Memorial
AKO changes
FBI field office honors veterans
Retirees, families affected
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Pentagram
Published for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Vol. 60, no. 46 November 27, 2013
President proclaims JFK day of remembrance
TURKEY DAY
American Forces Press Service
PHOTO
BY JULIA
LEDOUX
Spcs. Ben Stein (left) and Kevin Arwood (right) practice their flambe techniques Nov. 25 at the consolidated dining facility on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Soldiers are responsible for preparing the two Thanksgiving meals that will be served at the facility this week.
DFAC preps for Thanksgiving By Julia LeDoux Pentagram Staff Writer
How would you like to plan, order food and prepare a Thanksgiving meal for about a thousand people? That’s exactly what staff at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Consolidated Dining Facility are doing this week, as the facility hosts a Thanksgiving meal Nov. 27 and a slightly less elaborate feast Nov. 28. “The hard thing about it is it’s on top of the regular meals we have to do during the week, we also have a special Thanksgiving meal,” said Spc. Ben Stein, who along with Spc. Kevin Arwood is responsible for preparing the holiday meals. “That’s our
only responsibilities, prepping this meal, it’s going to be three full days of getting ready.” Meal preparations began Nov. 25, continued Stein. Potatoes were being peeled, sliced and diced. Vegetables, salads, and 25 turkeys were being readied, along with ham and prime rib. “I’ve been thinking about the prime rib for the last two weeks,” said Stein. “It’s an expensive piece of meat and a featured item. There’s going to be a carving station.” The menu also includes sweet potatoes; two different types of stuffing and desserts like pumpkin pie. see DFAC, page 7
President Barack Obama Nov. 22 called on Americans to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy and to celebrate Kennedy’s “enduring impact on American history.” Obama’s proclamation also directed that the American flag be flown at half-staff Nov. 22 in honor of Kennedy’s memory. The President’s proclamation reads as follows: A half century ago, America mourned the loss of an extraordinary public servant. With broad vision and soaring but sober idealism, President John F. Kennedy had called a generation to service and summoned a Nation to greatness. Today, we honor his memory and celebrate his enduring imprint on American history. In his three years as President of the United States, John F. Kennedy weathered some of the most perilous tests of the Cold War and led America to the cusp of a bright new age. His leadership through the Cuban missile Crisis remains the standard for American diplomacy at its finest. In a divided Berlin, he delivered a stirring defense of freedom that would echo through the ages, yet he also knew that we must advance human rights here at home. During his final year in office, he proposed a civil rights bill that called for an end to segregation in America. And recognizing women’s basic right to earn a living equal to their efforts, he signed the Equal Pay Act into law. While President Kennedy’s life was tragically cut short, his vision lives on in the generations he inspired — volunteers who serve as ambassadors for peace in distant corners of the globe, scientists and engineers who reach for new heights in the face of impossible odds, innovators who set their sights on the new frontiers of our time. Today and in the decades to come, let us carry his legacy forward. Let us face today’s tests by see JFK, page 7
Irish Cadets revisit Fort Myer, JFK burial site By Jim Dresbach Pentagram Staff Writer
Fifty years ago, the 37th Irish Defence Forces Cadet Class was requested to be a part of President John F. Kennedy’s funeral by his widow, Jacqueline Kennedy. A half century later, 11 of the 26 original Irish cadets returned to the sod and soil of Arlington National Cemetery, where they performed a silent drill in honor of the 35th President of the United States. The Nov. 25 wreath-laying
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Community Spotlight Commentary Community News Notes Classifieds
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ceremony by the cadet class fell on the 50th anniversary of the JFK funeral and burial. The 10-minute remembrance at the Kennedy gravesite cumulated a day that found the Irish cadets revisiting sites on then-Fort Myer. Leading the delegation was Irish Cadet Lt. Col. John Dunne, who represented the class by laying the wreath at the gravesite. “I suppose it is more emotional now because we’re older,” Dunne said following the wreath-laying. “When we were
cadets, we were so excited and so concentrating on our drill and getting it right.” In 1963, the Irish cadets rehearsed the silent drill and quartered in Conmy Hall bunk beds. Five decades later, the group returned and toured the caisson barn and Conmy Hall, where they watched the end of The Old Guard’s regimental proficiency training. Following the drill training, the former PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE Irish soldiers, now in their 70s, Members from the 37th Irish Defence Forces Cadet presented a copy of the 37th Class lay a wreath at John F. Kennedy’s gravesite Nov. Irish Defence Forces guidon to
25. Members of the 37th Cadet Class performed during
see CADETS, page 7 Kennedy’s burial 50 years ago.
Holiday hours
Caption This
Pg. 3
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List of openings and closures on JBM-HH
Weekly photo caption contest
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
PENTAGRAM
PHOTO
BY
RACHEL LARUE
Memorial
Visitors to Arlington National Cemetery pay respects to President John F. Kennedy at his gravesite Nov. 22, on the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Dallas.
Community Spotlight • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Name? Daniel Feeman Job title/where do you work? Department chief, public safety, Arlington National Cemetery. Military service? Marine veteran. Favorite sports team? Seahawks. Favorite book? “I, Lucifer.” Favorite food? Chicken and broccoli. Favorite band/music artist? Blink 182. Favorite movie? “Turner and Hooch.” Favorite place you’ve ever traveled to or been stationed? Ghana. What do you like most about working on/visiting JBM-HH? DES. What do you like most about living in the National Capital Region? National Symphony Orchestra. What’s your favorite attraction to see in the NCR? The Mall at night. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Be nice to everybody. If you won the lottery, what would you do? Invest all but 10 percent with Barkley’s Capitol. What advice do you have for someone getting stationed at JBM-HH? It can make your career.
Caption This
PHOTO BY
STAFF SGT. BRITTANY E. JONES
Caption This #44
If you’ve ever looked at a photo, read the caption underneath and thought • you could do better, now is your chance. Each week, “Caption This” will have a photo taken from around the base. It’s up to you to figure out the • best, funniest or craziest caption that describes what’s going on in the picture. The only rule is you have to KEEP IT CLEAN! “Caption This” submissions can be sent either by emailing them to pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com, commenting on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/jbmhh or just stopping by Headquarters Bldg. 59, suite 116 and dropping it off. Don’t forget to add the “Caption This” number, your name, rank or position and where you work. Commander, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Every week the Pentagram staff will pick their favorite. The winner’s Col. Fern O. Sumpter’s vision and philosophy: name, caption along with the photo, will be printed in the newspaper. Compete with your friends and coworkers and see who can come up with the With a team of resource management savvy and technically competent best one. And if you have a photo you think would make a great “Caption DoD professionals, establish JBM–HH as DoD’s premier provider of consis- This,” send it in. tent, 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. “Last one to the DFAC eats the rot- Focused … set priorities and complete the mission. ten egg!” - Committed … to the mission and each other, fostering a community of excellence. Dermita Crawford Schuyler - Professional/respectful … remain calm, even when others are not… count on each other at all times, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Caption This #43
Pentagram Printed on recycled paper
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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 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.
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 Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer
Courtney Dock Rhonda Apple Julia LeDoux Jim Dresbach Rachel Larue
(703) 696-5401 (703) 696-1363 (703) 696-7605 (703) 696-5488 (703) 696-7606
PENTAGRAM
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Safety tip Road weary Maj. Stephen Brack Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade Arkansas National Guard Little Rock, Ark.
In the aviation community, we talk about safety all the time. It’s evident that we put a greater emphasis on safety at work. For example, I would never start a flight across three states without first making arrangements to support the mission, such as knowing exactly where I was going to stop for fuel or stay overnight. Last summer, however, I took my family on a road trip to Albuquerque, N.M., and did just that. The plan was to leave our home in Little Rock, Ark., on a Friday and arrive in Albuquerque by Sunday afternoon. As usual, I scheduled the overnight stops well in advance and made the necessary arrangements for hotels, which would allow me to drive no more than about five hours a day. My wife also researched activities we could do with the kids in the evenings at each location. With our itinerary set, all that was left was to execute. As we finished our last bit of packing Wednesday night, we decided we could easily move up our departure date by a day. This is where a series of bad decisions began. Since our hotel reservations didn’t start until Friday, I figured we would just leave when I got off work Thursday, drive until I started getting tired and then stop for the night at the closest hotel. That would give us a little more time to spend in Oklahoma City. It sounded like a win-win situation to me. After all, it was a Thursday night, and I was sure I’d have no problem finding a hotel along the way. Wrong! I never considered that my last-minute plans would be thwarted by the Oklahoma City Thunder playing in the NBA playoffs. Between all the people in town to watch the playoffs, as well as a national softball tournament, there wasn’t a hotel within 200 miles of Oklahoma City. Obviously, those folks had planned better than I. My decision to “shoot from the hip” and “see how far we can get” was quickly blowing up in my face. The one bright spot was that my three boys, who ranged from 2- to 10-years-old, were still engrossed in their Rescue Heroes DVD playing in the back seat. (A car DVD system is a fantastic invention.) But I knew it wouldn’t last. Shortly after Rescue Heroes ended, it was time to switch to a DVD my youngest son would enjoy. That’s when the complaining started. We were about an hour from Oklahoma City and the boys were done! My wife was using every resource available on her phone to try to find us a hotel. Of course, nothing was showing up as available until Amarillo, Texas, and that was another four and a half hours down the road. By the time we rolled through Oklahoma City about 11 p.m., I was very tired. I was hoping we could find somewhere (anywhere!) to get some rest, but even the “roach coach” motels were boasting “No vacancy” signs. I felt as if I had no choice but to push on toward Amarillo. I knew I was going to have to pull over and take some power naps along the way and maybe even ask my wife to drive for a little while. I would definitely need to stop and get some more caffeine too. Without really thinking about it, I went through the risk assessment process to minimize the hazards as much as I could. We pulled over when I needed to so I could grab a quick nap. My wife also helped by taking the wheel for a few minutes, but she was exhausted too. Eventually, we completed what should have been a four and a half hour trek to Amarillo in about six hours. When I pulled in to check into the hotel in Amarillo at 5 a.m., I was worn out. The kids were just waking up and, aside from wondering why they were still in their car seats, were oblivious to what had been going on all night. Determined to not put ourselves in another dangerous situation on the road, we stayed at the hotel in Amarillo an extra night to let everyone recover and went on to Albuquerque Sunday as planned. Aside from some grumpy travelers, a very tired mom and dad and the fact that I didn’t get to go to the sporting goods store in Oklahoma City, we were all OK. But when I look back at that trip, there are some things I obviously should have done differently. First and foremost, I should have stuck with the original plan to leave Friday, or we should have at least checked on lodging arrangements prior to departure. Instead, I managed to put four of the most important people in my world at risk. For some reason, we just don’t weigh the risks off duty the same as we do when at work. Yet, excluding deployments and training, we are only in the workplace for about one-third of our day. That leaves the remaining two-thirds of the day subject to unmanaged risk. Thankfully, we made it through just fine and went on to have a great trip. However, it could have easily ended differently.
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The maximum monthly statutory limit for transit benefits is set to decrease In January 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R.8) temporarily raised the transit benefit statutory limit to $245 per month. This new amount was not intended to be permanent and expires at the end of 2013. Unless a new statutory limit is approved by Congress, the statutory limit will decrease to $130 per month starting Jan. 1, 2014. Congress may still act to extend the limit above $130, but at this time agencies must proceed with what the law states as the maximum tax exempt mass transit subsidy limit. Any updates will be posted at the MTBP website at http:// www.whs.mil/MTBP/. Do I need to update my information? Not unless your commuting expenses have changed. Your actual total commuting costs on mass transit are captured on your current application. Commuting costs are covered up to the federal maximum allowed benefit. You will not need to submit an application due to a change in
the maximum monthly allowable subsidy. If you allocate your benefits to a single thyird party, such as Vanpools, CommuterDirect, commuter trains (MARC,VRE), buses (MARTZ, MTA), no action is needed but you should know that any costs above your allocated benefit must be paid out of pocket at the time of purchase. If you allocate your benefits to more than one third party, the percentages of your allocation to each transit company will need to be adjusted on WMATA’s passenger allocation website. Benefits for January 2014 will be delivered up to the maximum monthly allowable limit, even if claims submitted are higher. If you have any further questions, please contact the MTBP Office at the MTBP Program Office, 571-2560962. (Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington press release.)
Troops can call in holiday greetings via satellite radio partnership Gary Sheftick Army News Service
The Joint Hometown News Service is partnering this year with SiriusXM Radio to allow servicemembers worldwide to send holiday greetings to loved ones back home. Military members anywhere can call a toll-free number, 888-776-2790, to record a holiday message for airing on the satellite radio network. For 30 years, holiday greetings have been collected by Joint Hometown News Service teams that travel overseas and bring messages back to air on stateside radio and television stations. While this year’s team has already returned home, it’s not too late for servicemembers to participate by calling the toll-free number or DSN 312-733-4660, said the program’s director. “Even in the world today with social media and servicemembers able to Skype from anywhere, there’s still something special about turning on the radio and hearing a
family member who cannot be home for the holidays,” said Rick Blackburn, director of the Joint Hometown News Service. “This is a great opportunity for our folks and is a reminder to the American public that our men and women serve around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. Soldiers can call SiriusXM around the clock and leave a 15-second greeting. They will be prompted by a recorded message to provide their name, rank, duty location, hometown and then a short greeting to friends or family. “Our goal is to get as many military members on the air for the holidays as possible,” Blackburn said. So far this year, 2,658 holiday greetings have been collected. A Joint Hometown News Service team traveled to Alaska, Japan, Korea and Guam. Additional greetings were also collected from troops in Afghanistan and Europe by American Forces Network broadcasters. With Department of Defense
budget cuts, teams are not able to travel as much, and the Joint Hometown News Service appreciates others pitching in to help with holiday greetings, said Amy “Natasha” Schleper, JHNS broadcast chief. “With other outlets willing to pitch in and shoot for us, we’re able to really get a good number of holiday greetings, as well as a better mix of locations,” Schleper said. “It’s a lot of extra work for them,” she said. “We hope they know the families at home appreciate their efforts.” Every video greeting is turned into a radio greeting as well, Schleper said. SiriusXM Radio is “another avenue we are using” to collect and distribute important holiday greetings, Blackburn said. SiriusXM has more than 25 million subscribers on two services operating in the United States, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. The holiday greetings will be aired on SiriusXM’s Holiday Traditions channel now through Jan. 1.
JBM-HH Thanksgiving holiday hours Most offices on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28—the federal holiday celebrating Thanksgiving. Some military activities will have curtailed operations both Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 29, and many Department of Defense civilians will take leave Nov. 26 and 29. The following facilities and places of business will have altered hours during the upcoming holiday. Unless otherwise noted, this list applies to Nov. 28. This list is not all encompassing. Please check with the facility you wish to visit for more details. •Old Post and Memorial Chapel - Closed. •Rader Health Clinic - Closed. •Rader Dental Clinic - Closed. •Fort McNair Health Clinic - Closed. •Commissary - Closed. •Fort Myer Exchange - Closed Nov. 28; open 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 29; open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 30; open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1.
•Fort Myer Express - Closed Nov. 28; open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 29; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 30; open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. •Fort Myer Military Clothing Sales Store Closed Nov. 28; open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 29 and Nov. 30. •Pentagon Military Clothing Sales Store Closed Nov. 28-Dec. 1. •Fort McNair Express - Closed Nov. 28-Dec. 1. •Subway - Closed. •Flower Shop - Closed. •Barber Shop (Fort Myer) - Closed. •Barber Shop (Henderson Hall) - Closed. •Barber Shop (Fort McNair) - Closed. •Cleaners/Alteration - Closed. •GNC - Closed. •Optical Shop - Closed. •Firestone - Closed. •Marine Corps Exchange, The Vineyard Wine and Spirits - Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27; Closed Nov. 28; Nov. 29 the MCX is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Vineyard is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. •CYSS - Closed. •Army Community Service - Closed. •Fort Myer Fitness Center - Closed. •Fort McNair Fitness Center - Closed. •Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium - Open 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 27; Closed Nov. 28; open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29. •Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool - Closed. •Library - Closed. •Recreation Center - Closed. •USO - Closed. •Auto Shop - Closed. •Java Café - Closed Nov. 28; open 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29. •MCCS Henderson Hall Car Wash - Open 24/7. •On the Henderson Hall side of the joint base, the following activities are closed Friday, Nov. 29: Career Resource Management Center, Education Office, Zembiec Pool, and the Marine Club. All other MCCS activities will observe regular hours.
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Community
Commissary CEO shares sequestration consequences By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service
Offering a glimpse at what commissary and military exchange services could become in light of smaller and unpredictable budgets, the Defense Commissary Agency director and CEO described to Congress Nov. 20 the consequences sequestration and the government shutdown have already imposed. Customers packed commissaries Oct. 1, the first day of the government shutdown, Joseph H. Jeu told the House Armed Service Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee. Not knowing what was ahead, shoppers stocked up on food and supplies, racking up twice the typical day’s sales, at $30.5 million. “That was our highest sale day ever,” Jeu told the House panel. But as the furlough dragged on, its effects increasingly became evident. The department-wide hiring freeze had already put a dent in the customer service that been the pride of the Defense Commissary Agency. Because turnover tends to be high among the commissaries’ lower-grade employees, manning levels quickly dropped, Jeu explained. Two-thirds of all commissaries fell below the manning levels required to run the stores effectively. Even when DOD gave some relief and authorized personnel hiring, the results came slowly due to time lags in employee vetting. Exacerbating the situation, civilian furloughs forced most commissaries to close one day a week for six weeks. “Customer complaints rose by over 50 percent and hit an all-time high during the furlough,” Jeu reported. “While our employees struggled to provide our goal of excellent customer service, they could not always overcome the challenges.” Customers were often confronted with long checkout lines, closed registers and empty shelves, he said. Sometimes waits for checkouts dragged on for 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, sales figures that had been on an upward trajectory dropped. “Commissaries experienced a sales loss totally over $99 million driven by sequestration closures in fiscal year 2013 and government shutdown closures in October of fiscal year 2014,” Jeu reported. Distributors who supply the commissaries felt the impact, too, he said. They faced sporadic delays in offloading their deliveries, and orders were frequently held up or delayed. In some cases, the wrong products were shipped, damages weren’t processed in a timely manner, and orders were delayed due to closures that made scheduling a logistical nightmare. All this followed what Jue told the congressional panel had been “an impressive year” in fiscal 2012, before sequestration. “Sales were up, topping the $6 billion level for the first time since 1992,” he reported. The cost of delivering commissary services came in under budget. Customer satisfaction surveys that were independently verified ranked commissaries above all but one commercial grocery chain. “The commissary continues to be one of the most valued non-pay compensation benefits our military members, past and present, and their families enjoy,” Jeu said. Calling the commissary benefit an “integral element of the total compensation package,” he said it saves patrons about 30 percent compared to commercial supermarkets. That equates to about $1,500 a year for a single service member who consistently uses the commissary and as much as $4,500 for an average family of four, he said. This quality-of-life enhancement comes at a rate of $2 in patron savings for every taxpayer dollar
invested, Jue reported. “However, this two-for-one return on investment is insufficient to shield the commissary from scrutiny as it faces the same fiscal challenges as other government agencies,” he lamented. Jue noted the Defense Commissary Agency’s “proven history of taking cost out of the system,” and progress in reducing operating costs and overhead and introducing efficiencies and innovation. Warehouses and associated inventory has been eliminated, manpower has been reduced, accounting functions have been centralized and automated and headquarters and regional offices consolidated.
PENTAGRAM
News Notes Winter weather news In the event of weather-related closures, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (Fort Myer, Fort McNair, Henderson Hall) personnel follow the guidance of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM determines the “open” or “closed” status for all government agencies and installations located inside the Washington, D.C., beltway. If you have a question about your duty status, speak with your supervisor. Partner organization personnel should inquire within the chain of command. For OPM guidance, see www.opm.gov/status. You can also call 202-606-1900 around the clock. JBM-HH will also have this information available as follows: JBM-HH Facebook at www.facebook.com/jbmhh. Commander’s Information Hotline at 703-6966906. This line is updated often in an emergency situation. Check the JBM-HH Webpage at www.jbmhh. army.mil for the Winter Weather link which is now being updated for Nov. 27. Get national weather by logging onto www.weather.gov/. Fort Myer Exchange hours The Fort Myer Exchange has extended Black Friday weekend holiday hours and will be open Black Friday, Nov. 29, from 4 a.m.-8 p.m.; Nov. 30 from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Gate closure Henderson Hall Annex Gate on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 6, 2014.
COURTESY PHOTO
Joseph H. Jeu, director and chief executive officer of the Defense Commissary Agency, spoke to Congress concerning the consequences of sequestration Nov. 20.
“Over the past 20 years, we have picked the long-hanging fruit by seeking innovative initiatives to achieve operating efficiencies, and through good stewardship of taxpayer dollars, we made the commissary system significantly less costly to operate,” Jeu said. “With this history, any further reduction resulting from sequestration will diminish the commissary benefit.” Even with commissaries to receive full funding in the proposed fiscal 2014 budget, Jeu warned that the impact of sequestration “is likely to be considerable” as the department establishes priorities and balances resources. “Even with the budget uncertainty due to sequestration, as we move into this net era, the [Defense Commissary Agency] is excited about its ongoing initiatives to seek innovative and efficient methods of benefit delivery,” he said. Jeu testified yesterday with other senior defense officials who urged Congress to preserve military exchange and commissary services they call key to the morale and quality of life of service members and their families. Joining him in the House chamber were Rosemary Williams, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy; retired Navy Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi, CEO of Navy Exchange Service Command; Thomas Shull, director and CEO of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service; William Dillon, director of the Marine Corps Semper Fit and Exchange Services; Thomas Gordy, president of the Armed Forces Marketing Council; and Patrick Nixon, president of the American Logistics Association.
Full-service refueling offered to drivers with physical challenges The Fort Myer Express fuel station is making it easier for motorists with physical challenges or retirees who may need help to fuel up. The newly installed Fuel Call wireless alert system allows physically challenged drivers or customers needing assistance to contact associates inside the store for assistance without leaving their vehicle. Any motorist with a disability license plate or placard or in need of assistance may have their gas pumped by an Express employee. “We want to provide our utmost customer service to our patrons,” said the Fort Belvoir/JBM-HH Exchange’s General Manager, Nildy Eiley. “Fuel Call is a dignified way to request assistance at the pump, making it faster and easier for our customers to receive the level of service they have come to expect at the Express without ever having to leave their vehicle.” Fuel Call is available Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE p.m. The Express also has unattended fueling 24 hours a day. Gas prices on display at the Joint Base MyerFor more information, call 703-696-9241/44 Henderson Hall gas station, March 20. (Army and Air Force Exchange Service press release)
Thanksgiving meal at DFAC The staff of the dining facility on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base, Bldg. 404, will host two Thanksgiving holiday meals, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28. The Nov. 28 meal will not be quite as elaborate as the Nov. 27 meal, but will still be a Thanksgiving feast. On both of those days, the dining facility will be open to retirees and Department of Defense civilians. Meal times and prices are: Nov. 27: Holiday meal, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $7.60, with a discounted rate of $6.45 for family members of E-4’s and below. Nov. 28: Brunch, 9 a.m.-noon, $5.25; dinner, 4-5:30 p.m., $6.45. So the DFAC staff is sure to have enough food on hand, call 703-696-2087 to let them know you will be attending. Holiday tree lighting ceremony set Bring friends and family Dec. 4 for the lighting of the JBM-HH Holiday Tree at the side of Building 59 on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall beginning at 5 p.m. We welcome Santa Claus to the festivities at this time. After the tree lighting, join Santa for pictures and refreshments. For more information, contact Todd Hopkins at 703-696-0594 or todd.a.hopkins.civ@mail.mil. ‘Reindeer Stampede’ 5K Get ready to participate in the 2013 Operation Santa 5K “Reindeer Stampede” race, Dec. 6. Race begins at 6:35 a.m. at the Fort Myer Fitness Center, Building 414. Late race day registration will be accepted between 5:30 and 6:15 a.m. Race is free. Participants can bring an unwrapped toy to support Army Community Services Holiday Toy Basket program. Awards will be presented for “Largest Military Unit” and male and female top finishers for each age division. For more information, contact Todd Hopkins at 703-696-0594 or todd.a.hopkins. civ@mail.mil. Get rid of that cigarette butt Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Tobacco kills. Inhaling or ingesting tobacco releases harmful chemicals into the lungs and blood stream, sending toxins to every organ in the body. Smoking and tobacco use cause cancer, heart disease, strokes, emphysema, bronchitis, airway obstructions and more. Not to mention that tobacco smoke stinks. Don’t wait until the new year to start saving your own life when you can do that right now. Your family and friends will thank you for it. See www. army.mil/standto and talk to the Rader Clinic folks who have resources to help military personnel and their family members. See www.ucanquit2.org, a Department of Defense website, and chat with a tobacco cessation counselor. Kris Kringle market The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation are joining forces to host a Kris Kringle market Nov. 29 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Exchange parking lot on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Approximately 10 vendors will be on hand to help everyone get in the spirit of Christmas. Gluhwein will be available for sale, along with various food vendors, arts, crafts and novelties, and a Christmas tree vendor. The Exchange will open at 4 a.m. Nov. 29, in conjunction with Black Friday. For more Continued on next page
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
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News Notes From previous page information, call 703-696-8865. SOWC meets The Signal Officers Wives Club will host a holiday tea and tour at Cherry Hill Farm in Fall Church, Va., Dec. 2 at noon. Cost is $28 per person, and seating is limited to 20 people. To reserve a spot, call Judy at 703-978-1338. MPD S1 conference The next JBM-HH military personnel division’s S1 conference is set for Dec. 4 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Bldg. 243, on the Fort Myer side of the joint base. The conference goal is to strengthen existing partnerships between JBM-HH’s military personnel division, unit S1’s, Pentagon human resources personnel and agencies and build consensus on efficient and effective services to customers. For more information, call Douglas Russell or Ronnie Corbitt at 703-6963695/0008. American holiday festival concerts All tickets have been distributed to The U.S. Army Band’s American holiday festival in Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base Dec. 7, 8, and 15. Walk-ins are welcome 15 minutes prior to start time if space is available. See www.usarmyband.com for details. Federal benefits open season underway Federal benefits open season is underway through Dec. 9, with changes effective the first full pay period in January. Open season is the time to think about health, dental, vision and tax-saving needs. During open season, eligible employees can:
Enroll in or change federal employees health benefits program covering through the Army Benefits Center-Civilian website at www.abc. army.mil or by calling 1-877-276-9287. Enroll in dental and/or vision coverage through the federal employees dental and vision insurance program or change your existing enrollment through the BENEFEDS website at https://benefeds.com/Portal/jsp/ Loginpage.asp or by calling 1-877-888-3337. Sign up for flexible spending accounts through the flexible spending account program at www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp or by calling 1-877-372-3337. The Office of Personnel Management’s open season website at www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/open-season contains detailed information regarding plan changes, available plans and premiums. All employees are encouraged to review their current enrollment coverage and premiums to make sure it will continue to meet their needs in 2014. Changes may not be made outside of the open enrollment season dates unless an employee has a qualifying life event. For information regarding local health fairs, employees should contact their servicing civilian personnel advisory center specialist at 703-704-3009. Employees planning on retiring prior to the first full pay period in January and who wish to make an open season election should contact an ABC-C counselor for guidance on whether a hard copy enrollment form is required. Little fingers, big words Teach your pre-verbal children to communicate using sign language. This class is for parents of infants six to 18 months old. Class will be held Dec. 5 from noon-1 p.m. in the Army Community Services classroom in Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.
Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Preregistration is requested. For more information and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 or email karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil. Stress management Participants will be given information on identifying stressors in their life and how to create their own stress management plan. Class will be held Dec. 11 from 9-11 a.m. in the ACS classroom, Bldg. 201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Preregistration is requested. For more information and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 or email karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil. Anger management Individuals will receive information on 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. Class will be held Dec. 18 from 9-11 a.m. in the ACS classroom, Bldg. 201, on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Preregistration is requested. For more information and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 or email karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil. Monster Jam tickets Witness the excitement of Monster Jam trucks at Verizon Center in January. The MCX Henderson Hall ITT office has tickets available for sale for the following dates: Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The price is $16.25 per person. Call 571483-1963 for availability. Please send your news notes to the Pentagram at pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com.
MCX launches new eGift cards just in time for the holidays The Marine Corps Exchange has launched their new eGift card service that allows you to purchase and instantly send a gift card to anyone who is an authorized exchange patron. This new option is a great way for families and friends who do not have exchange privileges to send a gift or help pay for a special purchase or event. Need a gift for a baby shower, wedding, birthday or graduation? We’ve got you covered in an instant without even leaving the house. The new eGift cards can be purchased online at the MyMCX.com website and once purchased can be scheduled for delivery on a specific date or instantly sent to the recipient via email and/or text message. To redeem the eGift card, the recipient simply pres-
ents the mobile or printed gift card to the cashier and checks out normally. According to Cindy Whitman Lacy, chief operating officer, business operations for MCX, “The MCX eGift cards can be redeemed in many activities including sister service exchanges and activities such as auto skills centers, bowling centers, golf courses, fitness centers, Information Tickets and Tours offices, marinas, pools, recreation centers, theaters, child development centers and youth and teen centers.” Whitman Lacy added, “This is a great way for friends and family to send a gift or to help cover the cost of a purchase for their Marine.” Some of the possibilities for using the eGift card include covering the
cost of purchases at recruit training, paying for nonissued uniform items such as dress blue uniforms, and paying for recreation activities or child care fees. The new eGift cards are purchased by going to the MyMCX.com website or Facebook page and clicking the link for eGift cards. Cards can be purchased in amounts between $10 and $250. Purchasers may choose from various gift card designs and can add a personal image to the eGift card. Once the card has been purchased, the buyer can also check online to make sure the recipient has received and opened the eGift card. Recipients may conveniently check the remaining balance of their cards online at MyMCX .com. (From a Marine Corps Exchange press release.)
Senate hearing targets predatory lending practices By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service
While programs are in place to combat predatory lending practices that target servicemembers and their families, better rules and enforcement are needed, witnesses told a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Nov. 20. Predatory lending practices impact not only a servicemember’s financial readiness, but also mission readiness, witnesses told lawmakers in a hearing about the lending practices targeted towards the military. As a former military spouse and assistant director of the consumer financial protection bureau, office of servicemember affairs, Holly Petraeus recalled the history and subsequent changes of predatory lending. “I’ve lived on or near military bases my entire life, and seen that strip outside the gates, offering everything from furniture to used cars to electronics to jewelry, and the high-cost credit to pay for them,” Petraeus said. She said an “alarming increase” occurred in the early 2000s in businesses offering payday loans and corresponding increases in service members taking advantage of “easy money,” often without the ability to repay what they borrowed. “The Pentagon took note that indebtedness was beginning to take a serious toll on military readiness, as did the media,” Petraeus added. The Defense Department, she said, published a report in 2006 on predatory lending practices directed at service members and their families. It found that predatory
lending “undermines military readiness, harms the morale of troops and their families, and adds to the cost of fielding an all-volunteer fighting force,” Petraeus said. The result was the Military Lending Act of 2006, which caps the rate on consumer credit to a covered member of the armed forces or a dependent of a covered member at 36 percent and creates other consumer protections, she said. DoD wrote the MLA’s regulations and defined “consumer credit” as only three types of loans that were narrowly defined, Petraeus said. They cover payday loans, closedend loans with terms of 91 days or fewer for $2,000 or less; auto-title loans, closed-end loans with terms of 181 days or fewer; and tax refund anticipation loans which are closedend credit, she testified. “For those products that fall within [DoD’s] definitions, the law has had a positive impact,” she testified. “But the concern now is that lenders have easily found ways to get outside of the definitions.” The spouse of a wounded warrior who took out an auto title loan of $2,575 at an APR of 300 percent was one example Petraeus gave in her testimony. “The finance charges on the loan were over $5,000. The loan was not subject to the MLA because it was longer than 181 days,” she said. She also acknowledged concerns about the existing rule’s effectiveness, which has led to renewed interest from Congress. “This morning, the bureau announced an enforcement action against a large national payday lender, Cash America, which had made loans in violation of the MLA to hundreds of servicemembers or
their dependents,” Petraeus testified. “As part of the enforcement action, the lender refunded loan and loan-related fees for a total amount of approximately $33,550. It also put additional compliance mechanisms in place and agreed to increase training on the MLA for its customer service representatives.” She called that action “a great example of what can be achieved through the combined efforts of the bureau’s supervisory and enforcement areas,” and a significant change in a large payday lender’s appreciation of and compliance with the MLA. Petraeus said she still harbors “real concerns” about the ability of lenders to easily evade the existing MLA regulations. “The original rule was effective for those products that it covered, but over the past six years, we have seen significant changes in the type of products offered and the contours of state law,” she said. “And I think it’s critically important to ensure that the MLA protections keep up.” Petraeus said she believes any approach with strict definitions that define individual products will fall victim to the same evasive tactics that are plaguing the existing rule. “I also believe that from a military financial readiness point of view, it makes no difference whether the loan is made by a depository institution or a non-depository institution, nor does it matter whether the loan is structured and open- or closed-end,” she said. “A loan with a sky-high interest rate and burdensome fees has the same adverse impact on military financial readiness no matter who offers it.” The underlying goals of protect-
ing military and financial readiness that led to the MLA are as important today as they were when the act was originally passed, Petraeus said. “I think we should all be indignant when we hear of servicemembers trapped in outrageous loans and realize that there is little we can do under the current regulations because they are just longer than 91 days or structured as openend credit,” she testified. “We owe it to our servicemembers and their families to do the best possible job of crafting rules that properly implement the intent of the Military Lending Act.” Dwain Alexander, legal assistant attorney at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., said the Navy is taking steps to educate its servicemembers. “Education will help avoid many debt traps,” Alexander testified. “However, some problems like arbitration and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act waiver, and aggressive debt collection, are beyond education.” He said his office is working on videos to educate sailors and families on consumer issues while they’re in waiting rooms and similar environments, in addition to providing education to those returning from deployments. Alexander said other awareness measures to avoid predatory lending being used in the Navy include mandatory military training on payday loans. However, he said, some issues cannot be addressed such as the servicemember’s waiver and arbitration being in the contracts, because they are legal. “We need help with that,” he said.
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
PENTAGRAM
Veterans’ homelessness drops by 24 percent Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development
The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development announced Nov. 21 that a new national report shows a 24 percent drop in homelessness among veterans since 2010. The report also showed an 8 percent reduction between January 2012 and January 2013. The decline keeps U.S. government plans on track to meet the goal of ending veterans’ homelessness in 2015. “We are on the right track in the fight to end homelessness among veterans. While this trend is encouraging news, we know that there is more work to do,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “As President Obama said, we’re not going to rest until every veteran who has fought for America has a home in America. The results in the latest report are a credit to the effort given by our dedicated staff, and our federal, state and community partners who are committed to ending veterans’ homelessness.” Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan said, “We’re making real and significant progress to reduce homelessness in this country and now is not the time to retreat from doing what we know works. If we’re going to end homelessness as we know it, we need a
continued bipartisan commitment from Congress to break the cycle trapping our most vulnerable citizens, especially our veterans, between living in a shelter or a life on the streets. “I understand these are tough budget times but these are proven strategies that are making a real difference,” Donovan continued. “We simply can’t balance our budget on the backs of those living on the margins.” The 2013 point-in-time estimates of homelessness, prepared by HUD, estimates there were 57,849 homeless veterans on a single night in January in the United States, an 8 percent decline since 2012, and a 24 percent decline since 2010. VA has made ending veterans’ homelessness by the end of 2015 a top priority, undertaking an unprecedented campaign to dramatically increase awareness of VA services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless. While the number of homeless people in the United States dropped by 4 percent since 2012, according to the 2013 report, veterans’ homelessness has shown a more robust decline. During a period of prolonged economic recovery, the government has been able to reduce the number of homeless veterans by 24 percent, breaking previous patterns of increased homelessness during difficult economies.
Earlier this year, HUD and VA also announced the award of nearly $70 million of HUD-Veterans Affairs supportive housing grants to further assist in addressing the issue of veterans’ homelessness. The program combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, a total of 58,140 vouchers have been awarded and 43,371 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes of their own because of the joint HUD-VA program. One of the tools VA uses in its systematic approach to prevent and end veterans’ homelessness is the supportive services for veteran families grant program. In July, VA announced the award of nearly $300 million in grants to 319 community agencies to help approximately 120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. More recently, VA has announced $8.8 million in grants for 164 projects to acquire vans for homeless providers and to rehabilitate housing, plus $4.9 million in grants for 25 communitybased projects to enhance services for veterans. The grants promote housing stability among homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. The grants can have an immediate impact, helping lift veterans out of homelessness or providing aid in emergencies that put veterans and their families at risk of homelessness.
FBI lays wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier By Cory Hancock JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs
Assistant Director-in-Charge, Washington Field Office Federal Bureau of Investigation, Valerie Parlave and Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general Joint Force HeadquartersNational Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 20. The wreath-laying was part of an ongoing engagement program between JFHQ-NCR/MDW and its interagency partners. Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is an honor usually bestowed upon military personnel and visiting foreign dignitaries. “The FBI is one of our key interagency partners in the National Capital Region and they do a phenomenal job protecting us every day,” said Buchanan. “We wanted to invite them to the Tomb to continue to strengthen our relationship.” “The motto of the FBI is fidelity, bravery and integrity. These values can also be applied to the principled and honorable sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” said Parlave. “It is a true honor to be asked to participate in this solemn ritual and pay respect to those who have
served our great nation through our military. It is also an opportunity for me and the employees of the Washington field office to reflect on the immense pride we have for the nation we serve.” The FBI was created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Today, the FBI remains dedicated to its core values and ethical standards. The commitment to these values and standards ensures that the FBI effectively carries out its mission: protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats; uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States; and provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners. “The FBI’s relationship with the Military District of Washington is a true partnership, and we are grateful for their cooperation, teamwork, and support. We share many of the same characteristics. Our dedication and our willingness to serve is the same,” said Parlave. “We share in a mission to protect and defend the U.S. against attack; and therefore, we work together and train together. We strive to understand the current threat picture in the National Capital Region and beyond, and we share intelligence that is both developed and
PHOTO
BY
CORY HANCOCK
Assistant Director-in-Charge, Washington Field Office Federal Bureau of Investigation, Valerie Parlave (left), prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 20. Commanding General of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan (center) joined Parlave during the wreath-laying ceremony.
received by our organizations.” “It was very moving for me. Of course, Arlington is sacred ground for us and every time I step out on the plaza it is very moving,” said Buchanan. “To see their emotional response reenforces it with me.” “I was truly honored to receive the invitation from the Military District of Washington to participate in this wreath-laying. We
continuously work to uphold our relationships with our partner agencies, and the Military District of Washington is a vital partner in our joint efforts in this region,” said Parlave. “We look forward to enjoying many more years of an ever-strengthening bond between us, and we will continue our cooperation and coordination to remain worthy of the honor afforded to the FBI today.”
Self Help Program allows quick resolution to minor facility repairs By Lisa Taylor Engineer Business Systems Analyst Directorate of Public Works
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Directorate of Public Works personnel have created the “Customer Service Self Help” program to serve those who work on JBM-HH – military personnel and Department of Defense civilians – and those who live in JBM-HH barracks. The program does not cover family housing. The Bbusiness operations and integration division of DPW designed the self help program to provide the supplies, tools – and sometimes the guidance from DPW experts – to resolve minor facility maintenance issues. The aim of the program is to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and civilian employees working and living on JBM-HH. In addition to tools and equipment needed to get the job done, DPW employees supporting the program can advise on how to get the work done properly. Servicemembers can volunteer to accomplish small repair projects in their respective living facilities (barracks), where the capability exists. The self help program allows customers to complete smaller jobs in a short amount of time and have access to materials and common hand tools. These are some of the items available: ceiling tiles, light bulbs, filters, paint, spackling compound, weather stripping, faucet washers and much more.
There are some procedures to follow. Prior to accomplishing any self help project, the customer must submit a service order request through the assigned building coordinator for small items. If a scope of work breakdown and bill of materials is required, use a DA Form 4283, engineer work request. Please remember to have your DA Form 4283 signed by the appointed building coordinator who has delegation of authority (DA Form 1687) on file with the customer service office. No materials can be issued or work can begin until the paperwork is approved by DPW. This is normal procedure for any installation to ensure guidelines set forth within the installation design guide are adhered to and followed. Self Help is currently available through the work management branch customer service in Bldg. 313 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., telephone 703-696-3264. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. and closed on weekends/holidays. A customer service representative will take the order and a planner/estimator will verify the scope of the project and identify what supplies are required. If supplies are not immediately available in the DPW supply warehouse, they will be ordered, and the customer will be notified by telephone when supplies are received and ready for pick up. Here are some of the tasks that could be completed:
Carpentry - refasten coat hooks and closet shelves; tighten/replace hinges, knobs, latches and handles; lubricate locks and hardware; replace door stops; repair/ replace curtain rods and accessories; hang pictures and mirrors; replace/adjust kitchen and bathroom hardware (install/tighten paper holders, soap dishes); replace ceiling tiles; get paint, brushes, rollers and drop cloths. Electrical – Replace light bulbs, reset tripped circuit breakers, replace cracked/broken receptacle plates and replace ceiling light fixtures. Plumbing/HVAC – Unclog drains and toilets, repair leaky faucets, replace/repair shower heads, tighten or replace shower heads, toilet seats; correct or adjust running toilet, adjust water level in toilet tank; dismantle trap under the sink to unclog. Many more items can be addressed, repaired or replaced. Just be sure to go through your assigned building coordinator to work with the self help program. Personnel eligible for this self help program include all military personnel working at the joint base and Soldiers and Marines who live in JBM-HH barracks and Department of Defense civilians working in any activity at JBM-HH, including partner activities. This program excludes family housing residents who have a different system in place. For more information, call Jorge Blanco, DPW’s chief of Business Operations and Integration division, at 703-696-6411.
PENTAGRAM
DFAC, from page 1 Stein said he does feel the pressure to put an outstanding meal on the table for the servicemembers and families who will be enjoying Thanksgiving at the dining facility. “The pressure of having to give Soldiers a meal away from home that delivers the comforts of home, that’s kind of the challenge I see with Thanksgiving. Something like that reminds people of where they are from, and you have to deliver that in the dining facility,” he said. “We are meant to be a morale booster for the troops, that’s always in the back of mind that is what my job is to boost morale,” Arwood, who is on loan to the dining facility from the Pentagon, added.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
“[Holiday meals] lift their spirits.” Stein said his favorite dish to prepare is turkey. Arwood agreed, and shared that he puts compound butter, herbs and seasonings under the bird’s skin and citrus and sage inside the cavity to enhance not only flavor but appearance as well. “It really keeps the breast moist and it also, I think, makes a nicer color,” he said. Stein, a native of La Grange, Ga., has been in the Army for two years and has been cooking since he was 16. Prior to joining the Army two years ago, Arwood had a catering business in Peru, Ind. Two cooks were in at 11 p.m. Nov. 26, and Arwood and Stein came in at 4 a.m. Nov. 27 to prepare food for the feast.
JFK, from page 1 beckoning the spirit he embodied — that fearless, resilient, uniquely American character that has always driven our Nation to defy the odds, write our own destiny and make the world anew. Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 22, 2013, as a Day of Remembrance for President John F. Kennedy. I call upon all Americans to honor his life and legacy with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I also call upon Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on the Day of Remembrance for President John F. Kennedy. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth. Barack Obama President of the United States of America
Cadets, from page 1
thank The Old Guard for its hospitality during the Kennedy funeral. “We started on Myer, and we were well looked after by The Old Guard, not once but twice now,” Dunne said with a smile. “They were so kind to us to get us on our way to the cemetery in good order. We were very well looked after. We have great friends at Fort Myer and The Old Guard.” The ceremony included a poetry reading of one of Kennedy’s literary favorites, Irish poet W.B. Yeats. A crowd of 200 listened as Cadet Col. Bill Nott read “Cloths of Heaven” while the Irish Defence Forces 89th Cadet Class Colour Party stood at attention at the head of the grave. Bagpiper Sgt. Joe Meade rememberedKennedybyplaying “Mist-Covered Mountains,” which was played at the ANC burial and closed the 2013 ceremony with “Amazing Grace.” On a sunny day very similar to the Monday national day of mourning in 1963, albeit a few degrees cooler, Dunne stood on PHOTO BY JULIA LEDOUX the JFK grave plaza and recalled Spcs. Ben Stein (left), and Kevin Arwood, peel potatoes at the the group’s main mission while Consolidated Dining Facility on Joint Base Myer-Henderson heads of state and a nation paid Hall as they work to prepare the two Thanksgiving meals its final respects to an assassithat will be served there Nov. 27 and 28. nated president.
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RACHEL LARUE
Irish piper Sgt. Joe Meade (foreground) and the Irish Defence Forces 89th Cadet Class Colour Party stand ready before the start of the JFK memorial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 25.
“The mood was, since we were young and of an impressionable age, we were all excited,” he said of that November 1963 day. “Our main concentration was getting [the drill] correct. It was quite a complex arms drill, which was slow-moving and silent. There was quite a bit of
timing involved in it. Our total concept was to get the arms drill right and do it correctly for our country and do our military cadet school proud. “What we wanted to achieve was to do the drill properly, honor President Kennedy and do our country proud.”
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
PENTAGRAM
AKO email ends for retirees, family members in New Year Army CIO/G-6 and PEO EIS
Army retirees and family members need to activate the forwarding function for their Army Knowledge Online email before Dec. 31, officials said, because after then they will no longer be able to access their AKO accounts. As part of the Army’s AKO transition to enterprise services, retirees and family members can have their AKO email automatically forwarded to a commercial email address until the end of 2014. In the past, users could only forward AKO email to a government email address, Army G-6 officials pointed out. Users may need to update business and billing accounts — such as utilities, credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions, mailing lists, etc. — if AKO email was used for these accounts,
G-6 officials said. They added that retirees may need to update their MyPay email address to continue getting messages from the Defense and Accounting System. Even though AKO will no longer be available, retirees and family members can continue to have access to personnel and benefits information on DoD and Veterans Administration or VA websites through DoD SelfService Logon, known as DSLogon. During the transition, AKO email addresses can be used to logon to DoD and VA websites until March 31. Starting in April, these websites can only be accessed through DSLogon or an alternate method, officials said. All Soldiers [active-duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, veterans] and eligible family members can obtain a DSLogon account which allows access using a single username and pass-
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word. DSLogon complies with federal security guidelines and provides a secure user experience, according to G-6 officials. They point out that users must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to obtain an account. For sites not currently using DSLogon, such as MyPay, users must establish an individual username and password. The Army remains committed to virtually connect with all retirees and family members, officials said. The Army public website, www.army.mil, remains the source of official Army news, information, and social media. It is accessible from any location and on any device. All Army business processes will move off the current AKO platform onto next-generation enterprise services over the course of several years, G-6 officials said, adding that migration is expected by Fiscal Year 2017. The Army is currently modernizing the AKO infrastructure and services to become more interoperable across DoD to lower cost and
to improve efficiency and security, officials said. They explained that the Army is moving toward enterprise services for collaboration, content management, and unified capabilities (including chat, voice and video over IP) which all draw on the identity service underpinning DoD Enterprise Email. AKO and many official Army sites will only be accessible via the government-issued Common Access Card or CAC. Because retirees and family members are not eligible for CACs, they will no longer have access to AKO. The Army established AKO in the late 1990s to provide online information services for U.S. Army personnel and then later extended some AKO services to retirees and family members. Services have included email, collaboration, discussion forums, a directory, and direct access to many DoD and VA websites. (Article written by the Army Chief of Information/G-6 and Program Executive Office – Enterprise Information Systems.)
PENTAGRAM
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
PENTAGRAM
Planning a Party? Call 703-415-4420
to inquire about our private banquets and catering services. • We make it easy to enjoy the season with delicious fare and a festive flair. • Childrens Menu Available • We Offer Gluten Free Menu Options • Gift Cards Available
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MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY
Daily Specials
• 1/2 price Burgers Mondays (Veggie & Turkey Burger) All Day • $10.99 Prime Rib Tuesdays All Day • $5 Appetizers 4-7pm Tuesdays Small Plate 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
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