Fort Meade SoundOff! for March 8, 2012

weighing inCompetitors shed pounds in Dump Your Plump contest

page 14

UPCOMing eVenTSSUnDAY: Daylight Saving Time Begins (set clocks ahead one hour)MArCh 15, 7-10 P.M.: Karaoke Night - The Lanes 11th Frame LoungeMArCh 21, 9 A.M.-2 P.M.: Technical Job Fair - Club MeadeMArCh 22, 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M.: Women’s History Month Observance - McGill

helP wAnTeDPost job fair gives youth opportunity to showcase their talentspage 12

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 10 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community March 8, 2012

photos courtesy u.s. Army WArrior trAnsition commAnd

Wounded, ill and injured Soldiers will compete for a spot on the 2012 Warrior Games Army team during the final qualifications camp that begins today and ends Tuesday. Athletes will compete in track and field events, cycling and sitting volleyball at Fort Meade. The public is invited to watch. For a complete schedule, see Page 6.

ultimate warriors

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 8, 2012

Commander’s Column

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

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

Community................. 16 Movies.................................18

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. SmithPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] 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 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail [email protected]. 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.

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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.

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Last week, we (members of Team Meade and I) hosted our second Facebook town hall. I have to tell you I was extremely pleased with the response from the post community.

Since our first Facebook town hall back in Octo-ber, I have hosted face-to-face town halls at McGill Training Center and held two other town halls in our residential neighborhood centers.

These town halls are opportunities for the Fort Meade community, including retirees and others who have relationships with the post, to discuss their issues and concerns.

At one of our neighborhood center town halls we discussed concerns that some parents have with schools located on post and our efforts to work with teachers, principals and Anne Arundel County administrators to provide our youth with a quality education and great school experience.

At the other neighborhood center town hall, we talked about the perception of crime in our housing areas and how residents could take a more proac-tive approach to report issues and concerns to the Directorate of Emergency Services. We learned there are things we all can do to make our homes and our neighborhoods safer and help everyone feel more secure.

At last week’s Facebook town hall, many of these same concerns and questions were asked again. One of the most discussed topics centered on speeding and parking in our residential areas.

You’ve heard me say this before — making sure Fort Meade is a safe and secure environment is one of my highest priorities as garrison commander. Speed-ing on post is something I will not tolerate. And find-ing ways to deter speeding is also a priority for DES.

In response, DES has increased its patrols and is monitoring problem areas in our neighborhoods. We are also working to place portable speed monitors on our streets to help drivers become more aware about how fast they are driving. DES is aware that speeding is a community concern and will continue to work to address this issue.

I also continue to urge the community to call DES if you see something suspicious, if you are having problems with parking in your neighborhood and most importantly, if you witness a crime. DES is here to support the entire post community. But we need you to call 301-677-6622 and report your concerns.

Another area of concern had to do with jogging and running on post. With the change to Daylight Saving Time this weekend, it is an opportune time for me to remind drivers and runners to pay attention to your surroundings.

Wearing headphones while engaging in physical

activities such as jogging, running and riding bicy-cles is a violation of post policy, unless you are in a restricted area that is free of motor vehicles. And it is a violation of post safety regulations, as well as Mary-land state laws, to drive and talk on a hand-held cell phone or text while driving.

There are a lot of common-sense things we all can do to help keep Fort Meade safe. But it takes all of us focusing on safety first.

What pleased me most about last week’s town hall was that as we tabulated all areas of concerns, we continued to get very high satisfaction from com-munity members who are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to share their thoughts with Team Meade.

There was an abundance of posts that said, “Thank you for hosting this town hall,” and how apprecia-tive you were to have the opportunity to share your thoughts with me.

It’s extremely important to me to keep our com-munity aware of what’s happening on Fort Meade. That’s why I will keep having town halls, employ an open door policy, and look for other ways to interact with the post community and provide you with ways to voice your issues and concerns.

My goal, as garrison commander, is to be atten-tive, transparent and as helpful as possible. Working together, I’m sure we can continue to find ways for Fort Meade to be a great place to work, live and play.

I look forward to having more of these conversa-tions with you.

A couple of last thoughts: The Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services asked that I remind you to change the batteries in your home smoke detectors when you change the time on your clocks on Sunday at 2 a.m.

I also encourage you to stop by and support the Fort Meade Thrift Shop. Managed by the Enlisted Spouses Club, the Thrift Shop makes uniforms, cloth-ing, small appliances and household items available to the post community.

Proceeds from the Thrift Shop support youth scholarships and other community programs. For more information about the Thrift Shop and ESC volunteer activities, visit www.ftmeadeesc.org.

Talk of the Town

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open Door:GarrisonCommanderCol.EdwardC.Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.Allservicemembers,retirees,governmentemployees,familymembersorcommunitymembersage18orolderareinvitedtoaddressissuesorconcernstothecom-manderdirectlybyvisitingRothstein’sofficeonMondaysfrom4to6p.m.atgarrisonhead-

quartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.Visitorsareseenonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Noappointmentisnecessary.Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 8, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Mary DoyleChief of Media Relations Fort Meade Public Affairs Office

The historic golf course that has served as the centerpiece of Fort Meade since 1950 is scheduled to close May 1.

The date of closing was moved forward to accommodate deadlines associated with major construction projects, which will occupy the land. Closure of the remaining 27 holes was anticipated but not expected until September.

Garrison officials are aware that members and daily golfers on the Courses will miss an opportunity to enjoy one last season of play.

“I know the golf course will be missed,” Garrison Commander Edward C. Rothstein said. “It has served me along with the entire Team Meade community, helping our service members, civilian workers, retirees and families balance work and life activities.

“The loss of the golf course is an emotional issue. However, the decision to support nation-al security, DoD priorities and our partners is not difficult.”

Rothstein will host the final Commander’s Cup Golf Tournament at the historic course on April 29.

Originally a 36-hole golf course with a driv-ing range, putting green and club house, the Courses lost nine holes and its driving range due to the Base Realignment and Closure expansion when the Defense Information Sys-tems Agency and the Defense Media Activity headquarters buildings were constructed, leav-ing 27 playable holes.

Patronage of the remaining 27 holes drew more than 35,000 rounds of play last year including golfers who participated in 41 tour-naments held at the course.

“We are in negotiation with golf courses in neighboring counties in the hopes that we can work out reciprocal agreements for our remain-ing golf club members,” said Scott Myers, chief of business operations for Fort Meade’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, which runs the golf course.

Currently, 33 employees work at the golf course. Of those, 15 are seasonal workers who only work during the summer months. Myers said every effort is being made to place the groundskeepers, golf pros, catering managers and others into jobs either with the installa-tion, or to help them find positions at golf courses off post.

The Courses’ Clubhouse will remain open and serve as a meeting and catering location, allowing some staff to keep their current jobs running those facilities.

Hopes of replacing the golf course through various financing methods continue to be explored, but shrinking defense budgets and fiscal realities are making the possibility of a new course look more remote.

“We aren’t giving up,” Rothstein said. “There are a lot of creative thinkers working toward the goal of moving this course to a location that has already been selected. That said, I want you to know that Meade is aggres-sively continuing efforts to find an alternative resolution to meet our community golfing requirements.

Rothstein said garrison staff is aiming its efforts toward a long-term solution.

“Nothing is off the table,” he said. “From building a new golf course on another loca-tion on post to possibly purchasing a local golf course, we’re exploring many alterna-tives. In the short term, we are working to establish reciprocal agreements with county golf courses.”

Fees from the golf course help fund repairs

and improvements to buildings on the installa-tion, such as child care and child development centers as well as service member and youth sports facilities.

Replacing the golf course is an important part of installation efforts to provide quality services to service members and their families without drawing on tax payer dollars for support.

The Courses at Fort Meade were actually two separate 18-hole golf courses. The Apple-wood course, designed by architect Maj. Robert B. McClure, opened in 1950. George Cobb, a recognized golf course architect who designed more than 80 courses nationwide, designed The Parks course, which opened in 1956.

Every Fort Meade garrison commander since the opening of the Courses has hosted events on the course, which over the years has entertained such famous players as President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lt. Gen. Floyd Parks.

Editor’s note: For more information, call Mary Doyle in the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office at 301-677-5592 or email [email protected], or visit www.ftmeade.army.mil and click on environmental.

Fort Meade golf course set to close May 1Installation, partners continue to develop short-, long-term solutions

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

In the conference room at the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office, members of the garrison command team and representatives of various post services gathered around computers as they answered questions posed by the commu-nity during Fort Meade’s Facebook town hall.

The event was hosted Feb. 29 by Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein.

“These town halls are opportunities for the Fort Meade community, including retirees and others who have relationships with Fort Meade, to discuss their issues and concerns,” Rothstein said.

During a span of 90 minutes, the Fort Meade Facebook page registered 837 interac-tions while responding to questions ranging from on-post speeding to the visitor’s policy at post elementary schools.

“While the numbers are very impressive, what we’re trying to accomplish isn’t just about the numbers,” said Jason Kelly, emerging media manager at the Fort Meade PAO. “It’s just as important, if not more important, to give our community the opportunity to have

a two-way conversation. The Facebook town hall provides the community a direct line to the commander to talk about what’s important to them.”

Twenty officials from post directorates and service organizations such as the Post Exchange and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center participated in the virtual event, responding to questions posted onto the Fort Meade

Facebook page. While the Facebook page is typically used as a social media platform that allows community members to talk to one another, the town hall offered the opportunity to have post officials respond directly to com-munity concerns.

“The unique thing about the town hall is that we had post leaders and key service pro-viders together, so we’re able to immediately respond to a variety of questions and com-ments,” Kelly said.

The previous event, which was held in Octo-ber 2011, resulted in 823 interactions with the Fort Meade community during a two-and-a-half-hour session. Kelly attributed producing the same kind of numbers, in a shorter amount of time, to minor tweaks to the process.

“We looked at what happened last time and how we could improve the process for this town hall in order to make it more efficient, and we were definitely able to accomplish that,” he said.

To help streamline the process, officials divided into teams to respond to posted ques-tions. Teams also worked to closely track each question displayed on the two large monitors

inside the conference room. Each question was tracked from the time it was first posted onto the Fort Meade Facebook “wall” to when it was answered and resolved.

The most popular topics posted were relat-ed to speeding, residential parking, on-post running regulations, and schools. Of the top 10 topics covered, compliments on the town hall and gate security guards ranked third and sixth, respectively.

“There were a lot of things that we can look at now, and help the command group pri-oritize what’s on the community’s mind,” said Philip Jones, chief of command information at the Fort Meade PAO. “Giving the community an opportunity to share their concerns is a priority for the garrison command.”

Employing Facebook and other social media tools gives the post commander a real-time sense about how the community feels about issues, said Jones.

“Social media is an important part of pub-lic affairs and telling Fort Meade’s story,” he said “It provides us an incredible opportunity to connect with the people who live, work and play at Fort Meade.”

Virtual town hall creates two-way conversation

photo by Jason Kelly

Garrison staff and partner organization officials discuss a question posted on the Fort Meade Facebook page during the installation’s second virtual town hall on Feb. 29.


News

Feb. 28, Shoplifting: AAFES security at the Post Exchange observed the subject conceal merchandise on her person and exit the store without rendering proper payment.

March 3, Assault: The Director-ate of Emergency Services was noti-fied of an assault. An investigation revealed that subjects 1 and 2 entered into a verbal altercation, which turned physical when subject 1 pushed subject

2. Subject 2, in turn, struck subject 1 in the eye with a closed fist.

March 5, Assault consummated by a battery: Units were dis-patched to a domestic argu-

ment in progress, which turned physical when the subject grabbed his spouse’s wrist and twisted it. He fur-ther pushed her on the bed, climbed on top of her and grabbed her around the throat to keep her pinned down.

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

May 1; The Clubhouse will remain open for catering

and conferences

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

issues to [email protected]. 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

Chaplain’s WordFAITH

When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step

into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things

shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on

or you will be taught to fly.— Edward Teller

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.

find fort Meade on facebook atfacebook.com/ftmeade


News

Story and photo by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

The annual Army Emergency Relief campaign fundraiser kicked off March 1 at the Army Community Service build-ing with a training program, cake and a visit from Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein.

This year’s goal is to raise $80,000 before the campaign wraps up on May 15.

AER assists active-duty Soldiers, retir-ees, Reservists and Guardsmen and their family members with financial assistance during emergencies. The fund provides interest-free loans and grants for help in a variety of situations such as rent or car payments, medical care, and traveling expenses for a Soldier who needs to rush home for a family emergency.

Last year, the Fort Meade campaign raised more than $112,000. More than $700,000 was distributed to 505 installa-tion Soldiers in need.

“AER is Soldiers taking care of Sol-diers,” Rothstein said.

During the two-hour kickoff, represen-tatives from Army units were instructed on educating Soldiers about the AER program and how to properly collect donations, which can be given online

this year.Following the training session, Wal-

lace Turner, the installation’s AER offi-cer, said he has no doubt the volunteer-representatives will exceed the $80,000 goal set for them.

“They’re ready to go,” Turner said.During a short break in the training,

Rothstein and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith spoke with AER representatives and encouraged them to aim beyond the $80,000 goal.

Rothstein said that since he became garrison commander last summer, the installation has surpassed each goal that he has set and hopes this campaign con-tinues that trend.

“Every target number I’ve thrown out there we exceed,” Rothstein said to the group. “We’re going to exceed this $80,000 because of you.”

Smith said that the success of the Fort Meade campaign depends on the collec-tive effort of the volunteer representa-tives who will be reaching out to their units to solicit donations.

“In order for this program to be suc-cessful, it’s going to be you,” Smith said. “You have to get out there.”

The two garrison leaders also offered their services to help representatives

raise donations. Both Rothstein and Smith said they are willing meet with any unit or organization to help spread the word of the campaign and reach more Soldiers.

“You’re here to tell the story to your leaders,” Rothstein said. “If you want Command Sergeant Major and I to do that, I’m more than happy. This is that important to me.”

During his 29 years in the Army, Roth-stein said, he has seen AER money help various Soldiers “over and over again for all the right reasons.” He encouraged representatives to promote the AER campaign as a total Army approach, with Soldiers helping their own.

“Commit yourself to telling that story,” he said, “that holistic approach of Soldiers helping Soldiers.”

Soldiers helping SoldiersAER campaign takes off with $80,000 goal

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein speaks with Army Emergency Relief campaign representatives during a training session on March 1 that kicked off the annual campaign on Fort Meade. The campaign goal is to raise $80,000 before May 15.

Today: Track and Field from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at Mullins Field

Friday: Cycling from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at McGill Training Center parking lot

Saturday: Sit volleyball from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Murphy Field House

Saturday: Track and field from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Mullins Field (event qualification day)

Sunday: Cycling from 8:30 a.m. to noon at McGill Training Center parking lot (event qualification day)

Sunday: Track from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mullins Field (event qualification day)

Monday: Sit volleyball from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Murphy Field House

Monday: Awards ceremony from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at McGill Training Center parking lot

Warrior Games

photos courtesy u.s. Army WArrior trAnsition commAnd

Final selection for the 2012 Warrior Games Army team begins today and ends Tuesday. Fort Meade will host track and field, cycling, and volleyball competition.


News

By Nicole Walworth and Denise TegtmeyerEnvironmental Division

This is another in a series of articles designed to inform the Fort Meade com-munity on the status of the environmental cleanup program including actions that may occur in the near future.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a program to man-age and control past disposal and spill sites.

Commonly referred to as “Super-fund,” the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA, as amended by the 1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthoriza-tion Act, were passed in part to clean up past disposal and spill sites. The U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency has devel-oped regulations to execute Superfund.

These acts were passed into law and established a process for the investigation and cleanup of hazardous waste disposal and spill sites to protect human health, safety and the environment.

The Superfund cleanup process begins with site discovery or notification to EPA of possible releases of hazardous substances. Sites are discovered by various parties, including residents, state agencies and fed-eral agencies.

Once discovered, EPA evaluates the potential for a release of hazardous sub-stances from the site through the steps in the Superfund cleanup process.

Seven-step CERCLA processThe seven-step CERCLA process to

identify, investigate and clean up a disposal or release site is carried out with input from the EPA and other stakeholders including state and local environmental regulators as well as the local community.

Steps include:1. Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspec-

tion (PA/SI) - An initial review of the site, including review of the historic records and visual inspections.

Sampling and analysis of soil, surface water, and/or groundwater may occur to evaluate whether the site poses a threat to human health and the environment and needs to move to the next phase for further investigation.

2. Remedial Investigation (RI) - A closer look including collecting and analyzing samples to assess the risk to human health and the environment, such as the RI for the southeastern area groundwater.

A removal action also may be performed

at this point, such as the removal action conducted at Manor View Elementary School (as discussed in the Feb. 9 issue of Soundoff!)

3. Feasibility Study - Results of the risk assessments, along with the data collection during the RI, are used to evaluate cleanup alternatives that have been screened for effectiveness, implementability and cost.

4. Proposed Plan - The cleanup alter-natives evaluated in the FS are presented along with a brief analysis resulting in the preferred alternative. This step requires a meeting to provide information to the pub-lic and allows the public to comment on the preferred alternative.

5. Record of Decision - A public docu-ment that explains which alternative will be used to clean up the site.

6. Remedial Design/Remedial Action - A design for implementing the selected cleanup alternative is prepared. The cleanup remedy is carried out and the public is kept informed.

7. Remedial Action Report - Documents the cleanup in a report.

At the conclusion of the CERCLA pro-cess, a site is restored for future use.

Southeast area groundwater investigation

At Fort Meade, the CERCLA process

is carried out through the Installation Res-toration Program. The program is specific to military facilities and its purpose is to identify, investigate and clean up sites with hazardous substances to reduce the risk to human health and the environment.

The Installation Restoration Program, or IRP, is responsible for the cleanup actions under CERCLA.

Investigation of the southeast area groundwater (also known as Operable Unit-4 or OU-4) highlights how the CER-CLA process is followed at Fort Meade.

OU-4 is situated in the southeast corner of Fort Meade and is comprised of seven former industrial sites:

• Former Motor Pool Maintenance Facility (Building 2286) - vehicle painting and vehicle repair

• Former Tank Maintenance Facility Shop 1 (Building 2207) - storage facility and tank maintenance shop

• Former Tank Maintenance Facility Shop 2 (Former Building 2217) - tank maintenance facility and motor vehicle storage facility, including an equipment wash rack

• Former Tank Cleaning Warehouse (Building 2240) - warehouse for paints, oils, cleaners, and batteries; included a former underground storage tank

• Former Missile Repair Shop (Building 2220) - missile repair shop, warehouse and troop training center

• Former Heavy Gun Cleaning Shop (Building 2253) - maintain military equip-ment, and store and maintain landscaping and groundskeeping equipment; included an aboveground storage tank (AST)

CERCLA investigations at Operable Unit-4

The first phase of CERCLA, the prelimi-nary assessment/site inspection conducted at OU-4, included numerous surface and subsurface soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water samples to characterize the nature and extent of contamination.

Findings indicated that further investiga-tion is warranted, so the second phase of CERCLA — remedial investigation — was started. The RI is under way to determine the specific location and type of the con-tamination in soils and groundwater within OU-4.

During the CERCLA process at OU-4, groundwater contaminated with industrial solvents used for cleaning and degreasing metals, to dry clean fabrics, and as an ingre-dient in paint removers, spot removers and

pesticides, were found.The release of these solvents occurred

generations ago and soaked into the ground and gradually seeped into the groundwater underneath the site. Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface.

Solvents from OU-4 were also identi-fied in groundwater located off post in Odenton.

As a additional precautionary measure, the Army completed a survey of more than 2,500 homes located within one mile of where the solvents were detected.

Once residents were identified to be using well water, their wells were sampled to determine the presence or absence of these contaminants. To date, all but one of the residential wells tested met EPA drinking water standards.

As an additional precautionary mea-sure, the Army offered bottled water to all residents using drinking water wells within the one-mile radius. Homes and businesses receiving their water from the public water supply (Anne Arundel County) are not at risk from these solvents.

Upcoming activitiesOutreach efforts and groundwater char-

acterization in the Odenton area are ongo-ing.

The Army will install three deep ground-water monitoring wells on Anne Arundel County property in residential areas of Odenton, just southeast of Fort Meade, in the early spring.

The monitoring wells are part of the comprehensive study to define how far the solvents have traveled in the groundwater.

Some traffic disruptions and lane clo-sures are anticipated due to the size of the drilling equipment. The monitoring wells will be installed using a drill rig.

Data collected from the monitoring wells will be used to complete the RI and begin developing an approach to cleaning up the groundwater contamination at OU-4.

Additional informationFort Meade has established an infor-

mation repository, which contains docu-ments on the sites on post.

These documents are available for pub-lic review at the West County Area Library at 1325 Annapolis Road in Odenton (410-222-6277) and the Fort Meade Environ-mental Division at 2212 Chisholm Ave. (301-677-9854).

For more information, call the Fort Meade Environmental Division at 410-677-9854.

Superfund supports environmental cleanups

photo courtesy environmental division

This spring, the Army will install three, deep groundwater monitoring wells on Anne Arundel County property in residential areas of Odenton, just southeast of Fort Meade.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 8, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

A Soldier wakes suddenly from his sleep.

Drenched in sweat and disoriented, he is experiencing a flashback from his ser-vice in Iraq. His screams wake up his wife, who manages to stop him from reaching for his firearm in the nightstand drawer.

The scenario, said Lt. Cmdr. Marivic Fields, director of Behavioral Health Patient Care Management at Kimbrough Ambula-tory Center and a licensed social worker, is a classic symptom of service members with post-traumatic stress disorder.

While many service members who are diagnosed with the disorder undergo treat-ment at Kimbrough, Fields said there are few resources on post for spouses who must also cope with its challenges.

That is until now.On Wednesday evening, the installation’s

first Spouse PTSD Support Group was scheduled to meet at the Warrior in Transi-tion Soldier and Family Assistance Center at 85th Medical Battalion Road.

The four-week support group will meet March 14, 21 and 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is open to spouses in all service branches whose partner is diagnosed with PTSD, or is not receiving treatment for the disorder. Spouses whose partners have experienced traumatic events outside of military combat may also join the group.

Free child care is available for all par-ticipants.

The initiative is a collaboration between Kimbrough, the Army Substance Abuse Program and the installation’s Religious Support Office.

Janine Byrnes and Therese Boucher, social workers with ASAP, and Fields are volunteer co-facilitators of the support group.

Deputy Garrison Chaplain (Maj.) Boug-slaw Augustyn, a Catholic priest, and Fields came up with the idea for the support group to help spouses dealing with PTSD.

Once called shell shock or battle fatigue syndrome, PTSD is a serious mental illness that can develop after a person has experi-enced or witnessed a traumatic or terrify-ing event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened, according to the WebMD website.

Individuals with PTSD often experi-ence a wide range of symptoms includ-ing insomnia, lack of intimacy, isolation, depression, anxiety, increased alcohol and drug use (including prescription drugs), and increased risky behaviors, such as reck-less driving. Some people also experience problems in the workplace.

Service members who are enrolled in ASAP for drug and alcohol issues may also suffer from PTSD, Byrnes said.

Installation Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Sid A. Taylor said some service members with PTSD may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame.

“If you were not able to save your buddy or know that your actions in combat may have led to the loss of the life of others .. if you can’t reconcile that with yourself, those feelings can continue and become a ghost that leads to internal pain and confusion,” he said.

Spouses deal with the aftermath of such trauma firsthand, said Byrnes.

“If that service member does not talk to anyone and is still experiencing symptoms, the spouse is left to deal with it,” she said.

Partners have good intentions and want to help mates who struggle with PTSD, Fields said, but they often don’t know what to do and the conflict can become overwhelming.

The support group provides a safe envi-

Support group for spouses deals with post-combat stressronment where spouses can share their feel-ings, learn coping skills and connect with others, Byrnes said.

The group’s discussions are confidential and will not be documented. However, the co-facilitators, who are all licensed social workers, are required by state law to report incidents of child abuse and neglect and threats of suicide and homicide.

In addition to learning about PTSD, Byrnes said members also will explore ways to better care for themselves.

When the four weeks are over, the facili-

tators will ask participants to evaluate the group. Fields said they hope members will continue to support one another and that the facilitators will keep in touch to find out if participants need additional help.

If the support group is a success, other sessions may follow in the future.

“If we’re meeting their needs, our intent is to keep the support group going,” Fields said.

Editor’s note: For more information about the Spouse PTSD Support Group, call Lt. Cmdr. Marivic Fields at 301-677-8870.

photo courtesy of chILD DeVeLopMeNt ceNter I

Happy ‘b’ DayAudrey Rothstein, wife of Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein, reads “The Berenstains’ B Book” to a group of preschoolers Friday at Child Development Center I to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday. The event was part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day, which promotes literacy among youths and honors Dr. Seuss.

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! March 8, 2012

By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service

Army leaders are aware of the dif-ferences between field forces and gar-rison forces and look to minimize the differences, the Army chief of staff said Feb. 21.

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno told the Defense Writers Group that he wants to ensure that Soldiers “stay excited” about being in the Army, and is look-ing at ways to do that.

“What I’m trying to do is excite our young men and women about develop-ing a future,” he said. “They will help us all develop what the Army is going to look like and how we might fight in the future.”

Over the course of 10 years of war, younger Soldiers have assumed a great deal of responsibility in Iraq and Afghanistan, Odierno said. Yet when they get back to their home stations, he said, they often find multiple levels of supervision where there was just one during their deployments.

As the Army drops in numbers, Odierno said, the new budget looks to build “reversibility” into the service. This means the service will retain more officers and noncommissioned officers to be able to rebuild the force if the strategy is wrong and the nation needs more land power.

These officers and NCOs do not necessarily need to be in line outfits, Odierno said.

“Over the last eight years we’ve cre-ated holes in our Army,” he said.

For example, the service’s Training and Doctrine Command used to be full of officers and NCOs.

“We significantly reduced that over the last seven to eight years to fill the ranks for Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Odierno, noting that civilians and contractors filled those jobs at the command.

The general told the writers he wants to reduce that trend and put experi-enced officers and NCOs back into those slots. That enables the Army to take advantage of their combat expe-rience and improve future strategies,

t e c h n i q u e s and doctrine, he said.

O d i e r n o cited Fort Benning, Ga., as another example of a venue to host these officers and NCOs.

In the past, “we always had small group leaders — captains, majors and NCOs — and that has gone away,” he said. “We want to reinvigorate that and put officers and NCOs in those places.”

If leaders decide the Army does not need to shrink as much as now planned, then these officers and NCOs would be perfectly placed to rebuild battalions and brigades, Odierno said.

The general said he does not want Soldiers to panic over the upcoming changes. The Army will drop to about 480,000 Soldiers by the end of 2017.

Odierno said this measured, careful and slow drop will allow the service to take advantage of natural attrition.

“There’s still lots of opportunity to make a career out of the Army,” he said.

Three or four years ago, the service recruited large numbers of Soldiers, the general said, and he expects a similar attrition rate in the next few years.

“There will be something we will have to do around the fringes that will cause us to ask some of those who would have been asked to stay before, to leave,” he said. “But that’s going to be limited, in my view.”

Soldiers at all levels have a great deal of combat experience and knowl-edge, Odierno said.

“We have a great Army, and I want to keep the experience, I want to keep the best,” he said. “We want to ensure that those who are doing very, very well have a chance to continue to suc-ceed in the Army.”

Army wants Soldiers to stay excited about service

News

News To Use

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 8, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

By Maj. Sonise Lumbaca, Public Affairs OfficeAsymmetric Warfare Group

One of Fort Meade’s own was among 78 service members invited to attend a dinner at the White House hosted Feb. 29 by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Master Sgt. William Tomlin III, an operational advisor for the Asymmetric Warfare Group at Fort Meade, was select-ed to represent and attend the dinner, which recognized the significant contribu-tions of all service members who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

“The whole experience was a lot more than we expected,” said Tomlin, who attended the dinner with his wife, Sarah.

The couple had never attended an event of this magnitude.

“The president and Mrs. Obama were great hosts,” Sarah Tomlin said.

Dinner guests included service mem-bers and their families from across the nation, from all services, and from diverse

backgrounds and ranks.“[The service members in attendance]

were chosen specifically to represent our comrades,” said Tomlin, a native of Barkhamsted, Conn. “And, I am proud to represent [Soldiers from the units I have served with] and other Soldiers from Connecticut.”

Many of the guests have had multiple deployments to Iraq.

Tomlin served three tours in Iraq while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

He is the recipient of the Silver Star, a medal he was awarded for acts of valor while serving in Afghanistan in 2007. A platoon sergeant at the time serving with the 508th Infantry Battalion, Tomlin was on his fourth tour of duty, and second in Afghanistan.

The Silver Star was presented to him by then-President George Bush at a cer-emony on May 22, 2008 at Fort Bragg, N.C.

In addition to the president and first lady, guest speakers and other attendees at the dinner included Vice President

Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno.

“The president’s and Secretary Panet-ta’s speeches highlighted their respect for service members and their families,” Tomlin said.

All who spoke during the evening expressed their gratitude, thanking ser-vice members and their families for their duty, dedication, sacrifices and service to the nation.

“The highlight of the event was sitting with General Odierno,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin and the general talked for a good portion of the evening on subjects that included his past military experience and his current assignment with AWG.

“It was great to be honored and hum-bling to be in the presence of so many great people,” Tomlin said. “Sarah and I are honored to have been invited to the White House. This will serve as a high point in our lives, and a memory that we will share with others.”

AWG Soldier, wife attend White House dinner

Photo courtesy u.s. Army

Master Sgt. William Tomlin III, an operational advisor assigned to the Asymmetric Warfare Group at Fort Meade, was selected along with 77 other service members to attend a White House dinner honoring Iraq war veterans. Tomlin served three tours in Iraq while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Fort Meade MARC Shuttle Bus ScheduleDEPARTS

ODENTON MARC

6:22 A.M.

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DEPARTS POST ThEATER

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DEPARTS kiMbROugh

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DEPARTS ADjuDiCATiON

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ARRivES AT ODENTON MARC

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ARRivES AT DiSA

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ARRivES AT DMA

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TRAiN DEPARTS MARC FOR

uNiON STATiON3:00 P.M.

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TRAiN ARRivES AT MARC FROM uNiON STATiON

6:18 A.M.

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TRAiN ARRivES AT MARC FROM PENN STATiON 5:50/6:18 A.M.

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DEPARTS DMA

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6:10 P.M.


News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

David Jones was not disappointed when he held on-site interviews at the installation’s Youth Job Fair on March 1.

“I was very impressed,” said Jones, general manager at Devcon Security, a security sys-tems company based in Edgewood.

Thirty candidates applied for full-time and independent contractor sales positions. “Many kids were hungry for work,” Jones said.

About 500 youths age 16 to 21 partici-pated in the annual event at McGill Training Center.

More than 45 businesses, educational insti-tutions, military recruiters, federal agencies and nonprofit organizations were exhibitors. Participants included the Air Force, National Security Agency, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Towson University, Ameri-can Pool, Safeway, Cinemark Egyptian 24 Theaters, Camp Fire USA and the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County.

Exhibitors offered several employment

and other options, including full- and part-time jobs, internships, training programs and volunteer opportunities.

The job fair was a collaboration between the Employment Readiness Program at Army Community Service; Child, Youth and School Services; the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Anne Arundel One-Stop; Anne Arundel Work-force Development Corporation; and the Fleet and Family Support Center at ACS.

Vikki Torrence, Employment Readiness Program Manager at ACS, invited Dev-con Security, Weiss Supermarket and other employers to hold on-site interviews at the job fair.

“It’s a value-added benefit to the exhibi-tors and gives an opportunity to the youths to present themselves,” Torrence said. “It was the first time we did it. It seems like it was a win-win.”

Of the 30 youths who were interviewed by Devcon Security, four are prospective inde-pendent contractors and two are prospective full-time employees, pending the review and

Youth Job Fair draws eager young job-seekers

photos by nate pesce

TOP: Helena Ota, a recruiter at Red Arch Solutions, a software engineering company in Columbia, speaks to a group of young people at the annual Youth Job Fair at McGill Training Center.

ABOVE: Christian Summers, 21, of Millersville, fills out a job application for the Cinemark Egyptian 24 Theater at Anne Arundel Mall during the Youth Job Fair. Devcon Security and Weiss Supermarkets held on-site interviews at the job fair for prospective candidates.

RIGHT: About 500 teens and young adults ages 16 to 21 take part in Fort Meade’s annual Youth Job Fair on March 1 at McGill Training Center. Co-sponsored by the Employment Readiness Program at Army Community Service and other post and off-post organizations, the event provided opportunities to interact with prospective employers, learn resume and interview tips, and sign up for volunteer work.


processing of their paper work.

In addition to on-site interviews, the job fair also offered seminars in resume prepara-tion and interviewing techniques.

Torrence said the goal of the job fair is to “provide youth with the opportunity to showcase their talent” and help employers find qualified candidates for summer or ongoing full-time or part-time employment.

Labor statistics show that youths need all the help they can get in landing a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23.2 percent of teens nationwide were unem-ployed as of last month.

“Jobs that have traditionally gone to a younger population have been taken by the number of adults who are out of work and by graduating college students,” Torrence said. “We wanted to provide a little ray of sunshine for young people.”

Allen Gordon, a senior studying graphic design at Anne Arundel Community College, said he attended the fair to “seek out future opportunities.”

Although he interviewed with the NSA, Gordon said he plans to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for entrance to the Navy to become a photojour-nalist or graphic designer.

“It’s a job I’ll be able to keep,” he said.

For a second year, Lexus Johnson, a junior at Arundel High School, came to the fair to sign up as a lifeguard at U.S. Aquatics, a pool management company in Beltsville.

“I like keeping kids safe,” the 16-year-old said. “I like being a lifeguard. I don’t want them to get hurt.”

Kevin Johnston, a human resources spe-cialist at the Defense Media Activity, said the agency is offering paid full-time and part-time internships for youths in areas ranging from media to human resources and finance.

“So far, the young people we’ve seen have come prepared and seem willing to learn,” Johnston said.

Airman 1st Class Anthony Marquez, 19, of the Air Force National Guard, traveled from Hanover, Pa., to find a full-time techni-cal job at the fair.

A client systems technician, Marquez said there aren’t many technical jobs available where he lives.

“They want someone with years of experi-ence or a college degree, which I don’t have yet,” he said.

But as he planned to interview with the NSA and the U.S. Secret Service, Marquez said he is optimistic.

“I think I’m going to do OK,” he said.

Michael Wood of the Student Company, U.S. Army Signal School Detachment distributes information brochures to participants at the installation’s Youth Job Fair on March 1. The event featured more than 45 exhibitors.

BELOW: Special Agent Don Basillo of the U.S. Secret Service discusses job opportunities with Emily Guenther, 17, a student at Meade High School, and her mother, Michele Guenther.


SportS

Story and photo by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

Last winter Leonard Frett lost 65 pounds, clinching the title of overall winner of the 2011 Dump Your Plump competition.

Since then, the kennel technician at the installation’s Family Pet Care Center has kept the weight off. So when the 2012 Dump Your Plump rolled around in January, Frett continued his winning ways by dropping another 51.4 pounds.

A now 140-pound lighter Frett was named the men’s winner in the annual weight-loss competition for service members, family members and civilians on post.

“I feel real good,” he said. “It was hard work.”

The fourth annual Dump Your Plump competition wrapped up Friday with the final weigh-in at Gaffney Fitness Center. Competitors gathered Tuesday afternoon for a brief ceremony as the results were announced.

Over eight weeks of fighting the battle of the bulge, the 267 competitors have shed a total of 1,527 pounds using workout and diet plans of their own choosing. Last year, participants lost a total weight of 921 pounds — a whopping 600-pound difference.

“This is probably the greatest loss we’ve had in the four years of doing it,” said Lau-ren Williams, acting athletics, fitness and aquatics director at Gaffney. “I think it’s really impressive. We get shocked every year. It’s great to see the motivation people have to get in here in the morning and get their workouts in.”

Contestants in the free, incentive-based program could compete either alone or with a team of four. This year, a total of 35 teams under such creative names as Waist Management and 127 individuals took on the challenge.

The competition began Jan. 9 to help par-ticipants keep their New Year resolutions of losing weight and/or getting in shape.

“It keeps them motivated and in a work-out program, so that they’ll keep going to meet their weight-loss goals,” Williams said.

Throughout the annual competition, par-ticipants must attend weekly weigh-ins at Gaffney using a scale that measures body fat along with weight. For each weigh-in an individual or team misses, a pound is added to the final weight. Participants who miss three consecutive weigh-ins are eliminated.

At the end of the competition, the total percentage of body fat lost is calculated and

Weigh to goDump Your Plump winners lose big

Dump Your Plump winners Maricela Perez and Leonard Frett take a spin on stationary bikes in the Gaffney Fitness Center spin room. Perez lost 22.4 pounds, while Frett dropped 51.4 pounds during the eight-week, incentive-based weight-loss program.

winners are determined. Prizes are awarded to the top two men, top two women, top three teams and overall winner.

This year’s overall winner was Matthew Wise, who lost 32.9 percent of his body fat. For his success, Wise was awarded a T-shirt, gym bag, water bottle, shammy, lunch containers, a hot-cold pack and an iPod Touch.

After taking second place last year, a team from the Fort Meade Fire Department finished in first place. The Fat Fire Four-The Last Chance officially lost a combined 14.2 percent of body fat and 144 pounds.

Fort Meade Fire Chief E.J. Rouvet said the team is an annual contender because after the competition ends, participants tend to put the weight back. This year, however, Rouvet said the team will do more to make next year’s competition unnecessary.

The Fat Fire Four cut their weight down by eating less and working out more.

“The goal is to do everything in our power to continue this,” Rouvet said.

Frett won the men’s category, losing 28 percent body fat, while Maricela Perez took the top woman’s title after losing 22.4 pounds and 17.5 percent body fat. The two competi-tors helped each other lose the weight, send-ing text messages of encouragement and working out together.

“Me and Maricela kept each other moti-vated,” Frett said.

In addition to incorporating regular car-dio in their routines, Perez and Frett also attended spin classes at Gaffney together.

Perez, a Meuse Forest resident, said she also ran 25 miles weekly — burning about

7,000 calories per week. She also watched her diet, avoiding anything fried while focus-ing on healthy foods.

“I feel good — more weight to go,” Perez said.

To avoid gaining back weight back after last year’s competition, Frett continued his cardio-heavy routine and watched what he ate. He is now down to 235 pounds and plans to maintain that weight. He said he hopes his weight loss can motivate others.

“If people can see I can do it and lose 140, they can do it,” Frett said.

photo by noah scialom

hoop dreamsFort Meade Cougars relax on the bench before the intramural champi-onship game Saturday at the Youth Center gym. The four teams in the intramural league for 8- and 9-year-olds competed in a double-elimina-tion tournament for the championship title.

Biggest losersOverall winner:• Matthew Wise, 32.9 percent body fatIndividual men:• Leonard Frett, 28 percent body fat• Felix Rodriquez, 19.6 percent body fatIndividual women:• Maricela Perez, 17.5 percent body fat• Jennifer Davis, 11.7 percent body fatTop teams:• Fat Fire Four-The Last Chance, 14.2 percent body fat• Fruit Loops, 11.60 percent body fat• Waist Management, 11.55 percent body fat


SportS

Sports ShortsOld Joe Golf Tournament

The Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’ Club is sponsoring the 7th Annual “Old Joe” Golf Tournament on April 20 at the Courses.

Registration is $80 and includes green fees and cart, putting contest, breakfast and lunch.

Proceeds benefit scholarship and welfare programs of the Fort Meade military community.

For more information or to register, email Dana O’Shea at [email protected] or visit www.fortmeadeosc.org.

Volunteer track coaches neededCYS2 Sports & Fitness is seeking volunteer track coaches for field events. For more information, call Jesse Miller, assistant sports director, at 301-677-

1179 or e-mail at [email protected].

Total Athlete Development CampThe Athlete’s Global Academy Total Athlete Development Camp will be

held April 2 to 6 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Youth Center gym.The camp will focus on increasing speed, agility, hand-eye coordination,

flexibility, running techniques, quick feet and hands, explosive first steps, improved balance and stability, increased vertical leap, strength and core training, and nutrition.

Cost for the full week is $85.For more information or to register, call 301-677-1156.

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

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

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

If weather.com isn’t lying, and you know it never is, then the thermometer should touch 70 at some point today — hopefully, while you’re reading this.

And even though our winter was disap-pointingly temperate, it’s always nice to know that spring, and all the greatness that comes with it, is here.

In case you forgot, and in no particular order, here’s a sampling of what spring brings to the table at Fort Meade: Daylight Saving Time on Sunday (Don’t forget to change your smoke alarm batteries); spring sports registration and season (ongoing); Women’s History Month observance (March 22); Earth Day (April 17); the final Commander’s Cup Golf Tournament (April 29); Armed Forces Day; Massing of the Colors (May 6); Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May); and, of course, Law Day (May 1).

That’s just some of the official stuff.The real beauty of spring is the ability to

do those things that might not make it on the master calendar under a warm, inviting sun and in shorts.*

For example, families can get back to play-ing a little “bird-poo hopscotch” during their jaunt around Burba Lake. The kids can rein-troduce themselves to the installation’s newest playground behind the Main Post Chapel and use an open field in their neighborhood to play catch.

I also expect the Air Force to get back to playing Frisbee football on the parade field, and intramurals to get back to playing every-where else.

And for that large group of us — literally and figuratively — that prefers its recreational activities to be in front of a television, spring has something for us as well. I like to call it the “BracketBountyBaseballGolf Draft,” or BBBG to the D. I guess it should probably just be the “BBG to the D” since the whole nonsense about “Bountygate” is not really tied to a season as much as to a slow, PC media cycle that likes to get itself ramped up over things that sound a whole lot worse than they really are.

Fact is, for decades NFL owners have paid defensive players millions of dollars a year to try and hit people as hard as they can.

The New Orleans Saints isn’t the first team to post bounties; it isn’t even the first to get caught doing it. The Saints just happened to be caught at a time when it is popular to highlight the “hazards” of football. Plus, people needed something football-related to talk about between now and a cornerstone of spring sports, The NFL Draft, which begins

April 26.I guess I should

mention Peyton leaving the Colts, but the only lessons to learn there are greed trumps loyal-ty and always trust a Rob Lowe tweet (or anyone else from the Brat Pack for that matter).

So, on to the rest of the acronym.G stands for golf, which is about ready to

get more interesting now that Tiger seems to be swinging into form three weeks before the Masters (April 5-8), which is clearly the best golf tournament of the year.

More importantly, golf on Fort Meade is still alive, and I encourage you to take advan-tage of what we have here and the opportunities we are developing through our partnerships with the counties. (See story on Page 3.)

One B is for baseball. Pitchers and catch-ers reported last week, and Opening Day is just around the corner. Fantasy Baseball starts sooner than that. “The Boy” and I are making our annual pilgrimage to Cousin Claw’s in Michigan for our baseball draft in a few weeks.

Plus, “MLB 12 The Show” and “MLB 2K12” are on the shelves for you gamers out there. Our paginator Tim has already played his first preseason game on the “The Show.” Liter-ally. He plays preseason video baseball games in between participating in fantasy baseball “mock” drafts.

Of course, most of us will not have much time to do either mock drafts or virtual pre-season games because of the other B in our new favorite acronym, which stands for Brackets.

This B represents the greatest three weeks in all of sports, March Madness. This Sunday is Selection Sunday, and the real tournament begins a week from today. In fairness, the play-in games start Tuesday.

And as in the past, Fort Meade is partnering with Picerne Military Housing for its annual Sweet 16 Challenge. Take a peek at the ad to the right of this column to see how to register.

Other than that, I think I’m going to take a stroll around the lake.

*It is important to remember that just because you can wear shorts, that doesn’t mean you should wear shorts.

If you have comments on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

BBG to the D

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn


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 [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

Methane removal updateStarting today and depending on

weather, the Manor View project will begin relocating an aboveground, methane-collection system piping below ground.

This is necessary to allow the construction equipment, which will remove the trash, to move around the site.

Expect to see small digging equipment opening shallow trenches to bury this piping.

This phase of the project is to prepare for the trash removal, which is anticipated to begin the week of March 19.

Women’s History Month observance

Fort Meade’s annual Women’s History

Month observance will be held March 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center.

Admission is free and open to the public. Free food samplings will be served.

The event is hosted by Army Cyber Command/2nd Army.

The keynote speaker will be Michele S. Jones, director of External Veteran/Military Affairs and Community Outreach, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, President’s Veterans Employment Initiative.

All Fort Meade service members and civilian employees are encouraged to attend with supervisory approval and without charge to annual leave. Adminsitrative leave is authorized.

For more information, call Sgt. 1st Class at 301-833-2011, Ms. Telsee at 301-833-2002 or Sgt. 1st Class Bass at 301-677-6687.

NAF property saleThe Fort Meade Directorate of Fam-

ily and Morale, Welfare and Recreation will host a sale of used equipment and furnishings on March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pavilion.

Items include: ellipticals, treadmills, steppers, child care furniture, boats, campers, Apple computers and commer-cial-grade restaurant equipment.

For a full inventory, visit www.ftmeademwr.com. Condition of equip-ment and furnishings vary from slightly used to nonoperational due to missing parts.

Money generated from the sale goes back to the community.

Technical Job Fair A Technical Job Fair will be held

March 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Club Meade, 6600 Mapes Road.

Anticipate lines. Bring plenty of resumes. Dress for success.

National Prayer LuncheonThe Fort Meade National Prayer

Luncheon will be held March 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Club Meade.

The event is sponsored by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office. Chief of Chaplains Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Donald L. Rutherford will be the guest speaker.

Suggested donation is $10 for civilian employees and service members with a rank of E-6 and above.

Seating is limited to 300 people. Tickets can be obtained through the unit sergeant major or noncommissioned officer in charge.

Service members and civilian employees are encouraged to attend with supervisory approval and without charge to annual leave. Administrative leave is authorized.

For more information on tickets, call the Garrison Chaplain’s Office at 301-677-6703 or 301-677-7842.

PCS pet travel needsThe Fort Meade Veterinary Treatment

Facility provides health certificates for CONUS and OCONUS PCS travel

Some countries have different import requirements such as a FAVN blood test six months before travel, ISO microchip and extra Rabies vaccinations.

As soon as orders are given or anticipated, visit the VTF at 2018 Annapolis Road (outside the Reece Road gate) to discuss your pet travel needs or call 301-677-1300.

Easter workshop Design handmade gifts and cards at an

Easter workshop on Saturday and March 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts Center, 6530 York Ave.

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

call 410-575-4224.

Karaoke NightThe 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes

is hosting a free Karaoke Night on the third Thursday of the month.

The next Karaoke Night will be March 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. The public is invited.

For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Dance nightsClub Meade is offering the following

dance events:• Latin Club Night, Friday and April

20, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.• Country-Top 40 Night, March 23

and April 27, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.No cover charge. A cash bar is

available.For more information, call 301-677-

5298.

Resiliency workshop“Building Resiliency in Children and

Teens: A Workshop for Educators and Caregivers” will be presented March

22 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Meade High School Media Center.

Registration will be from 2:15 to 2:30 p.m.

The workshop will feature Dr. Ken Ginsburg, a renowned pediatrician and leading authority on developing resiliency in children and adolescents.

Ginsburg is the author of “A Parent’s Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens” and “But I’m Almost 13: An Action Plan for Raising a Responsible Adolescent,” and co-author of “Less Stress, More Success.”

Learn how to develop the seven Cs: competency, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control. Recognize the red flags that may indicate when a child/teen is at risk. Support children and teens to develop positive ways to cope with stress.

The workshop is free, but admission is limited.

To register, call 202-650-7634 or email [email protected].

EFMP workshopA workshop for military parents of

children with disabilities will be presented March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Meade Heights Elementary School.

The workshop will focus on children with autism; services parent can expect from the Echo program; and services from the infants and toddlers program and the Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

The workshop is sponsored by the Exceptional Family Member Program and the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Division of Special Education.

To attend, email Caraline Someck by March 23 at [email protected].

County board of ed applications

The School Board Nominating Commission of Anne Arundel County will begin accepting applications for the Anne Arundel County Board of Education At Large seat as well as the District 21 seat that will open July 1.

School board candidate applications will be accepted by the commission until close of business on April 27.

Applications and detailed timeline information can be found at the commission’s website, http://www.aacps.org/sbnc/sbnc.asp.

Applications should be submitted to School Board Nominating Commission of Anne Arundel County, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 or via

Spring forwardDon’t forget to set your clocks

forward one hour on Sunday at 2 a.m. when Daylight Saving Time begins.

Also be sure to change batteries in smoke detectors.

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION


Community news & notes

email to [email protected] electronic applications as PDF

files.For more information, email

[email protected] the SBNC website at www.

aacps.org/sbnc for updates to confirm date, time and location of all future public hearings.

Fleet Center classesThe Fleet and Family Support Center

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

• Federal Employment: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon. Learn the basics of the federal employment system

• Financial Services and Management: Tuesday, 9 to 11 a.m. This course covers the pros and cons of credit unions vs. banks and services provided by each. The class also discusses how to manage, bal-ance and reconcile your bank accounts.

• Sponsorship Training: Tuesday, 1 to 3 p.m. Bring your spouse with you to gather as many resources and information as possible for your next duty station.

• 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.

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

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

• Sunday: “How to change oil and maintain your vehicle”

• March 25: “How to change wheel bearings”

• April 8: “How to replace drive belts and anti-freeze”

• April 22: Proper procedures for replacing timing belts

Cost for each course is $10. For more information, call 301-677-5542.

ESC Scholarship AwardThe Enlisted Spouses’ Club Scholar-

ship Award, valued at $1,500, will be applied to the 2012-2013 school year. Multiple winners will be selected.

Scholarships may be used at any accredited college, university, business or vocational school for one year.

High school seniors or continuing edu-cation students born in 1989 or later may apply.

Applicants must be enrolled as a full-

time student. They must be children of military members from any branch, active duty, retired, deceased, Reservist or National Guard. The military member must reside in the Fort Meade area.

Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student and volunteer in their school or community.

To apply:• Submit official transcripts for your

junior year and first semester of your senior year if in high school.

• Submit official transcripts from your appropriate higher level of education if you are a continuing education student.

• Submit a completed application with supporting documentation as listed in the application package, which may be down-loaded, at www.ftmeadeesc.org.

Evelyn Silva ScholarshipThe Evelyn Silva Scholarship Award

of Excellence awarded by the Enlisted Spouses Club is valued at $2,000 and will be applied to the 2012-2013 academic school year.

This scholarship will be awarded to one graduating high school senior. This year, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Central Mary-land Chapter will contribute an addi-tional $2,000 to this scholarship.

Scholarships may be used at any accredited college, university, business or vocational school for one year.

Only high school seniors may apply. Applicants must be the child of a military member from any branch, active duty, retired, deceased, Reservist or National Guard. The military member must reside in the Fort Meade area.

Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student.

Applicants are required to:• Demonstrate continued volunteerism

in their school or community.• Submit official transcripts for their

junior year and first semester of their senior year if in high school.

• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.• Submit letters of recommendation.• Submit a completed application with

supporting documentation as listed in the application package, which may down-loaded, at www.ftmeadeesc.org.

Middle school activitiesChild, Youth and School Services is

offering several activities for grades six to eight:

• Roller Skating trip, March 16, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Cost is $11 and $8 without skate rental.

• Grilling & Chilling Night, March 23, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $7 for meal and includes barbecue ribs, loaded baked potatoes and salad.

• Appetizers & Movie Night, March 30, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for food and includes buffalo wings, cheese sticks and Nachos.


StorytimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial Library

offers pre-kindergarten Storytime every Thurs-day from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m.

• Today: “Waddle We Read Today?” - a duck-themed Storytime

• March 15: “It’s Easy Being Green Storytime” – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early by reading books about all things green.

• March 22: “Spring into a Good Book” – celebrating spring

• March 29: “Reading Makes Us Hoppy” - songs and finger plays about bunnies


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 chick-en wings, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, fruit salad and beverages.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available 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.


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. 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 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.

• 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 Friday. 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.

• 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 Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second 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 Monday. 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 Tuesday. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email [email protected].

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie. The speaker will be Karen Straughn, an assistant attorney general and director of the Mediation Unit for the Consumer Protection Division, which mediates disputes between consumers and businesses.

Current and retired federal employees and their spouses are invited. For more information or to join, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• 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 Wednesday. 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.

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS

News & Politics

Fort Meade SoundOff! for March 8, 2012