frsa flash 10 feb12

3-6 FA “Swift & Bold” FRSA Flash, 10 February 2012

SPCA 18th Annual Bark and Wine

Valentine’s Auction

February 11 from 6-10 pm. A fund-raising auction to benefit the SPCA of Jefferson County held at the Flower Memorial Library, 229 Washington Street, Watertown, NY. An evening of hors d’oeuvres, wine and desserts with a silent auction followed by a live auction. Tickets are $25 per person/$23 with Military ID and $45 per cou-ple/$40 per couple with a Military

ID. Karen Wilson 608-3007

Happy Valentine's Day FEBRUARY 2012

2/12 LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY

2/14 Valentine’s Day Dinner 1700-2100 The Commons

2/15 Alpha FRG Meeting 1800 BN Classroom

2/15 Volunteer of the Month Ceremony 1030-1130 The Commons

2/16 Mrs. Merritt’s Welcome Luncheon 1045-1300 The Commons

2/16 Coffee 1800 BN Classroom

2/16 Division Mountain Salute, DCSM 1600-1700 Magrath Gym

2/17 Military Free Ski and Tubing Day 1200-1700 Dry Hill

2/18-21 DIVISION DONSA/President’s Day Weekend

2/20-24 Local Schools Winter Break

2/21 Mardi Gras Buffet 1100-1330 The Commons

2/23 African American/Black History 1100-1300 The Commons

Month

2/23 Mountain Remembrance 1630-1700 Main Post Chapel

Ceremony

2/24 Chili Cook-off 1700-1900 The Commissary

2/24 Retirement Ceremony 1600-1700 Multi-Purpose Auditorium

2/24 Right Arm Night 1700 The Commons

2/26 Syracuse vs. Army Lacrosse 1400 Carrier Dome

2/29 AER Campaign Kick-Off 1400 Bldg. 990

2/29 Family Support Huddle 1000-1130 Hays Hall Eagles Nest

MARCH 2012

3/2 Military Free Lift Tickets 1000-2030 Snow Ridge

3/2 3-6 Hail and Farewell TBD TBD

3/3 Saturday Opening, Off the 1000-1300 OTBP Gift Store

Beatin’ Path

3/5-16 Fort Drum Indoor Triathlon Various Times Monti Fitness

3/5-9 3-6 Field Exercise

3/7 CLIF 1000-1100 The Commons


3/11 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS (SPRING FORWARD)

3/14 Fort Drum Education 1030-1130 The Commons

Liaison Committee

3/15 Volunteer of the Month 1030-1130 The Commons

Ceremony

3/15 FRG Steering Meeting 1130 BN Classroom


3/16-18 North Country Goes Dulles State Office Building

Green Irish Festival

Contents of this newsletter are compiled from multiple Military Family news sources. Material presented does not represent the views or endorsement of 3-6 Field Artillery or the United States Army. This material is for personal use of the readers. All readers are encouraged to do further research for all applicable restrictions and guidelines.

FRSA Flash, 10 February 2012

Show your Centaur pride!!!

Did you know that 3-6 FA has a Facebook Page???? Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/3.6FA.1BCT.10MTN


African American/Black History Month Observance


Army Community Service (ACS) St ress Managem en t :

7 Fe b r u ar y , 1330 -

1530.

Co u p les Co m m u n i -

cat ion : 10 Feb ruary,

1330-1530 .

Ke y Ca lle r Tr a in -

in g : 14 Fe b r u ar y ,

1400-1500 o r 1700-

1800, ACS.

Anger Managem en t :

21 Feb r u ar y , 1330-

1530.

CARE Team Tr a in -

in g : 21 Fe b r u ar y ,

0900-1230, ACS.

Scream Free Parent -

ing: 22-23 Feb ruary,

0900-1500.

OPSEC Training: 27

Feb ruary, 1300-1430.

FRSA Flash, 10 February 2012 Fort Drum Fitness

Magrath Gym update: POOL WILL BE CLOSED 19 DECEMBER 2011 – 8 MAY 2012 FOR REPAIRS.

H ealth Management Program is an assessment to get individuals into a fitness, lifestyle and nutritional program. Cost is

$10. Receive a personal exercise and nutrition report. Fitness Instruction includes equipment skill qualification, free

weights, cardio respiratory equipment, body composition, exercise prescription and programming. Call for an appoint-

ment.

Aerobics Fitness Classes are free and are Monday-Friday, morning and evening classes. Classes offered are Power Zumba, Zumba,

Zumba Toning, Cardio Fit, Yoga, Yoga Sculpt, Spin, Spin Sculpt, Belly Dancing, and Core. Call 772-4936 for class schedule. Battalion

and Brigade Level Organizational and Family Days can be reserved on weekends only at the Monti Physical Fitness Center. Two Per-

sonal Trainers are now available. Initial consultation to include goal setting and basic information costs $10. After initial consultation

each one hour session will cost $25. Specials and promotions will be offered. Trainer will focus on strength training, cardio, weight

loss, pregnancy, and post pregnancy. Participants must be ID card holders and 18 years of age and older. Trainer is available Monday

-Friday, 5:30-9 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 am-5 pm. Log your Walk to Afghanistan miles monthly at Monti Fitness Center. Pa-

vilion Rentals are $25 plus $25 cleaning deposit per pavilion rental.

Water Aerobics Classes are held Monday-Friday, 0930-1030 and Tuesday and Thursday evening at 1830-1930. consist of low-impact

classes designed to improve cardiovascular endurance, increase muscular strength, and enhance flexibility. Exercises will target those

hard to tone areas. Classes offered are Aqua Fit, Aqua Tone, Aqua Zumba and H20 Blast. Classes are Free. Free swim lessons are

offered to Solders only by appointment. Wave pool is run on weekends 1000-1100, 1200-1300, and 1400-1500.


Kids Corner


Military Parents Night Out **FREE**

Armed Services YMCA is hosting Military Parents Night Out

The Y will be hosting FREE Childcare for all active duty military families at the fol-lowing locations and times. Fairground YMCA- Febru-ary 3 & 17, March 9 & 23, April 13 ***Military Parents Night Out at the Fairgrounds will run from 6-9:00pm Carthage YMCA- January 21, February 18, March 17, April 21 ***Military Parents Night Out at the Carthage Y will run from 5-8pm Ages 6 weeks to 11 years of age

Space is limited! Military ID required to regis-ter Registration opens the 1

st of

each month for Parents Night Out. In Person Regis-trations will be taken at all 3 YMCA Front Desks. Regis-tration will close for Parents Night the Wednesday before the event takes place.

You may sign up for Two Parent Nights each month.

If you have questions, please call YMCA Project Strong Communities at 315-755-2016.

Activities will include Gymnas-tics, Arts and Crafts, Basket-ball, Soccer, Music, Gym Games and FUN!!! (light snack will be provided)


By Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly

Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012 - Pet over-

population is a sad reality in the United States.

Up to 7 million animals enter U.S. shelters

every year, according to the American Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

<blockedhttp://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet

-statistics.aspx> .

Of this number, about 60 percent of dogs and

70 percent of cats are euthanized, and less than

2 percent of cats and 15 to 20 percent of dogs

are returned to their owners, according to the

National Council on Pet Population Study and

Policy http://ww.petpopulation.org/

Military families on the move should think

carefully before taking in an animal to avoid

contributing to this problem.

First, you should take into account your life-

style and potential commitment to a pet. Are

you an active family, with weekend hikes and

daily runs, or do you prefer lazy weekends on

the couch? Are you home enough to ensure

your furry friend will get the exercise, training

and attention they need?

An impending overseas move is another con-

sideration. You may not be able to take your

pet with you. Many duty stations will only allow

shipments of cats and dogs, so a pet rabbit may

not be the wisest choice. And if you plan to

live in housing, it's important to study military

housing breed bans and pet limit requirements

so you don't end up having to give up an ani-

mal because your community doesn't allow it.

As important as evaluating your family circum-

stances is choosing an ethical location to obtain

your pet. Sadly, many pet stores in the United

States aren't regulated and deny you the oppor-

tunity of personally inspecting the home of a

responsible breeder.

"The biggest health consequence because of

poor breeding is shortened life span and pre-

mature death," said Amanda Morgon, an Air

Family Matters Blog: Are You Ready for a Pet? Force spouse and veterinarian technician. "No

one wants to spend thousands of dollars on a

pet that will only live a few years. This is why

potential buyers should do their research and

select the best breeder of their future pet."

A great place to start looking for a forever pet is

your local animal shelter. Some of these ani-

mals are perfectly well-behaved and healthy;

they were just given up due to an irresponsible

owner or one who may have had a family emer-

gency.

However, if you do decide to seek a responsi-

ble breeder, ask detailed questions, such as

what breed-specific health testing has been per-

formed and what drove the decision to breed.

You also should visit the home of the breeder

to see firsthand how the puppies are raised.

The Humane Society of the United States has a

checklist http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/

puppy_mills/tips/

finding_responsible_dog_breeder.html of ques-

tions to ask when looking for the right animal.

As you consider your options, make sure you're

aware of the types of animals that can accom-

pany you on an airplane. Many airlines are pro-

hibiting brachycephalic breeds, also known as

snub-nosed dogs, due to their compromised

respiratory issues that have caused deaths in

flight. Just as important as deciding if you can

take on a pet and seeking the right location is

making sure that animal can go where you go.

While pets can be a wonderful addition to a

military family, the decision to have one should

be carefully thought out.

Pets depend on us to be their voice and look

out for their best interests. By following some

of the tips above, we can be sure we are doing

right by these family members.

(Note: Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Don-

nelly, of U.S. Pacific Command, is the owner of

Hawaii Military Pets, which provides pet re-

sources for military families. She's offered to

share her pet-related knowledge in a series of

blogs for Family Matters http://afps.dodlive.mil


Religious Lenten/Easter Schedule Main Post Chapel (MPC) 10785A Chapel Drive

Riva Ridge Chapel (RRC) 10030 Riva Ridge Loop

22 Feb Protestant Ash Wednesday 1630 RRC 22 Feb Catholic Ash Wednesday 1230/1730 MPC Fridays of Lent Catholic Stations of the Cross 1730 MPC 5 April Catholic Holy Thursday 1800 MPC 5 April Protestant Maundy Thursday 1800 RRC

6 April Protestant Good Friday 1200 RRC 6 April Catholic Good Friday 1500 MPC 7 April Catholic Easter Vigil 2000 MPC (no 1700 Mass) 8 April Community Easter Sunrise 0700 MPC 8 April Catholic Easter Mass 1100 MPC

** All Regular Services Remain

A chaplain is always as close as a phone call away. After duty hours, call 772-5647 and ask for the duty chaplain. Family Life, 772-5540: Daytreat 24 February 2012 0930-1500 Po Valley Chapel P4405. POC CH (MAJ) Rick Cantrell.

St. Michael’s Catholic Congregation 772-0160: Catholic Mom’s Group meets Mondays at 1000 at the Main Post Chapel, offering moms an opportunity to gather for adult conversation, while their children play in a safe environment. Military Council of Catholic Women 772-0160: MCCW meets Wednesdays at 0930 at the Main Post Chapel. The First Friday of the month includes Adoration & Mass. Rosary for Peace meets Wednesdays at 1130 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Child care is available. Protestant Women of the Chapel 772-5591: PWOC would like to invite you to join us for fellowship, friendship, and faith. For more information on PWOC send an email to [email protected]. Religious Education: Catholic Religious Education Program is held Sundays at 0930; RICA meets Sun-days at 1230, and Catholic Youth meets at 1230 at the Youth Services Building. Protestant Religious Edu-cation meets on Sundays at 1100; studies for adults and children. AWANA meets Wednesdays at 1730 and the Teens of the Chapel meet Sundays at 1730 at the Youth Services Building.

mailto:[email protected]


The Fort Drum Tax Assistance Center is scheduled to open Tuesday. Staffed by IRS trained and certified Soldiers, the TAC will prepare and electronically file your federal and state income tax re-turns free of charge. By filing your return electronically, you can receive your re-fund in as little as one week. Part of the Legal Assistance Office and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, the TAC staff assists active-duty Sol-diers, mobilized Reservists on active duty for more than 29 days, retired ser-vice members and their Families. Under Army regulations, self-employed taxpayers and those involved in other private business activities are not eligible for tax assistance services. (Family Child Care providers remain eligible.) The TAC staff also is equipped to pre-pare 2010 returns for Soldiers returning from deployment who were not able to file last year. Located on South Post at the corner of Lewis and Conway / First Street West in Bldg. T-120 (near the AAFES gas station and across the street from Behavioral Health), the TAC will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Beginning Monday, you may call 772-6727 to schedule a next business day appointment. Throughout tax season, the appointment line will open at 1 p.m. each day and will remain open until all appointments are filled for the next busi-ness day. The following documents are required to schedule an appointment:

Military ID (Common Access Card)

Social Security cards for you, your

spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration. (Your military ID is not sufficient.)

Birth dates for you, your spouse and

dependents listed on the tax return. Your Army W-2, which is available at www.mypay.dfas.mil. (Your leave and earnings statement is not sufficient.)

A voided check to receive your re-

fund by direct deposit. To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present or have a special power of attorney or IRS Form 2848 authorizing you to sign the return. The following documents may be nec-essary depending on your circum-stances:

Individual Taxpayer Identification

Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and dependents;

Proof of foreign status, if applying for

an ITIN;

Wage and earning statement(s)

Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all em-ployers of all of your Family Members;

Interest and dividend statements

from banks and brokers, including mort-gage interest statements (Forms 1099);

A copy of last year’s federal and

state returns if available;

Divorce decrees and receipts for

alimony paid or received;

Child custody and support orders;

Receipts for IRA contributions;

Total paid for day care provider and

the day care provider’s tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security number or business Employer Identifica-tion Number); and Receipts and other supporting documentation if you plan to itemize your deductions in lieu of the standard deduction. Visit www.facebook.com/drumtax for the most up-to-date information on the TAC. For more information, call the Fort Drum Tax Assistance Center at 772-3735.

Fort Drum Tax Assistance Center offers free tax return preparation

http://www.mypay.dfas.mil

http://www.facebook.com/drumtax


Jefferson-Lewis Board of Co-operative Education Services has begun the 2011-12 GED classes at the McEwen Center, Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information and registration contact Tina Frederick, Super-visor of Adult and Continuing Education at 779-7224. Co-lumbia College at Fort Drum is the sponsor for academic credit by examination through their National Testing Center. For information contact Co-lumbia College at 315-775-0128. Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement to spouse and/or children remains a retention issue. Soldiers gain eligibility for transfer after serving 6 years of creditable service in the Armed Forces; a minimum of 3 years has to have been served on Active Duty after September 11, 2001. Transfer-ability incurs a four year Addi-tional Service Obligation (ADSO) that must be served either on Active Duty or in the Reserves from the date of the request. For senior non-commissioned officers and officers this may impact on their retirement plans or op-tions. Army policy on the ADSO waives a portion of it based on the service mem-ber’s calculated creditable ser-vice on 1 August 2009. If the service member was retire-ment eligible, they do not in-

cur the ADSO. At 19 years of service they incur a year, at 18, two year. Service members with less than 17 years on 1 August will incur the full ADSO. Again, the ADSO starts the day the request for transfer is made. Failure to commit to or complete the ADSO invali-dates the transfer; any ex-pended funds must be repaid to the VA. The Defense Man-power Data Center (DMDC) recently changed the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website to milConnect at http://milconnect.dmdc.mil.

ESC 2012 Scholarship-Looking for money to help in paying for school? ESC can help in supplementing your education. We will be award-ing 4,500 in scholarships this year. Our scholarship dead-line is 31 March. Applications can be found on our Facebook page, just search for Fort Drum Enlisted Spouses Club. Fort Drum Women’s Confer-ence-Registration for the 2012 Women’s Conference is now open! Print your applications off from our facebook page: www.facebook.com/ftdrumwomensconference. Registration is due before 1 March.

Coupon Books If your son or daughter has a B average or above GPA from the report card… Take the report card to the PX ei-ther at the front or the cus-tomer service desk in the back to redeem a coupon book!!! Lots of good dis-counts not only in the PX, but also PX services such as items from the food court..

Family Matters

Blog: Military Kids

Can Apply for

Scholarships, The deadline is swiftly ap-proaching for the Fisher House Foundation's 2012 Scholarships for Military Children Program, con-ducted at military commis-saries http://www.commissaries.com/> worldwide. Applications must be com-pleted and delivered not postmarked, but delivered to a commissary by close of business Feb. 24, according to an agency release. Peo-ple can pick up applications at their local commissary or download it from the schol-arship program's website http://

Knowledge is power...

http://milconnect.dmdc.mil

http://milconnect.dmdc.mil

http://www.facebook.com/ftdrumwomensconference

http://www.facebook.com/ftdrumwomensconference

frsa flash 10 feb12

Health & Medicine

fe b r u ar y

military free lift tickets1000

military free ski

commons month

evening classes

aerobics fitness classes

u n i cat io n

ke y ca ll e r tr