El Morro
Operation ldquoFeliz NavidadrdquoFort Buchanan exceeded expectations ascommunityrsquos contributions spread joy
FB Senior Commander visits Puerto Rico
Vol 2 Issue 4 Sentinel of the Caribbean January 2016
From the Garrison CommanderB u e n o s
Diacuteas Team Fort Buchan-an considers 2016 to be a year of op-portuni t ies These oppor-tunities nest s e a m l e s s l y with the Chief
of Staff Army and Commanding Gen-eral United States Army Reserve Com-mand priorities as well as nest with the Commanding General Installation Man-agement Commandrsquos Campaign Plan three lines of effort Opportunities we will aggressively pursue are
1) Infrastructure sustainment and revitalization Our infrastructure is de-signed to be readiness enablers but due to years of low funding our facilities have become readiness inhibitors In 2016 we will diligently implement an infrastructure revitalization strategy that moves unitsorganizations from dilapi-dated buildings into refurbished existing facilities or new metal buildings (depen-dent on funding) Concurrently we will continue our pursuit of creating centers of excellence by relocating services to one location or near each other such as all medical related services located in or near Rodriguez Army Health Clinic in order to provide our customers one loca-tion to receive servicessupport
2) Professional Installation Manage-ment Workforce We will continue to seek professional development train-ing for our workforce (congrats to Mr Nogueras for being one of only a handful of personnel selected to attend the US Army Command and General Staff Col-lege) develop a Strategic Plan develop Standing Operating Procedures for the management of our contractors develop a master installation plan and pursue ad-ditional training enablers (ex Mission Command amp Battle Command Systems)
3) Effective Base Operations support We will continue to provide excellent customer service while also expanding our capabilities by increasing our readi-ness platforms Specifically we contin-ue to work with our interagency (federal) partners to build a range that will be the only range in Puerto Rico solely dedicat-
ed to military and federal organizations in the San Juan metropolitan area where the majority of military and federal orga-nizations reside
Additionally we are pursuing other training enablers such as a Rappel Tower Obstacle Course HEAT amp MRAP train-ers along with expanding the capabili-ties of our new Joint Interagency Active Threat Training Facility (JIATTF) We also will continue to seek effectiveness and efficiencies in Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions with USNORTHCOM by increasing our Base Support Installation (BSI) capabilities via the addition of a Troop Issue Subsistence Activity (TISA) and other billeting re-lated activities and continue the dialogue with USSOUTHCOM to established a bi-lingual medical training center on Fort Buchanan in support of USSOUTHCOM Theater Security Cooperation objectives
I also want to take this opportunity to talk about ldquoinner driverdquo In order for Fort Buchanan to achieve maximum results great effort will be required of Team Buchanan While each of us is motivated differently we must be mo-tivated to achieve extraordinary results For those with doubts let me highlight some notable achievements in just a few short months we hosted a cancer aware-ness run that raised over $500000 we created a JIATTF that has already proven to be a valuable asset to military units and federal organizations we continue to provide toys to children as part of the inaugural Operation Feliz Navidad which has the opportunity to grow into a special event for the entire island all due the efforts of Team Buchanan we have worked with our interagency partners to host hugely successful events and the Parrandas was just an incredible amount of talent on display So great achieve-ments have already been accomplished and so many more opportunities exist
My motivation mainly comes from belief and time (or rather lack of) I will use a great song to illustrate my belief in action
Irsquom so sick and tired about how we are our creators hands and feet but itrsquos easier to say than be live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves itrsquos alright somebody else will do something Well I donrsquot know about you but Irsquom sick and
tired of life with no desire I donrsquot want a flame I want a fire I wanna be the one who stands up and says Irsquom gonna do something
If not us then who if not me and you right now itrsquos time for us to de some-thing If not now then when will we see an end to all this pain itrsquos time for us to de something We are the salt of the earth wersquore a city on a hill but wersquore never gonna change the world by stand-ing still
A good way to describe the uncertain-ty of time is another song
Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away Take in all the colors before they fade to gray I donrsquot want to miss even just a sec-ond more of this
It happens in a blink it happens in a flash it happens in the time it took to look back I try to hold on tight but therersquos no stopping time what is it Irsquove done with my life
Team Fort Buchanan none of us knows our longevity so we ought to live life abundantly making a difference shining our light for all to see Donrsquot buy into the hype that we are moving too fast as nobody knows what tomorrow has in store for us so letrsquos achieve as much as possible today
Finally I am a dreamer I understand that dreams give birth to change As a dreamer I also take a leap of faith and begin this wonderful New Year believ-ing that all members of Fort Buchanan community have something to contribute to this change I invite you to take own-ership of our ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo campaign because you are Fort Buchan-an As you travel around the installation you will see banners with pictures of veterans Soldiers children employees etc We are all Soldiers (Active Reserve National Guard) Sailors Marines Air Force Coast Guard friends families and visitors that adds up to a bigger and better community united by goodwill because ndash ldquoYo Soy el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
This will be a year of transformation I hope each month of the year moves us closer to turning dreams into real-ity Remember ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more
Many blessings to you and your fam-ily on this New Year iexclFeliz Antildeo Nuevo
2 El Morro
3El Morro
January 2016
From the Garrison Command Sergeant Major
December 2013
Garrison CommanderCOL Michael T Harvey
Garrison Command Sergeant MajorCSM Luis A Rosario
Deputy Garrison CommanderLTC Joseph M Dreksler
Deputy to the Garrison CommanderWilliam S Leyh
Public Affairs OfficerGrissel Rosa
Command InformationJoseacute L Loacutepez
Mailing address-Public Affairs Office
ATTN IMSE-BUC-PA390 Crane Loop Suite 311
Fort Buchanan Puerto Rico 00934-4616
Story Submissions-Email to josellopez120civmailmil
Telephone numbers(787) 707-40134486 Fax (787) 707-3362
EL MORRO is an authorized publication posted in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1
Contents of EL MORRO are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the
US Government the Department of DefenseDepartment of the Army or
US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan
EL MORRO is published monthly by the Public Affairs Office US Army Garrison
All editorial content of EL MORRO is prepared edited provided and approved by the US Army Garrison Public Affairs Office For guidance on how to submit items for publication e-mail the
garrison Public Affairs Office
The PAO reserves the right to edit all submissions and to determine the suitability for
inclusion in EL MORRO
Every effort will be made to publish submissions in a timely manner However time
layout style and editorial considerations as well as determinations for publication are determined by
the Commander or the Public Affairs Officer
Happy New Year Fort Buchanan may the Lord provide you and your loved ones a year filled with blessings health and the vision to make a differ-ence Last year was full of exciting and gratify-ing moments and 2016 is promising to be more exhilarating and rewarding
We deeply appreciate your support and dedica-tion during this past year and ask you to continue sustaining the services to our Armed Forces work-force interagency and intergovernmental partners
and their families We will like to humbly say ldquothanksrdquo for your support to Operation Feliz
Navidad Thanks to your unconditional support Fort Buchanan had the opportunity to bring a smile to many kids during the holidayrsquos season Our workforce along with our sister services and interagency partners deliv-ered gifts to kids in three orphanages and three different childrenrsquos hospi-tals Overall it was a gifting and rewarding experience that taught us and made us realize that we are something bigger than ourselves
As I stated earlier 2016 is full of promises Whatever your resolutions for the New Year are now is the time to commit and establish a clear path to achieve them Whether your goal is to spend more time with your fami-ly to learn how to manage your stress to reestablish a broken relationship to lose or gain weight to exercise more to improve your personal record to improve your grades to better care for yourself andor to eat healthier you are in total control of your decision
Last I ask you to stay connected and be part of our monthly activities and runs We ask you to visit our website wwwbuchananarmymil or follow us on Facebook as US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan and Fort Bu-chananrsquos FMWR These three links will provide you the latest and great-est information about our great installation Till next time God Bless You
Happy
2016
4 El Morro
January 2016
In the spirit of the Holidays Fort Buchanan shared joy and toys with various charities as part of ldquoOperation Feliz Navidadrdquo The initiative part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach program identified four non-profit or-ganizations that provide shelter and a new beginning to children ages new born to 18 years old
Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo com-bined the efforts of the Army with sister services interagency and inter-governmental partners such as the De-partment of Veterans Affairs as well as tenants and members of the Fort Buchanan community in a four-week humanitarian project The contribu-tions exceeded the garrisonrsquos expecta-tions as Fort Buchananrsquos military and partners individually donated more than 1000 new unwrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season
The ldquooperationrdquo that started on No-vember 16 included the ldquoOperation Fe-liz Navidad 5K RunWalkrdquo held on De-
cember 12 where the only requisite to register was to bring a new toy There were also collection sites throughout the installation such as AAFES Com-missary various garrison directorates tenant activities and interagency and intergovernmental partners There were no limits on the toys people can donate and boy did they contribute
On December 16 and 22 the Gar-rison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Brig Gen Joseacute R Bur-gos Commanding General 1st Mis-sion Support Command respectively distributed the toys into the arms of deserving children from the following charities Sociedad Pro Hospital del Nintildeo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Chil-drenrsquos Hospital) Casa Cuna de San Juan (San Juan Home for Newborns and Toddlers) Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos (Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos Home for Boys) and Hogares Teresa Toda (Teresa Toda Home for Girls)
COL Harvey highlighted this initia-tive as a unique opportunity for every-one ldquoto be part of something bigger than yourself this holiday season as
FB shares the spirit of the Holidays with local charitiesBy Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
5El Morro
January 2016your donation will make a boy or girl in a hospital or orphanage experience the true meaning of the Holidays ndash giv-ing Americarsquos Armed Forces com-munity and interagency partners pro-vided these toys to share the goodwill of the season with the most deserving our children Their happy faces and big smiles tell us they are the reason for the season ldquoOperation Feliz Navi-dadrdquo is a true example that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo concluded Fort Bu-chanan garrison commander
This is a short description of the ser-vices provided by the non-profit orga-nizations selected for this yearrsquos ldquoOp-eration Feliz Navidadrdquo
The Childrenrsquos Hospital is in its 90th anniversary providing health care and treatment to children It is the only Pediatric Health House in the island that provides services of prolonged stay and convalescence to patients 0-21 years with physical or mental impairment It houses children with chronic and severe impairments from low income families in their major-ity referred by the Family Department Presently they take care of a population of over 3000 kids providing ambula-tory physical occupational and speech therapies and total health care to 27 children who live permanently in the hospital
Casa Cuna of San Juan is the first home in Puerto Rico for mistreated abused andor voluntary given away children managed by a municipal government It is a home licensed as an institution and adoption agency authorized by the Department of the Family The program is attached to the Office for the Integral Development of Women administrative unit of the
municipality of San Juan Casa Cuna of San Juan represents an alternative temporary shelter for those children from birth to three (3) years of age who have been abused andor have been de-livered voluntarily who live in a safe environment receiving the love care and respect as they are located in a permanent home
Nonprofit institution founded in 1906 today Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos continues to wel-come mostly children victims of abuse abandonment and neglect Har-bor males between the ages of 8 and 18 from all parts of the island under a program called family home where the boy who qualify can remain until age 21 provided he is studying and or working Here they are given the op-portunity to live in a peaceful family atmosphere full of love free of mis-treatment and abuse In the House they are provided with everything needed to grow and be good people such as education clothing food medical ser-vices recreation family and school so-cial reintegration and monitoring and mentoring they provide to these chil-dren emotional stability and sense of belonging More importantly they are taught discipline and respect in a fam-ily environment
Hogares Teresa Toda is nonprofit organization in Loiacuteza Puerto Rico with a mission to provide young girls ages 6 to 17 victims of abuse neglect or abandonment a foster home where family love and sensitive care are per-meated throughout daily life and activ-ities As much as is possible we seek to re-establish healthy links and liveli-hood between the child and her parents or legal custodians
iexclFeliz Navidad Happy Holidays
Photos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
From the Garrison CommanderB u e n o s
Diacuteas Team Fort Buchan-an considers 2016 to be a year of op-portuni t ies These oppor-tunities nest s e a m l e s s l y with the Chief
of Staff Army and Commanding Gen-eral United States Army Reserve Com-mand priorities as well as nest with the Commanding General Installation Man-agement Commandrsquos Campaign Plan three lines of effort Opportunities we will aggressively pursue are
1) Infrastructure sustainment and revitalization Our infrastructure is de-signed to be readiness enablers but due to years of low funding our facilities have become readiness inhibitors In 2016 we will diligently implement an infrastructure revitalization strategy that moves unitsorganizations from dilapi-dated buildings into refurbished existing facilities or new metal buildings (depen-dent on funding) Concurrently we will continue our pursuit of creating centers of excellence by relocating services to one location or near each other such as all medical related services located in or near Rodriguez Army Health Clinic in order to provide our customers one loca-tion to receive servicessupport
2) Professional Installation Manage-ment Workforce We will continue to seek professional development train-ing for our workforce (congrats to Mr Nogueras for being one of only a handful of personnel selected to attend the US Army Command and General Staff Col-lege) develop a Strategic Plan develop Standing Operating Procedures for the management of our contractors develop a master installation plan and pursue ad-ditional training enablers (ex Mission Command amp Battle Command Systems)
3) Effective Base Operations support We will continue to provide excellent customer service while also expanding our capabilities by increasing our readi-ness platforms Specifically we contin-ue to work with our interagency (federal) partners to build a range that will be the only range in Puerto Rico solely dedicat-
ed to military and federal organizations in the San Juan metropolitan area where the majority of military and federal orga-nizations reside
Additionally we are pursuing other training enablers such as a Rappel Tower Obstacle Course HEAT amp MRAP train-ers along with expanding the capabili-ties of our new Joint Interagency Active Threat Training Facility (JIATTF) We also will continue to seek effectiveness and efficiencies in Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions with USNORTHCOM by increasing our Base Support Installation (BSI) capabilities via the addition of a Troop Issue Subsistence Activity (TISA) and other billeting re-lated activities and continue the dialogue with USSOUTHCOM to established a bi-lingual medical training center on Fort Buchanan in support of USSOUTHCOM Theater Security Cooperation objectives
I also want to take this opportunity to talk about ldquoinner driverdquo In order for Fort Buchanan to achieve maximum results great effort will be required of Team Buchanan While each of us is motivated differently we must be mo-tivated to achieve extraordinary results For those with doubts let me highlight some notable achievements in just a few short months we hosted a cancer aware-ness run that raised over $500000 we created a JIATTF that has already proven to be a valuable asset to military units and federal organizations we continue to provide toys to children as part of the inaugural Operation Feliz Navidad which has the opportunity to grow into a special event for the entire island all due the efforts of Team Buchanan we have worked with our interagency partners to host hugely successful events and the Parrandas was just an incredible amount of talent on display So great achieve-ments have already been accomplished and so many more opportunities exist
My motivation mainly comes from belief and time (or rather lack of) I will use a great song to illustrate my belief in action
Irsquom so sick and tired about how we are our creators hands and feet but itrsquos easier to say than be live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves itrsquos alright somebody else will do something Well I donrsquot know about you but Irsquom sick and
tired of life with no desire I donrsquot want a flame I want a fire I wanna be the one who stands up and says Irsquom gonna do something
If not us then who if not me and you right now itrsquos time for us to de some-thing If not now then when will we see an end to all this pain itrsquos time for us to de something We are the salt of the earth wersquore a city on a hill but wersquore never gonna change the world by stand-ing still
A good way to describe the uncertain-ty of time is another song
Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away Take in all the colors before they fade to gray I donrsquot want to miss even just a sec-ond more of this
It happens in a blink it happens in a flash it happens in the time it took to look back I try to hold on tight but therersquos no stopping time what is it Irsquove done with my life
Team Fort Buchanan none of us knows our longevity so we ought to live life abundantly making a difference shining our light for all to see Donrsquot buy into the hype that we are moving too fast as nobody knows what tomorrow has in store for us so letrsquos achieve as much as possible today
Finally I am a dreamer I understand that dreams give birth to change As a dreamer I also take a leap of faith and begin this wonderful New Year believ-ing that all members of Fort Buchanan community have something to contribute to this change I invite you to take own-ership of our ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo campaign because you are Fort Buchan-an As you travel around the installation you will see banners with pictures of veterans Soldiers children employees etc We are all Soldiers (Active Reserve National Guard) Sailors Marines Air Force Coast Guard friends families and visitors that adds up to a bigger and better community united by goodwill because ndash ldquoYo Soy el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
This will be a year of transformation I hope each month of the year moves us closer to turning dreams into real-ity Remember ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more
Many blessings to you and your fam-ily on this New Year iexclFeliz Antildeo Nuevo
2 El Morro
3El Morro
January 2016
From the Garrison Command Sergeant Major
December 2013
Garrison CommanderCOL Michael T Harvey
Garrison Command Sergeant MajorCSM Luis A Rosario
Deputy Garrison CommanderLTC Joseph M Dreksler
Deputy to the Garrison CommanderWilliam S Leyh
Public Affairs OfficerGrissel Rosa
Command InformationJoseacute L Loacutepez
Mailing address-Public Affairs Office
ATTN IMSE-BUC-PA390 Crane Loop Suite 311
Fort Buchanan Puerto Rico 00934-4616
Story Submissions-Email to josellopez120civmailmil
Telephone numbers(787) 707-40134486 Fax (787) 707-3362
EL MORRO is an authorized publication posted in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1
Contents of EL MORRO are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the
US Government the Department of DefenseDepartment of the Army or
US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan
EL MORRO is published monthly by the Public Affairs Office US Army Garrison
All editorial content of EL MORRO is prepared edited provided and approved by the US Army Garrison Public Affairs Office For guidance on how to submit items for publication e-mail the
garrison Public Affairs Office
The PAO reserves the right to edit all submissions and to determine the suitability for
inclusion in EL MORRO
Every effort will be made to publish submissions in a timely manner However time
layout style and editorial considerations as well as determinations for publication are determined by
the Commander or the Public Affairs Officer
Happy New Year Fort Buchanan may the Lord provide you and your loved ones a year filled with blessings health and the vision to make a differ-ence Last year was full of exciting and gratify-ing moments and 2016 is promising to be more exhilarating and rewarding
We deeply appreciate your support and dedica-tion during this past year and ask you to continue sustaining the services to our Armed Forces work-force interagency and intergovernmental partners
and their families We will like to humbly say ldquothanksrdquo for your support to Operation Feliz
Navidad Thanks to your unconditional support Fort Buchanan had the opportunity to bring a smile to many kids during the holidayrsquos season Our workforce along with our sister services and interagency partners deliv-ered gifts to kids in three orphanages and three different childrenrsquos hospi-tals Overall it was a gifting and rewarding experience that taught us and made us realize that we are something bigger than ourselves
As I stated earlier 2016 is full of promises Whatever your resolutions for the New Year are now is the time to commit and establish a clear path to achieve them Whether your goal is to spend more time with your fami-ly to learn how to manage your stress to reestablish a broken relationship to lose or gain weight to exercise more to improve your personal record to improve your grades to better care for yourself andor to eat healthier you are in total control of your decision
Last I ask you to stay connected and be part of our monthly activities and runs We ask you to visit our website wwwbuchananarmymil or follow us on Facebook as US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan and Fort Bu-chananrsquos FMWR These three links will provide you the latest and great-est information about our great installation Till next time God Bless You
Happy
2016
4 El Morro
January 2016
In the spirit of the Holidays Fort Buchanan shared joy and toys with various charities as part of ldquoOperation Feliz Navidadrdquo The initiative part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach program identified four non-profit or-ganizations that provide shelter and a new beginning to children ages new born to 18 years old
Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo com-bined the efforts of the Army with sister services interagency and inter-governmental partners such as the De-partment of Veterans Affairs as well as tenants and members of the Fort Buchanan community in a four-week humanitarian project The contribu-tions exceeded the garrisonrsquos expecta-tions as Fort Buchananrsquos military and partners individually donated more than 1000 new unwrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season
The ldquooperationrdquo that started on No-vember 16 included the ldquoOperation Fe-liz Navidad 5K RunWalkrdquo held on De-
cember 12 where the only requisite to register was to bring a new toy There were also collection sites throughout the installation such as AAFES Com-missary various garrison directorates tenant activities and interagency and intergovernmental partners There were no limits on the toys people can donate and boy did they contribute
On December 16 and 22 the Gar-rison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Brig Gen Joseacute R Bur-gos Commanding General 1st Mis-sion Support Command respectively distributed the toys into the arms of deserving children from the following charities Sociedad Pro Hospital del Nintildeo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Chil-drenrsquos Hospital) Casa Cuna de San Juan (San Juan Home for Newborns and Toddlers) Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos (Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos Home for Boys) and Hogares Teresa Toda (Teresa Toda Home for Girls)
COL Harvey highlighted this initia-tive as a unique opportunity for every-one ldquoto be part of something bigger than yourself this holiday season as
FB shares the spirit of the Holidays with local charitiesBy Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
5El Morro
January 2016your donation will make a boy or girl in a hospital or orphanage experience the true meaning of the Holidays ndash giv-ing Americarsquos Armed Forces com-munity and interagency partners pro-vided these toys to share the goodwill of the season with the most deserving our children Their happy faces and big smiles tell us they are the reason for the season ldquoOperation Feliz Navi-dadrdquo is a true example that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo concluded Fort Bu-chanan garrison commander
This is a short description of the ser-vices provided by the non-profit orga-nizations selected for this yearrsquos ldquoOp-eration Feliz Navidadrdquo
The Childrenrsquos Hospital is in its 90th anniversary providing health care and treatment to children It is the only Pediatric Health House in the island that provides services of prolonged stay and convalescence to patients 0-21 years with physical or mental impairment It houses children with chronic and severe impairments from low income families in their major-ity referred by the Family Department Presently they take care of a population of over 3000 kids providing ambula-tory physical occupational and speech therapies and total health care to 27 children who live permanently in the hospital
Casa Cuna of San Juan is the first home in Puerto Rico for mistreated abused andor voluntary given away children managed by a municipal government It is a home licensed as an institution and adoption agency authorized by the Department of the Family The program is attached to the Office for the Integral Development of Women administrative unit of the
municipality of San Juan Casa Cuna of San Juan represents an alternative temporary shelter for those children from birth to three (3) years of age who have been abused andor have been de-livered voluntarily who live in a safe environment receiving the love care and respect as they are located in a permanent home
Nonprofit institution founded in 1906 today Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos continues to wel-come mostly children victims of abuse abandonment and neglect Har-bor males between the ages of 8 and 18 from all parts of the island under a program called family home where the boy who qualify can remain until age 21 provided he is studying and or working Here they are given the op-portunity to live in a peaceful family atmosphere full of love free of mis-treatment and abuse In the House they are provided with everything needed to grow and be good people such as education clothing food medical ser-vices recreation family and school so-cial reintegration and monitoring and mentoring they provide to these chil-dren emotional stability and sense of belonging More importantly they are taught discipline and respect in a fam-ily environment
Hogares Teresa Toda is nonprofit organization in Loiacuteza Puerto Rico with a mission to provide young girls ages 6 to 17 victims of abuse neglect or abandonment a foster home where family love and sensitive care are per-meated throughout daily life and activ-ities As much as is possible we seek to re-establish healthy links and liveli-hood between the child and her parents or legal custodians
iexclFeliz Navidad Happy Holidays
Photos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
3El Morro
January 2016
From the Garrison Command Sergeant Major
December 2013
Garrison CommanderCOL Michael T Harvey
Garrison Command Sergeant MajorCSM Luis A Rosario
Deputy Garrison CommanderLTC Joseph M Dreksler
Deputy to the Garrison CommanderWilliam S Leyh
Public Affairs OfficerGrissel Rosa
Command InformationJoseacute L Loacutepez
Mailing address-Public Affairs Office
ATTN IMSE-BUC-PA390 Crane Loop Suite 311
Fort Buchanan Puerto Rico 00934-4616
Story Submissions-Email to josellopez120civmailmil
Telephone numbers(787) 707-40134486 Fax (787) 707-3362
EL MORRO is an authorized publication posted in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1
Contents of EL MORRO are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the
US Government the Department of DefenseDepartment of the Army or
US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan
EL MORRO is published monthly by the Public Affairs Office US Army Garrison
All editorial content of EL MORRO is prepared edited provided and approved by the US Army Garrison Public Affairs Office For guidance on how to submit items for publication e-mail the
garrison Public Affairs Office
The PAO reserves the right to edit all submissions and to determine the suitability for
inclusion in EL MORRO
Every effort will be made to publish submissions in a timely manner However time
layout style and editorial considerations as well as determinations for publication are determined by
the Commander or the Public Affairs Officer
Happy New Year Fort Buchanan may the Lord provide you and your loved ones a year filled with blessings health and the vision to make a differ-ence Last year was full of exciting and gratify-ing moments and 2016 is promising to be more exhilarating and rewarding
We deeply appreciate your support and dedica-tion during this past year and ask you to continue sustaining the services to our Armed Forces work-force interagency and intergovernmental partners
and their families We will like to humbly say ldquothanksrdquo for your support to Operation Feliz
Navidad Thanks to your unconditional support Fort Buchanan had the opportunity to bring a smile to many kids during the holidayrsquos season Our workforce along with our sister services and interagency partners deliv-ered gifts to kids in three orphanages and three different childrenrsquos hospi-tals Overall it was a gifting and rewarding experience that taught us and made us realize that we are something bigger than ourselves
As I stated earlier 2016 is full of promises Whatever your resolutions for the New Year are now is the time to commit and establish a clear path to achieve them Whether your goal is to spend more time with your fami-ly to learn how to manage your stress to reestablish a broken relationship to lose or gain weight to exercise more to improve your personal record to improve your grades to better care for yourself andor to eat healthier you are in total control of your decision
Last I ask you to stay connected and be part of our monthly activities and runs We ask you to visit our website wwwbuchananarmymil or follow us on Facebook as US Army Garrison Fort Buchanan and Fort Bu-chananrsquos FMWR These three links will provide you the latest and great-est information about our great installation Till next time God Bless You
Happy
2016
4 El Morro
January 2016
In the spirit of the Holidays Fort Buchanan shared joy and toys with various charities as part of ldquoOperation Feliz Navidadrdquo The initiative part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach program identified four non-profit or-ganizations that provide shelter and a new beginning to children ages new born to 18 years old
Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo com-bined the efforts of the Army with sister services interagency and inter-governmental partners such as the De-partment of Veterans Affairs as well as tenants and members of the Fort Buchanan community in a four-week humanitarian project The contribu-tions exceeded the garrisonrsquos expecta-tions as Fort Buchananrsquos military and partners individually donated more than 1000 new unwrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season
The ldquooperationrdquo that started on No-vember 16 included the ldquoOperation Fe-liz Navidad 5K RunWalkrdquo held on De-
cember 12 where the only requisite to register was to bring a new toy There were also collection sites throughout the installation such as AAFES Com-missary various garrison directorates tenant activities and interagency and intergovernmental partners There were no limits on the toys people can donate and boy did they contribute
On December 16 and 22 the Gar-rison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Brig Gen Joseacute R Bur-gos Commanding General 1st Mis-sion Support Command respectively distributed the toys into the arms of deserving children from the following charities Sociedad Pro Hospital del Nintildeo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Chil-drenrsquos Hospital) Casa Cuna de San Juan (San Juan Home for Newborns and Toddlers) Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos (Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos Home for Boys) and Hogares Teresa Toda (Teresa Toda Home for Girls)
COL Harvey highlighted this initia-tive as a unique opportunity for every-one ldquoto be part of something bigger than yourself this holiday season as
FB shares the spirit of the Holidays with local charitiesBy Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
5El Morro
January 2016your donation will make a boy or girl in a hospital or orphanage experience the true meaning of the Holidays ndash giv-ing Americarsquos Armed Forces com-munity and interagency partners pro-vided these toys to share the goodwill of the season with the most deserving our children Their happy faces and big smiles tell us they are the reason for the season ldquoOperation Feliz Navi-dadrdquo is a true example that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo concluded Fort Bu-chanan garrison commander
This is a short description of the ser-vices provided by the non-profit orga-nizations selected for this yearrsquos ldquoOp-eration Feliz Navidadrdquo
The Childrenrsquos Hospital is in its 90th anniversary providing health care and treatment to children It is the only Pediatric Health House in the island that provides services of prolonged stay and convalescence to patients 0-21 years with physical or mental impairment It houses children with chronic and severe impairments from low income families in their major-ity referred by the Family Department Presently they take care of a population of over 3000 kids providing ambula-tory physical occupational and speech therapies and total health care to 27 children who live permanently in the hospital
Casa Cuna of San Juan is the first home in Puerto Rico for mistreated abused andor voluntary given away children managed by a municipal government It is a home licensed as an institution and adoption agency authorized by the Department of the Family The program is attached to the Office for the Integral Development of Women administrative unit of the
municipality of San Juan Casa Cuna of San Juan represents an alternative temporary shelter for those children from birth to three (3) years of age who have been abused andor have been de-livered voluntarily who live in a safe environment receiving the love care and respect as they are located in a permanent home
Nonprofit institution founded in 1906 today Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos continues to wel-come mostly children victims of abuse abandonment and neglect Har-bor males between the ages of 8 and 18 from all parts of the island under a program called family home where the boy who qualify can remain until age 21 provided he is studying and or working Here they are given the op-portunity to live in a peaceful family atmosphere full of love free of mis-treatment and abuse In the House they are provided with everything needed to grow and be good people such as education clothing food medical ser-vices recreation family and school so-cial reintegration and monitoring and mentoring they provide to these chil-dren emotional stability and sense of belonging More importantly they are taught discipline and respect in a fam-ily environment
Hogares Teresa Toda is nonprofit organization in Loiacuteza Puerto Rico with a mission to provide young girls ages 6 to 17 victims of abuse neglect or abandonment a foster home where family love and sensitive care are per-meated throughout daily life and activ-ities As much as is possible we seek to re-establish healthy links and liveli-hood between the child and her parents or legal custodians
iexclFeliz Navidad Happy Holidays
Photos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
4 El Morro
January 2016
In the spirit of the Holidays Fort Buchanan shared joy and toys with various charities as part of ldquoOperation Feliz Navidadrdquo The initiative part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach program identified four non-profit or-ganizations that provide shelter and a new beginning to children ages new born to 18 years old
Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo com-bined the efforts of the Army with sister services interagency and inter-governmental partners such as the De-partment of Veterans Affairs as well as tenants and members of the Fort Buchanan community in a four-week humanitarian project The contribu-tions exceeded the garrisonrsquos expecta-tions as Fort Buchananrsquos military and partners individually donated more than 1000 new unwrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season
The ldquooperationrdquo that started on No-vember 16 included the ldquoOperation Fe-liz Navidad 5K RunWalkrdquo held on De-
cember 12 where the only requisite to register was to bring a new toy There were also collection sites throughout the installation such as AAFES Com-missary various garrison directorates tenant activities and interagency and intergovernmental partners There were no limits on the toys people can donate and boy did they contribute
On December 16 and 22 the Gar-rison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Brig Gen Joseacute R Bur-gos Commanding General 1st Mis-sion Support Command respectively distributed the toys into the arms of deserving children from the following charities Sociedad Pro Hospital del Nintildeo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Chil-drenrsquos Hospital) Casa Cuna de San Juan (San Juan Home for Newborns and Toddlers) Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos (Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos Home for Boys) and Hogares Teresa Toda (Teresa Toda Home for Girls)
COL Harvey highlighted this initia-tive as a unique opportunity for every-one ldquoto be part of something bigger than yourself this holiday season as
FB shares the spirit of the Holidays with local charitiesBy Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
5El Morro
January 2016your donation will make a boy or girl in a hospital or orphanage experience the true meaning of the Holidays ndash giv-ing Americarsquos Armed Forces com-munity and interagency partners pro-vided these toys to share the goodwill of the season with the most deserving our children Their happy faces and big smiles tell us they are the reason for the season ldquoOperation Feliz Navi-dadrdquo is a true example that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo concluded Fort Bu-chanan garrison commander
This is a short description of the ser-vices provided by the non-profit orga-nizations selected for this yearrsquos ldquoOp-eration Feliz Navidadrdquo
The Childrenrsquos Hospital is in its 90th anniversary providing health care and treatment to children It is the only Pediatric Health House in the island that provides services of prolonged stay and convalescence to patients 0-21 years with physical or mental impairment It houses children with chronic and severe impairments from low income families in their major-ity referred by the Family Department Presently they take care of a population of over 3000 kids providing ambula-tory physical occupational and speech therapies and total health care to 27 children who live permanently in the hospital
Casa Cuna of San Juan is the first home in Puerto Rico for mistreated abused andor voluntary given away children managed by a municipal government It is a home licensed as an institution and adoption agency authorized by the Department of the Family The program is attached to the Office for the Integral Development of Women administrative unit of the
municipality of San Juan Casa Cuna of San Juan represents an alternative temporary shelter for those children from birth to three (3) years of age who have been abused andor have been de-livered voluntarily who live in a safe environment receiving the love care and respect as they are located in a permanent home
Nonprofit institution founded in 1906 today Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos continues to wel-come mostly children victims of abuse abandonment and neglect Har-bor males between the ages of 8 and 18 from all parts of the island under a program called family home where the boy who qualify can remain until age 21 provided he is studying and or working Here they are given the op-portunity to live in a peaceful family atmosphere full of love free of mis-treatment and abuse In the House they are provided with everything needed to grow and be good people such as education clothing food medical ser-vices recreation family and school so-cial reintegration and monitoring and mentoring they provide to these chil-dren emotional stability and sense of belonging More importantly they are taught discipline and respect in a fam-ily environment
Hogares Teresa Toda is nonprofit organization in Loiacuteza Puerto Rico with a mission to provide young girls ages 6 to 17 victims of abuse neglect or abandonment a foster home where family love and sensitive care are per-meated throughout daily life and activ-ities As much as is possible we seek to re-establish healthy links and liveli-hood between the child and her parents or legal custodians
iexclFeliz Navidad Happy Holidays
Photos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
5El Morro
January 2016your donation will make a boy or girl in a hospital or orphanage experience the true meaning of the Holidays ndash giv-ing Americarsquos Armed Forces com-munity and interagency partners pro-vided these toys to share the goodwill of the season with the most deserving our children Their happy faces and big smiles tell us they are the reason for the season ldquoOperation Feliz Navi-dadrdquo is a true example that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo concluded Fort Bu-chanan garrison commander
This is a short description of the ser-vices provided by the non-profit orga-nizations selected for this yearrsquos ldquoOp-eration Feliz Navidadrdquo
The Childrenrsquos Hospital is in its 90th anniversary providing health care and treatment to children It is the only Pediatric Health House in the island that provides services of prolonged stay and convalescence to patients 0-21 years with physical or mental impairment It houses children with chronic and severe impairments from low income families in their major-ity referred by the Family Department Presently they take care of a population of over 3000 kids providing ambula-tory physical occupational and speech therapies and total health care to 27 children who live permanently in the hospital
Casa Cuna of San Juan is the first home in Puerto Rico for mistreated abused andor voluntary given away children managed by a municipal government It is a home licensed as an institution and adoption agency authorized by the Department of the Family The program is attached to the Office for the Integral Development of Women administrative unit of the
municipality of San Juan Casa Cuna of San Juan represents an alternative temporary shelter for those children from birth to three (3) years of age who have been abused andor have been de-livered voluntarily who live in a safe environment receiving the love care and respect as they are located in a permanent home
Nonprofit institution founded in 1906 today Casa de Nintildeos Manuel Fernaacutendez Juncos continues to wel-come mostly children victims of abuse abandonment and neglect Har-bor males between the ages of 8 and 18 from all parts of the island under a program called family home where the boy who qualify can remain until age 21 provided he is studying and or working Here they are given the op-portunity to live in a peaceful family atmosphere full of love free of mis-treatment and abuse In the House they are provided with everything needed to grow and be good people such as education clothing food medical ser-vices recreation family and school so-cial reintegration and monitoring and mentoring they provide to these chil-dren emotional stability and sense of belonging More importantly they are taught discipline and respect in a fam-ily environment
Hogares Teresa Toda is nonprofit organization in Loiacuteza Puerto Rico with a mission to provide young girls ages 6 to 17 victims of abuse neglect or abandonment a foster home where family love and sensitive care are per-meated throughout daily life and activ-ities As much as is possible we seek to re-establish healthy links and liveli-hood between the child and her parents or legal custodians
iexclFeliz Navidad Happy Holidays
Photos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
January 2016
Representatives from the US Coast Guard FBI and Border Patrol participated with police officers from USAG fort Buchananrsquos Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) in an active shooter exercise held Decem-ber 4 2015 at the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities on post The purpose of these facilities is ldquoto share the goal to be the pre-miere platform for federal govern-ment partners sister services federal agencies and the local Fire Depart-ment in the Caribbeanrdquo said MG Janet L Cobb Commanding Gener-al 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) and Fort Buchananrsquos Senior Commander
The objective of these trainings is to have an agile and adaptive law en-forcement personnel from local and federal agencies as well as sister ser-vices ready and relevant to execute in a rapidly changing uncertain and complex environment
DES Police Officer Laudis Gonzaacutelez provided instructions
to participants prior to the active threat training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation FBI members were involved in this very challenging training which then was analyzed to determine ndash individual and collec-tive - areas of improvement to keep readiness levels high Members of the Puerto Rico Police Department from various precincts have also used the Joint Interagency Active Threat Training facilities at the mili-tary installation
ldquoThis is an indispensable platform to conduct collaborative training due to the challenges we face to-day (Fort Buchanan) is the home to proper train We (Fort Buchanan) are the front presence of joint forces in the Caribbeanrdquo concluded
USAG Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander COL Michael T Har-vey echoed Maj Gen Cobb words emphasizing that ldquotraining prepares our Soldiers Sister Services and Civilians for whatever mission we are tasked Training is the foundation of everything we dordquo
FB holds Joint Interagency Active Threat Training on post
USAG Fort Buchanan Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb shares impressions on the active threat training with representatives of the Border Patrol and US Coast Guard during the ex-ercise held December 4 2015
Members of the FBI team were actively involved in the training which included two scenarios ndash an active shooter and a hostage situation
DES Police Officers Rolando Riacuteos and Christo-pher Nelson lead the way for CSM Ronald Law Command Sergeant Major 81st RSC and Maj Gen Cobb as they get ready to enter the training sitersquos active shooter scenario
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
6 El Morro
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
2015 Combined Federal Campaign kick-off on October 29 2015 set the goal of $45K in a six week time frame The activity was conducted during the garrison town hall held at the Commu-nity Club where CFC representatives were introduced to the workforce as well as the lead for this yearrsquos cam-paign Mr Melvin Barrientos from the Directorate of Plans Training Mobi-lization and Security During a brief but significant speech Barrientos spoke from the heart about ldquoour chance as federal employees to contribute to make a difference The donations will make a difference in the quality of life of others less fortunate providing food and shelter for those in need among other servicesrdquo His call was answered by the garrison workforce tenants and community members who contributed $56245 representing 141 of the tar-geted amount ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo Together we can achieve more especially when it means giving a hand to those in need
Fort Buchanan CFC campaign exceeds 2015 goal
Combined Federal Campaign representatives from various directorates and special staff offices introduced themselves as point of contacts for the cam-paign during the garrison town hall held October 29 2015 at the Community Club and Conference Center
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
(L to R) Garrison CSM Luis A Rosario Garrison Commander COL Michael T Harvey and Melvin Barrientos DPTMS display the Combined Federal Campaign 2014 Outstanding Contribution plaque presented to USAG Ft Buchanan and employees Oct 29 2015
By Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Photo by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
January 2016
7El Morro
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
Does the man make the times or do the times make the man There are some people so associated with a particular event we almost lose sight of them Think of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War or Ma-hatma Gandhi and the liberation of India They had such an impact on the course of events that itrsquos hard to imagine things coming out without them Would these individuals have had such influence if they had lived in any other time
Perhaps the most recent example is Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the American civil rights movement There were many participants and a variety of approaches to achieving racial equality but Dr King stands at the forefront He represents the movement that transformed not merely a nation but a world His life and death are critical to who were are today
This month we remember his birth We will celebrate on 18 January with a holiday but he was actually born on the 15th in 1929 in the heart of a racially divided country and center of segregation Atlanta Georgia Martin learned early on about prejudice when his playmates were not long allowed to spend time with him because his skin was black and theirs white He knew what it was like to move to the back of the bus use a toilet separate from others sit in the balcony and overall give the better portion to white people regardless of their character This was the world into which he was born a world far different than the one he de-parted
Dr King chose a path different from many He did not return hatred with hate but spoke of love as the ultimate power that could transform the world He talked of oppression as something which would destroy the oppressor as surely as the victim and he demonstrated a real under-standing for the fear many whites had of black people His dream was not of retribution but of a society in which people were judged ldquonot by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo
And in this birth month of Dr King we rise again against prejudice Dr Kingrsquos words and insights from so many years ago still burn with meaning today His insights came not only from his theological educa-tion but from years of working with people He said
ldquoWe must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us When we discover this we are less prone to hate our enemiesrdquo
Dr King never took a position that one person was entirely right and the other entirely wrong He had compassion and understanding for both regardless of how clear cut if might seem He understood human nature in a way that few of us do we are programmed for both good and evil
Now that the Christmas feast is finally consumed and we have moved past a wonderful holiday let us reflect on who we are and where were are going as a people Let us consider what is best for Fort Buchanan the island of Puerto Rico and our great country Let us take us the challenges that Dr King himself bore Let us work for a better community and a more honest world
Chaplain Crawford
8 El Morro
January 2016
Chaplainrsquos CornerDPW continuesbeautifying FBPhotos by Joseacute L Loacutepez public affairs specialist
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
9El Morro
January 2016
Fort Buchanan upcoming eventsJanuaryNew Years DayJanuary 1
Three Kings DayJanuary 6
New Years ReceptionJanuary 9
Blood DriveJanuary 12 8 AM ndash 2 PMCommunity Club 787-707-5105
New Years Resolution 5KJanuary 16 5 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Martin Luther KingJanuary 18
Middle School Teen Welcome Back BBQJanuary 22 3 ndash 5 PMBldg 148 (Middle School Teen Center)787-707-3787
Fort Buchanan Disaster Readi-ness Information BoothJanuary 27 4 ndash 430 PMBldg 1000 (Child Development Center)787-707-3787
Child Youth School Services Advisory GroupJanuary 28 430 PMBldg 1000787-707-3787
ldquoI Have a Dreamrdquo MovieIn Honor of Martin Luther King JrJanuary 28 6 PMPost Library787-707-3208
Mini-Circus Dog Show Magician Clown Contortionist Juggling Acts28 ndash 29 January Shows at 6 and 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
The community is invited to participate in these events as we partner together to provide opportunities expand relationships and show our appreciation to all who served and support the United States Armed Forces
Open Base Policy in effect For events with a ldquordquo valid Photo ID (Driverrsquos License State Com-monwealth ID or passport) is required for each person age 16 and older in the vehicle
FebruarySuper Bowl PartyFamily Entertainment Inflatables Live MusicFebruary 7 4 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Traffic Light PartyFebruary 12 6 ndash 8 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
Annual Valentines Day DinnerFebruary 13 5 PMCommunity Club (Tickets $45 couple)787-707-3373
George Washingtonrsquos BirthdayFebruary 15
Black History Month CelebrationJazz NightFebruary 26 7 -9 PMCommunity Club787-707-5105
ldquoI have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterrdquo mdash Martin Luther King Jr ldquoI Have A Dreamrdquo speechAugust 28 1963
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
10 El Morro
January 2016
Holiday celebration
Fort Buchanan started the Holiday Season with its Annual Holiday Parade followed by the Tree Lighting on 4 De-cember 2015 Garrison directorates tenant organizations and Community Partners participated in the event with mini-floats (golf carts) decorated by the theme of ldquoCandylandrdquo There were gin-gerbread houses balloons and a huge cake among other displays Parade participants dressed as Christmas char-acters elves penguins Santarsquos helpers shared with the most important visitors that every year come from far away to share with children of all ages - Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men
The cadets from Antilles High School Junior ROTC led the parade while kids parents Service members civilians veterans and guests waited with great expectation the floats as they parade in front of the Community Club Elves and other parade participants gave away candy while singing and dancing like a big ldquoparrandardquo [A ldquopar-randardquo is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling It is when a group of friends get together to surprise an-other friend while playing some sort of instruments such as guitars ldquomaracasrdquo ldquoguirordquo ldquocuatrordquo etc]
The parade destination was ldquoCan-dylandrdquo located at the facilities of the Community Club filled with children
inflatables music dancing food re-freshments and fun for all ages The highlight of the event was the Tree Lighting where Fort Buchananrsquos Se-nior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and her Command Sergeant Ma-jor Ronald L Law from the 81st Re-gional Support Command joined the Garrison leadership to symbolically start the celebration of the Holiday sea-son at the installation singing and danc-ing to ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo along with the community
The US Army Garrison began the Holiday Season on December 4 but according to local tradition it runs through Three Kings Day (6 January 2016) until the ldquoOctavitasrdquo The ldquoOc-tavasrdquo are celebrated on Januray 9 The ldquoOctavitasrdquo begin right after with eight more days of celebration And then on January 14-17 2016 therersquos the ldquoFies-tas de la Calle San Sebastiaacutenrdquo That is why Puerto Rican Christmas are con-sidered the longest in the world
Fort Buchananrsquos Holiday celebra-tion captured the essence of the season that ldquoJuntos podemos lograr muchordquo (ldquoTogether we can achieve morerdquo) more joy more camaraderie accom-plish more goals and succeed in serving our Soldiers and their Families because Soldiers Families Veterans Tenants and all community members - ldquoWe are Fort Buchananrdquo -ldquoNosotros somos el Fuerte Buchananrdquo
Fort Buchanan community celebrates the HolidaysPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
Some adults let the little kid in their hearts come alive like this lady who was very happy to have her photo taken with Santa Claus in his sleigh
This little girl was happy to have her picture with the Three Wise Men after which she let them knew her holiday wishesKids and kids at heart were ready to receive the parade savoring the candy given by all Santarsquos helpers
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
January 2016
While Dad was ldquoexplainingrdquo his little boy that Santa was coming while Mom observed
(L to R) Maj Gen Cobb COL and Mrs Harvey CSM and Mrs Rosario got together singing ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo accompanied by other members of the command group and the Fort Buchanan community gathered at the Com-munity Club to celebrate the Holidays
Our visitors from the 81st Regional Support Command CSM Ronald L Law Command-ing General Maj Gen Janet L Cobb and Aide CPT Kimberly Springle enjoy the parade as they receive candy from one of the participants
CWO4 (Ret) Cristino Lozada his spouse and grand-daughter received candy from one of Santarsquos helpers Aniacutebal Negroacuten Chief Environmental Division Director-ate of Public Works
11El Morro
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
12 El Morro
January 2016
USAG Fort Buchanan received the visit of its Senior Commander Maj Gen Janet L Cobb during 30 November through 5 December 2015 The objec-tives of visit were chairing the garrison Real Property Planning Board conducting site visits to Reserve and ROTC locations throughout the island and visiting the new facilities of the Puerto Rico National Guard at the garrison
One of the highlights of her official visit to Puerto Rico was sharing with the Cadre of the ROTC Pro-grams University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras on De-cember 1 and Mayaguez campus on December 3 2015 Future officers and NCOs had the opportunity to have a conversation with
the Commanding General of the 81st Regional Sup-port Command and the Command Sergeant Major Ronald L Law
CSM Law opened the discussion providing an-ecdotes of his experience while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan He empha-sized the members of the ROTC Program that differ-ent things happen at differ-ent times ldquoWe are entering in an environment with new things Therefore we donrsquot know what to expect but you are trained and experi-enced through your cadres at the ROTC Programrdquo said Law ldquoWe need to un-derstand why we do what we do that is to protect our countryrdquo concluded while exhorting the cadets ldquoto lis-ten to your NCO and try to understand what they are trying to teach yourdquo
FB Senior Commander visits ROTCPrograms and other Army facilities in PRPhotos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
CSM Law share some of his career experiences with the cadets
Maj Gen Cobb proudly shows the coin presented by UPR ROTC Com-mander LTC Eric Hanes
Brig Gen Carcana bids farewell to Maj Gen Cobb after completing the visit to the new Readiness facilities of the PR National Guard at Fort Bu-chanan on December 2 2015
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
13El Morro
MG Cobb reflected on her military career and said ldquoFor me the military was a way to go to college I wanted to be an officer Itrsquos been a wonderful career for merdquo She talked about some of the issues the Army is dealing with such as sexu-al assault suicide and the challenges faced in an op-erational environment
The Commanding Gen-eralrsquos advice the young cadets to work with their NCOs ldquoYour platoon ser-geant must be your guide You must give them the re-spect they deserve In this relationship respect must be earned We lead man-age take responsibility but itrsquos the NCOs who train our Soldiers Listen to them and get the chain of command involved in any of these and other issues such as abusing subordinates harassment
ridicule yelling and de-meaningrdquo said Cobb
On a more personal level Maj Gen Cobb underlined the importance of having a good reputation doing the right thing and not com-promising your integrity ldquobecause if itrsquos gone itrsquos gonerdquohelliprdquoThat is why the Army has a standard and you have to meet that stan-dard Thatrsquos what separates us from anybody else Our business is about sacrifice You have to be disciplined and hold your Soldiers to the standard If not it will destroy the teamrdquo
She concluded her visit to the ROTC by sharing her experience of 41 years of service and counseled the cadets to ldquotry to learn some-thing every day Learn your craft and be a master of that knowledge Your time is now Irsquom proud of yourdquo
Maj Gen Cobb and CSM Law visited the 1st MSC RPAC where they receive a brief from Mr Luis Camacho
Maj Gen Cobb addressed the cadre at ROTC Rio Piedras Campus during her visit on December 1 2015
At the ROTC Program at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Cam-pus Maj Gen Cobb was greeted by (L) Cadet Denis Angulo Battalion Commander of the Taiacuteno Warriors and Commander LTC Eric Hanes
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
14 El Morro
January 2016
Big smiles and high hopes to help others served as the perfect background for Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk on December 12 2015 The runwalk was part of the garrisonrsquos community outreach pro-gram to collect toys for various chari-ties that provide shelter and a new be-ginning to children ages new born to 18 years old In order to register for the runwalk participants brought new un-wrapped toys for children and families throughout the island who may not oth-erwise receive gifts this holiday season
The event included blood pressure checks music food refreshments and fun for all Kids teenagers adults and
Fort Buchananrsquos Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo 5K RunWalk
our golden age community members ran or walk the route singing and cheer-ing at each other There were runners and walkers group who visited Fort Buchanan to support Operation ldquoFeliz Navidadrdquo
It was truly a family event as many families brought their toddlers and oth-er children who accompanied Mom and Dad in their strollers saluting every one as they ran or walked by others The ac-tivity also served to teach our children that the true meaning of the Holidays is giving At the finish line there were medals for all participants and commu-nity members whose contributions will be well received by other families to help them have a ldquoiexclFeliz Navidad and Happy Holidays
Photos and story by Grissel RosaPublic Affairs Officer
There were high blood pressure checks provided by Soldiers of the medical unit of the Puerto Rico State Guard
Everyone contributed with a toy in order to regis-ter for the runwalk
Many kids ran the 5K accompanied by family members and friends
This lady ran all the event with a big smile on her face as she contributed to the happiness of other families and children
Many families used the opportunity to have some quality time with their kids by teaching them the importance of giving from the heart to others in need
USAG Fort Buchanan police officers from the Di-rectorate of Emergency Services in partnership with Soldiers of the Puerto Rico State Guard pro-vided traffic safety to runners walkers and driv-ers across the installation
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
January 2016
15El Morro
The Fort Buchanan Fire Department Fire Chief
wants you to knowMost people will call 9-1-1 only once or twice dur-
ing their lifetimes Having the necessary information will help the call-taker in sending you the appropriate help quickly The number to call on Fort Buchanan is 787-707-5911
WHEN to call 5911 1048707 When a crime is in progress1048707 When you smell smoke or see fire1048707 During a heart attack or other serious medical
emergency 1048707 Any situation requiring the immediate response
of a fire truck ambulance or police 1048707 When life andor property are in immediate dan-
ger Otherwise call the Police non-emergency number
787-707-3337 Fire Department non-emergency num-ber 787-707-3410 hospital or doctorrsquos office Make a list of these numbers and keep them near your tele-phone
What you may be askedYour nameWhere is the emergency The emergency is not al-
ways located where you are calling from Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are Try to keep a watch out for the road signs business names and intersections whenever you may travel
Nature of the emergency Do you require assis-tance from law enforcement medical professionals andor fire fighters
A detailed yet concise description What hap-pened How many details do you know What should have the most importance
The phone number of your phone The call-taker will need instructions on how to get to where you are and may need to call back for more information Know the phone number of your phone
Listen to the dispatcher Follow ordersDo not hang up until instructed to
DES Blotter
For the month of October 2015 Police Department reports the following
Most relevant offenses that occurred during this month
u Five Traffic Accidents reported due to improper reversing (this occurs when a driver is backing out of a parking space
and does not take precautionary measures impacts another vehicle or an object) or negligent driving (negligent means the failure to exercise ordinary care or is doing some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances)u Five shoplifting at the Main Exchange (PX) This is when people donrsquot pay for the items by leaving the store or changing price tagsu Eight Accidental Damages This is when rocks golf balls shopping carts other cars or objects hit vehicles individuals or animals u One Simple assault Is an attempt to intentionally knowingly or recklessly do bodily harm to another person The mere act to put another person in fear of bodily injury is enough for a simple assault
Traffic Violations for the month
u 42 Central Violations Bureau (CVB Traffic Tickets) The most common violations were Illegal Parking (Is the act of parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner) Unlicensed (When an individual
is driving a motor vehicle without driverrsquos license in possession expired or unauthorized) Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ie stop sign speeding radars) and Driving Wrong Way on One Way Streetu 23 Warning Ticket (DD1408) ndash They are issued to military personnel and federal civilians who work on the installation A DD1408 is not a ldquoto payrdquo fine but is administrative in nature oThe most common warnings were speeding unsafe driving movements and Failure to stop at the posted Stop Sign (Run or pass the stop sign)
Entries in the DES Blotter are not necessarily adju-dicative or prosecutorial in nature and do not always involve criminal charging by a prosecutor or in a criminal court
15El Morro
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
16 El Morro
January 2016
DHR and DES launches DDD campaignUSAG Fort Buchananrsquos Directorate
of Human Resources and Directorate of Emergency Services kicked off the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month campaign Dec 18 2015 at the Main Exchange lobby
CPT Alfredo Aponte traffic accident investigator DES said the annual cam-paignrsquos main objective is to foster safety to the roads and people
ldquoDonrsquot wreck the holidaysrdquo is a motto that was posted at the information booth Aponte echoed the message and added ldquoBe safe We want to make Fort Bu-chanan and Puerto Rico a safe place to drive and walkrdquo
Myrna Llanos prevention special-ist DHR issued pamphlets on alcohol and drug use prevention ldquoWe are here to make people conscious of the conse-quences of drinking and driving ldquoNot only can you injure or kill others but you can also die Think of yourself toordquo
Photos and story by Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
Navy Veteran and wife visit FB on their 50th anniversary
Retired Sailor Ted Raczkowski and his wife Janet vis-ited the installation Dec 29 2015 Raczkowski said they spent the first year of their married life at Fort Buchanan 50 years ago They said they were anxious to see how it has changed
ldquoWe met at La Concha Hotelrsquos beach on Dec 30 1965 He was stationed in the Navy and I was here on vacation At the time we both came from Brooklyn New Yorkrdquo said Janet
The image below right illustrates their house at Bu-chanan Heights In the recent photo they stand close to where Fort Buchanan Heights was The facilities were demolished to give way to the new Antilles Elementary School
The couple came with friends and toured around the installation It was challenging for them to find any land-marks they could use to recognize specific areas ldquoWe donrsquot recognize anything Fort Buchanan has completely changedrdquo she said
By Joseacute L LoacutepezPublic Affairs Office
CPT Alfredo Aponte talks to a community mem-ber about traffic safety
Myrna Llanos prevention coordinator briefs community members about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
Photo courtesy AHS
Antilles High School Cheerleaders were selected to participate in the 2015 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade
This was an amazing honor for our team our coach and our families Our effort long hours of practice sweat and tears paid off A dream we thought was out of reach came true
Previously cheerleaders were invited to participate in Spirit of America Pro-ductionsrsquo Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade routine only if they attended sum-mer cheer leading camp but little did our squad know that during our final basket-ball game (Feb 2015) the halftime per-formance was being video recorded as an audition That video was sent to Spirit of America along with an application ex-plaining the teamrsquos story
Coach Dr Laura Alvarez then found out that after two years of hard work with this team and very limited cheer experi-ence prior to the team working together the audition and the entire squad was se-lected Every cheerleader was invited to
cheer in the 89th Annual Macyrsquos Thanks-giving Day Parade 2015
The Pirate Cheerleaders were the first team that Spirit of America has ever in-vited from Puerto Rico and the first from the Department of Defense school sys-tem Antilles High School is located at Fort Buchanan AHS serves all military and federal branch families Each cheer-leader (and coach) is directly related to their sponsor (parent) who is a federal employee of a branch of the military or federal government agency
Coach Alvarez a veteran cheerleader from Florida participated in this same event in her senior year of high school 1997 Knowing what this event has meant for her she knew exactly what this would mean to her cheerleaders Not only has this milestone been accomplished but the Families and extended military Family of these cheerleaders have found a whole new level of celebration
Perseverance paid off and the Pi-rates Cheerleaders of AHS joined Spirit
of America Productions and proudly marched among their peer group of cheerleaders from across the United States The team spent a full week in New York City juggling hours of exhausting practice prior to the parade Every other minute of their days were packed full of extraordinary NYC activities They at-tended the Broadwayrsquos ldquoHamiltonrdquo at the Richard Rogers theatre a showing of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular a ferry tour of the Statue of Liberty Central Park and much more
Service membersrsquo families dedicate their lives to serving our country what better way is there to celebrate that than marching in a parade that is the staple and heart of American culture on Thanksgiv-ing Thanks to all who came to support this team In total 82 family members and friends traveled from Puerto Rico and other parts of the United States to witness this event and celebrate with these 25 ac-complished young adults Once a Pirate always a Pirate Arrrrrgh
AHS Cheerleaders perform at Macyrsquos Parade Photo courtesy AHS
January 2016
17El Morro 17El Morro
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
January 2016
18 El Morro
FORT LEE Va ndash Now entering its 16th year the Scholarships for Military Children Program will be accepting applications from eligible students beginning Dec 15 at com-missaries worldwide or on the Inter-net at wwwmilitaryscholarorg
A total of 700 scholarship grants each worth $2000 will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year Those students selected for the honor will join nearly 9000 whorsquove been awarded more than $139 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary loca-tion where qualified applications are received Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis so more scholarships will be awarded at those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants
To qualify for consideration ap-plicants must be a dependent unmar-ried child younger than 21 mdash or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university mdash of a service member on active duty a Reserve or Guard member retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree
Applications must be hand-delivered or shipped via US Postal Service or other delivery methods to the commissary where the applicantrsquos family normally shops by close of business Friday Feb 12 2016 Ap-plications cannot be emailed or faxed
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Re-porting System database and have a military ID card The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2016 or be enrolled in studies
Commissaries accepting applications for scholarships starting Dec 15
designed to transfer to a four-year program
Students who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for pay-ment of tuition books lab fees and other expenses
Fisher House Foundation a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families adminis-ters the program Scholarship Manag-
By Mike PerronDeCA public affairs specialist
ers a national nonprofit scholarship management services organization manages and awards the scholarships
The commissaryrsquos industry part-ners mdash vendors suppliers and manu-facturers mdashand the general public donate money to the program and every dollar donated goes directly toward funding the scholarships
For more information students or sponsors can visit wwwmili-taryscholarorg You can also call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryschol-arscholarshipmanagerscom
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
19El Morro
January 2016
FB DES public private partnership with local police
Police officers from USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit from the Director-ate of Emergency Services trained with colleagues from Puerto Rico Police Department on December 15 2015 The training took place in the Hato Rey area with members of Bayamoacuten area police command and
Fort Buchanan police officers The objective is continue this collab-orative effort to train with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain a high level of readiness in-dispensable in the fight against crime Fort Buchanan sustains high quality training requirements which resemble
real scenarios thus providing police officers and their canine counterparts the necessary tools and experience in case of a real life situation USAG Fort Buchanan K-9 unit also con-ducted trainings with PR Police from the municipalities of Guaynabo and Carolina
Photo courtesy DES
