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1. ACOA Roadside Cleanup --August 13, 2005

Articles
1. Update on USO Activities
2. Save the Date for a Unique ACOA Sponsored Community Service Project!
3. Good Time to Fly Space “A”?
4. Atlanta Area United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps 2005 Promotion Ceremony
5. On Uniforms and Courtesies: Bells in Bars
6. Train with the Turtle!
 

Crunch and Run. Saturday, August 20 and Saturday, September 17 at 0900, St. Pius High School Athletic Track at Shallowford Rd and I-85. To RSVP for August, please contact CDR Joe Little at (770) 488-3339.  To RSVP for September, please contact CAPT Arnold Manangan at (770) 488-1869.

ACOA Roadside Clean-up.  Saturday, August 13, 0930-1130, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1450 Ponce De Leon Ave NE). To volunteer, please contact LCDR Melanie Myers at (770) 488-8510 or
CAPT (ret.) Gary Noonan at (770) 488-3449.

ACOA Lunch and Learn “Uniform Customs and Courtesies.” Friday, August 19, 1200-1300, Corporate Square Building 8, Room 1A/1B. Speaker: CDR Bruce Tierney. Sub sandwiches and beverages will be provided. 
For questions, please contact: CDR Deborah Levy at 404-498-1259.

CCRF Computer Modules. Friday, August 26 and Friday, September 23, 0800-1630, Koger Center, Stanford Building, Goddard Computer Room (2160 Brandywine Road). To register, please contact CAPT Arnold Manangan at (770) 488-1869.

Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.  Saturday, September 10, 0750-1600. Location to be announced. To volunteer, please contact LCDR Melanie Myers at (770) 488-8510 or CAPT (ret.) Gary Noonan at (770) 488-3449.  See full article in this newsletter for more details.

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Articles Update on USO Activities The Atlanta Chapter of the USPHS Commissioned Officers Association continues to show its commitment and support for the efforts of the United Services Organization (USO) Jean Amos Center at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Typical duties performed by the volunteers include providing meals and snacks to soldiers, giving out care packages, and assisting soldiers as they transition through the airport. Many of the military personnel encountered in the USO these days are returning to the Middle East from R&R (rest and relaxation). It is usually quite busy in the USO, and the volunteer work provided by PHS officers is very appreciated. The USO provides PHS officers a unique opportunity to volunteer for a great cause, to meet interesting people, and to promote the goals and mission of the Commissioned Corps. This past June 18, 2005, two PHS officers were approached by an Army Brigadier General and a Colonel. The General was a commander of a unit and the Colonel a Chief Medical Officer. These individuals were not familiar with the PHS and thought the volunteers were naval officers. The discussions were interesting for all involved. The Army officers learned about ongoing anthrax research by the CDC as well as other areas of Commissioned Corps involvement. PHS officers in return learned a bit about where the Army policy and needs are regarding the anthrax vaccine and how the two services may interact in the future. In all, it was a very rewarding experience. The USO is a great place to meet wonderful people and be a part of the work done by the proud volunteers and staff that work at the Center. If you are interested in volunteering at the USO, please contact LCDR Ross Spears at (404) 498-2255. Our thanks are extended to LCDR John Whitesides, EPA for writing this article.

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Save the Date for a Unique ACOA Sponsored Community Service Project!

Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Saturday, September 10, 0750-1600

The Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association is looking for volunteers to assist with building a house with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, September 10, 2005! The day’s activities will include a safety orientation, building instructions, and participation on a Habitat for Humanity worksite. You do NOT need specific skills or previous construction experience, just a desire to help and a good attitude!

Atlanta Habitat will provide all tools needed for the build and specifies that all volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Recommended attire includes work boots or thick-sole no-skid shoes, long pants and sleeves, work gloves, and sun protection. We will work rain or shine, and ACOA will provide lunch and beverages. We will not know the specific worksite until early September. Please contact LCDR Melanie Myers at (770) 488-8510 or CAPT (ret.) Gary Noonan at (770) 488-3449 if you would like to volunteer or if you have additional questions.

Atlanta Habitat…

• Acquires the land, designs the houses, obtains the permits, provides skilled construction supervisors, and provides all necessary tools.
• Builds 2 and 3 bedroom/1 bath houses and 4 bedroom/1½ bath houses. Houses range in cost from $80,000 - $99,000 depending on size and specific land costs.
• Spends approximately 90% of its income directly on homebuilding and homeowner programs and services, maintaining low administrative overhead.
• Secures sponsors—faith–based groups, businesses and civic organizations—to fund a portion of the cost of building the house and to supply construction volunteers.
• Typically builds each house with a paid houseleader and 35 volunteers on seven consecutive Saturdays.
• Acquires land in areas that provide sufficient lots to build several homes. The organization strives to create a “critical mass” of homeowners so that entire neighborhoods show visible signs of stability and revitalization.
• Builds energy efficient, EarthCraft certified homes that protect the environment and reduce utility bills for homeowners.
• Will build 50 or more houses in 2005, one of which will be the 800th house!
• Builds 8 to 12 houses at any given time.
• In 2004 built in the neighborhoods of Almond Park, Collier Heights, Edgewood, English Avenue, Lakewood Heights, Mechanicsville, Hammond Park, Hunter Hills, Oakland City, Pittsburgh, Polar Rock, and South Atlanta.

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Good Time to Fly Space “A”?

Once school starts back and the summer tourist season comes to an end, it’s time to consider taking advantage of one of the underutilized privileges we, in the Commissioned Corps, share with other services. September and October as well as April and May, are great times to experience great weather without the tourist season hassles and prices.

Flying Space A (or space available) on military aircraft is quite an experience and is an interesting way to see the world. It also provides a great opportunity to better understand and appreciate our military services. Most Space A flights are run by Air Mobility Command (AMC), however base air squadrons may also have Space A as part of their mission flights.

Before you embark on an adventure, it’s important to note that part of the excitement (and frustration) will be planning the trip. If you are short on time or patience, then Space A would not be an appropriate travel method for you. Base commanders have the right to take away Space A privileges from an individual or an entire group if behaviors or actions are deemed inappropriate.

Given that perspective, there’s lots of fun to be had, and the military does want to fill the seats as much as possible. They are proud of their aircraft and the work they do. They will sometimes invite you to look around the plane and cockpit, and ask questions. Anytime a box lunch meal is offered for the flight, take advantage of it. For $3.00 to $4.00, you’ll be amazed at the amount and variety of food that is provided. The availability of boxed lunches is unpredictable, though, so you should bring your own snacks and water!

Planning:
Prior to 9/11, flight schedules from the various bases and AMC terminals were available on the world wide web—but this is no more. It now is necessary to contact each base or AMC desk directly by phone for this information. When calling, the call will often be answered by a recording that will provide a 2-3 day outlook. Sometimes the phone is answered by a “live” person. In this case, you should simply introduce yourself and politely ask for the flight destinations and times. It is important to remember not to hold these individuals responsible for the exact time or flight information they provide. Most of the time outgoing flight schedules are tentative and dependent on another incoming mission flight. Departure times also can change when the crew members decide to rest after a long flight. Sometimes this can change a 2200 departure to a 0600 departure! And, keep in mind that all air terminals are not open 24 hours. When this happens, don’t take it personally—mission and safety are the priority. Most of the time, staff in the terminal are helpful in providing you local lodging information and numbers to taxi services. Remember they are not “hosting” you though, so you’re on your own. Plan to be at the terminal first thing in the morning to be on the first flight out. Space A flights carry anything from troops and cargo heading to war, to toiletry and food items, to stocking comfort items at an overseas location. The number of seats available depends on how much weight the plane is allowed to carry, so it is dependent on both the type of aircraft being used and the cargo they are carrying. Also, when planning, consider the return route ahead of time as most flights out are circular paths rather than out-and-back. You may start at one point of the country and travel out a distance via train or rental car and then pick up a separate Space A leg that has your departure point as a destination. Therefore, it is helpful when you are departing to take note of the origin of the flights incoming. It’s also possible to ask this question when contacting the terminal for flight information.

Destination:
There are many destinations and finding them is a treasure hunt all on its own. The best place to start in choosing a destination is to look at the major hubs and learn where they service. To avoid delays and frustration, try to pick a regularly visited destination. That is, one that is flown to every day or no less than every 3 days. This way, there’s no bottleneck, and if there are seats available you are most likely to get on. For instance, Charleston is a main hub and flies to Rota, Spain; Rhein Main, Germany; Dover, DE just to name a few. Inside each air terminal is an information sheet that outlines the sign-up information, destinations, and other local contact numbers. When you arrive at an air terminal, always check in, learn about other flights, and gather as many maps and local information sheets you can.

Signing-up:
The best way to sign up is to download the Space-A sign up form and fax it directly to the base. It is not recommended to rely on base email contacts or web-based sign-ups. Fax your sign-up form to every base even remotely on your flight path. You never know when you may need to alter your trip back. Keep the fax confirmation sheet to serve as your record of the time and date that it was submitted. One catch is that you must be on leave when registering. Also, when your leave runs out, you are no longer eligible to sign-up for a Space-A flight. Therefore, it is a good idea to document your leave period several days before you actually plan to fly and several days after you plan to return to work. Remember, at the bottom of your leave form, it’s possible to specifically note the dates you were actually gone. To experiment with Space A overseas, it is suggested to have a 2 week window.

Lodging:
Most bases have either Bachelor Officers Quarters which may include family suites (can cost from $30-$60/night) or a Navy or Air Force Lodge (can cost from $60-$80/night) which is run more like a hotel. Both options are very cheap and better than staying in a local accommodation—especially overseas where you may not normally have your own bathroom. Also, reserve a few extra days in lodging for each stop—you can always cancel if it’s not needed.

Activities:
Military bases have some great services and amenities you may take advantage of, such as, the commissary for groceries, money exchange services, and recreational opportunities (try the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office or the Information, Tickets, and Travel (ITT) office) such as local tours and excursions, gym, theater etc. We flew to Sigonella, Sicily from Rota, Spain and were able to sign up for a local tour of a family operated winery located near the volcano Mt. Etna. This was one of the highlights of our trip! Several families stationed on the base also took advantage of these tours, since it was an inexpensive way for them to see the country without the headaches of the logistics and the language barrier.

There may be times when the military personnel not familiar with the Commissioned Corps will ask about your leave papers (they have a different leave record form), but usually this is just a matter of explanation about our service. However, they will be familiar with your military ID card (CAC card).

When you feel yourself losing your patience—look to the retirees. They are truly the epitome of patience. While it’s true that they usually have no place to be, they still wish for their destination and you, as an active duty officer, will take precedence and get a Space A seat ahead of them. After several bumps and relocations, we were amazed and inspired by the attitude of the retirees. What was important to them was the journey—not the destination. If your fuse is running shorter than those of other active duty officers and their families, then it is a good time for self-evaluation before approaching the airman at the desk. Take a good book and relax—you’re on a free vacation!

Here are some sites that you may find helpful in planning your vacation:
Air Mobility Command (AMC)
Go to “links” at the top of the page and you will find the major AMC hubs.

Space Available Information
A non-government Space A board which provides several destination sites, discussions and links to lodging (small, but are under the title of the page).

Military Aircraft
Learn the various types of aircraft: C-9, C-130, and C-17.

Military Living
A website offering a variety of travel information and options for uniform service members. Distributor of the famous Space A travel guidebook.

Armed Forces Vacation Club
Weekly condo rentals across the world, searchable database. Flat weekly rates of $269.

Our thanks are extended to LCDR Tina Lankford, CDC and CDR Joseph Little, ATSDR for writing this article.

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Atlanta Area United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps 2005 Promotion Ceremony

CDC/ATSDR recently hosted its annual Commissioned Corps Promotion Ceremony on July 15 at the Century Center Building Conference Room. The theme for this year’s ceremony was “United We Stand: Protecting, Promoting and Advancing the Health and Safety of the Nation.” This year we were very excited to have officers participating in the ceremony from many PHS agencies, some of which include BoP, FDA, NPS, HRSA, CMMF, CDC, and ATSDR. 

The ceremony honored officers who were being recognized for their accomplishments by promotion in rank during the 2005 Promotion Year. The United States Public Health Service has a long and distinguished record of protecting the health of the citizens of the United States and abroad and is beginning its third century of service, and on behalf of CDC/ATSDR, recognition was extended to those officers being promoted for their efforts in being a part of this continuing tradition. Approximately 30 officers had their shoulder boards replaced with their new rank as part of the ceremony. Officers in attendance were promoted to Lieutenant Commander, Commander and Captain.  Officers promoted to the rank of Lieutenant also were recognized.

During the ceremony invited officers, guests, family members and colleagues heard welcoming and congratulatory remarks from Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; RADM Robert C. Williams, Chief of Staff, Office of the Surgeon General; CAPT Austin Hayes, Director, Office of Commissioned Corps Personnel, CDC; CAPT David C. Rutstein, Chief Professional Officer, Medical; and CDR Linda K. West, President, Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association. The keynote address was given by RADM (Retired) John Millar, Former Director of the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. A reception immediately followed the ceremony in recognition of those in attendance.

A special thanks was extended to the Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association, the Special Projects Committee, and CDC/ATSDR for assistance in planning for the 2005 Promotion Ceremony.

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On Uniforms and Courtesies: Bells in Bars

Head Gear Etiquette for the Informed Officer

One of my cherished memories as a new second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam-era was the raucous, happy-hour scene at many Officers’ Clubs. Now the land of blue hair and Buick drivers (which includes this author), the clubs were very different places in the late 60’s. Would you believe that the scene included hard rock bands, lots of “20 something” singles, dancing, and even go-go girls?! A Go-Go girl, for you youngsters not in the know, was a scantily clad lounge dancer who plied her trade atop a bar for the entertainment of mixed company in many drinking establishments, some of which were quite respectable. What made the “O Club” scene unusual, by today’s standards, was the sponsorship, yea encouragement, of these loud, and occasionally out-of-hand, bacchanals by the command structure. All officers were expected to report to happy hour at the close of the duty day, last day of the week, for relaxation with office colleagues and boss (senior officer) and for morale building. A brief visit by the Post Commander and other senior brass was common. It was a gesture towards building camaraderie and was successful in this regard, during these tough times. There was no shortage of romance in the air as numerous young, single officers mixed with coeds from the local colleges who came on post, among other reasons, for a deserved diversion from their studies. It was not unusual for the occasional fight to break out and practical jokes to be played. I suppose the high-jinx were winked at as happy play by spirited youths soon to leave for Southeast Asia.

But I digress….

One of the favorite diversions at happy hour was to catch a new officer off guard in violation of head gear custom.

In the military it is considered bad form to place head gear (service cap or garrison cap) on a dining table or bar. This applies in restaurants, homes, and lounges, but especially in the dining environment, and doubly-so in an officer's club. This comes under the heading of gentlemanly behavior. Officers, as gentlemen, are expected to comport themselves in a way that reflects well on family honor and high grooming standards. Also, head gear is traditionally viewed as a personal garment that may be soiled and a potential source of contagion. This may go back to WWI days, the trenches, and head lice.

An old Officer’s Club custom is used to re-enforce this tradition. Most Officer's Clubs have a bell (medium size, like a ship's bell, with clapper) mounted on the wall at the bar. The bell is used, among other purposes, to sound last call at closing time. The tradition holds that should an officer unwittingly place his head gear on the surface of the bar, the first person to notice rings the bell. At the sound, all in the bar report to the bell ringer and are served a drink at the offending officer's expense. In other words, if caught with your head gear on the bar (or on the dining table) you are expected to a buy a round for the house.

After all these years I am still quite conscious of what I do with my hat when in-doors. I will not wear a hat indoors and will not ever place a hat on a table or a bar. Make the same mistake in a military club and the drinks are on you!

Our thanks are extended to CAPT (ret., USPHS) Wade P. Kirstein for writing this article. 

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Train with the Turtle!

“Things were going o.k. for a while, until I started turning up the intensity on the track with my running buddies. I thought it was just normal fatigue that I could run through, until I tore a hamstring…the latest in a string of leg injuries that I finally and stubbornly succumbed to. Stupid. Should have listened to my body. I took six weeks off with absolutely zero running and let the hamstring heal, and worked with my P.T. to loosen up my hams, which was no small undertaking.” (From the Rage: www.10Ktruth.com.)

The Peachtree Road Race is over and the take-home sponsor bag has you planning your next venture. Maybe another 10K or maybe a half-marathon? Or perhaps you find that after volunteering at the Peachtree you became inspired and decided it was time to begin a regular exercise program! Regardless of physical condition, virtually EVERYONE who is physically active will eventually experience a few aches and pains. One common mistake is overzealousness!

Progression is one of the most important concepts in preventing some of the most common injuries. Whether you are a walker, jogger, or runner, there are three factors to consider before ramping up your exercise routine: 1) duration, 2) intensity, and 3) frequency. The chance of injury increases if any one of these elements is increased by more than 10% in one week. Also, the increase in total exercise exposure (the sum of smaller increases of all three elements) should not total more than 10%. Some coaches may even decrease one element while the other is increased, especially during times of extreme heat. This is called periodization. For example, an increase in duration could be accompanied by a decrease in intensity and/or frequency. Periodization has become a common training principle among coaches.

Further, it is not recommended that the total exercise exposure be increased 10% week after week with no reprieve. The body needs some time to recover (which may be obtained through lighter workouts, cross-training, or unstructured activity). It has been found that “backing off” every third week may decrease the incidence of stress fractures to the bone. Bill Dellinger, legendary runner and coach, prescribed slow progression of only 10% per year for his elite athletes.

Training at the same level over time does not build muscle, so increases are necessary. The aging process weakens tendons, ligaments, and bones. Exercise is the key to keeping these structures strong and maintained at a functionally younger state. Muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones become stronger when utilized. Long periods of inactivity significantly diminish muscle fibers and strength. Long periods of inactivity, however, may be part of injury treatment advised by a physician.

A good rule of thumb in regards to pain, is that if the pain involves stiffness or similar sensation that typically goes away once activity starts and muscles warm up, then “home therapy” of stretching and rest should be adequate. On the other hand, if the pain does not go away after engaging in the activity, lasts more than half an hour after the activity, or is accompanied by a decrease in range of motion or swelling, then it is appropriate to seek the care of a physician. Better to catch things early and allow time for rest than to push too hard and double the time required for inactivity and recovery!

Excerpted from: Exercise Injury Prevention, Running in the Fast Lane, Dr. John Halle, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, http://www.hooah4health.com/body/fitness/exinjuryprev/default.htm.

Our thanks are extended to LCDR Tina Lankford, CDC for submitting this article.

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