Peninsula Warrior March 8, 2013 Army Edition

FEATUREArmy spouse supports

military community— Page 8

SURVIVALHumvee rollover simulator

teaches valuable skills— Page 17

TRAINING

Langley CES show skills during fuel spill exercise— Page 15

For moreonline content,

check outJBLE.af.mil

ARMY EDITION

March 8, 2013Vol. 4, No. 9

Publ ished in the in te res t o f personne l a t Jo in t Base Langley-Eus t is • www.pen insu lawar r io r.com

J O I N T B A S E L A N G L E Y - E U S T I S

Delta dominanceD Company prevails in

‘Skymasters’ combatives– Page 12

2 www.peninsulawarrior.com • The Peninsula Warrior - Army • MARCH 8, 2013

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By Cheryl PellerinAMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Just before his private swearing-in ceremo-ny as the 24th secretary of defense, Chuck Ha-gel and his wife, Lilibet, arrived at the Penta-gon Feb. 27 and were greeted by Marine CorpsLt. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, military assis-tant to the secretary of defense.

Hagel said hello to waiting members of thePentagon press corps as he hurried up the stepsof the Pentagon's river entrance. From there, Pen-tagon Press Secretary George Little and other de-fense officials accompanied him into the building.

Family members and his immediate officestaff attended the ceremony, during which Ha-gel was sworn in by Director of Administration

and Management Michael L. Rhodes.Hagel then hosted the daily senior staff up-

date meeting attended by DOD civilian andmilitary leaders.

In a statement released after Hagel’s Senateconfirmation Feb. 26, Little said the new secre-tary received congratulatory phone calls fromhis predecessor, Leon E. Panetta, congressionalleaders and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K.Shinseki.

In his conversation with Secretary Shinse-ki, Little added, Hagel “indicated his desire tomeet as soon as possible to continue and deep-en the strong partnership between the Depart-ment of Defense and the Department of Veter-ans Affairs on common priorities for servingour troops, veterans and military families.”

Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Chuck Hagel is sworn into office as the 24th defense secretary by Michael L.

Rhodes, the Defense Department's director of administration and manage-

ment, as Hagel's wife, Lilibet, holds a Bible at the Pentagon, Feb. 27.

By Jim GaramoneAMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Soldier and Marine training, Air Forceflying hours and Navy steaming days arebeing curtailed due to the $47 billion incuts DOD must make before Sept. 30, De-fense Secretary Chuck Hagel said March 1.

The secretary stressed at the start of hisfirst press conference as defense secretarythat the uncertainty caused by sequestra-tion “puts at risk our ability to effectivelyfulfill all of our missions.”

He was joined by Deputy Defense Sec-retary Ash Carter, and both men said thatif sequestration is allowed to continuethrough the end of the fiscal year, the ef-fects will become much worse.

The department will continue to adjustto the fiscal realities, Hagel said. He andCarter had just met with the Joint Chiefsof Staff in the Tank – the chiefs’ secureconference room – to speak about theconsequences of sequestration.

“Leadership in the Pentagon ... [has]two serious concerns: first, the abrupt andarbitrary cuts imposed by sequester; andsecond, the lack of budget managementflexibility that we now face under the cur-rent continuing resolution,” Hagel said.

The department has already had to cutfunding for readiness, he said. “As se-quester continues, we will be forced to as-

sume more risk, with steps that will pro-gressively have far-reaching effects,” thesecretary said.

Starting in April, the Navy will graduallystand down at least four air wings, he said.

“Effective immediately, Air Force fly-ing hours will be cut back,” Hagel said.“This will have a major impact on train-ing and readiness.”

The Army will curtail training for allunits except those deploying to Afghan-istan, he said, noting that this means anend to training for nearly 80 percent ofArmy operational units.

“Later this month, we intend to issuepreliminary notifications to thousandsof civilian employees who will be fur-loughed,” Hagel said. The department

has about 800,000 civilian employeesand the vast majority of them face losing20 percent of their pay through the endof September.

Sequestration comes on top of $487 bil-lion in cuts defense agreed to under theBudget Control Act.

In anticipation of sequester, in Janu-ary the department began to slow spend-ing. The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Tru-man did not deploy to the Persian Gulfas scheduled, and the department lookedto hiring freezes and layoffs of temporaryand term employees. The service chiefsannounced cuts to facilities maintenanceand contract delays.

“If sequester continues and the continu-ing resolution is extended in its currentform, other damaging effects will becomeapparent,” Hagel said. “Our number oneconcern is our people – military and civil-ian – the millions of men and women ofthis department who work very hard ev-ery day to ensure America’s security.”

The department needs some fiscal cer-tainty, the secretary said, and DOD lead-ers will continue to work with Congressto help resolve this uncertainty. “Specif-ically, we need a balanced deficit reduc-tion plan that leads to an end to seques-tration,” he said. “And we need Congressto pass appropriations bills for DOD andall federal agencies.”

Secretary details results of sequestration uncertainty

Photo by Glenn Fawcett

In his first press briefing as Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel discusses the onset of the se-

quester and the grave impact it will have on national security and military readiness dur-

ing a briefing at the Pentagon, March 1.

TopStory


Photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Hawkins

U.S. Army Gen. Dennis L.Via, commander of Army Materiel Command, speaks at a Black

History Month closing ceremony in JacobsTheater at Fort Eustis, Feb. 28.The commander

was one of three speakers invited to celebrate the contributions of African-Americans and

mark the end of a month-long celebration of black history.

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By Senior Airman Jason J. Brown633RD AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The City of Newport News isscheduled to begin a major construc-tion project on Fort Eustis BoulevardMarch 18, which will impact trafficentering and exiting Fort Eustis forapproximately 18 to 24 months.

The construction project involvesthe replacement of two bridges thatcross the rail lines directly southwestof the Interstate 64 off-ramps ontoFort Eustis Boulevard. The bridg-es were constructed in 1956 and areconsidered functionally obsolete.

The south-side bridge, which car-ries traffic from Jefferson Avenue toFort Eustis, will be demolished andreplaced first. The first phase of con-struction will last seven and a halfmonths, wrapping up in November.

Upon completion of the south-side bridge, the city will begin re-placement of the north-side bridge,which is slated for completion in lateMay 2014. After the two primaryconstruction phases, crews will ac-complish a three-week median res-toration project, scheduled for com-pletion in mid-June 2014.

During construction, traffic willmerge into one lane to cross the openbridge in a two-way traffic pattern.City crews will provide appropri-ate signage, flaggers and other com-municative marking to manage theflow of traffic along the impactedstretch of roadway. The speed limitwill be reduced to 35 miles per hourthrough the work zone.

As phase one is underway, the re-routing taper for traffic travelingwestbound on Fort Eustis Boulevardwill begin just east of Jefferson Ave-nue. The taper for eastbound traffic

leaving Fort Eustis will begin at theeastern end of the reservoir bridge.

When phase two begins, all traf-fic will cross the newly-constructednorthbound span. The traffic taperfor westbound traffic will begin justwest of I-64. The eastbound traffictaper will begin at the western endof the reservoir bridge.

Fort Eustis experiences peak traf-fic flow weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m.,averaging 7,000 vehicles during thethree-hour period. Personnel fromthe 7th Sustainment Brigade, Train-ing and Doctrine Command Head-quarters, 597th Transportation Bde.and 733rd Mission Support Groupcomprise 70 to 75 percent of vehicletraffic on and off the post.

To help mitigate traffic flow is-sues, Fort Eustis senior leadership isconsidering a series of measures todecrease peak hour traffic volume.Based on the Virginia Department ofTransportation’s traffic analysis, the733rd MSG will direct major organi-zations to reduce vehicle commut-ing traffic by 1,750 vehicles.

These initiatives include, but arenot limited to, “telework,” the prac-tice of working from home or anoth-er off-site location; flex-time schedul-ing, in which workers can customizetheir schedules by coming in earlyand working later or vice versa, andstaggered reporting times. Soldiersand civilian employees should referto their unit leadership for appropri-ate scheduling.

Service members and civilian em-ployees are encouraged to coordinatetraffic mitigation strategies with theirchain of command to lessen the im-

pact during high traffic commutinghours, and identify alternate trav-el routes which may ease traffic flowonto Fort Eustis.

The installation has made severalimprovements in the past six monthsto improve traffic flowing on and offpost. For example, morning “Reveil-le” was moved to 5:30 a.m., eliminat-ing traffic stoppage during the mu-sic. An improved force protectionbarrier plan, which dictates how se-curity forces control access to thepost, is also in development.

Commercial deliveries are prohib-ited on the installation prior to 8 a.m.,streamlining gate access for commut-ers. Additionally, day contractors canonly enter the post via Dozier Road,alleviating some vehicle load at themain gates.

During peak hours, additional gatesecurity will help process inboundtraffic control at the gates to speedup entry on post. Traditional concrete“Jersey barriers” were removed in fa-vor of removable barriers, giving secu-rity personnel the flexibility to quicklyadapt entry lanes to ensure maximumefficiency and driver safety.

Leadership from the 733rd MSGcoordinated with Newport Newscity managers to synchronize and in-crease turn signal times, which willallow more vehicles to enter Gate2. Also, the city built an additionalturning lane to streamline outboundtraffic at Gate 2.

Keith Morrow, the 733rd MSGdeputy commander, said that whilethe construction project will defi-nitely impact traffic in and out of theinstallation, the best way to avoiddelays is to plan ahead. Plotting newroutes to and from the post, carpool-ing and allotting extra time for travelare among his recommendations toalleviate congestion at the gates.

Editor’s Note: To view or downloada PDF version of the bridge constructioninformation slides originally presented atthe town hall meeting, visit http://www.jble.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130227-055.pdf.

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By Debbie GildeaAIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Military Personnel Data Systemwill be offline for 23 days, as of March4, to allow the Air Force Personnel Op-erations Agency to upgrade and transfermilitary personnel data to the Defense In-formation Systems Agency Defense En-terprise Computing Center, Air ForcePersonnel Center officials said.

MilPDS is the primary records databasefor personnel data and actions that occurthroughout every total force Airman’s ca-reer. The system is also used to initiateAirman pay actions, maintain Air Forceaccountability and strength data and sup-port a host of interactions with other AirForce processes and systems that rely onpersonnel data.

Planning and preparation for the up-grade have been ongoing for over a yearas systems specialists worked to developan implementation plan and test transferactions before beginning the full-transfer,said Anthony Delgado, AFPOA MilPDSfunctional Manager.

“MilPDS is an old platform that has notkept up with the times,” he said. “Becausesystems changes over the years have beenso significant, trying to maintain MilPDSin its current state is very risky - we couldlose some irreplaceable data. The only vi-able solution is to bring the entire systemdown, fully upgrade everything so thatit’s compatible with current technologies,and stand it all back up.”

But, that option came with a host of po-tential problems as well, he said.

“Clearly, we couldn’t just pull down thesystem and tell people to ‘make do,’ so theR12 team – with total force representativesfrom every affected function – developeda comprehensive plan to address how per-sonnel actions will be accomplished dur-ing the upgrade, how those actions will beloaded after the upgrade, and more,” Del-gado explained. “We then provided thetotal force personnel community with ex-tensive guidance to help them manage ac-tions without MilPDS.”

Critical personnel and pay processes re-lated to accessions, reenlistments, Guardand Reserve unit training assemblies, mobi-

lization/activation, casualty and immediateseparations will continue to function duringthe system downtime, Delgado said.

AFPC will notify Airmen once the up-grade is complete and MilPDS is accessi-ble. During the upgrade,Airmen who need

assistance can review information on themyPers website at https://mypers.af.mil,or contact their servicing military person-nel section. Information is also availableon the Air Reserve Personnel Center pub-lic website at http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil.

MilPDS upgrade begins

Courtesy photo

Air Force Personnel Center Commander Maj. Gen.A.J. Stewart pushes the button to shut

down the Military Personnel Data System and initiate a full upgrade. MilPDS is expected

to be unaccessible for up to 23 days.

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FeatureStory


When Danielle Tenconi moved with herhusband, then-U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Philip“Todd” Turner, to Germany on assignment,she shut herself away from the community,clinging to long-distance friendships withcollege buddies on the telephone and online.She struggled with her new, isolated life as amilitary spouse in a new place surroundedby people she didn’t know. Grasping ontothe comfortable and familiar strands of herpast was all she had to keep her going.

Or, so she thought.Todd’s commander’s wife reached out to

Danielle, offering a voice of comfort and anear to listen. Before long, Danielle came outof her shell, closed the video chat windowsand saw the vast opportunities for her to dogood in the military community she felt souncertain about just months prior.

“I saw the things she was doing, likerunning a [family readiness group], beingin touch with other spouses, how wonder-ful a role model she was, and suddenlymy eyes were open to all the great thingsthese spouses were doing all around. Thatwas infectious to me, and that’s when I gotthe bug to want to be like that,” Daniellesaid. “I recognized how miserable I waswhen I shut myself away. When I starteddoing things for others, I saw the positivedifference it made not only on me, but onmy family and others, and I realized it wasthe right thing to be doing.”

London-born Danielle changed her out-look, and became an anchor of positivityin the military community, dedicating hertime and efforts to supporting her family –not only Todd and her 1-year-old Wyatt, butthe “family” she has now found in the mil-itary spouses at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

As a result of her tireless commitment toself-improvement and focus on her com-munity, Danielle was named the ArmedForces Insurance Military Spouse of theYear for JBLE, and is now in the running toearn top honors at the Army-wide level.

Turner, now a captain and logistics offi-

cer assigned to the 688th Rapid Port Open-ing Element at Fort Eustis, nominated herfor the award, and the community ralliedbehind her, voting for her in online polling.

She said she is “shocked” to have wonsuch an honor, as she simply is doingwhat she feels is right.

Despite her humility, Danielle manag-es a vast set of professional and personalendeavors with great success. In additionto her service as an FRG leader at vari-ous levels, she started her own marketingconsultancy business, providing guid-ance to firms around the world all fromthe comfort of wherever she calls home.

Danielle said one of the issues sheworks to raise awareness for is the in-crease in employment opportunities formilitary spouses.

“Our spouses offer a wealth of knowl-edge and talent, and a lot of times employ-ers are hesitant to hire them because theywill likely move within a few years, andsometimes with little notice,” she said.

“It’s challenging, and I want to im-prove that situation and get more spous-es into the workforce.”

Another way Danielle has reached outto the spouse community is through herlove of yoga. While living in Italy as Todddeployed to Iraq, she discovered yoga asa way to stay physically and emotional-ly fit, and fell in love with its therapeu-tic benefits. She began practicing dailyonce the couple moved stateside to Fort

Riley, Kan., and decided to train as an in-structor to share the benefits with Servicemembers and fellow spouses.

“Yoga really kept me sane when Toddwas deployed. Not only did it keep mein good shape physically, but mentally aswell,” she explained. “I want to special-ize in yoga for military members, and in-crease understanding the benefits of yogafor sufferers of [post-traumatic stress dis-order] and for military spouses.

“Studies show the meditative aspectsof yoga and physical balance of mind andbody to be effective in battling PTSD, de-pression and dealing with deploymentstress,” she continued. “As a spouse or aService member, there are a number of bar-riers you never realize you’ll face during adeployment. Yoga has been incredibly pos-itive for me, and I want to build on thatanyway I can to help others.”

After nine years as a military spouse,Danielle strives to highlight the positivesof the military lifestyle, breaking downnegative stereotypes of military spousesand promoting unity with the surround-ing civilian community.

“I make sure whenever I’m speaking toanyone, military or civilian, to focus onthe positive, and not because I’m blind tothe negatives, but to stress that militarylife and military spouses can be incrediblypositive and contribute to the communi-ty,” said Danielle. “When spouses first ar-rive at our unit, I try to make a good im-

pression, find out their interests, and sharethe experiences I’ve had with them to con-tinue the cycle of mentoring. I also makesure whenever we [permanent change ofstation] anywhere that I become part ofthe wider community as well. I try to be apositive individual and contribute.”

“Danielle focuses on not shutting her-self behind the walls of the base, but rath-er breaking down barriers and bringingthe civilian and military communities to-gether,” Todd added.

Even with her demanding lifestyle,Danielle maintains her commitment toproviding for and supporting her hus-band and young son remains paramount.She said the mutual support she receivesfrom Todd, as well as the outpouringfrom her military community, makes itnot only possible, but much easier.

“I want to do more here at JBLE, likebringing my professional experience toworkshops, teaching yoga and helping newspouses, but I know that making sure myfamily is happy and well-supported, andthat I’m supporting my husband as his ca-reer progresses and raising my son are themost important things in the world,” she ex-plained. “The support of my military com-munity brings true motivation into my life.

“I’m honored to be named as militaryspouse of the year,” she said, smiling. “Buttruly, all military spouses – the ones I know,the ones I’ve met, and those I may nevermeet – are deserving of that title.”

Courtesy photo

DanielleTenconi (right) – with her husband, U.S. Army Capt.ToddTurner, and their 1-year-

old son,Wyatt – was recently named the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the

Year for Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and is now in the running to earn top honors at the

Army-wide level.

Family, fitness and friendship

“I recognized how miserableI was when I shut myself away.When I started doing things forothers, I saw the positive differenceit made not only on me, but on myfamily and others, and I realized itwas the right thing to be doing.”

— Danielle Tenconi2013 Armed Forces Insurance

Military Spouse of the Year for JBLE


2012 Heroes at HomeMilitary Spouse of the Year

TONI E. HALLSpouse of

CMSGT Ronald S. Hall Jr.,30th Intelligence SquadronJoint Base Langley-Eustis

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By Nick SimeoneAMERCIAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

“It’s never too early to start saving forretirement no matter how young youare,” said a top Pentagon official, remind-ing those in uniform of how important itis to act now to ensure long-term finan-cial readiness.

The message from Barbara Thompson,director of the Pentagon’s office of FamilyPolicy/Children and Youth, is part of theyear-long “Military Saves Campaign,”a nationwide effort to encourage servicemembers to build wealth and avoid debt.The financial health of members of themilitary is of top concern to the DefenseDepartment because officials say Servicemembers who have financial problemsmay be distracted from mission readi-ness. DOD offers a range of tools that pro-vide financial advice to service personnelincluding the website saveandinvest.org.

Thompson told AFPS and the PentagonChannel that members of the military,perhaps more than those in other profes-sions, face greater financial stress becauseof the nature of their jobs.

“The complexity of today’s financialenvironment combined with the reali-ties of the military life, including frequentmoves and deployment, present specialfinancial challenges,” Thompson said.

But they are challenges that can be easi-ly managed, she said.

“Financial stability means you can payyour bills on time, and have a little bit in re-serve to take care of those unexpected emer-gencies,” Thompson said. She suggestsstarting by examining monthly expenses.

“Look at your credit card, look at yourAPR [annual percentage rate],” Thomp-son said. “Reduce the number of cred-it cards you have, making sure you payoff as much as you can every month be-cause that interest is causing a huge drainon your financial well being.”

DOD studies have found that junior en-listed service members are at an increasedrisk of experiencing financial problems.Pentagon data obtained through surveysand supplied to AFPS by Thompson’s of-fice suggests an increase last year in thosewho experienced one or more problemsin paying bills.

Having an overall financial strategy with

achievable, identifiable goals, she said, is akey to successful money management.

“I think what’s important is that weknow what our goals are and how com-fortable we feel (about) the risk involvedwith not having savings and not havingmoney in the bank,” Thompson said.

And that leads to knowing the differ-ence between short- and long-term finan-cial goals. Thompson identified near-termgoals as those that include everythingfrom having enough cash to cover livingexpenses, building an emergency fund,paying down debt, saving for a vacationor buying a car – generally expenses an-ticipated to occur within five years.

“Long term is really thinking aboutyour future, thinking about your chil-dren’s future, thinking about college ed-ucation for your children, thinking aboutbuying a home, thinking about retire-ment,” she said.

And no matter how far-off retirementmight seem, Thompson stressed the im-portance of developing spending habitsthat will ensure financial stability into lat-er life, especially at a time when the na-tion is going through a period of budgetand economic uncertainty.

“Even though it seems so far away andso out of the picture, it’s important in to-day’s world that you start saving,” shesaid, “because we’re not really sure whatthe picture is going to be in the next 50years, or what our social security is andwhat our benefits are going to be.”

Troop financial readinessis important to the force

“The complexity of today’s fi-nancial environment combinedwith the realities of the militarylife, including frequent moves anddeployment, present special fi-nancial challenges. Financial sta-bility means you can pay yourbills on time, and have a little bitin reserve to take care of those un-expected emergencies.”

— Barbara ThompsonDirector of the Pentagon’s office of Family

Policy/Children and Youth

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By Staff Sgt. Ashley Hawkins633RD AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

In 2010, the U.S.Air Force and U.S.Armyentered a joint-basing partnership, unitingLangley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis asone installation, Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

While seen as a landmark in joint ser-vice operations, the Air Force has main-tained a presence at Fort Eustis since1994, years before joint-basing.

The 82nd Training Group’s 362nd Train-ing Squadron, 1st Detachment, is the onlyU.S. Air Force training unit on Fort Eustis,producing not only Air Force, but alsoArmy helicopter-qualified aircraft mainte-nance crew chiefs.

The unit, led by U.S. Air Force Capt. Ike-dinachi Akagha, detachment command-er, is part of the 82nd Training Wing, head-quartered at Sheppard Air Force Base,Texas, and is made up of two militarytraining leaders, and 11 Air Force and ci-vilian instructors.

The MTLs, who downsized from a groupof seven to just two in 2009, operate in a 24-hour schedule to accommodate the stu-dents, splitting into a day and a night shift.

With a recent deployment tasking, thatnumber fell to only one, but fortunatelythe abundance of instructors has made itpossible to provide maximum support tothe detachment and course curriculum atthe schoolhouse.

The Det 1 instructors work hand-in-hand with 128th Aviation Brigade, 2ndBattalion, 210th Aviation Regiment’s BCompany to provide both Airmen andSoldiers UH-60 Black Hawk training inthe Army controlled Interservice Train-ing Review Organization course.

The curriculum is broken down into twoseparate courses that amount to 73 days oftechnical training, according to Akagha.The Army prerequisite course is 61 dayslong, and the Air Force Specialty Code, orAFSC, awarding course is 12 days long.

The captain said the unit’s goal is to berecognized as the Air Force’s most pro-gressive and innovative geographicallyseparated unit, producing the highest cali-ber flightline warriors for the HH-60 PaveHawk, one of the Air Force’s most estab-lished weapon systems.

The Pave Hawk is a derivative of theUH-60 Black Hawk, incorporating the U.S.Air Force Precision Avionics Vectoring

Equipment, or PAVE, electronic systemsprogram. Training on the PAVE constitutesa 12-day awarding course for crew chiefs.

Approximately 115 Airmen comethrough the detachment’s doors an-nually, training side-by-side with Ad-vanced Individual Training Soldiers inthe 2-210th Avn. Rgt.

“It’s cohesion between the Air Force andthe Army,” said Det 1 student, Airman Jor-dan Vignon. “It gives a different viewpointon what they go through and what we gothrough. It’s a nice learning experience.”

The joint environment gives the Ser-vice members the advantage of learningto work with their counterparts early intheir careers, acting as a take-away for fu-ture duty stations and assignments.

“The way deployments are nowadays,it’s not justArmy on one side andAir Forceon another side, especially given the natureof our unit, where we help out with mis-sions in Afghanistan,” said Air Force Tech.

Sgt. Richard Bekolay, the detachment’slead HH-60 instructor. “The fact that wecan practice and train that at home sta-tion is vital to mission success down range,where we’re going to be working togeth-er anyway. It’s a blessing to be able to taketwo different services and blend them intoone team, one unit and one fight.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Hawkins

U.S. Air Force Airman Jordan Vignon, 362nd

Training Squadron, 1st Detachment techni-

cal student, performs maintenance on a UH-

60 Pave Hawk tail gear box during training

at Fort Eustis, Feb. 28.Approximately 115Air-

men come through the detachment doors

annually to become skilled crew chiefs of the

H-60 helicopters.

“It’s cohesion between the Air Force and the Army. It givesa different viewpoint on what they go through and what wego through. It’s a nice learning experience.”

— U.S. Air Force Airman Jordan Vignon362nd Training Squadron, 1st Detachment technical student

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The roar of the adrenaline-fueled fans packedinside Anderson Field House Feb. 23 evoked allthe emotion of a sold-out pay-per-view fight, as100 Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 222nd AviationRegiment lost the boots and hit the mats in athrilling, elimination-style Modern Army Com-batives Program tournament.

When the point totals were tallied up and an-nounced, D Company reigned victorious, earn-ing 33 points and first place of the five compa-nies in the battalion.

The biannual tournament pits Soldiers fromthe five companies against each other, workingthrough an elimination style bracket in six weight

classes, welterweight through heavy-

company that earns the most points wins thetournament.

Although D Co. only saw one finals victory –Pvt. Dean Frey winning the cruiserweight final– the company earned more cumulative pointsthan its sister companies. Trainers and refereesfrom the post’s Combatives dojo officiated thecompetition, which lasted nearly three hours.

Lt. Col. Michael Williams, the battalion com-mander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Estevan So-toRosado, the senior enlisted leader, presentedthe D Co. team with a championship belt and aguidon streamer for their victory. Each weightclass champion received a medal.

Though the tournament is designed to dem-onstrate the Soldiers’ abilities in modern Armycombatives, it also triggers the fires of compe-tition and ignites the companies’ pride. Thecommand team performed a routine in whichthey peeled away their uniform tops to reveal

“You may be brothers in arms, but today, thatis your battlefield,” the commander said, point-

ing to the array of black mats on the gym floor.

Combatives is the practice ofhand-to-hand, close-quarters

combat, allowing Soldiersto “finish the fight” if dis-

armed. The MACP start-ed in 1995 with

the 2nd Ranger Battalgrassroots level arouncombatives has beenArmy unit, and the foare instructed in Basic

The action was notitors. Two female Soland Pvt. Emily Matzknament as well. Whithe finals, SotoRosading” to see female Solportant discipline of t

The energy from thdemonstrated how ptourney has become.Co. Soldier who wonthe tournament’s eleche, “couldn’t wait formy training.”

The competitors tradays a week for a monnament. Reddell saidends and trained in Mattributed much of hiswrestling experience.

“It feels amazing towon, and to see my csaid. “It’s a little disatake the point, and it’tally worth the effort.

Most importantly,MCAP tournament gportunity to break awtured routine of traini

“The Soldiers get toselves and have a goothe monotony and tof school,” said A Co“They get to supportthat’s really the mosting motivation and m

ONTHE COVER: U.S. Army Pvt. Alexander

May (left) battles Pfc. Barry Remillard,

both assigned to C Company, in the

welterweight class final match.

Remillard defeated May.

classes, welterweight through heavy-

judges during each matchand awarded to each

company. The

tition and ignites the companies’ pride. Thcommand team performed a routine in whicthey peeled away their uniform tops to revecompany T-shirts, pumping up the crowd.

“You may be brothers in arms, but today, this your battlefield,” the commander said, poin

ing to the array of black mats on the gym floo“Your opponents are the enemy.”

Combatives is the practice ohand-to-hand, close-quarter

combat, allowing Soldierto “finish the fight” if di

armed. The MACP stared in 1995 wit

Photos by Senior Airman Jason J. Brown

U.S.Army Pfc. MichaelTrombley (top), assigned to C Compa-

ny, attempts to overtake an opponent during the 1st Battal-

ion, 222nd Aviation Regiment’s biannual combatives tourna-

ment atAnderson Field House at Fort Eustis, Feb. 23.

“It feels amazing to havewon, and to see my compaIt’s a little disappointing [Athe point, and it’s definitelyworth the effort.”

— Pfc. Nick Reddell (combatives tournament

lion, and has spread at thend the Army. Since 2007,required training in each

oundations of combativesc Combat Training.t limited to male compet-ldiers – Pfc. Sarah Joynerke – competed in the tour-ile neither progressed to

do said it was “outstand-diers competing in an im-the Army’s training.he competitors and fanspopular the twice-a-year. Pfc. Nick Reddell, an A

n the heavyweight title inctrifying final match, saidr the chance to showcase

ained two hours a day, fiventh leading up to the tour-

he also trained on week-Muy-Thai kickboxing. Hes success to his 14 years of

o have come out here andcompany celebrating,” heappointing [A Co.] didn’t’s definitely tiring, but to-”

competitions like thegive AIT Soldiers the op-way from the rigid, struc-ing.

o go out there, enjoy them-od time. It’s a break fromthe everyday hum-drumo.’s 1st Sgt. Rafael Lopez.their fellow Soldiers, andimportant thing to build-

morale.”

Photo by Senior Airman Jason J. Brown

U.S.Army Pvt. Sergio McCluskey (right), assigned to B Company, listens to a trainer before a match.

McCluskey moved through the bracket and won the lightweight class final at the competition.

FinalTeam Standings

D Company – 33 pointsB Company – 25 pointsC Company – 17 pointsA Company – 11 pointsF Company – 8 points

Weight Class Champions

Lightweight – Pvt. Sergio McCluskey, B Co.Welterweight – Pfc. Barry Remillard, C Co.Middleweight – Pfc. Andrew Fortunia, F Co.Cruiserweight – Pvt. Dean Frey, D Co.Light Heavyweight – Pfc. Brandon Henne, B Co.Heavyweight – Pfc. Nick Reddell, A Co.

1-222nd Avn. Rgt. MCAPTournament

Photo by Senior Airman Jason J. Brown

U.S. Army Pfc. Nick Reddell (above; top facing crowd),

assigned to A Company, rallies A Co.’s Soldiers after he

defeated D Co.’s Pvt. Kyle Post in the final match of the

heavyweight class of the combatives tournament. De-

spite Reddell’s victory, D Co. won the tournament with

33 total points.

come out here andany celebrating.A Co.] didn’t takey tiring, but totally

(black mouthguard)heavyweight champion


By Staff Sgt. David SalanitriAIR FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AGENCY

Air Force senior leaders recently con-structed a task force to develop the bestways to bring the active, Reserve, andGuard closer together to achieve the mostcapable force possible.

To meet the challenges of the future, thesecretary and chief of staff of the Air Forcedirected the stand-up of the Total ForceTask Force, or TF2, to develop strategicoptions on the appropriate total force ca-pabilities mix to meet current and futureAir Force requirements.

“The results of this task force will in-form our strategic planning and program-ming for fiscal 2015 and beyond, and willalso serve as a resource to the congres-sionally-directed national commissionon the structure of the Air Force that willbe examining total-force issues later thisyear,” said Secretary of the Air Force Mi-chael Donley at the Air Force Associa-tion’s Air Warfare Symposium & Technol-ogy Exposition Feb. 22.

The commission will study the structureof the Air Force to determine whether, andhow, the structure should be modified tobest fulfill current and anticipated missionrequirements for the Air Force in a mannerconsistent with available resources.

The task force is led by senior lead-ers from the active duty, Reserve andGuard who will work under Lt. Gen. MikeMoeller, deputy chief of staff for StrategicPlans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. AirForce, Washington, D.C., in coordinationwith Air National Guard and Air Force Re-serve leadership.

The results of their work will informthe Air Force’s planning process for fiscal2015 and beyond. The expectation is foractive, Reserve and Guard components tolearn from each other, while also lookinginto the strengths and weaknesses of to-day’s total force efforts.

“The determination of our leadership tobreak down barriers preventing us fromplanning and advancing as a total forcewill drive this effort to success,” said Maj.Gen. Joe Balskus, military assistant to thedeputy chief of staff for Strategic Plans andPrograms. “The team we have assembled

from the three components and the ex-tended team members across Headquar-ters Air Force, the Air Force secretariat, AirNational Guard, and Air Force Reserve isincredibly impressive.”

Over the past two decades, theAir Forcehas become a more integrated force, bothoperationally and organizationally, acrossthe total force. As a result, senior leaderswant to ensure the service is structured ina way that ensures the service can achieveits strategic objectives going forward.

“In view of this increased integration, aswell as upcoming strategic shifts driven bypost-Afghanistan reconstitution and thenew Defense Strategic Guidance, the AirForce needs to undertake a comprehensivereview of total force requirements and de-velop a strategic plan to ensure theAir Forcecorrectly balances the strengths of each ofthe components to sustain the capabilitiesrequired in the years ahead,” Donley andChief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III statedin a memorandum about the task force.

Moeller said he is optimistic about thetask force and the synergy it will generatewithin the planning community.

“Under the chief of staff and secretary’sguidance,” he said, “we are taking theright steps to bring our Air Force togetheras one team in order to collaboratively an-swer one of the most important questionswe face as a service, ‘what is the most ef-fective balance of capabilities between theactive duty, Guard and Reserve?’ The taskforce is designed to be open and transpar-ent, and we will need the help of all stake-holders to ensure success.”

“The results of this task forcewill inform our strategic planningand programming for fiscal 2015and beyond, and will also serveas a resource to the congressional-ly-directed national commissionon the structure of the Air Forcethat will be examining total-forceissues later this year.”

— Secretary of the Air ForceMichael Donley


By Senior Airman Brittany Paerschke-O’Brien633RD AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

A bulk tank holding 500,000 gallonsof fuel collapses, releasing more than400,000 gallons over the northeast cor-ner of the base. While the emergencyresponse teams arrive on scene, fuelcreeps dangerously close to the wa-ter’s edge with every passing minute.

Fortunately, this extreme situationwas only part of a fuel spill exerciseat Langley Air Force Base,Va., Feb.28. Exercises such as this help pre-pare first-responders in the event areal-world situation like this occurs.

The exercise began with a fuel-farm tank operator identifying thesituation, evacuating the buildingand shutting down the electricity tothe area around the spill. From there,firefighters and security forces werenotified of the emergency and beganarriving on scene to perform neces-sary containment procedures. Forsome of these responders, this is atime where training finally kicks in.

“I was a little nervous; my bloodstarted flowing a little quicker,” saidMichael Mallozzi, 633rd Civil En-gineering Squadron environmentalquality assurance manager. “But aslong as you know exactly what to do

and you are prepared, the nerves goaway. That’s why we do things likethis; so we are not scrambling tryingto figure out what to do.”

Once on scene, the incident com-mander set up a control center tomap the area involving the spill.Meanwhile, security forces person-

nel established barriers and directedtraffic to prevent congestion aroundthe contaminated area.

The reaction of the emergency re-sponse team is critical to keep every-one safe because a situation like thisactually could happen, said Mal-lozzi. Responders must be preparedand well-trained on procedures for aspill of this size in order to contain itbefore it reaches the water, due to itspotential to reach the public, causingserious injury, he said.

Mallozzi also said that facilities thatcontain potential pollutants, such asthe tank farm, must have mandato-ry spill and emergency plans so occu-pants can familiarize with it and ac-tively participate in the training.

“It’s important to get this practiceso if this incident does actually hap-pen, we are not taken by surprise,”said Airman 1st Class Jeremy Bur-nett, 633rd Civil Engineering Squad-ron firefighter. “The more exerciseswe do, the more we can be preparedfor a real-life incident.”

As the first-responders left thescene one-by-one, they could rest as-sured had this been a real-world sit-uation, they would have taken ap-propriate steps to contain the spilland prevent further contamination.

Langley CES show their skillsduring recent fuel spill exercise

Photo by Senior Airman Brittany Paerschke-O’Brien

Members of the 633rd Civil Engineer-

ing Squadron establish a control cen-

ter during a fuel spill exercise at Lang-

ley Air Force Base, Feb. 28.

Photos by Senior Airman Brittany Paerschke-O’Brien

Members of the 633rd Civil Engineering Squadron prepare for a fuel spill exercise at Langley Air Force Base, Feb. 28. Fuel

spill exercises are performed to ensure first-responders know what the appropriate steps are to contain a spill in a real

world situation.

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By Kerri Bresnan, Psy.D., Neuropsychologistand Zoe Whitaker, RNMCDONALD ARMY HEALTH CENTER

March marks the start of National Traumatic BrainInjury Awareness Month. According to the Centersfor Disease Control, more than 1.7 million peoplesustain traumatic brain injuries annually, and TBI isa contributing factor for nearly a third of injury-relat-ed deaths.

What isTBI?

Traumatic brain injury is defined as a blow, jolt orother injury to the head that disrupts the functioningof the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a

TBI. A TBI can occur from exposure to blasts, falls, gun-shot wounds and motor vehicle accidents. Blasts are theleading cause of TBI for active duty military personnelin war zones.

A mild TBI, also known as a concussion, may makeyou briefly feel confused or “see stars.” Common tem-porary symptoms associated with a concussion in-clude headache, ringing ears, blurred vision, dizzi-ness, irritability, sleep problems and problems withmemory and concentration.

The symptoms of a concussion generally improve ina short period of time, usually within hours, and typi-cally resolve completely within days to weeks.

The following tips can minimize the risk of sustain-ing a TBI both on the battlefield and at home:

Graphic by Matt Staley

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 1.7 mil-

lion people sustain traumatic brain injuries annually, andTBI is

a contributing factor for nearly a third of injury-related deaths

and 235,000 yearly hospitalizations.

Prevention in a combat setting

■ Wear a helmet or other appropriate head gear when on patrol or in other high risk areas.■ Wear safety belts when traveling in vehicles.■ Check for obstacles and loose debris before climbing or rappelling down buildings or other structures.■ Inspect weapons prior to use.■ Verify targets and consider the potential for ricochet prior to firing a weapon.■ Maintain clean and orderly work environments that are free of foreign object debris.■ Use care when walking on wet, oily or sandy surfaces.■ Be aware of what is on the ground around you at all times when aircraft rotors are turning.■ Employ the buddy system when climbing ladders or working at heights.

Prevention at home

■ Wear your seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.■ Never drive or ride with anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.■ Always buckle your child into an age appropriate child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt while riding in a car.■ Wear a helmet that is fitted and properly maintained while at work and while at play, if required.■ During athletic games, use the right protective equipment.■ Keep firearms stored unloaded in a locked cabinet or a safe. Store bullets in a separate secure location.■ Avoid falls in the home by:

• Using a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves.• Installing handrails on stairways.• Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows.• Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.• Maintaining a regular exercise program to improve strength, balance and coordination.• Removing tripping hazards by using non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors, and putting grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.• Make sure the surface on your child’s playground is made of shock-absorbing material (e.g., hardwood mulch, sand).

Do’s and don’ts in recovering from a concussion

■ Do maximize downtime/rest during the day (temporary impairments resolve fastest when the brain gets rest).■ Do get plenty of sleep.■ Do avoid activities such as contact sports that could result in another concussion until you are better.■ Do let others know that you’ve had a concussion so they can watch out for you.■ Do see your medical provider if you begin to feel worse or experience worsening headache, worsening balance, double vision or other vision changes, decreasinglevel of alertness, increased disorientation, repeated vomiting, seizures, unusual behavior or amnesia/memory problems.■ Do seek behavioral health treatment for lingering irritability and emotional changes.■ Do be patient as healing from a brain injury can take a few days.■ Do not use alcohol or drugs.

File photo

Seat belt safety is not only important

when you’re in a combat setting, but

also for you and your entire family ev-

ery time you’re in a moving vehicle.


By Airman 1st Class R. Alex Durbin633RD AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The seatbelt tightened across the driv-er’s body-armor clad chest and lockedwith an audible click. He held his handfirmly against the Humvee’s roof, brac-ing his weight as the vehicle tilted.

“Rollover, rollover, rollover!” the fourpassengers shouted in unison as the ve-hicle broke into a 35-degree tilt.

When the vehicle was fully overturned,the passengers held themselves up, onlyletting their body weight sag slightlyagainst their restraints as blood rushed totheir heads.

“Go!” yelled a voice from outside thevehicle.

At once, the passengers hastily un-hooked their safety belts, allowing theirbodies to fall onto the Humvee’s roof.After unlatching the doors, they pulledthemselves out of the vehicle and quicklyformed a protective perimeter around theoverturned vehicle.

This may seem like a scene from a far-away battlefield, but in fact, it was allviewed through the instructor’s console atthe front of the Humvee Egress AssistanceTrainer, or HEAT, as members from a U.S.Navy Expeditionary Combat Camera unittrained at Fort Eustis, Feb. 27.

The HEAT trainer is designed to train

Service members on the effects of a vehi-cle rollover and allows them to conductdrills that will provide the skill and abil-ity to react properly during emergencyegress situations.

The trainer allows units to rehearse un-der controlled conditions and physicallyexecute steps required to survive a roll-

over, allowing occupants to gain experi-ence in how to orient themselves, collectany injured individuals and successfullyexit the overturned vehicle.

“There will always be accidents, but mostfatalities aren’t caused by the accident itself;they’re caused by a lack of experience andknowledge of how to exit the overturned

vehicle,” said Anthony Harris, Army Sup-port Activity Simulation Branch trainingsupport assistant. “Simulation devices likethe HEAT trainer are saving the militarymoney, and more importantly, lives.”

The trainer is one of many simulators im-plemented across the Department of De-fense to prepare military members for thetests of real-life emergency situations whileallowing them to experience realistic com-bat situations without any of the dangers.

“Simulators provide a good degree of re-alism without the expense and danger thatcomes along with accomplishing the samelevel of immersive training,” said Harris.“The purpose of training is to make life-saving habits become second nature, andsimulators offer the first-hand experiencein the closest setting we can provide whilesaving equipment and lives.”

The trainer at Fort Eustis is open to allbranches, and all Service members areencouraged to take advantage of it.

“Deployed Service members face threatsof improvised explosive devices, perilousroad conditions and uneven driving con-ditions, increasing the likelihood of a roll-over,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1stClass Gregory Juday, Expeditionary Com-bat Camera Training Department trainer.“Having the knowledge and training pri-or to deploying is critical, and could po-tentially save their lives.”

Photo by Airman 1st Class R. Alex Durbin

Anthony Harris, Army Support Activity Simulation Branch training support assistant, de-

scribes the importance of the Humvee Egress AssistanceTrainer, or HEAT, to members of a

U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Camera unit.

Humvee rollover simulatorteaches valuable survival skills

Photos by Airman 1st Class R. Alex Durbin

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory Juday, Expeditionary Com-

bat CameraTraining Department trainer, uses the instructor console to

rotate the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT, at Fort Eustis,

Feb. 27. The trainer allows units to rehearse under controlled condi-

tions and physically execute necessary steps required to survive a ve-

hicle rollover, allowing occupants to gain experience in how to orient

themselves, collect any injured individuals and successfully exit the

overturned vehicle.


EustisCommunity Submit Eustis Community announcements to [email protected]

Let’s Move! Journal

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive ini-tiative launched by First Lady MichelleObama to help solve the challenges ofchildhood obesity by helping kids becomemore physically active. In celebration ofthe initiative’s third year, a journal is beingcreated to highlight the Fort Eustis com-munity’s efforts in raising a healthier gen-eration of kids. Organizations and familiesare invited to submit comments, photo-graphs, and/or video clips of anything thatyou have done or are doing to inspire ahealthier generation. Examples of healthyefforts include new habits or activities,role models, recipes, events and more.

Submit materials to Donna Fontes, Sol-dier and Family Services, at [email protected] or call Fontes at 878-5819. Fri-day is the deadline for all submissions.

Dinner for families of deployed

Military families experiencing deploy-ment or other duty-related separation are in-vited to attend a free monthly dinner spon-sored by the Fort Eustis Chapel Communityon Tuesday from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at the Reg-imental Memorial Chapel, Bldg. 923, LeeBlvd.The schedule is as follows: 5:15 p.m. –Welcome and dinner is served; 6 to 7 p.m. –Craft and game time for children 3 and a halfyears and older; 6:10 to 7 p.m. – Adult fel-lowship time (across the hall).

Free child-watch care is available af-ter dinner for kids 3 and a half years andyounger. The next dinner will take placeon May 14. For more information, con-tact Carole Carkhuff at 218-0871, [email protected] or call the chapelat 878-1304/1316.

Home buying and selling seminars

The Fort Eustis Housing Referral Officeis sponsoring a Home Buying Seminar onTuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and a HomeSelling Seminar onThursday from 6 to 8:30p.m. Both seminars will take place at theCivil Engineer Division conference room at

Bldg. 1407, Washington Blvd. Industry ex-perts will include a realtor, mortgage lend-er, attorney and home inspector. The semi-nars are free and open to the public.

RSVP at least three business days priorto attending the seminar of your choice.Toregister, call 878-2977/5687/5579.

Strikes and Slices Challenge

Join the Adjutant General Corps Regi-mental Association-Tidewater Virginia Chap-ter for the Strikes and Slices Challenge onThursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at theStrike Zone Bowling Center, Bldg. 675, Dick-man St. Bring a team or come solo.The costis $5 for your shoes and games; pizza slic-es are $1 each.The bowler with the highestgame will receive a prize.

RSVP by Tuesday to Staff Sgt. BrandonWeaver at [email protected] or call 501-6852 to reserve your slot.

Saint Patrick’s Day lunch

Saint Patrick’s Day lunch will be servedon March 15 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. atthe Fort Eustis Club, Bldg. 2123, PershingAve. The menu will include house salad,Guinness and cheddar soup, sliced cornedbeef, shepherd’s pie, Irish stew with lamb,Colcannon, braised cabbage and carrots,and dessert.The cost is $10 per person.

For more information, call 878-5700.

JBLE Job Fair

The Joint Base Langley-Eustis Job Fairis scheduled for March 21 from 9 a.m. to2 p.m. at the Fort Eustis Club, Bldg. 2123,Pershing Ave. More than 50 employers andtransition service providers will be on handto network and offer employment opportu-nities to active duty service members, vet-erans, retirees, Reserves/National Guard,military spouses and dependents.

Job seekers can register online at www.acap.army.mil or www.facebook.com/for-teustisacs/events. Bring your resumes andcome dressed for success. For more infor-mation, call 878-0906 or 878-4955.

Easter Egg Splash

The Fort Eustis Aquatic Center will hostan Easter Egg Splash on March 23 start-ing at noon at Bldg. 641, Tyler Ave. Sixhundred plastic Easter eggs will be scat-tered in the Adventure Pool. Children un-der 18 years old will be divided into fiveage groups around the pool deck. Par-ents are only invited to participate in the1-3 year old age group. Rules will be ex-plained before the swimmers are allowedto enter the pool.

Prizes will be awarded for speciallymarked eggs including two “Golden Egg”grand prize winners. The fun continues un-til all eggs are collected.The cost is $2 eachfor active duty military and family membersand $4 each for all others. Make sure thatyou bring your goggles and something tohold your eggs.


Easter Sunrise Service

The Fort Eustis Regimental Memorial Cha-pel will hold its annual Easter Sunrise Serviceon March 31 at 7 a.m. outside on the cha-pel’s side lawn. In case of inclement weath-er, the service will take place inside the cha-pel’s sanctuary, Bldg. 923, Lee Blvd.


Soldier and Family Readiness

Soldier and Family Readiness (ACS) class-es and briefings for March will include:

Developing Your Financial Plan –March 12 and 26, 9 to 10 a.m.; Savings

and Investment – March 12 – 5 to 6 p.m.;Financial ReadinessTraining – March 15,11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Credit Report-

ing – March 19, 9 to 10 a.m.; Retirement

Planning – March 19, 5 to 6 p.m.; Manag-

ing Your Checking Account – March 21,8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; Home Buying Semi-

nar – March 27, 4:30 to 7 p.m.; Effective

Resume Writing – March 15, 9 a.m. tonoon; Federal Employment Workshop –March 21, 10 a.m. to noon; Spouse Resil-

ience Seminar – March 25-28, 9 a.m. tonoon; Military Spouse Knowledge Skills

– March 13, 9 a.m. to noon; Army Fam-

ily Team Building Leadership Develop-

ment – March 19 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), March20 (8:35 a.m. to noon), and March 21 (9a.m. to 1:30 p.m.); Conflict Management

– March 13, 9:30 to 11 a.m.; Scream-Free

Parenting – Mondays starting March 18(5:30 to 7:30 p.m.).

Classes and briefings will take place inBldg. 650, Monroe Ave. For more informa-tion, call 878-3638.

Family Advocacy Program

■ Anger Management – March 26, 3 to4 p.m. This class will address the humanemotion, anger, and ways to manner it ef-fectively. To register, call 878-0807. No chil-dren please.

■ Family Advocacy Safety Education

Seminar – March 28, 9 to 11 a.m. FASESis a two-hour seminar that describes thedynamics of domestic violence and childabuse, who is at risk, and what resourc-es are available. This class is open to any-one on post who is interested in learningmore about these topics. To register, call878-0807. No children please. Classes willtake place at Bldg. 213, Calhoun St.

ArmyTuition Assistance Changes

Effective immediately, the Departmentof Defense has implemented the follow-ing tuition assistance policy:

For an institution to be eligible to partici-pate in the DoDTA program, they must havea signed DoD Memorandum of Understand-ing and be on the “Participating Institutions”list, which is posted on the DoD MOU web-page at www.dodmou.com. Schools with-out a signed DoD MOU will not be able toenroll Service members under the TA pro-gram until they have signed the MOU.

Headquarters Army Continuing Educa-tion System will suspend all schools thatare not listed on the “Participating Insti-tutions” list, which is posted on the DoDMOU webpage. The Army will honor allTA requests that were processed andapproved by the end of February with-in GoArmyEd for classes starting prior toMarch 1. While no new enrollments willbe allowed, schools will be able to invoicethe Army for payment of approved TA re-quests and will be able to post grades toSoldier’s accounts.

For more information, call the BatemanArmy Education Center at 878-2083.

Marriage Enrichment Program

The Regimental Memorial Chapel willhost “The Five Love Languages,” a mar-riage enrichment program, from 6 to 8p.m. eachThursday through May 16 at thechapel, Bldg. 923, Lee Blvd. This programis open to all married and engaged cou-ples, and spouses of Service memberswho are deployed or training elsewhere.Free child care will be provided for childrenup to age 11.

For more information, contact Mikeand Carole Carkhuff at 218-1034 or [email protected].

Daylight SavingTime

Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to turn your clocks forwardone hour and check smoke detector batteries.


LAFBCommunity Submit LAFB Community announcements to [email protected]

Safety Education Seminar

March 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Healthand Wellness Center. This two-hour semi-nar reviews the dynamics and impact ofdomestic violence and child maltreatment,who is at risk and available base and com-munity resources. For more informationor to register, contact the Family Advoca-cy Program at 764-2427.

Munitions Flight stockpile check

The 1st Fighter Wing Munitions Flight willbe conducting a 100 percent stockpile in-ventory from March 4 to 13. They will onlyprocess commander-approved emergencyrequests. All other transactions will not beprocessed during the inventory to minimizetransactions against accounts and the stock-pile. For more information, contact Tech.Sgt. Jonathan Shank at 764-7164.

Anger Management

Mondays, March 11, 18 and 25 from 2 un-til 3:30 p.m. at the HAWC.This four-sessioncourse explores the human emotion, anger.This class will also review anger and ways tomanage it effectively so that it doesn’t take atoll on your health or relationships. For moreinformation or to register, contact StaffSgt. Jacquelyn Millender at 764-9503, oremail [email protected].

Comedy Nite

The Langley Club will be hosting anadult appreciation “Comedy Nite” March14 from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information,call 766-1361.

St. Patty’s bowling tournament

Langley Lanes will be hosting a “St. Pat-ty’s Day Tourney” bowling tournamentMarch 17. Registration begins at noon andthe tournament begins at 1 p.m. For moreinformation, call 766-1361.

Easter brunch

The Langley club will be hosting its Eas-ter Brunch March 31. For seating times,reservations and more information, call766-1361.

Personal Safety classes

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month.In an effort to reduce sexual assaults, the633rd Force Support Squadron is hostingfree, personal safety classes at both theShellbank and Air Combat Command fit-ness centers. Women can sign up for theclasses held April 1, 15, 22 and 29 from 4to 5 p.m. at the Shellbank Fitness Center.

Men can also sign up for April 11 from 5 to6 p.m. at the ACC Fitness Center.

For more information, or to register, call764-3359.

Ghosts ofWilliamsburg tour

Join the Langley Chapel Single AirmenMinistry March 23 in Williamsburg, Va., fora trip through the streets of Colonial Wil-liamsburg by candlelight while sharing ee-rie and fun folklore of the city. The bus toWilliamsburg will meet at Boots Hall anddepart by 5:30 p.m.The trip cost $11.

For more information or to register, callLarry Blakely at 528-0455.

New, expecting fathers workshop

A workshop for new and expecting fa-thers will be held April 11 from 8 a.m. tonoon in the Langley Chapel Annex, class-room two. For more information or to reg-ister call 764-2427.

Co-parenting workshop

The Joint Base Langley-Eustis FamilyAdvocacy Program and Bon Secours MaryImmaculate Family Focus will be co-spon-soring a free workshop, “Co-Parenting: Inthe Child’s Best Interest,” April 19 from12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Langley ChapelAnnex, classroom two. For more informa-tion or to register, contact the Joint BaseLangley-Eustis Family Advocacy Programat (757) 764-2427.

SAPR road rally

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Re-sponse office is hosting a motorcycle roadrally April 26 at 9 a.m. All participants mustarrive at 7:30 a.m. for registration and safe-ty checks. Participants must RSVP.The eventis free of charge. For more information, callVanessa Williams at 764-3359 or [email protected].

Budget assistance

The Langley Federal Credit Union is com-mitted to helping its members affected bybudget cuts. For information or to discussfinancial options, call 827-5328, (800) 826-7490 or stop by a branch.

LaSalle Gate closure extended

The LaSalle Avenue Gate closure sched-uled to be completed by the end of Feb-ruary due to the construction of a newVisitor Center and guardhouse has beenextended. The new contract is scheduledto be completed by May 28. Any traffic ap-proaching from the downtown Hampton/

Interstate-64 area will be diverted to theDurand, West [Armistead] or King Streetgates. Non-identification card holdersshould go to the temporary Visitor Centernear the entrance of the west gate to geta temporary pass. For more information,call Police Services at 764-7766.

JBLETax Center Open

The Joint Base Langley-EustisTax Centersare open at both Langley Air Force Base andFort Eustis from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday.

Tax return preparation services will beprovided by active duty, civilian and re-tiree volunteers. Services will be provid-ed to active duty members, retirees andtheir respective dependents, with limit-ed availability for civilian employees andGuard/Reserve members on Title 10 or-ders. These tax return services are de-signed for basic to intermediate-level tax-es. Those with simple tax returns (juniormembers) are encouraged to visit Mil-itary One Source or H&R Block as theyalso provide free services. To contact theLangley Tax Center, call Senior AirmanHolden Smith at 225-5777. To contact theFort EustisTax Center, call 878-2343.

Company Grade Officer Council

The Joint Base Langley-Eustis Com-pany Grade Officer Council meets regu-larly on the third Thursday of the monthat 4:30 p.m. at the Nose Dive Bar. JBLECGOC provides opportunities for net-working, professional development andsocial activities. For more information orto be added to the distribution list, pleasesend your information to [email protected].

African American Heritage

Come join the Langley African-AmericanHeritage Council to help support holidayfunctions, host educational programs, pro-vide financial assistance and more. Meet-ings are held at the Langley Club “Enlist-ed Lounge” on the thirdThursday of everymonth at 11:30 a.m. For more info, con-tact Master Sgt. Malukinah Mathis at [email protected].

JBLE 2013 leave roll over days

Service members with more than 60days of leave at the beginning of fiscal year2013 are able to carry it into the next fis-cal year, due to the FY 2013 National De-fense Authorization Act.The provision is ex-tending the maximum leave carryover of 75

days through Sept. 30, 2015.Airmen should contact the Langley Mili-

tary Personnel Flight at 764-2270; Soldierscontact the Fort Eustis Military PersonnelOffice at 878-5618 for more information.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Military Ministries are hosting biblestudy each Wednesday morning from6:15 to 7:15 a.m. at the Langley ChapelAnnex auditorium. There will be great fel-lowship, insightful Bible topics, relevantbiblical discussion and strengthened Bi-ble knowledge. For more informationabout the bible study, contact Joe Shirey at764-5527, [email protected] Chuck Macri at 928-7220 and [email protected].

Poetry Slam

The Langley AFB SAPR is acceptingentries for a poetry contest and reading.Poetry must be related to any of the fol-lowing, and must be entered by April 15.:Consent, Sexual Assault, Healthy Dating,Surviving Sexual Assault, or No MeansNo. Readings will begin at 1 p.m. April26th at the JBLE Memorial Park. All poetswho enter will receive a prize.The winningpoet will be presented an autographedbook titled “BTrae’d” by CMSgtTrae King,633 Air Base Wing Command Chief Mas-ter Sergeant, who will read one of her po-ems at the event.

Send poems or inquiries to Vanessa Wil-liams at 764-3359 or [email protected].

Engineering, construction camps

At the Society of American Military Engi-neers Engineering and Construction Camps,high school students from across the coun-try learn engineering solutions and skillsfrom professional engineers while getting ataste of what it means to work for and withthe military services. Camp times and loca-tions are as follows:

■ U.S. Army Camp, June 16 - 22, Vicks-burg, Miss.

■ U.S. Marine Corps, June 23 - 29, CampLeJune, N.C.

■ A.F. Academy Camp, June 27 to July3, Colorado Springs, Colo.

■ Seabees Camp, July 21 to 27, Port Huen-erne, Calif.

Application deadlines are March 15 for theU.S. Army Camp and April 5 for the other lo-cations. Registration is $275 per student.

For more information, contact Amy Doyeat [email protected].


OutsideTheGate Submit OutsideThe Gate announcements to [email protected]

Virginia RV Show

The ninth annual Progressive Insurance Virginia RVShow will take place Friday through Sunday at the Hamp-ton Roads Convention Center, 1610 Coliseum Dr., Hamp-ton. Come join us and meet with experts in the RV fieldand enjoy special deals on travel trailers, fifth wheels andmotor homes.

Admission is $9 (adults); $7 (adult tickets purchased on-line); and free for children ages 16 and under. Date NightSpecial: Friday and Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m., buy one adultticket, get one free (must be purchased at the show).Hours are noon to 8 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Satur-day; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

For more information on the Virginia RV Show, call 315-1610 or visit www.gsevents.com.

America’s Music Series

“America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Musicfrom Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway” will be presentedby the Newport News Public Library System in a six-weekprogram series.The series is free and open to the public.Each session will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at theMain Street Library, 110 Main Street.

The program, designed for a general audience, will in-troduce genres of 20th century American popular musicthat are deeply connected to the history, culture and ge-ography of the United States. Sessions will include filmclips, a musical performance, and a discussion led by Kel-ly Rossum, assistant professor of trumpet and director ofjazz studies at Christopher Newport University.

Sessions scheduled for March include:■ Tuesday – Swing Jazz featuring Len Burns’ Jazz (2001)

and “International Sweethearts of Rhythm” (1986). TheJae SinnettTrio will perform live.

■ March 26 – Bluegrass and Country Music featuring“High Lonesome:The Story of Bluegrass (1994).The Koun-try Kickers CloggingTeam will perform live.

For more information, call 591-4858 or visit nnpls.lib-guides.com/AmericasMusic.

Hampton Library Used Book Sale

The Friends of the Hampton Public Library will host aused book sale on March 15-17 at the main library, 4207Victoria Blvd., Hampton. The preview sale for memberswill take place onThursday from 7 to 9 p.m.

Children’s books will cost 25 cents; paperbacks, 50cents to $1; and hard back books, $1. Media will also beavailable for sale.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15-16; and 1 to 4p.m., March 17. Attendees will be able to join the libraryat this event.


Peninsula Fine Arts Center

■ Art After 5 – PFAC will feature local singer/songwrit-er and multi-instrumentalist Nicole Belanus at its latestArt After 5 event scheduled for March 21 from 5:30 to

7:30 p.m. Join us after work and view the gallery’s cur-rent exhibit, “The ART of the Message,” while engagingwith other members of the community. Admission is freeand open to the public. Food and beverages will be avail-able for purchase.

■ Community Day – Community Day will take place onMarch 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free andopen to the public. Visitors are invited to tour the currentexhibit, “The ART of the Message.” Children can enjoy the“luck of the Irish” as they search for hidden shamrocks,watch a pottery demonstration, or make an air-dried clayproject or green slime ($2 children’s activity fee). Other ac-tivities will include a paint project and “Granny Squared”yarn graffiti, where participants will decorate the building’sexterior with yarn. Performers will include the GildersleeveMiddle School chorus, Menchville High School theater de-partment, and local Chinese dancers. The SPCA will alsobe on hand with adoptable pets. Food and drinks will beavailable for purchase.

The Peninsula Fine Arts Center is located at 101 Muse-um Dr., Newport News. For more information, call 596-8165 or visit www.pfac-va.org.

First Landing State Park

■ Survive First Landing – First Landing State Parkwill host Tidewater Search and Rescue for “SurviveFirst Landing,” an outdoor skills program, on March 23from 1 to 4 p.m. This program will kick off the statepark’s spring outdoor recreation season. Activities willinclude outdoor safety workshops, fire making dem-onstrations, orienteering, emergency shelters, ediblewild foods and basic outdoor skills. There is no chargefor the workshops; parking fee is $5. Participants willmeet at the picnic shelter and children accompanied byadults are welcome.

■ Earth Hour Celebration – As part of the worldwideEarth Hour celebration, First Landing State Park will hosta special “Lights Out” program on March 23 from 8 to 9p.m. at the newTrail Center.This event is free and open tothe public; parking fee is $5. The lights will go out at 8:30p.m. after participants make glow-in-the-dark crafts. Theprogram will also feature a campfire with smores, nighthikes and music. Children are welcome to attend with anadult. Participants should dress appropriately for both in-door and outdoor activities.

First Landing State Park is located at 2500 Shore Dr.,Virginia Beach. The park is a 2,888-acre natural area fea-turing nearly 20 miles of trails, campsites, cabins, two vis-itor center museums and a half-mile of Chesapeake Baybeach frontage.

For more information, call (800) 933-7275 or visit www.virigniastateparks.gov.

Homebuyer Education Class

The Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authorityand Virginia Housing Development Authority will spon-sor a Homebuyer Education Class on March 26-27 from5 to 8 p.m. at the North Phoebus Community Center,249 West Chamberlin Ave., Hampton. The classes aredesigned to help first-time homebuyers learn about thehome buying process.

Registration is required and seating is limited. To regis-ter, call Monique Jackson at 727-1111, ext. 303.

TRADOC Band Concert

The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Bandwill host the “Heritage of Heroes” concert at 7:30 p.m.on March 30 at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, 1 Av-enue of the Arts, Newport News. This event is free andopen to the public.

The concert will honor Korean War veterans and allthose who have received the nation’s highest militaryaward, the Medal of Honor. Two Medal of Honor recipi-ents will be in attendance and will be honored publicly.

Tickets may be picked up at the Ferguson Center BoxOffice or send a self-addressed stamped envelope toTRADOC Band, 700 Lee Blvd., Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5703 (must be received by March 25).

For more information about the concert, visit www.tra-docband.com or call 501-6944.

Swedish Navy ShipTour

The HMS Falken, a Royal Swedish Navy two-mast-ed training schooner, is docked at the Otter Berthnext to Waterside in downtown Norfolk. The public isinvited to tour the ship on Friday and Saturday from 1to 4 p.m. Ship tours are free.

The HMS Falken sails with nine officers, 19 mid-shipmen and five crew members. The vessel is 132-feet long and is part of a Schooner Squadron thathelps train cadets of the Royal Swedish Navy. Theship will depart from Norfolk on Sunday.

For more information, call 441-2345 or visit www.festevents.org.

For more Joint Base Langley-Eustis news and information, visit online at www.peninsulawarrior.com


By Sgt. Barbara Liau123RD MOBILE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT

The 175-foot, military-grey vessel glid-ed slowly toward shore at Guantana-mo Bay. However, unlike any other mil-itary ship out on the water, it bypassedthe dock completely, pulled right up tothe beach and lowered its ramp with a re-sounding thud.

This is the U.S. Army Vessel “Runny-mede,” Landing Craft Utility 2001, thefirst of the Army’s LCU 2000 series of wa-tercraft. The Runnymede, assigned to FortEustis’ 10th Transportation Battalion, 7thSustainment Brigade, deployed to Guanta-namo Bay to support Integrated Advance2013, a humanitarian-crisis exercise U.S.Southern Command conducts biennially.

The vessel, one of two LCUs under U.S.Army South’s operational control whiledeployed, transports equipment such astents and vehicles belonging to SOUTH-COM and Army South units.

Possibly one of the most integral, yetinvisible components in the Army, theLCU 2000s are flat-bottomed boats usedto transport equipment from country tocountry, quickly and efficiently.

“The construction of the LCU allows it topull right up to the shoreline, as it does notrequire the depth of water that a normalwatercraft would need in order to dock,”said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Hayes,the chief engineer for the Runnymede.

“We are typically at the forefront for everyhumanitarian-based operation,” said ChiefWarrant Officer 2 Gary Bolser, the vesselmaster for thisArmy South exercise deploy-ment. “We deliver equipment when neces-sary – a ‘you call, we haul’ type of deal.”

Bolser believes his vessel’s capabilitiescan give a humanitarian mission the cru-cial lead-time to get other equipment out,and says that it’s superior to other vehi-cles as far transportation of equipmentgoes, and can cut money, effort and time.

“We were able to provide immediate reliefin the case of the Haiti earthquake in 2010because of our capabilities and strategically-placed station at Cape Canaveral, Fla.,” saidBolser. “A lot of the Haitian docks were de-stroyed during the earthquake. Because ofthe uniqueness of the LCU, we could bypassthe docking necessity that other boats have,

find a beach with the right gradient and thenpull right up to unload our cargo.”

The LCUs within the Army South areaof operations have been involved in a va-riety of missions, including the aforemen-tioned Operation Unified Response inHaiti, New Horizons Haiti, Beyond theHorizon and the IA exercises.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 4CharlesTorell,whoservesasArmySouth’smaster of marine operations, Army Southhas 24/7 operational control of two ArmyLCU vessels, which accomplish four basicmissions for the command.

“The first is a permanent sealift capabilityin support of unified land operations withinthe Army South area of operations. Second,they support Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises.Third, they provide immediate responseto foreign humanitarian assistance and di-saster relief efforts. And lastly, they supportjoint interdiction task force counter-drugoperations, and, as needed, support othercomponents in SOUTHCOM,” said Torell.

“What is unique about the Army boats isthat they do real-world missions. Their jobis not to train,” said Torell. “They are actual-ly loading cargo that is needed somewhereelse. It is not uncommon for them to pick upwheeled vehicles, engineering equipment oreven containerized logistics and transport

them throughout an area of operations.”Additionally, the LCUs provide imme-

diate response capability for any activitywithin Army South’s area of operationswithin 72 hours.

The vessels carry enough provisionsfor 30 days and are manned by a 15-mancrew, including two food service special-ists and a medic. The crew is further divid-ed into deck and engineering sections, andis armed with both crew-serve and indi-vidual weapon capabilities.

“The unique thing about being on theLCU is that we have to be self-reliant,”said Hayes. “Each crew member has toknow not only his own job, but also thejobs of those below and above him. Eachengineering crew member is capable ofperforming electrical maintenance, ma-rine diesel mechanics and even sewagetreatment. You don’t specialize in just onefield; you have to learn it all.”

“There’s a wealth of experience andknowledge on this boat,” said Bolser.“When you add up all the knowledge ofpeople on this boat, you end up with a widerange of experiences. If a situation comesup that I haven’t experienced, chances arethat someone on-board has.”

Crew members have to be prepared at alltimes for any event that may happen out on

the water. They do this by practicing scenar-ios that could occur, such as a fire on-board,man-over-board and abandon ship. Thesedrills can come at any time, day or night,and are characterized by different alarms.

Many of the crew members often speakabout their love of working out on thewater and being able to serve on this ves-sel in particular. Most vessels are namedafter battles, but the Runnymede wasnamed after the meadow where the Mag-na Carta was signed.

The Magna Carta is a charter signed byEngland’s King John in 1215, which allowedcertain individuals more civil liberties.

The Runnymede was christened in 1987and has served faithfully since. In 2012, itwas given a service-life extension where thevessel was kept whole, but restructured sothe Army could use it well into the future.

“The work that’s been put into this boat– from the performance, maintenance andservice aspects – has been incredible. Thestate of the Runnymede from the shipyardto today is night and day,” said Hayes.

Unfortunately, very few people, includ-ing those in the Army, are familiar withthe Army watercraft and what LCUs cancontribute to the overall mission.

According to Torell, the Army needsthese mission-essential maritime capa-bilities; they are as critical today as theywere when the Army first started usingthe LCU 2001.

“These Soldiers are the Army’s mar-iners,” he said. “In this type of mission,no one can accomplish it better than theycan. It’s important we maintain this vitalasset and continue to use it in the future.”

Photo by Sgt. Barbara J. Liau

The LCU 2001 “Runnymede” prepares to leave the Leeward shoreline of Guantanamo Bay,

Feb. 15.The Runnymede was at Guantanamo Bay to support Integrated Advance 2013, a

humanitarian-related exercise U.S. Southern Command conducts biennially.

Photo by Sgt. Barbara J. Liau

Crew members spray down the room where

a simulated fire broke out onboard the LCU

2001 “Runnymede.”


By Lt. Col. Deanna BagueBRIGADE MODERNIZATION COMMAND

What does today’s Soldier need? Still in its evolution-ary state, the Network Integration Evaluation contin-ues to make progress in achieving greater cost benefitsand in streamlining the process of getting capabilitiesinto the hands of Soldiers quicker.

Network Integration Evaluations, known as NIEs,were designed to integrateand mature the Army’s tacti-cal network through a seriesof semi-annual evaluationsthat brought a fundamentalchange in the rapid fieldingof Army capabilities.

Brig. Gen. Randal A. Drag-on, commanding general ofthe Brigade ModernizationCommand, Army Capabili-ties Integration Center, Unit-ed States Army Training andDoctrine Command, said op-erational assessments con-ducted in NIEs have enabledthe Army to introduce indus-try network capabilities intoan operational environment.

He pointed out some sig-nificant findings within the21-month life cycle of the NIE during the Associationof the United States Army’s winter symposium andexposition.

“Just looking at [NIE] 11.2, we documented over sixbillion dollars in cost avoidance of programs that werereduced or killed based on results that we achieved [atNIE],” said Dragon.

Jeff Carpenter, chief executive officer of Ringtail De-sign, said addressing the capabilities of today’s Soldierin an operational environment can be challenging. Butthe advantages of the NIE can overshadow these chal-lenges, he added.

“One of the key benefits, really from a small busi-ness perspective, is the interaction that you get withsome of these Soldiers,” said Carpenter. “It’s reallyunprecedented to stand next to them [and] really un-derstand how they think. You’re not going to get useradoption of whatever capability you’re developingwithout their input.”

“Four NIEs have been conducted since May 2011in which 143 systems were reviewed. Thirty-six havebeen recommended for fielding and 24 of those 36 havebeen funded and are being fielded,” said Dragon.

Considerable progress has been made in develop-

ing a tactically deployable digital network, maturingthe ability to perform mission command on-the-movefunctions, extending the network to the Soldier leveland developing procedures to quickly organize or reor-ganize. The past four NIEs have set the stage for futureinnovation and integration as the Agile Process movesforward, said Dragon.

“We’re trying to set the stage for a joint and multina-tional effort in 14.2,” Dragon said. “And so we’re look-ing across functions – intelligence, surveillance and re-connaissance, close air support, air ground integration,interoperability – to progress from 13.2 to 14.1 to 14.2,with the major objectives focused on joint entry opera-tions and the capabilities of the joint network.”

Photo by Lt. Col. Deanna Bague

A Soldier from 2nd Brigade CombatTeam, 1st Armored Division, ground guides during a convoy headed to White Sands

Missile Range, N.M., to participate in the Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE, 13.1, which took place last fall. Soldiers

from the brigade evaluate equipment for the Army in an operational environment in the NIEs that take place twice a year

at Fort Bliss,Texas, andWhite Sands Missile Range, N.M.

For more Joint Base Langley-Eustis news and information, visit online at www.peninsulawarrior.com

“Just looking at [NIE] 11.2, we documentedover six billion dollars in cost avoidance ofprograms that were reduced or killed basedon results that we achieved [at NIE],”

— Brig. Gen. Randal A. Dragoncommanding general of the Brigade ModernizationCommand, Army Capabilities Integration Center,

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command

Network Integra-tion Evaluations,known as NIEs,were designedto integrate and

mature the Army’stactical network

through a series ofsemi-annual evalu-ations that brought

a fundamentalchange in the

rapid fielding ofArmy capabilities.


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Continue serving your country as an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, protecting the American people

from terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal entry to our country. Competitive salary and federal benefits

package including Veterans Preference, Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) and credit

for military service.

Key Requirements

> Be between the ages of 18 and 39 (waiver for qualified veterans)

> Be a U.S. citizen and a resident for the past three years

> Have a valid state driver’s license

> Pass a thorough background investigation, polygraph test, medical examination, fitness test and drug test

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

WE ARE AMERICA’S FRONTLINE Apply Now — CBPcareers.com

AGENTS WANTED

Documents

Peninsula Warrior March 8, 2013 Army Edition