AKO changesRetirees, familiesaffectedpage 8

MemorialFBI field officehonors veterans

page 6

Published for Joint Base Myer-Henderson HallVol. 60, no. 46 November 27, 2013

IndexCommunity Spotlight p.2Commentary p.3Community p.4News Notes p.4Classifieds p.9

Holiday hoursList of openings andclosures on JBM-HHPg. 3

Caption ThisWeekly photo captioncontestPg. 2

PentagramTURKEY DAY

By Julia LeDouxPentagram Staff Writer

How would you like to plan, order foodand prepare a Thanksgiving meal for abouta thousand people?That’s exactly what staff at the Joint

Base Myer-Henderson Hall ConsolidatedDining Facility are doing this week, as thefacility hosts a Thanksgiving meal Nov. 27and a slightly less elaborate feast Nov. 28.“The hard thing about it is it’s on top of

the regular meals we have to do during theweek, we also have a special Thanksgivingmeal,” said Spc. Ben Stein, who alongwith Spc. Kevin Arwood is responsible forpreparing the holiday meals. “That’s our

only responsibilities, prepping this meal,it’s going to be three full days of gettingready.”Meal preparations began Nov. 25, con-

tinued Stein. Potatoes were being peeled,sliced and diced. Vegetables, salads, and25 turkeys were being readied, along withham and prime rib.“I’ve been thinking about the prime rib

for the last two weeks,” said Stein. “It’san expensive piece of meat and a featureditem. There’s going to be a carving station.”The menu also includes sweet potatoes;

two different types of stuffing and dessertslike pumpkin pie.

DFAC preps for Thanksgiving

PHOTO BY JULIA LEDOUX

Spcs. Ben Stein (left) and Kevin Arwood (right) practice their flambe techniques Nov. 25 at the consoli-dated dining facility on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Soldiers are responsible for preparing the twoThanksgiving meals that will be served at the facility this week.

American Forces Press Service

President Barack Obama Nov. 22 called onAmericans to honor the memory of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy and to celebrate Kennedy’s“enduring impact on American history.” Obama’sproclamation also directed that the Americanflag be flown at half-staff Nov. 22 in honor ofKennedy’s memory.The President’s proclamation reads as

follows:A half century ago, America mourned the loss

of an extraordinary public servant. With broadvision and soaring but sober idealism, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy had called a generation toservice and summoned a Nation to greatness.Today, we honor his memory and celebrate hisenduring imprint on American history.In his three years as President of the United

States, John F. Kennedy weathered some ofthe most perilous tests of the Cold War and ledAmerica to the cusp of a bright new age. Hisleadership through the Cuban missile Crisisremains the standard for American diplomacy atits finest. In a divided Berlin, he delivered a stir-ring defense of freedom that would echo throughthe ages, yet he also knew that we must advancehuman rights here at home. During his finalyear in office, he proposed a civil rights bill thatcalled for an end to segregation in America. Andrecognizing women’s basic right to earn a livingequal to their efforts, he signed the Equal PayAct into law.While President Kennedy’s life was tragically

cut short, his vision lives on in the generationshe inspired — volunteers who serve as ambassa-dors for peace in distant corners of the globe, sci-entists and engineers who reach for new heightsin the face of impossible odds, innovators whoset their sights on the new frontiers of our time.Today and in the decades to come, let us carryhis legacy forward. Let us face today’s tests by

PresidentproclaimsJFK day ofremembrance

see JFK, page 7

see DFAC, page 7

Irish Cadets revisit Fort Myer, JFK burial siteBy Jim Dresbach

Pentagram Staff Writer

Fifty years ago, the 37thIrish Defence Forces CadetClass was requested to bea part of President John F.Kennedy’s funeral by hiswidow, Jacqueline Kennedy. Ahalf century later, 11 of the 26original Irish cadets returnedto the sod and soil of ArlingtonNational Cemetery, where theyperformed a silent drill in honorof the 35th President of theUnited States.The Nov. 25 wreath-laying

ceremony by the cadet class fellon the 50th anniversary of theJFK funeral and burial. The10-minute remembrance at theKennedy gravesite cumulated aday that found the Irish cadetsrevisiting sites on then-FortMyer.Leading the delegation

was Irish Cadet Lt. Col. JohnDunne, who represented theclass by laying the wreath atthe gravesite.“I suppose it is more emo-

tional now because we’re older,”Dunne said following thewreath-laying. “When we were

cadets, we were so excited andso concentrating on our drilland getting it right.”In 1963, the Irish cadets

rehearsed the silent drill andquartered in Conmy Hall bunkbeds. Five decades later, thegroup returned and toured thecaisson barn and Conmy Hall,where they watched the endof The Old Guard’s regimentalproficiency training. Followingthe drill training, the formerIrish soldiers, now in their 70s,presented a copy of the 37thIrish Defence Forces guidon to

see CADETS, page 7

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Members from the 37th Irish Defence Forces CadetClass lay a wreath at John F. Kennedy’s gravesite Nov.25. Members of the 37th Cadet Class performed duringKennedy’s burial 50 years ago.

2 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 PENTAGRAM

The Pentagram is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents ofthe Pentagram are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense,the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, or Joint BaseMyer-Henderson Hall.

The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PublicAffairs Office. Pictures not otherwise credited are U.S. Army photographs. News items should besubmitted to the Pentagram, 204 Lee Ave., Bldg. 59, Fort Myer, VA 22211-1199. They may also befaxed to (703) 696-0055 or e-mailed to courtney.a.dock-abuhl.civ@mail.mil.

Circulation of 24,000 is printed by offset every Friday as a civilian enterprise newspaper by ComprintMilitary Publications. ComprintMilitary Publications is located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg,MD20877. Telephone (301) 921-2800. Commercial advertising should be placedwith the printer.

Comprint Military Publications is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of theArmy or Department of the Navy.

The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include all inserts and supplements,does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army or Department of the Navy ofthe products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made avail-able for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser,user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser shall resultin the refusal to print advertising from that source.

Printed on recycled paper

http://www.army.mil/jbmhh

Editorial staff

Commander Col. Fern O. Sumpter

Command Sergeant Major Earlene Y. Lavender

Director of Public Affairs Mary Ann Hodges

Command Information Officer Sharon Walker

Pentagram staff

Editor Courtney Dock (703) 696-5401

Staff Writer Rhonda Apple (703) 696-1363

Staff Writer Julia LeDoux (703) 696-7605

Staff Writer Jim Dresbach (703) 696-5488

Staff Photographer Rachel Larue (703) 696-7606

Pentagram

Caption This #44If you’ve ever looked at a photo, read the caption underneath and thoughtyou could do better, now is your chance. Each week, “Caption This” willhave a photo taken from around the base. It’s up to you to figure out thebest, funniest or craziest caption that describes what’s going on in the pic-ture. The only rule is you have to KEEP IT CLEAN!“Caption This” submissions can be sent either by emailing them to penta-gramjbmhh@yahoo.com, commenting on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/jbmhh or just stopping by Headquarters Bldg. 59, suite 116 and drop-ping it off. Don’t forget to add the “Caption This” number, your name, rankor position and where you work.Every week the Pentagram staff will pick their favorite. The winner’sname, caption along with the photo, will be printed in the newspaper. Com-pete with your friends and coworkers and see who can come up with thebest one. And if you have a photo you think would make a great “CaptionThis,” send it in.

Caption This

Caption This #43“Last one to the DFAC eats the rot-ten egg!”

Dermita Crawford Schuyler

PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. BRITTANY E. JONES

Commander, Joint Base Myer-Henderson HallCol. Fern O. Sumpter’s vision and philosophy:

With a team of resource management savvy and technically competentDoD professionals, establish JBM–HH as DoD’s premier provider of consis-tent, quality services that enhance readiness and the overall well-being ofour customers.We must be ...- Experts at what we do … constantly improving our skills and knowledge.- Focused … set priorities and complete the mission.- Committed … to the mission and each other, fostering a community of

excellence.- Professional/respectful … remain calm, even when others are not…

count on each other at all times, treating everyone with dignityand respect.

• Name? Daniel Feeman• Job title/where do you work?

Department chief, public safety,Arlington National Cemetery.

• Military service? Marine veteran.• Favorite sports team? Seahawks.• Favorite book? “I, Lucifer.”• Favorite food? Chicken and broc-

coli.• Favorite band/music artist? Blink

182.• Favorite movie? “Turner and

Hooch.”• Favorite place you’ve ever trav-eled to or been stationed? Ghana.

• What do you like most aboutworking on/visiting JBM-HH? DES.

• What do you like most about living in the NationalCapital Region? National Symphony Orchestra.

• What’s your favorite attraction to see in the NCR?The Mall at night.

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Be niceto everybody.

• If you won the lottery, what would you do? Invest allbut 10 percent with Barkley’s Capitol.

• What advice do you have for someone getting sta-tioned at JBM-HH? It can make your career.

Community Spotlight

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

MemorialVisitors to Arlington National Cemetery pay respects to President John F. Kennedy at his gravesite Nov. 22, on the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Dallas.

PENTAGRAM Wednesday, November 27, 2013 3

Road wearyMaj. Stephen Brack

Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 77thTheater Aviation BrigadeArkansas National Guard

Little Rock, Ark.

In the aviation community, we talk aboutsafety all the time. It’s evident that we put agreater emphasis on safety atwork. For example,I would never start a flight across three stateswithout first making arrangements to supportthe mission, such as knowing exactly where Iwas going to stop for fuel or stay overnight. Lastsummer, however, I took my family on a roadtrip to Albuquerque, N.M., and did just that.The plan was to leave our home in Little Rock,

Ark., on a Friday and arrive in Albuquerque bySunday afternoon. As usual, I scheduled theovernight stops well in advance and made thenecessary arrangements for hotels, which wouldallow me to drive no more than about five hoursa day. My wife also researched activities wecould do with the kids in the evenings at eachlocation. With our itinerary set, all that was leftwas to execute. As we finished our last bit ofpacking Wednesday night, we decided we couldeasily move up our departure date by a day. Thisis where a series of bad decisions began.Since our hotel reservations didn’t start until

Friday, I figured we would just leave when Igot off work Thursday, drive until I startedgetting tired and then stop for the night at theclosest hotel. That would give us a little moretime to spend in Oklahoma City. It soundedlike a win-win situation to me. After all, it wasa Thursday night, and I was sure I’d have noproblem finding a hotel along the way. Wrong!I never considered that my last-minute plans

would be thwarted by the Oklahoma CityThunder playing in the NBA playoffs. Betweenall the people in town to watch the playoffs, aswell as a national softball tournament, therewasn’t a hotel within 200 miles of OklahomaCity. Obviously, those folks had planned betterthan I. My decision to “shoot from the hip” and“see how far we can get” was quickly blowing upin my face.The one bright spot was that my three boys,

who ranged from 2- to 10-years-old, were stillengrossed in their Rescue Heroes DVD playingin the back seat. (A carDVD system is a fantasticinvention.) But I knew it wouldn’t last. Shortlyafter Rescue Heroes ended, it was time to switchto a DVD my youngest son would enjoy. That’swhen the complaining started.We were about an hour from Oklahoma City

and the boyswere done!Mywife was using everyresource available on her phone to try to find usa hotel. Of course, nothing was showing up asavailable until Amarillo, Texas, and that wasanother four and a half hours down the road. Bythe time we rolled throughOklahomaCity about11 p.m., I was very tired. I was hoping we couldfind somewhere (anywhere!) to get some rest,but even the “roach coach” motels were boasting“No vacancy” signs. I felt as if I had no choice butto push on toward Amarillo.I knew I was going to have to pull over and

take some power naps along the way and maybeeven ask my wife to drive for a little while. Iwould definitely need to stop and get some morecaffeine too. Without really thinking about it,I went through the risk assessment process tominimize the hazards as much as I could. Wepulled over when I needed to so I could grab aquick nap. My wife also helped by taking thewheel for a few minutes, but she was exhaustedtoo. Eventually, we completed what should havebeen a four and a half hour trek to Amarillo inabout six hours.When I pulled in to check into the hotel in

Amarillo at 5 a.m., I was worn out. The kidswere just waking up and, aside from wonder-ing why they were still in their car seats, wereoblivious to what had been going on all night.Determined to not put ourselves in another dan-gerous situation on the road, we stayed at thehotel in Amarillo an extra night to let everyonerecover and went on to Albuquerque Sunday asplanned.Aside from some grumpy travelers, a very

tired mom and dad and the fact that I didn’t getto go to the sporting goods store in OklahomaCity, we were all OK. But when I look backat that trip, there are some things I obviouslyshould have done differently. First and foremost,I should have stuck with the original plan toleave Friday, or we should have at least checkedon lodging arrangements prior to departure.Instead, I managed to put four of the mostimportant people in my world at risk.For some reason, we just don’t weigh the risks

off duty the same as we do when at work. Yet,excluding deployments and training, we areonly in the workplace for about one-third of ourday. That leaves the remaining two-thirds of theday subject to unmanaged risk. Thankfully, wemade it through just fine and went on to have agreat trip. However, it could have easily endeddifferently.

Safety tip

Most offices on Joint Base Myer-HendersonHall will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28—thefederal holiday celebrating Thanksgiving. Somemilitary activities will have curtailed opera-tions both Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Friday,Nov. 29, and many Department of Defensecivilians will take leave Nov. 26 and 29.The following facilities and places of busi-

ness will have altered hours during the upcom-ing holiday. Unless otherwise noted, this listapplies to Nov. 28. This list is not all encom-passing. Please check with the facility you wishto visit for more details.•Old Post and Memorial Chapel - Closed.•Rader Health Clinic - Closed.•Rader Dental Clinic - Closed.•Fort McNair Health Clinic - Closed.•Commissary - Closed.•Fort Myer Exchange - Closed Nov. 28; open 4a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 29; open from 6 a.m. to 8p.m. Nov. 30; open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1.

•Fort Myer Express - Closed Nov. 28; open 6a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 29; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.Nov. 30; open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 from 10a.m. to 4 p.m.•Fort Myer Military Clothing Sales Store -Closed Nov. 28; open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov.29 and Nov. 30.•Pentagon Military Clothing Sales Store -Closed Nov. 28-Dec. 1.•Fort McNair Express - Closed Nov. 28-Dec. 1.•Subway - Closed.•Flower Shop - Closed.•Barber Shop (Fort Myer) - Closed.•Barber Shop (Henderson Hall) - Closed.•Barber Shop (Fort McNair) - Closed.•Cleaners/Alteration - Closed.•GNC - Closed.•Optical Shop - Closed.•Firestone - Closed.•Marine Corps Exchange, The Vineyard Wineand Spirits - Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27;Closed Nov. 28; Nov. 29 the MCX is open 5a.m. to 9 p.m. The Vineyard is open 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.•CYSS - Closed.•Army Community Service - Closed.•Fort Myer Fitness Center - Closed.•Fort McNair Fitness Center - Closed.•Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium - Open 4 a.m.to 2 p.m. Nov. 27; Closed Nov. 28; open 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. Nov. 29.•Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Pool - Closed.•Library - Closed.•Recreation Center - Closed.•USO - Closed.•Auto Shop - Closed.•Java Café - Closed Nov. 28; open 5 a.m. to 4p.m. Nov. 29.•MCCS Henderson Hall Car Wash - Open 24/7.•On the Henderson Hall side of the joint base,the following activities are closed Friday, Nov.29: Career Resource Management Center,Education Office, Zembiec Pool, and theMarine Club. All other MCCS activities willobserve regular hours.

JBM-HH Thanksgiving holiday hours

In January 2013, the American TaxpayerRelief Act of 2012 (H.R.8) temporarily raisedthe transit benefit statutory limit to $245 permonth. This new amount was not intended tobe permanent and expires at the end of 2013.Unless a new statutory limit is approved byCongress, the statutory limit will decrease to$130 per month starting Jan. 1, 2014.Congress may still act to extend the limit above

$130, but at this time agencies must proceedwith what the law states as the maximum taxexempt mass transit subsidy limit. Any updateswill be posted at the MTBP website at http://www.whs.mil/MTBP/.Do I need to update my information?Not unless your commuting expenses have

changed. Your actual total commuting costs onmass transit are captured on your current appli-cation. Commuting costs are covered up to thefederal maximum allowed benefit. You will notneed to submit an application due to a change in

the maximum monthly allowable subsidy.If you allocate your benefits to a single thyird

party, such as Vanpools, CommuterDirect, com-muter trains (MARC,VRE), buses (MARTZ,MTA), no action is needed but you should knowthat any costs above your allocated benefit mustbe paid out of pocket at the time of purchase.If you allocate your benefits to more than onethird party, the percentages of your allocation toeach transit company will need to be adjusted onWMATA’s passenger allocation website.Benefits for January 2014 will be delivered

up to the maximum monthly allowable limit,even if claims submitted are higher. If you haveany further questions, please contact the MTBPOffice at the MTBP Program Office, 571-256-0962.

(Joint Force Headquarters-National CapitalRegion and the Military District of Washingtonpress release.)

The maximum monthly statutory limitfor transit benefits is set to decrease

Gary SheftickArmy News Service

The Joint Hometown NewsService is partnering this yearwith SiriusXM Radio to allowservicemembers worldwide tosend holiday greetings to lovedones back home.Military members anywhere

can call a toll-free number,888-776-2790, to record aholiday message for airing onthe satellite radio network.For 30 years, holiday greet-

ings have been collected byJoint Hometown News Serviceteams that travel overseas andbring messages back to air onstateside radio and televisionstations.While this year’s team has

already returned home, it’snot too late for servicemem-bers to participate by callingthe toll-free number or DSN312-733-4660, said the pro-gram’s director.“Even in the world today

with social media and service-members able to Skype fromanywhere, there’s still some-thing special about turningon the radio and hearing a

family member who cannot behome for the holidays,” saidRick Blackburn, director of theJoint Hometown News Service.“This is a great opportunity

for our folks and is a reminderto the American public thatour men and women servearound the world, 24 hours aday, seven days a week,” hesaid.Soldiers can call SiriusXM

around the clock and leave a15-second greeting. They willbe prompted by a recordedmessage to provide their name,rank, duty location, hometownand then a short greeting tofriends or family.“Our goal is to get as many

military members on the airfor the holidays as possible,”Blackburn said.So far this year, 2,658

holiday greetings have beencollected. A Joint HometownNews Service team traveledto Alaska, Japan, Korea andGuam. Additional greetingswere also collected from troopsin Afghanistan and Europeby American Forces Networkbroadcasters.With Department of Defense

budget cuts, teams are notable to travel as much, and theJoint Hometown News Serviceappreciates others pitching into help with holiday greetings,said Amy “Natasha” Schleper,JHNS broadcast chief.“With other outlets willing

to pitch in and shoot for us,we’re able to really get a goodnumber of holiday greetings,as well as a better mix of loca-tions,” Schleper said.“It’s a lot of extra work for

them,” she said. “We hope theyknow the families at homeappreciate their efforts.”Every video greeting is

turned into a radio greeting aswell, Schleper said.SiriusXM Radio is “another

avenue we are using” to collectand distribute importantholiday greetings, Blackburnsaid.SiriusXM has more than 25

million subscribers on two ser-vices operating in the UnitedStates, Sirius Satellite Radioand XM Satellite Radio. Theholiday greetings will beaired on SiriusXM’s HolidayTraditions channel nowthrough Jan. 1.

Troops can call in holiday greetingsvia satellite radio partnership

4 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 PENTAGRAM

Winter weather newsIn the event of weather-related closures, Joint

Base Myer-Henderson Hall (Fort Myer, FortMcNair, Henderson Hall) personnel follow the guid-ance of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).OPM determines the “open” or “closed” status forall government agencies and installations locatedinside the Washington, D.C., beltway.If you have a question about your duty status,

speak with your supervisor. Partner organiza-tion personnel should inquire within the chain ofcommand.For OPM guidance, see www.opm.gov/status. You

can also call 202-606-1900 around the clock.JBM-HHwill also have this information available

as follows:JBM-HH Facebook at www.facebook.com/jbmhh.Commander’s Information Hotline at 703-696-

6906. This line is updated often in an emergencysituation.Check the JBM-HH Webpage at www.jbmhh.

army.mil for the Winter Weather link which is nowbeing updated for Nov. 27. Get national weather bylogging onto www.weather.gov/.

Fort Myer Exchange hoursThe Fort Myer Exchange has extended Black

Friday weekend holiday hours and will be openBlack Friday, Nov. 29, from 4 a.m.-8 p.m.; Nov. 30from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Gate closureHenderson Hall Annex Gate on the Henderson

Hall portion of Joint BaseMyer-Henderson Hall willbe closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 6, 2014.

Thanksgiving meal at DFACThe staff of the dining facility on the Fort Myer

portion of the joint base, Bldg. 404, will host twoThanksgiving holiday meals, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28.The Nov. 28 meal will not be quite as elaborate asthe Nov. 27 meal, but will still be a Thanksgivingfeast. On both of those days, the dining facility willbe open to retirees and Department of Defense civil-ians. Meal times and prices are: Nov. 27: Holidaymeal, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $7.60, with a discountedrate of $6.45 for family members of E-4’s and below.Nov. 28: Brunch, 9 a.m.-noon, $5.25; dinner,

4-5:30 p.m., $6.45.So the DFAC staff is sure to have enough food on

hand, call 703-696-2087 to let them know you willbe attending.

Holiday tree lighting ceremony setBring friends and family Dec. 4 for the lighting of

the JBM-HH Holiday Tree at the side of Building59 on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall beginning at 5 p.m. We welcomeSanta Claus to the festivities at this time. After thetree lighting, join Santa for pictures and refresh-ments.For more information, contact Todd Hopkins at

703-696-0594 or todd.a.hopkins.civ@mail.mil.

‘Reindeer Stampede’ 5KGet ready to participate in the 2013 Operation

Santa 5K “Reindeer Stampede” race, Dec. 6. Racebegins at 6:35 a.m. at the Fort Myer Fitness Center,Building 414. Late race day registration will beaccepted between 5:30 and 6:15 a.m. Race is free.Participants can bring an unwrapped toy to supportArmy Community Services Holiday Toy Basketprogram. Awards will be presented for “LargestMilitary Unit” and male and female top finishersfor each age division. For more information, contactTodd Hopkins at 703-696-0594 or todd.a.hopkins.civ@mail.mil.

Get rid of that cigarette buttTobacco use is the leading cause of preventable

death and disease. Tobacco kills. Inhaling or ingest-ing tobacco releases harmful chemicals into thelungs and blood stream, sending toxins to everyorgan in the body. Smoking and tobacco use causecancer, heart disease, strokes, emphysema, bronchi-tis, airway obstructions and more. Not to mentionthat tobacco smoke stinks.Don’t wait until the new year to start saving

your own life when you can do that right now. Yourfamily and friends will thank you for it. See www.army.mil/standto and talk to the Rader Clinic folkswho have resources to help military personnel andtheir family members. See www.ucanquit2.org, aDepartment of Defense website, and chat with atobacco cessation counselor.

Kris Kringle marketThe Army and Air Force Exchange Service and

Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation arejoining forces to host a Kris Kringle market Nov. 29from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Exchange parking lot onthe Fort Myer portion of the joint base.Approximately 10 vendors will be on hand to help

everyone get in the spirit of Christmas. Gluhweinwill be available for sale, along with various foodvendors, arts, crafts and novelties, and a Christmastree vendor. The Exchange will open at 4 a.m. Nov.29, in conjunction with Black Friday. For more

News Notes

Community

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service

Offering a glimpse at what commissary andmilitary exchange services could become in lightof smaller and unpredictable budgets, the DefenseCommissary Agency director and CEO describedto Congress Nov. 20 the consequences sequestra-tion and the government shutdown have alreadyimposed.Customers packed commissaries Oct. 1, the

first day of the government shutdown, Joseph H.Jeu told the House Armed Service Committee’sMilitary Personnel Subcommittee.Not knowing what was ahead, shoppers stocked

up on food and supplies, racking up twice thetypical day’s sales, at $30.5 million.“That was our highest sale day ever,” Jeu told

the House panel.But as the furlough dragged on, its effects

increasingly became evident.The department-wide hiring freeze had already

put a dent in the customer service that been thepride of the Defense Commissary Agency. Becauseturnover tends to be high among the commis-saries’ lower-grade employees, manning levelsquickly dropped, Jeu explained. Two-thirds ofall commissaries fell below the manning levelsrequired to run the stores effectively. Even whenDOD gave some relief and authorized personnelhiring, the results came slowly due to time lags inemployee vetting.Exacerbating the situation, civilian furloughs

forced most commissaries to close one day a weekfor six weeks.“Customer complaints rose by over 50 percent

and hit an all-time high during the furlough,”Jeu reported. “While our employees struggled toprovide our goal of excellent customer service,they could not always overcome the challenges.”Customers were often confronted with long

checkout lines, closed registers and empty shelves,he said. Sometimes waits for checkouts draggedon for 20 to 30 minutes.Meanwhile, sales figures that had been on an

upward trajectory dropped. “Commissaries expe-rienced a sales loss totally over $99 million drivenby sequestration closures in fiscal year 2013 andgovernment shutdown closures in October of fiscalyear 2014,” Jeu reported.Distributors who supply the commissaries

felt the impact, too, he said. They faced sporadicdelays in offloading their deliveries, and orderswere frequently held up or delayed. In somecases, the wrong products were shipped, damagesweren’t processed in a timely manner, and orderswere delayed due to closures that made schedul-ing a logistical nightmare.All this followed what Jue told the congressio-

nal panel had been “an impressive year” in fiscal2012, before sequestration.“Sales were up, topping the $6 billion level for

the first time since 1992,” he reported. The costof delivering commissary services came in underbudget. Customer satisfaction surveys that wereindependently verified ranked commissaries aboveall but one commercial grocery chain.“The commissary continues to be one of the

most valued non-pay compensation benefits ourmilitary members, past and present, and theirfamilies enjoy,” Jeu said. Calling the commissarybenefit an “integral element of the total compen-sation package,” he said it saves patrons about 30percent compared to commercial supermarkets.That equates to about $1,500 a year for a single

service member who consistently uses the com-missary and as much as $4,500 for an averagefamily of four, he said.This quality-of-life enhancement comes at a rate

of $2 in patron savings for every taxpayer dollar

invested, Jue reported.“However, this two-for-one return on invest-

ment is insufficient to shield the commissary fromscrutiny as it faces the same fiscal challenges asother government agencies,” he lamented.Jue noted the Defense Commissary Agency’s

“proven history of taking cost out of the system,”and progress in reducing operating costs andoverhead and introducing efficiencies and innova-tion. Warehouses and associated inventory hasbeen eliminated, manpower has been reduced,accounting functions have been centralized andautomated and headquarters and regional officesconsolidated.

“Over the past 20 years, we have picked thelong-hanging fruit by seeking innovative initia-tives to achieve operating efficiencies, and throughgood stewardship of taxpayer dollars, we madethe commissary system significantly less costly tooperate,” Jeu said. “With this history, any furtherreduction resulting from sequestration will dimin-ish the commissary benefit.”Even with commissaries to receive full funding

in the proposed fiscal 2014 budget, Jeu warnedthat the impact of sequestration “is likely to beconsiderable” as the department establishes pri-orities and balances resources.“Even with the budget uncertainty due to

sequestration, as we move into this net era, the[Defense Commissary Agency] is excited about itsongoing initiatives to seek innovative and efficientmethods of benefit delivery,” he said.Jeu testified yesterday with other senior

defense officials who urged Congress to preservemilitary exchange and commissary services theycall key to the morale and quality of life of servicemembers and their families.Joining him in the House chamber were

Rosemary Williams, deputy assistant secretaryof defense for Military Community and FamilyPolicy; retired Navy Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi,CEO of Navy Exchange Service Command;Thomas Shull, director and CEO of the Army andAir Force Exchange Service; William Dillon, direc-tor of the Marine Corps Semper Fit and ExchangeServices; Thomas Gordy, president of the ArmedForces Marketing Council; and Patrick Nixon,president of the American Logistics Association.

Commissary CEO sharessequestration consequences

The Fort Myer Express fuel station is making it easier formotorists with physical challenges or retirees who may needhelp to fuel up. The newly installed Fuel Call wireless alertsystem allows physically challenged drivers or customersneeding assistance to contact associates inside the store forassistance without leaving their vehicle. Any motorist witha disability license plate or placard or in need of assistancemay have their gas pumped by an Express employee.“We want to provide our utmost customer service to

our patrons,” said the Fort Belvoir/JBM-HH Exchange’sGeneral Manager, Nildy Eiley. “Fuel Call is a dignified wayto request assistance at the pump, making it faster and easierfor our customers to receive the level of service they havecome to expect at the Express without ever having to leavetheir vehicle.”Fuel Call is available Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 10

p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 9p.m. The Express also has unattended fueling 24 hours a day.For more information, call 703-696-9241/44(Army and Air Force Exchange Service press release)

Full-service refueling offered todrivers with physical challenges

COURTESY PHOTO

Joseph H. Jeu, director and chief executive officer ofthe Defense Commissary Agency, spoke to Congressconcerning the consequences of sequestration Nov. 20.

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Gas prices on display at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall gas station, March 20.

Continued on next page

PENTAGRAM Wednesday, November 27, 2013 5

News Notes

By Terri Moon CronkAmerican Forces Press Service

While programs are in place tocombat predatory lending prac-tices that target servicemembersand their families, better rules andenforcement are needed, witnessestold a Senate Commerce, Scienceand Transportation CommitteeNov. 20.Predatory lending practices

impact not only a servicemem-ber’s financial readiness, but alsomission readiness, witnesses toldlawmakers in a hearing about thelending practices targeted towardsthe military.As a former military spouse and

assistant director of the consumerfinancial protection bureau, officeof servicemember affairs, HollyPetraeus recalled the history andsubsequent changes of predatorylending.“I’ve lived on or near military

bases my entire life, and seenthat strip outside the gates, offer-ing everything from furniture toused cars to electronics to jewelry,and the high-cost credit to pay forthem,” Petraeus said. She said an“alarming increase” occurred in theearly 2000s in businesses offer-ing payday loans and correspond-ing increases in service memberstaking advantage of “easy money,”often without the ability to repaywhat they borrowed.“The Pentagon took note that

indebtedness was beginning to takea serious toll on military readiness,as did the media,” Petraeus added.The Defense Department, she

said, published a report in 2006 onpredatory lending practices direct-ed at service members and theirfamilies. It found that predatory

lending “undermines military read-iness, harms the morale of troopsand their families, and adds tothe cost of fielding an all-volunteerfighting force,” Petraeus said.The result was the Military

Lending Act of 2006, which capsthe rate on consumer credit to acovered member of the armed forcesor a dependent of a covered memberat 36 percent and creates other con-sumer protections, she said.DoD wrote the MLA’s regulations

and defined “consumer credit” asonly three types of loans that werenarrowly defined, Petraeus said.They cover payday loans, closed-end loans with terms of 91 days orfewer for $2,000 or less; auto-titleloans, closed-end loans with termsof 181 days or fewer; and tax refundanticipation loans which are closed-end credit, she testified.“For those products that fall

within [DoD’s] definitions, the lawhas had a positive impact,” she tes-tified. “But the concern now is thatlenders have easily found ways toget outside of the definitions.”The spouse of a wounded warrior

who took out an auto title loan of$2,575 at an APR of 300 percentwas one example Petraeus gave inher testimony.“The finance charges on the loan

were over $5,000. The loan was notsubject to the MLA because it waslonger than 181 days,” she said.She also acknowledged concerns

about the existing rule’s effective-ness, which has led to renewedinterest from Congress.“This morning, the bureau

announced an enforcement actionagainst a large national paydaylender, Cash America, which hadmade loans in violation of the MLAto hundreds of servicemembers or

their dependents,” Petraeus testi-fied. “As part of the enforcementaction, the lender refunded loanand loan-related fees for a totalamount of approximately $33,550.It also put additional compliancemechanisms in place and agreed toincrease training on the MLA for itscustomer service representatives.”She called that action “a great

example of what can be achievedthrough the combined efforts of thebureau’s supervisory and enforce-ment areas,” and a significantchange in a large payday lender’sappreciation of and compliancewith the MLA.Petraeus said she still harbors

“real concerns” about the ability oflenders to easily evade the existingMLA regulations.“The original rule was effective

for those products that it covered,but over the past six years, we haveseen significant changes in the typeof products offered and the contoursof state law,” she said. “And I thinkit’s critically important to ensurethat the MLA protections keep up.”Petraeus said she believes any

approach with strict definitionsthat define individual products willfall victim to the same evasivetactics that are plaguing the exist-ing rule.“I also believe that from amilitary

financial readiness point of view, itmakes no difference whether theloan is made by a depository insti-tution or a non-depository institu-tion, nor does it matter whetherthe loan is structured and open- orclosed-end,” she said. “A loan witha sky-high interest rate and bur-densome fees has the same adverseimpact on military financial readi-ness no matter who offers it.”The underlying goals of protect-

ing military and financial readinessthat led to the MLA are as impor-tant today as they were when theact was originally passed, Petraeussaid.“I think we should all be indig-

nant when we hear of servicemem-bers trapped in outrageous loansand realize that there is little wecan do under the current regula-tions because they are just longerthan 91 days or structured as open-end credit,” she testified. “We oweit to our servicemembers and theirfamilies to do the best possible job ofcrafting rules that properly imple-ment the intent of the MilitaryLending Act.”Dwain Alexander, legal assistant

attorney at Naval Station Norfolk,Va., said the Navy is taking steps toeducate its servicemembers.“Education will help avoid many

debt traps,” Alexander testified.“However, some problems likearbitration and the ServicememberCivil Relief Act waiver, and aggres-sive debt collection, are beyondeducation.”He said his office is working

on videos to educate sailors andfamilies on consumer issues whilethey’re in waiting rooms andsimilar environments, in additionto providing education to thosereturning from deployments.Alexander said other aware-

ness measures to avoid predatorylending being used in the Navyinclude mandatory military train-ing on payday loans.However, he said, some issues

cannot be addressed such as theservicemember’s waiver and arbi-tration being in the contracts,because they are legal.“We need help with that,” he

said.

Senate hearing targets predatory lending practices

The Marine Corps Exchange has launched theirnew eGift card service that allows you to purchaseand instantly send a gift card to anyone who is anauthorized exchange patron. This new option is agreat way for families and friends who do not haveexchange privileges to send a gift or help pay fora special purchase or event. Need a gift for a babyshower, wedding, birthday or graduation? We’ve gotyou covered in an instant without even leaving thehouse.The new eGift cards can be purchased online at

theMyMCX.comwebsite and once purchased can bescheduled for delivery on a specific date or instantlysent to the recipient via email and/or text message.To redeem the eGift card, the recipient simply pres-

ents the mobile or printed gift card to the cashierand checks out normally.According to Cindy Whitman Lacy, chief operat-

ing officer, business operations for MCX, “The MCXeGift cards can be redeemed in many activitiesincluding sister service exchanges and activitiessuch as auto skills centers, bowling centers, golfcourses, fitness centers, Information Tickets andTours offices, marinas, pools, recreation centers,theaters, child development centers and youth andteen centers.”Whitman Lacy added, “This is a great way for

friends and family to send a gift or to help cover thecost of a purchase for theirMarine.” Some of the pos-sibilities for using the eGift card include covering the

cost of purchases at recruit training, paying for non-issued uniform items such as dress blue uniforms,and paying for recreation activities or child care fees.The new eGift cards are purchased by going to the

MyMCX.com website or Facebook page and clickingthe link for eGift cards. Cards can be purchased inamounts between $10 and $250. Purchasers maychoose from various gift card designs and can add apersonal image to the eGift card. Once the card hasbeen purchased, the buyer can also check online tomake sure the recipient has received and opened theeGift card. Recipients may conveniently check theremaining balance of their cards online at MyMCX.com.(From a Marine Corps Exchange press release.)

MCX launches new eGift cards just in time for the holidays

information, call 703-696-8865.

SOWC meetsThe Signal Officers Wives Club will host a

holiday tea and tour at Cherry Hill Farm inFall Church, Va., Dec. 2 at noon. Cost is $28per person, and seating is limited to 20 people.To reserve a spot, call Judy at 703-978-1338.

MPD S1 conferenceThe next JBM-HH military personnel divi-

sion’s S1 conference is set for Dec. 4 from 9a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Bldg. 243, onthe Fort Myer side of the joint base.The conference goal is to strengthen exist-

ing partnerships between JBM-HH’s mili-tary personnel division, unit S1’s, Pentagonhuman resources personnel and agencies andbuild consensus on efficient and effective ser-vices to customers. For more information, callDouglas Russell or Ronnie Corbitt at 703-696-3695/0008.

American holiday festival concertsAll tickets have been distributed to The

U.S. Army Band’s American holiday festivalin Brucker Hall on the Fort Myer portion ofthe joint base Dec. 7, 8, and 15. Walk-ins arewelcome 15 minutes prior to start time if spaceis available. See www.usarmyband.com fordetails.

Federal benefits open season under-way

Federal benefits open season is underwaythrough Dec. 9, with changes effective the firstfull pay period in January.Open season is the time to think about

health, dental, vision and tax-saving needs.During open season, eligible employees can:

Enroll in or change federal employees healthbenefits program covering through the ArmyBenefits Center-Civilian website at www.abc.army.mil or by calling 1-877-276-9287.Enroll in dental and/or vision coverage

through the federal employees dental andvision insurance program or change yourexisting enrollment through the BENEFEDSwebsite at https://benefeds.com/Portal/jsp/Loginpage.asp or by calling 1-877-888-3337.Sign up for flexible spending accounts

through the flexible spending account programat www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp or bycalling 1-877-372-3337.The Office of Personnel Management’s

open season website at www.opm.gov/health-careinsurance/open-season contains detailedinformation regarding plan changes, avail-able plans and premiums. All employees areencouraged to review their current enrollmentcoverage and premiums to make sure it willcontinue to meet their needs in 2014. Changesmay not be made outside of the open enroll-ment season dates unless an employee has aqualifying life event.For information regarding local health fairs,

employees should contact their servicing civil-ian personnel advisory center specialist at703-704-3009.Employees planning on retiring prior to the

first full pay period in January and who wishto make an open season election should contactan ABC-C counselor for guidance on whether ahard copy enrollment form is required.

Little fingers, big wordsTeach your pre-verbal children to commu-

nicate using sign language. This class is forparents of infants six to 18 months old. Classwill be held Dec. 5 from noon-1 p.m. in theArmy Community Services classroom in Bldg.201 on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Pre-registration is requested. For more informa-tion and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 oremail karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil.

Stress managementParticipants will be given information on

identifying stressors in their life and how tocreate their own stress management plan.Class will be held Dec. 11 from 9-11 a.m.in the ACS classroom, Bldg. 201 on theFort Myer portion of the joint base. Pre-registration is requested. For more informa-tion and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 oremail karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil.

Anger managementIndividuals will receive information on the

basic principles of emotions management, spe-cific information about the impact of unman-aged anger, and receive resources on how torecognize and manage the anger triggers intheir own lives. Class will be held Dec. 18 from9-11 a.m. in the ACS classroom, Bldg. 201, onthe Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Pre-registration is requested. For more informa-tion and to pre-register, call 703-696-3512 oremail karen.a.stpierre.ctr@mail.mil.

Monster Jam ticketsWitness the excitement of Monster Jam

trucks at Verizon Center in January. TheMCX Henderson Hall ITT office has ticketsavailable for sale for the following dates: Jan.24 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7:30p.m. The price is $16.25 per person. Call 571-483-1963 for availability.

Please send your news notes to thePentagram at

pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com.

From previous page

6 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 PENTAGRAM

Departments of Veterans Affairsand Housing and Urban Development

The Departments of Veterans Affairs andHousing and Urban Development announcedNov. 21 that a new national report shows a 24percent drop in homelessness among veteranssince 2010.The report also showed an 8 percent reduction

between January 2012 and January 2013. Thedecline keeps U.S. government plans on track tomeet the goal of ending veterans’ homelessnessin 2015.“We are on the right track in the fight to end

homelessness among veterans. While this trendis encouraging news, we know that there is morework to do,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs EricK. Shinseki said. “As President Obama said,we’re not going to rest until every veteran whohas fought for America has a home in America.The results in the latest report are a credit tothe effort given by our dedicated staff, and ourfederal, state and community partners who arecommitted to ending veterans’ homelessness.”Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Shaun Donovan said, “We’re making real andsignificant progress to reduce homelessness inthis country and now is not the time to retreatfrom doing what we know works. If we’re goingto end homelessness as we know it, we need a

continued bipartisan commitment from Congressto break the cycle trapping our most vulnerablecitizens, especially our veterans, between livingin a shelter or a life on the streets.“I understand these are tough budget times but

these are proven strategies that are making areal difference,” Donovan continued. “We simplycan’t balance our budget on the backs of thoseliving on the margins.”The 2013 point-in-time estimates of homeless-

ness, prepared by HUD, estimates there were57,849 homeless veterans on a single night inJanuary in the United States, an 8 percentdecline since 2012, and a 24 percent decline since2010.VA has made ending veterans’ homelessness

by the end of 2015 a top priority, undertak-ing an unprecedented campaign to dramaticallyincrease awareness of VA services for homelessveterans and veterans at risk of becoming home-less.While the number of homeless people in the

United States dropped by 4 percent since 2012,according to the 2013 report, veterans’ homeless-ness has shown a more robust decline. During aperiod of prolonged economic recovery, the gov-ernment has been able to reduce the number ofhomeless veterans by 24 percent, breaking previ-ous patterns of increased homelessness duringdifficult economies.

Earlier this year, HUD and VA also announcedthe award of nearly $70 million of HUD-VeteransAffairs supportive housing grants to furtherassist in addressing the issue of veterans’ home-lessness. The program combines rental assis-tance from HUD with case management andclinical services provided by VA. Since 2008,a total of 58,140 vouchers have been awardedand 43,371 formerly homeless veterans are cur-rently in homes of their own because of the jointHUD-VA program.One of the tools VA uses in its systematic

approach to prevent and end veterans’ home-lessness is the supportive services for veteranfamilies grant program. In July, VA announcedthe award of nearly $300 million in grants to319 community agencies to help approximately120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and theirfamilies.More recently, VA has announced $8.8 million

in grants for 164 projects to acquire vans forhomeless providers and to rehabilitate housing,plus $4.9 million in grants for 25 community-based projects to enhance services for veterans.The grants promote housing stability among

homeless and at-risk veterans and their fami-lies. The grants can have an immediate impact,helping lift veterans out of homelessness or pro-viding aid in emergencies that put veterans andtheir families at risk of homelessness.

Veterans’ homelessness drops by 24 percent

By Lisa TaylorEngineer Business Systems Analyst

Directorate of Public Works

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Directorateof Public Works personnel have created the“Customer Service Self Help” program to servethose who work on JBM-HH – military personneland Department of Defense civilians – and thosewho live in JBM-HH barracks. The program doesnot cover family housing.The Bbusiness operations and integration divi-

sion of DPW designed the self help programto provide the supplies, tools – and sometimesthe guidance from DPW experts – to resolveminor facility maintenance issues. The aim ofthe program is to improve the quality of life forservicemembers and civilian employees workingand living on JBM-HH. In addition to tools andequipment needed to get the job done, DPWemployees supporting the program can advise onhow to get the work done properly.Servicemembers can volunteer to accomplish

small repair projects in their respective livingfacilities (barracks), where the capability exists.The self help program allows customers to

complete smaller jobs in a short amount of timeand have access to materials and common handtools. These are some of the items available:ceiling tiles, light bulbs, filters, paint, spacklingcompound, weather stripping, faucet washersand much more.

There are some procedures to follow. Prior toaccomplishing any self help project, the customermust submit a service order request through theassigned building coordinator for small items. Ifa scope of work breakdown and bill of materi-als is required, use a DA Form 4283, engineerwork request. Please remember to have yourDA Form 4283 signed by the appointed build-ing coordinator who has delegation of authority(DA Form 1687) on file with the customer serviceoffice. No materials can be issued or work canbegin until the paperwork is approved by DPW.This is normal procedure for any installation toensure guidelines set forth within the installa-tion design guide are adhered to and followed.Self Help is currently available through the

work management branch customer service inBldg. 313 on the Fort Myer portion of the jointbase, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to3 p.m., telephone 703-696-3264. The office isclosed for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. andclosed on weekends/holidays.A customer service representative will take

the order and a planner/estimator will verify thescope of the project and identify what suppliesare required. If supplies are not immediatelyavailable in the DPW supply warehouse, theywill be ordered, and the customer will be noti-fied by telephone when supplies are received andready for pick up.Here are some of the tasks that could be com-

pleted:

Carpentry - refasten coat hooks and closetshelves; tighten/replacehinges, knobs, latchesandhandles; lubricate locks and hardware; replacedoor stops; repair/ replace curtain rods and acces-sories; hang pictures and mirrors; replace/adjustkitchen and bathroom hardware (install/tightenpaper holders, soap dishes); replace ceiling tiles;get paint, brushes, rollers and drop cloths.Electrical – Replace light bulbs, reset tripped

circuit breakers, replace cracked/broken recep-tacle plates and replace ceiling light fixtures.Plumbing/HVAC – Unclog drains and toilets,

repair leaky faucets, replace/repair shower heads,tighten or replace shower heads, toilet seats;correct or adjust running toilet, adjust waterlevel in toilet tank; dismantle trap under the sinkto unclog.Many more items can be addressed, repaired

or replaced. Just be sure to go through yourassigned building coordinator to work with theself help program.Personnel eligible for this self help program

include all military personnel working atthe joint base and Soldiers and Marines wholive in JBM-HH barracks and Departmentof Defense civilians working in any activ-ity at JBM-HH, including partner activities.This program excludes family housing residentswho have a different system in place.For more information, call Jorge Blanco, DPW’s

chief of Business Operations and Integrationdivision, at 703-696-6411.

Self Help Program allows quick resolution to minor facility repairs

By Cory HancockJFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs

Assistant Director-in-Charge,Washington Field Office FederalBureau of Investigation, ValerieParlave and Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S.Buchanan, commanding generalJoint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and theU.S. Army Military District ofWashington laid a wreath at theTomb of the Unknown Soldierat Arlington National Cemetery,Nov. 20.The wreath-laying was part of

an ongoing engagement programbetween JFHQ-NCR/MDW andits interagency partners. Layinga wreath at the Tomb of theUnknown Soldier is an honorusually bestowed upon militarypersonnel and visiting foreigndignitaries.“The FBI is one of our key inter-

agency partners in the NationalCapital Region and they do a phe-nomenal job protecting us everyday,” said Buchanan. “We wantedto invite them to the Tomb tocontinue to strengthen our rela-tionship.”“The motto of the FBI is fidel-

ity, bravery and integrity. Thesevalues can also be applied to theprincipled and honorable senti-nels who guard the Tomb of theUnknown Soldier,” said Parlave.“It is a true honor to be asked toparticipate in this solemn ritualand pay respect to those who have

served our great nation throughour military. It is also an oppor-tunity for me and the employeesof the Washington field office toreflect on the immense pride wehave for the nation we serve.”The FBI was created in 1908

by Attorney General CharlesBonaparte during the presidencyof Theodore Roosevelt. Today, theFBI remains dedicated to its corevalues and ethical standards.The commitment to these valuesand standards ensures that theFBI effectively carries out itsmission: protect and defend theUnited States against terroristand foreign intelligence threats;uphold and enforce the criminallaws of the United States; andprovide leadership and criminaljustice services to federal, state,municipal, and internationalagencies and partners.“The FBI’s relationship with the

Military District of Washingtonis a true partnership, and weare grateful for their coopera-tion, teamwork, and support. Weshare many of the same charac-teristics. Our dedication and ourwillingness to serve is the same,”said Parlave. “We share in amission to protect and defend theU.S. against attack; and there-fore, we work together and traintogether. We strive to under-stand the current threat picturein the National Capital Regionand beyond, and we share intel-ligence that is both developed and

received by our organizations.”“It was very moving for me.

Of course, Arlington is sacredground for us and every timeI step out on the plaza it isvery moving,” said Buchanan. “Tosee their emotional response re-enforces it with me.”“I was truly honored to receive

the invitation from the MilitaryDistrict of Washington to par-ticipate in this wreath-laying. We

continuously work to uphold ourrelationships with our partneragencies, and the MilitaryDistrict of Washington is a vitalpartner in our joint efforts in thisregion,” said Parlave. “We lookforward to enjoying many moreyears of an ever-strengtheningbond between us, and we will con-tinue our cooperation and coor-dination to remain worthy of thehonor afforded to the FBI today.”

FBI lays wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

PHOTO BY CORY HANCOCK

Assistant Director-in-Charge, Washington Field Office Federal Bureau of Investigation,Valerie Parlave (left), prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldierat Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 20. Commanding General of Joint ForceHeadquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington Maj.Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan (center) joined Parlave during the wreath-laying ceremony.

PENTAGRAM Wednesday, November 27, 2013 7

Stein said he doesfeel the pressure toput an outstandingmeal on the tablefor the servicemem-bers and familieswho will be enjoyingThanksgiving at thedining facility.“The pressure

of having to giveSoldiers a meal awayfrom home that deliv-ers the comforts ofhome, that’s kind ofthe challenge I seewith Thanksgiving.Something like thatreminds people ofwhere they are from,and you have todeliver that in thedining facility,” hesaid.“We are meant to

be a morale boosterfor the troops, that’salways in the backof mind that is whatmy job is to boostmorale,” Arwood,who is on loan to thedining facility fromthe Pentagon, added.

“[Holiday meals] lifttheir spirits.”Stein said his favor-

ite dish to prepareis turkey. Arwoodagreed, and sharedthat he puts com-pound butter, herbsand seasonings underthe bird’s skin andcitrus and sage insidethe cavity to enhancenot only flavor butappearance as well.“It really keeps the

breast moist and italso, I think, makes anicer color,” he said.Stein, a native of La

Grange, Ga., has beenin the Army for twoyears and has beencooking since he was16. Prior to joiningthe Army two yearsago, Arwood had acatering business inPeru, Ind.Two cooks were in

at 11 p.m. Nov. 26,and Arwood and Steincame in at 4 a.m. Nov.27 to prepare food forthe feast.

1036251B

beckoning the spirit he embodied — that fear-less, resilient, uniquely American character thathas always driven our Nation to defy the odds,write our own destiny and make the world anew.Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President

of the United States of America, by virtue of theauthority vested in me by the Constitution andthe laws of the United States, do hereby proclaimNovember 22, 2013, as a Day of Remembrancefor President John F. Kennedy. I call upon allAmericans to honor his life and legacy withappropriate programs, ceremonies, and activi-ties. I also call upon Governors of the UnitedStates and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,officials of the other territories subject to the

jurisdiction of the United States, and appropri-ate officials of all units of government, to directthat the flag be flown at half-staff on the Day ofRemembrance for President John F. Kennedy.I further encourage all Americans to displaythe flag at half-staff from their homes and busi-nesses on that day.In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my

hand this twenty-first day of November, in theyear of our Lord two thousand thirteen, andof the Independence of the United States ofAmerica the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

Barack ObamaPresident of the United States of

America

JFK, from page 1DFAC, from page 1

thank The Old Guard for itshospitality during the Kennedyfuneral.“We started on Myer, and we

were well looked after by TheOld Guard, not once but twicenow,” Dunne said with a smile.“They were so kind to us to getus on our way to the cemeteryin good order. We were verywell looked after. We have greatfriends at Fort Myer and TheOld Guard.”The ceremony included

a poetry reading of one ofKennedy’s literary favorites,Irish poet W.B. Yeats. A crowdof 200 listened as Cadet Col. BillNott read “Cloths of Heaven”while the Irish Defence Forces89th Cadet Class Colour Partystood at attention at the headof the grave.Bagpiper Sgt. Joe Meade

rememberedKennedybyplaying“Mist-Covered Mountains,”which was played at the ANCburial and closed the 2013 cer-emony with “Amazing Grace.”On a sunny day very similar

to the Monday national day ofmourning in 1963, albeit a fewdegrees cooler, Dunne stood ontheJFKgraveplazaand recalledthe group’s main mission whileheads of state and a nation paidits final respects to an assassi-nated president.

“The mood was, since we wereyoung and of an impressionableage, we were all excited,” hesaid of that November 1963day. “Our main concentrationwas getting [the drill] correct. Itwas quite a complex arms drill,which was slow-moving andsilent. There was quite a bit of

timing involved in it. Our totalconcept was to get the armsdrill right and do it correctly forour country and do our militarycadet school proud.“What we wanted to achieve

was to do the drill properly,honor President Kennedy anddo our country proud.”

Cadets, from page 1

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Irish piper Sgt. Joe Meade (foreground) and the Irish Defence Forces 89thCadet Class Colour Party stand ready before the start of the JFK memorialceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 25.

PHOTO BY JULIA LEDOUX

Spcs.BenStein (left), andKevinArwood, peel potatoes at theConsolidated Dining Facility on Joint Base Myer-HendersonHall as they work to prepare the two Thanksgiving mealsthat will be served there Nov. 27 and 28.

8 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 PENTAGRAM

Army CIO/G-6 and PEO EIS

Army retirees and family membersneed to activate the forwarding func-tion for their ArmyKnowledgeOnlineemail before Dec. 31, officials said,because after then they will no longerbe able to access their AKO accounts.As part of the Army’s AKO transi-

tion to enterprise services, retireesand family members can have theirAKO email automatically forwardedto a commercial email address untilthe end of 2014. In the past, userscould only forward AKO email to agovernment email address, Army G-6officials pointed out.Users may need to update busi-

ness and billing accounts — suchas utilities, credit card companies,banks and other financial institu-tions, mailing lists, etc. — if AKOemail was used for these accounts,

G-6 officials said. They added thatretirees may need to update theirMyPay email address to continuegetting messages from the Defenseand Accounting System.Even though AKO will no longer

be available, retirees and familymembers can continue to have accessto personnel and benefits informationon DoD and Veterans Administrationor VA websites through DoD Self-Service Logon, known as DSLogon.During the transition, AKO emailaddresses can be used to logon toDoD and VAwebsites until March 31.Starting in April, these websites canonly be accessed through DSLogon oran alternate method, officials said.All Soldiers [active-duty, Guard,

Reserve, retirees, veterans] and eli-gible family members can obtain aDSLogon account which allows accessusing a single username and pass-

word. DSLogon complies with federalsecurity guidelines and provides asecure user experience, according toG-6 officials. They point out thatusers must be enrolled in the DefenseEnrollment Eligibility ReportingSystem to obtain an account.For sites not currently using

DSLogon, such as MyPay, usersmust establish an individual user-name and password.The Army remains committed to

virtually connect with all retirees andfamily members, officials said. TheArmy public website, www.army.mil,remains the source of official Armynews, information, and social media.It is accessible from any location andon any device.All Army business processes will

move off the current AKO platformonto next-generation enterprise ser-vices over the course of several years,G-6 officials said, adding that migra-tion is expected by Fiscal Year 2017.The Army is currently modern-

izing the AKO infrastructure andservices to become more interoper-able across DoD to lower cost and

to improve efficiency and security,officials said. They explained thatthe Army is moving toward enter-prise services for collaboration,content management, and unifiedcapabilities (including chat, voice andvideo over IP) which all draw on theidentity service underpinning DoDEnterprise Email.AKO and many official Army sites

will only be accessible via the govern-ment-issued Common Access Cardor CAC. Because retirees and familymembers are not eligible for CACs,they will no longer have access toAKO.The Army established AKO in the

late 1990s to provide online informa-tion services for U.S. Army person-nel and then later extended someAKO services to retirees and familymembers. Services have includ-ed email, collaboration, discussionforums, a directory, and direct accessto many DoD and VA websites.(Article written by the Army Chief

of Information/G-6 and ProgramExecutive Office – EnterpriseInformation Systems.)

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AGENDA INCLUDES:n How to buy foreclosed and short sale homesn Benefits of your own buyer agentn Which mortgage is right for youn Personal budgetingn Language and Documents of Real Estaten Information for Seniors

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Now is the time to buy a home

An Educated Home Buyer Becomes a Satisfied Home Owner

BOB HUMMERYour Buyer and Seller Representative

703-878-4866www.Military-RealEstate.com4500 Pond Way, Suite 220, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Sponsored by:Linda Sulser, George Mason Mortgage LLCDavid Field, Esq. MBH Settlement Group

Mike Sfraddo, Patriot Pest Control

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AKO email ends for retirees, family members in New Year

PHOTO BY DUSTIN SENGER

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, Army retirees and familiy members will no longer be able toaccess their Army Knowledge Online email accounts. Those affected must activatethe forwarding function for their AKO email before Dec. 31.

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SPECIAL RATES FOR MILITARYAND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

BarcroftApartments is now offering its gardenapartments with 10% discount for military personnel

&Month to month leases available.

Efficiency...................................$934-$955One Bedrooms..........................$1010-$1045Two bedrooms...........................$1215-$1300Three Bedrooms Plus Electric.....$1350-$1395Townhome.................................$1400

• Park right at your door in this park-like setting.• Walk to elementary and high school or Army NationalGuard Readiness Center.

• Take the express bus to the Pentagon, Ft. Myer,Henderson Hall or Ballston in 12 minutes.• Cats welcome. No dogs.

(703) 521-3000Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-5 • Call for Saturday hours

Please refer to ad when calling

BARCROFTAPARTMENTS1130 South George Mason Drive • Arlington, VA 22204

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This beautiful Anne Arundel County house has 4 bedroomswith 3 full baths. It features 5 acres of land, a full housegenerator, and no maintenance fencing and decking! Ifinterested in the property please contact my office Monday-Friday from 6:30am to 2:30pm; I will be available onweekends and evenings to show the property.

Judith H. MullenAttorney at Law

410-286-3750-Office

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Cost AnalystPAL Services Inc. is seeking candidateswith quantitative analysis and knowledge ofcurrent contracting practices to include

demonstrated ability to negotiate, calculatedirect and indirect cost rates; material costs;and direct labor hours; conduct cost analy-sis and integrate price analysis techniques;and conduct complex proposal analysis.DoD/DLA cost and price analysis experi-ence strongly desired. DAWIA experience aplus. Oral and detailed written communica-tion is required. Resume w/ sal req. to;hr@palcorp.net;fax to (240) 607-6807.

M/F/D/V encouraged to apply. EOE

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• $10.99 Prime Rib Tuesdays All Day• $5 Appetizers 4-7pm Tuesdays

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