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The Benning Report

Upcoming:

TLEP meetings scheduled   

Fort Benning officials will host four public meetings June 6 to 9. The meetings will be conducted as an "open house," running from 4 to 7 p.m. each day.  Guests may drop in any time during the meeting, meet with representatives one-on-one, ask questions and register comments for the record.

Locations of the meetings are as follows:

• June 6 - Richland Hotel, Richland, GA (From FBGA take US-280E past Cusseta to Richland.  When approaching Richland, take a left onto Wall Street.  BEFORE you cross the RR tracks, take a left onto E. Broad.  The old hotel is the large two-story building with the red roof on the left.  Enter through the double doors in the center of the building.  ~ 24 miles from Fort Benning)

• June 7 - Russell County High School, Seale, AL (From FBGA take Victory Drive/US 280W into Alabama.  Take the US-431 ramp toward Eufaula/ Dothan.  Turn left onto US 431 S/AL-1 S.  Turn left onto CR-137/Old Seale Highway.  School is on the left.  ~ 26 miles from Fort Benning)

• June 8 - Josh Gibson Center, Buena Vista, GA (From FBGA take US-280 E/GA-27 S to GA-26.  Turn left on GA-26 and go to and through the town of Buena Vista.  After you cross the RR tracks, take the first right onto Rogers Street.  The Josh Gibson Center in about 1 block down Rogers on the left (old elementary school).  Enter the double doors in the center of the building. ~22 miles from Fort Benning)

• June 9 - Community Center, Waverly Hall, GA (From FBGA, take I-185 N. to exit 7A (US-27 N/GA 85 N) toward Manchester.  Take a slight right at (US-27 N/GA 85 N/Manchester Expressway.  Continue to follow US-27 N Alt N/ /GA 85 N until you reach Hwy 208.  Turn left at Kenimer Street to Oneal Drive.  Community Center is at intersection. ~ 34 miles from Fort Benning )

Comments from the public may also be sent in writing to:

The Maneuver Center of Excellence

Public Affairs Office

ATTN: Monica Manganaro

6460 Way Ave., Building 2838

Fort Benning, GA 31905

For more information about the Training Land Expansion Project, please call 706-545-8830.

News:      

209th Soldier saves residents from fire

Spc. Jerry Torres of the 209th Military Police Detachment put his life on the line May 22 to save two residents during a fire in Battle Park, located off Arrowhead Road on Fort Benning.

As a result of his efforts, Torres received a garrison commander's coin May 23 from Col. Thomas Macdonald, Fort Benning's garrison commander, and a Maneuver Center of Excellence commemorative token Wednesday from Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, the post commanding general.

"Myself and another patrol noticed the smoke coming up from the back of the building. We went up to the building (and) a lady was in the doorway yelling, 'Call the fire department, call the fire department!'" Torres said. "We were trying to calm her down.  

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Gulf War tribute kicks off Memorial Day weekend at National Infantry museum  

Two decades ago, U.S. and coalition forces shoved Iraq out of Kuwait in relatively rapid fashion to claim an overwhelming victory in the Gulf War.  

The first national ceremony honoring the 382 American men and women who gave their lives took place Thursday.

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Firefighters prevent spread of home fire

For the McAllisters, old family photos were at the forefront of their thoughts - irreplaceable mementos they thought would go up in smoke following a home fire on Fort Benning that ignited a neighbor's apartment two weeks ago.

The retired couple, who live in a brick, single-story town home, share connecting attic space with three apartments.

Thanks to the sharp eye of a military policeman, the couple inside the burning home at Apt. C, 26 Arrowhead Road, as well as the McAllisters and other residents of the surrounding apartments, made it out safely. But thanks to the quick response and expertise of firefighters postwide, the neighboring apartments were saved.

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Crash vehicles upgrade aircraft-rescue response

Fort Benning first responders debuted new crash vehicles this month to respond to aircraft-rescue firefighting. Fire and Emergency Services added two Striker 3000s to its fleet of aircraft response vehicles May 7.  

The department traded out an older vehicle and will upgrade its reserve truck, bringing the number of aircraft rescue trucks to five. The tank of one Striker holds 3,000 gallons of water, an increase of 100 percent over the station's other four response trucks, which held a combined total of 5,500 gallons. Each also contains 500 pounds of dense foam for fire suppression.

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'Giant Voice' prepares if disaster strikes

Fort Benning tests its "giant voice" mass warning notification system at noon Saturday to help residents prepare for tornado and hurricane seasons.

The test occurs every Saturday and coincides with Muscogee County's sirens, said Terry Wydra, installation emergency manager at Fort Benning.

Fort Benning emergency management operations specialist Tina Sandell said residents should take the sirens seriously and take shelter immediately if they hear the sirens at any time other than when the tests are being exercised. The safest places are usually a center room or hallway without windows.

The sirens will go off in the case of a tornado warning, which means there has been a tornado spotted by an eyewitness or by Doppler radar, according to the National Weather Service.  

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Obama taps Dempsey, Winnefeld as chairman, vice chairman

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2011 -- President Barack Obama announced his choices as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during a Rose Garden ceremony today.

Obama intends to nominate Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as chairman and Navy Adm. James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. as vice chairman. Dempsey currently is the Army chief of staff and Winnefeld is the commander of U.S. Northern Command.

Dempsey will replace Navy Adm. Mike Mullen when his term ends Sept. 30, 2011, and Winnefeld will replace Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright when his term ends in July.

The president intends to nominate Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to succeed Dempsey at the Army post.

Service secretaries receive 'Don't Ask' repeal plan

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 -- Pentagon officials today sent the Defense Department's implementation plan for repeal of the law commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to the service secretaries with a March 1 deadline for their first progress update.

Clifford L. Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, issued the plan, which outlines the stages of action, including those actions that must be completed before the department reverses the policy barring people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual from serving openly in the military.

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 Faces of BRAC

Working behind the scenes, making the MCoE One Force, One Fight!

Kenneth Mullins, simulations training division chief

After serving a five-year stint in Korea, where simulation is especially critical to training due to limited access to land for maneuver exercises, Kenneth Mullins brought his experience to Fort Benning.  As simulations training division chief for the MCoE, Mullins set up more than 160,000 square feet of space to house two simulation facilities on Harmony Church.

Mullins said although his experience in Korea was valuable, it was his prior aviation career that especially prepared him for his current role.

"We simulated everything from flying in the clouds to landing on the runway," Mullins said. "It is easier to do in a box than to crank up an aircraft, it's the same with the Bradley or a tank."

Soldiers strap themselves into a module or box that provides an environment very similar to a real Bradley, Abrams, or similar vehicle. Computer generated exercises allow Soldiers to develop scenarios and see how they play out for a nearly true-to-life battlefield experience.   

In addition to providing a safer training environment for Soldiers, simulation costs less, too. An Abrams tank consumes about $400 of fuel per mile.  It is a whole lot cheaper to operate a tank in a virtual environment Mullins said.

Mullins said when the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law dictated that the MCoE consolidate the Infantry and Armor schools, Fort Benning lacked the devices or the space to train both the Armor and the Infantry in a virtual environment.  

The existing 14-year-old facility on Mabry Hall wouldn't have been able to handle the number of systems that the Infantry and Armor schools collectively would have needed.  The training installation would have had to keep Mabry Hall and, in addition, build another Close Combat Tactical Trainer facility for the Armor School. Consolidating under one facility improved efficiency Mullins said.

According to Mullins, the new facilities on Harmony Church are more robust and enable digital connectivity on and off post like never before.

"The writing is on the wall," Mullins said, "Especially with budgetary constraints as they are now, there will be a lot more users of simulations."

Story and photo by Cindy Andruss   

Scholarships available to Camp Benning 

The Daughters of the US Army (DUSA) is providing $1,000 to the National Infantry Foundation as part of the "Ida Barnes Campership Fund." The money is to be distributed by the museum to youth wishing to attend this year's summer camp. Last year DUSA gave $50,000 as camp seed money.

Once again Camp Benning will be held in the World War II Company Street buildings and in the National Infantry Museum for campers between the ages of 9 and13. There will be three sessions; two sessions for entry level campers and a Level II camp for those who attended last year. Level I will run June 20-24 and July 25-29. Level II starts July 11 and runs through July 15. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Level I and a little longer for Level II.

The camp teaches history through the soldier's mission and how he has lived and worked over the past 235 years. There is additional instruction on how to be a leader and live up to the Army values.

During each of the five half-days of the camp, the children learn about a different war, even during lunch when they may sample food from the period being studied. In addition to information and hands-on experiences, campers receive workbooks to share the experience with their parents, a t-shirt and dog tags.

Space is limited so anyone interested in signing up should contact Cami Canning at 706-653-9234 immediately.

Story by Borden Black 

Taking care of the best military community in the Army!

Upcoming DFMWR events:

TGIF

The Benning Conference Center's Concord Lounge hosts "TGIF"  the second Friday of each month at 4:30 p.m.  Don't miss the fun.

Archery shoots

Uchee Creek hosts competitive archery shoots the second Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.  This event is open to the public. For more info, call 706-685-3060.

Family Fishing Night is back!   

Outdoor Recreation will host Family Fishing at Russ Pond from 5-7 p.m.  June 21, weather permitting. Reserve your free pole and bait now by calling 706-545-7978. Fishing at Russ Pond is restricted for to those 15 and younger, but parents and older siblings are encouraged to help.

Paintball

Spend your next training holiday playing paintball in the Woodlands off Dixie Road, between 1st Division and Soldiers Plaza. Rent paintball equipment at Outdoor Recreation while supplies last. Form a team and challenge another unit or group. Paintball tournaments are scheduled Friday and Sept. 2. To register, call 706-545-9636.

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