Joint base journal 012315

Joint Base Journal Vol. 6, No. 3

January 23, 2015

News and information for and about Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling www.facebook.com/JBABdc

J OINT B ASE A NACOSTIA-B OLLING

www.cnic.navy.mil/jbab

JBAB welcomes new Senior Enlisted Leader Kevin Kloeppel

BY JEREMY K. JOHNSON

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

“To value each person with respect, to understand where they come from,

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel began his duties as Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) senior enlisted leader on Jan. 12. A few days in, he was still getting to know the staff and the job, but we stopped in to talk to him and learn more about the newest Chief at JBAB. Kloeppel (pronounced klehpull), joined the Air Force in November of 1991 and has served 23 years at assignments that include both C-17 Globemasters, AC-130 gunships.

Most recently, he’s worked at the Pentagon in policy positions, serving as an advisor in the policy section of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling marks his first assignment as a senior enlisted leader, but he chose the assignment for a reason - the challenge of being part of a joint environment.

“I took this assignment because as a proud member of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class 135-Gold,” said Kloeppel, “I had a chance to interact with those ladies and gentlemen and to see how important the ‘Top 3’ is and what the enlisted corps - especially the chiefs’ mess -

to understand what they can bring to the organization and to see where I can help in their leadership path, I’m going to be an active, visible leader throughout the entire base.”

Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel

Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel brings to an organization.”

He explained that his experience there, coupled with policy and tactical experience, made him confident JBAB was where the Air Force could use him best next.

“It’s kind of a conglomeration of education, experience and wisdom I can bring back over here, so I can give these men and women what they need to be successful.”

He explained where he sees his role, especially since the enlisted population here has drawn down considerably and converted to a largely civilian force.

“I see myself becoming more integral with those enlisted individuals that actually are here.

When other positions converted from military to civilian, that left less military ladies and gentlemen walking around the base,” he said. “So, we start to barrel it down - we went from thousands of people to just hundreds of active duty and enlisted people, and now the preponderance is civilian. I’ll be learning more about the issues that impact them as well, and it could have the same impact. If we have 68 percentmanned Honor Guard, there’s going to be an impact over there.

If we have 68 percent-manned for security forces, that’s going to have a huge impact there. So, when you start having big events, such as the tattoo expo coming

up in September, you ask ‘what impact does bringing more activities here on base have when they’re already low manned?’”

His primary role remains the same as his predecessor, however.

“The base as a whole faces a lot of challenges,” Kloeppel said. “I want to focus my attention on the enlisted members, to be Colonel Peters’ eyes and ears about the Air Force individuals, but also Capt.

Mays’ eyes and ears about the Navy and Air Force piece and the entire installation.”

“Knowing about the civilian sector and all of the policies that affect them is important - human relations and hiring, operations tempo, limited manning - especially in, for example, security forces. They’re down to 62 percent give or take a little bit, so, knowing

the challenges that they face,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Kloeppel has worked in a job where a joint environment demanded excellence in teamwork.

“As a previous AC-130 gunship operator,” he began, “I had a chance to work with a lot of different services, namely some of the special forces that are on the ground. We were flying in a lefthand turn protecting those individuals. It didn’t matter if those individuals were of a Navy background, if they were of an Army background or of an Air Force special operations background.

Our job as a gunship was to make sure that they remained safe at

See KLOEPPEL, Page 2

Breast Cancer Support Group reaches out to JBAB community

BY NICOLE M. WOODS JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

PHOTO COURTESY OF AIR FORCE MASTER SGT. DEMETRICA JEFFERIS

Air Force Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis comforts fellow breast cancer survivor, Air Force Master Sgt. Catherine Church-Bennett after her surgery.

Every year, breast cancer awareness is magnified during the month of October as a national observance, but for survivors, breast cancer is an everyday battle.

For Air Force Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis, breast cancer awareness means providing a support system that meets every third Tuesday of each month throughout the year at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic/Surgery Center.

With a mission to educate, encourage and support breast cancer patients and their caregivers, Jefferis has organized Together in Pink, a support group for both military and civilian families living in the national capital region.

“Whether you’ve been a survivor for one month or for over 40 years, or even if you were just recently diagnosed, we want people to know they have a support team

right here,” said Jefferis.

It wasn’t until after undergoing a battle of her own that Jefferis realized the importance of having a solid support system for what she had experienced - and for what was yet to come.

During the last month of a oneyear tour at Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea in October of 2013 - on her birthday - Jefferis discovered a lump on her breast.

She immediately went to the nearest medical clinic (an hour away in Seoul) for a diagnostic mammogram. The doctors informed her of the possibility of breast cancer.

“They couldn’t determine right away if it was cancer, but the chief radiologist there said that it was probable,” Jefferis explained.

On the hour-long ride home, amongst a bus of strangers, the possibility of cancer had begun to sink in and Jefferis shed a few tears before she quickly gathered her thoughts and said, “God, I’m going to trust you and I’m going to

keep living my life.”

Without any family nearby, Jefferis was surprised to find she had support right there, one she never would have imagined having.

“Luckily I had a small support system there in Korea,” she said.

Jefferis explained that her squadron superintendent at the time happened to be a survivor of cancer himself and was able to provide the understanding ear she needed. She also had the support of her commander and his wife, who had been dealing with a recent loss in their family from cancer.

“I had this support system I didn’t know I needed until that time had actually happened.

They’re like my family now and I still keep in touch with these people to this day. I’m so glad I had them there,” she said.

It was the following month,

See CANCER, Page 3

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Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 23, 2015

Joint Base Journal

Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps celebrates 50th anniversary COMMENTARY BY AIR FORCE MAJ. GEORGETTE TREZVANT 779TH MEDICAL GROUP

The Air Force recognizes the achievements of the men and women who comprise the Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC) by designating Jan. 26 - 30, as BSC Appreciation Week. This year is noteworthy as it marks the 50th anniversary of the BSC. If you have ever had an appointment at a base clinic or hospital, chances are you have met a BSC officer. The BSC is the third largest of five corps in the AF Medical Service. With 2,400 officers, supported by 5,800 enlisted members in parallel career fields, BSC members can be found at 81 locations around the world and in multiple settings. The BSC encompasses physical therapy, optometry, podiatry, physician assistants, audiology, speech pathology, clinical psychology, clinical social work, occupational therapy, aerospace and operational physiology, dietetics, bioenvironmental engineers, public health, medical entomology, pharmacy, biomedical laboratory, healthcare facilities architects/engineers, and health and medical physics.

“In addition to specialty roles within our military treatment facilities, BSC officers are embedded within operational units,

KLOEPPEL n

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any given time whether it’s operations in Afghanistan or operations in Iraq.”

He continued, “The different side of what I did was fly C-17s, and we had a chance to take all sorts of equipment and all sorts of personnel and troops and trucks and supplies around the world, and it didn’t matter where that stuff was going to. The bottom line is the Air Force had the capability to go from this base, to this base, to this base, and drop the stuff off over here. So, working in that operational environment, and also in a joint environment, just opened my eyes to the bigger piece of what we were doing.”

As the senior enlisted leader of the base, he wants to be clear that every member of the JBAB team counts toward its mission success.

“I bring a varied background in the operations specialty,” he said. “I did maintenance a long, long time ago in the Air Force as well - loading bombs on the F-117 - and I truly do value and respect the other Air Force specialty codes and the other Navy jobs as well - personnel, security forces, admin - because this truly is one mission right here.

serve at every level of medical command, and lead on staffs of the MAJCOMs, Forward Operating Agencies, and Headquarters Air Force. Additionally, the Biomedical Sciences Corps is heavily invested in research and a host of other vital roles to meet the demands of the Air Force mission,” said Lt. Col. Glenn Laird, Senior Biomedical Corps Executive, 779th Medical Group (779 MDG).

The diversity of specialties may seem unusual for a corps, but its history explains how the BSC came into its present form.

“The BSC has its roots in the Army with a long history dating back to World War I. In 1917, Congress established the Army Sanitary Corps, a reserve unit activated only during war and national emergency. Most of these officers were experts in their respective scientific and health-related specialties such as industrial hygiene and entomology, and the Corps’ mission was to fight infectious diseases,” stated Lt. Col. Jeannette Watterson, 779 MDG Laboratory Flight Commander.

Upon the end of World War I, the Sanitary Corps was essentially demobilized. A few years later in 1920, the specialties previously within the Sanitary Corps were incorporated into the Army Medical Administrative Corps (MAC).

Within the next two decades, MAC’s mission and reach into al-

“It’s a very high profile, distinguished visitor mission, you know with the Navy Ceremonial Guard, the Coast Guard unit, the Air Force Band, the Air Force Honor Guard and vets really do appreciate what they’re doing to make sure that this base does its respective mission.

“To value each person with respect, to understand where they come from, to understand what they can bring to the organization and to see where I can help in their leadership path, I’m going to be an active, visible leader throughout the entire base. I want to get out and meet as many people as possible.”

He ended with a piece of advice that he said has worked well for him his entire career - the six “Ps.” “In my time of flying gunships and C-17s, the six Ps have stuck with me through my career which is ‘Proper Pre-mission Planning Prevents Poor Performance’,” he said. “Those six Ps in life will guide you in the right direction through a lot of different things, whether you’re studying for a promotion examination, whether you’re studying for an Airman of the quarter board or a Sailor of the year board. You’ve got to go out there and be prepared. You don’t just show up to a fitness test without preparing.

You have to be ready.”

lied health fields grew to include pharmacists, biochemists, and physiologists among other specialties. During World War II, the Sanitary Corps was again mobilized and populated by the specialists from the MAC. In the early and mid- 1940s, many corps changes occurred.

The Army Dietetics Corps and Women’s Medical Specialist Corps (WMSpC, composed of occupational and physical therapists) were established to create military positions for these specialties instead of filling the positions with civil servants. The two corps eventually combined under the WMSpC. In addition, the Army Pharmacy Corps branched from MAC secondary to growth and scope of their mission.

“Even more changes emanated from the 1947 National Security Act,” said Watterson.

As a result of massive drawdowns in the military after World War II, the Army Medical Service Corps was created with officers from the WMSpC, MAC, Army Pharmacy Corps, and the Army Sanitary Corps. Moreover, the United States Air Force was established as a separate service; however, the Air Force did not have its own medical services and depended on the Army until 1949 when the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) was authorized. Maj. Gen. Malcolm C. Grow, the name-

sake of the Joint Base Andrews clinic, was the first Air Force Surgeon General. More than 5,100 personnel were transferred from the Army to the Air Force, including many from the Army Medical Service Corps.

The new AFMS was composed of six corps: medical, dental, nurse, veterinary, women’s medical specialist, and medical service. The WMSpC included occupational therapists, physical therapists, and dietitians; the WMSpC eventually allowed men to join and became the Medical Specialists Corps. The Medical Service Corps (MSC) contained the scientific/technical specialists and administrators/logisticians including optometrists, pharmacists, laboratory officers, industrial hygiene engineers, entomologists, aerospace physiologists, health physicists, social workers, psychologists and medical administrators and logisticians.

The exponential growth and demand of allied health care as well as the complexity of hospital management and logistics within the confines of the single MSC decreased mission effectiveness and personnel utilization, training, progression, and retention.

As such, studies were conducted demonstrating the need for separate corps for the scientific and engineering elements of the

MSC. As a result, the BSC was officially created as a separate entity from the MSC and merged with the Medical Specialist Corps on March 15, 1965 with Col. Alvin F. Meyer Jr. as the first appointed Corps Chief. The MSC became a corps of medical administrators and medical logisticians.

To date, the BSC’s mission is to enhance Air Force combat capability and effectiveness by providing world-class customer service and scientific expertise, resulting in peak force performance, productivity, and quality healthcare to our beneficiary population. Comprised of 15 primary specialty codes, the BSC is the most diverse corps in the Air Force Medical Service. Capitalizing on their breadth of expertise, the BSC motto is: United in the Mission. Over the past 50 years, the BSC continued to expand its range of personnel to include a wide variety of medically-trained professionals.

Please join the Air Force in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps and recognizing the contributions of these outstanding men and women who dedicate their lives to improving health, maximizing performance, and providing trusted medical care to support our most vital resource, our Airmen.

New Year! New Fitness! New You!

PHOTOS BY DAWN POWELL, MARKETING DIRECTOR, JBAB MWR

Above: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling community kicks off the year by learning new fitness moves at MWR’s New Year, New You, New Fitness event, Jan. 10, at Fitness Center I. Instructors taught attendees some of the top fitness trends today, including Kukuwa and Z-Gogo which are various cardio exercises to African drum beats, TaijiFit, a synergistic moving meditation, and Plyoga which provides a combination of plyometrics and yoga poses.

Left: Fitness instructor Stephanie Lauren teaches yoga poses during Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s (MWR) New Year, New You, New Fitness campaign at Joint Base AnacostiaBolling Fitness Center I, Jan. 10.

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 23, 2015

3

CANCER n

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when Jefferis relocated to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, that she underwent several more diagnostic tests which ultimately led to her diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in both breasts.

According to www.breastcancer.org, DCIS is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS is called “non-invasive” because it hasn’t spread beyond the milk duct into any normal surrounding breast tissue.

“It’s not just having breast cancer, but it’s what kind of breast cancer and what stage that makes the difference,” Jefferis explained.

With a family history of breast cancer, a disease she lost her mother to at a young age, Jefferis had always kept her doctors informed and regularly performed self-examinations throughout her career - allowing her to detect the disease early on.

She wasn’t surprised to discover that her form of breast cancer was hereditary.

At the beginning of the next year, 2014, Jefferis was faced with a life-changing decision of how she would choose to treat the cancer. She chose to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery, a procedure that would remove both breasts.

With the support of a very dear friend living nearby - also a breast cancer survivor - Jefferis was able to reach out and seek advice when it came to making those really difficult decisions.

“Just talking to her gave me that extra boost and at that point I realized that through my journey the one thing I was really able to learn was perspective.”

Just a few weeks after the surgery, Jefferis received great news.

The cancer had been completely removed.

Overjoyed by the news, she went to work on organizing the support group’s first meeting.

“Realizing that there was such a large populous here at Andrews, and I know I’m not the only breast cancer survivor, I thought to myself, ‘why not start up a group here on base, for people who live close by, or for those who live at Belvoir, JBAB and even the Pen-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AIR FORCE MASTER SGT. DEMETRICA JEFFERIS

Members of Together in Pink, a local breast cancer support group based at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, pose for a photo during their monthly support meeting. Together in Pink meets every third Tuesday of the month, from 1-2 p.m., to educate, encourage and support its members, as they fight the disease together. Meetings are held in the Global Reach Conference Room, which is located within the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics/Surgery Center on base. tagon,’” Jefferis explained with excitement.

“I wanted something that’s close for people living or working on this side of Maryland, so those people can get the support they need and not have to travel very far.”

She expressed her idea for the group and was quickly connected with two women who were already working as counselors at the outpatient medical center on Andrews. One of the counselors, a breast cancer survivor herself, and another counselor, an avid supporter of survivors, were eager to join in and bring the group to life.

“I did not start this group by myself. I had other people to help me,” she said.

Together in Pink held its first meeting May 31, 2014.

During the monthly meetings participants share a part of their story covering anything from when they were diagnosed to how

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The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Navy, Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling or Comprint Military Publications of the

many years they have been a survivor.

The diverse group provides professional counseling for its members in addition to having a nurse present who is also available for advice.

“Each woman is at a different phase in their journey. Some have been survivors for over 20 years and it has come back; whereas others have just discovered theirs,” Jefferis explained.

The group is composed of both civilians and active duty service members; men are encouraged to attend as well.

“I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they have to go through this alone,” Jefferis said, “because there are so many people out there who don’t have anyone to talk to who has been where they are at, that can help them along the way and lift them up when they’re down. It’s important to have.”

“Why not have a breast cancer

Local breast cancer support group, called Together in Pink, along with other survivors in the national capital region, gather for a monthly breakfast dedicated to breast cancer survivors living in area. support group? I know I’m not the only one,” she concluded.

The breast cancer support group meets monthly on the third Tuesday in the Global Reach Conference Room of Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic/Surgery

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Center located at 1050 W. Perimeter Rd., Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762.

For more information about the group, please contact Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis at 240-8573795/3097.

Capt. Frank Mays, USN

Col. Kendall D. Peters, USAF

Michelle L. Gordon

CMSgt. Kevin Kloeppel, USAF

Commander

Public Affairs Officer

Vice Commander

Senior Enlisted Leader

Lt. Cmdr. Jim Remington, USN

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Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 23, 2015

Joint Base Journal

Two bands strengthen strategic cultural, military ties through music LT. CMDR. JIM REMINGTON

two years now. And this day has been the main thing I wanted to do on this tour so, being able to work with the U.S. Air Force Band has been amazing and a fantastic experience,” said Scalzo.

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-part story that began in the Jan. 16 issue of Joint Base Journal.

Not all work and no play

Eltham High School Symphonic Band’s exceptionalism

Listening to Eltham High School’s Symphonic Band for even a few moments reveals that this group has something very special going on; not many high school bands sound quite like this. They are an exceptional band performing at a professional caliber.

Eltham High School is part of the Eltham public school system.

Students in the town’s music program begin learning their instruments at 12 or 13 years old. The Eltham High School Symphonic Band starts in seventh grade and goes through 12th, with the youngest band member being 14 and the oldest 18. Among its 54 members, approximately 20 graduated one month ago when the Australian school year came to an end and their summer vacation began.

But all of the band’s recent alumni stayed with the band beyond graduation for what will be prove to be a memorable finish to their high school experience culminating with their performances at the Midwest Clinic.

But even before this moment, these students have achieved several noteworthy successes. And before any of them were students, in fact before any of them were born, their predecessors in the same band were achieving great things and building the foundations of what they have become today. The Eltham High School Symphonic Band began to pave the way for outstanding high school wind ensembles in Australia. The previous director, from whom Plummer took over, steadily built the program over more than 20 years.

“At the time, nothing like it existed. Now there are three or four really outstanding ensembles like this in Victoria. In previous times the band has had streaks of 20 years straight where they’ve won the Victoria state championships,” said Plummer. “Most recently we won it in 2012 and 2013, and this year we came second to another great high school band, Blackburn High School in Victoria. So there is a strong tradition of this ensemble competing well at the Royal South Street Eisteddfod.”

When asked what makes his student musicians and their band exceptional, Plummer credited the culture of the whole program as being the main reason.

“Most of them don’t start learning their instrument until they get to the school, which is when they’re about 12 or 13. And they start in group lessons of say four students per group. And if they stick the path and they practice regularly and just work with their great teachers they should get into the symphonic band,” Plummer said. “So every ensemble that you move through you have to audi-

U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY LT. CMDR. JIM REMINGTON

(Left to right) U.S. Air Force Band Commander and Conductor Col. Larry H. Lang, originally from El Paso, Texas, stands with Eltham High School Symphonic Band members Emily Everett and Lauren Scalzo, Eltham High School Symphonic Band and Director of Music Rick Plummer, guest conductor Ingrid Martin, and Royal Australian Air Force Air Commodore Gary Martin, who serves as the air attaché at the Australian Embassy in Washington, following a clinic and joint performance of the two bands. tion. The audition is just to make sure that the student has done what the teachers have asked them to do.”

The school has teachers who teach all of the instruments in the band, teachers who are specialists not just in teaching the instrument but also at knowing how to get the students through the program so that one day they can achieve these sort of high standards on display at an Eltham High School Symphonic Band performance.

“And then, of course, we have some outstanding students, like Alessandra, who you heard today perform the solo. There are half a dozen or so of those students who are truly, truly talented and may want to pursue a career or future in music. But the general group of them are just normal kids who work really hard for this ensemble,” said Plummer.

While Eltham High is a public school with a music program that gets lots of support, the children’s families must pay for their lessons, and they must pay for them to go on this tour.

“The school does what it can to support us with buying some equipment. But I’m thankful that we’ve got an active parent group called ‘The Friends of Music Group,’ who do a lot of fundraisers throughout the year to raise some money to help buy some of the bigger instruments. Most recently they bought a grand piano for the school; we never had a grand piano before,” said Plummer.

Plummer added that he feels lucky that the music program is led by the school and the school council, rather than the state government. Together, the school and the school council determine what role music plays in the school and they strongly support the music program.

Guest conductor Ingrid Martin explained that the band is different from many U.S. high school bands in that band is an extracurricular activity, so it does not run during class time.

“This ensemble rehearses only twice a week outside of normal

Senior Master Sgt. Eric A. Sabatino, harp soloist for The United States Air Force Band, originally from Evansville, Ind., works with Australia’s Eltham High School Symphonic Band flutists Lauren Scalzo (center) and Anna Telfer (right) during a mini-clinic at the Air Force Band hangar on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. school hours and has a music camp once a year for a weekend and this is the result,” she said.

“There are competitions that run in Melbourne. One is the Royal South Street Eisteddfod competitions and another is the Victorian School of Music Festival. And the band has a very long history of being successful in those competitions.”

The reason the school’s music leadership brings the students to these competitions, Plummer said, is to give the students a goal toward which they can work and to inspire them to play together musically within a sophisticated repertoire.

“From that if we’re successful [placing in a competition], we are, and if not, it’s still been a great journey. We are very lucky that we have been very successful over the years with the program.”

A musical sidebar of harp and flute

At the conclusion of Eltham’s visit with the band, while the other musicians departed for a quick lunch, two of the band’s recentlygraduated seniors chose to stay behind and give up half of their lunch time for a smaller, more personal mini-clinic with Senior Master Sgt. Eric A. Sabatino, harp soloist for the Concert Band, origi-

nally from New York.

The two flutists, Anna Telfer and Lauren Scalzo, both recent alumni of Eltham High School, hope to continue their music education at the university level.

Each has auditioned for the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and are awaiting word on their acceptance.

About her experience working with Sabatino and his harp for just a half hour, Telfer said, “We’ve never had the experience of playing with harp before and it’s pretty rare to be able to do that. He helped us with phrasing and expressiveness.”

Bunner, the Air Force Band’s AIM director, said Sabatino is one of the top musicians and mentors his band has.

“They couldn’t get enough. Eric is super; he just wanted to give as much as he could because they wanted to take some time to play with him. Flute and harp are complementary instruments. There are a lot of pieces written for that combination. And he was able to use a little bit of their lunch break which I thought was special,” Bunner added.

Scalzo, the other flutist, said she was especially grateful for her experience with the entire Air Force Band and the short time they were able to work with Sabatino.

“I’ve looking forward to this for

After 20 hours of travel, the Eltham High School Symphonic Band touched down in Washington, and with a day to spare before its morning with the Air Force Band, the students and conductors managed to put in a solid day of touring Sunday starting around 9:30 a.m., in spite of their jet lag. They went to the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, the White House, the Washington Monument and nearby memorials.

Plummer said that, as Australians, they obviously understand a lot of American history through their very close cultural relationship with the United States and access to its media. But even beyond that, as a band, he and his students perform many American compositions to include a selection by Mark Camphouse, professor of music at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia titled “A Movement for Rosa.” The piece, which the Eltham band studied and prepared, honors civil rights heroine Rosa Parks.

The composition has three sections to represent her life. The first covers her early years from her 1919 birth in Tuskegee, Alabama, until her marriage in the 1930s. The second reflects a period of racial strife in Montgomery, where she and so many others were seeking social equality. The third section finishes depicting Park’s quiet strength and serenity with some final moments of dissonance at the very end which serve as a commentary and warning on racism’s lingering presence in society.

After all of the preparation on “A Movement for Rosa,” and then the anticipation of working on it firsthand with the composer at George Mason University by the next afternoon, Plummer said it made the experience of seeing the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial all the richer.

“To be able to go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial yesterday was really great because we were able to connect what some of that means to the American people and to what we’re going to be doing with the music,” said Plummer. “And then also to see all those places you want to have on your bucket list, like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, all that sort of stuff that we see quite often, but have never seen in the flesh, was amazing.”

The band then completed its night with a family-style Italian dinner at Carmine’s before turning in for a good night’s rest.

Between the Air Force Band and the Midwest Clinic

After leaving the Air Force Band, Eltham’s students had a quick lunch at the food court in JBAB’s Base Exchange before head-

See BAND, Page 6

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Warfighter & Family Readiness Programs & Events

www.MyWFR.com Warfighter & Family Readiness has a new look! Visit our new website at www.MyWFR.com to stay up-to-date with all events, programs, specials and more!

Observances January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that affected 6.6 million victims in one year.

The theme - “Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.” -challenges the nation to fight this dangerous crime by learning more about it. For additional resources to help promote National Stalking Awareness Month, please visit the Military & Family Support Center or http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org.

Dining 2-for-1 Steak Night

Jan. 29 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Bolling Club, Wings Bar and Grill Best Deal in Town! Choose from a juicy 12oz rib eye or New York strip steak, tossed or Iceberg wedge salad and baked russet potato, sweet potato, french fries or rice pilaf and chef’s choice vegetables. Catch of the day or grilled chicken breast is also available.

Club Members: $24.95 for two people; Non-Members: $24.95 per person

Spinz at Potomac Lanes Bowling Center

Enjoy a new spin on food with hand-crafted burgers and sandwiches, signature pizzas and wings. Spinz also offers a variety of healthy and vegetarian menu items such as the Greek salad, fresh veggies with hummus and the Veggie Patch- sub!

Entertainment Play Bingo at Potomac Lanes

Win up to $8,000 per game and daily prizes! Sign up for you VIP Bingo Payer’s Card today at Potomac Lanes!

Boss & Buddy

Jan. 30 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Bolling Club, Wings Bar & Grill Follow up that monthly promotion ceremony by taking your boss to the club for food and drink specials. Club Members can enjoy a complimentary buffet; cost for NonMembers is $10.

Super Bowl Party

Feb. 1 | 5 p.m. | Bolling Club, WASP Lounge Watch Super Bowl XLIX on six big screen televisions while enjoying food and giveaways! Club Members: Free; Non-Members: $10

Recreation Save the Date!

A Catered Affair: Wedding & Special Events Expo Feb. 6 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bolling Club Start planning for your special event at the Bolling Club and Community Center with the area’s best event professionals. The Bolling Club is the ideal venue in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area, offering the very best in amenities, service and affordability. With 340,000 square feet of space and 12 rooms available we can ensure to find the right space for you.

Meet face to face with the Special Events and Catering Manager and other vendors to include photographers, florists, bakeries and travel agents - all under one roof! View different event exhibits for weddings, anniversaries, retirements and baby showers. Taste wedding cakes, sample appetizers and register to win giveaways! Free admission. Visit MyWFR. com for a complete list of vendors.

Private events are exclusive to Air Force Club Members and their guests only. If you’re not a club member, sign up today at the Bolling Club or online at www.myairforcelife.com and start taking advantage of the savings! The Department of the Navy does not endorse any company, sponsor or their products or services.

Cosmic Saturday

Every Saturday | 8 p.m.-midnight| Potomac Lanes Bowling Center Unlimited bowling and shoe rental for only $15; $12 for active-duty military personnel and their families.

Arts & Crafts Center - 202-767-6997 Arnold Ave, Bldg. 4472

Woodshop Now Open!

The woodshop is now open to all DoD ID cardholders every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 per hour.

Outdoor Recreation 202-767-9136 / 202-369-7476 Hit the Slopes

Rent or tune up your ski/snowboard gear at Outdoor Recreation - 202-767-9136 / 202-369-7476.

Giovannoli Way, Bldg. 928

Friday, January 23, 2015

Military & Family Support Center All classes are open to active-duty service members, spouses, retirees and civilians affected by base realignment.

Workshops are open to DOD civilians on a space availability basis. To register, please call the Military and Family Support Center, 202-767-0450. To view a complete schedule, visit MyWFR.com or the MWR Smartphone App, ABSalute.

Employment Assistance/Transition Assistance

Executive Transition GPS

Jan. 26-30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Bldg. 13.

Register for course through command career counselor.

VA I & II

Jan. 26, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Bldg. 13

Ski/Snowboard Equipment

Snowboard Package (1st Day): $25 Ski Package (1st Day): $25 Additional days for each Package: $10 Boots: $8 Poles: $5 Skis/Snowboard: $15 Snow Shoes: $12 Helmet: $2 Services Tuning: $10 Edging: $8 Waxing: $7 Calibrating: $10 Complete Tuning: $25

Family Employment Readiness Program

Family Employment Readiness Jan. 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Bldg. 13

Life Skills Tots, Tumble, & Talk

Held every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:45-11:45 a.m., at the Youth Center

Effective Communication

Jan. 26, 2-3 p.m., Bldg. 13

Free Winter Inspection

Receive a free winter inspection with the purchase of an oil change at Auto Hobby Shop, bldg. P9. The inspection includes tires, belts, all fluids, top off washer fluid, under carriage and suspension and lights!

Disney on Ice presents World of Fantasy

Experience a magical Disney fantasy live on ice at the Verizon Center, Feb. 13-16. Discounted tickets are on sale now through Feb. 5 at the ITT Office, Chappie James Blvd, Bldg. 4570 (Inside the Commissary). Call 202-404-6576 or visit MyWFR.com for details!

Personal Financial Management

Developing Your Spending Plan Jan. 28, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Bldg. 13

Million $ Ways

Jan. 29, 8 a.m.-noon, Bldg. 13

Relocation Assistance

Smooth Move & Overseas Planning Jan. 27, 9-11 a.m., Bldg. 13

Right Start

Personalized Gifts

Jan. 28, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Bldg. 13

Give that special someone a unique gift with a personalized message from the Engraving Shop, located at Arts & Crafts, Bldg. 4472. Call 202-767-6997 for pricing and details.

Child & Youth

Sexual Assault Prevention & Response

SAPR VA Refresher Training

Jan. 29, 1-3:30 p.m., Bldg. 13

Snow Tubing at Whitetail Ski Resort

Teens (Ages 13-18): Jan. 31, Register by Jan. 28 Noon-10 p.m. | Mercersburg, Pennsylvania Tube down any of the 10 snow tubing lanes at Whitetail Ski Resort. Afterwards, we will stop for a fast food dinner before returning to the base. Come dressed for lots of cold fun. Tickets must be purchased from the Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT) Office located inside the Commissary. Cost is $26 for a two-hour session. Transportation is included, but participants are responsible for any associated costs incurred on this trip. Current membership and a signed permission slip are needed for this activity. Limited seating is available on the bus, so register early at the Youth Center.

Military Spouses can get FREE career training with MyCAA funding.

Train online in healthcare, technology, or administration and prepare to earn $30,000-$50,000/year.

Visit CareerStep.com/spouse or call 1-866-203-1822 today!

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M.V. Leckie Elementary recognizes MLK, Jr. Day

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ing on for another clinic at nearby George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. There the band played with the university’s director of music, Dr. Dennis M. Layendecker, retired colonel and former commander of The United States Air Force Band from 2002 to 2009, as well as the previously mentioned Professor of Music Mark Camphouse.

From there, Eltham’s band headed north to New York City for approximately a week, where it participated in a number of workshops and performances in New York, even working with American composer, big-band leader and Grammy Award-winner Maria Schneider who recently collaborated with David Bowie on his new single “Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime).”

Eltham’s young musicians also worked with composer Michael Markowski in Brooklyn on his 2011 composition, “As Midnight on a Moonless Night,” and later performed it in concert with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony.

The Midwest Clinic

The band performed in two separate events at its final stop in Chicago. Their guest conductor Ingrid Martin gave a presentation on Australian band repertoire. Together she and Eltham’s musicians served as Australian cultural and musical ambassadors to the clinic’s attendees. Additionally, Australian composer and music educator Jodie Blackshaw, a good friend of the Eltham, also used them as the demo group for her education workshop.

“Ingrid Martin, she’s put together a clinic of Australian repertoire. The idea of that clinic is we’re wanting to expose some of the great writers from Australia that maybe the Americans haven’t come across. Everyone knows Percy Grainger, and everyone knows a few of the more well-known composers that have been writing repertoire for the last 10 to 15 years, but we’ve tried to bring some of the composers that perhaps the American ensembles and band directors don’t know,” said Plummer.

“For mine it’s mainly a survey of Australian repertoire,” said Martin. “So we’ll be playing excerpts from a number of different Australian works, and Jodie’s is somewhat unconventional so there’ll be kids running around with drumsticks

Joint Base Journal

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. CMDR. JIM REMINGTON

Eltham High School Symphonic Band guest conductor Ingrid Martin directs both Eltham and The United States Air Force Band during a clinic.

hitting chairs and helping the band directors who are coming to the clinics understand some different ways in which they can teach in their band room.”

Plummer said that Blackshaw’s work is starting to get noticed and played in America, but beyond her music she has so much important knowledge to convey about how to teach music to young musicians.

“Jodie is really passionate about drawing a connection with the students and understanding a lot of different musical concepts and how that goes within their understanding before they even touch their instruments. So we’re doing a clinic with her that’s based on alternative ways to rehearse your band. So there’s a lot of interaction. They’ve got drumsticks at one stage they’re using, all sorts of stuff, and then eventually at some point they’ll pick up their instruments and play some music at the end,” Plumer said.

And with the conclusion of these performances, this particular collection of Eltham High School Symphonic Band members will reach its proud end.

Outside of their performance role, the Midwest Clinic will give all of the band members an opportunity to see several world-class ensembles in one place.

“Once we finish this tour,” Plummer said, “this particular ensemble as it is composed with this group of students is finished.”

For Eltham’s recent graduates, they will always have the memory of how it felt to go out on a high note.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARISSA CAMILLERI

Volunteers from M.V. Leckie Elementary School in D.C. Ward 8 participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade, Jan. 19.

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