Don’t let inauguration events put you off your game: Practice vigilance, be aware of surroundings
As we celebrate the new year and gear up for the 58th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, remember to remain vigilant. Currently, there are no specific, credible threats related to ongoing and upcoming activities.
Recent attacks against western targets illustrate the persistent threat international terrorist groups and their surrogates pose. The vehicle ramming attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, Dec. 19 resembles attack tactics and targeting advice provided in recent and previously published extremist media and by leaders of foreign terrorist organizations that encourage homegrown violent extremist attacks against soft targets, such as mass gathering events, crowded venues and transportation assets.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI continue to provide guidance to state, local, tribal and territorial partners related to the current threat environment.
DHS also partners closely with the private sector to provide risk assessments and coordinate enhanced security measures with business owners and operators. The public may continue to observe increased law enforcement and security presence, particularly around certain celebrations and other large gatherings.
How you can help: Report suspicious activity to local lawn enforcement or public safety officials who are best positioned to respond and offer specific details on terroristic indicators.
Be prepared for security and plan ahead. In heavily populated places, be responsible for your personal safety. Make a mental note of emergency exits and locations of the nearest security personnel. Take about four minutes and watch a “Run, Hide, Fight” video that details what to do in case an active shooter threatens at facebook.com/jbmhh. For more information, call 703-696-3293.
TOG to rehearse at Fort Myer Jan. 19
Units from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), will conduct a final rehearsal of their troops from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 19. During this rehearsal, troops will march along McNair Road beginning from in front of Spates Community Club, travel north to Gorgas Road, left on Gorgas, then left on Sheridan Avenue to Pershing Drive, then left on Pershing to McNair Road.
Traffic along these roads will be delayed while the troops march in formation on the respective roads.
All are asked to plan accordingly. For more information, call 703-696-3290/3291.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., birthday celebrated
Celebrate the birth, life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Community Activities Center. Bldg. 405, Fort Myer.
The federal holiday commemorating King is Jan. 16 and has come to be known as “a day on, not a day off,” with everyone urged to take action to help others. Born Jan. 15, 1929, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent fight for civil rights. He was murdered April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, during a visit to support striking garbage collectors. He was 39 years old.
Guest speaker for the event is retired Army Col. Sylvester Brown, academic executive officer at the US. Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
There will be displays depicting King’s life, the civil rights movement and an ethnic food tasting. Everyone is invited.
For more information, call 703-696-8729/2964/6997.
Fort McNair dining support Jan. 15-20
The Fort McNair Club, the Army and Air Forces Exchange Service, National Defense University Farmer’s Market Café and two food trucks will provide food services during Inauguration week, from Sunday, Jan. 15 through Friday, Jan. 20 at Fort McNair. Most government agencies will be closed both Monday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. birthday and the Inauguration, respectively.
• The Fort McNair Club will serve buffet from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 17 through 19 (Tuesday – Mexican, Wednesday – Italian, Thursday – Caribbean)
• NDU’s Farmer’s Market Café will serve breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m., and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 17-19.
• AAFES Shoppette will extend hours and be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 15, 17 – 19.
• The Thai Food Truck will serve breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. and lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sonny’s Food Truck will serve lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The trucks will be stationed Jan. 15 through 20 at Fort McNair in the area of the U.S. Postal Service parking lot.
• Fort Myer Express hours will be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17, 18 and 19, but open holiday hours Monday and Friday, Jan. 16 and 20 – from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 703-806-4371.
ACS offices remodeling Jan. 17-19
The offices of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Army Community Services, located in Bldg. 201 on Fort Myer, will undergo remodeling Jan. 17-19. The work will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Some of the offices to be remodeled are located near the building’s front entrance, so access from ACS’s main entrance will be blocked. Detour signs will instruct visitors where to enter the building.
All ACS services and program managers will be available during the remodeling. For more information, call 703-696-3510.
Help children manage anger Jan. 18
Learn how to recognize triggers that impact a child’s ability to manage anger and learn effective ways to handle it during a class sponsored by Army Community Service Jan. 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Bldg. 201 on Fort Myer.
For more information and to register, call 703-696-3512.
AWOA meets Jan. 18
The Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter, United States Army Warrant Officers Association will hold its monthly meeting at the Fort Belvoir USO Warrior and Family Center, 5940 9th Street, Fort Belvoir, Jan. 18 starting at 4:30 p.m.
All active, reserve, and retired warrant officers are invited to attend. For more information, contact CW4 John Scott, chapter president, at 703-806-0408.
Prostate cancer support group meets Jan. 19
The Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at Walter Reed Military Medical Center the 3rd Thursday of every month. The next meeting is Jan. 19 from 1 to 2 p.m and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the America Building, River Conference Room, 3 rd floor.
Partners are invited. Military ID is required for base access to Walter Reed. For those without a military ID, call the Prostate Center at 301-319-2900 at least four business days prior to the event for base access. For more information, contact retired Col. Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or jane.l.hudak.ctr@mail.mil.
Conflict resolution Jan. 26
An Army Community Service class on conflict resolution will be held Jan. 26 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Bldg. 201 on Fort Myer. Learn to put the pieces together and how to identify conflict and ways to manage it in the future.
Register and get more information at 703-696-3512.
Baby Bundles 2017
Prepare your home and relationship for the changes that are needed when your new baby arrives with this class held in the Bldg. 201 on Fort Myer Jan. 27, March 10 and May 12 from noon to 3 p.m.
A brief overview of the labor and delivery process, newborn care and baby-proofing your home will be discussed. Individuals will receive a bag of free baby care and safety items.
For information and to register, call 703-696-3510.
Parenting with love and logic
Army Community Service offers a class on effective parenting without the power struggles called Parenting the Love and Logic Way Jan. 24 and May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon and March 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Fort Myer’s Memorial Chapel.
Get more information and register at 703-696-3512.
Historic Fort McNair courthouse open to the public Feb. 4
The quarterly public open house of Grant Hall’s historic third-floor courtroom at Fort McNair is set for Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This courtroom is the site of the military tribunal that took place from May through June, 1865 of those thought responsible for the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.
Everyone is invited to the open house, but guests without a Department of Defense, federal or Automated Installation ID must register to attend at https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=324153&k=016346087E54.
You can also go to the JBM-HH Facebook events page at www.facebook.com/events/668025386702624 and click the find tickets tab.
Or, if your computer does not allow you to access the registration site, email your reservation to usarmy.jbmhh.asa.list.pao-all@mail.mil. Full names of attendees are required, as well as a valid telephone number or email contact.
Fort Myer Thrift Shop announces scholarship application
The Fort Myer Thrift Shop has begun accepting scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 academic year. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and are available for children and spouses of US. Army personnel – active duty who live or are deployed from this area, retired or deceased.
Applicant must have a valid military dependent ID card. Dedicated volunteers and staff give generously of their time every year to raise funds for this program.
Information with instructions and application, along with a checklist, are available at the Fort Myer Thrift Shop website at fortmyerthriftshop.org under scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by March 23. Email questions to scholarshipsfmts@gmail.com.
Fort Myer Thrift Shop announces community grant application
The Fort Myer Thrift Shop is now accepting applications for community grants to organizations that provide services and/or support to military organizations, personnel and their families. Requests are accepte4d from 501 c(3) and government entities in this area.
Additional information and application forms are available online at fortmyerthriftshop.org under community grants. Requests must be postmarked by April 18. Email questions to communitygrantsfmts@gmail.com.
Indoor play mornings
Army Community Service has a play group for parents and preschool children Thursday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer.
This play group offers the chance for socialization, crafts, music and story time. For more information and to register, call 703-696-3510/3512.
Civilian employees need annual leave assist
Directorate of Public Works employee Anthony Vaughn, Logistics Readiness Center employee Katherine Gross, both of Fort Myer, and Joint Force Headquarters, National Capital Region and Military District of Washington civilian employee Rebecca F. Bedford of Fort McNair are approved recipients of the civilian personnel annual leave donor program. Due to medical issues, she has exhausted both sick and annual leave.
Department of the Army civilian employees who would like to donate annual leave to Vaughn, Gross and Bedford must fill out form OPM 630A at www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630.pdf.
If you are a federal government employee outside the Department of the Army and want to donate annual leave to Vaughn, Gross and Bedford, you must complete OPM 630B at www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630bpdf or www.opm.gov/oca/leave/HTML/formindx.asp.
For Vaughn and Gross, send completed forms to Donna Belk-Stafford at donna.m.belk-stafford.civ@mail.mil or fax the forms to her at 703-696-0879.
For Bedford, send completed form to J/G1 Civilian Personnel Division’s Mary McMillian at mary.a.mcmillian.civ@mail.mil. McMillian can also be reached by calling 202-685-3354. A completed form can also be sent to Carmen Reimer at carmen.q.reimer.civ@mail.mil. Reimer can be reached at 2023-686-0489. The fax number is 202-685-3429.
Death notice
Anyone with debts owed to or by the estate of Sgt. Andrew T. Campbell Jr., Able Troop, WTB-NCR, must contact Capt. John J. Walton Jr., the summary court officer for the Soldier. Campbell passed away on Dec. 22, 2016. Call Walton at 301-400-0268.
News Notes submissions
Send submissions for the Jan. 19 edition of the Pentagram via email to sharon.e.walker.civ@mail.mil no later than noon, Jan. 16. Submissions must be 100 words or less and should contain all “5 W’s”. Additionally, include a website, email address, or phone number where interestes parties can find or request information. Submission of information does not guarantee publication. Unless otherwise noted, all events listed are free and open to all Department of Defense ID card holders.