Fort Campbell MWR Life 1-10

A Fresh Start to 2010

Editor Melissa Wells

Contributors CP Albarran Ambyr Barr Tara Goodson Kristen Geist-Hodgkins Andrea Latimore Keri McPeak Lisa Taylor Jan Wagner

Photography Deborah Young Dreamstime.com Andi Berger Stephen Coburn Connie Larsen Madartists Mylaphotography Lev Olkha istock.com DWlabslac ilona 75 travelinglight Zentilia

pg 12 pg 12 pg 8 pg 12 cover pg 6 pg 4 pg 6 pg 4 pg 4

Publisher Creative ink

Creative Director Sears Hallett

Advertising David Loos Creative ink 931-206-4459 sales@creativeinktn.com Disclaimers: Fort Campbell’s MWR Life Magazine is a monthly magazine produced by the Fort Campbell MWR Marketing Department under the authority of AR 215-1. Facilities and activities publicized are open to authorized patrons.

The purpose of Fort Campbell MWR Life is to provide current information about Fort Campbell MWR activities and events; to share ideas which will help readers become educated about Fort Campbell MWR activities and motivate them to take full advantage of these programs that contribute to our Fort Campbell Soldiers and Military Families’ better quality of life. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. The mention or appearance of commercial advertisers, commercial sponsors and/or their logos does not constitute endorsement by the Federal Government.

The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject to change.

MWR Marketing is located at 5663 Screaming Eagle Blvd, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. For more information, call 270-798-7535 or log on to www.fortcampbellmwr.com.

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Here we are again, a new year and a fresh start as we dive head-first into 2010. It is with a fresh start in mind that in this issue we bring you several ideas to help you make the most of the year to come. We have asked many of our MWR subject matter experts to give you some tips and advice about topics such as how to improve your job search, how to get out of debt, how to lose weight, and much more. We also have articles that inspire hope such as conquering a childhood fear and learning how to swim, as well as a tribute to the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Every year it seems that we hear the same talk about making resolutions for the year to come. I, for one, am always discouraged every year when they inevitably get broken, causing nothing but feelings of remorse and guilt. Instead, I would like to think of the New Year as a fresh opportunity to gain knowledge about chances to improve the things that I have the ability and desire to change.

One thing that I am changing for the New Year is our format. You will notice that there are tips here and there throughout the magazine with little points of inspiration. The first tip is right here on the editor’s page. Gardening is a favorite hobby of mine that I have been studying for several years. I enjoy trying out heirloom and exotic plants and watching the way that the garden changes with every season. I do not consider myself an expert by any means; these tips are from my own trial and error and knowledge gained through books and magazines over the years. I hope that you will enjoy these and maybe it will inspire you to dig in the dirt a little this year, even if it is only a flower pot. If you have never tried gardening, it can be a first step to learning something new!

I start every year with a feeling of hope. What new adventure awaits?

What great things will happen? What challenges will I face? Even challenges can inspire hope. I wish you all nothing but the best for the New Year, and hope that these articles and tips will inspire you to start fresh.

Melissa Wells, Editor mwrlifeeditor@fortcampbellmwr.com

Gardening Tip: I know that January seems like a strange time for gardening tips. It is often the coldest and most dreary month of the year. This makes it a great time to snuggle up on the sofa with a stack of gardening books and seed catalogs to plan your garden for the spring and summer. I love the bright colors and descriptions in the catalogs about flowers and vegetables of every different shape, size and flavor. January is also a great time to look at the basic, bare structure of your landscape. Look at the shapes of the trees with bare branches. Sometimes the stark architecture of these trees and other plants gone dormant can be just as beautiful as colorful spring flowers. Thinking about form and structure when you are designing and planning your landscape will make a beautiful year-round garden.

Now start planning! I know I will.

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By Kristen Geist-Hodgkins

A

new year is here, which means it is the perfect time to start fresh.

Why not make that fresh start your career/job search?

Whether your fresh perspective comes from the new calendar year or from a PCS move, the bottom line is that it allows for a starting point to make changes.

Resolutions were born out of the idea of looking back to see what worked and what did not, and looking forward to the New Year with fresh motivation to ensure a prosperous year ahead.

You may have decided that you are in a slump if you believe that your job search plan is not working, or that you feel there is nothing else you have to offer your current position. If so, the start of this New Year can be the perfect time for you to check out new options for a career or to jump start your job search.

In order to do this, you are going to make a resolution of sorts. For our purposes here, and because it is a proven fact that keeping a written list is more effective than just voicing a resolution, we are going to call this ‘resolution’ “Steps to a Fresh

Start” (in your career or in your job search plan).

Follow these simple steps to start in your career and/or job search. First, develop a plan that involves small steps for attaining your new goals. A plan is vital to your success because it will organize your goals and will give you specific steps

to get there. Not only do you want to create a plan, but you also want to tell someone about it. Sharing your plan with someone adds accountability to what you are doing and makes it more concrete. The Army Community Service (ACS) Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) team can assist you with developing a plan to reach your career goals and help keep you on track as you navigate through them.

Now that you have shared your personalized plan for career success with someone, you want to ensure that you display your list and track your progress.

Posting your goals/list where you can see it every morning makes it a central part of your day. Looking at your list at the end of each day allows you to review what you did that day to accomplish your goal.

Another old proverb comes to mind here, “out of sight, out of mind.” Keep your goals fresh in your mind every day. Evaluate what is working and what is not and revise as necessary.

After you have created, shared and tracked your career goals, celebrate your successes. Sharing your victories provides motivation to continue on to the next goal/step.

If need be, make your next goal more challenging.

These are some general guidelines to assist with your fresh start to a new career. Please visit the ACS Family Employment Readiness Program to develop these steps into a true career plan. The first place to start will be our Family Information and Training (FIT) plan (see, we have a plan as well!) Our FIT plan involves three steps, the first of which is our information seminar given most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to provide an overview of all FERP services. The second step consists of our specialty workshops, such as Jump Start Your Résumé, RESUMIX and More!, and the Employer Spotlight. And the third step is a one on one meeting with an Employment Readiness Program Manager to ensure your questions have been addressed, and you are on track to meet your career goals. Please contact the FERP office at 270-798-4412/4289/6043 with any questions.

The FERP office has recently made a fresh start in a new location. We are still located inside the ACS Building (5661 Screaming Eagle Blvd), but are now in suite 108 (formerly ACS Financial Readiness).

Check us out on Facebook as well: Fort Campbell Army Community Service Family Employment Readiness Program.

What are your career goals for 2010?

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By Tara Goodson

D

id holiday excesses leave you feeling bloated and broke? If your debt bulges along with your waistline during the holiday season, you are going to have to put your spending on a diet.

Why not lose that debt the same way you work off the excess holiday weight? You can increase your financial fitness by following these five steps: 1. Identify wants versus needs 2. Stop spending more than you make 3. Prioritize your debt 4. Reduce your debt 5. Create an emergency fund Drastic measures might actually be the best cure for your finances. Taking care of the wants instead of the needs always leads to financial problems. Army Community Service (ACS) Financial Readiness can assist you in creating a budget. Call 270-798-5518 to set up an appointment with a budget counselor.

Understanding how credit works and what is on your credit reports will help lead to financially sound decisions. What a great way to start your new year!

Anyone may obtain their free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.

You can choose to pull all three credit reports at once or pull them quarterly for year round monitoring. Do you know how to read your report once it is obtained?

The Consumer Affairs Office at ACS Financial Readiness can assist you with that.

Understanding how long something can be

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reported, how to dispute an item, and ensuring everything is correct on your report is vital. Identity theft is a growing problem; imagine the additional stress that can create!

Fraud alert is an option that is available if you think you may be the victim of identity theft.

Credit scores may be purchased from the three reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and the scores vary by who is reporting it. Your credit score may range from 300-850 according to www.myfico.com. The lower your score, the higher price you are going to pay in finance charges. Making all your payments on time is one of the biggest plusses to your credit history. Several other factors account for your credit score. They include major negative items, past payment history, homeownership, length of credit history, inquiries of credit, number of open credit lines, types of credit, and outstanding debt. Making at least the minimum payment, and carrying a low balance compared to your limit are also keys to having good credit.

How quickly would you like to get out of debt? Snowballing payments is a very easy method to manage debt. Make a list of all your debt, include vehicles, student loans, credit cards, lines of credit, mortgage, and any other contractual obligations (i.e. door-to-door sales). What’s the lowest amount with the highest annual percentage rate?

Start there and pay anything extra towards that debt. Don’t forget to make the rest of your minimum payments. Once the first debt is paid off, apply that amount toward the next one in line.

Keep snowballing your payments and before you know it you will be debt free!

Keeping a firm grip on your finances also includes creating a plan for deployment entitlements. While deployed, the Soldier can receive hazard duty pay, Family separation pay,

hardship duty pay, and federal taxes are exempt.

Having a conversation about how the money will be used during deployment should take place prior to deployment. This will help minimize stress, maximize benefits, and establish habits that will continue after redeployment.

Providing a Power of Attorney (POA) to a Family Member to take care of financial obligations is a common practice. Be very specific and seek additional guidance from Legal in obtaining any POAs. What goals do you have for the extra income? Will you use it to pay down debt, save for a major purchase, or invest it in your future? Be careful not to obligate yourself to major purchases based on

deployment income that will stop once the Soldier returns. Track your spending for sixty days and it will give you a truer picture of what your spending habits are. Marry up your receipts to your statements and account for all spending, including impulse purchases. Base your budget on pre-deployment income to make the transition easier. There are advantages to participating in the Thrift Savings Plan and Savings Deposit Program. Several other investment opportunities are available and making an appointment with a budget counselor can get you on the right track.

Creating and sticking to a budget will help relieve financial worries and set you up for success in the year to come.

If you need further assistance, please call Army Community Service Financial Readiness at (270) 798-5518.

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By Andrea Latimore

“I

have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it creed: “ We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”

Martin Luther King 2010 marks the 27th year of the signing of the bill that created a federal holiday honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King, a key spokesman for activism in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, later went on to win the Nobel Prize for Peace. Born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. advocated the use of non-violent means to end racial segregation. Mostly remembered for his famous “I have a dream” speech, Dr. King also helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SLOC), an American Civil Rights organization, which gave him a platform to discuss issues critical to our nation at that time.

Dr. King was well educated. Entering

college at the young age of fifteen, he went on to earn two Bachelor’s degrees and a Doctorate of Philosophy. He was married to Coretta Scott King and had four children. Dr. King died on April 4, 1968.

After his death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold medal; both for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination. King’s main legacy was to push America to fulfill its promise of equal rights. He believed that all citizens of this great nation should be given the right to reach their full potential.

Today we should honor his life and legacy by recommitting ourselves to keeping the dream alive. You can keep his dream alive in many ways. Volunteer your services; find out what your community is doing and get involved. Broaden your horizons and try something new; read a new book or take a sewing class, knowledge is power.

Dr. King was only on this earth a short time, but he made a major impact that is forever marked in history.

What legacy will you leave behind?

By Melissa Wells

A

new initiative has begun to welcome Soldiers and Family Members to Fort Campbell.

The Soldier and Family Newcomer’s Orientation program is for “all newly arrived Soldiers and Families who have checked in at Kalsu Replacement and/or their unit within the last 45 days,” says Connie Silk, ACS Relocation Program Manager. This is an opportunity for a comprehensive orientation with a chance to learn about the services and resources available on and around Fort Campbell. Major General John Campbell, Commanding General for the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) and Fort Campbell, started this program in order to “bring in more Families and inform them about the great resources available at Fort Campbell.

We can’t do what we do without Family support,” says Campbell.

“This program builds resilience, strength, and support for these new members of the 101st Airborne Family and allows Soldiers and their Family Members to learn about the resources that are available to meet their

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needs,” says Silk. By combining this orientation and giving newcomers a chance to interact with multiple agencies on one day, it reduces the number of days required for new Soldiers to in-process, giving them more time to spend with their Families. It also includes those Family Members who may not otherwise receive important information about the resources available to them.

The orientation will start at 9 a.m. with an official welcome and video, followed by a bus tour of the installation for Family Members, lunch (sponsored by North Central Institute), and a visit to multiple agency resource booths on-site at the FRC. Some of the agencies represented will be Fort Campbell Family Housing, Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS), finance, medical/Tricare, Military Family Life Consultants, Army Family Team Building, information about contacting

your Family Readiness Group (FRG) and Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA), and more.

Representatives from the surrounding communities have also been invited. When asked why she would encourage Soldiers and Families to participate, Silk replied, “It gives them the opportunity to meet the subject matter experts one-on-one at a single location.” Mrs. Silk advises “reserve a spot for childcare at least one week prior to the event by calling 270-798-6313 or email acsrelocation@fortcampbellmwr.com. Childcare registration packets will be given to Soldiers when they sign in to 20th replacement. These are also available online at https: //webtrac.mwr.army.mil.”

Starting out, the orientation programs will take place twice a month with the next one scheduled for January 14, 2010. These times and dates may change as the program evolves. General Campbell is hoping to make 2010 “the year of the Family; their support is essential for Soldiers to succeed.”

For general questions about the Soldier and Family Newcomer’s Orientation, please call 270-798-9322.

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Air Assault Auto Army Community Service Army Education Center Arts & Crafts Center Arts & Crafts Center Woodshop ASYMCA Auto Skills North Auto Skills South Baldanado Pool BOSS Program Child Development Center #1 Child Development Center #2 Civilian Personnel Advisory Center Clarksville Base PFC Cole Park Community Activities Center Cole Park Golf Club 19th Hole Snack Bar Cole Park Southern Buffet CYS Central Registration D.W. Recreation Center Dawg Haus Destiny Parks & Pavilions

(270) 956-1101/1100 (270) 798-9322 (270) 798-5886 (270) 798-6693 (270) 798-6540 (270) 798-7422 (270) 798-5612 (270) 798-6317 (270) 798-5207 (270) 798-7858 (270) 439-7993 (270) 439-7996 (270) 798-7161 (270) 798-6006 (270) 798-4610 x119 (270) 798-4906/1822 (270) 798-4610 x106 (270) 798-4610 x112 (270) 798-0674 (270) 798-7391 (270) 798-0766 (270) 798-2175

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Direcotacte of MWR Discovery Center Dolan Pool Engraving Etc Estep Wellness Center Family Child Care Family Resource Center Fort Campbell Riding Stables Fratellenico PFC Freedom Fighters PFC Froggy’s Sports Bar & Grill Gardner Indoor Pool Gear-To-Go Gertsch PFC Hooper Bowling Center Information, Ticketing & Reservations Leisure Travel Office Lozada PFC MWR 24 Hour Information Hotline MWR Public Relations Office & Installation In/Out Processing Bldg MWR Unit Funds/IMWRF Collections

(270) 798-9953 (270) 798-2737 (270) 798-5350 (270) 798-0171 (270) 798-4664/4023 (270) 798-4959 (270) 956-2935 (270) 798-2629 (270) 798-9418 (270) 798-7355 (270) 697-1004 (270) 798-6310 (270) 798-6806 (270) 798-2753 (270) 798-5887 (270) 798-7436 (270) 798-4306 (270) 798-3172 (270) 798-7535 (270) 798-6818

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North Softball Complex Olive PFC Outdoor Recreation Paintball/Survival Games Part Day Preschool R.F. Sink Library Recycling Center Richardson Army Lodging School Age Services Single Pool Skeet Range SKIESUnlimited Center South Softball Complex Sports Admin Office / Fryar Stadium Sportsman's Lodge Taylor Youth Center Teen Club 24/7 Turner Army Lodging

52. Veterinary Services 43. Youth Sports Program

(270) 798-3320 (270) 798-4101 (270) 798-2175 (270) 798-4620 (270) 798-0674 (270) 798-5729 (270) 798-4527 (931) 431-4496 (270) 798-4129 (270) 798-4247 (270) 412-4015 (270) 412-5455 (270) 798-3320 (270) 798-3094 (931) 431-4140 (270) 798-3643 (270) 956-1033 (270) 439-2229 1 (800) GO ARMY 1 (270) 798-3614 (270) 798-6355

By Lisa Taylor

T

he Army Emergency Relief (AER) program was established in 1942 to provide assistance to Soldiers and Families in emergency financial situations.

This non-profit organization is committed to “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” A large portion of the funds used to support AER are received through donations from both the general public and the Army Family.

Since its creation, AER has expanded to include the AER Education Program.

The education program consists of scholarships designed to offer college aid for Army Spouses and dependent children.

One of many scholarships offered through the AER Educational Program is the MG James Ursano Scholarship. This program is available to children of Active Duty, Retired, or Soldiers who have been killed in action. The MG James Ursano Scholarship is awarded every year, for up to four academic years, to a full-time student enrolled at an accredited undergraduate, vocational or technical school.

Funds received from this scholarship may be used for tuition, books, supplies and fees, or school room and board. A grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained to qualify and reapply for this scholarship.

Students, who are interested in applying, must be an unmarried dependent, enrolled in DEERS, and be under the age of 23 for the entire Academic Year.

Other great scholarship programs include the AER Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) and the AER Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP). These programs were developed to help Spouses of Soldiers advance their education. The SSEAP provides financial assistance to Spouses of Active Duty, Retired Soldiers, and widow(er)s, residing in the United States, who are pursuing their first degree at a post secondary school.

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Scholarships are awarded annually, for up to four years, and are based on the financial needs of the applicant. Funds may be used for tuition, books, supplies and fees. A grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained to qualify and reapply for this scholarship.

The OSEAP is also a need based education assistance program created to provide financial educational assistance to Spouses living with Active Duty Soldiers at Overseas Commands.

Financial assistance is awarded per term, based on financial need.

Items that are taken into consideration when assessing eligibility include income, assets, Family size, special financial obligations and circumstances.

Contacting Fort Campbell’s AER Office is a great way to learn all the information needed to apply for any AER scholarship. AER Officers Betty Geren and David Ellis can inform patrons about various scholarship programs, qualifications, and how to utilize the AER scholarship website to apply for scholarships.

A quick stop by the AER office will arm you with the information needed to ensure a smooth application process.

AER has awarded over $48K this year to Spouses and dependent children in the Fort Campbell community. “Education is the key to success,” said AER Officer Geren, “AER scholarship programs provide Spouses the opportunity to fulfill their desires to obtain higher education.” Year after year, AER scholarships have enable Spouses and children to reach their educational goals. “For many students, scholarships are the only way for them to pursue a degree,” states Geren.

“Even when working two or three jobs, they could not afford to go to college without this scholarship.”

Financial Readiness Manager Tere Kangas is the perfect portrait of how AER scholarships can help Spouses advance and pursue careers within the Army community.

After dropping out of high school, Kangas was working two, sometimes three, jobs just to provide for her Family. Trying to find extra money to pay for college seemed nearly impossible. With the help of the AER scholarship fund, Kangas was able to achieve her educational goals and has gone on to complete two additional degrees, graduating with honors. “AER was instrumental for me obtaining my degrees, and had the scholarship not been there to give me my first steps, I most likely would have never gone back to school,” states Kangas. “I feel everyone can follow their dreams and not go broke in the process.”

“Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own,” the Army Emergency Relief Program has made great strides in its mission to provide financial assistance for continued education. With the help of the AER Education Program, many more Spouses and dependent children can achieve their educational goals and dreams.

More information about the AER Education Program and scholarships can be obtained by visiting Fort Campbell’s AER Office or by visiting www.aerhq.org.

Army Emergency Relief Officers Betty Geren (270) 798-5518 David Ellis (270) 798-7861 5662 Screaming Eagle Blvd.

Fort Campbell KY, 42223 http://www.fortcampbellmwr.com/ acsnew/frp/AER/aer2.htm

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By Ambyr Barr To celebrate the re-signing of the Army Family Covenant in October 2009, Family members were asked to submit essays describing how the Army Family Covenant has impacted their lives. The winner of this contest, Mrs. Brenda Franks, participated in the ceremony by reading her essay and being a signatory of the Army Family Covenant.

Formerly a Soldier herself, Mrs. Franks understands the challenges that Army Families face. Fort Campbell is Mrs. Frank’s first duty station as a Spouse and she has taken on the challenge of managing a household and caring for her daughters while her husband is deployed. When Mrs. Franks is not taking care of her three daughters, Elizabeth 6, Rebekah 4, and Rachel 6 months, she volunteers for Army Community Service, and the Army Family Team Building (AFTB) program. “Ms. Franks is a very reliable volunteer who has been called upon time and time again to fill in where needed. She has a true passion for the program and teaches her classes from the heart, which draws students in while conveying valuable life lessons. She has spent tremendous time and effort ensuring that Family members were educated and trained to be self sufficient leaders within their community,” says Suzy Yates, AFTB Program Manager.

Mrs. Franks’ commitment and dedication to her Family and the Army encompass the spirit in which the Army Family Covenant was created. Not only has she been able to benefit from the partnership created between the Fort Campbell Command, Families, Soldiers, and the Army Family Covenant, she has contributed as well.

Please read Mrs. Franks’ essay below to see how the Army Family Covenant has benefited her.

Family Covenant Essay

By Brenda Franks The Army Family Covenant has greatly improved the quality of my life and my children’s lives during my husband’s deployment. My husband deployed to Afghanistan in December 2008, and I was left at home with our 2 daughters and pregnant with our third daughter. This was our first deployment, and I was terrified that I would not be able to handle all of the stress. I can definitely tell that the Army recognizes the sacrifices that each Army Family makes along with our Soldiers. The availability of Super Saturday care twice a month is fantastic. My children get to play with their friends all day for free, and I get much needed time to rest and get refreshed. These Super Saturdays provided by CYSS allow me to get my strength back so I can continue to be the mother my children need me to be.

Also, because of the Army Family Covenant, the Army has done an excellent job of preparing my children for a strong future. My oldest daughter is 6 years old and attends Jackson Elementary. She entered Kindergarten last year only being able to read her name, and she “graduated” Kindergarten being able to read books to her younger sisters. This year, my 6 year old is in first grade, and my 4 year old is in Pre-Kindergarten.

They both look forward to school every day because they have fun learning their academics including Spanish and the arts, how to work well with others, and very important life skills that they will carry with them their entire lives. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many teachers at Jackson Elementary and every one of them has a passion for teaching. These teachers love the children of Fort Campbell, and it’s evident in the way they teach and the way they play with our children. Also, since the Military Family and Life Consultants have started working at the schools, it has given my children a wonderful opportunity to talk about their daddy and how much they miss him. They are allowed a chance to fully express their fears to someone outside their home, and they love telling other people how much they adore their daddy.

Finally, the Army Family Covenant has affected my Family in a very positive way through our housing office. Right after my husband deployed, we were informed that there would now be a contractor that would be mowing our lawns for us. I was 7 months pregnant when I found this out, and I could not have been happier. I was worried and stressed out, wondering how I was going to push a lawn mower around the front yard without hurting myself. It was such a blessing to know that I wouldn’t have to worry about it while my husband was gone. It has also been a huge blessing to my husband. He worries about us being here by ourselves, so it was a relief for him to know that I wouldn’t be trying to push the lawn mower around the yard. It took away some of his stress, and that’s the greatest gift we could ever ask for. Again, thank you so much for taking care of all of the Families here on Fort Campbell.

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By CPT Albarran & Jan Wagner

I

met CPT “Al” Albarran, a Physician Assistant (PA) with Blanchfield Army Community Hospital working out of the LaPointe Health Clinic, in August 2009.

A Jamaican by birth, she migrated to the United States at age 19 and enlisted in the US Army as an 88M (Wheeled Vehicle Operator) in Aug 1993.

She later completed PA training through the US Army and was commissioned in the Medical Specialist Corps in January 2007.

Al showed up at the Gardner Pool on a fall afternoon with a plan, a goal, and a great deal of determination and motivation.

• Her plan: Arrange swim lessons, attend all scheduled lessons, and work hard.

• Her goal: Learn to swim by year’s end, at a minimum, Freestyle and Backstroke.

• Her determination: Never wavered, though it has been tested and challenged.

• Her motivation: Overcome her fear of the water. Once an avid runner, a knee injury affected her ability to participate in strenuous high impact activities, to include running.

Pending surgery, swimming will be instrumental in her recovery process.

Ironically, Al grew up on an island with some of the most beautiful blue sea water known to man; but, she never learned to swim. Now after 16 years in the Army, she has decided to overcome a serious fear of water and learn how to swim.

In mid August, Al’s plan was set in motion. With lesson times and location set, Al arrived with suit and towel; and though extremely nervous, had a great attitude. The first few days were dedicated to getting Al adjusted to the being in the water, the feel of the water, and the tangible principles of water dynamics as it relates to the body in motion and motionless. She soon progressed to short distance swimming in the Backstroke and Freestyle forms – but still had significant fear in the water. Lessons continued and improvements were

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significant. On her first backstroke of the length of the pool, from the deep end to the shallow, she raised her hands in victory and was very excited. Al has now ventured to the deep end of the pool, both with a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and without. She is now fairly comfortable with treading water in the deep end and knows how to tread when her swim strokes fail. Freestyle is still a challenge for her, not because her stroke or skills are lacking but because her fear still controls her breathing. It’s now January and Al is showing up for all her

scheduled lessons. She has the attention of the entire morning staff as they all have come to know her and jump at the opportunity to assist her with the “challenge” of the day and reassure her when her fear grabs hold and threatens to stall her learning.

What will the future bring?

We believe it will be confidence, patience, endurance, challenges, frustration – ultimately an Olympic-like victory and success.

Each adult swim student that we work with is unique. Their motivations, commitment and determination all vary. Some soldiers, like Al, will come in for personal reasons to including overcoming “pseudo-phobia” that they want to conquer. Others seek our service to get prepared for upcoming Army schools or courses that they want to be eligible and/or highly competitive to attend. There are also the seniors who never got around to learning and who think it’s never too late to defeat a fear or learn a new skill. Whatever the reasons that bring these people to our door, we endeavor to place them in the best program based on their individual needs and learning abilities – they may be placed in group lessons, made up of their peers, or private lessons. Additionally, we try to tailor our placement of adult students with the most appropriate instructor, based also on the student’s learning abilities and limitations and instructor experience and teaching style, since no two students learn the exactly the same and no two instructor teaches the same.

Can we help you?

We would like the opportunity to try! For more information about Adult Swim Lessons, contact Gardner Indoor Pool at (270) 798-6310.

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By Keri McPeak Struggling to lose weight can be a hard and lonely road, especially at this time of year.

MWR Sports and Fitness has developed a fitness based program designed to help you lose weight, get fit, relieve stress, and have fun. The Fitness staff will guide 32 willing participants on how to not only lose the weight, but how to keep it off by permanently changing their lifestyle. The idea for the program came from the reality TV show, The Biggest Loser, where the contestants compete to lose the most weight in a set amount of time; however, unlike the reality show, no one will be “eliminated,” and everyone who joins the program is truly a winner. Participants must be at least 18 years of age, sign a fitness contract, abide by the guidelines provided, and perform a physical fitness assessment.

The 12 week program will begin January 11, 2010 and run through April 2, 2010. On the first day, the orientation process will begin with participants performing the physical fitness assessment, signing the fitness contract, and getting a feel for the program. Make sure you dress

comfortably in the proper work-out attire, because you are sure to work up a sweat! One of the key elements in this program is the fitness assessment. The assessment is crucial in determining the goals each person should set for themselves during the 12 week program. Although it may take longer than a 12 week period of time for you to achieve your overall fitness goal, the information, life skills, and knowledge obtained during the course of this program will be carried with you as you continue on your weight loss journey.

Pre-registration for the Biggest Winner campaign is required; the deadline to register is January 7, 2010.

Individuals that are interested in experiencing a change for the better should visit Freedom Fighters Physical Fitness Center to register. Register today and be on your way to completing your fitness goals and becoming a healthier, better you.

For more information about the Biggest Winner program, please call Freedom Fighters Physical Fitness Center at (270) 798-7355.

Physical movement requires the muscles to produce heat. This equals a need for energy, and a need for energy means caloric burn, plain and simple. Provided below, are few examples of simple physical activities to put this statement into motion.

1. Park your car further from the store and walk.

2. Walk one time around the perimeter (inside) the store before starting your shopping.

3. Walk to a friend’s house instead of driving.

4. Get off the couch or park bench and engage in your child’s imaginative play.

Deanna Lock, Certified Personal Trainer

By Melissa Wells For the start of a fresh new year, Army Community Service (ACS) has recently opened a brand new facility. The ACS Financial Readiness Building, located at 5662 Screaming Eagle Boulevard, will house the Consumer Affairs Office, Army Emergency Relief (AER), Financial Planning, and Survivor Outreach Services (SOS). It is a great opportunity for Soldiers and their Families to take care of all of their financial needs in one building.

Walking into the facility, you are greeted with an open, modern and airy waiting area, complete with a cable ready flat screen television. After signing in, the counselors expedite the process by making sure that all needed paperwork is in order and then take the customer directly to their office for further help.

This allows customers to discuss their issues

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without embarrassment. Betty Geren, Financial Readiness Program Manager, feels like the most important feature of the new building is “the improved confidentiality for all of our patrons.

It makes them feel more comfortable to discuss their issues and gives them the space and privacy that they need.”

This building helps distinguish the financial services by consolidating them into one building. “They know exactly where to go,” says Geren.

ACS Financial Readiness has a host of services available to help you with all of your financial needs. They offer free CarFax reports, assist with resolving consumer complaints, provide information on “off limits” establishments, help obtain, explain, and, if

necessary dispute items on credit reports, and much more. One of the statistics that they track is the amount of money that they save Soldiers and their Families every month. I was shocked to learn that they routinely save their customers over $100,000 per month! Whether it is through debt consolidation or reducing interest rates, these programs offer a wonderful opportunity to get your finances in order.

Financial Readiness also encourages Soldiers to come to them first before they sign contracts for large purchases. They can review these contracts to make sure that you are getting the best deal.

The ACS Financial Readiness Building is open daily from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for your convenience.

Check back for more information about upcoming classes, programs and services.

For more information about any of the above information, call (270) 798-5518.

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CLARKSVILLE’S LARGEST SURPLUS STORE 2054 FORT CAMPBELL BOULEVARD CLARKSVILLE TENNESSEE 37042 1-931-648-2000 FAX: 1-931-552-6555 www.eaglesofwar.com