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Knight riders unite at Motorcycle Safety Day
DCMILITARY.COM
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Prince George’s police net 63 firearms in exchange for gift cards
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Prince George’s residents weigh in on Baker’s tenure after re-election announcement
FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013 | VOL. 2 NO. 25
Openly gay psychology resident trains at Malcolm Grow BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
As a youth growing up in small-town Wisconsin, Jordan Simonson realized early in life that he was gay. “I came out at 12. There were only 50 students in my class--I didn’t date, but I knew who I was, and was open about it” Simonson said. A few years later, an Air Force recruiter visited his school. Simonson, then a junior in high school, wanted to join the military and become a pilot. “I asked about commissioning programs and the Academy, but the recruiter said it was a no go because I was out,” Simonson said. If he had not made the choice to come out as a youth, he could have joined the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell regulations, “but I knew I couldn’t do that, for my own mental health and character,” he said. With the military no longer an option, Simonson turned to another profession he hoped would allow him to help people. He decided to pursue a career in clinical psychology, with an emphasis on treating depression and anxiety among members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transsexual community,
who tend to have higher rates of anxiety and depression than heterosexuals, as a group. Simonson was attending SeattlePacific University for graduate school while also serving as a research assistant at the University of Washington when he began looking into opportunities to participate in an internship, required to complete his doctoral studies. His focus throughout his studies has been on the predictors of mental health issues, “the trajectories over time, catching these things earlier and prevention programming,” to help adolescents learn to cope with stress, and build more positive thought and behavioral patterns into their lives. Simonson’s dissertation addresses the reasons why, as new data indicates, LGBT youth have twice the rate of depression and 1.85 times the rate of anxiety when compared with straight youth. As Simonson researched internship opportunities, DADT was heading for repeal. He joined the Air Force as a clinical psychology resident, the military equivalent to a psychology internship; Capt. Simonson may be the Air Force’s first openly
see GAY, page 4
NBA star Kevin Durant returns to Seat Pleasant BY ERIC GOLDWEIN
THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Seat Pleasant was featured in a new, national Nike commercial starring NBA star and Seat Pleasant-native Kevin Durant June 27 — the night of the NBA Draft. In the commercial, Durant is selected first overall in the Seat Pleasant recreational league draft, ahead of local sparkplug “Anton Barrels” — a fictional character. The commercial appears to be set in the Seat Pleasant Activity Center on Addison Road, where the Oklahoma City Thunder forward grew up playing basket-
ball, but Nike’s production team actually used images of the Seat Pleasant gymnasium and recreated the scene using special effects, said Ace Heywood, Seat Pleasant Activity Center teen coordinator. On Monday, four days after the commercial premiered, Durant appeared at the facility for a charity event. This time, there was no Hollywood magic. Durant presented $50,000 checks to three Prince George’s County nonprofit organizations: the Seat Pleasant Activity Center, the Maryland Jaguars Youth Organization and the Commu-
see DRAFT, page 3
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
Kris Chesslo Jr. connects with McGruff the crime dog. Kris is the son of Staff Sgt. Kris Chesslo Sr., 744th Communications Squadron network management supervisor.
Operation K.I.D. Mode gives children new view of deployment BY BOBBY JONES
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
What really happens to mom or dad while on deployment? Approximately 300 Joint Base Andrews children enjoyed a fun-filled twist on their parents’ experiences of deployment during an annual Operation Kid In Deployment (K.I.D.) Mode event held June 28 near Andrews Youth Center. Master Sgt. Christopher Sweet, 11th Force Support Squadron Military and Family Support Center NCO in charge, said that Operation K.I.D. Mode participation topped last year’s attendance, thanks to the work of Tech. Sgt. Amanda Mocanu, 11 FSS M&FSC NCO. “Sergeant Mocanu did an incredible job on the event this year,” said Sweet. “She topped her efforts on the event from last year. When I came here as her supervisor and saw the event for the first time, it was amazing. It was her brainchild and I just let her run with it.” The children arrived from Andrews Child Development Centers I, II, III, and the Youth
Airmen cheer as children compete in a sack race.
Center and received passports which were stamped as they processed through a mobility line and six other stations. The children were briefed on countries to which they might be deployed, their climates and potential hazards. Battle-ready for adventure, the children wore camouflage face paint and Operation K.I.D.
Mode dog tags; sat in a 11th Security Forces Squadron Humvee; witnessed “Mysterion,” an Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot animate and rode on a medical gurney. Along the way, the children were greeted by McGruff the Crime Dog, his son, Scruff and Sparky the Fire Dog.
see CHILDREN, page 5
Staff Sgt. relearns favorite hobby during Adaptive Sports Camp BY SENIOR AIRMAN LINDSEY A. PORTER
11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS AARON STOUT
A service member participates in the archery portion of the Air Force Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp held at Joint Base Andrews June 26 and 27. As part of the Air Force’s Wounded Warrior Program, the camp introduced adaptive sports to wounded warriors during the earliest stages of their recovery.
Sgt. Thomas McAfee joined many Air Force Wounded Warriors to participate in the firstever Air Force Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp held June 26 and 27 at Joint Base Andrews. During the two-day competitive sports camp, McAfee and warriors like him were introduced to adaptive sports, designed to help the service members along their individual roads to recovery. Events such as wheelchair basketball, track and field, sitting volleyball and archery encouraged all warriors to physically work through their injuries and pursue an active lifestyle. Before arriving at the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic’s and
Surgery Center patient squadron on Andrews, McAfee was stationed at Lajes Field Air Base, Azores, as an aircraft electrical environmental systems craftsman. It was there in March of 2008 that he first realized something wasn’t right. “I started having headaches and shooting pains down my back and arms after I had just come back from a Chemical Warfare Exercise in Korea,” said McAfee. “Those pains lead to me first being diagnosed with a herniated disk in my neck.” In order to repair his disk, McAfee underwent surgery where doctors surgically fused his spine and neck. Months after the procedure, and well on his way to recovery, McAfee was surprised when he again started to have problems. “I was at PT one day and felt
a pain in my shoulder,” said McAfee. “After finding four blood clots in my arm and shoulder, I was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where I was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Pressure was building in my nerves, arteries and veins. I had to undergo more surgeries in order to relieve all my internal compression.” Surgery to remove one of his ribs helped relieve some pressure but due to post-surgery complications, McAfee was left with a paralyzed bicep and the possibility of never being able to use his arm again. A lifelong archer, the idea of never being able to shoot his bow again was something he could not accept. “I grew up shooting bows,” he
see HOBBY, page 5
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Andrews Gazette
HOT TICKETS
Commentary
Free, Nelson Mandela
Around Town July 5
Eric Scott Band 10440 O’Donnell Place, St. Charles, Md. 7 p.m. Hear Wammie Award-winning, original acoustic soul music on the lake and shop from the farmers market. For information visit www.stcharlesmd.com.
July 6 - 7
African American Festival M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell Street, Baltimore, Md. Starting at noon both days Experience African American art, food, culture, music, fashion, family fun, health and wellness activities, career counseling and more. For information visit www.africanamericanfestival.net.
July 6 and 7
The Athlete American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md. multiple showtimes See a film about the Ethiopian who made history when he earned Olympic gold in 1960. For more information on this and other independent films visit www.afi.com/silver/ .
July 7
Karaoke at Madam’s Organ Madam’s Organ Restaurant & Bar, 2461 18th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Embarrass yourself and entertain your friends with songs you mostly know at a legendary D.C. venue. For information visit www.madamsorgan.com.
COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS
Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.
Maxine Minar, president mminar@dcmilitary.com John Rives, publisher
jrives@dcmilitary.com
Chris Basham, editor cbasham@dcmilitary.com Deirdre Parry, page design dparry@gazette.net Bobby Jones, photographer bjones@dcmilitary.com
1036202B
Friday, July 5, 2013
BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
I was a junior in high school when I first heard the song, and within seconds I was singing along. “Free Nelson Mandela” was just so beautiful, and for a girl raised on my parents’ old folk and protest songs it felt as comfortable as a lullaby. I remember sitting on the school bus, quietly following the the music coming in through my knockoff Walkman headphones and thinking, “I probably should find out who this Mandela guy is, before I sing any more of this. What if he’s a criminal? What if he ought to be in prison? I have no idea.”
At the time, nobody else I knew had any idea who Mandela was, either. Back before the Internet, in 1984, a lot of suburban teenagers got our information filtered first through the people who broadcast the news and then again through our parents, who decided what to watch on the family’s one television set. I remember feeling timid about even asking who he was. I didn’t want to start a big brouhaha like I did when I asked my dad why he refused to watch Jane Fonda movies on T.V. Thanks to that sunny, lilting protest song, a generation of young people got pulled out of our comfortable lives long enough to learn a lit-
tle bit about what was really going on outside our schools, our neighborhoods, and the mall. We learned the anthem, many of us, before we learned what South Africans were fighting for. It was stunning to realize that people were still living in segregated oppression anywhere. We learned that political protest could earn a citizen of a modern nation a jail sentence of breathtaking length and cruelty. More importantly, we learned that when those people went to jail, their struggle did not end. They did not always crumple under the heavy weight of an unjust
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, the expiration date serves as a reminder to enroll in Medicare Part A and B to retain TRICARE for Life eligibility. Those who retired before December do not need to get a new ID card because of the expiration date change. However, if your ID card is worn out or your appearance has changed enough that the picture is no longer a good likeness, you should get your card replaced. Retirees who receive the new card will get a replacement card showing the indefinite status once they turn 65. Cards issued to spouses will read “INDEF” once they turn 75. For additional information on retiree ID cards, DEERS eligibility programs and other personnel matters, call 800-525-0102.
Presidential Aircraft Gallery and Global Reach Gallery. The foundation was established in 1960 as a philanthropic, nonprofit organization to help the Air Force develop and expand the facilities, programs and activities of the museum. The museum, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the service’s national institution for preserving and presenting the Air Force story. Each year, more than 1.2 million people visit the museum. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
see COMMENTARY, page 7
Retiree Corner COURTESY OF THE RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE
Disability claims go digital
VA regional benefits offices nationwide are transitioning to paperless processing for disability claims, aimed at eliminating the claims backlog in 2015. Some 20 regional offices already process new compensation claims in a digital format. Full deployment of the system to all regional offices is expected this year. A record one million claims were processed during the last three fiscal years. The current backlog is the result of increased demand; a decade of war with many veterans returning with severe, complex injuries and increased outreach.
ID cards have expiration dates
Blue retiree identification cards issued before Dec. 2012 show “INDEF” as an expiration date. Newer retiree ID cards expire the day before the retiree’s 65th birthday. Although military retirement benefits will not expire, some changes will take effect based on Medicare eligibility. While still enrolled in the Defense
Air Force museum expands
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is in the midst of a multiphase, long-term expansion plan. The Air Force Museum Foundation supports a major capital construction program to expand the museum’s one million square feet of exhibit space with a fourth building that will house the Space Gallery,
The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call us at 301-981-2726. Our e-mail address is rao@andrews. af.mil. Call the office before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO has a website at www.andrews. af.mil; Under “Helpful Links” click on “Retirees Activity Office” for information on retiree subjects, including past copies of “Retiree Corner.”
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Knight riders unite at Motorcycle Safety Day BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY 11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY
Green Knights Chapter 20 President Chris Orbits rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycle while in attendance for Team Andrews Motorcycle Safety Day here Friday, June 28. The Green Knights attend many motorcycle related events in an effort to increase safety awareness.
Members of motorcycle clubs are often portrayed on television as lawless and violent thugs. Those descriptions are the exact opposite of the well-established armed forces motorcycle club, The Green Knights, who promote motorcycle education and safety. Making an appearance at the June 28 Team Andrews Motorcycle Safety Day, the Green Knights Motorcycle Club Chapter 20 took part in demonstrations, set up a booth for potential members to learn about the Green Knights and engaged with current representatives. The Green Knights Motorcycle Club Chapter 20 was founded on Andrews in 2006 to uphold safety, mentorship and fellowship among motorcyclists in the National Capital Region. The club has members who are active duty, retired, Guardsmen, and Reservists from Andrews, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, the Pentagon and Fort Belvoir. “The Green Knights are about fellowship among military and military-affiliated motorcycle riders who understand the value of safety and mentorship,” said Nicole Savoy, the newest Chapter 20 member. “We embody the ‘Wingman’ attitude
to ensure all members are taken care of while enjoying the motorcycle riding experience. As a club, we also participate in community service events and volunteer our time at organizations such as veterans homes.” The members are also present at many organized motorcycle events in the area, including Motorcycle Awareness Day and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Charity Poker Run, to encourage togetherness and safety awareness. “The purpose of the Green Knights is to establish and maintain camaraderie and espirit-de-corps among Department of Defense motorcyclists while improving rider skills and reducing the potential for motorcycle mishaps,” said Dave “FIX” Abildgaard, the Green Knights Ride Director. “Most importantly though, the club has a sense of commitment and loyalty to each member which extends beyond the open road. We consider each other family. Although some riders prefer to remain solo, nothing compares to being part of something bigger than you.” The Green Knights Motorcycle Club is open to all Department of Defense personnel and dependents, with more than 100 chapters worldwide. All styles of motorcycles are welcome. Visit the club’s website at www.greenknightsmmc.org for more information.
Anne Arundel superintendent tapped to lead Prince George’s schools THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Kevin Maxwell, who was an educator in Prince George’s County for 22 years, will be named CEO of the Prince George’s County school system. A formal announcement was made June 28 at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, where Maxwell once served as principal. Maxwell is currently the superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. “His return serves as a signal that we want our best and brightest to be part of the renaissance of public education in Prince George’s County,” County Executive Rushern Baker III (D) said in a news release about the announcement. “Dr. Maxwell cares about Prince George’s
County and is committed to ensuring that our school system is amongst the finest in the state. He was educated in our schools, he taught in our schools and now he will lead our schools. Dr. Maxwell is an innovative educator who has come full circle, and I am confident that his outstanding talents and leadership will result in great achievements for our students.” Maxwell is a 1969 graduate of Bladensburg High School and attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Baltimore County. Two of his children are graduates of Bowie High School. A new law that took effect this month gives the county executive the power to choose the next school system superintendent, referred to now as CEO, from among three finalists chosen by a three-member
panel appointed by the state. Prior to the new law, the county school board selected the superintendent. Baker’s office announced June 24 that the three finalists had been presented to Baker, but their names would not be released to the public. School board member Verjeana Jacobs (Dist. 5) said Baker’s office informed board members of Maxwell’s selection on the evening of June 26. Jacobs said she has interacted with Maxwell in his current role as superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools and as a member of the Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators, but has little personal knowledge of him. “I don’t know enough about him, but as long as he comes with a mission of moving our school system forward, that’s great,” Jacobs said. Anne Arundel County school board
DRAFT, from page 1
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nity Kinship Coalition Inc. Nike spokesman Brian Strong could not be reached for comment at press time. Children from the community center said they were happy to see their hometown represented on national television. “Most of the time Seat Pleasant isn’t really out there. Only a couple of people know about it, so it’s nice for Durant to put it out there,” said Jaala Henry, a freshman at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. Dijonta McMillan, a 12-year-old Seat Pleasant resident, said he was excited to see Seat Pleasant recognized in the commercial. “I think it was nice that he did it, because a lot of people forget where they come from,” said Dijonta, who was wearing a Durant shirt. Heywood said the children were talking about the advertisement after it premiered.
President Andrew Pruski responded to requests for comment in an email: “The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is aware of Dr. Maxwell’s potential resignation. Further information will be shared in the near future.” In 2004, Maxwell became one of six community superintendents in Montgomery County, overseeing 38 schools and approximately 27,000 students. Since 2006, he has served as superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, the fifth largest school district in the state, with 110 schools and 77,770 students, according to 2011-2012 data from the school system’s website. This story originally appeared in the June 27 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette. “The kids get a big kick out of it,” Heywood said. “It’s just, being in this little area, they don’t really get out much. So anything that happens here is a big deal for them.” Antonio Matthews, who said he used to play basketball with Durant at the community center, said he enjoyed the commercial. “It was pretty good,” Matthews said. “You got to give back to Seat Pleasant, because that’s where you’re from.” Durant has made significant contributions to the center in past years, including a $25,000 donation in 2010. “Giving back and supporting kids who are in the same position that I was in while growing up is very important to me,” Durant said in a statement. “I realize the positive impact it has on a kid when they know that people care.” This story originally appeared in the July 2 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
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Andrews Gazette
GAY, from page 1 gay psychology resident. “It’s a great opportunity. The military has a lot of need for my background in treating anxiety and depression, and also LGBT populations,” Simonson said, “and the military focuses on empirically supported treatments and documented therapies. The military also had a wide variety of experiences available to psychologists,” making it an especially attractive environment for him to pursue his residency. He will finish his residency year, spent here at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgery Center, next month. “It’s nice to do treatment with people who have served and given back to their country. There’s something admirable about that,” Simonson said. After his residency is completed, Simonson will PCS to Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he will stand up that installation’s mental health clinic and be the sole mental health provider there, supervising two mental health technicians as a detachment from nearby Peterson AFB, while he is in turn supervised by a psychologist at Peterson, as he earns the last of his postdoctoral hours. His new clinic will serve a base community with approximately 4,000 personnel, working as part of Space Command. “It was the only assignment that offered (the opportunity to be) lead or sole provider in a clinic,” Simonson said of the new clinic at Schriever, where his primary responsibility will be clinical care. He will continue doing research in conjunction with other staff as an additional
duty, but he won’t be in the dry, academic environment of a research facility. “The Air Force goal for us is a broad spectrum of training,” Simonson said. “We see everything. In a military setting, I’ll be doing more treatment. I hope to move further toward prevention. ‘Resiliency’ is a hot topic right now.” Although members of the military are officially adults, and often taking developmental steps into adulthood earlier than their peers, Simonson said that the concept of “adolescence” is shifting. What used to be limited to the teen years a generation ago now encompasses maturing from the early teens through the 20s. Simonson’s research emphasis on adolescence prepared him well for working with young adults in what can be a high-stress work environment. “So much of everything depends on people’s units, and on how much support they can get within their unit and within the military,” Simonson said. Though Simonson entered the military as one of the first openly gay service members after DADT repeal, he acknowledges that others who had been serving while keeping their sexual orientation a private matter can sometimes face an adjustment to their new opportunities to be more open about their sexuality while still part of the military community. “DADT was a safety net. Since DADt’s repeal, LGBT service members have, “more freedom and opportunity to explore more, get to know themselves and let others know who they really are,” Simonson said.
For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
visit www.dcmilitary.com.
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Friday, July 5, 2013
Prince George’s police net 63 firearms in exchange for gift cards
PHOTO BY JAMES P. MCLAUGHLIN
A total of 63 firearms were collected Saturday during the Forest Heights gun buyback effort. BY JAMES P. MCLAUGHLIN SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
A Prince George’s County police officer pulled a rifle out of the back of a car, checked to make sure it was not loaded, and carried it inside Abundant Life Ministries’ church in Forest Heights, where police logged the weapon. In exchange, the rifle’s owner was given a gift card as part of the Gift Cards for Guns exchange Saturday, an effort that netted 63 firearms and distributed $3,600 in gift cards. The initiative — a partnership between the town of Forest Heights, the county police department, the county executive’s office, the Prince George’s County Branch of he National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other countybased organizations — allowed
gun owners to drop off firearms in exchange for a gift card, said Bob Ross, president of the county NAACP chapter. It was the sixth gift cards for guns exchange in the county in the past year, Ross said. “The ultimate goal is to not have unused guns in houses where they can be stolen or used by a child,” said Forest Heights Police Chief Stewart Russell. “So rather than having dangerous instruments laying around ... people can come in here and turn their guns in.” Russell said people had the option of exchanging shotguns, rifles and revolvers for a $50 gift card, and automatic and semiautomatic weapons for a $100 gift card, with no questions asked. Weapons did not have to be registered and those that were stolen would be returned to their owner, Russell said.
“Once they are processed ... they will be disposed of, melted down and incinerated,” he said. “They will not go back on the street.” Forest Heights Councilwoman Cynthia Mann (Ward 2) said there was $10,000 worth of gift cards, which was approximately enough for 150 firearms. She said County Councilman Obie Patterson (D-Dist. 8) provided a $5,000 sponsorship and Forest Heights matched it. Patterson said the Forest Heights area has been “a hot area for crime” and the program aimed to address the problem. Mann said she had the safety of senior citizens in mind when she organized the event. “A lot of seniors whose husbands have passed away, they probably left some weapons, so
see GUNS, page 5
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Friday, July 5, 2013
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
Staff Sgt. Emanuel Valen, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, observes as Cross Adams, 5, is all smiles beneath an M-50 gas mask.
CHILDREN, from page 1 The children also played a hands-on game loading small cardboard boxes of “household goods” into a larger box, simulating a pallet, to visualize how the Air Force transports household goods and military cargo. The young deployers were introduced to the Air Force’s military physical fitness standards as an Airman led in them in calisthenics, and received “high fives” for achieving 100 percent statuses on the mock physical readiness testing. The children also bolstered their unit camaraderie in a sack race. Each station was a learning experience; the final and most popular destination, the moon bounce, reminded children that after a long deployment even grown-ups need to do something just for fun. Hosted by the 11th FSS Military and Family Support Center, Operation K.I.D. Mode aims to increase the morale and education of children and families in a high operations tempo military environment. MFSC provides pre-deployment, post-deployment and sustainment support to military members and their families. Families deploying or departing to a remote tour location from points
GUNS, from page 4 there is a chance of someone breaking in and getting ahold of that weapon,” she said, adding that a diverse group of individuals had exchanged guns, including a large group of senior citizens. Corey Smedley, special assistant to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety, said the exchange program was a creative response to a major public safety issue. “We wanted to do everything
HOBBY, from page 1 said. “After everything, I went home and one of the first things I did was to try and shoot my bow. When I tried to pull it back, I physically couldn’t do it; the draw weight was too much for me. I thought ‘I’ll never be able to shoot my bow again.’ It was really disappointing.” While months of physical therapy helped McAfee regain motion in his arm, being able to hold an average bow remained difficult. The lighter-weight archery bow provided by the Air Force Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp however, encourages McAfee and the other warriors to remain optimistic when thinking about their injuries and their current ranges of motions. “The camp provided us with adapted, lighter-weight bows,” said McAfee. “These bows have as low as a 15 pound draw weight. Compared to an average 70 pound weight, it’s a big difference.” Along with providing the warriors with adaptive equipment, each sport is also instructed by athletes from former Warrior
Kyla Billups, 5, explores a Humvee on static display.
Staff Sgt. Teri Groves, 89th Operation Support Squadron intelligence analyst, stamps the passports of the young deployers before they receive a mock intelligence briefing on Madagascar.
across the National Capitol Region out-process through Joint Base Andrews. When members attend their pre-deployment function, they complete an intake form during the Military and Family Support Center briefing. The briefing educates members on services available to them and their families before, during, and after their deployment or remote tour. Some of the provided services include photo-pressed pillowcases for loved ones, Daddy Dolls, morale call services and the Hearts Apart program of events for fami-
we could to think outside the box to solve the crime issue we have,” he said. “We’ve been making progress but we wanted to do something that would continue to move those numbers in the right direction.” According to Patterson’s office, there is $6,400 left for the gun exchange program in District 8. Patterson said another gift cards for guns exchange will take place in the fall This story originally appeared in the June 27 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette. Games. Instruction by service members with similar situations encourages all interested camp attendees to pursue healthy competitive goals as well as entertain the idea of a spot in the Warrior Games. “As instructors, we’re trying to pass on some of the knowledge we’ve learned,” said Capt. Sarah Evans, Air Force Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp instructor. “In this way, next year when we can have selection camp, (the camp participants) can learn how to do this competitively if they want to and go on to the (Warrior Games) teams.” After this year’s adaptive sports camp, McAfee remains encouraged. Honored with the opportunity to regain part of his shooting confidence, McAfee is excited to see what applying what he’s learned during the two-day camp will lead him to accomplish. “Now that I’ve seen that I can do this, I’m excited,” said McAfee. “Sometimes, it’s still hard for me to even brush my teeth, but archery here is something I can hopefully do and take advantage of. This experience has been fantastic.”
lies of deployed and remotely located members via e-mail and social media. Concluding the event, an 11th Mission Support Group representative presented each child with a Battalion Buddy stuffed animal provided by Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization whose program serves and encourages young children of deploying service members and offesr them comfort while their parents are far away, serving their country. Master Sgt. Christopher Sweet, 11th Force Support Squad-
Airman 1st Class Sara Leeper, left, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron medical technician and Airman 1st Class Victoria Medina 779 AMDS medical technician, comfort a young patient as he is strapped into a gurney.
ron Military and Family Support Center NCO in charge, said that next year’s Operation K.I.D. Mode will be even more impressive. “Since the children have a couple of years under their belt of going through the deployment lines
etc., Sergeant Mocanu wants to emphasize on the event by actually setting up mock countries for the children to experience firsthand,” said Sweet. “I’m sure it’ll be an incredible experience for them.”
Intercounty Connector cuts commute time by half BY MARLENA CHERTOCK THE MONTGOMERY GAZETTE
Drivers are cutting their commuting time to about half by using the Intercounty Connector, according to a new study released by the Maryland Transportation Authority and the State Highway Administration. Driving from Laurel to Gaithersburg during morning rush hour normally would take more than 47 minutes, but takes 17 minutes on the 18-mile ICC, according to the study. Ellen Bogage, the president and CEO of Chesapeake Public Strategies, uses the ICC, also known as MD 200, on her daily commute. “I value my time,” she said. “If it gives me back some of my time at home or in the office, that’s a huge benefit.” She drives from her home in Olney to the Washingtonian Center in 10 minutes on the toll road, down from 24 minutes. Results of the study are not surprising to Marilyn Balcombe, the president and CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce. She called the 2½-year-old ICC efficient and takes it when she drives to Baltimore, Prince George’s County or Annapolis. The study would make more sense if more people were using the road, as it cuts commutes, Balcombe said. But that’s not the case. “It’s still too expensive,” she said. “In order to get people to use it the tolls should be lower.” The state has said that the volume on the ICC, which cost $2.56 billion, is meeting expectations, she said. “Our response is that they have pretty low expectations. We would like to see that road used a lot more,” Balcombe said. Shorter commuting times don’t address the lack of users, said Councilman Philip M. Andrews, who
fought against building the toll road. He thinks the state is not confronting the major issue of cost. “The ICC is not providing enough traffic relief because the tolls are so high that people avoid using it,” said Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg. ICC tolls are among the highest in the country, with $8 a day round trip during morning and afternoon rush hours. That comes to $40 a week for drivers who commute from Gaithersburg to Laurel. The high tolls keep more people from using the highway and crowd other roads, when it was built to relieve pressure off Interstates 270 and 495, Balcombe said. “The state needs to recognize that people’s decision to use the ICC is very much based on cost, unlike the Bay Bridge, which people have no alternative to,” Andrews said. The councilman has been working with Gaithersburg-Germantown chamber to push the state to lower ICC tolls or offer frequent drivers a discount, as regular users of the Bay Bridge can get. “These things take time,” Balcombe said. In March, a little more than two years after the highway opened, the state increased the speed limit by 5 mph. “We were able to get the speed limit raised. It should have been 65 mph, but we were happy that it went to 60 mph at least,” she said. If people aren’t using the ICC because of cost, this study won’t change their habits, according to Balcombe. “The ICC was not built to be a Lexus lane,” she said. “We need to do what we can to get people to use it.” This story originally appeared in the July 1 edition of The Montgomery Gazette. The story originally quoted Andrews as saying the ICC wasn’t providing enough “traffic.” He said that he said “traffic relief.”
For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
visit www.dcmilitary.com.
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Andrews Gazette
Physical Therapy Flight opens PT Direct Access Clinic limb injury such as a shoulder, hip, knee, ankle or other musculoskeletal strain/ sprain; or you’ve had a first ever episode of neck or back pain with NO prior history or episode of pain, you may book a PT DIRECT ACCESS APPOINTMENT. To book appointments call the PT clinic at 240857-4074 or visit the PT front desk 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday in Building 1075, West Perimeter Road.
The physical therapy clinic at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgery Center will begin a direct access acute clinic later this month. The purpose of the clinic is to expedite care without obtaining a referral from your Primary Care Manager and allow you to self-refer to physical therapy for acute musculoskeletal injuries. If you are an active duty member and have recently suffered from an acute (within past 7 days)
JBA INTRAMURAL SOFTBALL STANDINGS
American League Tuesday/Thursday TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
GAMES
WIN %
811 SFS
6
0
6
100%
113th WING
6
2
8
75%
AFDW
5
2
7
71%
11 CES
4
2
6
67%
744 COMM
3
2
5
60%
779 MDG
3
3
6
50%
11 SFG
2
4
6
33%
PAG
1
5
6
17%
89 MXG
1
5
6
17%
NCMS
0
6
6
0%
National League Monday/Wednesday TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
GAMES
WIN %
89 APS
7
1
8
88%
NGB
5
1
6
83%
89 COMM
8
2
10
80%
1st HELI
4
2
6
67%
11 LRS
3
3
6
50%
FRC MA
4
4
8
50%
NCWDG
2
4
6
33%
779 ASF
2
6
8
25%
VR-53
1
5
6
17%
779 AMS
0
8
8
0%
Friday, July 5, 2013
Fitness tip
You’re on the home stretch! BY SABINE LOPEZ
FITNESS AND OPERATIONS SPECIALIST WEST FITNESS CENTER
Most people exercise to increase strength and endurance. A lot of people (especially men, for some reason) don’t realize how important stretching and flexibility are – both in their own right and as part of any strength- or endurancebuilding routine. An athlete doesn’t just jump into a 300-lb. bench press or a 100-meter sprint without doing anything to get ready. You know that you need to warm up first! The idea is still true before any conditioning activity: Warm up first, and you’ll see bigger gains and better performance in your workout. This week we’ll encourage you to focus on your flexibility, as part of an overall healthy body plan. Many studies show that increased flexibility goes hand and hand with the goals of increasing strength and flexibility. High flexibility allows your muscles to withstand a greater range of motion, and it allows you to increase your range of effective performance with each muscle. High flexibility allows people to use correct posture and to undertake a variety of exercises and tasks without straining their muscles. Even if you can’t make it to the gym, stretching is also a low-intensity strengthening exercise on its own. You may conclude, and you would be right, that stretching and flexibility exercises can be done as part of a workout routine or independently of any workout routine. We’ll take each of these ideas separately, and you’ll see how beneficial flexibility exercises can be. To warm up before working out, start moving! Do jumping jacks or jog around for a few minutes, to get your blood flowing to your muscles. The key is to MOVE.
This is a direct contradiction to the old 1970s-era advice to stretch first. That old advice is simply wrong and it can injure you. After you’ve done a few dozen jumping jacks or you’ve jogged around for at least 5 minutes, stretch with the idea of increasing your range of motion, focusing on the muscles you’ll be using in your workout. You should feel tension on those muscles, but this is not the time to push yourself to see how far you can contort yourself. After a conditioning workout, it is often even more beneficial to stretch and increase your flexibility. Even though you might feel ready to quit and hit the shower, pledge to yourself that you’ll do some simple moving around (such as jumping jacks or jogging for a few minutes), spending a total of about 5-10 minutes on your flexibility, which will double as a cool-down. Some of your biggest flexibility gains will come if you dedicate time away from the strength and endurance workouts, focusing on flexibility itself. You may choose to do yoga (an excellent and very specific form of the general ideas we’re talking about here) or you could do the dynamic warming-up and stretching we mentioned to start your workout. In any case, consider devoting a few minutes, ideally totaling at least 2 hours per week, to increase your flexibility. You might be surprised where you can find this time. Don’t simply sit on your couch when you get home from work or when you’re watching TV. At work, get up every few minutes and move around and stretch. Your strength and endurance will improve, and you might be pleasantly surprised at how all of that extra flowing blood improves your mood and your ability to think and pay attention.
CAPTION THIS
JBA INTRAMURAL GOLF STANDINGS Place
Team
June 4
June 11
June 25
Total Point
1
AFDW
10
8
12
30
2
PAG
12
BYE
12
24
3
NGB
8
4
11
23
4
89 OG
RSCH
9
10
19
5
89 APS
RSCH
12
FF
12
6
11 SFG
BYE
11
1
12
7
779 MDG
4
3
BYE
7
8
11 FSS
2
1
2
5
9
1st HELI
0
FF
0
0
Send your silly captions for this week’s photo to cbasham@dcmilitary.com. The funniest ones will be used in a future edition of The Andrews Gazette. “I say ‘HOLLER!’ You say ‘HOOLAH!’” Last week’s winning caption comes from retired Senior Master Sgt. Faye Pryor Jones of Clinton, Md.
COMMENTARY, from page 2 regime. Some of those people, like Mandela and like Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi, became more than leaders from behind the bars of a prison cell. They became shining beacons for freedom, justice, truth and democracy right where they were. Mandela’s release from prison and subsequent term as president of the country that had imprisoned him seemed miraculous. No matter how cruel his government had been, I was just certain that things were going to be easy to fix. The good guys were in charge, the bad guys were chastened, equality and justice were about to sweep the world and we’d all be holding hands and singing together in no time flat. What can I say? It was a more optimistic time. These days, we know better. One man can, indeed, shine a light on injustice through his very experience of it. Governments can change, and cultures, too, although the change is never as seamless and sensible and rapid as we may wish it to be. Justice can, sometimes, prevail. But there’s no quick fix, no permanent guarantee, and even the greatest heroes of a generation can have more complicated lives than the stories we hear. As Nelson Mandela rests in a Praetoria hospital room, surrounded by family and friends and the best wishes of much of the world, I hope he can see that although his life’s work can never truly be finished, he has done great things for his country, and for the world. Thank you, Mr. Mandela, for showing us the dignity of the human person, the honor of striving for an ideal against horrific odds. I suspect that no matter what chains have bound you, you have always been free. May your work continue until all humankind understands and owns that freedom.
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Friday, July 5, 2013
Prince George’s residents weigh in on Baker’s tenure after re-election announcement BY ALAN J. MCCOMBS
THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Prince George’s residents and officials are looking back on three years of Rushern L. Baker III (D) leadership after the county executive announced his plans to seek re-election in 2014. For some, Baker’s major policy victories, from bringing gambling to the county to his efforts at school reform, are key factors for supporting another four-year stint, but those same victories mark concerns for others. The general election in the county executive race is on Nov. 4, 2014; Baker is currently the only person to announce candidacy, although he had not officially filed with the county’s Board of Elections as of Monday. At Baker’s June 20 campaign
kickoff event in Mitchellville, Md., he and supporters highlighted his accomplishments such as a drop in violent crime to levels not seen since the 1980s, and county enhancements including an estimated $4 billion worth of development projects underway or planned. Baker said that he is the best person to accomplish positive change in the county. “We have a lot more to do,” Baker said. “I promise that every day I will go to work thinking about Prince George’s County and what we need to do to change it.” Baker was also arguably successfully in pushing two major pieces of legislation through the state’s General Assembly, said Carl Allen, vice president of the Prince George’s Real Estate Pro-
see BAKER, page 8
PHOTO BY ALAN J. MCCOMBS
Prince George’s County County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) flanked by family and supporters at the Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville kicks off on June 20 his bid for a second term as county executive in 2014. He is currently the only declared candidate.
School Board repeals athletic fee, app roves charter school BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU THE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE
Parents of high school athletes will be able to keep more money in their wallets in the upcoming school year, as the Prince George’s County Board of Education voted to eliminate the high school athletics participation fee. Student board member Shabnam Ahmed advocated for a repeal of the fee, and worked with Interim Superintendent Alvin Crawley, the board and staff to get it repealed. “This will encourage more students to try out for sports, if they know they don’t have any costs associated with it,” Ahmed said at the June 27 meeting. “By eliminating the fee, more students will look at sports as an opportunity rather than a financial burden.” The $50 fee was established in 2011 to recoup a budget shortfall. The fee was charged to the
parents of high schoolers selected to participate in interscholastic sports. Families unable to pay could request a payment plan or a fee waiver. “Just as times were tough for us, for many families, this $50 athletic fee caused some significant hardships,” said board Chair Segun Eubanks. Eubanks said the board had received “strong” feedback from families who were burdened by the fee. “We felt the time was right, and we had the resources to do it, so we eliminated the fee,” Eubanks said. Crawley said that the fee, estimated to bring in nearly $300,000 yearly, can be absorbed by the school system’s General Fund. The board also voted to approve the charter contract for College Park Academy after a 10day delay over contract concerns. A total of 150 students are to
be enrolled in seventh to ninth grade at the start; the school will add one grade each year to reach an enrollment of 575 in 2017, according to the Letter of Intent submitted to the school system. College Park Academy will be the eighth county charter school and is a partnership between Prince George’s County Public Schools; the University of Maryland, College Park and the city of College Park. The school was established on Adelphi Road in neighboring Hyattsville after a suitable location could not be secured in College Park. Board member Donna Hathaway Beck (Dist. 9) voted to approve the contract, although she expressed concern over the high percentage of students from outside the system, mostly home-school and private school students, and the shortage of applicants from districts 7 and 9 in the southern portion of the
county, due in part to the lack of bus transportation. “A program of this quality with no transportation clearly leaves my district out of this,” said Beck. “The next time I vote for a charter, I expect it to be south of Central Avenue.” Donna Wiseman, dean of the university’s College of Education said the delay was problematic, because they could not register students, but she is excited the academy will now be able to move forward. “We would have loved to have had everything happen 10 days ago,” Wiseman said. “We thought we would be having registration after the last meeting, but the board was right, they needed to do their due diligence, and I think the academy will be stronger in the end for it.” This story originally appeared in the July 1 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, July 5, 2013
Religious Services on base Islamic
Prayer Room in Chapel 1 Annex Daily Prayer Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Prayer Service Friday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Jewish
Kiddush/Sabbath dinner Friday, 6 p.m. All are welcome. To RSVP and for location contact: Rabbi, Capt. Schechter at 240-671-2270 or sarah.schechter@us.af. mil. You can find a complete listing of Yom Kippur services in the National Capital Region through www.jewishindc.com.
Protestant
Sunday Services Chapel 2, Traditional Service 9 a.m. Base Theater, Contemporary Service 10 Gospel Service 11:30 a.m.
BAKER, from page 7 fessionals, a Mitchellville-based group that advocates for fair and affordable housing. In 2012, a Baker-backed referendum was passed that opened the door to creating a new gambling parlor in Prince George’s County. This year, he successfully managed to get the state legislature to pass a measure that gave him and the County Council increased power over the county school system. Baker and the County Council appointed three members to the school board and Baker appointed the system’s new chief executive officer. No other figure in the local political scene seemed to have the stature to compete with Baker, Allen said. “I think he’s looking awful good. There’s no one else who has the same kind of power,” said Allen, who added he has been following local politics for 20 years. “He is being supported on the state level and by local politicians ... He would have to do something very egregious not to win again.” Still, Baker’s push on both actions could have ramifications at the ballot box, residents said. Ruth Warren of Bowie, who has lived in the county for 13 years, said she didn’t approve of bringing gambling to the county.
Tuesday Family Night at Base Theater Family meal 5 p.m. Christian Education and AWANA Kid’s Program 6 p.m.
Roman Catholic
Reconciliation by appointment, call 301981-2111 Daily and Saturday Mass have been temporarily suspended. Chapel 1, 1345 W. Perimeter Road. Mass Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Chapel 2, 3715 Fetchet Ave. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) classes Monday, 6 p.m. For information, pastoral counseling and religious accommodation of all faith traditions call 301-981-2111 or visit the chapel office at 1345 W Perimeter Road.
“With the economy the way it is and jobs being hard to find you don’t need to be leading [people] in the direction of trying to win their earnings by gambling,” she said. “I can’t say that I wouldn’t vote for him for that, but I need to know what else he’s done.” The school system’s performance may be a deciding factor for voters, said Henry Wixon, a member and immediate past president of the Glen Dale Citizens Association. “What’s going to turn this county around is education,” Wixon said. “Is one year, one school system year, going to be enough to show it’s successful? I don’t know that it will be.” Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson, a supporter of Baker in his 2010 campaign, said he had mixed feelings on Baker’s tenure and has not yet decided to endorse him. A long-standing Bowie desire for land use control powers, which would allow the city to reject or amend a development plan, has gone unfulfilled. That power continues to rest with county government, Robinson said. “I’m less than impressed with his work on supporting the city’s interest in control of land use,” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to having a very personal, candid conversation with the county executive.” This story originally appeared in the June 27 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
JBA Buzz How are you celebrating Independence Day? “The plan is to spend time with my family here locally in Waldorf. And we may get to see some fireworks in D.C.”
“I plan to go see my friends in Norfolk and watch the fireworks in Virginia Beach.”
Airman 1st Class Haley Meier, 779th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician
Airman Derek Nelson, 113th Security Forces Squadron
“I plan on going boating with my friends and family in Lynchburg, Va.”
Staff Sgt. Juan Ramirez, 1st Airlift Squadron flight attendant
“Actually, it’s my girlfriend’s birthday, so we’re going out to visit a few lounges in D.C. to help her celebrate her birthday as well as July Fourth.”
Airman 1st Class Ashli Walker, 744th Communications Squadron knowledge operator
H H THE RÉSUMÉ EXPERT H H “Mobile Service”
n Federal/Civilian/Military Transition Résumés n n Database Input n Résumé Writing Training n n KSA’s n Job Search Assistance n
n Situation Specific Writing Projects n Please call Phyllis Houston at 301-574-3956
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T550131B
H H NON-EMPLOYMENT RELATED SVCS H H
Friday, July 5, 2013
Andrews Gazette
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, July 5, 2013