Fort meade soundoff 'Dec. 6, 2012

shopliftingLoss prevention team on alert to curtail theft

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UpCoMing EVEntstoday, 7 p.M.: “Sound The Bells” Army Field Band concert - Meade High Schoolfriday, 5 p.M.: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - McGlachlin Parade FieldMonday, 1:30 p.M.: Meade Turkey Bowl - Mullins FielddEC. 15, 8 a.M.: Reindeer Run 5K Run/1-Mile Walk - Murphy Field HousedEC. 15, 11:30 a.M. & 1 p.M.: Brunch with Santa Claus - Club Meade

stEM-UlationPershing Hill ES encourages youth to enjoy math, reading

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Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 49 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community December 6, 2012

photo by nate pesce

What’s Your Name?Marisabelle Aponte, 7, stares down a llama as Maricelyz Morales looks on at the petting zoo at Picerne Military Housing’s ninth annual “December in the City” event on Saturday at Potomac Place neighborhood Center. The free event for Fort Meade residents featured a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, an inflatable polar bear slide, candy cane train rides, a candy room and catered outdoor lunch. For the story, see Page 14.

¿cómo se llama?

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! December 6, 2012

News

By Jane M. WinandChief, Legal Assistance Division

We frequently get questions at the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Division about credit card debt and how debt may be affected by divorce.

Although a divorce decree may require an ex-spouse to pay the balance on a Soldier’s credit card, sometimes the ex-spouse does not pay the bill as required.

The Soldier then may get a call from a debt collector indicating that the bill is in arrears. The debt collector would then demand payment from the Soldier and is not interested in what the divorce decree said about the ex-spouse being responsible for repayment.

Unfortunately, this happens quite often in divorce situations.

If a joint debt is made during the marriage, it is often made by a contract between the creditor and both spouses. Many times, when the marriage breaks up, the parties will enter into an agree-ment, or the court will enter an order, determining which party is responsible for paying each of the debts.

However, the creditor is never a party to the agreement or the court action in which the order was entered. As a result, neither the agreement nor the court order is binding on the creditor.

As far as the creditor is concerned, both parties are still liable for the debt. Since the creditor just wants to be paid, and doesn’t care who pays, the creditor will often go after both parties until the debt is paid in full.

There are several ways to protect yourself from this situation. The best remedy, if at all possible, is to secure from the creditor a release of liability for the spouse who is not going to be responsible for the debt.

Sometimes this will mean that the responsible spouse will have to refi-

nance the debt into his or her own name. However, if the paying spouse doesn’t have good credit, this may not be an option.

Sometimes, though rarely, a creditor may agree to simply release the nonpay-ing spouse from the debt. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask, and if the answer is “yes,” be sure to get it in writing. An oral release is not legally effective.

Second, if you are the nonpaying spouse, you may want to consider becoming the paying spouse. Agree to be responsible for the debt, conditioned on an agreement by your ex-spouse to pay you an amount equal to what would have been the debt payment.

The upside of this arrangement is that you have control over the payment of the debt and know that it gets done.

The downside is that if the ex-spouse does not make the timely payment to you, your credit is at risk.

You will have to try to come up with funds to make the payment yourself and then take action against your ex-spouse for reimbursement.

Third, if the other spouse is going to be responsible for making payments on a joint debt, insist on an agreement that requires you to be provided with evidence, on a continuing basis, that payments are being made.

Staying informed will help you to take appropriate steps to protect your-self from default by your ex-spouse on these debts.

If you find yourself in a situation in which an ex-spouse fails to comply with an agreement or court order and the creditor is calling you to demand payment, your only remedy is to seek some accommodation from the creditor, if possible, such as a cash settlement or payment schedule.

Of course, you also should take action against your ex-spouse based on the agreement or court-ordered require-ment to make payment on the debt.

If you are in this situation, you may want to seek legal advice before doing anything else.

To schedule an appointment with an attorney, call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Office at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.

Debt and divorce: Who pays what?

Follow Fort Meade on Twitter.com/ftmeademd

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News

Heather Monk gives Jason Acuna, also known as “Wee Man,” a kiss on the cheek during a meet and greet Sunday at the Post Theater. Acuna met with service members and families before the screening of his new movie “Elf Man.”

Joe Alan Manshum, 3, watches Jason Acuna sign a postcard before a screening of “Elf Man” at the Post Theater. More than 200 people attended the screening sponsored Sunday evening by the USO-Metro.

BELOW: Service members and their families wait in line to meet with Jason Acuna, star of the family movie “Elf Man.”

photos by nate pesce

‘Elf Man’ visits post with holiday movie


News

By Tracey Russell, Ground DirectorateU.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety CenterFort Rucker, Ala.

Whether you’re celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, eight nights of Hanukkah, seven principles of Kwanzaa or any other holiday tradition, a fire-safe environment is one gift everyone can appreciate.

According to the U.S. Fire Adminis-tration, residential fires peak during the winter months. They estimate that more than 400 holiday fires occur in American homes each year, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The following tips, offered by the USFA and National Fire Protection Association, can help prevent your holiday celebration from going up in flames.

Christmas trees• Ensure artificial trees are labeled,

certified or identified by the manufac-turer as fire retardant.

• Choose fresh trees with green nee-dles that do not fall off when touched, and trim one- to two inches from the base of the trunk before placing the tree in a stand.

• Place trees at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heating vents or lights.

• Add water to tree stands daily.• Never use lit candles to decorate

trees. Keep lighters, matches and other sources of open flame far away from trees.

• When a tree begins shedding nee-dles, it’s time to dispose of it.

Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and shouldn’t be left inside or outside the home or garage.

Check your local news agencies to find a tree-recycling program.

Holiday lights• Before use, inspect holiday lights for

frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in insula-tion, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear.

All lights should be marked as safe by an approved testing laboratory.

• Never connect more than three light strands together unless the directions indicate doing so is safe.

• Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into an outlet. Periodically check wires to ensure they are not warm to the

touch.• Never leave holiday lights unat-

tended.• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside

after the holidays to prevent wear.

Holiday decorations• All decorations should be nonflam-

mable or flame retardant, and placed away from heating vents.

• Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace — doing so can result in a very large fire that involves the chimney.

• Ensure trees and other holiday decorations do not block exits. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry or exit puts you and your family at risk.

• Avoid using lit candles.If you do burn them, ensure they are

in stable holders and placed out of easy reach to prevent them being acciden-tally knocked down.

• Never leave candles burning unat-

tended.

Cooking• Keep towels, pot holders and cur-

tains away from open flames, ovens and stovetops.

• Never leave cooking food on the stove. A serious fire can start in sec-onds.

• Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup.

• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.

• Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house to ensure all appliances are off.

• Always wear short sleeves or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.

• Heat cooking oil slowly to avoid burns from spattering grease, and be extra careful when cooking deep-fried food.

• If a cooking fire starts, turn off the stove or burner and place a lid on the

pan to smother the flames. Never throw water on a grease fire.

While preventing fires is extremely important, you must also be prepared in case a fire does occur.

One of the best ways you can pro-tect yourself and your loved ones is to install smoke alarms throughout your home. According to the NFPA, nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or work-ing detectors.

Pick up new batteries as part of your holiday shopping and test alarms before festivities begin.

Also, ensure your family knows what to do in the event of a fire. Prepare an evacuation plan with at least two escape routes identified from each room and practice it often.

However you choose to celebrate your holiday, take time to work fire pre-vention into your plans. The new year is waiting — welcome it safely.

Fire safety tips for celebrating holidays

file photo

The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that more than 400 holiday fires occur in American homes each year. Using caution with holiday lights, decorations and cooking can help prevent fires during the holiday season.


News

By Amy CowellProgram EvaluatorU.S. Army Public Health Command

December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

In 2007, the U.S. Consumer Prod-uct Safety Commission reported 18 toy-related deaths and an estimated 170,100 emergency room-treated injuries to chil-dren under 15.

But prevention is as simple as following a few safety guidelines when shopping for the perfect holiday gift.

The CPSC recommends the following toy safety shopping tips:

Under 3 years old• Children under 3 tend to put every-

thing in their mouth. Avoid buying toys intended for older children that may have small parts that pose a choking danger.

• Never let children of any age play with deflated or broken balloons because of the choking danger.

• Avoid marbles, balls and games with

balls that have a diameter of 1.75 inches or less. These products pose a choking hazard to young children.

• Children at this age pull, prod and twist toys. Look for toys that are well made with tightly secured eyes, noses and other parts.

• Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

Ages 3 to 5• Avoid toys that are constructed with

thin, brittle plastic that might easily break into small pieces or leave jagged edges.

• Look for household art materials, including crayons and paint sets, marked with the designation “ASTM D-4236.”

This means the product has been reviewed for chronic health hazards and, if necessary, the product has been labeled with cautionary information.

• Teach older children to keep their toys away from their younger brothers and sisters.

Ages 6 to 12• For all children, adults should

check toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. Damaged or dangerous toys should be repaired or thrown away.

• If buying a toy gun, be sure the bar-rel, or the entire gun, is brightly colored so that it’s not mistaken for a real gun.

• If you buy a bicycle for any age

child, buy a helmet, too, and make sure the child wears it.

• Teach all children to put toys away when they’re finished playing so they don’t trip over them or fall on them.

And always read the label.The CPSC requires toy manufactur-

ers to meet stringent safety standards and to label certain toys that could be a hazard for younger children.

Look for labels that give age recom-mendations and use that information as a guide.

Labels on toys that state “not rec-ommended for children under 3 ... contains small parts” are labeled that way because they may pose a choking hazard to children under 3.

Toys should be developmentally appropriate to suit the skills, abilities and interests of the child.

For more information about purchasing safe toys and gifts, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or visit cpsc.gov.

Follow safety guidelines when purchasing toys

file photo


Cover Story

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Santa Claus was transported Saturday to the entrance of Potomac Place Neighbor-hood Center aboard Engine 45 of the Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services.

Joined by three elves and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa waved to the cheering children and adults who stood on the neighborhood sidewalks.

Mrs. Claus, who could not arrive by truck due to an injured back, waited for her husband at the entrance of Potomac Place, where she handed him his eye-glasses. The couple walked arm-in-arm into the center’s foyer, as a long line of children waited inside.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were the featured guests at Picerne Military Housing’s ninth annual “December In The City.” The three-hour event included an inflatable slide, a mobile candy-cane train, arts and crafts, and a petting zoo.

Picerne’s holiday tradition was the first in a month of festive activities planned for the Fort Meade community.

“We do resident events for community spirit,” said Meagan Murray, a commu-nications specialist at Picerne. “We want to get everyone out there to have a good

time with their neighbors.”Payton Armstrong, 10, was the first

child to have her picture taken with Santa.

“It was pretty exciting,” said the fifth-grader at Pershing Hill Elementary School who resides in Midway Commons. “He was cool. It’s been so long since I sat on his lap.”

Gena Armstrong, Payton’s mother, said she came to the event 30 minutes ahead of schedule to be the first on line to pose with Santa.

“This brings a lot of families together,” said Armstrong, wife of Sgt. Maj. Wil-liam Armstrong of the 160th Signal Bri-gade who is deployed in Kuwait. “Picerne cares a lot about the families who live here.”

Rebecca Summers, wife of Maj. Nakia Summers of the 741st Military Intel-ligence Battalion, attended with her two children, Raya, 8, and Nakia Jr., 5.

“We came last year and everyone had a good time, so we’re back this year,” said Summers, after her children selected free candies from the candy room.

“You get filled with sweets,” said Raya, as she held her goody bag filled with Skittles, M&Ms, gummies and chocolate-

Picerne’s ‘December in the City’ celebrates community spirit

covered pretzels.Summers, a Potomac Place resident,

said she enjoys “December In The City” because it is a festive alternative to the shopping mall.

“We’re not out fighting the crowds at the mall,” she said. “And Santa rode right by our house, which was fun.”

The event also featured an arts and crafts room where children decorated paper snowflakes, hearts and stars to hang on their Christmas tree.

A DJ provided dance music, but the youngsters seemed too shy to boogie on the dance floor provided.

Outside, residents enjoyed a catered lunch of macaroni and cheese, pasta and cheese, meatballs, chopped beef, french fries and cupcakes while seated at patio tables.

Maj. Bobby Monday, of the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, and his wife, Nicki, stood on line with their chil-dren Mia, 5, and Braeden, 2, who waited their turn to slide down the inflatable Arctic Plunge.

Monday said his family, which resides in Potomac Place, has attended the event for the last three years.

“This is very important, the kids love it,” he said.

“It’s a great way to spend time with

your family,” Nicki Monday said.Jordan Stahl, a freshman at Meade

High School, attended with several high school friends to celebrate his birthday.

“We come every year,” the 14-year-old said. “We hang out.”

During the event, the teens admired a baby goat that was part of the petting zoo

Santa and Mrs. Claus make their grand entrance at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center for Picerne’s long-time holiday tradition, “December In The City.”


photos by NAtE pEsCECENTER TOP: Santa Claus, three elves and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer arrive atop a Fort Meade fire engine at the start of “December In The City” on Saturday afternoon at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. Santa later joined Mrs. Claus for photographs with anxious children waiting on line.

CENTER BOTTOM: Emma Stover, 7, selects her choice of sweets from the free candy room at Picerne Military Housing’s “December In The City” event on Saturday. Children also created holiday arts and crafts and enjoyed a catered lunch with their parents.

ABOVE LEFT: Samantha Espinosa sings holiday songs with a choir that performed during the three-hour event.

ABOVE RIGHT: Nely Grace Horr examines the candy cane from Santa Claus. The 4-year-old was among the hundreds of children who met with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a highlight of the popular event.

BELOW: Nineteen-month-old Max Tjaden takes a look at the rooster and hen that were a part of the petting zoo sponsored by the Party Animalz Farm of York, Pa.

provided by Party Animalz Farm based in York, Pa.

Carsen Short, 14, said there is one long-time holiday tradition that even people her age do not want to miss.

“We get to see Santa, even though we’re older,” the Meade High freshman said. “You’re never too old for Santa.”


Community news & notes

Sound the Bells!The U.S. Army Field Band

will present “Sound the Bells! A Holiday Celebration” today at 7 p.m. in the Meade High School auditorium.

The concert is free, but tickets are required. The event is open to the public.

For tickets or more information, visit armyfieldband.com.

Tree lightingFort Meade’s annual Holiday

Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Friday at 5 p.m. at McGlachlin Parade Field, near the gazebo.

The event will feature the U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quartet; a sing-along with the Fort Meade community’s Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts; a visit by Santa; and refreshments.

Christmas bazaarA Christmas bazaar will be held Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seven Oaks Elementary School.For more information, call 337-718-1776 and leave a message.

Pershing Hill bazaarThe Winter Bazaar at Pershing Hill Elementary School will be Friday from 6

to 8 p.m.The school, located at 7600 29th Division Road, is sponsoring the fundraiser

for the fifth grade’s field trip to Philadelphia.The bazaar will feature games, crafts, vendors, food, a silent auction and

photos with Santa,For more information, call Pershing Hill at 410-222-6519.

Brunch with SantaChild, Youth and School Services will sponsor “Brunch with Santa Claus” on

Dec. 15 at Club Meade.Reserved seating is at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.Tickets cost $15 for adults and $8 for ages 4 to 10. There is no charge for

children ages 3 and younger.Advance tickets are only available at the Youth Center.Tickets at the door are sold on a space-available basis only.For more information, call 301-677-1437.

Out & About• The Concert Artists of the Baltimore Symphonic Chorale will join the Baltimore

Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Meyerhoff, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets cost $25 to $67. For more information, visit bsomusic.org or call the box office at 410-783-8000.

• The Lisbon Ole Fashion Christmas Horse Parade will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. on Main Street in Lisbon. Decorated horses, mules, wagons, carriages and stagecoaches will fill the streets. The event also will feature pony rides. A ham and fried chicken dinner will be served in the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department Hall to benefit food banks and the fire department.

Cost of dinner is $14. For more information, visit lisbonhorseparade.com.• Leisure Travel Services is offering holiday shopping trips to the outlets at Williamsburg

Pottery Mall in Virginia on Saturday and to New York City on Dec. 22. Bus cost for each is $55. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys is featured through Dec. 31 at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St., Baltimore.

Celebrate the holiday season at Baltimore’s largest holiday display of toy and model train layouts. Weekend train rides and photo opportunities with Santa continue through Dec. 18, and with Frosty the Snowman through Dec. 31. All ages can enjoy indoor train carousel rides and crafts at Santa’s workshop.

Admission is $16 for adults; $14 for seniors ages 60 and older; and $10 for children ages 2 to 12. Cost for Mile One Express Train ride is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Carousel rides cost $2 for one ride and $5 unlimited for the day.

For more information, visit borail.org or call 410-752-2490. • Leisure Travel Services is offering discount tickets to Toby’s Dinner Theatre in

Columbia’s production of the musical “A Christmas Carol” through Dec. 30. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Symphony of Lights Military Appreciation Night will be held Dec. 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Symphony Woods in Columbia.

Service members with military identification receive $10 off admission.The exhibit features a 1.4-mile drive-through of 70 larger-than-life holiday light displays.The display, benefiting Howard County General Hospital, is open nightly through Jan. 6

from 6 to 10 p.m., but is closed Dec. 31. Admission is $20 per car or van (up to eight passengers). Coupons for $5 off are

available at hcgh.org/symphonyoflights and facebook.com/symphonyoflightsfestivities.For more information, call 410-740-7840 or visit hcgh.org/symphonyoflights.• Hampden Christmas Street Holiday Show is displayed nightly through Jan. 1 at 700 W.

34th St., Baltimore. Local residents display their light displays. Houses are lit from sidewalk to rooftop. For more information, visit christmasstreet.com.

• Annapolis Christmas Light Parade will be held Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The best spots to view the parade include: Eastport Bridge, Fawcett Boat Supplies parking lot, 110 Compromise St., U.S. Naval Academy, and the Annapolis City Dock and Ego Alley.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

photo by philip h. jones

Connie Robinson, Lynn Durner and Spc. Chelsea Fraser of the Fort Meade Religious Support Office make adjustments to holiday decorations at the gazebo on McGlachlin Parade Field in anticipation of the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony that will be held Friday at 5 p.m.



The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s dis-cretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

For more information or to submit an announcement, email Philip Jones at [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

ACS online assessmentHelp Army Community Service tailor

programs and services to better meet the demographics and interests of Team Meade by completing this quick and easy online survey: surveymonkey.com/s/ACSNeedsAssessment2012.

Baltimore County Police seeking applicants

The Baltimore County Police Department is now hiring police officers.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 21. The written test will be administered

in January. The academy class starts in June.

Applicants must be 21 years old by graduation from the academy, have a high school diploma or GED, be a United States citizen and have a valid driver’s license.

Starting salary is $46,699.The position offers benefits such as

medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement and deferred comp.

To apply, visit joinbaltimorecountypd.com or call 410-887-BCPD.

Kimbrough holiday closings

Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center will be closed on the following days for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period:

• Dec. 14 at noon for staff holiday parties

• Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas• Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

Commissary holiday closings

The Fort Meade Commissary hours on Dec. 24 will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The store will be closed Christmas. It will reopen Dec. 26 at 7 a.m. for early-bird shopping and at 9 a.m. for regular store hours.

For more information, call the commissary at 301-677-7465.

3D prevention kick-offDecember is National Drunk,

Drugged, Driving (3D) Prevention Month.

The Army Substance Abuse Program at Fort Meade will sponsor a Drunk, Drugged, Driving Prevention Month kick-off event on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McGill Training Center.

Everyone is invited to this powerful, life-saving event.

For more information, call 301-677-7983.

AFTB Birthday BushAn Army Family Team Building

“Birthday Bash and Volunteer Appreciation Party” will be held Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.


Karaoke NightThe next Karaoke Night will be Dec.

20 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the 11th Frame Lounge at the Lanes.

The event is held the third Thursday of the month.

For more information, call 301-677-5541 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

Jazz NightThe Brass Lounge at Club Meade will

feature Jazz Night on Dec. 13 from 5:15 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.

Cover charge is $7 for the first session and $10 for the second.


Chicago Steppin’Chicago Steppin’ will be held Friday

and Dec. 21 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Club Meade.

A free beginner’s lesson will be offered from 7 to 8 p.m.


New Year’s Eve partiesCelebrate New Year’s Eve at the

Lanes.The family party will be from 5 to 8

p.m. The party for adults will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Book unit and private parties early at 301-677-5541.

EFMP stress-reliever program

The Fort Meade Exceptional Family Member Program will present “Sanctuary Away From Stress” on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Learn to strengthen your emotional resilience and manage your energy during the holiday season through power journaling, positive thinking and relaxation exercises.

Registration is required.To register, call Kelly Gibson at

301-677-4473 or email [email protected].

Career, financial classesArmy Community Service and the

Fleet and Family Support Center offer free classes at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave., to DoD identification cardholders, including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

Registration is required for each class.

• Dollars and Sense: Today, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Federal Employment: Tuesday, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

• Spouses Meet & Greet: Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to noon

• Stress Management: Dec. 17, 9 to 11 a.m.

• Anger Management: Dec. 18, 9 to 11 a.m.


UMUC information session

An information session on the University of Maryland University College will be offered Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Army Education Center, 8601 Zimborski Ave.

Advisors will be available to discuss transfer credit and help you assemble a degree plan. Bring transcripts.

During the session, participants may apply, register for classes and learn how to maximize education benefits.

The $50 application fee will be waived if you apply at the event.


Couples evening studyProtestant Women of the Chapel is

offering to couples a free evening study of the book, “The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted,” on Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. through Dec. 20 at Argonne Hills

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

No Soundoff!Soundoff! newspaper will not

publish Dec. 27 and Jan. 3. Soundoff! returns Jan. 10.



Chapel Center.Free child care is provided.For more information, call 301-677-

6035 or email [email protected] or visit ftmeadepwoc.org.

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

Taylor Ave. offers monthly courses from 1 to 3 p.m.

An FMWR card is required. New patrons must first view a safety video.

Basic Welding 101 will be offered Dec. 16.


Bible studyA Bible study program is held

Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center through Dec. 13.

Find hope and inspiration as the class studies “Living Victoriously in Difficult Times” by Kay Arthur.

To register, call 301-677-3785.

Romp ‘n StompRomp ‘n Stomp playgroup for parents

and their children up to age 5 meets Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Youth Center gym.

For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or e-mail [email protected].

Youth Book SwapThe Medal of Honor Memorial

Library is sponsoring a Youth Book Swap through Saturday.

Bring in your gently used books to trade with others.


Parents Night OutParents Night Out is offered the third

Friday of each month from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The next event will be Dec. 21. Enrollment closes Dec. 14.

The fee is $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child ages 6 weeks

to 12 years old.The program is open to active-duty

service members and Reservists on active-duty status, DoD personnel, retirees and Fort Meade DoD contractors.

For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 301-677-1156.

Out & About• The U.S. Army Field Band Chamber

Music Series is presenting a Woodwind Sextet Recital on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at St. Martin’s in-the-Field Church, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park.

The free concert will feature an original work by Janáek and arrangements by Staff Sgt. Kevin Walko, bass clarinet, of music by Bartok, Beethoven, Finzi and Ellington.

For tickets and information, call 301-677-6586.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club Meade. The next prayer breakfast is today.

All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited. There is no cost for the buffet; donations are optional. For more information, call 301-677-6703 or email [email protected].

• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is tonight in the banquet hall in back of the building. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County conducts a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting is tonight. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie.

The meeting will be the chapter’s potluck Christmas Party. Everyone brings

a food to share. Installation of officers for the new year will be held at the meeting.

For more information or to join, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, visit ftmeadeesc.org or email [email protected].

• Single Parent Support Group meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at School Age Services, 1900 Reece Road. The next meeting is Monday. Free child care will be provided on site.

For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Spouse Connection meets the second Tuesday of every month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood, 4998 Second Corps Blvd. The next meeting is Tuesday. The program provides an opportunity for all spouses in the Fort Meade community and surrounding area to meet and get connected. For more information, call 301-677-4110 or email [email protected].

• Bridging the Gap deployment support group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Tuesday. For more information, call Sharon Collins at 301-667-4116 or email [email protected].

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 160 on Route 170 in Glen Burnie. The next meeting is Wednesday. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited. For more information, call 410-761-7046 or 301-262-6556.

• Fort Meade TOP III Association meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the Courses. The next meeting is Wednesday. The association is open to all Air Force active-duty and retired senior noncommissioned officers. For more information, call Master Sgt. Jonathan Jacob at 443-479-0616 or email [email protected].

• Protestant Women of the Chapel meets Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center. There are eight different Bible studies to choose from. This year’s theme is Generation 2 Generation. Free child care is provided. For more information, call 301-677-6035 or email [email protected] or visit ftmeadepwoc.org.

• Military Council for Catholic Women is open to all women ages 18 and older for prayer, faith, fellowship and service at the Main Post Chapel.

Mother’s Prayer & Apologetics meets Tuesdays from 9:45 a.m. to noon when Anne Arundel County schools are in ses-sion. Monthly programs are held Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information, email Beth Wright, president, at [email protected] or call 305-240-1559.

• Fort Meade Homeschool Co-op meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at 1900 Reece Road. For more information, call Kelli Stricker at 410-674-0297 or email [email protected].

• Cub Scout Pack 377 invites boys in first through fifth grades,, or ages 7 to 10, to attend its weekly Monday meetings at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

For more information, email Cubmaster Tom Johnston at [email protected] or Committee Chairperson Elizabeth Johnston at [email protected].

• Boy Scout Troop 379 meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center on Rockenbach Road. The troop is actively recruiting boys age 11 to 18. For more information, email Lisa Yetman, at [email protected] or Wendall Lawrence, Scoutmaster, at [email protected].

• American Legion Post 276 is open to veterans and active-duty service members at 8068 Quarterfield Road in Severn. Breakfast may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Lunches may be purchased from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner may be purchased at 6 p.m. on Fridays and the fourth Sunday of every month.

Membership discounts are offered for active-duty military. For more information, call 410-969-8028 or visit americanlegionpost276.org.

• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next meeting is Dec. 14. The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, visit e9association.org or call 410-551-7953.

• Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Dec. 17. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

YOUTH

RECREATION

MEETINGS

EDUCATION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17


Religion

Fort Meade 2012 Holiday Religious services, activitiesDATE SERVICE TIME LOCATION

Dec. 7 Fort Meade Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony 5 p.m. Parade Field (near gazebo)

Dec. 9 Episcopal Service of Lessons & Carols 4 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 11 Hanukkah Luncheon Celebration 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Chapel Center

Dec. 24 “Happy Birthday Jesus” Mass (for children) 5 p.m. Chapel Center

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Midnight Mass 10 p.m. Chapel Center

Dec. 24 Episcopal Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 24 Episcopal Christmas Eve Carols/Service 10:30/11 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 25 Christmas Day Mass 12:15 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 31 New Year’s Vigil Adoration 4-4:45 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 31 New Year’s Vigil Mass 5 p.m. Post Chapel

Dec. 31 Gospel Watch-Night Service 10 p.m. Chapel Center

Jan. 1 Mary, Mother of God 12:15 p.m. Post ChapelTimes of the regular weekend Protestant and Catholic services during the day will remain the same

(if not noted). For more information about religious services, call the Garrison Chaplain’s Office at 301-677-6703.

Chaplain’s Word

KINDNESS

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

— Aesop

Find the Fort Meadereligious schedule

atwww.ftmeade.army.mil.

Look for the “Community” tab then click on “Religious Services” for

schedules, events and contact information.

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Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................20

TroubleTicket............... 4 Movies.................................22

Community................. 16 Classified.............................23

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. thomas J. latterPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-5602; DSN: 622-5602.

Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

Printed by Patuxent Publishing Co., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.

www.ftmeade.army.milYou can also keep track of Fort Meade on Twitter at twitter.com/ftmeademd

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I’m out of the office this week attending the U.S. Army Installation Management Garrison Commanders Conference in San Antonio.

Despite not being on the installation, the safety of the community is always a top priority.

Last week, I shared my thoughts about making sure you plan ahead if you choose to drink alcohol at holiday parties.

This week, I’m sharing a commentary from the TRADOC Safety Office about seat belt safety.

Seat belts are one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles today. But we all have to remember to buckle up. Failure to buckle up contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior, according to pub-lic safety officials.

If you know the facts about the seat belt safety and you’re still not wearing a safety belt, you may need to ask yourself why.

Be safe and have a great week!

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

By Chris HairrTRADOC Safety OfficeFort Monroe, Va.

Do you think seat belts, like leather uphol-stery, are optional in your vehicle? I can tell you from a personal experience they’re not optional — they’re essential.

A few years ago, my brother was attending college in a big city when he and a friend decided to go out for a night on the town. Knowing his friend would be drinking, my brother offered to be the designated driver that night.

It was a good thing he did.As they were heading home, another driver

ran a stop sign and drove directly into my brother’s path. All my brother could do was hit the brakes, slowing the car from 30 mph to 20 mph as they struck the other vehicle.

My brother and his friend were both in the front seat, and the impact threw both of them forward. My brother was restrained by his seat belt, but his unbelted friend went head-first into the windshield.

When the car stopped, my brother had a minor cut on his forehead, which required a few stitches to close. His friend, however, didn’t fare so well and suffered serious head injuries. He spent more than a month in the hospital and never fully recovered.

Who would have thought that wearing a seat belt during a 20-mph collision would spell the difference between a minor injury and a perma-nent disability?

Need more proof seat belts work? Well, a year later, I was involved in a single-vehicle accident. I’d just gotten onto a road and was accelerating to the 55-mph speed limit when I saw a pile of pine straw ahead in my lane.

Because of an approaching vehicle, I couldn’t dodge into the oncoming lane to avoid the pile.

What I couldn’t see was a large piece of a fallen tree limb buried beneath the straw.

When my front passenger-side tire hit the branch, it sent my car veering into the oncom-ing lane. I avoided going off the road into a ditch, but fishtailed when I swerved right to avoid the oncoming car.

My car spun and then went off the right side of the road. As it did, one of the tires dug into the dirt and caused my car to simultaneously spin and flip.

When everything stopped, my car was upside-down and facing the direction I’d come from. I was still safely in my seat, hanging by my seat belt.

But it could have been much worse. Not being a frontal collision, my airbag never deployed. Had I been unbelted and thrown forward, there would have been nothing to protect me.

The crash totaled my car. Also, I’d been heading home from college for Christmas break, so nearly everything I owned was in that car. Many of those things were damaged or destroyed.

But that’s a small price to pay. After all, while they could be replaced, I couldn’t.

I survived with slight tenderness in my right shoulder and some pain in my right ankle where it had gotten caught in the pedals as the car rolled.

I’d been going about 50 mph when I crashed, and the way my car spun and flipped, I would have been dead without my seat belt. I’d likely have been ejected and smeared across the road like the quart of barbecue I had bought to take home.

Not a pretty picture.How about you? Are you ready to strap in

and survive? It’s your choice. Consider it care-fully because you may well live or die by it.

Buckle up for safety


SportS

Photo by Staff Sgt. StePhen Crofoot

Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Defreese throws a pass during the First Army Division East Turkey Bowl II on Nov. 20 on McGlachlin Parade Field. The game was a rematch from last year as the NCOs were defeated again by the officers after a late-game touchdown.

By Eric JohnsFirst Army Division East Public Affairs

An epic battle was fought between two longtime rivals of First Army Division East — officers and noncommissioned officers.

They battled it out Nov. 20 on McGla-chlin Parade Field during this year’s Tur-key Bowl II, a rematch from last year when the NCOs were defeated after a late-game touchdown.

“This year we are willing to play as dirty as the officers,” said Headquarters Detach-ment 1st Sgt. Joseph Smith. “We actually practiced and put the right people in the right place this year.”

After more than a month of trash talk-ing and preparation, the officers started the game with possession of the ball only to be shut down during their first attempt at a touchdown.

After punting to the NCOs, the officers made a good stand, stalling them just short of the goal line.

The officers drew first blood with a scoring drive that started a scoring frenzy leading to a 30-6 lead at halftime.

“I thought it would be a lot harder,”

said Capt. Steven Lim, quarterback for the officers. “We only had three practices.”

Division Chief of Staff Col. Tracy Smith predicted a win at halftime.

“I predict we will win this game; I pre-dicted before the game and I am saying it now,” Smith said. “We put together an unbeatable team and we are establishing a winning streak.”

The NCOs changed the game plan during the second half, putting Division Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Defreese in at quarterback.

Defreese led the NCOs, throwing four touchdown passes versus two by the officers team. However, one touchdown proved to be the difference.

“Everybody is having a good time right before Thanksgiving,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong. We would love to whoop their butts, but it is all in good fun.”

Both teams played hard for bragging rights. Unfortunately for the NCOs, they have to wait another year to avenge their loss.

The final score was 42-38, with the First Army East officers holding on for the win.

First Army East goes to battle in Turkey Bowl II

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

From the powdery slopes of Breckenridge, Colo., to the more than 60 miles of snow trails in Austria, the Sun, Snow and Surf Ski Club spans the globe for the best slopes.

The Fort Meade club, which is open to anybody connected to the post, conducts several weeklong trips each year. While members travel primarily to ski resorts, the club also organizes bike trips, seasonal parties and social activities.

“As a club advertising major trips, we generally stick to four trips a year,” said Ron Hamrah, president.

One is a European trip and three are domestic.Annual membership dues cost $25 for individuals

and $35 per family, with discounts for a two-year membership. Members also must pay trip costs.

But Hamrah said the price for the weeklong trips are reasonable because they include lift tickets, trans-

portation, lodging and, in some cases, meals.

At each location, the club reserves rooms in the same part of the building and members usually stay together on the moun-tains.

While many of the ski-iers have similar abilities on the slopes, Hamrah said the club is open to any level — even those who don’t want to ski but just make the trip.

“Not all of us have the ability; we’re at different levels,” he said.

The camaraderie between the 33 club members is a draw for skiiers. Bill Bishop, who has been with the

club for more than 40 years, said that unlike other local ski groups, the Fort Meade club is small enough for all members to know each other.

“The Washington Ski Club has thousands of members and Columbia Ski Club had more than 500 members,” Bishop said. “If you take one trip with our club, it is highly probable that you will know at least several people on your next trip — not so with the bigger clubs.”

While the group’s larger trips require extensive traveling, the club also meets locally at gatherings at members’ homes. The club also occasionally meets at local slopes for day trips.

“It’s a good fraternal organization,” Hamrah said. “You know the folks and you enjoy time together on the mountain.”

Editor’s note: For more information on the Sun, Snow and Surf Ski Club, contact Bill Bishop at 301-604-2113 or [email protected].

Fun on a slippery slope

Fort Meade ski club hosts trips far and near


SportS

I have never been a fan of Brady Quinn the football player. He’s too good-looking, overhyped, and worst of all, he spent too much time at Notre Dame.

But after last weekend, I am a fan of Brady Quinn the man.

Quinn, 28, hasn’t had much of a career since being drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in 2007. And this season, he certainly hasn’t been the right quarterback to keep Kansas City from being one of the worst teams in the league.

However, on Sunday Quinn proved to be the right man to lead the Chiefs through one of the worst moments in the franchise’s illustri-ous history.

As most of you probably heard, on Satur-day former Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher allegedly killed his girlfriend Kasandra Per-kins, then committed suicide in front of team officials outside Arrowhead Stadium.

The tragedy left the couple’s 3-month-old daughter orphaned, their families devastated, and the Chiefs organization distraught yet obligated to play a game the next day.

Enter Quinn, who had a career day — com-pleting 19 of 23 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns — in the Chiefs’ 27-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

After the game, when the quarterback embraced Romeo Crennel, Chiefs coach and witness to Belcher’s suicide, it was obvious what Quinn’s performance on the field meant to the team.

Brady’s compassion and clarity during the post-game press conference is what meant most to me. http://wapo.st/UC2Wka

In barely five minutes, and in front of a global audience, Quinn captured his team’s feelings - a near impossible feat considering the conflicting emotions in the team’s locker room: The natural elation that comes with victory, the devastating lows associated with the death of a teammate, and the disgust and anger linked to that teammate’s deplorable acts.

“It’s an eerie feeling after a win because you don’t feel like you can win in this situa-tion,” Quinn conceded in the press conference. “When it happened, I know I was sitting and, in my head, thinking what could I have done different?”

There are people on Fort Meade who have asked that same question.

As you may know, Fort Meade has had six reported suicides in the past 14 months, and as much as we may want to avoid it, we’ve had cases of domestic violence as well.

In every case there have been family

members, friends, co-workers and acquaintances who were left to ask, “What could I have done different?”

To paraphrase Quinn, the answer is to be involved and genuinely engaged.

“We live in a society of social networks. …That’s fine and stuff, but we have contact with our work associates, our families, and our friends, and it seems like half the time we are preoccupied with our phone,” Quinn said during the press conference. “When you ask someone how they are doing, do you really mean it? When you answer someone back, are you telling the truth?”

Well, can you answer yes to those ques-tions? I know I can’t. Not always. But I think I’m going to try, and I’d encourage you to do the same.

Also, take Quinn’s lesson and “try to actu-ally figure out if someone is battling some-thing different on the inside than what they are revealing on a day-to-day basis.”

Team Meade already has things in place to help us get attuned.

The military has Domestic Violence Aware-ness Month, which brings awareness to the issues tied to domestic violence and educates the workforce about the resources available for its victims. Advocates can be reached at 240-688-6918.

In addition, our Community Readiness Center at 301-677-9014; the Fort Meade Mili-tary Family Life consultants at 410-916-7354; and our Behavioral Health Care Service at 301-677-8895 also are available.

We have outstanding programs like Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. ASIST teaches anyone interested in learning the signs of suicidal behavior and what to do when you notice them.

The next two-day seminar is scheduled for Dec. 19. For more information, call 301-677-4231 or visit livingworks.net/profile/2871.

We are working with our partners to devel-op a Wellness and Resiliency Campus that will tie together the numerous resources available both on and off the installation.

But most of all, as Quinn eloquently shared, we have each other.

If you have questions on this or anything to do with sports, contact me at [email protected]. … GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!

How are you really doing?

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn

Sports ShortsReindeer 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk

The installation’s annual Run Series will conclude with the Reindeer 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk on Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. at Murphy Field House.

The pre-registration cost for individuals is $15. Cost on the day of the run is $25.The pre-registration cost for groups of seven to 10 is $85.The pre-registration cost is $40 for a family of three to six people. On the day of

the event, the cost is $60 per family.All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt.For more information, call 301-677-7916.

Dump Your PlumpRegistration for the 5th annual Dump Your Plump weight-loss competition

will be held Dec. 10 to Jan. 4 at Gaffney Fitness Center.Participants can compete as an individual or a team.The free competition runs from Jan. 7 through Feb. 28.For more information, call 301-677-7916.

Ski clubThe Sun, Snow, Surf Ski Club at Fort Meade is seeking new members for

its 2013 trips. The club, which organizes a variety of athletic activities including ski trips,

bicycling, hiking and social activities, travels across the country and Europe.The club also sponsors activities in the area.For more information or to join, call Bill Bishop at 301-604-2113 or email

[email protected]. Also, see article on Page 20.

photo by Sgt. Walter reeveS

Football’s ‘secretary oF DeFense’Retired Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley signs an autograph for Spc. Veronica King, 55th Signal Company (Combat Cam-era), on Saturday at the Exchange. Manley, nicknamed the “Secretary of Defense,” started his career in 1981 with the Redskins then played for Phoenix, Tampa and the Canadian Football League.


Movies

The movie schedule is subject to change. For a recorded announcement of showings, call 301-677-5324. Further listings are available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website at www.aafes.com.

Movies start Wednesdays to Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. NEW PRICES: Tickets are $5 for adults (12 and older) and $2.50 for children.

Today through Jan. 4

Today & Friday: “Argo” (R). In 1979, after Iranian revolutionaries storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans trapped. With Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin.

Saturday: Studio Appreciation – Free Screening. Tickets available at the Exchange Food Court. Seating open to non-ticket holders 30 minutes prior to showtime.

CLOSED Sunday

Wednesday & Dec. 14: “The Man with the Iron Fists” (R). On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins and a rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks to defend himself and his fellow villagers. With RZA, Lucy Liu, Russell Crowe.

Dec. 13: “Cloud Atlas” (R). In this science fiction drama adapted from the book of the same name, six different stories become intricately related over generations as one person’s action influences the next, and the next and the next. With Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Bae Doo-na, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xun, Keith David, Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant.

Dec. 15: “Paranormal Activity 4” (R). In this suspense thriller, sinister occurrences surround a creepy neighbor boy. With Katie Featherston, Brady Allen and Kathryn Newton.

Dec. 16: “Fun Size” (PG-13). In this comedy, a troubled teen girl with popularity issues manages to lose her oddball little brother on Halloween, and has to track him down and race the clock before she misses the big party. With Victoria Justice, Thomas Mann and Jane Levy.

CLOSED Dec. 17-Jan. 3 for building repairs. Will reopen Friday, Jan. 4.

Get to work on time. Know the hours of operation for

Access Gates on Fort Meade

Gate 1: Rockenbach Road5 a.m. to 9 p.m.,

7 days a week

Gate 3: Reece Road and Maryland Route 175

(Demps Visitor Control Center gate) 24-hour access

Demps Visitor Control Center, Bldg. 902 Reece Road7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

Gate 4: Mapes Road and Maryland Route 175

5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday;

closed weekends and holidays

Gate 5: Llewellyn Avenue and Maryland Route 175

6 to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday for inbound traffic;

3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for outbound traffic

Gate 7: Mapes Road and Route 32

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week

Learning at home. Learning in the classroom.

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Visit hcclearningworks.com or call 443.518.1200 to take the next step!Winter Term January 2 - 25 • Spring Semester begins January 26

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil December 6, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

Over the past few years, the number of shoplifters on Fort Meade has been on the decline following aggressive security measures by the Exchange Loss Prevention staff.

But with the holiday season in gear, the Directorate of Emergency Services and Loss Prevention are on high alert and ready to nab thieves as the shoplifting season begins.

“It goes up during the holidays, always,” said Chief Russell Wilson, chief criminal investigator with DES. “Any holidays and during the summer it goes up.”

Since 2010, shoplifting on post has gone down “substantially” and isn’t as large of a problem as in the past, Wilson said.

But juveniles, service members and civilians from on and off post are still attempting to bring home free merchandise in their pockets or under their jackets.

The largest demographic of shoplifters are juveniles, who account for 30 percent to 40 percent of the thefts. Their biggest mark tends to be electronics and anything marketed on television or the Internet.

While the holiday season typically brings the shoplifters out, shoplifting is also on the rise in the summer when juveniles focus more on clothing, sneakers and cosmetics.

“They steal pretty much whatever the hot item is,” Wilson said. “That’s usually what gets hit because kids want those things.”

Juveniles aren’t the only ones stealing. The remaining 60 percent to 70 percent of shoplifters are spread evenly throughout the other groups.

“There’s categories of adults ranging from service members to contractors to family members or friends of federal employees,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of split between those three categories.”

While the youngsters focus more on elec-tronic or video games, adults tend to steal clothing using price-changing techniques, in which the thief switches price tags or changes boxes with a lower-priced item.

Most people use what Wilson calls “tra-ditional” shoplifting, which includes conceal-ment on the person and just simply walking out the store with the products.

“There’s nothing new about it,” he said. “It’s been the same way ever since the ’40s and ’50s. They conceal it anywhere they can — under their purse, pockets, cargo pockets and jackets.”

Some of the more unique schemes include lining jackets with foil in an attempt to block sensors — a tactic Wilson said doesn’t work.

Wilson recalled the variety of excuses for

DES, Exchange on the lookout for shoplifters

why the person exited the store without pay-ing: forgetting money or that the item was in their pocket; trying on clothes and forgetting to take them off; or wanting to show the mer-chandise to a friend outside the store.

Despite the various shoplifting attempts, the Loss Prevention staff at the Exchange has even more ways to catch them. The store uses locked showcases, security lanyards, electronic tagging devices and video surveillance systems throughout the Exchange.

The network of strategically positioned, microprocessor driven and closed-circuit cam-eras are controlled by a central console that allows Loss Prevention associates to pan side-to-side, tilt up and down, or zoom in closely to examine activity, according the Exchange’s Loss Prevention Directorate.

“We’ve seen a decrease, and I think a lot of it has to do with the aggressiveness of AAFES; they’ve done a tremendous job,” Wilson said. “They’ve hired more people, they train all the time, and they have an ungodly amount of cameras in there.”

When Loss Prevention catches somebody shoplifting, the store turns over the issue to DES. The shoplifter is searched by police and is made to surrender the stolen merchandise to the store.

“A lot of times the person will pull it out of their pocket and give it back to AAFES before

we even get there,” Wilson said.Offenders are taken to DES, where they are

read their rights and can make a statement. Adults are fingerprinted, photographed and issued a criminal violation bureau ticket for the misdemeanor offense, which is handled in magistracy court.

Juveniles, however, are not fingerprinted, photographed or issued the citation. Instead, the youngster is either sent to Anne Arundel County Juvenile Court or must appear in front of Fort Meade’s Juvenile Misconduct Review Board, which is hosted by Lt. Col. Marion Bakalorz, commander of Headquarters Com-mand Battalion.

“She’ll screen the blotter, she’ll screen cases,” Wilson said. “Based on the severity of the case, it determines whether or not it’s going to either JMRB or [Anne Arundel] County.”

In addition to the charges from law enforce-ment, the shoplifter is also accountable for a $200 administrative cost to the Exchange, regardless of the value of the stolen item.

Wilson recalled the shoplifter who snatched a 99-cent bracelet, which ultimately cost him $200.

More fees can be added, depending on the condition of the returned merchandise.

Ultimately, everyone pays when merchan-dise is shoplifted.

“Every time somebody steals, they have to

constantly restock things, they have to pay for more loss prevention and pay for security enhancements,” Wilson said. “It raises the prices of goods inside the store.”

If the shoplifter is a service member or tied to the DoD, he immediately loses his identification card and is issued a new ID with an overstamp, which revokes his privileges at AAFES and the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities.

“It doesn’t say you shoplifted here,” Wilson said. “But the overstamp signifies that some-thing happened. So when you get your ID card taken and they issue the brand new card, it’s going to show that you basically lost your privileges. ... Everywhere you go now, you’re going to be labeled a thief.”

photos.com

While shoplifting on Fort Meade has been on the decline, the Directorate of Emergency Services and Loss Prevention at the Exchange are prepared for an increase in theft during the holiday season.

Nov. 27, Simple assault - consum-mated by a battery: The Direc-torate of Emergency Services was notified by Anne Arundel County 911 of a 911 hang-up. An investigation revealed that the victim attempted to contact 911 in reference to her husband pushing her in the chest and striking her boxing-style in her face with both fists. While she tried to call 911, he took the phone and hung it up.

communitycrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

‘We’ve seen a decrease, and I think a lot of it has to do with the aggressiveness of AAFES ... they’ve hired more people, they train all the time, and they have an ungodly amount of cameras in there.’

chief Russell Wilson chief criminal Investigator Directorate of Emergency services


News

By Philip H. JonesCommand Information Chief

Time is running out for federal employ-ees to ensure they have the right health, dental or vision insurance for themselves and their families.

The open enrollment period for 2013 ends Monday.

During the health benefits open season, which began Nov. 12, employees eligible to participate in the FEHB program may enroll, change health plans or options, cancel their FEHB enrollment, or change participation in premium conversion.

Federal employees also can select or change dental and vision insurance cov-

erage.Most federal employee plans will con-

tain benefits and rate changes for 2013, according to Rose Alexander, a Fort Meade human resources specialist.

“It is wise to review your coverage now to decide what coverage and premium best suits your needs for the upcoming year,” Alexander said.

Insurance coverage is effective Jan. 1. The effective date of payroll deductions begins Jan. 13.

Employees of the Department of Army, Air and Army National Guard, and the Defense Contract Management Agency may make open season enroll-

ment, changes or cancellations through the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) at abc.army.mil under the link for “Employee Benefits Information Sys-tem.”

Federal employees can change or enroll in dental and vision insurance plans online by visiting benefeds.com.

Department of Air Force employees can make changes or cancellations at the Air Force Portal at my.af.mil.

New premiums and new brochures are also available online at opm.gov under “Investigate Health Insurance.”

Employees who do not plan to change health, dental or vision coverage should

check the new rates in case they change, Alexander said.

Those enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account and/or TSP Catch-Up, need to re-enroll as well.

With a flexible spending account, employees save money through lower tax withholdings. Enrollees fund their accounts through pre-tax contributions from their salary, and use the account to pay health care out-of-pocket or depen-dent-care costs, Alexander said.

For more information about Federal Employees Open Enrollment, call Colleen Turpin or Rose Alexander at 301-677-6526 or 301-677-3512.

Federal open enrollment ends Monday

photo by philip h. Jones

volunteer FireFighter oF the yearFort Meade Fire Capt. Ed Lindsay was named the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce 2012 Community Safety Award - Vol-unteer Firefighter of the Year. Lindsay joined the Glen Burnie Volunteer Fire Department in 2006. His duties include answering emergency calls, leading training exercises and mentoring new volunteers. Lindsay serves as chief of Fort Meade’s fire inspection division.

By Wendy PoulsonSocial Security ManagerGlen Burnie

As we ring in a new year, we can expect to see a number of changes. Social Security is no excep-tion.

In 2013, people who receive Social Secu-rity or Supplemental Security Income pay-ments will see their benefits increase.

A 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment will be applied to all Social Security and SSI payments.

The average month-ly Social Security ben-efit for a retired work-er in 2013 is $1,261, up from $1,240 in 2012.

The average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2013 is $1,132, up from $1,113 in 2012.

These changes were reflected in SSI payments dated Dec. 31, 2012 and in Social Security payments dated in Janu-ary 2013.

For people who receive SSI, the maxi-mum federal payment amount has risen to $710, up from $698.

Other Social Security changes in 2013

are worth noting. For example, a worker now pays Social Security tax on up to $113,700 of annual income, up from $110,100 in 2012.

A worker earns one credit after pay-ing taxes on $1,160

in earnings in 2013, up from $1,130.

As always, a worker may earn a maximum of four credits each year. A person generally needs 40 credits, or 10 years of work, to be eligible for retirement benefits.

To learn more about these and other changes for 2013, visit the Social Security website at socialsecurity.gov.

For the fact sheet about the changes, visit socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2013.htm.

A ‘raise’ for people who get Social Security

Connect with Fort Meade at Facebook.com/ftmeade


News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

An experiment to conduct electric-ity using Elmer’s Glue and the oppor-tunity to build words using prefixes were among the activities designed to boost science, technology, engineering and math education at Pershing Hill Elementary School.

The activities, geared to students and their families, were part of Pershing Hill’s second annual Reading-STEM Family Night on Nov. 29.

The event was held to comply with the requirements of a three-year DoD Edu-cation Activity grant called STEM@Meade. The goal of the $1.5 million grant is to boost STEM education at Pershing Hill, Manor View and Meade Heights elementary schools and at West Meade Early Education Center.

“I think [the event] was very suc-cessful,” said Marcus D’Arcangelis, Pershing Hill’s STEM resource teacher and event organizer. “It’s a way of advertising what we’re doing at the school for the broader student popula-tion and to educate parents on what STEM offers.”

Pershing Hill includes STEM edu-cation in its curriculum and offers afterschool clubs devoted to STEM. Teachers also are trained to incorporate STEM in the classroom.

About 300 people attended the two-hour event, which was held in the school cafeteria and gym. Displays ranged from a rocket launch activity sponsored by Northrop Grumman, an engineering activity sponsored by the Homeland Security Signature Program at Meade High School, and a simple mechanics activity sponsored by the National Security Agency.

Several of the school’s STEM clubs participated as well. The SeaPerch Club, which begins in January, showcased a remotely operated underwater vehicle that students will design on their own next year.

“The club allows students to work on their engineering skills,” said Taffy Clark, a fifth grade teacher who will be the club’s adviser. “The students must make a SeaPerch and keep it buoyant under water.”

Students from the First Lego League Robotics Team also participated and showcased their robots built with Lego attachments.

“You get to build different kinds

Pershing Hill hosts Reading-STEM Family Night

of robots, and it’s cool how it moves around,” said fifth-grader Carlos Schul-er, who is a member of the team.

Other activities at family night included reading comprehension, word building and spelling games.

“We were here last year and the kids had a lot of fun,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Dantuma of the 742nd Military Intel-ligence Battalion, who came with his sons Jack, 8, and Nathan, 10.

Dantuma said he brought his chil-dren to the event to expose them to a variety of career fields.

“I like to expose them to different things and find out what they’re inter-ested in and to keep them engaged,” he said.

Jack constructed an automobile out of Legos at the simple mechanics dis-

play.“I love Legos,” he said. “I can create

stuff.”Cheryl Jaffe, a principal systems

engineer at Northrop Grumman, said the company participated in order to encourage children to pursue careers in math and science.

“We find that a lot of kids don’t consider going into engineering,” Jaffe said, noting that children often think engineers are “nerds.”

Dawn Smith, an assistant in corporate and education outreach at Northrop Grumman, said contrary to what many children may believe, a career in engi-neering can be fun.

“A roller coaster is made by an engi-neer. Nail polish is made by a chemical engineer,” she said. “Look around.

Everything around you has been made by an engineer. We’re also seeking women to enter the field. Women can do this.”

Air Force Tech Sgt. Brandy Stocker, an instructor at the Defense Informa-tion School, said her two children, Kay-ani, 9, and Den-chai, 8, were anxious to attend the event.

“This is something that they were really interested in,” she said. “They were really excited.”

Stocker said the event is critical for young people.

“We’re are not exactly on the leading edge [in this country] in terms of math and science,” she said. “This event helps kids realize that math and science can be fun, and it encourages them to pur-sue these types of things.”

photo by brian krista

Staff Sgt. Kevin Dantuma of the 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion and his 8-year-old son, Jack, build an automobile with Legos at the simple mechanics display during Pershing Hill Elementary School’s second annual Reading-STEM Family Night on Nov. 29.


News

By Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.American Forces Press Service

Defense Department leaders honored Friday 12 photography winners, selected from more than 3,000 submissions, for their participation in the Arts in Embassies Program.

Of the 12 photos selected, eight were taken by service members, including five who had attended the Defense Information School over the years.

Among the five is Air Force Tech Sgt. Joshua Strang, a DINFOS instructor. Another DINFOS instructor, Tech Sgt. Luke Thelen, was a finalist.

At a Pentagon ceremony where the exhibit is on display, the chairman quoted Aristotle in describing the purpose of art.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little recognized 12 “best in show” winners for the “Serving Abroad … Through Their Eyes” category of the program.

“The importance of art is not to reveal the outward appearance of things but the inward significance of things,” Dempsey said. “This was really an easy [program] to get behind. It really was exciting.”

The Arts in Embassy program started during the Kennedy administration. “It is a true honor for all of us to be a part of the 50th anniversary,” Little said, noting the defense secretary intently studied each image and read its accompanying caption.

The 12 winners were selected from 161 finalists by a panel of distinguished judges from a pool of 3,267 photos submitted by troops and members of the foreign and civil service.

“I have never considered myself a great photographer,” Strang said. “I just take photos that I would like to see and maybe someone else would like it, too. To be a part of this group and to experience the ceremony and events that my wife and I were invited to is just an exciting yet hum-bling feeling.”

Strang’s best-of-show photo was taken in Southwest Asia in 2006. The caption reads:

“Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron mourn the loss of two fellow security forces Airmen, Tech-nical Sergeant Jason L. Norton and Staff Sergeant Brian McElroy, who were killed in action January 22, 2006, in Taji, Iraq.”

“Ultimately, I had submitted about five or six photos for the contest and ended up having two make the final cut,” Strang said.

Pentagon honors ‘Best in Show’ photography winners

“I chose this photo because when I look at it, I am instantly taken back to that time and I fully remember feeling the weight of the situation.

“It was a very emotional time for the members involved and myself. I have always liked this photograph and feel it accurately depicts the pain of loss that the unit felt.”

Little, who described the Arts in Embas-sies program as a “unique initiative,” noted that as the Pentagon press secretary he “attaches a lot of eloquence to spoken words.”

“[But] no words can capture the elegance of these images,” he said. “The elite panel of judges included three former chairmen, two former secretaries of state and an NBC News [correspondent].”

The 12 best-in-show finalists received a plaque engraved with the signatures of Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as their respective award-winning photo.

Strang later described what it was like to be recognized at the ceremony.

“Honestly, it is an amazing feeling,” he said. “As a photographer, we are always around people of rank and stature. Usually I am more of a fly on the wall or a part of the ceremony as the guy with the camera and not the honoree.

“It is a humbling thought to know that

Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron mourn two fellow security forces Airmen, Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton and Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy, killed in action in 2006 in Taji, Iraq. The photo, taken by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang, was one of 12 winning entries selected from 161 finalists in the Arts in Embassies program.

PHOTO BY AIR FORCE TECH. SgT. JOSHuA STRAng

PHOTO BY ERIn A. KIRK-CuOmO

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (right) speaks with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang about Strang’s award-winning photograph at the Art in Embassies Best in Show awards ceremony on Friday at the Pentagon. Strang is an instructor at the Defense Information School.

people who lead the country have seen my work and think highly of it, or at least this photo,” he said. “It was an honor and a privilege to meet these leaders, let alone to be honored by them.”

Editor’s note: Fort Meade Command Information Chief Philip H. Jones contrib-uted to this story.

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