Military retirees will have the opportunity to be entertained and informed about the famed US Navy Blue Angels precision flight team when former Blue Angels pilot, Steve Lambert, addresses the lunch crowd at Retiree Appreciation Day 2017 (RAD 2017) Friday, 20 October, at Riley’s Conference Center, Fort Riley.

Retirees wishing to attend the lunch must make advanced reservations by Monday, 16 October, by calling 785-239-3320 or by emailing the Retirement Services Office at georgia.a.rucker.civ@mail.mil.

Retirees of all military services, spouses, widows and widowers will be treated to an expanded RAD this year and will be greeted during the opening ceremonies at 8:30 by the First Infantry Division’s Commanding General, Major General Joseph Martin, and the Garrison Commander, Colonel John Lawrence, followed by informative presentations by Mr. Glenn Suetter, TRICARE and healthcare expert; the Irwin Army Community Hospital Commander, Colonel John Melton, and the Commissary and PX managers. An entertaining and informative presentation on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the First Infantry Division, the “Big Red One”, will be provided by Dr. Robert Smith, Fort Riley’s Museum Curator.

This year’s Retiree Appreciation Day will extend into the afternoon hours with presentations on Long- Term-Care for military retirees and their family members; a Federal Legislative Update by MOAA representative, Paul Frost, and the US Army’s “Recruiting for Our Future”

The day-long RAD 2017 begins with registration at 7:30 that Friday morning, and running until 3:30 that afternoon, offering something for all military retirees and their spouses, widows and widowers including the opportunity to get their Influenza shot and to update other inoculations including Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap), Pneumovax, and/or Zostovax (shingles).

Retirees planning to attend RAD 2017 that do not have a DoD ID card will need to go first to the Visitors Center at the Henry/Marshall Airfield Gate at Exit 301 off Interstate 70 before entering the installation. To expedite access for such attendees, and civilians providing support to RAD, such as Chambers of Commerce members and others may call 785-239-3320 to be placed on a Special Post Access List to expedite their entry at the Visitors Center. They will also need a government issued photo-ID card, such as a Driver’s License to gain access to the installation.

Doors to Riley’s Conference Center and RAD 2017 open at 7:30 with formal events getting underway at 8:30. Informative health care and community activities booths at the RAD “county fair” will be open from 8:00 until 3:30, Friday, 20 October, at Fort Riley. Several thousand dollars in door prizes will be awarded via ongoing drawings throughout the day. Grand prize drawing for the day will be for a 20-foot telescoping flag pole with an American flag to be awarded at the close of the day’s activities at 3:30.

And – every military retiree attending the event will receive a free American flag kit (while supplies last) as one small way of saying “Thank you for your service”.

Military retirees should mark their calendars now for a full day of information, fun and fellowship at Fort Riley’s Retiree Appreciation Day, Friday, 20 October 2017.