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From The Top
June 7th, 2010
 Saturday was a great day for Fort Benning,
a great day for Soldiers and a great day for the United States Army because we did
something that was long overdue - we welcomed home our Vietnam Veterans.
The
Vietnam War is said to be the most misunderstood event in American history and
when our Soldiers came home, they weren't greeted with a hero's welcome. So this weekend we did the right thing, we thanked
them for their sacrifices on behalf of the nation.
Tens of thousands of Soldiers and units
trained and deployed into combat in Vietnam from Fort Benning - from the 1st
Air Cavalry Division to the "Redcatchers" of the 199th Light Infantry
brigade, an untold number of these men deployed to Vietnam from here and gave
their lives in defense of freedom from 1965 to 1972.
These warriors are the embodiment of
Warrior Ethos. As it was back then and is now, Fort Benning is the beacon of
Warrior Ethos and it burns brightly, fueled by the blood, sweat and the never
quit passion that passes through our gates. We will continue to be that beacon
for future generations of Soldiers and will work long and hard to live up to
the examples set by our predecessors. And we will never forget the sacrifices
our brothers and sisters made for us.
Today's veterans of war in Iraq and
Afghanistan and all the combat operations since Vietnam have benefited from their
experience. They deserved the hero's
welcome our returning veterans receive today. Today is a new day, a new
opportunity to do the right thing. Let's
start by showing our appreciation for the selfless sacrifice of a generation of
Soldiers once forgotten.
One Force, One Fight!
MG Michael Ferriter
MCoE Commanding General |
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| BRAC By The Numbers
Today's number is 70.
That's the approximate number additional Marines who will be assigned to Fort Benning as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision to move the Armor School to Fort Benning from Fort Knox, Ky.
There are currently 19 Marines assigned to the Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Benning.
The Marine Corps trains their tankers and tank mechanics at the Armor School at Fort Knox and will continue to do so at Fort Benning. Approximately 600 will train here annually.
Marine officers will also attend the Maneuver Captains Career Course here. A headquarters facility has been built in Harmony Church to house a Marine detachment that will include a number of Marine instructors.
For more information about BRAC and the move of the Armor School, call 706-545-6169. |
News
The Army's top civilian leader praised the "huge muscle movement" taking place to produce the Maneuver Center of Excellence while making his first official visit June 2 to Fort Benning.
John McHugh, who became the 21st Army secretary in September, got an aerial overview of the massive expansion under way for the Maneuver Center of Excellence and met some basic training Soldiers during the daylong stopover. He praised the expertise and skills post leaders have pumped into troops fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past decade.
Click on headline for more
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This homecoming has been a long time in the making.
Shunned, ridiculed and even spit on in some cases four decades ago during the nation's turbulent past, Vietnam War veterans finally got a long-awaited tribute June 5 at a daylong "welcome home" celebration. The event started with a ceremony honoring the veterans, including Huey helicopter rides all day, and closed with a barbecue and concert featuring country music star Aaron Tippin.
Click on headline for more
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The Maneuver Battle Lab spent four days evaluating a pair of sub-caliber training rounds for a shoulder-launched weapon used to engage armored vehicles from confined or enclosed positions to identify which one best prepares Soldiers to fire the real thing.
Fourteen Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, fired 9 and 20mm rounds in the AT4 Confined Space launcher and compared their effectiveness and suitability to the 84mm live version. The experiment took place May 24-27 at Duke Range.
Click on headline for more
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Earning the title Teacher of the Year is all about going above and beyond.
"We're just looking for outstanding teachers (who) not only know their subject matter well and have a tremendous ability to get it across, but they care," said assistant superintendent Shirley Jaeger.
Who she is....
click on headline for more
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SGT Lucas Beachnaw didn't attend the dedication for the 173rd Airborne Brigade National Memorial June 1. But his family did. Lucas, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, was the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's first fatality this deployment.
The 23-year-old from Lowell, Mich., died Jan. 13 in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
click on headline for more
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The Army is testing a new vehicle looking to eventually replace the iconic Humvee. Officials said the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will offer increased protection and performance.
The Army took a group of reporters to a dirt test track about 30 minutes from Aberdeen Proving Ground June 3 to put the new vehicles through their paces. At first glance, the JLTV looks heavier and safer than current light tactical vehicles. The armor plating and bullet-proof glass will offer better protection for the warfighter, officials said.
click on headline for more
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As the Army prepares to celebrate its 235th birthday, three women have taken the broad theme of the Army's long tradition and history and transformed it into a series of books designed for children.
The Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command has sponsored a third in a series of children books titled "Happy Birthday U.S. Army," to help children understand the importance of what their parent or parents do in the Army.
click on headline for more
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The difference between rapid acquisition and traditional acquisition can be as much as six years or more.
The rapid acquisition process allows the Army to bypass some of the rules, policies and procedures associated with acquisition for large projects and to get them into the hands of Soldiers quicker, said Lt. Gen. William N. Phillips, military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology. He spoke May 27 at an AUSA Institute of Land Warfare breakfast.
One example he used was the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles - which took about 12 months to field, and the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles took about 15 months to field.
click on headline for more
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NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM SUMMER CAMP FILLING UP
Spaces in "Summer Camp Benning," which kicks off June 21 at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, are filling up. There are a few vacancies in each of the three one-week sessions:June 21 to June 25, July 5 to July 9 and July 19 to July 23. Each will last from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Fort Benning's Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation has purchased some slots for Army children and are sponsoring a writing contest to determine who will attend on those scholarships.
Conducted in the World War II Company Street 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 up to 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 and dog tags and a daily lunch.
Each session will have 60 campers divided into three groups of 20 students each ages 9 through 13. The groups will be led by the education staff, docents, and volunteers.
Space is limited so those interested in attending the camp should contact Matt Young at 706-653-9234.
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Your ticket to Columbus
Just released this month, the River City Pass represents some of the best venues Columbus has to offer - all contained in a $20 wallet-sized card. One pass is good for admission to the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center and the Rifle Range and IMAX theater at the National Infantry Museum. The pass also features discounts at several places in uptown Columbus, including dining, shopping and entertainment. Here's a peek at what your pass includes.
Port Columbus
· 19th-century vessels
The first thing you'll see as you approach Port Columbus is a full-scale replica of the USS Water Witch sitting outside the museum.
Inside, there are many more ships or pieces of ships, as the case may be. The ironclad CSS Jackson, burned and buried in the Chattahoochee River for nearly 100 years, was resurrected in 1961 for the Civil War centennial. The wreck, weighing more than 500,000 pounds, still retains the scent of burned wood. Port Columbus also boasts the largest surviving Confederate warship, the CSS Chattahoochee, and the only surviving Confederate Navy gunboat, the CSS Chattahoochee.
· Civil War era artifacts
Visitors can board a ship, peek inside a ward room, watch naval combat episodes, see the largest Civil War naval flag collection in the country and examine other period artifacts, such as carbines, rifles, cutlasses and uniforms.
Find out more on the redesigned website: www.portcolumbus.org.
Coca-Cola Space Science Center
· The lobby
With simulation rides and hands-on exhibits, visitors to the Coca-Cola Space Science Center can test drive a fighter plane, help forecast the weather, maneuver a Mars rover and land a shuttle. Perfect for children, this area has plenty of informational displays to back up the fun with real science.
· Mead Observatory
The Mead Observatory houses several telescopes, including a 16-inch LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain. The observatory offers programs throughout the year covering a range of astronomical events, including comets and eclipses to meteor showers.
· Omnisphere Theater
The planetarium features a high-resolution video projection system and excellent sound quality. One of only a handful of its kind, the theater immerses you in an out-of-this-world experience as you recline in your seat facing a full-dome screen.
Several shows play throughout the week, including laser concerts. The newest feature is Invaders of Mars.
For more information, visit www.ccssc.org.
National Infantry Museum
· IMAX
Boasting a screen five stories high and 70 feet wide and a 70-speaker, 12,000-watt sound system, the IMAX theater at the National Infantry Museum is the only IMAX theater in West Georgia. In any of its 292 seats, you're sure to get a good view.
Now showing are three feature documentaries: Hubble 3-D, Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets and Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West.
· Rifle Range
Experience the same rifle simulator used on post to train Soldiers. The Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 lets you compete against your friends while testing your prowess at marksmanship.
And the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is the only place in the civilian world where you can find this simulator.
For more information about IMAX show times, the Rifle Range and other exhibits on display at the museum, visit www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com.
For more on the city pass, visit www.rivercity.pass.com. |
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. |
 Upcoming Fort Benning Events
The following Fort Benning events are scheduled to take place between: June 7 - July 3:
Through June 14: Kids - it's time for the Youth Sports Camps! Baseball Camp for 6 to 15 year-olds will be held June 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register between June 1 to 14. The camp is open to the first 50 registered youth. Football Camp for 6 to 15 year-olds will be held June 15 to 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Register between June 1 to 14. The camp is open to the first 50 registered youth. Cheerleading Camp for 6 to 15 year-olds will be held June 21 to 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. Register between June 7 to 18. The camp is open to the first 50 registered youth, and Soccer Camp for 4 to 15 year-olds will be held July 6 to 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register between June 21 to July 3. The camp is open to the first 100 registered youth. All attendees must have an up-to-date physical and all camps will take place at the Youth Sports Complex. For more information on any of these camps call 706-545-3582.
Registration is held at Parent Central, Bldg. 104 on Marchant St. next to the Main Post Car Wash every Mon through Fri. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parent Central stays open until 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Parent Central will be closed on July 2 for the training holiday. For more information or to schedule an afternoon appointment call 706-545-2079.
SKIESUnlimited is offering two drama workshops for children 5 to 12-years-old this summer for $56 each. The first session will take place June 14 to 17 and the second session will be held July 19 to 22. Class meeting times will be held according to age groups in the Middle School & Teen Bldg, #1056. For more information call 706-545-0522.
June 15: Take your children to Russ Pond and Pool on June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. to enjoy the Family Fishing Night. Free poles and bait for children 15 and under with reservations by June 14. In case of inclement weather, this event will be cancelled. For reservations and more information call 706-545-7978.
June 19: Teens are welcome to take a free day trip to the Family Day in the Park on June 19. Round-trip transportation from the Middle School and Teen Bldg, #1056 will be provided. For more information call 706-545-3062.
June 26: All teens are welcome to enjoy Fright Night Under the Stars at Parent Central, Bldg. 104 parking lot next to the Main Post car wash on Marchant St. on June 26 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. For more information call 706-545-3062.
July 3: Fort Benning's Independence Day Celebration will be held on July 3 at the Stewart Watson Field inside the one-mile track. Enjoy lots of free musical entertainment, children's activities and the best firework display in the tri-city area. For more information visit www.benningmwr.com.
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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