Belvoir Eagle, November 26, 2020 by InsideNoVa

BELVOIR GATE UPDATE

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November 26, 2020

J.J. Kingman Gate will close for repairs Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. During that time, Lieber Gate will reopen for installation access. See the briefs on page 10 for more information.

CDC: A safe Thanksgiving is only with people you live with By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle s we approach one of the most social, familial holidays of the year, the Centers for Disease Control is urging everyone to limit in-person contact for Thanksgiving, posting a stark warning of uncontrolled infectious spread on its website. “More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days,” the warning began. “As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.” That echoes the sentiment of

Dr. Anthony Fauci, in an interview with USA TODAY’s Editorial Board last week, who cautioned that the seemingly “innocent” family and friend dinner gatherings at home have become the source of many outbreaks. “Because of the almost intuitive instinct that when you’re with people you know ... and no one appears to be physically ill, that it’s OK to congregate 10, 12 people for drinks or a meal or what have you, but it’s indoors because the weather is cold, that’s where we’re seeing these types of outbreaks,” Fauci explained. After the National Capital Region - like much of the Northeast - withdrew in midMarch for shelter-in-place orders, everyone was on high alert. Weeks turned to months, and maintaining safety protocols

became more of a challenge. Even for professional firefighters. “The team had done a good

job of keeping things clean and washing hands,” said Fort Belvoir Fire Chief Shane Crutcher, who See CDC, page 4

Operation Warp Speed refines vaccine delivery plan By Lisa Simunaci Office of Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs

hile the reality of a COVID-19 vaccine inches closer, the team at Operation Warp Speed is refining its plan to deliver doses across the country. Charged with developing and delivering a vaccine to 300 million Americans, Operation Warp Speed paired military planners with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work the details of a monumental plan. “The CDC brings a lot to the table. They get vaccines out every year, from children’s immunizations to the flu vaccine,” Operation Warp Speed Director for Supply, Production and Distribution Paul Ostrowski said. “So the CDC, Health and Human Services and our Department of Defense Planners, who got after the manufacturing piece and are working with the states to plan for every distribution contingency — create a powerful force.” At the core of the distribution plan are the basic tenets of visibility, coverage, uptake and traceability, Ostrowski explained. Visibility of the vaccine is essential, particularly since the number of doses up front will be limited. “We need visibility — not only of vaccines, but of the ancillary items we’re distributing, like syringes and needles, because the scrutiny will be unprecedented and we want to know what we have and where it is,” Ostrowski said. Coverage is the broad dissemination, as

Photo by EJ Hersom

Chief of Supply, Production and Distribution Paul Ostrowski and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nest Cage review plans at Operation Warp Speed headquarters in Washington, D.C. Nov. 13, 2020. Operation Warp Speed is an effort by several U.S. government components and public partnerships to facilitate the development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. this vaccine will be pushed beyond traditional administration channels to ensure everyone who needs it gets it. “We have to go beyond brick and mortar,” Ostrowski said. “We have to get this to the longterm care facilities, to meat packing plants. We have to go mobile to be able to cover the entire country and not depend on people to come to us.”

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Uptake is managing the supply and demand. “We want to make sure we don’t have imbalances with overages in one place and shortages in another,” he said. Traceability is also a top concern, Ostrowski said, noting five of the six vaccines require two doses. “The vaccines are not interchangeable,” he said. “We need the ability to verify the manufacturer and to notify the recipient when it is time for their second dose.” While Operation Warp Speed will deliver vaccine shipments as directed by the jurisdictions, it will be up to the states, territories and major metropolitan areas to further define where the doses ultimately go. Operation Warp Speed is using a software platform called Tiberius, which incorporates state and local data and provides decision-support tools to help jurisdictions finalize their micro plans. Information technology specialists have also been provided to assist jurisdictions understand and maximize the Tiberius platform. The states collectively received $200 million toward the effort, and $140 million more is destined to arrive before the end of the year. As local plans become more refined, Ostrowski said he is confident the jurisdictions will get it right. “They’re doing this now,” he said. “The normal places where people get shots — from chain pharmacies to doctors’ offices — are doing this today. We can certainly do it for a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

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Wellness Center hires second educator, brings Wellness classes to your unit By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle

he Fort Belvoir Armed Forces Wellness Center continues to stand up, with the hiring of a second educator, according to AFWC lead educator Nicole Leth. Nicole Scharbo comes to the Belvoir AFWC after working as an Athletic Trainer in college, high school and clinical settings. Amber was the first Health Educator at the Vicenza Army Wellness Center in Italy, and then worked at AFWC in Fort Riley, Kansas. “I am so excited that Fort Belvoir is getting a Wellness Center,” Scharbo said. “I have seen a need for it in this community for quite some time, and I’m excited we can serve Soldiers, civilians, and their family members and help with their wellness goals.”

Fort Myer satellite clinic Leth said they have started a satellite clinic on Fort Myer, and Fort Belvoir services are coming online soon at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. She said building renovations for the Wellness Center are underway in Building 1155, behind PenFed

2020

DECEMBER WELLNESS DAYS

SUNDAY

Nicole Leth, Lead Health Educator, Armed Forces Wellness Center

Amber Scharbo joins Fort Belvoir’s Armed Forces Wellness Center as its second Health Educator, in October.

Bank and Dunkin’ Donuts, and a grand opening is anticipated in early 2021. “In the interim, the Fort Belvoir Armed Forces Wellness Center team is able to come out to your organization or group (with proper social distancing and hygiene measures in place) to teach their standardized Wellness Center classes, such as Stress Management, Upping Your Metabolism, Healthy Sleep Habits

and Performance Optimization in preparation for the ACFT. The satellite Wellness Center at Rader Clinic on Fort Myer is open on Thursdays. They are able to offer metabolic testing, body composition testing via ultrasound and health coaching,” Leth said. These appointments are scheduled through the Fort Meade Army Wellness Center. Call 301-6772006 to schedule your appointment. Leth said she has a passion for

Photos by Paul Lara

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Take 2 minutes to Breathe Deeply today

Get up and move every hour for at least 5 minutes

Add a vegetable to your lunch today

Prioritize your bedtime Get 8 hours of sleep tonight

Add a piece of fruit to your breakfast today

Do 10 air squats at lunch today

Drink 4 glasses of water today

Stretch for 5 minutes today

Eat 2 vegetables at dinner tonight

Try this relaxation technique before bed tonight

Add this 10-minute core workout to your routine today

Try this healthy recipe for dinner tonight

Make 1 healthy swap today! Drink water instead of soda/juice

Make this fun snowman treat for lunch or snack

Meditation Monday 21 Challenge yourself with this Core Stability Do this 15-minute patience guided meditation workout (with or

without Equipment)

Choose 5 of the at home exercises to do today

Commander .............................................COL Joshua SeGraves Command Sergeant Major .................... CSM Gregory Kleinholz Director of Public Affairs ..........................................Joe Richard Deputy Director Public Affairs.......................... Ganesa Robinson Content Coordinator ...............................................Eliza Cantrell 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

inspiring others to be their very best - emotionally and physically. She firmly believes the base for this is feeding our bodies well and moving them in ways that motivate and challenge us. “I feel my best when I eat well, exercise and get enough rest. I am a better mom, wife, friend, employee and military spouse when I do this. These habits help keep me grounded and resilient,” Leth said. Leth holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health with an emphasis on Nutrition, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist, and a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Most recently, Leth worked as a Health Educator and Acting Director for the Army Wellness Center at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. The Fort Belvoir Armed Forces Wellness Center opening will be announced in the Belvoir Eagle as soon as the date is available. You can learn more and download a copy of the “December Wellness Days” calendar, which shares links to daily health tips and activities, at the Wellness Center web page at https://go.usa.gov/x7yZc.

SATURDAY

Imagine your favorite 4 place to relax and think about it and how you feel there for 2 minutes Think of 5 things that 11 you are thankful for Move more! Do these stretches today at work or home

Take a 20 min walk with the family

Do 10 jumping jacks with the family

Try this fun indoor workout with a friend or family member

Make a healthy breakfast casserole for brunch today

Eagle Volume 28 Issue 46

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.

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November 26, 2020

Belvoir Eagle

What are you thankful for? USO wants to know By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle

here is so much concern in our lives, with the pandemic infection rates rising across the country, but there is also much to be thankful for, on this week the United States pauses to give thanks, according to Ellie Batista, a program specialist with USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, which is why the USO is soliciting expressions of thanks with its Virtual Thankful Project. “I feel November is a season of gratitude, and I wanted to share that with the community in a virtual way, so it keeps us safe,” Batista said. “We have service members and families print out a leaf and print out their thanks on the leaf and send it to us. It gives us all a chance to share some positive thanks with everyone else.” Batista added that thankfulness is not ignoring concerns, but merely reflecting on the positives. “I think it’s important because we’re all going through a pandemic together, and it can be overwhelming. There’s so many things we can’t do right now, and sharing thankful thoughts ca help. It can show there are silver linings even in light of the pandemic, and help each other to show there things to remain positive about,” she said. Their cardboard tree has been filling up with expressions of thankfulness from many families. Batista said the leaves show that people are thankful for many things: healthy pregnancies; healthy babies; adoptions that have been successful; wonderful grandchildren; getting to enjoy extra time with their service members; thoughtful co-workers; husbands;

and extended family members. “We have a drill sergeant who said that she is thankful for the opportunity to shape and mold the future of the U.S. Army,” Batista said. Lt. Col. Thomas Faichney, Garrison chaplain, sees thankfulness in a spiritual context. “For me thankfulness is a powerful reminder that all of life flows from God’s grace,” Faichney said. “Every breath is a testimony of his faithfulness and lovingkindness. Thankfulness is a paradigm shift moving my perspective from my own fallen self to the wonder of God’s eternal love present in the here and now. God’s care for our soul is directly reflected in our ability to not just politely say “thank you”, but to praise the one who is Holy, Holy, Holy with our entire being; not based on what I have done, but on what God has done for me. “When free people lay down their lives so their family, neighbors, or complete strangers might know freedom, this is an act of grace; for no one is worthy of such an Courtesy photo act. Although entirely insufficient, a polite Families share with USO what they are thankful for. “thank you” may just be a small step of a soul being awakened to a life of eternal “If you wait for the mood to hit you, you will praise; regardless of temporal circumstances. never write. People who schedule, write. Knowing God’s love is like winning the eternal “When we are in the fight and we have all lottery filling my heart with praise and this stuff going on it’s very hard to see the compelling me to serve,” Faichney said. forest from the trees, but when you pull back, Col. Jay Johns, Joint Forces Headquartersthere is clarity,” said Johns. National Capital Region/Military District of Washington command chaplain, urges You can find the leaf images and submission everyone to not only think about thankfulness, link on the Fort Belvoir USO Facebook page at but to write it down. https://www.facebook.com/BelvoirUSO/.

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Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

www.belvoireagleonline.com From CDC, page 1

has to manage a workforce that not only works around the clock, but also lives with each other for days. “Access control had been thorough and keeping track of who comes in the building, but on Labor Day, we had a close call, which put nine of us under quarantine. “Luckily, after three days, we were released from isolation,” Crutcher said. “What we didn’t do well, is wearing masks in the firehouse.” Crutcher admitted that was an eye opener. He said that event had him invite a garrison public health evaluation, which highlighted further discrepancies, such as not covering water fountains and leaving extra chairs in meeting rooms. Not hosting – or declining – a Thanksgiving gathering is very hard to do, as it goes against the human instinct to be social, according to Lt. Col. Peter Armanas, Chief, Department of Behavioral Health Consultation Liaison, and Fort Belvoir Installation Director of Psychological Health. “The normal behavior we go through day to day involve social interactions, and we’re drawn incredibly strongly into a lot of social interactions with other people. So with social distancing,

Photo by Graham Snodgrass

There are things everyone can do to help lower stress and reduce “shelter fatigue” in the ongoing battle against COVID-19. we’re trying to interrupt or change what is a deeply ingrained impulse for humans to interact closely with other people. Even a mask is something you’re drawn to remove,” Armanas said. Crucial times like this require leadership at all levels, he stressed. “Even as a parent, you’re the leader; as a teacher. There’s a leader in most of our interactions, and you need people to take leadership and demonstrate appropriate behaviors,” said Armanas. To maintain resilience in the

months to come, he suggested a disciplined rhythm in all things: work, social activities, exercise and healthy eating. “You need to continue, as much as you can, a good rhythm,” said Armanas. “It’s not healthy to relax on, sleep on, and WORK on your couch. As much as possible it’s important for happiness to have productive work cycles. Set aside your work time and treat it like the office; dress up like you do at the office. Set a work environment with minimum distractions. Set hours and stick to it.”

As social animals, the best antidote to anxiety and isolation is, unsurprisingly, someone else. “Regardless of the source of that anxiety, the best way to cope is to talk to someone else,” Armanas advised. “Talk to people about your anxieties – that may be a close friend, a counselor, coach, or religious leader. People need to have people they can trust to speak with,” acknowledging that it may be more difficult with limited face-to-face contact with peers. Fortunately, Fort Belvoir provides one of the largest arrays of behavioral health in the military healthcare system, and Armanas said they are still providing all those services inperson and online. “We’re trying to reset a little, and put ourselves in a better posture,” said Crutcher, noting that they’ve been lucky, so far. None of the firefighters have fallen victim to COVID fatigue. See the Fort Belvoir Community resource guide for assistance for counseling and mental health services at https://crg.amedd.army. mil/guides/mdw/belvoir/Pages/ default.aspx. To learn more about the updated Virginia COVID-19 measures, visit https:// www.governor.virginia.gov/ executive-actions.

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November 26, 2020

Belvoir Eagle

AFMS virtual set-up generates steady interest By David Fawcett Belvoir Eagle

hen the pandemic shut down in-person activities in mid-March, the Fort Belvoir-based Army Force Management School quickly adjusted to meet their students’ needs. This was no small order since leaders, Soldiers and civilians Army-wide come from all over the world to attend AFMS to learn in-depth force management processes and procedures. In fact, two classes were halfway through their curriculum when everything came to a halt. In response, AFMS went virtual, relying first on Zoom and then WebEx and finally a government program called the Commercial Virtual Remote (CVR) across the Department of Defense that proved to be extremely effective in connecting students with the instructors. As of November 12, 33 classes have been conducted virtually (ranging three days to nine weeks in duration.) “The COVID crisis has forced us (AFMS) to review and reconstruct our teaching methods so that we can effectively educate these complex processes through the virtual media,” said Col. George Lewis, AFMS Commandant. Even though the environment changed, the mission remained the same for AFMS. “The need to have a trained and educated corps of individuals who truly understand how the Army runs did not go away when COVID hit,” Lewis said. “In fact, it became more important as changes to the Army’s force structure continued to evolve and the staffs

that are responsible for instituting these changes were not always able to effectively collaborate due to social distancing requirements. “ AFMS was established in June 1994 as a way to “provide the Army with the means of providing a professional, educated and trained workforce in order to execute force management activities,” according to its brochure. AFMS is located at Fort Belvoir because of its proximity to the Pentagon. The switch in presentation had an upside in terms of finances. With AFMS unable to host in-person instruction, Lewis said the Army has saved over $2 million in travel funds. Typically each class is taught by one instructor. But for virtual purposes, classes have one primary instructor and one secondary one who moderates the chat room. To meet the needs, AFMS reallocates its instructor pool. In one way, the virtual set-up benefits those leaders who can remain at home and help with family responsibilities instead of being away for a length of time. In some cases, that requires students to attend classes at odd hours of the day depending on where they live. All courses are taught on Eastern Standard Time. But the tradeoff is worth it. Students receive a wealth of educational training materials and can continue to access resources long after they leave the course. They also have the ability to reach back to the faculty with any questions they may have once they get in the field. Lewis was concerned at first whether the lack of in-person connection would impact interest in the courses offered. But signups

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This is how classrooms inside the Army Force Management School will look once students return for in-person instruction. Instructors also have the option of coming in right now and teaching from the school in case they need better internet connection. have remained steady. Each class allows for a maximum of 48 students. Some classes are as small as 15 students. “Student interaction is a critical multiplier when it comes to learning. Students often learn much from their peer-to-peer engagements,” Lewis said. “We are able to accomplish this through open chat on our online platform. This allows students to ask questions (without interrupting the instructor) and allows students to engage in chat pertaining to that question.”

Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

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Photo by DoD

Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera, a lab manager with The Emerging Infectious Disease Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, outside of Washington, D.C., studies coronavirus protein samples, June 1. The EIDB is part of WRAIR’s effort to produce a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Officials optimistic about COVID-19 vaccines in near future By Terri Moon Cronk Defense.gov

ptimism exists for two safe and highly effective vaccines that could soon be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Maderna, Operation Warp Speed officials said in a press conference Nov. 19. In an announcement Nov. 16 from the independent data and safety monitoring board for Moderna’s candidate vaccine, it showed about 95% efficacy, they said. A panel of Operation Warp Speed officials met in Washington, D.C. to give reporters an update on the vaccine. They are Gen. Gustave F. Perna, chief operations officer for Operation Warp Speed; Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II; and Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief advisor for OWS. “We’ve worked closely with these manufacturers to ensure that they have what they need in the way of raw materials with Operation Warp Speed, applying the same skills and that keep the U.S. military supply to ensure that there are no delays in vaccine production,” Azar said. Because of this work, Azar said by the end of December, about 40-million doses of these two vaccines are expected to be available for distribution, pending FDA authorization, he said. And that’s enough to vaccinate about 20 million of the most vulnerable Americans, he added. “Production, of course, would continue to ramp up after that,” Azar said, adding, “We’ve been laying the groundwork for distribution

and administration for months.” The HHS secretary said there are four major tasks necessary to get the manufactured product to Americans safely to save lives: allocation, distribution, administration and ongoing monitoring and data work. “We’ve learned much of the groundwork for these efforts and covered the major costs,” he said. “We’ve paid for the vaccines. We’ve worked to ensure that [administrative] costs will be covered by private insurers and the federal government through Medicare, Medicaid and our program to cover COVID-19 costs for the uninsured.” Azar emphasized no American will face an out-of-pocket cost for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. “We’ve procured ancillary supplies like needles and personal protective equipment and assembled them into kits that we will pair up with vaccine supplies as they’re distributed. This overall task is a partnership between the federal government [agencies] including Operation Warp Speed and the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the 64 state, local and territorial public health jurisdictions that the CDC works with on public immunization programs,” he said. Last week, OWS reached nationwide agreements to allow administration of the vaccine by pharmacy chains and networks of independent pharmacies to cover more than 60% of the pharmacies across the country, Azar said, adding that people are still encouraged to wash their hands and keep a safe social distance from others. Slaoui said OWS officials are very pleased

with the progress made in less than 10 months after the pandemic began. In addition to the development of the two vaccines that are showing efficacy of about 95%, two more vaccines are also showing promise, he said. “We are working with the FDA and the CDC to set up together a very, very high performance, active pharmacovigilance system that resembles almost to the day the assessment that we do in clinical trials to look at the safety of the vaccines in the population, as the vaccine immunization is rolled out later in December -- if the vaccines are approved -- and these data will be analyzed on a [day-byday] basis,” Slaoui said. “We’re going to take a whole-of-America approach, Perna said, adding that it’s the collective group that will make this successful. Distribution of the vaccine will be based on fair and equitable availability of the vaccine pro rata to the population, he noted. Collaboration and planning with national chain pharmacies CVS and Walgreens has been done, Perna said. “We’re bringing this whole-of-America approach from government to industry, and we’re bringing it all together to ensure that safe and effective vaccines are delivered to the American people in a timely manner,” Perna said. “[As for] the time associated with delivery, we will begin distribution of the vaccine within 24 hours after an emergencyuse authorization is approved, and only after the science has determined and approved it accordingly. Then we are poised and ready to begin distribution.”

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November 26, 2020

Belvoir Eagle

Belvoir mothers’ support group expands the next level. This takes away the angst of any loss of community.” The sessions start out with ven before the coronavirus everyone meeting together to discuss limited in-person interactions, a general topic before breaking off the Belvoir-based Mothers into small groups of 7 to 12 moms of Preschoolers (MOPS) planned on based on which age group the opening up a MOMSnext group to mother’s kids falls into. Each small accommodate those mothers who had group is led by a Group Leader and kids between first grade and 18 years a Mentor Mom. A mentor mom is of age. There was a need and MOPS someone who has grown kids. leadership decided to fill the void in The general topics vary in format the community. from videos to speakers to personal The pandemic did nothing to testimonies to a question and stop their efforts. If anything, the answer session with a Mentor Mom organization has provided a muchpanel. At one meeting, a former FBI needed outlet for moms who might agent spoke about Internet safety. feel disconnected or overwhelmed At another, a mom and her teenat times with kids at home more aged daughter talked about the often because of virtual learning. importance of raising awareness in In mid-August, the Belvoir Chapel showing compassion. As an example, and MOPS International approved the two discussed their daughter/ Belvoir MOPS request to change its sister who has Down syndrome. name to include MOMSnext. Courtesy photo Starr and Mulhern have Since then, Belvoir MOPS/ On Oct. 27, the Belvoir MOPS/MOMSnext group held a Craft Night at the personally benefited from Belvoir MOMSnext has met together Belvoir Chapel where they made a “Giving Plate” and a “Special Plate.” MOPS. Starr, who has a 3-year-old virtually twice a month on Tuesdays and a 6-year-old, is in her third year from 8:30 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. They have can for in-person events, but must follow the as a MOPs member at Belvoir. Mulhern, who 99 registered mothers with about 75 on average chapel’s guidelines as they evolve. has three children ages 18 months, 3 years old attending each session. MOMSnext is a branch of International and 6 years old with a fourth due in May, is in “The timing is perfect to do virtual,” said MOPS, a faith-based organization. Belvoir her fifth year with MOPS, including two stops Heidi Starr, one of the two Belvoir MOPSMOPS is in its 10th year. MOMSnext coordinators. “It’s nice to offer it to at Belvoir. “It’s an additional resource for those moms moms. They need their time.” “It’s a blessing to have,” Mulhern said. “It who have kids beyond the MOPS age,” said Coronavirus restrictions have required the comes at a time when you need community.” Delisa Mulhern, the group’s other coordinator. group to remain flexible. MOPS/MOMSnext For more information, email BelvoirMOPS@ “This is where the community will continue at typically meets at the Belvoir Chapel when it gmail.com. By David Fawcett Belvoir Eagle

Why Army helicopters have Native American names By Katie Lange Defense.gov

ou may have noticed there’s a pattern in U.S. Army helicopter names – Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook and others. These crucial aircraft are all named after Native American tribes or figures.

fiercest fighters for the United States for more than 200 years. In fact, 32 Native Americans have earned the nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor. The tradition of naming helicopters after Native Americans was once an official regulation. That regulation no longer stands, but the tradition continues. The Army’s helicopters have a number of names you’ll recognize immediately: • Apache Attack Helicopter AH-64D/E • Black Hawk Utility Helicopter UH/HH-60 • Cheyenne Attack Helicopter AH-56 • Comanche Helicopter RAH-66 • Lakota UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

How it all came about: Photo by Sgt. Jacqueline Fitzgerald

Two members of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation dance in traditional attire around a South Dakota Army National Guard UH 72 Lakota helicopter on June 10, 2012 after a blessing ceremony for the helicopter. The SDNG and the Lakota Nation have partnered together to support the people living on the reservations as well as to help inspire the youth to become active members of the community.

But have you ever wondered why? The U.S. military has a long history with Native Americans. Armed conflicts between the two were commonly known as the American Indian Wars and were fought intermittently from the time the U.S. was first settled by Europeans to early in the 20th century. But Native Americans also served as some of the

According to an unnamed Army museum official, the naming convention goes back to before the Air Force split from the Army in 1947 when Army Gen. Hamilton Howze was assigned to Army aviation. His mission was to develop doctrine and the way forward when it came to employing Army aircraft and how they would support warfighters on the ground. According to the museum official, Howze wasn’t a fan of the names of the first two helicopters – Hoverfly and Dragonfly. So, he laid out instructions for naming the helicopters after their abilities. Howze said since the choppers were fast and agile, they would attack enemy flanks and fade away, similar to the way the tribes on the Great Plains fought during the aforementioned American Indian Wars. He decided the next helicopter produced – the well-known H-13 of

“M.A.S.H.” fame – would be called the Sioux in honor of the Native Americans who fought Army Soldiers in the Sioux Wars and defeated the 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn. That’s likely how Army Regulation 70-28 was created in 1969. The regulation listed criteria on how popular names would be given to major items of equipment. According to AR 70-28, Army aircraft were specifically categorized as requiring “Indian terms and names of American Indian tribes and chiefs.” Names to choose from were provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Other categories included tanks, which were to be named after American generals like Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman; infantry weapons would receive names for famous early American pioneers like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett; and assault weapons would get fearsome reptile and insect names like cobra and scorpion. AR 70-28 was eventually rescinded and replaced with policies that didn’t mention that criteria, but it’s clear that the tradition has continued. You only have to look back to 2012 when the Army named its current primary training helicopter, the UH-72A Lakota, after the Lakota tribe of the Great Sioux Nation in North and South Dakota. On June 10, 2012, Lakota elders ritually blessed two new South Dakota Army National Guard UH-72A Lakotas at a traditional ceremony on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. Ceremonies like these happened often over the past several decades. So when you think of these helicopters, remember the spirit, confidence, agility, endurance and warrior ethos their names evoke!

Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

www.belvoireagleonline.com

DMV Connect returns to assist Belvoir’s needs next week By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle

oD ID card holders who live or work on Fort Belvoir have an opportunity to conduct business with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, as DMV Connect will be on post Dec. 2-3, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Fort Belvoir Welcome Center, according to Tricia Rampersad, executive assistant, Fort Belvoir Department of Human Resources. “Fort Belvoir recognizes that our Service members and families have unique challenges with trying to attain DMV services,” Rampersad said. “This is a program we are going to continue in the future, on a quarterly basis.” Rick Holcomb, Virginia DMV Commissioner, said he is aware of those challenges. “DMV has a well-established relationship with military members and their families,” Holcomb said. “We take pride in serving those who serve. We understand the challenges unique to military families and are committed to providing convenient service that helps them navigate those challenges. These families are often on the move between states or preparing for long-term overseas deployment. They need new licenses or IDs, vehicle titling and registration, and a host of other services and don’t always have a lot of time to get everything done. “These challenges have been amplified by the pandemic. Appointments at our customer service centers are in extremely

high demand. We are thankful that our wonderful partnership with Fort Belvoir allows us to provide a convenient service alternative to military families. DMV’s mobile operations program, called DMV Connect, allows us to be there for our men and women in uniform when and where they need us,” Holcomb said. Holcomb added that DMV mobile service teams have visited Fort Belvoir 31 times since 2014 and conducted more than 1,700 transactions for Soldiers and their families. Rampersad said that DMV Connect brings numerous services to the installation, including driver’s license renewal; Real ID; state ID cards; persons with disabilities placards; vehicle title and registration; E-ZPass transponders; hunting and fishing licenses; setting up payment plans; and license plate returns. She stressed that services are available by appointment only, in 15-minute time slots, and there is only one transaction allowed for each time slot. The Fort Belvoir Welcome Center is at 9625 Middleton Road, Bldg 1189. To make your appointment, visit the Fort Belvoir Department of Human Resources web page by going to home.army. mil/belvoir and typing “DHR” in the search bar.

USO-Metro Garden Works aims to teach sustainable living through gardening By Erika Christ, USO Warrior and Family Center – Fort Belvoir

SO-Metro invites activeduty Service members and their families to join the Garden Works program, where the mission is to teach sustainable living through gardening. Whether your motivation is protecting the environment, encouraging family activity, general wellness, or reducing social isolation by being a part of a virtual community, they have the tools and resources for you. Join the USO-Metro Garden Works Facebook Group to receive gardening tips from other families

and master gardeners; enjoy fun and educational Zoom sessions for your whole family; participate in contests and giveaways; share your budding garden progress with community members; and see what’s growing at the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir. The USO-Metro Garden Works Facebook Group can be found by visiting the USOMetro Facebook page at www. facebook.com/USOMetroDC and clicking “Groups.” To learn more about this program, visit https://metro.uso. org/programs/garden-works.

www.belvoireagleonline.com

November 26, 2020

Belvoir Eagle

Troop Command Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Mass Re-enlistment Ceremony Courtesy photo

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s Troop Command held a mass reenlistment of 11 Soldiers who work at the hospital. The Soldiers, four staff sergeants, six sergeants and one specialist, reaffirmed their commitment to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, while continuing their service in the Army. The ceremony was held Nov. 15 at the Fort Belvoir Amphitheatre and was presided over by Troop Command’s Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Kaitlyn Perkins and Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Louise Drumm. Belvoir Hospital’s Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Kristy Cortner was a special guest at the ceremony.

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Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

www.belvoireagleonline.com

Belvoir Community Briefs Gate Update J.J. Kingman Gate will close for repairs Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. and is expected to reopen Dec. 21. During that time, Lieber Gate will reopen for installation access. See temporary gate schedule below.

Effective Nov. 29 Visitor Center: Open Mon - Fri, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed on weekends, holidays and the following dates: Nov. 26 - 27, Dec. 24 - 25, and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Visitors that need access but do not have a pass will process through the security canopy at Tulley Gate.

season’s Flu Vaccine. You may access the hotline 24/7 by calling 571-231-7777.

Virtual Turkey Trot 5k/10k – Last chance! The Turkey Trot 5k/10k is Fort Belvoir’s premier race of the year and this year it will be held virtually. Participants can choose their own course for either distance. Registration is open now through Nov. 30.

J.J. Kingman Gate: Closed Expected to reopen Dec. 21.

To register, visit belvoir. armymwr.com, search Turkey Trot. Call Sports & Fitness at 703-806-4430 for more information.

Tulley Gate: Open 24-7 (Visitors and Commercial Vehicles must use this gate)

Force Protection Exercise

Pence gate: Open 7 days a week 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., egress (exit) is open 24-7. Farrar (Davison Army Airfield) Open 24-7 (Authorized personnel only) Lieber Gate: Open 7 days a week 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., egress (exit) only 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Telegraph Gate: Closed Walker Gate: Closed Expected to reopen summer 2021.

Flu Information Hotline Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s Flu Information Hotline is ready to provide you with the latest information regarding this

per person. The first 100 participants will receive a long sleeve, ugly sweater shirt (sizes are limited). Showcase your ugliest running apparel or your new shirt by posting a picture of your run on our MWR Facebook page. Submit your answer sheet and post photos of you and your family with the characters you find along the way for a chance to win gift cards. To register, visit belvoir.armymwr.com, search Ugly Sweater. Call Sports & Fitness at (703) 806-4430 for more information.

ACS offers virtual class for expecting parents

Legal Assistance Office closure

The Religious Support Office’s weekly worship services are conducted virtually and in-person on Fort Belvoir, with an in-person limit of 50 per service. To view virtual services and register for in-person services, visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/FortBelvoirRSO.

The Fort Belvoir Legal Assistance Office will be closed Nov. 25- 27. Walk-ins will resume for Active Duty and their dependents only on Nov. 30, 9 - 10:30 a.m.

The 55th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 947th Military Working Dog Detachment, 212th Military Police Detachment, and Fort Belvoir Directorate of Emergency Services will collaborate in a Force Protection Training Exercise Dec. 8 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Telegraph Gate area. There will be increased law enforcement presence in the area.

Ugly Sweater Virtual 5K & 10K Get into the Holiday spirit at MWR’s Ugly Sweater Virtual 5k/10k Run, Dec. 1 - 24. Choose your own course or opt to use the traditional 5K and 10K route options on Fort Belvoir. Cost is $15

Army Community Service is offering a free virtual Baby Bundles class Dec. 16. Class will be held from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and will teach about postpartum expectations, infant care, and how to manage a family budget for when a new baby arrives. Participants must register by calling 571231-7028 or by sending an email to Briana. crawford2.ctr@mail.mil.

RSO chapel services

Services are: • Jewish, Belvoir Chapel, Fridays, 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m.

Family Drive-In Movie: The Grinch MWR presents December’s Family Drive-In Movie: The Grinch (PG) on Friday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. with parking at 5:30 p.m. in the lot behind the MWR Library and the Motorcycle Safety Course (between 16th and 18th Streets). Tickets are $10 and are non-refundable. For ticket, rules and restrictions belvoir.armymwr.com, search movie.

• Catholic, Fairfax Chapel, MondaysThursdays, 12:05 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. Belvoir Chapel, Saturdays, 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. • Anglican, Fairfax Chapel, Sundays, 9 a.m. • Chapel Next, Resiliency Center, Sundays, 9:30 a.m. • Traditional, Belvoir Chapel, Sundays, 11 a.m. • Gospel, Thurman Hall, Sundays, 11:30 a.m.

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November 26, 2020

Belvoir Eagle

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Belvoir Eagle

November 26, 2020

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