plan aheadMilitary Saves Week offers tips to reduce debt

page 3

UpCOMInG eVenTSSUnday, 2 a.M.: Daylight saving time begins; change batteries in smoke alarmsMarCh 19, 9 a.M.-2 p.M.: Technical Job Fair - Club MeadeMarCh 19, 5:30 p.M.: EFMP Bowling - The LanesMarCh 20, 11:30 a.M.: Women’s History Month Observance - McGill Training Ctr.aprIl 4, 6:30 a.M.: Sexual Assault Awareness Run - McGlachlin Parade Field

naIl BITerPatriots hand Myer-Henderson first loss of season with 93-92 win

page 12

Soundoff!́vol. 66 no. 9 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community March 6, 2014

PHOTO BY STePHen ellmOre

Marines from Marine Detachment Fort Meade gather the flag after Retreat at McGlachlin Parade Field. Members of the Fort Meade community take special pride in rendering honor to the U.S. flag. For the story, see Page 10.

Respecting ‘old gloRy’

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................12

CrimeWatch................. 8 Movies.................................15

Community................. 14 Classified.............................16

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Brian P. foleyGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. thomas J. latterPublic 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 the Baltimore Sun Media Group

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300or email advertise@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 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: 301-677-5602; DSN: 622-5602.

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 The Baltimore Sun Co., LLC, 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/ftmeademd

and view the Fort Meade Live Blog at ftmeade.armylive.dodlive.mil.

Soundoff!́Guaranteed circulation:

11,285

Hello again, Team Meade. March has arrived and is truly “coming in like a lion.”

We’ve had a fairly harsh winter this year. Hopefully, Monday’s snowfall will be the last and March will “go out like a lamb,” as the old saying goes.

I want to thank our hard-working road crews who labored 24/7 during several of the events to ensure our streets were cleared and safe.

The missions executed by the people who work on our installation are vital toward our national defense, and our road crews ensured we were able to continue execution during some pretty harsh conditions. Thanks to all.

I also want to focus this month’s col-umn on the hard work and professionalism exhibited every day by our Child, Youth and School Services staff.

We said goodbye Friday evening to our long-time director of CYSS, Lida-M H Payne. Lida grew up on Fort Meade, and then spent the past 39 years serving our community in just about every CYSS capac-ity possible.

She retired last week after having served at the top of her profession for the past four years and as acting chief for another year.

Lida is just one of an estimated 350 equally dedicated and hard-working Youth Services and education professionals who care for our children on Fort Meade. Our providers open up their facilities well before PT in the morn-

ing, keep them open until well after retreat, and close under only the most extreme condi-tions.

They are held to the very highest state, federal, and national stan-dards — with good reason. No one would argue that our children are our nation’s most precious asset.

Our child care and education professionals charge themselves with caring for this most precious asset, caring for our children as if they were their own.

They help us as parents educate, raise and prepare the next generation, the future of our nation. For that we owe our deepest gratitude, and a proverbial standing round of applause.

We have a busy spring ahead. The weather will warm up soon and the snow will melt — promise!

Until then, stay warm and be safe.If you must drive before the streets are clear,

remember to keep extra distance between you and the vehicle in front, slow down, and tap your brakes to stop.

Easter is right around the corner!

Thanks to our CYSS professionals

COL. Brian P. FOLeyGarrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrisonCommanderCol.BrianP.Foleyhasanopendoorpolicy.Allservicemembers,retirees,governmentemployees,familymembersand

communitymembersage18orolderare invitedtoaddress issuesorcon-cernstothecommanderdirectlybyvisitingFoley’sofficeonMondaysfrom4 to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquarters inHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.

Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment isnecessary.

Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Retired 1st Sgt. Brian McLean wishes he had been better informed about the importance of saving for retirement.

“Think how much money I would have,” said McLean, who retired from Fort Meade in 2009 after 26 years in the Army. “I would be sitting on a million dollars, easy.”

McLean was one of more than 40 service members and DoD civilians who learned how to better manage their finances at “Military Saves: A Day of Financial Fitness” on Feb. 27.

The daylong seminar, sponsored by Army Community Service at the Com-munity Readiness Center, was held during Military Saves Week.

Held Feb. 24 to March 1, Military Saves Week is part of the Military Saves Campaign, which is sponsored by DoD and coordinated by the Consumer Fed-eration of America. The campaign is dedicated to helping service members and their families save money, reduce debt and build wealth.

Ryan Yarnell, personal Financial Readiness specialist for ACS, said the seminar was a way to “encourage people to focus on their finances and pledge to take the next step.”

Presentations on various financial top-ics were provided by ACS, Fort Meade’s Fleet and Family Support Center, the Fort Meade Community Credit Union, PNC Bank, the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Retirement Thrift Invest-ment Board.

Topics included financial planning, outsmarting scammers, credit manage-ment and buying a home. Organizers provided a free lunch and a presentation on the Thrift Savings Plan, a defined contribution retirement savings plan for federal employees.

Yarnell gave a presentation on financial planning and spoke about the importance of setting short- and long-term goals and setting up a budget plan to meet them.

“A budget is the best thing to do, but it’s the one thing that people don’t use,” Yarnell said.

A budget plan allows people to keep track of their income, expenses and spending, and provides the opportunity to decide how much discretionary income is left over for savings.

Once a budget plan is in place, the next step is to build an emergency savings fund that should cover three to six months of

Financial planning tips offered during Military Saves Week

expenses.“This protects you from Murphy’s Law

— what can go wrong, will go wrong,” Yarnell said.

The fund can be used for sudden home or car repairs, or for mortgage and car payments during a period of unemploy-ment.

Yarnell said that the recent government shutdown is proof that an emergency sav-ings fund can come in handy.

“If you had an emergency savings fund, you could have used that” to cover expenses during the shutdown, he said.

Paying off debts and saving for retire-ment are other important steps to build-ing wealth.

Jacqueline Smith, president of the Fort Meade Community Credit Union, spoke about managing credit and explained how the three credit reporting agencies work.

Smith said that consumers should check their credit report at least once a year for errors and to secure a good credit score.

“Nowadays, they’re pulling your cred-it report for everything — to work at McDonald’s, rent an apartment,” she said.

Currently, a good credit score ranges

home, Terri Darvish, a mortgage loan officer at PNC Financial Services Group in Laurel, advised participants to research the home buying process the way they research buying a car.

“Nobody’s doing that research before they buy a home,” Darvish said. “That’s the reason for the housing meltdown.”

Darvish said that before purchasing a home, participants should determine if it is in their best interest to rent or buy property.

Renting is best for service members who are not financially secure and antici-pate frequent permanent change-of-duty stations.

Home ownership is best to build equity and to gain a tax write-off, Darvish said.

Darvish also spoke about the advan-tages of a Veterans Affairs home loan, which offers a no-down-payment home loan program.

“The VA is the best loan there is,” she said.

Darvish recommended that partici-pants consider a rent-to-own or a fore-closed property.

A 30-year fixed mortgage is preferable to an adjustable mortgage, said Dar-vish who advised against an interest-only mortgage.

Once new homeowners move in, Dar-vish said, they should change the locks on their property and the password to the garage.

“I hope that [the participants] take one idea and apply it to their financial lives to improve their situation,” Yarnell said after the event.

Terri Darvish, a mortgage loan officer at PNC Financial Services Group in Laurel, talks about the importance of conducting research before purchasing a home during “A Day of Financial Fitness” seminar on Feb. 27. The daylong seminar was sponsored by Army Community Service as part of Military Saves Week.

from 720 to 850.Smith advised participants to protect

their Social Security number to avoid identity theft, and to pay the monthly minimum and finance charges on credit card balances to reduce debt faster.

She also said it is important to pay bills on time.

In her presentation on how to buy a

Tax Center UpdateThe Joint Installation Tax Center has

saved more than $287,500 in filing fees, generated more than $2.3 million in tax refunds and has saved the average client more than $300 in tax preparation fees.

Active-duty personnel, military retirees and their dependents can schedule an appointment to have their taxes prepared by calling 301-677-9366. The deadline to file federal 2013 tax return is April 15.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Michael Smith, a supervisory chemist at Fort Meade’s Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, was presented a life-time achievement award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences on Feb. 21.

Smith received the Rolla N. Harger Award for his contributions to the field of forensic toxicology during a career spanning more than 25 years.

“I feel ecstatic,” said Smith, a retired colo-nel. “There’s only one winner. I feel pretty honored.”

The Fort Meade Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory is one of six DoD drug testing laboratories supporting military readiness through a scientific, rigorous drug detection and deterrence program. It is the only DoD military laboratory certified by the Department of Health and Human Services to test DoD civilian specimens for drug testing.

“We are honored as a drug testing pro-gram to have him here,” said Capt. Robert Nadeau, acting commander of the Fort Meade Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory and its chief of Research and Development. “It is a huge accomplish-ment.”

Smith was presented the award at the academy’s annual conference held Feb. 17-22 in Seattle. He attended the event with his wife, Marilyn Huestis, a tenured senior investigator and chief of the Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section at the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health.

Huestis was presented with the Rolla N. Harger Award in 2005.

Smith, who has worked at Fort Meade since 2010, is responsible for overseeing drug testing for DoD civilians,

DoD civilians who work in safety or secu-rity, or have a top secret security clearance, are randomly tested once a year.

Smith said civilians who test positive for drug use have not committed a crime, as it is for service members. However, they have vio-lated DoD policy and can lose their security clearance and be removed from their job.

Smith was drafted into the Army as he was completing a doctoral degree in biochemistry at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

In 1984, he was serving at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, when he and nine other Army bio-chemists were assigned to Fort Meade to help develop drug testing laboratory meth-ods that would stand up during court-mar-tial proceedings.

The assignment lasted about three months. Smith’s contributions helped to establish the Army’s criteria for its drug testing program.

A year later, Smith was assigned as the commander of Army drug testing at Wies-baden Air Base in Germany. He was in charge of drug testing for Airmen and Sol-diers serving in the European theater.

In 1989, Smith was assigned as chief for forensic testing at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office in Rockville. During this time, Smith worked as an expert investigator in criminal investigations of drug-related deaths on military installations.

“It was like CSI,” he said.In addition to investigating crimes, Smith

also participated in medical research to help improve military drug-testing programs.

Meade chemist wins forensic science award

Some of the research was conducted in collaboration with NIH, where he met his wife.

In 2000, Smith was assigned to be scientif-ic programs officer in charge of drug demand reductions for the Army at the Pentagon.

Four years later, in 2004, Smith retired from the Army. He then became a DoD contractor and returned to work at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office as an expert medical witness in military court-martial proceedings.

He worked there for six years before com-ing to Fort Meade.

Smith said that during his career, he has

helped to conduct medical research that has been published in more than 90 publications, including Clinical Chemistry, Journal of Ana-lytical Toxicology and Journal of Forensic Sciences.

“He has a wealth of knowledge, not only of the drug testing program, but how the Army’s program has evolved,” Nadeau said. “He is incredibly wise.”

Smith said although he has been recog-nized for his career in forensic sciences, he has no plans to retire.

“I’m going to keep working in this field until I decide to do something different,” he said.

Michael Smith, supervisory chemist at Fort Meade’s Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, was awarded the Rolla N. Harger Award for lifetime achievement from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences on Feb. 21. A retired colonel, Smith oversees drug testing for DoD civilians.

The Fort Meade Army Substance Abuse Program is offering a 40-hour UPL Certification Course from March 24-28.

Training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Smallwood Hall, 4650 Grif-fin Avenue.

In accordance with AR 600-85, com-manders of corps, division, brigade, bat-talions, and companies are to appoint an officer or noncommissioned officer (E-5 or above) on orders as the unit preven-tion leader.

The UPL has the primary responsibil-

ity to assist the commander in implement-ing all aspects of the ASAP within the organization.

UPLs must be certified through train-ing provided by the local ASAP office.

There will be no excused absences dur-ing the week.

UPLs must attend all portions of the course to become certified.

Requirements include that nominees must:

• Be E-5 or above, includes officers• Not be enrolled in the ASAP rehabili-

tation program or under investigation• Be appointed in writing as UPL by

the current commander• Have retainability of at least a year• Have a favorable background check.

Commanders should request a local review of the UPL candidate’s medical, personnel and criminal record.

• Complete records check and ASAP checklist

To enroll, nominees must:• State on the fax cover sheet they will

attend the March 2014 course

• Include a confirmation phone number and email

• Fax or email records check, ASAP checklist and signed UPL appointment orders (include Social Security number) to 301-677-7953 by March 4.

Fort Meade Soldiers have priority for this course.

For more information, call Samson Robinson at 301-677-7983 or Latonia Stallworth at 301-677-7982.

U.S. Army Recruiting Command should call 800-223-3735.

ASAP unit leader training begins March 24

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Jane M. WinandChief, Legal Assistance Division

You may have decided that your chances for a promotion or getting hired into a better job would be better with an advanced degree.

Certainly, higher education and earn-ing a degree can make you more mar-ketable as you look for a new job or a promotion with your current employ-er. Many distant learning centers and online schools are legitimate.

However, there are also many organi-zations that hand out bogus degrees.

These “diploma mills” require little or no class work and will provide you with a degree for a flat charge in a very short time. Not only will these fake degrees cost you money, but some employers and educational institutions consider it lying when you claim to have earned such a bogus degree.

Claiming to be the recipient of a fake degree may result in you not get-ting hired for a new job; getting fired from an existing job if you apply for a promotion with the bogus degree; and perhaps prosecution.

The following are indications that you may be dealing with a diploma mill:

• The diploma mill offers a degree in a few days or weeks. Although some schools do offer accelerated degrees, earning a legitimate sheepskin takes months and often years.

• Accredited schools require a sub-stantial amount of work for the stu-dent, along with interaction with pro-fessors and other students.

If a school is promising to deliver a degree without studying, taking exams or interacting with faculty members, it is probably a diploma mill.

• Diploma mills charge a flat fee for a degree. A legitimate university charges by the credit or semester.

• A popular tactic for diploma mills is to offer a degree based solely on work or life experience.

Legitimate colleges may give you a few credits for life or work experience that directly relates to a specific degree program, but you will still be required to complete a substantial amount of credits through the university to earn a degree.

• Diploma mills are trying to sell a product — a “quickie” degree — and frequently engage in aggressive sales tactics.

If a school is advertising through spam, high-pressure telemarketing calls or pop-up ads, you probably are being contacted by a diploma mill.

To protect yourself from a diploma mill, check out the following resources to determine if a school is legitimate before paying any money for a degree program: www.chea.org/search/default.asp and www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation.

Also, contact a local university or college and ask the registrar if they would accept transfer credits from the school you are thinking of attending.

Check your state attorney general’s office to see if there have been com-plaints filed about the school.

If you think that you have been the victim of a diploma mill, you may schedule an appointment to speak with an attorney at the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Office at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.

Fake degrees can cost you more than money

Spring forwardDon’t forget to set your

clocks forward one hour Sunday at 2 a.m. when daylight saving time ends. Also, change the batter-ies in your smoke and fire alarms.

YAMAHA

POWERHOUSE

DEALER

WHILE-YOU-WAIT OIL CHANGES

HOURS: M-F 10am-7pm • Sat 10am-5pm • Sun - Closed

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

News

By Claudia Drum, Registered DietitianU.S. Army Public Health Command

Have you given up on eating healthy because you feel that it costs too much? Are you not sure how to save money while at the grocery store?

While it is true that more convenient items like precut veggies cost more when compared to their made-from-scratch counterparts, it is possible to eat healthy while on a budget.

Good nutrition combined with adequate sleep and regular physical activity are identi-fied as key initiatives in the Army Medicine’s “Performance Triad” for good overall health.

Below are eight tips to help you stretch your food dollar and eat right while shopping at the grocery store:

• Plan menus and make a list.Wandering around the grocery store with-

out a list only increases the likelihood that you will overspend. Plan a weekly menu and write an ingredient list that matches up with the store aisles at your favorite grocery store.

• Shop seasonally.Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in

season to help you get the freshest produce at the lowest cost.

In addition, check your local farmer’s mar-ket for deals on fresh fruits and vegetables.

For produce not in season, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables (with little or no added salt or sugar) are a nutritious option.

• Shop the perimeter, then think meatless.Start on the outer edge of the supermarket

where you will find fresh produce, meats, dairy and breads. Then, shop the aisles with meatless alternatives like beans.

Dried or canned (low-sodium, without

added fat) is less expensive than most meats, and make a tasty meal that is not only high in protein and fiber, but also low in fat and saturated fat.

Aim for at least one meatless meal per week.

For more tips and recipes ideas, go to meat-lessmonday.com.

• Use coupons and inserts.Check the local newspaper, online and at

the store for sales and coupons of products you normally purchase. Clipping coupons or printing them from websites can save you 10-15 percent on your grocery bill.

Consider joining your supermarket’s shop-pers club to enjoy price specials or to receive additional coupons.

If you shop at the commissary, use your commissary rewards card. You can redeem cou-pons electronically after you register it online.

For more information on the benefits of registering your commissary rewards card, visit commissaries.com/rewards/.

• Buy store (private label) brands.Choose the private label brand if it is com-

parable in size and ingredients. Oftentimes, private label brands are not only 15-20 percent less expensive, but just as high in quality.

• Compare unit prices.Locate the unit price (price per ounce,

pound or pint) on the shelf tag directly below the product. Use it to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to decide which item is the best buy.

If your store doesn’t list the unit price, bring a pocket-sized calculator or use the calculator on your phone to speed up the process.

Be on the lookout for items labeled “more

Eating right on a budget

COURTESY OF ARMY NEWS SERVICE

Spc. Logan Burnett picks out eggplant during a recent shopping trip at Fort Hood’s Clear Creek Commissary in Texas.

economical” because sometimes, after you have examined the price per unit, the larger size may not be the better buy.

• Buy on sale and in bulk.Look for sales on shelf-stable items or

products you use regularly. However, only buy larger quantities if you have proper stor-age space or if you will use the food before it expires or spoils.

• Read food labels.Compare nutrients using the Percent Daily

Value in the nutrition facts panel. Aim for low or less than 5 percent in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Aim for high or

greater than 20 percent in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Editor’s note: March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.”

National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physi-cal activity habits.

For more information, visit: www.eatright.org/NNM/.

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

Last year, Fort Meade’s Army Emergency Relief fund helped area service members, retir-ees and family members through times of financial hardship by awarding a total of $688,000 in loans and grants.

During the next two months, the installa-tion’s AER office and campaign coordinators aim to raise $90,000 to help those in need. The money raised at Fort Meade will be added to the total AER fund, which has helped more than 3.2 million Soldiers and family members with more than $1 billion since 1942.

“It is a program of the Soldiers and for the Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Kerr, the post’s campaign coordinator. “It provides inter-est-free loans and grants to those with a valid emergency. Almost everyone is approved.”

AER is open to active-duty Soldiers, retirees, Reservists, Guardsmen and their family mem-bers, and surviving spouses and orphans of Soldiers who died while on active duty.

The program provides financial assistance for a wide range of situations including emer-gency transportation, rent, and medical and funeral expenses.

For those in financial need, AER’s interest-free loans and grants provide a better alterna-tive to high-interest loan services.

“Soldiers that feel that they’re in a tight situation, a lot of them go off post to a title pawn — take the title of their car and put it as collateral for a super-high-interest loan,” Kerr said. “We’re trying to stamp that out on this post. There’s no need for that. When you have a valid emergency, you come to us. It’s interest-free.”

The program also provides college scholar-ships to children and spouses. Of every dollar donated, 88 cents goes directly to the fund — only 12 cents goes to administrative costs.

“That’s a phenomenal rate for a charity,” Kerr said.

Individuals can donate through three ave-nues: contacting their unit AER representative; stopping by the installation’s AER office at 830 Chisholm Ave; and online at AERGQ.org.

Fort Meade’s AER office decided to keep the same goal as last year’s campaign due to the lingering effects of sequestration in the community.

“We figure $90,000 is still a robust goal, but achievable,” Kerr said.

Kerr, a former recruiter, said one of his goals is motivating active-duty service members to donate since retirees normally give the most

donations. His plan is to provide more face time with the Soldiers and their units.

“The main goal is 100 percent, Soldier-to-Soldier, face-to-face contact between myself and the unit reps,” Kerr said. “We believe that if we can get just 100 percent face-to-face con-tact in groups of three or less, then Soldiers are going to step up to the plate and give.”

While the goal is to raise money, the cam-paign also provides awareness of the program.

“It also gives the Soldiers the benefit to understand AER,” said Wallace Turner, the installation’s AER officer. “The most impor-tant thing is that it gives the Soldiers a chance to help fellow Soldiers.”

Editor’s note: For more information about the AER campaign, call Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Kerr at 410-538-2769 or Wallace Turner at 301-677-5768.

AER campaign kicks off with $90K goal

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

News

By Aaron C. RowellInstallation Safety Office

Motorcycle safety is still on the hot topics list and will be until we get a han-dle on the needless fatalities and injuries resulting from careless riding.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center reports that in fiscal year 2013, 41 Soldiers were killed in motorcycle acci-dents and another 177 were injured.

The majority of these mishaps are a direct result of excessive speed and speed too great for road conditions.

The second greatest contributing fac-tor is not wearing proper protective gear or not wearing the proper gear correctly.

Some state laws do not require hel-mets, but military members are required to wear all protective gear for every ride. This includes a helmet that meets Depart-ment of Transportation standards.

Most of the fatal accidents involved operators who were properly trained to Army standards. However, lessons learned in training are only good when applied. Some of the fatalities had no training or were operating without a license.

Motorcyclists must keep their riding skills sharp and their attention focused at all times. To aid military personnel, the Installation Safety Office is sponsor-ing the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Courses, Experienced Rider Courses and Military Sport-Bike Rider Courses.

All courses have limited registration on a first come, first-served basis.

Training will be provided at no cost to all tenant military personnel stationed at Fort Meade, and for all active-duty personnel Armywide.

Army Reservists and National Guard personnel must be on training orders to take the training. Training is not autho-rized for civilian personnel unless their specific government work duties dictate the use of a motorcycle.

All courses have limited registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

An approved MSF course is manda-tory in accordance with Army Regula-tion 385-10, and Department of Defense Instruction 6055.4, DoD Traffic Safety Program, for all military personnel who ride.

Students taking the ERC or MSRC must bring their own motorcycle with a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas, and a valid driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement, proof of insur-

Motorcycle safety training offered on post

file photo

ance and registration.Motorcycles will be provided for the

BRC. Students who choose to bring their own bike (this is recommended) must bring a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement, proof of insurance and registration.

If you use our motorcycles, these articles are not required.

Tentative training dates:• Basic Rider Course: Monday and

Tuesday, March 18-19, April 8-9, April 15-16, May 20-21, June 10-11, July 15-16, Aug. 12-13, Sept. 16-17, and Oct. 8-9

• Experienced Rider Course (one day): Wednesday and March 20, April 7, April 17, May 22, June 12, July 17, Aug. 14, Sept. 8 and Oct. 6

• Military Sport-Bike Rider Course: March 31, April 14, May 19, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 15 and Oct. 7

To register go to https://imc.army.mil/airs/usg_disclaimer.aspx.

For more information, go to www.ftmeade.army.mil/pages/safety/.

Feb. 19, Shoplifting: AAFES security personnel at the Exchange observed the sub-ject use the women’s fitting room to conceal clothing and makeup. She then exited the store beyond the point of sale without rendering payment for the items.

Feb. 20: Larceny of private property: The victim stated she left her backpack in an unsecured and unattended locker in the locker room at the Army Wellness Center. When she returned, she discovered her prescription sunglasses and cleaning cloth for the glasses had been taken from the locker.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

For week of Feb. 17-23:• Moving violations: 34• Nonmoving violations: 9• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 36• Traffic accidents: 7• Driving on suspended license: 6• Driving on suspended registration: 0• Driving without a license: 0

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

News

Story and photo by David VergunArmy News Service

Releasing unauthorized portions of a Soldier’s personnel records is a violation of federal law and could result in fines or prison sentences.

There have been cases recently where Soldiers or Army civilian employees have unintentionally violated the Privacy Act, said Peter A. Robinson, chief of the Free-dom of Information and Privacy Office, Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky.

HRC is responsible for maintaining all Army personnel records of active and Reserve components as well as veterans. Commands throughout the Army also maintain personnel records.

Robinson said he wants to ensure these human resource professionals are aware of important privacy concerns before responding to a records request.

Personnel records are covered under the federal Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. These statutes stipulate what portions of records can and can’t be released and to whom.

Even acknowledging the existence of certain derogatory or adverse personnel information could violate the statutes, Robinson said. For instance, telling some-one, “We found the information you’re seeking but can’t release it,” is a violation of the statutes.

Robinson said the correct response to such a query would be: “We can neither confirm nor deny” the existence of such records.

The response is especially important when a requester is specifically seeking derogatory information. One example would be if a requester wanted to know if a Soldier had ever received nonjudicial punishment.

Robinson emphasized that if there are any doubts about what to do, Soldiers and civilian employees should contact their unit legal office, their local FOIA office, or the HRC FOIA office.

While not a comprehensive list, some of the information that can usually be released includes a Soldier’s name, rank, occupational specialty, duty status, ser-vice dates, duty assignments, awards and military education.

Information that is not releasable, Rob-inson said, includes personal phone num-bers or email addresses, reasons why a Soldier was discharged, medical informa-tion, and information regarding adverse administrative actions and demographic

Releasing personnel information may violate federal law

Personnel records are covered under the federal Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

material such as age, religion, marital status, children and relatives.

Rather than struggling to figure out what’s releasable and what’s not, Rob-inson advised those who process third-party FOIA requests seeking personnel information to call HRC’s FOIA office at 502-613-4400.

Robinson provided a few examples of requests that HRC does not routinely handle.

Requests for criminal investigative files from civilian law enforcement agencies will normally be fielded by the Army’s Crime Records Center in Quantico, Va., said Robinson.

Those who seek child support enforce-ment and need information about a Sol-dier’s status, should contact the Federal Parent Locator Service. That service is part of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, which is a branch of the Department of Health and Human Ser-vices.

Employers can request information pertinent to a position or job appli-cant, but Robinson said it would benefit employers to obtain the consent of the Soldier or veteran first to gain greater access to material.

Other common requests are court orders or subpoenas seeking personnel

records. Soldiers and civilians whose duties include processing personnel files for release should exercise caution when these requests are made because those documents might not carry the proper scope of authority, Robinson said.

If a subpoena is signed by an attorney and not a judge, for example, that would be insufficient authority, Robinson said. Another red flag would be a court order signed by a traffic court magistrate when the related lawsuit is actually related to a divorce action. That would be a jurisdic-tional violation.

Another common request comes from people seeking default judgment against Soldiers. This relates to cases that go to court and require the determination of the status of Soldiers — whether or not they are on orders, duty status or duty station.

In that particular category, Robinson said, Soldiers are afforded certain pro-tections under the Soldiers’ Civil Relief Act.

Robinson emphasized that HR profes-sionals in possession of personnel records should seek legal advice or HRC assis-tance prior to releasing records to a third party.

A particularly sensitive type of FOIA request involves casualty assistance cases.

FOIA officers need to be familiar not only with Army Casualty Assistance Reg-ulation 600-8-1, Robinson said. They also need to understand the supplement to that regulation, Army Directive 2010-02.

The directive is a guide on how infor-mation is sanitized for release to the primary next of kin, he said, meaning not releasing such things like sensitive material affecting national security.

Robinson pointed out that there have been cases where release of information to primary next of kin has been delayed due to not following the directive, which spells out the roles and responsibilities of the releasing authority.

Those delays were unacceptable, Rob-inson said.

Personnel at HRC are familiar with handling all kinds of FOIA requests, Robinson said, and they’ll try to expedite the release of records and work with people to get them what they need.

Often, they will even call the requester to get clarification or more information rather than denying the request. Assisting the public is something they take pride in accomplishing, Robinson said.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

Cover Story

Marine Pfc. Booker Thomas III, a public affairs student at the Defense Information School, retires the flag flanked by Marines from the Defense Information School during the Retreat ceremony at McGlachlin Parade Field.

RIGHT: Marine Pfc. Christopher Greer holds salute during Retreat. The flag is raised every morning on the first note of “Reveille” and lowered in the evening at the first note of “Retreat.”

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 11

Army Spc. Curtis Weber fires the cannon to mark the start of Retreat.

LEFT: Marine Pfc. Christopher Greer and Pfc. Ian Leones gather the flag during Retreat.

RIGHT: Marine Pfc. Booker Thomas III gives instructions while fellow members of Marine Detachment Fort Meade create a triangular fold of the flag.

Story and photos by Stephen EllmoreNew Media Manager, Public Affairs Office

The “Stars and Stripes” fluttered briskly as the sun slowly slipped behind the horizon. The Marines stood at attention awaiting their next command while a Soldier readied the cannon for the military ceremony known as Retreat.

At precisely 5 p.m., the sound of a bugle signaled the beginning of the ceremony. Powder ignited as the second note played, blasting smoke from the cannon with a fiery roar.

The Retreat song was followed by “To the Colors.” A young Marine called “Present arms!” The others snapped a salute as the flag that waved proudly above their heads.

The community grew silent and turned toward the flagpole to watch the flag slowly lowered, placing a hand over their heart or rendering a salute.

While some recognize Retreat as marking the end of the duty day, few are familiar with the origin of the ceremony and how it relates to our military’s legacy of patriotism.

For many, the respect we pay to our flag has a deep connection to why we serve.

“Flags have long held special significance for warriors,” said Robert T. Jordan, retired Marine Corps major and senior faculty instructor at the Defense Information School.

In combat, the flag is referred to as the standard and is where the troops rally for battle, he said.

Soldiers would defend the flag with their lives and given the chance, would give their own lives to capture the enemy’s flag, Jordan said.

In addition to signaling the end of the day, retreat rep-resents a time to regroup and rest, said Jordan.

Patriotism has different meanings for different people. For some, it is the sole purpose for why they serve.

“I’ve always had a huge sense of nationalism,” Marine Pfc. Booker Thomas III, a public affairs student at DIN-FOS, said when asked what patriotism means to him. “Since before I could remember, I’ve been waving the American flag with pride, and I’ve always been sure to respect it.”

Paying respect to the flag

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

SportS

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

A back and forth game with scoreless droughts by both teams ended well for the Fort Meade as the Patriots defeated Joint Base Myer-Henderson 93-92 on Sunday at Murphy Field House.

With a 18-5 run by the Patriots in the final minutes of the game, Fort Meade handed Myer-Henderson (7-1) its first loss of the season.

“To come back from 10 points like that in four minutes, that’s heart and that’s mental toughness,” said head coach Ronny Cunningham.

Mike McKenzie and Wallace Ruffin led the Patriots with 21 points each in the 93-92 win at Murphy Field House. With Sunday’s win and an 89-86 loss to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Saturday, Fort Meade improved to 5-3 in the Washington Area Military Athletic Conference.

With Saturday’s loss at McGuire Air Force Base all but ending the Patriots’ hopes of winning the conference, the team has quickly refocused its attention to securing the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

“We can still get the No. 2 seed, but we need to win the rest of our games,” Cun-ningham said.

The Patriots’ first hurdle to closing out the season 7-0 came the next day when Myer-Henderson traveled to Fort Meade. The two teams met earlier in the season with the unbeaten Myer-Henderson win-ning 86-73.

On Sunday, Myer-Henderson jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game as the Patriots struggled with ball control during their slow start.

Near the midway point of the half, the Patriots went on a 15-3 run to take a 17-12 lead behind the strong efforts of Fort Meade’s interior defense, which managed to temporarily shut down Myer-Henderson’s offense.

However, as the Patriots’ defense main-tained control within their paint, the Myer-Henderson offense transitioned to perimeter shooting and utilizing the pick and roll.

Fort Meade and Myer-Henderson exchanged the lead eight times in the final 10 minutes. A Taras Newby jumper gave the Patriots a 44-42 halftime lead. Deion McClenton and Darion Bethea each scored 10 points in the half.

The back-and-forth battle resumed at the start of the second half, with five lead changes in the first two minutes.

Patriots take down conference’s top team

Fort Meade held a 3-point lead with 10 minutes left in the half, but a scoreless drought for the Patriots allowed Myer-Henderson to pull away to a 12-point lead with five minutes remaining.

Fort Meade went on a 16-2 run to regain the lead 91-90 with a minute remaining. A foul by Ruffin brought Myer-Henderson to the free-throw line to take a 92-91 lead.

Down by 1 point with 45 seconds

remaining, Bethea intercepted a pass to give Fort Meade possession of the ball. Ruffin drew a foul with six seconds remaining and sank both free-throws to give the Patriots a 93-92 lead.

A late-game scramble under the Patri-ots’ net yielded no points for Myer-Hen-derson, giving Fort Meade the win.

“We handled business today,” McKen-zie said. “We just wanted to come out here today and stay focused.”

After the game, Cunningham said the win was bittersweet due to the fact that Myer-Henderson only had six players.

“A win is a win and I’ll take that,” he said. “But they’re short-handed. ... That is the No. 1 team in the conference.”

McKenzie said the Patriots were excit-ed to put the first blemish on Myer-Henderson’s record.

“I’m proud of the boys,” he said. “They hung in there.”

photo by nate pesce

Fort Meade Patriots’ Zavian Cooper rebounds during Sunday’s home game against Joint Base Myer-Henderson. The Patriots improved to 5-3 with the 93-92 win over the previously undefeated Myer-Henderson.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 13

SportS

Sports Shorts AAU basketball tryouts

The Meade Youth Basketball Association is hosting tryouts and registration for spring basketball.

Tryouts for boys ages 8- to 13-years-old will be today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Meade Middle School.

For more information, go to mybawildcats.org.

Spring sportsRegistration for spring sports is underway at Parent Central Services, 1900

Reece Road.Spring sports include soccer, swimming, baseball, track, flag football and

basketball.Participants can register at the CYSS Central Registration Office at 1900

Reece Road or online at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/meadecyms.html.For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

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

Meade Mustangs weekly roundup

BasketballBoth Meade High basketball teams advanced through the first round of the

4A East Region Section I playoffs on Friday night.The boys fought off a slow start to win 79-65 over Chesapeake (8-15) behind

Tristan Easton’s 23 points and additional 20 by Kavon Witherspoon. The win improved the team to 17-6 on the season.

“They wanted to come out and prove that they should be the No. 2 seed and they took care of home court,” said head coach Pete Correiro. “We’re proud of the guys for stepping up like that.”

Friday’s win set up a semifinal against Glen Burnie (13-9). Initially scheduled for Friday, the game was postponed to Wednesday due to snow. If the Mustangs win, they will play in the section finals against the winner of Severna Park (21-2) and North County (7-16).

Meade lost to Severna Park 55-43 on Feb. 4, but swept Glen Burnie during the regular season with 72-65 and 77-67 wins.

The girls also moved onto the semifinals to play Old Mill with a 63-50 win over North County on Friday. Alexis Jackson scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds in the game as the team improved to 16-7.

If Meade defeats Old Mill in the semifinals, the team will play Glen Burnie (7-15) or Arundel (12-10). The girls defeated Arundel 67-66 in January and beat Glen Burnie twice, 50-34 and 48-37.

WrestlingTravis Chidebe was the only Meade wrestler to earn a title at this week’s 4A/3A

East Region championship. Chidebe defeated Atholton’s Zachary Smith in the 160-pound final.

Segun Aboye, who also advanced to the finals, was pinned by River Hill’s Logan Kirby in the 195-pound weight class.

Game results are as of press time on Wednesday.

For more coverage of Meade High School sports, including Wednesday’s playoff games, go to ftmeadesoundoff.com/sports.

I have always been a fan of logic.Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I always

use it. This is especially true when it comes to my fandom.

I am a proud Michigander whose favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys and NBA team is the Los Angeles Lakers.

Regardless of how much I try to explain why my loyalties do not lie with the Lions or Pistons — it’s my older brother Sam’s fault — most people find my reasoning illogical.

To explain almost every belief I held, or deci-sion I made growing up, could be tied to Sam. He was, and in some ways, still is my hero.

Anyway, when I first started liking football, the Cowboys were his favorite team, which makes sense because they had Tony Dorsett. bit.ly/1eWjUVt

Conversely, we must have been fighting when I started liking basketball because he rooted for Dr. J bit.ly/1oqDIAQ and the Philadelphia 76’ers, while I decided to root for the Lakers and a man by the name of Magic Johnson. bit.ly/1e1mRQj

Over time, Sam ended up rooting for his home teams, while I have remained loyal.

So where am I going with this?The boss decided that yours truly was ready

to take the Civilian Education Service Advanced Course, which prepares civilian employees for senior leadership roles.

My first assignment in the Distance Learning portion of the course was on critical thinking, and as I poured through the reading assignment, I got to the part about common logical fallacies. I was struggling to comprehend these fallacies in the context of the military.

However, as things normally do, the fallacies became clear when I put them into the context of sports.

• Arguments against the person is when some-one attacks the person, presenting an argument and not the argument itself:

You know you are locked in this fallacy when you hear words like “jerk,” “stupid,” “Mongoloid,” or “No one has ever thought that before.”

For example, Cousin Claw and I argue con-stantly about who is better, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith? I point to the facts that Emmitt is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, has the most rushing touchdowns, won three Super Bowls, etc.

However, the discussion always boils down to me being stupid, or my texts have grammatical mistakes, or whatever else Claw can use to avoid any fact outside of yards per carry. But gram-matical mistakes caused by fat fingers or eager-ness have nothing to do with the facts.

• False dichotomy is when someone presents a complex situation in black and white terms:

The Washing-ton Redskins must change its name because it is racially insensitive to Native Americans. This argument removes the possibil-ity that some Native Americans are not offended by the name.

• Appeal to unqualified authority is a fallacy in which a person who is cited as an authority isn’t really an authority:

Think sports talk shows where a former tennis star like Andy Roddick pontificates about why Albert Pujols is struggling at the plate.

Just because Roddick swung something at a ball doesn’t make him an expert in sports psychology or baseball. If that logic was true, he might as well break down the Cricket World Cup, which is currently ongoing. Let’s go Paki-stan. Let’s go!! bit.ly/1mVlJHq

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sher-man being the authority on what is or isn’t offensive because he happens to be black and an athlete is another example of this.

• Weak analogy: A friend of mine recently said something to the effect that people not lik-ing Jimi Hendrix because of his weak lyrics is similar to people saying they do not like Peyton Manning because they do not like the Broncos uniform …

Yeah, I didn’t get it either. But the point is people will take giant leaps to prove a point — if you let them get away with it.

• Red herring is a fallacy committed when the attention of a listener is diverted with the insertion of some distracting information that is flashy, eye-catching and generally not relevant to the topic at hand:

Skip Bayless has made a mint using this ploy. For example, he argues Tim Tebow would be a good quarterback because you would want your daughter to date him or because his passer rating in the last three minutes of a game played outside after 2 p.m. is higher than Peyton Manning’s.

Who cares that he can’t hit the broadside of a barn and had a substandard passer rating during the other 57 minutes of the game?

Despite the facts, folks untrained in the ways of logic will take red herrings and other fallacies as Gospel, as opposed to what they really are — faulty logic.

If you have comments on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at chad.t.jones.civ@mail.mil or hit me up on Twitter @ctjibber.

Sports fallacies

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil14 SOUNDOFF! March 6, 2014

Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s discretion 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 Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

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

Technical Job FairA Technical Job Fair will be held

March 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Club Meade.

The free event is open to the public.More than 60 employers will

participate. Bring resumes. Dress for success. ASL interpreters will be on site.

Free parking and shuttle service will be available from the Smallwood Hall lot.

LTS change of hoursDue to limited staffing, the Leisure

Travel Services office must temporarily adjust its operating hours.

Hours will be Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The office will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

The community will be notified when normal operating hours resume.

For more information, call 301-677-7354.

Mardi Gras PartyHearts Apart Deployment Support

Group’s Mardi Gras Party will be held today from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd.

The free event will feature masks, beads, piñatas, food, games, crafts and door prizes.

Advance registration is required.For more information, call 301-677-

5590 or 301-677-9017.

Jummah prayers Individuals interested in participating

in Jummah prayers on Fort Meade should call 301-677-1301.

Fort Meade has a room available at Argonne Hills Chapel Center, 7100 Rockenbach Road.

The community also is seeking individuals to join in a morning prayer on Fridays.

Free classesThe Navy Fleet and Family Support

Center offers a variety of classes at its new facility at 2212 Chisholm Ave.

The free classes are open to DoD identification cardholders, including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

Registration is required for each class.• Common Sense Parenting: Friday,

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.• Stress Management: Monday, 9-11

a.m. • Car Buying: Monday, 1-3 p.m.• 10 Steps to a Federal Job: Tuesday,

9 a.m. to noonLearn to understand job vacancy

announcements, write federal and electronic resumes, and how to track your application.

• Anger Management: Wednesday, 9-11 a.m.

• Gambling Awareness: March 24, 1-3 p.m.

• Interviewing Skills: March 25, 9 a.m. to noon

This workshop teaches basic interviewing skills and tips on dressing for success. Learn the dos and the don’ts at job interviews, and strategies on how to successfully work a job fair.

• Credit Management: March 31, 1-3 p.m.

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

ACS financial classesArmy Community Service is offering

Financial Readiness workshops at 830 Chisholm Ave.

The free classes are open to DoD ID cardholders including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

Registration is required for each class.• Banking Basics: Tuesday, 9-11 a.m.• Investing 101: March 18, from 9-11

a.m.• Term Financial (online class):

March 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.To register or for more information,

call 301-677-5590.

Lunch and Learn SeriesKimbrough Ambulatory Care

Center hosts a monthly brown bag Lunch and Learn Series on the second

photo by spc. rob carter

on boardSgt. Caitlin Ernst of Cyber Command snowboards during a Better Opportunity For Single Soldiers outing on Feb. 22 at Liberty Mountain in Fairfield, Pa. The BOSS program is open to single, enlisted service members of all military branches.

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION

Tuesday of the month on the first floor of the Rascon Building, adjacent to Kimbrough.

The next lunch is Tuesday at noon. The topic is “Healthy Fast Foods.”

The sessions, which are open to the public, are an opportunity to review a presentation and discuss new health topics.

For more information, call Capt. Alyson Rhodes at 301-677-8949.

ESC scholarshipsThe Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club

has posted its 2014 scholarship applications on its website at FtMeadeesc.org.

High school seniors and students currently enrolled in college who are dependents of a military member of any rank or branch who is on active duty, deceased, a Reservist or in the National Guard can apply for the scholarships.

High school seniors with an outstanding

academic record and volunteer community service will be considered for the Evelyn J. Silva Scholarship of Excellence.

Sponsors for all scholarships must reside in the Fort Meade area.

Applications and all required documentation must be received by March 28 at the ESC, PO Box 105, Fort Meade, MD 20755, attn: Scholarship Director Gerry Humphrey.

“Godspell” at Meade High

Meade High School will present the musical “Godspell” today through Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Meade High auditorium.

Tickets cost $8 ($6 with a canned food donation) and are available at the door.

For information, email Caitlin Lucia at CLucia@AACPS.org.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 6, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 15

moviesCommunity news & notes

The movie schedule is subject to change. For a recorded announcement of showings, call 301-677-5324. Further listings are available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website at www.aafes.com.

Movies start Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. After this week, there will be NO showings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12 and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies: $7.50 adults, $5 children.

Today through March 21

Today: “Her” (R). A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that’s designed to meet his every need. With Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scar-lett Johansson.

(The Fort Meade Theater will no longer be open-ing on Wednesdays and Thursdays after today’s showing.)

Friday & Saturday: “Ride Along” (PG-13). Fast-talking security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’ sister. With Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter.

Sunday: “Labor Day” (PG-13). Depressed single mom and her son offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped con-vict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited. With Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith.

March 14: “The Monuments Men” (PG-13). An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners. With Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bill Murray.

March 15, 16: “The Lego Movie” (PG). An ordi-nary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together. With Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell. (3D March 16)

March 21: “Winter’s Tale” (PG-13). A burglar falls for an heiress as she dies in his arms. When he learns that he has the gift of reincarnation, he sets out to save her. With Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe.

Kids Craft ClubThe Kids Craft Club for toddlers and

preschoolers will meet Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Arts and Crafts Center.

Remaining sessions are: April 15 and May 6.

Fee is $5 per session. Cost includes a craft, snack and juice.

Space is limited. Registration is required.To register or for more information, call

301-677-7809.

Pool tournamentA pool tournament for grades nine to

12 will be held Friday from 3-6 p.m. at the Teen Center.

There is no charge.For more information, call 301-677-

6054.

Game NightThe Youth Center is sponsoring

several events for grades six to eight:• Game Night: Friday, 6-8 p.m.• Appetizer Night: March 21, from

6-8 p.m. Youths will create a variety of appetizers.

• Grilling & Chilling: March 28, from 6-8 p.m., features hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages.

Participants must register at the center.

For more information, call 301-677-1437.

Romp ‘n StompRomp ‘n Stomp playgroup for children

age 5 and younger and their parents meets Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. from September to June at the Youth Center gym at 909 Ernie Pyle St. and from June to August at the Boundless playground on Llewellyn Avenue.

For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.

Out & About • National ShamrockFest’14 will be

held March 22 from 3-11 p.m. at RFK Stadium, 2400 E. Capitol St., SE Wash-ington. The annual event features seven concert stages, 13 party areas, extended hours, and new festival grounds filled with amusements, rides and games.

Ticket cost is $29. For more informa-tion, go to shamrockfest.com or call 877-521-4191.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering its next monthly bus trip to New York City on March 22, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $60. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club Meade.

The next prayer breakfast is today.There is no cost for the buffet; donations

are optional. All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited.

For more information, call Diana Durn-er at 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, in the banquet hall in back of the building. The next meet-ing is tonight. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County offers a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting is tonight. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at VFW Post 160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. The next meeting is Saturday. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invit-ed.

For more information, call 443-604-2474 or 410-768-6288.

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Monday at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church Hall, 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie. The meeting will be canceled if there is inclement weather and schools are closed.

The speaker is Terry Douglas, elder law attorney and a former member of the Office of the Judge Advocate General and civilian legal assistance attorney for the federal government.

Douglas helps individuals and families with issues related to wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and personalized legal services related to incapacity, family inheritance and estate planning.

Personnel are needed to become active members of the chapter and attending meetings. For more information, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• New Spouse Connection meets the second Monday of every month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Monday. The program provides an opportunity for all spouses new to the military or to Fort Meade to meet and get connected. For more information, contact Pia Morales at pia.s.morales.civ@mail.mil or 301-677-4110.

• Calling All Dads meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd. The next meeting is Monday.

The group is for expecting fathers, and fathers with children of all ages. Children welcome. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.

• Single Parent Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meet-ing is Monday. Free child care is provided onsite.

For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.

• Bully Proofing Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 4 to 5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neigh-borhood Center. The next meeting is Mon-day. The group is geared for school-age chil-dren and parents. For more information, email Kimberly.d.mckay6.ctr@mail.mil.

• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Community Readi-ness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Celena Flowers or Jessica Hobgood at 301-677-5590.

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

• 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 14. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and Nation-al Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, go to e9association.org.

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS