1. Community meeting - address issues, get answers
September 27, 2013
Home of the Arctic Warriors
Vol. 4, No. 39
ALASKA POST
Fort Wainwright, Alaska
RECYCLED
Recycled material
is used in the
making of our
newsprint
Weekend Weather BRIEFs
Community Action Council Vote Tuesday
Friday
Decreasing clouds; patchy
fog in the a.m.; light winds
Highs in the lower 50s
Lows around 30
Saturday
Mostly cloudy
Highs around 50
Lows around 30
Sunday
Mostly cloudy
Chance of rain
Highs around 50
Lows around 30
See TRAINING on page 8
an edition of the
17414330
SN/ BIRCHWOOD HOMES
Soldiers assigned to Alaska are educated and exposed to all types of terrain, conditions and environments, and continually
expanding their capabilities, knowledge and careers in the Army while working together to complete their mission goals.
Family members and civilian employees likewise experience challenges and learning opportunities. Communication and
working together is key to any successful venture and for many, getting the right information from a key source is a task too
great to take on alone. For just that reason, the Community Action Council is open to all post residents and employees to
attend and hear the latest in service-oriented organization programs and events. It is also a great opportunity to get informa-
tion straight from department leaders and subject-matter experts. CAC meetings take place monthly. The next meeting is
set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Last Frontier Community Activity Center, building 1044. Leaders from the garrison, U.S.
Army Alaska, medical and other agencies will share information on deployment preparation and training, support programs,
activities and events affecting the Fort Wainwright community. This is a great opportunity for Soldiers, Families and civilian
community members to ask questions and get answers in an open forum. Issues requiring further research and debate may
be addressed at the next meeting. For more information on the Community Action Council, visit the installation’s official
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortWainwrightPAO for links to council resources, video and more information or call
the Garrison Public Affairs Office, 353-6780. (File photo by Brian Schlumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)
Staff Sgt. Trish McMurphy,
U.S. Army Alaska PAO
The 472nd Military Police Company
participated in a site security simulation
as part of a training and certification ex-
ercise in preparation for an upcoming
deployment.
The exercise gave Soldiers and their
leadership an opportunity to apply their
military occupational specialty skills and
rehearse military drills in a simulated
theater of operations.
The Soldiers planned, organized and
ran missions on several scenarios that
could possibly occur while deployed.
“MPs are always ready to do any of
our functions, from law and order, area
security to detainee operation, we just
have to train up to be ready for what-
ever is asked for,” said Staff Sgt. John
Lum, a squad leader assigned to the 472
Military Police Company.
“We are training on different tasks
on area security,” Lum said. “We can be
called to provide security to (Forward
Operation Bases) or any location the
Army deems needs to be secured.
“We are doing everything from checks
and maintenance on our weapons and
equipment to make sure it is operable
and training on anything from first aid,
reacting to contact and any skill level
tasks that we may come under,” he said.
Armed with various weapons includ-
ing M4 carbine rifles, M240 machine
guns, body armor, night vision devices
and motion-sensor alarms, the Soldiers
guarded their posts and communicated
with each other consistently throughout
Jim Garamone,
American Forces Press Service
Although Defense Department offi-
cials believe a government shutdown can
be avoided when the new fiscal year be-
gins Tuesday, they want DOD employees
to be prepared for the possibility, Deputy
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a
memo issued to the workforce Monday.
The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, and Con-
gress has not passed a budget. If Con-
gress does not approve a budget or pass
a continuing resolution, the portions of
the government funded via appropriated
funds will be forced to close.
“The department remains hopeful
that a government shutdown will be
averted,” Carter wrote in the memo.
“The administration strongly believes
that a lapse in funding should not occur
and is working with Congress to find a
solution.”
Congress still can prevent a lapse in
appropriations, but “prudent manage-
ment requires that we be prepared for
all contingencies, including the possibil-
ity that a lapse could occur at the end of
the month,” the deputy secretary wrote.
Sujey “Savy” Cuadrado, army reservist and wife of Sgt. Misael Cuadrado, B Troop,
5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division, is cheered on by her two children as she approached the finish line during
the 51st annual Equinox Marathon Sept. 21. (Photo by Capt. Patrick Sawicki/USARAK
PAO)
472nd Military
Police Company
prepares for
deployment
Encouragement at the Equinox
See MEMO on page 8
Sujey “Savy” Cuadrado, Army reservist and wife of Sgt. Misael Cuadrado, B Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st
Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, is cheered on by her two children as she approached the finish line
during the 51st annual Equinox Marathon Sept. 21. (Photo by Capt. Patrick Sawicki/USARAK PAO) See story, page 3.
Memo prepares
DOD employees
for government
shutdown
Wednesday, 10 a.m.
LFCAC, building 1044
All are welcome
Municipal elections
LFCAC, building 1044
Open for voting 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

2. Commentary
September 27, 2013 ALASKA POST
ALASKA POSTHome of the Arctic Warriors
EDITORIAL STAFF
Fort Wainwright Garrison Commander
Col. Ronald M. Johnson
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright
PAO
Linda Douglass
Command Information Chief
Connie Storch
Editor
Trish Muntean
Staff writers
Brian Schlumbohm
Allen Shaw
Contributors
Sgt. Michael Blalack, 1-25th SBCT
Staff Sgt. Trish McMurphy, USARAK PAO
Capt. Patrick Sawicki, USARAK PAO
The ALASKA POST is authorized by Army
Regulation 360-1 and is published by the Fairbanks
Daily News-Miner, a private firm in no way connected
with the U.S. Army, and is under exclusive written
contract. Contents of the ALASKA POST are not
necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by,
the Department of the Army. The editorial content of
this publication is the responsibility of the U.S. Army
Garrison Ft. Wainwright Public Affairs Office. The
ALASKA POST welcomes responsible comments
from its readers and will publish letters, articles
or photos submitted at least one week prior to the
next publication. The ALASKA POST reserves the
right to edit or reject submissions. All submitted
material will become official Army property unless
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shall be made available for purchase, use or
patronage without regard to race, color, religion,
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factor of the purchaser, user or patron. The Editorial
office is located on Ft. Wainwright in Building 1047
#1; Mailing address is Public Affairs Office, 1060
Gaffney Road, 5900, Ft. Wainwright, AK 99703. Call
353-6779 or 353-6701, or send emails to pao.fwa@
us.army.mil
The ALASKA POST – Home of the Arctic Warriors
Trish Muntean,
Fort Wainwright PAO
Editor’s note: Septem-
ber is Suicide Prevention
Month and as part of the
mission to improve readi-
ness through development
and enhancement of the
Army Suicide Prevention
Program the Alaska Post
will be providing informa-
tion on activities and assets
available to Soldiers, Fam-
ily members and Depart-
ment of the Army civilians.
What I want people to know
is that while the pain may
end for you when you take
your life, it never ends for
the family and friends you
leave behind.
On March 1, 2000, my
brother, John Michael,
chose to end his life and
committed suicide. Even
13 years later the memo-
ries are as clear to me as if
it happened yesterday.
John ended his life on
a Wednesday night at his
home in New Castle, Pa.
I was living in Weisbaden,
Germany, at the time. I
woke up Thursday morn-
ing feeling like something
was wrong, but just could
not figure out was both-
ering me. I went to work
and came home at lunch
time to call my mother,
just to make sure that ev-
erything was OK at home.
As soon as she answered
the phone I knew some-
thing was wrong, but I
did not know my life was
about to change forever.
She wanted to know
if my husband, Ralph,
was with me. I guess
she didn’t want me to be
alone when she told me.
I told her no, but forced
the issue, insisting that
she tell me, thinking
whatever it was, I could
handle it. I was wrong.
She did and I can still
hear her voice in my head
and her exact words even
now: “Honey, John took
his life last night.” My
brain just wouldn’t pro-
cess what she had told me
and she had to tell me two
more times before I finally
understood.
My first reactions were
a mix of shock, disbelief
and anger, and with it
came the use of language I
consider inappropriate for
any occasion and I found
myself using it on the
phone with my mother.
Just a few minutes lat-
er, I hung up the phone,
telling her that I had to
get hold of my husband
and that I would call her
back. I didn’t want her to
know I was throwing up
in the kitchen sink.
Ralph, who never came
home for lunch, had for-
gotten something that
morning and did come
home that day. He found
me sitting on the kitchen
floor, crying and shak-
ing. He thought some-
thing had happened to
our child or to me. I just
couldn’t get the words
out to tell him. All I could
do was shake my head in
response to the questions
he was asking me.
A co-worker called me
when I did not come back
from lunch, wondering
why I had not come back
to work. I told her my
brother had died and to
please tell my boss and re-
lay a message to my friend
Trina, asking her to pick
up my son after school,
but not to tell her why, just
that I would get him later.
It took me a while to
calm down and call my
mother back, but I had to
so I could get the details
on the funeral arrange-
ments and we could ar-
range flights home. I had
to explain to her about
how the military works
and why she had to send
a Red Cross message. She
just didn’t get it and I lost
my temper with her try-
ing to explain it.
Later that afternoon I
started having chest pains
and problems breathing.
Both Ralph and I thought
I was having a heart at-
tack and off we went
to the doctor. All I kept
thinking was that sure-
ly God wouldn’t let my
mother lose two children
in such a short amount of
time. It turned out that I
wasn’t having a heart at-
tack, but a panic attack.
Scary. For me and my
husband. I never did tell
my mother and I won’t be
sharing this commentary
with her.
We told our son, Da-
vid, about John’s death
later that night. Without
a doubt, it was one of
the most difficult things I
have ever done in my life.
How do you tell your kid
that his uncle, someone he
worshipped, has died, let
alone that he committed
suicide? We decided to do
it the way we talked about
everything else. Straight
forward and to the point.
Yeah, right. I got as far as
“kiddo, I have some really
bad news for you, your
Uncle John” and couldn’t
get the rest of the words
out. Just the look on his
face made it impossible for
me to continue speaking.
Ralph had to finish telling
him. I just couldn’t speak.
AfterDavidwenttobed,
I called my Aunt Carol, to
ask questions I needed an-
swers to, but just couldn’t
bring myself to ask my
mother. What method did
he use to complete the act?
Who found him? Was his
body so badly destroyed
thatwewouldhavetohave
a closed casket funeral?
How was my mother do-
ing? Had my sisters gotten
home yet? How was Linda
(John’s significant other)?
I spent the next day
trying to get ready to fly
home. I packed and un-
packed several times. I
just couldn’t figure out
what we needed. My
friend Trina finally did
my packing for me. She
also took David shopping,
because he didn’t have
any clothes appropriate
for the funeral. Ralph
had to find a kennel and
then take our dog, which
was already stressed be-
cause of the way we were
acting, to a place he had
never been for two weeks.
Seems silly now, but it
was so upsetting for both
of us at the time.
We flew home on Sat-
urday morning. My sis-
ter Debbie met us at the
airport. She didn’t hug
any of us, just talked to us
like we had come in for a
holiday. She told me later
that she was afraid if we
had any physical contact
or spoke of John’s death
that we would fall apart
right there in the airport.
We went straight to my
mother’s house and Linda
was just leaving when we
got there. She and my
mother were standing
there hugging and crying.
My mother’s pastor was
there. He wanted to pray
with us. I had no desire to
talk to God right then. My
brother was dead, I wasn’t
even sure God existed
at that moment. But my
mother is a woman of faith
and I knew it would make
her feel better so I sat
there with my head bowed
thinking very unchristian-
like thoughts while he
went on and on for what
seemed like forever.
The next day was the
viewing. The funeral
home let us come in early
so we could spend some
time alone with John be-
fore other folks arrived. It
was such a shock to come
in and see my brother,
the guy who couldn’t
sit still or shut up, lying
there, silent and unmov-
ing. None of us spoke for
a few moments and I was
the first to speak, asking
my brother, as if he could
hear me “Oh John, what
have you done now?”
My mother commented
that John did not look like
himself, that she had giv-
en the funeral home a pic-
ture of him, but they had
gotten his hair wrong. I
was standing at the casket
while Deb tried to rear-
range it. We soon figured
out why his hair was the
way it was, it was to cover
the exit wound from the
gunshot that killed him.
The visitation was a
long, difficult day. I saw
family I hadn’t seen in
forever. A lot of them I
was surprised to see. John
probably would have been
too. He had made a mess
of his life years ago, and
hadn’t had contact with
some of these folks since
he was a teenager. I kept
thinking “what were they
doing here? They hadn’t
wanted anything to do
with John while he was
alive, but they were here
now?” After stopping by
the casket and extending
their sympathies to my
parents, some of them sat
and visited. They talked
and they laughed as if
they were at a family re-
union, not at a funeral
home. I found it hard to be
civil when they asked me
about Germany, and tried
to catch up with what had
happened in my life since
they had seen me last.
How could they expect me
to make small talk when
my brother was lying over
in the corner in a box?
I wanted to spend time
talking to my brother’s
friendsthoughandrushed
to them when they came
through the door. I want-
ed to know when they had
last seen John, what they
had talked about, how
he seemed. I desperately
wanted to know about
John’s last days, but they
couldn’t tell me anything.
John had not been in
touch with any of them
for a long time.
John’s funeral was the
next day. When I woke up,
I actually had a minute
that I forgot. But once I
opened my eyes and saw
I was at Aunt Carol’s,
not home in Germany, I
remembered and all the
pain came rushing back.
That morning, before
we went into the chapel
and they closed the casket
I put some pictures of us
siblings and of his nieces
and nephews in John’s
pocket so he wouldn’t be
alone. I wanted to put his
coffee cup and some ciga-
rettes in there, but for
some reason my mother
objected, so I didn’t. I
wish to this day I had
asked the funeral director
to put them in after we
left the room and before
they closed the casket.
When the service was
over they carried the cas-
ket to the hearse. We fol-
lowed it to the cemetery
while police held traffic
at red lights for the pro-
cession. My sisters and I
rode in the car with my
parents and we joked that
this was probably the
first time John ever ran
a red light and didn’t get
a ticket. We were shocked
to find ourselves laughing
and fell silent again.
During the funeral I
had the thought that if
I could just get through
it, it would get better. I
wouldn’t have believed
the pain could actually get
worse, but it did. Watch-
ing the coffin that held
my brother being lowered
into the ground made me
sick to my stomach. Walk-
ing away from the grave,
leaving him alone, I can’t
even describe the pain.
I went to John’s grave
several times before re-
turning to Germany. I sat
beside it for hours on end,
talking to him, frequently
crying and often yelling at
him. I said a lot of mean,
ugly things. I told him I
would never forgive him
for leaving us this way,
not giving us a chance to
say good-bye, doing this
to my mother right before
her 60th birthday and so
much more. I was deter-
mined to say it all before
I went home.
Ralph had to leave for
a field problem a day after
we got back to Germany,
Dave went back to school
and I went back to work.
I came back expecting the
love and support of my
friends and co-workers;
instead it seemed as if
I had the plague. Like if
theyacknowledgedJohn’s
death, suicide would hap-
pen in their family. I can’t
explain it, but have ex-
perienced it many times
through the years. People
just don’t know what to
say to someone who has
lost a loved one to suicide.
I expect I will experience
the same thing after this
article comes out, but
that’s ok. I have learned
to deal.
I wondered if I was just
being overly sensitive
and had tried to come
back to work too soon. I
had. The first classroom I
was working in that day
had a new student. His
name was John Michael.
I have no idea why that
was so upsetting to me,
but it was. I excused my-
self, and made it out of
the classroom before the
tears came. A short time
later I walked out of the
school and never went
back again.
The next few months
were hell for me and my
family. I fell into a hor-
rible depression and no
matter what drugs the
doctors gave me I couldn’t
seem to snap out of it. My
house was a disaster, my
family had to take care
of the laundry and cook-
ing if they wanted clean
clothes or something to
eat. There were days I
couldn’t even get out of
bed to shower and dress.
I don’t know how I fi-
nally managed to climb
out of that dark hole, but
eventually I did. But life
didn’t get any better for
my family. I was still in
a tremendous amount of
pain and I wanted every-
one around me to hurt as
much as I did. I started
engaging in risky behav-
ior and did things to hurt
the very people I loved
the most. I started hav-
ing marital problems and
my child had problems in
school, with his grades
and his behavior, some-
thing that had never been
an issue.
It took a year before I
was finally able to get my
act together with the help
of medication, counseling
and support from others
who had lost a loved one to
suicide. It was a long road
back and to this day my
family still hasn’t recovered
from the damage. I don’t
know that I ever will.
Suicide is sometimes
referred to as a perma-
nent solution to a tempo-
rary problem. People con-
templating suicide need
to know while the pain
of the individual may be
ended, the suffering of
family and friends just
begins and for them the
agony never ends.
John Muntean: A single pebble in the pond can send ripples that never end
Trish Muntean
Municipal elections will be held Tuesday in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, City
of Fairbanks and City of North Pole. There are three school-board seats, three bor-
ough assembly seats and two propositions on the ballot for the Fairbanks North Star
Borough. City residents will vote for a new mayor, two city council seats and one
proposition in addition to the Fairbanks North Star Borough ballot. North Pole resi-
dents will fill five city council seats, as well as the borough ballot. Fort Wainwright
residents are within Fairbanks city limits, so they vote both the Fairbanks North Star
Borough and City of Fairbanks ballots. The Fort Wainwright poll is located at the Last
Frontier Community Activity Center and is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
VOTE TUESDAY

3. News
September 27, 2013ALASKA POST
11413963
IMAGE OPTICAL
AK POST/AK POST-COLL
3 x 3.0
11414109
UPS STORE
AK POST/AK POST
3 x 3.0
Capt. Patrick Sawicki,
U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs
A thunderous report cracks
through the brisk Alaskan morn-
ing, marking the start of the 51st
annual Equinox Marathon Sat-
urday and the beginning of Sujey
Cuadrado’s journey of meeting
and overcoming challenges.
Cuadrado, the wife of Sgt. Mis-
ael Cuadrado, a scout team leader
in B Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st
Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker
Brigade Combat Team, 25th In-
fantry Division, is running a mar-
athon not just to run one but to
overcome personal challenges and
motivate her family to move on.
Although she has run in previ-
ous races like the Law Day Half
Marathon at Fort Polk, La., and
Tough Soldiers, tougher Army Families
the Louisiana Marathon,
“this is personal for me,” she
said. “My brother recently
took his own life and my
family has been devastated.
I need to do something to
motivate them, to get them
to move on.”
If it was motivation, the
challenge or just the right
time, she chose the Equinox
Marathon as her next obsta-
cle to overcome.
Fairbanks’ Equinox is one
of the top 15 toughest mara-
thons in the world, accord-
ing to The Weather Chan-
nel’s sports and recreation
department. So the newly
arrived wife, mother and
grieving sister saw it as an
opportunity. The family ar-
rived at Fort Wainwright in
June from Fort Polk.
A move over lengthy dis-
tance to a state removed
from the continental U.S.
impacts the whole Family.
“The move was not that big
a deal,” Cuadrado said. “We
have been challenged the last
few years, and it has made us
a strong Family.”
Savy (her nickname since
she can remember) was ac-
tually living in Mexico un-
til 2009, when she married
Misael Cuadrado, a U.S.
citizen. The following year
she decided to join the U.S.
Army Reserves and headed
to basic training.
“Although living in the
U.S. for a year was a great ex-
perience, I still did not know
much English or know what
to expect,” she said, “On my
first physical fitness test I
took at basic training, I could
not even do one pushup or
run two miles even close to
the required time standard.”
Those initial results are
common among new re-
cruits, but the improve-
ments and results she dis-
played are not. Within two
weeks she could do 27 push-
ups and run two miles in 14
minutes. She was the only
female who ran with the fast
group during training.
Joining the Army was an
immersion experience like
no other. “I did extra work-
outs in the morning to get
stronger and learned Eng-
lish to be a better Soldier,”
Cuadrado said.
Throughout Advanced In-
dividual Training, where Sol-
diers learn their specific job
skills, she maintained her per-
formance and desire to learn,
grow and develop. She gradu-
ated from the Power Genera-
tion Equipment and Repair
course as the distinguished
honor graduate with the high-
est grade-point average.
“The Army really taught
me how tough I am and can
be. I learned English and
learnedawholenewculture,”
she said. “Being tough and
just running wasn’t enough
though. Until recently I had
no idea how to run, training
tips, racing information, all
the things that define a run-
ner as a runner. I was just go-
ing out and running and do-
ing exercises, but there was
no methodical training plan
or schedule to prepare for
the upcoming marathon.”
It was not until recently
that the mother of two de-
cided to start reading publi-
cations and learned more on
training, nutrition and prep-
aration methods to become
an even better athlete. “Run-
ner’s World was really the
first professional informa-
tion I read about running,”
she said. “I read the articles,
used the training plans for a
marathon and felt more con-
fident in my abilities.”
Before proper guidance
and training plans, Cuadrado
entered and took first place
as overall female in the Law
Day Half Marathon at Fort
Polk in 2012.
The pain and agony of
failing the first physical fit-
ness test during the initial
days in basic training to rac-
ing and winning the over-
all female winner in a half
marathon within two years,
is a remarkable feat. The
emotional impact of losing
a younger brother and mov-
ing across the country to
Alaska away from friends
and family seemed to slow
things down for Cuadrado,
she said.
“We were extremely close;
this was very hard for me,”
she said, teary eyed. “He
was the youngest, and unfor-
tunately I was the only one
who made it back to attend
the funeral.”
“The family, my family
took this hard and personal,
they needed something to
wake them from the shock,”
said Cuadrado. “This mara-
thon is my way of telling
them to start living again to
start focusing on the present
and be alive.”
With her husband’s sup-
port, she began training with
a greater drive and focus, do-
ing 10-plus miles a few days a
week and longer runs on the
weekends. “I didn’t know I
had this in me, until I joined
the Army. I am thankful for
that experience,” she said.
Sujey completed one of the
toughest races in the world,
her Army Family, husband
and children there for sup-
port as she crossed the finish
line in 5 hours 24 minutes.
Sujey Cuadrado, the wife of Sgt. Misael Cuadrado, a Scout Team leader in
B Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat
Team, 25th Infantry Division, crosses the finish line of one of the world’s
toughest marathons, the Equinox marathon, Sept. 21. She completed the
race in 5:24.5. (Photo by Capt. Patrick Sawicki/USARAK PAO)
Brandy Ostanik,
Medical Department
Activity Alaska PAO
Medical Department Activity-
Alaska has confirmed a case of per-
tussis, better known as whooping
cough, this past week and is ask-
ing beneficiaries to ensure they
are vaccinated.
“Vaccination works,” said Lt.
Col. Paul Kwon, chief of preven-
tive medicine for MEDDAC-AK.
“Children should get at least five
vaccine series at the 2-month, 4-
month, 6-month, between 15-to-18
months and between 4- to-6 years
old and booster vaccinations are
necessary for adolescents 11 and
older, pregnant women, Soldiers
and other adults who have not yet
received the booster.”
According to Kwon, many ba-
bies and young children can con-
tract whooping cough from adults
or older siblings who don’t know
they have the disease because of
milder symptoms.
“The purpose of the vaccination
is to protect the individual as well
as the young and elderly who can-
not receive the full series of vaccine
and are therefore more susceptible
to the disease,” says Kwon.
Pertussis is a very serious re-
spiratory infection caused by bac-
teria. It can be especially harmful
and dangerous to babies who do
not have the full protection of the
pertussis vaccine because of their
young age.
Symptoms of pertussis include
runny nose, sneezing, mild to se-
rous cough that persists, breath-
ing and eating difficulties. Fever
may be mild or absent.
According the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention, per-
tussis can cause violent and rapid
coughing until the air is gone from
the lungs forcing the person to in-
hale with a loud “whooping” sound.
In adults and teens the “whoop” is
often not there and the infection
is generally milder, especially for
those who have been vaccinated.
Pertussis spreads easily through
the air when an infected person
breathes coughs or sneezes.
As with many infections, per-
tussis can be prevented by simple
hand-washing, covering the cough
or sneeze, cleaning surfaces and
getting vaccinations.
To determine if vaccinations are
up-to-date, beneficiaries may bring
their shot records to the Bassett
walk-in triage nurse or to preven-
tive medicine. Due to Health In-
surance Portability and Account-
ability Act requirements, shot
records cannot be verified over the
phone.
Anyone with questions about
pertussis can contact Preventive
Medicine at 361-3057.
Allen Shaw,
Fort Wainwright PAO
In my humble opinion
there’s a super-human in-
dividual playing for the Na-
tional Football League Den-
ver Broncos and his name
is Peyton Manning. He’s
been called overrated; he’s
been beaten down and even
sat out a season healing
from neck surgery. Some
people said he’d never play
again or at least not at the
level of a record-breaking
starting quarterback. Take
it back suckers and join the
Peyton nation because the
Broncos are going to the
Super bowl. He once again
dissected a defense.
As we make early season
adjustments to this weekly
column, many of the NFL
teams also have to figure
out what is working, what
isn’t and how they’re going
to fix it. Benching quar-
terback Josh Freeman in
Tampa Bay is a beginning,
but I don’t even know if
Brett Favre can save that
program. That’s what I’m
talking about.
Rather than laundry list-
ing our picks and adorning
the page with some (not so)
pretty pictures, we’ll focus
more on our prognostica-
tors rather than scores and
stats from games. We’ll
keep track of how they’re
doing, why they’re doing
it and their opinions. We
might even throw down
some smack talk.
Earp is a team that have
agreed to disagree and
that is why they keep fall-
ing behind. Their problem
is that one member of the
duo always picks Denver
(a good thing) and the oth-
er is a diehard Cleveland
Brown fan. Their problem
is obvious.
Mr. Fischer, who is one
of the leaders of the pack,
said, “We will see the Steel-
ers further self-destruct
this time on an interna-
tional stage; the clock will
strike midnight for Miami
and Chicago as both teams
absorb their first of many
losses and the comeback
story of the century (great
minds think alike) will con-
tinue as Peyton Manning
will present a passing clin-
ic against the Swiss cheese
defense of the Eagles.”
The only part I disagree
with is the Bears; as al-
ways, they have a serious
defense, but now they’re
showing some offensive
oomph. Everyone in the
group is picking Chicago to
win except Fischer, Binky
and BeerBQ. We shall see.
As for the rest of the
games, for some strange
reason, everyone is ex-
pecting last year’s Forty-
niners to finally win a
game, except the Brain. I
guess we’ll see how smart
he really is when St. Louis
gives San Fran another
whooping.
Everybody is picking
the Ravens because we all
know how bad Buffalo is,
even the life-long, hard-
core fans. It’s almost as
pitiful as the Steelers fans
that just can’t let go. Good
luck to the two of you who
expect a miracle across
the pond. The Vikings de-
fense will be cleaning Big
Ben’s clock.
The Fort Wainwright
football picking gurus are
fairly split on the other
games being played this
week and although Tate
and A-Team share the top
spot with a slim lead over
the rest of the front-run-
ners, we don’t see eye-to-
eye on one crucial game.
Tate is the only one who
thinks Houston can slow
down Seattle Seahawks
who are doing everything
right. That’s what I’m
talking about.
Snoozers, losers and Peyton Manning:
That’s what I’m talking about
Whooping cough is back;
vaccinations are key to
prevention, further protection

4. News
September 27, 2013 ALASKA POST
54410865
FAIRBANKS PUBLISHING
AK POST/AK POST-CLAS
6 x 10.5
SPOT
Allen Shaw,
Fort Wainwright PAO
There is a crazy looking,
colorful, angular wall under
construction that catches
your eye as soon as you
walk in the Outdoor Recre-
ation building on Fort Wain-
wright.
“It is hands-down awe-
some,” said Lara Patter-
son, Outdoor Recreation
manager, Directorate of
Family and Morale, Welfare
and Recreation. “Our facil-
ity was built with having a
climbing wall in mind and
we just made it a reality.”
“There are several rea-
sons people should go climb-
ing,” Patterson said. “First
of all, it’s a great way to
build confidence and chal-
lenge your athletic abili-
ties. It’s a great way to get
in shape and way more fun
than running on a tread-
mill.”
The way the wall is de-
signed, climbers can choose
a variety of ways to get to
the top. “Climbing this wall
will never be boring,” Pat-
terson said. “There are al-
ways new routes to climb.”
She also said it’s an es-
cape. “It can help you forget
about the stresses of every-
day life and it does make
you a cooler individual.”
Rock climbing is for all
ages and great for fami-
lies, Patterson said, and is
a great team-building tool.
“It requires communication
and trust. Teamwork makes
the dream work.”
DFMWR expects the wall
to be completed within the
next couple of weeks, Pat-
terson said. Hours of opera-
tion will be October through
April, Tuesday through
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m.
Climbing-wall prices are
$6 for open climbing, a 10-
punch pass is $50, a single
climb for children is $4 and
skill clinics are $10. Group
rentals are $125 an hour
and the introduction to
climbing and belay certifica-
tion is free.
Patterson said the climb-
ing wall would also help ful-
fill four out of the five com-
ponents for Comprehensive
Soldier Fitness.
“The fact that the climb-
ing wall and outdoor recre-
ation in general helps for
resilience, I think it would
be a nice touch,” she said.
“In the physical category,
it builds muscle strength,
endurance, flexibility and
is a great cardiovascular
workout. Emotionally it is a
stress reliever, escape, com-
bats boredom and builds
confidence.”
She also said it was a
great way for Families or co-
workers to rely on commu-
nication skills, trust, team-
work and confidence.
As for the social aspect,
“It’s a great way to meet
new people, Patterson said,
“and did I mention, it makes
you cooler.”
For more information
check out the October issues
of DFMWR’s Bear Neces-
sities, visit www.facebook.
com/fwaodr for the opening
date or call the Outdoor Rec-
reation Office at 361-6349.
The indoor climbing wall currently under construction
at the Outdoor Recreation building is expected to be
completed in early October said Lara Patterson, Outdoor
Recreation manager, Directorate of Family and Morale,
Welfare and Recreation. “Our facility was built with hav-
ing a climbing wall in mind and we just made it a reality,”
she said. (Photo by Allen Shaw/Fort Wainwright PAO)
Sgt. Michael Blalack,
1-25th SBCT Public Affairs
In a military area of opera-
tions where there are no clearly
defined front lines and the com-
batants don’t wear uniforms,
any situation can turn physical
in seconds. In instances where
opposing forces use the civilian
population as cover and conceal-
ment, it’s the things that most
people wouldn’t notice that
could mean the difference be-
tween controlling the situation
and being caught in a deliberate
and well-constructed ambush.
“A bad guy is a bad guy any-
where in the world,” said Joe
Robinson, senior instructor for
an Advanced Situational Aware-
ness mobile training team that
taught the class at Fort Wain-
wright Sept. 5 to 24. “Once you’ve
stripped away all of the differenc-
es in the environment and cul-
ture, the things we almost can’t
help focusing on, we’ll be able
to spot the abnormal behavior
or anomalies in an environment
that will alert us to a possible
threat and give us the ability to
control the situation, instead of
reacting once it’s too late.”
In early 2012 the Army
launched a pilot program aimed
at turning the U.S. Soldier, al-
ready proficient in kinetic war-
fare, into a highly observant and
actively perceptive battlefield
evaluator capable of detecting
the almost invisible clues that
could make them aware of, and
thus able to anticipate and re-
spond to, planned enemy action
before a bullet is fired or an ex-
plosive device triggered.
The Army calls it Advanced
Situational Awareness Train-
ing, and Soldiers from the 1st
Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division conduct-
ed ASAT at Fort Wainwright’s
Combined Arms Centralized
Training Facility.
“The purpose of this train-
ing is to become situationally
aware of everything going on,”
said Chase Ford, an ASAT in-
structor. “Humans are the same
all over the world; they act the
same in certain situations, and
we’re teaching students how to
analyze and process the human
behavior they observe.”
The five-day course consists of
three days of classroom instruc-
tion followed by two days of in-
the-field practice. Topics included
human behavior pattern recogni-
tion and analysis and spotting
behavior anomalies in any situa-
tion or environment.
“In the classroom we teach
them about how humans think
and how the brain interprets
what the eye records and ulti-
mately how to use this knowl-
edge to increase awareness of
any situational shifts in the en-
vironment that could indicate a
possible threat,” said Ford. “Of-
ten we will see something, but
we don’t know what we’re look-
ing at because we’ve never seen
it before.”
One of the main points of
classroom instruction is that
people are the same anywhere in
the world; it is only the culture
that is different.
“What we’re doing is helping
students understand the process
the brain is going through and be
able to verbalize things they may
have just experienced as a feel-
ing of unease or a gut reaction
to something they observed but
didn’t really understand.”
The instructors showed stu-
dents in the class how to see past
the differences to the similarities
that can reveal the real picture.
“Having this training before I
deployed would have helped out
tremendously,” said Sgt. Joseph
Celeste, a team leader in B Com-
pany, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry
Regiment, 1-25 SBCT. “You’re
more aware of the big picture, all
the things that are really going
on. Your view of a situation isn’t
as one dimensional anymore and
you’re able to better predict all
of the possibilities in a combat
scenario.”
The focus of this training
session was to enable battal-
ion intelligence and operations
personnel to operate with a
common understanding of chal-
lenges 1-25 SBCT Soldiers may
face while deployed. However,
all Soldiers stand to benefit from
the course in the future.
“This kind of information will
help you anywhere, not only in
combat,” said 1st Lt. Joshua
Sandler, a platoon leader in B
Company, 1-5th IN, 1-25 SBCT.
“Heightening the awareness of
Soldiers on the ground is going
to benefit any type of operation,
and I think we should all get this
training.”
New indoor climbing wall at
Outdoor Recreation building rocks
Striker brigade hosts Advanced Situational Awareness training

5. News
September 27, 2013ALASKA POST
Advanced water rescue training, safety for searchers
Brian Schlumbohm,
Fort Wainwright PAO
An elite team of firefight-
ers who are part of the Fort
Wainwright water search
and rescue team partici-
pated in an emergency re-
sponse diving technician
course culminating in an
open water dive on post
Sept. 12. During the five-
day training, life-threat-
ening situations such as
a search and rescue diver
becoming entangled while
performing a water search
scenario, are enacted. Be-
coming entangled, the
search and rescue diver
relays his distress through
tugging on a rope to an-
other team member known
as the ‘tender,’ monitoring
from the shore. The ten-
der activates a rescue ac-
tion to send a third diver
down the rope to the en-
tangled diver. The rescue
diver provides a rescue air
tank, untangles the first
diver and brings him back
to shore safely. Fort Wain-
wright Deputy Fire Chief
Charles Gibbs said, “The
training we learned in this
class will change the way
we perform recovery op-
erations. Our capabilities
have increased, which will
provide a better service to
our customers.”
Not a sit-down class - 10 members of the Fort Wainwright dive team participated in a five-day emergency diver
certification course, concentrating on diver safety and advanced search techniques. This certification allows
them to continue providing professional search and recovery diving services to the Army and surrounding civil-
ian community. (Photo by Jeremy Jex/FMWR)
Instructor Scott Anderson from Dive Alaska Inc., provided training during the week-long class. Anderson, a
former firefighter with the Anchorage Fire Department, initiated the start-up of a public safety dive team on Fort
Wainwright in 2008. (Photo by Brian Schlumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)
Using the Melaven Pool for dive training, members of the
Fort Wainwright dive team practice in clear water to per-
fect rescue procedures before going to an outdoor envi-
ronment where visibility is limited. (Photo by Brian Sch-
lumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)
Maurice Fischer, Emergency Services director and dive
team member, simulates being an entangled search and
rescue diver as Scott Anderson, the course instructor,
makes adjustments before the scenario begins. Blindfolds
simulate a dark environment or muddy water and block
any visible communication. The rescue diver must com-
municate through touch. In the rescue simulation, Fischer
will be given a new bottle of air, untangled from any ob-
structions and escorted back to shore by another diver.
(Photo by Jeremy Jex/FMWR)
A diver is given the signal to dive and begin searching. Hand signals and rope tugging helps
in communications between on-shore ‘tenders’ and the diver during water search and rescue
team training at Melaven Pool Sept. 12. (Photo by Brian Schlumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)
As training goes on, divers practice search and recovery on the pond floor.
Tethered to an on shore ‘tender,’ a team member responsible for keep-
ing track and communicating with the diver through tugs on the rope, div-
ers simulate becoming tangled in an underwater obstacle. Two divers on
standby are ready to come to their aid with an extra air tank and to help
untangle the divers and bring them safely back to shore. (Photo by Brian
Schlumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)
Along with rescue procedures, divers are also training in decontamination processes when suiting up and
coming back from a dive. (Photo by Brian Schlumbohm/Fort Wainwright PAO)

6. Friday – 27th
FALL FAME FITNESS SESSIONS, Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 to 11:45
a.m., Melaven Fitness Center, building 3452. Child care
sessions begin 15 minutes prior to Fame Fitness times
and are $35 per month, per child, per session. Pre-reg-
istration begins the 20th of the month prior to the next
month’s sessions. Call 353-7713 for more information.
Saturday – 28th
PREPAREDNESS EXPO, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carlson
Center, Fairbanks. Alaska is the land of extremes, the
free expo can help you prepare for the worst. Details at
AlaskaRedCross on Facebook.
TABLE TOP MOUNTAIN HIKE, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Out-
door Recreation Center, building 4050. Cost $15. Call
361-6349.
ANNIE OAKLEY SHOOT, noon to 5 p.m., Fischer
Skeet Range, building 1171. Call 353-7869.
YOUTH SPONSORSHIP MEET AND GREET, 1 p.m.,
Youth Center, building 4109. Call 353-9377.
Monday – 30th
ROMP AND STOMP PLAYGROUP, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.,
Last Frontier Community Activity Center, building 1044.
No cost. Call 353-7372.
FALL FAME FITNESS SESSIONS, Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 to 11:45
a.m., Melaven Fitness Center, building 3452. Child care
sessions begin 15 minutes prior to Fame Fitness times
and are $35 per month, per child, per session. Pre-reg-
istration begins the 20th of the month prior to the next
month’s sessions. Call 353-7713 for more information.
TURBO KICK, 5 to 6 p.m., Physical Fitness Center,
building 3709. Call 353-7223.
Tuesday – 1st
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS, Kick off of
month long observance, Army Community Services,
building 3401. Call 353-4227.
VETERANS’ BENEFITS, 10 a.m., building 3414 Rhine-
land Ave. Call 353-4335.
GROUP CYCLING CLASS, 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; 5 to 6
p.m., Physical Fitness Center, building 3709. Call 353-
7223.
HOUR OF POWER GROUP STRENGTH CLASS,
noon to 12:45 p.m., Physical Fitness Center, building
3709. Call 353-7223.
Wednesday – 2nd
COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, 10 a.m., Last Fron-
tier Community Activity Center ballroom, for active duty
and civilian members of the community, hosted by Fort
Wainwright Garrison Command. For more information
call 353-6780.
FALL FAME FITNESS SESSIONS, Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 to 11:45
a.m., Melaven Fitness Center, building 3452. For child
care information and reservations, call 353-7713.
LUNCHTIME HEAD-PIN BOWLING, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Nugget Lanes Bowling Center, building 3702. Call 353-
2654.
GROUP CYCLING CLASS, noon to 1 p.m., Physical
Fitness Center, building 3709. Call 353-7223.
TURBO KICK, 5 to 6 p.m., Physical Fitness Center,
building 3709. Call 353-7223.
ZUMBA FITNESS CLASS, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., Physical
Fitness Center, building 3709. Call 353-7223.
BOUNCYHUT NIGHT, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Last Frontier Com-
munity Activity Center, building 1044. Call 353-7755.
HUNGRY HOUR, 5 to 7 p.m., Nugget Lanes Bowling
Center, building 3702. Call 353-2654.
KARAOKE WEDNESDAY, 7 to 10 p.m., Nugget Lanes
Bowling Center, building 3702. Call 353-2654.
Thursday – 3rd
BABY SIGNS: SIGN, SING, AND PLAY CLASSES, 9
to 9:30 a.m., Last Frontier Community Activity Center,
building 1044. No cost. Call 353-7372.
ROMP AND STOMP PLAYGROUP, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.,
Last Frontier Community Activity Center, building 1044.
No cost. Call 353-7372.
VETERANS’ BENEFITS, 1 p.m., building 3414 Rhine-
land Ave. Call 353-4335.
GROUP CYCLING CLASS, 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; 5 to 6 p.m.,
Physical Fitness Center, building 3709. Call 353-7223.
HOUR OF POWER GROUP STRENGTH CLASS,
noon to 12:45 p.m., Physical Fitness Center, building
3709. Call 353-7223.
LUNCHTIMEHEAD-PINBOWLING,11a.m.to2p.m.,Nug-
get Lanes Bowling Center, building 3702. Call 353-2654.
STORY TIME AND CRAFT HOUR: BAT APPRECIA-
TION MONTH, 4 p.m., Post Library, building 3700. Call
353-2642.
PUMPKIN MANIA with EDGE, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Youth
Center, building 4109. Call 353-7713.
ZUMBA FITNESS CLASS, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., Physical
Fitness Center, building 3709. Call 353-7223.
Friday – 4th
FALL FAME FITNESS SESSIONS, Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 to 11:45
a.m., Melaven Fitness Center, building 3452.
FALL FAME CHILD CARE SESSIONS, Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
to noon; Melaven Fitness Center, building 3452. Cost is
$35 per month, per child, per session. Pre-registration
begins the 20th of the month for the next month’s ses-
sions. Call 353-7713.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 27, 2013 ALASKA POST
40410609
TRUE NORTH
FEDERAL CREDIT
AK POST/AK
POST
1 x 2.0
18411943
ESTHER BARBER
STYLES
FF AK POST/AK
POST
1 x 2.0
11414206
FAIRBANKS ORTHODON-
TIC GROUP
AK POST/AK POST
2 x 3.0
Late ad
American Tire
AK POST
3 x 5.25
Religious
Services
Northern Lights Chapel, 3430 Luzon Avenue
Sundays
8 a.m. Early Catholic Mass
10 a.m. Catholic Mass
11:30 a.m. Protestant Worship Service
Bassett Army
Community Hospital
4076 Neely Road
Tuesday through Friday
Noon
Roman Catholic Mass
Southern Lights Chapel
Closed for renovation
For more information, call 353-9826.
ESTATE NOTICE
Anyone having claims against or who is indebt-
ed to the estate of Staff Sgt. Anton Epshteyn, of
C Company, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Stryker
Brigade Combat Team, may contact Capt. Ken-
neth D. Morrison, 1-25th SBCT, HHC, BTB, Fort
Wainwright, Alaska 99703, phone 353-6135.
Holly Days Bazaar
A vendor sets up her display in the hours before a Holly Days Bazaar. Planning is currently underway for this
year’s event. The bazaar, hosted by the Fort Wainwright Community Spouses Club will be open from 4 to 8
p.m. Oct 18 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Physical Fitness Center. The bazaar features dozens of vendors
selling a variety of handmade items, many of which are unique to Alaska. All proceeds are returned to the com-
munity through welfare grants and scholarships. Admission is $3; children 11 and younger are free. There will
be an opportunity to have a picture taken with Santa. (File photo by Trish Muntean/ Fort Wainwright PAO)
SOLDIERS AGAINST
DRUNK DRIVING
353-6610
Have a Plan,
Call Someone.

7. FOR YOUR INFORMATION
September 27, 2013ALASKA POST
11413352
NORTHWIND BEHAVIOR-
AL HEALTH
AK POST/AK POST
2 x 2.0
11414850
MIDNIGHT SUN SUBWAY
AK POST/AK POST-CATE
2 x 3.0
The installation Combined Federal Campaign is
underway for the 2013 season and continues through
Oct. 25. For more information, contact the instal-
lation campaign coordinator and CFC key worker
trainer, Cindy Blum, at 353-7633.
Fort Wainwright’s fire department issued a chal-
lenge to all installation units and organizations: Cre-
ate a 4-by-8-foot sign inspired by the 2013 Fire Pre-
vention Month theme, “Prevent Kitchen Fires: Go to
FPW.ORG and get cookin’ with safety.” Judging will
consist of four categories: creativity, use of theme, use
of unit and overall appearance. Deadline: Enter by
placing signs in the designated area by Oct. 4. For
complete rules, contact assistant fire chief, Darren
Amos, 353-9164.
The staff would like existing and new customers
to stop by the Thrift Store and give them some feed-
back on the changes being made. Store hours: Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday and Monday
the store is closed. The store is located in building 1031
at the corner of 102nd and Chestnut in north post hous-
ing. For more information call 356-1211.
Transitioning Soldier support is available through
the Army Career and Alumni Program. Monday, Tran-
sition Plan-Military Crosswalk, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. Monday, VA Benefits I Brief, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30
p.m. Tuesday thru Thursday, Department of Labor
Employment Workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-
ins are welcome during normal office hours to answer
questions or sign up for future classes. Office hours
are Mondays thru Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays, 7:30 a.m.
to 4: 30 p.m. Some ACAP sessions are mandatory for
Soldiers. For more information or to reserve limited
class space, call 353-2113 or 353-2099.
Changes to road conditions and reporting status are
recorded on the post’s information line: 353-INFO.
Smart phone users can also text the installation’s zip
code to 888777 or sign up at www.nixle.com to receive
text alerts of installation road conditions and changes
to reporting status. For more information, call 353-
6780 or visit us on Facebook at FortWainwrightPAO.
The Retiree Council will begin holding monthly
meetings starting Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the
Last Frontier Community Activity Center, building
1044. Open to all military retirees – Guard, Reserve
and active duty - from all branches of service, the first
meeting will discuss the agenda for the 2014 year. For
more information call 353-2099.
Bassett Army Community Hospital will have a
Family walk-in flu clinic starting Oct. 15. The clinic
is available to beneficiaries and will be available from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 15 thru 19 and 21 thru 25. For
more information call 361-5172.
All organizations and units planning to host a
haunted house on post must be coordinate through
the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Preven-
tion Branch for a fire and life safety inspection prior
to the event. Call 353-9164 for information. All fund-
raisers on Fort Wainwright require the approval of
the garrison commander. Fundraisers need to be sub-
mitted a minimum of three weeks before the planned
event. For more information, email cynthia.a.blum.
civ@mail.mil or call 353-7633.
During the Army Career and Alumni Program brief-
ing, ACAP staff shares information about how to ap-
ply for federal jobs with the Department of the Army
and with other agencies, completing applications and
how to use the U.S. Office of Personnel Management
website to search for federal positions at www.usa-
jobs.gov. For more information, call 353-2113.
Arctic Health Link offers monthly classes on diabe-
tes, cholesterol, tobacco cessation and hypertension.
For more information or to sign up for a class, call
361-4148.
The office of the Judge Advocate General is now
accepting applications for the Army’s Funded Legal
Education Program. Under this program, the Army
projects sending up to 25 active duty commissioned
officers to law school at government expense. Select-
ed officers will attend law school beginning the fall
of 2014 and will remain on active duty while attend-
ing law school. Submission of application is due by
Nov. 1. For more information call (907) 384-0313 or
384-0420. Visit the Judge Advocate Recruiting office
at https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/Sites/jaro.nsf/home-
Content.xsp?opendocumentId=8594D29C91B06ED
385257B2D00513A2B.
Housing residents who no longer want home de-
livery of the Alaska Post should e-mail the Public Af-
fairs Office at pao.fwa@us.army.mil or call 353-6780.
Share news tips or request submission guidelines by
calling the editor, 353-6760.
Before heading out on the road, find out where
driving delays may be occurring around Alaska at the
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Fa-
cilities’ Navigator website. http://www.alaskanaviga-
tor.org/.
Soldiers Against Drunk Driving are here to help
and provide a free ride home for those who are buzzed
or inebriated and should not get behind the wheel of
a vehicle. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers are
available with safe transportation from 11 p.m. to 3
a.m. weekends. Make a plan before drinking and save
this number in your phone: 353-6610.
Grass is still green and the course is still open from 8
a.m. to 6:30 p.m., for more information call 353-6223.
The finance customer service desk will be open
during lunch hours in September. Located in the Wel-
come Center, building 3401, second floor, office hours
are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unless clearing post, Sol-
diers should always go to their S-1 for assistance be-
fore going to the finance office. For more information
call 353-1307.
MilConnect is a website provided by the Defense
Manpower Data Center that allows sponsors, spouses
and their adult children to access information regard-
ing their personal information, health-care eligibility,
personnel records, and other information from a cen-
tralized location. Update addresses, phone numbers
on DEERS record by signing in, choosing “My Profile
Information” and clicking “Update Address.” Scroll
to the bottom and click “Submit” to add or update
any of your contact information at the DMDC site:
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect.
Family members of active and retired military can
consult the Child and Family Assistance Center for
assistance with youth and Family issues. Individual
and group therapy is available. Referrals are not re-
quired. For more information or an appointment, call
361-6284 or 361-6059.
Help for abused and neglected children is available
locally and through a toll-free hotline. Call the 24-hour
Child Help National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 4A-
CHILD or on post, call Army Community Service at
353-7317. If you suspect a child is being hurt or ne-
glected, contact the local police. Tips and resources
are available for parents, educators, caregivers and
volunteers at www.myarmyonesource.com.
Recreational users can access Army training lands
by obtaining a free recreational Access Permit. Ob-
tain a RAP card online at http://usartrak.isportsman.
net or at a self-service kiosk at the Fort Wainwright.
Prior to using the land, recreational users may check-
in online at iSportsman, through a self-service kiosk
or call the automated USARTRAK phone system, toll
free at (877) 250-9781, Fairbanks: 353-3181 and Delta
Junction: (907) 873-3181.
Are you on the waiting list for post housing? If
your phone number, email address or lease end date
changes, contact North Haven Communities at 356-
7000 (press 3, then 1) to update your status.
Questions and concerns about divorce can be an-
swered Tuesdays at 9 a.m. These briefs are offered by
the Legal Assistance Office located in building 1562
on the corner of Gaffney and Freeman Road. The di-
vorce briefing is available to military members and
spouses. For more information about legal services or
to make an appointment, call 353-6534.
chena bend golf course
army career and alumni program
alaska post home delivery
apply for federal jobs
recreate on army lands
finance open during lunch
retiree council
the giving season
updates to road conditions
haunted deadline
think if you drink
legal education program
alaska driving delays
divorce briefings
Welcome to winter
A Boy Scout builds a shelter in this file photo. The first Welcome to Winter orientation of the season, presented
by Army Community Service and Installation Safety is slated for Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Last Frontier
Community Activity Center, building 1044. This informative briefing for Soldiers, civilian employees and Fami-
lies new to the community includes preparing your vehicle for winter, winter driving techniques, what to carry
in your winter kit in the car, proper clothing and even caring for your pets in the cold. Limited winter survival
supplies will be available at no cost. For more information call 353-4227. (File photo by U.S. Army Alaska)
fire prevention contest
steals and deals
flu season
for your health classes
easy profile updates
military child, family therapy
prevent abuse and neglect
housing alert

8. alaska post
September 27, 2013 ALASKA POST
21414980
FAIRBANKS PUBLISHING
AK POST/AP-2MONTHSFR
3 x 10.5
Full / olor /
Memo: A shutdown would put severe hardships on workforce
Continued from page 1
Allen Shaw,
Fort Wainwright PAO
A tragic accident oc-
curred less than two
miles from the Badger
gate Monday claim-
ing the life of a woman
loved by her family and
friends. Although the ac-
cident is under investiga-
tion, preliminary reports
said a vehicle traveling
southbound lost control
on a shaded, icy spot in
the road, crossed into the
northbound lane, hitting
the vehicle head-on.
Operating a vehicle in
Interior Alaska is a chal-
lenge and is often under-
stated. Once someone
sits behind the wheel and
turns the key a prudent
driver should be ready for
anything. Interior Alaska
drivers experience road
conditions at their worst.
A mixture of snow and
fluctuatingtemperatures,
along with wind, affect
the driving surface, trig-
gering a melt-and-freeze
making ruts, bumps and
humps often causing the
driver to lose his grip,
sending him skidding out
of control. “It requires
time and a conscious ef-
fort to adjust to the lack
of traction and the new
driving style vital to cope
with snow and ice,” said
Robert Tanner, United
States Army Garrison
Fort Wainwright Safety
Office.
Many vehicles already
visited the ditch earlier
this week. Just because
you were issued a license
or have a big nasty four-
wheel drive truck doesn’t
mean you know how to
drive on ice. Unfortu-
nately one of the things
they don’t test for is com-
mon sense.
Whendriving,don’tan-
swer the phone. On post
it will get you a ticket. It
is most likely something
that can wait until you
can safely find a place to
pull over and concentrate
on one thing at a time,
and by all means don’t
text. You’re not fooling
anyone and it is so obvi-
ous when you’re doing
it if you’re glancing at
your lap when your eyes
should be on the road.
It is dangerous, people
die, and you know it. So
just don’t – ever. Pay
attention to the vehicle
you are operating. Quit
glancing up and down
at the stoplight because
you will get in trouble.
Put the darn thing down,
leave your phone alone;
end of story.
Alaska has a unique
law where you can be
cited for driving too fast
for conditions. No mat-
ter what type of surface
or situation, you are re-
sponsible to move, steer
and stop that vehicle in
a safe manner. If you are
unable to do these things,
perhaps you shouldn’t
drive in the winter.
“Driving in snow and
ice requires an increase of
three times the braking
and following distances
necessary for dry pave-
ment,” Tanner said.
In addition, your ve-
hicle should be in good
operating order with
working headlights, tail-
lights, windshield wipers,
proper tires and decent
brakes. There should not
be pieces of the body, trim
or bumper flapping in
the wind and everything
should be attached to the
undercarriage so you’re
not clanking, dropping
debris or spitting sparks
as you travel down the
road.
Always use extreme
caution when coming to
an intersection. These
are some of the slickest
spots on the road. The
intersection is where
many skid to a stop and
then spin out to get mov-
ing again. Whenever oth-
er drivers are involved,
watch what you are do-
ing, try to anticipate what
everyone else is going to
do and what you are go-
ing to do if you encounter
someone who isn’t a sen-
sible driver like yourself.
There are people who
think when a light turns
from green to yellow you
are supposed to give it
more gas, while others
think it means slam on
the brakes. These are
the dweebs fish-tailing
or sliding out of control
through a red light. Do
whatever you can to avoid
these people. Watch for
them every time you are
out there and don’t give
them an opportunity to
ruin your day.
Learn to stay in your
lane. If you can’t or don’t
want to stay in your lane,
signal, make sure other
cars around you are well
aware of what you plan
to do, then execute the
operation with caution.
Merging into traffic is an-
other one of these often
misinterpreted actions.
It is the responsibility of
the vehicle who wants
to join the traffic flow
to blend into the activ-
ity that’s already taking
place. It always requires
a signal, but sometimes
it’s necessary to increase
or decrease your speed to
merge. The herd does not
have to make accommo-
dations for you to join. If
someone can safely make
it easier for you then so
be it. This is another ac-
tion that requires your
full attention, patience
and good sense.
Anotheravoidableroad
hazard this time of year
is often caused by some-
one just being neighborly.
Without the assistance of
safety personnel, flares or
warning lights, roadside
assistance is another ac-
cident waiting to happen
and is frequently fueled
by a lack of good judg-
ment. It’s just like every-
thing else written so far;
just because you’ve got a
big truck and a tow strap
doesn’t mean you have a
license to ignore the rules
of the road and put others
in danger while you drag
your buddy’s truck out of
the ditch. You don’t have
the credentials to drive
down the opposite side of
the road and take up an
extra lane of traffic while
you find something to
hook to. You should only
“be nice” when public
safety is being protected.
There are awesome,
highly trained individu-
als who know how to do
this and do it safely.
Historically, after the
first snowfall there are
way too many incidents
and accidents, and as
someone who has been
hitting these roads for
more than three decades
I feel qualified enough to
share an opinion on the
subject.
For more information
on safe winter driving call
the garrison Safety Office
at 353-7079 or visit www.
facebook.com/FortWain-
wrightSafety.
Winter driving requires proactive participation, not reactive contributions
the mission, keeping ev-
eryone informed and on
their toes.
The training scenar-
ios, created to simulate
real-world situations,
were designed to test the
Soldiers on their abil-
ity to react under pres-
sure and to put their
battle drill rehearsals to
the test, such as a simu-
lated Nuclear Biological
Chemical alarm activa-
tions that sent everyone
rushing to don their pro-
tective masks.
“NBC hasn’t been a big
thing around the military
(until recently),” said Sgt.
Detrick Rogers, a military
policeman with 472nd MP.
“Chemical warfare is be-
coming a big thing again
in other countries.”
“We are getting guys
used to donning their
masks and just feeling
comfortable wearing the
masks,” said Rogers.
The overall scope of the
company’s training event
was to ensure its Soldiers
are trained and ready to
deploy.
The unit is scheduled to
provide security for the Air
Force on their upcoming
deployment and though
they do not know what to
expect as far as site set-up
and available resources,
Rogers said he felt his unit
was up for the task.
Nearly 100 Soldiers
are scheduled to deploy
to Anderson Air Base,
Guam for a three to six
month deployment in
support of Task Force
Talon. Providing site se-
curity one of the many
military police functions
will be their primary mis-
sion while they are away.
“We will have to as-
sess what is already set
up there and improve it
and make it better,” said
Rogers. “But ultimately I
think we are ready for it.”
The absence of funding
would mean a number of
government activities would
cease. “While military per-
sonnel would continue in a
normal duty status, a large
number of our civilian em-
ployees would be temporarily
furloughed,”Carter said. “To
prepare for this possibility, we
are updating our contingency
plans for executing an orderly
shutdown of activities that
would be affected by a lapse in
appropriations.”
President Barack Obama
and Defense Secretary Chuck
Hagel understand the hard-
ships such a shutdown could
cause civilian employees, the
deputy secretary wrote. “The
administration strongly be-
lieves that a lapse in funding
should not occur and is work-
ing with Congress to find a
solution,” Pentagon Press Sec-
retary George Little told re-
porters today. “The secretary
has made it clear that budget
uncertainty is not helpful for
us in executing our budget effi-
ciently, and a shutdown would
be the worst type of uncer-
tainty. A shutdown would put
severe hardships on an already
stressed workforce, and is to-
tally unnecessary.”
Carter vowed to provide
more information as it becomes
available. The Office of Person-
nel Management’s website has
more information, http://www.
opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/
pay-leave/furlough-guidance.
Soldiers from the 472nd Military Police Company, 793rd Military Police Battalion set
up concertina wire to reinforce perimeter security near the entry control point of a
mock secured site as part of a certification exercise held on Fort Wainwright in prepa-
ration for an upcoming deployment. (U. S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Trish McMurphy,
USARAK Public Affairs)
Allen Shaw
Training: Ready to deploy
Continued from page 1