Hometown news program gives reservists local fame

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bhawan Singh
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  When Airmen get promoted, transfer to another base, receive educational or training achievements, deploy, receive a medal or earn any other career related laurels, they become good candidates for fame in numerous hometowns across the United States.

The 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office has an active hometown news release program.

The program provides accurate and timely news releases about wing member's promotions, medals, assignments and other special accomplishments to their friends and family members via newspapers, radio stations and television stations in their hometown.

Hometown News Release, DD Form 2266, is a quick and simple way to showcase the accomplishments of wing members. A service member fills out the form and turns it in to the local public affairs office who forwards it to the Joint Hometown News Service. The San Antonio, Texas, based service uses the form to produce a news release and markets it to media outlets in locations where the service member has family ties.

"It's important for wing supervisors to be aware of this program," said Master Sgt. Veronica Aceveda, 512th Public Affairs, NCO in charge. "When an Airman has a newsworthy event, it'd be great for supervisors to know where to direct their Airmen to fill out a hometown news release form."

The online form was pretty self explanatory, said Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle, who completed the hometown news release form after being mobilized here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"If Airmen, especially reservists, have any significant accomplishments or accolades, they should definitely submit a form," said Sergeant Chappelle. "It even had the option to add my picture, which I did."

We encourage wing members to utilize this free service not only to highlight their military accomplishments, but to showcase the wing as well, said Sergeant Aceveda.

More than 14,000 newspapers, radio stations and television stations subscribe to Hometown's free news service, extending coverage to all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Each year more than 500,000 individual news releases are distributed to newspapers, television and radio stations subscribing to Hometown's free service.

The 512th Public Affairs Office can also help in arranging customized radio and television stories for hometown release produced by the Joint Hometown News Service, said Sergeant Aceveda.

"While it's Public Affairs job to keep the public informed about the outstanding accomplishments of 512th Airlift Wing Airmen, wing members can assist us in telling the Air Force Reserve story by filling out the Hometown News Release form," said Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo, 512th Public Affairs chief. "It's a great program and another avenue for reservists to keep their friends and family from their hometowns up to date on the great things they accomplish while serving their country."

For more information, or to fill out a hometown news release form, contact the 512th Public Affairs office at (302) 677-3485. Airman can also complete the DD Form 2266 online at https://hnforms.dmasa.dma.mil/lfserver/512AWDOVERAFB