Airmail

  • Published
  • By Col. Robert E. Suminsby Jr.
  • 377th Air Base Wing Commander
Could we have a bulletin board at central locations?
Q It seems to me that in order to advertise something to sell or even a yard sale, you have to pay to have it printed in "The Nucleus." At the last base we were stationed at they had the right idea.

At the Shoppette and at the BX main entrances, they had a glass-enclosed bulletin board so that people could advertise items for sale or even a yard sale. It wasn't too terribly big, but big enough to hold many advertisements.

I was wondering if that might be a possibility here at this base's Shoppette and BX. I think it would be great for this base, so then people who had items to sell could take small pictures attached to a 4x6 index card and place at the most popular spots people frequent. Could you please look into this and see what could be done? I have two big items to sell, but don't want to have to pay for it to be run in "The Nucleus" since the base paper is only a once-a-week thing.

The base we were at only allowed these items to be posted for a week also, but people would be able to see them every day they went into one of these stores and they only allowed the items to be printed on a 4x6 index card. I vote for this to happen here, if it's possible.

A At this point it is not feasible to place a bulletin board at either the BX or AAFES Shoppette. AAFES does not have the personnel to monitor and maintain a professional-looking board and I'm sure you would agree that it needs to be kept professional looking at all times. The BX also has very limited wall space in their mall. However, I would encourage you to use "The Nucleus" to advertise events and/or "for-sale" items. The cost is $3.73 for the military to put 3 lines of text and $1.40 per line thereafter. Plus, there are quite a few online sites that you can use to post items for sale.

Why is the library dropping subscriptions to popular magazines?
Q My concern was that the library was dropping their subscription to the "Army Times," which I figure is a well-read publication there at the library. I also would like to say that the library staff is doing an outstanding job.

Another thing that I was reading in the "Army Times" is that some commissaries are going to self-checkout. I was wondering if the commissary here was considering going to self-checkout lines?

A Due to a decrease in funding, the library was unable to renew several subscriptions they have carried in the past. While keeping the "Air Force Times," they did not continue the other "Times" publications. The Air Force Library Agency directed that such subscriptions were not to be renewed. Our library used all its allotted funds on other required and high-use periodicals.

Magazine and newspaper subscriptions are being cut at our Air Force libraries by all commands, both for official office accounts and base libraries. Future budgets will not increase and we do not foresee an increase in current subscriptions.
I thank you for your words of appreciation of our Library Staff. Amie Stone and her staff work tirelessly to ensure the facility has up-to-date material and also offers outstanding programs to the whole Kirtland community.

As for your query on Commissary self-checkout lines; Dale Pudwill, our new DeCA store manager, advises that the Kirtland Commissary does have four self-checkout lines projected. They should be operational by May 11.

Are the recreation facilities here protecting my identity?
Q When I wrote a check at Outdoor Recreation, I was asked for my Social Security number. With so much identity theft going on, I'm a little concerned and want to make sure that the confidentiality of this sort of information is maintained. What measures do you take in this regard?

A We realize that in today's culture, identity theft is a relevant concern but there is a business need to have a means to collect bad debts. Unfortunately, the only way to accommodate this collection process is with a valid Social Security number.

If you are a frequent user of a services' activity and make payments by check, our business activities are going to request your SSN one time for record purposes. Previously, anytime you wrote a check you had to enter your SSN on the face of the check, exposing your SSN to numerous individuals. The current process eliminates exposure of your SSN.

What can be done about high music volume in cars?
Q As a former security forces member and now a member of the Department of Energy I was wondering if you could post something in "The Nucleus" or elsewhere concerning the level of music in vehicles around base.

It is quite distracting to accomplish any work when the sound of bass is heard for blocks and we are inside facilities. It seems to me that certain things on this installation are not being enforced by military members.

I believe that it is easier for people to walk away or turn a blind eye as to not get involved in a confrontation. I have been very impressed with how the uniform issues are being addressed by first shirts.

There is an Army E-7 who frequents the Boys and Girls Club here on base who wears earrings when not in uniform. I believe that NO men in the military are authorized to wear earrings on any military installation. Can you clarify this also?

A Vehicle operators are responsible for keeping the volume of music coming from their vehicle to a reasonable level. Kirtland AFB Supplement 1 to AFI 31-204, states if music can be heard 50 feet or more from the vehicle; it is considered to be too loud. Everyone can take a hand in helping to educate those whose music is too loud and Security Forces can issue citations for those reported incidents. This issue is really about respect and courtesy, and in an organization of well-meaning people, we can definitely make positive change. I invite all commanders, supervisors and directors to educate their personnel on appropriate music levels in their vehicles. We very much appreciate your concern with the issue of noise pollution on the installation.

With regards to the issue of male U.S. Army military personnel wearing earrings on the installation, I refer to U.S. Army Regulation 670-1 which states in reference to body piercing: When on any Army installation or other places under Army control, soldiers may not attach, affix, or display objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the skin while they are in uniform, in civilian clothes on duty or in civilian clothes off duty -- this includes earrings for male Soldiers. The only exception is for female Soldiers, as indicated in paragraph 1-14 d. The term "skin" is not confined to external skin, but includes the tongue, lips, inside the mouth, and other surfaces of the body not readily visible.

We contacted the Army units that are assigned to Kirtland AFB and all agreed that their male personnel should follow the Army guidance and should not wear earrings on the installation since it is prohibited by both Air Force and Army policy. All Army units contacted stated they would make sure their personnel are made aware of the policy.