Eielson hometown news program available through portal

  • Published
  • By Compiled from staff reports
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Eielson Airmen looking to showcase their activities and accomplishments in their hometown newspapers can look for an updated electronic form online to submit to the Hometown News Release Office.

The Hometown News Release Form can be accessed online on the Air Force Portal: www.my.af.mil. Members can sign into their portal account, locate the 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs section of the portal and fill out a DD Form 2266 from there.

"Airmen can fill out their DD Form 2266 on-line, saving time, paperwork and expediting the news release process," said Gerry Proctor, Hometown News marketing branch chief. "It's easier to put the spotlight on your Airmen."

Mr. Proctor said the new form is merely an adaptation of the old 2266 form and its purpose is to dissolve the use of paper-based 2266s.

"It's not any harder or easier to fill out than any other 2266-type form," he said. "But it is easier for the Public Affairs officers to manage their Hometown News Release program since the entire process stays in the electronic realm and the promise is fulfilled--a paperless 2266."

Once the form is filled out, it is then electronically sent to the 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office who review it and forward it to the Hometown News Service Office.

"The new form is still easy to fill out and put as many attachments, such as photos or awards forms, to accompany releases," said Airman 1st Class Nora Anton, 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs contact for the Hometown News Release Program. "This is a great program for Airmen to use to let their loved ones back home know about their accomplishments while serving."

Hometown news, which has been in existence for almost 50 years, is a field operating agency supporting the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force Offices of Public Affairs.

The small staff of Army and Air Force military and civilian personnel produces a variety of print and electronic news highlighting the accomplishments and activities of individual soldiers and airmen all over the world.

In an effort to make the Hometown News Release program even easier and more convenient for Army and Air Force personnel, Hometown News has developed a new automated form that Icemen can fill out via the Internet.

The service then uses the form to produce a news release and market it to newspapers in locations where Airmen have family ties.

Last year, the program mailed out more than 750,000 releases to 14,000 newspapers, television and radio stations subscribing to Hometown's free service.