|
|
| THE HOME OF THE INFANTRY & THE ARMY'S BEST SOLDIERS, LEADERS AND FAMILIES! |
|
Thank you for opening the Fort Benning E-Newsletter. We will continue to tell our Soldiers' great stories through this and other mediums. Please support us by "Joining our Mailing List" or forwarding this email to a friend via the "forward email" link at the bottom of the newsletter.
| |
|
|
|
Quick Links |
|
Twitter
|
 | |
From The Top
November 20th, 2009
In this age of persistent conflict, many Soldiers and Army families face various forms of hardship, including separation and loneliness, not unlike the first colonists faced when they left their kinfolk and homeland behind to seek freedom and prosperity in a new land.
Recognizing that many of us will struggle to find reasons to be thankful this holiday season, I encourage you to take time to count your blessings. I believe each of you will find that you have much for which to give thanks.
As you are able, I encourage you to share your abundance with others less fortunate. Share your presence with those who have lost loved ones or are separated from their loved ones. When you do, you truly will be expressing thanks for what you have received this past year.
God bless you, and God bless Fort Benning! One Force, One Fight!
MG Michael Ferriter
Fort Benning Commanding General | |
|
Feeding an Army
by Michelle Gordon
For Thanksgiving most people have already been to the grocery store to buy turkey and all the fixings, and Fort Benning is no different. Well, okay, we're slightly different because I'm guessing "most people" did not purchase more than 7,800 pounds of turkey in preparation for the big day.
It may seem like a lot of turkey, but that's how much it takes to feed an Army on Thanksgiving, not to mention the other options, such as ham, prime rib, shrimp, suckling pig and all of the sides and desserts commonly found on a Thanksgiving Day table. All of this food was ordered three weeks ago and it was based on the estimated number of Soldiers and visitors who may eat in one of the 20 dining facilities on post. However, even though the food is ordered weeks in advance, it's not prepared until the night before to ensure freshness.
This year Fort Benning plans to feed about 10,000 Soldiers a Thanksgiving meal, said James Jenkins, Food Service specialist. Jenkins has worked on the installation for more than 40 years so he knows a thing or two about ordering food and filling Soldier bellies. Also, each dining facility will receive a holiday makeover, complete with festive decorations, streamers and ice molds. And, of course, no Thanksgiving Day is complete without pumpkin pie, 402 of them to be exact.
However, if you don't like pumpkin don't worry, there will be 12 other dessert options available.
So, as you stuff your turkey, peel your sweet potatoes and get ready to feed a house full of relatives next Thursday, just be glad you aren't cooking a meal for 10,000 hungry Soldiers. However, as you sit down to eat that meal don't forget to take a moment and be thankful for all of the Soldiers who aren't able to be at home with their own families this year.
|
News
During a shopping trip with his wife back in July, shortly after taking command of Fort Benning, MG Michael Ferriter met Douglas Mack, an employee at the AAFES Power Zone in the PX. Mack didn't recognize the new post commander. If he had, Ferriter is fairly certain it wouldn't have made a bit of difference.
"Mr. Mack is the kind of individual who treats every private like a general and every general like a private," said Ferriter, who was so inspired by the commitment of Mack and others just like him that he launched a program to recognize inspirational leaders who serve the Soldiers and families of Fort Benning.
____________________________________________
Students 'race against the clock' in field
 Rustling leaves and snapping twigs was what gave away the squad of Soldiers moving through the forest. It was just enough warning for the two Soldiers posing as members of a terrorist bomb-making cell to take cover behind trees and prepare for the attack.
The squad of "Thundercats," Soldiers with 1st Platoon, E Company, 3rd Battalion (Officer Candidate School), 11th Infantry Regiment, swept around the enemy encampment toward higher ground and quickly grouped into an ambush pattern for the assault.
____________________________________________
Captains 'push through' combatives tournament
"Not backing down" - that's what CPT Tommy Ryan said won him first place in the heavyweight division of the Maneuver Captains Career Course combatives tournament.
"It's everything you've been taught in the combatives program: not letting your opponent know you're in an uncomfortable situation. If you remain calm the entire time, you usually come out," Ryan said.
Ryan was one of about 180 Soldiers who participated in the single elimination tournament Monday at Briant Wells Fieldhouse.
____________________________________________
WTB Soldiers embark on Olympic torch run
More than 20 runners from the Warrior Transition Battalion embarked on a journey Monday to run an Olympic torch across post in a six-mile run.
The torch was obtained from the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"The Olympic flame represents the endeavor for perfection and the struggle for victory," said WTB commander Lt. Col. Sean Mulcahey. "This relay run is going to represent our struggle for victory as individuals and more importantly, as a team. It's going to demonstrate that WTB Soldiers are motivated and they are struggling for victory and they will succeed."
____________________________________________
'Giving blood saves lives'
 Without blood donations from the American Red Cross, SSG(R) Vernon and Dr. Cheryl Swanier would have lost three of their four children.
"It's the difference between life and death," said Cheryl, a resident of Upatoi, Ga.
Olubunmi, Cheryl's oldest child, now 20, was in a near-fatal car crash Aug. 7, 2006. It was the first day of her senior year in high school.
Make it six in a row for the Air Force.
Air Force punctuated another dominant run in the Armed Forces Rugby Championship by beating Army 34-0 in Friday's title match at Stewart-Watson Field. In five tournament games, Air Force outscored its opposition a whopping 226-3.
____________________________________________
MG Michael Ferriter, the Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general, shows U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia a picture of former Fort Benning commanders, BG Courtney Hodges and BG Omar Bradley, Nov. 10 in Ferriter's office, which at one time was their office.
Hodges immediately preceded Bradley, post commanding general from 1941 to 1942, as the commandant of the Infantry School. They are probably preparing for the change of responsibility in 1941.
While on Fort Benning, Congressman Sanford Bishop visited Wilson Elementary Nov. 10. Sponsored by the Armed Forces Foundation and Operation Caring Classroom, a pen pal program Wilson participates in, his visit was in honor of Veterans Day. Bishop visited several classrooms, read to the students and explained what it means to be a representative. Wilson Partners in Education, the 197th Infantry Brigade, were involved in the activities.
____________________________________________
|
MEDIA ADVISORY: 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Soldier to receive Silver Star
FORT BENNING, Ga.,--A 75th Ranger Regiment Soldier will be awarded a Silver Star medal during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Ranger Memorial, here.
Staff Sgt. Michael E. Norton is being awarded the Silver Star medal for extraordinary heroism during an assault on a heavily armed fighter camp in the mountains of Afghanistan Aug. 4 and 5, 2009. Ambushed at close range, Norton ordered his squad to break contact. At great risk to his own life, he then braved multiple rocket-propelled grenades and withering machine gun fire and returned to recover two of his Rangers who lay unconscious in the beaten zone of enemy fire, saving their lives. He then rallied his squad and continued the attack, eliminating two more enemy combatants in the course of the mission. His actions saved the lives of his squad and resulted in the destruction of an enemy headquarters camp.
Norton, 27, serves with 3rd Battalion, 75th Rgr. Regmt., and has been a Ranger for five years. He has deployed five times in support of the war on terror.
The Silver Star is the Army's third highest award for combat valor and is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States during military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., will preside over the ceremony and present the awards.
Reporters interested in covering the ceremony must register with the 75th Ranger Regiment PAO, Tracy Bailey, by Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. at (706) 545-4260 or (706) 604-5114 or e-mail tracy.a.bailey@us.army.mil. Please provide the number of news team members, video/still photographers, live trucks (including live hit times) and other special equipment you plan to bring to the ceremony. Special needs or interview requests should be submitted at this time as well. Also, provide after-hours contact information, including e-mail address, so we may keep you advised of any changes to the program schedule.
Staff Sgt. Norton will be available for interviews following the ceremony for media who have properly coordinated with the 75th Ranger Regiment PAO. |
 Maneuver Center Update
More than $2 billion has been awarded toward the $3.5 billion total in BRAC construction.
Need a Job?
The Army offers abundant opportunity for challenging and rewarding civilian employment in virtually all career fields and in all parts of the world. Fort Benning's Civilian Personnel Online, which vets candidates for civil employment, will post more than 700 job vacancies that will become available over the next two years as a result of the post's continuing transformation to the Maneuver Center of Excellence.
More than 300 jobs on Fort Benning and in the local area are available right now including cooks, construction workers, mechanics, dental assistants and IT Specialists. Job lists and answers to frequently asked questions about applying for civil service positions are available off of the Fort Benning Homepage, by clicking on the MCOE Info & Employment link . |
 The Flu and You
Flu shots available
Terry Beckwith
Martin Army Community Hospital
Martin Army Community has seasonal flu immunizations and H1N1 vaccine mist available at the Flu Clinic.
Tricare patients eligible for the seasonal flu vaccine are as follows:
Children ages 6 months through 18 years.
Pregnant women.
People ages 50 and older.
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
People who live with or care for those at a high risk for complications from flu. This includes health care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu and household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 with particular emphasis on
vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months. These children are at higher risk of flu-related complications.
At this time the Martin Army Community Hospital has the H1N1 vaccine for family members, retirees and their family members who are in the above categories on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Hospital staff anticipates more mist and vaccine in the near future. Active-duty personnel are receiving their seasonal and H1N1 immunizations through the Preventive Medicine Department teams who are visiting all units.
Fort Benning school children who have parental consent are receiving their H1N1 vaccine this month at school. Children who are 10 or younger will receive their second dose at school in January.
All non-active-duty patients may also use their Tricare benefits as stated below:
Tricare Coverage and Availability
1. The vaccine can be obtained at the Martin Army Community Hospital Flu Clinic, located on the eighth floor of the hospital, between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If a person is unable to obtain the vaccines at Martin Army Community Hospital, Tricare will cover the seasonal flu shot, the seasonal nasal spray and the H1N1 vaccine for qualifying beneficiaries when administered in a doctor's office or a network Minute Clinic.
Immunizations obtained at pharmacies (excluding CVA Minute clinics networked only in the Atlanta area), grocery stores, country health departments, etc., are not covered by Tricare.
2. No referral is needed for vaccinations or other clinical preventive services.
3. The nasal spray vaccine is not covered for ages 50 and older.
4. For Tricare for Life beneficiaries, Medicare covers flu vaccines, and Tricare pays as second payer if needed.
5. This year, standard and extra beneficiaries may obtain the flu vaccines with no cost share applied. For more information, watch Fort Benning TV for a "Flu" feature next week and continue to check www.martin.amedd.army.mil for updates or call 706-544-2273 for more information. |
|
You can watch Fort Benning Television at Fort Benning on Windjammer cable channel 4.
The Benning Report can be also be seen on Columbus Consolidated Government Access Television (CCG-TV) channels at 6:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m., 7 days a week.
Charter - Channel 3
Knology - Channel 17 MediaCom - Channel 21. In Alabama watch the Benning Report on Troy University Television, Thursday & Friday evenings. To contact Fort Benning TV, email us at BENN.PAO@us.army.mil |
|
Points of Interest
Thanksgiving 5k
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 at 7:45am @ Doughboy Stadium
|
Thank you for taking the time to look through the Fort Benning E-Newsletter. We will continue to tell our Soldiers' great stories through this and other mediums. The Benning E-Newsletter will be sent out every Monday. Please support us by forwarding this email to a friend via the "forward email" link at the bottom of the newsletter.
Sincerely,
Fort Benning Public Affairs Office | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
