The Standard

6MLMC hosts Family PT and Easter egg hunt

2012-04-24T13:58:46-04:00

By Capt. Tericka, Washington

6th MLMC

The 6th Medical Logistics Management Center hosted a Family and Pet physical training event at Nallin Farm Pond March 26 as part of 6 MLMC's Quality of Life Program.

The Quality of Life Program is an initiative in direct support of the Army's newest resiliency training, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, which is designed to improve the emotional and psychological fitness of soldiers and families.

The center also hosted an Easter Egg Hunt and potluck luncheon with San Mar Treatment Foster Care. Over 70 children and adults of the 6th Medical Logistics Management Center family and San Mar participated in a day filled with lots of family, friends, food and fun.

Forest Glen kicks off Month of the Military Child

2012-04-24T13:56:28-04:00

by Tomoko Dangerfield

Forest Glen CYSS

The Forest Glen Child Development Center kicked off the Month of the Military Child with a Community Musical Instrument Parade, April 3.

For the entire month, installations all over the world are filling their calendars with activities celebrating the Month of the Military Child. This month was established to underscore the important role children play in the Army community.

Child, Youth and School Service programs have planned numerous events ranging from picnics and parades to recreational fairs and fun festivals - all to recognize and applaud Families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make in supporting America's Army.

Though we shine light on our children daily, we take pride in going to the extreme to recognize, appreciate and celebrate the sacrifices often made by our families and their little ones. Celebrating military children fosters stronger relationships with military families and the communities.

We recognize the importance of both child and family to the overall mission of today's military.

Community gathers to commemorate Earth Day

2012-04-24T13:53:43-04:00

By Shannon Bishop

USAG Public Affairs

Fort Detrick celebrated Earth Day with food, fun, games and the planting of an American Chestnut tree at the Community Activities Center, April 5.

Earth Day began April 22, 1970, when former senator Gaylord Nelson of Wis. called for an environmental teach-in, and it is commonly known as the "modern environmental movement."

Colonel Allan J. Darden, Sr., U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick commander, thoroughly enjoyed riling up the children attending the event. Darden encouraged the boys and girls from Fort Detrick's Child, Youth and School Services to scream "Earth Day" as loud as they could, before explaining the importance of the day's events to them.

Prior to the planting of the Chestnut tree, the proclamation for Earth Day was read, and it stated that "Fort Detrick will continue to be a good steward by protecting and conserving our natural resources."

The American Chestnut Foundation has partnered with Fort Detrick in its efforts to bring back the American Chestnut Tree. The trees being planted are in the process of being tested for blight resistance. In an effort to clean up the environment, the Fort Detrick community has planted acres of young forestation in Area B.

Anyone who attended the Earth Day activities had the opportunity to participate in the planting of the trees. "[My team of environmentalists] are trying to help Fort Detrick and the community ensure that we have clean water, clean air and a clean ground," Darden said. "That's powerful."

Among the distinguished guests attending the event was Frederick mayor Randy McClement. "We live in the mindset of creating and keeping a healthy environment, not only for today's generations, but future generations," said McClement.

"We have one Earth, we need to keep it so we can live on it; we can't just live for today -- we need to think about our future generations."

In addition to the fun and games, Fort Detrick participated in the Community Shred and Recycling Drive as part of Earth Day. The Community Shred program provides an opportunity to clear out the clutter of old documents while protecting one's identity. It also helps the environment by recycling unneeded paper.

The community members were excited that the Home Electronics Recycling Drive was free this year. Items such as keyboards, speakers, cell phones, DVD players, monitors and printers were collected in order to dispose of these properly. The team from AdVentures with Raptors displayed one of the world's largest owls, the Eurasian Eagle Owl. Other vendors included e-end, Earth Share, and the Fort Detrick Recycling Center.

Naval Medical Logistics Command Reads Across America

2012-03-15T12:09:46-04:00

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss?s birthday. To commemorate, children around the nation participate in Read Across America, an annual motivation and awareness program that calls for every child to celebrate reading.

Locally, at Lincoln Elementary School in Frederick, Md., active duty Army and Navy personnel stationed at Fort Detrick, helped 2nd through 5th grade students enjoy the reading experience by volunteering to read some of their favorite stories.

Recognizing the importance of getting school-aged children to embrace reading, Frederick Mayor Randy McClement scheduled a visit to the school to show his support of the community involvement military members have actively engaged with local residents.

?Reading establishes the fundamental tools that children will take with them throughout their lives. Having active duty, uniformed members of the military to come share the reading experience with Lincoln Elementary students is an invaluable exchange that will reap dividends for years to come,? the mayor said. ?Our friends at Fort Detrick have always been a part of the community and will remain a welcome member of the Frederick family?

Frederick is located in north central Maryland. As the county seat of Frederick County, it is the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. It is an outlaying community of Washington, Virginia and West Virginia and is the second largest incorporated area in Maryland behind Baltimore.

Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) is stationed in Fort Detrick, MD and is Navy Medicine?s Center of Logistics Expertise, supporting big Navy objectives by designing, executing and administering individualized state-of-the-art solutions to meet customers? medical materiel and healthcare service needs.

Much like Dr. Seuss meets the needs of children learning to read, NMLC personnel have adopted Lincoln Elementary School to provide continuing mentorship support.

?Petty Officer [Julius] Wiseman has been coming to our school for years now and he has developed relations with our students that we know will have a lifelong affect,? said Ms. Marta Droddy, the school?s counselor. ?To have him bring his active duty friends here to read and to mentor the children simply strengthens the relationships he has developed and opens doors for more relationships to develop.

For more information about Naval Medical Logistics Command, visit http://www.nmlc.med.navy.mil. For more information about Fort Detrick, visit http://www.detrick.army.mil.

Army ILE Course for senior captains and majors offered locally

2012-02-17T09:21:09-04:00

By Lt. Col. Samuel Spinder

10th Battalion, 80th Training Command

The Intermediate Level Education is a course designed to prepare senior captains and majors for leadership positions in Army, joint, multinational and interagency organizations executing full spectrum operations.

Previously known as CGSC, ILE consists of a common core curriculum that includes Joint PME 1 requirements and the required Branch and/or Functional Area specialized education or qualification course.

Successful completion of ILE CC AND the respective qualification course is required for award of JPME Phase I credit. ILE is a MEL Level 4 accredited course. The course is divided into three phases, which are taken consecutively.

Phase I is a hands-on, execution-oriented course where a staff group develops and applies critical thinking skills. This two week block, conducted over the summer at Fort Dix, N.J., introduces staff officers to the highly complex joint environments our forces encounter today.

Phase II, conducted one week-end a month between October and May, develops the students' advanced communicative skills (collaboration, consensus building, coordinating, facilitating, writing and presenting), while using the Military Decision Making Process within the Learning Environment.

Phase III, another two week block conducted at Fort Dix, focuses on war fighting functions, culminating with an application exercise in which the students demonstrate their understanding of tactical fundamentals. Course duration is roughly 14 months.

The 10th Battalion, 80th Training Command is a local Army Reserve Training Battalion providing ILE instruction for Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard officers alike. Based in Owings Mills, Md., the 10th Battalion hosts ILE Phase II classes locally at Fort Detrick, Md., Fort Meade, Md., Fort Belvoir, Va. and Fort Lee, Va., as well as other areas throughout the northeast.

Officers interested in attending ILE should contact their Training Officer/NCO to register. The course is identified in ATTRs under School Code: R701, Course: 701-1-250-ILE-CC, Course Title: Phase 1, Intermediate Level Education Common Core.

For More Information contact Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Price, Operations NCOIC, 10th BN, 80th TC, at (410) 453-5632, or tyrone.price1usar.army.mil.

ICE: Let your voice be heard

2012-02-17T09:07:18-04:00

By Melanie Skeens

USAG Customer Service Coordinator

Customer service is the cornerstone to providing effective and efficient service to all of the Service members, Families, and Civilians who call Fort Detrick home. But it cannot be done without your help and involvement.

By listening to our customers, monitoring gaps in performance, and developing plans to improve products and services, the Fort Detrick customer service program actively drives continuous improvement to better meet your needs and expectations, creating value for you, our partners and customers.

The Army has implemented a tool to help you make a difference in your experience as a customer and that is the Interactive Customer Evaluation system. The ICE system is a web-based system that collects your feedback on the services you received and is reviewed by the Garrison Commander on a weekly basis.

It allows customers to submit online comment cards to rate services encountered on post and receive a timely response from the service provider manager. ICE is the key to sustaining a successful customer service program.

ICE is helpful because it allows us to hear the voice of the customer and receive customer feedback on all the services we provide to the Soldiers, Families and Civilians on Fort Detrick, but ultimately, the ICE system is a performance driven measure of how well Fort Detrick performs its mission.

Fort Detrick remains committed to being a customer-centric organization that seeks and applies customer feedback to evaluate and improve the delivery and receipt of the installations programs and services.

To continue to help make a difference in the quality of service of our programs please visit the ICE website and submit a comment card.

All comments are welcome.

You may leave contact information or submit anonymously. You can also find "hard copy" comment cards located at building entrances throughout the installation.

Visit the Fort Detrick website at http://www.detrick.army.mil and click on the ICE link toward the bottom right column to fill out a comment card. For any questions or assistance with the ICE System you may contact the Customer Service Coordinator at USAGcustomerservice@amedd.army.mil.

Commentary

2012-02-17T08:58:35-04:00

By Lt. Col James St. Angelo, III

USAG Director, Safety and Environment

Is there ever an excuse not to work safely? In one sense or another we get confronted with this question every day. There are deadlines and people looking over our shoulders (sometimes literally), or the weather is nasty and we want to take that little short cut to get the job done quicker.

All the pressures and temptations we face every day ask this same question: "Is there ever an excuse not to work safely?"We sometimes want to say, "Maybe just this one time I will take a chance. I can get away with it once."

Unfortunately, that seems to be the time when we have our worst injuries.There is a real life example from a Machine shop. The rule in the shop is that no running is allowed. The head sawyer was finishing a job and the truck picking up the order was literally waiting for the last piece.

When the cut was finished, the sawyer grabbed the part and ran towards the delivery truck. It was 2:30 p.m. and the sun was at the perfect angle to blind him as he came around a corner. The sawyer kept moving quickly towards the delivery area.He noticed that there was a forklift parked, but assumed that it was in the normal parking spot and that it would not be a problem.

The forklift was not in the normal parking spot and someone left the forks off the ground while they went to arrange a pallet they were about to pick up. The sawyer caught his right foot under the forks. The foot literally jammed between the fork and floor. He suffered an almost complete tearing of several ligaments and tendons, as well as two hairline fractures. His ankle required surgical repair and there is some doubt he will ever return to his old job.

If you were to ask this man if he had an excuse for not working safely he would probably reply that he was trying to impress the customer. If you asked him if it was worth it, the answer would be obvious. Did the sawyer know the rule about not running in the shop? You bet he did.

By running in the shops he did not have time to avoid an unforeseen hazard and was seriously injured.The vast majority of injuries are the result of people doing something that they know is wrong.

We might think that the rule can be broken just this once. However, the reason most company safety rules and most Occupational Health and Safety legislation is in place is because someone was seriously injured or killed not following the safest work practice.If you think what you are about to do is unsafe, it probably is.

Stop and think about it, on and off duty.Is there ever an excuse not to work safely?Are there any new safety concerns from the past week?

Thank you all for the dedicated and professional services you provide to our Army!

Fort Detrick Child Development Center gains national accreditation

2012-02-17T08:54:34-04:00

By Lanessa Hill

USAG Public Affairs

Nothing is more important to a parent that depends on childcare than the safety and well-being of their child. The Fort Detrick Child Development Center continues to provide this peace of mind to the mothers and fathers of Fort Detrick by once again gaining the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation.

NAEYC Accreditation means our programs are high quality and provide a safe and nurturing environment while promoting development. Accreditation lasts five years and can only be obtained after undergoing a thorough inspection of curriculum, staff, nutrition, environment and ongoing relationships.

Applicants must score at least 70 percent in their overall assessments. This year Fort Detrick's highest score was 95 percent.Center Director, Wendee Bitto said, ?Thanks to the hard work and dedicated staff at the CDC, many of which have been here for a long time, that this important accreditation is possible.?

NAEYC accredited programs must promote positive relationships, implement a curriculum that fosters all areas of child development, have effective teaching approaches, provide ongoing assessments of the progress of the children, promote nutrition and health, establish and maintain collaborative relationships with families and provide a safe, healthy environment with the support of the community.

Fort Detrick has three programs the Child Development Center, Child Youth and School Services and the Teen Center. The CDC accepts infants thru kindergarten, CYSS from ages 6-12 and the teen center from grades 6-12.

Almost everyone who works at Fort Detrick is eligible to enroll their children. When comparing our facilities to others that are accredited, the cost does not compare. Discounts are even given to families with more than one child and parents can drop in visit their children throughout the day.

The facility is also fully camera monitored to provide an extra sense of parental comfort. All facilities offer tours to prospective parents who are searching for quality childcare.

Individuals can also visit: www.detrick.army.mil/cyss/frederick/index.cfm for more information on the programs offered.

Thrift Shop at Fort Detrick Celebrates 50 Years of Service to the Fort Detrick Community.

2012-01-25T09:41:18-04:00

Historical data shows that the Thrift Shop at Fort Detrick was organized on 8 January 1962. ?The objective was to provide an exchange or sales point for excess property of its members with any financial profits obtained to be devoted to the welfare and morale of the military personnel of Fort Detrick and their dependents.? (Quote from 1st Constitution and By-Laws) Today, the objective of the Thrift Shop still remains the same. In 2011 the Thrift Shop gave grants, scholarship, and donations in excess of $10,000. Organizations and individuals who received grants included: the Chapel Programs; Army Community Programs; Family and Moral, Welfare and Recreation Programs; BOSS; AMVETS; Frederick Rescue Mission; individual soldiers and their families, and the U.S. Army Garrison and Medical Research Materiel Command Solider and NCO of the Year.

From Its humble beginnings to the current location in Building 11 on Porter Street, the Shop now has 12 rooms of items. A Board of Directors made up of representatives, from all units on Fort Detrick with 0-6 Commanders, as well as, representatives from the Chapel, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers Program, and the All Service Retiree Council governs the operations.

No longer able to recruit enough volunteers to maintain The Shop, five part time individuals are employed; a manager, three assistant managers, and a bookkeeper. However, volunteers are always welcome and needed to process the massive donations and consigned item. In 2011 volunteer donated nearly 1,000 hours of service to the Thrift Shop. With support from the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick of a building, which was once the aircraft control tower for Camp Detrick, the Thrift Shop is a self sustaining non-profit organization.

To celebrate their 50 years of Service the Thrift Shop will be serving coffee, punch and cookies, during the month of February2012. The Shop will give away a $50 Gift Certificate one a week for 4 weeks, to be used at the Thrift Shop. You do not have to make a purchase to participate in the drawing nor do you have to be present at the drawing to win. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail.

During February, starting on Saturday 4 February at 9 a.m. the Shop will be holding its 50 cent sale of Thrift Shop property fall and winter clothes, shoes, and purses. All other Thrift Shop property items will be 50 percent off.

Applications are now available for the two $1,000 scholarships to be awarded in May. Applications can be found on the Thrift Shop web page, or picked up at ACE, or the Thrift Shop. Applications are also being sent to all the Frederick County High Schools. The Scholarships are for undergraduate studies and eligible applicants are any individuals who are authorized consignors or dependent children of those who are authorized consignors at the Thrift Shop.

The Shop is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10-3 and the 1st Saturday of each month from 9-12. To see a complete schedule of dates open and closed please go to the Thrift Shop Web page and click on the tab for Expiration Dates.

Besides the donated and consigned items, The Shop sells Fort Detrick Ornaments, Nallin Pond Prints and White House Ornaments, profits from these items are dedicated to the scholarships and grants.

Items purchased in The Shop can be paid for by Credit Card, Check or Cash. The Shop is open to the public to shop, but rules on who can consign and other information on the Shop can be found on their web page by going to www.detrick.army.mil , click on Site Index, then the letter ?T?, then on Thrift Shop. You also can call for information at 301-619-2289.

Questions answered about new gate access policy

2012-01-20T12:05:35-04:00

By Horace King

USAG Access Control Officer

Fort Detrick is changing the hours of operation for several of its entry gates Jan. 17, to help improve safety and ease of use for all employees, families and visitors. T

he change will make Old Farm gate available for visitors and deliveries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This gate is the only gate authorized for visitors and deliveries, however, all others can still use this gate and any of the other open gates.

1. It is our understanding that a driver will be able to gain access by showing our NIH ID (PIV) card or our NCI-F ID card. However, a passenger must show an NIH (PIV) ID card as our NCI-F ID card is not sufficient identification. Is this correct? If so, what is the reason for this difference?

A. There is a big difference between these two cards, primarily, one is centrally issued and grants access to other than NCI-Frederick and the other does not. If the driver possess a NIH (PIV) card they will have the same privileges as Dept. of Army employees who possess a Dept. of Army (CAC) PIV card. The possessor of these cards will be able to vouch for every other member in the vehicle (Trusted Traveler Program), who will not have to produce an ID card.

There are two forms of the NCI-F card, one is for permanent employees and the other is temporary with limited access. When the NCI-F card is compared to the access badge from Fort Detrick US Army Garrison, the big difference is that vetting is completed on the individual prior to issuance of the badge. The vetting on the USAG access badge is not the same level of background checks that are done on individuals who are issued the Dept. of Army (CAC) PIV cards. Because of this difference, USAG access badges and NCI-F badges are not allowed to vouch for other passengers and be a part of the Trusted Traveler Program.

2. Short-term NCI-F employees such as students are not issued NIH ID (PIV) cards, they only receive NCI-F ID cards. How will this affect their ability to access the campus?

A. These employees are granted individual access but are not allowed to vouch for or participate in the "Trusted Traveler" Program.

3. We often host individuals/groups from non-federal entities. If we take them off-base to one of our other locations (for example) will they need to re-enter through the visitor's gate?

A. How will these individuals be taken off of the installation? If there is an NIH employee with them in the vehicle and the NIH employee is in possession of the NIH (PIV) card, they will be granted access by the NIH employee vouching and having responsibility for them, and they can enter through any open Access Control Point.

4. How long will it take to get through the visitor's gate? It is our understanding that visitors will need to get a temporary ID card. How long will this take? Will visitors that come through the gate get escorted by guards to the place where the temporary ID cards need to be obtained?

A. There are a lot of factors that affect the time it will take to gain access through the visitor gate. That time is influenced by the amount of visitors, weather, other traffic and incidents that could be occurring at the time a person attempts to gain entry. The guards work diligently to grant access in the most efficient and expeditious manner, while still maintaining the security posture and protection for the installation. The current visitor gate does not have the facilities and infrastructure to issue individual temporary ID cards. These visitors will not be escorted to another location to be issued ID cards. Guards will process the drivers and passengers then search the vehicle prior to allowing entry onto the installation.

5. How will drivers/passengers in government vehicles be handled? Do they need to go through the visitor's gate if they do not all have an NIH ID (PIV) card?

A. All vehicles are treated the same and not differentiated between them being Government owned or privately owned. The ID of the driver or passengers provides access.

6. What about our Farmer's Market vendors that have been vetted through the USAG - what is the new process for them? If they have not been vetted, what is the new process?

A. Vendors that have been vetted can be issued Fort Detrick Access badges. The process and requirement for vetting has not changed. Please submit the personal identifiable information on the vendors so they can be vetted and once that is completed they can be granted Fort Detrick Access Badges.

7. In one discussion we heard that only the DoD decals are no longer going to be issued. However, in another discussion we heard that both the DoD and the NCI decals will no longer be issued. Which is the case?

A. We will no longer issue DoD or any other partner specific vehicle decals.

8. We often host symposiums/ seminars that could include up to 100 people that may be non-federal workers? How long will it take to process all of these people through the visitor's gate and through the USAG temporary card process?

A. When you have a large gathering like this question refers to, submit the personal identifiable information at a minimal of 72 hours prior to the event, to allow them to be vetted. Once vetted, the entry process would be a lot smoother than if they were not vetted.

9. Will all people in a vehicle need to get temporary ID cards from the USAG?

A. No. It depends on the status and circumstance for the entry.

10. Very often our staff has family members that pick them up from work. Will all of these individuals need to get visitor's ID cards from the USAG?

A. If the employee requires transportation that is provided by a Family Member on a constant basis, the family member personal identifiable information needs to be submitted along with the request for a Fort Detrick Access badge. After vetting, the Family member will be issued an access badge.

11. If an employee has family members in their vehicle, will they need to go through the visitor's gate to gain access? Will all family members need to get visitor's ID cards? (An example of this is that an a staff member swings by work on the weekend to pick-up something and the whole family is in the vehicle.)

A. They will not have to enter the visitors access control point if the NCI-F staff member has a NIH (PIV) card. If they only have a NCI-F card, they will have to enter through the Visitor Access Control Point.

12. Job applicants come to the post on a daily basis. What information do they need to show at the gate and what procedure do they need to follow to gain access?

A. The policy for visitors have not changed with this new process of decal elimination. The applicant must have a photo ID issued by a State or Federal Agency and/or a valid drivers' license if operating a vehicle along with the purpose and destination of their visit.

13. I reside in housing on Fort Detrick and am not affiliated with the Government at all, What must I do to gain access on and off of the installation?

A. You must go to the housing rental office (Belfour Beatty) and fill out a vetting request form and a badge request form. On the vetting form you will list the personal identity information on yourself and any other person that resides in your residence that is listed on the lease agreement who is over the age of 16. Once the vetting form is complete, you will submit the forms to the Badge office located at Bldg 1520. After the vetting is complete, the Badge office will create a badge for you and the others in your household over the age of 16.

14. I have Foreign Nationals who visit me and my family often. What are the procedures that must occur in order to bring them onto the installation?

A. All Foreign Nationals must enter the installation through Old Farm Gate. They must be escorted at all times. The escort must announce their entry, along with the destination and purpose of the visit to the guards. Prior approval must be obtained from the respective security manager before a Foreign National is taken into any official work place.

15. If I am a delivery driver and deliver goods to the base on a regular basis, do I need to be issued a Fort Detrick ID Badge so I can enter through the 7th street gate?

A. No, you do not need a Fort Detrick ID Badge. Your vehicle will be searched each time you enter. You must always enter the installation through the visitor/delivery gate (Old Farm Gate).

Get out from behind the wheel and dive in to the Pool

2012-01-20T11:56:18-04:00

By Jim Shaheen

USAG DOL

Would you like to start your New Year off by saving money, helping the environment, and reducing traffic and parking congestion? You can also decrease your stress levels and make local roads safer to travel.

You can do all of this and more by diving in to the Pool. The Fort Detrick Van Pool Commuter program that is. The Fort Detrick Van Pool program was started just over one year ago and the participation has increased significantly in that time from one van to fifteen vans and five riders to 105 happy riders.

Vanpools now operate Monday thru Friday from the following locations: Waynesboro, Pa., Greencastle, Pa., Chambersburg, Pa., Boonsboro, Md., Emmitsburg, Md., Hagerstown, Md. and Martinsburg, West Va.

Commuters save money because the program is partially funded by a Federal government initiative; they also save on gas and maintenance on their own vehicles. The environment benefits by a reduction of the carbon footprint and emissions with as many as 90 fewer vehicles on the road, this contributes to the Army's Net Zero initiative.

Taking more vehicles off the road reduces traffic, increases available parking, and makes the roads safer. Riders can also reduce their stress levels by sharing the driving responsibilities as opposed to driving on their own every day.

Paul Hance, an employee with the Fort Detrick US Army Garrison Directorate of Logistics rides in a Van Pool from Chambersburg, Pa. and says:

"I think the program is great for people who live farther out of town. It opens up opportunities for employment for everyone." Hance said he estimates his savings to be over $200 a month.

Another Fort Detrick employee stated that the vanpool program is an excellent benefit, they do have to give up some personal commuter freedom to share a ride but they personally save around $230 in gas costs alone per month.

The rider calculated based on commuting distances that they will save the cost of a new car every five to six years. So what is holding you back from this win-win opportunity? Joining the program is easy and fast.

The Van Pool program manager is John Orelski at the USAG Directorate of Logistics, and can be reached at (301) 619-2113, or john.r.orelskius.army.mil.

Linganore High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Standby for Inspection

2012-01-20T09:37:43-04:00

By Sheila A. Gorman

Naval Medical Logistics Command

?Atten-hup.?

This is a cadence call one might hear while working on a military installation, but not what one would expect to hear in the middle of a gymnasium with 100 high school students.

At 7:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning at Frederick, Maryland's Linganore High School, cadets from the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps mustered for command inspection.

This is not the usual NJROTC weekly inspection from their fellow cadet officers but an inspection by two of the top brass from Fort Detrick's Naval Medical Logistics Command, who were invited to inspect the group.

Commander Mary Seymour, NMLC executive officer and Master Chief Petty Officer David Hall, NMLC Command Master Chief, walked up and down the rigid ranks of cadets who stared nervously forward.

?Hair. Shirt. Emblem. Head cover,? the inspectors note to the cadet recorders who list all the uniform corrections or deficiencies.

The pair from NMLC was asked to inspect the NJROTC cadets as they would their own command.

?Even though you are not active duty cadets, take pride when you wear the uniform. You are representing your school, your unit and all active duty who wear the uniform,? Seymour said to the assembled group.

?We were pretty tough on the cadets during inspection,? Seymour said to the group?s high school leader, retired Lt. Cmdr. Henry Lane, a Naval science instructor at the school and in charge of the NJROTC program since 2003.

The students are participating in a citizenship program that gives them a chance to practice their leadership skills, build confidence, practice self-discipline and promote patriotism, said retired Lane.

By being involved with the NJROTC program, cadets have the opportunity to participate and lead such activities as drill team, rifle team, community events, parades, military balls and field trips.

?It?s a way to honor my country and give back,? said Cadet Ensign Elizabeth Jones, NJROTC operations officer. Jones, a senior, said she already has her acceptance letter to college where she plans to enroll in an ROTC program and study international relations.

?I get a lot out of participating in the program,? said Cadet Seaman Kira Zimmerman, whose Dad was in the audience that morning. ?My brother went through the NJROTC program here and is in ROTC in college. My Dad is active duty in the Army so I have great role models.?

The executive officer and Command Master Chief from NMLC not only inspected the cadets, but participated in bestowing command awards and promotions. They also viewed a demonstration by the rifle and drill teams and participated in a pass and review by the entire group.

?They were very impressive,? said Hall. ?There is a lot of enthusiasm from the kids and we?ll assist them as much as we can.? The command drills up to four days a week, said Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Prithvi Mandayeam, the cadet commanding officer who has been with the program four years.

?By drilling and meeting so often, it?s a chance to talk to the new recruits and let them know what?s available to them,? said Mandayam. ?We go over uniforms, teams, announcements, upcoming events and anything that affects NJROTC.

There is opportunity to attend leadership school and opportunity to participate in competition and gain leadership experience as become an officer in the program.?

Mandayam, who already holds an acceptance letter from the Naval Academy, said he would like to study aerospace engineering and spoke highly of the leadership opportunities through the NJROTC program.

Mandayam and his fellow cadet officers met with Seymour and Hall after the larger group was dismissed and listened to a few words of advice.

?Things don?t always go as planned. Part of being a leader is to be flexible and come up with creative, workable solutions,? said Seymour.

?Have a service ethos; get involved with your communities. We will not be here forever; we look to you to be our future leaders,? said Hall.

CBMS opens first eco-friendly headquarters on Fort Detrick

2012-01-19T15:30:17-04:00

By Kristin Stassi

JPM-CBMS

A newly constructed, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-eligible building opened on Fort Detrick to serve as the headquarters for the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office and elements of the Naval Medical Research Center.

The facility, which was celebrated in a ribbon cutting ceremony in Dec., is the newest LEED-eligible building constructed on Fort Detrick.

?Today?s ribbon cutting is the culmination of a successful 19-month partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Garrison Command and our partners in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to bring our unit back home to Fort Detrick,? said CBMS Joint Project Manager Col. Charles B. Millard, at the Dec. 9 event.

?Serving in a LEEDS building underscores the commitment of the Department of Defense to energy security and sustainability, which are operationally necessary and financially prudent.?

The ceremony began with Millard and Navy Capt. Elizabeth Montcalm-Smith, program manager, Advanced Medical Development Program NMRC, addressing the large crowd of CBMS and Navy employees in attendance. Maj. Gen. James K. Gilman, commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, and Col. Allan J. Darden Sr., commander, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, officially cut the ribbon to open the new eco-friendly building. For CBMS, the move to Detrick was a homecoming driven by a Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommendation; a founding element of CBMS, the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program, started in 1996 only a few hundred yards away from the new building in a small annex near the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The BRAC move strategically and geographically unites CBMS with the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, USAMRMC laboratories and medical development activities, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility.

The new Joint Biomedical Research, Development and Acquisition Management Center is pursuing its LEED Silver-level certification for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiencies, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The open office environment includes private offices and energy-efficient conference rooms. Occupants will also actively participate in Operation Paper Purge, which means ?going green? with a reduction in paper costs. JPM-CBMS, a subordinate of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, is responsible for research, development, acquisition, fielding, and life cycle management of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved/cleared medical systems for protection, treatment, and diagnostic capabilities against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear warfare threat agents.

All CBRN medical countermeasures are approved by and regulated through the FDA.

CBMS is composed of a headquarters and three Joint Product Management Offices: The Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program, the Medical Identification and Treatment Systems, and Biosurveillance (provisional). For more information, visit www.jpeocbd.osd.mil.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized green building certification system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

ASAP offers help to stop alcohol and smoking addictions

2012-01-19T15:25:33-04:00

By Fort Detrick ASAP

Fort Detrick?s community of excellence extends a helpful hand, in achieving New Year?s resolutions for 2012. The Army Substance Abuse Program is offering annual training at Strough Auditorium, entitled Prevention Strategies for the New Year. Great tips from the Nation?s leading experts, such as the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, help make healthy choices achievable.

Committing to halt heavy drinking, stamp out smoking, or wean worries of smokeless tobacco? Join us, as we focus on setting our goals!

Classes are from 10-11 a.m., Jan. 26.

Cutting Back on Drinking, for the new year? Here are some strategies to try, and you can add your own at the end.

Check off perhaps two or three to try in the next week or two.

Then click List my choices, and you can print or email them to yourself.

* Keep track.

Keep track of how much you drink. Find a way that works for you, carry drinking tracker cards in your wallet, make check marks on a kitchen calendar, or enter notes in a mobile phone notepad or personal digital assistant. Making note of each drink before you drink it may help you slow down when needed.

* Count and measure.

Know the standard drink sizes so you can count your drinks accurately. Measure drinks at home. Away from home, it can be hard to keep track, especially with mixed drinks, and at times, you may be getting more alcohol than you think. With wine, you may need to ask the host or server not to "top off" a partially filled glass.

* Set goals.

Decide how many days a week you want to drink and how many drinks you'll have on those days. It's a good idea to have some days when you don't drink. Drinkers with the lowest rates of alcohol use disorders stay within the low-risk limits.

* Pace and space.

When you do drink, pace yourself. Sip slowly. Have no more than one standard drink with alcohol per hour. Have "drink spacers"make every other drink a non-alcoholic one, such as water, soda, or juice.

* Include food.

Don't drink on an empty stomach. Eat some food so the alcohol will be absorbed into your system more slowly.

* Find alternatives.

If drinking has occupied a lot of your time, then fill free time by developing new, healthy activities, hobbies, and relationships, or renewing ones you've missed. If you have counted on alcohol to be more comfortable in social situations, manage moods, or cope with problems, then seek other, healthy ways to deal with those areas of your life.

* Avoid "triggers."

What triggers your urge to drink? If certain people or places make you drink even when you don't want to, try to avoid them. If certain activities, times of day, or feelings trigger the urge, plan something else to do instead of drinking. If drinking at home is a problem, keep little or no alcohol there.

* Plan to handle urges.

When you cannot avoid a trigger and an urge hits, consider these options: Remind yourself of your reasons for changing (it can help to carry them in writing or store them in an electronic message you can access easily). Or talk things through with someone you trust. Or get involved with a healthy, distracting activity, such as physical exercise or a hobby that doesn't involve drinking. Or, instead of fighting the feeling, accept it and ride it out without giving in, knowing that it will soon crest like a wave and pass. Also, see the short module to help you handle urges to drink.

* Know your "no."

You're likely to be offered a drink at times when you don't want one. Have a polite, convincing "no, thanks" ready. The faster you can say no to these offers, the less likely you are to give in. If you hesitate, it allows you time to think of excuses to go along. Also, see the short module to help you build drink refusal skills.

Whatever strategies you choose, give them a fair trial. If one approach doesn't work, try something else. But if you haven't made progress in cutting down after two to three months, consider quitting drinking altogether, seeking professional help, or both.

Commentary:

2012-01-19T15:15:41-04:00

By Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin B. Stuart

MRMC Command Sgt. Major

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, we hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."

One of the world's greatest advocates of non-violent social change strategies, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most influential men of our times. He was an outstanding civil rights activist who fought the "good fight" in his quest to see justice, peace, equality, and righteousness in America for all people.

On January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, he entered the world as the first son and second child born to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr., and Alberta Williams King. In 1953, he married the former Coretta Scott, a music student and native of Alabama.

Together they raised four children. A pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, which was the organization responsible for the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956 (381 days).

He was also a founder and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1957 to 1968. He was arrested thirty times for participating in civil rights activities. Dr. King received several hundred awards for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.

These include Time magazine's Man of the Year (1963), and the Nobel Peace Prize (1964), for which he was the youngest man, at age 35, and the second American to be awarded the prestigious medal. He also received the John F. Kennedy Award (1964) and The Rosa L. Parks Award (1968).

Dr. King was a vital personality of the modern era. His lectures and remarks stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. The movements and marches he led brought significant changes within the fabric of American life.

His courageous and selfless devotion provided direction throughout thirteen years of civil rights activities; his charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, across the nation and abroad.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. King delivered the keynote address to an audience of more than 200,000 civil rights supporters during the March on Washington, DC (a massive protest to promote jobs and civil rights), which he and several other civil rights leaders had organized.

This remains one of the most pivotal events of the twentieth century. The highpoint of this gathering was Dr. King's oratory, "I Have a Dream," during which he expressed the hopes of the civil rights movement in words as moving as any throughout American history.

The many speeches, marches, and demonstrations of this brave freedom fighter created the political momentum that led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited segregation in public accommodations, as well as discrimination in education and employment.

Dr. King's concept of "somebodiness" gave black and poor people a new sense of self worth and dignity. His philosophy of nonviolent direct action galvanized the conscience of this nation and helped to reorder its priorities.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, for example, went before Congress as a result of Dr. King's Selma to Montgomery march.

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis to assist sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable conditions, Dr. King was continuing in his fight for equality among men. News of his assassination resulted in an outpouring of shock and anger throughout the world, prompting riots in more than 100 U.S. cities.

Five days after Dr. King's death, the President of the United States proclaimed a day of mourning, and flags were flown at half-staff for the funeral service, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia. During the administration of President Ronald Reagan, the birthday of Dr. King became a federal holiday of the United States.

In October 2011, a 30-foot statue was erected to honor Dr. King on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on the National Mall is the first monument to honor a non-U.S. president.

This year, the National theme for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration is "Remember, Celebrate, Act -- A Day On, Not A Day Off."

Hopefully, American citizens and people all over the globe will continue to remember Dr. King's tireless service in his fight for freedom, justice, and equality. It is certainly fitting and proper that we celebrate the birthday of a man who had worked so hard, and died so unjustly, trying to do his best for his country -- our country.

Lastly, remembering once again the theme of this year's celebration, let us not look on the birthday of Dr. King as simply a day off from work or school, but instead see it as a day "on" -- a day during which we can continue living out the dreams of a man consumed with the possibility of an equitable existence for all humans.

Perhaps Dr. King's lifelong dream merely coincides with the dream of every man and woman throughout our great land -- in other words, perhaps his and ours are both the American Dream.

Free Tax Assistance for Military personnel and families

2012-01-19T15:09:10-04:00

By Brett C. Conyers

Legal Assistance Attorney

The Fort Detrick Tax Center will open Jan. 23 to assist eligible taxpayers with filing both federal and state income tax returns. Active members of the armed forces, including mobilized reservists, military retirees, and their families are eligible for assistance.

Visit the Tax Center home page by clicking on the banner displayed on the Fort Detrick website, www.detrick.army.mil.You will need to download and complete the Intake Form, show your I.D. card, and bring a social security card (or photocopy) for each person named on the return.Follow the "what to bring" advice (also described in the Intake Form) to make your visit a one-stop success.

Overseen by the Internal Revenue Service and managed by the Staff Judge Advocate, the Tax Center is supported by commanders to promote readiness and the quality of life. Commanders have given a special detail to nine soldiers to serve in the Tax Center this year. It is not too late to serve in the Tax Center as a volunteer.

If you are interested contact the Legal Assistance Office at the number below or the Volunteer Coordinator at (301) 619-3171.

If you have not visited a military tax center before, here are some reasons to do so this filing season. First, services are free for eligible taxpayers. We estimate that the cumulative cost savings to the community in 2011 was more than $120,000. (This equates to an average of $262 per federal return prepared and e-filed.)

Secondly, you receive you refund by direct deposit into your bank account within 7-10 days after the Tax Center transmits your return. Next, you receive assistance from soldiers and volunteers who are certified under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program as competent to file basic returns.

Each preparer must complete a 40-hour course required by the IRS and pass four rigorous tests to be certified to prepare returns.However, the training and certification is still limited to taxpayers with low to moderate income.

Not all subjects common to the military community are within the scope of the VITA program. You may be referred to a military attorney in the Legal Assistance Office if your preparer encounters a subject that is beyond the scope of the VITA program.Even military attorneys are prohibited from giving assistance with matters that are outside the scope of the Army Legal Assistance Program.

For instance, anyone (such as an independent contractor who receives a 1099-Misc) who has income from a personally owned business or commercial enterprise will be referred to a commercial preparer to file a Schedule C.

This is because Army policy prohibits assistance with any matter related to a personal business. The one exception is assistance filing Schedule C-EZ is offered to family child care providers enrolled under the Installation Child and Youth Services Program.

For an appointment call (301) 619-1040 or visit the Tax Center. If you have any questions contact the Legal Assistance Office at (301) 619-2065.

An Interagency Confederation:

2012-01-19T15:02:53-04:00

By the Public Affairs and Community Relations Subcommittee

Special to the Standard

It is hard to miss the cranes, construction, and congestion as we arrive at Fort Detrick to start a new work day. The construction of four new laboratory and research facilities within the National Interagency Biodefense Campus has been quite apparent.

However, what is not as visible is the foresight and progress made by seven Federal agencies in building a partnership and collaborative environment here at Fort Detrick known as the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research (NICBR, pronounced "Nick Burr").

The NICBR is a partnership of seven Federal agencies sharing a common vision, "Federal partners working in synergy to achieve a healthier and more secure nation."

The membership includes:

* U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense

* National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

* National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

* Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture

* Science and Technology Directorate, U. S. Department of Homeland Security

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

* U. S. Navy, U. S. Department of DefenseSome NICBR laboratories are physically consolidated on the National Interagency Biodefense Campus.

Essentially, the NIBC includes all NICBR partners except NCI, which maintains its own campus on the Rosemont Avenue side of Fort Detrick.The Fort Detrick Interagency Coordinating Committee is the central hub of the NICBR governance structure, which is chaired by the Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison Commander (currently Col. A.J. Darden) and comprised of all NICBR partner representatives.

The FDICC meets twice a month and reports to the Executive Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Commander, U. S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (currently Maj. Gen. James K. Gilman, commanding general MRMC and Fort Detrick) and comprised of equivalents across the partner agencies, to include Dr. H. Clifford Lane, Dr. Craig Reynolds, Dr. Caird Rexroad, Mr. Jamie Johnson, Dr. Stephen Morse, and Rear Adm. Bruce Doll.The ESC reports to the NICBR Board of Directors, consisting of the Chair, currently Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, and her equivalents across the partnership, to include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Harold Varmus, Dr. Edward Knipling, Dr. Daniel Gerstein, Dr. Thomas Frieden, and Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan.

The BOD gathers approximately every six months, and while FDICC and ESC meetings take place at Fort Detrick, the BOD rotates its meeting locations and hosts. For example, the summer 2011 meeting was hosted by CDC in Atlanta.Collectively, the NICBR governance bodies provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure that the NICBR mission, "to develop unique knowledge, tools, and products by leveraging advanced technologies and innovative discoveries to secure and defend the health of the American people," is carried out.

To this end, all members of the NICBR embrace the core philosophy of "Trust and Teamwork," which is essential for understanding and respecting differences in each organization.

Reporting to the FDICC are seven subcommittees and two working groups: the Sustainment Subcommittee, the Financial and Business Planning Subcommittee, the Public Affairs and Community Relations Subcommittee, the Security Subcommittee, the Information Management & Information Technology Subcommittee, the Safety & Occupational Health Subcommittee, the Scientific Interaction Subcommittee, the Educational Outreach Working Group, reporting through the PACRS, and the Select Agent Program Working Group, reporting through the SIS.

A unique group in the organizational structure is the NICBR Partnership Office, which provides a staffing function and coordinating center for and under the direction of the FDICC. The NPO works closely with the subcommittees and working groups to facilitate execution of their individual charters and action items handed down by the governance bodies.

Importantly, every NICBR partner provides representatives to each subcommittee, working group, and the NPO to ensure coordinated interagency sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

Decisions at every level of the NICBR are consensus-driven.The goals of the NICBR are to enhance mission effectiveness of mission partners, to optimize NICBR as a sustainable community of scientific excellence while enhancing public trust and support, and to optimize governance to enhance performance.

In support of these goals, the subcommittees and working groups foster interagency collaboration, maximize safety and productivity of biological research and technology development, and minimize duplication of effort, technology, and facilities among the signatories.

These efforts are intended to improve the ability of signatory agencies to conduct research and develop products faster and better at minimum cost.Moreover, this collaborative interagency approach assures the achievement of individual agency goals that cannot be singly accomplished.

As articulated by the founders of the NICBR, "When you, as a scientist, get a new idea and can walk across the street to your neighbor to begin work on it in real time-this is the ultimate scientific collaboration.

"With the NICBR and the NIBC, a new era of interagency collaboration, cooperation and synergy has been established to reach new heights in our scientific and medical endeavors in support of the health, safety and well-being of the American people.

Together, the NICBR partners are building a path forward to achieve a healthier and more secure Nation.

Cutting Back on Drinking, For The New Year?

2012-01-17T15:38:22-04:00

Here are some strategies to try, and you can add your own at the end. Check off perhaps two or three to try in the next week or two. Then click List my choices, at http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/strategies/tipstotry.asp and, where you can print or email them to yourself.

Keep track. Keep track of how much you drink. Find a way that works for you, carry drinking tracker cards in your wallet, make check marks on a kitchen calendar, or enter notes in a mobile phone notepad or personal digital assistant. Making note of each drink before you drink it may help you slow down when needed.
Count and measure. Know the standard drink sizes so you can count your drinks accurately. Measure drinks at home. Away from home, it can be hard to keep track, especially with mixed drinks, and at times, you may be getting more alcohol than you think. With wine, you may need to ask the host or server not to "top off" a partially filled glass.
Set goals. Decide how many days a week you want to drink and how many drinks you'll have on those days. It's a good idea to have some days when you don't drink. Drinkers with the lowest rates of alcohol use disorders stay within the low-risk limits.
Pace and space. When you do drink, pace yourself. Sip slowly. Have no more than one standard drink with alcohol per hour. Have "drink spacers"?make every other drink a non-alcoholic one, such as water, soda, or juice.
Include food. Don't drink on an empty stomach. Eat some food so the alcohol will be absorbed into your system more slowly.
Find alternatives. If drinking has occupied a lot of your time, then fill free time by developing new, healthy activities, hobbies, and relationships, or renewing ones you've missed. If you have counted on alcohol to be more comfortable in social situations, manage moods, or cope with problems, then seek other, healthy ways to deal with those areas of your life.
Avoid "triggers." What triggers your urge to drink? If certain people or places make you drink even when you don't want to, try to avoid them. If certain activities, times of day, or feelings trigger the urge, plan something else to do instead of drinking. If drinking at home is a problem, keep little or no alcohol there.
Plan to handle urges. When you cannot avoid a trigger and an urge hits, consider these options: Remind yourself of your reasons for changing (it can help to carry them in writing or store them in an electronic message you can access easily). Or talk things through with someone you trust. Or get involved with a healthy, distracting activity, such as physical exercise or a hobby that doesn't involve drinking. Or, instead of fighting the feeling, accept it and ride it out without giving in, knowing that it will soon crest like a wave and pass. Also, see the short module to help you handle urges to drink.
Know your "no." You're likely to be offered a drink at times when you don't want one. Have a polite, convincing "no, thanks" ready. The faster you can say no to these offers, the less likely you are to give in. If you hesitate, it allows you time to think of excuses to go along. Also, see the short module to help you build drink refusal skills.

Whatever strategies you choose, give them a fair trial. If one approach doesn't work, try something else. But if you haven't made progress in cutting down after 2 to 3 months, consider quitting drinking altogether, seeking professional help, or both.

Brought to you by The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Army Substance Abuse Program, Fort Detrick

Access changes in store for Fort Detrick

2012-01-06T10:40:07-04:00

By Rob Sperling

USAG Public Affairs

The Department of the Army recently eliminated vehicle decals for entry onto Army installations. Effective Jan. 17, Fort Detrick will discontinue vehicle registration and the issue of decals throughout the installation, including those decals specific to mission partner activities.

To access the installation after Jan. 17, employees and visiting Federal Government employees will be required to show one of the following forms of federally issued identification including:

- Military Identification Card (military members, family, and retirees)

- Common Access Card (CAC)

- Federal Personal Identity Verification Card (PIV)

- Transportation Workers Identity Card (TWIC) - Fort Detrick facility or building badge

- National Cancer Institute Frederick (NCI-F) badge

*Note: Each Federal Agency issues its employees an identification card that meets specific guidelines. These cards are referred to as Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Cards and are accepted for entry through any open Gate. Personnel visiting the installation that do not have one of the previously mentioned forms of identification can gain access through the Old Farm visitor's gate.

There, they will need to present the guard with a government issued identification card, and if operating a vehicle, a state issued driver's license and valid registration. They will also need to have a purpose for entry and a destination.

Extended passes are available through the Installation Badge office for individuals visiting over 72 hours. For those veterans receiving care at the Veterans Clinic, please request the proper forms at your next appointment. If an individual does not have his or her identification card or any of the ones listed they will be redirected to the visitor's gate for access.

Additionally, contract personnel who require daily access will be issued a Fort Detrick badge upon successful completion of the vetting process and are encouraged to contact their contracting officer representative.

There will likely be circumstances not covered here; in that event, please contact the Installation Badge Office at (301) 619-4580/9624 if you have any additional concerns or questions.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during these procedural changes. New gate hours enhance access and ease traffic Fort Detrick is changing the hours of operation for several of its entry gates Jan. 17, to help improve safety and ease of use for all employees, families, and visitors.

The change will make Old Farm gate available for visitors and deliveries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This gate is the only gate authorized for visitors and deliveries, however, all others can still use this gate and any of the other open gates.

For those individuals with federally issued identification, the Veterans Gate will also be available 24/7.

Gate Hours:

Changes:

Veterans Gate - Monday ? Sunday 12:01 a.m. - Midnight (Federal Identification Card Holders Only - No Visitors or Deliveries Authorized at anytime)

Old Farm Gate - Monday ? Sunday 12:01 a.m. - Midnight (Visitors, Deliveries, and Federal Identification Card Holders)

*Only Gate Authorized for Visitors and Delivery*

No Change:

Opossumtown Gate - Monday ? Friday 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Federal Identification Card Holders Only)

Rosemont Gate - Monday ? Friday 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Federal Identification Card Holders Only)

Questions should be directed to The Fort Detrick Installation Badge Office (301) 619-4580/9624.

Fort Detrick Inducts two new NCOs into Audie Murphy Club

2011-12-15T08:35:17-04:00

Staff Sgt. Craig A. Wayman (left) and Sgt. Ester E. Collins, both assigned to the U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, recite the NCO Creed during their induction into the Fort Detrick Audie Murphy Club, Dec. 14, at the American Legion Post 11 in Frederick, Md.

The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is a private U.S. Army organization for enlisted non-commissioned officers only. Those NCO's whose leadership achievements and performance merit special recognition may possibly earn the reward of membership. According to FORSCOM Regulation 600-8, members must, "exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare of Soldiers and concern for families of Soldiers."

Chapel's Community Dinner brings warmth, holiday spirit

2011-12-12T09:51:02-04:00

By Sgt. Aaron Madasz

USAG Chapel

Every year, one week before Thanksgiving, the Fort Detrick Chapel hosts a Community Dinner for all the Military Families, Single Soldiers, and Retirees in the Fort Detrick and Frederick Community.This year was no exception.

With over 50 volunteers the Chapel served over 450 people this year, more than they have ever served before.

Every classroom, including one of their nurseries was turned into a dining area in order to hold all of the families.

As each entered the Chapel they were greeted with a warm atmosphere, partly because of all the fall decorations, mostly because of the smell of hot food in the air.

Every family was given a ticket which went into a basket for a random drawing held that same night.Several families were lucky to have their tickets drawn and won different prizes such as gift cards, thanksgiving decorations, and even whole frozen turkeys.

It is never a dull moment at the Chapel and this night was no exception. Asking several of the guests what they liked about this year's Community Dinner and the answers were almost all the same, "It's Free!"

Completely free seems to be the motto around the Chapel, so, keep that in mind when you hear of another event sponsored by the Chapel.

Forest Glen commissary announces name change, major renovation

2011-12-12T09:48:29-04:00

By Richard Brink

DeCA Public Affairs

The former Walter Reed Commissary is still open for business but with a new name -- the Forest Glen Commissary -- in keeping with changes the area has undergone since the Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed in September.

"Our new name reflects the name of the community that has remained since the medical center closed," said store director Michelle Garrard.

"We're now part of U.S. Army Garrison [Fort Detrick] Forest Glen."Garrard said she welcomes the name change as an opportunity to let people know the commissary is still open in spite of the medical center's closing.

In January an extensive renovation project will begin in the store, she said. It includes replacing refrigeration and freezer equipment with new energy efficient units, replacing lighting and ventilation systems as well as product shelving.

"We'll remain open throughout the renovation, and when it's done we'll have the look and feel of a new store that will greatly enhance our customer's shopping experience as well as our energy and operational efficiency. It shows our commitment to making sure this commissary is worth the trip for our customers," Garrard said.

Unique Research Confederation Unveils Strategic Plan

2011-12-12T09:44:45-04:00

By Caree Vander Linden

USAMRIID Public Affairs

Representatives of the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research, a group of seven government agencies with shared scientific interests, kicked off their strategic plan Nov. 2 with a special event at Fort Detrick.

According to Maj. Gen. James K. Gilman, commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, the NICBR is unique in that it includes four Cabinet-level agencies working together to develop common goals, objectives and strategies for future interaction.

?This confederation is about scientists, many of whom have been collaborating for a long time,? Gilman commented. ?Now they are co-located ? and they have a plan for how to continue to work together to defend our country against biological threats, either natural or man-made.?

The Fort Detrick Interagency Coordinating Committee is central to helping the NICBR operate, according to background material provided by the NICBR Program Office. Each partner agency has a representative on the FDICC, which is chaired by the Fort Detrick Garrison and currently co-chaired by the National Cancer Institute at Frederick; the co-chair position rotates among the partners.

The FDICC, in turn, reports to the Executive Steering Committee, consisting of the USAMRMC Commanding General and counterparts from the partner agencies. Finally, the ESC reports to the NICBR Board of Directors, made up of the Army Surgeon General and equivalents across the partner agencies.

NICBR processes are consensus-driven and its two core values are trust and teamwork. Following MG Gilman?s presentation at the strategic plan kick-off, each NICBR partner representative gave remarks highlighting their respective agency?s mission and collaborative efforts.

The NICBR concept was launched in June 2002, with the constitution signed in March 2003.

Since then, the confederation has expanded to include these seven partner agencies:

· National Cancer Institute at Frederick

· National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Integrated Research Facility

· U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

· U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service

· Department of Homeland Security - National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

· Naval Medical Research Center - Biological Defense Research Directorate

Dive Into the Pool...

2011-12-12T09:40:25-04:00

By Jim Shaheen

DOL Operations Planner

Would you like to start your New Year off by saving money, helping the environment, reducing traffic/parking congestion (which also make the roads safer) and decreasing your stress?

Vanpools now operate Monday thru Friday from the following locations: Waynesboro, Greencastle, Boonsboro, Chambersburg, Emmitsburg, Hagerstown and Martinsburg, WV.

Commuters save money because the program is partially funded by a Federal government initiative; they also save on gas and maintenance on their own vehicles.

The environment benefits by a reduction of the carbon footprint and emissions with as many as 90 fewer vehicles on the road, this contributes to the Army?s Net Zero initiative. Taking more vehicles off the road reduces traffic, increases available parking, and makes the roads safer.

Riders can also reduce their stress levels by sharing the driving responsibilities as opposed to driving on their own every day. Paul Hance, an employee with the USAG Directorate of Logistics rides in a Van Pool from Chambersburg and says: ?I think the program is great for people who live farther out of town. It opens up opportunities for employment for everyone.?

Hance estimates his savings to be over $200 a month. Another Fort Detrick employee stated that the vanpool program is an excellent benefit, they do have to give up some personal commuter freedom to share a ride but they personally save around $230 in gas costs alone per month.

The rider calculated based on commuting distances that they will save the cost of a new car every 5 to 6 years.

So what is holding you back from this win win opportunity?

Joining the program is easy and fast. The Van Pool program manager is John Orelski at the USAG Directorate of Logistics, he can be reached at (301) 619-2113 or email him at john.r.orelski@us.army.mil

Safety Spotlight

2011-11-15T15:20:11-04:00

The arrival of fall/winter means that our daylight time has diminished. When leaving work at the end of the day don't just hop in your vehicle and take off without allowing time for your eyes to adjust.

When coming from a well lit office to the reduced light of early evening allow time for your eyes to adjust before beginning the drive home.Leader emphasis on safety during holiday periods is an important part of effective accident prevention. Educate your personnel to wear seatbelts, not to drink and drive, to take rest breaks to mitigate fatigue, to drive defensively, and to obey speed limits.

Driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. should be discouraged. This is the time when fatigue strikes with a vengeance and there is an increase in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on the road.

A drunk driver can kill you no matter how good a driver you are. Ensure you drive defensively and that all vehicle occupants wear seatbelts.Highways are dangerous but they aren't the only hazards that kill and injure. If heat sources such as furnaces, fireplaces, and kerosene heaters are not properly maintained and vented, people can die from flames and toxic gases these create.

Because many people spend a great deal of time in the kitchen cooking the traditional holiday feast, a fire extinguisher is a must-have item.The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, so think safety in your travels. For your family's security, place packages in the trunk and keep a close eye on small children in congested areas.

Winter Driving Tips

1. Scan the Road Ahead This is good advice in any season but in winter it is imperative because it allows you to anticipate trouble and slow down in advance. Pay attention and if you see the vehicles ahead braking or swerving, this indicates there may be ice on the road or even a deer waiting on the shoulder. Remember that stopping distances can be increased by four to ten times when ice or snow in on the road and the best action is to slow down. By scanning the road ahead you can slow down gradually and remain under control.

2. Don't Rely on Technology The perception that all-wheel drive and traction/stability control provide the drivergreater control often times gets drivers into more trouble. All-wheel drive helps you GO but does nothing to improve your braking ability on a slick surface. It is traction that enables a vehicle to Go, Stop and Steer, and by spreading engine power to all four wheels an all-wheel-drive system can improve traction performance during acceleration. When it is time to slow down, much of the all-wheel-drive advantage is gone because the all-wheel-drive system usually adds weight to a vehicle it can actually make stopping harder. There is more mass to the all-wheel-drive vehicle, which can make it harder to control, especially when its limits are exceeded. Electronic safety technologies such as traction control and stability control can help correct driver errors but if the vehicle is traveling too fast for conditions it is going to end up in trouble.

3. Follow the Rule of 1-2-3 When your traction is compromised by driving on slick roads it is impossible to makesudden starts, stops and changes of direction. You must accelerate slowly, allow more time to slow down and come almost to a stop before you can move to the side. It is recommended that when you need to make a turn, count to three. First, brake to an appropriate speed, then release the brakes and steer through the turn, and finally, accelerate only after you have completed the turn.

Quick Tips

* Install winter wiper blades, which have a rubber cover over the steel bow that won't freeze up or clog with ice.

* Keep your headlights cleaned off because dried salt residue on the headlight lenses can reduce the light output.

* Have your battery tested to make sure it is delivering full performance

* Windows Fogging? Turn your air conditioning on along with the defroster- the AC will carry moisture out of the vehicle. Make sure your ventilation system is set to the "fresh air" setting so damp air is exhausted from the car and not just recirculated. Remove snow off your clothes and kick slush off your shoes before you get into the vehicle because melting snow adds humidity to the air and humidity created will fog your window.

* Brush all the snow off your vehicle before driving. Snow left on the hood can blow into your windshield and obscure your vision and sift into the ventilation vents and fog your windshield. Snow blowing off the roof may hit other drivers and distract them. Clear all your windows and mirrors to provide you maximum visibility.

Army Surgeon General recognizes U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity recent accomplishments

2011-11-15T15:12:47-04:00

By Carey A. Phillips

USAMMDA Public Affairs Specialist

The U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, visited the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity on Oct. 28th to recognize product development efforts aiding in the health and safety of the Warfighter and to convey his well wishes to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick during his farewell tour.

"It is a great honor to have the Surgeon General here," said Col. Russell E.. Coleman, commander of USAMMDA.

"As you all know he is a [Walter Reed Army Institute of Research] alumnus, so he has a warm place in his heart for basic research."

After a hearty laugh, Coleman went on to point out that as a former USAMRMC commander, Schoomaker is well aware of the important role USAMMDA plays in the advanced development of products.

"People are what make us the great organization that we are," said Schoomaker. "USAMMDA is an extraordinarily talented organization--one that I've always had enormous pride in representing."Schoomaker acknowledged five product managers with the Surgeon General's challenge coin:

Maj. Gina Adam for her work with the Field Assistance in Science & Technology team in Iraq.
Dr. Smita Bhonsale for her work at the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
Scott Doughty for his work as the deputy director of the Pharmaceutical Systems Project Management Office and all the years of service as a product manager and mentor to product managers.
Jaime Lee for all the work he has accomplished in the Medical Support Systems Project Management Office addressing problems in the field and getting solutions to the Warfighters.
Dr. Cliff Snyder for his work on the adenovirus vaccine.Coleman thanked Schoomaker for honoring the individual accomplishments.

"These folks all deserve the honor immensely, but they are backed up by a lot of other people," said Coleman.

Coleman recognized several groups for their accomplishments, including the freeze-dried plasma team, the adenovirus vaccine team, the AFIRM, HBO2, the Medical Countermeasures Test & Evaluation Facility, the Neurotrauma and Physiological Health Project Management Office, and the Medical Support Systems Project Management Office.

"Seventy-five percent of the Force in uniform came in after 9/11 knowing that they are going to war," said Schoomaker.

"To convince a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine to do what they have to do, go to some of the places we ask the men and women to go, then we owe them everything we can do to keep them safe in the first place through vaccines and other protective devices."

As Schoomaker left, he commended USAMMDA for its part in maintaining the health and safety of the Nation and the fighting Force.

Directorate of Human Resources meets multiple missions

2011-11-15T15:09:54-04:00

By Shannon Bishop

USAG Public Affairs

In the last issue of the Standard the Substance Abuse Program was highlighted as a major part of the Directorate of Human Resources at Fort Detrick. In the last part of this two-part feature, we will cover all of the services available through the Detrick Center for Training and Education Excellence, as well as the Military Personnel Division.

These programs and services allow active duty military and other members of the Fort Detrick community to receive job training, identification cards, and continuing education for military members as well as all the information needed for in-processing, out processing and reassignment.

"We are in a changing time in the Army and we need to grow our leaders. Our civilians need to be better equipped and educated so they can be ready to meet the needs of the Army. It's a testament to our dedication to war fighters and their families," according to the DCTEE website regarding the Civilian Education System.

The DCTEE handles all Army Continuing Education, Military Training and Civilian Training and Development. This division offers members of Fort Detrick access to computers in their education center if they are having difficulty completing training from their work station, or if they do not have access to another computer.For more information about DCTEE please visit http://www.detrick.army.mil/dctee/ or stop by their office in Building 1520.

The MPD provides military personnel support services to all Army units assigned to Fort Detrick. The division provides identification cards and Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System updates for all military service members, active duty, Reserve component, retirees, and their family members.

The office also provides identification cards to Fort Detrick civilian employees and contractor personnel. Identification cards and CAC cards are available by appointment only, a change that has occurred recently within the MPD.For in-processing, Soldiers must come to the MPD located in the Community Support Center, 1520 Freedman Drive, Room 139A, to pick up the Installation In-processing Checklist.

Their sponsor is responsible for escorting the new arrival to the various agencies for in-processing. When reporting to MPD, the Soldier should bring a duty position memorandum, permanent-change-of-station orders, military personnel file, medical, dental, and education records.For reassignment, Soldiers transferring to other installations must attend a mandatory reassignment briefing coordinated by the Reassignment Section.

During that time, the process is explained, and representatives from each agency involved in assisting Soldiers in relocating (i.e. ACS, Transportation, Legal, TriCare, Barquist Medical) will present a briefing.For more information about the MPD please visit http://www.detrick.army.mil/mpd/ or stop by their office in Building 1520.

FMWR offers something for everyone's recreation needs

2011-11-15T15:04:30-04:00

By Shannon Bishop

USAG Public Affairs

With a wide variety of programs and services Fort Detrick's Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation provides a plethora of activities and services to the Fort Detrick community, whether active duty military, their families or DoD civilians.

Within MWR, Army Community Services, Child Youth School Services, and the Recreation office provide a substantial amount of the services available. This article is the last in a three-part series highlighting the services available to the Soldiers, Families and Civilians of Fort Detrick from Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Part one of this series focused on the Army Community Services and the programs that are available to active duty military and their families.

Part two focused on Child and Youth School Services and how that program is designed to enhance the development of children and youth from ages six weeks to 18 years.

The series will conclude with information about our Community Recreation Office and its services available to the members of Fort Detrick.The recreation office has facilities and programs for everyone at Fort Detrick including all the Nallin Farm recreation, paintball in Area B and the library located in Building 1520.

The Nallin Farm Recreation area includes pavilions, a playground, horse shoes, volleyball, the golf driving range and softball fields.To reserve a pavilion in the Nallin Farm area there is an application on the Fort Detrick website or contact Harry Geeseman, Community Recreation Officer.The paintball in Area B, while it is available to everyone at Fort Detrick, is only available on weekends, for military training, for special requests and for appointments on Fridays.

"We've used the paintball area for birthday parties before, it's a lot of fun," Geeseman said.The library, located in Building 1520, contains a variety of resources that are helpful to almost anyone at Fort Detrick.

"We have updated reading material, and we have newspaper and magazine subscriptions," Geeseman said.The library also contains information about special events and reoccurring programs.

Some of these programs include the LOL Comedy Tour that took place Tuesday, as well as scrapbooking and dualing pianos that happened earlier this year. Also located in the library is the travel office, which provides tickets to local attractions, the movie theatre and can assist with planning vacations and making other travel plans.

The Community Recreation Office also includes services through the Fitness Center and the automotive craft center. The Fitness center has a gym, weights, cardio workouts, racquetball, aerobics and rock climbing.

All of these services are available to Department of Defense civilians, active duty military and family members.

"We are always trying to maintain and upgrade our facilities," Geeseman said. "We really encourage people to come out and participate in the activities and services we provide!"

For more information about the Community Recreation Office go to: www.detrick.army.mil/mwr/

Fort Detrick Celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month

2011-11-15T14:59:20-04:00

By Nick Minecci

USAG Public Affairs

Fort Detrick celebrated National American Indian Heritage Month yesterday at the Community Activities Center, with guest speaker Ashley Minner, community artist from Baltimore, Md., director and founder of the Native American After School Art Program, and a hoop dance performance by Pete Giove.

National American Indian Heritage Month started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., with the month of November now designated for that purpose.

According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, one of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y.

He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day.

Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House.

There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919.

Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month."

Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since 1994.

Weather delay announcements

2011-11-15T14:56:36-04:00

During severe inclement weather, please call (301) 619-7611 or (800) 256-7621 to hear if there is a delayed opening or closure. The information is immediately placed on these lines when a decision is made.

If the post is open on time, there is no announcement made. The information will also be placed on the Fort Detrick web page: www.detrick.army.mil.

Fort Detrick plans call for a decision to be made at 4 a.m., then the Public Affairs Office updates the phone lines, then calls radio stations. In addition to the one-hour or two-hour delay that may occur, this year the message will also state that no one is to come on post before a specific time.

For instance, the announcement may state that "the post is on a two-hour delayed opening for non-emergency personnel. However, no one is to report for work prior to 8 a.m."

This means that military, federal employees and contractors come in two hours after their normal starting time, UNLESS that two-hour delay would mean arrival before 8 a.m. This allows streets and parking lots to be cleared before workers arrive.

Please abide by the time and don't arrive earlier than announced. Cars in parking lots and on streets hinder the snow removal. Prior to leaving for work, call the Weather Lines to check for updated messages in case the weather situation changes from the time of the original decision, which sometimes occurs.

At 4 a.m., there may be no reason to delay, however, weather can change significantly within a short time.