1. 1 March 2012
Task Force Tigershark
FRSA Flash
Special Notes of Interest
Dear Students, Parents, and and May 24.
Staff, In the event of long
On 30 March, Fort Drum This year has certainly term emergency closings, the
been an unusual year for the Board of Education reserves
Arts and Craft Center will weather. As is our custom, which makeup days will be
be closing their doors for the district included five used from any scheduled re-
emergency days into the in- cess periods and/or holidays,
the final time.
structional calendar, just in consistent with any language
case we need to close school. that may exist in district labor
Thus far, none of these days agreements.
Judy L. Waligory
has been used this
Road construction in the year.
Interim Superintendent of Schools
area of Gas Alley and Iraqi Therefore, the Carthage
Freedom( new entrance Central School District Board
of Education passed a
lanes) will restart on 12 resolution on February 27 that
March 2012. Construction the instructional calendar will
be modified so that students
will not interfere with traffic and instructional staff will not
entering either entrance. be in attendance on the fol-
The Women's Conference
lowing
This work will provide an 2012 is cancelled due to
dates:
additional entrance lane March 23, 2012 lack of registration. Thank
and has a completion date March 30, 2012 you to all those that have
April 9, 2012
of June 2012. May 7, 2012 donated, registered, volun-
May 24, 2012
However, if additional
teered to be a workshop
days must be used for emer- presenter and outside ven-
gency closings, the first day dor. Your hard work hasn't
will be taken on March 23,
Carthage School District then March 30, April 9, May 7, gone unnoticed.
2. P a g e 2
The Spouses' Club Fort Drum is now accepting scholarship applica-
tions for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Eligible individuals are:
Spouses and children of active duty, reserve, or retired active duty military (officer or
enlisted)
-time accredited degree pro-gram during the upcoming 2012
-2013 academic year (fall & spring terms).
communities.
The application can be found at www.fdosc.com, under "Forms" and must be postmarked
by March 31, 2012.
Please direct any questions to Scholarship Chair Mary Gauvin at ftdrumscholarships@hotmail.com.
4. P a g e 4
March 2012
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Schedule of Events
March 16, & 30 – Indoor Paintball – Youth Cen- March 12 – 2012 Volleyball League Begins -
ter Sports
March 9 & 23 – In Her Shoes: Living With Do- March 16 – Indoor Triathlon – Monti Physical
mestic Violence – Army Community Service Fitness Center
March 9 – Youth Conflict Resolution Training – March 17—St. Patrick‘s Dinner, 1700, The Com-
Youth Center mons
March 10 – Ice Fishing Trip – Parks and Recrea- March 21—Spouses‘ Silent Auction, 1800 The
tion Commons
March 10 – 2012 Basketball Tournament – March 22— Volunteer of the Month Ceremony,
Sports Office 1030-1130, The Commons
March 10 – Maple Days – McEwen Library March 24, 25— Maple Days ,1000-1400, 45IN
Hill (Water Tower)
March 10 – Texas Hold ‗Em Tournament – BOSS
March 26— DIVISION DONSA
March 10 – Trip to Monster Truck Jam – Parks
and Recreation March 26—CYSS Child Development Centers
Closed (ALL), All Day, All Locations
March 10 – Midnight Sports – Youth Center
5. P a g e 5
Volunteers needed!!
Location:
Pine Plains Complex
6. P a g e 6
United Gives Break to Pet Owners On PCS
Moves
United Airlines is making an exception for military families who ship their
pets on that airline when making permanent change-of-station (PCS)
moves and developed a special process for military families.
Under this new policy, military travelers on PCS orders will be able to ship
their pets under United’s “PetSafe” program without having to pay an addi-
tional fee to a third-party freight forwarder which typically could add an esti-
mated $1,500 to $4,000 per pet to a traveler’s costs.
Military families should contact a United PetSafe desk for details on the
special process. To read further about this new pet program, please see:
http://bit.ly/yhFzbz
OPERATION AT EASE
Operation At Ease (OAE) is a resort situated two hours east of Fort Bragg at Saint
James Plantation, NC. Volunteers at the coastal community have created a resort
specifically for Soldiers and their families to take it easy, enjoy some peace, and
generally feel at ease beside the Atlantic Ocean. OAE operates on an eight-month
schedule, hosting Families between the months of March and October, with few
exceptions on the second and fourth weekends of the month. To sign up for a
weekend with Operation At Ease, apply through the Operation At Ease website at
www.oaeamerica.org.
9. P a g e 9
Between multiple deployments, relocations and time spent apart, Military Families must
learn to make every second together count. While Soldiers are protecting our country,
their Families are doing their part on the homefront to keep the tight-knit community
from unraveling.
To honor their sacrifices and to celebrate April as Month of the Military Child, The
Mountaineer staff is looking for four Fort Drum youths who show exceptional character
at home, in school and in the community. Submissions will be accepted through March 9
and should be limited to 200 words.
Children will be selected based on the following criteria:
* Scholastic activities and involvement
* Family contribution (helping out at home, chores, etc.)
* Community activities and involvement
* Leadership skills
* Volunteer service
* Academic standing / achievement
* Other activities, such as clubs, internships and summer work
Include any awards and honors the child has achieved.
A nominee must be a student within grades 7-12 and reside with a military service mem-
ber assigned at Fort Drum.
Selections will be made before April 1. The Mountaineer will highlight each child with a
feature article and photos on the "Mountaineer People" page (B3). Families with more
than one child may submit one entry per child or a combined entry.
To submit a child for consideration, email the essay in a Word document to
drum.pao@conus.army.mil with the words ―Military Child Nominee‖ in the subject line.
Include the child‘s name and age, and the military parent‘s name, unit and telephone
number.
If a child is selected to be featured, The Mountaineer staff reserves the right to reprint
any part of the essay in the article.
Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
11. P a g e 1 1
2012 Tax Season
In order to schedule an appointment, call 315-772-6727 after 1 p.m. the day before you
would like an appointment.
There is no charge for this service.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/drumtax.
Legal Assistance Office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 10th Mountain Division
Lewis Ave, Fort Drum NYLewis Ave, Fort Drum, NY 13602
14. P a g e 1 4
The Surprise Rough Times of Reintegration
March 06, 2012, in Military Life, Reintegration by The New Normal
Before my husband came home getting back to normal very he may be home, I still needed
from deployment last year, I at- quickly for us and I began to this support to help me through
tended all of the reintegration think that those couples that I some of the difficult times of re-
briefings, read all the pamphlets read about in the reintegra- integration! And I had found
and handouts that were pro- tion pamphlets who had a hard friendships that I wanted to con-
vided and attempted to prepare time reconnecting — nope, that tinue and a community that I
myself for that last phase in our wouldn’t be us! Everything was still wanted to remain a part of.
deployment — homecoming. going smoothly … or so I Needless to say, my new inter-
Everything that I read or heard thought. Our biggest obstacle est became the hurdle to over-
spoke about how while the re- during this reintegration time come in our reintegration.
union with our loved ones is turned out to be one of the best
joyous and much anticipated, it things that helped me through After much frustration for both
also can be very difficult and the deployment … my new- of us, we used another golden
can take a while to finally feel found interest, blogging. piece of advice that was
back to normal. People and re- handed out at every briefing I
lationships change when faced One of the best suggestions attended — communicate! We
with the unique challenges of that I was given during the de- sat down and figured out how
deployment. New roles are ployment was to keep myself we could make each other
taken on within the family. Hob- occupied to pass the time. happy without having to give up
bies and interests change or Luckily my kids keep me very the things we enjoyed. Simply
develop. Independence and busy, but I needed something put, we compromised and
strength are gained in order to that was for me, especially dur- found what would work for the
survive. All of these are good ing those quiet, lonely hours both of us. We are both happy
and necessary things to help after the kids went to bed. I be- with the outcome and feel like
adapt to the challenges of gan blogging to document our things are once again back on
lengthy separations, but they life while my husband was track to figuring out what
are also changes that can re- away and through this I met so “normal” is for now.
quire some getting used to many incredible women who
once our servicemember re- were going through, or had
turns home. been through, the same situa-
tions. It became my support
Our family easily fell back into system. My outlet for my frus-
old routines and roles, with my trations and a place to share in
husband taking over the cook- the joys. I also found a love for
ing and trash duties (yay!) while writing that I didn’t know I pos-
I took care of other household sessed. My husband thought it
chores. My husband was proud was great too, because he
of the new skills that I had ob- could follow what was going on
tained while he was away and back home. But once he came
how resourceful I had learned home, he didn’t need those
to be, especially when it came daily updates and it became
to tearing apart and rebuilding something that took up time.
the washing machine that broke Time that could be spent with
a week after he left (it’s still him. I saw it still as my support
working!). Things seemed to be network because even though
15. P a g e 1 5
I never thought that a hobby or Changes Will
interest is what would have
caused our rough spot during
Strengthen Military
reintegration. Luckily we learned Health System, Top Doc
a lot about communication dur-
ing the deployment and were Says…
able to continue to use that in
our new situation. Whether it is A proposed new governance
a new hobby, structure will make the military-
gained independence, adjusting health system more effective
to new family roles after a de-
and produce savings, and the
ployment (and during!), or just
simply reconnecting as a cou- system's 9.8 million beneficiar-
ple, communicating with your ies worldwide will never miss an
spouse is the best way to get appointment, the Pentagon's top
through the tough spots. Getting health affairs official claimed re-
back to normal, or figuring out
that the new “normal” is for your cently. Dr. Jonathan Woodson,
family, will take time after a de- Assistant Secretary of Defense
ployment, but by telling each for Health Affairs and Director of
other what you need and how the TRICARE Management Ac-
you feel will go a long way to tivity, discussed three govern-
making it an easier transition.
ance reforms under way for the Quote of the Week
What things caused tension military health system. One in-
when your SO returned home volves creating a defense health
from deployment? How did you agency to take on the functions
resolve it?
of the TRICARE Managemen-
tActivity and assume responsi-
bility for implementing shared
services across the system . “Truth can
Another proposed reform will
grow legs and
establish market managers for
The New Normal is a change into
multiservice medical markets, ex-
proud Army National Guard wife,
mom of two, teacher, runner and cept for the national capital region. rumor”
keeper of the household zoo. She The third reform involves transfer-
currently writes for SpouseBUZZ and
blogs at The New “Normal” about ring responsibility for running mili-
everything from the struggles of tary treatment facilities in and
reintegration to her 7-year old son’s
“puppy love.” around Washington, D.C. to a na-
tional capital region directorate
within the new Defense Health
Agency.
16. FIND US ON FACEBOOK
TF TIGERSHARK
T A S K F O R C E
T I G E R S H A R K
“ S H A R K B A I T ”
Contents of this newsletter are compiled from multiple Military Family news sources. Material presented does
not represent the views or endorsement of TF Tigershark or the United States Army. This material is for per-
sonal use of the readers. All readers are encouraged to do further research for all applicable restrictions and
guidelines.
M a r c h F a c t s & T r i v i a
Birthstone: Aquamarine Roman God Mars National What Month? -
believed to have healing Irish American Month,
Zodiac: Pisces and Aries
powers for the eyes and Music in our Schools
throat overall wellbeing. Month, Women’s History
Month, Poetry Month, Red
Flower: Jonquil (aka Daf- Famous Birthdays: Sin-
Cross Month and Social
fodil or Narcissus) symbol- clair Lewis, Ronald
izing friendship and do- Reagan, Abraham Lincoln,
mestic happiness Charles Darwin,
Fun Fact: March 21st is Thomas Edison, Gertrude
the first day of Spring! Stein, Rosa Parks,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
March was named after the
