DESERT EAGLE - USMTM, United States Military Training Mission

E D IT O R :
A N N ET T E
P .
M A N D LE Y
USMTM
David L. Commons
Maj Gen, USAF
Chief
OPM-FSF
Robert Catalanotti
MG, USA
Program Manager
OPM-SANG
Victor Petrenko
BG, USA
Program Manager
64th AEG
Martin Rothrock
Col, USAF
DESERT EAGLE
J A N - F E B - M A R
V O L
1 ,
I S S U E
2
E S K A N
N E W S L E T T E R
Joint Advisory Division DU Removal
USMTM Joint Advisory
Division continues to facilitate the removal of depleted
uranium (DU) contaminated
material from the Kingdom.
The battle-damaged equipment (including an A10
Warthog fuselage, Bradley
Fighting Vehicles and Armored Personnel Carriers)
remains from Desert Storm
friendly fire incidents.
Under the supervision of
CENTCOM and the US
Army Corps of Engineers,
contractors are performing
the work to conduct radiological surveys, remove the
Inspection of Bradley Turret
equipment and DU,
remediate the earth,
and perform unexploded ordnance disposal. Work began in
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier
November 2011 and is
expected to be complete
in January 2012.
By: LTC Michael Geeza
A-10 Fuselage being lifted.
PAGE
Can We Talk?
LTC Pat Garcia
Inspector General (IG)
USMTM
The meaning of
"communication"
goes a lot deeper
than most people
often think about.
I am often asked,
“What is the most
common issue brought
to the Inspector
General?” and I ask,
“What do YOU think
it is?” I’ll give you a
hint. It is one of the
most persistent problems and piece of
advice
regarding
change and management: It is the failure
to
Communicate,
communicate,
communicate! and
communicate some
more!”
“Is THAT ALL,” you
ask?
Well, yes.
THAT, coupled with a
disregard for social and
interpersonal human
relationships and you
have a disaster.
The meaning of
"communication" goes
a lot deeper than most
people often think
about. Communication
is about conceiving,
sending, receiving,
interpreting messages,
and confirming reception of the messages.
A failure at any point
in this chain is
i n e f f e c t i v e
communication.
Now, most of us are
pretty good at express-
ing our opinions (no,
really!) but how many
of us are actually
‘good’ and are ‘active’
listeners?
You know, one that
requires us to be in full
attention without
distraction (i.e. one
who does not continue
to text on the phone,
type on the keyboard,
or be thinking about
what the daily special
is at the ECC while
you are talking? You
know – the ultimate
multi-tasker – yes,
you…).
So, where am I going
with this? It’s actually
quite simple.
If we want to be good
leaders and effective
subordinates, we must
be fully engaged in the
performance of our organization as a TEAM.
That TEAM must be
based upon a foundation that promotes
effective
two-way
communication.
Two-way communication involves genuine
engagement (conduct
open and purposeful
dialogue), respect
(recognition
of
contributions),
mutual negotiation
(willingness to keep
the two-way line of
communication open),
and the desire to keep
that cooperative intent
until the issues are
resolved – whatever
that may be.
Yes, THAT is ALL.
If we can all demonstrate the genuine
regard for human
dignity and respect for
one another, and are
motivated to communicate with each other,
then we can solve
related issues without
higher level intervention, and you’ll see less
of me and the Office of
the Inspector General.
The Office of the
Inspector General is
located in villa 61-32
and may be contacted
by calling 448-8109 /
cell 055-501-7468
or via email:
pacita.v.garcia@usmtm
.swa.army.mil.
Further information
can be found on the
USMTM Sharepoint
site: http://
usmtm.kuwait.swa.ds.
army.mil/SSS/IG/
default.aspx
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PAGE
3
DID YOU KNOW?
Heroes to Hometowns
Heroes to Hometowns is designed to welcome home service
members who, because of injuries sustained, can no longer serve
in the military. H2H establishes a support network and
coordinates resources for severely injured service members who
are returning home.
The American public's strong support for troops is especially
evident in their willingness to help service members who are
severely injured in the war, and their ever-supportive families,
as they transition from the hospital environment and return to civilian life. State Heroes to Hometowns
Committees are the link among the military Services and Veteran's Affairs case workers at the military
and VA hospitals, the severely injured member, their families, and their local community. Support has
included: help with paying the bills, finding suitable homes and adapting as needed, adapting vehicles,
transportation to medical appointments, finding jobs and providing educational assistance, child care
support, arranging welcome home celebrations, help working through bureaucracy and obtaining
government benefits and entitlements, sports and recreation opportunities, and holiday dinners.
From: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/tf/heroestohometownsDID
College Grants Up For Grabs
The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) plans to award up to 3,000 grants to dependents of Air Force members
for their college education through the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program. Online applications for these $2,000 need-based grants are now available from the Society's website. Completed forms
must be received by AFAS no later than March 9, 2012.
From: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
Returning Home from a Deployment for Single Parents
Approximately 5 percent, or over 75,000 of active duty members are single parents. If you are one of the 5
percent, you know that in addition to the joy and stress that you feel when returning home after a deployment,
you may feel particularly anxious about the bond formed by your child and the temporary caregiver. Here are
some tips for transitioning back home:
1. Communicate openly and frequently with both the caregiver and the child.
2. Involve the caregiver in the transition. Forcing your child to suddenly separate can be just as traumatic as
when you left.
3. Ask how things were done while you were gone. It will help you plan how to ease your child back into your
rules and schedules.
4. Ask your child about his or her feelings regarding your "new" relationship and how life at home should be.
The changes in caregivers and living arrangements may make children feel as though they have no control
over their lives. Assure them that you will be a family again.
From: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/tf/toolsforfamilies/weeklytips
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DOLLAR$ and $EN$E
Credit Inquiries?
If you have pulled your credit report and noticed a number of inquiries into your credit history,
don’t panic. There are two types of credit inquiries on your credit report: hard and soft. You may
have heard that inquiries into your credit can negatively impact your credit score. The truth is that
soft inquiries have no bearing on your credit score, while hard inquiries can. The good news is that
the dip in your credit score caused by hard inquiries is only around 5 points on average and affects
your score for around 6 months.
Soft credit inquiries can often happen without your knowledge, and there are a
variety of reasons for soft inquiries: credit card pre-approval, potential employers
conducting background checks, your current bank checking up on your credit health,
and you pulling your own credit report.
Hard credit inquiries typically occur based on something you do or something you
request. Here are some of the sources: starting cable or cell phone service, applying
for consumer or retail credit card, or taking out a mortgage. A good rule of thumb is
to be mindful of who is pulling your credit report and how often. You can keep track by requesting
your credit report from each of the three credit agencies: Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. By
visiting www.annualcreditreport.com, you can request your credit history for free, once a year
from each of these providers.
Submitted By: CPT Greg Seguin
J8 Finance Officer, USMTM
It’s Tax $eason!
The USMTM Legal Office will have its tax center up and
running in early February. The tax center is part of the
military’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program,
which provides free tax assistance to U.S. Servicemembers and
their Families.
If you have questions about federal income tax filing or want to
file through our tax center, please contact the USMTM Legal
Office at 448-8106/8108 for an appointment.
Submitted by: Maj Renee Salzmann
Staff Judge Advocate, USMTM
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DEOMI
(Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute)
2012 National Observances
* Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
*African American/Black History Month
*Women’s History Month
Holocaust Remembrance Day
*Days of Remembrance
*Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
*Women’s Equality Day
*Hispanic Heritage Month
Disability Employment Awareness Month
* American Indian Heritage Month
16 January 2012
1-28 February 2012
1-31 March 2012
19 April 2012
15-22 April 2012
1-31 May 2012
26 August 2012
15 September-15 October 2012
1-31 October 2012
1-30 November 2012
*Holidays DoD Observes
From: DEOMI http://www.deomi.org
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
January 21, 2012 at the ECC
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PAGE
“Black Women in American Culture and History”
The 2012 Annual Black History Theme
From the American Revolution to the present, African American women have played a myriad of critical roles
in the making of our nation. Their labor and leadership, their motherhood and patriotism, and their intellect and
artistic expression have all enriched both the African American community and the nation at large. In slavery and
freedom, their struggles have been at the heart of the human experience, and their triumphs over racism and sexism
are a testimonial to our common human spirit.
In American culture today, many know of the accomplishments of a few prominent figures. From Phillis
Wheatley, the unlikely American patriot during the Revolutionary War, to Harriet Tubman, the leader of the
Underground Railroad, to Ida B. Wells, the unyielding opponent of lynching, to Rosa Parks, the mother of
the modern Civil Rights Movement, black women have been notable for standing against oppression. From
Gwendolyn Brooks to Toni Morrison to Rita Dove, they have distinguished themselves in American letters, and in
recent years, they have been recognized as actors and recording artists with Academy Awards and Grammys.
The accomplishments of these exceptional women are the expressions of a vibrant culture in which African
American women play a singular role. Their story is unique in the annals of American history. Black women were
held as slaves and middle-class black women labored while their counterparts were housewives. Subjected to a long
history of stereotypes about their sexuality, morality, spirituality, and intellect, African American women have never
succumbed to victimhood and have pressed forward to uplift themselves, their families, and their community.
To gain an understanding of the history of African American women is to broaden our understanding of a
people and the American nation. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History dedicates the
2012 Annual Black History Theme to exploring African American women’s roles in and contributions to the making
of America. Excerpts from http://www.asalh.org (Association for the Study of African American Life & History)
Events at Eskan Village
Writing Contest
Dinner Menu
Menu Option # 1
Southern Style Plate
Submit a word essay, poem or song addressing the theme:
2 pieces of ribs
1 piece of chicken
Macaroni & cheese
Green Beans Almondine
Menu Option # 2
Prime Ribs 8oz. with Au Jus
Thursday, 23 Feb 2012
1800 – 2400 Hrs
Eskan Community Club
Cash Award will be presented to the Top Three Finalists the evening
of
Twice Baked potato
Green Beans Almondine
Menu Option # 3
Baked Salmon 8 oz
w/ Mustard Dill Sauce
Twice baked potato
Green Beans Almondine
CASH AWARD:
1ST Prize: SR500
2nd Prize: SR300
3rd Prize: SR200
Top Three Finalists will also receive free tickets to BHM Dinner
and will present their piece at the night of the event. Winners will be determined by BHM Committee
Submit your piece to Ms. Annette Mandley at the FRC Building NLT 20 Feb 2012.
USMTM POC: Annette Mandley, email: annette.p.mandley@usmtm.swa.army.mil
64th AEG POC: TSgt Felicia O’Neal 050-018-4349
Ticket Price: $20 or SR75
Attire: Coat & Tie
All meals are served with:
Vegetable Gumbo
Small salad plate
Cornbread
Tri-pie:: Sweet potato/pecan/apple
USMTM Tickets POC: SSG Maria Alvarenga 050-482-0459 or maria.t.alvarenga@usmtm.swa.army.mil
64th AEG Tickets POC: MSgt Henriett Bouknight at henriett.bouknight@evab.afcent.af.mil
2012 National Black History Month
Date/Time: Thursday February 9th from 1900 – 2400
Location: ECC Sports Bar
Entry Price: $5.00 or 20 SR (Pre-purchase or at the Door)
POC: SFC Calvin Clark USMTM J3-OPS
Office # 448-8116 Cell 0555095861
calvin.d.clark@usmtm.swa.army.mil
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MARCH is: National Women’s History Month
“Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment”
Although women now outnumber men in American
colleges nationwide, the reversal of the gender gap is a
very recent phenomenon. The fight to learn was a valiant
struggle waged by many tenacious women—across years
and across cultures—in our country. After the American
Revolution, the notion of education as a safeguard for
democracy created opportunities for girls to gain a basic
education—based largely on the premise that, as mothers,
they would nurture not only the bodies but also the minds
of (male) citizens and leaders. The concept that educating
women meant educating mothers endured in America for
many years, at all levels of education.
Pioneers of secondary education for young women faced
arguments from physicians and other “experts” who claimed either that females were incapable of intellectual
development equal to men, or that they would be harmed by striving for it. Women’s supposed intellectual and
moral weakness was also used to argue against coeducation, which would surely be an assault on purity and
femininity. Emma Willard, in her 1819 Plan for Improving Female Education, noted with derision the focus of
women’s “education” on fostering the display of youth and beauty, and
asserted that women are “the companions, not the satellites of men” —
“primary existences” whose education must prepare them to be full partners
in life’s journey.
While Harvard, the first college chartered in America, was founded in 1636,
it would be almost two centuries before the founding of the first college to
admit women—Oberlin, which was chartered in 1833. And even as
“coeducation” grew, women’s courses of study were often different from
men’s, and women’s role models were few, as most faculty members were
male. Harvard itself opened its “Annex” (Radcliffe) for women in 1879 rather
than admit women to the men’s college—and single-sex education remained
the elite norm in the U.S. until the early 1970s. As coeducation took hold in
the Ivy League, the number of women’s colleges decreased steadily; those
that remain still answer the need of young women to find their voices, and
today’s women’s colleges enroll a far more diverse cross-section of the country than did the original Seven Sisters.
Condoleezza Rice– Former US Sec of State Professor of Political Economy at Stanford
University and Co-Director of the school’s
Center for Global Business & the Economy
The equal opportunity to learn, taken for granted by most young women today, owes much to Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments. This legislation, passed in 1972 and enacted in 1977, prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. It
has become the primary tool for women's fuller participation in all aspects of education from scholarships, to
facilities, to classes formerly closed to women. Indeed, it transformed the educational landscape of the United
States within the span of a generation.
From: The National Women’s History Project
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HUMAN RESOURCES CORNER
USMTM/OPM-SANG/OPM-FSF
Item 1 – Promotions
Let’s congratulate USMTM personnel who were promoted in the last
quarter of 2011:
MSgt Mills
CW3 Wright
Maj
Branick
SSG Gutierrez
SGT Easterly
Capt Morrison
Be sure to prepare for any and all upcoming promotion boards in the first quarter
of 2012. Additional information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on
the USMTM J1 SharePoint site, or by contacting your local HR/Personnel
Office.
USAF Boards
SMSgt (11E8) Central Evaluation Board
TSgt (11E6) & MSgt (11E7) Testing Cycle
Convenes
31 Jan 12
1 Feb 12
Recesses
18 Feb 12
31 Mar 12
USA Boards
FY 12 SFC Promotion Board
FY 12 LTC Promotion Board
Convenes
24 Jan 12
22 Feb 12
Recesses
17 Feb 12
13 Mar 12
USN Boards
FY13 E9 Selection Boards
Convenes
26 Mar 12
Recesses
TBD
Mr. Milton McKenzie
Director of Human Resources/J1
Item 2 - Personnel/HR Updates
HRC has updated the requirements for First Sergeants. The Senior Leadership Course (SLC) is now
accepted as the education requirement. Here are the current requirements:
Qualifications.
(1) Successfully complete a resident First Sergeant's Course (FSC) 521-SQI M conducted under the auspices
of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, successfully serve a minimum of 180 days in a First Sergeant position
and be approved for award by the Battalion Commander or equivalent level authority.
(2) Successfully complete the Phase 1 First Sergeant's Course 521-SQI M (DL) conducted under the
auspices of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, successfully complete Phase 2 Course 400-FSC (Resident)
conducted by NG Unit/Special Schools or Regional NCOES, successfully serve a minimum of 180 days in a First
Sergeant position and be approved for award by the Battalion Commander or equivalent level authority.
(3) Successfully complete a Senior Leaders Course (SLC) on or after 1 October 2009 conducted under the
auspices of a TRADOC Army Center of Excellence or Reserve Component equivalent, successfully serve a
minimum of 180 days in a First Sergeant position and be approved for award by the Battalion Commander or
equivalent level authority.
(4) In short tour/hostile fire area, successfully complete a minimum of 180 days service in a First Sergeant
position and be approved for award by the first General Officer in the chain of command. Soldiers awarded SQI M
under these provisions, who have not completed SLC on or after 1 October 2009, or the FSC 521-SQIM (DL),
should complete the FSC Course 521-SQIM (DL) at their earliest opportunity.
(5) Request for exceptions to policy for permanent award of SQI M may be submitted to Office of the
Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, ATTN: DAPE-PRP-CSB, 300 Army Pentagon, Washington D.C. 20310-0300. Phone
(703) 325-2099.
c. Restrictions.
(1) For use with positions identified as First Sergeant in grades E7 or E8.
8
HR Corner Continued...
PAGE
Item 3 – Newcomer’s Orientation
The United States Military Training Mission (USMTM) Newcomer’s Orientation goal is to ease the
transition to local surroundings and conditions, for newly arrived personnel. It introduces new personnel to
various Staff and Divisions (J1, J3, J4, J8 etc), as well as their functions. The Orientation also lays out the
Chief of USMTM expectations and goals, while explaining the mission of USMTM and its detachments scattered throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a tool that is vital to the successful acclimation and
integration of new members of the Eskan community. You don’t want to miss it.
Target dates for the first quarter of 2012 are:
31 January; 28 February; and 27 March
POC for this action is: PS1 Bondoc, USMTM, DHR/J1, at 448-8020.
Item 4 – Hail
Please take the time to welcome our newest members from the last quarter of 2011:
October Arrivals
SFC
SFC
SPC
Capt
Capt
Capt
LTC
SSG
Maj
MARTIN
CLARK
BOSLEY
HAMILTON
ROBBINS
WEBER
BUMGARNER
FREENEY
BREDFIELD
November Arrivals
CPT
MAJ
Maj
SSgt
CDR
CPT
LTC
MAJ
BRIGHT
LESTER
TISDEL
DEVI
FELDER
WILLIAMS
GORMLEY
FEAGIN
Item 4 – Farewell
Please be sure to wish a fond farewell to those who will be leaving in the first quarter of 2012:
January
Lt Col
SRA
TSgt
LSC
BARBER
HOWARD
LAMEY
SAN PASCUAL
9
HR Corner Continued...
PAGE
10
(Farewells . . .)
January
TSgt
Maj
GOLAS
HIGGINS
February
Maj
Capt
SPC
Capt
Maj
TSgt
CHENNAULT
OBRIEN
MAMO
MAJOR
DORRELL
WARD
March
MSG
MSgt
SGT
SSG
Capt
STURDEE
ARMSTRONG
GUTIERREZ
SPANN
ANDREW
Item 5 – Recognition
Congratulations to SFC Dixon from OPM-FSF and SFC Tovar from USMTM J1 for completing the USMTM
Beginner’s Arabic Course. It shows great initiative, drive, and a job well done!
Item 6 – J-1 Director’s Tip – from the desk of Mr. Milton McKenzie
Election season will be upon us before we know it. Let’s be sure to exercise one of the most important freedoms that we are helping to preserve and protect. Whether you are a civilian or military member, it is your
right to complete an absentee ballot and ensure your voice is heard. For information regarding any/all things
Voter Assistance, please visit http://www.fvap.gov or visit your local Federal Voting Assistance Officer. If
you are the Voting Assistance POC, the site has multiple tools and uses for you as well. Please be advised of
mailing dates for Absentee ballots. This is critical! Visit the website listed for a complete listing of all
important dates. Thank you and be sure to employ one of our greatest freedoms—VOTE!
Submitted by: Mr. John N. Conley, HR Specialist
USMTM DHR/J1
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East is Least - West is Best
‘Tis the season! For
many of us ‘tis the
season for travel and
typically travel very
quickly over long
distances and multiple
time zones. This very
often results in
circadian desynchrony,
commonly known as
jet lag. To understand
jet lag and what we can
do about it, we first
need to know what
circadian rhythm is.
Director USMTM
Medical Services,
LTC George Estes
Don’t nap! If you
absolutely must
nap, then do not lie
down for more than
40 minutes.
At its simplest,
circadian rhythm is
your internal body
clock - your sleepwake cycle. Most of
us sleep at night
and are awake
during the day.
But circadian
rhythm is much
more than that. It
is also the rhythm
of how your body
releases hormones
throughout a 24
hour period.
These hormones in turn
regulate just about any
other bodily function
of which you can think.
This explains why,
when you are jet
lagged, you are not just
tired, but also feel
crappy (a technical
medical term) , and,
you continue to feel
poorly until you have
adjusted to your new
time zone.
So how does one adjust
most quickly to a new
time zone? The general rule of thumb is it
takes one day for every
time zone crossed.
Live on the left coast?
At this time of year,
from here it would take
11 days or longer.
There are some tricks
you can use, however,
which will help.
When you reach your
destination, if you are
going to be there for
longer than three days,
start adjusting immediately. If you are going
to be there three days
or less, stay on your
original time zone (it
ain’t worth it to
change.) Set your
watch to the local time.
Take your meals when
the locals do. Expose
yourself to sunlight or
bright light when you
are supposed to be
awake and have it dark
when you are supposed
to be sleeping. Use
frequent small doses of
caffeine (two ounces of
coffee or the equivalent) when you are
supposed to be awake
and are dragging, but
not within two hours of
sleep. Avoid alcohol –
this disrupts sleep.
Exercise when you are
dragging, but, not
within two hours of
sleep. Don’t nap! If
you absolutely must
nap, then do not lie
down for more than 40
minutes. Concentrate
protein rich foods into
breakfast and lunch
and carbohydrate rich
foods into your
evening meal. (The
Argonne “Jet Lag
Diet,” available online,
may be considered. It
claims to prevent, or at
least mitigate, jet lag.
Dunno…there is research to support its
claims, but I’ve never
tried it.) Lastly,
judicious use of
prescribed medications
can be helpful under
certain circumstances.
Now, have you noticed
it is much less brutal
flying from here to
America than coming
back (ergo the title of
this article)? It’s not
because you had too
much fun on vacation.
(continued on pg. 12)
11
PAGE
Not surprisingly, at this
juncture, you might
suspect it has something to do with your
circadian rhythm, and
you would be correct.
Curiously, our body
clocks are set to a 25
hour day. We resynchronize them back to
24 hours on a daily
basis. When we travel
to the west, we are
traveling with the sun
and stretching our
already naturally and
slightly stretched
circadian rhythm. When
we travel back east, yeah,
we’re all messed up.
That’s not just a fun fact
to know and tell; now,
you actually understand
why it happens.
12
Live long and prosper,
By: Lt Col/Dr George
W. Estes, Director of
Medical Services
Eskan Village Community
Clinic
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm
Officials Announce Absentee Voting Guidelines
Federal Voting Assistance Program News Release
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2011 – The Federal Voting Assistance Program and the Military Postal
Service Agency has announced absentee ballot mailing date guidelines that apply to various
overseas locations.
Military members serving overseas and other U.S. citizens living abroad must consider mail transit times when submitting their absentee ballots to vote in upcoming presidential, Senate, House, gubernatorial, state legislature, local and other elections.
The 2012 U.S. presidential election, for example, will be held Nov. 6, 2012.
Officials recommend that absentee voters sending ballots from the following location(s) mail
them out no later than: Saudi Arabia - 10 days before the election
For a full list of absentee ballot mailing dates for overseas locations, visit www.FVAP.gov.
Military members serving overseas may express mail their absentee ballots free of charge
from any APO/FPO/DPO or American embassy and consulate -- ask to use the Express Mail Label 11-DoD. This
label allows voters to track their ballots at www.usps.com. The federal write-in absentee ballot is used as a backup
ballot. Thirty days prior to an election, if voters believe they’ll not receive their state ballot in time to vote and return it, they can vote using the FWAB. This ballot is accepted by all states from any overseas or military voter who
has registered and requested a ballot for 2012.
From: www.defense.gov
PAGE
FAMILY READINESS
JANUARY – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance
28 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
1130
ECC Sports Bar
FEBRUARY – African American History Month Observance
1
12
20
23
29
Safety Training (new Spouses)
Stress Management
Anger Management
Reintegration & Reunion
Family Teambuilding Class
Children’s Field Trip
1300
1500
1600
1500
0900
0930
Villa 63-59 Family Center
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 63-59 Family Center
Meet at Family Center
MARCH – Women’s History Month Observance
4
12
22
28
Stress Management
Anger Management
Reintegration & Reunion
Family Teambuilding Class
Children’s Field Trip
1500
1600
1500
0900
0930
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 59-26 Conference Room
Villa 63-59 Family Center
Meet at Family Center
For more information or to sign up, please call the Family Readiness Coordinator at 498-2417 or
cell 050 498 5271.
Eskan Family Readiness Group
Flowers
for
Valentine’s Day
Where: Eskan Community Club (ECC)
When: Sunday, January 29
Monday, January 30
Tuesday, January 31
11:30 – 13:00
Wednesday, February 1
18:00 – 19:30
Friday, February 3
9:30 – 12:00
Saturday, February 4
11:30 – 13:00
The Eskan FRG will be taking pre-orders &
pre-payments for a variety of floral arrangements
POC: Pat Minicz
Email: psminicz@aol.com
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14
The Holidays, Eskan Style
USMTM MWR kicked off the holidays with their annual Holiday
Bazaar featuring Middle Eastern handicrafts, holiday gift items, as
well as delicious shawarmas (always an Eskan favorite), along with
homemade breakfast burritos and cookies prepared by the FRG
members. A highlight for many was test driving “hot off the boat”
2012 Harleys, compliments of Harley Davidson, Riyadh. We
could not have done it without the tremendous volunteers from
USMTM PMO, Saudi MOD, 64th ESFS and 64th CE Escort Shop.
Despite unusually chilly weather, 110 Eskanites came
out early Thanksgiving morning for the Turkey Trot
themed, “Move your Feet Before you Eat,” sponsored
by USMTM MWR and the 64th Services. Walkers
and runners received a free t-shirt for participating.
Twenty-five 3rd and 4th graders from the American
International School of Riyadh delighted Eskan
members with traditional holiday carols, making
the Eskan Tree Lighting Ceremony a true home
town event. Santa Claus, Greg Marme, made a
royal entrance on his Santa Mobile driven by his
trusty Elf, Kobir Miah. Santa ushered in the
holiday season by checking his list, not once but
twice for those who had been naughty or nice.
JAN-FEB-MAR
VOL 1,
ISSUE 2 ISSISSISSUE
PAGE
15
The Eskan community displayed incredible generosity and support by
baking over 60 gift baskets of cookies for the 64th AEG deployed forces.
Santa Claus, Wallace Maass, made another
visit to Eskan during the annual “Breakfast
with Santa.” The ECC provided free meals
for children under 10.
Children from the
community enjoyed talking
to Santa Claus and passing
on to him their wish list.
Parents, as well as the children,
enjoyed the opportunity to have
their pictures taken with Santa
Claus.
Eskan Village welcomed
2012 with cheers!!!
Around 200 guests
enjoyed fine dining,
music and dancing, and
with festive décor,
welcomed 2012 in with
a champagne toast,
lots of noise, and well
wishes to families,
friends, and co-workers.
O’ Christmas Tree,
O’ Christmas Tree
PAGE
Places to Go and things to Do !
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17
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18
Eskan Village Fire and Emergency Services (EVFD)
Protecting The Mission Through Preparedness
Accidental
chemical
spill—Check.
Smell something burning
in your villa?
We’ll be right
there.
Not
feeling wellTake two of
our paramedics and we’ll
call you in the
morning.
Maintenance worker hurt
and trapped on a roof or a
tower-We’ll rise to the
occasion. Putting on a
Combat Life Saver or
CPR course, we’ll be
there to help show you
how to effectively treat
until we reach the scene.
People are the most
important asset of any
organization. If the
people of Eskan Village
and their facilities are not
as safe as possible and
cannot be rescued or
removed from harm, then
the mission is directly
impacted.
Eskan is very Alamoesque. It’s not like a
stateside department
where in the time of
immediate disaster or
crisis,
you
have
additional DoD assets or
Civilian fire protection
and
security assets
responding in minutes.
We need to always be
aware and prevent
incidents where possible.
When they do occur, we
must mitigate them as
soon as possible to avoid
large property loss or loss
of life. That is only
accomplished through
training and readiness.
Your Eskan Fire Department put in 4,769 man
hours in 2011, to ensure
maximum readiness for
various situations and
emergencies that may
arise. The training is to
ensure that, even though
we are in a deployed
location, we keep up with
National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) and
USAF and DoD Fire and
Emergency Services
regulations.
At a minimum, all of our
firefighters have to be
certified to the NFPA/
DoD Firefighter II Level,
be trained as Emergency
Medical Technicians, and
a certain number of our
members have to be
Paramedics as well.
One of the 911 centers
on base is staffed and
managed by EVFD
therefore, our firefighters
have to be certified
Emergency Telecommunicators (dispatchers),
where they are trained
how to handle 911 calls,
dispatch emergencies,
and coordinate with other
entities on base. The
drivers of the fire
apparatus have to be
NFPA/DoD certified
operators on that equipment.
EVFD has five major
areas of proficiency and
responsibility on base:
Structural Firefighting,
Emergency Medical
Services, Hazardous
Materials Response,
(continued on pg. 19)
PAGE
Technical Rescue, and
Prevention-Planning.
1. Structural Firefighting:
Training involves stretching
firefighting hose lines into
villas, forcing open doors to
villas, and searching them.
Some fire fighting tactics may
appear to be destructive, but
often serve specific needs. For
example, during "ventilation"
firefighters are often forced to
open holes in the roof or floors
of a structure (called "vertical
ventilation") or open windows
or walls (called "horizontal
ventilation") to remove smoke
and heated gases from the
interior of the structure. Such
ventilation methods are also
used to locate victims quicker
as visibility increases and to
help preserve the life of
trapped or unconscious individuals due to the poisonous
gases inside of the structure.
Vertical ventilation is absolutely vital to firefighter safety
in the event of a flashover or
backdraft scenario. Releasing
the flammable gasses through
the roof often eliminates the
possibility of a backdraft and
by the removal of heat the
possibility of a flashover is
r e d u c e d
significantly.
Flashovers,
due to their
intense heat
(90 0 –1 200°
F a h r e n he i t )
and explosive
temperaments
are
almost
always fatal
to firefighter
personnel.
Precautionary
methods,
such as busting a window
out, often reveal backdraft
situations before the firefighter enters the structure and
is met with the circumstance
head-on. Firefighter safety is
the number one priority.
2. Emergency Medical Services: We invest a minimum
of 72 hours per firefighter per
year to maintain our EMT/
Paramedics. We properly
package a patient with a back
injury, start IV's, read a 12
lead EKG, cardiovert a heart
attack victim, intubate them if
they have stopped breathing,
or measure and administer
medications to deal with
asthma, diabetes or allergic
reactions.
3. Hazardous Materials
Response: Every member is
required to also be a Hazardous Materials Technician
which allows us to utilize
specialized protective chemical
protective clothing and
advanced sensors and meters
for the determining the
presence of dangerous chemicals or chemical and biological
weapons. Training on how to
manage blood borne pathogens
is part of Hazardous Materials
Response. EVFD cross trains
with the 64th AEG's Emergency Management group to
be proficient with all equipment. This includes training on
how to deal with a leaking
propane or other chemical
cylinder, utilizing Infrared
Spectroscopy meters to identify an unknown liquid that
made someone sick, or a white
powder at the post office.
4. Technical Rescue: This
involve rescues from confined
spaces, manholes, sewers, electrical vaults, car accidents or
(continued on pg. 20)
19
PAGE
other industrial type accidents. We
train on proper lifting techniques to
lift a vehicle off of a soldier, civilian
or child. We train on rappelling to
include vaults and sewers to rescue
the trapped or ill, to rappelling from
the communications towers on
Eskan.
5. Prevention-Planning: All of the
Officers are also required to be
NFPA and DoD certified Fire
Inspectors and Fire Officers educated in disaster management,
human resources, finance and budget
and planning. This allows any
member of management to address
safety concerns or questions from
members of the public and puts more
eyes out there to discover and
prevent possible fires or other
incidents. We also perform fire
safety inspections on all base buildings and map them and form
preplans, so that with the turn of a
page, we can have an immediate
overview of what is in a given building and know what are the hazards.
A major duty and responsibility of
fire services is the regular inspection
of buildings to ensure they are up to
the current building fire codes, which
are enforced so that a building can
sufficiently resist fire spread,
potential hazards are located, and to
ensure that occupants can be safely
evacuated, commensurate with the
risks involved.
While we train for the unfortunate,
we also spend a great deal of time
through Public Education and Fire
Prevention activities to prevent an
incident. As such, all those training
hours ensure we are proficient and
combat ready.
Submitted By:
Capt Tim Hennessey
Eskan Fire Department
20
PAGE
Arabic Buffet
Casino Gaming
Belly Dancing Music
Arabian Attire Required
Tickets available at the Multi-Media Center
Tickets will go on Sale as follows:
OPM Personnel: 16-26 January’12
Eskan Residents: 27 January -03 February’12
General Sales: 04-28 February’12
Non-Eskan Residents must purchase tickets and must provide
Sign In Info NLT 18 February 2012
POC: Cherryl Schultz at 4982480 Ext 5785 or email - cherryl.schultz@opmsang.swa.army.mil
Editor:
Annette P. Mandley
Photo Credits:
Clifford Carroll
LTC Pat Garcia
Rachel Harris
Layout & Design:
Rachel Harris
Annette P. Mandley
Next quarterly newsletter - April 2012
Please submit articles, stories and pictures by 15 March 2012 to:
annette.p.mandley@usmtm.swa.army.mil
21