Quantico Sentry, December 21, 2017

82nd year, No. 17

www.quantico.marines.mil

email: qpublicaffairs@gmail.com

December 21, 2017

BASE NEWS

Christmas comes to Quantico

Scholarships for military children The Defense Commissary Agency is informing its patrons now that the Fisher House Foundation’s Scholarships for Military Children program will begin accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year at www. militaryscholar.org.

A total of 700 scholarship grants, each for $2,000, will be awarded for school year 2018-2019. There will be at least one recipient selected at every commissary location where qualified applications are received and additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis, so more applicants will be selected from those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants.

Quantico civilian workforce

Photo by Jeremy Beale

More than 70 children, joined by their families, visited Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Library for whimsical music and festive cheer as the base band played delightful tunes during the library’s weekly story time. The band played tunes ranging from “Jingle Bells” to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” as the children and their families danced, clapped and sang along. Library technician and storyteller Kaylee Wilsher also enchanted the children’s imaginations with a reading of “Tyrannoclaus” by John Shroades. The festivities ended with family pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

See Quantico holiday schedules and more on pages 8 and 9

World Record Finish at MCM’s Turkey Trot MCM Staff

Photo by Marine Corps Marathon staff

Caleb Hymans (center), age 12, ran in the Marine Corps Marathon’s Turkey Trot 10k in November and ended up setting a World record for a 10k run in his age group with a time of 35:34.

Caleb Hymans flew across the finish line at the Turkey Trot 10K aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Nov. 18 and ran right into the record books.

The 12-year-old from Annandale, Virginia not only broke the tape to finish first among all participants, but set a new 10K world record for 12-year-old males. He did so by beating the record setting finish time he established earlier this year.

According to ARRS (Association of Road Racing Statisticians), a digital record book for more than 1.2 million running performances, Caleb’s finish time (35:34) topped his previous record by 59 seconds.

Amazingly, Caleb is regularly toppling records with the wait for his next birthday being the only thing in the way of him accumulating more titles.

His first appearance in the record books was when he set the then-5K record of 18:47 for 9-year-old males. He notched another world record as an 11-year-old, earlier this year, with a 37:45 10K finish.

Continued on Page 4

Please familiarize yourself with the MCB Quantico civilian workforce training and education homepage.

The page will provide you an immediate link to all training and education programs available to the civilian workforce. Additionally, many of the courses offered are also available to uniformed personnel.

Consider adding it to your browser's toolbar for easy access. w w w. q u a n t i c o . m a r i n e s . m i l / O ff i c e s - S t a ff / G - 1 - M a n p o w e r / Civilian-Manpower/

New veterans ID card The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the application process for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is now available for veterans — yet another action honoring their service.

This has been mandated through legislation since 2015 to honor veterans and today’s rollout of the ID card fulfills that overdue promise.

Only those veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card, which will provide proof of military service and may be accepted by retailers in lieu of the standard DD-214 form to obtain promotional discounts and other services where offered to veterans.

To request a VIC veterans must visit https://www.vets.gov. In order to verify service, veterans will use S Logon or ID.me.

Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov. A digital version of the VIC will be available online by mid-December.

Troops to Teachers The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has received a grant of nearly $400,000 and is committed to assisting military veterans and

Continued on Page 4 Army-Navy Blood Drive, Page 11

Photo by Jeremy Beale

Depicted in the left-hand corner the pilot can be seen removed from the flight controls, guarding the cyclic. Within the cockpit, the Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) tablet can be seen above the controls. AACUS in the surrounding imagery can be seen analyzing and mapping the flight detecting any direct obstacles that may impede the helicopter’s mission.

Autonomous flight: Quantico hosts innovation for the future warfighter Jeremy Beale Staff Writer

Aurora Flight Sciences visited Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Dec. 13 to conduct the final round of testing on their Autonomous Ariel Cargo Utility System (AACUS)—an automated sensing system which interacts with a helicopter’s flight stability system enabling rotary-wing aircrafts to detect and avoid obstacles without human interaction.

Funded through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Innovative Naval Prototype program in 2012, the technology is expected to push the boundaries of the way forward deployed warfighters are resupplied and evacuated, further reducing human error and ultimately workload and training requirements.

“AACUS gives revolutionary capability to our fleet and force,” said Dennis Baker, AACUS program officer. “It can be used as a pilot aid in degraded visual environments, or allow fully autonomous flights in contested environments, keeping our pilots out of harm’s way.”

The system will allow helicopters to operate with similar maneuverability as a manned aircraft, aiding Marines from “Point-A” to “Point-B,” while navigating through degraded visual environments, consisting of inclement weather, harsh terrains and hostile territories.

Everything will be operated from a tablet device manned by the designed operator, in which information consisting of atmospheric weather conditions and location and destination are submitted before the helicopter leaves the ground.

MCBQ has provided effective testing facilities for many new technologies aiding the warfighter since 1917, when the

2 December 21, 2017

Photo by Jeremy Beale

A utility helicopter lands in the middle of the Urban Training Center, Landing Zone Egret aboard the west side of Marine Corps Base Quantico using the Autonomous Ariel Cargo Utility System.

barracks trained Marines for World War I. The testing of the AACUS was successfully utilized at MCBQ, because the west side of base offers approximately 54,000 acres of ranges and training areas. ONR utilized one of 71 landing zones located aboard base, Landing Zone Egret, which is made to resemble an urban area with loose dirt and gravel terrain.

With the completion of testing aboard base, AACUS will now travel to 29 Palms, California, spring 2018 to take part in an Integrated Training Exercise

at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in which thousands of Marines will get a glimpse of what the capabilities might look like in the future.

According to Lt. Col. Daniel Schmitt, field testing branch head of Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, systems like AACUS fit exactly in line with experimental designs for Future Force 2025.

“We understand that warfare is inherently moral, so man making the decision is always the most important thing,”

www.quantico.marines.mil

Schmitt said. “This technology will allow us to distribute forces further, spreading smaller units over greater distances with the offense that bigger units have at their finger tips, while also speeding the tempo on the battlefield because logistics are federated through unmanned systems.”

As AACUS continues its experimental process, the training grounds of Quantico have become a quintessential part in helping technology grow while developing techniques to win the wars of tomorrow.

News

Sergeants Course Seminar completes pilot phase two Commander Col. Joseph M. Murray Communication Strategy and Operations Officer Maj. A.J. Bormann Editorial Staff Web and Press Officer Frances G. Seybold Editor Valerie O’Berry Sentry email: qpublicaffairs@gmail.com

The Quantico Sentry, the Corps’ oldest newspaper, is a civilian enterprise newspaper and authorized, unofficial publication to members of the military services. It is published in cooperation with the Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA 22134 (phone 703–784–3255) and HPR-Hemlock LLC. d/b/a Northern Virginia Media Services. For display and classified advertisement information, contact Northern Virginia Media Services at 703-771-8831.

The editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Quantico Office of Communication, Marine Corps Base Quantico. The contents of the Quantico Sentry do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not imply endorsement thereof.

Editorial offices are in Lejeune Hall. Articles printed in the Quantico Sentry are in accordance with the Marine Corps and DOD public affairs, printing and postal regulations. All photographs are official USMC property unless otherwise stated.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by DOD, the Marine Corps or Northern Virginia Media Services of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, natural origin, marital status, physical handicap or political affiliation, or any other non–merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. Published by Northern Virginia Media Services, a private firm in no way connected to DOD or the U.S. Marine Corps, under exclusive written contract with the Commander, MCB, Quantico.

The Quantico Sentry is printed at no cost to the government.

The Marine Corps is solely responsible for all news and editorial content. To contact the Quantico Sentry’s editorial office, e–mail qpublicaffairs@gmail.com.

Jeffrey Mahalak Director of Sergeants Course Seminar

MARADMIN 307/17 announced additional enlisted Professional Military Education (PME) seminar courses, both the Sergeants Course Seminar (SCS) and the Advanced Course Seminar (ACS) to be piloted in two phases.

This past quarter, the College of Distance Education and Training (CDET) concluded the phase two pilot of the SCS, which provides an alternative for Marine sergeants to complete a resident-like PME requirement through an on-site, facilitated distance-learning seminar.

The phase two pilot seminars were completed on Oct. 20, in seven Marine Corps University (MCU) regional campuses taught by their respective regional chief instructor. During the phase one pilot, 12 sergeants completed; during phase two, 89 completed for a total of 101 sergeants that have now graduated from the SCS. Educating all sergeants in residence elevates the intellectual development of the force—a necessity in current and future operating environments—but also creates significant challenges to operational flexibility. The goal of the SCS is to leverage lessons learned in the officer and Staff noncommissioned officer’s (SNCO) distance education programs to provide commanders an additional educational option for their sergeants. A seminar program can meet the commandant’s expectation to better educate our enlisted force, provide a larger pool of competitive Marines eligible for promotion to staff sergeant for the total force and mitigate some of the personnel and operational tempo challenges of the operating forces.

Based on the results of phase two Sergeants Course, the commanding generals of Training and Education Command and Education Command have approved the continued expansion of the Sergeants Course Seminar program in all eight regions commencing February 2018. Additionally, the phase two pilot for the ACS will be offered in all eight regional campuses during summer 2018.

For further information about the SCS or ACS seminars in your area, please contact MCU regional campus at www.usmcu.edu/cdet/regions-rds.

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News

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December 21, 2017 3

Turkey Trot Continued from Page 1

Then, broke and re-broke the 12-year-old mark, in the months after turning 12. That makes three world-record finishes in one year. Add those to national championships that Caleb won at age 8, 10, 11 and 12 and it makes quite a distinguished running resume.

Here are some of Caleb’s other noteworthy finishes from this year, alone: 1- November 2017, South Regional Cross Country Championship. First place 11-12 year old boys. 10:04.8 in 3K. 2- October 2017, finished 7th out of 7,055 runners in MCM10K in 35:56.

3- March 2017, AAU Junior Olympics National Youth Indoor Track and Field Championship, 3000m (10:11.07) and 1500m (4:48.04) national champion.

4- March 2017, set then–record for 12-year-old male 10K finish, 36:33.

5- February 2017, set record for 11-yearold male 10K finish, 37:45 “His first race was at a Turkey Trot when he was five,” explains Caleb’s dad, Geoff. Now, spurred by Caleb’s aptitude and abilities, his parents have taken leadership roles with the Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC) Running Program, in which Caleb and both of sisters participate.

Caleb is part of the next wave of great runners. In the spirit of cultivating a new generation of distance runners, the Marine Corps Marathon organization will soon announce the Next Generation Initiative that will include reduced registration fees for all MCM events for runners age 17 and under.

4 December 21, 2017

BASE NEWS CONTINUED soon-to-be veterans in becoming teachers. The grant was awarded through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), a U.S. Department of Defense agency.

In part, the grant was used to establish a Troops to Teachers Center in the School of Education at the College of William & Mary. The Center provides assistance to veterans and grants to eligible veterans who are interested in pursuing a teaching career in Virginia.

Old Dominion University and the Virginia Troops to Teachers Program will conduct a brief on Feb. 7, 10 – 11 a.m. at Quantico’s Voluntary Education Center, 3088 Roan Street.

Program point of contacts include: Charlie Foster, veteran liaison, Troops to Teachers Virginia Center, College of William & Mary, Ctfoster@wm.edu, 757-221-2035 and Mary (Missy) Ransom Magerkorth, certified master advisor, Old Dominion University, MMagerko@odu. edu, 703-630-2226.

Winter weather: How we communicate Upon first indication of possible inclement weather, command personnel begin monitoring weather conditions regularly to determine potential impact upon base operations. As inclement weather nears or begins, the command monitors weather reports more frequently and begins to receive regular road condition reports from aboard base and in the surrounding community. Command personnel also communicate with local

civilian authorities and the federal government concerning their assessments of the weather conditions.

Based upon the type and volume of expected precipitation, other conditions and the capabilities of base equipment and personnel to keep the roads clear and safe for travel, the commander will make the decision to keep the base open, delay base opening, or close the base.

If inclement weather occurs during non-working hours, every attempt will be made to make the decision on the base’s operational status about 4 a.m.

Then the process of notification begins.

The base weather code is broadcast via the Quantico Mass Notification System, the base website www.quantico.marines. mil, Facebook, Twitter, weather hotline (703-784-3638), and local TV and radio stations.

Quantico information Did you know that in addition to reading the Quantico Sentry in print and online at insidenova.com/quantico information about the base can also be found on: Base website: www.quantico.marines. mil Twitter: twitter.com/MCB_Quantico Facebook: www.facebook.com/ officialmarinecorpsbasequantico/ Instagram: @MCBQuantico

Vehicle, weapon and pet registry MCBQ Registration Services are located in Bldg. 2043, Provost Marshal’s Office (PMO), 2043 Barnett Ave. Personnel attempting to register their vehicle, pet and/or weapon will enter

www.quantico.marines.mil

PMO’s main doors and locate the Services Office within the main building. Contact the Registration Services number for more Information 703-784-2251.

Lost/found items at PMO The following items have been turned into the Lost and Found section at the MCBQ Security Battalion (Provost Marshal’s Office): Men's black digital watch, women's jewelry, sunglasses, men's ring, headphones, reading glasses, keys, vehicle keys, wallet with no ID, credit cards, CAC and dependent IDs, electronics and dog tags.

If you believe one of these items may be yours please call 703-784-2396 and speak to the lost and found custodian. You must be able to positively identify items before they can be released.

Quantico volunteer program The volunteer program aboard base has made some changes to improve the ease with which volunteers can find opportunities and track their hours.

Volgistics is an online tracking tool that provides individual volunteers 24/7 access to volunteer opportunities both on and off base. To start benefiting from this program all you need to do is create an account and complete the online application and you will be on your way to meeting new people, all while helping your community. The application can be found at: www.volgistics.com/ex/portal. dll/ap?ap=1470834438 For additional assistance email mcftbquantico@usmc-mccs.org

News

Pharmacy renovation: You asked, we listened Naval Health Clinic Quantico Staff

Starting in January 2018, the Naval Health Clinic Quantico (NHCQ) Pharmacy Department will undergo a critical renovation to the pharmacy workspaces.

The renovation will provide additional check- in windows for the pharmacy staff to better serve you with a central focus to enhance your customer experience. Over the course of the four month renovation, the current four windows will be converted into six windows while adding critical additional space to the pharmacy floor plan. These changes will allow the pharmacy team to serve you in a more timely fashion while continuing to focus on safety and high quality care with a long-term goal of decreasing your wait time.

However, during the renovation we ask for your patience. You might experience a longer than normal wait time due to the temporary displacement of staff.

Additionally, if you are dropping off a paper prescription from a non-DoD facility, it will be accepted for next day pickup only. We do encourage you to discuss with your provider to have your prescriptions electronically sent to the clinic. The team will allow patients to wait in the facility for prescriptions from DoD facilities or e-prescribed prescriptions from civilian providers, although we encourage you to check- in and then return for your prescriptions either later the same day or the next day. You will still have the option of being contacted via text message when

News

Photo courtesy of NHCQ

During the Naval Health Clinic Quantico Pharmacy renovation an alternate refill, drive-thru pickup location will be available near the Seven Day Store off of Barnett Avenue on Bordelon Street. Prescriptions will still be available for pickup at the Clinic Pharmacy, but wait times may be longer and prescriptions may not be available for pick up the same day. Read full story for details.

your prescription is ready.

The Pharmacy Department is excited to announce the piloting of two new pharmacy check-in options. Patients will be able to call the pharmacy directly to activate their new prescriptions (703-784-1580, option three) or contact the pharmacy via a RelayHealth message. This will alleviate the burden of waiting to check-in at the pharmacy and you will be conveniently

Map courtesy of NHCQ

The above map depicts the alternate prescription pickup location where a drive-thru trailer will be staged adjacent to the Mini-MCX (3048 Bordelon St.)

contacted via text message when your prescriptions are ready for pickup. Of particular note during this time, all refills called in through the National Capital Region refill line will be available at an alternate pickup location on base. There will be a drive-thru refill pickup trailer located adjacent to the Mini-MCX located at 3048 Bordelon St. (reference above map).

www.quantico.marines.mil

The product of the renovation will rejuvenate and enhance the pharmacy experience at NHCQ. The pharmacy and the NHCQ team will do everything possible to maintain a positive patient experience for you throughout the entire renovation process. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to enhance our facility to better meet your requirements and medical needs.

December 21, 2017 5

6 December 21, 2017

www.quantico.marines.mil

News

Ammunition Marine’s revolutionary innovation expected to reduce pack weight Jeremy Beale Staff Writer

In summer 2016, the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics Lt. Gen. Michael Dana sponsored two logistics innovation challenges to solicit ideas from across the Marine Corps. One Marine submitted a system that would radically reduce the pack weight of his fellow Marines by one third.

Active duty and reserve Marines, sailors and government civilians from across the Marine Corps had the ability to submit innovative ideas in which the winners were given the opportunity to partner with laboratories as they develop and incorporate their ideas into the field environment.

Amongst 340 submissions Staff Sgt. Alexander Long, ammunition logistics focus team chief at Program ManagerAmmo, Marine Corps Systems Command was one of 18 projects.

“Bombs and bullets are our business in the Marine Corps,” Long said. “Millions of dollars are being spent each year attempting to make Marines’ rifles weigh one ounce less.”

For the last nine months Headquarters Marine Corps Innovation Cell, Next Generation Logistics (NexLog) has assisted Long in his mission to reimagine the fundamentally logistical platform in which infantrymen are resupplied during battle.

He created a handheld device which

Photo courtesy of Next Generation Logistics

The Personal Combat Assistant and Reporting Device (PCARD) was designed by Marine Corps Systems Command, Ammunitions Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Long to reduce the pack weight of Marines by 33 percent. Pictured is the first prototype of the PCARD.

was a direct answer to Dana’s call for innovation during the Innovation Challenge promotional video, in which he exclaims, “Man this pack feels heavy, I wish there was a way to make it lighter.”

Long found as an ammunitions technician forward deployed and supporting infantrymen after their campaigns, fire

teams were playing a telephone game and jamming their communications in an attempt to resupply their Marines.

Seeking the answer to Dana’s question Long asked, “How do we increase efficiency, when we know consumables are the enemy, but they are also a necessity?”

“We create real time information that

is proactive rather than reactive,” Long said.

According to Long, the current platform delays the resupply of Marines and ultimately causes ineffective and untimely information, which often fails to support the current needs of the Marines. This leads to Marines carrying more weight than they typically need.

According to Long, today’s generation of Marines is more technologically savvy and physically fit than any other generation to date. Infantrymen go into battle with an additional 100 pounds strapped to their bodies, but if the Marine Corps looks at what produces the most weight within their pack, it’s not the weapons or gear, but the consumables—food, water and ammunition.

Long believes by the end of 2018, his tech-savvy handheld device, the Personal Combat Assistant and Reporting Device (PCARD), will offer Marines the capability to quickly and efficiently order and receive their supplies, thus reducing pack weight by as much as 33 percent.

The PCARD utilizes a three button configuration with an information screen which uses a color coded system of red, yellow and green, signifying the urgency of the resupply—red rated most urgent and green least.

By placing this wearable device in the hands of fire teams and platoon leaders, they can utilize methods already understood and can log the resupply needs of

Continued on Page 14

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Christmas com

A time of mus and season’s the base l

Jeremy Be Staff Write

More than 70 children, joine ited Marine Corps Base Quant whimsical music and festive played delightful tunes durin story time. The band played tun Bells” to “Rudolph the Red-N children and their families dan along. Library technician and st also enchanted the children’s im ing of “Tyrannoclaus” by John ended with family pictures wit

December 21, 2017 8

www.quantico.marines.mil

Ne

mes to Quantico Holiday hours and services Mess hall hours for Dinner Brunch will be: Open to civilian employees

Bruce Hall: Dinner Brunch 4:30–6 p.m.

Dwyer Hall: Dinner Brunch 3:30–5 p.m.

Lopez Hall: Dinner Brunch 4–5:30 p.m.

Malachowski Hall: Dinner Brunch 4–5 p.m.

Bobo Hall: Closed

sic, stories s cheer at library

Naval Health Clinic Holiday hours All services will be closed on the following dates: Dec. 25, 26 Jan. 1, 2018 Pharmacy reduced hours 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. (Dec. 22, 29)

eale er

ed by their families, vistico (MCBQ) Library for cheer as the base band ng the library’s weekly nes ranging from “Jingle Nosed Reindeer” as the nced, clapped and sang toryteller Kaylee Wilsher maginations with a readShroades. The festivities th Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

ews

All other operations will fall under normal operating hours.

For additional infomation, contact the clinic front desk at, 703- 784-1515

CHAPLAIN

Exploring the evidence of the Christmas story?

The most important quest of your life Chaplain MCAF Quantico/HMX-1

Many parents struggle to answer the question, “Is Santa real?” posed by skeptical, websavvy kiddos. Former Chicago Tribune Journalist Lee Strobel poses the skeptical question, if Santa Claus is a feel-good fable, could the entire Christmas story be built upon similar wishful thinking? This former agnostic arrives at startling conclusions in his books, The Case for Christmas and his superior work, The Case for Christ. Let’s journey to the now bustling town of Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem for answers.

The Old Testament Prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would be born from this ancient town (Micah 5:2-5), significantly, the birthplace of King David (the Messiah being of Davidic lineage in Old Testament predictions).

And if you can get past the tourist trap feeling of modern-day Bethlehem with street vendors harassing you at every turn, you find the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the

world, built on a hillside over the original ancient village of Bethlehem. In the second century, early church father, Justin Martyr located Jesus’ birth in a cave in Bethlehem over which the Roman Emperor Hadrian built a shrine to a Roman deity.

Later, Emperor Constantine erected a church over the cave in 326 A.D. After the church’s partial destruction by Samaritans in the sixth century A.D., Emperor Justinian rebuilt the Church of the Nativity, which after repairs in 1670, still stands.

Is all this talk of caves and ancient churches the stuff of legend? Not so, say a small chorus of Jewish and Roman historians.

One rabbinical text from the Babylonian Talmud is significant. This passage known as b. Sanhedrin 43 asserts, “Jesus was hanged on Passover eve for being a sorcerer and enticer to apostasy.” Though this contradicts the New Testament account, it does affirm Jesus’ existence and his execution during Passover (The Archaeological Study Bible, Zondervan, 1751).

Startlingly, the Jewish historian Josephus, wrote 60 years after the

crucifixion, in Testimonium Flavianum’s Antiquities, 18.63-64, describing the days of Pontius Pilate:

At this time Jesus, a wise man (if it is appropriate to call him a man), appeared. For he was a worker of incredible deeds, a teacher of men who happily receive the truth, and he drew to himself many Jews – and many Greeks, too. This man was the Christ. And when Pilate had executed him at the instigation of the leading men among us, those who had first loved him did not give up. For he appeared to them on the third day alive again (the divine prophets had spoken concerning him of these and countless other wonders). And to this day the tribe of “Christians” (named after him) has not vanished.

The Roman historian Tacitus, writing in 115 A.D. mentions Christians in Annals 15.44, recording how Emperor Nero falsely blamed Christians for the fires of

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Rome in 64 A.D. Tacitus wrote, “The author of this name, Christ, suffered the ultimate penalty at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate during the imperium of Tiberius.” The New Testament agrees that Jesus was crucified during the reign of Tiberius (1437 A.D.). (Archaeological Study Bible, 1751).

This is just a small sample of astounding evidence surrounding the Bible. But don’t just take my word for it. Begin the most important quest of your life – the quest to know God. Go explore yourself with such books as “The Case for Christ” or “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller. Visit your base chapel or a local church and join others in the journey to thriving. Christians believe that Jesus was born, not just to lead and console us, but to free us. Fully God and fully human, Christ bridges the impossible gulf between our flawed humanity and a flawless God. By giving his life, Christ endured the hellish consequences of our wrongdoing, so that with the Christmas Carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, we can ring out, “God and sinners reconciled.”

December 21, 2017 9

Information technology school opening aboard Quantico Jeremy Beale Staff Writer

Service members seeking a second career after the military will have another tool at their disposal as the Voluntary Education Center welcomes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA), January to Marine Corps Base Quantico.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the National Museum of the Marine Corps Jan. 8, 11:30 a.m., celebrating the launch of ERAU-MSSA and their introductory class.

MSSA software academy assists service members with critical technology skills required to become lucrative assets in information technology (IT)and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers prior to civilian transition.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), IT and STEM careers are expected to experience rapid growth by 2020 attributing the majority of the growth to cloud computing and cyber security.

After graduating from the 18-week program, graduates are able to beat the competition when applying to more than 240 companies to include Microsoft, Dell, Facebook, Amazon Web Services, Accenture and the Department of Defense.

With graduates certifications valued at $20,000 and the course equating to a semester of academic credit, veterans are trained in server and cloud administration, database and business intelligence administration, cloud application development and cyber security administration.

In conjunction with the technical training, resume writing, mock interviews, networking and setting up LinkedIn accounts is also taught.

The certifications earned will help veterans pursue positions as management, business and financial associates and administrators. Graduates may also pursue careers as IT accountants and auditors, general office mangers and customer service representatives.

“The MSSA program brings tremendous opportunity

Photo by Jeremy Beale

Marine Corps Base Quantico welcomes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA), Jan. 8, thus allowing Marines to get training for promising careers in information technology and various STEM fields.

for relevant training that leads to meaningful employment,” retired United States Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Chris Cortez, vice president of Microsoft Military Affairs said. “We are excited to bring the MSSA program to Quantico, which will allow veterans located on the east coast the ability to take advantage of the technology training Microsoft has to offer, which will ultimately help them transition into civilian life with a high-paying,

long-term career.”

According to Cortez, veterans from all military backgrounds have gone through MSSA and use it as a bridge between one great career–serving in the United States military–to a high-paying career in the technology industry.

Since the program launched in 2013, MSSA achieved

Continued on Page 13

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Photo by Francis Seybold

Hospitalman Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando Plaza assists Capt.

Andrew Bolla of Wounded Warrior Regiment with paperwork before donating blood for the Army-Navy Blood Drive Challenge hosted by Armed Services Blood Program.

Photo by Jeremy Beale Photo by Armed Service Blood Program

Col. John Atkinson, commander of Headquarters and Service Battalion set some time aside to serve his brothers and sisters worldwide by donating blood for the annual Army-Navy Blood Drive Challenge hosted by Armed Services Blood Program.

Debra Gomez, a Training and Education Command civilian employee, took a break from work to go donate blood for the Army-Navy Blood Drive Challenge. Gomez chose to donate because she believes at the time of greatest need, she hopes someone else would be willing to do the same.

Army-Navy blood rivalry ends in Army victory Jeremy Beale Staff Writer

After a missed field goal by the U. S. Naval Academy (USNA) Midshipmen, the U. S. Military Academy – West Point, Army Black Knights cemented their second straight victory, 14-13, thus taking home the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

As snow poured onto Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Dec. 9, the United States Army, was also named the overall winner of the seventh annual Army-Navy Blood Drive Challenge.

The challenge lasted one month and consisted of 12 blood drives in which 1,057 donors participated, resulting in 839 units of blood collected for the Armed Service Blood Program (ASBP).

“The Challenge is a great rivalry being tied in with the Army-Navy Football,” said Donna Onwona, public affairs specialist, Armed Services Blood Program – National Capital Region (NCR). “Blood drives continue after this challenge, but the blood we collect will help us get through the holidays and help build awareness in the National Capital Region (NCR).”

ASBP hosted one of the 12 blood drive challenges, Dec. 3 at Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Barber Physical Activity Center in which 59 donors participated.

Representing the Army, The Old Guard, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, had the most participation, with 152 donors, while the USNA, presented 101 donors.

In 2015 and 2016 MCBQ had the largest Navy blood drive participation.

For more than 60 years, ASBP has been an official provider of blood products tasked with the collection, processing, storage and transportation of blood, ensuring our nation’s war fighters, veterans and their families have a safe, potent blood supply during peace and war.

ASBP uses the donated blood to treat cancer patients, surgical patients or battlefield injuries, service members

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Photo by Jeremy Beale

This retired Marine from Marine Corps Systems Command has donated blood for the past 25 years. As an O-Negative blood donor he has one of the rarest blood types which approximately six percent have. The blood type is “universal” meaning it can be transfused to almost any patient in need.

depend on blood donors every day.

ASBP states it may take more than 40 units of blood to treat a wounded service member during combat, 8 units of platelets administered daily to leukemia patients and a single pint of blood to sustain a premature infant’s life for at least two weeks.

Since ASBP conception under former President Harry S. Truman, more than 1.5 million units of blood have

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been provided to treat battlefield illnesses and injuries.

ASBP has more than 20 blood donation centers around the world. Within the National Capital Region, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has two blood donation centers.

For more information about donating blood or hosting an event, contact the nearest ASBP recruiter. For the NCR, contact 202-294-6674.

December 21, 2017 11

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12 December 21, 2017

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Infomation Technology Continued from Page 10 a 91 percent graduation rate, graduating more than 625 students. Of those who passed through the program, many have secured careers with an average salary of $70,000. BLS quotes the median annual wage at approximately $83,000.

As many organizations, such as health care, IT, mobile networking and data management companies push to provide a cloud data infrastructure which holds more information and can be accessed and monitored remotely, organizations have been left more susceptible to cyber attacks. BLS states that cyber attacks have increased 17-fold with this advancement.

IBM Security and Ponemon Institute released their 2017 Cost of Data Breach Study: Global Overview, which discusses the amount of profit companies lose due to data breaches. Across 461 companies, approximately $3.62 million was stolen.

Hiscox USA, a leading specialist insurance company found in their 2017 cyber readiness report, that across 3,000 companies spanning the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, 53 percent of them were ill-equipped to handle a cyber attack.

It is because of such extenuating circumstances BLS has projected IT and STEM professions will create 546,100 new jobs by 2026, with employment in cloud computing and information security in high demand.

As MSSA is projected to service 14 bases across the United States, ERAUMSSA hopes to graduate 1,000 students

annually, while upholding their 94 percent retention rate of graduates continuing their second career after the military for at least two years.

In a study conducted by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, approximately 2 million veterans leave their job in less than two years. The study also found approximately 90 percent of veterans identified the biggest obstacle to attaining employment was finding opportunities that match past military training and experience.

This in turn adversely effected their career development, benefits, work environment and employee relationship with management, thus causing the feeling of inadequacy in applying their skills and abilities; adequate benefits and pay; and meaningfulness of the work.

ERAU-MSSA plans to help service members find fulfillment in the current job market by creating an opportunity for service members to leverage their military experience and assert themselves into a lucrative career path.

Currently Quantico is accepting applications for its inaugural cohort class starting in January. To be eligible, a service member must be leaving active duty or have recently left the service in good standing.

Applicants are asked to apply with a passion for technology, meet admissions requirements and pass a test administered by Microsoft.

MSSA information sessions are held every Tuesday at Noon in Building 3089, next to the Voluntary Education Center building off of Roan Street. Virtual information sessions are also available.

For more information, service members can call ERAU Campus Director, Yanci Beers at 571-406-6845 or e-mail her at beerse81@erau.edu.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

For one night only, Dec. 28, join in an evening of snowball fight matches using fun-to-throw polyester “snowballs.”

The fun event hosted by Fredericksburg Parks and Rec, will be held snow or shine.

Come dressed for the weather and bring drinking water. Vendors will be available for purchasing refreshments in the park. Children must be supervised by an accompanying adult. Teens and adults, bring your group of friends and we’ll schedule you for an adults-only match if you’re up for the challenge (matches are every 15 minutes).

The event will be held at Riverfront Park in downtown Fredericksburg.

Signed waivers are required to play and you can pick up your waiver at the Dorothy Hart Community Center in advance or complete one on-site at the gate. Pay at the gate The fee is $3 per person or $5 for 2 people. For more information call 540-372-1086.

Family Fun Night New Year’s Eve Plan now for a fun, family New Year’s Eve presented by Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events Department as well

as other community partners, to be held in Riverfront Park, Fredericksburg, Dec. 31 from 6–9 p.m.

The Family Fun Night includes: Duskwhales Band, Unicyle Lady, Emcee Charlie Frye, dance performances, kids’ games, interactive drum circle, obstacle course, bounce castle, bubble wrap stomp, teen area and “Hit the Deck” DJ, fire pits, gyroscope ride, story photo booth, food vendors , raffles and prizes, plus an early 9 p.m. countdown and ping pong ball drop. Admission is free for the whole family. For more information call 540-372-1086

Get in the holiday spirit

Take a festive photo On display until Dec. 26 in Hurkamp Park are oversized greeting card frames.

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Continued from Page 7 Marines in as few as eight seconds. All this can be done before the transmitted request is forwarded for approval.

PCARD will also give Marines in the rear the ability to compile the data transmitted and anticipate the needs of the Marines before they deploy on future missions.

The original concept was pitched to the Department of the Navy Innovation Strategic Group (DISG) and was approved for $433,000 in funding. Out of the 18 submissions PCARD is the only device currently being field tested as two prototypes have been developed in less than nine months.

With the help of MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator, a Department of Defense (DoD) program, the first PCARD prototype was developed with assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi and Kopis Mobile.

The first model was introduced at the Sea, Air and Space Expo, Modern Day Marine Expo, the Pentagon and General Officers Symposium (GOS).

After receiving exemplary feedback in these venues the project was able to continue into a second prototype.

Twenty units of the second prototype, created with the assistance of Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Lincoln Laboratory, were developed for a week -long field test at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP), California.

Senior Marine leadership within 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG) at Camp Pendleton were able to learn about the device from Long’s team, while training junior Marines within their platoons about the new technology. 1st MLG provides direct support to the Marine

Stop by to visit the cards and take a selfie, share with friends, come back and do it again. It’s free to visit the cards and take all the photos you’d like. The display features four card designs: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays.

Share your pics!! Use #FxbgHolidays 2017 when posting on Facebook and Instagram. This event is sponsored by Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events. Call 540-372-1086 or visit Downtown31.com for more information.

Photo courtesy of Next Generation Logistics

During a week long field test at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton, Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG) were able to learn about the innovative device Staff Sgt. Alexander Long created.1st MLG directly supports Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Ground Combat Element (GCE).

Expeditionary Force (MEF) Ground Combat Element (GCE) The device was tested for complications in range, signal depth and frequency.

After the week of testing Long was happy with the results, but not satisfied.

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good enough,” he said.

Long still feels the device holds much more potential.

Thanks to the GPS technology in the wearable, Long hopes to take advantage of the drone supply program to use in conjunction with traditional cargo resupply missions.

However, these projections are heavily hypothetical and are an end goal for his 2018 deadline.

Long holds true to a lesson learned in

the Marine Corps, “Wherever you are, do the best you can.”

Unsupported, unsupplied, outgunned and outmanned—there are plenty of stories where Marines show pride in their Corps, because they were adaptable and innovative enough to win the fight despite the obstacles thrown their way.

No matter the clime, no matter the place “Marines make it happen” by creating a proactive approach ensuring the battle is won.

Long was inspired to join the Marine Corps because he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself and now, 11 years later, he has the opportunity to reshape the way every Marine operates within the palm of his hands.

Community Volunteer Opportunities Are you interested in making a difference in our community? The MCBQ Volunteer Program can help you find opportunities in the local area. For more information on the program visit www. quantico.marines.mil/Offices-Staff/ Public-Affairs/Volunteer-Program/

The next issue of the Quantico Sentry will be published Jan. 11

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The Staff at the Quantico Sentry would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season!

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