Post wins TRADOC award Avoiding bankruptcy

TRAVELLER Vol. 64 No. 6 The command authorized newspaper serving the Fort Lee community since 1941 Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Adopt a friend Pages 14, 15 Post wins TRADOC award Page 4 Avoiding bankruptcy Page 10 2 Opinions/Editorials Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Chaplain’s Corner Healing old wounds By Chaplain (Maj.) Jerry Owens, Quartermaster Center and School In June of 1972 a picture on the cover of the “Washington Post” captured in brutal clarity the horror and suffering of a young Vietnamese girl engulfed in the flames of war. Photojournalist Nick Ut captured on film the terrible moment when four canisters of Napalm dropped from an American plane burst into a sheet of flame. In addition to enemy soldiers, the parade of death swept past civilians on the battlefield. Out of the flames ran several women and children, strangely silent. An old woman carrying a dying three-year-old boy, his flesh hanging like a tattered rag. A brother and sister running hand in hand. Then a young girl appeared, naked, her arms outstretched crying “Help me, help me!” Instinctually Nick Ut snapped a photograph of the scene. The following day the journalist visited the girl at the hospital as the doctors fought for her life. He learned the girl’s name was Kim Phuc, a name that means “Golden Happiness.” She lived. Fourteen months later she left the hospital, but not before her picture left a legacy for its depiction of the cruel realities of war. A picture that won a Pulitzer prize and became an emblem for an entire nation questioning its reason for being in Vietnam. Here is the rest of the story. The Communist government recognized the propaganda value of the picture and the girl and so they preempted her medical studies and moved her to a government office in Tei Ling. She would later run away to Saigon to resume the medical studies she loved. It was in a library in Saigon that she read the New Testament for the first time. Its portrait of Jesus differed radically from her time in school in Cao Dai under the communist regime. Through a friendship she joined a local church. Not long afterward, Kim went forward to the altar and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She said, “It was the fire bomb that burned my body, and it was the skill of the doctor that mended my skin, but it took the power of God to heal my heart.” After the war, she continued her studies in Vietnam. She was married in 1992 and while in route to Moscow for their honeymoon, the cou- ple defected at the Gander International Airport in Newfoundland. The story continues. In 1996, Kim agreed to speak at a Veterans Day Ceremony held at the wall in Washington, D.C. She took her place at the rostrum, flanked by U.S. military dignitaries, before a huge crowd of veterans. No one could tell how much it cost her just to stand there and face a sea of uniforms, a sight that brought back terrifying memories of the war. She began to speak, “as you know, I am the little girl who was running to escape from the napalm fire. I do not want to talk about war because I cannot change history. I only want you to remember the tragedy of war in order to do things to stop fighting and killing around the world.” Her voice dropped. “I have suffered from both physical and emotional pain. Sometimes I thought I could not live, but God saved my life and gave me faith and hope.” And then she uttered words of grace and forgiveness: “Even if I could talk face-to-face with the pilot who dropped the bomb, I could tell him we could not change history, but we should try do good things in the present and for the future to promote peace.” When she finished her brief but moving remarks, the veterans rose to their feet and broke into an explosion of applause, many of them in tears. “It’s important to us that she’s here,” one veteran said. “For her to forgive us personally means something.” One man, overcome with emotion, rushed to a patrolman and scribbled a note, asking him to deliver it to Kim. “I’m the man you are looking for,” the note read. He asked to see her and she agreed. When the reporters cleared the way, Kim turned and looked straight into the man’s eyes and then held out her arms ... the same arms she had held out as she ran along the road, in agony from her burning skin. She hugged the man, and he began to sob. “I am so sorry. I am just so sorry,” he said. “It is okay. I forgive. I forgive,” said Kim Phuc, echoing her favorite Bible verse, “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” The words of forgiveness Kim extended that Veterans Day helped heal the conscience of thousands of veterans gathered there; and as news reports carried the story far and wide, her words and the striking photo helped heal the nation’s wounds as well. AFAP 2004 approaches This letter announces the 2004 Fort Lee AFAP Conference at the Army Logistics Management College, 2401 Quarters Rd., Building 12500, Feb. 17 and 18. The conference theme is “AFAP: Your Voice Building the Future.” This forum provides an open exchange of ideas and information to explore ways to enrich the quality of life in the total Army family. In preparation for this conference, there will be briefings, preliminary meetings for delegates and more. To make this conference a success, we need the involvement and cooperation of commanders, supervisors, adult and teenage family members and civilians. The distribution of delegates ensures a cross-sectional community representation. The delegates discuss and define issues solicited from the community. Issues are then identified that can be resolved at the local level or forwarded for resolution at the major command or higher level. The point of contact for this conference is Barbara Westlund, AFAP Program Manager, Army Community Service, (804) 734-7083. Col. John R. Angevine U.S. Army Garrison commander COURTESY PHOTO During the 2003 AFAP Conference, delegates of the housing working group discussed maintenance concerns and developed a consensus on how the post leadership could best assist in resolving them. TRAVELLER FORT LEE Commanding General . . . . . . . . . . . .Maj. Gen. Terry E. Juskowiak Garrison Commander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Col. John Angevine Public Affairs Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandra J. Ellis NCOIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sgt. 1st Class Paul L. Sweeney Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jamie Carson Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sgt. Jorge Gomez Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spc. Jason Cutshaw, Spc. Erik Stein The Traveller accepts signed letters to the editor that include the writer’s daytime phone number. Letters are subject to editing. Mail to: Letters to the Editor, 1321 Battle Dr., Public Affairs Office, Fort Lee, Va. 23801-1531. Or e-mail letters to Traveller editor to editor@lee.army.mil. For subscription and advertisement information, call (804) 526-8656. Fort Lee Public Affairs Office Phone: (804) 734-7451. The Traveller is printed by offset process every Thursday as a civilian enterprise in the interest of personnel at the U.S. States Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Va. 23801, by Military Newspapers of Virginia, 114 Charlotte Avenue Suite A, Colonial Heights, Va. 23834, in accordance with Department of the Army Regulations 210-20 and 360-1. This publication receives armed forces material and civilian newspapers are authorized to reprint such material without specific clearance except material specifically designated as copyrighted. Liaison between the printer and the commanding general, Fort Lee, is maintained by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Lee. Circulation: 10,000. This Civilian Enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication. Contents of The Traveller are not necessarily the official view of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Va. Advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Military Newspapers of Virginia. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until violation is corrected. The Traveller is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1, and printed by the Military Newspapers of Virginia, a private firm in no way connected with the U. S. Army Combined Arms Support Command or Fort Lee, Va. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Headquarters, U. S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Va. on the cover Cats and other furry animals are ready to be taken home. For story and photos, see Pages 14 and 15. Photo by Spc. Jason B. Cutshaw The Fort Lee Traveller is printed on recycled paper. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 3 Army combats identity theft By Andrea Takash Army News Service News Briefs ICES Program Implemented The Fort Lee garrison has implemented the Interactive Customer Evaluation Program. ICE is web-based customer evaluation program under the Secretary of Defense Office of Quality Management. Customers of the garrison activities can now give instant feedback evaluating the service they received. Customers can access the Fort Lee ICE site from the link on the Fort Lee Homepage at www.lee.army.mil. Click on the “ICE” link on the left hand side of the homepage, and it will take you to all of Fort Lee’s categories of services. The Army is working to ensure that thieves can’t steal the personal information of Soldiers, their families and Army civilians. Over the past five years, 27 million American adults have been victims of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2003 Identity Theft Survey Report. “Identity theft was the number two most reported crime to the federal government in 2003, and it is on the rise,” said Peter D. Anzulewicz, information assurance analyst, Army Web Risk Assessment Cell. The Army Web Risk Assessment Cell in the Information Assurance Directorate will release a distance learning training course on Feb. 1 that contains a section on DoD and Army Web site policy and an interactive Web site. The interactive Web site will test Web administrators’ knowledge of the policies. “The distance learning training course will teach Web administrators what is and is not permitted on publicly accessible Army Web sites,” Anzulewicz said. “We have been working with other Department of Defense agencies to minimize the risk of identity theft through the removal of inappropriate personal information from Army publicly accessi- ble Web sites during the AWRAC review of Web content,” Anzulewicz said. For example, commanders’ biographies on the Web no longer list the names of family members. The publicly accessible Web sites should only list office names and phone numbers. The only names on the Web sites should be Army spokespeople, Anzulewicz said. Anzulewicz explained that it is imperative for securing personal information that Web administrators, Web masters and commanders understand the DoD and Army’s Web policies. “Criminals don’t have to be clever to steal identities; they are just a keyboard away,” he said. In 2003 alone, consumers reported losses totaling more than $400 million from fraud, according to Consumer Sentinel, the complaint database maintained by the FTC. Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, it is a federal crime when someone Recruit the Recruiter Visit Post The Recruit the Recruiter Team will conduct briefings in Mifflin Hall’s Lewi Auditorium Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. Recruiters receive $450 per month in special-duty pay upon assignment. Attending this briefing in no way obligates attendees for recruiting duty. Volunteers have the option of selecting their priority assignments under the New Assignment Incentive Program. For information, visit www.usarec.army.mil/hq/recruiter or call (804) 734-6303. See THEFT Page 16 Class A Uniform Survey The product manager for clothing and individual equipment is conducting a survey about the Class A Uniform. Individuals can visit https://peosoldier.army.mil, and voice their opinions and ideas about the design and color scheme for the next Army Class A Uniform. Answers will are confidential. New ‘convoy’ range to help deploying troops By Fred W. Baker III Army News Service A new live-fire range to train deploying troops on convoy operations opened this month at Fort Sill, Okla. Lessons learned in the sands of Iraq have led to the new training, mandated by the Coalition Forces Land Component Command. Officials said they hope it will give troops the skills they need to PHOTO BY FRED W. BAKER III combat insurgents who see military Soldiers from the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion, convoys as easy targets. “I’m tired of dust being my main Heavy, provide security during a blank-fire drive meal,” said Spc. Brooke Davis, through the newly developed Live-Fire Convoy trainbrushing herself off after a trip ing range at Fort Sill, Okla., Jan. 12. through Fort Sill’s new Live-Fire Convoy training range. though, the training is as realistic as it can safely be, Davis was one of the first Soldiers to be trained on he said. the newly developed convoy range Jan. 12. She was Soldiers convoy through a 1.3-kilometer rural training with the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion route, loaded in the wheeled-vehicles they would ride (Heavy), an Oklahoma Army National Guard unit in during a mission. headquartered in Okmulgee, with units in eastern Along the route, the convoy scenarios include losOklahoma. ing a vehicle to an Improvised Explosive Device and The 600-Soldier unit was mobilized in December insurgents attacking using a rocket propelled and is at Fort Sill training for deployment to Iraq. grenade. The new training is designed to counter “the numAbout 60 man-shaped silhouettes are spaced from ber-one thing that is getting Soldiers killed right 30 to 312 meters away from the convoy route reprenow,” Capt. Boyd Sharp said. “Convoys are getting senting insurgents. Grenade and field artillery simuhit hard.” lators and smoke are used by the OCTs to add to the Sharp is with the 1st Battalion, 290th Training realism. The unit is required to move casualties and Support Battalion at Fort Sill. His Observer Soldiers from a “destroyed” vehicle to another conController/Trainer’s team is responsible for ensuring voy vehicle, while providing security. Each step is deploying reserve units meet training requirements evaluated, and the convoy is given the opportunity to before deploying. improve each trip through. Because of the hazards of traveling bumpy, dusty The units typically convoy through the range three trails with Soldiers packed into vehicles with loaded times. First, for a “dry-run” with no ammunition, weapons, Sharp’s team takes the units through a next using blank ammunition and, finally, using live three-day train-up before allowing them on the range. rounds. The range is only for familiarization, not The three days are a combination of classroom qualification. work and battle drills, Sharp said. Once on the range, See CONVOY Page 13 Tax Assistance Center The Fort Lee Tax Assistance Center is located in Building 5209 on 20th Street near A Avenue. The center is available this year to assist with the preparation of federal and state income tax returns and to electronically file federal tax returns. This service is available to servicemembers, retirees, eligible family members and surviving spouses. Government civilian employees may collect needed forms and publications from the center. Walk-ins for 1040EZs and 1040As are available Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m. Other types of returns will be prepared by appointment only. For information or to schedule an appointment, (804) 734-5732. Inclement Weather Reports In case of inclement weather, tune to the following media stations for the latest news on Fort Lee. If you don’t hear an announcement concerning Fort Lee on these stations then the post is open as usual. Announcements will be made for delayed opening or closure, but not for business as usual. Television Stations: WTVR (CBS) Richmond WRIC (ABC) Richmond WWBT (NBC) Richmond WAVY (NBC) Richmond FOX 43 Tidewater Radio Stations: WKHK 95.3 FM WMXB 103 FM WKLR 96.5 FM WDYL 101 FM Page 4 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Fort Lee wins TRADOC safety award recently, Lawrence said. Fort Lee was also the recipient of the 1996 and 1998 TRADOC safety award. The U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Following the safety award, Soldiers who made Command and Fort Lee was awarded the 2002 the NCO/Soldier of the Year 2003 competition posTraining and Doctrine Command Command sible were recognized for their efforts. Sergeant Major’s Safety Achievement Award at a “Fort Lee executed every individual task that was ceremony Friday. necessary to make the competition a success,” Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Williams, Williams said. “When we asked the competitors for TRADOC command sergeant major, and Cathy feedback, they said they were pleased about the Pierce, TRADOC safety director, presented the equal opportunity to advance. There were no unfair award to the Fort Lee Installation Safety Office. advantages to any one competitor and that was “We do this because Soldiers are our business,” because the installation did a excellent job in putPierce said. “Fort Lee has a very active and aggresting together the competition.” sive safety program. There is a lot of interaction on Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley J. Peat, CASCOM PHOTO BY SGT. JORGE GOMEZ a daily basis at every level, which is important for a sergeant major, said that when the installation was Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Williams, tasked for the competition, Team Lee stepped up to good program. The leadership has proven to be Training and Doctrine Command sergeant the job with no hesitation. effective and successful down to the individual.” Along with other members of the Installation major, and Cathy Pierce, TRADOC safety He also had a little surprise for the audience. Safety Office, Jimmie Faye Lundie, safety director, director congratulate members of the Fort “We did it so well, we have it again this year,” he received the award and expressed her appreciation to Lee Installation Safety Office for winning the added. the community for making the safety program sucOn behalf of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. 2002 TRADOC safety award. cessful. Tilley, Williams then presented letters of apprecia“This award is really your award,” Lundie said to tion and coins from Tilley to those leaders who the post servicemembers and civilians present. “The organized the week long competition. ❐ Positive effect of safety council on organization Safety Office puts the program together, but you are Peat presented Certificates of Achievement signed mission. the ones who help make it happen. I appreciate all by Maj. Gen. Terry E. Juskowiak, CASCOM and ❐ Utilization of Safety Stand-Down days. the support we get from all the officers, sergeants Fort Lee commanding general, to those individuals ❐ Efforts to educate the civilian community in major, noncommissioned officers and advanced indiwho provided support during the event. safety awareness. vidual training Soldiers.” One of them, Sgt. Jamie Garcia, Headquarters, ❐ Involvement of junior noncommissioned offiSince 1996, TRADOC has recognized installation Headquarters Company Garrison supply sergeant, cers in safety programs. CSM Safety Action Councils that contributed the was tasked with supplying the competitors with the The criteria used to evaluate the installation safety most to the readiness of the Army and the welfare of council proves how comprehensive a program should TA-50 equipment needed for the competition. Soldiers. The award is selected by the TRADOC “It was a time-consuming job that involved going be, said Tim Lawrence, Installation Safety Office command sergeant major and the TRADOC Safety, back and forth to Central Issue Facility to get the specialist. Ammunition, Fire Protection and Environment direcright equipment and the proper sizes for each com“Anyone who submits packages for the award is tor. petitor,” Garcia said. “But my Soldiers made certain showing how their safety council is active in the Some of the areas in which installation safety that these competitors would not have a problem or a safety arena,” he added. “We submitted two threecouncils are assessed are the following: disadvantage due to faulty gear.” ring binders, along with videos and pictures docu❐ How active the CSM Safety Action Council is As one of the few leaders to receive a letter and menting everything we had done. It took a lot of involved in installation safety. coin from the sergeant major of the Army, Garcia work, but we take this job seriously.” ❐ Achievements in the area of safety education. said he was honored to be recognized, but he couldThe Fort Lee Installation Safety Office was noti❐ Initiative in the privately owned vehicle safety n’t have done it without the efforts of his four fied of winning the award during the spring of 2003, and accident prevention. Soldiers at the time. but due to circumstances such as mobilizations in ❐ Support of safety council by installation com“I’m looking forward to this year’s competition. support of overseas operations and damage caused by mand structure. I’ll make sure we do an even better job,” he said. Hurricane Isabel, the ceremony was delayed until Editor By Sgt. Jorge Gomez Personnel recognized for Isabel relief efforts By Sgt. Jorge Gomez Editor More than 40 individuals from Fort Lee were deployed to provide relief from the wreckage caused by Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. Soldiers from the 49th Quartermaster Group, Petroleum and Water Department and the Army Center of Excellence, Subsistence put their combat training and experience to work in support of thousands of military families at Fort Monroe, where the storm had inflicted heavy damage to buildings, water and electrical utilities. For their selfless service and outstanding efforts, these individuals were recognized with medals and coins in a ceremony Jan. 29 at the request of Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Williams, Training and Doctrine Command sergeant major, who lives on Fort Monroe. Soldiers and civilians who performed duties at Fort Lee in support of that mission were also recognized. “In a time of crisis there’s nobody that comes through better than Soldiers,” said Col. William A. Jenks, Quartermaster Center and School acting commandant. “Hurricane Isabel was a crisis; power lines were down and streets and buildings were flooded. But these Americans came through with flying colors. They proPHOTO BY SGT. JORGE GOMEZ vided life support to folks out Personnel involved in the relief of Hurricane Isabel’s damage to Fort there [in Fort Monroe] who Monroe were recognized with awards and coins presented by Col. were left with nothing.” Spc. Jeffrey Estess, a William A. Jenks, Quartermaster Center and School acting commanpetroleum supply specialist dant, and Command Sgt. Maj. Don E. Wells, QMC&S sergeant major. with the 58th Quartermaster Company, 49th QM Group, trucks and water purification pumps at ly working; if we weren’t busy fueling earned his first Army Achievement Fort Monroe. we provided a helping hand to the Medal as a result of his participation in “We arrived on the evening of Sept. other units who were also supporting the disaster relief mission. 19 and were busy fueling vehicles for the relief. Estess was tasked with fueling up almost the entire eight days we were military police vehicles, five-ton cargo there,” Estess said. “We were constantSee ISABEL Page 17 Traveller Feb. 05, 2004 Community Calendar National Association of Retired Federal Employees Meeting The National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Petersburg Chapter 28, meets the third Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. The meetings are held at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 1769 S. Sycamore St. NARFE is an organization dedicated to protecting the benefits/general welfare of federal employees, retirees and their survivors. All members, current federal employees and retirees are invited to attend. For information, call (804) 834-2921. 5 Fort Lee OCS Board The Fort Lee Officer Candidate School Board is accepting applications. Applications are due to the AG Strength Management by March 24, 4 p.m. The office is located in Room 314, on the third floor of the Soldier One Stop building. The board will be held March 31, 8 a.m. For information, (804) 734-7778. Thrift Shop Expanding Hours The Fort Lee Thrift Shop is expanding its hours of operation for Thursday. Effective today, the Thrift Shop will be open Thursday, 5:30 - 8 p.m. for shopping and 5:30 - 7:15 p.m. for consignments. These expanded hours will not affect the shop’s Wednesday and Friday hours of 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. For information, call (804) 765-3312. FLOCSC February Event The Fort Lee Officers’ and Civilians’ Spouses’ Club February evening function featuring an antiques auction will be at the Lee Club Feb. 17, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit FLOCSC’s scholarship program. Spouses are encouraged to attend. To make reservations, which must be made no later than Tuesday, call (804) 458-4293, (804) 5418008 or (804) 452-2691. There will be no childcare available at this event. PWOC Meetings and Studies The Protestant Women of the Chapel invites all ladies to “Come to the Living Water,” winter/spring bible studies. Classes are being held through May 27; Thursdays, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Classes will be held at Memorial Chapel, and childcare is available. For information, call (804) 452-4271. ‘Lost in Yonkers’ opens Feb. 20 The Theater Company at Fort Lee announces the opening of “Lost in Yonkers,” a dramatic comedy by Neil Simon. The play premieres Feb. 20 and runs through March 7 at the Lee Playhouse, located at 4300 Mahone Ave. on post. Show dates and times are, Feb. 20, 21, 27, 28, March 5 and 6, at 8 p.m.; and Feb. 29 and March 7, at 3 p.m. Tickets prices are $10 for adults and $5.50 for youth 16 and younger. Group rates are available for 12 or more. For reservations and information, call (804) 734-6629. ‘Marketing Yourself for a Second Career’ Feb. 12 The Fort Lee Army Career and Alumni Program is sponsoring a free professional lecture for officers and senior noncommissioned officers who are planning to leave the service in the next five years. The lecture, “Marketing Yourself for a Second Career,” is presented by the Military Officers Association of America. The lecture will discuss the competitive job market, resumes, networking, interviewing techniques and negotiating salaries. The lecture will be held in the Army Logistics Management College’s Green Auditorium, Building 12500, Feb. 12, 9 - 11:30 a.m. For information, call (804) 734-6612. National Prayer Breakfast The U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee National Prayer Breakfast will be at the Lee Club Feb. 18, 7 - 8:30 a.m. The theme is “Faith which sustains us through adversity.” For tickets, contact unit first sergeants or directorate representatives. The tickets are free. Tickets will not be available at the event. Audition Announcement The Theater Company at Fort Lee announces auditions for “How to Eat like a Child,” a musical comedy, book by Delia Ephron, John Forster, and Judith Kahan, music by John Forster. Auditions will be held Feb. 21, 10 a.m. at the Lee Playhouse. Director Kenny Holley is seeking children ages 7 - 15 for various roles. Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script, and sing a prepared song. No performers will be paid. Performance dates are March 19, 20 and 21. For information, call (804) 734-6629. ‘Project Home Front’ Home Depot stores, through the volunteer program “Project Home Front,” are providing up to $1,000 in home repair supplies for families whose military sponsors are deployed. For information, visit www.projecthomefront.org. Page 6 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Co. M sponsors blood drive By Capt. Andrea Thompson Company M commander The 23rd Quartermaster Brigade hosted a post blood drive sponsored by Company M, 244th Quartermaster Battalion, Jan. 22. The blood drive was in support of the Fort Bragg Blood Bank at Fort Bragg, N.C. Sgt. Isom, the Fort Bragg NCOIC, seemed excited about the turn out of Soldiers and civilians, “I cannot believe the amount of support we receive every time we come to Fort Lee. We should have no problem reaching our goal of 200 units by the end of the day.” Isom was right, the post turned out in force to support the event. More than 350 personnel showed up to give blood and more than 230 units were collected after screening. The doors to the Post Field House finally shut at 8:30 p.m. when the last Soldier was done donating blood. However, this was not the only blood drive Isom’s team had conducted recently. Her unit is a mixture of regular Army and enlisted Reserve Soldiers who were activated in support of the war in Iraq. They had spent the last 10 days traveling from post to post running blood drives in support of the troops overseas. When asked what she thought about supporting the war through giving blood, Pfc. Maria Schofield, Co. M said, “I like knowing that I am doing something for the troops. One day here soon, I could be the Soldier who needs blood and an AIT Soldier might be the one to save my life.” Schofield also helped with the blood drive by sorting vials of blood and handling paperwork from each station. More than 20 Co. M Soldiers helped process Soldiers and civilians for the blood drive. Whether they gave blood, escorted donors through each station, or provided them refreshments at the end, Soldiers made the blood drive happen. COURTESY PHOTO More than 350 Fort Lee personnel turned out to give blood at the Post Field House Jan. 22. Company M, 244th Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd QM Brigade, sponsored the drive. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 9 Leader retires Col. Robert J. McNeil, U.S. Army Logistics Management College commandant, presents 1st Sgt. Faron V. Brown, Quartermaster Center and School, with retirment awards at a ceremony Friday. Brown served the Army for 22 years as a food service specialist. His assignments included Korea and Germany, and he has been deployed to Bosnia. The Virginia native’s last assignment was Company L, 266th QM Battalion, 23rd QM Brigade, where he served as the company first sergeant. PHOTO BY SGT. JORGE GOMEZ Page 10 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Money Talk BANKRUPTCY: What is it, how to prevent Compiled by Spc. Jason Cutshaw Staff Writer When financial troubles attack, they can be as career-threatening as an Iraqi made improvised explosive device or a Taliban bullet. Problems start small with Soldiers not paying their Deferred Payment Plan on time. But in time, the problem can evolve into not being able to afford food for the family and cars being repossessed or having to report to one’s commander or first sergeant and explain why they can’t pay their bills. What starts small can become a situation where Soldiers lose their security clearance, check-cashing privileges at the Post Exchange and not being able to start or stop an allotment without approval from Defense and Finance Accounting Services. Many people try to hide financial problems from themselves or family members. Not facing the problem can be destructive, because the worry and stress that financial uncertainty and lack of cash cause may be worse than the financial problem itself. It’s important to take a realistic look at your situation and actively seek solutions to your problems. One of the worst situations a person can enter into is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy law provides for the development of a plan that allows a debtor, who is unable to pay his creditors, to resolve his debts through the division of his assets among his creditors. This supervised division also allows the interests of all creditors to be treated with some measure of equality. Certain bankruptcy proceedings allow a debtor to stay in business and use revenue generated to resolve his or her debts. An additional purpose of bankruptcy law is to allow certain debtors to free themselves of the financial obligations they have accumulated, after their assets are distributed, even if their debts have not been paid in full. Bankruptcy proceedings are supervised by and litigated in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. These courts are a part of the District Courts of the United States. The U.S. Trustees were established by Congress to handle many of the supervisory and administrative duties of bankruptcy proceedings. Proceedings in bankruptcy courts are governed by the Bankruptcy Rules which were created by the Supreme Court under the authority of Congress. There are two basic types of Bankruptcy proceedings. A filing under Chapter 7 is called liquidation. It is the most common type of bankruptcy proceeding. Liquidation involves the appointment of a trustee who collects the non-exempt property of the debtor, sells it and distributes the proceeds to the creditors. Bankruptcy proceedings under Chapters 11, 12, and 13 involves the rehabilitation of the debtor to allow him or her to use future earnings to pay off creditors. Under Chapter 7, 12, 13, and some 11 proceedings, a trustee is appointed to supervise the assets of the debtor. A bankruptcy proceeding can either be entered into voluntarily by a debtor or initiated by creditors. After a bankruptcy proceeding is filed, creditors, for the most part, may not seek to collect their debts outside of the proceeding. The debtor is not allowed to transfer property that has been declared part of the estate subject to proceedings. Furthermore, certain pre-proceeding transfers of property, secured interests, and liens may be delayed or invalidated. Various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code also establish the priority of creditors’ interests. There are bankruptcy alternatives. They can come in many shapes and sizes. When selecting a bankruptcy alternative, take your time, gather all the facts, be patient and then make your decision on which bankruptcy alternative to use. If you are in a situation of more debt than you can handle, try this: Imagine how you'd feel if your debts were all paid. That you had managed somehow to drum up the necessary monies and paid them all off. How would it feel personally? How proud would you be? Now, imagine giving up. Understanding that you can’t pay your debts, and filing bankruptcy. Think how you would feel about yourself and how good you would feel. For this reason, bankruptcy should only be used as a final last resort, when other measures have been exhausted and there is no other way out. When children can’t be fed, when the next step is being homeless, when conditions are so severe there is no other way out. Consumer debt has more than doubled in the past 10 years to record levels, making it hard for many families to cope. Consumer debt hit a record $1.98 trillion in October 2003, according to the most recent figures from the Federal Reserve. That debt, which includes credit cards and car loans, but not mortgages, translates to about $18,700 per U.S. household. At the same time, the government says the nation’s savings rate dropped to just two percent of after-tax income in the first half of the year. That means many people lack the means to deal with financial emergencies, much less their eventual retirement. The nation’s credit card debt stands at $735 billion, or nearly $7,000 per household. And because about 40 percent of card users pay their balances in full each month, the household card debt of those who carry balances is closer to $12,000. Consumer bankruptcies have exceeded 1 million a year since 1996, hitting 1.54 million in 2002. Bankruptcy filings totaled 1.25 million in the first nine months of 2003 and could set a new record when the full year is tabulated by the American Bankruptcy Institute, based in Washington. See MONEY Page 23 Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 11 Junior Soldiers get ‘cool’ options for promotion points By Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs Army News Service Junior Soldiers in a handful of job specialties have another option to gain promotion points. As of Jan. 11, skill-based licenses and certifications from civilian sources are worth 10 points. There are 10 career fields that are currently participating in the initiative: Adjutant General, Air Defense Artillery, Aviation, Engineer, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Signal, Transportation, Army Medical Department and Public Affairs. Promotable specialists and sergeants can add up to 50 points in technical certificates, but the points will only remain valid as long as the certificate is valid, said Sgt. Maj. Louisa Scott, the chief of Enlisted Promotions at U.S. Army Human Resources Command. “The certificates can be added as a promotion action only when a Soldier has at least 20 points to add. Then the expiration date on the certificate will be recorded. So if a Soldier needs to re-certify for his license to remain valid, and he fails to do so, then the points will be deleted,” Scott said. “This is a work in progress,” said Jeffrey Colimon, the senior military analyst for the Training and Doctrine Command’s Personnel Proponency Directorate. The initiative is new and will undergo a number of changes, Colimon said, however Soldiers can stay abreast of what military occupational specialties have jumped on board by visiting the Web site for Army Credentialing Opportunities On-Line at www.cool.army.mil. The different proponents have the latitude of analyzing the credentialing concept and determining if it adds value to their branch, Colimon said. Most combat arms proponents elected not to participate because of the lack of related certifications in the civilian arena, he added. The promotion point incentive is the Army’s way of encouraging Soldiers who are not interested in college but still want to pursue professional development, according to officials in the Promotions Branch at the Human Resources Command. “Far too many Soldiers go out and purchase civilian education mainly for promotion points with no degree intent at all,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas, the chief of Junior Enlisted Promotions at HRC. “The certification incentive will give them the opportunity to use training in a progressive nature.” If Soldiers get hands-on training in their specific field, it can improve their job performance and make them more marketable in the civilian market, Scott said. “By offering promotion points, the Army is encouraging Soldiers to pursue professional development,” Scott added. Officials in the Ordnance Corps introduced using credentialing opportunities as a promotional tool. Sgt. Maj. James Herrell, chief enlisted career manager in the Ordnance Corps’ Personnel Proponency Office, said that developing a more competent Soldier was the driving force of the initiative. “We want a competent, enlisted force and self development is key,” Herrell said. “For a Soldier to earn industry credentials, he must study on his own time, get his own resources and demonstrate a level of competency that his peers have not. “We’re not trying to create a more marketable soldier. That is the last of our concerns. We were looking at ways to encourage our Soldiers to do self study.” Herrell did note however, that one of the benefits to receiving civilian certification is gaining experience that will benefit the Soldier in the civilian work force. The COOL Web site serves as the home station to get information on the credentialing for points initiative. Credentials that are valid can be found on the site by clicking on the links that read Technical Certification and Promotion Points Fact sheet or Technical Certification Matrices. The COOL Web site is a recruiting, retention and now a promotion tool, Chartier said. COOL explains how Soldiers can meet civilian certification and license requirements related to their military occupational specialties, and since the site was launched in April 2002 there has been more than 400,000 hits, Chartier added. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 13 CONVOY continued from Page 3 But, despite its realism, the real value behind the range is its intellectual property, Sharp said. Nearly all of his OCTs are combat veterans. Also, the range was built with cooperation by Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery. The unit came home from Iraq in June, and applied its lessons learned in the range’s development, said Buddy Leavell, Range Operations Officer. Staff Sgt. John Lee was in Iraq in October. He is now one of the OCTs, helping to train the reserve units. Lee said the new training is needed. “As quickly as we come up with new tactics, the enemy is studying those tactics so they can counter-attack,” he said. “We’ve got to stay one step ahead of them.” Lee said that the live-fire portion of the convoy training is needed to closely simulate what Soldiers would experience in combat. “The most realistic training you can get, is what you need,” he said. “Over there, Soldiers will not have a ‘safety’ over their shoulders watching them. It’s going to be their call.” His partner, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Trimble, is a Desert Storm veteran. He said the training standardizes convoy operations for the units. “Regardless of what type of convoy you’re in, you should react the same,” Trimble said. He also said the training focuses the Soldiers, so that if they are attacked, they know how to respond. “Some have the tendency to want to suppress the enemy on their own, and they lose sight of their focus,” Trimble said. “Success is measured by getting all of your people and all of your equipment from point A to point B safely.” “It’s good training. If they’ll adhere to the training, they’ll make their mission successfully.” Platoon Leader 1st Lt. Claude Oliver, Company A, 120th Engineers, said the training has built confidence in the Soldiers in his unit, and puts his troops in the proper mindset to go to combat. “Confident Soldiers react better under pressure. It definitely makes a difference,” Oliver said. “This is what you might have to do,” he said. “You need to look to the left and to the right and realize that what you are training on might save someone’s life.” Staff Sgt. Cleydon Reynolds is an electrician and plumber with Company A. Despite the support role his unit plays on the battlefield, all of the members of his unit are “Soldiers first,” he said. “Everybody needs to know how to survive in a combat situation,” he said. “This kind of training sums it up. I have no doubt that this training has prepared us for the scenarios over there now.” Despite the dust, Davis said she liked the training. She is a college student with less than three years in the unit. “It makes you realize how it’s really going to be. You can’t just be joking around in the back of a truck. You have to be ready for anything,” she said. Despite the hardships, Davis said she doesn’t regret joining the military. The convoy training, and other training, her unit has received here has helped build her confidence, she said. “I’ve learned a whole lot since we’ve been here. I think there would be something wrong with you if you weren’t a little nervous,” she said. “But I trust my unit.” Page 14 Dec. 12, 2002 Traveller www.lee.army.mil/ Make a friend, When the stresses of a day are too much and you go home feeling tired and down. When you don’t feel like talking to anyone and just want to take a bath and go to bed. When you open the door to a dark room and put down your beret for the day. There is someone who has missed you all day and finally makes you feel loved. His name is Sparky and even though he doesn’t speak human, he wants to hear all about your day. The unconditional love which dogs show their owners can’t be duplicated by anyone. The relationship between a pet and an owner is a relationship that goes beyond words. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been gone or what you’ve done, or not done, during the day, your pet will always be waiting and happy to see you. Why adopt Why should someone adopt a pet? Adoption assists in controlling the stray population, provides a person or family with a loving addition and improves quality of life. “If you have the time and resources to share and want a friend for life, a stray animal can be a grateful companion,” said Pfc. Lauren R. Gorski, veterinary technician, Fort Lee Veterinary Treatment Facility. “Pets can be comforting and energizing, but do come with a great deal of responsibility.” Strays come from both on and off post. Animals wander in, people dump them here, people who do not maintain strict control of their animals, as well as people changing duty stations and abandoning their pets all contribute to the problem. Ninety percent of animals impounded do not have tags. Many people don’t maintain control of their pets and lose them, but don’t think to call the animal shelter. The Fort Lee VTF receives about 150 animals per year. Of that number, 35 percent are returned to their owners and 45 percent are adopted out. Abandoned pets at the post Veterinary Treatment Procedure According to Gorski, the first thing in item to con sider putting an animal up for adoption is to test its temperament. Children love animals but don’t alway handle them correctly. Vets will take the role of a chi and try to agitate the animal. They tug on their ears, etc. and see how the animals react. Take us home, please Pets get excited to see you when you come home from work. If it becomes aggressive, it is not a candidate for adoption. Once an animal is selected, it is tested for diseases and if it tests positive then the adoptees can decide y or no on adoption. Some people decide to have the animal treated, if that’s possible, or adopt them even they come up positive for a disease. They decide to give the animal a loving home for as long as it can live. Every dog that arrives at the VTF is tested for hea worms and internal parasites and all cats are tested fo Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus an internal parasites Sometimes animals are tested as soon as they hit t door because they look sick. The clinic gets a lot of strays that may be exposed to many diseases they would not be exposed to if they were in a home. When animals leave the Fort lee Veterinary facility they have been examined, properly treated, and they Some pets make great company for watching TV or snacking on the couch. Story and photos by Spc. Jason B. Cutshaw Outdoor activities aren’t an active companion to p Little ones get curious about the smallest things. /pao/travindex.htm Traveller Dec. 12, 2002 Page 15 adopt a pet are current on all their shots. The goal is that people leave the facility with a healthy pet. Most of the animals actually gain weight because they are given so much attention. “By regulation we have to keep them three working days for the owner to reclaim them. At the end of this time they are evaluated for adoptability,” said Capt. Mary Sprangel, officer-in-charge, Fort Lee VTF. “If adoptable, they are held until adopted or transferred to rescue homes, Save-Our-Shelters or the Prince George Humane Society.” Cost There is a $62 adoption fee which includes the animal being spayed or neutered, its first vaccinations, a heartworm or feline leukemia test, micro chipping and a fecal test, according to Gorski. Both dogs and cats are also dewormed as soon as they come to the facility. “If a person wants to adopt a pet, they should research the pet they think they are interested in getting, find out its needs and make sure it fits your lifestyle,” Gorski said. “Don’t get a long-haired dog if you don’t have the time to brush it at least once a day. “Besides looking at dogs and cats,” she added. “We also look at birds, horses and other pets that may come our way. This has to be the best job on Fort Lee. I love animals and now I get to work with them daily.” The adoption fee is small in comparison to what the animals receive as part of the adoption process. It is slightly over cost. The little extra helps maintain the facility. New owners of young animals must schedule an appointment to have the animal spayed or neutered later. Information For more information about adopting an animal, call (804) 734-2446 or stop by the veterinary Treatment Facility from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. t Facility need loving homes - s ild , s yes if artor nd the y The $62 adoption fee includes the spaying or neutering of the animal, first vaccinations, microchipping and other tests. the same without play with you. Pets at the Fort Lee Veterinary Clinic are screened for adoption. Aggressive animals are not selected. All dogs at the post Vet Clinic are tested for heartworm and internal parasites. Cats are tested for Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and internal parasites. Page 16 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Decompression curbs family violence “One Soldier shared with me how his 3year-old kid approached him from behind, tapped him on the shoulder and he quickly “You are a normal human being who got up ready to fight. Only to realize that has gone through an abnormal set of cirit was just his kid and he was home.” cumstances and you will never be the “We ask them to think about how they same person you were several months have been affected by their deployment ago,” says the chaplain at the start of a and what resources they have available to decompression session. them,” Coward said. Fort Lee has been the site for numer“Bringing these resources to their attenous homecomings of overseas deploytion makes Soldiers aware that help is ments. Before these active-duty, Reserve readily available.” or National Guard Soldiers return to their The first decompression session, which families and take up their roles as parlasts a little more than an hour, normally ents, spouses or civilian employees, the takes place as soon as they arrive on post. Installation Chaplain’s Office makes It is followed up with additional sessions every effort to ensure the delicate process 30, 60, 90 and 120 days thereafter. of transitioning from a high-stress com“Issues manifest themselves as the bat zone to normal life goes smoothly. Soldiers readjust to normal life. We want PHOTO BY SGT. 1ST CLASS PAUL L. SWEENEY to discuss these unexpected changes or In the wake of the Fort Bragg killings of four Soldiers’ wives, two Soldier sui- Chaplain (Col.) James Robinson, Installation Chaplain’s feelings they are going through and find cides and the murder of a major by his Office, facilitates a decompression session with some ways to manage the difficulties,” Coward wife, upon the return of the servicemem- members of the 363rd Military Police Company upon their said. bers from Operation Enduring Freedom Decompression is a lengthy process. in 2002, Fort Lee took an in-depth look homecoming from Operation Iraqi Freedom. For this reason the ICO advises the comat its resources and developed a compremand of the National Guard and Reserve hensive approach to affect healthy homecomings and such a long time,” Robinson said. units to integrate follow-up decompression sessions But they also discuss comical incidents or other prevent family violence, self-harm and drug or alcointo their training schedules. positive events where they Soldiers can laugh or hol abuse. How serious the program is taken can be seen by The decompression program, led by chaplains and reflect on the good things that happened during their the involvement of every chaplain and chaplain assismission. chaplain assistants, helps Soldiers deal with normal tant, Robinson said. “Recalling these positive moments serve as a feelings about abnormal experiences. Some Soldiers On Christmas Eve, with the return of the 80 perare fathers who have never met their newborn infants resource,” Coward said. “They can reflect on those cent of the 363rd Military Police Company, eight relationships they developed as a result of their com- chaplains and eight chaplain assistants met the or mothers who have missed the last eight to 20 mon experiences and put a smile on their face. They months of their children’s lives. Soldiers as they set foot off the bus to conduct serve as good times to fall back on.” “How do they fit back in to their children’s lives? decompression sessions before they joined their famThe session is closed by discussing ways of How do they reestablish their normal lives? These are ilies. reestablishing relationships and restoring intimacy some of the issues we address during decompresChristmas day, the 363rd’s remaining Soldiers with their families or loved ones in light of the cirsion,” said Chaplain (Col.) James Robinson, arrived and were decompressed by two chaplains and cumstances that changed both the Soldier who has Installation Chaplain’s Office. two chaplain assistants. gone to war and “the families who have, in some When a unit returns to Fort Lee from a deploy“Our fear is that if the Soldier does not deal with ment, the Soldiers divide in groups of 10 to 12. Once sense, also gone to the war,” Robinson said. his concerns now, he will deal with them later, but he As a result of the deployment, wives have had to broken into groups, they are told that everything they may end up dealing with them the wrong way — play the fatherly role before their children, they have say in the session is confidential. either through drug and alcohol abuse, or through to take the car into the shop for repairs, they have “It is important that Soldiers feel they can trust us child and spouse abuse,” Robinson said. had to readjust their lives and experience the tensions with whatever is on their minds,” said Sgt. 1st Class “We want the Soldier to understand that it is norand frustrations that come with the deployment, he Raymond Coward, Installation Chaplain’s Office mal for them to experience these different emotions added. noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “Creating a safe and there is hope for them to overcome these Even single Soldiers with no families benefit from changes,” he added. environment opens the door to honesty; it allows decompression, Coward said. them to freely express their fears or concerns, which “It’s a good program,” said Sgt. Carlos Mendoza, “They have feelings that need to be expressed and is critical to the healing process.” 135th MP Company, whose unit recently returned it’s important they recognize that they can be honest “We ask them, what was your biggest fear? What from Operation Iraqi Freedom. “The chaplains really about those feelings,” he added. were some of the emotions you experienced? What make you feel comfortable; they treat you on a first “Some Soldiers have a hard time going to malls or name basis. Their questions and discussions helped were you most anxious about? I often hear stories department stores because the big crowds make them me to understand the feelings I was going through from Soldiers who had close calls such as almost shooting the wrong person to simply hating flying for look over their shoulders constantly,” Robinson said. and to get them off my chest.” Editor By Sgt. Jorge Gomez THEFT continued from Page 3 transfers or uses a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law. Identity theft takes only minutes for thieves to accomplish while recovering from identity theft takes months to years for the victims of this serious crime, Anzulewicz said. He said it is more dangerous when Soldiers become victims of identity theft. “If a Soldier in Baghdad has his credit card stolen, the criminal will max it out without his knowledge. Then, his wife back in the states can’t buy food for the kids. The Soldier is thinking of his family starving back in the states. Identity theft makes Soldiers ineffective and puts them in harms way,” Anzulewicz said. Three common ways of stealing identities exist. “Most identity thieves take personal information out of mailboxes or trash cans,” Anzulewicz said. However, the Internet is a growing outlet for criminals, he said “People give their personal information away everyday on the Internet,” Anzulewicz said. He said Soldiers and their families can protect themselves from identity theft by being cautious of giving out their personal information. “Also, make sure you check your credit card bills for abnormal charges. Invest in a shredder and shred all of your personal information before throwing it away,” he said. If your credit card is missing or stolen, Anzulewicz said immediately call the credit card company. “Ask that a ‘fraud alert’ be placed in your file,” he said. Furthermore, he advises people to order an annual copy of their credit report from the three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Trans Union and Experian. Check for accuracy on the reports and make sure the activities listed were authorized. Identity theft victims should call the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877ID-THEFT, Anzulewicz said. When people call the hotline, trained personnel guide them through the steps needed to resolve their issues resulting from identity theft. For more information on identity theft, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 17 ISABEL continued from Page 4 When Estess drove into a parking lot at Fort Monroe, he pulled into four feet of water. “It was frustrating to work under those rough conditions, but we were helping out people who needed us and that made it all worth it,” he said. Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Davis, ACES instructor, earned an Army Commendation Medal as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of 13 food specialists that fed the Fort Monroe community. “We cooked between 350 to 500 rations per meal for eight consecutive days,” Davis said. “There was constant activity. Between meals we were busy filling up our water buffaloes, keeping our burners fueled and taking care of our own Soldiers’ needs. Even so, we had a great sense of satisfaction being able to feed people whose freezers were out and whose burners were under four feet of water.” Army Commendation Medal recipients: 2nd Lt. Doug Newel CW3 Charles Swinehart Sgt. Maj. David Green Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Bush Sgt. 1st Class Shaund Briggs Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Davis Sgt. 1st Class Dwayne Foster Sgt. 1st Class Charles Gainey Sgt. 1st Class Fredrick Nettles Sgt. 1st Class Robert Warner Sgt. 1st Class Mark Williams Staff Sgt. Herbert Anderson Staff Sgt. Jamel Bates Staff Sgt. Gordon Beasley Staff Sgt. Ben Carter Staff Sgt. James Drewery Staff Sgt. Eric Duren Staff Sgt. Elijah Grant III Staff Sgt. Matthew Greene Staff Sgt. Angela Hall Staff Sgt. Anthony Maben, Jr. Staff Sgt. William Martin Staff Sgt. Maurice Sanders Staff Sgt. Rodney Scott Army Achievement Medal recipients: Sgt. Megan Skeffington Spc. Hustin Bonner Spc. Jeffrey Estess Pfc. Jeremy Johnson Quartermaster General’s and Regimental Command Sergeant Major’s coins of excellence: CW2 Danny Boyd Sgt. 1st Class Carolyn Bronson Sgt. 1st Class Princess Lomax Sgt. 1st Class Amy Nix Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Palmeri Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Short Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Simington Sgt. 1st Class Sabrina Wilson Staff Sgt. Valencia Anderson Staff Sgt. Alfraizer Charity Staff Sgt. Terry Clark Staff Sgt. David Davis Staff Sgt. Ramonia Brown Staff Sgt. Betty Harris Staff Sgt. Desma Jones Staff Sgt. Reginald Smith Staff Sgt. Janie Walker Mr. Ron Douglas Mr. George Herb PSA Page 18 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Traveller Feb. 5, 2003 ‘Father of Black History’ House Named National Historic Site By Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service The house in Washington D.C.’s northwest section where the “Father of Black History,” lived, worked and launched “Negro History Week” in 1926 is now a National Historic Site, thanks to the U.S. Congress. The house is named for author, editor, publisher, historian and educator Carter G. Woodson, who lived from December 1875 to April 1950. The Senate passed the Carter G. Woodson House Bill on Nov. 24, 2003, making Woodson’s home a historic site, according to Sylvia Cyrus-Albritton, interim executive director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, which Woodson created in 1915. The congressional designation places the house in the National Park Service system, which makes the park service responsible for the preservation and protection of the three-story, 1880s Victorian-style row house in what’s called the “Heart of Black Washington.” Cyrus-Albritton said President Clinton signed an act on July 21, 2000, authorizing a study to identify the national significance of the Carter G. Woodson home as a historic site. Public Law 106-349, which was enacted on Oct. 24, 2000, mandated the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the potential for the future management and operations of the Woodson home and to determine what role the federal government might play. The association’s mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about African-American life, history and culture to the global community. With temporary headquarters on Washington’s Howard University campus, the associ- ation operates local, state and international branches promoting greater knowledge of African-American history through a program of education, research and publishing, according to Cyrus-Albritton. Woodson, the son of former slaves who taught himself to read and write, launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of African-American people throughout American history. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1907, attended the Sorbonne University in Paris, where he became fluent in French; and received a doctorate degree in history from Harvard University in 1912, becoming only the second African American to earn such a degree. “It was Dr. Woodson’s hope that this special observance would remind all Americans of their ethnic roots, and create a togetherness and mutual respect for each other’s backgrounds among different racial groups in the United States,” Cyrus-Albritton said. In March 1976, President Carter spearheaded an effort to extend the observance to a month-long celebration. The name was changed to “Black History Month.” Noting that Woodson’s efforts brought worldwide attention to African American history, CyrusAlbritton said his goals were to promote racial harmony by uncovering the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s history. “He believed if people understood the rich contributions that African Americans have made, and continue to make to the nation’s history, they would respect and see these people as productive citizens to our society,” she said. “Dr. Woodson dedicated his entire life to this work, choosing to never marry or have children,” Cyrus-Albritton said. “His work was his life, and the Woodson home is a symbol of a movement that has yet to be fully realized.” She said the preservation of the Carter G. Woodson home is necessary to ensure that future generations will be able to assemble in the house in which he labored many long hours in his effort to promote racial harmony among all Americans through his extensive research of African Americans. “It was in this house that Dr. Woodson penned some of his greatest works and trained nearly two generations of African American scholars in this house,” Cyrus-Albritton noted. Woodson published many volumes of history, including “The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861” (published in 1915), and “A Century of Negro Migration” (1918), “The Mis-Education of the Negro” (1933), and “The Negro in Our History” (1922), which became the standard text on African American history for many years. He also edited the “Journal of Negro History” for 34 years. One of his famous sayings is, “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” After it’s renovated, the house will serve as the association’s headquarters and a research museum. The association is working with the newly created Negro League Legends Hall of Fame in researching, preserving and publishing materials that highlight the contributions African American baseball players made to the development of major league baseball, the African American community, and American society. The project will include multimedia teaching material for primary and secondary schools, an online oral history project and scholarly publications, Cyrus-Albritton said. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 21 DeCA promotes safety, health Checking the Pressure, Defense Commissary Agency employee Rose Mary Alais listens as Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Services EMT Jimmy Snowden explains the blood pressure readings he has just taken. The health screening was part of the Defense Commissary Agency’s Safety Week 2004 event held worldwide in January. PHOTO BY HERB GREENE 22 Circus Coming to Town From Wednesday through Feb. 15, Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey transforms the Richmond Coliseum with the all new 134th Edition of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” For information, visit www.ringling.com. Leisure Young Black Stallion Walt Disney Pictures Presents “Young Black Stallion,” at the Science Museum of Virginia’s Ethyl IMAX Dome, now through March 13. Tickets for “Young Black Stallion,” and Science Museum exhibits are $11.50 for youth ages 4 - 12, $12.50 for adults and $12 for seniors at least 60 years old. Tickets for the show alone are $7. For information, call (804) 864-1400. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 Black History Month Travel back in time and discover the struggles and triumphs of more than two-dozen African American aviators. The Virginia Aviation Museum recognizes Black History Month through Feb. 27. Celebrate the lives of legendary African-American aviators. Black Wings, a 50-minute presentation includes tributes to Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first black combat pilot during Wold War I, and Bessie Coleman, the first black women ever to pilot a plane and the first African-American to earn an International Pilot’s License. Presentations are Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. For information, call (804) 236-3622. Harry Potter at Children’s Museum Spend an evening inside Harry Potter’s world at the Children’s Museum of Richmond Feb. 21, 6 - 10 p.m. Meet Potter’s friends and teachers, learn potions and spells. Take classes to learn about Quidditch. The event is for youth ages 6 - 12, adult chaperones are required. Early bird rate for member child is $18 and $22 for non-member child. Adult rate is $5. For reservations, call (804) 474-CMOR. Cardinal Golf Club The Fort Lee Golf Course is proud to announce that it has been granted authorization to open its facilities to service veterans in the local area. This entitlement provides veterans the opportunity to play the 27-hole course. Some of the entitlements include: reduced green fee rates and golf course vehicle passes. For information, call (804) 734-2899. Saluting Tuskegee Airmen Members of the famous Tuskegge Airmen, the first African-American fighter and support squadrons, will be on hand to share their memories and their mission Saturday, noon - 1 p.m., at the Virginia War Museum. The public is encouraged to talk with the men and view the museum’s galleries, including March Toward Freedom: the Black Military Experience in America, 1 - 3 p.m. For information, call (757) 247-8523. Flower & Garden Show The Greater Richmond Convention Center will host the 15th Annual Maymont Flower and Garden Show Feb. 19 - 21, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Feb. 22, 9 - 6 p.m. Wrap yourself in Mardi Gras beads, shake your maracas and tango through tulips — it’s a party in the garden. Twenty fullscale landscape exhibits will demonstrate everything that a festival or festive garden should embrace. See the Great Garden Marketplace, the Spectacular Speaker Series and a bouquet of new activities and displays. General admission is $14; $12 for advance tickets. For information, call (804) 358-7166. Join the Cub, Boy Scouts Go skiing and camping with the Boy Scouts, ages 11 - 16, or Cub Scouts, ages 7 - 10. Visit the Scout Hut Building Thursdays, 6 - 8:30 p.m. For information, call (804) 733-4632. Baseball Sign-Ups Spring Baseball sign-ups will be held Saturday and Feb. 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Ironbridge Park’s Central Chesterfield Little League Concession Stand. Online player registration is available at www.ccll.us or checks may be mailed to: CCLL P.O. Box 2382, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Applications received after Feb. 21 will be assessed a late sign-up fee of $10 per person. Antiques Spectacular The Richmond Antiques Spectacular will be held at the Showplace Exhibition Center Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 - 5 p.m. For information, call (804) 462-6190. Traveller Feb. 5, 2004 www.lee.army.mil/pao/travindex.htm Page 23 MONEY continued from Page 10 Working-age people, those 25 to 55, are still the most likely to file for bankruptcy because those are the ages at which people have large debts associated with houses and children. The most common filer is age 35 to 44. Most in that group are single women with children, but there are also a lot of couples. Declaring bankruptcy is not a cure-all. It mars a credit report for 10 years, Child support, student loans, taxes, and home and car loans still have to be paid. While both forms, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, stop collectors from calling, home and car lenders are still allowed to repossess if filers don’t stick to a payment plan. Chapter 7, liquidation, allows consumers to keep their future earnings, but the court trustee may take all items and money that aren’t considered essential. Home and car lenders will require payment for the full amount owed, though under a new schedule. Chapter 13 is for people with current income and less debt who can make some payments for three to five years. It requires creditors, including credit card companies, to accept lower payments and stop interest. However, two-thirds of all Chapter 13 plans fail, and court-appointed trustees take a fee of 10 percent. Consumer debt has spawned a whole industry of credit counseling, an alternative to bankruptcy, but the National Consumer Law Center says some agencies give improper advice, charge excessive fees and abuse their nonprofit status. The law center advises walking away from any agency that charges more than $50 to set up a debt-management plan, or monthly fees of more than $25. The center also says watch out for those that aggressively sell “consolidation” loans, pay their advisers by commission and fail to offer options such as budget counseling. But getting out of debt is the key to restoring your credit — if you don’t get out of debt, you’ll never restore your credit. Once you are debt-free, you can then restore your credit to good standing. Consumer Credit Counseling Services are paid by banks and creditors, and so work for the banks and creditors, not you. With a Consumer Credit Counseling Service, you normally end up paying the same or more than the original debt, through extended terms and lowered payments. With a Consumer Credit Counseling Service, the average amount of time on the program is eight years. With a Consumer Credit Counseling Service program, if you for some reason cannot make a payment or payments, the program can be cancelled. Your debts can be reverted to their former status, due, payable, and collectable at their former rates. During your time with a Consumer Credit Counseling Program, you can get no credit of any kind — a loan, credit care, or mortgage — without a court order. Remember, the average length of time with such a program is eight years. That’s eight years you can’t get credit without going through the court system. Certain methods can help prevent one from going into the “Hole” of financial burden; Add your expenses and compare the total to your current income. Are your expenses more or less than your income? If they are more, what can you do to bring your expenses in line with your income? Consider adjusting your expenses by using one or more of the following methods: Cut spending. Which would be the easiest variable expenses on which to cut back? Don’t buy things you don’t need? Increase your income. Try part-time or temporary work to help supplement your income? Don’t buy on impulse. If this is a problem for you, a spending plan will be a great help. Tell yourself if it’s not in the budget, I can’t have it. Then take your own advice. Substitute a lower-priced item or similar item for something you must buy. Borrow or rent things, rather than purchase them, if they won’t be used frequently. Reduce your fixed expenses. If too much of your income is going to fixed expenses such as housing or debt payments, there may not be enough money left to cover your other living expenses. As a last resort, you may need to refinance a loan or move to lower costing house. A major goal should be to pay all your credit cards in full each month. This can only be done if you plan to pay more than the minimum amount to creditors each month. If you can’t send more to each one, try to first pay off the one with the highest interest rate, then the others. Or, pay off the smallest bill first then work on the others. A $1,000 balance will take seven years to pay off if you only make the minimum payment each month. Debt is a horrible thing and can be controlled. Many options are open to someone who wants to control their spending. Fort Lee has ways to help out Soldiers and family members who want to conquer their financial burdens. For information about Fort Lee’s Army Community Services financial programs, call (804) 734-6388.