Ed. note: Joint Base Lewis-McChord PAO has release a much bigger, more comprehensive list of openings, closures and cancellations here.

The 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs has just release a list of changes at Joint Base Lewis-McChord caused by the government shutdown:

• All Exchange services will be opened and operating under normal hours.
• All emergency services will be operating as normal.
• The Child Development Centers will operate as normal.
• Youth Services Teen Zone, SKIES, School aged services, Teen Centers will continue with normal operations.
• Youth Sports Program will continue as planned.
• The Dining Facilities will remain open and operational.
• The gyms will be open and operating under normal hours.
• On-Base housing support through Equity will not be impacted.
• Alcohol Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) will be operating normally.
• On and Off-post Elementary, Middle and High Schools are not impacted.
• Central Issue Facility (CIF) is open and operating under normal times.
• Most MWR activities will continue under normal hours. These include the Warrior Zone, the American Lake Convention Center, the Cascade Community Center, the Bowling Center as an example.
• SHARP, Victim Advocates, New Parent Support and Military Family Life Counselors will continue with normal operations.
• Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) respite care for current enrollees will continue with normal operations.
• Force Support Squadron functions in building 100 will remain under normal operations except vehicle pass and weapons registration functions.
• Official Mail will be closed.
• Off-base housing services are closed.
• McChord Field Dorm Room assignments and maintenance will be delayed.
• Education centers will be open for college courses, however no academic counseling will be available.
• Installation museums are closed.
• Visual Information Services are closed.
• Libraries will operate on limited hours. Grandstaff Library's new hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the McChord Library's hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) will be open normal operating hours, however delays should be expected.

MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

• All inpatient and wounded warrior care activities will continue as normal.
• Patients will still be able to schedule medical appointments for most outpatient services, and none of the scheduled appointments will be canceled.
• The appointment line (1-800-404-4506) will remain open for beneficiaries to inquire about their appointments and for those in need of urgent "non-emergency" care.
• Pharmacy services will also remain open at all locations.
• Non-emergent elective medical and dental surgeries will be curtailed during the government shutdown. Impacted patients will be notified personally of any changes.

See Also

Pres. Obama thanks DoD workforce, encourages budget resolution

Information for soldiers, civilians impacted by government shutdown

Civilian employers of Reservists are more likely to be supportive and have a good employer and employee relationship when they have a clear understanding of the Reservists' mission and obligations. One of the best avenues for providing this understanding is through the 446th Airlift Wing's Employer Orientation Day.

The next employer orientation day is Oct. 5.

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Ian Phillips, a journalist with the Defense Media Activity, as the scoop on the Air Force Reserve Wingman Toolkit.

As members of the military family we all deal with stress. Work, relationships, and money are just a few examples of the things that are on our minds every day.

Reservists have the additional responsibility of balancing civilian and military careers. Everyone deals with it differently though. Sometimes people need help dealing with events and don't know where to turn. The Air Force Reserve has created a way to help yourself and others with the Wingman Toolkit.

The Wingman Toolkit is an Air Force Reserve initiative to empower Airmen and their families to sustain healthy, balanced lifestyles using the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

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Under Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning became the acting secretary of the Air Force June 21, succeeding Michael Donley, who departed the position after more than five years.

Fanning was confirmed under secretary by the Senate April 18 and, under federal law, automatically assumes the job of acting secretary until the president nominates and the Senate confirms a replacement. Fanning will continue to serve as under secretary during this time.

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Air Mobility Command has started preliminary planning for the next Mobility Air Force's Rodeo readiness competition, targeting July 2015.

Brig. Gen. Scott Goodwin, Air Mobility Command director of operations, said the biennial event is important despite the cancellation of this summer's Rodeo for budgetary reasons.

"We see direct benefits from Rodeo competitions, and those impacts have been felt globally," he said. "Rodeo lets us continue to develop skills of our Airmen and their ability to work with international partners for those unplanned events that happen throughout the world."

U.S. and allied nation teams typically travel to every two years to Washington state for Rodeo to participate in events that challenge the capabilities of airlift and air-refueling aircrews, as well as maintenance, aerial port, and aeromedical evacuation Airmen.

Air Mobility Command is searching for the next AMC Icon.

The AMC Icon program is loosely based around the hit TV program, American Idol.

All AMC installations will conduct base level talent shows during July and August. Local contestants compete for $1,000 in cash prizes. The top finishing Air Force vocalist will then compete for $2,000 in cash prizes at the command level.

This year's Icon will see one substantial change from previous years.

Base finalists will not travel to Headquarters AMC at Scott AFB to compete in a live performance.

Instead, AMC installations will submit a video of their finalist's performance to be judged by our expert panel of celebrity judges.

All videos will also be posted online for all to view. The top three finalists will receive cash awards of $1,000, $600 and $400; respectively.

The AMC Icon program also features a special category for those Air Force members not stationed on or near an AMC host base. AMC affiliate participants can enter by forwarding a music video showcasing their talents. Cash awards are available in this category as well, and the winner will also compete in the command finals.

Interested participants are encouraged to contact their base Force Support Squadron Marketing office for additional information including your base's local competition. Local base shows are open to all ID card holders 18 and older.

The McChord side of Joint Base Lewis-McChord will conduct a mandatory wing training day Tuesday.

Most McChord base services will be affected the entire day by this training.

We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause and recommend contacting the respective office you want to visit before coming to McChord Field Tuesday.

All Morale, Welfare and Recreation services, the McChord Exchange and its neighboring stores and food court, the commissary, child development centers, on-base banks and Burger King will not be affected by this training day.

For more information, contact the 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office at 253.982.5637.

Master Sgt. Todd Wivell is a journalist with 62nd AW Public Affairs.

As we recently reported, the Air Force recently announced that it would start the first phase of its fiscal 2014 NCO Retraining Program (NCORP), which invites noncommissioned officers to cross-train into undermanned career fields and be reclassified with a new Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). Potentially, those that are currently in overmanned career fields and choose not to participate in NCORP could face forced retraining or, in the worst-case scenario, separation from the Air Force entirely.

Today, the Air Force Personnel Center announced six enlisted career fields will be removed from the career job reservation constrained list, while 17 others will see lower quotas, beginning June 15.

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Federal budget cuts are straining honor guard programs across the nation. Today, the U.S. Air Force says it's forced to trim military funeral honors of retirees due to the sequestration. Below is a report filed by Capt. Lindsey Hahn, a journalist with the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.

Due to the impact sequestration has on resources, Air Force Services is adjusting requirements for military funeral honors of retirees.

Air Force policy will revert to requiring a minimum of two personnel for retiree MFH details, consistent with statute and DoD policy.

The Air Force historically went a step further by providing a seven-member detail for all retiree funerals.

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The Air Force has officially announced that the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB 1) will be located at McConnell AFB in Kansas.  

According to the results of the Air Force's site surveys, the selection of McConnell AFB will allow for the Special Operations Air Refueling training mission to remain close to its primary customers in the Southeast.

Fairchild AFB, located in Spokane and home to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, was chosen to be one of two alternative bases - a decision that did not sit well with Gov. Jay Inslee given that Boeing built the KC-46A aircraft.

"This is an extremely unfortunate decision by the Air Force. Fairchild Air Force Base has a strong tradition as an integral part of our national defense and is ideally located, particularly as U.S. strategy calls for directing greater attention to the Pacific theater. The Air Force's decision today does not follow that important national policy," Inslee wrote in a public statement.

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