I can’t tell yet by looking outside but it sure helps my mood to know that the days are getting longer. Spring will be here before we know it. Now is the time to make vacation plans for spring; start looking at those seed catalogs you got in the mail and plan your garden, and have your lawn mowers serviced so they’re ready to go when you need them…just to name a few pre-spring activities. In the meantime - while we are all waiting for those warmer days, we need to find a way to fill our time on the cold blustery ones. First – if it snows and you don’t have to get out on the roads, stay at home. If you can’t stay home, please use caution while out. One of the worst places I find when it snows is parking lots. Be extra cautious so you don’t take a fall. Maybe you have a hobby you enjoy. It could be reading, crafting, cooking, estate shopping, or anything that interests you. I would love to hear about your leisure pastimes. Drop me an email with a picture or two and a couple of lines about your hobby. You might see it in a future issue. Have a safe winter and I’ll see you again come springtime! Editor CynDe Clack
CynDe Clack, Editor cynthia.k.clack.naf@mail.mil (270) 461-0274
Contributors Jackie Ahlers Mignon Deason Ted Faulkner Tammy L. King James Moore Arica Urena
Inside this issue 3
It Has to Come From Your Heart Meet Col (Ret) Thomas M. Henry.
Publisher Creative ink Creative Director Sears Hallett
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Photography CynDe Clack Jenelle Grewell
Retiree Services What is TRICARE For Life? Supplemental health coverage.
Advertising Nichole Irmer 209-781-6492 nichole@creativeinktn.com
Shutterstock
Notable Veterans
Spotlight on MWR Retired? Visit the Library What R. F. Sink Library has to offer.
pgs 6, 13, 14, 15, 18
12 AUSA Association of the United States Army What can AUSA do for you?
13 On the Homefront The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club (FCSC) Needs You! Retiree Spouses are a big part of FCSC.
16 In the Know Disclaimers: Fort Campbell’s MWR Life Magazine is a monthly magazine produced by the Fort Campbell MWR Marketing Department under the authority of AR 215-1. Facilities and activities publicized are open to authorized patrons.The mention or appearance of commercial advertisers, commercial sponsors and/or their logos does not constitute endorsement by the Federal Government. The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject to change. MWR Marketing is located at 5663 Screaming Eagle Blvd, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. For more information, call 270-798-7535 or log on to www.campbell.armymwr.com. 24 hr. event line - 270-798-3172 www.facebook.com/fortcampbellmwr
Income Tax Fraud Protect yourself from identity theft.
17 Off the Beaten Path Make Time to Travel This Spring MWR Leisure Travel can help plan your trip.
Read our blog at www.fortcampbellmwrlife.com. You'll find blogs of interest and blogs for information and sometimes - blogs just for fun.
Notable Veterans
It Has to Come From Your Heart By CynDe Clack
I didn’t plan to find someone I wanted to write an article about while I was on vacation, but that’s exactly what happened. My Retiree husband, our granddaughter, and I were staying at Island Seas Resort on Grand Bahama Island when we spoke with one of the most interesting people I have ever had the good fortune to meet. He had on a ball cap with the word Army embroidered on it, a Special Forces tab sewn on it over the word Army and other unit items sewn on around the rest of the cap. My husband asked him which “Group” he was in and he replied, “all of them.” At our look of confusion, he went on to explain that he was one of the first Green Berets. He told us that he had also been inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame earlier in 2015. You are probably wondering who we met. We met COL (Ret) Thomas M. Henry. He spent some time here at Fort Campbell so I thought I would include him in this issue of the MWR Life for Retirees magazine. It took me a couple of days to work up the nerve to ask him for an interview but when I did, he didn’t think twice. He immediately agreed to an interview and we set up a time for that afternoon. We met at Coconuts, which is an outdoor bar/restaurant next to the swimming pool. When COL Tom saw that I wanted to record the interview he suggested that we move somewhere quieter and that’s how we ended up under a shelter near the ocean. I can hear the ocean waves when I play back the interview on my recorder!
I had a list of questions to ask him and was a little worried about making sure I got enough information and details for a good article. I shouldn’t have worried! When we were settled, he started out with, “I’ll give you my background before I start really talking” and then he talked for two hours. It was amazing! His history and memories, his knowledge of warfare and the differences we face today from what he faced when he started out in WWII, his understanding of world politics…he is as sharp today as most people half his age.
There are many military writers out there that can chronicle COL Tom’s military history much better than I can, so I’m going to try and stick to a more personal view. COL Tom talked about his childhood. He was born on November 14, 1926 in Shelby County, Texas (East Texas). His father had a general store with two pumps where he would pump gasoline and sell groceries. They lived on a farm and Tom worked for the farmer. He said he “picked cotton, chopped cotton, and did everything you had to do in the horrible cotton fields.” He said it was “the most toiling hard work there is – particularly in East Texas where the humidity is 90% and it’s 100 degrees. I swore I would never get in a cotton field again in my life, so I joined the Army for 32 years. That beats the cotton fields,” and he chuckled a little. Tom started out as an enlisted Soldier for 14 months during WWII. Afterward, he stayed in the Reserves, where he got a direct commission as a 2LT while he was still in school at the University of Texas. He was recalled to active duty for the Korean War and he was in Korea for 14 months where he decided to become a permanent member of the military. He stayed for 32 more years. During his years in the military, he went through many schools, including parachute school, Special Forces school, and an abbreviated SEALS. He went through Ranger school in 1958. He told me “the Rangers and the Green Berets are two of the toughest schools in the Army. I’m a graduate of all of the schools,
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including Airborne – so I know what toughness is. I was one of the first. I went through the school and then I was an instructor.” My husband and I were mesmerized as COL Tom talked. He talked about his two tours in Vietnam and receiving two Bronze Stars; about being the Special Warfare Officer at McDill Air Force Base; and about being in the Honor Guard for President Truman’s funeral. He shared a story about the time there was an assassination attempt on him, and how a dent in the corner of his briefcase saved his life. He paused and said, “I’m going to sidetrack a little bit. We were fighting a war in Vietnam. We were fighting – AT - a war in Vietnam. We weren’t doing too good at it.” He said, “we have two kinds of wars. Neither one is good but we have two kinds. One is Conventional War and one is called Unconventional or UW. Now the difference between the two wars is - our Generals love Conventional Wars because we can use all our big guns, our field artillery, our special airplanes, drones, and all that electronic crap. They love to play with those things instead of Soldiers. In an Unconventional War you’ve got to play with the Soldiers. They didn’t understand that. They finally decided to create some forces that would do nothing but train to fight Unconventional Wars and that’s the Rangers, Special Forces, and Airborne Paratroopers. So I went to school for all that and taught in those schools. I became in my mind, and in some Generals’ minds I guess, an expert in Unconventional Warfare. I wrote some of the books so I guess I did know more about it than most people.” COL Tom Henry shared, “when I formed Delta Force, the Navy formed this thing called SEALs and the Air Force formed the Air Commandos. So all the units started to get involved.”
www.campbell.armymwr.com
“They pulled all the Special Operations people together under one command. We called it Special Operations. They came under a new command at McDill Air Force Base called Special Operations Command. “ “By doing that, I think I accomplished something for the United States Army in my 32 years. By doing that, that’s the reason they gave me this cotton picking thing (indicates the Ranger Hall of Fame medal around his neck) because I got the Rangers into Special Ops.” COL Henry retired from the Army in 1978, but he wasn’t ready to sit back and do nothing. He decided to go into politics where he worked with Congressman Al McCandless as his campaign manager. For 28 years, he chaired a committee to select young men and women from high schools to go to one of the military academies. He joined a local veteran’s organization where he lives and helped create a walk of stars for the local veterans. Even now, he spends a lot of time on the road, traveling from meeting, to conference to ceremonies. I asked him what he felt his greatest military accomplishment was. He told me “getting Special Operations recognized in the military as a legitimate reason to have a special force to do certain things that nobody else is going to do right. My greatest accomplishment is putting focus on where the war is going to be not where it’s been.” In closing, I asked him what advice he would give a new Soldier today. He said, “I’d ask them first of all - what’s your goal in life? Do you want to be in regular Army until you retire or just do 4 or 5 years? It has to come from your heart.”
GEN (Ret) Stanley McChrystal with COL (Ret) Tom Henry at the 2015 Rangers Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
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What is TRICARE For Life?
Retiree Services
by Ted Faulkner
Not to date myself (I feel old enough as it is), but do you remember CHAMPUS, the old version of military health care? If you do, you are probably nearing the point where you will qualify for one of the best health care plans that exist today. When military Retirees reach the age of 65, or if they’re under 65 and have a disability (and have received Social Security Disability payments or Railroad Retirement benefits for 24 months) they are eligible for what is commonly referred to as “Tricare For Life” (TFL). TFL is Medicare wraparound coverage for Tricare-eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and B. TFL is actually a combination of two different healthcare systems, Medicare and Tricare. In order to qualify for TFL, Retirees must enroll in BOTH Medicare Part A and Part B, usually three months prior to their 65th birthday. Part A covers in-patient, skilled nursing, and hospitalization and Part B covers out-patient services. Part A does not cost anything if you paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B, on the other hand, does have a cost that is automatically deducted (in 2015, the cost was about $105) from Social Security payments (or paid directly, if the Retiree is still working and does not draw Social Security payments). Tricare For Life is provided at no cost to the Retiree in most situations (for care received overseas - contact a Health Benefits Advisor for more information). What does this really mean? Retirees will have exceptional health care when covered by Tricare For Life, at a reasonable cost. So who covers what? TFL covers most ailments and injuries (medically necessary and proven) and the Retiree can choose any doctor or specialist (who takes Medicare), although you will probably need a referral from your doctor to see a specialist. For services covered by both Medicare and Tricare, Medicare pays first and Tricare For Life pays your remaining coinsurance for Tricare covered services. For services covered by Tricare but not by Medicare, Tricare For Life pays first and Medicare pays nothing. You
pay the Tricare annual deductible and cost shares. For services covered by Medicare but not by Tricare, Medicare pays first and Tricare For Life pays nothing. You pay the Medicare deductible and coinsurance. For services not covered by Medicare or Tricare, Medicare and Tricare pay nothing and you pay the entire bill. As long as Medicare and Tricare For Life both cover the treatment, you should not have any out of pocket costs. But what about buying a supplemental health care plan? Buying a supplemental health care plan may have made sense when you were covered by Tricare Standard, before you became Medicare eligible, because Tricare had a $3000 annual maximum for out of pocket costs. Now that you are covered by TFL, there is no good reason to have a supplemental health care plan. Tricare For Life is your supplemental plan. You may have to pay a co-pay if you receive medications from a retail pharmacy or from the Tricare Mail Order Pharmacy. Doctors who accept Medicare will file paperwork with Medicare for you. Medicare pays its portion and sends the claim to the Tricare For Life claims processor. Tricare For Life then pays the provider directly for Tricare covered services. To enroll, you must do the following: three months or so from your 65th birthday, go the local Social Security office and enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. A week or two prior to your 65th birthday, go to your local military ID card issuing facility, present to them your brand new Medicare Card (that was mailed to you) and have them change your status in the system and issue you a new ID card (this will be your last ID card - your permanent ID card). Lastly, call Tricare to let them know of the change. That's it. Simple, right? You will now have what is arguably the best health care available (of course it would be better if you didn’t have to pay for it). If you have any questions regarding TFL, how to enroll or what to expect, please call your Retirement Services Officer at (270) 798-5280/3310 or (270) 956-3819 or a Health Benefits Advisor at (270) 798-8377.
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Spotlight on MWR
Retired? Visit the Library! by James Moore
There’s a world of opportunities awaiting Retirees at Fort Campbell’s Robert F. Sink Memorial Library. Located on Screaming Eagle Boulevard, the facility has been meeting the recreational reading and information needs of the community since it opened in 1966. The staff provide a variety of services to promote lifelong learning. It’s never too late to try something new or to start again on a project that was interrupted in the past. The same Retiree ID card that gets you on post will open the door to a host of new experiences. Just present your ID card at the circulation desk, and the staff will set up your account. Internet-challenged? Start with the computer lab in the reference room. This recently-renovated facility provides forty computers for public use and four scanners at no charge. Staff are ready to teach users the basic steps of how to navigate the Internet and how to use a computer. Here you can investigate news stories, take continuing education courses, visit Ancestry.com and look at Facebook. The Army subscribes to a number of databases that can be viewed online. For example, Kentucky Virtual Library provides access to several hundred sites enabling you to search articles from newspapers and journals. This service is available to registered library users and may be accessed from home. Once a library account has been established, call 270-798-5729 or 7466 to verify the account and to get the KYVL password. Gale Databases and OCLC FirstSearch are great resources for term papers. Tutor.com provides an expert tutor whenever you need help. You can work online with a tutor who can help in the following areas: algebra, geometry, statistics, grammar, chemistry, physics, social studies, literature and more. Mango is a language-learning database offering over seventy languages. If you’re taking online courses, the reference staff provide free proctoring service
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for taking exams. Also, the reference department provides free fax service if you need to send legal or financial records somewhere. General fiction and non-fiction titles in Ebook format can be downloaded from OverDrive or OneClick Digital. Safari offers technical and business selections. The facility provides wifi capability, which can be accessed from anywhere in the building. Patrons are welcome to bring their own devices and to log onto the net. Of course, Sink Library is the home of the book. The facility holds over 80,000 volumes in its collection. Most can be checked out for twenty-eight days and then renewed for another twenty-eight if needed. Renewing is easy and can be done in person, over the phone or online with an account. The online catalog can be checked from home by logging into: mylibraryus.armybiznet.com/search~S21. Hundreds of new books are added to the collection each month. They are displayed in the center of the entrance lobby. These include all of the latest titles from the New York Times Best Sellers List. Once you establish an account, you can reserve items that are checked out or on order. Looking for a title we don’t hold in our collection? Not a problem. Sink Library provides an extensive interlibrary loan service where we borrow books and other materials from libraries across the country. Please remember that these facilities are lending their items to us. Consequently, they set the terms of how long we may keep their materials and how they can be used. Chrys O’Brien handles interlibrary loan and may be reached at 270-956-3350. In addition, Sink Library stocks Blu-ray, DVDs and music CDs that circulate for two weeks. Going on a long drive? Sink Library has a vast collection of books-on-CD that check-out for twenty-eight days. A range of magazines and newspapers are available for use in-house and can be
enjoyed in our comfortable recliners. Want to meet other book lovers? Brunch and a Book is a book discussion group that meets at noon on the third Tuesday of each month. Programs include discussions with local authors or reading about an assigned theme. Lunch is provided for the attendees. Brunch and a Book provides the opportunity to meet authors face-to-face and to connect with interesting people from around the community. For more information on upcoming Brunch and a Book meetings, call the library director’s office at 270-798-1217. Are you looking for a way to entertain the grandkids or other young people in your life? Come on over to Sink Library. Teaching children to love books and to get excited about reading has always been central to the Library’s mission. It’s no surprise that the staff offers plenty of kid-friendly activities throughout the year. Every Thursday there are two story hours for preschoolers at 10:30 and 1:30. Story Hour is followed immediately by Children’s Craft Time. Library Technician Dee Bonnell helps young patrons with their special craft projects. Throughout the year, rotating staff members and Miss Dee present story times and provide activities to celebrate holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Baby and Me Lapsit is designed for Sink Library’s youngest patrons. Geared for little ones ranging from infant to two years, this program promotes early literacy. The program runs for around twenty minutes and is filled with short books, songs, action rhymes and more. Some stories and rhymes are repeated each week while others are introduced gradually. Our resident grandma Heike Sadler sits on the floor with the children and adults. Children remain in their caregiver’s lap and interact with them during the event. After the program, the children are encouraged to play while the adults have some interaction of their own. Sink Scholars is designed for elementary-aged children. This activity features STEM activities and meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm. For information about these events, please call Jackie Downs at 270-956-3344. In June and July, the Sink staff offers the Summer Reading Program for six weeks. Open to kids who are beginning kindergarten through beginning fourth grade, the program emphasizes reading and prizes. The series culminates in a giant pizza party. The primary emphasis is on fun. James Moore, Library Director says “We believe that if you get a child hooked on reading early, he or she will be a library user for life.” Finally, volunteers are always needed at Sink Library. Picking up behind active children and keeping the shelves in order is a full-time job. Staff members welcome a helping hand in these areas along with helping with the various children’s programs and special events. All volunteers must be registered with the Red Cross Volunteer Coordinator at 270-798-2171. Afterwards, they should call the library director’s office to set up an appointment and to discuss opportunities to help out and to serve the community. One thing is certain, it’s never boring at the post library. The Robert F. Sink Memorial Library is open seven days a week: Friday through Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The facility is closed only on Federal holidays. For information on operating hours, services or programs, call (270) 798-5729 or (270) 798-7466. Remember “Information is our business!”
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1. 101st Airborne Division Headquarters 2. 19th Hole (Cole Park) Director 3. Army Community Service (ACS) & ACS Dir ector 4. Army Education Center Center,, Guenette 5. Arts and Crafts Center Center,, Air Assault Auto 8. Auto Service Center Program 9. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers Pr ogram (BOSS) 10. Blanchfield Army Community Hospital 11. Bowling Center Center,, Hooper 12. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center 13. Commissary 2. Cole Park Commons ent Central Services (Central Registration) 30. CYSS, Par Parent 54. CYSS, School Liaison 38. CYSS, SKIESUnlimited Center 14. Dog Kennels 17. Dawg Haus (Dining) 5. Engraving Etc. Wellness 18. Estep W ellness Center (Gear-to-Go) 19. Equipment Rental (Gear-to-Go) 20. Exchange/Food Court/Mall Resource Center (FRC) 21. Family Resource Emergency Relief) 3. Financial Readiness (Army Emergency Office 23. Fryar Stadium, Sports Admin Office 2. Golf Course (Cole Park) Recreation Facility) 15. Joe Swing (Rental Recreation Leisure Travel Travel Services 20. Leisure
(270)798-9793 (270)798-4610x306 (270)798-9322 (270)798-3201 (270)798-6693 (270)956-1101/1100 (270)798-7858 (270)798-8055 (270)798-5887 (270)798-7161 (270)798-3663 (270)798-4610x319 (270)798-0674
26. Library, R.F F.. Sink Memorial Library, R.F. 27. MWR Director Director 28. Museum, Don F. F. Pratt 29. Outdoor Recreation Recreation Main Building 47. PFC, Frank R. Fratellenico 48 PFC, John G. Gertsch 49. PFC, Carlos J. Lozada 50. PFC, Milton L. Olive 51. PFC, Leslie H. Sabo 52. PFC, Eric B. Shaw 53. PFC, Clarksville Base 31. Pool, Joseph Baldonado 32. Pool, William Dolan (270)798-9874 Lawrence Gardner Gardner (Indoor) 33. Pool, Lawrence (270)412-5811 34. Pool, James Single (270)798-5590 Recreation Center, Center, Dale Wayrynen Wayrynen 9. Recreation (270)798-0766 Boarding Only) 14. Riding Stables (Private Boarding (270)798-0171 (SFAC) 39. Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) (270)798-4664/4023 2. Restaurant (Cole Park) (270)798-6806 41. Smokehaus (Dining) (270)439-1841 Teen/Middle School Center (T aylor Y outh) 42. Teen/Middle (Taylor Youth) (270)956-2935 43. The Zone (270)798-5518 44. Tricare Tricare (270)798-3094 45. Veterinary Veterinary Services (270)798-4906 46. Wilson Theater (270)798-4610x319 42. Youth Youth Center (T aylor) (Taylor) (270)798-7436 Youth Sports 42. Youth
(270)798-5729 (270)798-9953 (270)798-3215/4986 (270)798-2175 (270)798-9418 (270)798-2753 (270)798-5830 (270)798-4101 (270)798-7355 (270)461-2294 (270)412-5285 (270)798-5207 (270)798-5350 (270)798-6310 (270)798-4247 (270)798-7391 (270)798-2629 (270)412-6000 (270)798-4610x319 (270)798-4993 (270)956-1033 (270)461-0603 1-877-874-2273 (270) 798-3614 (270) 798-6857 (270)798-3643 (270)798-6355
AUSA
Association of the United States Army By Arica Urena
Since its inception in 1950, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) has worked effortlessly to support all of the critical components of national security while also advancing the interests of America’s Army and the men and women who proudly serve. Some of these interests and issues have include advocating for military and Civilian pay increases, funding for Traumatic Brain Injury research, the expansion of spousal and Family member employment opportunities, U.S. Army sustainment, defense readiness, force modernization, and retention of a defined benefit retirement system. Individuals choose to join AUSA for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is to serve as a voice for the U.S. Army. Without this voice, the creation and implementation of some of the U.S. Army’s most critical programs would not have come to fruition. Your voice is desperately needed to assist in order to provide valuable feedback to those on Capitol Hill and to serve as an advocate of the U.S. Army. For example, one of AUSA’s Priority Resolutions for 2016 is for Congress and the President to collaborate on a deal that would eliminate the threat of budgetary caps and as well as potential sequestration cuts. AUSA offers its members several professional development opportunities that are provided during variety of gatherings such as the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. AUSA’s commitment to professional development includes seminars and special presentations on the Global War on Terrorism, the Army’s Transformation to the Future Force, LandWarNet, Expeditionary Logistics, Actionable Intelligence and other critical issues that are affecting the nation’s Army. In 2012, I personally had the pleasure of participating the “AUSA experience” while attending the 2012 AUSA Annual Meeting. Prior to my arrival, I was under the impression that the main focus of the AUSA Annual Meeting was for contractors to display the latest in warfare technology. I must say that I was sadly mistaken. It was not until I attended the Family Readiness Symposium that I fully understood that AUSA consisted of a variety of components that aided in supporting the readiness of the force. During the symposium, I had the opportunity to learn about new Family program initiatives as well as a variety of other Family programs that I was completely unaware existed. It is important to understand that the readiness of the force does not only consist of acquiring the latest technological advances in warfare, but it also consists of having programs that support all elements of the U.S. Army. www.campbell.armymwr.com
This support will aid in solidifying this nation’s Army as a leading fighting force, which further assists in protecting this nation’s security. One of the lessons learned that I was able to take from my AUSA experience was that there was a sense of camaraderie among all of the attendees. All of the participants of the AUSA Annual Conference were united for one sole purpose: to strengthen our nation’s Army. This is what makes AUSA such a wonderful organization. The organization has a vested interest in the U.S. Army and are truly living their vision: to serve “as the premier voice for America’s Soldiers, we are a dedicated team committed to building the best professional and representative association for the world's best Army.”
There is an interesting fact that I was not even aware of - AUSA is that the organization is open to all Armed Forces components and ranks including active duty Soldiers, National Guard, Army Reserve, government Civilians, Retirees, Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Family members, and to any individual who has a vested interest in the welfare of the United States Army. Currently there are a total of 120 active chapters that span across the globe. Members have the opportunity to connect with an array of like-minded individuals whose primary interest is in the welfare of the Army. For those who have retired from the Army, AUSA offers you a way to be able to actively support the Army on a daily basis. Remember, this is YOUR Army and your voice is desperately desired. Supporters of AUSA who are interested in becoming members, are encouraged to sign up today by visiting AUSA’s website at www.ausa.org. If you are interested in becoming involved with a local chapter, you are in luck. The Fort Campbell Chapter is located at 7130A Hedgerow Court and can be reached via email at: fortcampbellausa@outlook.com or at: facebook.com/fortcampbellausa.
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On the Homefront Jackie’s Impact This issue of MWR Life for Retirees is a bit different. A bit sadder. Jackie Ahlers passed away December 16, 2015. If you happen to read the byline of the article below, you will see Jackie’s name. Her passing was and still is a shock to so many that knew her. I met Jackie a few years ago at the Family Resource Center. I don’t remember what I was laughing about, but someone poked their head out of the conference room and called her name. When I replied with my name, the person said my laugh sounded so much like hers, that we must meet. Not an unusual way to meet, but what an impression she made on me. We would run into each other about once a month over the last couple of years, and it never felt as if any time had passed. Jackie remembered the names of my daughters (after I mentioned them once), that I have three dogs and a newly acquired kitten, among the other things that small talk includes. Her smile and laugh were infectious,
I couldn’t see her (or hear her!) without breaking into an ear-to-ear grin. Never one to brag about her accomplishments or activities, she always turned the conversation back to whomever she was speaking with. I knew Jackie was actively involved with Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club, Army Family Team Building, Patriot Guard Riders and her church. What I didn’t know was the vast impact she had in each of these organizations, and many more. I suppose I should have realized it, but we all know that saying about hindsight being 20/20… Reading her Facebook page, it’s clear to see how loved Jackie is, even a month after her death. And knowing she is loved, helps all that knew her heal a bit more every day. I’d like to encourage you, as a reader, to share how Jackie impacted you. Please share your comments on our blog, www.fortcampbellmwrlife.com. Tara Goodson
The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club (FCSC) Needs You! By Jackie Ahlers
As a fellow Retiree Spouse, I share in many of the enriching experiences our life in the military has afforded us. You are husbands and wives whose Spouse answered the call to serve this country. You’ve developed many skills living the life of a military Spouse. You understand how different military life is and we need you! We need your knowledge, your ability to mentor, your resilience and most of all, we need your work ethic! You know how to get things done and you know how to motivate others to do it. You understand the importance of community involvement, you are able to coordinate efficient and effective changes and identify unique outreach opportunities. It’s because of these personal experiences that we strive to make a difference, and appreciate the partnerships we've created. Now that we have reached retirement, we may wonder if there is a way to stay connected to the Families we served, for so long. The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club needs you! We invite you to share your unique gifts with Spouses who are just beginning their journey. Today’s Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club members are volunteering in the same
Visit the website at www.fortcampbellspousesclub.com for up-to-date information on club happenings, plus contact information for any of our activities and events.
programs we did! Like we did, they serve our military community through involvement in Family Readiness Groups, teaching Army Family Team Building classes, and volunteering in scout programs, youth sports or in church ministries. They are just beginning to develop a lifetime of skills that we have spent a lifetime perfecting. We enjoy many more similarities than differences and our experiences become opportunities we can use to guide the next generation of military Spouses.
The FCSC welcomes Spouses of military personnel from all branches of service, active duty or retired, regardless of rank, as well as Department of the Army Civilian Spouses residing in and around the Fort Campbell area. If you still call Fort Campbell or the surrounding community home, then this includes you! FCSC is a non-profit, social, charitable, and educational organization. We raise funds throughout the year in order to help improve the lives of Soldiers and Families (both active duty and retired) in and around the Fort Campbell area. All money raised is used for welfare requests and to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors and Family members of military personnel who have been accepted into higher education programs. We are coming off of a fantastic year, where we were able to give out $61,000 in scholarships and welfare grants. This year our club’s scholarship and welfare grant goal is set at $65,000.
Have you ever visited our Thrift Shop? Stop by and check it out! We are located at 13-½ Street & Indiana Avenue. Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday and the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We take consignments every day, except Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 1p .m. What does the FCSC Thrift Shop do? We’re a non-profit resale store that collects proceeds through the sales of donated and consigned items. Income generated is distributed throughout our community through the welfare grants and scholarships mentioned above. We always have a desperate need for volunteers! The more volunteers we have, the more money that goes directly into our community! We have many ways to volunteer and not all of them require physical presence at the Thrift Store. So, come on by and see what all we have to offer you. Perhaps you are hosting an event - the Club has items you can rent like candlesticks, hurricane lamps, glasses and all kinds of other “party” helpers. Talk to our Properties Chairperson for additional information!
Last but definitely not least - the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club knows how to have FUN! The FCSC hosts monthly luncheons and events, providing plenty of opportunities for fellowship and friendship. Our Program Chairpersons are busy preparing a line-up of monthly luncheons that will be fun and enjoyable for those in attendance. Take a look at our “Clubs Within a Club” - we have a Golf Club, Quilting Club, Book Club, etc. These clubs allow you to meet others with similar interests to foster friendship and camaraderie, in fact camaraderie is our theme for this year! The Spouses’ Club participates, with our surrounding communities, in events that both Clarksville and Hopkinsville host. If you see us out and about with our bright yellow polos on, come over and say hi!
YOU’VE GIVEN YEARS OF SERVICE. NOW LET US RETURN THE FAVOR. Military retirees save up to 20%.
[RET.]RATE
Created exclusively for military retirees, the [RET.] Rate will save you up to 20% on your next stay at IHG Army Hotels on Fort Campbell or any other IHG Army Hotels location found on 38 additional posts across the nation. IHG Army Hotels on Fort Campbell 82 Texas Avenue Fort Campbell, KY 42223 270.439.2229
IHGArmyHotels.com 877.711.8326
Military Retiree Rate: Identification verifying military retiree status must be presented at the time of check in to receive this rate. Retiree may book multiple rooms under Military Retiree Rate. All rooms booked by retiree must fall within the same time period. Valid only for leisure travel. Not valid for official travel. This rate is not tax exempt. Taxes apply. Rate subject to availability. Š2015 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved. IHG Army Hotels properties are independently owned by Rest Easy, LLC, an affiliate of Lend Lease (US) Public Partnerships, LLC, and operated by an affiliate of IHG. No DOD, US Army or federal government endorsement implied.
Dates subject to change
Income Tax Fraud
In the Know
By Tammy L. King As you ring in the New Year you may begin to think about filing your taxes. For the past few years, there has been a growing trend of income tax fraud. This is a type of identity theft where the thief will use your personal information to file a fraudulent tax return. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there was a new identity theft victim every two seconds in 2014. For victims, the process to fix the problem is frustrating and time consuming. One may ask why someone would steal your personal information to file a tax return. The answer is simple, MONEY. The thief will make fake tax documents that provide a large tax refund which is direct deposited into a fraudulent bank account. The victim will not discover the problem until they go to file the correct tax return, and the IRS rejects the return, stating that a return has already been filed using your (or your Spouse’s) Social Security number. This is when frustration starts as your refund is delayed and you must start the process of reporting the incident, which normally takes months to complete. If you become a victim of any identity theft, you should report it to the police. Contact your bank and credit card companies to request freezes or closes to the accounts. Contact the three national credit reporting organizations (Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion) and contact the Identity Protection Specialized Unit of the IRS (800) 908-4490. You will also want to report the fraud to the Social Security fraud line (800) 269-0271 and to the FTC at www.ftc.gov. Learn how to respond to theft at identitytheft.gov. As you can see there is a lot to do if you become a victim. These are steps you can make part of your daily life that will help protect your identity.
7. Do not email information that contains your personal information without using an encryption password.
1. Review your bank and credit card statements carefully.
Finally, let your tax professional help you correct the situation, if you suspect you have become a victim of income tax fraud.
2. Review each of your three credit reports at least once a year visit annualcreditreport.com to get your free reports. 3. Shred any documents with personal and financial information. 4. File tax return electronically and request direct deposited refunds. 5. Review and respond to all correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service. 6. Use security software on your personal computer.
8. Avoid IRS impersonators – the IRS will not call you with threats of jail. The IRS will also not send you an unsolicited email asking for your personal information.
Off the Beaten Path
Make Time to Travel This Spring By Mignon Deason
Spring is a wonderful time of year. It takes us out of the winter funk and into bright sunny days after our grey and blustery weather. Flowers are blooming, trees are sprouting their leaves, bringing color back into our days. Spring is also the time where we feel more like getting out and about. Travel in the spring time is ideal, as the weather in most places is mild and quite enjoyable. Wondering what to do with your loved ones this spring? How about a trip to Florida? The weather is great for gallivanting through a major theme park or just relaxing at the beach. Major theme parks offer a variety of activities, rides, food and more for all ages and great discounts are available for military. Whether you enjoy Disney World with the little ones in your Family or Universal Orlando, Sea World or Busch Gardens,
central Florida will give you the opportunity to enjoy all these parks and so much more. And bonus - the beaches are just as close! Any Family is sure to find the perfect way to enjoy their quality time and rest and relax together. If the major theme parks and beaches aren’t really your thing, how about a mountain getaway? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only four short driving hours away from Fort Campbell in east Tennessee. Hiking, camping, even luxury cabin rentals are all available. In addition, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer many fun things to do like mini-golf, museums, craft and outlet shopping, and great food. Some of the best pancakes around can be found in eateries in that area. For those with romance in mind, the Caribbean is the place to be. All-Inclusive resorts in many locations throughout the Caribbean Islands offer total pampering and stress free vacations; everything is included for one price. Imagine sitting in a hammock on the beach in Jamaica with a fruity concoction served in a coconut in your hand. Now that is a springtime break any beach lover would enjoy! Let the staff at MWR Leisure Travel help you plan the best vacation, wherever you chose to go. Leisure Travel Services is located conveniently inside the Main Exchange Mall. You can also find them online at www.campbell.armymwr.com. If a staycation is what you need, Gear To Go has the perfect rental items for you. We have campers and boats as well as all types of party equipment and inflatables. You can view our brochures online at www.campbell.armymwr.com, stop by and visit us at 5658 Tennessee Avenue or call (270) 798-3919.