Jan. 9, 2014 MacDill unveils new ADA housing MacDill Air Force Base presented 10 qualifying families with newly constructed Americans with Disabilities Act homes on Dec. 18, 2013. The newly constructed homes are specially designed to assist special needs families. The homes include unique features such as, sliding pocket doors, roll-in
Jan. 9, 2014 Fairchild Airman earns STEP promotion to technical sergeant Tech. Sgt. Vikas Kumar received his technical sergeant stripe under the Air Force's Stripes for Exceptional Performers program during a 92nd Medical Group commander's call at the base theater Dec. 18, 2013.Kumar serves as the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Aerospace & Operational Physiology Flight
Jan. 8, 2014 Air Force Medical Service seeks enlisted commissioning applicants for nurse corps Eligible active-duty enlisted Airmen interested in pursuing a nursing commission have until Feb. 28 to submit their intent to apply, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 7.The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program offers eligible members with an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in
Jan. 8, 2014 Military blood program director urges generosity The director of the Armed Services Blood Program wants all service members to be part of a new arms race.Col. Richard H. McBride wants service members to roll up their sleeves and donate blood to help fellow service members and their families.Historically, blood levels shrink around the holidays,
Jan. 7, 2014 AF to convene enhanced selective early retirement board in June The Air Force will convene an enhanced selective early retirement board here June 16 to consider eligible officers for early retirement, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today. ESERB, a new authority granted in the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, applies to regular,
Jan. 7, 2014 Military Consolidates Vaccine Agencies The Military Vaccine Agency and Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network have unified as one agency ready to provide the military community with the highest quality immunization standards and practices.Immunization is a cornerstone of the Military Health System's shift in focus from treating disease to
Jan. 6, 2014 The Jennifer Vaughan story: one Airman's comeback journey from near death There are words Staff Sgt. Jennifer Vaughan faintly remembers hearing from her family and fiancé as she slowly woke up Feb. 18, 2013 from a 62-day induced coma, but it was the look on their faces that made her understand that something was "very wrong."Unable to respond and comprehend the magnitude
Dec. 31, 2013 Preventive Care for a Healthy, Happy New Year As we count down to 2014, a popular trend is to New Year's resolutions. Some resolutions are physical, like losing weight, while others are behavioral, like 'stop procrastinating' or 'be more positive'. No matter which resolutions beneficiaries make, TRICARE recommends they put their health first
Dec. 27, 2013 Bioenvironmental flight: 'Detect to protect' While most individuals may only know them for the gasmask fit test they receive, bioenvironmental engineering flight's motto and mission to 'Detect to Protect' is a vital part in ensuring all Airmen are able to safely and effectively complete their jobs, day in and day out. Also known as BEE, the
Dec. 26, 2013 Five Signs of Hypothermia and Frostbite Adult Hypothermia Signs- Uncontrollable shivering- Exhaustion- Confusion, drowsiness- Memory loss- Slurred speechInfant Hypothermia Signs- Bright red, cold skin- Very low energyIn the U.S., approximately 700 deaths occur each year from hypothermia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Dec. 26, 2013 Wounded warriors weigh in The Recovering Warrior Task Force visited the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Dec. 11 to conduct a focus group with wounded warriors and meet with senior leaders. The visit covered all aspects of support and recovery including medical care, legal services and transition assistance. "The
Dec. 23, 2013 TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Open for New Enrollments The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) offers comprehensive dental coverage to all enrolled members. Available to retired service members and their family, retired National Guard and Reserve members and their family, Medal of Honor recipients, their family and survivors, TRDP is currently open
Dec. 16, 2013 DOD adds synthetic marijuana to random drug testing The Defense Department has expanded its zero tolerance for the use of illicit drugs to include synthetic marijuana, also known as "spice," the director of DOD's drug testing and program policy said here today.In an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Army Lt. Col.
Dec. 16, 2013 12 tips for coping with stress, depression and the holidays Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and affect your health. Seeking support, being realistic and planning ahead can help ward off stress and depression. For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests -- stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect
Dec. 13, 2013 JBSA-Randolph mental health professionals help ease holiday stress The holidays should be a time of peace and joy, an enjoyable respite from the grind of everyday life, but it is often marked by overwhelming stress created by the demands of the season, from shopping and decorating to social events and family gatherings. For young Airmen away from home for the first
Dec. 13, 2013 CJCS visits Aviano, stresses resiliency to overseas service members Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded service members on their selfless service and encouraged resiliency throughout the forces during a day-long visit Dec. 11 here.The highest ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, accompanied by Marine Sgt. Maj.
Dec. 13, 2013 15th MDG honors fallen Hickam medic The sign for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific greets visitors as they enter the cemetery in Honolulu. Members of the 15th Medical Group visited the cemetery Dec. 6, 2013, to pay respects to a fallen service member, Cpl. Vincent J. Kechner, who was killed at Hickam Field during the Dec.
Dec. 12, 2013 New year is a perfect time to update contact information, records With the new year just around the corner, now is the perfect time for Airmen to double check and, if necessary, update their contact information, secure web account access and emergency records, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.The traditional move season is over, so some Airmen may have
Dec. 12, 2013 Fitness excellence sets Maxwell pharmacy apart On the hour, every hour, the 42nd Medical Group's pharmacy flight gathers in a back room and starts counting, not prescription refills, but repetitions of pushups, sit-ups or pull-ups. While maintaining the busiest pharmacy in Alabama, the pharmacy cannot afford to not have the energy to support the
Dec. 12, 2013 Gum chewing: a healthy habit Did you know that gum chewing can help prevent dental disease? A 2008 review in the Journal of the American Dental Association stated that chewing sugar free gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay. When you chew gum it stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is