Pentagram 032615

Pentagram

Vol. 62, No. 12 March 26, 2015

www.army.mil/jbmhh

Published For Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Cressman bids farewell to Corps

Henderson Hall sergeant major, set to retire next month, reflects on 31-year career

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer April 10 promises to be a bittersweet day for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall Sgt. Maj. Craig D. Cressman.

After a 31-year career, Cressman will retire from the Marine Corps in a ceremony set for 10 a.m. at Henderson Hall.

“I’ve been in the service since I was 17 years old,” Cressman told the Pentagram during an interview in his office in Bldg.

29 on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base.

“This is who I am.”

Cressman entered the Marine Corps via the delayed entry program in 1984 and has served as

H & S Battalion sergeant major since 2012. He said joining the military is one of the greatest decisions a person can make.

“It changed my life,” he said. “The organization changed my life.”

Cressman’s path to being the 20th senior sergeant major in the Marine Corps took him from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif., to Camp Geiger, N.C.; Guantanamo Bay; Parris Island, S.C.; Quantico, Va.; Camp Lejeune, N.C. and to the battlefield in Iraq.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the Marines I’ve served with,” he said.

Noting that JBM-HH is the Corps’ only joint base, Cressman said the installation has a unique dynamic.

see SGT. MAJ., page 4

PHOTO

After 71 years, eight World War II Airmen laid to rest in ANC

By Damien Salas Pentagram Staff Writer

PHOTO

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

U.S. Army Lt. Col. David S. Taylor, commander, 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), picks up a folded American flag from the coffin of eight World War II Airmen, who were shot down during a mission in the Pacific theater in 1944, during a full military honors ceremony March 18 in Arlington National Cemetery.

Healthcare providers at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic practiced response protocol March 18 in the event that a patient infected with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) comes to the clinic for help.

The drill was the first large-scale Ebola response training exercise since

see RADER, page 4

The remains of eight missing Airmen were laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery March 18, just under 71 years after their deaths during their service in World War II. Responsible for finding the missing men was the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency, according to a Feb. 24 Department of Defense press release.

“These men represent our country’s greatest generation,” said U.S. Army Chaplin (Maj.) John Scott in his remarks during the ceremony. “And we in uniform are honored to remember their service with you here today.”

Aboard a 12 B-24D Liberator— an aircraft used for heavy bombing— the crew departed from Nazdab Air Field in New Guinea April 10, 1944. On the way

The Old Guard conducting training, validation at Fort McNair

to attack an anti-aircraft site at Hansa Bay, Japanese anti-aircraft fire shot down the bomber over the second largest Pacific island’s Madang Province, according to the report.

Of the men aboard the plane, four parachuted, but were reported to have died in captivity, three were found following World War II during an investigation conducted by the Army Graves Registration Service and the remaining crew members were found in 2001, after a U.S.-led team located the wreckage of a B-24D that bore the tail number of the crew’s aircraft.

Because no recovered remains were associated with Poulsen and Copeland, the ceremony paid special tribute to their legacies.

“In particular, we honor the service of 1st Lt. Bryant Poulsen and Staff Sgt. John Copeland as our country fulfills

see FUNERAL, page 4

Primary Care Physician Dr. Tom Ryder, right, and Licensed Practical Nurse Mercedes Hicks, left, go through a buddy system checklist for donning simulated Ebola personal protective equipment during an Ebola response training session at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, March 19. The equipment includes two pairs of gloves, goggles, facemask and other gear to protect healthcare workers.

The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) will conduct training and rehearsals on the parade field on the Fort McNair portion of JBM-HH, weather permitting, through April 10.

In preparation for the upcoming ceremonial season, which includes Twilight Tattoo, Soldiers will rehearse and be validated in each area of ceremony, including march-on, dressing sequence and pass and review. A large number of Soldiers may be on the field each weekday. There will be a limited, low increase in noise during rehearsals. For more information, call 703-696-1892.

Say goodbye to AKO email

In accordance with the Army’s Chief Information Officer’s memorandum, Army Knowledge Online (AKO) email is being discontinued. The Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) will shut down AKO mailboxes March 31 and stop all forwarding of “@us.army. mil” email June 30. Some users may still have their AKO email address registered with other systems and services and will need to change that. PEO EIS is also working with application owners who rely on AKO email addresses for this transition. For more information, call 1-866-335-2769 (help desk).

Easter Sunrise Service

The annual Easter Sunrise Service hosted by the Joint Baser MyerHenderson Hall Commander will be held Sunday, April 5 in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. The non-denominational worship service will begin with a prelude by the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” at 6:15 a.m.

The service is scheduled to begin with a call to worship at 6:30 a.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This year’s Easter sermon will be delivered by Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Howard Stendahl, Chief of Chaplains, United States Air Force. An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be

see NEWS NOTES, page 4 PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Index

Throwback Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . page 2 Military history. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 News Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7 SFL-TAP seminars, workshops . . . . . page 8 In photos: Honor Flight . . . . . . . . . page 10

RACHEL LARUE

News Notes

Rader Clinic caregivers practice Ebola response

By Guv Callahan Pentagram Staff Writer

BY

Sgt. Maj. Craig D. Cressman, left, battalion sergeant major, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, and Col. Ira M. Cheatham, right, former Henderson Hall and HQ Battalion commander, depart the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., May 10, 2013. Cressman is retiring from the Marine Corps April 10 after 31 years in the Corps and more than three years at Henderson Hall.

Local forecast

THURS. 73 | 45

FRI.

54 | 32

SAT.

43 | 30

SUN.

50 | 38

For more weather forecasts and information, visit www.weather.gov

2

Thursday, March 26, 2015

PENTAGRAM

International salute

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

From left, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Vice President of the United States Joe Biden, United States Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan stand during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., March 24. See April 2’s edition of the Pentagram for full coverage.

JBM-HH Throwback Thursday #JBMHHTBT

This week in military history Compiled by Jim Goodwin, Editor, Pentagram

March 26

On Iwo Jima, the few hundred Japanese troops remaining on the island mount a final suicide attack.

March 27

President George Washington and Congress authorize creation of the U.S. Navy; on March 27, 2007, the last known female veteran of World War I, Charlotte Louise Berry Winters, dies at the age of 109. She enlisted in the Navy in 1917.

March 28

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States and one of the most highly regarded American generals of World War II, dies in Washington, D.C. He was 78.

March 29

Two U.S. Special Forces Soldiers were killed and another wounded in an ambush in southern Afghanistan. The fight saw four Taliban killed with six captured.

March 30

A major coordinated communist offensive opens with the heaviest military action since the sieges of allied bases at Con Thien and Khe Sanh, in Vietnam in 1968.

March 31

Lt. Col. Commandant William W. Burrows rode with President Thomas Jefferson to look for “a proper place to fix the Marine Barracks on.” Jefferson was a personal friend of the commandant and was deeply interested in the welfare of the Corps. He accompanied Burrows on horseback in the morning to survey a place for the new barracks. They chose a square in southeast Washington, at 8th and I Streets, because of its proximity to the Navy Yard. It was also within easy marching distance of the Capitol.

1945:

1794:

1969:

2003:

1972:

1801:

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY

RACHEL LARUE

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall archive black and white photograph, taken March 3, 1966, shows the location of Wright Gate on what was then the North Post of Fort Myer, now the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. The color photograph was taken in a similar location on Marshall Dr., near the intersection with the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Access Rd., in Arlington, Va., March 23.

On the left side of the photograph is a wall bordering Arlington National Cemetery. On the right side of the image is the Netherlands Carillon, a symbolic gift “From the People of the Netherlands to the People of the United States,” as a token of appreciation for aiding the Dutch during World War II, according to the National Park Service. The current location of Wright Gate is further down Marshall Dr., beyond what is shown in the image. The original image was taken by U.S. Army SP-5 Austin T. White, Military District of Washington.

For more JBM-HH event photos from this issue, visit us online at:

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OF

CONGRESS

A Marine battalion in formation in front of the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ house at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., in 1864. Established in 1801, the Marine Barracks at 8th & I Streets SE has served the Corps for over 200 years and is the Corps’ oldest active post. Since 1906, every Marine Corps commandant has lived in this home.

April 1

1954:

The U.S. Air Force Academy was founded in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Flickr: Flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh

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.

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

Twitter: @jbmhh Jim Goodwin Editor james.m.goodwin3.civ@ mail.mil Jim Dresbach Staff Writer jdresbach@dcmilitary.com Julia LeDoux Staff Writer jledoux@dcmilitary.com

Slideshare: slideshare.net/jbmhh Guv Callahan Staff Writer wcallahan@dcmilitary.com

Rachel Larue Staff Photographer rlarue@dcmilitary.com

Damien Salas Staff Writer dsalas@dcmilitary.com

Helen Klein Graphic Designer hklein@dcmilitary.com

Community

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, March 26, 2015

3

Veterinary Treatment Facility keeps Fido and Fluffy feeling pawtastic

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer Having a four-legged kid is a lifetime commitment, and the Veterinary Treatment Facility on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall can be an invaluable partner for Fido, Fluffy and their service and family members and retiree parents.

“It’s like having an actual baby,” Spc. Adrianna Maza, a technician at the clinic, said of being a pet parent. “When they’re little, you have to get

up in the middle of the night to take them out.”

Located at 101 Jackson Street, Bldg. 239, the facility can take care of vaccinating and microchipping your dog or cat. The clinic also provides well-pet, heartworm and fecal tests and toe nail trims.

“We want to do more,” said Dr. Nancy Sitarz-Spalding, officer-in-charge. “We’re not your typical clinic.”

see VET, page 5

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Elizabeth Kent, background, with Tripoli, a four-month-old Bulldog, has a veterinarian appointment at the Veterinary Treatment Facility on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall March 17.

The facility treats pets and horses from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon.

Retirement absolutely royal for former TOG Fife and Drum Corps fifer

A bite (or two) out of crime

PHOTO

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

U.S. Army Capt. Donald A. Carter, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall executive officer, is grabbed by military working dog Rrogriguez, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois with the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) 947th Military Police Detachment during a canine aggression demonstration at the kennels on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall March 18. Carter was one of several members of JBM-HH’s command team who participated in the training. Other participants included Marine Corps Lt. Col. John Orille, deputy commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Randall Woods, who volunteered to be suited in a bite-proof jacket and sent running from canine pursuit; the “attacks” were monitored by certified K9 handlers.

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, right, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, step out of George Washington’s mansion at Mount Vernon, Va., toward the Potomac River during their visit to the Washington, D.C., area, March 18.

Prince Charles previously visited Mount Vernon in 1970 with his sister Princess Anne, and two of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s daughters.

Community update U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Biehl, commander, Headquarters Battalion, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, addresses members of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America at the Fort Myer Officers Club March 18. Biehl spoke to the group about upcoming construction on the joint base, as well as repairs to the JBM-HH Dining Facility and recent enhancements to joint base access control measures.

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps alumnus Donald Francisco, right, now a fifer for George Washington’s Mount Vernon, shows His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, left, a photograph March 18 from the Corps’ 2007 performance at the White House for Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II. PHOTO

COURTESY OF

By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer

PHOTO

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps alumnus Donald Francisco played the fife for the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hallbased ceremonial unit for more than two decades.

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON

Yet retirement from the military has given the veteran fifer the opportunity to still tell the Army story through music.

Now a historical interpreter and fifer at George Washington’s Mount Ver non, Fra ncisco’s audience included the Prince of Wales and the

Duchess of Cornwall during the royals’ March 18 visit to the northern Virginia estate. The circumstances behind the impromptu concert were complete happenstance following a wreath-laying ceremony at Washington’s tomb. With fife in hand,

see ROYAL, page 5

The United States Army Band calender of events April 3 6 p.m.

The U.S. Army Concert Band will perform at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

April 4 4:45 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Band Downrange will perform at the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Southwest Waterfront Gangplank Marina in Washington, D.C.

April 7 7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Band presents the “Pershing’s Own” Chamber Music Series, featuring an evening of contemporary music including Tristan Murail’s Memoire/Erosion and Andy Akiho’s Speaking Tree. This event is presented by Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Dell’Omo, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Branagan and Staff Sgt. Evan Geiger.

April 9 7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Band Downrange will perform an unplugged-style acoustic set at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH.

April 12 3 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp will perform a Swing into Spring concert at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH.

April 16 12:40 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues will perform during Jazz Week at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

April 16 7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Voices and The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps will perform at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH.

Performances are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. All outdoor concerts are subject to cancellation or location change due to weather considerations. Please call 703-696-3399 for up-to-date information on concert cancellations or location changes. For additional details and a full calendar of performances, visit www.usarmyband.com/event-calendar.html.

4

Thursday, March 26, 2015

PENTAGRAM

SGT. MAJ.

from page 1

“I think the opportunity that the Marines get to work with the Army, the Air Force and the Navy here is beneficial. I love it,” he said. “I love my job. I love coming into work. I’m going to miss it.”

Cressman is the only senior enlisted service member on the joint base to have served under two Army and two Marine commanders on Fort Myer and Henderson Hall. On the Army side, he served under former commander retired Col. Fern O. Sumpter and current commander Col. Mike Henderson. On the Marine side, Cressman served under Col. Ira Cheatham and current commanding officer Col. Anthony S. Barnes.

“Sgt. Maj. Cressman was both a teacher and a scholar and exemplified the vital characteristic of the Corps as outlined by Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune,” said Barnes. “Though Sgt. Maj. Cressman is retiring, his impact will be upon the Marine Corps for years to come as a result of his dedicated mentorship of NCO’s, SNCO’s and officers alike.

He is the best sergeant major I have served with, and I am honored to be his friend.”

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall Sgt. Maj. Craig Cressman, left, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, right, then-sergeant major of the Marine Corps, watch a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Marine Barracks Lounge in Bldg. 416 on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, April 11, 2013. Cressman is retiring April 10 after 31 years in the Marine Corps and more than three years at Henderson Hall.

Cressma n c red ited several achievements with developing the familial feeling that permeates the joint base. Among them was last year’s Urban Warrior Challenge, which pitted members of the service branches against each other in a friendly competition on the athletic field.

“The joint base is a family

now,” he said. “That didn’t exist when I got here. This is the best working joint base in the nation.”

Cressman recently joined Marines who were participating in the Corporal’s Course in a tour of the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pa. “These young Marines, with maybe less than two years in the service, were

able to think through the tactics and the resources required and the operational aspects of Gettysburg,” he said. “I was impressed with that level of thought and they didn’t take it lightly. It means something to them.

This is their profession.”

He said the memory he’ll cherish the most from his time at Henderson Hall is watching the Marines assigned here grow professionally and personally.

“I checked in with a PFC,” Cressman said. “He’s now a corporal.”

Cressman also lauded Henderson Hall’s volunteer program and the customer service civilian employees offer to service members and their families.

“We have a phenomenal volunteer program that’s locally and nationally recognized and provide outstanding customer service,” he said. “It’s not just one person.”

Cressman characterized the man who will replace him, Sgt. Maj. Robert Pullen, as “a grunt like me” with a laugh. Pullen currently serves as sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Pentagram staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.

present. For more information, including details on transportation, parking, access to the cemetery and JBM-HH, please contact 703-696-6635 or visit the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s website at www. army.mil/jbmhh for the most-up-to-date information.

Holiday hours, closures submission policy

JBM-HH commands, tenants and other area organizations that desire publication of special federal holiday operating hours and/or holiday closures must submit this information to the JBM-HH Public Affairs Office at least three weeks before the holiday to allow time for publication. For example, if an organization is closed Friday-Monday, May 22-25 for the Memorial Day holiday, this information must be sent, along with an organization POC and phone number, no later than Monday, May 4. This information must be submitted to the JBM-HH Public Affairs staff at: usarmy.jbmhh.asa. list.pao-all@mail.mil.

Arlington, D.C. water may smell, taste differently: the water is safe

Some may detect the taste and odor of chlorine in tap water through May 4. The water is safe.

This temporary switch to chlorine is a standard water treatment practice. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct is responsible for treating Arlington and D.C. drinking water.

Arlington environmental services staff say running tap water for five to 10 minutes will dispel the taste and odor. Any discoloration should clear up with running the water. If the water remains discolored or cloudy, contact Arlington County at 703-228-6570 work days or 703-228-6555 (24-hour line). Get more information about the process at www.arlingtonva. us and see answers to frequently asked questions.

Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall offers an opportunity for tactical parenting for the iGeneration, a session with four presentations by subject matter experts on tough topics that affect our children and adolescents. The next session is March 31 at the Joe Rosenthal Theater on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base. Topics include human trafficking, violent extremism, teen dating violence and traumatic brain injury in the adolescent athlete. For more information, visit www. mccsHH.com/prevention.html.

from page 1

Fort Myer Thrift Shop/ AOWCGWA scholarships

PHOTO

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

Members of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon lead a procession through Arlington National Cemetery during a full military honors ceremony March 18 for eight Airmen who fought in World War II. The crew was shot down April 10, 1944, while on a mission to attack an anti-aircraft site at Hansa Bay on the second largest Pacific island, New Guinea.

Sgt. Charles L. Johnston of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Tech Sgt. Hugh F. Moore of Elkton, Md.; Staff Sgt. John E.

Copeland of Dearing, Kan.; Staff Sgt. Charles J. Jones of Athens, Ga.; and Staff Sgt. Charles A. Gardner of

San Francisco, Calif.

Pentagram staff writer Damien Salas can be reached at dsalas@dcmilitary.com.

RADER

In a community partnership, the Fort Myer Thrift Shop and the Army Officers’ Wives’ Club of the Greater Washington Area offer scholarships for children and spouses of U.S. Army personnel stationed or deployed from the Greater Washington area. Applicants must have a valid DoD ID card.

This program is available to high school seniors, college students and U.S. Army spouses. Those applying for this merit scholarship program must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Additional information and applications are available online at www.fortmyerthriftshop.org or www.aowcgwa. org under “scholarships and community grants.”

The deadline for scholarship applications is April 3.

Applications can be dropped off at the thrift shop or mailed to the following address: Scholarship Committee, FMTS-AOWCGWA, P.O. Box 1112, Fort Myer, Va. 22211. For more information, call 703-527-0664.

Close-up volunteers sought

Marines in varied ranks (officers, 02 through 05, chief warrant officers, one through five and enlisted, E6 through E9) are needed as volunteers to speak to high school students about the military services, the workings of government and their personal military life experiences for the Close-Up Foundation educational program panel sessions Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the Women in Military Services for America Memorial, Arlington, Va. Uniform: Service Bravos/Charlies. Volunteers are needed March 31. Visit www.closeup.org for information on this program. Call Hattie Powell-Ray at 703-692-1528 or email her at Hattie.Powell-Ray@ usmc.mil to volunteer.

from page 1 a similar simulation in November 2014, during the initial outbreak in West Africa and the isolated cases around the U.S., said Lt. Col. Ed Weinberg, Rader Clinic commander.

Nearly 30 doctors and nurses practiced the proper donning and removal of personal protective equipment (PPEs) that would be used if the clinic encountered a patient infected with the disease.

Weinberg said the chance of Rader Clinic getting a patient with EVD is very low. Still, with Operation United Assistance, the U.S. military’s mission to Western Africa to help built treatment centers, coming to a close and personnel returning to the United States, Weinberg said it’s important for clinic staff to be comfortable handling an emergency situation.

During the exercise, caregivers suited up in protective gear that covers one’s body from head to toe. Staffers paired off as they geared up so that their partners could inspect their gear and make sure there were no points of exposure.

Removing the suit is a more painstaking process, according to Eileen Wilson, public health nurse at Rader Clinic.

“Typically it will take about 10 minutes to put the equipment on,” Wilson said.

“To take it off is supposed to take at least 20 minutes.

from page 1

Tactical parenting for the iGeneration

FUNERAL her promise to never leave a fallen comrade,” said Scott. “For our comrades in arms, 1st Lt. Poulsen and Staff Sgt. Copeland, our nation bestows military honors. In life they honored the flag, now the flag will honor them.”

Since January, the DPAA has recovered the remains of 20 service members who went missing from conflicts ranging from 1940 through 1970, according to the department’s “recently accounted for” database.

Updated March 11, the DPPA numbers show that 73,515 Americans remain missing from WWII. Buried were Army-Air Corps 1st Lt. William D. Bernier of Augusta, Mont.; 1st Lt. Bryant E. Poulsen of Salt Lake City, Utah; 1st Lt. Herbert V. Young Jr. of Clarkdale, Ariz.; Tech

NEWS NOTES

Springtime fun day and egg hunt

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Participants in a personal protective equipment training session practice the buddy system for donning and removing PPE as part of Ebola training at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, March 19. The equipment includes two pairs of gloves, goggles, facemask and other gear to protect healthcare workers.

It has to be a very slow and deliberate process. It’s longer too because you’re going to be inspecting for any potential signs of infection and disinfecting against them before you remove that equipment.”

Aside from a completely sealed suit with an oxygen tank, the PPEs are one of the highest levels of protection a caregiver can get.

“You could use this type of equipment for any sort of blood-borne infection,” said Dr. Tom Ryder, a primary care physician at the clinic.

“It’s a much higher level than you would need for most things, like the flu, chicken pox.”

Weinberg said PPEs could also be used when

responding to patients with other infectious diseases, such as West Nile Virus or Yellow Fever.

T he e xe r c i s e w a s preceded by an overview of the disease and the clinic’s response protocol.

If a patient’s symptoms and travel history point toward an EVD infection, he or she would be isolated, Wilson said.

“T here are cer tain screening questions you would ask if somebody said that they had the symptoms,” she said. “Start with asking questions about the potential symptoms. Ask whether they’ve traveled anywhere.

If somebody is positive and they’re here in your clinic, you’re going to consider

donning that equipment.”

Equipment has to be removed and disposed of after every interaction with a patient.

Once symptoms and exposure are confirmed, Rader has a coordinated response plan with Arlington County Emergency Medical Services, Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to determine whether a patient should be transferred for treatment.

More information on EVD protocol for health care workers can be found at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/ hcp/index.html.

Pentagram staff writer Guv Callahan can be reached at wcallahan@dcmilitary.com.

The Military District of Washington Sgt. Audie Murphy Club is hosting a springtime fun day and egg hunt at the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Join club members for an Easter egg hunt, egg roll, egg toss, arts and crafts, snacks, prizes and more.

Be sure to bring a basket to participate in the Easter egg hunt. Those with the best Easter bonnet/hat will win a prize. The event will be conducted on the open field next to the Cody Child Development Center across from the Post Exchange. For more information, call 703-696-3642.

Easter Triduum services

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Catholic community will hold the following Holy Week Masses and services: • Holy Thursday, April 2 – Holy Thursday Mass at 6 p.m.

• Good Friday, April 3 – Good Friday service at 6 p.m.

• Holy Saturday, April 4 – Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.

• Easter Sunday, April 5 – Mass at 9 a.m.

• The Masses and service will be held at Memorial Chapel on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

MDW Sgt. Audie Murphy Club scholarship available

All high school seniors who are dependents of active duty U.S. military in the Military District of Washington may apply for the MDW Sgt. Audie Murphy Club scholarship. A letter of acceptance from

see NEWS NOTES, page 6

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, March 26, 2015

5

Army prepares for upcoming Twilight Tattoo season Courtesy JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs

Spectators at the Twilight Tattoo, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, June 25, 2014, saw the story of the Army told through period battle scenes, musical performances and precision moves of The Old Guard Soldiers.

The 2015 Twilight Tattoo showcase will begin April 29 and run through Aug. 19, every Wednesday with the exception of July 1. The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” will support Independence Day celebrations that week.

The annual showcase will be performed on Summerall Field from April through June, and on Whipple Field from July through August at the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long, live-

VET

ROYAL

The clinic can also prov ide medications, including hear t wor m preventatives, over-thecounter flea preventatives and prescription diets.

Sitarz-Spalding stressed that pet owners have to put their whole hearts and pocketbooks into caring for their furry charges.

“You can’t do it halfway,” she said. “If you do it half, that animal suffers.”

If clinic staff can’t treat an animal on the joint base, Sitarz-Spalding said they are happy to partner with civilian facilities to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.

“We actually do talk to the other veterinarians and then try to work together,” she said. “We always try to relish that. We have such great communication. We call it the mutual client.

No one has to worry about ‘you’re trying to take my client away from me.’

All we’re trying to do is help the animals and help the military.”

Staffers at the clinic can see up to 20 privately-owned dogs or cats each day.

“We do a lot of health certificates because that’s what the military needs,” said Sitarz-Spalding.

The clinic’s staff also stands ready to provide t ra nsit ion i ng ser v ice members with a set of premoving recommendations for their pets, especially at this time of year, when many are beginning to get permanent change of station orders and may be preparing to move overseas.

Marine spouse Elizabeth Kent brought her two dogs, Belleau Wood, an 11-year-old cocker spaniel and Tripoli, a

Francisco performed “God Save the Queen” for the appreciative royal couple.

“Basically, my job was to play background music-just to be heard, not to be seen,” Francisco said of his role in the royal visit to Mount Vernon. “If we were free, we could go down to the tomb ceremony. I chose to watch the tomb ceremony.

When he finished laying the wreath, he walked past my way.

“He just asked me about music and my uniform, and I showed him a picture when I was with The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps when I played at The White House for the Queen, his mother,” he added.

Francisco played for Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 and was involved with hundreds of heads of state ceremonies at the White House during his 22-year

PHOTO

BY

LISA FERDINANDO

from page 3

action military pageant featuring Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” Attendees can experience a glimpse into U.S. history through performances

by The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange and U.S. Army Band Voices, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and The U.S. Army Drill Team.

Each pageant is free and open to the public. For more information on group reservations, contact the U.S. Army Military District of Washington at 202-685-2888 or email usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.jfhqncr-pao-web-events-omb@mail.mil.

from page 3

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Dr. Nancy Sitarz Spalding, veterinarian in Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Veterinary Treatment Facility, removes staples from a wound on Tom, a Caisson Platoon horse, in the barns on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall March 17. The facility treats pets and horses from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon.

4-month-old bulldog, to the clinic for their well-pet checks March 15.

“I always get awesome care here,” she said. “I drive all the way down from Woodbridge (Virginia).

Every time we come, if they are sick, they solve the problem.”

Sitarz-Spalding urged service members to reach out to their overseas point of contact to ensure that their furry family members have all the necessary vaccinations and health checks required by the country to where they are moving.

“We ask people to check online and to talk with their POCs,” she said.

The clinic’s staff also cares for the Miltiary

District of Washington’s working police dogs as well as The 3d Infantry Division’s (The Old Guard) caisson horses. SitarzSpalding said treating the horses is not as big of a challenge as it may seem.

“They are gentle giants,” she said. “Sometimes it’s easier to treat these horses than another animal that has no use for humans.”

T he clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-696-3604.

Pentagram staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.

career with The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

Since retiring, Francisco is a firm believer that he and his fife are still goodwill ambassadors for the military.

“I play for veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard,”

RACHEL LARUE

he said. “We have large veteran crews that come through. I’m able to play their service songs, and I’m able to relate to the stories they tell. We’re all connected.”

Pentagram staff writer Jim Dresbach can be reached at jdresbach@dcmilitary.com.

PHOTO

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His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, center, and Steve Bashore, director of trades at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, left, approach women in period dress during a tour of Mount Vernon, Va., during a visit to the Washington, D.C., area, March 18.

Thanking our military families for their service to our country, we are offering free exams for children 1 to 15 years of age

703-241-KIDS (5437)

PHOTO

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, step out of George Washington’s mansion at Mount Vernon, Va., toward the Potomac River during their visit to the Washington, D.C., area, March 18. Prince Charles previously visited Mount Vernon in 1970 with his sister Princess Anne, and two of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s daughters.

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Thursday, March 26, 2015

NEWS NOTES from page 4

a college is also required.

T he awa rd prov ides $500 for use during the freshman year. To apply, write an 800- to 1,000word essay using a word document double spaced and arial 12 font. To find out required essay topics and essay submission, email mdwsamc@gmail.com.

Eligible candidates must currently reside within a 25-mile radius of the following areas: Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Hamilton, N.Y.; Walter Reed National Medical Center, Md.; the Fort McNair and Fort Myer portions of JBM-HH; The Pentagon; Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort A.P. Hill, Va.; and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Essays will be accepted until March 31.

Maxed out Wednesdays

Registration is open for Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall’s Semper Fit’s Maxed Out Wednesday competitions.

The first event is set for April 1 and is a bench press competition. For upcoming dates and challenges, visit www.mccsHH.com/ SmithGym.html.

Sexual assault awareness, prevention

Join colleagues at the opening ceremony and proclamation of April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month April 1 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the Dining Facility, Bldg. 404 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

You are invited to wear the color teal in support of SAAP; following the ceremony, everyone is invited to enjoy lunch at the DFAC for $5.55 on this special day. For more i n for mat ion, contac t usarmy.jbmhh.asa.mbx. sharp@mail.mil.

AAFES hosting Easter Egg hunt contest

The Fort Myer Army and Air Force Exchange Service is encouraging shoppers worldwide to hop to it and take a crack at $3,000 in prizes. With the Patriot Family Easter Egg Hunt contest, shoppers can search for clues at the Fort Myer Exchange and post the correct answers on the Exchange’s Facebook page contest tab at www. facebook.com/AAFES. BX.PX. Shoppers can pick up a clue map at

PENTAGRAM

the Fort Myer Exchange or download one from www.shopmyexchange. com/patriot-family. Four winners will take home a $500 Exchange gift card, and 10 winners will receive a $100 Exchange gift card. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. The contest runs through April 3. No purchase is necessary to win. Authorized Exchange shoppers can enter, and children younger than 18 must have their parents’ consent.

Volunteers sought for local festival

Volunteers are needed to work two shifts of this year’s Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival – a signature event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival – April 4 along Water Street between 6th Street and the Titanic Memorial (next to Fort McNair) in Washington, D.C. This event is hosted annually

by JBM-HH community partner the Washington Waterfront Association of southwest Washington, D.C. This community event is free and open to the public. Volunteers may sign up for one of two shifts: noon to 5 p.m. or 4 to 9 p.m.

If interested, contact Bob Rose at BobRoseEvents@ gmail.com or 202-5685638. Please provide an email, cell phone number and T-shirt size.

Caisson Spring open house

and Drum – seating times noon and 2 p.m., a more for mal meal. Cost is $42 per person for adult members ($47 for nonmembers); children 6-12 -$21; children under six eat free. Three menu choices include lamb, salmon and prime rib of beef. Koran Ballroom Grand Buffet – seating times 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - cost is $33.95 per person for adult members (non-members pay $38.95); children 6-12 - $16.50; children under six dine free. See http:// goo.gl/BQvORP and scroll down to Easter brunch for a menu. Call 703-696-5147 for more information and to make reservations.

Blue Tie Affair a way to say thanks

The JBM-HH Family Advocacy Program will recognize individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty for children at the second annual Blue Tie Affair April 30. They are actively seeking nominations from the entire community including all branches of the military, family members, DoD civilians, retirees and communit y par t ners.

Nom i n at ion packet s are due April 17. For nomination form and instructions, see www. slideshare.net/JBMHH/ blue-tienominate-2015.

Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter of the USAWOA meets

Join The Old Guard for a Caisson Spring open house April 4, noon to 6 p.m., for some outdoor fun, including hayrides, face painting, an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, a photo booth and more. The festivities will take place at Bldg. 236 (Caisson stables) on 201 Jackson Ave. on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. For more information, call 703-696-3018.

T he L ord Fa i r f a x Silver Chapter, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Association will hold its monthly meeting April 8 at the Fort Belvoir Golf Course dining room at 5:30 p.m. All active, reserve and retired warrant officers are invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, call Phyllis Wilson at 703-407-6164.

Easter brunch is served

In a community partnership, the Fort Myer Thrift Shop and the Army Officers’ Wives’ Club of the Greater Washington Area offer community grants to organizations that provide services and/ or support to military organizations, personnel and families. Requests are accepted from 501(c) organizations with services in the area. Additional information and applications are available online at www.fortmyerthriftshop. org or www.aowcgwa.org

The Fort Myer Officers Club is serving Easter brunch and meals Sunday, April 5 in the Fife and Drum Dining Room and in the Koran Ballroom grand buffet. Reservations are required for all meals.

Fife and Drum – sunrise breakfast – from 7 to 9 a.m.

– cost is $14.95 a person for adult members (nonmembers pay $19.95 per person); Children from 6 to 12 - $7.50; children under six dine free. Fife

Fort Myer Thrift Shop/AOWCGWA community grants

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under scholarships and community grants. The deadline for community grant applications is April 16. Applications can be dropped off at the thrift shop, or mailed to the following address: Community Grants Committee, FMTSAOWCGWA, P.O. Box 1112, Fort Myer, Va. 22211.

For more information, call 703-527-0664.

EFMP presents an introduction to Virginia Medicaid waivers

T he Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall E x c e p t i o n a l Fa m i l y Member Program hosts an information session on Virginia Medicaid waivers April 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The presentation, to be held in the Pentagon’s Airman & Family Readiness Center, Rm. 5C1049, is open to Department of Defense identification card holders from all branches of service. Topics will include an overview, qualifications, the application process, the benefits of elderly and disabled consumer directed waivers and the waiting list for intellectually disabled or developmentally delayed waivers. Light refreshments will be served. Call 703696-0783 or 703-693-5353 for more information or to register by April 15.

Cherry Blossom Race Along the River April 10

The second race in the Commanders Race series is a 4.5K Run and 2.5K Walk April 10. This Race Along the River on the Fort McNair portion of the joint base is in support of the April Month of the M ilitar y Child /Child Abuse Prevention month and SHARP – Sexual H a r a s s m e n t /A s s a u l t Response and Prevention.

Registration is free and the first 90 to register will be eligible for a T-shirt.

Register on-line at www. jbmhhMWR.com, “special events” until midnight April 6. Race day and late registration will be accepted at the Fort McNair Officers Club, Bldg. 60 from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. Runners and walkers who register on-line and complete all three races will be eligible for Spring Race Series Challenge Coins. The third spring series race will the May 1 Rockin’ & Reelin’ 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk. For more information, call Todd Hopkins at 703-696-0594 or 703-939-1045.

EFMP coffee group

T he J BM-HH / For t Belvoir Exceptional Family Member Program coffee group meets the second Friday of every month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Starbucks, 5986 12th Street, Fort Belvoir, Va. For more information, call 703696-8467 or 703-805-4418.

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JBM-HH FMWR sponsoring piano, martial arts lessons

There are two options for enrichment coming up on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

There are 12 open spaces for those who want to take piano lessons. The lessons will be held Mondays in the Community Center, Bldg.

405, at a cost of $85 per person for four 30-minute sessions. Call 703-6963470 for more information and to arrange a time.

There are 15 open spaces for martial arts. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost for eight weeks is $90 per person; and 12 weeks is $120 per person. Interested students please call the Community Center at 703-696-3470 for more information.

Financial management assistance available

T he Mar ine Cor ps Com mu n it y Ser v ices Henderson Hall Personal Financial Management Program assists with everything from budgeting to investing. Classes are held throughout the month on a variety of topics, to include planning for retirement.

For a list of upcoming topics, visit www.mccsHH. com/Finance.html. For more information, call 703-614-6950.

Smith Gym group exercise classes

Group exercise classes are held at the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH on weekdays.

Offerings include Zumba and Spin. Classes are open to all authorized patrons age 16 and up. Youth, ages 12 through 15, may take part with direct supervision by a parent or legal guardian. High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) group classes are taught by certified HITT instructors Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to active duty personnel and Marine reservists, by Marine Corps order. Anyone certified as a HITT instructor may teach a HITT class for his or her unit. For more information, visit www.mccsHH. com/SmithGym.html or call 703-614-7214.

Challenger soccer camp returning to JBM-HH

The Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp is returning to JBM-HH Child, Youth and School Services this summer.

Camp dates are June 22 through 26 and July 20

through 24. Half-day camp is available from 9 a.m. to 12 noon for 6-to-12 year olds. Registration is open until two weeks prior to start date. For more information, call Annette Engum at 703-696-3728 or email Annette.e.engum. civ@mail.mil.

Win your personal battles

The United States Marine Corps challenges Marines: win your personal battles. Help is available through online chat or phone for anonymous, peer-to-peer counseling 24/7. Online chat is at www.DSTRESSLINE. com or call 1-877-4767734. This is a service of the U.S. Marine Corps, and members of other services are welcome to chat or call.

Ruach Warrior weekly Bible Study

Ruach Warrior Weekly Bible Study is held every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the Henderson Hall Chapel, Building 29.

The next session is April 1.

This is a non-denominational study of the Bible to encourage and uplift your spirit on key principles.

Everyone is invited. There will be refreshments at the end, but you are invited to bring your lunch and eat during the session. Call 703-614-9280 for questions or more information.

Counseling services available

After hours community counseling is available from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday in Bldg. 12 aboard the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. The next session will be April 1, and includes individual, couple, family, child and group counseling services.

Call 703-614-7204 for more information and to get an appointment.

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 Wednesday, April 8, will be published in the Pentagram Thursday, April 16. 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.

Visit us online! www.DCMilitaryHcom

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Your first cup of coffee is free. The group is open to all DoD ID card holders who are parents or service providers to children with special needs.

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Commentary: Gun safety is no accident

By Command Sgt. Maj. Leeford C. Cain U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center We are Soldiers! From the moment we step off the bus and report in at the reception station, we are introduced to the Army’s values and strict standards of discipline. Drill sergeants enforce these standards and capitalize on every opportunity to ensure we’re focused, trained and ready to do what the Army requires, to defend this nation if, when and where it may be necessary.

Within days after entering basic combat training, we are familiarized with either the M-16 or M-4 weapon system. Here, we learn basic marksmanship fundamentals to include how to properly handle a weapon, disassemble and reassemble the weapon to zeroing and qualifying with it. Any sign of complacency or the mishandling of the weapon is immediately corrected by the drill sergeant and I’m sure you all know, that is not a pleasant experience.

This is serious stuff.

These noncommissioned officers knew never to relax standards because doing so put Soldiers at risk of injury or death whether on the battlefield or while conducting training at home station.

With this in mind, I’m dumbfounded when reports hit my desk informing me that a member of our Army family has been killed or injured as a result of a negligent weapon’s discharge or whose buddy is killed because of horse play with a loaded gun while consuming alcohol.

How does this happen when weapon safety has been drilled into our major muscle memory?

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Staying grease-fire free in your kitchen

GRAPHIC

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer

OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY

From day one, we’re taught to respect them… to handle weapons with the upmost care.

From October 2003 to the present, the Army reported a total of 275 privately owned weapon incidents, 27 of which resulted in Soldier fatality. Alcohol or illegal substance use were significant factors in 15 of those fatalities while the rest were attributed to other types of Soldier indiscipline or complacency.

These findings are hard to understand and accept.

Have our Soldiers forgotten their training or are they simply ignoring the training and skills they learned during basic training? What does this say about our team? Where is the battle buddy, the leader? Who is going to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for the death or injury of a team member? Sadly, some have been leaders.

The Army values and standards of discipline that

make us indispensable in the civilian job market should be forever etched into our psyche, especially when we’re at home cleaning a 9 mm pistol, in the woods deer hunting with a .308 rifle or popping off rounds at Uncle Joe’s farmhouse with a .22.

Handling a weapon safely should be second nature to us. We are Soldiers. We are examples for our families, our friends, and the rest of the world. There is no other army in the world that compares to our disciplined force.

Whenever you handle a weapon, on or off duty, it is extremely important to think about what you’re doing.

Think • Treat every weapon as if it’s loaded.

• Handle every weapon with care.

• Identify the target before you fire.

• Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.

• Keep the weapon safe

GRAPHIC

and your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot.

Never handle a weapon if you’re intoxicated or under the influence of any medication that may impair your judgment or motor skills, and always read the owner’s manual. Learn about your weapon even before you attempt to load and fire it.

It’s that important.

We are all members of the Army team. Be the hero our families know we are.

We are Soldiers: do the right thing! Army Safe is Army Strong! Hooah!

Editor’s note: JBM-HH updated its privately-owned weapons policy last September.

The policy, titled Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall Policy Memorandum ES-3, Registration and Control of Privately Owned Weapons, details prohibitions and registration procedures for privately-owned weapons aboard any portion of JBM-HH. The policy is available online at www.army.mil/jbmhh under JBM-HH Policy Memos.”

7

While Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall does not experience many fires that are caused by cooking, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down while you’re in the kitchen.

“Here on the joint base, we are fortunate not to have a rash of kitchen fires,” said JBM-HH Fire Inspector James Dansereau. “We’ve had some minor issues in the barracks, but the sprinkler system put those out.”

Dansereau said that nationally over the past 10 years the number of cooking f ires has increased by 12 percent.

“We’re having less fires, but more cooking fires,” he explained.

Dansereau explained that grease f loats on water a nd t hat a ny additional water put on it will just splatter the grease throughout the room, potentially spreading the fire.

“There’s a lot of myths about g rease f ires,” Dansereau said. “The worse thing to do is reach for water because that spreads the grease.”

Firefighters use either water or a dry powder mixture to put grease

BY

HELEN KLEIN

fires out, he said.

“We come in with 150 gallons per minute of water, so it overcomes the fire,” Dansereau said.

He said to safely put out a grease fire you should turn off the stove and find a lid large enough to cover the burning pan.

“I n a wor se - case scenario, put a wet kitchen towel on it, but that would be the last resort to do,” he said.

There are several things you can do to minimize your risk for a grease fire in your kitchen, according to Dansereau.

• Keep your kitchen clean.

• Keep combustibles such as pot holders and towels away from your cooking surface.

• Stay in the kitchen with your cooking, especially if you’re frying something or using high heat.

• Don’t let anything touch hot pans.

• Keep appliances in good working order.

• Turn pot and pan handles inward.

• Institute a 3-foot no kid and no pet zone around a hot stove.

“I have oven locks at home for my toddler,” Dansereau added.

Pentagram staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.

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Thursday, March 26, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Education and career fair - April 2 Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program seminars and workshops Located at 232 McNair Road, Bldg. 404, on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va. Reser Reservations erva vati tion ons are required. Spouses are encouraged to register and attend. Ca Call ll the he Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program office, 703-696-0973 or or log-in and schedule at www.acap.army.mil. Available to all registered clients ts who have completed DD2648/2648-1 and initial counseling.

Location is in the he SFL-TAP Bldg. 404 on Fort Myer unless notated.

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

From left, Victoria Pridemore, military outreach representative with Excelsior College, talks to Sgt. Greg Bartholomew, 289th Military Police Company, during an education and career fair held by the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Fort Myer Education Center Oct. 17, 2014, in the Community Center. Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall will host its semi-annual education and career fair April 2 at Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH.

Courtesy MCCS Henderson Hall Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall will host the Spring Education and Career Fair April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The event, open to all Department of Defense ID card holders, will feature private companies, federal and state government agencies and colleges and universities, all seeking highly-qualified

candidates for employment throughout the United States Recruiters will be available to take resumes and conduct interviews with potential applicants.

V i s i t w w w. m c c s H H . c o m / EducationCareerFairSpring2015.html to pre-register for this event. Those who pre-register will receive an advance copy of the resource guide a week before the event. Call the Henderson Hall Career Resource Management Center at 703614-6828 for more information.

Education and career fair do’s and don’ts: Do’s • Do your homework prior to the event and research companies you would like to speak with.

• Do dress in a professional manner as if you were going to a job interview.

• Do have a professional introduction rehearsed and ready to go.

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Retiring Transition Assistance ce Program • March 26 through 27* 8 a.m. tto o 4 p.m.

• April 6 through 10 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ETS TAP • April 6 through 10 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Entrepreneur Track Boots to Business • May 19 through 20 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Business Franchise Opportunities • April 2, 1 to 3 p.m.

Finding and applying for federal jobs • April 29 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Federal Resume • April 23 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Accessing Higher Education • April 29 and 30* 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Career Technical Training • April 21 and 22 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Career Resources Ca R • Ap April 20 8 a.m. tto o 3:30 30 p.m.

Smart Investments Investment nts • April 29, 1 to 3 p.m.

Cred Credit edit it scores from good to excellent go excell llentt • Ma March h 26 26* 1 to 3 p.m. p.m .m.

• April 30 1 to 3 p.m.

Home buying • April 28 10 a.m. to noon Debt free • March 26* 10 a.m. to noon • April 30 10 a.m. to noon Tric Tricare benefits bene benefi fits in i depth • Ap April 23 noon 10 a.m. to n oon oo Capsto Capstone tone (Fridays) (Fr Frid idays) • Ma Marc March rch h 27 10 a.m. to noon • Ap Aprill 3, 10, 17 or 24, 10 a.m. m. to noon Express TAP • April 13 and 14* 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

*Located in Education Center Bldg. 417, room 108

Don’ts • Don’t be unprepared.

• Don’t ask companies “what do you do?”

• Don’t speak in military jargon. Highlight key skills that make you stand out.

• Don’t approach your companies of choice right away. Stop by tables that are less desirable first in order to get the jitters out.

For more JBM-HH event photos from this issue, visit us online at:

www.flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, March 26, 2015

9

Our sleep-deprived military culture What you can do about it

Courtesy of the Military Health System Communications Office Sleep is as important as food and water, yet many military service members wrestle with insomnia or wake too early. The result can be serious health problems or reduced readiness.

T he good news is, even with the demands of military service, many sleep problems can be avoided or resolved, said U.S. Public Health Service Cmdr. Tony Satterfield, a psychologist with the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

T he r e a r e s e ve r a l measures service members can follow to prevent piling up sleep deficit hours, said Satterfield, DHA’s Deployment Psychological Health program manager. It may take some convincing for the troops, though.

“Some service members may feel they don’t need much sleep to function effectively. They often view sleep as an unproductive use of time – it’s undervalued,” he said.

The amount of sleep required varies with individuals. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep, some do fine with six hours per night — but the number should not dip below six hours, said Satterfield.

First, relax…

Service members can get “wound up” from periods of stress and boredom throughout the day. Satterfield’s first piece of advice to warfighters is to unwind by practicing relaxation techniques, such as controlled breathing.

“It can be difficult to shut down the brain especially if you have the habit of worrying, but shifting your focus to thoughts that are relaxing or neutral can help.

Listen to calming music or sounds,” he said.

Other simple tips from Satterfield: • Military life can be unpredictable, but when possible, keep a similar bedtime and wake time each day of the week to help maintain a consistent pattern of sleep.

• While some people may find a brief rest

or power nap helpful, napping can also disrupt normal sleep patterns and actually make it more difficult to fall asleep at night. If you do take a nap, keep it brief (less than an hour) and well before your regular bedtime.

• Avoid stimulants (such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol),

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large meals and exercise within a few hours of bedtime.

• Find a quiet, comfortable place to sleep free of distractions such as TVs and video games.

• Use ear plugs and a sleep mask to block out distractions.

These aids may take a period of time to get used to, but give them a try.

GRAPHIC

• Eat healthy foods and exercise, which can help regulate your sleep. Check Operation Live Well at www. health.mil/MilitaryHealth-Topics/ Operation-Live-Well for tips on maintaining your overall health. See afterdeployment.org for video tips on getting a better night’s sleep.

BY

HELEN KLEIN

If these suggestions don’t solve a sleep problem, service members should consult their primary care doctor. A more serious sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or a contributing health condition, may be present. In any case, a good night’s sleep is critical to service members’ health and mission success.

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Thursday, March 26, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Honor Flight

PHOTOS

BY

SPC. CODY W. TORKELSON

TOP LEFT - Col. Johnny K. Davis, commander, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), speaks to representatives of Space Coast Honor Flights during a visit by World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, March 21. Davis greeted nearly two dozen American veterans who visited the tomb and other war memorials as part of an Honor Flight visit. TOP RIGHT - World War II veteran Maurice Light listens to a welcome address at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, March 21. Light was one of nearly two dozen American veterans who visited the tomb and other war memorials in the National Capital Region as part of the Space Coast Honor Flight. Honor Flights allow veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam to fly to Washington, D.C., to visit the various memorials built in honor of their service. LEFT - Participants of a Space Coast Honor Flight visit various war memorials and listen to welcoming remarks from Soldiers with the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) during a March 21 visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

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