Fort Meade SoundOff for Feb. 23, 2012

1. Soundoff!
vol. 64 no. 8 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community
´
February 23, 2012
Terps for Troops
photo by brian krista
During the national Anthem, Soldiers from the Defense Information School extend a large flag across the University of Maryland’s Gary Williams Court on “Fort Meade Day.”
Tuesday night’s event also featured the recognition of four Fort Meade Soldiers during the first half of the men’s basketball game against Miami.
Write Stuff hOMe deliVery uPCOMiNG eVeNtS
Meade High senior Potomac Place mom tOday, 11:30 a.M.-1 P.M.: Black History Month Observance - Club Meade
takes top honors gives birth to baby WedNeSday, 4:30-6 P.M.: Facebook Town Hall (facebook.com/ftmeade)
in essay contest with help of neighbor MarCh 1, 3-6 P.M.: Youth/Teen Job Fair - McGill Training Center
MarCh 1: Army Emergency Relief fundraising campaign begins
page 6 page 5

2. Commander’s Column
Soundoff!
Editorial Staff
Garrison Commander
Guaranteed circulation:
´
Center court honors military,
paying tribute to black women
11,285
Col. Edward C. rothstein
Garrison Command
Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith
Public affairs officer
Chad t. Jones I had the opportunity Tuesday to stand at Great Blacks In
Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.mil center court at the University of Maryland’s Wax Museum
Chief, Command information Comcast Center and experience a thunderous in Baltimore.
Philip H. Jones applause of appreciation from Terrapin fans. The museum
Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.mil The applause was not for me or for Mary- is the first wax
assistant Editor & Senior Writer land’s hustle on the basketball court. The museum con-
rona S. Hirsch applause honored Fort Meade service mem- centrating on
Staff Writer lisa r. rhodes bers and their service to our country during black history,
Staff Writer Brandon Bieltz the university’s Military Appreciation Day. life and culture.
design Coordinator timothy davis The University of Maryland has honored I am looking
Supplemental photography provided our service members several times during this forward to this
by Patuxent Publishing Co. year’s basketball season and last year’s football annual celebra- COL. Edward C.
season. tion. rOthstEin
advErtiSinG Military Appreciation Days are always spe- It’s great that Garrison Commander
General inquiries 410-332-6300 cial events for our service members. For me, this year’s theme honors African-American
allison thompson it’s a wonderful feeling seeing our Soldiers rec- women. As many of you know, African-Amer-
410-332-6850 Allison.Thompson@baltsun.com ognized for their military service. As garrison ican women have longed been considered great
Michele Griesbauer commander, it gives me a great sense of pride visionaries. They were at the forefront of the
410-332-6381 Michele.Griesbauer@baltsun.com to stand with our service members as they fight to end slavery and have stood strong in
represent the military and Fort Meade. the battle for civil rights, often in the face of
If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are It is also a great feeling to know the growing both racial and gender discrimination. They
experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail TP@baltsun.com. impact of Fort Meade is recognized by state of are great role models and they continued to
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through
Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Maryland and our surrounding communities. make great contributions to our society.
Fort Meade is the largest employer in the Next week, there’s another event I want to
Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the state of Maryland and it’s events like this one make sure you note on your calendars. On
personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary that helps our communities outside our gates Wednesday, I (and other members of Team
of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday better understand how we can work together Meade) will host the second Fort Meade Face-
except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. and support our military families. book town hall. This social media town hall
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, Today there’s an event on post that I hope will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. And just like
Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-1361; DSN: 622-1361. to see many of you attend — the installation’s our first Facebook town hall this past October,
Black History Month observance from 11:30 we will respond to your community-related
Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage a.m. to 1 p.m. at Club Meade. This year’s questions.
without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, theme, “Black Women in American Culture I have found our town hall meetings, wheth-
user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser and History,” gives us an opportunity to pay er they occur on Facebook or at more tradi-
will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.
tribute to the role African-American women tional gatherings in which we talk face-to-face,
Printed by Patuxent Publishing Co., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department have played in shaping the character of our have been great opportunities for all of us to
of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are nation. learn more about what we can do to make Fort
not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance The event is hosted by the Defense Infor- Meade a better community.
of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of mation School. The keynote speaker will be I hope you are able to find time and join me
the Army of the products or services advertised.
Joanne Martin, co-founder of the National for these events over the next week.
www.ftmeade.army.mil
You can also keep track of Fort Meade on twitter at twitter.com/meadetv Commander’s Open Door
and view the Fort Meade Blog at meadetv.wordpress.com.
Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein has an open door policy.
All service members, retirees, government employees, family members
or community members age 18 or older are invited to address issues or
Co n t e n t s concerns to the commander directly by visiting Rothstein’s office on Mon-
days from 4 to 6 p.m. at garrison headquarters in Hodges Hall, Bldg. 4551,
News ............................. 3 News to Use .......................10 Llewellyn Avenue.
Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is
Trouble Ticket ............... 4 Sports .................................. 12 necessary.
For more information, call 301-677-4844.
Community ................. 16 Movies ................................. 18
SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

3. News
Kimbrough grows, expands its services
By Brandon Bieltz buildings, however Kimbrough is still
Staff Writer working with the Directorate of Public
In 1996, Kimbrough Army Hospital Works to determine the total surface park-
closed its inpatient services and emergency ing needs for the rest of the facility.
room following the 1995 Base Closure In addition, a surgery suite has been
and Realignment Commission legislature built at Kimbrough to supplement the four
mandate. existing operating rooms.
Today, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care The new suite, which is scheduled to
Center is on the upswing, expanding its open in the spring, offers four state-of-the-
walls and services to provide for the thou- art operating rooms, waiting areas and a
sands of new patients who moved to the patient counseling section.
area due to the 2005 BRAC. “We’re very excited to have that opening
From a renovated patient service center to better take care of our surgical patients,”
and medical laboratory to new operating Moores said.
rooms and medical teams, Kimbrough is In the spring, a master facility plan will
growing to accommodate the nearly 1,500 be conducted by health facility planners,
patients who use the medical facility daily. business planners and health care planners
With the addition of several federal to project patient volume over the next five
agencies that have relocated to Fort Meade, to 10 years and determine what changes
Photo by CaPt. andrew CooPer
the number of patients who travel to Kim- are needed to meet patient demand.
Spc. Lauralynn Long, a Kimbrough pharmacy tech, uses the new Script Pro Robotic
brough for medical care has increased in “All of the options are on the table, from
technology to fill a patient prescription. With up to 1,500 patients visiting Kimbrough
recent years, changing the requirements of upgrading this facility to enlarging this
Ambulatory Care Center per day, the facility is expanding services to accommodate
the facility. facility to perhaps even a new facility to
the increasing number of patients.
“We increased the number of providers meet the health care requirements for this
we have here, we’ve increased our enroll- scription medicine. Two years ago, the military, said Sandra Marshall, director institution,” Moores said.
ment,” said Col. Leon Moores, command- Kimbrough pharmacy was averaging 600 of Managed Care at VA Maryland Health As the facility grows and expands its
er of the Fort Meade U.S. Army Medical to 700 prescriptions per day. Today, the Care. services to accommodate the high volume
Department. “We’re seeing more patients, number is close to 2,000. To handle the Semipermanent buildings also will be of patients, Kimbrough officials say safety
we’re delivering more prescriptions and heavy volume of prescriptions, the phar- constructed on the soccer fields across and quality of health care are the primary
we’re doing more elective surgery because macy was recently upgraded with a new Llewellyn Avenue. The four new buildings concerns.
the installation is growing.” computerized system to dispense the medi- will house primary care and administrative “We want to provide the right facility
With no current plans for a new facility, cine more efficiently. offices. to make it a health care experience,” Soltis
Lt. Col. Christopher Soltis, deputy com- The ScriptPro equipment, which cost Parking will be added for these new said.
mander for Clinical Services at MEDDAC, around $500,000, was installed in late
said officials have to “be creative with the December.
space you have.” “This hugely increases the quantity of
Recent upgrades to the 50-year-old medicines we can dispense in a day, but
facility include an $8 million renovation also increases the accuracy and safety,
to the medical laboratory and patient which is even more important than vol-
service center. The project, Moores said, ume,” Moores said.
included supplying more office space and A satellite Kimbrough pharmacy at
a redesign. the Fort Meade Commissary has been
All stairways and elevators also have approved to help cut down on the wait time
been upgraded to meet safety require- at the Kimbrough pharmacy. Patients can
ments. also use mail-order services to obtain their
The projects were completed at a cost of medicine, Moores said.
approximately $4.5 million. With the first wave of renovations com-
“With a 50-year-old building, it’s impor- plete, another round of upgrades will begin
tant to keep up-to-date for both quality shortly with the opening of four new oper-
and safety purposes,” Moores said. “We ating rooms, semipermanent buildings and
want to make sure we’re able to provide a Veterans Affairs clinic.
safe care and high-quality care. To do that, The Fort Meade Community Based
we need to make sure our facilities are Outpatient Clinic will be operated by
meeting current standards.” the Veterans Administration, but Kim-
To meet the needs of all patients, Kim- brough will work closely with the new
brough also has increased primary care facility. Scheduled to open in June, the
teams, brought in an internal medicine 13,200-square-foot facility located behind
team and built a new clinic for the pedi- Kimbrough will provide primary care for
atric team. veterans, as well as provide evaluations for
More patients also require more pre- service members transitioning out of the
http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF!

4. N ews
Have you noticed an issue on post Community
Trouble
and wondered if anything is being
done to fix it? Email concerns and
issues to chad.t.jones.civ@mail.
Crime Watch
Ticket mil. Each week, Soundoff! will Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services
address issues identified on post
Feb. 15, Shoplifting: AAFES Directorate of Emergency Ser-
and describe what is being done to security personnel at the Post vices was notified of an identify
solve them. Exchange stated she observed theft. An investigation revealed
the subject pick up a pair of that an unknown person by
shorts and depart the store unknown computer mean(s)
without making proper pay- obtained and used the victim’s
ment. Social Security number to file his
own income taxes for 2011.
Feb. 17, Simple assault: The victim
alleged he was physically assaulted at Feb. 20, Wrongful damage of private
the Lanes. property: The victim stated that a juve-
nile walked up and threw a rock at the
Feb. 20, Larceny of private property: The window of the victim’s car.
Road closure
York Road, between Broadfoot
Road and Simonds Street, will be
closed from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily
from Feb. 27 to March 1.
Mullins Field and Track will remain
accessible by using the gate located off
of Broadfoot Road.
Units and individuals using Gaffney Fitness Center and Mullins
Field must ensure that vehicles parked in the parking areas
adjacent to York Road are moved prior to 8 a.m. each morning.
Register for BOSS Resale Lot
file photo
Play equipment near the Boundless Playground is currently undergoing repairs. The BOSS Resale Lot has new registration dates and times.
Starting March 6, a representative of BOSS will process registration and
take payments every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Out-
door Recreation, 2300 Wilson St.
Fees to display are $20 for one vehicle or $30 for two vehicles. The dura-
Issue: Plan: Status: tion is 30 days, but may be extended up to an additional 60 days, based on
space availability.
The Installation Safety Office Repair the play equipment Repairs are under way Payment may be paid by cash, check or money order.
has deemed and marked so that it is functional The BOSS Resale Lot is located in the parking lot in front of the Post
Exchange.
some play equipment at
When registering a vehicle, you must provide proper identification, current
Burba Lake as unsafe insurance and proof of being the registered owner of the vehicle. Vehicles
placed on the lot must be clean and operable.
Community members Maintain a minimum of Golf operations are Vehicles that may be displayed for sale include automobiles, vans, pickup
have concerns about golf 18 holes at current site; unchanged through trucks and motorcycles. All vehicles must be less than 24 feet.
course service availability in restoring golf operations September RVs, boats and trailers are not allowed to be displayed.
light of Base Closure and on a site south of the Those authorized to display vehicles are active-duty military, retired mili-
Realignment installation is also proposed tary, National Guard, Reservists, government employees working on Fort
Meade, and their family members.
Renovate the Youth Services Revenue generated from the Resale Lot supports the BOSS Program. The
Youth Services Sports Actual use of fields will be
mission of BOSS (Better Opportunities for the Single Soldier) is to enhance
Complex is in need of Sports Complex this fall to allow the quality of life and morale of single service members, increase retention
renovations grass to mature and sustain readiness.
For more information, call 301-677-6488.
SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

5. N ews
Neighbor helps deliver baby at home
Story and photo by Lisa R. Rhodes Jeanne Prins, a certified nurse midwife,
Staff Writer delivered the placenta.
Dori Welsch plans to become a doula, The baby weighed 6 pounds, 3.8 ounc-
a woman who provides nonmedical sup- es.
port during labor and childbirth. Pickett delivered at 37 weeks. She said
But Welsch never imagined she would she was having Braxton Hicks contrac-
be put to the test when her pregnant next- tions (irregular contractions that may
door neighbor and friend delivered a baby occur before labor) throughout the day
at home on Feb. 7. and decided to lay down that evening.
Welsch, who lives in Potomac Place, had “But at 6:44 p.m., I had a contraction
just returned from dinner off post with and at 6:53 p.m. and 7:03 p.m.,” Pickett
her three children when Navy Lt. Aaron said. “At 7:03 p.m., I told my husband I
Pickett telephoned and said his wife’s was in labor and to pack my bags.”
water broke. Pickett said she delivered each of her
Pickett asked Welsch if she would come four children without the aid of pain-
to his house and sit with his wife, Bet- relieving drugs.
tina Pickett, while he prepared to leave “There are a lot of the medications that
for Howard County General Hospital in can cause consequences,” she said.
Columbia. Welsch, whose husband, Chief War-
The plan was for Welsch to baby-sit the rant Officer 2 Trevor Welsch, works at the
Picketts’ three children while the couple Directorate of Human Resources, said she
drove to the hospital. and the Picketts became friends in Octo-
But when Welsch arrived at about 7:17 ber 2010 after the family arrived on Fort
p.m., Bettina, 33, was having contractions Meade from a Naval base in California.
and asked to go to the bathroom. Months later, Pickett was helpful when
“Then she had a pushing contraction,” Welsch’s son Chase was born in January
Welsch recalled. “We knew it was going to Bettina Pickett, wife of Navy Lt. Aaron Pickett, holds their newborn daughter a week 2011.
be pretty soon.” after the baby’s birth. Pickett delivered the baby in their Potomac Place home on Feb. “She was very knowledgeable about
Welsch told Pickett’s husband to call 7 with the help of her neighbor and friend, Dori Welsch. pregnancy and nursing babies,” Welsch
911 because Bettina was pushing and the said.
baby’s head had already crowned. Within 20 minutes, at 7:37 p.m., the about a woman in labor in one of the Two days after Welsch arrived home
“I was still hoping she would get to the Picketts’ second daughter was born. housing units. from the hospital, Pickett prepared three
hospital,” Welsch said. “I couldn’t believe “She was very calm,” Welsch said of “The husband met us at the door and meals for the family.
this was really happening.” Bettina Pickett, whom she has known for said the baby had already been delivered,” Pickett, who said her newborn is “eat-
Welsch said Bettina tried to get into the more than a year. “This was amazing. She Hyatt said. “The mother had done all ing, growing and pooping like a cham-
bathtub, but eventually made her way onto did an awesome job.” the work. The mother was upstairs in the pion,” was released with the baby from the
the bathroom floor to deliver the baby. Stephen Hyatt and Larry Ansted, para- bathroom with the baby in her arms. The hospital on Feb. 8.
“I was trying to stay calm for the kids medics from Kimbrough Ambulatory baby was healthy and pink.” She said she is grateful for Welsch’s
downstairs,” Welsch said. “And I tried to Care Center, arrived at the house soon The paramedics cut the umbilical cord help.
make sure that the [umbilical] cord wasn’t after responding to a dispatched call from and transported mother and baby to “I appreciate the fact that Dori was able
wrapped around [the baby’s] neck.” the Directorate of Emergency Services Howard County General Hospital, where to be here for me,” Pickett said.
Medicare Part B When you first become eligible for hospital insurance
(Part A), you have a seven-month period in which to sign
up for medical insurance (Part B). After that, you may
and 65, but have not applied for disability benefits because
you are already getting another kind of Social Security
benefit.
deadline approaching have to pay a higher premium — unless you were covered
through your current employer’s group health plan or a
• You worked long enough in a government job in which
Medicare taxes were paid, and you meet the requirements
By Wendy Poulson group health plan based on a spouse’s current employ- of the Social Security disability program and became dis-
Social Security manager, Glen Burnie ment. abled before age 65.
If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insur- You are given another opportunity to enroll in Part B • You, your spouse or your dependent child has perma-
ance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now during the general enrollment period, from Jan. 1 to March nent kidney failure
have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. 31 of each year. • You had Medicare medical insurance (Part B) in the
The deadline for applying during the general enrollment But each 12-month period that you are eligible for past but dropped the coverage.
period is March 31. If you miss the deadline, you may have Medicare Part B and do not sign up, the amount of your • You turned down Medicare medical insurance (Part B)
to wait until 2013 to apply. monthly premium increases by 10 percent. when you became entitled to hospital insurance (Part A).
Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not There are special situations in which you can apply for Learn more about Medicare by reading the electronic
covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as Medicare Part B outside the general enrollment period. booklet, Medicare, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.
doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical For example, you should contact Social Security about html, or visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.
supplies and services. applying for Medicare if: You may also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-
• You are a disabled widow or widower between ages 50 800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF!

6. N ews
Meade High senior writes top essay for Young Authors Contest
Story and photo by Lisa R. Rhodes Annapolis, an Anne Arundel County
Staff Writer public school.
Meagan Chesser hopes to become a Meagan, whose father is a retired Air
creative writer. Force master sergeant, will receive a
The Meade High School senior is well certificate for her win. Her essay has
on her way with a first-place win in the been submitted to the State of Maryland
Anne Arundel County Reading Council’s International Reading Association for the
2011-2012 Young Authors Contest. statewide Young Authors Contest.
Her two-page essay entitled “The Wall- “The Wallflower” is about a teenage
flower” was the top finisher in the high girl who “never gets noticed by anyone,
school essay category. no matter what she does,” Meagan said.
“I never thought I’d get this high in The girl’s fate changes one day when
the contest,” the 17-year-old Hanover she is finally noticed.
resident said. “She’s so happy about it,” Meagan
The Anne Arundel County Reading said.
Council is a local affiliate of the Inter- The young writer said the story is based
national Reading Council. The local on her own life.
nonprofit organization is committed to “My brother Cody always calls me a
improving literacy throughout the coun- wallflower,” Meagan said. “I’ve always
ty. been a bit of an introvert, and in a
Sponsored each year, the Young home of five kids, it’s hard for me to be
Authors Contest aims to promote a love noticed.”
of writing and effective communication Meagan attributes her friend and pen
among youth, said Lenora Fox, president pal in Australia with encouraging her to
of the Anne Arundel County Reading enter the contest.
Council. She first learned about the competition
The contest encourages all Anne Arun- through Raydiance Dangerfield, Meagan’s
del County elementary, middle and high Advanced Placement English literature Meagan Chesser, 17, a senior at Meade High School, is the first-place winner in the
school students to submit an original teacher. Dangerfield, who distributed fly- high school essay category of the Anne Arundel County Reading Council’s Young
short story, poem or essay. ers publicizing the contest last fall, urged Authors Contest. Meagan won for her work entitled “The Wallflower” about an
For the 2011-2012 year, more than her students to submit their work. introverted teenage girl.
1,000 entries were submitted. She said she is not surprised that Mea-
Seray Green and Sophia Czaja, two gan took first place in the competition. can relate to the story,” Dangerfield said. statistics.
second-graders at MacArthur Middle “She’s very advanced, very intelligent, Dangerfield said Meagan has a good Planning on becoming a television
School, are second-place winners in the well-spoken and well-read,” Dangerfield chance of making her mark in the state- or movie script writer, Meagan is con-
contest’s middle-school poetry and short- said. “She has amazing writing and ana- wide competition. sidering attending Temple University in
story categories, respectively. lytical skills.” “I think she’s a contender,” Dangerfield Philadelphia, or Hollins University in
Seray and Sophia will be honored Feb. Meagan is quiet like the character in said. “It’s a strong piece with an emo- Roanoke, Va.
29 at a reception at Severna Park Middle her essay, Dangerfield said, and the theme tional arch. She’ll be able to do well.” “I guess this gives me a bit of a positive
School. Meagan will be honored that is universal. Meagan, who has a 3.11 G.P.A., is boost to my confidence,” Meagan said of
day at a reception at the Phoenix Center “I think a lot of high school students also enrolled in Advanced Placement her win. “I was close to chickening out.”
Voting assistance available to service members
By Veronica Castro • A service member cannot speak publicly position by the garrison commander, lists stationed in their home of record, Blumen-
Fort Meade Public Affairs Office to promote a specific candidate, whether the four big do’s: thal or a unit’s VOA can provide service
Many people may have seen the footage service member is in uniform or not. • Register to vote. members with absentee ballots.
of the service member who appeared on • Service members cannot serve in any • Study the candidate’s issues. In addition to helping with the absentee
television in uniform next to presidential official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of • Vote. ballot process, Blumenthal said it is para-
candidate Ron Paul and wondered if they, a partisan political party or club. • Encourage others to vote. mount for VAOs to let their individual unit
too, could do something like that. • While on a military base, a service “The biggest do,” said Blumenthal, “is members know what is and isn’t allowed as
The answer is no. member cannot display a banner on his or to use discretion. If you think it’s wrong, it far as political activities go.
According to Installation Voting Assis- her vehicle showing preference for a spe- probably is.” Service members who need assistance
tance Officer Capt. David Blumenthal, there cific candidate. They can, however, display a As part of his duties as the installation with absentee ballots can visit the installa-
are some do’s and don’ts that service mem- small sticker of their favorite candidate. voting assistance officer, Blumenthal offers tion voting office to receive voting mate-
bers must remember during this political These rules apply to all service branches. additional training resources to individual rial.
year. Service members who violate these rules units’ voting action officers once they have The office is located in the identification
• A service member cannot show favorit- are subject to Uniform Code of Military completed the Federal Voting Assistance card office at 2234 Huber Road, Room 216-
ism to a candidate while representing the Justice action. Program online training. A or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Pro-
armed services. Blumenthal, who was appointed to the Because many service members are not gram website at https://www.fvap.gov/r3/.
SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

7. N ews
780th MI breaks ground for new headquarters
By Tina Miles, Public Affairs Officer
780th Military Intelligence Brigade
The next phase of the 780th Military
Intelligence Brigade’s history began
Tuesday as officials broke ground for
the newly formed brigade’s headquar-
ters facility during a ceremony on Fort
Meade.
The 46,000-square-foot facility will
serve as the brigade’s headquarters,
operations center and training facility.
Construction is expected to be com-
pleted by the end of this year.
“Today marks the next step in our
brigade’s path to become fully opera-
tional,” said Col. Jonathan E. Sweet,
commander of the 780th MI. “This
facility will allow us to accomplish our
mission — to provide proactive cyber
defense and to conduct full spectrum
cyber operations for our nation.”
Members of the U.S. Army Intel-
ligence and Security Command, 780th
MI Brigade; the Army Corps of Engi-
neers, Baltimore District; and the Fort
Meade garrison took part in the occa-
sion, further enabling the Army’s goal
of providing the force with the best in
cyber security.
During his remarks, Brig. Gen. Rob-
ert L. Walter, Jr., deputy commanding
general of INSCOM, said that while
the Army’s technical advancements in
detection and attribution shed light
on malicious activity, cyber intruders
continue to explore new means to cir-
cumvent defensive measures.
“Data collection, processing, stor-
age and transmission capabilities are
increasing exponentially. ... The impact
of this evolution is seen not only in the
scope and nature of cyber security inci-
dents, but also in the range of actors
and targets,” Walter said. Photo by tina Miles
“The 780th MI Brigade represents Col. Jonathan Sweet, commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade; Brig. Gen. Robert Walter, deputy commanding general,
the Army’s recognition of the cyber Intelligence Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Meade Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein; Paul Karmazinski,
challenge and is charged with being Akima Construction; and Randy Winemiller, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers break ground Tuesday for the 780th
part of a joint construct of cyber- MI’s new 46,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the brigade’s headquarters, operations center and training facility.
space resources, creating synergy and
synchronizing war-fighting effects to
defend the information security envi- trict; and Paul Karmazinski and Ralph post, originally named Camp Meade, and served as commanding officer of
ronment.” Buckles of Akima Construction. was established in 1917 as a training site several tank units here. ... And in
Among those who also attended were Prior to breaking ground for the during World War I. March 1919, Major George S. Patton
Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. brigade’s new headquarters and opera- “Our headquarters will lie in the Jr. commanded the 304th Tank Brigade
Rothstein; Garrison Command Sgt. tions center, Sweet thanked several shadows of two of America’s most here at Camp Meade.”
Maj. Smith; Gwen Conger and Suzanne leaders, both in the Army and the U.S. prominent general officers who spent Eisenhower’s quarters and Patton’s
Cromwell of the engineer team of the Army Corps of Engineers, for their the early parts of their military careers brigade headquarters were located just
Intelligence and Security Command; support in the planning and building here at Camp Meade at the conclusion a few hundred yards from the 780th’s
Mike Fox of the Army Cryptologic effort. of World War I,” Sweet said. “Major eventual new home.
Office; Randy Winemiller of the Army Sweet also pointed out the brigade’s Dwight David Eisenhower graduated “Not too much pressure,” Sweet
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dis- proximity to military greatness when the from the Camp Meade Tank School said.
http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF!

8. N ews
Show of Heart
Airmen bring valentines, gifts
to elderly Maryland veterans
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Mathew Fournier Airmen also listened to the veterans’ sto-
70th Intelligence, Surveillance and ries as they handed out the valentines.
Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs Henry Behringer, a World War II Army
Twenty-four Airmen from the 70th veteran and resident of the center, shared
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais- some of his experiences with the Airmen.
sance Wing visited the veterans at the Loch “Ours was a combat unit that had served
Raven Veterans Affairs Community Living in Africa and then went through Anzio up
and Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore on into the mountains [of Italy],” he said. “I was
Valentine’s Day. 19 and was the ‘oldest’ in my unit.”
Their mission on Feb. 14 was to bring Behringer went on to explain how being
smiles to veterans’ faces with valentines made the “oldest” actually meant that he had been
by local elementary students and to thank in his unit the longest and had the most
them for their service. combat experience.
“It was amazing to watch them perk up “We were fighting on the mountains and
when they saw the group of us in uniform,” as we were taking heavy fire from above, a
Air Force Master Sgt. Cristina Cunningham few of my guys got hit and fell off a cliff we
said. “You could really feel their excitement were next to,” he recalled. “I got hit a few
when they told us the stories of their service. times but was somehow able to hold on. I
Some only served a year or two, but they had didn’t want to go that way.”
so many stories to tell.” Behringer suffered several bullet wounds,
Since each valentine was designed by local one of which struck him in the lower spine
students, no two were the same. and permanently disabled him.
“I met a gentleman who was so touched But he said he has always kept a positive
photo by Air Force StAFF Sgt. MAthew Fournier
by the card and gifts we gave him, he carried outlook on life. He is 87 years old and one of
Henry Behringer, a World War II veteran, shares a story with Air Force Master them around and showed it off to those he only two surviving members of his unit.
Sgt. Cristina Cunningham on Valentine’s Day at the Loch Raven Veterans Affairs met in the hallways,” Air Force Master Sgt. “You know, I’m going to keep going ‘till
Community Living and Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore. Airmen from the 70th Michelle Pruitt said. “He told me it had I’m done,” Behringer said. “I’m lucky to have
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing visited the veterans to distribute made his week. This was the best thing to family visit every weekend and I’m proud of
donated valentines made by local elementary school students. hear.” everything you [Airmen] are doing now.”
Installation Tax Center
The Fort Meade Joint Installation Tax Center offers
free assistance for service members, retirees and
their dependents filing state and federal income taxes
through Tax
Day on April
17.
Hours are
weekdays from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To schedule an
appointment,
call 301-677-
9762.
SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

9. N ews
Upgrades made to Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center
By Meagan Murray equipment in the fitness center such as state-
Picerne Military Housing of-the-art treadmills, ellipticals and a new
Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center sit-up machine.
reopened Feb. 10 after undergoing a signifi- “I can’t wait to use the new exercise
cant renovation. equipment,” said Maricela Perez, who makes
Picerne Military Housing hosted an open regular visits to the fitness center.
house from 4 to 6 p.m. for residents to engage The multipurpose room, where residents
with friends and neighbors and check out the can host meetings and gatherings, now con-
new upgrades and additions. tains a TV and counter space. Residents and
During the open house, Picerne conducted guests can hook up a laptop to view Power-
a free raffle for four sport jerseys, four bas- Point presentations and more.
ketballs, a Foot Locker gift card and an iPod “All these additions make Meuse Forest a
nano, totaling 10 winners. Refreshments were showcase neighborhood for residents to host
also served. various functions,” Lemma said.
Since January 2005, the neighborhood As part of the community management
center has been a staple in the privatization and development plan for the next 40 years,
program for residents who have gathered Picerne will continue to upgrade and reno-
there for family activities and to use the vate homes and ancillary facilities under the
center’s amenities. Residential Communities Initiative.
Now, more than six years later, much Picerne plans to renovate centers that
has changed. Another two neighborhood are more advanced in the privatization pro-
centers have been added to Picerne’s growing gram over the next few years. Potomac
portfolio on Fort Meade – both with a style Place, the first neighborhood center built on
and flavor reflecting the local community and PHOTO COURTESY OF PICERNE MILITARY HOUSING Fort Meade, has already undergone minor
resident input. The renovated great room at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center features a Maryland renovations such as new fitness equipment,
The Meuse Forest Neighborhood Cen- sports theme, air hockey and pool table, leather couches in front of four televisions flooring and upgrades to meetings spaces
ter is no different. The center has been and a double-room fireplace. Other center upgrades include new fitness equipment and amenities.
transformed to showcase a Maryland sports and a redesigned media room. Picerne will take the feedback and experi-
theme. Memorabilia from the Baltimore ence from the Meuse Forest renovation to
Ravens and Orioles and Washington Capitals time and now we have a better understand- case “Meade’s Got Talent.” A stage for other neighborhood centers’ renovations in
are all represented in the great room. ing of what makes our centers special and enthusiastic karaoke singers was installed the future.
The best part of the renovation is that appealing to our customers,” Lemma said. along with theater-style seating, Wii and “We’ve come a long way since we com-
it reflects feedback from residents at Fort The process was successful and as a result, Xbox systems, a karaoke machine and a pleted the first neighborhood center in 2003,”
Meade. As part of the renovation process, residents get to enjoy a more modern center. juke box. Lemma said. “We are constantly looking for
Picerne asked residents: “What can we do to Amenities to the sports-style great room New systems have been set up in the center ways to improve our centers so they meet
make the center better?” include an air hockey and pool table, leather to facilitate trash and recycling. Disposing our residents’ needs. After all, they are for
Kerrie Lemma, vice president of design, couches in front of four televisions and a the two will be more seamless than in the them.”
said a thoughtful approach was taken. double-room fireplace. past. For photos of the Meuse Forest renovations,
“We listened to families living on post over The media room was redesigned to show- Additional enhancements include new visit www.meadepicerne.com.
Army ILE course for senior captains and majors offered
By Retired Lt. Col. Samuel Spinder Previously known as CGSC, ILE con- skills. fighting functions, culminating with an
The 10th Battalion, 80th Training sists of a common core curriculum that This two-week block, conducted over application exercise in which students
Command, an Army Reserve Training includes Joint PME 1 requirements and the summer at Fort Dix, N.J., introduc- demonstrate their understanding of
Battalion based in Owings Mills, hosts the required branch and/or functional es staff officers to the highly complex, tactical fundamentals. Course duration
ILE instruction for active-duty, Reserve area specialized education or qualifica- joint environments that forces encoun- is roughly 14 months.
and National Guard officers. tion course. Successful completion of ter today. Officers interested in attending ILE
The ILE Phase II classes are offered ILE core curriculum and the respective Phase II, conducted one weekend should contact their training officer/
at Fort Meade, Fort Detrick, Fort Bel- qualification course are required for per month between October and May, NCO to register. The course is identi-
voir, Va., and Fort Lee, Va., as well as award of JPME Phase I credit. develops students’ advanced commu- fied in ATTRs under School Code:
other areas throughout the Northeast ILE is an MEL Level 4 accredited nicative skills (collaboration, consen- R701, Course: 701-1-250-ILE-CC,
The Intermediate Level Education course. sus-building, coordinating, facilitating, Course Title: Phase 1, Intermediate
course is designed to prepare senior The course is divided into three writing and presenting), while using Level Education Common Core.
captains and majors for leadership phases, which are taken consecutively. the Military Decision-Making Process For more information, contact Sgt. 1st
positions in Army, joint, multinational Phase I is a hands-on, execution-ori- within the learning environment. Class Tyrone Price, operations NCOIC,
and interagency organizations execut- ented course in which a staff group Phase III, a two-week block con- at 410-453-5632 or email tyrone.price1@
ing full-spectrum operations. develops and applies critical thinking ducted at Fort Dix, focuses on war- usar.army.mil.
http://www.ftmeade.army.mil February 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF!

10. MILITARY N ews
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DoD officials said at a Pentagon press Continuing to restrict positions as solely
conference Feb. 2 that they have noti- on being co-located with direct combat
Money Problems Threatening fied Congress of their intent to open units has become irrelevant.”
these military occupational specialties Patton said it may take some time to
Your Service and Family? to women, and the change will become recruit and train women in the six spe-
effective after 30 days of continuous cialties where they haven’t served before.
congressional session, as required by Training them as tank mechanics, for
ARK (Asset Recovery Kit) is a law. instance, will take longer than placing
This is expected to occur later in the them at battalion level in military occu-
hassle-free, con dential, and smart spring, said Maj. Gen. Gary Patton, pational specialties they already know,
way to solve your money problems. We’ll principal director for DoD Military he said.
advance you up to $500 until your next pay- Personnel Policy. Women will be placed in the new
day with no interest.* For more information, In addition, officials announced that positions as men are scheduled to rotate
another 1,186 positions at battalion level out, Patton said. A normal rotation
visit your nearest PenFed branch. would be opened to women in the Army, schedule will be followed, and men
Marine Corps and Navy. These are in will not leave the positions earlier than
Here’s how easy it is: specialties already filled by women but expected, he said.
H Eligible for active duty, reserve, and only at the brigade or higher level. About 280,000 positions across the
The 1994 DoD policy known as the services remain closed to women due to
national guard military personnel Direct Ground Combat Definition and the combat exclusion policy.
H No interest* Assignment Rule had prohibited women After six months, DoD will assess the
from serving in combat units below the feedback from women serving in the
H No credit report brigade level. new positions and use the information
But Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to take another look at the suitabil-
H Completely con dential has now granted an exception to policy to ity and relevance of the direct ground
allow women to serve in some positions in combat unit assignment prohibition,
Call 866-212-2742 or visit PenFedFoundation.org/ARK combat units at the battalion level. Penrod said.
The six specialties previously barred “This is the beginning of the end”
to women were due to the “co-location” of the combat exclusion policy, she
element of the 1994 policy. That provi- added.
sion has restricted women from serving “We recognize the expanded role of
in military occupational specialties that women in the military,” Patton said.
* ere is a $1/$100 borrowed fee, and credit counseling is required for additional advances. by doctrine are located with combat “I’ve seen women in combat perform
Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) covers all of the Foundation’s labor and rental units. in an expanded role. I’m very proud of
administrative expenses. DoD intends to eliminate the “co- them.”
10 SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

11. S portS
‘Heartbreaker’ Camp Lejeune’s two wins derail
Patriots’ Capital Classic run
Story and photos by Brandon Bieltz Northern Virginia. The Patriots played
Staff Writer at Henderson Hall, Va., and Fort Myer,
With the final minutes ticking off the Va.
clock Sunday night, the Fort Meade The Patriots ended the tournament
Patriots were on their feet cheering as with a 3-2 record, having defeated Fort
Trevor McDade’s late-game layup put Story, Va., the National Security Agen-
the team up by 1 point. cy of Bethesda and Fort Drum, N.Y.,
Sixty seconds later, the Patriots found before being eliminated.
themselves where they were 24 hours Patriots coach Ronny Cunningham
before — on the losing end of Camp thought this team would make it far in
Lejeune. the tournament if the players solidified
“Everybody hates to lose. I hate the defense, which has plagued the team
it more than anything,” said Patriot in its up-and-down season.
Taras Newby. “But it’s part of the game “In a tournament like this you can
— somebody has to lose. Unfortunately, score all you want, but you have to be
it was us.” able to stop them too,” he said. ”If we
Last weekend’s Capital Classic tour- can defend and shrug off some of the
nament ended early for the Patriots as rebound problems we’ve been having all
the team lost twice to Camp Lejeune, season, I think we’ll be OK.”
N.C. However, said Cunningham, there are
Fifteen military teams from the East no guarantees in a tournament in which
Coast competed in the three-day tour- two losses can send a team home.
nament, which spanned three military “You’ll have one or two games that
installations in Washington, D.C., and you should win, you’re going to have
TOP: Taras Newby of the Patriots takes a jump shot over two Fort Drum defenders
during the Capital Classic.
ABOVE: Patriots coach Ronny Cunningham (kneeling in center) talks with his players
during one of the team’s games on Saturday at Henderson Hall, Va.
12 SOUNDOFF! February 23, 2012 http://www.ftmeade.army.mil