Pentagram 010815

Pentagram

Vol. 62, No. 1 January 8, 2015

www.army.mil/jbmhh

Changes to enlisted separation policy aim to provide Soldiers options JBM-HH commemorates King

HQDA Secretary of Army Career Counselors of the Year picked JBM-HH weathers winter storm Janus Detour signs, utility f lags, signal start of ANC t ree ma rk i ng s Millennium Project Five Soldiers

selected for Sochi bobsled

U.S. Olympic team Construction

for new JBM-HH comm. bldg. to begin Henderson Hall-HQ Marines help vets at VA medical facility

Gospel service celebrates African-American History Month JBM-HH rich with civil rights firsts FDC applauded at 54th anniversary celebration Odierno announces vision and

priorities for Army

women’s history is Parents listen, ask case Medal of Honor veterans Heroism New program aids intervention Rader

for self-service sacrifice: Beyond revised grooming 607-1 changes honor fallen family officers could release Bldg. 406

Marine Corps announces new requirements for Marine security guards NASA

A Corps’ new C ou nsel i ng prevent ion, servicemembers,

by mid-summer

remembers its own at Arlington National Cemetery TUSAB

reaches out to schools during SOA tour Service to America’s fallen heroes recognized French president visits ANC, JBM-HH JBM-HH, Arlington County proactive in pothole repair U.S. military rich in African-American history Basketball champions! Snow and ice removal remain a mission priority

Sleeves up! Speaker: ‘America’s history’ about CDC abuse awarded to 24 Army defined on MoH Day suicide prevention,

Clinic prepares Tricare Ultimate tattoos and standards, AR allow some to members Marine qualify for early

demolition to be done

helping hand: Community Program offers intervention to

families Around DoD: 10 things to know SMA lists Soldiers’ top 5 concerns Police to drivers: Park, drive legally

JBM-HH celebrates Earth Day Odierno honors civilians at ‘Sa lute’

Published For Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

JBM-HH adds to team in fight on sexual assault W h a t ’s i n a name? JBM-HH

Army: 33,000 jobs now available t o wo m e n Ne w memo details transition requirements Chairman

describes U.S. interests in Iraq Preparing for the worst New doors opening for female S o l d i e r s , M a r i n e s President awards

volunteers praised at ceremonies 150 years ago...

First servicemember buried at ANC commended by Army, family amid cemetery’s 150th anniversary commemoration Army seeks to

enhance civilian workforce

The mysteries of Section 15 Pocket guide spells out clothing allowance details Pilot course

encourages NCO leadership, unity Open for business: Newly renovated JBM-HH Exchange now open Happy

239th, Army!

former Soldier

Civilians, arriving members

v ir uses peak, WNV McNair New

By Jim Goodwin Pentagram Editor American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” At Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, we have a similar unofficial phrase that reminds us to make the most of each day: “Every day is a great day at JBM-HH.” In 2014, JBM-HH saw a number of those great – and notable – days and the Pentagram staff captured a good many of those memorable happenings that made 2014 a year to remember.

Accordingly, the first issue of the Pentagram each year is dedicated to reviewing the top news and other stories

of interest from around the joint base, including our partner communities, neighbors and tenant commands.

JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson, who took command of JBM-HH in August, says he was nothing short of impressed with JBM-HH’s employees during a pre-Christmas interview with the Pentagram. Henderson cited notable achievements among JBMHH’s various organizations, services and programs. He specifically cited the “technical expertise” of JBM-HH employees and their abilities to plan, synchronize and provide security for a multitude of major events at the joint base, including preparation for and response to one of the harshest winters the National Capital Region has experienced in recent years. He also cited the joint base’s ability to prioritize and maintain critical infrastructure in many of JBM-HH’s more historic build-

ings. In August, Bldg. 249, the operations facility for The Old Guard’s Alpha and Echo Companies, earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for environmentallysound renovations made to the building in 2011, according to a news report by Pentagram staff writer Guv Callahan.

“It’s a good first impression,” said Henderson. “We’ve got a great group of employees. I really appreciate what the workforce does for service members and their families.”

A year of firsts, anniversaries The joint base and its partner communities saw many firsts and significant anniversaries throughout the year. In May, the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base hosted dozens of noncommissioned officers from across the services at the first-ever joint noncommissioned

Compiled by Damien Salas Pentagram Staff Writer

1. Renovations of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) barracks (Bldg. 247) begin this month with an estimated completion date of Dec. 27, 2016, according to the Department of Defense. The project is estimated to cost some $23.5 million - the largest ever federal contract awarded with funds set aside specifically for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. Bldg.

246, another barracks, is also slated for renovation this year. JBM-HH’s Dining Facility, located on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base will also be renovated early this year.

2. The end of Operation Enduring Freedom, Dec. 28 as announced by a ceremony at the International Security and Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, closes a 13-year conflict in the region. In its place, Operation Inherent Resolve remains the DoD’s first line of strategy against the ISIL terrorist organization in Syria and Iraq, utilizing a targeted coalition of drone air strikes “to degrade and defeat ISIL terrorists who hold large sections of territory along the countries’ shared border,” according to a DoD press release. The United States has begun training Iraqi army recruits, a central part of the strategy by the U.S.-led coalition that is working with the Iraqi government to retake territory and ulti-

Index Best of Caption This. . . . page 2 Sports review 2014 . . . . page 3 Notable events 2014 timeline . . . . . . . . page 3 In photos: 2014 . . . . . pages 4-5 Marines 2014 look back. . . . . . . . . . . . page 6 News Notes . . . . . . . . . . page 7

Mosquito-borne hit summer discovered on Fort

ANC No mark time for Fife and Drum Corps as SOA approaches JBM-HH FD responds to local fire JBM-HH welcomes new commander, CSM There’s beauty behind the uniform New command team outline expectations in town hall Soldier for life: Not just for transitioning Soldiers

Hagel: Bergdahl r e c o v e r y consistent with U.S. laws

Ten things to know around the DoD for 2015

Soldiers thank Honor Flight

ACAP software to modernize command-unit communication General killed in Afghanistan buried in

Year in review

2014: A year-end review of JBM-HH, community partners

Medal of Honor

Stopping suicide stigmas: Retired major general, wife speak out about son’s suicide

officer leadership symposium. In July, Soldiers, Marines and federal civilian employees competed in a swath of relays as part of the joint base’s first Urban Warrior Challenge. JBM-HH’s firsts will continue in 2015, starting with the first combined tax center on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH, combining the staffs of the Henderson Hall and Fort Myer tax preparation teams under one roof.

Unfortunately, 2014 also saw the first combat death of a general officer since the Vietnam War. Army Maj. Gen. Harold Greene was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan in August. The Pentagram covered this historic and emotional burial at Arlington National Cemetery; Greene was buried there less than two weeks after his death. He is one of some 400,000 people buried in the cemetery, which see REVIEW, page 6

News Notes Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join friends and colleagues at the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday Jan. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Community Center, Bldg.

45 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. The federal holiday commemorating King is Jan. 19, and has come to be known as a “day on, not a day off,” with everyone encouraged to take action helping others.

Guest speaker for this event is retired Army Brig. Gen. Clara AdamsEnder, a former deputy commanding general of the U.S. Military District of Washington.

There will be displays depicting King’s life and the civil rights movement and an ethnic food tasting. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call 703-696-8729/2964.

Soil removal project to hamper parking

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RACHEL LARUE

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., becomes commandant of the Marine Corps during a Passage of Command ceremony Oct. 17, at Marine Barracks Washington. Just several weeks later, Dunford released nomination criteria for the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps, the Corps’ senior enlisted advisor to the commandant.

mately defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in the country.

3. Several weeks after becoming Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., released selection criteria for nominations of Marines for consideration to become the next sergeant

major of the Marine Corps. The criteria, contained in All Marine message 45/14, lists that candidates must: have combat experience, serve in a general officerslated billet for at least two years, have at least 25 years in service, be willing to

see TEN THINGS, page 7

Part of the project for the new Network Enterprise Center facility on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base will be the removal of soil at the construction site for the future Bldg.

235. From now until the end of January a crew will remove soil at the site behind Bldg. 28 (veterinary services) and The Old Guard Caisson. During this time, the area will be closed and no cars will be allowed to park behind the caisson and paddock area. There will be large dump trucks transiting the area and along Sheridan Avenue.

Use care while driving, walking and

see NEWS NOTES, page 7

When winter weather hits, stay informed!

Visit the official JBM-HH social media websites to obtain pertinent news about local-area events, traffic closures and other relevant local news.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jbmhh Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBMHH JBM-HH information hotline: 703-696-6906 JBM-HH webpage: www.army.mil/jbmhh

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Caption This 2014 First place “I told you not to touch the sorcerer’s wand, Mickey.”

– Barbara Bell, a Pentagram reader Published Oct. 30, 2014

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RACHEL LARUE

SGT. SARAH FIOCO

Second place

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DAMIEN SALAS

Third place

“Gotta camo up.”

“NYC Rockettes in training.”

– Brian Gaffrey, a Pentagram reader Published April 25, 2014

– Barb Martz, a Pentagram reader Published Nov. 26, 2014

Caption This no. 1

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SGT. ALVIN WILLIAMS JR.

Each week, “Caption This” will feature a photo taken on base. It’s up to you to figure out the best, funniest or craziest caption that describes what’s going on in the picture. The only rule is you have to KEEP IT CLEAN! Caption This submissions can be sent to pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com, left in the comments on www.facebook.com/jbmhh or dropped off at Headquarters Bldg. 59, suite 116. Don’t forget to add the Caption This number, your name, rank or position and where you work.

The winner’s name, caption and the photo will be printed in the newspaper.

If you have a photo you think would make a great Caption This, send it in.

Pentagram Printed on recycled paper

www.army.mil/jbmhh

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BY

SGT. ALVIN WILLIAMS JR.

Caption This no. 48 winner

“Yes, I really do know when you’re naughty.”

The Pentagram is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pentagram are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, or Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs Office. Pictures not otherwise credited are U.S. Army photographs. News items should be submitted to the Pentagram, 204 Lee Ave., Bldg. 59, Fort Myer, VA 22211-1199. They may also be e-mailed to james.m.goodwin3.civ@mail.mil.

Circulation of 24,000 is printed by offset every Thursday as a civilian enterprise newspaper by Comprint Military Publications. Comprint Military Publications is located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone (301) 921-2800. Commercial advertising should be placed with the printer.

Comprint Military Publications is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy.

The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include all inserts and supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser shall result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

- Anthony Geiger A Pentagram reader

Editorial staff Commander Col. Michael D. Henderson Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Randall E. Woods Director of Public Affairs Mary Ann Hodges Command Information Officer Sharon Walker

Pentagram staff Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer Graphic Designer

Jim Goodwin Jim Dresbach Julia LeDoux Guv Callahan Damien Salas Rachel Larue Helen Klein

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Community

PENTAGRAM

2014 base sporting events set tone for more of the same in 2015

By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer More championships were claimed and race miles were logged during an eventful sports year on Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall.

Popular sporting events like the Capital Classic Basketball and JBM-HH Commander’s Race Series are promised in 2015.

Intramural championships in basketball, flag football and volleyball were not the only titles claimed in 2014. The Fort Myer Generals – both the men’s and

women’s teams – won February’s Capital Classic; the men added a Washington Area Military Athletic Conference tournament title which was held in late March and early April.

The pros also stopped at JBM-HH to say hello. Carolina Panthers’ players Thomas Davis and Ryan Kalil signed autographs and posed for pictures at United Service Organizations’ Honor Guard Lounge on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base during May, and a group of D.C. United soccer players spent a late April afternoon sharing kicking tips

with military kids.

From M a rch t h roug h December, the Fort Myer Fitness Center and Henderson Hall’s Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium were the sites of the Commander’s Race Series and the Oorah Running Series, respectively.

New wrinkles were added to the Fort Myer portion of the race series with the awarding of a holiday race coin for those finishing the Halloween Demon and Doggie Dash, Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and December Ugly Sweater Run. In July, JBM-HH runners were introduced to the Firecracker Twinkie Challenge, in which runners were required to munch on snack cakes at the race’s half-way point.

All those races – plus Fort McNair’s Cherry Blossom Run and a new race, May 1’s Rockin’ and Reelin’ Sock Hop Run – are on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s racing schedule in 2015.

“The Twinkie Challenge was the first one we’ve ever done, and the Cherry Blossom Run at Fort McNair is the first time FMWR sponsored a run at McNair,” said FMWR recreation specialist Todd Hopkins. “At Halloween, we incorporated dogs into the see SPORTS, page 7

May 15

Joint Enlisted Education Seminar

Aug. 27

New command team

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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RACHEL LARUE

Nicole Pittman, Fort Myer Generals player, goes up for a basket Feb. 16, during the first game of the women’s portion of the Capital Classic Basketball Tournament against Fort Bragg. The women’s team from JBM-HH won the weekend tournament.

Oct. 24

Sept. 25

Practicing for Ebola

Active shooter exercise

Nov. 7

USMC birthday run

Jan. 22

Janus brings the snow, ice

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RACHEL LARUE

Icicles cling to the edge of Bldg. 321 on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall after winter storm Janus dumped several inches of snow on the National Capital Region Jan. 21 Jan. 22.

BY

SGT. ALVIN WILLIAMS JR.

Service members assigned throughout the National Capital Region compete in a tug of war during a team building session at the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall May 15.

The team building was part of a first National Capital Region Joint Professional Development Seminar May 14-16. More than 100 military noncommissioned officers from across the services attended the event.

BY

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RACHEL LARUE

DAMIEN SALAS

The Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic performed a walk-through scenario Oct. 24, at the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH to prepare healthcare workers in case an ebola patient were to arrive at the clinic seeking treatment. The clinic, along with other local healthcare officials, used this exercise to solidify a plan of action for patients experiencing symptoms of the disease with a travel history to infected areas.

Nov. 6

Dec. 12

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Members of 289th Military Police Company detain a role-player on the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 25. During the exercise, a role player portraying an active shooter entered buildings on the joint base and JBM-HH 289th Military Police Company, Directorate of Emergency Services and MPDC responded.

BY

Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall participate in the Commandant’s bir thday run Nov. 7, from the Pentagon to the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va. Commandant Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett led hundreds of Marines, including Marines from Henderson Hall, in recognition of the Corp’s 239th birthday, which is Nov. 10.

RACHEL LARUE

From left, outgoing Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender, outgoing JBM-HH Commander Col. Fern O. Sumpter, Director Atlantic Region U.S. Army Installation management Command Davis D. Tindoll Jr., incoming JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson and incoming JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Randall E. Woods stand during a change of command ceremony in Conmy Hall on JBM-HH Aug. 27.

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

JBM-HH’s notable events in 2014 Feb. 11

French president visits JBM-HH, awards veterans

Jun. 17

Washington Arsenal explosion: 150 years later

Jul. 30

Henderson Hall Pentagon satellite office opens

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BY JIM

DRESBACH

French President Francois Hollande awards World War II veteran Henry Powton Jr., during a ceremony at the Fort Myer Officers Club Feb. 11.

Hollande decorated six D-Day veterans with the Ordre National de la Légion D’honneurs — the highest award given by the French for bravery or service during his state visit to the United States.

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RACHEL LARUE

Ed Bearss, American Civil War historian, gives remarks June 17, during a ceremony to commemorate the explosion that happened at Washington Arsenal, located on what is now known as the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Extreme summer heat caused drying explosives to combust, sending sparks into the gunpowder-filled room where 29 women were working, killing 21 of them June 17, 1864.

BY

Oct. 30

Honoring outstanding service

Hiring Heroes Career Fair

RACHEL LARUE

Marines work at their desks in Headquarters and Service Battalion Forward in the Pentagon, Room 4A524, July 30. The new office provides administrative and readiness support, like access to relocation assistance, family readiness and S-3 training, closer to Marines working in the Pentagon.

New TUSAB commander

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RACHEL LARUE

Co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Bob Woodruff, receives the Outstanding Civilian Service Award during the Salute from the Chief Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Twilight Tattoo on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Oct. 30. During the ceremony, five recipients of the Outstanding Civilian Service Award were recognized.

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) Paige Hinkle-Bowles gives remarks during the Hiring Heroes Career Fair in Spates Community Center on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Nov. 6. More than 73 participating employers included various federal agencies, private sector companies and local police departments.

More than 70 on-the-spot interviews were conducted at the event, which was coordinated by JBM-HH’s Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program office.

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Incoming Leader and Commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Col. Timothy J. Holtan receives the colors from Joint Force Headquar ters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, not pictured, during a change of command ceremony in Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Dec. 12. Col. Thomas H. Palmatier relinquished command to Holtan and retired from the Army after 37-and-a-half years of service.

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

PENTAGRAM

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RACHEL LARUE

Participants go by spectators from the organization Wear Blue: Run to Remember, who are holding American flags on Haines Point during the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 26. The MCM course starts and finishes near the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., and winds its way through parts of Virginia and Washington, D.C.

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DAMIEN SALAS

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commandant of the Marine Corps, sings the Marines’ Hymn Dr. Susan Myers, widow of Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene, places a red rose on her husband’s casket following a graveside service for the major general in Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 7, in recognition of the Corps’ 239th birthday, which is Nov. 10, in Arlington, Va. Arlington, Va., Aug. 14. Greene was killed by small arms fire Aug. 5 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Dunford and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, led hundreds of Marines on an annual run from the Pentagon to the Marine Corps War Memorial located just outside Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Wright Gate. The run also included Marines from the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. Once the Marines arrived at the memorial, they stopped to sing all three verses of the Marines’ Hymn with accompaniment from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

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BY JIM

DRESBACH

Surrounded by headstones, The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” bugler Staff Sgt. Drew Fremder plays Taps in Arlington National Cemetery during the graveside service for Spc. Kyle P. Stoeckli Nov. 21. Stoeckli was killed in Afghanistan June 1, 2013.

2014: A look back in photos

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DAMIEN SALAS

Team Marine plays against team Air Force in recognition of Warrior Care Month in the Pentagon Nov. 20 in Arlington, Va., during the fourth annual Joint Services Sitting Volleyball Tournament.

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RACHEL LARUE

Firefighters from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall take part in a training exercise on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 8. Firefighters from JBM-HH and Andrews trained in a building designed for repeated fires fueled by wood and excelsior.

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RACHEL LARUE

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne of the United Kingdom, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Nov. 6. Princess Anne laid a wreath at the tomb and unveiled a Victoria Cross memorial plaque.

For more best of JBM-HH year end photos, visit us online at: www.flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Jim Kramer, part of Old Glory Honor Flight from Northeast Wisconsin, receives a kiss from Barbara Lawton, from Crystal City, Va., as he disembarks a plane at Reagan National Airport Sept. 11. Veterans from World War II, Vietnam War and Korean War eras were on the flight.

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BY JIM

DRESBACH

The Fort Myer Generals, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s men’s varsity basketball team, skied high President’s Day weekend in February to win the 2014 Capital Classic. The Fort Myer Generals women’s team also claimed a Cap Classic title.

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BY JIM

DRESBACH

Over 50 puppies and pooches set paws in the Fort Myer Officers Club pool complex waters Sept. 6 at the annual Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Doggie Dip held on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH.

Follow JBM-HH: facebook.com/jbmhh | twitter.com/JBMHH | www.army.mil/jbmhh

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall in 2014 A look back at people, policy and places

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RACHEL LARUE

Gen. James F. Amos, 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, salutes during the Passage of Command of the U.S. Marine Corps ceremony Oct. 17, at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. During the ceremony Amos relinquished command to Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

From left, Robert J. Bianchi, chief executive officer, Navy Exchange Service Command; Grayson Avery, senior project manager Stellar Commercial Construction; Bette Stolarun, Marine Corps Exchange retail director; Michelle Cole, manager, NEX Uniform Center; Roger R. Weger, Henderson Hall Marine Corps Community Services director; Dave Turner, acting director, Non-appropriated Fund Business and Support Services Division, U.S. Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and Col. Anthony S. Barnes, commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, pose for a photograph while cutting the ribbon during the grand opening for the MCX third floor addition and NEX Uniform Center Sept. 10, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

By Guv Callahan Pentagram Staff Writer The U.S. Marine Corps had a good year in 2014, both on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall and across the nation.

With ongoing force drawdowns in the coming fiscal years, it was a year of significant change for the Corps, which welcomed a new commandant when Gen. James F. Amos passed command to Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. in October, and celebrated its 239th birthday in November.

During the passage of command ceremony, held at Marine Barracks Washington “8th and I” in Washington, D.C., Dunford, a Boston native, said he could not be more humbled to take command. “My focus in the coming years will be to take care of our Marines and their families and to ensure that our Corps remains the expeditionary force that our nation has come to expect,” Dunford said during the ceremony.

And while commanders will seek to continue refining the force, they will have to do so with less manpower. In light of budget constraints, the Corps will be drawing down its forces through fiscal year 2017.

Marine Corps leadership had a Fiscal Year 2014 endstrength goal of 188,800 Marines and plans to reduce the force by roughly 4,000 Marines per year until reaching the 175,000-mark by FY 2017’s end. In other words, retention is getting more competitive for Marines and will continue to do so.

“The commandant is asking for us to retain only the best and the brightest – the most highly-qualified Marines,” Gunnery Sgt. Donald Miller of MMEA’s enlisted assignments branch told first-term Marines during a retention briefing in August.

Marine Corps officials also announced details of two early-out programs for FY 2015 designed to manage the force by offering staff noncommissioned officers either early retirement or a lump-sum payment to leave the service.

Though that might seem grim, the good news is that the Corps continued to excel and set itself apart in 2014, especially at JBM-HH’s Henderson Hall, the home of Headquarters Marine Corps’ Headquarters and Service Battalion. The battalion provides administrative, planning and logistical support to thousands of Headquarters Marine Corps and National Capital Region-based Marines and family members, as well as Marines stationed throughout the world.

Two Henderson Hall-based Marines, Cpl. Tahira

Lawrence and Cpl. Arlene Cordova, were both meritoriously promoted in May and received personal letters from the commandant of the Corps. In the Marine Corps, meritorious promotions are coveted achievements earned through competitive selection boards, top-notch performance and proven leadership potential, according to guidance listed in volume two of the Marine Corps Promotion Manual.

Henderson Hall Marines also saw the commandant’s reversal of uniform policy when then-Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos announced that Marines would roll up their sleeves when wearing the desert camouflage utility uniform in the spring and summer months. The reversal back to the decades-old, season-based “sleeves up” standard signified a return to tradition by some Marines.

It was the first time the Corps had reinstated rolled up sleeves since October 2011.

Marine Sgt. Seth Wolley of the Henderson Hall Tax Center told Pentagram staff writer Julia LeDoux for a March 14, 2014 Pentagram news article just how important the uniform policy change is to Marines: “After being in for both sleeves up and sleeves down the first time around, I’m glad it’s coming back,” he said.

“I think it’s something that sets us apart and makes us look a little better.”

In September, Henderson Hall Marines also celebrated the completion and opening of the Marine Corps Exchange’s third floor addition and Navy Exchange Uniform Center, as well as a new support office at the Pentagon where Marines can address administrative tasks without wasting time making the trek “up the hill” to JBM-HH. Another significant Henderson Hall-led moment came in May, when Marines and service members from across the military gathered for the first National Capital Region Joint Professional Development Seminar, a program designed to prepare attending enlisted service members for joint missions. Leaders founded the pilot course to enhance noncommissioned officers’ (NCOs) and petty officers’ knowledge and understanding of the different military services in order to accomplish missions in the future.

November marked the Corps’ 239th birthday, which Headquarters and Service Battalion Marines celebrated with a formal cake cutting ceremony inside the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium. November also saw Henderson Hall Marines join staff from Barcroft Elementary School for a gala in recognition of the Marines’ 35 years of the

1050109B

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RACHEL LARUE

Cpl. Tahira Lawrence (left) and Cpl. Arlene Cordova, both assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, pose for a photograph at Henderson Hall June 5. Both Marines were meritoriously promoted to their current ranks and were recognized by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, during a promotion ceremony May 2.

Partnership in Education program with the Arlingtonbased elementary school. Marines and other Henderson Hall-based staff have volunteered to mentor Barcroft students, donated school supplies and participated in community projects since 1980.

“We keep the same kids through the program as they move up grades. Watching them progress and grow is rewarding,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jason Surratt, who has volunteered at Barcroft for two years, according to a Nov. 20, 2014, Pentagram article by staff writer Damien Salas. “Sometimes when you have a rough day at work, coming here and making a difference in these kids’ lives makes you feel better.”

Review, from page 1 celebrated its 150th anniversary in June.

Last year also marked the 150th anniversary of an explosion at the Washington Arsenal building once located at the Fort McNair portion of the joint base.

That event, commemorated in a formal ceremony at Fort McNair in June, resulted in the deaths of 21 women workers at the arsenal June 17, 1864.

Other anniversaries this year included the 30th anniversary of the Army Ten-Miler, which the Pentagram covered extensively, featuring athletes who ran the first TenMiler in the 1980s. Also, JBM-HH itself marked five years as a joint base, the first military installation to undertake the joint base venture established under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005.

J BM-H H is also t he only joint base with both Army and Marine Corps components.

New leadership Last year saw a variety of leadership changes throughout JBM-HH,

as new commanders and command sergeants major took their posts here.

Henderson and JBM-HH Com ma nd Sg t. M aj.

Randall E. Woods are not the only two leaders who took commands at JBM-HH in 2014. The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) also received a new command team: Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Stoker became The Old Guard’s senior enlisted leader in April, while Col. Johnny K. Davis took command of The Old Guard in June. In July, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ed Weinberg took command of the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, and the Fort McNair, Washington D.C.based Army Air Operations Group received a new commander last year, Col. Timothy Brown. The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” also received new leadership, starting with Com ma nd Sg t. M aj.

Daniel R. Smith, who was appointed to his current position in July. Last month, Col. Timothy J. Holtan became the Band’s tenth

see REVIEW, page 8

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, January 8, 2014

7

Sports, from page 3 run and those three runs will be continuing in 2015.

A 2015 spring challenge race coin series is being planned for the 2015 racing season.

Other notable events that took place on base or which JBM-HH service members participated in included: -The first-ever Semper Fit bench press competition at Smith Gymnasium in January drew a healthy turnout, and a follow-up competition in April had over 20 lifters in attendance.

-Also in April, Henderson Hall Headquarters and Service Battalion Commander Col. Anthony S. Barnes ventured to Massachusetts for the 2014 Boston Marathon. He finished in a time of three hours, 54 minutes and 29 seconds.

-The Fort Myer men’s master team placed third in their division during the 30th anniversary running of the Army Ten-Miler Oct. 12. Two weeks later, the Marine Corps Marathon finished in the late-morning shadows of the Iwo Jima Memorial.

-While the Washington Redskins formed a military appreciation club, groups of service members and their families took advantage of a number of meets and greets with the local National Football League team. In May, members of 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) visited Redskin Park for face-to-face meetings with some Redskins. In August, Old Guard Soldiers were again treated to a special military appreciation day at Fed Ex Field, and an autumn Play 60 fitness fun day involved JBM-HH kids and personnel and produced Redskin standouts Alfred Morris and Robert Griffin III.

PHOTO

RACHEL LARUE

BY

Midfielder Nick DeLeon works with children during the D.C. United soccer clinic on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall May 12. Out of the 99 children registered for the clinic, 31 were from the CDC’s Child, Youth and School Services.

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Montavious Waters, Fort Myer Generals guard, charges down the baseline Feb. 15, during the annual Capital Classic Basketball Tournament game against Fort Carson. Waters won the men’s most valuable player award during the weekend tournament.

For more JBM-HH photos, visit us online at:

www.flickr.com/ photos/jbm-hh PHOTO PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Participants in the Cherry Blossom Along the River 2.5K run and 1-Mile walk start at the Officers Club on the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall April 4. This was the first Fort McNair-based race JBM-HH’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation organized.

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Participants eat Twinkies during the Fire Cracker 5K/Twinkie Challenge July 3, on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. During the race, participants each ate six Twinkies at the half-way point before continuing the race.

Ten things, from page 1 occupy the designated quarters for the sergeant major of the Marine Corps and possess strong communication skills, both written and oral.

4. Operation United Assistance remains functional in Monrovia, Liberia, continuing the DoD’s effort to disperse up to 4,000 service members to combat the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. The DoD has spent some $257.4 million on the mission according to a DoD report.

5. Ashton Carter is expected to make it through Senate confirmation hearings with ease as President Barrack Obama’s fourth defense secretary in six years.

Key players from the GOP’s national security offices have praised Carter, notably from Arizona Sen. John McCain, incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who will preside over confirmation hearings. If confirmed, Carter will replace current Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who announced his retirement late last year.

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PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter speaks during the April 2, 2013 renaming ceremony to honor 19th U.S. Secretary of Defense William J. Perry in Lincoln Hall on the Fort Lesley J. McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington, D.C. Carter 6. U.S. Army base budget requests for FY 2015 was nominated last year to become the next secretary continue to drop in what the Army calls an “accelerated of defense. If confirmed by the Senate, he will take that drawdown,” reducing funds for things like weapons, not position this year.

research and instead shifting focus toward “developing adaptable leaders at all levels,” according to the Army the contiguous United States took effect Jan. 1, 2015.

FY 2015 base budget request. The report shows actual More details can be found at http://goo.gl/9q8bIE. funding requests for FY 13 consisted of $127.3 billion, 10. Marine Administrative message 676/14 announced dropping to $125.1 billion in FY 14 and projected requests Dec. 24 opportunities and incentives for reserve Marine for FY 15 are at $120.5 billion. officers who are willing to laterally move and assume 7. Military commission pre-trial proceedings for critical skill billets as forward air controllers and batUnited States v. Abd al Hadi al Iraqi— a detainee at talion air officers. Officers who assume the billets Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba since 2007 – are mentioned are eligible for a $20,000 bonus. In addition, slated to take place at Guantanamo Jan. 26-30. Charges officers who are currently in receipt of a previous fiscal against Abd al Hadi allege that as a senior member of al year officer affiliation bonus in the amount of $10,000, Qaeda, he conspired with and led others in a series of may submit for an additional $10,000 bonus if they perfidious attacks and related offenses in Afghanistan are assigned to one of the billets previously listed. In from 2001 to 2004, according to the DoD. Following order to be eligible for the bonus, officers must serve his tenure as commander of al Qaeda’s insurgency in in their new assigned unit for three years, complete the Afghanistan and Pakistan, the charges allege that Abd Air Control Tactical Party Course and complete an al Hadi continued his liaison role with al Qaeda in Iraq evaluation every 18 months. Eligible officers who must and was ultimately assigned by Osama bin Laden to travel more than 150 miles from their home of record to travel to Iraq to assume a position among the leadership a selected Marine Corps Reserve unit may be eligible of al Qaeda’s insurgency there, according to the DoD. for travel reimbursement, which can cover up to $300 per month in travel expenses.

8. The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Defense of Japan and the DoD News Notes, from page 1 finalized a trilateral information sharing arrangement running in this area. For more information, call concerning the nuclear and missile threat posed by North 703-696-5680.

Korea. The arrangement creates a framework for how the three participants may voluntarily share classified It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine information, with the DoD serving as the hub for all Flu vaccinations are available at the Andrew communications. No new legal obligations are imposed Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic on the Fort on the signatories, and the arrangement advances the Myer portion of the joint base on a walk-in basis. security of the three joint forces by allowing for a more Immunization clinic hours are 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon effective response to future provocations and during and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday contingencies. and Friday. On Thursday, the clinic is open from 9. DoD releases 2015 military pay and compensa7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. You may tion rates, with most service members receiving a one also request a flu vaccination in the primary care percent increase in basic pay. The new rates for basic and pediatrics clinics as part of your scheduled pay, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for see NEWS NOTES, page 8 subsistence, and the cost of living allowance rates for

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Review, from page 6 leader and conductor following a change of command ceremony at Brucker Hall at Fort Myer.

National Defense University, based at Fort McNair, received a new president last November when Marine Maj. Gen. Frederick M. Padilla became the university’s 15th president in a formal ceremony.

He replaced acting President Wanda L. Nesbitt in a ceremony presided by Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Extraordinary people You don’t have to necessarily roam the halls of the Pentagon to find extraordinary people. JBM-HH is chock full of individuals who have often heart-warming achievements and inspirational stories to share. Some of those truly inspirational stories are those of generous individuals who help others in unique ways, such as 92-year-old Patsy Skidmore, an American Red Cross volunteer at the U.S. Army Andrew Rader Health Clinic pharmacy at Fort Myer. Skidmore has volunteered for more than 66 years with the Red Cross, and has volunteered at military health facilities since World War II. Then there is 107-year-old retired Army Lt. Col. Luta Mae C. McGrath, a World War II veteran who served with the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943. She attended the 2014 Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in her Army uniform.

Another World War II vet, retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph W. Kuethe, 95, was presented

PENTAGRAM

the Silver Star in July by Virginia Sen. Mark Warner for heroic actions under fire during the war some 70 years ago.

Not every phenomenal story we helped tell last year was of a person from the Greatest Generation. In October, reserve Navy Capt. Nancy Lacore completed a 160-mile “Valor Run” from Chesapeake, Va., to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington. The Pentagram’s Jim Dresbach was on scene for Lacore’s triumphant finish, which commemorated a mile for every female service member killed since 2001. Then there is the story of Army Sgt. Sarah Deckert, 2013’s Armed Forces Chef of the Year and JBM-HH-based Soldier, was featured on a segment of chef Jeff Henderson’s “Flip my Food” television show. Pentagram staffers Julia LeDoux and Rachel Larue were on set in Fort Lee, Va. to capture the moment.

Last March, changes to AR 670-1, the Army regulation that dictates uniform and grooming standards for Soldiers, brought more restrictive standards for tattoos and female hair styles, among other changes.

The Pentagram, like many publications, published the story to announce these changes. But staff writer Julia LeDoux found a silver lining in the changes and highlighted the find in the story of Spc. Kenneth J. Stiles, a Pentagon-based Soldier who can now wear the Gold Star Lapel Button in uniform, thanks to changes in the regulation. The button symbolizes Stiles’ recognition as a Gold Star Family Member – a person who has lost immediate

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family during combat operations. Stiles’ stepbrother, Colorado National Guard Sgt. Jon Stiles, was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2008.

At the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base, two Marines – Cpls. Tahira Lawrence and Arlene Cordova – were recognized for their exceptional service and leadership when they were selected for meritorious promotions. Commanders can meritoriously promote only one percent of their lance corporals to the rank of corporal.

In June, Lawrence and Cordova, both attached to Henderson Hall’s Headquarters and Service Battalion, were promoted as part of that one percent. More impressively, they were both personally recognized by then-Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, who sent signed letters of recognition to both. For more Marine Corps-related Pentagram coverage from 2014, be sure to check out Pentagram staff writer Guv Callahan’s wrap-up on page six.

There are many more phenomenal stories and images that have filled the pages of the Pentagram these past 12 months. While it is certainly not possible to recount and republish every one of them, we invite you to sound off and let us know what your favorite 2014 Pentagram stories and images from around JBM-HH are. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ jbmhh. Also, visit us on Flickr at www.

flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh to see all our imagery from 2014.

A new year So what’s in store for JBM-HH in 2015?

We asked Henderson just that, and he spelled out his top four priorities for the new year during his interview with the Pentagram. His top priority is to continue to facilitate professional development of leaders and employees; second, to program renovations to “preserve our aging infrastructure;” third, to employ a “cost culture” to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness across the joint base; finally, Henderson asks all employees and staff to seek more opportunities that enable JBM-HH to better support its partners and tenant commands.

We also asked the colonel how JBM-HH will meet these priorities in 2015 and beyond. His answer was not surprising: “Effective communication between employees and supervisors and the command to identify requirements and resources,” he said.

Henderson also emphasized for all JBM-HH personnel and visitors to keep safety in mind as we enter the winter season. He also stressed that 2015 will be full of “great days” at JBM-HH, and that he is honored to be the commander of such a “historic installation,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working with both our team here at the joint base, as well as our partners and communities on the outside for an exciting year,” he said.

News Notes, from page 7 appointments.

in January are a military spouse employment assistance orientation Jan. 8 and seminars on interviewing Jan. 15; federal hiring Jan. 22 and marketing volunteer experience Jan. 28. For details, visit www. mccsHH.com/CRMC.html and look for upcoming FMEAP upcoming events or call 703-614-6828.

DFAC prices rise in 2015

Meal prices at the dining facility on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base have gone up. Department of the Army has set the following prices for meals: Breakfast $3.45; lunch - $5.55; dinner - $4.85.

During holiday periods when brunch and supper only are served: brunch, served from 9 a.m. to noon – $6.25; supper, served from 4 to 5:30 p.m. - $6.55; holiday meals (Christmas, Army birthday, etc.) - $9.05.

For more information, call 703696-2087/1068.

Job fairs slated for January

Take a look at the local job fairs for January and mark your calendars. The listing of job fairs can be found at www. slideshare.net/JBMHH/job-fairs/jan15.

Some feds eligible to make TSP ‘catch-up’ contributions

Federal employees who participate in the Thrift Savings Plan and will turn age 50 during the year are eligible to make TSP catch-up contributions. Catch-up contributions are supplemental taxdeferred contributions that employees age 50 or older (or turning age 50 during the calendar year) can make to the TSP beyond the maximum amount they can contribute through regular contributions. To be eligible to make catch-up contributions, you must be age 50 or older anytime during the calendar year in which the catch-up contributions are being made, even if you become age 50 Dec. 31, 2015. Visit www.tsp.gov for more information on catch-up contributions.

2015 guidebooks, maps have arrived

The 2015 guidebooks and maps have arrived. In some cases, bulk deliveries were made to activities at JBM-HH, but if you find you don’t have what you need stop by Bldg. 59, room 116 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base and pick up some from the front room or go further back to 116A and get a box (or fewer) of guides. For more information, call 703-696-0584.

New year, new you

Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base offers a new year, new you incentive program running through March 6, a team weight-loss program. Teams of at least two must have a team captain and a team name. Weigh-ins are from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Jan. 9. Weigh-outs are March 2-6, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on the 56th day after weigh-in. Winners will be announced March 6 and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams that lose the most weight. Call 703-614-8759 or visit www.mccsHH.com/SmithGym. html for details.

Special Operations recruiting

Soldiers can discuss Special Operations in-service career options with recruiters Jan. 12 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 105 in Bldg. 417 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. A session will also be held Jan. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. also in Bldg. 417. For more information, call 910-432-9697 or 919-648-9132. You can also email claritza.y.arendt.mil@mail.mil.

Family member employment assistance

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Winter weather is here!

In the event of weather-related closures, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall personnel follow the guidance of the Office of Personnel Management. OPM determines the open or closed status for all government agencies and installations located inside the Washington, D.C., beltway.

If you have any questions about your duty status, contact your supervisor. Partner organization personnel should inquire within their chain of command.

For OPM guidance, see www.opm. gov/status. You can also call 202-6061900 around the clock for status. Also, see www.facebook.com/jbmhh and www. jbmhh.army.mil for the winter weather link, activated when necessary; call the commander’s information hotline at 703-696-6906, which is updated often in emergencies or inclement weather situations. See www.weather.gov for a forecast.

Brown bag lunch series: Dynamics of stalking and domestic violence

January 2015 marks the 11th anniversary of National Stalking Awareness Month.

Join the Family Advocacy Program for a roundtable discussion Jan. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base about the correlation between domestic violence and stalking. For more information or to register, call 703-696-3512.

Mandatory ASAP classes scheduled

Army Substance Abuse Prevention training classes are an annual requirement for JBM-HH employees. January classes will be held in Bldg. 230 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

Drug free workplace will be held Jan. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. and a Ask, Care and Escort suicide awareness session for everyone will be held Jan. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. Other opportunities to take these mandatory classes will be offered throughout the year. For more information, call 703-696-3787.

Prostate support group meets

The prostate support group meets at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center the third Thursday of every month.

The next meeting will be Jan. 15 from 1 to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the America Building, River conference room, 3rd floor. Spouses or partners are invited.

Military ID is required for access to Walter Reed. For those without military ID, call 301-319-2900 at least four business days prior to the event for base access. For more information, call retired Col. Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or email her at jane.l.hudak.ctr@mail.mil.

News Note policy! Read in full

News Notes submissions must be less than 100 words, contain all pertinent details — to include the five “W’s” — as well as a point of contact, phone number and/or website for additional information.

News Notes must be submitted no later than noon, Wednesdays, for consideration for publication in the following week’s Pentagram. For example, information submitted for publication in News Notes on Tuesday, Jan. 6, will be published in the Pentagram Thursday, Jan. 15. Priority will be given to those announcements of events and deadlines occurring during the publication week. Please note that submission of a news note does not guarantee publication. Please send your news notes to the Pentagram at pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com.