— are held the third Thursday of the month at 3:30

p.m. at Alternate Escapes to recognize wounded Soldiers who came home separate from their units and did not participate in a welcome home ceremony. The next social is July 19 and all are welcome.

The Military Officers Association of America — invites all active duty and retired officers to a special presentation by retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Bentley

B. Rayburn Thursday at 7 a.m. at the Peterson Air Force Base Officers Club. Rayburn is chairman of the veteran cemetery project and will discuss the southern Colorado veterans cemetery. This is a breakfast meeting with a charge of $8.50 per person for food. Contact Max Borysko at (303) 647-0405 for more information.

Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment — As of June 1, Soldiers currently assigned to a modified table of organization and equipment unit with permanent change of station orders within the continental United States are required to retain certain OCIE and will be allowed to ship one duffel bag containing OCIE to their new duty station. For a list of items or if you have questions, call Directorate of Logistics supply contacts Dale Caddick at 526-6140 or Frank Howard at 526-6477.

$500 Reward — The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Detachment is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the damage to U.S. government property and fires in motor pool building 1882 on May 2. If you have information about this or any crime, contact CID at 526-3991 or the Military Police desk at 526-2333. The $500 reward offer expires May 11, 2008.

Harmony in Motion — is holding auditions for basses, tenors and sopranos. Any Soldiers interested may contact Sgt. Scott Dickson at 524-3618, 338-2340 or scott.d.dickson@conus.army.mil.

The Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline — accepts calls from 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at

(800) 984-8523. The call center offers wounded and injured Soldiers and family members a way to seek help to resolve medical issues and provides an information channel to senior Army leadership to improve the way the Army serves the medical needs of Soldiers and their Families.

The U.S. Small Business Administration — has announced the Patriot Express loan program for veterans. This initiative is intended to make it easier for veterans to qualify for small business loans. For more information visit www.sba.gov.

Food service special events — Family Readiness Groups and units that conduct fundraisers by selling limited food items are required to fill out an application and checklist for their event. Contact Capt. Teal Reeves at 526-7922, or Sgt. Misty Gordon at 526-7375 for details and a copy of the paperwork needed. The application and checklist are also available through unit Family Readiness Groups.

Self-Help Weed Control Program — Units that wish to participate in the Self-Help Weed Control Program must have Soldiers trained in the proper handling, transport and application of herbicides. Training sessions are held every Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. through the end of October in building 3711. Each unit may send up to five people for training unless preapproved for more through the unit commander and the Directorate of Environmental Compliance and Management. Call the Pest Control Facility at 526-5141for information.

Warrant Officer Program — is available for all Reserve component Soldiers who meet the qualifications. The Army Reserve Warrant Officer Accessions team is located in building 8932, 4000 O’Connell Blvd. A $10,000 accession bonus will be paid upon completion of the warrant officer basic course. Contact Master Sgt. Brian Brownell at 526-6544 or brian.brownell@usar.army.mil.

Single Soldiers requesting basic allowance for housing — to live off post must first submit a memo to the Unaccompanied Personnel Housing Office, building 7301, room 114, for an exception to policy to draw BAH at the without- dependent rate. Soldiers should not obtain a lease until approval is given. Contact Judy Barstad at judy.barstad@conus.army.mil or 526-0570 with any questions.

Officer Candidate School — Packet submissions for direct select and local OCS are handled by the Personnel Services Branch, Military Personnel Division, in building 1218, room 160. OCS direct selection is in effect until Sept. 30 and there are still slots open. Contact Tom Grady at 526-3947 for more information.

Hours of Operation

Central Issue Facility regular business hours — are listed below. Call 526-3321to make appointments.

In-processing

Monday-Thursday from 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Initial issues

Monday-Thursday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Partial issues

Monday-Thursday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Cash sales/report of survey

Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Direct exchange

Monday-Thursday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Partial turn-ins

Monday-Thursday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Full turn-ins

Monday-Thursday 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Unit issues and turn-ins

Call 526-5512/6477 for approval.

Trial defense service hours — TDS hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-4

p.m. TDS is closed on Fridays except for appointments and emergencies. Administrative chapters and Article 15 briefings are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m., and walk-ins are taken until 12:50 p.m.

Claims Division hours — The Claims Division office hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m, Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and closed federal and training holidays. To make a claim, Soldiers must attend a mandatory briefing. At the briefing, Soldiers must submit a Department of Defense Form 1840/1840R (pink form).

DFAC hours — Fort Carson dining facilities operate under the following hours: Warhorse Cafe — Monday-Friday 7:15-9:15

a.m. (breakfast), 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch) and 5-6:30 p.m. (dinner). Weekends hours are 9:30 a.m.1 p.m. (brunch) and 5-6:30 p.m. (dinner).

Wolf Inn — Monday-Friday 7-9 a.m. (breakfast),

11:30

a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch) and 5-6:30 p.m. (dinner). Weekend hours are 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (brunch), and 5-6:30 p.m. (dinner).

Butts Army Airfield — Monday-Friday 7-9 a.m. (breakfast), 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch) and 5-6:30 p.m. (dinner). Weekend hours are 7:30-9 a.m. (breakfast),

11:30

a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch) and 4:30-6 p.m. (dinner).

10th SFG — Monday-Friday 7-9 a.m. (breakfast), 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch). Closed for dinner and on weekends.

Education Center hours of operation — The Mountain Post Training and Education Center’s hours are as follows:

• Counselor Support Center — Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Learning Resource Center/Military Occupational Specialty Library — Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; and training holidays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education

Support and Advanced Personnel Testing — Monday-Friday 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:15-4:15 p.m.; closed training holidays.

• Basic Skills Education Program/Functional Academic Skills Training — Monday-Thursday 1-4 p.m.; closed training holidays.

• eArmyU Testing — Monday-Friday, 12:15-4:15 p.m.; closed training holidays.

Legal Assistance hours — Operating hours for the Legal Assistance Office are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.

Briefings

ACAP briefing –– The Army Career and Alumni Program preseparation briefing is required for all departing servicemembers. Current ACAP policy requires personnel ending time in service to register one year out and retirees two years out. ACAP preseparation briefings are held Monday-Thursday from 7:30-9 a.m. Attendees should report to ACAP by 7:15 a.m. to building 1118, room 133. Call 526-1002 to register.

ETS briefing — The ETS briefing for Tuesday has been rescheduled for July 10. Otherwise, ETS briefings for enlisted personnel will be held the first and third Tuesday of each month until further notice. Briefing sign-in begins at 7 a.m. at building 1042, room 310. Briefings will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Soldiers must be within 120 days of their ETS but must attend the briefing no later than 30 days prior to their ETS or start date of transition leave. Call 526-2240 for more information.

Special Forces briefings — are held Wednesdays in building 1217, room 305, from 10-11 a.m., noon-1

p.m. and 5-6 p.m. Soldiers must be E4-E6 from any military occupational specialty; have a general technical score of at least 100; be a U.S. citizen; score 229 or higher on the Army Physical Fitness Test; and pass a Special Forces physical. Call 524-1461 or visit the Web site at www.bragg.army.mil/sorb.

MOUNTAINEER

June 29, 2007

‘War-Fighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program’

LASIK, PRK free for Soldiers

by Rebecca E. Tonn

Mountaineer staff

Soldiers, if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you might be able to toss them in the trash — if your vision qualifies you for either of two refractive eye surgeries: laser in-situ keratomileusis, better known as LASIK, or photorefractive keratectomy, referred to as PRK.

These procedures are offered only for Fort Carson active-duty Soldiers. Priority one is given to Brigade Combat Teams and 10th Special Forces Group; priority two is all units assigned under 43rd Area Support Group.

“Surgery must be done at least 90 days before a Soldier deploys,” said Mike Ives, Eye Clinic supervisor at Evans Army Community Hospital.

Currently, LASIK and PRK are performed at the Air Force Academy, but Evans is expanding its services and will have its own laser clinic and equipment later this year.

Once the new clinic is opened, Ives hopes that 1,500 Soldiers per year may have LASIK or PRK.

“Right now we do 500 per year. Hopefully, we will triple that amount so that all Soldiers who want the procedure and are candidates for it will be able to have it done,” Ives said. Ives encourages Soldiers to consider having one of the procedures. “If Soldiers wear glasses that get knocked off or lost during patrol — they can be in trouble.”

Staff Sgt. Tony Colbert, noncommissioned officer in charge of Evans’ Eye Clinic, had PRK in September 2006. Colbert’s vision was 20/1,000 (considered profound visual impairment) in both eyes. Vision 20/200 or worse is considered legally blind.

Colbert said of his presurgery vision, “It was bad. Now I’m 20/15 in both eyes. When I got up from the table, I could immediately read the clock.” Before PRK, he could not see the largest letter at the top of the eye chart, from 20 feet away.

Target vision after corrective surgery is 20/25. “We were pleased he (Colbert) had 20/15; that was better than we hoped for,” Ives said.

Colbert said bad vision can be considered a handicap and is glad he decided to have the procedure. “I would recommend it to anyone who needs it. It’s (refractive surgery) one of those life-changing things. It’s a big benefit for Soldiers,” Colbert said.

Sgt. Raymond Manalo, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, had LASIK on both eyes in January 2007. Manalo’s vision was 20/200 in both eyes prior to LASIK; now it is 20/25 in his left eye and 20/20 in his right eye. He is happy he was a candidate for LASIK.

“It helps a lot when I’m out on the range, trying to zero and shoot, it gives me more freedom. And I don’t have to (try to find) my glasses when I wake up,” Manalo said.

Ives, who is retired from the Army, said, “Ninety-eight percent of patients have 20/25 vision or better, after surgery. This would cost $3-4,000 for civilians. I like working for the Army because the primary consideration is quality of care for Soldiers.

“I think it’s one of the best things the Army is doing for the Soldiers,” Ives said.

Soldiers, if you have vision that is 20/50 or worse, and you think you are a candidate for one of these procedures, ask your technician during a routine eye exam or go to www.evans.amedd.army.mil/eye and click on “Am I a Candidate?”

MOUNTAINEER June 29, 2007

Military

Videos available for children whose parents deploy

by Jerry Harben

Army Medical Command Public Affairs Office

“It’s important to recognize your fear, but not to dwell on it.”

The speaker is Cameron Lucke, 17-year-old son of an Army officer, and he is addressing concerns of other teenagers as narrator of a video, one of three now available to help families and communities deal with the stresses of military deployments.

“Military Youth Coping With Separation: When Family Members Deploy” is a half-hour video of teenagers discussing their feelings and how they cope with issues that arise when a parent is deployed. This video is available for viewing at the Army’s behavioral health Web site in the children is section, www.behavioralhealth.army.mil/ and on the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org/ sections/unifserv/deployment/ysp-resources.htm.

“Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Family Reunion After Deployment” uses cartoon characters to address deployment issues affecting children ages 6 to 11. Both of the videos will also be available for viewing or download by the end of June.

“Talk, Listen and Connect: Helping Families Cope With Military Deployment” features the Sesame Street character Elmo dealing with the prolonged absence of his father. It is suitable for ages 3-5, and is available from Sesame Street Workshop at www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc.

The videos will be available on DVDs for anyone who cannot download large files from the Web. Watch the Web sites for information on how to get the videos.

“Our goal is to have a proactive, preventive package in the community before deployment,” said Col. George Patrin, a pediatrician and new commander of the Presidio of Monterey, Calif., Army Health Clinic, who helped develop two of the videos and undertook related research for his thesis in the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.

At present, at least 700,000 children in the United States have at least one parent deployed for military duty, according to the American Psychological Association February 2007 report.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children’s reactions to a parent being deployed may include anger, sadness, fear, confusion, and feelings of abandonment, loss, anxiety and depression. These reactions can lead to significant problems such as school absenteeism and failure, social isolation, family emotional abuse and violence, psychosomatic medical complaints and depression.

The character of Mr. Poe originated in 2003, when commanders of troops returning from Southwest Asia asked Gregg Drew, a Reserve chaplain in Hanau, Germany, to develop a program to help families. Drew approached Patrin, who had experience in puppetry and video production, and Patrin brought in Lt. Col. Dave Smith, an officer in the lab at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center, who had developed Mr. Poe as a sock puppet character for children’s sermons. Their pilot puppet program has just been converted into an animated feature. Mr. Poe and a variety of adult and child characters relate their experiences and feelings.

“At first, Dad was buying all kinds of food we didn’t even eat. Now, just before Mom comes home, he’s running all over cleaning the house,” runs one exchange between the characters Sally and Laura.

“We put a lot of effort into making the scenarios true to life and applicable to any service Family,” Patrin said.

Maj. Keith Lemmon, pediatrician and adolescent medicine faculty at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Wash., began development of the video for teenagers while at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He explained that he became concerned after his deployment to Afghanistan. Despite his expertise in adolescent medicine and his wife’s as an educator, his wife experienced depression and his 4-year-old son was irritable and acted out.

“It soon became apparent that no one is immune,” Lemmon said. “I was concerned; if deployment affected us this significantly with all our strengths, what might others be facing?”

Between introductory sections with Cameron, teenagers on the video share their experiences and how they react when a parent is deployed.

“I made the freshman basketball team while he was gone. He never got to see any of my games,” said one boy.

“Almost every waking minute I worry about him,” said a girl.

“The way military kids tend to get through the deployment is they stay busy,” advised another boy.

Lemmon said his objectives were to support teenagers and to provide a tool to help them get through the deployment, and also to sensitize the

See Videos on Page 14

MOUNTAINEER

June 29, 2007

One Soldier’s talent brightens DFAC

Story and photo by Spc. Courtney Marulli

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — One Soldier in 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division carved the benches in front of the dining facility, eventually creating a tribute to the units on the forward operating base.

Spc. Rebeca C. Downs, a food service specialist, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, has always been artistic, whether decorating a cake or creating a graphite drawing. Downs brought a touch of color to the neutral tones of Iraq and gave others something to talk about.

Two wooden benches sit outside the DFAC, which the guards use while checking identification cards of those entering. A few Soldiers on night duty started carving into the wood but then stopped. Downs, who firmly believes in finishing something you start, took out her knife and began to create shapes and designs in one of the benches.

“It’s not graffiti,” she said. “It’s beautification.”

The carvings didn’t stop there. She painted the bench and then, with the suggestion from several sergeants major, carved out the unit patches of those at Loyalty, along with American and Iraqi flags into the second bench. The colors of those patches and flags are offset by a background of blue.

“It brings it out more,” she said of adding the color. “Everything’s so dull here. It gives something to look at when you come to the DFAC other than the zombie-like tunnel.”

Carving isn’t Downs’s artistic expression of choice. She prefers to draw in graphite.

“I think pictures have more meaning in black and white,” she said of her creations. “Honestly, I can’t color in colors. I’m really bad with shading in colors.”

Black and white is simple, she said.

“But sometimes simplicity is the best,” she said.

This is her second deployment to Iraq. Downs was one of the 2nd BCT Soldiers who made the historic deployment from Korea to Ar Ramadi, Iraq. From there the unit settled in at Fort Carson and is now back in Iraq.

Carving benches grew out of her need to see a project through to the end and her boredom during long hours when she sits outside checking the identification cards of those entering the DFAC.

Downs plans to get out of the military when she returns to Fort Carson, but will remain in the military life as her husband is a noncommissioned officer in 2nd Brigade’s Special Troops Battalion.

Getting out of the Army will allow Downs the time necessary to dedicate to her craft. With four years of art classes in high school under her belt, Downs is going to dive into drawing full time, with the encouragement of her husband.

Along with drawing, cake decorating and other culinary arts are other another artistic expressions she wishes to delve into.

Boredom and the need to see something through aside, Downs said carving and drawing allows her to not think about the times when her husband goes outside the wire.

“It keeps me from thinking about that mission,” she said of her doodling.

Even though her creations help her, they also help others as they bring brightness into a rather drab world, which can help morale.

“I think it does (affect morale) a little bit,” she said of the effect of her pieces on the morale of other Soldiers. “When I started it people said not to leave out their patch. People were quick to see patches they were wearing on the bench,” Downs said.

MOUNTAINEER _Military

Mortuary Affairs: Sending fallen heroes home

by Spc. Courtney Marulli

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq — Most Soldiers with desk jobs don’t see the price of war. But for some troops, it is their job to see all their unit’s Soldiers who have paid the ultimate price.

The 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Mortuary Affairs team and the volunteers who help when needed, try to stay positive while dealing with the horrors of war.

Sgt. 1st Class Ernesto Gonzalez, the noncommissioned officer in charge of mortuary affairs, has been doing this job for nine years. Knowing his efforts help families receive closure is what keeps him going.

Gonzalez said he used to be in a unit that recovered remains from past conflicts such as the Vietnam and Korean wars.

“The families, older people, stand out there and greet you and thank you,” he said. “We haven’t met the families over here, but I’ve had thank you letters before.”

Those thank-you letters are what motivates him to keep doing his job.

Gonzalez said he always thinks about how he would feel if he lost a loved one. But, he said no one who works in mortuary affairs sees the effects of their efforts until a Family member of a fallen comrade shakes their hand.

Gonzalez is on his first deployment and so are many of his volunteers.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said.

Whether this is their first deployment or not, this is the first time everyone in the mortuary affairs section and the volunteers have seen the cost of war up close.

Remembering how he felt with his first casualty, Gonzalez keeps a close watch on his new volunteers.

“Whenever I have someone new, I keep all eyes on (him), ask (him) questions and talk to (him),” he said.

Gonzalez said he has even been asked if he was OK.

Spc. Jason Sutton, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BSB, is part of the mortuary affairs team and re-enlisted to make it his military occupational specialty.

Sutton said it’s not a normal part of daily life in a regular job to see severely damaged remains.

“You’ve got to just keep checking up on your people and keep your head in the game,” he said.

It’s different than working at the morgue, Gonzalez said, as the remains that come through mortuary affairs are wearing the Army uniform and have name tapes.

“You could have seen them at the PX,” he said.

The crew has been fortunate to not have worked on anyone they personally know.

“That’s the biggest fear,” Gonzalez said. Sutton said he doesn’t ask a lot of questions.

“I don’t want to know their name, or how many kids they have,” he said. “If I treat them like I don’t know them it’s just work. It’s probably bad to say that but that’s the way I keep my sanity.”

If remains come through and he

See Mortuary on Page 15

MOUNTAINEER ₁₁June 29, 2007

Black’s show is hypnotic

Story and photos by Michael J. Pach

Mountaineer staff

Bruce Black of Black’s Magic Productions performed a free comedy hypnosis show Saturday at the Freedom Performing Arts Center.

Black, a retired military servicemember, is a stage magician and has been performing hypnosis for 15 years.

He explained that hypnosis works through the power of suggestion and that audience members who volunteer to participate in his shows are still in control through their subconscious. He said that a person’s subconscious will not allow them to do something they don’t want to.

Thirteen people from the audience volunteered to be hypnotized and Black dispelled some of the myths about hypnotism before putting them under hypnosis.

According to Black, being under hypnosis is equal to getting six-eight hours of sleep. He suggested that anyone who wanted to party all night volunteer to go under. He also said that no one would reveal intimate secrets, that a person cannot be hypnotized against their will nor can someone get stuck in hypnosis.

Black took a few minutes to hypnotize the volunteers. He put them through various scenarios such as riding in a bus while the temperature changed from scorching hot to freezing cold. The crowd of about 100 howled with laughter as Black lead the volunteers from one humorous situation to another.

Two young men were handed inflatable guitars and performed wild guitar solos to hard rock music. Another young man was told he was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world and was knocked out for the first time in slow motion. Lt. Col. Steve Drennan, 10th Combat Support Hospital, was told he was a Japanese emperor and his “empress,” Leah Whitney, interpreted his “Japanese” for the audience as he answered Black’s questions.

Black will perform at FREEPAC again Sept. 15 with a free buffet prior to the show. For information on Black’s show or any upcoming events at FREEPAC, contact Becky McCuistion at 526-1867 or rebecca.mccuistion@us.army.mil.

Aldan Olds, center, accuses during Bruce Black's hypnosis Jimmy Higa, right of emitting show. Hammer was told toa foul odor as he and Nolan perform a wild guitar solo asHammer hold their noses.

Van Halen music played.

Left: Socorro Riley "auditions"

Left: Jima Higa shadow for a movie part as a vampire

boxes as the “heavyweight while under hypnosis.

champion of the world” while under hypnosis.

Lt. Col. Steve Drennan, 10th Combat Support Hospital, makes a face at Bruce Black while under hypnosis. Black told all of his volunteers that they were in second grade and he was their mean teacher. As soon as Black turned

Nolan Hammer, center with white shirt, uses Felix Magalong's head for leverage as he tries to get out of his seat.
Bruce Black told all of the men he hypnotized that they were nine months pregnant and asked them to stand up.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Tips for teams taught

by Rebecca E. Tonn

Mountaineer staff

The Equal Employment Opportunity Office sponsored a class for garrison and Evans Army Community Hospital management and supervisors June 21 at Elkhorn Conference Center.

Sharon V. Lewis, president and founder of Touchdown Counseling Services, taught the class, titled: “Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” Lewis kept the audience engaged with questions, personal examples, team-evaluation tests and the use of sport and military vernacular.

A “sniper,” for instance, is that one proverbial person who is toxic to the team. Lewis explained that a healthy team — a small core of people who know how to trust one another and work well together

— will not be undermined by a sniper, even if he or she is the supervisor.

“When you have trust, healthy conflict, commitment and accountability, the foundation of the team is already laid. Even with the constant changes (at a military installation), the team can remain strong,” Lewis said.

Lewis recommended that supervisors take time during meetings to share some personal information about themselves and then encourage others on the team to do the same, in order to strengthen the team. She also suggests that team members take self-assessment tests.

One test she suggested is named after a nine-pointed geometric figure, the enneagram. The test highlights a person’s main type of personality and a variant type, from nine types, and can help members of a team understand one another’s strengths and weaknesses. The nine types are as follows: perfectionist, achiever, challenger, peacemaker, individualist, observer, enthusiast, investigator and leader.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

can be overcome, Lewis said. Absence of

Trust (1) should be replaced by being

vulnerable and honest, which supervisors

can be a role model for their teams. Fear

of Conflict (2) is avoided by putting the

issue on the table and Demanding Debate:

allowing individual’s opinions to be

heard, even though they may not be able

to be accommodated.

Lack of Commitment (3) is resolved

by forcing clarity and closure. An

agreement should be made at the end of a

meeting and leaders should be mandated to

tell their teams within 24 hours what was

agreed upon. Avoidance of Accountability

(4)

is solved by confronting difficult issues, instead of ignoring them, by using peer to peer accountability, which is often stronger than leader to team accountability.

And, lastly, Inattention to Results

(5)

is replaced with a focus on collective outcomes when goals and results are made public, quantified and made real, Lewis said.

“Most people don’t want to think,

‘something’s wrong with my team,’ but (working on)

relationships and teambuilding is always beneficial.

We have to treat one another with dignity and respect.

You don’t let enemies know your vulnerabilities,

but with your team you have to,” Lewis said.

To take a free, online enneagram test, go to http://similarminds.com/test.html.

MOUNTAINEER ₁₃

June 29, 2007

WW II Veterans Honored in Walsenburg

by James Mallette

Vice Chairman of Mountain Post Chapter of the Noncommissioned Officers Association

World War II Legacy Medallions were presented May 27 to 35 veterans, residents of the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home, in Walsenburg, from the Mountain Post Chapter of the Noncommissioned Officers Association. The ceremony was setup by Ed Sommerfield, trustee on the board of directors for the Mountain

Post NCOA Chapter, and a World War

II veteran, and Stacy A. Doub, director

of marketing for the Colorado State

Veterans Nursing Home. Director of the facility, Jim

Murphy, had arranged for a small

ceremony to recognize these great Americans. Murphy invited the family and friends of the veterans to attend the ceremony. The ceremony included the playing of the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance. After the director read the president’s Memorial Day message, Sommerfield was introduced and the ceremony began. The Fort Carson Sergeant Audie Murphy Club President, Sergeant First Class Mark Tymon made the Medallion presentations for the Mountain Post Chapter. The oldest recipient at the ceremony was 107 years old. Many family members and friends were present for the ceremony. Some of the veterans were mobile and could walk, others were mobile in their wheel chairs, while others required assistance from local volunteers. This was the largest Legacy Medallion

Ceremony conducted by the Mountain Post Chapter.

The Legacy Medallion is designed to be a keepsake that can be passed from “The Greatest Generation” to subsequent generations. In addition to receiving a gold medallion, each WW II veteran also received a Legacy Statement. The Legacy Statement gives a brief, powerful and emotional account of a WW II veteran’s experience during the war. During and after the ceremony, many of the medallion recipients had ear-to-ear smiles or tears as they recalled their own war experiences.

This was the second World War II Legacy Medallion ceremony conducted by the Mountain Post Chapter. The first ceremony recognized five WW II veterans. The Mountain Post Chapter’s final Legacy Medallion ceremony will be held at the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home to recognize 28 other WWII veterans who reside in the home.

These medallion ceremonies would not be possible without the support of the Mountain Post Chapter’s volunteers. In 2006, the Mountain Post Chapter amassed more than 3,900 volunteer hours supporting the Fort Carson and Colorado Springs Communities.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Videos

From Page 8

community to what military children go through during a deployment.

“Families will order it and use it individually. Family resource groups will adopt it as a standard to use to help children understand their feelings with deployment. I hope it will get good media coverage too, so the community will know that military families will definitely benefit from more support,” he said.

Sesame Street Workshop developed the Elmo video for preschoolers with a monetary grant from Wal-Mart, and with Col. Stephen Cozza of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center psychiatry department as an advisor. The Elmo video and supporting materials are available free of charge to schools, child-care programs, family support groups and other organizations serving the needs of military families.

Patrin and Lemmon are conducting a formal research project at Fort Stewart, Ga., to document use of their videos and what benefits they may have for families. Volunteer families complete questionnaires before and after viewing, with follow-ups two and six months later to see how the children are doing with the video in hand during their family’s deployment experience. Additional feedback is planned by asking viewers to access and download the videos from the AMEDD Center and School Deployment Web site to be operational soon.

One question, however, remains unanswered: what exactly is the orange-brown, long-snouted Mr. Poe? Is he a dinosaur? A lizard?

“He’s a critter,” said Patrin, with a smile.

(Editors note: Fort Sam Houston News Leader contributed to this article.)

MOUNTAINEER ₁₅

June 29, 2007

Miscellaneous

3rd BCT town hall meeting and organizational day — The 3rd Brigade Combat Team will have a town hall meeting at McMahon Auditorium Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. The meeting is open to all Soldiers and Families of the 3rd BCT.

The 3rd BCT’s Organizational Day is Friday, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m at Ironhorse Park. All Soldiers, Families and friends of the brigade are invited to attend. The event includes activities for children and competitive sporting events for adults. Food and drinks will be provided.

Exceptional Family Member Program workshop: School Advocacy 101 — Army Community Service will host two workshops this summer to assist families with children with special needs. The workshops will be at ACS’s Family Readiness Center, building 1526, July 18 from 9 a.m.-noon or Aug. 15 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Registration deadline for the July 18 workshop is July 11 and is Aug. 8 for the Aug. 15 workshop. Information about being an advocate for your child or children will be provided, including: special education laws, rights and responsibilities; Colorado special education process; tactics and strategies for effective advocacy; and available community services and support.

Seating is limited; to register or for more information call ACS at 526-4590.

National Military Family Association’s Family Award — is given to 12 servicemember families that exemplify the best of the military family lifestyle. Each month, one winning family will receive $500 and a $250 donation to the charity of its choice.

In June, one family from the previous 12 months is chosen as Family of the Year, which includes $1,000, a trip to Washington, D.C., a reception with key military leaders and program sponsors, and $500 to the charity of its choice.

Eligible families include: active duty, reserve or retired components or families of servicemembers injured in the line of duty within the past three years, even if the servicemember has since been discharged.

Anyone can nominate; only online nominations will be accepted. For more information or to nominate a family go to www.nmfa.org and click on the blue NMFA Family Award icon on the right side of the home page.

Education Center parking lot construction

— started Wednesday, south of building 1117, at the northwest corner of Specker Avenue and Ellis Street. Repairs will continue until mid-July.

Job openings — Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 has job openings for food service workers for 2007/2008. Call 382-1334 or apply in person at 11355 Old Pueblo Road, Fountain.

Peterson Air Force Base — The main, north gate, off Highway 24, is closed weekends and holidays. Use the east gate, off Marksheffel Drive, or the west gate, off South Powers Boulevard, to access the new base exchange.

Donated annual leave needed for Fort Carson civilian employees — May Harris, Army Community Service, and Barbara Dowling, Directorate of Information Management, had medical emergencies and have exhausted all available leave.

Harris and Dowling have been accepted in the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program. To donate annual leave, call or e-mail Connie Griffin, Garrison Resource Management, at 526-1839 or Connie.Griffin1@us.army.mil to obtain form OF-630A: “Request to Donate Annual Leave.” Griffin’s fax number is 526-1838.

Neuro Support Group — Head-Way is a support group of independent adults who have experienced a neurological event (traumatic brain injury, cerebral vascular accident, tumors, etc.) and meet to socialize. Head-Way meets Wednesdays, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fargo’s Pizza Co., 2910 E. Platte Ave. For more information call Valerie Gardner with Memorial Hospital Adult Rehabilitation at 365-1264.

Community Fair at McKibben Physical Fitness Center — is today, starting at 10 a.m for 4th Infantry Division Soldiers and Families and from 1-6 p.m. for all others. This event will showcase what is available at Fort Carson and in the surrounding community. Some of the vendors to attend include: Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Fountain city services and activities; Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers; Child and Youth Services; outdoor recreation; Turkey Creek recreation; Army Community Service; employment opportunities; medical/dental services; veterinarian services; vehicle registration, GMH Military Housing; Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and other clubs on-post; YMCA; park and recreation services; and school liaison for school registration.

Military Spouses Support Group — meets Tuesdays from 2:30-4 p.m. at Evans Army Community Hospital, fourth floor, room 4846.

Learn more about: communication difficulties, coping with a spouse’s mental health issues, coping with loneliness, combat stress and posttraumatic stress disorder, readjustment issues, single parenting, depression, stress, anxiety and other hardships. For more information call Dr. Jacqueline Delano at 526-7013.

Annual Fort Carson mayors’ yard sale — will be the first and third Saturday of each month from April-December, between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. On-post residents may set up in front of their homes.

Single Soldiers and off-post active or retired Soldiers and their families may set up in the Beacon Elementary School parking lot. For information on yard sale guidelines, contact your mayor or deputy mayor or Mayoral Program Coordinator Joey Bautista at 526-4590/1049.

Deployment Support Group — Are you feeling lonely, anxious or fearful about this deployment? Join this group of caring spouses. To register call Army Community Service at 526-4590. Free child care is available for registered children. The support group meets Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Family University, building 1161.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings — are held each Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. at the Colorado Inn, corner of Sheridan Avenue and Woodfill Road, building 7301, room 203. Call 322-9766 or 471-1625 for more information.

Ongoing road closures — Questions about the closure or disruption of traffic along Butts Road can be addressed to Fort Carson’s Directorate of Public Works Traffic Engineer, Rick Orphan, at 526-9267 or Fort Carson’s Army Corps of Engineers Transformation Resident Office, Maj. John Hudson, at 526-4974.

Claims against the estate — With deepest regrets to the family of Pfc. Justin Abel Verdeja, deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact 1st Lt. Adam J. Jackman at 433-4695.

With deepest regrets to the family of Pfc. Matthew Edward Baylis, deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy

M. Carlson at 238-3077.

With deepest regrets to the family of Sgt. Eric Lamar Snell, deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact Chief Warrant Officer 3 John D. Varner at 526-3340.

With deepest regrets to the family of Spc. James David Smith, deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should contact Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Macuich at 526-3340.

Mortuary

From Page 10

isn’t working on them, he doesn’t even go near them as he doesn’t want to see anything he doesn’t have to.

Spc. Danielle Stansell, Company A, 2nd BSB, volunteered to help.

The dedication and precision with which remains are prepared for their flight and draped with the American flag, allows Stansell to know she did her best for that fallen Soldier.

Stansell said working with mortuary affairs has made her not want to take life for granted.

“It makes you want to not take for granted that you work in an office,” she said.

Staff Sgt. Tracy Jones, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BSB, is on his second deployment and always keeps the memory of a 19-year-old Soldier he never knew close to his heart when dealing with battle-damaged vehicles and the remains of fallen comrades.

While stationed with his last unit, Jones heard the story of a 19-year-old Soldier who was killed when a grenade was thrown over a wall while he was on guard duty. Not knowing that Soldier, Jones said he just had to attend the funeral.

At the funeral, Jones said he saw the Soldier’s 2-year-old daughter looking at her father’s closed casket.

No matter how rough things get, Jones always remembers that Soldier.

“Whenever we go out there, I remember that guy,” he said.

Jones, like Stansell, said he doesn’t take things for granted, lets go of anger and doesn’t hold grudges against people.

Instead of being oblivious to the convoys leaving the safety of the gate, Jones said he talks to people, shakes hands and waves to those who put their lives on the line by going outside the wire to carry out necessary missions.

Even though many of the remains they care for are of fallen Soldiers, Jones said they also take care to treat the remains of interpreters and any one else with the same respect and dedication.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Neighborhood Watch wants you

by Michael J. Pach

Mountaineer staff

The Fort Carson Provost Marshal’s Office is implementing the Neighborhood Watch program throughout post. The intent of the program is to make on-post residents feel safer, improve their quality of life and strengthen individual community cohesiveness.

The watch program teaches community members crime-prevention techniques, methods for making their homes more secure and how to recognize and report suspicious activity in order to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a crime.

Neighborhood Watch also allows neighbors to get to know each other better, while creating a cohesive body of concerned citizens who become the eyes and ears of law enforcement, thus reducing crime in communities.

Neighborhood Watch is neither a vigilante force nor a program designed for participants to take risks in fighting crime. It is not a 100-percent guarantee that crime will not occur in a neighborhood, but it is a way to let criminals know that citizens in that community are taking a proactive stance against crime.

A watch group typically consists of 10-12 houses, but how many are involved is decided by the neighbors in a community. Groups are being set up and trained by the Fort Carson Police officers at the Community Oriented Police Section (C.O.P.S.), building 5610A, on Remagen Drive near Ellis Street.

The C.O.P.S office will hold monthly meetings and training classes and be responsible for hanging signs, distributing decals and assigning watch coordinators and block captains.

Anyone interested in starting a neighborhood watch group or participating in one can contact his or her village mayor or the C.O.P.S. office at 886-3307.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Hurry up and wait

Lorrie Pies that it holds in our eyes anyway. mantra for today. I _{Spouse of Chap. (Maj.) Kevin Pies} As spouses living through a deployment, this am clueless to what

is true too. Now facing 15-month deployments, the future holds, no

“Since ancient times no one has heard, we know who is in control, and it isn’t the matter how I try to no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any family members left behind. Even though this work it. I do know God besides you who acts on behalf of those can become a time filled with anger or questions, a God who does who wait for Him.” God is here waiting to help in this very situation know what is going

— Isaiah 64:4 which is getting hard to stay patient in. on. I look to this Second, I have learned endurance. As a mil-verse in Isaiah,

Waiting, waiting, waiting … I didn’t know itary wife, I know many of you are like me. We which tells me that a person could get so tired doing nothing but are women of strength, strong to the task, faith-while I wait on waiting for doctor appointments, waiting for test ful to finish, at least when life is going the way God, he is results, waiting for healing from cancer. In that we think it should. As soon as difficult days designing a plan waiting, I have found a God who has been approach, we can handle one or two. Like for me that goes teaching me the value of patience, endurance and grease on a frying pan, smooth, providing farther, stretches my learning to totally depend on him in my circum-cushion between the pan and the crisp thinking and helps stances. As I look back over the past 18 months, vegetables. Turn the heat up a notch or two me to realize that he God has taught me many things about life. and that grease becomes hot, spitting out drops is one great God.

First, I think I am in control, but really that ready to burn anything in close proximity. Matthew Henry, is laughable. As soon as I figure life out, it Learning endurance when life circumstances a 17th century changes course like a big ship being turned don’t change can make me ready to spit out, theologian, on a dime by a little rudder. So it is with “Ok, Lord, enough is enough …” Somehow, I wrote in his cancer. My plans for the future have changed. don’t think he has heard me clearly because commentary on Learning to depend on God for direction while the heat is still on. It must be that endurance he Isaiah so clearly, “When God works some waiting out the cancer treatments. This ship is shaping in my life. We have all heard the extraordinary deliverance for his people he is doesn’t like to feel lost at sea. I am learning saying, “God will give you only what he knows said to shine forth, to show himself strong.” patience with life. What used to be important is you can handle.” My answer to that is, “I wish Let God show himself to you at this time. If not really that big of a deal. Most of what we he didn’t trust me so much!” you are waiting on him, he will act and shine do in life is questionable with the significance Lastly, total dependence on God is my forth in your life. The results will be extraordinary.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Chapel Schedule

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Day Time Service Chapel Location Contact Person

Mon., Wed., Fri. noon Mass Healer Evans Army Hospital Fr. Gagliardo/526-7412
Tues., Thurs. noon Mass Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Goellen/526-5769
Saturday 5 p.m. Mass Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Goellen/526-5769
Sunday 9:15 a.m. Mass Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Goellen/526-5769
Sunday 10:30 a.m. CRE Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Pat Treacy/524-2458
Sunday 11 a.m. Mass Healer Evans Army Hospital Fr. Gagliardo/576-7412
Sunday 11 a.m. Mass Provider Barkeley & Ellis Chap. Goellen/526-5769
Tuesday 7 p.m. RCIA Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Pat Treacy/524-2458
Saturday 4 p.m. Reconciliation Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Goellen/526-5769

PROTESTANT

Sunday 9 a.m. Protestant Healer Evans Army Hospital Chap. Cartee/526-7387 Sunday 9 a.m. Protestant Communion Provider Barkeley & Ellis Chap. Mitchell/650-8042 Sunday 11 a.m. Protestant Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Hartz/526-8011 Sunday 11 a.m. Prot./Gospel Prussman Barkeley & Prussman Chap. Borden/526-5973 Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sun. School Prussman Barkeley & Prussman Chap. Borden/526-5973 Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sun. School Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Dr. Scheck/526-5626 Tuesday 9 a.m. PWOC Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Hartz/526-8011 Tuesday 6 p.m. Adult Bible Study Soldiers' Nelson & Martinez Mr. Love/526-5229 Sunday 11 a.m. Contemporary Veterans’ Magrath & Titus Chap. Lesh/526-8890 Tuesday 7 p.m. PYOC Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Ms. Scheck/231-9511 Sunday 9 a.m. Samoan Veterans’ Titus Chap. Lesh/526-3888

JEWISH

For information and a schedule of Jewish Sabbath services, call the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel at 333-2636.

WICCA

Monday 6:30 p.m. Building 4800, corner of Harr and O’Connell Rhonda Helfrich/338-9464

NATIVE AMERICAN SWEAT LODGE

Native American Sweatlodge ceremonies (He Ska Akicita Inipi) are offered to military dependents and Department of Defense personnel. These lodges are traditional Lakota spiritual ceremonies for cleansing, purification and prayer, and are fully sanctioned and supported by the Fort Carson Chaplain Command. Please call the following for information and directions: Charlie Erwin at 382-8177 or erwincl@msn.com; or Zoe Goodblanket at 442-0929. The next ceremony is Sunday at noon.

Daily Bible readings: To assist in regular Scripture

The Army Cycle of Prayer. Nation: For the many judges

reading, the following Scriptures are recommended.

Pray this week for the following: of the Circuit Courts in the United

These Scriptures are part of the common daily lectionary, which

Unit: For the Soldiers, families States, whose judicial oversight

is designed to present the entire Bible over a three-year cycle.

and leaders of the 7th Infantry assures that the rule of law guides Division headquartered at Fort our nation. Carson. Religious: For the Chaplains in

Army: For us as we live out the the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership

Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, Course at Fort Jackson, S.C., that

selfless service, honor, integrity and they shall develop faith, competence

personal courage. and leadership will be in the finest

State: For all Soldiers and traditions of the Chaplain Corps and

their families from the state of United States Army.

Massachusetts. Pray also for Gov. For more information on the

Army Cycle of Prayer, or to pray

Deval Patrick, the state legislators _{for items from previous weeks,}

and municipal officials of the Old visit the cycle’s Web site at

Colony State. www.usarmychaplain.com.

MOUNTAINEER ₂₁

June 29, 2007

Story and photo by Rebecca E. Tonn, Mountaineer staff Part 6 of an occasional series on the Youth Services Center staff

Braadland serves as role model

Kelli Braadland, program assistant at the Youth Services Center, was born in 1969 and grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis in a little pink house.

Braadland’s family sat at the dinner table each night to talk about the day’s events. She was “heavily involved” in Girl Scouts — her favorite part was

cookie-selling, for which she earned

a patch, along with babysitting, first

aid, sewing and camping. As a child, she wanted to either take

care of children or go into medicine —

and, sure enough, she’s doing both.

Braadland will graduate from IntelliTec

Medical Institute with a Bachelor

of Science in occupational health in December. “I want to be that person who goes the extra mile to give individual attention to each patient,” she said. In grade school, she liked math, and in junior high she liked biology and chemistry, having sleepovers with friends and going to basketball games. During high school, she was a math/science nerd, doing science fair projects: growing mold and hiding it in the fridge, much to her mother’s dismay.

Kelli Braadland, program assistant for Youth Services Center, supervises at the youth center June 7.

She also worked part-time as a certified nursing assistant, then full-time after graduating in 1987.

Her husband, Staff Sgt. David Braadland, has been active duty since 1993; they married in 1990; their first child, Kyle, was born in 1993.

While at Fort Riley, Kan., from 1994-1999, she was active with Family Readiness Groups, fundraising, planning family and field training days.

The couple’s daughter Grace was born in 1998, and from 1999-2002, the family lived on post in Bamberg, Germany, where she started working with Child and Youth Services, providing child care in her home.

In September 2002, her husband was stationed at Fort Carson. The family volunteers in Commanche Village, and Braadland is deputy mayor.

By February 2003, she started working at the youth center. Braadland works before and after school hours, and in between, she works at Carson Middle School. She also attends school from 6-11 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays.

She is co-advisor of the Keystone Club (a high school leadership club) and Smart Girls (a middle school club), and, of course, she loves working with children and youths.

Smart Girls teaches middle schoolers the way society reflects girls and women and how to navigate in our society, she said.

“Recently, they chose their favorite celebrities by the contributions they make to society, how nice they are and what they’ve accomplished, not because of their looks. It was great to hear this feedback,” she said.

Before leaving the youth center each day, she changes into her school uniform, a set of scrubs. The youths have complimented her for going back to school — for doing as she encourages them to do. Her family is also supportive of her, and she knows her degree will benefit them, too.

During Smart Girls, Braadland encourages the girls to be one another’s teaching tools and talk about changes they want to make in their lives.

“I can actually see changes in the girls. They are more comfortable within themselves, not as worried about what their peers think as they used to be. It’s a great feeling to know I had something to do with it,” she said.

MOUNTAINEER _Community

Smith joins village mayors for quality of living bus ride

Story and photo by Jennifer Ruzika

Fort Carson Public Affairs

Mayors of Fort Carson housing villages met June 20 with Col. Eugene Smith, Fort Carson garrison commander, in an effort to survey the quality of life within Fort Carson housing areas.

From 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. the busload of mayors and their deputies pointed out several problems to Smith that needed fixing in order to assure quality of living remains high. The issues were everything from broken fences leading to ditches of debris, to playground equipment needing annual upkeep to a few coyotes finding their way into backyards. The regularly scheduled mayors’ meeting ensures that village mayors have the opportunity to voice their concerns to Smith for a better understanding of village issues. After the walkthrough, which was in lieu of the normal office meeting, Smith discussed with mayors the likelihood of the walkthrough being repeated biannually.

The purpose of a village mayor is to serve as the main community liaison in expanding the quality of life for residents within their own communities as well as outside. Mayors are also expected to prepare a monthly newsletter for village residents to inform them of local events or specials offered to Fort Carson residents. A mayor’s goal is to help military families help themselves by using a “how to” rather than “to do for” attitude. A main goal in the mayor program is establishing “Pride in the Fort Carson Community.”

Kiowa Village Mayor Kris Spiller has been volunteering for four years and will pass the position on to a peer resident in the coming months to pursue other volunteer work. Spiller does not regret everything, saying that she “accomplished something and did it well.” She was able to get five trees planted around her village playground. Among other things, she was able to have several light poles placed within the recreational area to ensure night time safety.

Any resident of Fort Carson may run for his or her village mayor position, with elections in August. For more information on the mayoral program, please contact Joey Bautista at 526-1082.

MOUNTAINEER _{Feature Feature} MOUNTAINEER ₂₅

June 29, 2007 June 29, 2007

Spc. Nekia Willis, a cook with 43rd Area Support Group, cooks pancakes for the crowd at the annual Street Breakfast Soldiers from 360th Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Area ^{Breakfast in downtown Colorado Springs June 20.}
held in downtown Colorado Springs. Support Group, convoyed to the Street Breakfast site to enjoy pancakes and eggs. Layout by Jeanne Mazerall

MOUNTAINEER ₂₇

June 29, 2007

Sports & Leisure ^MOUNTAINEER 29

June 29, 2007

SPORTS & LEISURE

Engineers battling for top honors

Story and photos by Walt Johnson

Mountaineer staff

If early season results are any indication. E Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, will be one of the top teams on post as the intramural season, which began Monday, takes shape.

The Echo Company Engineers stood toe-to-toe with some of the best units on post this softball season and for the most part have come out on top. The team brings an impressive blend of youth and experience to the field that many teams will find to be a challenge, according to Juan Falcon, Echo Company coach.

“We have a blend of veterans and a lot of new guys, many who have just joined the military. The new players are playing very well and we are doing a good job this season.

“We have a good all-around team that gets the most out of our abilities. One of our strengths is the way we can hit the ball, but we like our overall team game,” Falcon said.

Falcon and his teammates played an impressive game June 19 when they beat the 204th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th ID team at the Mountain Post Sports Complex. During the contest it was evident that this team can complete each phase of the game with precision and competence. A number of dazzling defensive plays highlighted the evening and the offensive display by the team was nothing short of amazing. Falcon said his team may not be as talented as others in the league, but no team will out work them on the field.

“We have a team that plays with a lot of heart. Our heart is everything to us. Every time we come on the field we are ready to play to 100 percent of our abilities that day. That is the same way we are in the unit; we have a lot of unit cohesion,” Falcon said.

Falcon said his team has its sights set very high for the season. He said his team believes it can be a serious contender for the post championship. Judging by its early success, the team is believing in itself in a way that is bringing them confidence that other teams better pay attention to.

“We have seen a lot of the other teams in the intramural league and we have played some good games with them already this year. So far, we have come out on top in most of the games we have played. Hopefully, if everything works out all right for us we can talk about playing for a championship in August. Our goal is to play the best possible softball that we can and bring home a championship for the home (the unit) team,” Falcon said.

^MOUNTAINEER Sports & Leisure

June 29, 2007

On the Bench

Veterans 5K scheduled
for Falcon Stadium in July

by Walt Johnson

Mountaineer staff

Sunday will be a very busy day at Falcon Stadium on the Air Force Academy as the 2007 Computer Sciences Corporation Veterans Home Run 5K Run/1K Walk will be held.

The day’s festivities will begin at 7 a.m. The Veterans run is a patriotic fun run/walk fundraiser in support of the Colorado Veterans Resource Coalition’s Crawford House. Crawford House supports veterans in need and is located in downtown Colorado Springs. Please visit www.pprrun.org for event and entry details or call Jack Anthony at 205-1741.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston Aug. 20-26.

The event will feature 88 of the nation’s top amateur boxers, 10 of whom are from Fort Carson. They will vie for 11 coveted Olympic 2007 berths. Representing the Mountain Post at the trials will be: John Franklin, (112 pounds), Alexis Ramos, (119 pounds), James Villa, (132 pounds), Mahlon Kerwick and Boyd Melson, (152 pounds), Zacheus Hardwick, (165 pounds), Christopher Downs, (178 pounds), Joe Guzman, (201 pounds), and William Moore and Andrew Shepherd, who will

Eight boxers will compete in each of the 11 weight divisions at the double elimination tournament, which will determine the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in Beijing. The 88 U.S. Olympic Team Trials competitors earned berths in the event by advancing to quarterfinal action at the 2007 U.S. Championships held in Colorado Springs recently.

Olympic Team Trials action will kick off with first round action Aug. 20, and conclude with final round competition on August 25 and a second day of final round action, if necessary, on August 26. The victors of the winners’ bracket and the challengers’ bracket will meet in the final two days of action. The winners’ bracket victors will need to win one of the final round bouts to earn a berth on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Baseball fans will want to know about a special fireworks display that will take place at Coors Field in Denver Tuesday and Wednesday nights when the Rockies host the New York Mets at 6:05 p.m. both nights.

All military personnel may purchase discounted right field mezzanine and upper reserved outfield tickets for their family and friends. To take advantage of this offer you must call (303) ROCKIES when you are ready to purchase your tickets. State that you are a member

compete in the super heavyweight category. See Bench on Page 31

Sports & Leisure ^MOUNTAINEER 31

June 29, 2007

Bench

From Page 30

of the military and provide the reference number 741532. Have a credit card ready. You will be given a choice of seat locations: right field mezzanine or upper reserved outfield.

Tickets for these games will only be available for pickup at the Will Call window at Coors Field on Blake Street between 20th and 21st. You will need your picture identification to pick up your tickets at Will Call. This offer is not available if you go to the Will Call window without having placed an order.

The Opening Ceremony for the 2008 State Games of America, which will be held in Colorado Springs is drawing closer, Aug. 2, and is going to be an exciting and must-see event according to State Game officials.

Tickets for the ceremony at the World Arena are available but going fast. Athletes will receive free admission to the Opening Ceremony. Spectators can purchase Opening Ceremony tickets, $10 for adults, $5 for youth (18 and under) and seniors (55+) by calling (866) 464-2626 or go to www.ticketswest.com.

In the tradition of the Olympic Games, the State Games of America will feature an Opening Ceremony at the Colorado Springs World Arena, to celebrate the beginning of the State Games of America weekend. Pre-ceremony festivities and T-shirt pick-up will take place from 4-9 p.m. outside the World Arena. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the Opening Ceremony program starting at 7 p.m.

The Fort Carson Lady Mountaineers will continue play in the Colorado Springs softball league July 11 at 8 p.m. at Skyview Sports Complex Field Number two.

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team will host an Ironman Competition at 6 a.m., Thursday beginning on Pershing Field. One male Soldier per 3rd BCT company, and a minimum of one female Soldier per 3rd BCT battalion will participate in the event, consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, a two-mile run, a six-mile road march, and a 100-meter swim. According to 3rd BCT officials, friends and family are welcome to attend.

^MOUNTAINEER Sports & Leisure

Sports & Leisure ^MOUNTAINEER

June 29, 2007

Mountaineer Athlete of the Week ^{David Rayhas}

Sports Position: Intramural softball player

How did you get started in sports?

I didn't play a lot of sports when I was young. I really didn’t

start playing until I came into the military. I only play softball

now; I tried flag football once, but that was too much running.

What sports did you follow growing up?

I’m a big NASCAR fan, which is what everyone back

home is into. We followed NASCAR a lot and I followed the

Steelers a lot when I was a young boy.

What is your best personal sports moment?

That actually happened today (June 19) when I was

able to catch a pop up while playing catcher. I haven’t played

a lot so I don't have a lot of great moments.

What is your best professional sports moment?

My favorite professional moment was two years ago when

the Steelers beat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. I wasn’t

even born when the Steelers won the other Super Bowls.

Whom would you like to speak to in professional sports?

I would love to be able to speak with Ben Roethlisberger

(Steelers quarterback). I would like to talk to him about everyday

life and not sports.

What would you change about sports today?

If I had my way, I would do away with working and let

people play sports all day. I love playing sports. I would make

playing sports part of the Army physical training program. In sports

you run a lot, so you get your physical training in and you get to

Photo by Walt Johnson

work with your combat buddies, so it would be a good thing.

Story and photos by Nel Lampe

100tharksnniversary

Mountaineer staff

citizens by Palmer. He donated more than 2,000 acres, devoted to parks, pathways and other types of public use.

Three of the city’s parks donated by Palmer are 100 years old this year.

One of those 100-year-old parks is Monument Valley Park — two miles of green, running alongside Fountain Creek and Interstate 25. Called “a park for the people,” it had gardens, walkways, ponds with bridges over them, playgrounds, a wildflower garden and many varieties

The 165-acre park opened with four lakes, ponds, a greenhouse and almost 3,000 trees. Automobiles and horses were banned from the park.

In 1914 the Broadmoor Hotel’s builder, Spencer Penrose, built the city’s first public swimming pool in Monument Valley Park.

A natural spring was once in the park as well as a waterfall. A massive flood in 1935 destroyed a pavilion, and several gardens and walkways.

Although the park was renovated, not all features were replaced.

Monument Valley Park is still a beautiful park. Wide sidewalks and walking paths invite strollers, joggers and bicycle riders. Tennis courts are near the parking lot, and there’s that outdoor swimming pool, which is open in summer.

The park is open from 5 a.m.-9 p.m., from November to May. The rest of the year it is open from 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

See Parks on Page 36

Places to see in the
Pikes Peak area.

June 29, 2007

The Starsmore Visitor Center, in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, features interactive exhibits, books and a climbing wall.

Parks

From Page 35

Monument Valley Park is a narrow park near the interstate, beginning at Bijou Street and running north, beyond Fontanero Street. The park can be entered at Bijou Street as well as Monroe Street and Cache La Poudre.

Before North Cheyenne Cañon became a park, it attracted hordes of visitors during summer months. As Colorado Springs was almost treeless, local residents went to the cañon to escape the heat, cooling off by the waterfall or under the trees. When the privately-owned land was closed to visitors on Sundays, it caused a furor among the regulars. Local citizen and author Helen Hunt Jackson started a campaign to have the city purchase the land for a public park. The city bought 640 acres, and in 1907, Palmer donated 480 more acres, which included the waterfall now named for Helen Hunt. Palmer also built a road, a pavilion and trails.

Today, North Cheyenne Cañon is still a popular park.

It’s the perfect place to unwind. Several blocks from busy Nevada Avenue, North Cheyenne Cañon Park is in a quiet, deep tree-shaded cañon, with a bubbling creek, a water fall, rock formations, hiking trails, picnic areas and two visitor centers.

North Cheyenne Cañon Park can be reached by taking Highway 115 north from Fort Carson, which becomes Nevada Avenue. Make a left on Cheyenne Road, between Safeway and McDonald’s, and continue for about three miles, going west. The tree-lined street narrows, and there are signs marking the way to Seven Falls and Starsmore Discovery Center. At the mouth of the cañon, North Cheyenne Cañon Road is the right fork. Take the steep North Cheyenne Cañon road about three miles, to Helen Hunt Falls and the visitor center.

There are parking spaces near the visitor center, which is open in summer. Employees there can answer questions about the falls or point you toward hiking trails. The visitor center has a few souvenirs, books and pamphlets on local history. Several exhibits show the cañon’s wild life and flora. Hiking trails are in the area, ranging in length from one-half to four miles.

There’s no camping allowed in North Cheyenne Cañon, but the park is open from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. during summer.

Back at the mouth of the cañon is Starsmore Discovery Center. Almost hidden in the trees, the 1918 stone house was moved to the site in 1992. It had belonged to the Starsmore family and was moved from its original site on Nevada Avenue, where the McDonald’s is now. The center has dioramas, mineral and nature exhibits, educational programs, a bird-watching window as well as a climbing wall. Visitors can pick up trail maps at the visitor center and start a hike from just outside Starsmore.

Starsmore is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until mid-August, seven days a week. From Aug. 14 until Labor Day, the center is open until 5 p.m. After Labor Day, the center is open only on weekends.

There is no charge for using the center. Special programs may require reservations.

The Starsmore Visitor Center’s phone number is 578-6146.

Palmer Park is the third park that is 100 years old this year. Palmer deeded nearly 700 acres on the condition it be used as a natural park. Located near the corner of Maizeland Road and Academy Boulevard, the park has rugged terrain, rock formations, trails, bluffs and wooded areas.

A large playground area is near the entrance off Maizeland. There are several ball fields.

Roads and trails are in Palmer Park, as well as picnic areas and covered pavilions. More than 100 picnic tables and several grills provide space for family or group picnics.

MOUNTAINEER ₃₇

June 29, 2007

Rodeo Parade

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade is July 7. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Tejon and St. Vrain streets. The Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard and a platoon of Soldiers will be in the parade; a street festival and barbecue follow the parade.

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo

The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, a long-time Colorado Springs attraction, is set for July 11-15, in Norris-Penrose Equestrian Center. Fort Carson Night is July 14. Call 635-3547 for information; tickets are at Tickets West, 576-2626.

Flying W Ranch

The Flying W Ranch serves chuckwagon suppers daily through September. The family-friendly event includes a visit to the Western town, barbecue beef or chicken and the trimmings, followed by the Flying W Wranglers show; $19.50 for adults; children $9.50, including tax and tip. Children under 2 are free. Go online to www.flyingw.com or call 598-4000. The Flying W is at 3330 Chuckwagon Road.

July 3rd celebration

Fort Carson celebrates the Fourth of July one day early. Join your friends and neighbors at 4 p.m. July 3 to hear a steel drum band, “Pan Jumbies.” The steel drum band will play until 7:20 p.m., when “Tropical Coyotes” take over the stage. Fireworks will be at 9:30 p.m. There’ll be food vendors and Family Readiness Groups will have baked goods. There are activities for children, including free interactive activities and the “Kona Beach,” which is $5 for all day. Everything is in Ironhorse Park.

White-water rafting

Go white-water rafting with Outdoor Recreation Center; call 526-5366 to sign up for half-day trips, Wednesdays through Sundays, until mid August. The trips are on the Arkansas River and rafters experience levels I, II and III water rapids. The cost is $35 per person.

Free concerts

Old Colorado City hosts a summer concert series Thursdays through Aug. 17. From 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Bancroft Park, in downtown. Old Colorado City, on Colorado Boulevard. The free concerts are 5:30-7:30

p.m. Bring a picnic and a blanket.

Greek festival

The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, 2215 Paseo Road, hosts its 9th annual Greek Festival July 13-15. Admission is free and there are activities for everyone, including Greek food and music, with jewelry and clothing for sale. Hours are 4-10 p.m. July 13, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. July 14 and 11 a.m.4 p.m. July 15.

Colorado State Fair

The Colorado State Fair is Aug. 24Sept. 3 at the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo. Concerts at this year’s fair include Josh Turner, Clay Walker, Daughtry, Weird Al Yankovic, Peter Frampton, Los Lonely Boys and the Doobie Bros., Ted Nugent and the Dodge Rodeo. Concert tickets are at Ticketmaster, 520-9090.

Renaissance Festival

The Colorado Renaissance Festival runs weekends only through July. The renaissance village is near Larkspur, weekends only, between Colorado Springs and Denver, just off Interstate 25 at exit 172. July 7-8 is “Children’s Weekend,” with special activities for children and a Prince, Princess and Pirate contest. Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paying adult Children’s Weekend only. The price is $17.95 for adults and regularly $8 for children. The festival is 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sundays, rain or shine.

Old fashioned July Fourth

Celebrate an old-fashioned Fourth of July

at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, 10 a.m.-5

p.m. with games, activities and wagon rides. Military members and immediate families with identification get in free. The ranch is next to the Garden of the Gods entrance, off 30th Street.

July Fourth at the park

The annual “Fabulous July Fourth Park Celebration is in Memorial Park July 4. The Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra performs a patriotic concert, followed by fireworks. Bring a picnic and head for the park at 5 p.m. The celebration is free. Park officials ask that no grills, no alcohol, no fireworks and no pets be brought into the park.

— Compiled by Nel Lampe

MOUNTAINEER _Happenings

June 29, 2007