Diamonds are an Airman's best friend Published June 12, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Wing first sergeants met on June 1 to discuss topics that affect Dobbins Air Reserve Base Airmen. First Sgts. meet every month on the Friday before the unit training assembly to discuss enlisted issues and to collaborate on the best practices to deal with current issues within the perspective squadrons. They also discuss upcoming events and how to support them. Headlining the first sergeant's council meeting was a visit by Chief Master Sgt. Steven M. Larwood, 22nd Air Force command chief, who discussed upcoming changes to the first sergeant corps. These expected changes include a drastic rewrite of the Air Force Instruction - AFI 36-2113 - concerning the first sergeant's position and their role within the Air Force. "The only constant in the Air Force is change," said Larwood. "First sergeants will have to help their folks ebb and flow through these changes. Remind them that we are all in this together." Master Sgt. Steven D. Winters, 94th Force Support Squadron first sergeant, and Master Sgt. David F. Strickland, 94th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, serve as the council's president and vice president respectively. They lead discussions on topics concerning the 94th Airlift Wing's Airmen that included the Single Airmen's Initiative and Dobbin's First Four. Also a topic put forth to the council was the recent hack of the Thrift Savings Plan. When the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board announced May 25 that approximately 123,000 Thrift Savings Plans had been compromised, Air Force Reserve Command took protective measures to ensure that Reservists' TSPs were not among those compromised as well. There is no evidence that Reservists need to fear investing in the TSP. "Regardless of compromise, every Airman should be checking their credit reports early and often," said Strickland. "Every resident within the State of Georgia is authorized two free credit reports each year from each credit reporting agency - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion." Strickland recommends that Airmen order their free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com. "It is important to check your credit report," said Strickland. "If you have issues with your credit, it can affect your security clearance when it comes up for renewal. If left unchecked, you could lose your security clearance which would affect your ability to remain employed in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve." Clark Howard, national syndicated consumer advocate, recommends that you make a note on your calendar to check one of the three credit files every four months. If that's not realistic, at least make sure to pull all three at least, once a year. If you have had your credit compromised, you should consider "freezing" your credit. What that means is that you contact each of the three credit report agencies. "Credit freezes are one of the most effective tools against identity theft available to consumers," said Howard. "They allow you to seal your credit reports and use a personal identification number that only you know and can use to temporarily 'thaw' your credit so that legitimate applications for credit and services can be processed. That added layer of security means that thieves can't establish new credit in your name even if they are able to obtain your identity." For more information, as well as credit tips and tricks, click on www.clarkhoward.com.
