pentagram_032913

On duty

Basketball

ANC guards get own badges

Teams scramble at WMAC

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Pentagram

Published for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Vol. 60, no. 12 March 29, 2013

Army entering ‘period of innovation’

HONOR

By J.D. Leipold Army News Service

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

Medal of Honor recipients Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry (left) and Harold Fritz (right) place the Citizen Service Before Self Honors around the neck of Father Joe Carroll, one of four recipients, during a ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial March 25.

ANC hosts National Medal of Honor Day ceremony

By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer

Presented with the nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, a group of past recipients joined civilian hometown heroes being honored at Arlington National Cemetery March 25 for the National Medal of Honor Day ceremony.

Organized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, a group consist-

ing of only MOH recipients, this year’s event paid tribute to four individuals selected for the 2013 Citizen Service Before Self Honors for acts of bravery.

A wreath ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknowns before the award ceremony at the Women in Service to America Memorial.

Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, commander of Joint Force HeadquartersNational Capitol Region and

the Military District of Washington, and MOH recipients Thomas Kelley, Brian Thacker and Jay Vargas rendered honors as part of the recognition ceremony.

Keynote speaker for the event, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke of the bravery, patriotism and tenacity of the servicemembers who have see HONOR, page 6

The Army learned the art of adaptation throughout the last 12 years of war, but is now moving into a period of innovation that will require critical investments for the force of the future.

“Adaptation is driven by some emergency and arguably what we’ve done for the last dozen years at war,” said Lt. Gen. Keith C. Walker, director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center and deputy commander for Army Futures. “Our Army, as part of its lifecycle, was going through a period of adaptation.”

Fresh from the 2013 “Campaign of Learning” senior leader discussions in Washington, D.C., Walker said examples of that adaptation included adjusting to the modular force, the development and deployment of the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, jammers, and the way the Army operated, Walker said.

Speaking before members of the Association of the U.S. Army, the director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center and deputy commander for Army Futures explained that the “Campaign of Learning” — a series of war games and studies to examine Army concepts — had up until now been focused on the mid-term future, a period up until 2020. He said it will now also be looking at “deep futures,” or 2030 and beyond, in later war games.

“Right now, we are coming out of a period of adaptation and into a period of innovation,” Walker said.

“How we do that, to invest in the future Army, is absolutely critical if we’re going to provide the nation what [it] needs when they call upon the Army.”

The general referred to several examples of past national investments, using “2013 dollars” to illustrate the cost to the nation. Included among those investments were the Manhattan Project, from 1942-1945, which saw $4.8 billion annually; the Apollo space program, from 1961 to 1972, which received on average of $13 billion a year; the B-2 bomber program, which cost $4 billion annually; and the Army digitization program, which cost $5 billion annually. see INNOVATION, page 6

Official recommends resources for duty station moves

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service

As thousands of servicemembers receive orders this month to move to new duty stations, the Defense Department has a variety of resources in place to make their summer moves as smooth as possible, the director of the Pentagon’s Office of Family Policy and Children and Youth told American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel.

“Moving is such a part of the mobile lifestyle,” Barbara Thompson said. “Military mem-

Index

Community Spotlight p.2 Commentary p.3 Community p.4 News Notes p.4 Feature p.7 Sports p.8 Classifieds p.11

bers and their Families can move about every two years, so relocation assistance is critical during those times of transition and adjustment. No matter how many times you move, it’s still a stressful event.”

One of the best places to start organizing a move is the installation’s Family center, which handles a variety of issues surrounding military moves, Thompson noted. Relocation assistance specialists are available at the Family centers to connect parents with school liaison officers, assist with housing options and help ser-

vicemembers figure out budgets in their new environment, among other necessities, she said.

The Military OneSource website also carries a wealth of information Thompson said. A Plan My Move feature offers organizing options such as calendars to remind servicemembers when the packing and moving companies will arrive, when a pet needs to be quarantined, when school begins, and other vital information.

“It helps you organize all the CAMP LEJEUNE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS dates you need,” Thompson said.

The Defense Department has a variety of resources in Plan My Move also provides infor-

place to make their summer moves as smooth as possi-

see MOVING, page 6 ble.

Wearable T

Life-saving tool

Pg. 10

Pg. 9

Army Ten-Miler sponsors annual T-shirt contest

Fire department gets new device

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Friday, March 29, 2013

PENTAGRAM

PHOTO

Last walk

BY

SGT. JOSE A. TORRES JR.

Sgt. Dontae Skywalker, tomb sentinel, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), lays a rose at the foot of one of the crypts of the Unknowns, March 25, at the tomb in Arlington National Cemetery. The placing of a rose at the foot of each crypt signifies a sentinel's last and final honor before they leave the Tomb of the Unknown. Skywalker served at the Tomb from Sept. 2010 to Sept. 2012.

Community Spotlight • Name: Lance Cpl. Jorge Cuji • Job title/where do you work: Administrative Specialist.

• Military service: USMC. • Favorite sports team: Soccer, Barcelona.

• Favorite foods: Rice and beans, chicken.

• Favorite band/music artist: Reggaeton.

• Favorite movie: “Fast Five.”

• Favorite place you’ve ever traveled to or been stationed: Ecuador, Colombia.

• What do you like most about working on /visiting JBM-HH: That I can get my education.

• What are your goals for the year: Pick up next rank and get my degree.

• What do you like most about living in the National Capital Region: Museums, monuments, national parks, White House, etc.

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received: Never give up on your goals that you have set in your life.

• If you won the lottery, what would you do: Good question. Go back to Ecuador and travel the world with my Family.

• What advice do you have for someone getting stationed at JBM-HH: Start school.

Caption This

PHOTO BY JIM DRESBACH

Caption This #11

If you’ve ever looked at a photo, read the caption underneath and thought you could do better, now is your chance. Each week, “Caption This” will have a photo taken from around the 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 either by emailing them to pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com, commenting on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/jbmhh or just stopping by Headquarters Bldg. 59, suite 116 and dropping it off. Don’t forget to add the “Caption This” number, your name, rank or position and where you work.

Commander, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Every week the Pentagram staff will pick their favorite. The winner’s Col. Fern O. Sumpter’s vision and philosophy: name, caption along with the photo, will be printed in the newspaper.

Compete with your friends and coworkers and see who can come up with the best one. And if you have a photo you think would make a great With a team of resource management savvy and technically competent DoD professionals, establish JBM–HH as DoD’s premier provider of consistent, qual- “Caption This,” send it in. ity services that enhance readiness and the overall well-being of our customers.

Caption This #10 We must be ...

- Experts at what we do … constantly improving our skills and knowledge.

“You put your left foot in, you put your - Focused … set priorities and complete the mission. left foot out and you shake it all about!!!”

- Committed … to the mission and each other, fostering a community of excellence.

Michael King - Professional/respectful … remain calm, even when others are not … count on each other at all times, treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Pentagram Printed on recycled paper

http://www.army.mil/jbmhh

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 faxed to (703) 696-0055 or e-mailed to courtney.a.dock-abuhl.civ@mail.mil.

Circulation of 24,000 is printed by offset every Friday 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 nonmerit 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.

Editorial staff Commander Command Sergeant Major Director of Public Affairs Command Information Officer

Col. Fern O. Sumpter Earlene Y. Lavender Mary Ann Hodges Sharon Walker

Pentagram staff Editor Assistant Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer

Courtney Dock Michael Norris Rhonda Apple Julia LeDoux Jim Dresbach Rachel Larue

(703) 696-5401 (703) 696-7607 (703) 696-1363 (703) 696-7605 (703) 696-5488 (703) 696-7606

PENTAGRAM

Safety tip Spring cleaning safety tips Installation Management Command Safetygram

Each year many of us look forward to that special time of year known as Spring Break.

For many, it is that time of year when we emerge from our wintering shelters and engage in the annual ritual of spring cleaning.

Follow these simple tips to keep this annual ritual safe for everyone.

Fire safety tips Spring is a great time to clean your house throw away unwanted items. It’s also a great time to check all your for potential fire hazards.

• Check your house for any stored papers or any other combustible materials you don't need.

• Keep the area under your stairs clear of combustible as well.

• Check your yard for any woodpiles, branches, or papers that could prove tempting to someone wanting to light a fire.

• Make sure you clean your BBQ and check for leaks, breaks, and other wear & tear • Check your smoke alarm monthly.

General cleaning tips While spring cleaning is a rewarding activity, it can also be a risky one. Falls, cuts, and electrical shock are just some of the injuries which can occur.

• Wear protective clothing. Sturdy shoes will protect your feet if you drop something or step on something sharp. Wear gloves to protect your hands from minor injuries and don’t forget hearing and eye protection.

• Beware of electrical hazards. Keep moisture away from electrical appliances and outlets. Don't spray cleaning products directly onto light switches or the fuse panel area of an electrical stove.

• Slips, trips, and falls are common household accidents, and they can occur easily when the house is in disarray during spring cleaning. Keep traffic areas clear of buckets, cords, boxes and other obstacles. Clean up spills promptly, and move carefully on damp surfaces.

• Ladders are involved in many serious injuries at home. Make sure the ladder is in good condition. Place the base of the ladder on a solid, even surface. Do not stand on the top few rungs of a ladder. Do not lean away from the ladder because this can cause it to tip over. Always watch out for overhead electrical hazards.

Household chemicals Many household chemicals and paints can present hazards to you and your family, particularly children. Ensure you precautions are taken to keep all safe and sound.

• Get rid of old household chemicals and paints. Know your communities disposal rules and dispose of them properly • Close lids to chemicals and paints when not in use. Ensure they always put safely away when the work is finished.

• Never leave children unsupervised when paints and chemicals are in use.

• Read the instructions carefully and make sure you adhere to them. Pay particular attention to flammability cautions and ventilation requirements.

While you are enjoying the beautiful weather and dusting off the cobwebs of winter, remember to take your on the job safety awareness with you.

Roman Catholic Lent/Easter schedule Holy Week Triduum Liturgies: March 29: Good Friday Liturgy of our Lord's Passion and Death 6 p.m.

March 30: Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass 7:30 p.m.

Blessing and lighting of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle, procession into the church for the singing of the Easter Proclamation, “The Exsultet.”

Reception of new members with Baptism, Profession of Faith and Confirmation.

March 31: Solemn Easter Sunday Mass 9 a.m. - Special liturgical music providedby Chapel Choir, Flutist and Brass Ensemble.

All services at Memorial Chapel on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH unless otherwise indicated.

Friday, March 29, 2013

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Easter sunrise service at ANC This year’s Easter sunrise service at the Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater begins at 6:30 a.m., March 31.

The nondenominational worship service is hosted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington’s Command Chaplain and is free and open to the public. The services will begin with a prelude by the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and will also include returning guest speaker Chap. (Brig. Gen.) Charles Ray Bailey, Army deputy chief of chaplains, who will provide a sermon.

Parking for the Easter service will be avail-

able at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center parking lot and on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall parking will be open across from the Spates Club for those who would like to walk to the amphitheater through the Selfridge Gate into ANC. Gates open and bus transportation to the amphitheater will begin at 5:15 a.m. from the ANC visitors parking lot and also from the JBM-HH Old Post Chapel for those with mobility impairments only.

For additional information, call 202-6852858.

New OER means fewer boxes, more accountability for raters

By C. Todd Lopez Army News Service

By December, officers will be rated under a new evaluation system — one that is designed to both strengthen rater accountability and reflect current Army leadership doctrine.

The new system will affect officers in all branches and all components of the Army, said Maj. Gen. Rick Mustion, commander, Army Human Resources Command. Additionally, he said the new Officer Evaluation Report, or OER, system will be preceded by deployment of mobile training teams Army-wide to help officers become accustomed to the new system.

One change to the OER is emphasis on a clear delineation of responsibilities between raters and senior raters, Mustion said.

“Raters discuss performance, and senior raters discuss potential,” Mustion said. Right now, he added, that distinction is not being made.

There will also now be three separate evaluation forms based on grade. Those three “grade plates” include one for company-grade officers, warrant officers and chief warrant officers two; one for field-grade officers as well as chief warrant officers three through five; and one for “strategic leaders,” which includes colonels and brigadier generals.

The Army will also implement a rater profile for company and field-grade officer plates; emphasize recommendations for future operational and career broadening opportunities on the field grade plate; redefine the senior-rater box check; and limit the use of intermediate raters to special branches and dualsupervision situations.

Gone from the OER will be the “outstanding performance, must promote,” “satisfactory performance, promote,” and “unsatisfactory performance, do not promote” boxes. Instead, raters will now choose from “excels,” “proficient,” “capable” and “unsatisfactory,” Mustion said.

The online tool that will allow officers to rate other officers will limit the number of “excels” ratings they can offer a particular grade to less than 50 percent.

During an officer’s career, the system will ensure the rater rates less than 50 percent of captains, for instance, as “excels.” Such information about a rater’s rating history will be part of his or her “rater profile.”

Right now, raters do not have a “rater profile,” while senior raters do.

For senior raters, the “above center of mass,” “center of mass,” “below center of mass, retain,” and “below center of mass, do not retain” blocks will be replaced with “most qualified,” “highly qualified,” “qualified,” and “not qualified” check boxes.

With those ratings, a senior rater will also be limited to less than 50 percent of rated officers being marked “most qualified.”

Mustion said the Army has no intention of restarting senior rater profiles with the change to the new system. The “mass”-based ratings will transition to the new “qualified”-based ratings.

For company grade officers, what Mustion calls the “Rubik’s Cube of attributes and competencies” will also disappear. The current DA Form 67-9, included about 16 “yes” or “no” check boxes for a rater to answer an array of questions about an officer’s mental, physical and emotional characteristics; their conceptual, interpersonal, technical, and tactical skills; and, among other things, their ability to communicate, make a decision, or develop their subordinates.

In place of that matrix of yes and no check boxes, raters will instead evaluate an officer in six distinct areas — and it won’t be multiple choice to complete

Trusted traveler program expanded The Transportation Security Administration recently expanded its trusted traveler program, known as Pre-Check, to servicemembers flying out of St. Louis and Denver International Airports. Additionally, the program will be implemented at Baltimore-Washington International Airport by the end of March. The highly successful TSA pre-check program is currently available at: - Charlotte Douglas International Airport - Dulles International Airport - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International - Honolulu International - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

PHOTO

BY

MASTER SGT. MICHAEL CHANN

By December, officers will be rated under officer evaluation report system — one that is designed to both strengthen rater accountability and reflect current Army leadership doctrine. Army officials say the new OER will include more writing and less box-checking.

the section.

“What our raters will do is write three to four sentences, documenting the officer’s performance, not potential, in line with each of the attributes and competencies,” Mustion said. Raters will be asked to write about an officer’s character; “presence,” which includes professional conduct; intellect; leadership ability; ability to develop subordinates; and ability to achieve their mission.

For field grade officers, raters will instead provide narrative commentary that demonstrates an officer's performance regarding “field grade competencies.”

“It reverts back to a narrative description, similar to what we have today, except it is a documentation of performance in line with the attributes and competencies,” Mustion said. “What it reflects are those things that our field grade officers and warrant officers should be able to accomplish.”

Mustion said among those attributes are the ability to adjust to an ambiguous situation, for instance, and the ability to manage resources.

Career broadening A key part of the new OER system will be to ask raters to make determinations about what an officer is capable of, and what suggestions there might be for how the officer can be better developed — both for his or her sake, and for the sake of the Army.

Mustion said the Army is asking leaders to identify future and broadening assignments for officers who are rated.

“In our Army we have a lot of requirements that are outside the operational Army,” he said. “We have opportunities that range from fellowships here in the [Pentagon], to teaching at ROTC, to the operations controllers at our National Training Center, to joint staff positions — which are very important to building officers that can operate at the strategic level — and that’s the construct of broadening.”

Preparing for the new OER The new OER system will start Dec. 1, 2013. All ratings that take place before that date will use the old system. Ratings with THRU dates after that date will use the new system. Mustion said there will be no closeout reports required before switching to the new system.

To prepare officers for the new OER system, Mustion said the Army will deploy mobile training teams this autumn. Additionally, he said the new version of Army Regulation 623-3, which explains the OER process, will be available 30 days before implementation of the new system. The regulation should be available from Army publishing sometime in November.

- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Servicemembers, active drilling reservists, National Guardsmen, and members of the Coast Guard who present a valid common access card at security checkpoints will receive expedited security screening. Eligible servicemembers do not need to be on official travel or in uniform to take advantage of TSA pre-check. Family members ages 12 and under traveling with an eligible member can also process through expedited screening. While this program offers expedited screening for servicemembers, TSA plans to continue applying random and unpredictable screening measures as part of theagency’s layered approach to prevent terrorists from “gaming” the system.

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Community

Friday, March 29, 2013

JBM-HH works with Arlington County to reduce energy usage

By Michael Norris Pentagram Assistant Editor

To better meet Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s energy needs and reduce its carbon footprint, the JBM-HH Directorate of Public Works has been working with Arlington County to share ideas and strategies about energy consumption.

JBM-HH Energy Manager Bill Lucas has been meeting with his counterparts in Arlington County government to exchange information about energy usage and conservation that impact the environment, from monitoring greenhouse gas output to the feasibility of establishing an electricity microgrid on base that could serve as a back-up power source in the event of emergencies.

Lucas said JBM-HH occasionally meets with county officials to discuss where each organization is going. “Each installation is supposed to have an energy steering group,” he explained.

“That’s where you get ideas that filter down.” The information exchanged will be used to establish the overall joint base energy program Lucas is developing with the base commander.

The plan involves “saving renewable energy and reducing electrical consumption,” Lucas said. “It’s development of a policy plan and sharing technologies — that’s the main thing that we can benefit from right now [by working with the county]. In the future there may some opportunities for joint sharing of utilities or some kind of contract vehicle…”

The object is to “collaborate with a variety of stakeholders in the community … to make smart energy decisions, and secondly, to understand how the policies, goals and tools the county is putting forth in documents affect our constituents — residents, businesses, developers or the folks here at joint base,” said Rich Dooley, the county’s Department of Environmental Services community energy coordinator. “That’s part of the collaboration effort.”

Lucas said collaborating with the county is fruitful because it can provide “a much broader view and knowledge” of the technological literature, software and

PENTAGRAM

News Notes Sequestration news Get the latest information and news on sequestration and how it will affect the Department of Defense by visiting the JBM-HH website at www.army.mil/article/96832/Sequestration_Reso urces/.

Town Hall Q&As on website The questions and answers during last week’s JBM-HH administrative furlough town hall are now on the sequestration resources webpage of the JBM-HH website. To view them and to get the latest information and news on sequestration and how it will affect the Department of Defense visit http://www.army.mil/article/96832/Sequest ration_Resources/.

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

An idea that came up for discussion between officials from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Arlington County was the potential to turn Bldg.

447, the base’s old electrical sub station, into a microgrid powered by renewable energy.

devices available to monitor and reduce energy consumption.

“We’re not sharing policy yet, but we’re sharing information and data,” said John Morrill, Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services’ energy manager. “In these roles as energy managers we sometimes share information on technology transfer.”

In addition to working with federal facilities located in the county, Morrill said the county meets with the private sector and utilities to assess long-term plans for improving energy performance. By doing that, he said, “we can get aggregate data on energy consumption in the county as a whole.”

“Energy is such a vital requirement for community and economic development that it deserves to be planned for,” he continued. “There’s really a lot of strategic planning that goes into envisioning and anticipating ways energy supply and delivery might be altered from how it is today, [in order to] to be more efficient, more reliable and more resilient, which also helps the local economy.”

Having the county, federal government, utilities and the commercial sector work together to achieve a collective goal helps build partnerships.

“We have a relationship with Dominion … as does the joint base,” Morrill said. “When the derecho [storm] hit last summer, the joint base opened up to be a staging area for Dominion crews to serve the Northern Virginia area. That was a huge benefit to the community; that was great synergy.”

“We see our work on community energy planning as a logical next step, building upon the legacy of [the county’s] smart growth policies,” the energy manager added.

“The community energy plan outlines where we are and where we want to go,” said Dooley. “The community energy sustainability task force set a goal to reduce green house gas emissions by 2050 by around 75 percent…”

This can be achieved by looking at energy in a number of different ways, “from making buildings more energy-efficient, the transportation sector more energy-efficient, doing a host of education and outreach and changing human behavior in the way we use energy,” he explained.

“There are a number of different policies and tools … that are going to go forward to the county board for action in June of this year. It is a long-term effort and a long-range energy plan.”

Morrill said notable reductions in energy use and green house gas emissions have been achieved by county operations over the past six years. “The community energy plan is taking many of the lessons learned in county operations and taking it to the larger community as a whole,” he said.

“We’re on separate but kind of parallel paths,” Lucas said.

“We’re trying to trade information and achieve a quality product.”

For more information on the Arlington County energy plan and public forums in which it will be discussed, visit the website www.freshaireva.us/energyplan.

ANC pins uniformed security guards

By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer

A historic ceremony was held inside Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater Chapel March 27.

An ANC Uniformed Public Safety Division badge ceremony awarded shields and credentials to Capt.

Marieo Foster, incoming UPSD chief, and Lt. Daniel Feeman, incoming deputy chief.

Foster and Feeman are the first-ever members of the cemetery’s uniformed public safety division and will work in concert with Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall law enforcement, the JBM-HH Fire Department and first responders as fullauthority Department of the Army security guards.

To decorate Foster and Feeman, JBM-HH Police Chief William Johnson was invited to the dais by ANC Executive Director Kathryn Condon, who assisted in pinning the recipients.

“If it wasn’t for the fabulous partnership we have with Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and your support, this wouldn’t have happened,” Condon said to Johnson.

After Foster and Feeman took their oaths of office, ANC Emergency Services Director David Beltz issued the new security team their credentials and commented on the significance of wearing the ANC shields.

“The badge that is issued today is not just a piece of metal,” Beltz said. “The badge is the symbol of authority and it’s a public display of a law enforcement officer’s acceptance of that responsibil-

Roads closed The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Department will perform all-terrain vehicle safety and operations training on the grassy area between Bldg. 335 (The Old Post Chapel) and Bldg. 330 (JBM-HH Motor Pool) March 30 and April 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this time McNair Road will be closed from the intersection of Marshall Drive to the intersection of Biddle Lane on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. For more information, call 703-696- 3290.

Tax centers open Get free tax preparation and electronic filing for federal and state tax returns on JBM-HH at the JBM-HH Tax Center and the HQ U.S. Marine Corps Tax Center. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The JBM-HH Tax Center is located in Bldg. 406. For more information, call 703-696-1040. The HQ USMC Tax Center is located in Bldg. 29, room 105. For information, call 703-693-7001.

Fingerprinting services offered The Directorate of Emergency Services visitor control center, located at 108 Sheridan Avenue, Bldg. 415, on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH, offers fingerprinting services on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. weekly.

For additional information, contact Marilyn Gomez at 703-696-8968.

Easter cantata The Seven Last Words of Christ will be presented by the JBM-HH Gospel Serive at 7:30 p.m.

March 29 and noon on March 31 at Memorial Chapel.

Pull-up clinic Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall’s Semper Fit Division offers a pull-up clinic designed especially for women. The clinic is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except holidays) from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. All Department of Defense identification card holders are welcome, and no advance registration is necessary. Call 703-6939440 for more information.

Sprint tri registration now open The Semper Fit Sprint Triatholon is open for registration through April 12. The event comprises a 10-minute swim at Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool, 20-minute run, and 20-minute bike portion at Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym. Participation is limited to 42 single entries, no teams, and there is a $15 non-refundable entry fee. To register and pay, call ITT at 571-483-1963. For more information on the event, call 703-693-7351.

Rader dental clinic schedule change Beginning April 1, dental exams will be scheduled by appointment at Rader dental clinic.

Patients must be present 10 minutes prior to appointment time in order to complete paperwork before being seen. Sick call hours will be from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Walk-in exams will no longer be available after April 1.

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

(From left) Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Police Chief William Johnson and Arlington National Cemetery Executive Director Kathryn Condon pin badges on Uniformed Public Safety Division Capt. Marieo Foster and UPSD Deputy Chief Lt. Daniel Feeman during a badge ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater Chapel March 27.

ity.”

The newly sworn-in deputy chief used an economy of words about his feelings and emotions concerning his historic position.

“This means a lot — it’s Arlington,” Feeman said following the ceremony. “That was my response when I got interviewed. They asked me why I wanted to be here — short and simple — it’s Arlington.”

Also in attendance representing JBM-HH and to witness the badge ceremony was JBM-HH Fire Department Chief Russell W. Miller, Jr.

Army substance abuse training for civilians Army substance abuse training will be held on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH in Bldg. 230 from 1-2 p.m. April 2 and 3. The April 2 session is drug-free workplace for supervisors and the April 3 session is drug-free workplace for non-supervisors. Civilians are required to have two hours of ASAT, which includes drug-free workplace and one hour of suicide awareness training. If an employee participated in the suicide awareness stand down, they have met the requirement for the year. If an employee completed workplace violence online, they have met the requirement for the year. If you require special accommodations or have questions, call 703-696-3787.

White ribbon campaign comes to JBM-HH The JBM-HH sexual assault response coordinator will be hosting a white ribbon campaign on JBM-HH April 3. The campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working to end men’s Continues on next page

PENTAGRAM

Friday, March 29, 2013

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News Notes Continued from previous page violence against women. This campaign encourages both men and women to join in the campaign and proudly wear the white ribbon throughout the work day April 3. You can receive your ribbon at 102 Custer Rd, Bldg. 203, room 217, or come to the front of the JBM-HH PX from 9 a.m. to noon April 3 and sign your pledge for your ribbon on the actual campaign day. For more information, call 703-696-9303.

“Pershing’s Own” event schedule The U.S. Army Band Downrange will perform at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C., April 6 at 6 and 7:30 p.m. “Pershing’s Own” chamber music series presents an evening with Brahms and Prolofiev at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH April 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Thirty days of fitness Thirty days of fitness starts April 7 at Henderson Hall’s Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym and Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool.

Marine Corps Community Service invites all DoD ID card holders to join in the semiorganized program of workouts running 30 days to May 6. For more information or to register, call 703614-5959.

p.m. and will be fed via video teleconference. The forum provides three continuous learning points for continued DoD acquisition certification.

To sign up, go to the DAU alumni association website at www.dauaa.org and click on the training forum tab.

Hearts Apart Hearts Apart is a support group for spouses, fiancés, parents or significant others of deployed or geographically separated civilians and military members. The group is designed to be a fun networking opportunity for those experiencing separation from a loved one. The next meeting is April 10 from 5:307:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 139 in Arlington. For more information, call 703-696-0156 or email rene.s.fizer.civ@mail.mil.

Sponsorship training A sponsorship training class will be held April 11 from 10-11 a.m. at ACS, Bldg. 201, on Custer Road on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. It will provide information and handson training for those wishing to be a sponsor. For reservations call 703696-0153/0156.

Sexual assault awareness month 5K run/1 mile walk JBM-HH will host a 5K run/1 mile walk April 12 at 6:30 a.m. at the Fort Myer Fitness Center in recognition and support of the men and women who work to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence. Military servicemembers, civilian DoD card holders, Family members and special guests are invited to participate.

Mobile DMV visit The JBM-HH Army Career and Alumni Program will sponsor the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle’s mobile unit April 9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the parking lot in front of the bowling center and Spates Community Club. They will Golf with us provide all or most services found at The annual golf with us program a regular DMV office. For more inforis open for registration. mation, call 703-696-9603.

Tournaments are held monthly at DAU hosts training courses throughout northern The Defense Acquisition Virginia. The first tournament is University (DAU) will host a hot April 12 at Marine Corps Base topic training forum April 9 at Scott Quantico’s Medal of Honor golf Hall on Fort Belvoir. The training course. Registration closes March 29. will focus on what is working and Subsequent tournaments are open ways to improve on what is not. The for registration. Visit www.mccsHH forum takes place from 8 a.m.-12:30 .com/SmithGym.html for more infor-

Egg-cellent time

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BY JIM

Management Office offers a career fair strategies workshop April 11 Annual children’s fair from 10-11:30 a.m., in Bldg. 29, MCCS Henderson Hall holds its classroom 104 on the Henderson 6th annual children’s fair April 13 Hall portion of the joint base. For from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to more information, call 703-614-6828.

Department of Defense identificaCitizenship/naturalization session tion card holders, the fair takes place A citizenship/naturalization inforin the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall mation session will be held April 18 portion of JBM-HH. Events include from 6-7:30 p.m. at ACS, Bldg. 201, free carnival rides, face painting, a on the Fort Myer portion of JBMtoddler climbing area, giveaways, HH. To register, call 703-696and cotton candy. A family-friendly 0153/0156. lunch will be available for sale, cash Holocaust Remembrance Day only. Children are welcome to wear a JBM-HH celebrates Holocaust favorite animal costume. To learn more, visit bitly.com/Childrens Remembrance Day April 24 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the community FairHH2013 or call 703-693-5666. center on the Fort Myer portion of Planning a move for families with the joint base. This year’s theme is special needs “Never again, heeding the warning The Marine Exceptional Family signs.” Guest speaker is Halina Member Program holds two briefs in Litman Peabody. The event is free.

April for Families who have Family For more information, call 703-696members with special needs. On 2964/8729.

April 15 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the NCR/MDW combatives tourna EFMP briefs at Marine Barracks ment Washington, Post 5, ground floor, JBM-HH Family, Morale, Welfare room 146. On April 18 from 11 a.m.1 p.m., the brief takes place in Bldg. and Recreation is looking for the 12’s conference room on the best warriors to compete in this Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. year’s NCR/MDW combatives tournament. The tournament is open to AOWCGWA luncheon all servicemembers and DoD civilThe Army Officers Wives Club of ians from all installations within the the Greater Washington Area is NCR/MDW region and will be held hosting its monthly luncheon April April 16-19 at Conmy Hall, Bldg.

18 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Fort 241. For more information, visit Myer Officers’ Club. Guest speaker email Billy Cook at billy.e.cook4.civ will be retired Col. John Folsom who @mail.com or call 703-806will discuss Smoke the donkey, who 5176/6446. wandered in to a United States miliIntramural unit level softball tary camp in Iraq and became a supsign-ups ply donkey for the U.S. military. For Intermural unit level softball signmore information, call 703-717-9191. ups for active duty personnel Spring education and career fair assigned to JBM-HH are underway.

MCCS Henderson Hall will host Register your team by calling 703their spring education and career 696-7867/7863 or email Mike Cary at fair April 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in m i c h a e l . v. c a r e y. n a f @ m a i l . m i l . the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym. Deadline for registration is April 17.

Educators and employees will be on The season is scheduled to begin hand to meet prospective students April 29. and employees. The fair is open to Please send your news notes to DoD ID card holders and the general the Pentagram at penta public with photo ID. To prepare for gramjbmhh@yahoo.com. the fair, the Career Resource mation.

DRESBACH

Nine-year-old Ryan Buchanan hauls home his stash of slightly wet Easter eggs during Henderson Hall's 2013 Easter Egg Splash held at Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool March 23. Buchanan, the son of Air Force parents, collected 46 eggs during the aquatic hunt.

Leadership meeting

PHOTO BY GLENN FAWCETT

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel meets with senior military chiefs from the United Kingdom at the Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee hosted by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey at the National Defense University on the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. This is the first meeting of its kind since 1948 and was called to discuss strategic challenges the UK and US militaries may face together in the future. During his visit, Hagel presented UK Gen. Sir David Richards, chief of defence, with a secretary of defense medallion.

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Honor, from page 1 been awarded the prestigious medal.

“Now in its 150th year, the Medal of Honor continues to represent those national ideals more than ever.

Presented, of course, by our commander in chief on behalf of Congress, it is our citizen’s acknowledgement of the traits we hold sacred and our nation’s most profound expression of gratitude,” he said.

“The Citizen Service Before Self Honors seeks out those that demonstrate extraordinary acts of bravery to save a life or lives, and those who have given extraordinary service to others through an extended period of time. This program perpetuates the ideals of a nation and of the Medal of Honor, and most importantly recognizes that the cloth of our nation is woven in its communities,” Battaglia said.

The civilians honored at the event included Father Joe Carroll of San Diego, Calif., Marcos Ugarte of Troutdale, Ore., Jesse Shaffer III and Jesse Shaffer IV, of Braithwaite, La. They were all honored with the 2013 Citizen Service Before Self Honors.

Carroll opened and ran a homeless support center, offering assistance, counseling and job training. Fifteenyear-old Ugarte saved a younger neighbor from a burning home and the Shaffer father-and-son team used Innovation, from page 1 “From 2001 to 2013, the national investment in science and technology is nanotechnology, and that’s $1.5 billion annually,” he said. “So comparatively, when you stand back and look at national investment in technology, it’s relatively low.”

Walker said that in the future, effective use of strategic land power will require a commensurate investment in technology. One example of that from the past is how in the 1990s, the Army invested in a “digital force.” Today, that investment has paid off in a way that gives Soldiers a significant advantage over adversaries.

“Soldiers know where they are, know where their friends are, and they know where the enemy is,” Walker said. That “common operating picture” of the battlefield, he said, provides Soldiers with a significant advantage over America’s enemies.

He added that as the service transitions toward 2020, it will continue making great strides, through investments in the evolution of the network and sensors, to ensure Soldiers aren’t “surprised” by what they see on the battlefield.

And, while Walker said he also believes Special Forces Soldiers and conventional Soldiers will continue to be interdependent into the future, he acknowledges that Special Forces Soldiers on missions in Afghanistan have an advantage. Special Forces Soldiers currently have the full Moving, from page 1 mation on installations to familiarize servicemembers and their Families with the new duty stations.

Thompson said she’s talked to parents about the assistance resources such as Plan My Move.

“I got some good

PHOTO

BY

RACHEL LARUE

(Center row from left to right) Citizen Service Before Self Honors recipients Jesse Shaffer III, Jesse Shaffer IV, Marcos Ugarte and Father Joe Carroll pose for photographs with Medal of Honor recipients and servicemembers after a ceremony on National Medal of Honor Day at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial March 25.

their boat to rescue 120 people from their flooded town during Hurricane Issac after official rescue efforts were called off.

The four honorees were chosen by Medal of Honor recipients from a pool of 23 finalists from hundreds of hero nominations across the U.S. between September and December 2012. weight of the entire network and supporting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets behind them. That advantage is not something conventional Soldiers presently enjoy.

“This is something we’re working on, and I think we can get there by 2020,” he said. “That has certainly been our No. 1 modernization effort.”

Walker said that while the Army is in a new period of innovation, the world is also in a new period of declining conflict — and the Army is becoming more U.S.-based. At the same time, America has shifted its defense strategy to the Pacific region, making it an area of increased strategic interest.

“We’re at a point where should the nation need to employ us in the future, we will need to strategically maneuver ... go straight from home and somehow get into the battle space with no intermediate staging base, and in a very austere environment,” he said.

“Our force is heavy,” said. “I’m not saying we have too many tanks and Bradleys, but how do you get to the fight when you need to have the ability to do strategic maneuvering?”

Walker said there will be another war game at the end of September. In December, he said, the Army will publish a “deep futures concept” to help better assess the capabilities needed to drive science and technology investment.

responses on how it’s made their lives easier, and [how things] made more sense on how to get the job done without additional stressors,” she noted. “It’s a good way to try to save money, because if you know upfront where the good places are to live, and [where] to send

your children to school, you’re making fewer adjustments once you get to your new community.”

Such resources assist service members and their Family members, Thompson said, by “giving them more power to take charge of their move.”

“We’re very happy to be accepting this award on behalf of all the men down in Braithwaite [Louisiana] that were out there on that [rescue] day with us,” said Jesse Shaffer IV. He described the time spent with the Medal of Honor recipients as “incredible.”

Shaffer’s father agreed with his son. “They are a humble group of

individuals, and it’s been a good experience spending time with them,” said Jesse Shaffer III. “I believe what this [ceremony] shows is that there are ordinary citizens that do valorous deeds or dedicated deeds of service and not necessarily wear the military uniform of the armed services,” said Harold Fritz, a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Army’s 11th Armored Calvary Regiment during Vietnam.

“In this country we still have the ability to change fate, to embrace a situation and take charge, whether it is a situation like the young man who went into a burning building or the father and son who saved 120 people in a flood, or the priest that ran a transitional home for 30 years for homeless veterans. Those are all acts of helping fellow man, helping save lives. That’s what we do to make this a strong country.”

Of the 80 Medal of Honor recipients alive today, 21 attended the ceremony.

The Medal of Honor commemorated its 150th anniversary this year.

On March 25, 1863, Pvt. Jacob Parrott was the first of a group of six men awarded the medal for their actions in “The Great Locomotive Chase” of April 1862 during the Civil War.

Marine Corps prepares for Quadrennial Review process

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service

The Marine Corps enters the Quadrennial Defense Review process confident that examination will show the Marines’ trajectory is on the right track, the Marine Corps’ representative to the process said March 26.

At a Defense Writers Group roundtable, Maj. Gen. Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie Jr. noted that the Marine Corps is a naval force and said that capability will become even more important in the years and decades ahead.

The review — due to Congress in February — already is shaping up.

Because much remains unknown — such as budget factors — the services are focusing on a range of possibilities in looking at the review, Pentagon officials said.

Another unknown is whether the strategic defense guidance announced in January 2012 remains viable, with sequestration cuts almost doubling the spending cuts Pentagon officials had planned for over the next decade.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a strategic choices management review co-chaired by Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their conclusions will go to the secretary May 31. The conclusions will be used to set the terms of reference for the Quadrennial Defense Review, Pentagon officials said.

Whatever the terms might be, McKenzie said, he believes the capabilities the Marine Corps brings to the joint battlefield will be valued.

“We think the shift to the Pacific, the national strategy that we’re following, [includes] all natural things for the Marine Corps,” he said, “and as we go into the process, we want to accentuate the capabilities we bring for the nation.”

The Marine Corps touts itself as the

nation’s expeditionary force, but since 2001, that term has, perhaps, been overused, the general said. “‘Expeditionary’ has been eating bagels and steak on a [forward operating base] in Afghanistan, and that’s not quite the way the Marine Corps sees expeditionary,” he said.

The Marines’ definition of the term means moving fast and light, McKenzie said. It “is sleeping on the ground, living in a tent, living in a very austere environment,” he added. “We’re going to emphasize that.”

Expeditionary also means being a forward-deployed or rotationally deployed force. The best area in the spectrum of operations for the Marine Corps, the general said, is “on the left end, ... shaping activities — assurance activities, deterrence activities. Our capability is going to be on the early end. We can buy time, we can serve as a hedge force, we can provide a variety of services to deter potential foes, and we can also act this afternoon, not next week.”

The Marine Corps is not a second land Army, “and the country doesn’t need a second Marine Corps,” McKenzie said.

“Marine Corps capabilities are already bought and paid for,” he added. “They are not a dream of the future. They are a fact today.”

The Marine Corps continues to work closely with the U.S. Army, the general said. With the Army and Special Operations Command, the Marines have established a strategic land power office.

This is still new, McKenzie said, but it could be an important factor ahead for both services.

Reiterating that the Marine Corps is a naval force, not a land force, the general said the service will emphasize that distinction during the Quadrennial Defense Review process.

Past QDRs have been incremental, but this one could be significant, McKenzie said.

PHOTO

PHOTO

BY

CPL. TYLER L. MAIN

BY

LANCE CPL. DANIEL WETZEL

ABOVE — Marines fire the Soviet Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK-47) as part of the Foreign Weapons Instructor Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., March 6.

LEFT — Newly commissioned second lieutenants assigned to Bravo Company, The Basic School, perform an “abandon ship” technique during Marine Corps Water Survival Training Program qualification at Ramer Hall Swim Tank, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Jan. 17.

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Army’s ‘Ready and Resilient Campaign’ kicks off

By C. Todd Lopez Army News Service

The Army has made available to Soldiers a new online resource to complement the Ready and Resilient Campaign that launched March 12.

The campaign’s website is available now at www.army.mil/readyandresilient, and is designed as a “onestop shop” for resources related to Soldier resilience and readiness. The new site includes sections for medical readiness, personal readiness, and Soldier transition issues.

On the front page of the site is a list of hotlines for Soldiers to call for when “something bad happens,” said Col. John Sims, with the Army’s Office of the Chief of Public Affairs.

Such an event could include a sexual assault, suicide issues, traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Army already has dozens of programs and websites that can help Soldiers improve their readiness, help them become more resilient, and help them deal with crises such as sexual assault, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, or traumatic brain injury for instance.

But the new website is meant to bring access to those resources together in one place.

“You can find this information in

500 other different places. But this is supposed to be the one-stop shop for Soldiers,” Sims said. “We wanted to make a place where leaders, Soldiers and family members could go and find information and quick resources, emergency hotlines, and learn to improve their resiliency.”

Resilience is an individual’s ability to bounce back when “something bad happens, in the simplest terms,” said Sims. A Soldier’s resilience, he said, can come from how they were raised, the experiences they had in their lives, and how they were trained.

Sims said the secretary of the Army, the chief of staff of the Army and the vice chief of staff of the Army want to show the connection between a Soldier’s resilience and a Soldier’s readiness for duty. That connection, and maintaining that connection, is the impetus for the Ready and Resilient Campaign.

Readiness, Sims said, is the ability of an individual or unit to accomplish its assigned task or mission.

“We are recognizing that it’s not just the training we go through that makes us ready, but all the things that we bring as an individual,” Sims said.

Col. Theresa Gonzalez, with Army Medical Command, said for an individual, not being ready could be the result of administrative, medical, or

mental health issues. Readiness, she said, means that a Soldier is resilient to the many stressors that all Soldiers face.

“The difference between people who do well and sustain their capacity, is what we refer to under the name resilience,” Gonzalez said.

“A more resilient Soldier is able to accept the same load, allostatic load is the term we would use. They can accept the same allostatic load and continue to perform their mission.”

An “allostatic load,” she said, describes the physical consequences to one’s body that result from repeated exposure to stressors.

Those stressors could include, among other things, relationship issues or financial issues, for instance.

Such stressors can affect a Soldier's ability to concentrate, Sims added. And long-term exposure to such stressors, and a Soldier’s inability to adapt to them and deal with them can also affect his or her health, Gonzalez added.

Additionally, Gonzalez said, Soldiers rarely have just one stressor in their lives, they often have multiple stressors that can affect them. And the Ready and Resilient Campaign website, and program overall, is meant to help Soldiers identify in one place the things that

are affecting their lives and then point them to available solutions.

Sims said the Ready and Resilient Campaign offers “nothing new” in terms of programs, but instead aims to take an array of existing Army programs and optimize them, to make them all more effective. Additionally, he said, some programs that are redundant have been eliminated to ensure resources are directed to other more effective programs.

“Really what we are doing is changing how we view these programs,” Sims said. “No longer do we view suicide as unconnected to negative behavior, or sexual assault, or other things. We are now seeing them much more holistically.”

The Ready and Resilient Campaign website is just one part of a larger campaign to emphasize how Soldier resilience directly affects a Soldier’s readiness, and the readiness of that Soldier’s unit. The goal of the Ready and Resilient Campaign is to make it easier for Soldiers, commanders and Families from all components of the Army to find the resources they need to make themselves ready for the war fight, and to help them understand the connection between being resilient and being ready to be a Soldier.

Navy-Marine SDDC offers tips to servicemembers, Corps Relief cam- Families slated for summer moves paign kicks-off

By Col. David W. Maxwell Marine Corps Base Quantico Commander

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society sponsors an active duty fund drive annually to raise awareness of the society’s program, and to solicit contributions that are critical for operations throughout the year. Marine Corps Base Quantico staff coordinates the fund drive annually for the benefit of all organizations in the Quantico area.

This year’s fund drive began Monday and will continue through April 29. Our primary objective is 100 percent contact of all active duty personnel. Our monetary goal this year is $175,000.

The local NMCRS office offers assistance to any active duty Marine or Sailor assigned to Quantico. Last year this office disbursed $466,723 in loans and grants, and $120,705 in quick assist loans to local Marines and Sailors.

Additionally, they provided 59 layettes to parents with newborns and financial counseling for 875 Marines and Sailors.

The society, operating in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, administers nearly 250 offices ashore and afloat at Navy and Marine Corps bases around the world. Last year NMCRS disbursed more than $48 million in loans, grants and educational services worldwide. The NMCRS is funded exclusively through charitable donations and is supported by more than 3,600 volunteers and staff.

The NMCRS was founded in 1904 for the sole purpose of providing direct assistance to active duty Marines, Sailors and their Families.

The success of this year’s fund drive depends on your personal commitment and involvement.

Please ensure that your Marines and Sailors are aware of assistance available to them through the NMCRS, and the importance of their generous contributions to continuing the society’s services throughout the year.

The point of contact for the 2013 Quantico fund drive is Capt. William Dalton, NMCRS fund drive coordinator. He can be reached at 703-784-2555 or william.e.dalton@ usmc.mil.

The key to success this year is an early, strong commitment from our leadership. Due to the continued national economic situation, we are expecting a record level of need at Quantico this year. Your efforts will make a difference.

Thank you in advance for helping ‘‘take care of our own.”

By Mitch Chandran Surface Deployoment and Distribution Command

Servicemembers, federal employees and their Families slated to move this summer can enhance their permanent change of station experience with proper planning, attention to detail and flexibility, ensuring a smoother move for their household goods.

Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s Personal Property Directorate manages about 520,000 moves per year, of which about 225,000 occur during the summer peak moving season.

“As soon as you receive your permanent change of station orders, you should start your move process,” said John Johnson, branch chief for SDDC's Personal Property Directorate Quality Assurance Division. “Requesting your pickup and delivery dates as soon as possible will ensure a better chance of getting the dates you want.”

There are two ways to manage a government move based on local policies.

The first is the traditional visit to the local installation transportation office or personal property shipping office to receive a relocation briefing and start the move process.

The alternative is to use the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, which is accessed through the website, move.mil. This website is the portal for DPS and the one-stop shop where members can completely manage their move process.

Members using this portal for the first time will find online training videos and presentations explaining how to navigate through the move process.

SDDC tips • The main thing to remember is be flexible with move dates and plan for unforeseen circumstances.

• Your Transportation Office or Personal Property Shipping Office is the primary point of contact for customer service. It is never too early to ask questions.

• Once you get your orders and know the dates you want to move, immediately start the moving process. Contact your TO/PPSO to learn all options available to you, including a personally procured move. The sooner you start, the better chance you have to lock in your preferred move date.

• Create a personal moving calendar with checklists, phone numbers and links to critical moving processes and information.

• Pack, pickup and delivery dates are scheduled on weekdays. You or your designated representative must be available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You don’t want to miss your move dates as this will cause unnecessary hardship on everyone and possibly extra expenses for you.

• Move.mil is the portal for the Defense Personal Property System and places you in direct contact with your moving company to manage the movement of your personal property.

It is extremely important to keep your contact

information (phone number and e-mail address) updated in DPS. • Once your move dates are requested, they are not set. Move dates are not confirmed until you coordinate with your transportation service provider (the company contracted to do your move) and a pre-move survey is conducted.

• You can request a reweigh of your personal property shipment at no cost to you. This is done when you are near or over your weight allowance.

• If you are making more than one shipment, make sure you clearly separate them at your residence. Packing and loading for multiple shipments should be scheduled on separate days to avoid confusion. You want the right items going to the right destination.

• If you have a delivery address for your personal property and want direct delivery, it is important to work closely with your moving company to arrange delivery and avoid your personal property being placed in temporary storage.

• You can find the “It’s Your Move,” “Shipping Your Privately Owned Vehicle” and “Storing Your POV” pamphlets on the move.mil website. These pamphlets provide explanations on responsibilities for personal property and POV shipments and are a great source for additional moving tips to help you prepare for the move.

Moving in the summer months is extremely busy with Memorial Day to July 4 being the busiest moving time of the year. Since requested pickup and delivery dates may not be available during this time, flexibility is important and building extra time into your schedule for unforeseen circumstances is recommended.

“For questions or concerns about the moving process, the first stop for assistance should always be your local personal property shipping office or installation transportation office,” Johnson said. “SDDC remains committed to providing a quality personal property moving experience for DoD’s servicemembers, US Coast Guard, Federal employees, and their Families.”

If you experience any technical problems while using the Defense Personal Property System, the System Response Center help desk is there to help. Simply call 800-462-2176 or 618-220-SDDC (DSN 770-7332) or send an email message to sddc.safb.dpshd@us.army.mil.

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Reigning champs bounced Mega Quantico comeback bost Marines to WMAC title early in WMAC tourney back sliced the JB-MDL advantage to 55-53.

But during the final five minutes In a span of four hours March 23, of play, the visitors from New Jersey the defending Washington Military outscored the Generals 16 to 2 and Athletic Conference basketball advanced into the winner’s bracket champions were on the outside of of the nine-team tournament, which the Fort Myer Fitness Center lookincluded military teams from Naval ing in. Two consecutive losses — one Support Activity Bethesda, Fort to Joint Base McGuire-DixBelvoir, Quantico Marine Corps Lakehurst and the other to local Base, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling rival Joint Base Andrews — elimiand Fort Meade. nated the Generals from the 2013 Against JB-MDL, center Will WMAC tourney.

Lewis led the Generals with 18 In a 71-57 Saturday morning set- points and Moorer netted 14 points back to JB-MDL, the Generals and five rebounds. trailed 34-32 at the halftime interIn the 77-74 tournament-ending mission but managed to grab a lead loss to JB-Andrews, two Generals in the second half. McGuire-Dixposted double doubles — Lewis Lakehurst raced to a 55-46 lead scored 24 and hauled down 12 with seven minutes and 49 seconds rebounds, including 14 points in the to play before Fort Myer guard second half, while Moorer added 17 Anthony James helped to stage a points and cleaned the boards with mini-comeback. James connected 10 rebounds. James yielded 11 for a three-point field goal and folpoints in the second loss, and Cody lowed with a successful 14-foot jump Stafford tallied 12 points in a noon shot to narrow the FM deficit to 55- game played immediately following 51. With 5:19 left in regulation, the loss to JB-MDL. Terrell Moorer’s close-range putBy Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer

PHOTO

BY JIM

By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer

With half the battle for the Washington Military Athletic Conference championship basketball crown in the books, the numbers were not favorable for the Quantico Bulldogs as they readied to huddle inside the Fort Myer Fitness Center March 24.

The Marine base varsity team trailed by as many as 30 points and had allowed 54 points in the first 20 minutes of play against a surging Fort Belvoir squad.

But in an immediate second half about face, Quantico wrestled away momentum, played a different brand of defense which

featured ball denial and caught the Belvoir bunch to force overtime and eventually claimed the 2013 tourney crown in a 93-88 victory.

Quantico’s Ajawon Gadison provided some scoring morale by drilling nine threepoint baskets and a game-high 35 championship points as the Bulldogs took their first lead with 10 minutes and 31 seconds left in regulation.

Quantico allowed Belvoir 28 points in the second half.

“I can’t say the words [Coach Jones] said in this interview, but he just told us to step it up and play like Marines,” Gadison said about the halftime dialogue. “The whole time [this season], we’ve

played defense, and today [for the championship] we came out a little sluggish. We then emphasized defense and playing as a team.”

To throw off Belvoir’s offensive rhythm, the Bulldogs also worked to deny Belvoir guard Calvin Booth any opportunity to touch, dribble or shoot the basketball. While a revived Quantico defense did its work, Gadison downed his treys and tourney most valuable player Chris Harris contributed 19 points.

Belvoir’s George Martin scored 23 points during the championship while Tyrone Legette netted 15 and guard Katoe Chapman poured in 17.

DRESBACH

Fort Myer General Terrell Moorer shoots a free throw during the team's opening game against Joint BaseMcGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in the Washington Military Athletic Conference basketball tournament held at the Fort Myer Fitness Center March 23. The Generals lost to JB-MDL and to Joint Base-Andrews in the tourney.

PHOTO

BY JIM

DRESBACH

The Marine Corps Base Quantico Bulldog varsity basketball team claimed the 2013 Washington Military Athletic Conference basketball tournament title March 26 with a come-from-behind, overtime victory against Fort Belvoir.

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Army Career and Alumni Program upcoming classes April 4: Federal resume writing— From 10 a.m. to noon in the Education Center, Bldg. 417, room 218 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. This workshop is designed to assist individuals seeking federal employment.

April 8-12: Retiring executive TAP workshop— Open to both enlisted and officers – ranks no lower than O-5 and E-7 and those within two years of retirement.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the ACAP Center, Bldg. 404, room 102 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. The five-day workshop is divided into sections on financial planning, job strategies, networking, resume building, image consulting, and interviewing techniques.

April 15: Career resourse workshop— From 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the ACAP Center, Bldg. 404, Room 102 of the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. This workshop is designed to assist individuals with their interview process. It contains three main elements to assist transitioners.

Community luncheon

April 23: Home buying — From 10 a.m. to noon in the ACAP Center, Bldg. 404, room 102 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. This seminar is designed to cover the entire home-buying process from start to finish, and how to access resources to make the first time home-buying process easier. Information will also be presented on programs to help existing home-owners stay in their homes.

To register for any of the above classes, call 703-696-0973.

New tool for fire department

By Rachel Larue Pentagram Staff Photographer

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Department personnel trained using a new tool March 20 behind the fire station.

The tool, which weighs under 45 pounds, is a combination tool that is able to cut, bend or rip steel depending on what is needed for the situation.

“This unit is battery operated and everything is self-contained versus the traditional equipment that we have, which has a couple of components to it: hoses, power unit and the tool itself,” said Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Chief Russell Miller, Jr. “So, its all self-contained, and you just bring the tool instead of bringing the power unit, the hoses, and whatever tool we would have used.”

The personnel used the combination tool, along with other tools, to quickly dismantle two cars during the training.

“At this point we have had a very positive response with the [combination tool], the battery power units,” said Miller.

The battery pack fits into the combination tool, much like a battery pack would fit into a cordless drill. But, it also has the ability to plug into a power supply using an attachment.

The combination tool will be on the crash truck at the Pentagon’s helipad.

PHOTO

BY

BY

LEAH RUBALCABA

LEFT — Headquarters Command Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Mark R. Biehl welcomes members of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon held at the Fort Myer Officers Club March 22.

RIGHT — Biehl, second from right, and Command Sergeant Major Richard Jessup, right, greet members of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon held at the Fort Myer Officers Club March 22. Biehl and Jessup represented the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall command at the annual business luncheon.

April 18: TRICARE benefits in-depth— From 10 a.m. to noon in the ACAP Center, Bldg. 404, room 10 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. This workshop is designed to assist individuals separating from active duty with TRICARE. A TRICARE overview will be provided and how it affects servicemembers when they separate from active duty. It will cover eligibility, different TRICARE regions and programs that may be available upon separation.

RACHEL LARUE

Firefighter Jonathan Nordstrom, from the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire Department, tries one of the new tools during training March 20.

PHOTOS

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Looking for a few good Ts Army Ten-Miler contest casts a wide net How important is T-shirt design to the success of an event it celebrates, be it a concert, charity or athletic endeavor? Is the graphic element a visual cri de corps that creates buzz and binds its wearers together in common cause or aesthetic, or is it just disposable art; a soon-to-be-fading souvenir; a splatter-safe garment that three months later can be worn when repainting the dining room?

For about six years the organizers of the Army Ten-Miler have been holding a T-shirt contest as a prelude to the annual run through Arlington County and the District of Columbia in October. A panel of military and civilian judges whittle submissions down to a handful of designs and post them on the ATM website, where those registering to participate in the race — at least those filing up through the end of May — can vote for their favorite design.

The Army Ten-Miler is hosting a series of shadow runs at military installations and other sites across the globe in early October, a prelude to the main event that starts at the Pentagon Oct. 20. Ten-Miler officials will distribute T-shirts to runners in the shadow runs, encouraging organizers to document the event with photos and video for posting on the ATM website. Clips of these shadow runs will be the first opportunity for the general public to see the new T-shirts in action.

A curious advertisement for the contest recently appeared in the Washington City Paper. Besides listing the ATM website and prize money, it included a photo of a less than inspiring shirt with the words, “We need a T-shirt design that doesn’t suck like this.”

ATM Marketing Director Nancy Brandon said she intentionally creat-

ed a lame shirt for the ad in order to generate interest in the contest. “We wanted to attract a younger, edgier audience,” she said, noting how a similar ad ran in the alternative newspaper the Village Voice out of New York City.

“The Army Ten-Miler isn’t just for the military, it’s for the whole community,” Brandon said, explaining how Tshirt entries come in from servicemembers and civilians, runners and non-runners.

Last year’s first place winning entry came from Manassas, Va., native Peter Pawlak, a George Mason University senior and graphic design major who found out about the contest from a teacher, who turned it into a class project.

Pawlak said his method is to start off with nine or 10 ideas and then narrow them down, working either on a computer program or by drawing freehand.

“I sometimes sketch [an idea] on a napkin so you don’t forget — even if it’s so bland you don’t recognize it later,” Pawlak said, describing his process. He said you sometimes have to put the initial idea down for a day or two “to let it evolve in your mind.”

As a native of the National Capital Area, Pawlak said he may have had a leg up by being familiar with the visuals of the Washington, D.C., area. He said he incorporated local landmarks runners would encounter along the race route into his design.

Pawlak was in JROTC in high school and had a grandfather who served in World War II. “I’m interested in the military. I’ve always had a decent knowledge base of what it’s all about,” he said. GI dog tags were another key element in his design.

Staff Sgt. Caleb Barrieau, an Army broadcaster with XVIII Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C., has placed twice in the Army Ten-Miler contest. He won sec-

Marine Corps Marathon surpasses registration record Marine Corps Marathon Public Affairs

The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) sold all available public entries in a record 2 hours, 27 minutes March 27, surpassing last year’s record sellout by 14 minutes. But as thousands of runners worldwide attempted to register, system challenges contributed to registration delays pos-

ond place in 2011 and third place in 2012. Barrieau said he taught himself computer graphics and has done work designing coins, logos and other items for units he’s served with.

Before beginning a design, Barrieau said he examines what previous winners have submitted on the web. “I wanted to see what other people were doing so I didn’t copy them,” he explained. “It’s a guessing game.

Every year it’s a totally different thing [theme-wise]. I want to do something new.”

Barrieau said the contest is something he does for fun and that he urges Soldiers under him to take a try and submit a design for experience. “It’s on the job training,” he said.

Jason Siegel, a professional graphic artist from Long Island, N.Y., found out about the Army contest from a notice on a graphic design website. He’d previously made Tshirts for a hunting organization and a high school science fair.

He said his process is to surf the web and look at the latest trends in design. “It’s tough competition out there,” he admitted.

Siegel said he works up several variations on a theme, trying out different angles of a monument or building, for instance, and circulates them among friends and family to get feedback.

“If you’ve got an idea, get it down on paper or the computer,” he said in advice to those looking to enter the contest for the first time. “Just go for it.”

Last year, the top three winners of the contest won prizes, including, appropriately enough, new computers and graphic design software.

This year monetary gift cards will be distributed in the amounts of $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.

Brandon said the number of sub-

ing additional hurdles for runners wanting to secure a coveted spot for the Oct. 27 event in Arlington and the nation’s capital. MCM registrations were being processed by the Active Network.

“While the Marine Corps Marathon sold out in record time, many runners experienced the frustration of error messages and slow-loading web pages,” said Director Rick Nealis. “These individuals were essentially in a holding pattern as entries were being processed and capacity was reached.”

Despite significant load testing on the system and preparation exercised over the past six weeks, the registration site experienced unexpected errors.

“Active Network experienced system issues

PHOTO

BY JIM

DRESBACH

A runner in the 2012 Army Ten-Miler wears a T-shirt designed by Manassas, Va. native Peter Pawlak. For more information about the Ten-Miler, log onto www.armytenmiler.com.

mitted entries each year ranges from 75 to 125, while the number of registered runners who vote for the designs continues to increase.

Participation by those registering for the race increased from 4,500 to 5,000 from 2011 to 2012.

“We have started to include the contest link on the runner confirmation form to try and increase participation,” Brandon said. The thinking being, that “since you just registered for the ATM you are in the ATM frame of mind, so now go and vote for the official race shirt.”

Submissions to the T-shirt contest will be accepted through May 3. The top three winners will be notified May 31 and the results posted on the ATM website June 1. For more information on the rules and specifications for the Army Ten-Miler Tshirt contest, visit the website www.armytenmiler.com.

with registration for the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon as the demand shortened from hours to minutes,” said Eric McCue, general manager sports for the Active Network. “For this, we at Active sincerely apologize.”

Registered runners should have received a confirmation email March 27. Any registration related questions should be directed to Active at (877) 228-4881, option 3.

“The MCM continues to celebrate the enthusiasm of the running community for ‘The People’s Marathon,’” added Nealis. “Unfortunately, today’s online experience is inconsistent with the organizational excellence that has become the hallmark of the Marine Corps Marathon. Everything regarding the MCM registration process will be reexamined for future years.”

The first runner to register was Alexey Egorov, 42, a native of Russia who now resides in Rockville, Md. Egorov ran his first MCM last year. “I’m so surprised I was the first to register,” says Egorov. “I loved running the Marine Corps Marathon. It is a great organization. It’s close to home and a good course to run for improving on your PR [personal record].”

Over the past few years, the pace of the MCM’s registration boon has significantly accelerated from just under six days in 2010 to the registration sellout of 28 hours, 4 minutes in 2011 to last year’s then-record time.

Those unable to get into the MCM before registration closed still have the opportunity to participate by signing up with any of the 130 MCM charity partners. Each is listed on the Charity Page of the MCM website.

For more information about the MCM, log onto www.marinemarathon.com.

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PENTAGRAM

Friday, March 29, 2013

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Eye doctors teach combat trauma management

By Sharon Renee Taylor Walter Reed Journal Staff Writer

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center ophthalmologists Col. Raymond I. Cho and Maj. Marcus Colyer presented health care professionals with an overview of combat eye trauma as part of the nine-day trauma symposium lecture series held at the medical center last month. Both shared their expertise and insight to help providers treat patients with either combat- or civilian-related eye injuries.

Trauma to the eye and its associated structures account for a significant number of combat-related injuries, according to the book “Combat Casualty Care: Lessons Learned from OEF and OIF,” published by the Department of the Army, Office of Surgeon General in 2012. OEF stands for Operation Enduring Freedom, and OIF stands for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cho, the director of oculoplastic and orbital surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, or WRNMMC, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2006, and contributed to “Lessons Learned from OEF and OIF.” He explained incidence of combat ocular trauma has shown a steady rise in frequency over the last century of warfare.

Ocular trauma accounted for less than 1 percent of total battle injuries in the Civil War, and increased incrementally through World Wars I and II. The rate of combat ocular trauma more than doubled by the Korean War, and rose steadily to reach 13 percent by Operation Desert Storm.

“In recent conflicts, combat ocular trauma stabilized in the 10 to

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15 percent range. A lot of that may be due to eye protection which has been widely implemented,” Cho said. “This is a significant percentage of potentially debilitating injuries.”

He shared statistics for traumatic eye injury in the civilian population.

“A large percentage, 31 percent, of these are due to blunt objects,” said Cho, who explained only a very small percentage is due to gun shots or explosions. “In combat situations, it’s quite the opposite.”

The ophthalmologist said the vast majority of combat eye injuries are due to explosions, such as high energy projectiles and improvised explosive device, or IED, blasts.

“Ocular trauma is ocular trauma,” Cho said. “In a combat situation, it’s just to a more severe degree and in a very special environment.”

Combat ocular trauma is more complicated, and likely to involve more than one body system compared to the civilian sector, so accommodations and modifications in treatment may need to be made, explained Colyer, a vitreoretinal surgeon.

High energy projectiles cause explosive ocular ruptures, globe lacerations, as well as severe tissue damage or loss, Colyer said. Blast and fragmentation eye injuries are sometimes accompanied by associated craniofacial injury along with multi-system trauma.

Medical personnel at care echelon levels I, medic or battalion aid station, and II, forward surgical team, play an important role in identifying open globe injury and protecting the eye from further injury, Colyer explained. Health

COURTESY

PHOTO

1st Lt. Anthony Aguilar wears the ballistic protective eyewear that prevents a bombfragment from possibly damaging his eyes when an IED detonated near his Stryker vehicle while on patrol in Mosul.

care providers at these levels can determine if the globe is open and if there is chemical exposure, or orbital compartment syndrome.

They can also determine if the patient has decreased vision, pain, double vision, lid laceration or any other reason they should see an ophthalmologist.

Patients with combat eye injuries sometimes experience corneal scarring, glaucoma, traumatic cataract, retinal detachment and intraocular foreign bodies as a result of their ocular trauma, Colyer said.

New techniques and innovations emerge from the study of combat ocular trauma, according to Colyer.

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For two years, he studied how to use an ophthalmic endoscope, which involves utilizing a one-millimeter camera, to operate in a two-centimeter space. The technique allows the eye surgeon to repair eyes otherwise not repairable. He said studies are under way to develop a retinal prosthesis.

The Vision Center of Excellence, or VCOE, headquartered at WRNMMC, integrates vision care in the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs health care systems. Colyer said the VCOE is forming an eye trauma registry that will help determine what’s needed in the areas of research and ophthalmologic regulation.