Vol. 75, No. 5 Feb. 3, 2017 Show of force Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke An M1A2 Main Battle Tank crew from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd ulgaria, ungary an ermany. This rotation ill enhance eterrence capailities rmore rigae omat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires a mm roun uring in the region, improve the .S. aility to respon to potential crises an efen tank gunnery ualification at resiential ange in Siestoo, olan, an. The allies an partners in the uropean community. .S. forces ill focus on strengthening brigade has spent the past month preparing its vehicles and weapon systems for capailities an sustaining reainess through ilateral an multinational training onar movement to locations throughout the region, incluing the altics, omania, an eercises. See relate story on pages . ACT, Polish troos conduct liefire deo y Staff Sgt. orinna altos bondage. Today, we have allies, here in Zagan, (who) to signify that we were leaving Family and friends to 24th Press Camp Headquarters symbolize freedom and security. You are very much serve here,” said Col. Christopher R. Norrie, commander, welcome here.” 3rd ABCT. “Those same colors will be unfurled here ZAGAN, Poland — The President of Poland The brigade, consisting of nearly 3,500 troops this morning, signifying not only our service in Atlantic formally welcomed American Soldiers during a from Fort Carson and close to 2,700 pieces of heavy Resolve but also a visible and incredible symbol of our ceremony at Karlike Range here Tuesday. equipment, arrived in Poland in January as part of nation’s commitment to our allies and the power of this The ceremony, which featured the official uncasing a continuous “heel to toe” troop rotation to bolster exceptional team of teams, fully ready to take action, if of the colors of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, ties with NATO allies. U.S. forces have been training needed, to preserve our shared interest in security and 4th Infantry Division, culminated with a combined arms in Poland since 2014. peace in this vital part of the world.” live-fire exercise between the two nations. The American forces spent the month training and After the ‘Iron’ Brigade’s colors were uncased, the Polish President Andrzej Duda called the event a getting certified in Poland. The brigade will begin American and Polish forces conducted the first, of what “historical moment.” to rotate through other NATO countries for training will be many, training events between the two nations. “Thirty years ago, here in Zagan, we had another and exercises this month. Army here,” said Duda. “We felt like we were in “(In December) our unit voluntarily cased our colors See Allies on Page 4 Inside Page 22 Page 5 Page 13 2 MOUNTAINEER — Feb. 3, 2017 Commentary EFMP Families MOUNTAINEER ommaning eneral Pilot study needs your help aGenRanFGonsales arrison ommanerolRonaldFitchr y onal . olf an eecca . Tucker on successful practices and information required to Army Medicine make Family travel determinations. This information has arrison ulic ffairs ffi cereectt been incorporated into fi ve standardized forms for all FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Going overseas? Military servicemembers on assignment to overseas locations. hief, rint an e ommunications Families headed to duty stations outside the continental The fi ve forms are for screening verifi cation, patient Ricert U.S. don’t need any additional headaches. care referral, medical and educational information, dental itor einFisher To help out, medical representatives from the four information and an internal administrative checklist. services have been working with the Offi ce of Special An additional purpose of the pilot study is to test new, Staff riters LallLasergs Needs (OSN), under the Offi ce of the Secretary of standardized FMTS forms as alternatives to the current, Scottrater Defense, in an effort to enhance the medical travel department-specifi c forms using them across age groups screening process for your Family. (children 6 months and older are included). Sports riter Waltohnson Currently, each service uses Contact your local FMTS ayoutgraphics eanneaerall its own set of travel screening offi ce as soon as you have been forms and processes when Carson test location notifi ed of an overseas assignment Families are relocating to overseas ort Carson is a ilot location for ailies to one of the overseas locations This commercial enterprise newspaper is an going to select locations in erany and aan authorized publication for members of the Depart- locations. These distinct processes mentioned above to determine ment of Defense. Contents of the Mountaineer are can create challenges for Families, As a result, these ailies ill e use the your participation in this pilot. not necessarily the offi cial view of, or endorsed particularly at joint-base and ne ilot fors In addition to the new test by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the sister-service installations. Additional ilot locations are Ary ort forms, the pilot also encourages Army. Printed circulation is 8,000 copies. To resolve these issues, the acson, outh Carolina, and oint ase eis Families moving overseas to The editorial content of the Mountaineer is cChord, Washington Air orce oint ase the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce, Fort service medical representatives begin the PCS process early. Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail address and OSN developed standardized eiscChord, Washington and ay and Families should begin early is [email protected]. medical, dental and educational arines aal edical Center Portsouth, and avoid waiting until the last The Mountaineer is posted online at screening forms for use across irginia and aal Training Center an iego, 15-30 days to get medical and http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com. all four services. and aal osital Ca Pendleton in California dental checks. Occasionally, The Mountaineer is an unoffi cial Medical personnel at all pilot locations publication authorized by AR 360-1. The The OSN plans to test these medical or dental checks lead Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs standardized forms at select loca- losing and gaining hae already receied to referrals, and increasing lead Military Newspaper Group, a private fi rm in tions during the Family Member training on the ne O fors time helps ensure referral visits no way connected with the Department of the Travel Screening (FMTS) Pilot. f you are assigned to a sister serice can be scheduled and record- Army, under exclusive written contract with An FMTS offi ce has been location at one of the aoe entioned keeping closed out. Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. stateside locations, the local offi ces ill assist The appearance of advertising in this established at each of the pilot In addition, enrollment in publication, including inserts or supplements, locations. The offi ce was formerly you in deterining hether or not you are a ilot TRICARE Dental is encouraged, does not constitute endorsement by the called the Exceptional Family articiant ndiiduals should not e turned especially if the military Family is Department of the Army or Colorado Springs Member Program for the Army, aay ecause of their serice affi liation headed overseas, unless there Military Newspaper Group, of the products or Overseas Suitability Screening services advertised. The publisher reserves the is other dental coverage. right to reject advertisements. Offi ce for the Navy and Marine The FMTS pilot study Everything advertised in this publication Corps and Exceptional Family Member Program-Medical forms will be distributed over a 90-day period, which shall be made available for purchase, use or for the Air Force. began Monday. All Families that receive the FMTS pilot patronage without regard to race, color, religion, The purpose of the pilot is to test the standardized forms forms during the 90-day distribution period will continue sex, national origin, age, marital status, and determine if enough information is provided to the physical handicap, political affi liation or any other through the FMTS pilot until their travel screening nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If gaining overseas medical authority to make an appropriate process is complete. a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity determination on service availability during the Family An additional goal is to ensure that the entire military policy by an advertiser is confi rmed, the printer member travel process. By standardizing the forms across the Family who travels with a service member has physician, shall refuse to print advertising from that source services, OSN wants to improve the consistency of service dental and education screenings performed well in advance until the violation is corrected. For display and enhance the Family and service member experience advertising call 634-5905. of the PCS move. All correspondence or queries regarding during the permanent change of station (PCS) process. The FMTS pilot study will help to promote health advertising and subscriptions should be directed Each service provided comprehensive information readiness for both Soldiers and Families. to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, 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 Send a Valentine’s Day message to your sweetheart! Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144. Email your message, 40-word maximum, and a high-resolution photo of you and your loved one to [email protected] Releases from outside sources are so by Sunday to appear in the Feb. 10 issue. Submissions subject to editing. Not all photographs will run. indicated. The deadline for submissions to the Mountaineer is close of business Friday the week before the next issue is published. The Mountaineer staff reserves the right to edit submissions for newspaper style, clarity and typographical errors.