Corps Connections July – September 2013

cORPS cONNEcTIONS

Serving MarineS and their FaMilieS in the national Capital regioniSSUE 23 • JUly – SEptEmbEr 2013

Sponsorship opportunities are available at the following levels: $500 • “Friend of the Marine Corps”

$1000 • Silver$2000 • Gold

$3000 • PlatinumFor more information, please contact the Commercial Sponsorship Coordinator at 703-309-7581.

Celebrate the 238th Birthday of the United States Marine CorpsSaturday, November 2, 2013

at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotelin Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia 22202

Tickets on sale soon!Visit www.mccsHH.com/birthdayballHH2013.html

Marine Corps Birthday Ball 2013

JUly – SEptEmbEr 2013 • Corps ConneCtions 3

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direCtorRoger Weger

DEpUty DirECtOrSusan M. Lindquist

MarKeting oFFiCerDoriann Geller

advertiSing & SponSorShip teChniCianVacant

GrApHiC ArtiSt/WEbmAStErJ. Felix Gonzalez

MarKeting teChniCianBarbara J. Mitchell

For advertiSingCall 703-309-7581Advertising rates at www.mccsHH.com.

Corps Connections is published quarterly by Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, P. O. Box 4009, Arlington, Virginia 22204-0009. Content is intended for military members in the National Capital Region and beyond. Copyright 2013 by MCCS. All rights reserved. The appearance of advertising and sponsors’ logos does not constitute federal or Marine Corps endorsement. For copies, please phone 703-693-5351.

Serving ThoSe who Serve ............................................................................................ 4Marine Corps Community Services enhances Marines’ quality of life and those who support them throughout the National Capital Region and beyond.

LaughTer in The worLd of academicS ...................................................................... 5Bart MacMillan amuses us with stories from academia.

meeT marine corpS famiLy Team BuiLding ................................................................ 8Find out what MCFTB can do to help your family be prepared in this overview.

mccS ouTdoor rec: your door To The greaT ouTdoorS ..................................... 10We introduce Cliff Holcomb and what’s available to make your summer leisure time easier and cheaper courtesy of MCCS.

TeLephone numBerS and hourS of operaTion ....................................................... 15

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CorpS ConneCtionS

Corps Connections brings information on MCCS programs and services to Marines and their family members in the National Capital Region and beyond. Please visit us at www.mccsHH.com.

[Who We are and What We do]

JuLy – SepTemBer 2013

Find this publication and other MCCS Henderson Hall documents at http://issuu.com/mccsHH, where a “flipbook” interface makes reading online easy.

[QUArtErly CONtESt]Tell us what you think of the feature article on Outdoor Rec in this issue. Send you comments to [email protected] by midnight August 15, to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card. Winner will be drawn at random from all entries and will be notified by e-mail.

4 Corps ConneCtions • JUly – SEptEmbEr 2013

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[FroM the editor]

Summer greetings! If you haven’t already discovered, there is a wealth of things to do and see in the National Capital Region, many of them free of charge. MCCS can help with discount tickets and gear to get you going this summer.

This issue features an overview of Marine Corps Family Team Building programs. One cannot underestimate the value these programs have to Marine families. From introductions to the Marine Corps way of life through L.I.N.K.S. training to deployment support before, during, and after, the MCFTB staff is happy to facilitate increased awareness and preparedness. Follow them on Facebook at MCFTBHH.

Bart MacMillan’s latest article will have you chuckling—and who knew academics could be so amusing! There are nuggets of information, too, especially on FAFSA and tuition funding in general.

It’s summer, and that means leisure time, whether it’s a vacation, touring around the area, or just relaxing with friends and family in your own back yard. We make it easier and cheaper with ITT and Outdoor Rec resources.

You can still find out all MCCS has to offer on our website, www.mccsHH.com, which is getting a new look this summer. We’re making it easier to find information. Also, follow our Twitter feed and “Like” us on Facebook. Our publications are now on issuu.com, a viewer-friendly site where you’ll find Corps Connections and our Guide to MCCS Henderson Hall.

Enjoy your summer, and don’t forget to check your MCCS Henderson Hall resources first!

Doriann GellerMarketing Officer

MCCS Henderson Hall

Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall reaches Marines and their family members in the National Capital Region and beyond. Structured similarly throughout the Marine Corps, MCCS Henderson Hall comprises Semper Fit, Retail Operations, Marine and Family Programs incorporating Marine Corps Family Team Building, and Support. Together, we provide quality-of-life enhancing goods, services, and programs to service members and their families from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia.

Want to know more about MCCS? Find out about what we offer to those whom we serve by visiting www.mccsHH.com for more comprehensive and continually updated information.

Serving Those Who Serve

[let US KnoW]We welcome your comments and value your opinion. Interactive Customer

Evaluation (ICE) provides information on our services and an online comment card system. Let us know how we’re doing at http://ice.disa.mil.

[reSoUrCeS] Military OneSource stands ready to assist you by e-mail and by phone. View discussion boards and gain answers to your questions through the site’s comprehensive resources for military families. It’s all free to military service member and their families! Log on to www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647.

[FolloW US, liKe US]

www.twitter.com/mccsHH www.facebook.com/mccsHH

[UpCoMing]

Mark your calendar for these 2013 special events:

Devil Dog 7k Race, Wednesday, September 18

Fall Education & Career Fair, Thursday, October 17

Fall Family Fun Fair, Saturday, October 19

H&S Battalion, HQMC, Henderson Hall Birthday Ball, November 2


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— HITT WORKOUT —INSTRUCTOR-LED OPEN SESSIONS

Monday, Wednesday, FridaySession I: 0630 – 0730 Session II: 1130 – 1230

— UNIT HITT WORKOUT —INSTRUCTOR-LED BY RESERVATION

Monday, Wednesday, Friday0530 – 0630 • 1030 – 1130 • 1500 – 1600

HITT is open only to active duty personnel and reservists. All sessions are first come, first served.

Now open in the Cpl Terry L. Smith Gymnasium Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall


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[mAriNE & fAmily prOGrAmS]

remain available, though the popularity of the Tillman program has left a rather short window of opportunity in which to apply. Once again, readers are encouraged to make use of the military education and career centers to inquire further about these resources.

The main point is that the sequestration effects should not discourage application to college and for financial aid. If applicants meet the requirements and application deadlines are met, it is highly unlikely that financial aid will be denied because there is no funding. The biggest issue now facing anyone looking to submit applications through FAFSA for the Pell Grant and other national scholarships is that it may be too late to submit and receive in time to start the traditional academic year in late August/early September. The best time to make these applications is right after the first

of the calendar year. Most education office personnel will

state gladly and loudly that federal government investment in college education benefits is arguably the best investment in anything or anyone that will serve humanity as a whole. It is an investment that can have far-reaching, intangible effects for generations, which is due largely to the integrity and character of our service members and veterans. So far, the policies regarding pay rates for education benefits to active

The intent in this space is to be a little more uplifting and light-hearted for two reasons: 1)

the “doom-and-gloom” economy news generated by the sequestration is not quite as terrible as it may seem in the world of academics and financial aid for secondary-level study; and 2) believe it or not, there is room for a little laughter in the otherwise-perceived stuffy world of academics!

Grant and scholarship funding through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid ), containing such popular financial aid programs as the Pell Grant, remains available. FAFSA officials themselves will be glad to remind all that active duty and veteran military personnel are just as eligible to apply for this financial aid as are civilians. They will also state that there may be more funding available than many potential college

students might realize. It is quite frequent that active duty

service members, veterans, and their dependent family members can apply for additional financial aid in terms of scholarships to the military community, besides those options available to civilians. This space has encouraged and explained some of these other resources —such as the U.S. Military Community Scholarship Explorer, “Thanks USA” scholarships and the Tillman Military Scholars program. These resources

duty service members remain in place, perhaps an indicator that the intangible value of a college education is recognized from top to bottom in all branches of the armed forces.

It is to other true-life illustrations of the value of college education that I turn for the remainder of this piece. The following episodes attempt to offer the light-hearted moments referenced in the opening salvo of this writing.

I have noted in previous pieces that my college degrees are in music. I once was called for an interview for a management position in a warehouse for carpentry supplies, while attempting to secure employment in Twentynine Palms, California (not a fertile scene for musicians and music teachers!).

When I appeared for the meeting with the company owner, the receptionist who greeted me said, “Oh yes, you’re the one with the education.” I heard several more whispers to this effect from other company administrative staff members as I was led back to the owner’s office. I smiled at the owner and in a moment of poor judgment volunteered immediately, “Sir, while I appreciate the acknowledgment of my education, I confess the degrees are in music and may not be of much help to what you need out of the warehouse manager’s position.”

The company owner looked up at me over a pair of half-eyeglasses and said, “Sir, you are the only candidate for this job that has ever set foot in a college classroom; we are most anxious to talk to you!”

I have often used the following examples of those who might have earned some college education but may

When I appeared for the meeting with the company owner, the receptionist who greeted me said, “Oh yes, you’re the one with the education.”

Laughter in the World of Academics


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not have made the best use of it. These examples of published headlines might be indications of educated professionals experiencing moments of weakness, absent-mindedness, or boredom on the job: “Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Presumed Dead”; “Obesity Study Seeks Out Larger Test Group”.

This final story would come under the category that I call, “Was This Really the Right Person for This Job?” A 9-1-1 dispatcher fielded an emergency call, with the caller stating that his wife had been hurt through an attack by a wart hog. The caller was requesting an ambulance to “pick her up.” The dispatcher asked for the address, and the caller reported a number on Eucalyptus Street. The dispatcher’s

by Bart MacMillan

next question was to ask for the spelling of “Eucalyptus.”

Can you picture the scene? Who knows what condition the poor woman is in— bruised, bleeding, maybe a broken bone —and the dispatcher cannot summon the ambulance because he or she does not know how to spell the street name? The irony of the situation does not stop there, however; the caller pauses for several seconds before replying, “Uh, I’m gonna drag her over to Oak Street; you can pick her up over there!”

It has to be acknowledged that a college education is never a guarantee for a job, but it highly increases one’s chances. Fortunately, it remains a financial feasibility, as well, more so perhaps than

might appear in the sequestered world in which we live. It is hoped that our readers in the midst of their secondary education already may find the financial assistance they need, and a chance to smile once in a while along the way.

Bart MacMillan is the Education and Career Specialist

Personal & Professional Readiness Branch, Marine & Family Programs

MCCS Henderson Hall.

http://www.NU.edu


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Meet Marine Corps Family Team Building

Mission, Life, CareerMARINES

The Marine Corps Family Team Building Henderson Hall programs are designed to support and enhance the Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP) in empowering Marines and their families to achieve and maintain personal and family readiness. Our goal is to work with the UPFRP to appropriately commit the necessary financial, personnel, and technological resources—plus volunteer support—to provide resource information and training that are in line with the commander’s intent.

A Ready Marine and family• are prepared for family separations and life events.• understand the additional responsibilities that will fall on

the family when the Marine departs.• are knowledgeable of and able to utilize information about

benefits, entitlements, programs, and services provided through the Department of Defense, the Marine Corps, and the community.

• are knowledgeable of command structure and resources available to assist and contribute to personal and family readiness goals.

Family Readiness Command Team Training is designed to orient and guide command team members in their roles, responsibilities, and operating components of their family readiness program. The training includes: Family Readiness Officer Training, Command Team Advisor & Family Readiness Assistant Training, and the Volunteer Program.

The volunteer program’s mission is to enhance the quality of military and community volunteer programs

through a well-managed program. This program maintains a strong sense of community within DC Metro area Marine Corps units

by providing a robust portfolio of diverse volunteering opportunities and a wealth of benefits

to the Marine, family, and surrounding community.

Family Readiness Program Command Team Training

703-693-1253

Email: [email protected]/MCFTB.htmlwww.facebook.com/MCFTBHHwww.twitter.com/MCFTBHHFax: 703-614-2862

Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills (L.I.N.K.S.) Training

703-693-1457

L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses workshops provide an overview of the Marine Corps structure, services, and benefits available to spouses. The workshop is an opportunity to meet other Marine Corps spouses and learn all that the military has to offer. We also offer L.I.N.K.S. for Marines, L.I.N.K.S. for Parents & Extended Family, and L.I.N.K.S. for Kids & Teens.

LifeSkills Training & Education

703-693-8906LifeSkills training includes a diverse selection of classes and

workshops, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families™, Real Colors®, Prevention Relationships Enhancement Program (PREP), Basic Stress/Anger Management, and Emergency Preparedness. Especially in summer, when storms frequently hit our area, information on actions that Marines and families should take to be informed and prepared in the event of a natural or man-made disaster are presented in this workshop. A Family Care Plan brief can be provided in an all hands or PME setting and is designed to educate Marines and their families on the basics of a Family Care Plan, its significance, and the importance of keeping it updated.

Readiness & Deployment Support

703-693-8906We provide training and support for deploying service

members and their families. Training focuses on preparation for Pre-Deployment, Mid-Deployment; Return & Reunion; and Post-Deployment, which supports reintegration for strong Marine couples.



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Coping with Work and Family StressJuly 9 & 11 • July 16 & 18 • July 23 & 25

July 30 & August 1 • August 13 & 15 • August 20 & 22

Topics include: identifying stressors, deep breathing and muscle relaxation, assertive communication, changing your self talk, eating right and exercise, and

developing a personal stress management plan

Open to all active duty personnel, family members, and retirees

For additional class information or to register, please call Behavioral Health at

703-614-7204

3 – 4:30 PM • Bldg. 12, Conference Room

Participants must attend all sessions to receive a certifi cate of completion.

12-session evidence-based class designed to teach you how to develop and apply effective coping strategies to deal with stressors

http://global.cmich.edu/lf/?type=L&c1=FMYER&mktid=37181


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[FeatUre]

There is a great outdoor world just waiting to be explored here in the National Capital Region.

We’re urban, but we’re in—or near—one of the most liveable cities in the United States. From walking and bike paths right here in the D.C. area, to the vast expanse of the Shenandoah National Park in the west, to the Atlantic coastline in the east, there is something for nearly everyone. MCCS has resources to make your outdoor life—well, better. By that, we mean cheaper. How? Read ahead!

itt

Don’t pay full price for amusement park entrances, vacation rentals, ball games, Walt Disney World, museum tours, or movie tickets. How? Visit the Information, Tickets and Tours Office on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The office is currently located next to the Marine Club and The Vineyard Wine and Spirits, adjacent to the Marine Corps Exchange. Soon, the ITT Office will move into the Marine Corps Exchange, returning to the space they vacated a few years ago. What does this mean to our customers? Longer hours and more days of operation. Look for information, coming soon. Meanwhile, visit www.mccsHH.com/ITT.html, open 24/7, for the expansive list of what they offer and for news of the move to inside the MCX.

oUtdoor reCreation

Inside the Cpl Terry L. Smith Gymnasium, down in the lower level, a virtual warehouse of equipment awaits customers. Camping kits, which include two-person tent, cot, lantern, 54-quart

MCCS Outdoor Rec: Your Door to the Greatcooler, sleeping bag, air bed with pump, and a two-burner store, may be checked out any time Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Reserve in advance to ensure availability, and pick up your gear before heading out to the local area, to the mountains, to the shore, or—if you are staying home—to the respite of your own back yard.

WaShington d.C. and arlington

The Washington, D.C., area, is among the most liveable places in the U.S., thanks, in part to the many bike trails, parks, and public spaces.

Here in Arlington, there is a 17-mile loop trail, among 50 miles of urban paths particularly suited for bikes, but fine for walkers, too. Four trails make up the loop, according to “Going Places on the Arlington Loop,” published by the county. These trails—the Mount Vernon Trail, the Custis, the W&OD (Washington & Old Dominion Trail, pronounced “Wad”), and Four Mile Run—comprise the loop and connect you to “almost every amenity in Arlington.” The county publishes resources for bikers at http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides and for walkers at http://www.walkarlington.com/pages/walkabouts. You have everything you need for walking,

but maybe you need a bike. Outdoor Rec can help, with mountain bikes and sprint bikes, plus the safety gear.

to the WeSt—MoUntainS and trailS

The Shenandoah National Park, among others, is so close but a world away, offering lodging as well as camping areas. While you are there, you can enjoy miles of hiking trails, including a portion of the venerable

Appalachian Trail. Let Outdoor Rec provide a back pack and head lamp if you are hiking, or mountain bikes and safety gear if you are biking the Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic route through the Blue

Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Find more information at http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.htm.

to the eaSt—the

SeaShore

If you’re from California, or just about anywhere other than the East Coast, it might be hard to see the beauty in the Atlantic Seashore. You have scenic mountains dropping sharply down to calm oceans; we have roiling waves, boardwalks, and Whack-A-Mole. A quick getaway to the shore

Mount Vernon Trail, Alexandria, Virginia

the Great Outdoors


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[FeatUre]

MCCS Outdoor Rec: Your Door to the Great by Doriann GellerOutdoors!or Chesapeake Bay is easy, as many parks have campsites (and you can always check ITT for discount hotel vouchers).

yOUr OWN bACk yArD

There is no place like home...so they say. If a vacation is not in your summer future, surely a leisurely respite in your back yard (or balcony, or patio), perhaps with friends, is do-able. Let Outdoor

Rec help! Don’t stress about coolers, extra seating, and tables—we have you covered. Horseshoes, too! Need an air bed for overnight guests, we have those, too. Want to make sure they don’t stay too long? We also have folding cots.

Meet Cliff HolcombSmith Gym Manager

MCCS is pleased to welcome Clifton M. Holcomb. Originally hired as the Outdoor Rec manager, Mr. Holcomb has been promoted to Smith Gym manager. For now, he is managing Outdoor Rec as well.

Cliff comes to us from overseas, where he was a recreation specialist for Air Force MWR. He has worked as a personal trainer, youth sports coordinator, and recreation specialist. A bowler, biker, and bodybuilder, Cliff says, “It’s important when military members have down time that they have a program to participate in.” And he has great ideas not only for programs but for improving customer services at the gym, one of his goals. In the gym’s near future, he says, we can look forward to “outstanding customer service and outstanding programs.” New comment boxes are available to help patrons communicate with him—look for them throughout the gym

As Outdoor Rec manager, he knows how important recreation is to morale and fitness. Benefits he associates with Smith Gym are “convenient location and equipment.” Patrons can “relax, relieve stress, and increase morale,” all which benefit their fitness regimen.

Stop by and say hi to Cliff next time you are in Smith Gym. He’s the smiling guy on a mission to make your visit to the gym an outstanding one.

Federal Recreation Sites Annual Pass free to

U.S. Military Available to U.S. military members and

dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard including Reserve and National Guard members, the pass must be obtained in person at a federal recreation site (park entrances, for example) by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).

All images this page by Barbara J. Mitchell.

W&OD Trail, Ashburn, VirginiaHE

NDERSON HALL

SMITH GYM

the Great Outdoors


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Harvest Wine

Festival

The VineyardWine & Spirits

for more informationwww.mccsHH.com/vineyard.html

coming this fall!

2013 Fall Designer Month

September 5 – 29

Additional 10 – 15 – 20% OffYour Favorite DesignerBrand Names


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Breakfast Sandwiches, Oatmeal LunchSandwiches, Wraps, Salads

DrinksCoffee, Tea, and More....

Staying Cool?

Beat the heat!

Mon. – Fri. 7:30 AM – 3 PMSat. 9 AM – 3 PM

Sun. 10 AM – 3 PM

Visit us on theLower Level of the

Henderson Hall MCX


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July JusticeAmAteur Boxing

Saturday, July 13 • 4:30 PMDoors Open at 3:30 PM

Cpl Terry L. Smith Gym, Henderson HallJoint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Open to the General Public with

Government-Issued Photo ID

General Admission $10 Active Duty Military $7

Children Under 10 Free Purchase tickets at Cpl Terry L. Smith Gym or

at the Semper Fit Office in Bldg. 29

Food & Beverages available for purchase

™

®

Information: 703-697-2706www.mccsHH.com


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[tElEpHONE NUmbErS & HOUrS Of OpErAtiON]

administrative officesBldg. 29, Rm. 305703-979-8420 ext. 323 Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Barber ShopBldg. 31 “The Shoppes”703-271-8177Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:30 PMSaturday 9:30 AM – 3 PMSunday 11 AM – 3 PM

career resource management centerBldg. 29, Rm. 201703-614-6828Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4 PM

gear issueBldg. 27 Smith Gym 703-693-4731 Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM

health promotionsBldg. 27 Smith Gym703-614-5959Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5 PM

information, Tickets and ToursBldg. 31 “The Shoppes”571-483-1963 Wednesday – Friday 11 AM – 6 PMSaturday 9 AM – 3 PM

Java caféBldg. 26, 1F571-463-1962Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 3 PM Saturday 9 AM – 3 PMSunday 10 AM – 3 PM

Lifelong Learning centerBldg. 29 Rm. 205703-614-9104Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

marine and family programsBldg. 12703-614-7200Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

marine clubBldg. 21703-614-2125Monday – Friday Lunch 11 AM – 2 PMThursday Bar ’til 8 PMFriday Bar ’til 11 PM

marine corps exchangeBldg. 26703-979-8420Monday – Friday 10 AM – 7 PMSaturday 9 AM – 7 PMSunday 10 AM – 6 PM

marine corps family Team BuildingBldg. 29, 1F703-693-4840Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

marine mart at eighth & i202-433-2848Monday – Friday 7 AM – 6 PMSaturday and Sunday 11 AM – 4:30 PM

military clothing SalesBldg. 26, 3F703-979-8420 ext. 104Monday – Friday 10 AM – 7 PMSaturday 9 AM – 7 PMSunday 10 AM – 6 PM

Semper fit administrationBldg. 29, Rm. 305703-693-1591Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Single marine program703-614-4947

MCCS HeNDeRSON HALLSmith gymBldg. 27703-614-7214Monday – Friday 4 AM – 9 PMSaturday 7:30 AM – 6 PMSunday 9:30 AM – 6 PM

The vineyard wine & SpiritsBldg. 31 “The Shoppes”703-979-8420 ext. 105Monday – Friday 10 AM – 7 PMSaturday 9 AM – 7 PMSunday 10 AM – 6 PM

Zembiec poolBldg. 11703-693-7351Check online for seasonal hours

24 hours a day • 365 days a year

victim advocacy

hoTLine703-693-6611

Se habla español

www.mccsHH.com

STAY CONNECTEDsales • events • classes • tickets • hours • food

http://www.navymutual.org

Corps Connections July – September 2013

Documents