2015 Spring/Summer Fort Campbell MWR Life for Retirees

YOU’VE GIVEN YEARS OF SERVICE. NOW LET US RETURN THE FAVOR. Military retirees save up to 20%.

[RET.]RATE

Created exclusively for military retirees, the [RET.] Rate will save you up to 20% on your next stay at IHG Army Hotels on Fort Campbell or any other IHG Army Hotels location found on 38 additional posts across the nation.

IHG Army Hotels on Fort Campbell 82 Texas Avenue Fort Campbell, KY 42223 270.439.2229

IHGArmyHotels.com 877.711.8326

Military Retiree Rate: Identification verifying military retiree status must be presented at the time of check in to receive this rate. Retiree may book multiple rooms under Military Retiree Rate. All rooms booked by retiree must fall within the same time period. Valid only for leisure travel. Not valid for official travel. This rate is not tax exempt. Taxes apply. Rate subject to availability. Š2015 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved. IHG Army Hotels properties are independently owned by Rest Easy, LLC, an affiliate of Lend Lease (US) Public Partnerships, LLC, and operated by an affiliate of IHG. No DOD, US Army or federal government endorsement implied.

Retirees come in all shapes and sizes, all fitness levels and a wide range of ages. Not everyone will have the same interests or abilities. No matter what you like to do or how well you can do it – MWR has something for you. We have everything from rigorous hiking trips to muscle and joint-friendly water activities to free WiFi at Robert F. Sink Memorial Library. As a Retiree, you can use all of our MWR programs and facilities. When you’re ready to get away for a vacation, Leisure Travel Services is here to help you plan your trip – no matter how near or far you plan to go. We have a lot of ways you can stay up to date on what’s happening. You can visit our website at www.campbell.armymwr.com, like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fortcampbellmwr, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @fortcampbellmwr, read our new blog at www.fortcampbellmwrlife.com, and give our Public Relations office at call at (270) 798-7535 or the 24 hour Info Line at (270) 798-3172. Whether your idea of retirement is sitting on the porch drinking coffee, gardening, traveling the world, or starting a new career – we want you to enjoy it!

Editor CynDe Clack

CynDe Clack, Editor mwrliferetiree@fortcampbellmwr.com (270) 461-0274

Contributors William D. Corlew III Ted Faulkner Tara Goodson Mike Gorham Jenelle Grewell Allisha Lee Mandy Mullaney

Inside this issue 3

Publisher Creative ink

Montgomery County Supports Fort Campbell Mayor Jim Durrett shares his thoughts.

Creative Director Sears Hallett Advertising 931-801-4531 sales@creativeinktn.com Photography CynDe Clack Jenelle Grewell Shutterstock

On the Homefront

6

Body, Mind & Spirit Rest: Not on the Same Page as Retire…

A 3-step plan to avoid the mundane.

8

In the Know Burial Benefits for Retirees Plan now for peace of mind later.

pgs 6, 8, 10, 16

9

Spotlight on MWR Outdoor Recreation Opportunities Adventure trips, hikes, hunting and more.

12 Soldier for Life Assessing Life After the Army What do you want to do or be?

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 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.campbell.armymwr.com.

24 hr. event line - 270-798-3172 www.facebook.com/fortcampbellmwr

14 AUSA Celebrating the Army’s 240th Birthday A week of activities!

16 Retirement Services Recruiting for New Members An opportunity to serve fellow Retirees.

On the Homefront

Montgomery County Supports Fort Campbell

By Jenelle Grewell and Tara Goodson

3

Jim Durrett has been a constant in Montgomery County for as long as most people can remember. Not only was he born and raised here, he has continued to live in our community for his entire life. You may not realize that his Great Uncle built the log cabin in Cole Park that has been home to various members of the command staff for over 40 years.

Durrett shared a wonderful anecdote about when the government purchased the cabin and the land to add to Camp Campbell: his Great Aunt was adamant about keeping the curtains she had made. Not only is the cabin part of Durrett’s Family history, a portion of his grandparent’s property near Gate 3 was also purchased to expand Fort Campbell.

Durrett’s ancestors supported Fort Campbell and today, Durrett does as much as he can locally to support Fort Campbell as Montgomery County Mayor. He tries to go to as many medal presentations, change of commands, welcome home flights and other events as he can. “The county doesn’t do enough to recognize the Soldiers and Families that have served, especially since 2001,” he said.

Durrett shared that he wants to continue to work on the partnership between Montgomery County and Fort Campbell. He said the partnership is strong but he wants to continue to work on improving it even further. “I believe that consistency in community leadership is vital because of the constant turnover of Soldiers in command. If there is something outside the fence we can do as a community, we want to know about it,” he said. He added that directorates on Fort

www.campbell.armymwr.com

Campbell are in communication with how we can work together to save taxpayers dollars. He gave the example of purchasing road salt in large bulk quantities for both Montgomery County and Fort Campbell which helped save money.

The community listening session for Fort Campbell held this past January gave Durrett a feeling of great pride in the citizens outside the gates of Fort Campbell.

Over 3,000 people were turned away at the gates due to the locations having reached capacity for guests. “We came out in force to show support,” he said. Fort Campbell means an awful lot to Montgomery County and to the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. In the last 20 years, a new school has been built every 1.4 years to help support Fort Campbell and the growing population. New industry has grown and a lot of that has to do with the dynamic work force that comes from Fort Campbell every month. He said it is vital to do everything we can do for someone who wants to stay and retire in Montgomery County or for those who out-process from the Army and choose to stay in our community.

“The turnout [for the listening session] was awesome. It made my heart feel good,” he said. He can’t think of another event where the support for the community meant so much.

“It showed how Montgomery County has stepped up and displayed what a patriotic community we really are.”

Durrett wears a faded bracelet that he has not taken off since the first troops were deployed after 9/11. The bracelet says “Support Our Troops” but now the “tr” from troops are the only letters that are still visible. This bracelet has not come off in over 13 years. “My heart and soul is with the folks at Fort Campbell,” he said.

Visit www.mcgtnvet.org.

4

Body, Mind & Spirit

Rest: Not on the Same Page as Retire…

demilitarize yourself. Demilitarizing yourself doesn’t mean that your accomplished military career deserves less than honorable accolades, but it does suggest that you may approach retirement differently. For example, in the evening don’t pick out, lay out, or iron your outfit for the next day. You’ll have plenty time in the morning to accomplish such chores. Also, don’t set your alarm to awake you in the morning; place a towel over those brightly lit LED numbers and get some rest. Many Retirees still have children living at home, teenagers or between work-school-adult-agers. You can also relieve yourself of added morning distress and inconvenience by instructing them how to use the toaster in the morning for breakfast, make their favorite bowl of cereal, and of course lock the top lock on the door on their way out to school or hopefully work.

Remember, quality rest is attainable if those darlings are out of your dwelling.

By William D. Corlew, III

There are numerous clichés that come to mind when people evoke the word retirement. When one retires, we symbolically celebrate their exit from the workforce by giving them a gold watch or one golden golf tee and one expensive golf club. Some people choose to give the new Retiree a sterling-new fishing pole and stocked tackle box. Other unimaginative retirement gifters may choose such uninspiring keepsakes such as gift cards, or gift baskets of summer sausages and cheeses. My thought is this - if you have to use the word “gift” to describe your token of appreciation then there was not much thought or originality that went into the gifting process. Nevertheless, as with retirement gifts, there are also a plethora of ideas on what one does during retirement. Many people envision a mature couple, smiling and strolling along a secluded beach or securing the house for the summer while hitching up a Geo Metro or camper to an RV or mobile home to travel scenic U.S. routes and other popular thoroughfares, visiting their grandchildren along the way. And of course, the classic image of retirement is that of an older couple spending a beautiful warm day reclining on the front porch, slowly swaying back and forth, sipping tea or lemonade, watching the cars in the road pass while taking notice of the squirrels and bunnies as they obsessively search for food, while debating the accuracy of this year’s almanac.

Although this vision may be an appropriate response to a question on the television game show, The Family Feud, it’s also boring! Who says that retirement has to be mundane, lusterless, and uninteresting? As a matter of fact, in a dictionary, neither the word rest nor retirement occur on the same page; here is my 3-step plan for those of you who are either approaching retirement or who have previously saluted “bon voyage” to their careers.

Writer and producer for the Carol Burnett show, Gene Perret writes, “I enjoy waking up and not having to go to work. So I do it three or four times a day.” Although this may not be the ideal image of retirement for many service members, the notion of not having a requirement to arise at a certain time, say 9 to 5 or rather, according to military standards, “O-dark Thirty” suggests that Retirees should approach post-service life with effortless joy. Therefore, Step 1 is

Furthermore, for my male readers, skip the morning razor-routine and finally allow your favorite style of beard, mustache, or goatee to grow; for my female readers, reward yourselves by getting a manicure and choose a bright color with fancy designs all while remembering that other than the standard tapered-mustache, military regulations forbid both facial hair and cute nails. Step 2, make a plan not to plan; most things military, have by COB (close of business) deadlines or NLT (not later than) clauses. Break this cycle by committing to be spontaneous and unpredictable; this does not give you the opportunity to randomly skip bill payments or arrive late to pick up your Spouse: the spontaneous unpredictable excuse will likely award you an indefinite trip to Fido’s house. Therefore, shred your planners and use Siri only to remind you of birthdays, or more importantly, anniversaries. And finally, Step 3, search for fun activities and new adventures that are either free or have minimal costs and “kick” the bucket list.

Usually bucket list activities demand high stakes: high price, high risk, and highly dangerous. For example, if you have never cave dived or wing-walked before, don’t start now. There are a number of local adventures that Fort Campbell MWR offers, from climbing trips, terrain walks, and nature hikes, to using your military benefits at the Fort Campbell Leisure Travel Services for worldwide travel. Remember that as we mature, we can reduce the negative effects of aging by reducing chaos and the rigid routines of life; go out, have fun, and never equate rest with retire.

6

In The Know

Burial Benefits for Retirees

By Ted Faulkner

Although most Retirees don’t think about what happens upon their death, preparing in advance provides peace of mind knowing that arrangements have been made. Normally the question is asked after the passing of a retired Soldier, when there is a tremendous amount of pressure on the survivor.

Planning in advance can simplify things and take some of the pressure and decision making requirements from the survivor, allowing them to grieve in their own way, without as many distractions.

Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of the 131 national cemeteries with available space, which are operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration, www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/index.asp.

Additional benefits include opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the Family. Some Veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains. Please note, there is not a VA National Cemetery in every state, so check the VA website for specific information at www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/listcem.asp.

Many states have established state veterans cemeteries.

Eligibility is similar to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries, but may include residency requirements and these are run solely by the states. You can also find links to state run cemeteries on the website listed above.

Burial benefits that are available for Spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the Spouse or dependents’ name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the Family. Eligible Spouses

www.campbell.armymwr.com

and dependents may be buried here, even if they predecease the Veteran.

VA burial allowances are flat rate monetary benefits that are generally paid at the maximum amount authorized by law for an eligible Veteran’s burial and funeral costs. Eligible surviving Spouses of record are paid automatically upon notification of the Veteran’s death without the need to submit a claim. VA may grant additional benefits, including the plot or interment allowance and transportation allowance, if it receives a claim for these benefits and the Veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

For specific information regarding burial allowances use this link: www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/burials/Burial.pdf.

Generally speaking, any Veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be buried in a VA National Cemetery. With certain exceptions, service beginning after September 7, 1980, as an enlisted person, and service after October 16, 1981, as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24 continuous months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty (as in the case of a Reservist called to active duty for a limited duration). Undesirable, bad conduct, and any other type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for Veterans’ benefits, depending upon a determination made by a VA Regional Office.

Cases presenting multiple discharges of varying character are also referred for adjudication to a VA Regional Office. A copy of DD Form 214, Copy 2 or Copy 4 are required to prove service. If you do not have a copy, use this link to the National Archives to request a copy www.archives.gov, or contact them at (866) 272-6272.

8

Spotlight on MWR

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities for Retirees

By Mike Gorham

Fort Campbell MWR Outdoor Recreation is very pleased to offer a wide variety of outdoor opportunities to military Retirees. Our most popular and best known outdoor activity is, without a doubt, hunting, but we realize that not everyone is interested in that pursuit, so we do offer many other ways to enjoy the outdoors. All of the programs mentioned below are open to retired military and their Families, so come on out and join us for some of them, and enjoy our scenic nature.

The Outdoor Recreation Archery Range, located on 11th Airborne Division Road, across from the Challenge Course Complex, is used extensively by hunters and bowmen “aiming” to perfect their skills. The Archery Range offers various target back stops and lessons are available by advance reservation. If you are new to archery, we can help you learn some of the ins and outs of your bow, or we can loan 11

you a bow to try before taking the plunge and purchasing your own. An area assignment must be obtained from the Main Office of Outdoor Recreation prior to using the Archery Range; call (270) 798-2175.

We also offer a variety of shooting opportunities at the Skeet Range and Privately Owned Firearms Range. The Skeet Range hosts three or four National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) shoots a year for NSSA members, in addition to leagues and Eagle Skeet Club Shoots throughout the year.

There are shotguns for rent if you don’t have your own, and we have ammunition for any gauge shotgun, as well as snacks and soft drinks for your enjoyment.

The Privately Owned Firearms Range is located at Range 16 and is operated by MWR on Saturdays, Sundays, Division DONSAs and holidays. The range has rifles and handguns that you can rent and shoot, as well as ammunition, drinks and snacks. The hours vary depending on the season so check the MWR website for information on hours prior to coming out to shoot.

Outdoor Recreation currently operates the Riding Stables, which consists of pasture and stall boarding for privately owned horses as well as housing a government herd and offering trail rides, pony rides and other special events. We usually offer Date Nights on Friday nights when the weather is good, which consist of a trail ride, a dinner, and a bonfire with s’mores near the banks of Lake Taal. These are offered several times a year, depending on the season, and dates will be posted on the MWR

website(www.campbell.armymwr.com) and Facebook page. If you are having a large group outing, we can provide pony rides or hay rides to make the day more special, just contact the office at (270) 798-2629 or 5590 to schedule your event with the staff.

Fort Campbell offers two campgrounds if you want to get away for a short time and enjoy communing with nature. Eagle’s Rest Campground has 24 sites, with water, electric and sewer, a bathhouse and laundry facilities. It is located on 11th Airborne Division Road, right across the street from the stables.

Fletcher’s Fork Campground has 22 sites, with water, electricity and sewer, four cabins, four cottages and three deluxe

cabins. There is a bathhouse at Fletcher’s Fork as well, and patrons are authorized to use the laundry facility at Eagle’s Rest.

Fort Campbell MWR Adventure Programs offers a variety of activities and manages the Challenge Course Complex, the Indoor Climbing Wall and our Adventure Trips program. The Challenge Course Complex is open for group rentals and for outings such as birthday parties and team building programs. They also offer Open Houses which allow Families to come out and learn some of the basics while trying out their skills at climbing on some of the structures on the Challenge Course. We also open the Indoor Climbing Wall for Climbing 101 classes and Open Climbs as well as working with a variety of groups to set up climbing opportunities. King’s Bluff is located very conveniently and we take regular outings to climb there, providing transportation, all the equipment necessary and instruction and oversight. Adventure Trips also offers a variety of outings including nature hikes, historical hikes, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting and a variety of tours to help introduce Families to all that middle Tennessee has to offer.

We have three outdoor pavilions and one indoor pavilion outside the main cantonment area that can be rented for Family reunions, birthday parties or church groups. Their easy accessibility makes them very popular, so call (270) 798-2175 when you have something coming up so we can get you on the reservation book.

There are also five park areas inside the main cantonment area that have playgrounds, pavilions, grills and tables.

The parks are located throughout the installation and can be reserved by calling (270) 412-7854/7855. Wilkes Park, located just inside Gate 6, has a pavilion and an accessible playground. Eagle Park, located behind Gertsch PFC, is an open field with a small pavilion. Town Center Park is located near the Main Exchange and has a playground, a pavilion and a small amphitheater. Clarksville Base is located on Headquarters Loop Road and has two pavilions and a small playground area. Cole Park is located on William C. Lee Road, across from Cole Park Commons, and has several picnic tables, a small pavilion and another accessible playground.

I mentioned hunting and fishing first, but decided to save it for last, since it is so very popular and well known, but I think I would be remiss if I did not talk about it to an extent. Fort Campbell is one of the premier locations for people to come hunt. We are well known for the large white tailed deer that have been harvested over the years and our wildlife management has been working to ensure we keep the herd healthy. Hunters must understand that the installation is managing for a healthy herd though, and not for trophy deer. Military training has priority on the installation, but when areas are not being used, we can use them for hunting and fishing. The installation has about 65,000 acres of land available for recreational use if no training is taking place. We coordinate with Kentucky and Tennessee State Wildlife offices, but we

set our own seasons and bag limits. Big game harvested on the installation does not count against either state’s limits.

Hunting on the installation is governed by Cam Cir 215-14-1 and the circular is posted on the MWR website.

We are currently working with the Qualified Recycling Program (QRP) to construct a 4.5 mile Nature Trail in the Clarksville Base area that will provide a place for Families and individuals to walk and enjoy nature or have a picnic. The trail will have three trailheads, one at Louisiana Avenue, near the Ammo Supply Point, one at Thunder Road, near the new Medical/Dental facility and one on Headquarters Loop Road, near the entrance to Clarksville Base from Mabry Road. The trail should be completed this spring and we expect it to get lots of use.

Since the Clarksville and Hopkinsville areas have such a large number of military Retirees, we feel it is vital to offer opportunities for them to enjoy the out of doors, and get back to nature. We believe that getting outside can help you live a longer life and be more healthy, whether you are hiking or climbing, or canoeing or whatever activity you are involved in, if you are outdoors and active, you are healthier. If there is an activity or program you would like to see offered by Outdoor Recreation, feel free to contact us and we will look into the possibilities of offering it.

10

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

101st Airborne Division Headquarters 19th Hole (Cole Park) Army Community Service (ACS) & ACS Dir ector Director Army Education Center Center, Guenette Arts and Crafts Center, ASYMCA Backdoor Boutique

7. ASYMCA Family Center Center,, Air Assault Auto 8. Auto Service Center Program 9. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers Pr ogram (BOSS) 10. Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Center,, Hooper 11. Bowling Center 12. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center 13. Commissary 2. Cole Park Commons Parent 30. CYSS, Par ent Central Services (Central Registration) 30. CYSS, School Liaison 38. CYSS, SKIESUnlimited Center 14. Dog Kennels 17. Dawg Haus (Dining) 18. Estep Wellness Wellness Center 19. Equipment Rental (Gear-to-Go) (Gear-to-Go) 20. Exchange/Food Court/Mall 21. Family Resource Resource Center (FRC) 22. Financial Readiness (Army Emer Emergency gency Relief)

11

(270)798-9793 (270)798-4610x106 (270)798-9322 (270)798-3201 (270)798-6693 (270)956-1566 (270)798-7422 (270)956-1101/1100 (270)798-7858 (270)798-8055 (270)798-5887 (270)798-7161 (270)798-3663 (270)798-4610 (270)798-0674 (270)798-9874 (270)412-5811 (270)798-5590 (270)798-0766 (270)798-4664/4023 (270)798-6806 (270)439-1841 (270)956-2935 (270)798-5518

Office fice 23. Fryar Stadium, Sports Admin Of 2. Golf Course (Cole Park) Recreation eation Facility) 15. Joe Swing (Rental Recr ravel Services 20. Leisur eT Leisure Travel F.. Sink Memorial 26. Library Library,, R.F R.F. Director 27. MWR Dir ector F.. Pratt 28. Museum, Don F 29. Outdoor Recreation Recreation Main Building 31. Pool, Baldonado 32. Pool, Dolan 33. Pool, Gardner Gardner Indoor 34. Pool, Single 9. Recreation Recreation Center, Center, Dale Wayrynen Wayrynen 14. Riding Stables 39. Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) (SFAC) 2. Southern Buffet Buffet (Cole Park) 41. Smokehaus (Dining) Teen Club 24/7 42. Teen 43. The Zone Tricare 44. Tricare Veterinary Services 45. Veterinary 46. Wilson Theater (Taylor) Youth Center (Taylor) 42. Youth Youth Sports 42. Youth

(270)798-3094 (270)798-4906 (270)798-4610x119 (270)798-7436 (270)798-5729 (270)798-9953 (270)798-3215/4986 (270)798-2175 (270)798-5207 (270)798-5350 (270)798-6310 (270)798-4247 (270)798-7391 (270)798-2629 (270)412-6000 (270)798-4610 (270)798-4993 (270)956-1033 (270)461-0603 1-877-874-2273 (270) 798-3614 (270) 798-6857 (270)798-3643 (270)798-6355

Assessing Life After the Army at the Soldier for Life -

Transition Assistance Program

By Mandy Mullaney, Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program Counselor

By the time the average Soldier retires, he or she has spent 20-plus years in the Army. As you know, this directly translates to 20 or more years of uniforms, dictated job progression, and supporting command policies. Therefore, it’s not surprising that by the time many Retirees arrive at the Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP), they have no idea what job to pursue upon retirement because throughout their Army tenure, they’ve forgotten what it is they like to do.

Unfortunately, this lack of self-awareness and work place preferences can often directly translate to Retirees “job jumping” or being in and out of work 5 or 6 times before they find their Civilian career.

At SFL-TAP, we provide access to several self-assessment tools designed

specifically to help transitioning Soldiers figure out what they would like to do in life post-Army. The assessments may push a Soldier to explore his or her skill sets, unique interests, and personality traits by prompting them to think about questions such as: • Do I want to stay within my current career field or pursue other opportunities?

• What options do I have if I want to pursue other opportunities?

• Do I actually enjoy working with/leading people or is it just what I consider normal?

If further investigation of these questions and your potential paths upon retirement pique your curiosity, keep reading to learn more about the specific classes and services available to you at no cost through the SFL-TAP Center on Fort Campbell. Also, remember that you can make an appointment with us by calling (270) 798-5000 or dropping by the SFL-TAP Center located at 5661 Screaming Eagle Blvd. (across from the the Burger King) on post.

The Personality Assessment Seminar In case you fall into the category of Retiree that has worked toward the goals of the Army for so long that you’ve forgotten your own work place preferences, the Personality Assessment Seminar can help you figure out what those may be and what types of employment may be the best fit for you.

To do this, instructors walk clients through either the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator (MBTI) or the newer, but similar DISC Personality Assessment. Both assessments are designed to help people determine their temperament and ideal work place

www.campbell.armymwr.com

Soldier for Life environments. If you’re facing retirement and currently unsure about the next step, this class is an excellent place to begin exploring your options for life after the Army.

Dantes Kuder Journey Designed to assist transitioning military members, the Dantes Kuder Journey is described on its website as a forum where a Soldier can learn about “interests, skills and work values and use those results to build a personal career plan, explore occupational information and plan for your future success.” While this particular assessment tool is promoted most frequently by SFL-TAP during the Accessing Higher Education class to assist Soldiers heading to college pick a field of study, it’s available to all transitioning Soldiers, free of charge. To create an account, visit out www.dantes.kuder.com. You’ll be glad you did.

O*NET Interest Profiler One of the most frequently used assessment tools at the SFL-TAP is the O*NET Interest Profiler. Utilized during a class called MOS Crosswalk, the Interest Profiler helps Soldiers identify where their interests–what type of things they enjoy–coincide with career fields by showing Soldiers abouttheir tendancies to show interest events that are more Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional. The tool then matches the amount of job preparation a Soldier is willing to do with careers that best reflect their interests. Check it out yourself by going to www.mynextmove.org and start discovering a new career path today.

The SFL-TAP Center and staff is available Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to address your questions and concerns about assessing life after the Army.

Give us a call at (270) 798-5000 or drop by our physical location, 5661 Screaming Eagle Blvd., Fort Campbell, KY. We’d love to see you!

Fort Campbell AUSA Celebrating the Army’s 240th Birthday

AUSA

By Allisha Lee

If a birthday is just another day, why do most of us enjoy celebrating it? Typically, it gives each of us an opportunity to reflect on our beginning, to find purpose, and to look forward to our future. In 1775, a turning point in American history had occurred. The American Revolution broke out and a small force of New England militia companies came together to fight the British.

As the war progressed and the colonies fought to stand their ground, it was necessary to unify this force and create a structured “army” to win the war. Several of the colonies combined their forces and formed a committee to develop a set of rules and regulations to govern the troops.

And so, on June 14th, 1775, our Army was born.

The purpose of an army is to defend a country from real or potential threats, whether that is on home ground or abroad. While we know this to be our primary focus, we also know that our Army is about more than that. It’s about Family. It’s about tradition. It’s about the purpose of each life that embraces this great branch. This year we will celebrate the 240th birthday of the United States Army. So let's do it big!

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) - Fort Cambell Chapter has a long-standing relationship with Fort Campbell. AUSA is the support for the Soldier and the voice for the Army. Nationally, the association stands ready to speak out on all issues that affect the Army Family - from our active duty Soldiers, our Families, and through retirement from active duty. Locally, the AUSA - Fort Campbell Chapter wants to do more than that. The volunteers and members of this organization understand the value of tradition in the military culture and have led the Fort Campbell tradition in celebrating the Army's birthday.

Starting on June 5 and continuing through June 13, there are many planned activities to celebrate the Fort Campbell Army Birthday Week.

These activities will include a golf scramble, the Tour de Campbell bike ride, and a special Hoptown Hoppers baseball game on post, a luncheon at the Smokehaus at Sportsman’s Lodge, and ending with the 3rd annual AUSA Army Birthday Ball.

Hoping for great weather and the warm sun, the week will kick off at The Links at Novadell for the annual Army Birthday Week Golf Scramble on June 5.

AUSA - Fort Campbell Chapter will host the 2nd annual on post bike ride this year on June 6. “This is an opportunity for riders to see Fort Campbell’s “Back 40” where today's warriors train for the threats against our country while also supporting AUSA in the effort to speak for Soldiers and their Families,” said Wayne St. Louis, Tour de Campbell Committee Chair.

In the past during Army Birthday Week, the chapter has co-sponsored with the Christian County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, a Hoptown Hoppers baseball game for the military community.

Typically held in Hopkinsville, KY, this year’s game on June 8 will be slightly different. “We are excited to bring be able to have the Hoppers play at Fort Campbell during our Army Birthday Week,” shares Sheryl Ellis, AUSA Past President. The Hoptown Hoppers are a wooden bat collegiate baseball team who play in the Ohio Valley League and is based out of Hopkinsville.

While not a new event to the chapter, the June 9 luncheon at The Smokehaus at Sportsman’s Lodge will have a celebratory theme. AUSA - Fort Campbell Chapter hosts monthly luncheons where individuals from across the installation are brought in to speak to the community about their services and upcoming events. This is a great forum for the community at large and Fort Campbell Soldiers and Families to hear about interesting topics that affect and support the community. The event is free but be sure to grab some snacks while you are there.

The celebration will come to an end on June 13 when the chapter will host a ball for Soldiers, Family members, Retirees, Veterans and Civilians at Valor Hall in Oak Grove, Kentucky. Reservations are required. For tickets or table sponsorship please contact Lee Ann Nelson at (270) 605-1234.

During this week of celebration, units throughout the country will recognize another year of service, sacrifice, missed and shared moments with Family and friends, but most importantly - a tradition continues at Fort Campbell. We celebrate our beginning, we remember our purpose, and we look forward to the future. The united stand firm and traditions are upheld.

Join the Association of the United States Army - Fort Campbell Chapter in another year of tradition and celebration of the Army’s birthday.

14

Fort Campbell Retiree Council Actively Recruits New Members

Retirement Services

By Ted Faulkner

As one who has put duty and service to our great nation in front of your own interests, there is an opportunity to do so again. But this time, the effort will be small and the benefit great. The Fort Campbell Retiree Council is seeking new members, and you may be just the Retiree we are looking for (must be retired from active duty, or for disability, or from the Reserve/ARNG in receipt of retired pay).

The Army’s Retiree Council Program consists of the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) Retiree Council established by the CSA and chartered by HQDA and installation Retiree councils established by individual installation commanders. The objectives of the Retiree Council Program are the following: a. Provide the CSA and ASCC/SC/GC commanders’ insight into vital issues and concerns of retired Soldiers. b. Provide the Army retired community with an opportunity to – (1) Communicate with the active Army.

(2) Receive advice on, analyze, and provide input on decisions, policies, and laws that affect the retired community.

(3) Review ongoing Army programs, proposals, and initiatives.

(4) Institute programs that will create a strong communication link between the active Army and the retired community.

(5) Encourage retired Soldiers to develop and express public support for Army programs.

Retirees consider important and serve as the conduit for getting local issues to the council for resolution or, in the circumstances where the problems affects all Retirees, elevated to the CSA Retiree Council.

The council meets twice a year-once in the spring and again during the annual Retiree Appreciation Day in the fall. Additionally, members are asked to participate in fundraising activities during the year. Council members may not receive any reimbursement for travel costs for meetings or fundraisers.

The Installation Retiree Council at Fort Campbell services the geographical area of operations of Fort Campbell consisting of the entire state of Tennessee and a portion of Kentucky, roughly from Bowling Green to the west. The council needs members from this area of Kentucky and specifically, from south and east Tennessee. If you are not from one of these areas but are interested in serving on the council, please apply.

Members must be able to communicate via email. For more information, please email the Fort Campbell Retirement Services Officer, Ted Faulkner at theodore.w.faulkner4.civ@mail.mil.

Council members are tasked with the important mission of establishing and maintaining contact with Army Retirees in their area, whether through work, church, or private organizations.

Members keep their “fingers on the pulse” of issues that fellow www.campbell.armymwr.com

16