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, lisa.kadaraitis@conus.army.mil

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.