NEWS BRIEFS >>01-11-08

Briefing scheduled

Active duty airmen who are interested in applying for Commissioning programs should attend the briefing at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 at the LR Education Centers. For more information, call 987-3417.


AMU representative to be on base Jan. 22

A representative from American Military University will be at the Education Center, Bldg 840 Leadership Drive, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, to meet with interested students. On-line classes are also available from on-base universities located in the same building. For more information call 987-3417.


Samurai Sword Ban — United Kingdom

If you are PCSing to the United Kingdom, then you cannot ship your Samurai Sword. Staring early in 2008, the UK intends to add Samurai Swords to the list of offensive weapons whose importation is prohibited. The UK may allow exemptions for authentic swords in collections or for cultural uses; but, at this time, the exemption information is not known so it’s best to leave them in storage. For more information on prohibited items, please contact the Traffic Management Flight at 987-3582.


Cancer support sew-in Jan. 25

Area volunteers are planning another community “sew-in” to be held at the Little Rock Air Force Base chapel from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 25.  

The workshop is open to all interested in sewing, cutting, pinning, ironing and packaging colorful kerchief-like head coverings. Known as “care caps,” they are for free distribution to balding chemotherapy patients in the ARKLATX.

Recently, Care Caps went online at www.ccvols.org. Featured in many of the site’s photos are members of the base’s project volunteers and text explaining the charitable activity.

Mary Philips, director of Care Cap Connections™, will lead participants in her step-by-step “assembly line” method of group operation. Through December, 615 volunteers produced 6,068 caps.

Major cancer centers joining in the effort are Mayo Clinic, M.D. Anderson, St. Vincent, Arkansas Children’s, St. Jude, Baptist Health, Christus Health and UAMS. Care Cap Connections™ is a division of Volunteer America – 1776, a public charity, 501(c)(3), under the Internal Revenue code. Its operations in Arkansas and the surrounding states are supported through individual donations and corporate grants.  All sewing materials are donated to the work and Janome® sewing machines are available for use during the sew-in. There is no cost to join and no solicitation. For more information, contact Ora Brown at 982-7667, or Mary Philips at 884-3046.  


Job openings

Current job openings for Services are: CDC, child development program assistant, CC-03, flexible hours; Lodging, custodial worker, NA-02, flexible hours and lodging clerk, NF-I, flexible hours; Skills Center, picture framer, NA-05, flexible and Hangar 1080, club operations assistant, NF-II, flexible hours. All federal NAF employees are required by Public Law 104-134 to have salary payments made by electronic funds transfer/direct deposit. For more information call 987-6440.


Spouses' Club to host event

The Little Rock Spouses’ Club invites all spouses of any Active Duty, Retiree Guard, or Reserve member of any Branch of Service to its first event of 2008: “Heroes of the Home Front,” at the LRAFB Conference Center on January 17th. Not yet a member of the LRSC? Now is a great time to join: membership dues beginning January are HALF-OFF! “Heroes of the Home Front” social time and playgroup begins at 10:30 a.m.; the function begins at 11 a.m. The menu will consist of fresh tossed green salad, New York strip, potatoes, mixed vegetables, peach cobbler, and iced tea and coffee. The cost to attend for 314 Services Club members is $11 and for non-Services Club members, $12. The children’s playgroup will be available for this function at the TCAC. To reserve places for your children in the playgroup and your meal at the function please visit www.littlerockspouses.com or contact Rachel Kreps at 501-765-0316.


Phase II of FY08 announced

Air force officials have announced Phase II of the FY08 NCO retraining program (ncorp) targeting approximately 502 airmen (staff sergeant, tech sergeant, and master sergeant) for retraining from AFSCS with overages to AFSCS with NCO shortages.

 The involuntary phase (Phase II) of the program runs Dec. 10, 2007 through March 31. Contact your local mpe’s separation office (room 100) for complete details and a list of available retraining-in and retraining-out AFSCS.


Chapel contract position open:

The chapel is seeking to hire a piano/keyboard accompanist to play during the 1800 Protestant Contemporary Service. A resume and a sealed bid will need to be turned in to the chapel by 25 January 2008, NLT 1630. All interviews and a skills demonstration will be conducted NLT Monday, Jan. 27. Selection criteria will be based upon the “best value” of the government. Please contact Ch, Capt, Scott or SSgt Mueth at 987-6014 with additional questions. A copy of the Statement of Work can be picked up at the base chapel.