Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Journal Vol. 4, No. 2

January 18, 2013

News and information for and about the premier Joint Base and its region www.facebook.com/jointbase

J OINT B ASE A NACOSTIA-B OLLING

www.cnic.navy.mil/jbab

JBAB provides quality child care services

BY MC2 KIONA MILLER NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIAL TO JOINT BASE JOURNAL

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. -- Joint Base AnacostiaBolling’s (JBAB) Child and Youth Program Services (CYPS) supports quality child care services to eligible patrons with an abundance of services to help balance family life and professional careers.

The installation’s three Child Development Centers (CDCs), providing quality child development programs to children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age, is one of the many services provided.

The three CDCs have earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, according to CYPS Program Director, Darrilyn Young.

“Quality begins with building that one-on-one relationship with

children,” Young said. “Their commitment within those eight hours of paid time in that center is to just identify with that child, to know what that child needs and to understand that every parent has entrusted us with that child’s welfare while they go to work so they can complete their mission which is integral to military childcare.”

In order to maintain the program’s commitment to families, caregivers are obligated to complete 15 training modules within two years of employment, which includes competency and knowledge assessment. In addition to the training modules, employees also conduct four hours of training each month, conducted after working hours, eliminating time taken away from children.

“All the training makes me more confident at being able to

See CHILD CARE, Page 9

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS KIONA MILLER

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s Child and Youth Program Director Darrilyn Young, left, speaks with Child and Youth Program Assistant Renda Bundy, right, during a visit to one of the installation’s Child Development Centers (CDC).

The installation has three CDC’s which provide child development and child care needs to service members with children between the ages of six weeks to five years old.

Navy Recruiting Command honors top recruiters

BY MC1 SONJA M. CHAMBERS COMMANDER NAVY RECRUITING COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SAM SHAVERS

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus poses for a group photo with the 2012 Navy Recruiters of the Year during their visit to the Pentagon Jan. 9. Thirteen Navy recruiters and their family members from around the world spent a week in the nation’s capital meeting with Navy leadership and receiving recognition for their recruiting efforts as part of the Navy’s Recruiters of the Year celebration.

Local law enforcement officers take part in special ceremony Page 4

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) recognized its FY 2012 Recruiters of the Year (ROY) during a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9.

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Rear Adm. Earl L. Gay, honored 13 of NRC’s top Active and Reserve recruiters from around the world.

Guest speaker, Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk, said the Navy relies on recruiters to find new talent for the Navy’s future.

“There is no Navy without Sailors and there are no Sailors with-

INSIDE

SAR planning course a comprehensive look into search theory, applications Page 5

out recruiters,” he said. “The successful completion of our Navy’s global mission begins by recruiting the best and the brightest of our nation’s young men and women to serve. Because of the hard work and dedication of our recruiters, today’s force is more intelligent, more fit and more diverse than we’ve ever seen. Our awardees have separated themselves from among their peers by performing exemplary service in recruiting the next generation Sailor.”

Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW) Matthew Tucker, Enlisted Recruiter of the Year, Active, said receiving the honor was a very humbling experience.

“I know there are many people out there just like me grinding and trying to get the job done, so I’m very happy and honored to receive

Former AFDW Airmen shares PTSD recovery journey Page 6

this award,” he said.

Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class (SW) Duane Curato, Enlisted Recruiter of the Year, Reserve, said mentoring and leadership were key to his success.

“Being a recruiter is not difficult,” he said. “You just have to be on top of your game and ask your leaders for guidance because they are always there to support you.”

The ceremony was part of a week-long event honoring the ROY. Recruiters and their guests visited many top Navy officials including Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus; Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mark Ferguson, and Chief of Navy Reserve, Commander, Navy Re-

See RECRUITING, Page 10

2

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Journal

Officials announce TRICARE Prime service area changes

BY AMAANI LYLE AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -Active-duty service members and their families will be unaffected when long-delayed reductions to areas where the TRICARE Prime option is offered take place Oct. 1, TRICARE officials said Jan. 9.

But as TRICARE seeks to synchronize service area shifts once staggered by contract delays, some military retirees and their dependents will be moved to

TRICARE Standard coverage, S. Dian Lawhon, beneficiary education and support division director, said during a conference call with reporters. Those affected reside more than 40 miles from a military treatment facility or base closure site, she said.

The new contracts limit Prime networks to regions within a 40-mile radius of military treatment facilities and in areas affected by the 2005 base closure and realignment process, she explained. But provisions will allow Prime beneficiaries

who see providers outside the 40-mile service area to remain in Prime if they reside within 100 miles of an available primary care manager and sign an access waiver, she added.

“If TRICARE retirees and young adults live less than 100 miles away from a remaining Prime service area, they can re-enroll in Prime by waiving their drive standards and there will be room made for them,” Lawhon said, adding that the networks are required to connect providers to those who

elect to waive their drive standards.

Contractors such as United HealthCare Military & Veterans, Health Net Federal Services and Humana Military will continue to assist beneficiaries in obtaining providers in their regions, she added.

“Health care is best if it’s local,” Lawhon said. “We’ve established the drive standards (to enable) people to access their primary and specialty care within a reasonable period of time.”

Austin Camacho, TRI-

CARE’s benefit information and outreach branch chief, said the out-of-pocket, feefor-service cost of TRICARE Standard would cost a bit more, depending on the frequency of health care use and visits. No cost applies for preventive care such as mammograms, vaccines, cancer screening, prostate examinations and routine check-ups, he added.

Officials estimate the changes will lower overall TRICARE costs by $45 million to $56 million a year, depending on the number of

beneficiaries who choose to remain in Prime, Camacho said.

Lawhon and Camacho said beneficiaries should speak to their health care providers and families to assess the best course of action.

“We’re hoping people will take a careful look at their health care needs,” Lawhon said. “We have seen that people using the Standard benefit are very pleased with it, and their customer satisfaction is the highest of all.”

Urgent or Emergency? TRICARE distinguishes between the two BRIG. GEN. W. BRYAN GAMBLE, M.D., FACS US ARMY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, TRICARE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

If you or your child gets sick or injured, your first instinct may be to go to the emergency room (ER) right away or call 911. These are good instincts in an emergency, but many people use the ER when it is not an actual emergency. This

contributes to long ER wait times, high costs and unnecessary medical care.

Sometimes, using an urgent care clinic may be your best choice and can help responsibly preserve the TRICARE benefit for future generations of military families.

It can be difficult to know whether an illness or injury is really an emergency, but the judgment is yours to make. If the condition is obviously life threatening or

causing severe pain and distress, then the need for an ER is clear. TRICARE views an emergency as a medical, maternity or psychiatric condition you believe could threaten your life, limb or sight without immediate medical attention. Other emergencies include severe, painful symptoms requiring immediate attention, or when a person may be an immediate risk to self or others.

If you or a family member experience any of the following symptoms, go to the ER immediately: • Chest pain or pressure • Uncontrolled bleeding • Sudden or severe pain • Coughing or vomiting blood • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Sudden dizziness, weakness or changes in vision Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea • Changes in mental status, such as confusion You do not need authorization for emergency care before receiving treatment.

However, if you’re enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan you must contact your primary care manager (PCM) or regional contractor within 24 hours or the next busi-

ness day after you receive emergency care.

Urgent care is when an illness or injury is serious enough to seek health care right away, but not so severe as to require emergency room care. Some examples include earache, toothache, joint sprain, muscle pull or urinary tract infection. You can get urgent care from your PCM or from an urgent care center if your PCM is inaccessible. Urgent care can be quicker, with a lower cost and better results, compared to a crowded ER that may require unnecessary tests or hospital stays.

Many urgent care centers are open after normal business hours and on the weekend, so you can go at a time that fits with your schedule, or when a health

problem warrants. If you have TRICARE Prime, you need to get prior authorization from your PCM or your regional contractor to avoid additional costs for visiting an urgent care center. If you are traveling, you need to contact your home region for authorization. You can find contact information for your regional contractor at www.tricare.mil/contacts.

According to the Urgent Care Association of America, 57 percent of visits to an urgent care facility have a wait time of 15 minutes or less. By comparison, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports only 22 percent of visits to an emergency room have wait

See TRICARE, Page 10

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

3

Military plays security support role for inauguration

BY C. TODD LOPEZ ARMY NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON -- Soldiers from around the nation will provide security assistance to the Secret Service, the FBI, the National Park Police and other law enforcement agencies during the 2013 inauguration event here, Jan. 21.

While hundreds of thousands of Americans crowd Washington, D.C., city streets this Martin Luther King Day to witness President Barack Obama’s second swearing in as president, and then stay on to watch the inaugural parade, thousands of service members will be on the sidelines providing support to the lead federal agencies that have been tasked to provide security for the event.

About 6,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 26 U.S. states and territories have come to the nation’s capital to lend their support for the inauguration, said Air Force Maj. Shane E. Doucet, a spokesman with the D.C. National Guard Bureau.

Doucet said that while some will participate in the ceremonial portion of the events -- they will march in the parade, for instance, to represent the National Guard or their state -- many will actually be on duty pulling security assistance in support of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department or other agencies.

Many Guardsmen will first be deputized by the Washington, D.C., police department so they can act in a law enforcement capacity in the nation’s capital, and will then be tasked to pull duty at traffic control points, or on street

COURTESY PHOTO BY THE U.S. ARMY

This year, the 947th Military Police Detachment at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., will provide 16 military working dog teams to support security at the 2013 inauguration of President Barack Obama. Here, Sgt. Malkia Litaker, who served with the 947th in 2009, and military working dog, Gerko, work together to find simulated explosives during a recent demonstration at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. corners doing crowd control or guiding foot traffic. Other Guard members will bring their expertise in transportation, communications and medical and logistical support to the mix.

While military members will not be the lead on any security details during the inauguration -- the Secret Service is running that effort, Guard members will show they can work as part of a team during the inauguration,

and will bring with them the skills that many of them exercise back in their hometowns during their civilian jobs.

“Many of these citizen-Soldiers and Airmen serve on a police force and have experience in this field,” Doucet said, adding that some Guardsmen arriving for the inauguration have participated as many as three times.

Col. Jesse D. Galvan serves as the provost marshal for Joint Task

Force-National Capital Region/ Military District of Washington, and is responsible for law enforcement, force protection and emergency management in the JTF-NCR/MDW. His office has been preparing for as many as 18 months for the inauguration.

While Galvan said that security for the inauguration is the responsibility of the Secret Service, his office has been coordinating for months with the Secret Service

and FBI to plan for inauguration security, and to ensure that JTFNCR/MDW personnel are ready if needed.

“In the unfortunate event that we have a catastrophic event happen, we stand ready and postured to support our local law enforcement and emergency management personnel, and to provide resources to them,” Galvan said.

One such agency, he said, includes the 911th U.S. Army Technical Rescue Engineer Company out of Fort Belvoir, Va., which specializes in rescuing those trapped under collapsed buildings, such as after an explosion.

But Galvan also said JTF-NCR/ MDW will actively provide military working dog support to the Secret Service at various events.

“They will be working various venues and providing sweeps,” he said, including at the children’s concert the night before, on the parade grounds and at the Capitol Building.

The JTF-NCR/MDW will provide about 45 dog handlers to support the inauguration. About 16 of those handlers will be from the 947th Military Police Detachment out of Fort Myer, Va. President Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States, and will be sworn in for his second term, Jan. 21, 2013, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.

The U.S. military has been providing support to presidential inaugurations since 1789, when George Washington was sworn in as the first president.

Take precaution with flu-like symptoms this winter MAJ. JOANNE S. CONLEY, USAF, BSC FLIGHT COMMANDER, AFDW PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER

WASHINGTON -If you get sick with flu-like symptoms (fever or feeling feverish/chills along with

cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, some people may have diarrhea) you should practice social distancing and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.

Joint Base Journal JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING WASHINGTON, D.C. This commercial enterprise Navy newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services, retirees, DoD civilians and their family members.

Contents of Joint Base Journal do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. government, Department of Defense, U.S. Navy or U.S. Air Force and does not imply endorsement thereof. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Navy, Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling or Comprint Military Publications of the products or services advertised.

Published by Comprint Military Publications, a division

Most people with the seasonal flu have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs. However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about

whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season.

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS:

. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze; sneez-

of Post-Newsweek Media, Inc., 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, a private firm in no way connected with DoD, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive contract with Naval District Washington.

The editorial content of Joint Base Journal is edited and approved by the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs Office. Tenant commands and others are encouraged to submit news, high-quality photos and informational items for publication. All submitted content must be received by noon on the Friday prior to publication.

E-mail submissions to pbello@dcmilitary.com.

To place display advertising, call 240-473-7538.

To place classified advertising, call 301-670-2505. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

ing into your elbow/sleeve is most effective. . Wash your hands often with soap and water; alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; germs spread that way. . Stay home if you get sick.

Capt. Anthony T. Calandra, USN

Col. Michael E. Saunders, USAF

Joseph P. Cirone

Chief Master Sgt. Richard J. Simonsen Jr., USAF

Commander

Public Affairs Officer 202-404-7206

Cmdr. Kimberly Himmer, USN Public Affairs Supervisor

JOINT BASE JOURNAL Paul Bello Photojournalist

Vice Commander

Senior Enlisted Leader

Lt. Cmdr. Jim Remington, USN

Public Affairs Projects

COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS Maxine Minar President John Rives Publisher Deirdre Parry Copy/Layout Editor

4

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Journal

DOD information technology evolves toward cloud computing

BY CLAUDETTE ROULO AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s information technology infrastructure is on a journey of consolidation, standardization, security and access, the Defense Department’s principal deputy chief information officer told attendees at a cloud computing panel discussion today.

The department is reducing the number of data centers from about 1,500 to “a number far below that,” Robert J. Carey said, and is implementing a coherent and consistent architecture across thousands of computing environments.

This process is taking place in part because of the

current era of fiscal austerity, but also because it makes sense when it comes to securing data within the network, Carey said.

In addition, DOD, along with much of industry, is shifting toward a cloud computing posture: the collection of data and use of related computing services via remote servers accessed through the Internet. Cloud computing isn’t without its risks, Carey said, but the department is moving the paradigm of security from the infrastructure to the data layer. This includes continuous monitoring and cryptography, he added.

Concentrating on securing data, rather than an entire network, is “a big shift for a big engine like DOD,” Carey said.

As the department implements the joint information environment and delivers a consistent computing architecture -- which Carey noted the department does not yet have -- security becomes the discriminating factor, he said. “The access, the cost -- all those facets of the efficiency of cloud computing -- if it isn’t secure enough, it will not serve us well,” he added.

Carey said the way the intelligence community secures data on its networks can serve as a model for the Defense Department’s joint information environment.

“I look at the [intelligence community] and its transformation, and I look at [the joint information environment] and the DOD transformation, and they are very

aligned,” he said.

There are differences between the two communities, he said. The intelligence community doesn’t have to accommodate heterogeneous data security requirements, Carey said, and the network construct within DOD is different. “We’re just a little more complex,” he said. “But we are working on a plan with them to take the applicable lessons learned … into our world.”

The cloud is secure today, Carey said, but only for certain types of data. In its move to cloud computing, he said, the problem the department faces is progressing from its legacy systems into an up-to-date information environment in an era of cost constraints.

“We’re moving at a very

deliberate pace,” Carey noted. “We have lots of [pilot programs] going on to evaluate these kinds of things and to make sure we understand both the pros, cons and risks of moving into the cloud space.”

Whether the department is ready to forge ahead on implementing a new information technology infrastructure hinges on whether it also ready is to make a cultural shift, he said.

“We have to take advantage of what commercial technology is bringing us, but at the same time, make sure that the people that actually … acquire it for us are able to do so,” Carey said.

The DOD IT community tends to try and avoid risk entirely rather than conduct risk management, he said,

which is a problem given the rapid pace of information technology development.

“The acquisition corps is working on creating that workforce that’s able to understand how fast industry is moving and proceed with a risk-management approach vice a risk-avoidance approach,” he said.

Measuring risk in the cloud and the costs of risk response is a difficult task, Carey noted.

“At the end of the day, the metrics of cloud security are, at best, nebulous,” he said. It isn’t always easy to describe the relationship between risk reduction and purchasing, he added, but it’s important for the information technology community to try.

Local law enforcement officers take part in special ceremony

BY PAUL BELLO JOINT BASE ANACOSTIABOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PAUL BELLO

Police officers from neighboring Prince George and Charles County, Maryland were sworn in as designated officers for the upcoming presidential inauguration Jan. 15 in a special deputation ceremony at the Bolling Club.

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. – Law enforcement officers from nearby counties in Maryland and Virginia were sworn in as official presidential inauguration officers Jan. 15 during a special deputation ceremony held by the U.S. Marshals Service inside the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Club.

For occasions such as a presidential inauguration, where thousands of people converge on the nation’s capital at one time, the U.S. Marshals Service has the

right by law to reach out to selected federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for assistance. On this day, more than 60 law enforcement officers took an oath to faithfully serve their country from Edwin D. Sloane, a White House appointed U.S. Marshal representing Washington, D.C. It was the second time JBAB hosted a deputation ceremony. The first was 2009 when President Barack Obama was first elected.

Capt. David C. Larsen, of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, said the ceremony further strengthens an already solid working relationship for officers in the Wash-

ington metropolitan area.

“We have officers here from Maryland’s Prince George, Queen Anne and Charles counties. We also have representatives from both the Virginia and Maryland State Police,” Larsen said. “We have a great working relationship with one another. That will again be demonstrated during this inauguration.”

Following the deputation ceremony, officers received a briefing on maritime operations from members of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Washington, as well as a waterside security plan for the Jan. 21 presidential inauguration.

Navy Medicine maintaining readiness despite flu season

BY VALERIE A. KREMER U.S. NAVY BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Medicine announced Jan. 15, its military treatment facilities currently have sufficient amount of influenza vaccinations to reduce the risk of the flu for service members and beneficiaries despite the shortages experienced by its civilian counterparts.

According to public health experts, the greatest protection for flu comes in the form of vaccination.

“The flu can have a significant impact on readiness but vaccination is the best way to protect and reduce the risk of flu,” said Cmdr. Natalie Wells, Public Health Emergency Officer, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medi-

cine and Surgery. “Navy Medicine military treatment facilities currently have an adequate supply of flu vaccines available for service members and beneficiaries.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicators suggest there is a good match between the circulating flu virus strains and the current 2012-2013 seasonal flu vaccine, meaning this year’s vaccine will protect most recipients from contracting the flu.

Navy Medicine also emphasized that treatment is available for service members and beneficiaries should they contract the flu.

“All influenza virus strains tested so far are responsive to antivirals such as Tamiflu,” said Wells.

“MTF pharmacies have adequate amounts of Tami-

flu on hand and additional Tamiflu is accessible if needed.”

Seasonal flu vaccination is mandatory for all DoD uniformed personnel who are not medically or administratively exempt.

Service members and beneficiaries still needing a flu vaccination should visit their local MTF. According to Wells, to date, 94 percent of active duty Navy and 90 percent of active duty Marine Corps service members have received the flu vaccination.

In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, there are additional means of maintaining a strong immune system and readiness.

“Maintaining a clean work environment, good hygiene practices, and managing workforce exposure are some simple measures

to reduce flu spread,” said Wells.

For more information on the seasonal flu and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, please visit the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Influenza webpage here: www.med.navy.mil/sites/ nmcphc/epi-data-center/ influenza/Pages/default. aspx.

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of more than 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST DONALD W. RANDALL

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hospitalman Abigail Doromal administers a flu shot to Master Chief Gunner’s Mate William Lipsett, assigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam conducted a mass vaccination exercise in conjunction with normal flu season inoculations to demonstrate the capability to rapidly and effectively vaccinate active duty military and a selected segment of the DoD population in a pandemic environment.

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

5

SAR planning course a comprehensive look into search theory, applications

BY PAUL BELLO JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. – Search and rescue (SAR) leaders from various federal, state and local emergency agencies converged on Joint Base AnacostiaBolling (JBAB) recently for a weeklong course in search theory and applications to land and air searches. Taught by the National Search and Rescue School in Yorktown, Pa., the course focuses on locating missing persons and aircraft in a rugged, wilderness environment.

While there’s no field training, the course features numerous tabletop exercises that emphasize the planning that goes along with effective area-type searching. The course demonstrates the necessity for clear communication with fellow SAR organizations. Another important aspect of instruction is that it teaches responders how to allocate personnel and resources to their best effect.

Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Clarke has been a SAR course instructor since 2009. In his experience, the course is a great tool in acclimating responders to scenarios they may not have thought of, or even considered before. One such example being how to react when people in an airplane crash have moved from the impact site.

“Our focus is aimed at helping SAR decision makers determine

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PAUL BELLO

(Center) Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Clarke, a search and rescue (SAR) instructor with the National Search and Rescue School in Yorktown, Pa., looks over a scenario with two emergency responders as part of a week-long course held recently on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. where to search, how to divide an area between limited resources and how to craft the overall search effort in order to achieve success,” Clarke said. “We hit all the elements in class and discuss many variables, like location and weather. The course is geared towards on-scene commanders and their planners,

operation leaders and various volunteer emergency responders.”

The Inland SAR course is presented 12 times a year throughout the country and is administered by the U.S. Air Force Element of the National SAR School, Clarke said.

The course at JBAB featured 15 participants from organizations in

nearby Maryland and Virginia, as well as the Navy and Department of Defense (DoD).

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Bailey serves as coordinator for emergency services for the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. JBAB is home to the organization’s National Capital

Wing headquarters and the Inland SAR course is a requirement for all CAP members, Bailey said.

“We asked to have this training provided to our members and other agencies because it’s so important and makes you really think when it comes to search and rescue,” Bailey continued. “Being able to think outside the box is something we’ve all gotten out of this I think. That can only help make us better emergency responders.”

One of those attending the course was Maj. Keenan Zerkel, a helicopter pilot with the Alaska Air National Guard and its Resource Coordination Center. Like Bailey and others in his class, he learned to think differently on how to manage a search.

“I would say it’s a great class in terms of procedure. I certainly have a better understanding of how to allocate resources or end of a search,” Zerkel said. “When trying to locate someone, I also learned it’s just as important to know where he didn’t go as it is to know where he did go.

You don’t want to be wasting time and resources in a search.”

As a pilot trained to examine a scene from above, Zerkel pointed out that another benefit of the course was sitting side-by-side with individuals who can offer a perspective of what a search is like from the ground. That insight can only have long-term advantages down the road, he said.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday and Drive to the Inauguration in your New Automobile from Darcars CJDR of Marlow Heights!

2013 Dodge Dart SE

2013 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

DD35062

DD37008

MSRP $18,885

MSRP $25,830

Sale Price Pr ice $ 1 5,888 $15,888

Sale Price Pr ice $ 21,3 $21,388 21,388 88

Price includes all applicable Rebates and Incentives ($500 Military) but excludes Taxes, Tags, FREIGHT and $200 Processing Fee.

Price includes all applicable Rebates and Incentives ($500 Military) but excludes Taxes, Tags, FREIGHT and $200 Processing Fee.

2013 RAM 1500 Quad Cab DD39000

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo D71506

MSRP $33,405

MSRP $30,420

Sale Price Pr ice $ 2 7,488 $27,488

Sale Price Pr ice $ 2 6,688 $26,688

Price includes all applicable Rebates and Incentives ($500 Military) but excludes Taxes, Tags, FREIGHT and $200 Processing Fee.

Price includes all applicable Rebates and Incentives ($500 Military) but excludes Taxes, Tags, FREIGHT and $200 Processing Fee.

MILITARY APPRECIATION COUPON

$500 OFF

YOUR BEST PRICE DEAL AFTER ALL APPLICABLE REBATES AND INCENTIVES Expires 1/21/13

See what it’s like to love your dealership

1036088

5060 Auth WayMarlow Heights, MD 20746

Sales: (888) 845-0392

Service: (888) 845-1528

Parts: (888) 856-5760

6

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Journal

Former AFDW Airmen shares PTSD recovery journey

BY MASTER SGT. REBECCA COREY

about my deployment and the feelings that came along with it.

Shortly before my son’s visit, I confided to my therapist that I understood the mentality of why people kill themselves over this condition. I spent the rest of the visit reassuring him that I was not suicidal.

My therapist met with me every week for four weeks until my son arrived. My son is my world, and like any non-custodial parent, I looked forward to this visit with all my heart. While I enjoyed our time together, inside there was guilt and sadness that I could not see him every day and the visit made me more regretful for not being totally engaged with him.

97TH AIR MOBILITY WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.

-- EDITORS NOTE: Master Sgt. Rebecca Corey previously served two non-consecutive assignments within the Air Force District of Washington as a public affairs photographer and superintendant.

The first with the 11th Wing at, then, Bolling AFB and the second as part of the Air Force Element at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling prior to her current duty station in Oklahoma.

Arrival to departure Between August 2009 and March 2010, I lost myself during my deployment to Afghanistan. I remember coming off the airplane and seeing my family and knowing that my world would never be the same again. It took me more than a year to put my life back together.

My family and coworkers greeted me coming out of the secure area of the airport and as I went to hug my son, I looked into his eyes and could tell he no longer had any idea who I was.

He ran from me to his father.

I knew there was no real coming home and I felt that life as I knew it was over.

A stranger at home Right then, things were different -- I had returned home to a failing marriage, a son who no longer recognized me, and orders to a new duty assignment.

Everyday activities became overwhelmingly difficult. About a week after I came home, I made my first commissary trip and about 10 minutes into my trip I had a panic attack. In Afghanistan, the day was planned out for me, meals were planned and prepared for me. Here, there were so many choices, so many decisions to make -- it was overwhelming.

I didn’t know what my son liked anymore, or even what I liked anymore.

Life at home with my husband went from bad to worse. I slept on the couch for the first several weeks of being home while struggling to fit back into my family. We constantly argued and fought over everything. One instance was over something petty and I couldn’t calm myself down. I begged him to stop. I felt out of control and filled with rage. Unable to resolve our issues, we soon divorced.

In July 2010, I took my son to visit my mother. While we were there, I was quiet and withdrawn and longed to sleep and unwind, but I couldn’t settle down long enough to have a quiet thought.

When we visited extended family, I felt socially awkward and no longer knew how to have small talk. I didn’t open up to anyone because I knew they wouldn’t understand where I was coming from. I sat there watching everyone else play catch-up and be happy while I longed to be back in Afghanistan, where I would fit in and be around

Hitting rock bottom

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SENIOR AIRMAN STEELE C. G. BRITTON

An improvised explosive device is photographed by Master Sgt. Rebecca Corey who holds her most important tool, the camera. After her 2009 deployment to the Ghazni province, Afghanistan as a combat photographer, Corey struggled with life-altering post-traumatic stress disorder.

Today, she is the NCO in charge at the 97th Air Mobility Wing and a former Air Force District of Washington Airmen who served two non-consecutive assignments in Washington, D.C. people who could understand.

Before Afghanistan, I used to pride myself on not being an angry person. It used to take a lot for me to get mad, but here I was now, fighting and getting angry all the time. I didn’t know how to handle it, how to stop the anger from consuming me.

I lost sight of who I was while deployed. The harsh environment and combat conditions of Afghanistan had become my new normal, and I failed to balance my home life with my work. While I was deployed, I didn’t feel connected to home or anything happening back in the United States.

Downrange extremes On my first mission, our convoy struck an improvised explosive device. As I dismounted to document the damage, with every step I thought, “If there is one IED, there are most certainly two.” I walked in the footstep of the security forces soldier in front of me; somehow I felt that would make me safe.

As a public affairs photographer in non-hazardous locations, it is my job to document everything from change-of-command and promotion ceremonies, to “feel-good” events happening on base like an Earth Day flowerplanting or a monthly luncheon.

In a deployed location it’s a different story. In Afghanistan, I photographed the very extremes of human endurance and suffering: abused children, death and injury, the harshness of life there and most importantly, our mission.

On Oct. 16, 2009, I lost two friends when their Humvee rolled over an IED. Two members of the team were killed in action, and two others were wounded. One of the team members killed was an Army

specialist with two young children.

He was my security detail on missions. The other was an Army sergeant, who was driving the Humvee at the time of the incident.

As soon as I heard the news, I collapsed.

I photographed the dignified transfer of their remains. I actually knew these guys; had gone on missions with them. I was supposed to have gone on that mission, and felt guilty in some measure that I wasn’t there. Some people would call that lucky, I guess -- not me. I should have been there.

I often think of the loss of my two friends and hope their families know how much they loved them, and pray they’ll find peace. Documenting their dignified transfers and capturing their memorial service are still the saddest and most tragic events of my deployment.

The daily grind When I arrived at my home station at Lajes Field, Azores, everything seemed so trivial, mundane and unimportant, compared to what I did downrange. I felt I did not belong here anymore, I belonged back in Afghanistan. I couldn’t help but feel useless and struggled to find purpose in my job.

So much had changed. Life had moved on without me. I didn’t fit in at home or work and I didn’t recognize the music on the radio, shows on TV or movies in the theater. I struggled to find my place in the world to which I had returned.

I knew I needed help and made an appointment with my primary care manager. Prescribed an antidepressant, I was told it would help with my feelings of rage, sadness, and hopelessness. But I had no idea what I was supposed to do

after that.

About a month from my permanent change of station, I felt that going to the mental health clinic at that point would be useless since I would have to leave and start over again when I got to my new duty station anyway.

I know things happen for a reason and my PCS to Washington, D.C., only reinforced this. Before being stationed at Lajes Field, I was stationed at Bolling AFB. Once I received my orders and read “Bolling,” I became very upset. Why would they send me back to where I just was, why PCS me at all then? Being stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling was the best place to be, come to find out.

I PCS’d to my new duty station and put on a happy face, looking forward to a new beginning. Pretending I was not bothered, yet inside I was overwhelmed and still filled with rage and sadness.

The facade didn’t last long. I began to have angry outbursts at work. My Airmen would see me crying in my office and when they would ask why, I would just explain how I felt so sad and angry all the time, and apologize. Recognizing that this was not normal, I sought therapy at the base mental health clinic, and shortly thereafter, I was given the preliminary diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

My therapist offered me a choice between intense counseling on base or the trauma recovery program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

With Christmas a few weeks away and my son coming to visit me, I didn’t want to chance not seeing him and opted for intense counseling. My therapy was emotionally charged, and there were uncomfortable conversations

I had overcome other obstacles in life, just like anyone else. Why was this time so different, why couldn’t I make myself right? I never wanted to go out and I found happiness in nothing. I spent most nights talking myself out of drinking the bottle of liquor in my kitchen and when that became too much, I slept.

I wanted to feel something different, anything but this. Thoughts of the deployment and the feelings of sadness, anger, depression and pain never ended. I was desperate to feel something different.

After I dropped my son off to his father, a thought entered my mind. I would drive my car into a guardrail along I-295 -- not to kill myself, but to feel something different. I cried all night once I got home and called my therapist first thing in the morning. I was no longer functioning -- I had hit rock bottom.

I made it to my therapist’s office the next morning, and right away he could see I was in trouble.

It didn’t take much coaxing to decide I needed to be admitted to the in-patient psychiatric ward.

PTSD is not this dramatic symptom-driven state of being as it is portrayed in movies and on television. In general, people with PTSD do not show symptoms all the time. We have become masters at appearing normal and, for the most part, are highly functioning members of society. It is only when we can no longer operate under “normal” that we reveal ourselves and seek help. Even at my worst I was not exhibiting symptoms all the time.

My first sergeant was called and I was escorted home to pack a bag and be taken to Walter Reed’s Ward 54. I remember feeling very tired when I arrived. Everything had hit me at once, and sapped all my energy. My first day in Ward 54, I met my treatment team and was asked a multitude of questions about my past and my deployment before being put on additional medication to go along with my anti-depressant.

Three-and-a-half days as an inpatient allowed for decompressing and opening up about what I had been feeling since coming home.

See PTSD, Page 9

Joint Base Journal

2013 10lb Challenge

Fitness Center I and II Well it’s that time of year again when everyone starts to make that infamous New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. No need to fear! We are here to help you get started on a healthy plan with a little incentive. You will have 8 weeks to lose 10 lbs and earn cash!

Stop by the Fitness Center and see how. The participation fee is $10. Please call 202-7675895 for more information.

Triple Play Athletic Challenge Games

Jan. 18 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Youth Center Gym Come and test your athletic skills as we challenge you to do push-ups, jumping jacks and squats in a timed manner. All preteens and teens are invited to come and test your athletic skills. Sign up by the front desk.

Please call 202-767-4003 for more information.

Wintergreen Resort Trip

Jan. 19 | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Wintergreen Resort, Roseland, VA Join us for the first snow trip of the year at the Wintergreen Resort for Skiing and Snowboarding. We will depart from the ODR Building 928. The price from an 8 hour lift ticket and transportation for Military with ID is $84.60, for youth and seniors it is $82, and

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

MWR calendar

all others will be $99. Equipment is available for rent at ODR and we recommend a fitting before use. Please call 202-767-9136 for more information.

Snow Tubing at Whitetail Ski Resort

Jan. 19 | Noon to 10 p.m. | Youth Center | Sign up by Jan. 16 9 to 12 years old Join the Youth Center Staff and come for an afternoon of snowtubing. Race down one of the ten snow tubing lanes at Whitetail! Cost for a two hour session is $26. Afterwards, we will stop for a fast food dinner stop before returning to the base. Come dressed for lots of cold fun. Current memberships, permission slips and release forms will be needed for this event. Please call 202767-4003 for more information.

Money Habitudes

Jan. 22 | 8 to 9 a.m. | MFSC Bldg 72 Money Habitudes help individuals, couples and groups gain insight into their financial habits and attitudes and discuss money in a fun, non-threatening way. Please call 202-433-6151/202-767-0450 for more information.

Smooth Move and Overseas Planning

Jan. 22 | 9 a.m. to Noon | MFSC Bldg 13 |

Sign up by Jan. 18 Gain information on making a successful PCS move. Family members are encouraged to attend. Please call 202-433-6151/202-7670450 for more information.

Ask and See

Jan. 23 | 8 to 9 a.m. | MFSC Bldg 72 This is an opportunity to talk and ask questions of the Personal Financial Expert.

Please call 202-433-6151/202-767-0450 for more information.

Raising Financially Fit Kids

Jan. 24 | 8 to 9 a.m. | MFSC Bldg 72 Learn how to assess their financial situation, communicate effectively with family members about finances, and implement age-appropriate financial practices for children. Please call 202-433-6151/202-7670450 for more information.

Board Game Night- Monopoly

Jan. 25 | 6:30 to 10 p.m. | Youth Center | 9 to 18 years old Join the JBAB Youth Center Staff for an evening of playing Monopoly. Can you be the one who rules the board? Come and test your skills! Sign up at the front desk. Please call 202-767-4003 for more information.

Friday, January 18, 2013

7

Liberty Ski Trip

Jan. 26 | 9 a.m. | White Tail Ski Resort Join Liberty for our ski trip of the New Year as we head to White Tail Ski Resort for a full day of hitting the slopes! Please call 202685-1802 for more information.

Teen Swimming at the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center

Jan. 26 | 2 to 7 p.m. | Washington, DC | Sign up by Jan. 23 13 to 18 years old Join the JBAB Youth Center Staff for an afternoon of swimming and then dinner. We will metro to the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center and then enjoy dinner at one of the local eateries near the Eastern Market. Members will be responsible for a metro card and the cost of dinner. There is no cost to attend the Aquatic Center. Current membership and permission slip is needed for this trip. Please call 202-767-4003 for more information.

Tournament Madness

Jan. 28 | 6 p.m. | Liberty Center Will you accept the challenge? Join Liberty for an afternoon of tournaments, games, prizes and fun. Please call 202-685-1802 for more information.

JNOTES

Miscellaneous items related to your health, your career, your life and your community Thrift Shop Reopening

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Thrift Shop has relocated to Enterprise Hall (building 72). The store hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. and the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information call 202-4333364.

JBAB Girl Scouts

Calling all Girls! Girls registered in Kindergarten - 12th grade this fall and interested in joining should contact JBABgirlscouts@yahoo.com. The troop meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the community center on Chappie James Blvd at 6 p.m. Girl Scouts; building girls with confidence, character and courage for 100 years.

Boys and Girls Club volunteer opportunity

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington needs volunteer coaches for their youth baseball league for 10-year-olds and 12-year-olds. For more information or to sign up, call 512-560-5548 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. or email Michael.martinez@afncr. af.mil.

Winter Parking Special at National Harbor

The National Harbor will be offering one hour of free parking Monday

through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until March 31st. Take a stroll along the waterfront, meet up with some friends for lunch, or pick up a gift for someone special. Not valid at parking meters or Gaylord National parking areas set aside for monthly parkers or overnight guests.

Navy Wives Clubs of America

The D.C. Metro chapter of Navy Wives Clubs of America, Eleanor Roosevelt #37, hosts meetings every second Thursday of the month to discuss and plan volunteer activities in the local military and civilian communities.

Military spouses of all branches are welcome to attend. For more information, email angeladowns@me.com or visit our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/NWCA37.

Jogging path closed

The jogging path by Giesboro Park is closed until further notice. An alternate route has been provided.

JBAB photo studio closure

The JBAB Public Affairs photo studio is closed until further notice. For official studio photography support, contact 11th Wing Public Affairs at 240-612-4430.

Toastmasters Club seeks members

The Bolling Toastmasters Club

meets every Wednesday from 12:151:15 p.m. at the JBAB Chapel Center. Participants can learn to hone their communication and leadership skills. Meetings are open to all services and anyone with base access. Call 301-452-6931 or email james.queen@ olg.com.

AFOWC Thrift Shop

The Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club Thrift Shop is located at 13 Brookley Ave and is open Tuesdays, Wed-nesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m.

- 2 p.m. Donations are accepted during business hours only. Profits from the AFOWC Thrift shop go towards college scholarships and other military charitable organizations. For more information about the AFOWC or its Thrift Shop call 202-563-6666 or email afowcthriftshop@verizon.net.

Protocol & Special Events Office has moved

The JBAB Protocol & Special Events Office has moved to Building P-12. Coordinator Karen Smith’s new phone number is 202-767-7710.

Chapel Center hosting Men’s Conference The Chapel Center is having a two-day Men’s Conference Jan. 25 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Jan. 26 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 202-767-5900.

8

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Journal

AF releases new ‘vision’ document

BY MASTER SGT. JESS HARVEY AIR FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AGENCY

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force released a new Vision document Jan. 11 outlining the force’s vision and way forward.

“Focused on ‘Airmen, Mission, and Innovation,’ I believe this short document captures what today’s Air Force is all about and where I think we ought to focus on for tomorrow,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III in an email to all Airmen.

“We are the greatest air force in the world because of our Airmen--active, Reserve, Guard, and civilian--to re-

main the greatest, we must make our team even stronger,” the Vision states.

The Vision discusses the Air Force’s enduring contributions of air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control and the need to strengthen them.

“We already combine our air, space, and cyber forces to maximize these enduring contributions, but the way we execute these five calling cards must continually evolve as we strive to increase our asymmetric advantage,” the Vision says. “Our Airmen’s ability to rethink the battle while incorporat-

ing new technologies will improve the varied ways our Air Force accomplishes its missions.”

“Every Airman should constantly look for smarter ways to do business.

The person closest to the problem is often the one with the best solution.

Leaders should empower Airmen to think creatively, find new solutions, and make decisions,” according to the Vision.

The Vision concludes with a call to action for all Airmen to tell their story, being proud of who they are, what they do, and how well they accomplish the mission.

1033246

1033250

1036084

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

CHILD CARE n

PTSD n

try to keep programs going within the center to give them incentive to continue their own professional growth. It’s just a win-win for everyone to keep everyone aware and motivated.”

Although training is a vital part of ensuring that JBAB’s CDCs have the most qualified and stable workforce, the process of choosing the right caregivers begins during the hiring process.

“When people apply and they are selected, we automatically do local agency checks, which includes security police checks,” Young said. “We also run their

names through Family Advocacy and they do a check to make sure they are not on the Navy Central Registry or the National Central Registry.” Being on either registry would make the caregiving candidate ineligible for employment.

The background check and vetting process indicates any negative record that could hinder the quality of childcare and alerts JBAB of any charges of child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, drug or other violations. Young added that once an offender is on the registry, the offender remains on the list for life and is unable to go from one

branch of service to another for employment.

These precautions adhere to the Military Child Care Act (MCCA) passed by Congress in 1989. The MCCA sets guidelines for every military installation on safety and operating procedures, unannounced inspections, a uniform training program and reporting procedures of suspected child abuse and safety violations.

“I work with two year olds. The safety guidelines are important because they are very active and very curious,” McNealey said. “That curiosity can lead to climbing on

shelves or running in unsafe environments. I think that knowing what the safety guidelines are, lets me know just how much I can let the kids be kids, but also when to step in and say ‘That’s not safe.’”

According to Young, in light of the fact that the CDCs are located on a joint installation; the program exceeds the standard requirements of the Department of Defense. The centers are inspected monthly by the Washington Navy Yard Branch Health Clinic and the Air Force’s 579th Medical Group for health and sanitary standards. Additionally, there is an unannounced yearly inspection by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and, after six months, another inspection, conducted by the installation.

“We welcome them all because we want to do the best thing we can for children. [Our overall goal] is to offer quality affordable child care,” she said.

As the CDCs and the Child and Youth Program continues to take a proactive approach and maintain standards initiated by DoD, Young encourages all parents to take advantage of the program’s open door policy to negate any doubt they may have.

“It’s our honor and it’s our obligation to just let that parent go to work and not worry, and that their [child is] just going to enjoy that time away from mom,” she said. “The best thing I can do when I leave this base at 6 o’ clock at night, I know that we sent these children home safe and sound and that child had at least one magical moment.”

For more information on JBAB’s Child and Youth Program visit the installation’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jointbase.

“she” or “her.” There were days when “she” would behave and let me be an active part of my day -those were my good days. “She” was there, but quiet and behaving ‘herself.” On bad days, “she” would run around in my head and wreak havoc on my concentration, anger control and my overall mood. “She” was like a tornado running through my mind and I was there in the middle trying to hang on to whatever I could until I could get “her” under control, which was mentally and physically exhausting.

I could no longer hide my feelings and had to confront them head-on, which was challenging for me, to say the least. I had to open up to people I didn’t know and trust that no one would gossip or judge. I was quiet in the beginning and didn’t speak much, but listened and soaked up everything.

In therapy, patients are taught coping skills to deal with whatever issues they may have. Many of us had anger issues, and struggled with ways to deal with them. Of all the coping skills I learned about, what seemed to work best for me was positive self-talk, which allows me to replace all the negative thoughts with positive ones.

This was not easy and took a lot of practice and determination. When something triggers me to feel anxious, I stop myself and take a

minute to gain perspective. I try to stay in the moment and talk myself through whatever it is I am feeling.

Toward the end of my fourweek stay at Walter Reed, I realized that I hadn’t prepared myself to go back to work. I’d been so focused on healing my past, I hadn’t thought about how to deal with the present.

I hadn’t left work on the best terms. My supervisor and I hadn’t gotten along, and I was not a good supervisor when I left. I was going to have to deal with going back to fix the mess left behind.

My leadership stood behind me through the entire process and when I returned, I was welcomed back and allowed to take my time easing back into things.

I continued my therapy with base mental health. There are various treatment options available to deal with PTSD and depression.

My therapist elected cognitive therapy for me. Cognitive therapy deals with my feelings and emotions now as I relate to events during the deployment and building coping skills to deal with them.

The focus wasn’t on the deployment itself but the effects of the deployment.

To say I was ready to jump into therapy would be false. I wanted to get better but was mentally exhausted from the time I spent at Walter Reed. Trying to change your

mind set is not an easy task and takes great patience, from everyone. There were weeks I wouldn’t do my homework and that would hinder my progress. I’m lucky that my therapist was more stubborn than me and she gently coaxed me along during the harder sessions.

Eventually I finished therapy. It took 11 months and I am a better person for it.

One year later I am happy and have reintegrated back into my life. I have found purpose and feel hopeful about my future, personally and professionally. The struggle was worth it and made me the person I am today, and for that I am thankful. I still have bad days but they are few and far between and although I will struggle with some things for the rest of my life, I am confident that I can cope and manage and not let them control me.

I have bonded with my child and realize how truly blessed I am that he is growing up on U.S. soil.

He will never know poverty, hunger, or war. I can give him a childhood that Afghan children will never know. I see him smile and play and can’t recall ever seeing an Afghan child smile or play during my time there.

For anyone struggling, I beseech you to get help. Tell your supervisor, first sergeant, chaplain or someone in the mental health

profession. Help is there and asking for it is not a sign of weakness -- it’s a sign of strength.

For family members of someone coming home from deployment or struggling now -- don’t rush them. Be an ear and a shoulder, when they’re ready to talk, listen, and when they need help, be by their side.

I feel no shame and don’t want people to feel sorry for me or treat me any differently. I am still a valuable and proud member of this Air Force and I believe in our mission.

But, I’m not the same person I was before I deployed and I miss her. It took me a long time to like the new me and be comfortable in my skin again. I’ve changed and that’s okay because I’m okay, I’m better than okay. The new me carries parts of my old self but I’ll never be that woman again.

If you need to talk to someone, there are resources that offer help. Visit your base mental health clinic; call the Defense Centers of Excellence Outreach Center at 1-866-966-1020 for psychological health and traumatic brain injury information and resources; call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273TALK (8255) and press “1” for crisis intervention; or log on to https:// realwarriors.net or www.afterdeployment.org for wellness resources for the military community.

continued from 1

do my job the correct way,” said Kimberley McNealey, JBAB’s child and youth program assistant. “I have had training for special needs children, training on how to get children active and involved in the classroom, and how to deal with problems that may come about as far as behavior in the classroom. So I think it made me more confident than when I started five years ago.”

According to Young, the training every employee receives ranges from topics on safety, health and sanitation to positive guidance and identifying challenging behaviors.

“This is like a scholarship. They start off making $11.91 an hour.

After six months and completion of their first three modules including CPR, first aid and child abuse modules they get a raise to $13 an hour,” she said. “Then after completion of the remainder of their modules and 18 months experience with children, they get another raise to $14.59 an hour. What other job gives you that?”

Young expressed the program’s initiatives to foster relationships between parents and caregivers and building morale within the organization. Employees who continue their education and obtain an Associates or Bachelors degree or complete a Child Development Associate course, receive an ingrade pay increase. The program also conducts quarterly contests to create a sense of community and encourage parent participation.

“I know here on JBAB, we know how important it is to help our staff also feel nurtured, because they are responsible for nurturing children,” stated Young. “We

continued from 6

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone, and relished being around other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines with similar experiences.

There was a certain comfort in being there. The staff treated us with respect and compassion and didn’t make us feel “crazy.” It’s in that kind of atmosphere that you feel free to open up and let go of some of the anger, rage and sadness. Along with PTSD, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Apparently, depression is common with people diagnosed with PTSD. My medication was adjusted and felt I was beginning my journey to feeling normal again.

I was soon released to the outpatient trauma recovery program, a four-week program designed to help members deal with and handle their post-deployment issues.

I was constantly asked what kind of thoughts I was having. Initially, I couldn’t put into words what my thoughts were because there were so many.

Learning to deal with “Her” Finally, I began personifying my thoughts, referring to them as

9

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS KIONA MILLER

Child and Youth Program Assistant Mary Dozier feeds an infant inside of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s (JBAB) Child Development Center (CDC) I . The installation has three CDC’s which provide child development and child care needs to service members with children between the ages of six weeks to five years old.

10

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Joint Base Journal

RECRUITING n

continued from 1

serve Force, Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun. They also toured various D.C. sites, including the White House, Pentagon, Library of Congress and Arlington National Cemetery where the two Enlisted ROY placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Other top recruiters for FY 2012 were: Lt. Lincoln Schneider, Officer Recruiter of the Year, Active; Lt. Stephen Graff, Officer Recruiter of the Year, Reserve; Electrician’s Mate 1st Class (SS) Daniel Macomber, Nuclear Field Coordinator of the Year; Navy Counselor 1st Class (AW/SW) Brian Dubose,

TRICARE n

continued from 2

times of 15 minutes or less.

Getting urgent care instead of visiting the ER can also save money. ERs are required to run expensive diagnostic tests that may not be necessary if your condition is less serious. Being judicious with your health care

Station Leading Petty Officer of the Year; Personnel Specialist 1st Class (SW) Benjamin Erdelyi, Jr., Classifier of the Year; Chief Navy Counselor (SW) Dewayne Scott, Division Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Year; Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Aurelio Herrera, Diversity Enlisted Recruiter of the Year; Lt. Carolyn Starks-Holman, Medical Officer Recruiter of the Year; Navy Counselor 1st Class (SS) Brian Fields, Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Recruiter of the Year; Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (EXW) Conner Mastry, Navy Special Warfare/Navy Special Operations Recruiter of the Year; Personnel Specialist 1st Class (AW) Kerri Scranton, Support Person of the Year.

spending can make your household budget go further, and cost-efficient urgent care will help protect your TRICARE benefit in these uncertain financial times.

It’s a good idea to be aware of nearby urgent care facilities in the TRICARE network, just as you would with the closest ER. To find an urgent care facility near you in the TRICARE network, visit www.tricare.mil/ findaprovider and select the search tool for your regional contractor.

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

Joint Base Journal

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Friday, January 18, 2013

11

12

Friday, January 18, 2013

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Joint Base Journal