Articles

Today's military - The new century’s greatest generation

Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Spotlight NCO

Get out in the Interior winter to beat the blues

Task Force Yukon Soldiers become American citizens

Team hits the road to deliver cold weather safety message

Flu vaccine required in Air Force childcare centers

Joint base personnel questions answered

Holiday season calls for increased fire safety

Wainwright education fair provides expert answers

Work stoppage affects education center services

Ask the MEDDAC Commander

Unregulated tobacco products maintain addiction

Studies show smoking increases risk of impotence

Symposium draws top medical professionals

Not horsing around - Chapel programs aid family reunion, reintegration

FMWR Events

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WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama told service members in Alaska Nov. 12 he will not risk their lives without a clear mission, the equipment they need and the strategy required to succeed.

Obama stopped at Elmendorf Air Force Base on his way to meetings in Asia. The president told the crowd that he has no greater honor than serving as commander-in-chief.  He told the service members he will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or the nation’s vital interests.

“But I also make you this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America’s vital interests,” Obama said. “And if it is necessary, the United States of America will have your back. We’ll give you the strategy and clear mission you deserve. We will give you the equipment and support you need to get the job done – and that includes public support back home. That is a promise I make to you.”  Full Story

In his 1998 book “The Greatest Generation,” television journalist Tom Brokaw single-handedly granted a new and apt term for a generation of Americans who endured the hardships of the Great Depression only to fight fascism in three continental campaigns during World War II.

They were normal men and women who weathered the greatest economic disaster the industrialized world has ever seen, turning around to fight a determined enemy for as long as it took, not knowing they would be away from home for nearly four years.

Today, we are seeing a similar phenomenon. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, United States’ military troops were called to fight the specter of extremism in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Republic of the Philippines and the Horn of Africa with little indication of how long it will take for the combined campaigns to come to a satisfactory resolution. Full Story

As a noncommissioned officer, Bob Becker took pride in serving and supporting his Soldiers. Becker’s career as a Soldier spanned from June 1977 to November 1991.

Today, as a civilian employee, he continues to serve Soldiers and support their missions as the U.S. Army Alaska property book manager. Becker considers his support of Soldiers to be his most important job, then and now. His priorities are reflected in his choices of Army career milestones:

“I sent seven Soldiers to the Gulf War and they all came home safely,” Becker said. “I trained several Soldiers who continued on to have successful careers, to include at least one who went on to become a retired (Chief Warrant Officer4) .”   Full Story

When I first left my home in Pennsylvania, I chose Georgia to escape the cold and snow. So… then I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and have happily remained here for the past 30 years.

Some part of the “happily” can be attributed to the fact that at least for a short while every day I leave the house and do something outdoors, regardless of the temperature.

Cabin fever is a real thing. Staying indoors because it’s cold outside can cause a number of physical and mental symptoms, said Jeff Cain, a social worker at Family Advocacy Social Work Program at Medical Activity-Alaska. Full Story

Nine Task Force Yukon Soldiers became United States citizens in a mass naturalization ceremony at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov. 12.

One hundred thirty-four military members took an Oath of Allegiance and received certificates after obtaining their citizenship through service in the armed forces.

“You’ve chosen to put on the uniform of the United States armed forces, to swear and uphold its constitution, and you’ve come here to Afghanistan to defend freedom,” U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, said to the new citizens during the ceremony. “You’ve done these things and made many sacrifices even before you’ve become American citizens.  Full Story

They have not appeared on Broadway or in Hollywood yet, but the Fort Wainwright Garrison Safety Office is ready to take their act on the road.

They designed their “show” to teach Soldiers, family members and civilian employees how to enjoy their time in Alaska and stay safe doing it. According to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness and Safety Center, Soldiers have experienced an average of 361 cold weather-related injuries each year for the last 10 years.

This is all avoidable, according to Greg Sanches, Fort Wainwright Garrison Safety office safety and occupational health specialist. Alaska is different from any place Soldiers, families and civilian employees have been before and you must respect it, he said. Full Story

The 3rd Medical Group is committed to protecting all the children in the Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base community.

Army and Air Force child development centers are required to maintain high standards for food preparation and general cleanliness, as well as preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Safe and effective vaccines are a critical part of the efforts to limit the spread of illness, such as seasonal or H1N1 influenza.  Full Story

These are questions asked and answered at the joint basing town hall meetings Oct. 21 and 22.

Answers to these questions may vary between appropriated fund employees and non-appropriated fund employees.

In these cases, we have differentiated between the two by using “APF” to represent appropriated fund and “NAF” to represent non-appropriated fund.  Full Story

The holiday season is approaching and care must be taken with decorations and food preparation.

Unattended cooking is still the number one cause of residential fires in the country. You must remain in the immediate vicinity of your cooking.   

This can be a joyous occasion, however we must remain vigilant or it could become a disaster.  Holiday decorations, no matter how festive, must adhere to fire safety standards to prevent tragedies.   

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 20,000 are injured. Many of them could have avoided tragedy if they had the information they needed. Full Story

Approximately 150 people, to include Soldiers, family members, civilian and retirees attended an education fair last week at Fort Wainwright’s Last Frontier Community Center to collect information and get answers to various education-related questions, direct from the experts.

This is not the first education fair sponsored by the Fort Wainwright Education Center, but was one of the largest.

According to Jerri Tuck, Fort Wainwright Education Center officer, they try to hold this type of event about once a year, but it is usually at their facility, with fewer schools and organizations represented.  Full Story

A worldwide work stoppage of contract employees is affecting approximately two-thirds of the education center services which are provided by contractors.

Forts Wainwright and Richardson are both affected by this problem. Below is a list of what Soldiers can expect if visiting local education centers.   

Fort Wainwright Education Center office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. The center will be open Fridays by appointments. Full Story

Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin or depriving yourself of the foods you love.

Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy and keeping yourself as healthy as possible – all which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and incorporating them in a way that works for you.

Even during this season, when chow tends to take a front seat at gatherings, it’s important to choose the types of foods that improve your health and avoid or minimize the types that raise your risk for such illnesses as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Full Story

Tobacco manufacturers have responded to increased smoking regulations with the development of new “smoke free” tobacco products. These new products contain the same amount of nicotine, or even more, than a cigarette.

Products include “dissolvable tobacco” made from finely milled tobacco and held together by food grade binders, teabags filled with flavored tobacco, and a battery-powered “cigarette.”

Manufacturers market these products as a “socially acceptable” alternative to cigarette smoking, because there is no smoke, no spit and no litter. Full Story

Smoking impacts many parts of the body, including heart, lungs, skin, mouth and eyes.

Increasingly, evidence points to a link between smoking and impotence.

Impotence, also called erectile dysfunction, is the inability of a man to maintain an erection for sexual purposes.

A study conducted in 2000 of 7,684 Chinese men (average age 47) found the following... Full Story

WASHINGTON — The conference room was filled with doctors, nurses, scientists and top officials, all subject-matter experts in their respective medical fields.

Some wore military uniforms, others business suits. Some were versed on the science of traumatic brain injuries, others were veterans of combat hospital trauma.

They gathered here Nov. 6 to discuss how to be better partners in research and care.

For the good of the troops, both sides need to work together, they said.  Full Story

In a world where family separations and stress have become the norm, not the exception, Soldiers and family members have a friend in their family life chaplain, according to Chaplain (Maj.) Dwight Broedel, Fort Wainwright Family Life chaplain.

From pastoral counseling and cutting-edge therapy techniques to team-building and marriage strengthening events and retreats, the Chaplain Family Life Training Center has help, encouragement and resources for Soldiers, family members and civilian employees.

“Sometimes all people need is to download,” Broedel said. Often clients need more, but for either case, he wants them to put aside fear and choose help from their unit chaplains or the Family Life chaplain. Full Story

MWR Events |  Fort Wainwright Compass | Fort Richardson Compass

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