The Morning Calm Korea Weekly - Nov. 23, 2007

Inside

November 23, 2007 • Volume 6, Issue 08

http://imcom.korea.army.mil

Published for those serving in the Republic of Korea

Noncombatant Exercise tests new procedures

Community celebrates Native American heritage

Students ‘draw’ on ‘Family Strong, Army Strong’

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Turf wars: Korea-wide youth compete in finals

See page 22 for story and photos Samuel Morris (in the air) skies to kick the ball clear of Darnell Chang (62), Kristopher Lewis (67) and others in the 13-15 IMCOM-K 13-15 year old Soccer Finals at Humphreys’ Soldier Field Saturday, Nov. 17. — U.S. Army Photo By Mike Mooney

USFK Conducts Non-Combatant Evacuation Sail Away by Dave Palmer USFK Public Affairs

United States Forces Korea families from around the Republic learned what an actual “Sail Away” would be like during USFK’s semi-annual exercise. Courageous Channel 07-02, Non Combatant Evacuation (NEO), held from Nov. 15–18, was more than a rehearsal of evacuation procedures. “Whether a NEO is called for a natural disaster or a man made one, everyone involved can clearly see the difficulties in caring for and maintaining accountability of non-combatants,” said Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sanders, Lead NEO Escort. Sanders added, “We saw first hand the challenges of evacuating 46 people under ‘emergency’ conditions.” Our “Sail Away” group represented many possible variables, foreign citizen spouses, foreign embassy staff and foreign service members to name a few. As we were moved from home station to

Squadron Leader Peter Franken looks on as he is processed into the NEO Tracking System at USAG Yongsan’s EEC. — U.S. Army Photo By Dave Palmer

evacuation control centers on the peninsula the Servicemembers processing us had to quickly integrate us in to their community. It was clear our group added a real life feel to the exercise. “The NEO allows the Servicemember that stays behind to focus on their mission, their job one, and be assured that families are taken care of,” said Airman First Class Alexandrea Larson, NEO Warden, 51st Operation Group. “Several members of our group kept journals so they can share their experiences with friends and neighbors to better prepare in the event of an actual NEO,” Larson added. For the exercise, families needed to bring their “NEO packets,” which include important documents. To speed the process “NTSK” the NEO Tracking System allowed sponsors to electronically pre-register their families. Currently the system activates just prior to an exercise and terminates after it.When the link is active it will be a featured link under Family Info and in the Hot Topics section of USFK.mil.

NEWS • PAGE 2 http://imcom.korea.army.mil The Morning Calm

Published by Installation Management Command - Korea Commanding General/Publisher: Brig. Gen. Al Aycock Public Affairs Officer/Editor: Edward N. Johnson Senior Editor:Susan Silpasornprasit USAG-RED CLOUD Commander: Col. Larry A. Jackson Public Affairs Officer: Margaret Banish-Donaldson CI Officer: James F. Cunningham USAG-YONGSAN Commander: Col. David W. Hall Public Affairs Officer: David McNally CI Officer: Kenneth Fidler Staff Writer: Sgt. Jung Jae-hoon USAG-HUMPHREYS Commander: Col. John E. Dumoulin Jr. Public Affairs Officer: Bob McElroy Writer/Editor: Andre D. Butler CI Oficer: Stacy Ouellette USAG-DAEGU Commander: Col. Michael P. Saulnier Public Affairs Officer: Ronald Inman Public Affairs Specialist: Samuel G. Hudson Staff Writer: Cpl. Kyung Chul NA This Army newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The Morning Calm Weekly are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or Department of the Army. The editorial content of this weekly publication is the responsibility of the IMCOM-Korea, Public Affairs, APO AP 96205. Circulation: 9,500 Printed by Oriental Press, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Government, under exclusive written contract with the Contracting Command-Korea. The civilian printer is responsible for commercial advertising. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army or Oriental Press of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. Oriental Press President: Charles Chong Commercial Advertising Telephone: 738-5005 or 723-4253 Fax: (02) 790-5795 E-mail: [email protected] Mail address: PSC 450, Box 758, APO AP 96206-0758 Location: Bldg. 1440, Yongsan, Main Post SUBMISSIONS OR COMMENTS: Phone: DSN 724-TMCW (8629) Fax: DSN 724-3356 E-mail: MorningCalmWeekly @korea.army.mil

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Submitting to The Morning Calm Weekly Send Letters to the Editor, guest commentaries, story submissions and other items: [email protected]. For all submitted items include a point of contact name and telephone number. All items are subject to editing for content and to insure they conform with DoD guidelines. IMCOM-K Public Affairs and the Morning Calm Weekly staff are located in Bldg. 1416, Yongsan Garrison Main Post. For information, call 724-3365.

NEWS

THE MORNING CALM

Gift giving: is it legal? Special to The Morning Calm Weekly Thinking of buying someone a gift? Not so fast. The Army has strict rules which must be followed. In this article, the legal office will discuss everything that you need to know in order to stay out of trouble when giving or receiving gifts. As a general rule, you may not receive gifts that are given because of your official position or one that is given by a prohibited source (e.g., someone who has an interest in the performance of official Army missions). Certain items, however, are not considered gifts at all and are therefore excluded from the general prohibition. These items include light refreshments (i.e., coffee and donuts), items of no intrinsic value such as plaques or trophies, and awards or prizes from contests that are open to the public. When analyzing whether a gift is acceptable according to Army regulations, we apply three separate categories of rules depending on who is giving the gift. The categories are: (1) gifts from outside (prohibited) sources; (2) gifts between employees; and (3) gifts from foreign governments. Gifts from outside (prohibited) sources comprise a fairly large category that generally includes any person or organization that does business with or seeks to do business with any Department of Defense entity, or has an interest that may be substantially affected by performance or nonperformance of the employee’s official duties. There are, however, a few exceptions. A gift can be accepted from a prohibited source or one that was given because of the receiver’s official position provided that the value of the gift is less than $20, and gifts from that same source do not exceed $50 per year. Another exception is when the gift is based on an outside relationship, such as a family relationship or personal friendship. Keep in mind, however, that even if a gift falls within one of these exceptions, you should not accept it if it will undermine Government integrity. Perception is reality! In regards to gifts between employees, the general rule is that superiors may not accept or solicit a gift from a subordinate, and subordinates may not give gifts to superiors. The exception to that rule is that superiors may accept a gift of minimal value (less

than $10) on traditional gift-giving occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays. A bottle of wine brought when invited to another’s home is also an example of an exception to the general rule. Superiors may also accept gifts from subordinates on special, infrequent occasions. An example of such an occasion is during a PCS or retirement, when the superior-subordinate relationship is or will be terminated. The limit for these gifts is $300 per donating group. Be aware that if one person is a member of two donating groups, then the gifts from both groups are counted as if they are from a single group. All contributions for gifts must be voluntary, and the most that can be solicited is $10. Subordinates are free to give more than $10, but no more than $10 may be solicited. Furthermore, in order to mitigate any undue influence, the solicitation should be done by a relatively low ranking individual within the donating group. Lists should not be kept of who gave and how much was given. The final category is gifts from foreign governments. Gifts valued up to $305 from a foreign government or given on behalf of a foreign government may be accepted. Gifts valued above the “minimal value” can only be accepted on behalf of the United States. If you accept a gift of this nature, notify and deposit the gift with the chain of command. An exception to this rule is when it is clear that the gift is motivated by a family or personal friendship rather than the position of the employee. So what should you do if you receive an unacceptable gift? First and foremost, if possible, refuse the offer of an improper gift. Diplomatically explain that Federal employees may not accept certain gifts. Another option is for you to pay the donor the gift’s market value. If the item is perishable, it may be donated to charity, shared within the office, or destroyed. In conclusion, giving and receiving gifts is one of the greatest joys of life. As the famous philosopher Hana Rollins once stated, “When we give gifts, we give life”. If you have any question as to whether you can give or receive a particular gift, I encourage you to contact your ethics counselor located in your local area legal office. Happy Holidays!

IMCOM-KOREA: Safety Update

‘Influencers’ cost Soldiers their lives by Lori Yerdon Army News Service

In February 2007, two Soldiers died in a rollover accident in Iraq when the Humvee they were operating rolled into a canal. Though the Soldiers drowned, preliminary reports suggest they were driving under the influence ... but not of alcohol. Driving under the influence doesn’t always involve drinking alcohol. Drugs and other items can impair drivers and render them incapable of safely operating vehicles, as is the case in this report. Initial findings from the accident suggest the Soldiers “huffed” before driving the government vehicle. Huffing is a term used to describe the action of intentionally inhaling aerosols or chemical vapors to attain a “high” or gain some euphoric effect. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drugs, aerosols, chemical vapors and other items used to obtain this feeling act on the brain and alter perception, balance, coordination and other motor skills required for safe driving. Even with new enforcement measures now in place to detect such hazardous practices, incidents of drugged driving are on the rise, according to Sergeant Danny Lamm of the Impaired Driving Unit at the California Highway Patrol academy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 16,000 people are killed annually because of drunk and drugged driving. NHTSA also estimates that drugs are used by about 10 to 22 percent of drivers involved in accidents, often in combination with alcohol.

Prescription, over-the-counter, illicit and unrecognized drugs all have potential reactions with alcohol. The NIDA reports that drugged driving is a public health concern because it also places passengers and others who share the road at risk. In March 2007, a Soldier was traveling with two other Soldiers when he reportedly lost control of his privately owned vehicle and crashed into a tree. However, reports indicate that a backseat passenger reached forward and grabbed the steering wheel. Impaired judgment, uncoordinated body movements, blurred vision and slurred speech are just a few of the effects alcohol and drugs have on people. Last year, an Army captain died in Iowa after losing control of his motorcycle, slamming into a chain-link fence and tumbling end-over-end more than a dozen times. The investigation revealed that he was driving under the influence. His blood alcohol concentration was .289, and he chose to leave the bar without wearing a helmet. “Soldiers must take care of each other and battle to stay in the fight,” said Lt. Col. Randall K. Cheeseborough, chief ground task force for the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center. “Develop a plan of attack before heading out for a night on the town, and make sound decisions before drinking.” “The use of battle buddies, designated drivers and taxis are cheaper than the cost of a DUI or fatality,” Lt. Col. Cheeseborough added. “Though Soldiers can face punishment by their chain of command, the ultimate loss could be that of a life. What influence would you rather drive under?” For information on drunk or drugged driving awareness and prevention, visit www.madd.org or www.nida.nig.gov.

NEWS

NOVEMBER 23, 2007

NEWS • PAGE 3 www.imcom.korea.army.mil

MP Blotter The following entries were excerpted from the military police blotters. These entries may be incomplete and do not imply guilt or innocence. AREA I: Excessive Purchasing, Subject #1 had made three trips in and out of the USAG-Red Cloud Main PX and appeared to have purchased items in excess. Subject #1 was apprehended and transported to the USAG-Red Cloud PMO where she was interviewed by KNI and rendered a written statement admitting to the offense. Subject #1 was issued an Order to Show Cause and released on her own recognizance. Subject #1’s RCP was retained and the items were returned to the PX for a refund. This is a final report. AREA I: Assault on Law Enforcement Official, Victim #1 was notified of an individual who appeared to have passed out in the parking lot. Victim #1 then proceeded to the parking lot where he observed Subject #1 lying on the ground. Victim #1 then went to check Subject #1 for responsiveness. Victim #1 identified himself as an MP, and attempted to have Subject #1 stand up, at which time Subject #1 got up and started running away. After a short pursuit Victim #1 was able to stop Subject #1 at which time Subject #1 struck Victim #1 in the stomach two times with a closed hand and elbowed him in the forehead. Another MP observed the incident and assisted Victim #1 in apprehending Subject #1.Subject #1 was transported to the USAG-Casey PMO where he refused a PBT. Subject #1 was released to his unit. Due to his level of intoxication, he was transported to the USAG-Casey TMC for a command directed LBAT, with results pending. Subject #1 and Victim #1 refused medical attention due to minor injuries. Subject #1’s injuries consisted of three lacerations and a small abrasion to the right side of his face. Victim #1’s injuries consisted of a laceration to the right middle finger and in the middle of his forehead and two abrasions to the upper left of his forehead. At 3 p.m. Nov. 10, Subject #1 reported to the USAG-Casey PMO where he was advised of his legal rights, which he invoked. Investigation continues by MPI. AREA I: Assault on Law Enforcement Official, Resisting Apprehension, Provoking Speeches, Failure to Identify, Subject #1 used provocative language towards Victim #1 and Victim #2 as he passed them adjacent to Gate #1. When Victim #1 asked Subject #1 for his ID card, he refused to show it. However, Victim #1 obtained Subject #1’s ID card from Person Related #1 after scanning his ID card. Subject #1 became belligerent, struck Victim #1’s hand with an open hand in attempt to get his ID card back. Subject #1 then swung with a closed hand at Victim #1 at which time, Victim #1 caught Subject #1’s hand and placed him on the ground to apply hand irons. Subject #1 resisted and was finally subdued with the assistance of Person Related #2. Subject #1 was apprehended and transported to the USAGStanley MP Station where he was not administered a PBT due to his refusal. Subject #1 was processed, released to his unit and transported to the USAG-Casey TMC by his unit to render a command directed LBAT, with results pending. At 3 p.m. Nov. 10, Subject #1 reported to the USAG-Stanley MP Station where he was advised of his legal rights, which he invoked. Victim #1 reported no injuries. Investigation continues by MPI. AREA II: Assault on Law Enforcement Official, Subject #1 struck Victim #1 in the chest area with an open hand while Victim #1 was attempting to control an altercation at an off post club. Subject #1 was apprehended and transported to the USAGYongsan PMO where he was administered a series of FSTs, which he performed poorly on. Due to Subject #1’s suspected level of intoxication he was not advised of his legal rights. Subject #1 was processed and released to his unit. At 12:08 a.m. Nov. 11, Subject #1 reported to the USAG-Yongsan PMO where he was advised of his regal rights, which he waived, rendering a written sworn statement admitting to the offense. Victim #1 sustained no visible injuries. This is a final report.

Octupus is just one of many items seafood enthusiasts can sample at the Fish Market in Seoul. The food is served fresh straight from the sea to your plate. The market is open every day and located in Seoul along the Han River, near the 63 Building. — U.S. Army Photo By Ed Johnson

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Off-post events and activities B-boyz Performance (Seoul)

Lotte World

DMZ Tour (Panmunjeom)

“Puppet” (Daegu City)

The Ballerina Who Loves a B-boy is a unique dance performance featuring a combination of ballet and street dance. This 90minute, nonverbal performance is held weekly at the B-boy Theater in Seoul. The show follows the story of a ballerina who assimilates into the world of street dance after falling in love with a B-boy. The performance schedule is: Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays and holidays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.sjbboyz.com or call 02-336-5377 for booking. The fall is an ideal time of year to visit the Korean DMZ. Panmunjeom is the site where the Korean War armistice agreement was signed in 1953. Visiting the Demilitarized Zone established by that agreement offers a first-hand look at one of the most heavily-fortified borders in the world and a thorough understanding of the history behind the Korean War. Panmunjeom is located in the Joint Security Area at which troops from North and South Korea maintain a presence. Visitors can tour the 3rd Tunnel, dug to infiltrate South Korean territory as well as the Dora Obseravtory, which provides a view of the second largest city in North Korea. Those wishing to participate in the tour must adhere to the dress code and present appropriate ID/passport. For information on tours to the DMZ, contact the USO or visit www.tour2korea.com

JUMP (Seoul)

JUMP is a comic martial arts performance that started in Korea and is now playing globally. The plotlines revolve around the misadventures of an unusual family of acrobatic martial artisits. There are four mini-episodes to the show. Performances are Tuesday – Saturday, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.; no show on Mondays. Performances are held at the IBK JUMP Theater in Seoul. For information, visit www. hijump.co.kr or visit www.tour2korea.com

Lotte World is a huge shopping and entertainment complex featuring a folk village, adventure rides, sports center with a skating rink as well as a hotel and department store. Lotte World is one of Korea’s most popular family fun centers. Some of the most anticipated attractions include Atlantic Adventure, Pharoh’s Fury, Gyro Drop, World Carnival Parade and a Laser Show. The parade takes place at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m, and the laser show is held in the late evening at 9:30 p.m. Lotte World also features indoor gaming venues and acrades. For more information, visit www.tour2korea.com “Puppet”, performed by 31 members of the Daegu Municipal Dance Troupe, presents the story of ordinary people who try to find escape from the midst of their hectic, daily routines. The actors, who portray ordinary people, wear masks to disguise themselves as puppets. This non-verbal performance is held at the Bongsan Cultural Center in Daegu City Nov. 22-23 at 5 and 8 p.m. For more information, visit http://artcenter.daegu. go.kr or www.tour2korea.com

Fish Market (Seoul)

The Noryangjin Fish Market is one of the largest fresh fish and seafood markets in Korea. It sells produce at retail and wholesale prices. More than 300 tons of seafood from 15 ports in the southern part of Korea arrives to the market daily. Many small restaurants serve freshly sliced raw fish on the second floor of the market. Shellfish is packaged in seawater to keep it especially fresh. The market offers interesting sights like squid and large whole octopus on display. Seafood pastries offer a unique taste. The wholesale market is closed on Sundays and holidays, but the retail market is open every day. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries operates the Noryangjin Fish Market. This 66,000 square meter facility houses more than 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish. The market is open from 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

NEWS • PAGE 4 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

NEWS

Program Builds Strong Army Marriages by Elizabeth M. Lorge Army News Service Sgt. 1st Class Pernell and Wanda Mabry practice the speaker-listener technique at a Strong Bonds retreat in Arlington, Va., Nov. 11. They said the Strong Bonds program has helped them adjust to his recent return from Iraq. The weekend was the first opportunity they had to be alone since his redeployment in September. Photo by Elizabeth M. Lorge WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 15, 2007) - Sgt. 1st Class Pernell Mabry’s wife Wanda gave birth to twins the day before he deployed to Iraq. Like many other Soldiers, he missed their first Christmas and their first steps, and he didn’t know if they would bond with him when he came home. The separation and reunion, he and his wife said, came with many challenges and unexpected adjustments. The couple joined other Army Reserve couples - officer and noncommissioned officer, newlywed and those married 30 years - at a Strong Bonds weekend in Arlington, Va., Nov. 9-11, for a minivacation to strengthen their marriages. As the weekend progressed, most began to sit a little closer, share glances and hold hands. The Strong Bonds program is a training program run by both active-duty and reserve-component chaplains. It originated in 1999 with the 25th Infantry Division, but has taken off during the war on terrorism, as Army couples needed to maintain or rebuild their friendships and intimacy amid repeated deployment cycles. “We’ve seen the Strong Bonds program building strong Families,” said Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, the Army’s chief of chaplains. “A strong Soldier, as he prepares or even goes to combat, will be strong if his Family’s strong. It’s based upon building strong communication, strong relationships, maintaining that strong intimacy that couples need to have.” “If for six months, you use the skills you learn this weekend, and it doesn’t improve your marriage, call me and I’ll take you out for a steak dinner, separately if necessary,” Lt. Col. Mark Sachs, deputy staff chaplain for the 99th Regional Readiness Command, told the group. He added that he’s facilitated 14 or 15 retreats and has yet to receive a phone call. He has, however, heard from couples who cancelled their appointments with divorce lawyers. “The core of the program is communication styles, how to communicate well when it counts most, when you have something very sensitive to talk about or when the topic is risky or a high-emotional topic,” said Chaplain Sachs. “We teach our participants about communication patterns that are toxic to a marriage, how to avoid them and what to do when you find yourself in one of those patterns. We talk about problem-solving or conflict-management, how to approach things that you differ on and come to conclusions, solutions, that are a productive way to represent what both husband and wife want. “A lot of times when couples fight, it’s because an event in the course of everyday life has sparked an issue for them. Couples tend to discuss the issue in the context of the event and because of that it never gets resolved. How do you separate issues from

events and work through them in a way that’s productive?” The weekend includes a “date night,” and couples must leave their home city and stay in a hotel in order to spend quality time together. The Army pays for everything, even the spouse’s travel. “This is critical because if your marriage isn’t healthy, something’s going to happen to you as a Soldier,” said Lt. Col. Peter J. Frederich, Family ministries officer at the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. “We don’t charge Soldiers to train on their weapon so we shouldn’t charge them to train on their marriage.” Strong Bonds often includes some kind of recommitment ceremony, and Sgt. 1st Class Lorenzia Henderson, a chaplain’s assistant with the 99th, urged Soldiers and their spouses to recognize each other. Tears fell on both sides as Soldiers thanked their spouses for holding everything together at home during deployments. The 99th RRC added the Army’s Battlemind training to the retreat, to ensure that the Soldiers, some of whom had recently returned from deployment, and their spouses knew the post-traumatic stress symptoms to expect, including isolation, aggression, drinking, flashbacks and nightmares. “I think most of us got messed up down there and we don’t see it until our wife says, ‘I’ve got one foot out the door. Do you want to do something about it before the other one’s out?’ That’s what my wife told me a couple of weeks ago,” said one Soldier, emphasizing the importance of programs like Strong Bonds in helping marriages recover from or prepare for deployment. Sgt. 1st Class Mabry, who returned from Iraq in September, said this retreat was the first opportunity he’s had to spend time alone with his wife since his return. “I think this is really helpful and I thank the chaplain’s section for coming up with the idea. Soldiers really need something to get them back into family-orientation, and this is really good. This is something that really helps.” “It’s been very, very helpful to me; I think to both of us, because we’ve had our challenges since he’s been back,” added Mrs. Mabry. “With us having different parenting ideas and thoughts and opinions -- and for him, being a new parent all over again -- and then different backgrounds, I think this has helped us to have a common ground.” They both said they would recommend the program to other Soldiers and plan to use the techniques. In fact, 95 percent of couples say they would recommend the program on their after-action reports, said Chaplain Sachs. According to Chaplain Frederich, Strong Bonds has been so successful that the National Institutes of Health gave the chaplaincy a grant for a five-year study to see if the program makes a difference in the amount of time the Soldiers stay in the Army, whether they get Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, what their promotion rates are, etc.New versions of the program are now geared toward single Soldiers another involves entire Families. The one for single Soldiers focuses on how to choose the right partner, and the other version for Families focuses on parenting skills.For more information visit www.strongbonds.org.

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AREA I

USAG-RC • PAGE 5 www.imcom.korea.army.mil

Capt. Dennis Graves (left) points out the areas evacuees must visit before NEO evacuation can begin to Master Sgt. Lorenzo Hilliard (2nd from right) and Master Sgt. Denise Grant-Butler (right) during the NEO exercise held in USAG-RC Physical Fitness Center Nov. 15 2007.— U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham

New procedures prove useful in NEO operation by Jim Cunningham USAG-RC Public Affairs

RED CLOUD GARRISON—The Noncombatant Evacuation Operation exercise held in USAG-Red Cloud and USAG-Casey Nov. 14 through 17 proved new procedures useful and less time consuming for prospective evacuees. In addition, it helped some directorates gather information and help Soldiers prepare to vote in upcoming elections. Registration personnel saw a grand total of 1,392 evacuees, not including pets. “This is noncombative evacuation training in case a balloon goes up,” said Capt. Dennis Graves, commander, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, USAG-RC. “We have to make sure the Soldiers and civilians know how to get out of here, and to practice processing them to move out in a hurry.” As early as the afternoon of Nov. 14 Graves and his Soldiers operating the NEO process saw more than 25 percent of the registered Soldiers, civilians and their dependants. “The exercise officially started at 8 a.m. this morning,” Graves said. “If everyone is processed through the exercise it can end Nov. 16.” The results expected from the exercise are many. “This is good training for the Soldiers,” Graves said. The command can see how many Soldiers, civilians, and dependants register.” For the NEO this year there were new procedures evacuees can do online, which helps registration. “The NEO registration, electronically or physically, for military and civilians needs to be proactive in registering,” Graves said. “Some civilians have come through here without a NEO warden assigned to them. When they process through today, they are assigned a NEO warden. Directors need to tell their employees to process in here and get a NEO warden. We need to know all

the civilians here on the ground. Once we know who they are, we can assign them a NEO warden.” When new civilian employees come to Korea, they should in process for NEO by going online at: https://neo.korea.army. mil/, or going to the USAG-RC website at: http://ima.korea.army.mil/area1/sites/local/ , click on the banner at the top ‘click here for NEO web pre-registration,’ according to Graves. “Our goal is to process the evacuees quickly and get them out of the country,” said Master Sgt. Lorenzo Hilliard. “The web pre-registration process is a fairly new one. It will not be in total operation until the next NEO exercise in May next year.” Once the system is totally in place, the registration process will be a lot smoother. “One can keep their NEO information updated easily by logging onto the site and filling out the forms, Hilliard said. “Once they get to the NEO exercise, all they have to do is walk through and present their updated and accurate forms.” First stop is to get a bar-coded arm band. “Next, there are a lot of legal considerations both civilians and dependants must take to make sure their affairs are in order in case of a noncombatant evacuation operation,” said Capt. Melissa Dasgupta, chief, international and operational law, 2nd Infantry Division. “We want to make sure people are squared away with such things as a power of attorney for their spouse or wills in case anything happens to their spouse.” The legal department helps evacuees get all their legal affairs in order before they leave the peninsula. “We give you a list of all the documents you will need to keep in a folder in case of an emergency,” Dasgupta said. “If two spouses get separated or just need to take care of their affairs after being evacuated, they have everything they will need in one place.” The next stop in line is the medical desk and a visit with Pvt. Joshua Franklin and

Sgt. Robert Mack. “We administer the flu shot to those who need them at the troop medical clinic,” Franklin said. “We check medical records and make sure they are up to date. If they are not up to date, we can schedule an appointment for them.” The final station in line is the transportation station and a visit with Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Bolton. “This is the final station in line before the evacuation,” Bolton said. “We accumulate tracking bracelets so we can track people from all the way back to their final destination during the evacuation.” Three stops were added for this exercise, the first is the chaplain’s station and a visit with Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Greschel. “I am here to support the folks as they are matriculating through the NEO line,” Greschel said. “If they have any issues I can give them counseling. Or, I can direct them to the proper person to solve any problem. Primarily, it is for religious and spiritual support.” The last two stops are the Army Community Service and Voting Assistance desks. “I am here to identify how many families are in this area,” said Elizabeth Samarripa of ACS. “I find out how many command sponsored families and noncommand sponsored families are here. Also, I provide information about visas and Status of Forces Agreement visas.” Kenneth Schlueter, director of USAGRC Army Career and Alumnae Program, is the USAG-RC voting assistance program manager. “One of the initiatives for voting assistance is to set up tables for the NEO exercises at both USAG-RC and USAGCasey,” Schlueter said. “This is to provide a voting assistance outreach to all the Soldiers families and contractors and civilians who need to register to vote by absentee ballot in their home states.” Anyone who needs to register can go

online at http://www.fvap.gov/ and register to vote by absentee ballot. “You can actually go to that site and look up your registration and make sure you are registered back in the United States for the upcoming elections,” Schlueter said.

Capt. Melissa Dasgupta asks evacuees about their legal needs during the NEO exercise held in the USAG-RC Physical Fitness Center Nov. 15.— U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham

Elizabeth Samarripa from Army Community Services awaits family members as evacuees during the NEO exercise to count the number of family members that will need ACS services in USAG-RC.— U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham

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THE MORNING CALM

News & Notes Taxi Fares Reduced at Casey taxi customers within USAG-Casey will see some changes in pricing beginning Dec. 3. taxi fares will change from being paid in Korean won to U.S. dollars, and there will be a $5 maximum fare cap on any single-stop ride on Casey or Hovey, and travel between the two camps. the single-stop fare within the USAG-RC and Camp Stanley is $2, and travel off the military installations begins at $2.50. The $2.50 off-installation fare, which applies outside all camps in the area, is for the first 1,700 meters traveled or the first five minutes, whichever comes first. After which, the charge will be 25 cents for every additional 270 meters or 60 seconds. No customer will pay more than $5 for a single-stop ride anywhere on Casey or Hovey, no matter how far they go, even if the meter registers more fare. Fares on these camps will begin at $2.50 and will be metered at the same rate as off installation up to the $5 cap. If a customer travels from the Casey Post Exchange to a destination on Hovey and the meter indicates $7.25, the fare is still only $5. Free Music for Troops The complete track list of free songs available at www.aafes.com as part of the “CD For the Troops” project. Gifts from the Home Front Gifts from the home front can be sent to deployed troops by logging on to www.aafes. org or callling: 877-770-4438. The gift certificates are sent to individual service members or distributed to any service member through the Air Force Aid Society, American Red Cross, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Fisher House, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Home front, Operation Interdependence or the USO. “Gifts from the home front certificates can be redeemed at exchange facilities worldwide. Power Outage Notification for Camp Stanley A power outage is scheduled on Camp Stanley tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Another outage is scheduled for Dec. 1 from 6 to 9 a.m. For more information call: 7329031. HR Supervisors Course Available Online The HR for Supervisors Course is mandatory for all Department of Army civilian (DAC) and military supervisors who supervise appropriated fund DAC employees. This course covers Human Resources (HR) management legal and regulatory requirements, HR processes, HR services and HR automated tools designed to assist supervisors in requesting and tracking Request for Personnel Actions (RPAs). The course is 40-hours long and is intended to help the supervisor in performing his/her HR management duties. Completion of this course can enhance the supervisor’s confidence and performance. For more information call: 732-9060 Coming Events PBC Red Cloud The Pear Blossom Cottage Cooking class will be held Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to noon. The Outreach luncheon will be held Dec. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. The Christmas Party will be held Dec. 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information call: 732-7168. Camp Stanley Tree Lighting Camp Stanley Christmas Tree lighting will be held Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.

James Richardson (left), deputy commander USAG-Casey, gives graduation certificates to graduates with Oh, Se Chang, (right) Mayor of Dongducheon during graduation ceremonies and dinner in the USAG-Casey Digital Conference Center Nov. 16.— U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham.

Local children graduate from English Camp by Jim Cunningham USAG-RC Public Affairs CASEY GARRISON—The English Language Camp held at USAG-Casey saw 30 local children graduate in a ceremony Nov. 16 in the Casey Digital Conference Center. The children were selected by the mayor’s office from 15 local elementary and middle schools in Dongducheon. They participated in the second annual English Language Camp sponsored by the Casey United Services Organization and the city of Dongducheon, which ran from Nov. 13 through Nov. 16. “The English Language Camp is an effort in support of the Good Neighbor Program to foster good relations between the Soldiers of Casey and the city of Dongducheon,” said Sgt. Joo, Soo Hyung. “We gave the graduates a certificate of completion, and the mayor and Deputy Garrison Commander James Richardson, presented them during the ceremony tonight.” The Army selected 15 Soldiers to do the teaching, and the USO cooperated with the city of Dongducheon to complete the logistics of the events on post. “Some of the Soldier volunteer teachers

would have a slight communications problem,” said Sgt. Kim, Man. “I translated to the students and the teachers when they had language barrier problems.” Sgt. Robert Bacon volunteered last year to teach in the English Language Camp; however, it was different this year. “Everyone that was not on Red Cycle was put on this detail,” Bacon said. “We are moving our battalion this month so every person was busy.” Red Cycle is the list of Soldiers tasked with different jobs to do on post. “The students love to learn,” Bacon said. “They are exuberating to be with; everyone enjoyed teaching them because they learn quickly.” “Most students can read and speak English,” Bacon said. “Some though have problems understanding exactly what they are speaking.” That was when Sgt. Joo and Sgt. Kim would step in and explain in Korean to the students the meaning of the words and phrases they were learning to speak and read. “It is easy for them to learn quickly how to form the words and write them,” Kim said. “Understanding the exact meaning of

the words takes more effort.” The logistics of making the English Language Camp a reality was an effort done in concert with the city of Dongducheon and the USO. The city chose the best two English students from each of the 15 city schools, and the Army chose the teachers along with the USO to arrange the logistics of movement and the activities for the students during the camp. “Classes began at 8:30 a.m.,” Kim said. “It was not all classroom study; we would visit different places on the camp and eat in different places like the food court and the dining facilities.” “They loved the Indian Head Golf Course,” Bacon said. “Also, they really loved going to the Close Combat Tactical Trainer.” In the center the children learn what it is like to drive and operate vehicles such as the Abrams A1M1 battle tank. “The children could get into an Abrams tank and actually learn how to operate it,” Bacon said. “They get to control the vehicle and shoot the guns.” “They children had such an exciting time,” Kim said. “They got to experience what Soldiers do every day in defending their freedoms and their country.”

Dongducheon Mayor sponsors soccer championship

Mayor Oh, Se Chang of Dongducheon sponsored six soccer games featuring four teams from the mayor’s office and from the Casey and Red Cloud garrisons. Teams from the 2nd Infantry Division residing at USAG-Casey played Nov. 10 the team from the mayor’s office as well as a team of Korean employees of the U.S. Army and a Dongducheon city team and a team comprised of players 50 years and older. “We have the 2nd Infantry Division in Dongducheon,” said Oh. “We enjoy our friendship with the U.S. Army. We wanted to sponsor a friendship activity for our good neighbor, a soccer championship.” The Korean employees bested the 2nd ID team 1 to 0 in the first game. The 50 and over team managed to beat the mayor’s team 1 to 0 in the third game. There was no score in the second game between the mayor’s team and the 2nd ID team. The teams managed to play six games before 2 p.m. “The Korean teams are happy to play the U.S. Army teams,” Oh said. “I played center position on the mayor’s office team.”—U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham

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Army scores first during the second play of the game with a leap to the goal line. Army scored six times before the end of the first half during the first ever Army-Air Force flag football championship held at USAG-Casey’s Soldier’s Field.— U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham.

Army flies high over Air Force 38-24 in first game at Casey by Jim Cunningham USAG-RC Public Affairs CASEY GARRISON—Army scored 38 points over Air Force in the first ever Army-Air Force flag football game held at USAG-Casey. More than 1,000 Soldiers, Airmen, civilians and dependants came to witness the first -time event. From the kick-off Army dominated the game, especially in the first half by scoring 32 points over 6 by the Air Force. During the second half the Air Force mustered a strong come back, but failed to score the needed points to win over Army’s superior offence and defense. “Yongsan Garrison does an ArmyNavy game every year,” said Jim Williams,

“All extra points are 2 point conversions,” Williams said. “If the ball touches the ground or the ball carriers knee or hand or any part of his body touches the ground, the ball is down and the play is dead. On kickoffs, if the player drops the ball it is dead.” Both teams were provided T-shirts and were treated to a barbeque dinner donated by USAG-RC MWR in the Warrior’s Club. “We are all on the same team,” said Brig. Gen. Joe E. Ramirez, assistant division commander for maneuver. “Let us not forget the most respected people of our country are the U.S. military. Be proud of that and be proud to serve and keep our country free.”

Morale, Welfare and Recreation sports director at USAG-Casey. “I wanted to come up with something original and something different. The Soldiers wanted to play football and they wanted to play a formidable team. I called Rob Wilburn, sports director, MWR at Osan and the Air Force team wanted the challenge so they came to Casey to play ball.” Next year the Army flag football team will go to Osan for the next Flag Football Challenge between the Army and the Air Force on the Korean peninsula. “Osan was gracious enough to bring their Airmen on their bus,” Williams said. “We selected a coach from our intramural league to set a practice schedule for the last month, which trained the Army team

to be ready for the challenge from the Air Force.” Players in flag football play with ‘pop flags’ on a belt around their waists. The idea is to snatch the flag from the ball carriers belt instead of tackling him. Tackling is not allowed in flag football. “When they are blocking, they have to keep their hands extended or keep them in,” Williams said. “They cannot go in and out. The teams for this game had 8 players per team instead of 11 in tackle football.” The flag football field is different in size and is metered by lines 20 yards apart. “The field is only 80 yards long,” Williams said. “And it is only 40 yards across, which is standard for flag football.” Flag football doesn’t feature field goals.

time to run this event. It is an endurance event, which takes a lot of effort.” The Rucksack Challenge is the precursor event to the 8th Army Rucksack Challenge, which leads to the Bataan Death March Memorial for the entire U.S. Army held in White Sands N.M. in February. “Our challenge today serves as a program that will give the Soldiers some idea of what to expect, albeit on a greater scale, in February,” Fortin said. “This event is for the fun, so the restrictions for uniform such as they have for the Bataan Death March are not imposed for this event.” The USAG-RC Rucksack Challenge is open to civilians and dependants alike, according to Fortin. “However, the Bataan Death March Memorial is strictly for Soldiers,” Fortin said. “In our event today, the competitors must run with at least 35 pounds on their back. When the competitors cross the finish line, they are weighed with the rucksack and without so we can determine if they were running with the legal weight in their sack. If not, they are disqualified.”

Capt. Robert Fields crosses the finish line first during the annual Rucksack Challenge held on USAG-Casey and Camp Hovey, with a time of 1:03:20. The course is 8 miles round.—U.S. Army Photo By Jim Cunningham

Fields: 1:03:20 in annual Rucksack Challenge by Jim Cunningham USAG-RC Public Affairs CASEY GARRISON—Capt. Rober t Fields of Headquar ters, Headquarters Company1/9th Infantry, places first in USAG-Casey’s annual Rucksack Challenge sponsored by Morale, Welfare, and Recreation. His speed and endurance was followed by a first-place win for the No. 16 team consisting of Fields in 1, 2, Sgt. Guy Cooper, 3, Serge Glushenko, 4, Spc. Tyler Jacobs, and 5, Brandon Buursma. The team time was 1:07:51. The challenge features an 8-mile course that winds around the Casey and Hovey garrisons. A total of 52 Soldiers from the garrisons in Warrior Country participated. Capt. Catherine Miller of A Company 1BSTB, Hovey, placed first in the Women’s Division with a time of 1:25:50. “There is a dual purpose for having the Rucksack Challenge,” said Ron Fortin, MWR director of community recreation division, USAG-RC. “It creates an activity for our Soldiers in the fall time of the year, which is a great

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NEO readiness exercise ‘a success’ 6,000 people process through control center by Pfc. Im Jin-min USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs YONGSAN GARRISON — Yongsan Garrison completed a noncombatant evacuation operation exercise Nov. 15-17, processing more than 6,000 people and rehearsing procedures needed to quickly move noncombatants out of Seoul. “Everything went smoothly. It was another success,” said Capt. Andrew Kletzing, plans and operations officer at the U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. The semi-annual readiness exercise, called “Courageous Channel,” turned Collier Field House into an Evacuation Control Center. Soldiers from Camp Casey set up stations and walked “evacuees” through the exercise, gave briefings, answered questions, and maintained order. “The Soldiers kept it tight; they were in control and efficient,” Kletzing said. “We always go back to find ways to improve to try to make it more rigorous with the Soldiers who are running the exercises so that we can get better,” Kletzing said. One exercise participant, Sgt. Gregory Bell, said, “I think I spent no more than 15 minutes in here. This is very important to my family because just in case a real evacuation happens; they will know exactly what to do.”

Pvt. Justin Ahlers (right) makes sure that Nix Hataitip’s family information is current in the NEO tracking database. She was one of 6,000 people who participated in the semi-annual readiness exercise held at Collier Field House. — U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Im jin-min

For Rosalind Jones, 18th Medical Command, it was her first NEO experience. “I thought it was going to be confusing and unpleasant at first,” she said. “But actually it turned out to be very informative. I especially enjoyed learning about the protective gas masks.” Sgt. Lee Seung-il, a Korean Augmentee to the U.S. Army translator, explained

Holiday fun run

the importance of rehearsing procedures for NEO. “Imagine that if community members haven’t had practice for a long period, then the real thing does happen,” he said. “There may be crowds of confused people, and the evacuation may take three to four times longer. Practice is crucial.” A NEO can be ordered in the event of natural disaster, epidemic, hostilities or any

Garrison officials address traffic, parking concerns USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs

Runners brave the morning cold at the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10K fun run Nov. 17 at Collier Field House. The U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation hosted the event and gave out 17 gift certificates and four turkeys to participants. John Cohr won the men’s category with a time of 33:43. Bee Butler won the women’s division, coming in at 44:11. – U.S. Army Photo By Sgt. Kim Sang-wook.

other reason when the safety of American citizens is deemed at “undue risk” by the U.S. ambassador. USAG-Y officials thanked the USO and the Yongsan Commissary for donating snacks and drinks to the exercise. “The USO and Commissary can always be counted on to support the USAG-Y community and special events,” said Gerald Casey, DPTMS director.

YONGSAN GARRISON — Garrison officials advise drivers who normally use Gates 17 and 52 during the after-work rush hour to use other gates to avoid major traffic congestion leaving post. “This is not something new,” said Ricky Oxendine, director of U.S. Army GarrisonYongsan Directorate of Emergency Services. “Even though we have been working with the Korean National Police to help us alleviate major traffic congestion leaving post, we’re asking the community to consider using other gates, as well.” In October, he said, the KNP changed the green light duration at Gate 17 to 18 seconds. Oxendine said this has alleviated most of the major back-ups at Gate 17, but Gate 52 will continue to be congested because the police manually control the light from 4:30-7:30 p.m. “Their (the KNP) priority is to keep traffic flowing on those major roads,” Oxendine said. “The road outside Gate 52 is a major thoroughfare through Seoul. The KNP has agreed to take into consideration our needs versus the needs to keep the city traffic moving to allow our folks to leave

the Garrison, and we will continue to communicate with them, as well.”

MPs to ticket parking violators In a related traffic matter, Military Police will begin ticketing drivers parked illegally near the Quartermaster Laundry and behind the Seoul American Elementary School. The laundry near Gate 17 provides 15minute parking spaces for customers, but these spaces are frequently used for other purposes, Oxendine said. MPs will monitor the area and issue citations to violators. In addition, Stove Avenue behind the elementary school has become a traffi c concern, Oxendine said. From 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:45 p.m., Stove Avenue becomes a one-way street to accommodate school buses. “We’ve got people parking there and trying to drive through there, creating traffic and safety problems. This prevents school buses from driving in.” He said MPs added an additional patrol to control traffic and ticket violators.

http://yongsan.korea.army.mil News and information for the U.S. Military community in Seoul

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Garrison holds first CFC extravaganza Community donates $300,000 to date

by Sgt. Jung Jae-hoon USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs

Youths show off their talents at the U.S.Army Garrison-Yongsan’s first Combined Federal Campaign extravaganza Nov. 15. (Top) Youth Services cheerleaders rally the crowd. (Above) Child and Youth Services Skies ballet dancers perform at the event. (Left) Skies children perform Kumdo, the art of Japanese swordsmanship. – U.S. Army Photos By Sgt. Jung Jae-hoon

YONGSAN GARRISON — More than 60 community members turned out for the first annual U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Combined Federal Campaign Extravaganza Nov. 15 at the Seoul American High School gym. The program – organized by the USAGYongsan Command Group, the Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and Child and Youth Services – promoted the CFC and highlighted how the fund supports community activities and youth programs. After Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Diane Foster welcomed participants and guests, the 8th U.S. Army Band performed music before youths displayed their talents. Seoul American Elementary and Middle School girls showed their talents with jazz and ballet dancing and a cheerleading performance. Boys overwhelmed the crowd by smashing wooden plates and spinning swords during the hapkido, tae kwon do, and kumdo (Japanese swordsmanship) demonstrations. “I really enjoyed the show,” said Spc. Edward Webb, chaplain assistant at the USAG-Y South Post Chapel. “It was fun to watch the performance while helping out for the campaign.” As of Nov. 19, Yongsan community had donated $302,100 to CFC charities through the CFC-Overseas campaign.

USAG-Y honors American Indian, Alaska heritage by Sgt. Jung Jae-hoon USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs

YONGSAN GARRISON — With dancing and drumbeats, the Yongsan community celebrated American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month Nov. 16 at the Main Post Club. Since 1994, America has set aside the month of November to learn about and honor the heritage, history, and traditions of American Indians. U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan organized the ceremony to “honor American and Alaskan heritage,” said Sgt. 1st Class Myra Watson, USAG-Y equal opportunity advisor, to about 70 attendees. “November is a month we celebrate American natives and Alaskan natives.” “Today’s theme is honoring warriors, past and present,” said Lt. Col. Stacy Pilgreen, deputy chief of the Special U.S. Liaison Activity-Korea office. Pilgreen, the guest speaker, is a descendant of Oklahoma Indians. He explained the Native Americans’ contributions to the United States and its wars, such as using Choctaw Soldiers to transmit secret tactical messages in their native tongue during World War II. “They are known as the ‘Code Talkers,’” said Pilgreen. “The Germans never broke the code. Native Americans have helped with their courage, strength, and knowledge in many battles.” According to the National Security

Boy Scouts from the Order of the Arrow-Chosun Chapter perform a traditional war dance at the American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month ceremony Nov. 16. (Below) Lt. Col. Stacy Pilgreen, a descendant of Oklahoma Indians, was the event guest speaker. – U.S. Army Photo By Sgt. Jung Jae-hoon

Agency’s Code Talker Exhibit, during World War I, the Army arranged for two Choctaw Soldiers to become radio communicators. They used common words to replace military terms and spoke Choctaw, thus becoming the first Code Talkers. “It was very interesting but also educational,” said Russell Obey, who attended the ceremony. “I was really impressed by the native Americans’ contributions to American history. For me, Lt. Col. Pilgreen was very proud of his heritage, and I was happy to see that.”

THE MORNING CALM

News & Notes Free Concert for Beethoven Lovers The Korean American Association sponsors a special concert for all Yongsan community members and families Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Seoul Arts Center. The Korean Senior Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven selections. Reserve free tickets before Nov. 26 by calling the U.S. Forces Korea Public Affairs Office at 723-4685 or e-mail [email protected]. Buses will leave at 6 p.m. and provide round-trip transportation from Main Post to the concert for $3 per person. 8th U.S. Army Band Holiday Concert A holiday concert is Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Seoul American High School auditorium. The 8th U.S. Army Band will perform with the Korean Military Academy Band and the Korean Military National Defense Band. Admission is free. Army Family Team Building An Army Family Team Building level 3 seminar is scheduled for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 4-6 at the Army Community Services Building. Army Family Team Building strives to help families learn, cope, and understand the challenges of living in today’s military lifestyle. Register by Nov. 29. For information, call 738-3617. USO News USO Tour Highlights -Nov. 27 & 29: Panmunjom (DMZ) & Tunnel Tour -Nov. 30: Ganghwa Island Tour -Dec. 1-2: Hot Spring Overnight Tour -Dec. 2: Insadong & Seoul Tour/ Incheon Tour  Jesus Christ Super Star tickets are on sale at USO ITT. The world tour of Jesus Christ Super Star is coming to Jamsil Gymnasium Dec. 12-18. This is the first time it plays in English in Korea. Don’t miss this ironic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.  USO-Korea offers one-day ski trips for skiers and snowboarders. For more information, call 724-7003 DSN.  A treasure hunt contest starts Dec. 3 with two chances to find the USO treasure and win a $500 AAFES gift card. Go to http:// www.uso.org/Korea for information.  USO Santa is coming to the Yongsan Main Exchange Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Santa will make a special arrival Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. with free snacks and hot chocolate for. For information, call 724-7781.  Discounted concert tickets: Linkin Park Nov. 30.  You can pick up a copy of the USO monthly calendars at the Main Exchange, Commissary, Dragon Hill Lodge, and Town House. Also, you can view the monthly calendar at the USO website www.uso.org/ korea. For information, call the USO ITT office at 724-7003. Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies The U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan will officially light Christmas trees with music, prices and visits by Santa. - Yongsan Garrison: Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. - K-16 Air Base: Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. - Hannam Village: Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. Details and locations will be announced in next week’s Morning Calm. TRICARE in Korea website The 18th Medical Command has a new Tricare web site located on its main home page at http://www.seoul.amedd.army.mil. located under the Hot Links section.

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SMOKE

OUT by Pfc. Im Jin-min USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs

(Top) Fifth-graders at Seoul American Elementary School learn what a smoked-out lung feels like. Health promotion experts spent Nov. 14 educating the children on the dangers of tobacco use as part of Great American Smokeout activities. — U.S. Army Photo By Kenneth Fidler (Above) Maj. Conreau Williams administers a carbon monoxide test to 2nd Lt. Daniel Alemany at the Smokeout information booth at the Main Exchange Nov. 15. — U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Im Jin-min

Smoking-related ills kill 438,000 annually Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of “secondhand” exposure to tobacco’s carcinogens. Smoking costs the United States over

$167 billion each year in health-care costs including $92 billion in mortalityrelated productivity loses and $75 billion in direct medical expenditures or an average of $3,702 per adult smoker. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoking is directly responsible for approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths. Source: American Lung Association

Army-Navy flag football match set for Dec. 1 at MWR field The 2007 Army-Navy Flag Football game will be played at 10 a.m. Dec. 1 at the MWR field adjacent to the Seoul American High School. Community members are invited to cheer on their team. For information, call 738-8608. Last year, Army shut out Navy 28-0 (see photos at right) to take home the Commander’s Cup for the fifth year in a row. — U.S. Army File Photos By David McNally

November event takes on tobacco

YONGSAN GARRISON — Had that first morning drag yet? How about waiting a few hours? Maybe a day? Last week, 18th Medical Command health promotion officials at Yongsan Garrison tried to help smokers permanently kick the habit as part of Great American Smokeout events. An information booth at the Main Exchange Nov. 15 helped give smokers a chance to think twice about their habits and health, and experts taught fifth-graders at Seoul American Elementary School just how bad nicotine can harm the body. “Today is Tobacco-free day, a day to challenge those who smoke to give it up for just one day,” said Maj. Conreau Williams, public health nurse at the 18th Medical Command, a Smokeout events coordinator. “We are offering information on tobacco product’s deadly risks and urging smokers to quit smoking,” she said. She encouraged smokers to sign a pledge to stay smoke-free for a day. “We also target non-smokers who come with their smoker friends and have them sign an adoption paper,” she added. As part of the week’s activities, the Adopt-a-Smoker program used the buddy system to help a friend quit for at least 24 hours. Spc. Jeremy Jones Sr. pledged to try to help his friend, Pvt. Cori Batts, quit.

“This pretty much says I will try to help him quit smoking,” Jones said of the pledge. “I’ll be always around him, maybe give him a treat every time he endures the desire.” Batts said, “I know it’s not good, so maybe I can stop for a day, at least.” Another smoker, 2nd Lt. Daniel Alemany, said he’s considered quitting smoking for some time, but until now didn’t look for help. “I just had to stop and see what the Army offered to help smokers quit,” he said. “I know I’m increasing my cigarettes each day and want to stop before it gets worse.” The Great American Smokeout is an annual, national event designed to help smokers quit for one day and help them further understand the harmful effects of nictone. Each year in communities across America and in military communities overseas, health promotion experts design activities to help raise awareness of the harmful effects of nicotine. That awareness also starts young. At the Seoul American Elementary School on Nov. 15, fifth-graders got a close-up look at the effects of tobacco on a human lung. A simulated smoker’s lung showed the difference in color and texture resulting from prolonged smoking. “That lung was nasty,” said 10-year-old Jairas Hampton. “I’m never going to smoke in my life.” “I felt like puking,” said Sandra Nettrour, fellow classmate. “My dad said that if you start, it’s hard to stop, and you end up dying.”

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THE MORNING CALM PAID ADVERTISING

Thanksgiving thoughts

T

hanksgiving is the gateway to our special American holiday season. We are fortunate that even though we are thousands of miles from home, we live in a community that works hard to ensure we can continue to enjoy those traditions. I hope that when you sat down to break bread with your family, loved ones, friends old and new, co-workers, and neighbors, you took a moment to remember why we have this holiday. Explorers and settlers arriving to America often gave thanks for the food they found. Today, we remain grateful to live in a country of liberty and abundance borne on the fruits of their labor. Thanksgiving is also a time to remember

our many blessings and to celebrate the opportunities that freedom affords. Though we serve on freedom’s frontier here in Korea, remember your fellow Warriors who are helping to build democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere our nation needs us. Say a prayer for them and keep them in your thoughts. Thanksgiving is also the season when families traditionally come together. For many of you, this may not be possible, one of the many sacrifices you make to defend the freedoms we hold so dear. Thank you for your dedicated service. Beth Anne and I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving Day and we thank you deeply for all you do.

A community angel

PAID ADVERTISING

Tara Hall looks for an “angel” from the Angel Tree on display at Army Community Services on Yongsan Garrison. Community members can help make a child’s holiday brighter by providing a gift through the Angel Tree program, which collects and delivers the gifts to deserving community children. An Angel Tree is available at the Hannam Village ACS, as well. The deadline to pick an angel and return the gift to ACS is Dec. 5. This is part of the 2007 Community of Sharing program that helps families with meals and toys during the holiday season. For the Thanksgiving holiday, the program assisted 82 families with meals and food items. For information, call 738-7505. — U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Im Jin-min

NOVEMBER 23, 2007

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NEWS

IMCOM-K • PAGE 14 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

THE MORNING CALM

Translating the language of customs laws in Korea by Capt. Sean Rogers Yongsan Garrison Legal Assistance Attorney

W

hat are Customs Laws? Customs laws deal with regulating the flow of goods in and out of a country and collecting fees for imports and exports. The Republic of Korea enacted its first customs laws in 1949 as the Republic of Korea Customs Act. Since then, the ROK has amended the Customs Act more than 35 times and it contains well over 300 articles. Don’t we have an agreement in place that gives Servicemembers exceptions to ROK customs laws? The Status of Forces Agreement does provide some exceptions to ROK Customs scrutiny. United States Forces Korea members are allowed, under Article IX of the SOFA, an exemption from customs duties and charges for their furniture, household goods, and other personal property brought in for their private use when they first arrive. Article IX also provides the same exemption to dependents arriving separately at some later date. These goods still qualify for the exemption from customs duties and charges even if they arrive in multiple shipments, and the exemption lasts for up to six months

from their arrival. This exemption also applies throughout the USFK members’ tour of duty for vehicles and parts imported for private use, and for reasonable amounts of personal effects and household goods which would normally be bought in the U.S. for private use if they are mailed into the ROK through U.S. military post offices. While Article IX allows you to bring in personal property without paying customs charges on them, it is not an exemption from other customs laws that bar you from importing certain prohibited goods. So, what ROK customs laws should I know about when returning to the ROK from trips abroad? Under Article 96 of the ROK Customs Act, goods that you carry by hand or send separately are free from customs duties if they are deemed appropriate based on your entry purpose, stay period, occupation, and other circumstances. Republic of Korea Customs officials have considerable discretion in applying this rule. In practice, ROK Customs officials do not impose duties on what they deem to be a reasonable quantity of items brought into Korea for personal use. What amount is deemed to be “reasonable” may vary between customs officials. The key factor to remember is the customs officials have considerable

discretion in applying this rule. And remember that this too is not an exemption from any other customs law that prohibits certain goods from importation. That’s the second time you referred to prohibited goods – tell me more. Article 234 of the ROK Customs Act and the Trademark Law prohibit the following: “Books, publications, drawings, records, films, videos, sculptures and other similar goods which disrupt the constitutional order, disturb the public safety and order or corrupt public morals.” Article 234’s main focus is prohibiting the importation of pornography. There are additional prohibitions that you may encounter when returning from travel abroad. Article 235 of the ROK Customs Act prohibits you from importing or exporting goods to and from Korea that infringe on any registered trademark right. Examples of goods that infringe on registered trademark rights are “bootlegged” or illegally copied DVDs and CDs, and counterfeit purses, watches, shoes and clothing, to name a few. Even if you are able to find such goods for sale here in Korea, Article 235 prohibits you from bringing them into this country. Violations of Articles 234 or 235 may result in confiscation of the goods, criminal

penalties, fines, and/or placement on international hold. The Korea Customs Service has a zerotolerance policy on such goods. That means if you purchase, for example, just one pair of brand name sunglasses that is a fake version of the real thing, carrying the glasses back into Korea violates the ROK Customs Act and the Trademark Law subjecting you to the above stated penalties upon reentry into the country. This article is for general informational purposes only. There are many customs laws covering a wide range of conduct, therefore you may need to seek the assistance of a legal assistance attorney to thoroughly consider your specific issues. For further questions about ROK customs laws or other legal matters, contact the Yongsan Legal Assistance Office at DSN 738-8111 to make an appointment to talk with an attorney. We are located in Bldg. 4106, Rm. 229 (the ACS building) on South Post. Our hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Thursday 1 – 3:30 p.m.. Remember, seeing a lawyer early may not only solve a problem you have, it may resolve or avoid a problem in the future. Seeing your lawyer early is practicing “Preventive Law.”

November 23-29

Tuesday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Casey 730-7354 Henry 768-7724 Humphreys 753-7716 Hovey 730-5412 Kunsan 782-4987 Osan 784-4930 Red Cloud 732-6620 Stanley 732-5565

Sydney White (PG13) 8:30 p.m. Halloween (R) 7 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 8:30 p.m. The Kingdom (R) 7 p.m.

Fred Claus (PG) 6:30 p.m. 3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

Fred Claus (PG) 7:30 p.m. Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 9 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 9 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 9 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 9 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 9 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 9 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 9 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 7 p.m. The Brave One (R) 8:30 p.m.

Fred Claus (PG) 7 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

Fred Claus (PG) 7 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 7 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 8:30 p.m.

Halloween (R) 8:30 p.m.

No Show

No Show

No Show

3:10 to Yuma (R) 6 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 9:30 p.m.

Dan in Real Life (PG13) 7 p.m.

30 Days of Night (R) 8:30 p.m..

Mr. Woodcock (PG13) 7 p.m.

Mr. Woodcock (PG13) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

Fred Claus (PG) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 9 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 8 p.m.

Superbad (R) 7 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

No Show

The Kingdom (R) 8 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 9 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

Bourne Ultimatum (PG13) 7 p.m.

Yongsan I

Wonder Emporium (G) 7 p.m.

Wonder Emporium (G) 8 p.m.

Bee Movie (PG) 8 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

Today

The Kingdom (R) 7:30 p.m. No Show

No Show 3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Thursday

3:10 to Yuma (R) 7:30 p.m. No Show

Sydney White (PG13) 7:30 p.m. No Show

Wonder Emporium (G) 7 p.m.

Wonder Emporium (G) 7 p.m. 3:10 to Yuma (R) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

Sydney White (PG13) 7 p.m.

Yongsan II

Wonder Emporium (G) 7 p.m.

The Invasion (PG13) 6:30 p.m.

The Invasion (PG13) 6:30 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 6 p.m.

The Kingdom (R) 6 p.m.

1408 (PG13) 6 p.m.

1408 (PG13) 6 p.m.

Yongsan III 738-7389

Rush Hour 3 (PG13) 6 p.m.

Halloween (R) 6:30 p.m.

Halloween (R) 6 p.m.

Chuck and Larry (PG13) 6 p.m.

Chuck and Larry (PG13) 6 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 6 p.m.

3:10 to Yuma (R) 6 p.m.

CHAPLAIN

NOVEMBER 23, 2007

Area I Worship Services Protestant Services Collective Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday

1000 1000 1030 1100 1100 1100

Gospel Gospel

Sunday Sunday

1100 Camp Casey Memorial Chapel 1100 Camp Stanley Chapel

COGIC

Sunday

1230 CRC Warrior Chapel

KATUSA Sunday Sunday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Thursday

Camp Casey Stone Chapel Camp Stanley Chapel Camp Casey West Casey Chapel CRC Warrior Chapel Camp Casey Crusader Chapel Camp Hovey Chapel

1930 1300 1900 1840 1800 1830 1830 1830

CRC Warrior Chapel Camp Jackson Auditorium Camp Stanley Chapel Camp Casey Stone Chapel Camp Castle Chapel Camp Casey Memorial Chapel Camp Hovey Chapel Camp Casey West Casey Chapel

1300 0900 1215 0930

Camp Stanley Chapel CRC Warrior Chapel Camp Casey West Casey Chapel Camp Hovey Chapel

Catholic Mass Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday

Sunday

Where does your help come from when you need it? Allowing others to help you allows them to serve by Chaplain (Maj.) Carol Highsmith Area I Chaplain

W

hy do you suppose it is difficult to ask for help? Often, we’d rather be self-reliant than acknowledge our need for assistance. The other day, I was moving a really heavy box from my room on the first floor to the storage room on the second floor. I remember debating in my head whether

“During this season of Thanksgiving, I’d like to encourage you to acknowledge your need for help. When you do this, you invite God to intervene and support you.” Chaplain (Maj.) Carol Highsmith Area I Chaplain

Later Day Saints 1400 Camp Casey West Casey Chapel

2ID Division Chaplain (LTC) Frank Jackson: [email protected], DSN 732-7998 USAG-Red Cloud Chaplain (MAJ) Carol Highsmith: carol. [email protected], 732-6169

IMCOM-K • PAGE 15 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

I should do this myself or whether I should simply ask a friend for help. Eventually, I concluded that I could do this task myself. With that as my conclusion, I proceeded to pull and push the box slowly down the hallway to the stairway. After giving a sigh of relief, I looked up the flight of stairs and I began to wonder whether I really could move the big box up the two flights of stairs.

After shoring up my strength, I decided that I could – I just needed to do so slowly. And with that, I proceeded to huff and puff and began to drag the heavy box up the stairs. Eventually, I began to make progress. As I did so, I began feeling rather pompous and proud. After all I was doing this all by myself! In that audacious moment, God showed up and taught me a lesson about humility. Why doesn’t that surprise me? Right when I was feeling as though I didn’t need anybody’s help, this guy shows up. Actually he was just passing through – he was going up the stairs to his room. However, when he saw me huffing and puffing my way up the stairs, he bent down and threw the box on his shoulder and briskly walked up the stairs! Quickly, I followed behind him and eagerly opened the storage room door so that my new friend could take the box where it belonged. After placing the box in my storage area, the man looked at me and smiled. And as he smiled, it seemed as though God reminded me that it really is okay, and actually it is even a good thing, to humble myself and ask for help. When I do this, then I allow another person the opportunity to serve and to assist me. That also is a good thing. During this season of Thanksgiving, I’d like to encourage you to acknowledge your need for help. When you do this, you invite God to intervene and support you. And oh, by the way, don’t forget to say “thank you”. Happy Thanksgiving!

IMCOM-K • PAGE 16 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

NEWS

THE MORNING CALM

Military spouses watch as Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Gwen Bates, middle, a military spouse representative, and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao sign a proclamation in the Pentagon Nov. 14 that will establish funding for education and training for eligible military spouses in eight states. – Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess

New program to boost Army’s employment aid to spouses by Gary Sheftick Army News Service Military spouses watch as Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Gwen Bates, middle, a military spouse representative, and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao sign a proclamation in the Pentagon Nov. 14 that will establish funding for education and training for eligible military spouses in eight states. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 15, 2007) - The Departments of Defense and Labor announced a joint program Wednesday to provide military spouses with resources to help find jobs, receive training and launch careers. A two-year pilot program that begins in January will provide $35 million in resources at 18 installations in eight states. Five of the posts that will participate in test of the “Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative” are Army installations at Fort Carson, Colo. ; Fort Benning, Ga.;Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. “Today we embark on a landmark program that will open the doors to our military spouses for more fulfilling careers, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said as he announced the initiative at the Pentagon. He and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao signed a proclamation to support the initiative. “We understand how hard it is for families of military men and women who have to be ready to move anywhere in the world every couple of years,” he said, adding that packing and relocating is often at the expense of spouses’ careers. Secretary Gates said moving makes it difficult for military spouses to “navigate the career licensure and certification requirements that go with most professions.” He said the new program will help spouses obtain credentials for “high-growth, portable occupations” such as education, health care, information technology and financial services. Eligible spouses will get reimbursed for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training under the new program. These include costs for tuition, fees, books, equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees in a number of professions. The program also covers the cost of renewing existing credentials and licenses due to a military move. Spouses of active-duty servicemembers grades E1 through E5 and O1 to O3 will be

eligible to participate. They must have a high school or general education diploma. Army Education Centers at the five installations testing the program will have more information about the initiative said Patricia Wells, the Army’s Employment Readiness Program Manager at the Pentagon. She said Employment Readiness Managers at the five installations have also received training in the initiative and will be ready to help spouses apply for the program. Ms. Wells said the Army has been helping military spouses with employment resources for more than 20 years. The Army’s Employment Readiness Program, or ERP, provides job search assistance, job skills training and information and referral services for Soldiers, Family members and eligible military ID card holders. It provides assistance with resume and resumix writing, interviewing techniques, dressing for success tips and networking. Job skills training includes basic computer training, an overview of the federal employment process, and a class in entrepreneurship. The ERP managers work with installation Civilian Personnel Offices, community agencies, contractors, and local Army Spouse Employment Partnership, or ASEP representatives. Under ASEP, the Army has a partnership with Fortune 500 companies and federal agencies who pledged their support to increase employment and career opportunities for Army spouses. At present there are 31 Fortune 500 companies and five partners from federal and military agencies participating in the program. Between September 2006 and September 2007, more than 7,200 military spouses were hired by ASEP partners, bringing the current total number to more than 23,000 spouses hired through the partnership. The Military Spouse Job Search Web site, www.msjs.org was launched in July 2005 as a portal for military spouse resumes and a place for ASEP partners and registered military spouse-friendly employers to post their job vacancies. The new DOD and Department of Labor initiative, however, adds funding for education and training that had not been available before under the Army programs, Ms. Wells explained. For more information on the new initiative, visit www.army.mil.

MWR

IMCOM-K • PAGE 18 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

THE MORNING CALM

Gamers get ready for Regional Playoffs Special to The Morning Calm Weekly Morale, Welfare, and Recreation is hosting the first Korea Region Gamers’ Extravaganza Dec. 1–2, at Camp Humphreys CAC and Tommy D’s. The concept of the Gamers’ Extravaganza is to consolidate three popular gaming activities – Frag Fest, Xbox and Texas Hold’em – into a fun-packaged weekend of gaming heaven. With every flip of a card and every drop of a chip, the tension and magnitude of each decision will captivate contenders in the Texas Hold’em portion of the Extravaganza. Approximately 80 per USAG players will gather to test their skills, strategy and luck. Although there will be no buy-in, and, no exchange of money, what these rounders will win is so much better: bragging rights to the number 1, region best Texas Hold’em Player and prizes worth over thousands of dollars. No wonder the Texas Hold’em craze that swept the United States has officially marked its territory on the

Army installations here in the peninsula. Frag Fest, the biggest LAN party, is the ultimate venue where fraggers can prove their skills in teams or on their own rig, against the best Korea has to offer. With room for over 90 attendees, computer gamers and enthusiasts will come together, computer in hand, to participate in interactive gaming. In conjunction, over 40 players will be able to leap forward in high-definition gaming and entertainment experiences by participating in the Xbox tournaments. Players will fully engage in a gaming experience that is more expansive, dramatic and lifelike, where the possibilities are limitless and their imagination knows no boundaries. With so many like-minded gamers under one roof having a great time, the atmosphere will be electric! Texas Hold ‘Em registration begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Camp Humphreys, Tommy D’s. A daily maintenance fee of $25 will include buffet, snacks, and beverages. Elimination rounds begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday

and play down continues through Sun. First place prize is valued at $2,500 and other great prizes will be awarded to the Top 25. Frag Fest and Xbox registrations will be held at the Camp Humphreys CAC on Sat, Dec. 1, 11 a.m. Day one of Frag Fest includes team play of Battlefield 2, Company of Heroes, Counterstrike, and Swat 4. Day two includes individual game play of Unreal Tournament, Enemy Territory, Supreme Commander, and Dawn of War. Xbox play includes Halo 3 and Madden 2008. Food and drinks will be provided. Special thanks to our generous sponsors – US Airline Alliance, Miller Brewing Company, USO Korea, Lotte Hotel Seoul, Hyatt Hotel and Dragon Hill Lodge. Extravaganza is open to authorized MWR patrons 18 years or older. For more information, please call the MWR Recreational Office at DSN 723-2246 or Business Programs at DSN 725-5062.

12 Soldiers remain in Operation Rising Star singing contest, 2 from Korea Region by Tim Hipps FMWRC Public Affairs A dozen Soldiers sang their way into the semifinals of the 2007 Operation Rising Star contest. You can help select the final six. Online voting at www.OpRisingStar.com through Nov. 26 will determine six finalists who will vie for honors as the inaugural Operation Rising Star. Thirty-five installations participated in the singing contest based on the premises of FOX television’s American Idol. Army

Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities played host to local competitions in September and October. The competition was open to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel from all branches of the U.S. military. Contestants performed a cappella before a panel of three judges before working their audience. The judges and audience each determined 50 percent of the contestants’ final scores. All 12 semifinalists have strong music backgrounds. Sgt. Richard Scarlett of Baumholder,

Germany, takes his music very seriously. “I’ve spent most of my life aspiring to become a major recording artist,” Scarlett said. “I love to sing more than anything.” Second Lt. Jacqueline Evans of U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud, South Korea, hails from Monroe, N.C., where she developed her passion for singing gospel, R&B, soul and playing the piano. Pfc. Lawrence Lee of U.S. Army Garrison Daegu, Korea; Master Sgt. Kevin Crawford of Camp Victory, Iraq; Sgt. 1st Class Dendre Wright of Fort Bliss, Texas; Spc. Dwayne

Villanueva of Fort Wainwright, Alaska; and Sgt. Nicolas Gooch of Fort Lewis, Wash., all expressed similar comments on the Operation Rising Star website. They complete the list of semifinalists. The online voting window for the six finalists will be open Nov. 27 through Dec. 3. The winner of the inaugural Operation Rising Star contest, to be announced Dec. 7, will receive $2,000, with $1,000 and $500 going to the runner-up and thirdplace finisher.

November 23, 2007

AREA III

USAG-H • PAGE 21 http://imcom.korea.army.mil

Humphreys spotlight: Spc. Bryce W. Christensen A Day in the Life of a 92 Golf - Food Service Specialist by Andre Butler USAG-H Public Affairs Office The 527th Military Intelligence Battalion Dining Facility, “The Red Dragon” is participating in the finals for this year’s Philip A. Connelly Award. Having won Eighth Army’s competition for Large Category, the 527th team is one of eight finalists participating Army-wide. How did they do it? Just ask Spc. Bryce W. Christensen, a food service specialist for 527th. Humphreys Garrison - Age 25 Hometown: Lenoxia, Iowa Job: Food Service Specialist Time in service: four years - six months Time in country: 21 months Q: It’s 5 a.m., what motivates you to come in this early in the morning? A: Serving the Soldiers, It makes me feel good being able to give them hot chow everyday. I have to get out of the bed and get to work in order to do that. Q: Do you ever get tired of doing this – day after day after day after day? A. Some days it can take a toll, but you’ve got to stay motivated and dedicated to your job. That is what this is about. Q: How does this type of attitude tie into winning the 8th Army competition, and being nominated as a finalist in the Department of the Army Phillip A. Award competition? A: As a team we had to maintain our focus on what we were doing. We prepped hard for 8th Army’s competition and we had to maintain our standards, which are above normal standards set for dining facilities, throughout because the Army’s overall inspection was a month or two away. So it took a lot of dedication and commitment from everyone here. Q: Some may say that you only won the local competition because of this new

Spc. Bryce W. Christensen, a food service specailist, prepares pizza in the Red Dragon Dining Facility. — U.S. Army Photos By Andre Butler. multi-million dollar dining facility. What is your take on it? A: Others may look at this facility and say “Wow!” This is a really nice place to work, but remember we are the ones who have to maintain it. Day in and day out, we have to make sure everything – all of our operations are running the way they are suppose to. You have to know your job and what you are doing no matter where you work. That’s the key. Someone can always give you the tools, but it’s up to you to know how and when to use them. Q: As a specialist, knowing that some day you will probably have to run a

dining facility somewhere as a future noncommissioned officer, where does this leave you? A: I love what I do. If I make mistakes it’s up to me to correct them. When I’m in charge of a DFAC, I’m going to tell my Soldiers the same things Sergeant Pitts tells us -- you’ve got to work as a team -- you’ve got to work together -- keep in the fight no matter where you are in the world. Q: What are some of the things that you’ve learn since enlisting in the Army? A: Commitment, dedication and budgeting – I have become a lot more responsible since I’ve joined. The Army has

helped me learn how to budget everything – time and money. Q: Who are you? Tell me about Bryce W. Christensen. A. I’m a very outgoing human being. I’m not afraid to express myself. If I’m talking to one of my superiors, I will say what it is I have to say respectfully. I am responsible for who I am. I love what I do as a Soldier. Q: It’s been eight hours, what is the first thing you’re going to do at the end of your shift? A: PT. Note: Sgt. 1st Class Wanda M. Pitts is the Red Dragon Dining Facility manager.

Spc. Bryce W. Christensen enjoys being a food service specialist. Despite the early hours, Bryce likes his work because he enjoys serving Soldiers and providing them hot chow daily (left) Bryce prepares sausage patties before the morning rush at the Red Dragon Nov.19.

USAG-H • PAGE 22 www.imcom.korea.army.mil

News & Notes USAG Humphreys Army Family Covenant Signing Ceremony Postponed At the request of Senior Army Leaders to allow for their participation, the Humphreys’ Army Family Covenant Signing Ceremony is postponed until further notice. An announcement with the new date and time will be released to the local community following notification from higher headquarters. Virtues Volunteers Needed at USO Korea The Virtues English Program allows active-duty service members to volunteer two Saturdays per month (second and fourthSaturday). Being a volunteer for the Virtues English classes will help to satisfy your Good Neighbor Program requirement. For more information, call Mi-Hwa and Minna at 724-7781.

AREA III

THE MORNING CALM

Humphreys hosts youth tournament by Mike Mooney USAG-H MWR Marketing

H U M P H R EY S G A R R I S O N — Lightning struck Soldier Field here Saturday, ushered in by the strong foot of Willie Rios, who collected the coveted hat trick in leading the Yongsan Lightning to the 13-15 year old Youth Soccer crown. Earlier in the day, it was a penalty kick from Andrew Clark that enabled the Yongsan Stars to win the 11-12 year old title. Teams from Yongsan, Osan Air Base and

U.S. Army Reservists Wanted The 343rd Support Center, USAG Humphreys, is seeking Soldiers interested in continuing to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves. Train one weekend a month and 14 days in the summer and continue to receive many of the benefits of serving on active duty. Contact Richard Scott, 753-8634, [email protected] for additional information.

Daegu gathered on the artificial turf fields at Humphreys to complete the IMCOM-K Youth Soccer season, but both the 11-12 and 13-15 year old tournaments featured a pair of Yongsan teams in the finals. The Lightning speared the Sharks, 5-2, in the older division while Stars outshined the Dragons, 2-1, in the younger group. “The kids did everything I asked of them,” said Lightning Coach Michael Nuter, “and had a great season as a result. This gives us three consecutive championship titles and lets us finished with an 11-1-1 record.” “We beat everyone else. We just couldn’t get by the Lightning,” said Sharks Coach Jose Naputi, whose fish trailed 3-2 at halftime but couldn’t stop the Lightning in the final 30 minutes. “We played hard, and we have nothing to be ashamed of.” In Third Place games, Daegu went home with both trophies. Daegu nipped the Osan Spartans, 2-1, in the 11-12 Division, while Daegu topped CMP of Osan 2-0 in the older division.

Rios had the 3-goal hat trick in the Lightning victory, with Jay Han adding a goal and two assists, Mitchell Lee a goal and assist and both Rebecca Luna and Samuel Morris assists in the victory. Dea’Sean Ober collected both Sharks goals, with Joshua Naputi collecting an assist. In the 11-12 year old final, Clark had the winning penalty kick while Malik Prioleau had a goal for the Stars. Andrew Lee collected the only score for the losing Dragons. Coach Jennie Mathisen was satisfied, featuring a wall-to-wall smile that shined like the full moon as she celebrated with her victorious Stars. In opening round action in the 11-12 year old division, the Stars blackened the Osan Spartans, 2-0, while the Dragons slew Daegu, 3-1. The Sharks chomped CMP of Osan, 3-0, in the 13-15 opener, while the Lightning flashed past Daegu, 4-2.

University of Phoenix November Promotion Special Sign up and start your class during the month of November and save approximately $200. With the promotion you would receive: (1) Application Fee $45 waived (2) resource Fee (First Class Books) $95 waived and (3) Receive your required writing manuals free of charge. Why wait, sign up now and reserve your class slot. The deadline to take advantage of this special is Nov. 20. For more information please contact the USAG Humphreys On-Site Manager at DSN 753-8920. Humphreys Child Developement Center Child and Youth Services, Child Development Center is currently looking for Program Assistants to fill full-time, part-time, and flex’s positions, which are willing to support the CYS program hours, 5:15 a.m. - 6 p.m. Salary ranges from $10 - $13.12 per hour based on education level (Child Development Associates, completion of the Army Youth Practicum, possession of AA degree or higher with major emphasis on Early Childhood Education. Go to http:// cpol.army.mil for the job Industry Certification Offered USAG Humphreys is the latest location available to administer required industry certification. There are tests offered for IT, HR, and many other skills. The testing center is located at the Area III DOIM in Bldg. 1272, Room 112. The center will be available for testing M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. To schedule an exam call 754-3608. Road Closure A section of Perimeter Road will be closed through Dec. 18. The section running from the curved intersection from Bldg. S-2055 to Bldg. S-1016 will be shut down for repaving. Please send us Stories and Photos To submit info for publishing in The Morning Calm Weekly, USAG Humphreys common pages, call 754-6132, 8847 or 8598. Or e-mail [email protected].

Gene Choi (62) of the Yongsan Sharks blocks Mithchell Lee (73) of the Lightning during tournament action.

Maurice Campbell (right) of the Yongsan Lightning jukes the Sharks Sarah Wolfgang (66) to a screeching stop during 13-15 year old play in the Youth Finals. — Photos By Mike Mooney.

HAES students compete in poster contest Students at Humphreys American Elementary School were introduced to the new Army slogan, “Army Strong, Family Strong” during Domestic Abuse Prevention Month. The students were encouraged to enter a poster contest sponsored by Army Community Services Family Advocacy Program with the theme of “What it means to be Army Strong, Family Strong.” Thirty-six students entered posters for the contest with five awards being given. The judging was done by members of the community. The winning posters are currently on display at HAES south campus. We extend congratulations to all the students who participated and especially to our top five winners and we would like to thank the sponsors of the contest. The winners are (front row, left ) Madison Walker, David Cho (row two, left to right), Sydnee Allen, Emily Cox and Brianna Pace. — Photo By Myra Taylor.

November 23, 2007

AREA III

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1-44th ADA now calls Korean Peninsula ‘home’ by Pfc. Gretchen N. Goodrich 35th Air Defense Artillery Public Affairs Office CAMP CARROLL —The 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade welcomed a new battalion to the peninsula in a transfer of authority and change of responsibility ceremony inside the Crown Jewel gym Nov. 16. The 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, officially replaced the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery during the ceremony by uncasing their colors while 2-1 ADA cased theirs, symbolizing the change. The 2-1 ADA Soldiers will be heading to Fort Hood, Texas, while those from 1-44th ADA will now be providing air defense support for the southern region of the Korean peninsula. “2-1 ADA has quickly and efficiently integrated 1-44th into their daily routine and mission responsibilities. This transfer of authority has represented a seamless exchange of the responsibility for the protection of the USFK commander’s critical assets,” said Lt. Col. Christopher T. Burgess, 1-44 ADA commander. Arriving in three separate stages, the new Soldiers have taken the past months to transition into the new area while assuming duty. “They have inventoried property, reviewed plans, traded barracks rooms, passed on lessons learned and exchanged tactics, techniques and procedures and have built relationships and formed friendships that will endure long after today,” said Col. James H. Dickinson, 35th ADA Bde. commander. Before arriving, the new battalion went through extensive training in order to ensure all Soldiers were prepared to provide the necessary support needed here. “These Soldiers from 1-44th ADA were trained and certified through a very challenging program that culminated in certification of the battalion for this specific mission,” said Brig. Gen. Kurt J. Stein, assistant chief of

Lt. Col. Christopher T. Burgess (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Harris (right) uncover the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, colors during the ceremony here Nov. 16. — U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Gretchen N.Goodrich. staff J4, U.S. Forces Korea. The specific mission the new air defenders have is critical. As Dickinson pointed out in the ceremony, it’s not an easy task to shoot down one missile using another when both are traveling faster than the speed of sound. “These rotations bring the most highly trained and experienced Patriot forces in the US Army to the Korean peninsula in order to ensure we can provide the ROKUS alliance and the citizens of this great country the best

AA chapter provides help for community by Stacy A. Ouellette USAG-H Public Affairs Office HUMPHREYS GARRISON — An estimated two million people are actively battling alcoholism worldwide as members of Alcoholics Anonymous, according to the official AA website. Included are members of the AA chapter here serving the Humphreys’ community. “A lot of Soldiers are away from home for the first time and start experimenting or acting out past problems through alcohol. This place can also amplify previous drinking problems,” said Ken McCown, Army Substance Abuse counseling psychologist. As defined by literature of the organization, AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The literature also states the only requirement for AA membership is the desire to stop drinking. Without any dues or fees to pay, the organization is self-supporting and relies on contributions. “AA is a great program because it is readily available in 200 countries, free, and it works better than anything else we know of to treat alcoholism,” said McCown. “You don’t have to be referred by ASAP to attend a meeting. We hold open meetings so anyone can attend. Participation is not mandatory either so it’s a nonthreatening environment,” said McCown. Since 1935 when Bill Wilson co-founded AA, the purpose of keeping members sober and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety one day at a time has remained the same. Even though Wilson died in 1971, his legacy lives on through AA. “It’s important for those in recovery to have a community. It’s not just for those who need it, but those

possible protection against an enemy missile attack,” added Stein. The brigade rotates battalions to Korea every six months for a one-year deployment to provide air defense support for the entire peninsula. The change of responsibility had music provided by an 8th Army brass quintet and various citizens of the outlying areas present to acknowledge the new soldiers presence in the area.

“AA is a great program because it is readily available in 200 countries, free, and it works better than anything else we know of to treat alcoholism.” Ken McCown, Army Substance Abuse counseling psychologist who want it. It’s a proven program that works. I encourage anyone who thinks they might have a problem to give it a shot and attend a meeting,” said Chaplain (Maj.) James O’Neal, Humphreys AA Chapter Chaplain Sponsor. With the holiday season upon us, this is the time of year many people turn to AA for support, said McCown. It takes the support of a variety of agencies to encourage Soldiers to attend meetings. Unit commanders are better understanding the importance of AA in a recovery program. Officials from the medical, religious, and legal communities often advise their patrons to seek treatment, said McCown. “It’s important for those trying to recover to keep coming back and keep an open mind when attending. Attendees can come, sit and listen without speaking,” said McCown. The Humphreys AA chapter has partnered up with an Osan AA chapter initiative to make sure jailed Soldiers have the opportunity for seeking recovery assistance while confined here. AA meetings are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Humphreys confinement facility. The Humphreys AA chapter meets every Monday and Friday from 6-7 p.m. at Freedom Chapel.

Pyeongtaek city offers tours Members from USAG Humphreys Community participated in a Pyeongtaek City free cultural tour sponsored by LABO Language Institute, Nov 17. As part of the tour, attendees visited Mangi-sa Temple. The USAG Humphreys Public Affairs Community Relations branch organizes tours to introduce visitors to the Korean culture and share the beauty of the Republic of Korea. — U.S. Army Photo By Stacy A. Ouellette.

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Courageous Channel exercises command readiness, safe travel for family members by Dana R. Pugh 19th ESC Public Affairs CAMP WALKER – In the event of a contingency, natural disaster or any other event that would cause the need for an evacuation of United States personnel in the Republic of Korea, there must be a system in place to facilitate this transition. This process is rehearsed biannually during a peninsula wide exercise called Courageous Channel, part of Noncombatants Evacuation Operations (NEO). “The exercise is mainly to get family members’ attention so if anything does happen they will be ready to an extent, and we’ll take care of it from there, and also to let them know that we’ll take care of them, said Pvt. Chris Kafka, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, 498th Combat Support Service Battalion. “It gives them a familiarity with the process and helping them feel semicomfortable at a time when they’re not really going to feel comfortable or at ease.” Family members of United States Forces Korea Servicemembers rehearse procedures they would implement in the event of an evacuation to improve the processes involved in the coordination of transportation and placement of U.S. personnel during the Courageous Channel exercise. “It’s so the family members get comfortable enough to say ‘I can do this without my spouse’, said Kelly L. Gemin, family readiness group advisor, 501st Sustainment Brigade. “It’s providing comfort level knowing that they’ll be with other family members, and they can feel that bond and that friendship, and gives them a sense of independence.” The Courageous Channel exercise perfects NEO procedures and corrects problems in case of an actual evacuation. “This is a small scale example of what would really happen. It helps family members feel safer knowing we’re willing to train and do this exercise when nothing is happening, so that they know that we’re going to be there for them when something does happen, said Kafka. We’re changing things that might get in the way, and we’re learning as we go and making these changes for

the better. Another reason for rehearsing an evacuation is to help family members learn more about NEO documentation and how to pack essential items to move off the peninsula. “It helps them understand the documents they have in their possession,” said Gemin. “There are so many military documents, and it helps them remember which documents they need.” Families should also ensure that they have their NEO documents in order at all times to provide a smooth NEO experience in case of an evacuation. “Having the correct paperwork speeds up the process and it makes sure that they’re ready in case anything was to happen. That way, they know that they have their documents in order and that they’re not going to be turned away because they don’t have the proper documents or incomplete documents,” said Kafka. “In case anything does happen, they can be on their way to the station closest to them as fast as possible.”

Courageous Channel is important to Soldiers because it offers a level of comfort to them to know their families are safe. “It helps the Soldiers complete their mission because they know that their families are going to be taken care of, and that we’re not all just running towards whatever’s happening whether it be some type of natural disaster or contingency,” said Kafka. “It helps them feel more comfortable that while they might be up front, that there are some of us back here helping their family get to safe ground.” An important part of this exercise was the sail-away evacuation of volunteer family members from Busan Pier 1 to Iwakuni, Japan Nov. 15-18. The 498th CSSB planned, coordinated and executed the Family evacuation. “In this exercise, Japan is a safe haven. The 498th CSSB’s main mission is to make sure that everybody makes it to the safe zone and makes sure they are okay before we continue on to whatever may be going on,” said Kafka. “We’re here to assist and

(Left) Lewis C. Scruggs, logistics management specialist, Army Field Support Battalion, NorthEast Asia is a NEO Warden for the Courageous Channel exercise, helps Tuan M. Nguyen, AFSBn - NEA, through the checklist to get through the check-in process during the exercise. — U.S. Army Photo By Natalie E. Kapteyn

coordinate with the Korean people to help get our people out into a safe haven in Japan.” The sail away evacuation is a real world application to the process, and helps improve relationships with the Korean businesses that would be involved in the transportation of Family members. “If there were a true emergency, there would be designated vessels, be it busses, aircraft, cargo ships, etc. NEO helps decide how much we need and where we’re going to need it. It all depends on where we are, the type of emergency, and the type of resources that are needed,” said Gemin. Family members should be the primary participants in Courageous Channel in order to become more aware of the process and know what to do in the event of an emergency and the absence of their military spouse or parent. Family members should know all NEO procedures in the absence of their military spouse, parent or Emergency Essential Civilian spouse or parent. “The main benefit of the trip to Japan is that it’s the ‘last leg’ out of Korea, and Japan is the safe haven before you move on to the U.S. It’s to get people used to not going directly to the US but through another port in our travels, and to help them get used to the different steps in the NEO process. It provides preparedness and a better comfort zone, and to get them acclimated with the processes and flow of the military,” said Gemin. One participant, Rena Bartlett, spouse of a Soldier from the 16th Medical Logistic Battalion, said that her experience with the Courageous Channel exercise and the sail away evacuation has been an informative experience. “It helps that the Soldier doesn’t have to worry about the families. That’s the last thing they need to be worried about. This way, they know that they’re going to be taken care of,” she said. “It’s been a good experience so far, and I’ve learned a lot in the last two days. This process helps me be a little bit more independent when it comes to emergencies.”

Don’t wait – prepare to drive safely this winter USAG Daegu Safety Office Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on winter driving safety. CAMP HENRY – The winter season is almost upon us, and with it comes the added road hazards posed by its conditions. Most people tend to put off winter driving preparations, thinking they’ll do it later – but by then it may be too late. Winter driving requires many skills, a watchful eye for constantly changing weather conditions, and common sense. In the Republic of Korea, it is no

different. Seat Belts •Keep you inside the vehicle •Protection •Stabilization •Remain conscious •Maintain control •Safer driver Cold weather engine startup and warm-up procedures • Don’t idle a cold vehicle’s engine for along time to warm it up - it could harm the engine. The right way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. •Clean all lights •Scrape ice and snow all windows and

mirrors •Sweep all the snow off the vehicle, especially the top •Clear all windows and windshield wipers. Be sure the windshield washer reservoir is adequately filled with a freezeresistant cleaning solution. Defensive driving techniques •Drive at reduced speeds so you can stop more quickly (keep your head on a swivel by observing 360 degrees around you) •Use turn signals sooner than usual, giving other drivers more time to react •Tap your brakes to warn of your intention to stop

•Try to maintain at least triple the normal distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead Operating on snow and ice •Drive in second or third gear, rather than first or low. Engage the clutch gradually (or in D2, High, with automatic transmission), and accelerate no more than necessary to keep from stalling. •Avoid quick acceleration on slick roads. It will cause you to skid •Often, fresh snow conceals an icy road surface – Black ice, commonly found on bridges, overpasses and underpasses, and shaded areas. See Safety page 27

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News & Notes Honoring Warriors Past & Present The United States Army Garrison Daegu holds American Indian Heritage Observance Program “Honoring Warriors Past & Present” noon – 1 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Evergreen Community Club on Camp Walker. There will be prize raffle and free food sampling. Please come and join the USAG Daegu community in celebration. For information, call Master Sgt. John Gough at 768-8972.

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Different names but similar meaning: celebrating Thanksgiving, Chuseok

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Area IV Chaplain Unit Ministry Team sponsors the Christmas tree lighting ceremony 6 p.m. Nov. 27 in front of Camp Walker Chapel. Come out and celebrate in the spirit joyfulness. A+ Class There will be an A+ Class Nov. 26 – 30 at the United States Army Garrison Daegu Information Center. This course is open to Army Personnel, DA and KGS Civilians working in the IT/IA field. For information or registration, call Mr. Leo Kelley at 7645069. Emergency Placement Care Provider The USAG Daegu community is in need of EPC Providers, previously known as Foster Care families. Get more information on becoming certified by contacting the Family Advocacy EPC Program. For information, call Tiana Marratta at 7688090. USA Girl Scouts Overseas Program If you are interested in registering your daughter in the USA Girl Scouts Overseas Program, please contact in Daegu Ms. LaTondra Anderson at 011-9857-6638 or e-mail at [email protected], in Seoul Mrs. Shelly Matautia at 0119883-6239 or email at matautia@kornet. com; and in Pyeongtaek and Osan Mrs. Caroline Schultz at 010-8694-4166 or email at pyeongtaekgirlscouts@gmail. com. American Red Cross The American Red Cross holds a class about CPR, and First Aid for the workplace 5 - 8 p.m. Dec. 4, 5, and 6 at the American Red Cross office on Camp Henry. For information and signing up call Jimmy Finch at 768-7993. Belly Dancing Classes Camp Walker Kelly Fitness Center and Camp Carroll Fitness Center feature free belly dancing classes. At Camp Walker, it’s every Monday 10 a.m. while at Camp Carroll, every Wednesday 10 a.m. For information, call Camp Walker Fitness Center at 764-4800/4225 and Camp Carroll at 765-8287/8118. Children’s Christmas Party Children’s Christmas Party for children of all Camp Carroll employees and Servicemembers will be held 1 – 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at Camp Carroll’s Gym. The costs are $1.00 or 1,000 won per child and $2.00 or 2,000 won per adult. Tickets are available at MSC-K’s Directorate for Maintenance office, bldg. #388, room #232. Please, buy tickets no later than 4 p.m. Dec. 3. Happy Valley Train will be provided from bldg. 530 to Gym and driven by Santa’s Helpers. For information, call Ms. Hwang at 765-8470 or Ms. Kim at 765-8544.

A typical Thanksgiving Day meal consists of several kinds of foods including turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, and so on. Photos and article compiled by Daegu Public Affairs CAMP HENRY – Americans look forward to the fourth Thursday each November. It’s Thanksgiving Day, a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Koreans also have a similar holiday, celebrated on Aug. 15 of the lunar calendar. It is a time to honor ancestors with newly harvested grains and fruits. The following is a comparison between the holidays of Thanksgiving Day and Chuseok: Origins Thanksgiving Day – The early settlers of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts were particularly grateful to Squanto, a Native American, because the settlers might not have survived in the New World without Squanto’s assistance. The Plymouth settlers (who came to be called “Pilgrims”) set apart a holiday immediately after their first harvest in 1621 and invited Grand Sachem Massasoit and Native Americans to join them in the feast. National Thanksgiving Proclamations proclaim thanks for God’s providence in the events of the nation and, as President Washington explained in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, “for the many signal favors of Almighty God” in the lives of the people. Chuseok’s history dates back about two thousand years to the time of Silla King Euri, who ruled during the legendary period of the Three Kingdoms. He wanted to help the weaving industry grow so he organized a national weaving contest. The losers had to prepare certain foods for the winners. This was the origin of Chuseok,

a holiday which later spread throughout the peninsula. Foods Thanksgiving Day – Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes referred to as “Turkey Day”). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a happy, communal meal. Chuseok – A family gathering in Korea means hearty eating. Once the ancestral rite is over, the entire family takes part in a grand feast. Unlike the lunar New Year’s Day when tteokguk, or rice cake soup, is prepared, Chuseok features newly harvested rice used to brew rice wine and rice cakes. One popular dish eaten during the holiday is the soup toran, or beef broth with the starchy rootstock taro. People also prepare holiday foods such as songpyeon, or full moon rice cakes stuffed with sesame, beans, chestnuts, rice flour and newly harvested grains. Events Thanksgiving Day – The day when many Americans go shopping is the day after Thanksgiving Day. It’s called “Black Friday”. From this day, people start to buy Christmas gifts. The meaning of the name, “Black Friday”, is that businesses or stores which were “in the red” start to change to be “in the black” this day. A Thanksgiving Parade is one of the official events during the holiday in many

Ganggangsullae: A traditional dance associated with Chuseok

U.S. states. The most famous parade is ‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ held in New York City. Watching football games on Thanksgiving Day is a kind of tradition or official events for many Americans also. Of course, it started in the 20th century when football gained popularity with the American public. Chuseok – Chuseok spans three days according to the lunar calendar. The first event on Chuseok Day is the ancestral rite. Offerings prepared days in advance are set on the altar for the ritual. A visit to ancestral graves comes after the ancestral rite. The graves are cleared up days before Chuseok, with grass mowed and weeds plucked out. People take great care in maintaining their family graves, as part of Chuseok tradition After the rituals, people play traditional games such as neolttwigi, or seesaw. The traditional seesaw is a long thick wooden stick on which people step on to be sprung up and down. Ganggnagsullae, a circle dance under the bright full moon, is one of the most popular forms of Chuseok folk entertainment. Traditionally, village women assembled in a large circle, held hands, and went round and round while chanting a song under the full moon. The lead singer starts the song and the rest of the women answer by chanting “ganggangsullae” or “ganggangsuwollae.” As you can see, while the particulars of Thanksgiving and Chuseok such as the foods and types of events may be very different, both holidays have a common theme – getting together with family and giving thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Songpyeon: Stuffed rice cakes celebrate the harvest

AREA IV Performance benefits Daegu children

The Onnuri Folklore Percussion Band performs a traditional Korean song during the Daegu Love Concert Nov. 7 at KyungPuk National University. Soldiers and Families of the 19th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and United States Army Garrison Daegu attended the The Daegu Love Concert. The charity event benefitted unprivileged Children of the Daegu Community. It was sponsored by the Korean Good Neighbor Program Cultural Ambassadors and many other organizations dedicated to the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and The United States. — U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Dana R. Pugh

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•If you encounter black ice, don’t panic. Make no sudden changes in speed or direction, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction that the rear of your vehicle is skidding. Fog •When driving in fog, use low-beam headlights, or stop, get off the road and wait Hills and Grades When approaching a hill or upgrade/ d ow n g r a d e , r e m e m b e r t o d o t h e following: •Select the proper gear before approaching – usually a lower gear •Use the same gear going down that you used going up. This will allow the engine to act as a brake, so you will not have to use your brake excessively. •On steep or very slippery grades, use at least one gear lower, and go slower Skids Result from unexpected forces: •Black ice •Driving too fast for conditions •Sudden steering corrections or braking •Sudden acceleration If your vehicle begins to skid, take the following actions: Front end skids - Release the brake and let the front wheels roll freely to regain traction and steering control. Rear end skids - Take your foot off of the accelerator and turn wheels in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is skidding, and pump brakes lightly. Next week: Know your vehicle, road conditions and the very real danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Air Defense Artillery units swap duty at Carroll by Cpl. Jang Won-il USAG Daegu Public Affairs CAMP CARROLL – Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Missile Artillery Regiment have been arriving since Oct. to replace those of the 2-1 ADA. United States Army Garrison Daegu officially greeted the new unit at a Transfer of Authority Ceremony, held in Camp Carroll’s Crown Jewel Fitness Center Nov. 16. The new battalion from Fort Bliss, Texas is replacing the 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery of the 35th ADA Brigade to provide air defense artillery support for the Korean peninsula. “The training these forces undergo prior to their arrival in Korea is some of the most demanding that the Army has to offer,” said Brig Gen. Kurt J. Stein, Assistant Chief of Staff, J4, USFK, Korea. “These Soldiers from 1-44 ADA were trained and certified through a very challenging program that culminated in certification of the battalion for this specific mission.” “The departure of 2-1 and arrival of 1-44 marks the second Patriot Battalion rotation to the theater. These rotations bring the most highly trained and experienced Patriot forces in the US Army to the Korean peninsula in order to ensure we can provide the ROKUS Alliance and the citizens of this great country the best possible protection against an enemy missile attack,” said Stein. Col. James H. Dickinson, 35th ADA Brigade Commander welcomed 1-44’s arrival and expressed how much he looks forward to

The 1-44 Battalion’s guidon is uncovered by Lt. Col. Christopher Todd Burgess, Commander, 1-44 AMD Battalion, symbolizing the units’ replacement in place of 2-1 ADA Battalion on the peninsula during the Transfer of Authority Ceremony held at the Crown Jewel Fitness Center, Camp Carroll Nov. 16. — U.S. Army Photo By Cpl. Jang Won-il the new unit’s service in the country. “This battalion and these Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas bring with them a great reputation,” said Dickinson. “Although, this is the first deployment for the battalion to Korea, for many of the Soldiers and leaders standing here today, they have served before in Korea and understand what a wonderful people live here and what a great culture Korea offers.” “2-1 ADA has quickly and efficiently integrated 1-44 into their daily routine and mission responsibilities,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Todd Burgess, Commander, 1-44 AMD Battalion. “1-44 AMD Battalion now eagerly takes on this mission and looks forward to the challenges over the upcoming year.”

The 2-1 ADA Battalion stationed at Camp Carroll has been in Korea since December 2004. The battalion has provided theater air and missile defense against the threat of tactical ballistic missiles for the peninsula. The 2-1 ADA Battalion were successful in their significant contribution made to the ROK-US Alliance. The Battalion Commander of the outgoing 2-1 ADA Battalion, Lt. Col. Nicholas Bernhardt thanked the Korean nationals for their kindness during service in the country. “Many Korean hosts enabled the success of this great battalion and their names and numbers are too great to mention here,”

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said Bernhardt. “I extend a special thanks to each one of those individuals today. Your work has bestowed special gifts on each Soldier that served to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our nations.” The community events and Good Neighbor relationships that 2-1 established during their time in Korea will continue to be built upon by the 1-44 Soldiers. Although the departure of the Soldiers of 2-1 means that they will be leaving many friends from the community, 1-44 Soldiers and the Daegu/Waegwan community look forward to achieving a brand-new fellowship that will last a lifetime. “The Battalion looks forward to being gracious visitors to this beautiful country and to building camaraderie and lasting bonds with our Korean friends and neighbors,” said Burgess during his remarks. “Theater missile defense is one of the most critical military capabilities the United States provides to the Republic of Korea,” said Stein. “In the early 1990’s, we permanently stationed the first Patriot Battalion in the theater, and followed that up by bringing in yet another Battalion as well as the Brigade Headquarters in 2004. These units are now a permanent part of U.S. force structure on the Peninsula.” Stein continued, “Changes does sometimes bring uncertainty, however, as USFK transforms and the US footprint and structure of forces changes, we can be certain of one thing – the US Patriot posture will remain unchanged on the Korean peninsula.”

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Community members practice evacuation