Altus AFB to host Lunch & Learn in Club Altus Published March 27, 2014 By Airman 1st Class J. Zuriel Lee 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Top 3 is scheduled to host a Lunch & Learn in Club Altus March 28, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. Tom Blair, a Veterans Administration liaison for the Altus area, will discuss disability compensation through the VA. Some of the topics being briefed include the life cycle of a claim, disability compensation-related benefits and pensions. The event is open to all Airmen and officers. "For everyone who is currently serving, whether six years or 20, the Veterans Administration is going to be there for you, so it's important to understand what benefits are available for you now and in the future," said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Thrune, who is the Top 3 president. According to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Carlson, the Lunch & Learn program is a professional development meeting held over lunch in which selected speakers teach Airmen about requested topics that are beneficial to their careers. One of the important benefits of hosting a Lunch & Learn is that the meeting allows Airmen to suggest topics that interest them and have the information provided to them by experts on the topic. The Lunch & Learn is also a tool for senior noncommissioned officers to help professionally develop every Airman, which ties in to one of the Air Force's goals of mentoring Airmen and developing future leaders. When Airmen come together, they have the opportunity to share experiences and programs they know about and may end up helping each other. "When you get a lot of people in the same room who all want to know the same thing, it creates an opportunity for networking," said Thrune. The Top 3 hosts the Lunch & Learn on the last Friday of every month.