fort meade soundoff for may 31, 2012

scholarlyESC honors Meade youth for education efforts

page 10

UPcoMING EVENTsFrIday, 11 a.M.-1 P.M.: USO Military Appreciation Barbecue - Freedom Center BarrackssaTUrday, 8 a.M.-2 P.M.: Women’s Health Fair - Kimbrough Ambulatory Care CenterWEdNEsday & JUNE 7, 5-6:30 P.M.: “Fort Meade’s Got Talent” Auditions - McGillJUNE 9, 9 a.M.: Armed Forces Kids Run - 2234 Huber Road parking lotJUNE 14, 7:30 a.M.: Army Birthday/Flag Day Breakfast - Club Meade

saFETy FIrsTAnnual post expo takes hands-on approach to wellness

page 3

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 22 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community May 31, 2012

photo by steve ruark

The Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard stands in the outfield for the national Anthem, as nine Fort Meade service members join the Baltimore orioles starting lineup on the field at oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday for the team’s Military Appreciation Day. Fort Meade participated in pregame events including throwing the opening pitch. For more, see Pages 12-13.

sh w of appreciation

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! May 31, 2012

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Classified.............................20

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

Community................. 16 Movies.................................19

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/ftmeademd

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

Soundoff!́Guaranteed circulation:

11,285

What is your stress level? I’m asking because everyone responds dif-

ferently to stress.For example, you have four minutes to

leave for the airport and you cannot find your wallet. Most people would describe this as a stressful situation. Or, your electric bill arrived in the mail today and it was $140 higher than you expected.

At Fort Meade, operational tempo and deployments are stressors we deal with daily.

Stress can be defined as anything that dis-rupts the balance in your life. It is anything that threatens us, prods us, scares us, worries us or thrills us. According to behavior and medical experts, stress is a normal psycho-logical and physical reaction to positive or negative situations in your life.

Stress itself is not abnormal or bad. What’s important is how you deal with stress.

When you have a tough time adjusting to a stressful change and you find it difficult to go about your daily routine, you may develop an adjustment disorder. An adjustment dis-order is a type of stress-related mental illness that can affect your feelings, thoughts and behavior.

Stress gets a bad rap all the time. How many times have you heard that stress makes you fat, ruins your skin or is bad for your heart?

Stress can also be good for you - provided you learn to use it properly and understand that you are in control. Stress can be a motivational tool that helps us get things done, burn more calories and discover hidden reserves of energy we never knew we had.

Stress becomes a problem when we have too much of it, and we simply don’t know what to do about it or how to manage it.

Stress also has been associated with suicidal behavior. There are often warning signs that accentuate someone is under too much stress: dramatic mood changes, feelings of hopeless-ness and despair, increase in use of alcohol or other drugs, or risk-taking behavior.

The symptoms of stress can be as simple as being sad, worrying, or having difficulty concentrating on normal activities. These symptoms take on a more heightened level of concern when the signs include verbal threats to hurt someone and thoughts of suicide. It is when these life-threatening thoughts

are outside our normal behav-ior pattern that the services of a mental health profes-sional may be required.

I want you to know that there are a variety of behavior health resources avail-able for active duty, Reserve, civilian employees and family members.

Active-duty military personnel are encour-aged to seek clinical services of the Army Substance Abuse Program, which works in close liaison with Behavioral Health Care Ser-vice and other support programs to address a variety of personal and substance abuse issues.

Confidential counseling is available to civil-ian personnel through the Civilian Counseling Services program. The CCS also provides counseling, mediation and referral services to family members, Department of Army civil-ians and retirees.

Last week Fort Meade kicked off its annual 101 Critical Days of Summer. Our goal is to reduce or eliminate tragic loss of life and injury and to help everyone realize that safety is personal for service members, civilian work-ers and family members during summertime.

Managing stress and making sure you are (mentally) headed in the right direction is just one of the areas I want to remind everyone not to lose focus on as we think about safety this summer.

Speaking of stress and summertime, let’s also be mindful of heat stress and other sum-mer-related safety issues. We just experienced our first heat wave of the summer this past weekend.

Heat stress occurs when the body cannot cool itself enough to maintain a healthy temperature. Overexertion in hot weather can increase your risk of heat stress.

Let’s all take whatever steps are necessary to find balance and manage stress in our lives. Let’s be sure we are making the right decision to keep as safe as possible this summer.

Managing stress adds balance to life

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil May 31, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

The heat and humidity of a late spring day did not prevent 3,500 people from attending the installation’s annual Safety, Health and Wellness Expo on May 24.

The four-hour event, sponsored by the Installation Safety Office, was held at the Pavilion.

“Safety is essential,” said Kirk Fech-ter, director of the Installation Safety Office. “We’re pleased we can offer something for all the service branches, to set aside one day to point out that safety is important.”

More than 45 organizations and busi-nesses on and off post attended the event to provide information about a wide range of topics including healthy eating, workplace safety, stress manage-ment and child passenger safety.

The event also featured simulations to encourage safe vehicle and motorcycle driving and how to properly extinguish a mock fire. Free blood pressure and body mass index screenings also were offered.

“Our goal this year was to extend the event by adding more interactive activi-ties, not just the educational brochures, but hands-on demonstrations to have people get more involved.” said Jen-elle Ferguson, occupational safety and health specialist.

Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Valdez of Naval Information Operations Com-mand Maryland said she the event was enlightening.

“I think it’s important for younger Sailors and Soldiers,” she said. “Some-times, they don’t know safety proce-dures. It makes them think about their judgment.”

Valdez was one of the many service members learned how to properly ride a motorcycle using the SMART Train-er, a mobile classroom and simulator developed by the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program.

Henry Winkour, a contractor with the program, said people who use the simulator learn how to operate a motor-cycle’s controls, including how to shift gears, apply pressure to the throttle, or brakes, and how to navigate the road.

“Rather than put someone on the road and say ‘good luck,’ they can learn where the controls are and how they work,” Winkour said.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office

Interactive activities highlight annual post safety expo

photos by noah scialom

Mark T. Oakley, of the Fort Meade Fire Department, greets 3-year-old Brian Volochenko as he sits in a child passenger safety seat during the installation’s annual Safety, Health and Wellness Expo. The four-hour event featured interactive activities to encourage vehicle and motorcycle safety, as well as free blood pressure and body fat percentage screenings.

RIGHT: Pfc. Alexander Davison, 781st Military Intelligence Battalion, extinguishes a mock fire during the Safety, Health and Wellness Expo sponsored May 24 at the Pavilion by the Installation Safety Office.

presented a drunk driving simulator that is part of the National Arrive Alive Tour.

Spc. Jan Seda, 741 Military Intelli-gence Battalion, took a “drive” and had an unfortunate incident.

“I hit a kid walking in the crosswalk,” Seda said of the simulated situation. “I thought I’d go to jail or something. That made it so real.”

Seda said although he’s been driving for seven years, the experience was an eye-opener.

“You get the feel about drunk driv-ing. I felt a little bit out of control,” he said. “It’s a good experience. You get conscious about not drinking and driving.”

Medical personnel from the Occupa-tional Health department at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center screened par-ticipants for high blood pressure and tracked their weight, body mass index and body fat percentage.

“High blood pressure is a silent killer,” said Jan Twigg, an occupational health registered nurse. “With the population

aging and getting heavier, blood pres-sure goes up.”

Twigg said overall, the people she screened had blood pressure readings in the normal range.

“Not bad. Nothing very elevated,” she said.

Spc. Julian YBara, 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion, had his body fat percentage measured.

“It was interesting,” he said. “I was curious about how high my body fat percentage was. It’s in the healthy range — that’s good news.”

YBara said the expo was worthwhile.“I like it,” he said. “There are a lot of

things you can be aware of. There’s a lot of information to learn about.”

Ron Fratantoni, a market manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional, said the company appreciates the sacrifice of service members and wanted to support the event.

“We are showing products to keep them safe,” Fratantoni said, as he dis-played a collection of safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves and high-visibility

and chemical-resistant clothing.Connie Schulthesis, vice president of

the Chesapeake Region Safety Council in Baltimore, distributed brochures on family safety.

“We’re here to educate people about safety and health so people can be safe while they do their job,” she said.

Julie Yates, lifeskills educator and Family Employment Program manager for the Fleet & Family Support Center, distributed pamphlets on how to reduce stress and prevent suicide.

“We want service members to take care of themselves, physically and emo-tionally,” Yates said. “It’s important to get this information and apply it.”

Beverly Maliner, chief of Preventive Medicine at Kimbrough, said the expo can make a difference in the lives of service members.

“They’ve got the right group here - mostly younger service members,” Maliner said. “If they pick up a lesson and take it out with them, it lasts for a lifetime. If they change their behavior, then the expo is worth it.”


By Wendy PoulsonSocial Security Manager, Glen Burnie

In April, Social Security announced 52 new Com-passionate Allowances conditions to the growing list of severe medical conditions that qualify for expe-dited medical decisions.

The new conditions include many neurological disorders, cancers and rare diseases.

The Compassionate Allowances initiative is a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medi-cal conditions that invariably qualify as “disabled” based on minimal medical information. Compas-sionate Allowances allow Social Security to quickly identify the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly.

The announcement of 52 new conditions, effective in August, will increase the total number of Com-passionate Allowances conditions to 165. That list continues to grow as Social Security, the National Institutes of Health and a number of patient organizations help identify new conditions that clearly warrant quick approvals.

“Social Security will continue to work with the medical community and patient organiza-tions to add more conditions,” Astrue said. “With our Compassionate Allowances program, we quickly approved disability benefits for nearly 61,000 people with severe disabilities in the past fiscal year, and nearly 173,000 applications since the program began.”

Social Security develops the list of Compassionate Allowances conditions from information received at public outreach hearings, comments received from the disability community, a coun-sel of medical and scientific experts, and research with the National Institutes of Health.

Social Security also considers conditions most likely to meet its definition of disability.For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/com-

passionateallowances.

Compassionate Allowances conditions expedites decisions for the disabled

News

May 21, Attempted larceny of private property: Two unknown juveniles removed an unse-cured and unattended bicycle from a porch and attempted to flee. The victim observed the incident and shouted at the juveniles, causing them to drop the bicycle and flee the area.

May 22, Simple assault - consummated by a battery: The Directorate of Emer-gency Services was notified of a possi-ble domestic assault. An investigation revealed that two individuals entered into a verbal altercation that turned physical when the subject forcefully pushed his girlfriend to the ground.

May 25, Larceny of private property: Unknown person(s) entered a vehicle, which was unsecured and unattended, and removed a debit card, credit cards, AAA card and other documents.

May 25, Larceny of private prop-erty: The victim left her cart in the Exchange with her purse containing various unattended items. When she returned, the cart was gone and could

not be located.

May 26, Shoplifting: AAFES loss-prevention personnel observed the subject conceal a bracelet under her purse and exit the Exchange without ren-

dering proper payment.

May 27, Driving with tires in unsafe operating condition, driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving with suspended registration: While on routine patrol, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a sub-ject driving on a flat front tire. An investigation revealed that the subject was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was administered a series of standardized field sobriety tests, which he failed. He submitted to a breath test for alcohol that resulted in a blood alcohol con-tent of .14 percent. May 27, Larceny of government prop-erty: The unit representative reported that an unknown individual removed the identification sign outside the company area.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

Trouble Ticket

Youth Services Sports Complex needs renovations

Renovate the Youth Services Sports Complex

Actual use of fields is expected to be this fall after the grass matures

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.

Issue: Plan: Status:

McGill Training Center HVAC is inoperative

(except in the ballroom)

Install a new HVAC Survey work has begun; full install set for completion

September 2012; portable A/C units being used in classrooms

AER cAmpAign suRpAssEs $80,000 goAlThe Fort Meade Army Emergency Relief campaign has collected $105,373.03 as of Wednesday, 131 percent of its $80,000 goal.

Chaplain’s WordKNOW THE PLANS

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.”— Jeremiah 29:11

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil May 31, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

long lost letters

Mike Bradford, a Melwood employee, hands 11 letters and

greeting cards that maintenance workers found in the wall of a

World War II-era building to Fort Meade Museum exhibit special-

ist Barbara Taylor on May 24. The letters, which were post-

marked in the early 1940s, were written to Soldiers stationed at

Fort Meade who were preparing to deploy to Europe. The Fort

Meade Museum is researching the letters with hopes of possibly returning the letters to the fami-lies of the World War II Soldiers. See the full story in next week’s

Soundoff!

photo by Marine pvt. colby sMith

Readiness is critical to you. Select a university that is prepared to meet

your needs. One with a rich heritage of military support, one that offers

a variety of quality academic programs, one that can travel with you

around the world, and one that understands the needs of students who

wear the uniform.

Educate the mind to think, the heart to feel, the body to act.- TROY Motto 1887

WE ARE MISSION READY

In class • Online • Within reach • troy.edu • Find us on:

“One of the Top Universities for Troops...” - Military Times“Ranked Among Top Schools in the Nation” - Forbes Magazine


News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Leave it to a kindergartener to ask a Soldier if he has ever traveled to space.

That was one of the questions a class of kindergarten students asked Spc. Ignacio Quiroz, a joint operations duty officer at U.S. Cyber Command, during his talk on Career Day on May 25.

Quiroz was one of four Fort Meade service members who spoke about their careers in the military to students at Scotchtown Hills Elementary School in Laurel.

Renee Cort-Sutton, the school’s guid-ance counselor, said the annual event is a requirement for all Prince George’s County public schools.

The Fort Meade service members joined service members from Fort Bel-voir, Va., and professionals from local businesses and organizations who vol-unteered to participate.

“I want children to know that mili-tary service can lead them to a future career,” Cort-Sutton said. “The people who participated were educated by the military. Students need to know that you can go to a university, commu-nity college or serve your country and receive an education.”

In his presentation to the kinder-garten class, Quiroz said that when he began his Army career, he studied electronics and eventually was deployed to Iraq, where he worked with Iraqi prisoners.

But the children were most interested in how he has ridden in a black hawk helicopter multiple times.

“I’ve done Career Days in the past,” Quiroz said. “It’s fun telling children what I do and the experiences I’ve had. I know they’re still young, but I want to tell them about the opportunities that come with being in the military and that I’ve traveled around the world.”

Staff Sgt. Timothy Matz, an Army combat medic and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Red Clinic at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, showed a class of fourth-graders the kind of medical equipment he used while caring for Soldiers in Iraq.

“I brought all kinds of tools,” Matz said. “When somebody is hurt or sick, I go out and take care of them.”

Matz explained the rigorous training requirements for a combat medic — 10 weeks of basic training and 16 weeks of advanced individual medical train-ing — learning everything from how

Soldiers share benefits of military service at Career Day

to shoot a fully automated weapon to how to conduct emergency medical techniques.

“We get training on the most recent techniques and illnesses,” Matz said.

Nine-year-old Markos Smith, who plans to be a football player when he grows up, recognized the difficulties of serving as a medic.

“I think it was amazing what he does,” Marko said. “I think being a combat medic is a lot of work. They go through a lot of training.”

Matz, whose 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son attend the school, said he hopes the students he spoke to will consider the Army as a career.

“I wanted to give the kids a different

insight, give them an introduction to who works in the Army,” Matz said. “And I like to talk to kids.”

Capt. Rausham Salaam, an Occupa-tional Health Science Division project manager for the Public Health Com-mand-Region North, said he wanted to share his passion about his job and inspire students to pursue a career in science, math or technology.

“I want them to understand that if they have an interest in science or math, there are different opportunities that can open up for them in the future,” he said.

Salaam told his class of sixth-graders how he evaluates the safety of work-places for civilian employees and has

even inspected new Army child care centers.

The students were captivated by his work equipment - a sound level meter and an air sampling pump.

Salaam said that although he can work as much as 16 to 21 hours a day, he loves his job.

“I’ve traveled all over the world,” he said, noting that in the past two years he has visited Korea, Japan, Germany, Iraq and Kuwait.

Sarah Fakaye, 11, said she was impressed by Salaam’s presentation.

“I learned that you can use a lot of tools to figure out sound,” Sarah said. “I liked it. I want to be in the Army. I want to take care of people.”

Staff Sgt. Timothy Matz, an Army combat medic and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Red Clinic at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, shows his medical equipment to Calvin Chirino, 10, a fourth-grader at Scotchtown Hills Elementary School in Laurel. Matz was one of four Fort Meade Soldiers who participated in the school’s Career Day on May 25.


News


Last fall Michele Whelley, a member of the board of directors for the Port Discovery Chil-dren’s Museum in Baltimore, met Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and suggested that the museum and Fort Meade form a partnership to support recreational activities for military families.

Whelley said she was “impressed with the colonel’s commitment to reach out to Baltimore City to forge partnerships with the people who live and work at Fort Meade.”

Michelle Winner, vice president of market-ing for the museum, said the partnership is a great opportunity for the museum to honor service members and their families for their sacrifice.

“Port Discovery Children’s Museum believes that all children should have the opportunity to imagine, learn, play and grow in a safe and nurturing environment,” Winner said. “We understand how difficult it may be for children who have a parent, caregiver or family member who is deployed or has been wounded in combat, and we are committed to providing our military families with a joyful and happy experience.”

The museum recently offered Salute To Troops, a promotion for active-duty service members and veterans with valid military identification who received free admission to the museum for themselves and a guest, plus a 10 percent discount at the museum’s gift shop. The promotion began March 1 and ended Monday.

The museum now offers a $2 discount off the general admission price of $13.95 for all service members and their family members.

According to Forbes Magazine, Port Dis-covery is one of the country’s top 12 children’s museums out of about 325.

More than 250,000 people visit Port Dis-covery each year, primarily from Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The museum’s mission is to connect pur-poseful play and learning for children from birth to age 10, according to its website.

Jennifer Bergantz, the museum’s education and community enrichment liaison, said the museum encourages exploration, problem-solving skills and creativity in youngsters.

Port Discovery features a wide range of exhibits and activities including Adventure Expeditions, which takes children to Egypt in the 1920s to decipher hieroglyphics and find clues to locate a pharaoh’s lost tomb; Miss Perception’s Mystery House, where children solve the case of the missing Baffeld family;

Studio Workshop, an art studio where children express their creativity; Wonders of Water, an exhibit that helps children understand human interactions with water; and Tiny’s Diner, a 1950s-style diner where youngsters can “cook” and serve food to their parents.

A highlight is KidsWorks, a three-story urban tree house for children to climb, crawl and jump. The treehouse includes rope bridges, a climbing wall, tumbling mat and two-story slide.

Winner said the museum also offers several activities that may interest military families.

For example, Discovery Days are offered for four days in May and in November, with one day dedicated to children with autism. The activity begins on the second Tuesday of the month and runs for four consecutive days, culminating in a “Be A Part of the Art” festival on Friday.

During Discovery Days, the museum reduces the lighting and exhibit sounds “to help create a calmer, softer environment,” Winner said.

For the event, the museum does not book mainstream school groups, although the gen-eral public may attend.

All of the museum’s exhibits during Dis-covery Days are available to children attending the event.

Community partners such as the Ken-nedy Krieger Institute, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children with pediatric developmental disabilities, and Johns Hopkins University offer programs for children and resources for parents.

All eligible Maryland school students are admitted at no charge during Discovery Days.

Terrific Tuesdays are designed to integrate school groups with special needs children and mainstream school groups in an inclusive environment. The museum’s programs can be adjusted to accommodate special needs children.

Every Friday in September, the museum features special science programs that home-schooled children can enjoy. The programs align with the state of Maryland’s education curriculum, which is outlined in the museum’s educators guide. Home-school parents can download the guide on the museum’s website.

The museum, which regularly posts new activities and exhibits on the Fort Meade Facebook page, plans to offer another Salute To Troops promotion in the fall.

“We’re very passionate about supporting the military,” Winner said.

For more information, visit the Port Dis-covery Children’s Museum website at www.portdiscovery.org.

Port Discovery reaches out to military families

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! May 31, 2012

News


A Meade High School senior who has volunteered to help the homeless is the second recipient of the Enlisted Spouses Club’s Evelyn Silva Scholarship Award of Excellence.

Kinza Shah, 17, was presented the $2,000 scholarship at the club’s annual scholarship award ceremony May 21 at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

“I feel very grateful,” Kinza said. “I feel like hard work always pays off.”

The annual scholarship is named after Evelyn Silva, the club’s volunteer coordina-tor and a longtime member who has served as president of the Thrift Shop Council. The council oversees the Post Thrift Shop. Proceeds from the shop benefit the ESC scholarship fund and other club activities.

Eligibility requirements for the scholar-ship included a minimum 3.0 grade point average and a commitment to volunteer service for more than a year.

In addition to the ESC scholarship, Kinza also was awarded a matching $2,000 schol-arship from the central Maryland chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

“I feel great, I’m so happy,” said Kinza’s mother, Tasneem Shah, who attended the event with Kinza’s older sister Sabrina, who also received an ESC scholarship at the cer-emony. “I was thinking Kinza was going to get the scholarship and she did.”

Kinza, daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Abid Shah, 20th Support Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, was a volunteer for three years with Happy Helpers for the Homeless, a community service organization at Meade High School.

“I think its important to help the home-less, to help those who are less fortunate,” said Kinza, who plans to study speech therapy at Towson University.

Before the ceremony, members of Fort Meade’s Cub Scout Pack 377 presented the colors. Lauren Watt, an ESC member, sang the National Anthem. Chaplain (Maj.) Dean Darroux, director of pastoral minis-tries, gave the invocation.

Patricia Baker, incoming ESC president, said in her opening remarks that the ESC values community, hard work and educa-tion.

“We are here tonight to recognize and honor nine young adults who have risen above the challenges of being a ‘military brat’ to become strong examples in their community of volunteerism and education,” she said.

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C.

Enlisted Spouses Club awards annual scholarships

Rothstein, who helped to present the schol-arships, commended the students for their hard work. He suggested that they “step back and give yourself a pat on the back for your accomplishments.”

“You’re a part of the Team Meade com-munity,” Rothstein said. “You represent us so well. ... You make the garrison and Team Meade very proud.”

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith, attended the ceremony with his wife, Audrey, an advisor to the club. He said the ESC scholarships are very important, particularly in today’s economy.

“With the cost of education being so expensive, many students and parents take out loans to pay for college, or resort to other measures,” Smith said. “Scholarships are a great way to cover part, or sometimes even all, of the cost of a college education.”

In addition to the Evelyn Silva Schol-arship, the ESC awarded eight students a $1,500 scholarship based on service in school, church and community, as well as participation in sports.

The recipients were: Sabrina Shah, 21, a psychology and media/communications major at the University of Baltimore; Annal-isa Irby, 18, a senior at Meade High School, whose father is Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jon-athan Irby; Emily Moesner, 18, a senior at Archbishop Spaulding High School whose father is Air Force Lt. Col. John Moesner; Otis Duffie 18, a hotel management major at Johnson and Wales University in Char-lotte, N.C., whose father is retired Air Force Master Sgt. Otis Duffie; and Jessica Mineart, 19, a math major at Howard Community College whose father is retired Sgt. 1st Class Alvin Mineart.

Two scholarship winners, Celeste Del-gado and Sophie Gaines, were unable to attend the ceremony, but were represented by their parents.

Delgado, 19, whose father is Master Sgt. Carlos Delgado, 7th Intelligence Squadron, is a sophomore at Anne Arundel Commu-nity College studying math.

Gaines, 20, whose father is retired Sgt. 1st Class Derreck Gaines, is a sophomore at Drexel University in Philadelphia studying architectural engineering and civil engineer-ing.

Before the ceremony ended, Susan Ren-ninger, a member of the ESC scholarship committee, wished the students well in their future endeavors.

“We know our young adults are a great investment,” she said. “If we invest well, we’ll get a good return.”

photo by Marine pvt. ronald brink

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith and Evelyn Silva, volunteer coordinator for the Enlisted Spouses Club, congratulate Kinza Shah, 17, a Meade High School senior, as the recipient of the ESC’s Evelyn Silva Scholarship For Excellence on May 21 at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil May 31, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

Story and photo by Jonathan AgeeU.S. Army Field Band

The program is called OrchKids, a year-round, school music program that provides music education, at no cost, to underserved students in Baltimore.

OrchKids was inspired by El Sistema, a Venezuelan program that for the past 40 years has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of underprivileged children in the country.

Last week, Soldier-musicians from the U.S. Army Field Band joined OrchKids for a five-day workshop at Lockerman Bundy Elementary School.

Staff Sgt. Katayoon Hodjati, leader of the Woodwind Quintet, said the program was a perfect match for her skills and the values of the Army Field Band.

“I have quite a bit of teaching experi-ence, so I feel qualified to do this in addi-tion to the performing I do as part of the Field Band,” Hodjati said. “And so this for me is putting together everything I do: the performing, the teaching, being part of the Field Band. I can roll it all into one and have an impact locally, which is really dif-ferent than what we do when we tour.”

Aside from premier musicians working with the students, two main factors con-tribute to the success of OrchKids, said Nick Skinner, OrchKids manager with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

The first is using it as a vehicle for posi-tive social change; the second is democratic access to the arts.

“I like to think of the orchestra as a metaphor for society, and how you have to treat people and fit within a structure, and how you have to be able to contribute posi-tively to something — and that’s really all these elements that are involved in making music with people,” Skinner said.

“It’s just something that naturally hap-pens. And that is where the social change comes from — not to mention, of course, just being here.”

OrchKids originated as an afterschool program to target times when there is peak trouble with youth, said Skinner.

“We are trying to keep them engaged in something positive, and that is a large part of the social change,” he said.

The democratic side of the OrchKids program is simply allowing children to have access to musical education and the arts. Many of the schools, said Skinner, are unable to provide music education due

On a positive noteSoldiers use music to inspire social change in Baltimore city youth

to budget cuts and lack of funding. So OrchKids fills the gap and opens doors for Baltimore City youth.

For Skinner, music education is a right not a privilege. He and his colleagues work hard to bring students a level of music education that is inspiring. He often invites guests such as the Woodwind Quintet to work with the youths and showcase all the possibilities that exist through music.

Hodjati has a talent when it comes to working with OrchKids. She has fun, but also instructs in a way that students can relate to. While working with the elemen-tary students, Hodjati used an example of making a chocolate chip cookie to relate what the students were creating in the musi-cal workshop.

“When you put a piece of music togeth-er, you have to put all the ingredients in — so all the accompaniment is different ingredients,” Hodjati explained. “We add one ingredient at a time and it doesn’t sound like much until you add the choco-late chips, which is the melody. Then you put it all together and you have a chocolate chip cookie, which is the accompaniment with the melody.”

Easily-digestible lessons like this made the Soldier-musicians of the Army Field Band a welcomed addition to the pro-gram.

OrchKids started in 2008 and has since grown exponentially with new students joining each year. Skinner plans to add a new grade each year and eventually work with students throughout high school. By that time, he expects more student mentors to help with the program as well.

“You take the student that knows two notes, and he teaches the kid that knows one note and so on and so forth,” Skin-ner said. “Even though they may not be teachers, they can tell someone how to put their instrument together and how to hold it. They can teach them a couple of notes. And once we have hundreds and hundreds of kids here, we are going to be relying on the older students [who] have been in the program for four or five years to step up and be leaders within this program.”

Because students spend upward of three hours a day in the program, parents are becoming more involved in school. Skinner and his team have even combined some events such as “Report Card Night” with

music to get more parents and guardians involved in the children’s education.

OrchKids is performing a big com-munity concert on the night when parents come to pick up the report cards, said Skin-ner. Before initiating the concert, the school would typically hand out about 5 percent of the report cards to parents. Now, they hand out upward of 80 percent.

Because of these concerts, every parent is going to come up to see their children perform, said Skinner.

“So they come in and they have to get the report card, and they have to talk to their teachers because their report card is their ticket into the show,” Skinner said.

“If we weren’t in the schools, you’re talk-ing about hundreds and hundreds of kids that would never have had the opportunity to hear the wonderful group [Army Field Band Woodwind Quintet] that we had here today or be exposed to instruments or have the opportunity to play an instrument. Giv-ing a child the gift to play an instrument is a gift of a lifetime. And what that can do to transform a child’s life is just a very power-ful thing. And these elements are really the foundation of the program.”

U.S Army Field Band clarinetist Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sears plays alongside Tony Davis, a third-grade clarinetist, and Nikiya Monroe, a fourth-grade clarinetist, during a weeklong workshop in which members of the Army Field Band provided demonstrations and lessons to OrchKids in Baltimore.


Cover Story

photos by steve RuaRk

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Johnson stands alongside retired Staff Sgt. Luis Rosa, Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and the Oriole Bird after the first pitch Sunday afternoon. Rothstein and Rosa performed the ceremonial pitch together.

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

On Sunday afternoon, retired Staff Sgt. Luis Rosa was where he never thought he’d be — directly in front of the pitcher’s mound of Oriole Park at Cam-den Yards, with a ball in his hand.

“It was pretty surreal,” Rosa said. “You get to see the field from afar, but getting on it is different.”

The Baltimore Orioles fan joined Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein in throwing the first pitch for the Orioles’ Military Appreciation Day before their game against the Kansas City Royals.

Members of the Fort Meade commu-nity participated in the several events, including the singing of the National Anthem as several service members stood alongside the Orioles’ starting lineup.

In addition to inviting Fort Meade service members to partake in the pre-game, the Orioles also donated more than 1,000 tickets to the installation for service members and their families to watch the game.

While the event was a chance for service members to relax and enjoy themselves, Rothstein said it was also important to remember the purpose of Memorial Day. In observance of the national holiday,

Big HitFort Meade joins

Orioles for Military Appreciation Day

Orioles players donned new uniforms with camouflage numbers and script to honor service members.

“The importance of the day is that it is Memorial Day weekend,” Rothstein said. “It’s an opportunity to reflect on those who have fallen.”

Members of the U.S. Army Drill Team opened the Military Appreciation Day events with a five-minute perfor-mance in the outfield that entertained the crowd and even caught the attention of Royals players Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, who were warming up by their dugout.

“It was really interesting to see the color guard and the honor guard doing their thing,” said Spc. Jason Josephson of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade.

Following the precision performance, Rothstein and Rosa took the field to toss the first pitch. Initially, Rothstein was supposed to make the pitch himself. But after he met Rosa, who lost both legs and an arm in Iraq, Rothstein invited him to help.

“As a good officer, I always need a bet-ter NCO,” Rothstein said. “The sergeant helped me out.”

Rosa threw the ball from in front of the mound to Rothstein, who was stand-ing halfway to the plate. Rothstein then threw the ball over the plate to the Ori-oles’ Jim Johnson.

“They didn’t tell me when I was going to do that,” Rosa said. “I’ve never done something like that before. It was pretty incredible.”

After the pitch, the Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard marched onto the field for the singing of the National Anthem by Staff Sgt. Randy Wight of the U.S. Army Field Band.

During the anthem, service members from Fort Meade joined the Orioles’ starting lineup in the field. Josephson stood next to third baseman Wilson Betemit, who briefly talked to Joseph-son.

“It was pretty cool,” Josephson said. “All the players were really respectful. Everybody was happy to see us there.”

Josephson said he quickly noticed a size difference in what he expected the players to look like. On television, he said, the players look larger than life, but in actuality, Josephson was about as tall as many of the players.

“It’s just different being on the field instead of sitting in the stands,” he said.

Following the pregame events, Roth-stein and the service members watched the game from skyboxes.

“Today has been a wonderful day,” Rothstein said.

Editor’s note: For more photos, please visit http://ow.ly/bdT0V.


photo by jonathan agee

Staff Sgt. Randy Wight of the U.S. Army Field Band performs the National Anthem in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 baseball fans.

Fort Meade service members meet with members of the Baltimore Orioles before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Service members stood with the starting lineup during the National Anthem at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

photos by steve RuaRk

Members of the U.S. Army Drill team performs one of its signature maneuvers during the pregame festivities at Camden Yards.BELOW: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Janice Truong and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Toellner meet the Oriole Bird prior to the Orioles’ Military Appreciation Day in honor of Memorial Day.


SportS

Story and photo by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

After the 707th Communications Squadron came within two points of win-ning the intramural volleyball champion-ship last year, team captain Jordan Kroell sent a clear message to this team.

“Second place is not where we want to be,” he told them. “We want to bring home the big trophy.”

A year removed from the six-match series loss against the 34th Intelligence Squadron, the 707th CS took home the championship trophy May 24 after defeating the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, 25-21, 19-25 and 15-12 at Mur-phy Field House.

The 707th finished the regular season with a dominating 10-1 record, with the team’s sole loss coming against Cyber Command in the last game of the sea-son. Irdise Ward-El of the 707th said that with a perfect season in their grasp, the players became “comfortable” and “played lazy” to close out the season.

Following the loss, however, the team went on a roll in the playoffs to go unde-feated to the championship game.

“We came back into the playoffs with a better head on our shoulders,” Ward-El said. “No more playing lazy just because we feel like we got it.”

Finishing the season tied for third with two other teams, the 704th lost to the 707th in the quarterfinals and were sent to the losers bracket, where it defeated the Navy Information Operations Com-mand Maryland Chiefs, 94th IS, and NIOC MD to work its way back to the championship.

Despite clawing back into contention, the 704th had to overcome another chal-lenge in the intramural league’s champi-onship. Due to the double-elimination format of the playoffs, the team had to defeat the 707th twice.

John Haene said the 704th players were confident they could pull out consecutive wins to take home the championship.

“We’re pretty much going to go all out in the first match,” he said. “This is a good team, and we’ve been really com-petitive against them all season.”

Last year, the 707th was in a same situation as the 704th, but battled back to make the championship series com-petitive. Ward-El and Kroell both noted it was crucial to come out strong and not let the 704th force a double-elimination game.

“It’s very important to shut them down early; we don’t want them to get

707th CS defeats 704th MI for championship

Chris Carter of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade tries to block 707th Communications Squadron’s Henry Schott’s spike during the intramural volleyball championship May 24 at Murphy Field House. The 707th defeated the 704th: 25-21, 19-25 and 15-12.

momentum,” Kroell said. “If we keep momentum on our side, we should have no issues.”

In the championship match, the 707th put together a strong start to open the set, taking a quick lead in the first match. The 704th chipped away at the deficit to tie the match at 11 and took a 14-13 lead. Behind Kroell’s five kills and ace, Ward-El’s four kills and William Nice’s two kills, the 707th regained the lead and won the match, 25-21. Haene and Bryan Rivera helped keep the 704th in the game with two kills each and several crucial blocks at the net.

Down by a match, the 704th took the second match 19-25 with strong perfor-mances from Haene, Rivera, William Huff and Marques Barrett. Huff found success from the service line, serving two aces, while Barrett dominated at the net

For all your varsity and intramural sports schedules, scores and standings, visit

www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.

blocking several spikes and producing three kills. Haene added another four kills and Rivera had three.

Kroell had three kills for the 707th and Nice added two for the 704th.

In a back-and-forth third match, Ward-El and Justin Klawitter helped the 707th pull away late in the match. Ward-El pro-duced four kills. Klawitter also had four kills, including the game-winning spike in the 15-12 victory.

“It’s beyond belief,” Klawitter said of

his spike. “I don’t think I’ve ever played a sport where I actually made a difference at the end of the game.”

Barrett and Haene again led the 704th with two kills each, but were unable to force a second game.

Kroell said the championship win was a weight off the player’s shoulders and that the team was relieved to redeem last year’s close championship loss.

“I was tired of being second place,” he said.


SportS

Anyone who has worked at least two days in their life knows that some days on the job are better than others.

We’ve all had days when your employees show up on time, the network runs a little faster, the copier doesn’t jam, the AC is a little cooler, and the work you are doing makes you like — or dare I say even love — your job.

Well, Sunday was one of those days.Trust me, as somebody who has worked

more than a few Sundays, I know the oxy-moron in classifying any Sunday obligation outside of watching football as good. But last Sunday was different.

Hopefully, most of you know that Fort Meade played a major role in Sunday’s Military Appreciation Day at Camden Yards. The GC was interviewed for the MASN pregame show http://www.masns-ports.com/index_medialounge.php?show_id=1000793&p, and then he threw out the first pitch with (retired) Staff Sgt. Luis Rosa, a triple amputee Wounded Warrior.

The U.S. Army Field Band’s Staff Sgt. Randy Wight sang the National Anthem and “God Bless America.” And nine Fort Meade service members got to hear Wight’s rendition of the Anthem from the field where they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the O’s starting lineup.

Oh yeah, the Orioles also provided Team Meade with 1,000 free tickets, which appar-ently 67.2 percent of you took advantage of. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with that last number. But according to our friend and Orioles director of promotions and community initiatives, Kristen Schultz, it was a “very respectable response,” so I guess I can’t be too upset.

Besides, the fans in the stands were not the sole reason why Sunday was a great day at work. Neither was the interview, or the first pitch or even the service members on the field.

Fact of the matter is my day would have been pretty outstanding even if the stands were half empty, the interview was done by former Minnesota Twins closer Rick Aguilera as opposed to 1983 World Series MVP and Baltimore Orioles legend Rick Dempsey, or if Wight’s Anthem was worse than nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis’ version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kU9XwcOIfI (You’re welcome for the dose of Charlie Steiner.)

That’s because on Sunday, Camden Yards was my official place of duty.

True enough, my job involved working with Kristen to shuf-fle the Colonel around like he was a rock star. However, in com-pleting that duty, I had to go inside the press room to watch the Adam Jones press conference, grab the Colonel a bottle of water and talk a little baseball in the same dugout as Cal Ripken Jr. ran out of.

Then I had to hang out in the bowels of the great ball park while Gold Glove catcher Matt Wieters and some of his friends took the time to talk with our ser-vice members and their families. Tough gig I know, but it got worse.

After all of that, I had to beat the heat and watch the pregame festivities from down on the field. I had to brave the sun and watch the Royals and Orioles take time from their pregame warm-up to check out the U.S. Army Drill Team’s performance. Then I had to scan the crowd while it stood collectively as Wight and the Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard paid tribute to our country and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Of all the great moments I had, that vision of the crowd honoring our country is the one that made Sunday such a great day at the office — one I’ll certainly never forget. That’s because from my post on the field, I was able to see that Team Meade just gained thousands of new members, including one that has a big orange bird as a mascot.

Thanks O’s for a great day on the job.Three closing notes: One, anyone who

got tickets for the game or enjoyed the pregame festivities really needs to thank your chief of community relations Kristen Parker for making it happen.

Two, I need to apologize to my 3- to 4-year-old Blue Tigers for not making it into the stands with you to watch the game. I thought about you a lot and had a great time being your coach this season.

Three, ...If you have comments on this or anything

to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

Great day at the office

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn Sports ShortsMullins Field closure

Mullins Field will remain closed through June 11 to resurface the track.

Armed Forces Kids RunAmerica’s Armed Forces Kids Run will be held June 9 at 9 a.m. in the parking lot

behind 2234 Huber Road.The run, billed as the “world’s largest children’s running event,” is open to ages 5 to

13.Cost is free; each youth participant will receive a T-shirt.Register online at americaskidsrun.org.For more information, call 301-677-1179.

Meade High School baseball campRegistration is under way for the Meade High School baseball camp that

will be held June 18 to 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school.The camp, which is open to ages 7 to 14, will cover hitting, bunting,

fielding, throwing, base running, stretching, playing at the next level and nutrition.

Cost is $150 if you register by Friday. Cost increases to $175 after Friday.For more infomation, email Dave Lanham at [email protected] or call

442-336-2424.

EFMP bowlingThe Exceptional Family Member Program bowling events are held the third

Tuesday of each month at the Lanes.The next EFMP bowling will be June 19 and July 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.Registration for the first event is required by June 15.The events are open to Fort Meade exceptional family members and their

family members and features free buffet food and giveaways.Exceptional family members ages 18 and younger and their siblings may

register for free games and shoe rental at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webt-rac/meadecyms.html.

For more information, call 301-677-1156.Adult exceptional family members may register for free games and shoe rental

at the EFMP office at 301-677-4779. Discounted games and shoe rental will be offered to other adult family members.

For more information, email Anita Hendrix at [email protected] or call 301-677-4779.

First Responders Golf ClassicThe Directorate of Emergency Services will sponsor the First Responder

Golf Classic on Sept. 7 at Compass Pointe Golf Course in Pasadena.Registration begins at 7 a.m. Cost is $100 per player.The field is limited to 36 teams, so register early. Breakfast is provided.The shotgun start is at 9 a.m. An awards dinner banquet follows the

tournament.The event features a Captain’s Choice Best Ball four-player team. (Those

who cannot fill all four are paired with other singles.)Prizes will be awarded for long drive, straightest drive, closest to the pin

(male/female) and top-placed teams. Door prizes also will be presented.For more information, call Keith Willard at 301-677-7681.

Summer cheernasticsRegistration is under way for summer cheernastics. The next session will be

held Thursdays from June 7 to 28 at the Youth Center.Cost is $55 for ages 5 to 8 and $65 for ages 9 and older.For more information, call 301-677-1149.


By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

While members of the Fort Meade community spent Memorial Day at the swimming pool to mark the traditional beginning of summer, the pool off of Rock Avenue remained empty.

The pool, which is typically available to service members, civilians, retirees and their families, will not open this year due to budget constraints.

However, the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is offering a list of pool options in the nearby community for service mem-bers and their families.

“Our service members are always our number 1 priority,” said Lauren Williams, acting chief of athlet-ics, fitness and aquatics. “I have operated the outdoor

pool for 10 years and it’s very important to me to find other outdoor pools in the area that can offer a discount for our military families. We understand how important it is to have somewhere to relax and swim with family during the summer.”

Through relationships with other pools in the surrounding areas, DFMWR has helped to provide several alternatives for service members and their families to take a dip during the summer at prices comparable to those at the Rock Avenue Pool.

The pools, which are located in Laurel, Glen Burnie, Annapolis and Columbia, are providing special rates for service members.

“We have been fortunate to find some great loca-tions that want to support our military families and offer a discounted rate,” Williams said.

Local alternatives replace closed Rock Avenue Pool

Community news

Community pools • Fairland Aquatic Center, 13820/13950 Old Gunpowder Road, LaurelCost: $6 for adults, $5 for children and seniorsInformation: 301-362-6060

• North Arundel Aquatic Center, 7888 Crain Highway, Glen BurnieCost: $4 for active-duty service members and childrenFamily swim pass for 20 visits is available for $68.Information: 410-222-0090

• Arundel Olympic Swim Center, 2690 Riva Road, AnnapolisCost: $4 for active-duty service members and childrenInformation: 410-222-7933 or 301-970-2216

• Columbia Association: 5435 Beaverkill Road, ColumbiaCost: $4 for adults, $2 for childrenInformation: 410-730-6744

Story and photo by Tina Miles780th MI Brigade, Public Affairs

Seven members of the 780th Military Intel-ligence Brigade came together as a team to wage war against a different kind of enemy - cancer.

To honor survivors and remember those who have lost their lives to cancer, as well as to raise funds and awareness to help save lives, the 780th MI Brigade team — the Midnight War-riors — participated in the American Cancer Society 2012 Relay for Life of West County Maryland on May 18 at Old Mill Middle School North in Millersville.

More than 1,000 people participated, including 76 teams. The event raised more than $92,500 for the fight against cancer.

The motivations for walking in the Relay for Life varied.

For Spc. Curtis CooperHolmes of the 781st MI Battalion, it was personal.

“Having witnessed a personal loss of family by this disease, I understand the importance to be proactive by getting involved,” CooperHol-mes said. “This event was a great opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Not only that, it’s a great way to build team unity.”

CooperHolmes participated in past walks, but the importance of this year’s event was

most evident after a recent conversation he had with his mother when he realized that cancer had made its mark on his family for a long time.

Four of CooperHolmes’ family members have lost their lives to cancer and three others are going through the battle.

“The most recent loss was last year while I was stationed in Korea,” CooperHolmes said. “It was my uncle, the only one other than me who served in the Army. I looked up to him and felt he was one I had most similarities to.”

Then CooperHolmes found out his mother had a cancerous lump removed in 1998, mak-ing her a 14-year survivor.

“Thankfully, it was caught in time,” he said.

CooperHolmes has some concerns regard-ing his own health, especially since cancer runs in both sides of his family.

“It just makes me more aware,” he said.And that is exactly what the Relay for Life

is about - awareness.Sgt. 1st Class Jason Fischer, operations,

780th MI Brigade, also had a personal reason for walking as well.

“My wife, Cathy, is a cancer survivor,” he said. “The whole process is a hard thing to go through … both the challenges and emo-tions.”

Maria Catherine “Cathy” Fischer was diag-nosed with Phase II breast cancer in 2005. The diagnosis was followed by multiple surgeries, an aggressive chemo regimen and radiation therapy.

She is now “clean,” a survivor. A very pri-vate person, Cathy Fischer doesn’t talk much about her cancer, and although she wasn’t officially a member of the Midnight Force, she walked beside her husband and their two children at the Relay for Life.

“The Relay for Life was an uplifting experi-ence,” Fischer said. “As the proud husband of a survivor, it is always truly heartening to see the level of local community support for the

ongoing fight against cancer.”Other members of the Midnight Force team

were Staff Sgt. Tiffiney Marie Blakeslee, 781st MI Battalion; Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Milledge, 780th MI Brigade; Sgt. 1st Class Tammy Cross, 781st MI Battalion; Sgt. 1st Class Wen-doly Portillio, 780th MI Battalion and 1st Sgt. Tiyohn Thomas, 780th MI Brigade.

Thomas walked to support his brothers-in-arms.

“It was an honor to go and walk with those Soldiers who are currently dealing with fam-ily members battling cancer,” he said. “It was also great to see the community come together to support such a noble cause.”

‘A Noble Cause’780th MI team participates in American Cancer Society’s 2012 Relay for Life

The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade team, the Midnight Warriors, begin walking in the 2012 Relay for Life West County Maryland held May 18 at the Old Mill Middle School North in Millersville. Participants include: (front row) Staff Sgt. Tiffiney Marie Blakeslee, Sgt. 1st Class Wendoly Portillio, Sgt. 1st Class Tammy Cross, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Milledge and team captain Spc. Curtis CooperHolmes. (Second row:) Cathy Fischer runs with her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Fischer, and daughter; and 1st Sgt. Tiyohn Thomas.


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 Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

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

Bagger licensingA limited number of licenses are available

for the Fort Meade Commissary summer bagger program on June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. at the Public Affairs Office, 4409 Llewellyn Ave.

Eligible summer baggers are dependents, ages 14 to 18, of active-duty service mem-bers.

The first 35 eligible applicants will be taken. No additional applications will be accepted.

Waivers will not be granted for those who do not meet eligibility requirements.

For more information, call 301-677-1301.

AER relocationArmy Emergency Services will tempo-

rarily relocate to 2462 85th Medical Bat-talion from Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

For more information, call Wallace Turner, AER officer, at 301-677-5768.

Email migrationOrganizational and generic email

accounts as well as distribution lists with a CONUS address will stop working within the next 60 days due to the migration to Enterprise Email.

Individuals who need one of these accounts or lists should contact their organization’s information assurance management officer to submit a trouble ticket to the Fort Meade Network Enterprise Center.

Rock star for a dayArmy Entertainment is sending one

talented Soldier to the Army Concert Tour on June 23 at Fort Knox, Ky., to be the opening act.

The winning Soldier will open with a 15-minute set for REO Speed Wagon, Styx and Blue Oyster Cult.

To enter, the Soldier must upload a video audition between 1:30 to 4:30 minutes long. Instructions for uploading

photo by noah scialom

RIGHT on!Sgt. 1st Class Erica Lehmkuhl, First Army Division East, cheers after winning a game at the installation’s quarterly Right Arm Night celebra-tion on May 24 at Club Meade.

the videos are located on the promotion webpage: armymwr.com/rockstar.

Food vendors wantedThe Directorate of Family and Morale,

Welfare and Recreation Special Events is seeking food/beverage and novelty ven-dors for the Independence Day celebra-tion on Fort Meade.

For more information, email [email protected].

Military Appreciation Barbecue

The USO’s third annual Military Appreciation Barbecue will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courtyard at the Freedom Center Barracks.

Food will include hamburgers, hot dogs, side dishes and desserts.

The free barbecue is only open to active-duty service members.

For more information, call Queen Waddell at 410-305-0660 or email [email protected].

Women’s Health FairIn observance of Women’s Health

Month, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center will sponsor a Women’s Health Fair at Kimbrough on Saturday from 8

a.m. to 2 p.m.Health screenings, including Pap

smears, mammograms, cholesterol checks and oral cancer screenings, as well as educational material addressing women’s health, will be offered.

The event is open only to those enrolled in TRICARE at Kimbrough.

To schedule a “Well Woman” appoint-ment or for more information, call 301-677-8487 or email [email protected].

“Fort Meade’s Got Talent” auditions

Auditions will be conducted Wednesday and June 7 and Aug. 8 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Aug. 13 and 15 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at McGill Training Center for the annual “Fort Meade’s Got Talent” show.

Contestants must participate in auditions to be selected for the finals.

The variety show will be held Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.

To register, call 301-677-7552.

Army Birthday/Flag Day breakfast

The Francis Scott Key Chapter Asso-ciation of the U.S. Army will sponsor the Army Birthday/Flag Day breakfast June

14 at 7:30 a.m. at Club Meade. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the

Fort Meade Community Credit Union or through your unit.

Jazz nightRelax after work to the soothing sounds

of “live” jazz on June 7 from 5:45 to 10 p.m. in the Brass Station Lounge at Club Meade.

Cost is $5. Patrons can enjoy a special drink menu.


Chicago Style Steppin’Dance at Chicago Style Steppin’ on

June 8 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Club Meade.

Beginners can receive free lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. Food will be available for purchase.


EFMP eventsThe Exceptional Family Member Pro-

gram is offering several programs:• “School Discipline for Students with

Special Needs”: June 13, 6 to 8 p.m., Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Guest speakers are Maureen van Stone of Project HEAL and attorney Mark Martin. Registration is required. The event is open to service members and civilians.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 301-677-4473.

• EFMP informational display at the Fort Meade Regional Growth Manage-ment Committee’s celebration of the 237th Army Birthday: June 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Mall in Columbia.

The public is invited to kick off the Army birthday celebration at 9:30 a.m. in the mall when Howard County Executive Ken Ulman joins Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein for a cake-cut-ting ceremony.

Evening vet clinicThe Fort Meade Veterinary Treatment

Facility at 2018 Annapolis Road is offering an evening vet clinic June 20 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The clinic will provide health exams, vaccinations and sick appointments.

Services are available to active-duty service members, retirees and their

NEWS & EVENTS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18


Community news & notes

families with military I.D.To schedule an appointment or for

more information, call 301-677-1300.

Tax Center openThe Fort Meade Tax Center at

4217 Roberts Ave. is open to take appointments until June 30.

If you filed an extension, have a tax question or received a tax notice and need assistance, call 301-677-9765 to schedule an appointment.

Fleet Center classesThe Fleet and Family Support Center

at 830 Chisholm Ave. offers free classes to DoD I.D. cardholders. Advance registration is required.

• Resume Writing: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop will provide tips on winning resume styles, the importance of cover letters and tips on following up.

• Dollars and Sense: Tuesday, 1 to 3 p.m. Topics include: basic budgeting, financial goals and priorities, saving and investing, and managing your credit.

• Developing Your Savings Plan: June 7, from 1 to 3 p.m.

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

ADSO/CDSR CourseThe next two-day Additional Duty

Safety Officer and Collateral Duty Safety Representative Course is scheduled for June 20 to 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DPTMS Training Center in classroom 1.

Newly appointed primary and alternate ADSO/CDSRs are required to attend. It is recommended that all CDSRs who have not attended this training within the past five years also attend.

Nominations for training may be made by bringing a completed Form SF 182 to the Installation Safety Office, 4216 Roberts Ave., or faxing the form to 301-677-6147.

For more information, call Tony Simms at ISO at 301-677-4227 or email [email protected].

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

Taylor Ave. is offering “How to change CV boots and axles” on Sunday and

“Understanding A/C & Heating Systems” on June 17 from 1 to 3 p.m..

Cost is $10 per class.An FMWR card is required to use the

Auto Skills Center. New patrons must first view a 20-minute safety video, then attend a 10-minute briefing before receiv-ing the FMWR card.


Story TimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial Library

offers pre-kindergarten Story Time on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• Today: “What Color Do you See?” features stories, songs and finger plays about colors

• June 7: Cow-themed Story Time, in celebration of National Dairy Month


Dinner and a movieStudents in grades six to eight are invited

to a dinner of Chinese food and a movie on Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Youth Center.

Dinner includes spring rolls, crab ran-goon, General Tso’s chicken, beef broccoli, Thai Dynamite Shrimp and vegetable lo-mein.

Cost is $9.For more information, call 301-677-

1437.

Summer reading programChildren of all ages are invited to the

Medal of Honor Memorial Library to register for this year’s “Reading is So Delicious” summer reading program that starts June 12 and ends Aug. 25.

Participants will receive a reading log and a goodie bag. After seven days, they can bring their reading log back to the library for additional prizes.

Prizes will be on display at the library.For more information, call 301-677-

5522.

School’s out block partyChild, Youth and School Services will

celebrate a “school’s out block party” for registered middle school students on June 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Youth Center.

The event will feature music and games, including a water balloon barrage, weather permitting.

A snack bar will offer light refreshments such as hot dogs, soda, chips and candy

for purchase.Registered youths may sign in one

guest, who will be required to pay a $2 guest fee.


Youth summer dance sessions

Registration is under way for youth summer dance sessions that will be held Tuesdays through June 26 at the Youth Center.

Cost is $55 for ages 5 to 7 and $65 for ages 8 and older.


Out & About• Friday Night Live! Free Concert

Series will be presented through July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Power Plant Live, 34 Market Place, Baltimore. Schedule features Amish Outlaws on Friday, Lost in Paris on June 8, Reel Big Fish on June 15, Mr. Greengenes on June 22 and Split Decision on June 29.

For more information, visit powerplantlive.com/index.cfm?page=calendar.

• The Bowie Baysox, in partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will sponsor Pink in the Park on Saturday at Prince George’s Stadium as the team takes on the Reading Phillies at 6:35 p.m.

The event will raise money for the global breast cancer organization through a limited-edition jersey auction. Today and Friday, $5 of every regular-priced $15 box-seat ticket for Saturday’s game purchased on www.baysox.com, using the special offer code KOMEN, will be donat-ed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For more information, call the box office at 301-464-4865.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering a bus trip to New York City on June 16, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email rikki.l.ford.ctr@

us.army.mil.• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by

the garrison, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility. The next breakfast is June 7. 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 June 7 in the banquet hall in back of the building. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• 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 June 8. 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 e9association.org or call 410-551-7953.

• 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 June 11. For more information, visit ftmeadeesc.org.

• 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 June 11. Free child care will be provided on site.

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

• 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 June 12. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email [email protected].

• Spouse PTSD Support Group meets Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.

The support group, sponsored by Behavioral Health Care Service, the Religious Support Office and the Army Substance Abuse Program, is for spouses whose loved ones are exhibiting symptoms of PTSD. Learn valuable tools and resources to understand PTSD and how to cope.

To join or for more information, call 301-677-8870.

NEWS & EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

EDUCATION

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS


Movies

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

Movies start Wednesdays to Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $4.50 for adults (12 and older) and $2.25 for children.

Today through June 22

Today & Friday: “The Three Stooges” (PG). Moe, Larry and Curly stumble into a murder plot while trying to save their childhood home.

Saturday & Sunday: “The Lucky One” (PG-13). A war veteran searches for the woman he believes brought him luck on the battlefield. With Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner.

Wednesday & June 9, 17: “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” (PG). An enthusiastic pirate captain (Hugh Grant) sails the high seas and dreams of besting his bitter rivals, Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek).

June 7, 10: “The Five-Year Engagement” (R). An engaged couple keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle.

June 8: “The Cabin in the Woods” (R). Bad things happen when five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods.

June 13, 15: “The Raven” (R). Author Edgar Allan Poe and a detective hunt a serial killer who is using Poe’s work as a basis for murder. With John Cusack, Luke Evans and Alice Eve.

June 14: “Safe” (R). A cage fighter tries to protect a young math prodigy who has been targeted by gangsters. With Jason Statham, Catherine Chan and Chris Sarandon.

June 16, 21-22: “Dark Shadows” (PG-13). In this takeoff from the 1970s daytime drama, vampire Barnabas Collins emerges from a long slumber to 1972 Maine. With Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter.

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Get to work on time. Know the hours of operation for

Access Gates on Fort MeadeDemps Visitor Control Center,

Bldg. 902 Reece Road7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

Gate 1: Mapes Road and Route 32

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week

Gate 2: Mapes Road and Maryland Route 175

5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday;

closed weekends and holidays

Gate 3: Rockenbach Road5 a.m. to 9 p.m.,

7 days a week

Gate 6: Llewellyn Avenue and Maryland Route 175

6 to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday for inbound traffic;

3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for outbound traffic

Gate 7: Reece Road and Maryland Route 175

(Demps Visitor Control Center gate) 24-hour access

Local businessesServicesLinks to business web sitesMaps and directions to business

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fort meade soundoff for may 31, 2012

News & Politics