Commander’s Corner
FRG Feature
Dear C Troop families, This past month C Troop has been focused on training small unit tactics. In April, soldiers trained as a platoon. They successfully completed several situational training exer-cises and improved marksmanship. Platoon and squad leaders also honed their skills.
The month of May will focus on preparing for the Expert Infantryman’s Badge test. The evaluation does not commence for some time, but there is much that the soldiers can do to prepare themselves. Known simply as the EIB, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge is a highly coveted award bestowed on soldiers that are able to successfully complete a series of infantry related tasks and skills. Historically, the badge has been considered one of the toughest military awards to earn.
Captain Locke
As you may know, our FRG Leader has stepped down. At this time, there is no re-placement. In the meantime, a spouse will be sending out emails and posting information on the Facebook page. Meetings will still be held, and key callers will be active. The newsletter, email, and the Charlie Troop Facebook page will be the main methods of distributing information. Key callers will continue to call monthly. If you need assistance and are not sure where to go, please contact your key caller. If you or some you know does not have a key caller, or you would like to volunteer with the FRG, please send a message to the Charlie Troop email (ctroop171 [at] gmail.com).
Thank you all for your patience as we go through this transition period!
The Phantom PostMay 2012 1-71 Cavalry, Charlie Troop Fort Drum, NY
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 1
ContentsFRG MeetingSpecial EventDid You KnowCalendarsWebsitesPhone Numbers
222344
Upcoming Events
05/12: USO Big Band Bash @ Wa-tertown Elks
05/24: Mtn. Thun-der Motorcycle Rally @ Div. HQ
06/21 - Riverfest
06/28 - Mountain-fest
April and May FRG Meetings
Special Event
The April FRG meeting dealt with multiple topics. Please see the email or print version of the newsletter for more information. There will be no FRG meeting for the month of May.
May brings the Commissary’s Case Lot Sale. This popular event will take place Thursday, May 17th through Saturday, May 19th. Case Lot sales feature many items for purchase in bulk, similar to warehouse club stores. With prices below the Commissary’s already low rates, great deals can be found. Items available at previous sales include soda, cereals, pasta, veggies, frozen foods, pet products, household and paper goods, and more. The “mix and match” option will be available. This allows customers the ability to fill a case with similarly sized and priced items, such as different brands of soda or cereal. Some products will be excluded from the mix and match choices. Coupons can be used at the sale, but only one coupon may be used per case. Be aware of the Commissary’s new coupon policy, which took effect May 1st.
*Information about the case lot sale can be found here: www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=N&page=case_lot_dates*Information about the new coupon policy can be found here: www.commissaries.com/press_room/press_release/2012/DeCA_33_12.cfm
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 2
Did You Know... Did you know that Tricare has switched dental coverage? MetLife, not United Concordia, is the new provider for the optional Tricare Dental Program. Coverage begins May 1st, 2012. New enrollees are accepted on an on-going basis. Most current enrolles will not have to fill out new paperwork or take any action to continue coverage and should have received new cards and a letter from MetLife explaining the changes. Enrollees who use automatic payments from their checking account or credit card should contact MetLife to ensure proper payment. In addition to the benefits previously provided, MetLife has several new offerings. The annual maximum has increased to $1,300, with a lifetime orthodontic maximum of $1,750. White fillings on back teeth, scaling and root planing at no cost for diabetics, and a third cleaning for women during pregnancy are also available. If you have any questions, or would like to enroll in dental care, you can find more information at the MetLife website (https://mybenefits.metlife.com/tricare) or call 1-855-638-8371.
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 3
MAY
JUNE
Su M T W R F SaACS has
new hours! 730am-430pm,
Mon.-Fri.
Local Farmers Markets open May & June.
1 2 3 4 5
Cinco de Mayo
6USO Stuff a Truck @
Sam’s Club
7 8 910k
Army 10 Miler Qualifier
10 11Mil Spouse
Apprecia-tion (ACS/
MWR)
12USO Big
Band Bash
13Mother’s
Day
14 15School
Elections
16 17Case Lot
Sale (17-19)
18Special
Olympics
19Armed Forces
DayFishing Derby @ Rem. Pond
20 21 22 23 24Mtn Thun-
der Rally Safety Day
25 26Birding Trip
(MWR)27 28Memorial
Day
29MWR Sol-ider Show
30 31
Su M T W R F SaCheck Facebook & the
monthly MWR Preview magazine (print or on-
line) for more events!
Spouses Club starts June 1st! The Enlisted and Of-
ficers Spouses Clubs are now one club.
1Touch a Truck @
USO
2Post Yard Sale (Adr.
Crk. & Rh. Hills)
3Post Yard Sale (Adr.
Crk. & Rh. Hills)
4 5USO
Sesame Street Live
@ Monti
6USO
Sesame Street Live
@ Monti
7 8 9Post Yard
Sale (Mon. Rdg. &
Crst. Wd.)
10Post Yard
Sale (Mon. Rdg. &
Crst. Wd.)
11Bulk Trash Pickup (on
post)11th - 15th
12 13 14 15Army
Birthday Ball
16USO Golf
Tourny
17 18 19 20 21Riverfest
22 23
24Free Fish-
ing NYS
25CYS Sum-mer Camp
26 27 28Mountain-
fest
29 30
All events are subject to change!
Websites
Phone Numbers
Fort Drum: www.drum.army.milMWR: www.drummwr.comACS: www.drummwr.com/ArmyCommunityService.htmACS Employment Readiness: www.drummwr.com/EmploymentReadinessProgram.htmHousing: www.fortdrummch.comLibrary: www.drummwr.com/library.htm
Tricare: www.tricare.milDEERS: http://milconnect.dmdc.milMilitary One Source: www.militaryonesource.milPlan My Move: http://planmymove.mhf.dod.milWhere is my POV: www.whereismypov.comWhere are my HHG: www.move.mil/home.htm
Fort Drum Facebook: www.facebook.com/drum.10thmountain1-71 Cav Facebook: www.facebook.com/171cavalryCharlie Troop Facebook: www.facebook.com/ctroop171Squadron FRSA: www.facebook.com/pages/SQDN-FRSA/202173106515711MWR Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrumFMWRRelocation Readiness Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-Relocation-Readiness-Program/171335822906429
1-71 Cav Newsletter: Page 4
FRG Leader - ctroop171 [at] gmail.com OR contact your key callerCaptain Locke: 315-772-31121st Sergeant Card: 315-772-2543Chaplain Cuchens: 315-774-2674FRSA - Lisa Kadaraitis: 315-774-2663, [email protected]
Tricare North: 1-877-874-2273Guthrie Clinic/Urgent Care: 315-772-2778Samaritan (Watertown) Hospital: 315-785-4000Carthage Hospital: 315-493-1000Housing: 315-955-6644Relocation Readiness: 315-772-6556ACS: 315-772-6556/6557Military Police (Non-emergency): 315-772-5156Military One Source (24/7/365): 1-800-342-9647Emergency Chaplain (24 hour): 315-772-5647
If you need assis-tance, please contact
your key caller or email ctroop171[at]
gmail.com
In the shadows!
In accordance with DoDI 4525.08, the inclusion of some
unofficial informa-tion in this FRG
newsletter has not increased the cost to
the government.