SECAF Approves Funds for Displaced Minot Airmen
November 1st, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Help is on the way for the nearly 250 Airmen who remain displaced months after historic summer flooding destroyed parts of Minot, N.D.
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley on Oct. 23 signed a memorandum that authorized spending incentives to entice skilled tradesmen to Minot to help repair the large number of homes damaged by the flooding of the Souris River this summer. The flooding initially displaced more than 1,200 Airmen and their families.
With winter on the way, the need for immediate repairs to prevent more damage is imperative and the main reason why Donley signed the memo, according to 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs.
The memorandum allows active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and Department of Defense civilians with the necessary skill sets outside the Minot area to be reimbursed for travel and per diem incurred during periods of leave taken to volunteer for rebuilding efforts in Minot. North Dakota licensed and bonded tradesmen also may receive funding to travel to Minot to assist Airmen with the repair and winterization of personally-owned homes.
If you are interested in volunteering to assist Minot AFB, call the 5th Mission Support Group at 701-723-2205.
Tags: 5th Bomb Wing, Donley, flooding, Minot Air Force Base, SECAF
Stop Movement Order Remains for Minot AFB
August 1st, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Airmen scheduled to PCS to Minot Air Force Base this summer are being told to remain where they are unless they’re technical training grad
uates or single with no dependents.
Air Force officials issued a partial stop movement order back in June because of heavy spring flooding that forced thousands to evacuate. The flooding damaged a lot of the available off base housing. After reviewing the situation on the ground officials have decided to keep the stop movement order in place, according to Minot AFB public affairs.
Only service members who are technical training graduates and accessions who are single with no dependents will be allowed to proceed to Minot. Those who are married or who have dependents must sit tight.
Service members stationed overseas who have a July date eligible to return, who were not authorized to proceed, are being diverted to a new assignment location, according to public affairs. Those with an August eligibility date will be reviewed to determine who will be allowed to proceed to Minot. Those who are not authorized will be able to request a voluntary 30-day extension. If they do not choose to voluntarily extend, assignment diversion actions will be taken.
Servicing personnel sections or force support squadrons will communicate each airman’s decision to AFPC. Airmen other than training graduates and accessions will be allowed to proceed to Minot AFB on a case-by-case basis.
Civilians with PCS orders to Minot AFB should not depart their losing base until notified by personnel authorities. Civilians returning to Minot AFB from leave or a temporary duty assignment are authorized to return. Civilians slated for a temporary duty assignment to Minot AFB must get host unit approval before traveling.
For more information about the stop movement, affected military members should contact their military personnel section, or call the AFPC assignment programs and procedures branch at 210-565-3815, or the 24-hour contact at 210-565-2020. Civilians affected can contact their local civilian personnel section, the 24-hour number above or call the POC at 210-565-5737.
For more information about other personnel issues, visit the Air Force personnel services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.
Tags: DEROS, flood, Minot Air Force Base, PCS
Expenses for Flood-related Storage to be Reimbursed
July 5th, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Displaced Minot Air Force Base airmen and their families can expense up 180 days of storage fees that they might have incurred because of the historic flooding of the Souris River that occurred in McHenry, Renville and Ward counties, according base public affairs.
Col. James Dawkins Jr., 5th Bomb Wing commander, authorized the reimbursement of property storage and short-distance move expenses incurred by Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and their families June 29.
Dawkins’ order applies to displaced active duty military and dependents whose permanent residence is located within evacuation areas. Additional storage or moving costs exceeding the allotted 180 days will be at the expense of the active duty military member or dependent.
All household goods shipment and storage requests under this order must be initiated in coordination with the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office before Aug. 5. Property collection, transport, and storage can begin after Aug. 5 as necessary.
Affected members should report to their chain of command for further instructions on short distance moves and temporary storage at government expense.
Tags: 5th Bomb Wing, air force, flood, Global Strike Command, Minot Air Force Base
PCSing to Minot AFB Halted Temporarily
June 29th, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Air Force officials have temporarily halted most permanent change of station moves and temporary duty assignments to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., according to Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs.
Flooding has forced many to evacuate Minot, N.D., prompting the commanders of the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing to request a partial stop movement.
Airmen within the U.S. who are projected to move to Minot AFB, and those who have already out-processed but who have not departed their current duty station — except those specifically authorized to continue their move – should not leave. Air Force civilians with orders to Minot AFB also should not leave their losing base until further notice.
Airmen planning to take leave en route may depart their station, but cannot report to Minot AFB afterward if the stop movement is still in place. In that event, they will be charged leave for the additional time.
Airmen stationed overseas with June or July return dates and orders for Minot AFB who have not yet departed the overseas location have the following options:
– Those planning to take leave en route, but not in the Minot area, may proceed, with the understanding that if the stop movement order is still in place when their leave ends, they will not be allowed to proceed to the base, and additional leave will be charged against their leave account.
– Those who do not plan to take leave en route must remain at their overseas station until the stop movement order is lifted.
– Those interested in voluntarily extending the overseas time may submit an extension request for consideration.
Military members who have already departed their permanent duty station will be contacted by the personnel section. Those en route to Minot AFB who did not plan to take leave will be required to report to the nearest Air Force base military personnel flight, where they will be placed on temporary duty hold.
Airmen and Air Force civilians with temporary duty orders to Minot AFB must get gaining unit approval to proceed before leaving their duty station. Airmen whose temporary duty assignments are not approved must remain in place until further notice. All Minot AFB Airmen scheduled to return home from temporary duty or leave may do so.
For more information about the stop movement order, affected Airmen should contact their current or most recent permanent duty station MPF, or call the AFPC assignment programs and procedures branch at 210-565-3815, or the 24-hour contact at 210-565-2020. Affected Air Force civilians can contact the 24-hour number above or their current or most recent civilian personnel section.
Tags: 5th Bomb Wing, 91st Missile Wing, air force, Minot Air Force Base, PCS, Permanent Change of Station
Number of Flood Displaced Minot Airmen Grows
June 28th, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
The number of Global Strike Command airmen and their families that have been displaced by flood waters i
n Minot has grown to more than 1,000, according to Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs.
The airmen and their families were forced to flee the area when the waters of the Souris River began spilling over its banks June 20. This is the second time in June that the airmen at Minot have been forced out by flooding.
The floodwaters are expected to reach their highest levels in history and the base is offering emergency shelter to displaced base affiliated Department of Defense employees and their families.
An estimated 4,000 homes are expected to be lost as a result of the flooding in Minot and the local surrounding communities.