The document is a newsletter from the 1-71 Cavalry, Charlie Troop at Fort Drum, NY. It provides information about the unit's recent training activities and upcoming preparations for an infantry skills test. It also shares announcements about Family Readiness Group meetings and community events, as well as contact information for unit leadership and support services.

1. The Phantom Post
May 2012 1-71 Cavalry, Charlie Troop Fort Drum, NY
Contents Commander’s Corner
FRG Meeting 2
Special Event 2 Dear C Troop families,
Did You Know 2 This past month C Troop has been focused on training small unit tactics. In April,
Calendars 3 soldiers trained as a platoon. They successfully completed several situational training exer-
Websites 4 cises and improved marksmanship. Platoon and squad leaders also honed their skills.
Phone Numbers 4
The month of May will focus on preparing for the Expert Infantryman’s Badge test.
The evaluation does not commence for some time, but there is much that the soldiers can
do to prepare themselves. Known simply as the EIB, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge is a
highly coveted award bestowed on soldiers that are able to successfully complete a series
of infantry related tasks and skills. Historically, the badge has been considered one of the
toughest military awards to earn.
Captain Locke
Upcoming Events FRG Feature
05/12: USO Big As you may know, our FRG Leader has stepped down. At this time, there is no re-
Band Bash @ Wa- placement. In the meantime, a spouse will be sending out emails and posting information
tertown Elks on the Facebook page. Meetings will still be held, and key callers will be active.
The newsletter, email, and the Charlie Troop Facebook page will be the main
05/24: Mtn. Thun- methods of distributing information. Key callers will continue to call monthly. If you need
der Motorcycle assistance and are not sure where to go, please contact your key caller. If you or some you
Rally @ Div. HQ know does not have a key caller, or you would like to volunteer with the FRG, please send
a message to the Charlie Troop email (ctroop171 [at] gmail.com).
06/21 - Riverfest
Thank you all for your patience as we go through this transition period!
06/28 - Mountain-
fest
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 1

2. April and May FRG Meetings
The April FRG meeting dealt with multiple topics. Please see the email or print
version of the newsletter for more information.
There will be no FRG meeting for the month of May.
Special Event
May brings the Commissary’s Case Lot Sale. This popular event will take place
Thursday, May 17th through Saturday, May 19th. Case Lot sales feature many items for
purchase in bulk, similar to warehouse club stores. With prices below the Commissary’s
already low rates, great deals can be found. Items available at previous sales include soda,
cereals, pasta, veggies, frozen foods, pet products, household and paper goods, and more.
The “mix and match” option will be available. This allows customers the ability to
fill a case with similarly sized and priced items, such as different brands of soda or cereal.
Some products will be excluded from the mix and match choices. Coupons can be used
at the sale, but only one coupon may be used per case. Be aware of the Commissary’s new
coupon policy, which took effect May 1st.
*Information about the case lot sale can be found here: www.commissaries.com/stores/
html/store.cfm?dodaac=N&page=case_lot_dates
*Information about the new coupon policy can be found here: www.commissaries.com/
press_room/press_release/2012/DeCA_33_12.cfm
Did You Know...
Did you know that Tricare has switched dental coverage? MetLife, not United
Concordia, is the new provider for the optional Tricare Dental Program. Coverage begins
May 1st, 2012. New enrollees are accepted on an on-going basis. Most current enrolles will
not have to fill out new paperwork or take any action to continue coverage and should
have received new cards and a letter from MetLife explaining the changes. Enrollees
who use automatic payments from their checking account or credit card should contact
MetLife to ensure proper payment.
In addition to the benefits previously provided, MetLife has several new offerings.
The annual maximum has increased to $1,300, with a lifetime orthodontic maximum of
$1,750. White fillings on back teeth, scaling and root planing at no cost for diabetics, and
a third cleaning for women during pregnancy are also available.
If you have any questions, or would like to enroll in dental care, you can find
more information at the MetLife website (https://mybenefits.metlife.com/tricare) or call
1-855-638-8371.
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 2

3. All events are subject to change!
Su M T W R F Sa
ACS has Local 1 2 3 4 5
new hours! Farmers
730am- Markets
430pm, open May Cinco de
M
Mon.-Fri. & June. Mayo
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
USO Stuff 10k Mil Spouse USO Big
a Truck @ Army Apprecia- Band Bash
A
Sam’s Club 10 Miler tion (ACS/
Qualifier MWR)
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Mother’s School Case Lot Special Armed Forces
Y
Day Elections Sale (17-19) Olympics Day
20 21 22 23 24 Fishing Derby
Mtn Thun- @ Rem. Pond
der Rally 25 26
Safety Day Birding Trip
27 28 29 30 31 (MWR)
Memorial MWR Sol-
Day ider Show
Su M T W R F Sa
Check Facebook & the Spouses Club starts June 1 2
monthly MWR Preview 1st! The Enlisted and Of- Touch a Post Yard
J
magazine (print or on- ficers Spouses Clubs are Truck @ Sale (Adr.
line) for more events! now one club. USO Crk. & Rh.
Hills)
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
U
Post Yard USO USO Post Yard
Sale (Adr. Sesame Sesame Sale (Mon.
Crk. & Rh. Street Live Street Live Rdg. &
Hills) @ Monti @ Monti Crst. Wd.)
N
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Post Yard Bulk Trash Army USO Golf
Sale (Mon. Pickup (on Birthday Tourny
Rdg. & post) Ball
E
Crst. Wd.) 11 - 15th
th
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Riverfest
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Free Fish- CYS Sum- Mountain-
ing NYS mer Camp fest
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 3

4. Websites
Fort Drum: www.drum.army.mil
MWR: www.drummwr.com
ACS: www.drummwr.com/ArmyCommunityService.htm
ACS Employment Readiness: www.drummwr.com/EmploymentReadinessProgram.htm
In the shadows! Housing: www.fortdrummch.com
Library: www.drummwr.com/library.htm
Tricare: www.tricare.mil
DEERS: http://milconnect.dmdc.mil
Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.mil
Plan My Move: http://planmymove.mhf.dod.mil
Where is my POV: www.whereismypov.com
Where are my HHG: www.move.mil/home.htm
Fort Drum Facebook: www.facebook.com/drum.10thmountain
1-71 Cav Facebook: www.facebook.com/171cavalry
Charlie Troop Facebook: www.facebook.com/ctroop171
Squadron FRSA: www.facebook.com/pages/SQDN-FRSA/202173106515711
MWR Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrumFMWR
Relocation Readiness Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-Relocation-
If you need assis- Readiness-Program/171335822906429
tance, please contact
your key caller or
email ctroop171[at]
gmail.com Phone Numbers
FRG Leader - ctroop171 [at] gmail.com OR contact your key caller
Captain Locke: 315-772-3112
1st Sergeant Card: 315-772-2543
Chaplain Cuchens: 315-774-2674
FRSA - Lisa Kadaraitis: 315-774-2663, lisa.kadaraitis@conus.army.mil
In accordance with
DoDI 4525.08, the Tricare North: 1-877-874-2273
inclusion of some Guthrie Clinic/Urgent Care: 315-772-2778
unofficial informa- Samaritan (Watertown) Hospital: 315-785-4000
tion in this FRG Carthage Hospital: 315-493-1000
newsletter has not Housing: 315-955-6644
increased the cost to Relocation Readiness: 315-772-6556
the government. ACS: 315-772-6556/6557
Military Police (Non-emergency): 315-772-5156
Military One Source (24/7/365): 1-800-342-9647
Emergency Chaplain (24 hour): 315-772-5647
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 4