soundoff april 25, 2013

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BOOT CAMP Military youth experience basic training program PAGE 4 UPCOMING EVENTS TODAY, 7-9 P.M.: Trivia Night - The Lanes TUESDAY, 4:30-6 P.M.: Facebook town hall - facebook.com/ftmeade MAY 8, 10 A.M.-2 P.M.: Military Spouse Job Fair - McGill Training Center MAY 9, 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M.: Asian Pacific American Heritage Observance - McGill MAY 19, 2:30 P.M.: Massing of the Colors/Memorial Day Remembrance - The Pavilion LIVE GREEN Annual Earth Day celebration teaches respect for environment PAGE 12 Sound off ! ´ VOL. 65 NO. 16 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community April 25, 2013 PHOTO BY AMY DAVIS, BALTIMORE SUN Fort Meade service members and spouses stand with first lady Michelle Obama as Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Senate president Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr., Gov. Martin O’Malley and House Speaker Michael E. Bush sign the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 in Annapolis on April 17. Those from Fort Meade represented the thousands of service members and spouses who will be aided by the legislation that will help them get the credentials they need to successfully transition to the civilian labor market. For the story, see Page 3. streamlining bureaucracy

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Fort Meade Soundoff April 25, 2013

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Soundoff April 25, 2013

boot campMilitary youth experience basic training program

page 4

UpcomING EVENtStoday, 7-9 p.m.: Trivia Night - The LanestUESday, 4:30-6 p.m.: Facebook town hall - facebook.com/ftmeademay 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Military Spouse Job Fair - McGill Training Centermay 9, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Asian Pacific American Heritage Observance - McGillmay 19, 2:30 p.m.: Massing of the Colors/Memorial Day Remembrance - The Pavilion

lIVE GrEENAnnual Earth Day celebration teaches respect for environment

page 12

Soundoff!́vol. 65 no. 16 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community April 25, 2013

photo by amy davis, baltimore sun

Fort Meade service members and spouses stand with first lady Michelle obama as lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Senate president Thomas v. “Mike” Miller Jr., Gov. Martin o’Malley and House Speaker Michael E. Bush sign the veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 in Annapolis on April 17. Those from Fort Meade represented the thousands of service members and spouses who will be aided by the legislation that will help them get the credentials they need to successfully transition to the civilian labor market. For the story, see Page 3.

streamlining bureaucracy

Page 2: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! April 25, 2013

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................18

CrimeWatch............... 10 Movies.................................17

Community................. 15 Classified.............................20

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. thomas J. latterPublic 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 the Baltimore Sun Media Group

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 Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-5602; DSN: 622-5602.

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

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

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

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

Soundoff!́Guaranteed circulation:

11,285

Listening to what you have to say has always been a priority since I became garrison commander.

Last week, Fort Meade hosted one of 30 Community Listening Sessions on the Army’s plan to reduce its force and cut spending by 2020. The sessions are designed to give area residents, community leaders, elected officials and other key stakeholders an opportunity to comment on factors the Army should consider before making a decision on cuts.

The Army is committed to hosting these listening sessions because we want to provide military communities a forum to voice their concerns and provide their perspectives on how the Army can mitigate as much as pos-sible — the impact of force and fiscal reduc-tions on local communities.

While last week’s listening session was designed for you to provide your thoughts to Army leadership, I want to continue our efforts to listen to what you have to say about how we can continue to make Fort Meade a great place to serve, work and live.

Next week I will host another one of our Facebook town hall on Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The Facebook town halls have been a great way for me and Team Meade to connect with you and respond to your questions and con-cerns.

For those who are interested, the Face-book town hall will be initiated from the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office, 4409 Llewellyn Ave. You are welcome to stop by the PAO and discuss your issues and ideas with me and other members of Team Meade.

I look forward to hearing what’s on your mind and your suggestions for improving our community.

As we close out April, we end our com-memoration of the Month of the Military Child.

So much has been said about the resiliency, sacrifices and the strength of military youths and teens. This monthlong celebration is an opportunity for everyone to recognize military children who are, in every sense of the word, “exceptional citizens” who proudly face the challenges of military family life.

It can easily be said, “military children serve their nation, too.” They feel the effects of deployments, separations and moving every two to three years, starting over with little or no say in the matter.

They “pick up,” “pack up” and move from one side of the country to the other. Some-times they even move to another country.

And while we pay tribute to military chil-

dren for being tough, remem-ber, it’s not always easy for them to stay resilient.

Several stud-ies have point-ed out that military chil-dren can also be affected negatively from every phrase of pre-deployment, deployment and post-deploy-ment.

The effects can range from a decline in aca-demic performance to symptoms of depres-sion and high-risk behaviors.

And while the moving and deployments may be the hardest part of military family life and often are stressors for behavioral issues, there are other studies that note military kids also tend to me more adaptable, make friends easily and understand what’s happening in the world.

So while their official month of commemo-ration may end, I ask that you continue to honor them but also remember some of the challenges they face throughout the year.

If you are a service member, remember to tell your kids that you love them and thank them for being so strong, understanding and supportive throughout the years that you have served or are serving our country.

We can all play a positive role in recognizing the unique challenges that military children face. And we can all reinforce our commit-ment to them to continue to find ways to work together so that we can maintain the quality of life that they and their families deserve.

Have a great week.

Listening is a Priority

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrison Commander Col. Edward C.

Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.All service members, retirees, govern-

ment employees, family members or com-munitymembersage18orolderare invitedto address issues or concerns to the com-mander directly by visiting Rothstein’s officeon Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m. at garrisonheadquarters in Hodges Hall, Bldg. 4551,LlewellynAvenue.

Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-servedbasis.Noappointmentisnecessary.

Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 25, 2013 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

With the Army facing major changes in the near future, including cutting the size of its force by nearly 80,000 Soldiers, the Department of the Army provided a “listen-ing session” at Fort Meade on April 18 to hear what the is saying about the reductions and restructuring.

The 45-minute listening session, which was held at the Conference Center, was attended by various community leaders as well as Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, commanding general of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region/Military District of Washington.

During the session, community leaders expressed concern about the changes, which are occurring as the installation continues to grow.

“The Army has asked that we go out to all 30 installations that have populations of 5,000 or greater and just listen, learn from all of you and let you know what’s going on with regard to the force structure decisions,” Linnington said during his remarks.

Similar listening sessions have been held or are scheduled for many Army installations in the U.S. to better understand how changes will affect communities.

During the session, Col. Tom O’Donoghue, the Department of the Army representative

at the session, briefly discussed the major changes affecting the Army, including reduc-ing its size from 570,000 to 490,000 by the end of fiscal year 2017.

Both Linnington and Garrison Com-mander Col. Edward C. Rothstein said these changes are not an effect of sequestration but the Budget Control Act of 2011.

The downsizing, O’Donoghue said, will require a reduction in at least eight brigade combat teams. The first two slated to be inactive are based in Europe. Reductions to support units have already been announced, officials said.

“The Army is reducing its footprint over seas,” O’Donoghue said.

After the briefing, the session opened up to questions from the community. A majority of concerns focused on ensuring the installation has proper funding for the large number of service members from all branches who work and live on Fort Meade.

“I don’t know how our garrison com-mander does what he does, but it’s getting to the point where he can’t,” said Claire Louder, chair of the Fort Meade Community Cove-nant Council and president of the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.

Both O’Donoghue and Linnington took notes based on the community’s comments and said they will send them up to senior leaders for consideration.

Army hosts listening session on post

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

Last week, several Fort Meade service members and spouses joined first lady Michelle Obama as Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013.

The bill, which was unanimously approved by the General Assembly, was signed into state law in Annapolis on April 17.

Those attending from Fort Meade repre-sented the thousands of individuals who can benefit from the new legislation, which will help service members, their spouses and veter-ans to obtain and keep 70 civilian credentials and licenses.

“It was an honor to be chosen to represent military spouses and veterans at the bill sign-ing,” said Elyn Thomas, a military spouse. “It was very exciting to meet the first lady and witness such an important bill being signed into law.”

Prior to the signing, Obama shook hands

and hugged Fort Meade families.“She offered her thanks for my presence at

the signing. In her speech, she made it clear that she was very excited with the leader-ship that Maryland had taken on this issue,” Thomas said. “She is very passionate about helping military families through her Joining Forces initiatives.”

Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, have been supportive of the Veterans Full Employment Act, which will allow service members to transfer mili-tary training and experience into certificates and licenses.

Prior to the bill signing, Obama spoke about Army medics unable to get jobs as EMTs and of Marine welders who couldn’t get construction work because they lack civil-ian credentials.

“Even with all that experience, these men and women wouldn’t even be considered for entry level jobs in their fields because they didn’t have the right civilian credentials,”

Obama said. “All of this is happening after we have already asked so much of our troops.

“We have asked them to risk their lives in combat, manage dozens of peers, operate complicated machinery, oversee millions of dollars of assets and save lives on the battle-field. And then, when they come home, we are also asking them to repeat months of training for skills they’ve already mastered.”

The legislation also will help spouses — who move frequently because of their military member — quickly obtain professional licens-ing in the state.

Thomas, wife of Air Force Maj. Ryan Williams of the 7th Intelligence Squadron, has seen firsthand how the Veterans Full Employment Act will help military members and spouses.

A social worker since 1999 and a clinical geriatric social worker since 2003, Thomas has had to relicense in every state she has moved to — a total of five times in four states. The process, Thomas said, takes about

six months and costs several hundred dollars each time.

“This bill will greatly simplify the licensing process and allow me to more quickly enter the workforce in a field that is chronically understaffed,” she said. “... Licensing require-ments can be a major hurdle to employment. ... Anything that reduces these hurdles is going to assist both veterans and military spouses.”

During her remarks, Obama said the leg-islation is about “putting highly skilled indi-viduals to work in communities all across Maryland” and that it will help strengthen businesses, schools and hospitals.

“This is about more than just eliminating a few bureaucratic headaches for these men and women,” she said. “This is about improv-ing the financial security for thousands of military families. It’s about giving veterans and their spouses an opportunity to build their careers and create a better future for their children.”

Service members attend bill signing with first lady

photo by noah scialom

Linda Greene, executive director of the BWI Partnership, asks a question during a Community Listening Session with the Department of the Army on April 18 at the Conference Center. Community leaders attended the session to express concern about Army downsizing while the installation continues to grow.

The session, O’Donoghue said, helps the Army make better decisions as they can combine various other forms of data with the concerns and comments of the com-munities.

“The best way to [make decisions] is to go out to the communities and reach out to them and say, ‘What else, besides the stuff we have coming in, should we consider about your installation?’” O’Donoghue said.

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News

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

The grounds outside the USO Metro Fort Meade Center slightly resembled a military training exercise, with young warriors marching in formation while others worked through physical training with the assistance of a drill instructor barking in their ear.

But instead of soon-to-be service members preparing for battle, the train-ees were teens of military families getting their first glimpse of what boot camp is like.

“It was a lot of fun,” participant Jordan Curry, 17, said. “It was challenging.”

Operation Basic Boot Camp, a day-long camp hosted by USO Metro, gave 45 area youths a firsthand experience of what their parents went through when they entered the military. Modified boot camp activities included physical train-ing, learning formations, academics and an obstacle course.

The free program was open to young-sters ages 12 to 17.

Shannon Rush, a program special-ist with USO Metro, said Saturday’s event was the third Operation Basic Boot Camp hosted by the organization in the area. It was the first time the event was held at Fort Meade.

The aim, Rush said, is to show the teens some of the challenges their parents overcame.

“They get to experience what it was like for their parents to go through camp,” she said. “I think, in the long run, they have respect for their parent. They have a little bit of a taste of what they went through at boot camp.”

The camp started with the teens sign-ing their forms, issued gear and going through a Military Entrance Processing Station for testing and physical training.

To create a more realistic experience, organizers brought in military members to serve as drill instructors. 1st Sgt. Mar-lon Green was among the more than 40 service members from Fort Meade who assisted in the program.

While the program is less intense than actual boot camp, Green said it gets the point across.

“It’s realistic for their age group,” he said. “They get to see the whole process. They came through from signing up to getting their uniform to going through the MEPs station, and they came out and the first thing you know you have drill instruction in front of you scream-

Military children experience boot camp

ing at you.”After the MEPS and physical train-

ing, participants attended the camp’s military academy, which included forma-tions, marching and learning the military alphabet. They also took survival classes to learn how to blend in, track and hand signals.

Green said the process took a toll on some of the youngsters — much like real boot camp.

“You’ve got some kids who are broke down and said they just quit — just like in basic training — and you have to pull them to the side and ask them, ‘Why’d you come here?’ and ‘You don’t want to be a quitter,’ and you motivate them to get back into formation and keep fight-ing,” he said.

Boot camp wrapped up with an obsta-cle course that included physical training, low crawl, tires and an inflatable course with ropes and climbing wall. Teens were then graduated from the boot camp.

“It was awesome,” said James Wil-liams, 12. “It pushes you to the extreme. It does teach you a lot of things like teamwork, fitness, and pushes you past your limits.”

Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina gives instructions to youngsters during Saturday’s Operation Basic Boot Camp. More than 40 service members acted as drill sergeants for the daylong camp.

BELOW: Gabriel Lerette of Severn runs through an inflatable obstacle course during Operation Basic Boot Camp at the USO Metro Fort Meade Center on Saturday. The program, hosted by USO Metro, offered military children a glimpse of what their parents experienced in boot camp.

photos by nicole martyn

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News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

More than 150 military and civilian motorcyclists attended Fort Meade’s inaugural Motorcycle Safety Awareness Day on Friday.

The Installation Safety Office hosted the three-hour event, held at the Fort Meade Motorcycle Range at the inter-section of Cooper and Bundy avenues.

The goal was to “bring the motor-cycle riding community together, form-ing a bond between experienced riders and less experienced riders,” said Aaron Rowell, an ISO safety specialist and co-organizer of the event.

ISO hosted the event in conjunc-tion with 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, Navy Information Operations Command Maryland, Army Cyber Command, and the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

Military District of Washington Safe-ty Director Kerry Bonos said motor-cycle safety is a priority for Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, commander of the MDW in the hopes of prevent-ing motorcycle fatalities in the capital region.

Representatives from the Motorcycle Mentorship Programs at the 902nd Military Intelligence Group and the NIOC were available to sign up senior and junior motorcyclists in an effort to promote safety on the road.

William Konnor, deputy specialist security officer with the 780th MI, said the mentorship program is important because it fosters a lifelong passion for the motorcycle in less experienced riders, while demonstrating the tech-niques needed to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Novices often buy motorcycles that are “inappropriate for their skill level,” said Konnor. As a result, they give up riding or injure themselves.

But an experienced rider who is a mentor can “help them make the right choices so they can learn how to properly purchase and operate a bike,” Konnor said.

A co-host of the event, NIOC cryp-tologic technician collection 1 Matthew Moser of NIOC, said the command wanted to reach out to riders of all ages to “build a safe riding environment.”

NIOC’s Motorcycle Mentorship Pro-gram is the process of planning group rides for its members.

Motorcycle safety promoted at community event

Photo by Staff Sgt. Sean K. harP

Sgts. 1st Class James Fidel and Roman Galiki of 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) look at motorcycles displayed by fellow riders during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Day held Friday at the Fort Meade Motorcycle Range. The Installation Safety Office hosted the three-hour event to raise awareness of risk management for riders. Vendors, Maryland State Highway personnel, and members of a Motorcycle Mentorship Program were on site to discuss and demonstrate safety knowledge to riders.

All armed forces motorcyclists are required to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic rider course in order to receive a membership card. The card enables riders to receive a riding endorsement for their state’s Depart-ment of Motor Vehicle Administra-tion.

Fort Meade also offers an experienced rider course and the military sport bike rider course, which are instructed by CapeFox, a government contractor.

Several motorcycle vendors displayed their latest and most popular motor-cycles and sport bikes, along with per-sonal protective riding gear for men and women. Motorcycle inspections also were held to promote safety and educa-tional materials were distributed.

Cpl. Chuck Dalton of the Anne Arundel County Police attended the event. He works in the county’s traffic safety section investigating fatal car and motorcycle crashes.

Dalton said that most of the motor-cycle crashes he investigates involve inexperienced riders who can’t control their bikes at high speeds.

“They’re not wearing proper safety gear,” he said. “We’re just trying to get the message out there.”

Dalton also demonstrated several advanced motorcycle maneuvers for entertainment.

The MVA’s Motorcycle Safety Pro-gram sponsored the SMARTrainer motorcycle safety simulator to give participants the opportunity to test how

well they could operate a motorcycle in different traffic scenarios on the road.

Spc. Pedro Mercado of the 310th MI Battalion tried the simulator and scored a C on the test. He said he was a bit surprised because he has been riding a motorcycle for 20 years.

“I need a little bit more practice,” Mercado said. “A rider came in front of my bike and I crashed.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Shelton of NIOC said the event was mandatory for all the motorcyclists in the command.

“I love to ride and be around other motorcyclists,” said Shelton, who has 10 years of riding experience under his belt. “The reinforcement of safety is important. It’s always good.”

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News

photo by Staff Sgt. Sean K. harp

One FOR THe ROADSpc. Nathan Franco is surrounded by his peers in the 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) while “driving” a virtual car simulating the effects of driving intoxicated as part of the National Save a Life Tour presented Mon-day and Tuesday at McGill Training Center. The event, sponsored by the Fort Meade Army Substance Abuse Program, showed the hazards of drunk driving with graphic videos and the simulator.

Chaplain’s WordCOURAGE

“Courage is going from failure tofailure without losing enthusiasm.”

— Winston Churchill

providing single service mem-bers a forum to address qual-ity-of-life issues is just one of many opportunities provided by better opportunities for Sin-gle Soldiers. for more informa-tion, call the garrison boSS representative, Sgt. Chatonna powell, at 301-677-6868 or visit the boSS office, located in the USo Center at 8612 6th armored Cavalry road, on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Page 7: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! April 25, 2013

News

By Capt. Cody Cheek and Capt. Adam PettyLegal Assistance

In one of his most famous quotes, Presi-dent John Adams explained that the United States is “a government of laws and not of men.”

This powerful quote encapsulates Amer-ica’s sustained commitment to the rule of law, which remains something to be celebrated. And even though it flies under the radar of most people, our commitment to the rule of law is celebrated every year on May 1, which is also known as “Law Day.”

As outlined by the American Bar Asso-ciation website, “Law Day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.”

Since 1958, the president of the United States has annually recognized Law Day. In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official day to celebrate Law Day.

Every year, a specific theme is selected for Law Day that is incorporated into thousands of Law Day events across the country. This year’s theme is “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.”

The ABA explained that the theme “pro-vides an opportunity to explore the move-ment for civil and human rights in America and the impact that it has had in promoting the ideal of equality under the law.”

Law Day celebrations on Fort Meade are coordinated through the Fort Meade Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Each year, judge advocates conduct various Law Day events at local schools within the Fort Meade community.

In previous years, these events have included art and writing contests, legal pre-sentations and even a mock trial. Last year, the Fort Meade Office of the Staff Judge Advocate orchestrated 11 Law Day events for more than 700 local students.

This year, based on the theme of “Real-izing the Dream: Equality for All,” the Fort Meade Office of the Staff Judge Advocate is planning a series of presentations on

Law Day recognizes role of courts in promoting equality

the important role of courts in promoting equality for citizens.

These presentations will include an extended discussion of the United States Supreme Court and its historical role in fostering equality. Additionally, these pre-sentations will seek to both explore and explain how courts can help protect the constitutional rights of individual citizens.

For more information about Law Day 2013, call the Fort Meade Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536, or visit the ABA website at americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/law_day_2013.html.

April 5, Shoplifting: The sub-ject tried on a jacket at the Exchange and walked out of the store without rendering proper payment.

April 5, Shoplifting: The subject removed earrings from three packages at the Exchange. He then placed them inside his left sock and pro-ceeded to exit the store without rendering proper payment.

April 12, Shoplifting: AAFES loss prevention personnel at the Exchange observed the suspect conceal various articles of clothing and exit the store without rendering proper payment.

April 12, Wrongful destruction of private property: Unknown persons(s) by unknown means dam-aged the rear window of a vehicle while it was parked at the owner’s government quarters.

April 19, Theft of private funds: The victim stated the money was secured inside of a money box and stored in a file cabinet. The key was acciden-tally left inside the lock and it was unsecured.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

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Page 8: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 25, 2013 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

Spring cleaning

Rio Tate, a sophomore at Meade High School, removes garbage near

the road in Patriot Ridge on Saturday morning during the Enlisted Spouses Club’s fifth annual

Clean Up! Fort Meade. During the three-hour

event, volunteers helped spruce up the

installation’s neighbor-hoods by removing

trash along roads and in wooded areas.

photo by brandon bieltz

During World War I, Fort Meade was established in 1917 as Camp Meade, a cantonment for troops drafted for the war.

In celebration of the installation’s 96th anniversary, Soundoff! will feature a series of historical snapshots of the people and events at Fort Meade through the years.

photo courtesy Fort Meade MuseuM

MoMent in tiMeRecycling was a way of life early on at Fort Meade.During World War I — when the installation was new and known as Camp Meade — trash was separated for recycling. The “Salvage Division” accepted rags, bottles and even old soup bones that were rendered for their fat, which was used in making explosives.The installation continued to recycle during World War II, when scrap drives were held to find metal and rubber to help in the war effort. At Fort Meade, even tanks were scrapped for metal.The rest of the country also pitched in. Scrap metal, rubber, cooking fat and nylon/silk stockings were all salvaged through various recycling campaigns in cities and states.These discarded items were used to manufacture weapons, ammunition, gas masks and explosives for the war.

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Page 9: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! April 25, 2013

News

By Lisa R.RhodesStaff Writer

Morning showers did not dampen the spirits of the school children and families who attended Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 18.

The installation’s Environmental Division sponsored the four-hour event, which was held at Burba Lake Cottage and Burba Park.

About 800 people attended the cel-ebration including a group of students from Meade Middle School and Mon-arch Academy in Glen Burnie.

“We can learn about the earth and stay green,” said Dahnavia Abernathy, 13, a seventh-grader at Meade Middle School, about Earth Day.

Mick Butler, chief of the Environmen-tal Division, said this year’s event drew more students than ever before.

“It’s always great to see young smiling faces and great minds,” he said. “It was great.”

The festivities began with a welcome from Butler and Deputy Garrison Com-mander John Moeller at Burba Lake Cottage.

“All of you, no matter what your age, you can make a difference, you can make a change,” said Moeller, who recalled that when he was 12 years old, young people recycled paper and glass. “Even as an individual, you can do things to help save our earth, to help our environ-ment.”

Moeller reminded students to turn off the lights at home and to avoid wasting water.

Shawn Garvin, regional administra-tor for the Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region, spoke to the audience of students about remind-ing adults to make the environment a priority.

“You are the current environmental leaders,” Garvin said. “Your job is to continue to push us. ... You demanded that we do better to protect our environ-ment and public health.”

Dr. Michelle Selvans, a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Earth and Plan-etary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum, recalled her experiences during a five-week exploration of the Ross Sea, a deep bay of the Southern

Earth Day celebrated with exhibits, lectures

photos by noah scialom

Awaliyat Oyenguga, 4, has fun during Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day festivities. Students from Meade Middle School and Monarch Academy in Glen Burnie enjoyed a wide range of activities including making a cleaning paste from baking soda and vinegar to viewing two Diamondback terrapins from Poplar Island.

Ocean in Antarctica.Selvans described the habits of a com-

munity of Adelie penguins that she saw during her travels.

“They walk like toddlers. ... And they surfed the waves around the boat,” she said. “The boat to them was a play-ground. ... This is an amazingly special planet.”

After the guest lectures, the students headed out to Burba Park where more than 45 environmental exhibits were on display. Exhibits ranged from a pair of Diamondback terrapins from Poplar Island, showcased by Maryland Envi-ronmental Services and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to a clean air display from Clean Air Partners, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the

environment and public health.Molly Alton Mullins, communications

and development director at the Chesa-peake Bay Trust, a nonprofit grant-mak-ing organization that works to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, set up a booth at the event.

She said the organization is dedicated to funding environmental projects for youth.

“We believe you have to teach kids early so they can make a difference when they grow up,” Mullins said. “They can learn a respect for the environment and their community.”

Davette Phifer, media specialist at the school, said the event was an important learning tool for the students.

“They can find out how to make a dif-

Page 10: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 25, 2013 SOUNDOFF! 13

ference in protecting our environment so they can make the earth a better place,” Phifer said.

Rachel Fowler, wife of Air Force Mas-ter Sgt. Tim Fowler of U.S. CyberCom-mand, attended the event with her two children, Ian and Hailey.

“We came last year and learned a lot of about the Chesapeake Bay,” said Fowler, noting that the family is from Missouri and knew very little about the mid-Atlantic region. “It’s [the event] very educational. We are very excited to be here.”

But 10-year-old Ian, who is home-schooled, said Earth Day is about more than just having fun.

“We need to pick up the trash when we see it,” he said.

Deputy Garrison Commander John Moeller speaks to a group of students during Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 18 at Burba Cottage. The four-hour event was sponsored by the installation’s Environmental Division. Moeller urged students to make the environment a priority by turning off unused lights at home and conserving water. LEFT: Payton Stevenson, 3, collects oysters from a prop boat provided by the Oyster Recovery Partnership, a nonprofit organization that works to restore oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, during the installation’s annual Earth Day celebration. More than 40 environmental groups displayed booths at Burba Park to educate adults and children about the importance of preserving the earth and its natural resources.

Three-year-old Mimi Roach tosses a rubber duck into a trash can for a prize at the Chesapeake Bay Trust display at Burba Park.

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News

Story and photo by Sgt. Amy Lane704th Military Intelligence BrigadePublic Affairs

Many service members find that a little healthy competition can be good motivation for self improvement, and in an effort to encourage linguists to improve their skills, the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade organized a lan-guage competition to do just that.

The Joint Language Wars gave teams of 704th MI linguists the opportunity to show their skills and compete with their Navy and Air Force counterparts from March 26 to 29 at the Joint Lan-guage Center in Linthicum.

After discovering that the brigade hasn’t participated in a language com-petition since 2005, Col. Anthony Hale, commander of the 704th MI, decided to revive the tradition previ-ously referred to as the “Language Olympics.”

Hale said the skills of the brigade’s linguists have improved immensely since he put a focus on it in the last quarter of fiscal year 2012 and in the beginning of FY 2013. There has been a large increase in those considered proficient and expert in their languag-es, while the number of sub-proficient scores has decreased significantly, he said.

“Having a competition puts the focus on how important language is,” Hale said. “A linguist being an expert in his or her language is like another Soldier shooting expert on his or her weapon.”

Lt. Col. Terance Huston, the com-mander of 741st MI Battalion, 704th MI, said the improvements have worked so well that only 9 percent of the linguists in his battalion are currently considered sub-proficient in their languages. He said this is the first time he can remember ever having less than 10 percent sub-proficient.

This significant improvement, Hus-ton said, is due not only to the hard work of the linguists and the world-class training facilities, but also the “focus on set [teams of] linguists and mentors and tailored training pro-grams.”

Hale said he plans to bring back the Joint Language Wars as an annual event to encourage Soldiers to keep their skills sharp.

The competition focused on five languages that are among those stud-

704th hosts Joint Language Wars competition

Competitors and judges participate in a Joint Language Wars competition March 27 at the Joint Language Center in Linthicum. The four-day event, organized by the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, brought Fort Meade linguists from all services to compete in five different languages.

ied by 704th linguists: Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Russian.

Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Holler, the brigade’s command language program manager, said Soldiers receive at least 150 to 200 hours of language training every year through various training methods including mentorship pro-grams and classroom time.

Programs offered to the brigade are flexible, with the ability to tailor training to focus on any areas that an individual may need to work on most — whether it’s reading, writing or speaking.

“One reason for the recent improve-ments is the emphasis throughout the unit on the importance of languages,” Holler said. “Everyone understands that’s our job, and it’s important to maintain those skills because they’re critical to the mission of supporting our national defense.”

Maj. Shawn Stroop, the 704th MI Brigade operations officer, said that while the event was organized to encourage Soldiers to improve and progress, it also was a great oppor-tunity to compete with the sister services.

“What a great way to represent not only your service but put your skills to use and compete against each other,” Stroop said.

The event was scheduled to end on the morning of March 29, but it was such a close competition that tiebreak-ers lasted into the afternoon. After the winners were determined, the event closed out with an awards ceremony.

Though the 704th MI was the over-all winner, Hale said that “We didn’t host the competition to win it, but to bring focus back to the importance of your languages as a weapons sys-tem.”

Sgt. Jesse Anderson, a Korean linguist with Charlie Co., 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade, competes in the “Picture Perfect” event during the Joint Language Wars on March 27 at the Joint Language Center in Linthicum. The event, organized by the 704th MI, brought Fort Meade linguists from all the services together to compete in five different languages.

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Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s discretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

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

DUI checkpointA DUI checkpoint will be set up

Friday at 11 p.m. at the Reece Road gate.

Facebook town hallGarrison Commander Col. Edward C.

Rothstein will host a Facebook town hall Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The online town hall is an opportunity to post Fort Meade-related questions, comments and suggestions on the garrison’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ftmeade.

Rothstein and other garrison leadership will respond to posts on Fort Meade’s Facebook wall during the town hall.

For more information, contact Philip Jones at [email protected] or 301-677-5601.

Death noticeAnyone with debts owed to or by

the estate of Staff Sgt. Adam A. Arndt must contact the Summary Court Martial Officer for the Soldier.

Arndt died at his home on April 8.Call Capt. (P) Tony Carodine at 301-

677-7062 or email tony.carodine.mil@ mail.mil.

Army Emergency Relief Fund

As of Friday, Fort Meade’s annual Army Emergency Relief fundraising campaign has collected $71,482, or 79 percent of its $90,000 goal.

The campaign raises money and awareness for the AER fund that helps active-duty Soldiers, National Guardsmen, Army Reservists, retirees and their families in financial emergencies by providing interest-free loans or grants.

The AER Campaign runs through May 15.

file photo

MASSING OF THE COLORSFort Meade’s Memorial Day Remembrance and 27th Annual Massing of the Colors Ceremony will be held May 19 at2:30 p.m. at the Pavilion.The event will feature the Armed Forces Color Guard and the U.S. Army’s Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps. The U.S. Army Field Band will perform a concert of patriotic music.This venue is a tribute to veterans from all wars who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service. It combines the colors and color guards of active and Reserve component and National Guard military units, veterans service organizations, and various civic and patriotic organizations.The public is invited. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

For more information, call Wallace Turner, Army Emergency Relief officer at 301-677-5768.

Kimbrough refill pharmacy open

Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center opened its new refill pharmacy on Mon-day on the first floor in Room 1A10, near the elevators and directly across from the Musculoskeletal Clinic.

Hours are Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This new refill location will provide faster and more efficient service to benefi-ciaries, decreasing the wait time normally experienced at the main pharmacy.

Patients will only be able to pick up refills that have either been phoned in at 1-800-377-1723 or requested online at wrnmmc.capmed.mil.

Patients are reminded that prescription renewals, prescribed by a provider for the continuation of medication therapy, are processed as a “new” prescription and must be picked up at the main pharmacy.

For more information, call 301-677-8288.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Observance

The garrison and 902nd Military Intelligence Brigade will host Fort

Meade’s annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Observance on May 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center, 8542 Zimborski Ave.

Admission is free.The guest speaker is Ken Niumatalolo,

head coach for the Navy football team.All Fort Meade service members

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

For more information, call the Fort Meade Equal Opportunity Office at 301-677-6687 or the 902nd MI Equal Oppor-tunity Office at 301-677-2162.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

NEWS & EVENTS

Page 13: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil16 SOUNDOFF! April 25, 2013

Community news & notes

Change of commandCapt. Daniel E. McCarey,

commander of the 241st Military Police Detachment, will relinquish command to Capt. Hamid C. Conteh on May 3 at 9 a.m. at the Fort Meade Museum.

In inclement weather, the ceremony will take place at Murphy Field House.

The Fort Meade community is welcome to attend. Dress for service members is duty uniform. Civilian dress is casual.

For more information, call Sgt. Andrew Lavigne at 301-677-4592.

Karaoke NightThe next Karaoke Night is May 16

from 7 to 10 p.m. in the 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes.

The event is held the third Thursday of the month.

For more information, call 301-677-5541 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

Trivia NightThe Lanes at Fort Meade hosts Trivia

Night every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., except the third Thursday of the month.

The event is open to the public.Teams must have a minimum of two

players and a maximum of 10.Weekly prizes are awarded to the top

three winners. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

For more information, call 301-677-5541 or visit ftmeademwr.com/lanes.php.

Francis Scott Key scholarships

The Francis Scott Key Chapter of AUSA on Fort Meade is offering two scholarships for academic year 2013 to 2014.

Application deadline is June 30.The scholarships are in honor of retired

Brig. Gen. Jack Kaufman, who dedicated more than 40 years of service to the chapter.

• AUSA Member Scholarship is open to all active members. Applicants must have applied to or are attending an accredited college or university for an undergraduate or advanced degree.

• Family Member Scholarship is open to all family members of active Francis Scott Key members (officer, enlisted or civilian) who are high school seniors.

Applications are available in high school guidance offices and at the Fort Meade Credit Union offices.

For more information, email Jacqueline Smith at [email protected].

GoArmyEd portal now available

The GoArmyEd portal has been activated for Soldiers to request tuition assistance for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

Eligibility rules for use of tuition assistance, the $250 semester-hour cap and the annual ceiling of $4,500 remain unchanged.

For more information, call Mr. Anderson at the Fort Meade Army Education Center at 301-677-6421.

Financial Readiness classesArmy Community Service offers

Financial Readiness classes at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

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

Registration is required for each class.• Home Buying: Today, 1 to 3 p.m.To register or for more information,

call 301-677-5590. To schedule an appointment, visit fortmeadeacs.checkappointments.com.

Out & About• The Bowie Baysox is sponsoring

“Bark in the Park Day” on Sunday at 2:05 p.m., the final day of a three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators, at Prince George’s Stadium, 4101 Crain Highway.

Fans are invited to bring their dogs to enjoy the game. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Canine-related tables will be set up around the concourse. For more information, call 301-805-6000 or go to baysox.com.

• The National Museum of Civil War Museum’s Tent at “First Call” Weekend will be May 4 and 5 at the Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 South Center St., Westminster. Hours are: May

NEWS & EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

photo by philip h. jones

SEEDS OF GENEROSITYPost Garden Club President Sharon Durney, former President Beverly Durana and garden club member and fundraiser Patricia Loosarian talk with Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and Mark Stoes-sel, director of the Fort Meade Soldier and Family Assistance Center, on April 17 after presenting a $2,000 check to support SFAC programs and services. The donation was made possible from proceeds of the club’s cookbook, “Meade Area Garden Club Cookbook.” Last year, the garden club donated an automatic external defibrillator to benefit the Jessup Providences Youth Organization.

4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission and parking.

The event will feature Civil War re-enactments, children’s games and stories, artillery demonstrations, artisan demonstrations, food vendors, and living-history exhibits including the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

For more information, call 410-386-3880 or 800-654-4656, or visit carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org or heartofthecivilwar.org/firstcall.

• Baltimore’s annual Flowermart will be held May 3 and May 4 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Mount Vernon Plaza, 699 N. Charles St. The event will feature more than 100 vendors, a food court, wellness services and an array of flowers, plants, accessories, and arts and crafts. Entertainment will be provided on two stages.

On May 4, the West Park will host a children’s camp from noon to 5 p.m. Participants will be able to make origami animals, Mother’s Day cards and more. The Urban Pirates will offer storytime.

Make a hat or flower costume, bring your pet or enter one of four dance contests. For more information, visit flowermart.org.

• The Third Annual Naptown Barbecue Contest and Music Festival will be held May 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and May 5 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Anne Arundel

County Fairgrounds.The event is sponsored by the Parole

(Annapolis) Rotary Club Foundation. Admission is $10. Children under 12 attend free. Parking is free.

Live music will be performed by more than 40 bands on three stages. The event also will feature a People’s Choice barbecue tasting, Kiddie Korral, Corn Hole Tournament, and regional arts and crafts.

For a schedule and more information, visit barBAYq.com.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering its next monthly bus trip to New York City on May 18, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club luncheon will be May 7 at 11 a.m. at the Conference Center. Reservations are required by Saturday at noon.

This meeting will feature the installation of officers for 2013 to 2014, starting in September. The installation will be followed by a musical tribute to spring.

Cost of luncheon is $15. For reservations, call your area representative or Betty Wade at 410-551-7082

This is the last formal meeting of the ROWC until September. Annual

EDUCATION

RECREATION

MEETINGS

Page 14: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 25, 2013 SOUNDOFF! 17

Community news & notes

membership dues are $25. Members may bring guests to the luncheons. For more information, call Lianne Roberts, president of the ROWC, at 301-464-5498.

• Society of Military Widows meets for brunch the fourth Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Lanes. The next meeting is Sunday. For more information, call Betty Jones at 410-730-0127.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at the Conference Center. The next prayer breakfast is May 2.

Catholic Chaplain (Maj.) Boguslaw Augustyn is the guest speaker.

There is no cost for the buffet; dona-tions 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 May 2 in the banquet hall in back of the building. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County conducts a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting is May 2. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• 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 May 6. For more information, call Kimberly McKay at 301-677-5590 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 May 8. 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 May 8. The association is open to all Air Force active-duty and retired senior noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at 443-479-0616 or email [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 May 10. 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.

• Women’s Empowerment Group meets every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to provide a safe, confidential arena for the support, education and empowerment of women who have experienced past or present family violence.

Location is only disclosed to participants. To register, call Tina Gauth, victim advocate, at 301-677-4117 or Samantha Herring, victim advocate, at 301-677-4124.

• Military Council for Catholic Women is open to all women ages 18 and older for prayer, faith, fellowship and service at the Main Post Chapel.

Mother’s Prayer & Apologetics meets Tuesdays from 9:45 a.m. to noon when Anne Arundel County schools are in session. Monthly programs are held Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information, email Beth Wright, president, at [email protected] or call 305-240-1559.

• Fort Meade Homeschool Co-op meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at 1900 Reece Road. For more information, call Kelli Stricker at 410-674-0297 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 Cubmaster Tom Johnston at [email protected] or Committee Chairperson Elizabeth Johnston 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].

• 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 americanlegionpost276.org.

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. NEW PRIC-ES: Tickets are $5 for adults (12 and older) and $2.50 for children. 3D Movies: $7 adults, $4.50 children.

Today through May 15

Today & Saturday: “The Incredible Burt Wonder-stone” (PG-13). Feuding magicians try to save their act. With Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey.

Friday: “The Call” (R). A 911 operator takes a call from a teenage girl who has been abducted, and she realizes she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl’s life. With Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut.

Sunday: “Dead Man Down” (R). Two strangers’ mutual desire for revenge unravels in an trail of violence. With Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Ter-rence Howard.

Wednesday & May 4, 5: “Admission” (PG-13). An admissions officer for Princeton University takes a surprising detour on the road to happiness. With Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen.

May 2, 3: “21 & Over” (R). The night before his big medical school interview, a promising student celebrates his 21st birthday with his two best friends.

May 8, 9, 10: “Olympus Has Fallen” (R). When terrorists take over the White House, an ex-Secret Service agent must rescue the president. With Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Free-man.

May 11, 15: “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (PG-13). Threats from within the government jeopardize the G.I. Joe unit. With Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Bruce Willis, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki. (3D)

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

Access Gates on Fort Meade

Gate 1: Rockenbach Road5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

weekends and holidays

Gate 3: Reece Road and Maryland Route 175

(Demps Visitor Control Center gate) 24-hour access

Demps Visitor Control Center, Bldg. 902 Reece Road7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

Gate 4: Mapes Road and Maryland Route 1755:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.,

Monday through Friday; closed weekends and holidays

Gate 5: 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: Mapes Road and Route 32

5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday;

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends and holidays

Page 15: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil18 SOUNDOFF! April 25, 2013

SportS

Story and photo by Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

The fourth time was a charm for Alexander Buchholz.

After several second-place finishes, the 15-year-old from Gambrills earned his first Fort Meade victory Saturday morning at the Earth Day 5K Run.

“I feel pretty good,” he said after the race.

The Earth Day run, held at Burba Lake, was the first event in the annual Fort Meade Run Series. More than 400 runners were on hand to kick off the series, which features seven 5K runs throughout the year.

Many runners such as Alexander were eager to return to the Run Series after several months of winter hiber-nation.

“They’re fun runs,” he said.The event also drew a large number

of first-time run series competitors including Eric Reid and his 4-year-old daughter Abigail. Reid said the duo from Columbia came out to enjoy the weather, but the temperatures were lower than they were expecting as Abigail was bundled up in a stroller.

“I like to come out and push her,” he said. “She’ll run a little bit, then she’ll ride a little bit — get her started young to be active.”

Prior to the run, Garrison Com-mander Col. Edward C. Rothstein asked competitors to participate in a moment of silence for “those that have lost their lives up in Boston and for the tragedies that have occurred during that great run.”

Rothstein said that despite the bombings during the marathon on April 15, Boston and the event will move forward forward, empowered by the country’s “resolve and resil-iency.”

“No one will deter us,” he said.After the moment of silence, several

hundred runners darted off the line to officially kick off the fifth season of the run series.

Near the two-mile marker, Alex-ander pulled ahead from the pack and ran away with the competition, finishing the 5K at 18:43.9. That was nearly a full minute before second-place Khaleed Robinson crossed the finish line at 19:35.4.

Caleb Galvas closed out the top-three men finishers a few seconds

behind Robinson with a time of 19:41.4

Despite earning his first win in the series, Alexander said he can knock more seconds off his finishing time as this was his first run of the year.

“It’s shaking off all those cobwebs from the winter,” he said.

Connie Pruner was the first woman to finish, with a time of 21:35.9. She was closely followed by Sarah Fisher, who finished at 22:14.6.

Rachel Makhfi finished in third at 22:58.5.

Pruner, who was competing in her first run series, said it was her first run after a long winter but she was already prepared for the season.

“Ready to go for another one,” Pruner said.

Run series takes off with Earth Day 5K

Earth Day 5K Results

Men• Alexander

Buchholz, 18:43.9• Khaleed

Robinson, 19:35.4• Caleb Galvas,

19:41.4

Women• Connie Pruner,

21:35.9• Sarah Fisher,

22:14.6• Rachel Makhfi,

22:58.5

Runners dash off the starting line at the Earth Day 5K on Saturday morning at Burba Lake. More than 400 runners competed in the event, which kicked off the fifth annual Fort Meade Run Series.

Page 16: Soundoff April 25, 2013

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 25, 2013 SOUNDOFF! 19

SportS

Those of you who read this column should know three things about me:

• One, I hate Ohio. • Two, I love the NFL draft.In fact, Radio City Music Hall during the third

weekend of April is my version of Hogwarts, and Roger Goodell serves as my Gandalf.

• Three, when all else fails and deadlines are looming, I make a list.

Well, this week I’m combining numbers two and three by listing the best NFL players of my time (1980 through today) by position, includ-ing when they were drafted and by what team. I may even throw in a few clips.

Just remember, this definitive list is players of “MY.” So sorry Bob Johnson; we will not be seeing Dick Butkus. Nor will we be seeing Jack Lambert, Doug Wise.

But there will be at least one former Patriot, so that should make Marcia Eastland happy ... at least for this week.

Also, we are talking skilled players. So, sorry, no offensive lineman. Punters and kickers need not apply either.QB: Joe Montana (1979, 3rd Round - 82nd, San Francisco)

There isn’t much for a Cowboys fan from Michigan to like about “Joe Cool.” He led Notre Dame to a national championship, won all four Super Bowls he played in and, of course, was responsible for the worst play in NFL his-tory, “The Catch.” bit.ly/14P25E6

Regardless, he’d still be the first overall pick on this team.RB: Emmitt Smith: 1990, 1st Round (17th) Dallas

All-time NFL leading rusher, leads NFL in rushing touchdowns, three rings and the best running back of all time.RB: Barry Sanders: 1989, 1st Round (3rd) Detroit

The most dynamic runner ever, bit.ly/ZOvM-ML, and if he wasn’t taken out on most third-down and goal-line situations, he may have been the best ever.WR: Jerry Rice: 1985, 1st Round (15th), San Fran)

No justification required.WR: Randy Moss: 1998, 1st Round (21st), Min-nesota

There is room for debate here, but Moss was “Straight Cash, Homey.”TE: Shannon Sharpe: 1990, 7th Round (192) Denver

He looked like a horse, played for the Bron-cos; but the dude was a winner and revolution-

ized the position.DEFENSE: I am

a 3-4 kind of guy, so here we go:DL: Reggie White: 1984, 1st Round (4th - supplemental draft), Philadelphia Eagles

The Minister of Defense preached one heck of a sermon on the field. bit.ly/15GQbM2DL: Bruce Smith: 1985, 1st Round (1st) Buffalo

Underrated, but dominantDL/LB: Charles Haley: 1986, 4th Round (96th) San Francisco

Canton, Ohio isn’t complete until Mr. Haley gets his invitation. There is a reason why he is the only player to earn five Super Bowl rings.LB: Lawrence Taylor: 1981, 1st (2nd) New York Giants

He was almost as good on Tecmo bit.ly/14P86kb as he was in real life bit.ly/17Sj7xc ... almost.LB: DeMarcus Ware: 2005, 1st (11th) Dallas)

The closest thing to Lawrence since Law-renceLB: Ray Lewis: 1996, 1st (26th) Baltimore

Hometown guy made good on this list. Any Dawgs in the House?LB: Junior Seau: 1990, 1st (5) San Diego

Man, I was so excited when I got his football card. Then I got to see him play.SS: Ronnie Lott: 1981, 1st (8th) San Francisco

The dude cut off his finger so he could go back into a game. Plus, he did a whole lot of hitting. bit.ly/XWFr7tFS: Ed Reed: 2002, 1st (24th) Baltimore

Best ball hawker of my day.CB: Deion Sanders: 1989, 1st (5th) Atlanta Falcons

The man couldn’t tackle his way out of a wet paper bag, but nobody has taken away a field better than “Primetime.” bit.ly/Y4c99jCB: Charles Woodson: 1996, 1st (4th) Oakland Raiders

Only defensive player to win the Heisman, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and proba-bly the smartest player in the league still today.

So let the debate begin. You can send your comments to the Fort Meade Live blog or under the article that will be attached to the Fort Meade Facebook page on Friday.

And, of course, if you want to talk about this or anything to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

With the first selection, CTJ picks ...

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn

Sports ShortsGaffney pool

The swimming pool at Gaffney Fitness Center is closed for maintenance.

Texas Hold ‘emTexas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lanes.Games are free and open to the public.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Dollar DaysThe Lanes offers Dollar Days every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger,

small fries, pizza slice or small soda for $1 each.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

EFMP BowlingThe Exceptional Family Member program is sponsoring its monthly

bowling event on May 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lanes.Exceptional family members will receive a free game and shoe rental. Other

family members will receive discounted games and shoe rental.To register, call 301-677-4473 or email [email protected].

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

photo by staff sgt. sean k. harp

MUSCLE MENMembers of 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) — Spc. Ricky Lowes, Staff Sgt. Noah Jacobs, Pfc. Connor Mendez, Sgt. Kwadwo Frimpong and Sgt. 1st Class Roman Galiki — compete in a tug-of-war against a team from First Army Division East during the installation’s Earth Day celebration on April 18 at Burba Lake.