September/October 2011 VOL. 1 ISSUE 2

Family Readiness Group Delaware Company 1/501BN

"Then summer fades and passes and October comes. We'll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure." - Thomas Wolfe

Dear Delaware Family & Friends, First we would like to say Thank You to the families for your support while we were down in Fort Polk, Louisiana. The month went by without any is-sues for the Company. Early on at JRTC there was an issue that occurred in the BDE that reinforced why contact information is so important. The guy was unable to call his family, and the only way his family was informed was because of the proper information he provided during DCS. I am glad that he provided the correct DCS information; however, the information that he provided to the FRG should have been correct and constantly updated if any changes occurred. Either way, the family was informed and notification went well. While we were at JRTC there were only one or two days where the tem-perature was not 103 degrees and 100% humidity. Your Paratrooper worked very hard and succeeded in defeating the OPFOR. The OPFOR guys that I ran across constantly said our guys were the best they have seen in a few years. I am not bragging on the guys, well maybe a little bit, but they are well trained and ready to deploy. 1SG Hahn and I are assured that the guys will be safe, defeat our enemy, accomplish the mission, and do so honorably. Now the guys have worked very hard and proven their level of training, it is time to maintain proficiency in our skills, but more importantly spend time with families and relax a bit. Because physical fitness is such an important thing to maintain, we will still be conducting PT at normal hours. It is our policy to train to standard but to release the guys from PT in time for them to bring children to school and spend time with family. Our first call from PT will be 0930 and we will release no later than 1700. There will be a few ex-ceptions to this schedule, such as the Snow Hawk Valley shoot. These ex-ceptions will be minimized as best as possible. To minimize the deviation in this time schedule, I will have to be briefed by Platoons if they need to go past 1700, and then I will have to brief the Battalion Commander. Again, thank you for your support and please enjoy the time we have be-fore deployment. Very Respectfully Anthony Dovie CDR, D Co 1/501 IN

673D JBER Safety Office

Heighten your awareness for pedestrians, animals

and hunters with increasing hours of darkness.

15 September—Studded tires are authorized in city

& JBER. Be prepared for Black Ice.

15 October or sooner—Motorcycle operators; antici-

pate road condition change from Green to Amber due

to ambient temp. Road condition Green only for op-

eration on JBER. For update contact info

907.552.INFO (4636)

Notification procedures

Mission Support Group CDR will set road condition

level: Green, Amber, Red or Black

Installation Commander will make decision on:

Delayed Reporting (by 0500)

Closure / Mission Essential Reporting (by 0500)

Early / stagger release

Methods of Notification

JBER Web page : www.jber.af.mil

Straight Talk line: 907-552-INFO/4636

JBER Twitter : twiter.com/JBER_PA

Local News & Media

Unit Telephone Pyramid Notification

Troop Medical Clinic (Flu Shoots)

Once Units are at 75% then they will start issuing to

family members.

Commissary Case Lot Sale

September 16-18

List of items available at

www.commissaries.com

Hiring Heroes & their Spouses Career Fair

100 Employers with Jobs

Wednesday Nov. 2nd

10 am—3 pm

University Center

3801 Old Seward Hwy , Anchorage AK

More info call 907-384-3501

Or stop by ACAP in Building 600 Rm A-24 or A-28

BOSS - Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers

SGT Kacillas ,

384-9023, 952-9570, timothy.kacillas@us.army.mil

Upcoming Events

Sept. 25th Rock Climbing (AK Rock GYM)

Oct. 8th Murder Mystery (Arctic Chill)

Oct. 14th Pumpkin Carving (Kashim Gym)

Oct. 28– 29th Two Days of Halloween (Arctic Chill)

The Army Deployment Cards - Army Deployment Pack-

age

Family Members of deployed Soldiers (1 Card per

family)

Force Support Services Available at JBER at no

charge to the customer

Deployment cards are Signed & Numbered

Valid 30 days before deployment to 60 days after the

Soldier returns.

Deployment cards are available now and are issued out by

BN FRSA. Michelle Kimball 384-0708.

Education on Benefits to a Healthy Weight

Buckner Physical Fitness Center

Sign up 384-1305 or HWAC 552-2361

Weight Loss Nutrition Workshop

Oct. 5th, Nov. 2nd, Dec. 7th

Performance Nutrition Workshop

Oct. 19th, Nov. 16th, Dec. 21

Classes will be held at Dyea Ski Hut on JB Richardson

(Dyea st.)

Lunchtime workshop atarts at 1145-1230

September 2011 CAC Notes

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

Albert Camus

Housing Privatization / Nameplates/ Snow

removal

Town Hall—Birch Hill Sept. 20th

Snow Removal

Three separate elements removing snow:

Aurora Housing Neighborhoods

In-House, Housing main through streets

Base Ops Contractor, Cantonment area &

Ranges

For issues contact 773d Customer Service

@ 384-3664 /3620. If it is housing

neighborhood specific contact Aurora main-

tenance @ 753-1091

Housing Neighborhood Top Priorities: Resi-

dents with disabilities; Major intersections;

areas prioritized by key and essential per-

sonnel

Non– Housing Top Priorities : Post Access,

School Zones, Child Care , Running Routes,

bus routes

Typically it takes 72 hours after an event (3” or

greater accumulation) to clear snow

Calendar Highlights

September

Sept. 15—Oct. 15th National Hispanic—American

Heritage Month

Sept. 27th 0900-1230 Finances & Fundraising Train-

ing

October

Breast Cancer & Domestic Violence Awareness

Month

Oct. 1st Elmendorf Arctic Bazaar , Hanger #20

9am-5pm

Oct. 4th Key Caller Training 0900-1230

Oct. 7th Columbus Day

Oct. 12th CAC , 0930-1030, building #7, JBER

Ed Center

Oct. 26th-27th Anchorage School District Parent

Teacher Conference Days

Oct. 31st Halloween—Trick or Treat hours on

post 6-8pm

Fort Richardson Spouses Club—September 15th

6:30pm– 8:30 pm @ Building 56th. All are welcome.

Annual fee is $20 more information check out the face-

book fanpage @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/

Richardson-Spouses-Club/146825218728460?sk=info

PRE DEPLOYMENT BREIFINGS—Oct 11th &

12th @ 6pm in the Richardson Theater. Please mark

your calendars! This is one of the most important brief-

ing for all Spouses. Childcare will be available and the

Agenda will be posted soon.

Battalion 1st /501st BALL– Oct. 15th Details are to

come soon. Dress is formal.

Ongoing Events

Sing-a-long at the Zoo Jan 4, 2011 - Jan 2, 2012,

10:30 a.m. Mondays, The Alaska Zoo

Storytime at the Zoo Jan 6, 2011 - Jan 4, 2012 ,

10:30 a.m. Wednesdays The Alaska Zoo

Scared Scriptless Improv Jan 8, 2011 - Dec 17,

2011 , 8 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays , Snow

Goose Theater

Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age

Mar 4, 2011 - Oct 9, 2011 , 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. An-

chorage Museum

South Anchorage Farmers Market - Old Seward

location May 7, 2011 - Oct 1, 2011

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays , Subway Sports Centre,

O'Malley and Old Seward

Anchorage Farmers Market May 7, 2011 - Oct

15, 2011 , 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays, 15th and

Cordova

Anchorage Market & Festival May 14, 2011 -

Sep 11, 2011 , Sat. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Third Avenue & E Street Parking Lot

CALENDAR Battalion, Company & Local Events

2011Pirate Pub Crawl Downtown

Ahoy! Join us for the Pirate Pub Crawl on Saturday, September

17, 2011 starting at 7:00pm! Enjoy live music, piratical games,

costumes, entertainment and prizes! Each participating pub will

have different piratical activities! Don’t forget yer eye patch and

peg leg!

This event is FREE fer all you 21+ Pirates. Dress up in yer best

Pirate garb and voyage through downtown Anchorage with yer

treasure map. Get yer map stamped at ALL LOCATIONS and be

entered to win the grand prize booty of 80,000 airline miles!

Enjoy live music, piratical games, costumes, entertainment and

prizes! Each participating pub will have different piratical activi-

ties! Don’t forget yer eye patch and peg leg!

Finances

[ ] Will your bank accept your power of attorney to conduct busi-

ness on a joint account?

[ ] Do you have access to the account where the soldier’s direct

deposit is made? If not, is there an allotment/ automatic transfer set

up into your account to cover monthly expenses?

[ ] Do you have a plan for how the deployed soldier will access

funds while deployed, and how he/she will communicate those

transactions to you?

[ ] Do you know how to balance the checkbook?

[ ] Do you have enough checks? Do you know how to order more

checks?

[ ] Do you know the bank name, address, phone, and account

numbers of your bank and investment accounts? Do you have legal

authority to conduct transactions on all accounts?

[ ] Do you have a list of all your credit cards, and can you physi-

cally account for every card?

[ ] Do you know who to contact if an allotment or bank transfer

does not arrive in your account?

[ ] Do you have a list of recurring bills, credit card balances, and

due dates each month?

[ ] Do you know how the deployment will affect the soldier’s

paycheck (increase or decrease)?

[ ] Do you know the location of federal and state tax returns for

the last four years?

[ ] Do you know where any titles or deeds for real estate or auto-

mobiles are located?

Family Documents

[ ] Do you know the location of each family member’s birth cer-

tificate? Your marriage certificate?

[ ] Do you know the location of any adoption papers, divorce

decrees, custody papers, or court orders?

[ ] Do you know the location of citizenship records if any family

member was born outside the U.S.?

[ ] Where are the life insurance policies kept?

[ ] Do all the children of age 10 or older have ID cards? Will they

expire while the soldier is deployed? Are all the children in

DEERS?

[ ] Do you know the location of the TRICARE cards for all de-

pendents?

[ ] Do you have a list of reputable babysitters and child care pro-

viders?

[ ] Do you know the location of immunization records for all

family members?

Legal

[ ] Do you have general power of attorney? If it is a limited, does

it cover all the areas in which you may be required to act on your

spouse’s behalf? Where is it located?

[ ] Do you have a will? Does your spouse have a will? Is your will

up-to-date and accurately reflect your desires for guardianship of

minor children? Do you know where they are located?

House [ ] Do you have a duplicate set of keys for the house?

[ ] Do you have a financial plan for emergency repairs?

[ ] Do you have a trusted maintenance person to conduct home re-

pairs?

[ ] Do you have home/renters insurance? If so, where is it, and how

can you contact the company?

[ ] Do you know how to cut off the water, electricity, and gas lines in

case of emergency?

[ ] Do you know where the breaker box is located and how to reset

breakers?

[ ] Do you know where the home mortgage papers are located?

[ ] Do you have a copy of the lease agreement? Will it run out while

the soldier is deployed?

Car [ ] Do you have a duplicate set of keys for the cars?

[ ] Do you have a financial plan for emergency repairs?

[ ] Do you know a trusted mechanic for car maintenance and repairs?

[ ] Do you know when to change the oil and make the next sched-

uled maintenance check?

[ ] Are the registration and proof of insurance papers physically

located in each vehicle?

[ ] Where is the car insurance policy located, and do you know how

to file a claim?

Other [ ] If you are on the housing list, does housing have a phone number

where you can be contacted?

[ ] Do you have a pet care plan if you need to leave your home dur-

ing your spouse’s deployment?

[ ] Do you know the phone numbers for Army Community Services,

Red Cross, and Family Advocacy?

[ ] Do you have the emergency phone numbers posted near a tele-

phone?

[ ] Do you have a fire escape plan, and have you rehearsed it without

the help of the deploying soldier?

[ ] Do the childrens’ teachers know that the soldier is deploying so

that they can better understand the moods and behavior changes in

the children?

[ ] Do you know the

phone numbers for the

unit’s rear detachment

Commander and NCO in

charge, and the rear de-

tachment chaplain?

for all family members?

Pre-Deployment Family Readiness Checklist

Training Opportunities

Want to take FRG classes,

but can’t make a class? Check out www.armyonesource.com

Click on family programs and Services

Glide down tool bar to eLearning Center

Click on online courses

Courses provided are the following:

Don’t forget to print of your certificate of completion!

907-440-4117

DELAWARE FRG

BOWLING

PARTY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26TH 5:00PM—9:00PM

POLAR BOWL

7176 FIGHTER DR ELMENDORF

WE LOOK FORWARD

TO SEEING YOU ALL

THERE!

Delaware FRG Contacts

FRG Email : Delaware1st501stFRG@gmail.com

FRG Contacts

FRG Leader — Andrea Young

253.297.4194 Mrsandiyoung@gmail.com

FRG Co-Leader — Teri Hahn

706.587.4186 rthahn92@gmail.com

FRG Treasurer — Abby Warner

Stargazenlily@hotmail.com

FRG Secretary — Carol Sluser

904.881.0655 Carol.Sluser@yahoo.com

FRG Key Callers By platoon

HQ PLT /Dco — Jill Riley

jilliriley@gmail.com

1st PLT /Dco — Deidra Burns

Deidra.burns@gmail.com

2nd PLT /Dco — Katherine Griffith

katherine.griffith1@gmail.com

3rd PLT /Dco—Nicole Collins

706.761.8664 Nicole33004@aol.com

4th PLT /Dco— Andrea Young

Mrsandiyoung@gmail.com 253.297.4194

3rd PLT/ Bco– Laura Forrest

stealthygr@aol.com 907.720.2742

Military http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation

system

www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront

www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program

www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers

www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free stuff

for deployed troops

www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program

Medical www.nmha.org National Mental Health

Association

www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare

Children www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen

deployment classes online

www.military.com scholarship info

www.militarychild.org school issues

www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in transi-

tion

Military Life www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army

Families Online

www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG

www.armymwr.com www.militarylife.com www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge and

info and counseling.

www.milspouse.org www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center

www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,

ACS

www.militaryfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.

Check us our on Facebook: Family Support– Delaware Company Email : Delaware1st501stFRG@gmail.com # 253-297-4194

Helpful Websites

Free On Military One Source .com

FREE @

Military

onesource

.com