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Face Coverings Required in Exchange, Commissary, Hospital, and other high traffic public areas.
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April 23, 2020
Belvoir Hospital curbside pharmacy rolls into action
Photo by Paul Lara
Mark Long, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital pharmacist, takes a prescription in the hospital’s Rivers Garage, Friday. The hospital’s latest action further protects patients and staff by minimizing traffic in the main pharmacy. By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle
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fter a month of planning, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital has opened curbside pharmacy service in the now-unused Rivers Garage, according to Lt. Cdr. Jesse Schmidt, the hospital’s pharmacy chief. Schmidt said the hospital’s design presented challenges, since its pharmacy is in the center of the building, next to the main entrance.
“We tried to do a drive-through pharmacy, but there’s no way. The uniqueness of Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s physical structure makes it really difficult for us to do curbside, because of the distance,” he said. From the pharmacy, Rivers Garage is more than 200 yards away. “It’s taken us a while to figure out how to bridge that logistics gap.” Schmidt said a key implementation was to provide
laptops connected to the pharmacy’s software. “What makes our curbside unique to a lot of the others in the National Capital Region or the DHA is that we were able to take our pharmacy windows and bring them outside,” he said. We’ve been able to extend our electronic network out here and be able to use laptops on wheels and intake them the same we would do at the pharmacy window. We can put them in the system, do the queuing correctly, and no other place does that.” After some trial runs, it was decided to have customers drop off prescriptions on the garage’s first floor, wait at the Community Center parking lot until they receive a text, then pickup filled prescriptions on the second floor. The additional distance required adding 20 government service volunteers to help deliver, as teams of runners constantly shuttle new prescriptions from the pharmacy to the garage. Navy Capt. Cynthia Judy, hospital director, said the new procedure is for patients’ and staff safety. “The entire pharmacy team has been working really hard, over the last few weeks, to make this experience as seamless as possible. It’s all about promoting social
distance and your convenience,” she said, adding that beneficiaries are asked to still wear a face covering when they drive up. Judy suggested activating the prescription before coming in, and go directly to the pick-up location. Prescriptions can be activated by calling the main hospital number, 571-231-3224; Option 2 for pharmacy; then Option 2 again to activate your prescription. The curbside pharmacy is available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. Saturday pickups are offered in the main pharmacy. Schmidt said this process will have continuing patient benefits in the future. “After this is over, we’re going to try to keep the phone activation line, if we can,” he said. “We created an internet form patients can access from home, fill out and submit. Then, all they have to do is come to the pickup line. Not the intake line. We’re trying to give them convenience, as best we can,” Schmidt said. “We are also working on long-term solutions with DHA using automated willcall systems, and automated willcall machines in the lobby. We are taking what we’ve learned from this crisis, to figure out better ways to do things.”
Thermal imaging helps in fight against COVID-19 By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle
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hermal imagers are forming the first line of defense for installations and public health organizations faced with addressing the risks associated with the global pandemic. When garrison command wanted to add enhanced body temperature scanning as an additional layer of protection for commissary shoppers and employees, the Army Rapid Equipping Force was ready to help. The REF Solution Team Lead, Lt. Col. David Wilson, was able to quickly supply a FLIR Systems T540 tripod-mounted thermal imager to meet the need. “It’s a device capable of measuring temperature at the skin surface. What’s unique about it is that the skin surface temp is no more than two degrees from the core body temp,” Wilson said. “From a A2
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Photo by Paul Lara
A thermal scanner in use at the Fort Belvoir Commissary displays a thermogram, or heat map, April 6. Hotter areas are shown in brighter orange and yellow. It only takes a second for the imager to report that the temperature of the woman is normal.
Face Covers for troops
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safe distance of six to eight feet, the camera is designed to find the hotspot on a subject’s face. A person’s natural hotspot is by the tear ducts on the inner edge of your eye. It focuses on that area and reads the temp from that area.” Wilson explained the operators create a baseline, by scanning up to 10 individuals with normal temperatures. After scanning each of them, it creates an average and is calibrated and ready to be used. It is configured so operators get an audible alert for any body temperature more than three degrees above the baseline. When that occurs, operators conduct an additional reading with a different, hand-held forehead thermometer. If the high temperature is confirmed that person will not be allowed to enter the facility. During a recent Facebook town hall, Col.
CYS celebrates 40
See COVID, page A3
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Spring Cleaning
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April 23, 2020
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BELVOIR HOUSING UPDATE Compiled by USAG Fort Belvoir Public Affairs
Call if you have unresolved health or safety concerns: 1-800-984-8523
Courtesy photo
Conquer household debt demons By DoD Financial Readiness
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lmost all of us lock up our houses when we leave. Why? To keep burglars from coming in and taking our stuff, of course! However, when we do that, we are locking in a more dangerous set of debt demons. Statistically, the ones we lock inside are much more likely to drain bank accounts and increase debt levels and interest costs than the random house thief. I am talking about your household appliances! Those sneaky refrigerators are silently lurking in your kitchens, the washers and dryers are skulking in your laundry rooms and the biggest monsters, your air conditioners and furnaces, are plotting in your basements. The reason we cannot see these debt demons for what they are is that the human brain doesn’t do well with planning for painful, long-term events. That is exactly what household appliances count on. Take an average refrigerator, which has a life span of about 17 years. You know you will probably have to replace it at some point. Everybody has to have a refrigerator! The
average replacement cost: About $1,500. Every day, we keep opening that fridge, seeing the little light come on and taking out cold food to eat. Until it stops. On that day, when the food is no longer cold, we cry and moan and go out and buy a new refrigerator pronto. Ideally, our brain has prompted us for 17 years to add $88.24 annually ($1,500 divided by 17) to a savings account for the day the food began to spoil. It had us build extra padding to bypass the repair-protection plans that retailers offer at an additional cost. If we have not planned ahead and the money is not there, we use a credit card and that $1,500 balance is probably not going to be paid off in that billing cycle. That means our debt level and interest costs go up. So how do you plan for these inevitable pitfalls? Take a survey of each of your household appliances. Write down their age, general condition and predicted kaput date. Do some research and figure out their replacement costs and start an appliance savings account. Easy. You just have to tell your brain to do it.
Commander .................................... COL Michael Greenberg Command Sergeant Major .....................CSM Jason Young Director of Public Affairs ...................................Joe Richard Deputy Director Public Affairs................... Ganesa Robinson Managing Editor ................................................G.H. Cureton Assistant Editor ........................................... Margaret Steele Digital Editor .....................................................Terry Ruggles Reporter/Photographer .......................................... Paul Lara Reporter ...........................................................Dave Fawcett Page Designer ..................................................Betty Watson The Belvoir Eagle is published in cooperation with the Public Affairs Office, 9820 Flagler Road, Fort Belvoir, VA, 22060. To contact the Belvoir Eagle, email us at usarmy.belvoir.imcomatlantic.mbx.public-affairs-office@mail.mil. Submission deadline is noon Thursday. The Belvoir Eagle is published each Thursday — by Rappahannock Media LLC, 1372 Old Bridge Road, Suite 101, Woodbridge, VA 22192, a private firm in no way connected
LEARN MORE
Visit the Housing Resident Portal on the Fort Belvoir Website USAG FORT BELVOIR Installation Management Command
How to Resolve Housing Concerns LEVEL 1 – SUBMIT YOUR WORK ORDER • Online - www.villagesatbelvoir.com • In-Person - Maintenance Facility Building 1108 • Phone - 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Request Line: 703.619.3880
LEVEL 2 – MAKE CONTACT • Assistant Community Director, The Villages Management Office: 703.619.3861 • Contact Your Chain of Command • Fort Belvoir Housing Office: 703.805.3018/3019
LEVEL 3 – CONTACT GARRISON COMMANDER • Garrison Commander’s Housing Hotline: 571-259-9867 • Submit concerns to the Fort Belvoir Interactive Customer Evaluation ICE System: https://ice.disa.mil
Residents with health concerns related to housing conditions, call Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Rapid Hotline: 571-231-2004
LEVELS OF ESCALATION
Eagle Volume 28 Issue 16
with the Department of the Army — as a civilian enterprise newspaper in the interest of Fort Belvoir, Va. Views and opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the official view of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Military District of Washington or Fort Belvoir. Advertisement in this publication, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services by Department of the Army. Everything advertised
herein must be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to the race, creed, age, color, sex, or nationality of the purchaser, user, or patron unless precluded by applicable federal, state or local laws. For Classified advertisement information, call 703-771-8831. To advertise in the Eagle contact Rick Bockes at 703-987-0854. Belvoir Eagle is a registered trademark. Circulation: 19,000.
www.belvoireagleonline.com From COVID, page A1 Michael Greenberg, Fort Belvoir Garrison commander, stressed there are no privacy issues with using these devices on the installation. “I want to dispel any rumors. Those are not cameras; those are passive thermal temperature readers. There are no SD cards (for recording) in there. Those devices are just giving a core temperature.” According to Greenberg, the scanners help support his overall mission of addressing the safety, health and welfare of Fort Belvoir employees, residents and visitors. REF, in conjunction with PEO Soldier and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, have conducted pilot tests for thermal imaging technologies (government and commercial, off-the-shelf). Wilson said he is working on requests for FORSCOM and TRADOC as well. According to a REF decision brief, the pilot programs will help determine the extent to which certain technologies may be used to support screening personnel and visitors, and their body temperatures, when entering military facilities. Industrial hygienists also use this technology in Belvoir homes to find air gaps around doors or windows, and offer real-time detection of interior moisture not visible to visual inspection. Today, thermal imaging has given teams a real-time tool to detect people with fevers and stop them from further spreading a highly-infectious virus.
April 23, 2020
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Expecting a stimulus check? Check Internal Revenue website By Devon Suits Army News Service
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oldiers anticipating a stimulus payment should immediately update their direct deposit information on the Internal Revenue Service’s website to avoid possible delays, according to Office of the Judge Advocate General sources. To quickly provide financial assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak, the IRS has begun to send out economic impact payments to Soldiers and families that filed their 2018 or 2019 returns, said Melissa Halsey, legal assistance policy division chief. However, Soldiers or families that used commercial tax-filing services to file their return -and opted to receive a Refund Anticipation Check or Refund Anticipation Loan -- are more at risk of a delay. Tax-preparation businesses often provide refund anticipation services that allow Soldiers to pay the cost of the tax preparation service out of the Soldier’s refund instead of payment up front, or provide
Soldiers with their tax refund early at a cost, officials said. Herein lies the problem, Halsey said. When the Department of Treasury tries to direct deposit a Soldier’s stimulus payment, it gets routed to the bank account on file from their return. If the account on file is a temporary account because the Soldier used one a refund anticipation products, the payment should not be made to these accounts, OTJAG officials said. “Right now, we don’t think stimulus amounts are paid to these accounts, (because) the IRS recognizes that these accounts are not associated with a taxpayer,” Halsey said. “But we are working with the IRS to verify that stimulus payments
are not placed into these temporary accounts.” But if the IRS does not have the correct account information for a Soldier, they will not receive a direct deposit. They should act now to correct the issue on the IRS site, she said. If a Soldier does not address the problem, the IRS will issue a printed check and mail it to the last known address, which could delay payment further if the Soldier is no longer associated with the on-record residence. In the future, individuals or families that choose to use refund anticipation services should be careful, officials added. Many of these services include undisclosed fees or high-interest rates -- at times exceeding 200%. If any Soldier has questions or concerns about their stimulus payment, they can seek assistance at their nearest installation legal assistance office or through the legal assistance website, Halsey said. EDITOR’S NOTE: Although the article references Soldiers, this information is applicable to all Service members.
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April 23, 2020
VA extends veterans National Army Museum benefits and claims relief delaying June opening By Department of Veterans Affairs
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he Department of Veterans Affairs announced several actions to provide Veterans with financial, benefits and claims help amid VA’s COVID-19 response. “As all Americans come together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we want veterans to be focused on their health and safety,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “That’s why we’re taking action to give those with pending debts, claims and appeals greater flexibility during these challenging times.” The financial relief actions include the following until further notice: Suspending all actions on veteran debts under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department. Suspending collection action or extending repayment terms on preexisting VA debts, as the veteran prefers. For benefit debts, veterans can contact the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648. For health care debts, veterans can contact the Health Resource Center at 1-888-827-4817. The benefits and claims relief actions include giving veterans the option to submit their paperwork late for the following actions: • perfecting claims • challenging adverse decisions • submitting Notices of Disagreement • submitting Substantive Appeals • responding to Supplemental Statements of the Case Veterans requesting claim extensions can simply submit them with any late-filed paperwork and veterans do not have to proactively request an extension in advance. For added convenience, VA will also accept typed/digital signatures instead of wet signatures on its forms. Those with questions can call 1-800-827-1000. For veterans who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and need immediate action on their appeals, as opposed to a filing extension, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals will Advance their appeal on docket. To learn more, visit www.bva.va.gov/CustomerService.asp.
By U.S. Army
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ue to the current public health emergency, some of the exhibit gallery finishing work at the National Museum of the U.S. Army has been suspended, impacting the project’s completion timeline. “Although disappointing, postponing the opening of the museum is a proactive and appropriate decision,” said Tammy Call, museum director. “And, we stand ready to resume that work as soon as possible.” The National Army Museum Photo by Duane Lempke will be the first and only The Army Museum’s 7,500-squaremuseum to tell the Army’s foot lobby will welcome visitors, with entire 244-year history. Under overhead glass panels representing construction on a publicly each of the Army’s 190 campaigns and accessible part of Belvoir, the corresponding streamers. The Army museum will be open to the has delayed the museum’s opening, public for free. because of the pandemic. “The U.S. Army was here at the birth of our nation over 240 years ago and continues to influence our everyday lives,” Call said. “We look forward to welcoming visitors when we can again gather together and celebrate our shared history.” The museum is a joint effort between the Army and the nonprofit organization, Army Historical Foundation. The foundation is constructing the building with private funds, while the Army provides the infrastructure, roads, utilities and exhibit work that make the building into a museum. The Army owns and manages the museum. To view a video of the National Museum of the U.S. Army, go to dvidshub.net/unit/NMUSA.
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April 23, 2020
Mobile app may offer hope during distressful times By Defense Health Agency
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n the face of a global pandemic, individuals are connecting even more so through Courtesy of DHA their smartphones. A user navigates to Virtual Hope A mobile app on Box, a Defense Health Agency their device may mobile app. offer a way for the military community to cope with the changes to their daily lives brought on by COVID-19 – and in the future the challenges of military life. “Right now we’re all experiencing the uncertainty of COVID-19; we’re stuck in the house; we’re facing so many constraints that we’re not used to. So, we may be feeling a lot of distress,” said Kelly Blasko, counseling psychologist and mHealth clinical integration lead at DHA’s Connected Health branch. “Some of the distress you might feel may cause an increase in anxiety, changes in mood, and negative thinking.” Virtual Hope Box is one mobile app solution that may help individuals cope. The award-winning app provides users with an opportunity to manage distress in a personalized and immediately accessible way. The app, in conjunction with mental health professional guidance, can help maintain one’s health and wellbeing. “Virtual Hope Box is a mobile tool that may help you develop positive coping skills,” Blasko explained. The app is modeled after the concept of a
traditional hope box, where one might collect physical items that are meaningful and would bring up positive thoughts. “You can’t carry a box everywhere; with Virtual Hope Box, the same resources are at your fingertips, virtually on your phone,” Blasko said. Patients can use the VHB to store a variety of rich multimedia content that they find personally supportive in times of need. “And in times of social distancing, Virtual Hope Box offers a way to maintain connection to the important things in one’s life, without interacting physically with others,” she added. Virtual Hope Box was designed to decrease the experience of distress by facilitating healthy coping and emotion regulation skills. The app is divided into sections – Remind Me, Distract Me, Inspire Me, Relax Me, Coping Tools and Support Contacts. Through these sections, it provides: • Positive reminders • Distractions • Inspirational messages • Relaxation through controlled breathing • Guided meditation • Positive activity planner One distinguishing difference between a traditional hope box and the virtual version, is Virtual Hope Box includes a function that allows direct dialing to 911, the Military Crisis Line, or user pre-programmed contacts. Blasko emphasized this feature underscores the importance of reaching out for help when you need it from your support network or professionals.
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Family sews face coverings for Soldiers By David Fawcett Belvoir Eagle
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hen Fort Belvoir Soldiers were ordered to wear face coverings on base as a safety measure in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Jennifer Wilbraham jumped into action. “I saw a need for the Soldiers, and I knew I could help them,” Wilbraham said. With the assistance of her 13-year-old daughter Catherine, Wilbraham, the wife of Lt. Col. Andrew Wilbraham, Headquarters Battalion commander, began producing face coverings April 7. She and Catherine combined to make 45 to 50 face coverings over four to five days.
“. . . even if it’s a little thing, you are helping.” Jennifer Wilbraham
as a young girl. But Wilbraham said it had been awhile since she had used her sewing machine. Once she got going, though, it became easier to crank out the face coverings. Catherine, who loves to sew, helped cut fabric for the face coverings. Wilbraham said making the face coverings was a good diversion as she and her family remain at home during this time. “You get bored,” Wilbraham said. “To take this up, even if it’s a little thing, you are helping.” Wilbraham said her life as an Army wife has aided her ability to adapt during this time. She and her husband have moved eight times in Lt. Col. Wilbraham’s 24 years in the Army. Lt. Col. Wilbraham starts terminal leave in June and retires at the
Once she and her daughter Courtesy photo completed the face coverings, Jennifer Wilbraham and her daughter, Catherine, show face coverings they’ve made for Wilbraham gave them to her Soldiers at Fort Belvoir. husband, who along with others, model, Wilbraham found a template to make distributed them to the Soldiers. Those left end of September. “nice and tight” face coverings that she felt over are stored at headquarters battalion for “It helps you prepare,” Wilbraham said of future use. worked best for the soldiers. the constant moving. “It makes it easier. But Using the Million Mask Challenge as a Wilbraham’s mother taught her to sew this is an unprecedented time.”
Korean War Vet recalls the Belvoir gridiron By David Fawcett Belvoir Eagle
from other military bases. The Engineers featured two of Haslam’s college all-American teammates, halfback im Haslam laughs when asked about Hank Lauricella and lineman Bill Pearman, playing for the legendary Al Davis on Georgia Tech linebacker George Morris and the Fort Belvoir football team in 1953. Wake Forest quarterback Ed Kissell, who went At the time, Haslam was a second lieutenant on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. in the Army assigned to Belvoir and the Haslam said his most memorable Army Corps of Engineers. Davis, moment from his Belvoir playing meanwhile, was a first-time, head career came against Kent State. football coach. “I got my teeth knocked out,” As an All-American Haslam said. offensive lineman at the Haslam left Belvoir for University of Tennessee, Korea, where he served selected by the Green for 13 months. After Bay Packers in the NFL leaving the military, the Draft’s 24th round, in Packers asked if he was January 1953, Haslam interested in joining them. had more playing He was not. experience than Davis. “By the time I got back But, the future Raiders’ from the service, it was owner and Pro Football Hall February,” Haslam said. “I of Famer displayed a penchant immediately got a job in the oil for innovation, with business. When the Packers called his zone-blocking schemes and wanted me to come, I had Courtesy photo already made up my mind and throwing. Even now, Jim Haslam was stationed at Fort Haslam marvels at Davis’ that I didn’t want to pursue a Belvoir in 1953, where he was in football acumen. professional football career.” the Corps of Engineers and played Haslam, who went on “I was 23, he was 24. But, football. He then served in Korea to become a prominent he knew so much about for 13 months. businessman, stayed in football for somebody that Courtesy photo touch with Davis over the years. The two got Jim Haslam became a businessman. young who had never played,” Haslam recalled. With a talented team dubbed the Engineers, together for dinner one time when Davis came “Al Davis was a real character, but he was to the University of Tennessee to watch a Davis led Belvoir to an 8-2-1 record, at a so very smart and so much ahead of his time,” practice. They also connected over the phone time when Belvoir’s schedule included games Haslam said. and saw each other at NFL games. against colleges like Kent State and programs
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Army CYS celebrates 40 years of support, service CYS Archive
Safety standards for children in day care have evolved through the years, and child development curricula have replaced earlier notions of custodial care, as shown in this undated Army archive photo.
Photo by Paul Lara
Amanda Muhammad, JoAnn Blanks Child Development Center director, in protective gear, Friday. By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle
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he entrance at JoAnn Blanks Child Development Center more resembles a hospital setting than a day care center, with staffers in full protective gear of surgical masks, goggles and medical gowns. It’s the new normal for Child and Youth Services workers, who ensure essential employees on Belvoir can continue to focus on their mission while their children are cared for, according to Janet Evans, CYS chief. “It took so much coordination in a short amount of time. We were operating with such a small staff. We were operating without all the answers,” she said. “We’ve never experienced something like this before.” Evans decided to get ahead of it by thinking outside the box, and in early March, adopted guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on child care protective measures. “(Belvoir Garrison commander) Col. Greenberg was adamant about keeping us open, so we consulted with Capt. Judy and Col. Stubbs at the hospital, who helped us get gowns and masks, and even gave us one of their cooks – Navy culinary specialist second class Robinson.”
CYS still has plenty of activities, while enforcing social distancing. Through the web and social media, facilities can have virtual story time, family adventures and Lego leagues; DIY home workouts; and drawing, painting and poster contests. Artwork created during the pandemic will then be used around post, once facilities reopen. For those looking for family activities from home, Army MWR’s annual Young Lives, Big Stories art and writing contest offers military children a chance to share their views on what it means to be part of a military family. This year’s contest is set to start later, with details available from armymwr.com/momc. The pandemic spread during a time that should be filled with
celebration: This is the 40th anniversary of Army Child and Youth Services, which created the first day care programs for military children. A year ago, a prophetic theme was chosen to mark the 2020 milestone: “Overcoming Challenges: Adapting Today for a Stronger Tomorrow.” “This couldn’t be more appropriate – caring for our mission-critical families and keeping the post running,” Courtesy photo Evans said. “The uniqueness of Fort Belvoir is that we have a big footprint with Air Force and Marine families. When we talk about Month of the Military Child, Fort Belvoir is a great representation of that.” To keep everyone safe and minimize spread of COVID-19, the numerous Child Care Centers across Fort Belvoir had to consolidate, reducing care from 1,300 children to just 75 children of the most essential workers, something JoAnne Blanks’ Director, Amanda Muhammad, said has been challenging and rewarding. “We’re changing what we typically do, to increase safety and protection procedures for our staff and children. The children are kind of shocked to see us in gear that they don’t typically see us in
- masks and goggles. Picking them up from the curb is something new, and the children are seeing us in a different light.” Muhammad said the hardest part of this has been displacing families that need child care. “We’re not able to provide child care for families that probably need it. Because of all these safety precautions we have to have in place.” Evans wanted families to know that the the 40th anniversary celebrations have been postponed, but not cancelled. “We were going to be doing a birthday party, and tying the whole theme of the 40th anniversary into Month of the Military Child. We have moved it to September, to our fall festivals. We’re doing virtual celebrations, and if you go to our web page, you can see a lot of that,” Evans said. Perhaps the most memorable part of all this for Evans was the CYS staff response. “We have some amazing staff. They answered the call. They said ‘let us work’. Joanne Blanks is filled with staff and children, because those staff couldn’t be more proud to do what they’re doing. That resonates on our commitment to military children – whatever that looks like today or into the future.” Susan Merkner contributed to this article. For more:
armymwr.com/momc
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April 23, 2020
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By Gary Sheftick Army News Service
C
hief Warrant Officer Yolondria Dixon-Carter was named the new senior warrant officer adviser to the chief of staff of the Army by Gen. James C. McConville. As the senior warrant officer adviser, she will be the voice of more than 13,000 warrants in the active component, about 8,700 in the National Guard, and about 3,500 in the Army Reserve. A panel of senior warrant officers from around the Army recommended her for the job. She’s only the third warrant officer to hold the position since it was created in 2014 and she’s the first woman. There’s no one better suited for the position, said Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, commanding general, U.S. Army Africa, who served with DixonCarter in 2009 in Iraq. He said even in Baghdad, she was an advocate for warrant officers. She organized the brigade’s warrants into a group that met weekly, discussed situations, and provided advice to the commander.
Serving the technical leaders “I may have the title, but we, the cohort, hold the position,” she said. “Every warrant officer’s input matters; their voice matters.” Dixon-Carter has set up a Facebook page (facebook.com @ SWOA2CSA) and Twitter (twitter.com @ @SWOA2CSA) account to facilitate her communication with fellow warrant officers across the force. As part of her job, she will also head up the Army Senior Warrant Officer Council, which last met about a year ago. It is now being reconstituted, she said, pending a final decision by senior Army leaders. “We’re shaping it,” she said of the council which previously had 30 members. The new council will be smaller, but have better representation, she said. Council members will be senior warrant officers representing staff principle offices across the Department of the Army headquarters as well as the major commands and Army component commands.
People first One of her most important jobs will be to provide advice on training, development, and education to the Army chief of staff, she said, adding that she’s already been doing that “sometimes unsolicited.” “A warrant officer will tell you -- not that others wouldn’t -- but our filters are a little different,” she said. Many of the Army’s senior warrant officers got together to provide their input to the Army Talent Management Conference in midFebruary, she said. “It was a beautiful mix” of warrant officers from across the Army and different career fields, she said, providing “winning initiatives” for both warrants and the rest of the force. Today’s warrant officer cohort is growing, she said, especially in the cyber field. “We’re not just your technical experts,” she said of warrant officers. “We’re combat leaders, trainers and advisers.”
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April 23, 2020
Belvoir Eagle
A9
Be safe during spring cleaning season By Garrison Safety Office
S
pring is here. The days are getting longer and warmer. Spring’s arrival means it is that time of year again when we seriously clean our homes. While this is a rewarding activity, it can also be a risky one. Falls, cuts, chemical burns, and electrical shock are just some of the injuries which can occur.
You can survive spring cleaning by following these safety tips: Carefully inspect & repair lawn equipment and tools before using. Never lay hand tools such as rakes, hoes, shovels on the ground where they can be stepped on or tripped over. Wear protective clothing. Wear sturdy leather shoes, not tennis shoes, and safety glasses when operating mowers, trimmers, or other power tools. Wear vinyl or rubber gloves when you use liquid cleaning products. Cloth or leather gloves will protect your hands from minor injuries which can occur while you are dusting, moving furnishings, and handling debris. Beware of electrical hazards. Keep moisture away from electrical appliances and outlets. Don’t spray cleaning products directly onto light switches or the fuse panel area of an electrical stove. Ordinary household vacuums must not be used on damp surfaces. Watch for overhead electrical hazards. Never touch a light fixture while you are on an aluminum ladder. When using an extension pole to clean ceilings or wash windows, stay away from lights and power lines.
Slips, trips, and falls are common household accidents, and they can occur easily when the house is in disarray during spring cleaning. Keep traffic areas clear of buckets, cords, boxes, and other obstacles. Clean up spills promptly and move carefully on damp surfaces. Look over your shoulder before you back up. Many housekeeping accidents happen as a result of tripping over objects or bumping into obstacles when backing up. Read the directions before using any cleaning product. When using the product, keep the work area wellventilated. Many chemicals used for house cleaning can cause irritation to the respiratory system as well as burns to the eyes and skin. Never mix bleach and ammonia because this creates a deadly gas. Avoid using ammonia cleaning products in the bathroom at the same time as cleaning products containing bleach. Another way which this deadly mixture accidentally occurs is by pouring a bucket of ammonia cleaning product, which has been used for cleaning floors or windows, into a toilet bowl already containing a bleach product. Ladders are involved in many serious injuries at home. Inspect your ladders for wear and damage and secure them when in use. Place the base of the ladder on a solid, even surface. Do not stand on the top few rungs of a ladder. Do not lean away from the ladder because this can cause it to tip over.
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