Fort Campbell MWR Life 1-10

2www.fortcampbellmwr.com

Here we are again, a new year and a fresh start as wedive head-first into 2010. It is with a fresh start in mind

that in this issue we bring you several ideas to help youmake the most of the year to come. We have asked many

of our MWR subject matter experts to give you some tips and advice about topics such as how to improve your job search, how

to get out of debt, how to lose weight, and much more. We also have articlesthat inspire hope such as conquering a childhood fear and learning how toswim, as well as a tribute to the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Every year it seems that we hear the same talk about making resolutions for the year to come. I, for one, am always discouraged every yearwhen they inevitably get broken, causing nothing but feelings of remorse andguilt. Instead, I would like to think of the New Year as a fresh opportunity togain knowledge about chances to improve the things that I have the ability anddesire to change.

One thing that I am changing for the New Year is our format. You willnotice that there are tips here and there throughout the magazine with littlepoints of inspiration. The first tip is right here on the editor’s page. Gardeningis a favorite hobby of mine that I have been studying for several years. I enjoytrying out heirloom and exotic plants and watching the way that the gardenchanges with every season. I do not consider myself an expert by any means;these tips are from my own trial and error and knowledge gained throughbooks and magazines over the years. I hope that you will enjoy these andmaybe it will inspire you to dig in the dirt a little this year, even if it is only aflower pot. If you have never tried gardening, it can be a first step to learningsomething new!

I start every year with a feeling of hope. What new adventure awaits?What great things will happen? What challenges will I face? Even challengescan inspire hope. I wish you all nothing but the best for the New Year, andhope that these articles and tips will inspire you to start fresh.

EditorMelissa Wells

ContributorsCP AlbarranAmbyr BarrTara GoodsonKristen Geist-HodgkinsAndrea LatimoreKeri McPeakLisa TaylorJan Wagner

PhotographyDeborah Young

Dreamstime.comAndi Berger pg 12Stephen Coburn pg 12Connie Larsen pg 8Madartists pg 12Mylaphotography coverLev Olkha pg 6 istock.comDWlabslac pg 4ilona 75 pg 6travelinglight pg 4Zentilia pg 4

PublisherCreative ink

Creative DirectorSears Hallett

AdvertisingDavid LoosCreative [email protected]

Disclaimers:Fort Campbell’s MWR Life Magazine is a monthlymagazine produced by the Fort Campbell MWRMarketing Department under the authority ofAR 215-1. Facilities and activities publicized are open to authorized patrons.

The purpose of Fort Campbell MWR Life is to provide current information about Fort Campbell MWR activities and events; to shareideas which will help readers become educatedabout Fort Campbell MWR activities and motivatethem to take full advantage of these programs thatcontribute to our Fort Campbell Soldiers and Military Families’ better quality of life. Views andopinions expressed are those of the authors. The mention or appearance of commercial advertisers,commercial sponsors and/or their logos does notconstitute endorsement by the Federal Government.

The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject tochange.

MWR Marketing is located at 5663 ScreamingEagle Blvd, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. For more information, call 270-798-7535 or log on towww.fortcampbellmwr.com.

A Fresh Startto 2010

Gardening Tip:I know that January seems like a strange time for gardening tips. It is often thecoldest and most dreary month of the year. This makes it a great time to snuggle up on the sofa with a stack of gardening books and seed catalogs toplan your garden for the spring and summer. I love the bright colors and descriptions in the catalogs about flowers and vegetables of every differentshape, size and flavor. January is also a great time to look at the basic, barestructure of your landscape. Look at the shapes of the trees with barebranches. Sometimes the stark architecture of these trees and other plantsgone dormant can be just as beautiful as colorful spring flowers. Thinking aboutform and structure when you are designing and planning your landscape willmake a beautiful year-round garden.

Now start planning! I know I will.

Melissa Wells, [email protected]


Whether your fresh perspective comes from the newcalendar year or from a PCS move, the bottom line isthat it allows for a starting point to make changes.Resolutions were born out of the idea oflooking back to see what worked and whatdid not, and looking forward to the NewYear with fresh motivation to ensure aprosperous year ahead.

You may have decidedthat you are in a slump if you believe that your job search plan isnot working, or that you feelthere is nothing else you have tooffer your current position. If so,the start of this New Year can bethe perfect time for you to checkout new options for a career or tojump start your job search.

In order to do this, youare going to make a resolution ofsorts. For our purposes here, and because it is a proven fact that keeping a written list is more effective than justvoicing a resolution, we are going to callthis ‘resolution’ “Steps to a Fresh

Start” (in your career or in your job search plan).Follow these simple steps to start in your

career and/or job search. First, develop a plan that involves small steps for attaining your new goals. A planis vital to your success because it will organize your

goals and will give you specific steps

to get there. Not only do you want to create aplan, but you also want to tell someone aboutit. Sharing your plan with someone adds accountability to what you are doing andmakes it more concrete. The Army Community Service (ACS) Family Employment

Readiness Program (FERP) team can assistyou with developing a plan to reach yourcareer goals and help keep you on track asyou navigate through them.

Now that you have shared yourpersonalized plan for career success withsomeone, you want to ensure that you display your list and track your progress.

Posting your goals/list where you can see it everymorning makes it a central part of your day. Looking atyour list at the end of each day allows you to reviewwhat you did that day to accomplish your goal.

Another old proverb comes to mind here, “out ofsight, out of mind.” Keep your goals fresh in your

mind every day. Evaluate what is working andwhat is not and revise as necessary.

After you have created,shared and tracked your career goals, celebrate your successes. Sharing your victories provides motivation to continue on to the next goal/step. If need be, make your next goal more challenging.

These are some general guidelines to assist with your freshstart to a new career. Please visit theACS Family Employment ReadinessProgram to develop these steps intoa true career plan. The first place tostart will be our Family Information

and Training (FIT) plan (see, we have aplan as well!) Our FIT plan involves

three steps, the first of which is our information seminar given most Mondays,

Wednesdays and Fridays to provide anoverview of all FERP services. The second step

consists of our specialty workshops, such as JumpStart Your Résumé, RESUMIX and More!, and the Employer Spotlight. And the third step is a one on onemeeting with an Employment Readiness Program Manager to ensure your questions have been addressed, and you are on track to meet your career goals. Please contact the FERP office at270-798-4412/4289/6043 with any questions.

The FERP office has recently made a freshstart in a new location. We are still located inside theACS Building (5661 Screaming Eagle Blvd), but are nowin suite 108 (formerly ACS Financial Readiness).

Check us out on Facebook as well: Fort Campbell Army Community Service Family Employment Readiness Program.

What are your career goals for 2010?

Anew year is here, which means itis the perfect time to start fresh.Why not make that fresh start

your career/job search?

By Kristen Geist-Hodgkins


Why not lose that debt the same way you workoff the excess holiday weight? You can increaseyour financial fitness by following these five steps: 1. Identify wants versus needs 2. Stop spending more than you make 3. Prioritize your debt 4. Reduce your debt 5. Create an emergency fund

Drastic measures might actually be the best curefor your finances. Taking care of the wants instead of the needs always leads to financialproblems. Army Community Service (ACS) Financial Readiness can assist you in creating abudget. Call 270-798-5518 to set up an appointment with a budget counselor.

Understanding how creditworks and what is on your credit reports will help lead to financiallysound decisions. What a greatway to start your new year!Anyone may obtain their freecredit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.You can choose to pull all threecredit reports at once or pullthem quarterly for year round monitoring. Do you know how toread your report once it is obtained?The Consumer Affairs Office at ACS Financial Readiness can assist you with that. Understanding how long something can be

reported, how to dispute an item,and ensuring everything is correct onyour report is vital. Identity theftis a growing problem; imagine the additionalstress that can create!Fraud alert is an option that is available if youthink you may bethe victim of identity theft.Credit scores maybe purchased fromthe three reportingagencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and thescores vary by who is reporting it. Your credit score mayrange from 300-850 according towww.myfico.com. The lower your

score, the higher price you are going to pay in finance charges. Making all your payments ontime is one of the biggest plusses to your credithistory. Several other factors account for yourcredit score. They include major negative items,past payment history, homeownership, length of credit history, inquiries of credit, number ofopen credit lines, types of credit, and outstanding debt. Making at least the minimumpayment, and carrying a low balance compared to your limit are also keys to having good credit.

How quickly would you like to get out of debt? Snowballing payments is avery easy method to manage debt. Make a list of all your debt, include vehicles, student loans, credit cards, lines of credit,mortgage, and any other contractual obligations(i.e. door-to-door sales). What’s the lowestamount with the highest annual percentage rate?Start there and pay anything extra towards thatdebt. Don’t forget to make the rest of your

minimum payments. Once thefirst debt is paid off, apply

that amount towardthe next one in line.

Keep snowballingyour paymentsand before you know ityou will bedebt free!

Keeping a firm grip on

your financesalso includes

creating a plan for deployment

entitlements. While deployed, the Soldier can

receive hazard duty pay, Family separation pay,

hardship duty pay, and federal taxes are exempt.Having a conversation about how the money will

be used during deploymentshould take place prior to

deployment. This willhelp minimize stress,

maximize benefits,and establishhabits that will continue afterredeployment.Providing aPower of

Attorney (POA)to a Family

Member to takecare of financial

obligations is a commonpractice. Be very specific and

seek additional guidance from Legalin obtaining any POAs. What goals do you havefor the extra income? Will you use it to paydown debt, save for a major purchase, or investit in your future? Be careful not to obligate yourself to major purchases based on

deployment income that will stop once the Soldier returns. Track your spending for sixtydays and it will give you a truer picture of whatyour spending habits are. Marry up your receiptsto your statements and account for all spending,including impulse purchases. Base your budget onpre-deployment income to make the transitioneasier. There are advantages to participating inthe Thrift Savings Plan and Savings Deposit Program. Several other investment opportunitiesare available and making an appointment with abudget counselor can get you on the right track.Creating and sticking to a budget will help relievefinancial worries and set you up for success in theyear to come.

If you need further assistance, pleasecall Army Community Service Financial Readinessat (270) 798-5518.

D id holiday excesses leaveyou feeling bloated andbroke? If your debt

bulges along with your waistlineduring the holiday season, youare going to have to put yourspending on a diet.

By Tara Goodson

8

Martin Luther King

2010 marks the 27th year of the signing of the billthat created a federal holiday honoring the life andlegacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King, akey spokesman for activism in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, later went on towin the Nobel Prize for Peace. Born January 15,1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. advocated the use of non-violent means to endracial segregation. Mostly remembered for hisfamous “I have a dream” speech, Dr. King alsohelped found the Southern Christian LeadershipConference (SLOC), an American Civil Rights organization, which gave him a platform to discussissues critical to our nation at that time.

Dr. King was well educated. Entering

college at the young age of fifteen, he went on toearn two Bachelor’s degrees and a Doctorate ofPhilosophy. He was married to Coretta Scott Kingand had four children. Dr. King died on April 4, 1968.After his death, he was awarded the PresidentialMedal of Freedom and the Congressional Goldmedal; both for his work to end racial segregationand discrimination. King’s main legacy was to pushAmerica to fulfill its promise of equal rights. He believed that all citizens of this great nation shouldbe given the right to reach their full potential.

Today we should honor his life andlegacy by recommitting ourselves to keeping thedream alive. You can keep his dream alive in manyways. Volunteer your services; find out what yourcommunity is doing and get involved. Broaden yourhorizons and try something new; read a new bookor take a sewing class, knowledge is power. Dr. King was only on this earth a short time, but he made a major impact that is forever markedin history. What legacy will you leave behind?

The Soldier and Family Newcomer’s Orientation programis for “all newly arrived Soldiers and Families who havechecked in at Kalsu Replacement and/or their unit withinthe last 45 days,” says Connie Silk, ACS Relocation Program Manager. This is an opportunity for a comprehensive orientation with a chance to learnabout the services and resourcesavailable on and around Fort Campbell. Major General JohnCampbell, Commanding Generalfor the 101st Airborne Division(AASLT) and Fort Campbell, startedthis program in order to “bring inmore Families and inform them about thegreat resources available at Fort Campbell.We can’t do what we do without Family support,”says Campbell.

“This program builds resilience, strength, andsupport for these new members of the 101st AirborneFamily and allows Soldiers and their Family Members tolearn about the resources that are available to meet their

needs,” says Silk. By combining this orientation and giving newcomers achance to interact with multipleagencies on one day, it reduces thenumber of days required for newSoldiers to in-process, giving them

more time to spend with theirFamilies. It also

includes those Family Members

who may not otherwise receive important information aboutthe resources available to them.

The orientation willstart at 9 a.m. with an official

welcome and video, followed by abus tour of the installation for Family

Members, lunch (sponsored by North Central Institute), and a visit to multiple agency

resource booths on-site at the FRC. Some of the agencies represented will be Fort Campbell Family Housing, Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS), finance, medical/Tricare, Military Family Life Consultants,Army Family Team Building, information about contacting

your Family Readiness Group (FRG)and Family Readiness Support

Assistant (FRSA), and more.Representatives from the surrounding communities havealso been invited. When askedwhy she would encourage

Soldiers and Families to participate, Silk replied, “It gives

them the opportunity to meet thesubject matter experts one-on-one at

a single location.” Mrs. Silk advises “reserve a spot for childcare at least one week

prior to the event by calling 270-798-6313 or email [email protected]. Childcareregistration packets will be given to Soldiers when theysign in to 20th replacement. These are also available online at https: //webtrac.mwr.army.mil.”

Starting out, the orientation programs willtake place twice a month with the next one scheduled forJanuary 14, 2010. These times and dates may change asthe program evolves. General Campbell is hoping tomake 2010 “the year of the Family; their support is essential for Soldiers to succeed.”For general questions about the Soldier and Family Newcomer’s Orientation, please call 270-798-9322.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out thetrue meaning of it creed: “ We

hold these truths to be self-evidentthat all men are created equal.”

Anew initiative has begun to welcome Soldiers and Family Members to Fort Campbell.

www.fortcampbellmwr.com

By Andrea Latimore

“

By Melissa Wells

1. Air Assault Auto (270) 956-1101/11002. Army Community Service (270) 798-93223. Army Education Center (270) 798-58864. Arts & Crafts Center (270) 798-66934. Arts & Crafts Center Woodshop (270) 798-65405. ASYMCA (270) 798-74226. Auto Skills North (270) 798-56127. Auto Skills South (270) 798-63178. Baldanado Pool (270) 798-52079. BOSS Program (270) 798-785810. Child Development Center #1 (270) 439-799311. Child Development Center #2 (270) 439-799612. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (270) 798-716113. Clarksville Base PFC (270) 798-600614. Cole Park Community Activities Center (270) 798-4610 x11915. Cole Park Golf Club (270) 798-4906/182215. 19th Hole Snack Bar (270) 798-4610 x10615. Cole Park Southern Buffet (270) 798-4610 x11216. CYS Central Registration (270) 798-06749. D.W. Recreation Center (270) 798-739117. Dawg Haus (270) 798-076618. Destiny Parks & Pavilions (270) 798-2175

19. Direcotacte of MWR (270) 798-995320. Discovery Center (270) 798-273721. Dolan Pool (270) 798-53504. Engraving Etc (270) 798-017122. Estep Wellness Center (270) 798-4664/402323. Family Child Care (270) 798-495924. Family Resource Center (270) 956-293525. Fort Campbell Riding Stables (270) 798-262926. Fratellenico PFC (270) 798-941827. Freedom Fighters PFC (270) 798-735528. Froggy’s Sports Bar & Grill (270) 697-100429. Gardner Indoor Pool (270) 798-631030. Gear-To-Go (270) 798-680631. Gertsch PFC (270) 798-275332. Hooper Bowling Center (270) 798-588733. Information, Ticketing &

Reservations Leisure Travel Office (270) 798-743634. Lozada PFC (270) 798-430635. MWR 24 Hour Information Hotline (270) 798-317235. MWR Public Relations Office &

Installation In/Out Processing Bldg (270) 798-753519. MWR Unit Funds/IMWRF Collections (270) 798-6818

36. North Softball Complex (270) 798-332037. Olive PFC (270) 798-410138. Outdoor Recreation (270) 798-217538. Paintball/Survival Games (270) 798-462039. Part Day Preschool (270) 798-067440. R.F. Sink Library (270) 798-572941. Recycling Center (270) 798-452742. Richardson Army Lodging (931) 431-449643. School Age Services (270) 798-412944. Single Pool (270) 798-424745. Skeet Range (270) 412-401546. SKIESUnlimited Center (270) 412-545547. South Softball Complex (270) 798-332048. Sports Admin Office / Fryar Stadium (270) 798-309449. Sportsman's Lodge (931) 431-414043. Taylor Youth Center (270) 798-364350. Teen Club 24/7 (270) 956-103351. Turner Army Lodging (270) 439-2229

1 (800) GO ARMY 152. Veterinary Services (270) 798-361443. Youth Sports Program (270) 798-6355

This non-profit organization is committed to“Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” Alarge portion of the funds used to support AER are receivedthrough donations fromboth the general publicand the Army Family.Since its creation,AER has expandedto include the AEREducation Program.The education program consists of scholarships designed to offer college aid for ArmySpouses and dependent children.

One of many scholarships offered through the AEREducational Program is the MG James UrsanoScholarship. This program is available to children of Active Duty, Retired, or Soldierswho have been killed in action. The MG JamesUrsano Scholarship is awarded every year, forup to four academic years, to a full-time student enrolled at an accredited undergraduate, vocational or technical school.Funds received from this scholarship may beused for tuition, books, supplies and fees, orschool room and board. A grade point averageof 2.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained toqualify and reapply for this scholarship. Students, who are interested in applying, mustbe an unmarried dependent, enrolled inDEERS, and be under the age of 23 for the entire Academic Year.

Other great scholarship programs include the AER Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) and the AER Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP). These programs were developed to help Spouses of Soldiers advance their education. The SSEAP providesfinancial assistance to Spouses of Active Duty,Retired Soldiers, and widow(er)s, residing inthe United States, who are pursuing their firstdegree at a post secondary school.

Scholarships are awarded annually, for up tofour years, and are based on the financial needsof the applicant. Funds may be used for tuition,books, supplies and fees. A grade point averageof 2.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained to qualify and reapply for this scholarship.

The OSEAP is also a need based education assistance program created

to provide financial educational assistance to Spouses living with

Active Duty Soldiers at Overseas Commands.

Financial assistance isawarded per term,based on financial need.Items that are takeninto considerationwhen assessing eligibility include

income, assets, Family size, special

financial obligations and circumstances.

Contacting Fort Campbell’s AER

Office is a great way to learn allthe information needed toapply for any AER scholarship. AER Officers Betty Gerenand David Ellis can inform patrons about various scholarship programs, qualifications, and howto utilize the AER scholarship website toapply for scholarships. A quick stop by the AER office will arm you with the information needed to ensure a smooth application process.

AER has awarded over $48K thisyear to Spouses and dependent children in theFort Campbell community. “Education is thekey to success,” said AER Officer Geren, “AER scholarship programs provide Spouses the opportunity to fulfill their desires to obtainhigher education.” Year after year, AER scholarships have enable Spouses and childrento reach their educational goals. “For manystudents, scholarships are the only way forthem to pursue a degree,” states Geren.

“Even when working two or three jobs, theycould not afford to go to college without this scholarship.”

Financial Readiness Manager TereKangas is the perfect portrait of how AERscholarships can help Spouses advance and pursue careers within the Army community.After dropping out of high school, Kangas wasworking two, sometimes three, jobs just toprovide for her Family. Trying to find extramoney to pay for college seemed nearly impossible. With the help of the AER scholarship fund, Kangas was able to achieveher educational goals and has gone on to complete two additional degrees, graduatingwith honors. “AER was instrumental for meobtaining my degrees, and had the scholarshipnot been there to give me my first steps, I most likely would have never gone back to school,” states Kangas. “I feel everyone canfollow their dreams and not go broke in the process.”

“Helping the Army Take Care of ItsOwn,” the Army Emergency Relief Program

has made great strides in its mission to provide financial

assistance for continued education. With the

help of the AER Education Program,many more Spousesand dependent children can achievetheir educational

goals and dreams.

More information about the AER Education Program and scholarships can be obtained by visiting Fort Campbell’s AER Office or byvisiting www.aerhq.org.


By Lisa Taylor

T he Army Emergency Relief(AER) program was establishedin 1942 to provide assistance to

Soldiers and Families in emergency financial situations.

Army Emergency Relief OfficersBetty Geren (270) 798-5518David Ellis(270) 798-78615662 Screaming Eagle Blvd. Fort Campbell KY, 42223http://www.fortcampbellmwr.com/acsnew/frp/AER/aer2.htm


To celebrate the re-signing of the Army Family Covenant in October 2009, Family members were asked to submit essays describing how theArmy Family Covenant has impacted their lives. The winner of this contest, Mrs. Brenda Franks, participated in the ceremony by reading her essay andbeing a signatory of the Army Family Covenant.

Formerly a Soldier herself, Mrs. Franks understands the challenges that Army Families face. Fort Campbell is Mrs. Frank’s first duty station asa Spouse and she has taken on the challenge of managing a household and caring for her daughters while her husband is deployed. When Mrs. Franks isnot taking care of her three daughters, Elizabeth 6, Rebekah 4, and Rachel 6 months, she volunteers for Army Community Service, and the Army Family Team Building (AFTB) program. “Ms. Franks is a very reliable volunteer who has been called upon time and timeagain to fill in where needed. She has a true passion for the program and teaches her classes from the heart,which draws students in while conveying valuable life lessons. She has spent tremendous time and effort ensuring that Family members were educated and trained to be self sufficient leaders within their commu-nity,” says Suzy Yates, AFTB Program Manager.

Mrs. Franks’ commitment and dedication to her Family and the Army encompass the spirit inwhich the Army Family Covenant was created. Not only has she been able to benefit from the partnership created between the Fort Campbell Command, Families, Soldiers, and the Army FamilyCovenant, she has contributed as well.

Please read Mrs. Franks’ essay below to see how the Army Family Covenant has benefited her.

By Ambyr Barr

Family Covenant EssayBy Brenda Franks

The Army Family Covenant has greatly improved the quality of my life and my children’s lives during myhusband’s deployment. My husband deployed to Afghanistan in December 2008, and I was left at home with our 2 daughtersand pregnant with our third daughter. This was our first deployment, and I was terrified that I would not be able to handle all of the stress. I can definitely tell that the Army recognizes the sacrifices that each Army Family makes along with our Soldiers. The availability of Super Saturday care twice amonth is fantastic. My children get to play with their friends all day for free, and I get much needed time to rest and get refreshed. These Super Saturdays provided by CYSS allow me to get my strength back so I can continue to be the mother my children need me to be.

Also, because of the Army Family Covenant, the Army has done an excellent job of preparing my children for a strong future. My oldest daughter is 6 years old and attends Jackson Elementary. She entered Kindergarten last year only being able to read her name, and she “graduated”Kindergarten being able to read books to her younger sisters. This year, my 6 year old is in first grade, and my 4 year old is in Pre-Kindergarten.They both look forward to school every day because they have fun learning their academics including Spanish and the arts, how to work well with others,and very important life skills that they will carry with them their entire lives. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many teachers at Jackson Elementary andevery one of them has a passion for teaching. These teachers love the children of Fort Campbell, and it’s evident in the way they teach and the waythey play with our children. Also, since the Military Family and Life Consultants have started working at the schools, it has given my children a wonderful opportunity to talk about their daddy and how much they miss him. They are allowed a chance to fully express their fears to someone outsidetheir home, and they love telling other people how much they adore their daddy.

Finally, the Army Family Covenant has affected my Family in a very positive way through our housing office. Right after my husband deployed,we were informed that there would now be a contractor that would be mowing our lawns for us. I was 7 months pregnant when I found this out, and Icould not have been happier. I was worried and stressed out, wondering how I was going to push a lawn mower around the front yard without hurtingmyself. It was such a blessing to know that I wouldn’t have to worry about it while my husband was gone. It has also been a huge blessing to my husband. He worries about us being here by ourselves, so it was a relief for him to know that I wouldn’t be trying to push the lawn mower around theyard. It took away some of his stress, and that’s the greatest gift we could ever ask for. Again, thank you so much for taking care of all of the Families here on Fort Campbell.

www.fortcampbellmwr.com 16

By CPT Albarran & Jan Wagner

A Jamaican by birth, she migrated to the UnitedStates at age 19 and enlisted in the US Army asan 88M (Wheeled Vehicle Operator) in Aug 1993.She later completed PA training through the USArmy and was commissioned in the Medical Specialist Corps in January 2007.

Al showed up at the Gardner Poolon a fall afternoon with a plan, a goal, and a great deal of determination and motivation. • Her plan: Arrange swim lessons, attend all scheduled lessons, and work hard.

• Her goal: Learn to swim by year’s end, at a minimum, Freestyle and Backstroke.

• Her determination: Never wavered, though it has been tested and challenged.

• Her motivation: Overcome her fear of the water. Once an avid runner, a knee injury affected her ability to participate in strenuous high impact activities, to include running. Pending surgery, swimming will be instrumental in her recovery process.

Ironically, Al grew up on anisland with some of the most beautifulblue sea water known to man; but, shenever learned to swim. Now after 16years in the Army, she has decided toovercome a serious fear of water andlearn how to swim.

In mid August, Al’s plan wasset in motion. With lesson times andlocation set, Al arrived with suit andtowel; and though extremely nervous,had a great attitude. The first few dayswere dedicated to getting Al adjustedto the being in the water, the feel ofthe water, and the tangible principles of water dynamics as it relates to thebody in motion and motionless. Shesoon progressed to short distanceswimming in the Backstroke andFreestyle forms – but still had significant fear in the water. Lessonscontinued and improvements were

significant. On her first backstroke of the lengthof the pool, from thedeep end to the shallow, she raisedher hands in victoryand was very excited. Al has nowventured to thedeep end of the pool,both with a PersonalFloatation Device (PFD)and without. She is nowfairly comfortable with treading water in the deep end andknows how to tread when her swim strokesfail. Freestyle is still a challenge for her, not because her stroke or skills are lacking but because her fear still controls her breathing. It’snow January and Al is showing up for all her

scheduled lessons. She has theattention of the entire

morning staff as they all havecome to know her andjump at the opportunityto assist her with the“challenge” of the day and reassure her whenher fear grabs hold

and threatens to stall her learning. What will the future bring?

We believe it will be confidence,patience, endurance, challenges,

frustration – ultimately an Olympic-likevictory and success.

Each adult swim student that we workwith is unique. Their motivations, commitmentand determination all vary. Some soldiers, like Al,will come in for personal reasons to includingovercoming “pseudo-phobia” that they want toconquer. Others seek our service to get prepared for upcoming Army schools or coursesthat they want to be eligible and/or highly competitive to attend. There are also the seniorswho never got around to learning and who thinkit’s never too late to defeat a fear or learn a new

skill. Whatever the reasons thatbring these people to our door,we endeavor to place them inthe best program based ontheir individual needs andlearning abilities – they may beplaced in group lessons, madeup of their peers, or privatelessons. Additionally, we try totailor our placement of adult students with the most appropriate instructor, basedalso on the student’s learningabilities and limitations and instructor experience andteaching style, since no twostudents learn the exactly thesame and no two instructorteaches the same.

Can we help you? We would like the opportunityto try! For more informationabout Adult Swim Lessons,contact Gardner Indoor Poolat (270) 798-6310.

Imet CPT “Al” Albarran, aPhysician Assistant (PA) withBlanchfield Army Community

Hospital working out of the LaPointe Health Clinic, inAugust 2009.

For the start of a fresh newyear, Army Community Service(ACS) has recently openeda brand new facility. TheACS Financial Readiness Building, located at 5662Screaming EagleBoulevard, will housethe Consumer AffairsOffice, Army Emergency Relief (AER),Financial Planning, and Survivor Outreach Services(SOS). It is a great opportunity for Soldiers and their Families to take care of all oftheir financial needs in one building.

Walking into the facility, you aregreeted with an open, modern and airy waitingarea, complete with a cable ready flat screentelevision. After signing in, the counselors expedite the process by making sure that allneeded paperwork is in order and then take thecustomer directly to their office for further help.This allows customers to discuss their issues

without embarrassment. Betty Geren, Financial Readiness Program Manager, feels

like the most important feature of thenew building is “the improved

confidentiality for all of our patrons.It makes them feel more comfortable to discuss their issues and gives them thespace and privacythat they need.”

This buildinghelps distinguish

the financial services by

consolidating them intoone building. “Theyknow exactly where togo,” says Geren.

ACS FinancialReadiness has a host of servicesavailable to help you with all of your financial needs. They offer free CarFax reports,assist with resolving consumer complaints, provide information on “off limits” establishments, help obtain, explain, and, if

necessary dispute items on credit reports, andmuch more. One of the statistics that theytrack is the amount of money that they saveSoldiers and their Families every month. I wasshocked to learn that they routinely save theircustomers over $100,000 per month! Whetherit is through debt consolidation or reducing interest rates, these programs offer a wonderful

opportunity to get your finances in order.Financial Readiness also encourages

Soldiers to come to them first before they sign contracts forlarge purchases. They can review these contracts to makesure that you are getting thebest deal.

The ACS Financial Readiness Building is open daily

from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday, for your convenience.

Check back for more information about upcoming classes, programs and services.

For more information about any of the above information, call (270) 798-5518.

Struggling to lose weight can be a hardand lonely road, especially at this time of year.MWR Sports and Fitness has developed a fitnessbased program designed to help you lose weight,get fit, relieve stress, and have fun. The Fitnessstaff will guide 32 willing participants on how tonot only lose the weight, but how to keep it off bypermanently changing their lifestyle. The idea forthe program came from the reality TV show, TheBiggest Loser, where the contestants compete to lose the most weight in a setamount of time; however, unlike the realityshow, no one will be “eliminated,” andeveryone who joins the program is truly awinner. Participants must be at least 18 yearsof age, sign a fitness contract, abide by theguidelines provided, and perform a physicalfitness assessment.

The 12 week program willbegin January 11, 2010 and runthrough April 2, 2010. On the firstday, the orientation process will beginwith participants performing the physical fitness assessment, signing thefitness contract, and getting a feel forthe program. Make sure you dress

comfortably in the proper work-out attire, because you are sure to work up a sweat! One ofthe key elements in this program is the fitness assessment. The assessment is crucial in determining the goals each person should set forthemselves during the 12 week program. Althoughit may take longer than a 12 week period of timefor you to achieve your overall fitness goal, the information, life skills, and knowledge obtainedduring the course of this program will be carried

with you as you continue on your weight loss journey.

Pre-registration for the Biggest Winner campaign is required; the

deadline to register is January 7, 2010.Individuals that are interested in

experiencing a change for the better should visit FreedomFighters Physical Fitness Center

to register. Register today and beon your way to completing your fitness

goals and becoming a healthier, better you.

For more information about the Biggest Winnerprogram, please call Freedom Fighters PhysicalFitness Center at (270) 798-7355.

Physical movement requires the musclesto produce heat. This equals a need forenergy, and a need for energy meanscaloric burn, plain and simple. Providedbelow, are few examples of simple physical activities to put this statementinto motion.

1. Park your car further from the store and walk.

2. Walk one time around the perimeter (inside) the store before starting your shopping.

3. Walk to a friend’s house instead of driving.

4. Get off the couch or park bench and engage in your child’s imaginative play.

Deanna Lock, Certified Personal Trainer

By Melissa Wells

www.fortcampbellmwr.com 17

By Keri McPeak

CLARKSVILLE’SLARGEST

SURPLUS STORE2054 FORT CAMPBELL BOULEVARDCLARKSVILLE TENNESSEE 37042

1-931-648-2000 FAX: 1-931-552-6555www.eaglesofwar.com

Fort Campbell MWR Life 1-10

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