News flash — May 7, 2012
Report suspicious activity
Incidents involving threats to children have been reported in the Kaiserslautern military community. Installation Management Command officials are asking everyone to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the authorities. Save the Joint Task Force tip line number — civ (0171) 745 5382. For emergencies off post call 112 — the European emergency number, reachable from fixed and mobile phones free of charge. (IMCOM-Europe Public Affairs)
OHA survey extended
All service members assigned to Germany and residing in privately leased quarters drawing Overseas Housing Allowances for at least six months are encouraged to take the 2012 annual OHA Utility and Recurring Maintenance Allowance Survey which runs through May 11. Spouses of deployed service members are eligible to take the survey. By taking the survey, service members help influence their housing allowance rate. To access the survey visit https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/aprutil.cfm. Call William Gordon at mil 370-3888 or Randall Ries at mil 370-3884 for more information. (USAREUR Public Affairs)
Toppers on television
AFN-Europe will be featuring special coverage of the Tournament of Plays Awards Show, the Installation Management Command-Europe’s annual showcase of the best in community theater, on the Pentagon Channel at 7 p.m. European time May 12. The show is also available on AFN-Europe’s Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/afneurope.
New ERMC commander
Col. Jeffrey B. Clark assumed command of the Europe Regional Medical Command from Brig. Gen. Nadja Y. West in a ceremony May 8 in Heidelberg. Clark, who has been nominated for promotion to brigadier general, was formerly the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center commander. West, who commanded ERMC since May 2010, moves on to serve as the assistant surgeon general for force sustainment in falls Church, Va., in the Office of the Army Surgeon General. (ERMC Public Affairs)
Summer Hire Program
This year’s Summer Hire Program offering summer employment for local U.S. military community youths will be held from June 18 to July 27. Family members from ages 14-22 with valid ID cards can apply to perform labor, clerical or child care work. Applications will be accepted through May 20 online at https://lnjobs.army.mil/sh/staffing/summerhire/general_information.htm. Once applications have been submitted online, applicant/sponsor will have five days to submit supporting documents in person to the Wiesbaden Civilian Personnel Advisory Center to verify eligibility to work. Call mil 334-2580 for more information.
Supporting AER
The U.S. Army will conduct the 2012 Army Emergency Relief campaign through May 15. Soldiers can help "support their own" by giving generously to AER. For more information contact Leary Henry at mil 335-5254.
‘Show Your Stripes’
Stars and Stripes invites readers to upload photos of themselves reading the newspaper for the chance to win various prizes. Upload photos to http://promotions.stripes.com/showus. Readers are also invited to post free Mother’s Day messages to appear in the newspaper at http://mothersday.stripes.osd.mil. (Stars and Stripes Marketing)
Claims against the estate
David Wooden, an employee at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center, died March 27. Anyone with claims against the estate of Mr. Wooden are asked to contact Capt. Sirena Sias at mil 337-7008 or civ (0611) 705-7008.
Life stories sought
The "Unsere Geschichte" (our stories) organization, a non-profit association that collects mutual historical information about those who live in Germany, will be in Wiesbaden May 7-11 filming interviews about the subject of migration Sought are people who came to live in Germany – from near or far, long ago or recently – who speak German and want to share their stories. The videos will take place in the group’s "Jahrhundertbus" (century bus) which will be stationed at Kranzplatz in Wiesbaden near the Hessische Staatskanzlei. After the tour, the collected material will be screened, edited and uploaded to the organization’s website – www.gedaechtnis-der-nation.de. Visit the site for more information about the project.
It’s your call
Confidential help for the U.S. Army Europe community is available through the Military Crisis Line at civ (00800) 1273-8255 or mil 118. Suicide prevention and crisis support through confidential chat is also available online at MilitaryCrisisLine.net.
Don’t mail banned products
Many U.S. personnel in Europe receive fines from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection because they mailed packages of wurst, ham or pate to the United States. Fines can range from $100 to 1,000. However an outbreak of an animal disease can cost the U.S. taxpayer much more — millions of dollars each year. It is illegal to sent meats and sausages to the USA without U.S. Department of Agriculture approval. Packages from overseas are routinely checked, often with dogs trained to sniff out food. Overseas shoppers should also be aware that some other products are banned from the United States. These include Kinder-brand chocolate eggs and other items. Visit the www.hqusareur.army.mil/opm/uscustoms.htm or www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel websites for more information. (U.S. European Command Customs News Release)
Soldier of the Week
U.S. Army Europe’s senior enlisted adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. David S. Davenport Sr., is now profiling outstanding USAREUR Soldiers on his Facebook page and the USAREUR home page. "USAREUR has so many great Soldiers who are making outstanding contributions to not only our mission, but in their communities as well. I wanted a way to recognize each of them publicly," said Davenport. Each Soldier is nominated by his or her unit for the weekly feature that will include the Soldier’s photo, some biographical data such as the Soldier’s job title, hometown and a brief summary of what makes the individual outstanding. Leaders who would like to recommend a Soldier for the honor can submit their recommendation through their unit noncommissioned officer support channel. (USAREUR Public Affair)
Don’t mail lithium batteries
Lithium batteries will no longer be accepted for mailing at European-based Army Post Offices. The batteries are mainly found in laptop computers. Any parcel containing lithium batteries will be returned to the office of mailing. To prevent any unnecessary delays or further inconveniences to the mailer, the items will not be accepted at the point of origin. The restriction applies to all types of mail including express and registered mail.
Changes to reporting sexual assault
A revised directive was released from the Department of Defense allowing dependents of service members to report sexual assault under the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. Under the SAPR program dependents can report a sexual assault one of two ways — restricted and unrestricted. Restricted reports allow sexually assaulted victims to confidentially seek help and only report to selected individuals without starting an investigation. Unrestricted reports follow the same procedure as restricted; however, a full investigation is launched. Before the revision, military dependents could not report a sexual assault through the military channels using the restricted reporting option. The stipulation of reporting is that military dependents must be 18 years or older and eligible for health care in the military system. (USAREUR Public Affairs)
Online disability help
Soldiers, family members and commanders can now find helpful data, phone numbers and first-line information on how the integrated Disability Evaluation System works for the Army in Europe at the U.S. Army Europe IDES website — www.eur.army.mil/IDES. Europe and Asia are part of the final implementation evaluation process for Soldiers which began in October 2011. The new system eliminates both the requirement for veterans to navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs disability evaluation process on their own and the delay between the end of a Soldier’s service and the beginning of his or her Veterans Affairs benefits. The IDES partners the disability rating systems of the Department of Defense and the VA to produce a disability rating system used by both departments. The IDES also features a single set of medical examinations and a single set of disability ratings, resulting in benefits that begin as soon as Soldiers separate from military service. (USAREUR Public Affairs)
Main Gate open mornings
The Main Gate on Wiesbaden Army Airfield is now open to incoming Privately Owned Vehicle traffic (no commercial trucks or tactical vehicles) weekdays (except on holidays and training holidays) from 6-9:30 a.m. The morning opening is aimed at relieving traffic congestion during peak hours to reduce waiting times at the Access Control Points. There will be no signing in of guests or manual look-ups at the Main Gate. People requiring those services must still use the South or Truck Gates.
Free Internet at the Edelweiss
Thanks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, service members and their families can enjoy free wireless connections while staying at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The VFW partnered with the Edelweiss to offer the free service to all vacationing and conference guests. "Having the opportunity to provide free wireless Internet is just one of the many ways to convey the VFW’s utmost appreciation for the tremendous service and sacrifice of our nation’s service members," said Allen "Gunner" Kent, VFW adjutant general. For more information about vacationing at the Edelwiess Lodge and Resort visit www.EdelweissLodgeandResort.com.
Parking garage now open
People who work on Wiesbaden Army Airfield are asked to use the new parking garage, located next to the Wiesbaden Dining Facility, to free up limited short-term parking on the installation. The garage, which opened Feb. 14, provides space for 1,100 vehicles, including specially marked handicapped parking on the ground level.
Check Fuel Card
Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials advise patrons to check their Esso Fuel Card expiration date (lower right hand corner). If near expiration, customers must stop by the nearest AAFES Fuel Card issuing location for a replacement card. (Courtesy of AAFES Public Affairs)
Military
Kids Connect website
The
challenges faced by a child when a parent or caregiver deploys are unique to
the military community. MilitaryKidsConnect.org is a new Defense
Department-sponsored website to help military children support one another and
learn coping and resilience-building skills. The site was developed by
psychologists at the National Center for Telehealth
and Technology, DoD’s
primary agency for applying innovative technology to issues of psychological
health and traumatic brain injury. Visit MilitaryKidsConnect.org
for more information. (DoD
News)
Records
management system changes
The Army
has made major changes to its records management system with the deployment of
the new Army Consolidated Records Schedule which replaces the Records Retention
Schedule-Army. U.S. Army Europe records management officials said the ACRS
system contains 112 record numbers and designates three time periods for
retaining records: zero-six years, six years plus and permanent. Help with the
new system is available on the Army Records Information Management System
website at https://www.arims.army.mil.
In addition, an ACRS quick reference guide detailing how the new system works
and a “records series crosswalk” to help Army employees find new record numbers
and subseries to replace old record numbers are available from organization
ARIMS records managers or the USAREUR records administrator office. Updates to
the ARIMS user guide and Bulk Archive Tool found on the ARIMS site and video
tutorials are expected to be available soon as well. For more information
contact your records manager or the USAREUR records administrator office at mil
370-8804. (U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs)
Patriot
Express website
Patriot
Express is a Department of Defense-chartered flight that transits between Baltimore/Washington
International Airport and Ramstein Air Base. Visit
the Patriot Express website, www.eur.army.mil/PatriotExpress,
for an overview of the program, frequently asked questions and contact
information. (U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs)
Identity
theft alert
Members of
the Army Cyber Team report that hackers have “compromised the commercial
website for Strategic Forecasting, Inc. — the company better known as Stratfor, a research and analysis company for world
events.” If you have never registered an account with the company then you are
not at risk of your personal information being stolen as a result of the
incident. Hackers obtained email addresses that were used to register for the
site, www.stratfor.com, including the username and passwords used to log into
the site. They also obtained credit card information for Stratfor
customers who may have purchased reports or other products from the company. Stratfor sent a letter to subscribers stating that they
will offer identity theft protection and monitoring services to affected
subscribers. Potential victims should monitor their credit card statements for
unauthorized activity; change their passwords (from a secure computer) to all
accounts (especially if the same password was used for the Statfor
website) and contact the CID if they believe they were victims of credit card
fraud as a result of the incident (send an email to Antonio.p.edwards@us.army.mil).
Check
mail before sending
Customs
officials advise mailers to avoid mail delays and customs issues by ensuring
their mail is free of prohibited, restricted and otherwise non-mailable items. Restricted items include weapons,
explosives, ammunition, tobacco products, meat products, alcohol and
alcohol-filled candy, fruit, plants, medicines, dietary aids, butane lighters,
obscene articles, aerosol cans and “Kinder eggs” with the prize enclosed. The
Military Postal Service also cannot be used for humanitarian aid or business
ventures. Restrictions vary from country to country. When in doubt contact your
local postal clerk for guidance. (Courtesy of IMCOM-Europe Public Affairs
Office)
Army
Mentorship Program
The Army
Mentorship Program is a voluntary, web-based program that promotes mentorship
by linking mentors and mentees, and provides training videos and literature
teaching the concepts of mentorship. Studies have shown that mentoring
relationships can help individuals with personal and professional growth by
improving their leadership and interpersonal and technical skills. For more information visit www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/mentorship.
(USAREUR
Public Affairs)
Career
transition training
The
Department of Defense now offers an online Career Decision Toolkit to help
service members assess transition needs and explore transition-related subjects
such as career exploration, financial planning for transition, job search
success, effective resumes and cover letters, interviewing excellence and
negotiating salaries. For more information visit www.turbotap.org. (DoD News)
Don’t
mail banned products
Many U.S.
personnel in Europe receive fines from the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection because they mailed packages of wurst, ham
or pate to the United States. Fines can range from $100 to 1,000. However an
outbreak of an animal disease can cost the U.S. taxpayer much more — millions
of dollars each year. It is illegal to sent meats and sausages to the USA
without U.S. Department of Agriculture approval. Packages from overseas are
routinely checked, often with dogs trained to sniff out food. Overseas shoppers
should also be aware that some other products are banned from the United
States. These include Kinder-brand chocolate eggs and other items. Visit the www.hqusareur.army.mil/opm/uscustoms.htm
or www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel
websites for more information. (U.S. European Command Customs News Release)
Hanau
Veterans Center
A new
American Veterans Center opened on the former Francoise Kaserne
in the Lamboy section of Hanau (Building 905/Club 905
— Francoisegarten bus stop). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Thursday. It will serve as a social center and information point for
all American veterans, retirees, spouses and widows. Coffee and tea will be
available. For more information email retired Col. Paul Sanders at Pauls09165@hotmail.com, Joyce Schloesser
at Schloesser-bob@t-online.de or call
civ (06128) 489 202. Parking is available in the Club
905 spaces.
Check
vehicle registration
Directorate
of Emergency Services officials remind privately owned vehicle operators to
check their vehicle registration for expiration. Don’t become a blotter
statistic. While checking your vehicle registration, also make sure your U.S.
Forces Europe driver’s license is still current. Make sure to renew both in a
timely manner.
Selection board video
The Department of the Army Secretariat released a 10-minute instructional video to assist officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers preparing for centralized selection boards. The video explains the overall selection board process and shows Soldiers where in the Army Human Resources Command website to find selection boards and their specific convening dates during the fiscal year. The video explains how to navigate the My Board File and prepare military records for those being considered for promotion. It also provides information about what board members look for during the board file review process. The video can be viewed at http://goo.gl/gEy4v by logging on with an Army Knowledge user name and password. (USAREUR Public Affairs)
Starr Card supports community
One way military Families can help reduce costs and strengthen their Army and Air Force Exchange benefit is to take advantage of the Exchange’s Military Starr Card. Unlike bank cards, profits generated from the Military Starr Card are shared with military communities through contributions to the military service’s quality-of-life funds. The Military Starr Card is accepted at all Exchange activities, as well as the Exchange Catalog and Exchange Online store at www.shopmyexchange.com. Click on "Credit Services" when visiting the website for more information about the Military Starr Card. (AAFES Public Affairs)
USB power, think again
Before plugging any device in a U.S. government computer — whether it’s a thumb drive, phone or mp3 player — think again. Anything that plugs into USB can not only draw power but can also transfer data. Plugging those devices into U.S. government systems creates vulnerabilities, which lead to significant risks to the networks.
Army Career Tracker
The Army Career Tracker is a leadership development and career management tool that continues to be fielded to Soldiers, officers and civilians in phases, based on their career management fields, throughout the remainder of 2011. The ACT integrates training, assignment history and education into one personalized, easy-to-use portal. The tracker can also be used to search for multiple Army education and training resources, monitor career development and history, and receive personalized advice from leadership. The ACT allows Soldiers, officers and civilians to manage their career objectives and monitor their progress toward career requirements and goals. The ACT release schedule is available on the Army Knowledge Online website at www.us.army.mil/suite/page/659786. (USAREUR Public Affairs)
Banned foodstuffs
People shipping household goods to the United States this summer should be careful when packing the contents of their kitchen, agriculture officials advise. The bureau of Customs and Border Protection issues fines of $100 to $1,000 to first-time offenders who ignore the strict rules that apply to sending food products stateside. "Red meats, sausages, pates and salami can harbor animal viruses — even if canned — and are therefore barred from import," said Scott Sanner, military adviser to the U.S. European Command. Even pasta or soup mixes that contain dried meat are not allowed. Fresh fruits and vegetables may also not be sent to the United States because they can contain the eggs or larvae of voracious pests. Processed fruit and vegetable products such as canned fruit, olive oil, mustard and canned or processed sauces may be shipped. Commercially produced dried herbs and spices, tea, roasted coffee, cured cheeses, cakes, candies, cookies and roasted nuts are also OK. To find out more about importing food, plant and animal products to the United States, visit the USDA website at www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/agri_prod_inus.xml. (USEUCOM Customs Public Affairs Office)
Access data at Tricare Online
A new feature on Tricare Online at www.tricareonline.com allows users access to expanded health data, including lab results, patient history and diagnoses and provider visits. The features are an expansion of the Blue Button capability which allows beneficiaries to securely access and print or save their demographic information, allergy and medication profiles. The level of data available is dependent on where treatment occurs — with the most data available to those who regularly get care at military hospitals and clinics.
Know before you go
People moving to the States this summer should start preparing now by finding new homes for the things that are banned from import. It is also a good idea to apply early for import permits on restricted items, Customs officials advise. "Prohibited items include meat and meat products such as sausage, pate and salami, as well as plants and destructive devices," said Bill Johnson, director of the U.S. European Command’s Customs and Border Clearance Agency. "If you’re planning on shipping firearms, ensure you have proof that you owned them in the States or have an import permit." Other points to remember include: t Owners of vehicles not made to U.S. standards have to ship them through commercial importers registered with the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency. However vehicles more than 25 years old are exempt from this rule. t Most mopeds and motorcycles must also meet U.S. safety and pollution standards, and all vehicles must be free of dirt, insects and vegetation. t Wine collections can only be shipped with advance approval from the transportation office. Endangered species items such as ivory and some furs may only be shipped if owners can prove they were previously owned in the United States or are antiques 100 years old. t State attorneys general must approve imports of gambling devices. These devices must be registered with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. Pick up more information at your local Customs Office or visit www.hqusareur.army.mil/opm/uscustoms.htm. (USEUCOM Customs Public Affairs)
Getting vehicles ready for shipment
Soldiers and civilians are reminded that they are responsible for ensuring specific steps are taken before shipping their privately owned vehicle. Individuals must v Have six copies of PCS orders; v Have a valid ID card and registration; v Make and confirm an appointment with Transcar shipping office to turn in a POV (call civ 06134-69303 or mil 337-7849); Remove all personal effects; v Ensure POV is in operable condition; v Clean vehicle interior and exterior to meet USADA standards (no dirt, soil, plant or animal life); v Make sure fuel tank is less than one quarter full; v Make sure emergency brake is in full working order; v Vehicle has no leaks; v EPA and DOT labels are attached to the vehicle; v Lug nut key is available; v Car stereo equipment is permanently fixed or bolted down; v Must have read the "Global POV Contract Outbound — What to Expect" pamphlet given during the transportation briefing. (Courtesy of USAG Wiesbaden’s DPTMS)
Federal benefits contact
The federal benefits unit in Frankfurt has a new telephone number for those needing assistance with Social Security, Medicare or Veterans Affairs issues. The new number is civ (069) 90555 1110. The federal benefits unit Frankfurt may also be reached at FBU.Frankfurt@ssa.gov or by fax at civ (069) 749 352.
Commissary feedback
Commissary customers seeking the fastest resolution to a local commissary concern should contact their local store director via email on the store’s web page. To access your local commissary page, go to www.comissaries.com, select locations and your commissary. The email address can be found under Store Information or Management. Patrons who have not had success resolving concerns at the local level or who have other non-local concerns may contact the Defense Commissary Agency by completing the online customer comment form at www.commissaries.com/YAL/customer_comments.cfm. Feedback can include comments about your shopping experience, compliments, questions and suggestions. Customers also have the option of completing a hard copy "Your Action Line" form available in all commissaries, normally located at the store entrance or exit. (Courtesy of Troy Darr, IMCOM-Europe Public Affairs)
German tire law
It is now the law in Germany — you must have snow or all-weather tires on your vehicle when driving on icy or snowy roads, on black ice or through slush. The German Road Traffic Ordinance stipulates that privately owned vehicles must be equipped with snow tires or all-weather M+S tires. Drivers risk fines and costly accidents for not using the appropriate tires for the weather.
Avoid demonstrations
Garrison force protection and security experts advise community members to always avoid any public demonstrations as they could become violent. Listen to the American Forces Network radio, check the garrison home page and Commander’s Information Channel for the latest advisories and plan your route to stay away from demonstrations whenever possible.
Think Act Save
Help save Army dollars by doing your part to recycle refuse. Join the Separate Or Recycle Trash effort by properly sorting all recyclables. Also turn off lights and other appliances when not in use. It’s commonsense, it makes good sense and it saves lots of cents.
Ready Army
Army families are reminded to plan ahead and establish a family emergency plan for all potential hazards. Soldiers, civilians, families and contractors are advised to "get a kit, make a plan and be informed." "One of the most important tools you and your family can have to protect yourself in possible emergencies is a family emergency plan," said Rene Gomez, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high Yield Explosives specialist. "It is important that you plan ahead as a family for all types of emergencies and responses." When establishing a plan it’s important to: (bullet) Know your installation’s evacuation procedure; (bullet) Discuss as a family where you will go in the event of an emergency; (bullet) Plan how you will evacuate family members with special needs; (bullet) Include pets in your family plan; (bullet) Save "In Case of Emergency" information on everyone’s cell phone; (bullet) Set up practice evacuations or shelter-in-place drills for your family to ensure everyone knows what to do; (bullet) Keep your emergency supply kit up to date, replacing water and perishables periodically.