Lakenheath Community Bulletins Published July 6, 2010 ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Operational Readiness Exercise July 12-23 RAF Lakenheath will be running an Operational Readiness Exercise July 12-23. Personnel and family members may experience delays, gate/road closures and other restrictions related to exercise scenarios. Free admission to RAF Fairford Airshow The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust is offering active duty Air Force Airmen, civilian employees and their dependents free admission to the Royal International Air Tattoo on 18 July. The event, held at RAF Fairford, features demonstrations by military aircraft from all over the world, to include the USAF F-22 Raptor. Air Force members, civilians and dependents must show a valid DoD identification card at the gate. This offer only applies July 18 and is not available to members of our sister services or retirees. Additional air show tickets must be pre-purchased (see Web site below). For additional information about RIAT, please visit http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow. Off-limits Establishments The following establishments have been made off-limits to all military personnel, family members, contractors working solely with U.S. forces, active duty personnel on temporary duty and reserve component personnel who are located in the United Kingdom, and Department of Defense civilians in the United Kingdom: - Head in the Clouds, physically located at or near Pottergate, Norwich, U.K. - Ali Bongo, physically located at or near St. John Maddermarket, Norwich, U.K. The aforementioned personnel are prohibited from entering, conducting business with, and electronically or telephonically ordering from these two establishments except as required in the performance of official business. This prohibition includes both the actual physical location of the stated establishment (whether they relocate or not) and any related or affiliated web site or internet business. Personnel entering, ordering from, or doing business with any off-limits entity are subject to punishment or adverse action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Federal regulations, and/or other applicable policy or procedure. These restrictions are essential to maintain the health, safety, welfare, morale, security, and good order and discipline of U.S. personnel in the United Kingdom. The purpose of this order is to eliminate adverse conditions impacting U.S. personnel caused by the sale of intoxicating substances. The order is not intended as a penalty or punishment towards any particular establishment or proprietor. For more information regarding this notice, contact the Legal Office at 226-3553. 48th FW 2nd Annual Combat Dining-In The 48th Fighter Wing will hold the 2nd Annual Combat Dining-In August 6 at Hangar 6. Social hour begins 6 p.m. Contact group representatives for tickets. Representatives are as follows: Mission Support Group - Tech. Sgt. Eugene Rivers; Operations Group - Tech. Sgt. Libra Joseph; Fighter Wing staff - Tech. Sgt. Kristen Davis; Maintenance Group - Tech. Sgt. Myra Walker; Medical Group - Tech. Sgt. Felecia Young. Ticket Prices are $8 for Airmen, $17 for NCOs, $25 for officers/senior NCOs. Roundabout construction The roundabout on Bangor Road in Liberty Village is currently under reconstruction. Impact to traffic is expected to be minimal. Traffic flow is to be maintained, although slight diversions may be required. All work is to be carried out during off-peak hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and during the school summer holiday. Estimated completion date is August 20. Air Force Ball The Joint RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath Air Force Ball will be held September 11 in Hangar 814 on RAF Mildenhall. Menu will include Kilin smoked salmon with pickled cucumber salad, topped with caper and lemon dressing for appetizer, pan fried supreme of chicken in calvados cream sauce with button onions and mushrooms for a main course, followed by a traditional Air Force Birthday cake for dessert. For all vegetarians, there will be the option to have Goat cheese and onion tart with sweet and sour beetroot for appetizer and Aubergine rolls filled with spiced couscous and feta cheese in a tomato and roasted pepper sauce for the main dish. All meals will also be served with potatoes and minted broad beans and peas along with dinner coffee. Entertainment will be provided by either the USAFE soft rock band or the USAFE jazz band, and several aircraft will be on display for photo opportunities during the event. Additionally, there will be a photographer on site to capture the event for you with a small fee. If you think you have what it takes to MC the event, please contact Capt. Christine Anouchian (RAF Mildenhall) or 1st Lt. Mary Brence (RAF Lakenheath) for more information on tryout dates and times. For any other questions please contact one of your POCs listed below: Mildenhall: Capt. Nicholas Brence (238-2461), Capt. Christine Anouchian (238-4752), 1st Lt. Timothy Gaydosh (238-7358), or Senior Master Sgt. Shane Sandlin (238-6881). Lakenheath: 1st Lt. Mary Brence (226-5084) or Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Krumenauer (226-3269). Safe Neighborhoods Public Meeting There will be a Safe Neighborhoods Public Meeting on local crime and policing at 10 a.m. July 28 at West Row Village Hall, Beeches Road, West Row. COLA being reduced The COLA rate set by the Defense Department for June will result in RAF Lakenheath Airmen seeing an approximately 22 percent COLA reduction in their paychecks. This reduction is a result of the stronger U.S. dollar against the British Pound. Based on June COLA rates for RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath, an airman (E-2) with two years of service and two dependents is entitled to $313.34, down from $404.72 in May. A married technical sergeant (E-6) with 10 years of service and three dependents will now receive $441.34, down from $570.05. And a colonel (O-6) with 24 years of service and two dependents is entitled to $730.66, down from $943.78. For a full list of the new COLA rates, visit http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/. Summer Reading Programs The Library will host summer reading programs from June 1 to July 30. Themes are Voyage to Book Island for ages 10 and younger or adults and Make Waves for ages 11 to 17. An individual is eligible for a prize for every two hours a child ages 10 and younger reads or is read to, and every five hours kids ages 11 to 17 read. Sign up at the Library. For more information, call 226-3713. New Consular Fees The following consular fees are will be effective July 13: Passport book - Adult (1st time Applicant): $135 Passport book - Adult (Renewal): $110 Passport book - Minor (Under 16): $85 Additional Passport/Visa pages: $82 Consular report of birth abroad: $100 Resume 201 July 15, 9-11 a.m. Need a resume critique? Bring your resume in for a peer review and feedback session with A&FRC staff. Please bring 5 copies of your resume to the workshop. Employment Connections July 19, 9 a.m. - noon. This class provides employment services and information to family members who want to gain employment on or off base. Agencies such as DeCA, NAF Human Resources, DODDS, Civilian Personnel, and some off base agencies will be in attendance. FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS Marriage LINKS Engaged? Married? Has your growing family stressed your relationship? Is the experience of deployment causing issues for you or your partner? Join us at Marriage LINKS, a research-based class taught by the Family Advocacy Program. Here, you and your partner will learn how to enhance communication, increase trust, grow together, and renew both your romance and your commitment to each other. Class offered monthly at the Airman & Family Readiness Center. Call 226-8070 or 01638 528070 for more information. Parent Zone First Wednesday of each month, 12:30-4:30pm. Active duty and dependent parents of children 4-10 are invited to practical, skill-based parenting program that addresses discipline, communication, decision-making, relationships and self control. Program offered monthly at the Airman & Family Readiness Center. Call Family Advocacy Program (FAP) at 226-8070 to register. No childcare provided. Single Parent Support Group This support network addresses the professional, social and parenting needs of military single parents. Contact militarysingleparents@googlemail.com or call 01638 545127 for more information. No childcare provided. Voter registration/Absentee ballot requests Recently, many Uniformed Service Members have asked the following question: "Is my Absentee Ballot Request CURRENT or Should I submit a new one?" To answer this question: The base voting assistant officers recommend that you register to vote/request an absentee ballot in January of each year, or at least 45 days before Election Day. It is important to remember that you must be registered to vote absentee. Registration requirements vary from state to state. Most states and territories require registration to vote absentee. Voter registration and absentee ballot request can be done at the same time by submitting the Federal Post Card Application. If you are already registered to vote and only wish to request a ballot, you should submit your FPCA as soon as possible. Your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot request form must be completed, printed, signed, dated and mailed directly to your local election official. These officials will handle the processing and distribution of your absentee ballots and may need to contact you for further information or clarification. To facilitate this process, please provide a current email address, phone and fax number on your application. For more information, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov or contact your unit voting assistant officer. New info regarding importing vehicles to the UK The DVLA no longer requires military members to obtain an original hard copy of their insurance certificates for imported registration purposes. Personnel can now print their insurance certificates by accessing their policy online; however, faxed, photocopied or scanned copies are still not accepted. For more information, contact the Pass & Registration Office at 226-1853. Emergency Numbers for Fire, Medical and Police 911 - RAF Lakenheath, RAF Feltwell - Any Government/DSN Telephone 527 911 - RAF Lakenheath Housing 01638 527 911 - Cell/Mobile Phone while on RAF Lakenheath/Feltwell 01638 527 911 - RAF Feltwell Base Housing 01638 547 911 - RAF Mildenhall/Beck Row 999 - Anglo Housing/Off Base *911 - Cell/Mobile Phone will connect to an off base emergency operator