2 CES Forresters Get Press

Congrats to our intrepid "Forrestry Department"...their forest management burn last week earned them some "world wide exposure" on AF Link!


BARKSDALE AFB, La. (AFPN) -- Michael Gibson sets low-lying brush and leaves ablaze with a drip torch. The 200-acre burn Jan. 26 was a timber stand improvement burn, and is one of 10 scheduled controlled burns on Barksdale's East Reservation this year. The burning is conducted to reduce overall fire fuel on the ground, which in turn helps prevent forest fires. Mr. Gibson is a biological science technician here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen J. Otero)

BARKSDALE AFB, La. (AFPN) -- Mark Gates performs a perimeter burn using a terra torch mounted to the rear of an all-terrain vehicle. The 200-acre burn Jan. 26 was a timber stand improvement burn, and is one of 10 scheduled controlled burns on Barksdale's East Reservation this year. The burning is conducted to reduce overall fire fuel on the ground, which in turn helps prevent forest fires. Mr. Gates is the base biologist here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen J. Otero)

BARKSDALE AFB, La. (AFPN) -- Phillip Bell drives a bulldozer to create a fire break to help contain controlled burning. The 200-acre burn Jan. 26 was a timber stand improvement burn, and is one of 10 scheduled controlled burns on Barksdale's East Reservation this year. The burning is conducted to reduce overall fire fuel on the ground, which in turn helps prevent forrest fires. Mr. Bell is a wildlife technician here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen J. Otero)

BARKSDALE AFB, La. (AFPN) -- A small fire consumes low-lying brush and leaves during a controlled burn here. The 200-acre burn Jan. 26 was a timber stand improvement burn, and is one of 10 scheduled controlled burns on Barksdale's East Reservation this year. The burning is conducted to reduce overall fire fuel on the ground, which in turn helps prevent forest fires. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen J. Otero)


All photos courtesy of AFLink and property of the USAF.

Deployed CE Airman Win Monthy Awards

TSgt J.T. Martin and SrA Kyle Lewis deployed from the 2d CES quickly garnered laurels as the deployed squadron's NCO and Airman of the Month!

The two EOD Airmen, along with the rest of their deployed team, were responsible for the recovery of an aircraft that crashed in the desert at their deployed location and they attribute their prompt actions during this to the award.

TSgt Martin, the deployed EOD team leader, was especially proud of these actions as they led to the entire EOD team being selected as the Saber Team of the Month for January.

We wish them luck on the rest of their deployment and in the Group and Wing competitions for their respective categories!

SMSgt May

FSC Mardi Gras

February is Mardi Gras!

Join the FSC in our celebration!
Food, Games & Prizes!

When: 23 February 2006, at 5:30pm
Where: Chapel 2 Annex

This is a free event. Please RSVP by calling the Family Support Center at 456-8400.

January Family Support Center Programs

Hi All! Below is a list and brief description of the Family Support Center programs for January! Be sure and take advantage of these FREE resources! Click here for the FSC website.

Bundles for Babies: This is an Air Force Aid sponsored program facilitated by FSC staff and the New Parents Support Program. It provides expectant parents with a wealth of information to enable them to be responsible parents. The program addresses financial implications, child safety, and nurturing the child, as well as family resources available to them. Attendance incentives include a bundle of baby items.

Cancer Support Group: This support group is a program designed to provide support to our cancer survivor’s, family members, and significant others. The group provides members the opportunity to share feelings, fears and anxieties associated with fighting cancer and is open to anyone previously or currently diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment, as well as family members of those battling cancer.

Car Buying Seminar: This Seminar will discuss the three deals of car buying; the purchase, the financing, and the trade-in. Legal rights of consumers will also be discussed.

English as a 2nd Language: Adults learn to speak, read and write basic, intermediate and advanced English. ESL’s levels I through VI focus on pronunciation, speech, vocabulary, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, reading comprehension and writing. Each class meets twice a week for two hours. The aim of the ESL program is to provide exceptional and professional academia to our students in order to enable and ensure them successful personal and occupational entry into the American way of life.

Finance 101: This program is designed for those individuals who have questions, concerns or need guidance on how to properly and effectively handle their finances. This class will cover checkbook management, reviewing basic budgeting, learning more about credit report information and other financial issues.

Heart Link: This spouse orientation program is a great opportunity to increase knowledge of the AF mission, customs, traditions, protocols and available programs and services in a fun relaxed atmosphere. Make new friends while learning more about Air Force life.

Moving Off-Base Seminar: This 1½-hour workshop is designed to assist members, currently living in the dorms, to take charge of transitioning into the local community. Topics will include: How to prepare for apartment living, roommate selection, budgeting, saving, managing & reducing debt. During this workshop, individual budget assessments will be conducted; participants will also receive hands-on, interactive training on debt reduction.

Parent & Tot Playgroup: An informal program developed to promote socialization for both parents and young children through informal group interaction. Our goal is to improve social skills of pre-school children through peer group association while providing parenting and child development knowledge through group interaction.

Personal Readiness Briefing: With so many military upcoming deployments from Barksdale, it is vital to have your personal and family affairs in order. The Family Support Center’s Readiness program is available to provide information and support during all phases of deployment. This important briefing is mandatory for all active duty members and available for spouses, family members and/or significant others. Please arrive 15 minutes early and in uniform.

Pre-Separation Briefing: In anticipated retirement or separation, the law directs that you attend the pre-separation briefing as soon as possible within the preceding 24 or 12 months respectively. The better you prepare the smoother the transition back to civilian life. This briefing will inform you of the resources available for you to make this transition. This is a mandatory briefing.

Relocation Briefing: Good preparation can be the key to a successful relocation experience. This briefing provides information on resources available to make this a smooth and pleasant move. According to AFI, all PCSing members must attend a relocation briefing at least 90 days prior to their departure date. Spouses are encouraged to attend.

Resume Workshop: This class leads participants to an understanding of what employers look for in a resume, how to write a resume, what information to include, how to use action words, optional information, and inappropriate information. Participants also will have knowledge of what resources are available to help them write their resume in industry terms. Cover letters, their use and content are presented.

Right Start: A must for all newcomers! This program is facilitated by the FSC team. It brings together various base and community speakers to give new arrivals an overview of the base and local community programs, services, history, recreational and cultural opportunities. Spouses are encouraged to attend and will receive a specially prepared Welcome Basket.

Single Parents Group: The Single Parents Support Group is designed to promote interaction between single parents; allowing an opportunity to share parenting experiences. An exchange of resources is also a positive result of these meetings, such as: exchanging babysitting hours and “Swap & Shop” meetings. Meets the second Wednesday of each month.

Smooth Move: The workshop will focus on benefits, entitlements, moving tips and stressors associated to the relocation process. Presenters from TMO, Military Pay, Legal Claims, TRICARE and Family Support will present information on all aspects of the relocation process and be available to answer questions concerning individual moves.

Sponsorship Training: Participants in this training learn the importance of good sponsorship, as well as the responsibilities of a sponsor and the resources available for providing newcomers with the best possible relocation experience. This training is a mandatory annual training for those assigned as sponsors.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): This two-hour workshop provides information on the savings and investment plan being offered to active duty, ready reserve and guard members. Family members are encouraged to attend, as it will help families as they look at their retirement options and sources of income.

What's A Blog and How on Earth to I Use It?

'Blog' is shorthand for 'Web Log"...and it's rapidly becoming a staple of Internet communication.

Why does the 2 CES need one?

Well...I've always thought that the 'Squadron Newsletter' was a great idea...unfortunately, it always fell to someone who knew how to use Microsoft Word to assemble it, print it, and mail it...and after a few issues, these newsletters usually died a quiet death. Some of you who have been around for a while may even have seen a newsletter from time to time.

Our 2 CES blog is aimed at making that quiet death avoidable and offer yet another method of communication for the wired world. What's different? For starters...publication is free! No printing, no mailing. Second, and most importantly, many people will have the chance to write and contribute. It's not a 'one man band'.

I'm hopeful that we will get some of our deployed Airmen to blog, add in 'newsy' tidbits from the Booster Club, Top 4, Prime Chicks, as well as unofficial but interesting info from yours truly, your First Sgt, Chief, Flight Commanders/Chiefs, etc. We can also post links, announce events, even gather votes and comments.

If you have articles, info, going away notices, etc...this is agreat place to put it! This is your blog...let's use it to 'spread the word'!

Engineers lead the way!

Engineer One sends.

UPDATE: MSG Annual Awards

The exercise has caused us to 'relocate' the MSG Annual Awards Luncheon to 1 Feb 06...there may still be seats available, see MSgt Wolf!

MSG Annual Awards Luncheon

Our MSG Annual Awards will be 31 Jan 06, at 1100, Barksdale Club. Good luck to our nominees!

A1C Milton Zhininmorocho, CEF
SSgt Jacob N. McClain, CEO
SMSgt Joseph W. May Jr., CED
Capt Matthew T. Leblanc, CEO
Mr. Timothy R. Radcliffe, CEF
Mr. David A. Nesmith, CEO