Watch Staff Military families can save considerable money by using low- or no-cost Space-A flights instead of using commercial airlines Commander to get back to their homes of record, Holmes pointed out. How- Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz ever, family members under age 18 must be accompanied by an NCOIC eligible parent or legal guardian, according to Defense Depart- Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram ment documents explaining the new policy. Print Chief Family members using space-A transport under the new Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bellis policy also require a verification letter signed by the military Editor sponsor’s commander verifying the servicemember’s deploy- Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Gregory ment, according to defense department documents. Staff Writer The new travel policy was enacted to mitigate some of the Senior Airman Christine Collier stresses of deployment encountered by servicemembers and their families, Holmes said. Visit the CJTF-82 Web site at Air Force The space-A travel program is a privilege, not an entitlement www.cjtf82.com Program offers cash, advanced assignment consideration and it is extended to military family members in recognition of their support to the mission being performed by their spon- RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Airmen selected for sors and to enhance quality of life for servicemembers and their Freedom Watch is a weekly publication of an assignment to South Korea who apply for the Korea Assign- families, according to Air Force Air Mobility Command docu- Combined Joint Task Force-82. ment Incentive Pay Program can earn $300 a month and apply ments. CJTF-82 Commander Army Maj. Gen. for advanced assignment consideration. David M. Rodriguez The incentive program authorizes the monthly payments to RC East Public Affairs Offi cer Army Lt. Airmen who sign a written agreement to serve the prescribed Col. David A. Accetta tour length in South Korea plus an additional 12 months. Army Freedom Watch, a Department of Defense Korea Assignment Incentive Pay tours will be established as publication, is published each Monday by Evacuated Soldiers now get immediate combat injury pay the American Forces Network – Afghani- 24 months for unaccompanied Airmen or 36 months for accom- WASHINGTON – When Soldiers are evacuated from a com- stan Print Section, Bldg. 415, Room 205 at panied Airmen, when authorized. bat zone due to a combat-related injury, they no longer need Bagram Airfi eld, Afghanistan. Printed circu- Airmen may apply for KAIP: Prior to departing their to wait 30 days to begin receiving their Combat-Related In- lation is 5,000 copies per week. current duty station, upon arrival in South Korea, but jury Rehabilitation Pay. In accordance with DoD Instruction before their date eligible to return from overseas fore- 5120.4, this DoD newspaper is an authorized Now, CIP kicks in immediately, ensuring troops continue to cast window or initial vulnerable movers list date, or publication for members of the U.S. military receive an additional $430 dollars a month, even while they are upon arrival in South Korea and during their date of estimated overseas. recovering in a military hospital. The change is more in line return from overseas forecast window or initial VML. Contents of the Freedom Watch are not with what Congress envisioned when the program was created, Most Airmen may apply for advanced assignment consid- necessarily the offi cial view of, or endorsed said Craig Taylor, Combat Injury Pay program coordinator. by, the U.S. government or the Department eration 10 to 12 months prior to their DEROS or VML date. “This will alleviate the hardship of the stopping of the hos- of Defense. Colonels, chief master sergeants, lieutenant colonels and senior tile combat pay when a Soldier is medically evacuated from Deadline for submissions is noon local master sergeants selected for promotion and all judge advocates the theater of operation,” Mr. Taylor said. “Soldiers medically each Friday. All submissions are subject to are ineligible to apply. evacuated out of theater up until now had to wait one to two editing by the AFN-A Print Section. We can For more information, call the Air Force Contact Center at be reached at DSN 318-431-3338. months to see the CIP in their pay, and that is counter to what 800-616-3775. the Congress intended for the program.” COVER: An Afghan National Military members may be entitled to receive special bene- Army Soldier helps a little boy fits such as hostile fire pay, hazardous duty pay and imminent put on a pair of shoes. Opera- DoD danger pay while deployed to places such as Iraq or Afghani- tion Outreach provided clothing, Travel policy change benefits military families stan. That pay can add up to $430 dollars a month. Military Families often plan their finances around that toys and blankets while Soldiers WASHINGTON – Military families now can access military- special pay continuing for the duration of a deployment. But from Headquarters Security and supplied air transport to travel to their official “home of re- when a military member is forced to leave the combat zone for Support Brigade provided rice, cord” outside the continental United States when their spon- medical reasons, that pay stops. The CIP is meant to alleviate beans and tea to a village on the sors are deployed for 120 days or more, thanks to a recent policy the hardship caused by that unexpected loss of income. outskirts of Kabul. Photo: Lt. j.g. change, a military official said. Active-duty Soldiers who receive CIP will see this benefit Timothy Strickland Before the change, which became effective Dec. 6, family mem- annotated on their Leave and Earnings Statement as “Fly Deck Pay.” National Guard and Reserve personnel will see it bers could only use military space-available, or “space-A,” fl ights BACK COVER: A young Hazara annotated as, “other credits,” with an explanation in the re- to travel to their homes of record in the lower 48 states, said Air girl in Bamyan Province smiles Force Lt. Col. Michael R. Holmes, with the offi ce of the assistant marks section. for the camera. The Hazaras are deputy undersecretary of defense for transportation policy. Soldiers who believe they may be eligible to receive CIP “We have a significant number of military personnel whose should contact their Warrior Transition Unit chain of com- the third largest ethnic group in spouses and extended families may not reside in the continental mand, local Wounded in Action DFAS representative, or call Afghanistan and are predomi- U.S.,” Holmes explained. For example, he said, the states of 1-800-237-1336. Additional information about the program nately Shia Muslims. Hazaras Hawaii and Alaska and the territory of Guam, fall under the can be found at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/ are said to be descended from criteria of the new policy. TSGLI_CIP_Page/index.htm. Mongols, a result of Ghenghis Khan’s invasion in the 13th cen- tury. Photo: Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bellis 2 Freedom Watch Magazine Freedom Watch Staff Commander Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz NCOIC Freedom Watch Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram Print Chief Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bellis Editor Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Gregory Staff Writer Dec. 24, 2007 Senior Airman Christine Collier Visit the CJTF-82 Web site at www.cjtf82.com Secure treatment Freedom Watch is a weekly publication of 4 ANSF provide medical care to Zabul residents Combined Joint Task Force-82. CJTF-82 Commander Army Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez RC East Public Affairs Offi cer Army Lt. First-class medics Col. David A. Accetta 5 ANA medics complete new combat-medic class Freedom Watch, a Department of Defense publication, is published each Monday by the American Forces Network – Afghani- Victory day stan Print Section, Bldg. 415, Room 205 at Bagram Airfi eld, Afghanistan. Printed circu- 6 ANSF, Coalition Forces free district from Taliban rule lation is 5,000 copies per week. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5120.4, this DoD newspaper is an authorized Demolition Derby publication for members of the U.S. military ANA, Coalition engineers continue joint training overseas. 7 Contents of the Freedom Watch are not necessarily the offi cial view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department Safe haven of Defense. U.S. team opens shelter for Afghan women Deadline for submissions is noon local 9 each Friday. All submissions are subject to editing by the AFN-A Print Section. We can be reached at DSN 318-431-3338. Lending a caring hand ANSF medically treat more than 700 Afghans COVER: An Afghan National 11 Army Soldier helps a little boy put on a pair of shoes. Opera- Is the doctor in? tion Outreach provided clothing, Army private defi nes combat medic professionalism toys and blankets while Soldiers 13 from Headquarters Security and Support Brigade provided rice, beans and tea to a village on the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: Lt. j.g. Timothy Strickland BACK COVER: A young Hazara girl in Bamyan Province smiles for the camera. The Hazaras are the third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and are predomi- nately Shia Muslims. Hazaras are said to be descended from Mongols, a result of Ghenghis Khan’s invasion in the 13th cen- 4 9 13 tury. Photo: Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bellis Freedom Watch Magazine 3 Afghan National Security Forces, as- sisted by Coalition forces, provide den- tal care to an Afghan citizen. Courtesy photo ANSF provideM oremedical than care security to Zabul citizens Courtesy of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 Public Affairs ANSF and village elders also discussed a civil reconstruction project to build a well that would remain operational despite sea- AGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Secu- sonal fl oods.