Fort Hood Sentinel Newspaper - Standing watch over Fort Hood since 1942

	° Fort Hood, TX
	Standing watch over Fort Hood since 1942 WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014 06:52:42 AM
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News

Water buffaloes filled with potable water stand ready for use under a water tower outside the 36th Engineer Brigade’s Rugged Hall barracks Tuesday. In response to interrupted water service to the installation due to a break in a main water pipeline, thousands were told to stay home on Monday.

Water pipeline break. Thousands stay home Monday
A main water distribution pipeline, serving several Central Texas communities including Fort Hood, broke Sunday creating a need for Stage 4 (Critical) Emergency Water Conservation on the installation and causing post senior leaders to tell all but emergency essential troops and employees to stay home Monday. This interruption in the main water supply line that serves the post from the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 meant consumption of water by all customers was limited to essential use only until the water supply interruption was corrected. Customers were highly encouraged to conserve water, using only for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene until situation was resolved. Water conservation measures set in motion the prohibition of lawn irrigation, washing o...» read more

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13th SC(E) commander pins on his 2nd star
The 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosted a promotion ceremony in honor of Maj. Gen. Clark LeMasters Jr., the commanding general of 13th SC(E), Friday at the unit´s Hildner Field. LeMasters was promoted from the rank of brigadier general as he prepares to move onto his next assignment at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, as the deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations for Army Materiel Command.

Army CID launches online application portal to recruit new special agents
QUANTICO, Va. - The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command recently launched a new centralized recruiting program, part of which features an online application process aimed at recruiting qualified Soldiers to become CID special agents. CID agents are sworn federal officers, responsible for investigating felony-level crime where there is an Army nexus. Agents in the field routinely conduct protective-service operations for the Department of Defense senior leadership, counter-narcotic operations, develop criminal intelligence and work with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies worldwide to solve serious crime.

Field artillery Soldiers wade into water training
Chants of encouragement are heard, as one by one, Soldiers climb the ladder. At the top, each Soldier walks to the edge of the diving board before stepping off and splashing down in the water 10 feet below. The troops were jumping in, not as part of a normal summer day at the pool, rather, they were learning how to survive.

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Air Force changes headquarters manning
WASHINGTON - The Air Force is deactivating and realigning organizations at its headquarters, major commands, numbered air forces and field operating agencies, resulting in savings of $1.6 billion in the next five years, Air Force officials announced Monday. “I will work to ensure the world´s best Air Force is the most capable at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer,” Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said. “Everyone knows our economy is still not where it should be. We have a responsibility to ensure that every dollar adds value to the taxpayers and our national defense.”

Navy mother makes blankets for returning warriors
AUSTIN - Lynelle Starling of Austin sits and matches pieces of fabric, cuts and then hand-stitches them until another blanket is finished for a Sailor in Germany who will be returning from deployment. The blankets are en route to Sembach, Germany, to the barracks of the Warrior Transition Program. WTP is where redeploying Sailors do gear-turn and begin the transition from Afghanistan, Kuwait and other forward locations to the United States. The blankets Starling makes provide comfort for more than 180 Sailors a month. She began making blankets in February 2014 when her son, Navy Capt. Dan Starling, returned from a visit to WTP as part of his duties as Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center commanding officer and shared his experience with her.

Afghan soldiers graduate from 1st ANA-led combat training course
CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan - Soldiers with the Afghan National Army graduated from a six-week combat training course July 10 at the Regional Corps Battle School aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. This graduation was the first combat training course completely operated by Afghan instructors without any influence by coalition forces.

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Austin's Broadwalk Trail complete
AUSTIN - Texas’ capital city is known not only for its music and art, but also for its ease of access to a healthy lifestyle. With hiking and biking trails, parks, sidewalks and active outdoor activities offered all over the city, there are people outside getting their sweat on at any point in the day all year.

Culinary Arts holds competition
Twelve Soldiers competed in Fort Hood’s quarterly Iron Chef July 10 in the Culinary Arts Center to continue the search for the post’s top chef. In this quarter’s challenge, competitors were pushed to deliver two identical full-course meals – appetizer, main dish and dessert – using a mystery basket of ingredients, all in a two-hour window.

Equine therapy used to treat secondary PTSD
While deployed, he was on the road for 10 days driving from Kuwait to Iraq. He endured attacks from improvised explosive devices, mortars, sniper fire and small-arms fire. Now, retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Hoops, a former motor transport operator, hangs his head low as he recounts a deployment he considers “one of the worst for truck drivers.” After returning, Bobby was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, something he will carry for a lifetime. However, the affect the deployment had on Bobby’s son weighs more.

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Operation Proper Exit: Healing Warriors, inspiring Soldiers
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Passengers emerge from the dim light of a military cargo plane into the stinging sunlight of mid-day southern Afghanistan. Outside the plane, they are greeted by Soldiers clapping as they make their way off the flight line. As the passengers pass by, each Soldier renders a salute before continuing to clap. Amongst the throng of service members, a few faces familiar to the passengers start to appear out of the crowd, which were individuals who served with the wounded warriors in years past. These wounded warriors were in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Proper Exit, which was developed by Rick Kell and the Troops First Foundation to allow wounded warriors to return to the place where they were injured to help give them closure. Since Proper Exit was approved by the Army, there have been 17 iterations, the latest of which went to Kandahar Airfield July 10. These five Soldiers had a chance to be with their fellow Soldiers once more and leave a combat zone on their own terms.

Pet Platoon, Pets for Adoption
The shelter is located on 80th St. and Engineer Dr. in Bldg. 4902. The Fort Hood Stray Facility is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri. and closed for lunch from noon-1 p.m.

Soldier Life Cycle changes way Army preps troops for eventual transition
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - On Oct. 1, Soldiers will begin to have a more defined plan for transitioning out of the Army with the implementation of the Soldier Life Cycle. This three-phase career cycle supports the Soldier for Life initiative and prepares Soldiers from the beginning of their military service, until their transition to civilian life, with the resources needed to equip them with the employment skills, training, counseling and opportunities that will enhance their marketability after military service.

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Master Fitness Trainer Course. 4-week session begins
A mobile training team from the Army’s Physical Fitness School in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, arrived at Fort Hood at the beginning of the week to carry out the Master Fitness Trainer Course, a four-week course designed to help train and educate Soldiers on fitness. The class began Tuesday morning with 58 Soldiers taking part in the qualifying Army Physical Readiness Test.

Cove's NFL stars return home
Two former Copperas Cove Bulldawgs and current NFL players, Washington’s Robert Griffin III and Chicago’s Charles Tillman, both raised in military Families, returned to their alma mater July 9 for a national commercial shoot for USAA. “It’s always good to come back to the lovely city of Copperas Cove,” said Tillman, a cornerback for the Chicago Bears. “It’s always good to have people from big cities come to small cities like this so that you can get their feel of what really is going on in Copperas Cove.”

LeBron lands back in Cleveland; Germany wins
I ended last week’s column asking everyone to wake me up when something actually happens. That wake-up call came in the next 24 hours with the announcement, a well-written, first-person declaration via Sports Illustrated, that the NBA’s best player, LeBron James, would be returning his talents to Cleveland.

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News Briefs

Partial road closure through Aug. 11
A portion of Santa Fe Avenue, near the new hospital construction, will be closed to traffic beginning Friday.
The portion of Santa Fe Avenue affected runs from 62nd Street to 65th Street. Traffic along this stretch of road heading eastbound will be detoured north onto 65th Street, then east down Warehouse Avenue.
Officials from the Directorate of Public Works recommend that drivers using Santa Fe Avenue as their entry and exit to the installation use the access gates at T.J. Mills Boulevard or Clear Creek Road to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
This portion of Sante Fe Avenue will re-open to traffic Aug. 11.

Hood Howdy Aug. 7 at Club Hood
New to the Great Place, or just looking to find out more about the post and its surrounding communities? Check out the next Hood Howdy event set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 7 at Club Hood.
Sponsored by Fort Hood’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the Army Community Service Relocation Branch, Hood Howdy is open to the public and features more than 100 area businesses and agencies available to provide information about life in Central Texas. Besides a wealth of information, the event includes door prizes and refreshments.
For more information, call 287-4471.

Hotter Than Hades 5K
Fort Hood’s DFMWR hosts its “Hotter Than Hades 5K” event Aug. 16 at the Harvey Functional Fitness Center.
Register online at www.hoodmwr.com ahead of time, or on the day of the race from 7-7:30 a.m. Medals will be awarded for the top three finishers in each age category and commemorative t-shirts will be on sale at the event.
Harvey Functional Fitness Center is located on Old Ironsides and 73rd Street.
For more information, call 287-0195.