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THE HOME OF THE INFANTRY & THE ARMY'S BEST SOLDIERS, LEADERS AND FAMILIES! | |
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Tuesday Trivia - every Tuesday at 2 pm
Starting April 6, a military trivia question will be posted on the Fort Benning Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/fortbenningfans.
The first person to answer the question correctly will win the opportunity
to have the Fort Benning basic training unit of their choice photographed one
day that week. See the page for details.
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From The Top
April 5, 2010
 Our Armywide campaign to prevent sexual assault is ongoing. Each year, along with citizens and public officials across the United States, we declare the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, to call attention to the problem and to re-commit ourselves to preventing sexual assault.
This year's theme is, "Hurts One. Affects All ... Preventing Sexual Assault is Everyone's Duty." The theme highlights the effects that sexual assault has on the military's mission readiness. As is readily understood throughout the military, mission readiness defines a unit's ability to deploy quickly, determines its competence to triumphantly deter war and protect the security of our country. A sexual assault can reverberate throughout a unit and beyond, degrading readiness by harming the life of the victim, and the military's ability to work effectively as a team.
Our command commitment to sexual assault prevention is important. Leaders will fully implement and enforce the Army's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program and create a climate that minimizes sexual assault and encourages reporting. Soldiers will continue to live by the Army Values and treat each other with dignity and respect. By doing so, we will make progress toward reducing sexual assault within the Army.
To further our campaign, I hereby proclaim April 2010 as Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month at Fort Benning and call on every member of this community to join the campaign.
MG Michael Ferriter
MCOE Commanding General | |
NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM GETS DONATION
Several Daughters of the US Army (DUSA) recently noticed that the World War II Company Street at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center was missing an integral element. The women, who are daughters of Army officers, pointed out there is no flag staff.
Not to criticize without offering a solution, the ladies donated $50,000 to erect a pole and equip it and also sponsor a new National Infantry Museum program, "Summer Camp Benning." The new flag pole will be dedicated on June 21 when the camp kicks off. There will be three one-week sessions:June 21 to June 25, July 5 to July 9 and July 19 to July 23. Each will last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Conducted in the World War II buildings and in the museum, the camp will teach history through the Soldier's mission and how he has lived and worked over the past 235 years. Campers will also receive instruction on how to be a leader and live the Army values.
Hands-on activities as well as history lessons will be part of the activities. The attendees will also receive a t-shirt, dog tags and a daily lunch. Each session will have 60 campers divided into three groups of 20 students ages 9 through 13. The groups will be led by the education staff docents and volunteers.
Those interested in signing up to attend the camp or to volunteer to work a session should contact Matt Young at 706-653-9234. |
BRAC BY THE NUMBERS
Today's number is 4.
That's the number of cantonments on Fort Benning. The word "cantonment" is derived from a French word meaning "district." In military parlance, it is used to describe a residential section of an installation. Fort Benning is the only installation in the U.S. with four distinct cantonments - Main Post, Sand Hill, Kelley Hill and Harmony Church.
The latter was a thriving cantonment in the early days of Fort Benning, in the late 30s, when the area was familiarly known as "Camp Tank," and later when basic training was conducted there.
Since the 1980s, when the last basic training class was moved to Sand Hill, Harmony Church has been home to a number of organizations and courses, including Ranger School, Sniper School and the CONUS Replacement Center. But the area is relatively quiet with hardly the activity or traffic associated with the other cantonments.
Harmony Church is currently undergoing a massive build-up in preparation for next year's move of the Armor School from Fort Knox, Ky., a move mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision to transform Fort Benning into the Maneuver Center. As roads are being widened, and facilities are being built to house Armor students, cadre and equipment, plans are in the works for support facilities for shopping, dining and recreation. In two years time, Harmony Church will be a bustling "Camp Tank" once again. |
Save the Date for the BRAC update, April 6
 As part of Base Realignment and Closure requirements,
Fort Benning's population and training needs will increase. Through a combination of conservation
easements and conservation-focused land acquisitions, the Army Compatible Use
Buffer program targets about 4,000 acres of land around the installation. This buffer channels land development away
from critical portions of the installation boundary, while creating the
opportunity for on-post training expansion as well as the protection of
critical native habitats off post.
With the assistance of Fort Benning and the ACUB program,
the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is working with private
landowners adjacent to the installation to sustain rural and
conservation-friendly land uses.
A representative from The Nature Conservancy will be our
guest at the next BRAC Community Update at 3 p.m. April 6 at the National
Infantry Museum. This event is free and open to the public. A question and answer period will follow the
update. For more information, call Bridgett Siter at
706-545-6169.
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News
Casey rolls out plan for 21st century Army
 SAN ANTONIO (April 1, 2010) -- Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. asked the crowd of about 2,000 how they were doing and after a hearty "Hooha" response, he proceeded to tell them how they were doing.
Casey iterated statistics and time lines for the present while laying out a future for Soldiers of the 21st century, unveiling the Installation Management Command's campaign plan during the Association of the United States Army's 2010 Army Installations Symposium & Exposition, March 29.
"What you do is so important to the long-term health of this force," Casey said.
click on headline for more
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 The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning swapped out its top enlisted Soldiers on Monday. CSM Chris Hardy took over the position during a change of responsibility ceremony behind the Ridgway Hall headquarters building. He replaces CSM Earl Rice, who leaves for Fort Bragg, N.C., to become command sergeant major of the 18th Airborne Corps.
Hardy had been command sergeant major of the 75th Ranger Regiment, which he vacated March 22. He's spent roughly half of his 24-year Army career at Fort Benning, where he first arrived for Infantry one station unit training after enlisting in January 1986.
click on headline for more
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National Guard Combatives Tournament draws record field
 A record number of entries showed up for the third annual Army National Guard Combatives Tournament - and a female Soldier from Idaho nearly stole the show.
Organizers from the Warrior Training Center said 132 Soldiers registered this year, but two states were unable to send their teams, leaving a field of 97 at Briant Wells Fieldhouse, home of the U.S. Army Combatives School. About 35 competitors turned out a year ago, while nearly 50 took part at the inaugural event in 2008.
The top four fighters in seven weight classifications moved on from Saturday's preliminary rounds, when limited striking was allowed under standard and intermediate rules. The cage was brought out for Sunday's third-place and finals bouts, where the Soldiers battled in three 5-minute rounds using advanced techniques.
click on headline for more
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 With four military retirements behind him, Col. William Bernhard said former President John F. Kennedy's plea to the nation nearly 50 years ago inspires him to keep going.
"JFK once said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country,'" Bernhard said. "And I've always tried to do that."
The 79-year-old physician, who is possibly one of the oldest Soldiers on active duty, reported to Fort Benning's CONUS Replacement Center March 20, prior to leaving for Hohenfels, Germany.
click on headline for more____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 LTG Benjamin Freakley, commander of U.S. Army Accessions
Command, visited Fort Benning Tuesday to observe Officer Candidate
School training. Last fall, Freakley launched a campaign to attract more
young adults to consider a career as an Army officer.
Now he's checking on the training these Soldiers receive to
ensure it's meeting their needs and adequately preparing them for what
they will encounter when they leave the schoolhouse and hit the
battlefield. Freakley followed a squad from D Company, 3rd Battalion
(OCS), 11th Infantry Regiment, as they maneuvered through the woods
while receiving enemy fire from "terrorists."
click on headline for more
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 The Army wants to develop critical
thinkers who are better prepared for
"hybrid" enemies and complex situations - such as those being fought in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., commander of the Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas-based U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, visited Fort Benning this
week to assess how the new leader development strategy is being
implemented.
click on headline for more
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 Fort Benning Child Youth and School Services offers a wide range of programs services for Fort Benning families.
Find out what types of programs you can get involved in and how to sign up in Benning Xtra episode 103.
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Benning Blog
Nearly 25 years ago April was designated "The Month of the Military
Child" because much like our Soldiers, Army kids sacrifice a lot for our
nation's freedom. Each year thousands of military kids around the world
change schools, move away from friends and send one or both parents off
to war. They didn't choose this lifestyle, but they are definitely
affected by it. In fact, as Command Sergeant Major Earl Rice said
earlier this week, a military career, more than any other career, is truly
a family decision. Sure our Soldiers wear the uniform, but family comes
first, and if the families aren't happy then the Army might lose some
good Soldiers.
So what does Fort Benning do to keep families happy? To find out read the blog
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Ability rather than disability
By Michael Molinaro
USAMU PAO
 FORT BENNING, Ga. - Some of today's wounded warriors have lost limbs, feeling in their arms or legs, or the use of both eyes but they haven't lost the feeling of inspiration, motivation or commitment to succeed while still serving their country.
Wounded Soldiers from around the Army came to Fort Benning and the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Mar. 29-Apr. 1 to learn from the military's best shooters in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games.
Air Rifle and Pistol are among the athletic events wounded, ill and injured servicemembers from all branches will compete in at the inaugural games May 10-14 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"I'm really excited to get out there and see what this is going to be like because I guarantee it's not going to be like anything else that I've ever done in my career," said Staff Sgt. Rachelle Renaud, 1st Battalion, Warrior Transition Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. "I am really looking forward to it."
The Warrior Games provide a focal event to empower the incorporation of athletics into military wounded warrior programs, and provide an opportunity to introduce Paralympic sports to injured service members. Warrior Games is an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness and promote opportunities for growth and achievement among wounded troops.
"What we have to do with our servicemembers is inspire them to reach for and achieve a rich and productive future, to defeat their illness or injury, whatever lies in their way, to maximize their abilities and know that they can have a rich and fulfilling life beyond what has happened to them in service to their nation," said Brig. Gen.
Gary Cheek, commander, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command.
The Soldiers attending the training camp relished the chance to meet new Soldiers and break away from their sometimes grueling rehabilitation schedules. They want to look forward to something other than another doctor's appointment. Renaud said that it's easy for Soldiers to feel alone and start down a narrow path of darkness, but the notion of the games shows that people are inspired to help them.
"It's so easy to isolate yourself then think that nobody understands," said Renaud. "But a lot of people do understand."
A veteran of two deployments to Iraq with the 720th Military Police Battalion, Renaud endured severe pain in her back that led to a double lumbar fusion on her spine. She hasn't regained the feeling in her left leg but still has the spirit to compete and overcome her injuries.
"(The Warrior Games) has inspired me. One of the things, as far as my routine, that has changed is that instead of just going home and doing nothing, I'm motivated to go out and go exercise, go to the gym-go do something to prepare. It really distracts from everything else that is going on. It's that moment when I don't have to think about anything."
USAMU Soldiers taught them the intricacies of the air rifle and pistol, as well as proper marksmanship fundamentals. Some of the Soldiers who attended the week-long clinic chose to compete in shooting events because they are good at handling a gun or have an affinity for shooting. All of them agreed that the chance to meet Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors in the same condition that they are has them motivated to get to Colorado.
"The challenge to compete with these other Soldiers who have gone through similar experiences and have overcome all of the difficulties that I have been able to overcome is very exciting," said Capt. Juan Guerrero, C Co, WTB, Fort Sam Houston.
Severely injured in both legs from an explosively-formed projectile while on a patrol south of Baghdad in 2007, Guerrero understands that there may be Soldiers wary of competing with their injuries but offers some sound advice.
"They may think they aren't going to be able to do it, but until they try it, they won't know for sure. One of the things as a Soldier is that you have to try it first. If you try it and succeed, then you go on from there. If you try and you fail, you try again.
"It's a long process, but eventually, you'll get to the point where you'll be able to do stuff you didn't think you could do, just like I did."
As the week progressed, the anxiousness and enthusiasm to get on with the games was evident. There was no mention of treatments or appointments, just encouragement and excitement. There was a practice match and they rooted for each other. With the games still more than a month away, the intent of the games seems to already be working.
"It's an honor to be here and amongst a lot of these guys,"
Renaud said. "I'm so humbled by them. They have seen it all and it's a great experience-very uplifting. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope everyone enjoys their time and gets the most out of this." |
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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