Soundoff January 15, 2015

online helpArmy webpage offers aid to discharged vets

page 6

UpCoMinG eVenTSFriday, 5:30-7:30 p.M.: Youth Center open house - 909 Ernie Pyle St.WedneSday, 5:30-7 p.M.: EFMP bowling party - The LanesJan. 26, 11 a.M.: Fort Meade Tax Center opening - 4217 Roberts Ave.Feb. 5, 7 a.M.: Monthly Prayer Breakfast - Club MeadeFeb. 19, 11:30 a.M.: Black History Month Observance - McGill Training Center

in deFenSeAir Force sergeant makes history, trains alongside Marines

page 12

Soundoff!́vol. 67 no. 2 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community January 15, 2015

photo by noah scialom

Miss America Kira Kazantsev takes a selfie with Tracey Adkins, wife of lt. Col. Winfied Adkins of the DoD’s Field Research Activity Family Readiness Group, at the USo Metro-Fort Meade Center. Kazantsev met for an hour Friday with about 30 service members to thank them for their service, sign autographs and take photographs. For more photos, see Page 13.

Camera ready

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! January 15, 2015

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................19

CrimeWatch............... 10 Movies.................................18

Community................. 16 Classified.............................21

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Brian P. foleyGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. rodwell l. forbesPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] dijon [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Shari rosendesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by the Baltimore Sun Media Group

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300or email [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.

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Greetings, Team Meade. Happy New Year and welcome to 2015.

I hope you all have had time to reflect on last year’s accomplishments and shortcom-ings, and found time over the holidays to relax with your family, loved ones and close friends.

I also hope you had an opportunity to rejuvenate and reduce the amount of stress in your life by taking advantage of time off during the holiday season to do things that are important to you, whether spiritual or physical, that allowed you to relax and enjoy life.

Over the holiday period and during the first couple of weeks of 2015, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to numerous people about their goals or resolutions for this new year.

Listed below are the top five resolutions that I obtained from these conversations:

1. Lead a healthier life and have a consis-tent spiritual/physical fitness regime

2. Maintain work-life balance 3. Be consistent with commitments that

have been made4. Continue to pursue a college degree5. Become financially stable and pay off

debtsUsually around this time of year, many

people make resolutions to do something different or make plans to find a way to better one’s life. That being said, I highly encourage each of you to stay the course to achieve goals that will help you enjoy life a little more and bring more peace and happi-ness into your life.

One last thought about new year resolu-tions: Many of these resolutions begin to wane after a few months, once the business of life settles back in. Life can be a struggle, but I encourage you to stay the course to achieve your goals.

As Winston Churchill once said, “Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.”

With regard to recent activities at Fort Meade, I would like to give a special acknowl-edgment to Resource Management; Plans, Analysis, and Integration Office; Directorate of Human Resources; and Directorate of Public Works. It was a pleasurable for me to visit with your teams.

The Meade c o m m u n i t y is definitely “blessed” to have your teams provid-ing service on a daily basis.

Also, thanks go out to the 780th Military I n t e l l i g e n c e Brigade for partnering with the garrison to host the Mar-tin Luther King Day Observance. The theme for this year was “Remember! Celebrate! Act! — A Day On, Not A Day Off.”

Special thanks also go out to the retired sergeant major of the Army, Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Preston, for presenting awards to the Meade High School essay winners.

Over the past week, we have had our first snowfall and a morning of severe weather due to rain and ice on our roadways. That said, I want to emphasize that we will make every effort to keep the community informed regarding the post’s operating status as we deal with adverse weather.

Please take the extra time to plan for the snow and ice on your vehicles to deter lim-ited visibility and mechanical failures. Be mindful of the speed limit during limited visibility to safeguard our service members and families doing physical fitness.

We have every reason to believe this year will be a very prosperous year at Fort Meade as we continue to receive recognition and support for cyber growth and related con-struction and infrastructure projects.

As we move forward into 2015, let us not forget why we serve this great nation against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Our service members, civilians and families are committed to do our duty to contribute to the defense of our nation.

I believe we all share a love for our coun-try. Thank you for all that you do to support our military family.

On behalf of the garrison, myself and my wife, we look forward to serving each and every one of you this year and wish you all a blessed, fruitful and triumphant year.

Wishes for a triumphant year

Garrison command sGt. maj. rodwell l. Forbes

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil January 15, 2015 SOUNDOFF! �

News

Fort Meade Public Affairs OfficeThe safety of Fort Meade employees,

residents and visitors will be a top prior-ity when the installation’s deer reduction operations begin Jan. 26.

The goal for this year is to remove up to 200 deer, including antlered and uni-antlered deer, with the objective of reach-ing a population of less than 20 deer per square mile. According to deer surveys, the population on post is estimated to be 152 deer per square mile.

The culling will be conducted in one-week increments between late January and the end of March. The U.S. Department of Agriculture marksmen will generally work between dusk and dawn, Monday through Thursday, taking care to avoid

peak commuting times, including early morning commuting time frames.

The work should only last a few weeks, but additional time may be needed due to weather conditions.

A major consequence of deer overpopu-lation on post has been deer-related vehicle collisions, which have increased from six incidents in 2005 to 16 incidents in 2012.

Vehicle accidents involving deer often result in fatally wounded deer left to suffer from their injuries.

When deer become overpopulated in any particular area, they impact the eco-system by eating or destroying plants other wildlife defend on.

The teams conducting the deer cull are professionally qualified federal employees

with years of experience. They have con-ducted deer culls on scores of federal and DoD installations across Maryland and Virginia.

The teams frequently operate in sensi-tive areas in major cities such as Rock Creek National Park in Washington, D.C., residential areas and near airports.

The marksmen will use methods very similar to those used on a weapons range in which weapons will not be loaded until just prior to taking a shot. Shots will not be taken unless the safety of the shot is verified by left and right spotters.

A representative from the Directorate of Emergency Services will accompany the teams and maintain close contact with the Fort Meade Police dispatch at all times.

To avoid the possibility of wounded deer, the teams’ goal is to ensure a 100 percent drop rate, a goal which they have maintained throughout their operations by only firing when a lethal shot is obtain-able.

The teams may use bait to attract deer to areas away from roadways, homes and occupied buildings.

During night operations, the culling teams will use night-vision optics to locate the deer and ensure the area surrounding their operations is safe.

The culling operation is not hunting and should not be confused with recreational activities. Marksmen will ensure that the culling will be conducted in a manner that is as humane as possible.

Safety top priority during deer cull

Photo by Dijon Rolle

NEW PX PHARMACY oPENSPost Exchange Pharmacy Supervisor Aldric Jameson answers questions from military retiree Thomas Fry while filling Fry’s prescription. The new pharmacy officially opened Monday as a full-service facility capable of filling prescriptions written by providers from Military Treatment Facili-ties (including Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center) and off-post provid-ers. The facility is now the sole location for refill prescriptions on Fort Meade. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The facility is closed weekends and federal holidays. For more information, call 301-677-8800.

Copies of the 2015 Fort Meade Welcome Guide are available now.

Please call 301-677-5602 or

email philip.h.jones.civ@

mail.mil to request

guides for your

organization.


News

By C. Todd LopezArmy News Service

Army officials will consolidate or close several facilities in Europe.

The Department of Defense announced changes to the U.S. military presence in Europe during a press con-ference held earlier this month at the Pentagon. The changes are the result of a two-year process, called the Euro-pean Infrastructure Consolidation, to review U.S. force presence and facilities in Europe.

Changes recommended by the EIC will occur over the next several years and are expected to “produce sav-ings that will enable us to maintain a robust force presence in Europe,” said Derek Chollet, the assistant secretary

of defense for International Security Affairs.

Chollet said the changes would con-solidate some existing support infra-structure, but would not affect opera-tional ability or the ability of the United States to support its partners in Europe.

In Germany, the Army’s Barton Bar-racks at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach will be returned to the host nation. At USAG Rheinland-Pfalz, the Hopps-taedten Waterworks, the Pfeffelbach Waterworks and the site at Husterhoeh Kaserne will close.

A portion of the Army-run Pulaski Barracks will also shutter. The Weilim-dorf Warehouse Site at USAG Stutt-gart is also slated for closure, as is the

Mainz-Kastel Station and the Amelia Earhart Hotel at USAG Wiesbaden.

The Army will partially return to Germany the Artillery Kaserne, part of USAG Bavaria.

In Italy, about half of Camp Darby, near Livorno, will be returned to the host nation. Additionally, the Vicenza Health Center — an Army-run facility — will be converted to outpatient and specialty care only.

In Belgium, the Brussels Leased Site at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux will close down, as will the Schinnen Emma Mine Site in the Netherlands.

Recommendations for change, as part of EIC, were developed using a process similar to what the DoD has used in the past to develop recommendations

for Base Realignment and Closure, said John Conger, the acting deputy under-secretary of defense for Installations and Environment.

“We looked at capacity, require-ments, military value, at cost and at the diplomatic dynamics involved in each action,” Conger said.

The announced changes in Europe will not happen immediately, and will likely happen alongside other changes not directly related to EIC, he said.

“These recommendations will be executed over the next several years,” Conger said. “That does not mean everything will remain static while these changes occur. There were consolida-tions made before EIC, and there will undoubtedly be future basing actions.”

Army to further consolidate footprint in Europe

FrEEdom Inn ImplEmEnts nEw

Food sErvIcE chArgEs

As of Jan. 1, new food service charges have gone into effect at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility located at

8502 Simonds St.Below are the updated 2015 prices:

Meal Discount Rate 1 Standard Rate 2

Breakfast $2.60 $3.45

Lunch $4.20 $5.55

Dinner $3.65 $4.85

Brunch $4.70 $6.25

Supper $5.75 $7.65

Holiday $6.80 $9.05

Snack $2.60 $3.45

For more information, contact Freedom Inn Dining Facility at 301-677-5503.

file photo


News

CONTRACTORS CONFERENCE

Amber Blake, a business opportunity specialist with

the U.S. Small Business Association, talks to small business representatives about the 8(a) Business

Development Program at the Mission Installation

Contracting Command Fort Meade and MICC Fort Det-rick Aquisition Open House on Monday at McGill Train-ing Center. The symposium introduced about 100 small

business representatives to the standards, require-ments and certifications needed to do business

at the seven installations within the Military District

of Washington.

Photo by Navy Mass CoMMuNiCatioN sPC. 2Nd Class

ZaCh allaN

By Lisa FerdinandoArmy News Service

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, who were discharged under “other than honorable” condi-tions can apply to have their discharge upgraded if it was due to PTSD.

The Army launched a webpage for the veterans to get information and ultimately enable them to apply for the change in status, said Col. Matthew B. Coleman, the military assistant to the deputy assis-tant secretary of the Army at the Army Review Boards Agency.

Information can be found at http://arba.army.pentagon.mil.

“Veterans are Soldiers for life,” Cole-man said. “I want to encourage our vet-erans out there to apply.”

The Army is committed to making sure the veterans receive fair consideration of

their service and the conditions that may have mitigated the misconduct that led to their discharge, he said.

The Army launched the site in accor-dance with a Department of Defense memorandum from September, he said.

“We want to demonstrate our commit-ment for considering every petition that is brought by veterans claiming PTSD and requesting an upgrade of their discharge,” Coleman said.

“We inculcate the core values of the agency, which are justice, equity and com-passion, and those are the merits by which we look at each and every case.”

PTSD was not recognized as a diagno-sis at the time of service in past conflicts such as the Vietnam War, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said in his memo-randum dated Sept. 3.

In many cases, Hagel said, diagnoses

were not made until decades after service was completed. The memorandum pro-vided guidance to the military department Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records as they considered the upgrades. The memorandum seeks to ease the appli-cation process for the veterans.

The Army wants to get the message out to veterans from all past conflicts and is reaching out to veteran groups to spread the word.

“Upgrades are very important because they are linked to benefits that they could receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as being able to get medical treatment,” Coleman said. “That’s probably most important with those who are suffering from invis-ible injuries of PTSD or PTSD-related symptoms.”

The Army has come a long way and

done a “tremendous job” over the years of trying to erase the stigma associated with PTSD, and is reaching out to Sol-diers and trying to get them to seek help, Coleman said.

“I think this puts the stigma aside and I think the liberal guidance in considering these cases is an important piece of that to gain the confidence of the veterans out there who may have had some sort of misconduct that was related to these symptoms,” he said.

The Army at this point, Coleman said, does not have an estimate on how many applications it could receive.

Veterans previously denied an upgrade could reapply. The Army Board for Cor-rection of Military Records would con-sider such an application as a new case.

The guidance only applies to veterans with “other than honorable” discharges.

Vets with PTSD get help upgrading discharges

On the lookout

the directorate of Emergency services is actively working to keep neighborhoods safe.

Families resid-ing on post should remember to ensure that win-dows and doors to homes, cars and garages are locked at all times, regard-less of time of day.

although the crime rate in mili-tary housing is lower than off post, it is important to remember that Fort Meade is not immune to crime. to protect your family and belongings, remember to take an active role in deterring crime.

Remain aware of your sur-roundings and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Fort Meade Police at 301-677-6622 or 6623.


News

By Col. Joanna ReaganRegistered DietitianU.S. Army Public Health Command

Winter is a great time to join a gym, try a new class or participate in a new winter sport. It’s also a time to take pre-cautions to prevent dehydration.

Drinking water is easy in the summer, but not so much in the winter. Dehy-dration can sometimes occur because people can feel less thirsty during winter workouts, in turn drinking less water. They can also overdress for cold-weather exercise sessions by wearing too many layers of clothes.

You can check for dehydration by checking the color of your urine. If the urine looks like lemonade, this indicates proper hydration. If it is darker and looks like apple juice or pale ale, then more fluids are needed. In contrast, if the urine looks clear, this can indicate over-hydration.

Other symptoms of dehydration may include: drowsiness, headaches, dry skin, dizziness or nausea. Remember, don’t rely on thirst as an indicator of hydra-tion status. Usually an individual is already 3 percent dehydrated when they become thirsty.

So what are the recommendations for healthy drinks? Water is the best choice. It’s calorie-free, inexpensive and easy to find. It is the perfect choice to rehydrate and restore fluids lost during a workout.

As a basic guide, an adequate intake of total water from fluids and foods is 12 cups per day for men ages 19-30 and nine cups per day for women of the same age, based on the Dietary Refer-ence Intake.

For most people, about 80 percent of this water volume comes from beverages; the remainder comes from food.

Sports beverages are designed to provide carbohydrates, electrolytes and fluid during high-intensity workouts greater than one hour. For other folks, they’re just another source of sugar and calories.

If your workout consists of moderate to heavy intensity for 45-60 minutes, then a sports drink would be recom-mended. Examples would be activities in which you have minimal conversation, an increased sweat rate, heavy breathing and a high heart rate.

Try to avoid drinks that have added sugars for flavor such as sugar-sweet-ened soda, sweet tea or energy drinks.

Avoid dehydration during winter workouts

One bottle of regular 16-ounce soda has about 185 calories; one 16-ounce bottle of sweet tea has 200 calories; and one 16-ounce energy drink has about 250 calories.

Energy drinks have as much sugar as soft drinks. They contain caffeine to raise blood pressure, and additives with long-term health effects that are unknown.

For these reasons, it’s best to skip energy drinks. Over time, the extra

calories can add to weight gain and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and gout.

For some people accustomed to drink-ing flavored beverages, water can initial-ly taste bland. One way to increase water consumption without losing flavor is by trying infused water. Instead of purchas-ing expensive flavored waters, infused water can be made at home by adding sliced citrus fruits or zest (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit) or crushed fresh

mint. Sliced fresh ginger, sliced cucum-ber or crushed berries also can be used. Sparkling water with a splash of juice is another way to increase fluids.

Try carrying a water bottle through-out the day to sip at work or at home, and eating foods high in water content such as oranges and grapefruit.

Winter is a great time to focus on your health and to drink more fluids to stay hydrated and achieve your performance goals.

file photo

Patrons exercise on elliptical machines at Gaffney Fitness Center. The U.S. Army Public Health Command recommends several ways to stay hydrated during winter workout sessions. The command encourages service members and DoD civilians to drink water and to avoid drinks that have added sugars and energy drinks.

text folloW foRtMeADe to 40404 to sign up for fort Meade news alerts on your mobile phone

follow fort Meade on twitter.com/ftmeademd

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! January 15, 2015

News

Although the taxpayer cannot deduct Roth contributions as it is permissible with contributions from a traditional individual retirement account, qualified distributions from a Roth, including interest earned, is tax free.

Qualified distributions are monies with-drawn from the Roth account if five years have elapsed since the year of the first Roth contribution and the distribution is being made to a taxpayer who is age 59 or older, to a taxpayer who has a permanent disabil-ity, to a beneficiary or an estate after the taxpayer’s death, or to pay up to $10,000 of certain qualified first-time homebuyer amounts.

A member of the military may make Roth contributions from basic pay, tax-exempt pay, incentive pay, special pay and bonus pay. A service member who makes Roth contributions from tax-exempt pay earned in a combat zone will not have to pay taxes on the Roth contributions and will have the opportunity for tax-free growth.

The Fort Meade Joint Installation Tax Center will open Jan. 26. The tax center is located on the first floor of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 4217 Mor-rison St.

To schedule an appointment, call 301-677-9366 or 301-677-9762.

By Sandra DrakeFort Meade Tax Center

Active-duty service members making dollar-amount Roth contributions to a Thrift Savings Plan account should be aware that they must act now or these deductions will stop Jan. 31.

This deduction change may affect the service member’s retirement goals. Here is an overview of the policy change:

Effective Jan. 1, myPay requires the ser-vice member to designate Roth contribu-tions as a percentage of monthly pay, not a dollar amount, as it is currently reflected.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will not process any Roth contri-

butions after Jan. 31 unless the service member updates the election to reflect a percentage of monthly pay.

This change affects Roth contributions only. Traditional contributions are already designated as a percentage of pay.

To make the change, log into myPay at https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx and click on the “Traditional TSP and Roth TSP” tab. In the “Contribution from Roth TSP” section, enter the percentage of pay to be contributed to the Roth (10 percent, for example). Click “Save” at the bottom of the screen to complete the transaction.

Roth contributions can be a good way to minimize tax liability in future years.

Tax rules changed for Roth TSP contributions

Jan. 1, Simple assault, con-summated by a battery: Police were dispatched for a domes-tic disturbance. The investi-gation revealed that the vic-tim and her daughter were outside arguing. While the daughter was being escorted from the residence, she struck the victim in the head with her hand.

Jan. 9, Shoplifting: AAFES loss prevention at the Exchange observed an individual, via surveillance camera, switch one pair of boots valued at $129.97 to the box of another pair of less expensive boots valued at $24.47. The subject then proceeded to the cashier to pay for the item.

Jan. 11, Shoplifting: AAFES loss prevention at the Exchange observed the subject, via video surveillance, place mascara in her pocket and attempt to leave the store without rendering proper payment.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

For week of Jan. 5-11:• Moving violations: 31• Nonmoving violations: 8• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 16• Traffic accidents: 15• Driving on suspended license: 1• Driving on suspended registration: 0• Driving without a license: 0

Get the insider’s advantage

Join the conversation on Fort Meade’s social media platform for the latest com-munity news.

Connect with more than 23,000 post community members on the installation’s Facebook page. Stay updat-ed with Tweets from Fort Meade’s Twitter feed. Catch the latest episode of Meade Week’s video blog. Visit the installation’s website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and visit the links to add your voice to the conversation.

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil January 15, 2015 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

Army News ServiceArmy Emergency Relief is accepting

applications for next year’s scholarships. The application period will remain open until May 1.

Last year, AER awarded 3,637 scholarships, totaling more than $8.8 million to the spouses and children of Soldiers.

AER supports both the Spouse Scholar-ship Program, as well as the Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program for dependent children.

Specific details on the scholarship and the applications are available on AER’s website at http://www.aerhq.org/dnn563/.

The spouse scholarship can be used for

full- or part-time students, while the Ursano Scholarship is only for full-time students.

“The entire scholarship process is online,” said Tammy LaCroix, manager for AER’s scholarship programs. “Last year, we found that the online process worked best for those who downloaded the step-by-step instructions and used them as a checklist.

“Applicants are able to create their own profile, submit their documentation online and check their status,” she said. “This proved to be a huge time-saver for both the applicants and the scholarship staff.”

The entire application package for the 2015-2016 school year must be submitted online by May 1. This includes the application as well

as all required supporting documents. Most applicants will need to provide transcripts (through the fall semester), and a Student Aid Report from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA.

Active-duty Soldiers also must provide a leave and earnings statement.

“I think it’s an outstanding scholarship,” said Wallace Turner, Fort Meade’s Army Emergency Relief officer. “Ninety-five percent of the people that apply get something. It’s a great program that will help out almost every-one that applies. Don’t be afraid. Apply.”

AER awards “needs-based” scholarships, based on FAFSA and transcripts, officials explained. The amount of the award varies,

based on the number of qualified applicants and scholarship funds available. Last year, the average award was $2,600 for children and $1,900 for spouses.

Army Emergency Relief is a private, non-profit organization, dedicated to providing financial assistance to Soldiers, active and retired, and their families. Since its incorpora-tion in 1942, AER has provided more than $1.6 billion to more than 3.6 million Soldiers, families and retirees.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the scholarship, contact Army Emergency Relief at 301-677-5590. The office is locat-ed at 830 Chisholm Ave. and open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AER now accepting scholarship applications

Better Opportunities for Single Service Members is the voice for the single Soldier, Marine, Seaman and Airman. For more information, contact the Fort Meade Garrison BOSS Representative Cpl. Victoria M. Johnson at 301-677-6868.

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News

By Shari RosenStaff Writer

About five years ago, Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Field was going to be deployed as the lone Air Force representative on a mission to a third-world country.

Field decided to acquire basic defen-sive skills in case she encountered a dangerous situation abroad. But the Air Force, unlike the other service branches, did not offer such a course.

“I wanted that basic, ‘How do I get out of that situation? How do I defend myself long enough to get help?’ ” Field said.

After hearing about the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program from a friend and trying out two sessions, Field was hooked, becoming the first certified female Air Force martial arts instructor.

“The MCMAP is designed where they took experts in multiple fields of martial arts, so it’s not just one [fight-ing] style,” said Field of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Recon-naissance Wing. “They took somebody from jiu-jitsu. They took somebody from tae kwon do and they took some-body from judo. They basically took experts in each of those fields.

“It was designed originally for hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield [when] your weapon doesn’t work.”

The Orange County, Calif., native earned her green belt in 2012 and her instructor tab in July 2014. The green belt is the third highest of five belts, with tan being the lowest and different degrees of black belt the highest.

As a certified green belt, Field com-pleted 30 hours of training and 21 hours of sustaining her belt.

According to the Marines web-site, “The tan belt through green belt emphasizes individual combat tech-niques, both armed and unarmed, and concentrates on building character and developing leadership skills.”

Field, the wife of a former Marine, proved herself capable of this and other skills such as ground fighting, lower body strikes, unarmed manipu-lations and controlling techniques.

“Basically, to progress through the belts, [the Marines] have a set curricu-lum,” she said. “These are the things

Building confidence

480th ISRW NCO hooked on martial arts

you will be able to do when you are at this next belt [level], and then they also have an hours requirement as well.”

Using her instructor tab, which she received at the MCMAP’s headquar-ters in Quantico, Va., Field currently teaches three students at the Gaffney Fitness Center who are close to receiv-ing their tan belts.

“She’s an excellent instructor,” said Marine Cpl. Zach Forciea, a black belt student who works with Field, before his grappling practice. “She takes the time to go over technique. She’ll break it down step-by-step as many times as you need to.”

The tab allows Field to teach mem-bers of all the service branches and test up to a gray belt, the level below her own, and teach up to a green belt.

“Ideally, at least a couple [of my students] will turn around and become instructors themselves,” she said.

Field said she has gained more than just combatant skills from MCMAP.

“A big part of it is just the amount of confidence you get from MCMAP — being able to walk down the street and know that if something happens, you can assert yourself and you can defend yourself long enough to gain control of that situation.

“I’ll do ground fighting with guys who are 50, 60 pounds heavier than me and be able to do moves, and it’s something I never would have thought I would have been capable of,” Field said.

Field plans to continue teaching martial arts classes, which are open to

everyone, in the next two weeks and hopes to encourage more service mem-bers to learn these skill sets.

“As the Air Force as a whole starts doing more and more of these attach-ment deployments, where they’re going out on these one deep, or they are going out attached to units, I defi-nitely think [MCMAP] is something I’d like to see built up in the future,” Field said.

As one of her goals for 2015, Field plans to continue her martial arts training to earn her brown belt.

“It’s been nice to get out from behind the desk and do things I would have never normally done,” Field said.

Editor’s Note: For more information on Field’s martial arts classes, email her at [email protected].

photo by noah scialom

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Field grapples with Marine Cpl. Zach Forciea on Tuesday afternoon at Gaffney Fitness Center. Field is the first female in the Air Force to be certified as a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor.


Cover Story

THERE SHE IS ...

During her visit, Miss America Kira Kazantsev shows off her crown. Friday’s visit was part of the Miss Amer-ica organization’s traditional tour of military installa-tions after a new Miss America is crowned. Kazantsev, who hails from New York, was crowned Miss America at the annual pageant held Sept. 14 in Atlantic City, N.J.

LEFT: Miss America signs a card for Airman 1st Class Jamila Haven at the USO Metro-Fort Meade Center.

Miss America visits Meadephotos by Noah scialom

LEFT: Miss America Kira Kazantsev, 22, shares a laugh with Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley and Garrison Com-mand Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes during her hourlong visit Friday to the USO Metro-Fort Meade Center.


News

By David VergunArmy News Service

The fiscal year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, signed into law last month, significantly chang-es the Uniform Code of Military Justice in cases pertaining to rape and sexual assault.

All of the UCMJ amendments con-tained in the NDAA pertain to inves-tigating and prosecuting sexual assault crimes and victim care, said Lt. Col. John Kiel Jr., chief of policy branch, criminal law division, Office of the Judge Advocate General.

A big change involves Article 32 pre-liminary hearings, Kiel said. First, some background:

The purpose of an Article 32 inves-tigation was at one time “to provide discovery to the defense,” he said. Then, the FY14 NDAA directed that the pur-pose of an Article 32 be “to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that an offense under the UCMJ has been committed and that the accused committed it.”

Article 32 hearings are now modeled after preliminary hearings in the federal criminal system, Kiel said. The FY15 NDAA requires that the preliminary hearing be conducted by a preliminary hearing officer who is a judge advocate and that qualifying victims, as defined in the statute, have a right not to testify at the hearing should they so choose. This right applies to both military and civilian victims.

More than a year ago, the defense secretary directed that each of the ser-vices create a special victims’ counsel program, whereby victims of sexual assault would be entitled to free legal counsel to represent them during all phases of the investigation and courts-martial proceedings.

“By all accounts, the services and Congress are pleased with the success achieved by these programs thus far,” Kiel said.

The FY15 NDAA made three addi-tional modifications.

First, Congress directed that the mili-tary rules of evidence be amended to reflect that wherever a victim has a right to be heard, the victim may exercise that right through his or her counsel, Kiel said.

Second, Congress directed the ser-vice secretaries to publish procedures to ensure that special victims’ counsel

Legislation changes UCMJ for victims of sexual assault

photo by Air Force StAFF Sgt. NicholAS rAu

Changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial have been brought about by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015, which became effective Dec. 26, 2014, according to an expert in the Army’s Office of the Judge Advocate General.

receive adequate notice of the schedul-ing of hearings, trials and other courts-martial proceedings.

Third, victims may now petition the service court of criminal appeals for a writ of mandamus in cases where the victim believes the military judge erred in a ruling pertaining to rape shield evi-dence under Military Rule of Evidence, known as MRE, 412 or violating the psychotherapist-patient privilege under MRE 513.

Writ of mandamus is an order from a superior court to a subordinate govern-ment court to do or refrain from doing something.

Regarding MRE 513, Kiel said the NDAA requires that the existing privi-lege between a psychotherapist and patient be expanded to include other licensed mental health professionals. It also requires that before any protected information may be released, a military judge conduct a closed hearing and apply a number of legal factors first, before ordering the production or dis-closure of any information.

In the FY14 NDAA, Congress

required that commanders who have the discretion to dispose of offenses committed under the UCMJ can no longer consider the general military character of the accused in doing so. In this year’s NDAA, Congress went even further by prohibiting the consideration of general military character during the findings phase of courts-martial pro-ceedings except for a limited number of enumerated offenses where that kind of character evidence would be relevant to the charged offense(s), Kiel said.

CONVENING AUTHORITYCongress also created a system in

the FY14 NDAA whereby any decision not to refer a sexual assault offense to court-martial by a convening authority will be reviewed by a superior com-petent authority, he said. In the case where the convening authority and his or her staff judge advocate disagree about the referral decision, the case will then be sent to the service secretary for review. In the case where both the convening authority and the staff judge advocate agree not to refer, the case will

be reviewed by the next higher conven-ing authority.

The FY15 NDAA created an addi-tional review mechanism, Kiel said. It mandates that in any case where a convening authority decides not to refer a sex assault offense, the chief prosecu-tor of the service may request that the service secretary review it, and if such a request is made, the secretary must review it. The judge advocate general of each service may designate a chief pros-ecutor for purposes of this provision if such a position does not already exist within their respective service.

CARE FOR VICTIMSTwo other changes in the FY15

NDAA apply to the treatment and care of victims of sex assault.

The first mandates that victims of sexual assault crimes be given an opportunity to express a preference as to whether their case is tried by the military or by the local prosecutor, Kiel said. If the victim chooses the latter, the convening authority must ensure that the local prosecutor is made aware of the victim’s preference, understanding that the preference is not binding on the prosecutor. The convening author-ity must inform the victim about the prosecutor’s decision to prosecute or not.

Second, he said, Congress recognized that in the past, some victims of sexual assault may have been discharged from the service and given a discharge less than honorable.

The FY15 NDAA directs that the service secretaries develop a confiden-tial review process utilizing boards for the correction of military records to review the characterization of the dis-charge or separation of any individual who wants to challenge the charac-terization of their discharge on the grounds that it was adversely affected by the individual being the victim of a sex-related offense.

Finally, there are some congres-sional-appointed panels and a panel appointed by the defense secretary to study various aspects of sexual assault in the military and the military justice system in general, Kiel said.

For more information about chang-es to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Office at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.


News

By Lisa FerdinandoArmy News Service

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno has outlined priorities for the incoming sergeant major of the Army.

The first priority, Odierno said, is to work on eliminating sexual assault in the Army, continuing the effort of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III.

“Everybody needs to be involved with that,” Odierno said. “NCOs can have a bigger difference in that than anything else we do, so I need the sergeant major of the Army to continue to help me lead in helping us to eradicate sexual assaults.”

Odierno made the comments during a Google town hall with Chandler, who is retiring at the end of this month.

Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey, until recently the senior enlisted adviser for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Com-mand, is scheduled to replace Chandler.

Odierno said other priorities for the incoming enlisted leader are developing noncommissioned officers of the future,

and focusing on home station training and readiness.

Additionally, the new sergeant major of the Army must ensure Soldiers con-tinue to understand the Army profession and what it means to be a professional.

It is critical the force understands the expectation of leaders and “the ethics and moral values that we value in the Army that makes us different than any-body else in society,” Odierno said.

Chandler, who was sworn in as the 14th sergeant major of the Army on March 1, 2011, said he never thought he would be the Army’s senior enlisted leader.

“I got asked three times before I actu-ally competed,” he said, explaining he did not want to compete before he was in it “100 percent” and able to balance his family commitments with his obligations to the position.

“I had a mentor who came to talk to me about it and that’s when I chose to compete,” Chandler said.

Looking back, Chandler credits his

success to one of his mentors, Staff Sgt. Lou Tallini, an American Samoan who was his first tank commander.

“Tallini could not read — that was back in 1981 — but he was a phenomenal leader,” Chandler said.

Chandler remembered how Tallini took him under his wing and said, “ ‘Hey, you’re kind of a punk and you don’t really want to listen. If you will just listen to what I tell you, you will be successful in the Army.’ ”

Chandler said he learned and grew from the experience as a young enlisted Soldier with a positive role model.

“I had somebody who I could look up to who inspired me to be better than I was and to challenge me on a daily basis,” he said.

Chandler said he chose to make the Army a career because of the profession-alism and leadership of Tallini. The les-sons from his mentor followed Chandler throughout his military career.

“I attribute my success to a great part of him and his leadership,” Chandler said.

Odierno outlines priorities for Army’s new top enlisted leader

‘... I need the sergeant major of the Army to continue to help me lead in helping us to eradicate sexual assaults.’

Gen. Ray Odierno Army Chief of Staff

ACS offers class on repaying student loansArmy Community Service

An education is a good thing, but not at any cost.Student loan debt eclipsed credit card debt in 2010. Some Americans literally have

a mortgage on themselves, and may not have even earned a degree.The crushing weight of this debt, along with poor employment opportunities over

the past seven years, have caused these individuals to delay purchasing their first home, and postpone marriages and children.

It is very difficult to extricate yourself from student loan debt, as it can only be forgiven under extreme circumstances rather than normal bankruptcy proceedings.

This debt will follow you into retirement when your Social Security benefits can be garnished. In spite of robust educational benefits, service members are not immune.

At Army Community Service, financial counselors routinely meet with service members struggling with student loans. Clients often have questions about loan defer-ment, loan consolidation, income-based repayment and public service forgiveness.

Much confusion exists between federal loans and private loans. To help the com-munity better understand their repayment options, ACS is offering the class “Repay-ing Student Loans.”

The class, presented by Leanna Rahll, will be held Jan. 26 from 9-11 a.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

To register or for more information, go to FortMeadeACS.checkappointments.com or call 301-677-5590.

Have an improvement? Your comments and suggestions will help maintain the quality of

excellence on Fort Meade.

ICE InteractiveCustomer Evaluation

Visit: https://ice.disa.mil


weekends and federal holidays.The full-service pharmacy fills

prescriptions written by providers from Military Treatment Facilities (including Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center) and off-post providers.

The facility is the sole location for refill prescriptions on Fort Meade. The refill pharmacy at Kimbrough is no longer operational. All refill prescriptions that have not been picked at Kimbrough must be picked up at the new PX Pharmacy.

All refills at the PX Pharmacy are required to be called in through the automated pharmacy refill line at 1-800-377-1723.

Follow the appropriate prompts to ensure refills are filled and ready for pickup. Allow 72 hours for refills to be processed.

Team Trivia NightTrivia Maryland, Team Trivia Night

is held every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at The Lounge at The Lanes.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. Game starts at 7 p.m.

Teams must have a minimum of two people and a maximum of 10.

Weekly prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.

For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Lunch and Learn SeriesKimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

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 [email protected] or call Editor Dijon Rolle at 301-677-6806.

Fort Gordon town hall at Fort Belvoir

Representatives from Fort Gordon and the greater Augusta, Ga., area will present a town hall-style series of presentations and exhibits for Army Cyber Command personnel on Jan. 28 at the Belvoir Com-munity Center at Fort Belvoir, Va.

The event is designed to provide infor-mation about the area to personnel who may relocate to Georgia when ARCY-BER moves to Fort Gordon.

The town hall will begin with a series of briefings at 9:30 a.m., followed by the opportunity to explore exhibits and dis-plays and ask questions.

Although the town hall is intended pri-marily for ARCYBER personnel, every-one is welcome.

Pepper Road gate openThe Pepper Road gate is now open for

pedestrians and cyclists Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pepper Road is located toward the southeast corner of Fort Meade near Range Control and Route 32.

Cars and other motorized vehicles are not authorized through the gate.

Kimbrough holiday closures

Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center will be closed Friday for a training holiday and Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

To reach Nurse Advice or Urgent Care during closures, call 301-677-8800.

PX Pharmacy opensThe new Post Exchange Pharmacy

opened Monday near the GameStop video game store.

Hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pharmacy is closed

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION

file photo

COOKING MATTERS COMMISSARy TOuRSThe next Cooking Matters Commissary Tours & Challenge are Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the commissary.Tours are free and open to all eligible commissary patrons.Hands-on store tours are offered every hour and teach participants the skills to compare foods for cost and nutrition. Select tours will receive a $10 coupon.To sign up for the event, go to http://cmatscommissaryfm.eventbrite.com. For more information, email [email protected].

hosts a brown bag Lunch and Learn series on the first floor of the Rascon Center (Bldg. 2481), adjacent to Kimbrough.

The next lunch is Feb. 10 at noon.Megan O’Connell, an integrated

behavioral health consultant, will present “Resilience: Learning to Thrive in Uncertain Times.”

The 20-30 minute lecture will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The series is open to the public. Bring lunch.

For more information, call Maj. Anne Spillane at 301-677-8463.

Financial, Employment Readiness

Army Community Service offers Financial Readiness and Employment Readiness: classes to all ranks and services and to DoD civilian employees at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Registration is required for each class.Financial Readiness:• Car Buying: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon• Repaying Student Loans: Jan. 26,

9-11 a.m.• Basics of Investing: Jan. 27, 9-11

a.m.• First-Term Financial Readiness

(Online): Jan. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Employment Readiness:• Social Media for Job Seekers: Wednes-

day, 8 a.m. to noonTo register or for more information,

call 301-677-5590 or go to fortmeadeacs.checkappointments.com.

Free classesThe Navy Fleet and Family Support

Center offers a variety of classes at its facility at 2212 Chisholm Ave.

The free classes are open to DoD ID cardholders including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

• Resume Writing Workshop: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon

• Pre-Separation Brief: Jan. 22, 9-10 a.m.

• Pre-Deployment Brief: Jan. 22, 10-11:30 a.m.

• Retirement Brief: Jan. 26, 8-11:30 a.m. (if within two years of retirement)

• Career Exploration: Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to noon

Learn about your personality preferences, values and interests and how to utilize them to achieve success.

• Common-Sense Parenting: Jan. 29, 9-10 a.m.

Registration is required for each class.



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

StorytimeThe Children’s Library offers pre-

kindergarten Storytime on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Kuhn Hall, 4415 Llewellyn Ave.

• Today: “Snow Happy!” - Songs and finger plays about winter

• Jan. 22: “Toys, Toys & More Toys” — Stories, songs and finger plays about toys

• Jan. 29: “Ice is Nice” — Storytime about penguins and polar bears


Flavors of the WorldThe Youth Center is offering “Flavors

of the World” to grades six to eight on Sunday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The program provides a sampling of spicy foods from India, Asia and Latin America

This event is free.For more information or to register,

call 301-677-1437.

Weekly playgroupChildren ages 4 and under are invited

to a weekly playgroup held every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.

The playgroup features a variety of engaging activities to build strong parent-child relationships.

Space is limited. Registration is required for each session.


Out & About• Port Discovery Children’s Museum

is offering Martin Luther King Jr. Community Day, a free day of special programs and performances that celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday at 35 Market Place, Baltimore.

Admission is limited to museum capacity.

Programs include: Negro League Baseball Museum, Meet and Greet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; “Once Upon

a Doorstep: Happy Birthday MLK” at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Baltimore African-American Quilters - Painting of Squares from noon to 3 p.m.; Doves of Peace at noon and 3 p.m.; Wildlife Adventures - African Animals from 1-4 p.m.; “Kindersinger: Happy Birthday MLK” at 1 and 1:30 p.m.; Make a Birthday Card for MLK from 1-3 p.m.; and Jingle Jangle Music Time at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call 410-727-8120 or go to portdiscovery.org.

• BOSS is offering a sightseeing day trip to Washington, D.C., for single service members on Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes transportation

For more information, email your BOSS rep or [email protected].

• The Maryland Horse World Expo will be held Friday from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Maryland State Fairgounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium.

General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Cash only at door. No pets allowed.

The event will feature seminars and clinics, mounted demonstrations, a musical equine variety show, a Young Rider Learning Center, pony rides, a children’s activity area, and venders selling horse products and services.

For more information, call 301-916-0852 or go to http://www.horseworldexpo.com.

• The 19th Annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Maryland will be held Jan. 24 at Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E. College Parkway, Annapolis.

Registration is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Minimum of $75 in donations required. For more information, go to plungemd.com.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering its next monthly bus trip to New York City on Feb. 7, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $60. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda on the third Thursday of every month. The next meeting is today from 1-2 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the America Building, River Conference Room (next to the Prostate Center), third floor.

Spouses/partners are invited. Military ID is required for base access. Men without a military ID should call the Prostate Center at 301-319-2900 at least two days prior to the event for base access.

For more information, call retired Col. Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or email [email protected].

• Meade Area Garden Club’s next monthly meeting is Friday at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community Hall on the corner of Route 175 and Wigley Avenue.

Samuel Droege, wildlife biologist at the Patuxent Wildlife Center in Beltsville, will present the program “Native Bees in Our Gardens and Yards.”

This meeting also will be a surprise 100th birthday celebration for one of its members, Marion Jordan, who also is a member of the Fort Meade Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club.

The program is open to everyone. Refreshments will be served. No reservations are necessary.

If you attend one meeting as a guest or drop-in, and want to continue to come to the programs, you must join the garden club for the annual membership fee of $20.

For more information, call Jenny Garcia, membership chairman, at 443-949-8348, or Sharon Durney, club president, at 410-761-5019.

• Swinging Squares Square Dance Club dances the first and third Saturday of the month from 7:30-10 p.m. through May at Meade Middle School. The next dance is Saturday. Admission is $6. Square dance attire is optional.

Dance classes are offered Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Meade Middle School. Each class costs $6.

For more information, call Darlene at 410-519-2536 or Carl at 410-271-8776.

• Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center. Children welcome. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email [email protected].

• Retired Enlisted Association meets the third Tuesday of the month from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant, 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is Tuesday. For more information, visit trea.org or call Elliott Phillips, the local president, at 443-790-3805 or Arthur R. Cooper, past national president, at 443-336-1230.

• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 3-4 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Jan. 26. For more information,

call Celena Flowers or Jessica Hobgood at 301-677-5590.

• Calling All Dads meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd. The next meeting is Jan. 26.

The group is for expecting fathers, and fathers with children of all ages. Children welcome. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email [email protected].

• Military District of Washington Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meets the third Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Dining Facility in Virginia. The next meeting is Wednesday. All members and those interested in joining the club are welcome. For more information, contact Master Sgt. Erica Lehmkuhl at [email protected] or 301-833-8415.

• Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 254 meets the third Wednesday of every month from 3-4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Airman Leadership School, 8470 Zimborski Ave. The next meeting is Wednesday. For more information, call 831-521-9251 or go to AFSA254.org.

• Society of Military Widows meets for brunch the fourth Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Lanes. The next meeting is Jan. 25. For more information, call Betty Jones at 410-992-1123.

• Women’s Empowerment Group meets Wednesdays from 2-3:30 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 Samantha Herring, victim advocate, at 301-677-4124 or Katherine Lamourt, victim advocate, at 301-677-4117.

• Moms Walking Group, sponsored by Parent Support, meets Thursdays from 8:30-9:15 a.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. To register, call Colaina Townsend or Michelle Pineda at 301-677-5590.

• Project Healing Waters meets Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.

The project is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of wounded warriors and veterans through fly fishing, fly tying and outings.

For more information, call Larry Vawter, program leader, at 443-535-5074 or email [email protected].

• Dancing with the Heroes, free ballroom dance lessons for the Warrior Transition

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18



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 Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12 and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies: $7.50 adults, $5 children.

Today through Jan. 25

Friday & Sunday: “The Pyramid” (R). An archae-ological team attempts to unlock the secrets of a lost pyramid only to find themselves hunted by an insidious creature. With Ashley Hinshaw, James Buckley, Denis O’Hare.

Saturday: “Penguins of Madagascar” (PG). Skip-per, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it. With the voices of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights.

Jan. 23 & 25: “Wild” (R). A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe. With Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoff-mann.

Jan. 24: “Top Five” (R). A comedian tries to make it as a serious actor when his reality-TV star fian-cée talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her TV show. With Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union.

Unit, meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center in the seminar room.

Participants should wear loose clothing, comfortable shoes with leather soles. No super high heels or flip-flops.

• Spanish Christian Service is conducted Sundays at 1 p.m. at the Cavalry Chapel located at 8465 Simonds St. and 6th Armored Cavalry Road.

For more information, call Elias Mendez at 301-677-7314 or 407-350-8749.

• Couples Communication Group, sponsored by Army Community Services, meets every Monday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

For more information, call Celena Flowers or Katherine Lamourt at 301-677-5590.

• 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 Christopher Lassiter at [email protected] or Committee Chairperson Marco Cilibert 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 ages 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at [email protected] or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at [email protected].

• Catholic Women of the Chapel meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. for prayer and Bible study in the Main Post Chapel, 4419 Llewellyn Ave. Monthly programs are held Mondays at 6:30 p.m. The group is open to all women in the community ages 18 and older — active duty, retiree and civilian — for prayer, faith fellowship, and service. For more information, email Mariana Yinh at [email protected].

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members at 8068 Quarterfield Rd. 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 4-6 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.

• Odenton Masonic Center, located at 1206 Stehlik Drive, invites the community,

local military, fire/emergency services and local businesses to enjoy its breakfast and specialty dinners.

The center offers a fundraising “all-you-can-eat” breakfast every second Sunday from 7-11 a.m. Fundraising specialty dinners are held the third Friday of the month from 5-7 p.m.

Menus vary and are listed on the center’s website at odentonlodge209.net.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club Meade.

The next prayer breakfast is Feb. 5.There is no cost for the buffet.

Donations are optional. All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited.

For more information, call 301-677-6703.• 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 Annapo-lis Road, Odenton, in the banquet hall in back of the building. The next meeting is Feb. 5. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County offers 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 Feb. 5. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• New Spouse Connection meets the second Monday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Feb. 9. The program provides an opportunity for all spouses new to the military or to Fort Meade to meet and get connected. For more infor-mation, contact Pia Morales at [email protected] or 301-677-4110.

• Fort Meade TOP III Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is Feb. 11. 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 Feb. 13.

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, go to e9association.org.

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Saturday of

MEETINGS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

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; closed 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 175

CLOSED until further notice

Gate 5: Llewellyn Avenue and Maryland Route 175

6 to 9 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

each month at 10 a.m. at VFW Post 160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. The next meeting is Feb. 14. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited.

For more information, call 443-604-2474 or 410-768-6288.


SportS

I wanted to call this week’s column: “When a catch isn’t a catch and other things somewhat Jibberish.”

But since the Soundoff! tabloid format doesn’t provide enough picas to write such a banner headline at an acceptable font size (at least 20-point), you’re going to have to settle for whatever our graphic designer Tim Davis decided on.

I’m sure it will have something to do with either the Orioles or WrestleMania since that is all he cares about.

Well let me tell you something, broth-er! This week’s condensed version isn’t going to include anything about the AL East Champions or John Cena.

And if you think I’m going to waste a single column inch talking about Ohio’s improbable run to the national cham-pionship and how their smackdown of Oregon marked the return of the Big Ten, then you are sadly mistaken.

I will spend a line or two talking about how the Ducks proved once again that the two-hand touch style of football they play on the Left Coast looks pretty until the tackling starts.

I’ll also give Ohio two thumbs down for its predictably classless celebration where the yokels in Columbus kissed, tore down a goal post, started some Dumpster fires and then got some tear gas. O-H- Oh, no. bit.ly/1DEaRF8

Then there’s the debacle in Green Bay.

Last week I was the first person to shut down whiny Detroit Lions fans who

complained the refs cost them the game against the Cowboys when they called off a blatant pass interference penalty.

One play rare-ly, if ever, determines the outcome of a game. So it would be disingenuous for me to say the refs cost Dallas the game against the Packers. Of course, when it comes to the Cowboys, my straightfor-wardness means little.

So, let me be clear. The refs robbed the Cowboys from a trip to the NFC Cham-pionship game when they took away Dez Bryant’s amazing catch that would have put them 6 inches away from a go-ahead touchdown. bit.ly/1xXD06L

If three steps and a lunge do not constitute control, then I do not know what does.

The only good thing that came from Sunday’s blown call is that my preseason Super Bowl prediction of Seattle versus New England looks like a lock. That, and I had no problem vomiting Sunday.

I’ll see you after the Detroit Auto Show and my first hockey game in ages.

Until then ...If you have comments on this or any-

thing to do with sports, contact me at [email protected] or hit me up on Twitter @CTJibber.

OriolesMania - or when a catch isn’t a catch

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOnSports Shorts2015 Run Series Schedule

The Fort Meade Run Series will resume in April.There will be a total of seven 5K runs and 1-mile walks throughout the

year with a variety of themes:• Earth Day 5K and 1-Mile Walk: April 18, 8 a.m., Burba Lake Park• Patriot Pride 5K/10K: May 16, 8 a.m., Murphy Field House• Army Birthday Summer Sizzler 5K: June 13, 8 a.m., The Pavilion• Football Fanfare 5K: Sept. 19, 8 a.m., Constitution Park• Ghost, Ghouls & Ghoblins 5K: Oct. 24, 8 a.m., The Pavilion• Turkey Trot 5K: Nov. 21, 8 a.m., Murphy Field House• Reindeer Run 5K: Dec. 19, 8 a.m., Murphy Field House

Youth spring sportsRegistration for spring sports is underway.Spring sports include baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, basketball, track,

NFL flag football and soccer.To register online, go to ftmeademwr.com.For more information, call 301-677-1179.

Youth Sports seeks volunteer coachesVolunteer coaches are needed for baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse,

basketball, track, NFL flag football, and soccer.All volunteers will receive free training and will be certified through the

National Youth Sports Coaches Association.All volunteers must complete a background check.Apply at the Child, Youth and School Services’ Youth Sports & Fitness

Office at 1900 Reece Road.For more information, call 301-677-1179 or 301-677-1329.

Tae kwon doChild, Youth

and School Services offers tae kwon do classes for youths of all ages Tuesdays and Thursday at the Youth Center.

Classes are broken into different age groups. Cost is $45 for ages 4 to 6 and $85 for ages 7–17.


Dollar DaysDollar Days at the Lanes are offered every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11

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.

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

• Basketball• Football

• Softball• Soccer

Find schedules, scores, standings and upcoming seasons for

All-Army athletics, new sports and special events at

And more, plus

Soundoff January 15, 2015

News & Politics

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