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From The Top
December 14, 2009
Throughout this holiday season, let's make safety a priority. We don't want to lose even one member of the Fort Benning team, which includes our great Soldiers, civilians and family members.
Leaders, please encourage your Soldiers to take precautions to prevent accidents and injuries of any sort.
The greatest threat facing our community is the dangers inherent to increased travel, traffic congestion, dangerous weather, aggressive driving and drivers who get behind the wheel after drinking.
Though we cannot eliminate all of these hazards, we can minimize their impact on our community by reducing the probability of an accident.
Let's work together to make sure we all return safely after the holidays. Please take the following precautions:
· Ensure your vehicle is well maintained; plan your route; inform someone of your itinerary; check weather reports, and adjust travel time accordingly.
· Reduce your speed and increase following distance.
· Realize the posted speed limit is set using "ideal" conditions, something of a rarity during holiday travel.
· Go to this site to document your trip if you are traveling farther than 100 miles. https://crc.army.mil.
· If you need assistance while on travel, if all else fails, call 706-545-2218 or e-mail INFHALL-SDNCO@us.army.mil and we'll reach out and take care of you.
· If you drink, use a designated driver or call Safety Cab 706-660-6069.
My goal is to celebrate this holiday season without the loss of any member of our Fort Benning community. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Army Safe is Army Strong!
One Force, One Fight!
MG Michael Ferriter
Fort Benning Commanding General | |
 Maneuver Center Update
Bridgett Siter MCOE Public Affairs
Local job market ranked best in Nation
A recent survey by an international employment services company spells good news for the local job market. A Manpower Inc. quarterly survey ranked the Columbus area employment outlook for the first quarter on 2010 the very best in the nation.
The first quarter of the year promises to be an improvement over this quarter, said Shelia Durham, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee based firm, which specializes in employment, staffing and human resources solutions. From
January to March, 25 percent of the local companies surveyed plan to hire more employees, while 7 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. Compared with the previous quarter, when 18 percent of companies interviewed intended to add employees, and 8 percent planned to reduce staff levels, area hiring levels appear to be stronger, Durham said in a news release dated Dec. 8.
That comes as no surprise to Mark Mills, Fort Benning's employment manager for Army Community Services.
"I heard that this morning, and I have absolutely no trouble believing it," said Mills, who updates a job list at www.benningmwr.com every week. "Last week, we posted 1,845 jobs in this area. If you add up every other Army post in the country and overseas, combined they don't add up to the number of jobs we have available in this area. I'm not surprised at all."
Among the variables impacting the local job market, Mills noted the new KIA Motors and National Cash Register plants and growth related to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision to move the Armor School from Fort Knox, Ky., to Fort Benning.
Of the more than 28,000 employers surveyed nationwide, equal percentages - 12 - expect to increase and decrease their staffs. Seventy-three percent expect no change at all, and 3 percent were undecided.
The survey was conducted in the top 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. and one in Puerto Rico. San Antonio, Texas, ranked second, with an expected net gain of 12 percent, factoring in the expected growth against expected loss. Fayetteville, N.C., adjacent to Fort Bragg, tied for third with Amarillo, Texas, and Sioux Falls, S.D. Those towns expect to see a net employment increase by 11 percent.
The mix of industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System Supersectors and is structured to be representative of the U.S. economy. The complete results of the national Manpower Employment Outlook Survey can be found at us.manpower.com/meos. |
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News
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Live-fire demo showcases future weapons
 The Small Arms Branch of the Soldier Requirements Division rolled out more than 30 weapon systems - including pistols, rifles, sniper weapons, machine guns and grenade launchers - for a special live-fire demonstration Tuesday at Red Cloud Range. The weapons, including new sniper technology, weapons upgrades and an air burst rifle prototype, represent 60 percent of the Army's small arms strategy, said LTC Thomas Henthorn, chief of the small arms branch.
The demonstration was to familiarize MG Michael Ferriter, Fort Benning's commanding general, with new and future technologies the branch is pursuing for warfighters, Henthorn said.
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 Athletic Training graduate students from the Department of Kinesiology at Auburn University are diagnosing, treating and preventing injuries in Soldiers as part of the Warrior Athletic Trainer Program, a pilot partnership program, with the 192nd Infantry Brigade on Sand Hill.
In a makeshift office inside 2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment, 192nd Inf. Bde.'s gym, Lexie Douglas inspected PFC Caleb Moss' swollen ankle Tuesday.
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 Fort Benning families escaped the rain Tuesday, gathering inside The Infantry Center Chapel Tuesday for the annual lighting of the Menorah and Christmas tree. Before the ceremonial lighting, the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band and chorale groups from Faith Middle School, Wilson, Stowers and Loyd elementary schools provided Chanukah and yuletide music. Afterward, all were invited for holiday refreshments.
"This definitely did kick off the holiday season," said Shalynda Armwood, who PCSed from Minnesota in May.
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 The massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, in early November made a lasting impression on PFC Elena Fedorova.
An artistic photographer who created an online digital studio four years ago, Fedorova said she wanted to produce an image that would pay homage to the shooting victims and serve as a symbol of love and protection for U.S. troops fighting in harm's way around the globe. The result is the "Fort Benning Madonna," a depiction of the mother Mary praying for the Soldiers.
The 24-by-36-inch picture will be among the works on display this weekend during the "It's a Wonderful Life" fine art exhibit and sale at the Joseph House Art Gallery in Columbus. Opening night is 5 to 8 p.m. today, followed by an encore reception from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, coinciding with the Historic Homes Tour. The show is free and open to the public.
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 ATLANTA - About 60 Fort Benning Soldiers were guests at the Georgia Dome for Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.
The group got a workout prior to kickoff while pulling duty on the Falcons Fitness Flag Crew. Just before halftime, 20 Soldiers were recognized on the field, where they marched into an end zone during a timeout and received a thunderous ovation from the crowd of 69,560, with many fans chanting, "USA! USA! USA__________________________________________
Columbus State University will offer a new Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts degree beginning in January.
The degree is one of two undergraduate courses of study at CSU, including the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, available completely online, said Tina Butcher, CSU associate provost for Undergraduate Education. Students may choose to complete some of their coursework in a traditional classroom setting on campus.
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 It was the greatest battle in American history. More than 800,000 Americans fought, and 83,000 became casualties. It wasn't Gettysburg - it was the Battle of the Bulge. What began as a massive and wildly successful surprise attack by German forces on Dec. 16, 1944, ended six weeks later when the Allies restored the original battle lines after causing more than 100,000 casualties in the dwindling German army. __________________________________________
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 The Flu and You
MACH updates H1N1, seasonal flu information
The H1N1 vaccination is mandatory for all active-duty personnel and will be administered en masse. The vaccinations will take place at sites on Sand Hill and Main Post and should be completed by Friday, Fort Benning officials said.
Martin Army Community Hospital is continuing to provide injectable H1N1 vaccinations to the following patient target groups, based on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice:
· Pregnant women, including Soldiers, those caring for infants younger than 6 months old.
· Healthcare workers, including Soldiers.
· Beneficiaries ages 4 to 24.
· Persons 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions or weakened immunity, including Soldiers.
Currently, MACH does not have an appropriate H1N1 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Children in this age range must receive an injectable vaccine, said Dr. (MAJ) Tomas Backenson, chief, Allergy/Immunology.
"The only shots we currently have are approved for kids four and older only," he said.
There are two additional manufacturers with shots approved for kids 6 months to 2, but the hospital has not yet received those. As soon as the hospital gets the H1N1 vaccine approved for kids 2 and younger, shots will be available.
For healthy children ages 2 to 4, MACH has only the H1N1 nasal mist on hand. The nasal mist should not be used on children with chronic medical conditions (like asthma).
"We do have seasonal flu vaccine for anyone who wants it," Backenson said.
Patients can visit the MACH Flu Clinic on the 8th floor of the hospital from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday on a first-come, first-served basis or call the CARE Line at 706-544-2273 and schedule an appointment at the Family Medicine or Pediatric Clinics.
The hospital added a "What's New" line to the CARE line. Patients who call for current H1N1 information will hear a prompt "please press 9," when they first call in.
With the new line to the CARE Line, the hospital can change the flu message as appropriate and add other information to the prompt, said Terry Beckwith, chief of public affairs at the hospital.
Patients should check back frequently or access the Web page at www.martin.amedd.army.mil for the most updated information. |
Financial Counseling Intake
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 from 8:15am - 9:30am @ Army Community Service
AFTB Level III Training
Mon, Dec 14 to Tue, Dec 15, 2009 from 9:00am - 3:00pm @ ACS AFTB/AFAP
SOS Support Group Social
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 from 6:00am - 7:30pm @ TBA - Call us!
Pre-Move Financial / Overseas PCS Briefing
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 from 8:00am - 12:00pm @ Army Community Service
Checking Account Maintenance Workshop
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 from 8:15am - 9:30am @ Army Community Service
BOSS Installation Meeting
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:00pm @ Kelley Hill Recreation Center
Also....
Custer Terrace Village Town Hall A town hall meeting for Custer Terrace Village is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14 at 5:30pm at McBride Elementary School. This meeting is open to the public. For more information contact the RCI Military Liaison, Nina Saeli, at 545-3009.
Topics to be discussed: Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs; Update on New Martin Army Community Hospital Building Project; AFFESs; Commissary Shopping Specials and Housing Maintenance Strategy.
The Offices of the Staff Judge Advocate will close early Dec. 18th at 11:30 a.m. for their annual holiday party.
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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 |
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 | |
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