an independent publication of comprint military publications at Joint base andrews, md. dcmilitary.com friday, october 30, 2015 | Vol. 4 no. 43

Air Force NeWSU-2 brought to forefront with ‘Spies’, Page 3

SecUriTYSecurity Blotter,

Page 4

coMMeNTArYAF vet uses marathon training to

cope with PTSD, Page 2

By Staff Sgt. Holly MaSon779th Aerospace Medicine

Wounded warriors passing through the 779th Medical Group, Aeromedi-cal Staging Facility at Joint Base An-drews have the opportunity to partic-

ipate in a study that examines their stress level and the impact of animal assisted therapy in reducing stress as they transit the aeromedical system.

The ASF serves as the continental United States distribution hub for all

branches of the military, dependents, retirees, and deployed members re-turning home.

“This really is a landmark study. There have been no studies published examining the stress levels of our pa-tients as they move through the En Route Care System. The study creates a foundation of knowledge that can be further refined to improve the quali-ty of care given,” said Capt. Melissa Simpson, ASF flight chief and associ-ate investigator.

More than a decade of conflict has resulted in high rates of post-trau-matic stress symptoms in our wound-ed warrior population. A team of nurse researchers from the National Capitol Region has been awarded funding by the TriService Nursing Research Program to conduct a study examin-ing the effects of stress on active duty members, traveling from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to Joint Base An-drews.

Phase one of this two-part study was completed on June 30. During Phase I, 36 active-duty members were asked

service dogs for wounded warriors

U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Melissa Simpson/779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron

Debbie Taylor, a volunteer with Fidos For Freedom, shows her service dog, Mr. Scott, to members of the 779th Aeromedical Staging Facility. The ASF is participating in a study to examine the impact of animal as-sisted therapy in reducing stress on wounded warriors.

By BoBBy JoneS Staff PHotoJour-naliSt

The Marlow Heights Community Center is literally drumming to a dif-ferent beat as it introduced the first Strike Force Drum Line training to local youngsters in the community in September. The brain-child of Juwann Jones, MHCC assistant director, the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission brought this vi-sion to life through an Innovative Pro-gram Initiative.

“I submitted a program proposal for it and won the grant,” said Jones. “The Strike Force program is totally free. The commission is paying for every-thing; including a full champion-style drum line series of equipment, cus-tomized uniforms and marching shoes. They even get their own warm up suits,” said Jones smiling.

He explained his idea for the special project stems from his years growing up in North Carolina marching and playing in bands throughout high school and college, where he played the trumpet and tuba. “I wanted to

drummers of a different beat

By leSlie C. SMitH Staff writerOne might think it apropos that Dental Hygiene

Month be observed in October when many are ready to indulge in a bit of treat on Halloween.

Dental hygiene consists of several steps in order to achieve the best oral health possible, according to Donald W. Witter, DDS, and Elaine H. Witter, DDS of Witter Dental in Upper Marlboro.

The steps seem simple and most people already know them: brush two to three times a day, floss at least once a day and follow with an oral rinse. How-ever, many fail in the follow-through in performing them. The Witters advise that a little investment of time daily can save you massive amounts of pain – and money.

D. Witter noted just what can happen when good habits aren’t developed early and consistently fol-lowed.

“There can be tooth loss and decay, which can lead to root canals or major restoration that can be very costly.”

The biggest step in good oral health is preventa-

tive maintenance. “If you’re maintaining good oral hygiene and if you are seeing your dentist twice a year, if anything is found it is usually small. If you make the investment in the 10 minutes a day and see the dentist twice a year it cuts costs tremen-dously,” said E. Witter.

“It’s when you’re not doing those things and using the dentist as crisis management – when the pain comes – if that’s your marker to go see the dentist, then at that point the cost is going to get higher,” said E. Witter.

Sometimes patients can be too aggressive in their attempts to maintain proper oral care. The Witters suggest people use a soft bristle brush or run the risk of doing more harm.

“You can find that sometimes using the harder bristle brushes can actually damage the gums and can actually end up damaging the teeth – maybe not right away but over a period of time. Gums can start to recede and the root surface, which is very sensi-tive, because it houses the nerve and the teeth can become sensitive,” said D. Witter.

don’t let poor habits turn your teeth ghoulish during dental Hygiene month

LeSLie C. SMith

Elaine H. Witter, DDS and Donald W. Witter, DDS of Witter Dental in Upper Marlboro advise that a daily investment of time to good oral care can save you massive amounts of pain and money later.

see DENTAL, page 3

see Dogs, page 4see DRUMMERs, page 6

Andrews Gazette2 friday, october 30, 2015

Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications,

including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affilia-tion or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.

Comprint military publiCations

maxine minar, presidentmminar@dcmilitary.com

John Rives, publisherjrives@dcmilitary.com

Matthew Getz, page designmgetz@somdnews.com

Leslie Smith, editorlsmith@dcmilitary.com

Bobby Jones, photographerbjones@dcmilitary.com

Hot tickets

october 30-december 12Artomatic ‘15Corporate Plaza 1, 8100 Corporate Drive, Lando-

verArtomatic is a free five-week arts festival. It is an

unjuried arts event showcasing creative work in vi-sual art, music, film, performance, and fashion. Any-one can show art or perform, and it is absolutely free to attend. Artomatic will be held at the Corporate Plaza 1 building, just steps from the New Carrollton Metro Station. In addition to floor after floor of art and performance stages, workshops, tours, seminars and other events are held all month long. Additional details on www.artomatic.org. Admission is free.

october 30Haunted Hangar7-9 pmCollege Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl Frank

Scott Dr., College ParkWear your costume and join in the Halloween fun

at the annual Haunted Hanger event. Arts, crafts, hayrides, and spooky fun will await kids and fam-ilies. ($) Call 301-864-6029 or visit www.college-parkaviationmuseum.com.

october 30Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic Night7:30PM3800 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Uni-

versity of Maryland, College Park,Join the Kreators of the Kreativity Diversity

Troupe for an open mic night, full of music, dance and spoken word. Want to try out your own perfor-mance chops? Show up and sign up! Just looking for a night of entertainment from some of the most talented students in the metro area? Simply take a seat and enjoy the show. Email kreativity.troupe@gmail.com to learn more about Kreativity; and like them on Facebook. Free, no tickets required.

november 1Opening Reception for Needle and Thread: Cele-

brating 20 Years of The Needleart Exhibit1-4:00 pmMontpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Rd., LaurelAt the opening reception, be one of the first to see

Needle and Thread, the 20th Anniversary Exhibit of Montpelier’s Needleart Exhibit. FREE Call 301-377-7817 or visit www.history.pgparks.com

By SHannon CollinSDoD News, Defense Media Activity

As a disabled Air Force veteran living with post-traumatic stress from military sexual trauma, I’ve had my good days and bad days but all of my hard work over the past two years paid off Oct. 25 when I achieved one of my goals – completing my first full mara-thon, the Marine Corps Mara-thon.

I had a difficult childhood. My father committed suicide when I was 5 years old, and my mother struggled to raise three children on her own. Right before I joined the Air Force, I was sexually as-saulted. I joined the Air Force to serve my country, because my fa-ther had served in the Air Force and because I’ve had family in all of the services throughout the years. We’ve served since the Rev-olutionary War.

Five years ago, I was sexually as-saulted for the second time while I was serving overseas. I became very depressed and gained about 50 pounds. I had been enlisted and then an officer in public affairs. My friends and co-workers noticed that I became withdrawn and less social but I wouldn’t tell them what happened. It affected my work per-formance, and I finally went to mental health about a year later for depression and anxiety.

I was seeking help when I was hit with the drawdown after 14 years in the service. My career was everything to me, so this hit

me hard. I hit bottom and almost checked myself into an inpatient hospital for mental health for my depression because of suicidal thoughts. I finally admitted what happened to me and went to the Air Force Office of Special Inves-tigations to report the assault.

I went home for six months and went back to school but I missed what I know and love, public af-fairs, writing about service mem-bers and how important they are to the military. I found a government job at Defense Media Activity.

Addiction runs in my family, so I didn’t want to turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with my post-trau-matic stress disorder. My father had turned to both before he died. Instead, I found a new passion – running.

While I had been on active duty, the doctors had told me I couldn’t run anymore because I have os-teoarthritis in both knees, and I have to get injections of fake car-tilage every six months. I had run track in junior high school, mainly sprinting, and had only run in the military for my physical training tests. But when I started running, I found peace, joy and started finding my confidence again.

I ran my first half marathon last November at Disneyland, called the Avengers Super He-roes, and was hooked. You get to run through the parks before they open, and there is so much crowd support, people cheering you on. After the Avengers race, I found

some Disney running groups on Facebook and have met up with them at other Disney races.

I’ve also been more active with Wounded Warrior Project, and during my long run training, I imagine some of my WWP alumni and some of the people I’ve served with who are no longer with us running alongside me, motivating me when I’m hitting that wall.

Since I began running in ear-nest three years ago, when I left the Air Force, I’ve lost 40 pounds and have gone from a 16-minute mile to a 10:30-mile pace. The running community is very sup-portive and always there if you need them or you can run it solo, whatever you’re more comfort-

AF vet uses marathon training to cope with PTSD

Courtesy photo

Shannon Collins with her medal in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial after completing the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 25.

commentary

part b a mustSocial Security’s full retirement

age is phasing in from age 65 to 67. Military retirees don’t have to draw benefits before enrolling in Medicare Part B at age 65 for Tricare for Life benefits. Howev-er, if you defer to a later date, you must enroll in Part B to retain Tri-care eligibility. A late enrollment penalty of 10 percent of the Part B cost is assessed for every year you delay enrollment – a lifetime cumulative penalty. Enrollment in Part B after age 65 without pen-alty may be deferred if you are covered by your own or a spouse’s employee-sponsored health plan. Your Tricare eligibility is suspend-ed during this period and will be restored once you enroll in Part B.

tax reminderUnder the Affordable Care Act,

all Americans must have health care coverage that meets a min-

imum standard called minimum essential coverage or pay a fee. Tricare coverage meets this re-quirement. Beginning in January, the Defense Finance and Account-ing Service (DFAS) will provide IRS Form 1095 to all retirees, an-nuitants, former spouses and all other individuals having Tricare coverage during 2015. The form is proof of the minimum essential coverage. It will be required to be included with 2015 federal tax returns. DFAS officials urge all customers to ensure that the U.S. Postal Service address it has on file for them is current by check-ing their latest Retiree Account Statement or by calling 800 321-1080. Customers of myPay should ensure their e-mail address is current and make a Form 1095 delivery method election. More information about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on feder-

al income tax is available at www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act.

mobile dentist directoryA mobile dentist directory is

available for beneficiaries en-rolled in the Tricare Retiree Dental Program (TRDP). You can search by ZIP code, address, or dentist name and filter by lo-cation/distance. You can also search by dental specialty to find a TRDP network dentist who fits your specific dental care needs. Access the directory by going to www.trdpnetwork.org. For more information, call 888-838-8737.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil.

retiree corner

around town

see CoMMENTARy, page 6

Andrews Gazettefriday, october 30, 2015 3

By SeCretary of tHe air forCePublic Affairs Command Information

The Air Force’s intelligence, surveil-lance and reconnaissance mission ar-eas were highlighted with the release of a major motion picture Oct. 16.

The Air Force Entertainment Liai-son Office teamed with movie produc-ers to tell the story of Capt. Francis Gary Powers, an Air Force U-2 pilot who was shot down in 1960 while flying a reconnaissance mission over Soviet Union air space, in the movie “Bridge of Spies.”

ISR is one of the Air Force’s five en-during core missions and is integral to global vigilance for the nation — it’s foundational to global reach and glob-al power.

“The film ‘Bridge of Spies’ features the U-2 aircraft, and with the United States Air Force support, filmmak-ers were provided access to film the high-altitude, reconnaissance aircraft and gain insights from current U-2 pi-

lots based out of Beale Air Force Base in California,” said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James.

The U-2 Dragon Lady is an import-ant part of the Air Force’s ISR en-terprise, and provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and recon-naissance in direct support of U.S. and allied forces. It delivers critical imag-ery and signals intelligence to decision makers throughout all phases of con-flict, including peacetime indications and warnings, low-intensity conflict, and large-scale hostilities.

“The Air Force agreed, with the De-partment of Defense, to participate in the motion picture ‘Bridge of Spies’ because it was an opportunity to high-light history and showcase Airmen to worldwide audiences,” said Develyn Watson, the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Entertainment Liaison deputy director.

The Los Angeles-based entertain-ment liaison office falls under the pub-

lic affairs career field, and is enter-tainment industry’s primary contact for access to Air Force personnel and equipment. In addition to coordinat-ing shoots on Air Force bases, the of-fice also reviews television, movie and video game content for accuracy when DOD support is authorized. Past mov-ie projects include the first two “Iron Man” films, “Terminator Salvation” and the first three Transformer films, including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

“Filmmakers were provided access to and filmed an actual U-2; relied on the expertise of current U-2 pilots; and gained insights from Air Force histori-ans,” Watson said. “These interactions afforded the visual effects crew and production team with the ability to recreate scenes that added to the real-ism and authenticity of the film.

“This collaborative effort between the filmmakers and the Air Force pro-vided a level of production value that

would not have been achieved without the Air Force and DOD cooperation.”

The U-2’s feature brings attention to the aircraft, and the importance of its mission today. The Air Force ISR enterprise provides actionable intelligence from multiple sources — including platforms, sensors, people and databases — to national decision makers, combatant commanders and tactical level personnel.

“It’s the top combatant commander requirement and will remain so for the foreseeable future — balancing capabilities across the range of mili-tary operations remains a top priority as ISR experts deliver decision advan-tage to commanders at all levels,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Otto, the ISR deputy chief of staff. “As we transition to what will likely be a highly volatile, unpre-dictable future, Air Force ISR will be the bedrock upon which the service provides freedom of action to our joint and coalition partners.”

u-2 brought to forefront with ‘spies’ premiere

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton

A U-2 from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., prepares to land at Royal Air Force Fairford, England, June 9. U-2 pilots have a small margin of space to effectively land the plane without causing damage to the aircraft.

“We’ve seen people actually brush grooves into their teeth. Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the body – harder than bone – you can still damage it with a hard bris-tle toothbrush over a time,” E. Witter added.

The Witters added that an electric toothbrush can be very useful for many people.

“Conversely with the manual tooth-brush people tend to use it back and forth like a saw to a piece of wood; with the electric toothbrush there is usually some type of rotary motion which can do the work for you – all you need to do is move it around slow-ly,” D Witter said.

“With the electric toothbrush it is less technique sensitive – you don’t have to worry about jiggling it at the gum line

then brushing down and away – you just bring the brush around.

“I think it’s really good for young children that are just starting to learn how to brush – the battery-operated brush with the little characters can make it fun for kids and sometimes it encourages them to brush when they might not, especially if you have appli-ances and orthodontics.

“Also, for older people who may not have the manual dexterity it’s great,” E. Witter noted.

In addition to the many charac-ter-themed electric toothbrushes, the Witter offered additional suggestions in order to help children develop bet-ter oral habits.

“They have a lot of fun things on the market. They have fun-flavored tooth-paste to go along with the fun tooth-brushes, as well as flavored flosses. There are also plaque rinses, where, after the child brushes, they use the

oral rinse and they can see if they’ve done a good job or not. Sometimes it’s fun for kids to see the color in their mouth; it helps them to see the spots they missed. It’s a great way of rein-forcing good dental care when they are young – 10 and under. Parents may still need to go behind them, make sure they’ve done a good job; kids kind of like to do quick and dirty job,” said E Witter.

It’s not just about brushing and flossing in keeping your teeth healthy; your dietary habits play a large part in your oral health – everything you ingest plays a part in your oral health.

“A lot of people tend to sip on sugary drinks whether at home or at work. Usually, when I observe someone with cavities, it’s because they are ingest-ing a sugary drink,” D. Witter said.

“I find a lot of adolescents are drink-ing these energy drinks on the market. They are horrible for the teeth – they

are ingesting these high sugar, high-ly caffeinated beverages with a lot of acid; and that combination is just horrible for the teeth. And they end up with rampant decay,” E. Witter said.

“If you must have the sugary bever-ages it’s best to do it in a short period of time and not sip it over an hour. The constant sugar ingestion increases the acids in the mouth and if you are maintaining that sipping over a lon-ger period of time it can lead to more cavities,” D. Witter added.

The Witters also mentioned that with the proliferation of bottled water and the lack of fluoride – which is im-portant to teeth – compared to tap wa-ter, they suggested using an oral rinse to fill the gap.

In a perfect world, the doctors Witter and Witter remind us to have a dental appointment every six months, brush three times a day and floss at least once a day.

DENTAL, from page 1

Andrews Gazette4 friday, october 30, 2015

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to complete a series of questionnaires and sub-mit saliva samples to es-tablish a baseline stress indicator scale. Results showed that aeromed-ical patients measured

approximately thirteen percent higher than the average stress level.

In Phase II, partici-pants have one, 20-min-ute visit, with a certi-fied therapy dog and its handler to determine the impact the dog has on reducing stress. The ASF has partnered with Fidos For Freedom, a lo-cal non-profit organiza-tion, to provide service dogs for the animal as-sisted intervention. Re-search has shown that the use of dogs can pos-itively increase health and well-being to in-clude decreased anxiety. Phase II is projected to run from October 2015 through May 2016.

“Imagine how the pa-tients feel? They have significant injuries and illnesses, and have just flown across the ocean and crossed multiple time zones. They are un-

doubtedly exhausted and stressed. Now they have the opportunity to inter-act with a service dog, and that’s got to help. We expect this study to show scientifically that this is actually the case,” said Lt. Col. Kenneth Egerstrom, 779th Aero-space Medicine Squad-ron commander.

“I am excited to have this research study be conducted in our facil-ity. It has been so well received that funding was expanded to in-clude research of perma-nent-party and deployed ASF staff members. Our long term goal is to use the results of the study as leverage for a full-time facility dog,” said Egerstrom.

If you would like more information on the Working Dogs for Wounded Warriors study, call 301-619-0236.

Dogs, from page 1

The Securi ty Forc -es Blot ter i s intend-ed to keep members o f the Joint Base Andrews Commu-nity informed and aware o f the cr imes and o f fenses that occur throughout the base each week . I f you have any in-formation that may help Securi ty Forc -es so lve a cr ime or prevent a cr iminal act , p lease contact BDOC (Base De-fense Operat ions Center ) at 301-981-2001, CRIME STOP LINE 981-2677 COPS or the inves -t igat ions sec t ion at 301-981-5656.

Oct. 20 at 5:52 a.m.: Security Forces respond-ed to an individual at-tempting to enter the installation while under the influence of alcohol at the Virginia Gate. A Field Sobriety Test was conducted and Security Forces deemed the indi-vidual unfit to operate a motor vehicle. The test was terminated and the individual was appre-hended and charged ac-cordingly.

Oct. 21 at 10:04 p.m.: Security Forces con-ducted a traffic stop for reckless driving at the

Visitor Control Center. Security Forces made contact with the driv-er who showed signs of being under the influ-ence. A Field Sobriety Test was conducted and Security Forces deemed the individual unfit to operate a motor vehicle. The individual was ap-prehended and charged accordingly.

Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.: Security Forces respond-ed to the Main Gate for an individual attempt-ing to bring an illegal substance on base. Se-curity Forces seized ap-proximately 8 grams of marijuana from the vehicle. The individual was apprehended and charged accordingly.

Oct. 24 at 2:36 p.m.: Security Forces respond-ed to a shoplifting at the Main Exchange. The in-dividual attempted to depart the location with-out rendering payment for Energizer Batteries. The individual was ap-prehended and charged accordingly.

Oct. 24 at 10:31 a.m.: Security Forces respond-ed to the Main Gate for an individual attempt-ing to bring an illegal substance on base. Se-curity Forces seized less than 1 gram of marijua-

na from the vehicle. The individual was appre-hended and charged ac-cordingly.

as a reminderPlease remember,

while driving on the in-stallation you must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, ve-hicle registration and proper Military Iden-tification or approved installation access cre-dentials. All credentials must be up to date and presented at the time they are asked for.

For reporting any emergencies or non-emergencies please feel free to utilize the “LiveSafe” App. “Live-Safe” is an anonymous reporting app that can be downloaded for free on your smart device.

There has been an in-crease in reported van-dalism on the installa-tion. If you witness any vandalism taking place call Security Forces at 301-981-2001.

Any person involved in a vehicle accident must report it to Security Forc-es as soon as possible. All vehicle accidents regard-less of damage must be reported within 72 hours. Any report after that will not be taken.

Security Forces Police Blotter

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,visit www.dcmilitary.com.

Andrews Gazettefriday, october 30, 2015 5

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play drums, but they already had their limit of percussionists. But I noticed the drum line was truly the heart and soul of the band. So coming up here it was actually on my wish list — that if I could ever start a community drum line I would.”

Miles Brown, one half of the teach-ing duo, is a Howard University au-dio production student and veteran percussionist of 12 years, who enjoys the opportunity of teaching his craft to youngsters. “The first thing I saw was how excited kids were about play-ing drums. It was something different that’s not usually offered at commu-nity centers,” said Brown, Percussion coordinator and instructor.

“This is something completely dif-ferent, where children who aren’t in high school get the opportunity to have a true percussion experience,” said Brown. “I spend time with the kids teaching them the fundamentals of percussion. We haven’t necessarily touched drums yet. Right now they’re learning the basics on practice pads, but once they are on the drums they’ll be able to play. Ultimately, we’re trying to get them performance ready,” said Brown, referencing future play dates.

Brown explained the overall goal is to get them excited about drums and music. The age group for the Strike Force Drum Line range from 7 to 15 years old. The hands-on instruction is available Fridays, 5:30 pm to 7p.m and Saturday’s 8:30 am to 10 a.m.

Drum line team instructor, David Blackstone, is a computer science ma-jor at Howard University, whose tal-ents span eight years; playing in high school bands, rock bands, serving as a community drum and bugle corps sec-tion leader.

“Teaching these kids is a very exhil-arating experience for me because as a child I didn’t really have these oppor-tunities. I didn’t get a chance to play drums until I got in middle school and I just think getting started early is just

the best way to go if a child is passion-ate about it,” exclaimed Blackstone. “It’s going to help them in the long run to being a better percussionist, if that’s something they want to pursue. Also it gives a kid a sense of pride.

“I just really enjoy teaching and I have this wealth of knowledge and I feel like it would be selfish of me to keep it all to myself,” said Blackstone.

Various aids are used to assist and motivate the students to learn the art-istry of percussion. “We give them little poems to recite and to help them re-member the drum beats,” said Black-stone. “I feel like mnemonic devices are the way to go. It’s all about teach-ing them without them feeling like its instruction. They just think they’re playing and having fun, but really they’re practicing that rudiment we just taught them. I really enjoy sharing what I love with someone else.”

“I’m really excited and everywhere I go someone asks how the drum line is going,” said Juwann Jones, MHCC as-sistant director.

“Their first official performance will be Dec. 12 for the center’s annual fash-ion show. I want to use the drum line to improve physical health, as well as mental health,” said Jones. “We have some kids that have self esteem and confidence issues and I want to use the drum line and performance to help them improve in those areas.”

BoBBy JoneS

Strike Force Drum Line instructors Miles Brown, left, and David Black-stone guide student drummers through a rudimentary training ex-ercise on practice drum pads at the Marlow Heights Community Center.

DRUMMERs, from page 1

able with.The night before the marathon, I

had trouble sleeping, and I had a few nightmares about my attack. When I woke up, I threw on my WWP shirt, my “PTSD, not all wounds are visi-ble” hat, running shoes and pants, and running belt with my bib attached and took the metro in to the Pentagon for the start line.

I was nervous and excited. The crowds are the hardest part for me, but I just told myself, “Just breathe.” I just remind myself why I’m there and just try to focus on something else and try to calm down.

The security was crazy, but I got to my corral just in time. I started out a little fast but kept up about an 11-min-ute pace until mile 16 or so. My main goal was to “Beat the Bridge” but I re-ally wanted to finish below five hours.

At mile 12, I was overcome with emo-tion because it’s the mile of remem-brance. You see rows of photos of the fallen. I saw one runner getting very emotional over someone who meant a great deal to him. It took a moment for me to get myself back together but I put myself back together and pushed on. After that mile, I put my head-phones back on and focused.

At mile 20, the bridge was a chal-lenge, and at mile 21, the sprain I had

in my right ankle a few weeks ago came back with a vengeance.

The sprain had flared up my tendini-tis, and my right ankle was hurting a little before I had even started hurting so I knew it would be an issue but I was able to ignore it most of the run but by mile 21, it hurt so bad I couldn’t run on it anymore so I had to walk most of the rest of the way from mile 21 to 26.

Throughout the course, I saw signs like “determined,” “remember your training” and “freedom isn’t free, thank you for your service.” Many peo-ple had photos honoring service men and women who had fallen. It was very inspirational. I used this energy to push me forward most of my run. I finished the Marine Corps Marathon in 5:10:07 and earned my medal from the Marine graduate at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

This journey from hitting bottom, crying all the time, gaining weight, losing myself because of what hap-pened with how I handled the assault and losing my job to now, having a good job, earning medals for running half marathons and now a marathon has been interesting. I encourage anyone to venture out there and fol-low your dreams. Go out and run or walk a 5K, then a 10K. The running community is very supportive. You never know where your feet will take you.

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

CoMMENTARy, from page 2

Andrews GazetteFriday, October 30, 2015 7

1060020

Advance Your Career Today as an Armed Uniformed Protection Officer

Benefits

• $28.86 per hour base pay• Health &Welfare Benefits Plan• Vacation and personal/sick days• Height/weight and Clearance Bonus incentives

Basic Initial Qualification RequirementsTo qualify, you must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and possess a valid Driver’s License.In addition, you must:

• Possess a Bachelor’s Degree;or• AnAssociate’s degree in Criminal Justice and security experience within the last year; or• Be a graduate of a certified law enforcement training academy, military police school, orMarine Security Guard School;or

• Have a minimum of three years of armed security experience within the last four years; or• Have a minimum of three years of active duty military service,having reached the rank ofE-4 upon Honorable Discharge

To apply, contact the National Recruiters at urecruiter@icsecurity.com or571-384-7024/5

10510 Furnace Road, Lorton, VA 22079www.icsecurity.com

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ACE is the nation’s most visible and infl uential higher education association. We currently have four job open-ings in our Military ProgramsDepartment:

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Please visit our website to learn more about these posi-tion and our other job open-ings: http://jobs.acenet.edu/ACE is an EEO/Affi rmative Action employer. All quali-fi ed applicants will receive consideration for employ-ment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

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DENTAL FRONT DESK INSURANCE COORDINATOR F/T We are seeking an excep-tional, organized people

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Misc. Services

Earn all your Pilot Ratings at

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Use your GI, 9/11 or VA Bill 100% coverage of training cost

Animals/Pets

Chesapeake bay reteriver puppies for sale, AKC cert. $950 obo call 443-975-7283

German Shepherd Pups For Sale - Female $600. Call 240-338-7759

GeneralMerchandise

Cruises for 2015-2018 on sale now. Contact Star @ 240-883-1685

EXERCISE MACHINE. NordicTrack CXT910 Refl ex Step Elliptical. $100 NEW-BURG 301-643-3916

Sporting Goods

GUN & KNIFE SHOW

UPPER MARL-BORO

EQUESTRIAN CENTER

October 24, 20159am to 5 pm

For more information.Call 717-697-3088 or

www.thegunshow.com

Yard SalesHUGE! HALLOWEEN

COVERED YARD SALE

RAIN OR SHINE! Oct. 31. 8am-3pm

NO EARLY BIRDS!Boat, car, & garden toolsFurniture & NICE Household misc.Towable Utili-ty Cart, Lawn MowerRecords, Books, Clean ClothesHoliday Items inc. 9’XMAS TreeMany more items too numerous to list!

7351 Henson Landing Rd Welcome, Md. 20693

Wanted to Buy

Small collector pays CASH for Coins / Collec-tions / Gold. Will come to you. Call Al at: 301-807-3266

Antique Autos

Red Corvette 89 5.7L, V-8 (6 speed. man-ual). Coupe w/Targa re-movable top, all power, 236,333 mi. $7,500 runs perfectly, fast car (new injectors, timing belt, tires & oil change)

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Autos

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Andrews Gazette8 Friday, October 30, 2015

NEW AUTOLOANS

RATES ASLOW AS1.39%APR1

USED AUTOLOANS

RATES ASLOW AS1.89%APR2

plus

Get a Free Winter Car Care Kitwith a new or used auto loan!3

(1)1.39% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is a fixed-rate on New Auto loans for a maximum of 36 months. A New Auto is a vehicle that is of the currentor previous model year (up to a maximum of one year old) and is currently owned by the original owner of the vehicle. Payment example: For an$18,000 New Auto loan for a term of 36 months with a 1.39% APR, the monthly payment will be $510.84. (2) 1.89% APR is a fixed-rate on Used Autoloans (vehicles that have been previously titled, regardless of the model year) financed for a maximum of 36 months. Payment example: for an $18,000Used Auto loan for a term of 36 months with a 1.89% APR, the monthly payment would be $514.74. (3) Car care kit offer is effective 11/1/2015 to12/31/2015, auto loan must be closed within this period to be eligible. Kits are available while supplies last. Offer is subject to change without notice.

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