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| THE HOME OF THE INFANTRY & THE ARMY'S BEST SOLDIERS, LEADERS AND FAMILIES! | |
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A national study by The
American Civic Literacy Program found that 85% of kids could correctly
identify Paula Abdul, while only 10% could correctly identify The
Gettysburg Address, when given the quote "For the people, by the
people..." Want your kids to be part of the 10 percent? Sign them up for
summer camp at the National Infantry Museum. Space is limited so call
today. Sessions start June 21. For more information, call 706-685-5800. |
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From The Top
May 24, 2010
Let me start by thanking our teachers, those who serve on the front lines. Thank you for the sacrifices you make, for your dedication to the mission. You serve your nation well when you care for the families of our Soldiers. Our Fort Benning Soldiers can focus on their mission, because they know their children are in good hands. Thank you.
To our Partners in Education and those who work to make the program a success, we say thank you. The PIE program is one of the most important programs we have here on Fort Benning. The benefits are immeasurable. This program enriches the lives of the students, improves their academic performance, fills a void in the lives of children whose parents are deployed, exposes them to the Army values, and demonstrates inspirational leadership. When you make a difference in the lives of these students, you are shaping the future of this nation. You are influencing tomorrow's leaders. I can't think of a better role model than an American Soldier.
Last but not least, I want to recognize our incredible schools. Let's start with Faith Middle School. The Faith Math Team, Chinese Mandarin and Spanish students took top honors at local and state competitions, and 25 National Junior Honor Society students participated in the weeklong National Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.
Dexter Elementary celebrated its 40th anniversary of serving Fort Benning families. The school won the Columbus Chamber of Commerce PIE Project of the Year for Reading Rangers, and two Dexter students competed in the World Sport Stacking Championship in Denver, Co., and brought home the gold.
The chorus at Loyd Elementary was very, very busy this year. They performed at the RiverCenter, uptown Columbus, the Columbus Trade Center, the Regimental Chapel on Sand Hill and the National Infantry Museum
McBride Elementary won the 2010 Urban Forestry Elementary School Award and the 2010 PIE Partnership of the Year Award with the 192nd Infantry Brigade.
The Stowers LEGO Robotics team took first and third place in the LEGO Robotics League Competition at Columbus State University, and Julia Morales's kindergarten classroom was selected as the Early Childhood Education Model Classroom for the Georgia/Alabama District.
White Elementary placed in the Law Day Poster and Essay Contest, the Chik-Fil-A Poetry competition and the annual Battle of the Books. They also earned 25,000 Reading Counts points and submitted more than 100 Science Fair projects.
Wilson Elementary was one of the Top Ten PIE Partnerships in Muscogee County. Wilson received a commendation by the AdvancED Accreditation Agency for the school's programs that support military children.
Fort Benning teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, staff members, PIE partners and volunteers are the best in the business - a team of teams. Their teamwork exemplifies the Maneuver Center motto: One Force, One Fight! The concerted effort they put into educating and nurturing our children has resulted in a very successful school year - once again.
One Force, One Fight!
MG Michael Ferriter
MCOE Commanding General |
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Remembering our Fallen Soldiers
To honor and remember fallen Soldiers, Fort Benning Survivor Outreach Services will dedicate the "Hall of Remembrance" in memory of all Soldiers who have lost their lives while serving on active duty. The hall will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made while serving on active duty and serve as a reminder to all that our fallen Soldiers have not been forgotten.
The Hall of Remembrance will showcase 8x10 photographs of fallen service members from all branches of the military. Families are encouraged to submit a picture along with a statement about their loved one. Photograph should be sent to: Army Community Service
Building 2624 Soldiers Plaza, 7200 Kanopsky Avenue, Fort Benning, GA 31905
The S.O.S Hall of Remembrance is scheduled to open later this summer. For more information, call 706-545-4043 or email Angela Holsey atangela.holsey@us.army.mil. |
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Memorial Day Weekend
 Vietnam era veterans will be the focus of activities scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.
At 10:00am Thursday, May 27 the Sky Soldiers Demonstration Team will drop into the parade field. The team, comprised of veteran pilots and ground support staff, perform at various events around the country in a patriotic tribute to our military. The Vietnam vintage helicopters will fly over following regular graduation ceremonies that begin at 9:00 am. The four choppers: two Hueys, one Loach and one Cobra will be on display at the parade field until 4:30.
Also following the graduation of B/2-19, the traveling Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall will be dedicated. Distinguished Vietnam veterans LTG (Ret) Hal Moore and CSM Basil Plumley willlay a wreath at the monument. The two are heroes of the 1965 Battle of the Ia Drang Valley. LTG Moore co-authored "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young."
MG (Ret) Jerry White, National Infantry Foundation President, will deliver a Memorial Day message pointing to the sacrifice and heroism of those who served in Vietnam.
The traveling monument is a three-quarter-scale replica created by Dignity Memorial as a service to those who might never have the chance to travel to the nation's capital. It is 8-feet high and 240-feet long and its black, faux granite reflective surface is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died or are missing in Vietnam.
The wall will remain through June 6. The replica will be located just east of the museum, along Heritage Walk. Paper and pencils will be provided so visitors can make rubbings of names engraved on the wall.
A complete Memorial Day schedule of events at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center - including the May 28th Miracle Ride, May 31stPaver Dedication CeremonyandJune 1stWalk of Honor Dedication -- is available at http://www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com/?page_id=2024
Other Memorial Day Events
May 31 - Postwide Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Main Post cemetery at 8 a.m. There will be a paver ceremony at the National Infantry Museum at 10 a.m.
June 1 - The Maneuver Center fo Excellence will host a Walk of Honor dedication at 10 a.m. at the National Infantry Museum. The 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Dedication will follow.
June 5 - A welcome home will be held for Vietnam veterans at 10 a.m. at the National Infantry Museum. There will be a barbeque and concert at Wetherby Field at 6 p.m.
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News
Trainees become Soldiers, national citizens in same week
With fellow basic trainees and battalion Soldiers looking on, five Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, became U.S. citizens May 12 during a naturalization ceremony on Sand Hill.
The Soldiers included PVT Jean Samuel Blain and PFC Kenny Pierre, from Haiti; PFC Jerson Anzola, from Colombia; PFC Qasim Mehdi, from Pakistan and PV2 Oscar Simon, from Mexico.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," said 31-year-old Simon, who lived in California for 17 years. "I'm finally a U.S. citizen."
click on headline for more
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 events ranging from poetry nights to paintball, Fort Benning teens should find something to participate in this summer Child, Youth and School Services school liaison officer Tawanna Brown said.
"We're trying to fill the void so teens won't participate in things they shouldn't be involved in," Brown said. A working group of post leaders called STOP (Saving Teens Outreach Project) was formed for this reason.
"This summer will be fun, adventurous and all about teens," she said.
Click on headline for more
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 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited Fort Benning Saturday to meet with basic training Soldiers on Sand Hill. During his visit, he observed combatives demonstrations, urban operations, Eagle Tower and marksmanship practice.His message for the Soldiers was one of thanks."I just want to tell you how much I appreciate everything you're doing," Gates said to more than 220 Soldiers in C Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, who took a knee after demonstrating their understanding of Army combatives and Eagle Tower.
Click on headline for more ______________________________________________
 The staff at the Army National Guard Warrior Training Center unveiled a new headquarters building during a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday at Camp Butler.
Battalion Commander LTC Robert Harris said the new facility is an example of the unit's expansion on the Harmony Church site, which was acquired in 2003.
"This is a great day for the Army National Guard, and more specifically the Warrior Training Center," Harris said. "It's a symbol of our growth and maturity."
click on headline for more
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 Six-year-old Megan Johnson, a kindergartner at Wilson Elementary School, was the youngest winner of this year's Armed Services YMCA Student Art Contest.
Her portrait of her military family, which placed second in the Army category among hundreds of submissions, featured herself standing between her parents, PFC Jacob and Gwendolen Schell. The winners, announced last week, received a U.S. savings bond: $500 for first place and $100 for second.
click on the headline for more ______________________________________________
Delegates from 37 African nations and Soldiers from U.S. Army Africa visited Fort Benning May 13 as part of the 2010 African Land Forces Summit.
The three-day conference, held predominately in Chantilly, Va., brought commanders from land forces throughout the African continent together to address the concerns and challenges of African leaders, and demonstrate how the U.S. Army prepares Soldiers for the 21st century battlefield.
Click on headline for more
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| BRAC by the Numbers
 Today's number is 2,460.
That's the number of initial entry trainees who can be accommodated comfortably in the new 30th Adjutant General (Reception) Battalion when the three-phased construction process is completed late next year. The first phase, the headquarters building, opened last month.
The current facility sleeps 2,200, and that's simply not enough bed space during the annual "summer surge," when Sand Hill experiences its greatest training load.
There are eight training battalions on Sand Hill belonging to the 192nd and the 198th Infantry Brigades. Two more will relocate from Fort Knox, Ky., in 2011 as part of Base Realignment and Closure projects on Fort Benning.
When the move is completed, more than half of all the Army's initial entry training will take place on Sand Hill.
Next BRAC Community Update meeting will be June 1. |
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit
Interservice pistol championships slated for June
 FORT BENNING, Ga. - The best pistol shooters the Department of Defense has to offer are set to converge on Fort Benning this summer for the 51st Annual Interservice Pistol Championships, scheduled for June 11-18.
Training and competitions are open to individuals and teams of the Armed Services of the United States, Reserve Components, and military academies and commissioning program.
The Army pistol team, made up of Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, won the service pistol team championship in 2009 and is primed to defend the title on its home turf. Sgt. 1st Class James Henderson, USAMU, won the individual championship last year and is among the favorites to claim the title as the best pistol shooter in the military for 2010.
"The Interservice Pistol championship is a great opportunity to showcase the best service pistol marksman in the DoD," said Cpt. Gavin Rice, operations officer, USAMU. "Service members have the opportunity to validate all of their training and hard work in a shoulder-to-shoulder competition."
Besides the top marksman from the USAMU, the Marines, Navy and Air Force annually send their finest sharpshooters to represent their respective services. The shooters will compete in center fire, .22- and .45-caliber matches, as well as an Excellence in Competition match. An awards banquet will close out the week.
While the bigger teams are training for top honors, smaller posts, stations, divisions and states are encouraged to send their teams to Fort Benning to compete.
"While the service teams shoot it out for the championship, smaller teams can also win awards and take home some bragging rights of their own," said Michael Molinaro, USAMU spokesman. "Marines enjoy sending their smaller station teams and beating up on the competition. We'd like to see posts, bases and stations such as Fort Benning, Fort Campbell, Lackland or Norfolk send teams and be represented during the match."
The week-long event not only is a chance for the competitors to bring out the best among one another but also share techniques that can be spread across the entire military, enabling it to be even more lethal than it already is.
"Competitions like this one foster an appreciation and respect amongst services as everyone continues to contribute to the Global War on Terrorism," Rice concluded.
For additional information, to register and check out the match bulletin, visit the USAMU website at www.usamu.com under "competitions" or contact Michael Behnke, the USAMU chief of competitions, at (706) 545-7841 or michael.behnke@usaac.army.mil.
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 Upcoming Fort Benning Events
The following Fort Benning events are scheduled to take place between: May 24- June 6:
May 26: Monthly BOSS Meeting - The monthly installation Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Kelley Hill Recreation Center, Building 9079. All BOSS MSC representatives are required to attend or send an alternate to the event. Fort Benning strongly supports the BOSS program and allows all Soldiers who volunteer for BOSS activities the time to participate in these events. BOSS events are open to all interested people, military or civilian. For more information, call 706-544-1411.
May 27: CG Golf Scramble - The next CG Golf Scramble will start with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is $30 if paid by the day before the event or $35 the day of the event, and includes cart, green fees, two mulligans, food and prizes. Stop by the Fort Benning Golf Course to register or call 706-687-1940 for more information.
May 28: Free Paintball - Join the battle action in the Woodlands off Dixie Road from 1 to 5 p.m. Paintball equipment and supplies are available at Outdoor Recreation. For more information, call 706-545-9636.
May 29-30: Kings Pond Campout - Reserve your free spot at the Kings Pond Campout and enjoy camping, canoeing, volleyball, storytelling around the campfire and many other activities. Camping supplies are available at Outdoor Recreation. Reservations are required by May 28. For reservations or more information, call 706-545-7978.
June 5: Zipline Tour - Take a zipline tour of historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg, Ga. The $63 fee includes several different zipline adventures and roundtrip transportation from Fort Benning. Space is limited so reserve your spot early. For more information, call 706-545-9636.
June 6: Reverse Sprint Triathlon - It's time to start training for the annual Reverse Sprint Triathlon. The race consists of a 5K run, a 20K bike ride and a 550M swim. It's open to individuals, teams and families. For more information, call 706-545-4388.
For more information about these or any other Fort Benning events, contact the Public Affairs Office (706) 545-6674. |
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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