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![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26, 2015 SOUNDOFF!
News
Meade wrestles
with adequate
resources to support
ongoing growth
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
The Fort Meade community learned
about the Army’s ongoing force restruc-
turing efforts during an Army Force Struc-
ture and Stationing Listening Session held
Monday morning at McGill Training
Center.
The two-hour event also was an oppor-
tunity for community members to ask
questions in regard to the Army’s deci-
sion-making process and comment on
the importance of the installation to the
community.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, com-
manding general, Joint Force Headquar-
ters-National Capital Region and U.S.
Army Military District of Washington,
led the listening session. He was joined by
Col. Karl Konzelman, chief of the Army
Force Management Division, G3/5/7 at
Headquarters, Department of the Army,
and Col. Brian P. Foley, garrison com-
mander at Fort Meade.
“It should be no surprise to you that
the Army is undergoing some significant
force-structure changes,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said that by the end of the
fiscal year in October, the Army’s active-
duty component will be 490,000 — down
from a high of 572,000 a few years ago.
“What we have not determined is how
we’re going to go on the active side of
the Army, from 490,000 to 450,000. And
that’s what these sessions are all about,”
Buchanan said.
The reduction in the Army’s active end
strength is driven by the 2011 Budget Con-
trol Act and the 2012 Defense Guidance.
Secretary of the Army John McHugh
and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond
Odierno will make the decisions regarding
force structure changes sometime in late
spring or early summer.
Buchanan said the input from listening
sessions at Army installations worldwide,
in addition to discussions with congressio-
nal and Army leaders, will help McHugh
and Odierno arrive at their decisions.
Konzelman then discussed the Army’s
ongoing actions to meet its goals.
Army leaders discuss pending force cuts
The Army released its 2013 Program-
matic Environmental Assessment for
Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment
after evaluating 21 Army installations and
joint bases where Army stationing changes
could result in the inactivation and restruc-
turing of brigade combat teams.
In November, the Army released the
Supplemental Programmatic Environ-
mental Assessment to build on the 2013
PEA. It cited possible reductions of 3,500
Army personnel for Fort Meade — 2,416
Soldiers and 800 civilians, according to
Konzelman.
Konzelman said the numbers for Fort
Meade that were cited in the 2014 SPEA
are not actual or even projected losses,
but only signify “the greatest cumulative
impact” to the installation. He said the
Army leadership considers many factors
when deciding upon reductions including
strategic considerations.
“We know how important Fort Meade
is with all its cyber actions that are going
on here,” Konzelman said.
Buchanan added there have not been
any announced cuts for Fort Meade. In
fact, there is continued growth.
Foley discussed the DoD growth that is
occurring on Fort Meade, which will lead
to an additional 2,310 people assigned to
the installation over the next five years.
Most of the growth on Fort Meade
revolves around the physical and opera-
tional buildout of U.S. Cyber Command.
Currently, about $1.8 billion in facility
construction is taking place at Fort Meade
mostly due to U.S. Cyber Command
growth and NSA recapitilization.
Foley said that he will soon break
ground on the renovation of the Rock-
enbach Road access control point and
that the garrison is in discussions with
Army leadership in regard to $59.1 mil-
lion in funding needed to improve the
installation’s roads.
Several members of the Fort Meade
community spoke about the installation’s
economic contributions to the region and
the state, as well as its prominence as the
nation’s center of information, intelligence
and cyber operations due to the presence
of U.S. Cyber Command, Marine Corps
Cyber Command, Navy Fleet Cyber
Command, the National Security Agency
and the Defense Information Systems
Agency.
“Fort Meade cannot be evaluated for
cuts in the same way as other Army
posts,” said Claire Louder, president and
CEO of the West County Chamber of
Commerce.
Louder said that as a DoD joint-service
base, Fort Meade has more in common
with the Pentagon than other Army instal-
lations, such as Fort Hood in Texas or
Fort Bragg, N.C.
Any projected cuts to Fort Meade
would result in “completely eliminating”
the garrison’s staff, Louder said, as well as
one or more of the installation’s military
intelligence units.
“Clearly, this is not feasible on an instal-
lation that is growing exponentially,” she
said.
Several representatives from state and
county business and community organi-
zations, as well as the county executive’s
office and two councilmen, echoed Loud-
er’s sentiments regarding the need to pro-
vide adequate resources for Fort Meade to
support the installation’s ongoing growth,
despite any pending reductions.
“Given the current and future growth
at Fort Meade and the unique, critical
mission of the forces and agencies here,
we ask you when you assess and reflect
[upon] cuts at Fort Meade, [it would
be] ill-advised and detrimental to this
country’s defense and cyber readiness and
operations,” said Linda Greene, executive
director of the BWI Business Partnership
and chair of the Fort Meade Community
Covenant Council.
photo by philip H. jones
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-
National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, leads Fort
Meade’s Army Force Structure and Stationing Listening Session on Monday morning
at McGill Training Center. Buchanan was joined by Col. Karl Konzelman (right), chief
of the Army Force Management Division, G3/5/7 at Headquarters, Department of the
Army, and Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley. Approximately, 50 participants
from Fort Meade, federal, state and local government agencies and business and
community organizations attended the session.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-3-320.jpg)
![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March 26, 2015
News
By Shari Rosen
Staff Writer
In 1929, 20 women aviators raced from
Santa Monica, Ca., to Cleveland in the
first national Women’s Air Derby.
Over the nine-day, 17-checkpoint race,
the women encountered mechanical issues,
adverse weather conditions, sabotage and
the death of a colleague.
The history of the 1929 national air
races was the main topic of the Women’s
History Month observance held March 19
at the Fort Meade Conference Center.
The annual observance celebrates Fort
Meade’s diversity by emphasizing the
accomplishments of women throughout
history.
“Each of us can appreciate the women
in our lives — be it mothers, sisters, friends
or neighbors,”said Chaplain (Capt.) Angel
Berrios of the 308th Military Intelligence
Battalion, 902nd Military Intelligence
Group during the invocation.
The observance, hosted by the 902nd
MI, featured guest speaker Heather Tay-
lor, who is the writer, director and pro-
ducer of the documentary “Breaking
Through The Clouds: The First Women’s
National Air Derby.”
“[I want the community to gain] edu-
cational insight [and] inspiration,” Taylor
said. “[I want them] to find out, if you fol-
low a passion, [you can] make an impact
for others. [These women] are a shining
example of how to follow a passion — no
matter how unconventional or illogical it
may seem to others.”
Other highlights of the program includ-
ed a display of posters and books about
women’s history provided by the Maryland
Women’s Heritage Center in Baltimore
and a reading of the presidential procla-
mation for Women’s History Month.
“As today’s women and girls reach for
new heights, they stand on the shoulders
of those who came before them,” said
Latoya Alexander, a third grade teacher at
Pershing Hill Elementary School, during
the proclamation reading. “When women
succeed, America succeeds.”
Duringherpresentation,Taylordetailed
the history of many of the women involved
in the 1929 derby, commonly known as
the “Powder Puff Derby,” and incorpo-
rated clips from her documentary.
Taylor first became interested in the
derby when she interviewed Evelyn Bryan,
also known as “Mama Bird,” for a film
school project. Bryan is listed in the Guin-
ness Book of World Records as having
logged 57,635.4 hours — the most hours
Women’s History Month event soars to new heights
ever flown by a woman.
Bryan introduced Taylor to footage
from the derby.
“I was drawn in by their enthusiasm
immediately,” Taylor said.
The first pilot Taylor spoke about was
Phoebe Omlie from Memphis, Tenn., who
was the first woman to earn her transport
pilot license and mechanic license.
After winning the light-class plane divi-
sion in the derby, Omlie flew for Franklin
D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaigns in
1932 and 1936.
Aviator Ruth Elder from Birmingham,
Ala., was the first woman to attempt to
fly across the Atlantic Ocean, only to be
surpassed by Amelia Earhart, who suc-
cessfully completed the mission in 1928.
“The women who all signed up [for
the derby] had very strong personalities,”
Taylor said. “Despite being in competi-
tion, they demonstrated teamwork and
leadership, [which] benefited all involved
in the race.”
Taylor said some of the women encoun-
tered mechanical issues during the race
such as fires and crashing into cars when
landing at a checkpoint.
“[However], they were innovative and
resilient when solving problems along the
route,” she said.
Taylor described several more impor-
tant figures in the race and their accom-
plishments after the derby such as Pancho
Barnes, who went on to break the women’s
speed record in 1931; Ruth Nichols, the
first female airline pilot and founder of
the precursor to the Civil Air Patrol; and
Louise Thaden, who won the heavy-class
division of the race and went on to win
the Van Bendix Transcontinental Air Race
from New York to Los Angeles in 1936 in
both the male and female divisions.
“Many considered her to be one of
the best pilots, male or female, who ever
lived,” Taylor said.
Following the presentation, Garrison
Commander Col. Brian P. Foley and Col.
John J. Bonin, company commander of
the 902nd MI, presented Taylor with a
commemorative plaque.
“I thought it was great,” said Pfc.
Cara Sliger of the 902nd MI. “I never
knew about this part of history, so it
was very impressive. I really do believe it
contributes to women progressing in the
future.”
PHOTO BY NATE PESCE
Guest speaker Heather Taylor, writer, director and producer of the new documentary “Breaking Through the Clouds,” greets Army
personnel and other visitors at Fort Meade’s Women’s History Month observance held March 19 at the Fort Meade Conference
Center. The documentary examines early female aviators and the 1929 First Women’s National Air Derby.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-4-320.jpg)
![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March 26, 2015
News
By Jane Winand
Chief, Legal Assistance Division
Despite the downturn in the housing
market, many military families have made
the financial commitment of purchasing
a home.
Without fail, the homeowner then for-
wards the required mortgage payment
each month to the mortgage company.
After several months or years, the hom-
eowner may get a notice that the lender
has sold the mortgage and that the hom-
eowner should send monthly payments to
a new lender at a new address.
It is common practice for a lender to
sell a mortgage or the right to service a
mortgage to another lender. To service
a mortgage means that the lender will
perform such functions as accepting the
monthly payments, holding money in
escrow for insurance and taxes, and issu-
ing periodic statements.
Some mortgage companies are in the
business of financing home sales merely
to make funds available to a prospective
purchaser. These companies then imme-
diately sell the mortgage or the servicing
rights to another lender after closing.
Other lenders prefer to keep and service
their own loans.
Most mortgage documents will permit
the lender to sell the obligation at its
convenience without providing the bor-
rower with a right to question or object
to the sale.
Although the sale of a mortgage or the
mortgage servicing rights is not necessar-
ily a cause for alarm, a borrower must
be wary of notices regarding such a sale.
Some scams involving false sales have
duped innocent borrowers. The borrower
may receive a notice to send the monthly
payments to a new company at a new
address.
However, after sending several pay-
ments to the new company, the borrower
is notified that the original mortgage
company still holds the note and never
received the payments. The new company
was just a scam created to rip off the bor-
rowers and has since disappeared.
By law, the current lender must notify
you at least 15 days before the first pay-
ment is due to a new lender. The notice
must include the name and address of the
new lender, the date your current lender
will stop accepting payments, the date
your new lender will begin to accept pay-
ments, and telephone numbers for both
the current and new lender.
You also have a 60-day grace period
after a transfer to a new lender, which
means you can’t be charged a late fee if
you send your mortgage payment to the
old lender by mistake. Also, your new
lender can’t report any such misdirected
payments as late to a credit bureau.
To protect yourself from mortgage-sale
scams, do the following:
• Call your current lender to verify the
validity of a notice of sale.
• Look for a “goodbye” letter from
your current lender, on its stationary, at
least 15 days before your next payment
is due.
• Examine the letter from the new com-
pany to ensure it contains a full company
name and phone number and your mort-
gage account number.
• Compare your mortgage account
number in the letter to the number listed
on the mortgage documents to make sure
they match.
• If you make payments to the new
lender and then receive a delinquency
notice from your former lending com-
pany, call and investigate immediately.
For more information, go to the Federal
Trade Commission website at ftc.gov or
call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Divi-
sion at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536 to
schedule an appointment with an attorney.
Beware of mortgage sale scams
By Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
Last year, the Installation Management
Command reported 122 confirmed suicides
in the Army. Fortunately, there has not been
a suicide at Fort Meade since December
2013.
Marissa Pena, Fort Meade’s Suicide Pre-
vention Program manager, said this is partly
due to the garrison’s monthly Applied Sui-
cide Intervention Skills Training workshop.
ASIST is a free two-day workshop that
helps participants learn the skills to identify
people at risk for suicide, and how to better
listen to and care for people who are having
thoughts of suicide. The workshop features
group exercises and discussions, as well as
videos on suicide intervention.
The training is open to all service branches
and civilian employees. The next ASIST
workshop will be held April 16-17.
Living Works Education, a suicide inter-
vention company based in Fayetteville, N.C.,
produces the curriculum for the training and
considers the workshop to be suicide first
aid. Funding is provided by the Department
of the Army.
The most recent ASIST workshop was
held March 19-20 at Argonne Hills Chapel
Center for 36 participants. Pena said that
the number of ASIST trainees has tripled
since 2013 from eight to 10 participants each
month to 30 to 35.
Air Force Chaplain (Col.) Michael Heuer
of the National Security Agency and the
Central Security Service is a consulting
trainer for ASIST and has been teaching the
curriculum since 2004.
“Anyone can be at risk of suicide” Heuer
said. “Fortunately, most people thinking
about suicide never make an attempt. But
some do.”
Heuer said that because it is sometimes
difficult to determine who may be think-
ing about suicide and who may actually try
to kill one’s self, it is essential to take any
thoughts of suicide seriously and address
them directly.
“Almost 100 percent of those who think
about suicide aren’t completely sure that’s
what they want to do right now,”Heuer said.
“What they are sure about is the desire to
stop the pain, usually emotional pain. And at
the time, suicide may seem like the best way
— or the only way — they know to stop their
unbearable pain.”
Heuer said the fact that most people
thinking about suicide aren’t sure they want
to harm themselves is the reason why inter-
vention skills usually work.
“Most people at risk of suicide try to reach
out to somehow see if there is any hope that
someone will notice,” he said. “It’s difficult
to talk about these very personal thoughts
and struggles until they feel safe talking to
someone they believe they can trust.”
Heuer said intervention is critical because
even the best prevention and resiliency pro-
grams don’t work for everyone.
“Most of our military programs effec-
tively increase our awareness of suicide but
don’t always emphasize intervention skills,”
he said. “Training peers and leaders with
intervention skills helps us identify people
thinking about suicide and keep them safe for
now, so we can connect them with a longer-
term helping network.”
Prevention, Heuer said, is like “a safety
rail to deter people from falling into a river.”
But intervention skills are like “first aid and
water-safety instructor training, to identify
people who do fall in and help them get out
safely.”
ASIST participants learn various inter-
vention skills such as how to pick up on ver-
bal and nonverbal “invitations” or clues that
someone could have thoughts of suicide.
“We teach participants how to have a con-
versation to confirm whether suicide could
be the issue, then to ask clearly and directly
about suicide,”Heuer said. “We then listen to
understand the reasons for the pain that has
led someone to this point and work with the
person at risk to develop a plan to keep him
[or her] safe, connecting him with additional
resources.”
Among the workshop’s participants was
Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Alysa
Harden of the Navy Information Operations
Command Maryland.
“This course has given me the tools to
actively help a Sailor who is in a tough
mental spot and/or is considering suicide,”
she said. “I’m much more confident that I
will be able to help someone. The stages that
are taught at ASIST give me a path to fol-
low when speaking to someone considering
suicide in a way that meets their needs at
that time.”
Pfc. Antonio Camacho Ortiz of the 781st
Military Intelligence Battalion also took the
ASIST workshop.
“I learned [that] suicide is something that
cannot be handled in a hurry. The way you
take care of it is vital,” he said. “I feel pretty
confident that I can help someone in need
after this training.
“Based on the intensity of the workshop
and the several different situations during the
role-plays, [it] gave me more knowledge of
what to do and what not to do when dealing
with suicide in real life.”
Heuer said ASIST trainers often receive
emails and telephone calls from workshop
alumni who have helped save someone’s life
using the intervention skills they learned.
“No method can prevent all suicides,”
Heuer said. “But ASIST really works to
save lives.”
Editor’s note: For more information on
the ASIST workshop, call Marissa Pena at
301-677-7901.
Suicide intervention training saves lives](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-5-320.jpg)
![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! March 26, 2015
News
By Wendy Poulson
Social Security District Manager
Glen Burnie
Social Security wants to make your
retirement planning as stress-free as
possible with a number of online
tools.
You can create your own secure,
personal “my Social Security”account
from the comfort of your home.
Once you have a “my Social Secu-
rity” account, you can view your
Social Security statement, verify your
earnings record, and find out what
to expect in monthly benefits if you
retire at ages 62, 67 or 70.
Once you begin receiving Social
Security benefits, you can use “my
Social Security” to check your benefit
information; change your address
and phone number; change your elec-
tronic payment method; and obtain
an instant benefit verification letter
and replacement SSA-1099/1042S.
You can easily sign up for “my
Social Security” at www.socialsecu-
rity.gov/myaccount.
If you’re thinking about retiring at
an age not shown on your statement,
reduce the stress of the unknown by
using the Retirement Estimator. The
Retirement Estimator allows you to
calculate your potential future Social
Security benefits by changing vari-
ables such as retirement dates and
future earnings.
You may discover that you’d rather
wait another year or two before you
retire to earn a higher benefit. Or,
you might see that this is the season
for you to retire now.
To get instant, personalized esti-
mates of your future benefits, go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
When you decide it’s time to start
receiving your retirement benefits,
the application process will be far less
stressful now that you’re prepared.
You can securely apply online with-
out picking up the phone or leaving
your house.
Simply go to www.socialsecurity.
gov/applyonline, and, in as little as 15
minutes, you can breeze through the
online retirement application.
The website and online tools are
always available.
Spring into a stress-free retirement
By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
DoD’s chief Information officer is
urging Department of Defense employ-
ees and their families to be vigilant when
guarding personal and work informa-
tion against increasing cyber-criminal
activity and scamming tactics.
Terry A. Halvorsen issued a DoD-
wide memorandum March 18 about the
growing threat of cybercrime “phishing”
and “spear phishing” in emails, on social
media sites and through phone calls.
“Phishing” is defined as sending
fraudulent emails that claim to be from
reputable sources, such as a recipient’s
bank or credit card company, to gain
personal or financial information.
Recipients of such emails are often
directed to fraudulent websites that
mimic familiar-looking bank and e-
commerce sites, according to Encyclo-
pedia Britannica. Phishers ask recipients
to update or confirm accounts, which
disclose confidential information such
as Social Security and credit card num-
bers.
“Spear phishing” is the latest twist
on phishing, according to Britannica.
It targets companies and government
agencies through “select employees”
with fraudulent emails, which appear to
come from trusted or known sources.
When employees click on links in the
emails, hostile programs enter the orga-
nization’s computers.
“Cyber criminals continue using
phishing and spear-phishing attacks,”
Halvorsen said in his memo, “and their
tactics are evolving in an increasingly
predatory manner.”
While service members and DoD civil-
ians are routinely trained in recognizing
cybersecurity red flags, DoD also wants
their families to be prepared to deal with
suspicious email, Halvorsen said.
These cyber criminals also track and
mine social media accounts such as
Facebook, LinkedIn and others “to
interact with people and compromise
accounts,” he said.
“Phishing continues to be successful
because attackers do more research,
evolve their tactics and seek out easy
prey. We need to arm ourselves and our
families with defensive skills and knowl-
edge to protect [against] being victim-
ized by a phishing email, computer or
phone scam.”
Halvorsen advises the following safe-
guards to protect against phishing and
spear phishing, which can also lead to
identity theft:
• Never trust links or account/pass-
word prompts within email messages.
• Note that phishing emails some-
times have poor grammar or misspelled
words.
• Do not trust information-seeking
emails and phone calls, and verify such
threats.
• Never provide your user identifica-
tion and/or password.
• Refuse social media connection
requests from anyone you haven’t per-
sonally met.
• Use spam filters for personal
email.
• Never email personal or financial
information, even if you know the per-
son requesting it.
• Be wary of pop-ups; don’t click links
or enter any data.
• Don’t copy web addresses from a
pop-up into a browser.
• Don’t click on links, download files
or open attachments
DoD warns troops, families to be cybercrime smart
Get to work on time.
Know the hours
of operation for
Access Gates
on Fort Meade
Gate 1: Rockenbach Road
5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Friday;
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
weekends; closed holidays
Gate 3: Reece Road and
Maryland Route 175
(Demps Visitor Control
Center gate) 24-hour access
Demps Visitor Control Center,
Bldg. 902 Reece Road
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday
Gate 4: Mapes Road and
Maryland Route 175
CLOSED until further notice
Gate 5: Llewellyn Avenue and
Maryland Route 175
6 to 9 a.m., Monday through
Friday for inbound traffic;
3 to 6 p.m., Monday through
Friday for outbound traffic
Gate 7: Mapes Road
and Route 32
5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Friday;
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
weekends and holidays
Text FOLLOW FORTMEADE to 40404
to sign up for Fort Meade news alerts
on your mobile phone
Follow Fort
Meade on
Twitter.com
/ftmeademd](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-9-320.jpg)
![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26, 2015 SOUNDOFF! 13
News
By Shari Rosen
Staff Writer
If you walk along Rock Avenue, you
can see the remnants of old train tracks
hidden behind overgrown weeds.
The building that the Army and Air
Force Exchange Service now uses to dis-
patch trucks was once the train station
along the line.
Fort Meade was built here because of
these railroads, said David Manning, Fort
Meade Museum collections manager and
resident train expert.
The land surrounding Fort Meade, on
which the installation was constructed, was
abundant with railroads: the Baltimore
Ohio RR; Pennsylvania RR, which later
became Amtrak; and the Washington
Baltimore Annapolis Electric RR.
Construction on some of these rails
began as early as 1828.
“It’s a fairly strategic location, and it
was strategic [for] the Army because it
was close to the port of Baltimore and
not that far from Washington, D.C., where
the War Department was headquartered,”
Manning said. “[It was] not that far from
the Naval Academy either, but it was also
strategic for the railroads and for the
landowners.”
At this time, before the start of World
War I, railroad owners were also major
landowners and they wanted something
large, like an Army camp, near the rail
lines to increase business, Manning said.
“[Railroad owners] kind of convinced
both the Army and Maryland politicians,
influential people at the time, that they
ought to build [the camp] here,” he said.
In 1917, when construction began on
Fort Meade, all of the major building
materials for the post were brought in by
rail, according to “Impossible Challenge
II” by Herbert H. Harwood Jr., a railroad
historian:
“On July 2, 1917, construction started
on what was called Camp Meade. When
Camp Meade received its first recruits two
and a half months later, it spread over
8,000 acres, had 1,200 wood buildings, and
could accommodate 40,000 Soldiers.”
The materials brought in by rail for this
quick construction included lumber, coal
for the heating plants, and flour and sugar
for the Cooks and Bakers School.
“It [was] more economical to do it that
way than to truck it in,” Manning said.
During World War I, trains also trans-
ported troops to and from Fort Meade,
Where the train tracks end
which was used as a training post.
According to “Rails to Fort Meade” by
the Meade Area Railroad Society, “Dur-
ing an 18-month period in 1917-1918, 8.5
million passengers were carried to and
from Camp Meade by the railroads. Over
100,000 troops trained here during World
War I.”
During World War II, Fort Meade was
once again used as a training camp.
In August 1943, Fort Meade housed the
Army Grand Forces Replacement Depot
Number One, one of only two Army cen-
ters in the country where Soldiers gathered
to be shipped overseas as replacements for
men who had been killed, wounded, reas-
signed or discharged.
Soldiers would use railroads to travel
to Fort Meade to have their paperwork
and physicals completed. At the end of
the war, Soldiers returning from over-
seas would once again pass through the
depot.
Because of this depot, the number
of Soldiers using these rails greatly
increased.
“Several millions guys [came] through
as a result,” Manning said. “Probably
the majority of them were going to come
through here on a train.”
After World War II, the railroads were
used less frequently as reliance on air-
planes and automobiles increased begin-
ning in the 1950s.
All rail operations on the installation
ceased around 1982. Now, all that is left
are remnants on Rock Avenue — a his-
tory, hidden from view.
“I think [the railroads are] a big influ-
ence on the development of the history of
Meade,” Manning said. “It wouldn’t have
been built here without the railroads and
it couldn’t have been built here without
the railroads.”
PHOTO BY NATE PESCE
Remnants of the Fort Meade train tracks poke out from behind the weeds on Rock
Avenue. During World War I and World War II, these railroads transported construction
materials and Soldiers who used the installation as a training post.
‘[Fort Meade] wouldn’t have
been built here without the
railroads and it couldn’t
have been built here without
the railroads.’
David Manning
Fort Meade Museum](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-10-320.jpg)
![http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26, 2015 SOUNDOFF! 15
Sports
By Shari Rosen
Staff Writer
Josh Misiewicz of the USA Warriors
Sled Team propelled himself forward
on the ice using two truncated hockey
sticks to maneuver while balancing on
a bladed sled.
Misiewicz, a first-year player, was just
one of more than 1,000 hockey players
registered to participate in “Hockey
for Heroes,” a 24-hour, around-the-
clock exhibition tournament that raised
awareness and funds for the Wounded
Warrior Project, Disabled American
Veterans and USA Warriors Ice Hock-
ey.
“This is awesome,” said retired Spc.
John Laursen, goalie for the USA War-
riors Standing Team, before his game
against the Naval Academy Alumni
Midshipmen. “Any time we get in and
get to go on the ice, it’s amazing.”
The second annual tournament,
which was sponsored by Navy Youth
Hockey, was held March 13 at the U.S.
Naval Academy McMullen Ice Arena
in Annapolis.
“Our final thank you to the men and
women who serve this country and play
the greatest game on two feet every day,”
said Paul Peditto, president of Navy
Youth Hockey before the start of the
tournament.
Peditto said 48 teams and 1,000 play-
ers between the ages of 5 and 75 regis-
tered for the event.
Veterans in the audience rose and
were recognized for their service.
The Annapolis High School Navy
Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps
presented the colors and Air Force
Master Sgt. Danielle T. Harmon of Fort
Meade sang the national anthem.
Other event sponsors took to the ice
to thank spectators for their support of
local veterans’ needs.
“I have an incredible opportunity to
reach out and help bring our brothers
and sisters home,” said retired Master
Sgt. Jeremiah R. Pauley of the Wound-
ed Warrior Project, who received the
Purple Heart. “The greatest casualty is
being forgotten.”
James Marszalek, national service
director of the Disabled American Vet-
erans, echoed this sentiment, explaining
how important the tournament was for
advocating for veterans in need.
“We assist and represent [veterans]
before the Veterans Administration,”
Marszalek said. “We deal with 340,000
claims a year.”
Hockey tournament benefits disabled veterans
Following the first puck drop of the
tournament by retired Air Force Maj.
Gen. Andrew Davis, the USA Warriors
Sled Team dominated the Bennett Blaz-
ers, winning 9-1.
Misiewicz was the most valuable
player of the game, scoring five of the
Warriors’ nine goals.
“We think [this event] is outstanding,”
said Stacy Skalski, whose son Niko was
going to play in the tournament later in
the night. “I love that they’ve engaged
the kids in this.
“[It gives us] a greater appreciation
for the sacrifices of Soldiers. We had a
family friend who was killed in Afghani-
stan, so [Niko] will play on his behalf.”
During the course of the evening,
spectators watched hockey, nibbled
snacks and participated in a silent auc-
tion and raffle, which benefited Dis-
abled American Veterans.
“I think [this is] awesome — it’s great,”
said Dusty Kemmer of the Department
of Defense Field Research Activity,
who attended the event to watch his
son Dylan play hockey for Severna Park
High School.
“It’s bringing the Wounded Warrior
Project to the community and bringing
hockey to the community as well.”
PHOTOS BY DANIEL KUCIN JR.
Rob Easley of the USA Warriors Sled Team maneuvers the puck away from a
competitor during “Hockey for Heroes,” a 24-hour hockey tournament held March
13 at McMullen Ice Arena in Annapolis. The tournament raised awareness and funds
for the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans and USA Warriors Ice
Hockey.
Mike Vaccaro of the USA Warriors Sled Team breaks away from the pack during
the “Hockey for Heroes” exhibition tournament March 13 at McMullen Ice Arena
in Annapolis. The USA Warriors Sled Team defeated the Bennett Blazers 9-1 in the
opening game of the tournament.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/soundoffmarch262015-150326064639-conversion-gate01/85/Soundoff-March-26-2015-12-320.jpg)
Uploaded byftmeade
Soundoff March 26, 2015
The document is the March 26, 2015 edition of the Fort Meade community newspaper Soundoff!. Key details include: - Army leaders at Fort Meade held a listening session to discuss pending force cuts and restructuring. They noted growth is still expected at Fort Meade due to U.S. Cyber Command expansion. - The staff writer shares a farewell message, thanking the Fort Meade community for inspiring her with their service and accomplishments. - A Women's History Month event highlighted the accomplishments of women aviators who participated in the first national air race in 1929. The keynote speaker directed a documentary about the historic race.
More Related Content
Soundoff March 26, 2015
- 1. the future Army, community leadersdiscuss force restructuring page 3 UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, Noon-2 p.m.: Corvias’“Spring Into Fun”- Potomac Place Comm.Center April 2, 7 a.m.: Monthly Prayer Breakfast - Club Meade April 4, Noon: Easter Egg Hunt (ages 13 and under) - Youth Center April 5, 7 a.m.: Postwide Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service - Chapel Center April 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2:30-4:30 p.m.: Easter Sunday Brunch - Club Meade hockey heroes Players hit ice to raise funds, awareness for Wounded Warriors page 15 Soundoff!´ vol. 67 no. 12 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community March 26, 2015 Photo by Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen drown-proofingMembers of a Special Tactics Training Squadron enter a pool with their hands and feet bound. The drown-proofing exercise is designed to teach students to remain calm in the water during stressful situations. The photo, titled “Drown-Proofing,” won first place in the 2014 Visual Information Awards Program Military Photographer of the Year Feature category. The Visual Information Awards Program, administered by the Defense Information School with cooperation from the Defense Media Activity, recognizes, rewards and promotes excellence among military communicators including photographers, videographers, journalists, mass communication specialists and graphic artists. To view more photographs, visit https://viap.dinfos.dma.mil/.
- 2. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 We kicked spring off with a bang on Friday by fir- ing the cannon for reveille and retreat at McGlachlin Parade Field. And while the Fort Meade community takes special pride in rendering honor to the American flag, I know there are people who may be new to the installation and unfamiliar with some of our military customs, courtesies and traditions. Listed below is information about proper etiquette regarding how to honor our flag. You can find more information about flag etiquette in Army Regulation 600-25. My hope is that by highlighting this informa- tion, we will continue our long history of honoring our nation’s flag at Fort Meade. Reveille/Retreat At reveille, which sounds at 6:30 a.m., and retreat, which begins at 5 p.m. with the playing of “To the Colors,” those who are anywhere outdoors on Fort Meade will stop and take a few moments to honor the flag. Whether alone, in a formation or group, military personnelshouldcometothepositionof attentionand present arms while reveille is played. Salutes should be held until the last note of the song. When the music stops, the individ- ual or formation should come to order arms. Civilians and military personnel (wearing civilian clothes) should stop, remove their hat, and face the flag or music (if a flag is not visible). Next, they should assume the position of attention and place their right hand over their heart until the music stops. Both military and civilians are reminded to use cau- tion when operating a vehicle during reveille. Drivers should be mindful of their location to avoid causing an accident when stopping to render honors. Look for more information from me on military customs and courtesies in future editions of Sound- off! Have a great “Team Meade” week! Honoring our nation’s flag Commander’s Column Contents News.............................. 3 Sports...................................14 Crime Watch................11 Movies..................................19 Community..................17 Classified..............................21 Editorial Staff Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes Public Affairs Officer Chad T. Jones Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.mil Chief, Command Information Philip H. Jones Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.mil Editor Dijon Rolle Dijon.N.Rolle.civ@mail.mil Assistant Editor Senior Writer Rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer Lisa R. Rhodes Staff Writer Shari Rosen Design Coordinator Timothy Davis Supplemental photography provided by The Baltimore Sun Media Group Advertising General Inquiries 410-332-6300 or email advertise@baltsun.com If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail TP@baltsun.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through 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 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: 301-677-5602; DSN: 622-5602. Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, user or patron.A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. Printed by The Baltimore Sun Co., LLC, a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised. www.ftmeade.army.mil You can also keep track of Fort Meade on Twitter at twitter.com/ftmeademd and view the Fort Meade Live Blog at ftmeade.armylive.dodlive.mil. Soundoff!´ Guaranteed circulation: 11,285 My grandfather served in the Philippines in World War II and although I never met him, my father showed me letters he wrote during the war. Some were love notes home to his wife — my namesake. Others were goofy poems about waiting to get a haircut. My father often echoed the senti- ment that I inherited my writing ability from my grandfather. As a result, when I saw the opening for a military reporter on Fort Meade last summer, I immediately applied, half because I wanted to explore my love of writing, and half because I knew how excited it would make my dad. During the application process, my dad took mul- tiple trips to the attic to retrieve his father’s letters. Three generations were connecting under one roof, even if one of the generations could no longer be with us. When I began as a reporter on Fort Meade last August, I expected to confront the typical representa- tion of Soldiers and the Army as portrayed on televi- sion — I waited to meet the stiff drill sergeant who would bark in my face. I expected constant salutes. And although I noticed these things during my time at Fort Meade, in addition to being called “ma’am” hundreds of times, I realized that service members were not at all what I expected. I met two service members who traveled to Quebec for the NATO chess championship; a Soldier who was the only female on her Division Two basketball team; a 100-year-old Officers’ Spouses’ Club member who continues to actively serve the community; and veter- ans without legs who play hockey for the USA War- riors Sled Team. I have been truly inspired. I have met indi- viduals who make me want to be a better person — like when I think of Marion Jordan at 100 years old, helping to take down Christmas lights at Club Meade, or USA Warriors Sled Team player Josh Misiewicz dominating on the ice. The people here have truly made my experience memorable. And although it is bittersweet to be leav- ing, it is also exciting to know that I will carry this inspiration with me on a daily basis. When difficult situations arise, I am able to put them into better perspective because of the people I have met and interacted with at Meade. So thank you Fort Meade for all that you have given me. I am glad to have had the opportunity to serve the unique, well-rounded, intelligent, charis- matic service members and Department of Defense civilians who serve our nation. I will never again think of you as a stereotype because as I have learned, you are so much more than that. Editor’s note: Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns at srosen1414@ gmail.com. ‘A Farewell to Arms’ Shari Rosen Soundoff! Staff Writer Garrison command Sgt. maj. Rodwell l. Forbes
- 3. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! News Meade wrestles with adequate resources to support ongoing growth By Lisa R. Rhodes Staff Writer The Fort Meade community learned about the Army’s ongoing force restruc- turing efforts during an Army Force Struc- ture and Stationing Listening Session held Monday morning at McGill Training Center. The two-hour event also was an oppor- tunity for community members to ask questions in regard to the Army’s deci- sion-making process and comment on the importance of the installation to the community. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, com- manding general, Joint Force Headquar- ters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, led the listening session. He was joined by Col. Karl Konzelman, chief of the Army Force Management Division, G3/5/7 at Headquarters, Department of the Army, and Col. Brian P. Foley, garrison com- mander at Fort Meade. “It should be no surprise to you that the Army is undergoing some significant force-structure changes,” Buchanan said. Buchanan said that by the end of the fiscal year in October, the Army’s active- duty component will be 490,000 — down from a high of 572,000 a few years ago. “What we have not determined is how we’re going to go on the active side of the Army, from 490,000 to 450,000. And that’s what these sessions are all about,” Buchanan said. The reduction in the Army’s active end strength is driven by the 2011 Budget Con- trol Act and the 2012 Defense Guidance. Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno will make the decisions regarding force structure changes sometime in late spring or early summer. Buchanan said the input from listening sessions at Army installations worldwide, in addition to discussions with congressio- nal and Army leaders, will help McHugh and Odierno arrive at their decisions. Konzelman then discussed the Army’s ongoing actions to meet its goals. Army leaders discuss pending force cuts The Army released its 2013 Program- matic Environmental Assessment for Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment after evaluating 21 Army installations and joint bases where Army stationing changes could result in the inactivation and restruc- turing of brigade combat teams. In November, the Army released the Supplemental Programmatic Environ- mental Assessment to build on the 2013 PEA. It cited possible reductions of 3,500 Army personnel for Fort Meade — 2,416 Soldiers and 800 civilians, according to Konzelman. Konzelman said the numbers for Fort Meade that were cited in the 2014 SPEA are not actual or even projected losses, but only signify “the greatest cumulative impact” to the installation. He said the Army leadership considers many factors when deciding upon reductions including strategic considerations. “We know how important Fort Meade is with all its cyber actions that are going on here,” Konzelman said. Buchanan added there have not been any announced cuts for Fort Meade. In fact, there is continued growth. Foley discussed the DoD growth that is occurring on Fort Meade, which will lead to an additional 2,310 people assigned to the installation over the next five years. Most of the growth on Fort Meade revolves around the physical and opera- tional buildout of U.S. Cyber Command. Currently, about $1.8 billion in facility construction is taking place at Fort Meade mostly due to U.S. Cyber Command growth and NSA recapitilization. Foley said that he will soon break ground on the renovation of the Rock- enbach Road access control point and that the garrison is in discussions with Army leadership in regard to $59.1 mil- lion in funding needed to improve the installation’s roads. Several members of the Fort Meade community spoke about the installation’s economic contributions to the region and the state, as well as its prominence as the nation’s center of information, intelligence and cyber operations due to the presence of U.S. Cyber Command, Marine Corps Cyber Command, Navy Fleet Cyber Command, the National Security Agency and the Defense Information Systems Agency. “Fort Meade cannot be evaluated for cuts in the same way as other Army posts,” said Claire Louder, president and CEO of the West County Chamber of Commerce. Louder said that as a DoD joint-service base, Fort Meade has more in common with the Pentagon than other Army instal- lations, such as Fort Hood in Texas or Fort Bragg, N.C. Any projected cuts to Fort Meade would result in “completely eliminating” the garrison’s staff, Louder said, as well as one or more of the installation’s military intelligence units. “Clearly, this is not feasible on an instal- lation that is growing exponentially,” she said. Several representatives from state and county business and community organi- zations, as well as the county executive’s office and two councilmen, echoed Loud- er’s sentiments regarding the need to pro- vide adequate resources for Fort Meade to support the installation’s ongoing growth, despite any pending reductions. “Given the current and future growth at Fort Meade and the unique, critical mission of the forces and agencies here, we ask you when you assess and reflect [upon] cuts at Fort Meade, [it would be] ill-advised and detrimental to this country’s defense and cyber readiness and operations,” said Linda Greene, executive director of the BWI Business Partnership and chair of the Fort Meade Community Covenant Council. photo by philip H. jones Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters- National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, leads Fort Meade’s Army Force Structure and Stationing Listening Session on Monday morning at McGill Training Center. Buchanan was joined by Col. Karl Konzelman (right), chief of the Army Force Management Division, G3/5/7 at Headquarters, Department of the Army, and Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley. Approximately, 50 participants from Fort Meade, federal, state and local government agencies and business and community organizations attended the session.
- 4. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 News By Shari Rosen Staff Writer In 1929, 20 women aviators raced from Santa Monica, Ca., to Cleveland in the first national Women’s Air Derby. Over the nine-day, 17-checkpoint race, the women encountered mechanical issues, adverse weather conditions, sabotage and the death of a colleague. The history of the 1929 national air races was the main topic of the Women’s History Month observance held March 19 at the Fort Meade Conference Center. The annual observance celebrates Fort Meade’s diversity by emphasizing the accomplishments of women throughout history. “Each of us can appreciate the women in our lives — be it mothers, sisters, friends or neighbors,”said Chaplain (Capt.) Angel Berrios of the 308th Military Intelligence Battalion, 902nd Military Intelligence Group during the invocation. The observance, hosted by the 902nd MI, featured guest speaker Heather Tay- lor, who is the writer, director and pro- ducer of the documentary “Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby.” “[I want the community to gain] edu- cational insight [and] inspiration,” Taylor said. “[I want them] to find out, if you fol- low a passion, [you can] make an impact for others. [These women] are a shining example of how to follow a passion — no matter how unconventional or illogical it may seem to others.” Other highlights of the program includ- ed a display of posters and books about women’s history provided by the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center in Baltimore and a reading of the presidential procla- mation for Women’s History Month. “As today’s women and girls reach for new heights, they stand on the shoulders of those who came before them,” said Latoya Alexander, a third grade teacher at Pershing Hill Elementary School, during the proclamation reading. “When women succeed, America succeeds.” Duringherpresentation,Taylordetailed the history of many of the women involved in the 1929 derby, commonly known as the “Powder Puff Derby,” and incorpo- rated clips from her documentary. Taylor first became interested in the derby when she interviewed Evelyn Bryan, also known as “Mama Bird,” for a film school project. Bryan is listed in the Guin- ness Book of World Records as having logged 57,635.4 hours — the most hours Women’s History Month event soars to new heights ever flown by a woman. Bryan introduced Taylor to footage from the derby. “I was drawn in by their enthusiasm immediately,” Taylor said. The first pilot Taylor spoke about was Phoebe Omlie from Memphis, Tenn., who was the first woman to earn her transport pilot license and mechanic license. After winning the light-class plane divi- sion in the derby, Omlie flew for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaigns in 1932 and 1936. Aviator Ruth Elder from Birmingham, Ala., was the first woman to attempt to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, only to be surpassed by Amelia Earhart, who suc- cessfully completed the mission in 1928. “The women who all signed up [for the derby] had very strong personalities,” Taylor said. “Despite being in competi- tion, they demonstrated teamwork and leadership, [which] benefited all involved in the race.” Taylor said some of the women encoun- tered mechanical issues during the race such as fires and crashing into cars when landing at a checkpoint. “[However], they were innovative and resilient when solving problems along the route,” she said. Taylor described several more impor- tant figures in the race and their accom- plishments after the derby such as Pancho Barnes, who went on to break the women’s speed record in 1931; Ruth Nichols, the first female airline pilot and founder of the precursor to the Civil Air Patrol; and Louise Thaden, who won the heavy-class division of the race and went on to win the Van Bendix Transcontinental Air Race from New York to Los Angeles in 1936 in both the male and female divisions. “Many considered her to be one of the best pilots, male or female, who ever lived,” Taylor said. Following the presentation, Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley and Col. John J. Bonin, company commander of the 902nd MI, presented Taylor with a commemorative plaque. “I thought it was great,” said Pfc. Cara Sliger of the 902nd MI. “I never knew about this part of history, so it was very impressive. I really do believe it contributes to women progressing in the future.” PHOTO BY NATE PESCE Guest speaker Heather Taylor, writer, director and producer of the new documentary “Breaking Through the Clouds,” greets Army personnel and other visitors at Fort Meade’s Women’s History Month observance held March 19 at the Fort Meade Conference Center. The documentary examines early female aviators and the 1929 First Women’s National Air Derby.
- 5. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 News By Jane Winand Chief, Legal Assistance Division Despite the downturn in the housing market, many military families have made the financial commitment of purchasing a home. Without fail, the homeowner then for- wards the required mortgage payment each month to the mortgage company. After several months or years, the hom- eowner may get a notice that the lender has sold the mortgage and that the hom- eowner should send monthly payments to a new lender at a new address. It is common practice for a lender to sell a mortgage or the right to service a mortgage to another lender. To service a mortgage means that the lender will perform such functions as accepting the monthly payments, holding money in escrow for insurance and taxes, and issu- ing periodic statements. Some mortgage companies are in the business of financing home sales merely to make funds available to a prospective purchaser. These companies then imme- diately sell the mortgage or the servicing rights to another lender after closing. Other lenders prefer to keep and service their own loans. Most mortgage documents will permit the lender to sell the obligation at its convenience without providing the bor- rower with a right to question or object to the sale. Although the sale of a mortgage or the mortgage servicing rights is not necessar- ily a cause for alarm, a borrower must be wary of notices regarding such a sale. Some scams involving false sales have duped innocent borrowers. The borrower may receive a notice to send the monthly payments to a new company at a new address. However, after sending several pay- ments to the new company, the borrower is notified that the original mortgage company still holds the note and never received the payments. The new company was just a scam created to rip off the bor- rowers and has since disappeared. By law, the current lender must notify you at least 15 days before the first pay- ment is due to a new lender. The notice must include the name and address of the new lender, the date your current lender will stop accepting payments, the date your new lender will begin to accept pay- ments, and telephone numbers for both the current and new lender. You also have a 60-day grace period after a transfer to a new lender, which means you can’t be charged a late fee if you send your mortgage payment to the old lender by mistake. Also, your new lender can’t report any such misdirected payments as late to a credit bureau. To protect yourself from mortgage-sale scams, do the following: • Call your current lender to verify the validity of a notice of sale. • Look for a “goodbye” letter from your current lender, on its stationary, at least 15 days before your next payment is due. • Examine the letter from the new com- pany to ensure it contains a full company name and phone number and your mort- gage account number. • Compare your mortgage account number in the letter to the number listed on the mortgage documents to make sure they match. • If you make payments to the new lender and then receive a delinquency notice from your former lending com- pany, call and investigate immediately. For more information, go to the Federal Trade Commission website at ftc.gov or call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Divi- sion at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536 to schedule an appointment with an attorney. Beware of mortgage sale scams By Lisa R. Rhodes Staff Writer Last year, the Installation Management Command reported 122 confirmed suicides in the Army. Fortunately, there has not been a suicide at Fort Meade since December 2013. Marissa Pena, Fort Meade’s Suicide Pre- vention Program manager, said this is partly due to the garrison’s monthly Applied Sui- cide Intervention Skills Training workshop. ASIST is a free two-day workshop that helps participants learn the skills to identify people at risk for suicide, and how to better listen to and care for people who are having thoughts of suicide. The workshop features group exercises and discussions, as well as videos on suicide intervention. The training is open to all service branches and civilian employees. The next ASIST workshop will be held April 16-17. Living Works Education, a suicide inter- vention company based in Fayetteville, N.C., produces the curriculum for the training and considers the workshop to be suicide first aid. Funding is provided by the Department of the Army. The most recent ASIST workshop was held March 19-20 at Argonne Hills Chapel Center for 36 participants. Pena said that the number of ASIST trainees has tripled since 2013 from eight to 10 participants each month to 30 to 35. Air Force Chaplain (Col.) Michael Heuer of the National Security Agency and the Central Security Service is a consulting trainer for ASIST and has been teaching the curriculum since 2004. “Anyone can be at risk of suicide” Heuer said. “Fortunately, most people thinking about suicide never make an attempt. But some do.” Heuer said that because it is sometimes difficult to determine who may be think- ing about suicide and who may actually try to kill one’s self, it is essential to take any thoughts of suicide seriously and address them directly. “Almost 100 percent of those who think about suicide aren’t completely sure that’s what they want to do right now,”Heuer said. “What they are sure about is the desire to stop the pain, usually emotional pain. And at the time, suicide may seem like the best way — or the only way — they know to stop their unbearable pain.” Heuer said the fact that most people thinking about suicide aren’t sure they want to harm themselves is the reason why inter- vention skills usually work. “Most people at risk of suicide try to reach out to somehow see if there is any hope that someone will notice,” he said. “It’s difficult to talk about these very personal thoughts and struggles until they feel safe talking to someone they believe they can trust.” Heuer said intervention is critical because even the best prevention and resiliency pro- grams don’t work for everyone. “Most of our military programs effec- tively increase our awareness of suicide but don’t always emphasize intervention skills,” he said. “Training peers and leaders with intervention skills helps us identify people thinking about suicide and keep them safe for now, so we can connect them with a longer- term helping network.” Prevention, Heuer said, is like “a safety rail to deter people from falling into a river.” But intervention skills are like “first aid and water-safety instructor training, to identify people who do fall in and help them get out safely.” ASIST participants learn various inter- vention skills such as how to pick up on ver- bal and nonverbal “invitations” or clues that someone could have thoughts of suicide. “We teach participants how to have a con- versation to confirm whether suicide could be the issue, then to ask clearly and directly about suicide,”Heuer said. “We then listen to understand the reasons for the pain that has led someone to this point and work with the person at risk to develop a plan to keep him [or her] safe, connecting him with additional resources.” Among the workshop’s participants was Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Alysa Harden of the Navy Information Operations Command Maryland. “This course has given me the tools to actively help a Sailor who is in a tough mental spot and/or is considering suicide,” she said. “I’m much more confident that I will be able to help someone. The stages that are taught at ASIST give me a path to fol- low when speaking to someone considering suicide in a way that meets their needs at that time.” Pfc. Antonio Camacho Ortiz of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion also took the ASIST workshop. “I learned [that] suicide is something that cannot be handled in a hurry. The way you take care of it is vital,” he said. “I feel pretty confident that I can help someone in need after this training. “Based on the intensity of the workshop and the several different situations during the role-plays, [it] gave me more knowledge of what to do and what not to do when dealing with suicide in real life.” Heuer said ASIST trainers often receive emails and telephone calls from workshop alumni who have helped save someone’s life using the intervention skills they learned. “No method can prevent all suicides,” Heuer said. “But ASIST really works to save lives.” Editor’s note: For more information on the ASIST workshop, call Marissa Pena at 301-677-7901. Suicide intervention training saves lives
- 6. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 News PHOTOS BY DANIEL KUCIN JR. EASTER BUNNY BRUNCH ABOVE: Three-year-old David Updike paints Easter eggs at “Brunch with the Easter Bunny” held Saturday morning at the Conference Center. The three- hour event, sponsored by Fort Meade’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, also featured Easter-themed activities and prizes. Christina Parham, 8, paints an Easter egg during the annual event. Daniel Pringle, 6, has an Easter tattoo applied to his wrist by Rita David. BELOW: Gillian Pratt bobs for Easter ducks with 6-year-old Payton Juda (right) at “Brunch with the Easter Bunny” held Saturday morning at the Fort Meade Conference Center.
- 7. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 April 5 - Postwide Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service – 7 a.m., Chapel Center Protestant Services April 2 – Maundy Thursday Service – 6 p.m., Post Chapel April 3 – Good Friday Service – 6 p.m., Post Chapel April 5 – Easter Sunday Protestant Liturgical Service – 8:30 a.m., Post Chapel April 5 – Easter Sunday Traditional Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Post Chapel April 5 – Easter Sunday Contemporary Protestant Service – 10:30 a.m., Cavalry Chapel April 5 – Easter Sunday Gospel Protestant Service – 11 a.m., Chapel Center Catholic Services April 18 – Good Friday Service – 6 p.m., Chapel Center April 19 – Holy Saturday Easter Vigil – 8 p.m., Chapel Center April 20 – 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. Regularly scheduled noon Mass will be held at the Post Chapel, except April 4 and 5. Spring religious services on Fort Meade Did you know? Van Deman Hall, located on Cooper Avenue across from McLaughlin Parade Field, is named for retired Maj. Gen. Ralph Van Deman who is often referred to as “the father of American military intelligence.” When Van Deman returned from his second tour of the Philippines in 1915, he noticed that military intelligence operations were in a state of disrepair. With the United States entering World War I in 1917, Van Deman attempted to reorganize military intelligence. After gaining attention from government officials, Van Deman was put in charge of military intelligence, which included the forerunners of the Defense Mapping Service; Counter-Intelligence Corps; Intelligence Command; the Industrial Security organization; National Security Agency; and the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School. Van Deman retired in 1929. During World War II, he acted as a consultant on intelligence matters to the War Department. He was awarded a Legion of Merit for his service in World War II. Van Deman died in January 1952 at the age of 82 in his home in San Diego. News Find the Fort Meade Religious Schedule at www.ftmeade.army.mil. Look for the “Community” tab then click on “Religious Services” for schedules, events and contact information. BEAUTY ACADEMY of laurel • GI Bill approved • Military Spouse MYCAA grant approved • Title IV financial aid also available • 7 Minutes from Fort Meade UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU… IN BEAUTY SCHOOL! 301-490-8580 3535 Fort Meade Road Laurel, MD 20724 www.aspenlaurel.com Contact us today at 301-490-8580 or info@aspenlaurel.com Just minutes from Fort Meade • Knowledgeable, experienced teaching staff • Advanced Salon Training (Prosper U) • 3 day schedule or evening classes
- 8. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! 11 March 20, Shoplifting: A police officer on foot patrol in the Exchange was approached by AAFES loss prevention person- nel who stated he had a male detained outside of the Exchange and needed to have the individual accompany him back to his office so he could explain why he was stopped. The subject had taken a candy bar and exited the store without paying for it. March 23, Larceny of government property: The commissary manager stated that an unknown male exited the commissary after he scanned multiple items in the self-checkout line and did not render proper payment. News March 17, Larceny of AAFES funds: Loss preven- tion personnel at AAFES stated that the subject was in her office and admitted to taking money from the cash drawer at Arby’s. March 18, Shoplifting: The commissary manager stated that a cashier was helping someone at a self-service register and was informed of an inoper- able register. She observed that the credit card PIN was not accepted by the system at the register as an unknown person departed the facility without rendering proper payment. March 18, Larceny of private motor vehicle: The victim stated that her vehicle was legally parked, secured and unattended in the parking lot outside her quarters. It was discovered that the keys to the vehicle were missing from the quarters. An investiga- tion revealed that unknown person(s) by unknown means obtained the keys and removed the vehicle without permission. March 20, Larceny of government property: Unknown person(s) gained access to a storage cage and removed two 54-inch televisions and a TV wall mount that was secured and unattended. CommunityCommunity Crime Watch Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services For week of March 16-22: • Moving violations: 36 • Nonmoving violations: 11 • Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 50 • Traffic accidents: 7 • Driving on suspended license: 2 • Driving on suspended registration: 1 • Driving without a license: 0 Celebrate Easter at Odenton Baptist Church Sunday April 5th at 11:00 am 8410 Piney Orchard Parkway, Odenton MD 410-305-2380 See our website at odentonbaptist.org Mountain Rd. Mountain Rd. Jumpers HoleRd. Jumpers HoleRd. Baltimore AnnapolisBlvd. Baltimore AnnapolisBlvd. Gov.RitchieHwy. Gov.RitchieHwy. 10 100 107 Mountain Road Pasadena, Maryland 21122 410-977-9389 www.LBC4ME.org Lighthouse Baptist Church invites you to join us on Easter Sunday April 5, 2015 ~ 11:00 AM Service Times: Sunday School..................10:00 am Sunday Morning ..............11:00 am Sunday Evening .................6:00 pm Wednesday Evening ..........7:30 pm
- 9. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil12 SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 News By Wendy Poulson Social Security District Manager Glen Burnie Social Security wants to make your retirement planning as stress-free as possible with a number of online tools. You can create your own secure, personal “my Social Security”account from the comfort of your home. Once you have a “my Social Secu- rity” account, you can view your Social Security statement, verify your earnings record, and find out what to expect in monthly benefits if you retire at ages 62, 67 or 70. Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits, you can use “my Social Security” to check your benefit information; change your address and phone number; change your elec- tronic payment method; and obtain an instant benefit verification letter and replacement SSA-1099/1042S. You can easily sign up for “my Social Security” at www.socialsecu- rity.gov/myaccount. If you’re thinking about retiring at an age not shown on your statement, reduce the stress of the unknown by using the Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator allows you to calculate your potential future Social Security benefits by changing vari- ables such as retirement dates and future earnings. You may discover that you’d rather wait another year or two before you retire to earn a higher benefit. Or, you might see that this is the season for you to retire now. To get instant, personalized esti- mates of your future benefits, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. When you decide it’s time to start receiving your retirement benefits, the application process will be far less stressful now that you’re prepared. You can securely apply online with- out picking up the phone or leaving your house. Simply go to www.socialsecurity. gov/applyonline, and, in as little as 15 minutes, you can breeze through the online retirement application. The website and online tools are always available. Spring into a stress-free retirement By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity DoD’s chief Information officer is urging Department of Defense employ- ees and their families to be vigilant when guarding personal and work informa- tion against increasing cyber-criminal activity and scamming tactics. Terry A. Halvorsen issued a DoD- wide memorandum March 18 about the growing threat of cybercrime “phishing” and “spear phishing” in emails, on social media sites and through phone calls. “Phishing” is defined as sending fraudulent emails that claim to be from reputable sources, such as a recipient’s bank or credit card company, to gain personal or financial information. Recipients of such emails are often directed to fraudulent websites that mimic familiar-looking bank and e- commerce sites, according to Encyclo- pedia Britannica. Phishers ask recipients to update or confirm accounts, which disclose confidential information such as Social Security and credit card num- bers. “Spear phishing” is the latest twist on phishing, according to Britannica. It targets companies and government agencies through “select employees” with fraudulent emails, which appear to come from trusted or known sources. When employees click on links in the emails, hostile programs enter the orga- nization’s computers. “Cyber criminals continue using phishing and spear-phishing attacks,” Halvorsen said in his memo, “and their tactics are evolving in an increasingly predatory manner.” While service members and DoD civil- ians are routinely trained in recognizing cybersecurity red flags, DoD also wants their families to be prepared to deal with suspicious email, Halvorsen said. These cyber criminals also track and mine social media accounts such as Facebook, LinkedIn and others “to interact with people and compromise accounts,” he said. “Phishing continues to be successful because attackers do more research, evolve their tactics and seek out easy prey. We need to arm ourselves and our families with defensive skills and knowl- edge to protect [against] being victim- ized by a phishing email, computer or phone scam.” Halvorsen advises the following safe- guards to protect against phishing and spear phishing, which can also lead to identity theft: • Never trust links or account/pass- word prompts within email messages. • Note that phishing emails some- times have poor grammar or misspelled words. • Do not trust information-seeking emails and phone calls, and verify such threats. • Never provide your user identifica- tion and/or password. • Refuse social media connection requests from anyone you haven’t per- sonally met. • Use spam filters for personal email. • Never email personal or financial information, even if you know the per- son requesting it. • Be wary of pop-ups; don’t click links or enter any data. • Don’t copy web addresses from a pop-up into a browser. • Don’t click on links, download files or open attachments DoD warns troops, families to be cybercrime smart Get to work on time. Know the hours of operation for Access Gates on Fort Meade Gate 1: Rockenbach Road 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends; closed holidays Gate 3: Reece Road and Maryland Route 175 (Demps Visitor Control Center gate) 24-hour access Demps Visitor Control Center, Bldg. 902 Reece Road 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Gate 4: Mapes Road and Maryland Route 175 CLOSED until further notice Gate 5: Llewellyn Avenue and Maryland Route 175 6 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday for inbound traffic; 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for outbound traffic Gate 7: Mapes Road and Route 32 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends and holidays Text FOLLOW FORTMEADE to 40404 to sign up for Fort Meade news alerts on your mobile phone Follow Fort Meade on Twitter.com /ftmeademd
- 10. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! 13 News By Shari Rosen Staff Writer If you walk along Rock Avenue, you can see the remnants of old train tracks hidden behind overgrown weeds. The building that the Army and Air Force Exchange Service now uses to dis- patch trucks was once the train station along the line. Fort Meade was built here because of these railroads, said David Manning, Fort Meade Museum collections manager and resident train expert. The land surrounding Fort Meade, on which the installation was constructed, was abundant with railroads: the Baltimore Ohio RR; Pennsylvania RR, which later became Amtrak; and the Washington Baltimore Annapolis Electric RR. Construction on some of these rails began as early as 1828. “It’s a fairly strategic location, and it was strategic [for] the Army because it was close to the port of Baltimore and not that far from Washington, D.C., where the War Department was headquartered,” Manning said. “[It was] not that far from the Naval Academy either, but it was also strategic for the railroads and for the landowners.” At this time, before the start of World War I, railroad owners were also major landowners and they wanted something large, like an Army camp, near the rail lines to increase business, Manning said. “[Railroad owners] kind of convinced both the Army and Maryland politicians, influential people at the time, that they ought to build [the camp] here,” he said. In 1917, when construction began on Fort Meade, all of the major building materials for the post were brought in by rail, according to “Impossible Challenge II” by Herbert H. Harwood Jr., a railroad historian: “On July 2, 1917, construction started on what was called Camp Meade. When Camp Meade received its first recruits two and a half months later, it spread over 8,000 acres, had 1,200 wood buildings, and could accommodate 40,000 Soldiers.” The materials brought in by rail for this quick construction included lumber, coal for the heating plants, and flour and sugar for the Cooks and Bakers School. “It [was] more economical to do it that way than to truck it in,” Manning said. During World War I, trains also trans- ported troops to and from Fort Meade, Where the train tracks end which was used as a training post. According to “Rails to Fort Meade” by the Meade Area Railroad Society, “Dur- ing an 18-month period in 1917-1918, 8.5 million passengers were carried to and from Camp Meade by the railroads. Over 100,000 troops trained here during World War I.” During World War II, Fort Meade was once again used as a training camp. In August 1943, Fort Meade housed the Army Grand Forces Replacement Depot Number One, one of only two Army cen- ters in the country where Soldiers gathered to be shipped overseas as replacements for men who had been killed, wounded, reas- signed or discharged. Soldiers would use railroads to travel to Fort Meade to have their paperwork and physicals completed. At the end of the war, Soldiers returning from over- seas would once again pass through the depot. Because of this depot, the number of Soldiers using these rails greatly increased. “Several millions guys [came] through as a result,” Manning said. “Probably the majority of them were going to come through here on a train.” After World War II, the railroads were used less frequently as reliance on air- planes and automobiles increased begin- ning in the 1950s. All rail operations on the installation ceased around 1982. Now, all that is left are remnants on Rock Avenue — a his- tory, hidden from view. “I think [the railroads are] a big influ- ence on the development of the history of Meade,” Manning said. “It wouldn’t have been built here without the railroads and it couldn’t have been built here without the railroads.” PHOTO BY NATE PESCE Remnants of the Fort Meade train tracks poke out from behind the weeds on Rock Avenue. During World War I and World War II, these railroads transported construction materials and Soldiers who used the installation as a training post. ‘[Fort Meade] wouldn’t have been built here without the railroads and it couldn’t have been built here without the railroads.’ David Manning Fort Meade Museum
- 11. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil14 SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 Sports NCR Marine John Tolbert wins a jump ball against Fort Meade’s Dararius Evans. With one make-up game remaining, the Patriots are poised to finish the WAMAC regular season with a 5-9 record. The WAMAC playoffs begin April 3 at Fort Myer, Va. photos by nate pesce Fort Meade Patriot Derek Bailey splits through the National Capitol Region Marines’ defense March 15 in a Washington Area Military Athletic Conference game at Murphy Field House. The Patriots were defeated by the NCR Marines, 82-77. Patriots prep for playoffs By Philip H. Jones Chief, Command Information The Fort Meade Patriots split their final two home games to lift the team’s record to 4-9 in Washington Area Military Athletic Conference play. With one make-up game remaining, the Patriots are poised to finish the WAMAC regular season with a 5-9 record. A Fort Meade win, combined with the outcome of other WAMAC make-up games, will determine the Patriots’ seed in the WAMAC playoffs. “We could be seeded anywhere from the 6th to the 8th seed,” Patriots Head Coach Rony Cunningham said. “We will not know our seeding until Monday.” The Patriots will face the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Saturday in Bethesda in the team’s final game of the regular season. At Murphy Field House, on March 15, the Patriots were defeated, 82-77, by the National Capitol Area Marines. Fort Meade defeated Fort Belvoir, 97-94, Saturday in the team’s final home game of the season. The WAMAC playoffs will be held April 3-5 at Fort Myer, Va. Patriot Keenan Bennett drives past a NCR Marine during a WAMAC conference game. Bennett finished the game with 17 points.
- 12. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! 15 Sports By Shari Rosen Staff Writer Josh Misiewicz of the USA Warriors Sled Team propelled himself forward on the ice using two truncated hockey sticks to maneuver while balancing on a bladed sled. Misiewicz, a first-year player, was just one of more than 1,000 hockey players registered to participate in “Hockey for Heroes,” a 24-hour, around-the- clock exhibition tournament that raised awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans and USA Warriors Ice Hock- ey. “This is awesome,” said retired Spc. John Laursen, goalie for the USA War- riors Standing Team, before his game against the Naval Academy Alumni Midshipmen. “Any time we get in and get to go on the ice, it’s amazing.” The second annual tournament, which was sponsored by Navy Youth Hockey, was held March 13 at the U.S. Naval Academy McMullen Ice Arena in Annapolis. “Our final thank you to the men and women who serve this country and play the greatest game on two feet every day,” said Paul Peditto, president of Navy Youth Hockey before the start of the tournament. Peditto said 48 teams and 1,000 play- ers between the ages of 5 and 75 regis- tered for the event. Veterans in the audience rose and were recognized for their service. The Annapolis High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps presented the colors and Air Force Master Sgt. Danielle T. Harmon of Fort Meade sang the national anthem. Other event sponsors took to the ice to thank spectators for their support of local veterans’ needs. “I have an incredible opportunity to reach out and help bring our brothers and sisters home,” said retired Master Sgt. Jeremiah R. Pauley of the Wound- ed Warrior Project, who received the Purple Heart. “The greatest casualty is being forgotten.” James Marszalek, national service director of the Disabled American Vet- erans, echoed this sentiment, explaining how important the tournament was for advocating for veterans in need. “We assist and represent [veterans] before the Veterans Administration,” Marszalek said. “We deal with 340,000 claims a year.” Hockey tournament benefits disabled veterans Following the first puck drop of the tournament by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Andrew Davis, the USA Warriors Sled Team dominated the Bennett Blaz- ers, winning 9-1. Misiewicz was the most valuable player of the game, scoring five of the Warriors’ nine goals. “We think [this event] is outstanding,” said Stacy Skalski, whose son Niko was going to play in the tournament later in the night. “I love that they’ve engaged the kids in this. “[It gives us] a greater appreciation for the sacrifices of Soldiers. We had a family friend who was killed in Afghani- stan, so [Niko] will play on his behalf.” During the course of the evening, spectators watched hockey, nibbled snacks and participated in a silent auc- tion and raffle, which benefited Dis- abled American Veterans. “I think [this is] awesome — it’s great,” said Dusty Kemmer of the Department of Defense Field Research Activity, who attended the event to watch his son Dylan play hockey for Severna Park High School. “It’s bringing the Wounded Warrior Project to the community and bringing hockey to the community as well.” PHOTOS BY DANIEL KUCIN JR. Rob Easley of the USA Warriors Sled Team maneuvers the puck away from a competitor during “Hockey for Heroes,” a 24-hour hockey tournament held March 13 at McMullen Ice Arena in Annapolis. The tournament raised awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans and USA Warriors Ice Hockey. Mike Vaccaro of the USA Warriors Sled Team breaks away from the pack during the “Hockey for Heroes” exhibition tournament March 13 at McMullen Ice Arena in Annapolis. The USA Warriors Sled Team defeated the Bennett Blazers 9-1 in the opening game of the tournament.
- 13. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil16 SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 Sports Sports Shorts Wanted: Group fitness instructors The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is seeking group fitness instructors to work within the sports and fitness departments at Gaffney Fitness Center. Professionals are needed who: • Are responsible, attentive, highly-motivated and energetic • Can teach a variety of fun and productive group-fitness classes at various times and dates • Are interested in a career that allows you to make your own schedule and be your own boss • Possess a national certification for the discipline you are looking to teach such as BootCamp; Insanity/P90X blends; YogaFit; Zumba; Aqua Zumba; the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America or American Council of Exercise group fitness; and CPR/AED (automated external defibrillators) • Are older than age 18 These are contracted positions. However, certified volunteers wishing to serve the community are also also welcome. Volunteers will be registered through Army Community Service. For more information, call Lauren Williams at 301-677-5822 or email Lauren.L.Williams.NAF@mail.mil. Youth summer sports registration Registration for summer sports will begin April 1. Summer sports include tennis and dodgeball. To register, go to ftmeademwr.com. For more information, call 301-677-1179. Earth Day 5K The Fort Meade Run Series kicks off April 18 for the Earth Day 5K/1-mile walk at 8 a.m. at Burba Lake. Pre-registration for individuals costs $15. Registration on event day costs $25. Pre-registration costs $45 per family of three to six people and $60 on the day of the event. Pre-registration for groups of seven to 10 runners costs $85. Individuals can register for the entire season for $80. All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt. For more information, call 301-677-3318. Youth swim lessons Registration begins Monday for youth swim lessons at Gaffney Fitness Center’s indoor pool. Lessons will be offered to youths ages 4 to 13 Tuesdays to Thursdays and Saturdays. Registration will be open until April 8. For more information, call Parent Central Services at 301-677-1149 or 301- 677-1156. EFMP walking group Exceptional Family Member Program families are invited to join the EFMP walking group on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 8:30- 9:30 a.m. at the Arundel Mills Mall, at the entrance between Best Buy and Old Navy. Registration is required. To register, call 301-677-4473. For more Fort Meade sports, visit quickscores.com/ftmeadesports. In case you missed it during all the talk about the brackets, there have been some pretty high-profile signings in the NFL. Most notably, a few weeks ago the Dal- las Cowboys signed defensive end Greg Hardy. As a diehard fan of the Cowboys, you may think that I’m ecstatic about Jerry Jones signing the best available free agent to a minimal deal (by NFL standards). Hardy is young, freakishly talented, and will provide the pass rush Dallas has needed since DeMarcus Ware left the team. Hardy, 26, has sacked the quarterback 26 times in his last two full seasons. Tragically, the 6-foot-4-inch, 275-pound man nicknamed “The Kraken” also hit a woman. A judge found Hardy guilty of assault- ing a woman in July 2014 and he was sentenced to 60 days in jail. A successful appeal kept Hardy from serving jail time, but the public outcry on the heels of the Ray Rice videotape and Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson’s good sense kept the Pro Bowler off the field for most of 2014. My family, like many others, has been plagued by domestic violence. My mom, sister, cousin, and many other women close to me have survived it. By that I mean they found ways to cover up the abuse both with makeup and an unimaginable will. My sis- ter actually packed up and left her abuser. My mom did the same, but ended up living the rest of her life with someone worse. No one went to jail in either instance. Actually, the abused, and several of those who knew them, maintained a civil, some- times friendly relationship with the per- petrator. One I called Dad; the other I laughed with at my niece’s graduation party, and the last one — the worst of the bunch — I hugged. The hypocrisy still stings when I think about it, and the rationalization that I kept peace to maintain order only helps sometimes. However, families stick together through thick and thin, and there are kids to think about, so you ignore the elephant in the room until you are far enough removed from the situation to say all the things you’ve been thinking. It is a scenario that happens far too often for rea- sons that psychologists, amateur and other- wise, have been trying to figure out for ages. Even in the Hardy case, the victim failed to testify in the jury trial, which ultimately kept Hardy from serving time. And now he is probably a 2-or-4 game suspension away from suiting up for my team, the team most know as America’s Team, which is expecting us to do what many Americans, myself included, have done far too many times: Make nice with the abuser. Of course, nobody will put it that way. Instead they will cloak it under the cliché, “Everyone deserves a second chance.”Well, clichés become cliché because they are true. All people deserve a second chance. Most deserve a third or a fourth, and I’ve had about 10. I will not compare crimes, but people in sports have done horrible things — murder, drugs, animal cruelty, cheating, yes, even domestic violence — only to find redemp- tion on the athletic field. So to think Greg Hardy should not get the same opportunity is hypocritical in its own right. And to think I will stop liking the Cowboys is as impractical as me waking up one morning and not liking pizza, a warm spring day or March Madness. So if Hardy gets a sack in the Super Bowl, I’m sure I’ll cheer. I just hope I feel really guilty when I do it. If you have comments on this or any- thing to do with sports, contact me at chad. t.jones.civ@mail.mil or hit me up on Twit- ter @CTJibber. Blue Star of Shame Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs Officer Jibber Jabber - Opinion For all your varsity and intramural sports schedules, scores and standings, visit www.quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.
- 14. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! 17 Community News Notes The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s discretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www. ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade. For more information or to submit an announcement, email dijon.n.rolle.civ@ mail.mil or call Editor Dijon Rolle at 301-677-6806. Closings for training The Outdoor Recreation Center and Leisure Travel Services will be closed April 13 and April 14 for seasonal changeover and training. The facility will reopen April 15 at 8 a.m. for normal operation. Submit requests for pothole repairs Due to the cold weather this winter, an increasing amount of potholes have developed on Fort Meade. Community members can submit a work order to alice.m.price10.civ@mail. mil to repair potholes. The work order must include the street name (and closest building or intersection) where the pothole is located; a primary and alternate point of contact; and a telephone number. Fort Meade Technology Expo The Fort Meade Technology Expo will be held April 8 at Club Meade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The expo will feature more than 35 exhibits and live demos of the latest mission-centric technologies. Featured technologies include: hardware and software products, communications interfaces, data protection, optical switching systems, digital library, security testing, data storage, cyber defense and security, modular power systems, software integration, digital forensic solutions, training solutions, oscilloscopes, media destruction tools and supply chain solutions. For more information, go to federalevents.com. Installation Run The installation will hold a Joint Service Sexual Assault Awareness and Resiliency Installation Run April 8 at McGlachlin Parade Field from 6:30-8 a.m. Master Sgt. Cedric King, a double amputee, will lead the run, alongside Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes. The purpose of the run is to raise awareness of sexual assault and spotlight the need for prevention and intervention. In addition, the run will also support mental, physical, emotional, behavioral and spiritual resilience for service members, DoD civilians and their families. The entire Fort Meade community is invited to participate in the run. Earth Day event Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day event will be held April 22 at the Pavilion. The Garrison Commander’s Call will begin at 9 a.m., followed immediately by Earth Day festivities. The event will feature games and activities, free food and educational Earth Day exhibits. To supply an exhibit, call Suzanne Teague at 301-677-9185 or Jim Ayers at 301-677-9170. SHARP 1.5-mile walk Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center will host the SHARP 1.5-mile walk on April 21 in support of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The walk will begin at noon in front of Kimbrough. Participants will walk to Burba Lake and around its perimeter, then return to Kimbrough. Everyone is invited. Participants are asked to wear the color teal to support this cause. For more information, call Sherry L. Williams at 301-677-9983 or 301-677- 9984. Volunteers Awards Banquet The Fort Meade Volunteers Awards Banquet will be held April 16 at 6 p.m. at Club Meade. For information on nomination procedures and tickets, call the volunteer coordinator at 301-677-4128. ‘Clean Up! Fort Meade’ For a seventh year, the Enlisted Spouses’ Club will host its annual “Clean Up! Fort Meade” event on April 11 at Burba Lake. This event gathers various members of the Fort Meade community to dedicate a few hours of their time to giving back and cleaning up the community. The main check-in point will be near the Post Library parking lot. A $400 top school prize (sponsored by the ESC) and a $200 second school prize (sponsored by the Officers’ Spouses’ Club) will be awarded to the top-two participating schools. The winning schools will have a choice of a “green-themed” library or gardening supplies and materials. Additional prize categories are top participating child organization/club, top participating military unit/command and top collecting Individual adult/child. In conjunction with this event, the ESC will offer an additional incentive for the students of Fort Meade schools. A drawing competition with the topic of “How do you see recycling being used in 20 years?” in which students will have the opportunity to create their own work of art and write a few sentences about what they have drawn. Completed works of art must be turned in the day of the event. In order to enter, students must attend the event. The grand prize is a Kindle Fire tablet. To pre-register for an extra raffle ticket, go to FtMeadeESC.org. For more information, email clean. up.fort.meade.esc@gmail.com. TARP training The garrison security office and the 902nd Military Intelligence Field Spring/Easter Events ‘Spring Into Fun’ Corvias Military Housing is sponsoring “Spring Into Fun” on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at Potomac Place Community Center. The event will feature egg hunts, photos with the Easter Bunny, prizes, crafts and refreshments. Bring a basket to collect all the eggs you find and a camera to take photos. Egg hunt times: • Ages 0-2: 12:30 p.m. • Ages 3-5: 12:45 p.m. • Ages 6-8 : 1 p.m. • Ages 9-12: 1:15 p.m. • Ages 13-18: 1:30 p.m. For more information, go to corviasmilitaryliving.com or call 410-672-2981. Easter Egg Hunt Hop on over to the Youth Center for its annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 4 from noon to 3 p.m. The free event for ages 13 and younger will feature games, activities and a huge egg hunt. Bring a basket for eggs. For more information, call 301-677-1437. Easter brunch at Club Meade Club Meade will serve Easter Sunday brunch on April 5. Seating times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Brunch is open to all services and ranks. Cost is $21.95 for members and $26.96 for nonmembers. Cost for member children, ages 3 to 10, is $11. Cost for nonmember children is $13.50 For reservations, call 301-677-6969. NEWS EVENTS EDUCATION CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
- 15. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil18 SOUNDOFF! March26, 2015 Community News Notes Office are offering the Army’s Threat Awareness and Reporting Program (TARP) training to all members of the installation. Training will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Post Theater. IAW AR 381-12, 2-3 requires all DA personnel undergo threat-awareness training at least annually. Non-garrison units/commands will have to document their individual members training completion and/or accountability. For more information, call Leslie Heckendorf at 301-677-4505. Cyber symposium A cyber information session will be held April 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McGill Training Center. Reduce taxes The Community Readiness Center is offering two programs on strategies to reduce taxes at 830 Chisholm Ave. • Pre-retirement: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon • Retirement: Tuesday, 1-4 p.m. Registration is required. To register or for more information, call 301-677-5590 or visit fortmeadeacs. checkappointments.com. Social Media for Job Seekers Army Community Service is offering Social Media for Job Seekers on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon at McGill Training Center Learn to effectively use social media to find jobs and market yourself. Registration is required. To register, transitioning service members should call 301-677-9871. Everyone else should call 301-677-5590. Corvias education grants Corvias Foundation is still accepting applications for the 2015 educational grants. Applications must be submitted by May 7. Grants are given in the amount of up to $5,000 to spouses of active-duty service members stationed at Fort Meade. Applicants may be in any stage of the educational process. For more information, go to corviasfoundation.org. Financial, Employment Readiness Army Community Service offers Financial and Employment Readiness classes to all ranks and services and to DoD civilian employees at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. Registration is required for each class. • Pre-Retirement Planning: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register or for more information, call 301-677-5590 or go to fortmeadeacs.checkappointments.com. Free classes The Navy Fleet and Family Support Center offers a variety of classes at its facility at 2212 Chisholm Ave. The free classes are open to DoD ID cardholders including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors. Registration is required for each class. • Career Technical Training: Today, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Effective Communication: Tuesday, 9-11 a.m. To register or for more information, call 301-677-9017 or 301-677-9018. Free dental screenings Free dental screenings for children ages 1-12 will be offered April 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at the commissary, 2786 Mapes Road. The event will include dental health information and children’s dental care kits. The screenings are sponsored by Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures children’s oral health-improvement program. For more information, go to colgatebsbf.com. Storytime The Children’s Library offers pre- kindergarten Storytime on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Kuhn Hall, 4415 Llewellyn Ave. • Today: “Spring Into A Good Book” - Storytime about spring For more information, call 301-677- 5677. Youth Center events The Youth Center is offering several activities for grades six to eight. • Fear Factor Challenge: Friday, 5-7 p.m. Youths are invited to a fun evening filled with fear, challenges and crazy concoctions • Take a Walk in the Park Day: Monday, 1-3:30 p.m. Youths will take a trip to Burba Lake Park for a leisurely walk and to explore nature. • Youth Center Carnival: April 3, noon-7 p.m. The carnival kicks off the Month of the Military Child and will feature a moon bounce, cake walk, face painting and sack races. Ticket prices range from 25 cents to 50 cents. For more information or to register, call 301-677-1437. Teen Center activities The Teen Center is offering several free activities for grades nine to 12. • Chopped: Today, 5-6 p.m. Teens will have the opportunity to test their culinary skills, competing and turning mystery ingredients into three- course meals. For more information, call 301-677- 6054. • Babysitter’s Certification Course: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course will provide first aid and CPR certification. Registration is required. Space is limited. To register or for more information, call 301-677-1156 or 301-677-1149 Out About • “Eggscellent Adventure” will be featured April 4 at 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. at Terrapin Adventures, 8600 Foundry St., Savage. Children will decorate their own egg cartons, pet bunnies, hunt for candy- filled eggs, and dress up in climbing gear to climb for one hour on the Terrapin Explorer Course designed for ages 5-9. Cost is $35 per child. A portion of each ticket will be donated to a local rabbit shelter. For more information, call 301- 725-1313 or go to http://www. terrapinadventures.com/events/. • “The Price Is Right Live,” the interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “come on down” to win, is coming to Baltimore on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 110 W. Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore. Tickets cost $28-$48.To register for a chance to be a contestant, visit the registration area three hours prior to show time. For more information, call 410-685- 5086 or go to lyricoperahouse.com. • The grand opening of the Crofton Farmers Market — Anne Arundel County’s largest farmers market — will be held April 15 from 4-7 p.m. at Route 3 North and Davidsonville Road (Giant parking lot). Fifty vendors will participate including Greek on the Street food truck; All Fired Up brick oven pizza; Frankie Falafel; CJDs Stand Carolina-style barbecue; and Short Thing Shellfish. The farmers market also will feature a Kids Zone that includes face painting, balloon animals and free crafts. For more information, go to CroftonFarmersMarket.com. • Leisure Travel Services is offering discounted tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus for shows through April 5 at the Baltimore Arena. Tickets cost $20. For more information, call 301-677-7354. • Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club’s next monthly luncheon will be April 7 at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. Bring your family and friends to see the newest trends in fashion at “Spring into Summer 2015.” The club’s annual fashion show will feature clothes from the Exchange, modeled by ROWC models. Cost of the luncheon is $18. Reservations are required by April 2. Call your area representative or Betty Wade at 410-551- 7082. Annual membership dues are $25, but you may join now through May for $12.50. Members may bring guests at any time to the luncheons, which are held on the first Tuesday of each month, except June, July, August and January. For more information, call Genny Bellinger, ROWC president, at 410-674-2550. • Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club EDUCATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 YOUTH RECREATION MEETINGS
- 16. http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 26,2015 SOUNDOFF! 19 MoviesCommunity News Notes Meade. The next prayer breakfast is April 2. There is no cost for the buffet. Donations are optional. All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited. For more information, call 301-677-6703. • Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton, in the banquet hall in back of the building. The next meeting is April 2. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000. • National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County offers a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting is April 2. For more information, visit namiaac.org. • Swinging Squares Square Dance Club dances the first and third Saturday of the month from 7:30-10 p.m. through May at Meade Middle School. The next dance is April 4. Admission is $6. Square dance attire is optional. Dance classes are offered Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Meade Middle School. Each class costs $6. For more information, call Darlene at 410-519-2536 or Carl at 410-271-8776. • Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Family Advocacy Program, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. Children welcome. The next meeting is April 6. The group is for families experiencing an upcoming or current deployment, or who have recently returned from deployment. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil. • Calling All Dads meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. at the Family Advocacy Program, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. The next meeting is April 6. The group is for expecting fathers, and fathers with children of all ages. Children welcome. For more information, call 301- 677-5590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@ mail.mil. • Fort Meade TOP III Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is April 8. The association is open to all Air Force active-duty and retired senior noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at 443-479-0616 or email jajacob@nsa.gov. • Women’s Empowerment Group meets Wednesdays from 2-3:30 p.m. to provide a safe, confidential arena for the support, education and empowerment of women who have experienced past or present family violence. Location is only disclosed to participants. To register, call Samantha Herring, victim advocate, at 301-677-4124 or Katherine Lamourt, victim advocate, at 301-677-4117. • Moms Walking Group, sponsored by Parent Support, meets Thursdays from 8:30- 9:15 a.m. at the Family Advocacy Program, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. To register, call 301-677-3617. • Project Healing Waters meets Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. The project is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of wounded warriors and veterans through fly fishing, fly tying and outings. For more information, call Larry Vawter, program leader, at 443-535-5074 or email thecarptman@msn.com. • Dancing with the Heroes, free ballroom dance lessons for the Warrior Transition Unit, meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center in the seminar room. Participants should wear loose clothing, comfortable shoes with leather soles. No super high heels or flip-flops. • Spanish Christian Service is conducted Sundays at 1 p.m. at the Cavalry Chapel located at 8465 Simonds St. and 6th Armored Cavalry Road. For more information, call Elias Mendez at 301-677-7314 or 407-350-8749. • Couples Communication Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets every Monday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. For more information, call Celena Flowers or Katherine Lamourt at 301-677- 5590. • 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 Cubmaster Christopher Lassiter at pack377_cm@yahoo. com or Committee Chairperson Marco Cilibert at pack377_cc@yahoo.com. • Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop is actively recruiting boys ages 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at lisayetman@verizon.net or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at lawrencewendall@ juno.com. • Catholic Women of the Chapel meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. for prayer and Bible study in the Main Post Chapel, 4419 Llewellyn Ave. Monthly programs are held Mondays at 6:30 p.m. The group is open to all women in the community ages 18 and older — active duty, retiree and civilian — for prayer, faith fellowship, and service. For more information, email Mariana Yinh at themariana@yahoo.com. • 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 4-6 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 americanlegionpost276.org. • Odenton Masonic Center, located at 1206 Stehlik Drive, invites the community, local military, fire/emergency services and local businesses to enjoy its breakfast and specialty dinners. The center offers a fundraising “all-you- can-eat” breakfast every second Sunday from 7-11 a.m. Fundraising specialty dinners are held the third Friday of the month from 5-7 p.m. Menus vary and are listed on the center’s website at odentonlodge209.net. • 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 April 10. 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, go to e9association.org. • Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at VFW Post 160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. The next meeting is April 11. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited. For more information, call 443-604-2474 or 410-768-6288. • Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 3-4 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is April 13. For more information, call Celena Flowers or Jessica Hobgood at 301- 677-5590. • New Spouse Connection meets the second Monday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is April 13. The program provides an opportunity for all spouses new to the military or to Fort Meade to meet and get connected. For more information, contact Pia Morales at pia. s.morales.civ@mail.mil or 301-677-4110. The movie schedule is subject to change. For a recorded announcement of showings, call 301- 677-5324. Further listings are available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website at www.aafes.com. Movies start Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12 and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies: $7.50 adults, $5 children. Today through April 5 Friday: “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” (R). When Lou finds himself in trouble, Nick and Jacob fire up the hot tub time machine in an attempt to get back to the past. But they inadvertently land in the future with Adam Jr. Now they have to alter the future in order to save the past, which is really the present. With Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke. Saturday: “McFarland, USA” (PG). A cross- country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into cham- pionship contenders. With Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez. Sunday: “Fifty Shades of Grey” (R). Litera- ture student Anastasia Steele’s life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tor- mented, billionaire Christian Grey. With Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle. April 3 5: “Focus” (R). In the midst of a veteran con man’s latest scheme, a woman from his past — now an accomplished femme fatale — shows up and throws his plans for a loop. With Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro. April 4: “Kingsman: The Secret Service” (R). A spy organization recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. With Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson.