FORT HOOD, Texas -- "The Army is a Family. It's a team. It's looking out for each other," said Division West's commanding general during the first minutes of the unit's stand-down at the 25th Street Chapel March 23.
Maj. Gen. Perry Wiggins urged Soldiers of the division's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment to take to heart what they learned from the day's sessions on hazing, summer safety, heat injuries, traffic laws and domestic violence.
"You are the first line of defense in taking care of our brothers and sisters as they face these issues," Wiggins said.
Units across Fort Hood participated in the post-wide stand-down.
During the domestic violence session, HHD Soldiers learned there are four types of abuse -- physical, emotional, sexual and neglect -- and that abuse "ranges from subtle to blatant," said Martin Bonner, Family Advocacy Program specialist with Fort Hood Army Community Service.
Soldiers divided into groups to discuss various domestic violence scenarios. They determined if there was abuse and, if so, what type; what immediate action to take; what services are available; and possible follow-on actions.
"We want to eliminate family violence; we don't want it to happen at all," Bonner said. Army leaders need to be familiar with services and programs available to Soldiers and their Families, he said, and be able to direct people to them.
"You're here to help out Soldiers. You're here to help out Family members," Bonner said. "We want to be able to (recognize potential domestic violence situations) and not wait until something happens."
However, Bonner cautioned, intervening in an active conflict between an abuser and victim, especially a couple, can be dangerous. In that case, it is safer to call for police help.
"We are not the individuals to decide who's right and who's wrong," Bonner said. "We just want to stop what's happening."
The Army also wants to stop the practice of hazing.
"Just like domestic violence, hazing is inconsistent with our Army Values," said Capt. Barbara Kerrane, of the Division West Staff Judge Advocate Office.
The Army has adopted a Golden Rule-like code of behavior, which it terms "dignity and respect," to be shown among and between leaders, subordinates and peers.
Even so, the Army has a long history of traditions such as smashing "blood wings" into a paratrooper's chest or duct-taping a newly promoted armor Soldier to his gun tube. Some Soldiers believe these practices promote camaraderie and esprit de corps.
But, "even if it's voluntary, it's not allowed," said Capt. Douglas Bransfield, of the Division West Staff Judge Advocate Office.
Sgt. Maj. Corey Gill, of the Division West Operations Directorate, agrees with the Army's anti-hazing policy.
"If it doesn't provide an honest training effect, it doesn't belong in the Army," Gill said.
Following a recent series of severe thunderstorms in the Fort Hood area, a stand-down session on summer safety and severe weather was especially timely.
"There is no safe place outside when there's lightning," said 1st Sgt. Kelly Kalama, HHD first sergeant.
Although thunderstorms in Texas may include the related dangers of lightning, flash floods and tornadoes, flash floods are the number one killer, Kalama said.
Flash floods usually occur fewer than six hours following heavy rainfall, and Fort Hood and the surrounding area have many low water crossing areas. Drivers need to know that their vehicles can be swept away in as little as 18 inches of moving water, Kalama said. Even six inches of rapidly moving water can knock down a person.
Later in the stand-down, Division West Soldiers refreshed their knowledge of preventing, recognizing and treating heat injuries such as sunburn and heat stroke by competing in a lively game of "Heat Injury Feud" conducted by members of the unit's Surgeon's Office.
It is especially critical for Division West Soldiers to know how to combat heat injuries, since, every year, the unit trains tens of thousands of Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers, most of them in the notoriously hot areas of Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas.
Using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index, the Army divides heat levels into six categories: from 0 at the low-risk end up to 5. In category 5, humidity is at least 32.22 and temperature at least 90 degrees.
"(Fort Hood) gets to category 5 all the time," said Capt. Delsina West, of the Division West Surgeon's Office.
Although many people believe they can become acclimated to high temperatures, our bodies do not work that way, West said. "Your body is a radiator. You cannot get used to the heat, because you can cook your organs," she said. "You have to always take preventive measures against heat injuries."
During the final Division West stand-down session, Capt. Lloyd Loop, chief of the traffic collision investigation office for the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services, Fort Hood Police, addressed illegal drugs and updates to Texas and Fort Hood traffic laws and regulations.
Drivers on Fort Hood need to be especially aware of school zone speed limits, Loop said.
Speeding even just one mile over the speed limit in a school zone will result in drivers having their on-post driving privileges suspended for at least 90 days, according to Loop.
On-post drivers need to also be aware of when reveille and retreat sound (reveille at 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, retreat at 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday and 3 p.m. Thursday). In the soon-to-be-published Fort Hood Traffic Code, Loop said, drivers who fail to recognize reveille and retreat by pulling over and stopping their vehicles (all drivers), then getting out and rendering honors (Soldiers only) may be cited.
Lastly, Loop urged the stand-down attendees to slow down while driving on post and give their full attention to driving.
"You, the driver, are the main cause of accidents on this installation," Loop said. "It's better to get somewhere late than it is not to get there at all. Slow down and do the right thing."
Related Links:
Like Division West on Facebook
See Division West photos on Flickr
Social Sharing