News Nuggets Published Aug. 9, 2013 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- ESGR hosts summer event The Washington State Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Committee is hosting a great summer event for you and your civilian employer. The event is planned for Saturday, Aug. 31 with a barbecue starting at 6 p.m. on the Party Deck at Cheney Stadium and you can register by contacting ESGR's Kathi Wilcox at kathleen.i.wilcox.ctr@mail.mil. Her phone is 253-512-8253. The Tacoma Rainiers will take on the Sacramento River Cats that evening. Barbecue and game tickets are free but seats are limited so register now if you are interested. Tuition Assistance pending for FY14 The Air Force is not stopping or suspending military tuition assistance. However, pending final DoD approval and release of the Air Force FY14 Military Tuition Assistance program, Airmen will not be able to apply for TA for courses starting on or after Oct. 1, until further notice. Once the FY14 TA program has been approved, Airmen may submit TA requests for FY14 using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. Airmen are cautioned to avoid making financial decisions or commitments without an approved TA form. Financial decisions made without an approved MilTA form will be the responsibility of the Airmen. For courses starting before Oct. 1, Airmen may still apply for TA through AFVEC under the current FY13 TA guidelines. New company takes over travel services Winggate Travel has taken over the contract for travel services from Ravenel Travel. The contact information is: (877) 627-5801 toll free, or (253) 442-2313 during duty hours. The e-mail is mcchord@winggatetravel.com DTS phishing scam Be aware there is a phishing scam directed at users of the Defense Travel System. The scam consists of the DTS user receiving an e-mail asking them to log into DTS at the following link (www.defensetravel.osd.com) to sign their authorization immediately or their travel reservations are subject to cancellation. Notice that the furnished link reflects a dot-com (.com) Web site address, while the correct DTS Web site uses only a dot-mil (.mil) address. The Web-site accepts the user's CAC pin log-in information - which may ultimately comprise their digital certificates. DTS users may wish to process a Travel Assistance Center help desk ticket so these can be reported to the Defense Travel Management Office for their review/action. Development & Training Flight is requesting Air Force PT clothing The Development and Training flight is looking for used Air Force PT clothing in good condition for trainees to wear during PT each UTA. If you are separating or retiring, or just have PT clothing that you want to donate, please contact Master Sgt. Rick Jackson at 982-3501. Music & worship support needed! The Chapel staff is looking for a volunteer to lead in singing (vocals & guitar, if possible) during the Saturday UTA (Protestant) lunchtime worship service beginning in September. Please contact Chaplain (Maj.) Pierre Allegre through e-mail at pierre.allegre@us.af.mil if you are interested. Get credits for CCAF Here are a couple opportunities for your Airmen to get the residency credits they need to complete their CCAF Degree prior to attending ALS. Applications for the Air Force Culture and Language Center's Fall 2013 "Introduction to Culture" course will be accepted Sept. 19 through Oct. 2. The application window may close early if the course is full. The course runs from Oct. 10 through Jan. 15. This free, online course fulfills three resident hours of either social science or program elective credit required for Community College of the Air Force degrees. http://www.culture.af.mil/library/pdf/enrolldir123.pdf Only enlisted active duty, Air Reservists or Air National Guardsmen who are eligible to pursue a degree in the CCAF program may apply. Additionally, the AFCLC will offer its "Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication" course this fall, with registration beginning Oct. 17. Take a class here for CCAF Do you have members who would like to complete their Community College of the Air Force degree? Would you like to support the 446th Airlift Wing's efforts to bring CCAF courses to a classroom near you? Well, here is your chance. The wing training staff is currently looking for at least seven members who would like to take a class here at McChord Field. Courses currently being coordinated with St Martin's this fall will be MTH110 & ART157. Both will satisfy CCAF requirements in ether Math & Humanities. Each class will satisfy three semester hours and both would start Oct. 21. Costs to military members is $705. If interested in forming one of these classes in a 446th AW facility, contact Tech. Sgt. Troy Leiker at 982-9144.