Joint Base Journal Vol. 4, No. 6
February 15, 2013
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J OINT B ASE A NACOSTIA-B OLLING
www.cnic.navy.mil/jbab
Drill Team commander transitions after notable season BY SENIOR AIRMAN BAHJA JOI JONES 11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN BAHJA JOI JONES
Capt. Alexander Stanton, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team commander, stands at attention alongside the members of the Drill Team at a performance Feb. 6 at Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Va. The performance was Stanton’s final performance with the Drill Team.
JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA BOLLING, D.C. -- The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team showcased the Air Force’s precision and excellence to a crowd of AF JROTC students at Battle Filed High School on Feb. 6 in Haymarket, Va. For one member, it was more than just another recruiting expedition; it was his final performance with the Drill Team and an end to a notable season. “During the performance I was focused on my part of the routine, but the ride over and the ride home was a great time to reflect on the amazing year I’ve had with some of the best Airmen in the Air Force,” said Capt. Alexander Stanton, Drill Team commander. Stanton, a New Orleans native, has been a part of the Honor Guard since December 2011. He was the flight commander for the Ceremonial Flight before he selected to command the Drill Team during the preceding performance season. Under his command, the Drill Team has achieved quite a few milestones. “This season we have done more than 140 performances, which is the most done
by any team in recent years,” Stanton said. “Also, for the first time, the Air Force was recognized as ‘best in the department of defense’ when the Drill Team won the Joint Services Drill Competition.” During this busy year, he has also led the drill team as they took part in the 57th presidential inauguration and in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade where they performed on live television. The members of the Drill Team expressed their appreciation for his leadership and the things they were able to accomplish during the season. “He is a type of officer that I have never worked for before. He is very by the book and does not accept any excuses,” said Staff Sgt. Hunter Overton, Drill Team member. “Through his leadership we have engaged with many more potential Airmen than ever before.” Stanton will continue to work with the Honor Guard, but will be transitioning to become the assistant director of operations for the Ceremonial Flight. “It is tough to walk away from a oncein-a-lifetime experience, but now I will have more time to dedicate to my job as a Ceremonial Guardsman,” Stanton said.
Build wealth, not debt through Military Saves pledge BY PAUL BELLO JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. – Recent statistics by the U.S. military show most families today are not saving enough for retirement and that many do not even have an emergency fund in place. To combat this trend, Military Saves Week, which takes place Feb. 25 – March 2, encourages service members and families to set financial goals and make a plan to start saving and get out of debt. As part of the Department of Defense’s financial readiness campaign since 2003, Military Saves is geared towards motivating military families to save money each month. The Military Saves campaign is part of the larger nation-wide campaign of America Saves, which targets all Americans.
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One aspect of Military Saves is thatit encourages service members, their families and civilian employees to take the Military Saves pledge. Savers who take the pledge can opt to receive a monthly enewsletter from Military Saves, as well as tips on debt reduction, establishing credit and planning for retirement. “The pledge is a personal commitment to be financially responsible,” said Dawn Sykulla, marketing director for Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s (JBAB) Morale, Welfare and Recreation. “Through Military Saves, individuals can receive access to free resources and learn how to use their money more wisely.” Through JBAB’s Military Family Support Center, a number of financial classes are offered year-round to help service members and families strive towards be-
coming better savers. Similar classes are also offered through MWR’s Liberty Center, Sykulla said. Five saving strategies for service members and family members to keep in mind are: 1. Save for emergencies: Having an emergency savings fund may be the most important difference between those who manage to stay afloat and those who are sinking financially. 2. Pay off higher cost debt: The best investment most borrowers can make is to pay off consumer debt with double-digit interest rates. 3. Save automatically: Use an allotment or set-up an automatic transfer monthly from your pay into a savings account. Saving automatically is the easiest and most successful way to save.
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4. Participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): TSP is a retirement savings and investment plan for federal employees and members of the uniformed services, including the Ready Reserve. 5. Deploying? Take advantage of the Savings Deposit Program. A total of $10,000 may be deposited during deployment in one-year and will earn 10 percent interest annually. Those wishing to take the Military Saves pledge can do so by logging on to www.militarysaves.org. Additional tips can be found by following Military Saves on Facebook and Twitter. Information on financial readiness classes through JBAB’s MWR is available through its Military Family Support Center by calling 202-767-0450 or 202-433-6151.
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