Inside this issue:

205th MI BN

Volume 3, Issue 19

Week ending

10 June 2011

BN Info

MWR Info.

ACS Info.

Misc Info.

1-5

6-13

14-17

18-28

Special Points

of Interest:

BN Prayer

Luncheon, pp 1

Stream Clean-

Up, p 5

ACS Closure, p

15

News You Can

Use, pp 21-25

THE VIGILANT

VOICE

The contents of this binder are strictly for informational purposes and does not imply endorsement of any private or

commercial organization by the 205th MI BN, 500th MI BDE, INSCOM or the Department of the Army.

―All life is an ex-periment. The more experi-ments you make the better.‖

~~Ralph Waldo

Emerson

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 2

BN FRG 90 Day Calendar

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 3

May

June

July

4 May: C Co. CoR

6 May: BN Luau

10 May: FRG Boot Camp;

Fort Shafter @ 0900 10 May: BN FRG SCM

19 May: BN Golf Tourna-

ment

24 May: BN Community

Outreach—VA Cemetery

26 May: A Co. CoC

26 May: HHD FRG MTG;

BN Classroom @1500

27-30 May: Memorial Day

Training Holiday 31 May: BN Blood Drive 31 May: Welcome Brief

31 May: HHD TV Opportu-

nity Tickets go on sale

7 Jun: HHD Plate Lunch;

BN Classroom @1130 7 Jun: FRG Boot Camp;

Schofield ACS, Classroom

2 @ 0900

9 Jun Tentative: Prayer

Lunch; Hale Ikena; 10 Jun: Training Holiday

14 Jun: BN FRG SCM 15 Jun: FRG Bake Sale;

Tentative

17 Jun: BN Org. Day 24 Jun: Hail and Farewell;

TBD

28 Jun: BN CSM CoR

28 Jun: Welcome Brief 29 Jun: BN CoC Re-

hearsal/ FRG Award Cere-

mony 30 Jun: BN CDR CoC

1-4 July: 4th of July

Training Holiday

12 July: BN FRG SCM 15 July: HHD FRG

Bake Sale 26 July: Welcome Brief 29 July: PDA

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 4

BN POCs:

CH (CPT) Lee @ sang.lee4@us.army.mil

SPC Montes @ rachel.montes@us.army.mil

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 5

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 6

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 7

Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter Bowling Cen-ter is Participating in the National Kids Bowl Free

Summer Program from now until July 29th.

1. Register at the following... » Fort Shafter

» Schofield Barracks 2. Download Bowling Passes Weekly

3. Come and Enjoy Bowling Fun This Summer!

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 8

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 9

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 10

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 11

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 12

Check out What’s happening at MWR! www.himwr.com

Ceramic Mold Pouring — Stop by Schofield Barracks Arts & Crafts Center for a session of ceramic mold pouring, June 11 from 9 a.m. - noon. Cost is $25. Call 655-4202 to register. Summer Reading Program @ the Army Libraries — This year’s theme is ―A Midsummer Knight’s Read‖ and runs from June 13 – July 16. This program is for everyone in the following groups: Chil-dren 3-5 (Read to Me); children 6-12; teens 13-18; and adults. Read at least one book a week and come to the library for a prize (one per week while supplies last). Registration (mandatory) and packet pick-up begins on June 6. Weekly story times at all libraries will be held at 10:00 am and free weekly entertainment at 3:00 pm. See schedule below. Call any library for more information. Bunco @ Tropics — Put your game face on and come to Tropics Recreation Center on June 14, FUN starts at 6 p.m. All ID card holders 18 and older are welcome. Call 655-5698 for information. Texas Hold’em —Get your poker face ready and stop by Tropics Recreation Center on June 16, 6 p.m. All ID card holders 18 and older are welcome. Call 655-5698 for information. Schofield Barracks Mom & Tots Art Class — Toddlers (Ages 3-5) can create a fun project on June 16, 10-11 a.m. for just $4 at the Schofield Barracks Arts and Craft Center. Call 655-4202 to reserve you spot. Family Fun Friday — Enjoy FREE pizza and activities at Tropics Recreation Center, 6 p.m., June 17. For additional details call 655-5698. Father’s Day Bowling — Join dad for a game of bowling on June 19, 10 a.m. at Schofield Bowling Center or Fort Shafter Bowling Center. For more information please call 655-0573 (SB) or 438-6733 (FS). Open Water Diver Certification — Visit Outdoor Recreation for information on how to get certified to dive anywhere in the world! Take this week long class for $229.99 and earn your certificate. Call 655-0143 to register. EDGE Cooking Class — Keiki can learn something new with EDGE & Outdoor Recreation. Visit himwr.com or call 655-0143 for more information. Family Camp w/ Outdoor Recreation — Families get out and enjoy the island. Slots are limited so call Outdoor Recreation today at 655-0143. Vehicle Safety Inspection — Don’t forget to check your vehicle in-spection sticker, located on right-rear bumper. About to expire or al-ready has, visit your nearest Auto Skills Center. No appointments necessary; first come first served. FREE Fitness Classes — Soldiers and Family Members stop by Schofield Barracks Health & Fitness Center for a variety of free fit-ness classes. Visit www.himwr.com for fitness schedule.

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 13

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 14

Serving the

USAG-HI

Community

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 15

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 16

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 17

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 18

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 19

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 20

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 21

“NEWS YOU CAN USE” USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SOLDIERS, CIVILIANS & FAMILIES

June 2011

INFORMATION & REFERRAL:

Leaders Look to Protect Best MWR Programs

In this era of fiscal restraints, Robert L. Gordon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Community and

Family Policy for the Department of Defense, has pledged to maintain the Morale, Welfare and

Recreation (MWR) Program. In 2009, a survey conducted among MWR patrons illustrated that most of

the MWR Programs met customers’ expectations while a few areas could use improvement. MWR

provides services for our Soldiers and Family members and is considered an invaluable quality of life

program. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62755

McChrystal to Lead Program for Military Families

GEN (Ret.) Stanley A. McChrystal is back in the public eye to help oversee an initiative to support

military Families. The initiative, Joining Forces, is aimed at encouraging private businesses, schools,

non-profits, and religious groups to recognize the stress endured by Soldiers and their Families.

Because less than one percent of the US population is shouldering the burden of the longest war in

American history, the President is asking the other 99 percent of the population to understand there are

unique challenges that the all volunteer military services, and their Families, face on a daily basis. This

initiative is designed to get businesses, community, and charitable groups to connect with military

Families as an act of public service. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/us/11military.html?_r=3&hp

DEPLOYMENT & FAMILY READINESS

Red Cross Eases Access to Emergency Communication Services

Beginning June 13 at 8 a.m. EDT, service members and their families can use one toll-free number --

877-272-7337 -- to send an urgent message to a service member.

In the past, military families living outside an installation needed to remember the phone number for

their local Red Cross chapters for emergency communications, while those living on a military

installation used the 877-272-7337 number. Now, military members and their families can use this

single number to initiate an emergency communication, regardless of where they live.

For those stationed overseas, the three options for calling will remain the same: calling 877-272-7337

direct, accessing the number through a military operator or calling their local Red Cross station.

Through this number, Red Cross emergency communications services can put military personnel in

touch with their families following the death or serious illness of an immediate family member, the birth

of a service member's child or grandchild or when a family faces other emergencies. Additional Red

Cross services such as case management and emergency financial assistance also are available. For

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 22

more info go to http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=64080.

FREE CAMP FOR YOUTH OF MILITARY FAMILIES

Colorado State University has recently received funding from the United States Department of Defense,

Office of Military Community & Family Policy and the Department of Agriculture/National Institute of

Food & Agriculture to run a series of *mindfulness-based adventure camps for teens aged 14-18 from

military families*. The Rocky Mountain Adventure Camp at Pingree Park is a 4-day, 3-night residential

camp experience providing a variety of experiences in the great outdoors of Colorado. The purpose of

the camp is to enhance positive life skills, environmental stewardship, and mental and physical fitness.

Camp activities include outdoor adventures (challenge ropes course, alpine hike/peak ascent, geocaching,

white water rafting) and the concept and practice of mindfulness, i.e., the ability to attend to

the present moment. Colorado State University's Pingree Park is a comfortable campus located in a

pristine mountain environment at an elevation of 9,000 feet, 50 miles outside of Fort Collins, Colorado

(http://www.housing.colostate.edu/pingree/home.htm). These *FREE* camps are for teens who have a

parent serving in the National Guard, the Reserves, or are active/retired military from all branches. The

camps still have a few open slots in all sessions.* Camp dates are *May 31-June 3, June 6-9, June 21-

24, July 11-14 and July 19-22.* For more information go to

www.rockymountainadventurecamp.webs.com/. For an application contact Amy Quinn and provide

your name and mailing address at Amy.Quinn@colostate.edu or call 970-491-4626.

RELOCATION:

MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc. Announces Release of Military Relocation Blog

MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc. is a national leader of online real estate advertising to the military

community. The website provides a great resource for relocating military families to advertise their

homes, for sale or for rent, located near a US military base, in addition to finding housing at their next

duty station. Today they are announcing that it will expand its efforts to assist military families by

launching a military relocation blog. Learn more at

http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20110503/bs_prweb/prweb8333738_5

EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM:

Army Boosts 'Exceptional Family' Resources

EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide

comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, medical, educational and personnel

services to Families with special needs. Because Soldiers and their Families often report to a new duty

assignment before seeking community services, the Exceptional Family Member Program is now

reaching out to them through unit Family readiness support assistants. To learn more, go to

http://www.army.mil/article/53948/efmp---army-boosts-exceptional-family-resources/

FINANCIAL:

PenFed Offers Military Low-interest Loan Option

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 23

Soldiers looking for a payday loan have a nonprofit option that may be better for their pocketbooks.

The nonprofit PenFed Foundation offers a low-interest alternative that aims to protect military personnel

from predatory lending, get soldiers back on their feet and teach them to be more money savvy. The

PenFed Foundation created the Asset Recovery Kit, better known as the ARK loan, in 2003 as an

alternative to payday loans. Like payday loans, they are small, short-term cash loans, but instead of

charging around $19 for every $100, PenFed only charges $1 for every $100 borrowed. And unlike

traditional payday loans, the fees never roll over. To learn more, go to www.pentagonfoundation.org.

Dream Makers Grants Eases Home Ownership Costs

The Dream Makers Program offers grants for down payments to first-time homebuyers of modest

means who valiantly work to protect our country’s national security. You don't have to be a Pentagon

Federal Credit Union member to benefit from Dream Makers, and you can apply the grant to a

mortgage from any financial institution. Go to

http://www.pentagonfoundation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dream_index to learn more.

FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM

Survey: More Spouses Satisfied with Army Life

In a recent survey, Army spouses stated they are satisfied with Army life. Less than 25 percent of

people surveyed said they were ―dissatisfied‖ or ―very dissatisfied‖ with the Army way of life. This is the

lowest percentage in the history of the survey. In contrast, almost 60 percent of the spouses who

responded were ―satisfied‖ or ―very satisfied‖ with the Army way of life. Recently, there has been a large

push for Family and Soldier programs. Judging from recent survey results, it appears to be working.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/03/army-family-survey-spouses-satisfied-030711w/

Enabling Army Families to Reach Their Full Potential

In a world of conflict, Soldiers and their Families are always on the front lines. The Army Family

Covenant (AFC) was established to reassure Soldiers that the quality of life for their Families is an

integral part to the Army’s deployment abilities. The AFC is now in its fourth year and receives support

from the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama saying, ―The readiness of our armed forces

depends on the readiness of our military Families.‖ In its first four years, the AFC achieved several

significant accomplishments such as: creating 477 new ACS positions, modernizing 19,700 barracks

spaces, and conducting 2,600 chaplain-led ―Strong Bonds‖ retreats. In this time of economic difficulty,

the Army command stated that this is one place where continuing emphasis is needed. Without strong

military Families, our Soldiers cannot continue the repetitive deployment and return cycles that have

become standard.

http://www.myarmyonesource.com/syn/news/id/3b49f8de9c20f210VgnVCM100000e61e0a0aRCRD

AFAP / AFTB / VOLUNTEER:

New Look for Volunteer Management System (VMIS)

Army OneSource is pleased to announce the new look for the Volunteer Management System (VMIS).

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 24

We hope that the improvements to the Volunteer Tools provide you with an easy way to locate

volunteer opportunities through a state (U.S. map), country (OCONUS map), or Community search

(Advanced Search). The tab to enter your volunteer hours has been renamed Volunteer Activity. Please

click the link www.myarmyonesource.com and then select the 'Volunteer Tools' button located at the

upper right of the screen. To view or print your VMIS Volunteer User Guide, click

https://www.myarmyonesource.com/FamilyProgramsandServices/Volunteering/VMIS/VMIShome.aspx

To register for VMIS Volunteer Training, please visit our Army OneSource training calendar at

http://www.myarmyonesource.com/calendar.

AFAP Committee Resolves 17 Quality of Life Issues

LTG Lynch oversaw the Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) process that was held the first week of

February 2011. At the February meeting of the General Officer Steering Committee, 17 of 40 quality of

life issues were resolved. Three of the issues completed were in the Family support category:

affordable child care (Issue 566), Tricare coverage for children up to age 26 (Issue 632), and a policy

revision for initial entry Soldiers with exceptional Family members (Issue 639).

http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/news/2011/3/24/defender-6-sends-afap-committee-resolves-17-

quality-of-life.html

HEALTHCARE

Comprehensive Soldier Fitness: For Soldiers, Civilians and Family Members

What is it? The program, based on 30-plus years of scientific study and results, uses individual

assessments, tailored virtual training, classroom training and embedded resilience experts to provide

the critical skills our Soldiers, Family members and Army Civilians need. Why is it important?

CSF marks a new era for the Army by comprehensively equipping and training our Soldiers, Family

members and Army Civilians to maximize their potential and face the physical and psychological

challenges of sustained operations. We are committed to a true prevention model, aimed at the entire

force, which will enhance resilience and coping skills enabling them to grow and thrive in today's Army.

To learn more and to take the Global Assessment Tool (GAT) go to http://www.army.mil/csf/index.php.

VETERANS

VA & DoD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Application Helping Victims Connect

The PTSD Coach smartphone application was launched in April by the Department of Veterans Affairs

and DoD, It is helping victims of PTSD connect with important mental health information and

resources. Since its launch, the PTSD Coach app has been downloaded by thousands of individuals.

It lets users track their PTSD symptoms, links them with public and personalized sources of support,

provides accurate information about PTSD, and teaches helpful strategies for managing PTSD

symptoms on the go. PTSD Coach is one of the first in a series of jointly-designed resources to help

Service members and Veterans manage their readjustment challenges and get anonymous assistance.

Information on PTSD Coach is at: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp. More

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 25

applications from DoD's National Center for Telehealth and Technology are at:

http://www.t2health.org/apps. The mobile applications at this site are: PTSD Coach, Breathe2Relax,

Tactical Breathing Trainer, and T2 Mood Tracker.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE

National Guard Family Resource Finder

Serving in the National Guard can present new challenges to military Families. Whether it is financial,

emotional, household, or health benefits support you need, the National Guard Family Program strives

to empower you with the tools to maintain or become self-sufficient. To use our new and improved

Resource Finder, go to http://www.jointservicessupport.org/FP/Family.aspx.

OUTREACH:

Survivor Outreach Services: Supporting Survivors and Honoring Soldiers

Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) has come a long way in such a little time. There is no cause greater

than taking care of those who have lost a Soldier in service to our Nation. Our Fallen Soldiers have paid

the ultimate sacrifice and the Army is committed to their Families. SOS was established to embrace

and reassure Survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family for as long as they desire.

Our Survivors deserve nothing less.

http://www.myarmyonesource.com/syn/news/id/93ea03dae579e210VgnVCM100000e61e0a0aRCRD

SFAC / AW2

Organization Reaches Out to Wounded Warriors

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) developed a program that runs in conjunction with the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It provides transition assistance to separating Service members

who incurred disabilities while on active duty. The DAV currently has 40 transition service officers that

provide transition assistance at 144 installations. The DAV also provides claims assistance to disabled

veterans and in 2010 filed more than 250,000 new claims for benefits. They also employ nine national

appeals officers who represent disabled veterans before the VA’s Board of Appeals.

WIN A FREE VACATION

Imagine attending a luau on Waikiki Beach; golfing in the shadows of the Magic Kingdom; sightseeing

in a seventh-century city in The Land of the Morning Calm; sunbathing beneath a famous lighthouse on

the Atlantic; or skiing or hiking in the Bavarian Alps. One of those dream vacations awaits the winner of

the Great Getaways Sweepstakes, an Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Commandsponsored

contest that began March 15 and runs through June 15. Visit www.afrcresorts.com for all the

details.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

Save on your purchases! In honor of your military service, you can find regular and name brand

products at a special discount. http://www.armytimes.com/marketplace/discounts/

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 26

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 27

Volume 3, Issue 18 Page 28