Soundoff Year In Review, 2014

vol. 66 no. 51 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community December 31, 2014

YEAR IN REvIEwSoundoff´

by shawn sales, fort meade visual information

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! December 31, 2014

The following is a compilation of stories and photos that made news on Fort Meade throughout the year of 2014.

It was a year of grand openings, weather closings and anniversary celebrations of the Defense Information School and the Main Post Chapel.

Highlights included: the opening of Reece Cross-ings housing complex, the AAFES Express and Exchange, and a farmer’s market; the first Cyber Installation Support Summit; and the announcement of federal funding to widen Route 175.

We’re sure you’ll agree 2014 was an exciting year at Fort Meade!

Mina, the daughter of Heritage Park resident Amy Jorgensen, makes a snow angel Jan. 21 after a storm delivered 7 inches of snow to Fort Meade.

photo by amy jorgensen

Cont ent s Commander’s Column . 3 sports ..................................14

year in review .............. 2 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

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2014 Year in Review

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil December 31, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

Hello again, Team Meade!We have reached the end of one of

the busiest and most productive years our installation has had in a very long time.

Fort Meade made huge progress on many fronts this year, all thanks to the hard work and partnership of every member of this great community. Your effort has not gone unnoticed, and we can see the results in construction, renovation, paving and main-tenance projects going on everywhere.

At the start of 2014, Fort Meade was not on the Army’s map — I simply can’t think of a better way to put it. Fort Gordon, Ga., had been named the Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence and future home of Army Cyber Command, and all eyes were turned to Augusta in an effort to build and resource needed infrastructure there.

In February, I literally raised my hand while in San Antonio at Installation Man-agement Command Headquarters, and reminded the IMCOM staff that there was another Army fort up north in Maryland that is home of U.S. Cyber Command, and the National Security Agency, and the Defense Information Systems Agency, and Marine Corps Cyberspace Command, and the Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command, and $1.8 billion worth of facility construction … and

that we also need infrastructure resourcing help.

After the staff asked me which Army garrison I command, things literally began to change.

On June 6, Lt. Gen. David Halverson, the new Installation Management command-ing general, spent the entire day at Fort Meade. He met with Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Com-mand and director of the National Security Agency and Central Security Service, and saw our massive growth from the ground and air. He left with a clear understanding of our needs and directed an immediate staff assistance visit.

Fort Meade was added to the IMCOM “All Things Cyber” brief, which to that point had no mention of Fort Meade.

In October, we hosted the first IMCOM “Cyber Installation Support Summit,” dur-ing which all service cyber commands briefed their growth at Forts Meade and Gordon over the next five years. The garrisons briefed infrastructure needed to support growth, and the information and require-ments gathered at the summit will be briefed to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno in the second week of January.

Today we are squarely in the middle of

the Army’s cyber map. It is now understood that Fort Meade is home to five of the top seven DoD cyber commands, and as such, is our nation’s primary operational platform for cyber defense.

The aperture of discussion has widened from “Growth of ARCYBER at Fort Gor-don” to “Joint Service Cyber Growth on Army Installations.” Lt. Gen. Halverson and Undersecretary of the Army Brad Carson both have the requirement “$57.5 million to widen Fort Meade’s roads and access control points” squarely in the front of their minds, and I am confident Fort Meade will be resourced appropriately from here on out.

We reaped the benefits of increased awareness at the end of the fiscal year, with a total of $57.4 million (more than any other installation in the Army) pushed to us by close of business on Sept. 30 for long-over-due renovation work. We have already seen that money put to good use in the repaving going on across the post.

In the months ahead, we will see Hale Hall finally repaired, Van Deman Hall fully renovated, a new commissary parking lot installed, new sidewalks down Cooper Avenue, new parking lots for School Age Services and Child Development Center II, and the list goes on and on.

Partnership with the state of Maryland also hit an all-time high in October with the announcement of full funding to widen Route 175 to six lanes, from Route 295 South to Odenton. No Army installation gets better support from its state govern-ment than Fort Meade. As proof, we saw work along Route 175 begin this year. Our fence line was moved, and underground util-ity work completed to start the project.

In 2015, we will see Mapes and Reece intersections modernized. In 2016, widen-ing between Disney and Reece roads will begin.

Enabling growth continued across post at record pace in 2014. We broke ground on Candlewood Suites, our new temporary lodging hotel on track to open in December 2015. We broke ground on CDC IV and V, so by 2016 we will finally have a 24-hour day care capability on the installation.

We cut the ribbon on our new Shoppette and gas station on Mapes Road; on Reece Crossings, the Army’s first garden apart-ment complex for single, unaccompanied, junior service members in grade’s E5 and below; and on new headquarters for the 780th Cyber Brigade.

We also opened our new 167,000-square-foot AAFES Exchange and mall. (A formal

r i bb o n -c u t t i n g ceremony will be held in 2 0 1 5 after the old Post Exchange is demolished and the new parking lot finished.)

Most importantly, we welcomed many new members to the Team Meade commu-nity, and bid farewell to several long-serving veterans. Chief among the welcomes were Rogers and his wife, Dana.

Farewelling Gen. Keith B. Alexander and his wife, Debbie, was difficult after their eight years of dedicated service to Fort Meade, but it was made much easier by the Rogers family, who have already made a huge, positive impact on our community.

We also farewelled Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Latter in August. The command sergeant major made a huge, pos-itive contribution to Fort Meade during his two-year tour before deploying to Afghani-stan in September. We are thankful that Teri Latter remained here and continues to serve as an active member of Team Meade.

The Latters were replaced by “Team Forbes” in August and we couldn’t possibly be luckier! Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes and his wife, Pat, are passionate and caring leaders who bring out the best in all.

Finally, we said goodbye to two of the longest-serving members of Team Meade. Child, Youth and School Services Chief Lida-M H Payne retired in February after 39 years on Fort Meade. Lida grew up as a military child on Fort Meade and remained here for her entire adult working life, caring for our children as if they were her own.

Lynn Durner also retired this year after 37 years as the executive assistant in our Religious Support Office. She was the back-bone of religious support on Fort Meade for the past four decades, and both ladies will remain fixtures of our Team Meade com-munity forever.

So I’d say 2014 was a pretty good year, and 2015 holds many more bright days ahead.

On behalf of my wife, Lee, our children Mary Claire and Liam, and our dog Buddy, I want to thank each of you for your dedicated service. Our nation is stronger and safer today, thanks to your hard work.

Please continue to have a safe and restful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you around campus in 2015.

2014 was a ‘pretty’ good year 2014 Year in Review - Commander’s Column

COL. Brian P. FOLeyGarrison Commander

photo by nate pesCe

From left: Former Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Latter, Garrison Commander Brian P. Foley and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes salute during a change-of-responsibility ceremony Aug. 12. Forbes assumed responsibility from Latter, who served as the garrison’s senior enlisted advisor for two years.


2014 Year in Review

photo by nate pesCe

Col. Timothy Holtan, former commander and conductor of the U.S. Army Field Band, leads the ensemble in selections from “The Nutcracker Suite” during his final “Sound the Bells: A Holiday Celebration” concert on Dec. 3 at Arundel High School. Holtan, who served as the Field Band’s commander for three years, relinquished command Dec. 8 to command the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” on Dec. 12.

RIGHT: Coast Guard Seaman Kevin Malmrose, serving as drill instructor,

inspects Zhairi Birondo Vue’s posture and hat during the USO-Metro’s

Operation Boot Camp on May 10 at the USO-Metro Fort Meade Center. The

daylong program gave military children ages 12 to 17 a glimpse of what their

parents experienced in boot camp.

photo by steve ellmore

Marines from Marine Detachment Fort Meade gather the flag after Retreat March 6 at McGlachlin Parade Field. Retreat marks the end of the duty day.

Abby Crosgrove,

one of nearly 500 Meade

High School seniors,

celebrates at their

graduation ceremony held June

10 in Upper Marlboro.

photo by nate pesCe

photo by phil grout

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

December 31, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

December 31, 2014 SOUNDOFF! �

2014 Year in Review

photo by nate pesCe

Army spouse Carrie Warfel’s four children — Kayla Scott, 17, Alex, 8, Payton, 6, and Julius, 12 — sing along with Lady Antebellum. The country band surprised Warfel on Oct. 2 at Burba Lake park as part of its “7For7” initiative to surprise seven fans over the course of seven days to promote its new album “747.”

photo by nate pesCe

Col. Michele H. Bredenkamp assumes command of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade in a ceremony held July 1. Many other units and organizations on post also had changes of command this year.

photo by phil grout

Mark H. Rooney, a professional taiko drummer and instructor, performs with drummers from the U.S. Army Field Band’s Concert Band in celebration of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 30 at the Pavilion.

photo by nate pesCe

Three-year-old Ceraeya Guyton scrambles to collect eggs during Child, Youth and School Services’ Easter egg hunt Aug. 12 at the Youth Center.

photo by daniel kuCin jr.

Spc. Johnathan Mendoza shows off his obedience training skills with his military working dog Canto at the Gordon L. Currier Jr. Military Working Dog Kennel at Fort Meade. The duo attended an eight-week pilot Advanced Military Working Dog Course in North Carolina, where Canto was awarded the honor of “Top Dog.”


photo by nate pesCe

Spc. Alvin Wallace and Spc. Garry Davis of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade play air hockey in the clubhouse of Reece Crossings during the June 18 grand opening of the complex’s first three buildings. The Corvias Military Living’s Army residential community was built for single, unaccompanied, junior enlisted service members.

2014 Year in Review

LEFT: A woman shops for fresh vegetables at the new Fort Meade Farmer’s Market that opened May 21 in the Smallwood Hall parking lot. The farmers market is part of the garrison’s participation in the Healthy Base Initiative, a DoD demonstration project designed to improve the health and wellness of service members, DoD civilians and family members.

photo by nate pesCe

Retired Sgt. Thomas Johnson, 89, who served in the 3rd Infantry Division during World War II, gets a hand from Maj. Michelle Ambersley as she escorts him to get his flu shot during the 39th annual Retiree Appreciation Day held Sept. 26 at McGill Training Center. More than 400 retirees and their spouses attended the daylong event.

photo by steve ellmore


2014 Year in Review

photo Courtesy anne arundel Fire department

Units from Fort Meade’s Fire and Emergency Services are the first to arrive at a three-alarm fire March 7 at Seven Oaks apartment complex in Odenton that damaged 10 apartments and displaced nine Fort Meade families. It took more than three hours to extinguish the flames, which were coming from an attic. No one was injured.

photo by nate pesCe

photo by nate pesCe

Eleven-year-old Steven Weeks of Boy Scout Troop 119 places a retired American flag into the fire during a flag retirement ceremony held June 14 at the Camp Meade RV Park in observance of Flag Day. The Scouts retired nearly a dozen worn, torn, faded or heavily soiled flags, ceremonially burning them in a fire pit at the campground.

BELOW: Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service, serves as grand marshal of the 28th Annual Massing of the Colors and Memorial Day Remembrance held May 18 at the Pavilion. Rogers attended several events on Fort Meade this year.

photo by daniel kuCin jr.

“Wildwood Witch” Teah Gibson sings with her cast of cooks during a performance of “Hansel and Gretel,” produced by the Missoula Children’s Theatre on July 26 at McGill Training Center. Nearly 50 youths, ages 5-17, participated in the hourlong musical during Missoula’s weeklong theater day camp.


January 2014 Year in Review February

photo by nate pesce

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri talks with Marine Pfc. Sergio Ramirez Romero (second from left), Marine Pfc. Sara Graham (right) and other service members during her visit to the Fort Meade USO-Metro on Jan. 22 to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math.

JANUARY• A polar vortex brings to Fort Meade

the coldest arctic air that the area has faced in two decades.

• Soldiers from the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion judge MacArthur Middle School’s science fair on Jan. 7. Ten of the 95 submitted projects com-peted at the county level.

• Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley presents Fort Meade’s Residen-tial Communities Initiative and Corvias Military Housing with the Army’s RCI Asset Management 2012 Top RCI Project Award on Jan. 8.

• Winter Storm Janus hits Anne Arun-del County on Jan. 21, covering the area in snow including seven inches at BWI Airport. The fast-moving storm closed Anne Arundel County Public Schools for two days.

• Volunteers from Better Opportuni-ties for Single Soldiers participate in the annual wreath cleanup at Arlington National Cemetery.

FEBRUARY• The Defense Information School

kicks off its 50th anniversary with an opening celebration on Jan. 28.

• Jake Neslony, a sixth-grader at MacArthur Middle School who lives on Fort Meade, uses the deployment of his father Capt. Timothy Neslony of the 7th Intelligence Squadron to Iraq as inspira-tion for his self-published book “Daddy’s Deployment.”

• Military spouses say goodbye as they honor Debbie Alexander in a luncheon Feb. 18 at Club Meade. Alexander served as leader of the military spouse commu-nity on Fort Meade for nine years before the retirement of her husband, Gen. Keith B. Alexander, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of Central Security Service.

• Michael Smith, a supervisory chem-ist at Fort Meade’s Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, wins a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences on Feb. 21.

• Fort Meade’s Installation Reserva-tion and Military Munitions Response Program receives the Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for Environ-mental Restorations for its work in 2012 and 2013.

• The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Doty, master instructor in the Visual Communications Department at the Defense Information School, in a ceremony held Feb. 21 at

DINFOS for the heroism he displayed during his deployment in Afghanistan.

• Thomas J Schoenbeck, regional direc-tor of Installation Management Com-mand for the U.S. Army’s Central Region, visits Fort Meade on Feb. 21 and speaks with garrison leaders. Schoenbeck is responsible for management and execu-tion of all installation management pro-grams of active and Reserve components at 26 installations.

• Child, Youth and School Services Chief Lida-M H Payne retires Feb. 21 after 39 years of service on Fort Meade.

• A retirement ceremony is held Feb. 27 for Garrison Chaplain (Col.) Carl R. Rau after nearly three decades of service.

Deionna Fye pushes her daughter Martha downhill near Burba Lake Park after a snowstorm dropped 10 to 12.5

inches of snow Feb. 12-13 in Anne Arundel County, forcing the installation

to close two days.

photo by nate pesce


March 2014 Year in Review April

photo by brandon bieltz

Capt. John Barbee of the 200th Military Police Command shows first-grader Mikayla Jones where to stand in formation during Manor View Elementary’s celebration of the Month of the Military Child held April 11.

photo by nate pesce

Members of a School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills (SKIES) dance group wait to perform April 26 at McGill Training Center as part of Fort Meade’s Family Fun Fair, which returned after a year hiatus.

photo by noah scialom

Manuel Villabla fills up at the Army and Air Force Exchange Services’ Express located at Mapes and 6th Armored Cavalry roads. The retail portion of the new $5.6 million facility, including six gas pumps, opened March 21.

MARCH• To highlight its nutritious menu, the

Freedom Inn Dining Facility launches its own Facebook page as part of the facility’s partici-pation in the DoD’s Healthy Base Initiative, a one-year demonstration project to improve the health and wellness of service members, DoD civilians and their families.

• The Fort Meade Community Credit Union wins the “Dump Your Plump” weight loss competition, losing a combined average of 9.2 percent body fat, at an award ceremony March 5 at Gaffney Fitness Center. In total, all 47 contestants lost a combined 494 pounds.

• A three-alarm fire on March 7 damages 10 apartments in the Seven Oaks apartment complex, affecting nine Fort Meade families from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

• Officer Anthony L. Robinson of the Police Services Division at Fort Meade is named the Department of the Army Civilian Police Officer of the Year for the Military District of Washington in a ceremony March 25 at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

At the ceremony, the Fort Meade Director-ate of Emergency Services is awarded for the Best (Policing) Practices of the Year for the

Military District of Washington.

APRIL• Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers assumes

command of U.S. Cyber Command and becomes director of the National Security Agency and the Central Security Service dur-ing a ceremony April 3 on Fort Meade. He succeedes Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, who retired March 28.

• Fort Meade volunteers are honored for saving the installation $5,401,000 through their service at the annual Volunteer Award Ceremony held April 10 in Glen Burnie.

• The 902nd Military Intelligence Group activates the 752nd MI Battalion, a Reserve unit with detachments in Georgia, Texas and California, during a ceremony held April 18 at Fort Meade. Lt. Col. Anthony Callandrillo is the battalion’s first commander.

• Contractor Dave Jensen, who served with the Asymmetric Warfare Group as an opera-tional advisor until 2013, is awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan in 2012.

• Fort Meade garrison leaders and children break ground on April 18 for two more Child Development Centers that will be constructed at the intersection on Ernie Pyle and 5th streets.

• During a brief ceremony on April 23, Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade replace the U.S. Army Intelligence Security Command patch with their own unit shoulder sleeve insignia.

• The Fort Meade Environmental Division’s Installation Restoration and Military Muni-tions Response Program team is presented with the 2013 Secretary of the Army Environ-mental Award for Environmental Restorations in a ceremony held April 23 at the Pavilion.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! December 31, 2014

May 2014 Year in Review June

PHOTO BY NOAH SCIALOM

Katie, a Sesame Street muppet, greets children during the “Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families,” a 30-minute song and dance extravaganza, performed May 16 at McGill Training Center. Katie is portrayed by Anja Young, a former Fort Meade military child.

PHOTO BY NOAH SCIALOM

Soldiers perform onstage in the Army’s Soldier Show presented June 13 at Murphy Field House. The production paid tribute to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and focused on core Army values.

Staff Sgt. Danny Goodwin, Army 3rd Battalion/312th Regiment, stands with the regiment’s colors before the procession of Fort Meade’s 28th Annual Massing of the Colors and Memorial Day of Remembrance into the Pavilion on May 18. The two-hour event was hosted by the General George G. Meade chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Fort Meade garrison.

PHOTO BY NATE PESCE

MAY• The USO-Metro’s Operation Boot

Camp, which provides children with first-hand boot camp experience, is held May 3 on the installation with modified physical training, an obstacle course, academics and formation training.

• Brig, Gen. Phillip Churn assumes command of the 200th Military Police Command in a change-of-command cere-mony on May 4 at historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Baltimore.

• Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service, is grand marshal of the 28th Annual Massing of the Colors and Memorial Day Remem-brance on May 18 at the Pavilion.

• State leaders announce May 19 at a ceremony in Bethesda that $4 million in funding will be allocated to expand Route 175 from four to six lanes and for design upgrades to the Routes 198 and 295 interchange.

• Fort Meade’s Farmer’s Market, part of the DoD’s Healthy Base Initiative, opens May 21 at the Smallwood Hall parking lot.

• The Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation conducts a flag ceremony May 30 in the Battle of the Bulge Con-ference Room at the Medal of Honor Memorial Library to recognize the part-nership between Belgium, Luxembourg and the United States in the decades after

the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

JUNE

• Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson, command-ing general of Installation Management Com-mand and assistant chief of staff for Installa-tion Management, tours the installation June 6 and meets with the garrison’s senior leaders.

• Several generations of service members

come together June 12 at Club Meade to celebrate the Army’s 239th birthday.

• Fort Meade conducts a mandatory full-scale training exercise, which tests the instal-lation’s response force in the event of attack, on June 17 at Murphy Field House.

• The first three buildings and clubhouse of the Corvias Military Living’s Reece Crossings Army residential community, built for unac-companied, junior service members, opens

June 18.• The Fort Meade Commissary partici-

pates in the “Your Healthy Lifestyle Festival” from June 27 to July 6 as part of the DoD’s Healthy Base Initiative.

• Meade High School begins several con-struction projects that will add new classroom and office space. The $4 million project is scheduled to be completed by August 2015.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil December 31, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 11

July 2014 Year in Review August

Despite a thunderstorm

and subsequent rainfall, Fort

Meade’s “Red, White and Blue”

Independence Day celebration

is held July 3 at McGlachlin Parade Field.

PHOTO BY STEvE RuARk

PHOTO BY PHIL GROuT

A retirement ceremony and luncheon is held July 23 for Diana Lynn Durner, Religious Support Office secretary, after 37 years of service.

BELOW: Breanna Morton, 3, of Laurel, explores the inside of an Army Hummer with her father Pfc. Thomas Morton of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade at National Night Out held Aug. 5 at McGlachlin Parade Field.

PHOTO BY NATE PESCE

JULY• Garrison Chaplain (Col.) Warren Kirby

Jr. takes over leadership of the Fort Meade Religious Support Office.

• New Staff Judge Advocate Lt. Col. Jona-than E. Cheney arrives, overseeing criminal law; military justice; procurement and admin-istrative law; claims; and legal assistance.

• Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, is the keynote speaker at Fort Meade’s annual Iftar feast, breaking the daily fast during Ramadan on July 11 at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

• Col. Jennifer G. Buckner, former com-mander of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, and Command Sgt. Maj. William Rinehart cut the ribbon to the entrance of the brigade’s newly constructed headquarters at 310 Chamberlin Ave. on July 11. The facil-ity also will serve as the brigade’s operations center and training facility.

• Col. John J. Bonin takes command of the 902nd Military Intelligence Group from Col. Yvette C. Hopkins on July 17.

• Col. William J. Hartman assumes leader-ship of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade on July 18 from Col. Jennifer G. Buckner. Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon, commander of Army Cyber Command, and Maj. Gen. George J. Franz III, commander of Intelli-gence and Security Command, presided.

• A letter written by Mamie Eisenhower,

wife of former President Dwight D. Eisenhow-er, describing the time she and her husband lived on Camp Meade, is donated July 25 to the Fort Meade Museum.

• Nearly 50 Fort Meade children and teens participate in the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “Hansel and Gretel” on July 26 during the weeklong theater day camp.

• Audrey Rowe, administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service of the Department of Agriculture, and other officials visit Fort Meade on July 30 as part of National Farmer’s Market Week and Maryland Farmer’s Market Week.

• Leaders from the garrison and surrounding communities exchange suggestions for mutu-ally beneficial partnerships during a recent Partnership Symposium at Club Meade.

AUGUST• Brig. Gen. Phillip Churn is promoted to

the rank of major general during a morning formation Aug. 3 in front of the Fort Meade-based Headquarters and Headquarters Com-pany, 200th Military Police Command. Churn picked two of the youngest Reserve Soldiers in formation to change his rank and assist in the ceremony.

• Defense Information School alumni retired Maj. Robert L. Hastings Jr., retired Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Wojtecki and Sunny Anderson, an Air Force veteran, participate in a panel discussion Aug. 5 as part of the

school’s 50th anniversary Alumni Day event.• Col. Laura R. Trinkle assumes command

of U.S. Army Medical Activity, Fort Meade, and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center from Col. B.N. Jaghab on Aug. 7.

• As part of the DoD’s Health Base Initia-tive, the first Cooking Matters Commissary Tour & Challenge is offered Aug. 15 at

the Fort Meade Commissary to educate the community on buying healthy and affordable foods.

• Cassandra Franklin is the new chief of Child, Youth and School Services, returning to Fort Meade where she worked 13 years ago as program director for the Child Develop-ment Center.


September 2014 Year in Review October

Photo by Nate Pesce

Three stained-glass panels, designed to pay tribute to the first responders who died on Sept. 11, are presented to the Directorate of Emergency Services during the garrison’s annual 9/11 commemoration. Ray Nichols, a stained-glass artist, explains the right panel’s design of a police badge. The left panel features the design of a firefighter helmet, while the center panel includes a piece of metal from the World Trade Center.

Fathers take their daughters for a spin on the dance floor during Fort Meade’s first Father Daughter Ball sponsored Oct. 4 at Club Meade by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Nearly 300 people attended the evening event that featured a disc jockey, magician, photographer, and dinner and ice-cream sundae buffet.

Photo by steve RuaRk

SEPTEMBER• The Army activates a Cyber Protection

Brigade at Fort Meade on Sept. 5.• Fort Meade youth football will be the

first program in Anne Arundel County to take on USA Football’s “Head’s Up Tack-ling” program. The initiative is designed to help teach teams skills to help limit concus-sions and sports-related injuries.

• Members of the Maryland congres-sional delegation announce Sept. 9 that the Maryland Department of Transportation will be awarded $10 million in federal fund-ing to widen Route 175 at Fort Meade.

• Fort Meade service members and other military personnel unfurl a 100-yard American flag Sept. 13 during University of Maryland’s Military Appreciation Day football halftime show. Throughout the game, UMD honored military personnel by bringing service members on the field for the singing of the national anthem, swearing in UMD ROTC members and showing Soldiers on the stadium’s Jum-botron.

• Staff Sgt. Robert Citrullo of the 2nd Military Working Dog Detachment is pre-sented with the Army Achievement Award and Good Conduct Medal on Sept. 18

alongside Uran, a Belgian Malinois mili-tary working dog that served with him. Citrullo, who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, was awarded the Bronze Star in August for “meritorious service in a com-bat zone.”

OCTOBER• The Army National Guard’s first cyber

protection team receives its new shoulder sleeve insignia during a ceremony con-ducted Oct. 7 at Fort Meade by members of the U.S. Army Cyber Command/Second Army.

• An estimated 35,000 registered runners participate in the 30th Annual Army Ten-Miler, the second largest 10-mile race in the U.S., held Oct. 12 in Washington, D.C. The Fort Meade women’s team places seven of 13 in its division; the men’s team places 16 of 39 in its division.

• Community members gather Oct. 19 for an hourlong worship service to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the historic Main Post Chapel. Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Charles R. Bailey, deputy chief of chaplains for the Army, is the guest speaker.

• The Fort Meade garrison hosts the first Cyber Installation Support Summit on Oct. 22. The summit’s goal was to help military and community leaders bet-ter understand the overall cyber mission and the requirements needed to support its ongoing growth.

• Veteran Spc. Class 5/Sgt. Christian David Bubczyk Sr. is buried Oct. 23 at the Main Post Cemetery beside his infant son Jesse Christopher, who was buried in 1955. Bubczyk is the first person to be buried on Fort Meade since the 1960s.

• A delegation of federal, state, county and community leaders gather Oct. 27 at the Demps Visitor Control Center for a press conference to announce the allocation of an additional $30 million in state and federal formula funding to widen Route 175.

• Phase one of major repairs and renova-tions to Nathan Hale Hall, former head-quarters of the 902nd Military Intelligence Group, is expected to begin within the next 30 to 75 days. The 65,000-square-foot facil-ity was damaged by a six-alarm fire in 2006.


November 2014 Year in Review December

Photo by PhIL GRout

Two-year-old Adelynn Houser of Columbia cuddles the stuff bear she received at the Enlisted Spouses’ Clubs’ annual Children’s Holiday Party held Dec. 6 at the Youth Center. The event featured a visit from Santa, Miss Maryland Teen USA Taylor Dawson and Miss Maryland USA Mamé Adjei.

Garrison Command

Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L.

Forbes shows his rhythm

while dancing to the “Cupid

Shuffle” on Right Arm

Night on Nov. 7 at

Club Meade. The country-

themed event also featured

mechanical bull riding, a cow milking competition

and a “grub” wagon.

Photo by PhIL GRout

Santa welcomes 6-year-old twins Daniel and Eliana Pringle of Seven Oaks with

open arms at the annual “Breakfast with Santa Claus” Dec. 13 at the Conference

Center.

Photo by PhIL GRout

NOVEMBER• The 16th Intelligence Squadron

is the first Air Force Reserve Classic Association Squadron to be activated on Fort Meade.

• The Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s new food court opens on the evening of Nov. 7 after nearly two years of construction.

• Steven W. Cantrell, the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard — the senior most-enlisted person in the service — made history by visiting the Defense Information School on Nov. 19.

• The Exchange opens Nov. 25, just ahead of Black Friday. A grand opening celebration of the 88,000-square-foot facility will be held once construction on the new parking lot is completed.

• Changes are made to Fort Meade Regulation 350-1, the policy detailing protocol for service members, individual runners and other pedestrians — as

well as motorists — during physical training hours to help create a safer installation.

DECEMBER• Leaders from Installation Manage-

ment Command tour and attend brief-ings on Fort Meade on Dec. 2 to help facilitate the transition of the post from Installation Management Command’s Central Region to the Atlantic Region.

• The popular “Sound the Bells: A Holiday Celebration” concert is per-formed by the U.S. Army Field Band on Dec. 3 at Arundel High School. It was the last holiday concert conducted by Col. Timothy Holtan, former com-mander and conductor of the Field Band.

• Retired Sgt. Claude H. Phelps is finally awarded his Bronze Star Medal seven decades after fighting in World War II. Members of the 902nd Mili-tary Intelligence Group surprised the 94-year-old veteran with a special cer-emony Dec. 15.

• Fort Meade families attend the garrison’s annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 12 at the gazebo on McGlach-lin Parade Field. The hourlong event, which featured Christmas carols and hot chocolate, was sponsored by the Religious Support Office and drew more than 200 community members.

Photo by Nate Pesce

Col. Jeremy M. Martin, commandant of the Defense Information School, hands a glass of sparkling apple cider to a diner Nov. 27 at the Freedom Inn as part of Fort Meade’s long-standing tradition of serving junior-ranked service members on Thanksgiving.


2014 Year in Review — Sports

photo by nate pesce

Soccer players Marcus Griffin II, 5, and Joseph Duncan, 6, take a break from soccer practice on April 21. Youth Sports’ largest sport during the spring season was soccer. Approximately 250 soccer players formed 17 intramural teams and two county teams.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher

Darren O’Day teaches Morgan

Gibson how to throw

a baseball during a baseball

clinic held March 10 at

the Youth Sports

Complex.

photo by daniel kucin jr.

photo by steve ruark

Army celebrates its victory over Navy following Fort Meade’s 15th Annual Army vs. Navy flag football game played Nov. 4 at Mullins Field.


Kenneth Foxworth, 12, gets a T-shirt autographed by Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. Kenneth, along with 17 other members of the Child, Youth and School Services’ football program, attended a Ravens practice session Aug. 9 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills.



Joe Bowser, of the USA Warriors hockey team, maneuvers the puck during a hockey game played March 21 in Laurel. The team, comprised of local retired and active-duty service members with VA-rated disabilities, aims to use hockey as a rehabilitation tool.

photo by nate pesce

Members of Fort Meade’s Highsteppers Track and Field team compete for spots in the National Junior Olympics during the Armed Forces Track and Field Classic held May 17 at Meade High School. Forty Fort Meade athletes qualified for the National Junior Olympics and won eight medals at the competition.

photo by steve ruarkphoto by brandon bieltZ

Meade High School’s Cody Edwards wrestles in a match Jan. 31 at home.



Men of War coach

Roger Corbin celebrates his team’s

victory with his daughter

Rena. Men of War, Navy Information Operations

Command’s team, defeated

Underestimated, the 704th

Military Intelligence

Brigade’s team, 14-7 to win the

Division One flag football

championship game played

Nov. 20 at Mullins Field.

photo by senior airman

kel rapisora

Fort Meade’s 2014 intramural champions

Basketball

Division I: 22nd Intelligence Squadron’s Shooting Stars

Division II: Naval Information Operations Command’s Heat

Volleyball

70 Operations Support System’s Knight Stalkers

Softball

Division I: 7th Intelligence Squadron

Division II: Department of Defense Field Activity Research

Football

Division I: Navy Information Operations Command’s Men of War

Division II: 704th Military Intelligence Brigade (B)

photo by nate pesce

Amber Reid and Thomas Moore of the 70th Operations Support Squadron prepare to return the ball during an intramural volleyball game held May 5 against the 741st Military Intelligence Battalion. The 70th OSS went undefeated, finishing the season with a 15-0 record.

Navy Information Operations Command’s pitcher Dayton Frank releases a pitch during the post intramural softball championship game against DoD Field Research Activity held July 30. DoDFRA beat NIOC, 11-9, for the championship win.


Surrounded by defenders, Public Health’s Jason Dickerson goes up

for a jump shot during an intramural basketball game held Jan. 13 at Murphy

Field House.

photo by nate pesce



photo by noah scialom photo by steve ruark

TOP LEFT: Tyler Ricks shoots during a basketball game played Jan. 25 at the Youth Center.

TOP RIGHT: Fort Meade Cougars football player Justice Blakeman, 8, practices “Heads Up Tackling” with Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams at the Baltimore Ravens’ NFL Play 60 Clinic held Nov. 3 at the Youth Sports Complex.

LEFT: Hayle Mann, 5, practices holding her flag before the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day ceremony March 31 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Eighty Fort Meade children paraded onto the field, waving flags.




Ray Rice, Michael Phelps, Adrian Peter-son … The list of athletes who would end up on Santa’s naughty list for 2014 would stretch as long as the line of cars trying to get in through the Reece Road gate most mornings.

But make no mistake, Jabber Nation. Santa’s nice list for 2014 was much longer, even if those on it received a lot less publicity. ble.ac/1AzbgGa

Here are a few examples:The Oakland Raiders may be known as

the bad boys of football. In their heyday, it was because of how they destroyed opposi-tion. Today, it is because the Raiders are just a bad team.

But second-year offensive lineman Mene-lik Watson proved at least one member of the “Silver and Black” has a heart of gold.

Menelik, a second-year pro, recently gave his game check (roughly $18,000) to the family of 4-year-old Ava Urerra. Ava suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome and according to the story, had gone through 14 separate procedures before Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer arranged for Ava to visit her favorite football team.

The Raiders brought her to practice, gave her some gifts and even made her honorary captain. Then, the offensive lineman from Manchester, England, presented Ava’s dad his game check because he wanted the girl to have the “the greatest holiday.” yhoo.it/1zOfIzx

To put Menelik’s charity into financial terms, the game check represented roughly 6 percent of his total salary for the year. To put it another way, the man put his money where his heart is.

When George Steinbrenner ran the New York Yankees, his team was often referred to as “The Evil Empire” because of how they would do anything to win. Steinbrenner, who became famous for firing managers at the drop of a hat, didn’t help his image. But more than four years after his death, the man known in baseball circles as “The Boss” continues to help people when they need it the most.

By now we all know of the horrendous murder of two New York City Police officers five days before Christmas. What you might not know is that one of the officers, Rafael Ramos, has two sons, a 13-year-old and a college student.

Nothing will replace the loss and pain Ramos’ family is feeling. But thanks to the Silver Shield Foundation, which Stein-

brenner founded 32 years ago, those boys will have their college tuition paid for.

Menelik and Steinbrenner are not the only sports figures who give back. You can’t listen to an inter-view on sports talk radio without hearing about the great work an athlete has done in the community. But it is not just the players.

The three major professional sports leagues in America - the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association - each have charitable organizations that give more than $100 million to various charities.

More than money, athletes and teams also gave their time in 2014.

Team Meade knows this firsthand.Besides giving us 500 tickets to every Sun-

day home game during the regular season, the Baltimore Orioles have spent plenty of time and resources giving back to our com-munity. They opened up Camden Yards and gave more than 50 of our children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Opening Day. Then the team came to our park this sum-mer when five members of the team helped christen our new Youth Sports Complex by hosting a clinic for CYSS athletes.

Not to be outdone, a handful of Balti-more Ravens took time out of their week to host its Play 60 event on Fort Meade for more than 150 of our children — one of five community events the Ravens had scheduled for that week. The team also hosted several service members and their families at prac-tices and games throughout the season.

It would take a year’s worth of Jibbers to outline every act of kindness and charity performed by professional athletes — scores of column inches I’m not willing to sacrifice because who doesn’t love writing about how Ohio stinks, the Eagles collapsing, and yes, even the scandals?

But, sometimes, highlighting the good does the body good by making the bad more palatable.

See you in 2015, but until then ...If you have comments on this or anything

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

More nice than naughty

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn


Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley leads the Joint Sexual Assault Awareness Day of Action Community Run through Heritage Park on April 4.


The Oriole Bird, the Baltimore Orioles’ mascot, jokes with Fort Meade service members during the Baltimore Orioles’ Military Appreciation Day held May 25 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. More than 37,000 baseball fans attended the game, which featured Fort Meade service members in the pregame events.

Soundoff Year In Review, 2014

News & Politics