9 I S S U E 3 ,
WELL-BEING TEAM PRODUCT INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Refreshingly Relevant
Odierno: Sexual Assault, Harassment Cannot be Tolerated in Army readiness for war," he said. "They destroy the fabric of our force, Soldier and unit morale. "We will fix this problem," he pledged. Odierno said the Army needs to do more, and laid out five areas of specific concern:
BE “COOL” THIS SUMMER 3
HAVE YOU SEEN HER? 6
HOW EMPLOYEES REALLY FEEL 9
AND MUCH MORE ...
V O L U M E
A DHR, ASAP, EAP
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 4, 2013) -- Sexual assault and harassment are serious problems the Army is vigorously addressing, said Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno. Odierno testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, June 4, along with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, service chiefs from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and six judge advocate generals. "These crimes violate everything our Army stands for and they simply cannot be tolerated," Odierno told senators, as part of an oversight hearing on sexual assault and harassment in the services. "As chief of staff of the Army, and as a parent of two sons and a daughter, the crimes of sexual assault and harassment cut to the core of what I care most about, the health and welfare of America's sons and daughters," he said. Odierno said the Army is focused on eliminating the problem. "Two weeks ago I told my commanders that combating sexual assault and sexual harassment within the ranks is our number one priority," Odierno said. "I said that because as chief, my mission is to train and prepare our Soldiers for war." "These crimes cut to the heart of the Army's
-- preventing potential offenders from committing sexual crimes -- investigating and taking appropriate action with every allegation of sexual assault and harassment -- creating a climate where an individual is not afraid of retaliation or stigma for reporting a crime -- ensuring individuals, units, organizations, and specifically commanders and leaders understand their responsibilities -- ensuring the chain of command is at the center of any solution to combat sexual assault and harassment, and that it is also fully engaged "We can and will do better," he told the senators. "We must take deliberate steps to change the environment. We must restore our people's confidence by improving our system of accountability." Odierno said the military justice system was designed to give commanders the tools to reinforce good order by prosecuting misconduct with a variety of judicial and non-judicial punishments. He said commanders are able to prosecute crimes and punish minor infractions that contribute to discipline problems. Odierno also said his experience leads him to believe that the majority of the problems are the failure of some commanders and leaders to correctly administer military justice in compliance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and current Department of
By Lisa Ferdinando
Defense policies. "We must take a hard look at our system, from start to finish, to ensure that commanders and judge advocates are subject to appropriate checks and balances, all while protecting the interests of the victim and the due process rights of accused Soldiers," he said. Odierno said that in the last four years, 57 officers have been relieved of command. About half of those dismissals were related to issues with the command climate those officers created. Some had been deemed "toxic leaders." Others were relieved because they had failed to create a command climate where it was clear that sexual assault and sexual harassment would not be tolerated. "It is up to every one of us, civilian, Soldier, general officer to private, to solve this problem within our ranks," Odierno said. Over the last 12 years, the Army has demonstrated "exceptional confidence, courage, and resiliency in adapting the force to the demands of war," Odierno said. The Army will tackle and fix the problem of sexual assault and harassment with the "same resolve." As part of ongoing efforts, including in its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, the Army has focused efforts intensely on preventing sexual assault and harassment, educating Soldiers, responding to reports of assault and harassment, and providing victims with support and resources. Source: www.army.mil
Hello Happiness!! As the “happy bubble”, I am always looking to find the good in every situation. However, I must admit, that recently it seems as if many of our daily news stories have been more somber than bright. Reports of furlough notices and storm damage just ramp up the negativity meter, but I must always remember what my Aunt Diane told me long ago. “You go looking for trouble and you will surely find it!” So, now I take that bit of wisdom and apply it for the positive. When you want to feel better, go looking for positivity! In the midst of storms, we must be still and look for the way out. Say “Goodbye” to that negative energy and “Hello!” to happiness!!!
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Need Help? Oklahoma Resource Links Humanitarian Relief American Red Cross Oklahoma Assistance Resources FEMA
Ways to Help
Donate Fundraise Give blood or host a blood drive Taking, teaching or hosting a class Volunteer Get involved with a group or program Help internationally Be an advocate
Killer Twister: Oklahoma Guard Responds May 24, 2013 By Sgt. Daniel Nelson Jr., 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment MOORE, Okla. (May 24, 2013) -- For members of the 63rd Civil Support Team, their mission following the killer tornado, May 20, was more personal -- they knew people directly affected and some Soldiers even lived in the devastation path. "We get to serve our community at home," said Sgt. Warren Williams, a unit member. "There are a lot of other agencies coming from other locations, but this is personal for us." The 63rd CST was among the 163 total Guard personnel who responded to the huge twister, which killed at least 24 people, including nine children, according to official tallies. The 63rd CST, consisting of 22 full-time active Guard reserve Soldiers, specializes in conducting search-and-rescue operations, atmospheric monitoring for hazardous materials and searching for physical hazards such as live downed electrical lines. Many of the unit members have previously deployed and responded to other natural disasters including the search and rescue mission following a tornado in Piedmont, Okla., nearly two years ago. Taking a similar path as a deadly May 3, 1999, tornado, which claimed the lives of 44 people, this most recent tornado is thought to have been even more destructive, with estimated damage costs rising above $1 billion. The communities of Newcastle, Moore and parts of south Oklahoma City are soon to begin the process of rebuilding once again, returning the debris ridden neighborhoods to what they once were. "These are people we know, there are people in the unit who have been affected by this personally, so it's satisfying to be out here helping our fellow neighbors," Williams said. First responders from across the country have converged on Oklahoma City and Moore to assist with the search and recovery effort. The efforts of the Soldiers and first responders have resulted in more than 100 survivors being rescued from the storm shelters where they sought refuge from the storm. Although the mission for the 63rd CST is far from complete, the commitment of service to community that has been demonstrated by the Oklahoma National Guard has greatly affected the success in the joint operation between military and local law enforcement on site. "We work with the National Guard all of the time; it's a really good pairing," said Joe Holley, head of Tennessee Task Force 1 and an emergency medical services physician. "The military is great at the logistics part of a mission, and we have some special capabilities different from what the military that tie together in order to get the job done."
Ref: www.army.mil
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Safety and Furlough Planning
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Are You Hot? By Stephanie Armel, TRADOC Risk Reduction Coordinator
Visit Army Safety Center for more details regarding Summer Safety.
For those who are familiar with Oklahoma summers, we know it gets hot quick and for prolong periods of time…with many days of temperatures over 100 degrees. So, with summer activities and summer heat quickly upon us, we must remember how to take care of ourselves and family members to ensure no one is a victim to heat type injuries. Know the signs… heat injuries can cause heavy sweating (but if heat stroke sets in, the body can no longer compensate and stops sweating), pale skin, muscle cramps, feeling tired and weak, altered mental status (confusion or disorientation), headache, becoming semi-conscious, or passing out and nausea or vomiting. Now, here are some simple tips that can help avoid or reduce the chances of becoming a heat injury statistic. Tips for Staying Cool This Summer 1. Be aware of the heat. Pay attention to it and modify your activities appropriately. 2. Pay attention to your hydration status, and be sure to drink plenty of fluids. 3. Try to stay in relatively cool areas, even when outside. Many public places such as libraries, shopping malls and movie theatres are air conditioned. 4. Avoid hot enclosed places, such as cars. Never leave children unattended in a car parked in the sun. 5. Use a fan, if available. 6. Stay on the lowest floor of your building. 7. Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. 8. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. 9. Cover windows that receive a significant amount of sun with drapes or shades to help keep your house cool. 10. Weather stripping and proper insulation will keep cool air inside your home. 11. Cool beverages are good for cooling down the body, while alcoholic drinks can impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature.
Dads on Duty The research is in, and it’s not a shock to anyone. Dads ROCK! When Fathers are actively engaged in their children’s lives, whether in the same house or from a distance, their children bloom with higher IQs, higher standardized test scores, increased health, mental health, confidence and resilience, higher academic achievement, and better dating relationships when the time comes. And the Dads don’t fair so badly from this interaction either. Research indicates that men who are positively, actively engaged with their young children are more likely to be successful, emotionally mature, and financially stable during mid-life. The key to rememBy Lisa Jansen-Rees, MSW, ACS ber when it comes to this interaction equation is quality counts! And FAP Manager there are many quality fatherhood roles for men to play. Playful Dad. Play is the work of children and the silly, boisterous, funny games that Dads play help with children’s growth and development. Mr. Moneybags. Whether providing for economically, serving as a role model at being a wage earner, or teaching about money through allowance or reward, this is a role that Dads play differently than Moms. Celebrate the difference! Professor Dad. When Dads teach, kids listen. Whether it’s how to cook a meal, do laundry, or math homework, children remember the “life lessons” that they were taught by their Dad. Hero Dad. Dads regularly advocate for and protect their children from life’s dangers. When your Dad is your hero you can take on the world! Nurturing Dad. Despite the old stereotypes research shows that Dads are just as nurturing as Moms, showing affection physically when children are young and emotionally as children grow older. Disciplinarian Dad. Kids know what types of behavior are acceptable and what the consequences for bad behavior are when Dads take the time to fulfill the role of disciplinarian in their child’s life. Wise Old Dad. When Dads use quotes, books, their own life stories and serve as a role model for their children they are passing along their values to the next generation. If you don’t think you play this role, just ask the kids what your favorite sayings are! Although it’s much easier for Dads to be positively, actively involved in their children’s lives when they reside in the same home the benefits of Father Involvement far outweigh the challenges associated with parenting from a distance, whether that is due to divorce or deployment. Let’s take June and support the Dads in our own lives, and in the lives of the children served by our organizations, as they creatively endeavor to fulfill these roles. See Page 4 for link to Dads-on-Duty Activities
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Ready or Not… the Furlough is on! Here are Resources Administrative Furlough Guidance Office of Personnel Management Department of Defense – Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service Army Civilian Personnel Online Fort Sill Furlough Info Installation Resources Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 580-442-4205/6306 Army Community Services (ACS) 580-442-4916 Military Family Life Consultants (MFLC) 580-574-7362/63/64 RTC Mind Center 580-442-6237 Fort Sill Religious Services (Chaplain) 580-442-3302 Community Resources Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) United Way of Lawton-Fort Sill Help Line 2-1-1 580-355-0218 Joint Oklahoma Information Network Financial Training MyArmyOneSource OklahomaMoneyMatters MyMoney Financial Budgeting ACS Financial Readiness 580-442-4916
Click on links for more information.
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ASAP CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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June 2013 Sun
Mon
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Well-Being Center (WBC) is located at 3415 Miner Road
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Gambler’s Anonymous (WBC, 1800)
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Sat
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OK Military Connection Hiring Event
Alcoholics Anonymous (WBC, 1900)
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Walk for Huntington’s Disease 9a-12p
UPL Recert
ADAPT (WBC 0800-1600)
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(0830)
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CWBO MEETING
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SALT (Honeycutt Gym) Unit Prevention Leader TRAINING (Well-Being Center, ASAP 0800-1600)
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Click to join ASAP on Facebook
For more news, check out the Cannoneer!
Click to visit our ASAP Website
For more community events, activities, and trainings, check out the MWR and ACS websites: (click on logos)
Looking for more to do?
Check out the Community Calendar.
To see Dads-on -Duty activities offered in the month of June Click Here!
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Veterans Expo of Benefits 10a-2p
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Cops and Kids Poker Run 9a-2p
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9 Ways to Stay Emotionally Healthy 1. Be an Optimist Looking on the bright side increases your ability to experience happiness in your day-to-day life while helping you cope more effectively with stress. 2. Have Hope Having hope allows you to see the light at the end of the tunnel, helping you push through even dark, challenging times. Accomplishing goals, even small ones, can help you to build your level of hope. 3. Accept Yourself Self-deprecating remarks and thoughts will shroud your mind with negativity and foster increased levels of stress. Seek out and embrace the positive traits of yourself and your life, and avoid measuring your own worth by comparing yourself to those around you. 4. Stay Connected Having loving and supportive relationships helps you feel connected and accepted, and promote a more positive mood. Intimate relationships help meet your emotional needs, so make it a point to reach out to others to develop and nurture these relationships in your life. 5. Express Gratitude People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health. 6. Find Your Purpose and Meaning When you have a purpose or goal that you’re striving for, your life will take on a new meaning that supports your mental well-being. If you’re not sure what your purpose is, explore your natural talents and interests to help find it, and also consider your role in intimate relationships and ability to grow spiritually. 7. Master Your Environment When you have mastery over your environment, you’ve learned how to best modify your unique circumstances for the most emotional balance, which leads to feelings of pride and success. Mastery entails using skills such as time management and prioritization along with believing in your ability to handle whatever life throws your way. 8. Exercise Regularly Exercise boosts levels of health-promoting neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress and also relieve some symptoms of depression. Rather than viewing exercise as a medical tool to lose weight, prevent disease, and live longer – all benefits that occur in the future – try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame of mind, reduce stress and feel happier. 9. Practice Mindfulness Practicing “mindfulness” means that you’re actively paying attention to the moment you’re in right now. Rather than letting your mind wander, when you’re mindful you’re living in the moment and letting distracting or negative thoughts pass through your mind without getting caught up in their emotional implications. Mindfulness can help you reduce stress for increased well-being as well as achieve undistracted focus.
Life focus
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Beware of Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Source: mercola.com
Risk Factors Those at the highest risk of suicide are people suffering from alcoholism, clinical depression or schizophrenia. There are other factors that increase risk of suicide which include drug and alcohol misuse, social isolation and family breakdown. People with a diagnosed mental health condition are at particular risk. Around 90% of suicide victims suffer from a psychiatric disorder at the time of their death. However most people experiencing suicidal ideas are not engaged in any mental health services. Hence it is important for all of us to understand the danger signals. What to look out for? 10 danger signals 1. Be aware of any previous suicide attempts. Up to 20% of survivors try again within a year and are 100 times more likely to go on to complete suicide than those who have never attempted suicide. 2. Be aware of an actual or attempted suicide by a parent or close relative, often suicidal ideas can be linked back to unfinished or unacknowledged battles of childhood. 3. Self Harm or cutting represent a wish for help & may signal previous suicide attempts. However not everyone engaging in self harm is able to use professional help. Do not be put off. Keep offering professional help as an option. 4. A recently experienced failure. Poor self esteem and extremely self critical beliefs, will increase feelings of failure. It may require additional thought around interviews or new relationships anything that may increase the risk of rejection. 5. Withdrawals from others into the body may represent an acting out on their own body. Look out for a change in appearance. Looking unkept, dirty clothes, not eating or sleeping too much. 6. Acting recklessly putting themselves at risk with no concern for the consequences. You may have noticed an increased use of drugs, alcohol, gambling or other risk taking behavior. 7. Threatening to hurt or kill themselves if you don't do something. If a person is blackmailing you with suicide and you give into what they want it can reinforce the idea that they are not responsible for their own body. But under such pressure it difficult not to do what they want but think it through avoid making a quick decision. 8. Formation of a suicide plan which may not be obvious. Look out for writing or talking about death, dying or suicide. 9. Loss of concern for self and others. If there are signs of letting go of possessions, sorting out affairs/ finances, getting rid of belongings or their pet. Not engaging in activities or with people they usually enjoy. 10. Episodes of rage and anger. This can be a way of expressing unmanageable thoughts & feelings. The violence inherent in suicide can often be overlooked due to the desperation & despair. What shall I do if I notice any danger signals? If your path is hidden in the shadows of pain, despair, doubt or unrest and you recognize you are experiencing some of these warning signals it maybe the last thing on your mind to go to your GP but they can refer you to a specialist service. Alternatively there are many online forums, or help lines like the Samaritans that offer support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Don't panic, seek professional guidance and don't be afraid to talk to the person you are concerned about encouraging them to seek help but it is not your responsibility to prevent them from killing themselves. Ultimately suicide is not always preventable and there are not always danger signals. However we can spread awareness. Be bold and have a conversation, making a connection can be the greatest suicide prevention. Source: Ezinearticles.com
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Drug Awareness
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Stressed Out Ft. Sill, OK
Fran Alltizer, LCSW, ASAP Supervisor
If you have any questions or concerns that you would like Fran to address, please contact Fran through our ASAP Facebook page:
DEAR STRESSED OUT, You are acting and feeling very human! When experiencing emotional stress, one of the first things that humans do, is look for a mood-altering experience. If you have not developed some healthy coping skills, alcohol becomes the choice. Alcohol can help you relax but it takes more and more each time to reach the same level of relaxation, due to tolerance, and can become another problem adding to your stress. Job satisfaction is a shared responsibility. It is possible your boss has not attended the Supervisor Training that emphasizes how important it is for an employee to know exactly what is expected of them, in order to meet goals and feel appreciated for the job they perform. Have you approached your boss to ask how you can improve your performance to meet his goals? You also may not be taking advantage of your Employee Assistance Program. This tool allows you to express your frustrations and may even lead to a mediation session with your boss. Humiliating an employee in front of co-workers is not acceptable and can be seen as bullying. Don’t try to drown your stress in drinking. Be proactive and look for some positive way to deal with this stressful situation. Good employees are valuable assets and should be treated as such! Fran
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Have You Seen Molly?
DEAR FRAN Dear Fran, Help!!! I have so much stress at work that I have problems doing my job. Basically, my boss is the worst. He keeps demanding more and more of me, and he is never satisfied with my results. I feel unappreciated because he never acknowledges the things that I do well. He has singled me out, attacks me and humiliates me in front of others. My co-workers do not want to have anything to do with me. Lately, I find myself drinking more and more alcohol to help me relax. Please help. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Has anyone seen "Molly"? If you've heard that line before, chances are someone was offering you a street drug. The name may sound benign, but "Molly" is a powdered form of MDMA, the molecular compound found in Ecstasy, and it's often laced with other highly addicted drugs. Although "Molly" is marketed as a "pure" form of Ecstasy, Dr. Ken Bachrach, the clinical director of Tarzana Treatment Centers, said users have no idea what they're actually taking. "It can be cut with everything from talcolm powder, heroin, it could be cut with anything." says Bachrach. Bachrach says an increase of MDMA-related emergency room visits should be a concern to parents, because the drug is easily accessible in schools and at concert venues. "'Molly' is marketed to our young people in the club scene as a kinder, safer way to get high," says Sarah Pullen, a special agent with DEA. "But it's anything but safe. There haven't been any long term studies, and it's just as deadly as any other drug." Read more: at foxnews
I was Losing Myself‌..I Quit! I am reaching 3 months of being sober now. Things are so different! I am doing well and do not think about drinking as much. I think about how I got here and now there is no way I can drink again. I am seeing a counselor with my husband and she has been a great support. I go to AA meeting weekly and also use my online AA friends if I need to talk and have no one at home. I look great, feel great! I had a check up with the doctor and thank Fort Sill AA Meetings God nothing serious from my drinking has happened. I 7:00pm on Wednesdays exercise, eat well and just plain focus on myself. I am so at the Well-Being Center, glad to be on this journey for life and have accepted that. ASAP 3415 Miner Road
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Mind Expansion
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TEAM SPOTLIGHT
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Ft. Sill Talks Back If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Mr. Harold Helms, DPTMS won overall in the Federal Executive Board Awards for the category of Trades and Crafts
Capturing/ taking photographs of everyday life with my Nikon! Or killing zombies would be Mr. Harold Helms has provided service above and beyond his job awesome description (Airfield Ground Equipment Worker) to support transient aircrews and aviation soldiers at Henry Post Army Airfield (HPAAF). Mr. Helms was recognized in May 2012 as IMCOM's "Hero of the Day" for his outstanding work performance and customer support. During CY12, Mr. Helms pumped 41.030 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel, refueled 111 military rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft, including two USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Approximately $77,337 dollars were saved to the government by refueling aircraft at HPAAF with military fuel. Mr. Helms was the primary trainer of five Special Duty (SD) Soldiers and one DA Civilian for operation of the R-11 aircraft refueling truck and the procedures for aircraft refueling operations. He continues to make significant improvements to airfield facilities and maintenance of airfield ground support equipment, by always completing assigned tasks and airfield projects on time and on target.
Mr. Darryl Wilson, DPTMS won the Federal Executive Board Outstanding Diversity Contribution Award
- SGT Paulette Cole, Echo 3-2 ADA
Stay at home dad; spending more time with my kids - SGT Donivan Washington, 571st
I would own a dairy farm. - SGT Patrick Leonard, 761 EOD
Mr. Wilson is an employee at Fort Sill Army Radar Approach Control and is employed as a Supervisory Air Traffic Control Specialist at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. He is recognized for his achievements in Supervising and Training to ensure the safety of the Air Traffic Control system. Mr Wilson's technical and Supervisory abilities have contributed to thousands of people's safety in flight. Mr. Wilson is heavily involved in the Equal Opportunity (EEO) and US Army Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SHARP) proThis Month’s grams helping to ensure equal treatment of all personnel. Mr. Wilson contributes many hours a year coaching pre-teen children in the Brainteaser community. Mr. Wilson is a valued team member and community service provider as part of the Fort Sill Team Pride. Heavy it is but reverse it's not?
Brainteaser
WAY TO GO TEAM SILL!!
Answer in next month’s edition
Last Month’s Answers Why is it against the law for a person living in New York to be buried in California? Answer: He is alive
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Complete Well-Being
Wellness Window Traveling? Take Fitness on the Road It is easy to let a vacation or business trip destroy your fitness schedule and eating habits, but why let something as rewarding as a vacation or as exciting as a business trip leave you feeling unhealthy upon return? Prepare for Power, No Excuses If your hotel doesn’t offer fitness accommodations, bring along a jump rope and an exercise tube. They are both lightweight and easy to transport. Jumping rope is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise, and you can do it anywhere. With the exercise tube and a prearranged plan to keep you motivated, you can keep your entire body toned and energized without entering a gym or stepping on a piece of exercise equipment. Numerous magazines and websites offer workout instructions for each body part. And, of course, body-weight exercises such as push-ups and crunches require no equipment at all. The point is to find a workout routine that suits your needs and follow it. Plan a specific time each day or every other day to do your strengthening and cardiovascular routines (a good plan is to alternate days between the two). Remember that the 20 to 60 minutes you spend working out each day is for you, and try to stay on schedule. Have Fun Be sure to enjoy yourself and make the most of the area to which you have traveled. Remember to bring comfortable shoes so that you can easily get a workout while using your feet as your main mode of transportation. Whether your trip is for business or vacation, remember that you should have some time for yourself every day. Why not dedicate that time to improving your health and making yourself feel better?
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Cooking Excellence Beer and Brown Sugar Kielbasa & Sauerkraut Ingredients: - 12 ounces beer (can or bottle) - 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark) - 3 pounds polish kielbasa - 1 bag (or jar) sauerkraut (32 ounces), drained Directions: 1. Combine the beer and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, until the sugar melts and the mixture is slightly thickened; set aside. 2. Cut the kielbasa into links and place in a slow cooker. Cover with the drained sauerkraut. Pour the beer and brown sugar mixture over top. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, or on low for 8 to 10 hours. (We ended up doing a combination - high for 3 hours and then low for another 3 or so. Definitely the longer it cooks the better it tastes!) 3. Serve on its own or on your favorite sandwich roll.
Source: acefitness.org
Source: browneyedbaker.com
PEACEFUL PLAZA: Learn To Be Still I find that a big challenge of living from a space of inner peace is that many of us do not allow for the right environment to nurture it, due to the constant noise in our lives. Our minds are on, all the time. Most of us spend the majority of our days in physically noisy environments. To make matters worse, most of us are caught up in a perpetual state of doing. There is always something to do, and there is never enough time. This is the opposite of what inner peace is all about. This is why learning to be still is one of the central tenets of achieving inner peace. Although it would seem like an easy task to be still or be in silence, the actuality is far from it. This is why as I stated in the introduction, attaining and living with inner peace is not some easy or boring task. It takes discipline and an active creation on one’s part to live beyond the norm of modern-day society. This can make life very exciting and rewarding. To experience inner peace, we need to have stillness in our life to at least have the chance to consciously “be” with whatever turmoil may be going on within us. When we are running around and “busy” all the time, it is too easy to dismiss or ignore what our inner being is asking for, or Click: RELAX to be still and enjoy this trying to tell us. Therefore, the path to inner peace needs to include a balance of some stillness month’s featured “Peaceful Plaza” Guided and silence. Reflect on, process and clear out what does not serve you consciously, so you are Imagery segment. not living from it unconsciously. Click RELAX to take a moment to BE STILL. Reference: sourceofinsight.com
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Etiquette and Manager’s Notes
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Manager’s Memo: The Adopted Worksite “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” - Old African Proverb Leading and managing an adopted worksite must be one of the greatest challenges a manager will ever face. Although most of us managers will inherent a By Jay Khalifeh new worksite at sometime in our careers, there is little written about the topic. While feeling our way around the organization there may be considerable land mines that even the most skilled of us can’t avoid. We may encounter employees who are angry, frustrated, unprofessional, or in some long-standing dispute. Where does a manager start? It is important to remember that no matter the situation, building and maintaining trust should be the first matter at hand. Observe: In the excitement of a new challenge most of us may be tempted to jump in feet first without fully understanding the new workplace. It is always a good idea to step back, and take time to examine carefully how the work is being done, before we leap. Learn the jobs of the employees. Taking the time to understand their challenges and “walk a mile in their moccasins“. This will give us an opportunity to discover the organizations strengths and weaknesses and will help managers plan a better strategy, lending the manager more credibility.
DALLAS
Where are we going??? Getting on the Bus in Lawton Often, employees have been traumatized by events prior to your arrival. The previous management may have left the worksite in chaos. Or, if the position had not been filled for awhile, employees may feel confused and neglected. Assembling employees and acknowledging the facts and feelings about the past and present situation is essential, before they can look to the future. Allowing them to vent and acknowledge the influences of the past values them and their views without being judgmental. To use an analogy-If I want to take the office on a field trip to Dallas, I must first get them on the bus in Lawton. It may not be our final destination, but it is where we are at right now. Dallas represents completing the mission. (For a fun exercise, ask them to anonymously jot down what they believe the mission of your organization to be and read them aloud to the group. Their answers may surprise you. How do you want to get there? After clearly identifying the mission, you may want to ask them how to improve the workplace to tap into creative ideas and make them feel that they have some control over how the work is done. Employees will be more engaged beWorkplace Etiquette cause their ideas mean something and 101: when practical, they can make a differGossiping ence. Find out what they need what training they can use to accomplish the Don’t gossip about any mission. Ask them how it can be done co-worker’s private life! better, faster, or cheaper. Part 2 in Next Newsletter.
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Furlough: How Do Your Employees Really Feel? Two industrial-organizational psychology researchers, Ann Huffman of Northern Arizona University and Lori Muse of California State University at Fullerton, conducted a study to determine the impact furloughs had on employees, and more specifically, if they lead to employees intending to leave the organization. “Furloughs are pay cuts and employees do not like them,” said Huffman. “They can range from 1 day to several weeks, and the longer the furlough the more likely employees will perceive the employer has broken a psychological contract with them.” That’s because employees have been promised a level of pay for a certain amount of hours worked, and then are told they cannot work those hours and therefore will not receive their full pay, she said. Often employees are expected to perform the same amount of work despite working fewer hours or days. That can create a great amount of stress and is likely to trigger a negative emotion, causing the employee to withdraw from work, said Huffman. She concedes that although furloughed employees may think about seeking jobs elsewhere, very few actually do. “That’s because of the tight job market and, while they do not like furloughs, many consider themselves fortunate to have a job,” she explained. Of course, that is always a major point management emphasizes when implementing furloughs: the alternative being layoffs. “Employees see furloughs as the lesser of two evils and are more agreeable to them rather than being laid off or seeing colleagues lose their jobs,” Huffman said. At the same time, workers don’t want management to keep reminding them how grateful they should be because they are still working. Nevertheless, there is evidence that furloughs are likely to have an unfavorable effect on employees, and human resource managers and policy makers need to be aware of potential impacts when making such decisions. The study’s results point to two main issues that lead to turnover intentions: the perception that the psychological contract between employer and employee has been broken and work overload. However, there are some mediating factors that could ease the negative consequences of furloughs, Huffman pointed out. “In terms of psychological contract, results showed that when managers convince employees that the outcome is fair, the negative effects of the furlough are lessened,” she said. According to Huffman, organizations might want to first try to understand what employees perceive as fair before initiating a policy. Involving employees in the decision of how the required furlough days are determined could lead to stronger perceptions of justice, thereby reducing turnover intentions. “You need to give employees a voice, hear their concerns, and keep them informed. That shows management is trying to be fair with its furlough policy,” she said. Another important consideration for management is the social support that employees can offer each other. “When organizations encourage and reward workers for assisting co-workers swamped by work, it can help ease the sting of furloughs. Management should support and not hinder employees’ attempts to help coworkers,” she said. One suggestion: Develop a system in which employees with a lighter workload for a particular day notify co-workers they have the time to assist those with high workloads that day. In addition, workers with a heavy workload could list tasks for which they could use assistance. “Management should not only initiate such a system but also reward employees who participate, including those who make themselves available to help others and those who seek the assistance,” she said. It would also be helpful to workers if management provided more leeway on deadlines and provided more overall support to help create a collegial team-based working structure. For example, holding meetings with the objective of sharing ways to handle crunch times and financial challenges stemming from a furlough could be useful to the workplace atmosphere, Huffman said. In addition, co-workers talking with each other about their situation can be helpful, even if they complain about the furlough. A typical conclusion is that they agree they are fortunate to still have a job. Not all employees saw the furlough as a negative factor, said Huffman. “Some welcomed the time off saying it gave them an additional day of rest or time needed to get things done or to just spend with the family. For them the furlough helped put life and work in a different perspective,” she added. And that’s another potential benefit of furloughs, according to Huffman, “It could be a good time to look at priorities and reset some goals and work policies. Maybe things don’t have to be done because they were always done that way. Maybe they are no longer a priority. Maybe work assignments could be streamlined.” Although their study focused on higher education institutions, Huffman says much of what they found can be applied to private employers as well. “They face many of the same problems that public companies and organizations have and are searching for ways to reduce expenditures. Furloughs impact job attitudes, morale, and how employees regard management. Resources are needed in both private and public sectors, and they are being taken away, which can be annoying to employees. I’d say there are several similarities and that this study can be instructive to all companies, government agencies, and organizations,” she said.
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Financial Fitness and Ed Center Update
Vacation: Stay or Go? There are a few great reasons to take a staycation: You don’t have the hassles of travel, you’ll definitely save money, and you’ll have time to enjoy the comforts of home. But there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t spend your precious time off work puttering around town. For example: Relax. Vacations are meant to be relaxing. I predict that a few hours into your staycation, you’ll realize the floors need mopped, your closet needs organized. And when was the last time you sorted through your DVDs? Recharge. A visit to a new city or region is time spent outside of your routine. When you come back you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle work again. If you stay at home, you might not get far enough out of your routine to accomplish that. Have new experiences. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson often says life experiences are one of the few things worth spending money on. When I was old enough to begin taking vacations on my own, I’d already seen everything worthwhile in the town where I lived three times over. So I picked a new city to explore every year. Find fulfillment. We’ve all heard of bucket lists. If you have one, I bet spending more time at home isn’t on it. If you want to travel Europe, see New York City, or ride a horse on a ranch in Montana, you won’t get there by taking a staycation. Spending your limited vacation time at home likely won’t be as fulfilling as traveling. How to save for a vacation Going on a traditional vacation is possible. You just need a little planning. Here are a few tips on saving up for a vacation: 1. Create a budget Research the typical cost of flights, hotels and food for your ideal destination. I use sites like: Yelp, Expedia, Hotels.com Once you have an idea of costs, set up a budget for how many days you’d like to travel. This is your savings goal. 2. Start saving Make a few small cutbacks in your daily routine and you’ll build up vacation savings in no time. For example: Make coffee at home and skip Starbucks – savings of about $60 a month. Drop your cable and switch to Netflix – savings of about $66 a month. Brown-bag it – savings of about $160 a month. According to a survey by Accounting Principals, 66 percent of workers spend $2,000 a year on lunch. Reduce your cellphone plan by getting fewer minutes or a smaller data plan or dropping the insurance – savings of about $30 a month. I changed mine and saved about $180 in six months. Skip the gym – savings of about $35 a month. You can get a good workout at home or running around your neighborhood. 3. Look for savings early Start looking for deals and coupons before you head out on vacation. You’ll have a better idea of how much you can save and you won’t have to spend half your vacation combing deal apps and websites. A few times a week leading up to your vacation check out local deal sites like: Groupon, LivingSocial, Restaurant.com, Travelzoo, Amazon Local
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Team Sill Leadership Academy July - September 2013 Schedule The Team Sill Leadership Academy (TSLA) courses are on-duty classroom leader skill enhancement courses. TSLA courses are available to Servicemembers and DA Civilians at no cost; additionally, no tuition assistance dollars are spent to attend these classes. DA Civilians and other services may attend on a space available basis. Each course is worth one semester hour of college credit from Central Texas College. Each course is one week long either in the morning or in the afternoon held at the Truman Education Center, Bldg 3281. Active duty Soldiers process enrollments through www.GoArmyEd.com using the "On Duty Courses" enrollment link. DA Civilians or other services, please call or visit the Education Services Division offices, Bldg 4700-5th floor, phone: (580) 442-3201, for enrollment form. July 8-12
0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Crisis Intervention I Class ID# 10889 1230-1630 (M-TH) ...................... Managerial Planning Class ID# 10890 July 22-26 0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Increasing Work Site Efficiency ............................................................ Class ID# 10891 1230-1630 (M-TH) ..................... Managing Resources Class ID# 10892 August 5-9 0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Conducting Briefings Class ID# 10893 1230-1630 (M-TH) ..................... Performance Oriented Training Class ID# 10894 August 19-23 0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Time Management Class ID# 10895 1230-1630 (M-F) .......................... Microsoft Access Class ID# 10896 September 9-13 0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Personal Financial Mgmt I Class ID# 10897 1230-1630 (M-TH) ..................... Preparing Efficiency Reports Class ID# 10898 September 23-27 0900-1215 (M-F) ......................... Effective Military Writing II Class ID# 10899 1230-1630 (M-TH) ...................... Styles of Leadership Class ID# 10900 Source: Fort Sill Education Center
Furlough Freebie: Cell Phone Service!! FreedomPop will start giving away free phone service later this year. If you want to pay less for a basic plan, you should take a look. The service will give you 200 voice minutes (plus unlimited calls to other FreedomPop users), 500MB of data, and unlimited text messages per month, the company says. It debuts this summer, and there are no contracts. Need more minutes? Unlimited calling will cost $10 a month, PCMag says. More data? You’ll be able to “earn additional free data by completing surveys, downloading programs, and Currently referring friends,” or buy it, according to PCMag. But you may not need it. “The average American consumer uses about 200 available minutes of voice and 500 megabytes of data per month, so the lower 50 percent of FreedomPop’s customers won’t be paying in the a dime,” Forbes says. But you’ll have to use an Android phone compatible with Sprint’s network, which FreedomPop pays to Wichita use. The company hasn’t said which phones will work with its service yet — only “several popular Android phones.” The Falls, TX company can afford such cheap service by buying bandwidth at wholesale prices from Sprint, then converting voice calls into area! data, Forbes says. It will also sell refurbished phones purchased from tech trade-in sites like Gazelle and Glyde, rather than buying new models from the manufacturers. If you aren’t picky about phone model or using the Sprint network, and especially if you only need basic service, this might turn out to be a great deal. Learn more at freedompop. com Ref. moneytalksnews.com
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Inspire and Encourage
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EAP INSPIRATION STATION: Peace Be Still The “Character” Couch:
For many people who have struggles in their lives, peace is hard to find. They continuously plead with God to help them make it through each day. The good news is, you do not need to beg God for peace—you already have a covenant of peace with Him! He is a God who keeps His promises, so peace is already available to you.
Cooperation- a joint effort or operation.
What does a covenant of peace mean? What does it entitle a Believer to? We must look beyond our common understanding of what peace means when we are defining God’s covenant. The Hebrew meaning for peace is shalom, which means “completeness, soundness and safety (in body), welfare, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment, and peace (from war).” God has a commitment to ensure that you have wholeness in every area— continuous prosperity; success in marriage, finances, family, health, and much more.
EAP FUNNY CORNER
When you read the following scriptures, replace peace with one of the definitions. Ezekiel 37:26 reads, “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them.” If you place a definition into the scripture, it will read, “Moreover I will make a covenant of [prosperity] with them.” Or “I will make a covenant of [completeness or wholeness] with them.” How powerful is that! He is so committed to His covenant of peace that He mentions it several times throughout the Old Testament: Numbers 25:12; Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25; Malachi 2:5; Hebrews 13:20. Peace has two functions. First, it prevents the hearts of God’s people from being troubled. By cultivating it, we will be ready for adverse circumstances when they come. Through the peace that we have developed, we now have God’s peace, and His peace will keep, or be like a military guard over, our hearts. In Mark 4:35-41, we see how trouble is designed to force peace out. Jesus and His disciples were on a ship when a huge storm began tearing at the boat and filling it with water. The disciples were troubled to say the least, but Jesus was asleep! They had to wake Jesus up because they were afraid. The storm, or trouble, had removed the disciples’ peace, but not that of Jesus. The second function of God’s covenant of peace is that it will guide your steps. When you take Colossians 3:15 and substitute a definition of peace into the scripture, you can feel the power, “And let the [completeness or wholeness] of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” He wants His peace to be the umpire of our hearts (AMP), and He wants us to have peace in our decisions when they line up with His Word. God’s peace is so great that it makes us whole in every area of our lives. He gave us His only Son to ensure that we receive peace. In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He is leaving us His Word and giving us His wholeness—prosperity, restoration, success, good health, and more. When we begin to cultivate peace, and it becomes a way of life, you can take 2 Corinthians 13:11 to heart: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Ref: worldchangers.org
YOUR EAP IS READY TO SERVE EAP Services to Employees and Supervisors:
Assessment, problem identification, and short-term counseling/ intervention. Referral for treatment and rehabilitation to appropriate community counseling/treatment resources. Follow-up services to aid an employee in achieving an effective readjustment to his or her job after treatment. Training and education for supervisors and employees about alcohol and drugs.
EAP Services to the Installation Organization:
Training and consultation for supervisors and managers on how and when to make proper use of EAP services for improving employee performance and conduct. Consultation to management about trends in employee needs, work groups, and related concerns dealing with work/life/wellness support programs.
RaShonda M. Labrador, MS, CEAP (580)442-4205/6306 rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil
Come out and visit ASAP at our prevention tables during the 101 Critical Days of Summer Prevention Campaign 20 June– SALT– Honeycutt Gym 3 July– Garcia DFAC 18 July– Garcia DFAC 1 Aug– Bldg 4700 15 Aug– Bldg 4700 29 Aug– Garcia DFAC
COME VISIT US AT:
Well-Being Center, ASAP 3415 Miner Road Ft. Sill, OK 73503 Phone: 580-442-4205 Fax: 580-442-5704 E-mail: rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil Facebook Thursday 20 June & Friday 21 June 2013 3 presentations each day (0830,1030,1430)
Website
Honeycutt Gym
Sneak Peek: What to Expect Next Month SUMMER CELEBRATIONS!
YES OR NO?
Next month is sure to have some relevant information for you. From preparing for the family BBQ to filling the family pool, safety and fun are first and foremost! So, continue to read along with Workforce Pride as we navigate through the summertime with Team Sill PRIDE!
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Please contact us if you HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS!! Your comments will be greatly appreciated!!! ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?? Contact me at 580-442-4205/6306 or at rashonda.labrador@us.army.mil. I look forward to hearing from you!!
Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine - Mario Fernandez Disclaimer: Information, views or opinions expressed in the Workforce Pride e-newsletter originates from many different sources and contributors throughout the general community. Please note that content and hyperlinks external to the US Government websites does not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions of the Fort Sill Garrison, the Fires Center of Excellence or the United States Army or their affiliates nor are the events endorsed by the same.