Freestate Challenge Academy Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance Gold Star Families Honored
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
www.apgnews.apg.army.mil Published in the interest of the people of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland April 11, 2013 Vol. 57, No.15 Freestate ChalleNGe Academy gives at-risk youth a second chance Story and photo by RACHEL PONDER APG News Freestate ChalleNGe Acad- emy gives students withdrawn from high school, ages 16-18, a unique opportunity; a second chance at an education. For 22 weeks, the cadets voluntarily live in the academy’s residential program, a structured, disci- plined, quasi-military environ- ment. The 17-month program is operated by the Maryland National Guard. Freestate ChalleNGe Acade- my Director Charles Rose said the program receives about 450 applications per session and around 200 teens are selected to participate in the two week Pre- Challenge, or acclimation peri- od, where the teens decide if they want to stay and participate in the program. Of those teens, about 140 cadets are accepted into the program. “We choose teens that have a willingness to want to make a change in their lives,” said Bill Anderson, who is in charge of recruitment. During the residential phase, Cadets volunteer at the Edgewood branch of the Harford County Public Library March 25. All cadets who graduate from the See FREESTATE, page 10 Freestate ChalleNGe Academy must complete a minimum of 40 hours worth of public service. Community Gold Star Families honored By LUKE ELLIOTT States and … the sacrifices of the fam- speaks IMCOM ilies of the fallen members and veter- America paid respect April 5 to the ans of the Armed Forces of the United out against spouses and families of fallen mem- States should never be forgotten.” bers of the U.S. Armed Forces. Gold Star Wives Day was first cel- A resolution to designate Gold Star ebrated Dec. 18, 2010, through a Sen- sexual Wives Day was approved March 20 by ate resolution with support from the the U.S. Senate in recognition of the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., a assault sacrifices made by these spouses and nonprofit organization of about 10,000 family members. members that provides services and U.S. Army Photo By RACHEL PONDER The Senate resolution states the support to the spouses of fallen ser- The gold star lapel pin (left) is issued to immedi- APG News military service members and veter- vice members. ate family members of service members killed ans “bear the burden of protecting the in combat. The next-of-kin pin (right) signifies Team APG hosted a breakfast a service-related death or suicide during active freedom of the people of the United See AMERICA, page 6 and open discussion forum called duty other than combat. “It Time….To Talk About It!” a Sexual Assault Awareness and Pre- vention Month event, April 3. Army releases The event featured an expert Holocaust Days of Remembrance panel of counselors and clinical second quarter social workers who opened the dis- program slated for April 16 cussion and question-and-answer accident data; session by talking By T’JAE GIBSON about their experi- To report ARL Public Affairs Office a sexual downward ences working with The Army Research Laboratory will host victims of sexual assault, “Holocaust Days of Remembrance,” 10 a.m. trend continues assault. They dis- call the April 16 at the Post Theater, Bldg. 3245. cussed the factors Installation This year’s theme, “Never Again: Heed- By JULIE SHELLEY that help a victim 24/7 hotline ing the warning signs” is a call to action to U.S. Army Combat Readiness/ become a survivor, motivate people to “respond to indicators of Safety Center dealing with cur- at 410-322- genocide today,” event organizers said. Accident statistics from the rent situations, and 7154 or the “Looking back at the events of 1938, the second quarter show the Army the journey still DoD Safe signs of impending war and the Holocaust— continues to improve its safe- ahead for those Helpline territorial expansion, disregard for international ty performance well into fiscal needing to resolve at 1-877- law, persecution of people based on their iden- 2013, according to data released a problem, as well 995-5247. tity—are undoubtedly clearer today than they by the U.S. Army Combat as ways to protect were then,” states a post on the U.S. Holocaust Readiness/Safety Center. Family members Memorial Museum website. “Nonetheless, Overall, accidental fatalities and friends, talking to children opportunities for international intervention, declined 13 percent from fig- about sex and opening the lines such as at the Evian Conference, existed and ures for the same time frame of communication so children feel could have saved many lives,” it continues. in fiscal 2012. Based on recent comfortable discussing these top- “Why did so many countries and individuals updates to existing accident ics with parents. fail to respond to the warning signs? And what reports, fiscal 2012 is current- Panel members included Instal- can we learn from the few who chose to act, ly tied with fiscal 2000 as the lation Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jerry despite widespread indifference?” second-safest year on record, Owens; Dr. James Cartwright,` Baltimorean Sam Poncza, a Polish immi- US Holocaust Memorial Museum photo not third as previously reported. clinical social worker from the grant whose early life was plagued by the This child was one of millions whose lives “The fact that accidental were disrupted as a result of the Holocaust See SAAM, page 10 See HOLOCAUST, page 10 and Nazi persecution. See ARMY, page 10 WEATHER INDEX ONLINE Pg 2 .................. Street Talk www.apg.army.mil Thurs. apgnews.apg. Pg 6 .... Mark Your Calendar army.mil Pg 8 ......... At your service apg.armylive. dodlive.mil/ facebook.com/ ICE system APGMd http://ice.disa.mil/ twitter.com/ Facebook, http:// USAGAPG on.fb.me/HzQIow flickr.com/photos/ 72° 56° usagapg/ MORE INSIDE CAPE educates Soldier Show APG Military and civilian community club PAGE 2 APG workforce on performer to support Picerne Military Housing changes name PAGE 5 the Army Profession sister on American Idol Month of the Military Child PAGE 11 page 3 page 4 2 APG News • April 11, 2013 OPINION What would you do on an APG observes Sexual ideal day off? Assault Awareness Month he foundation of our suc- I would cess as an Army is based on One of the most serious and spend at our shared commitment to the fudamental violations of these least two Army’sT Values, the tenets of the Profes- hours at a sion of Arms, the Warrior Ethos and the values is sexual harassment and spa, do some Army Civilian Corps Creed. More than gardening, any single weapon, equipment item or assault. As a result, the Army is or anything technologically-advanced system, it is committed to eradicating sexual outdoors, our daily adherence to these principles and volunteer Andrea that makes the Army both effective on harassment and assault in our in the Jenkins the battlefield and consistently rated as community. JPEO-CBD among the most admired institutions in ranks by creating a climate that respects the our nation. dignity of each member of our Army. Fostering a culture in which our values can flourish and where mutu- Army team must have at their core an mony on April 2. Further, we will offer al respect, trust and confidence exists ingrained, values-based ‘gut reaction’ to a screening of ‘The Invisible War,’ a among our Soldiers, civilians and fami- stop demeaning ‘out of bounds’ behav- documentary film about sexual assault lies is the responsibility of every Army ior and acts of violence. in the military, 1 p.m., April 16 at Bldg. leader. One of the most serious and A key component of SHARP is the E2800 in APG South (Edgewood). In fundamental violations of these values Army’s I. AM. STRONG sexual assault addition, APG will host three showings is sexual harassment and assault. As a prevention campaign which focus- of the improvisational theater presenta- result, the Army is committed to erad- es on empowering leaders, peers and tion ‘The Sex Signals’ at the APG Post icating sexual harassment and assault I am bystanders to intervene when they wit- Theater, 9 and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., April in our ranks by creating a climate that in school ness inappropriate behavior. The three 18. Seating for these shows is limit- studying respects the dignity of each member watchwords of the I. AM. STRONG ed and tickets are available at the MWR of our Army Family and holds offend- to be a neuro- campaign are ‘intervene, act and moti- Ticket Booth or through unit SHARP ers appropriately accountable for such physiologist. vate.’ Through required SHARP train- representatives. intolerable behavior. I would read ing and by encouraging our Army team There will also be a Self Defense Although this commitment lasts nerdy books members to take action to stop sexu- Class and Empowerment Fair at the 24/7, 365 days a year, during April the about the al harassment and assault, we will build Main Post Chapel, April 23 from noon Army makes a special effort to rec- brain, an institution that views one incident to 1:30 p.m. Finally, APG team mem- biology and Becca Sandlain ognize and support Sexual Assault as too many and where no one will tol- bers may participate in ‘Honor Denim physiology, Military Family Awareness Month (SAAM) - an annu- erate preying upon a fellow Soldier or Day,’ April24, which encourages indi- I find that member al national campaign to raise awareness viduals to wear denim to work to show relaxing. and educate communities on the pre- Army Civilian.