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News
Army Medal Of Honor Recipients In OEF/OIF
New Social Media DoD policy
Who's Doing Your Taxes?
The To-Do List - Provided By MWR
The BRAC Impact
 
The monthly BRAC Community Update will be held at 3 p.m. March 2 at the National Infantry Museum.  This event is free and open to the public.  There will be a time for questions after the update, and a representative from the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center will be on hand to help those seeking employment navigate the hiring process.
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Artifacts on the move
 
A convoy of 17 vehicles, with heavy equipment transports and support vehicles, left Fort Knox, Ky., at 8:30 a.m. this morning headed south to Fort Benning with eleven artifacts to be displayed at an armor and cavalry museum that has not been built.   The convoy will arrive at Fort Benning Tuesday and offload the pieces at Sand Hill, where they will be stored. 
 
The artifacts, part of the Patton Museum collection at Fort Knox, include a number of armored vehicles, a Chaffee Light Tank, an amphibious tank, a mortar carrier, a FIST-V Fire Support Team Vehicle and a tracked landing vehicle.
 
There will be four more convoys in the next few weeks bringing a total of 56 artifacts.  The equipment is being transported by the 233rd Transportation Company.
 
BRAC BY THE NUMBERS
 
MCOE logoToday's number is 26.
 
That's 26 miles fo roads that are being created or upgraded on the eastern side of the post to accommodate the needs of the Armor School and to meet the anticipated traffic increase in training areas used by Sand Hill Soldiers. 
 
Two local companies are operating concrete batch plants on post, one on Harmony Church and the other near the access control point off Buena Vista Road.  These plants reduce the cost of construction and the impact of heavy equipment on off-post roads.  BRAC planners will pursue the possibility of locating batch plants in other regions as work progresses on roads, bridges and ranges in the farther-most reaches of the installation. 
 
Construction and upgrades are necessary to prepare for the heavy equipment, mostly tanks and Bradleys, used by Armor Soldiers.  In their current condidtion, many of the roads are used infrequently and not designed to bear weights greater than 50,000 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. 
News 
 
2010 Army Posture Statement 
 
Global CommitmentsAmerica's Army continues to answer the Nation's call, as it has since it was established nearly 235 years ago. Today our Army is fighting two wars, assisting other nations as they build their own security capacity, supporting civil authorities at home, helping the people of Haiti rebuild after a devastating earthquake, and preparing to deter and defeat new threats. The Army's Soldiers, Civilians, and Families faithfully shoulder the load that our Nation asks of them. With the support of the Congress, we are on track with our four-year plan to put the Army back in balance.
 
 
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Building 4 the future
 
 
Building 4Folke Ahlquist was 11 years old in 1963 when construction was completed on Fort Benning's headquarters, Building 4, at a cost of $10 million. The post, not yet 50 years old, had long outgrown its original headquarters in Building 35. The completion of Building 4 was heralded in local papers as a major milestone in Fort Benning's history. It was modern, futuristic and "state-of-the-art."
 
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Cutting-edge technology on display at open houseThe Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment showcased 67 emerging technologies at an open house Friday at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center in downtown Columbus.

AEWE is a campaign of experiments directed by Training and Doctrine Command and conducted at Fort Benning through the Maneuver Battle Lab. The experiment recently completed the sixth year of its campaign.

The technologies currently being tested are designed to improve the lethality and survivability of today's Soldiers.
 
* Click on headline for more *
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Protecting our streamsWould you know a healthy stream just by looking?

Gone are the early days of the Clean Water Act when it was easy to pinpoint water pollution sources.

"It was easy initially to find those sources of pollution, where a factory was discharging pollutants directly into a stream, and determine what the maximum daily loads were going to be," said George Williams, a mitigation and monitoring specialist contracted by Fort Benning's Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, to monitor the post's waters. "They got a pretty rapid increase in water quality when they started monitoring those point sources but then they started realizing that the non-point sources - the things you couldn't exactly point to - are the more difficult water pollution sources to get a handle on or control."
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Students dress up pillowcases for deploymentWhy does 7-year-old Michael Trader like the deployment club at Wilson Elementary? "Because it's a lot of fun to remember my dad," said the second-grader, who was a part of the club during his dad's previous deployments.

Kids in the club - right now around 70 - meet with school counselor Evelyn Montgomery once a week to make a project, read a story or just talk about their feelings.
 
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203rd BSB fit to fightCommand Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray saw a problem in his battalion, the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
"I watched the same Soldiers going on the over-weight program over and over again," he said. "I decided something needed to be done and we made it a battalion-wide effort."

From that moment, the 203rd BSB's "Fit Nation" program was born a few months ago.

Pfc. Jordan Hubbard, 203rd BSB, remembers the first day like it was yesterday, he said.
* Click on headline for more *
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Army launches "Apps for the Army" contestThe Army has announced an internal applications-development challenge, dubbed "Apps for the Army" or A4A.

Open to all Soldiers and Army civilians, A4A offers Army personnel the opportunity to demonstrate their software-development skills and creativity. Top submissions will be recognized at the LandWarNet Conference in August. Winners will receive monetary awards from a cash pool totaling $30,000.
In return, the Army's Chief Information Officer and G-6, Lt. Gen. Jeff Sorenson said he hopes the contest improves current service capabilities or adds new ones - all through the ingenuity of Soldiers and Army employees. 
* Click on headline for more *
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Turkey calling: Not just all 'cluck'Humans talk, and so do turkeys.
"Talking turkey is an art," said Joe Drake, a professional turkey caller.
Hunters use the language to attract turkeys with metal, bone, glass, slate or wooden instruments, named calls, to imitate turkey noises.

"When you call, you are imitating the hen turkey," he said. "It's the mating time of the year, so you are trying to call the male. In reality, a hen turkey will go to the gobbler. When you call one up, you actually reverse nature. They'll come to you because spring is the only time they mate."
* Click on headline for more *  
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Click here for more Fort Benning News
Army Medal of Honor recipients in OEF/OIF

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith

 
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith 
 
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith received the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony, April 4, 2005.

Paul Ray Smith was born on Sept. 24, 1969, in El Paso, Texas. At the age of nine, his family moved to South Tampa, Fla., where he attended public schools. He enjoyed sports, liked cats, skateboarding, riding bicycles, and playing pranks with friends and his younger sister, Lisa. He particularly enjoyed football, which instilled the importance of being part of a team and motivated the growth of his natural leadership abilities.

He developed an interest in carpentry while in high school and was employed part time as a carpenter assistant. Paul Ray had an interest in old cars-he enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked. He restored a dune buggy with a friend. He liked to collect things from the sea, rocks in general and marbles. His family remembered that as far back as they could recall, when anyone would ask what he wanted to do as an adult, he always said, "I want to be a Soldier, get married and have kids."

Upon graduating in 1988 from Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School, he joined the Army and attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. As his mother wrote in his biography for a dedication ceremony in Orlando: "He had begun living his dream...he was assigned to Germany, met and married his wife, Birgit, had two children, and was doing what he was born to do...lead American Soldiers...."

Smith joined the 11th Engineer Battalion in 1999, and immediately became an integral part of Bravo Company. When he deployed with his platoon to Kosovo in May 2001, as part of the KFOR 3A rotation, Smith was responsible for daily presence patrols in the highly populated town of Gnjilane. In the spring of 2002, he was promoted to sergeant first class and completed the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course in August 2002.

In January 2003, Smith returned from leave to prepare his men for rapid deployment to Kuwait as part of the 3rd Infantry Division's buildup for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Smith took a strict approach to training his men, ensuring that his platoon was proficient in handling weapons and prepared for urban combat.

Bravo Company crossed the border on March 19, and traveled more than 300 kilometers in the first 48 hours of the war as part of the lead company in support of Task Force 2-7 Infantry. Passing through the Karbala Gap, Smith and his men pushed through the night of April 3, 2003, toward Baghdad Airport where Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion of Task Force 2-7 were involved in a firefight with Iraqi forces.

Smith's personal character is best described through some anecdotes his sister related in a speech about her brother:

"Paul Ray had an incredible love for the troops under his command. One Christmas, the wife of a Soldier in Paul Ray's platoon had just had surgery and the Soldier and his wife were unable to provide a Christmas for their family. So, Paul Ray collected food from the company Christmas party, and he and Birgit bought presents for the children, and they took them to the Soldier's home." Paul Ray's family never heard of this until recounted to them by friends after his death.

"Another...very descriptive event that showed Paul Ray's concern for his men involves another Soldier, whose baby daughter was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital with a serious illness. Paul Ray would drive an hour out of town every night to give his support to this Soldier and his wife.

"In the last letter that Paul Ray wrote to the parents from Iraq, he told them now that he was a father himself, he realized just how much they had sacrificed to make his life a good life and he thanked them for that special effort. He spoke of being prepared to give-as he said-'all that I am, to ensure that all my boys make it home.' In that same letter, he told our parents how proud he was of the 'privilege to be given 25 of the finest Americans we call Soldiers to lead into war' and he recognized their fears and his responsibilities for their welfare." 
 
Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq, on April 4, 2003.

On that day, Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his task force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow Soldiers, Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of Soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers.

As the fight developed, Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded Soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket-propelled grenade and a 60 mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun, mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force.

During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded Soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith's extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne," and the United States Army.

Spc. Ross A. McGinnis
 
Spc. Ross A. McGinnis
 

Spc. Ross Andrew McGinnis received the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony, June 2, 2008.

Ross Andrew McGinnis was born June 14, 1987 in Meadville, Pa. His family moved to Knox, northeast of Pittsburgh, when he was three. There, he attended Clarion County public schools, and was a member of the Boy Scouts. Growing up, he played basketball and soccer through the YMCA and Little League baseball. Ross was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Knox, and a 2005 graduate of Keystone Junior-Senior High School.

Ross's interests included video games and mountain biking. He was also a car enthusiast and took classes at the Clarion County Career Center in automotive technology. He also worked part-time at McDonald's after school.

His mother, Romayne, said Ross wanted to be a Soldier early in life. When asked to draw a picture of what he wanted to be when he grew up, McGinnis, the kindergartner, drew a picture of a Soldier.

On his 17th birthday, June 14, 2004, Ross went to the Army recruiting station and joined through the Delayed Entry Program.

After initial entry training at Fort Benning, Ga., McGinnis was assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment in Schweinfurt, Germany. According to fellow Soldiers, he loved soldiering and took his job seriously, but he also loved to make people laugh. One fellow Soldier commented that every time McGinnis left a room, he left the Soldiers in it laughing.

The unit deployed to eastern Baghdad in August 2006, where sectarian violence was rampant. Ross was serving as an M2, .50-caliber machine gunner in 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment in support of operations against insurgents in Adhamiyah.

McGinnis' dedication to duty and love for his fellow Soldiers were embodied in a statement issued by his parents shortly after his death:

"Ross did not become our hero by dying to save his fellow Soldiers from a grenade. He was a hero to us long before he died, because he was willing to risk his life to protect the ideals of freedom and justice that America represents. He has been recommended for the Medal of Honor.... That is not why he gave his life. The lives of four men who were his Army brothers outweighed the value of his one life. It was just a matter of simple kindergarten arithmetic. Four means more than one.

"It didn't matter to Ross that he could have escaped the situation without a scratch. Nobody would have questioned such a reflex reaction. What mattered to him were the four men placed in his care on a moment's notice. One moment he was responsible for defending the rear of a convoy from enemy fire; the next moment he held the lives of four of his friends in his hands.

"The choice for Ross was simple, but simple does not mean easy. His straightforward answer to a simple but difficult choice should stand as a shining example for the rest of us. We all face simple choices, but how often do we choose to make a sacrifice to get the right answer? The right choice sometimes requires honor."

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2, .50-caliber machine gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 4, 2006.

That afternoon, his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While McGinnis was manning the M2, .50-caliber machine gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast.

Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.


Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
 
Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti received the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony, Sept. 17, 2009.

Jared C. Monti enlisted in the National Guard as a high school junior through the Delayed Entry Program, March 11, 1993. He went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., between his junior and senior year of high school. After graduation, he switched to active duty and completed his initial military training at Fort Sill, Okla. After graduating from his Advanced Individual Training, he received the military operations specialty 13F, or fire support specialist. A fire support specialist leads, supervises, and serves in an intelligence and target-processing role in field artillery units of all sizes across the Army.

After graduating from basic and AIT he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan. Monti was then assigned to Korea as part of 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, in the demilitarized zone. After leaving Korea, he moved to Fort Bragg, N.C. From Fort Bragg he went back to Korea before being assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y.

His military education includes completing the Combat Life Savers Course in 1995, Basic Airborne School in 1997, Primary Leadership Development Course in 1998, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course in 2001, Air Assault C ourse in 2002 and the Joint Firepower/Control Course in 2004.

Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti's dedication to duty and to his Soldiers was outlined in comments by President Barack Obama during the Medal of Honor presentation ceremony:

"Duty. Honor. Country. Service. Sacrifice. Heroism. These are words of weight. But as people-as a people and as a culture, we often invoke them lightly. We toss them around freely. But do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues-to serve, and to sacrifice? Jared Monti knew. The Monti family knows. And they know that the actions we honor today were not a passing moment of courage. They were the culmination of a life of character and commitment.

"And there was Jared's deep and abiding love for his fellow Soldiers. Maybe it came from his mom, who was a nurse. Maybe it came from his dad, a teacher. Guided by the lessons he learned at home, Jared became the consummate NCO-the noncommissioned officer caring for his Soldiers and teaching his troops. He called them his 'boys.' And although obviously he was still young himself, some of them called him 'grandpa.'

"Compassion. Perseverance. Strength. A love for his fellow Soldiers. Those are the values that defined Jared Monti's life-and the values he displayed in the actions that we recognize here today."

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Staff Sgt. Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, June 21, 2006.

While Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation.

He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers was lying wounded in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position.

With complete disregard for his own safety, Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his Soldier, Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow Soldier.

Monti's selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti's immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.


Editor's note: This information was compiled by army.mil from stories written by Beth Reece (Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith), Carrie McLeroy (Spc. Ross A. McGinnis) and Elizabeth M. Collins (Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti), as well as from official DOD and Army documents, and interviews with family members. Full profiles and additional information can be found at www.army.mil/moh.
New policy authorizes social media access, with caveats 
 
New policy authorizes social media access, with caveats
 
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2010) -- Attention all Facebookers, Twitter tweeters and YouTubers: a new Defense Department policy authorizes you to access these and other Web 2.0 platforms from non-classified government computers, as long as it doesn't compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites.

Defense Department officials issued the long-awaited policy today, establishing consistent rules for all military members and employers.

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, who signed the policy, said it strikes a critical balance between the benefits and potential vulnerabilities of these applications. "This directive recognizes the importance of balancing appropriate security measures while maximizing the capabilities afforded by 21st-century Internet tools," he said.

While authorizing access to these tools, the new policy also recognizes the importance of protecting military networks and operations, explained David M. Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management and technology.

For example, the new policy allows commanders to temporarily limit that access as required to maintain operations security or address bandwidth constraints. It also prohibits malicious activity on military information networks and denies access to sites promoting prohibited activity such as gambling, pornography and hate crimes.

While information sharing may seem the polar opposite of security to some people, Wennergren said the Defense Department can no longer afford to consider just one or the other.

"If you look at either one individually, you will fail," he said. "You will have great security, but no ability to access information sharing. [Or], if you think only about sharing, you will run into issues of operational security and letting bad things into your system. So you can no longer think of them as two separate subjects."

The new policy promotes what Wennergren calls "secure information sharing," providing the balance needed to tap into the capabilities social media networking provides without compromising security.

He emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in using unclassified military networks to access these tools, and said the department will continue to evaluate the policy after it takes effect.

"There's a huge imperative for security," Wennergren said. "It is everyone's responsibility in the department to make sure they are doing all that they can to protect our information and our information systems."

Ultimately, he called responsible, security-conscious use of social media networks a win-win proposition for the Defense Department and its members, enabling them to take full advantage of the power of social media networking.

"The world of Web 2.0 and the Internet provides these amazing opportunities to collaborate," Wennergren said. It not only promotes information sharing across organizational boundaries and with mission partners, but also enables deployed troops to maintain contact with their loved ones at home.

"So if you work on those two pieces" -- access and security -- "this really is giving people this avenue to do amazing things in terms of getting the information shared and making decisions happen much more rapidly," Wennergren said.

Until now, most servicemembers have been able to access social media platforms from their government computers, but policies have not been consistent across the department. The Marine Corps instituted a policy in early 2007 blocking Marines from accessing these sites through the Marine networks. Marines have, however, been permitted to access the sites from personal computers.

Who's doing your taxes?
 
By CPT Caitlin Chiaramonte, Fort Benning Tax Center

If you are considering having your taxes prepared by a paid preparer offpost there are some things you may want to consider to ensure your taxes are done correctly.

The tax preparation industry is still fairly unregulated - although the Internal Revenue Service has made a serious effort to crack down on fraud. Some commercial preparers are only concerned with producing large refunds for their clients, even if these refunds are not legal.

Avoid return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers. Find out what the service fees are before the return is prepared. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the amount of refund they can produce for you. This gives them an incentive to give you credits or deductions you are not entitled to claim.

If you believe you are receiving credits or deductions you are not entitled to, confront your preparer. Last year, the IRS investigated scams in the off-post area for filing a Schedule C tax form, which allowed taxpayers to take business deductions. The deductions reduce taxable income and allow for higher refunds in some cases.

However, to qualify for these deductions, the taxpayer must own a business. There are specific rules as to what constitutes a business, and it is unusual for military filers to qualify for these deductions.

Tax refund overpayments are subject to audit by the IRS. If the IRS discovers the overpayment, it will send a notice to the taxpayer demanding payment immediately.

The IRS will charge interest and penalties on the amount owed - and the penalties and interest rates can soar as high as 25 percent of the tax owed. In addition to high penalties and interest, the IRS has the power to garnish wages. Therefore, it is in a taxpayer's best interest to file taxes properly and to claim only credits or deductions that the taxpayer is entitled to claim.

The most reputable preparers will request identification, including a driver's license or military ID and social security card, to ensure the return is prepared for the correct person using the right Social Security number.

The preparer should ask to see your records and receipts, and ask you several questions to determine your filing status and income. They will ask you to justify claimed expenses, deductions and credits. A reputable tax professional will sign your tax return and provide you with a copy of your records. Never sign a blank tax form and avoid any preparer that asks you to do so.

Remember, you are legally responsible for what is on your tax return even if someone else prepares it. Most off-post tax offices are legitimate and prepare quality returns, but you should ask around. Do you know anyone else that has used this tax preparer in the past? Were they satisfied with the service? Did they have any problems with their return?

Regardless of where you have your return prepared take the time to look over every entry on your return, as well as attached schedules, and make sure you understand each entry before submitting the return to the IRS. If you have questions, ask the preparer.

When you sign your tax return, you are verifying that you have reviewed the return and are entitled to claim the credits and deductions listed. You, as the taxpayer, are responsible for the accuracy of all entries made on your tax return, whether you prepare the return yourself or use a tax preparer.

Military ID cardholders are eligible to use the Fort Benning Tax Center, located in Brown Hall, 7250 Ingersoll St., for free.

The Tax Center will file your taxes electronically. Appointments with trained professionals are available on a walk-in basis. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.

For more information, call 706-545-4267.


What will the Tax Center do?
Help you prepare your taxes, then file them electronically.
 
Who can use the Tax Center?
All military ID cardholders.
 
Is there a fee?
No.
 
Who works at the Tax Center?
Soldiers and civilians trained under the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
 
Where is it located?
Inside Brown Hall, Building 328, 7250 Ingersoll St. (across from Burger King).
 
What are the hours?
9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, except Thursday, when it's open 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
 
How can I get in touch?
Call 706-545-4267.
The To-Do List - Provided BY MWR 
 
DFMWR
New stuff  

A Babysitting and CPR certification class will be held March 12 at the Middle School & Teen building on Baltzell Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Lunch will be provided.  For more information call 706-545-0522. 

A property and abandoned vehicle auction will be held March 15 at Bldg. 2384 on Prussman St. (behind SSSC) starting at 9 a.m.  Items such as campers, pontoon boats, washers and dryers, furniture and several vehicles will be auctioned to the highest bidder. All items are being sold 'as is" and must be moved at the bidder's expense no later than March 19.  A preview of all items will be held at the auction location on March 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.  For more information call 706-545-2348. 

Smith Fitness Center is holding a free three-hour "Fitness-a-thon" on March 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.  Several different classes will be showcased.  The event is open to all military ID-cardholders.  For more information call 706-527-2393. 

Experts from Martin Army Community Hospital will teach preschoolers how to take good care of their eyes at Sayers Memorial Library on March 23 at 11 a.m.  This event is open to all interested participants.  For more information visit www.benningmwr.com and follow the library link. 

Reserve your free spot at the Kings Pond Campout on March 27 and 28 and enjoy camping, canoeing, volleyball, storytelling around the campfire and many other activities.  Camping supplies are available at Outdoor Recreation for very reasonable rates.  Reservations are required by March 26.  For reservations or more information call 706-545-7978. 
 
Current Stuff   

Sayers Memorial Library is holding a Dr. Seuss birthday party on March 2 at 11 a.m.  There will be stories, games and birthday cake.  Then come back at 6 p.m. for an Easter egg hunt and don't forget to bring a basket.  Both events are free.  For more information call 706-545-4911. 

The Kelley Hill Rec Center is holding a Scrapbooking and Card Making Class on March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.  Learn how to make beautiful handcrafted cards for just $10.  Childcare is available for a minimal fee.  Register at Kelley Hill Rec Center by Feb. 26 or call 706-544-3079 for more information. 

The Uchee Creek Archery Club is holding a Pro/Am archery shoot March 5 through 7 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Uchee Creek Activity Center.  Interested archery competitors can register at asaarchery.com.  The event is open to the public and there is no cover charge to observe the competition.  For more information call 706-681-6995. 

Teens are invited to "Hoop it Up" in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament every other Friday night starting March 5 at the Smith Fitness Center.  The fun is free and runs from 8 to 11 p.m.  For more information call 706-545-1853. 

Commander's Cup Unit Level Soccer leagues are forming soon.  Coaches must bring their Alpha roster or AAA-162 to the first meeting on March 9 at the Smith Fitness Center at 1 p.m.  For more information call 706-527-2393. 

Join BOSS for a day trip to the Wild Animal Safari at Pine Mountain, Ga. on March 19.  The $15 fee covers roundtrip transportation, admission into the park, lunch, animal food and transportation through the park.  Registration must be made no later than March 5 at the Kelley Hill Rec Center or through BOSS representatives.  For more information call 706-544-1411. 

Registration is going on now for the Women's Conference on March 10 at the Benning Conference Center.  The $20 fee includes breakfast, workshops, lunch and a goody bag.  Marla Cilley, the 'Fly Lady,' is the guest speaker.  Register online at www.benningmwr.com or pick up a registration form at the Java CafĂ©, Smith Fitness Center, all post child care centers, the PX or the CB&T office on post.  For more information visit www.benningmwr.com and follow the Women's Conference link. 

Keep your golf game sharp through the winter months with a Fort Benning Golf Course 'stimulus deal.'  Every Mon. through Thurs. golfers can play 18 holes for $20 with a cart or $12 for 9 holes with a cart.  All green fees are half price on Fri. for active duty Soldiers.  For more details or to reserve a tee time call 706-687-1940. 

It may be winter but it's time to start training now for the annual Reverse Sprint Triathlon on June 5.  This race consists of a 5K run, 20K bike ride and a 550M swim and is open to individuals, teams and Families.  For more information call 706-545-4388.
 
Thank you for taking the time to look through the Fort Benning E-Newsletter.  WePAO seal 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