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Your Perfect Car at the Perfect Price
C A R S
Rolling into Fall Fall might be around the corner, but that doesn’t mean we get (or want!) to rest on our laurels here at Fort Campbell. This month our fantastic contributors tackle a variety of topics to include online dating for our single folks, card games for our inner geeks, cooking with our children and several fitness options available to us, no matter our military affiliation. A fire in your home can be devastating! The Fort Campbell Fire Department has an important message on page 14. By following the advice Chief Baylor provides, you can prevent a tragedy. I know I am going to cut Ramon Maisonet’s article and tape it to my monitor at work, my mirror at home and put one in my wallet. Most of my friends and Family know I am a notorious procrastinator. I do tend to work better under pressure, but in a deadline based business, this can cause untold stress on my co-workers and even me. In turn, I do not work out the way I should and fall victim to the excuses Charlene addresses in her article. This month, I will work on both my procrastinating tendencies and making time to fit in a workout. How will you tackle September?
Editors
Tara Goodson and CynDe Clack, Editors mwrlifeeditor@fortcampbellmwr.com
Tara Goodson CynDe Clack
Contributors
Ben Alejandro Carolyn Altman Chief Kevin E. Baylor Charlene Frasher Jenelle Grewell Kelley Kerger Ramon M. Maisonet Keri McPeak Stephanie G. J. Powell Monica Ruggley Joe Wilson
Inside this issue 3
Get Civ Fit Fort Campbell government employee program.
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Cooking with Kids the K.I.S.S. Way Little ones can help out in the kitchen.
7
Affording Graduate Education Finding sources to pay your way.
Publisher
10 What Are You Waiting For?
Creative Director
12 Being a Good Neighbor
Advertising
14 Stand By Your Pan
Creative ink Sears Hallett
931-801-4531 sales@creativeinktn.com
Photography CynDe Clack Jenelle Grewell Paula Hallett Keri McPeak Glenn Pepper Fort Campbell Fire Department Shutterstock pg 7, 10, 12, 20, 24, 25
Fight procrastination today. Are you considerate? Don’t invite the Fort Campbell Fire Department to dinner!
18 Serving Those with Special Needs Exceptional Family Member Program at Fort Campbell.
20 Mix it Up with Fitness Make time for your health.
24 Duel It Out Magic the Gathering.
25 Navigating Online Dating Diving into the relationship pool.
26 Trot for The Troops 2014 ECFT for September takes us to Hopkinsville.
29 Stay Busy with BOSS No need to stay in the barracks this month.
29 That Guy Broke guy.
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.fortcampbellmwr.com. 24hr. event line - 270-798-3172 www.facebook.com/fortcampbellmwr
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Healthy Lifestyles
Get Civ Fit! By Ben Alejandro
Over the past two years Fort Campbell has participated in a fitness initiative called the Civilian On-Duty Wellness and Fitness Program. This is a Department of the Army program designed to promote a healthier lifestyle for all Civilian employees. In the first two years of this program, over three hundred of Fort Campbell’s Civilian workforce have participated in this great opportunity and the numbers are still growing. Recently I was able to interview Duane Soumis and Sharon Shaw about the Civ Fit Program.
Can you give us a brief overview of the Civilian Wellness and Fitness Program? What is it? When did it start? Duane: The Civilian Wellness and Fitness Program has been in place for some time and part of the overall fitness programs provided and supported by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). In August of 2012, Fort Campbell participated as a test site for the purpose of collecting data to build a business case which could facilitate a change, allowing government employees the ability to participate in on-duty fitness programs beyond the authorized six month time period. This initiative was introduced by the Installation Management Command Senior Leader as a renewed approach towards the Army’s Ready and Resilience Campaign. Fort Campbell’s enrollment into the Civilian On-duty Wellness and Fitness Program during the six month test resulted in positive changes for the participants such
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as weight loss, decreased resting heart rates and positive changes in Body Mass Index criteria. Feedback from the participants showed the desire by the workforce to continue their progress in some manner after the test concluded. This resulted in addition of new programs. Sharon: The Civilian Wellness and Fitness Program is a six month fitness program that is available for all DoD Civilians on Fort Campbell. The program is designed so that
the employee can receive one hour for up to three days a week to initiate or maintain their fitness goal. Also, as part of the enrollment of the program there is a pre and post fitness assessment required. What kind of activities or programs do you provide? Duane: We began our efforts with focus on the Performance Triad: Activity, Nutrition and Sleep. These elements are key in optimizing personal health, performance and resilience. As such, we promote activities such as the Civilian On-duty Wellness and Fitness Program which provides employees three hours a week for a six month period to do physical training and education. This portion of the program provides a start to making a lifestyle change by increasing the ability and desire to perform physical activity. Success is measured by the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and
leisure activities, to be healthy, to resist diseases and to meet emergency situations. The success of the On-duty program resulted in two additional programs; a Pedometer Challenge and the President’s Challenge. The Pedometer Challenge was an initiative to encourage employees to make positive lifestyle changes. The Challenge’s goals are a way to receive credit for maintaining physical activity beyond the On-duty fitness program or for beginners that prefer goal driven activities. Participants receive credit for walking, running or performing similar activities. Mileage is tracked throughout the week using pedometers or like devices. Progress is used to obtain Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates of Completion. Mileage progresses from 101 Miles to 501 Miles for Gold recognition. Participants reaching gold status are presented their certificate by the Garrison Commander at a suitable awards event. The President’s Challenge is a motivational program to get people fit, to make them feel better about themselves and to lead active lifestyles. This program is for everyone! The President’s Challenge goals are met by tracking everyday life events though challenges designed to improve activity levels, young or old. It is about choosing to live healthier and finding things you really like to do. Another portion of our program is providing nutritional information at Installation events. Committee members volunteer their time to introduce nutritional products such as zero fat, low calorie snacks and drinks as well as nutritional informational handouts. This has proved quite successful. The efforts are supported by the Nutrition Care Division at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH), as part of the on-going efforts of the Community Health Promotion Council. So, the overall intent of the programs is far reaching. Sharon: MWR provides several types of programs to assist with meeting your
fitness goals during and after your enrollment in the program. Activities consist of fitness classes held at Estep Wellness Center, several of the Physical Fitness Centers, Aquatics, Outdoor Recreation, Hooper Bowling Center, Cole Park Commons Golf Course and the Stables. Within each of these programs or activities, we can fit your need! What makes this program different than others? Duane: I believe the difference comes from the feedback provided by program participants and what they believe would make an impact on other employees. The committee obtained feedback through a health and wellness survey and other surveys completed by participants of the On-duty program and their supervisors. In the vast majority of responses, people want to do better in health and wellness but become frustrated when trying to balance work, life and fitness initiatives. Having their personal feedback allowed us to develop new programs, incentives and informational handouts to provide great alternatives. Alternatives include water aerobics offered at Gardner Indoor Pool, spinning classes or physical activities provided at Estep Wellness Center and the Physical Fitness Centers. Sharon: This program is created specifically for Fort Campbell Civilian employees. As part of the enrollment you receive a free
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pre and post fitness assessment, a cost that would normally be $25 each. Of course, the entire six month program doesn’t cost the participant anything either! We are constantly striving to improve the program by soliciting feedback from the participants. Who can sign up and where can you sign up?
Sharon: You can also enroll by calling (270) 412-7257 and speaking to one of the Certified Fitness Specialists. What are the goals and expectations for this year’s Civilian Wellness and Fitness Program? Duane:
Duane: Government Civilian employees who have not previously participated in the on-duty six month program can obtain the Civilian Wellness and Fitness On-Duty Enrollment Packet on the intranet at the Workforce Development Division site. Once on the site, a folder will be found in WFD Documents. For those not having intranet access, they can contact the Garrison Wellness Coordinator for information at (270) 798-3219. Any Fort Campbell Civilian employee can participate in the Pedometer Challenge or President’s Challenge. Entry into the Pedometer Challenge is as easy as a phone call to the Garrison Wellness Coordinator at (270) 798-3219 or email me at duane.e.soumis.civ@mail.mil. Enrollment into President’s Challenge activities is completed on the internet at: www.presidentschallenge.org. Those enrolling into the President’s Challenge can also join the Fort Campbell Civilian Health Promotion Program Group by inserting Group Number 944600. The advantage of joining the group is networking and sharing progress towards achievements. We are also promoting participation in the 2014 Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour. More information on the Tour can be found at the MWR website, www.fortcampbellmwr.com/ECFT.
Our goal is to have three percent of the Government employees enrolled in the On-duty fitness program and the same in each of the challenges. The Garrison Commander has provided command support for semi-annual enrollment windows to help promote the programs. Additional fitness events will be held throughout the year to enhance the program.
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Cooking with Kids the K.I.S.S. Way
In the Kitchen
By Keri McPeak
How many times have you been in the kitchen and heard, “Can I help?” If you’re like me, you are usually trying to get whatever you’re doing done in a hurry and really don’t have the time or patience to let your kids “help.” As someone who started cooking and helping in the kitchen as young as five, I know the importance of being able to help. Lately, I have tried to make it more of a priority to include my seven year old daughter, Mackinzie, in the kitchen fun. Keeping in mind the Keep It Super Simple (K.I.S.S.) method makes the process easier on both of us by finding simple projects that she can either do all by herself, or with minimal help. The K.I.S.S. method is also applied by using pre-mixed, pre-packaged, or ready-made items. This saves a lot of time! I try to make the process educational when measuring out the ingredients and following the recipes. Here are just a few ideas you can do with your young ones, or if they are older, they can do all on their own. DIY Pizza: Who doesn’t love pizza? To save time, I bought a ready- made dough, pizza sauce in a jar, pre-shredded mozzarella cheese and packaged pepperoni. Feel free to make the dough from scratch or from a
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mix, and add any ingredients you wish, to personalize your pizza. We chose to go the simple route with cheese and pepperoni. To incorporate the educational aspect, I poured the sauce (1 ¾ cup) from the jar into a large measuring cup and told my daughter she needed to take the amount and split it equally between the two pizzas. To kick up the educational influence a bit, I relate the amount of an ingredient to the equivalent in money (i.e. 1 ¾ cup = $ 1.75). This way she can internally visualize the amount of quarters ($ .25 = 1/4 cup) it takes to achieve the needed amount. Other than verbal guidance here and there, Mackinzie was able to build the pizzas all by herself, and once completed I placed them in the oven and baked according to the package directions.
don’t have a mold). Let your child follow the directions on the pudding package, pour the mixed pudding in the molds, and place in the freezer. Ta-da, done! Once pudding is frozen through (in a few hours), run bottom of mold under warm water to help release pops and enjoy. Depending on their age, your child may need help. At our house, Mackinzie is old enough and capable enough to do this one all on her own.
Frozen Pudding Pops: Super easy to make and fun to eat! All you need is a box of your favorite instant pudding, milk, and a Popsicle mold (ice cube trays and tooth picks work great if you Banana Pudding: A southern favorite and another easy one to make. For banana pudding you will need a box of banana or banana crème instant pudding, milk, four to six bananas and a box of vanilla wafers. Children can make the pudding (according to package directions), slice the banana with a butter knife, and then proceed to layer the wafers, bananas and pudding until all ingredients are used. As you can see, the recipes don’t have to be complex or considered gourmet. The point is to include your children in what takes place in the kitchen and use that time to teach them valuable skills they can carry with them into adulthood. Your kids will definitely appreciate it and thank you for it someday.
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Higher Education
Back to School:
Resources for Affording Graduate Education as a Military Spouse By Kelley Kerger When it comes to affording graduate school as a military Spouse, funding opportunities can be much more limited than financial aid for associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs. Military Spouses often do not have access to as many resources as their active duty counterparts. “There’s absolutely nothing available. You’re sort of out of luck,” says Lorrie Houliston, a military Spouse and graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching at Austin Peay State University. In spite of her initial doubt, Houliston was able to find an opportunity to fund her graduate education. Opportunities for scholarships and financial aid do exist. Here are a few resources to begin the search.
speak with a MyCAA career and education counselor to discuss eligibility of licensure programs. Scholarships from the Graduate Institution Hill says the best source of scholarships can often be the prospective graduate school. Do research by looking for scholarships offered for the desired program of study, for non-traditional students, or diversity scholarships.
Pursuing loans needs be done with caution, Price says. “Graduate students can receive a large amount of loans. Be cautious and borrow only what you need. It’s like purchasing a car, we may qualify to purchase a $40,000 car, but we don’t have to get a $40,000 car. Even with a graduate degree, you may not get the salary you thought you would when you first get out.”
Graduate Assistantships Many graduate schools also offer graduate assistantships, which Hill says are a valuable opportunity to pursue. Graduate assistants have an opportunity to work for the intended university while earning financial benefits. Graduate assistantship scholarships often pay a portion of tuition, up to a certain number of credit hours, while offering a financial stipend. Outside Scholarships Students frequently underutilize opportunities to find and apply for outside scholarships. Hill recommends using the Military.com Scholarship Finder as a place to start. Students should pay special attention to any criteria that may make him or her eligible for a scholarship. Explore scholarships offered by Spouse clubs, private organizations such as the Pat Tillman Foundation, or professional associations. Opportunities may exist based on a student’s program of study or career. For example, the Federal TEACH Grant may be pursued by students who wish to teach and have a desire to teach in high need subject areas such as math, says Donna Price, Director of Financial Aid at Austin Peay State University. “Military Discounts”
Post 9/11 GI Bill Transferable Benefits The GI Bill offers an option to transfer a service member’s benefits to a dependent, including his or her Spouse. There are specific criteria that have to be met in order to qualify, however, says Wayne Rhoades with Veterans Services at Hopkinsville Community College. This includes having six years of service completed, along with a commitment to serve an additional four years. Programs such as the Student Loan Repayment Program may affect eligibility. Military Spouses may visit the Glenn H. English Jr. Army Education Center to speak with a counselor about education benefits. MyCAA Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) funding is not available to pursue a master’s degree, such as a Master of Arts or Master of Science. However, Roy Hill with the Clarksville/Fort Campbell Educational Opportunity Center says a student may be eligible if he or she is pursuing a graduate program to obtain a master’s licensure. Visit aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa to learn more about eligibility requirements for MyCAA funding. Applicants should
Although not quite the same idea as getting an additional 10 percent off at checkout, some universities offer tuition discounts to military Spouses. This could include offering in-state tuition rates to military Spouses who have to move around from base to base. Student Loans Student loans may be available to students who are unable to find scholarships or other funding. “We provide students with the information that loans are available to them,” Price says. “If students want to go to graduate school, and they don’t have any options to pay for it, then we give them the information about loans and the student has to make his or her own decision.”
More information on student loans for graduate students may be found on studentaid.gov. Price recommends staying with a federal site when investigating student loans. “You have to be careful about loan scams, so be sure you are looking at a reputable company,” Price says. Affording graduate education can often be a challenge, but Hill advises to take advantage of educational opportunities when possible. “Graduate education creates more opportunities and opens more doors. By and large it is going to pay dividends in the long run.” Be sure, however, Hill says, to pick a program that is suitable to career goals and long-term plans for the future.
Perspective Management
Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said, “We all sorely complain of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. Our lives are either spent in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few and acting as though there would be no end of them.”
What Are You Waiting For? By Ramon M. Maisonet
Your life doesn’t just happen. I don’t make this statement with the intention of offending you, but rather to bring to your attention the very real power you have today over what happens for you tomorrow. Read the next statement slowly and carefully. Your life is carefully designed not only by your choices, but when you make them. You choose contentment. You choose unhappiness. You choose determination. You choose ambivalence. You choose triumph. You choose letdown. You choose the “what’s” of your life, and this is great. However, hear me when I tell you that your life is not affected by the whats as much as it is affected by the whens. Let me go deeper. Do you know how much someone can negatively affect the potential opportunities in their life by purposely delaying what they have the ability to do now? We know it as procrastination. Napoleon Hill put it best saying, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” Not all procrastination is bad. Sometimes it is wise to hold off on doing something until (a) you get all of the facts, (b) weigh all of the facts, and (c) consider every available option. What I want to address in this article is the procrastination in which people should be doing something very important and instead do: (a) something less important or (b) nothing at all.
Fact: most procrastinators know that they procrastinate. I should know, I’m not just writing about this, but I am also a recovering procrastinator! Even though I’ve learned quite a few tricks over the years to help me stay on task, I don’t always hit the mark. Most days I have a system that allows me to get real work done, and then I have a few days when I get swallowed up in meaningless tasks that I know are sucking the life out of my day—and yet I still allow it. How can we change our habits? Begin with this question: Is this the best use of my time at this present moment? There’s nothing like self-confrontation and a real-time assessment to find out what exactly you are doing with your time.
Tip #1: Block it out. In your personal life, look to block out a day of the week, or an hour of every day, in which you don’t schedule appointments, accept invitations, or allow interruptions. That day, or that hour, is blocked off for working on a project that’s important to you or on something that you should be doing. In your work life, I recommend you really look to becoming calendar-driven. Try to write down all of your important tasks by in order of completion deadlines and dates. Ensure you do progress checks to keep you on track. Tip #2: Accountability. In both your personal and professional life, look to partner with someone who can help keep you on task. Accountability is one of the best methods for avoiding the routine of blowing important things off. The likelihood of your accomplishing important tasks is significantly higher if there’s someone you know that will be holding you accountable. Tip #3: An hour a day. Very few of us have the luxury of taking a year-long sabbatical to devote exclusively to organizing ourselves and setting and achieving important life goals. Most of us have jobs, kids, Families, along with other obligations. I will tell you that the secret of my success has simply been in my devotion of one hour a day. Every single day, I don’t do anything until I’ve devoted the very first hour into what I intend to accomplish that day. If you are goal-driven, this will give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment. If all else fails, keep in mind this thought-provoking perspective by Pablo Picasso who said, “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” So, what are you waiting for?
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What Kind of Car Does Your Neighbor Drive?
Down the Block
By CynDe Clack
Did you know that most Americans are more likely to be able to identify their neighbors’ cars than know their neighbors’ first names? Don’t accept this as normal - it is within your power to become a good neighbor! What does it mean to be a good neighbor? I suppose that varies from person to person. For some it may be a daily smile and greeting, for others it may be having your neighbor over for a meal or it may just mean that you respect your neighbors by watching how loud your music or TV is turned or not letting your pet “go” in their yard. Unless you live out in the country where your house is surrounded by several acres of land, you have neighbors that you can see and hear – and they can see and hear you. If you live on post, the chances are good that you have neighbors attached to you in a duplex or larger dwelling. Being a good neighbor is an important part of our social backbone. How can you practice being a good neighbor? •
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Start by introducing yourself. Whether you’re the newbie or someone else is – a warm hello goes a long way. You may have to step outside of your comfort zone but the results are worth it. Get to know your neighbors and consider their lifestyle. If they work nights, then quiet mornings will be important to them; if they have small children then quiet evenings will be important. Give them
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information about you so they can be more considerate also. If you do a lot of yard work, be sure to consider the time of day you fire up the mower and weedeater. Be aware of shared walls when positioning items like TVs and speakers. If you live above someone, remember that they can hear you walking around. Using a rug or matting can help muffle the noise. Control your dog. Keep your dog on a leash and out of your neighbor’s yard. If you have a particularly noisy dog, put yourself in their shoes and imagine how upset you’d be if your Family was woken by the barking of a nearby dog. If you have problems controlling your dog’s barking, consider seeking advice from your vet. Practice parking etiquette by not blocking anyone’s access to their spaces. Don’t over-rev the engine of your car or motorcycle early in the morning or late at night. Park in front of your home, not theirs, and avoid slamming your doors late at night. Whenever possible, help your neighbor. It could be that you help carry in the bags of groceries or water their plants while they’re on vacation. Keep in mind that many things are easier as a community than they are as an individual. Alert your neighbors to parties by giving them plenty of warning on when it’s going
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to start and how long you expect it to go on. Ask your guests to be considerate when leaving. Keep your yard tidy and put equipment away as soon as you’re finished with it. Put garbage out on the day it’s due for collection. If you accidentally miss the collection, bring it back onto your property and contain it. Garbage will attract vermin, insects and other pests. Be aware of your surroundings as well as theirs. Keep your eye on anyone you don’t know who is acting suspiciously around your neighbor’s property. When in doubt, call the police so they can check for any criminal activity. Above all, communicate with your neighbor regularly and keep them in the loop. If anything you are planning to do may affect them, minimize it and let them know in advance.
Being on bad terms with your neighbor can make your life frustrating, day after day. Taking the time to establish good terms with your neighbors has many benefits - the community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer and the area a nicer place to live. In support of National Good Neighbor Day, September 28, I challenge each of you to go out and make your neighborhood a GREAT place to live!
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STAND BY YOUR PAN!
Safety First
By Chief Kevin E. Baylor cool. Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire. •
If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.
• If there is a microwave fire, keep the doorclosed and unplug the microwave. Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced before you use it again. Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns. How often has the doorbell rung or a child interrupted you while you were cooking, causing you to forget about the chicken you left sizzling on the stove - until smoke filled the house? If this sounds familiar, I hope you’ll read on, because you’re running the risk of having a dangerous fire. As chief of the Fort Campbell Fire Department, I speak to people about the ways they can stay safe in their homes. Too often, we have that talk after they’ve suffered a damaging fire. It’s my hope that people reading this article won’t have to learn the hard way. If I could give just one fire warning, I’d say “stand by your pan!”
Often when we’re called to a cooking-related fire, the residents tell us they only left the kitchen for a few minutes. Sadly, that’s all it takes to go from routine to disaster. The bottom line is that there’s really no safe period of time for the cook to step away from a hot stove. A few key points to remember: •
Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food cooking inside the oven.
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Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).
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Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove. Keep pets from underfoot so you do not trip while cooking.
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Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.
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Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don’t remove the lid until it is completely
A cooking fire can quickly turn deadly. I have seen too many homes destroyed and people killed or injured by fires that could have been easily avoided. Please heed these simple safety rules. We firefighters would like to be in your kitchen, but only when you invite us for dinner!
Why? Because cooking is the leading cause of home fires, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Latest statistics from NFPA say that two out of every five home fires started in the kitchen and more than 150,000 fires a year are related to cooking. And guess why most of these fires occur? If you said it’s leaving cooking unattended, you got it right.
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1. 101st Airborne Division Headquarters 2. 19th Hole (Cole Park) 3. Army Community Service (ACS) & ACS Director Director 4. Army Education Center 5. Arts and Crafts Center, Center, Guenette 6. ASYMCA Backdoor Boutique 7. ASYMCA Family Center 8. Auto Service Center, Center, Air Assault Auto 9. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers Program Program (BOSS) 10. Blanchfield Army Community Hospital 11. Bowling Center, Center, Hooper 12. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center 13. Commissary 2. Community Activities Center (Cole Park) 30. CYSS, Parent Parent Central Services (Central Registration) 30. CYSS, School Liaison 38. CYSS, SKIESUnlimited Center 14. Dog Kennels 17. Dawg Haus (Dining) 18. Estep W Wellness ellness Center (Gear-to-Go) 19. Equipment Rental (Gear-to-Go) 20. Exchange/Food Court/Mall Resource Center (FRC) 21. Family Resource 22. Financial Readiness (Army Emer Emergency gency Relief)
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23. Fryar Stadium, Sports Admin Office Office 2. Golf Course (Cole Park) 15. Joe Swing (Rental Recreation Recreation Facility) 20. Leisure Travel Services Leisure Travel 26. Library, R.F. F.. Sink Memorial Library, R.F 27. MWR Director Director F. Pratt 28. Museum, Don F. Recreation Main Building 29. Outdoor Recreation 31. Pool, Baldonado 32. Pool, Dolan Gardner Indoor 33. Pool, Gardner 34. Pool, Single Recreation Center, Center, Dale Wayrynen Wayrynen 9. Recreation 14. Riding Stables (SFAC) 39. Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) Buffet (Cole Park) 2. Southern Buffet
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41. Sportsman’ Sportsman’ss Lodge (Dining) 42. T Teen een Club 24/7 43. The Zone 44. T Tricare ricare 45. V Veterinary eterinary Services 46. Wilson Theater 42. Y Youth outh Center (T (Taylor) aylor) 42. Y Youth outh Sports
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CYSS
Fort Campbell
Serving Those with Special Needs By Stephanie G.J. Powell
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) was created in the early 1980’s to support military Families with a member who has special needs. Over the years, the program has grown across all uniformed services and is now a multi-agency organization, helping meet the needs of the Exceptional Family Member (EFM). EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for active duty personnel who have Family members with on-going medical, mental health, or special educational needs. Whether the Family member is a Spouse, child, or dependent adult, enrollment in this program is designed to identify Family members with special needs and to consider their needs during the assignment coordination process. Covering a variety of needs, enrolling helps to ensure that military Families are located in areas where their Family member’s medical and/or educational needs can be met. Each of the military services has their own EFMP or Special Needs Program. Fort Campbell takes pride in serving Family members with special needs. We have created a strong post-wide team with several Civilian and military agencies working together. Enrollment Process The Soldier or Family member should first contact Blanchfield Army Community Hospital’s (BACH) EFMP office. They will receive information from a Case Coordinator on how to initiate assessment and the enrollment process. Besides providing exceptional care to patients, BACH’s EFMP office also coordinates with the Army Human Resource Command (HRC) each time a Soldier is scheduled to PCS (permanent change of station). Together, they consider the needs during the assignment process, ensuring continuity in the EFM’s care and education as the Family transfers from assignment to assignment. According to BACH, the program combines the efforts of the personnel and medical commands, Army Community Service (ACS) and educational systems. EFMP actually refers to two functions in the military services:
The Personnel Function The first of the two functions involves the personnel, medical command and the schools. They identify and document services Family members with special medical, educational and psychological needs, and considers the needs when making personnel assignments, ensuring the standard across all branches and assignments.
The Family Support Function The second function assists the service member with coordinating military and community services for their Exceptional Family Member. Each uniformed service has a different name for its Family Support Center. The Army has ACS, which houses an EFMP services office for Family support. Exceptional Family Member Program Manager, Felicia Jefferson, leads Fort Campbell ACS’s part in EFMP. ACS’s eight member EFMP staff is an educational one-stop resource on the program. “To put it short, we at ACS are here to assist our Families, whatever their needs,” said Jefferson. “Each one of my team members who works with ACS’s EFMP program is a veteran themselves. They know the challenges military members and Families face because they encountered them during their time in service.” Jefferson shared that EFMP hosts many activities and events for EFMP Families. She noted that they hold educational workshops and trainings for Families, professionals, medical staff, Child, Youth, and School Services (CYSS), schools, and anyone in the community that wants to learn how they can help community members with special needs. Workshops are held periodically, with one usually occurring before each school year to help with special needs students starting school. The EFMP office also provides events and services such as monthly Family events, support groups, holiday and special events, IEP assistance, Unit/FRG briefings, relocation assistance, and respite care advocacy in partnership with CYSS. Throughout the year, other events take place such as the Exceptional
Family Member summer camp, Camp We Can. The camp meets one week in the summer and is open to members that are eligible for respite care services. “Fort Campbell was the first to hold such a camp, and many other installations have formed camps modeled after ours during the more than 15 years of the camp’s existence,” stated Jefferson. “ACS’s program for Exceptional Family Members has come a long way since its inception into Army life… because it didn’t always exist. We take pride in serving all of our Families because they are the reason we are here,” she said. Another division that is a part of the EFMP team is CYSS. Equipped to provide childcare services for children with special needs, CYSS is part of the Special Needs Accommodation Process, commonly referred to as SNAP. This multi-disciplinary team assists in determining the safest, least restrictive and most appropriate placement of children that require specialized childcare and other youth services and activities. Representatives from multiple agencies, including Public Health, CYSS Center Management and School Liaisons work with parents every step of the way to achieve success for their child in a placement that is right for them. For more information: Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Main Hospital Operator (270) 798-8400 EFMP Case Coordinator (270) 956-0614 Army Community Service Exceptional Family Member Program (270) 798-2727 Child, Youth & School Services Parent Central Services (270) 798-0674
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Healthy Habits by Char by Charlene Frasher
Mix it Up with Fitness!
Daily life is a struggle when you consider all that we would like to accomplish in a day. Throwing in a fitness regimen on top of daily tasks can be a hassle, but with the right mind set you can accomplish it. Think about it, you have 24 hours in a day; approximately ten hours are utilized for day prep, commute and work (regardless if you are employed inside or outside of your home), and sleep should be around eight hours, leaving you with six hours for Family, chores, hobbies, errands and life. By my calculations the is definitely time to take one to one and a half hours out of your busy day and bring fitness into the mix. Most people make time for what is important. Some people are spontaneous or wing it, while others prioritize their daily schedule. Either way, it all begins with getting your mind straight. Is it more important to watch TV or play a video game than go for a walk or hit the gym? Then shift your day by rewarding yourself with a recorded TV show or video game after your workout. Would you rather spend time with your children doing homework after school? Probably not, but what is
important here is to know that the kids would rather be playing too! So how about you get the homework done efficiently together and then go to the playground with your child(ren) and complete your workout on site. There are great programs and workouts that can turn a simple play area into a workout. This will allow you to bond with your Family and put fitness into the mix. Your social life can be another element that gets in the way of those six hours. Making “social” a part of your fitness mix is a great way to build
spending time with your friends, so what is keeping you from setting up an hour everyday for a hike or yoga? If social media is absorbing much of your time, then I suggest you reward yourself with a percentage of time spent working out. For example 10% of 60 minutes (workout) is six minutes. So use the time to announce how awesome your workout was and inspire others to live life with the true meaning of social and put fitness in their daily mix too! Whether you are single or the better half of a couple, your solo or partner time is important. Plan a fitness date with yourself or with your significant other. A simple run to clear your head is a great way to unwind from the long day and a long walk hand in hand with your loved one is a wonderful way to communicate, bond and end the day together. Setting time for yourself and prioritizing your health is necessary in your daily mix. The benefits you will reap in your current body will far outweigh the hindrance of your future body without this camaraderie, accountability and fitness mix. No excuses, only keep you on track when specific rewards! goals are set. I’m willing to bet that most of you would appreciate 20
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Duel It Out
Gametime By Jenelle Grewell
What is Magic the Gathering? Would you guess it is a congregation of mystical beasts, powerful artifacts and wizards? That is almost correct. Magic the Gathering is trading card game that represents a battle between wizards who utilize spells, creatures and items portrayed on individual cards. An organized system and community has assembled since the game’s beginning in 1993 and the Fort Campbell area is not missing out. Rick’s Cards and Games at 2026 Fort Campbell Blvd. and Frontline Games at 287 Stonecrossing Dr. are venues that offer organized Magic the Gathering games. David Hoerlen, a local judge at Rick’s Cards and Games, guessed that on Fridays, they get anywhere between 30 and 50 players for Magic and during prereleases, the store can get up to 80 people. But the shop isn’t just for Magic; it also supports sports cards,board games, Warhammer and Yu-Gi-Oh. “I would probably guess that close to 60 to 75 percent of our business is military since we are so close to Fort Campbell. This includes veterans,” David stated. Players of all ages come to have fun since Retirees and Soldiers bring their children. Rick, the owner, is also Retired military. Magic the Gathering is a great opportunity to socialize and meet new friends! “Our shop is like Family and new players often
tell me their favorite part of the game is that they feel welcome. Technology is such a powerful force that people often have their phones in their faces when out with friends. Magic makes you set your phone down and communicate with people,” David said. Rick’s Cards and Games has a great Family atmosphere. I witnessed players bantering, joking and laughing together. As customers trickled in for the Friday Night Magic tournament, each player was greeted and treated like an old friend by the employees and other visitors of the shop. When the tournament began, players sat across from one another and enjoyed a friendly and healthy competition. David explained the different aspects of Magic and I was amazed by the amount of strategy and planning that goes into a game or making a deck. I can confidently say that Magic offers a challenging, social, friendly atmosphere for those who participate in the game. David advised anyone looking to take part in Magic should ask their friends and coworkers if they participate. “You’d be surprised by how many people play this game!” he exclaimed. He also welcomed visits to the store, where players hang out and would love to teach the game to anyone interested in learning. Elizabeth Mulvaney, an employee at Frontline Games, said Magic is a great way to socialize and a great strategy game. “Our shop provides a great and friendly way to play Magic,” she said. She guessed for Friday Night Magic tournaments, they get anywhere between 40 and 60 players and up to 80 during prereleases. For those 12-years-old or younger, Frontline Games offers a junior Magic league, which gives young players an opportunity to learn and compete. Frontline has a lot of options for anyone starting out in Magic. Elizabeth suggested a multitude of starter decks available
for purchase in the store and also coming into Frontline Games. “Come into the shop and ask employees, we are always willing to help.” Frontline Games is also owned by Retired military. Elizabeth estimated that about 1/3 of their clientele are in the military or have been in the military. “We see a lot of people in the military community all the time. They come here to unwind,” she said. Friday Night Magic is also a great way to start since most players are friendly and willing to help,” she suggested. Rick’s Card and Games offers plenty of Magic events during the week: Sunday: Legacy at 3 p.m. Monday: Elder Dragon Highlander and Commander at 6 p.m. Wednesday: Draft at 7 p.m. Friday: Friday Night Magic at 7 p.m. Saturday: Draft/Standard at 4 p.m. Frontline Games has a multitude of Magic events throughout the week: Monday: Legacy at 7 p.m. Tuesday: Draft at 6 p.m. Thursday: Commander at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday: Friday Night Magic at 7 p.m. If you are looking for a game that involves strategy while giving you an opportunity to make new friends, then Magic the Gathering is the card game for you. Whether you want to partake in some pleasant competition, build an elaborate deck of cards or learn just learn a new game, the shops in the Fort Campbell area will give you what you need. Who is ready to duel rival wizards?
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Entertainment
Navigating Online Dating By Monica Ruggley
We all know the story. Boy meets girl, they kiss and fall in love. If only dating was this easy. Maybe you are just coming out of a serious relationship or you just haven’t found someone you want to settle into a routine with. There could be a handful of reasons why you are not involved in a relationship but you’ve made the decision to change that. After careful deliberation, you have come to the conclusion that online dating might be the right avenue to meet people. There have been multiple discussions about online dating in my house lately. I am a single, never married, female with a thriving career and active social life. My roommate is an ambitious college student, former military guy, and is newly single after a long term relationship. Our experiences have been vastly different, often resulting in comical over the top dramatic recounting of those events or lengthy Facebook rants much to my friends’ amusement. While we both participate in online dating, we are tackling this from entirely different perspectives. Online dating, by its very nature, eliminates our ability to get a sense about someone like we normally would if we had just met in person. You know, that gut feeling that either makes you want to run away or stay and chat. As a female, I still find the need to get that gut feeling on someone before they know too much about me. It boils down to my safety, which is why I take advantage of the security features provided on dating sites that you have to pay to access. EHarmony, as an example, offers a phone service that you can call and talk to the person you are communicating with without having to provide your phone number. Being able to get to know someone through messages and a phone conversation without having to divulge any personal information provides a little extra safety worth paying for. My roommate is more concerned with staying on a budget and, dare I say, quantity of available dates. Free sites, as my roommate will happily point out with his ever busy dating calendar, do have their advantages. His go-to dating site is Plenty
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of Fish. As he explains it, there are plenty of profiles to select from. Without risk of embarrassment, you can message multiple people and wait to see if they message you back. There is one thing that my roommate and I share in common when it comes to online dating. Too many text messages prior to meeting will kill a budding experience before it even begins. It starts simple enough. You’ve messaged each other a few times and have exchanged phone numbers. The next
settings suddenly do. It’s the all too dirty text message you get two minutes into texting with someone that you’ve never met in person. Or it’s the “single and looking” individual you un-expectantly meet in person at a social event because their Spouse just introduced the two of you - to which you politely excuse yourself, grab your phone and promptly block any additional conversations from this very married character. Maybe the most common occurrence is meeting someone who looks nothing like their dating profile
logical step is to arrange a meeting and then leave it alone until you do. Too often, somewhere in between arranging a time to meet and the meeting actually happening you exchange a flurry of text messages. Soon you know so much about the person, you no longer want to meet them and things fizzle out. All the fun and excitement have been used up. There are some general risks with online dating that are unique to the experience. Electronic devices seem to embolden people to new heights of absurdity. Boundaries are lost and things that might never happen in normal social
picture. They meekly explain was taken over a year ago and they didn’t have anything else to use. I checked. Selfies gained popularity in 2002 and was the Oxford Dictionary word of the year in 2013. I’m failing to believe the excuse any longer. Finally, in wrapping all this up, I will leave this with some words of wisdom from my roommate. Keep your profile information simple and honest. Make sure you’re smiling in your pictures. Lastly, just have fun. Considering that in the time it took me to write this article, he has found himself in the throes of a new and exciting relationship. He must be on to something.
2014 Trot for the Troops
ECFT By Carolyn Altman and Joe Wilson, Hopkinsville Family YMCA
many service members that have come and gone. He shared with us that his time and place are not as important to him as getting outside and being a part of an event that honors this country’s heroes. You will find Erica Woodman and her son Jacob ready to start the 5K portion of the race. “We run to honor the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country and freedom”, says Erica. Last year Jacob ran with his mom in honor of his dad, CW4 Shawn C. Woodman. Jacob ran the entire race and “every time the cramps kept coming I just kept in mind my Dad” says Jacob. Erica says “I was proud to be a part of such a large group of people that love our military as much Trot for the Troops 10K, 5K and Fun Run is the eighth event in our 2014 Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour (ECFT). This is the second year of the ECFT tour and the second year Trot for The Troops has been one of the major events. The Hopkinsville YMCA held the first Trot for the Troops in 2009 as a way to honor the military Families in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Fort Campbell, Clarksville and beyond!
www.fortcampbellmwr.com
Now in the sixth year, Trot for the Troops attracts everyone from walkers to interval runners to competitive runners. On September 13, you will find hundreds of enthusiastic participants waiting to begin. The start/finish line is at the Hopkinsville YMCA and can be recognized by the 100 American flags waving in the cool September breeze. The certified course starts at the YMCA and winds through the countryside before finishing at the YMCA. Runners can choose to run a 5K or 10K route. There is also a 1 mile Family Fun Run offered. Many of the expected 600 runners will be running in honor or in memory of a service member. “When registering for the race you are able to let us know who you are running for so we can have their name and rank on a flag pole,” states Carolyn Altman. Gary Gragg, a retired Navy Veteran, chooses to walk the event. The 70 year old Veteran enjoys the flags, as they make him think of the
as my boys and I do! We look forward to the race each year!” Entry forms are available for this year’s race at the Hopkinsville YMCA or online at active.com. More information about the Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour can be found at www.fortcampbellmwr.com/ECFT. Questions about ECFT can be sent to ECFT@fortcampbellmwr. For questions about the race, please contact Carolyn Altman at (270) 887-5382 or carolyn@hopkinsvilleymca.org.
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Stay Busy with BOSS
BOSS
By Tara Goodson
No need to be bored in September just because summer activities are drawing to an end. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) has trips, opportunities and excitement for you to participate in! You will want to register in advance, as these trips fill up quickly. September 5 September 6 September 6 September 13 September 27
Zanies Comedy Club, $10 Paintball, FREE BOSS Movie Night, FREE Clarksville Soup Kitchen Volunteer Event General Jackson Showboat Dinner and Laser Tag in Nashville, $25
BOSS meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 2:30 p.m. at D.W. Recreation Center, located at 6145 Desert Storm Avenue. D.W Rec. will be undergoing renovations shortly, and the meetings will be moved to 5982 Desert Storm Avenue, buildings A, B and C. Unit representatives are
That Guy
encouraged to attend the twice monthly meeting to share information with their fellow Soldiers and chain of command. BOSS President, SGT Carol Krone, is always looking for leaders within the ranks to step up and make Fort Campbell’s BOSS program the best in the Army. The Vice President position is currently open. Krone encourages up and coming leaders at Fort Campbell to stop by the BOSS office to discuss the requirements and expectations with her. With recent changes to the program, you can expect to see BOSS even more active in the community. Whether you are a Unit representative or just want to get involved, there isn’t a shortage of activities. Trips are extremely inexpensive and local events are often free. Volunteering with BOSS is a great way to give back to your community and you will have the opportunity to earn the Volunteer Service Medal. For additional information about BOSS, please call (270) 798-7858 or (931) 431-1990.