F E B U A R Y

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F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S G R O U P

YELLOW RIBBON EVENT #2 IN TEXAS

1ST and foremost, on behalf of the Yellow Ribbon Coordinators, the 200th Military Command and the FRG Team …..PLEASE accept our deepest APOLOGIES to the families that did not attend due to travel issues .. We are in process of making the proper corrections before our next event. We hope to see you all there ..

Page 2 Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by

491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group Gladiators Gazette

Our Soldiers did a Question & Answer Spotlight continued

SPC Morris, Timothy

How long have you been in the Armed Forces? I have been in the Army since May 2009, which is 4 years and 10

months. During this time I was placed on ADOS orders and stationed in San Pedro, CA attached to the Defense Logistics

Agency for two years, now I’m back with the 491st here in Cuba.

Why did you join the Armed Forces? I joined the Army looking for a chance to serve my country. When 9/11 happened I was in the 7th grade, and I didn’t really understand what or

why someone would want to hurt my beloved country. As I grew up and learned more about the world, I realized people dislike us for our free-doms, the way we have different religions and equal standards for men

and women. I knew that it was my job to ensure that the people of the US were to always be free and live how they please.

What Platoon/ Squad are you in? Here in GTMO I am currently assigned to 1st Platoon, 1st Squad,

Bravo Team under the direction of my Team Leader Sgt. McJimpson.

What are your hobbies? Although there are a lot of things to do here on island nothing com-

pares to my hobbies back home. Being from California it gives us the opportunity to do pretty much everything. My family and I love to be outdoors doing anything from off-roading in Glamis to Surfing in Huntington Beach, or speeding down the slopes on the snowboard in Big Bear. I love being active and having fun.

What is your civilian occupation? Unfortunately, at this time I do not have a civilian occupation, for the

last two years I’ve been on ADOS so I have been living the active duty life and have not needed civilian job.

What do you miss most about being away from home?

I think the one thing I can honestly say I miss the most about home is my

family. Being recently married and then deployed a month later can be hard on any relationship, but to have

such a tight-knit family is the best. Being able to know that my family is back home taking care of my wife for me makes me miss all of them even

more.

What is the first thing you are going to do when you get home?

The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is eat at In-n-Out Burger. It is the best burger you’re going

to get anywhere.

Is there anything you would like to say to any of your family members, friends, significant other, and civilian employer

back home? To my family I would like to say, though I am not with you for your

birthdays or holidays just know that I will always love and support every-

one of you, whether you are my Brother or Sister, Mom or dad and of

course my wife. There is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t try my hard-

est to make happen for you. I love you all so much and I can’t wait to

come home!

SPC Soriano, Nathaniel

How long have you been in the Armed Forces? I’m coming up on 3 years

Why did you join the Armed Forces? Patriotism and to give myself a good foundation for a future

What Platoon/ Squad are you in? Headquarters platoon/Supply Section

What are your hobbies? Hiking, camping and playing music What is your civilian occupation? I sell shoes at Dick’s Sporting Goods

What do you miss most about being away from home? I miss hanging out with my friends and family

What is the first thing you are going to do when you get home? Eat a Carne Asada burrito from Rancher-ito’s

Is there anything you would like to say to any of your family members, friends, significant other, and civilian employer back home? Gladiators.

491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group Gladiators Gazette

NEXT FRG MEETINGMARCH 2ND 9:30am

RIVERSIDE, CA@ THE UNIT

491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group Gladiators Gazette

Sergeants in the U.S. Army command squads of as many as 10 enlisted men, including privates and corporals. Staff Sergeants command squads of the same size, so their duties are largely the same as those of sergeants. However, a Sergeant First Class command platoon size elements of as many as 50 enlisted Soldiers.

On January 10, 2014 the 491st Military Police Company had the great privilege to promote three Staff Sergeants to the senior rank of Sergeant First Class. The promotion ceremony was held at Windmill Beach; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Junior Soldiers and Senior Leaders from the 491st Military Police Company and 525th

Military Police Battalion came out to show support for the newly promoted. Christin

Aldrete, Rommel Bautista, and Emily Colon were promoted from Staff Sergeant to

Sergeant First Class

CONGRATULATIONS

Stay updated on FRG activities, events, and other valuable information for Soldiers and Families. Please visit and “Like” our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/491stMPcoFRG

Hello Family & Friends of the 491st MP Co.

I hope as is well with each one of you as we celebrate another

month passing as we patiently wait for our soldiers to get home. I

know the waiting is hard. For some of you this might be your

soldiers first deployment and for others like myself we've been

through deployment before. Regardless of whether you've been

through this or not....it can be different every time and with each

deployment comes challenges. I continue to encourage everyone

of you to get involved in the FRG somehow. Some of you might

ask why and my honest response is for the support of others like

yourselves. This is my family's third deployment and I didn't get

involved the first time and it was lonely and I felt like no one un-

derstood what I was going through and none of the people in my

life at that time did. The second deployment my husband was a

cross level so my husband was now with a unit he didn't know and

I never got involved in his military stuff so I knew nothing except

he was going to be gone. I got a call from

Yellow Ribbon though and decided to go

and see what its about and I met a woman

who became my battle buddy and to this

day is a cherished friend. She listened

when no one else would and understood

how hard it was trying to raise my kids

when their dad was deployed. Some of

you might already have people in your

life who support you which is awesome.

Just know the FRG is here if something comes up and you don't

know where to go. We're here if you need to talk or anything else

that might come up. I love hearing from you all and love serving

you all.

Your FRG Leader,

Charlotte Gadsby

cgadsbyfrg@gmail.com

Message from the FRG Leader

When you look through your ranks do you know what you have? Throughout the world there are many Reserve Troopers and National Guardsmen deployed and activated sup-porting the War on Terror. Most of the Troopers serving in those units have professional careers back home.

They could be anything from civil servants, trade professionals, educators or employees in the retail and service industry. I am guilty of the common, but erroneous, perception of “they aren’t active duty so they don’t know as much as I do.”;

When I was a young specialist in Afghanistan, on my second deployment, I was tasked to help train an Army National Guard unit to take over an Entry Control Point (gate). One of the Guardsmen was a specialist in his mid-30s. My first thought of him was, “he must not be a good Soldier because he is so much older than me and yet is the same rank as me.”; After talking to him that day while working on the gate, I learned he was a city K-9 Police Officer with more than ten years of law enforcement experience. He told me he joined the Army National Guard at a later-than-normal age to serve his country after the attacks of 9/11. I was blown away by this specialist and all the life experience and knowledge he had.

I am telling you this now because we need to remember to

look through our ranks and know our Troopers. You never know what kind of expertise your Troopers might have hidden behind their military uniform.

For example, in my own unit, our lieutenant might have only been in the Army for a few years, but if you stop and talk to him about his civilian career, you would learn he is a Deputy District Attorney for San Bernardino County, Calif.

So not only is he an Army Reserve military police lieutenant, he is also lawyer with a ton of life and legal experience back home. I’ve learned a lot from him as a professional and as a leader.

What I would like you to take away from this article is don’t judge a book by its cover and learn what kind of experience the Troopers around you have. With the mission always changing, you might need the expertise of a Trooper’s Civilian profession to help accomplish your unit’s mission.

Seeing beyond the uniform can reveal invaluable lessons

By Sgt 1st Class Kristofer Kelley

NCOIC, 491st Military Police Co. Det 2

491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group Gladiators Gazette

Filing state and federal income taxes may be the last thing you want to deal with right now, especially if you or your service member is deployed. But as overwhelming as it may seem, filing your tax return should not be difficult. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes that service members and their families often face special circumstances and has taken measures to make this annual obligation easier.

Getting started If you are a service member or are filing on behalf of one, there are a few things you

should know before getting started.

File returns in your permanent home state. If you are stationed som ewhere other than

your permanent home address, in most cases you will still pay state taxes to your home state. For

instance, if your address of record is in Kansas, but you are stationed in California, you will file state

taxes with Kansas. In most cases, spouses working outside their home of record will also have to file a

state tax return for the state in which they are employed.

Access your tax statement online. As a m em ber of the m ilitary Services, you can view and pr int out your W -2 form before it is mailed to you. Go to myPay. You will need your personal identification number (PIN) to access your W-2 form.

Be sure to have power of attorney if filing for a deployed service member. Attach a copy of your pow er of attorney to your tax return. You may use IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.

Find answers to your questions on the IRS Web site. Visit the IRS Arm ed Forces' Tax Guide.

Combat zone and hazardous duty deadline extensions

The IRS extends filing deadlines for members of the military Services for the following reasons:

You or your spouse are serving in a combat zone or in direct support of those in the combat zone and receive hostile fire or imminent danger pay. The deadline for filing incom e taxes is 180 days after your last day in the com bat zone or hazardous duty area. The IRS defines specific geographic areas at Combat Zones. In addition to the 180 days, the extension includes the number of days left in the filing period when you entered the combat zone or hazardous duty area. The filing period is generally January 1 through April 15 (exceptions to the April 15 deadline may be made in a given year if the 15th falls on a Saturday or Sunday). So, if you or your spouse entered the combat zone on March 31, you would add 15 days to your 180-day tax filing extension.

You or your spouse is hospitalized outside of the United States as a result of injuries suffered in a combat zone or hazardous

duty area. The deadline is 180 days after discharge from the hospital. Note that the extension does not apply to the spouse if the

service member is hospitalized in the United States.

Your command will have notified the IRS of your deployment to a combat zone but you may want to notify the IRS directly through its special e-mail address. E-mail the deployed member's name, stateside address, date of birth, and date of deployment to combatzone@irs.gov or call the IRS main helpline at 800-829-1040. If the IRS sends a notice regarding a collection or examination, return it to the IRS with the words, "Combat Zone" and the deployment date in red at the top of the notice so the IRS will suspend the action. Write, "Combat Zone" on the envelope as well.

Getting help with your taxes Service members and their families can get help at many installations through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). Check with your legal center to see if this service is available at your installation. VITA volunteers will help you file your taxes free of charge. Go as early before the filing deadline as possible to avoid long lines. If you decide to see a private tax preparer, make sure he or she is familiar with the IRS Armed Forces' Tax Guide and has experience filing returns for service members and their dependents. When you go, bring the following with you:

Military ID

All W-2 and 1099 forms

Social Security cards for all family members

Deductions and credit information

Bank account and routing numbers (if you choose to receive your refund by direct deposit)

Receipts for child care expenses

Last year's tax return, if available

Special power of attorney authorizing you to do business on behalf of the deployed service member

Before sending in your completed tax forms, double-check your figures and make sure all Social Security numbers are entered correctly. And remember, unless you qualify for an extension, the filing deadline for federal income taxes is April 15. For state income taxes, filing deadlines vary from state to state so check with the local county tax office for the filing deadline in your state.

S, M, L, XLS, M, L, XL 2XL, 3XL2XL, 3XL

Your name: _______________________________ Soldier’s name: ______________________________

Email address: __________________________________________ Phone: ________________________

Size: __________ Quantity: ____ Free pickup or pay additional $6 for shipping (up to 4 shirts)

Size: __________ Quantity: ____ Mailing Address: ________________________________________

Size: __________ Quantity: ____ ________________________________________

Subtotal: $ ________ + Shipping: $ ________ = Total Amount Paid: $ ________ CASH CHECK

Make checks payable to “491st MP CO FRG”

How many will you give away/how long will the promotion last?

We started with 20,000 and saw such a great response that the promotion is planned to run indefinitely.

What do I need to do to get my order sent to an APO address?

When you are checking out and entering your shipping information, please select AE in the State/Prov/Reg drop down menu(AE will be at the very bottom of the list). Please note that APO orders can take 5-15 business days for delivery after yourjumbo card/banner has been printed.

When will I receive my ‘welcome home’ banner, jumbo card, or yard sign?

Our normal turn-around time is 8 weeks. If you need your banner or jumbo card sooner, within your shopping cart, you canchoose from several expediting options: 6 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 weeks and 1 week. Your shipping and handling charge will becalculated based on your shipping address and delivery option chosen.

Will you review my artwork before printing my product?

No. BuildASign.com provides you with several opportunities to review your own artwork by allowing you to open up a"proof" while in the design tool and within your shopping cart. If you upload an image that our system determines may beblurry or does not meet our quality standards, you will receive a pop-up warning. If you do not have a higher quality image,please feel free to contact our Customer Love Team at 1-800-330-9622 or email us at Service@BuildASign.com. Please at-tach your image and sign specifications, such as what material and size sign your image is going to be used for so we can bestassist you with your order. We offer 2'x4', 3'x6', and 4'x8' sizes for banners, and 18"x24" jumbo cards and yard signs.

What if I want to order more than one ‘welcome home’ banner, jumbo card, or yard sign?

The first jumbo card, yard sign, or banner you add to your cart will be free (you're only responsible for shipping and handlingcharges). Each additional 18"X24" jumbo card or yard sign is only $7.99 and each additional 2'X4' or 3'X6' banner is only$9.99.

What is the difference between unfinished and finished banners?

Unfinished banners are not hemmed or grommeted, and there may be an additional white border around your image. Finishedbanners are hemmed and grommeted. You have the option to upgrade your banner to include hemming and grommets withinthe shopping cart for $9.49.

What will I need in order to display my banner?

In order to hang your banner, we recommend that you select grommets or clear tabs during the sign review process. We alsooffer several different types of banner hanging options and display stands under our ‘Accessories’ page.

What if I have any other questions?

Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-330-9622 or contact us at http://www.buildasign.com/Help

Our customer service hours are Monday-Friday 7am-9pm and Saturday 10am-5pm CST.

Details of Promotion Code A customer is eligible to receive one free promotional product through our Troops givea-way, either a welcome home vinyl banner, jumbo card, or yard sign. You may return to the http://www.buildasign.com/Troops

www.buildasign.com/Troops Call Us Toll Free 1-800-330-9622

Welcome Home banners to military friends and families

Justice Guar dians, Fam ily Readin ess News

491st Military Police Company Family Readiness Group 14941 Riverside Drive Riverside, CA 92518

To the Family of:

491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group Gladiators Gazette

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