fort meade soundoff september 27 2012

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 39 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community September 27, 2012

UPCOMING EVENTS TOday, NOON:

Army Field Band Hispanic Heritage concert - Argonne Hills Chapel Center

FRIday. 8 a.M.-3 P.M.:Retiree Appreciation Day - McGill

FRIday, 7-10 P.M.:End of Summer Deck Party - The Lanes

WEdNESday, 11 a.M.-12:30 P.M.:Domestic Violence Awareness Month

kickoff event - McGill

OCT. 4, 11:30 a.M.-1 P.M.:Hispanic Heritage Month

Observance - McGill

WE dElIVERDefense Courier Service competes to test core

competency skillspage 6

SISTER SChOOlSChinese educators visit

MacArthur Middle School for cultural exchange

page 16

photo by pfc. Joshua R. Mckinney, 55th signal coMpany

running for resiliencyService members run down MacArthur Road during the Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run on Friday morning. More than 2,400 service members attended the run in recognition of 9/11, PoWS and MIAs, as well as to promote resiliency and wellness. For the story, see 4.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! September 27, 2012

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................18

TroubleTicket............... 4 Movies.................................23

Community................. 20 Classified.............................24

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. thomas J. latterPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-1361; DSN: 622-1361.

Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

Printed by Patuxent Publishing Co., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.

www.ftmeade.army.milYou can also keep track of Fort Meade on Twitter at twitter.com/ftmeademd

and view the Fort Meade Live Blog at ftmeade.armylive.dodlive.mil.

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Last week, Fort Meade submitted its entry for the Installation Management Command Army Communities of Excellence.

The competition recognizes excellence in instal-lation management and the outstanding and inno-vative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations.

The program is also an opportunity for IMCOM to encourage and recognize installations that build on organizational knowledge, foster a change in cul-ture and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

In many respects, the ACOE represents Fort Meade’s commitment to create an environment that delivers services and infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for service members, families and civilians who serve our nation. By doing so, we allow our partner commands and agencies to perform their missions with great confidence.

One of the unique aspects of Fort Meade is that Fort Meade is not designated as a “joint base” installation. We are a large, multiservice, multiagency population with more than 95 part-ner commands and agencies. Our composition provides unique challenges that require us to create innovative solutions and encourage partnerships, on and off the installation.

As a growing community, Fort Meade strives to consistently improve the quality of life for our community members. We continue to look for innovative ways to accommodate the entire instal-lation community in ways that will have a positive impact on everyone’s daily life.

One example of how we are working to accom-modate our growth is related to the development of new facilities. Currently, we are planning for a new Exchange, two new Child Development Centers and another gas station/Shoppette.

Plans are also in place to develop additional privatized barracks and garden apartments for enlisted service members who work and live here.

Fort Meade also is concerned with the environ-ment and is moving toward a sustainable future through reduction of our energy footprint, water conservation and new construction that meets or exceeds standards for energy and environmental certifications.

This year, the Environmental Division coor-dinated a massive cleanup of more than 24,000

tons of meth-ane-producing waste material from a 1940s-era dumpsite located between residential hous-ing and Manor View Elementary School.

This cleanup project will allow us to return to community use an area that had been restricted.

Off the installation, we conducted coordination with Howard County officials to use more than 5 million gallons of treated water daily in the cool-ing systems for the planned recapitalization of National Security Agency facilities.

In addition to saving aquifer water, which is a limited resource, the treated water is projected to reduce costs by 40 percent.

As transformation moves forward, we continue to plan for infrastructure and facility expansions. We have established a Mission Growth Initiative to ensure that our growth is fully supported by, and integrated into, regional jurisdictions.

We also have established a regional business ini-tiative through the Regional Growth Management Committee with 2,300 member businesses that focuses on improving the quality of contract sup-port provided to the installation and its partners.

Fort Meade is able to achieve mission success in many respects due to the innovations of its work-force and the partnerships that allow us to find balance between available (and at times reduced) resources and the needs of our community.

The ACOE program is more than just a contest. It is an opportunity to allow garrison leaders to say “thank you” for all of your ideas and work that have attributed to excellent services, excellent facilities and a quality environment that lets service members and their families know we care about them and that we are doing our part to make sure they are able to perform their missions with great confidence.

Have a great week!

Recognizing excellence

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrisonCommanderCol.EdwardC.Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.Allservicemembers,retirees,governmentemployees,familymembersandcommunity

membersage18orolderare invitedtoaddress issuesorconcernstothecommanderdirectlybyvisitingRothstein’sofficeonMondaysfrom4to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.

Visitorsareseenonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Noappointmentisnecessary.Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil September 27, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

Domestic Violence Awareness MonthDomestic Violence Awareness Month activities will be held throughout October:• “Remember Me”: Oct. 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. at McGill Training Center ballroom, 8452 Zimborski Ave.Event will feature the signing of a proclamation and guest speaker William Kellibrew of the William Kellibrew Foundation• Domestic Violence in the Workplace Training: Oct. 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.• Domestic Violence 101 Training: Oct. 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.• “Hands R-Not For Hitting”: Oct. 4 from 9 to 10:15 a.m. at Child Development Center I, 4725 Ruffner Road; Oct. 15 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at CDC II, 3100 MacArthur Road; and Oct. 25 from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. at CDC III, 910 Ernie Pyle Road.• Teens and Bullying: Oct. 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Teen Center, 3102 Clark St.The event will feature presenter Mothyna James-Brightful, community educator at TurnAround, a domestic violence and sexual assault center in Baltimore.• The Rights of the Military Spouse and Related Family Law Issues: Oct. 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.The program will be presented by the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Division.• Human Trafficking: Oct. 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at McGill Training Center 8452 Zimborski Ave.The program will be presented by the FBI.• Silent Witness Project Display: Oct. 15 to 19, McGill Training Center• Professional Ethics Training for Social Workers/Mental Health Professionals: Oct. 19 from 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Conference Center (formerly the Courses Clubhouse)• Donate a Cell Phone to a Victim at collection boxes at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.Cell phones will go to Verizon and will be used as “hope lines.” Victims will receive phones with 3,000 anytime minutes.• Shower Fort Meade with Purple LightsPicerne Military Housing will issue purple lightbulbs to the first 100 on-post participants. Lights will be displayed during October.• Purple FridayCommunity is encouraged to wear purple every Friday in October.For more information, call Tina Gauth, Fort Meade victim advocate, at 301-677-4117.

Flu shots offered through OctoberKimbrough Ambulatory Care Center is providing walk-in flu vaccinations at the following times and places:• Friday: 8 a.m. to noon, during Retiree Appreciation Day, McGill Training Center, retirees only• Monday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Defense Information School, staff and students only• Tuesday: 8 a.m. to noon, DINFOS, staff and students only• Oct. 9-12: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGill Training Center, Room 6, active-duty family members, retirees and their family members, and DoD civilian employees• Oct. 15-17: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGill Training Center, Room 6, active-duty family members, retirees and their family members, and DoD civilian employees• Oct. 19 and Oct. 22-26: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGill Training Center, ballroom. Soldiers Readiness Processing and active-duty service members. Reserve and National Guard personnel must be in a duty status to participate.• Oct. 29-31: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGill Training Center, Room 6, active-duty service members, active-duty family members, retirees and their family members, and DoD civilian employees.

Connect with Fort Meade atFacebook.com/ftmeade

By Philip H. JonesCommand Information ChiefPublic Affairs Office

Beginning Monday, service members will assist in manning the installation’s five access control points.

The addition of military personnel serving as security guards is part of a Directorate of Emergency Services’ mitigation plan to keep the controlled access gates open while Fort Meade transitions from contract security guards to Department of Army security

guards, said Lt. Col. J. Darrell Sides, provost marshal and director of DES.

Augmenting the DA security guards with military personnel allows DES to recruit, train and deploy new security guards, Sides said. He anticipates using military personnel at the installation’s controlled access gates for approxi-mately the next 90 days or until DES has hired and trained all of the new DA Civilian guard force.

“All security policies and procedures will remain the same,” said Sides. “The

safety and security of the installation will not be compromised while the con-version takes place. There are no plans to close any of the present installation controlled access points or adjust the gate hours of operation.”

The U.S. Army Installation Man-agement Command ordered all of its installations to convert to using DA security guards as part of its plan to meet congressional mandates and the secretary of defense’s in-sourcing tar-gets.

The contracted guards will be replaced by trained, screened, and med-ically-processed Department of Army security guards. The majority of newly hired guards will also be former or retired service members.

The DES is finalizing its plan to use military personnel as security guards at Fort Meade gates, Sides said. Military personnel may include members of the 289th Military Police Company from Fort Meyers, Va. and from Fort Meade partner organizations.

Service members to guard gates for next 90 days


News

Sept. 21, Larceny of private prop-erty: The victim stated she placed her diamond and platinum wed-ding ring set on the TV stand in her master bedroom and it was stolen.

Sept. 22, Larceny of private prop-erty: An investigation revealed the victim left his cell phone unsecured and unattended in his vehicle, and it was stolen.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency ServicesTrouble Ticket

Youth Services Sports Complex needs renovations

Renovate the Youth Services Sports Complex

Actual use of fields is expected to be Spring 2013

Have you noticed an issue on post and wondered if anything is being done to fix it? Email concerns and

issues to [email protected]. Each week, Soundoff! will

address issues identified on post and describe what is being done to

solve them.

Issue: Plan: Status:

McGill Training Center HVAC is inoperative

(except in the ballroom)

Install a new HVAC

Demolition and installation are now being performed,

classrooms 1-5 closed during A/C installation

(until Oct. 1, estimated)

Chaplain’s Word: BUSYNESS

“O Lord, you know how busy I must be today.

If I forget you, do not forget me.”

— Anthony Ashley Cooper

By Jim BrueggemeyerIndustrial Hygiene Technician

If we ever saw an 8-year-old smoking a cigarette ... unfortunately, we put our children in danger every day by smoking in the car and at home and by placing them in day care with providers who smoke.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke is sec-ondhand smoke, the smoke generated by the cigarette both before and after it has been expelled by the smoker.

Inhalation of this smoke is also called passive smoking. This smoke is a complex mixture of more than 4,000 compounds of which 50 are known to cause cancer in humans and animals and are strong irritants.

It has been estimated that 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults are the direct result of secondhand smoke.

Infants and young children whose parents smoke in their presence are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchitis) and more likely to have symptoms of respirato-ry irritation such as cough, excess phlegm and wheeze.

These children also may experience a buildup of fluid in the middle ear, which can lead to ear infections. Older children who have been exposed to secondhand smoke may have slightly reduced lung function.

Asthmatic children are especially at risk.

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the number of episodes and the severity of symptoms in hundreds of thousands of asthmatic children and may cause thou-sands of nonasthmatic children to develop the disease each year.

Exposure to secondhand smoke causes eye, nose and throat irritation. It may affect the cardiovascular system. An esti-mated 46,000 deaths per year from heart disease is caused by secondhand smoke.

To reduce exposure to secondhand smoke:

• Don’t smoke at home or permit others to do so. Ask smokers to go outdoors.

• Do not smoke if children are present, particularly infants and toddlers.

• Do not allow baby sitters or others who work in your home to smoke indoors.

Find out about the smoking policies of the day care center, schools and other care givers of your children. If your children smell like cigarette smoke when you pick them up today, drop them off at a different day care tomorrow.

Winter weather pollutantsWith winter quickly approaching and

windows closing and the heaters turning on, secondhand smoke is only one of the pollutants that can mix with the air our children breathe. Other sources are unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces and gas stoves.

Take precautions to protect our children’s airThe major pollutants released are car-

bon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and par-ticles.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odor-less gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. At high concentrations it can cause unconscious-ness and death. Lower concentrations can cause a range of symptoms from head-aches, weakness, nausea and confusion to fatigue in healthy people.

Nitrogen dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the mucus membranes in the eye, nose and throat and causes short-ness of breath after exposures of high concentrations.

Particles are released when fuels are incompletely burned and can lodge in the lungs and irritate or damage lung tissue. A number of pollutants, including radon and benzo(a)pyrene, both of which can cause cancer, attach to particles that are inhaled and then carried deep into the lung.

Reducing exposuresTake special precautions when operat-

ing fuel-burning unvented space heaters.Consider potential effects of indoor air

pollution if you use an unvented kerosene or gas space heater. Follow the manu-facturer’s directions especially regarding proper fuel and proper adjustments.

A persistent yellow-tipped flame is

generally an indicator of maladjustment and increased pollutant emissions. While a space heater is in use, try to mix the air throughout the house and open a window slightly for fresh air.

Keep woodstove emissions to a mini-mum. Choose properly sized new stoves that are certified as meeting EPA emis-sions standards,

Make certain that doors in old wood-stoves fit tightly. Use aged or cured (dried) wood only, and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Chemicals are used to pressure treat wood; such wood should never be burned indoors.

Have your central air handling sys-tems including furnace, flu and chim-ney inspected annually. Promptly repair cracks and damaged parts.

Blocked, leaking or damaged chimneys or flues release harmful combustion gas-ses and particles and even fatal concentra-tions of carbon monoxide.

Strictly follow all service and mainte-nance procedures recommended by the manufacturer including how frequently to change the filter. Proper maintenance is equally important on newer equipment.

Remember, it’s the air our kids breathe.

Editor’s note: Information for this article came from the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency.


News

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

Defense couriers are trained to handle sensitive materials with discretion and cau-tion. Carrying a cup of water with a forklift through a weaving course or maneuvering a basketball into a hoop using the giant tines, however, is a whole new level of careful.

On Friday, members of the Defense Cou-rier Service Baltimore Station, located at Fort Meade, tested their skills in the Defense Cou-rier Rodeo. The daylong event featured chal-lenges with forklifts, trucks, pallet stacking, handling packages and an obstacle course.

“Everything is geared around things we do every day,” said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Moon, chief of the station.

The Defense Courier Service is a joint-service organization that transports secure materials. Located near Gaffney Fitness Cen-ter, the station is one of 18 worldwide and handles an average of 1.2 million pounds of materially annually.

Moon said the rodeo was partially held in remembrance of 9/11.

“This is also our tribute to 9/11,” he said. “We’re testing our skills. We feel like that’s the best way we can support and remember those who lost their lives, to be proficient at what we do.”

The concept of the rodeo was based on the Air Mobility Rodeo, a biennial interna-tional airlift competition hosted by the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command that tests service members’ capabilities in a competitive environment.

After about seven months of planning, the inaugural Defense Courier Rodeo was held Friday.

“We just brought that concept to this cou-rier station,” Moon said.

While the event created a competitive atmo-sphere between the close-knit defense couriers, Moon said the main focus of the event was to sharpen their skills while having a little fun.

“I’ve been saying, ‘Let’s have fun today.’ We go through training, we go through Pow-erPoint slides, we do a little bit of hands on, but you can’t beat this,” he said.

Service members formed four teams of four for the competition: Warriors, Couri-ers of Anarchy, Hakuna Mattata and Five Guys.

Throughout the event, teams conducted a combat courier mission in which they were given a package to handle using proper pro-tocol. That included presenting credentials whenever asked and possessing the package the entire day. Failure to do so would disquali-fy the team from the final obstacle course.

With the packages in backpacks, the teams began the event with four tasks: over-the-

Competitive rodeo tests defense couriers’ skills

photo by sarah pastrana

Sgt. Sheldon Semper-Henry (right) guides Sgt. Darius Turner in placing a basketball through the hoop during the 5K forklift driving course at the Defense Courier Rodeo. The event, held Friday at the Defense Courier Service Baltimore Station near Gaffney Fitness Center, helped couriers sharpen their skills.

counter challenge, 8-ton serpentine driving course, 5K forklift driving course and a pallet buildup competition. In each event, points were deducted for various errors such as adjusting the tines while driving the forklift or hitting a cone on the truck course.

During the over-the-counter challenge, each team conducted typical work at the customer counter such as processing mail and delivering a package to a customer. The 8-ton course tested the driving skills of one member per team as remaining service members directed the large truck through a winding course both forward and backward.

For the 5K forklift driving course, each driver maneuvered the machine through a complex course with the help of one spotter. The driver first carried a cup of water on the tines through a weaving course going forward and backward. Each driver then placed cargo on a skid before picking up a basketball, mak-ing a figure 8 and placing the ball through a

hoop with the tines.Sgt. Shawn Sigley, who maneuvered

through the course for the Warriors, said it was a difficult challenge.

“The water on the tongs was a real chal-lenge,” he said. “Especially with the holes in the floor, it’s real easy to spill and knock over. Basketball was just fun.”

For the pallet buildup, competitors sorted through materials then stacked the boxes on a pallet.

After all groups completed the challenges, they competed in a final obstacle course out-side. The course included a run, low crawl, van push, dunnage carry back-and-forth, stretcher carry, semitruck tire flip, skid carry, sit-ups and pushups. At the end of the obstacle course, the teams encountered a gate locked with a high-security lock.

To unlock the gate and finish the competi-tion, the teams had to locate the codes inside the packages they had been carrying all day.

Yeoman 2nd Class Cari Moody, team leader for Hakuna Mattata, said the obstacle course was the hardest part of the competi-tion.

“You’ve already spent all day [competing], it’s hot outside and you’re tired,” she said.

After the competition, several of the defense couriers said they enjoyed the break from everyday work.

“It was awesome,” Moody said. “It was better than I thought.”

During the award ceremony, Moon said he was “really proud of everybody.” He also presented a large trophy to the Warriors for the victory.

Couriers of Anarchy came in second. Hakuna Mattata took third, while Five Guys finished fourth.

“It was great,” said Sgt. Marcus Atchinson, team leader of the Warriors. “It was definitely a challenge and a great training experience. I want to do it again.”

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil September 27, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Jane M. Winand, ChiefLegal Assistance Division

Legal Assistance attorneys get many questions concerning the obligations of Army Soldiers to provide financial support to family members.

If you are married or have children, you probably owe your family members support, and Army Regulation 608-99, “Family Support, Child Custody, and Paternity” (AR 608-99), imposes obli-gations on you and your commander to make sure you are providing support.

The issue ordinarily arises when a Soldier has children from a previ-ous marriage or becomes separated from his or her spouse. The amount of support is set by a court order, an agreement between the parties or, in the absence of either, by Army regula-tion.

AR 608-99 provides that “Soldiers will comply with the financial support provisions of all court orders.”

As an example, if your divorce decree grants your ex-spouse a certain amount of alimony or child support (or states that you don’t owe any), that is the amount the Army will require you to pay.

In many cases, spouses who are sepa-rating will enter into a written financial support agreement (with which the Legal Assistance Division can help you), pending divorce. That agreement may terminate upon divorce or be incorporated into the divorce decree.

If you enter into such an agreement, the Army will expect you to honor it by paying the amount of support specified. If you have neither a court order nor an agreement, AR 608-99 sets the amount of support you owe. That amount depends on your grade, whether you’re supporting one or more family units and whether your fam-ily members are living in government quarters.

If you are supporting one fam-ily unit not residing in government quarters, you will typically owe your

family members the amount of your Basic Allowance for Housing II - With Dependents (“BAH II-WITH”), regardless of whether or not you are actually receiving BAH II-WITH.

Thus, in the absence of a court order or agreement, an E-5 supporting a spouse and two children who live off post owes them $812.10 per month.

If you are supporting one family unit residing in government quarters, you are not required to provide any additional support.

If the family members move out of government housing, you must then pay them your BAH II-WITH.

If you are supporting multiple fam-ily units not residing in government housing, you owe each family member a pro-rata share of your BAH II-WITH. The pro-rata share is calcu-lated by dividing your BAH II-WITH by the total number of family members (not counting former spouses) you are supporting.

For example, Capt. Lee is support-ing his wife, who is living off post, and two children from a previous marriage residing elsewhere with their mother. There are no court orders or agree-ments. His BAH II-WITH is $1,111.80. He must provide $741.20 in support to the mother of his children (two-thirds of the BAH II-WITH), and $370.60 to his wife (one-third of the BAH-II WITH).

This is a simplified version of the Army’s family support requirements.

There are many different scenarios that may affect support requirements. The important thing to remember is that the Army takes these obligations seriously and requires its commanders to ensure that they’re fulfilled.

If you have questions about your obligations, or you or your children are military dependents who are not being properly supported, schedule an appointment to meet with a Legal Assistance Division attorney at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.

Army regulations require financial support of families

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News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Two employees from Army Community Service attended the White House Forum on Job Clubs and Career Ministries on Sept. 20.

Vikki Torrence, Employment Readiness Program manager, and Marie Miles, Fort Meade’s Army Volunteer Corps coordinator, represented the installation at the one-day forum.

The event, held at the White House, was sponsored by the White House’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partner-ships and the U.S. Department of Labor.

The theme was “On The Front Lines of Getting Americans Back To Work.” U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis was the guest speaker.

More than 100 people, including job club and career ministry leaders; religious, com-munity and nonprofit leaders; and workforce officials attended the forum. The participants work in communities across the country to help the unemployed find viable jobs.

Torrence was invited to attend because she is the lead for the Fort Meade Military & Spouse Employment Support Group.

The job club, which started in November 2011, acknowledges the unique employment needs of military spouses, service members and DoD civilians.

Ben Seigel, deputy director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partner-ships, attended the job club’s inaugural event and has been supportive of its efforts, said

Torrence.The Department of Labor defines a job

club as a support group of unemployed people who meet regularly at a church, pub-lic library or community center to provide networking opportunities and employment resources.

Last year, CFNP began encouraging faith- and community-based organizations to host job clubs as one more method to

help job-seekers improve their skills and find employment.

Torrence invited Miles to attend the forum because they work together to help members of the Fort Meade community improve their job skills and find jobs and/or volunteer opportunities that can lead to employment.

The forum included seminars on how job clubs, career ministries and local workforce agencies across the country are serving the

unemployed. The event also focused on innovative ways to help specialized groups, such as senior citizens and young adults, into the job market.

“It was good to know that we got it right,” Miles said.

Fort Meade provides professional classes and training for all members of the commu-nity, particularly youth, said Miles.

During the Youth Summer Volunteer Leadership Challenge last summer, teens learned how to create a professional portfo-lio and manage their finances.

Torrence said she is glad that Fort Meade provides job support for military spouses who can often be overlooked by traditional employment services.

“Very few people think of military spous-es, unless we think about it,” she said.

Torrence said the forum encouraged her to “continue my partnership building and expanding to the faith-based community, to churches that have job clubs in our area and volunteers who can assist us.”

In the future, Torrence said, she hopes vol-unteers from other job clubs can help orga-nize a panel on mock interviews to help the unemployed develop their interview skills.

“When it comes to job clubs, the most successful are those that are a part of the community,” Torrence said. “We would like the community at Fort Meade to be active members in the process.”

For more information about the Employ-ment Readiness Program, call 301-677-5590.

ACS staffers attend White House jobs forum

photo courtesy of marie miles

(Left) Marie Miles, Fort Meade’s Army Volunteer Corps coordinator, and Vikki Torrence, Employment Readiness Program manager, represented Fort Meade at the White House on Sept. 20. The two staffers at Army Community Service attended the White House Forum on Job Clubs and Career Ministries, which was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

By J.D. LeipoldARNEWS

The Army has ordered nearly 2 million doses of vaccine to immunize all Soldiers, their families, civilian employees and retirees for the upcoming flu season.

The vaccinations will be available at most installations in October, but each medical facil-ity will set its own schedule for distribution.

Seasonal influenza can start as early as October and run as late as May, but it gen-erally peaks between January and March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC cautions that new flu viruses can appear that could lengthen the season — though that’s not expected for 2012 to 2013.

The Army expects to have 90 percent of the force vaccinated by Dec. 17, according to Col. Richard Looney, director of the Army

Military Vaccination Program. He said vac-cinations would be available at installations as soon as it’s received and until the supply runs out or expires.

“Regardless of previous vaccination his-tory, routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons age 6 months and older,” Looney said. “Several studies have demonstrated that post-vaccination immunity declines over the course of a year, thus, annual vaccination is recommended for optimal pro-tection against influenza.”

Looney said about two-thirds of the Army’s order for 2012 consists of vaccine that’s given through intramuscular injection and the remaining third of the order is the type admin-istered via nasal spray.

The dominant influenza strain for the upcoming flu season remains the H1N1 strain from 2009, Looney said, adding that due to

outstanding efforts and immunization cam-paigns of the past few years, people are more aware and likely to be adequately protected during the height of flu season.

Immunization rates climb every year, and Looney said he sees no reason why that trend won’t continue. An annual average of 25 mil-lion reported cases, 36,000 deaths and 226,000 hospitalizations occur each year in the U.S. due to influenza infections.

“Immunization is the very best protection against disease and related complications,” Looney said. “Vaccines are safe and effective, and have saved more lives than any other medi-cal measure in history.”

People who should not be vaccinated against the flu without first consulting their physicians include:

• People with severe allergies to chicken eggs

• People who have previously suffered severe reactions to influenza vaccinations

• People with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome

• Children younger than 6 months of age• People acutely ill with fevers — those with

a mild, common cold and a low-grade fever do not have to wait to be vaccinated.

Vaccination is especially important for the following, in order to decrease the risk of illness:

• Pregnant women• Children younger than age 5 and espe-

cially children under age 2• People 65 years of age and older• American Indians and Alaskan natives• People of any age with certain chronic

medical conditions• People who are morbidly obese• People who live in nursing homes

Army readies for upcoming influenza season

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! September 27, 2012

News

By Tech. Sgt. Steve GreverAir Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

Air Force officials are urging Regular Air Force Airmen who are eligible to re-enlist or extend their current enlistment in December and early January to complete these person-nel actions through the myPers website and their base military personnel sections or force support squadrons by Nov. 15 to avoid processing delays and military pay issues.

Airmen need to accomplish these actions because the Air Force is upgrading and transferring the Military Personnel Data System to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Defense Enterprise Computing Center in December. The upgrade project is scheduled to take about 23 days to com-plete, during which time MilPDS will not be available.

MilPDS is the primary records data-base for personnel data and actions that occur throughout every total force Airman’s career.

MilPDS is also used to initiate Airman pay actions, maintain Air Force account-ability and strength data and support a host of interactions with other Air Force processes and systems that rely on person-nel data.

Airmen should access the myPers website and work with their base MPSs or FSSs to minimize the impact the MilPDS upgrade will have on processing military person-nel transactions such as re-enlistments or extending current enlistments.

Re-enlistment-eligible Airmen or Airmen with service-directed retainability require-ments such as Permanent Change of Station or retraining orders should contact their base MPS and complete their re-enlistment or enlistment extension paperwork by Nov. 15.

“Airmen who accomplish their re-enlist-

ment or enlistment extension by Nov. 15 should not experience interruptions in their pay because their MPS can process their actions and clear any rejects in the system prior to the MilPDS upgrade,” said Michael McLaughlin, Air Force Personnel Center re-enlistments branch chief. “Getting these personnel transactions completed and into the Defense Finance and Accounting Ser-vice system are the fastest means to update an Airman’s pay and entitlements and will reduce the need for DFAS to manually over-ride or correct an Airman’s pay record.”

Airmen can re-enlist during the upgrade in December, but they may experience addi-tional delays in processing these transac-tions to DFAS if their date of separation expires during the MilPDS upgrade.

The Air Force processes more than 60,000 re-enlistments and enlistment exten-sions annually.

Reserve and Guard members will receive specific instructions from the Air Force Reserve Command and Air Reserve Per-sonnel Center concerning how the MilPDS upgrade will impact their personnel pro-grams. More information is available on the ARPC public website at http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil.

FSS and MPS representatives are con-tinuing to host MilPDS upgrade briefings to help base leadership and Airmen under-stand the upgrade’s impact on Airmen and Air Force personnel programs.

Officials will continue to release addi-tional information and guidance to the Air Force’s manpower, personnel, services and pay communities and total force Airmen to continue to educate them on how the service will perform critical personnel and pay tasks during the MilPDS upgrade.

For more information about the MilPDS upgrade, visit the myPers website at http://mypers.af.mil.

Airmen encouraged to re-enlist, extend before MilPDS Nov. upgrade

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News

First Army Division EastPublic Affairs Office

After 27 months as the senior enlisted advisor of First Army Division East, Com-mand Sgt. Maj. Edwin Rodriguez passed the noncommissioned officer sword, signi-fying the transfer of responsibility of Divi-sion East, to Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis E. Defreese.

Maj. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel, command-ing general of First Army Division East, presided over the ceremony Friday on McGlachlin Parade Field.

“It is an honor for me to preside over one of the most important ceremonies we execute in the Army — the change of responsibility ceremony for senior enlisted leaders,” he said.

Representatives of Division East’s eight brigades with their unit colors, led by their respective command sergeants major, assembled on the field for the ceremony. Bugle calls replaced verbal commands.

Music was provided by members of the 392nd Army Band at Fort Lee, Va.

Wendel welcomed Defreese to the team and said he looks forward to serving with him.

“Command Sergeant Major Defreese brings us a wealth of knowledge and experi-ence gained from leadership at every NCO level and multiple combat tours,” he said. “I would like to thank the sergeant major of the Army for sending us one of the very best, handpicked to lead at the division level.”

In his remarks, Defreese said he was grateful for the opportunity.

“I want to thank Major General Wendel for his confidence in me,” he said. “I am extremely excited about working with and serving the Soldiers of this dynamic and important organization. ... To the leaders and Soldiers on the field, you look great. ”

In his new assignment, Rodriguez will be command sergeant major for the Office of the Security Cooperation - Iraq.

“During my tenure here, I have tried to instill the essential characteristics of the Army profession: trust — both within the ranks and with the American public — competence, commitment, training and experience,” Rodriguez said.

“In fact, we take that trust one step further as we are entrusted with the train-ing and preparation of Reserve Compo-nent Soldiers for deployments around the world. This is a sacred trust we must never violate.”

First Army Division East, comprised of eight brigades located throughout the

eastern United States, mobilizes, trains, validates, deploys and demobilizes Reserve Component Soldiers, Sailors and Air-men along with selected members of the interagency and intergovernmental depart-ments to and from deployments around the world.

During his speech, Wendel estimated Rodriguez spent more than 200 days a year traveling to visit Soldiers across the United States, ensuring tasks and training were completed on time and on target.

“Thank you for a job well done,” Wen-del said. “You have been involved in every major mission in Division East, made an incredible difference across our force and most importantly, ensured those deploy-ing were manned, equipped, trained and ready.”

Wendel also credited Rodriguez with taking care of more than 20,000 Soldiers each year as they prepared to deploy to locations around the world.

“He ensured every Soldier returning from the fight was properly and profes-sionally transitioned back to Reserve sta-tus,” Wendel said. “Throughout it all, he has ensured adherence to standards and professionalism amongst our trainers and the units we have worked with.

“Too numerous to mention, but doz-ens of U. S. Army Reserve and National Guard leaders have personally thanked me for the efforts of Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez for his mentorship, lead-ership and training he has provided to their NCO corps.”

Wendel said he wasn’t surprised Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. selected Rodri-guez as his next command sergeant major for the Office of the Security Cooperation - Iraq.

“Lieutenant General Caslen needs the best - the consummate senior mentor, leader and trainer who leads by example and exemplifies the Army values and our profession of arms,” he said. “I cannot think of a better senior NCO to lead our efforts in Iraq.”

In his remarks, Rodriguez spoke of Division East’s accomplishments during his tenure.

“It was fast and furious, but we accom-plished every mission to the utmost of our ability,” he said. “I can’t help but feel proud of everything we accomplished together. Your efforts and support have made my job easy.”

Speaking to Defreese, Rodriguez urged him to continue to build esprit de corps

“Dennis, as you take the reins as the

Division Command Sergeant Major, it is incumbent that you continue to build esprit de corps across the Division East footprint by creating a sense of belonging that will inspire excellence and the forti-tude to never quit among our Soldiers,” Rodriguez said. “And in all things, train for combat!”

First Army welcomes new command sergeant major

Photo by Sgt. Courtney A. Selig

Maj. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel, commanding general for First Army Division East, passes the noncommissioned officer sword to the incoming command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis E. Defreese, on Friday morning at McGlachlin Parade Field.


News

By Wendy PoulsonSocial Security Manager, Glen Burnie

Chances are, if you receive Social Securi-ty benefits, Supplemental Security Income or any federal payment, you receive it electronically.

More than 90 percent of people getting monthly Social Security benefits already receive electronic payments.

If you don’t yet, that’s about to change.A U.S. Department of Treasury rule

does away with paper checks for most federal benefit and nontax payments by March 1, 2013. With a few exceptions, this mandate includes Social Security, SSI, Vet-erans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits and other nontax payments.

People required to switch have the option of direct deposit to a bank or credit union account, or they can have their monthly payment directed into a Direct ExpressÆ debit card account (Treasury’s debit card program).

For more information, visit www.godi-rect.org.

So, why the push for electronic pay-ments instead of paper checks received in the mail?

• It’s safer: no risk of checks being lost or stolen.

• It’s easy and reliable: no need to wait for the mail or go to the bank to cash a check.

• It saves taxpayers money: no cost for postage, paper and printing. Treasury estimates this will save taxpayers $1 billion over 10 years.

• It’s good for the environment: it saves paper and eliminates the need for physical transportation.

If you still get your check in the mail, don’t wait for the new rule to go into effect next year. Sign up for electronic payments now.

Visit godirect.org today to begin getting your Social Security and SSI payments the safe, easy, reliable way - electronically.

Social Security payments to arrive electronically

By 1st Lt. Logan A. ClarkU.S. Cyber Command Public Affairs

Complex technological issues require changes in policy and wide-ranging cooperation, according to the chief of staff of U.S. Cyber Command.

Rear Adm. Margaret Klein also said the issue needs to be addressed as the world becomes connected through the internet; with new technology, she said, come new legal challenges and ques-tions.

Her comments keynoted the com-mand’s staff judge advocate and legal team USCYBERCOM Interagency Legal Conference on Sept. 18 at the McGill Training Center to discuss legal issues surrounding cyber operations.

The meeting was the second annual event hosted by USCYBERCOM and included speakers from the command, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Jus-tice, as well as speakers and attendees from corporations and academia.

“These policy challenges arise as tech-nology is invented and we come up with ways of implementing that technology,”

Klein said at the conference. “Attorneys and scholars both face a variety of com-plex issues surrounding the use of this new technology.”

Klein also expressed the necessity of a combined effort in finding solutions to these dilemmas, especially as the U.S. becomes more reliant on technol-ogy for national defense and economic strength.

“One of the reasons I’m happy to see all of you from different organizations come together is the fact that cyberspace requires interagency as well as interser-vice and international cooperation,” she said, highlighting the joint endeavor of USCYBERCOM and other organiza-tions.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, so the conference was a timely event for professionals to address concerns and raise questions to the speakers, as well as an ethical hack-ing demonstration.

As the cyber domain grows both in the government and civilian industry, information protection is becoming more essential to the government and private

citizens alike. To show how easy it is to acquire some

basic information and limited control of someone’s computer, Mark Young, USCYBERCOM executive director of plans and policy, conducted a condensed ethical hacking demonstration as part of the conference.

He emphasized the importance of small steps someone can take to help safeguard their information, including taking advantage of security settings on social networking sites or calling an internet service provider to help upgrade their internet security to a less-easily cracked code.

Col. Gary Brown, the USCYBER-COM SJA knows the value of these types of conferences.

He said, “to get cyber security right, we need to coordinate the efforts of the military, the intelligence community, government civilian agencies and the private sector. Conferences like this can really facilitate the kind of cooperation we’ll need going forward to secure the nation’s infrastructure and national secu-rity systems.”

U.S. Cyber Command hosts legal conference

photo courtesy of u.s. cyber command

Mark Young, U.S. Cyber Command executive director of plans and policy, conducts an ethical hacking demonstration for participants of the second annual USCYBERCOM Interagency Legal Conference on Sept. 18. The conference, held at the McGill Training Center, included speakers from various governmental departments and allowed participants to discuss legal challenges facing the cyber community.

file photo

RETIREE APPRECIATION DAYThe Retirement Services Office will host Fort Meade’s 37th annual Retir-ee Appreciation Day on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave. For more details, see Page 20.


Cover Story

photos by sarah pastrana

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein speaks to service members at McGlachlin Parade Field after the three-mile run through Fort Meade on Friday. The Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run honored POW/MIA Recognition Day and 9/11.

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

With the roar of a fire truck and sev-eral motorcycles leading the way for the stomping feet of more than 2,400 service members, it was hard not to hear the early morning run make its way through Fort Meade on Friday.

“It’s good to have a lot of people out there,” said Staff Sgt. Norman Portillo, an instructor at the NCO Academy. “I enjoyed waking up everybody.”

Service members from approximately 30 organizations participated in the installation’s Wellness and Remem-brance Joint Service Run, which began at McGlachlin Parade Field.

The three-mile run through the instal-lation paid tribute to 9/11 and POW/MIA Recognition Day, while promoting wellness and resiliency.

Each year, commemorations are held throughout the country on the third Friday of September for National

POW/MIA Recognition Day, one of six national observances for which Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag.

According to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office website, more than 80,000 service members have not been accounted for since World War II — 73,000 of whom served in that war.

Prior to the run, a National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag was raised below the American flag on the parade field.

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thom-as J. Latter began the event with a moment of silence for the POWs and MIAs.

“POWs and MIAs are still out there missing — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen we still have not accounted for,” he said. “Before we begin the run today, I would like us all to take a moment of silence to

Run honors POWs, MIAs, promotes wellness, resiliency think about our members who are still

missing.”To help honor POW/MIA Recogni-

tion Day, members of the Hogs and Heroes Foundation Maryland Chapter 2 attended the run to lead the way.

“Honoring our fallen service mem-bers and those who are captured and still missing is part of our mission,” said Fort Meade Fire Capt. David Hilliard, who serves as chapter president. “We were there to honor that.”

At around 6:30 a.m., service members marched off the parade field to start the run. It took nearly 20 minutes for all 2,400 service members to begin their route on English Avenue.

Once all runners returned to the parade field around 7:15 a.m., Garri-son Commander Col. Edward C. Roth-stein spoke to the large crowd gathered around the gazebo.

“We should never forget what hap-pened on 9/11 and why we’re doing what we’re doing so well,” he said. “We are an installation that does a 24-7 mission. ...

You make it happen every day and you do it because of the things that have occurred. You do it for all the right rea-sons. It makes us very proud.”

Resiliency and wellness, including sex-ual harassment and assault, substance abuse or suicide, were also addressed by Rothstein. Although the installation is working on programs to help with these problems, he said, it is up to the service members to use the programs and make them effective.

“What I want you to do is walk away from this formation thinking about that — thinking about your battle buddy to your right and left,” he said. “Do what is right. ... that is taking care of your-self, your family, your friends, your col-leagues and this installation of ours.”

Several service members said they enjoyed seeing all the military branches coming together for the run, and that it was a good way to honor POW, MIAs and 9/11.

“I think it is a great thing,” Portillo said. “It shows everybody’s support.”


CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Service members gather around the gazebo at McGlachlin Parade Field following the Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run on Friday morning. More than 2,400 service members from 30 organizations participated in the three-mile run.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Amanda Bills motivates a group of service members at the start of the Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run.

Marine Cpl. Christopher Patti of the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion sprints across McGlachlin Parade Field at the end of the run.

Tanya Thomas helps her 4-year-old daughter Zahriya locate her father in formation before the start of the Wellness and Remembrance Joint Service Run on Friday.


News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Femi Odekunkle was proud when he said hello to Liu Jizhong in Mandarin Chinese on Friday.

“I was really happy,” said the eighth-grader at MacArthur Middle School. “I tried the best I could to talk in Chinese.”

Jizhong is the principal of the Bei-jing Yucai School in China. He and a delegation of nine other educators from the school visited MacArthur to learn about its International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

Stacy Gray, principal of MacAr-thur, and Jizhong signed a three-year sister school agreement of education and cultural exchange between the two schools.

“I’m very delighted to be here, to be a distinguished guest,” Jizhong said. “Our aim is to build a bilateral relationship with this school.”

During the visit, the delegation vis-ited two Mandarin Chinese classes and met students who are studying the lan-guage through the IB program.

Gray said the delegation’s visit is a rare opportunity for MacArthur students to learn about the Chinese people.

“The students will be able to have real-world experiences of the people and culture that is being studied in their Chinese language classes — learning experiences that go beyond textbook and research experiences,” she said. “It will be a life-changing experience.”

Mary Austin, IB coordinator for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the chaperone for the visit, said the event and the signing of the sister school agreement are an effort to con-tinue to build reciprocal relationships between county schools and schools in China.

In June 2011, Darryl Kennedy, for-mer principal at Meade High School;

Jen Wang, former chair of the Foreign Language Department at MacArthur; and Rotunda Floyd-Cooper, former coordinator of elementary mathematics for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, visited the Mile Number One School, a high school in China’s Yun-nan province. The purpose of the visit was to begin a pen pal program between the Fort Meade and Chinese students.

Students at Meade High and MacAr-thur have been studying Mandarin Chi-nese for three years through the Inter-national Baccalaureate Programme, a nonprofit educational foundation founded in 1968 with headquarters in Geneva.

The IB foundation offers students ages 3 to 19 a continuous, international educational experience in a sequence of three programs: the Primary Years Pro-gramme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme.

Fort Meade is one of three feeder

MacArthur signs sister school agreementsystems in the county to offer all three IB programs. Manor View Elementary School offers the Primary Years Pro-gramme. MacArthur Middle School offers the Middle Years Programme. Meade High offers the Middle Years Programme to freshmen and sopho-mores, and the IB Diploma Programme to juniors and seniors who apply for admission.

All three IB programs also are offered in the Annapolis and Old Mill feeder systems.

The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people with the intellectual, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world, according to the foundation’s website.

In addition to visiting MacArthur’s Chinese language classes, the delegation also visited a math class, health class and graphic design class.

Wang Heping, an English teacher at the Beijing Yucai School, said she was impressed with the level of instruction in the classes.

“I think the teachers love the kids,” Heping said. “The kids are very moti-vated. ... It was good.”

After lunch, Jizhong and Gray signed the sister school agreement to provide exchange visits between teachers and students, classroom observation, local tour trips and home stays, and cur-riculum enrichment. The agreement also encourages students at the two schools to communicate through email to deepen the mutual understanding of their respective cultures.

The delegation later presented Gray with a paper cut of a traditional Chi-nese handcraft. The red design is a wish for blessings and good fortune.

Tatgiuana Parker, 10, and Gabriel Ramirez, 10, fifth-graders at Manor View Elementary School, came to

Liu Jizhong, principal of the Beijing Yucai School, greets Femi Odekunle, 13, an eighth-grader at MacArthur Middle School, during his visit to a Mandarin Chinese class at the school on Friday. Jizhong headed a delegation of educators from the Beijing Yucai School who came to MacArthur to learn about its International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

photos by nate pesce


News

Manor View Elementary School fifth-graders Gabriel Ramirez and Tatgiuana Parker get a hug from Wang Heping, an English teacher from the Beijing Yucai School. The 10-year-olds, who are students in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme at Manor View, visited MacArthur to meet the delegation of Chinese educators.

Liu Jizhong, principal of the Beijing Yucai School, presents MacArthur Middle School Principal Stacy Gray with a paper cut of a traditional Chinese handcraft during his visit to the school Friday. Gray and Jizhong signed a three-year sister school agreement of education and cultural exchange.

MacArthur with Mathilde Coyle, the IB coordinator at Manor View, to meet the delegation.

Manor View is developing a Man-darin Chinese language program and currently provides instruction through video-tapes provided by AACPS.

Tatgiuana and Gabriel each sang a song in Chinese for the educators.

“At first it was nerve-wracking,” Tat-giuana said of her performance. “It was very nice to meet them.”

“I love the culture and the language,” Gabriel said. “It was awesome.”

World Rabies Day: Rabies threat should be taken seriouslyBy Chanel S. Weaver, Public Affairs OfficeU.S. Army Public Health Command

Friday marks World Rabies Day, a global health observance that seeks to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts.

After the death of a Soldier from rabies last year, Army public health officials are reiterating the need for Soldiers to stay vigilant and protect themselves from the deadly disease. They warn Army personnel to be aware of the risk of rabies during travel or deployments to less developed countries, and to seek prompt medical treatment if they have a bite or scratch from an animal while deployed.

“In a deployed environment, it’s best to treat every animal as potentially rabid,” said Col. Steven Cersovsky, senior physician epidemiologist at the U.S. Army Public Health Command.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Rabies is rare in the United States due to an active vaccination program for pets. The vast majority of human rabies cases that occur in the United States each year are the result of contact with wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

But in the developing world, dog bites are the most common cause of human infection, causing more than 99 percent of the estimated 55,000 human deaths from rabies each year.

Soldiers who deploy are educated about how to prevent the disease during rou-tine pre-deployment medical threat briefings. These prevention measures include not approaching, feeding or handling animals, and not adopting animals as pets or mascots.

Educational tools such as posters and cards also are available from the USAPHC website for use before and during deployment.

DoD health officials are also continuing to ensure that medical providers are trained on rabies evaluation and treatment protocols, and that Soldiers understand what they should do if they are exposed to a bite or scratch from a wild animal.

“Individuals who receive bites from animals should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and promptly seek medical attention,” Cersovsky said.

If medical treatment is warranted, the Soldier will receive a series of shots in the arm over a period of several weeks.

“If individuals obtain medical treatment promptly following a potential rabies exposure, nearly all cases of rabies can be prevented,” Cersovsky said.

Most recently, DoD officials have updated the Post-Deployment Health Assess-ment and Post-Deployment Health Reassessment forms — health questionnaires that Soldiers complete after returning from a deployment.

“We have always asked Soldiers about animal bites on these questionnaires, but now there is a more specific question on these forms that asks redeploying personnel to identify if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal while deployed,” Cersovsky said.

There is space on the form for Soldiers to write in information about a possible rabies exposure or any other health concern they may have. These free-text fields are now more easily accessible to Army medical providers.

Many Soldiers may fear coming forward to report animal bites because they may be reprimanded for not following the U.S. Central Command’s general order to avoid contact with wild and stray animals. But Army medical personnel say fear of punishment should not prohibit a Soldier from coming forward.

“It is vital that everyone with potential exposures receive immediate medical evaluation,” Cersovsky said. “Rabies is a fatal disease and it should be taken seriously.”

For more information on rabies and how to prevent the disease, visit: U.S. Army Public Health Command at phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/discond/aid/Pages/Rabies.aspx or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/rabies, or call the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline at 1-800-984-8523.


Football FanFare 5K Run results

Top men finishers:

1. Luis Navarro: 17:41.9

2. Dustin Metz: 18:22.6

3. Brandon Kitchen: 18:30.5

Top women finishers:

1. Shannon Corona: 19:20.5

2. Katie Sheftic: 19:38.1

3. Sarah Fisher: 21:14.1

SportS

Photos by Nate Pesce

ABOVE LEFT: Luis Navarro of Columbia holds up his gold medal after finishing in first place the Football FanFare 5K Run on Saturday morning. Navarro’s time of 17:41.9 beat the next closest runner by more than 40 seconds. RIGHT: Rae Marquart and her children Olivia, 8, and Brandon, 14, of Ellicott City prep their race numbers and tie shoelaces before the 5K run around Burba Lake and down Rock Avenue. BELOW: Runners begin the Football FanFare 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk on Saturday morning at Constitution Park. Nearly 200 competitors participated in the fourth run of the Fort Meade Run Series.

Samuel Villasenor, 7, of North Laurel strides for the finish line with his mother Callie. The two finished the Football FanFare 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk at 34:41.9.


SportS

I’m sure the NFL’s replacement officials are decent enough fellows when they are off the field. The problem is that describing their per-formance on the field as decent would be disre-spectful to anything that has ever been slightly better than mediocre: That includes meatloaf (food and singer); the movie “Avatar”, and the 1980’s super group, “Mike + the Mechanics” youtube.com/watch?v=uGDA0Hecw1k.

We’ve all seen the missed calls, nfl.com/vid-eos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000066000/Hail-Mary-for-Hawks, the total lack of player control on the football field, and overall incompetence. I mean is it really necessary to have a five-minute conference at midfield just to determine if an offensive lineman moving before the ball is snapped still constitutes a false start?

But I’m here to say that all this anger directed at these folks is unfair.

For one, these guys have been asked to complete a task that they are not qualified to do. Before this season, these guys were barely qualified to officiate a Meade High game, for-get about professional games where the people who must live by the rules know more than the people who are trying to enforce them. That would be the equivalent of someone hiring me, and my 20-200 vision, to look for needles in a haystack, or work someplace that would require me to slip into tight spaces even though it’s obvious this physique isn’t made for tight spaces.

So, what did the NFL expect? And since we are on the topic of the NFL,

what happened to their mantras “Protect the shield” and “Protect the players?”

Right now it seems like the only things the NFL are trying to protect are the egos of the owners. How else can you explain the almost defiant defense of the replacement officials’ performance in both word and deed?

The answer is, you can’t. Even without knowing the ins and outs of the current dispute between the regular officials and the league, it is clear the NFL is being hypocriti-cal and has chosen to defend the ridiculous as opposed to show contrition.

But of course this isn’t the first time the NFL has force fed its version of reality on us. Look no further than its handling of bounty gate and its treatment of former players in regard to health and pensions.

The league is not the only organization responsible for this mess, however. The media

has a role to play as well. I know how lame that sounds, but have you noticed that every call is now accom-panied by at least a 10-second reference to officiating, or that every game must include at least a five-minute rant about officiating? (I guess it’s good that the officials are providing all this extra time for the announcers to fit in their tirades.) It’s like the guys on Monday night are competing with the rant that they heard on Sunday night, and the guys on Sunday night are trying to be more vehement than whatever they heard earlier in the day. It’s ridiculous and a prime example of agenda set-ting that is perpetrated when the rants during the game become the top sports headline or discussion topic on sports radio.

But let’s not get it twisted. The group most responsible for this issue isn’t the officials or the media. It is us, the fans. We’re the ones who put up with this nonsense, and if we really wanted to, we could do something about it. Namely, we could stop supporting the league until they get things straight.

Of course that’s not feasible. My Cowboys flag is still hanging on my lamp post. I’m still going to watch the Ravens on Thursday. I’ll still check my fantasy teams. My assumption is most of you will do the same, and that’s fine. It just needs to be made clear that the replace-ment refs are a symptom of the much-larger issue, which is we are owned by the league. It is the itch we can’t scratch, the monkey we can’t pull of our backs, and the wagon we can’t stay on.

Two more points and then I’m out.1) In two weeks, when the regular officials

are back, inshallah, we won’t even remember why we were so mad in the first place.

2) The regular refs made some pretty big mistakes too. ow.ly/e0kE5; youtube.com/watch?v=fiD9cF48AE0. And since our friend, Brandon, put in the work, football certainly doesn’t own the market on poor officiating: youtu.be/j5HTFZainm4; youtu.be/2VWAtMxXVCs (Of course B had to put hockey in there.)

If you have comments on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

You’re messing with the wrong guys

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOnSports ShortsService Appreciation Day

Bowie State University will sponsor Service Appreciation Day on Sept. 29 as the Bowie Bulldogs face the Winston-Salem State University Rams.

The game begins at 1 p.m. at Bulldogs Stadium, 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie.

There is no charge for veterans and active-duty service members. Tickets for spouses and children of service members cost half-price.

For more information, call the school at 301-860-4000.

Youth Fishing RodeoThe community is invited to the Youth Fishing Rodeo on Oct. 13 from 10

a.m. to 1 p.m. at Burba Lake.Registration will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Burba Lake Cottage.

There is no registration fee or pre-registration.Youths age 3 to 16 will be divided into three age divisions. Awards will be

presented for each age group.For more information, call Outdoor Recreation at 301-677-3810 or 301-677-3825.

Girls self-defense class Beginning Monday, self-defense techniques for girls ages 13 to 17 will be

offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Youth Center.Cost is $85 per month.For more information, call 301-677-1156.

Ghost, Ghoul and Goblin 5K Run and 1-Mile WalkThe installation’s annual Run Series continues with the Ghost, Ghoul and

Goblin 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk on Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. at the Pavilion.The pre-registration cost for individuals is $15. Cost on the day of the run

is $25.The pre-registration cost for groups of seven to 10 is $85.The pre-registration cost is $40 for a family of three to six people. On the

day of the event, the cost is $60 per family.All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt.The next run will be the Turkey Trot 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk on Nov. 17

at Murphy Field HouseFor more information, call 301-677-7916.

NFL SundayThe Lanes’ lounge is a showing venue for NFL games this football season,

with the exception of local blackouts, on eight, 42-inch high-definition flat-screen televisions. Food service and full bar are available.

For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Texas Hold ‘emTexas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lanes.Games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-

5541.

Dollar DaysThe Lanes offers Dollar Days every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger,

small fries, pizza slice or small soda for $1 each.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

For more Fort Meade sports, visit www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.


Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s dis-cretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

For more information or to submit an announcement, email Philip Jones at [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

Death NoticeAnyone with debts owed to or by the

estate of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Curtis E. Stephens must contact Capt. Thomas Emerson, the Summary Court Martial officer for the Soldier.

Stephens passed away at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Sept. 12.

To contact Emerson, call 302-326-7710 or email [email protected].

Day of ServiceGov. Martin O’Malley has declared

Saturday as a Day of Service for the state of Maryland.

One of the goals of this interfaith, regional effort is to end hunger in Maryland by 2015.

All nine distinctive faith groups on Fort Meade are supporting this Day of Service by donating all of their offerings on Sunday to the Maryland Food Bank.

All worship services, through the generosity of their congregants, are supporting the event.

They include the Apostolic service, Catholic Mass, Contemporary service, Episcopal service, Gospel service, Islamic service, Jewish service and Main Post Protestant service.

For more information, call the Fort Meade Religious Support Office at 301-677-6703.

Retiree Appreciation DayThe Retirement Services Office will

host Fort Meade’s 37th annual Retiree Appreciation Day on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.

Retired Navy Capt. Jim Carman, director of Career Transition Services, will speak following lunch.

From 8 a.m. to noon, representatives from several financial, health care, legal, retiree and veteran organizations will be

available.In addition, medical screenings

and flu shots will be offered. Tours of the Fort Meade Museum also will be provided.

Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility. Cost is $4.55, cash only.

Drivers without a valid DoD ID card should enter through the main gate at Reece Road and Route 175.

For more information or to RSVP, call the Retirement Services Office at 301-677-9600.

Return to Air Force active duty

The Air Force is now accepting applications for its prior service enlistment program, which allows qualified individuals the opportunity to

return to active duty through direct duty or select retraining opportunities.

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements outlined in AFRSI 36-2001. The PS program is open to any qualified applicant who graduated from a Basic Military Training program.

The PS program will accept a limited number of applicants during fiscal year 2013. The program is subject to change based upon Air Force needs.

file photo

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENTSThe U.S. Army Field Band “Susan M. Schultz” Chamber Music Series will feature a performance today at noon at Argonne Hills Chapel Center, 7100 Rockenbach Road.Join members of the Army Field Band as they perform Hispanic-influenced music in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Admission is free and open to the public. No tickets required.For more information, call 301-677-6586.The Fort Meade military community is invited to commemorate the 2012 Hispanic Heritage Month Observance on Oct. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center, 8542 Zimborski Ave.Admission is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Recon-naissance Wing. The keynote speaker is Nelson A. Diaz, who served as a judge for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1981 through 1993. The event will feature Latin dancers and food sampling.All Fort Meade service members and civilians employees are encouraged to attend with supervisory approval and without charge to annual leave. Administrative leave is authorized.For more information, call the Fort Meade Equal Opportunity Office at 301-677-6687 or the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at 301-677-6298.

NEWS & EVENTS



Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis

For more information, contact the following Air Force recruiting offices in the area: Baltimore at 410-391-5950; Glen Burnie at 410-766-3184; and Laurel at 240-568-0116.

Bagger-licensing hoursBagger-licensing renewals for the

Fort Meade Commissary will be issued Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office at 4409 Llewellyn Ave.

Those who come to the office outside of this block of time will be able to leave their information. Badges will be issued as time permits.

Meade High flea marketVendors and crafters are needed for

Meade High School’s flea market on Oct. 20.

The cost to rent a 6-foot table is $15.For more information, email meade-

[email protected] or call Teresa Tapp at 410-491-9811 or 410-859-1007.

Energy open houseThe Directorate of Public Works will

host an open house as part of Energy Awareness Month in October at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.

The theme is “Team up to Energy Action Month.”

Information about energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation will be available Oct. 10 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 15 to 17 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Oct. 22 to 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

During the open house, the Public Health Command will administer influenza vaccinations to service members, civilians, retirees and dependents.


EFMP parent-child therapy

The Exceptional Family Member Program is offering a Parent-Child Interaction Therapy program on Oct. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Therapists from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore will present family-based strategies for addressing common childhood behaviors including: noncompliance, defiance, tantrums,

power struggles, aggression and inattention.

The event is open to the community, but registration is required.

To register, call Kelly Burger at 301-677-4473 or email [email protected].

Chicago Style Steppin’Dance the night away at Chicago Style

Steppin on Friday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Club Meade.

Beginners can receive free lessons from 7 to 8 p.m.

This event is free. Food will be available for purchase. A special drink menu will be available.


Deck partyA deck party at the 11th Frame

Lounge will be held Friday from 7 to 10 p.m.

The event will feature music, food specials, a drink menu, games and giveaways. Admission is free to attend.


Bingo BonanzaThe Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’

Club will sponsor its 13th Annual Bingo Bonanza on Oct. 5 at McGill Training Center, 8452 Zimborski Ave.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Games start at 7 p.m.

The event also will feature door prizes, raffles and food.

Pre-sale tickets get an extra 20 games book.

Buy your tickets online at fortmead-eosc.org/bingo-bonanza-2012/ or email the bingo chairperson at [email protected].

ESC ‘Spooktacular’ Quarter Auction

The Enlisted Spouses Club will host a ‘Spooktacular’ Quarter Auction on Oct. 26 at Jessup Community Hall, 2920 Jessup Road, Jessup.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Game play begins at 7 p.m.

The event will feature 10 vendors auctioning off items of their own company. Prizes range from one-quarter bids up to four-quarter bids.

Food and raffles will be available. A raffle will be held for all registrants in costume.

Register online for an extra paddle or choice of raffle ticket to be added to the

“magic paddle” drawing.Purchase tickets online at ftmeadeesc.

org. Registration will be open at the door.

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

Taylor Ave. offers monthly courses from 1 to 3 p.m.

Cost is $10 per class.Active-duty service members, DoD

civilians, retired and Reserve personnel and their family members are eligible.

An FMWR card is required to use the center. New patrons must first view a 20-minute safety video, then attend a 10-minute briefing.

The following courses are offered:• Basic Welding 101: Oct. 14• How to replace brake pads & shoes:

Oct. 28For more information, call 301-677-

5542.

Meade High preschool program

Little Meade Mustang’s Preschool Program, Meade High School’s preschool program, has available openings for children ages 3 1/2 , 4 and 5.

The preschool will be held one to two days per week for two semesters.

The fee is $30 per semester.For more information, email Amanda

Bolt at [email protected].

Company Commander/First Sergeant Course

The Military District of Washington Company Commander/First Sergeant Course will be offered Oct. 15 to 18 in Lincoln Hall, Room 1119, Nation-al Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

The course introduces new and pro-spective company leaders to potential challenges of command, avenues and resources available to assist them, and overall concerns within the National Cap-itol Region.

MDW Regulation 350-5, Company Commanders and First Sergeants Train-ing, requires all JFHQ-NCR/MDW com-pany commanders and first sergeants to attend this training.

To participate, contact your unit S3 or the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobi-

lization and Security.A final list of individuals

recommended to participate is due to the Military District of Washington J/G37 Office by Oct. 5.

For more information, call Michael Egly at 202-685-2910 or email [email protected], or call David Stone at 202-685-1923 or email [email protected].

Financial classesArmy Community Service and the Fleet

and Family Support Center offer free classes at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave., to DoD identification cardholders, including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

Registration is required for each class.• Medical records review: Have your

medical records reviewed by Mr. Thornton of AMVETS. Appointment required at 301-677-9017.

For more information, call ACS at 301-677-5590 or the Fleet Center at 301-677-9017.

Story TimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial

Library is offering “Cat’s Meow” pre-kindergarten Story Time today from 9:30 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11 a.m.

For more information, call 301-677-5522 or 301-677-4509 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

Books on BasesJoin the staff of the Medal of Honor

Memorial Library and Blue Star Families for Books on Bases Story Time and guest readers today from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the library, 4418 Llewellyn Ave.

For more information, call 301-677-5522 or 301-677-4509 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

Out & About• The U.S. Army Field Band’s Chamber

Music Series continues with a “Homage to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: A Life in Lieder” on Friday at 7 p.m. at Historic

EDUCATION

YOUTH

RECREATION

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Oakland Mansion, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. The concert features Sgt. 1st Class Mario Garcia and friends performing works by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Strauss.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information or to be placed on the Chamber Music Series mailing list, call 301-677-6586 or visit ArmyFieldBand.com.

• The Civilian Welfare Fund invites all Fort Meade personnel and their families and friends to participate in the CWF Family Fun Day at HersheyPark in Hershey, Pa., on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost is $27 dollars per ticket; regular admission is normally $56.95. Meal tickets are available for $13.50. No cost for parking.

The park will be closed to the general public.

To purchase tickets, call CWF at 301-688-7337 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• The 36th Annual Maryland Renaissance Festival is being held Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Oct. 21 at 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and $10 for children. Active military personnel with appropriate photo ID can purchase tickets at the group discount price. Food, beverage, games and some craft vendors are cash only.

For more information, call 800-296-7304 or 410-266-7304 or visit rennfest.com.

• The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 160 will sponsor bingo Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Col. Harry L. Cooper Post 160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. Doors open at noon. The event will feature prizes and food.

• Baltimore Book Festival 2012 will be held Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine, at Mount Vernon Place, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore.

The free event features local and celebrity authors, poetry readings and workshops, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, children’s writers and illustrators, storytellers and hands-on projects for children, street theater, live music and a variety of food, beer and wine.

For more information, visit baltimorebookfestival.com.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering a Reggae and Wine Trip on Oct. 20 to the Linganore Wine Festival in Mount Airy. Bus departs at 9 a.m.

Registration is required by Saturday. Cost is $50.

Sounds of the Caribbean will fill the vineyard as participants enjoy the multiple artisan stands, food vendors, tours and wine tastings. For more information, call 301-677-7354.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering its next monthly bus trip to New York City on Oct. 13, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club Meade. The next prayer breakfast is Oct. 4.

All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited. There is no cost for the buffet; donations are optional.

For more information, call 301-677-6703 or email [email protected].

• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is Oct. 4 in the banquet hall in back of the building. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County conducts a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting will be Oct. 4. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Oct. 8. For more information, visit ftmeadeesc.org or email [email protected].

• Single Parent Support Group meets the

second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Oct. 8. Free child care will be provided on site.

For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie.

The speaker is Phillip Simkin, director of Community Education and Outreach for Louden Cemetery, who will discuss company provisions, benefits to customers, and information on preparations leading up to one’s final days.

For more information or to join, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• Spouse Connection meets the second Tuesday of every month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood, 4998 Second Corps Blvd. The next meeting is Oct. 9. The program provides an opportunity for all spouses in the Fort Meade community and surrounding area to meet and get connected. For more information, call 301-677-4110 or email [email protected].

• Bridging the Gap deployment support group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Oct. 9. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email [email protected].

• Fort Meade TOP III Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is Oct. 10. The association is open to all Air Force active-duty and retired senior noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at 443-479-0616 or email [email protected].

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 160 on Route 170 in Glen Burnie. The next meeting is Oct. 10. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited. For more information, call 410-761-7046 or 301-262-6556.

• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next meeting is Oct. 12. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, visit e9association.org or

call 410-551-7953.• Spouse PTSD Support Group meets

Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.

The support group, sponsored by Behav-ioral Health Care Service, the Religious Sup-port Office and the Army Substance Abuse Program, is for spouses whose loved ones are exhibiting symptoms of PTSD. Learn valu-able tools and resources to understand PTSD and how to cope.

To join or for more information, call 301-677-8870.

• Protestant Women of the Chapel meets Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. Free child care is pro-vided. For more information, email [email protected] or vusut ftmeadepwoc.org.

• Military Council for Catholic Women is open to all women ages 18 and older for prayer, faith, fellowship and service at the Main Post Chapel.

Mother’s Prayer & Apologetics meets Tuesdays from 9:45 a.m. to noon when Anne Arundel County schools are in session. Monthly programs are held Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information, email Beth Wright, president, at [email protected] or call 305-240-1559.

• Fort Meade Homeschool Co-op meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at 1900 Reece Road. For more information, call Laura Edens at 443-510-4715 or email [email protected].

• Cub Scout Pack 377 invites boys in first through fifth grades, or ages 7 to 10, to attend its weekly Monday meetings at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

For more information, email Cubmaster Tom Johnston at [email protected] or Committee Chairperson Elizabeth Johnston at [email protected].

• Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop is actively recruiting boys age 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at [email protected] or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at [email protected].

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn. Breakfast may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the fourth Sunday of every month.

Membership discounts are offered for active-duty military. For more information, call 410-969-8028 or visit americanlegionpost276.org.

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MEETINGS


Movies

The movie schedule is subject to change. For a recorded announcement of showings, call 301-677-5324. Further listings are available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website at www.aafes.com.

Movies start Wednesdays to Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. NEW PRICES: Tickets are $5 for adults (12 and older) and $2.50 for children.

Today through Oct. 12

Today & Friday: “The Campaign” (R). A multi-term congressman (Will Ferrell) commits a public gaffe before an election, prompting a challenge by an inexperienced citizen. With Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Katherine La Nasa, John Lith-gow, Dan Aykroyd and Brian Cox.

Saturday: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” (PG). Greg (Zachary Gordon) is ready for sum-mer but all of his plans seem to go wrong. With Robert Capron, Devon Bostick.

Sunday & Wednesday: “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (PG). Manny and friends explore a new world when the continents split apart. With Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary.

Oct. 4: “Total Recall” (PG-13). In a future where people escape reality by experiencing others’ memories, a factory worker tries it out and begins to believe he’s really a spy. With Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel.

Oct. 5, 7: “Sparkle” (R). Set in the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.

Oct. 6, 10: “Hit and Run” (R). A young couple risk everything when they leave their small town and embark on a road trip. With Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper.

Oct. 11, 12: “The Expendables 2” (R). A group of mercenaries seek vengeance for a murdered comrade. With Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis.

Get to work on time. Know the hours of operation for

Access Gates on Fort MeadeDemps Visitor Control Center,

Bldg. 902 Reece Road7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

Gate 1: Mapes Road and Route 32

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week

Gate 2: Mapes Road and Maryland Route 175

5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday;

closed weekends and holidays

Gate 3: Rockenbach Road5 a.m. to 9 p.m.,

7 days a week

Gate 6: Llewellyn Avenue and Maryland Route 175

6 to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday for inbound traffic;

3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for outbound traffic

Gate 7: Reece Road and Maryland Route 175

(Demps Visitor Control Center gate) 24-hour access

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