Army fellowCongressional duty next stop for reserve captain

page 8

UPComING eVeNTSTodAy, 7-10 P.m.: Karaoke Night - The Lanes’ 11th Frame LoungeTUeSdAy, 6:30 P.m.: EFMP Bowling event - The LanesTUeSdAy-frIdAy: “Military Saves” Week - Community Readiness Centerfeb. 23, 11:30 A.m.-1 P.m.: Black History Observance - Club Meade

KArATe KIdSMartial artists compete for spot at Taekwondo regionals

page 14

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 7 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community February 16, 2012

training to honor

PHOTO BY Air FOrce STAFF SgT. MATTHew FOurnier

Members of the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Honor Guard practice firing party movements at Fort Meade. The Honor Guard presents the colors during official ceremonies, folds flags at retirements, and performs drill team exhibitions and saber cordons. For the story, see Page 12.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 NewstoUse.......................10

TroubleTicket............... 4 Sports..................................14

Community................. 18 Movies.................................23

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. SmithPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.milChief, Command informationPhilip H. Jones Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.milassistant Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 Allison.Thompson@baltsun.com

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 Michele.Griesbauer@baltsun.com

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail TP@baltsun.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-1361; DSN: 622-1361.

Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

Printed by Patuxent Publishing Co., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.

www.ftmeade.army.milYou can also keep track of Fort Meade on twitter at twitter.com/meadetv

and view the Fort Meade Blog at meadetv.wordpress.com.

Soundoff!́Guaranteed circulation:

11,285Last Thursday, I hosted an education town

hall at Midway Commons Neighborhood Center.

I was especially pleased by the number of parents who attended the meeting and their willingness to share their thoughts with me about the public schools located on Fort Meade.

Without getting into specifics, we had a frank discussion. We talked about positive things that are happening at our schools and we discussed some concerns that I will share with Anne Arundel County public school administrators and teachers.

There was one thought that resonated with me throughout the evening. It centered on comments from parents who advocated for more parents to become involved in school activities. They urged parents to attend school Parent Teacher Student Association and coun-ty Board of Education meetings. They repeat-edly said one of the best ways to address con-cerns is for parents to become more involved in our schools.

So as I work through a variety of discus-sion topics, I ask that parents of school-age children consider ways they can become more involved with our schools. We all share a com-mon goal - creating a positive environment at our schools for our children. Stay tuned as I will continue to share information with you about our schools.

My next opportunity to hear what’s on your mind will be Feb. 29 when I host Fort Meade’s second Facebook town hall. As you will recall, we held our first Facebook town hall in October. What was scheduled as a 90-minute session became a two-and-a-half-hour social media get-together that resulted in more than 800 “interactions” with the post community.

It was a great opportunity for people to connect with Team Meade via our Facebook page. The Facebook town hall will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. I look forward to hearing what’s on your mind and your suggestions for improving our community.

Last week there was an article in Soundoff! written by the Fort Meade Environmental Division. It was the first in a series that will discuss the Army’s commitment to clean up contaminated sites on Fort Meade.

The article specifically addressed the clean-up process associated with the removal of buried trash that has resulted in a possible safety hazard associated with methane gas at the Manor View dump site.

The Environmental Division anticipates starting the site preparation within the next week, weather permitting, and completing the excavation and restoration in about 14 weeks.

The end result will be the removal of buried trash from an open field behind Hayden Drive in Potomac Place and Manor View E l e m e n t a r y School, and restoring the site to a safe, flat grass field.

The town hall meetings and articles such as the one regarding our ongoing cleanup projects are designed to keep you informed and emphasize my desire to be transparent. As I continue to ask for your comments and discuss things happening on post, one of my primary goals will always center on transpar-ency.

I want you to know firsthand what changes are happening on post, where we have short-comings, and when it applies, where we have failed. Whether it’s a conversation about the closing of the golf course, construction proj-ects that will impact parking or create traffic congestion, or reductions in garrison services due to projected budget cuts, I want you to know that I strive to have honest, open discus-sions and be accountable.

Lastly, I want to remind you that next week is “Military Saves Week.” Military Saves is a part of a larger nationwide campaign, “Amer-ica Saves Campaign.”

The week is an opportunity for the entire military community to focus on the finan-cial readiness of military members and their families to help them reduce debt and save money.

Army Community Service will host a series of financial programs, Tuesday through Feb. 24, at the Community Readiness Center at 830 Chisholm Ave. Call 301-677-5590 for more information.

Please take advantage of the resources, organizations and individuals committed to helping our service members and their families build personal savings for their immediate and long-term financial needs.

Remember, if you have a good idea, an issue or concern you would like to discuss with me or Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Smith, my door is open to you.

I have a standing invitation to meet with mem-bers of the Fort Meade community on Mondays, from 4 to 6 p.m., at garrison headquarters in Hodges Hall, Bldg. 4551, Llewellyn Avenue. For more information, call 301-677-4844.

Keeping the community informed

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

PhotoS by Sgt. JoSe A. torreS Jr.

happy birthdayMaj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, commanding general of the Military District of Washington, lays a wreath at the foot of the President Abra-ham Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Feb. 12 would have been the president’s 203rd birthday.

BELOW: Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, commanding general of the Military District of Washington, and Park Ranger Leonard Lee salute dur-ing the playing of Taps during a Special Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath Ceremony held Feb. 12 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

You are a young Soldier strapped for cash, but your car’s transmission gives out. How do you pay for the expensive repairs?

Fort Meade’s Army Emergency Relief Office at Army Community Service is the place to go, said Wallace Turner, the instal-lation’s AER officer.

“We take care of Soldiers who are in need,” he said.

The annual AER campaign fundraiser kicks off March 1 at ACS at 830 Chisholm Ave. and ends May 15.

Money donated to the program from the Fort Meade community is used to help active-duty Soldiers, retirees, Reservists and Guardsmen and their family members with financial assistance during emergencies.

This year’s campaign is expected to raise $80,000. Last year, more than $112,000 in donations were collected and more than $700,000 was distributed to Fort Meade Soldiers.

On the day of the kickoff, more than 30 representatives from the installation’s Army units will receive training on how to educate Soldiers about the program and how to col-lect donations.

Turner said that this year, for the first time, donations can be given online. Unit

representatives will be able to explain how to donate online.

Although AER assists Soldiers, anyone can donate to the program, Turner said.

AER provides interest-free loans and grants for a wide range of financial hard-ships, including medical, dental and hos-pital expenses, emergency travel expenses, rent, utilities, funeral expenses, loss of funds and non-receipt of pay.

Assistance is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must conform with Army regulation AR 930-4, which governs the program.

Loans and grants can be given for any amount.

Applicants must complete AER Form 700 and have it signed by their commander or first sergeant to verify that they are on active duty. Soldiers above the rank of E-8, W3 or 03 do not require a command signature.

Once the application is completed and approved, applicants can schedule an appointment by calling the AER office at 301-677-5662 or 5768.

Family members of Soldiers who are deployed or on temporary duty must have power of attorney to receive assistance.

AER forms can be found at http://aerhrq.org.

army Emergency relief fundraising campaign to begin

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

News

Feb. 13, Larceny of private prop-erty: The victim stated that her GPS unit was taken from her vehicle.

Feb. 13, Wrongful damaging of private property: The Directorate

of Emergency Services was noti-fied of juveniles throwing rocks. A unit was dispatched and made contact with the victim, who stated that four juveniles were seen throwing rocks. Her door was damaged.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

Trouble Ticket

Issue: Plan: Status:

Youth Services Sports Complex is in need of

renovations

Renovate the Youth Services Sports Complex

Actual use of fields will be this fall to allow grass to mature

Community members have concerns about golf

course service availability in light of Base Closure and

Realignment

Maintain a minimum of 18 holes at current site;

restoring golf operations on a site south of the

installation is also proposed

Golf operations are unchanged through

September

Have you noticed an issue on post and wondered if anything is being done to fix it? Email concerns and

issues to chad.t.jones.civ@mail.mil. Each week, Soundoff! will

address issues identified on post and describe what is being done to

solve them.

file photo

Play equipment near the Boundless Playground is currently undergoing repairs.

The Installation Safety Office has deemed and marked some play equipment at Burba Lake as unsafe

Repair the play equipment so that it is functional

Repairs are under way

The Army Community Service’s Financial Readiness Program is combining efforts with the Fleet and Family Readiness Center to present the Fort Meade community with the opportunity to make a pledge to “Build Wealth, Not Debt,” and to win prizes in the process.

From Sunday through Feb. 26, Fort Meade will hold its annual Mili-tary Saves campaign. The goal is to encourage service members and their families to increase household sav-ings and decrease consumer debt by signing pledge cards to “Build Wealth Not Debt.”

After completing a pledge card and placing it in a designated box, partici-pants will automatically be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card or Kindle e-Reader.

Pledge cards and a designated box are located at PNC Bank, the Fort Meade Community Credit Union and the Community Readiness Center at 830 Chisholm Ave.

A box will be located at the Free-dom Inn Dining Facility on Tuesday during lunch hour and at the Fort Meade Commissary on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The drawing will be held Feb. 27 at Army Community Service. Winners will be notified.

To assist with the pledge, Financial Readiness counselors will conduct a

class on Credit Scores and Reports on Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m.

A Day of Financial Fitness will be held Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Topics will include financial plan-ning, identity theft, credit counseling, car buying, home buying and Thrift Savings Plan.

Participants may take the pledge during the class on Feb. 23 and enter to win a $100 Visa card or iPod at the end of the class. Participants must be present to win. Door prizes also will be given.

A free lunch will be provided. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

To register, call Army Community Service or the Fleet and Family Readi-ness Center to register at 301-677-5590 or 9017.

Don’t be afraid to take the pledge. You will receive motivating emails designed to help you save and elimi-nate debt, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

To sign a pledge, participants must be a valid military ID cardholder age 14 and older. Those who are younger may ask a parent or guardian to assist.

You may also take the pledge online at http://www.militarysaves.org/take-the-pledge/. Be sure to select Fort Meade as the installation. This will not, however, enter you into the local drawing.

Military Saves Week focuses on reducing debts, saving money

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Malcolm Terry looks like a typical 10-year-old. Sporting a variation of a mohawk haircut, he is dressed in black and white hitop sneakers, faded jeans and a gray shirt.

But the fourth-grader at Manor View Elementary School has weathered pain-ful experiences in his young life.

Malcolm was born with a congenital birth defect to his intestines and had part of his intestines removed when he was 5 days old. In June 2011, his father, Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Terry, was wound-ed after he was hit by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in Afghanistan.

“Malcolm has been through many deployments with his father,” said Donna O’Shea, the principal at Manor View. “This last one particularly was rough as his father was severely wound-ed. He has maintained good grades and does well in sports, despite his worries about his father.”

Malcolm’s resilience is one of the reasons why O’Shea nominated him for the 2012 Military Child of the Year Award presented by Operation Homefront. The national organization provides emergency financial assistance and other assistance to military families and wounded warriors.

The award recognizes military chil-dren who have demonstrated “resilience and strength of character; thrive in the face of the challenges of military life; and demonstrate leadership within their families and communities,” according to the organization’s website.

Malcolm is one of 20 semifinalists in the Navy category.

“It made me feel appreciated,” Mal-colm said of his nomination.

The Military Child of the Year Award has been presented for the past two years to outstanding military children from each of the service branches. The recipient for each service branch will be announced March 8. Each winner will receive $5,000 and will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for a recognition ceremony on April 5.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Gen. Martin E. Dempsey will be a guest at the ceremony.

“He’s being acknowledged for being a great kid all around,” said Kimberly Terry, Malcolm’s mother and a reading specialist at Manor View. “He’s pretty remarkable.”

O’Shea called Malcolm a “wonderful student” who exceeds grade-level expec-tations, “sets the example for others to follow” and “is genuinely a nice boy.”

The Terry family, who live in Seven Oaks, includes older brother Jae, 16, a sophomore at Meade High School, and Kimberly, 4, who is enrolled at Child

Development Center I.John Terry, who works for a naval

command in Virginia Beach, Va., has been deployed seven times to Afghani-stan, Iraq and Africa since Malcolm was born in December 2001.

Terry, who was wounded in his left arm and right leg in Afghanistan and is now in rehabilitation, said although his deployments have been tough on Mal-colm, the youngster doesn’t let it show.

“He’s always been a good student and does well on his own,” the commander said. “He’s always given his best for a little kid.”

Malcolm is the historian of the school’s student council and helps tutor his classmates in math after school on Mondays.

He has been a member of the Fort Meade Cougars football team since he was 6 years old.

Last fall, Malcolm represented Fort Meade and won the Buzz Platt Player Award, named after the founder of the Anne Arundel Youth Football Associa-tion. The award is presented each year to a player from each of the Anne Arun-del Youth Football Association teams who excels in the game and exemplifies character and sportsmanship.

Malcolm said he likes to study math and science and enjoys writing and wrestling with his father.

If Malcolm is selected to represent the Navy, his parents said they will save the $5,000 prize for his college educa-tion.

“I want to be a physical therapist because I can help people,” Malcolm said.

‘Pretty remarkable’Manor View student competes for Military Child of the Year Award

Malcolm Terry, 10, is a semifinalist in the Navy category for the 2012 Military Child of the Year Award given by Operation Homefront. A fourth-grader at Manor View Elementary School, Malcolm was nominated for the award by Donna O’Shea, the school’s principal.

Women and Social SecurityBy Wendy PoulsonSocial Security manager, Glen Burnie

March is Women’s History Month, a time to focus not just on the past, but on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century.

Social Security plays a vital role in

the lives of women. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income.

With the national, average life expec-tancy for women in the United States rising, many women will have decades to enjoy retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a girl born today can expect to live more than 80 years.

As a result, experts generally agree that if women want to ensure that their

retirement years are comfortable, they need to plan early and wisely.

The best place to begin is by know-ing what you can expect to receive from Social Security and how much more you are likely to need.

You can start with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. In just a few minutes, you can get a per-sonalized, instant estimate of your retirement benefits.

You should also visit Social Securi-

ty’s financial planning website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners. The site provides detailed information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security.

Social Security also provides a booklet on the role of Social Security in women’s lives today. The booklet, “What Every Woman Should Know,” is available online at www.socialsecu-rity.gov/pubs/10127.html.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

Story and photo by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

When Darius Davis was assigned to write an essay for his eighth grade English class, he didn’t have any clue that it would lead to a hefty check coming his way.

After submitting his essay on what he could do to help fight hunger in his community, the 13-year-old was encouraged to enter it in a regional essay contest.

Darius, who attends MacArthur Middle School, was named the winner of Giant Food’s 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Essay Contest.

The contest, for middle-schoolers in Mary-land, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C., awards two winners in each grade with a monetary prize. A total of 136 essays were submitted this year.

“It’s great,” said Darius’ mother, Kathy Evans-Davis of Hanover. “I’m really proud of him.”

The contest challenged students to write a 500-word essay with the theme of “Making a difference — what you can do to help fight hunger in your community.” The essays were critiqued on adherence to theme, clarity of information, grammar and creativity.

Karen Jones, Darius’ teacher, assigned the project to teach the class about writing a five-paragraph essay. In class, students worked on the assignment for about two weeks, learning how to develop a thesis statement, use transi-tional sentences, and revise and edit.

“I wanted to write about how I could help fight hunger in the community, basically,” Darius said. “I wrote different ways that I could, like donating nonperishable food to my church that helps feed the homeless, organizing quarterly canned food drives at my school, and planting a vegetable garden in my backyard and giving the vegetables to elderly neighbors who need help with their groceries.”

For Darius, the hardest part was thinking of something original to write about. He wanted to develop ideas in which adults aren’t the driving force.

“In this I stressed things that kids could take part in and the students would step up and do some of the work,” he said. “It was to find something original to do it on.”

Once the class submitted their papers, Jones told students they could enter their work in the contest sponsored by Giant Foods. Darius decided to submit his essay but wasn’t expecting much to come of it.

“It’s a lot of work and it takes true dedica-tion of a student to not only do an assignment

your teacher gives you, but then do go on his own and revise it,” Jones said.

With the help of Jones’ notes and his mother’s expertise as a technical writer at Praxis Engineering in Annapolis Junction, Darius edited and formatted his essay accord-ing to contest rules.

“He pretty much had the whole foundation of it,” Evans-Davis said. “It was more just supporting his ideas.”

To Darius’ surprise, he received a letter earlier this month informing him he had won the competition for eighth-graders. His first reaction was to email Jones with the news.

“I was so excited, I was smiling from ear-to-ear,” Jones said. “I’m still smiling.”

Robin Moran, senior manager of diversity and talent management at Giant Foods, said Darius’ essay was selected because the young-ster had a style that “captured their attention and kept them engaged,” a clearly defined theme, and use of solid examples.

“The evaluators thought he had practical ways to combat hunger,” Moran said.

Along with the title of 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Essay Contest winner, Darius also was awarded $750. He plans to donate 10 percent of his winnings to his church, purchase a few videos and save the rest.

Although math still remains his favorite subject in school, Darius said he is eager to jump back into writing with hopes of entering more writing contests.

“If something else like this comes up, I’ll probably doing it again,” he said.

MacArthur Middle School student wins essay contest

Darius Davis, an eighth-grader at MacArthur Middle School, was recently named winner of the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Essay Contest. The 13-year-old was awarded $750 for his essay about fighting hunger in his community.

Do I look like agrown-up to you?I need a specialist.

401-760-1212pdom.net

Barry D. Lyon,DDS & Associates

Pediatric Specialists7704 Quarterfield RoadGlen Burnie, MD 21061

Our board-certified pediatric specialists and kid-friendlyoffice put everyoneat ease and we offerfinancial solutionsfor every budget.

REMODELED TO FITYOUR LIFESTYLE

ChesapeakeHomeandLiving.comTo advertise or subscribe 410.332.6517

A BALTIMORE SUNMEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION

+Chesapeake

home living

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

News

By Amanda GlennFirst Army Division East Public Affairs

Capt. Adrian Foster founded his military career on the concept of being part of something important.

When he graduated high school, he wasn’t sure what that was, but he wasn’t content to wait and find out. He actively sought and embraced each new twist in his path.

Today, that path leads to Congress.In late December, Foster, the opera-

tions officer at 3rd Battalion, 312th Regiment, 174th Infantry Brigade, received confirmation he’d been select-ed as an Army congressional fellow.

Foster, who lives in Brooklyn Park, completed the rigorous nomination process before being selected to par-ticipate in the three-year program.

In April, he will begin a master’s degree in legislative affairs at George Washington University. After that, he’ll serve for a year on a congressional staff and then be assigned to duty on the Army or Joint Staff in a legislative liaison position at the Pentagon.

“This is a coveted experience,” Foster said.

And while he says it was an honor to be chosen, Foster is concerned with what comes next.

“It’s more about what you do with it,” he said. “At the end of the day, a Soldier has to execute missions based on policy, and I want to impact that in a positive way.”

Joining the military seemed a natu-ral career path when Foster, an Air Force brat, graduated high school. He enjoyed being a Soldier and taking each step in his career. But after a few years, Foster hit a crossroads.

“I could stay enlisted and become a drill sergeant or go back to school,” he said. “A very wise platoon sergeant told me to go get my education, and that’s what I did.”

Foster enrolled in Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., on an ROTC scholarship and graduated in December 2003. From there, Foster completed the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and reported to Fort Bliss, Texas. There, his leadership skills were put to the test with multiple deployments to Iraq, first as platoon leader and later as a company commander. Each experi-ence reinforced his desire to be a better leader and take care of his Soldiers.

In 2010, Foster joined the 174th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East, as an operations officer where he supports the division’s mission to mobilize, train, validate, deploy and demobilize Reserve Component units to support overseas military operations. He uses his deployment and leadership experiences to influence the training Reserve Component Soldiers receive prior to deploying around the world.

It was the desire to positively influ-ence the lives of Soldiers that led his friend, who was selected into the pro-gram a few years earlier, to recommend to Foster that he apply to become a congressional fellow.

Fortunately, his commander, Lt. Col. Mark Towne, at the 3-312th Regiment, was supportive.

“Captain Foster is an excellent Sol-dier and leader,” Towne said. “He is smart and can understand issues from the strategic perspective and translate the impact at the operational and tacti-cal level.”

As a congressional fellow, Foster hopes to gain insight and influence what goes on behind the scenes.

“I’ll be able to communicate ground truth to members of Congress,” he said. “That’s important since they directly impact our livelihood. It’s important to have someone who can give con-gressional members that ground-truth viewpoint.”

Towne said Foster will be effective at communicating the Army’s story to Congress.

“His operational experience, under-standing of the active and Reserve com-ponents, and excellent communication skills will make him a valuable asset to the senior leadership of the Army,” he said.

Towne counts Foster’s participation in the program as a win-win situation for both Foster and the Army.

“Captain Foster will benefit from this opportunity because the experience will further develop his skills in civil-military relations as he gets involved in the decision-making process at the highest levels of government,” he said. “His skills, experience and personality are a great fit for this program.

The Army benefits because it needs its best leaders to provide those who are involved in the legislative process with the highest-quality advice and information possible, so they can make informed decisions affecting the future of the nation, Towne added.

Having sought each new challenge in his career, Foster urges Soldiers to do the same.

“The biggest advice I can give to all Soldiers is they have to take their careers into their own hands,” he said. “Look for the opportunities that are out there; talk to [Human Resources Command], talk to mentors and other leaders and find out about these broadening expe-riences like training with industry and fellowships. I don’t think Soldiers are aware of all these programs.”

Is a political career the next step?Foster said he isn’t actively pursuing

that option. “But I think it is important to be prepared for anything,” he said.

Local Soldier to serve on congressional staff

PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. ARmY

Capt. Adrian Foster (right), operations officer at 3rd Battalion, 312th Regiment, 174th Infantry Brigade, conducts checkpoint inspections with members of the local Iraqi police force near Baghdad. Foster was recently selected as an Army congressional fellow and will serve for a year on a congressional staff.

‘The biggest advice I can give to all Soldiers is they have to take their careers into their own hands ... look for the opportunities that are out there.’

Capt. Adrian Foster Operations Officer 3rd Battalion, 312th Regiment, 174th Infantry Brigade

Find Fort meade on Facebook at Facebook.com/ftmeade

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

News

News To Use

By David VergunArmy News Service

The goal of the Army’s new blood drive campaign, which began Tuesday, is to match a donor’s blood type with a specific need, rather than simply issuing a general call for donations.

It’s an education campaign as much as it is a blood drive, according to Julie Oliveri, director, Communications and Marketing, Armed Services Blood Pro-gram Office.

“Many of our donors are accustomed to signing up for blood drives and coming in to donate, irrespective of their blood type,” Oliveri said. “We don’t want our very dedicated donors to be alienated by the idea that we might need a specific type at a specific blood drive, and that type may not be theirs.

“This is also why we take the time to explain that certain blood types are well suited for certain blood products. For example, if you are O, you will want to donate whole blood — A for plasma or plateletpheresis, and AB for plasma. We suggest that our donors check with their local donor center to find out exactly what their needs are.”

The goal, said Oliveri, is to encourage donors to register online so local donor centers can contact them to let them know when their type is needed and where and when the next blood drive will be.

To register, visit https://www.military-donor.com/index.cfm.

Giving blood is a way of supporting wounded warriors, as well as Soldiers and their families everywhere, who could someday require a blood transfusion, said Col. Ronny Fryar, Army Blood Pro-gram director.

ABP is a component of the Armed Services Blood Program.

“We monitor the blood supply world-wide,” Fryar said. “For example, we ensure there’s enough in Afghanistan to treat our wounded warriors. Having enough on hand could entail requesting a shipment from Germany or elsewhere to replenish the supply. As a matter of fact, blood is routinely shipped throughout DoD.”

Why the need for care-ful and con-stant monitor-ing and ship-ping?

“Blood has a relatively short shelf life,” Fryar said. “When blood is drawn, it is processed into three compo-nents: platelets, red blood cells and plasma. The approximate shelf life on platelets is a mere five days; 42 for red blood cells and about a year for plasma, if frozen. This makes stockpiling a challenge.”

Fryar said the Army routinely shares blood with the other services and their civilian counterparts.

“For example, if we have a large supply of plasma that will soon expire and it is not needed right away within DoD, we’ll contact civilian hospitals that are in short supply,” he said. “They, in turn, will help us out the same way.”

Maintaining an adequate supply of blood on hand depends on the goodwill of volunteers, and this is where ASBP’s advertising efforts help get the word out, Fryar said.

Which types of blood are needed?“All types, especially rare types like

AB, which we solicit through targeted advertising,” Fryar said. “But even the common types like O are always in demand.”

The process, he said, is safe, easy and relatively pain-free.

“Although [ASPB] donors are not paid for their blood, units sometime give Sol-diers time off,” Fryar said. “Also, there’s a canteen on hand with delicious snacks so donors can replenish their fluid and sugars.

“The most important incentive for donating, however, is knowing that you are going to be helping someone, giving them the gift of life.”

Fort Meade’s next blood drive will be March 26 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center.

Army’s new blood drive seeks targeted donors

Smile BrighterOur state-of-the-art dentistry will make beautiful smiles a reality

• Bridges • Crowns • Periodental Health

• Teeth Whitening • Veneers • Dental Implants

• Dentures • Invisalign • Root Canals

General Cosmetic, Invisalign and Sedation Dentistry

13954 Baltimore Avenue • Laurel, MD 20707 1 block south of Laurel Lakes Shopping Center Rt. 1

301-490-3993 • masooddental.com Hours: M 9-5, Tu & Th 7-3, W 9-7

Pearl Dental Center of Laurel LakesDr. Akbar Masood, DDS

Accepting Military Insurance

Take the guesswork out of your insurance.Whether it’s your car, home, life, or more, I canhelp you feel good about your coverage, as wellas the price you’re paying.GET TO A BETTER STATE™.CALL ME TODAY.

State ofInsurance.

I deliver both.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company,State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI), State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company(Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL1101258.1

Marie Waring LUTCF, Agent1413 Annapolis Road, Suite 206

Odenton, MD 21113Bus: 410-551-4666

www.mariewaring.com

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

News

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Matthew Fournier70th ISRW Public Affairs

The flag is gently unfolded and dis-played. A silent moment passes. It is then firmly folded into a triangle and expertly tucked.

White gloved hands render a slow, solemn salute. Measured footsteps recede into the background.

Their uniforms are a class apart from regular service dress. Silver lining adorns their permanently pressed sleeves and pants. Their name plates are absent from their service coat.

They are the honor guard. They are the polished image of the Air Force and the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Recon-naissance Wing.

And they train hard.On the morning of Jan. 17, even freezing

rain and wind did not keep the 70th ISR Wing Honor Guard from practicing and striving to keep their movements as tight as possible.

They take their duties quite seriously.“We honor our heroes past and present

through a myriad events such as retire-ment ceremonies, changes of command and award ceremonies,” Tech. Sgt. Marcelo Rivera said. “We also partner with the local community to ensure that the Air Force is represented and that the public is able to see the level of commitment that we have for them and our duty.”

For the 70th ISR Wing Honor Guard, this means presenting the colors during wing official ceremonies, conducting folding flags at retirements, and performing drill team exhibitions and saber cordons.

“Here we do a lot of dedications and retirements,” said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Trent, drill team instructor for the wing honor guard. “Unlike a lot of other bases, though, we have no funereal area of responsibility — though we do train for it.”

This is mainly because the Air Force Honor Guard at Andrews Air Force Base has the primary responsibility for funeral details in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Whatever their duty for the day, though, members of the team greet their tasks with excitement for what they do, which usually stems from why they decided to join the honor guard.

“I enjoy the idea of being better than I was the day before,” Airman 1st Class Mor-ris Windless said. “Honor guard constantly pushes you to the limit.

“You get the personal satisfaction of knowing you are doing the right thing,

Guardsmen train for perfection to honor heroes

having a positive influence and projecting a positive image for your service in your community. Representing the Air Force as a whole — it always gives me something more to strive for.”

Other members have a somewhat differ-ent perspective.

“I originally had no intention of ever being part of the honor guard,” Airman 1st Class Alec Ibarra said.

But when he was deployed to Kuwait, Ibarra was assigned to take care of the fallen heroes who returned through his base.

“We had a six-man team at the time, and we would carry the caskets once they arrived to get them on their next plane out,” he said. “I remember taking care of 55 caskets while I was there, each one covered by the Stars and Stripes. Since then, I’ve wanted to be on the Honor Guard. I want to honor our traditions and our past. To me, that’s what being an Honor Guardsmen is all about — to strive to be perfect in honor of those who have laid down their own lives for us.”

The wing leadership, said Ibarra, is cog-nizant of what the honor guard does/ Com-

mand Chief Master Sgt. Nathalie Swisher has “sat down and had breakfast with us to express her appreciation of what we do,” he said.

Aside from the external attention, mem-bers also draw from their own motivations.

“There are always the extrinsic benefits, but for us it’s not about the medals and awards or kudos — it’s about the intrinsic rewards,” Rivera said. “It’s the look in the next-of-kin’s face when you hand off the flag. It’s the overwhelming feeling of pride that a retiree’s family displays when they are being presented their retirement flag. Those are rewards that won’t fade with time and will never lose their value.”

Serving in the honor guard also provides a sense of family community, said Trent.

“We are a tight-knit group, and I am always floored to see how much pride and enthusiasm they pour into the task at hand, despite the challenges,” he said. “Here you are with people in different career fields, not in the same work center, and you get things done. It really is a learning experience.”

Windless agrees. “We really have a great

team,” he said. “We look out for one anoth-er both in and out of work.”

Oftentimes, honor guardsmen must juggle the different parts of their lives to accommodate their dedication to a some-times demanding commitment.

“There are many challenges that we face as guardsmen and they are magnified by the demands of our respective units and missions,” Rivera said. “The responsibil-ity to live up to not only the core value of Excellence in All We Do, but also our charge as honor guardsmen is a tough one. But it’s also one that we all take very seriously.

“The smoldering summer heat in full ceremonials, the frigid winter snow, the high winds, the hourlong position of attention — those are just some of the challenges that we face. But those all pale in comparison to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Despite all the challenges, each member carries with them a special memory from their time as an honor guardsmen.

“The best time I had was when I did some training with the Air Force Honor Guard down at Bolling Air Force Base,” Trent

The 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Honor Guard presents the colors at a change of command ceremony at National Vigilance Park at the National Security Agency.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 13

News

Airman 1st Class Morris Windless, of the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Honor Guard, practices rifle movements.

said. “We got to see how they did things, and drilled with them. That was the Honor Guard, you know, and it was really cool.”

In addition to exceptional training opportunities, members have also had other unique experiences.

“The best experiences I’ve had so far were last summer when we presented the colors to World War II vets down at the WWII memorial in Washington D.C,” Windless recalled. “Also, we presented the colors to surviving firefighters and policemen at the 10th anniversary ceremony of Sept. 11. The Guard, as a whole, is a big commitment but well-worth the sacrifice.”

Being an honor guardsmen requires a high level of personal motivation and atten-tion to detail. They are always looking for new people to train with and share their heritage.

The team of 18 people includes the offi-cer in charge, superintendent and noncom-missioned officer in charge.

Some of the accolades that members have earned outside of the honor guard realm

include: four Senior Airman Below-the-Zone winners, several squadron and group quarterly award winners, Distinguished Graduates and Commandant Award win-ners at Professional Military Education, Rivera said.

“It speaks to the caliber of people that the honor guard attracts,” he said. “Honor guardsmen are truly among the best and they show it in and out of uniform, in gar-rison and down range, on base and off base, awards or no awards.”

The 70th ISRW Honor Guard practices every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the courtyard of Bldg. 9801.

To join the 70th ISR Wing Honor Guard, call either Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Stewart at 301-6767-0759 or Tech. Sgt. Marcelo Rivera at 443-654-0188.

Interested people can also ask any honor guardsman they know or come out to see the practices themselves.

For more information about the Air Force Honor Guard, visit www.honorguard.af.mil.

By BethAnn Cameron, Health EducatorU.S. Army Public Health Command

Do you know of someone who uses spit tobacco and has talked about quit-ting? If so, the Great American Spit Out on Feb. 23 provides an opportunity to quit for a day or, hopefully, for good.

There are several reasons to quit spit tobacco, also called chew, dip, snuff and smokeless tobacco.

Spit tobacco, like all tobacco products, contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addic-tive substance and, over time, a person can become physically dependent and emotionally addicted to nicotine.

Addiction to nicotine controls your schedule and how you spend your money. Two cans of spit per week costs about $280 annually. Nicotine impacts the ability to perform mission by reduc-ing stamina, harming vision and slow-ing wound-healing. In addition, nicotine affects sperm and reduces the sperm count, reducing a man’s chances of being able to have children.

In addition to nicotine, there are also chemicals in spit tobacco that can cause cancers of the mouth, throat and jaw. Many spit tobacco users get thick, leath-ery white patches in their mouths called leukoplakia, or red sores that can turn into cancer.

Spit tobacco causes cavities and gum disease (gingivitis), which can lead to bone and tooth loss. It can also cause

high blood pressure and heart attacks because of the high levels of salt.

Bottom line: Spit tobacco is bad for you and looks just plain gross. But you can break the habit. According to the 2008 Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel, 29.4 percent of Army personnel reported quitting spit tobacco.

Quitting takes thought, planning and action. Prepare for your Quit Day. Some key steps are to recognize and manage the triggers by making a plan to deal with triggers and withdrawal symptoms.

Triggers are situations, thoughts or feelings that cause a strong desire or urge to use tobacco. Like a wave, the urge will pass in a few minutes.

There are three types of triggers to recognize and manage:

1. Physical triggersBecause of addiction, the body needs

a certain level of nicotine to feel nor-mal. To combat this addiction, gradually reduce the amount of nicotine in your body:

• Cut back on the number of dips or amount of chews used daily.

• Mix the spit tobacco with a non-nicotine product.

2. Habit triggersThe habit of automatic reaching for

tobacco is connected with daily activi-ties. To help break this connection, avoid people or activities connected with tobac-

co. Stay busy and physically active. Use substitutes for tobacco such as sugar-free gum, sunflower seeds or non-snuff tobacco.

3. Stress or emotional triggersTobacco use is connected to feelings

such as anger, boredom and stress. Take deep breaths, take a walk and find new ways to cope with stress and feelings such as meditation.

Quitting spit tobacco may result in withdrawal. Some symptoms are head-aches, hunger, tiredness, trouble sleeping, trouble thinking, jumpiness, constipa-tion, and feeling irritable and blue. Get medications from your doctor to help with quitting.

Use these quit tips to try on the Great American Spit Out Day or as part of a quit plan. The more you prepare for the Quit Day, the better your chances for success.

Before Quit Day, remove anything in your house and vehicle that might remind you of chewing or dipping. This will give you a chance to start a tobacco-free life.

Get ready, get set and get through with chew and done with dip. Quit smokeless tobacco.

For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute website at https://cis-secure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp or UCANQUIT2 at www.ucanquit2.org/facts/gaspo/Default.aspx or My Last Dip at www.Mylastdip.com.

Great American Spit Out: Quit for a day or quit for good Get the insider’s advantage

Join the conversation on Fort Meade’s social media platform for the latest community news.

Connect with more than 8,000 post com-munity members on the installation’s Facebook page. Stay updated with Tweets from Fort Meade’s Twitter feed. Catch the latest episode of Meade Week’s video blog. Visit the installation’s website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and visit the links to add your voice to the conver-sation.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil14 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

It was nearly impossible to navigate the crowded room at McGill Training Center as eager parents cheered on their young warriors, who were dressed in combat gear from head-to-toe.

Family members lugging video and digital cameras surrounded the red and blue mats as competitors sparred for a spot in the national Taekwondo cham-pionships.

Nearly 250 Taekwondo competitors of all ages traveled to Fort Meade for the 2012 East Coast National Qualifier Tournament on Saturday.

Competing in sparing and forms, the top three finishers in each age group earned a spot in the upcoming USA Taekwondo Junior and Senior National Championships in Dallas in June.

The qualifier boasted high credentials,

as the best Taekwondo students from across the East Coast competed under one roof.

“These are some of the top competitors in the United States,” said Chien Vuong, president of the Maryland State Tae-kwondo Association. “We have national champions here and world champions competing here.”

Vuong is the owner of Vuong’s Tae-kwondo Center in Gambrills, which found-ed the West County Martial Arts program at Fort Meade through the Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration & Skills Unlimited program.

The Maryland State Taekwondo Asso-ciation partnered with Fort Meade to sponsor the USA Taekwondo-sanctioned qualifying event on post.

“We thought we’d be a good fit,” Vuong said.

During the opening ceremony, Boy

Scouts from Troop 377 posted the col-ors.

In his welcome address, Lt. Col. (P) Edmund Barrett, commander of Head-quarters Command Battalion, said the military and Taekwondo are similar value-based organizations.

“These are the kids that are going to show discipline,” he said. “They’re going to get good grades, they’re going to work hard in school, they’re sometimes going to stand up for the kid who’s getting picked on. And I love that about you guys. You’re the kind of kids we like having around.”

The daylong event also allowed civil-ians off post to get an insight into the military world, said Elizabeth Lombardo, the SKIES instructional program special-ist.

“A lot of these people are civilians, so this is a different experience for them,” she said. “They haven’t seen the uniform or

the posting of the colors. This is a mixture of military and civilian worlds here.”

While none of the West County Mar-tial Arts’ roughly 100 students partici-pated in the tournament, head instructor Mike Visitacion encouraged some of his students and parents to attend the event to see the sport at a competitive level.

Visitacion compared young students watching the competition to a pee-wee football player watching the National Football League.

“Its basically seeing what the goal is, where they’re trying to get,” he said.

Vuong, too, thought younger or inexpe-rienced Taekwondo students could benefit from watching some of the East Coast’s best competitors go head-to-head.

“I hope it inspires them and gives them something to look forward to and not just think ‘I’m learning blocks and kicks for nothing,’ ” he said.

More than just KICKSTop young martial artists compete in national qualifier

SportS

photos by brian krista

Ayana Warner of West Virginia warms up with her coach prior to her sparring match.

RIGHT: Spectators surround the mat as two young competitors spar during the 2012 East Coast National Qualifier Tournament on Saturday. The tournament at McGill Training Center featured 250 of the top Taekwondo students in the region.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 15

Abigail Fisk of Churchville blocks a kick from Rachel Scott of Alexandria, Va., during the 2012 East Coast National Qualifier Taekwondo tournament Saturday at McGill Training Center. Students were competing for a spot in the national championship tournament in June.

RIGHT: Carrie Motes of Dundalk works on her form before competing at the USA Taekwondo-sanctioned qualifying event for the best Taekwondo students of all ages from across the East Coast.

BELOW: Lt. Col. (P) Edmund Barrett, commander of Headquarters Command Battalion, presents a commander’s coin to Chien Yuong, president of the Maryland State Taekwondo Association, during the opening ceremony of the regional Taekwondo tournament Saturday.

West County Martial Arts student Joel Johnston, 11, who attended the event to post the colors with his Boy Scout troop, also had a chance to catch the combat-ive action. The white belt second-stripe began taking Taekwondo courses at Fort Meade last fall.

Impressed with the sparring, Joel focused on the strategy and techniques used by students and hoped to learn from them.

“I want to see their technique and try to duplicate it at home,” he said. “I like to challenge myself and go above what my belt level is, so I like seeing what they do.”

Joel’s mother, Elizabeth Johnston, called the tournament “awesome” and said she can’t wait until her children are advanced and prepared to compete in a similar tournament. Until then, she said, the tournament is a motivating factor to train.

“Right now, they’re just doing the class and they don’t get to see much else,” John-ston said. “They get to see what’s beyond ‘I’m getting my belt, I’m learning this.’ They get to see the whole picture of what this involves.”

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil16 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

SportS

Sports ShortsIce Breaker Golf Tournament

The Ice Breaker Golf Tournament will be held March 24 at the Courses.Shotgun start is at 9 a.m. The event will feature a two-person scramble format.Cost is $25 per player or $50 per team. Fee includes lunch and awards, which

will follow the event.Register by March 21 at 301-677-5329.

EFMP bowlingThe Exceptional Family Member Program at Fort Meade sponsors bowling

events on the third Tuesday of each month at the Lanes.The next event will be Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and includes a free buffet

and giveaways for exceptional family members ages 18 and younger and their siblings.

Register for free games and shoe rental at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/meadecyms.html. For more information, call the EFMP office at 301-677-1156.

Adult exceptional family members may register for free games and shoe rental at the EFMP office by calling 301-677-7836. Discounted games and shoe rental are available for other adult family members.

Registration required by Friday. For more information, email theresa.r.strawhecker.civ@mail.mil or call 301-677-7836.

For general information, call Caraline Someck, EFMP manager, at 301-677-4122.

Bull & Oyster RoastThe Meade High School Baseball Program is sponsoring a Bull & Oyster Roast

on March 31 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Gambrills Athletic Club, 682 McKnew Road, Gambrills.

The menu features pit beef, pit turkey, oyster on the half shell, fried oysters, oyster stew, mash potatoes, green beans, vegetables and desserts.

Entertainment includes a disc jockey, money wheel, silent auction, door prizes and 50/50 raffle.

Tickets cost $40. Proceeds will benefit Meade High’s new batting cage.For more information, email Dave Lanham at dlanham@aacps.org or call 410-

672-1369.

Texas Hold ‘emTexas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lane’s

11th Frame Lounge.Games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-5541.

First Tee youth golfYoung golfers are invited to participate in the free First Tee golf program at

the Courses.• The “Player” course for beginners, ages 4 to 6, will be held Thursdays from

March 1 to April 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.• The “Par” course, for those who have already completed the Player course,

will be held Saturdays from March 3 to April 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.For more information, call 301-677-1196

Spring Sports registrationRegistration for spring sports is under way at Parent Central Services,

1900 Reece Road.Youth sports are available for ages 3 to 18 years old. Spring sports include

soccer, T-ball, baseball, softball, track, swim and indoor football.For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

Coaches neededCoaches are needed for the Child, Youth and School Service’s spring sports season.All coaches are required to complete a background check and attend coach

certification training. Head and assistant coaches whose children are enrolled in spring sports will be given a coach’s discount.

For more information, call 301-677-1329 or email jesse.c.miller2.naf@mail.mil.

For more Fort Meade sports, visit www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.

Jibber Jabber will return next week.

As always, if you have any comments about Jibber Jabber or anything to do with the world of sports, e-mail chad.t.jones.civ@mail.mil.

Jibber-Lessfile photo

www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.

• Basketball• football

• Softball• Soccer

Find schedules, scores, standings and upcoming seasons for

All-Army athletics, new sports and special events at

And more, plus

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil18 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s dis-cretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and the Meade TV Blog at http://meadetv.wordpress.com.

For more information or to submit an announcement, email philip.h.jones.civ@mail.mil or call 301-677-5602.

Kimbrough closureKimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

will close Monday in observance of Presidents Day.

Free showing of ‘The Help’In observance of Black History

Month, the Defense Information School is sponsoring a free showing of the award-winning movie “The Help” on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Post Theater.

Items in the snack bar will be available for purchase.

For more information, email lashawn-dra.ramsey@dinfos.dma.mil or call 301-677-4721.

AER fundraising campaignArmy Emergency Relief will begin its

annual fundraising campaign on March 1.

Each garrison and tenant unit must provide a campaign representative to attend the kick-off training on March 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

RSVP by Feb. 24 at 301-677-5768 or email Wallace.turner1@us.army.mil.

Black History Month observance

The garrison command, along with the Equal Opportunity Office, will sponsor the African American/Black History Observance on Feb. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Club Meade.

The theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.”

The annual event is hosted by the Defense Information School. The keynote speaker will be Joanne Martin, co-founder of the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore, the country’s first wax museum concentrating on black history, life and culture.

Admission is free and open to the

public. Free food samplings will be served.

Administrative leave is authorized.For more information, contact Staff

Sgt. Fox or Staff Sgt. Fultz at 301-677-4696 or Sgt. 1st Class Bass at 301-677-6687.

DINFOS Black History Month events

The Defense Information School is hosting several events in celebration of Black History Month.

• Today through Feb. 29: “Coats for Kids” and educational books for Sarah’s House. Donations can be dropped off at the main desk in the DINFOS lobby.

• Friday: Open mic event, 7 to 9 p.m., Club Meade.

• Saturday: Lunch cruise on the Spirit of Washington on the Potomac with a musical tribute to African-American artists, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For reservations, visit http://www.spiritofwashington.com.

• Wednesday: Tour of Washington, D.C./Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Feb. 29: Food Sampling/Trivia Bowl, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., McGill Training Center. Registration required by Feb. 24. Email Master Sgt. Keisha Montague at keisha.montague@ft-meade.af.mil.

For more information, email lashawndra.ramsey@dinfos.dma.mil or call 301-677-4721.

Fat TuesdayCelebrate Fat Tuesday with a Madris

Gras-themed, all-you-can-eat lunch menu on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Club Meade.

For more information, call 301-677-6969.

Country: Top 40 NightDance and party at Country: Top 40

Night on Feb. 24 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Club Meade.

There is no cover charge. Cash bar is available.

For more information, call 301-677-6969.

Easter workshop Design handmade gifts and cards at

an Easter workshop on March 10 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts Center.

Cost is $35 and includes all supplies.To register or for more information,

call 410-575-4224.

file photo

karaoke nightThe 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes hosts a free Karaoke Night on the third Thursday of the month.The next Karaoke Night will be today from 7 to 10 p.m. The public is invited.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

‘Military Saves’ WeekArmy Community Service will host

“Military Saves” Week from Tuesday to Feb. 24 at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

• Credit Scores and Reports: Tuesday, 9 a.m. The free program is open to everyone. Advance registration is recommended.

• Credit Score Clinic: Wednesday, 10 a.m. The free program is open to active-duty service members and spouses only. Advance registration is required.

• Day of Financial Fitness: Feb. 23, 8 a.m. The free program is open to active-duty service members and spouses only. Advance registration is required.

For more information, call 301-677-5590 or visit www.ftmeademwr.com.

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

Taylor Ave. is offering the following courses from 1 to 3 p.m.

• “How to change oil and maintain

your vehicle,” March 11• “How to change wheel bearings,”

March 25Cost for each course is $10. For more

information, call 301-677-5542.

Fleet Center classesThe Fleet and Family Support Center

at 830 Chisholm Ave. offers classes that are open to DoD identification cardholders. Advanced registration is required.

• Day of Financial Fitness: Feb. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class focuses on finances for military personnel.

• Effective Communication: Feb. 27, 9 to 11 a.m. Learn how to communicate more effectively in relationships at work and at home.

• Job Search Strategies: Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to noon. Learn techniques to help you succeed in your job search as well as the tools for networking and negotiating job offers.

• Common Sense Parenting, March 2, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Medical Records Review: Have your medical records reviewed by Joseph Thornton of AMVETS. An appointment is required.

To register or for more information, call 301-677-9017 or 9018.

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 19

Community news & notes

OSC scholarshipsThe Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’

Club will award scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic school year in the spring.

Completed applications must be postmarked by April 1.

• The Etta Baker Memorial Scholarship will be awarded for academic advancement to deserving college-bound high school seniors.

• The Merit Scholarship for continued learning will be awarded for academic advancement to graduating high school seniors and students currently enrolled in college.

• The JROTC Scholarship will be awarded to highly motivated, community-minded students to further their education beyond a high school diploma.

• The Military Spouse Scholarship will be awarded for academic advancement to highly motivated, community-minded individuals to further their education.

Application forms with all eligibility requirements are available on the OSC website at www.fortmeadeosc.org and at high school guidance offices.

For more information, email Pat Hagerty at snow29man@aol.com.

Youth/Teen Job FairA Youth/Teen Job Fair for ages 16 to

21 will be held March 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. at McGill Training Center.

Students, graduating seniors and entry-level college and vocational students are welcome.

Participants have the opportunity to meet representatives of more than 30 companies and learn about available jobs and internships.

In addition, representatives of colleges, technical schools and volunteer organizations will provide information.

Teens also will learn resume tips, how to work a job fair and how to prepare for an interview.

For more information, call 301-677-5590.

StorytimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial Library

offers Pre-Kindergarten Storytime every Thursday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m.

• Today: “A Presidential Birthday”:

Learn about Presidents Day.• Feb. 23: “Goodness Gracious — What

a Nose” about elephantsFor more information, call 301-677-

5522.

Youth Center activitiesChild, Youth and School Services is

offering the following activities for grades six to eight:

• Skating trip to Quiet Waters Ice Rink, Friday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $10 with skate rental, and $7 without skate rental.

• “Grilling and Chilling,” Feb. 24, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Menu includes barbecue chicken legs, hot dogs, picnic salads and drink. Food cost is $5.

For more information, call 301-677-1437.

Easter Bunny brunchHop over to the Courses Clubhouse

on March 31 for brunch with the Easter Bunny. Two seating times will be available: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Enjoy scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast sticks, tater tots, ham, boneless chicken wings, macaroni and cheese, spa-ghetti sauce, fruit salad and beverages.

Seating is limited. Tickets will be avail-able beginning March 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Youth Center, 909 Ernie Pyle St.

Cost is $7 for ages 5 to 10 and $11.50 for ages 11 and older. Children ages 4 and under attend free.

For more information, call 301-677-5326.

Out & About• Leisure Travel Services is offering

discounted tickets for active-duty service members to the Shen Yun Performing Arts Show from March 21 to April 1 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Explore the richness of Chinese culture through stories, choreography and origi-nal orchestral compositions. For more information, call LTS at 301-677-7354.

• Leisure Travel Services, 2300 Wilson St., is offering monthly bus trips to New York City on March 10, April 14 and May 18, and discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit www.ftmeademwr.com.

• Monster Jam at 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Hours are: Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are

$22, $30 and $62. (All tickets cost an additional $2 on show day.) For more information, visit baltimorearena.com.

• Patient/Family Advisory Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center. The next meeting is today in Kimbrough’s main conference room on the third floor, room 3C03.

The council is committed to improving the delivery of our health care by collaborating with providers, patients and family members. For more information or to become a council member, call Patient and Family Centered Care, at 301-677-8261.

• Retired Enlisted Association meets the third Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. The next meeting is tonight. For more information, visit www.trea.org or call Mary Gray, the local president, at 410-916-5385 or Arthur R. Cooper, national president, at 443-336-1230.

• Meade Area Garden Club will meet Friday at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community Hall at the corner of Route 175 and Wigley Avenue. Maria Price of Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm will present “Making Herbal Teas.” Refreshments will be served. In inclement weather, the meeting will be canceled if Anne Arundel County Public Schools are closed or open two hours late.

For more information or to join, call Pat Loosararian, membership chairman, at 410-519-6443 or Lois Stephenson, club president, at 410-740-8024.

• Hearts Apart support group meets monthly at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hearts Apart provides a supportive group setting for adults and children (with children’s activities provided) when the service member is separated by TDY or PCS or deployed for more than 30 days. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or 301-677-9014.

• Parenting With a Purpose will meet Wednesday and Feb. 29 and March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center at 8700 91st Division Blvd. Learn what your parenting style is and the art of judo-parenting. For reservations, call Rikki Ford, Parent Sup-port coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email rikki.l.ford.ctr@us.army.mil.

• Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 254 meets the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the

Roost, 9827 Love Road. The next meeting is Wednesday. For more information, call 443-534-5170 or visit www.afsa254.org.

• Society of Military Widows meets for brunch the fourth Sunday of the month at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. The next meeting is Feb. 26. For more information, call Betty Jones at 410-730-0127.

• Single Parent Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Feb. 27. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email rikki.l.ford.ctr@us.army.mil.

• Fort Meade Homeschool Co-op meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at 1900 Reece Road. For more information, call Laura Edens at 443-510-4715 or email ftmeadehomeschooling@verizon.net.

• Cub Scout Pack 377 invites boys in first through fifth grades, or ages 7 to 10, to attend its weekly Monday meetings at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Ce0ter. For more information, email Kimberly Smith at pack377_cc@yahoo.com.

• Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop is actively recruiting boys age 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at lisayetman@verizon.net or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at lawrencewendall@juno.com.

• Protestant Women of the Chapel invites women for prayer, fellowship and food at its weekly Wednesday meeting from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. Child care and a home-school room are provided. For more information, call Christine Washburn at 443-230-1553 or email cwash1993@comcast.net.

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn. Breakfast may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the fourth Sunday of every month.

Membership discounts are offered for active-duty military. For more information, call 410-969-8028 or visit www.americanlegionpost276.org.

• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club will meet March 6 at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. Lynda Maxwell of Destinations Inc. will demonstrate some of the best ways to pack for a trip to any destination.

Cost is $15. Reservations must be

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil20 SOUNDOFF! February 16, 2012

Community news & notes

made by March 1 at noon. Members may call their area Reservation Committee member; all others may call Betty Wade at 410-551-7082. For more information, call ROWC President Lianne Roberts at 301-464-5498.

Guests who are eligible to join may attend one meeting before they are required to join. Dues, normally $25 per year, are reduced to $12.50 for the remaining meetings through May.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast hosted by the garrison is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at the Courses Clubhouse. The next breakfast is March 1. Post employees, family members, civilian and military personnel are invited. There is no cost; donations are optional. For more information, call 301-677-6703 or email diana.l.durner.civ@mail.mil.

• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is March 1 in the banquet hall in back of the building. If you come early, you may join us for dinner at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• Officers’ Spouses’ Club will meet March 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the Courses. The theme of the luncheon is “Wedding March.” The club is collecting wedding photos of members. Email a jpeg (and include wedding date) to 1stvice@fortmeadeosc.org by March 2.

Wear white to get in the wedding spirit, and encourage members to don their best “Royal Wedding Hat.” To RSVP or to be a vendor, email 1stvice@fortmeadeosc.org. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

• EMPOWERING Parents of Teens Support Group meets the first and third Monday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at School Age Services. The next meeting is March 5. Refreshments and free child care provided. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or e-mail rikki.l.ford.ctr@us.army.mil.

• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next meeting is March 9. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, visit www.e9association.org or call 410-551-7953.

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second

Kimbrough Corner

By Maryfe Zabala, RN, BSNKimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

February is American Heart Month.Heart attacks can occur suddenly,

without warning.Eighty percent of heart attacks hap-

pen at home. Bystanders and family members can act quickly to improve chances for survival.

The American Heart Association encourages all Americans to learn CPR or how to give hands-only CPR.

Even children can help by directing others what to do if they are unable to do the steps themselves. Video demon-strations are available for viewing for both CPR and hands-only CPR at www.heart.org and www.redcross.org.

Learn the steps of hands-only CPR:

Check and call• Check the scene, then check the

person.• Tap the shoulder, shout, “Are you

okay?” and quickly look for breathing.• Call 911 if no response.

Give chest compressions• Place the heel of one hand on the

center of the chest.• Place the heel of the other hand

on top of the first hand, lacing your fingers together.

• Keep your arms straight; posi-tion your shoulders directly over your hands.

• Push hard, push fast.• Compress the chest at least 2

inches.• Compress at least 100 times per

minute.• Let the chest rise completely before

pushing down again.• Continue chest compressions.

Do not stop, except in one of these situations:

• You see an obvious sign of life (breathing)

• Another trained responder arrives or takes over

• EMS personnel arrive and take over

• You are too exhausted to con-tinue

• An automated external defibrilla-tor is ready to use

• The scene becomes unsafe

Help save a life, learn CPR

oPen WiDeSix-year-old Tyler Sunde-meyer of Heritage Park brushes Doogey Dog’s teeth as the Tooth Fairy

(aka Deanna Benicewicz, community health dental hygienist) provides tips on dental health. Tyler

was joined by his mother Seana and his 9-year-old

sister Kaitlyn at the annual “Toothbrush Giveaway”

display sponsored Feb. 10 at the commissary by the Fort Meade Dental Activity in observance of National Children’s Dental Health

Month.

photo BY BReNDAN CAVANAUGh

Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse in Bldg. T-4, across from the Pet Care Center. The next meeting is March 12. For more information, visit www.ftmeadeesc.org.

• Bridging the Gap deployment support group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is March 13. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email sharon.j.collins@us.army.mil.

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 160 on Route 170 in Glen Burnie. The next meeting is March 14. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited. For more information, call 410-761-7046 or 301-262-6556.

• Fort Meade TOP III Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is March 14. The association is open to all Air Force active and retired senior noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at 443-479-0616 or email jajacob@nsa.gov.

• Meade Area Garden Club will meet March 16 at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community Hall at the corner of Route 175 and Wigley Avenue. Susan Barbi, a national judge for the African Violet Society of America and a Maryland master gardener, will present a slide show on African violets. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are not required.

MEETINGS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 16, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 21

Religion

April 8 - Postwide Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service – 7 a.m., Chapel Center

Protestant ServicesTuesday – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – 6 p.m., Post Chapel

Wednesday – Ash Wednesday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSA & Noon, Cavalry ChapelWednesday – Ash Wednesday Episcopal Service – 6 p.m., Post Chapel

March 28 – Living Last Supper (hosted by Gospel Congregation) – 7 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 1 – Palm Sunday Episcopal Service – 8:30 a.m., Post Chapel

April 1 – Palm Sunday Traditional Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Post ChapelApril 1 – Palm Sunday Contemporary Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Cavalry Chapel

April 1 – Palm Sunday Gospel Protestant Service – 11 a.m., Chapel CenterApril 5 – Holy Thursday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 6 – Good Friday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSAApril 8 – Easter Sunday Episcopal Service – 8:30 a.m., Post Chapel

April 8 – Easter Sunday Traditional Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Post ChapelApril 8 – Easter Sunday Contemporary Protestant – 10:30 a.m., Cavalry Chapel

April 8 – Easter Sunday Gospel Protestant Service – 11 a.m., Chapel CenterCatholic Services

Wednesday – Ash Wednesday Mass – 11 a.m., NSA; Noon, Post Chapel; 7 p.m., Chapel CenterFeb. 24, March 2 & 9 – Stations of the Cross & Lenten Supper – 6:30 p.m., Chapel Center

March 11-15 – Lenten Parish Retreat & Reconciliation Service – 6 p.m., Post ChapelMarch 16, 23, 30 – Stations of the Cross & Lenten Supper – 6:30 p.m., Chapel Center

April 1 – Palm Sunday Masses – *Regular Sunday Mass ScheduleApril 5 – Maundy Thursday Service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 5 – Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 6 – Good Friday service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 6 – Good Friday Stations of the Cross – noon, Chapel CenterApril 6 – Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion – 7 p.m., Chapel Center

April 7 – Holy Saturday Great Easter Vigil – 8 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 8 – Easter Sunday Masses – *Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

*Regular Catholic Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday: 5 p.m. Cavalry Chapel; Sunday: 9 a.m. Chapel Center; 12:15 p.m. Post Chapel. There will be no 5 p.m. Mass at Cavalry Chapel on Holy Saturday, April 7. Regularly scheduled noon Mass will be held at the Post Chapel, except April 5 and 6.

Jewish ServicesApril 9-12 – Passover meals – 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Chapel Center

Spring religiouS ServiceS on Fort Meade

Chaplain’s WordWORKING WITH GOD

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of a man or woman,

I shall feel that I have worked with God.”— George MacDonald

Find the Fort MeadereligiouS Schedule

atwww.ftmeade.army.mil.Look for the “Community” tab then click

on “Religious Services” for schedules, events and contact information.

*APY (ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD). PREMIUM CHECKING EARNS 0.50% APY ON BALANCES OF $500.00 OR MORE. EFFECTIVE DATE 02/01/12. PENALTIES AND/OR OTHER FEES MAY APPLY, RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE, ANY TIME. ** PAY ONE BILL THROUGH ON-LINE BANKING PER STATEMENT CYCLE TO AVOID A $2.95 MONTHLY BILL PAY FEE.

MEMBER

FDIC

Nomore worries.No With TWSB Premium Checkingyou also receive FREE:

“We switched to The Washington Savings Bank– they offer a totally FREE Premium Checking Account with no monthly service charges that pays us interest!* And we opened a Maximum Money Market Account. We couldn’t believe the interest rate.”

• On-Line Banking with Bill Pay**• Surcharge Free Access to Over 1,500 ATMs• Debit Card• Premium Mobile Banking• Text Message Banking• Finance WorksTM – a free banking tool that puts

money management at your fingertips and yourfinancial goals within reach!

FIVE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU!ODENTON

410-551-88001161 Annapolis Rd.

BOWIE301-352-3100

4201 Mitchellville Rd.

CROFTON410-721-8867

1669 Crofton Centre

MILLERSVILLE410-987-1515676 Old Mill Road

WALDORF301-843-7200

3225 Crain Highway

For more information on these or any of our innovative banking products, visit us @ www.twsb.com