1. Family Readiness Group
Delaware Company 1/501BN
August 2011 VOL. 1 ISSUE 1
Dear Delaware Family and Friends,
We are starting a newsletter each month to let you know
what is going on within the unit, the post and in the commu-
nity. We encourage you to send your recommendations or
ideas to make this as helpful as possible. This will be a
growing experience so please be patient with us as we learn
what works and what doesn’t. We will not be having an offi-
cial meeting for the month of August; however we are look-
ing to have one in September after our Soldiers come home
from training.
We are still looking for key positions within our FRG so if
you are interested in volunteering please let us know.
With all the new changes in the platoons being attached to
other companies there has been a bit of confusion. You will
always be welcome to attend any Dco FRG meetings. How-
ever it is important that you stay in contact with the Com-
pany you are attached to as you will find out important in-
formation such as training schedules, mailing addresses and
other items of interest.
Sincerely,
907-440-4117 Andrea Young, Delaware Company FRG Leader
To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being
there. ~Barbara Bush
2. August 10, 2011 CAC Notes
49,196 students projected for this school year.
―Yard of the Month‖ Winners: For grades 2-12 school begins 16 August.
SPC Dustin Miller, 98th Maintenance Co- Cottonwood For grades K-1 school begins 22 August.
COL George Bond, MDA- Birch Hill Military partnership very successful last year, encour-
SGT John Edmonston, 545th MP Co- Moose Haven age units & parents to participate in volunteering.
Reminder: children will play outdoors until -10 de-
637d JBER Safety Office: grees F. Please dress children appropriately.
Hunter Safety: 4 Basic Rules JBER School Boundaries could change with all hous-
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. ing construction going on in the spring. If school
Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. boundaries change in the middle of the school
Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it. year children will be bused to their current school
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until to finish out the school year. Then they will start
ready to shoot. school in their new boundary for school year
2012-2013.
Tree Stand Rules: Zangle: teachers put grades online for parents to view
Find a tree that supports your weight. 24/7. Must get password from school, given at
Do not alter equipment. time of registration.
Wear a full body harness. For questions or information you can visit the Anchor-
Use 3 points of contact while climbing. age School District website at www.asdk12.org or
Use a haul line to raise or lower unloaded weapon. call 907-742-4000.
Let people know of your hunting location.
Security Forces Squadron:
Walking & Biking Safety for Back to School: There are 6 school zone areas on JBER.
Must wear a helmet when riding a bike. JBER-Elmendorf: 20 MPH between 0840-0920 hrs
Choose a school route & practice walking it with and 1445-1530 hrs.
your child. JBER-Richardson: 15 MPH between 0800-0930 hrs
Wear reflector tape/belts on coats or backpacks. and 1500-1630 hrs.
Encourage students to walk together in groups. If you are caught speeding or conducting unsafe vehicular
Teach children to recognize traffic signals & pave- maneuvers in school zones you will be giving a citation.
ment markings. First time citation is a 30 day driving suspension. Multiple
Follow instructions provided by school crossing times is a 6 month driving suspension.
guards.
673d Medical Group:
School Bus Safety: Emergency room sees about 100 patients per day.
Be at the bus stop 5 minutes early. Higher priority patients are seen first!
Stay clear of the road by 10 feet. If you have a common cold or something else that is
Cross the road in FRONT of the bus, not behind. not severe it is preferred that you make an ap-
Students may only carry items on the bus that fit in pointment through the appointment desk 907-580-
their laps. 2778.
Pay special attention to snow piles along the street. Physical Therapy clinic is open to Active Duty, De-
pendents, & Retirees by referral only.
Anchorage School District:
94th largest district in US.
3. August 10, 2011 CAC Notes
Occupational Therapy Clinic is currently open to vious Self Help Store)
Active Duty & post-operative care only, by Starting August 15: Mon-Fri 0830-1730
referral. JBER-Elmendorf: Bldg B6350, Arctic Warrior
Chiropractic Clinic is open to Active Duty only Drive
(DoD policy). Appointments are made by Mon-Fri 0830-1730, Sat 0900-1600 (closed
referral only. Tricare does not authorize off 1200-1300)
base referrals.
Nameplates:
SHARP: New nameplates will be here soon.
Transition: Sexual Assault Prevention Response to Check Aurora Facebook page in the coming weeks.
Sexual Harassment Assault Response & Prevention
New focus is on the bystander to approach an incident Survivor Outreach Services:
before it happens to help prevent it from happening. Sept 9: Memorial Service for the Fallen @ Fort Richardson
Questions/Comments: SHARP Office: 907-384-6948, National Cemetery 1600-1700
24/7 Cell Phone: 907-384-7272 Sept 10: SOS Appreciation Day @ Otter Lake 1100-1400
Sept 11: Patriot 5K Run @ Bike path across the street from
BOSS: Buckner Gym 1000-1130
August 13: Disc vs. Ball Golf POC is Valerie O’Hare at 384-0272 or 384-0188
August 27: Rubber Ducky Race
Suicide Prevention Campaign:
September 2: Warrior Zone Lock Down Will kick off in September however there will be campaign
September 11: 9/11 Flat Top Hike reminders throughout the full year.
September 24: Rock Climbing Hanger 5:
Arctic Warrior Functional Fitness.
SADD: Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 0600-2200, Sat-Sun 0800-1800
23 Volunteers for July Children under the age of 6 are not allowed in the facility.
50 Rides Given POC is Justin Glenn at 384-1313
69 People Picked Up
School Age Program:
Contact BOSS at: 907-384-9023 or Illa School Age Program Grand Opening is Sept 12 @ 1600.
visit their facebook page www.facebook.com/ Demo Kitchens for cooking projects, dance & drama rooms,
JBERAKBOSS computer lab, gymnasium, open field, homework center, arts
& crafts room.
Housing Privatization:
Kodiak: 16 new homes, complete January 2012
South Cottonwood: 66, April 2012
Moose Haven: 38, April 2012
Moose Crossing: 156, October 2012
Self Help/ U Fix It Store:
JBER-Richardson: Bldg B706 (same as pre-
4. August 10, 2011 CAC Notes
Library: Additional Comments:
New Library Hours Starting Sept 6: Mon-Fri 1000-
2100, Sat-Sun 1000-1700
Flu vaccines will be starting soon for dependents.
Questions please call: 384-1640/1648 Hospital is working on: speaker &/or screen so patients
can sit in the pediatric clinic and hear/see your number called
Vacation Bible School: from the pharmacy; giving ER patients more freedom, maybe
221 Students participated providing a pager to patients so they can go wait in car or
85 Volunteers other areas in the hospital.
Aurora Housing has available units for E1-E9, 2-4 bed-
Thrift Store: located in Bldg 724, door 8 room homes. Contact Aurora
(Quartermaster Rd, next to the Post Office) Education Office is open Mon-Thurs 0830-1530, Fri by
Tues & Thurs: 1100-1700 appointment only.
Wed: 1100-1400
1st & 3rd Sat: 1100-1400 School Crossing Guards meeting tomorrow 1000 @
Starbucks.
August 20 & 24 from 1100-1400 there will be an open Coming Soon: Domino’s Pizza on JBER
house with refreshments & prizes.
Volunteers & Donations are always welcome. Con-
signments for furniture only on Wednesdays.
Junior enlisted Program : E4 & below get $25 worth
of clothing each month.
Thrift Store: 384-7000 or email at ftrichthrift-
shop@gmail.com
Richardson Spouses Club:
Open to all ranks and branches.
Sep 15: Super Sign Up, $20.00, in Bldg 56 from 1830-
2030
Nov 5: Richardson Spouses Club Country Fair@
Buckner Gym
FRG concession: $50.00 for info email:
frsccountryfair@yahoo.com
Holidays:
19 Aug: USARAK Training Holiday
2 Sep: USARAK Training Holiday
5 Sep: Labor Day
5. Ongoing Events
CALENDAR Sing-a-long at the Zoo Jan 4, 2011 - Jan 2,
Battalion, Company & Local Events 2012, 10:30 a.m. Mondays, The Alaska Zoo
Storytime at the Zoo Jan 6, 2011 - Jan 4,
Greek Festival — Aug 19, 2011 - Aug 21, 2011
Fri. and Sat. 11a.m.-10p.m.; Sun. noon - 8 p.m. 2012 , 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays The Alaska
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church Zoo
Hawaiian Festival—Aug 20, 2011 1 - 5 p.m. 4th & E Scared Scriptless Improv Jan 8, 2011 - Dec
Street 17, 2011 , 8 p.m. second and fourth Satur-
days , Snow Goose Theater
Macy's Great American Elf Adventure Comes to An-
chorage! - Aug 20, 2011 Noon Anchorage Town Square
Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice
KEY CALLER TRAINING—Aug 25th @ 6pm , More Age Mar 4, 2011 - Oct 9, 2011 , 10 a.m. - 6
information contact ACS p.m. Anchorage Museum
Alaska State Fair— Aug 25th – Sept. 5th military dis- South Anchorage Farmers Market - Old
counts. Member of the military? Get your discounted
admission tickets at Information Tickets and Travel Seward location May 7, 2011 - Oct 1, 2011
on Elmendorf Air Force Base – they’re just $8 for 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays , Subway Sports
adults and $5 for youth or seniors. And they’re good Centre, O'Malley and Old Seward
any day of the Fair!
Anchorage Farmers Market May 7, 2011 -
Oct 15, 2011 , 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays, 15th
and Cordova
Daily planetarium shows May 9, 2011 - Sep
11, 2011
Fort Richardson Spouses Club—September 15th Several shows a day, various times , Anchor-
6:30pm– 8:30 pm @ Building 56th. All are welcome. age Museum
Annual fee is $20 more information check out the face-
book fanpage @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/
Richardson-Spouses-Club/146825218728460?sk=info
Anchorage Market & Festival May 14, 2011
- Sep 11, 2011 , Sat. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
PRE DEPLOYMENT BREIFINGS—Oct 11th & 12th Third Avenue & E Street Parking Lot
@ 6pm in the Richardson Theater. Please mark your
calendars! This is one of the most important briefing for Music in the Park Jun 1, 2011 - Aug 31,
all Spouses. Childcare will be available and the Agenda
will be posted soon.
2011 , noon - 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays
& Fridays Peratrovich Park, 4th Ave & E St.
Battalion 1st /501st BALL– Oct. 15th Details are to
come soon. Dress is formal. Music for Little Ones Jun 1, 2011 - Aug 31,
2011 , noon - 1 p.m. Mondays , Peratrovich
Park, 4th Ave & E St
6. Preparing for Deployment
Article from Militaryonesource.com
The deployment of a family member can be a very much information as you'd like because of security is-
emotional and difficult time for many families. But by sues.
doing everything you can to get yourself and your fam-
ily ready, you may find that you are better able to cope
Agree on a plan for communicating. Find out how you'll
throughout this challenging time. Families who know
be able to communicate. Talk about whether you'll stay in
when a loved one is scheduled to be deployed should
touch by telephone, email, or letters, and how often or at
prepare as soon as possible by talking to children and
what times you'll communicate. Will you be able to send
extended family members about what will happen dur-
a letter or email each day, or will it be once a week? How
ing deployment, adjusting their routines, and reviewing
soon can you expect to get a response?
financial and legal details.
Make a plan for being alone. Family members who are at
Emotional preparations home while a loved one is serving in the military may be
Separation from a spouse or partner is hard, whether able to deal with anxiety and fear if they make plans to
it's for six weeks or six months. If you know what to take classes, pick up new hobbies, or spend time doing
expect and come up with a plan for taking care of your things they wouldn't normally do. Set some personal
household and yourself, you can be better prepared to goals to work toward during the deployment.
handle the strong emotions that often come with a
deployment. Talk about your feelings with your partner and encourage
Everyone reacts to the news of a deployment differ- him or her to do the same. Share your fears and con-
ently. You may feel cerns about the deployment and work together to come
up with a plan for handling them.
angry
sad
confused
Find support for yourself. Many branches of the service
nervous offer support in the form of social groups, counseling, or
a strong sense of denial advice. Look into what's available for you as a military
family member.
Some people may also start to withdraw from their
spouse or partner to try and make the transition easier. Reach out to other people who are going through or have
All of these are normal reactions to a deployment. But already gone through a deployment. Participate in any
there are things you can do to feel better and get predeployment activities offered by your unit. Military
ready. You can: families who have already experienced a deployment
may have valuable tips and advice about handling the
Find out as much as you can about the deploy- separation. By reaching out to other people who are pre-
ment. Where will your spouse be? How long will paring for a deployment, you may be able to build a sup-
the deployment last? By learning as much as you port system for the coming weeks or months.
can about where your partner will be and what he
or she will be doing, you may be able cope better Spend special time together as a couple and as a family.
with feelings of uncertainty. Try to remember that Take the time to be alone with your spouse or partner
in some cases, you may not be able to get as before they leave. It's also important for children to have
individual time with a parent in the days leading up to a
deployment. Make time to be together as a family even if
it's just for an ordinary activity like taking a bike ride or
playing a game.
7. Helpful Websites
Military
http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation
system
www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront
www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program
www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free
stuff for deployed troops
www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program FREE @
Military onesource.com
Medical
www.nmha.org National Mental Health
Association
www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare
Children
www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen
deployment classes online
www.military.com scholarship info
www.militarychild.org school issues
www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in tran-
sition
Military Life
www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army
Families Online
www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG
www.armymwr.com
www.militarylife.com
www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge
and info and counseling.
www.milspouse.org
www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center
www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,
ACS
www.militayfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.
8. Helpful Websites
Military
http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation
system
www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront
www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program
www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free
stuff for deployed troops
www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program FREE @
Military onesource.com
Medical
www.nmha.org National Mental Health
Association
www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare
Children
www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen
deployment classes online
www.military.com scholarship info
www.militarychild.org school issues
www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in tran-
sition
Military Life
www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army
Families Online
www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG
www.armymwr.com
www.militarylife.com
www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge
and info and counseling.
www.milspouse.org
www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center
www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,
ACS
www.militayfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.
9. Helpful Websites
Military
http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation
system
www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront
www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program
www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free
stuff for deployed troops
www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program FREE @
Military onesource.com
Medical
www.nmha.org National Mental Health
Association
www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare
Children
www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen
deployment classes online
www.military.com scholarship info
www.militarychild.org school issues
www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in tran-
sition
Military Life
www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army
Families Online
www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG
www.armymwr.com
www.militarylife.com
www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge
and info and counseling.
www.milspouse.org
www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center
www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,
ACS
www.militayfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.
10. Helpful Websites
Military
http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation
system
www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront
www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program
www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free
stuff for deployed troops
www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program FREE @
Military onesource.com
Medical
www.nmha.org National Mental Health
Association
www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare
Children
www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen
deployment classes online
www.military.com scholarship info
www.militarychild.org school issues
www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in tran-
sition
Military Life
www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army
Families Online
www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG
www.armymwr.com
www.militarylife.com
www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge
and info and counseling.
www.milspouse.org
www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center
www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,
ACS
www.militayfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.
11. Fre
e
On
Mil
ita
One ry
Sou
r
.com ce
Helpful Websites
Military
http://ice.disa.mil Customer evaluation
system
www.aafes.com Gifts from the Homefront
www.aw2.army.mil Army Wounded Warrior Program
www.freedomquilts.net Quilts for injured or fallen soldiers
www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=staying_connected20050429#1 Free stuff
for deployed troops
www.taps.org Tragedy Assistance Program
Medical
www.nmha.org National Mental Health
Association
www.tricare.osd.mil/ Tricare
Children
www.arfp.org/teenclasses Teen
deployment classes online
www.military.com scholarship info
www.militarychild.org school issues
www.militarystudent.org DoD website for children in transi-
tion
Military Life
www.armyfamiliesonline.org Army
Families Online
www.armyfrg.org Virtual FRG
www.armymwr.com
www.militarylife.com
www.militaryonesource.com general military knowledge and
info and counseling.
www.milspouse.org
www.military.com/spouse Military Spouse Career Center
www.militaryonesource.com Family info, links to AFTB,
ACS
www.militaryfamily.org National Military Family Assoc.
Check us our on Facebook: Family Support– Delaware Company
Email : Delaware1st501stFRG@gmail.com # 253-297-4194