FORT HOOD, Texas -- Memorial Day visits to cemeteries within the Fort Hood live-fire training areas will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 26.

Visiting families must call Range Control Operations at (254) 287-3130 or 3321 to access the live-fire area.

No vehicle pass is required for families making Memorial Day visits. Range Support Operations will have guides available to assist families and monitor cemetery visits to ensure all visitors are clear of the live-fire area on time.

Signs will be posted along roads giving directions to the cemeteries. Roads which may be used are: East Range, Hubbard, West Range and Owl Creek.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Col. Tara Osborn, the trial judge in United States vs. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, has announced a change in next week's scheduled court-martial. A pretrial hearing will still be held May 29, as originally announced by the court.

However, panel selection, which was set to begin May 30, will now begin June 5.

A new matter scheduled for discussion at the May 29 pretrial hearing is a request by the accused to waive his right to counsel and proceed pro se.

The accused, Hasan, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and its primary care clinics will modify operating hours in observance of the Memorial Day federal holiday Monday, May 27th.  The hospital remains open every day for emergency services, inpatient care, and labor and delivery services.

Primary and Urgent Care Services

Friday, 24 May, is a III Corps Training Holiday.

• Bennett Heath Clinic:
  • Friday, 24 May, the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (The last patient seen at 4 p.m.)
  • The clinic will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday (May. 25 – 27).
• Thomas Moore Health Clinic:
  • Friday, 24 May, the clinic will be open from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Weekend Acute Care will be available at this clinic Saturday, Sunday and Monday (May. 25 – 27) from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Russell L. Collier Health Clinic
  • Friday, 24 May, the clinic is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • This clinic will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday (May. 25 – 27).
• TMC 12 and Monroe Health Clinic are closed. Sick Call will be available at Thomas Moore Health Clinic

From Saturday through Monday, care for acute health problems is available at the Weekend Acute Care Clinic at the Thomas Moore Health Clinic on 58th Street and 761st Battalion Avenue. The clinic is open for walk-in urgent care from 8 - 10 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m. This clinic is for active-duty Soldiers and TRICARE Prime enrollees assigned to Thomas Moore, Bennett, Collier, Family Medicine Residency Center, Killeen Medical Home, Copperas Cove Medical Home, Harker Heights Medical Home, Pediatrics, and the Troop Medical Clinics.

The Pediatric Clinic, located at the corner of 761st Battalion Ave. and 31st Street, will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Friday, for acute care appointments and closed on Monday. Please call 288-8888 to make an appointment.

During the holiday period from May 25-27, Internal Medicine TRICARE Prime enrollees with urgent care needs should go to the Emergency Department.

The Patient Appointment Service, 288-8888, is open from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday, May 24, closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and will resume services Tuesday, May 28th.

Darnall and its clinics will resume normal opening hours on Tuesday, May 28th.

Nurse Advice Line

Darnall’s Nurse Advice Line is available 24/7 by calling (254) 553-3695. Individuals living in the Fort Hood area entitled to military healthcare may talk to registered nurses about urgent health issues, guidance on non-emergency situations, and information about self-care for injuries or illnesses.

Pharmacies

CRDAMC’s Main Outpatient Pharmacy will be open from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. May 24-25. The Main Outpatient Pharmacy will be closed May 26-27.

The Thomas Moore Health Clinic pharmacy will be open from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday. It will then be open from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday - Monday.

The Bennett and Collier (West Ford Hood) Health Clinics will be open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and closed on Monday.

The Monroe Pharmacy will be closed all four days: May 24-27.

All pharmacies return to normal operating hours on Tuesday, May 28.

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The 89^th Military Police Brigade will be participating in the annual Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run on May 21st.

The command team will pick up the torch from Copperas Cove Police Department, then carry it across Fort Hood and turn it over to Killeen Police Department. The torch will continue to travel to Arlington, Texas where the Texas Special Olympic Games will be held.

The run will start promptly at 1pm on Fort Hood.

Any interested media should contact Sgt. Odom, 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs at 602-451-2082 or Jeremy.d.odom.mil@mail.mil.

The 3d Cavalry Association will hold the 2nd Annual Brave Riles 5k/10k Run May 18 from 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Salado, TX.

The first Brave Rifles 5k/10k Run was held last year on Fort Hood and attracted 1,000 military and civilian runners from the Central Texas area. This year the 3d Cavalry Association is partnering with the Village of Salado to attract even more runners.  

The event is open to the public and features 5k and 10k distances in the following categories: running, walking, and wheel-chair/hand cycle. Pets and strollers are also welcome. Other attractions include live music, a rock-climbing wall, a bouncy house, as well as other kid's activities at no extra cost.  Local vendors will also be on site offering food and other concessions. 

The 3d Cavalry Association is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Soldiers and Family members of the 3d Cavalry Regiment.

FORT HOOD, Texas — Beneficiaries of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center are now able to communicate online with their primary care provider through secure messaging.

This capability will, for the first time, provide patients the ability to communicate directly with their provider and care teams and allow care teams a two-way flow of communication with individual patients or groups of patients.

The U.S. Army Medical Command is implementing the use of Army Medicine Secure Messaging Service (AMSMS) by offering it to 100 percent of beneficiaries who receive care in the "direct care" system by the end of 2014.

AMSMS is a web-based, secure-messaging application that provides a comprehensive set of services designed to allow patients and their healthcare team to communicate securely and conveniently. The application works like an on-line secure banking web site, so beneficiaries can be assured of the integrity of their personal healthcare information.

Patients of Killeen Medical Home, Harker Heights Medical Home, Copperas Cove Medical Home, Thomas Moore Health Clinic, Russell Collier Health Clinic, Bennett Health Clinic, and the Family Medical Residency Clinic are now able to sign up for the secure messaging service. 

According to Dr. Terry Newton M.D., information technology clinical capability manager, MEDCOM, "AMSMS is an easy-to-use secure communication tool that has the potential to significantly impact care to beneficiaries by engaging them in convenient ways and times to build relationships, improve access to information and reduce the need for so many visits to their primary care clinic."

"Secure messaging is a critical tool in helping Army Medicine achieve the [Military Health System] Quadruple Aim of improving the patient's experience, and improving population health and readiness while reducing per capita costs," Newton said.

With online services from AMSMS, patients can to book appointments, request and review lab/test results, request medication refills, request a referral, email their physician a question and schedule web visits with their provider. Additionally, patients will have access to a fully integrated electronic personal health record and an extensive collection of multi-media educational content through AMSMS. Army Medicine's goal is to provide the secure messaging service to all beneficiaries who receive care in military treatment facilities by the end of 2014.

To register for online services, beneficiaries should visit with their healthcare team administrator or call their primary care clinic for more details.

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Fort Hood officials have released the name of a Soldier who died from an apparent gunshot wound May 13 while on leave in Lexington, N.C.

Specialist Matthew Scott Patton, 23, whose home of record is listed as Bristol, R.I., entered the military in August 2008 as a motor transport operator. He arrived at Fort Hood in February 2011 and was assigned to 154th Transportation Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) since February 2011.

Patton deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2009 to October 2010.

Patton's awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal.

Circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation.

There is currently no photo available. If one becomes available this release will be updated at www.Forthoodpresscenter.com.

FORT HOOD, Texas -- The next pretrial hearing in the court martial of Maj. Nidal M. Hasan is set to take place 9 a.m. May 29 at the Lawrence J. Williams Judicial Center here.

The trial judge, Col. Tara Osborn, is expected to announce rulings from matters litigated at past hearings. Selection of a panel (the military's equivalent of a jury) is set to begin May 30 and the trial is set to begin July 1.

Media who plan to cover the May 29 pre-trial hearing must register here.

On May 29, satellite trucks should report to the Fort Hood Clarke Road Gate on West Highway 190 at 6 a.m. Truck registration and credentialing ends at 7 a.m.

NOTE: All others should check in at THE PARKING LOT OF THE 440 PLAZA ON FORT HOOD STREET, KILLEEN, TEXAS, FROM 6:30-8 A.M. All media should be prepared to show a U.S. driver's license with photo and an accredited press badge with photo.

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AS A REMINDER, MEDIA REGISTRATION FOR THE MAY 30 PANEL SELECTION AND JULY 1 TRIAL ENDS MAY 15. MEDIA AGENCIES AND STAFF NOT REGISTERED BY TOMORROW WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COVER THE TRIAL.
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The accused, Hasan, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Fort Hood officials have released the name of a Soldier who died from injuries suffered from a motorcycle accident in Killeen, Texas, May 12. He was pronounced deceased by doctors at Carl R. Darnall Medical Center at 1:21 a.m. here.

1st. Lt. Michael S. Pegues, 24, whose home of record is listed as Waldorf, Md., entered the military in August 2010. He was assigned 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, since April 2011.

Pegues deployed in support of Operation New Dawn from May 2011 to November 2011.

Pegues' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Expeditionary Medal Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Fort Hood and surrounding cities will hold their annual Force Protection Exercise May 15-16 at various location on and off the installation.

The exercise will rehearse Fort Hood, local, state and federal emergency response procedures. Several agencies including on-post and neighboring community police, fire and medical personnel will respond to several emergencies throughout the two-day exercise.

The exercise consists of several incident locations; specific locations are not disclosed in an effort to maintain realistic reponses.

During the exercise, traffic control measures will be implemented in the vicinity of the incident locations which may result in short delays. Personnel unable to avoid travel near the incident locations should incorporate potential delays into travel plans and allow extra time for travel. Routine traffic on the installation is expected to experience minimal, if any, impact.

In addition to emergency response vehicles and personnel, residents may observe smoke or other visual or audio effects in the incident areas. The exercise should end in the afternoon on May 16.

During the exercise, the emergency warning system (loudspeakers) will be used to simulate commands, i.e. "Shelter in Place." All exercise instructions will be preceded and followed by "EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE." Residents should not be alarmed and need not respond.

The bulk of the activity will take place 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 15.

Media interested in covering the exercise must register here by 5 p.m. May 14.

Gate time is 9:30 a.m. May 15. There will only be one convoy out to the site for the exercise.

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Col. Tara Osborn, the trial judge in United States vs. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, held a pretrial hearing at the Lawrence J. Williams Judicial Center and issued several rulings from the bench May 9. 

First, Osborn denied a defense request for a continuance until Sept. 1. The defense requested the continuance because of recent publicity from the Boston Marathon Bombing that included references to Hasan. 

Osborn granted several defense requests requiring the production of defense witnesses at trial, and also limited the type of evidence the government could introduce during sentencing proceedings.

Finally, Osborn denied a defense request to make the Hasan court martial non-capital. She also again denied a defense request for the appointment of a media analysis expert.  

Osborn set the next hearing for May 29 and scheduled May 30 to begin panel selection. A panel is the military equivalent of a jury.  

The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

FORT HOOD, Texas – The 3d Cavalry Regiment will celebrate 167 years of unit history during the annual “Brave Rifles Birthday Week” scheduled for May 13 – 19 on Fort Hood. The weeklong event features team sports competitions between representatives from each squadron and will culminate with the 2^nd Annual Brave Rifles 5k / 10k Run in Salado, TX. The event this year will also reunite past and present members of the Regiment who served in 3CR during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Any media interested in covering “Brave Rifles Birthday Week” can contact Maj. Adam Weece at (254) 368-6774 or adam.c.weece.mil@mail.mil for access and details. Check our Facebook page for a timeline of events: https://www.facebook.com/3dUSCAV

FORT HOOD, Texas - The general court-martial proceedings in the case of United States vs. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan is scheduled to begin with panel selection at 8 a.m. May 30 in the Lawrence J. Williams Judicial Center here.

Initial charges were filed Nov. 12, 2009, against Hasan for the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting incident at Fort Hood. The charges included 13 specifications of premeditated murder, in violation of Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. On Dec. 2, 2009, 32 specifications of attempted premeditated murder in violation of Article 80, Uniform Code of Military Justice were filed.

These charges are allegations and the accused is considered innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Media Access Information:

1.  Media organizations desiring to cover the trial must register with the III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs Office Press Center here no later than 4 p.m. May 15 (http://www.forthoodpresscenter.com/go/survey/3439/11243/). 

2.  The press center has set up a special media information page for the trial at http://www.forthoodpresscenter.com/go/doctype/3439/73035/.  Here media will find file photos, b-roll, a timeline of the case so far, courtroom biographies, credentialing instructions and ground rules.

3.  All media must sign and agree to abide by the ground rules in order to attend and report on the trial. (http://www.forthoodpresscenter.com/go/doc/3439/1570035/)

4.  Jury panel selection is scheduled to begin May 30 and can take as much as four weeks. There will be very little to see or report on during this process. After the jury panel has been selected, there will be a four-day "waiting period" to allow the witnesses to report to the post. Testimony will begin on the fifth day after jury selection is complete.

5.  Due to severely limited seating in the court room, and based on the amount of media interest expected, a daily media pool of 12 will be selected by lottery for access to the courtroom including a courtroom artist if contracted for by media. Others will be permitted to watch a live feed in an alternate court room media pool members agree to share their information and be interviewed on court proceedings by other media not able to enter the courtroom on that day. Pool members are not eligible for the pool seats the following day.

6.  On the dates for the trial, satellite trucks should report to the Fort Hood Clarke Road Gate on West Highway 190 at 5 a.m. Truck registration and credentialing ends at 6 a.m. All others should report to the parking lot of the 440 Plaza on Fort Hood Street, Killeen, Texas, from 5:30-7 a.m. for final registration. All media should be prepared to show a U.S. driver's license with photo and an accredited press badge with photo.

7.  Freelance writers and photographers must have a signed letter of intent from an accredited media organization. It must be on the organization's letterhead stating that they intend to use your work in their media production.

8.  Foreign press will have to be credentialed through the U.S. State Department Foreign Press Center. Register early.

9.  Once media are credentialed, they will be issued an access pass allowing entry and exit through the east gate located on Fort Hood Street and Rancier Avenue.

10.  Due to military justice regulations, no recording devices, cell phones, cameras or any other audio/visual equipment will be allowed in the courtroom or the alternate courtroom. Laptops without air cards or recording capability will be allowed in the alternate courtroom.

11.  Arrangements for a courtroom artist have been made through CBS Newswatch, Reed Watson. He can be emailed at rwatson@cbs.com or call his office at (817) 457-9705, cell at (972) 768-0255.

12. A contracted food truck will be on-site for most days offering pay-as-you-go food for media members. Call (512) 251-6544 for more information.

By Brandy Gill, CRDAMC Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas – This week marks the 150th anniversary of Nurses’ Week and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center proudly applauds its nurses for their dedication to service and compassionate patient care.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has established this year’s theme as ‘Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care’.

The basis of Nurses Week is to celebrate the accomplishment of nurses throughout the year.  It is based around the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, Maj. Edward Walsh, Army nurse and clinical nurse officer in charge of the CRDAMC medical/surgical ward

“Nightingale was a British Nurse who was called to the duty of her country during the Crimean War in 1854. Upon arrival in the hospital that she was assigned to take care of soldiers who were wounded or sick, she noted that there was a high mortality rate based on what seemed to be simple sanitation issues,” he said.

Based on what Nightingale learned, she established The Nightingale School for Nurses in1860.  For the first time nursing was elevated from a role performed by paupers to a profession that used theory and science to improve the care of patients.

“The trend to improve the care of our soldiers on the battlefield was continued during the Civil War, where much of Florence Nightingale’s work inspired the nurses of the time,” Walsh said.

Nurses like Linda Richards, who according to Walsh, enrolled in training that lead to her being the first trained American nurse in 1873 after suffering the loss of her husband during the war. 

The first nursing school in America was established the same year.

Over the decades the profession of nursing has continued to evolve to what we recognize today as one of the most well respected professions in America Walsh said.

“Our nurses continue the traditions established by the pioneers in nursing,” he said.  “Whether we see it on the battlefield or in a stateside hospital, our nurses continue to deliver quality and innovative patient care.”

One of the ways nurses continue to grow is through professional qualifications in their sub-specialty of choice.

“We have many professional organizations, which recognize our top nurses with post-license certifications.  Here at CRDAMC our nurses have established a standard to seek out these certifications and continue to improve our profession,” Walsh said.

One of CRDAMC’s most recent nurses to receive her medical-surgical certification is 1^st Lt. Amber Johnson. 

“Successfully completing the Medical Surgical Certification has not only increased my confidence but validated my specialized knowledge in the medical surgical field,” Johnson said. “Achieving certification has allowed me to grow professionally and hold more credibility within my practice as a Registered Nurse. It's truly empowering knowing that I hold a professional commitment in such a passionate field and that I can continue to promote quality patient care with a higher knowledge base.”

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1st Lt. Melissa Waterman, a certified registered nurse anesthetist student at CRDAMC, assists a surgeon by adjusting a patient during a surgical procedure. (Photo by Kimberley Zamarripa, CRDAMC Public Affairs.)

By Brandy Gill, CRDRAMC PAO

FORT HOOD, Texas – Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Department is now accepting artwork admissions for their third annual Soldier and Family Art Show that will officially debut May 30 at this year’s Behavioral Health Fair.

This year’s art show is open to all Soldiers, Veterans, spouses and dependent children, Stacy Nelson, a CRDAMC licensed clinical social worker and supervisor of the Social Work Care Manager Program, said.

According to Nelson, the show has seen great success in previous years.

“We had approximately 35 entries in last year's show,” she said. “Many of the pieces that were submitted were remarkably thought-provoking, heartbreaking or inspiring.

Art has long been considered therapeutic in nature, and the display of these pieces often helps artists heal and find closure to past events or burdens.

“Individuals who have entered have really appreciated the opportunity to share their talent and their ‘message’ with the community.  Visitors to the exhibit give great feedback, praise and encouragement to the artists using small comment cards we have provided,” Nelson said.

In the past the art show was only opened to Soldiers who submitted photographs, poetry, drawings, painting, or sculptures. The previous interest and success of this event is why CRDAMC has chosen to open the event to a wider group to include more beneficiaries.

“Submissions must accompany an official application, which contains a release that needs to be signed. We also request that applicants write a brief description of their piece which will which will be displayed with their art,” Nelsen said.

Artwork will first be displayed at the CRDAMC Behavioral Health Fair on May 30, and then in the CRDAMC front lobby and the dining facility until June 7.

Entries must be dropped off no later than May 17, (with completed application) at the Apache

Arts and Crafts Center, Bldg 2337 on 62nd and 761st Tank Battalion between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

All submitted artwork will be returned to the contributing artists. Pieces may be picked up after June 11 at Apache Arts & Crafts Center.

For more information, contact Stacy Nelsen at 254-535-1519 or stacy.a.nelsen.civ@mail.mil.

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FORT HOOD, Texas -- Young Fort Hood entrepreneurs will man lemonade stands May 5 in Fort Hood housing participating in Lemonade Day, an educational initiative designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own business.

Stand locations include Clear Creek Post Exchange, Clear Creek Commissary, Warrior Way Post Exchange, Bronco Youth Center, Community Park in Comanche I & II and individual residences in Kouma and Comanche III.

Children of all ages will learn to set goals, develop a plan, secure an investor, create a product, make a profit and give back to their community as part of the event. The children get to keep the money they make and are encouraged to save a little, spend a little, and share a little with the community.

Area youth entrepreneurs will have lemonade stands set up throughout the Greater Killeen area to include Harker Heights, Fort Hood and Copperas Cove.

Nationwide, Lemonade Day is organized by Prepared 4 Life, a non-profit organization that provides fun, proactive and experiential programs infused with life skills, character education and entrepreneurship. Tens of thousands of kids across the nation are expected to set up lemonade stands in their communities. 

Locally, sponsors include First National Bank of Texas, Fort Hood National Bank, the Western Union Foundation, H-E-B, Chick-fil-A, Fort Hood Family Housing and Fort Hood's Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

For more information about Lemonade Day, visit http://forthood.lemonadeday.org.

Media interested in touring the stands on Fort Hood should meet at 12:45 p.m. May 5 in the south side parking lot of the visitors' center.

FORT HOOD, Texas – A Topping Out ceremony to commemorate the completion of the structural framework of the new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood will be held May 14 at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center construction site at 11 a.m.

The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors that had been displaced.

Individuals who had input into the project will sign the beam during lunch, a formal VIP signing will be held during the ceremony. Join us as we celebrate this tremendous milestone for the workers who have built this superb structure, and the community of Fort Hood, Texas.

Media interested in attending this event should contact the CRDAMC Public Affairs Office at (254) 288-8005 or 553-1870 by 9 a.m. May 14, for meeting time and location.

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KABUL, Afghanistan (May 2, 2013) - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark A. Milley assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry during a change of command ceremony presided over by ISAF Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., at IJC’s Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport headquarters today.

Terry, commanding general of the Wiesbaden, Germany based U.S. Army V Corps, served as IJC Commander and deputy commanding general, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan from June 12, 2012 to May 2, 2013. Terry, who completes his third tour in Afghanistan since 2006, was recently confirmed as the next commanding general of Third Army, U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) and Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC), Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C.

Milley has commanded the Fort Hood, Texas based U.S. Army III Corps since Dec. 20, 2012. He previously served as commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Light) from Nov. 2011 to Dec. 2012 and was deployed to Afghanistan as the ISAF Regional Command South commander from Oct. 2010 to Oct. 2011. His operational deployments include: the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt; Operation Just Cause in Panama; Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti; Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq; and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

IJC is responsible for the day-to-day planning and operations of the coalition efforts in Afghanistan. The command is also responsible for forming essential partnerships with the Afghan National Security Forces and supporting improved governance and development in order to protect the Afghan people and provide a secure environment for sustainable peace.

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Editor’s note--High resolution images for this event are available at: http://www.dvidshub.net/image/920956/isaf-joint-command-transfer-authority

High definition B-roll video for this event and the remarks of Gen. Dunford and Lt. Gen. Milley are available at: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/288835/lt-gen-mark-milley-takes-command-international-security-assistance-force-joint-command

Hood Officer Spouses' Club hosts golf scramble

FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Fort Hood Officers' Spouses' Club will host their 17th Annual Golf Scramble Friday, May 3 at the Courses at Clear Creek.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a "howitzer" start at 9. All monies raised from the event will go to benefit the local military community in the form of scholarships, welfare grants, and emergency donations.

Those interested in participating in the event can go to www.forthoodosc.org for additional information.

Any media interested in covering the scramble can contact Maj. Adam Weece at 254-368-6774 for access and details.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs

Taking a seat and waiting for the game console to boot, Master Sgt. Robert Madden, retention NCO for 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade, begins to explain just how things are going to happen before the game begins.

“The first rule before we get started—no chicken dancing after you score.”

That’s what he told his son, Robert, jr., as they began a game of football.  The two customarily sit down to a quick game when their busy schedules allow for it.  By all appearances, the 12-year-old Robert seems an ordinary kid with an ordinary routine—school, home, tennis practice, home, homework, chores, dinner, sleep.

As a military child though, Robert Jr. understands his role and the amount of effort he must put forth to succeed; in school and in sports.

“We can’t give up on anything,” said Robbie.  “We have to follow through and complete everything we start.”

The deadpan seriousness and poignant gaze of the boy contradicts his youth.  In just more than a decade he has faced a slew of challenges, like the first time his father was deployed.

Anyone that has had a loved one deployed can identify with the initial sadness that comes with seeing them leave.  Robbie has experienced that sadness on two separate occasions.

“The first time I was sad a lot.  I was younger and really didn’t understand why he was gone,” said Robert Jr.  “The second time though, I used humor a lot to get past the sadness.”

To occupy his mind and help with staying happy for those around him, Robbie took up sports.  Competing in track, tennis and football at Lampasas Middle School, he felt the “thrill of competition” and transferred his classroom success to the athletic arena, where he placed in the 100 and 300 hurdles, and a recent tennis competition as well.

The drive to succeed and the motivation to be the best seem a characteristic common among the military child according to Robert Jr.

“We are determined to find a way to get victory.  Most kids are happy to get a 99—I’m wishing I could have gotten that extra point to earn a 100,” said Robbie.  “I’ve got to find a way; I have to push myself more. When you fail you can’t keep living in the past, you just have to go on to the next thing.”

The effort outside of the house does not go unnoticed by Mom or Dad.

“It feels good.  Makes us feel like we are doing something right,” said Robbie’s mom Sherry.

The normal challenge of motivating children and young teenagers to accomplish more is usually a monumental task.  Not so for the Madden family.

“I think he was born with it.  He drives himself to push and keep going,” said Sherry.  “We still nudge him when he gets a 95 and encourage him to get that 100.”

By all appearances, Robert Madden Jr. looks just like any other kid.  As with many military children, it is what cannot be seen that separates them from others in their group.

Master Sgt. Robert Madden, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade retention NCO, talks to his son, Robbie, during a football match at home April 26.  The two sit down for a quick game when their schedules allow the time.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt Gregory Sanders, 85th CA Bde Public Affairs)

Robert Madden Jr., son of Master Sgt. Robert Madden, practices his hurdle technique at Lampasas Middle School April 18.  Madden Jr. took spots on the podium for his performance during the 110 and 300 meter hurdle events during the school’s final track meet.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Publi Affairs)

Robert Madden, Jr. shows off his medals won from track and field and tennis competitions during the school year.  Madden, Jr. began focusing on academics and athletics competitions initially as a coping mechanism when his father was deployed, but now he enjoys the competition and sense of accomplishment winning brings.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Public Affairs)