Stay current with benefits news - subscribe to the BEST newsletter Published March 8, 2007 By 070406 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Benefits and Entitlements Service Team newsletter is the best source of information about benefits affecting Air Force appropriated fund civilians, and Air Force Personnel Center officials here are encouraging more people to subscribe. By subscribing to the BEST newsletter, civilians will have immediate access to the most current benefits information, legislative changes, and system updates. According to Ms. Janet Thomas, human resources specialist at the Air Force Personnel Center, the BEST newsletter provides timely information all civilian employees need to know. "For example, in the October 2005 newsletter subscribers learned beginning Jan. 8, there would no longer be a limit to the amount an employee may contribute to their Thrift Savings Plan each pay period," said Ms. Thomas, who encourages people to subscribe to ensure they get benefits information at the earliest opportunity. "Only 16,275 of more than 137,000 civilians serviced by BEST subscribe to the newsletter," she said. "We are asking each employee already receiving the newsletter to encourage their co-workers to subscribe too." Subscribing is done through the BEST home page at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/best/default.asp?prods3=272&prods2=264&prods1=44. Click on "Newsletter Subscription Service," and then on "Subscribe." This will automatically launch an e-mail with the required subscription information already entered; click "Send. Subscribers will receive a confirmation notice by e-mail. Employees can receive the newsletter notification at any valid e-mail address; it doesn't have to be a government e-mail address. Officials said the automated e-mail function may not work with some older browsers or e-mail programs, but the help page link has instructions on how to manually subscribe. The next issue of the BEST newsletter is scheduled for May.