fort meade soundoff for feb. 23, 2012

Write StuffMeade High senior takes top honors in essay contest

page 6

uPCOMiNG eVeNtStOday, 11:30 a.M.-1 P.M.: Black History Month Observance - Club MeadeWedNeSday, 4:30-6 P.M.: Facebook Town Hall (facebook.com/ftmeade)MarCh 1, 3-6 P.M.: Youth/Teen Job Fair - McGill Training CenterMarCh 1: Army Emergency Relief fundraising campaign begins

hOMe deliVeryPotomac Place mom gives birth to baby with help of neighbor

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Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 8 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community February 23, 2012

photo by brian krista

During the national Anthem, Soldiers from the Defense Information School extend a large flag across the University of Maryland’s Gary Williams Court on “Fort Meade Day.” Tuesday night’s event also featured the recognition of four Fort Meade Soldiers during the first half of the men’s basketball game against Miami.

Terps for Troops

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012

Commander’s Column

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

TroubleTicket............... 4 Sports..................................12

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

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. SmithPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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I had the opportunity Tuesday to stand at center court at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center and experience a thunderous applause of appreciation from Terrapin fans.

The applause was not for me or for Mary-land’s hustle on the basketball court. The applause honored Fort Meade service mem-bers and their service to our country during the university’s Military Appreciation Day.

The University of Maryland has honored our service members several times during this year’s basketball season and last year’s football season.

Military Appreciation Days are always spe-cial events for our service members. For me, it’s a wonderful feeling seeing our Soldiers rec-ognized for their military service. As garrison commander, it gives me a great sense of pride to stand with our service members as they represent the military and Fort Meade.

It is also a great feeling to know the growing impact of Fort Meade is recognized by state of Maryland and our surrounding communities.

Fort Meade is the largest employer in the state of Maryland and it’s events like this one that helps our communities outside our gates better understand how we can work together and support our military families.

Today there’s an event on post that I hope to see many of you attend — the installation’s Black History Month observance from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Club Meade. This year’s theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History,” gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the role African-American women have played in shaping the character of our nation.

The event is hosted by the Defense Infor-mation School. The keynote speaker will be Joanne Martin, co-founder of the National

Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore. The museum is the first wax museum con-centrating on black history, life and culture. I am looking forward to this annual celebra-tion.

It’s great that this year’s theme honors African-American women. As many of you know, African-Amer-ican women have longed been considered great visionaries. They were at the forefront of the fight to end slavery and have stood strong in the battle for civil rights, often in the face of both racial and gender discrimination. They are great role models and they continued to make great contributions to our society.

Next week, there’s another event I want to make sure you note on your calendars. On Wednesday, I (and other members of Team Meade) will host the second Fort Meade Face-book town hall. This social media town hall will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. And just like our first Facebook town hall this past October, we will respond to your community-related questions.

I have found our town hall meetings, wheth-er they occur on Facebook or at more tradi-tional gatherings in which we talk face-to-face, have been great opportunities for all of us to learn more about what we can do to make Fort Meade a better community.

I hope you are able to find time and join me for these events over the next week.

Center court honors military, paying tribute to black women

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrisonCommanderCol.EdwardC.Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.All service members, retirees, government employees, family members

or community members age 18 or older are invited to address issues orconcerns to thecommanderdirectlybyvisitingRothstein’sofficeonMon-daysfrom4to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.

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

Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

In 1996, Kimbrough Army Hospital closed its inpatient services and emergency room following the 1995 Base Closure and Realignment Commission legislature mandate.

Today, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center is on the upswing, expanding its walls and services to provide for the thou-sands of new patients who moved to the area due to the 2005 BRAC.

From a renovated patient service center and medical laboratory to new operating rooms and medical teams, Kimbrough is growing to accommodate the nearly 1,500 patients who use the medical facility daily.

With the addition of several federal agencies that have relocated to Fort Meade, the number of patients who travel to Kim-brough for medical care has increased in recent years, changing the requirements of the facility.

“We increased the number of providers we have here, we’ve increased our enroll-ment,” said Col. Leon Moores, command-er of the Fort Meade U.S. Army Medical Department. “We’re seeing more patients, we’re delivering more prescriptions and we’re doing more elective surgery because the installation is growing.”

With no current plans for a new facility, Lt. Col. Christopher Soltis, deputy com-mander for Clinical Services at MEDDAC, said officials have to “be creative with the space you have.”

Recent upgrades to the 50-year-old facility include an $8 million renovation to the medical laboratory and patient service center. The project, Moores said, included supplying more office space and a redesign.

All stairways and elevators also have been upgraded to meet safety require-ments.

The projects were completed at a cost of approximately $4.5 million.

“With a 50-year-old building, it’s impor-tant to keep up-to-date for both quality and safety purposes,” Moores said. “We want to make sure we’re able to provide safe care and high-quality care. To do that, we need to make sure our facilities are meeting current standards.”

To meet the needs of all patients, Kim-brough also has increased primary care teams, brought in an internal medicine team and built a new clinic for the pedi-atric team.

More patients also require more pre-

Kimbrough grows, expands its services

Photo by CaPt. andrew CooPer

Spc. Lauralynn Long, a Kimbrough pharmacy tech, uses the new Script Pro Robotic technology to fill a patient prescription. With up to 1,500 patients visiting Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center per day, the facility is expanding services to accommodate the increasing number of patients.

scription medicine. Two years ago, the Kimbrough pharmacy was averaging 600 to 700 prescriptions per day. Today, the number is close to 2,000. To handle the heavy volume of prescriptions, the phar-macy was recently upgraded with a new computerized system to dispense the medi-cine more efficiently.

The ScriptPro equipment, which cost around $500,000, was installed in late December.

“This hugely increases the quantity of medicines we can dispense in a day, but also increases the accuracy and safety, which is even more important than vol-ume,” Moores said.

A satellite Kimbrough pharmacy at the Fort Meade Commissary has been approved to help cut down on the wait time at the Kimbrough pharmacy. Patients can also use mail-order services to obtain their medicine, Moores said.

With the first wave of renovations com-plete, another round of upgrades will begin shortly with the opening of four new oper-ating rooms, semipermanent buildings and a Veterans Affairs clinic.

The Fort Meade Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be operated by the Veterans Administration, but Kim-brough will work closely with the new facility. Scheduled to open in June, the 13,200-square-foot facility located behind Kimbrough will provide primary care for veterans, as well as provide evaluations for service members transitioning out of the

buildings, however Kimbrough is still working with the Directorate of Public Works to determine the total surface park-ing needs for the rest of the facility.

In addition, a surgery suite has been built at Kimbrough to supplement the four existing operating rooms.

The new suite, which is scheduled to open in the spring, offers four state-of-the-art operating rooms, waiting areas and a patient counseling section.

“We’re very excited to have that opening to better take care of our surgical patients,” Moores said.

In the spring, a master facility plan will be conducted by health facility planners, business planners and health care planners to project patient volume over the next five to 10 years and determine what changes are needed to meet patient demand.

“All of the options are on the table, from upgrading this facility to enlarging this facility to perhaps even a new facility to meet the health care requirements for this institution,” Moores said.

As the facility grows and expands its services to accommodate the high volume of patients, Kimbrough officials say safety and quality of health care are the primary concerns.

“We want to provide the right facility to make it a health care experience,” Soltis said.

military, said Sandra Marshall, director of Managed Care at VA Maryland Health Care.

Semipermanent buildings also will be constructed on the soccer fields across Llewellyn Avenue. The four new buildings will house primary care and administrative offices.

Parking will be added for these new


Road closureYork Road, between Broadfoot

Road and Simonds Street, will be closed from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Mullins Field and Track will remain accessible by using the gate located off of Broadfoot Road.

Units and individuals using Gaffney Fitness Center and Mullins Field must ensure that vehicles parked in the parking areas adjacent to York Road are moved prior to 8 a.m. each morning.

News

Feb. 15, Shoplifting: AAFES security personnel at the Post Exchange stated she observed the subject pick up a pair of shorts and depart the store without making proper pay-ment.

Feb. 17, Simple assault: The victim alleged he was physically assaulted at the Lanes.

Feb. 20, Larceny of private property: The

Directorate of Emergency Ser-vices was notified of an identify theft. An investigation revealed that an unknown person by unknown computer mean(s) obtained and used the victim’s Social Security number to file his

own income taxes for 2011.

Feb. 20, Wrongful damage of private property: The victim stated that a juve-nile walked up and threw a rock at the window of the victim’s car.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

Trouble Ticket

Issue: Plan: Status:

Youth Services Sports Complex is in need of

renovations

Renovate the Youth Services Sports Complex

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

Community members have concerns about golf

course service availability in light of Base Closure and

Realignment

Maintain a minimum of 18 holes at current site;

restoring golf operations on a site south of the

installation is also proposed

Golf operations are unchanged through

September

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

issues to [email protected]. Each week, Soundoff! will

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

solve them.

file photo

Play equipment near the Boundless Playground is currently undergoing repairs.

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

Repair the play equipment so that it is functional

Repairs are under way

Register for BOSS Resale Lot The BOSS Resale Lot has new registration dates and times.Starting March 6, a representative of BOSS will process registration and

take payments every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Out-door Recreation, 2300 Wilson St.

Fees to display are $20 for one vehicle or $30 for two vehicles. The dura-tion is 30 days, but may be extended up to an additional 60 days, based on space availability.

Payment may be paid by cash, check or money order.The BOSS Resale Lot is located in the parking lot in front of the Post

Exchange.When registering a vehicle, you must provide proper identification, current

insurance and proof of being the registered owner of the vehicle. Vehicles placed on the lot must be clean and operable.

Vehicles that may be displayed for sale include automobiles, vans, pickup trucks and motorcycles. All vehicles must be less than 24 feet.

RVs, boats and trailers are not allowed to be displayed.Those authorized to display vehicles are active-duty military, retired mili-

tary, National Guard, Reservists, government employees working on Fort Meade, and their family members.

Revenue generated from the Resale Lot supports the BOSS Program. The mission of BOSS (Better Opportunities for the Single Soldier) is to enhance the quality of life and morale of single service members, increase retention and sustain readiness.

For more information, call 301-677-6488.


News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Dori Welsch plans to become a doula, a woman who provides nonmedical sup-port during labor and childbirth.

But Welsch never imagined she would be put to the test when her pregnant next-door neighbor and friend delivered a baby at home on Feb. 7.

Welsch, who lives in Potomac Place, had just returned from dinner off post with her three children when Navy Lt. Aaron Pickett telephoned and said his wife’s water broke.

Pickett asked Welsch if she would come to his house and sit with his wife, Bet-tina Pickett, while he prepared to leave for Howard County General Hospital in Columbia.

The plan was for Welsch to baby-sit the Picketts’ three children while the couple drove to the hospital.

But when Welsch arrived at about 7:17 p.m., Bettina, 33, was having contractions and asked to go to the bathroom.

“Then she had a pushing contraction,” Welsch recalled. “We knew it was going to be pretty soon.”

Welsch told Pickett’s husband to call 911 because Bettina was pushing and the baby’s head had already crowned.

“I was still hoping she would get to the hospital,” Welsch said. “I couldn’t believe this was really happening.”

Welsch said Bettina tried to get into the bathtub, but eventually made her way onto the bathroom floor to deliver the baby.

“I was trying to stay calm for the kids downstairs,” Welsch said. “And I tried to make sure that the [umbilical] cord wasn’t wrapped around [the baby’s] neck.”

Neighbor helps deliver baby at home

Bettina Pickett, wife of Navy Lt. Aaron Pickett, holds their newborn daughter a week after the baby’s birth. Pickett delivered the baby in their Potomac Place home on Feb. 7 with the help of her neighbor and friend, Dori Welsch.

Within 20 minutes, at 7:37 p.m., the Picketts’ second daughter was born.

“She was very calm,” Welsch said of Bettina Pickett, whom she has known for more than a year. “This was amazing. She did an awesome job.”

Stephen Hyatt and Larry Ansted, para-medics from Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, arrived at the house soon after responding to a dispatched call from the Directorate of Emergency Services

about a woman in labor in one of the housing units.

“The husband met us at the door and said the baby had already been delivered,” Hyatt said. “The mother had done all the work. The mother was upstairs in the bathroom with the baby in her arms. The baby was healthy and pink.”

The paramedics cut the umbilical cord and transported mother and baby to Howard County General Hospital, where

Jeanne Prins, a certified nurse midwife, delivered the placenta.

The baby weighed 6 pounds, 3.8 ounc-es.

Pickett delivered at 37 weeks. She said she was having Braxton Hicks contrac-tions (irregular contractions that may occur before labor) throughout the day and decided to lay down that evening.

“But at 6:44 p.m., I had a contraction and at 6:53 p.m. and 7:03 p.m.,” Pickett said. “At 7:03 p.m., I told my husband I was in labor and to pack my bags.”

Pickett said she delivered each of her four children without the aid of pain-relieving drugs.

“There are a lot of the medications that can cause consequences,” she said.

Welsch, whose husband, Chief War-rant Officer 2 Trevor Welsch, works at the Directorate of Human Resources, said she and the Picketts became friends in Octo-ber 2010 after the family arrived on Fort Meade from a Naval base in California.

Months later, Pickett was helpful when Welsch’s son Chase was born in January 2011.

“She was very knowledgeable about pregnancy and nursing babies,” Welsch said.

Two days after Welsch arrived home from the hospital, Pickett prepared three meals for the family.

Pickett, who said her newborn is “eat-ing, growing and pooping like a cham-pion,” was released with the baby from the hospital on Feb. 8.

She said she is grateful for Welsch’s help.

“I appreciate the fact that Dori was able to be here for me,” Pickett said.

Medicare Part B deadline approachingBy Wendy PoulsonSocial Security manager, Glen Burnie

If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insur-ance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out.

The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2013 to apply.

Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical supplies and services.

When you first become eligible for hospital insurance (Part A), you have a seven-month period in which to sign up for medical insurance (Part B). After that, you may have to pay a higher premium — unless you were covered through your current employer’s group health plan or a group health plan based on a spouse’s current employ-ment.

You are given another opportunity to enroll in Part B during the general enrollment period, from Jan. 1 to March 31 of each year.

But each 12-month period that you are eligible for Medicare Part B and do not sign up, the amount of your monthly premium increases by 10 percent.

There are special situations in which you can apply for Medicare Part B outside the general enrollment period.

For example, you should contact Social Security about applying for Medicare if:

• You are a disabled widow or widower between ages 50

and 65, but have not applied for disability benefits because you are already getting another kind of Social Security benefit.

• You worked long enough in a government job in which Medicare taxes were paid, and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program and became dis-abled before age 65.

• You, your spouse or your dependent child has perma-nent kidney failure

• You had Medicare medical insurance (Part B) in the past but dropped the coverage.

• You turned down Medicare medical insurance (Part B) when you became entitled to hospital insurance (Part A).

Learn more about Medicare by reading the electronic booklet, Medicare, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html, or visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.

You may also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).


News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Meagan Chesser hopes to become a creative writer.

The Meade High School senior is well on her way with a first-place win in the Anne Arundel County Reading Council’s 2011-2012 Young Authors Contest.

Her two-page essay entitled “The Wall-flower” was the top finisher in the high school essay category.

“I never thought I’d get this high in the contest,” the 17-year-old Hanover resident said.

The Anne Arundel County Reading Council is a local affiliate of the Inter-national Reading Council. The local nonprofit organization is committed to improving literacy throughout the coun-ty.

Sponsored each year, the Young Authors Contest aims to promote a love of writing and effective communication among youth, said Lenora Fox, president of the Anne Arundel County Reading Council.

The contest encourages all Anne Arun-del County elementary, middle and high school students to submit an original short story, poem or essay.

For the 2011-2012 year, more than 1,000 entries were submitted.

Seray Green and Sophia Czaja, two second-graders at MacArthur Middle School, are second-place winners in the contest’s middle-school poetry and short-story categories, respectively.

Seray and Sophia will be honored Feb. 29 at a reception at Severna Park Middle School. Meagan will be honored that day at a reception at the Phoenix Center

Annapolis, an Anne Arundel County public school.

Meagan, whose father is a retired Air Force master sergeant, will receive a certificate for her win. Her essay has been submitted to the State of Maryland International Reading Association for the statewide Young Authors Contest.

“The Wallflower” is about a teenage girl who “never gets noticed by anyone, no matter what she does,” Meagan said.

The girl’s fate changes one day when she is finally noticed.

“She’s so happy about it,” Meagan said.

The young writer said the story is based on her own life.

“My brother Cody always calls me a wallflower,” Meagan said. “I’ve always been a bit of an introvert, and in a home of five kids, it’s hard for me to be noticed.”

Meagan attributes her friend and pen pal in Australia with encouraging her to enter the contest.

She first learned about the competition through Raydiance Dangerfield, Meagan’s Advanced Placement English literature teacher. Dangerfield, who distributed fly-ers publicizing the contest last fall, urged her students to submit their work.

She said she is not surprised that Mea-gan took first place in the competition.

“She’s very advanced, very intelligent, well-spoken and well-read,” Dangerfield said. “She has amazing writing and ana-lytical skills.”

Meagan is quiet like the character in her essay, Dangerfield said, and the theme is universal.

“I think a lot of high school students

Meade High senior writes top essay for Young Authors Contest

Meagan Chesser, 17, a senior at Meade High School, is the first-place winner in the high school essay category of the Anne Arundel County Reading Council’s Young Authors Contest. Meagan won for her work entitled “The Wallflower” about an introverted teenage girl.

can relate to the story,” Dangerfield said.Dangerfield said Meagan has a good

chance of making her mark in the state-wide competition.

“I think she’s a contender,” Dangerfield said. “It’s a strong piece with an emo-tional arch. She’ll be able to do well.”

Meagan, who has a 3.11 G.P.A., is also enrolled in Advanced Placement

statistics.Planning on becoming a television

or movie script writer, Meagan is con-sidering attending Temple University in Philadelphia, or Hollins University in Roanoke, Va.

“I guess this gives me a bit of a positive boost to my confidence,” Meagan said of her win. “I was close to chickening out.”

By Veronica CastroFort Meade Public Affairs Office

Many people may have seen the footage of the service member who appeared on television in uniform next to presidential candidate Ron Paul and wondered if they, too, could do something like that.

The answer is no.According to Installation Voting Assis-

tance Officer Capt. David Blumenthal, there are some do’s and don’ts that service mem-bers must remember during this political year.

• A service member cannot show favorit-ism to a candidate while representing the armed services.

• A service member cannot speak publicly to promote a specific candidate, whether the service member is in uniform or not.

• Service members cannot serve in any official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political party or club.

• While on a military base, a service member cannot display a banner on his or her vehicle showing preference for a spe-cific candidate. They can, however, display a small sticker of their favorite candidate.

These rules apply to all service branches. Service members who violate these rules are subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice action.

Blumenthal, who was appointed to the

position by the garrison commander, lists four big do’s:

• Register to vote.• Study the candidate’s issues.• Vote.• Encourage others to vote.“The biggest do,” said Blumenthal, “is

to use discretion. If you think it’s wrong, it probably is.”

As part of his duties as the installation voting assistance officer, Blumenthal offers additional training resources to individual units’ voting action officers once they have completed the Federal Voting Assistance Program online training.

Because many service members are not

stationed in their home of record, Blumen-thal or a unit’s VOA can provide service members with absentee ballots.

In addition to helping with the absentee ballot process, Blumenthal said it is para-mount for VAOs to let their individual unit members know what is and isn’t allowed as far as political activities go.

Service members who need assistance with absentee ballots can visit the installa-tion voting office to receive voting mate-rial.

The office is located in the identification card office at 2234 Huber Road, Room 216-A or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Pro-gram website at https://www.fvap.gov/r3/.

Voting assistance available to service members


News

By Tina Miles, Public Affairs Officer780th Military Intelligence Brigade

The next phase of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade’s history began Tuesday as officials broke ground for the newly formed brigade’s headquar-ters facility during a ceremony on Fort Meade.

The 46,000-square-foot facility will serve as the brigade’s headquarters, operations center and training facility. Construction is expected to be com-pleted by the end of this year.

“Today marks the next step in our brigade’s path to become fully opera-tional,” said Col. Jonathan E. Sweet, commander of the 780th MI. “This facility will allow us to accomplish our mission — to provide proactive cyber defense and to conduct full spectrum cyber operations for our nation.”

Members of the U.S. Army Intel-ligence and Security Command, 780th MI Brigade; the Army Corps of Engi-neers, Baltimore District; and the Fort Meade garrison took part in the occa-sion, further enabling the Army’s goal of providing the force with the best in cyber security.

During his remarks, Brig. Gen. Rob-ert L. Walter, Jr., deputy commanding general of INSCOM, said that while the Army’s technical advancements in detection and attribution shed light on malicious activity, cyber intruders continue to explore new means to cir-cumvent defensive measures.

“Data collection, processing, stor-age and transmission capabilities are increasing exponentially. ... The impact of this evolution is seen not only in the scope and nature of cyber security inci-dents, but also in the range of actors and targets,” Walter said.

“The 780th MI Brigade represents the Army’s recognition of the cyber challenge and is charged with being part of a joint construct of cyber-space resources, creating synergy and synchronizing war-fighting effects to defend the information security envi-ronment.”

Among those who also attended were Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein; Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Smith; Gwen Conger and Suzanne Cromwell of the engineer team of the Intelligence and Security Command; Mike Fox of the Army Cryptologic Office; Randy Winemiller of the Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dis-

780th MI breaks ground for new headquarters

trict; and Paul Karmazinski and Ralph Buckles of Akima Construction.

Prior to breaking ground for the brigade’s new headquarters and opera-tions center, Sweet thanked several leaders, both in the Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for their support in the planning and building effort.

Sweet also pointed out the brigade’s proximity to military greatness when the

post, originally named Camp Meade, was established in 1917 as a training site during World War I.

“Our headquarters will lie in the shadows of two of America’s most prominent general officers who spent the early parts of their military careers here at Camp Meade at the conclusion of World War I,” Sweet said. “Major Dwight David Eisenhower graduated from the Camp Meade Tank School

and served as commanding officer of several tank units here. ... And in March 1919, Major George S. Patton Jr. commanded the 304th Tank Brigade here at Camp Meade.”

Eisenhower’s quarters and Patton’s brigade headquarters were located just a few hundred yards from the 780th’s eventual new home.

“Not too much pressure,” Sweet said.

Photo by tina Miles

Col. Jonathan Sweet, commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade; Brig. Gen. Robert Walter, deputy commanding general, Intelligence Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Meade Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein; Paul Karmazinski, Akima Construction; and Randy Winemiller, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers break ground Tuesday for the 780th MI’s new 46,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the brigade’s headquarters, operations center and training facility.


News

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Mathew Fournier70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

Twenty-four Airmen from the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais-sance Wing visited the veterans at the Loch Raven Veterans Affairs Community Living and Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore on Valentine’s Day.

Their mission on Feb. 14 was to bring smiles to veterans’ faces with valentines made by local elementary students and to thank them for their service.

“It was amazing to watch them perk up when they saw the group of us in uniform,” Air Force Master Sgt. Cristina Cunningham said. “You could really feel their excitement when they told us the stories of their service. Some only served a year or two, but they had so many stories to tell.”

Since each valentine was designed by local students, no two were the same.

“I met a gentleman who was so touched by the card and gifts we gave him, he carried them around and showed it off to those he met in the hallways,” Air Force Master Sgt. Michelle Pruitt said. “He told me it had made his week. This was the best thing to hear.”

Airmen also listened to the veterans’ sto-ries as they handed out the valentines.

Henry Behringer, a World War II Army veteran and resident of the center, shared some of his experiences with the Airmen.

“Ours was a combat unit that had served in Africa and then went through Anzio up into the mountains [of Italy],” he said. “I was 19 and was the ‘oldest’ in my unit.”

Behringer went on to explain how being the “oldest” actually meant that he had been in his unit the longest and had the most combat experience.

“We were fighting on the mountains and as we were taking heavy fire from above, a few of my guys got hit and fell off a cliff we were next to,” he recalled. “I got hit a few times but was somehow able to hold on. I didn’t want to go that way.”

Behringer suffered several bullet wounds, one of which struck him in the lower spine and permanently disabled him.

But he said he has always kept a positive outlook on life. He is 87 years old and one of only two surviving members of his unit.

“You know, I’m going to keep going ‘till I’m done,” Behringer said. “I’m lucky to have family visit every weekend and I’m proud of everything you [Airmen] are doing now.”

Show of HeartAirmen bring valentines, gifts to elderly Maryland veterans

photo by Air Force StAFF Sgt. MAthew Fournier

Henry Behringer, a World War II veteran, shares a story with Air Force Master Sgt. Cristina Cunningham on Valentine’s Day at the Loch Raven Veterans Affairs Community Living and Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore. Airmen from the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing visited the veterans to distribute donated valentines made by local elementary school students.

Installation Tax CenterThe Fort Meade Joint Installation Tax Center offers free assistance for service members, retirees and their dependents filing state and federal income taxes through Tax Day on April 17.

Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 301-677-9762.


News

By Meagan MurrayPicerne Military Housing

Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center reopened Feb. 10 after undergoing a signifi-cant renovation.

Picerne Military Housing hosted an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. for residents to engage with friends and neighbors and check out the new upgrades and additions.

During the open house, Picerne conducted a free raffle for four sport jerseys, four bas-ketballs, a Foot Locker gift card and an iPod nano, totaling 10 winners. Refreshments were also served.

Since January 2005, the neighborhood center has been a staple in the privatization program for residents who have gathered there for family activities and to use the center’s amenities.

Now, more than six years later, much has changed. Another two neighborhood centers have been added to Picerne’s growing portfolio on Fort Meade – both with a style and flavor reflecting the local community and resident input.

The Meuse Forest Neighborhood Cen-ter is no different. The center has been transformed to showcase a Maryland sports theme. Memorabilia from the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles and Washington Capitals are all represented in the great room.

The best part of the renovation is that it reflects feedback from residents at Fort Meade. As part of the renovation process, Picerne asked residents: “What can we do to make the center better?”

Kerrie Lemma, vice president of design, said a thoughtful approach was taken.

“We listened to families living on post over

Upgrades made to Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center

PHOTO COURTESY OF PICERNE MILITARY HOUSING

The renovated great room at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center features a Maryland sports theme, air hockey and pool table, leather couches in front of four televisions and a double-room fireplace. Other center upgrades include new fitness equipment and a redesigned media room.

time and now we have a better understand-ing of what makes our centers special and appealing to our customers,” Lemma said.

The process was successful and as a result, residents get to enjoy a more modern center.

Amenities to the sports-style great room include an air hockey and pool table, leather couches in front of four televisions and a double-room fireplace.

The media room was redesigned to show-

case “Meade’s Got Talent.” A stage for enthusiastic karaoke singers was installed along with theater-style seating, Wii and Xbox systems, a karaoke machine and a juke box.

New systems have been set up in the center to facilitate trash and recycling. Disposing the two will be more seamless than in the past.

Additional enhancements include new

equipment in the fitness center such as state-of-the-art treadmills, ellipticals and a new sit-up machine.

“I can’t wait to use the new exercise equipment,” said Maricela Perez, who makes regular visits to the fitness center.

The multipurpose room, where residents can host meetings and gatherings, now con-tains a TV and counter space. Residents and guests can hook up a laptop to view Power-Point presentations and more.

“All these additions make Meuse Forest a showcase neighborhood for residents to host various functions,” Lemma said.

As part of the community management and development plan for the next 40 years, Picerne will continue to upgrade and reno-vate homes and ancillary facilities under the Residential Communities Initiative.

Picerne plans to renovate centers that are more advanced in the privatization pro-gram over the next few years. Potomac Place, the first neighborhood center built on Fort Meade, has already undergone minor renovations such as new fitness equipment, flooring and upgrades to meetings spaces and amenities.

Picerne will take the feedback and experi-ence from the Meuse Forest renovation to other neighborhood centers’ renovations in the future.

“We’ve come a long way since we com-pleted the first neighborhood center in 2003,” Lemma said. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our centers so they meet our residents’ needs. After all, they are for them.”

For photos of the Meuse Forest renovations, visit www.meadepicerne.com.

By Retired Lt. Col. Samuel SpinderThe 10th Battalion, 80th Training

Command, an Army Reserve Training Battalion based in Owings Mills, hosts ILE instruction for active-duty, Reserve and National Guard officers.

The ILE Phase II classes are offered at Fort Meade, Fort Detrick, Fort Bel-voir, Va., and Fort Lee, Va., as well as other areas throughout the Northeast

The Intermediate Level Education course is designed to prepare senior captains and majors for leadership positions in Army, joint, multinational and interagency organizations execut-ing full-spectrum operations.

Previously known as CGSC, ILE con-sists of a common core curriculum that includes Joint PME 1 requirements and the required branch and/or functional area specialized education or qualifica-tion course. Successful completion of ILE core curriculum and the respective qualification course are required for award of JPME Phase I credit.

ILE is an MEL Level 4 accredited course.

The course is divided into three phases, which are taken consecutively. Phase I is a hands-on, execution-ori-ented course in which a staff group develops and applies critical thinking

skills.This two-week block, conducted over

the summer at Fort Dix, N.J., introduc-es staff officers to the highly complex, joint environments that forces encoun-ter today.

Phase II, conducted one weekend per month between October and May, develops students’ advanced commu-nicative skills (collaboration, consen-sus-building, coordinating, facilitating, writing and presenting), while using the Military Decision-Making Process within the learning environment.

Phase III, a two-week block con-ducted at Fort Dix, focuses on war-

fighting functions, culminating with an application exercise in which students demonstrate their understanding of tactical fundamentals. Course duration is roughly 14 months.

Officers interested in attending ILE should contact their training officer/NCO to register. The course is identi-fied in ATTRs under School Code: R701, Course: 701-1-250-ILE-CC, Course Title: Phase 1, Intermediate Level Education Common Core.

For more information, contact Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Price, operations NCOIC, at 410-453-5632 or email [email protected].

Army ILE course for senior captains and majors offered

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012

News

News To Use

By Gary SheftickArmy News Service

The Army announced Feb. 9 its intent to open six occupational specialties and more than 13,000 positions to women.

These six military occupational spe-cialties were previously closed to women because they were normally co-located with direct combat units. They include:

• 13M Multiple Launch Rocket Sys-tem crew member

• 13P MLRS Operations/Fire Direc-tion specialist

• 13R Field Artillery Firefinder radar operator specialist

• 91A M1 Abrams Tank System main-tainer

• 91M Bradley Fighting Vehicle Sys-tem maintainer

• 91P artillery mechanicDoD officials said at a Pentagon press

conference Feb. 2 that they have noti-fied Congress of their intent to open these military occupational specialties to women, and the change will become effective after 30 days of continuous congressional session, as required by law.

This is expected to occur later in the spring, said Maj. Gen. Gary Patton, principal director for DoD Military Personnel Policy.

In addition, officials announced that another 1,186 positions at battalion level would be opened to women in the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. These are in specialties already filled by women but only at the brigade or higher level.

The 1994 DoD policy known as the Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule had prohibited women from serving in combat units below the brigade level.

But Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has now granted an exception to policy to allow women to serve in some positions in combat units at the battalion level.

The six specialties previously barred to women were due to the “co-location” element of the 1994 policy. That provi-sion has restricted women from serving in military occupational specialties that by doctrine are located with combat units.

DoD intends to eliminate the “co-

location” pro-vision due to the nonlin-ear and fluid nature of today’s battle-field where there often is no front line, said Virginia “Vee” Penrod, deputy under secretary of defense for Military Personnel Policy

“The battle space we have experi-enced in Afghanistan and Iraq require our forces to be distributed across the country,” Penrod said. “There is no rear area that exists in this battle space. Continuing to restrict positions as solely on being co-located with direct combat units has become irrelevant.”

Patton said it may take some time to recruit and train women in the six spe-cialties where they haven’t served before. Training them as tank mechanics, for instance, will take longer than placing them at battalion level in military occu-pational specialties they already know, he said.

Women will be placed in the new positions as men are scheduled to rotate out, Patton said. A normal rotation schedule will be followed, and men will not leave the positions earlier than expected, he said.

About 280,000 positions across the services remain closed to women due to the combat exclusion policy.

After six months, DoD will assess the feedback from women serving in the new positions and use the information to take another look at the suitabil-ity and relevance of the direct ground combat unit assignment prohibition, Penrod said.

“This is the beginning of the end” of the combat exclusion policy, she added.

“We recognize the expanded role of women in the military,” Patton said. “I’ve seen women in combat perform in an expanded role. I’m very proud of them.”

Army to open six jobs, combat battalion staff positions to women

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SportS

‘Heartbreaker’Story and photos by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

With the final minutes ticking off the clock Sunday night, the Fort Meade Patriots were on their feet cheering as Trevor McDade’s late-game layup put the team up by 1 point.

Sixty seconds later, the Patriots found themselves where they were 24 hours before — on the losing end of Camp Lejeune.

“Everybody hates to lose. I hate it more than anything,” said Patriot Taras Newby. “But it’s part of the game — somebody has to lose. Unfortunately, it was us.”

Last weekend’s Capital Classic tour-nament ended early for the Patriots as the team lost twice to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Fifteen military teams from the East Coast competed in the three-day tour-nament, which spanned three military installations in Washington, D.C., and

Northern Virginia. The Patriots played at Henderson Hall, Va., and Fort Myer, Va.

The Patriots ended the tournament with a 3-2 record, having defeated Fort Story, Va., the National Security Agen-cy of Bethesda and Fort Drum, N.Y., before being eliminated.

Patriots coach Ronny Cunningham thought this team would make it far in the tournament if the players solidified the defense, which has plagued the team in its up-and-down season.

“In a tournament like this you can score all you want, but you have to be able to stop them too,” he said. ”If we can defend and shrug off some of the rebound problems we’ve been having all season, I think we’ll be OK.”

However, said Cunningham, there are no guarantees in a tournament in which two losses can send a team home.

“You’ll have one or two games that you should win, you’re going to have

Camp Lejeune’s two wins derail Patriots’ Capital Classic run

TOP: Taras Newby of the Patriots takes a jump shot over two Fort Drum defenders during the Capital Classic.

ABOVE: Patriots coach Ronny Cunningham (kneeling in center) talks with his players during one of the team’s games on Saturday at Henderson Hall, Va.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 13

one game that you’re going to be lucky to move forward, and you’re going to have one game that will take you,” he said. “There’s no cakewalks in this tournament.”

Before the Patriots’ first game, vet-eran Llewellyn Smalley said the team’s bench players would be crucial to suc-cess. With multiple games played on each day, a strong bench would allow players to rest, without sacrificing pro-duction on the court.

“Having a great bench is a huge advantage, and I think our bench is one of the best benches in this tournament,” Smalley said.

The Patriots opened the tournament against Fort Story on Saturday morning at Henderson Hall.

Early on, the Patriots dominated their opponents, opening on an 8-0 run. At halftime, they held a 41-22 lead.

In the second half, the Patriots’ defense relaxed and allowed Fort Story’s Joshua Byrd to score 25 points. But the high-scoring offense of the Patriots kept a Fort Story win out of reach, with Smalley scoring a team-high 23 points.

With the 93-62 victory under their belts, the players were prepared to face

the tougher competition.“Getting that first win [allows you] to

kind of get over the hump and get the jitters out,” Smalley said after the game. “We got the first win, and we’re look-ing forward to the next game. The next game is going to be a lot tougher.”

Saturday night, the Patriots faced Camp Lejeune at Henderson Hall. The Patriots took an early lead and held a 27-18 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. But the team allowed Camp Lejeune to gain some momentum and forced six lead changes. The Patri-ots took a 38-37 lead into halftime.

For the final 15 minutes of the game, the two teams battled back and forth with neither team leading by more than 6 points.

With 24.3 seconds remaining, Camp Lejeune player — and former Patriot — Alonzo Mountain was fouled and sealed the 71-70 win with a free throw.

“They’re a slow-down, half-court team. We’re a running team” Cun-ningham said. “We got the lead in the second half by running, and then we stopped running and we let them back in the game.”

The loss put the Patriots in the losers’ bracket, with one more loss resulting in elimination.

“Either they’re going to play together or we’re going home today,” Cunning-ham said before the tournament’s sec-ond day.

Players rebounded Sunday morning with a 94-44 thumping of NSA Bethes-da. Smalley carried the offense, scoring 31 points in the game while Gary Rob-inson added 11 points.

Smalley and the Patriots continued their offensive attack against Fort Drum in the afternoon. The first half was a back-and-forth game with eight lead changes. Fort Meade trailed 53-52 at halftime despite Smalley’s 21 points and McDade’s 17.

Neither team dominated the second half until the final two minutes when the Patriots pulled away 91-84 behind Smalley’s 46-point performance.

The 100-86 victory over Fort Drum forced a rematch against Camp Lejeune. Robinson said the team wanted the rematch “real bad.”

“The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that it doesn’t matter about the first time you meet,” he said. “When you get the chance to play a second time,

that’s when it really counts because then it decides who goes home.”

The game tipped off Sunday night at Fort Myer with the Patriots and Camp Lejeune continuing the previous night’s see-saw battle. There were seven lead changes, and the two teams were never separated by more than 6 points. At halftime, the Patriots held a 38-37 lead.

Camp Lejeune regained the lead early in the second half. They held onto the lead until the final two minutes when McDade made two free throws to give the Patriots a 71-70 lead.

The teams traded points for the remaining two minutes until Camp

Lejeune regained a 75-73 lead and held on to the win.

McDade scored a game-high 27 points, while Smalley scored another 20 in the 83-74 loss.

“We played a hard, good game,” Gist said. “But to lose to a team twice in one tournament, it’s a heartbreaker.”

The second loss ended the Patriots’ run for this year’s Capital Classic. The team will now focus on its remaining games in the Washington Area Military Athletic Conference.

“We’re still going play the same way we’ve always played and try to win the WAMAC,” Gist said. “That’s the next step.”

Fort Drum’s Dominique Polite (right) tries to defend Fort Meade’s Trevor McDade (far left) on Sunday, the second day of the Capital Classic tournament, at Henderson Hall, Va. The Patriots defeated Fort Drum 100-86 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Trevor McDade (right) drives past Fort Drum defenders. McDade scored 17 points in the Capital Classic game against Fort Drum.


SportS

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the start of the Univer-sity of Maryland Ter-rapins game Tuesday

against the Miami Hur-ricanes at the Comcast Center in College Park.

Details of the “Fort Meade Day” event will appear in next week’s

issue.

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SportS

Sports ShortsIce Breaker Golf Tournament

The Ice Breaker Golf Tournament will be held March 24 at the Courses.

Shotgun start is at 9 a.m.The event will feature a two-person scramble format.Cost is $25 per player or $50 per team. Fee includes lunch and

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

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

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

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

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

Tickets cost $40. Proceeds will benefit Meade High’s new batting cage.For more information, email Dave Lanham at [email protected] or

call 410-672-1369.

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

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

677-5541.

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

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

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

course, will be held Saturdays from March 3 to April 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 301-677-1196

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

Services, 1900 Reece Road.Youth sports are available for ages 3 to 18 years old.Spring sports include soccer, T-ball, baseball, softball, track,

swim, indoor football and county basketball for ages 10 through 13.For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

Coaches neededCoaches are needed for the Child, Youth and School Service’s spring sports

season.All coaches are required to complete a background check and attend

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

For more information, call 301-677-1329 or email [email protected].

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

When I joined the military in 1997, I wasn’t the biggest fan of ethnic observances.

That doesn’t mean I was a racist, just naïve. I honestly didn’t see the point in highlighting one group of people over another.

But as age sets in, I’m coming around. By that I mean observances can still be a little too in my face, but I realize they also provide proof that no one person, or group of people, made this country great. We all contributed to the American experi-ence, which is still the envy of the world.

One reason for my clarity, besides maturity, are cultural observances like the one we are having today at Club Meade to celebrate Black History Month. The free event starts at 11:30 a.m., fea-tures the co-founder of the “Great Blacks in Wax Museum, and if history holds, will have some pretty good grub.

Another reason, quite frankly, is sports. Like my coffee and tea, my athletic fields have always been integrated. But that does not mean I fail to realize the impact black athletes have had in my lifetime.

So here is my opinion on the five most influ-ential black sports personalities from 1974 to the present. That means my list will not include icons like Jackie Robinson (and Branch Rickey for that matter), or even Joe Lewis because I’ll never be able to fully understand the depth of their sacrifice or significance. I just know they did the hard work and provided the platform, which allowed the athletes on my list to move the cause forward.

Lewis and Robinson truly operated in an “Us versus Them” environment. However, outside of Ali and maybe the Fab 5, the athletes on this list didn’t really push race forward because they got to compete with their peers.

For example, Michael Jordan didn’t break any racial barriers or stand up for any of the causes Jim Brown championed. In fact, “His Airness” was accused of not being “black” enough. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been influential.

One last note. This list doesn’t constitute my favorite black athletes either. If it did, you’d see Emmitt Smith, Chris Webber, Ali, Magic John-son, my boy from Mattawan High School, Roscoe Johnson, and probably “Sweet” Lou Whitaker.

No. 5: Michael JordanHis biggest contributions aren’t the dunks or

rings. They are his cultural impact and the fact that he showed individuals how to turn them-selves into corporations. I mean, the bald head and his logo are just being supplanted as the images of the game.

Plus, there is a reason that every player still can’t wear No. 23 nearly a decade after Jordan retired — even in intramurals.

“You have to have game and earn that number,” Fort Meade Patriot Gary Robin-son explained to me a few years ago. “It can’t be worn by a scrub because that would disrespect Mike.” And nobody disrespects Mike.

No. 4: Michigan’s Fab Five (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan How-ard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King)

I know this isn’t technically a person, but as a collective, this group of kids led the University of Michigan to two straight NCAA champion-ship games, and on the way made basketball and America confront some serious issues within themselves.

In fact, outside of Ali, these kids probably did more to push race forward in this country than anyone because they made it all right to be the same person on the court as you were off.

However, if you’re still not convinced, just remember that before these guys, basketball shorts came up just below the butt and hugged a man in all the wrong places.

No. 3: Tiger WoodsThe dude is so dominant that the former

“whitest sport in America” can barely survive without him.

No. 2: Venus and Serena WilliamsI’m not a fan, but these two have provided a lot

to admire. They didn’t just rise from a tough back-ground to dominate their sport; they also haven’t let their profession or stereotypes define who they are. That is a lesson we should all learn.

No. 1: Muhammad AliHe’s the GOAT - Greatest Of All Time - and

not just because he knocked out George Foreman or became the first man to win the heavyweight championship three times.

He’s the greatest because he made it OK to respect a black man even if you disagree with him. The dude didn’t dodge the draft — he stood up to it. And history has proven he was right for doing so.

Later in life, he’s shown that a disease can cripple a person but can’t take away his character or courage if he doesn’t let it.

All that, plus he’s still the greatest smack talker ever.

I know this list isn’t all inclusive, and I hope I didn’t offend anyone.

But if you really think I forgot someone, or if you have comments on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

Five for my time

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn


Community news & notes

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

For more information or to submit an announcement, email [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

Black History Month observance

The garrison command, along with the Equal Opportunity Office, is sponsoring the African American/Black History Observance today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Club Meade.

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

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

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

Administrative leave is authorized.For more information, contact Staff

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

DINFOS Black History Month events

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

• Discussion of the film “American Violet” today at 11 a.m. at DINFOS in room 2191. Bring your lunch.

• Wednesday: Food Sampling/Trivia Bowl, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., McGill Training Center. Bring food to share. Registration required by Friday. Email Master Sgt. Keisha Montague at [email protected].

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

For more information, email [email protected] or call 301-677-4721.

National Prayer LuncheonThe Fort Meade National Prayer

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

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

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

Seating is limited to 300 people. Tickets are now available.

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

Tickets can be obtained through the unit sergeant major or noncommissioned officer in charge.

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

AER fundraising campaignArmy Emergency Relief will begin its

annual fundraising campaign on March 1.

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

RSVP by Friday at 301-677-5768 or email [email protected].

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

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

There is no cover charge. Cash bar is available.


Easter workshop Design handmade gifts and cards at

an Easter workshop on March 10 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts Center, 6530 York Ave.

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

call 410-575-4224.

Karaoke NightThe 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes

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

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


Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

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

• “How to change oil and maintain your vehicle,” March 11

• “How to change wheel bearings,” March 25

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

Fleet Center classesThe Fleet and Family Support Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

OSC scholarshipsThe Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’

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

Completed applications must be postmarked by April 1.

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, email Pat Hagerty at [email protected].

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

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

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

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

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

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


StorytimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial Library

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

• Today: “Goodness Gracious — What a Nose” about elephants


Youth Center activitiesChild, Youth and School Services is

hosting “Grilling and Chilling,” for grades six to eight, on Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Menu includes barbecue chicken legs, hot dogs, picnic salads and drink. Food cost is $5.


Easter Bunny brunchHop over to the Courses Clubhouse

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

Enjoy scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast sticks, tater tots, ham, boneless chick-

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION

YOUTH


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

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

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


Out & About• The American Craft Council

Baltimore Winter Show will be held Friday to Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center, One W. Pratt St., Baltimore. Hours: Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 36th annual event features contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor artists. Cost is $16 for a one-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass. Children 12 and under attend free. Friday evening admission is $5 after 5 p.m. For more information, visit http://public.craftcouncil.org/baltimore.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering discounted tickets for active-duty service members to the Shen Yun Performing Arts Show from March 21 to April 1 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. For more information, call LTS at 301-677-7354.

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

• Monster Jam at 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Hours are: Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22, $30 and $62. (All tickets cost an additional $2 on show day.) For more information, visit baltimorearena.com.

• Spouse PTSD Support Group,

sponsored by the Behavior Health Care Service, Religious Support Office and the Army Substance Abuse Program, will meet March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cavalry Chapel, Bldg. 8465, Simonds Street and 6th Armored Cavalry Road. Seating is limited. Registration is required by Friday. Child care is available.

This time-limited support group is for spouses whose loved ones are exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. To register or for more information, call Lt. Cmdr. Fields at 301-677-8870.

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

• Single Parent Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Parenting With a Purpose will meet Wednesday and March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center at 8700 91st Division Blvd. Learn what your parenting style is and the art of judo-parenting. For reservations, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Fort Meade Chapter of Military Officers Association of America will sponsor its next luncheon meeting March 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Club Meade. The guest speaker will be Rita McDermott of MOAA headquarters who will discuss the MOAA Scholarship Fund, which provides grants/scholarships and interest-free loans each year to the children of military personnel.

Cost is $15. The luncheon is open to the public. Reservations are required. Call T. Wayne Hobbs at 410-799-8331.

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

Cost is $15. Reservations must be made by March 1 at noon. Members may call their area Reservation Committee member; all others may call Betty Wade at 410-551-7082. For more information, call ROWC President Lianne Roberts at 301-464-5498.

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

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

• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members

at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn. Breakfast may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the fourth Sunday of every month.

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

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

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

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

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

• Retired Enlisted Association meets the third Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. The next meeting is March 15. For more information, visit www.trea.org or call Mary Gray, the local president, at 410-916-5385 or Arthur R. Cooper, national president, at 443-336-1230.

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

The meeting will be canceled if Anne Arundel County schools are closed or opening two hours late due to bad weather. For more information, call Pat Loosararian, membership chairman, at 410-519-6443 or Lois Stephenson, club president, at 410-740-8024.

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fort meade soundoff for feb. 23, 2012

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