Fort Meade SoundOff for Feb. 9, 2012

Clean upUpcoming projects designed to protect post environment

page 6

upCOMInG eVenTSTOday, 5:30 p.M.: Education Town Hall - Midway Commons Neighborhood CenterTOday, 8 p.M.-2 a.M.: Latin Club Night - Club MeadeFrIday, 9 a.M.: 2012 Maryland East Coast Taekwondo National Qualifier - McGillSunday-TueSday: Commissary closes 4 p.m. Sunday, re-opens Wednesday

hOnOredMeade High freshman vies for Military Child of the Year award

page 11

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 6 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community February 9, 2012

crunch time

Marcus Atchison of the U.S. Army Medical Activity team fights to hold on to the basketball as defenders from the 327th Signal Company apply a double-team to force a turnover during a Division I intramural basketball game Monday night at Murphy Field House. Atchison led MEDDAC in scoring with 12 points in their 37-22 defeat over the 327th.For the story, see 2.photo by nate pesce

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! February 9, 2012

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 NewstoUse......................... 9

TroubleTicket............... 4 Sports..................................12

Community................. 16 Movies.................................18

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. SmithPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-1361; DSN: 622-1361.

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This evening I will host an education town hall at the Midway Commons Neighborhood Center, start-ing at 5:30 p.m. I hope to see you there.

I have a special interest in our schools on Fort Meade. Maybe it’s because of my Bachelor of Sci-ence degree in education or maybe it’s because my wife, Audrey, and I are raising two kids.

On numerous occasions since becoming garrison commander, I have had discussions about our schools with parents, teachers and school principals.

Last month I went on a tour of Fort Meade schools with Dr. Kevin Maxwell, superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. I have learned that there are a lot of positive things happening at our schools. I also think there are other things we can do to create an even more positive school environment.

I am hosting this education town hall because I want to know what you think about our schools.

It is important for me to understand how you feel about our schools so I can pass on your thoughts to Dr. Maxwell and other school administrators. My goal is to develop a strategy to help educators and school administrators better understand the Fort Meade community.

Fort Meade is very different from other military installations. First, we do not have military schools on post. Meade High School and the post’s middle and elementary schools are not Department of Defense schools; they are part of the Anne Arundel County public school system.

Fort Meade is also not like Army installations such as Fort Hood, Texas, or Fort Campbell, Ky., where you have a large number of Soldiers who are either deployed, getting ready to deploy or are return-ing from a deployment.

Research over the past 10 years of war has documented the emotional distress for spouses and children of deployed Soldiers. We know that children with a deployed parent can have a difficult time making a connection with their school and having a positive learning experience.

And while Fort Meade is not like these installa-tions, we do have individual service members and units that deploy.

Military families and military children have spe-cial needs. I know military families are strong.

But I also believe we can help our c o m m u n i t i e s understand how they can help us. I believe it takes all of us, inside and outsides the gates of Fort Meade, working together to support our military families.

My goal, and I’m sure your goal as well, is to have a positive school environment. We want our schools to be a stabilizing force for our young people, both emotionally and academically. We need our schools to be flexible and supportive in meeting the needs of our children. We want our students to know that our schools care about them, have high expectations for their education and are there to provide the support that is essential to their success.

I know Dr. Maxwell is strongly committed to supporting Fort Meade and its military and civil-ian families. We also have a school liaison, Sarah Bonise, who has established great relationships with our schools. And my Headquarters Battalion com-mander, Lt. Col. (P) Ed Barrett, is helping me build better partnerships between our tenant units on Fort Meade and our area schools.

Now I am asking you to come out tonight and tell me what we, as a post community, can do to help our students. What are your suggestions for our school administrators and teachers that can help our students? What can we do to better support our teachers and school administrators? How can we help the community, outside our gates, better understand Fort Meade?

I believe we have a great opportunity to work together and create an optimal setting for teaching and learning at Fort Meade. We have an opportunity to set some standards that other communities and other public school systems can model.

I look forward to having this discussion with you tonight.

Education town hall focuses on schools

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrisonCommanderCol.EdwardC.Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.Allservicemembers,retirees,governmentemployees,familymembersorcommunity

membersage18orolderareinvitedtoaddressissuesorconcernstothecommanderdirectlybyvisitingRothstein’sofficeonMondaysfrom4to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.Visitorsareseenonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Noappointmentisnecessary.Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 9, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

At Fort Meade, Leap Day isn’t just an extra day added to the calendar this year.

On Feb. 29, Fort Meade will conduct a social media town hall from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

During the 90-minute session, garrison leaders including Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein will respond to community-related questions posted on the Fort Meade Facebook page.

“I sincerely believe this is a great oppor-tunity for all of us to learn more about what we can do to make Fort Meade a better community,” Rothstein said.

The virtual town hall is the second of its kind on the installation.

“It is an opportunity for people to connect with us via our Facebook page, which is already a great resource for our community to connect with each other,” said Jason Kelly, emerging media man-ager at the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office.

“For this event, we’re giving people the opportunity to connect with our garrison leadership, specifically Colonel Rothstein, to let him know what’s on their mind and to be able to suggest areas of possible improvement for the community,” Kelly

said. “It’s also a chance for the commu-nity to tell us what we’re doing right.”

The installation conducted its inaugu-ral Facebook town hall in October 2011,

with Rothstein and garrison staff answer-ing more than 70 questions ranging from on-post speeding to food selection at the commissary.

The two-and a-half-hour-session led to more than 800 “interactions” including 511 comments and more than 330 “likes.” During the day of the town hall, traffic on Fort Meade’s Facebook page increased by more than 500 percent.

“Last time was an overwhelming suc-cess,” Kelly said. “It was our first large-scale social media community engage-ment.”

Building on the success of the previous Facebook town hall, the process has been enhanced to accommodate the high vol-ume of questions and comments that are expected during the 90-minute event.

Rothstein, Kelly and the garrison staff hope to respond to every question during the town hall. However, some questions that may need additional information will be answered and followed up at a later time.

While Rothstein has hosted several in-person town halls, the Facebook session provides a platform for people who want to be part of the social media discussion, Kelly said.

“Just like social media changes, we can change with it to adapt to our communi-ty’s needs,” he said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people who want to be able to connect in real-time and from the convenience of their own home.”

Fort Meade to hold second Facebook town hallNews

The Fort Meade Commissary will close Sunday at 4 p.m. and all day Monday and Tuesday while it undergoes a “reset” as part of the Defense Commissary Agen-cy’s ongoing effort to enhance the shop-ping experience.

The commissary will reopen Wednes-day at regular hours.

“We hate to inconvenience our custom-ers with the closure, but this is something we’ll all appreciate when it’s done,” said Frank M. Macias, acting store director.

The reset is part of an agency-wide program that systematically changes how products are displayed on shelving throughout a commissary in order to bet-ter serve customer shopping patterns.

The goal is to give commissaries world-wide a more customer-friendly product flow and a layout that is as consistent as possible from location to location, said Steve Arland, chief of DeCA’s store reset and planogram team.

“Although we have to take into consid-eration that no two commissaries are con-structed exactly alike, a customer-friendly product flow means dog food will be next to pet supplies instead of the charcoal, peanut butter is best found next to the jam, and you shouldn’t have to cruise three different aisles to find all your clean-

ing products,” Arland said. “It’s a simple matter of making the commissary layout more sensible by ‘resetting’ the store.”

DeCA is intent on making the commis-sary shopping experience faster and easier — making the commissary the place to shop every day, not just on payday. One of the priorities is to help busy, active-duty shoppers make a quick run through their commissary and get home more quickly.

“The whole idea, in a nutshell, is to get convenience into the shopping experi-ence,” Arland said.

Consistency is also part of the reset equation.

“Why shouldn’t you be able to go to different commissaries and find basically the same layout?” Arland said.

“We try not to inconvenience the cus-tomers while resetting stores, but we often have to close the store for a day, sometimes two, in order to tear down the shelving and move it and restock. Our

customers usually like the new layout once they get used to it. Sales increases always follow a store reset, and that’s an indication that the user-friendly product flow is a good change.”

To make changes easier for customers to follow, stores have aisle layout maps available as well as generic item locators on their web pages. Store web pages are under the locations link at http://www.commissaries.com along with store hours, contact information, store news and spe-cial customer service features.

Editor’s note: This article was submitted courtesy of the Fort Meade Commissary.

Commissary closes temporarily to redesign layout

file photo

find fort Meade on facebook at facebook.com/ftmeade


News

Feb. 3, Shoplifting: The Direc-torate of Emergency Services was notified of a possible shop-lifting at the Post Exchange. AAFES security personnel observed the subject, via the electronic video surveillance system, pick up merchandise and proceed beyond the final point of sale, and exit the PX without rendering proper payment.

Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, Larceny of pri-vate property: The victim reported that between Feb. 2 and 3, person(s) unknown by unknown means gained entry into her vehicle, which was left

unsecured and unattended, and removed a GPS.

Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, Larceny of pri-vate property: The victim report-ed that between Feb. 2 and 3, person(s) unknown by unknown

means gained entry into her vehi-cle, which was legally parked adjacent to the residence and left unsecured and unattended, and removed an iPod nano, two headrest video screens and a vehicle DVD player.

Feb. 12, Larceny of private property: The victim had her wallet stolen from a parked, unsecured vehicle.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

Trouble Ticket

Issue: Plan: Status:

Youth Services Sports Complex is in need of

renovations

Renovate the Youth Services Sports Complex

Actual use of fields will be this fall to allow grass to mature

Community members have concerns about golf

course service availability in light of Base Closure and

Realignment

Maintain a minimum of 18 holes at current site;

restoring golf operations on a site south of the

installation is also proposed

Golf operations are unchanged through

September

Have you noticed an issue on post and wondered if anything is being done to fix it? Email concerns and

issues to [email protected]. Each week, Soundoff! will

address issues identified on post and describe what is being done to

solve them.

file photo

Play equipment near the Boundless Playground is currently undergoing repairs.

The Installation Safety Office has deemed and marked some play equipment at Burba Lake as unsafe

Repair the play equipment so that it is functional

Repairs are under way

By Melissa BallouOur Family for Families First

John Picerne’s foundation, Our Family for Families First Foundation, has been selected as one of 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge.

This challenge was a call to action launched in April 2011 by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden to “recognize citizens and organizations with a demonstrated, genuine, and deep desire to be of service to military families.”

Our Family for Families First Foundation is committed to supporting military family members in the pursuit of higher education and establish-ing a tradition of community service.

The foundation has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships and grants to the children and spouses of military families since 2006 (more than 200 students) and initiated more than 40 targeted outreach programs in towns and cities surrounding military installations.

“We are honored to be recognized for our effort to help military family members reach their educational goals,” said Maria Montalvo, executive director.

Our Family for Families First Foundation is now in the running to be selected as a People’s Choice Award winner.

The foundation submission can be found at http://joiningforces.chal-lenge.gov/submissions/4788-higher-education-as-the-path-to-stronger-military-families-and-communities.

The voting period will take place until Feb. 23 at 11 p.m.Our Family for Families First was created by John G. Picerne, president

and CEO of Picerne Military Housing, to support the spouses and chil-dren of active-duty service members assigned to Picerne Military Housing installations at Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Polk, La., Fort Rucker, Ala., Fort Riley, Kan., and Fort Sill, Okla.

The program continues to expand and will begin to serve several new communities in 2013. Families do not have to reside in on-post housing to qualify for scholarships or grants.

John Picerne foundation selected as top-20 finalist


News

photos by jen rynda

RIGHT ARM ‘BooGIe’ABOVE: (Right) Scott Myers, chief of Business Operations Division at Fort Meade, hands Amanda Ickes, an adminstrative assistant at Child, Youth and School Services, an iPad after Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Smith calls her ticket during a raffle drawing at Right Arm Night.

TOP LEFT: Master Sgt. Marcia Jackson and Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Vereen dance at Right Arm Night. More than 360 service members and civil-ian employees from the installation attended the two-hour event that featured free food, music and prizes.

LEFT: Air Force Staff Sgt. Dee-Anne Guartuche-Smith celebrates after winning a $25 dollar gift card at Right Arm Night at Club Meade. The evening event featured Super Bowl-themed games for prizes.

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The Manor View dump site is a 10-acre site located near the intersection of MacArthur Road and 2nd Corps Boulevard. In 2003, high concentrations of methane were discovered in the soil. The site restoration is schedule to begin in mid-February and will take about 14 weeks to complete.

Photos and graPhics courtesy of the environmental division

Once completed, the proposed Manor View dump site will include safety fencing, new signs along 2nd Corps Boulevard and restoring the site to a flat grass field. The cleanup project is being carried out by the Directorate of Public Works’ Environmental Division.

By Paul Fluck and Denise TegtmeyerEnvironmental Division

This is the first in a series of articles designed to inform the Fort Meade com-munity on the status of the environmental cleanup program including actions that will be noticeable in the near future.

To begin, let’s start with some history of environmental law. In 1984 and 1986, Congress passed legislation to provide for the cleanup of hazardous waste caused by past disposal activities at Department of Defense sites under a program known as the Defense Environmental Restoration Program, or DERP.

DERP established the Installation Res-toration Program specifically to identify, investigate and clean up former disposal sites at active Army installations with the goal of protecting human health and the environment.

The IRP is carried out in accordance with all federal and state laws. The primary fed-eral laws are CERCLA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; and SARA, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act.

In 2009, Fort Meade signed a Federal Facility Agreement with the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior and the Architect of the Capitol to establish how Fort Meade will meet the goals established by DERP, EPA and Maryland Department of the Environ-ment cleanup requirements.

In addition to working with the regula-tors, great emphasis is placed on working with Fort Meade and surrounding com-munities with outreach activities including Restoration Advisory Board meetings, press releases and social media outlets.

Cleanup sites identifiedFort Meade and the regulators identi-

fied 134 cleanup sites that have potential to impact human health and/or the environ-ment. These sites were identified through a combination of methods including review of historic photographs, records, descrip-tions of buildings and the processes used in them, spill records, or soil and groundwater test results.

Of the 134 sites, 27 sites have been suc-cessfully completed. Studies of the remain-ing sites have identified nine major cleanup sites including Manor View dump site, former trap and skeet range, closed sanitary landfill, former Nike fire control site, former mortar range, former pesticide shop, Archi-tect of the Capitol, Defense Reutilization

Cleanups protect Meade environment

and Marketing Office, and southeast area groundwater.

Environmental cleanups at Fort Meade use a combination of “removal actions,” which are intended to quickly reduce immediate threats to human health and the environment posed by contaminants, and “remedial actions,” which provide per-manent cleanup of pollution that poses long-term risks to human health and the environment.

The cleanup program is being carried out by the Directorate of Public Works’ Environmental Division. The Manor View dump site is an example of a removal action, which will begin soon.

Manor View Dump SiteThe Army is planning to remediate

safety hazards associated with methane gas at the Manor View Dump Site.

The approximately 10-acre site located near the intersection of MacArthur Road and 2nd Corps Boulevard is surrounded by residential housing (Potomac Place) and Manor View Elementary School.

In 2003, construction workers discovered buried demolition debris and household trash when moving soil during the con-struction of military housing. Fort Meade began investigating the site and found high concentrations of methane in the soil.

Methane is produced by the natural

decomposition of trash and is a potentially flammable gas under certain conditions. In 2004, safety measures were implemented to control the movement of methane.

Investigations confirmed that the trash was from the 1940s, located on Army prop-erty, and that methane was being generated in the western part of the landfill — not the eastern part behind Manor View Elemen-tary School.

The Army conducted extensive environ-mental investigations to categorize the age, type and location of waste within the former dump site. The investigations found organic material buried in the western portion of the site in an area about one acre in size. The


News

rest of the site contains construction debris. Some of the waste is from the 1940s.

Methane, also known as natural gas, is an odorless and colorless gas. Although methane is not toxic, methane can pose a safety hazard at certain concentrations in the atmosphere that make it potentially flammable or explosive in the presence of an ignition source.

Existing safety measures The Army has taken extensive actions to

ensure the safety of Potomac Place, Manor View Elementary School and the surround-ing communities.

First, the Army installed methane moni-tors within the evacuated houses and school. Methane has not been detected at hazard-ous levels inside the homes or above normal background levels at the school.

Second, the Army installed a temporary landfill gas migration control system to prevent the methane from moving beyond the site boundary.

Third, when it was determined the con-trol system was not capturing all the meth-ane, the system was upgraded from a pas-sive system to an active system that extracts methane from the ground.

As a final safety precaution, the homes nearest the site were vacated and remain

vacant.

Developing a permanent solution The current remedy is temporary and

only controls the movement of methane within the landfill; it does not address the creation of the methane.

For a permanent solution, the Army will remove the trash and dispose of it in an approved off-post landfill. Removal of the

methane-generating waste allows the site to be returned to the Army community for beneficial use.

The Army anticipates starting work in mid-February. The work — including installing safety fencing, new signs along 2nd Corps Boulevard, excavating the trash and restoring the site to a flat grass field — will take about 14 weeks.

Additional information available Fort Meade has established an informa-

tion repository, which contains documents on the sites on post.

These documents are available for public review at the West County Area Library at 1325 Annapolis Road in Odenton (410-222-6277) and the Fort Meade Environmental Division at 2212 Chisholm Ave. (301-677-9854).

This and other environmental projects are discussed every other month at meet-ings of Fort Meade’s Restoration Advisory Board. Meetings are announced in local papers and on the Fort Meade Environ-mental Office website.

Interested community members are wel-come at the meeting and to apply as a com-munity board member.

For more information, call the Environ-mental Office at 301-677-9854.

Cleanup timeline• February to March: Site preparation (four weeks)• March to May: Excavation, transportation, disposal and backfill (nine weeks)• May: Site restoration (10 days)Throughout the work: Air monitoring, methane monitoring, traffic control, dust control, odor control and noise control

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 8,000 post community mem-bers 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.

This 3-D site model details the approximate extent of methane-generating waste. The Army has taken extensive actions to ensure the safety of Potomac Place, Manor View Elementary School and the surrounding communities.

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By Carrie ShultFORSCOM Health Promotion Project OfficerU.S. Army Public Health Command

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in men and women.

Heart disease affects millions of Americans. The American Heart Asso-ciation estimates that about every 34 seconds someone will have a heart attack. So if you are a slow reader, that means several people had heart attacks while you were reading this article.

Research about heart disease risk factors suggests that making even small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and other serious car-diovascular conditions. What does that really mean, and more importantly what does it mean for you?

Let me break it down:• Get moving.If you sit a lot, try to sit less. If

you have a job where you are at your computer a lot, add a reminder to your electronic calendar every hour to stand up and walk away, do 15 push-ups, get some fresh air.

Take the stairs instead of the eleva-tor. Avoid being the parking lot shark, lurking around waiting for an open spot in front. Park away from your destination so you can get some extra

steps in.Step, march or jog in place for at

least 15 minutes while watching televi-sion. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week or more.

Walk. Get a step counter and set a goal to walk at least 10,000 steps daily. Just get moving.

• Maintain ideal weight. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. To achieve long-term weight loss, don’t skip meals but eat 200 to 300 calories less each day. This amounts to one slice of bread, one pat of butter or one-half cup of regular soda.

Eat smaller portions and eat break-fast every day.

• Make a yearly date with the doc-tor.

Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked as recom-mended. Put the date on the calendar as a special date just like birthdays or anniversaries or the Super Bowl.

• Control high blood pressure.Blood pressure that is higher than

120/80 is known to increase the risk of heart disease. Lifestyle modifications such as staying physically active and

eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, and lean protein can help control blood pressure.

If you are an on-the-go person, arm yourself with information by check-ing out the nutrition guidelines on the Internet before going to restaurants.

If you have high blood pressure, follow your health care provider’s

recommendations carefully, even if it means taking medication every day for the rest of your life. By managing your blood pressure, you are lowering your risk of heart

attack.• Quit tobacco use.

Smoking reduces the amount of oxy-gen in the blood and raises blood pressure. Smoking

harms nearly every organ in the body,

including the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, mouth, reproduc-tive organs, bones and digestive organs — not to mention it also stains your teeth, clothing and hands.

To quit smoking, make a personal quit plan. Pick a “quit day” and tell everyone about it. You will find out who supports your goal.

Get rid of tobacco in the house, car, workplace and your secret stash.

• Cut down on alcohol.Too much alcohol can raise blood

pressure, cause heart failure and lead to a stroke. If you drink alcohol, drink a moderate amount, which equates to an average of one drink for women and two drinks for men per day. One drink is a 12-ounce can of beer or 4 ounces of wine, or 1 and 1/2 ounces of liquor.

• Manage your stress.People can have a healthier heart

when they reduce stress. Stress raises blood pressure and can damage the arteries. Learn how to manage your stress by using relaxation methods such as deep breathing exercises, counting to 10 and meditation.

Do your part. Care for your heart by eating a better diet, exercising, quitting tobacco use and managing stress to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease is preventable. Take charge of your health by making posi-tive lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Small steps count, so start today.What are your techniques, tactics

and procedures for staying healthy?Check out our Facebook page for

what works for me, and share yours. http://www.facebook.com/USAPHC.

For more information about taking care of your heart, visit: www.american-heart.org or www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Lifestyle changes can prevent heart disease

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News To Use

By Dan KennedyPMO Medical Devices

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command has initiated steps to evaluate a new bioelectric bandage.

Small silver and zinc dots embedded into cloth create micro-currents in the pres-ence of moisture. This may create an anti-microbial environment and provide pain reduction.

The use of silver on burns has a long his-tory of preventing infections. The combina-tion of silver, zinc and moisture is purported to create pain-reducing antimicrobial micro-currents. According to literature from the manufacturer, the results of this bandage dressing include faster healing, greater pain control, reduced incidence of infection and decreased scarring.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the device for antimicrobial wound care, which is the primary reason for the Army’s genuine interest in the product.

The bandage is currently being used on hard-to-heal wounds, with multiple research studies under way. Anecdotal results are promising, especially with regard to pain control. In some cases, wound pain is reported to be reduced dramatically.

The nature of the cloth conforms well to multiple surfaces of the body. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections are anticipated to be impacted by the antimicrobial properties of the bandage dressing, which has tremen-dous potential for Soldier use.

Studies are under way with Ranger units.

Recently, at a Ranger road march, a con-siderable num-ber of Soldiers obtained blis-ters and were treated with the bandage. The results were notable, as many Sol-diers reported dramatic pain relief and the ability to quickly return to the march.

The novel technology of this bandage is that it purportedly creates a healing bio-electrical pathway over the entire wound surface, enhancing the body’s natural heal-ing environment.

As a broad-spectrum antimicrobial flex-ible dressing with electrically active currents providing pain control, the device could have huge potential for the Army if scien-tific testing bears out anecdotal claims.

The public may hear more about this ban-dage as indications for use are expanded.

Currently, indications for use are directed toward all full- and partial-thickness skin wounds, from simple abrasions and skin tears to traumatic wounds and surgical sites.

Given this, the battlefield may serve as the best proving ground in which to test this emerging medical device.

Army expresses interest in bioelectric bandage

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! February 9, 2012

News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Capt. Mohammad Alenezi, a pub-lic relations officer with the Kuwait National Guard, hopes to help his coun-try’s military open its doors to women.

“It’s a very important step that we have to take,” Alenezi said.

The captain is putting together a communications plan to convince his country’s parliament to allow women to do administrative work in the military so men can serve in the field.

Alenezi’s communication plan, the “Capstone Project,” is part of his stud-ies in the new Public Affairs Course for International Students, or PACIS, at the Defense Information School.

Alenezi is one of 15 students enrolled in the five-week course, which began Jan. 23 and ends Feb. 24.

The students represent 11 countries — Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Taiwan, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Croa-tia, Slovenia, Indonesia and Thailand — and are learning the fundamentals of military public affairs so they can adapt these skills to serve their own countries.

“The course is off to a great start,” DINFOS Commandant Col. Jeremy M. Martin said. “We have a great group of students who are very aggressive in their pursuit of how to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences using every available medium of com-munication.”

The Public Affairs Leadership Depart-ment at DINFOS oversees PACIS. The course does not emphasize a U.S.-centric approach to military public affairs, but provides a foundation of knowledge so students can successfully deploy as public affairs officers in an international operational environment, such as a U.S.-led coalition, a NATO operation, a U.N. peacekeeping mission or other multina-tional operation.

The curriculum includes social media, public affairs ethics, the basic principles of audio-visual products, crisis commu-nication, media interviews, on-camera exercises and global security trends.

By the end of the course, students must complete a Capstone Project, or communications plan that incorporates what they have learned to address a current communications challenge they are facing in their military command. The students will deliver their plan to their military leadership when they return home.

“I’m really happy I have the oppor-tunity to attend this class,” said Emina

Military public affairs course boosts skills of foreign students

Lisic, head of the public relations and information division for the Croatian Ministry of Defense.

Lisic said she is learning all she can about social media so she can incorpo-rate her knowledge into her military’s communications plan.

“This is DINFOS helping to affect positive change in other countries,” said Stefo Lehmann, an instructor in the advanced studies segment of the PALD.

Lehmann said PACIS is an example of public affairs capacity building in help-ing partner and allied countries improve their militaries.

“We hope to grow and sustain a pro-fessional Public Affairs Corps among our partner nations, which ensures timely and effective communications in exercises and also in any contingency operation,” Martin said.

The idea for PACIS came about four years ago during the tenure of former DINFOS Commandant Navy Capt. W. Curry Graham. Former Commandant

Col. Gary L. Keck spearheaded the efforts to create the course.

Lehmann designed the course that was vetted by public affairs representatives from seven Unified Combatant Com-mands and NATO.

PACIS was advertised through the State Department and Unified Combat-ant Command channels. The students were required to take English compre-hension and oral proficiency tests to be admitted to the course.

Capt. Nina Raduha, a public relations officer with the 1st Infantry Brigade of the Slovenian army, said she has enjoyed the discussions with course instructors.

“They give us all their experiences — not just by the book,” she said. “We can share our own experiences. The pro-fessors value our experiences.”

Maj. Krishna Gurung, a company commander of an infantry battalion in the Nepal army, said he would like to add a few more weeks to the course so he can grasp all there is to learn.

“This is a good opportunity,” he said. “I will share all my knowledge of what I have learned.”

Lt. Megan Isaac, an instructor for the Public Affairs Qualifications Course who has taught a PACIS lesson, said she has gained just as much from the inter-national students.

“This is exciting for me, learning about their variety of experiences and their pri-orities,” she said. “It’s really fascinating and enlightening.”

In addition to their course work, the international students also have the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions and sporting events with DINFOS students.

Lehmann said DINFOS is planning to offer another PACIS in October. The Philippines and Turkey have signed up for the fall course.

“I’m very happy to say I was one of the first,” said Lisic, as a member of the inaugural class. “It means something for my career.”

Capt. Mohammad Alenezi, Maj. Krishna Gurung, Emina Lisic and Capt. Nina Raduha are students in the first Public Affairs Course for International Students at the Defense Information School. The five-week course gives students an overview of the fundamentals of military public affairs that they can adapt to serve their own militaries.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 9, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Since McKenna Thomas-Franz was 5 years old, she has lived in six states and Germany. She has also attended eight dif-ferent schools

Her father, Brig. Gen. George Franz, director of Current Operations, J-33 for U.S. Cyber Command, has deployed three times since McKenna was born in 1997.

Now a freshman at Meade High School, McKenna is a semifinalist in the Army category for the 2012 Military Child of the Year Award. The honor is bestowed by Operation Homefront, a national organiza-tion that provides emergency financial and other assistance to military families and wounded warriors.

The award recognizes military children who have demonstrated “resilience and strength of character; thrive in the face of the challenges of military life; and dem-onstrate leadership within their families and their communities,” according to the organization’s website.

“I am kind of surprised,” McKenna said. “I think it’s a good thing. All of my experi-ences as a military child and my previous volunteer experience has paid off.”

The Military Child of the Year Award has been presented for the past two years to an outstanding military child from each of the service branches. McKenna is one of 20 semifinalists for the Army.

The recipient for each service branch will be announced March 8. Each winner will receive $5,000 and will be flown with a par-ent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for a recognition ceremony on April 5.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey will be a special guest at the ceremony.

“You will not find a finer young person,” said Bobbi Coffman, a teaching assistant

Meade High freshman vies for Military Child of the Year Award

at Meade High who nominated McKenna. “She sets the absolute highest standard with regard to every aspect of her life.”

An honor student, McKenna earned a 4.24 GPA during the first quarter of the 2011-2012 school year.

She is a member of Meade High’s Key Club and has participated in many volun-teer activities, including Happy Helpers for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that provides food to the homeless in Glen Burnie and Baltimore City. McKenna is also a member of the school’s drama and

French clubs.“McKenna is an exceptionally consci-

entious student,” said Aaron Santory, a Meade High English teacher who taught McKenna’s honors English class last semes-ter. “I could always count on her to offer an answer to a difficult question or participate in a class discussion.”

Coffman, who is also executive direc-tor of Happy Helpers for the Homeless, said McKenna participated in the group’s “Freedom Harvest” event last fall to honor the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.

The freshman has also participated in other humanitarian efforts spearheaded by the organization.

“She has helped sort through literally tons of nonperishable food items,” Coffman said. “Service to humanity is a top priority for McKenna.”

Before moving to Fort Meade for a second time in August 2011, McKenna lived in Heidelberg, Germany, where she attended Heidelberg Middle School and was a member of the National Junior Honor Society. There she volunteered for the Par-ent Teacher Association and tutored other students.

“My father has been deployed for many periods of time,” McKenna said. “It’s kinda hard in the beginning because you don’t know how long your parent will be gone.”

McKenna recalled that whenever she moved and enrolled in new schools, she often felt a bit nervous. But her family has always assured her that she would be fine.

“As I got older, I got more confident,” she said.

Heather Thomas, McKenna’s mother, said spending quality time with McKenna and the teen’s 13-year-old sister Caitlyn is paramount, particularly when her husband is deployed.

“We sit down and talk about the day and eat dinner together every night,” Thomas said.

Thomas also volunteers alongside her daughters at school and community events.

McKenna aspires to become a statistician and hopes to attend Dartmouth College or the University of Maine, her father’s alma mater.

Reflecting on the nomination, McKenna said it would be a great honor if she is selected as the Army winner.

“I think it’s a good thing to be celebrated as being part of the military,” she said.

McKenna Thomas-Franz, 14, a freshman at Meade High School, is a semifinalist in the Army category for the 2012 Military Child of the Year Award presented by Operation Homefront. A winner in each of the service branches will be announced March 8.

Online weather advisOries updatesLooking for the latest weather advisories and weather-related

closings on post? Visit Fort Meade’s Web log at

http://meadetv.wordpress.com.Sign up for updates on Twitter, too.

An instructional PowerPoint presentation is available on the Meade TV Web log detailing. how to sign up and use the Twitter service. Signing up is free, but standard text message rates will apply.

those opting to receive text messages.

On the lookout for theftThe Directorate of Emergency Services is actively working to keep neigh-

borhoods safe.Families residing on post should remember to ensure that windows and

doors to homes, cars and garages are locked at all times, regardless of time of day.

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

Remain aware of your surroundings and immediately report any suspi-cious activity to the Fort Meade Police at 301-677-6622 or 6623.


Cover Story

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

With Steven Strickland and Marcus Atchison controlling the paint for the U.S. Army Medical Activity basketball team, opponents have struggled to create positive matchups against the two power forwards.

“When you have big guys, it’s always a good thing,” Strickland said.

Monday night was no different as the 6-foot-6 Strickland and 6-foot-4 Atchi-son combined to score 22 points and led MEDDAC to a 37-22 victory over a struggling 327th Signal Company team in the Division I intramural basketball matchup at Murphy Field House.

MEDDAC opened the season with a 3-1 record, falling to the 780th Cyber

Squad in a tight 36-35 game on Jan. 18. However, the team fell to just above .500 with a 4-3 record after losing to the top two teams in the division last week.

In an effort to get back on track, the team has been focusing on the funda-mentals — playing basic basketball, Strickland said. Coach Charles Jackson, however, said his players are still working on getting back into game shape.

While the rest of the team builds chemistry and develops, Jackson said the team relies on its “big men” to play in the paint, holding off the opposition and scoring off offensive rebounds.

“That’s our bread and butter — those guys,” Jackson said.

The 327th team has also struggled this season, with a 0-7 record. The majority

Big men of MEDDAC take down the 327th

photos by Nate pesce

MEDDAC’s Alfonso Myrie shoots over the 327th’s Kevin Mckeegan Monday night at Murphy Field House. MEDDAC improved its record to 5-3 with the victory over the 327th.

RIGHT: The 6-foot-6 Steven Strickland powers his way to the basket during a Division I intramural basketball game against the 327th Signal Company Monday night. Strickland and Marcus Atchison controlled the paint with their size.


of the team’s players have been out of the sport for a year or two, player Joseph Merrill said, and the team is still working to get back into the swing of the game.

“We don’t give up,” Merrill said. “From the start of the game to the end of the game we battle up and down the court.”

The team’s main struggle, players said, is scoring points. In its previous seven games, the team averaged only 30 points a game while its defense was giving up an average of 53 points.

Monday’s game was a rematch of the teams’ season opener in which MED-DAC secured a 34-27 victory over the 327th. The 27 points was a season low for the 327th.

When the teams met this week, the 327th’s scoring struggles continued.

While the 327th offense failed to score points, MEDDAC opened the game on a 12-1 run — a lead the 327th

could not overcome.Strickland and Atchison outplayed

the 327th big men and provided their MEDDAC teammates with multiple opportunities to score.

Strickland and Atchison were both removed from the game with 7:20 remaining in the half. The move allowed the 327th to begin hitting its shots and battle back as Merrill, Julius Thomas and Calvin House completed jump shots that gave the 327th a little momentum.

However, Strickland was inserted back into the game toward the end of the half and took control of the paint, shutting down the 327th offense. In the process, MEDDAC held a 20-7 lead into half-time.

Strickland led MEDDAC’s charge with 8 points while Atchison contributed 6. Thomas, Merrill and House all added 2 points for the 327th.

Much like at the start of the game, MEDDAC opened the second half on a 9-2 run. Jay Snow quickly added 8 points to MEDDAC’s lead.

With Strickland and Atchison on the court early in the half, the 327th was unable to get into an offensive rhythm as the team suffered multiple miscues and the inability to attack the basket. But once MEDDAC’s power forwards were removed from the game, the 327th offense began fighting to the basket and sinking shots from the outside to battle back.

But the team’s late-game surge was unable to overcome the large deficit as MEDDAC won by a 15-point margin, 37-22. Atchison led MEDDAC in scor-ing with 12 points, while Strickland and Snow each scored 10. Merrill scored a team-high 8 points, and House added an additional 7 points for the 327th.

After the game, Jackson said that despite the one-sided victory, MEDDAC still needs to tweak its defense and avoid turning over the ball.

With three weeks left in the season, Jackson said if the team continues to improve, it could advance far in the playoffs.

“I think we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with in the postseason,” he said.

Julius Thomas of the 327th shoots from behind the arch. Thomas’ 4 points weren’t enough to help the 327th overcome an early 12-1 deficit.

LEFT: Jay Snow of the U.S. Army Medical Activity team drives to the basket during the intramural basketball game at Murphy Field House. MEDDAC defeated the 327th Signal Company 37-22 in the Monday night game.


SportS

What can I say? This dude knows how to throw a party.

At least that’s the general feeling of the 30 or so individuals who partook in the Joneses’ Super Bowl XLVI fiesta.

The three rules I shared last week certainly played a role in our success. Minus a few diatribes into politics, the game was the focus of attention; there was no need to escape upstairs or into the guest bathroom. The kids’ area proved more than adequate. And the food was pretty outstanding.

It stinks that I wasn’t able to use any of the crab legs recipes you provided, but I had no idea those tasty appendages were going for about the same rate as saffron or gold — $20 per pound, which is roughly $7 per leg. So, we called an audible and went with crab cakes, which apparently fit better with our Mary-land theme. Berger Cookies and “Old Bay on everything” mantra helped as well.

I did go with Candy Bright’s meatball recipe featuring plum jelly and chili sauce, and I have to say the whole simpler-the-better approach worked because the sauce was fantastic and is currently being used on everything from pita bread to the scores of chicken wings we’re still finishing.

LESSON LEARNED: Either make it clear you are providing the chicken wings, or delegate what guests should bring. It may seem tyrannical, but if you don’t, you’ll end up with 12 platters of wings and no deviled eggs.

The game itself was about what I expected. I thought there would be a few more touch-downs, but in the end the Giants were the better team. The scores of analysts said about the same thing during their post-game roundups.

Interesting enough, the best analysis didn’t come from a future hall-of-famer or ornery former coach. They all seemed way too focused on the idea of Eli Manning already being a HoFer or the even more absurd notion that he is now better than his brother Peyton, as if none of them watched the Colts play this year.

Ironically, the most interesting perspective came from supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Unlike professional analysts who oftentimes avoid pinning the loss on one particular group or player, Bundchen, the wife of Patri-ots quarterback Tom Brady, was very specific with who she felt deserved blame for the loss: Everyone on the team except for Tom Terrific, but particularly that group of stone hands he was throwing to.

“My husband cannot (expletive) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. ... I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times,” the Brazil-ian bombshell said after being heckled by a dork after the game.

Here’s the video in case you are curious: http://ow.ly/8WKyR.

First off, let me reiterate that the dude heckling Bundchen is a scrub who is obvi-ously not supermodel material.

Nevertheless, I do take issue with Gisele’s remarks for two reasons. One, why can’t Tom throw and catch the ball at the same time? Former WWE superstar “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig did it all the time. Check out http://ow.ly/8WKK2.

Second, dork boy is right. Eli does own Brady. And that has some serious NFL implications. Sure, Tom is still heading to Canton, but there is no way he’s going in as the best ever, which was the opinion du jour among analysts heading into Sunday’s game. But how can you be the best ever when it’s not even clear you’re the best of your genera-tion?

However, Tom’s place in history isn’t his biggest issue right now. How and the heck is he going to handle his wife after she threw his team under the bus and then backed over his favorite receiver, Wes Welker, a few times for good measure? My guess is she’ll have some leeway, being that she is the most super of supermodels and all.

But he is Tom Brady. A fairly good-look-ing man in his own right who happens to be a three-time Super Bowl champion and Michigan man.

So I’m thinking he has a little more hand in this partnership than the average schlep-per, who would be thankful just to be with a model. Therefore, he should be able to give Gisele a little more than a sour look and cold shoulder.

Beyond that, I don’t know how it’s going to play out, but I’m guessing Dr. Phil and TMZ will break it all down for us.

At least I’m hoping so.If you have comments on this or anything

to do with sports, contact me at [email protected].

Hot model in hot water

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOnSports ShortsEFMP Bowling

Bowling for the Exceptional Family Member Program will be offered Feb. 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lanes.

All EFMP participants bowl for free. Other family members bowl at a discounted rate.

For more information, call 301-677-4122

Bull & Oyster RoastThe Meade High School Baseball Program is sponsoring a Bull & Oyster

Roast on March 31 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Gambrills Athletic Club, 682 McKnew Road, Gambrills.

The menu features: pit beef, pit turkey, oyster on the half shell, fried oysters, oyster stew, mash potatoes, green beans, vegetables and desserts.

The entertainment includes: a disc jockey, money wheel, silent auction, door prizes and 50/50 raffle.

Tickets cost $40. Proceeds will benefit Meade High’s new batting cage.For more information, email Dave Lanham at [email protected] or call

410-672-1369.

Texas Hold ‘emTexas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lane’s

11th Frame Lounge.Games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Taekwondo tournamentFort Meade is hosting the 2012 Maryland East Coast Taekwondo National

Qualifier on Saturday at 9 a.m. at McGill Training Center.Adults and children ages 6-17 will compete in the martial arts tournament.The event is open to spectators. Cost is $10. Children under 5 attend at no

charge.For more information, call 301-677-1196.

First Tee youth golfYoung golfers are invited to participate in the free First Tee golf program at

the Courses.• The “Player” course for beginners, ages 4 to 6, will be held Thursdays

from March 1 to April 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.• The “Par” course, for those who have already completed the Player course,

will be held Saturdays from March 3 to April 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.For more information, call 301-677-1196

Spring Sports registrationRegistration for spring sports is under way at Parent Central Services,

1900 Reece Road.Youth sports are available for ages 3 to 18 years old. Spring sports

include soccer, T-ball, baseball, softball, track, swim and indoor football.For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

Coaches neededCoaches are needed for the Child, Youth and School Service’s spring sports season.All coaches are required to complete a background check and attend coach

certification training. Head and assistant coaches whose children are enrolled in spring sports will be given a coach’s discount.

For more information, call 301-677-1329 or email [email protected].

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


Community news

April 8 - Postwide Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service – 7 a.m., Chapel Center

Protestant ServicesFeb. 21 – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – 6 p.m., Post Chapel

Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSA & Noon, Cavalry ChapelFeb. 22 – Ash Wednesday Episcopal Service – 6 p.m., Post Chapel

March 28 – Living Last Supper (hosted by Gospel Congregation) – 7 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 1 – Palm Sunday Episcopal Service – 8:30 a.m., Post Chapel

April 1 – Palm Sunday Traditional Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Post ChapelApril 1 – Palm Sunday Contemporary Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Cavalry Chapel

April 1 – Palm Sunday Gospel Protestant Service – 11 a.m., Chapel CenterApril 5 – Holy Thursday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 6 – Good Friday Protestant Service – 11 a.m., NSAApril 8 – Easter Sunday Episcopal Service – 8:30 a.m., Post Chapel

April 8 – Easter Sunday Traditional Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Post ChapelApril 8 – Easter Sunday Contemporary Protestant – 10:30 a.m., Cavalry Chapel

April 8 – Easter Sunday Gospel Protestant Service – 11 a.m., Chapel CenterCatholic Services

Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday Mass – 11 a.m., NSA; Noon, Post Chapel; 7 p.m., Chapel CenterFeb. 24, March 2 & 9 – Stations of the Cross & Lenten Supper – 6:30 p.m., Chapel Center

March 11-15 – Lenten Parish Retreat & Reconciliation Service – 6 p.m., Post ChapelMarch 16, 23, 30 – Stations of the Cross & Lenten Supper – 6:30 p.m., Chapel Center

April 1 – Palm Sunday Masses – *Regular Sunday Mass ScheduleApril 5 – Maundy Thursday Service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 5 – Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 6 – Good Friday service – 11 a.m., NSA

April 6 – Good Friday Stations of the Cross – noon, Chapel CenterApril 6 – Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion – 7 p.m., Chapel Center

April 7 – Holy Saturday Great Easter Vigil – 8 p.m., Chapel CenterApril 8 – Easter Sunday Masses – *Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

*Regular Catholic Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday: 5 p.m. Cavalry Chapel; Sunday: 9 a.m. Chapel Center; 12:15 p.m. Post Chapel. There will be no 5 p.m. Mass at Cavalry Chapel on Holy Saturday, April 7. Regularly scheduled noon Mass will be held at the Post Chapel, except April 5 and 6.

Jewish ServicesApril 9-12 – Passover meals – 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Chapel Center

Spring religiouS ServiceS on Fort Meade

By Wendy PoulsonSocial Security manager, Glen Burnie

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making this a popular time of year for proclamations of love.

If you happen to be a newlywed who is head over heels in love, you may not be focused on things such as taxes or Social Security, but you should be.

If you plan to exchange your maiden name for a married name, including hyphenated names such as Smith-Jones, be sure to let us know.

Telling us about your name change shortly after your marriage will help us accurately keep track of your earnings and will ensure that you and your fam-ily get the Social Security retirement, disability and survivors’ coverage you’re entitled to.

Also, if the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security records do not show the same name and Social Security number, your federal income tax refund could be delayed.

If you continue to use your maid-

en name consistently throughout your working years, you do not need to contact us.

However, if you decide to change your name at a later time, you should let us know so that we can update your Social Security record and send you a Social Security card with your new name.

There’s no need to pay someone else to mail in the information for you.

Changing your name with Social Secu-rity is a quick, easy and free service. Just go online to www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber, learn what documents you need, and click on “Fill Out and Print an application (Form SS-5).”

You also can call us at 1-800-772-1213 to obtain the form. We will need the completed application along with a marriage certificate or divorce decree verifying your old and new names.

If you were born outside the United States, you also need proof of your U.S. citizenship or proof that you are law-fully living in the U.S. You can bring or mail these documents to us.

You may be focused on the one you love, and we don’t blame you. But if you like us, click on the Facebook icon at our homepage and “like” us on Facebook.

You can follow us on Twitter, too. Look for our Facebook and Twitter icons at www.socialsecurity.gov.

We share information daily that can help you and all your Valentines.

A Valentine tip from Social Security


Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s dis-cretion 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 Meade TV Blog at http://meadetv.wordpress.com.

For more information or to submit an announcement, email [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

Education town hallAn education town hall will be

held today at 5:30 p.m. at the Midway Commons Neighborhood Center.

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein will host the event that will focus on Fort Meade schools.

Kimbrough closuresKimbrough Ambulatory Care

Center will close Friday for quarterly mandatory training and on Feb. 20 in observance of Presidents Day.

Latin Club NightEnjoy a nightclub atmosphere at Latin

Club Night on Friday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Club Meade.

There is no cover charge. Cash bar is available.

For more information, call 301-677-6969.

Black History Month observance

The garrison command, along with the Equal Opportunity Office, will sponsor the African American/Black History Observance on Feb. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Club Meade.

The theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.”

The annual event is hosted by the Defense Information School. The keynote speaker will be Joanne Martin, co-founder of the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in Baltimore, the country’s first wax museum concentrating on black history, life and culture.

Admission is free and open to the public. Free food samplings will be served.

Administrative leave is authorized.For more information, contact Staff

Sgt. Fox or Staff Sgt. Fultz at 301-677-4696 or SFC Bass at 301-677-6687.

NEWS & EVENTS

DINFOS Black History Month events

The Defense Information School is hosting a series of events in celebration of Black History Month.

This year’s theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.”

• Today through Feb. 29: “Coats for Kids” and educational books for Sarah’s House. Donations can be dropped off at the main desk in the DINFOS lobby.

• Today: Black History Movie discussion, “The Secret Life of Bees,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., DINFOS

• Feb. 17: Open mic event, 7 to 9 p.m., Club Meade. To perform, register by Monday. Email Staff Sgt. Celisse Cortez at [email protected].

• Feb. 18: Lunch cruise on the Spirit of Washington on the Potomac

with a musical tribute to African-American artists, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For reservations, visit http://www.spiritofwashington.com.

• Feb. 22: Tour of Washington, D.C./Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Feb. 29: Food Sampling/Trivia Bowl, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., McGill Training Center. Registration required by Feb. 24. Email Master Sgt. Keisha Montague at [email protected].

• Weekly emails: Check your inbox for educational information about black women’s contributions to American history and culture.

To help with upcoming Black History Month events, contact Master Sgt. LaShawndra Ramsey at [email protected] or attend weekly planning meetings on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at DINFOS.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 301-677-4721.

Fat TuesdayCelebrate Fat Tuesday with a Madris

Gras-themed, all-you-can-eat lunch menu on Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Club Meade.


Country: Top 40 NightDance and party at Country: Top 40

Night on Feb. 24 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Club Meade.

There is no cover charge. Cash bar is available.


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LATIN CLUB NIGHTEnjoy a nightclub atmosphere at Latin Club Night on Friday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Club Meade.There is no cover charge. Cash bar is available.For more information, call 301-677-6969.



Sweetheart DinnerA Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dinner

will be held Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Courses Clubhouse.

The dinner is open to military and civilians.

Reservations are required. For reserva-tions or more information, call 301-677-5326.

Karaoke NightThe 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes

is hosting a free Karaoke Night on the third Thursday of the month.

The next Karaoke Night will be Feb. 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. The general public is invited.


EFMP eventsThe Exceptional Family Member

Program at Fort Meade is sponsoring several events in February.

• “Meet and Greet,” Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. Join other EFMP parents for monthly, informal parent-to-parent chats. Registration required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 301-677-4473.

• EFMP Bowling events are held the third Tuesday of each month at the Lanes. The next event will be Feb. 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and includes a free buffet and giveaways for exceptional family members ages 18 and younger and their siblings.

Register for free games and shoe rental at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/meadecyms.html. For more information, call the EFMP office at 301-677-1156.

Adult exceptional family members may register for free games and shoe rental at the EFMP office by calling 301-677-7836. Discounted games and shoe rental are available for other adult family members.

Registration required by Feb. 17. For more information, email [email protected] or call 301-677-7836.

For general information, call Caraline Someck, EFMP manager, at 301-677-4122.

Pre-K enrollment startsPre-kindergarten applications for West

Meade Early Education Center starts Tuesday.

Applications must be completed in person at the school. Children must be age 4 by Sept. 1.

Bring the following documents when enrolling:

• Child’s original birth certificate• Copy of the child’s immunization

record• Two proofs of residency (rental or

mortgage agreement and current utility bill)

• Federal Income Tax Return for 2011 (1040 statement)

• Current award letter for Temporary Cash Assistance, food stamps or WIC, the federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants and children.

Public pre-kindergarten programs in Maryland were established to improve the school readiness of children who are economically disadvantaged or homeless.

If seats remain, children with other readiness needs may be enrolled.

‘Military Saves’ WeekArmy Community Service will host

“Military Saves” Week from Feb. 21 to 24 at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

• Credit Scores and Reports will be held Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. The free program is open to everyone. Advance registration is recommended.

• Credit Score Clinic will be held Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. The free program is open to active-duty service members and spouses only. Advance registration is required.

• Day of Financial Fitness will be held Feb. 23 at 8 a.m. The free program is open to active-duty service members and spouses only. Advance registration is required.

For more information, call 301-677-5590 or visit www.ftmeademwr.com.

OSC scholarshipsThe Fort Meade Officers’ Spouses’

Club will award scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic school year in the spring.

Completed applications must be postmarked by April 1.

• The Etta Baker Memorial Scholarship will be awarded for academic advancement to deserving college-bound high school seniors.

• The Merit Scholarship for continued learning will be awarded for academic advancement to graduating high school seniors and students currently enrolled in college.

• The JROTC Scholarship will be awarded to highly motivated, community-minded students to further

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TooTHBrUsH GIveAwAyIn celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, the Fort Meade Dental Activity will host the 25rd annual “Toothbrush Giveaway” on Friday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of the commissary.Talk to the Tooth Fairy; get a new toothbrush, floss and rings; and brush “Doogey Dog’s” teeth. Learn the keys to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.For more information, call Deanna Benicewicz, community health den-tal hygienist, at 301-677-5920.

their education beyond a high school diploma.

• The Military Spouse Scholarship will be awarded for academic advancement to highly motivated, community-minded individuals to further their education.

Application forms with all eligibility requirements are available on the OSC website at www.fortmeadeosc.org and at high school guidance offices.

For more information, email Pat Hagerty at [email protected].

StorytimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial Library

offers Pre-Kindergarten Storytime every Thursday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m.

• Today: “Love is in the Air” pre-Valentine’s Day celebration

• Feb. 16: “A Presidential Birthday”: Learn about President’s Day.

• Feb. 23: “Goodness Gracious — What

a Nose” about elephantsFor more information, call 301-677-

5522.

Youth Center activitiesChild, Youth and School Services is

offering the following activities for grades six to eight:

• Pizza and Movie Night, Friday, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Cost is $6.50 for pizza. Order deadline is today at 6 p.m. Movie is free.

• Skating trip to Quiet Waters Ice Rink, Feb. 17, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $10 with skate rental, and $7 without skate rental.

• “Grilling and Chilling,” Feb. 24, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Menu includes barbecue chicken legs, hot dogs, picnic salads and drink. Food cost is $5.


Romp ‘n StompRomp ‘n Stomp playgroup, for parents

and their children up to 5 years old, meets Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Youth Services gym, when Anne Arundel County Public Schools are in session.

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EDUCATION

YOUTH



For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or e-mail [email protected].

Out & About• Chamber Music Concert presented

by the U.S. Army Field Band on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Epiphany Episcopal Church at 1419 Odenton Road, Odenton. The free event is open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-6586.

• Leisure Travel Services, 2300 Wilson St., is sponsoring monthly bus trips to New York City on Saturday and March 10 and discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit www.ftmeademwr.com.

• Motor Trend International Auto Show at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Hours are: Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older; $6 for service members with DoD identification; $6 for seniors (ages 62 and older) today and Friday; $8 for seniors on Saturday and Sunday; and $4 for children ages 7 to 12. Children ages 6 and under attend free. For more information, call 410-649-7000 or visit www.autoshowbaltimore.com.

• Monster Jam at 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Hours are: Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Pit party is Feb. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Must have a ticket to the 2 p.m. performance and pit pass.) Tickets are $22, $30 and $62. (All prices are $2 more on the day of show.) Purchase pit passes for $10

(in advance or day of show). For more information, visit baltimorearena.com.

• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next meeting is Friday. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, visit www.e9association.org or call 410-551-7953.

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse in Bldg. T-4, across from the Pet Care Center. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, visit www.ftmeadeesc.org.

• Single Parent Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall at 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie. The speaker will be Jack Czarnecki, a certified public accountant who will speak to the changes and requirements of filing tax returns. All current and retired federal employees and their spouses are invited. For more information or to join, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• Bridging the Gap deployment support group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Tuesday. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email [email protected].

• Officers’ Spouses’ Club will meet Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Courses.

The February theme is “Oh, the Places You Will Go.” The menu features Asian beef with snow peas, brown rice, stir-fry vegetables and sweet sticky rice with mango.

RSVP at [email protected] Assistance is needed in creating table dis-

plays for the following countries: England, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Korea, Japan, Turkey, Greece and Germany. Any loaned items and photos would be appreci-ated.

To be a vendor, email [email protected]. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

For the OSC “Wedding March” lun-cheon, the club is collecting wedding photos of members. Email a jpeg (and include wedding date) to [email protected] by March 2.

Wear white to get in the wedding spirit, and encourage members to don their best “Royal Wedding Hat.”

• Patient/Family Advisory Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center. The next meeting is Feb. 16 in Kimbrough’s main conference room on the third floor, room 3C03.

The council is committed to improving the delivery of our health care by collaborating with providers, patients and family members. For more information or to become a council member, call Patient and Family Centered Care, at 301-677-8261.

• Retired Enlisted Association meets the third Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. The next meeting is Feb. 16. For more information, visit www.trea.org or call Mary Gray, the local president, at 410-916-5385 or Arthur R. Cooper, national president, at 443-336-1230.

• Meade Area Garden Club will meet Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community Hall at the corner of Route 175 and Wigley Avenue. Maria Price of Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm will present “Making Herbal Teas.” Refreshments will be served. In inclement weather, the meeting will be canceled if Anne Arundel County Public Schools are closed or open two hours late.

For more information or to join, call Pat Loosararian, membership chairman, at 410-519-6443 or Lois Stephenson, club president, at 410-740-8024.

• Hearts Apart support group meets monthly at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Feb. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hearts Apart provides a supportive group setting for adults and children (with children’s activities provided) when the service

member is separated by TDY or PCS or deployed for more than 30 days. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or 301-677-9014.

• Parenting With a Purpose will meet Feb. 22 and 29 and March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center at 8700 91st Division Blvd. Learn what your parenting style is and the art of judo-parenting. For reservations, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 254 meets the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Roost, 9827 Love Road. The next meeting is Feb. 22. For more information, call 443-534-5170 or visit www.afsa254.org.

• Fort Meade Homeschool Co-op meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at 1900 Reece Road. For more information, call Laura Edens at 443-510-4715 or email [email protected].

• Cub Scout Pack 377 invites boys in first through fifth grades, or ages 7 to 10, to attend its weekly Monday meetings at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. For more information, email Kimberly Smith at [email protected].

• Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop is actively recruiting boys age 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at [email protected] or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at [email protected].

• Protestant Women of the Chapel invites women for prayer, fellowship and food at its weekly Wednesday meeting from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. Child care and a home-school room are provided. For more information, call Christine Washburn at 443-230-1553 or email [email protected].

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn. Breakfast may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the fourth Sunday of every month.

Membership discounts are offered for active-duty military. For more information, call 410-969-8028 or visit www.americanlegionpost276.org.

• Society of Military Widows meets for brunch the fourth Sunday of the month at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. The next meeting is Feb. 26. For more information, call Betty Jones at 410-730-0127.

Chaplain’s WordSERENITY PRAYER

“God, grant me.Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.”

— Reinhold Niebuhr

RECREATION

YOUTH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 MEETINGS

Fort Meade SoundOff for Feb. 9, 2012

News & Politics

Transcript of Fort Meade SoundOff for Feb. 9, 2012