Hourglass 11-18-06 .Indd
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Qualityity of life issues, issues insurance rates and Kwajalein’s future were topics of see Page 3. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 ((PhotoPhoto bbyy LLarryarry AAllen)llen) The Kwajalein Hourglass www.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.html COMMENTARY Take time out of your busy schedule to relax I’d like to recommend that you come to the 10:45 a.m. Take the sab- Protestant Worship service, but not just to listen to me, to bath, for instance. listen to the children. Regulars know that about halfway This was a day through the service I give what we call a Children’s Mes- that God instituted sage in which all the young people come up and sit on the so that we could fl oor and listen to a brief story, hopefully with an applicable rest, take a break, point. stop. While we One Sunday I wanted to teach the children about the were sitting around word sabbath which means “stop” in Hebrew. As they taking a break, we settled on the fl oor in front of me, I sat on a stool and held decided to fi ll the up a stop sign and said, “What’s this?” One boy answered, silence with 101 activities, games, outings, events, clubs, “That’s from school; you stole it!” I tried to tell him I didn’t chores, so that we need another day to rest from our day steal it, I’m the pastor. I borrowed it, and I promise I’ll give it of rest. The holidays are coming up. I’m sure these were back (which I did). intended as special times of celebration to break from You could imagine that it was a bit hard after that to get our normal patterns of work and remember what is most the children back on track and to understand what sabbath is all about. We are an easily distracted society. See TAKE TIME, Page 16 LLettersetters ttoo tthehe eeditorditor Replacing priest is serious concern for many island residents The fi rst (and reiterated) question in The people of Kwajalein, Roi and the those of us away from our families the Town Hall meeting was regarding outer islands who look to Father John made me think: Is there a worse pos- what changes Kwajalein Range Servic- for spiritual guidance, both inside and sible time to send away the man who es was looking for in a Catholic priest. outside of the Catholic community so many of the unaccompanied look to And the response was basically that we should have some say, or at the very for guidance? He has opened his heart don’t discuss personnel issues in the least have some answers regarding the and home to us. All were welcome, Town Hall meetings. replacement of their leader. regardless of faith. I feel that the replacement of a Col. [Stevenson] Reed’s [U.S. Army No, it’s not a personnel issue, it’s a spiritual leader is not a personnel is- Kwajalein Atoll commander] comment personal issue. It affects many of us sue. It’s not like the replacement of a about the sadness and loneliness that very personally. I am one. clerk that sells you shoes, for example. occurs during the holiday season for — Cathy Williams Jabro School grateful for chance to observe Kwaj classes I would like to take this wonderful opportunity to thank the new friends and of course, enjoyed fun conversations with following individuals for their warm welcome to those of us the school’s nice principal, Deb Johnson. from the Jabro Private School who observed classrooms on I would also like to thank my friend, Cris Lindborg for Kwajalein. stopping by to catch up with her little jokes. We, Marshal- Thank you to Judy Kirchner, Jane Premo, Bonnie Hogan, lese, we say “ijamin meloklok kom” meaning to say “I will Susan Davis, Deb Johnson and Atota Matthew. never forget you.” Mrs. Kirchner, you are our big help. We, the teachers, really enjoyed every moment we spent Komol tata, in your school. Fortunately, we learned new things, met — Rogan Kibin TThehe KwajaleinKwajalein HHourglassourglass The Kwajalein Hourglass is named for the or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department Printed circulation: 2,000 insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. E-mail: [email protected] which liberated the island from the forces of Im- It is published Wednesdays and Saturdays in ac- Commanding Offi cer......Col. Stevenson Reed perial Japan on Feb. 4, 1944. cordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a Public Affairs Offi cer......................Sandy Miller network printer by Kwajalein Range Services edito- The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized pub- Editor......................................Nell Drumheller lication for military personnel, federal employees, rial staff. contractor workers and their families assigned P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555 Graphics Designer..........................Dan Adler to U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll. Contents of the Phone: Defense Switching Network 254-3539; Reporter............................................J.J. Klein Hourglass are not necessarily offi cial views of, Local phone: 53539 Distribution..................................C.J. Kemem The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 Kwaj Town Hall meeting held Tuesday USAKA, KRS leaders respond to increased insurance rates, retail pricing, housing, quality of life concerns Hourglass reports nel “to look at and streamline pro- cesses and eliminate waste in those “I see us as being relevant to nsurance rate increases for processes.” He insisted it was not a the Army. We see Kwajalein as Kwajalein Range Services em- program designed to eliminate jobs, IIployees, the Army’s implemen- “it’s about being effi cient.” not going anywhere. It’s very tation of Lean Six Sigma and an Reed’s goal is to identify 30 projects much of national interest.” explanation of the newly-formed annually, beginning with streamlin- Col. Stevenson Reed, commander, Transition Team were key topics ad- ing warehousing from 44 warehouses U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll dressed at the Town Hall hosted by to ten, perhaps even four, and using U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, KRS and the savings to repair infrastructure the future of the island. The team, the Kwajalein Police Department on around the island. One hundred representative of the Kwajalein com- Tuesday evening in the Kwajalein percent of the cost savings will stay munity, includes military personnel, Jr. and Sr. High School Davye Davis on island and can help fund needed Department of the Army civilians and Multi-Purpose Room. improvements. Reed hopes to save contractor personnel. Reed expects a USAKA Commander Col. Stevenson $500,000 on the warehouse project fi nalized course of action plan from Reed introduced himself to Kwajalein alone. the team by February, at which time residents and said over the past four Anyone with a recommendation he will brief the chain of command months he was trying to participate for Lean Six Sigma consideration is at SMDC in Huntsville and Washing- in community events as much as urged to use their chain of command ton, DC. The community will then be possible. Reed turned the meeting or mention it to a Six Sigma Yellow briefed once the plan is approved by over to John Pickler, KRS president, Belt. the leadership. after sharing his belief that USAKA “Kwajalein is a place for families,” and KRS “walk out with the same, Transition Team said Reed. He said the team may con- shared vision” for Kwajalein. “If you don’t know the Global War sider transferring jobs to Huntsville, A Safety Share by Pickler encour- on Terror has priority for all Army Ala. and consolidating the schools as aged residents to be careful with funding, then you’ve missed the the island population decreases, but their holiday decorations and when mark,” said Reed explaining the need insisted the schools will not close. He using candles. Make sure indoor to reshape the future of Kwajalein said he doesn’t think of these changes and outdoor Christmas lights are UL given current budget constraints and as downsizing, but as rightsizing. listed. He also urged residents to be change of missions. The budget for Reed maintains that it is important mindful of winter driving conditions fi scal year 2008 looks like it is funded to keep Kwajalein an attractive place when visiting the United States over at the IAT numbers, but “I still need to for potential and current employees. the holidays. see it in writing,” said Reed, who will He cautioned people to wait until Reed weighed in with his holiday continue to go after more money. the transformation plan is fi nalized concerns, asking the community to “RTS is going after Army missions,” before making career decisions. be good neighbors during the holi- said Reed, explaining the Pentagon day season and identify anyone who directive to pursue Army systems Missions/schools/police might be alone, depressed and pos- and testing on Kwajalein. To remain KRS leadership briefed the audi- sibly suicidal as a result of being so signifi cant in the big picture of the ence on key departmental issues. Department of Defense, USAKA plans far from home during the Christmas There is a January date tentatively to expand its client base beyond U.S. season. set for a SpaceX mission as well as Air Force programs and go after the several Intercontinental Ballistic Mis- Medium Extended Air Defense Sys- Lean Six Sigma sile 2007 dates, said Doug Peters, tem, successor to the PATRIOT; and Reed announced the introduction KRS Plans and Operations manager. the Israeli Arrow Missile program. “I of Lean Six Sigma, a program used Peters added that the Kwajalein see us as being relevant to the Army,” by KRS and USAKA to train person- Missile Range Safety System Worthy said Reed.