1. High roller
Local senior weighs
college offers for
bowling scholarship
page 12
UPCOMING EVENTS
Today, 4-6 p.m.: Right Arm Night - Club Meade
Saturday, 7 p.m.: 1812 Overture and Alumni Concert - Constitution Park
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Fort Meade Farmers Market - Smallwood Hall lot
Aug. 27-31: Case Lot Sale - Fort Meade Commissary
Aug. 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Women’s Equality Day Observance - McGillTraining Ctr
Go-getter
Garrison CSM sets
sights on helping
Soldiers achieve goals
page 10
Soundoff!´
vol. 66 no. 33 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community August 21, 2014
Photo by Spc. Charles M. Bailey, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
Spc. Chase Teats, Bravo Company, 53rd Signal Battalion, Fort Meade fires an M16 rifle in the kneeling position at a qualification range at Fort Meade on Aug. 4. Teats is
qualifying with the weapon to build tactical proficiency. Teats was also one of the two overall command winners at this year’s Best Warrior competition for the U.S. Army
Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.
For more on the qualification range, see Page 6. For more on the Best Warrior competition, see Page 7.
Sharp
Shooter
2. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
Commander’s Column
Contents
News.............................. 3 Sports...................................12
Crime Watch.................. 8 Movies..................................15
Community..................13 Classified..............................16
Editorial Staff
Garrison Commander
Col. Brian P. Foley
Garrison Command
Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes
Public Affairs Officer
Chad T. Jones
Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Chief, Command Information
Philip H. Jones
Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Assistant Editor Senior Writer
Rona S. Hirsch
Staff Writer Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer Shari Rosen
Design Coordinator Timothy Davis
Supplemental photography provided
by The Baltimore Sun Media Group
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or email advertise@baltsun.com
If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are
experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail TP@baltsun.com.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through
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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.
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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.mil
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Soundoff!´
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11,285
Who do you consider to be responsible for safety
at your job? Your immediate supervisor? The Human
Resources Department? Your organization’s safety
committee?
You should answer “yes”to all of these options. But
an equally important answer is you!
Organizational leaders must ensure everyone knows
DoD and Army safety policy and is given the proper
training and materials to know how to work safely.
But our leaders will not be with you every minute of
the day. It is up to you to make sure that not only you
are following all the rules but those around you are
as well.
Costs for workplace injuries are high. One statistic
showed costs to be an estimated $131.2 billion in 2000,
accordingtotheNationalSafetyCouncil’sInjuryFacts
2001. And this doesn’t include the costs that go beyond
the monetary value such as disruption to day-to-day
living, family life, vacation plans and more.
Manypeopledon’tknowthattheInstallationSafety
Office is the designee for the Installation Occupational
Safety and Health Program.
The Occupational Safety and Health Program is the
installation commander’s program. However, work-
place safety and health apply to all of us who work at
and for Fort Meade, so it is our responsibility also.
Federal and state laws, the Department of Defense
and the Army’s regulations mandate that an Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Program be established and
maintained on every installation to safeguard military
personnel and federal employees.
The federal organization that was established in
1970 to oversee safety in the workplace is the Occu-
pational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA
regulations mandate that employers provide a safe and
healthy work environment for all employees. This also
applies to Fort Meade.
The U.S. Army has regulations that mirror OSHA
including Army Regulation 385-10, “The Army Safety
Program”; AR 40-5, “Preventive Medicine”; Depart-
ment of the Army Pamphlet 40-503, “Army Industrial
Hygiene Program”; and many others.
To accomplish these directives, the Army’s OSHA
personnel and industrial hygiene personnel conduct
workplace surveys and inspections to determine the
nature and magnitude of potentially hazardous work-
ing conditions.
These conditions may include exposures to chemi-
cal, physical, biological, radiological, environmental
and ergonomic risks. These same personnel evaluate
the effectiveness of existing control measures such as
heating ventilation and air conditioning, fume exhaust
hoods, and the selection of personal protective equip-
ment and protective clothing for the workplace and
work tasks.
So what can
you do to reduce
accidents and
workplace inju-
ries?
Take responsi-
bility for yourself:
• Develop a
positive attitude
toward safety.
• Know your
organization’s
rules and regula-
tions and follow them.
• Familiarize yourself with the hazards of your job
and know how to avoid them.
• Take your time and don’t take shortcuts.
• Wear suitable clothing and use the appropriate
personal-protective equipment.
• Use the proper ergonomic techniques, whether
lifting, sitting at a desk or operating a piece of equip-
ment.
Help those around you:
• Report all accidents and injuries to your supervi-
sor.
• Report any observed hazards such as spills,
improperly stored flammables, broken tools or equip-
ment.
• Stay calm in an emergency situation.
• Don’t partake in unsafe behavior or horseplay.
Instead, encourage others to have a good attitude
toward safety.
Following these simple steps and practicing a posi-
tive, common-sense approach to safety will help not
only you, but your co-workers and your organization.
Managers and supervisors may be doing their part,
but the rest depends on you. Remember, safety is
everyone’s responsibility.
Safety is everyone’s
responsibility
Kirk Fechter, director
Installation Safety Office
Commander’s Open Door
Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley
has an open door policy.
All service members, retirees, government
employees, family members or community
members age 18 or older are invited to address
issues or concerns to the commander directly
by visiting Foley’s office on Mondays from 4
to 6 p.m. at garrison headquarters in Hodges
Hall, Bldg. 4551, Llewellyn Avenue.
Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-
served basis. No appointment is necessary.
For more information, call 301-677-4844.
3. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF!
News
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
Some Fort Meade residents recently
experienced a power outage. And while
temporary power outages are nothing new
for Fort Meade housing areas, residents
who live in the 3500 block of Patriot Ridge
have frequently experienced more power
outages than other post neighborhoods.
The most recent power outage for the
3500 block of Patriot Ridge was on Aug.
7-8. The outage lasted more than 24 hours
and caused frustrations for residents who
have become irritated with the post’s hous-
ing power problem.
The outage was due to a damaged elec-
trical cable, which was repaired Aug. 8 by
the Directorate of Public Works.
Aimee Stafford, lead development and
operations specialist at Residential Com-
munities Initiative, said there have been
frequent power outages in Fort Meade’s
housing areas during the past several
years. But the residents of Patriot Ridge,
she said, have recently borne “the brunt
of it.”
“Fort Meade has an aging infrastruc-
ture,” Stafford said. “There is a privatiza-
tion project that is ongoing to replace the
aging infrastructure.”
RCI represents the Army and Fort
Meade residents in privatized military
housing.
“People are frustrated with the out-
ages related to the aged infrastructure
and planned outages due to privatization,”
Stafford said.
In April 2003, Baltimore Gas and Elec-
tric Co. was awarded a 50-year con-
tract for privatization of the natural gas
and electric distribution systems on Fort
Meade.
Under the contract, Fort Meade’s aged
gas and electric distribution systems are
being replaced with new, modernized
BGE-owned, operated and maintained
systems to provide safer and more reliable
service. These upgrades are scheduled for
completion by 2018.
All the homes that were newly con-
structed by Corvias were built with new
infrastructure. In addition, through BGE
privatization, the infrastructure in Heri-
tage Park has been completely upgraded.
More than 150 homes in Potomac Place
and Meuse Forest have been upgraded.
BGE is currently upgrading the sys-
tems in Meuse Forest, Potomac Place and
Patriot Ridge. This group of upgrades is
scheduled to be completed by the spring
of 2015.
BGE will begin working in Midway
Commons and Normandy Bluffs some-
time next year, with a completion date in
late 2017.
DPW is responsible for the utilities in
neighborhoods that have not been priva-
tized, including some areas of Patriot
Ridge.
Angela Marcum, communications
manager for Corvias, said Patriot Ridge
residents began calling about the power
outage during the evening of Aug. 7.
“It does take time for the repairmen to
understand the extent of the damage and
to give a timeline for repairs,” Stafford
said. “The DPW team communicates with
us the best they can.”
Stafford and Marcum said one problem
during the most recent outage was the
breakdown in communication to keep
residents informed.
“DPW, the Fort Meade Public Affairs
Office, RCI and Corvias are working a
better way to communicate with resi-
dents,” Stafford said. “We have a meeting
planned on this topic.”
Stafford and Marcum remind residents
to contact their respective neighborhood
center during outages.
“We don’t know that the power is out
unless we are informed,” Stafford said.
“We know there’s a problem with the
infrastructure, and the long-term solution
is privatization.
“There is a lot of housing to upgrade,
so it’s going to take time. We are work-
ing out the details as best we can and we
appreciate residents’ patience during this
process.”
Fort Meade works to resolve power outages
By Fort Meade Public Affairs Office
With August recognized as Antiter-
rorism Awareness Month, the Army is
promoting a campaign encouraging and
training communities to become exten-
sions of the service’s overall force-protec-
tion plan.
iWATCH is a nationwide, contempo-
rary version of Neighborhood Watch
developed by the Los Angeles Police
Department to encourage and enable
members of the community in identify-
ing and reporting suspicious behavior
that may be associated with terrorist
activities.
The purpose of iWATCH is to promote
antiterrorism awareness and leverage
every member of the Army community
to act as a sensor to help identify and
prevent potential terrorist acts.
There are two elements to the initiative:
passive and active. The passive element of
iWATCH is individual situational aware-
ness of a person’s surroundings. The
active element requires individuals to take
action and report suspicious behavior or
activities to law enforcement for further
investigation.
An essential component of iWATCH
is reporting suspicious activity. iWATCH
aspires to ensure that everyone knows
how to report suspicious activity. If you
see something, say something.
Report suspicious activity to the Fort
Meade Directorate of Emergency Ser-
vices at 301-677-6622 or 301-677-6623. In
an emergency, call 911.
The key to implementing iWATCH
is education: on the initiative itself, on
indicators of terrorist activity and on
reporting suspicious activity.
Be alert at all times for suspicious activ-
ity, including:
• People drawing or measuring impor-
tant buildings (religious, government)
• Strangers asking questions about
security procedures
• Briefcase, suitcase, backpack or pack-
age left unattended
• Vehicles left in no-parking zones out-
side important buildings
• Unfamiliar people in secure areas
• Persons wearing clothes that are
noticeably too big and/or too hot for the
weather (coats or jackets in summertime)
• Chemical smells or fumes that seem
out of the ordinary for the specific loca-
tion
• People asking questions about sensi-
tive information such as building blue-
prints, security plans or VIP travel sched-
ules that do not have a need to know
• People purchasing supplies or equip-
ment that can be used to make bombs or
weapons, or purchasing uniforms without
having the proper credentials
Maintain individual situational aware-
ness of your surroundings. Everyone can
make a difference by recognizing what to
report and reporting it to security forces
and/or law enforcement.
Law enforcement officials cannot be
everywhere; they need the eyes and ears
of the entire installation community to
assist in quelling terrorism.
Familiarize yourself with the iWATCH
awareness tools. Take a minute to review
the iWATCH Army posters on bulletin
boards, banners and iWATCH Army
public service announcements.
Antiterrorism iWATCH products are
available at www.iwatcharmy.org/index.
html.
For more information on the Army’s
Antiterrorism Individual Protection mea-
sures, call Mark A. George, antiterror-
ism officer for the Directorate of Plans,
Training, Mobilization and Security, at
301-677-7310 or go to www.Acsim.army.
mil/readyarmy/index.htm.
iWatch promotes antiterrorism awareness 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
21,000 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.
4. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
News
By Shari Rosen
Staff Writer
Cassandra Franklin could not have
imagined she would return to Fort
Meade after a 13-year absence.
Franklin left her position as the Child
Development Center’s program director
and training and curriculum specialist
on Fort Meade in 2001 to become a
child and youth development specialist
at the headquarters level.
In her most recent position from
2008 to 2014, Franklin performed unan-
nounced inspections of Child, Youth
and School Services programs on instal-
lations across the country.
She visited Fort Meade twice during
the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years.
“It always felt like coming back
home,” Franklin said.
Impressed by the quality of Fort
Meade’s CYSS programs, Franklin
applied for the position of CYSS chief.
She got the job.
“You can make more of an impact at
installation level than at headquarters,”
Franklin said.
CYSS provides facility-based care,
in-home care, and specialty and instruc-
tional programs for children ages 6 weeks
to 18 years old. These programs include
three Child Development Centers, the
School Age Center, Youth Center and
middle school program, Teen Center,
Youth Sports teams, and a variety of
instructional and enrichment classes.
“We are so happy and pleased to
have Cassandra Franklin return to Fort
Meade as the CYSS chief,” said Martha
L. McClary, director of the Fort Meade
Directorate of Family and Morale, Wel-
fare and Recreation.
“Since her departure in 2001, she
has gained a wealth of experience and
knowledge in various positions of
increased responsibilities in Child and
Youth Services. Under Cassandra’s lead-
ership, I am sure Fort Meade will con-
tinue to be one of the best — if not the
best — CYSS programs in the Army.”
Franklin’s goals for CYSS include
decreasing the program’s waitlist, cre-
ating new facilities and hiring more
providers.
“More than 1,000 kids receive facility-
based care every day, not even including
the instructional programs,” Franklin
said. “I’d like to simply enhance the
programs and services.”
Prior to her career in child care,
Franklin was an elementary school
teacher. Her passion changed when she
gave birth to her son Kyle in 1989, the
same year the House and Senate passed
the Military Child Care Act “to improve
the availability, management, quality,
and safety of child care provided on
military installations.”
As the spouse of retired Signal Officer
Larry Franklin, the new CYSS chief
frequently had to move. She was able
to find management-level CYSS jobs on
every installation.
“[My own son] is a product of CYSS
services,” Franklin said.
Franklin plans to draw upon her expe-
riences from performing inspections and
working for a large number of CYSS
installation programs.
“There are 72 [CYSS installation] pro-
grams,” Franklin said. “I’ve seen more
than 60 of them.”
Quick to deflect attention, Franklin
used a long list of positive adjectives,
such as hard-working and conscientious,
to describe her staff.
“It’s a very strong, dedicated and
committed staff,” Franklin said.
She referred to five of her key staff
members as “the five people who keep
me sane.”
Franklin’s bare office will soon have
her signature decoration, the oversized
‘Coming back home’
New CYSS chief returns to Fort Meade after 13 years
submitted photo
Cassandra Franklin
letters “C” and “F”, hanging on the
wall. She said many people think C and
F represent her initials, but Franklin
uses the letters to highlight her leader-
ship style.
“My goal is to be consistent and fair,”
Franklin said. “I can’t give you some-
thing I’m not willing to give another
staff member simply because you want
it.”
Now that she’s back at Fort Meade,
Franklin does not plan to leave any time
soon. Like her predecessor Lida Payne,
Franklin wants to end her career here.
“I do plan to call this home and retire
out of Fort Meade,” Franklin said.
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center
Sometimes it is difficult to know
if and when to seek medical help for
acute health problems, so having pro-
fessional help at a moment’s notice is
invaluable.
The Military Health System’s new
Nurse Advice Line for TRICARE ben-
eficiaries does just that.
Earlier this year, the NAL phase-in
began in various areas of the continen-
tal United States, Alaska and Hawaii.
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center
joined the NAL on July 31.TRICARE
beneficiaries can now call the NAL
toll-free, 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
The NAL is a team of registered nurs-
es who are available to answer a variety
of urgent health care questions. They
can help beneficiaries decide whether
self-care is the best option, or if it is
better to see a health care provider.
There will always be a live person
on the line to address beneficiary con-
cerns.
The NAL offers a variety of solu-
tions for all TRICARE beneficiaries.
For pediatric issues, the NAL will route
the beneficiary to a pediatric nurse. If
follow-up is necessary or requested,
the NAL will call the beneficiary back
to check the child’s status a few hours
later.
The NAL will make same-day
appointments with the beneficiary’s
primary care manager for TRICARE
Prime beneficiaries enrolled in military
treatment facilities.
If a same-day appointment is not
available, the NAL will redirect the ben-
eficiary to the closest urgent care center,
and advise the PCM that an urgent care
referral is neccessary so the patient does
Kimbrough’s TRICARE Nurse Advice Line goes live
Connect with Fort Meade at
Facebook.com/ftmeade
not have to worry about paying any
point of service co-pays.
All other TRICARE beneficiaries
who are not enrolled to a military treat-
ment facility will receive professional
health advice about their urgent health
concern and when to seek urgent care.
When calling the NAL, a customer
service representative will verify the
beneficiary’s eligibility through the
Defense Enrollment and Eligibility
Reporting System.
Beneficiaries with an acute health
care concern or question will be put in
contact with a registered nurse who will
ask the beneficiary a series of standard
questions to determine the next steps
to take and allow the NAL nurse to
provide the best advice possible.
Beneficiaries can still call their PCM
or clinic, but the NAL is another option
to access care in a timely fashion.
To access the NAL, call 1-800-TRI-
CARE (874-2273); Option 1.
5. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF!
News
Story and photo by Sgt. Class Mark Bell
Public Affairs
200th MP Command
Thinking outside the box.
That’s how Reserve Sgt. Toni
Hurlston described the afternoon’s
lunch menu as her cooks prepared
grilled Mongolian specialties.
“We take the Army Reserve’s 21-
meal plan and think outside the box,”
said Hurlston as Soldiers filed through
the Mobile Kitchen Trailer during
the 200th Military Police Command’s
monthly battle assembly weekend on
Aug. 3.
It was raining and the unit cooks had
access to a large kitchen attached to the
dining facility. Hurlston said the cooks
train with the MKT every quarter.
“We must be able to adapt to any
situation,” Hurlston said. “Kitchens
are not always going to be available
to Army cooks. They need to have the
training to succeed as a cook.”
Chief Warrant Officer Rick Farran
said all Soldiers must be ready for the
next war or emergency — and that
includes Army Reserve cooks.
“A mobilization is not the time to
learn how to use the MKT,” he said.
“The time is now, and Soldiers at the
200th MPCOM are taking that time
seriously.
“The time to maintain their equip-
ment is during battle assembly week-
ends and not right before an annual
training or as they go out the door into
harm’s way,” said Hurlston.
Standing in line with several Soldiers
was Maj. Gen. Phillip Churn, com-
manding general of the Army Reserve’s
200th MPCOM at Fort Meade, where
he commands more than 13,000 Sol-
diers living in 44 states.
“Outstanding,” Churn told the
cooks. “This is great Army training for
our cooks, and our Soldiers get some
great food.”
After making his selection from sev-
eral types of meat, Spc. Joe Slade
quickly went into action and added
another meal to the field grill.
While cooking the chicken, Churn
talked to the cooks to find out the
secrets behind the stainless-steel spatu-
las.
“These cooks must have passion,”
Farran said. “We know they are tech-
nically capable of cooking a meal, but
our cooks need passion and drive to
provide a great meal for the troops. It
can definitely show in the food if they
don’t have the passion.”
Hurlston said her former noncom-
missioned officer-in-charge challenged
them to take the ingredients from the
meal plan set by the U.S Army Reserve
Command and do something special.
“We love to make our customers
happy,” she told Churn as she mixed
several ingredients into a small bowl.
Hurlston tossed them onto the near-
by grill.
“Well, I will soon be very happy
after I get to sit down and eat what
your troops are preparing,” Churn
said.
Churn said having cooks prepare
meals is a win-win situation.
“We have the best cooks in the
Army Reserve,” Churn told the Sol-
diers working behind the small glass
barrier. “I appreciate what you are
doing today and every day for our
command. Never forget that.”
As Slade passed the plate to the
senior officer in the command, a sim-
ple “thank you” from Churn made a
visible difference.
“I always loved to cook,” said Slade,
who joined the Reserve six years ago to
become an Army cook. “I baked and
cooked for my nieces, and now I get to
do it for hundreds of Soldiers.”
When the day was over and the
MKT was folded back down, Hurlston
said she hoped her Soldiers walked
away with new knowledge and infor-
mation.
“There are different techniques
working with an MKT,” said Hurlston.
“Today, they demonstrated they could
cook on a grill inside an MKT. We love
what we do. We make people happy.”
Reserve cooks take meals to the next level
Reserve Spc. Joe Slade of the 200th Military Police Command serves a grilled
Mongolian meal to a Soldier during the monthly battle assembly weekend on Aug. 3
at Fort Meade. Slade joined the Army Reserve six years ago to continue his passion
to cook.
Text FOLLOW FORTMEADE to 40404
to sign up for Fort Meade news alerts
on your mobile phone
6. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
News
Photo by Spc. Charles M. Bailey, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
A Soldier adjusts the sight post on an M16 rifle.
RIGHT: Sgt. 1st Class Brian Rhodes, assigned to Defense Media Activity, inspects his
target at a weapons qualification range at Fort Meade on Aug. 4. Photo by PFC. Cameron J. Leto, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
Photo by Spc. Charles M. Bailey, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
Sgt. 1st Class Christina DauriaCox, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, fires an M9 pistol from the prone position at a qualification range at Fort
Meade. Cox is qualifying with the weapon to build tactical proficiency.
Home on the Range Headquarters Command Battalion
qualifies with M9, M16 weapons
7. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF!
News
Photo by Dottie K. White
best warriorSpc. Chase M. Teats, Bravo Company, 53rd Signal Battalion, Fort Meade
was one of the two overall command winners at the U.S. Army Space
and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command’s Best
Warrior competition. The competition took place June 23-26 in Colorado
at Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base. As part of the competition,
Teats, a satellite systems operator and network coordinator, performed
Army warrior tasks and battle drills, a 12-mile ruck march, and other
physically and mentally challenging tasks. In October, Teats will repre-
sent the command in the Department of Army Best Warrior Competition
in Fort Lee, Va.
Find the Fort Meade
Religious Schedule
at
www.ftmeade.army.mil.
Look for the “Community” tab then
click on “Religious Services” for
schedules, events and
contact information.
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8. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
News
advances. The strength of the Soldier’s argu-
ment may also decline if he waits too long.
A rated Soldier may request a Com-
mander or Commandant’s Inquiry. This
process is a voluntary option and is not a
prerequisite to a formal appeal.
The rated Soldier or anyone with access
to the Soldier’s evaluation report may raise
issues of error, injustice or illegality with
the Soldier’s commander or commandant.
The inquiry is to be made by a commander
higher in the chain of command than the
rating officials and will be in the form of a
memorandum to include findings, conclu-
sions and recommendations.
Once completed, the inquiry will be sent
to the Soldier. If there is fault found with the
evaluation and it has not yet been sent to the
Department of the Army headquarters, the
commander will return the inquiry to the
applicable rater for appropriate action.
The amended report will then be sent
to HQDA. If the inquiry found fault but
the evaluation had already been submitted
to HQDA, the inquiry will also be sent to
HQDA to be filed with the evaluation report
at issue.
The appeals process is the primary meth-
od of addressing errors on reports after
they have become a part of the Soldier’s
permanent record. Appeals are required to
be supported by sufficient evidence. Allega-
tions of inaccuracy, without more substan-
tial evidence, will not prompt correction of
an evaluation.
The Soldier bears the burden of proof
for his appeal. To succeed, the Soldier must
establish (by appropriate statements, docu-
ments or other evidence) clearly and con-
vincingly that the evaluation is inaccurate
or unjust in certain respects.
In deciding whether to appeal an evalu-
ation, it is important to consider what
evidence you have to support your position,
and what evidence you may be able to gath-
er. Examples for structuring and formatting
appeals are available in DA PAM 623-3.
Claims of substantive error including
bias, discrimination, inaccurate or otherwise
unjust evaluations are reviewed by the Army
Special Review Board, which consists of
officers and noncommissioned officers.
If deemed appropriate by the Army Spe-
cial Review Board, HQDA will amend the
evaluation record. If the appeal is rejected,
the Soldier may choose to gather additional
evidence and submit another appeal, or he
may decide to appeal to the Army Board for
Correction of Military Records, an institu-
tion governed by AR 15-185.
For more information on this topic, refer
By Carrie Culver
Intern, Legal Assistance Division
You’ve just received your evaluation
report and you disagree with some of
the characterizations of your work perfor-
mance. Or perhaps the report contains a
clerical or other administrative error.
What should you do?
The Army’s Evaluation Report Redress
Program resolves inaccurate or unfair infor-
mation that is reflected on a Soldier’s evalu-
ation report. The rated Soldier may seek to
address the inaccuracy in several ways.
First, the Soldier should read his evalua-
tion report carefully. If he catches a clerical,
administrative or substantive error before
the report is signed and submitted, he must
bring it to his rater’s attention to get it cor-
rected.
Once the evaluation has been signed and
submitted, it is assumed to be accurate and
the Soldier must engage in a formal appeal
process to try to address the record.
If the Soldier believes there has been an
error, it is important to address it as soon as
possible. Special response options are avail-
able for referred evaluation reports and for
relief-for-cause evaluation reports.
There are different time limitations for
different types of appeal, but more impor-
tantly, the availability of supporting people
and documents generally declines as time
How to appeal an evaluation reportto AR 623-3 and DA PAM 623-3.
If you require advice or assistance with
this process, you may schedule an appoint-
ment with an attorney at Fort Meade’s
Legal Assistance Office at 301-677-9504 or
301-677-9536.
Aug. 10, Failure to obey traffic
control device, displaying expired
registration, driving while under
the influence of alcohol, driving
while impaired by alcohol: The
Directorate of Emergency Ser-
vices was notified that a vehicle
entered the gate at a high rate
of speed. A traffic stop was
initiated on the vehicle, which
displayed expired tags.
Contact was made with the driver, who had
slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor
of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.
The driver failed the Standardized Field Sobriety
Tests. He refused a breath test.
During an inventory of the vehicle prior to
impoundment, two plastic containers with an
unknown amount of a green leafy substance in the
trunk were found. The substance tested positive
for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main mind-
altering ingredient found in the Cannabis plant.
Aug. 15, Assault, consummated by a battery: Police
responded to a domestic assault. The investigation
revealed that the victim and subject were involved
in a verbal altercation, which turned physical.
CommunityCommunity
Crime Watch
Compiled by the Fort Meade
Directorate of Emergency Services
For week of Aug. 11-17:
• Moving violations: 19
• Nonmoving violations: 47
• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 42
• Traffic accidents: 8
• Driving on suspended license: 2
• Driving on suspended registration: 0
• Driving without a license: 1
For week of Aug. 4-10:
• Moving violations: 42
• Nonmoving violations: 10
• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 27
• Traffic accidents: 13
• Driving on suspended license: 1
• Driving on suspended registration: 0
• Driving without a license: 2
Learning That
Works for You
hcclearningworks.com
REGISTER NOW!
Fall semester
begins August 25
Noncredit classes are ongoing
• Career skills
and credentials
• Online, classroom,
or hybrid formats
• Accelerated
course options
• Support services
RAJIV
“I came out of HCC’s Certified
Public Accountant program
with the same, if not better,
educational foundation to tackle
the CPA exam material at a
fraction of the cost of 4-year
institutions or graduate programs.”
9. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF!
News
By Lt. Cmdr. Karen E. Eifert
Defense Information School
One of the 60 graduates of Public
Affairs Qualification Course class 050-
14 from the Defense Information School
hails from the nation of Kuwait.
Lt. Col. Anwar Dashti graduated Aug.
1 from the only course designed to train
Department of Defense personnel and
allied officers to become government
spokespersons.
Before heading to his next phase of
training, Dashti reflected upon his time
at DINFOS and attributed his success to
his instructors, peers and personal faith.
“When I arrived at this course, I was
very nervous,” Dashti said. “I knew it
would be rapid and intense, and I wasn’t
sure how I would do in a fully immersed
English-speaking class.”
The 10-week public affairs course
teaches entry-level public affairs to mem-
bers of the DoD and military officers
from nearly 80 allied nations.
Dashti said learning to write in a
journalistic style was challenging because
English is his third language. He said
sometimes it took faith to believe he
could master the intense curriculum in
the allotted 10 weeks.
In addition to the fast-paced curricu-
lum, Dashti recounted becoming ill just
a week after arriving in the country and
having to be hospitalized.
“The whole time I was in the hospital,
I was anxious about possibly losing this
opportunity,” Dashti said. “I worked so
hard to study in the United States. And
I was afraid that even if I got better, I
would be so far behind I could never
Kuwaiti officer graduates from DINFOS public affairs course
PHOTO COURTESY defense information school
Kuwait National Guard Lt. Col. Anwar Dashti (second from right) poses with Marine
Corps Capt. Dustin Pratico, Army 1st Lt. David Gasperson and Marine Corps Maj.
Andrew Bormann, who all graduated Aug. 1 from the Defense Information School’s
Public Affairs Qualification Course.
catch up.”
Dashti explained the competitive pro-
cess that allowed him to attend DIN-
FOS.
“I competed against about 20 other
Kuwaiti officers and took a very difficult
exam comprised of written and spoken
segments,” Dashti said, adding that many
people fail the test the first time they take
it. “But I had faith. I believed I would get
better, and I believed I would catch up on
my studies.”
With the help of his instructors and
peers, Dashti did catch up. When he
graduated, he joined the ranks of the
handful of Kuwaiti officers who have
attended PAQC.
“It was such a pleasure working with
Lieutenant Colonel Dashti,” said Keith
Oliver, head of the DINFOS Public
Affairs Leadership Department, who
visited Dashti and encouraged him dur-
ing his hospital stay.
“It was inspiring to see someone so
committed to continuing his professional
training. I can only imagine what an
inspiration he must be to others back
home.”
During PAQC, Dashti learned every-
thing from public affairs doctrinal foun-
dations to myriad television, radio and
print interviews. The course concluded
with a fast-paced, two-day operation-
al exercise that mimicked a real-world
deployment.
“The DINFOS motto is ‘Strength
Through Truth,’ but you quickly learn
that you cannot tell the truth if you don’t
have a good grasp of the facts before
going on the record,” said Dashti, recall-
ing some of the interviews he conducted
during the operational exercise.
“Our instructors constantly told us
that although it’s important to pass, the
grades aren’t what matter,” Dashit said.
“What matters is being able to perform
competently and confidently in the real
world.”
Dashti said he now feels confident
to providing interviews to international
media, as well as the five television chan-
nels, three radio stations and countless
magazines in Kuwait.
“I’m so happy to have this training
under my belt,” he said. “I want to thank
DINFOS for positioning me for success
as a spokesperson and my future in the
Kuwaiti National Guard.”
Water main
flushing continues
American Water is continuing its 2014 Annual Water
Main Flushing Program on Monday.
The purpose of this program is to provide the best
quality water available to you, the customer, by remov-
ing any buildup of sediment that may have occurred in
the water lines.
Flushing may result in some temporary discoloration
and the presence of sediment in your water. These
conditions are not harmful and should be of very short
duration.
Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., limit your
use of water to help prevent discolored water from
reaching the service lines to your residence. Should you
notice an increase in discolored water at your residence,
flush all faucets inside for 15 minutes.
If the water discoloration does not change, call the
Water Treatment Plant at 443-591-0909. This number is
monitored 24/7, should you have any additional ques-
tions or concerns.
Areas that may be affected by planned flushing from
Monday through Aug. 29:
• Nelson Loop
• Nelson Court
• Olson Loop
• Ray Street
• 79th Division Boulevard
• Craig Street
• 2nd Cavalry Avenue
• Highland Road
• Jennings Court
• Cayer Court
• Mills Court
• Cooper Avenue
• Riordan Street
• Harris Loop
• Fowler Street
• Boyce Street
• Barry Court
• Traynor Court
• Lawson Loop
• Burk Court
• Falconer Court
• Packard Court
• Carson Court
Streets adjacent to Cooper Avenue and 2nd Cavalry
Avenue may see a temporary change in their water dur-
ing flushing activities. Signs will be posted ahead of any
flushing activities to notify customers.
10. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
News
By Philip H. Jones
Chief, Command Information
To say he has an outgoing personality
would be an understatement.
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell
L. Forbes certainly is extroverted. He is
confident, has good manners and, most
noticeably, has a way of making every
person he meets feel important.
Forbes’ personality is a useful tool as
he takes on the wide-ranging responsibili-
ties of garrison command sergeant major,
a position he assumed on Tuesday.
“Command Sergeant Major Forbes is
the right guy for the job and has hit the
ground running,”Foley said. “We are very
fortunate to have him on the team, and I
am looking forward to serving the Fort
Meade community with him for the next
two years.”
Forbes replaces Command Sgt. Maj.
Thomas J. Latter, who has served in
the position for the past two years. In
September, Latter will begin a one-year
deployment as the garrison command
sergeant major at Bagram Airfield in
Afghanistan.
A native of New Orleans, Forbes has
24 years of military service. He initially
served four years in the Marine Corps as
an embarkation specialist. After a brief
period as a civilian, Forbes realized that
his true passion was military service and
enlisted in the U.S. Army as a signal sup-
port system specialist.
When asked how he describes himself,
Forbes responded that he considers him-
self an open and frank person who really
doesn’t like using the word, “no.” He pre-
fers to take time to hear people out and
then look for resources that will allow him
to be helpful to the community.
“I like to always believe there’s a ‘yes’
out there somewhere,” Forbes said. “I’m
a very outgoing person that really wants
to get to know you. So when I greet you
and ask you, ‘How you are doing?’ it’s not
a cliché. I really want to know if there is
any way I can help you.”
As the garrison command sergeant
major, Forbes is the senior enlisted advi-
sor to Garrison Commander Col. Brian
P. Foley. The position requires Forbes to
serve as a liaison to the garrison com-
mander with the responsibility of provid-
ing guidance, mentorship, assistance and
support to Fort Meade service members
and their families.
Forbes recounted one of his early
briefings with Latter and said he quickly
learned this is a job that one cannot train
for using past duty experiences.
“You get in there [at Fort Meade] and
you actually can feel the pulse of the
community,” Forbes said. “You need to
be sincere in your conversations with Fort
Meade service members and their fami-
lies. That includes conversations I have
with all of our partner units.”
Forbes’ most recent assignment was
as command sergeant major of the 72nd
Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Sch-
weinfurt, Germany. Of his 24 years in
the military, he has spent nine years in
Germany.
His previous duty stations have includ-
CSM Rodwell Forbes
takes on role of garrison
senior enlisted advisor
ed Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan;
Katterbach, Germany; Fort Campbell,
Ky.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; El Paso, Texas; and
Naples, Italy.
Forbes has also participated in Opera-
tion Desert Storm/Shield, Bosnia Peace
Keeping Mission, Sarajevo (Bosnia)
Peace Keeping Mission, Operation Iraqi
Freedom and Operation Unified Protec-
tor (Libya).
When asked about his philosophy in
life and the keys to his success, Forbes sits
back in his chair and takes a thoughtful
moment before responding.
“The key to my success is due to my
relationship with God — that is where
I get my strength,” Forbes said. “God’s
words inspire me.”
Forbes also discussed his philosophy
on maintaining physicall fitness. He was
a high school track star, winning a Louisi-
ana state title for the 800-meter race. Now
he enjoys running, cycling, mountain
climbing and hiking.
Forbes is quick to note that being fit
goes beyond preparing for the Army
physical fitness test twice a year.
“I believe in staying fit for life,” he said.
“That means having consistency in the
way you live your life — not only physi-
cal fitness but also what you eat. I have a
mindset that no matter what, whether it is
‘It is paramount that we
make sure that we have an
open line of communication
with our service members,
families, DoD civilians and
the contractors that work
here.’
Garrison Command
Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes
photo by nate pesce
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes partakes in the change of
responsibility ceremony Tuesday at McGlachlin Parade Field, assuming the role of
garrison senior enlisted advisor.
11. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 11
vacation or work, I will always maintain a
certain level of fitness where I will never
allow my body to digress.”
Forbes is also a committed family man.
Forbes and his wife, Patricia, have three
adult children and seven grandchildren.
“I am definitely family oriented,” he
said. “I enjoy spending time with the
family. In addition to there being a Team
Meade, there is also a Team Forbes here
at Fort Meade.
“My wife and I strive to work together
to help meet the needs of the community.
She is my sounding board when it comes
to serving service members and their
families.”
As for his priorities, Forbes said sup-
porting the Army’s SHARP [Sexual
Harassment/Assault Response and Pre-
vention] program will be one of his major
focuses at Fort Meade.
“It is paramount that we make sure that
we have an open line of communications
with our service members, families, DoD
civilians and the contractors that work
here,” he said. “I want to make sure that
anyone who is having an issue can always
feel he or she can communicate their
problem to us.
“We are here to create a positive climate
and environment of trust and respect.”
And like Latter, Forbes plans to con-
tinue to ensure that the garrison is doing
everything it can to provide quality service
to Fort Meade service members and their
families.
“I call it ‘excellence in action,’ ” he said.
“I want to make sure service members and
their families, our partner organizations,
have everything they need so they can live
a quality life, relax, have fun and perform
their jobs. Being the garrison command
sergeant major just gives me a larger plat-
form to serve people.”
Forbes, who has a bachelor’s degree
in multidisciplinary studies from Lib-
erty University in Virginia, is pursuing
a master’s degree in pastoral counseling.
For him, earning an advance degree is just
a part of his journey in life.
“I wanted to do something that’s going
to help develop me more spiritually, as I
am moving forward, that I will be able to
share with more people,” he said. “My
wife and I both served in the gospel service
in Germany.
“I want to learn more about the word
of God and make sure we are commu-
nicating the right things to people when
they come and seek counseling.”
photo by steve ellmore
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes, who has been in the military 24 years, now serves as a liaison to the garrison commander, providing guidance, mentorship,
assistance and support to Fort Meade service members and their families.
12. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
Sports
By Shari Rosen
Staff Writer
Demure and thin, Renee Riffey may
not look like a bowling champion but her
record tells another story.
The rising senior at North County
High School in Glen Burnie, whose home
lanes are at Fort Meade, is being recruited
by four universities to join their bowling
teams and expects more offers to roll in.
Like top football and basketball stu-
dent-athletes, Renee has until National
Signing Day to consider her options, but
must make her decision by April.
“The big factor for me is where I can see
myself,” said Renee, who resides in Glen
Burnie with her parents, Brian Riffey, chief
of garrison security at the Directorate of
Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security,
and Leslie Riffey, a contracting officer
representative at the Defense Information
School’s Logistics Directorate.
The 16-year-old will take into account
different aspects of each college such as
academics, what the campus has to offer
and the different majors available.
Renee wants to become a marine biolo-
gist and plans to major in biology. She is
being recruited by Howard University, a
Division I college in Washington, D.C.,
Kutztown University, Penn State Altoona
and Cheyney University in Pennsylvania.
“It’s academics first, then bowling,”
Brian Riffey said. “Bowling is a method
to get there.”
Renee began bowling at the age of 7
and after three years of bowling, decided
to devote herself to the sport. She trains
four days a week, three hours each day. In
her best game, Riffey bowled a 250, her
highest score.
Her parents were both there to see her
success.
Renee, who trains at The Lanes at Fort
Meade, said the venue is considered dif-
ficult by competitive bowlers. However,
Renee appreciates the support she receives
at the Lanes.
“Even those who aren’t coaches, who
just work there,” she said. “You get to
know the people who are there.”
On a recent Dollar Day, Renee bowled
17 straight games, the most she ever bowled
at one time.
Renee claims to have no “good luck
charms,” but needs at least one of her
parents to watch her bowl.
Before each game, Renee likes to get “in
the zone”because she considers bowling to
be “a mental game.”
“The first thing I do is listen to music,”
she said. “I don’t really worry about who’s
around me. It’s just me by the lane until
it’s start time.”
Renee recently returned from U.S. Open
Nationals in Buffalo, N.Y., where accord-
ing to her father, there were 60 wall-to-wall
lanes and over 600 girls and 1,500 boys of
all ages bowling.
Renee, an only child, and her parents
have a busy year ahead of them.
“It’s been a learning curve for us,” Brian
Riffey said.
Her mother said the recruiting process
was enlightening.
“We found that while there are schol-
arships out there, the higher divisions is
where the money is,” Leslie Riffey said.
Despite the constant stream of emails
and phone calls from recruiters that makes
her father feel like he’s being recruited as
well, Renee’s parents are proud of her
bowling prospects and enjoy watching her
compete.
“I get fired up, I get excited,” Brian
Riffey said. “[But] trust me, I’m not the
only parent who gets fired up.”
Striking It Hot
Fort Meade-based bowler
rolls her way to scholarship
submitted photo
Renee Riffey, 16, prepares for the National
Bowling Association tournament in New
Jersey. The Fort Meade-based bowler
is being recruited by Howard University,
Kutztown University, Penn State Altoona
and Cheyney University’s bowling
teams.
By Philip H. Jones
Chief, Command Information
A Meade Middle School graduate has
been selected to play soccer for a regional
U.S. Olympic Development Program.
Katie Hoffman, 14, starting center mid-
fielder for the Arundel Soccer Association
Premier 99 U-15 girl’s soccer team, was
selected July 13 as a Region 1 Olympic
Development Program player.
According to its website, the U.S. Youth
Soccer Olympic Development Program
was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of
players in each age group from which a
national team will be selected for interna-
tional competition. The program provides
high-level training to benefit and enhance
the development of players at all levels.
Following a highly competitive four-day
identification camp at the University of
Rhode Island, Katie was one of 48 players
selected out of approximately 800 players
from the 15 Youth State Soccer Associa-
tions that comprise Region 1.
“Playing on the U.S. Women’s National
Team is a goal I set for myself a few years
ago,” Katie said. “It is one of my dreams,
and making the Region 1 Team gets me
one step closer to making that dream
come true”
Region 1 ODP identifies elite-level play-
ers in Maine, New Hampshire, New York,
New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C.,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Vermont and West Virginia, and facili-
tates their selection to U.S. national team
programs.
The ODP selection process takes place
through state, regional and national tri-
als. The primary benefit to players is the
opportunity to train and play against the
best players in their age group, to maximize
their development.
Katie is the daughter of Joe Hoffman,
a watch officer in the Operations Center
at the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare
Group, and Cathy Hoffman, a merchan-
diser at the Fort Meade Exchange.
The teen will attend Seton Keough High
School in Baltimore this fall. She plans to
play for the Arundel Soccer Association
and her high school soccer team.
In January, Katie will travel to Boca
Raton, Fla., where she will compete in
the national ID camp for a position on
the Olympic Development Program U.S.
National Team Pool.
Meade Middle School graduate selected for soccer development program
Submitted photo
Katie Hoffmann
To all of the average recreational bowl-
ers who cannot even dream of bowling a
250, Renee offers straight-forward advice:
“Just try to go down the middle of the
lane.”
13. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 21, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 13
Community News Notes
The deadline for Soundoff! community
“News and Notes” is Friday at noon.
All submissions are posted at the editor’s
discretion and may be edited for space and
grammar. Look for additional community
events on the Fort Meade website at www.
ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade
Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.
For more information or to submit an
announcement, email Philip Jones at philip.
h.jones.civ@mail.mil or call 301-677-5602.
TAP office moving
The Soldier for Life: Transition
Assistance Program (formerly ACAP)
office moved Monday from 4216
Roberts Ave. to 8501 Simonds St.
The new office is located on the
corner of Simonds Street and Zimborski
Avenue, next to the Freedom Inn.
For more information, call the office
at 301-677-9871 or the 24/7 SFL-TAP
Call Center at 1-800-325-4715.
Women’s Equality Day
The 704th Military Intelligence
Brigade and the Fort Meade garrison
command are hosting the annual Women’s
Equality Day observance on Aug. 28 from
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training
Center, 8542 Zimborski Ave.
Admission is free and open to the public.
The theme is “Women: Back to the
Future.”
The event will feature a musical perfor-
mance by Kate Campbell-Stevenson, who
was named to the list of Maryland’s Top 100
Women in 2012.
Maj. (P) Jacqueline Barcomb, deputy
commanding officer, 704th MI, will give
opening remarks.
All Fort Meade service members and
civilian employees are encouraged to attend
with supervisory approval and without
charge to annual leave. Administrative leave
is authorized.
For more information, call Master Sgt.
Tuthill-Rusinko at 301-677-7419 or Sgt. 1st
Class Palmore at 301-677-6687.
Schedule school/
sports physicals
Appointments for school/sports
physicals are now available for enrollees
of Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center.
A number of Saturday appointments
also are available.
To schedule an appointment, call the
Appointment Line between 6 and 6:30
a.m. at 301-677-8800 or 1-866-511-8748.
Raccoon rabies
vaccinations
Anne Arundel County will conduct
a Raccoon Oral Rabies Vaccination,
or ORV, campaign across the county,
including at Fort Meade.
The purpose of this program is to
reduce the spread of rabies among wild
animals in the county.
From Sept. 3 through the end of the
month, two types of rabies bait will be
dropped via ground and air.
The Fishmeal Polymer bait is
approximately 0.75 inches thick and 1.25
inches square. The Coated Sachet bait
resembles a ketchup packet. Both are
marked with a toll-free phone number for
information about the ORV project.
Pet owners should keep their pets
confined or on a leash during the baiting
campaign and for two weeks after.
It is probable that some pets will still
encounter and may even eat the bait, as
it has a fish scent that can be attractive to
dogs and cats. Any animal that eats the
bait is not assumed to be vaccinated.
A common side effect is diarrhea due to
the bait’s high fat content.
Immunocompromized individuals,
including those with a history of
exfoliative skin conditions, children and
pregnant women should avoid handling
the bait.
Any instances where a person or animal
is exposed to the bait should be reported
to the Anne Arundel County Department
of Health at 410-222-0056, ext. 3025.
Reports also can be faxed to 410-222-
6076.
VCC extended hours
The Demps Visitor Control Center,
located at 902 Reece Road, is now open
for full, customer service functions on
the third Saturday of the month from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Saturday service will continue,
based on customer demand and staff
availability.
For more information, call 301-677-
1064 or 301-677-1065.
Kimbrough town hall
Dr. (Col.) Michael J. Zapor, deputy
chief of Clinical Services for the Fort
Meade Medical Department Activity,
will conduct a mini town hall meeting
today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center
pharmacy lobby.
The purpose of this forum is to
disseminate information, answer
questions and discuss concerns regarding
Kimbrough.
All beneficiaries are invited to attend.
Summer Concert Series
The finale´concert of the U.S. Army
Field Band’s free Summer Concert Series
will be presented Saturday at 7 p.m. at
Constitution Park.
The concert will feature every performing
component of the Army Field Band: The
Concert Band Soldiers’ Chorus, Jazz
Ambassadors and The Volunteers.
In keeping with Army Field Band
tradition, the concert will include returning
alumni from across the U.S. and will feature
Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”
No tickets are required. Bring a folding
chair or blanket for seating.
In inclement weather, the performance will
take place at the Fort Meade Pavilion. The
decision will be made at 3 p.m. on the day of
the performance.
For updates, check armyfieldband.com or
the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.
com/ftmeade.
All visitors should enter Fort Meade via
the main gate at Route 175 and Reece Road.
Visitors are subject to an identification check
and vehicle inspection.
For more information, call 301-677-6586.
Farmers market
The Fort Meade Farmers Market
is held every Wednesday from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 12 in the
Smallwood Hall parking lot, across from
McGlachlin Parade Field.
For more information, go to
ftmeademwr.com.
Cooking Matters tours
Fort Meade is launching Cooking
Matters at the commissary to improve the
health and well-being of service members,
their families, retirees and DoD civilians.
To kick off the initiative, a series of
interactive grocery store tours for military
families is being offered.
The next tour is Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the commissary.
Cooking Matters, the newest Healthy
Base Initiative program, serves families
through hands-on cooking courses and
interactive grocery store tours in which
participants learn to shop smarter, use
nutrition information to make healthier
choices and cook delicious, affordable meals.
Tours start every 30 minutes and last
approximately 45 minutes. Tours will be
limited to eight people per tour.
Volunteer tour leaders are needed.
Join Cooking Matters at the commissary
tour and receive an opportunity to take
home $10 worth of healthy groceries of your
choice, using the skills learned on the tour.
RSVP online for a tour at www.
cmatscommissaryfm.eventbrite.com (Walk-
ins are welcome.)
Social media workshop
The Army Community Service Employ-
ment Readiness Team, Rose Holland and
Ana Brown, have created a workshop
encompassing a variety of social media
platforms geared toward military families.
The workshop will be conducted Sept. 4
from 9 a.m. to noon at ACS, 830 Chisholm
Ave.
The workshop will cover creating
strong, professional profiles; searching for
jobs using various platforms; researching
companies; and improving your online
visibility and presence while maintaining
your safety and security.
To register, go to www.ftmeademwr.
com/acs/erp.php or call ACS at 301-677-
5590.
Free classes
The Navy Fleet and Family Support
Center offers a variety of classes at its
Public Affairs Officer Chad T. Jones, author of Jibber Jabber, is
out of the office.
As always, if you have any comments about Jibber Jabber or
anything to do with the world of sports, e-mail chad.t.jones.
civ@mail.mil or follow him on Twitter @CTJibber.
Jibber-Less
NEWS EVENTS
EDUCATION
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
14. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil14 SOUNDOFF! August 21, 2014
Community News Notes
new facility at 2212 Chisholm Ave.
The free classes are open to DoD
identification cardholders including
active-duty service members, retirees
and their family members, DoD civilian
employees and contractors.
Registration is required for each class.
• Stress Management: Sept. 4, 9-11
a.m.
• Resume Workshop: Sept. 9, 9 a.m.
to noon
This workshop will provide tips on
winning resumes.
• Effective communication: Sept. 10,
9-11 a.m.
• Anger Management: Sept. 11, 9-11
a.m.
• Medical Record Review: Have
your medical records reviewed by an
AMVETS representative. Appointment
required.
To register or for more information,
call 301-677-9017 or 301-677-9018.
Storytime
“It’s A Zoo In Here,” a zoo-themed
Storytime and stuffed animal sleepover
for children of all ages, will be held
Friday at 3 p.m. in the Post Library
Annex at Kuhn Hall.
For more information, call 301-677-
5677.
Out About
• Join the Chesapeake Chorale for its
34th season. An open rehearsal will be held
Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Christian Com-
munity Presbyterian Church, 3120 Belair
Drive, Bowie.
Highlights of the 2014-2015 season
include: Poulenc Gloria, pops concert of
music from the ’80s and Schubert Mass in
E Flat.
Membership is by audition. For more
information, go to chesapeakechorale.org.
• The Bowie Baysox Fan Appreciation
Weekend will be held Aug. 30-31 at Prince
George’s Stadium.
On Aug. 30, Kids Appreciation Night
begins at 6:35 p.m. when the Baysox take on
the Altoona Curve. The first 500 children,
ages 3-12, will receive a free Youth Baysox
Mini Bat.
The event also will feature fireworks
and a Kids Halloween Party. Children are
encouraged to dress in costume for trick-or-
treating before the game.
On Aug. 31, Fan Appreciation Day will
be celebrated as the Baysox take on the
Rock Cats at 2:05 p.m. Gates open at 12:30
p.m. Players and coaches will sign auto-
graphs and pose for photos between 12:30
and 1:15 p.m.
The first 500 fans, ages 13 and older, will
be given a Baysox knit cap.
After the game, children ages 12 and
under will be invited onto the field for the
Baysox Helicopter Candy Drop of 150
pounds of candy for youngsters to col-
lect.
Tickets are available online at baysox.
com or by calling the box office at 301-
464-4865.
• Abundant Life Church will host its 24th
annual Super Saturday Kids Carnival and
Family Fun Day on Saturday from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. at 7305 E. Furnace Branch Road,
Glen Burnie.
The free outdoor carnival will feature
pony rides, a petting zoo, midway games,
a Black Ops Obstacle Course, 18-foot Big
Kahuna Water Slide (wear a bathing suit
and bring a towel), a 32-foot Rock Wall, a
3D Luau Moon Bounce and a dunk tank.
Inside the air-conditioned building will
be face painting, a tattoo parlor (for tem-
porary tattoos), hair salon, Kinect and
JustDance games, and costumed characters.
Community organizations will offer free
services and goodies.
Free school supplies will be distributed
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free lunch and refreshments, including
hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and ice
cream, will be provided.
Limited parking at the church and satel-
lite parking lots will be available. A free
shuttle service begins at 10 a.m.
For more information, call the church
office at 410-761-9075 or visit abundantlife-
church.us.
• Leisure Travel Services is offering its
next monthly bus trip to New York City
on Saturday, with discounts to attractions.
Bus cost is $60. For more information, call
301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.
• Society of Military Widows meets for
brunch the fourth Sunday of the month
at 1 p.m. at the Lanes. The next meeting is
Sunday. For more information, call Betty
Jones at 410-730-0127.
• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored
by Army Community Service, meets the
second and fourth Monday of every
month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Community
Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.
The next meeting is Monday. 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 to
5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood
Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd. The next
meeting is Monday.
The group is for expecting fathers, and
fathers with children of all ages. Children
welcome. For more information, call 301-
677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@
mail.mil.
• Air Force Sergeants Association
Chapter 254 meets the fourth Wednesday
of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the
multipurpose room of Building 9801 at the
National Security Agency. The next meeting
is Wednesday. For more information, call
443-534-5170 or visit afsa254.org.
• Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’ Club is
starting its new season with a Super Sign-
up on Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Potomac
Place Neighborhood Center. Join in some
fun, and meet the board.
The OSC has a history of supporting the
spouses of Fort Meade and the Fort Meade
community. The board has planned new
and exciting luncheons including a murder
mystery, winter luau and a party hosting, as
well as bingo and annual Holiday Bazaar.
Membership is from June to May, and is
open to spouses of active-duty and Reserve
officers and warrant officers of the U.S.
Armed Services as well as retiree spouses
of the same ranks. Associate membership is
open to DoD civilians GS-9 and above.
• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club is
sponsoring its opening brunch on Sept.
2 at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. As part of
its opening program, the ROWC will
feature information from other clubs,
community organizations and the garrison
commander’s office. Cost of brunch is $20.
Reservations are required by Aug. 28 at
noon. Call your area representative or Betty
Wade at 410-551-7082.
• 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 Sept. 4.
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
Annapolis Road, Odenton, in the banquet
hall in back of the building. The next
meeting is Sept. 4. Dinner is served at 6
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. (The Fort Meade
Theater will no longer be open on Wednesdays
and Thursdays.)
PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12
and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies:
$7.50 adults, $5 children.
Today through Aug. 31
Today Saturday: “Planes: Fire Rescue” (PG).
When Dusty learns that his engine is damaged
and he may never race again, he joins a forest
fire and rescue unit to be trained as a firefighter.
With the voices of Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie
Bowen. (3D Friday)
Sunday: “The Purge: Anarchy” (R). A young
couple works to survive on the streets after
their car breaks down right as the annual purge
commences. With Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo,
Zach Gilford.
Aug. 29 30: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
(PG-13). In the wake of a disaster that changed
the world, the growing and genetically evolving
apes find themselves at a critical point with the
human race. With Gary Oldman, Keri Russell,
Andy Serkis.
Aug. 31: “Sex Tape” (R). A married couple wake
up to discover that the sex tape they made the
evening before has gone missing, leading to a
frantic search for its whereabouts. With Jason
Segel, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry.
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 Sept.
4. For more information, visit namiaac.org.
RECREATION
MEETINGS
YOUTH
EDUCATION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13