Run
Guidon passed
Women more than equal in race
H&S Co. change of command
page 8
page 4
Pentagram
Published for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Vol. 60, no. 33 August 30, 2013
Soldier receives Medal of Honor
BACK TO SCHOOL
By J.D. Leipold Army News Service
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender, right, greets Syon Wills, 5, and his brother Syeed, 7, outside of Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in Washington, D.C., Aug. 26.
Soldiers greet students, distribute supplies on first day of school By Michael Norris Pentagram Assistant Editor
A dozen Soldiers and civilians from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall went to the District of Columbia’s Amidon-Bowen Elementary School Aug. 26 to welcome children back to school after summer recess. The Soldiers brought book bags, notebooks, crayons, tape dispensers, binders, pencils, packets of hand sanitizer and other school supplies, some of which were handed out on the front steps of the school, with other items distributed later in the school day. JBM-HH is linked
with Amidon-Bowen under the Partnership in Education program, which encourages servicemembers and federal employees to work with local schools to foster community relations and serve as mentors to students. Joining Soldiers on the school’s front steps were Principal Izabella Miller, representatives from the District of Columbia government and Abraham Lincoln, or at least a mascot of the 16th U.S. president, which was lent to the event courtesy of the Washington Nationals baseball franchise. Inside the school, other community organizations from the Southwest
Army Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter on Aug. 26 became the second Soldier to receive the nation’s highest military award for extraordinary gallantry and selfless actions during the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, Oct. 3, 2009. The Keating battle near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan was the first since the Vietnam War in which two living servicemembers received the Medal of Honor for their individual actions in the same battle. Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle Feb. 11. Carter braved merciless enemy fire from rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars and small-arms by running the 100-meter length of the outpost twice to retrieve ammunition for his fellow Soldiers. At the same time, he provided suppressive fire to keep the enemy from over-running the post. Then, with complete disregard for his own safety, and in spite of wounds, he discarded his M-4 rifle and ran to a critically wounded Soldier to render life-extending first aid. He carried the Soldier to medics as Romesha and his team provided cover. Eight Soldiers died of wounds suffered in the battle, and 25 others were wounded. Before the citation was read, Obama recalled Carter’s words to him earlier in the day, then asked the Soldiers from his unit — the 61st Cavalry Regiment — to stand and be recognized along with the families of the eight fallen Soldiers. “Ty says, ‘This award is not mine alone,’” the president said. “The battle that day, he will say,
see FIRST DAY, page 6
see MOH, page 3
JBM-HH deputy joint base commander retires from Marine Corps By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer
Following 28 years of service in the Marine Corps, a retirement ceremony was held Aug. 22 for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Jennifer L. Blair. She served in the position from August 2011 through August 2013. The ceremony was held at the courtyard outside Bldg. 29, on the Henderson Hall portion of
Index
Community Spotlight p.2 Commentary p.3 Community p.4 News Notes p.4 Feature p.8 Classifieds p.11
JBM-HH. H&S Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall Commanding Officer Col. Anthony S. Barnes was the presiding officer at the ceremony. The ceremony was attended by JBM-HH command leadership, federal employees, servicemembers, family and friends, including Blair’s husband, retired Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey John Butler, sons Pike and Jake, and Blair’s parents. Following the singing of the
national anthem by Master Sgt. Antonio Giuliano, the invocation was delivered by Mark McNabb, pastor, Stafford Church of Christ. Following the reading of Blair’s retirement orders, she was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of second award) and letters of commendation from President Obama and Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos.
Resiliency
Training is crucial
Pg. 4
see BLAIR, page 7
PHOTO
BY
STAFF SGT. BERNARDO FULLER
Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter receives the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House, Aug. 26.
What’s in a name?
FMWR magazine seeks new title
Pg. 10
2
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM
PHOTO
BY
LANCE CPL. DAN HOSACK
Chesty at ease
Lance Cpl. Chesty XIV, incoming U.S. Marine Corps mascot, relaxes during a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., in which he was promoted by Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, Aug. 28. The ceremony was also held for the retirement of Sgt. Chesty XIII, outgoing mascot, and for Lance Cpl. Chesty XIV to take his place.
Community Spotlight • • • • • • • •
• • • • • •
Name? Staff Sgt. Emily Leader Job title/where do you work? The U.S. Army Band. Military service? 10 years active duty Army. Favorite sports team? Chicago Cubs. Favorite book? Right now I’m reading “Eisenhower: Soldier and President” by Stephen Ambrose. Favorite food? Sushi or Cuban food! Favorite movie? “The Exorcist.” What do you like most about working on/visiting JBM-HH? It’s family-friendly. Also, seeing Arlington National Cemetery every day is a poignant reminder of what is truly important. What are your goals for the year? To work smarter and relax more. What do you like most about living in the National Capital Region? The museums are incredible. What’s your favorite attraction to see in the NCR? Jefferson Memorial. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Who, by worrying, can add even one hour to their life? If you won the lottery, what would you do? Reinvest for a few years, then make plans for/with family… retire in Hawaii. What advice do you have for someone getting stationed at JBM-HH? Take advantage of all the great resources.
Commander, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Col. Fern O. Sumpter’s vision and philosophy: With a team of resource management savvy and technically competent DoD professionals, establish JBM–HH as DoD’s premier provider of consistent, quality services that enhance readiness and the overall well-being of our customers. We must be ... - Experts at what we do … constantly improving our skills and knowledge. - Focused … set priorities and complete the mission. - Committed … to the mission and each other, fostering a community of excellence. - 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
Caption This
Caption This #32
PHOTO
BY
SGT 1ST CLASS NICHOLAS FORD
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. Every week the Pentagram staff will pick their favorite. The winner’s 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 “Caption This,” send it in.
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 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.
Caption This #31 “Let me just sip this, right here...” Seth Lombardy
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
Friday, August 30, 2013
Safety tip What’s eating you? By Spc. La’Torie Lawrence JBM-HH Veterinary Treatment Faciliy
Did you know that according to the Food Standards Agency, there are more than a million cases of food poisoning cases each year, 20,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths? A foodborne illness causes food poisoning. A foodborne illness is a disease that is transmitted to humans through food. Many people get sick each year from the food they eat. The symptoms they may have include diarrhea, vomiting, an upset stomach, fever or cramps. Most may think they have the flu, but the real problem is foodborne illness caused by bacteria in the food or viruses transmitted to food eaten a few hours or several days ago. What can we do to prevent these foodborne illnesses? The majority of foodborne illnesses can be avoided if food is handled properly. Statistics from the Centers of Disease Control show that during a five-year period the most commonly reported food preparation practice that contributed to foodborne disease was improper holding temperatures, followed by poor personal hygiene, inadequate cooking, contaminated equipment and food derived from an unsafe source. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, moist, highprotein, and/or low acid foods, are considered potentially hazardous foods. These include milk, milk products, shell eggs, meats, poultry, fish and shellfish. Potentially hazardous foods can support rapid growth of infectious or disease-causing microorganisms. Listed below are a few of the bacteria/pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses: Campylobacter jejuni It is found in the intestinal tracts of animals and birds, raw milk, untreated water and sewage sludge. It can be transmitted by contaminated water, raw milk, raw or under-cooked meat, poultry or shellfish. It’s symptoms are fever, headache and muscle pain, followed by diarrhea abdominal pain and nausea that appear two to five days after eating. It can last seven to 10 days. Salmonella It can be found in intestinal tract and feces of animals, with Salmonella enteritidis in raw eggs. It can be transmitted through raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, meat, seafood, raw milk and dairy products. It’s symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, chills, fever and headache. It usually appears six to 48 hours after eating and may last one to two days. Listeria monocytogenes It’s found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, as well as in milk, soil, leaf vegetables and processed foods. It can grow slowly at refrigerator temperatures. It is transmitted by soft cheese, raw milk, improperly processed ice cream, raw leafy vegetables, meat and poultry. The illness is caused
by bacteria that doesn’t produce toxin. The symptoms are fever, chills, headache, backache, sometimes abdominal pain and diarrhea. Symptoms develop 12 hours to three weeks after ingestion and may later lead to more serious illness, including meningitis or spontaneous abortion in pregnant women, and sometimes fatigue. These are just a few of the common bacteria and pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses. For more information on these you can reference bacteria that cause food-borne illness at www. infoplease.com/ipa/A0762206. html#ixzz2cRQXedNV. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who are chronically ill have a greater chance of developing a foodborne illness because their immune systems may not be able to fight off the bacteria and viruses that cause the illness. Infants and children are more vulnerable because their stomachs produce less acid, making it easier for bacteria and viruses to multiply. Pregnant women are at risk because the fetuses do not have a fully-developed immune system. Elderly people are more susceptible to foodborne illness because of inadequate nutrition, lack of protein in their diets or poor blood circulation. People who are chronically ill or who take medication that affects their immune systems are also at greater risk of becoming sick from foodborne illness. This can include those with cancer, diabetes, AIDS or people who take antibiotics. How can individuals prevent these foods from becoming hazardous? FAT TOM is the answer! FAT TOM is an acronym that explains what allows foodborne pathogens to grow — food, acidity, time, temperature, oxygen and moisture. All six play a part in allowing these pathogens to form and make our food potentially hazardous. Food storage is one of the underlining factors in FAT TOM. Your food should be stored at no higher than 40°F. Keeping it at that temperature or less is important because it slows the growth of most bacteria. The fewer bacteria present, the less likely you are to get sick from them. Hopefully this sheds a little light on what is now known as a big problem in the community and that is food poisoning/ foodborne illness. The month of September is National Food Safety Month and food inspectors at the Veterinary Treatment Center will be setting up booths at various locations to promote food safety. Feel free to stop by and ask representatives about any questions or concerns. Each week will focus on a theme. The first week in September will focus on proper hand-washing. The second week will emphasize safe cooking temperatures and proper food storage. The third week stresses 10 steps to a safe kitchen. The fourth and final week educates the public about knowing specifically what the words “use by,” “sell by” and “best used before” mean on food packaging.
Food safety information Food inspectors will set up tables at the post exchange, the commissary and post dining facility to engage the public about food safety issues, distribute educational brochures and hand out souvenirs. The schedule is as follows: Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept.
3, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — commissary 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — post exchange 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — commissary 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — commissary 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — post exchange 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — commissary 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m — post exchange 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — defense dining facility 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — commissary 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — post exchange
3
Metropolitan Police lay wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier By Cory Hancock JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, Commanding General Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington and District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Aug. 21. The wreath-laying was part of a new initiative of the ongoing engagement program between JFHQ-NCR/ MDW and its interagency partners. Buchanan’s ceremonies and special events office, provost marshal office, public affairs office, and the interagency coordination office all worked on the logistical requirements for this event. “MDW has a great partnership with MPD and ANC. The Tomb of the Unknowns is sacred ground for us,” said Buchanan. “It means a great deal for our partners to join us in recognizing the importance of the Tomb.” “This ceremony is an honor usually bestowed upon military personnel and visiting foreign dignitaries,” said Lanier. “For a non-military organization to be invited here is very special.” In addition to laying a wreath, Lanier was given a tour of the Memorial Amphitheater Trophy Room, which includes artifacts and medals presented at the Tomb of the Unknowns by foreign dignitaries from around the world. Buchanan also presented Lanier with a memento thanking her for her service in the nation’s capital.
“The wreath-laying was very emotional,” said Lanier. “It caught me off guard. I could feel how significant this is.” This event is part of an effort to further enhance the interagency partnerships and recognize the enormous contributions of the Metropolitan Police Department to both the District of Columbia and the NCR. “I was humbled that Chief Lanier and the MPD leadership took time out of their busy schedules to honor the sacrifices of the fallen,” said Buchanan. “What’s even more humbling is how the MPD serves all of us every day in the District. “We work very closely with our military and law enforcement partners,” said Lanier. “It’s one of the great things about being in the nation’s capital.” MPD used the opportunity of the wreath-laying to not only show their strong bond with the MDW, but also to honor those within their ranks who have served or are currently serving in the military. “Just like the military, the Metropolitan Police Department is a part of the brotherhood of protectors,” said Lanier. “Many of MPD’s personnel have served or are in the military. Right now, there are 24 members of MPD on military leave. We are honored to represent them today.” “We plan together, coordinate for special events, and train together. Based on that, we have a strong partnership that allows us to cooperate in times of trial,” said Buchanan. “That trial could be planned like a state funeral or during a time of a national emergency. This partnership is critical for the security of the nation and our citizens.”
PHOTO
BY
CORY HANCOCK
Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police, Cathy L. Lanier, (far left) prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during an Army Full Honors wreathlaying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Aug. 21. PHOTO
BY
SGT. ALBERT FELICIO
Visit Maj. Gen. Michael R. Regner, Director, Marine Corps Staff, visits Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall Aug. 21 to meet the Marines and MCCS staff.
MoH, from page 1 was ‘one team in one fight,’ and everyone ‘did what we could do to keep each other alive.’ And some of these men are with us again. And I have to repeat this, because they’re among the most highly decorated units of this entire war: 37 Army Commendation Medals, 27 Purple Hearts, 18 Bronze Stars for their valor, nine Silver Stars for their gallantry.” Obama took a few minutes to address not only Carter’s courage on the battlefield, but the courage to seek help for what he finally accepted and recognized in himself as post-traumatic stress. “As Ty knows, part of the healing
is facing the sources of the pain,” Obama said. “So now he wants to help other troops in their own recovery. And it is absolutely critical for us to work with brave young men like Ty to put an end to any stigma that keeps more folks from seeking help. “So let me say it as clearly as I can to any of our troops or veterans who are watching and struggling: Look at this man. Look at this Soldier. Look at this warrior,” the president continued. “He’s as tough as they come. And, if he can find the courage and the strength to not only seek help, but also to speak out about it, to take care of himself and to stay strong, then so can you. So can you.”
4
Community
Friday, August 30, 2013
Army IMCOM leaders stress health, safety over Labor Day weekend By Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter and Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice U.S. Army Installation Management Command
Labor Day is a markedly American holiday, fashioned by workers to honor to our nation’s workforce and acknowledge its role as a source of America’s strength, freedom, and leadership. All of you have been working very hard to make sure the Installation Management Command continues to make a difference in every Soldier, Army civilian, and Army Family member’s life. Each of you plays an important role in accomplishing our mission. The work you do every day makes the Army better, stronger, more ready and resilient. And that is why we need you to help toeliminate preventable accidents. As you celebrate with Family and friends this Labor Day weekend, plan your activities
with care to minimize risk. Seek balance, moderation and good life habits. Lapses in safety affect us all. Soldiers, Army civilians, and Army Family members continue to lose their lives in motor vehicle accidents from distractions or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Both are 100 percent preventable! It is incumbent upon each of us to plan, prepare and execute to a standard that ensures that all risk is minimized. We are proud to say that IMCOM has had no fatalities during the Labor Day weekend the last three fiscal years. Thanks for leading the way, and let’s stay on that path by focusing on safety, always, and taking care of each other. Visit the U.S. Army’s Safety Center at https://safety. army.mil/ for tips and training on risk identification and mitigation, and review suicide prevention information at www.armyg1.
army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp Team IMCOM touches everyone and everything at Army installations. Our Family, friends, fellow co-workers, and the Army depend on us to take care of Soldiers, Army civilians and Army Families, and we need you to set a standard of zero tolerance for reckless behavior and subtle behavioral changes that could indicate heightened levels of stress. Do it for yourself, your loved ones, your IMCOM Family, and your Army. Command Sgt. Maj. Rice and I are exceptionally proud of what you have accomplished. And, as you enjoy the remaining days of warm weather and the company of friends and Family, live well, eat well, increase fitness, and rest and relax. Let us work together and take care of each other so we can continue making a difference in the lives of Soldiers, civilians and Families. Army Strong!
Resiliency training at MDW By Cory Hancock JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs
Resiliency is a transferable skill that transcends both the work and personal environment. All members of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington staff have been taking part in mandatory resiliency skill training on the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. During the next 12 months MDW will run mandatory resilience skill training on various topics relating to resiliency with a different focus featured each month. “This is Army wide, it’s a big thing,” said Michael C. Egly, the MDW resiliency training point of contact. “You get out of this training what you put in.” The Ready and Resilient Campaign (R2C) has been directed for Army-wide implementation and is aimed at improving Soldier, Family, Army civilian and unit readiness. “We all have things we can
PHOTO
BY
CORY HANCOCK,
Michael C. Egly facilitates resiliency training for MDW at Fort McNair.
work on,” said Egly. “Being physically fit is not enough; mental and spiritual health play a big role as well.” The Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) program is a key component of the Army’s Ready and Resilient Campaign. CSF2 raises awareness, teaches resiliency and increases fitness through training and activities designed to enhance individual and unit readiness. Promoting, building, and sustaining resilience is and
must become a fundamental part of the Army profession. In August, the topic of the training was about real-time resilience. “Real-time resilience teaches about the triggers someone may face on a daily basis and how to recognize these triggers and help diffuse them,” said Egly. Problem solving will be the topic of discussion during the month of September. “Problem solving is about learning to identify a problem early,” said Egly. “Identifying a problem early can help someone find a solution quicker and subsequently bounce back quicker. This module feeds into the previous topics about ‘hunting the good stuff’ and real-time resilience.” Below is the schedule of topics to be discussed during 2013: October: Put it in perspective. November: Avoid thinking traps. December: Detect icebergs.
H&S Co. guidon passed to new company commander By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer
A change of command ceremony was held for Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall Aug. 21 at the courtyard outside Bldg. 29, on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall. Maj. Kris Pirttinen relinquished command to Maj. Khari Wright as Headquarters and Service Company commander. Following the playing of the national anthem, the invocation was delivered by Navy Chap. (Lt.) D. H. Foster. The ceremony included the traditional passing of the guidon from Headquarters and Service Co., H&S Bn. 1st Sgt. Willy Carrion to Pirttinen, who passed the guidon back to Carrion, who passed it to Wright, signifying the relinquishing of command from one company commander to another. “It was quite a load you carried, and you did it well,” H&S Bn., HQMC Henderson Hall Commanding Officer Col. Anthony S. Barnes said to Pirttinen. “Welcome aboard; it’s good to have you. Next to my job, you’ve got the second-best job,” Barnes said to Wright. “I’ll tell you what a big secret is,” Barnes continued. “Get to know their names, [get to know] where they live and their dog’s names. You’re kind of the last piece of the puzzle.” “This was really one of the best jobs in the bat-
PENTAGRAM
News Notes Death notice Anyone with debts owed to or by the estate of Pvt. Christopher Wooten must contact 1st Lt. Reid, the summary court officer for the Soldier. Wooten passed away July 20, 2013. Have a say about organization day Did you attend the 2013 Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall organization day? To improve next year’s event by keeping what’s good and getting rid of what’s bad, planners would like to hear from participants who attended this year. Complete this survey at www. surveymonkey.com/s/2013OrgDay. Fort Myer Exchange upgrades and hours The Fort Myer Post Exchange is relocating sections of the store, including the customer service area, PowerZone, electronics section, sporting goods, hardware, linens and pet departments. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 703-522-0664. JBM-HH Exchange seeks input The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is constantly seeking opportunities to improve on the Exchange benefit. As part of this effort, the Department of Defense’s oldest and largest exchange service relies on an ongoing customer satisfaction index to provide localized, real time snapshots of the job exchange facilities are doing to improve the value of support provided to servicemembers and their families. The survey is administered at half of exchange main stores twice a year. JBM-HH shoppers’ opportunity to participate in the 2013 customer satisfaction index is Aug. 31-Sept. 12. During this time, shoppers and their families are encouraged to visit the exchange to provide feedback on local services. Beyond improving the exchange benefit, shoppers who participate will receive a coupon worth $5 off their next purchase at the exchange. Behavioral health weekly meetings The Marine Corps Community Services behavioral health branch offers weekly meetings throughout the month. A men’s domestic violence intervention group (STOP) meets Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. for 26 weeks in Bldg. 12’s conference room. A women’s support and empowerment group also meets; call for details on this group. For more information on the groups and other services provided to active duty personnel and their families, call 703-614-7204. Got anger issues? An anger management workshop is held every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. in the Bldg. 12 conference room on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. You may start the workshop at any time, but pre-register is required by calling 703-614-7204. Ruach Warrior bible study The Ruach (a Hebrew word meaning spirit of God) Warrior, a non-denominational bible study, is held every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m.-noon in the chapel on the first floor of Bldg. 29 on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. Everyone is invited to participate. Call 703-614-9280 for information. Financial management assistance Marine Corps Community Services personal financial management program assists with everything from budgeting to investing. Classes are held throughout the month on a variety of topics, including planning for retirement. For a list of upcoming topics, call 703-614-6950. Gates and barrier maintenance Periodic preventative maintenance work will be conducted on JBM-HH gate bollards and pop-up barriers Sept. 4-6 according to the following schedule: Sept. 4: morning at Fort Myer’s Henry Gate; and afternoon for Gates 1 and 3 on Henderson Hall. Sept. 5: morning at Fort Myer’s Wright Gate; and afternoon at Fort Myer’s Hatfield Gate. Sept. 6: morning at Fort McNair’s Ceremonial Gate; and afternoon at Fort McNair’s 2nd Street Gate. Traffic disruption will be minimal during the work, but use caution when traveling through the gates during this time. Expect to hear testing of the speaker system at the same time. For more information, call Michael Presley at 703-588-2810.
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall Company Commander Maj. Khari Wright (left) receives the flag from outgoing Company Commander Maj. Kris Pirttinen during a change of command ceremony Aug. 21 on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall outside of Bldg. 29.
talion,” said Pirttinen. “Welcome Commander Wright … now you can concentrate on the number-two job,” she added. “I’d like to thank you for the opportunity,” Wright said to Barnes. “I appreciate the fact that you allowed me [to take over]. Every day will be a day well-spent.” Pirttinen will remain at Henderson Hall as the H & S Bn. operations officer.
Bullying awareness/prevention A child safety (bullying awareness and prevention) class will be held Sept. 5 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the ACS classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. Information for parents and caregivers regarding the dynamics of bullying, what causes a child to bully, how the victim of the bullying is impacted and what adults and caregivers can do to prevent bullying from occurring will be discussed. Preregistration is required by calling 703-696-3512. Welcome to Korea Come to Army Community Service for the “411” on Korea Sept. 6 from 10-11 a.m. Learn about sponsorship, household and personal vehicle shipments, pets, passport information, as well as customs, culture and language. Class will be held in the Bldg. 201 on the Continued on next page
PENTAGRAM
Friday, August 30, 2013
5
News Notes Continued from previous page Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. First Friday Help make a tradition of First Friday each first Friday of the month from 4:30-11 p.m. at the Marine Club on the Henderson Hall side of the base. The next event is Sept. 6. New wing flavors — spicy buffalo, honey BBQ, Caribbean jerk and Thai sweet curry — are available for 40 cents each 4:30-9 p.m. A disk jockey will start at 6:30 p.m. Drink specials are available from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is open to all Department of Defense ID card holders and their guests. For information, call 703-614-2125 and see www.mccsHH.com. Parents helping parents: child safety An informational play morning event for parents, caregivers and their children (infant through 6 years of age) will be held Sept. 9 from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the ACS classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. The session includes crafts, playtime, story time and a brief presentation on child safety-bullying awareness. Space is limited. Registration is required by calling 703-696-3512. Corporal’s course to begin Headquarters and Service Battalion Headquarters Marine Corps will conduct a corporal’s course from Sept. 9-24. For more information, contact Sgt. Massa V. Taylor at 703-614-2014. Signal Officers Wives Club The next Sgnal Officers Wives Club meeting will be held Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.noon at the home of Micki Bowman. For more information, call Judy at 703-978-1338. New in town? Marine Corps Community Services has a wealth of information for newly-arrived Marines and their families. The next welcome aboard brief is Sept. 10 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Marine Club aboard the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH. A free walking tour of the Henderson Hall portion follows the brief, and after a break for lunch there is a bus tour of the local area, including downtown Washington, D.C., starting at 12:30 p.m. To register for the brief, call 703-614-7202. For a comprehensive overview of the classes and resources offered, visit www.mccsHH. com or call 703-614-7200.
VA claims assistance available National service officers from American Veterans will be availble to assist with Department of Veterans Affairs claim filing the second and fourth Thursday of each month in Bldg. 29 on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH in the career resource management center. The next meeting is Sept. 12. Bring your service medical records, private physician’s records, DD Form 214, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates and your dependents’ social security cards. For service hours and more information, call 703-614-6828. Hearts Apart to meet Hearts Apart, the support group for spouses, fiancées or significant others of deployed or geographically separated military and civilian personnel, will meet Sept. 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 139, 3445 Washington Blvd., in Arlington, Va. This group is designed to be a fun networking opportunity for those experiencing separation from a loved one. To register, contact Kelly Weidner at 703-696-0153 or by email at Kelly.M.Weidner.ctr.@mail.mil. Veterans benefits to be discussed A representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Survivor Assistance will discuss VA benefits at the next quarterly financial seminar led by JBM-HH Survivor Outreach Services. This seminar is limited to surviving family members and will be held Sept. 12 from noon-1:30 p.m. in the ACS classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Reserve your spot by emailing jinsook.lim.civ@mail.mil or by calling 703-696-8847. New degree available The Fort Myer Education Center and Old Dominion University announce that starting with the spring 2014 term, an MSEd in counseling with concentrations in mental health or school counseling will be offered at ODU’s Fort Myer site. If you are interested in earning this degree, get more information Sept. 12 at the Fort Myer Education Center, Bldg. 117, Room 215 from 4-6 p.m. For more information, contact Iva Armstrong at iarmstro@odu.edu or by calling 703875-0190. Stress management Participants will complete a stress profile and receive information on the impact that unmanaged stress has on their lives, review options for managing stress and receive materials to assist them in devel-
oping their own unique stress management plan during the stress management (introductory level presentation for adults) session Sept. 18 from 9-11 a.m. in the ACS classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. Registration is required by calling 703-696-3512 or via email to karen.a.stpierre. ctr@mail.mil. AOWCGWA annual super sign up The Army Officers’ Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area will be hosting their annual super sign up welcome on Sept. 19 in the Koran Room of the JBM-HH Officers Club from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Along with the opportunity to sign up to join the AOWCGWA and the many activities, luncheons and events the club holds we will be honoring our World War II brides. The event cost is $20, which includes a hot and cold buffet. Reservations must be received no later than Sept. 10. For more information, call 910-364-5319. TOG blood drive The Old Guard blood drive will take place Sept. 23 at the fitness center on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH from noon- 4 p.m., or until completed. Anger management Anger management (introductory level presentation for adults) will take place Sept. 25 from 9-11 a.m. in the ACS classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. Participants can learn about the basic principles of emotions management, specific information about the impact of unmanaged anger, and receive resources on how to recognize and manage the anger triggers in their own lives. Registration is required by calling 703-696-3512 or via email to karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil. MCX Annual Survey Under Way Sept.11 The Marine Corps Exchange annual Customer Satisfaction Index survey is scheduled to begin Sept. 11, at the Henderson Hall store. Authorized patrons are asked to complete the survey, which takes about 15 minutes, using a touch-screen device. As a thank you, a five dollar MCX gift card is given to each patron who completes the survey. For exact dates and times, please visit www.mccsHH.com/ MCX.html. For more information, call 703-693-5351. Please send your news notes to the Pentagram at pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com.
Military-Friendly Career Fair September 13 * 9 am - 12:30 pm The Waterford, Springfield VA JOB FAIR
LABOR DAY SPECIALS
Meet dozens of military-friendly employers and schools, including Amazon, Coca-Cola, Sentara Healthcare, State Farm, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, URS, Camber, Engility, Milton Hershey School, and many more.
FRANCHISE FAIR
Discuss business opportunities with Franchisors from various industries, Mentors with franchise and military experience, Small Business Administration representatives. Especially for the military community, but open to all. For details and to pre-register (which is recommended):
www.CorporateGray.com 1038077B
J e e p Grand G r a n d Cherokee C h e r o k e e Laredo Laredo 2014 2 0 1 4 Jeep
2013 2 0 1 3 Dodge D o d g e Dart D a r t SE SE
E71573
Savings Savings u p to to up $3,100 $3,100
Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
Sport J e e p Wrangler W r a n g l e r Unlimited U n l i m i t e d Sport 2014 2 0 1 4 Jeep
DD35054 $18,885 MSRP M S R P $18,885
Sale P rice Sale Price $15,995 $15,995 Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
2013 R a m 1500 R e g Cab 2 0 1 3 Ram 1 5 0 0 Reg Cab
E72004
Savings Savings u p to to up $3,200 $3,200 Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
Patriot 2014 2 0 1 4 Jeep J e e p Patriot
E74006
Savings Savings u p to to up $6,700 $6,700 Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
22013 0 1 3 CChrysler h r y s l e r 200 2 0 0 LX L X Sedan Sedan M S R P $$19,990 MSRP 19,990
Sale P rice Sale Price $16,888 $16,888
$19,985 MSRP M S R P $19,985
Price Sale S a l e Price $15,550 $15,550
Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
Price includes all applicable Incentives (Military, College Grad, Returning Lessee) but Excludes Taxes, Tags and Freight. See Dealer for Details.
See what it’s like to love car buying
1036242B
5060 Auth Way Marlow Heights, MD 20746
Sales: Service: Parts: (888) 845-0392 (888) 845-1528 (888) 856-5760 01040719B
6
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM
First Day, from page 1 neighborhood helped prepare for the arrival of students. Serving as cheerleaders, Soldiers called out to students as they confidently and sometimes apprehensively approached the school with parents in tow. “It’s the first day of school,” called out Sgt. Maj. Willene Orr to a cluster of arrivals climbing school steps. “Let’s do it.” “You want a pencil?” asked Master Sgt. James Meyers, bending down and holding out a camouflage-painted pencil to a young child. “Come on, you know you do.” “Are you ready for school?” JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj Earlene Y. Lavender asked a family approaching Amidon-Bowen. “Are you ready-ready, or just ready?” Recognizing a good number of children as they approached the threshold, Miller called out to students by name, crouching down to greet them at their level and dispensing hugs. Abe danced in place at the entrance
to the school, giving high-fives and thumbs up signs to students, standing still only long enough to have his picture taken with various clusters of kids. “Good morning everyone,” said a parent in response to the welcoming committee. “Abe is more of a hit this year than Screech,” said Ward 6 ANC commissioner Ron McBee, alluding to the baseball-capped bald eagle mascot the Nationals sent to the school last year. Assessing the bewildered look on the face of her daughter Cayla Hooper, 8, who is new to the school, Tia Purcell said, “She’s scared but also excited. There’s a lot to take in.” “It’s always fun to work with kids; to be able to give back,” said Headquarters Command Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Alex Pratt. “It’s good to have the community and military getting together to show the kids we support them.” Orr said she enjoyed herself at the event, seeing the smiling children. Lavender emphasized that all the
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Kamiya McDowney, 7, receives a pencil from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Soldiers outside of Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in Washington, D.C., Aug. 26. Her mother, Tiffany McDowney, brought her to school.
Soldiers attending were volunteers. She said JBM-HH volunteers distributed 38 backpacks and a half dozen boxes of supplies. Additional donations, including contributions to school uniforms, which didn’t arrive in time for the Soldiers’ visit, will be presented to the school at a
later date. The command sergeant major said it was good to have some of the Soldiers involved with gathering supplies be present at the school to help distribute the material. “It’s better than having them put goods in a box and never seeing where it goes,” she said. While Lavender has paid visits to local schools while at other duty stations, she said this was the first time she attended the first day of school to welcome students as part of a military delegation. “It was a real eye-opener of what the Army does for the community,” she said. “Support of this event upholds JBM-HH’s mission of fostering and strengthening good community relations and partnerships,” said Leah Rubalcaba, joint base community relations officer. “It serves to continue the strong relationship between JBM-HH, the Ward 6 ANC commissioners, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly and Amidon-Bowen Elementary School.”
Henderson Hall partnership with Barcroft marks 34th year By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer
Marines and one good-natured Army Soldier from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall helped ring in the start of the school year at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington, Va., Aug. 26 with their first Marine Tutor & Buddy visit of the academic year. This marks the 34th year of the Partnership in Education program between Headquarters & Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall and the school, said Dora Black, who serves as the school’s liaison for the program. “They [the Marines and Soldiers who volunteer] really give from the heart, the mind, the soul,” she said. “The kids really want to show them their best when they are here.” And show them their best the students certainly did. After Black provided a brief overview of the program, the kids and their Marine and Army buddies broke into groups. The sound of conversation and laughter quickly filled the
buddy, Jaden Tham-Morrobel, 9, spent a part of his summer visiting family members who live in Florida and that he would like to visit Hawaii someday. “I’d like to go to Paris, France,” Prisme said when Tham-Morrobel asked him where he’d like to visit. “I’d like to live there, too.” Army Master Sgt. James Meyers, a senior career counselor at the joint base, broke into a wide grin and endured some good natured ribbing from the Marines when he showed the group what his buddy, Sergio Vargas’, 9, favorite book was. “He picked it out and brought it to me,” PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE Meyers laughed as he held up the book titled Sgt. Erwin Prisme, from the Henderson Hall portion of “U.S. Army.” Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, talks with Jaden ThamThe Marines will visit with their buddies Morrobel, 9, at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington, approximately every two weeks throughout Va. Aug. 26. the school year. For more information on the library as they asked each other what their program, or if you are a servicemember – branch favorite food and book was, what they did over does not matter – and would like to volunteer, the summer, and where they would like to go if contact school liaison manager Liz Barnes at they could go anywhere in the world. 703-693-8378 or via email at barnese@usmcMarine Sgt. Erwin Prisme learned that his mccs.org.
CATCH C A T C H ALL A L L THE T H E BIG B I G GAMES GAMES ON O N OUR O U R BIG B I G FLAT F L A T SCREEN S C R E E N TV’S. TV’S. PLUS P L U S GREAT G R E A T FOOD F O O D SPECIALS. SPECIALS.
Daily Specials
• 1/2 price Burgers Mondays (Veggie & Turkey Burger) All Day • $10.99 Prime Rib Tuesdays All Day Small Plate • $5 Appetizers 4-7pm Tuesdays Specials During NFL Games 703-415-4420 Pentagon Row 1301 S. Joyce St Arlington, VA 22202 sineirishpub.com HOURS OF OPERATION: SUN-WED 11:00AM-12AM | THURS-SAT 11:00AM-1:30AM
01040568B
01040606B
PENTAGRAM
Friday, August 30, 2013
Blair, from page 1 “From private to lieutenant colonel, that’s a pretty good run and an impressive one,” said Barnes in his remarks to Blair and guests. “Everything she does, she does with excellence. I know if you really, really need something done that is time-sensitive [she] is the first person you call.” He also thanked Blair’s parents for their support during Blair’s career. “She made us better; better as a nation and better as a service,” said Barnes. During her speech, Blair recalled asking her parents their thoughts when she came home and told them she had joined the Marine Corps. They thought it was a good thing,” she said. She shared a story about someone from the electric company knocking on her door more than 28 years ago to inform her that the electricity to her apartment was being cut off. She was able to extend her disconnection for one day and told the audience she spent the last few dollars she had on gas to drive to her recruiter. Blair initially signed up to join the Navy, but the Marine recruiter offered her better enlistment terms – guaranteed rank of E4 within 13 months, her choice of military specialty and which coast she wanted to live on. “I was about three months late in rent, wasn’t able to pay my college tuition, wasn’t making the grades, so the finances were cut off … and because of [my parents’] tough love, I’m here today,” said Blair. “Since then it has been one change, one program, one bit of excitement after another, for 28 years,” she continued. “I have been blessed.
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Retiring Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Deputy Joint Base Commander Lt. Col. Jennifer L. Blair faces Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall Commanding Officer Col. Anthony S. Barnes during her retirement ceremony Aug. 22 in the courtyard outside of Bldg. 29 on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base.
I cannot count the people who have helped me, supported me and been next to me all this time. And I can count on one hand the number of speed bumps. I just want to tell the Marines, you’ve got the watch,” she concluded. Blair was born in Columbus, Ga., and grew up in Troy, Ala. She attended Troy State University for two years, then enlisted in the Marine Corps in February, 1985. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in aviation management while serving as an operations and Naval air training and operating procedures standardization (NATOPS) clerk aboard New River Air Station, Jacksonville, N.C. After achieving the rank of corporal, Blair participated
7
in an enlisted commissioning program and in 1988 was commissioned a second lieutenant. She served as adjutant for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in 1989. Blair earned a master’s degree in management from Webster University, prior to serving temporary duty with 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Storm and Desert Shield. She transferred to the Individual Ready Reserves in 1992. As a first lieutenant, Blair served with the Individual Mobilization Augmentees Detachment, Cherry Point, N.C., as an administrative officer that same year. In 1996, holding the rank of captain, Blair was accepted to the active reserve program and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as head of the notice of eligibility program. She reported to Dobbins Naval Air Station, Marietta, Ga., as the Marine Aircraft Group-42 adjutant. Following this tour, she returned to drilling reserve status attached to the IMA Detachment, as group adjutant. As a major, Blair served as officer in charge of the Peacetime, Wartime Support team, Riverton, Utah in 2002. She was activated in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following demobilization, as a lieutenant colonel, Blair served as an IMA reservist until 2005 when she transferred to Camp Pendleton, Calif., as executive officer of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. In 2008, Blair transferred to Commanding General of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, as an assistant CG inspector in a selected Marine Corps Reserve billet. She transferred to G-1 Ops, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. in 2009. In October 2009, she reported to Bahrain to serve as the assistant chief of staff for the G-1, with the Marine Expeditionary BrigadeCommand Element.
Shopping the AAFES JBM-HH Exchange pays dividends The Army and Air Force Exchange Service Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Exchange is paying dividends in more ways than one as Soldiers and their families exercising their benefit by dining and shopping at Exchange facilities last year generated a dividend of $1,313,068. These funds are critical to Army IMCOM G-9’s ability to enhance local programs and facilities including the golf course, bowling center and fitness facilities. “Historically, roughly two-thirds of Exchange earnings are paid to
01040398B
morale, welfare and recreation programs with the other third used to build new stores or renovate existing facilities,” said the JBM-HH Exchange’s General Manager, Nildy Eiley. “This structure means that authorized customers are essentially our ‘investors.’ Fortunately, thrifty shoppers rediscovering the value the Exchange offers allowed us to provide a healthy return on their investment.” With a mission to provide quality goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support quality of
life efforts, the dual benefit the Exchange provides military families goes far beyond the clothes, electronics and snacks on shelves. Shoppers who visit the Exchange, either online at www.shopmyexchange.com or in person here at JBM-HH, actually help make the military community a better place to live and work. In fact, purchases made in the past 10 years have provided more than $2.4 billion to military programs such as Youth Services, post functions, gyms and aquatic centers. (JBM-HH AAFES press release)
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Dividends generated by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service enhance local base programs such as golf courses, bowling centers and fitness facilities.
8
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM
JBM-HH streets packed with Women’s Equality 5K runners, 1 mile walkers By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer
Nearly 400 runners and active duty battalions took part in one of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s most popular road races Aug. 23 on the streets and avenues surrounding the Fort Myer Fitness Center. The annual Women’s Equality 5K and 1 Mile Walk tested women and men, girls and boys, first-time visitors and race course veterans as it celebrated Women’s Equality Day, which was observed Aug. 26. Also participating in the event were Joint Force Headquarters/Military District of WashingtonNational Capital Region Commander Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, JBM-HH Commander Col. Fern O. Sumpter and Joint Base Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender. “Today’s run was really outstanding; I thank you for your participation,” Sumpter told the crowd prior to the awards ceremony. Two groups were quite prevalent during the run. A combination of 57 National Capital Region Navy personnel from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Walter Reed National Medical Center, The Washington Navy Yard, the Pentagon and other installations ran in cadence during the 3.1 mile excursion, yet The
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
(From the left) Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Commander Col. Fern O. Sumpter, Herbert Williams, 9, and JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender take part in the Women’s Equality Day 5K run/1 mile walk on JBM-HH Aug. 23.
Old Guard’s Hotel Company earned the prize for the largest military racing group. But the Navy would not be denied a top prize that Friday morning. The first to cross the finish line in 19 minutes and 18 seconds was Daniel Richard, a Navy
Pentagon worker and a JBM-HH Morale, Welfare and Recreation race-circuit veteran. “I like racing a course with a lot of turns, and this course has the turns,” Richard said. “I especially love the downhill part of the course.” Ten seconds behind Richard was Spc. Anthony Meadows of The Old Guard’s Hotel Company. “I could have picked up the pace more if I trained a little harder,” he said after being met by his fellow TOG Soldiers who were race spectators and cheerleaders. “I usually try to get a half hour of cardio in every day.” Kathryn Taron, an Army retiree and current Army spouse, was the female champ. The 2013 Women’s Equality Race was her first encounter with a Fort Myer multi-mile dash. “We just PCS’ed [permanent change of station] here from Fort Leonard Wood and Schofield Barracks before that,” Taron said. “I like the slow hill at the beginning because I knew there’d be a downhill at the end.” The one mile walking division winners were Jamie Brooks and Sean McDonald. The 17-years-of-age race winners were Lexy Krumm and Daniel Wright while Allison Hills, Meadows, Vicki Harris and Christopher Benson won age group honors.
Medal of Honor recipient joins Pentagon Hall of Heroes By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service
Defense Department leaders turned out Aug. 27 to honor Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter, who received the nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, from President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony Aug. 26. Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter led the induction ceremony, which formally added the staff sergeant’s name to the list of Medal of Honor recipients featured at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Army Undersecretary Joseph W. Westphal and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell also spoke at the ceremony. On Oct. 3, 2009, the 53 defenders of Combat Outpost Keating, located in the remote areas of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, woke to some 300 enemy attackers raining down incoming rifle, rocket-propelled grenade,
machine-gun and mortar fire from the high ground surrounding the outpost. Sgt. Carter, assigned that day to support the camp’s guard posts, repeatedly braved withering fire, sprinting again and again over open ground to keep defenders supplied with ammunition, and to aid and evacuate a badly wounded friend and fellow Soldier. “His bold actions that day are emblematic not just of the decisions of fellow Soldiers in his unit, but of a generation ... of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen that have distinguished themselves during 12 hard years of persistent conflict,” the deputy defense secretary said. Carter said regardless of whether or how they have served, Americans see their own highest aspirations reflected in actions like the staff sergeant’s — and by firefighters rushing into burning skyscrapers, teachers protecting
children from gunfire, or rescue swimmers braving dark waters to aid others in danger. “His actions are the deeds and spirit, in that sense, of thousands of common men and women capable of uncommon valor in the most extraordinary and unexpected circumstances,” he said. “In so many ways, the Medal of Honor Sergeant Carter received represents not just the best of him, but the best of all of us — all that we hope to be.” The nation will preserve the hard-earned lessons it has learned over a decade of war, he said, and adapt them for a future in which global threats grow less predictable and more dangerous. “Amidst these challenges, Sergeant Carter’s induction as a Medal of Honor recipient is a reminder of the strength and endurance, not just of our fighting men and women, but of our national spirit,” Carter said. “Ours will always be a country that runs
toward the sound of danger, in order to preserve the ideals that we cherish.” The deputy secretary noted that the staff sergeant, who has spoken publicly about his own struggles with post-traumatic stress, now has another chance to serve the nation — out of combat. “You’re joining a prestigious fellowship of warriors, who have exhibited the utmost courage and bravery in battle,” the deputy secretary said to Carter. “With this opportunity comes an opportunity to continue to inspire not just your brothers and sisters in the military, but the country as a whole.” The nation counted on Sergeant Carter at COP Keating, the deputy secretary said, “and now we count on you to remind Americans of the best that we all can be. I have no doubt that your courageous acts in Afghanistan are only the beginning of your service to this country.”
School liaison officers help families transition By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer
The ringing of the bell signaling the start of a new school year for most students means catching up with friends they might not have seen over the summer break or seeking out a familiar face if they’ve switched to a new school due to a grade promotion. For military kids, the start of a new academic year can come with the added stress of not only adjusting to a new home if they’ve had a permanent change of station move over the summer, but to a new school as well. To help lessen that stress, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has two school liaison
officers, Ann Daffin, school liaison on the Army side of the joint base and Liz Barnes, school liaison on the Marine portion of the base, who stand ready to help military-connected students and their parents have a successful academic year. “The beauty is we work together,” said Daffin. “If I have a Marine who contacts me and I can’t answer those questions, I turn him over to Liz. If Liz has a Soldier and she can’t help him, she turns him over to me.” The purpose of the school liaison program is to coordinate and assist school-aged children of military parents with educational opportunities and information necessary to succeed in an aca-
PHOTO
BY
BENJAMIN ABEL
Students return from the cafeteria with their lunches at the newly dedicated Randall David Shughart elementary school in the Linden Oaks neighborhood of Fort Bragg, N.C., Oct. 6, 2011.
demic environment. Barnes and Daffin said there are strategies that military families can use before moving and changing schools that can make the transition easier. “If you know you’re getting ready to move, don’t hide it from [your children]” said Barnes. And when you’re packing for the move, make sure your child’s birth certificate, social security number, immunization record, legal documents if there is custody or guardianship involved, stay with you. Those are all items that you’ll be required to show to register your child in a new school. “Hand carry these items when you move,” stressed Barnes. “Don’t pack them.” Make sure you bring proof of residency – a lease or home ownership papers – with you when register your child as well. “I feel the school liaison working with families can be the most effective when we connect with families prePCS,” added Barnes. Daffin agreed and noted that the school liaison program did not exist when her son was in school. “That’s the whole thing behind the school liaison program, to try to ensure that when [military] children transition from one school to the next that they
don’t feel so isolated, that they don’t feel so alone,” she said. “You have our children, our students, they are so interspersed in the community, so it’s important that we reach out to them, give the parents the resources they need, so they are successful.” Public school systems are also embracing military children with a variety of programs that are specific to each district. School systems in the National Capital Region have reached out to Barnes and Daffin for resources to assist the children of deployed or deploying servicemembers. “They are recognizing that our military children come with unique strengths, and many of them are natural leaders in that junior high/ high school student government,” said Barnes. “They are stepping up in the student-to-student organizations. I think schools are recognizing that they can build on their personal experiences. It brings a different dynamic to learning.” Barnes and Daffin noted that every public school has to have what’s called a state report card, which can be found online, that can help parents decide if a particular school is right for their child. “It’s data-driven,” said Barnes of the school report card. “It breaks down the
demographics of the school, it breaks down their performance, so it’s all the information families want to know about the school.” Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia are also members of the Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunities for Military Children, which provides for the uniform treatment of military children transferring between school districts and states, she added. “It has really leveled the playing field and changed a lot of things to the good for military children,” said Barnes. The compact, which is voluntary and only applies to public schools, was developed by The Council of State Governments’ National Center for Interstate Compacts, the Department of Defense, federal and state officials, departments of education, school administrators and military families in 2008. Daffin offered a final piece of advice to military parents: “Don’t be afraid to advocate for your child,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to interact with the school.” To reach Barnes, call 703-693-8378 or email her at barnese@usmc-mccs.org. To reach Daffin, call 703696-3817 or email her at elizabeth.a.daffin@us.army. mil.
PENTAGRAM
Friday, August 30, 2013
9
Old Guard MP’s tackle National Mall emergency By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer An extended physical training session on the National Mall turned into a first responder emergency action for four 289th Military Police Company Soldiers the morning of Aug. 21. First Lt. Quenten Vereen, Sergeants 1st Class Brian Williams and John Russell and Spc. Christopher Slane were jogging toward their turnaround point when a bus-pedestrian accident caught their attention. The morning PT then turned into a medical emergency response. “Usually in the mornings for our physical training, we go for a nine-mile run or a six-mile run or we do workouts in the gym,” Williams recalled how a typical day starts. “That particular morning, we were running to the Capitol building. We were near 7th and Madison Drive [Northwest] when we heard the incident occur. “Lt. Vereen said ‘I think that guy got hit by a bus,’” Williams continued. “When we saw the bus pull off, we saw a gentleman in the fetal position lying in the middle of the road.” The jogger, who is a Department of Transportation employee, was critically injured. Russell and
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
(Left to right) 289th Military Police Company’s 1st Lt. Quenten Vereen, Spc. Christopher Slane and Sgt. 1st Class Brian Williams along with Sgt. 1st Class John Russell (not pictured) administered critical first aid to a jogger who was hit by a bus in the vicinity of the National Mall during the morning of Aug. 21. Williams were the first Soldiers to reach the runner. Injury identification determined that the jogger suffered a large laceration to the head and a compound fracture to the lower left leg. The Old Guard Soldiers verbally encouraged the man and persuaded passersby to literally take the shirts off their backs so an improvised tourniquet could be constructed. “His head was bleeding pretty profoundly at the
time and also his leg – blood was squirting [out] as his heart was pumping,” Vereen said. “Because he [had been] running, his heart rate was up pretty high. “We saw a couple bystanders, and Sgt. Russell asked for their shirts and Sgt. Russell and Sgt. Williams made a make-shift tourniquet [and applied it] a couple inches above his knee to control the bleeding. Slane gave the runner a brief follow-up examination which served to identify any secondary injuries. Ironically, the specialist was in the midst of completing a warrior first responder course the same week as the accident. “Every Soldier has to go through the course,” Slane said. “It [being at the accident scene] was just one of those things. Any Soldier who took the course would have been prepared [for that accident]. The course teaches you how to make make-shift tourniquets and control bleeding.” Williams, Slane and Vereen credit Russell’s calm reaction to his experiences of first responding to battle buddies during his deployment to Iraq. The Soldiers tended to the jogger for five to 10 minutes before the 911 call brought an ambulance to the scene.
MDW hosts antiterrorism awareness display By Cory Hancock JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs
The U.S. Army Military District of Washington hosted an antiterrorism awareness display as part of the U.S. Army’s Antiterrorism Month at Fort Lesley J. McNair Aug. 21. “The idea behind this display is to educate the staff on antiterrorism awareness,” said Marvin C. Solomon, PMO/ Protection Division and the coordinator of the event. “It is important for all of us to be aware especially because of our location here in the National Capital Region.”
The event is synchronized with the 4th annual U.S. Army’s Antiterrorism Month. The Army’s antiterrorism (AT) program protects personnel, information and facilities in all locations and situations against terrorist activities. “Making note and reporting suspicious activity to your installations antiterrorism officer is something everyone should do,” said Solomon. “If you see something, say something.” The purpose of AT Awareness Month is to instill Army-wide heightened awareness and vigilance to protect Army communities from acts of terrorism.
“We do this display to not only educate our staff but also try to give them the awareness tools to teach their family and friends,” said Solomon. “That is the overall goal.” The AT officers at each of the organizations affiliated with the JFHQ-NCR/ MDW are listed below: JFHQ-NCR/M DW Provost Marshal/ Protection Directorate — Marvin C. Solomon • Fort AP Hill — Jerry Bennett • Fort Belvoir — Darrell Wade • Fort Hamilton — Jose Colon • Fort Meade — Mark George
• • • • • • •
Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall — Sharon Hatch Army Air Operations Group — Heather Ellis Joint Air Defense Operations Center — Maj. Kimberly Achey Joint Personal Property shipping Office, Washington Area — Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Castanon The U.S. Army Band — Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Hernandez 3d Infantry Regiment — 1st Lt. John Nielsen White House Transportation Agency — Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Alexander
The face of retention has diverse features By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer
In the inaugural face of retention story published Aug. 23, the Pentagram concentrated on the retention team command and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall–based career counselor profiles. In this issue, counselors from other Joint Force Headquarters/ Military District of Washington-National Capital Region venues will be introduced. Part of the retention team philosophy is to maintain the core of the Army by keeping the best Soldiers to fight, support and win America’s wars. The retention team offers reenlistment to the best and elite personnel and transitioning talented Soldiers into the reserve component. The goals include re-upping Soldiers on a long-term basis and achieving and maintaining Army force alignment while educating, encouraging and thanking Warriors who plan to continue their careers in the Army. One region career counselor brings an international background to the MDW retention team. Born in New York City yet raised in Montreal, Canada, career counselor Sgt. 1st Class Samira Abdullah enlisted in the Army prior to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She is one of the newer members of the JFH-NCR/MDW retention team. “I’m a new counselor, so I don’t feel intimidatSgt. 1st Class Samira ed when I call [someone] Abdullah with questions. I can call anybody here and ask them a question,” Abdullah said of her professional relationship with her office battle buddies. “There’s a comfort knowing I have a support team that has my back if I need them.” A dental hygienist in her pre-Army days, Abdullah is eight classes away from earning her bachelor’s degree in business management. Though her post-military plans change, at the current moment she would like to infuse her business savvy with the domestic animal care world. “It [my post-military plan] changes. Right now, I’m on this drive to open a doggie day camp/boarding-type of business and train dogs,” she explained. “That’s what I’m interested in right now and maybe some interior design.” True to her Canadian roots, she enjoys hockey and hitting the hills to snowboard and ski. The sergeant can be reached at 703-805-4400. Growing up in Maryland, Master Sgt. Allan Mason was one of 11 children in a family that produced a number of future servicemembers. Now tasked as the reserve component retention operations NCO at the Fort McNair retention command office, Mason is the newest member of the retention team; he is still in-processing following a mission in Atlanta. “I am originally from Baltimore. I was born and raised in Baltimore – Johns Hopkins Hospital,” Mason detailed. “I was raised in Baltimore, D.C. and other
parts of Maryland – mostly southern Maryland – like St. Mary’s County.” A “snooze and you lose” mentality existed at Mason’s dinner table when he was a child. If one was not attentive with a serving spoon, knife or fork, a portion might be missed. Today, he fondly remembers the days elbowing for grub. “Dinner was rough,” he said with a smile. “There was no such thing as buying one chicken. We had to buy two or three chickens. We were poor, but we made it. “I have three brothers and seven sisters,” he continued. “All the boys went Master Sgt. Allan Mason into the military. I had two sisters who joined the military. One sister served four years, and she went to work for the Department of Labor. My baby sister spent 11 years as an RN.” In 1982, eight years after his induction, Mason reached a crossroads in his military career. The time had once again come to reenlist, and he chose to re-up and become a career counselor. “I talked to my commander. I told him you were going to lose me out of the service,” Mason remembered. “He asked me what I wanted to do, and I told him I want to be a career counselor, so I went to 79 Delta School, and I became a career counselor. I then went out on recruiting for five years. I then got out of the service for three years.” In his spare time, Mason is an avid fisherman, reader and fan of the Baltimore Ravens. He even shared his favorite area to cast a line. “My favorite [fishing hole] is St. George’s Island in St. Mary’s County,” he shared. “It’s down at the end of the peninsula. I enjoy fishing. I used to crab and fish when I was a child.” Sgt. 1st Class Scott Halbleib has amassed 25 years of service in the Army and three and a half years as a career counselor in the D.C. area. The Lancaster, Penn., native was named Fiscal Year 2012 JFHQNCR/MDW Reserve Component Career Counselor of the Year. He is stationed inside the National Capital Region at Fort George G. Meade as the reserve career counselor. Halbleib just completed Sgt. 1st Class Scott his bachelor’s degree in Halbleib June in business administration from Ashford University. One of his greatest satisfactions is working with the retention group. “Another team I worked with from 2007 to 2010 was all about individuals. I came here in 2010 until now, and it’s a 180 [degree change]; it’s like day and night. Everybody here treats everybody like family,” he shared. “For example, [Sgt. 1st Class Abdullah] called me one day when I was sick. I was in the hos-
pital for a week with a 103 [degree] temperature. She actually checked up on me when I got back. “This is a tight-knit group of people I really care about,” Halbleib added. Besides the genuine caring, Retention Commander Sgt. Maj. Willene Orr daily observes the intelligence the team is ready to provide Soldiers. “Everyone here brings a wealth of knowledge to the table,” she said of the retention group. As the reserve counselor, Halbleib plays an integral role in whether a Soldier heads toward the reserves or enters civilian life. “The career counselors are trying to keep them [Soldiers] in the Army,” he said. “If the Soldier says no and wants to ETS [effective termination of service], that’s where I come into play. I’ll ask them to stay in the Army in some capacity [either in] the National Guard or the Reserves.” The sergeant enjoys spending time with his 3-yearold son and also has a 20-year-old daughter. In the autumn and winter sports seasons, Halbleib follows the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Flyers. Master Sgt. Lesley H. Thurman, Jr. is the senior career counselor at Fort Belvoir. Thurman is a multidecade Soldier, and lists Grenada’s Operation Urgent Fury as his most challenging mission. Thurman is a native of Old Town Alexandria and graduated from T.C. Williams High School. He currently is enrolled at Grantham University studying business administration. He notes that he enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, gaming, traveling and playing with his grandchild. As for his retention work, his philosophy is simple. “[It is up to me to] take care of all Soldiers regardless of rank,” the master Master Sgt. Lesley H. sergeant commented. Thurman, Jr. “My personal mission is to ensure that all Soldiers are well informed about their Reserve Component opportunities and benefits prior to leaving the active Army.” To reach and connect to Thurman, Soldiers are asked to call 703-805-2102. Fort Meade Career Counselor Sgt. 1st Class Christina Dauria-Cox has been in the Army since Dec. 1997 and graduated from the career counseling course in 2006. Coming from a servicemember family, her military roots are deep. She was born in Massachusetts but many bases have been home. “My father was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. I was a military brat, so I grew up in many places, so I do not claim one state or another,” she explained. Dauria-Cox is married and is the mother of a 22-month-old son and a 17-year-old daughter. She recently finished her final class for her bachelors of science degree in liberal arts. She also attended airborne school in 2002 and was on active jump status until 2011.
10
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM
FMWR holding contest for magazine name change By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff Writer
Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation has developed an MWRwide magazine. The organization is holding a contest for readers to choose its name. “Members of the officers clubs at both Fort
Myer and Fort McNair were getting a monthly newsletter developed by FMWR, covering events and information about the clubs. However, we realized although the information in that publication was useful to those customers, the rest of our MWR customers were not seeing the information,” said Patricia “Ocie” Jacobs Pejcic, marketing
manager for FMWR on JBM-HH. “Also other events and things going on within MWR weren’t necessarily getting into the officers club publication because most of what was in that newsletter was officers clubrelated.” Pejcic said Denise James, director of FMWR, came up with the idea to take that newsletter and grow it
into a MWR-wide publication. “That’s what we’re doing now with the magazine, currently named fmwR&R. The first issue came out in August,” she said. “We’re looking for a name that will catch the eye of a child, teenager, civilian, servicemember or retiree,” Pejcic said. “The winner will receive two tickets to the Washington Redskins/ San Francisco 49ers game Nov. 25. The contest will run through September with the winner announced in the October issue. To submit an entry, email patricia.m.jacobs@ us.army.mil.
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
The Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation magazine is currently called “fmwR&R.” Take part in the contest to rename the publication.
The publication covers a myriad of services operated by DFMWR from the officers clubs, Spates Community Club, the fitness centers, bowling center,
community center, Cody Child Development Center, Army Community Service, and programs like Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers. “Officers club members will still have the publication mailed to them, and then we’ll have a few issues of the magazine available at different MWR facilities. It will also be available electronically through MWR’s electronic distribution list,” Pejcic said. She said anyone can subscribe to the electronic version and the instructions are on the MWR website at www. jbmhhmwr.com.
Now is the time to buy a home FREE Home Buyer Seminar Saturday, September 7th, 2013 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Strayer University, Room 111
13385 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192
An Educated Home Buyer Becomes a Satisfied Home Owner AGENDA INCLUDES:
ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE:
n n n n n n
n n n
How to buy foreclosed and short sale homes Benefits of your own buyer agent Which mortgage is right for you Personal budgeting Language and Documents of Real Estate Information for Seniors
n
Discount on closing costs Free Credit Report Free Home Buyer feasibility analysis Wealth of reference material
01040354B
Sponsored by: Linda Sullivan, ACACIA Federal Savings Bank David Field, Esq. MBH Settlement Group Mike Sfraddo, Patriot Pest Control
BOB HUMMER
LICENSED IN VIRGINIA
Your Buyer and Seller Representative
703-878-4866
www.Military-RealEstate.com www.BobHummer-ABuyerAgent.com www.BobHummerHelpsSeniorHomeowners.com 01040752B
01040506B
4500 Pond Way, Suite 220, Woodbridge, VA 22192
PENTAGRAM
Friday, August 30, 2013
11
Where to light up on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer
Looking to light up or chew tobacco products on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall? Soldiers, Marines, civilian employees, contractors, family members and patrons served by the joint base should note that Army Regulation (AR) 600-63, Army Health Promotion, paragraph 7-3a is the policy controlling tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco products, on the installation. The regulation states that “tobacco use is prohibited in all DA (Department of the Army)-
PHOTO
BY
those are the result of secondhand smoke exposure. Lavender also stressed that the use of tobacco products is prohibited in and at all Child Youth Services facilities and sports fields on JBM-HH, except in designated areas out of the presence or view of children and youths. “Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall supports our Soldiers and Marines who want to quit smoking by supporting our commanders and all senior NCOs on the joint base with ensuring our medical facilities are adequate, messaging through various venues [such as monthly partner meetings, Civilian Wellness program and the Quarterly Health Promotions Council and enforcing Army regulations and policies],” she added. Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic also offers tobacco cessation programs to both servicemembers and its civilian staff to help them stop smoking. Individual classes and group
RACHEL LARUE
A sign designating an area as no smoking is posted outside of Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
occupied workplaces except for designated smoking areas, as authorized by Department of Defense Instruction 1010.15, Smoke-Free DoD Facilities. The workplace includes any area inside a building or facility over which DA has custody and control, and where work is performed by military personnel, civilians, or persons under contract to the Army.” JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender added that “designated areas will be at least 50 feet from common points of ingress/ egress and will not be located in areas that are commonly used by nonsmokers, and smoking is prohibited in all government and federal buildings to include leased space on the installation.” According to the Center for Disease Control, tobacco use is responsible for about one in five deaths annually in the United States, or about 443,000 deaths per year. An estimated 49,000 of 01040396B
01040518B
sessions are available. Individual tobacco cessation sessions run anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, while group sessions are about an hour long. During the sessions, participants receive help with identifying the triggers which lead them to reach for tobacco. They also review their reasons for wanting to stop using tobacco, the health consequences of tobacco use and how to manage their withdrawal symptoms. Participants are offered quit aids such as nicotine replacement therapy – patches, gum and lozenges – and prescription medication that can be used up to 12 weeks. In addition, the clinic is a tobacco-free campus, meaning that tobacco use is prohibited inside the building and on grounds and property associated with the clinic. To make an appointment for a tobacco cessation session or to request a group session, call Rader’s appointment line at 855-227-6331.
12
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM
CSF2 sees culture of resilience growing in Army Family By Brian B. Feeney, Ph.D. Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness
When the Army launched the Ready and Resilient Campaign this spring, it cast a spotlight on Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness’ mission to increase the physical and psychological health, resilience and performance of Soldiers, families and Army civilians through resilience and performance enhancement training. Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, known as CSF2, was established in 2008, by then-Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George Casey, in an effort to address the challenges being faced due to multiple deployments required by persistent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers and their families were trying to keep up with multiple moves, adjusting to life while their Soldier was deployed, and then adjusting to their return. Instead of focusing only on treatment after the issues arose, Casey wanted to also provide preventative measures to the Soldiers and their families to make them stronger on the front end. CSF2 Resilience Training was created to give individuals the life skills needed to better cope with adversity and bounce back stronger from these challenges. According to Casey, through teaching resil-
Mortgage Services
Mortgage Services
VA Elite
Best VA Rates & Pricing in the Industry Loans that qualify: • 760+ FICO • $175,000 - $417,000 • Purchases up to 100% LTV • Programs also available for FICOs below 760
• Signature Service • Industry Leading turn times • One Day Condition Clearing • Superior Client Service • Direct Access to Underwriting
For more information contact MidAtlantic Financial Group of Fairfax, Inc at (703) 647-7436. Licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, License #MC-4626, NMLS 393093. T6615100B
01040557B
ience, “Soldiers can be better before deploying to combat so they will not have to get better after they return.” CSF2 is made up of both online self-development and training, both focus on comprehensive fitness in five dimensions of strength: social, emotional, spiritual, family and physical. Soldiers, their Family members and Army Civilians can all benefit from what the program has to offer. According to Col. Kenneth Riddle, CSF2’s director, over the last four years, CSF2 has turned this training into far more than just the answer to the problem of multiple deployments. “The training is just as beneficial, if not more so, for the garrison environment,” he said. “While Soldiers are trained to meet the stressor of war fighting, they are not trained to meet the stressors that they and their families experience at home, such as financial and marriage issues.” In response, the Army is now creating a culture of resilience. As more and more Soldiers, family members and Army civilians learn the skills taught by CSF2, the more the entire Army community begins speaking the same language. Master Sgt. Michael Ernzen, a master resilience trainer, or MRT, said the skills he learned during this training “redefined toughness,” noting that Soldiers typically think toughness is all physical, but there’s a mental component to it, as well. Master Sgt. Tim Frock, another MRT, said the training is “completely life altering; I now look at the world in a completely different way.” Soldiers have said that after learning the skills and implementing them at work and at home, they have seen a huge difference in their interactions with others. They better understand how to leverage their strengths and the strengths of others, problem solve and think through their emotions before reacting. As a result, they say they have stronger marriages, better relationships with their children, and better understand the issues their fellow Soldiers are going through. What was originally developed to help the Army Family get through a time of persistent conflict has now turned into arming them with life skills to support them through Army life and beyond. CSF2 is available to any Soldier, Family member or Army Civilian who wants it. “All you have to do is take the Global Assessment Tool, or GAT, and see where you score in the five dimensions of strength, and then get training from an MRT,” said Riddle. They will also be able to access advice from
01040562B
experts and communicate with each other on the soon-to-be launched ArmyFit website. ArmyFit offers the virtual community-building features of a social media platform, but is inside the secure .mil environment. Every installation has embedded MRTs. They can be found by contacting your battalion personnel officer or the installation Army Community Service center. Activated Reserve and National Guard Soldiers can locate an MRT by contacting CSF2 through its website (see below). MRTs are particularly easy to find at installations that have a CSF2 Training Center where people are welcome to drop in. CSF2 currently has 16 training centers with six more on the way. They are Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; the National Capitol Region; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Fort Stewart, Ga. The six currently being stood up are Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort McCoy/Fort Custer, Wis., shared site; a Camp Parks/Fort Dix, N.J., shared sight; Grafenwoehr, Germany; Vicenza, Italy; and either Yongsan or Humphreys, South Korea. Staff Sgt. Randy Traxler, an assistant primary MRT instructor at Fort Hood, sees a future in which resilience training will have spread to every corner of the Army, bringing about a culture change. “We will be practicing the skills in our lives without having to think about it,” Traxler said. “It will be who we are, not a training event. We will all be living our lives at a higher level of skill and intention.” The online self-development can be accessed by all members of the Army family by visiting the CSF2 website, http://csf2.army.mil. For more information about training offered near you, please contact the CSF2 offices, http://csf2.army. mil/contact.html.
Car wash Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic is having a car wash Saturday Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. in their parking lot near the side entrance and gazebo.
PENTAGRAM
Friday, August 30, 2013
Classifieds Call 301-670-2503
SPECIAL RATES FOR MILITARY AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Barcroft Apartments is now offering its garden apartments with 10% discount for military personnel & Month to month leases available.
Efficiency.........................................$934-$955 One Bedrooms............................$1010-$1045 Two bedrooms.............................$1215-$1300 Three Bedrooms Plus Electric.......$1350-$1395 Townhome................................................$1400
A month. All utilities paid. Carpeting optional.
• Park right at your door in this park-like setting. • Walk to elementary and high school or Army National Guard Readiness Center. • Take the express bus to the Pentagon, Ft. Myer, Henderson Hall or Ballston in 12 minutes. • Cats welcome. No dogs.
(703) 521-3000
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-5 • Call for Saturday hours
GERM: Large TH 4br, 2.5Ba fpl, deck, wlk out bsmt wlk to Twn cnter nr 270/Bus HOC $1795. 240-383-1000
063 Houses Wanted/Buy I Buy Houses CASH! Quick Sale Fair Price 703-940-5530
080
Furn. Apt. Washington DC
DC, SW: Furn Eff. Best loc, Incl all utils. 1 Block fr Metro + Safeway. $1300/mo. Avail 8/31. For info: Don at 301 423-3107.
2Br, ALEXANDRIA: 2.5Ba, highrise condo, 1650 sq ft, designer kit, undreground parking, W/D, pool, tennis courts, express bus to Pentagon & Metro, close to Ft Belvoir, Mark Ctr, $1850/mo,703-922-1986
Please refer to ad when calling All prices subject to change.
BARCROFT APARTMENTS 1130 South George Mason Drive • Arlington, VA 22204 At Columbia Pike and So. George Mason Drive
T6614100B
Some Restrictions Apply
W O O D B R I D G E : Rm for rent, nr Quantico marine base Ft Belvoir. $460/ all util included No Dep. or Lease Req. Call 703-494-8529
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM M M M M Adoring Doctor & University M M Executive yearn for a baby to M M M devote our lives. Expenses paid M M M M Ali & Garret M M M M 1-800-686-1028 M M M MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MADOPTION:M
T6613310
CROFTON T ownhouse 2 Mstr Bedrms, 2.5baths, fin rec rm, granite counters, new appls, carpet, freshly paintly. Move-in ready. On Walden golf course. $1900/mo 443-9951033; 410-451-0756.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPS: b o r n 4/13/13 white AKC, bred for temperament, 1st shot and wormed John 443-847-0626
Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524
Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now Dental/Medical Offices now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706 CTO SCHEV
CTO SCHEV
Go online to place your web ad for FREE* or call us at 301-670-2503 to place your ad in print. www.DCMilitaryBuyandSell.com *Free categories limited. See online for details.
13
14
1040310B
Friday, August 30, 2013
PENTAGRAM