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SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF FORT LEE LEE, VIRGINIA VIRGINIA, SINCE 1941
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FEELING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Fort Lee community gathers for annual Grand Illumination SEE PAGE 18 HOLIDAY HELPER SHOWCASES WAREHOUSE OF DONATED TOYS Program volunteers hold annual open house to inform command teams about purpose, opportunities available
EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP CASCOM, VCU sign memorandum to create new leader development degree program
SEE PAGE 11
SEE PAGE 3
CREDENTIALING Transportation School offers special maritime qualiďŹ cations to help transitioning Soldiers SEE PAGE 4
BLOCK LEAVE Organizations, brigades prepare to support Soldiers during holiday break SEE PAGE 7
2 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
COMMANDER CONNECTION | HOLIDAY MESSAGE
How to beat the holiday blues It’s that time of year again. Festive music fills the air, fireplaces crackle, and holiday cheer abounds. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? Not necessarily. Many people can find themselves dealing with the holiday blues and can be sad, lonely or even depressed. There are many reasons that people might find themselves struggling with the holiday blues. Pressure to feel merry, reminders of lost
loved ones, and financial hardships are just a few. Military families can add one more reason to that list – deployment. Coping with deployments can take a toll on one’s emotional wellbeing, and this is only increased when a loved one’s deployment spans the holidays. Here are a few tips to help beat the holiday blues: • Take it one day at a time – try to avoid looking
Fort Lee
Commanding General .............Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche Garrison Commander ....................... Col. Paul K. Brooks Public Affairs Officer...................................D.R. Bingham Command Information/Managing Editor...Patrick Buffett Senior Writer/Special Assignments ......... T. Anthony Bell Production/News Assistant Editor.................. Amy Perry Family/Community Life Reporter ..........................Vacant Production Assistant .............................. Ray Kozakewicz To reach the Traveller Staff, call (804) 734-7147.
at this time of year as the “holiday season.” Instead, break it down day by day; think of it as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. Often, it is easier to think, “I can get through this day” rather than “I can get through this season.” • Get in touch with family members by writing letters, visiting or making phone calls. • Try to avoid retail therapy – fight the temptation to spend extra money to make you feel better as this can lead to increased stress or depression when the credit card bills arrive.
Sincerely, Maj. Gen. Larry and Denise Wyche
• Give yourself permission to have fun – it is normal to be sociable during the holidays, even if your loved one is not available to attend events with you. • Ask for help – you don’t need to be superman or superwoman. You do not need to wing it alone; depend on close family and friends to help you through this time. • Stay busy – avoiding unstructured time may help to minimize difficult feelings. Try to fill your calendar with fun events SEE BLUES, PAGE 15
The Fort Lee “Traveller” is printed by offset process every Thursday as a civilian enterprise in the interest of personnel at the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Va. 23801, by Military Newspapers of Virginia, 114 Charlotte Avenue Suite A, Colonial Heights, Va. 23834, in accordance with Department of the Army Regulations 210-20 and 360-1. This publication receives armed forces material and civilian newspapers are authorized to reprint such material without specific clearance except material specifically designated as copyrighted. Liaison between the printer and the commanding general, Fort Lee, is maintained by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Lee. Circulation: 13,000. This Civilian Enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication. Contents of the “Traveller” are not necessarily the official view of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee. Advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Military Newspapers of Virginia. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non merit factor. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until violation is corrected. The “Traveller” is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1, and printed by the Military Newspapers of Virginia, a private firm in no way connected with the U. S. Army Combined Arms Support Command or Fort Lee. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Headquarters, U. S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee.
Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche
Photo illustration by Pfc. William Hatton
Soldiers who are away from their loved ones this holiday season need to be especially alert to signs of stress so they can seek help or get others to seek help.
COVER
best place in the Army to live and work! Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, DA Civilians and our families are all vital to the support of this nation. As we do each year, we have trained thousands of America’s finest sustainment warriors to standards. They leave the premier learning institution with utmost confidence and commitment, and are fully prepared to support the war-fighter. Like our forefathers, many of them are sacrificing the comforts of home and the joys of sharing the
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As 2013 draws to a close and you prepare to celebrate the traditions of the holiday season with your family and friends, I want to express my appreciation and thanks to every member of the Army’s Sustainment Think Tank and Fort Lee. Your exemplary service and significant contributions in support of our missions ensured that we continuously delivered game-changing professionals and solutions to support the war-fighter. Your hard work and dedication to the team also ensured Fort Lee continues to be the
ON
Fort Lee CG offers season’s greetings
holiday season with their families to give hope to others abroad. Please remember the service members, the Department of Army Civilians, and contractors who are currently deployed at home and abroad in defense of our nation. It is because of their noble cause that we enjoy the celebration this holiday season brings. It is with great pleasure that Denise and I take this opportunity to thank you, and to wish each team member and their family of the Army’s Sustainment Think Tank a safe and joyful holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year – Support Starts Here! Happy Holidays!
Amy Perry
Tristan Lewis, left, and Kalale Green, children from the Strong Beginnings class at the Yorktown Child Development Center, sing carols during the post’s annual Grand Illumination Dec. 5. For more photos, see Page 18.
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Universities partner to create degree program, support leader development The Army Logistics and Virginia Commonwealth universities have partnered to create a new degree program to support Soldiers. The Master of Supply Chain Management is slated to begin in the fall of 2014 and will emphasize innovation, critical thinking and logistics management. In a ceremony Dec. 4 at the Richmond campus, Dr. Michael Rao, VCU president, and Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche, Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee commanding general, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the program. CASCOM, a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, is responsible for training more than 185,000 students annually through more than 540 courses taught by the Ordnance, Quartermaster and Transportation schools, Soldier Support Institute and ALU. The mission for the command is to train, educate and grow the sustainment community as well as develop and integrate innovative Army and joint sustainment capabilities, concepts and doctrine to enable Unified Land Operations. “I am proud to inaugurate an academic program that will be critically important for Central Virginia,” Rao said. “Central Virginia - led by VCU and Fort Lee - needs to be a national model for innovative logistics and supply chain management. At VCU, we understand this, and I’m so proud that my colleagues in the School of Business have
become national leaders in this area.” The MOU signing represents the culmination of a journey in partnership that began with a VCU leadership visit to Fort Lee in 2012. The visit established the foundation that has developed into this new cooperative graduate degree program. “We were so excited that VCU was not only interested in developing a joint graduate program in supply chain management, but also in standing up a new teaching department to do so,” Wyche said. “The program we have co-designed reflects our shared vision of the logistician who will master both the defense logistics system and the business of logistics,” Wyche said. “Together, we have designed a course of instruction that will, perhaps, be the best such program available to Department of Defense officers and civilians.” The 12-month enhanced graduate degree program in the VCU School of Business will place special emphasis on innovation and creative thinking as well as the use and application of SAP enterprise software. Students will learn how to manage the complexities of global supply chains by using applied research programs, analyzing real-world problems and working with local firms and government agencies. The program will draw students from the corporate sector as well as from the military, and provide both the opportunity to learn from each other.
Fundraiser review process clarified Amy Perry Production/News Assistant Editor
Fundraising is often a way for units to raise funds for military balls and organizations, and if a unit is interested in conducting one, a request process for fundraising activities should be coordinated through the Directorate of Family and MWR at least 45 days in advance, FMWR has provided oversight
of fundraising for years, said Edmund Manuel, chief, non-appropriated fund support services, but lately, organizations have submitted their requests the day prior or after the event. “It is important to receive these requests well in advance of the event to properly vet it though legal channels, as well as the related organizations that could be impacted by the fundraiser,” said Manuel. “Proper review of the
Contributed Photo
Dr. Michael Rao, Virginia Commonwealth University president, and Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche, Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee commanding general, sign a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the new Master of Supply Chain Management degree program during a ceremony Dec. 4 at VCU.
“The course reflects what the Army and defense department have wanted for years – a careful blending of government and business theories and practices involving the art and science of supply chain management and logistical support to our armed forces,” Wyche said. VCU is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls nearly 31,000 students in 223 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-eight of the programs are unique
request is also important to avoid violating ethics regulations, internal control procedures and public law.” While small unit fundraisers, such as bake sales that are conducted in the unit’s footprint for unit members, can be approved by the unit commander, it is recommended that all fundraising events receive a legal opinion well in advance of the event. All fundraising events that could involve community members outside of unit conducting the fundraising event need to go through the Director of Family and MWR approval process. Additional guidance on unit fundraisers can be found in Army Regulation
in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 13 schools and one college. The program still requires approval from the VCU Board of Visitors and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This new degree program represents the great teamwork between the defense and academic communities, Wyche said. “We are looking forward to a lasting and meaningful relationship.” – Combined Arm Support Command Public Affairs and Virginia Commonwealth University Public Affairs
600-20. While the 45-day advance notice requirement may not be easier for the units, it’s necessary because there are special legal requirements for fundraising on federal property, said Manuel. “Many organizations are finding the need to do fundraisers more quickly due to the changing economic conditions,” he said. “The need to help improve morale of personnel and organizations has never been so high, and fundraising helps to fulfill this need. However, there are rules for raising funds on federal installations that must be followed so as to prevent fraud, waste and abuse, and misuse of property and per-
sonnel.” The directorate is responsible for checking the justification of the request, as well as processing through the staff judge advocate, provost marshal office, safety office, and garrison commander among other organizations. Those interested must submit a memo with the request to Leona Stradford, (804) 7347156, leona.m.stradford.naf@ mail.mil; Edmund Manual, 7347185, edmund.manuel.naf@mail. mil; or Debra Johnson, 734-7184, debra.b.johnson.naf@mail.mil, for details. Emergency requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
FAST Class Registration Functional Academic Skills Training class registration continues through Jan. 2 at the Army Education Center, building. 12400, 700 Quarters Road. Class dates are Jan. 6-28, and space is limited. All service members interested in improving their Armed Forces Classification Test scores may register. Upon enrollment, counselors will provide a sample DA Form 4187 and commander’s memo. The commander’s verification document must be returned as soon as possible. For details, contact Wilmarie Rodriguez at (804) 765-3572.
New Housing Safety Website Fort Lee Family Housing has launched a new safety website that provides quick and easy to use search functions with relevant and important information. Visit www.huntsafetyzone.com to search for safety information and a chance to win a PlayStation 4. T. Anthony Bell
Guy Fairweather, a contract simulations operator, mans the many computer monitors at the U.S. Army Maritime Simulations Center, U.S. Army Transportation School at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The center includes a Full Mission Bridge Simulator that utilizes several different ship models to include various types of Army watercraft. It can reinforce skill sets and provide training and certification on a variety of maritime functions.
$UP\·V PDULWLPH KXE RIIHUV FUHGHQWLDOLQJ RSSRUWXQLWLHV T. Anthony Bell Senior Writer/Special Projects
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS -Chief Warrant Officer 4 Darren Reese can lay claim to a long list of destinations he has reached while sailing the high seas as a Soldiermariner. With a dreamy fascination, he easily recalls his journeys to the Caribbean Islands, Central America, Europe, Egypt and other faraway places. “It’s just something you can’t buy,” said the outgoing High-Speed Course manager at the Transportation School’s Maritime Intermodal Training Division. “You just can’t.” You also can’t put a price on the training that contributed to Reese’s successful missions as an Army mariner. The various courses he
completed at MITD earned him certifications and licenses that are quite difficult to attain otherwise. “…You would have to attend one of the fouryear Merchant Marine Academies, and your parents will have to sell their kidneys to pay for it,” he said with a bit of sarcasm. “You’re well in excess of $100,000 in tuition costs only for the opportunity to take an exam that we are pretty much given by virtue of graduating from this campus.” That campus, comprised of the MITD and Marine Qualification Division, is the Army’s maritime service hub. It’s where enlisted watercraft operators and engineers along with marine deck and engineering warrant officers learn the crafts and skills that are components to the Army’s maritime
logistical support strategy. The schoolhouse lists more than 25 certifications and licences available to Soldier-mariners, Coast Guardsman, Sailors and various other U.S. government personnel. Several are awarded as a result of graduation from basic courses, providing minimal requirements are met. The courses are accredited through the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center. That’s a plus, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Isaiah Smith, instructor/writer and HighSpeed Craft Course manager. “Having that standard for the training we conduct here is extraordinary because that recognizes our mariners and also the instructors at the schoolhouse as a whole,” he said. “It says the SEE TRAINING, PAGE21
PX Winter Bazaar The Fort Lee Exchange will hold a Winter Bazaar, Dec. 14-15, at the main store, 300 A Ave. This event is open to the public. The hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Dec. 14, and will feature a Bike and Car Show, noon - 5 p.m. The event will run 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Dec. 15.
Award Shop Closure at PXtra The Award Shop in the PXtra Mall will close on Dec. 24 due to economic conditions. Any orders not picked up by that day will be transferred to the shop in Colonial Heights at 2019 Boulevard, intersection of Temple Avenue and U.S. Route 1. All products and services including military discounts will be offered at this location. For details, call (804) 526-5937.
Holiday Safety Run A post-wide Holiday Safety Run is set for Dec. 13, 6 a.m., starting on the Ordnance Campus. Members of the Transportation, Ordnance and Quartermaster Corps, and other garrison organizations will participate. Civilian employees are welcome to join. The route includes 11th Street, B Avenue, 19th Street, Shop Road and Front Access Road. Commuters should plan for significant traffic delays in those areas during the event. Maj. Gen. Larry Wyche, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, will make concluding remarks in the CASCOM parking lot at approximately 7:05 a.m.
Kenner Holiday Schedule Kenner Army Health Clinic will close Dec. 17, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., for a Commanders’s Call and training, and Dec. 19, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., for staff holiday luncheons. Additional closures are planned for Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31 - Jan. 1. Troop Medical Clinic 1 will be closed Dec. 19 - Jan. 1. Mosier Consolidated Troop Medical Clinic 2 will support advanced individual training troops on those dates and will be closed Dec. 21 - Jan. 1. AIT students will be treated in the active duty clinic during holiday block leave. To schedule appointments, call the Kenner Appointment Line at 1-866-533-5242. To request an authorization to visit an urgent care center, call the KAHC AOD at (804) 734-9000. For medical emergencies, dial 911 or go to the nearest ER. While traveling, call TRICARE North Region at (877) 874-2273, then contact your primary care manager at (804) 734-9000 for a referral. Other numbers travelers may need are DEERS to verify eligibility, (800) 3632273; and the KAHC Patient Appointment Line at (866) 533-5242.
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AMERICA’S MILITARY | SPOTLIGHT
PFC. HERBERT SPEARS Unit: 217th Military Police Company with duty at Memorial Chapel MOS: 92F – petroleum supply specialist Age: 21 Time in service: 17 months Hometown: St. Louis If someone asked you to describe yourself: “I’m professional, motivated, trustworthy and hardworking.” You don’t have any flaws?: “I procrastinate on some things.” Pet Peeve: “I don’t like it when people repeat themselves, especially if I understand them the first time.” Talent: “I’m really good at dealing with peo-
ple, especially if they need someone to talk to about their problems.” The one person you most admire: “It would be my grandmother. Before she passed, she always told me I should chase my dreams.” The celebrity or historical figure you would want to meet: “I would probably want to meet Martin Luther King – just to see how he feels society is today compare to back when he was alive..” One lesson you’ve learned that you like sharing with others: “When you have opportunities, you should take advantage of them because life is too short.”
Talk about your childhood: “I grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, the Florissant area to be exact. I was always popular with everyone. My family is very Christian – belonging to the Baptist and Pentecostal churches. I’ve always played with my cousins. After my grandmother passed last year, it seemed like everyone split up a bit.” How you define success: “As long as the job gets done, it’s successful.” Do you like your current job of supporting the chaplains and chaplain assistants?: “I like this job and I’m pretty good at it. Anything the chaplains ask me to do, I can do it right
off hand. I think I’m faster than most of the chaplain assistants in some areas.” What it means to be a Soldier: “You have to have what it takes to do your job, no matter what your job is, and you don’t get to see your family as most people do, especially during the holidays. You also have to be strong because there are things you haven’t seen, and you have to keep an open minded with some things because everyone doesn’t think like you.”
Your thoughts about deployment: “I think about it sometimes. If the opportunity came to me, of course, I would have to go. If I had a choice, I don’t think I would want to. I’m here at Fort Lee right now. If I ever decide to get out and not do my entire 20 years, I know I can go back home to my family. Going through a deployment, I’m not sure I would make it back.” The qualities that you admire in leaders: “With all the chaplains, they’re not like most officers. They understand how we feel as enlisted Soldiers because many of them are prior enlisted. With the NCOs that I fall under, they are trustworthy. If I need to talk to them about anything I know I can. My NCO here is very fair.” The qualities you
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admire in your fellow Soldiers: “The fact that when we need to come together as a team, we actually get together and make it happen.” The things that are interesting about your job as a chaplain’s assistant: “I get to work with the chaplains for the most part. I’ve probably seen things I would never as a petroleum supply specialist. In addition, we work closely with Soldiers.” Toughest part of your job: “Waking up around 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning to get everything ready (for services) and not finishing up until about 3 or 4 p.m.” Future goals: “U.S. Marshal, and if I advance, I want to one day become the director of the service.” – Compiled by T. Anthony Bell
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Training brigades busy with Block Leave prep Holiday block leave begins Wednesday, and military organizations across the installation have hit high gear as they prepare troops in training for what would seem to be the simple task of sending someone home for a few weeks of vacation. “It’s not just a matter of handing them a ticket and saying ‘see you in January,’” noted Maj. James Samuel, 59th Ordnance Brigade operations officer. “Our number one priority is safety … that they’re fully briefed on those things that cause harm or, worse yet, could result in the loss of one of our service members.” The “big ticket” concerns, Samuel said, are obvious haz-
ards like speeding, not wearing seatbelts, using drugs, and drinking and driving. “For many of these troops, it’s the longest break in training since they entered basic, so there’s a tendency to go a little wild. That’s where we remind them to think about their actions; what are the bad things that could happen and how would it jeopardize their Army career?” Relying on a battle buddy is another point that’s heavily emphasized in light of the Army’s continuing fight against suicide in its ranks. “The message is simple – you’re a member of the Army family … take that with you,”
Samuel said. “Remember, if you’re feeling down because an old friend has moved on or a past relationship has changed, it’s OK to reach out virtually with others to connect and share your feelings. When stuff like that happens and you’re hurting inside, call your battle buddy. Use that same support system that helps you hang tough during training.” Most of the departing troops will return to Fort Lee after the New Year’s break. Because travel plans can be interrupted by flight delays, bad weather, vehicle breakdowns and other mishaps, they are reminded to contact their military unit immediately if they anticipate any de-
lays that would keep them from reporting back to the installation on time. The training brigades here also have to accommodate the troops who choose to not take block leave over the holidays. Those students are moved to a single company area within their respective brigades where they will continue to perform light duties like barracks maintenance, flag details and physical fitness training. The rear detachment command team is responsible for the command and control of these “no-block-leave” Soldiers. “We try to schedule other activities in addition to any training requirements,” Samuel noted. “That part of it involves our partnership with FMWR, the USO and the Army Community Service because they have the connections that result in a lot of community support.” As in previous years, the list
of recreational activities planned for troops who choose not to take leave over the holidays includes holiday parties, mall trips, movie nights, historical tours, weekend passes and more. The Holiday Helper Association has also announced its intent to provide a special event or two for those individuals. “With all of the great support we get from the local community, we are usually able to provide some exciting outings for the no-block-leave service members,” said Megan Green, Family and MWR Marketing specialist. “They also will be utilizing some of our on-post FMWR programs like the outdoor laser tag facility and the Bowling Center. It should be a lot of fun for everyone involved and there will be no shortage of holiday cheer for those staying behind.” – Staff Reports
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Tuition assistance changes to take effect for 2014 David Vergun Army News Service
WASHINGTON – Beginning Jan. 1, there will be a cap on the number of semester hours that can be taken using Tuition Assistance, and tighter TA eligibility rules. Soldiers will be able to use TA one year after graduating from initial entry training, known as IET, said Brig. Gen. David. K. MacEwen, adjutant general of the Army, Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky. Also, Soldiers can take up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year. And, he continued, TA can be used for a post-baccalaureate degree after completing 10 years of military service. If a Soldier earned a BA degree without using TA, then they do not need to wait 10 years to use TA for a post-baccalaureate degree. This policy affects all Soldiers in the active and Reserve components. Based on current participation rates, Dr. Pamela L. Raymer, director, Army Continuing Education System, forecasted the number of Soldiers impacted as follows:
Those who would have used TA with less than one year’s service after IET: 4,030 active, 3,017 Army National Guard and 1,216 Army Reserve. Soldiers who would normally have taken more than 16 semester hours per year: 20,271 active, 6,206 Guard and 12,007 Reserve. Soldiers with less than 10 years’ service pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees: 1,315 active, 220 Guard and 367 Reserve. Other TA rules from 2013 will remain in effect next year, she said, including allowing Soldiers to use up to $250 per semester hour. The cap of 130 semester hours for baccalaureate degree completion and 39 semester hours for a master’s degree remains in effect. This coursework must be from the Soldier’s approved degree plan in GoArmyEd, a plan Soldiers develop with their education counselor and their home school, she said. Also remaining in effect, Raymer said, is that TA cannot be used for a second, equivalent degree. For instance, if a Soldier has a master’s degree, he or she can’t use TA for a second master’s degree. Soldiers still cannot use TA for
their “first professional degree.” Such degrees include Ph.D., MD and JD. The Department of Education categorizes these degrees as “first-professional” degrees. Army has fully-funded education programs that support these degree programs. Soldiers who have been flagged for adverse action or failure of the Army physical fitness test or weight standards will not be able to use TA, she continued. Soldiers may also continue using TA for non-degree language courses published on the Defense Department’s Strategic Language List as “immediate investment” or “emerging” languages. TA cannot be used for “enduring languages.” To see this list of languages, see a unit education advisor. Finally, TA is authorized for one post-secondary certificate or diploma such as welding or computer certification. And, TA can continue to be used for courses leading to initial teacher certification programs. Soldiers who are precluded from using TA or limited by the number of semester hours they’re eligible to take can, nonetheless, use their GI Bill education benefits.
The intent is to provide TA to Soldiers “who are in good standing, meet Army requirements and have no adverse flags,” such as not meeting weight standards, MacEwen said. This portion of the policy has already been implemented. The Army did a “very comprehensive review of the program,” he added. “We found it had gotten a little off track from its original intent, which was to provide for Soldiers a part-time, off-duty way to continue their education. So we capped it.” The second part of it was that “we wanted young Soldiers to understand the Army and ensure they’re in good standing” before starting TA, so the one-year wait after IET will be implemented Jan. 1. The third part was that TA is designed “to help with lifelong learning. So if TA paid for a fouryear degree and a Soldier wants a post-baccalaureate degree, we want them to wait until they reach the 10-year mark,” which MacEwen defined as the point they become “careerists.” In this way, TA could be used as a retention tool. Soldiers achieved about a 90-percent completion rate of about 413,000 courses in fiscal 2013 using tuition assistance, Raymer said. Of the 10 percent who failed to complete their courses, one percent were due to military duties and the remainder were caused by failures or with-
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drawals. In fiscal 2013, active duty Soldiers took an average of 2.71 courses, Guard Soldiers took an average of 3.58 courses, and Reserve Soldiers took an average of 3.40 courses. The average cost per course in fiscal 2013 was $618 for the active force, $571 for the National Guard and $572 for the Army Reserve. Raymer also noted that in fiscal 2013, TA funded the completion of 8,525 degrees for active Soldiers, 1,359 for Guard Soldiers and 1,469 for Reserve Soldiers. MacEwen lauded the education advisers who help Soldiers formulate their degree plans because this enables them to achieve “good completion rates.” Raymer said some of the changes to TA for next year came about due to the “fiscally constrained environment” with a focus on providing funding to meet the intent of a voluntary off-duty education program. Nevertheless, the changes reflect the Army’s effort to “maximize education support to Soldiers” with funding that’s available. MacEwen concluded that TA is one of a number of educational opportunities the Army affords with the intent of lifelong learning, helping Soldiers transition to civilian life, and ultimately, helping them become better Soldiers. “The tweaks we did to the program will serve Soldiers well,” he conclued.
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www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 9
Soldiers to get expedited airport security screenings David Vergun Army News Service
WASHINGTON – Beginning Dec. 20, Soldiers will be eligible for expedited pre-flight screening at airports, meaning they’ll be able to get into the express line where they don’t need to remove their shoes and belts or take laptops out of their baggage. All service members, including those in the Reserve, National Guard and Coast Guard, will be eligible for the TSA Precheck Program. Those in the Guard and Reserve do not need to be in an activated status, and service members do not need to be in uniform, said Mark Howell, Transportation Security Administration spokesman. Not eligible are personnel in the Individual Ready Reserve, military retirees and Army and Defense Department Civilians, he added. Currently, about 10 airports allow service members to show their Common Access Cards and go into the expedited pre-check line, he said. On Dec. 20, “that’s going away,” Howell said. Instead, service members will need to enter their CAC identification number into the “Known Traveler” field when booking airline tickets. All airlines have this field on their forms, he said, adding that the Defense Travel System, or DTS, also has a Known Traveler field where the CAC ID number can be added. Soldiers should consult with their DTS representative for more information.
Once the Soldier books his or her airline ticket, the airline sends the CAC ID number and the Soldier’s information to TSA’s Secure Flight office, a program that maintains a criminal and terrorist watch list, he said. When the Soldier prints out his or her boarding pass at the airport, a “TSA Secure Flight” logo will appear at the top and that informs TSA personnel to allow the Soldier to get into the expedited, pre-flight line, he said. So, essentially, the only thing A Soldier needs to do, he said, is to ensure they enter their CAC number when booking either through DTS or online for non-official travel, he said. TSA does all the behindthe-scenes security legwork. A caveat to the program, Howell said, is that nonmilitary spouses are not eligible, nor are their children, except for those age 12 and under. However, Howell said, TSA will soon offer them and the general public the same TSA Precheck Program benefits service members get, but there will be an $85 fee to be eligible and it’s only good for five years. TSA is excited about extending the program now to service members, he said, because about 25 percent of TSA’s workforce are military veterans, including Howell, who is an Army veteran. TSA is working on various ways to expedite travelers, but new initiatives are not yet ready to be announced publicly, he said.
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10 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Protect your vision for a lifetime Michael D. Pattison, Occupational Vision Optometrist U.S. Army Public Health Command
Vision is among the most ignored health concerns in the nation. It is estimated that millions of people in the United States have undetected vision problems, eye diseases and conditions that affect their ability to see clearly and effectively or can result in future permanent damage to the eyes. The National Eye Institute maintains a year-round education campaign that’s designed to inform the public about potential vision problems and promote the early diagnosis and treatment of visual and ocular conditions. This article discusses some of the focus areas. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam is probably one of the best things
you can do to maintain healthy vision. More than just checking your eyeglasses, this procedure allows an eye care professional to examine the eyes more thoroughly to look for common vision problems and diseases, many of which have no signs or symptoms until the condition has progressed. This comprehensive screening enables the optician to detect eye conditions and diseases early and can often prevent any subsequent loss of vision. The question of how often one should have a comprehensive eye exam can be determined between you and your eye doctor and depends on age, overall health and family history. As you grow older, you should have exams more frequently, and some medical conditions such as diabetes make annual exams a must. A nutritious diet also promotes good
eye health. That’s right, the belief that eating carrots will help one’s eyesight is right on the money. A diet with lots of fruits and vegetables (especially leafy greens like spinach) is important for eye health, too. A recent study has shown that fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna is good for your eyes. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent high blood pressure and diabetes, which also can affect eyes and lead to blindness. In short, eating right will always help protect your sight. Furthermore, research has linked smoking with the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage. So, if you smoke, quit. And if you do not smoke, never start. Also, remember to give your eyes a break. Almost everyone works with a computer, which can cause the eyes to dry out and become fatigued. So, remember to rest your eyes every so often. To help you remember, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes or so, look up and away from your computer at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can help reduce the effects of eyestrain.
Finally, protect your eyes. It is you and your employers’ responsibility to protect your eyes at work and yet, it is estimated that 90 percent of all eye injuries would not occur if eye protection was used. Make it a habit to wear the appropriate type of eye protection at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same. And, when eye injuries occur, report it to your supervisor. Not only does this make a record of the event that may protect you, it can also result in lessons learned that will prevent similar injuries from happening in the future. Wearing protective eyewear should not stop when you leave at the end of the workday. Wearing protective eyewear when playing sports or doing potentially dangerous activities around the house is just as important. And don’t forget to wear proper sunglasses that block ultraviolet light when you spend time in the sun. As always, a little prevention goes a long way. Remember, your eyes are a precious gift and you only have two of them. Give them the care and consideration they deserve so they last you a lifetime.
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www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 11
*,9,1* %$&. Photos by Susan Garling
(ABOVE) Carrie Hall, a volunteer with the Holiday Helper program, makes sure a stuffed bear is decked out for its future recipient. Today is the second designated “shopping” day for Holiday Helper – a time when military members in need are able to pick up donated toys for their children. To accommodate the Reservists who were not able to participate, program volunteers prepared packages of toys that will be delivered at a later date. (RIGHT) Capt. Spencer Beatty, commander, Alpha Company, 244th Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd QM Brigade, checks out some of the toy offerings during the annual Holiday Helper Open House Friday.
(ABOVE) Capt. Austin Franklin, commander, Delta Company, 16th Ordnance Battalion, 59th Ord. Brigade, 1st Sgt. Sara George, Delta Co., and Sgt. Robert Stocksick, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 16th Ord. Bn., discuss the Holiday Helper roster for their units with Joy Metzger, Holiday Helper program manager, during the Holiday Helper Open House. (LEFT) Capt. Talena Melton and 1st Sgt. Oscar Romero, the command team for Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 59th Ord. Bde., pose with the bike that one of their troops will receive for the holiday season. Commands nominate Soldiers for bikes and the organization donates them based on availability.
First Sgt. Jennyanne Bright, Tango Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd QM Bde., poses with the bike that one of her troops will receive for the holiday season.
12 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
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(LEFT) Brothers Andrew and Nicholas Ahlander enjoy their visit and photographs with Santa at the Holiday Hurrah celebration, hosted by the Exceptional Family Member Program at the American Red Cross facility on Fort Lee Friday. In addition to photographs with Santa during the two-hour evening event, there were holiday art and gift take-away projects, games and refreshments. (ABOVE) Two children work intently on some holiday crafts at the Army Community Service event. Nearly 100 community members attended including 56 children, and all EFMP-enrolled families were invited.
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RSO sets schedule for holiday worship The Fort Lee Religious Support Office has slated a number of special worship services for the upcoming holiday season. For details, call the office at (804) 734-6494. Jewish Services The following activities will take place at Congregation Bri’th Achim, 314 South Blvd., Petersburg. • Friday Evening Sabbath Services, Dec. 13, 20 and 27, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday Morning Sabbath Services, Dec. 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m. For details, call (804) 732-3968. Islamic Services Friday Prayer is set for Dec. 27, 12:15 p.m., at building 12012, behind garrison headquarters. Catholic Services Christmas and New Year’s Catholic worship services are planned for Memorial Chapel at the corner of Battle Drive and Sisisky Avenue as follows: • Dec. 24, 4 p.m., Christmas Eve
Mass • Dec. 24, midnight, Christmas Eve Midnight Mass • Dec. 25, 10 a.m., Christmas Day Mass • Dec. 31, 4 p.m., New Year’s Eve Mass • Jan. 1, 10 a.m., New Year’s Mass Protestant Services Christmas Protestant worship services are planned on the following dates and times: • Dec. 24, 7 p.m., Protestant Christmas Eve Service, Memorial Chapel • Dec. 31, 11 a.m., Hispanic Protestant Service, Heritage Chapel • Dec. 31, 10 p.m., Collective Gospel Watch Night Service, Liberty Chapel Visit the RSO’s social media page – www. facebook.com/FortLeeReligiousActivities – for updates and new activities.
– Religious Support Office
&KULVWLQH )R[ QDPHG DFWLQJ GHSXW\ GHIHQVH VHFUHWDU\ Claudette Roulo American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Dec. 3 that President Barack Obama has appointed Christine H. Fox to serve as acting deputy defense secretary. Fox is a “brilliant defense thinker and proven manager,” Hagel said. Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter departed Dec. 4, and Fox assumed her duties Dec. 5, making her the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the Defense Department. Until June, she served as the director
of DOD’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. “Over the last five years, Christine has played a key role in helping shape solutions to the core challenges facing the Department of Defense,” a senior defense official said. Secretary Hagel relied on Fox’s judgment and deep analytical expertise during the Strategic Choices and Management Review earlier this year, the official said. “As a key leader of the Strategic Choices and Management Review, she helped identify the challenges, choices and opportunities for reform facing the department during this
period of unprecedented budget uncertainty,” Hagel said. Fox’s appointment enables Hagel to add a senior manager to his leadership team at a pivotal moment for the department and permits the existing senior management team to remain in place and continue their critical leadership of the military services and DOD components, the official said. “She will be able to help me shape our priorities from day one because she knows the intricacies of the department’s budget, programs and global operations better than anyone,” Hagel said.
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14 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Pentagon reductions ‘first step’ in realigning defense spending, Hagel says Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. American Forces Press Service
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WASHINGTON – The Defense Department’s senior leaders announced changes in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff that are designed to save money and better align the department’s structures and resources. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed decisions made as part of the Strategic Choices and Management Review during a press briefing here. “With the Pentagon confronting historically deep and steep, and abrupt spending reductions after a decade of significant budget growth,” Hagel said, “there is a clear need and an opportunity … to pare back overhead and streamline headquarters across this department.” “And that is a result of, really, an era of post-9/11 that we have appropriately been focused on … to secure this country.” Hagel explained how the Strategic Choices and Management Review, led by former Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley, developed options to “help DOD plan for a range of future budget scenarios.” “Included in the Strategic Choices and Management Review was a comprehensive look at a savings,” he said, “all savings that could be achieved by reducing overhead throughout the department and streamlining organizations, including OSD and the Joint Staff.” Hagel’s briefing Dec. 4 was a follow up to his announcement several months ago that DOD would reduce major headquarters operating budgets by 20 percent over the next five years. “These reductions are only a first step in DOD’s efforts to realign defense spending to meet new fiscal realities and strategic priorities,” he said. Hagel noted these were “difficult, but necessary choices” on compensation reform, force structure, acquisi-
tions and other major parts of DOD to remain ahead for the department. “These choices will be much more difficult if Congress fails to halt sequestration and fully fund the president’s budget request,” he said. Hagel said he directed each of his principal staff assistants to begin implementing their plans to meet the 20 percent budget reductions by fiscal 2019. “The OSD reductions are comprehensive; touching many aspects of our organization, personnel and resources,” he said. The defense secretary laid out eight OSD reductions in accordance with the review and announced the following changes: • Restructuring of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, based on an extensive internal review of the organization, led by the current undersecretary defense for policy, Jim Miller. • Realignment of the Office of the Director of Administration and Management, and its components, under the DCMO structure to provide better coordination and integration of DOD’s business affairs, including performance management and compliance, to result in a much stronger and more empowered deputy chief management officer. • The transfer of specific responsibility for business information technology systems from the DCMO to DOD’s chief information officer in order to strengthen DOD’s ability to address growing IT and cyber challenges. • Combining the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight, and the Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Offices into a single organization aligned under the new DCMO organization. • The Office of Net Assessment will report to the undersecretary of defense for policy to better ensure its long-range comparative analysis. • A rebalancing of resources by the acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness across the office’s three assistant secretaries of de-
fense in order to sharpen P&R’s focus on force management, force readiness, and military health care and military compensation and retirement reform. • Planning will move forward for the undersecretary of defense for intelligence on how its mission and focus should evolve after the drawdown of the post-9/11 conflicts, including staffing levels, organizations and programs. • Approved plans for eliminating the five remaining deputy undersecretaries of defense who are not presidentially appointed or Senate confirmed, fulfilling direction from the Congress. Hagel said to further improve the management of OSD, he is directing additional longer-term follow-up actions, and directing a bi-annual review to establish a regular assessment of the office’s requirements. “Most of the reductions in OSD staff that I’ve announced today will occur through a process of natural attrition in order to minimize the impact on our workforce,” he said. “If the department is forced to take the steep sequestration cuts on the order of $500 billion over the next 10 years, we may need to implement additional reductions.” Dempsey noted some things would have been done “whether or not we were faced with the Budget Control Act.” “So, just as he’s directed the Office of the Secretary of Defense to make these changes, so, too, will the Joint Staff, the combatant commanders, the service chiefs, as well as three-star headquarters and above throughout the world,” he said. The chairman cited pay compensation and health care as areas that “for some time” needed adjustment or slowing of their rate of growth. In addition, excess infrastructure needs consolidation or closing, and acquisition reform, he said, needs to “get out of this pattern where things are acquired and delivered too slowly and too expensively.” “We can’t do that ourselves,” Dempsey said. “We’re going to need help across virtually each one of these areas, and we’ll be looking to gain support for that over time.”
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 15
BLUES Continued from page 2 and give yourself something to look forward to. It is also important to know when “the blues” are a sign of something more. Depression is common around the holidays, and recognizing the symptoms is a key step in getting the help you might need. Symptoms of depression include lack of sleep or oversleeping, overeating or not eating at all, crying for no reason or any reason, and loss of interest in activities. If you are experiencing these symptoms for an extended period of time and are concerned that you may be depressed, contact your primary care provider or Patient Centered Medical Home for help. There are many ways to beat the holiday blues, but remember it is OK to feel what you are feeling. Forcing yourself to be happy can often make it worse. Try to incorporate some of the tips above if you find yourself feeling down during the holidays, and remember: you are not the only person experiencing the holiday blues. – U.S. Army Public Health Command
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 17
16 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
T. Anthony Bell Senior Writer/Special Projects
T
he 92W Water Treatment Specialist Course is the longest of the Quartermaster School’s advanced individual training areas of study. Thirteen weeks in duration, it has a sizable dose of classroom instruction but also features plenty of hands-on training. During the seventh week of the course, Soldiers are immersed with the operational and technical aspects of the Army’s Tactical Water Purification System. Working at the TWPS Training Area, the students are required to set up the site and prepare the equipment, operate it to standard and then shut it down. Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Moore, noncommissioned officer in charge of the TWPS site, said the students training there Friday were in the second of three weeks of instruction. “This phase is very critical because it allows them to get to know how to properly maintain it, dismantle it and shut it down,” he said, noting that maintenance and proper operation are tantamount to supporting troops in the field. “These are skills that will help sustain the equipment during deployments.” Working in groups, the team members read from manuals, discussed their plans of action and operated the machinery under the watchful eyes of instructors. Pvt. Tyana Dixon, one of the students, said she was encouraged with the instruction. “I think it was great,” said the Romeo Company, 262nd QM Bn., Soldier. “It provides a lot of hands-on training that will help prepare us for our assignments.” The TWPS uses reverse osmosis technology to process approximately 1,500 gallons of water per hour “if you’re purifying from a fresh or brackish water source,” said Moore. “It can process up to 1,200 gallons per hour if it is a salt water source.” Dixon went on to say the end result
Water treatment specialist students learn to hammer down the basics of the Tactical Water Purification System in a three-week session that teaches them how to keep the H2O ...
of the training, getting the water purified and ready for consumption, is somewhat the reward for the work put into the process. “The most challenging part is being able to complete the process, knowing that the chemicals and everything else you added actually did purify your water,” she said. “If you didn’t do the right thing, or take the right steps, it could cause Soldiers harm or make them sick. You definitely want to make sure you’re doing your job correctly.” In the eighth week of the course and final week at the TWPS site, students will learn troubleshooting procedures and techniques. The last part of the instruction includes a hands-on and written test.
FLOWINgg Photos by T. Anthony Bell
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Pvt. Angel Musa and Pvt. Anthony Hart hold steady a hose as it shoots water into a tank during backwash procedure training Friday at the Tactical Water Purification System Training Area. The two were part of a group of Romeo Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, Soldiers undergoing instruction in the QM School’s Water Treatment Specialist Course. Musa uncoils hoses that will be used in the backwash procedure. Pfc. Kimmara Casey and others move equipment during the operations phase of the training. Staff Sgt. Patrick Landry, an instructor, reviews an operations manual with Spc. Rosie Colon, and Musa. Pvt. Alex Gipson connects a hose to the TWPS during the backwash phase. Pvt. Axel Mercado adds sodium bisulfate to processed water. Colon signals to fellow team members during the shutdown phase.
18 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
GRAND ILLUMINATION
Photos by Amy Perry
(ABOVE) Santa greets children after arriving at the post’s annual Grand Illumination Dec. 5. Children gathered around him as he made his way to the photo tent where free photos were taken. (LEFT) A Girl Scout decorates the tree during the post’s annual celebration. Each year, Girl Scouts create candy garlands to place on the tree.
(ABOVE) Children play in the artificial snow near Santa’s workshop. (LEFT) Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, and McGruff the Crime Dog pull the lever to light the holiday tree.
Members of Fort Lee’s 392nd Army Band perform Taps signifying the end of the duty Darian Godineaux, 7 years old, takes day, at the post’s annual Grand Illumination. his turn at a penguin fish flying The band played holiday favorites during in game during the Grand Illumination. the event.
Community members enjoy a ride on the Family and MWR holiday train. The event featured the ride, various games and other activities provided by agencies from the local community.
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 19
TKRU EULQJV WKH KHDW LQ ODWHVW ([FKDQJH MDUYHO FRPLF ERRN Arriving shortly after the release of Thor: The Dark World, the Asgardian Thunder God will star in the new, military-exclusive, free comic book from Marvel Custom Solutions and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The 32-page comic features Thor defending New York City from the fearsome Frost Giant, Ymir, in a new adventure by the creative team of writer William Harms and artist Tom Grummett. The free comic also includes an allnew cover by legendary Thor artist Walt Simonson. Titled “Deep Freeze,� the action-packed story features Thor as he fights to keep the citizens of Manhattan safe from the frozen menace while Jarvis, butler to the Avengers, heroically attempts to lead a mother and her young daughter through the icy battlefield of Stark Tower to safety. Can Thor turn the heat on in the Big Apple, or will winter come early this year? “It’s always exciting when the Exchange and Marvel come together to offer these free comic
books for Soldiers and their families,� said the Fort Lee Exchange’s General Manager Audrey Alston. “This is the 16th edition of this military-exclusive comic book, and our hope is that service members will enjoy this one as much as they have enjoyed the others over the past eight years.� “All of us at Marvel owe a debt of gratitude to our real heroes, the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces,� said Marvel Editor Bill Rosemann. “And while audiences around the world will thrill to the Thunder God’s exploits in Thor: The Dark World, only servicemembers and their families will be able to read this allnew, all-awesome comic book. It’s the least we can do for the men and women who bravely fight for the freedoms we all hold so dear.� Thor: Deep Freeze arrived at the Fort Lee Exchange in mid-November and is free for all Soldiers and their families.
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20 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Prepare now for tax season, DOD official advises Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – With a month left before the start of tax season, service members should begin gathering documentation to file their 2013 returns, the director of the Pentagon’s Office of Family Policy and Children and Youth noted recently. In an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Barbara Thompson suggested visiting the Military OneSource website for tax filing resources, and to learn what will be necessary to file, such as
W2 forms, Social Security numbers and receipts for deductions such as child care, education, medical expenses and donations, among other write-offs. And tax preparers at Military OneSource will do short-form tax filing free of charge for service members and their families, Thompson said. Relocations and deployments have tax implications, Thompson noted. For example, deployed service members can receive an extension to file taxes after the normal April 15 filing date, she said. “It’s very helpful to have someone who is experienced
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to help you through the cumbersome issue of taxes and tax returns,” she added. The tax preparers at Military OneSource are up to date on changes in tax laws, and can answer military-specific questions, Thompson said. Installations also offer volunteer income tax assistance to service members and their families, while certain banks and credit unions provide education and training on tax preparation, Thompson said. She advised that service members organize their taxes by starting a file beginning each Jan. 1 for the following year’s tax
papers, such as receipts and other write-offs. “You don’t want to wait until the last minute,” she said. Service members and families who prepare longform taxes with deductions such as mortgages and rental properties might want to consider hiring a tax expert to file for them, Thompson said. “It’s best to get advice to make sure you have everything covered,” she added. People who do their own taxes need to stay on top of current tax information, Thompson said. “Sometimes tax laws change, so you have to be really smart about do-
ing your own taxes,” she added. States’ tax laws often vary, too, she said, and because of relocations, some service members have to file local taxes in more than one state. “That’s where (tax consultants) can really be of great value to make sure you know what the requirements are for states,” Thompson said. Filing federal and state tax returns usually results in either a tax refund or money owed back to the government. Expecting to receive a tax refund, but instead finding out that money is owed can be a shock, Thompson said. Looking at W2s to determine how much money in taxes is being withheld is a good indicator of whether or not one will owe money, she suggested. Service members who
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receive a tax refund face important decisions on what to do with the money, Thompson said. “Do you use it to buy down debt, or put it in a savings account?” she asked, advising people to not blow their tax refunds in a spending frenzy of unnecessary purchases. A tax refund also can be deposited into a retirement savings account, she added. “It’s important to think about what you’re going to do with that money,” she advised, “and how you can best utilize it for your financial wellbeing.” Meeting with a financial planner to learn the “lay of the land,” and what tax deductions might apply to a service member’s finances is a good idea, Thompson said. “It’s really important to be savvy about that.”
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 21
TRAINING
| Certifications
abound for Soldier-mariners Continued from page 4 training that we provide is world-class and is recognized anywhere. It also is aligned with the commercial sector in that we are keeping up with best industry practices.” Smith also said the certifications benefit the Army because the skills and expertise mariners gain through by-the-book assessments directly impact how well missions are performed. From an individual standpoint, Soldiers are afforded the opportunity to grow skills that may benefit them in the long term. CW4 Patrick Deck, chief, MQD, said that’s something worth highlighting. “One of the things I do as chief of MQD is that I promote maritime qualifi-
cations,” he said. “Part of that is reaching out to our civilian sector. There are several shipping industry companies we reach out to because they are drawn to the Army mariner – number one, they have experience; number two, the credentials they bring to the table are substantial. “Most of these engineering and deck (military watercraft operators), whether they are enlisted or warrant officer, can step out of boots onto a boat in the civilian sector relatively easy because of the type of training they receive.” Aside from core skills, Deck said when you add the work ethic service members are likely to have, then it’s a “no brainer for the civilian sector.” In fact, he said as
of late its recruitment efforts have been fairly aggressive. “They have been asking for engineers quite a bit,” he said. Furthermore, the schoolhouse wants to offer even more certifications, said Deck. “We’re always looking for more in terms of what we provide,” he said. “MITD is already engaged with a couple of initiatives with the National Maritime Center. For example, we’ve requested an upgrade from a 200,000-gross ton master’s license to a 500 and/or a 1,600-ton (vessel).” The MITD trains approximately 300 Soldiermariners per year in two enlisted military occupational specialties and two warrant officer MOSs. It also conducts advanced skill level training for Soldiers and warrant officers already in the career field.
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Eileen Osmolski, Larry Sprader and his wife Lee Sprader help decorate a Gold Star Family tree at the Lee Club on Dec. 4. Most of the ornaments on the tree featured photos of fallen service members. The project was organized by the Fort Lee Area Spouses’ Club and the Survivor Outreach Program here. The tree was donated by the Richmond Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers. For more photos, visit www.facebook.com/FortLeeAreaSpousesClub.
*Offer is only available with certain loan programs and subject to credit approval/qualifications with preferred lender. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers or incentives. Actual homes as constructed may not contain the features and layouts depicted and may vary from photos, renderings and plans.Features and options may not be available on all plans or in all communities.Homes depicted may not represent the lowestpriced homes in the community and may be shown with upgraded landscaping and optional features. Prices shown may not include charges for options, upgrades and/or lot premiums. Floorplans, elevations, features, plans, amenities, specifications and related information, and information concerning the pricing,incentives and availability of our homes,are subject to change without notice. See Sales Executive for full details.
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22 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
OFF DUTY
IN THE
COMMUNITY | HISTORICAL PARADE
Ways to manage stress WK DQQXDO 'LQZLGGLH SDUDGH IRFXVHV RQ KROLGD\ WUDGLWLRQV Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Judith A. Hamrick U.S. Army Public Health Command
Holiday parades are a favorite pastime for many people during this time of the year. Amid the marching bands, elaborately decorated floats and that special moment when Santa makes his appearance, there’s also the joy of celebrating the season as a community and just being thankful for all of the things that are great Dinwiddie Chamber of Commerce Photo about living in America. Representatives of the Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg Most of the off-post commu- march down the street in Civil War-era costumes during the nities near Fort Lee host holi- 2012 Dinwiddie Christmas Parade. day parades. The Dinwiddie County event is set for Sunday intersection where it is schedMany volunteers and comat 1:30 p.m. and parade officials uled to arrive before 3 p.m. munity groups/businesses are inviting everyone in the In the event of inclement have invested months of planmilitary community to come weather, the parade will be can- ning and preparation to bring out and enjoy a bit of local celled. Parking for participants this event to life. Some of hospitality. The theme of this is available at the start and fin- those groups will be participatyear’s parade is “A Nostalgic ish point. ing in the parade and a great Christmas,” and it will feature To benefit the local commu- turnout is the best way to show everything that most folks love nity, the Dinwiddie Chamber how much their efforts are apabout these celebrations. of Commerce is asking every- preciated. With a weekend weather one to bring canned goods and/ Additionally, this is the 11th forecast of mostly sunny skies or a new toy for the Christmas anniversary for the parade. and temperatures in the 50s, Sharing Foundation. Elves will The Dinwiddie Chamber has it’ll be a great time to get out- be on hand to collect these items managed the event for the doors with the kids and en- at the judges’ stand in front of past eight years. So, mark joy this free family friendly the Forestry Department and your calendar and enjoy this venue. The parade will begin along the parade route. Any nostalgic trip down the memory at Dinwiddie Middle School, contribution will be greatly ap- lane of Christmas traditions. 11608 Courthouse Road, and preciated as it will help make For updates on the parade, will move south toward the the holidays brighter for some- visit www.facebook.com/ Route 1/Boydton Plank Road one less fortunate. dinwiddiechristmasparade.
Hassles. Deadlines. Short suspenses. Life today is full of stress. What is stress and how does one manage it? Stress is anything that makes one feel tense, anxious or excited. This includes good things too, like vacations and holidays. Lots of things can cause stress – short suspenses, unrealistic expectations, over-commitment of time or finances, even relationships with other people. Stress can cause symptoms in many areas of life including physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual. Stress can make one ill or leave one susceptible to injuries. It can cause headaches, stomach discomfort, trouble sleeping, or leave one feeling run down, irritable or forgetful. The bad news is that people cannot avoid all stress. The good news is that some stress is healthy. It motivates people to accomplish things and to make necessary changes. It also is something a person can influence. A person’s attitude can help him or her handle stress. Sometimes one needs to gain perspective by stepping back from a problem and asking how important it is. What will it matter 100 years from now? Oftentimes, it helps to “grieve the loss,’ including the death of someone close to you or a missing object or opportunity. Sometimes one needs to go with the
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flow and be flexible, accepting the things that he or she cannot change. The most critical factor in dealing with stress is control. Knowledge and planning are important aspects of control. The most difficult things a person will face are the unanticipated and the unavoidable. However, one can prevent or lessen some problems by planning, and this can lower stress. Next, one can plan ways of coping with the stress. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, a healthy diet and lifestyle, and interacting with others help to keep one healthy and to regain perspective and the mental energy necessary to solve problems. Taking care of one’s spirit also helps in managing stress. Many things like journaling, meditating, time management, play, hobbies, laughter and singing, can help refresh the spirit. Occasionally trying something new prevents boredom, which can contribute to stress. One must put his or her plan into action in order for it to be effective. A person should allow at least three weeks for his or her plan to bring some relief. After three weeks, it helps to reevaluate one’s stress level and adjust the plan as needed by trying different ways to lower stress in the same area, or by dealing with another area that is causing stress. Those unable to find relief from their stress are encouraged to speak with a chaplain or mental health provider.
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www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 23
(BELOW) Pat Fisher, a U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum curator, brushes olive drab paint onto the frame of a “Huey” helicopter that will soon serve as the centerpiece of a new aerial delivery exhibit that is projected to open by the end of December. An article about the exhibit is planned for next week’s edition of the Traveller.
U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum Facebook Page
(LEFT) Capt. Phillip Hoffman, commander of Echo Company, 16th Ordnance Battalion, hands a plate of food to an advanced individual training student during the Thanksgiving holiday meal at the Samuel Sharpe Dining Facility on the Ordnance Campus. Several senior leaders from the Ordnance School and its training brigade and two battalions also served food during the meal and spent time talking with troops as they enjoyed the feast. (BELOW) Capt. Megan E. Scavezze, returns the Alpha Company, 71st Transportation Battalion guidon to 1st Sgt. Ricardo Robinson, the company’s lead NCO, during an early December change of command ceremony. Scavezze assumed command of Alpha Co. from Capt. Rosilyn Woodard. Lt. Col. Kevin Holton, the battalion commander, presided over the ceremony.
www.facebook.com/16th-Ordnance-Battalion
INYOURFACE
71st Transportation Battalion Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/PAO.CASCOM
71st Transportation Battalion Facebook Page
Musicians from the 392nd Army Band perform traditional holiday tunes Monday at the CASCOM headquarters building. It was one of many “mini-concerts” the band members have been performing at various locations throughout the post to spread holiday cheer and promote their upcoming holiday concert set for Sunday, 3:30 p.m., at the Post Theater.
(ABOVE) Members of Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course, class 14-02, pose for a photo during an off-post cleanup project Saturday in Prince George. (LEFT) A member of one of the Warrant Officer Basic classes at Fort Lee places holiday decorations on a handrail outside of the Army Community Service building on Mahone Avenue, Dec. 4. www.facebook.com/FortLeeArmyCommunityService
24 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Special duty assignment pay changes for some Soldiers David Vergun Army News Service
WASHINGTON – Some Soldiers receiving special duty assignment pay, or SDAP, are now seeing an increase in payments or seeing it for the first time, while others will soon see less. About 4,000 fewer Soldiers will be eligible for SDAP under changes announced in an All Army Activities message, ALARACT 308, dated Nov. 21, 2013. However, about 27,000 Soldiers will still receive the special pay, according to Army G-1 officials. “As the Army moves into a more resource-constrained environment, we must fully evaluate each of our compensation programs by weighing total costs and benefits of the
current programs,� explained Sgt. Maj. Allen Clifton, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1. “The Army regards SDAP as a valuable tool to encourage Soldiers to volunteer to perform extremely demanding duties or duties demanding an unusual degree of responsibility,� Clifton added. “The decision to restructure SDAP was not taken lightly, and we spent significant time evaluating all relevant factors with the understanding that our final decision would affect Soldiers and their families.� There are six SDAP pay bands: s 3$ s 3$ s 3$ s 3$ s 3$ s 3$
NEW/INCREASED SDAP All new SDAP and increased SDAP changes took effect Nov. 1. Soldiers previously not eligible but now eligible for SDAP are those SERVING AS 2ANGERS % and above (SD-2 or SD4, the higher band servING WITH TH 2ANGERS Ranger or Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader #OURSE INSTRUCTORS 3$ and nominative sergeants major rated by general officers or senior executive service equivalents (SD-1 to SD-4, with SD-1 serving under a one-star genERAL AND 3$ A FOUR STAR REDUCED SDAP SD pay bands in parentheses reflect reductions, which take effect Feb. 1. However, if a Soldier’s SDAP level was reduced to an amount that is less than
PERCENT OF THEIR CURRENT SDAP amount, then that Soldier is eligible for the half rate for 12 months. SDAP will decrease for noncommissioned officers assigned to the recruiting FORCE 3$ AND 7HITE House support activities (SD-1 to SD-4 depending on duties and assignMENTS Other reductions are for squad leaders and platoon sergeants serving in warrior transition units, (all 3$ !LSO REDUCED ARE Criminal Investigation Division special agents 3$ TECHNICAL ESCORT UNIT 3OLDIERS 3$ AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS 3$ and foreign attachĂŠ NCOs 3$ TO 3$ SAME SDAP SDAP will remain at its current level for Soldiers serving in certain special operations units (SD-2 to
3$ AND FOR COMMAND sergeants major rated by general officers or SES equivalents (SD-1 to SD4, with SD-1 serving under a one-star general and 3$ A FOUR STAR ELIMINATED SDAP No SDAP will be awarded to Soldiers assigned to the Defense Courier Service, On-site Inspection and Defense Threat Reduction Agencies, or to those serving as career counselors, transition NCOs, and those assigned in recruiting support functions above the battalion level. Terminations of SDAP will take effect Feb. 1, 0ARTIAL TERMINATION of SDAP will take effect Feb. 1, 2014, when SDAP WILL BE REDUCED BY PERcent. SDAP ELIGIBILITY Enlisted Soldiers are eligible for SDAP when one or more of three conditions are met: First, the duty is physically, psychologically and/or cognitively exTREMELY DEMANDING SEC-
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ond, the duty carries with it a greater-than-normal degree of responsibility for the Soldier’s rank AND EXPERIENCE AND THIRD the duty requires special qualifications that are met through rigorous screening or special schooling. Additionally, those eligible for SDAP must meet all of the following requirements: First, the Soldier is on active duty receiving basic pay or is a reservecomponent member on individual duty training and entitled to compensation UNDER 3ECTION OF 4ITLE 37. Second, the Soldier is serving in pay grade E-3 or higher. Third, the Soldier has completed the special schooling or equivalent on-the-job training required for the SDAP assignment. And fourth, the Soldier is certified as qualified for and is actually serving in an authorized duty assignment designated for the award of SDAP.
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26 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
VA DMV Closed Dec. 23-25, Jan. 1
Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degree Programs Classes Start January 6th Registration in Progress
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RICHMOND – All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles full-service customer service centers will be closed Dec. 23-25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. DMV also will close on Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday. Anytime the service centers are closed, customers may use DMV’s automated telephone service at 1-888-337-4782. Customers also may visit www.dmvNOW. com to set up their myDMV account and get a Personal Identification Number to conduct more than 30 secure transactions online. After setting up their myDMV account, customers can opt to receive their renewal notices through email or phone message rather than getting paper reminder via the U.S. mail. In addition, some DMV Select locations, which are operated by local governments or private citizens, operate outside of the state holiday closing schedule. The 57 DMV Selects across the state process vehicle-related transactions, including registration renewals, titles and license plates. Driver licenses and ID card services are not available at DMV Select offices. To find out if a DMV Select in your
area is open on a state holiday, visit www. dmvNOW.com/DMVSelect. DMV urges drivers to be extra cautious during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays due to higher traffic volumes and an increased number of out-of-state visitors to Virginia. “To lessen your risk, never drink alcohol before driving, always wear your seatbelt, don’t be distracted while behind the wheel, and get enough sleep before driving,” said DMV spokesperson Sunni Brown. Being sleepy and driving drowsy affects your ability to drive safely. Drowsiness makes drivers less attentive, slows reaction time and affects a driver’s ability to make decisions. The warning signs of drowsy driving include yawning or blinking frequently, difficulty remembering the past few miles driven, missing your exit, and drifting from your lane and hitting a rumble strip. “Get a good night’s sleep, 8 to 9 hours for adults and 9 to 10 hours for adolescents, and set out on the road when you are feeling fresh,” Brown recommended. – Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
New law allows temporary deactivation of Virginia vehicle license plates RICHMOND – Starting Jan. 1, customers who operate Virginia-registered vehicles for only part of the year may temporarily deactivate their license plates and cancel the insurance without having to surrender the plates to the Department of Motor Vehicles. This new law will benefit owners of seasonal vehicles such as motorcycles and RVs and active duty members of the military on deployment, if the vehicle is not being used.
Customers can easily deactivate and reactivate license plates online at www. dmvNOW.com or by calling DMV at (804) 497-7100. To reactivate the plates, customers must: s HAVE NO OUTSTANDING tax obligations on their motor vehicle s PROVIDE INSURANCE policy information or pay the unisured motor vehicle fee s PAY A REACTIVATION fee (if the registration has not expired)
“This new law will be of tremendous benefit to thousands of Virginians, including our military men and women deployed overseas,” said Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb. Customers should contact DMV when vehicle liability insurance is canceled during the registration period or they may may face stiff penalties if the vehicle is subsequently found uninsured. – VA DMV
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 27
KENNER CONNECTION | TICK PROTECTION
Lyme disease: what is it, how is it treated? Velvie Bennett, NP Kenner Army Health Clinic
Lyme disease became apparent in 1975 when mothers of a group of children who all lived in Lyme, Conn., made researchers aware that their children were all diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This unusual grouping of illness that appeared “rheumatoid” eventually led researchers to the identification of the bacterial cause of the children’s condition, what was then called “Lyme disease” in 1982. This disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this bacterium is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black legged ticks. Certain ticks, found on deer, harbor the bacterium in their stomachs. Lyme disease is spread by these ticks when they bite the skin, which permits the bacterium to enter the body. A human is not immediately infected with the bacterium. The CDC states in most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacte-
rium can be transmitted. The disease is not contagious from one person to another. Most humans are infected from bites of immature ticks, called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny, (less than 2mm) and are difficult to see. They are often found in hard to see areas such as the groin, armpits and scalp. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but are much larger and are likely to be discovered and removed before transmission can occur. The bacteria enter the skin at the site of the tick bite. Within days to weeks of the bite, the local skin surrounding the area develops an expanding ring of redness. There may be an outer ring of brighter redness with central clearing, resembling a bull’s-eye or target appearance. This classic initial rash is called “erythema migrans.” Multiple secondary lesions may occur that are a reaction to the infection and are not due to multiple tick bites. Lyme disease is diagnosed by the patient’s history, clinical findings and blood testing, particularly the western blot assay. It is important to
Courtesy Graphic
This map shows the reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States during 2012. One dot is placed in each county for each case reported.
tell your provider if you have had a tick bite. Most Lyme disease is curable with antibiotics. Early illness is usually treated with oral medications, such as doxycycline, amoxicillin or Ceftin. Therefore, if a person finds the classic bull’s-eye rash developing in an area of a tick bite, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Generally, antibiotic treatment resolves the rash within onetwo weeks. If left untreated, the rash can resolve in about a month. Weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin, the bacterium and its effects can spread throughout the body, causing fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, swollen glands, and headache, resembling symptoms of a viral infection. If not treated, later it can produce abnormalities in the joints, heart and nervous system. How can the disease be prevented? Because it is transmitted by ticks attaching to the body, it is important to avoid them. The CDC suggests spraying insect repellant containing 20-30 percent DEET onto exposed skin, clothing, and gear, avoiding wooded and bushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter, and walk in the center of trails. Other suggestions include taking a bath or shower as soon as possible after being outdoors to wash off ticks or easily find ticks that may be crawling, conduct a full body tick check, and examine your children, pets, and your gear. It is suggested to tumble clothes in the dryer on high heat to help kill any remaining ticks. If a tick is found, it can be removed gently with tweezers by grasping the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pulling upward with a steady even pressure, avoiding twisting or jerking should remove the tick easily. After removing the tick, clean the bite area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water. Follow up with your provider if you have any questions or concerns.
FAITH AND HOPE TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 1800 E. Washington St. • Petersburg, Virginia 23803-3635 (Less than 1 mile from the Ft. Lee Main Gate)
Telephone: (804) 861-3898 • Fax: (804) 861-3884 Email: FHT1800EWS@AOL.COM Website: www.faithandhopetemple.org HERMAN CROCKETT, JR. PASTOR MARTHA CROCKETT, FIRST LADY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday: Worship Services: 10:00am Saturday: Intercessory Prayer 9:00am Tuesday: Church School 7:00pm Radio Broadcast “Greater Anointing” by Pastor Crockett can be heard everyday on 97.7 FM and WGGM 820 AM from 11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
WE MAKE
Smiles HAPPEN
WE ARE COMMITTED TO A CAVITY-FREE GENERATION
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS OF VIRGINIA DENTISTRY FOR THE CHILD, ADOLESCENT & THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Meera A. Gokli, D.D.S. Steven R. Lubbe, D.M.D. David L. Keeton, D.M.D. ORTHODONTICS FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN
April L. Bridges - Poquis D.D.S. Chad Schanilec, D.D.S. WE OFFER ORTHODONTIC NEW PATIENT EXAMS AT NO CHARGE
Provider of Tri-Care/Retirees United Concordia, Delta, Anthem and MetLife
651 Southpark Blvd. | Colonial Heights, VA
804-526-9815 | www.pdova.com
28 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE
EVENTS FMWR Frame Shop Sale | Dec. 12-20 A holiday sale on ready-made and selected frames is being held until Dec. 20 at the Fort Lee Picture Frame Shop, building 9024, 1321 Battle Drive. The shop is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday and Friday; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and closed on Saturday. Sunday and holidays. For details, call (804) 734-6137.
Wheel Chair Basketball Tournament | Dec. 1315 The annual Wheel Chair Basketball tournament, sponsored by Family and MWR Sports, is set for Dec. 13-15 at MacLaughlin Fitness Center, building 4320, C Avenue and 19th Street. Tournament admission is free and open to the pubic. The game schedule is 6-8 p.m., Dec. 13; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Dec. 14; and 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Dec. 15. For details, call (804) 765-3057.
FMWR Snow Xperience Ski Trips | Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 15, March 8
ONLY $ 199 Available for all active-duty U.S. military, veterans and their immediate families or dependents with proof of government-issued ID. Snowshoe Mountain was voted an overall favorite for terrain, scenery, nightlife, grooming and terrain parks by skiers and riders throughout the East. Available at Snowshoemtn.com or by calling 8 7 7 . 4 4 1 . 4 3 8 6
SNOW GUARANTEE Complete details at snowshoemtn.com
© 2013 Intrawest
You belong up here.
Fort Lee’s Family and MWR Outdoor Recreation Center is offering four discounted Snow Xperience Trips to the Wintergreen Resort. The trips will take place on Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 15 and March 8. The discounted cost varies for the skiing, snowboarding, tubing rentals and lift ticket packages. For registration and details, visit Outdoor Recreation, building 15014 on 5th Street, or call (804) 765-2212.
USO Holiday Party | Dec. 14 USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia will host its annual children’s holiday party, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Rockwell Hall Gym on JEB Little Creek, Fort Story, Virginia Beach. The free event includes face painting, games, entertainment, clowns, a chance
FORT LEE COMMUNITY for children to write letters to Santa and more. The event is open to all active duty service members, retirees, Reservists, National Guardsmen and DOD Civilians with a valid ID card. For details, visit www.usohrcv.com.
Theater Group Auditions | Dec. 15-16 The Theater Company at Fort Lee will hold auditions for “The Chalk Garden,” a psychological drama, Dec. 15-16, 7 p.m., at the Lee Playhouse, building 4300, Mahone Avenue. Director Jason Campbell seeks one female, age 14-18; two men, ages 30-80; and four-to-six females, ages 20-80. All characters will speak with a British dialect. Those auditioning must be prepared to read from the script. No performers are paid. Rehearsals begin Jan. 6 for a Feb. 7-23 production run. For details, call (804) 734-6629.
Lee Holiday Concert | Dec. 15 Fort Lee’s holiday concert featuring the 392nd Army Band is slated for Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m., at the Lee Theater on Mahone Avenue. The performance is free and open to the public, and tickets are not required. The repertoire will include jazz, big band music, popular tunes as well as traditional holiday favorites – and even some Klezmer Jewish music.
Auto Crafts Shop | Ongoing Fort Lee’s Family and MWR Auto Crafts Shop is available for self-service minor auto needs at building 9035, behind the Bowling Alley on Battle Drive. The facility is open noon - 8 p.m., Wednesday-Friday; and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. There are seven bay spaces, four vehicle lifts, tools and a trained instructor to provide assistance. Patrons can get an oil change, rent bay space and equipment, and have tires changed and balanced. The cost varies per service. For details, call (804) 734-6859.
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 29
Calendar, continued Religious Education Night | Every Wednesday A religious education dinner and discipleship program is held each Wednesday evening at Memorial Chapel. The free sessions start with dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by the classes, 6-9 p.m. The learning sessions offered include Search for Truth: Bible Survey; Spanish Study: Experiencing God, The Truth Project: Worldview/Apologetics and more. For details, call (804) 734-6483.
Line Dancing | Dec. 13, 18, 20 Free line dancing lessons for all ages are offered every Wednesday and Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sports Zone, building 3650, C Avenue. They will not be offered on Dec. 25 and 27 and Jan. 1. An instructor will teach the cupid shuffle, the electric slide, the wobble, the cha-cha and other line dances ranging from soul to country. For details, call (804) 765-1539.
Team Building Bowling | Ongoing Organizational team building bowling, sponsored by Family and MWR,is available, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Fort Lee Bowling Center, building 9040, Battle Drive. The cost is $5 per lane for hourly games – up to eight people per lane – and $1 for shoes for teams of 12 or more. Reservations are required and subject to lane availability. For details, call (804) 734-6860.
ACS Employment Readiness | Dec. 16, 19 Employment readiness classes are available at ACS. The final 2013 classes are as follows: Resume Writing, Dec. 16, 9-11:30 a.m.; and Job Search Strategies and Application Assistance, Dec. 19, 9:3011:30 a.m. For details and registration, call (804) 734-6388.
OUTSIDE
THE
GATE
God’s Eye’ Play Screening | Dec. 14 Emmy-Award-winning director Tim Reid will host a play titled, “God’s Eye,” which follows the life of Minister Jones who has to face a life-changing decision, Dec. 14, 5 p.m., at 1 New Millennium Drive, Petersburg. This is an unreleased original production. The cost is $20 for military members in advance; $25 in advance for all others and $30 at the door. For tickets and details, call (804) 7346372.
Chesterfield Christmas Concert | Dec. 14 The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia invites all community members to a free Christmas Homecoming Concert, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., at Historic Trinity Church, Krause and Iron Bridge Roads. The event will feature the choral and hand-bell church choirs, and will celebrate the renovation of the church, which was founded in 1889. For details, call (804)796-7131 or visit www.chesterfieldhistory.com.
Colonial Christmas Tour at Berkeley | Dec. 14 Berkeley Plantation – home of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and William Henry Harrison, ninth U.S. president – will offer a Colonial Christmas Tour, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. Costumed guides will lead visitors through the 1726-era mansion and talk about Christmas during the 18th century. The cost is $15.75 per adult and $12 for children, ages 6-12. The plantation is located between Richmond and Williamsburg off Route 5. For reservations and details, call (888) 466-6018.
Parade of Lights | Dec. 14 The 21st Annual James River Parade of Lights event is slated for multiple viewing sites between Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties, Dec. 14. Boats decorated with thousands of lights will cruise the river.
In Chesterfield, the free event is at Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Road. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m., and parade viewing is scheduled for 7:45-8 p.m. At Dutch Gap Boat Landing, 441 Coxendale Road, the viewing is set for 7:30-7:45 p.m. For details and other locations, visit jracva.org or call (804) 717-6681.
Holiday Tour in Prince George | Dec. 15 Six historic Prince George properties will open their doors for holiday tours, Dec. 15, 1-5 p.m. The event begins at the Heritage Center, 6406 Courthouse Road. The cost is $15 and the proceeds benefit the center.
The other sites include Merchants Hope Church, Aberdeen, Old Town, Trinity United Methodist Church and Chester Plantation. For details and tickets, call (804) 8630212.
Sweet Honey In The Rock Concert | Dec. 16 Sweet Honey, an international a capella ensemble, presents a one-of-a-kind seasonal concert, Dec. 16, 7 p.m., at Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond. The repertoire includes traditional holiday standards blended with new holiday favorites. For details and tickets, call (804) 5923401.
30 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Classifieds TO PLACE AN AD...
BY PHONE:
BY FAX:
BY MAIL:
(804) 526-8692
MILITARY NEWSPAPERS OF VIRGINIA
Call: (804) 526-8656 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Free Classifieds Only Active Duty, Retired, Spouse) TRAVELLER CLASSIFIEDS 150 W. Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510
DEADLINE: Reader & Display Thursday 5:00 p.m. (week prior)
Ca 804-52 ll 6-86 today! 56
BY EMAIL: travellernews@verizon.net
Reach more than 10,000 active duty military, civil service employees, retirees, their spouses and the civilian community.
NEW ONLINE DISCOUNT GIFTSHOP
When location is a Priority and Value is Expected!
WWW.JJDISCOUNTGIFTSHOP.COM and Wholesale Distributor Discount Gift Shop
Just Moments from... • 1-95, I-85 & Fort Lee (2 miles) • Southpark Mall • Historic Petersburg
OVER 3000 ITEMS MR. JAMES JENKINS Cell: 804-898-2534 • jenkinsje@comcast.net (804) 526-0502 1001 Blvd. Colonial Heights, VA 23834 Aimee Bradley Property Manager APARTMENTS
FREE 1st Months Rent with 2 year lease ON ANY SWEARINGEN OWNED APTS. Our 1,000 sqft., 2BR, 1.5BA townhomes offer a great living room, eat-in kitchen, deep linen closet, large pantry, & private patio. Close to the Interstate, Ft. Lee, Shopping & more. Rent includes water, trash & sewer. At Swearingen Owned Apts only!
ASK ABOUT OUR MILITARY SPECIALS! APARTMENTS Colonial Heights On Special $675/month 1500 Concord Ave. 1,000 sqft., 2BR, 1.5BA, walk-in pantry.
DUPLEX Colonial Heights $710/month 310 Kent Ave. 2BR, 1.5BA, Move In Ready! Great yard, close to shopping. HOUSES Petersburg $695/month 2572 Pinehurst Dr. 3BR, 1BA, All electric. Move in ready!
$99 DEPOSIT STYLE RATE 1 BR .................$599 2 BR .................$659 3 BR .................$699
Apartments Feature: • Clubhouse & Swimming Pool • Playground • Walk in Closets • Ceiling Fans • Central Heat/Air • 24 Hour Maintenance
Furniture-Household
For Rent-Furnished Apts
Brand New
COUNTY LINE APARTMENTS
Layaway Available MATTRESS SETS Full- $99, Queen- $129, King- $169 40% Military Discount on all other sets!
Fully Furnished, You need nothing but your suitcase! Smoke-free secure building, no pets. Rent includes all utilities.
Can deliver. 804-253-5154
www.countylineapartments.com
$895/mo. 1 BR, 1 BA,
Call Jeff, 804-283-5760
Help Wanted Drivers: DEDICATED. Regional & OTR. Start up to $.44/mi + Excellent Benefits. 401K + Bonuses. Excellent Hometime! CDL-A 6mos. exp. 877-704-3773
Automobiles for Sale 2004 Chrysler Concorde concorde limited 27 mpg red, new tires,remote start 3000.00
CRATER SQUARE APARTMENTS 1025 S. Crater Rd. Apt. 13A • Petersburg, VA 23805 Call (804)733-6298 • www.cratersquareapartments.com
Come for a visit... Stay for a Lifetime!
“off the hook”
Convenient to I-95 and I-85 and Shopping Centers
MINUTES TO FORT LEE
Petersburg $850/month 1816 Chuckatuck Ave. 3BR, 1.5BA, large living rm, dining rm & renovated kitchen. Washer/dryer hookups, large fenced back yard. Great front porch, all electric, no fridge. Dinwiddie $1145/month 27907 Perkins Rd. 3BR, 2 full BA, eat in kitchen, living & dining room. Pond, several acres, 2 car garage. Attached, covered carport.
You may not understand everything kids say. 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Available (floor plans up to 1200 sq.ft.) 6 & 12 Month Leases • Small Pets Welcome • Swimming Pool & Fitness Center • Washer/Dryer in Select Apartment Homes
But that’s ok. You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. Because kids in foster care don’t need perfection. They need you. AdoptUsKids.org
(804) 733-8710
1700 Johnson Road, #2D • Petersburg, VA 23805 Managed by Drucker & Falk, LLC
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE - PLEASE GIVE BLOOD
www.fortleetraveller.com | December 12, 2013 | Traveller | 31
WORD SEARCH | BY SGT. MCGILLICUDDY
Engineering Design-Build Construction O&M
Established in 1949, M.C. Dean has earned a reputation for excellence in systems integration for complex, mission-critical facilities, setting the industry standard for design-build-operate-maintain programs.
Join the experience. Apply at www.mcdean.com/careers. scan me ©2013 M.C. Dean, Inc. M.C. Dean, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V
FREE CLASSIFIED AD Advertising Policy & Deadlines QUALIFICATIONS FOR FREE ADS: • Eligibility: Active duty or retired military, their eligible family members and active or retired civil service employees • Free ads cannot be of a commercial nature (i.e., business opportunities, help wanted, etc.) and must be personal property of the eligible member. They also should not represent a sustained income or business or be sold or listed through agents or representatives. • When advertising a home for rent or home for sale, the home must be THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE. (All rental properties are considered to be paid ads.) • When advertising animals for sale, the ad will only be considered free if there is only one animal being sold. (LITTERS BEING SOLD ARE CONSIDERED PAID ADS) • The classified editor reserves the right to edit or refuse ads based on advertising policies.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
• No more than 5 ads per week, per household. • Free ads will not be accepted via official mailing channels such as guard mail or postage and fees paid indicia. Free ads will be accepted by fax, mail, delivery or Web site. See end of this ad for details. • We cannot accommodate phone inquiries regarding free classified ads. • Renewals, corrections and cancellations cannot be taken by phone and must be resubmitted. • Copy for free classified ads should be typed or printed legibly. • Ads which are illegible, too long or otherwise do not conform to instructions will not be published • Automotive ads must begin with make, model and year (in this order). • Real estate ads must begin with the name of the city, followed by the neighborhood. DEADLINE: 5pmcode___________________________________________________________________ Thursday the week prior to publication. Address and phone number must be included on form. City, state, ZIP Name of Person Placing Ad: Work phone# Home phone# ______________________________ Mailing Address: City, State, ZIP Code: Sponsor Rank/Rate/Grade____________________ Work Phone #: Home Phone #: Command: __________________________________________________________________________ Sponsor: Rank/Rate/Grade: Command: Include home # and/or address within text of ad. Approximately 25 characters (including spaces) per line.
Clip and Fax to: (757) 853-1634 or mail or deliver to:
MNV Classifieds • 150 W. Brambleton Ave. • Norfolk, VA 23510 • Free ad form •
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+2/,'$< 7(506 Family Reunions Goodwill Greeting Cards RememberingThose Deployed Find the words and phrases Icicles and Cold weather related to the holidays at Fort Holiday Parties Lee. The answers in the puzzle Homemade Cookies are forward, backward, vertical, ACS Santa Bags horizontal and diagonal. MWRTree Lighting Susan Garling
Public Affairs Specialist
Packages Mailed Thinking of Others Poinsettias Tiny Miracles Spectacular Lights HonoredTraditions Decorations Holiday Helper Program Religious Celebrations Eggnog and Cider Time with Family
For this week’s answers, visit www.ftleetraveller.com/ community_life/puzzle/.
32 | Traveller | December 12, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
2013 Hyundai Sonata
2013 Hyundai Elantra
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$
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