May 2011 Volume 1, Issue 3

Commander’s Column Greetings fellow Sol-

dier-Journalists! It was an honor speak-

ing with all of you in our „Team-Huddle‟ at the end of the May 2011 IDT weekend. CSM Santos and I are both grateful to see how strong our team‟s communications, planning and execution have led to numerous successes in our unit‟s operations of ODTs, TDYs and HRF-WA support this year.

However, there is still much to be accomplished for the remainder of FY/TY-2011 to include ODTs Garuda Shield/Indonesia, Keris Strike/Malaysia and Talisman Sabre/Australia and our support to HRF-WA FTX (June) and ExEval (August). Those are major missions we

must continue to shine as „strategic corporals.‟

While we have just completed IWQ last IDT, please continue to be vigi-lant in your individual/personal work for deploy-ment readiness.

It is imperative that you COME PREPARED to the upcoming SRP in order to earn a GREEN in all as-pects of individual soldier readiness as reflected by your “readiness status” on your AKO home page. I encourage all of you to look at your AKO home-page and to check your status there and to focus on any improvements at the SRP.

Also, for the Record APFT is approaching and I challenge all of you to im-prove your performance

from the April 2011 IDT Diagnostic APFT. Start your physical fitness preparation NOW if you aren‟t already maintaining a daily fitness regimen.

Don‟t let the old-man „me‟ beat you to the finish line for the 2-mile run!

Additionally, we re-quest for assistance in the Family Readiness Group (FRG) ongoing coordina-tion and also preparation for our unit‟s August 2011 IDT weekend FRG events.

Please let myself, CSM Santos or MAJ West know if any of your spouses, significant-others or family members would be inter-ested in helping to coordi-nate our FRG events throughout the year.

We all sincerely

appreciate the efforts by Becky West (MAJ West‟s spouse) for all of her one-woman show efforts. Let‟s help her, and resultantly our entire unit, out with FRG opera-tions!!!! This is a call for volunteers?!?!

Finally, I reiterate with you 96

th Trp Cmd‟s Com-

mander‟s Policy of “no SUTAs authorized” for 4

th Quarter (Jul-Aug-

Sep). PLAN AHEAD, see RNCO SFC Llerena for advice on managing any SUTA concerns regarding the 4

th Quarter. Drive

safely to IDT this week-end, Team.

T a i l w i n d s , L T C Bo lante /Comm ander , 122

nd PAOC, WAARNG

CSM Corner Welcome-to another

weekend for the GUARD!! June 4-5

This weekend begins with SGTs time at 0730 Saturday morning. All NCOs are required to at-tend and must be prepared to brief their training plan for the weekend.

Saturday's event---medical SRP

Saturday first formation: 0800

Sunday's event---Product development and equipment maintenance.

Sunday first formation: 0730

Contact your first line leader if you have ques-tions about this weekend.

Thanks for what you do.....see you at drill.

May 2011 PAOC Journal Page 2

The FRG needs volunteers! Co-lead to help organize and plan FRG events and activi-

ties! You'll help come up with event ideas, ways to show

our appreciation towards our soldiers, and ways to boost

morale. Treasurer to help us keep the money organized! Respon-

sibilities include managing the FRG bank account and

tracking expenses in and out. Volunteers to assist on the day of an event, to help us

brainstorm ideas or to volunteer to run with a

particular idea... we would love your help as part of the

FRG team. The time commitment is very minimal. We plan two ma-

jor events each year (Summer Picnic and Holiday Dinner)

and we will brainstorm morale boosters that we can do

throughout the year.

If interested contact Becky West at (206) 913-3543 or

email her at beckywest@live.com.

Family Readiness Group Roundup By: Mrs. Becky West

122nd/141st FRG

Hi Everyone!

Here is an update on what

is going on with your FRG.

Similar to last year, we

will be having a summer

family event as well as a

winter banquet.

If you have suggestions

about event venues, activi-

ties, etc., or if you would like

to suggest additional events

that the FRG could put on,

please let me know.

COL Abbott has requested

that all FRG’s maintain a

phone tree of the Soldiers’

family members’ phone

numbers.

This is in case of an emer-

gency deployment.

We had a great roster of the

Soldiers’ information, but

with the advent of new Sol-

ders and the lack of spouse/

family contact information,

it definitely needs to be

updated.

MAJ Lepp will be coordi-

nating the gathering of this

information from everyone

during drill.

FRG/MWR Events: 4-H Summer Camps

This summer there will be a variety of adventure camps for

Military Teens through 4-H.

These adventures are available to military youth (both active

and reserve) between the ages of 14 and 18.

The camps are being funded by the Office of the Secretary

of Defense.

There is a $25 non-refundable Reservation fee that covers

the cost of the camp shirt and water bottle.

We will work with participants to help with transportation to

and from Whidbey Island.

For more information click here or contact Kevin Powers at

kcpowers@wsu.edu or 509-667-6540.

Disney military discounts Disney is offering special discounted rates for military fami-

lies. For more information, click here.

Beachfront Cabins at American Lake Lewis-McChord Family and MWR has private beachfront

cabins at American Lake from the Northwest Adventure Cen-

ter.

Book up to 3 months in advance for holiday weekends!

They are open year-round.

For more information, please view the MWR website here.

Online Tutoring The Department of the Army now offers an online tutoring

service designed for children of Army service personell. The

tutoring is offered for kindergarten through high school stu-

dents.

For more information, click here.

Financial Readiness One-on-one counseling is available for Soldiers and their

spouses (budgeting, debt management, credit counseling, in-

vestment education, general financial planning).

Location: Waller Hall, Room 400, 2140 Liggett Avenue.

Appointment Line: 253/967-7166

Kids Summer Camps

Open to children ages 3-16. Camps include: flag football,

cheerleading, T-ball, baseball, softball, bowling, soccer, wres-

tling, golf, basketball, and volleyball. Price ranges from $20-

$55. Contact Becky West for more information.

Military Mom’s Baby Shower The shower is for all expecting mothers and new mom’s

with babies up to 6 months old. There will be food, gifts,

cake, games and prizes. More information here.

Blue Star Museums This program offers free admission to servicemembers and

their families to participating museums through the summer.

More information here.

“Here’s to the Heroes” Anheuser Busch is offering free admission to servicemem-

bers and up to three of their dependants to participating theme

parks. Click here for more information.