People First April 27, 2012

New housing website prepares Airmen for moving

With the summer moving season just around the corner, thousands of Airmen and their families can now use a new housing website to help prepare for their move.

The website, www.housing.af.mil, provides dormitory information for unaccompanied Airmen while detailing housing options and support services available at Air Force installations. For example, the website gives insights into local communities, school districts, weather and other resources designed to help Airmen and their families become familiar with their new homes.

“(The website) is a single source for Airmen and their families for any and everything housing,” said Judith Teague, Air Mobility Command housing asset manager. “The best part about the site is that it is on a public website where anyone can access the information anytime.”

The website features helpful housing links, a list of frequently asked questions, links to other resources such as move.mil and Automated Housing Referral Network websites and an interactive map of bases. The site also connects users with the Defense Travel Management Office site which helps families track their household goods.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123298576

Missing personnel records impact promotions, more

When Senior Master Sgt. Randy Scanlan wasn’t promoted to his current rank the first time his records met the board, he was a little confused.

As a maintainer and an aerial gunner, he deployed often and received many decorations. When he was asked if he wanted to review his records before they met the board, he said no and figured they were “good to go.” However, they were far from complete, and he later discovered his records were missing 14 medals.

“The board had no idea what my capabilities and experiences were, so that may have prevented me from making it the first time,” said Scanlan, who is currently the Air Force Personnel Center Career Assistance Adviser functional manager.

“I used to believe it wasn’t my job to get items into my records,” he said. “After arriving at AFPC, I realized your personnel records affect every aspect of your career. It is imperative that you review your own records for accuracy. I thought it wasn’t my job, but I was wrong — it was my responsibility.”

http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123298856

Defense committee focuses on retention, health care

The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services made Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland its first stop of 2012 as it begins to gather information for recommendations designed to help the secretary of defense improve policies, procedures and climate within the Defense Department.

Committee members spent two days on JBSA-Lackland, one of seven military installations on the DACOWITS schedule. The committee toured the base, talked to service members about the joint base environment and held five focus group discussions during its visit.

“We had a recommendation from the Air Force about places to visit, and the idea was there was a lot to see here,” said Holly Hemphill, DACOWITS chair. “My first impression was the sheer amount of activity that goes on (at Lackland).

“This was an opportunity for us to see and learn a lot,” she said. “I know we only got a flavor for the many things going on, but it was very helpful to us.”

http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123298850

AF leaders address sexual assault prevention, response 

Air Force leaders from around the globe gathered at the 2012 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Leader Summit to learn about service-wide SAPR issues and programs.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Phil Breedlove both spoke at the event, stressing the importance of dealing with and ultimately eliminating sexual assault within the Air Force.

“Our dedicated men and women selflessly put themselves in harm’s way,” Breedlove said during the first day of the summit. “We owe our Airmen a safe environment where they may continue to focus on defeating our nation’s enemies.”

Breedlove cited a 2010 Gallup survey of a representative sample of Air Force active-duty members, which revealed that 19 percent of female Airmen and 2 percent of male Airmen reported being the victim of sexual assault at some point while they have been in the Air Force.

Eighty-one percent of these women said they were sexually assaulted by a fellow military member, as did 50 percent of the men. Among those whose perpetrators were in the military, the large majority said their perpetrator was in the Air Force.

http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123298680