Fort Meade Soundoff, Feb 13, 2014

Soundoff!
´

vol. 66 no. 6

Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community

February 13, 2014

spring finish
Reece Crossings on pace
to finish first phase of
apartment complex
page 3

young author

faked
out

MacArthur sixth-grader’s
drawings lead to book
about father’s deployment
page 6

UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.:
National Prayer Luncheon - Club Meade
Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m.:
Black History Month Observance McGill Training Center
Feb. 27, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.:
Military Saves Week presents
“A Day of Financial Fitness” Community Readiness Center
March 13, 11:30 a.m.:
Women’s History Observance - McGill
March 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.:
Technical Job Fair - Club Meade

Fort Meade
Patriots’ Mike
McKenzie fakes
out and dribbles
past Joint Base
Andrews’ Quentin
Stoudemire
during Sunday’s
basketball
game at Murphy
Field House.
McKenzie’s 12
points led the
Patriots to a 91-67
win.
For the story,
see Page 12.
photo by steve ruark

Soundoff!
´

Editorial Staff
Garrison Commander
Col. Brian P. Foley
Garrison Command
Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Latter
Public Affairs Officer
Chad T. Jones
Chad.T.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Chief, Command Information
Philip H. Jones
Philip.H.Jones.civ@mail.mil
Assistant Editor & Senior Writer
Rona S. Hirsch
Staff Writer Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer Brandon Bieltz
Design Coordinator Timothy Davis
Supplemental photography provided
by The Baltimore Sun Media Group

Guaranteed circulation:
11,285

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Co n t e n t s
News.............................. 3

Sports................................... 11

Crime Watch.................. 8

Movies.................................. 15

Community.................. 14

Classified.............................. 16

SOUNDOFF! February 13, 2014

Commander’s Column
Step Up - Stand Strong
The profession of arms for all armed services
revolves around our core values and the discipline
of our members to build trust with each other.
Knowing that we have each other’s back all day
every day.
Sexual assault violates those values and detrimentally impacts the overall discipline of the force
and the trust we have with each other and the
American people.
Whether your parent service refers to their
program efforts as Sexual Assault Prevention and
Response (SAPR) or Sexual Harassment/Assault
Response and Prevention (SHARP), the prevention of sexual assault is one of the highest priorities
in our armed forces.
All services are getting better at response, holding perpetrators accountable and providing support to victims of this crime.
But we need to do better at prevention and
instilling in our organizations that sexual assault
is unacceptable.
Why am I writing this article now instead of in
April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month? Because
this issue needs to be talked about every day. And
it is being discussed daily by every service’s senior
enlisted leaders.
Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted
advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, stresses the dignity and respect every service
member deserves and the importance of eliminating sexual assaults in the military.
He has noted the moral and physical courage
it takes for members to report sexual assaults so
perpetrators can be held accountable, and clearly
states preventing sexual assaults is our goal:
Prevention — by ensuring at a roots-based cultural level that every service member knows sexual
assault is a crime and unacceptable. That it is contrary to good order and discipline; detrimental to
morale and trust; and at odds with the core values
every service member swears to uphold in defense
of the nation.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler recently released a short video titled “Stand
Strong,” in which he stressed that as an Army
professional, you need to uphold the standards and
enforce core values.
Let your actions speak for you. Lead by example
and be men and women of character. Treat others
with dignity and respect, and build trust with your
fellow service members and the American people.
Do this by stepping up to combat sexual harassment and intervening to stop sexual assault.
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett is one of the most passionate and blunt about
combating this crime. Sexual assault is against the
Corps’ ethos and core values. It is a crime.
It is a fundamental principle of leadership that
if you see something wrong, you correct it. There
is never a wrong time to do the right thing, so step

up and do something.
Master Chief
Petty Officer of
the Navy Mike
Stevens is focusing on shipmates
committing to
character — living the service
core values and
intervening to
Garrison command
ensure everyone Sgt. maj. thomas j. latter
is treated with dignity and respect.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A.
Cody speaks about creating a culture of dignity
and respect — being the example for peers and the
American people of what right looks like. Taking
care of each other by ceasing to be a bystander, and
intervening when you see inappropriate behavior
and making on-the-spot corrections. Become part
of solution to the sexual assault problem.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Michael P. Leavitt is ensuring the culture of the
Coast Guard is to be proactive and engaged at all
levels. This is not only a leadership issue.
There are no bystanders when it comes to taking care of shipmates and supporting victims.
Everyone should be looking out for one another
and doing everything they can to eliminate sexual
assault from the service.
I’ve paraphrased these leaders from recent articles and videos from interviews and public speaking appearances for the purposes of my column.
I recommend you take the time to look up not
only your service senior enlisted leader, but those
of other services.
Sexual assault is a crime and violates the core
values and culture of our profession of arms.
Keep discussing this issue every day so we can
prevent it from happening in the future.
Step up and stand strong.

Commander’s Open Door
Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley
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 concerns to the commander directly
by visiting Foley’s office on Mondays from 4
to 6 p.m. at garrison headquarters in Hodges
Hall, Bldg. 4551, Llewellyn Avenue.
Visitors are seen on a first-come, firstserved basis. No appointment is necessary.
For more information, call 301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

News

Reece Crossings to finish first phase in spring
Story and photo by Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
With the exterior of several of the main
structures nearing completion, Corvias Military Living’s Reece Crossings is rounding the
homestretch for the first group of buildings
in the large complex.
“We’re a bit ahead of schedule,” said Greg
Gundling, project manager for Reece Crossings. “We’re moving along quite well.”
Gundling said the target completion for
the first buildings, including the clubhouse,
is mid-May. Residents are already lined up
for the first phase of openings.
Located on the corner of Cooper Avenue
and Mapes Road, the garden-style apartments community will provide housing
for more than 800 service members of all
branches of ranks E-1 to E-5.
Reece Crossings’ central location provides
close access to installation services including
the Exchange, Gaffney Fitness Center and
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center.
The interior of the first buildings is already
built, and construction crews are preparing
to install cabinets, Gundling said.
Currently, crews are working on seven of
the 14 total buildings. The remainder of the
buildings in the $72 million project will be
phased in as each is completed.
The project is funded at no cost to the
Army.
According to the Corvias website, the
complex is being constructed to ensure sustainability with low-flow toilets, faucets and
showers and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
Plans were designed “using Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design Silver,
Low-Impact Development and Energy Star
guidelines, including advanced storm water
management techniques such as bio filtration facilities and rain gardens,” according
to the website.
The 14-building project will include 432

Construction crews work on Reece Crossings, Corvias Military Living’s garden-style apartment complex. The first phase of
the project is expected to be completed in mid-May. The 14-building complex will provide housing for more than 800 junior,
unaccompanied service members.

one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring
large kitchens with a breakfast bar, full-size
appliances, spacious living rooms and a laundry room. One-bedroom apartments will be
1,081 square feet with a den, while two-bedroom apartments will be 1,141 square feet.
All service members will have private suites,
bathrooms and walk-in closets. Apartments
will be furnished with a sofa, media cabinet,
bar stools, desk and queen-sized bed.

The Reece Crossings’ clubhouse will feature weight-lifting and fitness rooms, a clubroom with multiple flat-screen televisions, a
cyber cafe, basketball and volleyball courts, a
1-mile running trail, a lap pool and outdoor
grilling.
“It’s a great project — one of a kind,”
Gundling said.
Corvias developed a similar apartment
complex — Randolph Pointe — for sin-

gle senior enlisted service members at Fort
Bragg, N.C.
Reece Crossings is the first apartment
complex for unaccompanied junior enlisted
service members.
“We’re so excited,” said Angela Marcum, communications manager for Corvias.
“We’re happy to provide an option for junior,
unaccompanied service members to live on
post.”

‘You Made the Grade’ program rewards students
Army and Air Force Exchange Service
Fort Meade students can turn good grades
into rewards with the Army Air Force
Exchange Service’s “You Made the Grade”
program.
From first-graders to high school seniors,
pupils who maintain a B average or higher are
eligible for the program that recognizes academic excellence.
“You Made the Grade” rewards students in
military families with a coupon booklet filled
with free offers and discounts, including a reguhttp://www.ftmeade.army.mil

lar 6-inch Subway sandwich and a Burger King
Tendergrill chicken sandwich.
Those who make the grade will also score
Snack Avenue coupons for a free 16-ounce
drink, a complimentary hot dog and more.
Other offers include $5 off a $25 iTunes
gift card as well as discounts on clothing and
shoes.
Students with a B average or better also can
enter the “You Made the Grade” semiannual
sweepstakes to receive gift cards worth $2,000,
$1,500 or $500.

“The Fort Meade Exchange is proud to
reward military students who make it their
mission to do well in school,” said Fort Meade
Exchange General Manager Michele Weisshaar.
“Service members’ children face unique challenges inside and outside the classroom. The
Fort Meade Exchange recognizes these students’
challenges, and they deserve to be rewarded.”
According to MilitaryFamily.org, most military children will attend nine different schools
from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Students, including those who are homeschooled, can receive a “You Made the Grade”
coupon booklet by presenting a valid military
I.D. and proof of an overall B average at the
Fort Meade Exchange receptionist desk.
Eligible students can pick up one coupon
booklet for each qualifying report card.
Entries for the gift card sweepstakes drawing
can be submitted twice a year, with drawings
typically held in June and December.
More information is available at the
Exchange.
February 13, 2014 SOUNDOFF!

N ews

Photos by Noah Scialom

Right Arm Night
promotes camaraderie

ABOVE: Service members and civilians mingle during Right Arm Night at Club
Meade. Right Arm Night is an Army
tradition that promotes camaraderie and esprit de corps.
RIGHT: Capt. Hamid Conteh balances a pingpong ball on a spoon
during a relay race at the installation’s Right Arm Night on Feb.
6 at Club Meade. The free twohour event featured food, music,
games and prizes.
LEFT: 1st Sgt. Jared Shaw carries
a 42-inch television he won during
last week’s Right Arm Night. Service members and civilians also
won an XBox One, DVD players
and gift cards.



N ews

MacArthur Middle School student writes book
Story and photo by Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
When Jake Neslony’s father deployed
to Iraq three years ago, he felt lonely and
unsafe.
“I was worried he wasn’t coming back,
or he was coming back injured,” said
Jake, a sixth-grader at MacArthur Middle
School. “My mother and I sat down and
I started to draw pictures. It made me
feel better.”
Jake’s pictures were the inspiration for
“Daddy’s Deployment,” a self-published
book he wrote with his mother Lorin
Neslony that was published last month.
“I feel good,” said Jake, 11, who resides
in Meuse Forest. “They [my classmates]
want a copy. They want me to autograph
it.”
Neslony said that at first, her son had
no intentions of writing a book. The
pictures were just a way of helping him
express his feelings.
Jake, who has Asperger’s syndrome, a
form of autism, sometimes has a hard
time letting others know how he feels.
“I had to find a way for him to express
his feelings, whether he was angry, sad or
happy,” Neslony said.
Jake began drawing the pictures about
a month after his father, Capt. Timothy
Neslony of the 7th Intelligence Squadron,
deployed.
At the time, the family, which includes
Jake’s 7-year-old sister Haley, was visiting
the captain’s parents in Dallas.
“When we were doing the pictures, I
asked Jake to tell me what he was feeling,
to put the pictures into words,” Neslony
said.
Along with the pictures, Jake and his
mother wrote prayers to Jesus. Neslony found Scriptures reflecting Jake’s
prayers.
Neslony said the book was just going
to be a keepsake for the family. The decision to publish was entirely up to Jake,
said his mother.
“He felt some anxiety and fear of being
rejected, putting your feelings and your
faith out there,” Neslony said. “Nobody
likes to be rejected.”
The family prayed about the book.
“If he felt led to publish it, we would
when he was ready,” Neslony said.
Jake said that after some thought, he
felt a book about deployment could help
other military children.
When Jake decided to publish, Neslony
researched self-publishing companies and
started thinking about hiring an illustra SOUNDOFF! February 13, 2014

Jake Neslony, a sixth-grader at MacArthur Middle School, and his mother Lorin read a copy of “Daddy’s Deployment,” a book
they co-wrote that was self-published last month. In the book, the 11-year-old shares how he felt when his father, Capt. Timothy
Neslony of the 7th Intelligence Squadron, deployed to Iraq three years ago.

tor.
While Neslony’s sister-in-law Diana
Lewis was visiting Maj. Brian Smith, a
physical therapist at Goodfellow Air Force
Base in San Angelo, Texas, she noticed
several drawings in Smith’s office.
“He said his wife drew the pictures,”
Neslony said. “My sister-in-law said, ‘My
nephew just wrote a children’s book on
deployment.’ ”
Smith said that his wife, Sharon, was
praying for the opportunity to illustrate
a children’s book.
Neslony called Sharon Smith and drove
to Goodfellow to show her Jake’s drawings and the text for the book.
Smith agreed to illustrate the book.
“My prayer was to be able to use my
God-given artistic ability to help military
families dealing with deployment,” Smith
said. “I’m very proud of Jake, and his
story is inspirational.”

In the book, Jake shares how he felt
lonely and frightened during his father’s
deployment, and how he missed going
fishing together and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as a family.
But Jake also shares his love and appreciation for his mother and grandparents
who are always there for him and his
sister.
In his prayers, Jake asks for protection
for his family and his father. He also
expresses his gratitude for all the love in
his life.
In addition to Smith’s colorful drawings, the book features drawings from
children at military bases around the
country and includes a page for children
to draw and write their own prayer.
Neslony said she researched the market for children’s books on deployment.
There were a few, but none of the books
offered a Christian perspective.

“There’s not anything like it,” she
said.
To celebrate the book’s publication,
Jake’s science class had cake and ice
cream.
“It’s not just about me,” Jake said. “It’s
for other military kids.”
Neslony said there may be a book
release party at Fort Meade, or a book
signing at the Exchange.
“We’re really proud of Jake,” Neslony
said. “I can’t even imagine how hard it
is for a kid to process a military deployment.”
Neslony said the book is also important
because it shows Jake what he can accomplish through his own effort, despite
Asperger’s.
“We didn’t want that to be at the reason
why Jake does not pursue his dreams,”
Neslony said. “He can do anything he
wants.”

N ews

Thousands using new ArmyFit site for self-improvements
By David Vergun
Army News Service
Since Comprehensive Soldier and
Family Fitness launched its ArmyFit
site two weeks ago, tens of thousands
have logged on and are taking advantage of its features, designed to improve
self-awareness in health and resilience.
In the first week alone, some 28,000
users visited the site where they took
the Global Assessment Tool, or GAT,
2.0
Many then went on to view the
myriad help and resources offered,
said Lt. Col. Daniel Johnston, program
manager for ArmyFit.
GAT 2.0 is an online assessment
that’s been scientifically validated and
accurately measures five dimensions of
health including the emotional, social,
spiritual, familial and physical.
The physical dimension consists of
sleep, activity and nutrition, the three
parts of Performance Triad.
The metrics from those five dimensions are then aggregated through an
algorithm that has been scientifically validated to accurately predict life
expectancy, Johnston said.
The assessment takes an average of
23 minutes to complete, is easy to do
and the results are presented in colorful graphics depicting how the person
rates in each of the five dimensions
compared to his or her peers, Johnston
said.
The GAT 2.0 also scores a person’s
“real age” with their “actual age.” In
other words, someone who is 35 years
old but is especially strong on all or
most of the categories might be several
years younger in “real” but not “actual”
age.
Each of those dimensions have been
shown to be a strong predictor of life
expectancy and quality of life, and
those taking GAT 2.0 will, hopefully,
be motivated to use the advantages of
ArmyFit’s extensive information, programs and coaching.
Taking GAT 2.0 “is the first step in
self-awareness and starts the on-boarding process to ArmyFit,” Johnston said,
adding that taking GAT 2.0 annually is
a requirement for every Soldier and the
first step in using ArmyFit.
As to the help that’s offered after
taking GAT 2.0, Johnston said there
are some 5,000 pages of sites relevant to
those five dimensions on ArmyFit.
He noted that within the first week,

Photo Courtesy Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness

Since Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness launched its ArmyFit site two weeks
ago, tens of thousands have logged on and are taking advantage of its features,
designed to improve self-awareness in health and resilience.

those topical pages generated around
86,000 page views.
Those topical pages, he said, connect people with organizations, groups
and other users. Johnston emphasized
that GAT 2.0 protects confidentiality
and that those who do the assessment
can choose to continue on the site and
how much information they’re willing
to share.
The original GAT, hosted on a site
called “Soldier Fitness Tracker,” was
missing the “physical” dimension of
sleep, activity and nutrition. One of
Johnston’s first tasks was to build that
“critically important” fifth dimension
into a new GAT.
But “I noticed right away that the site
was archaic, with very little follow-on
training, advice or recommendations
following completion of the GAT,” he
said.
“I just felt we were failing our Soldiers in terms of giving them great
online feedback and training. It had
become just another requirement to
check the box, and see you next year.
“We needed to get our Soldiers
engaged and provide them with some
interactive content and information
they needed to improve.
“So then my mission became much
greater,” Johnston said. “Not only did
we need to enhance this assessment
tool by making it truly global, we also
needed to make the entire web platform
much more engaging.”

Johnston said he found solutions
after doing a lot of research on the latest web engagement strategies, stuff like
Web 3.0, and talking to a lot of users
and experts.
His web developers also came up
with a more enhanced graphical user
interface. The site is easier to navigate
and more appealing to the eye. It also
includes shorter, more enticing videos,
and the ability to interact with organizations, communities and persons,
depending on the user’s comfort level,
Johnston said.
Branding was important as well,
he noted. So his team of developers
changed the name of the site to ArmyFit, hoping to erase the memories of
the older, clunkier site.
That all started about 18 months ago,
Johnston said.
His metrics analyst — the person
who compiles the statistics on site
visits, page views and so on — found
after just the first week that instead of
spending 30 seconds to a minute, users
were loitering after taking GAT 2.0 an
average of 4.5 minutes — about a fivefold increase.
And, there were about twice as many
users as before.
Spc. Ryan Bradley, a medic at Fort
Bliss, Texas, said he found the content
compelling. After completing GAT 2.0,
the site offered content appropriate to
his needs, he said.
“I’ve never before been able to con-

nect spirituality in my life,” Bradley
said. “[The site] linked me to information that explained self-awareness,
valuing self and having a purpose for
being. Now I understand what that pillar means.”
Bradley said he clicked around
on family topics and that dimension
brought up a lot of resources as well.
ArmyFit also was good at “helping
me set goals and get a sense of accomplishment as I moved toward achieving
them,” he said.
After taking the original GAT for
several years, Bradley said the new
2.0 version is “a lot more accurate
in finding parts of my life I’d like to
improve.”
He also said the real-age data
impressed him. “I wish the site was
there when I first came in the Army six
years ago,” he said.
Future plans include expansion of
content that will provide “an ecosystem of knowledge from the Army, the
Department of Defense and civilian
accredited organizations,” said Johnston.
Several enhancements will be added
to the site like financial readiness
assessment tools, an installation profile
dashboard for leaders to see trends,
and other metrics for their population
to understand their unique needs, and
aids in navigation, he said.
Whatever the future holds, Johnston
promised that the site will always focus
first on the Soldier, providing them
“appropriate, customized content.”
Johnston encouraged members of the
Army family to “let ArmyFit show you
how to be ‘Army Strong.’ ”
To access the ArmyFit site, visit
https://armyfit.army.mil. Users may log
in using CAC login or AKO username
and password. Family members must be
registered in DEERS.
Those experiencing difficulties getting
in or needing more information about
GAT 2.0 or ArmyFit should contact
CSF2 at http://csf2.army.mil/contact.
html.

Connect with
Fort Meade at
Facebook.com
/ftmeade

N ews

Filing your taxes with an unavailable spouse
By Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Gravante
NCOIC, Fort Meade Tax Center
The last thing to do when completing
your tax return is to sign it and send it on
its way to the Internal Revenue Service.
Seems simple.
However, being military, we may be
deployed or unavailable and cannot be
physically present to sign the tax return.
This means that come tax season, someone may need to sign on your behalf in
order to get the refund to which you are
entitled.
If you are deployed, your spouse is
deployed or otherwise unavailable, and
you are looking to file your tax return
jointly this year, you will need a power of
attorney.
There are different types of powers of
attorney:
• A limited power of attorney limits the
authority of the attorney-in-fact so that he
or she may only handle certain, specific
functions for the grantor.

For example, this type of power of
attorney may be used if an individual is
going out of town and needs someone just
to be a temporary guardian of the children
or to pay bills while the grantor is away.
It is always advisable to have an expiration date on the power of attorney,
whether it is a limited or general power
of attorney, so that the power of attorney
becomes void by a certain date.
Thus, the grantor may then decide
whether to renew the power of attorney
for a future term.
If used for tax purposes, a limited
power of attorney must specify that a
specific person is able to prepare, execute,
sign and file the tax return for the taxpayer
for a specific tax year. (This year is the
2013 tax year.)
A general power of attorney gives the
attorney-in-fact the power to do anything
that the grantor has the ability to do.
But the general power of attorney can
be a very dangerous document because

Fort Meade Tax Center is open
The Fort Meade Tax Center is open through April 15 for tax assistance and electronic filing
at 4217 Roberts Ave., in the rear of the first floor of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
The Tax Center is a free service available
to all active-duty personnel, retirees and
dependents in the Fort Meade area.
The office is staffed by volunteer service
members and operates under the IRS
Volunteer Information Tax Assistance
(VITA) program.
All clients will be required to show
military, retiree or dependent
identification.
Below is a short list of documents to bring at the time of your appointment:
• Social Security cards for yourself, spouse and all dependents, if available
• All income documents such W-2 for wages, 1099 for interest and miscellaneous income
• If direct deposit to your bank institution is desired, bring a check or other document
showing account number and routing symbol.
In addition, bring documents or other information substantiating tax credits of deductions
for:
• Dependent child care (including taxpayer ID or Social Security numbers for child care
provider)
• Interest on education loans
• Rental income and expenses
• Itemized expenses
• Education credits
• Power of Attorney, if signing for your spouse
• Any other document applicable to your tax situation
To schedule an appointment, call the Tax Center at 301-677-9366.
.

of its broad, sweeping powers. A grantor
should sign it only after giving the matter
much thought.
If using a general power of attorney for
tax purposes, the power of attorney must
state that the person accepting the power
is authorized to prepare, execute, sign and
file the tax return for a specific tax year.
Another option for the taxpayer is to
sign IRS Form 2848, the IRS power of
attorney. However, IRS Form 2848 only
authorizes the representative to receive
and inspect confidential tax information.
It does not specifically authorize the representative to sign the tax return on the
taxpayer’s behalf.
The power to sign is only granted in the
following limited circumstances:
• The taxpayer is suffering from disease
or injury.
• The taxpayer is continually absent
from the United States (including Puerto
Rico), for a period of at least 60 days prior
to the date the return is due (in most cases,

April 15).
• Specific permission is requested of
and granted by the IRS for other good
cause.
The bottom line is, if you are having
your taxes done at Fort Meade’s Joint
Installation Tax Center, and your spouse is
unavailable for the appointment or cannot
come into the office to sign the return once
completed, you must obtain a power of
attorney giving you the authority to sign
on your spouse’s behalf. Make sure the
power of attorney specifies the applicable
tax year.
You can execute an IRS Form 2848 and
have the authority to sign the tax return
for your spouse if you meet one of the
three above requirements.
The Tax Center, located at 4217 Roberts
Ave., is open Mondays through Fridays
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appointments are limited.
For more information or to schedule an
appointment, call 301-677-9366.

Community
Crime Watch

On the
lookout

Compiled by the Fort Meade
Directorate of Emergency Services
Feb. 7, Shoplifting: AAFES
loss prevention personnel
stated she witnessed Subject 1
pick up a container of lotion.
The subject opened the container and put the lotion on
her lips, continued walking
and dropped the container on
the floor. Subject 2 picked it
up and placed it in the pocket
of Subject 1’s sweatshirt. Both individuals exited
the store without rendering payment.

For week of Feb. 3-9:
• Moving violations: 41
• Nonmoving violations: 5
• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 42
• Traffic accidents: 7
• Driving on suspended license: 4
• Driving on suspended registration: 1
• Driving without a license: 2

The Directorate of
Emergency Services is actively working to keep neighborhoods safe.
Families residing on post should
remember to ensure
that windows and doors to homes,
cars and garages are locked at all
times, regardless of time of day.
Although the crime rate in military housing is lower than off
post, it is important to remember
that Fort Meade is not immune to
crime. To protect your family and
belongings, remember to take an
active role in deterring crime.
Remain aware of your surroundings and immediately report
any suspicious activity to the Fort
Meade Police at 301-677-6622
or 6623.

N ews

Refractive eye surgery offered at Joint Base Andrews
By Mike Martin
Air Force District
Washington Public Affairs
Tired of being restricted by your glasses?
The Warfighter Eye Center, located at
Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews
Air Force Base, is offering refractive surgery
to active-duty service members.
Qualified candidates can leave their glasses
behind in as little as two months.
“You’re looking at being scheduled within
a month for the pre-op and then, once you’re
approved, our goal is to have you treated
within 30 days after that,” said Bianca Spears,
clinical manager of the 779th Warfighter Eye
Center.
There are several reasons to consider
refractive surgery, said Maj. (Dr.) Megan
E. McChesney, one of three comprehensive
ophthalmologists at Malcolm Grow Medical
Center.
Reduced dependence on glasses and
improvement in lifestyle and functionality are
the most common reasons people decide to
have the operation.
“I think one of the biggest benefits to the
force is for our deployed,” McChesney said.
“While wearing eye armor downrange, the
member can get a lot of visual distortion,
so there is an indisputable readiness mission
associated with our center.”
The eye center offers two refractive surgery
options: PRK and LASIK.
Surgeons will establish which procedure
is right for the patient after an in-depth, preoperation examination. During this exam,
they also will determine if the patient is a
candidate for refractive surgery.
“If I don’t think you’re a good candidate,
I’m going to tell you you’re not a good
candidate because we’re looking out for our
patient’s best interest,” McChesney said. “We
spend a lot of time in our pre-op evaluation

Protect vision
with Military
Combat Eye
Protection
By Tri-Service Vision Conservation and
Readiness Program Staff
U.S. Army Public Health Command
February is Low Vision Awareness Month.
Low vision is a general term used to describe
partial sight or sight that is not fully correctable
by lenses, surgery or medication.
In the United States, the most common

to make sure the candidate isn’t someone who
might have problems after surgery.”
Good candidates have stable prescriptions
that typically range from positive three to
negative eight. Candidates not within this
range may still be eligible depending on
the individual, and are still encouraged to
inquire.
The eye center has treated 153 eyes since
May 5, said Spears.
There is a 96 percent success rate of 20/20
or better vision post surgery. Of the 4 percent

who didn’t achieve 20/20, there was only a
small need for correction as compared to their
previous dependence on glasses.
McChesney said when patients are asked
to describe their pain on a scale from 1 to
10 post-operation, they usually respond with
a 1 or 2.
The procedure is about 15 minutes. The laser
portion only takes about 10 to 40 seconds.
The hardest part for most patients is staying calm prior to surgery.
“When you come into the laser suite, it’s

important to just stay relaxed” McChesney
said.
Spears knows exactly what it’s like to be a
refractive surgery patient.
“From my perspective, from having the surgery, it’s one of the best things I have done for
myself,” she said. “The reward is hard to even
explain. It’s wonderful the Air Force provides
this service for its members.”
The surgery is open to all branches of the
military. Service members not stationed on
Joint Base Andrews are encouraged to take
advantage as well.
Patients who aren’t from the area can get
assistance with scheduling base lodging. Their
doctor will sign over post-procedure checkups to another doctor in the visiting patient’s
area of residence.
People come from out of town for several
reasons: location, waiting time, and because
the Warfighter Eye Center is the only Air Force
eye clinic in the National Capital Region.
Candidates traveling from out of town
should plan on arriving on Monday for the
pre-operation screening and staying until the
following Monday.
“They come in for briefing and assessment
on Monday, consent on Tuesday, and have
surgery on Wednesday,” Spears said.
The first step to applying for the surgery is
coming to the information briefing held every
Friday at 1 p.m.
“If you bring your packet to the briefing
and you have everything signed, we can actually schedule you for your pre-op that day,”
Spears said.
It’s recommended that, at minimum, potential candidates bring their prescription to the
briefing.
For more information and forms, go to
the Andrews’ refractive surgery website at
http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/andrewsrs or
call 240-857-8306.

causes of low vision are age-related macular
degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss
for people older than age 50. Other causes
include glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, albinism, some birth-related conditions,
and trauma.
Doctors help low vision patients increase
visual function by prescribing and training
them to use magnifiers, prisms, and automated
reading and writing devices. These alternatives
help maximize existing vision and teach people
how to accomplish things they would like to do
by using technology and other senses such as
hearing and touch.
Roughly 92 percent of Army personnel are
under the age of 40, so the more immediate low
vision concern is from trauma. An eye injury
can occur literally faster than the blink of an

eye, and in that brief time the injury may cause
permanent loss of vision.
Unlike AMD, glaucoma and cataracts, trauma can be prevented or reduced through basic
safety precautions.
The best way to preserve vision is to protect
it. People can drastically reduce the risk of
certain conditions such as diabetes through a
good diet and exercise.
Soldiers can reduce the risk of cataracts by
wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet light,
or by limiting exposure to it.
They can avoid most eye injuries simply by
using appropriate eye protection at work, home,
during recreational activities and any time eye
hazards are present.
Prevent Blindness America estimates 90 percent of eye injuries are preventable simply with

the use of proper protective equipment. Current Military Combat Eye Protection devices
represent more than 50 years of research and
development.
All that work becomes useless when a Soldier
suffers an eye injury because the service member was not wearing the proper protection.
The Approved Protective Eyewear List
shows the tested and approved MCEP devices
at https://peosoldier.army.mil/equipment/eyewear/.
The eyewear on the APEL meets and goes
beyond the impact requirements for standard
industrial safety glasses by four- to six times,
depending on whether the eyewear is a spectacle
or a goggle.
“Preserve Your Sight to Fight.” Wear your
MCEP whenever an eye hazard is present.

photo by AIR FORCE Staff Sgt. Perry Aston

A slit lamp is used to check the cornea, conjunctiva, lids, lashes and the angles of the
eye for refractive surgery performed on active-duty service members at Joint Base
Andrews. The surgery is open to all branches of the military. Service members at Fort
Meade eligible and encouraged to take advantage of the service.


N ews

Meade High junior selected for medical leaders program
Story and photo by Lisa R. Rhodes
Staff Writer
Jacob Seitz has wanted to become a
doctor since he was in kindergarten.
“I like the idea of helping people and
making people feel better,” said Jacob,
a junior at Meade High School. “The
human body is interesting. ... The body
is one of the mysteries that I’d like to
figure out.”
Jacob is one of 3,500 high school
students to be selected to attend the
Congress of Future Medical Leaders
that will be held Friday through Sunday
at the D.C. Armory.
The 16-year-old is the son of Sgt. Lee
Ann Seitz of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade.
“This is amazing, and he’s doing very
well,” Seitz said. “He’s definitely pursuing his interests.”
The congress is an honors-only program for high school students who
aspire to become physicians or go into
medical research.
Its aim is to honor, inspire and motivate top students in the country who
want to enter the medical field and to
provide a path and resources for them
to achieve their goal, according to the
organization’s press office.
The congress is a program of the
National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, based in
Washington, D.C.
According to the American Medical
Colleges, there will be a major shortage
of primary care doctors and most specialists during the next 10 years.
The academy’s mission is to address
this shortage by identifying, encouraging and mentoring students who want to
devote their careers as physicians, medical scientists, technologists, engineers
and mathematicians.
“I’m excited for it. It will be a really
great experience,” said Jacob, who has
a 3.94 GPA.
He also is a cadet captain and company commander in the Junior Reserve
Officers’ Training Corps at Meade
High.
“I’ll be meeting students who have
the same mentality as me and share
the same dream. I’ll make long-term
friends,” Jacob said.
During the three-day congress, participants will hear Nobel laureates and
National Medal of Science winners
talk about leading medical research;
receive advice from Ivy League and top
10 SOUNDOFF! February 13, 2014

Jacob Seitz, 16, a junior at Meade High School, has been selected to participate in the Congress of Future Medical Leaders that
will be held Friday through Sunday at the D.C. Armory. The congress is an honors-only program for high school students with
plans of becoming physicians or going into medical research.

medical school deans about what to
expect in medical school; hear the stories of patients who are living medical
miracles; hear about the achievements
of teen medical and science prodigies;
and learn about cutting-edge advances
in medicine and medical technology.
Upon completion of the congress, the
students will receive the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical
Scientists Award of Excellence.
Participants are nominated for the
congress by teachers, guidance counselors and principals, or through a survey
conducted by My College Options or
the College Board.
Students must have a 3.5 GPA or
higher, demonstrate leadership potential and be dedicated to entering the
medical field.
Jacob was selected through an in-

class survey administered by My College Options, a free college planning
service.
Dr. Connie Mariano, medical director of the academy, nominates the
participants.
The students are formally invited to
attend the congress through the mail
and must verify their academic standing and pay the required $985 tuition
to participate.
Jacob aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, performing surgical
treatments on diseases that affect the
heart and lungs.
Jacob said he is considering the University of Michigan for his pre-med
studies, and would like to attend Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine
or the University of Michigan Medical
School.

He is currently enrolled in advanced
placement chemistry and AP language
and composition. He plans to enroll in
AP biology next year.
“Jacob is very energetic and loves to
learn,” said Samaira Basit, who teaches
AP chemistry. “It’s very rewarding to
hear of students who have high goals
and strive to achieve them.”
Basit said the AP chemistry class is
very rigorous and one of the most difficult classes in the school.
“It’s a really great opportunity for a
great student,” Meade High Principal
John Yore said.
Yore called Jacob “a young man of
the highest character and level of integrity,” and praised him for his “humanitarian spirit.”
“Jacob is a reflection of all that is
good about Meade,” Yore said.

S ports

Meade football players set to compete on next level
By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
With two regional titles and trips to
the state playoffs, the seniors of Meade
High School’s football team quickly transformed a struggling program into a county
powerhouse.
“They’re kind of like the backbone of
this turnaround,” said head coach Rich
Holzer. “They set a tone for the standard.”
Having left the program better off than
when they arrived, more than a dozen
players will be moving on to compete at
the next level as they accepted offers to
play football in college.
Eight players made their commitments
official during last week’s National Signing
Day, while others are continuing to visit
schools and make decisions in the coming
weeks.
The signing class was highlighted with
defensive end Niquekko Cook’s commitment to Towson University and all-state
offensive lineman Jake Hawks’ official
commitment to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Cook recorded 60 tackles, five-and-ahalf sacks and two blocked field goals for
the Mustangs this season, and was named
to the all-state team.
Hawk verbally committed to the school
in the summer and made it official on
National Signing Day.
“It felt great to get it over and know
where I’m going,” Hawk said.
Other National Signing Day commitments included the linebacking duo of
Daniel Gilbert and Robert Hogan, who
will be attending Concord University in
Athens, W. Va. The two combined for 70
tackles, two-and-a-half sacks, three inter-

submitted photo

Niquekko Cook, Marcus Smith, Daniel Gilbert, Tyree Turner, Robert Hogan, Jake Hawk
and Darrius Everett pose with their families on Feb. 5 after signing their letters of
intent to play college football. Eight players accepted offers on National Signing Day,
while others are continuing to visit schools and will make decisions in the coming
weeks.

ceptions and two forced fumbles in 2013.
Gilbert said he is looking forward to
playing alongside Hogan for another four
years.
“Its going to great. We have a bond,”
Gilbert said. “We’re going to excel at the
college level.”
Running back Jamaal Talbert will join
defensive back Darius Everett at the Division III Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Marcus Smith committed to play Division
II football at West Virginia Wesleyan in
Buckhannon.
Smith, who played quarterback and wide
receiver for the Mustangs, was recruited to
play free safety — the position he played

Meade Mustangs
weekly roundup
Basketball

The girls basketball team won two of three this
week as they defeated Chesapeake on Friday and
Southern on Tuesday, but lost to Severn 73-58 on
Feb. 6.
Bria Gates’ 11 points led the Mustangs to the 6272 win over Chesapeake. Kinard Dakota and Denay
Lane each scored 9 points. Gates and Jatarrikah
Settles each scored 11 points in a 65-50 win on
Tuesday night. The Mustangs now hold a 14-7


prior to transferring to Meade from Texas.
He will also be returning kicks for the
Bobcats.
“I feel like I’ve accomplished something,” Smith said of his commitment.
“I’m definitely excited to play at the next
level.”
The coaching staff at West Virginia
Wesleyan said Smith will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the offensive
side of the ball.
Smith’s father Sgt. 1st Class James Wilson said although his son didn’t set out to
get a football scholarship, it “feels good”
that Smith earned an offer.
“It felt great,” the noncommissioned

record.
Meade will close out the regular season on the
road against Northeast (1-15) on Friday.
The boys won both of their games this week as
they stormed past both Chesapeake and Southern
behind big games by Tristan Easton.
Easton scored 37 points in Friday’s 88-81 win
over Chesapeake and then 27 points in Tuesday’s 7358 win against Southern. The boys improved to 15-6
with the wins.
They will play Northeast (7-14) on Friday.
Both teams are gearing up and looking toward
the regional playoffs, which begin in two weeks.
Boys head coach Pete Corriero said his players have
their work cut out for them in what will be a tight
contest.
“There’s not going to be an easy game,” he said.

officer of the Kimbrough Ambulatory
Care Center’s Department of Pharmacy
said. “It felt like he was finally being
rewarded for all his hard work.”
All-state running back Kyle Evans, who
rushed for 2,320 yards and 18 touchdowns,
signed to play at East Coast Prep in Great
Barrington, Mass. Evans follows the path
of former Mustang Anthony Watkins,
who played at Lawrenceville School in
New Jersey last year and recently signed
with the University of Connecticut.
Holzer said Evans is already being
actively recruited by Penn State.
Quarterback-turned-receiver Tyree
Turner committed to Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. As a receiver this
season, Turner had 36 catches for 431
yards and 4 touchdowns.
“It was great to see him sign,” said
Turner’s father, retired Master Sgt. Lamar
Turner, the installation’s former Equal
Opportunity advisor. “He’s worked
hard.”
While it is the players who compete on
the field, the recruitment process is a family
task — from driving the athletes to combines in various states to sorting through
game-tape to create a highlight reel.
“The hours are countless,” Wilson said.
For Turner, the time was well spent.
“It was definitely worth it,” he said. “I
wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Although an offer to play football at
the next level is a special opportunity for
players, it also shows the caliber of the
Meade program as more players compete
in college.
“It shows that it’s no joke here,” Hawk
said. “We’re moving guys onto the next
level.”

“There’s no weak link in our sectional, despite
records. ... We have to make a run at the playoffs. If
we’re going to start playing good basketball, now is
the time.”
Reggie Leach of the girls team said his players
will be focusing on ball pressure, execution and
fundamentals in the lead up to the postseason. He
said he is confident in his team heading in to the
playoffs.
“We’re reading for the regionals; we’re focusing
on that right now,” Leach said. “We feel that we’re
ready.”
For more coverage of Meade High School sports,
including up-to-date football commitments and
complete summaries of Tuesday’s basketball games
against Southern, go to ftmeadesoundoff.com/sports.
February 13, 2014 SOUNDOFF! 11

S ports

Patriots bounce back with two wins
By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
After dropping the first two games of
the Washington Area Military Athletic
Conference in close matchups, the Fort
Meade Patriots men’s basketball season
didn’t exactly start off the way the players
had envisioned
But back-to-back wins over the
National Security Agency-Bethesda (05) and Joint Base Andrews (4-2) this
weekend has returned the optimism to
the season.
An 81-64 win at Bethesda on Saturday,
and Sunday’s 91-67 victory over Andrews
improved the team to 2-2 as the Patriots
got back on track.
“It took a team effort,” said head
coach Ronny Cunningham. “We really
had to play hard.”
The Patriots, which was assembled a
month ago, won the preseason Martin
Luther King tournament, but then lost
to Fort Lee (3-1) and Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall (5-0) on the road in tight
games.
Cunningham said the team will continue to improve as the season progresses
and players continue to build chemistry.
“The talent is there, the chemistry is
there, but you have to put it together,”
he said. “It’s still a work in progress. ...
I don’t put a lot of pressure on them
because it’s a new team, but they’re getting better every game.”
Fort Meade’s scoring touch was the
focal point of a 57-point second-half that

led the Patriots to a win in its first home
game of the season on Sunday.
“We’re finally playing like a team,”
said Darrius Evans, who scored 10 points
in Sunday’s game against Joint Base
Andrews. “The results speak for themselves.”
The team opened the game in a tight
battle with Joint Base Andrews as the
teams exchanged the lead 11 times in
the first half. Fort Meade struggled in its
defensive end for a majority of the half,
but closed out the period on a 12-2 run
to secure a 34-30 halftime lead.
At the start of the second half, the
Patriots kept up its fast-paced tempo in
both the offensive and defensive zones,
allowing Fort Meade to build its lead to
13 points midway through the half.
Joint Base Andrews was unable to cut
into the lead as the Patriots continued to
tally points en route to a 91-67 blowout.
McKenzie and Deion McClenton led
Fort Meade with 12 points, while Zarion
Cooper and Deron Bethea each scored
11 points.
“We’re definitely feeling better,” McKenzie said after Sunday’s game. “We felt
good the whole season. We just dropped
two close ones.”
After the game, the Patriots turned its
attention to this weekend’s Capital Classic tournament at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The tournament will feature
military teams from around the country.
“We’re definitely going to make a run
for it,” McKenzie said.

CYSS spring sports
enrollment open,
offers new program
By Brandon Bieltz
Staff Writer
Although winter sports is still in high gear, the
Youth Sports staff at Child, Youth and School Services is preparing for warmer weather and looking
ahead to spring sports.
Registration is underway for spring sports, which
includes baseball, T-ball, soccer, track and a new
flag football program. Youth Sports is open to Fort
Meade children ages 3 to 13 with clinics, and intramural and county teams.
“Our goal here is to introduce kids to the sport,
try to build a foundation of skills that they can build
upon if they want to go on,” said Jim Dey, assistant

photo by steve ruark

Fort Meade Patriots’ Brian Burns tips a pass intended for Joint Base Andrews’ Joseph
McNeil during Sunday’s game at Murphy Field House. The Patriots won 91-67.

director of Youth Sports. “At this level, it’s introducing the sport and making sure they have fun, that
they want to continue and learn more.”
Youth Sports staff said the deadlines for county
teams are approaching quickly and encourage young
athletes to sign up soon.
CYSS is also seeking coaches to lead teams. But
before a coach can step onto the field, he or she must
undergo a background check.
“If people are interested in coaching, they need to
contact us now so we can get them the certification
and background-check information,” Dey said.
New to the spring sports program this year is flag
football, offered as part of the National Football
League’s Play60 initiative.
Hunter Davis, Youth Sports’ Complex and equipment manager, said Fort Meade is only the second
program in the state to offer the league. The program
also will be offered during the fall sports season.
Participants will receive an NFL team-branded
jersey, as well as a flag football belt and game
shorts.

Teams will have two practices per week and one
game every Friday evening. Practices and games will
be played at the Youth Sports Complex. Games are
5-on-5 on a 70-yard field.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids at the younger
age group to develop the fundamentals of football
and introducing the sport of football before they
jump into tackle,” Dey said.
Flag football is a good off-season conditioning
program, Hunter said, but it also allows some of the
younger or more inexperienced players to phase into
the sport, as opposed to starting with tackling.
“They [parents] were kind of a little bit apprehensive about throwing them out there into such a
physical sport without knowing if they’re going to
like it or not,” Dey said. “This is a nice alternative
for kids who haven’t played before.
“It’s a nice introduction to football and for those
who may feel tackle football may be a little too much
for kids at that age. It’s a nice alternative.”
For more information about spring sports, call 301677-1329 or 301-677-1179.

S ports

Jibber Jabber - Opinion
The “P” that counts
You never know where a column is
going to take you.
On Tuesday I stayed late, trying to
put together a rebuttal to all the media
nonsense regarding NFL Draft prospect
Michael Sam coming out. But then I was
reminded Valentine’s Day is Friday, and
two things came to mind.
First, you can’t have Valentine’s Day
without a little bit of the greatest love ballad of all time, Buckwheat’s “Wookin Pa
Nub” bit.ly/1fYI9zy.
Second, Valentine’s Day eve is the perfect time to talk about Sam, a projected third- or fourth-round pick in May’s
NFL Draft, who is in position to be the
NFL’s first openly gay football player bit.
ly/1dHEeEw.
And, according to every single sports
talk show, morning news program and
newsfeed, I need to care about it. Moreover, I have to like it and think that Sam
is a hero for proclaiming his sexual preference — a move that could impact his draft
position either positively or negatively.
There are some things I need to clarify
before I go further:
1. I am not gay, but like most people, I
know, work with and like members of the
LGBT community.
Rumor has it that back during my
younger days, I even passed out in a bed
next to one of my gay friends, and he, like
99.8 percent of the women I have been
around, fought off the urge to make a
move.
2. I am Muslim and understand what
monotheistic religions believe about homosexuality, but I do not think being gay is a
one-way trip to eternal damnation.
3. I understand Sam coming out is newsworthy, deserves coverage, and was courageous. I have been in enough locker rooms
and on enough teams to understand how
his admission could make things difficult.
4. If Sam, the reigning SEC Defensive
Player of the Year, is as productive in the
pros as he was at Missouri, he will have a
great NFL career bit.ly/1aUBdGf.
But if the dude washes out of the
NFL, it will be because he can’t tackle,
not because of who he spends his free
time with.
And to me, that is really all anyone
should be able to expect. But if you listen
to the pundits, it is not enough. The media
doesn’t just want you to accept Sam’s
announcement. They want you to like it on

Facebook, send a
tweet of support,
and build it up to
the point that any
contrary opinion
or uneasiness isn’t
just different, it is
bigoted.
Chad T. Jones,
Growing up,
Public Affairs
being called a bigot
Officer
— which Webster’s describes as
a person who is obstinately or intolerantly
devoted to his or her own opinions and
prejudices; especially: one who regards or
treats the members of a group (as a racial or
ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
— was a big deal.
It was a name normally reserved for
older individuals who still longed for the
days of Jim Crow. Individuals like my
father. My old man dropped the “Nbomb” like most people use prepositions,
and bragged openly about the things he
used to do to African-Americans simply
for being one.
I share that piece of family history
because I want you to know where I’m
coming from when I say that New Orleans
Saints linebacker Jonathon Vilma admitting he’d be uncomfortable showering next
to a homosexual doesn’t necessarily make
him a bigot. It makes him honest.
According to Gallop, 3.4 percent of
Americans are involved in a homosexual
relationship slate.me/1enBjRu, while 57
percent of individuals are opposed to gay
marriage bit.ly/1m7kog2. So it is fair to
assume those averages hold up in NFL
locker rooms, which is why most pro
athletes who have been interviewed since
Sam’s announcement have admitted to
playing with a gay athlete.
And you know what? I haven’t heard a
single reported story about someone being
harassed or released or fined for being gay,
straight, or celibate for that matter.
That’s because, in most professional
environments, performance — not preference — is the “P” that counts.
The question is, will the media allow
that to happen in Sam’s case? Or, will they
continue beating this story, along with any
opposing viewpoints, to death for ratings?
If you have comments on this or anything
to do with sports, contact me at chad.t.jones.
civ@mail.mil or hit me up on Twitter @
ctjibber.

Sports Shorts
Flag Football
Child, Youth and School Services’ Youth Sports is now offering NFL Flag
Football through USA Football for ages 6 to 13.
Cost is $55 per player and includes an NFL-branded jersey, flag football
belt, game shorts and participation trophy.
Two practices and one game will be held each week at the Fort Meade
Youth Sports Complex.
Games will played Friday evenings.
Flag football will be played as a spring and fall sport.
For more information, call 301-677-1329 or 301-677-1179.

Spring sports
Registration for spring sports is underway at Parent Central Services, 1900
Reece Road.
Spring sports include soccer, swimming, baseball, track, flag football and
basketball.
Participants can register at the CYSS Central Registration Office at 1900
Reece Road or online at https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/meadecyms.
html.
For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 1156.

EFMP Bowling
The Exceptional Family Member program is sponsoring its monthly
bowling event on Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lanes.
Participants may bowl one free game with free shoe rental.
Discounted games and shoe rentals are offered to family members.
To register, call LaToya Travis at 301-677-4473 or email latoya.travis@
us.army.mil.

Intramural volleyball meeting
A coaches meeting for intramural volleyball will be held Wednesday at 1
p.m. at Murphy Field House.
A team representative must be present at the meeting to submit a roster.
Only active-duty service members are allowed to compete in the league.
Those eligible to play, but do not have a team, can sign up to be on a free
agent list.
For more information, call 301-677-3318 or email beth.d.downs.naf@mail.
mil.

Dollar Days
Dollar Days at the Lanes is every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger,
small fries, pizza slice or small soda for $1 each.
For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Texas Hold ‘em
Texas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays and Wednesday at 7
p.m. at the Lanes.
Games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-677-5541.
For more Fort Meade sports, visit quickscores.com/ftmeadesports.


C ommunity N ews N otes
Building 4650.
All Army commands supported by
Fort Meade are required to send a representative to complete this “train the
trainer” course and train other human
resource professionals and officers within
their units.
Units must select a primary and alternate officer/HR professional to attend
this weeklong training.
To reserve a seat, call Jannette Bolling at 301-677-2903 or email jannette.
o.bolling.civ@mail.mil, or call Jolynda
Thompson at 301-677-7036 or email
jolynda.e.thompson.civ@mail.mil.

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 Philip Jones at philip.
h.jones.civ@mail.mil or call 301-677-5602.

NEWS EVENTS

Scholarships for Military
Children Program

SJA closed for inspection
The Office of the Staff Judge
Advocate will close for inspection all day
on Wednesday.
On Feb. 20, SJA hours are from 12
p.m. to 5 p.m. SJA will resume normal
duty hours on Feb. 21.
The Joint Installation Tax Center will
remain open for normal duty hours.

Exchange holiday hours
The Fort Meade Army and Air Force
Exchange Service will operate on a
holiday schedule on Monday, Presidents’
Day.
Hours of operation:
• The Trading Post, National Security
Agency and Military Clothing: Closed
• Burger King: Open from 10:30 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
• Meade Main Store: Open from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m.
• 24-Hour Express: Regular hours

Red Cross seeks volunteer
drivers
The American Red Cross Greater
Chesapeake and Potomac Blood
Services Region is seeking volunteer
drivers to transport blood products and
volunteers from area blood drives to the
Mt. Hope facility in Baltimore.
This position is open to people with
daytime/weekday availability for at least
six hours during the week.
To become a registered volunteer,
requirements include completing an
application, attending an orientation
and passing a background check.
The minimum time of commitment is
for six months.
Volunteers must have a valid
Maryland driver’s license with a clear
driving record and be familiar with the
central Maryland area.
Drivers must be at least 21 years old
with two years of driving experience in

file photo

black historythe Equal Opportunity Office will celebrate the
month observance
The Fort Meade Garrison and

2014 African American/Black History Month Observance on Feb. 20 from 11:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center, 8542 Zimborski Ave.
The event is hosted by U.S. Army Cyber Command.
The theme is “Civil Rights in America.”
The keynote speaker is Claiborne Douglass Haughton Jr. From 1979 until his
retirement in 2002, Haughton served in the top DoD career Senior Executive
Service position for military and civilian equal opportunity programs.
The free event, open to military, civilians and family members, will feature
food samplings.
For more information, call Sgt. 1st Class Donnel Cabanos of Cyber Command
at 301-677-4022 or Sgt. 1st Class Torey Palmore of EOO at 301-677-6687.

the U.S.
For more information, call Terry Ann
Karloff at 1-800-272-0094, ext. 1 or
email TerryAnn.Karloff@redcross.org.

Durner at the Garrison Chaplain’s
Office at 301-677-6703.

National Prayer Luncheon

Individuals interested in participating
in Jummah prayers on Fort Meade
should call 301-677-1301.
Fort Meade has a room available
at Argonne Hills Chapel Center, 7100
Rockenbach Road.
The community also is seeking
individuals to join in a morning prayer
on Fridays.

The Fort Meade observance of the
National Prayer Luncheon will be held
Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at Club Meade,
6600 Mapes Road.
The guest speaker is Dave Roever, a
Vietnam veteran.
Commanders, directors and
supervisors are asked to attend and be a
part of this meaningful tradition.
Civilians may attend this observance
without charge to annual leave.
Seating is limited to 300 people.
The suggested donation is $10 for
civilians and service members E-6 and
above.
Tickets can be obtained through unit
chaplains or the Garrison Chaplain’s
Office.
For more information, call Lynn

Jummah prayers

EDUCATION

Evaluation training
The U.S. Army Human Resources
Command, Officer Evaluation Report
(Revised) Mobile Training Team will
provide hands-on training March 3-7,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Smallwood Hall,

Applications for the 2014 Scholarships
for Military Children Program are
available at commissaries worldwide or on
the Internet at militaryscholar.org.
Applications must be turned in to a
commissary by Feb. 28.
Packages must be hand-delivered or
shipped via the U.S. Postal Service or
other delivery methods, not emailed or
faxed.
This year’s award amount has risen
to $2,000. The program awards at least
one scholarship at each commissary with
qualified applicants.
Applicants should ensure that they and
their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
database and have a military ID card.
For more information, students or
sponsors should call scholarship managers
at 856-616-9311 or email militaryscholar@
scholarshipmanagers.com.

Free classes
The Navy Fleet and Family Support
Center offers free classes at its new facility
at 2212 Chisholm Ave.
Registration is required for each class.
• Pre-deployment Brief: Today, 10-11:30
a.m.
• Car buying: Tuesday, 9-11 a.m.
• Meet and Greet: Feb. 20, 5-7 p.m.
Join us for friendship, food, prizes and
to learn about Maryland and Fort
Meade.
• Retiree Brief: Feb. 24, 8-11:30 a.m.
For participants within two years of
retirement eligibility.
• Paying for College: Feb. 24, 1-3 p.m.
Participants will learn to evaluate
college funding options and identify
resources for researching financing
alternatives.
To register or for more information, call
301-677-9017 or 301-677-9018.

C ommunity N ews N otes

M ovies

cost is $60.
For more information, call 301-677-7354
or visit ftmeademwr.com.

The movie schedule is subject to change. For
a recorded announcement of showings, call 301677-5324. Further listings are available on the
Army and Air Force Exchange Service website
at www.aafes.com.
Movies start Wednesdays to 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.

ACS classes
Army Community Service offers free
classes at 830 Chisholm Ave.
Registration is required for each class.
• Buying an Automobile: Tuesday, 911 a.m.
• 1st Term Financial Readiness: Feb.
25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Military Saves: “A Day of Financial
Fitness”: Feb. 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To register or for more information,
call 301-677-5590.

YOUTH

Romp ‘n Stomp
Romp ‘n Stomp playgroup for
children age 5 and younger and their
parents meets Tuesdays from 9:30 to
11:30 a.m. from September to June at
the Youth Center gym at 909 Ernie Pyle
St.
For more information, call 301-6775590 or email colaina.townsend.ctr@
mail.mil.

RECREATION

Out About
• The Naval Academy Band will perform
Monday at 1 p.m. at the Bowie Center for
the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Road
in Bowie.
The Naval Academy Band Brass
Ensemble will perform Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at
the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N.
Charles St., Baltimore.
For more information, visit the Naval
Academy Band website at navyband.navy.
mil or Facebook page, or call 410-293-1262.
• The Glenn L. Martin Maryland
Aviation Museum, located at Martin
State Airport in Middle River, offers free,
year-round admission to military families
with military ID. The museum is open
Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is free.
Indoor exhibits include “They Answered
the Call,” “The Martin Company,” “The
Lockheed History,” and displays on
astronaut Tom Jones and the Maryland Air
Guard. There is also an outdoor aircraft
display.
or visit www.mdairmuseum.org.
• Leisure Travel Services is offering its
next monthly bus trip to New York City
on Feb. 22, with discounts to attractions.
Onboard prize giveaway will be offered. Bus

MEETINGS
• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the
second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in
the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next
meeting is Friday. The association is open to
active, retired, Reserve and National Guard
E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this
area are invited to attend a breakfast and
meet the membership. For more information,
go to e9association.org.
• Families Dealing with Deployment meets
the first and third Monday of every month
from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest
Neighborhood Center. Children welcome.
The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email colaina.
townsend.ctr@mail.mil.
• Retired Enlisted Association meets the
third Tuesday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30
p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant, 1210 Annapolis
Road, Odenton. The next meeting is Tuesday.
For more information, visit trea.org or call
Elliott Phillips, the local president, at 443790-3805 or Arthur R. Cooper, past national
president, at 443-336-1230.
• Military District of Washington
Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meets the
third Wednesday of each month from noon
to 1 p.m. at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson
Hall Dining Facility in Virginia. The next
meeting is Wednesday. All members and
those interested in joining the club are
welcome. For more information, contact
Master Sgt. Erica Lehmkuhl at erica.
lehmkuhl@us.army.mil or 301-833-8415.
• Prostate Cancer Support Group meets
at Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center in Bethesda on the third Thursday
of every month. The next meeting is Feb. 20
from 1 to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the
America Building, River Conference Room
(next to the Prostate Center), third floor.
Spouses/partners are invited. Military ID
is required for base access. Men without a
military ID should call the Prostate Center
48 hours prior to the event at 301-319-2900
for base access.
For more information, call retired Col.
Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or email jane.
l.hudak.ctr@health.mil.
• Meade Area Garden Club will meet
Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community
Hall at the corner of Route 175 and Wigley
Avenue.
Stephen McDaniel, a master bee keeper
who is knowledgeable about the important
relationship between bees and the environment, will present the program “Save the
Bees!”

No reservations required. Refreshments
will be served.
Those interested in our club may attend
one program before being asked to join for
the annual fee of $20.
If Anne Arundel County schools are
closed or opening late due to inclement
weather, the meeting will be canceled.
For more information, call Jennifer Garcia, membership chairman, at 443-949-8348
or Sharon Durney, club president, at 410761-5019.
• Society of Military Widows meets for
brunch the fourth Sunday of the month
at 1 p.m. at the Lanes. The next meeting is
Feb. 23. For more information, call Betty
Jones at 410-730-0127.
• Calling All Dads meets the second and
fourth Monday of every month from 4 to
5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood
Center, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd. The next
meeting is Feb. 24.
The group is for expecting fathers, and
fathers with children of all ages. Children
welcome.
or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.
• Single Parent Support Group meets the
second and fourth Monday of the month
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at School Age Services,
1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Feb.
24. Free child care is provided onsite.
or email colaina.townsend.ctr@mail.mil.
• Bully Proofing Support Group meets
the second and fourth Monday of the
month from 4 to 5 p.m. at Potomac Place
Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is
Feb. 24. The group is geared for school-age
children and parents. For more information,
email Kimberly.d.mckay6.ctr@mail.mil.
• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored
by Army Community Service, meets the
second and fourth Monday of every
month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Community
Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.
The next meeting is Feb. 24. For more
information, call Celena Flowers or Jessica
Hobgood at 301-677-5590.

Chaplain’s Word
THE SKY IS
THE LIMIT
“There is no limit to what
a man can do
if he doesn’t care
who gets the credit.”
— Ronald Reagan

Today through March 1
Today Wednesday: “The Wolf of Wall Street”
(R). Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort,
from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the
high life to his fall involving crime, corruption
and the federal government. With Leonardo
DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie.
Friday Sunday:
“Lone Survivor” (R).
Marcus Luttrell and
his team set out on a
mission to capture or
kill notorious al Qaeda
leader Ahmad Shahd
in late June 2005. With
Mark Wahlberg, Taylor
Kitsch, Emile Hirsch.
Saturday: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
(PG). A daydreamer escapes his anonymous life
by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled
with heroism, romance and action. With Ben
Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn.
Feb. 20: “Paranormal Activity: The Marked
Ones” (R). A recent high school graduate begins
experiencing a number of disturbing and unexplainable things after the death of his neighbor.
As he investigates, it isn’t long before he finds
he’s been marked for possession by a malevolent
demonic entity. With Andrew Jacobs, Jorge Diaz,
Gabrielle Walsh.
Feb. 21: “August: Osage County” (R). A look
at the lives of the strong-willed women of the
Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a
family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma
house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional
woman who raised them. With Meryl Streep,
Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney.
Feb. 22: “Walking With Dinosaurs” (PG). See
and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled
the Earth, in a story where an underdog dino
triumphs to become a hero for the ages. With the
voices of Charlie Rowe, Karl Urban, Angourie
Rice.
Feb. 23, 26 March 1: “The Nut Job” (PG).
An incorrigibly self-serving exiled squirrel finds
himself helping his former park brethren raid a
nut store to survive, that is also the front for a
human gang’s bank robbery. With the voices of
Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson.

Fort Meade Soundoff, Feb 13, 2014

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Fort Meade Soundoff, Feb 13, 2014