spring into action get up | get out | get going with family and mwr
spring 2011
w w w. b l i s s m w r . c o m
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED FOR CREDIT - VISIT WWW.USADISCOUNTERS.NET
Your Incredible Credit Store®
PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE MILITARY FOR OVER 20 YEARS! BRAND NAME TVS AND COMPUTERS
Dining Rooms
SAMSUNG, SONY, PANASONIC, TOSHIBA, MAGNAVOX, LG, APPLE, HP AND ACER
NO CREDIT? BAD CREDIT? NO PROBLEM! WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN? SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY MERCHANDISE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY • ALLOTMENT EXPERTS POWER OF ATTORNEY ACCEPTED
Bedrooms
Living Rooms
GAMING SYSTEMS PLAYSTATION Wii XBOX 360 Elite 17
STORE
L O C AT I O N S
N AT I O N W I D E
TO
SERVE
YOUR INCREDIBLE CREDIT STORE® EL PASO, TX STORE HOURS: M-F 10am-9pm SAT 10am-8pm • SUN 12pm-5pm
Credit approved online or by phone in minutes!
1430 NORTH LEE TREVINO DR., 915-591-3143 / 1-877-787-4177
www.usadiscounters.net
YOU CHECK OUT OUR ®
IN THE EL PASO STORE Check out our internet specials
one world. one voice. one magazine.
SPRING 2011
VOLUME SEVEN • ISSUE TWO
one great staff. COMMANDING GENERAL Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard GARRISON COMMANDER Col. Joseph A. Simonelli, Jr. DFMWR DIRECTOR Mark A. Cauthers BUSINESS OPERATIONS Ronald Telles RECREATION & SPORTS Lindy Sorrell CHILD, YOUTH & SCHOOL SERVICES Pat Smith ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE Peggy Brown NAF SUPPORT MANAGER Indri O’Hara MARKETING & SPECIAL EVENTS William Ketcherside ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP Monica Castillo Michele Wiernicki WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Heather Wilburn
4 8 10 13 14 17 19 22 23 27 30 32 38 42 44 46
calendar april calendar may calendar june recognition Family and MWR feature behind the scenes local AROUND EL PASO clubs FOOD & FUN recreation SOUTHWEST ADVENTURE recreation leisure recreation sports & fitness feature MILITARY MOMS family cyss community acs fort bliss map east fort bliss map directory phone numbers
MARKETING ASSISTANTS Marlo Brestar Darline Goyea OFFICE MANAGER Martina Grise GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kenny Broomfield Raymond Sanchez BlissNOW is a Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation magazine published quarterly for activities on Fort Bliss, Texas. BlissNOW is mailed to all Fort Bliss homes and George V. Underwood Golf Complex members, inserted in welcome packets, and distributed to all Family and MWR facilities, along with the Fort Bliss Commissary, Post Exchange at Freedom Crossing, Army Lodging Fort Bliss and the Personnel Processing Center. Circulation: 30,000 quarterly The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Army, Department of Defense or federal government. The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject to change without notice. For more information, please call the individual facilities. Family and MWR Marketing is located in Building 11, Pershing Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916 and may be reached by calling (915) 568-6741.
www.blissmwr.com
DFMWR Director’s Comments The feel of spring is upon us as the warm glow gently returns to our fair city. Now, it’s time for you and your Family to get up, get out and get going with Family and MWR. The Family and MWR team has quite a bit in store for you. The Centennial is proud to announce many new programs, including Club Karaoke and Stogie Night. Spring is also a great time to take advantage of the beautiful weather and check out all the Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club has to offer – there’s no better time to hit the outdoor ranges! Our Special Events crew is developing some very exciting activities. Southwest Adventure – the new name for our outdoor recreation program – is off and running with wonderful trips. For those just beginning, the great Southwest Adventure staff will coach you every step of the way. If gardening is your passion, take a look at the Community Garden at the Old Fort Bliss Museum; there’s even a Junior Master Gardener program for youth. Sports and fitness are always hot at Fort Bliss, from the revamped intramurals program to our myriad of classes throughout the week. Keep an eye out for the many fitness events now open to the wider community. Child, Youth and School Services has something going on all the time. Pay special attention to April as it is the Month of the Military Child, and don’t miss out on amazing opportunities like Freedom Camp and Operation Purple Camp. If you want to stay local, CYSS programs have set up an array of exciting programming. Army Community Service has a ton of activities lined up, including Resilience Training, Dinner on a Dime and Army Volunteer Corps activities. The Family and MWR team and I look forward to providing our market-driven programming to you, our valued patron. See you out there! Mark Cauthers
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 3
calendar APRIL
23
Eggstravaganza
Celebrate the arrival of spring with Eggstravaganza from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at Biggs Park on East Fort Bliss. This year, spend Easter in the Hundred Acre Park with the Easter Bunny, your favorite “Silly Old Bear” and his friends. Easter egg hunts for three age groups headline the day’s events. Youth ages 11-14 will go at noon, and children ages 7-10 will follow at 1 p.m. Kids ages 4-6 will hunt eggs at 2 p.m. Little ones ages 3 and under will be treated to an all-day coloring zone. Another big draw: free photos with the Easter Bunny and all your favorite friends who call the Hundred Acre Park home. Family readiness groups will present craft activities for a nominal fee. The money raised by the FRGs will go back to Soldiers and Families through the groups’ unit funds, which provide for unit activities throughout the year. Food and drink vendors on hand will sell refreshments. Eggstravaganza is open to all Family and MWR patrons – service members, Family members, retirees and DoD civilians –and their guests. No coolers, glass containers or pets are allowed at Biggs Park. There is no ATM on site; be sure to bring cash for crafts and food vendors. For more information, call (915) 588-8427.
4 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
15
The USO, Family and MWR and TriWest Healthcare Alliance are proud to bring Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band to Fort Bliss for a free show at Biggs Park Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. The show is open to all Family and MWR patrons: Soldiers, Family members, retirees and DoD civilians, and their guests. No coolers, glass containers or pets are allowed at Biggs Park. There is no ATM on the premises – be sure to bring cash for vendors. The Lt. Dan Band covers everything from Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix classics to contemporary songs by Kelly Clarkson, Evanescence, Beyonce, Lonestar,
calendar APRIL
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band
the Zac Brown Band and much, much more – even tunes from the big band era of the 1940s. There’s something for everyone and each show highlights the musical diversity of the band, as well as the passion and energy each member brings to the stage. Whether performing for troops overseas or a local club crowd, the goal is to have fun and rock the house! For more information, call (915) 588-8247.
24 Easter brunch Enjoy a festive holiday feast with the Centennial’s Easter brunch Sunday, April 24. An amazing dining experience awaits, along with photos with the Easter Bunny and a surprise visit from your favorite “Silly Old Bear” and friends. Enjoy complimentary wine, champagne or mimosas while you dine. Seatings run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Reservations are required. Brunch costs $17.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors and $8.95 for children ages 7-11. Children ages 6 and under dine free. For reservations, call (915) 562-5969.
www.blissmwr.com
Rod and Gun Club Easter egg hunt
24
Head over to the Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club for an Easter egg hunt Sunday, April 24. Enjoy hot dogs and chips, jumping balloons, giveaways and ... of course ... an Easter egg hunt! Ages 1-4 will hunt at 10 a.m. Ages 5-8 will go at 11 a.m., and ages 9-12 will hunt at noon. Children should attend during the appropriate time for their age groups. No mixing of age groups will be allowed. For more information, call (915) 568-2983. For directions, visit www.blissmwr.com/rodandgun.
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 5
calendar APRIL
aprilevents
AFTB Basket Bingo
April 1 • 6:30pm • Centennial’s Metro Bingo Bar Speed Dating April 1 • 7pm • The Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub Border Rumble Boxing Smoker April 1 • 6pm • Stout Gym Franklin Mountains State Park Hike with Southwest Adventure April 2 • Franklin Mountains State Park MCCASA Walk April 2 • 10am-1pm • Kelly Park
Martini and a Manicure
29
Pamper yourself with Martini and a Manicure at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub. For just $10, kick off the weekend in style as you receive a manicure and one choice from our menu of carefully crafted specialty martinis. Additional martini selections may be purchased, as well. Martini and a Manicure is a great way to relax after a hard week’s work. For information, call (915) 744-8427.
7th annual MCCASA Walk Help raise awareness of the Month of the Military Child, child abuse, and sexual assault when you take part in the seventh annual two-mile MCCASA Walk from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at Kelly Park. Join the ACS Family Advocacy Program for a day of activities and fun. Enjoy music by the 62nd Army Band’s jazz band and bring your stuffed animal for a checkup at the Teddy Bear Clinic. Help others by donating an unopened package of diapers or Pull Ups to the diaper drive, or by donating your
TaylorMade Demo Day April 2 • 10am-2pm • Underwood Golf Complex Pro Shop Month of the Military Child Bowling Specials April 2-3 | April 9-10 | April 16-17 | April 23-24 • Desert Strike Lanes Post 10K Run April 8 • 6am • Soto Gym Backpacking at Jordan Hot Springs with Southwest Adventure April 8-10 • Gila Wilderness Area, N.M. National Volunteer Week Activities: Manic Monday April 11 • 6-9pm • The Grand Theatre at Freedom Crossing National Volunteer Week Activities: WhattaWednesday April 13 • 11am-2pm • The Centennial FREE Climbing Clinic with Southwest Adventure April 14 • 4-5pm • Tango Tower at Biggs Park Confined Scuba + Open Water Scuba with Southwest Adventure April 14, 16, 17 + April 22-23 • Replica Pool + Balmorhea, Texas Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band April 15 • 7pm • Biggs Park Garden Day April 16 • 1-4pm • Old Fort Bliss Museum Picnic Under the Stars and Victim’s Pathway April 16 • 4-7pm • Biggs Park Money Smarts Conference and Exhibits April 19 • 1-4pm • The Centennial ACS Open House: Bloom Where You’re Planted
2
Arpil 21 • 5-7pm • Army Community Service Eggstravaganza April 23 • 11am-3pm • Biggs Park Rod and Gun Club Easter Egg Hunt
old cell phone and charger to victims of domestic violence. There will be information booths on parenting, adoption and fostering, children’s health, safety and
more. For more information – or to register – stop by ACS, Bldg. 2494 on Ricker Road, or call (915) 568-4878 or (915) 568-9129.
6 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
April 24 • 9am-1pm • Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club Easter Brunch April 24 • 10am-1pm • The Centennial Martini and a Manicure April 29 • 4:30pm • The Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub Mountain Biking, Disc Golf and Hiking with Southwest Adventure April 30 • Military Appreciation Weekend, Ruidoso, N.M. Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo April 30 • 6pm • The Centennial’s Metro Bingo Bar www.blissmwr.com
calendar MAY
Military Spouse Appreciation Day Spouses are an integral part of the military’s mission: They keep our military Families on track, support their Families and others, give back to their communities and take care of our nation’s warriors. Friday, May 6, Fort Bliss will honor its military spouses with an all-day Military Spouse Appreciation Day at Army Community Service. From 8 a.m.-4 p.m., join ACS for a fun-filled day of free classes, door prizes and a light lunch. Tentatively scheduled sessions will allow participants to enjoy wine cheese tasting; learn about gardening, bowling and golf; discover games to play with their children; and more.
Vouchers for free child care will be available; advance child care reservations must be made through the child development centers in order to redeem the vouchers. Pre-registration is required. Class sizes are limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Register in person at ACS, Bldg. 2494 on Ricker Road. Learn more or register by phone by calling (915) 5681132. The Centennial, Bldg. 11199 on East Fort Bliss, will also honor military spouses on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, with free cake during lunch service – from 11 a.m.1 p.m. – Friday, May 6.
6
Mother’s Day brunch
5
Cinco de Mayo celebration Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Centennial and groove to the sounds of Fungi Mungle, Radio la Chusma and DJ Clarke Darrk. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person and include a taco and nacho bar served from 6-8 p.m. Also from 6-8 p.m., enjoy $3 tequila and import bottles. Tickets are available at Leisure Travel Services (ITR) and the Centennial. For information, call (915) 744-8427.
Celebrate Mom with an elegant champagne brunch Sunday, May 8 at the Centennial. Offerings include a spectacular breakfast buffet and a selection of lunch favorites highlighted by a carving station. An assortment of vegetables and side dishes, salad bar and dessert cart will round out the meal, which also features a choice of champagne, wine and mimosas. Brunch costs $17.95 for adults, $16.95 for senior citizens and $8.95
children 7-11, and is free for children 6 years and under. Reservations are required. Seatings begin at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. For information, call (915) 562-5969.
8
DO YOU NEED A CAR TODAY?
JaViEr lopEZ SALES PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY FINANCE PROGRAM SPECIALIST
BUICK GMC
915-626-9126
WORK # 915-778-7781 FAX # 915-778-1396 javierlomora@hotmail.com
CRAWFORD
craig baKEr
SALES PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY FINANCE PROGRAM SPECIALIST
WE OFFER ALL MAKES AND MODELS!
915-740-1391 WORK # 915-778-7781 FAX # 915-778-1396
BRING THIS AD IN FOR AN ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT
gooD crEDit, baD crEDit, no crEDit 8 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
Cinco de Mayo Lunch Special May 5 • 11am-1pm • Centennial Cinco de Mayo Party May 5 • 6pm • Desert Strike Lanes Cinco de Mayo Celebration featuring Fungi Mungle May 5 • 8pm • The Centennial Confined Scuba + Open Water Scuba with Southwest Adventure May 5, 7, 8 + May 14-15 • Replica Pool + Balmorhea, Texas Army 10-Miler Qualifier May 6 • 6am • Soto Gym Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 6 • 8am-4pm • Army Community Service Speed Dating May 6 • 7pm • The Centennial Nike Demo Day May 7 • 11am-3pm • Underwood Golf Complex Mother and Daughter Open House and Victorian Tea May 7 • 1-3pm • Old Fort Bliss Museum Whiskey and Cigar Pairing May 7 • 7pm • The Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub
Mother and Daughter Open House and Victorian Tea In celebration of Mother’s Day, the Old Fort Bliss Museum requests the pleasure of your company at a Mother and Daughter Open House and Victorian Tea Saturday, May 7 from 1-3 p.m. Experience the museum’s historic ambiance while you take part in a fun social event with refreshments and fantastic photo opportunities. Bring in a favorite Family recipe for a recipe exchange; you can pick up the finished book at a later date. Guests are invited to bring their daughter, mother or a friend. The recommended attire is a summer dress with gloves
7
May 8 • 10am-1pm • The Centennial May 8 • noon • Desert Strike Lanes Intramural Volleyball Championships May 9-12 • Soto Gym Mountain Biking with Outdoor Recreation May 15 • Franklin Mountains State Park Intramural Bowling Championships May 16-19 • Desert Strike Lanes Intramural Soccer Championships May 16-20 • Stout Field FREE Outdoor Survivial Clinic with Southwest Adventure May 19 • 4-5pm • Biggs Park Intramural Spring Triathlon May 21 • 7am • Replica Aquatic Center Armed Forces Day May 21 • 10am-5pm • Biggs Park Armed Forces Day Reenactments May 21 • 9:30am-4:30pm • Old Fort Bliss Museum Armed Forces Day Bowling Specials May 21 • All Day • Desert Strike Lanes Intramural Softball League Begins May 23 • Omar Bradley Softball Complex Hiking at Hillsboro Peak with Southwest Adventure May 28 • Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area, N.M. Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo May 28 • 6pm • The Centennial’s Metro Bingo Bar www.blissmwr.com
and, if desired, a hat. The event is free, but reservations are required. Call (915) 588-8482 or e-mail wanda.e. kienzle@us. army.mil with the number of guests attending and their names to make your reservations. For more information, call (915) 588-4518 or visit www. blissmwr.com/oldfortbliss.
Speed dating
Mother’s Day Brunch Bowl with Your Hero
calendar MAY
mayevents
Come find your soul mate ... or just come to chat with other area singles during speed dating at the Centennial Friday, May 6. l entennia St Speed dating is open to all singles at The99C, Sgt E. Churchill Bldg 111 18 and older and is limited to the first st 1 April 6pm tration: Starting en & Regis Doors Op 9pm 725 male and 25 female registrants. g: tin Da der Speed es 18 & Ol all Singl Open to Dating will take place from 7-9 p.m. r fte R THE A y STAY FO t Doors open and registration begins r a P at 6 p.m. The Centennial Pub will feature $2 domestic bottles and $2 well drinks from 6-8 p.m. An after party with DJ Clarke Darrk runs from 9 p.m. until closing. You don’t have to register for speed dating to enjoy the lounge specials or the after party ... both are open to all! For information, call (915) 744-8427.
SDPAETIENDG Limited
to First
H
E MONT
Y OF TH
ST FRIDA
EVERY FIR
25 female
25 male &
$2
Drinks Well estic & Dom s Bottle
s
registrant
hosted by Darrk DJ Clarke TO ALL - OPEN at 9pm
6 pm
from 6-8
a ra ar k ka
e k ke
OR VISIT RE INFO 744-8427 FOR MO
CALL OM ISSMWR.C WWW.BL
Whiskey and cigar pairing Saturday, May 7, make your way to the Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub for a special evening of whiskey and cigar pairing. For $14.95, enjoy a cigar, five whiskey samples and hors d’oeuvres. Tasting begins at 7 p.m.
Can’t make the pairing? Check out our regular Stogie Night and receive $3 topshelf drinks and $5 top-shelf cigars from 6-9 p.m. every Saturday. For more information, call (915) 744-8427.
7
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 9
calendar JUNE
30 23
Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent
Competition
14 Auditions
15
Get ready to watch the most talented youth on Fort Bliss take to the stage and give it their all during Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent! The competition is open to active-duty and retired Family members ages 15 and under, with valid military ID. If your child can sing, dance, play an instrument, juggle, tumble ... whatever ... then this is the competition for them. Auditions will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 at the Centennial. Get to the Centennial for the fierce competition Thursday, June 23 and Thursday, June 30. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night, and performances begin at 6:30 p.m. Your vote counts, so make sure you come out and support your favorite rising star! Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and thirdplace finishers. Visit www.blissmwr.com for eligibility information and official rules. For more information, call (915) 588-8247.
Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo
25
Get to the Centennial’s Metro Bingo Bar for Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo – one lucky winner will walk away with the guaranteed jackpot. Saturday, June 25 the jackpot will be $3,000! Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo starts at 6 p.m. For more information, call (915) 774-8427.
All Women’s Golf Month month long! All through June, join Underwood Golf Complex and the PGA to celebrate Women’s Golf Month. As part of Women’s Golf Month at Underwood Golf
10 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
Complex, women who are not club members will enjoy free greens fees, while women who are members pay just $1. For more information, call (915) 562-1273.
Climbing clinic
16
Brush up on your climbing skills –or learn something new – at Southwest Adventure’s free climbing clinic. From 4-5 p.m. Thursday, June 16 at Biggs Park, get climbing instruction from outdoor rec specialists. All equipment will be provided. For information, call (915) 433-9666 or e-mail kenneth.coppedge@us.army.mil.
www.blissmwr.com
Confined Scuba + Open Water Scuba with Southwest Adventure June 2, 4, 5 + June 11-12 • Replica Pool + Balmorhea, Texas Intramural Team Duathlon June 3 • TBD • Replica Aquatic Center Speed Dating June 3 • 7pm • The Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub White Water Rafting with Southwest Adventure June 4 • Location TBD by participation and river condition Open Volleyball League Begins June 6 • Soto Gym FREE Camping Clinic with Southwest Adventure June 9 • 4-5pm • Biggs Park Family Car Camping with Southwest Adventure June 11 • White Sands National Monument Intramural Dodgeball Tournament June 11 • 9am • Soto Gym Army Birthday Brunch June 12 • 11am-1pm • The Centennial Open Basketball League Begins June 13 • Soto Gym Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent Auditions June 14 • 6pm • The Centennial Army Birthday Celebration (free cake) June 14 • 11am-1pm • The Centennial Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent Auditions June 15 • 6pm • The Centennial FREE Climbing Clinic with Southwest Adventure June 16 • 4-5pm • Tango Tower at Biggs Park
Father’s Day Western Movie Night
17
This year, celebrate Dad in a special way with Father’s Day Western Movie Night. From 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 17, stop by the museum for a Western adventure. The feature event is an outdoor showing of The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean on the big screen. Bring a picnic basket and a blanket or chairs, and spend the evening learning about Texas legend – Judge Roy Bean –in a comedy starring Paul Newman. The movie is rated PG. The Old Fort Bliss Museum will provide free popcorn and beverages. Try out our “wanted poster”
calendar JUNE
juneevents
photographs and turn your Family into the West’s most wanted. For more information, or to volunteer for this event, call (915) 588-8482 or (915) 568-4518, or visit www.blissmwr. com/oldfortbliss.
MWR Open tournament
Father’s Day Western Movie Night June 17 • 6pm • Old Fort Bliss Museum Father’s Day Brunch June 19 • 10am-1pm • The Centennial Bowl with Your Hero June 19 • noon-close • Desert Strike Lanes Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent June 23 • 6:30pm • The Centennial MWR Open Golf Tournament June 24 • 9am • Underwood Golf Complex White Water Rafting with Southwest Adventure June 24-26 • Location TBD by partidipation and river condition Guaranteed Jackpot Bingo June 25 • 6pm • The Centennial’s Metro Bingo Bar Junior Fort Bliss’ Got Talent June 30 • 6:30pm • The Centennial Women’s Golf Month All through June • Underwood Golf Complex
www.blissmwr.com
Hit the links for the MWR Open tournament Friday, May 24. Play begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. on the Sunset Course. This fourperson scramble is open to all. Entry costs $40 and includes green fees, range balls, cart rental and lunch. Sign up today at Underwood Golf Complex, or call (915) 562-1273 for information.
24
Father’s Day 19 brunch Show your No. 1 Dad he’s king of the castle with Father’s Day brunch Sunday, June 19 at the Centennial. Bring him out for splendid all-you-can-eat buffet served with complimentary wine, champagne and mimosas. Brunch costs $17.95 for adults, $16.95 for senior citizens, $8.95 children 7-11, and free for children 6 years and under. Reservations are required. Seatings begin at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. For information, call (915) 562-5969.
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 11
Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Before signing on for Family and MWR’s Management Trainee Program, Warren C. Mason of Jackson, Miss., had never been on an Army installation. So how did he end up working in the Financial Management Division at Fort Bliss Family and MWR ? “I saw the Management Trainee Program as a great opportunity to be able to utilize my degree in economics and build a solid foundation for my future with the extensive training that the program provides,” he said. In addition to putting his degree to good use, Mason said he felt working for Family and MWR would give him the chance to make a difference. “I felt that the program gave me the opportunity to be part of something that was impactful,” he added, “seeing as though the primary goal of MWR is to serve the Soldiers, Families, retirees and DoD civilians.” The 23-year-old expected a tough transition from civilian life, but has been pleased at the help he’s received from the Fort Bliss community. “I had no idea what to expect,” Mason said. “I had never been on any Army post before I moved to Fort Bliss. I had no previous experience with the Army and I knew it would be a challenging transition, but I have had more than enough helping hands. “My first impression of Fort Bliss was that everyone was really friendly,” he added. “That view of Fort Bliss hasn’t changed at all; people continue to show that they really care.” Mason said he enjoys working for Family and MWR because it has provided him the opportunity to meet people and go places he otherwise wouldn’t have. “I’m from Jackson, Mississippi,” he said. “I had no idea I would end up in El Paso, Texas, working on Fort Bliss for MWR. It has been a great experience so far, and I look forward to my future with MWR.”
www.blissmwr.com
Across the globe, more than 33,000 Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation personnel strive to be the driving force for programs and services that provide Soldiers and Family members with quality of life commensurate with their sacrifice and service. Our programs relieve stress, build strength and resilience, and help the Army Family stay physically, mentally and financially fit. On Fort Bliss, more than 800 Family and MWR employees work to improve the lives of our Soldiers, Families, retirees and DoD civilians ... but even that isn’t enough. To provide high-quality programming to Fort Bliss, Family and MWR needs help from the community. That’s when people like Spc. Shawn Landers and Sgt. Muhammad Sheikh step in to provide a helping hand. Each Soldier has loaned his time and talents to Family and MWR programs for almost six years, with the goal of making Fort Bliss a better place to be. “I volunteer to help the Fort Bliss community, to make it a better place and to show that, yes, there are single Soldiers on this post who appreciate what MWR has done for everyone,” said Sheikh. “A lot of work goes into each and every MWR event, and it requires a lot of research, behind-the-scenes work and dedication to achieve them.” “If you like coming out and just helping other people, MWR gives you a good chance to be able to do that,” Landers said. While working with Family and MWR gives the Soldiers a chance
to do something for others, it also makes them feel good about themselves. “The best part about being an MWR volunteer is seeing all the hard work come to life whether it be on stage, or the looks on people’s faces when we help them out, and knowing that a good deed goes a long way – knowing that everything you do is especially for the men and women who serve our country.” Best of all, assisting Family and MWR can be fun. “Volunteering for MWR is fun,” said Landers. “It keeps me occupied. It gives me a chance to do something I wouldn’t normally get to do: work with bands, set up events. ... You get a chance to meet a whole lot of cool people, interesting people, whether it’s the people who work here at Fort Bliss or those who come to visit Bliss. It’s a chance to meet people you’re probably never get a chance to meet again.” “I go out there to support MWR because I love it,” Sheikh said. “I love the atmosphere they bring to the installation – the concerts, activities and special events that they manage to bring on post for everyone to enjoy, from single Soldiers to Family and friends within the community.” Both Sheikh and Landers recommend that other Soldiers get involved. “It’s for a great cause,” Sheikh said. “It’s for Soldiers just like you and I. It’s is for a great organization and you can say that you directly helped improve the morale, welfare and recreation of Soldiers and Families at Fort Bliss.”
FAMILY and MWR
Soldiers contribute time, talent to Family and MWR mission
recognition
We are Family ...
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 13
MEE T the team
Behin By Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Lora, Chris, Marlo and Kris are ready!
When you participate in a Family and MWR event, you may get the feeling of deja vu. Haven’t you seen these people before? Haven’t you seen them everywhere? Probably. From deployments and redeployments to ribbon cuttings, concerts and talent shows, the Family and MWR Special Events team is there. The core team of four – Lora Diem, Marlo Brestar, Kris Brown and Chris Bohn – are busy making your community a better place, but they don’t do it alone. “We get help from all of Team Bliss,” said Diem, Family and MWR’s community activities coordinator. “Without everyone being on the same page, it’s very difficult to move forward.” Much of the help comes from within Family and MWR. So the girl selling soda? She works at Army Lodging. The man flipping burgers on the grill? You’ve seen him at Desert Strike Lanes. The lady painting faces works for Child, Youth and School Services, and the folks picking up the trash are BOSS Soldiers. Add to that the assistance from other directorates on post – environmental and emergency services, just to name a couple – and you have a real team effort. “It’s Team Bliss,” said Bill Ketcherside, chief of marketing and special events for Fort Bliss Family and MWR. “We want to get Team Bliss more involved: the Soldiers, the units, the family readiness groups. The events are for everyone, by everyone.” And it does take everyone ... but most people don’t see the work that goes into an event. “By the time everyone gets to an event, it’s already done,”
nd the scenes
Family and MWR’s Special Events team works hard so you can play hard
Ketcherside said. “What they’ve missed is everything that goes on before that, and it can’t be done with four people.” Even before the event’s execution, there is a great deal of effort put into every activity. The team must first plan and budget, and with that comes a new set of obstacles to tackle. “We choose our events carefully,” Diem said. “Throughout the year, we get feedback from the community, both for events we’ve done and events they’d like to see. For example, we listened to the community and now we’re going to have a Fourth of July event this year.” Other input comes from the Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) system, the BOSS program, family action councils, troop action councils, the Family and MWR Facebook page and Family and MWR representatives going out into the community and soliciting ideas. “And everybody has great ideas,” Ketcherside said. “But A-list entertainment is expensive, and we can’t spend the whole year’s budget on one event that appeals to one specific audience and then be done.” “We are a government organization, and we have to be fiscally responsible,” Diem added. “A conscious decision has been made to have events throughout the year that appeal to a wide audience. We want to have something for everyone, to boost morale for all of our Soldiers and Families.” “We’re doing it all for them,” said Brestar, special events coordinator. “That’s the sole purpose behind our events: to support our Soldiers and Families.” When you’re on a budget, providing something for everyone can be a challenge. On average, Family and MWR funding only pays for
about 20 percent of an event’s cost. That’s where Family and MWR’s commercial sponsorship and advertising team comes in. They work with sponsors in the community who are willing to help foot the bill. “Fort Bliss Family and MWR is fortunate enough to have the most supportive commercial sponsors in the U.S. Army,” said Michele Wiernicki, commercial sponsorship and advertising coordinator. “We could not put on our first-class events without their help. “Our sponsors represent all that is great about our wonderful host city of El Paso,” she continued. “We at Family and MWR have the utmost appreciation for all they do for the Soldiers and Families of Fort Bliss.” “Over the last year our events have grown to where we have attendance in the thousands, and we would not be able to put these events on without our sponsors’ support,” said Monica Castillo, sponsorship and advertising specialist. The sponsors support the Fort Bliss community unselfishly, but attendance is important. “It’s very important to have attendance,” Brestar said. “Even if an event may not necessarily be your thing, at least go check it out and see what’s available to the community. More support from the community leads to more command support and more support from our sponsors, because they’re seeing results, too.” “Fort Bliss Family and MWR has proven to be the best, and if you have not attended one of our events, you are missing out. I highly recommend it,” Castillo said. “The more you help support Family and MWR events, the more Family and MWR can support the community,” Diem added.
exotic geography of the exhibits can be as much fun as seeing the animals themselves. You might even catch yourself wondering just where on earth you are. New entry If you have been here before, you will notice an all-new entrance to the zoo. One of the new features is the El Paso Water Utility Education Discovery Center. Be sure the kids visit its Family-friendly water conservation exhibits, where you just might learn something, too! The new entry also includes the Passport Café and Safari Outfitter’s Gift Shop. Responsible zoology There are hundreds of animal species at the zoo including mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and invertebrates, which means you will more than likely be fascinated no matter where you choose to roam. But behind all of the entertainment is some serious business. The El Paso Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. That accreditation doesn’t come easily and is only reserved for zoos that operate at the highest levels of animal welfare and conservation. When you really think about it, man and nature are inseparable. We are connected through symbiotic relationships with other animals and share a mutual love and respect for our wilderness. This could explain why the caretakers at the El Paso Zoo have gone to such great lengths to create a living space as impressive and realistic as this for its animal guests. Visit and you’ll surely feel the bond between man and beast. You’ll also come away with a zest for life – an indescribable thing that might put a little wild back into your life. To learn more, visit www.elpasozoo.org or call (915) 521-1850.
AROUND EL PASO
So you’ve been in El Paso for a while now, done the Mexican food thing, explored the local culture and hit some hiking trails. Now you’re looking for something new, maybe even a little ... wild? How about getting into a staring contest with a pride of lions? Or catching an infectious smile as a family of meerkats shoots a curious glance your way? It’s not the typical El Paso experience, but visiting the El Paso Zoo is anything but typical. The park looks as though it was carved right out of the city, an expansive green space that is home to exotic animal species from around the world. From your first visit you’ll know this zoo was not created to house curiosities; it was planned as an open landscape to be explored and discovered. It’s a place that encourages oohs and ahhs, not to mention the occasional mad dash to the next exhibit. Imagine: a place where your kids can run amuck and the only repercussion is your struggle to keep up. One of the interesting things about the El Paso Zoo is that it was developed with a “total immersion” mind set. Visiting this zoo is an experience that could bring out the animal in anyone. Expecting a typical walk in the park? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the uncommon encounters that await. Get ready to transform your Family outing into a real adventure. Where on earth are we? Keeping its animal guests happy and comfortable is extremely important at the El Paso Zoo, and it’s the reason the zoo was designed as an open-space park – part of that total immersion philosophy. One of the interesting results of this type of development is that the exhibits take on the geographic characteristics of the animals’ homelands, and exploring the
local
at heart: El Paso Zoo
Voted
Best Family Entertainment in El Paso
The Kids Will
With 35 acres of green space and hundreds of exotic animals, it’s like nothing else in town! Safe and affordable fun - just minutes from Ft. Bliss. Visit elpasozoo.org for map and directions. Active Duty Military Discount Available.
4001 E. Paisano • (915) 521-1857 Designed By: The Laster Group www.blissmwr.com
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 17
AROUND EL PASO
Remembrance
local
The El Paso Holocaust Museum upcomingevents The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center, located in downtown El Paso, is a memorial to the millions of people who were brutally murdered by Adolf Hilter and the Nazi Regime from 1933 to 1945. Visitors to the museum will learn about the Holocaust through its permanent exhibit, which features a number of multimedia galleries that chronicle the events of the Holocaust. All of the materials in the museum’s galleries are presented in both English and Spanish. The museum was designed by El Paso artist Victor Mireles. Additionally, the museum offers yearround programming to supplement the lessons of the Holocaust. These include a free film series each month, a book club, speaker presentations, a summer camp, educational workshops and an annual Holocaust remembrance commemoration. The Robert and Sara Shiloff Library and Study Center is also open to the public and offers thousands of Holocaust-related books for research purposes. The museum serves the community,
The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center presents free Holocaustrelated films at 2 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. April 24, in honor of genocide awareness month, the museum will screen Sometimes in April, a 2005 docu-drama of the murder of 800,000 Tutsis by the Hutu majority of Rwanda beginning in April 1994, as experienced by a Hutu man married to a Tutsi woman. This film contains graphic content. and community support projects are a large part of the museum’s success. One such project is a penny drive by a local elementary school. The sixth-grade students of Marian Manor Elementary School in the Ysleta Independent School District have been working hard all year to collect 6 million pennies for the museum. The 6 million pennies are symbolic of the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust.
Need money for something important? YES! Need it now? YES! Come to the people who love to say yes. For over 61 years Omni has been making loans exclusively to the military. In need of a personal loan for any good reason? Come to Omni.
ÿ Fixed rate loans from $500 to $10,000 but only with your ability to repay in mind ÿ Fast, friendly and above all trustworthy service and you can apply by phone ÿ Satisfaction Guaranteed or we’ll cancel your loan at no cost to you
Come in, call, or apply online at www.MilitaryLoans.com
3910 Dyer Street • El Paso 915-566-OMNI(6664)
The project is spearheaded by teacher Denise Montero, who teaches a unit on the Holocaust each year. This year, however, she said she wanted to find a way to demonstrate to her students the enormity of these crimes. In all, more than 11 million people were killed. To help her in her mission, Montero decided to organize a penny collection. At the end of the year, all of the pennies will be donated to the El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center so that it can continue its mission of Holocaust education in the community. To help Marian Manor reach its goal the museum is encouraging the El Paso community to donate pennies to the school’s project. Coins in all amounts can be dropped off at the museum. The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center is located at 715 N. Oregon and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.elpasoholocaustmuseum.org or call (915) 351-0048.
DFMWR FORT BLISS
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY REACHING OUT TO THE FORT BLISS COMMUNITY HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER. TAKE PART IN OUR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING PROGRAM IN 2011.
Your benefits are great: • Direct exposure to a large military community • Display your company name/logo on promotional material • Event recognition: “Sponsored in part by…” • On-site signage, product displays, sampling and demonstrations • Events / Sponsor booth • Pre-event publicity and advertising
CALL 915-568-3415 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR LOG ON TO BLISSMWR.COM/SPONSORSHIP AND DOWNLOAD OUR MEDIA KIT
F I N A N C I A L
Next to Papa John’s Hours: M-F 9AM to 7PM and Sat. 10AM to 4PM
“We love to say yes” ®
© Omni Financial. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All loans subject to approval. See website or ask your loan representative for details of satisfaction guaranteed cancellation policy.
18 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
clubs FOOD&FUN
Mic check
Club Karaoke: Your turn to shine Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Every week, something happens on East Fort Bliss: Everyday Soldiers and Family members transform into stars, singing the latest Top 40 hits, belting out classic power ballads, and rhyming along with their favorite beats. There can be just one explanation ... it’s time for Club Karaoke. From 9 p.m. until midnight each Friday, DJ Clarke Darrk brings Club Karaoke to the Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub. Stop in early, from 6-8 p.m., and enjoy $2 well drinks and domestic bottles, plus free snacks, before the singing starts. More than just karaoke, Club Karaoke offers guests a well-rounded night of entertainment. “Club Karaoke is unique in that it is a combination of singing, live music and the night club experience,” said Nolan Higdem, manager at the Centennial. “Club Karaoke is special because it offers something for everyone. Patrons can take the stage, soak in the live music, dance to Top 40 club music between karaoke sets and take advantage of great drink specials.” DJ Clarke Darrk brings with him a library of more than 15,000 karaoke songs, giving adventurous souls more than enough ammunition to wow the crowd. “The songs include everything from karaoke classics to the hottest club music,” Higdem said. But don’t worry – just because the evening’s singers may be in the mood for, say, slow jams, it doesn’t mean the night’s a bust. DJ Clarke Darrk spins the newest club songs between karaoke sets, giving guests a chance to get up – and get down.
Club Karaoke is just another example of Family and MWR’s market-driven programming. “Club Karaoke is actually the combination of two customer-based ideas, designed to offer a high-quality entertainment option to the Fort Bliss and El Paso community,” Higdem added. Club Karaoke runs from 9 p.m.-midnight every Friday night at the Centennial’s Sam Adams Brew Pub. Lounge specials run from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call (915) 744-8427.
5815 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79925 915-779-2272 www.casaford.com www.blissmwr.com
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 19
clubs FOOD&FUN
Kids’ choice
Desert Strike Lanes offers springtime fun
Better play begins with the basics
Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Kids make the call this spring at Desert Strike Lanes, with programs designed for Family fun scheduled each month. In April, Desert Strike Lanes celebrates the Month of the Military Child with a military child appreciation special. On the weekends of April 2-3, April 9-10, April 16-17 and April 23-24, any child who buys one game of bowling gets one game free. A valid military ID is required to take advantage of this offer. “We want to show our appreciation to the military Family by making a fun weekend affordable for all,” said Don Aguilar, Desert Strike Lanes manager. “We have a great, Family-friendly environment here. You can bring out the kids, grab a pizza, do some bowling and just have a nice time together.” In May, “Bowl with Your Hero” when you bring Mom out for Mother’s Day. Beginning at noon Sunday, May 8, moms bowl one game free when accompanied by a child. Do the same for Dad on Father’s Day, when Bowl with Your Hero specials begin at noon Sunday, June 19. Again, dads must be accompanied by a child to receive the free game of bowling. Kids and parents aren’t the only ones getting recognition this spring:
Bobby Kaerwer, Underwood Golf Complex
In observance of Armed Forces Day, Desert Strike Lanes will offer one free game of bowling to service members in uniform May 21. Shoe rental is not included in any special pricing. Desert Strike Lanes is also home to the Fun Zone arcade, which boasts video games, air hockey and billiards; Strike Zone, a full-service snack bar with a great short-order and pizza menu; and Strike Lounge, a full-service bar. Don’t miss all-you-can-bowl bowling from 3-6 p.m. every Sunday for $6 per person, including shoe rental. For more information about Desert Strike Lanes, visit www.blissmwr. com/bowling or call (915) 568-6272.
Several years ago I had the good fortune to be part of a facility on instruction at what was then known as the Business Schools of the PGA of America. One of the other guest instructors was Labron Harris Sr., who was at that time the golf coach at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. Harris was a contemporary of Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan. He opted not to follow the tour as a professional and coached at OSU. He was very successful in that his team annually contended for the NCAA golf championship and eventually won it. The following are a few of his “thoughts for better play”: • If you ignore the basics of a golf swing, you will never accomplish greatness. • A doubtful putter can never visualize his ball dropping into the hole. • A clear picture of alignment gives confidence in putting. • Good green reading leads to positive thinking. • It is vital that you must have courage, be relaxed and have a definite plan.
Kaerwer is the head golf professional and manager of Gen. George V. Underwood Jr. Golf Complex. In 2010, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sun Country Section of the PGA of America.
$0 MOVES YOU IN
Laura Fierro 915-502-3261 laura@saratoga-homes.com 20 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
recreation southwest adventure
Adventures unlimited
Outdoor rec gets new name, adventurous attitude Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
The weather is warming up, and it’s a great time to get out and explore the amazing desert Southwest. What better way to do it than with Southwest Adventure, the Family and MWR outdoor recreation program at Fort Bliss? “We’re going hiking, camping and fishing,” said Kenny Coppedge, outdoor recreation specialist. “We’re climbing, and white water rafting. And then there’s scuba ...” Most of the trips will be day trips, he said, but some – especially the overnight adventures – will be combined activities: mountain biking and disc golf, for example. “Of course you can go hiking by yourself. You can go skiing by yourself. But when you carpool and go as a group, that’s when things become more cost effective,” Coppedge said. And Southwest Adventure has the gear for the activities, which also helps cut down on costs for participants. “When you pay for a Family and MWR outdoor recreation trip, we provide everything that’s needed in order to do the activity,” Coppedge said. “The only thing you’ll need to bring is appropriate clothing, your own food and water, and an adventurous attitude. “It’s fun to go as a group,” he added. “We have Soldiers, Family members and civilians on our trips. I think the trips we’re running
Date:
kind of build the Fort Bliss community, and kind of cross those cultural boundaries that sometimes exist between Soldiers and civilians.” Several activities on the spring schedule are new. “Since our program is so new, we’re experimental,” Coppedge said. “We’re trying out things. I’m not discouraged if a trip doesn’t work out; just because something doesn’t work one time, doesn’t mean I won’t try it again. We have a changing population on post, and I want to be able to tailor the program to their needs.” Coppedge is open to suggestions, as well. The program is looking into providing a skydiving adventure, at the suggestion of a patron. “We can also arrange private or group trips for your organization, and team building events at Tango Tower or the paintball park. If you want to go on a trip with just your family, we can help you plan that, too.” The friendly outdoor recreation staff can also teach you the skills you need to enjoy different types of outdoor adventures. A series of free clinics will tackle climbing, camping and outdoor survival. Tickets to all Southwest Adventures activities can be purchased at any Leisure Travel Services (ITR) location: Bldg. 1743 on Victory Avenue, the PX kiosk or Soto Gym. For information on Southwest Adventure trips and services, call (915) 433-9666 or e-mail kenneth.coppedge@us.army.mil.
April 2
Activity:
Interpretive hike with park ranger
Location:
Franklin Mountains State Park
$7
Transportation, guide services, park entrance fees, snacks
April 8-10
Backpacking trip
Jordan Hot Springs, Gila Wilderness, N.M.
$60
Transportation, equipment, guide services, dinner on Friday
April 14 4-5pm Climbing clinic
Tango Tower, Biggs Park
FREE
Equipment, climbing instruction
April 16
Top rope climbing
Rough and Readies, N.M.
$25
Transportation, equipment, guide services
April 14, 16, 17 April 22, 23
Confined scuba Open water scuba
Replica Aquatic Center Balmorhea, Texas
**
Equpment, instruction, student kit, certification, transportation, park fees, camping
April 30
Mountain biking, hiking, disc golf and festivities
Military Appreciation Weekend, Ruidoso, N.M. $30
Transportation, equipment, guide services
May 5 ,7, 8 May 14-15
Confined scuba Open water scuba
Replica Aquatic Center Balmorhea, Texas
**
Equpment, instruction, student kit, certification, transportation, park fees, camping
May 15
Mountain biking
Franklin Mountains State Park
$20
Transportation, guide services, park entrance fees, snacks
May 19 4-5pm Outdoor Survival Clinic
Biggs Park
FREE
Equipment, instruction, handouts
May 28
All day hiking trip
Hillboro Peak, Aldo Leopold Wilderness, N.M.
$15
Transportation, guide services
June 4
White water rafting
TBA based on participation, river conditions
TBD
Transportation, guide services, equipment, partial meals in camp
June 2, 4, 5 June 11-12
Confined scuba Open water scuba
Replica Aquatic Center Balmorhea, Texas
**
Equpment, instruction, student kit, certification, transportation, park fees, camping
June 9
Camping clinic
Biggs Park
FREE
Equipment, instruction, handouts
June 11
Family car camping
White Sands National Monument, N.M.
$15
Guide services, hambuirgers/hot dogs, park entrance fees, equipment, games
June 16 4-5pm Climbing clinic
Tango Tower, Biggs Park
FREE
Equipment, climbing instruction
June 24-26
TBA based on participation, river conditions
TBD
Transportation, guide services, equipment, partial meals in camp
White water rafting
$$ Includes:
**Certification cost is $350 for both the confined and open water class. Discover Scuba is $35 for the pool and $55 for Balmorhea. All scuba participants need to sign up one week in advance. Hotel lodging is not included.
22 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
recreation leisure
G(r)owing green
Community Garden ready for spring Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
Now in its second year, the Fort Bliss Community Garden at the Old Fort Bliss Museum offers green thumbs a place of their own to plant, grow and harvest everything from bell peppers to bougainvillea. “We wanted to give people who may not have the opportunity to garden where they currently live a space where they could go if they want to grow their own vegetables or flowers, or just be able to work in the soil,” said Wanda Kienzle, garden coordinator and education program manager at the Old Fort Bliss Museum. “It’s such a wonderful hobby, and it’s such a relaxing activity.” Gardening can be educational as well, Kienzle said. “We’re trying to create a space that people can use, but it’s also a great Family thing to be able to show your children how simple it is to nurture something, to go from a seed to a vegetable that you can actually eat,” she said. Last year about 10 Families took part in the Community Garden project. “I’d love to see that triple,” Kienzle said. “I know there are times of the year where it’s really severe, and the weather can be difficult for someone who isn’t used to the climate.” Still, plants started in the spring can often be harvested before the summer scorchers arrive, and El Paso’s long growing season means plants can be started in late summer and harvested before the cold weather hits. Community Gardeners are each assigned a raised bed – choose from 4 feet by 4 feet, or 4 feet by 8 feet – they can plant in either a shallow or deep fashion. “We recommend the deeper beds because they hold the moisture better,” Kienzle noted.
The museum provides the frames, some very basic topsoil (Kienzle recommends augmenting it with a good potting soil), compost, a wheelbarrow, some basic tools and a water source and hose. There is also a greenhouse on site for those who wish to start their plants from seed. “Gardeners will need to bring in hand tools later, and stakes, trellises, fencing ... anything they want to add,” Kienzle said. Each gardener is responsible for maintaining his or her own plot. The community garden is an organic garden, so no pesticides, herbicides or non-organic fertilizers may be used. The program is free, with the exception of the plants and supplies each gardener chooses to purchase, and is not limited to individuals – organizations on Fort Bliss are welcome to adopt a plot, as well. Cultivation isn’t the only way to help grow the garden. “The garden needs community support,” Kienzle said, including help building benches and making other improvements to the area. “The garden plots themselves aren’t necessarily very attractive,” she said. “But I think we can create more of a park-like setting – turn something functional into something that’s enjoyable. Other improvements Kienzle hopes to make include the addition of swing seating and shade canopies. “We want to make the Community Garden somewhere you want to come by after you’ve worked in the garden, and be able to sit and enjoy what you’ve done,” she said. Applications for plots are now being accepted. Find the application and garden guidelines online at www.blissmwr.com/ oldfortblissmuseum. Any plot reserved but not cultivated by June 10 is subject to reassignment. For more information, call (915) 588-8482 or (915) 568-4518. 100% Customer Satisfaction! NO FIX, No PAY ... 30 Day Guarantee.. we service
YOUR TECHNOLOGY SERVICE CENTER 9930 Dyer Suite A, El Paso, Tx 79924 (915) 799-0404/(915) 219-8121
Computers (Desktops/Laptops) Apple Computers, Ipods / Iphones SmartPhones / CellPhones,MP3'S, Tablets / Ipad & Video Game Consoles
m-f 10am-7pm, sat 10am-6pm, sun 9am-12pm
FREE ESTIMATES ON ANY SERVICE!
www.blissmwr.com
10% military discount!
www.apontech n o logy.com
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 23
recreation leisure
To the rescue!
Summer Reading Program saves youth from boredom Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
Hibernation is officially over! A Midsummer Knight’s Read awaits… That is the theme for the 2011 Summer Reading Program at the Mickelsen Community Library. The Summer Reading Program is a yearly reading contest for ages 3-19. Although they are two separate programs – one for youth ages 3-12 and the other for 13- to 19-year-olds – the concepts of both programs are essentially the same. This year, the children’s program is being spearheaded by Chelsy Richardson, the children’s library technician. “This year we are going to assess a point system to track readership, “said Richardson. As participants read books, they will
earn points and a T-shirt. “Hopefully these kinds of incentives will encourage them to read and want to participate, “said Richardson. Points will also be awarded for books read by “suggested” authors. Readers attending regular story time, held Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:30-11 a.m., can rack up points as well. In the same manner, participants of
the teen program gain points by the number of pages read. Top readers in the teen group will qualify for gift certificates for Barnes and Noble; past prizes included gift in increments of $50, $35 and $25. Who doesn’t love a party? The kickoff party for registration will take place at the library at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a couple of surprise guest appearances as well. An awards ceremony and party with entertainment and refreshments Saturday, July 16 will close out the summer program for all reading participants. The party for youth ages 3-12 will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the party for teens ages 13-19 will begin at 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact a library technician at (915) 568-6156 or (915) 568-1902.
Ft. Bliss Soldiers, Retirees & Civilian Employees Get a T-Mobile myTouch 4G ®
™
Mail-in-rebate may apply. With new activation of a qualifying plan on 2-year contract (plus taxes and fees)* Great pricing available for T-Mobile® myTouch™4G
15% T-Mobile discount on monthly recurring charges for select plans.
You load up. We move out. There’s no smarter way to move and store. Skip the hassle of renting, driving, loading and unloading a truck. Instead, call PODS to make your PPM move as smooth as possible. Our process is simple: We deliver a container. You fill it up, at your pace and on your schedule. When you’re ready, give us a call. We’ll come get your container and drive it across town, across the country, or even to one of our secure Storage Centers. Call 866-556-9574 or visit PODS.com/Military for details, quotes, and reservations.
Save up to 10%
*
START SAVING Call 1-866-464-8662 option 3 to activate with T-Mobile
Use Promotional Code:
14629TMOFAV
Promo Code: MILT
©2010 PODS Enterprises, Inc. PODS is a registered trademark of PODS Enterprises, Inc. P01642 1209 ®
*Available for a limited time only at participating locations. Offer void where prohibited by law. Please call or visit our website for service locations. Must mention promotional code at time of order. Cannot be combined with any other offer. For local moves, 10% off initial local delivery and first month’s storage, except when better discounts are in place locally. Discount does not apply to extended delivery areas. For moves between two different PODS company-owned and/or franchisee territories, 5% off first month’s storage, administrative fees, and transportation costs.
24 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
Free car charger not available on extranet. Limited time offers; subject to change. While supplies last. Taxes and fees additional. Device offer: Must call number listed above and use promotional code. Postpaid only; one device per newly activated line on qualifying family plan. Credit approval and $35 per line activation fee required; up to $200/line early cancellation fee applies to two-year agreements. Monthly Discount: Qualifying postpaid individual liable plan on new 2-year contract required; FlexPay, Even More Plus and certain other plans excluded. Discount applied to recurring charges and does not apply to overage, long distance, market with the same billing address and area code. See brochures and Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information. T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. stick together is a registered trademark of T-Mobile USA, Inc. ?© 2011 T-Mobile USA, Inc.
www.blissmwr.com
Discover what Biggs Park has to offer Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
We’ve got the great outdoors in our very own backyard! When money is at a low on the finances grid, and you’re looking for some good old-fashioned Family fun, Biggs Park is a hop, skip and jump away. Whether you live on main post or East Fort Bliss, you’re close enough for a good time in the sun. Biggs Park offers all kinds of services for Family fun, including pavilion rentals, which can be used for cook-outs, birthday parties, Family reunions, and picnics. Each pavilion is equipped with its own grill, and there are three pavilion sizes to choose from. Memorial Day is the perfect time of year to enjoy the park’s extended summer hours of 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and the all-day fun runs through Labor Day. The park also features paintball, softball and two multi-purpose fields, along with basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. In addition, the park has horseshoe pits, a running track and picnic areas at your disposal. The park is fully equipped with electricity, lights, tents, tables and chairs for rent. Two of the park’s most popular attractions are the playground and water park for young children. Birthday parties during these warm spring and summer months are also a treat, whereas other local facilities could be costly. Bounce houses are available for rental, as well. This time of year is when the park experiences a great deal of traffic, so reservations should be made as early as possible.
www.blissmwr.com
recreation leisure
Fun in the sun
Outdoor Recreation also facilitates many of their events from Biggs Park. February saw the kickoff of many upcoming paintball tournaments with the Southwest Mayhem Paintball Tournament – an awesome Family event! Aside from paintball, the great Tango Tower (a 50-foot-high, six-sided structure with twenty variations of climbing elements) is housed at the park. Other outdoor recreation components include a Moon Jump, a dunk tank and Bungee Run. So, let’s get our sunscreen, shorts and flip-flops out and enjoy some Family fun in the sun—on us! Visit www.blissmwr. com/biggspark for more information or call (915) 744-8087.
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 25
AT EASE! A MILITARY EXCLUSIVE! COMPETITIVE AUTO FINANCING FOR E-1 AND ABOVE!
SoldierAutoFinance.com
You finally have a choice when it comes to financing that car, van or truck you’ve been wanting. SoldierAutoFinance.com comes with MULTIPLE FINANCE PLANS, MULTIPLE BANKS AND MULTIPLE VEHICLE SELECTIONS! It doesn’t get easier or more military-friendly then this! We offer a loan approval process that’s easy and fast along with extended service plans that are second to none. We only finance quality vehicles at payments that are the most affordable for all of our military service members.
Just click-on SoldierAutoFinance.com or call 915 892-7771 and get driving soldier!
Intramurals program doubles in size, expands audience Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
intramurals calendar
The intramurals program at Fort Bliss is on the fast track. “It’s growing – very much so,” said Aaron Jones, intramural coordinator for Family and MWR Sports. “It’s gone from around 23-25 events last year to about 45 or 46 this year.” There are more events on the calendar this year, but that’s not the only change the program has seen. “One of the major efforts Maj. Gen. [Dana J.H.] Pittard, Fort Bliss commanding general, has given us is to make Fort Bliss the most fit installation, coast to coast,” Jones said. “Through those efforts, he’s really asked us to expand our programs, not only to the active-duty Soldiers, but also to expand our programs to the Family members and the DoD civilians.” That means in 2011, more intramural activities than ever are open to more people than ever before – some even to the El Paso community. “We’ve opened up some of our runs to the citizens of El Paso,” Jones said. “It’s an effort to partner with the El Paso community, get them on the installation and show them what we have to offer. And we hope it will raise the level of competition for some of our more serious runners, the ones who run the Army Ten-Miler. “It also helps offset the costs of having the runs,” Jones continued. “We charge a minimal fee for the non-active-duty participants. That helps us cover the cost of the runs, which helps expand the number of runs we can offer to the community.” One of the things Jones would like to see happen at Fort Bliss is for the runs to really become events, he said. “I was sports director at Fort Leavenworth (Kan.), and the runs there were special events. It gave me insight into what runs can be,” he said. “We’re still growing in that aspect at Fort Bliss, but we’re going to get there. I don’t believe we’ve reached our full potential yet.” One activity that has become a high-energy, high-attendance event is the Border Rumble Boxing Smoker, usually offered twice a year. The next one will begin at 7 p.m. April 1 at Stout Gym. “Boxing is a huge hit – no pun intended,” Jones said. “We
EVENT NAME AND ELIGIBILITY
get the Budweiser ring girls out there, we do the smoke, we do the lights; the Special Events team really helps us put on a great event. Last time we had 32 boxers come out, and it’s a great time, seeing those guys get out and box. “Even though it’s only a minute a round, they’re dog tired at the end of that minute,” he continued. “Some of the guys that have technique, it’s fun to watch them ... and some of the guys that don’t have technique, it’s still fun to watch them, also. It’s just a great thing because you have 30 guys who have the courage to get up there, not knowing if they’ll win or lose.” Another event that has Jones excited is the upcoming Spring Triathlon, set for May 21. “It will be the inaugural triathlon here on Fort Bliss,” he said. “Maj. Gen. Pittard asked us to put on two a year, and we’re going to try to do it nice. We want to make this a really great event. It’s going to be fun.” The triathlon will be a “sprint triathlon,” with a 400-yard swim, 12-13 mile bike ride and 5K run, and will be open to the entire Fort Bliss and El Paso community. To learn more about the intramurals program, visit www. blissmwr.com/intramurals, stop by Soto Physical Fitness Facility, Bldg. 20751 Constitution Drive on East Fort Bliss, or call (915) 744-5790.
DATE
LOCATION
recreation sports&fitness
Double down
COMMANDER’S CUP EVENT?
Open to active-duty fort bliss military Border Rumble Boxing Smoker
April 1
Soto Gym
No
Intramural Racquetball Championship
April 11-14
Stout Gym
Yes
Intramural Paintball Championship
April 30
Biggs Park
Yes
Intramural Softball Begins
May 23
Omar Bradley Complex
Yes
Intramural Dodge Ball Championship
June 11
Soto Gym
Yes
10K Run
April 8
Soto Gym
Yes
Intramural Track Championship
April 19-21
Stout Field
Yes
Army Ten-Miler Qualifier
May 6
Soto Gym
Yes
Women’s Softball League Begins
May 23
Finney Field
No
Team Duathlon
June 3
Replica Aquatic Center
Yes
Open Volleyball League Begins
June 6
Biggs Gym
No
Open Basketball League Begins
June 13
Soto Gym
No
May 21
Replica Aquatic Center
No
open to all military ID holders
Open to fort bliss and el paso community Spring Triathlon
www.blissmwr.com
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 27
recreation sports&fitness
Spring shape-up Bounce back to meet your fitness goals Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
Didn’t make it through your New Year’s resolution? Not to worry, there is still plenty of time to get into shape before the summer, and our gyms have got just the right classes! Back again Stroller off Stress (S.O.S) at Soto Fitness Facility and Kettle Bell 101 at Stout Fitness Facility. S.O.S is a class designed for parents who have little ones and want to get back in shape. This six-week program not only whips you back in shape, but helps you regain strength and endurance, and boosts your cardiovascular and flexibility levels! Stroller off Stress will be offered at Soto Gym. Classes will be held Monday and Wednesday from April 4 through May 11. Registration costs $49. If you’re not looking to shed pounds but to build strength and tone, Kettle Bell 101 is effective in helping you reach those goals! Kettle Bell 101 helps participants achieve high levels of fitness, wellness and vitality with maximal results in minimal time. Kettle Bell 101 is also $49 and is offered at Stout Gym each Tuesday and Thursday from April 5 through May 12. Interested in becoming a certified instructor? Here’s your chance. Aerobics and Fitness Association of America offers a Primary Group Certification Course. This one-day course provides a review of AFAA’s basic exercise standards and guidelines, anatomy, exercise science, exercise evaluation and exam
criteria. The course’s program format includes practical application of group exercise, a study guide overview and question/ answer sessions. The course will be offered at Soto Gym May 14 and costs $299, not including the $69 Fitness: Theory and Practice book. Register for the course at AFAA.com. A Pilates workshop is also being offered through AFAA. The workshop is an introductory course that combines the best of both Eastern and Western philosophies and traditions based on the original works of the late Joseph H. Pilates. The pilates exercises will focus on conditioning the body from the inside out! In Pilates you learn the importance of core stabilization, muscle balance, proper alignment, strength and flexibility while integrating the concept of mindfulness, fluidity and grace. So bring your sticky mats and start enjoying the benefits of a sound mind and body. The fee for the Pilates workshop is $129. For information on any of these courses, call (915) 744-5785.
You can fire a m240, defuse a ibomib and drive an m1a2 aibrams tank. ibut you can’t get a car loan? The men and women who are looking out for us deserve somebody looking out for them when it comes to buying a car. If you are active duty, USMILES.com and your local MILES Certified Dealers can help you get the right ride at the the right price with an easy loan process. Get your car situation squared away and NEVER pay more than retail at USMILES.com/military or call (888)804-1435.
usmiles.com where the good guys
get good cars
®
Contact your local MILES Representative, CSM (Ret.) Gregg Funk at (915)238-5415
28 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
www.blissmwr.com
u.S. army photo u.S. army photo
The leaders of
Tomorrow Today
are sTudying wiTh embry-riddle
At Embry-Riddle’s El Paso Campus, we get the fact that students today are different from previous generations. We also know that while you have big obligations, you still have big dreams. And a college education is the key to getting on a career path that will help you achieve those dreams; dreams of bigger paychecks, more rewarding careers, more opportunities for advancement and more respect. To make it easier for you to achieve those dreams, we deliver courses and degree programs on campus, online and through a network of more than 150 campus locations throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Contact us today for more information regarding our programs.
degree programs: undergraduate: Professional aeronautics Technical management aviation maintenance graduate: aeronautical science management
el paso CaMpUs 11176 SSG SimS St., ft. bliSS, tx 79918 P 915-564-5945 e elpaSo@erau.edu
w o r l d w i d e .e r a u .e d u
Military
Some hereoes
Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
PEPITO
HOGG
wilson
radka
BYTHEWAY
Across the Army, more than 75,000 women serve their nation on active duty. Almost 15 percent of the nation’s fighting force is female. What those numbers don’t reflect is this: Many of our nation’s Soldiers are also moms. In 2005, Capt. Ruth Pepito, an executive officer and company commander at U.S. Army Dental Activity Fort Bliss, deployed to Mosul, Iraq, as a single Soldier with no child. A second deployment loomed in 2009. This time, it was different. “It was actually pretty hard to think I would have to leave my daughter for the first time,” said the single mother. “She was about 2 years old.” Fortunately, Pepito got a reprieve; she did not have to deploy. And now that she and her daughter Hannah have established a close relationship, she thinks a deployment might be easier. “If I do end up deploying, I think it will be better with her age, now that she can talk to me on the phone and do Skype,” Pepito said. “I have my family back in California, who are my long-term care plan. My parents are very supportive of my career as a Solider and my status as a single mother.” That doesn’t mean that being a mom is easy. “For me, [the most difficult aspect] is establishing that support group every time you PCS,” she said. Contacts are needed for family-care plans and enrollment in on-post child care, and it can be difficult to establish those contacts, she said. The constant relocation makes things more difficult than they might be in the civilian world. “It’s the constant moving from one place to another that affects the parent and the children for the best and worst,” she noted. Pepito wishes there were single-parent support groups that would introduce Soldiers arriving at an installation to host families who can offer them an immediate local family-care plan contact, which would allow the Soldiers to apply immediately for child care. Temporary child care for in-processing single-parent Soldiers would also be nice, she said. “I’m not sure how other single Soldiers did it, but I had to leave my daughter in California to in-process,” Pepito said. Despite the challenges, Pepito said there are benefits to being a military mom. “The best part ... is having the ability to teach your children about the geography and culture that come with all the PCS moves,” she said. “My daughter was born in Germany and has become well-traveled at a very young age. Another great thing ... is the support that I get from my command. I don’t think I could expect the same if I were a civilian. “Being a Soldier is a full-time job, as well as being a mother,” Pepito continued. “It’s tough, but rewarding at the same time. There is nothing better than being able to raise a child in the world and looking at the
world through their eyes.” Capt. Amabilia Hogg, a Soldier with 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, has been a Soldier for 15 year – seven served in the National Guard, and eight on active duty. She, too, is a single mother, with two children: Sergio, 3, and Koah, 3 months. When Hogg deployed to Kuwait in 2009, she was married and Sergio was 1 year old. “I had done two deployments already to Iraq, but this third one was my first time as a mommy,” she said. “It was really hard. I said good-bye at the airport and cried so much. I cried on the plane ... all the way to Kuwait. I was so sad.” Now, Hogg is preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. “This time, it’s going to be tougher – I know it,” she said. “I’m a single mom now, too, so that kinda adds a little more pressure. What I am doing now is not only spending [as much time] as I can with Sergio, but also doing activities with him so he can understand that Mommy is not abandoning him, but rather she is doing a very important job, and that she will be back as soon as she can.” Hogg is also building a support system for her kids that involves their father, family and friends. “I have so many people who care about me and my children that I feel really blessed, and I thank God every single day that they are here for me. A single mom needs that support. I don’t know what I would do without the love and understanding of everyone I lean on for help.” She said being a parent in the Army can be difficult; children are sometimes viewed as “baggage.” “I don’t want that to come across wrong because I can completely understand that: Leaders are looking to deploy and accomplish a war mission, and they don’t want to break up, hurt or affect Family, especially children,” she said. “From what I’ve seen, the Army has focused more on Families and leaders will do what it takes to support that, even if that means leaving the Soldier behind, and not deployed. “It really boils down to just me,” she said. “I have to show not only my leadership, but my kids, too, that I can handle both.” After 15 years of service, Hogg has seen some moms who could handle the two roles, and other who , married or not, couldn’t and separated from the service. “I’m taking that journey right now, and being tested to see if I can handle it,” she said. “I am going to try my best to deploy and contribute to my unit and serve my country and be a mommy. I love my babies. They are my world.” Before she had children, Hogg said, the best part of being a leader in the Army was the opportunity to mold Soldiers into great American citizens and possi-
moms
serve in more ways than one bly leaders themselves. She sees raising children as somewhat the same. “I have my own flesh and blood to take care of, and I want them to be great citizens of this country, whether they choose to join the military or not,” Hogg said. “In reverse, as a leader, I also apply those mommy skills to my Soldiers, as silly as it sounds, because I have a different sense of taking care of them.” Hogg said it’s important to respect what military moms have to do, and let them do it. “No military mom, whether married or single, should be judged or stereotyped negatively in any way, shape or form for trying to be there for their kids or their unit,” she said. “Many are put in a position where they have to choose, kids or job? Be respectful, understanding and, most importantly, supportive for whatever they decide. That is all we ask. Better yet, military mommies will respect you more if you help them accomplish both.” Maj. Lucinda Wilson, commander of the Combat Aviation Brigade (Provisional), is onehalf of a dual-military couple. She is standing up a new unit on Fort Bliss while she and husband Maj. Ty Wilson care for their three children. The eldest, Benjamin, is 4. Daughters Aspen and Analeise are 2 years and 10 months old, respectively. “As a military mom, and more specifically as a dual-military family, we have a unique challenge in that we have to very carefully balance out career aspirations and the timing of key and essential positions against our obligations as parents,” Wilson said. “I think with that there comes a certain accommodation that our relationship as spouses is secondary to our parenting roles.” In order to have at least one parent home with the children, Wilson and her husband – and, indeed, many dual-military spouses – may not see each other for a year (or more) at a time when they sequence their deployments so they’re not both gone at the same time. “Deployment makes you a single parent. There’s no way around it. But you also have to make some pretty difficult choices when it comes to who’s going to be home at 5 p.m. to relieve the nanny, when we both have pressing issues at work that we need to address, and that are expected to be addressed,” she noted. “But somebody has to provide that continuity and stability for the kids.” Maintaining the 24-hour accessibility required as a Soldier, especially a senior leader, is also difficult when it is required of both parents. “You have to be able to balance, when you both have that same requirement, who’s going to lead and who’s going to lag a little bit,” Wil-
son said. “It’s a little challenging.” For Wilson, the hardest part of the job is the time spent apart from her kids. “I think as a mom – even not wearing a uniform – as a mom it’s hard every day to leave those kids,” she said. “You miss a discovery. During a course I recently attended, my 10-month-old cut her first tooth, and two days later started crawling, and I missed both of those events, because I wasn’t there.” Due to a deployment, Ty missed the birth of Analeise, Wilson said. “That’s hard, to miss those major milestones in your children’s lives,” she added. Like her friend Wilson, Maj. Karen Radka, a Soldier with Brigade Modernization Command, is also part of a dual-military Family. She and husband Maj. Ralph Radka share parenting responsibilities. As with the Wilsons, Dad missed the birth of his youngest child; son Joshua was born in May, during Ralph’s most recent deployment. The Radka’s daughter Meredith is 5. “[Ralph] not being at the birth was not that big a deal to me, but not having an extra adult in the house when you’re pregnant and tired and getting huge ... I could do without that.” The Radkas have also chosen to sequence deployments; that’s what works for their family. Radka said deployment decisions are just one of many choices a military mom has to make, including the timing of when to have children. She and her husband waited until later in their careers before starting a Family. “You’ve really got to figure out what you’re going to give up,” she said. “For me, it was definitely a choice to have the kids when we did, and as officers I think we have more flexibility in our career paths and our choices and our timing of things, a little more predictability and downtime. “For most Soldiers, they don’t get that. NCOs don’t get a break, and I feel ... I guess I have more respect for someone like that, who can raise a family in the op tempo that we’re in, and doesn’t get as much say in their career, and don’t get as much downtime to plan it out like that.” Amber Bytheway is not a Soldier, but a military mom nonetheless. As a military spouse, civilian employee of the Directorate of Emergency Services and volunteer family readiness group leader, she eats, sleeps and breathes Army. She and husband Pfc. Nathan Bytheway, a Soldier with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, are new to the military lifestyle – Nathan enlisted at the beginning of 2010. Between the 12-hour days she works and DES and her responsibilities as the company FRG leader, Bytheway finds time to shuttle son
Brayden, 9, back and forth between Bliss Elementary School and his extracurricular activities. The Family has not yet faced a deployment, but Bytheway believes they are prepared . “The closest thing we have had to a deployment ... was when my husband went away for Basic Training and AIT,” she said. “Since being here at Bliss, we are aware of the pending deployment and we are preparing for that day by day. I think being here with other military Families dealing with the same thing is a great way to be able to cope, along with knowing I have a great support system in place.” Becoming involved with the FRG has helped her prepare that much more, she said, and she has attended Army Family Team Building classes, Battlemind training for spouses, leadership training and financial readiness classes. These have helped her build her Family’s support system, part of which involves being prepared. “Being a military mom, you have to be prepared for everything,” she said. “In the civilian world, most Families have a two-party support system to fall back on. ... In many cases, our Soldiers work long hours and focus hard on mission readiness, so you have to be both Mom and Dad, and have the answer to everything.” But the benefits outweigh the challenges – there are so many good things about being a military mom, Bytheway said. “There are the many friends we have made along the way that we know we will have for the rest of our lives,” Bytheway said. I love that we can show our child the country and, hopefully after Texas, other parts of the world. “I feel like I am forming an extremely wellrounded, adaptable, capable and outgoing child due to his being raised in the military lifestyle,” she continued. “Not to mention that my child has learned things such as pride in himself and his family, honor and integrity. He loves his dad so much, and loves what Dad does not only for our Family but our country. It is the best feeling of all, knowing we have been able to raise our child and teach him these things.” Bytheway is proud to be a military mom. “Military moms and moms in general, we make things happen,” she said. “We volunteer our time, we provide for our Families on the home front and some outside the home, with jobs. We change tires, we pump our own gas, wash our own cars, get groceries, set the table for dinner, do the laundry, do the dishes, clean the house, go to football practice, help our kids with homework, support our Soldiers, our companies, and the units we belong to. We provide support for one another, and we truly do wonders for our communities. We rock!”
family CYSS
Gone camping
Summer fun at Freedom Camp, Operation Purple Camp Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
It’s time to shed out of those layers of winter clothing and step out of those winter boots: Child, Youth and School Services has a slew of activities to get Fort Bliss Youth into gear! Youth can experience a day in the life of a Soldier at Freedom Camp 2011! This five day, four-night camp is planned for 8- to 12-year-old children of Soldiers who have experienced deployment. In cooperation with Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and CYSS, the fifth annual Freedom Camp will be held June 6-10 at Fort Lone Tree in Capitan, N.M. Freedom Camp is part of an ongoing support network for our young heroes and is available to active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard children. Applications are available on the Family and MWR and CYSS websites. The registration deadline is Friday, May 6. There is a $10 registration fee per Family. Space is limited, so register now! For more information e-mail bliss.yess@conus.army.mil. Freedom Camp is a collaborative effort designed to support children of deployed and recently redeployed Soldiers, as well as Soldiers preparing for deployment. Youth will be exposed to recreational, social, educational and therapeutic activities that will help them understand and better cope with the effects deployments and reunification while making new friends and establishing a social network of children experiencing similar situations. In addition to Freedom Camp, Operation Purple Camp is back! The National Military Family Association announced that Lone Tree Ranch and Fort Lone Tree in Capitan, N.M., were chosen to host Operation Purple Camp. Fort Lone Tree will be the hosting site for Operation Purple summer camp June 6-10. Youth between the ages of 9 and 12 will have the opportunity to learn skills that will allow them to make new friends, have fun, communicate effectively, and know that they are the nation’s youngest heroes. The high-adventure camp is located in the Lincoln National Forest and includes activities such as horseback riding, water slides, and zip lines. “It’s a week of fun, not having to worry about the daily stress of having a loved one deployed, and learning new skills,”
32 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
said YESS Director Debbie Trexler. The youth will follow a specific curriculum that also teaches resiliency skills. This camp also offers the opportunity to talk about deployment issues. For example, “Tree of Life” is a project that is designed to open up lines of communication. Participants are given paper plates that would symbolize a tree trunk. Campers draw “rings” on their trees and discuss the meaning of each ring. Moreover, the kids would be involved in creating the “Wall of Honor.” Pictures of deployed love ones are placed on poster boards and will be on display at the dining facilities. The youngsters will also have the occasion to view and talk to deployed parents via Skype’s video chatting service as well! August 1-6, teens between ages 13 and 17 will get their fair shake at a week of fun too! The young adults’ portion will concentrate more on leadership and team building while instilling self-confidence and reinforcing their importance to the military Family. This particular program is tracked for leadership and community service. This year the teens will be visiting a veterans’ home. “We just want them to go out there and have a blast while strengthening their leadership skills,” said Trexler. Each camp is “purple” and open to children of service members of any branch of service – active-duty, National Guard or Reserve – as well as children of members of Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Thanks to support from the Goldman Sachs “Goldman Sachs Gives” program, the Sierra Club and Sierra Club Foundation, Operation Purple Camp is provided without cost. Applicants for both youth and teen programs can apply by visiting the National Military Family Association’s website at www.militaryfamily.org. Deadlines for application have not yet been published; CYSS will release the information as soon as it is finalized. Check www. blissmwr.com/news for updates. Parental volunteer opportunities are also available for the camps. Background checks for volunteers are required and are at the expense of the volunteer applicant. For more information, contact Debbie Trexler at (915) 568-2784.
www.blissmwr.com
New program gets youth going in the garden Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
If your kid has a green thumb – or, better yet, doesn’t – now’s the time to teach him or her about gardening. The Junior Master Gardener program, new to Fort Bliss, can help do just that. Certified through the Texas A&M Agrilife extension service and supported by 4-H, the Junior Master Gardener program is a six-week course that teaches students about cultivation, nutrition and more ... and registration is free! The Junior Master Gardener program will be housed at the Old Fort Bliss Museum, along with the Fort Bliss Community Garden. Wanda Kienzle, the museum’s education program director, said the idea for bringing the program to Fort Bliss sprang from the museum tours she gives elementary-school children as part of the Children’s Cultural Living History Program. “We have a museum garden, and when I do school tours it is always a popular place for us to spend some time,” she said “We talk about the things that were grown here during the 1850s, things the pioneers and early settlers would grow. We discuss the advantage of having a garden back then, how it was the only source of fresh fruits and vegetables that they had. “It’s always a really popular part of the tour, and from that I thought that having a learning experience that was more formulated, more organized, and geared toward that age group was something that people would be interested in.” Children do not have to be registered with Child, Youth and School Services to participate in the Junior Master Gardener program. “We’re open to anyone from the community,” Kienzle said. “We just hope that when one begins the program,
they’ll complete the six-section course through to the end. Class size is limited, and I don’t want to turn anyone away.” The program will kick off April 16, the same day as Garden Day at the Old Fort Bliss Museum. Class members will meet from 10 a.m.noon every Saturday for six weeks, and should finish on Armed Forces Day (May 21) with a project and informational table at the event. While the course is limited to 25 participants, there’s the possibility of opening up another section if interest is great enough. “We can start a second program if need be,” she said, “and we’re not confined to starting the program just in April. We’re very flexible.” The curriculum will address several areas, with a few surprises. “I’m hoping to have experts come in and give some talks, from Master Gardeners to the people who run El Paso’s rose garden and the cactus garden at UTEP,” Kienzle said. “We’re going to study bugs, and we have some great new books and a camera that does time-lapse photography, so we’ll be able to watch plants growing much more quickly, of course, than they normally would.” Equipment for the program is funded through a Big Green Grant awarded by Nickelodeon. “We’re very lucky to have gotten this funding,” Kienzle said. “Without it, we would have been hard pressed to be able to provide this program to the youth of our community.” To download the application for the Junior Master Gardener program, visit www.blissmwr.com/oldfortblissmuseum. For more information, call (915) 588-8482 or (915) 5684518, or stop by the Old Fort Bliss Museum in Bldg. 5054 on the corner of Pershing and Pleasonton roads.
family CYSS
Good to grow
$0 MOVES YOU IN
Salvador Renteria 915-383-4515 salvador@saratoga-homes.com www.blissmwr.com
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 33
family CYSS
A home away from home
Family Child Care provides options for Army Families Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
It happens: You get to a new installation, your spouse just found the perfect job, and you have no one to care for the kids. Family Child Care is an option that can help ... in more than one way. Family Child Care is an in-home child care program that provides child care in homes throughout the Fort Bliss community. The care that is provided through FCC is based on the same program as the care offered at Child, Youth and School Services’ child development centers – with a few additions that have been found to be quite beneficial. For example, there are FCC providers that are off post as well. These homes off post – or HOPs – provide a convenience that you might not find if you don’t live in housing on post. There are HOPs locations all over the El Paso community, and the list is growing fast. Every FCC candidate must go through rigorous training, be certified, meet Army regulations, and pass several home inspections and background checks in order to become an FCC provider. The providers are observed often, inspected monthly and must follow strict guidelines and procedures to provide child care. FCC Director Jessica Zagelow and her team are responsible for ensuring that providers meet and maintain all these requirements ... and then some. Single Soldier? Dual-military parents? Family Child Care is a great route for your child care needs. Soldiers and Families who have mission-related tasks can utilize extended care. Extended care gives Soldiers peace of mind so that they can go on with missions. Anything from CQ, staff duty and field
It Works!
WRAP YOUR ABS
NEED TO MAKE TAPE ?
SEE RESULTS
IN AS LITTLE AS PATR ICI A INDEP ENDENT DISTR IB UTO R
( 915 ) - 217 - 5 8 63
duty to special events like a Veterans Day parade are examples of why FCC’s extended care program should be used. The best part is, the care is subsidized by the Army! The Soldier must fill out the required forms and obtain the proper authorized signatures to file with the FCC provider. Because the FCC program is growing, there is a need for more providers who enjoy working with children. Open to the community, the FCC office is offering Providers in Your Neighborhood. It’s an on-going program that runs through different on-post housing neighborhoods, including main post, East Fort Bliss, and the upper and lower Logan Heights housing areas. Felicia Jones, an FCC program associate, goes into the neighborhoods and meets up at local parks for activities once a week to get stay-athome moms involved. “It’s a good opportunity for them to come out and see what we do and prevent burnout,” said Zagelow. The activities include science, art and outdoor play. Field trips are also part of the curriculum. In April, Providers in Your Neighborhood will draw attention to the theme of planting seeds and egg hunt field trips to Kelly Park. June will focus on music and movement; painting in July; and making books in August. Each month concentrates on a specific activity with a field trip as well. Future field trips include the train station, airport, post office and Biggs Park. For more information on FCC or on how to become a provider, visit www.blissmwr.com/fcc or call (915) 568-4198.
• • • • •
45 MINUTES!
Detoxifies & Deeply Hydrates Tightens, Tones, & Firms NO Pain, Bruising, or Surgery Immediate & Lasting Results NOT WATER LOSS, ACTUAL FAT LOSS
i t r i mi n c h e s . co m
FOR MEN AND WOMEN 34 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
FEATURED AT THE EMMY & OSCAR AWARDS CELEBRITY GIFT SUITES!
$0 MOVES YOU IN
Erika Gomez 915-276-8796 erika@saratoga-homes.com www.blissmwr.com
‘Top of the World’ lets youth reach new heights Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
“There’s so much going on, we can’t keep up,” said Rita O’Connor, Milam Youth Activity Center assistant director, of the exciting activities they have planned for spring. The newly-built MYAC, located at Bldg. 10960 Haan Road on East Fort Bliss, is already known for its amazing year-round activities, but this spring-opener and line-up is sure to be a winner with the kiddos! Hold on to your hats and let’s head for the “Top of the World.” MYAC is hosting a competition for the youth to climb Mt. Everest – well, not the real Mt. Everest. Wally Hildreth, one of the center’s child and youth program assistants, has come up with a competition similar to climbing Mt. Everest. The key is to climb several times up the rock-climbing wall in the gymnasium at the center as if you were climbing Mt. Everest! Because the wall at the activity center is only 20 feet, participants would have to climb the wall at least 100 times to reach the first base point, located at 17,500 feet on the real Mt. Everest; it’s also the starting point of the climb. From one base camp to the next is approximately 2,000 feet. Whoever reaches the first base camp wins a prize. (Shhhh…it’s a surprise!) The climber who reaches the peak of the mountain wins the grand prize. (Nope, not telling you that either!) If that doesn’t sound hard enough, at the last base camp – the mountain’s peak – climbing enthusiasts (if you’ve made it to the last base camp, it’s pretty safe to label you an enthusiast) may be required to carry an “oxygen tank” (I think I just heard a gasp!). A substitute for that will be a backpack with objects inside to replicate or approximate the weight of a real oxygen tank. How do you ensure everyone is climbing the same amount? I asked that question, too. A log sheet is kept to track each participant and their daily footage. The “Top of the World” adventure competition is an initia-
family CYSS
Soaring to adventure
tive that is part of “Get Fit,” a program launched last year that encourages young people to get physically active – and stay active. For more information on how to get in on the fun and action, call (915) 744-2449.
YouthPlex: Hot fun in the summertime Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
Mark your calendar:. The YouthPlex has got your summer schedule planned out for you—yes, already! During the prime of summer (June 6-August 19), there will be three different camps each week. Adventure/Sports Camp will keep teens occupied with physical activities like Insane Games, which physically involves campers in numerous court games including badminton, floor hockey, Omnikin, Pickle Ball, Trifecta and more. Teens can learn the basics of tennis as, well. Instructional Camp is the second type of camp MST will offer. Instructional Camp is geared more toward cooking,
www.blissmwr.com
sewing, martial art and a computer tech camp—which focuses on how to build websites and more. There’s also an intro to robotics class, which centers on a week of workshops, robot challenges and obstacle courses; learning how to build robots using RCX brick is also on the menu of things to do. There’s also an intro to Lego Mindstorms. And for all you science wizkids, a series of experiments that relates to science is offered. This camp will improve skills that will help comprehend concepts and formulas in the world of science and how it revolves in our world. Educational Camp is based on learning. Teens can brush up on basic dance steps to sounds like salsa, reggaeton,
merengue, cumbia and more. Creative writing and art are likewise part of the agenda. Nature Days is a week-long program where teens take trips to Franklin Mountains State Park and White Sands National Monument, learn about geography and participate in a scavenger hunt at the El Paso Zoo. As you can see the YouthPlex is going to be one hot zone during the summer. If what you’re looking for is not listed here, trust me ... stopping by the YouthPlex, or checking www.blissmwr.com will help you navigate to something that will spark your interest. For additional information on trips, cost and schedules, call (915) 568-5437.
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 35
family CYSS
Getting job-ready
Hired! program helps your teen climb the career ladder Darline Goyea, Family and MWR Marketing
“You’re hired” is always music to anyone’s ears. And while the Child, Youth and School Services Hired! program is just for the teens, keep reading – adults can be part of the process, too. In this program you won’t find Donald Trump or anyone pointing fingers and scolding you for not being a productive project manager ... where, ultimately, you’re fired. Hired! apprenticeship is a program that provides teens 15-18 apprentice opportunities in various capacities. Most options are available through Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities: the Desert Strike Lanes, Underwood Golf Complex, Mickelsen Community Library and the Outdoor Recreation program, for example. Erika Erdely, the Hired! workforce preparation specialist, works with the young adults to prepare them for future aspirations through education and workshops, while teaching responsibility and accountability. Arial Marsh, 15, who is home-
schooled, is taking part in the HIRED! Apprentice program with the Public Affairs Office.Marsh is currently working for the Monitor, where she writes community briefs. “I give it an 11; it’s amazing work,” said Marsh, when asked on a scale of 1-10, how much she’s enjoying her experience. Marsh has been with the PAO since January 7, and said she really enjoys what she does. She plans on studying psychology and religious services. “I hope the interviewing skills I’m
learning with PAO will help me with my studies, “said Marsh. Erdely coordinates with potential job sites to match the desires of the students with the needs of the employers. The teens work a 12-week apprenticeship term and learn the ins and outs of select positions. After completing a term, apprentices receive cash awards through CYSS. Applications, registration dates and apprenticeship criteria can be found at www.blissmwr.com/hired. For more information, e-mail bliss.hired@conus. army.mil or call (915) 568-9006. The Hire Expectations teen job and volunteer expo is scheduled for April 30. This event is organized by the Employment Readiness Program, Army Volunteer Corps and Hired! program to offer teens the opportunity to learn about the summer jobs on and off post,the job application process, resume writing and dressing for success.The expo will feature workshops, including one on interviewing for summer jobs. For information on Hire Expectations, call (915) 569-5838.
N a t i o n a l
U n i v e r s i t y
You Help Defend Our Country. We’ll Help You Build Your Future.
National University has been a leading educator of service members and their families since 1971 and annually ranks as a top Military Friendly College. With online degree programs in a convenient one-course-per-month format, you can attend classes at an accelerated pace. National University is a nonprofit institution that also offers:
© 2010 National University 8818
-
36 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
The value of WASC accreditation Associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees Dedicated Military Affairs Office and staff Special military tuition Flexible deployment policy
To learn how your military training can qualify for degree credit, contact:
877.628.6828
www.nu.edu/military
The University of Values
www.blissmwr.com
Graduate School
As An emerging reseArch university, uteP is A leAder in grAduAte educAtion. the university’s graduate business program was named no. 2 and the graduate engineering program was ranked no. 3 in the nation for hispanics in 2009 by Hispanic Business magazine. With a distinguished faculty, an aggressive research agenda and an international setting, uteP offers a growing list of graduate options that includes more than 100 master’s and doctoral programs in a variety of fields.
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS Doctor of Education (EdD)
Educational Leadership and Administration
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Biological Sciences Chemistry Civil Engineering Computational Science Computer Science Electrical and Computer Engineering Environmental Science and Engineering Geological Sciences History Interdisciplinary Health Sciences International Business Materials Science and Engineering Psychology Rhetoric and Composition Teaching, Learning and Culture
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Physical Therapy
MASTER’S PROGRAMS Master of Accountancy (MACY) Master of Arts (MA)
Art Education Clinical Psychology Communication Education English and American Literature Experimental Psychology History Latin American and Border Studies Leadership Studies Linguistics Philosophy Political Science Rhetoric and Writing Studies Sociology Spanish Studio Art
US/Mexico Border
Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) Master of Arts in Teaching English (MAT) Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics (MATM) Master of Arts in Teaching Science (MATS) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Education (MED) Educational Administration Educational Diagnostician Guidance and Counseling Instructional Specialist Reading Education Special Education
Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (MEENE) Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Creative Writing
Master of Music (MM) Music Education Music Performance
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Master in Public Administration (MPA) Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science (MS) Bioinformatics Biological Sciences Chemistry Civil Engineering Computational Science Computer Engineering Computer Science Economics Electrical Engineering Engineering Environmental Science Geological Sciences Geophysics Industrial Engineering Intelligence and National Security Kinesiology Manufacturing Engineering
www.utep.edu/graduate
Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Medical Physics Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Physics Speech-Language Pathology Statistics Systems Engineering
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSENE) Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Clinical Specialist Nurse Practitioner Nursing Systems Management
Master of Science in Social Work (MSW) Master in Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC)
COMBINED PROGRAMS
MBA/MPA Master of Business Administration/ Master of Public Administration
ONLINE PROGRAMS
Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing (MFA) Master of Education (MED) Instructional Specialist
COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
UTEP/UT Austin Cooperative Pharmacy Program Master of Public Health/U.T. Health Science Center Houston Border Studies Emphasis Ph.D./U.T. Austin Doctorate in Nursing/U.T. Health Science Ctr. Houston
The University of Texas at El Paso graduate school Academic services Bldg. room 223 500 W. university Ave. el Paso, tX 79968-0587 915-747-5491
community ACS
Bounce, don’t crack!
Resilience Training brings out the best in spouses Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
The Army’s operational tempo has put great demands on Soldiers and Family members. Through the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, Soldiers receive training on how to deal with the stressors associated with Army life. But what about the spouses? That’s where Army Community Service’s Resilience Training comes in. “When the program first started, the Army’s slogan was ‘Army Strong,’” said Tracy Broomfield, Resilience Training program coordinator. “When you think of Army Strong, you think of physical strength, but you have to be emotionally strong, you have to be spiritually strong ... You have to have a strong Family. “If we’re going to be Army Strong, we need to be strong on all these levels,” she continued. “This training gives our spouses and civilians the tools they need to be proactive instead of reactive. It’s a training about self, and being able to learn about yourself gives you the tools you need to have successful relationships with others.” The students in the class often have different reasons for taking the class. “I needed a change in my life,” said Carrie Lee. Her husband, Warrant Office Cedric Lee, is a Soldier in 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “I wanted to better myself by being a stronger military spouse, transitioning from being a Soldier.” Tamara Rentz decided to enroll in the training to prepare for her Soldier’s upcoming deployment. Rentz’s husband, Pfc. Richard Rentz, is a Soldier with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “My husband is deploying this fall, and I wanted to gather and learn as many tools and skills as I can to help me through our first deployment,” she said. Whatever the reasons for taking the class, most of the students finish the course with similar results. Through sessions addressing character strengths, “hunting the good things,” thinking traps and communication styles, participants gaining increased self-awareness and confidence in their ability to build stronger relationships with others. “I learned so much, from self-awareness to using my character strengths to
38 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
problem-solving with assertive communication,” Lee said. “In order for my day to go well and function smoothly, I have been applying and practicing everything I learned from Resilience Training. “When I wake up, I remind myself of the Three C’s: clear, confident and controlled energy management,” she continued. “I practice optimism – hunting the good stuff – when I go to bed. Now I can’t live without it. I am such a happier person, and I believe my family and friends are, as well.” Sandy Moody, a Family readiness support assistant with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, said the training helped her learn to build stronger relationships with her peers and her Family. Moody, whose husband Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Moody is a Soldier in 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, also touched on the importance of hunting the good things. “All too often we are consumed by the bad things that happen to us,” she said. “Hunting the good stuff is about seeking out the positive in your everyday life.” Another way to stay positive is to avoid thinking traps, a skill Rentz learned. “I learned how to avoid thinking traps by using critical questions to identify missing information instead of jumping to conclusions or reading people’s minds,” she said.”
The training can at times be difficult, Broomfield said, because it requires a lot of looking inward. “At the beginning, people are kind of apprehensive,” she said. “Once you pull out that mirror, you might not like what you see. At the same time, those parts that you don’t like, you now have the tools to try and change them. “I like to tell the students it took them a lifetime to get to where you are, so don’t think you’re going to come in and you’re just automatically going to be changed,” Broomfield continued. “But there is change.” “There was definitely a lot of thinking involved, and that was a challenge for me,” Lee said. “I became confused and frustrated at times, but I know that if I got through the training, I wouldn’t have to be confused or frustrated anymore. Now I am finding myself to be more resilient to anything or anyone who comes my way. Bring it on!” Moody said she was surprised to learn about her character strengths and weaknesses. “I learned ... what characteristics I needed to work on,” she added. What surprised Rentz, she said, was that she already possessed the skills needed for resiliency. “I already do some of the techniques that were taught,” she said. “I just never knew it.” Broomfield said Rentz’s experience is not that uncommon. “We’re all resilient,” she said. “It’s not a matter of some people have resilient qualities and some people don’t; everybody has it. It’s just that we have to learn how to tap into it.” Resilience Training is a four-day session that runs from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day. Upcoming training dates include May 23-26, August 29-September 1, September 26-29, October 24-27 and November 7-10. A special evening session will take place June 13-16. Times are to be determined. There is a limit of 30 participants per class. Child care vouchers are provided for children registered with Child, Youth and School Services. For more information, call Broomfield at (915) 568-7088 or stop by ACS, Bldg. 2494 on Ricker Road.
www.blissmwr.com
F
BL ORT
ISS
O
LU F VO
NTE
ERI
NG
R 1 201
YEA
volunteers,
everyday superheroes
Ordinary People ing
community ACS
R
e E v l V o R s E S e TO
Do i Extraordinary Things Tephanie Hopper, Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator
Save the Date: Volunteer Leaders Seminar
May 12 • 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Centennial • Registration: $30
inlcudes breakfast, lunch and registration packet
Whether you are the director of a nonprofit organization, president of the local women’s club, a company commander or an FRG leader, you are considered a manager of volunteers when you utilize volunteers to complete your organizations mission. So as a volunteer manager, what exactly is your role? Paid or unpaid the volunteer manager’s role is very similar to that of a human resource professional as volunteer managers are trainers, planners and evaluators who instead work with a volunteer work force. Though the role of volunteer manager is very similar to that of a human resource professional, it is not completely the same. There are some different aspects to working with a volunteer work force. To address the different aspects of working with a volunteer workforce and reenergize volunteer leaders, the Fort Bliss Army Volunteer Corps office hosts the biannual Energizing Volunteer Leaders of Today for Tomorrow seminar. The purpose of the volunteer leaders seminar is to provide a fun-filled, engaging opportunity for volunteer leaders within the Fort Bliss and El Paso communities to develop new skills in volunteer resource management, network with colleagues, and learn how new techniques can be integrated into their program to make it more effective, efficient and powerful.
www.blissmwr.com
The world is in desperate need of people who will make a difference. These times call for heroes to save the day. But what’s this? Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the world’s volunteers! Just when we thought hope was lost, our volunteers have come through again and again. These individuals known as volunteers are the true meaning of heroes. These heroes give of themselves and stand out among our citizens every day. Without these heroes, we would all be in trouble. With Fort Bliss Army Volunteer Week –April 11-15 – we want you to , show that your volunteers are recognized as heroes and they stand above the rest. Volunteers are crucial to the accomplishment of missions within our organizations. We want you recognize that these volunteers are special because they do a lot for our military units, whether it be by Family readiness group volunteers or partners in education. These heroes that volunteer for our Soldiers ensure that those Soldiers have more than ng enough to keep them motivated as they move forward in their missions. Volunteers also ensure that the Family members stay motivated while their Soldier is deployed. Our heroes are there; they are there when there is much work to do for an event, and they are also there to be that shoulder to lean on. Our heroes range from coaching youth sport programs to providing administrative support at Army Community Service. Not only do our volunteers do great things within our community, but they also do these great things in the wonderful spirit of giving. This is what heroes do. They see the need, they step in, and they save the day. They do it for the cause and not for the praise or the recognition. Though they do not do if for the glory or praise, it is our duty to recognize and acknowledge all of the heroic deeds done by our volunteers that live among us. We must never take for granted what they do and what they have done for us for many years. So we thank you volunteers. Thank you for being our heroes!
volunteers
everyday superheroes
Ordin ary People i
Do i Extraordinary Things
volunteer week activities free for registered volunteers - reservations required
Manic Monday whattawednesday 6-9 p.m. April 11 The Grand Theatre
11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13 the Centennial
free movie | popcorn | soda door prizes
massages | reiki | Hair & brows Photo booth | door prizes
¡blissNOW! • Spring 2011 • 39
community ACS
Cheap eats Dinner on a Dime teaches Army Families to cook on a budget
Heather Wilburn, Family and MWR Marketing
“I want spouses and Soldiers to know that there’s more to make than just the same pork chop dinner every night,” Aisha Ruhland said, laughing. “I want them to experience different flavors and smells from around the world.” That’s enough to challenge even the most veteran kitchen warrior, but Ruhland, a financial education specialist with the Financial Readiness Program at Army Community Service, has set the bar even higher: She wants to teach Soldiers and spouses to cook amazing food for under $50 per week. With Dinner on a Dime, she is doing just that. The class meets twice a month – always around payday, so participants can purchase what they need when they take the recipes home – in the fully-equipped kitchen at the Milam Youth Activity Center on East Fort Bliss. During the two-hour class, Ruhland teaches her guests to prepare (and then enjoy) a meal from start to finish, in an atmosphere that brings spouses together. “Dinner on a Dime is a program I’ve never seen or heard of before, and I believe it’s a great concept to work with,” said Ruhland, who is also an Army spouse. “It is about letting spouses have fun, and provides a place where rank does not get in the way. It’s ladies and gentlemen coming together and enjoying each other’s company. I believe this needs to be at every installation.” The program is also beneficial to those with little cooking or budgeting experience, Ruhland noted. “If you are brand new to the married life, and you do not know how to cook well, then this class is for you, too,” she said. “Not only are you learning to manage your funds and shop to cover meals for at least two weeks, but you are learning new concepts on cooking and meeting new people.” In addition to arming cooks with the knowledge they need to prepare great food, Dinner on a Dime can provide participants with a much-needed break and some valuable “adult time.” “I understand how hard it is, PCSing and not knowing anyone, and the kids are driving you nuts,” Ruhland said. “As long as your children are registered with Child, Youth and School Services, ACS pays for child care. I have one client who says, ‘I will come even if my child is not feeling well.’ I have to laugh, but it makes me feel good to know that she enjoys the class and looks forward to having that time away from the kids and learning new meal ideas she can present to her Family.”
40 • Spring 2011 • ¡blissNOW!
And the meal ideas are the real focus of the program. Ruhland plans new menus for each session; she said she gets inspiration from television shows, smells, things she grew up eating as a child and from other people. “I think about what I am trying to put out there and how it comes across to my audience,” she said. “I do work in different themes. I actually like themes because you can have a party, and if you’re looking for a certain theme of food to cook, these recipes can give you an idea to use. I also think about what may be coming up, like a holiday, and cook for that particular day.” On Saint Patrick’s Day, for instance, the class made Irish beer beef stew, soda bread and chocolate stout cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish cream frosting. Other themes have included Caribbean and Indian. The menu is flexible, however, and Ruhland said she is open to suggestions. “Please don’t hesitate to let me know something you want to see cooked, or if you have a recipe of your own you want to bring to make and share with the class – you’re quite welcome to,” she said. Dinner on a Dime is open to all military ID holders: Soldiers, Family members and DoD civilians. Ruhland said she likes to see regulars attending more than one class, but also looks forward to adding new faces to the program. “I enjoy seeing and meeting new people,” Ruhland said. “The biggest benefit to me is seeing the smiling faces and spouses interacting with one another. I also enjoy having them taste my food and give their honest opinions of it.” “I truly enjoy doing this class and appreciate that other spouses come out and share in my excitement and love of food,” she continued. “I challenge people: If you have not come to the class and want to come, please do so. Come enjoy the laughter and fun of excellent company and fantastic food.” Upcoming Dinner on a Dime classes are scheduled for April 5 and 21, May 3 and 19, and June 7 and 16. For more information, or to register, call ACS at (915) 568-1132. Online registration is also available at www.blissmwr.com/frp. Click the link labeled “click here to register for financial readiness classes online” to access the online registration form.
www.blissmwr.com
FORT BLISS & FAMILY FRED WILSON RD MA ST
agord o
WORK AVE
24
HAYES ST
McNAIR RD
SHERIDAN GATE
SLATER RD
DONIPHAN RD
9
25 41 10
51
CLUB RD
PERSHING RD
SHERIDAN RD
30
16 3 19 23
28
PERSHING GATE
SH
MOBILE AVE
ER
ID AN
EL PASO, TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GD R
MILITARY AREAS MILITARY GATES
1 BUILDING LOCATIONS
TROWBRIDGE ST
ST
To I-10
RADFORD AVE
LOCATIONS WITH WI-FI GATEWAY BLVD NORTH
PIA
CO
568-1117 565-4100 568-2115 569-2331 533-1244 568-2121
ADAIR RD
14
EMERGENCY NUMBERS Fire Emergencies Housing Areas Military Police Ambulance Poison Information Information Operator
27 CUSTER RD
DYER ST
RUSSELL ST
TO
45
SU
44
M
GATEWAY BLVD SOUTH
1743 2408 503A 6077 195
(915) 568-4339 (915) 568-9699 (915) 568-7506 (915) 569-5644 (915) 568-1890 (915) 569-2266 (915) 568-KIDS
S
IN
PK
RD
RS HIN
1334 5035 131 2496 2930 262 1301 503B
(915) 562-4036 (915) 568-7506 (915) 568-1537 (915) 568-7431 (915) 568-7187 (915) 569-3858 (915) 568-3264 (915) 569-5449 (915) 562-5451
1
PE
1733
PX: (915) 562-7200
RUSSELL ST
PIEDRAS ST
ELM ST
COPIA ST
PIEDRAS ST
ELM ST ALABAMA ST
1743 5054 2968 1743 1611
54 CASSIDY GATE
(915) 569-2121 (915) 569-2331 (915) 569-CARE (888) 874-9378 (915) 569-2483 (915) 564-0795 568-2538/2898 (915) 568-3035 (915) 568-1241 (915) 566-1133 (915) 568-7141 (915) 568-7506 (915) 564-5275 (915) 568-6156 (915) 568-7318 (915) 568-2115 2116/2117 (915) 565-8473 (915) 568-4518 (915) 568-7393
PIKE RD
A PH RD
47 48 49 50 51
Military Rent All Old Fort Bliss Museum Omar Bradley Softball Complex Parent Central/CYSS Registration Freedom Crossing Post Exchange, Grand Theatre Third-party Shops Post Office POV Car Resale Lot Recycling Center Replica Aquatic Center ALTURA AVE School-Age Services, Main Soldier and Family Medical Clinic Stout Physical Fitness Center RICHMOND AVE Tennis Club & Fitness Zone Thrift Shop, OCSA Transportation Inbound Transportation Outbound Transportation Unit Funds USO AURORA AVE Vehicle Registration WHEELING Veterinary Services AVE Youth Services
(915) 562-4767 (915) 568-3301 (915) 568-4849 (915) 562-8461 (915) 568-1132 (915) 565-7777 (915) 568-7280 (915) 568-6272 (915) 630-8669 (915) 568-1519 (915) 568-5689 (915) 568-6287 (915) 568-4022 (915) 568-5380 (915) 568-4108 (915) 568-3500 (915) 568-5412 (915) 568-5563 (915) 568-2833
NI
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
2011 500B 45 7060 2494 1744 820 2949 197 112 1730 504B 1717 250 6380 11 1735 820 1 7777 7777 7777 7777 7777 7777
HAAN RD
ARTILLERY RD
DO
31 33 34 35 36
A Little Bit of Bliss Gift Shop Adjutant General American Red Cross Armed Services YMCA Army Community Service Army Lodging Fort Bliss Automotive Skills Center/Auto Crafts Bowling Center/Desert Strike Lanes Car Wash, Scuds & Suds Chaplain Child Development Center, Main Civilian Personnel Office VAN BUREN AVE Commissary Community Pool Defense Military Pay Office MONROE AVE Family and MWR Headquarters Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center Framing Bliss Garrison Command Hospital: WMAMC McKINLEY AVE Information Ambulance Appointments TRICARE Service Center Red Cross Housing On-Post/Balfour Beatty 1991 Off-Post FORT BLVDCenter In-Processing/Welcome Inspector General Kelly Park Legal Assistance Leisure Travel Services (ITR) Mainstreet Expresso Micekelsen Community Library Milam Fitness Center Military Police Station
PIERCE AVE
1991 505 8 NA 113 1734 1310 2 2499 125
Telephone
NG HI RS R PE CI
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Bldg.
BO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
HUMPHREY RD
Organization
RD
ST
FORT BLISS LEGEND No.
21
ALABAMA ST
To Ala m
4
ALABAMA GATE
VICTORY AV
RD
LOUSIANA
20
ER
N GO LI RD L N E cK YO M AN C
SLICER A
FRED WILSON GATE
ALABA
R
AND MWR FACILITIES Bridge to East Fort Bliss/Biggs Army Airfield
FRED WILSON RD
6
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
17 37
36
HAAN RD
HINMAN RD
PLEASONTON RD
11
PIKE RD
FOUNDERS BLVD RD
13
SHANNON VAN VALZAH RD
CARRINGTON
MARSHALL RD
21
EARL H. BRUNS RD
CHAFFEE RD
AVE
CHAFFEE GATE
AIRPORT RD
31 35 47 26
JEB STUART RD
AVE
STENNIS ST
39 38
43
CASSIDY
29 PLEASONTON RD
42
N
A
M
AM
ER
RD
5
R
KE
C
CR
RD
CARTER RD
CARTER RD
8
MERRITT RD TAYLOR ST
22
50
El Paso International Airport
PERSHING RD
AIRPORT RD
2 12 49 46
34
33
RD
SHERIDAN RD
HOOD RD
BOEING DR
STONEMAN RD
HUGHEY GE
ST
IM ON GER ST
JEB STUART SOUTH
ID
D GRU ST MA
BR
AIRWAY BLVD
SCALES RD
FORSYTH RD
CHASE RD
PL
MORGAN AVE
RD TON ON EAS
HOWZE ST
ROBERT E. LEE GATE
ROBERT E. LEE RD
AIRWAY BLVD
TR OW
IR DR CONVA
DICKMAN RD
JEB STUART RD
DUDLEY ST
40
ASHBURN ST
LEIGH FISHER BLVD
15
JEB STUART RD
AN
WILLARD HOLDBROOK RD
IN
CHAFFEE RD
RI
UMNER RD
REMAGEN GATE
48 H
18 7
BUTTERFIELD TRAIL BLVD
YAQUI WY
A AVE
N MONTA
62 180
To L
ubbock
EAST FORT BLISS EAST FORT BLISS LEGEND No.
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9
10 11
Organization
AAFES Mini Mall Biggs Gym Biggs Park Biggs Shoppette Cenntennial Club Catering Dining Room Habanero Java Cafe Primo’s Express Takeout Orders Metro Bingo Bar Ironworks Gym Milam School Age Center Milam Youth Activity Center Soto Physical Fitness Facility BOSS Headquarters Leisure Travel Services Outdoor Recreation Unit Funds USO/FirstLight Federal Credit Union USO FirstLight Federal Credit Union U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy AAFES SMA Bookstore
Bldg.
Telephone
13471 11251 11388 11284 11199
(915) 566-5479 (915) 744-8730 (915) 744-8087 (915) 562-8442 (915) 744-9330 (915) 562-5969
T20700 11898 10960 20751
20727 11291
(915) 744-9600 (915) 744-8427 (915) 744-8697 (915) 744-2274 (915) 744-2278 (915) 744-5788
(915) 744-3480 (800) 351-1670 (915) 744-8009 (915) 562-5645
FOUNDERS
WENDOVER
SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD
3
LUKE
7
CHANUTES
11
LUKE
SHORT
4
SGT E CHURCHILL
SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD
BIGGS
MSG R MILLER
SGT C THOMAS
5
SGT MARKLE
BARKSDALE
LUKE
MSG R MILLER
AIRPORT ROAD
BIGGS GATE
DUNCAN
RANDOLPH
SGT MARKLE
SSG SIMS
2
SCOTT
BOLLING
CSM E. SLEWITZE
PETERSON
WRIGHT
BIGGS ARMY AIRFIELD
8
ES
SID
D
OL
DR
DR DES NSI IRO
N
OLD
O RN
E W HA
CK BLA
O
TI
N K TA
MINUE DRIVE
GENERAL HARMON GATE
RS
O E
Z
LE SPUR 601
WALTER JONES
GLOBAL REACH GATE
EL PASO, TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MILITARY AREAS
E
RG
El Paso International Airport
RY ER
P
O GE
MILITARY GATES
1 BUILDING LOCATIONS
L
BA
O GL
LOCATIONS WITH WI-FI
AIL TR
AN
IA NIS TU
E-A
AN
V DRI
TU
TI
NS
AD RO
R PE
AD RO
RH
VE
1
IL
RA
KT
AD RO
DE
S
S
KAS
Y WA
P
SA
UN
G ER
E ERIN
R
BE
SA
M
VD BL
TH
T
N
EA
O
AJ
L EAG
CO
IN
S
R
AY LE W
EAG
AY EW
AD
G ER
R
O
AJ
M
VD BL
L PA
T
OR
UE MIN
AY W
L
N
AY IO W
Y WA
Z AN
10
I FV
EA
M RO
S
R IE LD
SO
AY W
O CT
GU
Y WA
A
9
RY
LF V
GU
CH BA NS
CH BA
S AN
RM SHE
N
O
AY YW OR T C I
NK TA WK HA CK VE BLA DRI UE MIN
IKE STR
OR
O IR
LD
R
ARM
S
DR
D
ES
ID
N
O IR
N IRO
H AC RE
family and mwrdirectory
ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE
Bldg. 2494, Ricker Road
(915) 568-1132/7088
SOTO PFC
Bldg. 20751, Constitution Avenue, East Fort Bliss
(915) 744-5788
STOUT PFC
Bldg. 2930, Cassidy Road
(915) 568-3264
MILAM PFC
Bldg. 2499, Cassidy Road
(915) 568-7318/7518
LOGAN HEIGHTS PFC
Bldg. 4797, Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights
(915) 568-5198
BIG ED’S GYM
Bldg. 2, Basement, Sheridan Road
(915) 568-4508
BIGGS PFC
Bldg. 11251, Biggs Street, East Bliss
(915) 744-8730
IRONWORKS GYM
Bldg. T20700, Sergeant Major Boulevard, East Fort Bliss
(915) 744-8697
TENNIS CLUB & FITNESS ZONE
Bldg. 262, Club Road
(915) 569-5449
COMMUNITY POOL
Bldg. 250, Club Road
(915) 568-4825
REPLICA AQUATIC CENTER
Bldg. 5035, Dickman Road
(915) 568-7431/5380
CENTENNIAL CLUB
Bldg. 11199, Sergeant Major Boulevard, East Fort Bliss
(915) 744-9330/8427
UNDERWOOD GOLF COMPLEX & GOLDEN TEE
Bldg. 3191, Coe Avenue, Logan Heights
(915) 562-1273/2066
DESERT STRIKE LANES
Bldg. 2949, Ricker Road
(915) 568-6272/1685
FORT BLISS ROD & GUN CLUB
Bldg. 3730, Railroad Drive & Deer Street, Northeast El Paso (915) 565-4867/568-2983
BIGGS PARK
Bldg. 11388, Sergeant Major Boulevard, East Fort Bliss
(915) 744-8087
MICKELSEN LIBRARY
Bldg. 2, E-Wing, Basement, Pershing Circle
(915) 568-6156/1491
RV PARK
Bldg. 4130, Ellerthorpe Road
(915) 568-0106
FRAMING BLISS
Bldg. 820, Marshall Road
(915) 568-5563
AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS CENTER
Bldg. 820, Marshall Road
(915) 568-7280
LEISURE TRAVEL SERVICES-MAIN
Bldg. 1743, Victory Road
(915) 568-7506
LEISURE TRAVEL SERVICES-PX KIOSK
Bldg. 1611, Main Post Exchange, Marshall Road
(915) 569-6446
OLD FORT BLISS MUSEUM
Bldg. 5054, Pershing Road & Pleasonton Road
(915) 568-4518
GYMS & FITNESS FACILITIES
FOOD, LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT
CHILD, YOUTH & SCHOOL SERVICES FACILITIES CYSS PARENT CENTRAL
Bldg. 1743, Victory Avenue
(915) 568-4374/569-5039
CYSS PARENT CENTRAL SATELLITE OFFICE
Bldg. 503B, Pershing Road
(915) 568-2146
CDC-MAIN
Bldg. 1730, Pleasonton Road
(915) 568-5689/6335
CDC-LOGAN
Bldg. 3500, Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights
(915) 568-3989/4887
CDC-LOGAN ANNEX
Bldg. 3503, Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights
(915) 569-8918
SAC-BLISS
Bldg. 11898, Sheridan Road
(915) 568-2178
SAC-LOGAN
Bldg. 3505, Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights
(915) 569-5784
SAC-MILAM
Bldg. 11898, Hann Road, East Fort Bliss
YOUTHPLEX
Bldg. 195, Chaffee Road
(915) 568-5437/1568
MILAM YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER
Bldg. 10960, Haan Road, East Fort Bliss
(915) 744-2278
SKIESUnlimited - Main
Bldg. 3508, Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights
(915) 569-7732
SKIESUnlimited - Gymnastic CENTER
Bldg. 131, Doniphan Road
(915) 568-5544
FAMILY CHILD CARE (FCC)
Bldg. 1730, Victory Road
(915) 568-4198
SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER
Bldg. 503B, Pershing Road
(915) 569-5064/568-6549
Bldg. 1744, Victory Road
(915) 565-7777
ARMY LODGING ARMY LODGING
MORE FAMILY AND MWR PHONE NUMBERS DFMWR HEADQUARTERS
Bldg. 11, 2nd Floor, Pershing Road
(915) 568-3500
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS & SOLICITATION
Bldg. 11, 2nd Floor, Pershing Road
(915) 568-4444
UNIT FUNDS
Bldg. 1743, Victory Road
(915) 568-7506
VET SERVICES
Bldg. 6077, Carter Road
(915) 569-2266
SCUDS & SUDS CAR WASH
Bldg. 197, Doniphan Road
(915) 630-8669
LOCK N’ LEAVE
Bldg. 5016, Room 111, Dickman Road
(915) 566-8321
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID EL PASO, TX PERMIT #296
MWR Marketing Bldg 11, Pershing Rd. Fort Bliss, TX 79916
No credit?
...NO PROBLEM
M I L I T A R Y T U R N K E Y A U T O P R O G R A M
An option for military service personnel with little or no credit, M-TAP is the key to the auto loan you have been looking for! M-TAP offers you: Rate reduction incentives for making your payments on time* Specialized terms and rates for military service personnel Flexible qualifications with you in mind Tailored loan guidelines Free car buy/credit classes available Stop by any of our branches on post, or call us today for more information
“It’s a great day to be a soldier’s credit union”
TM
Marshall 1741 Marshall Rd., Fort Bliss, 79906 William Beaumont 500 N. Piedras, Fort Bliss, 79920
Newest Location! East Fort Bliss 20727 Constitution Ave., Fort Bliss, 79918
www.military.firstlightfcu.org * Certain restrictions apply. Please speak to one of our member service representatives for more information.