1 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com 2 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com 3 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com More than 1,000 participants from all across the Chattahoochee Now in its fourth year, this free event is expected to draw more Valley will join Fort Benning athletes with exceptional needs for than 1,000 volunteers, family members and spectators to Main the annual Fort Benning Field Day for Tri-Community Exceptional Post, where opening ceremonies will take place on York Field Children April 7 on Stewart Watson Field, and you’re invited! in front of McGinnis-Wickam Hall at 9am, with a torch lighting ceremony and singing of the National Anthem. Eckel Avenue will This event, hosted by MWR Sports, gives the youngest members be closed until Friday afternoon; the event will end about 1pm. of our Exceptional Family Member Program the opportunity to challenge themselves in various sports and activities and Sponsored by: compete with other special needs students from schools in five counties in Georgia and Alabama, including students who are homeschooled. 4 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com Athletes and guests will take to Stewart Watson Field and Smith For more information about this event, email benningmwr@gmail. Fitness Center for games and competitions, including runs, races com. If you are interested in volunteering, email dorrie.c.wagner. and long jumps; bocce ball, football, basketball, soccer, lawn [email protected]. bowling; throwing, hitting and kicking competitions; obstacle courses and more. The Exceptional Family Member Program has two locations at Fort Benning, an office on the first floor of Martin Army Community Wheelchair events are held inside Smith Fitness Center, which will Hospital for screenings and enrollment, and an office on the Army be closed fthat day, though spectators are welcome. Lunch will be Community Service campus in Building 7 on Baltzell, where we served on York Field. offer services in the areas of education, resources, recreation and social support. For information on EFMP, call 706-545-6545. 5 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com LETTER FROM DIRECTOR I n the January-February edition of On the Go, I wrote to you about the fiscal challenges we face in the coming year, because I think it’s important to be transparent in respect to our challenges and successes. Today, I’d like to share with you one of our greatest successes, our partnership with agencies, businesses and organizations throughout the Chattahoochee Valley who offer their support in so many ways to make it possible for Fort Benning MWR to continue to serve (and serve abundantly!) the Soldiers and families who serve our nation. Last month, the MWR team gathered for the annual Sponsor Appreciation Celebration at the Benning Club, where we toasted the generosity of nearly 50 organizations and agencies who sponsored MWR events and services throughout 2016. Together, they contributed more than $370,000 in money, goods and services. That kind of support makes it possible for MWR to offer fabulous events, like the annual Easter Eggstravaganza (look for information on page 27,) the Independence Celebration (coming up June 24) Oktoberfest and Santa at Riverside. Sponsor support also makes possible the free monthly Benning Bus Tour, our incredible Field Day for Exceptional Children (page 4,) concerts, trips, races and so much more. We host thousands of events throughout the year, and we simply couldn’t do it all without the steadfast support of our sponsors. Of course, we gave them a token of our appreciation at the celebration, but I think we can AL GELINEAU do better. Here’s where you come in. I humbly ask that you take a minute to tell our sponsors Director of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation just how much you appreciate their support. High five them on Facebook, stop by to say thanks when you see them at an event, or drop in on their business and mention that you’re a grateful member of the Fort Benning family. I think it’s important that we convey our support for those who support us, those who sacrifice their money, time and energy for you and me. They often tell me the act of sponsoring an event is their way of “giving back.” We keep that momentum going when we give back to them by simply acknowledging their support. 6 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com CONTENTS | MARCH • APRIL 10 COMMUNITY SERVICES Army Community Service | BOSS CARE | Library Parent Central | School Liaison Officer 14 DINING Benning Club | Breezeway Bar & Lounge Destiny Dogs | El Zapata Jack’s 19th Hole | Java Cafe’s Little Caesars | Smoothie King Subway | Zaxby’s | Sunrise Café 17 ENTERTAINMENT Bowling | Benning Brew Pub Family Entertainment Center | Fiddler’s Green Drop Zone | I-Bar 20 KIDS ZONE (CYS) Child Development Centers | Family Childcare Homeschoolers | Hourly Care Middle School & Teen | School Age Care 22 STAY AND PLAY Destin Army Recreation Area | McIver Suites Uchee Creek PARKS & PONDS 28 Archery Range | Disc Golf Dog Parks | EFMP Park Kings Pond | Paintball Fields Russ Pond | Twilight Pond Victory Pond | Weems Pond 30 RECREATION Golf | MWR Bingo Center Outdoor Recreation & Equipment Checkout Recreation Centers | Recreational Shooting Complex 36 SERVICES Auto Skills | Car Wash Laundromat | Tickets & Travel Recon | American Airborne | Soldier Photos SPORTS & FITNESS 40 Commander’s Cup | Fitness Centers Intramural Sports | Post Level Sports Youth Sports | Aquatics/Pools Youth Sports Instructional Program 42 DIRECTORY ON THE GO MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2017 Printed by Marcoa Publishing Incorporated. Published 6 times a year with combined issues in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/ BENNING.ARMYMWR.COM August, September/October, November/December by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. On the Go magazine provides information about DFMWR programs, activities and services. Per issue circulation: 10,000. To advertise in publication, call 706-325- 0758. 7 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com IN THE SPOTLIGHT| LIONEL GRANT Lionel Grant, Fort Benning’s Army ON THE GO Emergency Relief Officer, has been a member of the Army Community Service here since 2004. FAMILY AND MWR The Midland, Ga., native retired from Al Gelineau the Airforce as a chief master sergeant Director and served as a station manager for the American Red Cross (deploying to Hungary Charlotte Jackson and Saudi Arabia) before accepting the Deputy Director position at ACS. Here, he said, helping Soldiers and their families during times of Connie Andrews urgent need is the best part of his job. Chief, NAF Support Management “Soldiers often times think all hope is lost,” Tracy Locklear he said. “Our goal is to give the Soldier a Chief, Business Operations peace of mind that will allow them to meet mission requirement, without the James Shoemaker additional stress of worrying about being Chief, Community Recreation able to travel on emergency leave, repair their POV, put food on the table and more, Amorio Parrish during crisis situations. The best part of my Chief, Child & Youth Services job is being able to provide assistance to LIONEL GRANT a Soldier when they just don’t know what Patricia Lamson to do.” Chief, Army Community Service Army Emergency Relief Officer Grant works hard to address the unique issues he encounters, situations that do not fit nicely within the prescribed guidelines of MARKETING AER services. Working cases that require an exception to policy are the most challenging and often the most rewarding. Last year, Grant received permission to give financial aid Shannon Beck to a Fort Benning Soldier whose wife could not travel to receive a bone marrow transplant Marketing Director from her sister, who lived overseas. With an AER financial grant, the sister was flown in for Chris Wojciechowski the procedure. That situation had never been encountered before; Grant made it happen. Graphic Designer Growing up with 14 siblings prepared Grant for the military, he said – “I had no problem adapting to life in the barracks!” – and his experience served him well in preparing him for Bridgett Siter his current position, one that requires compassion, creativity and a dogged determination Publicity Specialist to keep Soldiers out of those high-interest payday loan establishments that make a bad problem worse. Angela Meyer Martina Pressley “I do not view my position as a job. I view it as a way of life and a golden opportunity to give Kaitlin Wetzel back to the military that gave so much to me, many opportunities, and challenges to excel Marketing Associates during my thirty-year Air Force career,” he said. “My philosophy is to never forget where you came from and that we all have had situations when we needed a helping hand.” Terrill Alexander Sponsorship & Advertising PUBLISHING & ADVERTISING Marcoa Publishing Inc. 9955 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92126 706-325-0758 Publisher For Advertising Opportunities Contact: Heather Marshall Project Manager 706.325.0758 [email protected] 8 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com 9 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com COMMUNITY SERVICES SURVIVOR OUTREACH SERVICES Gold Star Spouses Day is an opportunity for the U.S. Army to honor the surviving husbands and wives of fallen Soldiers. We will host a lunch for the Gold Star Spouses on April 9 at the Benning Club. NEWCOMERS ORIENTATION ACS Newcomers Orientation is every Wednesday morning. Come join us to see what the Fort Benning community has to offer you. Registration begins at 8:30am and the Orientation is from 9 – 11am. Location: ACS Auditorium, Building 7, 7117 Baltzell Avenue. Spouses are welcome. Message from the ACS Director, Patricia Lamson As the Army’s own emergency financial assistance program, Army Emergency Relief SPONSORSHIP TRAINING is dedicated to “Soldiers Helping Soldiers.” AER helps Soldiers and their families with The Total Army Sponsorship Program helps interest-free scholarships, grants and loans during times of need or financial distress. Soldiers, civilian employees and family Assistance may be awarded for emergency travel, health care expenses, food, funeral members during the relocation process. expenses, rent or mortgage, utilities and more. Attendees learn the various elements of Here at Fort Benning, the 2016 AER campaign was one of the most successful in the 75- the sponsorship program, including how year history of AER. We were recognized nationally after the Fort Benning community to be an effective sponsor and where to raised nearly $174,000 to help our friends and neighbors through some of the most find information incoming personnel may difficult and unpredictable struggles imaginable. request. Every Wednesday 1 – 2pm, at All told, with your help, we have provided more than $2.5 million in aid to military families. ACS Auditorium, Building 7, 7117 Baltzell I hope that makes you proud. We appreciate the support of our units and commanders, Avenue. and we know we have the most dedicated and passionate AER team members in the Army, but we simply could not do it without your help. You’ve heard it said that Life is PCS BRIEF Better at Benning; I can think of two and a half million reasons that’s true. We owe our ACS Relocation offers a monthly PCS success to your generosity. briefing that should not be missed by And now, with your help, we’re out to make the 2017 campaign a record breaker. During single soldiers and families alike! Have this year’s campaign, which runs March 1 - May 15, I hope you’ll help us share the AER your questions answered and get way- message. Tell your friends about AER. Share our story with Soldiers in need, so that one ahead to make your transition smooth day, should they find themselves in need, they’ll know where to turn for help – help that and enjoyable! Our briefings are the fourth doesn’t come with interest and processing fees. Nothing hurts my heart like hearing Thursday of each month: March 23 & April from Soldiers who are stuck with high-interest loans from the pay-day lenders who take 27, 8:30 - 11:00am at ACS Auditorium, advantage of service members in distress. Please help us put an end to that problem by Building 7, 7117 Baltzell Avenue. Please educating our community about the services available through AER and Army Community call ACS Relocation to reserve your spot. Service. 706-545-4485/0403. I invite you to join us at 10am March 9 at the Benning Club’s Regimental Room, where we’ll celebrate the kick-off of the 2017 campaign with light refreshments. Invite your friends and coworkers and learn how you can link arms and get involved to make the 2017 AER campaign the most successful ever. 10 | On the Go | benning.armymwr.com