Apr 2, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Good health and a strong family gene pool have blessed Roger Chassay with an athletic body that has taken him all the way to the Olympics. The Senior Olympic Games, that is. Chassay, 71, has been a regular on the local, state and national scene of senior track and field events since he dedicated himself to becoming an athlete just over 15 years ago. To his credit, this Air Force veteran and retired 38-year NASA engineer has on display some 500 medals that he has won at senior athletic competitions in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Louisiana. Crowning his accomplishments, are four bronze medals and a gold medal won at the national U.S. Senior Games. He also has a silver medal won at a national masters track and field event.

Apr 2, 2010

For the first time, classic issues of the Redstone Rocket are now available online, thanks in part to the AMCOM Command Group's interest in preserving the history that's been captured in this award-winning publication. The Redstone Rocket has been continuously published in some shape, form or fashion -- with the assistance of various public affairs/public information offices -- since Feb. 5, 1952. Though technically an "unofficial authorized" publication, it has been the newspaper of record for Redstone Arsenal since its first printing.

Apr 2, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Security guard Danny Kuby's friendly and unassuming nature gives no hint to the sacrifices this disabled Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran has made for his country. But, in April 2007, Kuby was among the hundreds of Soldiers to be deployed in President Bush's "surge strategy" with the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division "Raiders," 9th Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Lewis, Wash. During more than 13 months of continuous, full-spectrum operations throughout the Baghdad Northern Belt and the Diyala Province, Kuby and his fellow Soldiers endured countless attacks to defeat Al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents, suppress Shia extremist militias, bolster Iraqi civil government and security force capabilities, and protect critical infrastructure.

Mar 31, 2010

Six hundred women, many unknowingly, competed recently for a motherhood award, and one woman at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command shined so brightly that she was chosen as one of the 20 semi-finalists.

Mar 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Tamara Richardson knows what it's like to be on the "ground floor" of a new program. The teen has the distinction of being the first at Redstone to participate in the HIRED! Apprenticeship Program, offered through the Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation's Child Youth and School Services program. Last spring, when she signed up for HIRED!, Richardson was not only the first teen in the program, but also its only teen. That's enough to give any young person the first-time jitters, especially when you hope to land your first job and gain some work experience.

Mar 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- As with any historical war, books on Vietnam - both fiction and non-fiction -- tell the stories of war heroes, pivotal battles and tremendous challenges. But very few tell the stories of the wives left to struggle with their own battles as their husbands were sent to fight in Vietnam. Rosalie Turner hopes to change that.

Mar 26, 2010

When it comes to unmanned systems, the Army's scientists and engineers along with program managers and contractors have given Soldiers on the battlefield tools designed to save lives and complete the mission against ever-changing threats.

Mar 26, 2010

In the last scene of the movie "Not Without My Daughter," an American flag is seen fluttering in the wind outside the U.S. embassy in Turkey.

Mar 19, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- There's a four-man band playing these days at Firehouse Pub that has its roots in the Pacific's Kwajalein Island. Spend a few minutes with The Zooks, and it is evident their free-style, fun-loving, laid-back ways are very much reminiscent of rock bands with an island twist.

Mar 19, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Chief Warrant Officer 4 Peter Gillies will have a little help when he makes his public directing debut in front of a Huntsville/North Alabama audience this Sunday. And that help will come from the Army Materiel Command Band itself. The band and its current band master - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Frederick Ellwein - will bring a mix of patriotic, pop and concert music to the Columbia High auditorium.

Mar 19, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- They didn't choose the military. But the military and all of the Tennessee Valley community has chosen to be there for them. Nearly 2 million children across the world are connected to the U.S. military, according to the Military Child Education Coalition, half of whom have experienced a parent deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. That's nearly 1 million children dealing with tough issues, such as a sick or injured parent, separation, cycles of deployment, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even death.

Mar 19, 2010

Is it Hollywood entertainment or a realistic depiction of war'

Mar 19, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- A groundbreaking could be held in late spring or early summer for a $1 billion office park near Gate 9. Gov. Bob Riley last week signed into law legislation that will permit the city of Huntsville to create a partnership with a Montgomery company to build the massive office park using a tax-increment financing district to provide money for public improvements for the development.

Mar 19, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Staff Sgt. Joshua Rath and his family never got the chance to celebrate his 23rd birthday. Instead, Rath's family and friends in Decatur spent his birthday, Jan. 17, 2009, saying goodbye to a young man known for his friendly, fun loving and easygoing ways, and for his dedication to his Army unit and their mission in Afghanistan. Rath gave his life for that unit and mission in Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 8, 2009.

Mar 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Colleen Mills knows what it's like to be in on a "God moment." And seeing the shiny clean smiles of happy children was among the best "God moments" experienced by Mills and her fellow missionaries during a dental/medical mission trip to the Central American country of Belize, where she used her skills as a dental hygienist to aid the impoverished people in a remote agricultural area.

Mar 12, 2010

COLUMBUS, Miss. - The 100th delivery of the UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter was celebrated at a rollout ceremony Thursday at the American Eurocopter facility in Columbus. The delivery marks another on-time and on-budget achievement for a successful program that supports America's war fighters and contributes to homeland security.

Mar 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Army recruiters. Pedigreed domestic cats. Shopping for authentic Coach bags. Beaches of Alabama. Type 1 diabetes. Using Facebook. Affects of job-related stress. Quiltmaking. Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation construction projects. Using Government purchase cards. All were subjects of briefings made by Garrison employees who participated in the Effective Briefing Techniques class taught during the first-ever Garrison Training Week on March 1-5.

Mar 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- For the major players behind Team Redstone, it's more than just a "hello" - it's a "Welcome. We're so glad to have you here." Each first Tuesday of the month, Army Community Service rolls out the red carpet for newcomers to the Arsenal at Newcomers' Orientation, giving new faces a chance to meet some of the better-known ones and learn everything they want to know behind the new place they call home.

Mar 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Soldier whose son was diagnosed with cancer. The retired Soldier who found himself in a financial bind. They were among those who shared their personal stories on a videotape about Army Emergency Relief assistance. It's Soldiers helping Soldiers. The video was shown during the 2010 AER campaign kickoff March 3 in Heiser Hall.

Mar 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Brian Holloway gave the secret of his success on the football field during Team Redstone's African American/Black History Month program Feb. 22. "You lay the soul of a Soldier on top of the passion of a playmaker you will never ever, ever, ever be stopped," said Holloway, a former Stanford All-American and five-time NFL All-Pro.

Mar 5, 2010

Before focusing on the message he was delivering at Redstone Arsenal's National Prayer Luncheon on Friday, retired Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant thought he should give his audience the "short version" of what is widely known as his "Black Hawk Down" experience.

Mar 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Digging in the dirt may seem like child's play, but for Ben Hoksbergen, it's his career. As Redstone Arsenal's only archeologist, Hoksbergen has a prime opportunity to get down and dirty with Redstone's rich history. The north side of Martin Road near Indian Creek has become a site for archeological exploration. This site is part of a series of digs that will happen along Martin Road due to the future "Martin Road expansion project," where Martin Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes from Rideout Road to Zierdt Road. The expansion project stems from BRAC-related Arsenal growth and the increase of Arsenal employees living in Madison and using Gate 7.

Mar 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Husband. Son. Brother. Soldier. Leader. Patriot. Friend. "Those simple but profound words are the essence of a man who left an indelible mark on all of us," said retired Maj. Gen. Jim Cravens. Cravens' description of his longtime friend and professional colleague, retired Lt. Gen. Larry Dodgen, recalled a military leader who loved the Army and the Soldiers under his command. That theme resonated throughout a Feb. 25 memorial service at Bicentennial Chapel for Dodgen, 60, who died from a heart attack while playing tennis on Feb. 20.

Mar 5, 2010

The threat of the nation's homegrown terrorist movement came into full view Feb. 23 during a Space and Missile Defense Command security awareness briefing by a spokesman for the world's most comprehensive data center on radical Islamic terrorist groups. Flashing picture after picture of alleged terrorists representing various radical Islamic groups on a large projection screen, Stephen Landman of The Investigative Project on Terrorism told his audience that there are several "homegrown extremists and radical terrorists" in the U.S. who encourage terrorism throughout the world, and who actively recruit and raise funds for terrorist groups.

Mar 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- In the weeks to come, Soldiers in Afghanistan will receive a long-distance hug from students at Madison's Heritage Elementary. Cupid will travel an extra long way to deliver the Valentines for Troops, the care package outreach of Heritage Elementary's fifth-grade class. Students of the school came together in February to collect and bag the special goodies for the Soldiers.

Mar 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- During his visit to Redstone Arsenal, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the Installation Management Command, took the time to focus in on the spouses, parents and other family members of Soldiers from North Alabama who have made the ultimate sacrifice. And sitting right next to him at a meeting with these family members was Emily McFall, the widow of a Soldier who died on the battlefield while under Lynch's command.

Feb 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Next year's move of the Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School to Fort Lee, Va., is on track, according to the Army's deputy commander for initial military training.

Feb 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Any young engineer, technician or business professional who has talked to Dr. Tom Pieplow about career advancement knows true success is found in balancing future opportunities both at work and in their personal lives. Beyond long hours, big projects and task completions in their professional fields, the director of the Aviation and Missile Command's Security Assistance Management Directorate advises career climbers to also seek satisfaction, opportunity and promotion away from the office. "Life is about giving back," Pieplow said. "A lot has been given to us. Our responsibility is to give it back. What does it take to get promoted' You have to have a well-balanced life and part of that is giving back to mankind."

Feb 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Blueprints are a common accessory for Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation employees these days. Nearly every department that makes up the FMWR - from the Bowling Center to the Child Development Center - is involved in a facilities upgrade project or new construction project aimed at providing better and expanded offerings for the Arsenal community. And nearly all these projects are set to open in the spring and summer.

Feb 26, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- For many teenagers and young adults, the Army can be a "once-in-a-lifetime chance." That's what it was for Col. Glenn Richie, commander of the 2nd Recruiting Brigade, when he chose the Army as his career path while a college freshman. "From that one-chance encounter (with a recruiter), I received the opportunity of a lifetime," he said. "I've been blessed to travel the country, and lead some of the best men and women in the U.S. Army."

Feb 22, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- "I love you, Miss Jamie." They are the tender words of a 2-year-old, but to the providers of Redstone Arsenal's Family Child Care those three little words speak volumes.

Feb 22, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Their efforts helped defeat more than 60 improvised explosive devices, transport dozens of critically wounded patients, move thousands of tons of equipment and fly more than 140,000 flight hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are the 760 Soldiers of the 277th Aviation Support Battalion.

Feb 22, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Buffalo Soldier sits proudly atop his cavalry mount, holding the regimental flag and glancing off into the distance over his shoulder. Since 2005, the bronze statue of the Soldier and his horse have been hidden from public view, being locked behind a glass case in a hallway at the Academy for Academics and Arts, located in the Cavalry Hill Community just off University Drive. Although academy students enjoyed seeing the statue as they passed it going to and from the school's cafeteria, the statue was destined for a much wider audience. It has found that audience atop a 10-foot tall granite base on the front lawn of the school, where it now serves as a sentinel to a period of black history that is unique to Huntsville.

Feb 18, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- It's difficult for Col. James Rentz to talk about his impending retirement. After 30 years of challenging assignments, engaging command opportunities and rewarding professional relationships, trading in the green suit for civilian attire can seem rather daunting for a career Soldier. But, for Rentz, it's not so much a change in careers that is stressful and worrisome. Rather, it's saying farewell to an Army that has been pretty much his life since graduating as a Quartermaster Corps officer from the Citadel in 1980 and to an organization - the Logistics Support Activity -- that has provided him the opportunity to work in his "dream job." On Friday, he will officially retire during a 1 p.m. ceremony in Bob Jones Auditorium.

Feb 18, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- In a little less than a week, Garrison commander Col. Bob Pastorelli will be showing his boss -- the commander of the Army's Installation Management Command -- why Redstone Arsenal and its Garrison employees are among the best in the Army. And, oh, what a show he will be able to present.

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL -- This time of year, all Girl Scouts have cookies on their minds. While many will go door-to-door to deliver their goods, Claire Munster's cookies will have a bit farther to go. She is sending her cookies to Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I want to send them all around Iraq and Afghanistan where our Soldiers are stationed," Claire said. "That would make me really happy."

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Just a little after 6 on Sunday nights the sounds of praise music can be heard in the halls at Bicentennial Chapel, calling adults, teens and children from classrooms to join in a celebratory, reflective and heart-touching worship service focused on helping them build a special connection with God. "The Bridge at Redstone" is a new service offering at Bicentennial Chapel begun last fall to reach out to those who are looking for a casual worship experience. Its music - led by worship pastor Andy Good on guitar - and its message - offered by either Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Marvin Luckie of the Garrison or Chaplain (Capt.) Jonathan Fisher of the 832nd Ordnance Battalion -- are contemporary in nature, reaching out to those who are looking for an alternative to traditional church services.

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Princesses are fluttering around the Drama/Music Room at the Myra M. Garriott School Age Services Center. They are dressed in all kinds of glorious attire. The Chinese, Hispanic and African princesses as well as Pocahontas and Rapunzel are dancing, giggling and checking out their "look" in a full-length wall mirror. Also in attendance are two nurses and a doctor, ready to care for them when they don't feel well.

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Reimbursement for Soldier non-medical caregivers. Funding for service dogs for wounded warriors. Shortages in Behavioral Health service providers. Restrictions on Family Readiness Group fund-raising. Enrollment eligibility for Reserve Component Soldiers in the Exceptional Family Member Program. Those were the top five issues that surfaced during the annual Army Family Action Plan Conference hosted by the Department of the Army in Washington, D.C., in January. The theme for this year's conference was "Changing the Army One Issue at a Time." The top five issues were chosen from among 82 issues presented at the conference. Each issue, first introduced at installation AFAP conferences, represents months of research and preparation, hours of intense discussions, and voting approvals by volunteers from throughout the Army who relied on facilitators and subject matter experts to review and understand the issues. Among those volunteers were two representatives of Redstone Arsenal - delegate Alphadella McRae, a program management assistant with the Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center who is also married to a retired Army officer, and facilitator Elise Becton, an Arsenal volunteer and the widow of Barry Becton, whose service as a DA civilian included a stint as the chief fire inspector at Redstone in 2006.

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Three years ago, Redstone officials were looking at the farmland near Gate 9 as a possible site for the summer concert location. They considered using an unsecure site to better accommodate concertgoers from off post. The idea has evolved into a massive plan for a research park involving Redstone Arsenal, the city of Huntsville and a private developer. Under an existing Army program called Enhanced Use Leasing, officials hope to break ground this year on a 470-acre site for administrative buildings, educational areas and associated businesses such as restaurants.

Feb 12, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- It was a whirlwind military romance, the very type Chaplain (Capt.) Jonathan Fisher advises young Soldiers against. There was something about the girl with the big brown eyes and deep-rooted spirituality that worked as Fisher's brother's church secretary in Michigan. Traveling home for Thanksgiving in 2004, Chaplain Fisher and secretary Sara exchanged their first hellos and captured each other's hearts.

Feb 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- A night of fun, live music and dancing. Check. Lots of games and great prizes. Check. Live and silent auctions. Check. An event that will benefit military families. Check. The Officer and Civilian Women's Club is putting together its main fund-raising event of the year - Mardi Gras style. The Evening on the Bayou will be held Feb. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Officers and Civilians Club. "Proceeds will be used to further community assistance and merit award programs such as scholarships, Army Family Programs, donations to other supporting military events, and assistance to military families," event chairperson Tonya Daniels said.

Feb 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Ever since Megan Scott was a little girl, she always had a heart for helping others. The middle child in the Scott family, she never imagined that her heart for adventure would give her an experience she would never forget and take her to Haiti and one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. Moving from place to place and being somewhat of a nomad was neither new nor frightening for Scott. After all, she is an Army brat and daughter of Maj. Bruce Scott, assistant product manager for the Light Utility Helicopters in the Program Executive Office for Aviation and an Army National Guard liaison officer. "I've always wanted to travel and interact with people outside of the U.S.," Scott said. "Moving around so much with my dad being in the military, I really enjoyed having new experiences."

Feb 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Nearly every minute a woman dies from heart disease. The American Heart Association's statistic is alarming, but Redstone Arsenal has made a commitment to change it. Col. Mark Smith, commander of Fox Army Health Center, and Col. Bob Pastorelli, Garrison commander, joined forces to raise awareness for women's heart disease, with the help of The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The duo signed a National Wear Red Day proclamation Jan. 26, cementing the installation's commitment to women's health.

Feb 5, 2010

Describing Redstone Arsenal and its surrounding industrial, business and academic community as a national treasure, one of the nation's former military leaders told a Chamber of Commerce audience Thursday that Huntsville's center of excellence will help the U.S. win on the battlefield. Retired Gen. John Abizaid, whose 34-year military career included being the longest serving commander of the U.S. Central Command from 2003 until his retirement in 2007, spoke about Redstone Arsenal and the nation's involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts as the keynote speaker at the 74th annual membership meeting of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. About 1,000 business, community and industry representatives attended the meeting at the Von Braun Center North. Abizaid commented on Huntsville's innovation, inspiration, capability and ingenuity as a center of excellence for science and research technologies.

Feb 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Customer service is driving changes at the Post Exchange that will add new products and more convenience to Redstone Arsenal's shopping experience. Those changes are being coordinated by a management team that is frequently studying the buying habits of PX customers and the offerings of local competitors, ensuring that the PX and its associated vendors remain a leading shopping choice for Soldiers, military retirees and veterans, and their families. Loraine Arbo, the exchange's new general manager, along with Kim Sumpter, sales and merchandise manager; and Montina Hoefle, operations manager, are leading the efforts to modernize the PX's retail image and customer offerings.

Feb 5, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Forging a strong working relationship between the Garrison, local schools and the parents of school-age children was the goal of an Education Town Hall meeting Jan. 25 at Heiser Hall. That working relationship is essential to ensure a high quality education for military-connected school-age children, said Garrison commander Col. Bob Pastorelli. But it will become even more essential as more Department of the Army civilian and contractor families move to North Alabama due to employee transfers to Redstone Arsenal as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, he said.

Jan 28, 2010

The U.S. Army Materiel Command has been providing world-wide support to the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.

Jan 28, 2010

Maj. Gary Eberly, head surgeon for the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, rediscovers his interest in playing the guitar during his deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Jan 28, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- This year could be a benchmark for the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association. In 2010, the chapter leadership hopes to reach its 10-year anniversary as one of NDIA's model chapters. And the leader making the biggest push toward that goal is chapter president Ed Stone.

Jan 28, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- For the AMCOM Safety Office, the spirit of the Combined Federal Campaign didn't end Dec. 11. It's a work in progress. "We hear a lot about it, and then CFC ends," said Pat Vittitow, chief of the Safety Office. "They need help far more than just a couple of months during the CFC campaign." This year Vittitow and her staff decided to make the CFC a yearlong outreach, adopting the Toney-Harvest Head Start Center, a service of Community Action Partnership.

Jan 28, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- For Gail O'Sullivan Dwyer, there is no escaping second place. Despite being among some 60 women to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in the early years of women's acceptance at West Point, despite going on to have a successful career both on active duty and in the Reserves, and despite being married to a fellow West Point graduate and raising four successful children, Dwyer still thinks of herself as being in second place. But it is an honorable place to be.

Jan 28, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- More than 70 people who have served in deployments in support of AMCOM operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored Jan. 21.

Jan 28, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Test Area 3 became the scene of a popular Fox news show Jan. 19 during a visit by retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North. The highly decorated and once controversial Marine officer is now a political commentator, bestselling author and television host of "War Stories with Oliver North" on the Fox News Channel. During his Redstone Arsenal visit, the Fox cameras were focused on the Raven unmanned aircraft system, and the Soldiers and Program Executive Office for Aviation employees behind its success on the battlefield.

Jan 26, 2010

Dr. Brian Strickland, chief scientist, directed energy applications, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, has been recognized by Aviation Week magazine as a part of the Army/High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office Joint High-Power Solid State Laser program team selected as a finalist for the 2009 Aviation Week magazine's Laureate Award in the Information Technology/Electronics category.

Jan 26, 2010

Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT), hosted a town hall meeting at the Bob Jones Auditorium in the Sparkman Center on Jan. 21 that focused on workforce education and training amongst other topics.

Jan 25, 2010

REDSTONE ARENAL, Ala. -- Kathy Stephens' head was spinning. It was the summer of 2001, and standing in the aisles of Walmart, the 305 pounds she carried on her 5-foot-2 frame had finally become too much. "I was too heavy," Stephens said. "I just asked God to help get this weight off of me. That was my red light moment."

Jan 25, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Redstone commander Maj. Gen. Jim Myles joined other local officials in signing a resolution Jan. 11 in support of Census 2010 and the increased funding it could bring.

Jan 25, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- With several hours between the time school ends and work ends, many parents seek out after-school programs for their children. Child Youth and School Services offers parents another choice for after-school care, including pickup at some area schools. "We physically started doing the busing program in September," Andre Terry, Child Youth and School Services division chief, said. "The first bus arrived in October and the last one came in November." Five 15-passenger buses now travel the weekday routes to pick kids up at their school and deliver them to the Myra Garriott School Age Services building or the Youth Services Center next door, depending upon their age.

Jan 25, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL -- The sound of construction near Gate 10 will give way to the tunes of an Army band by next year. The Army Materiel Command Band is moving to Redstone Arsenal from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., as part of base realignment and closure. The move is planned from this November through March 2011. Community members attended a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 12 for the 40-member band's new facility on Patton Road just north of Heiser Hall. Construction of the 16,082-square-foot building is expected to be completed by January. The contract was awarded to Dyson Construction Company from Decatur for $4.383 million.

Jan 25, 2010

Prizes totaling nearly $4,000 are still up for grabs as the 2nd Annual Peer to Peer Safety Video Competion heads into the final months.

Jan 24, 2010

Series of pictures depicting Col. Harry Tunnell IV, commander of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, preparing for and departing on an aerial recon of the Kandahar region, Afghanistan, with members of the 82nd Airborne's Combat Aviation Brigade.

Jan 21, 2010

Jan 21, 2010

Anniston Army Depot has launched a newly designed public Web site. On Jan. 13, the Directorate of Information Management replaced the years-old home page with a new one, which is the handy work of information technology specialist Nick Thomas.

Jan 20, 2010

20100118-A-6816G-039 Cpl. Emanuel Stephens claps along with the Camp Bondsteel Gospel Choir during their performance for a ceremony on Jan. 18. The ceremony commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 20100118-A-6816G-074 Members of the Good Glory gospel quartet perform songs alongside members of Camp Bondsteel Gospel Choir Jan. 18 as part of events to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 20100118-A-7756F-011: Chaplain Maj. Maury Millican speaks during a Martin Luther King Program on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

Jan 19, 2010

LEGHORN ARMY DEPOT, Italy - Yesterday, the 3/405th Army Field Support Brigade completed operations in support of U.S. Agency for International Development emergency relief efforts in Haiti.

Jan 19, 2010

LEGHORN ARMY DEPOT, Italy - Yesterday, the 3/405th Army Field Support Brigade completed operations in support of U.S. Agency for International Development emergency relief efforts in Haiti. The Caribbean country of Haiti was devastated last week by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, prompting U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten to declare a disaster due to the effects of the earthquake. The Government of Haiti estimates that at least 65,000 people perished in the disaster, the U.N. approximates that at least three million people are affected and the International Organization for Migration reports that roughly 200,000 Haitians have been displaced.

Jan 15, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The System Safety Policy Action Committee conducted its regular meeting at the U.S. Army Missile and Aviation Life Cycle Management Command Safety Office here, Jan. 12-13.

Jan 14, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- A chance meeting with Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell in June 2009 led to a dream job for Iraqi war veteran and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Sophia Malone.

Jan 14, 2010

Ken Rose was honored by John Manfre, safety director, U.S. Army Materiel Command for his two years of service as chairman for AMC System Safety Policy Action Committee during a committee meeting, Jan. 12 at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Jan 14, 2010

Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke, Commanding General of the Army Reserve Medical Command (AR-MEDCOM), lectured first year medical students at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, on Friday, December 4 at their Manhattan campus.

Jan 14, 2010

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - Tobyhanna employees transferring to a new tenant organization were notified recently as part of the shift of the supply, storage and distribution (SS&D) function from the Army to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

Jan 14, 2010

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - Tobyhanna employees transferring to a new tenant organization were notified recently as part of the shift of the supply, storage and distribution (SS&D) function from the Army to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

Jan 14, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--The U.S. Army Materiel Command Band held the official groundbreaking of their new facility here Jan. 12. "What a great event. This marks the last ground breaking for our BRAC construction projects (at Redstone Arsenal). We are so glad you could be here and a part of it," said Col. Robert M. Pastorelli, Redstone Arsenal commander.

Jan 13, 2010

A water main ruptured Tuesday morning causing immediate flooding of the east parking lot at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.

Jan 13, 2010

The Army has passed another plateau toward its goal of improving Army contracting with the promotions of two general officers. The promotions of Stephen B. Leisenring and Joseph L. Bass are important steps in adhering to the recommendations made in the Gansler Commission Report of the Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations. Leisenring is the commander of the Mission and Installation Command, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Bass is the commander of the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command, Fort Belvoir, Va. The ECC and the MICC are subordinate commands of the Army Contracting Command, a major subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command. ACC has two out of three of its general officer positions that were recommended as part of the Gansler Commission findings in place.

Jan 8, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Jeff Moran has a standing invitation with his Marine Reserve unit in Montgomery. This University of Alabama-Huntsville student is on standby with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines just in case the unit gets orders for a deployment to Southwest Asia. If and when the unit does deploy, it will be Moran's third time to go to war.

Jan 8, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- In order to provide the best support possible, it is not unusual for members of U.S. Army Security Assistance Command to travel to the nations it works with. On Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 they were a part of a historic conference when a Foreign Military Sales Program Management Review was held in Iraq for the first time.

Jan 8, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- A wandering spirit - combined with the desire to help Soldiers - took the Garrison's Angela Bailey halfway around the world. As a quality assurance specialist (ammunition surveillance) - or QASAS - employee and an Air Force Reserve master sergeant, Bailey has had plenty of opportunities to travel with her work. She added Iraq to her list of destinations during a six-month tour where she worked at two ammunition supply points - with three months in Talil and the other three months in Balad. She returned in late November.

Jan 8, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- As a student, Linda Morton's art teacher gave her an "A" for her quiet demeanor - and told her to never take an art class again. She had no talent. The 2009 Army Arts and Crafts Contest would beg to differ.

Jan 8, 2010

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.-- Building relationships - between military organizations; among Soldiers, civilians and contractors; throughout the Redstone community; and with city, state and national leaders - has been and will continue to be the key to meeting mission success for the Aviation and Missile Command. No Army organization stands alone. AMCOM's commander, Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, knows that it's his organization's ability to build teaming relationships that will sustain success in providing Soldiers with the best aviation and missile systems during a time of uptempo support, tight budgets, high expectations and fast turnaround programs

Jan 5, 2010

During the past 10 years, Soldiers have experienced an average of 361 cold weather-related injuries every year. Cold weather injury prevention is a command and leadership as well as a personal responsibility and successful management of cold depends on proper knowledge and understanding of problems associated with working in cold environments.

Jan 1, 2010

: Sgt. 1st Class Claire Lum Lee, Honolulu; Selyete Zymeri, Sgt. Heather Barta, Minot, N.D., and Spc. Jennifer Kanahele, Hilo, Hawaii, display a donated blanket from linens that were being distributed to disadvantaged locals from the region of Novo Brdo, Kosovo, on Dec. 28, 2009.

Dec 30, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Lean Six Sigma is about improvement, reduction of cost, elimination of waste and problem solving but it also consists of complex problems.

Dec 23, 2009

In this season of joy, hope and giving, Earl and Debe Austin are transformed into characters that are larger than life and equally as fun to portray.

Dec 22, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- For Pfc. Barbara Stone, joining the Alabama Army National Guard was a lifelong aspiration. Since January 2008, she has served her country. Now, as a 20-year-old, she is looking forward to climbing the ranks, refining her skills as an information technology specialist and taking advantage of the opportunities the Guard can offer her. Her first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Johnny Whisenant, said he hopes Stone enjoys her National Guard career as much as he has enjoyed serving for 39 years. "I want her to be all she can be," said Whisenant, referring to an Army slogan. "Now, the nation as a whole, is putting so much into the Guard. She will be well-trained and she will work with the best equipment available. She will have a sense of purpose."

Dec 22, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Military stars will fall on Huntsville in August. Huntsville could very well adopt its own version of the state's famous slogan - "Stars Fell on Alabama" - when some of the nation's most highly decorated military heroes travel to the city to participate in the first-ever Medal of Honor event hosted in their honor in Alabama. The "Medal of Honor Gala: In the Company of Heroes" is set for Aug. 28 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, Ala. The gala, hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, will be the main event in a weekend of activities planned for about 35 Medal of Honor recipients and foundation board members who are expected to attend. "This will be the largest gathering of Medal of Honor recipients in the state of Alabama and one of the largest ever in the Southeast," said Jay Town, a former Marine major who is serving as the weekend's event chairman.

Dec 21, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - How do you carefully and expertly repair and return the tools of war' You assemble your best personnel; plan profusely and ultimately Reset America's Army.

Dec 21, 2009

The 2/405th Army Field Support Battalion is taking its show on the road, visiting various units throughout Germany to showcase the battalion's capabilities and services to units.

Dec 17, 2009

University of Phoenix is now offering credit for three Civilian Education System courses.

Dec 17, 2009

The non-commissioned officers of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade honored the brigade commander Col. Jack Haley for his support to the NCO Corps during a presentation that was attended by all brigade sites throughout Europe via video-teleconference.

Dec 17, 2009

U.S. Army Chief of Staff GEN George Casey joined hundreds of football fans at the Dec. 12 Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., who stopped by Army equipment displays outside the stadium showcasing state-of-the-art and next-generation guns, vehicles, UAVs, and robots. "Fans are excited. They like to see what the new technology is," said Thomas Banks, a TACOM engineer who stood by the 33-ton ambush-protected Buffalo vehicle.

Dec 16, 2009

The Army Materiel Command recently participated in the BRAC to the Future III event which serves as an update to the Tennessee Valley community regarding Base Realignment and Closure transitions. Held in downtown Huntsville Dec. 15 at the Von Braun Center, the event highlighted the impending 2011 BRAC implementation by placing various local chambers of commerce, community leaders, civilian leadership and military officials in one location, at the same time.

Dec 16, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.-- Page Hakim, 19, did not just lose a father Dec. 12, 2008. She lost a hero. "I was so proud of my dad," Hakim said, recalling the tales she got to tell classmates and teachers growing up, of her father, Oregon State Police senior trooper William Hakim, the bomb technician that saved lives on a daily basis, and came to speak to her classes, bomb truck in tow. "How many people can say that'" Families, friends, law enforcement and bomb technicians from across the country joined the Redstone Arsenal community Dec. 7 for the 2009 Bomb Technician Memorial Ceremony, to honor and remember Hakim and Lt. Michael Avilucea who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2008.

Dec 16, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALa. -- The Army's longest serving colonel - and possibly its longest serving Soldier - said his "goodbyes" to a career of challenges and opportunities at a retirement ceremony Dec. 4 in Bob Jones Auditorium. Col. Richard Hatch, who completed 40 years, eight months and 22 days of service with nearly nine years as a colonel, said retirement was a fleeting thought during the latter years of a career that included stints as an enlisted Soldier, a chief warrant officer and an officer with five command assignments. Since July 2008, Hatch has served as the director of aviation maintenance transformation for the Aviation and Missile Command. "I've thoroughly enjoyed this career," said the 57-year-old Soldier. "Every time an opportunity has come up it has been a challenge, it has been interesting. The leadership obviously had confidence that I could do the job. The Army had a way of giving me challenges and extremely self-fulfilling assignments. This is a very unique culture. It is a profession of arms, a special group of people who serve in the U.S. military." It's now family opportunities - including a wife who wants to travel and four grandchildren who he wants to spend time with - that are leading to Hatch's retirement.

Dec 16, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Staff Sgt. Lechelle Ford and Staff Sgt. Keisha Cook-McClary helped trim the Christmas tree at the Munitions Training Department in building 3305 where they are Standard Army Ammunition System instructors. Ford, from South Boston, Va., and Cook-McClary, from Smackover, Ark., both plan to spend the holidays in Huntsville with their families.

Dec 16, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Focusing on others throughout the year - that was the wish Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell expressed during his comments at the second annual Garrison Holiday Ball Dec. 4 at the Officers and Civilians Club. Speaking to a gathering of more than 300 merrymakers, Campbell told his audience that selfless service, a joyful spirit and the goodness that is exhibited this time of year should be a way of life. "I always wish we could sprinkle that throughout the entire year," he said. "My wish is that we could sprinkle this wonderful joy throughout the year." Campbell, commander of the Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, was the guest speaker at an event that has quickly become one of the highlights of the holiday season on Redstone Arsenal. The Garrison Holiday Ball is hosted by Garrison commander Col. Bob Pastorelli and his wife, Anna, and is coordinated by FMWR. The evening included a receiving line, a welcome from Pastorelli, entertainment by the Columbia High choir, a Garrison video and dancing.

Dec 16, 2009

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a repeat award winner. This precision strike weapons system, assigned to fire brigades supporting brigade combat teams, is the only two-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics award. The award recognizes government and industry teams providing war fighters with exceptional operational capability through PBL agreements. "This is the second time our team has been rewarded for a really good job of supplying fielded capabilities," said Col. David Rice, project manager for the Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems office of the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, which oversees management of the HIMARS program. "From start to shoot, HIMARS is performing extremely well in a high-tempo environment and harsh conditions. Logistics is often an overlooked function. But this award shows that our HIMARS government-industry logistics team is a poster child for what performance-based logistics is supposed to look like." The HIMARS Product Office, managed by Lt. Col. Greg Paul and including a team of about 150 employees, works with industry partner Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fires Control Systems of Dallas to provide logistics support for fielded HIMARS units. Also part of that partnership is the Aviation and Missile Command's Integrated Materiel Management Center and the Letterkenny Army Depot, Pa.

Dec 15, 2009

Leaders and forward observers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conduct a fire control exercise in which Paratroopers and units manuever against a simulated enemy while calling for indirect fire.

Dec 15, 2009

Celebrate the holidays with safety in mind