Pentagram 090315

Pentagram

Vol. 62, No. 35 September 3, 2015

www.army.mil/jbmhh

Published For Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Musicians bring healing to wounded warriors

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer Volunteers from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” are using their musical skills to help their fellow service members cope with mental and physical challenges.

Master Sgt. Leigh Ann Hinton and Staff Sgt. Christy Klenke began a music therapy-informed outreach program that has been visiting wounded warriors at Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center once a month since July 2014.

“It’s not about learning to sing or play an instrument or being a better musician or sounding great, it’s more about the power of music and how it makes your brain function and how you can achieve goals that are not music goals,” said Klenke, who plays the French horn with The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band.

Technically speaking, music therapy is defined as the use of music to achieve non-musical goals, continued Klenke, a board-certified musical therapist.

The use of musical therapy by the military can be traced back in 1945, when the U.S. War Department issued Technical Bulletin 187 that outlined a program for the use of music for reconditioning wounded service members in hospitals during World War II. It demonstrated how music could be used in multiple therapeutic services, including recreation, education and occupational and physical therapy.

Former U.S. Army Band Commander Col. Thomas Palmetier knew of Klenke’s background in musical therapy and of Hinton’s interest in it and put the two

see MUSIC, page 4

PHOTO

Vietnam vets commemorate 50th anniversary of ‘helicopter war’

By Damien Salas Pentagram Staff Writer

Hundreds of Vietnam combat helicopter pilots, their guests and Gold Star families planted a tree in Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 28 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. combat troops entering the Vietnam War. The spectators gathered before the tree dedication in the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater to remember the thousands of helicopter pilots and crew members who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. The event began with a round of speakers within the amphitheater, including a keynote address by retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Carl H. McNair, Jr. Guests afterwards followed along as the wreath was carried to the tree from the amphitheater.

Above, four helicopters flew over in honor of the fallen as Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes.

see TREE, page 4

PHOTO

BY

NELL KING

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jasem Fleming with the Rapid Capabilities Office at Joint Base AnacostiaBolling, Washington, listens to a speech at Arlington National Cemetery during the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association’s living tree dedication Aug. 28. About 1,600 Vietnam veterans, their families and Gold Star families attended the ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Joint base Soldiers react to news of first women to receive Ranger tabs

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer

For the first time in Army history, two female Soldiers have pinned on Ranger tabs, and that has Soldiers across Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall talking.

“They have shown the rest of us female Soldiers that we can accomplish anything that our brothers can, we just have to try,”

NELL KING

said Sgt. Isabel Mack, who is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company S-1 on the Fort Myer portion of the Joint Base.. “Also, it’s inspiring to me because despite what others thought, that they wouldn’t make it, they never gave up.”

According to an article on Army.mil, 1st Lt. Shaye L. Haver and Capt. Kristen M. Griest, who both graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, were among

96 Soldiers who graduated from Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., Aug. 21.

“Actually, I think it’s pretty cool,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Charles, who is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company S-3. “It switches up the norm, that’s the world we’re in now. It’s showing equality.”

Haver, an AH-64 pilot, said she wanted

see REACTION, page 4

News Notes Nearly show time: Spirit of America

The U.S. Army Military District of Washington brings Spirit of America to the National Capital Region Sept. 10-11, and Sept. 18-19. The free, two-hour show combines traditional military ceremony with a largescale theatrical production that showcases military discipline, historical reenactments, and traditional and modern music.

Nine performances are scheduled across two weekends: Sept.

10 to 12, at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C., and Sept.

18 to 19, in Fairfax, Va. This patriotic live show is performed by a cast and crew of active-duty Soldiers, not actors, from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). All performances are free and open to the public. For more information, and to order tickets, visit www.spiritofamerica.mdw.army. mil or call 1-866-239-9425.

Labor Day picnic at the pool

A picnic will be held at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club pool complex on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to all who hold pool passes or combination passes and their guests.

Members’ guests are invited to join the pool party for $10, payable at the door. Reservations are not required. The event will feature a disc jockey, moon bounce and face painting. For more information, call 703-939-1045.

Education outreach at the Pentagon Sept. 9

A Marine Corps Community Ser vices Henderson Hall

see NEWS NOTES, page 4

Index

Gen. Milley message . . . . . . . . . page Labor Day hours . . . . . . . . . . . . page Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page News notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page Holiday safety messages . . . . . . page Thrift savings plan . . . . . . . . . . . page In Photos: ‘Helicopter war’ remembered . . . page

BY

Master Sgt. Leigh Ann Hinton and Staff Sgt. Christy Klenke of the The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” pose for a photo in front of Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Aug. 29. The two Soldier musicians began a music therapy outreach program to help fellow service members cope with mental and physical challenges.

Local forecast

2 2 3 4 5 6 7

THURS. 92 | 75

FRI.

90 | 73

SAT.

84 | 69

SUN.

86 | 69

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

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Spouse meet-and-greet

PHOTO

BY

NELL KING

Pfc. Stuart Bernard of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), left, listens as a visitor asks questions during a Caisson Platoon spouse meet-and-greet at the platoon’s stables on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Aug. 25. The special event was organized by Army Community Service in an effort to give military families recently stationed in the D.C. Metro area a chance to meet other military families. For more photos from this event, visit Flickr. com/photos/jbm-hh.

JBM-HH Labor Day weekend

Operations and services holiday hours FORT MYER Auto Shop

Closed.

Bowling Alley

Open 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Commissary

Open Sept. 4 regular hours, 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., early bird 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Open Sept. 7, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., no early bird hours For more information, call 703-696-3674.

Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Concessions: Starbucks, Subway, Flower Shop, Barber Shop, Cleaners, GNC, Optical Shop Exchange

Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-522-4575.

Express

Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information, call 703-696-9241/44.

Firestone

Open 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-522-2584.

Fitness Center

Open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-696-7867.

Headquarters Command Battalion

Closed. For more information, call 703-696-8163.

Library

Closed.

Military Police Station

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information, call 703-696-3525.

Officers Club

Closed.

Fort Myer Pool Complex

Open 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Rader Health Clinic

Closed Friday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 7.

For more information, call 703-696-2977.

Rader Dental Clinic

Closed Friday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 7.

Fort Belvoir, Logan Dental Clinic, will have a provider to cover emergencies during these days.

Spates

Closed.

FORT MCNAIR Barber Shop

Closed.

Fitness Center

Closed.

Officers Club

Closed.

HENDERSON HALL American Clipper Barber Shop

Open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information, call 703-271-8177.

Car Wash

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium

Open 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information, call 703-614-7214.

Exchange (MCX), Vineyard Wine & Spirits and NEX Uniform Center

Open Sept. 7, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information, call 703-979-8420.

Java Café

Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information, call 571-483-1962.

Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool

Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Note: Pool closes Sept. 8, reopens early October. details to follow.

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ADVERTISE WITH US 301-921-2800

Almost all activities on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be closed Monday, Sept. 7. The facilities and places of business listed have reported open or closed hours for Sept. 7. Unless otherwise noted, this list applies to Sept. 7. This list is not all encompassing; please check with the facility you wish to visit for more details.

Stay connected!

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The Pentagram is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pentagram are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, or Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs Office. Pictures not otherwise credited are U.S. Army photographs.

News items should be submitted to the Pentagram, 204 Lee Ave., Bldg. 59, Fort Myer, VA 22211-1199. They may also be e-mailed to james.m.goodwin3. civ@mail.mil. Circulation of 24,000 is printed by offset every Thursday as a civilian enterprise newspaper by Comprint Military Publications. Comprint Military Publications is located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone (301) 921-2800. Commercial advertising should be placed with the printer. Comprint Military Publications is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include all inserts and supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser shall result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

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

Slideshare: slideshare.net/jbmhh Jim Goodwin Editor james.m.goodwin3.civ@ mail.mil Helen Klein Graphic Designer hklein@dcmilitary.com Nell King Photographer nking@dcmilitary.com

Julia LeDoux Staff Writer jledoux@dcmilitary.com Guv Callahan Staff Writer wcallahan@dcmilitary.com Damien Salas Staff Writer dsalas@dcmilitary.com

Community

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, September 3, 2015

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Regan settling into role as H&S commanding officer Nearly 60 days into command, the colonel says he’s impressed with the battalion’s Marines

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer Since taking over as commanding officer for Headquarters & Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall on July 10, Col. Andrew M. Regan has been getting to know the men and women he is now serving with.

“These Marines know the service they are providing to support Marines wherever they are in the National Capital Region,” he said during a recent interview the Pentagram. “I see a bunch of dedicated Marines who just want to do their job, but at the same time grow professionally and embrace the institution.”

During a recent meeting with his Marines, Regan said he told them that, “If you want the best

out of me, I need the best out of you. I need you to pressurize the system.”

Regan said that by pressurizing the system he means a Marine should be pushing the Marine ahead of him.

“Good leaders feed off quality Marines,” he said. “Marines shouldn’t give those above them any excuses to not be the best.”

Regan called the joint base environment a “refreshing one” to be around on a daily basis.

“I couldn’t be more impressed with the Marines,” he said. “They know what their roles and responsibilities are and they exercise initiative. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Regan said one of his prime objectives as Henderson Hall commander will be to make sure the services it provides for active duty and retired Marines and their families throughout the National Capital Region are relevant to where they are in both their professional and personal lives.

“I want to focus the MCCS (Marine Corps Community Services) side of the house on

those issues,” he said.

Regan also said he wants to make sure there is depth to the relationship that exists between the Army and Marine Corps on the joint base.

“We complement our Army peers on the installation and they complement us,” he said.

“While each service has unique ways of doing things, there is commonality.”

A path toward service Regan, a native of Katonah, N.Y., holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in economics from the University of Rochester and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps in 1991.

“I knew I wanted to do military service,” he said, pointing to his family’s history of service.

Regan’s father served in the National Guard; one of his sisters attended West Point, while his other sister was in ROTC. A cousin and uncle of Regan’s were also career Marines. And while he hoped to attend a military academy for college, Regan said he was not academically compet-

JBM-HH pharmacist prevents prescription drug abuse

PHOTO

BY

DAMIEN SALAS

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic Pharmacist Henry Tran poses for a portait behind the counter Aug. 17. Tran is the first recipient of the ARUSAHC HeRO award for preventing prescription drug abuse by a service member.

By Damien Salas Pentagram Staff Writer Since joining the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic staff eight and a half years ago, pharmacist Henry Tran has dealt with customers from all walks of the military community.

In mid-July, a patient came to the clinic pharmacy to pick up a controlled substance prescription. When screening the patient’s medication history, Tran determined it would not be appropriate to fill the prescription because it had been filled the week prior at another pharmacy.

“This specific drug was very addictive,” said Tran. “When we see that a patient is receiving this controlled substance from more than one source, it raises a red flag.”

He contacted the patient’s provider, who had not been aware of the recent dispensing of the medication. The provider then met with the patient and through further discussion, discovered that in fact the patient had a history of alcoholism, and had recently relapsed in the midst of some challenging family issues.

The provider was then able to determine the best course for the patient, which was admittance to inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation, according to a clinic press release.

It was this astute observation that earned Tran the clinic’s first ever ARUSAHC HeRO award, given monthly to a Rader staff member who has shown exceptional dedication toward the safety of staff and customers alike, according to

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clinic Commander Lt. Col. Ed Weinberg.

“As we move toward becoming a high reliability organization, we have reinforced our focus on taking care of our internal team,” said Weinberg. “The staff members employed at Andrew Rader Health Clinic are of the finest caliber, and if we take care of them, we know they will in turn take care of our patients and customers. The HeRO award is just one of the many ways we have sought to improve the culture at Rader, and to ultimately improve the safety and quality of the care we deliver.”

A pharmacist since 1998, Tran cut his teeth in retail pharmacy before joining the Rader staff.

His appreciation for the military began in his college days, and is the reason he enjoys working at the clinic so much.

As a boy, Tran had a fascination with the military. In his hometown of Saigon, Vietnam, Tran’s parents removed him from his military duties to finish school.

“W hen I was young in Vietnam, I liked the military,” said Tran. “I was a college student before the war in 1975, but one time I joined the military voluntarily when five to six of my older friends were drafted.”

Despite his desire to serve, Tran’s family did not allow him to stay in the military, and insisted that he finish college.

Tran and the Rader pharmacy staff and volunteers serve at least 100 customers per day on the joint base, he said.

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

PHOTO

itive enough to get in.

“The only institution to reach out and embrace me was the Marine Corps,” he said. “I always felt drawn to the lineage,

NELL KING

the ethos of the Marine Corps.

I always felt it was the Marine Corps who was looking at who

see MARINE, page 5

Navy chiefs, chief selectees honor heritage at joint base, ANC

PHOTO

BY JULIA

LEDOUX

U.S. Sailors from across the National Capital Region prepare to participate in the annual Chief Petty Officer Heritage Run Aug. 29 at the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Looking on is Command Master Chief Terry J. Prince, senior enlisted advisor, Defense Health Agency. Some 260 Navy chief petty officers and chief selectees from across 12 Navy commands participated in the 4.5-mile run through Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery.

By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer Navy chief petty officers and chief selectees took to the streets of the National Capital Region Aug. 29 for the annual Force Master Chief Pride Run. “This is not about PT,” said Master Chief Brad McIntire as he addressed the group, which formed up for the event in front of the Bowling Center on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall. “This is about doing what we’re doing right now.

It’s about the esprit de corps of being a chief petty officer.”

The run began with warm-ups that were led by some of the chief selectees. The group of 262, which included Force Master Chief Sherman Boss, director

The United States Army Band CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BY

Marine Corps Col. Andrew M. Regan, commander for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, addresses attendees during a change of command ceremony at the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall July 10.

Regan has nearly two months in command at Henderson Hall.

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of the Hospital Corps, and force master chief, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and Command Master Chief Terry J. Prince, senior enlisted advisor the Defense Health Agency, then made its way through Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall, where they were briefed about the historical significance of 14 memorials.

“Your involvement was critical to the success of the event and the motivation displayed was a direct reflection of the professionalism within each of your command’s CPO Mess,” Boss wrote on his Facebook page. “I am pleased to know that our traditions and heritage are safe and sound in the hands of our future Goat Locker.”

see RUN, page 6

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Sept. 5

7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues will join the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra for the final concert of the 2015 Freeman Stage Season with an evening of great American classics.This free concert ends with fireworks and takes place at the Freedom Stage at Bayside in Selbyville, Del.

Sept. 9

6 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues will perform at the World War II Memorial as part of their Evening Concert Series in D.C.

Sept. 10-11

10:30 a.m.

Sept. 11

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12

2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will perform as part of the Spirit of America show at the D.C. Armory in D.C. Spirit of America is a patriotic, live-action show presented by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Performed by more than 400 soldiers of the U.S. Army’s elite ceremonial units and the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), this free show features traditional and modern music, disciplined drill, and historical narrative as Soldiers recap the heritage of our country in an inspiring and entertaining performance. Visit: www.usarmyband.com/concerts-events/spirit-of-america.html for information about free tickets.

Sept. 17

5 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues presents the music of Herbie Nichols during a concert at Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in D.C.

Sept. 18 & 19 7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Chorus Baritones in Recital will take place at All Saints’ Church at 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Sept. 20

3 p.m.

The U.S. Army Blues presents the music of Herbie Nichols during a concert at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Sept. 29

7:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Voices will perform a Salute to Gold Star Mothers at Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall.

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

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

PENTAGRAM

MUSIC

NEWS NOTES

from page 1 together early last year. The program has developed slowly for a couple of reasons, the first one being the operational tempo of the band itself.

“This is all happening on top of all the other duties we have at The Army Band,” said Hinton. “I must say, it’s one of the more fulfilling things I’ve done since I’ve been here.”

The program’s mission statement reads that it is an effort by Soldiers to help Soldiers. Volunteers will next meet with wounded service members Sept. 11.

“We try to have a conversation about music, how music makes you feel and how you can use it as a healing tool and how it can help in your recovery,” explained Hinton.

Participants in the program listen to a piece of music and then are asked how it made them feel, or what they pictured in their minds as they listened.

“There is no wrong answer to what music evokes in you,” Hinton said. “I think it’s encouraged a lot of the people to rediscover their musical interests.”

“Any type of music, any style of music can be used in music therapy,” added Klenke.

The volunteer musicians even dress the part when they visit the wounded warriors, wearing more casual uniforms instead of the dress uniforms they wear when performing for an audience.

“I think it helps them to see us as service members, just like them,” said Klenke. “We don’t often get to interact with Soldiers who have different jobs in the Army. It’s really great for us to be able to have those discussions, to share common experiences and to share

from page 1

Education Services representative will be at the Pentagon Sept. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet with Marines and other service members about educational opportunities. The location is between corridors 1 and 2, second deck, A Ring. Call 703-614-9104 for more information.

VA claims assistance Sept. 10

Veterans Administration claims assistance is available by appointment Sept. 10 and 24, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Bldg. 29 on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base. An American Veterans (AMVETS) representative will be there to review service member medical records, and provide assistance with the Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation claims process.

For an appointment, please call 703-614-6828.

SFL-TAP recruiting event Sept. 11

PHOTO

BY

NELL KING

Master Sgt. Leigh Ann Hinton of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” sings The Star Spangled Banner at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 1. She is the co-founder of a music therapy outreach program that helps fellow service members cope with mental and physical challenges.

really different experiences.”

A book entitled “Heart Strings” by the Madison Symphony Orchestra served as the catalyst and gave Hinton and Klenke an idea of how to best organize their effort.

“It’s a book about how professional musicians can use their skills in conjunction with a music therapist to different outreaches other than music

education,” said Klenke.

Hinton said people are becoming aware that music is more than just a bunch of “pretty sounds.”

“It affects our entire body; it’s part of everybody’s life,” she said. “I think people are becoming more and more aware of the power of music.”

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

Pups in the Pool is Sept. 11

Bring your pup for a free end of summer splash. Pups in the Pool at the Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is Sept. 11, 4 to 5 p.m. Call 703-693-7351 for details.

Annual Doggie Dip is Sept. 12

Join us for the last hoorah of the 2015 pool season before the pools are closed for another winter. Come on out to where every dog has its day, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to noon at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club Pool Complex. This event is free, but Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation requires all owners to complete a waiver. Also, all dogs must display a current rabies tag. For more information contact Todd Hopkins at 703-696-0594 or 703-939-1045 or email todd.a.hopkins.civ@mail.mil.

TREE

from page 1 The memorial tree dedication was the largest gathering of pilots at a single commemoration event, with 1,000 expected, said Bob Hesselbein, president of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, which held a five-day meeting in Washington that ended Aug. 29.

Hesselbein said he met with the family of 1st Lt. Carlos Pedrosa and talked about a picture he took of him in 1972 at Kon Tum Airfield, the day before his death.

“Between missions I found Carlos among our dispersed aircraft and had him quickly pose for an individual picture,” said Hesselbein. “Our aircraft were dispersed to reduce the risk of many being hurt during the frequent rocket attacks we endured while operating from the airfield. As bad luck had it, the very next day Carlos was killed instantly by a 122mm rocket that struck him in the area visible in the background of the previous day’s portrait.”

Pedrosa was buried at the cemetery and his granite marker has a Huey helicopter carved into it.

More than 58,000 Americans were killed in action during the Vietnam War, and more than 153,000 were wounded. All told, 658 U.S. prisoners of war returned home alive from Southeast Asia, and as of 2014, 1,638 were still unaccounted for. There are roughly 7.4 million living Vietnam-era veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

A presidential proclamation signed in 2012 marked the beginning of a 13-year commemoration to honor the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War that will span through Nov. 11, 2025.

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall was made a commemorative partner of the 50th anniversary Vietnam War

Spiritual resiliency at Fort McNair

PHOTO

BY

NELL KING

Ethan Long, center, admires the wreath placed during the living tree dedication ceremony to honor the 50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War at Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 28. Long’s grandfather, Roy Sudeck, was killed during the Vietnam War. Sudeck was an Army helicopter pilot and served three tours of duty in Vietnam. For more photos of this event, see page 7.

Commemoration for “supporting and honoring” Vietnam War veterans last year during the joint base’s annual Retiree Appreciation Day event.

JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson received a certificate signed by then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, marking the occasion.

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

A Bible study and luncheon series will be held upstairs in Bldg. 41 on the Fort McNair portion of the joint base every Monday beginning Sept. 15 through Dec. 15 from noon to 12:45 p.m. Participants will enjoy a free lunch and study guide on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. To register (the number of participants is limited to 15) contact Betsy Hendrix at 703-696-5635 or at betsy.l.hendrix.civ@mail.mil.

Devil Dog 7K race Sept. 16

Registration is open for the Sept. 16 Devil Dog 7K Race. Part of the OohRah Run Series, the race begins at 6:45 a.m. at the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base and proceeds through the Fort Myer portion. Participation is open to Department of Defense identification card holders, the first 100 registered participants receive an event tee shirt. See details and the link to register at www. mccsHH.com/OohRahRunSeries.

Shredding event Sept. 23-24

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Environmental Management Division has coordinated a paper and other materials mass shredding event for all three portions of the joint base beginning with the Fort McNair portion Sept. 23 at Bldg. 29 (9 to 10 a.m.) and Bldg. 62 (10 a.m. to noon). On Sept. 24, shredding will take place at Bldg. 29 (9 to 10 a.m.) on the Henderson Hall portion and Bldg. 59 on the Fort Myer portion (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Materials that can be brought to each location for shredding include paper, manila folders, staples, paper clips and rubber bands. Materials not to be shredded include newspaper, credit cards, CDs, cardboard, binders and binder clips. For more information, call Mark Luckers at 703-696-2012.

REACTION from page 1

to go to Ranger training simply because it was the best training the Army can provide.

“I think if females continue to come to this course, they can be encouraged by what we have accomplished, but hopefully they’re encouraged by the legacy that the Ranger community has left,” she said said during an Aug. 20 press conference.

Griest, a military police officer, said she personally knows a lot of female Soldiers who are interested in becoming Rangers, but weren’t able to attend the most recent Ranger assessment that she and Haver graduated from. “… I know many very qualified women that I can think of that could pass the course or at least make a very good attempt,” she said. “I would encourage them to go. And I would say keep doing what they are doing.

They are motivated. It is definitely more of a mental challenge than physical.

If you mentally know you want to get through – and you have to want to get through – you will make it.”

According to the Army.mil article, since Ranger school opened in 1950, only 77,000 Soldiers have earned the Ranger tab. Of the 4,057 Soldiers who attempted the course in 2014, only 1,609 tacked on the tab.

“It is a tough course that takes courage and commitment to complete,” said Staff Sgt. Allan Springer of Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

Springer said he knows of other female service members who are performing

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program is hosting a recruiting event Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bldg. 405 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Coordinated with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, this event is designed to connect transitioning service members and veterans with hiring companies. During the day, companies will pitch their job openings and conduct screenings and networking sessions.

Attendees are limited to active duty with less than three months left in service, military spouses, veterans and serving members of the Reserve or National Guard. To register and for more information, visit http://goo.gl/vbgPq2.

NCO training date Sept. 30

U.S. ARMY

PHOTO BY

STAFF SGT. STEVE CORTEZ

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley congratulates 1st Lt. Shaye Haver for graduating U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., Aug. 21. Haver and class member Capt. Kristen Griest became the first female graduates of the school.

well in other special forces units.

“Although the ‘differences in body mechanics’ conversation between males and females is a real one to have, I feel that as long as they can perform at the level needed to be in that specialty, then let them be,” he said. “I think that time will tell if this is a decision that the military needs to keep going with. We are an ever-changing force that needs to be adaptable to what may come in the future.”

The Army plans to run another Ranger School assessment in November that will also be open to women. Three female Marines were the first women to graduate from the Corps’ School of Infantry in 2013 - another first.

In related news, the Navy announced in 2013 that enlisted female Sailors would be allowed to attend the Navy’s special warfare training – Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen (SWCC) – next March, while female commissioned Navy officers would have the opportunity to attend the training next June, according to a Navy news article. More recently, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert told the Navy Times Aug. 19 that the service is “on a track to say, `Hey, look anybody who can meet the gender non-specific standards, then you can become a SEAL.” Pentagram staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.

With the implementation date of Jan. 1, 2016, for the new noncommissioned officer report DA form 2166-9 series, JBM-HH will hold a training session on Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon in Bldg. 405 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base to ensure that all Soldiers in the rank of specialist, noncommissioned officers, commissioned officers, civilians (supervisors of NCOs) and human resources professionals/ administrative personnel (delegates) are trained on the new NCO evaluation report and evaluation system functions, regardless of the component. For more information, contact Charissa Seastrum-Morris at 703-696-6363 or Sgt. 1st Class Michael Moton at 703-696-3321.

Brown bag lunch topics

Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall Marine and Family Program’s Behavioral Health Branch offers lunchtime classes select Tuesdays in September from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dates and topics are: Sept. 15, coping with transition; Sept. 22, coping strategies for the uncertainties of life; Sept. 29, principles for a healthy relationship and marriage. The classes

see NEWS NOTES, page 8

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, September 3, 2015

5

Labor Day safety messages

Labor Day safety message from JFHQ-NCR/MDW commander

By U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker Commanding General, JFHQ-NCR/MDW Borne out of the labor movement of the 1800s, Labor Day was established to celebrate the economic and social achievements of the American workforce. The first large-scale Labor Day celebration was observed on September 5, 1882, with a massive parade and picnic in New York City, and Congress created a federal holiday 12 years later. As military members, civilians and contractors, we are an important part of the modern American workforce and have much to celebrate. Our labor in the Nation’s Capital is of critical value and should be an additional source of pride for each of us this Labor Day. The country has seen vast improvements to worker wellbeing and safety since that first Labor Day, and the DoD continues to lead the way by providing the military and civilians with numerous tools to enable safe behavior both on and off the job.

To that end, I ask each of you to inquire with your subordinates, coworkers, and Family about their plans for this upcoming long weekend. Demonstrate your commitment to our fellow workers and our missions by encouraging

IMCOM leadership send wishes for a safe holiday

By Lt. Gen. David Halverson, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Hartless, U.S. Army Installation Management Command

OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY PHOTO

Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker

the use of risk management, training, and the buddy system as essential means for keeping one another safe.

Each of you are essential to the success of our missions and are needed to return safely from this well-deserved time off.

Tools to assist you with planning and mitigating risk during the holiday weekend are available at:http://goo.gl/pdrTYz or https:// goo.gl/WS50FE. I wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday.

Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is often celebrated with parties, parades and athletic events.

This weekend, millions of drivers will take to the highway for one final summer getaway, making it one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the year. Make sure you check the road conditions and your own vehicle’s road-worthiness before getting on the highway. Have a driving plan that includes periodic rest stops. If you are driving, put those handheld devices down!

Never drink and drive.

If your destination is a beach, lake or other water recreation area, check the weather and water conditions beforehand and throughout the day. Always swim with a buddy in a desig-

OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY

PHOTOS

LEFT - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson. RIGHT - Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Hartless.

nated swimming area, supervised by a lifeguard. Provide constant supervision to children in or near the water, and always stay within arm’s reach of young children and inexperienced swimmers while they are in the water. Life jackets and flotation devices should be part of your gear and worn as required/mandated.

Whether at home or on a sandy shore, many of you will fire up the grill this weekend. A few simple steps can prevent disaster or injury, such as keeping the grill away from the house, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.

Always keep children and pets away from the grill, and never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

Be sure to check out your local Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office for events and activities on or near Army installations. You’re sure to find great activities for the whole Family, often free or at a good discount.

Regardless of where you go or how you celebrate Labor Day, we want you to enjoy this well-deserved time off, recharge yourself, and return to your duty station safe. CSM Hartless and I are extremely proud of each of you and the work you do in support of our Army, our Nation, our Soldiers and Families, and our installations.

Support and Defend!

Army Strong!

MARINE

from page 3 I was as a person and what I could contribute.”

Regan said he “scrapped pa st 1, 0 0 0 ” on h i s Scholastic Aptitude Test and had a meeting with then-Maj. John M. Paxton, who was the commanding officer of the New York Recruiting District and is now the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.

During that meeting, Regan said Paxton told him he was going to be a “tough sell” to enter the NROTC because he didn’t have the necessary academic “oomph” required to become a Marine officer.

That didn’t stop the pair from talking for about an hour, according to Regan.

“I just felt he dug into who I was as a person,” continued Regan.

At the end of the interview, Paxton told Regan he would rank him as the No. 1 candidate coming out of the district.

“I felt this guy was showing some confidence in me as an individual,” sa id R eg a n. “ W hen someone does that, especially at that young age, it means something.”

Regan ended up receiving a ROTC scholarship and attending the University of Rochester.

Regan said there were seven members of his class that went into the Marine Corps. They all made it their careers and have remained lifelong friends.

“You never lose that connection,” he said. “They know you the best. They see you in your formative years. They’ve seen you act like a moron, but they still embrace who you are.”

Regan has served at all three Marine Expeditionary Forces and in all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force and holds multiple graduate degrees.

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

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6

Thursday, September 3, 2015

PENTAGRAM

Military and mid-career? It’s never too late to start saving

RUN

from page 3 In Navy jargon, the goat locker is a lounge, sleeping area and galley on board a naval vessel reserved for the exclusive use of chief petty officers.

Pa r t icipa nts ca me f r o m 12 E a s t C o a s t Commands, including the Naval Health Clinic at Patuxent River, Md.; the Naval Support Facility at Thurmont, Md.; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; Naval District Washington; Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads; Nava l Hea lt h Clinic Quantico; Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, N.C.; Navy Medicine Professional Development Center; Naval Medical Support Center, Portsmouth, Va.; and the National Military Com m a nd C e nte r.

Runners included hospital corpsmen and one Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, said Force Master Chief John Dempsey of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Boss added that the event also provided an opportunity for the Navy’s chiefs to network with one another,

By Kisha A. Taylor Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board

PHOTO

BY JULIA

LEDOUX

Posing with U.S. Sailors from across the National Capital Region before participating in the annual Chief Petty Officer Heritage Run Aug. 29 at the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall are (far left) Director of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps Force Command Master Chief Sherman E. Boss and (far right) Command Master Chief Terry J. Prince, senior enlisted advisor, Defense Health Agency. Some 260 Navy chief petty officers and chief selectees from across 12 Navy commands participated in the 4.5-mile run through Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery.

creating “contacts for life.”

“Out of the 300,000 plus Sailors in the Navy, only a few get the chance to become a chief petty officer,” Boss wrote via email after the event.

“When you compare it to our overall U.S. population, you get a better sense

of what it means to be the chosen few and that’s a pretty good feeling.”

The event concluded with a cookout held in front of the Bowling Center.

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

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At some point in your military career you may have heard about the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and some of its advantages, but perhaps saving for retirement wasn’t a priority. Then one day, you realize you’re closer to retirement age than you thought and discover that you won’t have enough saved to live comfortably once you leave the workforce. You may wonder what your choices are and if it’s too late to begin planning for retirement. Don’t panic! There’s still time to accumulate money in your TSP account.

Start now If you believe you’re behind on saving for retirement, signing up for the TSP is one of the best things you can do to secure your financial future. As a service member, you’re not automatically enrolled in the TSP, so you’ll need to sign up.

Just log into myPay, select the “Thrift Savings Plan” option, and choose your contribution type: traditional (pre-tax), Roth (after-tax), or both. Then choose the amount you want to contribute from each type of pay you receive (basic, incentive, special, and/or bonus). If you don’t have access to myPay, you can complete Form TSP-U-1, Election Form, and return it to your finance office.

Make a choice You can contribute a percentage of your basic pay to your TSP account—10 percent, for example—then increase your contributions as you get pay raises and promotions. Even small amounts can add up to big savings over time.

Already signed up for the TSP? Find ways to make the most of your contributions. If you’re age 50 or older, you can

Fund

1070004

make catch-up contributions once you’ve reached the maximum Internal Revenue Code’s (IRC) elective deferral limit.

In addition to how much you contribute, your investment mix is an important factor affecting the savings in your TSP account. At this stage in your career, be sure you have a balance of risk versus reward. Choosing our Lifecycle (L) Funds could give you an optimal mix of our five core funds based on when you’ll need to start receiving income from your savings. Use the chart below to see which L Fund might be best for you.

To choose how the money coming into your account is invested, make a contribution allocation by visiting tsp.gov.

Keep us with you If you decide to leave military service before you’re eligible for a military pension, you can keep your TSP account, even if you find other employment. Plus, if you take a Federal job, you can keep contributing to the TSP. Even if you don’t take a Federal job, you can manage your investments at low cost while your savings grow.

Act today: Time is of the essence If you’re a late saver, don’t procrastinate further—you may still have time to build your retirement savings. Log into myPay today online to increase your TSP contributions. The older you are when you start saving for retirement, the harder it will be. It may require some sacrifice, but remember, it’s never too late to start saving.

For more information about or to access your Thrift Savings Plan, visit www.tsp.gov.

Which L Fund is best for you?

Consider If You…

L 2040

Were born 1973 - 1982 or plan to need your savings from 2035 - 2044

L 2030

Were born 1963 - 1972 or plan to need your savings from 2025 - 2034

L 2020

Were born 1954 - 1962 or plan to need your savings from 2016 - 2024

PENTAGRAM

Thursday, September 3, 2015

‘Helicopter war’ R E M E M B E R E D

PHOTO

BY

NELL KING

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

PHOTO BY

RACHEL LARUE

ABOVE - Bob Hesselbein, left, president of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and Christopher White, president of the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association, carry a wreath from the Memorial Amphitheater to the memorial tree at Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 28. A living tree, planted earlier, was dedicated to the 5,000 Vietnam helicopter pilots and crew members who were killed during the Vietnam War. Over 11,827 helicopters deployed and a total of 5,086 were destroyed, according to a VHPA press release.

ABOVE, LEFT - An UH-1N Iroquois helicopter is flown over the Memorial Amphitheater during the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Living Tree Memorial Dedication at Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 28. LEFT Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Carl H. McNair, Jr., gives the keynote address during the living tree dedication in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Aug. 28 at Arlington National Cemetery. A living tree was dedicated to honor 5,000 Vietnam helicopter pilots and crew members who were killed during the war. For more photos from this event, visit Flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh.

PHOTO

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BY

NELL KING

7

8

Thursday, September 3, 2015

NEWS NOTES from page 4

are held in the conference room of Bldg. 12 on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base. For more information, call 703-614-7204.

Super sign-up and home tour Sept. 17

The Army Officers’ Wives’ Club of the Greater Washington Area will begin its membership year by holding its super sign-up combined with a tour of historic homes on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with final tours beginning at 12:30 p.m. For additional details

PENTAGRAM

about this event, including how to register, please visit www.aowcgwa. org. Reservations must be received no later than Sept. 8 and can be made by sending names and telephone numbers of attendees to aowcgwareservations@gmail.com.

Welcome aboard coffee Sept. 24

The annual Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of D.C. (NOSCDC) welcome aboard coffee event will be held at the Fort Myer Officers Club Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The club is located at 214 Jackson Avenue on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. This year’s guest speaker is Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel. A charge of $15

includes a continental breakfast, payable either online or at the door.

Membership forms may now be completed online. RSVP by Sept.

17 to Elizabeth Shaw at firstvp@ noscdc.com. For more information about NOSCDC, visit www.noscdc. com or www.facebook.com/noscdc.

Save the date: Moral Leadership Luncheon Oct. 1.

The next Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall Moral Leadership Luncheon will be held Oct. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Memorial Chapel on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. The guest speaker will be retired U.S. Army

Gen. Eric Shinseki, former secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 34th U.S. Army chief of staff. No RSVP is required for attendance at this event, which is open to all Department of Defense ID card holders. Lunch will be provided. For more information, call Chap. (Maj.) Fred Wendel at 703-696-5688 or email him at alfred.w.wendel2.mil@mail.mil.

Get back on track treadmill competition

A treadmill competition will be held every Tuesday and Thursday through October in the Fort Myer Fitness Center on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

Participants will walk or run on the

treadmill for up to 30 minutes at a time. The goal is to accumulate as many miles as you can by the end of the competition. Winners will receive an abdominal roller wheel and a stability ball. Register for the competition at the front desk. The competition is open to all active duty service members, Department of Defense civilians, retired service members and their families. For more information, call 703-696-7867/7864.

News Notes submissions

Send your submissions for the Sept. 17 edition of the Pentagram via email at pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com no later than noon, Sept. 9.

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