Desert Eagle AUG-2010 - USMTM, United States Military Training

August 2010
Desert Eagle
The Newsletter of Eskan Village, Joint Command, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
UPDATE: The Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness recently denied
the United States Defense Representative (USDR) to Saudi Arabia’s request for
the Full Return of School-Aged Dependants to Riyadh. His immediate concerns
were lack of sufficient safe transport for schoolchildren, and anticipation of a new
Security Cooperation Organization compound being built co-located with a new
school compound in Riyadh further reducing travel risks for schoolchildren.
Eskan Village and CENTCOM leadership do not at all consider this decision a
closed door, but instead an opportunity to provide further detail and explanation
of the preparations made and mechanisms already in place to support Department of Defense schoolchildren returning to the Eskan Village community for the
duration of assignments.
As background to new members of our community, a major initiative at Eskan Village for the past
few years has been the full return of dependants to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, accompanied
tours are authorized for adult and non-school-aged dependants at Eskan Village, because sufficient
schooling was not available until recently for school children at any of our locations in the Kingdom.
After multiple western compound bombings prior to 2004, DoD dependants were evacuated from
the Kingdom. In the ensuing years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made substantial improvements to its anti
-terrorism posture and counterterrorism responses, in part to restore a sense of security to the Kingdom’s
large ex-patriot community.
The American International School of Riyadh (AIS-R) formerly educated the children of US government employees assigned in the Kingdom, and the school greatly anticipates US government dependants’
return to the school’s student body. Of the 1,200 international students attending the school from countries
all over the world, over 350 members of last year’s student body were US passport holders, dependants of
commercial companies or the Saudi government currently working in Riyadh. In fact, Eskan Village adult
dependants even worked at the school, commuting every day to serve as teachers and other staff as part
of the American International School’s faculty body.
In November 2009, the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Honorable James B.
Smith visited the school, observed its recent upgrades to security and force protection measures, and
within a week received final approval from the State Department for the full return of State Department dependants to the Kingdom. Additionally, the US Embassy provided $160,000 to further enhance security at
the school’s current compound. This coming year, the first batch of State Department children will rejoin
the American International School Riyadh student body. As part of this renewed DoS initiative, all State
Department positions in the Kingdom are now designated accompanied two-year assignments.
Why is the return of US Department of Defense school-aged dependants significant to our organizational missions here on Eskan Village?
Strategic: US families present in Saudi Arabia broadcast a message of US partnership with Saudi
Arabia as our trusted ally, as well as recognition of the Kingdom’s recent improvements and many successes countering terrorism within its borders.
Operational: Security Assistance Organization (USMTM, OPM-SANG, OPM-FSF) mission success
relies on continuous engagements with our host nation counterparts, based on working relationships and
personal commitment built over time. Returning families to the Kingdom facilitates longer assignments
within the Kingdom, thus improving those relationships as the bedrock of our strategic initiatives.
Tactical: Who wants more time away from his or her family?! As a military, we already ask our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians to spend large chunks of time away from their families. Given
a safe and permissive family environment, all leaders should advocate any opportunities which better unite
families.
As the USDR in Saudi Arabia, I recently downgraded the Force Protection level in Saudi Arabia
from Charlie to Bravo, now matching the force protection levels in Bahrain, UAE, and other AOR countries
where DoD dependants are already fully authorized. To dispel some rumors, the return of dependants has
not cut benefits for military members. The CENTCOM Commander was emphatic before supporting the
USDR Saudi Arabia proposal that there be no connection between financial benefits/incentives and returning dependants to AOR assignments. Also, there is no intention to force all positions to two-year minimum
assignments, especially if the member still elects to accept only a one-year remote tour.
Bottom line: The recent disapproval was certainly an unexpected setback, but the initiative continues to be advocated and readdressed by the US Defense Department chain of command. Stand by for
more updates!
Paul M. Van Sickle
Maj Gen, USAF
Chief USMTM
Eskan Village Organizations Desert Eagle
Volume 3, Issue 8 Editor: Beth Connors USMTM Paul Van Sickle Maj Gen, USAF Chief OPM‐SANG Frank D. Turner BG, USA Program Manager OPM‐FSF Robert Catalanotti BG, USA Program Manager 64th AEG Michael Mounts Col, USAF Commander ON THE COVER
LTC Brett Provinsky flying F15S across the Atlantic enroute to Nellis AFB RSAF F-15S at Nellis during Red Flag and Green Flag.
Pictures compliments of PhotoRecon.
SENIOR LEADER SPOTLIGHT
Red Flag and Green Flag Update By Caitlin Fairchild
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
8/16/2010 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- Six pilots with the United States Military
Training Mission Air Force Division here embedded at several Royal Saudi Air Force bases to train, advise
and assist Saudi Arabian pilots in their operations, all to support the common interest of both nations. The
Airmen say some knowledge of Arabic is hugely beneficial.
"It helps to develop friendships; it builds respect between us," said Capt. Reggie Ramsey, an F-15
Strike Eagle adviser for the 55th Fighter Squadron at Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia.
These operations have taken five of the USMTM pilots and their Saudi Arabian counterparts to Nellis Air Force Base for 40 days as they participate in the Red Flag 10-4 and Green Flag 10-9 training missions. While this is the third Red Flag exercise for the RSAF, this will be their first participation in a Green
Flag exercise.
"This is not their first time coming to the United States, but we are here to guide them along in how
the United States Air Force does business," said Lt. Col. Brett Provinsky, an F-15 S adviser for the 6th
Squadron in Khamis Mushayt. "They're here to learn from the variety of international players and integrate
as much as they can."
Prior to the Red Flag mission, the 92nd Operational Squadron in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the lead
F-15 S squadron, completed a two-week practice exercise, replicating the Red Flag schedule in order to
prepare for the official exercise at Nellis Air Force Base.
The Airmen have augmented the Red Flag and Green Flag missions with other lessons. In between exercises, they taught the RSAF pilots the U.S. air traffic control system and conducted independent
low-altitude training missions above Utah, Arizona and California. The pilots' year-long tenure in Saudi Arabia has also served as a learning experience for the pilots of USMTM.
"Working and interacting with a foreign air force has definitely been eye-opening," said Maj. Anson
Stephens, an F-15 S adviser for the 92nd Operational Squadron in Dharan. "The language barrier is a challenge, but it helps make you a better instructor."
LFD ARCENT Combat Readiness Analysis
By MAJ Joseph Blankenship, USMTM, LFD FMS Manager
Army Central Command recently wrapped up the first and second of three stages of a very complete and thorough combat readiness analysis of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. After months of preparation and intense negotiation between ARCENT and Royal Saudi Land Forces, with USMTM Land Forces
Division providing liaison duties and input based on their experience in working with the Saudi officers, all
parties agreed to the scope and purpose of the first review. Three teams of ten to twenty or more personnel consisting of subject matter experts in their field of expertise spread out across the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, visiting nearly every Saudi Army installation and organization on the peninsula. After two weeks of
analyzing the Saudi Land Forces, the teams set to work compiling the information gleaned from their observations, briefings, surveys and questionnaire responses.
The second stage involved bringing approximately 20 Royal Saudi
Land Force officers to the United States to conduct a wargame exercise
at Fort Gillem, Georgia. The name of the military installation was selected
in memory of Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., who began his career as a private at Fort McPherson in 1910 and retired 40 years later as
commanding general of Third U.S. Army, now headquartered at Fort
McPherson. Currently, Fort Gillem is home to First U.S. Army and other
Department of Defense organizations.
The first day of the event started with Brigadier General Twitty, ARCENT Chief of Staff, providing a
warm welcome to the participants at the Getaway Club on Fort Gillem during his opening remarks.
Utilizing devices that included microphones and wireless receiver ear-piece headphone speakers,
ARCENT provided simultaneous translation of the wargaming scenario overview presentations and briefings to the Royal Saudi Land Forces and U.S. Army participants in Arabic and English.
Utilizing the six war-fighting functions (Movement and Maneuver, Intelligence, Fires, Sustainment,
Command and Control, and Protection), ARCENT developed the first scenario conducting an example
wargame. This was done by allowing a person role-playing friendly forces to describe their actions and
reactions, and then to allow another person role-playing the enemy forces to spell out their actions and reactions to the friendly forces.
At the completion of the war-gaming event, ARCENT conducted an outbrief of the results at ARCENT Headquarters, Fort McPherson.
In addition to the hard work conducted during the war-gaming event, the Saudi officers and their
USMTM Land Forces Division escort officers participated in many social events to highlight different aspects of U.S culture and friendship.
Fajita Buffet
At the completion of the second day’s war-gaming activities, the Royal Saudi Land Forces hosted
the first social event at the local Mexican restaurant, “No Mas.” With USMTM’s Major Jeff Ramsey provid-
ing coordination, everyone was treated to an exceptional chicken and steak fajita buffet.
ARCENT BBQ
Upon the completion of the third day’s wargaming, ARCENT hosted an informal social that included
a barbecue.
Italian Dinner
The highlight of the fourth day was the Royal Saudi Land Force officers hosting a 5-course Italian
dinner.
Yankee Stadium
COL Sanders, MAJ Ramsey, and MAJ Blankenship
took the opportunity to enjoy America’s pastime: a baseball
game at Yankee Stadium.
Times Square
The local sites of New York
World Trade Center
Some of us paid a visit to the World
Trade Center
OPM‐FSF Personnel Relief in Place
MAJ Bill Drew, Executive Officer, OPM-FSF
In February 2009, BG Catalanotti, the Program Manager of the Facilities Security Forces, put
boots on the ground in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. BG Catalanotti was the first in theater, in
order to stand up the newest Security Assistance
Organization, Office of the Program Manager – Facilities Security Forces (OPM-FSF) in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). A couple of
weeks later, in March 2009, the first group of seven
individuals joined the Program Manager in the Kingdom. Since then, the team has grown to 20, and
growth will continue.
From the beginning, the credibility of the
OPM-FSF team derives from the Soldiers who have
This recent National Day photo samples some of the executive staff, volunteered to join BG Catalanotti on this mission.
principal staff, and operational personnel from OPM­FSF. Centered From the executive level to the operational level,
are BG Robert Catalanotti, Program Manager, Office of the Pro­ OPM-FSF personnel have a variety of sound cregram Manager – Facilities Security Forces and MG Saad al Majed, dentials from combat experience in Iraq, to experiCommanding General, Facilities Security Forces. ence in advisory capacities in combat zones, to advanced civilian degrees, and advanced military
schooling/training. Each individual on the team volunteers to join the mission for at least a year. Well over
half extended beyond their initial commitment, and have volunteered another three months, six months,
and some, another year.
OPM-FSF Soldiers clearly understand the scope of their duties from an advisory standpoint. Our
leaders have cultivated and nurtured relationships with Saudi counterparts that pay handsome dividends
from the operational level to the strategic level. As a result, OPM-FSF Soldiers planned, prepared, and
executed several initiatives from the Western region of the Kingdom to the Eastern region. Some examples are the Train the Trainer Program (T3) in Jeddah in which Saudi NCOs are taught basic individual and
collective tasks, research and presentation skills, and the overall facilitation of learning. A recent course
development is the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) in which 112 King Fahd Security College
graduates attend training in Jeddah in order to better understand the FSF mission, manage FSF resources
and capabilities, and lead the Soldiers of whom they will be in charge. The English Language Training Program (ELTP) conducted in Dammam is well into its second class in which ten Saudi Officers are currently
enrolled. The top performing officers will earn the opportunity to continue their learning at the Defense
Language Institute (DLI) in the United States and attend follow on Professional Development Education
(PDE) at schools offered at various posts like Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
As the OPM-FSF approaches its nineteenth month mark, many will be departing to engage in other
assignments, more schooling, and return to their families. Although a handful have already transitioned out
of theater, the end of August will be the first significant transition of OPM-FSF personnel. These are the
pioneers who helped to stand up this new organization from the establishment of initial life support, to executing the initiatives now impacting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the AOR, and the world.”
Although the individuals departing theater will be missed, OPM-FSF has many inbound personnel
to replace the outbound folks. These new individuals come with the same stellar credentials as the first
group, own the same earnest desire to be part of this super team, and place selfless service and loyalty as
their mantra. The Relief in Place (RIP) will be seamless and successful as transition occurs.
OPM-FSF continues to remain one of CENTCOM’s flagship programs. Under the leadership of BG
Catalanotti, dedication of his staff, and mission focus of operational personnel, the program continues to
flourish. BG Catalanotti wishes all his Soldiers and civilians the very best in all their future endeavors, and
is grateful for all the contributions that have made OPM-FSF a successful program.
Ramadan: The Fasting Month By Dr. Iftekhar Jadalla
Deputy Director, USMTM Mission Relations
Fasting was a form of worship practiced well before Islam. According to the Quran, fasting was prescribed to Muslims as it was prescribed to those before them. For example, fasting is a practice in Judaism
as well as in several Christian denominations. Accordingly, many religions required fasting as an act of
faith to purify the soul and seek God’s forgiveness, mercy and acceptance.
Muslims fast the entire month of Ramadan which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting is one of the five required pillars of Islam. The five pillars are; Profession of faith, praying (five times a
day), fasting during the month of Ramadan, Zakat (paying 2% of saved amount to the poor), and performing Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca during the first 10 days of month number 12 of the Islamic calendar once
in a life time. Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the
Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. Therefore, the month of Ramadan was chosen to be the fasting month.
In Islam, fasting is observed by abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum and sexual
activities from dawn to sunset. However, proper Islamic fasting is a lot more than abstaining from eating
and drinking. It includes abstaining from any indecent speech and/or action to include arguing, fighting,
and lustful thoughts. It is an attempt to cleanse the soul and achieve harmony within self. Therefore,
proper fasting during the month of Ramadan is a training period through which compassion, generosity,
mercy to others, patience, and control of impulses are cultivated and developed in order to be implemented
throughout the year. The reward for the believers who fast during Ramadan in total faith and commitment
to Allah is the removal of all their past year’s sins.
Fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory to all mature, physically fit adult Muslims. Children under the age of puberty, people who are very old and feeble, travelers, people who are sick and women during pregnancy, breast-feeding or menstruation periods are exempted from fasting the month of Ramadan.
Those who will be able at a later date must make up for the fast at a delayed time, a day for a day. The
very sick and very old who will not be able to make up for the fast must feed a fasting Muslim for each day
of Ramadan.
During the month of Ramadan, it is a practice for families around the Muslim world to wake up before dawn to eat a meal before sun rises. At sunset time, the family gathers to break the fast with a meal
known as iftar. It is customary for Muslims to begin iftar with dates and sweet drinks. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after that until the next morning's dawn prayer call. Then the process starts all over
again. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance during Ramadan. Increased prayers, family visits and feeding the poor are especially noticeable during this
month.
In the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Working
hours are reduced by one or two hours. In Saudi Arabia, Muslims work only five hours a day. Government
offices usually work from 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs. Also, Shopping time becomes very active between 2000
hrs and 0300 hrs. Shopping can also be done in the morning as usual.
At the end of Ramadan which marks the completion of the fast, a special charity of Fast-breaking
must be distributed to the poor before Eid-Al-Fitr. The amount is approximately SR10 per family member.
Ramadan starts this year on/about 11 August 2010 and lasts until on/about 10 September 2010.
From 11 to 13 September there is a holiday that is called Eid Al-Fitr. This holiday marks the celebration of
the completion of fasting the month of Ramadan. Practices in this holiday are similar to the practices during religious holidays in the USA. Shops will be closed the first couple of days, 11-12 September 2010.
More people will be noticed on the streets. During the few days of the Eid, people are required to visit all
their extended family members and friends. Also in many parts of the Islamic world, local restaurants may
be more crowded than usual.
If you are visiting a Muslim country during the month of Ramadan, be aware that eating, drinking,
smoking and chewing gum in public during fasting hours is a punishable offense in some Muslim countries.
Be very careful in the way you act and dress while making a deliberate attempt to learn about the people
and the culture. Finally, practice tolerance of other cultural systems that are different from yours.
OPM‐FSF Starts New Leadership Training Programs COL Buddy Holbert, Senior Advisor, Western Region, OPM-FSF
The Office of Program Management – Facilities Security Force (OPM-FSF), headquartered in Riyadh, continues to expand its training and advisory effort with the Saudi Facilities Security Forces. Overall,
OPM-FSF seeks to develop strong strategic relationships within the Kingdom, while building robust regional advisory programs and enduring training programs designed to improve FSF capabilities. In addition to the Train the Trainer course established in December 2009, the organization’s latest initiatives include the establishment of the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Leadership and Basic Officer Leadership
courses at the FSF Training Center near Jeddah.
The Basic NCO Leadership Course is a six-week training program featuring instruction on topics
such as Leadership Fundamentals, Teambuilding, Basic English and Computer Skills, Health and Fitness,
Security, Supervisory Skills, and Marksmanship. OPM-FSF graduated its first NCO Course on 07 June
2010, with 50 students and launched its second cycle on 03 July with 61 students. As a result, the FSF
organization has taken significant steps toward establishing a corps of professional Sergeants.
The Basic Officer Leadership Course is a 12-week training program with a more comprehensive
and detailed exposure to leadership topics. The Officers’ curriculum develops a deeper understanding of
Decision-Making, Officer Leadership, Security Operations, Planning, Protocol, and Security Theory. OPMFSF initiated the first cycle of the Officer Course on 10 July 2010, with 111 students. The students participating in the course are new Lieutenants, recent graduates of the Ministry of Interior’s prestigious King
Fahd Security College in Riyadh. Upon completion of the course, these young officers will begin their career leading FSF security forces throughout the Kingdom.
In addition to these two training courses, OPM-FSF within the past year implemented the Train the
Trainer Course in Jeddah and several English Language Training Courses in Dammam. The second
class of 90 instructors recently graduated from the Train the Trainer Course at a ceremony hosted by MG
Saad al Majed and BG Catalanotti on 7 July in Jeddah. Altogether, these training initiatives represent the
first phase of a series of training and advisory initiatives with the FSF, which will support their ability to provide security for the Kingdom’s critical infrastructure and enhance the overall strategic relationship between
the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Presentation of the FSF Officer Qualification Course orientation to the class of 111 newly commissioned Saudi Facilities Security Forces lieutenants at the FSF Training Facility in Jeddah. Sullivan notes that “It’s exciting to be involved in establishing this new training program that will have a direct impact on the security of the Kingdom’s critical infrastructure.” Student Recognition
By Ellen Campion, USMTM Family Readiness Coordinator
Do you have a child that has really put in the effort to achieve good grades? The Saudi Arabia
Family Readiness Group has implemented a “Student Recognition Program” for all exemplary students.
The group wants to recognize students that strive to be better than themselves, especially those children
that sacrifice daily with the absence of a family member. This does not necessarily mean the student with
the best grades; the objective is to reward the hard work that goes into achieving good or better grades and
recognize the commitment of good attendance. The program is open to all Eskan residents.
Parameters:
•
•
•
Marked overall improvement in GPA over the course of a school year
Good attendance records
Continued achievements: e.g. honor roll recipient
The student receives a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Chief, United States Military Training Mission, and a beautiful student excellence coin.
If you have a student that meets two out of the three criteria, please contact Ellen Campion, FRC at
050 546 9459 or email the specifics to [email protected].
64th AEG Personnel Reach Out To A Fellow Soldier 1LT Thomas Mueller, 64th ESFS XO
It was a solid effort by the 64th AEG to come together and raise money for a
good cause. Once the 64th AEG found out that a fellow AFCENT deployed member
had a terminally ill daughter with brain cancer, people took notice. The deployed
member and father of Caroline “Chickaroo” had to make an emergency leave trip to have his daughter undergo brain surgery for the third time. She was able to pull through the surgery and chemo once again and
is only seven years old.
The fundraiser took place over the course of two days, and the final tally after the conversion of
SAR to USD was $3589.00 raised to help fight cancer!!! Everyone in the 64th AEG should be proud of
what they have helped to accomplish. I know I am extremely proud of the level of caring that comes from
our fellow 64th Members.
This will be the second year that the parents of Caroline have held a charity golf tournament to help
raise money for research of similar brain cancers as hers. The tournament partners with the Jimmy Fund
and the Dana Farber Cancer center. Based on this sizable donation, the Chickaroo Classic Golf tournament has decided to make a new level of contribution, Titanium!!!
The 64 AEG will be well represented at the Charity Golf Tournament with a Titanium sponsored
hole for both the 64th AEG and 64th ESFS. Further recognition of the efforts of the 64th AEG will be displayed on the official Tournament t-shirts; the 64th AEG logo will be proudly printed on these t-shirts. 20 of
the shirts are being sent to the 64th as a thank you for those who gave to this worthy cause.
The money is going to a good cause, and like her father, Caroline is a warrior in her own
right. When the Make a Wish Foundation asked her where she wanted to go for her wish, she replied with
“I want to visit the Pope, so I may ask him to pray for everyone who has cancer”. Her dream was realized
last year and she did just that at the Vatican. Most kids I know would have chose Disneyworld.
To read more about Caroline’s story and to find out what you can do to help, please visit
www.chickaroo.org . Thank you again to everyone who donated and helped out in this worthy cause.
Monthly Community Meeting Update By Ellen Campion, USMTM Family Readiness Coordinator
The Family Readiness Office holds a community meeting the first Monday of every month for all residents
of Eskan Village. This meeting is designed to give community members a forum to voice concerns, offer
solutions and yes, bestow praise when things are going smoothly.
Community needs that have been resolved or are in the process:
•
The 64th AEG is now allowed to wear civilian clothes on the compound
•
Commissary is well stocked and working to increase product availability. All ESKAN Notification is
distributed when containers are received by the commissary or the BX
•
BX has cribs and toys available
•
MWR information is being disseminated to ALL organizations on Eskan with event information –
dates and times may not be published due to force protection issues, but if you email the MWR
they will be happy to give you the specifics.
•
Shopping buses open to all Eskan, to include the 64th AEG
•
Eskan-wide Internet upgrade has begun
•
US wives/spouses getting jobs on Eskan: CPAC investigated to ensure spouses receive fair treatment during hiring process
•
Increase taxi coupons- Increase taxi coupons- there will be two new vans for use by Eskan residents. Additional taxi coupons may be received if sponsor submits CC14 to USMTM command and
the request is approved."
•
Travel restrictions lifted for certain holiday periods for travel to Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, additional sites in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - permission must be requested
and granted by CHUSMTM.
•
Family Center open to all Eskan. Residents with summer visitors have been using the facility and
availing themselves of the many activities available while in the Kingdom
•
Clothing needs survey completed; based on the needs, new products will be available soon.
•
New Subway opened giving residents more options than ever (they deliver!)
•
The ECC can make “box lunches” to order for personnel that are not on Eskan during the lunch
hour, the forms are available from the front desk cashier. The kitchen will also make “short order”
items between the lunch and dinner meal periods: items can be ordered at the front desk.
•
“Lend a Key” program established for Family Center, the USMTM housing office also has cribs
available if you have visitors with babies. These services are available to Eskan.
The Family Readiness office is here to help all Eskan residents. If you have an issue or a suggestion, please contact Ellen Campion at 050 546 9459 or email at [email protected].
Your Temple of Health: Fruits, Digestion, The ‘Garbage Dumpster’, and Green Drinks By Lt Col ( Dr.) Eric Bermudez, USMTM Clinic
(Note: This is the sixth article of the series, entitled “Your Temple of Health.”)
In previous newsletters, we discussed the four major ‘pillars’ in my ‘temple of health’ concept,
representing Vegetables, Whole Grains, Lean Proteins and Essential Oils, respectively. We also previously discussed the ‘foundation’ of our temple of health, which is to cleanse and detoxify by drinking plenty
of fresh, pure water each day and having a green drink (e.g., wheat grass juice or powder), whenever possible.
In this article I’ll cover the following four topics: Fruits - the extra pillar in your temple of health;
tips for improving your food digestion; my ‘Garbage Dumpster’ concept; and the importance of green
drinks. (Remember – your temple is your BODY!)
The Fifth Pillar: Fruits
There's actually a fifth pillar of
health which is the Fruits food group.
However, I place it off to the side as a reminder to eat fruits separately from other
foods. For example, eat fruits in between
meals as a healthy snack. The reason for
this is because some researchers have
found that fruits are best digested when
they are alone in the stomach, without
other foods. Also, our intestinal absorption
of important nutrients found in some other
foods is apparently less efficient when
fruits are eaten together along with these
other foods. Many fruits are chock-full of anti-oxidants and other important nutrients; fruits which you
should eat regularly include organic apples, pears, bananas, cantaloupe (melons), blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, lemons, and limes.
Other Tips on Digestion:
There are several things you can do to improve the digestion of the foods you eat, so that you'll be
sure to get all the nutrients contained in the healthy foods you consume.
a. First of all, it's important that you chew your food thoroughly. Each bite of food ideally should
be chewed 20 to 30 times.
b. Chew and eat your food slowly. Also, give each meal your full attention whenever possible. Minimize the times that you eat while you're in a rush or doing other things.
c. When possible, avoid drinking fluids with your meals, since doing so dilutes the stomach acid
and interferes with digestion. Instead, drink water and other fluids in between your meals – for example
before or after meals. I try to drink a ½ liter of water about a half hour before my meals, in addition to
drinking plenty of water at other times throughout the day. If you’re accustomed to drinking fluids with your
meals, then implementing this advice will take a little bit of time and effort to get used to. However, the
health benefits of developing this new habit will really be well worth the effort. I stopped drinking fluids with
my meals about three years ago, when I heard this advice, and I don’t miss it one bit!
d. Eating small, frequent meals during the day is preferable to eating large meals at infrequent
intervals throughout the day. Ideally, we should strive to eat a small, healthy meal (of around 300 to 400
calories) or a healthy snack about every 2 or 3 hours. And if you do so, avoid snacking in between these
times, since your body needs this time interval to fully digest the food which you last ate.
e. Consider taking a daily Probiotics supplement, such as lactobacillus acidophilus.
f. Consider taking a Digestive Enzyme supplement prior to, or in between meals. (Note: I’ll discuss both Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes further in next month’s newsletter.)
The Garbage Dumpster: Things to Minimize in your Diet
Just as a temple serves as a visual aid for remembering what foods are good to eat, a different image I use to remember what foods to minimize, and avoid, is that of a garbage dumpster!
So, what kinds of things go in the mental garbage dumpster, so that we're reminded to minimize
them in our diet? Well, one good rule of thumb is to minimize things that have been taken from nature
and refined and processed, and therefore stripped of all their fiber and vital nutrients! As I spoke of
earlier, this includes anything made with white flour, such as white bread, cookies, cake, crackers, muffins, bagels, donuts, etc. A healthy alternative to white flour products are baked goods that are made with
100% whole wheat flour.
Also, white sugar, which is an overly refined version of the sugar cane plant, belongs in our
"mental garbage dumpster." Sweeteners which are better alternatives to white sugar, due to their smaller
degree of processing, include raw brown sugar, pure maple syrup and fructose, which is a natural sweetener extracted from fruit. Stevia (which comes from an herb) is also a natural sweetener that is a healthier
alternative to white sugar. Certainly try to minimize any use of saccharine and aspartame which are artificial non-food creations, whose long-term adverse health effects are unknown, at best.
Other foods that should be minimized are the three main groups of junk foods. These are: A.
processed flour & corn based snack foods such as pretzels and crackers (which also commonly contain
the dangerous "trans fat" in the form of hydrogenated oils); B. the sugary junk foods such as candy,
chocolate bars, cookies, donuts, cake, pop tarts, etc.; and C. the greasy fried junk foods such as potato
chips and corn chips, nachos, French fries, onion rings, fried chicken, fried fish, and all other sorts of fried
foods. Some far better alternative choices are chicken that is baked or rotisseried (preferably freerange and organic), as well as fish that is baked or broiled. These are far healthier for you than
their fried versions!
Artificial Anything: Other things to minimize in your diet include artificial colorings and artificial
sweeteners, as well as preservatives and other chemical additives. Strive to make natural, whole, unprocessed foods, which mother nature intended for us, the main theme of the foods that you eat on a
regular basis, since these are the things that we know are healthy for you. With this as a goal, you'll
find that "artificial" anything begins to lose all of its appeal, fast!
Furthermore, alcohol is a toxin and should be used infrequently, if at all. Additionally, coffee is
acidic in nature and should be minimized, when possible. The caffeine content of coffee has not been
shown to be necessarily harmful, and it can provide a nice boost of mental and physical stimulation, when
needed. However, it's best to strive to reduce your use of coffee when possible, since the processing
which coffee beans undergo to make coffee eliminates any significant nutritional value. Besides, there are
much healthier alternative drinks you could have instead, like a cup of heart-healthy green tea, or a cup of
nice pure water with some fresh-squeezed lemon in it, or even a green drink (e.g., wheat grass).
A Further Word on Green Drinks
One of the healthiest things that you can do for your body is to add a "green drink" to your daily regime,
which I've mentioned a few times before. Green drinks contain ground-up grasses, such as wheat grass
and barley grass, and can include sprouted grains, chlorella, and other green vegetables.
Wheat grass and other components of green drinks cleanse, detoxify, and alkalize your
body. This is vitally important in the increasingly "toxic" society that we live in, which is becoming
the case in most industrialized countries.
Green drinks also infuse your body with easily absorbed vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. Phytonutrients and antioxidants are plant-based compounds that medical studies
show reduce your risk of heart disease, neurological disease, and even cancer.
Other benefits of green drinks can include improved skin, hair, and nails, reduced cholesterol,
weight loss, elimination of free radicals, sharpened mental acuity, improved vision, increased stamina and
energy, and a greater sense of well being.
Of course drinking fresh-ground wheat grass juice is best, but it's not very practical to do on a regular basis for most people, who don't have the time to grow or press their own wheat grass at home.
Fortunately there is a great alternative, in the form of the healthy powdered green drink versions
that are widely available now. These contain grass juice which has been dried and turned into a powder
that you can easily mix with water. Just mix a scoopful or a teaspoonful in a bottle or cup of water, and
drink! I try to have one every day.
There are many good brands of green drinks available, including "Emerald Greens", "Green
Magma", and "Tony Robbins Inner Balance," to name just a few.
A lot of times people will ask me if "green tea" is considered a "green drink." Actually, not per say.
Green tea has no wheat grass in it, but instead, it is made with herbs. Nonetheless, green tea is very
healthy for you, since it is thought to be high in "anti-oxidants." Anti-oxidants, which are also found in all
fruits and vegetables, promote healthy arteries and reduce heart disease, stroke, and cancer risks.
Coming next month: “Vitamins, Supplements and my Daily Recommended Diet Regime”
Life is astray? What did you say? By SFC Daniel A. Griffith, Chief Paralegal NCO, USMTM Legal Office
Have you ever gone out on a date that just went wrong? The dinner was not
right? The movie was completely wrong? You stopped for ice cream when you really
wanted a coffee? You went for a ride or a walk when you really just wanted to go
home be alone? If you would have spoken up then maybe you could have had the dinner you wanted, saw
the movie you wanted to see, had a latte instead of a milkshake, and could have caught the last half of
your favorite show. Instead, your failure to speak up provided for a night to forget quickly instead of a night
to remember forever. Sound familiar?
So, you're reading this and wondering how does the legal office know about my dating life? The
fact is, we don't. However, the above scenario is way too common in our lives but under different conditions.
Has a politician ever been elected that you do not want in office? Did the power in the House or the
Senate shift the opposite direction than you wanted it to? Was there a law passed that you knew your politician would not have supported, if she was in office? Are you paying a higher tax, subject to specific healthcare issues, paying more to register your house, car, or a firearm? The fact is, just like the date, if you don't
speak up then your silence is consensus.
For many Americans, presidential election years are when we consider registering to vote, if we
remember to do it at all. So, you're 1,000,000 miles away from "reality," what are you supposed to do now?
You're sitting in a sandbox when your home is on the oceanfront; it is not like you can run down to the local
voter registration office and sign up, or can you?
The fact of the matter is elections are going to be held for many states this November. You can either sit back in the sandbox, watch the elections take place, and then complain about the results that you
had nothing to do with or get up, sign up, and speak up. If your desire is to never voice your opinion and
then sit back and complain about a life you had nothing to do with, then you have to understand you are
giving up the right that you signed up to defend and if that's the case so be it, but remember that a voice
not spoken cannot be heard. As my high school American History teacher told us, either Speak-Up or ShutUp. In other words, if you want your voice to be heard beyond your personal group that you complain to,
then register to vote!
Registering to vote used to take weeks and or even months to complete. The process used to be
painstakingly long; however, the registar's offices for many jurisdictions have come into the digital age. Visit
www.FVAP.gov and register to vote. Many offices are even e-mailing ballots to absentee voters with instructions on how to return them, to include some areas that are accepting ballots back via fax.
So, sign up, stand up, speak up, and register to vote; it is more than something to do, it is your
right. If you have questions or concerns contact your Voting Assistance Officer or call the USMTM Legal
Office at 448-8106/8.
The Stinger Report By CPT Michael Hunter, OPM SANG Aide‐de‐Camp Eskan Village —
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Count the end of the Scorpions regular season as one of those “things.” With a chance to lock up
the coveted first overall seed in the postseason playoffs, the Scorpions
fell 22-21 to the rival Dawgs on 2 August. Turnovers, poor shooting,
and tough Dawg defense put the Scorps in an unfamiliar spot in the
fourth quarter. With the ball in hand and 25 seconds left in the game, the
Scorpions had a chance to win at the buzzer, but failed to connect. The
defeat marked the first for the Scorps this season. One night later, the
Scorps locked horns with the third place Mobb Squad with another
chance to earn the top playoff seed. However, fatigue set in, one night
removed from the emotional loss. Like the night prior, the Scorps clawed
their way back into the game late, trailing by just one point in the fourth
Akeef Farquharson (defending) skies to quarter. It was too little, too late, however, as the Mobb Squad held on
block the Dawgs’ first half shot . by hitting key free throws late to seal a 33-28 victory.
Focus Now On Playoff Redemption
Eskan Village —
The Scorpions closed out the regular
season playing a punishing three games
in five days, two of those three ending in
defeat. When the clock struck 0:00 during the final game, the Scorpions looked
more than a little fatigued. With a brutal
playoff week looming, one that would
require four wins in five nights to earn the
title, is there any hope?
The answer is a resounding, “YES!”
Foremost on the minds of Scorpion
supporters should be the return of shooting guard Dwight Mitchell to the lineup.
Mitchell missed the final three regular
season games while on leave, taking his
double digit point totals per game and
veteran savvy with him. Although the
Scorpions boast a talented roster across
the board, the numbers don’t lie: the
Scorpions averaged over 40 points per
game with him and just under 30 per
game without. Welcome back, Mitch.
Secondly, under Coach Berryhill’s
direction, the team scaled back its grueling weekend training regimen in order to
rest weary legs and be ready to go on
Saturday night. A few days of R&R
should help the Scorps’ shooters once
again find the bucket.
“August Madness”
Playoff Bracket
Scorps in Action!
vs. Plan B, July 25th, 2010
Akeef Farquharson (4) Soars for Two /Kmiecik
Joe Johnson (33) Finds the Cutter /Kmiecik
Sherrod Brown (20) Leads the “D” /Kmiecik
Calvin Johnson (11) Goes One-on-One /Kmiecik
vs. Dawgs, July 26th, 2010
Coach Berryhill Huddles ’Em Up /Kmiecik
Awesome Fans! /Kmiecik
Darryl Bennett (34) Helps Seal the Game With Second-Half Free Throws
/Kmiecik
Scorps in Action!
vs. Shockers, July 31st, 2010
Michael Hunter finishing the fast break /Kmiecik
Sherrod Brown with the no-look pass /Kmiecik
Darryl Bennett freezes
the defense with the
triple threat position /
Kmiecik
COL Kmiecik takes in the action /Kmiecik
vs. Dawgs, August 2nd, 2010
Don’t miss these upcoming
MWR Events
Shopping Trips Galore
Wave Pool/Bowling Nights
Don’t spend it all in one place! OPM SANG winner of the $500 Bingo jackpot, 11 July Shisha & Cigar Shopping
Ifthar Dinner @ 11A
Aircraft Museum
No excuses!!
Bahrain Scuba and Shopping
Labor Day Golf Tournament
As requested,
the Memorial Health
and Fitness Center
hours have changed!
Call Catherine @ 448–8162 or Janet@ 77– 5787
for more information about off post activities
Italian Buffet, 11 Aug
Arena Soccer, 11/12/13 Aug
New hours are
0500-2200h
German Buffet, 18 Aug
Triathalon, 20 Aug
Bingo, 22 Aug
Operation Ifthar, 23 Aug
Mongolian BBQ, 25 Aug
Thank you Colonel William Parker, United States Army
(Retired) for your generous donation of books for the
Eskan Multi Media Center.
Seafood Buffet, 1 Sep
Eskan Block Party, 2 Sep
Freedom Run/Walk, 8 Sep
In The Spirit of Ramadan—
Pizza, Pasta Buffet, 8 Sep
Breaking of the Fast Cooking Class
Hosted by Dr. Iftekhar Jadalla
Movies in the “Breezeway Cinema” every