Community notes: Week ending Feb. 28 Published Feb. 27, 2014 By 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- AFAS reinstates 'Give Parents a Break' at Malmstrom The Air Force Aid Society has reinstated the "Give Parents a Break" program, which provides childcare for eligible active-duty Air Force members. AFAS pays the cost of opening the base Child Development Center once a month from noon to 5 p.m. for families referred to the program. Families using the center will not be charged for the care. Parents are advised to sign children up each month, have a current referral and ensure paperwork is up to date. The following are dates for available care: March 8, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 8 and Dec. 6. For more information, call Ashley Smith at 731-4900. Staff sergeant testing cycle changed A change to the testing month for the 14E5 cycle has occurred for enlisted promotions due to the Enlisted Retention Board. The testing window originally scheduled for May 1 to June 14, has been moved up 30 days to April 1 through May 16. Moving the testing window up will allow individuals to test and allow Air Force Personnel Center time to remove selects from the ERB eligible list. Malmstrom to offer FCC provider licensure Malmstrom Family Child Care will be offering a New Providers Orientation class for military spouses residing on Malmstrom to become licensed FCC providers. For more information or to sign up, call 731-2116. Flu shots still available The Malmstrom Air Force Base immunizations clinic is still providing flu vaccinations to all beneficiaries including active-duty Airmen, their dependents and retirees from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the base clinic. Tax Center open Malmstrom's Tax Center, offering free tax returns, will be open through April 15 to all active-duty members, dependents and retirees eligible to walk in or make an appointment by calling 731-2878. The Tax Center hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays will be open an additional two hours from 5 to 7 p.m. To view all required documents for tax returns, visit http://341mwtax.lattiss.com/. Annual Scout food drive The Boy Scouts of America Montana Council is in need of volunteers to help with their Annual Food Drive on March 22 and 29. Volunteers will help with bag distribution, donation collection and the sorting of donations. All donations collected will benefit the Great Falls Community Food Bank. For more information, contact Char Ross at 771-1210 or 899-8851. Squadron Officer School Students who have not finished Squadron Officer School Distance Learning Course 20 as of April 7 will be dropped and must enroll in the updated SOS DL, MSOS003. The 12 months permitted for the course plus the three-month extension available upon request yields a time-out date of April 7. Enrollment instructions are available at http://www.au.af.mil/au/, click on "Schools," "SOC NonResident Programs" and then "MSOS003." Please contact the Education and Training Center for any questions at 731-3531. GI Bill brief The Education and Training Center will be holding two monthly briefings to help clarify Force Shaping programs. They will be held the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m., and the third Friday of the month at 1 p.m. In addition, they will be discussing the Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post 9/11 options and benefits. No registration is needed. For more information, call 731-3531. Love and respect marriage study The base chapel is offering a love and respect traditional marriage study on Wednesdays in the chapel conference room at 6:15 p.m. For more information, call Chap. (Capt.) Robert Compere at 731-3721. Plastic bag recycling program Malmstrom's commissary now offers a plastic bag recycling program. Containers are in the commissary and marked accordingly for customers to recycle plastic bags. For more information, contact Cory Francis at 731-3432. Outdoor adventure trips The following are outdoor adventure trips offered by Malmstrom's Outdoor Recreation: · A Whitefish Mountain Ski/Snowboard Trip is scheduled to leave March 7 at 5 a.m. and return March 9 at 9 a.m. Those interested should call for availability. · A Wing Ski Day trip is scheduled for March 12 at Showdown Ski Resort. Free transportation is available for military members and their dependents at 8 a.m. at Sun Plaza Park. · A family snow tubing trip is scheduled for March 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to sign-up, call ODR at 731-3263. John Maxwell seminars for Team Malmstrom Airmen The John Maxwell "Developing the leader Within You" seminars will be offered for senior NCOs and lieutenants March 19. Class is limited to 30 attendees. To register for a class, visit https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/OO-DP-SP-05/default.aspx, then select "John Maxwell Developing the Leader Within You" or "John Maxwell 360 Degree Leader" link near the top of the page. Then click on the register link. Malmstrom Thrift Store hours The Malmstrom Thrift Store is opened every Tuesday, Friday and first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Civilian TA budget constraints Due to budget constraints, Air Force Global Strike Command will not be funding civilian tuition assistance for fiscal 2014. This means the civilian training office will not be approving any civilian TA program requests. MSC scholarships available Applications for the 2014 Malmstrom Spouses Club scholarship are available for both students and spouses. First sergeants and key spouses have copies that may be picked up. Applications may also be picked up at local high schools and must be postmarked by March 28. Criteria, eligibility and limitations are explained in the scholarship application.