FREEDOM/GUARDIAN

ATSCOM/164TH TAOG

Volume 3, Issue 2 February 2012

February 1-28

African-

American/Black

History Month

February 6

WIND Meeting,

Regimental Con-

ference Room,

1000-1100

February 16

National Prayer

Breakfast, The

Landing, 0630-

0830

February 17

DONSA

February 20

President’s Day

Holiday

February 24

Newcomers’ Wel-

come, The Land-

ing, 0830-1030

February 29

2012 AER

Campaign Kick-

off Opening

Ceremony,

Aviation Museum,

1000-1100

If you have questions or suggestions concerning this newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact Marie

Stallworth, FRSA for 164th TAOG, Bldg. 30501, Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker, AL 36362.

Telephone: 334-255-8919 or Email: marie.a.stallworth@us.army.mil

COL James Macklin, Brigade Commander

Visit us at www.facebook.com/ATSCOMTAOG

Reconnecting With Your Sweetheart After Months Apart

Deployment happens to the whole family, it doesn’t just happen to the service member. Re-

integration will likely bring some surprises for everyone. Reconnection also requires re-

negotiation. In the weeks after a long deployment has ended, it’s wise to revisit some key

issues. Discuss them calmly, before conflict arises, to see how things may have changed

and how you want to proceed.

Major areas worth covering are:

How household/marital decisions are made

How money is spent

Rules for the children, if you have any

Who does which household tasks

Claims to physical space in your home

Also, try following these simple rules:

1 Do set reasonable expectations

2 Don’t push for too much, too soon

3 Do invite interaction

4 Don’t globalize (don't’ say things like “I don’t think we’re going to make it” or “You

always shut me out”. Such broad general statements are seldom true.

5 Do be patient

6 Do be lighthearted

7 Don’t take things personally

8 Do acknowledge Change

9 Don’t tolerate disrespect

10 Do get help

Need help! Contact the Unit Chaplain, Military Family Life Consultant, or Family

Advocacy!

Article retrieved from Military Spouse Magazine, February 2012 Issue.

Soldiers and Spouses of HHC,

We have officially moved into 2012 and there is no looking

back. “Remember the past, live for the present, and plan

for the future”. ~Anonymous

Notable dates for this month:

February 14th – Valentine’s Day. Make sure you make

someone special feel special!

Four day weekend for President’s Day from 17-20 Feb.

Everyone can always use some rest and relaxation.

XX February – ATSSE deployment. Our Air Traffic Services Standardization Element will

be departing this month so be prepared to support their departure.

FRG

The FRG social this month will be held on 21 February at the Commons on 7th Ave. The

time again will be 1800-1930. Food will be provided. Theme is still to be determined.

Hope to see you there.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

The Warhawks have been working on new pieces of equipment over the last few months

and that training will be coming to a close this month. Preparation will now begin to take

everything we learned to the field. All Soldiers have done a fantastic job during this

fielding. Also in this month we plan on conducting our last two road marches and an Army

Physical Fitness Exam.

NEW ARRIVALS

I would like to welcome our newest Warhawks this past month: LTC Brooks, MAJ

Sermon, CPT Poteau, SPC Dailey, SPC Staley, PFC Flythebrown, PV2 Reid, and PV2

Trado. Their backgrounds range from chemical, to maintenance, to intelligence analyst.

FAREWELLS

A few Soldiers are leaving us this month and they will be missed. Sergeant Kobel,

Specialist Erturk, and Corporal McCune will all be medically retiring this month. Their

dedication to this unit will be missed and wish them all the best of luck.

CPT Douglas A. Blevins, AV, HHC 164th TAOG, Commander

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HHC 164TH TAOG

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPC Bryan McMahon is the featured Soldier for

February. He have served in the Army for eight

years this May in both the Reserve and Active Duty

sides. In his life as an Army brat having been raised

on the go around the world SPC McMahon has seen

and been enabled to do many things that he wouldn't

have been able to if he had lived in a single town his

whole life.

FEATURED SOLDIER OF THE MONTH

In his time with the Army he has worked in a Supply room, Orderly room, Battalion S-1,

Division Operations Center, and now a Brigade S-1. During McMahon’s last duty

Station, he deployed to Iraq for 12 months working with 1st AD and rotating to Fort

Rucker in July 2011. He has also worked at Fort Lewis, Tumwater, and Fort Jackson for

training. He attended WLC at Grafenwoehr, Germany in the 7th Army NCO

academy in April 2011.

On his off duty time he enjoys reading, writing, and playing games online with friends.

Some of the places he has visited include: Brazil, Japan, Australia, France, and England.

A few of the notable things he has accomplished include: Being published in an online

magazine, running in and finishing the Oklahoma City Half Marathon, Marine Corps

Marathon and dozens of 5k/10k fun runs.

SGT Brumfield is the recipient of the February Volunteer of the

Month Award. He has volunteered in the following capacities:

coaching soccer for Fort Rucker’s youth for the past two seasons,

providing support to the 164th TAOG Family Readiness Group, and

assisted with the tornado disaster in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. SGT

Brumfield will be presented with the award on Monday, 6 February

2012 before the monthly WIND panel and guests.

Congratulations SGT Burome Brumfield

Families of the 597th,

January was eventful with the return from Exodus and the Martin

Luther King, Jr. 4-Day weekend. I hope everyone had a great

start to the New Year and are on track with your resolutions. I

would like to welcome the newest member of the unit, SSG

Chiquita Cole and her family.

The month of February is here with Valentine’s Day on the 14th

and Presidents Day Weekend from the 17th through the 20th. Of

course, we can't forget Super Bowl Sunday on the 5th that will be another exciting rematch

between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Giants pulled off a

victory when these two teams met in Super Bowl XLII in 2008. Which team will you cheer

on for the championship this year?

The combined HHC/597th FRG meeting of the New Year will be this month. It is currently

scheduled for the 21st at the Commons at 18:00. Please come and support if you can!

Training Notes:

597th will be hosting a range this month on the 13th and 14th

13 Feb – M16 Zero and Qualification

14 Feb – M2, M203, M240B, and M249

The ATSCOM/TAOG FRG’s Facebook site is available to help discover upcoming events

here at Fort Rucker. Please visit the site for more details: http://www.facebook.com/#!/

ATSCOMTAOG

As always, if there is anything that my wife Dejah or I can do for you, please let us know.

"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person

perfectly." ~Sam Keen

CW4 Steven Hess

Fast and Furious!

597TH MAINTENANCE DETACHMENT

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RETENTION

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FAMILY READINESS SUPPORT ASSISTANT, FRSA

The Annual National Prayer Breakfast will be

held on 16 February 2012, 0630-0800, at The

Landing. The speaker will be Chaplain (COL)

Clarke L. McGriff, USA Retired. Prior to his

retirement in November 2010, Chaplain McGriff

served as the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine

Command Chaplain, Fort Monroe, Virginia. For

more information, contact the Religious Support

Office at 255-2989/2012. Tickets can also be

purchased through the TAOG Chaplain’s office,

POC is SSG Seng, Building 30604,

334.255.8984 .

February 5th

BOSS Super Bowl Party

The super bowl is right around the corner. Celebrate this year’s Super Bowl

Party with BOSS in Bldg 8350. Last year’s party was a great success with over

60 Soldiers in attendance. This year the party will begin at 4:30 pm, with pizza being served

during half time. All Soldiers who attend are encouraged to bring some sort of party food (Chips,

dip, salsa, cookies….etc). Soda and Sweet Tea will be provided; we will

have a Designated Driver if you plan to consume alcohol, but please

remember to drink responsibly. The game will be shown on a big screen,

video games will be available on the other TV’s. If you have any

suggestions about the party please feel free to call or email BOSS at

334-255-2677.

February 13th & 14th

AFTB Level 1 Training

Being new to the Army can be confusing! Come and gain

knowledge and tools to thrive at the AFTB Level I

Training on February 13th & 14th from 8:30 am to 2:30

pm at The Commons, Bldg. 8950. Modules of learning

include: military acronyms, chain of command, customs

and courtesies and much more! For advanced registration

and childcare information, call 255-2382.

Military Saves Week—www.militarysaves.org

February 19-26

Military Saves is a national campaign to persuade, motivate, and

encourage military families to save money every month, and to

convince leaders and organizations to be aggressive in promoting

automatic savings.

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President’s Week-

end Skins Golf

SUPER BOWL PARTY

Celebrate this year’s Super

Bowl with a party on Sunday,

5 February 2012 at Mother Rucker’s.

Game kick-off begins at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, please call Mother

Rucker’s at 503-0396 or visit them on

Facebook!

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February 3

Promotion Points Parent Support Pro-

gram, 9-11am at the Early Childhood Ac-

tivity Center, Bldg. 3705, Dean Street.

POC: FAP, 255-3898.

February 4

African-American/Black History 5K Run,

registration begins at 7:30 and 5K run

wills start at 9. POC: PFF, 255-3794.

February 11

Dueling Pianos Valentine’s Day, The

Landing, 598-8025.

February 14

EFMP Information and Support

Group, 9-10 am, The Commons,

Bldg. 8950, 7th Ave., POC:

EFMP, 255-9277

February 22

Blended Family Workshop, 900-1100 am,

Early Childhood Activity Center, POC:

FAP, 255-9641/3898

February 21 & 28

Anger Management Workshop, Early

Childhood Activity Center, Bldg. 3705,

POC: FAP, 255-3898/9641.

February 24

Newcomers’ Welcome, The Landing,

0830-1030, POC: ACS, 255-3161/2887

February 25

Outdoor Recreation ATV Trail Ride, 7am

-1pm, Cost is $20 per person, POC: Ft.

Rucker Outdoor Recreation, 255-4305

February 29

2012 AER Campaign Kickoff/Opening

Ceremony, 1000 am at the Fort Rucker

Aviation Museum, POC: ACS, 255-2341

Check out the February Fort Rucker @

Ease Guide to Family & MWR . Visit

ww.ftruckermwr.com to see all your

entertainment and family needs.

FRG LEADERSHIP

TRAINING

Monday, 6 February 2012

0800 am -1200 pm

Building 5700, RM 284

This training provides

great information regard-

ing the functioning of a

Family Readiness Group.

POC: Curtis Williams,

255-9578

Military and Family Life Consultants are here to listen.

Consultations and trainings are free and anonymous. No records

are kept. Please note that exceptions to confidentiality include

domestic violence, child abuse, present or future illegal activity,

and danger to self or others.

Helping you is our Priority After-hours and weekend appointments are available.

Group or off-site meetings can be arranged.

To schedule an appointment, contact:

Dale Lott, 334-369-8556

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6:15 p.m. to 10:15

KiD’s CoRnEr

Valentine’s Day Craft Making Valentine’s Day craft making activity for

children ages 3-11 at the Center Library from

4-5 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Space is limited to the first 65 children. Stop

by or call the Center Library for more

information, 334-255-3885.

Character Dining at

The Landing Zone!!!

Kids can enjoy FREE balloons and a children’s buffet. Child’s meal is only FREE from the children’s buffet and with the purchase of one adult en-trée. February 7th Character Dining with Kiddie Karaoke February 14th Character Dining with a Balloon Performance & Crafts February 21st Character Dining with Face Painting

“Always be a first-rate version

of yourself, instead of a second-

rate version of someone else.”

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