competition walking the red carpet brings new skill set · 8/15/2014 · publication, including...

Vol. 72, No. 32 Aug. 15, 2014

INSIDEMessage boardDestination

Fort CarsonThe biannual event that

welcomes Family members to Fort Carson is Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Special

Events Center. Representatives from on and off post service

agencies will be on hand.2 Pages 20-21

Pages 32-33

Photo by Staff Sgt. Henry W. Marris III

Students attending Patriot Elementary School on Fort Carson are greeted by Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Aug. 7, as they enter the school to start a new academic year. See story on Page 17.

Walking the red carpet

Story and photo by Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Offi ce,

4th Infantry Division

Protect and serve is a job Soldiers from the 759th Military Police Battalion take pride in. They trained with fl ight medics to add another lifesaving skill to their tool bag, Aug. 7.

Soldiers from Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, taught medevac training to Soldiers during their 759th MP Bn. “Immortal” Challenge Competition on Fort Carson.

“It was good training for the 759th MPs and us,” said Maj. Eric Carlson, executive offi cer, 2nd GSAB, 4th Avn. Reg. “It helped us sharpen our skills and helped them learn new ones. Everyone should know what it is like to call in for medevac support and how to properly facilitate the moving of the injured, which could possibly save (a) life.”

CAB medevac aircrew members taught MPs many lifesaving procedures that are useful domestically and in deployed environments.

“After we ruck marched to our motor pool, we received briefi ngs on medevac procedures and fi rst aid from fl ight medics,” said Spc. Mariana Pearce, military police, 984th Military Police Company, 759th MP Bn. “We started with buddy aid training. The medics then told us about lessons-learned medical applications from deployment as opposed to how a Soldier would do the same application here in the states.”

Competition brings new skill set

See MPs on page 4

Soldiers from the 759th Military Police Battalion march from Butts Army Airfi eld to the Fort Carson Museum at Gate 1 after being transported by a UH-60 Black Hawk from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, during the 759th’s MP competition on Fort Carson, Aug. 7.

2 MOUNTAINEER — Aug. 15, 2014

MOUNTAINEERCommanding General: Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera

Garrison Commander: Col. Joel D. Hamilton

Fort Carson Public Affairs Offi cer: Dee McNutt

Chief, Print and Web Communications: Rick Emert

Editor: Devin Fisher

Staff writer: Crystal Ross

Happenings: Nel Lampe

Sports writer: Walt Johnson

Layout/graphics: Jeanne Mazerall

This commercial enterprise newspaper

is an authorized publication for members of

the Department of Defense. Contents of the

Mountaineer are not necessarily the offi cial

view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or

the Department of the Army. Printed circulation

is 8,000 copies.

The editorial content of the Mountaineer

is the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce,

Fort Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail

address is [email protected].

The Mountaineer is posted online at

http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com.

The Mountaineer is an unoffi cial

publication authorized by AR 360-1. The

Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs

Military Newspaper Group, a private fi rm in

no way connected with the Department of the

Army, under exclusive written contract with

Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year.

The appearance of advertising in this

publication, including inserts or supplements,

does not constitute endorsement by the

Department of the Army or Colorado Springs

Military Newspaper Group, of the products or

services advertised. The publisher reserves the

right to reject advertisements.

Everything advertised in this publication

shall be made available for purchase, use or

patronage without regard to race, color, religion,

sex, national origin, age, marital status,

physical handicap, political affi liation or any

other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or

patron. If a violation or rejection of this

equal opportunity policy by an advertiser

is confi rmed, the printer shall refuse to print

advertising from that source until the violation is

corrected. For display advertising call 634-5905.

All correspondence or queries regarding

advertising and subscriptions should be directed

to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group,

31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado

Springs, CO 80903, phone 634-5905.

The Mountaineer’s editorial content is

edited, prepared and provided by the Public

Affairs Offi ce, building 1218, room 320, Fort

Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144.

Releases from outside sources are so

indicated. The deadline for submissions to the

Mountaineer is close of business Friday the

week before the next issue is published. The

Mountaineer staff reserves the right to edit

submissions for newspaper style, clarity and

typographical errors.

Policies and statements refl ected in the

news and editorial columns represent views

of the individual writers and under no

circumstances are to be considered those of

the Department of the Army.

Reproduction of editorial material is

authorized. Please credit accordingly.

Display / Classifi ed advertising634-5905

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IRON HORSE STRONGPfc. Nicholas Baccinelli

Signal support systems specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

What makes me Iron Horse Strong is knowing that I have a big impact on the communication side of the Army.

I come from a very patriotic Family that has served our country, and since the fi rst grade it has been my goal and dream to join and serve my country to follow in my Family’s footsteps.

I continue to serve because I love being a part of protecting our great nation and the people

who live within America.My short-term goal is to

obtain the rank of sergeant, and my long-term goal is to make a career of the Army.

The biggest infl uences on my Army career would have to be Staff Sgt. Thomas Harrelson and Spc. Tyler Welch for helping me further my knowledge and training as a signal support systems specialist to support our brigade’s communication capabilities.

Enjoy recreation sites,observe city’s rules

Commentary by Crystal RossMountaineer Staff

Now that July and the deluge the end of it brought to southern Colorado have passed, Soldiers and their Families may fi nd themselves itching to get out and enjoy the many recreational areas located near Fort Carson. Two of the most popular options are the Manitou Incline and North Cheyenne Cañon Park, which are owned by the city of Colorado Springs. City offi cials stress that it is very important to observe the laws governing the areas as many of the rules are in place to protect the environment of the parks as well as to allow fellow users to enjoy them.

Fort Carson is incorporating the Environmental Division into educating Soldiers, civilians, retirees and their Families through weekly Newcomers’ Briefi ngs and classes during Soldier/civilian in-processing to ensure that Fort Carson community members do their part to protect the environment and terrain of the city’s outdoor recreation areas.

People who plan to work their way up the Incline’s grueling 2,741 steps should know it is tentatively scheduled to close Monday for construction. The closure is expected to

last four months as crews work to repair damaged retaining walls, clean rebar and loose debris, construct additional drainage structures and stabilize existing railroad ties and surrounding slopes. Once the Incline closes, people who try to use it can be fi ned $100 with a mandatory court appearance and court fees. This fi ne is in place for the safety of users and the construction crew as well as for protection of the site.

Users of the Incline and Cheyenne Cañon should know that cigarette smoking is not permitted in city parks except in designated smoking areas or parking lots. This means that once someone is on the Incline or away from parking areas in the canyon, no smoking is allowed. It is also not allowed at the top of the Incline.

No fi res of any kind are allowed in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, and discharge of fi rearms is illegal in the park as well. Dogs in the canyon are required to be leashed. No alcohol is allowed in the park, and any items packed in must be packed out, including trash. Hikers must stay on designated trails.

The Incline is open from dawn to dusk, and no dark hour use of the Incline is permitted. The city put this rule

in place for the safety of users and fi rst responders and as a courtesy for the residents who live along Ruxton Avenue at the base of the Incline.

Climbers of the Incline are recommended to move uphill only and to return to the base on designated trails. They are asked not to cut the switch-backs along Barr Trail as the soils in the area are highly erosive and vegetation does not grow back quickly. Slow hikers should stay to the right, and the person coming downhill must yield to the person coming uphill. Dogs are not allowed on the Incline. As with North Cheyenne Cañon Park, hikers should pack out their trash.

Whether at a restaurant or store in the city or out in the city’s great outdoor places and parks, we represent Fort Carson. It is important that we project the professionalism, discipline and commitment that we are known for and that our local community expects from us.

Photo by Andrea Stone

Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, climb the Manitou Incline for physical training May 31, 2013.

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Summer 2015

Program Executive Offi ce Soldier WASHINGTON — The Army has

confi rmed what Soldiers have been hearing rumors of for months now: a new camoufl age pattern for combat uniforms is on the way with a number of improvements.

Beginning in the fall of 2015, the Army will begin issuing to new Soldiers an Army Combat Uniform that bears the Operational Camoufl age Pattern. That same uniform will also become available in military clothing sales stores in the summer of 2015.

Soldiers are expected to retire their current uniform and begin wearing the new pattern by the summer of 2018.

The uniform bearing the new pattern will be largely the same as what Soldiers wear now, except that the lower leg pockets will be closed by a button instead of the “hook and loop” fabric fastener on the current Army Combat Uniform. Soldiers complained that the fastener made too much noise in combat environments, offi cials said. The insert pockets for knee pads and elbow pads will also be removed from the new uniform, according to Program Exe-cutive Off ice Soldier.

Other changes that will be con-sidered by the

2015 Army Uniform Board include: elimination of the mandarin collar and

replacement with a fold-down design change of the infrared square identifi cation

for friend or foe, known as the IFF tab removal of one of three pen pockets on

the ACU sleeve elimination of the drawstring on the

trouser waistbandCurrently, Soldiers wear ACUs with the

Universal Camoufl age Pattern. By 2018, they will be wearing an Army Combat Uniform with the “Operational Camoufl age Pattern.” The fabric of the uniform, the cut, the placement of pockets and other details, for instance, will remain the same. It is only the geometry and palette of the camoufl age pattern printed on the fabric that will change.

The cost of uniforms with the new pattern will be comparable to the current uniform.

According to the 2014 pay charts, online at http://www.dfas.mil, enlisted Soldiers receive between $439 and $468 annually to buy new uniforms — that includes replacing the outgoing uniform with the new one.

Soldiers will have about three years — the time between the fi rst availability of the uniform in military clothing sales in 2015 and the time they are required to wear it in 2018 — to transition the contents of their clothing bag to the new look. They will also have more than $1,300 in clothing allowance

at their disposal to make that happen.The new pattern is different but visually

compatible with what Soldiers wear now in Afghanistan. It does have the same acronym, however. In Afghanistan, Soldiers wear the “Operation Enduring Freedom Camoufl age Pattern,” called OCP for short.

“The Army is naming the pattern the Operational Camoufl age Pattern to emphasize that the pattern’s use extends beyond Afghanistan to all combatant commands,” said a senior Army offi cial in a July 31 press release.

The new pattern is borne from efforts to meet a 2009 directive by Congress to develop a camoufl age uniform suitable for the Afghanistan environment. That initiative, along with Soldier feedback, led the Army to develop the Operational Camoufl age Pattern.

As part of that program, the Army was directed to develop and evaluate camoufl age patterns that will provide effective concealment in a wide variety of

See Uniform on page 4

PEO

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hoto

Soldiers to get new camo uniform

The Army will begin issuing an Army Combat Uniform that bears the Operational Camoufl age

Pattern to new Soldiers in the fall of 2015. The uniform will become available in military clothing sales stores in the summer of 2015.

New physical training uniforms

on horizon— See Page 8


Army environmental experts to visitDirectorate of Public Works

Environmental Division

A team of environmental experts from Headquarters Installation Management Command and Army Environmental Command are conducting an Environmental Performance Assessment System and Environmental Management System evaluation at Fort Carson, Sept. 3-10.

EPAS inspections, scheduled every three to four years, identify and prescribe fi xes to environmental issues encountered on an installation. The solutions may be in the form of identifying additional resources or making corrections and adjustments to the way daily operations are conducted to improve the post’s environmental compliance.

“These external performance assessments are a great Army tool to help installations stay in compliance,” said Carlos Rivero-deAguilar, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division chief. “The people performing them are subject matter experts (who) bring to the table not only their compliance knowledge but best practices from other installations. We look forward to their visit. Their assistance is going to make us better and enhance our ability to support the mission.”

The inspectors do not create a demerit sheet or issue fi nes or penalties, but rather

provide suggestions to elevate the installation’s environmental compliance posture. State and federal environmental regulators view this Army effort positively and as a great internal means to prevent the occurrence of environmental notices of violation, fi nes, penalties and bad press.

The inspection will focus on environ-mental media areas such as air, cultural resources, the EMS, hazardous material management, pollution prevention, stormwater management and storage tank management.

The DPW Environmental Compliance Assistance Team representatives are supporting their assigned units and activities in preparing for the EPAS. The most common fi ndings observed by the ECAT deal with spill management, improper storage of hazardous materials and proper labeling of products, which the EPAS inspectors will check.

The EPAS team has extensive compliance experience from other installations and may be able to offer corrective suggestions on how to improve upon a current practice or provide instructional on-the-spot solutions.

In addition to the EPAS, the installation’s EMS conformance will be assessed. All Fort Carson Soldiers, civilians and contractors working on post must be aware of the EMS, which is outlined in the signed Fort Carson Environmental Management

Policy included at the end of the Environmental Battle Book ((http://www.carson.army.mil/DPW/Documents/environmental-battlebook-june-2014.pdf).

The EMS is specifi cally designed to achieve continual improvement throughout the various environmental media areas, which promotes effi ciency, reduces costs and improves awareness of short- and long-term goals.

Fort Carson has determined its signifi cant environmental aspects are:

air emissions hazardous waste generation noise generation solid waste generation spill generation

To comply with the EMS, people working on the installation need to be aware of how their activity can impact the environment and ensure they have the proper environmental training to complete their job.

The consequences of EMS failure can be the ineffi cient use of resources, potential environmental degradation, loss of training lands, accidents/injury, public health impacts and fi nancial losses.

For more information about the EPAS visit, call Jim Ahl, DPW Environmental Division, at 526-4446.

To fi nd out more information about Fort Carson’s EMS, call John Wachter, DPW Environmental Division, at 526-8893.

“ The people performing (the assessments) are subject matter experts (who) bring to the table not only their compliance knowledge but best practices from other installations.”

— Carlos Rivero-deAguilar

terrains and environments. The Operational Camoufl age Pattern is a result of that effort. As part of the program two “bookend patterns” of OCP are being optimized and evaluated for possible use

on f lame resistant ACUs that would be worn by Soldiers deployed in either arid or heavily wooded terrains.

All organizational clothing and individual equipment, such as MOLLE gear, protective vests, ruck sacks and plate carriers and non-fl ame resistant ACUs, will be offered in the OCP pattern only.

The Army has also said that following

rigorous testing and evaluation, the OCP was proven “the best value for the Army. Soldier force protection and safety was the Army’s primary decision criteria,” a senior Army offi cial said.

“The Army has selected a pattern as its base combat uniform camoufl age pattern,” explained the offi cial. “The Army has confi rmed through testing

that the pattern would offer exceptional concealment, which directly enhances force protection and survivability for Soldiers.”

The senior offi cial said the Army’s adoption of OCP “will be fi scally responsible, by transitioning over time and simply replacing current uniforms and OCIE equipment as they wear out.”

UniformFrom page 3

2nd Lt. Noella Taylor, platoon leader, 984th MP, helped coordinate medevac training for the competition and sees it as a helpful tool for her military police offi cers.

“This is a big deal with our company’s culture,” said Taylor. “Our Soldiers are going through events such as medevac scenarios, room clearing, fi rst aid lanes and learning about the history of Fort Carson. After rucking more than 15 miles, they are given a written test. The winners will receive an Army Achievement Medal.”

Pearce embraced the competition and set aside her fears.

“This will be my fi rst time in a Black Hawk and I’m terrifi ed of heights,” said Pearce. “I won’t let my fears get in the way of maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fl y on a Black Hawk, because who knows if I’ll ever get to do it again.”

The CAB Soldiers look forward to bringing realistic and useful training to their fellow Fort Carson ground commanders.

“This is just how we do business,” said Carlson. “It’s a part of our unit’s initiative and culture to supply the best training and support to all ground commanders who need or want it. We are honored to support them.”

MPsFrom page 1

Soldiers from the 759th Military Police Battalion prepare to board a UH-60 Black Hawk (Medevac) from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, to transport them from Pershing Field to Butts Army Airfi eld, Aug. 7.

Photo by Sgt. Jonathan Thibault


‘Iron’ Brigade

CSM Sims assumes responsibilityStory and photo by

Staff Sgt. Henry W. Marris III3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public

Affairs Offi ce, 4th Infantry Division

Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Balmforth as the senior enlisted leader for 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during a ceremony Aug. 6 at Founders Field.

Sims said he is proud to have been selected to serve as the sergeant major for the 3rd ABCT.

“My wife and I look forward to serving with the brigade,” Sims said. “I look forward to the challenges of taking this brigade into the future.”

Sims previously served as the command sergeant major for 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Sims has also served as command sergeant major for 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., and for 1st Bn., 38th Inf. Reg., 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, then based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Sims recently completed the brigade pre-command course/command sergeant major course and the command sergeant major development program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., prior to arriving to 3rd ABCT.

Balmforth, who is set to retire in 2015, said he was proud to have been the command sergeant major of 3rd ABCT and thanked the Soldiers and Families of the brigade.

“The Soldiers and Families of 3rd ABCT have my unending gratitude for their hard work and commitment to the Army,” Balmforth said.

Col. Gregory Sierra, second from right, commander, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, passes the noncommissioned offi cer sword to Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims, incoming command sergeant major, 3rrd ABCT, during a change of responsibility ceremony, Aug. 6 at Founders Field.

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CSA: Engaged leaders key to resilient forceStory and photo by Capt. Peter Smedberg

10th Mountain Division

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — As the Army begins moving toward reduced troop numbers, a glaring reality faces units across the board: commanders must be prepared to sustain a rigorous operational tempo with fewer Soldiers standing in formation.

To help shed some light on the future of the U.S. Army, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III and his wife, Jeanne Chandler, visited Fort Drum, N.Y., Aug. 5-6, to meet with Soldiers and Family members and to talk about the Army’s Ready and Resilient Campaign.

Building the force during 13-plus years of combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and other more obscure theaters around the globe helped shape the Army into a force of more than 570,000 — a number that could shrink to 450,000 by the end of fi scal year 2017, and if sequestration continues, could result in an even lower number of troops as overseas contingency operations wind down.

With a smaller Army, an added demand is placed on the need for a ready and resilient force capable of standing up to operational requirements at home station, at national training centers and while deployed.

“We’ve got to have as many Soldiers ready as we possibly can,” Chandler said. “We have a very small Army that will get smaller, but we will still have to do the things we’ve done over the last 13 years.

“We’re not going to be able to be successful as an

Army if we have Soldiers who don’t have the ability to bounce back, whether that’s from an emotional injury or physical injury, so we’ve got to have as many Soldiers ready as we possibly can,” he said. “Resiliency helps us in our ability to bounce back and to be that person who is able to deploy and fi ght and win our nation’s wars.”

To help mitigate the stressors placed on Soldiers and Families as a result of a leaner force, the Army has placed high-level command emphasis on its Ready and Resilient Campaign, known as R2C.

R2C is designed to integrate and synchronize multiple efforts and initiatives already underway to improve the readiness and resilience of its force.

R2C ties assets including Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program, Army Substance Abuse Program, behavioral health, Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, Army Suicide Prevention

Program, Soldier for Life: Transition Assistance Program, Total Army Sponsorship Program, Strong Bonds and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System into a streamlined environment that is easily accessible and abundantly staffed at the lowest unit levels Armywide.

Despite the wide array of resources available to today’s Soldiers and Families, the key to resiliency is engaged leadership at

the fi rst-line supervisor level, according to Chandler. Engaged leaders will be able to identify issues with their Soldiers’ physical and mental well-being — many times before the Soldiers themselves — and help guide them to the appropriate resource to address their needs.

“There’s a lot of things that engaged leadership means, but to me it means being present in your Soldiers’ lives, whether they live in the barracks or off post,” Chandler said. “It’s about being empathetic, extending yourself to Soldiers and trying to under-stand where they’re coming from — being aware of the issues that may be present in their lives.”

Individual resilience can be built, maintained and strengthened when viewed as an enduring concept and acquired through regular training, but without engaged leadership — leaders who really know their Soldiers — the Army cannot become the resilient force offi cials envision.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, left, speaks to Command Sgt. Maj. James L. Manning Jr., right, and 1st Sgt. Christopher Cunningham, both with 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Aug. 5, during his visit to Fort Drum, N.Y., to discuss the Army’s Ready and Resilient Campaign.

“I think just the term ‘engaged’ means action; you can’t just spout the NCO Creed or Warrior Ethos and thump your chest and say ‘look at me, I’m an NCO,’” Chandler said. “It means actually taking steps to be engaged in your Soldiers’ lives and the lives of their Families.”

Chandler explained that being engaged does not mean interfering; rather, it means NCOs should be empa-thetic and knowledgeable about how to help and what services are available to Soldiers and their Families.

“It could be financial issues, it could be physical issues that a Soldier or Family member has,

and it’s your responsibility as a leader to do something about it.” he said.

“That takes a level of commitment, character and competence,” Chandler said. “I challenge any NCO, if you don’t know where your Soldiers live off post and have not physically gone out to see how they live and where they live, you are not an engaged leader.”

While addressing 10th Mountain Division Soldiers during a town hall meeting, Chandler said engaged leadership extends past the supervisor level down to the “battle buddy.”

“I go back to the Army profession where it’s about character, commitment and confi dence,” he said. “You should be looking out for the welfare of your battle buddy both on and off duty. You should be committed to them, willing to do what is necessary to ensure their well-being.

“You should know what to do if you sense that something’s wrong and be able to talk to your leadership about it,” Chandler said. “If you do that, I think you’re supporting our Ready and Resilient Campaign.”

“It’s about being empathetic, extending yourself to Soldiers and trying to understand where they’re coming from — being aware of the issues that may be present in their lives.”

— Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III


New PT uniforms result of Soldier feedbackBy David Vergun

Army News Service

WASHINGTON — A new Army Physical Fitness Uniform will become available servicewide, beginning in October 2015.

Its design is based on Soldier feedback, said Col. Robert Mortlock, program manager, Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, Fort Belvoir, Va.

There’s a three-year phase-in program and the cost will be about $3 less than the current Improved Physical Fitness Uniform, he said.

The Army Physical Fitness Uniform program was actually initiated because of Soldier feedback. A February 2012 Army Knowledge Online survey of some 76,000 Soldiers found that Soldiers had issues with the IPFU, he said. They liked its durability, but believed the IPFU’s textiles had not kept pace with commercially-available workout clothes. They also had concerns with other things, particularly modesty issues with the shorts, especially in events like situps. Those concerns were expressed by males as well as females.

The issue was of such concern that Soldiers were purchasing spandex-like undergarments to wear beneath the trunks, Mortlock said.

Another issue was that there were not enoughfemale sizes in the IPFU, he said, meaning IPFUs that would fi t all shapes and sizes.

Program Executive Offi ce Soldier worked closely with the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center to develop a new PT uniform that met Soldier concerns but did not cost more than the IPFU. The APFU met the goal of controlling costs and improving performance by adopting lighter high-tech moisture wicking fabric. The APFU introduces multiple sizes, including female sizing, and has solved

the modesty issue, Mortlock said.The trunks will continue to be made with durable

nylon fabric, but it is lighter than and not as stiff as the IPFU trunks. Also, there will be a four-way stretch panel inside the trunks, sort of like bicycle pants, which eliminates the need for Soldiers to purchase their own undergarments. The trunks include a bigger key pocket and a convenient and secure identifi cation card pouch.

In all, some 34 changes were made to the new APFU. The APFU has fi ve parts: the jacket and pants which

resemble warm-ups, trunks or shorts, and the short- and long-sleeve T-shirts, he said. The ensemble is modular, meaning parts of the APFU can be mixed and matched, for example, short- or long-sleeve T-shirts with the pants or trunks. During PT formations, the platoon sergeants will determine the appropriate combo.

Soldier feedback not only determined the form, fi t and function of the APFU, it also determined its look. The Army made prototypes of the APFU in a variety of colors and designs and displayed them at a series of Soldier town halls at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Soldier feedback was solicited about the design features as well as the preferred color scheme.

Then, the Army launched a second AKO survey, in which more than 190,000 responded, Mortlock said. Soldiers overwhelmingly favored a black T-shirt with gold lettering and a black jacket with gold chevron and the Army logo.

Then it was on to testing.About 876 Soldiers at Fort Wainwright, Alaska;

Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Fort Bragg; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Hood; and Fort Jackson, S.C.; wore the APFU during PT for a three-month period, providing feedback on such things as form, fi t and comfort, Mortlock said. The APFU was also tested for things

like durability, laundering, fi ber strength, color fastness and color maintenance after laundering.

A key part of testing addressed the concern of some Soldiers that a black shirt may cause overheating. Instrumented tests showed that the lighter weight material and superior moisture-wicking fabric more than com-pensated for any increased heat from the dark material.

The response to the APFU was “overwhelmingly positive,” Mortlock said, particularly with the trunks.

Not only that, Soldiers said they wear the APFU on weekends and off-duty outside the installations, he said, adding that many said they wouldn’t wear the current IPFU off-duty. That means communities across the country will soon see Army pride as Soldiers do their workouts.

The APFU will come in two types: the Clothing Bag variant and the Optional APFU, which will be visually the same as the APFU Issue variant but uses some different materials. The individual items of the two variants can be mixed together. The Optional APFU variant will become available fi rst when it arrives in Army military clothing sales stores sometime between October and December 2014.

The Clothing Bag issue variant will be issued to Soldiers from the clothing initial issue points, starting between April and June, and to Reserve, National Guard and Senior ROTC from July-August 2015. The APFU will be phased in as the IPFUs are used up and worn out. The mandatory wear date will go into effect about October 2017, or about three years after the APFU is introduced.

In conclusion, Mortlock said the Army reached out to Soldiers at “multiple touch points to ensure we got this right. The message is we’re listening to Soldiers. We’re continuing to listen to Soldiers, and this is the Soldiers’ selection and Army leaders went along with this.”

Arm

y ph

oto

Soldiers test the new Army Physical Fitness Uniform at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Soldiers can begin purchasing the new PT uniforms in October 2015.

“U.S. Army Fort Carson” and “4th Infantry Division”

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Soldier fosters hope for children in needStory and photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PASAB, Afghanistan — Preparing for a deployment is a lengthy, time-consuming process, but one Fort Carson Soldier took on the added burden of navigating the legal system to add a seventh child to his Family.

Sgt. 1st Class Edward Martin, military police, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, currently deployed to Kandahar province, Afghanistan, and his wife, Karyn Martin, residing in Leavenworth, Kan., have opened their home as foster parents. They have taken in many displaced children over the last four years, but one child stole their hearts and has changed their lives forever.

“We have had Connor since he was released from the hospital at 2 months of age. He was premature, so he had a rough start,” Karyn Martin said. “We have cared and loved him like he was ours to begin with, and once Connor’s parents lost their parental rights — a process that took nearly two years — we started the adoption process as soon as we could.”

The Martins, who raised six children of their own, happened upon the foster care system through an unfortunate event.

“Haili, one of our daughters that still lived with us at that time, had a friend whose mother had a 6-month-old girl and was going to jail,” Edward Martin said. “That mother had asked Karyn to watch her child while she was in jail. After talking, we decided to watch the little girl. Karyn contacted (a foster care and adoption services organization) so

no one got into trouble. With that call, foster care became a real possibility.”

The requirements to be a foster parent vary from state to state — in Kansas it’s a thorough affair.

“The process to becoming a foster parent is a 10-week class and a lot of paperwork where you decide on ages, gender, race and issues you feel you may be able to deal with,” Karyn Martin said. “You also have to decide if you just want to be a foster parent or foster with the option to adopt if the parents’ rights are terminated. There is a very in-depth background check on everyone who lives in the home. You need references, a full inspection of your home and you have to go as far as making a diagram of your home with measurements of rooms as well as windows. It’s a lot of work, but it’s been well worth it.”

Once they were licensed, the Martins began fostering babies from all different backgrounds, some with health issues, but they were prepared.

“In your training you have to get CPR certified and have several classes that cover other medical needs,” Edward Martin said. “KVC holds a conference each year where you receive updates on events for foster children and refresher classes, if needed. You get to talk with other foster parents from your area that may be able to help you with any issues you are going through because they have been through it.”

Although the Martins had a wealth of information available to them, there were still challenges ahead when they decided to adopt Connor.

“As Connor has gotten older we have learned he has medical problems such as a lung disease, speech problems, epilepsy and a sleeping disorder that we deal with daily,” Karyn Martin said. “None of that stops him from being a happy little boy who is very easy to love. He’s nearly 3 now and although he deals with these illnesses, he still smiles all the time. He is the most amazing little boy.”

Generally, the Martins foster a child until his parents are deemed capable by the courts to regain custody or the court rules the child becomes available for adoption. Once they were capable of adopting Connor, they began the process, but they say they didn’t choose to adopt him.

“I would say Connor chose us,” said Karyn Martin. “He captured our hearts from day one. My husband and I were unable to have children together and each of us has children from previous marriages. With Connor, we have seven children. We have plenty of love to give a child and so many years of experience with children. We did wait a little late in life to start over, but Connor is a blessing for us, and I like to think we have been a blessing for him.”

“It can be a very rewarding adventure if you have plenty of love to give these children who so desperately need it,” Edward Martin said. “Just helping one child is worth it.”

Sgt. 1st Class Edward Martin, military police, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, speaks to his wife, Karyn Martin, and son, Connor, 3, over the Internet, July 28. The adoption process for Connor was completed right before Martin’s current deployment to Afghanistan.

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Vietnam veterans visit CABStory and photo by

Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Vietnam-era Soldiers shared their history with current Soldiers from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, during a visit by Aviation Electrical Veterans at Butts Army Airfield on Fort Carson, Aug. 7.

Avionic Soldiers from 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion and 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, both from 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., gave veterans a tour of the hangars.

“We have avionic service-members in attendance that served in all regions of the Vietnam War,” said Jack McCabe, former avionics communication equipment repairer and AVEL coordinator. “This is our fourth reunion and we change the location every year to suit all of our members. We decided to have it in Colorado Springs and heard about the 4th CAB being stationed here. We thought it would be a great stop and the CAB made it happen for us without hesitation. We are very grateful to have this opportunity to meet with these great CAB Soldiers.”

The veterans said they appreciated the time they spent with the CAB Soldiers and the opportunity to see

how their old profession has progressed.“It was great getting to see the

(advancements) they made to the aircraftover the years,” said McCabe. “The majority of us worked on Huey heli-copters. I don’t think most of us have ever been this close to a Black Hawk helicopter. The Chinook is like an old shoe — models have changed a lot, but still have the same functions. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Sgt. Sharanbir Mander, avionics mechanic, Company D, 2nd GSAB, enjoyed learning how the veterans fixed electrical problems during Vietnam.

“During one of stories that the vets were telling me, I figured out that some of the same technical issues they faced a long time ago are some of the same ones we face today,” said Mander. “It means a lot to me that I got to meet with these Vietnam veterans from my own career

field. It was a great experience.”Spc. Quarterrio Lilly, avionics

mechanic, Company D, savors how hard the vets had to work during their time in service and their help in the progression of his profession.

“The veterans had much harder conditions during their time at war,” said Lilly. “I learned they used to have (to) search for electrical issues by physically looking at all the wiring.

Today, we just hook a computer up to run diagnostics to tell us where the faults are. It was great seeing the men and women who helped progress our career field.”

The visit ended with the presen-tation of sentiments from both the 4th CAB leadership and the AVEL veterans. AVEL vets presented Command Sgt. Maj. Antoine Duchatelier, 4th CAB, aviation patches from the units they served with in Vietnam. Duchatelier presented the vets with a certificate of appreciation and gave them all unit coins.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ganz, CH-47 Chinook flight engineer, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, gives a tour of a CH-47F Chinook to Aviation Electrical Vietnam Veterans during their visit to 4th CAB hangars at Butts Army Airfield, Aug. 7.


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Miscellaneous Self-help weed control program — Department of

Defense regulations require training for people applying pesticides on military installations. Units interested in participating in the Directorate of Public Works Self-help Weed Control Program must send Soldiers for training on the proper handling, transportation and application of herbicides. Once individuals are properly trained by the DPW base operations and maintenance contractor, Fort Carson Support Services, Soldiers can be issued the appropriate products and equipment so units can treat weeds in rocked areas around the unit. Weed control self-help training sessions for Soldiers are available the first and third Monday of the month through September from 11 a.m. to noon, in building 3711. Each unit may send up to five people for training. Soldiers need to call FCSS at 492-0166 to set up an appointment to pick up weed control products and sprayers. Call 492-0166 for more information about the DPW Self-help Weed Control Program.

Command Evaluation and Training Team — COMET provides commanders at all levels with a responsive maintenance and supply assessment and training tool that improves the combat effectiveness, readiness and efficiency of their units’ logistical programs. The team identifies supply and maintenance weaknesses and problems and provides individual and unit reinforce-ment training based on assessments. Results remain confidential for the unit commander only. COMET provides assistance in the majority of maintenance and supply management areas with one-on-one training and by conducting follow-up visits. Contact Tim Howarth at 503-3095 or [email protected] for information.

First Sergeants’ Barracks Program 2020 — is lo-cated in building 1454 on Nelson Blvd. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The office assists Soldiers with room assignments and terminations. Call 526-9707 for more information.

Sergeant Audie Murphy Club — The Fort Carson Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meets the second Tuesday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Stack Dining Facility, building 2330. The club is named after Audie Leon Murphy, the most highly-decorated Soldier in American history. To be a member, a Soldier must be recognized as an NCO of the highest quality, demonstrating both leadership and performance. Armywide, SAMC membership is between 1 and 2 percent. Contact SAMC president Sgt. 1st Class Gilbert Guzman Jr. at 526-3576 or email [email protected].

Physical Exam Clinic — is located in building 1056 and performs physicals for Soldiers assigned to Fort Carson and surrounding bases without a primary care manager. Physicals, except flight physicals, are available by appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, except federal holidays. Physical packets can be obtained at the clinic or online at http://www.evans.amedd.army.mil/srp/srpc(underscore)pe.html. Visit building 1056 or call 526-7170 for more information.

Directorate of Public Works services — DPW is responsible for a wide variety of services on Fort Carson. Services range from repair and maintenance of facilities to equipping units with a sweeper and cleaning motor pools. Listed below are phone numbers and points of contact for services:• Facility repair/service orders — Fort Carson

Support Services service order desk can be reached at 526-5345. Use this number for emergencies or routine tasks and for reporting wind damage, damaged traffic signs or other facility damage.

• Refuse/trash and recycling — Call Eric Bailey at 719-491-0218 or email [email protected] when needing trash containers, trash is overflowing or emergency service is required.

• Facility custodial services — Call Bryan Dorcey at 526-6670 or email [email protected] for service needs or to report complaints.

• Elevator maintenance — Call Bryan Dorcey at 526-6670 or email [email protected].

• Motor pool sludge removal/disposal — Call Dennis Frost at 526-6997 or email [email protected].

• Self-help/troop construction — Call Tony Haag at 526-2859 or e-mail [email protected]. Use this number to obtain self-help tools and equipment or a motorized sweeper.

• Base operations contracting officer representative — Call Terry Hagen at 526-9262 or email [email protected] for questions on snow removal, grounds maintenance and contractor response to service orders.

• Portable latrines — Contact Jerald Just at 524-0786 or [email protected] to request, for service or to report damaged or overturned latrines.

• Signs — Call Jim Diorio, Fort Carson Support Services, at 896-0797 or 524-2924 or email [email protected] to request a facility, parking or regulatory traffic sign.

The Fort Carson Trial Defense Service office — is able to help Soldiers 24/7 and is located in building 2354. During duty hours, Soldiers should call 526-4563. The 24-hour phone number for after hours, holidays and weekends is 526-0051.

Briefings 75th Ranger Regiment briefings — are held Tuesdays

in building 1218, room 314, from noon to 1 p.m. Soldiers must be private to sergeant first class with a minimum General Technical Score of 105; be a U.S. citizen; score 240 or higher on the Army Physical Fitness Test; and pass a Ranger physical. Call 524-2691 or visit http://www.goarmy.com/ranger.html.

Casualty Notification/Assistance Officer training — The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson command-ing general has directed all Soldiers, sergeant first class through command sergeant major, chief warrant officer 2-5 and officers, captain and above, must attend Casualty Assistance Officer and Casualty Notification Officer Training. The three-day training course is held monthly at Veterans Chapel. Soldiers must register through their school noncommissioned officer for atten-dance of this training. The next classes are Aug. 19-21 and Sept. 16-18. Call 526-4551 for more information.

Retirement briefings — are available at http://www.carson.army.mil/dhr/DHR/MPD/PPB/RetirementServices.html. Call 526-2840 for more information.

ETS briefings — are available at http://www.carson.army.mil/dhr/DHR/MPD/PPB/Transitions.html. Call 526-2240/8458 for more information.

Reassignment briefings — are held Tuesdays in building 1129, Freedom Performing Arts Center. Sign in for Soldiers heading overseas is at 7 a.m. and the briefing starts at 7:30 a.m. Sign in for personnel being reassigned stateside is at 1 p.m., with the briefing starting at 1:30 p.m. Soldiers are required to bring Department of the Army Form 5118, signed by their physician and battalion commander, and a pen to complete forms. Call 526-4730/4583 for details.

Disposition Services — Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Colorado Springs, located in building 381, conducts orientations Fridays from 12:30- 3:30 p.m. The orientations discuss DLA processes to include turning in excess property, reutilizing government property, web-based tools available, special handling of property and environmental needs. To schedule an orientation, contact Arnaldo Borrerorivera at [email protected] for receiving/turn in; Mike Welsh at [email protected] for reutilization/web tools; or Rufus Guillory at [email protected].

Army ROTC Green-to-Gold briefings — are held

the first and third Tuesday of each month at noon at the education center, building 1117, room 120. Call University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Army ROTC at 262-3475 for more information.

Hours of OperationLogistics Readiness Center Supply and Services

• Central issue facility, building 1525 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30-4 p.m. Last customer served at 3:30 p.m.

• Reparable exchange/directed exchange or turn-in — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30- 4 p.m. on a walk-in basis. For faster turn-in service, call 526-3321 for an appointment.

• Ammunition supply point, building 9370 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Last issue/turn-in to ASP is at 2:30 p.m.; exceptions coordinated on case-by-case basis.

• Subsistence Support Management Office, building 350 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30-4 p.m.; call 526-4086/5195.

• Post Supply Support Activity, building 330 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30-4 p.m. Last customer served at 3:30 p.m.; call 526-9094 • Installation Property Book Office, building 330

— Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30- 4 p.m.; call 526-5984.

• Post Laundry, building 310 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30-4 p.m. Last customer served at 3:30 p.m.; call 526-8803.

• Bulk fuel point — Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight.

• Hazardous Material Control Center, building 400/406 — Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact administration operations at 526-5349 or the warehouse at 526-2979.

Education Center hours of operation — The Mountain Post Training and Education Center, building 1117, 526-2124, hours are as follows:• Counselor Support Center — Monday-Thursday

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Army Learning Center — Monday-Friday

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.• Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educa tion

Support and Army Personnel Testing — Monday- Friday 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Medical Activity Correspondence Department office hours — The Correspondence (Release of Infor mation) Office in the Patient Administration Division hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; closed all federal holidays. Call 526-7322 or 526-7284 for details.

Claims Office hours — are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., located on the first floor of building 6222, 1633 Mekong St. Shipment under Full Replace Value claimants must report the additional loss or damage listed on After Delivery Form 1851 directly to the transportation service provider by fax or report on the Defense Personal Property System line within 75 days. Claimants must submit the claim on DPS line through http://www.move.mil within nine months for FRV compensation for certain items. All other claims, submit to Fort Carson Claims Office within two years of delivery or date of incident. Call 526-1355 for more information.

Work Management Branch — The DPW Work Management Branch, located in building 1219, responsible for processing work orders — Facilities Engineering Work Requests, DA Form 4283 — is open for processing work orders and other in-person support from 7-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Afternoon customer support is by appointment only, call 526-2900.

http://www.bragg.army.mil/sorb

Special Operations Recruiting:Building 1218, Room 312/313

Ellis Street, Fort Carson524-1461/1462

Briefs every Wednesday:Special Forces: noon,

Civil Affairs/PSYOP: 1 p.m.

Fort Carson dining facilities hours of operationDFAC Friday Saturday-Sunday Monday-ThursdayStack Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: Closed

Closed Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: 5-6:30 p.m.

Wolf Breakfast: 6:45-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: 5-6:30 p.m.

Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: 5-6:30 p.m.

Breakfast: 6:45-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: 5-6:30 p.m.

Warfighter (Wilderness Road Complex)

Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: Closed

Closed Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: Closed

LaRochelle 10th SFG(A)

Closed Closed * - Closed FridayBreakfast: 7-9 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Dinner: Closed


Living with autismThe adolescent years

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories on autism. The fi rst story is available on the Mountaineer website at http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com/2014/04/living-with-autism/.

Story and photo by Sgt. William Smith4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Offi ce

An 11-year-old boy wakes, eats breakfast, brushes his teeth and combs his hair. It is a hot summer day so he takes his shirt off and goes in the backyard to jump in the pool. It is time to leave and the struggle begins.

Isaac refuses to get out of the pool when his mother, Sharna, asks him to.

She shows him a piece of paper with a schedule on it, fi nally convincing him to come back inside and get ready to leave.

Isaac suffers from moderate autism and as the summer winds down, he is transitioning into middle school.

Maj. Matt Fitzgerald, staff judge advocate, Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, and his wife, Sharna Fitzgerald, have raised a child with autism for about 10 years and said it gets easier with time.

“We were stationed in Germany when the doctors said that Isaac — 2 years old at the time — had several signs of autism, but they didn’t have the facilities that we could go to (to) get the full diagnosis,” Sharna Fitzgerald said. “I was angry after Isaac’s initial diagnosis. I did not want to get out of bed. I knew something was wrong, but when I heard those words it was just shock. I don’t even know how to explain it.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, there is something wrong with my perfect baby,’” she said. “You think to yourself, ‘My baby is perfect, how can there be something wrong with him?’ No one wants that for their child. I was miserable, and I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t make dinner. I couldn’t wash clothes. I felt like I was on a merry-go-round. I didn’t know what to do next.”

Sharna Fitzgerald said she decided to move stateside with her parents to get Isaac fully diagnosed, while her husband fi nished his time in Germany. She said once Isaac was diagnosed he began receiving the therapy he needed.

Perspectives and acceptance “Isaac didn’t talk until he was 6 and didn’t

actually respond and communicate with us until he was almost 9 years old,” said Matt Fitzgerald. “There is some parental shame where you feel like you have done something wrong … ‘I shouldn’t have eaten this, I shouldn’t have (given) him that shot,’ so on and so on.”

After a talk with her father and a visit to the hospital, Sharna Fitzgerald said she realized it would be diffi cult, but they would get through all the challenges ahead. During the process of getting Isaac’s autism diagnosis, Sharna Fitzgerald had a

wake-up call that put everything in perspective for her.

“We were over at the hospital getting a hearing test for Isaac,” she said. “I am in the elevator feeling sorry for myself (when) the doors open to the elevator and this lady is pushing a wheelchair in front of her and pulling another wheelchair behind her. I looked and saw they were her children. They had little braces on their necks and towels to wipe their mouths. I sat there and looked at my dad the whole time. They got off a fl oor before us and I started crying. I said, ‘Isaac is going to be fi ne. He can run, he can jump, he can play and he laughs.’ That was a true eye-opening moment. That is what helped (snap) me out of my self pity.”

The Fitzgeralds said they read a poem a short while after Isaac’s diagnosis that has motivated them over the past decade.

“There is a poem written by Emily Perl Kingsley called ‘Welcome to Holland’ that has helped ground us,” Matt Fitzgerald said. “She does a great job describing what it is like raising a special needs child.

“She said that having a child is like all of your life planning to go to Italy. You read everything you can about Italy. You learn everything you can about Italy. You plan all of your trip itinerary for Italy. You set your expectations for Italy. The next thing you know, you land and the stewardess says, ‘Welcome to Holland.’ That is an autistic child.

“All of your life you say, ‘Oh, I am going to have kids and they are going to be healthy and happy,” he said. “They are going to have 10 fi ngers and 10 toes; they are going to grow up a certain way and go to college … an autistic child is a diversion from Italy.

“Once we read that, it changed our perspective of how we viewed our challenges with Isaac,” Matt Fitzgerald said. “The point of the story is you know that Amsterdam is a beautiful city, but if you spend all of your time wishing you were in Italy, you’re going to be miserable. You are going to miss all of the beautiful things that Amsterdam has to offer if you keep thinking you are going to Italy.”

“He is Isaac; he’s autistic; it’s what he is,” Sharna Fitzgerald said. “I have learned to accept it.”

SuccessesThe Fitzgeralds recommend parents facing

similar challenges keep an open mind. They credit a lot of Isaac’s success to his various therapists and applied behavioral analysis. They advise constantly being in contact with the teachers and therapists.

The Fitzgeralds know their son will never be

able to do certain things but feel as long as he is happy, healthy and well cared for that is all they can ask for.

“Some of the biggest successes we have had with Isaac are him talking, being able to follow directions, recognizing sight words, dressing himself and buckling his seatbelt,” Sharna Fitzgerald said.

The Fitzgeralds said they are now able to take their eyes off Isaac and let him be a child.

“That has been a decade-long struggle,” said Matt Fitzgerald. “Right now, he is upstairs and I have no idea what he is doing. Five years ago that would have never happened; it would’ve been, ‘Where is Isaac? What is he doing?’ If he wanted to go outside, you went outside.”

Sharna Fitzgerald said Isaac’s behavior has improved a lot and credits that to all his therapists working together to do what is best for him.

“With Isaac we have seen a huge increase in his communication skills and that is the biggest piece,” said Amanda Jones, autism program manager, Colorado Autism Center in Colorado Springs. “He knows how to ask for a break now instead of engaging in inappropriate behavior to get what he wants.

“When Isaac fi rst got here he just wanted to play with balloons and self-stimulate himself with similar objects. He would hit a balloon against his hands or rub it against the side of his face. He wasn’t as

What is autism? Theresa Yakich, autism program manager,

Colorado Autism Center, explained that autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, are general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development that begins at birth or within the fi rst 2.5 years of life.

“These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by diffi culties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors,” Yakich said. “Most autistic children are perfectly normal in appearance, but spend their time engaged in puzzling and disturbing behaviors, which

are markedly different from those of typical children.“Children with less-severe cases may be diagnosed

with Pervasive Development Disorder or Asperger’s syndrome,” she explained. “Asperger’s is characterized by normal speech and verbal abilities, but displaying less severe autistic social behavioral problems.”

Yakich added that military children on the spectrum have an even harder time, constantly having to adjust every few years from changing duty stations.

“It is always tough for a child with autism to have to start over with a group of people,” she said. “Military life is particularly diffi cult for children with autism and their

Families. They have to frequently change duty stations and face social uncertainties with the ever-changing faces of new peers.”

Pete Libby, lead behavior clinician, Colorado Autism Center, said that some of the indicating factors to look for are not giving eye contact, not having a social smile in infancy and not attempting to imitate sounds.

“Autism is different; it is not cookie-cutter, which is why the puzzle piece is so perfect for the symbol of autism. Every case is different. It is diffi cult to defi ne because each child with autism is different — no two are the same.”

See Autism on page 16

Isaac Fitzgerald, 11, son of Maj. Matt Fitzgerald, staff judge advocate, Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, cuts out shapes during an applied behavioral analysis appointment at the Colorado Autism Center in Colorado Springs, July 16.


connected to his clinician and the world around him. Now he is really involved with his clinicians and understands what is going on.”

With all of the therapy Isaac has received he was able to walk with his class during his fi fth-grade graduation. Sharna Fitzgerald said the small things make her happy.

“Isaac was able to walk up by himself, with minimal help from his peers, to receive his elementary school diploma,” she said. “I felt like, oh my goodness, that is what we are striving for, Isaac to be as independent as possible. Instead of having his aide walk him up there and looking different than everyone else, they found a way to use his peers — that made us feel so proud. I am so thankful to his teachers and peers who did that for him. They worked so hard with him to be able to do that all year. That moment meant more to me than anything else all year.”

Individualized education plans

As servicemembers are required to move every few years, transitions can be rough. With a special needs child, the

challenges can be multiplied. An individualized education plan

helps a school tailor a child’s educational career to the needs of the child, based on his academic abilities. If there are behavioral concerns that need to be addressed they will be in the child’s IEP, a legal document the schools are required to follow.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — commonly known as the IDEA — is the federal law that governs what schools can and cannot do for the child.

“It is important for parents to do some research to learn what their rights and responsibilities are, that way they can go into the IEP meeting with knowl-edge of what the law is and what the school is required to do,” said Jessica Brown, systems navigator, Exceptional Family Member Program, Fort Carson.

When moving schools, it is important to make sure the previous IEP is as detailed as possible, said Brown.

“When a Family moves and they enter a new school, that school is required by law to provide comparable services. Whatever is in that current IEP, they have to provide those services until they come up with a new one for that school.”

Brown said there can be some diffi culties when a child is transitioning from elementary to middle school. It is

important to keep open communication to help make the transition as smooth as possible, she said.

“There is such a large spectrum when it comes to autism — not every child fi ts on the same IEP or has the same educational needs that their peers do,” said Brown. “The environment is way different and can be overwhelming, particularly when they have to transition classes. I feel it is really important for parents to keep that communication open between both schools during that transition to make sure the child’s needs are being met.”

Sharna Fitzgerald said the IEP process is what a person makes it.

“The IEP process has been great. It is all about how you interact with the teachers. If you are just dropping your child off at school every day and the only time they see you is at the IEP meeting, you are not going to have a good relationship with them.

“If you pop in and say, ‘I want to spend an hour observing class’ … (you) show that you are engaged. You come in with questions and you explain where Isaac has problems and where he can use some help. You explain what you are doing at home and ask them what they are doing at school so you can reinforce it at home. You build that relationship with them.”

C o l o r a d o P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y

Quick facts An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. More than 23,000 military children have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. Autism treatment costs a family $60,000 a year on average. There is no medical detection or cure for autism.

Red fl agsThe following “red fl ags” may indicate a child is at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. If a child exhibits any of the following, ask a pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation:

No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by 6 months of age or thereafter No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by 9 months No babbling by 12 months No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months No words by 16 months Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age No meaningful, two-word phrases — not including imitating or repeating — by 24 months

Source: http://www.AutismSpeaks.org

AutismFrom page 15

Isaac Fitzgerald, 11, plays on a seesaw during an applied behav-ioral analysis appointment at the Colorado Autism Center in Colorado Springs, July 16.

Photo by Sgt. William Smith


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1-8 Soldiers greet studentsl

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Henry W. Marris III

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, lined the entrance to Patriot Elementary School Aug. 7 as they greeted the students and staff with cheers of encouragement and high-fives to welcome them back to school.

Capt. Patrick Osman, commander of Company A, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, said he remembered his nervousness when starting school each year and wanted to encourage the students as they start back up.

“The extra motivation from the Soldiers and community of Fort Carson shows the importance of education to these students,” Osman said. “For the students to be able to feel the support for education from the community is vital. We look forward to working with Patriot Elementary in the future.”

The “Fighting Eagles” Battalion sponsors the school through the Adopt-a-School program and supports numerous

school functions such as reading programs, assisting teachers and the school’s Fueling the Future healthy living initiative.

Patiot’s principal, Rosa Saenz-Aragon, said it was great for the students to see the Soldiers welcoming them back to school.

“It was a very proud moment seeing the Soldiers greet the students and staff as they came in,” Aragon said. “This sets the culture and climate going forward into the school year about the importance of education. It was very welcoming.”

Spc. Dylan Warburton, infantryman, Company A, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., said he was happy to be a part of the event and seeing the children get excited about school.

“It was a great feeling to see the kids come in with a smile when we greeted them,” Warburton said. “Greeting them like this gives them a little bit of extra motivation to get going into the school year. I enjoy being able to make them so happy.”

Patriot Elementary School second-grade student

Cayleigh Kinman is greeted, Aug. 7, by Soldiers from

1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, as

she enters the school on the first day of the new academic school year.


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Hospital staff goes back to schoolStory and photo by Jeff Troth

Medical Department Activity Public Affairs Office

Employees of Evans Army Community Hospital are going back to school.

The employees will not have to leave the hospital to further their education while attending the hospital’s new school — EACH University.

The university is a low-cost, internal training program that was the brainchild of Evans employee Toni Chatman, a logistician whose duties at the hospital involve property management and hand receipt management.

“I am a military spouse and this is the sixth (medical treatment facility) that I have worked at,” said Chatman. “I noticed that names and faces changed … but there were similar needs at all of (the MTFs).”

Chatman said all the places she’s worked offered classes and training for the medical staff to sustain their medical proficiency but had limited classes for non-medical support staff. She said she came up with the idea for a training program that focused on building and empowering the hospital staff.

Chatman worked on her idea but never brought it to any of the hospital’s command team until this year.

“Lt. Col. (Eric) Poulsen (Evans’ deputy commander for adminis-tration) said that he was looking for ideas on how to improve the facility, improve patient relations and improve staff morale, and I thought this was the perfect place and the perfect opportunity to pilot my idea,” Chatman said.

She presented the concept of an EACH University to the hospital commander and hospital leadership

during Evans’ Strategic Planning Seminar in April. “I was shocked at how well they responded to it

and how quickly it has been implemented,” she said. “Sometimes you get ideas like this and there is no traction, but it had traction almost immediately. This was the right time and the right place for my university idea.”

The idea for the university and its curriculum wasn’t just to improve employees’ performance at the workplace, but to enhance their overall lives, too.

“This has to do with making someone a better person and, in turn, a better employee,” she said.

The university was designed to be organization-ally driven. The hospital staff and command will work together to determine which classes will be most beneficial to Evans. This will be different than the Department of the Army — or Medical Command —

directed training that is conducted within military units around the globe, or within other Army hospitals.

“What Irwin (Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley, Kan.) or Madigan (Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.) needs for their staff may not be what Evans needs,” Chatman said.

EACH University held its first classes the week of July 14 with more than 400 staff members attending customer service classes, which focused on improving the care experience patients receive at Evans.

“One of our core focuses at Evans is patient and customer service, and that service depends a lot on how we interact with each other,” said Poulsen, “how our doctors, nurses and administration staff function and support each other to make the best possible patient care experience.”

Those who attended the customer service classes were given tools to create a positive care experience and maintain it. They also discussed conflict resolution when things don’t go the way a patient expects.

“We can’t meet everyone’s expectations every time, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do our best so that someone doesn’t feel like a number,” said Mark Greene, a U.S. Army Medical Command class facilitator. “The goal for service excellence is always doing our best to create a positive experience for everyone who walks through our doors.”

See EACH on page 22

Mark Green, U.S. Army Medical Command class facilitator, discusses seeking solutions with hospital staff, July 17, during an EACH University customer service class.

20 MOUNTAINEER — Aug. 15, 2014 21Aug. 15, 2014 — MOUNTAINEER

Soldiers with 544th Engineer Company,

52nd Engineer Battalion, prepare to pour 10-inch concrete pads around a large area maintenance shelter to allow Soldiers

to do maintenance while at Piñon Canyon

Maneuver Site, Monday.

Spc. Kevin Sweeney, carpentry and masonry specialist, 544th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, tests the concrete mixture to ensure quality of the concrete slabs they are creating at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Monday.

Sgt. Robert Rowe, plumber, 544th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, shovels dirt to reinforce the framing prior to pouring concrete at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Monday.

Soldiers with 544th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, level the concrete for 10-inch pads around a Large Area Maintenance Shelter to allow Soldiers to do maintenance while at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Monday.

Soldiers with 52nd Engineers Battalion, level the ground at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Monday, as part of a two-month project to improve the infrastructure.

Engineers Engineers Engineers save Army save Army save Army

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Story and photos by Sgt. Eric Glassey4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Offi ce

PIÑON CANYON MANEUVER SITE — Joint Task Force Carson Soldiers from the 52nd Engineer Battalion saved more than $1.5 million in taxpayers’ money with troop construction at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site during a two-month project which began in late July.

Planning began two years ago for the project that includes laying more than 2,800 cubic yards of concrete to build helicopter landing pads, expanding maintenance workspace around large area maintenance shelters and fencing for a storage yard.

“Our best guess is that we’re saving the Army about ($1.5 million),” said Maj.

Jeffrey Shultz, operations offi cer in charge, 52nd Eng. Bn. “This project’s value is estimated around $2 million to $2.5 million if we were to contract it out. We’re doing it with troop construction at $700,000.”

The $700,000 goes straight into the materials for the construction projects, with no overhead or profi t, while allowing Soldiers the opportunity to develop their skills.

“We don’t charge anything for troop labor,” Shultz said. “We are covering those costs. The $700,000 pays for the gravel, concrete, fencing and a smaller amount of tools required to do the work. It’s all materials cost. There is no profi t built into the cost.”

In addition to providing ample infrastructure for future training, this construction affords the

engineers the opportunity to hone their skills.“We’re always looking for stuff that trains

our actual skills as a construction unit,” Shultz said. “That’s all we’re doing down there at Piñon Canyon. That is our bread and butter. The difference is that we’re building on a scale that we just never get to do. The last time a unit this size was able to do a project this size was during a deployment. We’re able to replicate that training here.

“It’s just phenomenal training for the Soldiers,” Shultz said. “Just to put it in perspective, when we’re talking about concrete work, a typical training project that we do would be two to three loads of concrete coming in from a concrete company. We’re doing over 400 loads. You just get so much

more profi ciency by the bulk and magnitude of the project. We’ve seen a huge increase in our quality and their speed has more than doubled. It’s really paying off.”

The Soldiers noticed the quality of work and increase in profi ciency during their time at Piñon Canyon.

“It’s great seeing Soldiers who haven’t had the opportunity to do this learn how to lay concrete,” said Spc. Kevin Sweeney, carpentry and masonry specialist, 544th Engineer Company, 52nd Eng. Bn. “We started off with a large number of lower enlisted who (had) never done anything with concrete before. It’s been fun to watch them over-come the learning curve and become profi cient at all things concrete, from placement to fi nishing.”

Despite the heavy rainfall at PCMS, the

crews expect construction will be completed in time for the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., rotation.

“Dealing with all the rain has been our biggest struggle, but we’ve been able to overcome it,” said 1st Lt. Harmony McCoy, executive offi cer, 544th Eng., 52nd Eng. Bn. “We did it with all the teamwork within the battalion.”

The battalion hopes to have more opportunity to train its Soldiers on large construction projects such as this as they provide infrastructure for their fellow Soldiers.

“From our standpoint, our selling point back to the installation, to Department of Public Works and Installation Management Command is that you invest in troop construction and we’ll save millions of dollars,” Shultz said.


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Class welcomes newcomersStory and photo by Andrea Stone

Special to the Mountaineer

Summer is the season for moving in the military, and Families new to Fort Carson have an opportunity to learn about the post and surrounding community during Newcomer Orientation, Aug. 25-26.

The fi rst day of the two-day program includes briefi ngs from organizations such as Army Community Service, TRICARE, the Education Center and Balfour Beatty Communities. There’s also a tour of Fort Carson.

The second day takes Family members off post, with a tour of Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs.

“The goal is to inform spouses of what resources are available to them here in the area,” said Erin Pinero, Family Connections coordinator. “It’s best for those spouses who are just arriving because we do a tour also, so they (become) more familiar with the post and the surrounding area.”

Zoe Dutton, who had only been at Fort Carson for about two months when she attended the June 30-July 1 class, said she found the information useful.

“I thought it was very, very helpful because this is our fi rst duty station,” she said. “I’m new to the military. I’m new to Colorado. I learned about the resources. I learned about Colorado and … we did a tour of Fort Carson, which was nice because I don’t know where anything is.”

The program gives Families a chance to see what the area has to offer, but also gives them an opportunity to meet other Family members.

“It seems like the groups that we have, the spouses really bond with each other,” Pinero said.

Newcomer Brittany Haffer agreed.

“I learn a lot from the other spouses, too, which helps,” she said.

The orientation is offered every other month.

Newcomers interested in attending the Aug. 25-26 orienta-tion from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Army Community Service can register by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com and typing “Fort Carson” in the search bar. Free child care is available with advance registration. Call 526-1070 for more information.

Newcomers to Fort Carson visit a candy store in Old Colorado City during a tour, July 1. The tour is part of the two-day Newcomer Orientation program offered every other month.

He told the class that hospitals are in the problem-solving business. When patients come to the hospital, the staff works hard to fi nd out what is going on with their health and how to make them better. Greene said they should take the same responsibility when there is something non-medically related.

Other classes Chatman is working to get into the EACH University curriculum include team building, email etiquette and using computer programs.

“You’d be surprised at how many people do not know Microsoft Offi ce programs,” said Chatman. “So we are looking at having beginner, inter-mediate and advance classes. So no matter what your skill level is, you will still learn something.

“The possibilities on what classes will be taught are endless,” she said.

Chatman is hoping to have more than 2,000 staff members walk through the doors of EACH University classes and to come up with a reward system for those who attain a certain number of university credits. She would also like to see other military hospitals have their own university modeled after EACH University.

“My advice to anyone who has an idea that would improve the workplace is to take ownership and fi nd a way to get it in front of your command,” said Chatman. “If you really care about your organization and want to make it better fi nd a way to give your idea a voice.”

EACHFrom page 18


Claims to the estateStaff Sgt. Benjamin Gill Prange — With deepest

regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact 1st Lt. Alfredo Macedo at 312-350-7127.

Sgt. Jacob Hanson — With deepest regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact 1st Lt. Mark Hruza at 719-424-6019.

Sgt. Stuart A. Radin — With deepest regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact Capt. Daniel Rullo at 552-0778.

Upcoming events Spouse Newcomer Orientation — Orientation

for military spouses new to the area will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 25-26 in the Army Community Service Center, building 1526. Go to http://www.eventbrite.com and search for Fort Carson to register.

Retiree Appreciation Day — will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Cadet Field House at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The event includes free breakfast, medical and insurance information and screenings, an information fair and guest speakers.

Women Veterans of Colorado — The group’s fourth annual conference will be held Sept. 13 in Denver. Visit http://bit.ly/WVOC2014Conference to register or http://www.womenveteransofcolorado.org or http://www.facebook.com/womenveterans ofcolorado for updates.

General announcementsRed Cross dental assistant training — Applications

are available at the Red Cross office at Evans Army Community Hospital. The deadline to apply is Sept. 5 for the session that begins in January. Applicants must be 18, a military sponsored identification card holder, a U.S. citizen and have a valid high school diploma or GED. Call the Red Cross office at 526-7144/7589 for more information.

Advisory council — Evans Army Community Hospital is seeking volunteers to serve on a Patient and Family Advisory Council to assess current policies, operations and programs. Meetings are monthly. Applications are available at the Patient and Family-Centered Care Resource Center or call the PFAC coordinator at 526-7733 for more information.

Pediatrics clinic — Evans Army Community Hospital’s pediatrics clinic has an embedded behavioral health psychologist/counselor available to work with parents who have concerns about their child’s behavior, discipline or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A pediatric pharmacist is also available to manage children’s medication.

Prenatal nutrition class — Expectant mothers can learn how to eat healthy during pregnancy. The class is held the second Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. in Evans Army Community Hospital’s Nutrition Care Division. Call 526-7290 to sign up.

Fort Carson Police Records — The Fort Carson Police Records section has moved to building 2757, MOD 4, on the corner of Barkeley Avenue and Osan Street. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Fingerprinting hours at the Fort Carson Police station, building 2700, have changed to 2-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. The Fort Carson Police complete fingerprints for on-post employment. For any other fingerprint needs, contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Fort Carson Employee Assistance Program — The program provides short-term assistance to Depart ment of the Army civilian employees, active-duty spouses and Family members, and retired military personnel and eligible family members with adult living problems, substance use concerns and issues affecting workplace productivity and well-being. Worksite interventions are offered and consultation is available to supervisors and managers regarding workplace matters. EAP services are free to eligible civilians and DA civilian employees. Call 526-2196 for assistance. The EAP is located at 1638 Elwell St. in building 6236, room 229.

Nutrition education — Evans Army Community Hospital Nutrition Care Division offers individual nutrition counseling for specific nutrition-related diagnoses. Weight management classes for Family members and retirees are provided as well as classes for the Army Body Composition Program for active duty Soldiers. Other classes provide include cholesterol, prenatal nutrition, healthy cooking and a commissary tour. Call the TRICARE appointment line at 457-2273 to schedule an appointment. Call the Nutrition Care Division at 526-7290 to check on the availability for a sports nutrition class to be given at the unit.

Payday loan complaints — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is accepting complaints from borrowers encountering problems with payday loans. Consumers can visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call 855-411-2372 to submit a complaint.

Voting assistance — The Voting Assistance Office, located in building 1218, room 218, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Call 526-1140 or email the Installation Voting Assistance Officer at [email protected] for assistance. Visit http://www.fvap.gov for more information.

Same day appointments — Evans Army Community Hospital Family Medicine Clinics, Internal Medicine Clinic and Pediatric Clinic are operating under an appointment model called “Open Access,” offering same day appointments. Beneficiaries may not be offered the exact hour they want. Call the Access to Care Line, 526-2273, to make an appointment.

Transfer military hospital or clinic when relocating — TRICARE Online users must update their military hospital or clinic location online each time they relocate. Transferring military hospital or clinic affiliation in TOL does not automatically transfer the TRICARE enrollment in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

Army Provider Level Satisfaction Survey — Patients may fill out and return the APLSS to help minimize the impact of budget cuts on medical care. Evans Army Community Hospital receives funding based on patients seen and customer satisfaction. Positive surveys returned can bring in up to $900. Help keep providers and departments and clinics fully functional. Call 526-7256 for more information.

Free Post Shuttle — circulates the cantonment area and makes regular runs to Wilderness Road Complex. The shuttle operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit http://www.facebook.com/shuttlefortcarson for route maps. Call 526-6453 for more information.

Donated annual leave for Fort Carson civilian employees — is currently being accepted for the following civilians who have exhausted all available leave because of medical emergencies under the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program: Jessica Clark, Dental Activity; David Grant, Army Recruiting Battalion, Denver; Linda Kumley, Directorate of Human Resources; Teresa Miller, Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation; unnamed employee in DFMWR; Stephanie Smith-Froese, Directorate of Public Works; and Andrea Cunningham, DFMWR. Any Army appropriated fund civilian employee wishing to donate annual leave must complete the OPM Form 630a found at http://www.opm. gov/forms/pdf(underscore)fill/opm630a.pdf and return it to John Pylypiw in the Fort Carson Civilian Personnel Advisory Center. Fax to Pylypiw at 526-6128 or call 526-9341 for information. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency and about to exhaust leave can contact the CPAC Management Employee Relations team at 526-8317/1006/1336/4270.

Ambulance service — Fort Carson officials urge community members to contact emergency personnel by calling 911 instead of driving personal vehicles to the emergency room. In the event of a life- or limb-threatening emergency, skilled paramedics and ambulance crew will be able to administer critical care and aid. Contact the Emergency Department at 526-7111 for more information.

Prescription policy — All handwritten prescriptions from a TRICARE network provider will be filled at the Soldier and Family Care Center located adjacent to and east of Evans Army Community Hospital. When calling in for refills on those prescriptions, beneficiaries will continue to use the SFCC. A dedicated refill window in this facility will reduce wait time. The SFCC pharmacy is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pharmacy is located on the first floor near the east entrance of the facility; park in the “G” lot, east of the building. Call 503-7067 or 503-7068 for more information.

No-show policy — A “Commander’s Appointment Policy” affects all TRICARE beneficiaries who receive health care services on Fort Carson and at the Premier Army Health Clinic. Multiple no-shows could result in the stopping of medical services; Soldiers requiring unit escorts to future appointments; patients may have to sign a statement acknowledging they understand the ramifications of multiple no-shows; a letter may be sent to the Soldier’s unit when he or his Family member has multiple no-shows or cancellations; retirees with multiple missed appointments, “left without being seen,” or cancellations may have their locations of care changed. To cancel appointments during week-days, beneficiaries can call the TRICARE appoint-ment line 526-2273 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Appointments made through TRICARE online can be canceled at http://www.tricareonline.com.

Ongoing eventsMilitary Appreciation Breakfast — The Southeast

Armed Services YMCA hosts a monthly military appreciation breakfast the fourth Friday of every month from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Open to all people affiliated with the Department of Defense. Email Drew Aquino at [email protected] for more information.

Breakfast at VFW — Breakfast at VFW Post 6461 is held the first Sunday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m. at 753 S. Santa Fe Ave., Fountain, and is open to the public. Suggested donation of $3. Call 382-7957 for more information.

Support group — The Pikes Peak Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Inc. holds a monthly support group for those whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss, stillbirth or loss in the first few months of life. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 5265 N. Union Blvd. For more information, visit http://www.pikespeakshare.org.


Chapel briefsFacebook — Search “Fort Carson Chaplains

(Religious Support Offi ce)” for eventsand schedules.

Catholic Religious Education — registration is being accepted for classes that meet Sundays from 10:30-11:50 a.m. Religious education classes are available for children in preschool through the age of confi r mation. Classes are also offered for adults seeking to join the Catholic faith and those who desire to participate in the celebrating of the sacraments. Contact Pat Treacy at 524-2458 or [email protected] for more information.

Trunk-or-Treat — volunteers are needed to host decorated trunks, and donations are needed for the Oct. 26 event from 2-3:30 p.m. at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. Contact Pat Treacy at 524-2458 or [email protected] for more information.

Youth Ministries — Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel youth group members are invited to attend the Prussman youth group Tuesdays at 6 p.m. or the Veterans youth group Sundays at 6:30 p.m.

Catholic Women of the Chapel — meets Friday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. Call 526-5769 or visit “Fort Carson Military Council of Catholic Women” on Facebook for information.

Protestant Women of the Chapel — meets Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. Free child care is available. Email [email protected] or visit “PWOC Fort Carson” on Facebook for details.

Knights of Columbus — a Catholic group for men 18 and older, meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. Call 526-5769 for more information.

Latter Day Saints Soldiers — meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. for pizza and social, followed by an Institute (Bible study) at 6:30 p.m. at Provider Chapel, Ellis Street at Barkeley Avenue.

Contact elder Arthur Ford at 433-2659 or [email protected] or Chap. (Capt.) Jacob Snell at 330-3120 or jacob.r.snell.mil@

mail.mil for information or a ride.

Heartbeat — a support group for battle buddies, Family members and friends who are suicide survivors, meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Fallen Heroes Family Center, building 6215, 6990 Mekong St. Contact Richard Stites at 598-6576 or Cheryl Sims at 304-9815 for information.

Has someone in your organization recently received kudos?

Contact Mountaineer staff at 526-4144 or email [email protected].

Carson’s chapels callingCommentary by

Chap. (Maj.) Steve Satterfi eldEvans Army Community Hospital

Fort Carson’s chapels are calling. Are we listening?

I have had the joy of being stationed at Fort Carson several times. In 2001, I was in the Army Reserve and I worked out of Veterans Chapel. Chap. (Col.) John Powledge, Chap. (Maj.) Bill Fox and I prayed there would be a contemporary service at the chapel, so we were glad that Chapel Next began. I hear there are a couple of hundred people attending it now.

While I was in the 68th Corps Support Battalion I preached out of Provider Chapel when it had a Protestant service. We also had it packed out for unit briefi ngs. I recently did a wedding there, so it was nice to remember the good times with our Soldiers.

When I was with the 4th Special

Troops Battalion, Prussman Chapel is where I was a co-pastor of the Gospel service, and I enjoyed playing keys with their choir. We had a lot of fun together. It is also where I attended the memorial for Chap. (Capt.) Dale Goetz. I also had the honor of working with Chap. (Maj.) Tim Vakoc, who was severely wounded in Iraq. May Jesus comfort their Families and friends.

Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel is where I regrettably have had to lead memorials. I also had the joy of preaching there during the Protestant service. I attended many unit ministry team meetings there as well.

After being the deputy/senior clinician of the Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care at Healer Chapel, I have preached and prayed at promotions many times. It has been a privilege to have worked out of all of Fort Carson’s chapels over 13 years.

Fort Carson’s chapels are calling. How will you answer?

In Matthew 11:28-30, Christ said “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will fi nd rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

“ Come to me, all “ Come to me, all who are weary who are weary and heavy-laden, and heavy-laden, and I will give and I will give you rest.”you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28— Matthew 11:28


Photos by Crystal Ross

Left: Joint Task Force Carson Family members Tniyah Thompson, 6, and her mother, Amanda Eady, search for the perfect ruler at Balfour Beatty Communities’ Bust Your Backpack event, Tuesday. Above: Family member Gretchen Cotto helps her children, Grechmariee and Christopher Burgos-Cotto, right, select school supplies at the Bust Your Backpack event, Tuesday. Each of the 253 children in attendance was allowed to choose 13 items that were provided by Balfour Beatty and Operation Homefront of the Rockies.

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Soldier enjoying early successStory and photo by Walt Johnson

Mountaineer staff

PUEBLO — Fort Carson’s Omar Jones has been a fi xture at the Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center weight room, making sure he was fi t and ready to fi ght the nation’s battles by being in top physical condition.

Jones was fulfi lling his duties for the Army with his weight training, but it didn’t take long for people to notice that the results should make him

consider competing in bodybuilding events held throughout the state.

After working out at a Colorado Springs fi tness center and being encouraged by those he met, Jones decided it was time to give bodybuilding a shot.

“There were a number of people who told me if I wanted to compete in the (National Physique Committee) shows that I would probably be competitive. After I started working out at the Colorado Springs facility, I started to get serious about it,” Jones said.

He made his bodybuilding debut at the NPC’s Southern Colorado show designed to recognize the military. He fi nished second in that show, followed it up with a fi rst-place showing at the NPC’s Max Muscle event and then got his national qualifi cation at the Colorado State Championships in Denver in late July.

Jones said he never considered competing in the physique events previously — the category has only been in effect for the past four years, but he is quickly making a name for himself in the sport’s

Colorado community. He said the training fi ts perfectly in his daily workout program because it is a stress release for him and allows him to participate in his passion of weight and cardio training. A former basketball player, Jones is not doing too bad in his newly adopted sport.

“This is my main release and I love it. I got to the point where I wanted to get on stage after the rigorous training and dieting I had done,” he said. “Being on the stage was like getting my diploma in the sport. It wasn’t something I thought I would ever do, but now that I am doing it, it feels like something I should have been doing a long time ago.”

If his recent success is any indicator, big things are in store for a man who never thought his passion for being fi t to serve his country would take him to being one of the elite physique athletes in the nation.

What sports did you play growing up?

I played basketball, which was the fi rst sport I loved, when I was younger. Then I got introduced to track when we moved to Charlotte, N.C.

When you began running track did you know you had a special talent?

When I began running, I realized that I was one of the fastest female runners in my school. Ever since then I have run track and fi eld events.

Did you recently have a break in track for military reasons?

Yes, I took a break from track when I was deployed to Kuwait. I have been training again since I have been back, and I’ve only competed in one event in Boulder recently.

What type of training program are you on?

I’ve recently begun training so I can get to the proper weight. When I was in Kuwait I would workout three times a day and added some muscle weight. I also did the proper dieting and resting while I was in Kuwait. My coaches also sent

me workout programs. Have you considered running

for the Army team?Yes, I am interested in the World

Class Athlete Program track program. I have to run an outdoor event and meet other qualifi cations.

What is your personal best moment in track and fi eld?

When I fi rst started running in high school I felt I was a bit over-weight, so (it would have to be) losing weight and getting to a 5-foot, 2-inch high jump in high school. That was the best jump for anyone from my high school since Shawn Marion (a professional basketball player) did it.

What is the one thing you haven’t done in sports you would still like to do?

I would like to travel with an elite team and be in position to compete for a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.

People who don’t know me would be surprised to know that …

I am very passionate … I live, breathe and dream about track and fi eld. Photo by Walt Johnson

Mountaineer Athlete of the Week

Photo by Walt Johnson

Tifani ScalesTrack and fi eld athlete

Fort Carson’s Omar Jones, right, prepares to pose down against competitors during the Steel City competition in Pueblo, Aug. 2. Jones took fi rst place in his weight class during the event.


Fort Carson will be the starting point for the first gathering point of the Navy Seabee Run Saturday.

The motorcycle run is sponsored by the Navy Seabee Veterans of America-Island X-2 located in Pueblo. The ride will begin at the Gate 1 parking lot off Highway 115. Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. and the last motorcycle is scheduled to go out at 9:30 p.m. and head to Cañon City to meet with other riders who will be registering there. All riders will then leave Cañon City at 10:45 a.m. for Cripple Creek, to participate in the annual Salute to American Veterans rally.

Event organizers said there is no ride fee and all riders are welcome. Email event organizers at [email protected] for more information.

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox host the next Military Appreciation Night Thursday.

The Sky Sox play the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Los Angeles Dodgers triple-A affiliate, at 6:35 p.m. at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. Free ticket vouchers — a limit of 10 per Family — are available at Information, Tickets and Registration. The vouchers need to be exchanged at the Security Service Field box office, located near Powers Boulevard and Barnes Road. If the game is postponed, the tickets will be good for admission to another game this year.

The Mesa Ridge High School Grizzlies football team opens the 2014 season on the road against the Lewis-Palmer Rangers, Aug. 22.

The Grizzlies’ first home game will be Aug. 29 against the Cañon City Tigers at 7 p.m. at District 3

Stadium on the campus of Widefield High School. The rest of the Grizzlies’ home schedule is Sept. 12 vs. Cheyenne Mountain, Sept. 20 vs. Rampart, Oct. 10 vs. Vista Ridge and Oct. 24 vs. Falcon.

The Fountain-Fort Carson High School Trojans football team opens the 2014 season on the road against the Columbine Rebels, Aug. 22.

The Trojans’ first home game is Aug. 28 against the Lakewood Tigers at 7 p.m. at the football field on campus. The rest of the Trojans’ home schedule is Sept. 18 vs. Palmer, Sept. 26 vs. Douglas County and Oct. 17 vs. Castle View.

There will be a softball home run derby at the

Mountain Post Sports Complex in September. The tournament will be held in two rounds.

The preliminary round will be Sept. 3 and finals will be Sept. 11. The tournament is open to all Department of Defense identification card holders 18 and older. Email Levi Hokkala at [email protected] to reserve a spot in the tournament.

The post fall softball league and flag football seasons are scheduled to begin Sept. 15.

The softball league will feature men’s and coed divisions. The coed teams must have at


Step Zumba

Anja Berry, Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center Zumba instructor, center, leads a class Monday at the facility. A new 45- minute express Step Zumba class will be offered beginning Sept. 5.

See Bench on page 29


least fi ve female players, according to DFMWR offi cials. Games are scheduled Monday-Thursday at 6:30, 7:35 and 8:40 p.m. There will be a mandatory coaches meeting for the softball league Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center. The football league, which will play in battalion and company level action, has its mandatory coaches meeting Sept. 3 at Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center at 6:30 p.m.

The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsors the individual and team triathlon sprint competition, Sept. 6 at 8 a.m. at the Outdoor Pool.

The “Tri It” event will be a 500-meter swim (individual) and 750-meter swim (team); 20-kilometer bicycle event (team and individual); and a 5-kilometer run (individual) and 10-kilometer run (team). The registration fee for the event is $20 per person if competing individually or as a team. People can register for the event at any post fi tness center or at http://mwrfortcarson.com/physical-fi tness-centers.php. Call Sabine Clark at 526-2742 for more information.

The Colorado Rockies offer military members special ticket buys.

The next opportunity is when the Rockies take on the Cincinnati Reds, Friday at 6:40 p.m. and Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Military personnel can purchase tickets in the outfi eld box, pavilion, right fi eld mezzanine and upper reserved infi eld/outfi eld area for their Family and friends for $14 each (with a $3.50 service charge per order), a discount from the usual price. Call the Rockies at 303-ROCKIES, ask for the military discount and provide reference number 21230987 to take advantage of the offer. This offer is not available on a walk-up basis. Seating areas are subject to

availability, limits may apply and all areas are not available for each game.

The 2014 National Physique Committee Armbrust Pro Gym Warrior Classic will be held Aug. 22-23 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa and Conference Center, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, in Loveland.

Events Aug. 22, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., include junior/teen fi tness; fi tness; fi gure and men’s physique. Events Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., include bikini; women’s physique; women’s bodybuilding and men’s bodybuilding. Visit http://www.jefftaylor.com for tickets.

Child, Youth and School Services offi cials are looking for people interested in volunteering

as youth sports and fi tness coaches. Anyone interested in being a coach must pass

a background check, attend a mandatory three-hour preseason training session and be available two to three hours per week for practices and games. CYSS offi cials said anyone interested in being a coach must have good communication skills with the CYSS sports staff and parents of the players. According to CYSS offi cials, youth coaches receive discounts on sports enrollment for their children, promotion points for active-duty Soldiers, volunteer hours, resume building and will make a defi nitive positive impact on the community. Call 526-1101 for more information.

— Compiled by Walt Johnson

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Beat the throwJoseph Scott, 984th Military Police Company, arrives safely at second during intramural softball action Monday at the Mountain Post Sports Complex. The post company level and women’s championship tournaments are scheduled to be held the fi rst week of September, and the battalion level championship tournament is scheduled to be held the second week of September.

BenchFrom page 28


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All-stars

Fort Carson’s Brent Nicholson,

52, talks defensive

strategy with former Fountain-

Fort Carson standout Donte

Stewart, 1, during the

Colorado Football Conference

All-Star Game, Saturday.

The CFC all-stars defeated the American

Developmental Football

Conference all-stars, 24-

16, at Harrison High School’s

Memorial Field in Colorado

Springs.


“Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed” is in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science through Aug. 24. The museum is in City Park at 2001 Colorado Blvd. and is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $22 for nonmember adults and $13 for children ages 3-10. Tickets are sold for entry at a certain time; call the museum or go online at http://www.dmns.org for availability.

“Chihuly Rediscovered” is in the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St. Renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly’s works are in the exhibit. Admission to the exhibit is $10. The Denver Botanic Gardens also has a Chihuly exhibit through Nov. 30. In partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens,visitors can buy a ticket to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Chihuly Rediscovered” and get $5 off the Denver Chihuly show, and vice versa. Denver Botanic Gardens is at 1007 York St. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Active-duty military and members of their Families older than 10 with military identification are admitted for $16 per person. Under age 2 and 60 and older are admitted free. Regular admission is $21 per person. The workshop is on the Pikes Peak Highway. Turn at the traffic light in the small town of Cascade.

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum currently has “Memories of a Massacre: Perspectives on Ludlow” as a featured exhibit. The event took place in 1914 during a union strike. “The Midas Touch: The Penrose-Tutt Partnership” is a special exhibit opened recently. Two childhood friends became business partners in Cripple Creek and eventually had a great impact on the Pikes Peak area. The free museum is at 215 S. Tejon St.

Space Foundation Discovery Center features “A Taste of Space Technology” through Saturday. The Discovery Center is off Garden of the Gods Road at 4425 Arrowswest Drive. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for college students with

identification and $4.50 for children ages 4-17. Military rates are $5 for adults with identification and $4 for children. Ages 3 and younger are admitted free; call 576-8000 for information.

A special traveling exhibit, “Rise Above,” will be in the Wings Over the Rockies museum in the Denver suburb of Aurora through Tuesday. The traveling exhibit highlights the inspiring story of the Tuskegee Airmen. The 30-minute film highlights obstacles faced by America’s first black military pilots and support personnel. Audiences also experience a flight in a P-51 Mustang. There is no charge to see the exhibit other than general admission to the museum. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is in Hangar 1 at the former Lowry Air Force Base, at 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Call 303-360-5360 for information. Admission is $11 for ages 12-64, $9 for active-duty military, seniors and veterans and $6 for ages 4-12. The museum is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

The Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., has these upcoming concerts scheduled:

• KIDZBOP KIDS, 7 p.m. Friday. • “Late Nite Catechism,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday. • Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, 8 p.m. Tuesday. • Huey Lewis & the News, 8 p.m. Aug. 22. • Melissa Etheridge, 7 p.m. Aug. 25. • Nickel Creek, 8 p.m. Aug. 30. • Comedian Steven Wright, 7 p.m. Sept. 14. • The Temptations, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17. • Gordon Lightfoot, 7 p.m. Sept. 22.

Call 520-SHOW for ticket information.The Salute to American Veterans is Friday-

Sunday in Cripple Creek. Events in this 22nd annual rally and festival include the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall, guest speakers, a Veterans Remembrance ceremony, parade, street dance, concerts, food vendors and Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Ride. Take Highway 24 west to Woodland Park then Highway 67 south to Cripple Creek.

“1964, the Tribute” is Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Morrison. Tickets for the Beatles tribute are $32 plus service charges at Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000.

“STEM Rocks,” a science, technology, engineering and mathematics festival, is Aug. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p m. at Peterson Air and Space Museum. The free event has hands-on activities for kindergartners to eighth graders. There’ll be free T-shirts, hot dogs and snow

cones. The museum on Peterson Air Force Base is at the corner of Peterson Boulevard and Ent Avenue. Call 598-9755 for information.

Colorado’s State Fair is Aug. 22-Sept. 1, on the state fairgrounds in Pueblo. Held annually in Pueblo since 1876, it’s one of the oldest state fairs in the nation. In addition to competitive events, cookoffs, fine arts, 4-H, horse shows and live-stock shows, there are PRCA rodeos with Clay Walker and Chris Young, freestyle bullfights and appearances by Gabriel Iglesias, Brantley Gilbert and Tony Orlando. There is free entertainment, including Olate Dogs, Strong Man John Beatty, Stirrup Some Fun, Strolling Magical Medicine Show, Colorado Raptors and Aussie Kingdom. There’s a carnival midway. The Colorado State Fair is at 1001 Beulah Ave. The website is http://www.coloradostatefair.com.

The Air Force Academy football team meets Nicholls State Colonels at Falcon Stadium as the Air Force Academy Aug. 30 at noon. The next home game is with the Boise State Broncos Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. The Falcons host the the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m. Call 472-1895 for ticket information. Active-duty military get 10-percent discount on season tickets.

Colorado Balloon Classic, a hot-air balloon event, is set for Labor Day weekend. The free event is in Memorial Park Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Dozens of balloons will lift off about 7 a.m. and other activities will be in the park, along with food vendors. There’ll be a Balloon Glow Saturday-Sunday at 8 p.m.

One of Denver’s largest fests is Aug. 29-Sept. 1, in Civic Center Park at Colfax Avenue and Broadway. A Taste of Colorado/The Festival of Mountain and Plain has bands, entertainment

and more than 50 restaurants with food booths. Admission is free and tickets may be purchased for

food, beverages and carnival rides. Call 303-295-6330 or visit http://www.atasteofcolorado.com.

Briarfest is Sept. 5-7 at St. Gabriel’s Church campus, 8755 Scarborough Drive, near Austin Bluffs and Research parkways. The festival features free concerts and entertainment, food booths, arts and craft vendors and has a carnival midway.

The Blue Man Group will have shows in Pueblo’s Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place, Sept. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-722-8844 or online at http://www.pueblomemorialhall.com.

— Compiled by Nel Lampe

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32 MOUNTAINEER — Aug. 15, 2014 33Aug. 15, 2014 — MOUNTAINEER

Places to see in thePikes Peak area.

Photo courtesy National Park Service

Sandboarding on the sand dunes, using boards specifi cally designed for sand, can be fun.

Photo by Devin FisherPhoto courtesy National Park Service

The highest sand dunes in North America are in front of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Photo courtesy National Park Service

This aerial view shows the sand dunes piled up against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

By Nel LampeMountaineer staff

It may seem unusual, but the tallest sand dunes in the U.S. are in Colorado. It’s an odd sight — sand in front of snow-covered mountains. There are sand deposits in 20 states, but only one sand collection in Colorado. The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is in southwestern Colorado, west of Walsenburg and about 170 miles from Fort Carson.

Two and a half hour’s drive one way is quite far for a day trip, so a visit to the sand dunes might be better as an overnight trip. The park does have campsites, some of which have views of the sand dunes. Reservations are recommended; call the National Recreation Reservation System at 877-444-6777 for Piñon Flats campsites that are $20 per night. A couple of lodges are near the park that are open through October. Other possibilities for lodging exist at Alamosa, a town of about 10,000 people with several chain motels; it’s about 35 miles from the dunes.

When the sand dunes fi rst come into view, there’s just a strip of brown at the base of the distant mountains. Up close it’s more mind-boggling. The sand looks like a brown ocean with waves. The sand is constantly moving, blown by the winds, breezes and air currents; ever-changing.

Almost 300,000 people visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve each year, walking on the sand, plodding to the top of a dune for the view, riding down the dunes on sand boards or sand sleds. Some people

bring kites, others have an impromptu game of sand volleyball, make sand castles or draw pictures in the sand.

How did all that sand get there?For many centuries the Rio Grande River

ran though the San Luis valley, carrying sand that was left along the shore and riverbed. Some of the sand is believed to be eroded from ice-age glaciers. Scientists think the dunes began forming at least 12,000 years ago.

The river eventually changed its course and winds picked up the sand and blew it across the valley. When the sand met the 14,000-feet high Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it was unable to escape and fell at the foot of the mountains. The sand piled up over the years and now covers more than 40 square miles with dunes as high as 750 feet.

Upon arriving at the sand dunes, stop in the visitor center to pick up a map, ask questions of a ranger, view the exhibits and watch the 20-minute movie about the park.

The bookstore has an inventory of books, postcards, T-shirts, posters and souvenirs. Some snacks are sold.

The visitor center is open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in fall and winter, but is closed on federal holidays. Rangers on duty can answer questions or give advice about where to start a visit to the dunes. The visitor center phone number is 719-378-6395.

The dunes inspire exploration, but it’s hard work walking in sand. Remember, sand can be hot in summer, so walking in the sand in bare feet isn’t advisable. The sand

dunes are at high altitude so water and sunscreen are advised. The visitor center is at 8,200 feet elevation.

It may be wise to bring food and water along, as only snacks are sold at the sand dunes visitor center. There are few places to get gas or food between Walsenburg and the sand dunes, a 75-mile drive.

The Oasis, a commercial entity near the park has lodging, camping, gas pumps, food, gifts and rents sand boards. It’s at 5400 Colorado Highway 150, a few miles before the entrance to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Call 719-378-2222 for reservations.

The Great Sand Dunes Lodge is at 7900 Colorado 150, the phone number is 719-378-2900.

Visit http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/ lodging.htm for more lodging options.

Pay the $3 fee charged for everyone older than 16 at the entrance to the Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve, then go about 1.5 miles farther to the visitor center. Entrance to the Great Sand Dunes National Park is free Aug. 25, the birthday of the National Park Service, and again Sept. 27, National Public Lands Day.

Active-duty military members are eligible for a free America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands annual pass. It can be obtained in person at the park. Call 888-275-8747, option 3, for more information.

To reach the sand dunes from Fort Carson, go south on Interstate 25 to Walsenburg, then take highway 160 west. Continue on highway 160 past Fort Garland, turn north on Colorado Highway 150; it’s about 18 miles to the dunes.

Area attractions

Other sights to see near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve include the historic Army post, Fort Garland, established in 1858 and once commanded by Brig. Gen. Kit Carson. The fort is in the town of Fort Garland, on Colorado Highway 160. It is a state museum with admission charged.

Colorado Gators is an attraction about 25 miles west of the sand dunes in the small town of Mosca. Call 719-378-2612 for information or visit http://www.coloradogators.com.

The town of Alamosa is about 35 miles from the Sand Dunes. It has a population of about 10,000 people and has food and several chain motels.

Hikers begin the trek to the dunes, leaving footprints in the sand.

Just the Facts• TRAVEL TIME – 2,5 hours one way

• FOR AGES – anyone• TYPE – motor sports race • FUN FACTOR – ��

(OUT OF 5 STARS)• WALLET DAMAGE – $ PLUS

• $ = Less than $20$$ = $21-$40

$$$ = $41-$60$$$$ = $61-$80

(BASED ON A FAMILY OF FOUR)