1. President to award Medal of Honor
Nov. 12 President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to retired Army Capt. Florent A. Groberg for his courage and endurance during an ambush in Afghanistan almost three years ago. According to Army News Service, Groberg was providing security for seven senior leaders in Asadabad, Afghanistan, when he and his Soldiers were ambushed by a man wearing an explosive device. The Soldiers that accompanied Groberg lost their lives; he nearly lost his leg. He will be honored at the White House. Read more at http://go.usa.gov/c3DwV.
2. NATO exercise to test crisis response capabilities
Exercise Trident Juncture began Oct. 3 and lasts through Nov. 6. The NATO exercise is used to train troops from the NATO Response Force (NRF). The goal of the exercise, according to a DoD article, is to increase troops' abilities to respond to a variety of problems. "It will ensure that they can work seamlessly together, collaborate with partners and engage in crisis response together with international organizations," according to the article. The overall event started Oct. 3 and will last until Nov.6. Part two of the event will last from Oct. 21 to Nov. 6, and is hosted in Portugal, Italy, and Spain. Read more at https://goo.gl/qNKvoL.
3. Warrior Care Month
November has been declared Warrior Care Month. The theme for the month is "Show of Strength." November 2013 was the first officially-declared Warrior Care Month; the annual event has two goals: to honor wounded service members for their service and sacrifice and to help bring awareness to the resources that are obtainable for those who fall ill or suffer injury. For more information on DoD's activities for Warrior Care Month, go to www.defense.gov.
4. Military Family Appreciation Month
November is also Military Family Appreciation month, an observance that was created more than a decade ago to recognize the sacrifices made by service members and their families. This month-long highlight of activities focuses on family resilience and wellbeing. To see what is offered locally - everything from "Baby Bundles" to "Marriage Enrichment" - call Army
Community Service on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH at 703-696-3512 or Marine Corps Community Services' Marine and Family Programs at 703-614-7200.
5. Military performers reach for the stars
Operation Rising Star is down to 12 finalists. They will showcase their talents at a venue in San Antonio Nov. 28, 30 and sometime in December. Operation Rising Star is a talent competition that seeks to "demonstrate the Army's commitment to high-quality programs that support readiness and resilience," according to the article. The national competition accepted online submissions from various military installations across the country. From there, 12 finalists were selected. It is unclear what winners will receive. For more details, go to http://goo.gl/RwiwSN.
6. Running For Turkey
Registration is open for the 7th annual JBM-HH Turkey Trot 5K until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 11. The event will start on Nov. 13. Runners will start and end at Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gymnasium on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base. The first 100 registered participants will receive an event tee shirt. Medals and prizes will be top finishers in age categories. Runners can register online or on site from 5:45 to 6:15 a.m. New this year: A squad competition in support of the Great American Smoke out. For details on this four-person completion or to register, go to www.mccshh.com/OoRahRunSeries.
7. Voting encouragement
The Army is encouraging Soldiers to vote. On Nov. 4, Army voting assistance officers at global installations will launch a campaign to motivate Army family members to increase their voting participation. To increase participation, Army voting assistance officers will help Soldiers register and provide them with extra resources for educational purposes. For more information, contact JBM-HH Voting Assistance Officer Donna Thomas at 703-696-6361. On the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base, Marine Corps Capt. Stephen Deitchman is the voting assistance officer for Headquarters and Service Battalion. He can be reached at 703-693-7242.
8. DoD supports science-technology in D.C. schools
The Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering have partnered with Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C., to transform an ordinary classroom into a state of the art lab. The FLEX LAB Aviation Classroom Experience (FLEX-ACE) will help to give students the "ability to learn, comprehend and retain new concepts," in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," according to a DoD news article. Read more at http://go.usa.gov/c3DQV.
9. Army seeks athletes
The Army Sports Program is still accepting applications for those who would like to fulfill their "individual athletic potential." The program is accepting application for those who would like to run cross country in 2016 through Dec. 1. All-Army Sports includes Soldiers from active and reserve components. Soldiers on All-Army sports teams compete in a variety of sports at the highest levels to include Armed Forces, USA Nationals and Military World Games, according to the All-Army Sports website. For more information, call 210-466-1337 or email usarmy.jbsa.imcom-hq.mbox.army-sports@mail.mil.
10. New long-term TDY per diem rates
The DoD made changes to long-term temporary duty (TDY) per diem rates. The new policy will go into effect Nov. 1, according to a Department of Defense news article. The change is to provide an incentive for long-term travelers to seek extended-stay lodgings, which are often less expensive. Long-term TDY per diem will cap at a flat rate of 75 percent for travel between 31 and 180 days, and 55 percent for travel lasting 181 days or longer. To review the new rates, visit http://go.usa.gov/c3Dsh.
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