Heartlink is a military orientation for spouses. Today I went to it. I learned a lot. For example I learned:

- Air Force Song

- That Yokota is 1750 Acres and houses 11,000 people.

- What LES, SGLI, FSGLI, SBP, NEO, DEERS, BAH, BAS, BAQ, DFAS, DOR, DOS, DPP, EFMP, ESC, FSC, HAWC, HOLA, COLA, MPF, NAF, PFMP, PCS, POA, POV, TAP, TDY, TMO, WIC, STEP, AFAS means and that was what I hadn’t known until today. There is also USAF, ZULU, OTS, JAG, DEROS, CONUS, BX, PX, AAFES, AMC, APO, PACAF, AWOL, AMN, AFB which I had to learn through experience.

- I learned how to read the LES (Leave and Earnings Statement or pay statement) and what benefits we are entitled to (Like BAH, SGLI, and COLA).

- How Sam’s squadron relates to the base. His squadron the 20 OWS (Operational Weather Squadron) is part of the 5th Air Force. The base is run by the 374th Airlift and the 5AF is just using the base.

- I got to learn about Protocol. The most important one being what to do when they play Retreat. Each night at 5pm they play Retreat, the Japanese National Anthem, and the American National Anthem. While it is playing you are required to do the following depending upon where you are:
In a car: Pull over to the side of the road and put on your caution lights.
Outside: Stand facing the flags with your hands over your heart or at your side.
Inside: (if you can hear it) Pause in what you are doing.

- I learned about what we do if there is a NEO (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation). I won’t go into the details but I plan on participating during one of thier exercises in the future.

- We learned about the different agencies on base available for the family to use. There is Family Support, Family Advocacy, Life Skills, Chapel, Legal, Tri-Care, Red Cross, Health and Wellness Center, AAFES (the BX, etc) and the Recreation Center. Along with Tama Hills the Yokota “resort”.

At Heartlink I also met other spouses and not just new spouses. The wing commander’s spouse was there along with the MSG Commander’s spouse (MSG is Mission Support Group). We got to hear a lot of stories from them. There was only on male spouse and he served for 8 years before he left because he and his wife were both in the AF and they kept being stationed at different locations and they had kids.

Tomorrow Sam and I plan to go to Tachikawa. There is a craft store there I want to check out. I have signed up to teach a course at Skills Development. I’m going to teach how to make dream catchers. I will let you know how our trip goes.

103¥� 21�°C/70°�F Rainy