In Memoriam
Eagle BELVOIR
Army Public Affairs Hall of Famer
Don Carr
November 26, 2019
www.belvoireagleonline.com
Military hopeTransition to inspire a million Belvoirspouses Warrior Brigade acts of kindness with national campaign
flourishes at DoD Warrior Games
By Thomas Brading Army News Service
By Mary Therese Griffin hree military spouses say they hope to change Army Warrior Care and Transition the world, through one act of kindness at a time. gt. 1st Class Jay Martin, a To accomplish this, they aim to encourage more trumpet player in the Army’s than one million acts of kindness in the military Old Guard Fife and Drum community through a viral movement called Corps, openly admits he was never GivingTuesday Military Edition, set for Dec. 3. really athletic. “I was not athletic “One million acts sounds like a lot,” admitted until my mid-forties and I started Maria Reed, an Army spouse and organizer for the racing BMX bicycles, believe it or event. “But, it just takes one act to inspire another, not,” said Martin. and if enough people are inspired -- we can reach a Biking was his new hobby unmillion acts together.” til an accident Jan. 6, 2018, at an It was Reed’s optimistic thinking that initially indoor bike park. Martin knew imhelped her form a bond with two like-minded spouses: mediately on impact that his legs Samantha Gomolka, a National Guard spouse, and were not going to be the same. After Jessica Manfre, a Coast Guard spouse. immediate surgery he learned he At first, they didn’t know exactly how U.S they would would never walk again. Army photo by PFC Dominique Dixon collaborate, they said. But, that changed soon after As he transitioned through the Sgt. 1st Class Jay Martin participates in the cycling event June 23 in aTampa, plan was hatched to contact GivingTuesday, theWarrior Games, an Warrior Transition Battalion at during the 2019 Department of Defense Courtesy photo parent organization of their group. Shortly after they Fort Belvoir, he decided not to give adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill and injured Service memThree military spouses, Maria Reed, Samantha made contact, GivingTuesday representatives agreed up on biking andLos used it in hisNov. adapbers and veterans. Approximately 300 athletes representing teams Gomolka, and Jessica Manfre, visit Angeles, to partner up and themilitary militaryforces edition was created. tive reconditioning. from U.S. and Allied compete in a variety9,oftoathletic promote their online movement called Giving “It’s inspiring to see military service members, competitions. “Hand cycling is different, beTuesday Military Edition. veterans, and their families who already have committed so much to something bigger than Ways to Support themselves, lead the way to encourage one million The Fort Belvoir community can contact Army acts of kindness,” said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday Community Services Volunteer Programs Manager to chief executive officer, in a news release. learn about volunteer opportunities at 571-231-7013. The military edition kicked off in September, and bachelor’s degrees to Share senioryour NCOs working with each social of themedia military act of kindness through Credentialing, along with since it was announced they have received nationwho attended the channels Sergeants Macenters of excellence to provide with #GivingTuesdayMilitary. wide attention. changes to promotion jor Academy at Fort Social Bliss, media Texas.pages technical skill training equitable have been set up on Facebook,to “Military families are called to serve, it’s in our Dailey said the Army will provide academic skills. boards, helps ensureis the Instagram, and Twitter for the campaign, all with the DNA and [GivingTuesday] a way that we can all, Soldiers with somehandle college @GivingTuesdayMilitary. credit or “We thought we need to build on serve and give back to the community,” Reed said. best are promoted and professional credentialing for each that more, because 60 percent of the level of NCO training. Army is combat arms, so what tanretained “The expectation is we give some- gible technical skills do they leave thing back for that service,” Dailey with?” he said. By Joe Lacdan said at an Association of the U.S. Army News Service Army breakfast in Washington, Skilled labor required Dailey cited that 80 percent of he Army could add to its D.C. “Not just be able to say that record retention numbers by you served and sacrificed, but (get- American jobs require skilled labor, providing more incentive for ting) tangible results. That’s what and that Soldiers can become propeople–is ductivestress members of thedepression work force By T. Anthony benefit as pain arelievers, reducers, Soldiers to stay Bell on duty, the ser- we owe to the American better product, to be more producafter leaving the Army. Forttop Leeenlisted Traveller inhibitors and more. vice’s leader said. theirofhometowns.” “There is a great The selection of CBD-containing goods opportunity ranges The Army has been testing a pilot tiveninarray Dailey said the Army has been for many of our Soldiers to fulfill from lip balms and lotions to yogurts and gummy program for academic credentialing products out the finer points of the the ranks of those skilled labor candies. According to manufacturers, the key hemp-reat Fort Hood, Texas, and plans to working containing programextract to ensureplant-based higher quality quirements in our hometowns ingredient is “non-psychoactive,” which of extend the program to several ma-cannabidiol for Service members and America, and they have tangible means the consumer won’t experience the the “high” of jor installations by the end of 2019,are training being featured deciding how agencies willTHC get payDailey said. “We just need to typical found skills,” in cannabis. said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Danielin store-front ment.these The days program More will importantly, also be make it official. military members should not Dailey. The Army plans to spreaddisplays available to National Guard and “We saw the opportunity to be the program to all installations inwith flashy signs See pageskills A3 Army Reserve members. able to capitalize onCBD, the great fiscal year 2020. that tout their Dailey said the Army has been our Soldiers have now, and transRecently, the Army provided 110
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cause your arms are not your legs –it’s all arms and upper body. I’m pretty much limited from the chest up. It’s hard, but once I got fitted in the bike, I realized I have to get in there and keep going, because practice makes perfect,” said Martin. won a bronze for his ByHe Combined Federalmedal Campaign classification in hand cycling for National Capital Area Team Army at this year’s Departof the National ment he of CFC Defense Warrior Games Capital Areaknew is off to a the in Tampa. Martin about and has but already gamesstrong beforestart his accident now generated $7 million realized hemore couldthan participate. He explains why about he believes the Warrior in pledges, 20 percent more Games areraised important. than was last year at this “Just like sports are point. This year’s goal is important $34 for kids with developing million in donations, by personality Jan. 12, and growth, this400,000 point for from a pool ofsports more at than injured or handicapped individufederal employees in the area. als is the same kind of thing . . . it “We are tracking ahead of where shapes development and helps you we were during the campaign last year at this time, and I am See Warrior Games, page hopeful our uplifting Spirit WeekA5 activities will spur donors to Show Some Love to their favorite causes, whether it’s through donating time or money, said Vince Micone, chairperson of the local federal coordinating committee that oversees CFCNCA”
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Spirit Week highlights include: Dec. 2, Monday, Patriotic Day - Federal employees are encouraged to wear or decorate their offices in patriotic colors to honor the CFC’s tradition. Dec. 3, Giving Tuesday Federal donors are encouraged Photo by Luc Dunn, AUSA to make pledge Sgt. Maj.an of online the Army Daniel and help make this of Dailey speaks aboutone retention the most successful giving and academic credentialing at the days CFC. #GivingTuesday AUSAofInstitute of Land Warfare #GivingTuesdayMilitary breakfast in Arlington, June 26. Dec. 5, International late those to civilian-sector skills, Volunteer Day Federal donors which we had not- done.” areLast encouraged to volunteer year, with pledge the help of Contime to share their skills with a gress and the Army Continuing CFC charity. Education System, the Army created credentialing assistance Forthe information on Spirit Week and to donate, visit cfcnca.org, Credentialing, orSee speak with your unit’spage CFC keyworker. B1 B1
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