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THE INVISIBLE INJURY:
OVERCOMING PTSD By Michelle Spivak and Cameron Barry Every day more and more veterans are recognizing an invisible injury that can be as debilitating and impactful to their lives as shrapnel wounds or amputation. It’s PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of social situations, emotional numbness and hyperarousal. Untreated PTSD can lead you on a destructive path—job loss, alienation from family, drug abuse and more. Today, our understanding of PTSD can put many of these symptoms in check and help those suffering from the disorder lead more fulfilling lives. There is no shame in a PTSD diagnosis. It is a shame if you suffer from disturbing thoughts or memories of the trauma, insomnia, and many other painful symptoms without seeking help. PTSD is treatable, and the Washington DC VA Medical Center’s (DCVAMC) Mental Health Service is expert at treating this condition. If you are concerned that you, a family member or a friend has PTSD, read on. Flashbacks are the calling card of people with PTSD. Veterans with PTSD often experience a mental re-creation of a triggering traumatic event. The flashback may transport them from the present back to the scene of the trauma. Social avoidance is another behavior. Often reserved and reluctant to be in large crowds, those with PTSD may avoid locations with loud noises. According to DCVAMC clinical psychologist Kris Morris, Ph.D., “25 percent of people exposed to trauma will develop PTSD.” Although there is a much greater understanding of what causes PTSD and how to treat the symptoms, mental health professionals are still challenged by how different people react to trauma. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ providers understand that trauma takes many forms. Combat is one of the most variable types of trauma; for example, a soldier on the front lines is likely to experience a more intense form of trauma than a combat soldier whose trauma could be linked to repeatedly hearing distant mortar fire while being stationed miles away from the front line. Military Sexual Trauma is another form of trauma leading to PTSD. The DCVAMC and its five community-based clinics throughout the region have many mental health professionals to guide veterans with PTSD on their journey to improved health and well-being. These clinicians work with thousands of veterans throughout the capital area offering group and individual therapy. DCVAMC provides a supportive,
June 2013
PHOTO BY WILLIAM JUNIPHER, COURTESY OF DCVAMC
Michelle Spivak, director of public affairs for the Washington DC VA Medical Center, spends time with a veteran at the medical center.
nonjudgmental environment where you can heal among others with similar experiences. Mental health professionals are becoming more and more successful in treating patients with PTSD due to several treatment options, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PET). In CPT, patients are educated about what symptoms they exhibit, what causes their symptoms and how to deal with their symptoms when they take hold. PET takes a slightly confrontational approach, and includes practice coping with symptoms in real-world (safe) social settings. On their own, people with PTSD find it helpful to open up and share feelings with friends and family. VA’s many services for veterans with PTSD include new technology, such as private therapy via Telehealth and PTSD mobile apps for self-help, education and support. There are treatment companion apps for veterans and their doctors to use together. The apps are not intended to replace treatment with a health care provider, but to support treatment. Learn more about the app at www.ptsd.va.gov. Nationwide, in 2011, VA treated more than 100,000 combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, many with PTSD. There are many more veterans
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who avoid mental health treatment, believing the old stigmas will affect their career opportunities and relationships. These veterans, who may be suffering alone, often act out in self-destructive ways that worsen their situations. Because this often paralyzing stigma lingers over the heads of veterans with PTSD, retired Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli suggested removing the word “disorder” and shortening the acronym to PTS. Whatever it’s called, it is treatable, and the Washington DC VA Medical Center has programs and specialists to help. DCVAMC’s Mental Health team is determined to reach out to all veterans and their family members concerned about PTSD and encourage them to get the care they’ve earned and they deserve. If you’ve yet to enroll for VA health care, learn how at www.washingtondc.va.gov. If you are an enrolled veteran seeking treatment for PTSD, contact your primary care physician or call Dr. David Cueva at 202-745-8000, ext. 2434. There is help and there is hope. Michelle Spivak is the director of public affairs and the congressional liaison for the Washington DC VA Medical Center. Cameron Barry is a public affairs inter n and student at Old Dominion University. Page 3
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CAREGIVERS LOOK TO EACH OTHER FOR SUPPORT By C.D. Carter Karen Barnett can recite her son’s injuries as if reading from a laundry list: lost right leg below the knee, lost right pinkie finger, multiple wounds to his left leg—which still, almost a year after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, cause him excruciating daily pain. Barnett, a resident of Washington County in Maryland, is her son’s caregiver, assigned to take care of the Army specialist who required 16 surgeries in the first 30 days after the IED exploded underneath him. She’s one of many caregivers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., that ensure wounded warriors are taken to their many doctor’s appointments, that their wounds are cleaned and that they’re taking the proper medicine at the right time of day. Every injured soldier is assigned an official caregiver—sometimes a spouse, other times a parent—when they become outpatients at the medical center. These caregivers often serve as the memory for wounded soldiers, whose head injuries may have caused short-term memory loss, as well as many other roles. Being a caregiver, living on the medical center’s campus away from family, can be crushingly stressful, Barnett said. Without the tight-knit community of caregivers in Bethesda, she said, things would be a whole lot worse. “I think we’d lose our minds if we didn’t have each other,” said Barnett, whose son, Kevin Jaye, 26, was flown to Germany after suffering his injuries. “We’ve all laughed together, we’ve certainly cried together, we’ve given advice to each other, and really, we’ve given each other a way to get through the day, no matter how difficult it gets for us.” Having to manage home life from a distance multiplies the stress of caregivers in Bethesda, whether they live an hour away from Walter Reed or 3,000 miles away. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that we’re running two households,” Barnett said. “We do what we do here as caregivers … and we’re worried about what’s going on at home.”
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COURTESY OF TAMMY KARCHER
The Karcher family walks together in August 2012.
Tammy Karcher’s son, Jeffrey Shonk, 24, was shot in the head, the lower left leg and the right hand by friendly fire in Fallujah, Iraq in September 2010. Karcher said she has missed her husband and daughter over the two-and-a-half years as Shonk’s caregiver. Seeing her family more than every other weekend, she said, simply isn’t possible as long as Shonk needs her as his “personal secretary,” arranging appointments with various specialists as he continues his long recovery. “I just hope to get back to normal someday, to get back to work,” said Karcher, who lost her job after having to spend so much time caring for her son, a former Army specialist. “Though my life has changed, I want to rekindle my marriage, I want to spend time with my daughter, more than just once in a while.”
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Karcher said the caregiver community’s natural bond stems from a pain few will know, and it’s that bond that makes the most trying days bearable. “Unless you’ve dealt with something equally traumatic, you have no idea what we go through,” said Karcher, 44, whose family lives in Hollywood, Md. “We talk about the things we have to face daily, even hourly … Military families are their own special groups with their own special bonds, and we are too.” Barnett and Karcher are two of the estimated 275,000 to 1 million women and men serving as caregivers for U.S. military members injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a study released in March by RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization. Military caregivers face a unique and trying June 2013
“I THINK WE’D LOSE OUR MINDS IF WE DIDN’T HAVE EACH OTHER. WE’VE ALL LAUGHED TOGETHER, WE’VE CERTAINLY CRIED TOGETHER, WE’VE GIVEN ADVICE TO EACH OTHER, AND REALLY, WE’VE GIVEN EACH OTHER A WAY TO GET THROUGH THE DAY, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT GETS FOR US.” -Karen Barnett set of challenges, including navigating the labyrinth of health care systems and benefit providers for wounded warriors in need of a myriad of medical services, according to the RAND report. “Just as the nation’s longest period of wartime has posed challenges for the military, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created hardships on the family members and others who provide care to the wounded warriors once they return home,” Terri Tanielian, the study’s lead author and a senior social research analyst at RAND, said in a statement included in the report. Caregivers for injured soldiers were found to suffer disproportionately from mental health issues, and were at greater risk for coronary heart disease, hypertension, compromised immune function and reduced
sleep, according to the report. In a 2010 National Alliance for Caregiving survey, more than two-thirds of respondents said they spent more than 20 hours a week on caregiving duties, while 20 percent said they spend as much as 80 hours a week looking after their injured military member. The RAND study was commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, after former Senator Dole served as caregiver for her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, during his stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2010. It became clear during her time at Walter Reed that caregivers needed more support, Elizabeth Dole said in the report. “In listening carefully to hundreds of caregivers, I am struck by a sense of urgency,” she said. “We as a nation must do a far better job supporting these hidden heroes…”
COURTESY OF TAMMY KARCHER
Jeffrey Shonk, a former Army specialist, is treated for his injuries at the former National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda in October 2010.
Despite watching her son sink into occasional bouts of depression brought on by the long recovery time, the many surgeries and the persistent pain from his numerous battlefield injuries, Karcher said she’s fought to remain positive. She does whatever she can to lend support, and also serves as a valuable resource for younger, less experienced caregivers—usually wives with young children. “The younger caregivers rely on the more seasoned caregivers,” she said. “I feel like
a fountain of information sometimes. I’m glad to offer it. Their worlds have been turned completely upside down. This is not what they expected. Not at all.” Barnett said her son’s resilience has proven inspiring in the face of such a lengthy recovery. “His attitude has just been unbelievable,” she said, adding that among Jaye’s goals is to play baseball again. “But he’s realistic. He knows things are never quite going to be the same. Still, he’s upbeat—it’s amazing.”
DCMilitary Family Life John Rives, Publisher Comprint Military Publications 301-921-2800 Maxine Minar, President Circulation of 110,000 printed by offset as a civilian enterprise quarterly magazine for installations within the National Capital Region by Comprint Military Publications, a division of The Gazette. Comprint Military Publications is located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone 301-921-2800. Editorial content, including graphic art and photographs that support messages, new stories, and feature articles, are prepared in the Marketing Offices of the installations that contribute the information and blogs from DCMilitaryFamLife.com. Letters and suggestions may be mailed to DCMilitary Family Life Publisher, Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. The printer is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense. Opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors to this Marketing publication, and they are not to be considered an official expression of the Department of Defense. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense of the products or services advertised.
COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF OPERATION SECOND CHANCE Cindy McGrew, president of Operation Second Chance, and Army Pfc. Marissa Strock attend an Army-Navy lacrosse game at the U.S. Naval Academy in April. 1036167
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HELPING OUR
WOUNDED WARRIORS
COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Operation Ward 57 volunteers served a traditional, catered holiday dinner in December to inpatient wounded warriors, families and staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
By Jim Mahaffie After almost 13 years of warfare, an extensive network of volunteers and organizations has developed that are serving wounded warriors across the U.S. today. Imagine the issues for a wounded veteran and his or her family; paramount, of course, is recovery and learning to live with disabilities, both obvious and not so obvious. But then comes a long list of both basic and extraordinary needs—travel to and from the hospital; paying bills; and keeping a job while juggling child care, therapy and a marriage. Then, there’s getting around while at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, holiday toys for kids, clothes for winter and hundreds of other items. Support from dedicated medical experts, case managers and the militar y only goes so far. That’s where many volunteers come in to help. In the halls of Walter Reed today, the following are two organizations mentioned regularly for their invaluable contributions. MEET OPERATION SECOND CHANCE “We hate to say no to anybody.” Volunteers from Operation Second Chance (OSC) spend lots of time in the wards at Walter Reed, visiting wounded warriors and their famiPage 6
COURTESY OF OPERATION SECOND CHANCE
Wounded warrior Staff Sgt. Michael Cain watches the start of an April Army-Navy lacrosse game from the VIP tent, organized by Operation Second Chance in conjunction with Ride Allegheny members.
lies and helping when they can—which is often, said President and Founder Cindy McGrew. “We visit at least a couple of days a week, but we get calls almost daily from caseworkers where they run into situations where they think we can help,” she said. That means paying a mortgage or utility bill; getting reimbursement for a car rental; bringing in Girl Scout cookies; providing a baby stroller, diapers and formula; and so much more. “We make a lot of travel arrangements,” said McGrew. “We want to keep families together as much as possible, so we arrange for flights so guys can be with their family for Easter break and other holidays.” OSC help can be random and mundane—but needed nonetheless. For instance, in March, the organization arranged for four new car tires for an amputee at the hospital when a volunteer noticed the vet was driving around on completely bald tires. “When I hear the stories and get these emails about the problems soldiers and their families have, it breaks your heart. They’re very proud and don’t want to ask for help.” But McGrew and her volunteers will ask. “We try to get discounts whenever possible,” said McGrew. McGrew, 55, has four older brothers with military backgrounds—three went to Vietnam and
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one to West Point. She lives in Germantown, Md., and directs OSC full time. Her work began when a friend went to Iraq in 2004, and she started hearing about men that were injured in his unit. She would get to work each day, pull up his Stryker brigade news feed and read about the soldiers. She began visiting a group of injured men at Walter Reed who had been ambushed in an alley in Iraq, and said that she reacted as a parent. “I noticed they were wearing the same clothes day in and day out,” said McGrew, who brought some clothes for them and got to know the men’s families. “The families have so many needs. They have to make decisions, pack up often in the middle of the night, keep things going at home and take extended leave from a job.” OSC steps in whenever it can to make lives easier. Through fundraisers, donations and partnerships, the organization has provided more than $1 million in emergency financial assistance, travel, groceries and essential items to wounded warriors and their families, said McGrew. Based in Alexandria, Va., the Alexandria Cake Pop Company offers one-of-a-kind cake decorating treats for all events and occasions. Owner Tamara Wilson donates 5 percent of all proceeds to OSC. A military wife, her U.S. Army husband works at Walter Reed helping wounded warriors. June 2013
“I wanted to do something to help the families,” she said. “I know how hard their situations can be.” Just Riding Along Bicycle Shop in Laytonsville, Md., is another supporter. Owner Travis Evans got involved when a vet came into his shop looking for a bike for Ride Allegheny, a 300-mile fundraising and cycling adventure from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Gaithersburg, Md., that raises money for OSC, according to McGrew. Despite no military background or previous experience with Walter Reed, “we decided to join them,” said Evans. “The guys that do it have a great sense of camaraderie, and they need us.” Along with holding fundraisers at his store, the company shuts down every year to support the ride and put all their resources into becoming “a rolling bike shop” for Ride Allegheny, according to Evans. Operation Second Chance is growing. In 2011, OSC joined forces with Operation No Person Left Behind, a formally independent charity that teams professional hunters, fisherman and outdoor-minded people with disabled veterans for hunting and fishing opportunities, according to the OSC website. OSC provides trips and retreats for injured service members, couples and families, too. Recently, groups of amputees traveled to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis for an Army vs. Navy lacrosse game, the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and to the Chesapeake Bay for a fishing retreat, according to McGrew. The organization also maintains resources to help assist veterans and their families with their many health, employment and financial needs. These, and more, are listed on OSC’s website at operationsecondchance.org.
McGrew and her volunteers are committed to the many wounded warriors who pass through Walter Reed, some for a few weeks and some for a year or more. “I don’t look at them for their injury—I thank them for their service,” she said. MEET OPERATION WARD 57 “We support wounded soldiers and their families anywhere in the country.” One of the organizations providing grassroots support and morale boosting to wounded warriors at Walter Reed and around the nation is Operation Ward 57. OPW57’s mission is to “support wounded warriors, their families and medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by providing items that assist in recovery, maintenance and morale of the hospital environment and through advocacy, education and promotion of their circumstances,” according to the organization’s website. Executive Director Brittney Hamilton said this could be as simple as providing a winter coat for visiting kids, an extra blanket, a catered meal or concert tickets. “We support wounded soldiers and their families anywhere in the country,” she said. “Almost anything that we can do for boosting morale and advocating on their behalf.” At the onset of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of the most severely wounded soldiers were brought to Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The hospital section was known as “the amputee ward,” according to Hamilton, and patients spent continued on page 14
COURTESY OF OPERATION WARD 57
OPW57 volunteer Laura Boone stands with wounded warrior Spc. Andrew Wilson.
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NSA Annapolis MWR 14th Annual “Navy Night at the Baysox”
THOMAS NORTHCUT/LIFESIZE/THINKSTOCK
The 14th Annual “Navy Night at the Baysox” will be held on Friday, Aug. 2 at 7:05 p.m. when the Bowie Baysox (AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) take on the Portland Sea Dogs (AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox) at Prince George’s Stadium, routes 50 and 301 in Bowie, Md. Gates will open at 6:05 p.m. The U.S. Naval Academy Band will perform patriotic music in front of the stadium shortly before the gates open. Opening ceremonies will be performed by Navy personnel and Navy Federal Credit Union personnel at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a spectacular 20-minute postgame fireworks display that will light up the skies over the city of Bowie! Free tickets will be available to Department of Defense-affiliated personnel beginning July 8 at several of the military installations listed in this publication. People eligible to receive free tickets are active duty and retired military from all branches of military service, active reservists and National Guard members, Department of Defense civilians (active and retired) and family members, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen, DoD contractors, and Naval Academy Athletic Association and U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association personnel. Please contact your base’s MWR Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT/
ITR) outlet and present proper ID when picking up tickets. The MWR Information, Tickets and Travel Outlet at Naval Support Activity Annapolis is located in the Recreation Services Bldg. No. 89. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free tickets will be available during these hours. Pr ince George’s Stadium is a “f amily friendly” stadium with a carousel and playground area for the kids. All seats, including general admission tickets, have terrific views of the playing field, so you’re always close to the action! Concession stands are convenient to all seats and parking is free! This is a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy an evening of baseball compliments of the Bowie Baysox! This annual event is made possible by a commercial sponsorship from the Bowie Baysox with the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, NSA Annapolis. Navy Federal Credit Union is sponsoring the evening for the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2017 (Plebes) and the fireworks display. Tickets are for promotional use only—not for resale. (Neither the Navy nor any other part of the federal government officially endorses any company, sponsor or their products or services). For more information, call 410-293-9206 (DSN 281).
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NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren MWR Summer is the Season of Vacations and Travel Be sure to visit the Information, Tickets & Tours (ITT) office. ITT offers discount tickets to attractions such as amusement parks, movie theaters, sightseeing destinations, golf resorts and sporting events. Vacation packages, cruise packages and discount vouchers are also available. Brochures highlighting local tourist destinations and maps of the area are available for customers to pick up, as well as information on the Military Travel Voucher Program. Newcomers to NSF Dahlgren are encouraged to visit ITT for information on the area’s activities and opportunities or call 540-653-8785.
Subway franchise comes to NSF Dahlgren Subway was scheduled to open the franchise by June 1. During the renovation, patrons of the bowling center could bring in their own food items or have food delivered. The bowling center sold beverages and provided snacks during the interim.
Dahlgren Aquatics Center Summer Pool hours began Memorial Day. Open year-round for Red Cross CPR & Life Guard Training, swimming lessons, lap swimming, aqua aerobics classes and special family events monthly. Please call the pool for hours of operation, prices and facility rental at 540-653-8088.
Auto Skills Center Open five days a week for service or the do-it-yourselfer. The Auto Skills Center is available for all your basic car maintenance. Classes offered every other month. Qualified staff will assist you in doing it right!
Cannonball Lanes Bowling Alley Open seven days a week. Cannonball Lanes has 10 lanes of bowling featuring AMF equipment with state-of-the-art Bose sound system, concessions and shoes available. Activities include open bowling, special event nights, leagues and party rentals.
Child Development Center (CDC) Open five days a week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The CDC provides a full-time child development program for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. The CDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, holds DoD certification and participates in the USDA child and adult care food program. June 2013
JUPITERIMAGES/COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK
Library JUPITERIMAGES/COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK
Craftech Hobby Shop
Dahlgren Fitness Center
Open five days a week. Bring your items in for monogramming—towels, linens, tote bags, shirts, etc. See our selection of great gift ideas; personalized pens; clocks; customized color printing on mugs; laser engraving for trophies, awards, plaques; and more. Craftech offers classes in stained glass, ceramics, framing and matting. Craftech carries craft supplies and special supplies for customers. Is your child into art? How about a crafting birthday party? For more information, please stop by the Craftech Hobby Shop (next to the ITT Office, across from the Pool.)
Open seven days a week. Join a variety of group fitness classes, including Cardio Boxing, Spinning, Power Yoga, Strength and Stability, and Kettlebells. The Fitness Center offers racquetball throughout the year. Other sports and tournaments are offered, such as softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Karate classes are also offered every three months for children ages 6 through adult. Ballet and jazz classes are offered during the school year.
Gray’s Landing on the Potomac Restaurant (MWR Restaurant) Hours of Operation: Open seven days a week Breakfast: 6-9 a.m. Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dinner: 4-6 p.m. Weekends and Holidays Brunch: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dinner: 4-6 p.m.
Gray’s Café Open Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and located within Gray’s Landing on the Potomac Restaurant. Gray’s Cafe proudly serves Starbucks coffee, fresh brewed coffee, lattes, frappuccinos, cappuccinos and espresso, and includes fresh baked pastries, bottled beverages, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, a selection of wraps and grab-n-go meals, along with other beverages. Lounge with Wi-Fi hot spot and television.
Information, Tickets and Tours (ITT) Open five days a week. The ITT office offers information, maps and directions to local shopping, restaurants, historical sites and entertainment. Discount tickets to Regal Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon theaters, National Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and more! Ask for information on military discounts and the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Call the ITT Office at 540-653-8785 for more information on MWR facility rentals.
Liberty Center (Single/ Unaccompanied Sailor Program) Open six days a week. The Liberty Center offers recreational activities year-round for single or unaccompanied active duty military personal, particularly ages 18 to 24.The Liberty Center is equipped with pool tables, computers, wireless Internet access, video gaming systems, gaming tables, fax machine, big screen TV, 8mm movies and more. Contact the Liberty Coordinator at 540653-7277 for information and scheduled events. ID required for Liberty discounts.
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Open five days a week with a variety of fiction, nonfiction, periodicals and reference materials; movies; audio CDs; daily papers; and reading lounge with Wi-Fi hot spot and television. Computers, copier and a fax machine are available for patron use. Computer classes offered seasonally, story time for the kids is held every Friday and a variety of events are offered monthly.
Gear Issue & Equipment Rental Open five days a week. Located within the Auto Skills Center, Gear Issue & Equipment Rental offers a selection of recreation equipment for fishing, camping, picnics, special events, sporting equipment and more. Rentals can be daily, weekly or for the weekend. Call during hours of operation for details and pricing.
The Dahlgren Movie Theater The NSF Dahlgren Movie Theater has gone digital! Join us at the newly remodeled Dahlgren Movie Theater. We have new seating with drink holders, new carpet, new paint, new curtains and a new digital movie system (capable if showing 3-D movies). Friday and Saturday evening movies shown year-round, featuring recent movie releases. Concessions are available, including food and beverages. A significant savings when compared to commercial movie theaters. Eligible patrons include all with base access. For more information, please contact the movie info line at 540-653-7336. Hours of Operation: Friday: 7 p.m. Showing Saturday: 7 p.m. Showing Price of Shows: $5 Civilian; $4 Active Duty, Retired & continued on page 11 Page 9
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall MWR Summer Fun at MCCS Henderson Hall
cart, 18 holes, and, thanks to our generous sponsors, a goody bag and door prizes. Reservations are essential, as the roster fills quickly. Call 703-697-2706 for more information or check www.mccsHH.com/ SemperFit.html.
Submitted by Doriann Geller MCCS Marketing Officer
MCCS Henderson Hall, located on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, offers a great variety of activities for active duty personnel, reservists, retirees, family members, and DOD civilians in the National Capital Region. From our awesome gym and an extraordinary Marine Corps Exchange to family support activities, we offer something for just about everyone. We invite you to visit www.mccsHH.com, a comprehensive site encompassing all things MCCS Henderson Hall. And now, we offer mobile content optimized for smartphones and tablets at www.M.mccsHH.com. We know you are visiting us on the go, so we’ve made it easier for you to view our content.
Pool Opens The Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool is open for the summer season! Check our website for hours of operation (still to be determined at press time). The pool is a quiet place to swim laps, enjoy the sun (don’t forget sunscreen!) and enjoy aquatic fun. Aqua aerobics classes are set to resume
Family Programs
COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK
RYAN MCVAY/DIGITAL VISION/THINKSTOCK
as well; the pool aerobics equipment is just the thing for exercising in the water with less stress on your joints.
For more information, please call 703614-5959. And, if you would like to be notified when runs are opening for registration, please sign up by going to our website, www.mccsHH.com/SignUp.html, and ask to be included on the email list.
Semper Fit Runs Check the OohRah Run Series website at www.mccsHH.com/oohrahrunseries.html. Upcoming runs include the Chesty’s 5k Fun Run on June 26, the Devil Dog 7K on Sept. 18, a “Semper Fi-ght” Obesity 5k Fun Run with Navy Mutual Aid Association on Oct. 23 and the annual Turkey Trot Joint Base 5k Fun Run on Nov.15.
Golf Tournaments “Golf With Us,” Semper Fit’s tournament series, is under way monthly through September at courses in Northern Virginia. Play is open to all DOD ID card holders and their guests. Fees include lunch,
MCCS Hender son Hall offer s a wide range of services to Marines and their family members throughout the National Capital Region and beyond to a 105-square-mile area around Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Through a robust outreach program, the programs provide information on topics such as relocation assistance, school liaison services, education and career resources, personal financial management, and counseling support. For an overview of the services available, please visit www.mccsHH.com/MFS.html. Want to keep in the loop on MCCS Henderson Hall offerings? Visit us at www. mccsHH.com or www.M.mccsHH.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ mccsHH, and like us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/MCCSHH.
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MCCS Quantico MWR Wednesday Socials at TCAQ Enjoy the night out with friends and comrades. Stop by The Clubs at Quantico every Wednesday for a social night with drinks and a full pub menu. Check out the MCCS website for all the details or call 703-784-4264.
Family Golf Outing Bring the family to the Medal of Honor Golf Course on Saturday, June 15, for nine holes of golf. The event begins at 4 p.m. and finishes with hot dogs and fixings with fruit punch at the Medal of Honor Golf Course Pavilion. Children ages 5 to 17 play for free. Stop by the Pro Shop to preregister or call 703-784-2424. RYAN MCVAY/LIFESIZE/THINKSTOCK
Stay in the Know Want to know about all the summer events in Quantico? Then be sure to pick up a copy of our Summer Guide, available online and at various locations on base. Or, keep in touch and stay in the know by signing up to receive our Monthly Trifold at the MCCS website or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/Quantico MCCS.
Quantico 50M Pool New year, new pool! With summer upon us, don’t forget about taking a dip in the Quantico 50M Pool. Open Rec Swim, Lap Swim, Lessons and more! We have a new schedule and pricing, so pick up a pool brochure or visit us online today! Stay in the know by watching the MCCS website for more details. Website: www.quantico.usmc-mccs.org
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NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren continued from page 9 Reserve Mil E7 and above and their family members with ID; $2.50, E1-E6 and below and their family members with ID; $2, Child (6-11); Free, Child (5 and under).
Youth Activity Center Open five days a week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Youth Activity Center offers a before- and after-school program and summer camp for youth grades K-12. Our caring staff members supervise a wide range of activities from recreation to crafts to homework time.
Sign up to get a free subscription for the NSF Dahlgren Fleet and Family Readiness (FFR) weekly Marketing Office Electronic Newsletter (e-News) at FFRPMarketing_ Dahlgren@navy.mil for an update of MWR special events, movie schedule, restaurant menu, sports events, Fleet and Family Support Center class schedules and more! L i k e N S A S o u t h Po t o m a c o n Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/ NSASouthPotomac. Don’t miss out on base events and news—let NSASP and Facebook keep you up to date!
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NAS Patuxent River and NRC Solomons MWR COME SPEND YOUR VACATION TIME AT NAS PATUXENT RIVER NAS Patuxent River invites you to enjoy the summer with us!
Camping at NAS Patuxent River MWR offers more than 37 campsites nestled amid the beauty of land and sea. From primitive sites to those with water and electrical hookups, there is no better way to get closer to the natural splendor of the region. The Patuxent River campgrounds are open February through November. All campsites located onboard NAS Patuxent River can be reserved by calling 877-628-9233 or visiting www.dodlodging. net. Requests for camping reservations may be made at the West Basin Marina. The marina office number is 301-342-3573.
Travel smart! Save money by staying with NGIS! 877-Navy-Bed (628-9233) www.dodlodging.net Not up for camping? You can still enjoy all the fantastic events this summer and
COURTESY OF NAS PATUXENT RIVER AND NRC SOLOMONS
stay at our Navy Gateway Inns & Suites. Standard rooms are only $54 and suites are just $64. VIP rooms are $69 and VIP suites are $74. Available for active duty, retired and dependents, National Guard, reservists, and DoD civilians. Priority is given to guests on government-funded orders. Leisure travel reservations are available 30 days in advance, for up to seven nights. (Based on availability.)
ENTERTAINMENT Summer Theater Series at the Waterside Stage July 11 and Sept. 12; 7 p.m. Bring your blanket or patio chairs and relax on the lawn at the River’s Edge while enjoying a theater performance waterside! We are hosting a series of one-act plays that are family friendly and locally themed. There will be two original shows each night
with a brief intermission. Tickets for each show are $8.50. A variety of delicious and fresh preplated meals will be available for you to purchase. Beer, wine, champagne or your favorite cocktail will be on hand as well. Performances last 90 minutes with intermission. Hillside seating begins at 5:30 p.m. Space is limited; call and reserve tickets at 301-342-3656. Please, no coolers and no pets. Thank you! Sponsored by Northrop Grumman.
Father’s Day Brunch at the River’s Edge June 16; serving from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring dad to enjoy carved barbecue beef
BISHOP IRETON HIGH SCHOOL Apply Now Limited space available for freshmen and transfer students for the 2013-14 school year.
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June 2013
brisket, fried potato wedges, pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, fresh fruits, salads and desserts. Adults $14.95, children (6-16) $9.95, children (3-5) $3. Please call 301-342-3656 for reservations.
Summer Fling Dinner and Dance June 27; dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m., dancing until 10 p.m. Make plans now to attend this fun event! We have called back the “Sultan of Sound,” DJ David Kalil, for another night of music and dancing. And, as always, Chef Doug Mackey and his team will be preparing a dinner guaranteed to delight! So bring your friends! On the menu: carved flank steak, herb-crusted tilapia, salad bar and more. And … for dessert we will have a shortcake bar, where you can top your own shortcake with fresh berries and ice cream. Call 301342-3656 for details and reservations. $14.95 members, $16.95 nonmembers Wine package is optional and extra. Members coupons will be redeemable.
DON’T FORGET THE SPORTS Cedar Point Golf Course The picturesque Cedar Point Golf Course at NAS Pax River features 6,714
yards of golf from the longest tees; par 72. This course’s key features are its narrow, tree-lined fairways, located amid a fairly wooded area, and the greens are bent grass. Hours of Operation: Monday, 12-7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Please note: Golf course hours may change as the days become longer. Please contact the Pro Shop at 301-342-3597.
Father’s Day Scramble at the Cedar Point Golf Course June 16; set own tee times between 7-11 a.m. Bring dad out for a day of golf and fun at our Father’s Day Scramble. Format will be a two-person scramble consisting of dad and any family member. Gross and net prizes using 50 percent of combined handicaps. Register the day of the event before teeing off. $15 per team to participate. Call 301-342-3597 for more information.
Match Play Championship June 22-23; assigned tee times Players will be flighted by handicap. Saturday: First and second round matches are nine holes. Sunday: Final round
matches are 18 holes. Entry fee is $45 ($30 for punch card holders). Green fees are included (cart fees separate). Register at the Cedar Point Golf Course by June 16. Contact the Pro Shop for more information at 301-342-3597.
NRC SOLOMONS Patriotic Pool Party July 3; 8-10 p.m. Join us for our third annual patriotic pool party at the Riverside Aquatic Complex. Special activities will take place at the pool. Call 410-286-8047 for more information.
Patriotic Parade July 4; 3 p.m. Let your American spirit shine in an old Americana favorite. Join the NRC team in our 3rd Annual Patriotic Parade on July 4. Bring your pooch dressed up as Uncle Sam, your little red wagon with stars and stripes, a bicycle with streamers, or a golf cart with balloons. The Solomons team looks forward to you joining them as we show our American pride and celebrate the spirit of independence with a family-friendly walk from the Adventure Zone to the Riverside Pool. Call 410-286-8047 for more information.
WHAT WE OFFER Camping Navy Recreation Center Solomons has 14 group tent campsites, 56 primitive tent campsites, 146 complete hookup sites, and 156 electric- and water-only sites (20-50 amp service available at sites with electric hookup).Campsites are not pull-through sites. To check on availability, call the Lodging Office at 410-286-7301/2.
The Adventure Zone The Adventure Zone is available for the entire family. It features an air-conditioned TV lounge with an arcade and gear issue. Just outside is an 18-hole miniature golf course, billiard tables and a pingpong table. The Adventure Zone hosts a variety of special events, including dances, tournaments, outdoor movie nights, family events, arts and craft projects, and carnivals. Need sporting equipment? Gear Issue, located inside the Adventure Zone, has tennis, basketball and softball equipment to loan out with the purchase of a Leisure or Activity Pass. Have birthday parties with us! The Adventure Zone can assist in birthday party celebrations. Call 410-286-8046/8047 for more information.
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WOUNDED WARRIORS continued from page 7
COURTESY OF OPERATION WARD 57
Operation Ward 57 and Hero Energy Shot hosted wounded warriors in September alongside professional driver T.J. Bell for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware.
weeks and months there recuperating and learning to live with new challenges. Operation Ward 57 began as a grassroots, volunteer effort to supply needed items for the ward and its patients, family members and staff. The organization is now a national m ove m e n t , s u p p o r t e d b y at h l e t e s , musicians and various organizations. Through the Honor & Courage program, volunteer wounded heroes serve as caseworkers and mentors for those who are struggling with injuries. Funds
are raised from many sources, but a primary source is the sale of Ward 57 T-shirts with proceeds going straight to support for the ward, said Hamilton. The T-shirt was what drew Hamilton to the organization. “There was a war going on and I had no idea how to help. I don’t have a lot of money, but I went to an event and met OPW57 co-founder Deborah Semer,” she said. “I bought a T-shirt because I saw that the proceeds would directly impact the guys in the hospital. I started volunteering doing events
and in booths.” Hamilton lives in Tacoma, Wash., and is a research coordinator at the VA hospital in Seattle. Her husband Christian is a U.S. Army supply sergeant. “It’s amazing how many people go from Walter Reed to Madigan (Army Medical Center) in Tacoma, so we have a wonderful network of people on both sides of the country,” said Hamilton. This network takes care of a lot of the small things people need, as simple as shoes and coats, SD cards for cameras, toiletries, diversions for children, car repairs, and bills that need to be paid. “Families have to suddenly be at Walter Reed and are often not prepared to be there,” said Hamilton. “It’s a stressful time. They often don’t have transportation to get around, and they leave lives at home that need to be managed.” One day in April, Hamilton and the OPW57 team helped an active duty soldier in Texas. He had a baby in the house, his water was about to be shut off, and there was no money to pay the utility bill and no food in the house. Hamilton received a phone call about it from her Honor & Courage team in Texas. She sent money to pay the water bill and found volunteers in the area to obtain gift cards and food donations from local stores. OPW57 organizes holiday events at Walter Reed and other VA hospitals, bringing in catered meals and gift bags for wounded warriors and their fam-
ilies. They have also organized group trips to concer ts and spor ts events, such as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware in September 2012, which they sponsored along with Hero Energy Shot. Besides direct support for the soldiers and their families, OPW57 has also supplied microwaves and storage furniture for the hospital areas, care packages for combat medics, live music on the ward, and a video and game library. Hamilton said there’s quite a family of volunteers to help at Walter Reed. “OPW57 people go room to room and check in with everyone. We get to know families, so they feel comfortable reaching out to volunteers and referring people to us. We’ve really made an effort to partner with and befriend a lot of organizations, so if we can’t meet the needs we find other organizations that can.” The historic Ward 57 orthopedic ward was moved to Bethesda’s Walter Reed National Militar y Medical Center in 2011. Now called 4E, it still cares for America’s most severely wounded service members. “So many people in the community want to help our wounded warriors and their caregivers and don’t know how to help them,” said Hamilton. But, she said, they can buy a Ward 57 T-shirt or make a donation to the organization at an event or at www.operationward57.org.
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