July 15, 2016
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Vol. 74, No. 28 July 15, 2016 Obama: Olympic bound 8,400 U.S. Troops to remain in Afghanistan By Jim Garamone DOD News, Defense Media Activity The situation in Afghanistan remains “precarious,” President Barack Obama said here July 6, and that is why he will keep 8,400 U.S. service members in country through the end of his term. The president was joined for the announce- ment from the Roosevelt Room at the White House by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obama had planned to draw down the number of American troops in the country to 5,500 by the end of the year. There are currently 9,800 U.S. troops in the country. “As president and commander in chief, I have made it clear that I will not allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again,” Obama said. “I strongly believe that it is in our national interests, especially after all the blood and treasure we’ve invested in Afghanistan over the years, that we give our Afghan partners the very best opportunity to succeed.” Obama made the decision after consulting with the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Nicholson; his national security team; Congress and allies. Pegging the number at 8,400 troops will allow the United States “to continue to provide tailored support to help Afghan forces continue to improve,” the president said. The decision means the United States will maintain a presence in both Kandahar and Jalalabad. The president’s announcement Photo by Tim Hipps came shortly before he departed for the July Spcs. Paul Chelimo and Shadrack Kipchirchir lead are among 15 Fort Carson U.S. Army World Class Athlete 8-9 NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, where the pack during a 5,000-meter run preliminary at the Program members named to the 2016 Team USA Olympic leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan. 2016 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials Saturday at and Paralympic teams that will be competing in Rio de Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Chelimo and Kipchirchir Janeiro this summer. See Page 5 for story. See Afghanistan Page 4 Message board Inside The Sesame Street/ USO Experience is at 2 p.m. Tuesday and 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday at McMahon Auditorium. Admission is free for military Families. See Page 24 for more information. Pages 10-11 Pages 18-19 Page 17 2 MOUNTAINEER — July 15, 2016 Commentary MOUNTAINEER Commanding General: Preparation key to beating heat aGenRanFGonsales By Chris Frazier The Army is not immune to heat injury, and hundreds Garrison Commander:olRonaldFitch Department of Communication and Public Affairs, of Soldiers suffer from heat illness each year. U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center “Despite our best efforts, the incidence of heat-related arrison lic ffairs ffi cereectt illnesses has remained stable,” said Maj. David DeGroot, Chief, Print and Web Communications: The hottest months of the year are on the horizon, and U.S. Army Public Health Center (Provisional), Aberdeen Ricert health organizations nationwide are urging Soldiers and Proving Ground, Maryland. civilians to start preparing now to prevent heat illnesses. “Over the past fi ve years, more than 200 Soldiers Editor: einFisher Each year in the United States an average of 658 people have been hospitalized due to heat stroke each year, and Staff writers: LallLasergs die as a result of extreme heat, according to the Centers over 1,000 additional Soldiers have been hospitalized Scottrater for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC for other heat illnesses.” recommends everyone take the necessary steps to protect Fortunately, leaders and Soldiers can take preventive Happenings: elLae themselves, such as staying cool, hydrated and prepared. measures to reduce the risk of serious heat illness. DeGroot Sports writer: Waltohnson said leaders should arrange training schedules so the most strenuous activities take place Layout/graphics: eanneaerall in the early morning rather than during the hottest part of the day. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Depart- “Likewise, strenuous activities should ment of Defense. Contents of the Mountaineer are not be scheduled back-to-back,” DeGroot said. not necessarily the offi cial view of, or endorsed “There is a cumulative effect of repetitive by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the days of training in warm or hot conditions. Army. Printed circulation is 8,000 copies. Therefore, leaders might also need to modify The editorial content of the Mountaineer is training based on the prior day’s weather and the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce, Fort Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail address their Soldiers’ activity level.” is [email protected]. Soldiers can help reduce their risk by The Mountaineer is posted online at taking care of their bodies. DeGroot said an http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com. out-of-shape male Soldier is at three times The Mountaineer is an unoffi cial the risk of suffering an exertional heat injury, publication authorized by AR 360-1. The Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs while a Soldier who is both out of shape Military Newspaper Group, a private fi rm in no and overweight is at eight times the risk. way connected with the Department of the Army, “Preparing for the heat starts with a year- under exclusive written contract with round approach to maintaining physical fi tness Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. and a healthy body weight,” DeGroot said. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, Soldiers and leaders must also remember does not constitute endorsement by the proper hydration can help prevent heat illness. Department of the Army or Colorado Springs While there is no consensus for the best method Military Newspaper Group, of the products or of determining hydration status in the fi eld, services advertised. The publisher reserves the DeGroot said the combination of fi rst morning right to reject advertisements. Everything advertised in this publication urine color assessment, body weight changes shall be made available for purchase, use or and thirst sensation can be helpful indicators. patronage without regard to race, color, religion, The presence of two of those three markers sex, national origin, age, marital status, indicates dehydration is likely, while three out physical handicap, political affi liation or any other of three indicates dehydration is very likely. nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity “Serious heat illnesses are preventable, policy by an advertiser is confi rmed, the printer but doing so requires a two-pronged approach shall refuse to print advertising from that source between leaders and Soldiers,” DeGroot until the violation is corrected. For display said. “When we take the time to prepare, advertising call 634-5905. there’s no reason we can’t beat the heat.” All correspondence or queries regarding advertising and subscriptions should be directed Visit https://safety.army.mil for more to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, information on heat injury prevention. 235 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, phone 634-5905. The Mountaineer’s editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Offi ce, building 1218, room 320, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144. Releases from outside sources are so indicated. The deadline for submissions to the Doing something Mountaineer is close of business Friday the week before the next issue is published. The Mountaineer staff reserves the right to edit submissions for fun on post? newspaper style, clarity and typographical errors. Policies and statements refl ected in the news and editorial columns represent views Submit a photo for of the individual writers and under no circumstances are to be considered those of the Featured Photo the Department of the Army. Reproduction of editorial material is on http://www. authorized. Please credit accordingly. fortcarsonmountaineer.com. Send submissions to editor@ fortcarsonmountaineer.com and include a caption islalassifiedadertising describing 634-5905 the photo ontaineereditor and who 526-4144 ostinoration took the 526-5811 picture. osteatherhotline 526-0096 July 15, 2016 — MOUNTAINEER 3 News Evans garners ‘green’ award Story and photo by Jeff Troth said Lt. Col. Donald Chapman, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Fort Carson Evans chief of logistics divi- Public Affairs Office sion. “We are one of only 70 hospitals nationwide that Evans Army Community Hospital has been received this award, and the only awarded the Greenhealth Emerald Award by Practice hospital in U.S. Army Medical Greenhealth for the second straight year. Command (MEDCOM) to get Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Nadja West the Emerald Award.” presented the award to the hospital’s command team, “We were also one of only Col. Patrick Garman and Command Sgt. Maj. Theon two Army hospitals to get the Hart, in June. Greening of the OR award The Greenhealth Emerald Award recognizes health this year,” said Wilburn. “That care facilities that have achieved improvements in their means that we are using reusable Evans Army Community Hospital now uses reusable sharps mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and devices, and we are recycling everything that we can containers that can be used 500 times. Evans was spending source reduction programs. that is coming out of the (operating room).” about $40,000 a year on one-time use containers. “Winning this award establishes Evans as a top Chapman said the entire hospital staff doing its performer in sustainable practices for the environment,” part in recycling and using materials that don’t leave a harmful footprint on the environment helped Evans hospital in MEDCOM using the reusable containers.