WARRIOR TRANSITION BATTALION FAMILY FRG Newsletter February Brooke Army

WARRIOR TRANSITION BATTALION FAMILY FRG Newsletter February 2008 Brooke Army Medical Center Upcoming Events: • Warrior & Family Support Commander’s Corner Greetings to all Warriors, Staff and Family members of the BAMC-WTB! We are entering our second month of this New Year and I hope everyone is still refreshed and energized from our holiday time off. I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to our Warriors and Family members and invite you all to attend our weekly Warrior Family Support Forum occurring every Wednesday at 1000 in the WTB conference room. This forum is available to all Warriors and Family members to support them with their needs and for them to address any issues or concerns they may be having. I look forward to seeing you all at our next forum and also at the next Townhall Meeting on 5 March at 0730 in the BAMC Auditorium. Along with our new CSM we have received a lot of new Staff from the National Guard and Reserves. We are now at our full personnel strength which will help us to achieve our many objectives for 2008! With inprocessing and training almost completed, we will begin to see a lot of new faces involved in the daily activity of the Battalion as we continue our number one mission, providing quality continuance of service for our Transitioning Warriors and Family members. I would like to welcome each and every new Warrior and Staff to the BAMC-WTB and I know you all will fit right in to our great ‘team’ organization. We have a couple of key activities in February: Warrior and Family Newcomer’s Orientation every Monday at 1200 hrs in the BAMC Auditorium, WTB Hail and Farewell 22 Feb, Company level diagnostic physical fitness test 11-15 Feb, Presidents day Feb 18, and finally our battalion staff forum meeting on 22 Feb. A couple of final thoughts for the month: -Be sure to make time for your families -In everything that you do both at work or at home do not forget safety. -Your continued support and work you do in caring for the Warriors, Families, and Staff does not go unnoticed, it is truly wonderful. -Welcome our new Staff members and Families like the professionals I know you are. Remember, my door is ALWAYS open to assist anyone. I am located in building 3640 and my office phone number is 916-7325 (or 916-9730). Happy Valentine’s wishes to all! Try to spend time and recognize those special people in your life on this day. Enjoy your day off for President’s Day and let us continue this mission, which I will always feel proud and honored to be a part of. We have a New Year still in front of us, let’s make it the best! Forum Every Wednesday at 10:00AM WTB Conference Room • Presidents Day 18 FEB • WTB Hail & Farewell 22 FEB 6:00PM • FRG Steering Meeting 27 FEB 11:00AM WTB Conference Room • Warrior & Family Newcomer’s Orientation Every Monday 12:00PM BAMC Auditorium • FRG Meeting 12 MAR Time and Location TBD • BAMC EggSpring Egg-stravaganza 22 MAR 11:00AM11:00AM-4:00PM • FRG Steering Committee Meeting 26 MAR 11:00AM WTB Conference Room Danielle Field FRG Leader Erica Smith Treasurer Emmanuel Martinez Fundraising Committee Chairperson JOHN F. MYERS LTC, MI WTB Commanding PAGE 2 FRG FEBRUARY 2008 CSM’S SITREP I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself again to all of the Soldiers, Staff, and Family members of the Warrior Transition Battalion. I am CSM Maria D. Nieto and have been here at the Warrior Transition for a little over a month now. As the Commander has addressed, the WTB is now fully staffed, having received our National Guard and Reserve members. Welcome them as they get up to speed on the Battalion’s operations. I have never been more excited to lead Soldiers as I am today. Having this opportunity is an honor and a joy. Your professionalism and respect has welcomed me into my position and I look forward to working with all of you during our tenure here together. There is a lot going on in February along with Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day. We will be having our first Battalion Hail and Farewell on the 22nd of February. I encourage you all to come out and have some food and some fun while we recognize those who are moving on and welcome those who have arrived. I would like to see all of you in attendance at our orientations, forums and Chaplain’s night listed in the Commander’s Corner. Come out and support our Battalion and its Warriors throughout this month of February! I want to wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day and remind you to make those loved ones close to you feel special on that day. Take needed time with your families on our day off for Presidents Day and most importantly return safely. Remember, my door is always open to assist any Soldiers, Staff or Family Member that needs my assistance. My office is in the Command Suite of Building 3640 and my phone number is 916-9760. Warriors First! CSM Maria D. Nieto Command Sergeant Major Warrior Transition Battalion XO Speaks Out Warriors, Family Members, and Staff, I hope that the New Year has started out on a positive trend for you and your family. It’s always exciting to start a new year because we always make resolutions and new plans to follow throughout the year; I encourage each and everyone to stick to the plan and make it happen. As for the Warrior Transition Battalion, there is one plan we will follow through with and never make compromises: taking care of our Warriors, Staff and Family Members. I have no doubt in my mind that the personnel in our Battalion are committed to Warrior Service. It will take unwavering dedication and continuous effort from each and every one of us to ensure we provide top-notch service. I encourage all Warriors, Staff and Family Members to let us know how we are doing and what we can do better. Your feedback is truly important to us. We are moving right along in the Battalion. There are many things we continue to establish and put into function, one of them being our Family Readiness Group. We need volunteers for the FRG, “WE NEED YOU”!! We welcome all Warriors, Family Members and Staff members that would like to participate and volunteer with the FRG. You are needed in order to get this program up and running and I encourage each and everyone in the Battalion to step up and participate. We will have monthly meetings, events and Battalion steering committee meetings and your input is needed. It will be as great as we all make it. Finally, I want to say welcome to all the new personnel that have arrived to the Battalion since the last newsletter. Welcome to the Team! Welcome to the Warrior Transition Battalion Family! I’m sure you will find this a unique experience and a very rewarding job. Taking care of our Warriors and our families is our number one Priority! MAJ Juan Rosas WTB XO PAGE 3 FRG FEBRUARY 2008 Alpha Company Wolfpack In the Month of January we received several new personnel. Some were National Guard, some were Reserve Soldiers and one was Active component who was a former Warrior in Transition. We would like to welcome SSG Reed, SSG McAden, SSG Garcia, SGT Arenal, SGT Roland and Ms Bobbie Sellers. We are expecting the incoming 1SG to arrive in mid– February. His name is MSG Vazquez and he will be coming from Puerto Rico. We will be saying Farewell to several of our veteran staff members. SGT Pardo will be returning to USARSO, SSG Sharp will return to Garrison Command, SSG Roberson will be moving to S1 in the WTB. He will be joining Mr Carouthers who has already made the move to S1. MSG Sullivan who will be going to BAMC. When these soldiers arrived to our company, they were thrust into the WTB reorganization and assisted in standing up the new Battalion. They will be missed. The 1st CAV WT Soldiers were visited by 1CAV CG, MG Fil and his family. MG Fil spent time with the Soldiers and listened to any concern from the soldiers. He gave each soldier a 1CAV coin and Belt Buckle. We would like to wish MSG Howard Happy Birthday. She had a birthday in January. Happy Valentines Day to all WTB Staff and Warriors. First Sergeant’s Change of Responsibility 4 April Commander’s Change of Command 18 April FEBRUARY 2008 FRG PAGE 4 Bravo Company Spartans Bravo Company WTU got 2008 off to a good start. New Platoon Sergeants and Squad Leaders arrived to the company and hit the ground running. They have all taken over a squad or platoon. Bravo also had an award ceremony at the hospital auditorium to issue out some well earned and well deserved awards. A Fish Fry was held to welcome the new Staff and to build a little cohesion amongst the leaders, thanks for all the participation. Upcoming Events: The Spartans will farewell 1SG Sprawling and welcome aboard 1SG Rodriquez, time and date to be announced at a later date. Bravo Spartan Freedom Has A Price First Sergeant’s Change of Responsibility 15 February Commander’s Change of Command 13 May FEBRUARY 2008 FRG PAGE 5 Charlie Company Mustangs Happy Valentines Day ——- from the MUSTANGS!!! This month we are proud to announce the arrival of our new National Guard staff members. At this time we have 6 new arrivals and we are expecting our Army Reserve counterparts in the near future. The arrival of these Soldiers is a warm welcome and will greatly benefit the Warrior Transition Battalion. At the beginning of this month Charlie Company in-processed the staff members and held a welcoming reception in the company area. Juxtaposing our Active Duty members and our National Guard Soldiers, will have a positive overall effect for our Warriors in Transition by providing a wide range of knowledge and experience represented by both groups. To the new families of our Soldiers please feel free to come over and say — Hi— or if you are interested we are looking for volunteers to fill some positions with the Warrior Transition Battalion Family Readiness Group. MUSTANGS First Sergeant’s Change of Responsibility 29 February Commander’s Change of Command 14 March WARRIOR TRANSITION BATTALION Commander LTC John Myers 210-916-7325 Executive Officer MAJ Juan Rosas 210-916-6492 Command Sergeant Major CSM Maria Nieto 210-916-9760 Family Readiness Asst Cheryl Kennedy 210-916-7753 FRG PAGE 6 SS af ety af ety SS af ety af ety Take Safety In Stride • Practice good housekeeping—keep slip, trip and fall hazards from occurring. Warn others about spills and clean them up immediately. Pay attention to what’s in your path when walking. Never carry a load that blocks your vision. Shorten your stride on damp surfaces. A CO Commander CPT Jeromie Smith 210-916-6254 First Sergeant 1SG Pedro Perez 210-916-7218 • • • • First Sergeant 1SG Timothy Sprawling 210-916-6858 Family Readiness Liaisons: SSG Rhonda Nimblette SSG Rene Wilsonburnett B CO Commander 1LT Mark Sroczynski 210-916-8916 Family Readiness Liaisons: SSG Demarco Newton SSG Ian Smith C CO Commander CPT Albert Garcia 210-916-6118 First Sergeant 1SG Michael Haynes 210-916-6107 On another note, congratulations to SSG Marshall Matney for being selected as the Safety Officer of the Quarter for his excellent work in fire and occupational safety. Family Readiness Liaisons: SSG Eric Terrell SSG Ivonne Crews Brooke Army Medical Center Bldg 3640 Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200 1LT Matthew Humphrey WTB Safety Officer Chaplain’s Corner Change seems to go along with everything we do. Take my life, for example. I’ve been a mobilized reservist here at BAMC for the past 20 months. Early this month, I will return home to Perkasie, Pennsylvania to use my transitional leave and return to civilian status. At first look, that appears to be a major change in my life. Well it is, but not as much as you would think. That’s because I am coming back to the WTB a few weeks later as an active duty chaplain. I’ll be doing the same job I have now and sitting in the same desk. I’ll be working with the same people. The difference will be that I will be on active duty orders, allowing me to bring my family here so we can all be reunited together. I’ll be able to enjoy the job I love and have my family along with me. It’s easy to be afraid of change. It frequently appears to threaten the vision and expectations we have for life. Yet, it might just be the change God uses to make our life more joyful and satisfying. It might just be an answer to your prayers. The Unit Ministry Team is here to be with you whenever change comes into your life. Stop by our office and let us know how we can be a blessing to you. Chaplain Bryan Van Pelt *BAMC Duty Chaplain: (210) 513-9348 FEBRUARY 2008 FRG PAGE 7 Good News and Recent Events! Warrior in Transition Staff Course Forty Soldiers and Civilian staff members assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) graduated from the Warrior in Transition Staff Course Jan. 25 at Fort Sam Houston. The mission of the WTB Staff members is to assist the healing process of Warriors as they transition back to duty or continue serving the nation as a Veteran in their community. The purpose of the four-day training is to “indoctrinate staff into the Army Medical Action Plan (AMAP) process and orientate them to all the capabilities and facilities BAMC has to offer the Warriors in Transition,” said MAJ John Meyer, Training and Operations Officer, Battalion S-3. Approximately 40 subject matter experts from WTB, MEDCOM, BAMC, and Fort Sam Houston briefed on topics including Army Wounded Warrior Program, Army Community Service, Veterans Affairs, American Red Cross, Physical Disability Evaluation System, and the role of Ombudsmen. Staff must become familiar with the wide variety of subjects so that they can assist Warriors in Transition with any concerns or problems they may encounter. Students remarked that the course was “very informative,” and was a good start to their many training requirements in order to provide quality care to Warriors in Transition and their Family Members. BRAVO COMPANY FISH FRY A fun way to welcome our new Staff members! FEBRUARY 2008 FRG PAGE 8 In the Community Military Appreciation Day 2008 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo The 2008 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Military Family Appreciation Days will be held Feb. 15. Active-duty military personnel and their Families will receive free admission to the grounds with a military ID card. The Stock Show and Rodeo combined Military Appreciation Days with their Dollar Days, which feature rides, hot dogs, popcorn and sodas in the carnival for $1 each. Military Families can upgrade their admission to also attend the rodeo by purchasing a rodeo ticket for $6 at the southwest corner of the AT&T Center. Parking admission is not included. For more information, call 221-9904 or 221-1151. BAMC FRG SPRING EGG-STRAVAGANZA EGG2008 Spring Egg-stravaganza 2008 will be on Saturday March 22, 11AM-4PM. This year’s theme is Rodeo, and WTB FRG will head up the crafts section. Do you have a great idea for a craft? Want to help in the planning phase or teach kids a fun craft on the day of the event? Please let your company Family Readiness Liaison know, or send an email to Cheryl Kennedy: Cheryl.Kennedy2@amedd.army.mil Helpful Websites www.Military.com/Spouse Commissary Scholarship The deadline to apply for the Commissary Scholarship is fast approaching. The $1,500 scholarships are available to unmarried children, under the age of 21 (or 23 if enrolled in school), of active-duty, retired, and Guard and Reserve Soldiers. Applications must be turned in to a local commissary by close of business on 20 February 2008. For further information, go to: www.militaryscholar.org This newsletter may contain both official and unofficial information. The inclusion of some unofficial information in this FRG newsletter has not increased the costs to the Government, in accordance with DOD 4525.8-M.