SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- This week
Irwin Gate closure
The west entry control point, Irwin Gate, will be closed to both inbound and outbound traffic through Dec. 7.
On Dec. 8, the inbound lanes will reopen, but the outbound lanes will remain closed through Dec. 14.
RAO cancels meeting
The Retiree Assistance Office has canceled the Military Retiree/Retiree Spouse meeting on Dec. 10. For more information, call Bob Koenig at (719) 321-5100. If you have suggestions as to how the RAO can better serve our customers during the COVID-19 shutdown, email scouter62@gmail.com.
50th FSS observes COVID hours
- Education Center: 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays.
- Fitness Center: Monday-Friday 5 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
- ITT: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m-3:45 p.m.
- Arts & Crafts: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. (by appointment only)
- Outdoor Rec: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
- Airman & Family Readiness Center: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- CDC/School Age Program: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Civilian Personnel Office: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1-4 p.m. Wednesday
- NAF Human Resources Office: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Marketing Print Shop: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Military Personnel Flight: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (by appointment only), Wednesday 8 a.m.-1p.m. for training
Unmanned:
Holiday Hours:
Dining Facility:
- Breakfast: 6:30-8 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Dinner: 4-6:30 p.m.
- Midnight: 11 p.m.-1 a.m.
Colorado Springs Consolidated Exchange
- Barber shop: Closed, Nov. 26 and 27
- Dunkin Donuts: Closed, Nov.26 and 27
- Express: Closed, Nov.26, Open Nov. 27 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Schriever West Gate
- Dec. 1–7: Closed to in and outbound traffic
- Dec. 8-14: Outbound lanes closed, inbound lanes are open
El Paso County now in Stage I fire restrictions
El Paso County now in Stage I restrictions and will remain in this stage until conditions and resourcing warrant a change.
Stage I’s guidelines are:
- Outdoor blasting, welding and torches: Allowed with caution.
- Campfires in developed campgrounds and/or picnic grounds: Allowed in permanently constructed fire grates, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves.
- Model rockets: Not allowed.
- Public prescribed burning/burn permits: Not allowed.
- Outdoor smoking: No smoking outside unless in an enclosed building or vehicle, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren and cleared of all flammable materials.
- Sale or use fireworks: Not allowed.
- Outdoor cooking (private property): Allowed if smaller than three feet in diameter and less than two feet high, that are kindled for the purpose of cooking food using only clean dry, untreated wood or charcoal, which are contained by fireplaces, fire pits, (free standing and/or above ground), barbecues or other systems approved by the local special district having fire jurisdiction or the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
- Outdoor fires at residence: Allowed if the fire is contained within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, indoor fire places or wood burning stoves. Allowed in permanently constructed fire grates, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves in outdoor areas cleared of all combustibles, using dry untreated wood and or charcoal.
P-S GAR: Got a question for the commander?
If you have questions or concerns for the garrison commander and you would like to communicate by name or anonymously, use the new “Questions?” feature on Schriever’s Air Force Connect app. The commander will answer the questions on a regular basis through Garrison-wide emails and social media.
On base
Legal office changes procedures
Due to COVID-19, the Peterson-Schriever Garrison Judge Advocate (Legal) office will draft wills for deploying military personnel and emergency situations only. General legal assistance is provided by appointment only and/or conducted by phone or email. In-person notary and power of attorney services are provided by appointment only. For questions, or to schedule an appointment, call 556-4871 or 556-4872 for the Peterson office and 567-5050 for the Schriever office.
Dependent ID shortage at MPF
The Military Personnel Flight is experiencing a shortage of dependent IDs. The Air Force will be shifting to Next Gen IDs for dependents and no longer ship additional orders of the previous ID card stock. To make the current stock last, the MPF will be prioritizing issuance of dependent IDs, only new dependents who have experience a change in status will be issue a card at this time. An exception for expired dependent IDs has been extended to June 30, 2021, with memo in hand that is provided by MPF. Once the Next Gen cards are functional, MPF will start issuing them based on priority and availability. For more information, call the MPF at 567-5900.
AFRC to host Right Start
The Airman and Family Readiness Center hosts a Right Start Information Fair 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., the third Thursday of each month at the base event center. Right Start is a mandatory course for incoming active duty members and Department of Defense affiliated contractors that informs personnel about programs and resources on the installation. Attendance is optional for dependents but is highly encouraged. For more information, call Lawanda Ervin at 567-7347.
CFC ongoing
Schriever Air Force Base’s Combined Federal Campaign workplace giving program continues, and will continue through Dec. 18. As a reminder, fundraising events that are not part of the CFC are prohibited during this time. See the below video and emails from the CFC project officers and keyworkers for more information.
www.Facebook.com/SchrieverAirForceBase/posts/3225344537576962
Force Development Flight relocates
The Schriever Force Development Flight and Education and Training Center is now relocated throughout Bldg. 210 as their office is undergoing renovations.
To mitigate disruption to the shared customer service spaces that the Force Development Flight will occupy, members are encouraged to call ahead for all services, e.g. career assistance advisor, education counseling, tuition assistance and GI Bill.
All Force Development Flight phone numbers will remain the same and will be transferred to their temporary locations.
- Force Development Flight chief: 567-5927
- Education and Training section chief: 567-5903
- Career Assistance advisor: 567-2445
- First Term Airmen Course noncommissioned officer in charge: 567-2447
- Education specialist: 567-2043
- Base/Formal Training manager: 567-5248
- Test Control officer: 567-5435
- The anticipated completion is December.
Knowledge Management Center provides training
The Knowledge Management Center provides recurring classes for programs. The following classes are offered the first and third Thursday of the month in Bldg. 301, Room 119:
- Records Management: noon-1:30 p.m.
- Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act: 1:45-3:15 p.m.
- Publications and Forms: 1-3 p.m. (every third Thursday of the month)
To register, visit https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/afspc-50sw/wsa/kmc/tn/SitePages/Home.aspx. For more information, contact the Schriever Knowledge Management Center at 567-6001.
Schriever hosts food trucks weekly
North restricted area portal
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Monday: High Grade Foods
- Tuesday: Lucy’s Grill
- Wednesday: All Things Pita
- Thursday: K2 Cuisine
- Friday: All Things Pita
CDC
10:30-11 a.m.
- Monday: Arby’s
- Wednesday and Friday: Qdoba
Bldg. 210
11:10-11:40 a.m.
- Monday: Arby’s
- Wednesday and Friday: Qdoba
Clinic suspends over-the-counter program indefinitely
The 21st Medical Squadron pharmacy has suspended the over-the-counter medication program indefinitely to ensure patients are receiving the appropriate level of care and assessment due to ongoing events.
Logistics Planner retraining opportunities
The Air Force seeks enlisted members interested in retraining into the logistics plans specialty career field. Contact Ed Smith at 567-3082 or Monika Frank at 567-3060, for more information.
Nominate for Military Child of the Year Award
The Military Child of the Year Award committee is now accepting nominations to celebrate the achievements of eight military children. Winners receive a $10,000 award, a laptop and are flown with a parent to Washington D.C. for three nights. Nominations are accepted until Dec. 7. For more information and to nominate a child, visit http://militarychildoftheyear.org/.
TRICARE Open Season is underway
For more information, see the all-digital toolkit is available here:
health.mil/About-MHS/MHS-Toolkits/TRICARE-Open-Season-Education-and-Awareness-Toolkit?utm_source=emailmv&utm_medium=toolkit20201110&utm_campaign=openseason
Flu vaccine available off base
Airmen and their families can get the flu shot at the following local locations:
- Walgreens: 4305 E Platte Ave.
- Safeway: 1425 S. Murray Blvd.
- King Soopers: 7915 Constitution Ave.
- The Little Clinic: 3620 Austin Bluffs Pkwy.
- Walmart: 1575 Space Center Dr.
- Costco: 5885 Barnes Rd.
VLTP donation request
Gary Sollinger has been approved for the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program. If you’d like to donate leave to this employee, please do the following:
1.) Complete the OPM 630-A, Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient under the VLTP (within agency) http://www.opm.gov/FORMS/PDF_FILL/opm630a.pdf or https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630b.pdf (outside agency).
2.) Scan the signed form and email it to jaime.sampayo.1@spaceforce.mil, or fax to 567-2832.
TYA premium increase
TRICARE Young Adult enrollees must pay premiums that represent the full cost of the program. These costs have risen, so TYA premiums are increasing for calendar year 2021. Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the monthly premium for TYA Select will increase from $228.00 to $257.00 per month. The monthly premium for TYA Prime will increase from $376.00 to $459.00 per month. TYA enrollees may change plans between TYA Prime and TYA Select at any time to enroll in the plan that best suits their needs. Plan changes can be made via beneficiary web enrollment, phone, mail and at TRICARE Service Centers overseas. TYA enrollees may also wish to explore other available health insurance options on healthcare.gov. Healthcare.gov open enrollment is Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Enrollees may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period with healthcare.gov if they dis-enroll from TYA. For more information, visit: https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/10_21_2020_New_Monthly_Premiums_TRICARE_Young_Adult_Plans_2021.
Health Promotion Office schedule changes
The Schriever Health Promotion Office is scheduled to close the following dates: Dec. 21-25. Virtual appointments will be offered Nov. 30-Dec. 11 and Dec. 28-Jan 8. During this time, healthy eating, sleep and stress management education courses will be available by virtual appointment only. In-person appointments may be scheduled for the week of Dec. 14-18. Additionally, dietitian appointments will be offered Dec. 2 and 16. Additional appointments may be available at Peterson Air Force Base. To schedule an appointment at Peterson AFB, call 556-4292. For more information, call the Schriever Health Promotion office at 567-4292.
ERA enabled on GRB Platform
The electronic retirement application feature has been enabled in the Government Retirement and Benefits Platform. The ERA feature allows eligible Air Force appropriated fund civilian employees to apply for non-disability retirement by submitting their electronically signed retirement forms to the GRB Platform. Employees may access the GRB Platform application at https://grbplatform.us.af.mil. Technical and functional questions may be referred to the Total Force Service Center at 1-800-525-0102.
SAFETY 411
Cold weather safety tips
Cold weather can increase heart rate and blood pressure. It can make blood clot more easily and constrict arteries, which decreases blood supply. This is true even in healthy people. Individuals over the age of 40 or who are relatively inactive should be particularly careful.
National Safety Council recommends the following tips to shovel safely:
- Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
- Take it slow and stretch out before you begin
- Shovel only fresh, powdery snow; it's lighter
- Push the snow rather than lifting it
- If you do lift it, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel
- Lift with your legs, not your back
- Do not work to the point of exhaustion
- Know the signs of a heart attack, and stop immediately and call 911 if you're experiencing any of them; every minute counts