June Workforce Pride Newsletter by Tiffany Spraggins

WORKFORCE PRIDE

DHR, ASAP, EAP WELL-BEING TEAM PRODUCT

V O L U M E

INSIDE THIS ISSUE TAKING 5 MIKES 2 SITTING BEAR BY THE CREEK WITH SATANK

JUNE CALENDAR: ALAN IS COMING! 4 TAKE TIME TO PLAN FOR LIFE 5 DEAR FRAN, MY BOSS MAKES ME DRINK!! 6 BROWN BAGGING IT WITH COL HOSS 7 GRATEFUL FOR A SMOKING BBQ 8 OUR MANAGERIAL BLESSING AND GENERATIONS AT WORK 9 WAS IT THE MAILMAN? 10 ONLINE ID CARD APPOINTMENTS, SAFE TRAVELS, SAVINGS, 11 SOARING TO HEALTH AND FUNNY BABIES 12 INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND SNEAK PEEK 13

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Fort Sill Community Newsletter

Sill on Target with Realignment You may not do it as fast or as many times as before, but enough to ensure the mission is accomplished. I couldn’t be prouder of each of you. How we got to the right number – Limiting hiring to only those positions that were approved by HQ IMCOM helped us reduce our Garrison staff by 100 employees. Another tool that served to reduce the impact of the restructuring was the approval to authorize Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary SepaI would like to take this opportunity to ration Incentive Pay (VSIP) for those thank all garrison employees for the interested in retiring or separating professionalism you demonstrated as early. Additionally, some employees your leaders had to make difficult perdecide to move on to the next chapter sonnel decision in order for the garrison in their lives and retire from governto meet DoD mandated personnel rement service. Normal attrition also ductions. Because of your cooperation helped us manage our final employee and willingness to work as a team, we count. have achieved our reductions without a Discovering new skills - As part of single employee losing their job. Our this effort we asked all employees to focus now shifts to the realignment of update their resumes to ensure they the workforce in a way that allows us to reflected current knowledge, skills, and accomplish our mission more effectively abilities which may provide additional and efficiently. We are all painfully aware opportunities throughout the garrison that some sections are experiencing that they may find interesting. Training personnel shortages. In spite of those was also made available to assist them shortages, you continue to get the job to meet minimal qualifications. done!

Safety First this Summer Take 5 for Safety!! That is this year’s Army Summer Safety Campaign. We at the Fort Sill Well-Being Center, ASAP want to encourage all to take care of self and others this summer and ensure that safety standards are being met at all times. This seasonal awareness period should spark the fire that lasts for a lifetime. Inside this edition of Workforce Pride, you will find safety tips for alcohol consumption, water play, heat dangers, summer finances, personal satisfaction, and much more. Enjoy your reading experience, and as always…..BE SAFE!

We also addressed employee shortfalls by detailing employees to duties that would gain them experience. We continue to match employees to critical jobs throughout the garrison as we tackle our skills imbalance. We have managed to reduce our skills imbalance to less then five percent of the workforce. Good news — The good news is; we have done so well with reducing our workforce, IMCOM HQs has granted us approval to hire many of our hard to fill positions that cannot be filled internally. This will allow us to hire engineers, attorneys, air traffic controllers, and other key positions. This will allow us to continue to provide the quality support we are accustom to. Again, without your willingness and cooperation, this personnel reduction could have been much tougher. Human resources is Team Sill’s most important resource, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that each employee has the opportunity to maximize their contribution to the mission by creating an environment for all to thrive. Paul S. Hossenlopp Colonel, Field Artillery Garrison Commander

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Take 5 for Safety this Summer By Janice Carter, RRPC Now that the weather is turning warmer Soldiers and their Families will begin to take advantage of their down time by heading outdoors. Summer is a fun time and Team Sill continues to make safety a priority by being smart during the hot summer days and nights. Applying these safety tips will increase your summer fun and assist in reducing your summer pain. 

Be aware of the heat, pay attention to it and modify your activities appropriately. 

Drink plenty of fluids before you become thirsty.

 Try to stay in relatively cool areas, even when outside, many public places such as libraries, shopping malls and movie theatres are air conditioned.

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Learn some life-saving skills, such as CPR and rescue techniques.

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Eat well-balanced, light and regu-

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Never leave children unattended in a car parked in the sun.

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Always swim with a partner and swim in places that are supervised by a lifeguard.

lar meals. 

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.

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Cool beverages are good for cooling down the body, while alcoholic drinks can impair the body's ability to control its temperature.

Click SUMMER for more Take 5 information.

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Statistics and History

WAY TO GO TEAM SILL!!! By Stephanie Armel, RRPC

Team Sill seems to be making the smartest choices when it involves alcohol. Remember with summer activities quickly upon us that many of these activities require high levels of coordination and balance, so your favorite pastime may become especially dangerous after a drink or two. With temperatures already reaching in the 100’s we can safely say that summer is here. You’re probably looking forward to the family barbeque, a trip to the lake, hanging out at the pool or just that get-together with family or friends on the weekends. With the long days and warmer weather, summer is the perfect season to spend time with loved ones and friends. If your party plans include the consumption of alcoholic beverages, however, you should carefully consider the safety risks of mixing summer fun with even one drink. Whether you’re boating, swimming, water skiing, driving, hiking, rollerblading or just lounging by the pool, alcohol poses a major threat to safety. Studies show that a single drink can impact your ability to observe and react, two critically important skills in the event of an emergency. In addition, many summer activities require high levels of coordination and balance, so your favorite pastime may become especially dangerous after a drink or two. Since you’re less able to help someone else who’s been injured and more likely to hurt yourself, alcohol poses a major threat to summer safety for people of all ages on and off Fort Sill. Before you head for the lake, the pool, the park or the campground, give some thought to summer safety. When you decide to consume alcohol the possibility of accident or injury increases dramatically. This summer, weigh Alcohol Offenses the risks 50 47 Way to Go Team Sill and if you Keep up the great work 45 choose to of a downward trend for 40 drink do it the 3rd Quarter … responsibly. 35 Responsible 30 FY 10 drinking will 25 FY 11 help you 20 17 16 FY 12 15 enjoy the 14 13 15 12 12 summer 8 10 even more 4 5 and help avoid re0 1st QTR 2nd QTR 3rd QTR 4th QTR grets.

Sitting Bear Satank A stream runs past the west side of the Polo Field on Fort Sill and swings under I-44 on its way to the south end of the basic training area. The creek is named Sitting Bear in honor of a Kiowa warrior and leader of the Kiowa 10 bravest War Society named Sitting Bear (Satank). This stream carries his name because he died near this creek at the hands of soldiers from Fort Sill on 1871. By Dale Keesee Satank was a warrior who fought white settlers, wagon trains, outposts, and soldiers most of his life. In his youth he helped organize peace between the Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes so they could all fight the white invaders. But Satank was also a senior Kiowa leader and signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867 to move his tribe into the reservation around Fort Sill. Satank was never happy on the reservation and continued to live his life in the old ways when possible. Satank was part of a war party which attacked a supply train on 18 May 1871 in Texas. They got back to Fort Sill but some bravado and loose talk by a fellow raider identified Satank as one of the raiders. He was arrested, shackled, and put in a wagon under escort on his way to Fort Richardson, Texas to be tried for murder. As the wagon approached the stream south of Fort Sill Satank started singing his death song. When finished he jumped the guard riding with him and knocked him out of the wagon. Still shackled, he grabbed the guard’s carbine before he went down in a hail of bullets from the mounted escort. On the South Boundary Road just west of building 5960 in the basic training area is a small rock marker to commemorate this event.

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Safe and Secure Last newsletter, we discussed one area of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (love and belonging). To continue down that path let’s discuss safety and security needs. These needs take precedence and dominate behavior. We as human beings require Thomas M. Easterly, Ph.D and feel the desire to be safe and secure throughout our daily lives. It is what gives us the freedom to do our jobs and raise our families. Safety and Security encompass our lives at all times. These needs include personal and financial security, health and well-being. Let’s break each one down. Personal Security is feeling safe at your work, home, and in your community environment. Being able to walk down the street without fear of being robbed is a feeling of security. Being subtly aware that there are police, fire and other first responders’ on-call twenty-four hours a day gives us a feeling of security. Also, just knowing emergency rooms are open all of the time is another type of security. However, small or large these are they important to us. Financial Security is especially important. We desire a need to know that all is well with our money and investments. Knowing that you have secure savings, investments, and retirement accounts provides CALM to an otherwise uncertain future. There are many other things that make us feel secure, for instance knowing you can make your debt payments on time, understanding your finances i.e. stocks and bonds and knowing about the deductions on your paycheck, provides us with a feeling of security. Bottom line: It is critical that one understands and knows where thier money is going. Although there is no ranking for these needs, I would put this one at the top. Our overall health and well-being is important to our livelihood. The more we know about how to stay healthy and understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and healthy living the more rewarding and satisfying our lives will be. All of these safe and security needs provide us with a less stressful life and a great outlook on the future. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel! That is, we always can find someone to talk to. If you believe in God you can pray, if you have other beliefs then seek guidance through those beliefs. If you just want to talk you can always call a life-line 800-342-9647 Tom. Easterly works in the Plans, Analysis & Integration office as a Management Analyst for the Fort Sill Garrison. He has been awarded a PH.D in Theological Studies (honorary) and is pursuing a Doctorate in Education.

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ASAP CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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June 2012 Sun

Mon

Well-Being Center, ASAP 3415 Miner Rd

Tue

Wed

Like Us on Facebook!!

Tues 1800-2000 Weds 1900

Fri

Sat

For more community events, activities, and trainings, check out the MWR and ACS websites: (click on logos)

Click to visit our ASAP Website

5 Gambler’s Anonymous (WBC,1800)

Thu

12 Gambler’s Anonymous (WBC,1800)

6 Alcoholic Anonymous (WBC,1900)

ONE Brief

16 Fishing Tournament (LETRA, 0600)

Alcoholic Anonymous (WBC,1900)

Movies on the Beach (LETRA, 2100)

Gambler’s Anonymous (WBC,1800)

Alcoholic Anonymous (WBC,1900)

Unit Prevention Leader Training (Well-Being Center, ASAP 0800-1600) ADAPT (WBC-ASAP 0830-1630)

CWBO MEETING

26 Gambler’s Anonymous (WBC,1800)

BPL Meeting (0800)

27 Alcoholic Anonymous (WBC,1900)

Tour of the Wichitas (6th&Ferris, 0700)

Alan Jackson concert

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A Friendly Note Testing, one, two, three, testing… One of the interesting questions asked repeatedly of the ASAP biochemical drug testing team is what substances is the laboratory testing for. Usually the person asking gives the name of a medication. By Ft. Sill Drug Testing Coordinators The lists of substances are wide descriptions which cover a multitude of prescription and illegal drugs. On the list of substances that the Army tests for, one would say amphetamines without the names of hundreds of prescription and illegal drugs which fall under that heading. Beside the street drug methamphetamine, amphetamines this class of drugs may also cover some diet pills or include medications such as Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Desoxyn, ProCentra, and Vyvanse, but that is just a small list out of hundreds more. Many times looking up the brand name of the substance in an online encyclopedia will tell a person what category a substance falls into and thereby solve the mystery. Sometimes that is exactly what the ASAP drug testing team does in order to answer the questions for them. There are SO MANY brand names and substances out there that even the experts end up having to look them up! Below are drugs the laboratory tests for: Military routine: Tetrahydrocannabinol/THC (Marijuana, Benzoylecognine (Cocaine),, 6-Monoacetylmorphine (Heroin), Amphetamines (AMP), Methamphetamines (METH), MDMA, MDA, MDEA, (Ecstasy). All Opiates, Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates are special test requests. Civilian routine: Tetrahydrocannabinol/THC (Marijuana), Benzoylecognine (Cocaine), 6-Monoacetylmorphine (Heroin), Amphetamines (AMP), MDMA, MDA, MDEA, (Ecstasy), Phencyclidine (PCP) and Codeine/Morphine. All Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates are not tested. If you have further question call the testing team at 442-4447/5378/4205.

EAP Mental Health Minute If worries are keeping you awake, get help Stress keeps millions of people from sleeping well at night. Family matters, work, and money are the top three things people worry about most, according to a recent survey by the Better Sleep Council. If worries are keeping you awake, talk with your doctor about your sleep problems. Some symptoms of stress can also be indications of depression or other conditions. Check with you physician if you are concerned about any aspect of your health.

Brainteaser This month’s Brainteaser: Two women and two doctors walk into an ice cream parlor. They each order an ice cream cone. When their ice creams come, there is only 1 strawberry, 1 chocolate and 1 vanilla. How come they didn't complain? Answer in next month’s issue Last Month’s Answer: Three, there are three letters in Ten

Life focus A Safe Plan for Life

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SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM COORDINATOR (SPPM)

ROBERT DODRILL If you have depression, there is a very real risk that at some point in the course of the illness you may experience thoughts of suicide. While the emotional pain that has triggered these thoughts may feel overwhelming, it does not mean that you will lose control or act on your thoughts. In fact, having a suicide safety plan in place is one method you can use to cope with your bad feelings until circumstances change. What Is a Suicide Safety Plan? A suicide safety plan is a written set of instructions that you create for yourself as a contingency plan should you begin to experience thoughts about harming yourself. It will contain a series of gradually escalating steps that you will follow, proceeding from one step to the next, until you are safe. How to Create Your Suicide Safety Plan You should work together with someone you trust -- such as your best friend, a close family member or your doctor or therapist -- to develop your suicide safety plan. It is best to get these people involved, since you will most likely need to call on them if you decide to execute your plan. It is best to create the plan while you are feeling well and can think clearly rather than waiting until you are actively suicidal. Put your suicide safety plan in writing and keep it in a place where you can easily find it should the need arise. Information to Include in Your Suicide Safety Plan Your suicide safety plan should include the following elements, in the same order as presented below: When the Plan Should Be Used: This step will involve making yourself familiar with what types of situations, images, thoughts, feelings and behaviors might precede or accompany suicidal urges for you. List these warnings signs so that you can refer back to them when deciding whether to activate your plan. Examples: "When I feel suicidal, I tend to isolate myself and not take good care of my health." Or: "Suicidal thoughts are often triggered for me when I am reminded of my childhood abuse." What I Can Do to Comfort Myself If I Am Feeling Suicidal: Create a list for yourself of activities that are soothing to you when you are upset. Examples: Taking a hot bath, listening to music, exercising What Are My Reasons for Living? Create a list of your reasons for living. When you are feeling suicidal, it is very easy to get caught up in the pain you are feeling and forget the positives in your life. Your list will help you refocus your attention on the reasons to keep going until your suicidal thoughts and feelings pass. Examples: My children, my spouse, my faith in God Who Can I Talk To? Keep a list of contacts you can talk to if you are unable to distract yourself with selfhelp measures. List names, phone numbers or other contact information and be sure to have backups in case your first choice is unavailable. Examples: Your significant other, friends, relatives, pastor Who Can I Talk To If I Need Professional Assistance? Create a list of all professional resources available to you, along with their phone numbers, email addresses and other pertinent contact information. Examples: Your psychiatrist, your therapist, a crisis hotline and don’t forget the ASAP 442-4205. How Can I Make My Environment Safe? Plan what steps you can take to make yourself safe. This may involve removing or securing any items that you are likely to use to hurt yourself, or going to another location until the urges have passed. It may also involve getting another person involved to help you. Examples: "When I am feeling suicidal, I will ask my brother to keep my guns at his house." Or: "When I feel like hurting myself, I will go to a public place, like a mall, restaurant or library to distract myself." What To Do If I Am Still Not Feeling Safe: If all other steps have failed to keep you feeling safe, go to your nearest hospital emergency room and ask for assistance. Keep the name, address and directions to the hospital listed in your plan for easy access or save it in your GPS. If you do not feel that you can get to the hospital safely on your own, call 911 or the emergency contact number appropriate for where you live and ask for transport to the hospital. How to Use Your Suicide Safety Plan We all need someone to talk If you begin to experience any of the warning signs of to sometimes: Call the confidential suicide listed in your suicide safety plan, proceed through the steps you have previously outlined for yourself, one by and free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24 one, until you are feeling safe again. hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to everyone. Or, call your local ASAP Office for assistance at 442-6069.

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Drug Awareness

DEAR FRAN

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Old Friends: Lady Gaga and Cocaine

Dear Fran, Help!!! I have so much stress at work that I have problems doing my job. Basically, my boss is the worst. He keeps demanding more and more of me, and he is never satisfied with my results. I feel unappreciated because he never acknowledges the things that I do well. He has singled me out, attacks me and humiliates me in front of others. My co-workers do not want to have anything to do Fran Alltizer, with me. Lately, I find myself drinking more and more alcohol LCSW, ASAP Supervisor to help me relax. Please help. Any advice would be appreciated. Stressed beyond measure Ft. Sill, OK DEAR STRESSED BEYOND MEASURE, You are acting and feeling very human! When experiencing emotional stress, one of the first things that humans do, is look for a mood-altering experience. If you have not developed some healthy coping skills, alcohol becomes the choice. Alcohol can help you relax but it takes more and more each time to reach the same level of relaxation, due to tolerance, and can become another problem adding to your stress. Job satisfaction is a shared responsibility. It is possible your boss has not attended the Supervisor Training that emphasizes how important it is for an employee to know exactly what is expected of them, in order to meet goals and feel appreciated for the job they perform. Have you approached your boss to ask how you can improve your performance to meet his goals? You also may not be taking advantage of your Employee Assistance Program. This tool allows you to express your frustrations and may even lead to a mediation session with your boss. Humiliating an employee in front of co-workers is not acceptable and can be seen as bullying. Don’t try to drown your stress in drinking. Be proactive and look for some positive If you have any questions or way to deal with this stressful situation. Good concerns that you would like employees are valuable assets and should be Fran to address, treated as such! please contact Fran Fran

through our ASAP Facebook page:

What to say to Your Teen Research shows that when parents talk openly about drugs and drinking, children have better selfcontrol and develop more negative perceptions of these risky behaviors. Don’t want your teen drinking or using drugs? Tell him how you feel and what you expect from him. Be warm but firm. For example, you might say: "I'm not trying to ruin your fun. I love you and I want you to stay healthy. The best way to do that is to stay completely away from drugs and alcohol. I need you to promise that you will." "I realize there's a lot of temptation out there. I also know you're a really smart, strong person. That's why I expect you to stay clean — no matter what your friends are doing. Agreed?" "There's a lot of new science about teens, drugs and alcohol. It scares me to know how easily you could damage your brain www.drugfree.org/teenbrain <http:// www.drugfree.org/teenbrain or get addicted. I want your word that you'll steer clear of all that, and keep me in the loop on the kids you hang out with, too." Taking a little time to discuss alcohol and drug use with your teen may help you both avoid a lifetime of pain and heartache.

Lady Gaga has revealed that at age 19, she felt cocaine was "sexy" and that "the drug was my friend." Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, appeared on the Demi Moore-produced series "The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet" last night, and discussed her dark period starting out as a musician in New York. Gaga says that drug use took her off the path for a good chunk of her early 20s. "I was very depressed when I was 19 ... I would go back to my apartment every day and I would just sit there. It was quiet and it was lonely. It was still. It was just my piano and myself. I had a television and I would leave it on all the time just to feel like somebody was hanging out with me," she said. "And especially during the period when I was doing cocaine. It was like the drug was my friend. I never did it with other people. It's such a terrible way to fill that void, because it just adds to that void, because it's not real." Gaga, who is now 26, says that her drug phase continued for a long time. "At a certain point, I just began to feel sick," says Gaga, who in the interview wears a black lace dress and veil. "I remember one night being in the shower. I was bent over and had the cold water on, coming down. I'd just done so much [cocaine], I didn't even feel good. I felt like crap. I had a thing of Nyquil, and I was drinking it." She says that soon after this low point, she was able to kick the habit completely. She remembers, "I sort of [bleeping] woke up one day and was like, 'You're an ***hole. You're not an artist. If you were a real [bleeping] artist, you'd be focused on your music. You wouldn't be spending your money on the white devil.'" "There's this perception and romanticism around drugs. That it's sexy," continues Gaga. "Or that it's artistic or that you're troubled and you're going to make great music when really, you're just a [bleeping] loser. I just stopped and focused 150 percent of my energy on my happiness. On 'what do you want to do? What is it that you really want?' ... You have to know it and knife fight your way to your dream." Ref: nypost.com

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Brown Bagging with COL Hossenlopp COL Hossenlopp spends valuable time with members of his Garrison Team to discuss their concerns and answer their questions every month. The following are the questions and concerns with answers as presented during the last brown bag session.

May 2012 GC Brown Bag Lunch Q&As Questions/Concerns Q/C1. PCF Consolidation; When is the move planned for? What will the final numbers be? PCF cannot get a quote for LAN and phone lines. A1. Let’s move forward with the estimate, plan for 12 employees and a move date of 1 October. The true number will probably be somewhere between 7 and 12. New CG is familiar with PCF, GC will give new CG a facility lay down separately from the PCF brief on 22 May.

GC’s Tidbits

C2. Team appreciates GC’s and DGC’s efforts in avoiding a RIF. Phase II will be rumor control A2. FRAGO 7 is out, we are anticipating FRAGO 8. We currently have no tool for internal competition to place people in vacant positions, are hoping for installation or IMCOM only competition in FRAGO 8 so as to not add to the IMCOM numbers. The IMCOM CG approves every request for critical fill. Although we made our numbers Fort Sill still has about 60-70 misaligned personnel. Some skill sets we need to get from outside (e.g. engineers, fire chiefs, ATC, labor lawyer), but some skill sets are available right here. The good news is; we have the payroll to cover our workforce. Payroll is currently based on onboard personnel but even if it goes to current TDA we will have enough funding to pay our workforce. GC’s priority #1 was to keep everyone employed. That has been achieved. The new priority #1 is realignment of the workforce. GC is aware of and working with sections that experience substantial shortages that are negatively affecting mission.

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Q3. How will the RM Division Chief position be filled? A3. FRAGO 7 provides us with a new tool (daisy chain promotion) which is an exception to CHRA policies and only applies to about 5-7 people. Below is a list of tools that helped us reduce our workforce by over 100 positions; 1. Get numbers down through: - Hiring freeze - VERA VSIP - Natural Attrition 2. Realign: - All employees asked to update resume on resumix - Place barely qualified/but qualified - Accept training 3. Address Shortages: - 120 day details - Promote into positions vacated by VERA VSIP

Q/C4. Are we over or under in the 0085 series? RCF is going to lose a PCF escort. A4. We currently 2 short but have deliberately taken that risk with S3U folks at the gate. GC can order command directed assignments, based on an assessment of the “greatest level of pain”.

C6. DOL move to AMC A6. GC sees no change in the way he will support DOL or DOL will support Garrison. The move to AMC will only add an intermediate layer. C7. Can we please synch the traffic lights on Sheridan Road (and Ft. Sill Blvd)? A7. GC will talk to DPW and DES to request synchronization as well as signs (e.g. green light at 38mph), GC will also address the temporary light on Moway. 84 out of 432 new homes in Buffalo Soldiers Acres have been completed, will need to look at future throughput.

A Townhall update to the workforce is planned for June. Guns & Rockets is shut down for renovations, The Garcia Dining Facility will support. GC supports efforts to instill cost culture in contractors to manage programs more efficiently. Congratulations to ASAP for passing the recent Army Center for Substance Abuse and IMCOM ASAP inspections!!!

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Q8. Can we please have signs that direct to the Well Being Center/ASAP? A8. Identify intersections and send to the DGC

C9. PCF parking (Bldg 3430/Wilson) is not available because used by soldiers for PT, vehicles are on the grass and in Motorcycle parking spots. A9. This is a problem along Wilson form east to west to include the IMPAC zone and Chapel. GC is not going to address it because we exist to support the soldiers. GC will however get with DES to address those parked on the grass or in Motorcycle parking spots.

Q10. Are there still plans for a new education center? A10. No, we just increased classroom capacity by 1/3 by moving admin out of the ed center and into Bldg 4700. There is currently a debate at DA level about consolidating ed centers and libraries with various courses of actions.

Q12. Can DA Civilians get gas from AAFES? Currently DA civilians can get gas on Sheridan but not on Fort Sill Blvd. A12. Will need to find out from AAFES GC’s Comments: No RIF needed at Fort Sill, we made our numbers. There are still some realignments going on. Other Garrisons have union issues and IMCOM overall is still 1,600 over.

Q11. Will there be MMA cages in the gym? A11. Fort Sill has a fight house with 2 fighting cages on Randolph road, but we are looking for a different location. We are at this time not looking for additional cages because they need to be supervised, take up a lot of room, and there is currently not enough interest from the population.

The new Sheridan Shoppette Expansion will include a Pizza Hut (with on-post delivery) Class VI will move to the Sheridan Shoppette expansion (with increased stock) A Starbucks will move into the current Class VI location The Impact Zone drive through will re-open soon MWR will open a coffee bar in the ed center Taco Bell will move to where Church’s Chicken is at PX food court Church’s Chicken will move to the new BK/Church’s dual food facility next to the current BK Dunkin donuts will replace Cinnabon in the PX food Court Goldner Gym Floor will be replaced with all rubber for a “Fort Sill Iron City” weight room. The GC asked all participants to share information from the BB lunch with their teams. There are no secrets!

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Complete Well-Being

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 Quitting smoking adds years to your life, no matter when you stop. Research shows that after 10 to 15 years, a previous smoker’s risk of premature death approaches that of a person who has never smoked. Here are four tips on quitting from the American Lung Association: Join a stop-smoking program like Freedom From Smoking from the American Lung Association, www.ffsonline.org. Pick a good time to quit. Don’t try to quit when your under a lot of stress. Set a quit date. Stretch out the time between cigarettes as your quit date approaches. Don’t give up. The odds of quitting for good increase with ever effort you make.

Cooking Excellence

Wellness Window

Quit Smoking Today

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Ingredients  1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon paprika  1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon garlic salt  1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

SMOKED BBQ CHICKEN

 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 tablespoons brown sugar  1 whole chicken, halved Applewood chips for smoking, as needed Directions In a medium size bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Rub the seasoning over the both halves of the chicken. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Place wood chips in the smoking tray of the grill. If you don't have this option you can make a packet out of aluminum foil and punch a few holes in the top of it with a fork and place directly on the hot coals. Place the chicken on a hot grill over medium-heat with the meat side down. Grill over the wood chips for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cover, this will keep in the smoke and to prevent oxygen from igniting the smoking wood. After 30 minutes turn the chicken to its opposite side. The juices near the bone should run clear.

For more information regarding the IMCOM & DOD Wellness Program please click the following links: IMCOM WELLNESS and DOD WELLNESS Reference: The Food Network

PEACEFUL PLAZA: Reflect on the Attitude of Gratitude Being grateful for one’s blessings is a key ingredient of happiness. Here is a simple exercise to practice daily, based on the teachings of Tal Ben-Shahar, the author of Happier. This gratitude exercise takes only two to three minutes a day:  Find a quiet place where you can reflect.  Write down at least five things for which you are grateful that happened during the day.  Do the gratitude exercise every so often with others— with your partner or child or parent.  Practice doing the gratitude exercise for at least a month, until it becomes a habit “As you live each day, remember to appreciate all that is in front of you, around you, and within you.” —Tal Ben-Shahar Click GRATITUDE to take a moment to relax, reflect, and stay positive!! Guided Imagery segment: youtube.com

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Etiquette and Manager’s Notes

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Those that Came Before Managers owe a debt of gratitude for those leaders that came before, and by paying homage to our manaBy Jay Khalifeh gerial ancestors we may gain some perspective on today’s workplace challenges. Today’s thriving workplaces acknowledges and competitively fits into their internal and external environments. Successful management approaches have always been a dynamic and competitive response to the social, political,/ legal and economic forces that bear down on the workplace. In the beginning...We may have forgotten that the field of management is a relatively new science. Initial attempts grew out of the economic forces of the industrial revolution. Firms that grew during the industrial revolution in the late 1800’s and early 1900, as today, sought to maximize profits. However, the rapid growth and increasing complexity of managing that growth forced new approaches to command and control to maintain profitability. Our first attempt, referred to by historians as the classical approach, placed emphasis on science, bureaucracies, and administration to keep companies profitable.. The thought was that efficiency and labor productivity could be improved by using scientific methods. As a matter of fact, Frederick Winslow Taylor, a pioneer in this management perspective stated that workers “could be retooled like machines”. Managerial decisions were made based on precise procedures resulting from various studies Henry Gantt’s, “Gantt Chart” and time and motion studies were hallmarks of our earliest attempts. The classical approach also pioneered standardized methods to perform each job, matching the selection of workers to a job, training to standard, and monetary incentives for those who produced more. Managers planned work and did their best to eliminate work interruptions. Bureaucracies were also born during the industrial revolution. Managers wrestling with the immensity and complexity of production thought the best way to increase profits was to divide labor with clear distinctions of authority and responsibilities. The resulting positions established were then arranged in a hierarchy of authority. Managers were subject to rules and regulations that ensured reliable and predictable behavior and decisions were in writing. Administrative principles identified five functions of management: planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling. This managerial approach also emphasized unity of command, division of work, unity of direction, and the principle that there should be a clear line of authority from top to bottom linking all managers at all levels.– think the military’s chain of command. What about us? The almost singular focus on the science and processes tended to forget the employees actually doing the work. The social context of work and man’s higher needs to feel like part of something greater were largely ignored. Inherent worker differences and employee ideas and suggestions for improvement were now considered with this new thinking. A more collaborative and humanistic approach to management evolved because of push back from social and political forces (and growing unions) that encouraged managers to understand human behaviors, needs, and attitudes.

CHANGE EXCHANGE Change Exchange Monthly Tip: Find the Blessing Ask yourself: How could this situation, as hard and painful as it is, turn out to be a blessing in disguise? Allow the questions to sink in for awhile. Your first answer may not be the best or final one. This segment is brought to you through The Change Your Life Book by Bill O’Hanlon.

This approach believed that workers needed to feel empowered rather than controlled. Managers quickly realized that healthy relationships in the workplace can improve the bottom line. This so called humanistic approach also recognized that informal organizations existed within the formal one. The humanistic perspective opined that a manager’s authority rests on his or her subordinate's acceptance of his or her right to give orders and to expect subordinate's compliance with them. In the early 50’s another movement in management encouraged managers to think of production in terms of interrelated systems. The systems work as a whole toward a common purpose and interacted with the environment to survive. This perspective saw organizations as open systems characterized by entropy, synergy, and subsystem that work interdependently. The mission of the managers was to manage these subsystems in a way to promote synergy amongst the subsystems. A contingency view of management evolved in the late sixties that encouraged managers to consider variables in each situation. It promoted the notion that each managerial challenge is different requiring them to examine the variables for good decisions and develop a way forward. It was the manager’s job in this perspective to search for contingencies and to fit solutions to characteristics of a specific situation for thier organization. A decade later TQM commanded center stage. The quality movement is strongly associated with Japan, however, its originator, W. Edwards Deming, was an American. The goal was to eliminate waste and integrate high-quality values in every step of the production process. It also asked producers to deliver quality based on the customers definition of quality and encouraged employee involvement, benchmarking (measuring and comparing production against other firms) and continuous improvement. The mid-nineties ushered in management’s acceptance and incorporation of technology to leverage Customer Relationship Management. The latest technology would be used to stay in touch with customers, collect customer data and manage supply chains. Outsourcing then became the rage as the complexity of firms grew. Outsourcing is the practice of contracting functions or activities to other organizations to cut costs. China and India have benefitted the most from American outsourcing - China for its products, and India for its technology and services. Collaborating. Finally, open collaboration is the latest management trend. The keys to managerial success in this perspective is creating an open platform around your innovations to allow customers, employees and even your competitors to build on each other’s ideas. This helps create an ongoing, evolving community of users, doers and creators. How we managed labor, capital, and natural resources to some final product or service has dramatically transformed throughout the years. Looking back should help us develop perspective and a healthy appreciation of all those managers that struggled with the same challenges that we struggle with today. Through all our struggles the United States economy still has emerged as one of the strongest and most productive. An economy where some of our state’s GDPs top those of entire nations. We are certainly doing some things right, but it would not have been possible without learning from those that came before. It seems that we got there by stakeholders collaborating with one and other. In recent years this collaborative effort has gone online.

Workplace Etiquette 101: Generational Differences The four generations may have different work styles, but they also have much in common, including a shared desire for work-life balance. Click on the links below and identify something you have in common with a co-worker from each of these generations:  Traditionals (born before 1946)  Baby Boomers (1946-1964)  Gen X (1965-1977)  Millennials (1978-2000)

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Postal News Updates

Postal Service Moves Ahead with Modified Network Consolidation Plan 9-Month Implementation; $1.2 Billion in Cost Reductions WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced plans to move ahead with a modified plan to consolidate its network of 461 mail processing locations in phases. The first phase of activities will result in up to 140 consolidations through February of 2013. Unless the circumstances of the Postal Service change in the interim, a second and final phase of 89 consolidations is currently scheduled to begin in February of 2014. “We revised our network consolidation timeline to provide a longer planning schedule for our customers, employees and other stakeholders, and to enable a more methodical and measured implementation,” said Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of the Postal Service. “We simply do not have the mail volumes to justify the size and capacity of our current mail processing network. To return to long-term profitability and financial stability while keeping mail affordable, we must match our network to the anticipated workload,” said Donahoe. “Our current plan meets our cost reduction goals, ensures seamless and excellent service performance throughout the implementation period, and provides adequate time for our customers to adapt to our network changes.” The Postal Service will begin consolidating operations this summer – which mostly involve transferring mail-processing operations from smaller to larger facilities. Due to the volume of high-priority mail predicted for the election and holiday mailing seasons, no consolidating activities will be conducted from September through December of 2012. Approximately 5,000 employees will begin receiving notifications next week related to consolidating and other efficiency-enhancing activities to be conducted this summer. “We will be conducting consolidation activities this summer at only 48 locations,” said Megan Brennan, chief operating officer of the Postal Service. “As a result, nearly all consolidating activities in 2012 will occur in August and then will resume again the early part of next year.” These consolidating activities will reduce the size of the Postal Service workforce by approximately 13,000 employees and, when fully implemented, will generate cost reductions of approximately $1.2 billion annually. “The Postal Service will be communicating with our customers and employees about these changes in great detail,” said Megan Brennan. “We will work closely with our customers to ensure there are no surprises as we move forward.” The Postal Service also announced it is working with its unions for an employee retirement incentive, although no final decision has been made. “The Postal Service has reduced the size of its workforce by 244,000 career employees since 2000 without resorting to layoffs,” said Brennan. “We are a responsible employer and we will work with our employees to ensure a smooth transition to a much leaner organization.” The Postal Service also announced that it would soon issue a new regulation to modify its existing Service Standard for overnight delivery. The Postal Service said a Final Rule would soon be published in the Federal Register that would initially shrink the geographic reach of overnight service to local areas and enable consolidation activity in 2013. The new rule would further tighten the overnight delivery standard in 2014 and enable further consolidation of the Postal Service mail processing network absent any change to the circumstances of the Postal Service. “We are essentially preserving overnight delivery for First-Class Mail through the end of 2013, although we are collapsing the distance that we can provide overnight service to the distribution area served by a particular mail processing facility,” said Megan Brennan. Approximately 80 percent of First-Class Mail will still be delivered overnight. The Postal Service stated its expectation to pursue additional consolidation activities for an additional 89 mail processing locations beginning in 2014 unless its circumstances change. These consolidations would be based on long-term service standards that would significantly revise mail-entry times for customers seeking overnight delivery. “Given that the Postal Service is currently projecting a $14 billion net loss in FY2012, and continuing annual losses of this magnitude, we simply cannot justify maintaining our current mail processing footprint,” said Donahoe. When fully implemented in late 2014, the Postal Service expects its network consolidations to generate approximately $2.1 billion in annual cost reductions, and lead to total workforce reduction up to 28,000 employees. The list of 140 mail processing locations to be consolidated by February of 2013 is available after 3 p.m. ET today at http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/ welcome.htm. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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New Strategy to Preserve the Nation’s Smallest Post Offices Modifying Retail Window Hours Could Keep Offices Open WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service announced a new strategy today that could keep the nation’s smallest Post Offices open for business, while providing a framework to achieve significant cost savings as part of the plan to return the organization to financial stability. The plan would keep the existing Post Office in place, but with modified retail window hours to match customer use. Access to the retail lobby and to PO Boxes would remain unchanged, and the town’s ZIP Code and community identity would be retained. “Meeting the needs of postal customers is, and will always be, a top priority. We continue to balance that by better aligning service options with customer demand and reducing the cost to serve,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe. “With that said, we’ve listened to our customers in rural America and we’ve heard them loud and clear – they want to keep their Post Office open. We believe today’s announcement will serve our customers’ needs and allow us to achieve real savings to help the Postal Service return to long-term financial stability.” The new strategy would be implemented over a two-year, multi-phased approach and would not be completed until September 2014. Once implementation is completed, the Postal Service estimates savings of a half billion dollars annually. “The Postal Service is committed to serving America’s communities and providing a responsible and fair approach for our employees and customers,” said Megan Brennan, Postal Service Chief Operating Officer. “The Post Offices in rural America will remain open unless a community has a strong preference for one of the other options. We will not close any of these rural Post Offices without having provided a viable solution.” The Postal Service will provide an opportunity for the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to review this plan prior to making any changes. The Postal Service intends to file a request for an advisory opinion on the plan with the PRC later this month. Community meetings would then be conducted to review options in greater detail. Communities will be notified by mail of the date, time and location of these meetings. This new option complements existing alternatives, which include: 1) Providing mail delivery service to residents and businesses in the affected community by either rural carrier or highway contract route; 2) Contracting with a local business to create a Village Post Office; and 3) Offering service from a nearby Post Office. A voluntary early retirement incentive for the nation’s more than 21,000 non-executive postmasters was also announced. Survey research conducted by the respected Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) in February, showed 54 percent of rural customers would prefer the new solution to maintain a local Post Office. Forty-six percent prefer one of the previously announced solutions (20% prefer Village Post Office, 15% prefer providing services at a nearby Post Office, 11% prefer expanded rural delivery). This strategy would enable a town to possibly have a Post Office with modified hours, as well as a Village Post Office. The Postal Service has implemented a voluntary moratorium on all postal facility closings through May 15, 2012. No closings or changes to Post Office operations will occur until after that time. In addition to maintaining a retail network of more than 31,000 Post Offices, the Postal Service also provides online access to postal products and services through usps.com and more than 70,000 alternate access locations. Nearly 40-percent of postal retail revenue comes from purchases on usps.com and through approved postal providers such as Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, Costco, and many others. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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Financial Fitness and Tip to Clip

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Vacationing? Plan for Financial Safety Travel plans are on many minds as this is the time of year when many people will be enjoying time away from home. Traveling to new destinations is fun and enjoyable, however, it can be dangerous if safety is not considered while making plans. Whether going on a business trip, family vacation or first trip alone, here are some tips to assist you in getting the most out of your trip without fear of becoming a victim of a crime: * When booking your trip online, always consider a major travel site whose reputation you are familiar with or comes highly recommended from friends or business associates. Be cautious of travel sites that offer discounted prices that are too good to be true. You may not receive the promised tickets or reservations, only to find your money was taken. If you are unfamiliar with the travel site, check its reputation with the state consumer protection agency or Better Business Bureau. Also, look for customer satisfaction sites that may give you information concerning the company considered for travel purchases to learn from others who may have had favorable or unfavorable experiences.

* Refrain from carrying large amounts of cash with you. Consider using your debit card, credit card or travelers checks. (Yes, they are still available.) Contact your credit card company before going on a trip to inform them where your destination is going to be. This notification will allow a fraud alert to be placed on your card, and your purchases won't be suspect by being made in different areas than normal purchases are made. My wife and I both did this before taking a recent trip, and the credit/debit card companies were thankful when the notification was made. Have the telephone number of the credit/debit card company available in the event the card is stolen or lost. * Be careful not to flash money, jewelry or other valuables when on the trip. Keep all valuables in the room safe or hotel safe, and leave electronics devices and cameras in the room safe when you're not using them. * Should anyone knock on your door, check through the door viewer before opening the door. Always have your hotel door secure and locked at all times. Consider leaving the lights on and the television/radio on when you are not in the room to make it seem as if the room is occupied when you're not there. * When leaving the country, guard your passport and carefully protect it. Passport theft and fraud are growing problems as passports can be used in money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorism and illegal entry into the United States. It is important to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy if your passport is lost or a theft occurs.

Be careful when entering your credit card information and see if the website is secure for financial transactions.

* Finally, know and obey all local laws of the area in which you are traveling, especially the drug laws. As within the United States, saying "I didn't know about that law" is no excuse. Also, in many countries, the burden of proof is on the accused, and few countries have * When making any travel plans, be careful and read thoroughly the fine print jury trials, pre-trial release or bail. It could cost you physical intimidation or a large sum of and all agreements relating to the cancellation terms and penalties that could be money. involved. Traveling to new places is exciting; but make your travel experience a safe one. * For personal safety always, make sure someone knows your travel destination plans, with a thorough Steven Parker, a national voice of McGruff the Crime Dog, is a retired crime prevention itinerary of your trip where you could be reached in officer for the Des Moines County Sheriff's office. His column appears in rotation with case of an emergency. Des Moines County Conservation's Chris A COUPONING TIP YOU CAN Lee the fourth and fifth Fridays of the month. CLIP!

New Web Address: ID Appointment Scheduler ID Appointment Scheduler has a new web address, https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil Using the ID Card Facilities web-based appointment scheduling system allows you to make, cancel, or find your previously scheduled appointment at your convenience with no waiting on the telephone. Use this new web address to get started: https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil and press the MAKE APPOINTMENT tab button on the menu bar. Select a state from the drop down menu “OK” (for Oklahoma), press “GO”, select a city “Fort Sill”, press next, and then follow the prompts. The calendar will show six weeks of appointment blocks. As a reminder, multiple card issuances require one appointment per two Family Members. The current phone number 580-442-5010 will still allow you speak to a representative for those personnel who do not have access to a computer or need additional assistance. You can also access the appointment scheduler from the Fort Sill internet address, tab SERVICES drop down menu and clicking on ID Cards/DEERS.

The “Character” Couch: Citizenship Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

Double-Up Your Savings Combining your coupon with other promotions going on in the store will save you a bundle. If you have a shopper's card, look for those items that you have a coupon for that are also discounted with your shopper's card. Double-up on 2For sales, such as two cans of soup for a discounted price, plus your coupon. This is also an excellent time to use the coupons that specify that you save only when you buy two of the same product. Always shop with the grocery store printouts of what is on sale so that you don't miss any of the super buys.

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Inspire and Encourage

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EAP INSPIRATION STATION: Soar Like an Eagle Excerpt from Joel Osteen

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ISAIAH 40:31 THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE, the person who truly trusts in God is compared to an eagle. The eagle has some pests, one of which is the crow. He’s always squawking, always causing the eagle trouble. The truth is, we all have a few crows in our lives. You may have an entire flock of them, along with a few chickens and turkeys as well! Certain people can rub us the wrong way; they can irritate us if we allow them to. We need to take a lesson from the eagle instead. When the eagle is out flying, often a crow will come up right behind him and start to pester him, aggravating and annoying him. Although the eagle is much larger, it cannot maneuver quickly. To get rid of his pest, the eagle simply stretches out his eight-foot wingspan, catches some of the thermal currents, and rises up higher and higher. Eventually he gets to an altitude where no other bird can fly. The crow can’t even breathe up there. On rare occasions, eagles have been spotted at altitudes as high as twenty thousand feet, nearly as high as a jet flies. In the same manner, if you want to get rid of your pest, you need to rise higher. Don’t ever sink down to the opposition’s level. Don’t argue; don’t try to pay somebody back; don’t give the pest the cold shoulder. Be the bigger person. Overlook faults. Walk in love, and dare to bless even your enemies. In the long run, crows can’t compete with eagles. Friend, you are an eagle. You’ve been made in the image of Almighty God. Learn to live above you circumstances. Rise above the petty politics at the office. Don’t let people pull you into strife and division and get you all upset or gossiping. Always remember, the turkeys, chickens, and crows cannot live at the altitude at which you were designed to soar. God is in complete control of your life. He has promised if you will remain at rest, He’ll make your wrongs right. He’ll bring justice into your life. You don’t have to worry, nor must you be controlled by your circumstances. You can do as the eagle and rise up above. You won’t see an eagle pecking around in the chicken coop with a bunch of chickens. An eagle lives in the high places, where he’s close to God.

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Moreover, when the storms come, the eagle doesn’t simply to through the storm. No, he puts his wings out, catches a little more wind, and rises above it. He’ll rise higher until he’s completely above all that turmoil. That eagle is not concerned about the storm he’s facing. He doesn’t get upset. He knows he has a way out. No doubt, he probably could fight his way through the storm, struggle and strain, and come out weary, worn and all beat up. What a shame for him to live that way when God has given him the ability to rise above it. Yet, struggle is what many of us do. God has given us His peace. He’s told us to cast our cares on Him. He said if we’ll just remain at rest, He will fight our battles for us. Too, often, though, we allow ourselves to become worried and upset. We let people steal our joy. We get bent out of shape if our plans don’t work out exactly as we had hoped. Or maybe we’re frustrated because our boss or our husband or wife is not doing what we want them to do. You may not be able to change certain aspects of your life, but you can rise above them. Turn those situations over to God. Make a decision today that you are not going to allow those things to upset you and bother you anymore. Did you know that the crow has to flap his wings tenaciously simply to fly? He has to work constantly. The chicken can barely get off the ground; no matter how much he flaps his wings, he’s not going far. Yet an eagle merely catches the right wind currents, and he’ll soar. He doesn’t have to be like the crow, working and straining all the time. He just puts his wings out and rests in what God has given him, letting the winds carry him. If your are always frustrated, trying to fix everything in your life, trying to straighten this person out for what he or she said about you, worried about your health, worried about your finances, you’re acting like that crow. You’re working and working, flapping and flapping. Friend, life doesn’t have to be that way. Why don’t you relax? God is in complete control of your life. He said He’d never leave you or forsake you. He said He’d be the friend that sticks closer that a brother. Today’s Prayer to Become a Better You How easily I forget, Father, that trusting You isn’t about flapping harder but about letting You lift me. Thank You for Your promise not to let me fall. Today’s Thought to Become a Better You To fly like an eagle, I’ve got to think and trust like an eagle.

What the Good Doctor Says Book Review by Mr. Jay Khalifeh Dr. David B. Agus has startled the medical world with his latest book title, “The End of Illness” In it the cancer doctor, researcher, and technological innovator skirts conventional wisdom about health and encourages everyone to view the body as a whole system. Because no two people are alike, Dr. Agus believes each system is different and that we should not take a cookie cutter approach to our health. He also believes that each of us should become more aware of our bodies and he implores us to survey our breathing, energy levels, appetite, sleep, hair, nails, etc… to get a better picture of our overall health. He recommends that we should view the relationship with our doctors as a partnership and to not put blind trust in our doctors. His controversial recommendations include; Unless you are pregnant or correcting a legitimate nutritional deficiency, avoid taking multivitamins and supplements. They add very little nutritional value to a good diet and his experience demonstrates that they could significantly increase risk for cancer, in the long run. Avoid sitting around most of the day, it can be worse for you than smoking, even if you do a morning workout. Make opportunities throughout the day to get up and move. That baby aspirin, anti-cholesterol medication (statins) and annual flu vaccines can help avoid inflammation (and heart attacks). Avoiding inflaming the cells reduces chances of cancer developing. Keep and store you own medical information. This will help you understand your body better and prepare you for technological revolutions in medicine coming soon. Eat, sleep, and exercise about the same times, 365 days a year to keep your body from be stressed. When stressed, the body is off balance and according to the good doctor, good health is all about balance.

EAP FUNNY CORNER

Think I’m cute?? Check out my friends! Click BABY for this month’s funny corner video.

Share Your American Traditions Join the International Military Student Host Family Sponsor Program The International Military Student (IMS) Host Family Sponsor Program is a hospitality program designed to provide IMS at Fort Sill and, in some cases, their spouses and children, an opportunity to become acquainted with American family life. The Sponsor Program consists of Volunteers who agree to act as sponsors, take a genuine interest in the students and help them to know and understand the American people. And reciprocally, the sponsor gets a better understanding and appreciation for the country each student represents as they learn from each other. Ideally, the sponsor endeavors to show the student all aspects of our country by affording them the opportunity to participate in home and community activities and permit the student to come to their own conclusions about the American way of life. Through simple hospitality, mutual tolerance, understanding and respect, students and sponsors share their cultural background and national origins as they mold lasting friendships. For registration call Ms. Quendresenia Foster at (580) 442-3689 Or visit the International Student Division in Bldg 5690 Geronimo Road, Fort Sill, OK YOUR EAP IS READY TO SERVE

COME VISIT US AT:

Well-Being Center, ASAP

EAP Services to Employees and Supervisors:

3415 Miner Road

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Assessment, problem identification, and short-term counseling/intervention.

Fort Sill, OK 73503

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Referral for treatment and rehabilitation to appropriate community counseling/treatment resources. Follow-up services to aid an employee in achieving an effective readjustment to his or her job after treatment. Training and education for supervisors and employees about alcohol and drugs.

Phone: 580-442-4205 Fax: 580-442-5704

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EAP Services to the Installation Organization: E-mail: rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/  Training and consultation for supervisors and managers on how and when to make proper use of Lawton-OK/Fort-Sill-Army-SubstanceEAP services for improving employee performance and conduct. Abuse- Program/115638415119642  Consultation to management about trends in employee needs, work groups, and related conWebsite: http://sill-www.army.mil/USAG/ RaShonda M. Labrador, MS, CEAP cerns dealing with work/life/wellness support DHR/ASAP/ (580)442-4205/6306 programs. rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil

Sneak Peek: What to Expect Next Month Brian Langford FAMILY CELEBRATIONS AND VACATIONS

TALK TO ME...

This time of year brings lots of travel, relaxation, WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! fun in the sun and family gatherings. The next Please contact us if you HAVE ANY SUGedition of Workforce Pride will address the GESTIONS!! Your comments will be greatly many issues that all of these adventures can appreciated!!! bring. Also, the top 5 vacation spots will be exANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD plored and discussed for those last minute planLIKE TO SHARE?? ners for a fabulous getaway, close, afar and Contact me at 580-442-4205/6306 or at abroad. Until next time…..be blessed!! rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil. Disclaimer: Information, views or opinions expressed in the Workforce Pride e-newsletter originates from many different sources and contributors throughout the general community. Please note that content and hyperlinks external to the US Government websites does not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions of the Fort Sill Garrison, the Fires Center of Excellence or the United States Army or their affiliates nor are the events endorsed by the same.

July 27, 1970-June 1, 2012 Team Sill is saddened by the loss of one of our dedicated team members. Mr. Brian Langford, Ft. Sill Firefighter, passed away on 1 June 2012. We would like to send our condolences to the Langford family. Also, at this time, the Langford and Ft. Sill Fire Department family would like to say thanks for the tremendous amount of support received from the local community. The acts of service are greatly appreciated.