Thursday, March 25, 2010

Belvoir Briefs for March 25

Red Cross classes
Fort Belvoir’s American Red Cross Office offers the following classes:
CPR Child and Infant, March 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Babysitter’s Training, April 3, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
SFA CPR Adult, Child and Infant, April 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
People can register and pay for the class online at redcrossnca.org or by calling 703-805-8452. People interested in training for groups or organizations can call Ashley Cleveland, 703-584-8716.
The office on Belvoir is at 9716 Middleton Road.
Book club for adults
Van Noy Library’s Adult Book Club discusses “The Last Lecture,” by Randy Pausch, March 27 at 9 a.m. in the library.
People are asked to call 703-806-3323 to sign up.
ACAP
Fort Belvoir Army Career Alumni Program center offers services for military, civilians and family members. Information is available from Vernita Holifield, 703-805-9263.
A VA Briefing is today from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Barden’s Room 160.
VA counselors explain the range of benefits and eligibility for compensation; pension; health care; vocational rehabilitation and employment; education and training; home loan guarantee; life insurance; survivor and burial. They also explain how to apply for benefits.
A Post 9-11 GI Bill Brief is March 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. in Barden Room 160.
Renovations closing Specker
Specker Field House closes Thursday for roof and facility renovations. Belvoir DFMWR officials expect the fitness facility to reopen Sept. 1.
EFMP parents
The next Fort Belvoir Exceptional Family Member Program Parent Support Group meeting is April 1 at Army Community Service, Bldg. 200, 9800 Barlow Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The topic is military retirement planning with a special-needs family member. The guest speaker, a retired servicemember, is the grandfather of a child with significant disabilities. He has more than 40 years’ experience working with military families and benefits planning.
Registration is available by calling 703-805-5435.
Blood drive
In celebration of the 2010 National Medical Laboratory Professional’s Week, the Department of Pathology at DeWitt Army Community Hospital and The Armed Forces Blood Program have a blood drive at the Barden Education Center Auditorium April 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The goal for this drive is 80 units.
Walk-in donors are welcome. However, others may complete an electronic sign-up form to reserve a 15-minute donation time slot to reduce their waiting time. 
Reservations are available by creating a new profile under My Profile through https://www.military lifeforce.com.
The needed zip code is 22060.
Information is available from Felicia Sharp at pathology, 805-0711.
Enrichment in housing
Staff from Child, Youth & School Services offer free enrichment activities at the housing community centers. Children and youth must be accompanied by an adult. Activities are from 10 a.m. to noon. Events are free and open to the public.
The schedule is: Mondays in April, Fairfax Village; Tuesdays, Vernondale; Wednesdays, Lewis; Thursdays beginning April 8, George Washington; Fridays beginning April 9, Woodlawn.
Each week has a different topic, including creativity, library, Earth and Health and Fitness Week.
Information is available by calling 805-1906.
NCO Mentorship Program
Fort Belvoir’s NCO Mentorship Program is a week-long course geared toward preparing junior NCOs and lower-enlisted Soldiers for leadership positions and NCO Education System schools. It is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29 to April 2 in Barden Education Center, followed by a graduation ceremony at Wood Theater to reward the Leadership Award recipient and high PT scorer.
The class is open to E-3 through E-6 trying to prepare for Warrior Leader Course or Basic NCO Course, or trying to improve his or her leadership skills by becoming better informed about all areas of military leadership.
The course is open to all Military District of Washington region Soldiers. Enrollment is available via e-mail to Ashley.andrews3@ conus.army.mil; or to SFC Daniel Reed, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); or by calling Fort Belvoir’s Headquarters Battalion S-3 Training Office, 703-806-6210.
Golf tourney
MWR hosts “The Patrons” golf tournament April 10, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Woodlawn Golf Course. The event is two-person team scramble, gross and net divisions and is open to all amateur annual patrons and eligible patrons with a verifiable 2010 USGA handicap from a golf club.
The deadline to register for the event is noon April 7. The tournament fee is $35 for active duty; $40 for annual patrons; $65 for all other eligible patrons and guests and includes continental breakfast, carts, range balls, prizes and lunch. Gift certificates will go to 33 percent of the field.
Entry fees for all team members must be paid at registration. Information is available by calling 703-806-5878.
Veterans poster contest
Have an idea for a national Veterans Day poster? If so, the Veterans Day National Committee wants to hear from you. The committee is seeking submissions for the 2010 national Veterans Day poster, which gets distributed to VA and military installations around the world and is on the cover of the official program booklet for the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Submissions should include sufficient information to demonstrate the image is an artist’s work and is not copyrighted material (for example, photos and concepts). The committee may select a particular submission but ask the artist to make modifications to the original design. Additional changes may be required before printing.
A selection committee convenes in May to review submissions and select a finalist. The final poster must be 18 inches by 24 inches at 300 dots per inch. Submitters, however, are asked to scale down submissions to a 9-inch by 12-inch and submit electronic versions as jpg images or PDF files via e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Alternatively, copies of artwork or a CD with artwork files can be mailed to: Department of Veterans Affairs (002C), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20420.
Artists are asked to not send originals. The submission deadline is May 1.
Posters from previous years are available from the Poster Gallery at va.gov/vetsday.
Musicians sought
The Old Post Office Pavilion is conducting a Call for Musicians, Bands and Choirs to submit applications to perform in the grand atrium of the pavilion during Lunch and Listen on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Applications for paid and unpaid performances are being accepted. Artists can submit their applications at OldPostOfficeDC.com/events.php.
Resident meetings
The Villages at Belvoir residents of Vernondale, Herryford, Colyer and Cedar Grove villages are invited to community information meetings as meet-and-greets and chances to discuss concerns, challenges and positive things the management team can do for Belvoir residents.
Officials expect to conduct the meetings quarterly, with the first ones scheduled:
Cedar Grove, March 30; and Colyer, March 31. Meetings are from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Vernondale Neighborhood Center.
Teen employment
Army Community Service’s Employment Readiness Program hosts a Teen Employment Workshop March 31 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Employment Program Orientations are Tuesdays from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. The events include an overview of local employment, including federal jobs, résumé help and registration for job-skill training classes.
Registration is required by calling 703-805-4590.
Learn to kayak
Join Team River Runner, Outdoor Recreation and Benyaurd Pool to learn the basics of kayaking in the comfort of an indoor pool. The next classes are March 31, April 14 and 28; and May 12 and 16 at 7 p.m. Information is available by calling 703-805-3081.
Bay cleanup volunteers needed
The Environmental and Natural Resources Division needs volunteers to help clean Accotink Bay, as part of the 22nd Annual Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. The event is April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Volunteers will meet at the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center, Bldg. 780, and are asked to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle to refill as needed. Gloves and bags will be provided by the Alice Ferguson Foundation.
Adults, children, organizations and community groups are encouraged to participate.
Interested volunteers are asked to call Kevin Walter, 703-805-3969.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Bring the kids to the Community Center April 3 to enjoy breakfast with the Easter Bunny and join in an Easter Egg Hunt. Two sessions are scheduled - from 8 to 9 a.m., with the egg hunt at 9 a.m.; and from 10 to 11 a.m., with the hunt beginning at 11.
Tickets are required for breakfast and are $7 per person. Children 2 and younger can enjoy the event for free and with no ticket.
The Easter egg hunts are free.
Limited tickets are available. Information is available by calling 703-805-3714.
Easter Buffet
Easter Buffet will be served at the Officers’ Club April 4 in the Mount Vernon Room.  Seatings are available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Advanced reservations are required by calling 703-780-0930, ext. 600. Prices are $29.95 for members; $30.95 for non-members; $12.50 for children 7 to 12 years; and free for children 6 and younger.
Dinner
MWR kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month and Month of the Military Child with a free spaghetti dinner April 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
Free tickets are required and can be picked up at Fort Belvoir Child, Youth and School Services; Army Community Service, or at the Community Center.
KIDSFEST, family fun
MWR celebrating military children April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the School Age Services Building, Barlow Road.
The free event includes face-painting, games, food and prizes.
Information is available by calling 805-9114 or 9116 or 9117 or 9118.
Lock-in Around the World
In celebration of the Month of the Military Child, the CYS Services Youth Center has a lock-in April 17 at from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and join centers around the world that are also having lock-ins.
Information is available by calling 703-805-4515 or by stopping by the Youth Center.
New restaurant option
Fort Belvoir’s AAFES has a new food facility, Kwiky Kebab. Kwiky Kebab is on South Post in the Home & Garden Store. Hours there are Mondays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; weekends, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Leadership and training conference
The ROCKS, Inc. hosts its bi-annual, 7th National Leadership and Training Conference April 1 to 3 at Fort Belvoir.
All military officers, retired, active-duty, and former officers, and ROTC and Military Academy cadets are encouraged to attend. The ROCKS, Inc., founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships, mentorship and professional development to ROTC and Military Academy Cadets, active duty and reserve component officers.
The organization also helps retired and former active or reserve-component officers. Conference details are available at rocksinc.org or by calling 301-856-9319 or toll-free at 888-762-5747.
Spring gala
The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the ROCKS, Inc., hosts its 36th Annual Spring Gala April 3 at 6 p.m. at the Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club. Military leaders and ROTC Cadets from across the nation will be recognized for their outstanding achievement and contributions.
Early registration is recommended and is available online or via mail. More gala details are available from therocksdc.org.
CID recruiting briefings
The Criminal Investigation Command is recruiting for new, immediate special agents. People who want a career with one of the nation’s law enforcement organizations may attend informational sessions about reclassification to CID.
Sessions are at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the 75th Military Police Detachment, CID, Fort Belvoir CID Office, 6104 3rd St, on Belvoir.
General information and reservations are available through Special Agent Jesus Goytia, 703-806-4386.
Acquisition symposium
The Defense Acquisition University hosts its annual Acquisition Community Symposium April 13, at its Fort Belvoir campus. This year’s theme is “Achieving Excellence in a Changing Acquisition Environment.”
Registration is available from dauaa.org. Information on local VTC locations is available from the site or by calling 1-800-755-8805.
This training seminar qualifies for four continuous learning points.