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Air Force Sergeants
Association Chapter 1674
“THE Best Professional Military Organization in the World”
Page 2
Military Perspective
Page 3
What Makes AFSA Different
Page 4
Word from the Pres/The
PUNCH!
Page 5
AFSA Mentorship
Page 6
Volunteer Opportunities
Page 7
Legislation
Page 8
AFSA Warrior of the
Month/Squadron Reps
Volume 1, Issue 5
May 2013
AFSA Out in the KMC!! Chad Warner/Edward Walker/Alex Rosales
Hundreds of volunteer
opportunities occur every
year throughout the KMC.
AFSA is no stranger to
providing ways to get involved in the community or
even participate in events to
make life away from home
more comfortable.
April provided both of
those opportunities in the
form of the street cleanup
and the first ever video
game tournament hosted by
the Club 7.
The street cleanup
boasted 30 volunteers in
which two miles of road
covered outside the east
gate, 45 bags of trash collected accumulating 1500
pounds cleaned up.
The first video game
tournament had equal success. Not in the form of
cleaning up the community,
but supplementing the lives
of those who are here.
Just a couple weeks ago,
on the 27th of April, AFSA
sponsored the very first
video game tournament at
the Club 7.
The games of
choice were
Super Smash
Brothers and
Street fighter.
RJ and Steven
won the tournaments respectively out
of 34 in attendance. The
Super Smash Brothers tournament was the crowd favorite.
If you would like to volunteer and be a part of the
best professional organization in the world, continue
reading and get in contact
with the right individuals.
We are always looking
for individuals who want to
step up and do more in the
community as well as those
who want to fight for our
benefits.
For more information,
send an email to our org
box HERE
Health of the Chapter 2013
1,961
202
12
Members
Recruited
Retained
Page 2
Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1674
Military Perspective
“These colors
don't run!”
TSgt Rosales
Chief Marson was on hand during the last AFSA General
membership meeting. The general feel of the speech was to
inquire why we were all here. Not at the meeting, but in the
military in general. Leo Thorness, Medal of Honor recipient
recalled this story:
“You've probably seen the bumper sticker somewhere along
the road. It depicts an American flag accompanied by the words,
"These colors don't run." I'm always glad to see this, because it
reminds me of an incident from my confinement in North Vietnam at the Hao Lo Prisoner of War Camp, or the "Hanoi Hilton," as it became known. Then a major in the U.S. Air Force, I
had been captured and imprisoned from 1967-1973. Our treatment had been frequently brutal. After three years, however, the
beatings and torture became less frequent. During the last year
we were allowed outside most days for a couple of minutes to
bathe. We showered by drawing water from a concrete tank with
a homemade bucket. One day as we all stood by the tank, a
young Naval pilot named Mike Christian found the remnants of
a handkerchief in a gutter that ran under the prison wall. Mike
managed to sneak the grimy rag into our cell and began fashioning it into a flag. Overtime, we all loaned him a little soap, and
he spent days cleaning the material. We helped by scrounging and stealing bits and pieces of anything he
could use. At night, under his mosquito net, Mike worked on the flag. He made red and blue from ground
-up roof tiles and tiny amounts of ink, and painted the colors onto the cloth with watery rice glue. Using
thread from his own blanket and a homemade bamboo needle, he sewed on stars. Early in the morning a
few days later, when the guards were not alert, he whispered loudly from the back of our cell, "Hey gang,
look here." He proudly held up his tattered piece of cloth, waving it as if in a breeze. If you used your
imagination, you could tell it was supposed to be an American flag. When he raised that smudgy fabric,
we automatically stood straight and saluted, our chests puffing out, and more than a few eyes had tears.
About once a week the guards would strip us, run us outside and go through our clothing. During one of
these shakedowns, they found Mike's flag. We all knew what would happen. That night they came for
him. Night interrogations were always the worst. They opened the cell door and pulled Mike out. We
could hear the beginning of the torture before they even had him in the torture cell. About daylight they
pushed what was left of him back through the cell door. He was badly broken; even his voice was gone.
Within two weeks, despite the danger, Mike scrounged another piece of cloth and began another flag.
The Stars and Stripes, our national symbol, was worth the sacrifice to him. Now, whenever I see the flag,
I think of Mike and the morning he first waved that tattered emblem of a nation. It was then, thousands of
miles from home in a lonely prison cell that he showed us what it meant to be truly free.”
Knowing this story of those that have come before us, it is necessary to put everything into perspective. Some have been known to complain about waiting in line at the BX, complain about not having a
full hour for lunch, or complain about doing work that was expected of others.
JFK was quoted as saying “the greatest thing that one can give, is service to his country”. We all have
experience with personal self sacrifice. We do it every single time we get up in the morning and put on
the uniform. Every deployment is the result of the same sacrifice that others have gone through before
us.
Why are you here?
The best way to take advantage of the opportunity and sacrifice is to come into work every day. To
learn to lead. And to build yourself above what you were previously. The better you can lead, the better
that you will be able to defend those around you that do not have that ability. Those that have come
before us have made the force what it is by following that same concept.
Before AFSA and fighting for better benefits there have been giant leaps in what we have earned.
Those advancements are: high three for retirement (used to be five), Airey put WAPS in place setting up
the future, per diem equality across the board, 42% pay increase from 2002 to 2010.
CMSAF James Cody is quoted saying “you are here to serve your nation, not here to be served”.
Why are you here?
Use CapWiz to get your voice across on certain issues that you feel strongly about. Several Airmen
have been misguided as of recent and feel that everything is entitled to them. Temper your message and
use the proper channels. Don’t spew garbage that will plague the minds of the others that are truly here
to serve.
Volume 1, Issue 5
Page 3
Military Perspective (Cont.)
Use CapWiz to get your voice across on certain
issues that you feel strongly about. Several Airmen
have been misguided as of recent and feel that everything is entitled to them. Temper your message
and use the proper channels. Don’t spew garbage
that will plague the minds of the others that are truly
here to serve.
The choice to stop TA was based off simple
math. In the civilian sector, $43,500 is the average
return for someone with a Bachelors degree. That is
equivalent to a SrA with a family. We live in the
top 14% of America based off of salaries. 70 billion
is spent a year on the VA. 50 billion is spent in
salaries. The choice to cut TA was necessary.
AFSA has lobbied on all our behalves and earned
a .3 percent pay increase. This may not seem like a
lot, but it equates to $170k over the course of a career.
In addition to all of the benefits, we get supplemental childcare that would normally cost upwards
of $500 a month outside of the CDC. Benefits are
everywhere we turn. They are in such abundance
that they seem like entitlements to some. But… It
just feels right to be a part of something right. This
is not Microsoft, Google, or any of the sort.
Think of the perspective. Read the story again.
Ask yourself the ongoing question. Do everything
you can to respect the military that others have built
for us. Have the right mindset for the future and
build the military to achieve the same leaps to secure
the lives of those who will come after you are gone.
What Makes AFSA Different?
Dan Yeomans
Educa ng AFSA: AFSA is a 501 (c) 19 Tax Exempt Non‐Profit Organiza on
I am o en asked by members what makes AFSA diﬀerent from other Professional Military Associa ons. One dis nc on is that AFSA is considered a 501 (c) 19 organiza on. We maintain this
status through our Americanism programs at the Interna onal, Division, and Chapter levels!
501 (c) (19) veterans’ organiza ons have been permi ed broad purposes by Congress to include
one or more of the eight purposes listed below. It is not necessary that the organiza ons’ purposes or ac vi es include all the listed purposes to be exempt, but they cannot have purposes
of a substan al nature that are not listed and retain 501(c)(19) status. The exempt purposes
include:
- Promo ng the social welfare of the community
- Assis ng disabled and needy war veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces and
their dependents, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans
- Providing entertainment, care and assistance to hospitalized veterans or members of the
U.S. Armed Forces
- Carrying on programs to perpetuate the memory of deceased veterans and members of
the Armed Forces, and to comfort their survivors
- Conduc ng programs for religious, charitable, scien fic, literacy or educa onal purposes
- Sponsoring or par cipa ng in ac vi es of a patrio c nature
- Providing insurance benefits for their members or dependents of their members, or both
- Providing social and recrea onal ac vi es for their members
Because AFSA sa sfies the Americanism criteria, we as an Associa on are allowed to provide the
following addi onal member support:
Reviewing proposed legisla on that may aﬀect veterans, at both the federal and state levels
Tes fying before a governmental body with respect to such legisla on
Informing members about the proposed legisla on
Representing veterans before legislative bodies concerning legislation that affects veterans as a
class has historically been a function of veterans’ organizations. Such organizations are uniquely
positioned to provide information regarding proposed legislation to both veterans and the legislature.
Page 4
Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1674
Word From the President ChadWarner
Lately, our nation has been through
some financially rough times. What will
define us is how we conduct ourselves in
the future. It is always easy to say the
sky is falling, but the bottom line is that
we will still come into work tomorrow
and put forth our best effort to accomplish the mission as we swore we would
do when we entered the Air Force. If
we continue to be professionals and
promote AFSA’s charge, then I am sure
that we will be taken care of. We need
to make sure that our voice is heard and
our benefits are defended, not just for
today’s military members and retirees,
The PUNCH!
June 1st, 1900
Galaxy Theater
Free Admission
but for all those service members that
will follow our footsteps in the future.
Regarding our benefits and pay, AFSA is
not going to win every battle, there are
going to be few things that we will lose.
Unfortunately that is the harsh reality.
Our DoD leaders and elected officials are
trying to keep our force strong and get us
out of debt. Please make sure that you
understand these difficulties and convey
to your fellow Airmen. I am proud of
each member of our Chapter and love
what we do and stand for. Please get out
there, spread the word, and go recruit!!
The PUNCH! We Ready! Are You?
Edward Walker/Alex Rosales
The PUNCH is an in-your-face entertainment event that will prove to be one of the
biggest events of the summer. This is not a talent show; there will be no competing, no
judges, and no filter. This is pure entertainment. Artists are free to express themselves
through their gifts in a supporting environment and will not be subject to degradation.
We will give the people a good time, and go home. It is that simple. The current
lineup is not going to disappoint all those who will attend to see a great show. Currently it is as follows:
Carr and Robnett - Rap Routine
Plenty Groover - Dance Routine
Matt Beverst - Play Guitar/Sing
Martin - Rap
Obermeyer - Martial Arts Routine
Dash/Liston/Dottle - ‘Band’
INTERMISSION
Groover - Comedy Stand Up
Robnett - Rap
Carr - Rap
Irizarry - Poem
Alston - Singer
Green - Fire Poi
We already have a great lineup
but are looking to fill up the remaining few slots. If you have what it takes or a talent
that you would like to perform during the show, send an email to Edward Walker. Rehearsals are every Saturday in May at the Galaxy Theater 1100-1400. Just two more
Saturdays remaining, so come on out and show what you can do. The show is going to
take place on the 1st of June at the Galaxy Theater at 1900. Admission is Free, you
will not regret it.
Volume 1, Issue 5
Page 5
AFSA… With A Little Bit of Mentorship
Leadership and gaining
followers does not happen
overnight for anyone. It has
been asked before if any
leaders have been born and
it is true that leaders are
born every single day. But
real leadership comes from
continuous improvement.
There are three types of
people out in the world.
Those that don't know what
they don't know, those that
know what they know, and
those that know what they
don't know.
Those that don't know
what they do not know make
up mostly the babies and
children of our society. I
have a 4 month old daughter
and it is funny to see how
she can just get through life
without any cares in the
world outside of food, sleep,
and poop. She obviously
has no idea what it is that
she knows or does not know.
Outside of the mimicking
noises that my wife or I
make, the whole world is
still out there for her to learn
and she is perfectly content.
The second type of people is one of the largest
groups associated with the
human race; those that know
what they know. Most of us
either have school age children or know of a couple. It
is easy to hear from them
that they ‘know it all’ that
they do not feel that they
need to go to school anymore. A lot of us might
even know some of these
type of people at work.
The sad part is that about
80% of adults stay in this
same mindset for the rest of
their lives. There is nothing
that the world can ever teach
them and that they might
even be the ‘God’s gift to
(insert AFSC here)’. It is
only when one transitions to
the last and most exclusive
phase of learning and leadership will one prove to be
effective in their organization.
The last is of course
those who know what they
do not know. It takes a special kind of person that understands their knowledge
base and is able to adapt
their thinking to consistently
want to learn more about
what they do not know.
In the military we can
easily break all of this down.
Take a look on your EPR.
Outside of the 96% of us
that are ‘Truly Among the
Best’, some of us can actually see where we need to
make improvements. If you
are not that good at your job,
but you supplement that
with volunteering for everything under the sun (the next
page is definitely for you)
then you have adapted very
well to hide those lacking
skills. Knowing where your
weak points are and building
on them will make you better overall. The knowledge
and experience will not just
come to you one day.
Think back to the type of
person that you were 10
years ago. Hopefully you
are not the same that you
once were. But think of the
type of leader that you were.
Is it someone that you would
have like to follow? What
about now? Are you now
the type of person that you
would like to follow? Think
back to how you thought
that long ago. Have you
developed into someone that
you would be proud of be-
Alex Rosales
coming? If not to any of
these, it is time to get things
moving for the next decade.
How can one identify
ways that they need to improve? Look to others and
notice what they do well and
you do not. Asking questions of those that we look
up to without being afraid of
the response.
Some occurrences within
our career we will get feedback that will not help. It is
the inner infant and child
that needs to keep yourself
grounded a bit but be open
to growth. If you give into
what every single person
says, then it might lead to an
emotional roller coaster.
The most important part
of making the transition
from knowing what you
know to knowing what you
do not know is the understanding and the patience
that it will not happen in just
one day.
Choosing to
change the way you live and
think will have an effect on
the rest of your life. The
biggest impact is that there
is no end game. There is no
goal. There is just constant
learning and understanding.
You cannot expect to be
the best leader overnight. It
is just like going to the gym.
You try to go out there right
now and take a few pointers
from the muscleheads that
currently stroll around the
weight room and expect to
squat 400 lbs, you will end
up killing yourself. Now it’s
not as serious as with your
leadership skills, but you
hopefully see my point.
Take your time, think about
all the things you really do
know, and most importantly
what you do not.
It is very
common for
one to assume
what they can
do in a day, and
fall short of
what they can
do in a year.
Page 6
Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1674
Volunteer Opportunities
AFSA
SquadronPOC‐Representyour
squadron
AlexanderRosales
Club7Dinner‐Preparemeals
ZacharyBach
MembershipDrive‐Recruitmembers
LorenzoWalker
PESBrie ing‐Briefpeers
ChadWarner
BaseIntro‐Welcomenewcomers
TroyKauffman
FTAC‐BriefandRecruitAirmen
BrianDavis
NCOA/ALS/PDS‐Recruit/Inspire
LeenetteJoseph
Newsletter‐Providearticles
AlexanderRosales
Website‐Design,Content,Inputs
AlexanderRosales
ThePUNCH!‐1June1900‐Needvolunteersandmoreperformers.
EdwardWalker
VideoGameTournament‐Brainstorm,
Organize,Coordinate
IrvingRivera
BattleoftheBattleships‐17May
0900‐1500‐helpwithevent
Call478-7665tovolunteer
KMCGymnasticsExhibition16‐18
May
SarahForte
DiabetesAwarenessWalk‐25May-
LookingforPOCs
The Shriners
KMCDanceRecital‐28May0900‐
1500and1June0800‐1630(shifts)
SarahForte
KMCVocalShowcase‐30May1830‐
2030
SarahForte
BerlinAirliftMemorialCleanup‐18
May,25May-2Aircraftarebeing
cleanedupandrestored(C47/C54)for
the65thAnniversary.
AFSAOrgBox
First 4 Looking for Committee Members
Membership Outreach Committee:
Needs 4 more members.
POC: SrA Bramley
Ambassador Committee:
Needs 3 more members
POC: A1C Huntley
Volunteer & Recognitions Committee:
Needs 1 more member
POC: A1C Denisyeva DesignatedDriversNeededforMSgt
PromotionParty‐23May1600‐1800
SSgtKimberlyWashington
CGOCGolfTournament‐17May1200
ShotgunStart-Tournamentwillbe
kickedoffbyGenHyde.Teamspotsstill
available.1LtCarsenChun
RamsteinRabbits-Ifyouneedapace
setterforyourPTtest,theRamsteinRabbitsarehereforyou.Ifyouneedapace
setterorwouldliketovolunteertobe
onecontactSMSgtThaggardorTSgtZeno.
“The hardest
part of
showcasing
your ability to
lead is getting
an opportunity,
here it is” - TSgt
Rosales
Volume 1, Issue 5
Legislation
Page 7
SMSgt Custer
Senate Defense Appropriations Chair
Wants Info on BRAC. In his FY 2014
Defense Budget plan, President Obama has
called for another round of base realignments and closures (BRAC). According to
a Stars and Stripes article, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wants
proof that the 2005 BRAC round actually
saved money. Durbin recently said, “I've
watched five base closure commissions. . . I
want to see actual savings--start to finish-when you're closing a base, moving the personnel, moving the equipment, reassigning
and then assessing how much money you've
saved as a result of it.” HERE
United Health Publishes Q&A in Light
of Western Region Failures. United
Healthcare, which has been under fire for
poor service, has issued a question-andanswer sheet on referrals and waivers for
those in the western TRICARE region.
Those interested can access this paper at
HERE
HVAC Passes Five Key Veterans’ Bills.
Yesterday, the House Veterans Affairs
Committee (HVAC) passed five bills of interest to veterans. The bills now go to the
full House for consideration. H.R. 357, the
“GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013,”
would force public colleges and universities
to charge student veterans only in-state
tuition starting July 1, 2015. HERE
SECAF and CSAF Testify on FY 2014
Defense Authorization Request. Yesterday, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III
testified before the Senate Armed Services
Committee on how they envision moving
forward in a constrained fiscal environment.
They called for support of the Air Force’s
budget request of $114.1 billion for FY
2014. HERE
DoD Releases Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Strategy. Yesterday,
the Department of Defense released its FY
2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in
the Military. In doing so, Maj. Gen. Gary S.
Patton, the director of DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office said,
“Our continuing focus is on the health and
safety of our service members. HERE
Record of Past BRAC Round Doesn’t
Bode Well for Future Rounds. In an
earlier bulletin we reported that President
Obama’s FY 2014 Budget Plan once again
calls for more base realignments and closures. An article in Roll Call asserts that the
most recent BRAC round, in 2005, cost
more to implement than was estimated and
achieved less savings than desired. HERE
TRICARE Eases Authorization Rules
for Western Region Beneficiaries.
TRICARE officials report, “TRICARE West
Region Prime enrollees referred for specialty care from April 1 up to May 18, 2013 do
not need authorization before seeking care.
The authorization requirement has been
temporarily waived due to delays by UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans in processing referrals. HERE
United Healthcare May be Fined by
DoD for Contract Violations. A Bloomberg Businessweek article reports, “The U.S.
Defense Department may ask UnitedHealth
Group Inc. (UNH) to reimburse the government after military families experienced
long delays getting medical-care referrals.
HERE
Mental Health Services for Guard and
Reserve Members. DoD points out several mental health services programs available to members of the Guard and Reserve
HERE
Get your voice heard!!
Chapter Executive Council
President
Chad Warner
USAFE NCOA
Vice President
William Ceglar
690 NSS Det 1
Secretary
Matthew Consolé
USAFE A6
Treasurer
Richard Metten
86 MXG
Legislative Trustee
Keith Custer
86 MXS
Field Operations
Kevin Brown
86 AMXS
Awards
Leenette Joseph
USAFE A7
Membership Trustee
Lorenzo Walker
86 OSS
Communications
Alexander Rosales
86 MXS
Merchandise
John Dizonno
1 CMXS
Airmen’s Activity Coordinator
Irving Rivera
690 NSS Det 1
Sergeant At Arms
Scott McCabe
86 SFS
Ways and Means
Khyashalise Powell
86 MXS
Historian
Leenette Joseph
86 AW
Corporate
Lester Goodwin
86 MOS
2013 in 2013!!
Chapter 1674’s Warrior of the Month
Nosubmissionshave
beenmadeforthe
monthofApril.This
isheretosimplyrecognizethoseindividualsintheKMCthat
aredoinggreat
thingseverydaybut
mightnothaveallof
their‘boxeschecked’.
ANYpersoncanbe
nominated,thereare
nosetstandardsasof
rightnowforthis.But
pleasesubmittheir
name,job,squadron,
hobbies,whytheydeservetherecognition,
andaphotoortwo.
Pleaseforwardallnominationsto
Leenette Joseph
orChadWarner
Squadron Representatives (34 out of 93)
Nunez, Carrie TSgt 1 CBCS
Bramley, Elizabeth D SrA 86 CPTS
Giessman, Adam W TSgt 886 CES
Mosley, Cherise L MSgt 86 MUNS
Celestine, Tina R TSgt MDOS
Curtis, Jacob R A1C 86 AMXS
Ceskowski, Sharon R A1C 86 AMXS
Maiava, Derek I TSgt USAF 86 MOS
Giessman, Rayanne L TSgt 86 AES
Grega, Jennifer L MSgt 21 OWS
Spratt, Christopher R SSgt AMC 721
Banks, Talitha R TSgt AMC 721
McCauley, Stephanie D TSgt AMC 721
Hawksley, David A MSgt AMC 721
Rivera, Irving A1C 690 NSS
Walker, Edward SrA 690 NSS
Burk, Chad SSgt 435 AMS
Pirtle, Michael A1C 86 CS
Sepulveda-Walker, Cynthia TSgt 86 CS
Powell, Khyashalise TSgt 435 AGOW
Carty, Ernel TSgt 721 AMXS
Long, Christopher SSgt 721 AMXS
Collymore, Elizabeth SSgt 721 AMXS
Almiron, Kari A1C 786 FSS
Thompson, Angela TSgt USAFE A3
Console, Matthew SMSgt USAFE A6
Kinsey, Darrell TSgt USAFE A1 ACOS
Wilson, Lauren SSgt 24 IS
Osborne, Bradley J A1C 86 MXS
Burns-Johnson, Kynelle R TSgt 693 ISS
Begley, Dominic W TSgt AFISRA 693 ISS
Roy, Jeffrey B TSgt 693 ISS
Kauffman, Troy M TSgt USAFE DMA
Meszler, David M TSgt USTRANSCOM DCS
Palmer, Michael D MSgt USAFE 7 WS
Sibbald, Doreen R TSgt AMC 313 EOSS
Jones, Kenneth J SrA USAFE BAND
Van Sant, Michael TSgt 450 IS
Robinson, Christopher MSgt 86 AMDS
McNabb, Jessica TSgt 86 DS
Wilson, Bryan SrA 83 NOS
Teeter, Eric MSgt 83 NOS
Rivera, Kari A1C 786 FSS
Sawaya, Kip MSgt USAF NATO (Heidelburg)
Price, Rewa SSgt 86 MDS
Orvis, Amanda SrA 86 MDS
Still need more squadron representatives. We just
currently surpassed 1/3 representation in the KMC.
We are always looking for more reps.
To represent your squadron, all you need to do is
send out emails with current information/legislation/
volunteer opportunities always look for new members, be the ear for the organization, attend monthly
meetings, and contact those within your squadron
that are lapsing in their membership. If this is something you would like to be a part of, send an email to
AlexanderRosales
AFSA Core Values—Integrity, Patriotism, Service, and Fraternalism
AFSA Vision—To be the professional military organization of choice for all enlisted personnel; active, retired, and veteran.
Mission—To advocate improved quality-of-life benefits and economic fairness that will support the
wellbeing of Air Force enlisted personnel and their families.