28.02.2013 Views

Issue 3 - Fort Bliss MWR

Issue 3 - Fort Bliss MWR

Issue 3 - Fort Bliss MWR

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

taking the plunge!<br />

leap into summer | leap into fun | leap into family and mwr<br />

summer 2012 www.blissmwr.com


NO PROBLEM!<br />

NO CREDIT? NEED CREDIT?<br />

LIVING ROOMS<br />

GAME<br />

SYSTEMS<br />

TIRES<br />

AND<br />

RIMS<br />

CAR<br />

ALARMS<br />

TM<br />

BEDROOMS<br />

DINING ROOMS<br />

CAR STEREOS<br />

COMPUTERS<br />

HP, Apple and Tablets<br />

TELEVISIONS<br />

Toshiba, Panasonic,<br />

Samsung, Sony, LG<br />

Why rent When you can oWn?<br />

Superior cuStomer Service • Quality merchandiSe • immediate delivery • payroll and allotment expertS • poWer of attorney accepted<br />

EL PASO, TX<br />

1430 North Lee treviNo Dr.,<br />

915-591-3143 / 1-877-787-4177<br />

fLETchEr’S jEwELErS ciELO ViSTA MALL<br />

8401 Gateway BLvD.,<br />

915-771-7300<br />

No Federal endorsement of sponsors implied<br />

®<br />

®<br />

one world.<br />

one voice.<br />

one magazine.<br />

one great staff.<br />

COMMANDING GENERAL<br />

Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard<br />

GARRISON COMMANDER<br />

Col. Brant V. Dayley<br />

FAMILY & <strong>MWR</strong> DIRECTOR<br />

Melinda S. Sorrell<br />

ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE<br />

Anthony Lovett<br />

BUSINESS OPERATIONS<br />

Ronald Telles<br />

CHILD, YOUTH & SCHOOL SERVICES<br />

Pat Smith<br />

NAF SUPPORT MANAGER<br />

Indri O’Hara<br />

RECREATION & SPORTS<br />

Eric Hildreth<br />

MARKETING & SPECIAL EVENTS<br />

William Ketcherside<br />

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP<br />

Monica Castillo<br />

Michele Wiernicki<br />

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER<br />

Heather Wilburn<br />

MARKETING ASSISTANTS<br />

Marlo Brestar<br />

Darline Goyea<br />

Rosalinda Herrera<br />

OFFICE MANAGER<br />

Martina Grise<br />

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS<br />

Kenny Broomfield<br />

Raymond Sanchez<br />

MARKETING INTERN<br />

Peter Carrillo<br />

<strong>Bliss</strong>NOW is a Family and Morale, Welfare<br />

and Recreation magazine published quarterly<br />

for activities on <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, Texas.<br />

<strong>Bliss</strong>NOW is mailed to all <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

homes and George V. Underwood Golf<br />

Complex members, inserted in welcome<br />

packets, and distributed to all Family and<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> facilities, along with the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Commissary, Post Exchange at Freedom<br />

Crossing, Army Lodging <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> and the<br />

Personnel Processing Center. Circulation:<br />

30,000 quarterly<br />

The appearance of advertising does not constitute<br />

an endorsement by the U.S. Army, Department<br />

of Defense or federal government.<br />

The information in this issue is current at<br />

the time of publication; activities and events<br />

are subject to change without notice. For<br />

more information, please call the individual<br />

facilities. Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing is<br />

located in Building 12, Pershing Road, <strong>Fort</strong><br />

<strong>Bliss</strong>, TX 79916 and may be reached by<br />

calling (915) 568-6741.<br />

www.blissmwr.com<br />

SUMMER 2012 VOLUME EIGHT • ISSUE THREE<br />

4 calendar JULY<br />

8 calendar AUGUST<br />

12 calendar SEPTEMBER<br />

17 recognition FAMILY AND <strong>MWR</strong><br />

18 feature (VERY) SHORT ESSAY CONTEST<br />

22 feature <strong>MWR</strong>’S “EMBEDDED” REPORTER<br />

23 recognition SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT<br />

25 clubs FOOD & FUN<br />

28 recreation SOUTHWEST ADVENTURE<br />

31 recreation SPORTS & FITNESS<br />

32 recreation LEISURE<br />

35 family CYSS<br />

40 community ACS<br />

46 fort bliss MAP<br />

44 east fort bliss MAP<br />

46 directory PHONE NUMBERS<br />

Family & <strong>MWR</strong> Director’s Comments<br />

Once again summer is upon us, the kids are out of school and opportunities abound within<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> to enjoy the sunshine! We have the perfect solutions for the “dry heat” of El<br />

Paso with the outdoor Community Pool, the newly refurbished Replica Aquatic Center and<br />

the splash park at Biggs Park. The Soldier Activity Center will open in late July with a small<br />

recreational pool geared toward the Soldiers who live and work on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. Right<br />

across the street, the Aquatics Training Facility is under way and will open in the spring. This<br />

50,000-square-foot facility houses three indoor pools, all designed to support mission requirements then convert to recreational<br />

activities in the evening. Training and recreational opportunities are endless!<br />

Did you know that many active-duty Soldiers are non-swimmers? Family and <strong>MWR</strong> offers free swimming lessons to activeduty<br />

service members who want to learn this important life skill. <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Family and <strong>MWR</strong> is also an active member of the<br />

El Paso Drowning Prevention Coalition, whose mission is to ensure that all children respect the water. Swimming lessons are<br />

available for kids age 3-18 through SKIES Unlimited and the aquatics program at Replica Pool.<br />

We are excited to again host the El Paso Symphony Orchestra for Pop Goes the <strong>Fort</strong>, our Independence Day celebration at<br />

Biggs Park. This year, we also have special guests: the USO Liberty Bells, a show troupe that specializes in patriotic standards<br />

with a showtunes twist. July also brings Rock the <strong>Fort</strong>, featuring rockers Sick Puppies and five more amazing bands.<br />

Two important events welcome new families to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>: the Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> Relocation Fair and the K-12 Education<br />

Information Fair. Both are designed to help newcomers learn about their community and get the children ready for back to<br />

school. Child, Youth and School Services will be offering camps and classes all summer. Check it out.<br />

Another exciting Mega Bingo is set for August…come and try your luck! This time, the Centennial has two grand prizes: a UTV<br />

courtesy of Viva Powersports and $10,000 in cash.<br />

Outdoor Recreation will be active all summer long; come experience backpacking, camping, mountain biking and more.<br />

Speaking of active, our friends at Freedom Crossing are staying busy with their summer entertainment series. Check out<br />

Friday by the Fire for a relaxed experience, or head to one of the “Let Freedom Sing” shows to catch big-name headliners.<br />

See you out there!<br />

Melinda Sorrell<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 3


calendarJULY<br />

21 Are you ready to rock?<br />

Then you don’t want to<br />

miss Sick Puppies with<br />

special guests Street Drum Corps, Gabe<br />

Kubanda, School Boy Humor, Lost in Atlantis<br />

and Sobredosis del Sabor when Rock the<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> returns to Biggs Park Saturday, July 21.<br />

Admission to Rock the <strong>Fort</strong> is free. Gates<br />

open at 4 p.m. No outside food or beverages<br />

are permitted. Coolers, glass containers,<br />

alcohol and pets are also prohibited. There<br />

is no ATM at Biggs Park – bring cash to take<br />

advantage of food, beverage and merchandise<br />

vendors.<br />

Enjoy the ever-popular Rock the <strong>Fort</strong><br />

Beer Garden for just $10 and receive 10 beer<br />

samples and preferred tent seating. Only<br />

guests age 21 and older, with valid ID, are<br />

permitted in the beer garden. No children or<br />

strollers are allowed.<br />

This year, with help from the Epic<br />

Proportions Tour, Rock the <strong>Fort</strong> is back and<br />

Rock the <strong>Fort</strong><br />

bigger than ever! We’ve got six bands lined<br />

up for your listening pleasure.<br />

Headliners Sick Puppies don’t do anything<br />

halfway. This Australian band has<br />

shared the stage with the likes of Seether,<br />

Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence,<br />

Deftones, Velvet Revolver and more.<br />

The band’s sophomore release, Tri-Polar, has<br />

sold more than 300,000 copies and includes<br />

four Top 10 rock tracks. Listen to Sick Puppies<br />

at sickpuppies.com.<br />

Street Drum Corps has conquered<br />

Warped Tour, Coachella and more, performing<br />

alongside Chris Cornell, Busta<br />

Rhymes, The Bravery and Linkin Park.<br />

What started as just “a couple guys playing<br />

buckets at parties” quickly morphed into<br />

a mini-empire. Learn more at streetdrumcorps.com.<br />

Gabe Kubanda, who has played with<br />

music legends including Paul Stanley,<br />

Marky Ramone and Sammy Hagar, can be<br />

seen on VH1’s reality show “Rock N Roll<br />

Fantasy Camp.” His music is like an acoustic<br />

version of Death Cab for Cutie and Maroon<br />

Five. Find him online at gabekubanda.com.<br />

School Boy Humor makes music that<br />

remains true to their pop-punk roots while<br />

incorporating Top 40 elements. Be on the<br />

lookout for this band, built upon the foundation<br />

of twin brothers Phil and Anthony Evans.<br />

Explore School Boy Humor at facebook.<br />

com/schoolboyhumor.<br />

Lost in Atlantis is a danceable, upbeat<br />

synth-oriented pop rock that will have you<br />

on your feet dancing from the first beat. Visit<br />

them at facebook.com/lostinatlantis.<br />

Hailing from Havana, Cuba, Sobredosis<br />

del Sabor now calls El Paso home.. The band<br />

brings all the warmth of the tropics to their<br />

music, infusing it with the rhythms, flavor<br />

and culture of Cuba.<br />

To learn more about Rock the <strong>Fort</strong>, visit<br />

blissmwr.com or call (915) 588-8247.<br />

4 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

PHOTOS BY HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

PHOTOS BY HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

Celebrate<br />

Independence<br />

Day with Family<br />

and <strong>MWR</strong> and<br />

the El Paso<br />

Symphony<br />

Orchestra! The second<br />

annual Pop Goes the<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> celebration is set<br />

for Wednesday, July 4 at<br />

Biggs Park.<br />

Gates open at 6 p.m.<br />

and the music begins at<br />

7:30 p.m., with fireworks<br />

to follow the performance.<br />

The El Paso Symphony<br />

Orchestra, with<br />

special guests the USO<br />

Liberty Bells, have lined<br />

up a show featuring<br />

patriotic music, Sousa<br />

marches and Broadway<br />

showtunes sure to please<br />

the entire family.<br />

In addition to the<br />

musical entertainment,<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> family readiness<br />

groups will be on<br />

hand to provide games<br />

and crafts for a nominal<br />

fee; all money raised will<br />

benefit FRG/unit funds.<br />

Guests are welcome<br />

to bring picnic baskets<br />

and coolers; however,<br />

glass containers and<br />

outside alcoholic beverages<br />

are not allowed.<br />

Food and beverage<br />

USO PHOTO<br />

vendors will<br />

also be available.<br />

There is no<br />

ATM at Biggs<br />

Park – be sure<br />

to bring cash<br />

for games, crafts and<br />

vendors.<br />

Lawn chairs and<br />

blankets are welcome.<br />

Pets are prohibited.<br />

Currently celebrating<br />

its 80th season, the<br />

El Paso Symphony<br />

Orchestra is the oldest<br />

performing arts<br />

4<br />

organization in<br />

El Paso and the<br />

longest continuously<br />

running<br />

symphony<br />

orchestra in the<br />

state of Texas.<br />

The USO Liberty<br />

Bells travel the world<br />

performing for service<br />

men and women, their<br />

families, veterans and<br />

audiences. The troupe<br />

is comprised of Broadway<br />

and off-Broadway<br />

professionals who are<br />

chosen each year after<br />

an extensive audition<br />

process.<br />

For more information<br />

on Pop Goes the <strong>Fort</strong>,<br />

call (915) 568-6741.<br />

calendarJULY<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 5


calendarJULY<br />

27<br />

The Olympic<br />

Torch didn’t make<br />

its way through<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, so we’ll<br />

observe the opening<br />

of the 2012 Olympic<br />

Games with a<br />

torch run of our<br />

own!<br />

The 2012 Olympic<br />

Games Opening<br />

Ceremonies are set for<br />

Friday, July 27, and<br />

we’re ringing them in<br />

with a torch run that<br />

spans the installation. Starting at 9 a.m.,<br />

Soldiers from <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>’ Warrior Transition<br />

Battalion will run the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

torch from the 3rd Brigade Combat<br />

Team, 1st Armored Division footprint<br />

on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> to the fireplace at Freedom<br />

Crossing.<br />

The 10-mile run is expected to take<br />

around 3.5 hours and will culminate<br />

Auto Care Clinic<br />

Auto Care Clinic<br />

January January 26<br />

April April 27<br />

July July 17 &<br />

October October 16<br />

Free<br />

CLASS!<br />

Learn Learn Learn<br />

From From 1:30pm 1:30pm - - 4 p.m. p.m.<br />

Auto Auto Crafts, Crafts, Bldg. Bldg. 820 820 Marshall Marshall Road Road<br />

Maximum of 10 participants<br />

Child care vouchers provided for CYSS-registered children<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Torch Run<br />

basic auto care: Oil changes,<br />

checking tire pressure, etc.<br />

Register online at www.blissmwr.com/relocation<br />

For more information, call 569-4ACS (4227)<br />

RELOCATION<br />

ASSISTANCE<br />

PROGRAM<br />

MOVING MADE EASY<br />

around 1 p.m. with the<br />

lighting of the fireplace<br />

at Freedom Crossing,<br />

using the<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> torch.<br />

A guest speaker<br />

will follow, and the<br />

opening ceremonies<br />

will be broadcast<br />

on outdoor TVs at<br />

2 p.m. Stay in the<br />

Olympic spirit<br />

as Buffalo Wild<br />

Wings shows<br />

broadcasts throughout<br />

the games.<br />

Line the streets<br />

to cheer on our<br />

Soldiers as they take on the challenge of<br />

the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Olympic Torch Run. The<br />

best viewing areas will be at the 3-1 AD<br />

footprint at the start of the run, and at<br />

Freedom Crossing at the end of the run.<br />

Show your American pride and deck<br />

yourself in red, white and blue for the<br />

event.<br />

For information, call (915) 588-8247.<br />

Free auto care clinic<br />

Learn basic auto care, including<br />

17<br />

changing oil, checking tire pressure<br />

and more at the Relocation Assistance<br />

Program Auto Care Clinic from 1:30-4<br />

p.m. Tuesday, July 17.<br />

The free clinic will be held at Auto<br />

Crafts, Bldg. 820 Marshall Road, and<br />

is limited to 10 participants. Child<br />

care vouchers will be provided for<br />

CYSS-registered children.<br />

Pre-registration is required;<br />

register online at blissmwr.com/<br />

relocation. To learn more, call<br />

Army Community Service at<br />

(915) 569-4ACS (4227).<br />

blissmwr.com<br />

julyevents<br />

PGA Family Golf Month<br />

July 1-31 • Underwood Golf Complex<br />

Month of the Patriot - Great specials all month long!<br />

July 1-31 • Desert Strike Lanes<br />

Pop Goes the <strong>Fort</strong><br />

July 4 • 6pm • Biggs Park<br />

Midnight Laser Tag<br />

July 5 • 9pm • Soto Gym<br />

Family Camping Trip with Southwest Adventure<br />

July 7 • White Sands National Monument, N.M.<br />

SKIES Unlimited Cheerleading Camp<br />

July 9-13 • SKIES Unlimited Gymnastic Center<br />

Golf Post Championship Tournament<br />

July 13-15 • Underwood Golf Complex<br />

The Air Up There Backpacking and Camping Trip<br />

July 13-16 • Crestone Range, Rio Grande Nat’l Forest, Colo.<br />

SKIES Unlimited Fun with Mozart Piano Camp<br />

July 16-20 • SKIES Unlimited Center, Logan Heights<br />

FREE Auto Care Clinic - Pre-registration required<br />

July 17 • 1:30-4pm • Auto Crafts<br />

Individual Aquathlon<br />

July 20 • 6am • Replica Aquatic Center<br />

Rock the <strong>Fort</strong><br />

July 21 • 4-10pm • Biggs Park<br />

Paintball Swap Meet - Buy, Sell, Trade!<br />

July 22 • 9:30am-3pm • Biggs Park Paintball Field<br />

Education Information Fair<br />

July 26 • 8:30-11:30am • Centennial<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Olympic Torch Run<br />

July 27 • 9am-1pm • 3-1 AD Footprint to Freedom Crossing<br />

BIGG Laser Tag<br />

July 27 • 8pm • Biggs Park<br />

Dodgeball Post Championship Tournament<br />

July 28 • 8am • Soto Gym<br />

Tower Day - Unlimited use of Tango Tower for $6<br />

July 28 • 10am-4:30pm • Tango Tower, Biggs Park<br />

6 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 7


calendarAUGUST<br />

4<br />

Post-Wide<br />

Post-Wide<br />

PARTY<br />

Kick off National Family Fun<br />

Month with the Post-Wide Paper<br />

Mache Party from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.<br />

Saturday, August 4 at Biggs Park.<br />

We’re having fun and helping the<br />

environment by reusing old newspapers.<br />

We’ll provide all you need to<br />

make a paper mache balloon, including<br />

an apron and gloves, balloons<br />

and paper mache materials. You can<br />

also make unique paper mache crafts<br />

by using repurposed items you bring<br />

from home ... don’t toss it in the trash,<br />

make it a work of art!<br />

There’s more fun to be had – we’re<br />

planning water games, a DJ with karaoke<br />

and line dancing, face painting,<br />

balloon animals and more. SKIES<br />

Unlimited programs will entertain<br />

with demonstrations of their skills<br />

and fun performances. Food and<br />

beverage vendors will be present to<br />

provide tasty snacks.<br />

We’ve also got a paper-mache<br />

craft contest: Make your own paper<br />

mache project at home, bring it to<br />

the park for the contest, and win<br />

cool prizes. You could take home gift<br />

cards and fun<br />

stuff – even<br />

a pinata full of<br />

candy.<br />

The rules are that there are no<br />

rules. Well, there are some rules. Your<br />

project must be made of classic paper<br />

mache materials, like any type of<br />

paper and glue or flour and water.<br />

Your project can be any size, as long<br />

as you can get it to ... and into ... the<br />

park.<br />

Categories of competition include<br />

most detailed paper mache project;<br />

best re-use of paper; oldest competitor<br />

under age 18; and best overall.<br />

A special prize goes to the biggest<br />

group of paper mache-ers, because<br />

we’ve got a spirit award for the unit<br />

or family readiness group that best<br />

supports the event and participates<br />

in the arts and crafts.<br />

The Post-Wide Paper Mache Party<br />

is going to be messy – we’re providing<br />

protective gear, but don’t wear<br />

your Sunday best.<br />

For more information, call (915)<br />

588-8247.<br />

Frontier Day<br />

18Learn<br />

what life<br />

was like in<br />

the 1800s<br />

with a<br />

historical<br />

reenactment<br />

and more<br />

during Frontier Day at the Old <strong>Fort</strong><br />

<strong>Bliss</strong> Replica.<br />

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday,<br />

August 18, living historians will<br />

reenact what life was like for Soldiers<br />

living at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (then called<br />

Magoffinsville). They will perform<br />

drills and routines that were a part<br />

of life while the garrison was located<br />

in central El Paso, from 1853-1868.<br />

Watch as the daily chores get done,<br />

and find out what Soldiers did during<br />

their leisure time back when the<br />

West was wild.<br />

Visit the replica’s 1850s-era shops<br />

and explore cooking, sewing, pottery,<br />

saddlemaking and blacksmithing,<br />

as it was when El Paso was still<br />

on the nation’s frontier.<br />

Picnic baskets and blankets are<br />

welcome, but glass containers and<br />

alcoholic beverages are prohibited.<br />

Pets are not allowed on the replica<br />

grounds during this event.<br />

The Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Replica is<br />

located at Bldg. 5054 on the corner<br />

of Pershing and Pleasonton on main<br />

post. For more information, call (915)<br />

568-4518.<br />

AdId: R 3364558 - 01<br />

8 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

CustId: 1511086947<br />

The U.S. Army Soldier Show<br />

The 2012 U.S. Army Soldier Show rolls into<br />

El Paso Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August<br />

25 for a quartet of shows sure to please everyone<br />

from new recruits to seasoned veterans.<br />

An evening performance will be held at 7<br />

p.m. Friday and a matinee performance will<br />

take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Abraham<br />

Chavez Theater in downtown El Paso. Admission<br />

is free and open to the public. Ticket<br />

availability dates will soon be announced via<br />

blissmwr.com. Tickets are not required for admission,<br />

but ticketholders will be seated first.<br />

Active-duty Soldiers bring the emotional,<br />

mental, physical, spiritual and family pillars<br />

of military life to the stage in this year’s Soldier<br />

Show. Themed “Army Strong,” the 90-minute<br />

revue is “entertainment for the Soldier, by the<br />

Soldier.” Each moment of the show reflects<br />

the strength of our nation as embodied in the<br />

Soldier.<br />

The El Paso performance is a homecoming<br />

for two <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Soldiers touring with the<br />

show: Staff Sgt. Melvin Williams Jr. and Pfc.<br />

Justin Easter.<br />

Williams, a driver from Austin, Texas, grew<br />

up performing with his family’s gospel group<br />

Andrew P Rosen MD FACOG<br />

Dual Board Certified In Obstetrics & Gynecology & Family Practice<br />

Obstetrics • Gynecology • Infertility Evaluation • Laparoscopy<br />

Menopausal Care • Urinary Incontinence Therapy • 4D Ultrasound<br />

Complete Personalized Women’s Healthcare • Nurse Lactation Educator In Office<br />

Accepting New Patients • Tricare & New Mexico Medicaid Accepted<br />

El Doctor Habla Español • Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm<br />

915 261 0326 After Hours 915 838 7946<br />

24+ 25<br />

and never stopped singing rhythm<br />

and blues and gospel music.<br />

Easter is a health care specialist/combat<br />

medic who hails from<br />

Bossier City, La. His grandfather<br />

encouraged him to nurture his musical<br />

talent when he started singing in<br />

church as a young child.<br />

The 2012 U.S. Army Soldier Show<br />

is sponsored by I. A.M. Strong, the<br />

Army’s campaign to combat sexual<br />

assault and sexual harassment.<br />

For more information, call (915)<br />

568-6741 or visit blissmwr.com.<br />

1600 Medical Center Street • Suite 307 • Medical Center Plaza Building • www.andrewprosenmd.com<br />

calendarAUGUST<br />

YPH: 103944<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 9<br />

Physicians & Surgeons Doctors


calendarAUGUST<br />

Wagon Trails Market<br />

Shop for produce and food items,<br />

crafts, services and more at the Wagon<br />

Trails Market at Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>.<br />

From 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday<br />

through September 28 (except those<br />

associated with a federal holiday<br />

weekend), head to the Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Replica at the corner of Pershing and<br />

Pleasonton for a fun family shopping<br />

experience. The market began this<br />

spring, and is under way now.<br />

Browse vendors, enjoy entertainment<br />

and find a great way to spend<br />

a Friday evening ... you might even<br />

EVERY<br />

HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

FRIDAY<br />

find something to take home for<br />

dinner!<br />

Vendors and entertainers of all<br />

sorts are welcome to contact the replica’s<br />

education program manager<br />

for more information on setting up at<br />

the market.<br />

For more information, call (915)<br />

568-4518 or (915) 588-8482.<br />

ACS Community Overview<br />

28<br />

Learn about Army Community Service resources and<br />

what the program offers to the community during the ACS<br />

Community Overview Tuesday, August 28.<br />

The community overview is an informational session open<br />

to all Family and <strong>MWR</strong> patrons – Soldiers, family members,<br />

retirees and DoD/DA civilians. The session will run from 9:30-<br />

11 a.m. at the Family Resilience Center, Bldg. 250 Club Road<br />

on main post.<br />

For more information, call (915) 569-5500.<br />

augustevents<br />

PGA Driving Range Month - Buy one bucket, get one free<br />

August 1-31 • Underwood Golf Complex<br />

Wagon Trails Market at Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

August 3, 10, 17, 24 + 31 • 4:30-6:30pm • Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Postwide Paper Mache Party<br />

August 4 • 10am-2pm • Biggs Park<br />

Family Camping Trip with Southwest Adventure<br />

August 4 • White Sands National Monument, N.M.<br />

Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> Relocation Fair<br />

August 8 • 1-5pm • Centennial<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Hiring Fair<br />

August 9 • 9am-1pm • Centennial<br />

Gila Camping Trip with Southwest Adventure<br />

August 10-13 • Gila National Forest, N.M.<br />

10-Mile in the Heat Run<br />

August 11 • 7am • Soto Gym<br />

Mega Bingo - Win a UTV or $10,000!<br />

August 11 • 2pm • Centennial<br />

Mini Golf Post Championship<br />

August 14-15 • Kelly Park<br />

Midnight Laser Tag<br />

August 16 • 9pm • Soto Gym<br />

Tower Day<br />

August 18 • 10am-4:30pm • Tango Tower, Biggs Park<br />

Frontier Day<br />

August 18 • 11am-3pm • Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Replica<br />

Intramural Flag Football League Begins<br />

August 20 • Various sites<br />

Durango to Moab Cross-Country Mountain Biking<br />

August 21-31 • Colorado and Utah<br />

U.S. Army Soldier Show<br />

August 24, 7pm • August 25, 2pm • Abraham Chavez Theater<br />

ACS Community Overview<br />

August 28 • 9:30-11am • Family Resilience Center<br />

Wheeler Peak Bagger with Southwest Adventure<br />

August 31-September 3 • Wheeler National Forest, N.M.<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

It’s<br />

10 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Timefor<br />

SummerFun<br />

inEl Paso<br />

Scan to win a $100 to<br />

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso!<br />

ARTS & CULTURE<br />

VIVA! El Paso<br />

Enjoy breathtaking sunsets followed by a spectacular<br />

display of pageantry as the story of El Paso unfolds in the<br />

majestic McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre.<br />

Friday & Saturday nights • Through August 12<br />

McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre • viva-ep.org<br />

Plaza Classic Film Festival<br />

Get swept into the golden age of cinema as the El Paso<br />

Community Foundation presents the fifth anniversary of<br />

the world’s largest classic film festival.<br />

August 2–12 • The Plaza Theatre • plazaclassic.com<br />

FAMILY FUN<br />

Movies in the Canyon<br />

This FREE series brings families together in scenic<br />

McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre to enjoy blockbuster<br />

double features every Friday and Saturday night.<br />

Friday & Saturday nights • August 17–September 29<br />

McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre<br />

moviesinthecanyon.com<br />

Disney’s Phineas and Ferb Live: The Best Live<br />

Tour Ever<br />

It’s the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the<br />

day because Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all.<br />

Don’t let the family miss this interactive musical that<br />

will leave everyone howling in laughter.<br />

September 14–16 • Abraham Chavez Theatre<br />

ticketmaster.com<br />

LIVE MUSIC ALL WEEKEND<br />

Cool Canyon Nights<br />

Start your weekend right with live music every Thursday<br />

night! This FREE summer concert series will host<br />

a variety of local musical talent on two stages.<br />

Thursdays • Through August 30<br />

McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre<br />

coolcanyonnights.com<br />

Alfresco! Fridays 10th Anniversary Season<br />

Alfresco! Fridays brings hot, local, live music to the Arts<br />

Festival Plaza every week. Great food, cold drinks and a<br />

relaxed vibe await.<br />

Fridays • Through September 28<br />

Arts Festival Plaza • alfrescofridays.com<br />

Dancing in the City<br />

You’ve been tapping your feet all week in anticipation<br />

of the weekend — now let them free to jump, dance<br />

and spin to the beats of salsa, disco and even some<br />

country two-step.<br />

Saturdays • Through July 28<br />

Arts Festival Plaza (next to The Plaza Theatre)<br />

elpasoartsandculture.org<br />

Sun City Music Festival<br />

More than 30 international acts cover three stages to<br />

rock your feet and blow your mind during Labor Day<br />

weekend at El Paso’s largest electronic outdoor<br />

music festival.<br />

September 1 and 2<br />

Ascarate Park<br />

suncitymusicfestival.com<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 11


calendarSEPTEMBER<br />

German-American<br />

Oktoberfest Night Run<br />

8Get out your running shoes and head over to<br />

Freedom Crossing Saturday, September 8 for the 19th<br />

annual German-American Oktoberfest Night Run, presented<br />

by FirstLight Federal Credit Union, the German<br />

Air Force Air Defense Center and Family and <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

You don't have to be a runner to enjoy the event.<br />

Pre-race activities start at 4 p.m. and include the sale<br />

of German coffee and pastries, along with soft drinks,<br />

snow cones and more. Children's<br />

activities include a bounce house,<br />

games and the Freedom Crossing<br />

play areas.<br />

The run starts at 6 p.m. and<br />

features an 8-kilometer race and<br />

5-kilometer fun run/walk. There is<br />

also a military unit team division.<br />

The top three male and female<br />

finishers will win prizes.<br />

Last year, more than 1,000<br />

registered participants hit the<br />

pavement at this event. Organizers<br />

hope even more will join this year,<br />

as the run marks its second year at<br />

Freedom Crossing.<br />

After the race, stay to enjoy<br />

German bratwurst and beer, and more entertainment,<br />

including live music.<br />

For more information, visit ganightrun.com or<br />

blissmwr.com, or call (915) 568-0259 or (915)<br />

568-6741.<br />

PHOTOS BY HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

12 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Beer<br />

Pairing<br />

Dinner<br />

20 Channel your inner beer connoisseur<br />

and explore the world<br />

of brews at the Centennial’s beer<br />

pairing dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday,<br />

September 20.<br />

Enjoy a five-course dinner, each<br />

course paired with a unique beer.<br />

The combinations are designed to<br />

enhance the flavors of both the food<br />

and the<br />

beers, providing<br />

an<br />

indulgent<br />

experience<br />

that tantalizes<br />

the<br />

senses.<br />

There’s<br />

more to<br />

beer than<br />

you might<br />

think: Come explore the complexities<br />

of flavor that different malts,<br />

hops and yeasts can create.<br />

Ticket pricing and on-sale<br />

dates will be announced soon at<br />

blissmwr.com.<br />

The Centennial Banquet and<br />

Conference Center is located at<br />

Bldg. 11199 Sgt. E. Churchill St. on<br />

East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>.<br />

For more information, call (915)<br />

744-1171.<br />

Martini and a Manicure<br />

14<br />

Pamper yourself<br />

with Martini<br />

and a Manicure at<br />

4:30 p.m. Friday,<br />

September 14 at<br />

the Centennial,<br />

Bldg. 11199 Sgt.<br />

E. Churchill St. on<br />

East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. For<br />

just $10, kick off the<br />

weekend in style<br />

with a manicure<br />

and one of our spe-<br />

Family camping trip to White Sands<br />

Load up your family and head out to experience<br />

one of nature’s wonders when you join<br />

Southwest Adventure for a family camping<br />

excursion to White Sands National Monument in<br />

New Mexico Saturday, September 29.<br />

For just $15 per person or $50 per family,<br />

29<br />

campers will enjoy games in the<br />

sand, camping under the stars,<br />

hamburgers and hotdogs and any<br />

camping equipment required. The<br />

fee covers park admission, as well.<br />

Campers will provide their own<br />

transportation and meet at the park.<br />

Tickets must be purchased in advance and can<br />

be obtained at ITR in Bldg. 1743 Victory Ave., the<br />

cialty martinis. Martini and<br />

a Manicure is a great way<br />

to relax after a hard week’s<br />

work.<br />

Guests must be age 21 or<br />

Strongman Competition<br />

MISSIOn ESSEnTIAL FITnESS - FORT BLISS PHOTO<br />

ITR kiosk at Freedom Crossing, or<br />

the Southwest Adventure Equipment<br />

Outpost in Biggs Park on East <strong>Fort</strong><br />

<strong>Bliss</strong>.<br />

To learn more, call (915) 317-5618.<br />

DARLInE GOYEA \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

older to attend. No children<br />

are allowed.<br />

For more information,<br />

visit blissmwr.com or call<br />

(915) 744-1171.<br />

22<br />

Do you have what it takes to<br />

conquer the Strongman Competition?<br />

You won’t know until<br />

you try!<br />

The 2012 <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Strongman Competition will<br />

take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 22 at<br />

Soto Gym. The competition consists of four events:<br />

the tire flip, farmer walk, log press and truck pull.<br />

Registration is free and open to active-duty<br />

military and their spouses. Register at Stout or Soto<br />

Gym by close of business Saturday, September 15.<br />

Trophies will be awarded in each of three divisions<br />

– men’s lightweight, men’s heavyweight and<br />

women’s – as well as to the overall winner.<br />

For more information, call (915) 744-5201.<br />

PHOTOS BY HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

calendarSEPTEMBER<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 13


calendarSEPTEMBER<br />

Border Rumble Boxing Smoker<br />

Team <strong>Bliss</strong> Sports,<br />

Fitness and Aquatics and<br />

El Paso Golden Gloves<br />

present the Border<br />

Rumble boxing smoker<br />

Friday, September 21 at<br />

Stout Gym. Bouts begin<br />

at 6 p.m. Spectators are<br />

welcome and admission<br />

is free.<br />

Active-duty military<br />

with five or fewer<br />

amateur fights can<br />

participate. Both male<br />

and female participants<br />

are welcome.<br />

Weigh-ins will<br />

take place Thurs-<br />

day, September<br />

20 from 9 a.m.-5<br />

p.m. at Stout Gym.<br />

Participants need to<br />

complete all requirements<br />

before allowed<br />

to fight. Requirements<br />

include recent physical,<br />

a sworn statement that<br />

Soldier has five<br />

or fewer amateur<br />

fights signed by<br />

commanding officer.<br />

The event is sanctioned<br />

by the USA Boxing<br />

Border Association.<br />

For more information,<br />

call (915) 744-<br />

5790.<br />

21pre-fight physical and<br />

NFL Sunday Ticket<br />

TEAM BLISS SPORTS, FITnESS AnD AqUATICS PHOTOS<br />

9<br />

Strike Lounge at Desert Strike<br />

Lanes has got the ticket, and it’s NFL<br />

Sunday Ticket. Starting September 9,<br />

Strike Lounge opens at 11 a.m. every<br />

Sunday. Get there early to choose which game is<br />

shown on the big screen, order up some pizza and<br />

wings, and have a great time. Admission is free.<br />

The only thing you need to figure out is who’s<br />

coming with you! For more information, call (915)<br />

568-6272.<br />

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY<br />

FAMILY AND <strong>MWR</strong> COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING PROGRAM<br />

Your benefits are great:<br />

• Direct exposure to a large military community<br />

• Display your company name/logo on promotional material<br />

• Event recognition: “Sponsored in part by…”<br />

• On-site signage, product displays, sampling and demonstrations<br />

• Events / Sponsor booth<br />

• Pre-event publicity and advertising<br />

septemberevents<br />

Midnight Laser Tag<br />

September 6 • 9pm • Soto Gym<br />

Wagon Trails Market<br />

September 7, 14 and 21 • 4:30-6:30pm • Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

German-American Oktoberfest night Run<br />

September 8 • 6pm • Freedom Crossing<br />

nFL Sunday Ticket Begins<br />

September 9 • 11am • Strike Lounge in Desert Strike Lanes<br />

Intramural Indoor Soccer League Begins<br />

September 10 • Biggs Gym<br />

Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch Special<br />

September 11 • 11am-1pm • Centennial<br />

Martini and a Manicure<br />

September 14 • 4:30pm • Centennial<br />

Beer Pairing Dinner<br />

September 20 • 7pm • Centennial<br />

BOSS Bash<br />

September 21 • TBD • Biggs Park<br />

Border Rumble Boxing Smoker<br />

September 21 • 6pm • Stout Gym<br />

BIGG Laser Tag<br />

September 21 • 8pm • Biggs Park<br />

Sport Climbing with Southwest Adventure<br />

September 22 • Rough and Ready Hills Range, N.M.<br />

Strongman Competition<br />

September 22 • TBD • Soto Gym<br />

Fall Open Softball League Begins<br />

September 22 • Omar Bradley Softball Complex<br />

Inaugural Iron Soldier Sprint Triathlon<br />

September 29 • 7am • Replica Aquatic Center<br />

Family Camping Trip with Southwest Adventure<br />

September 29 • White Sands National Monument, N.M.<br />

CALL 915-568-3415 OR LOG ONTO BLISS<strong>MWR</strong>.COM/SPONSORSHIP<br />

14 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

blissmwr.com<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 15


Bravery To Business<br />

Jump Into A Career With Vista’s Training<br />

Some Serve For Those Next To Them, Others For Those At Home. Whatever Your Reason -<br />

Vista College can help you prepare for your next career or help you advance in the career that you already have. Vista College<br />

offers diplomas and Associate Degrees in Business, Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, HVAC, Criminal Justice and more.<br />

At Vista College, you’ll enjoy:<br />

• Online Programs<br />

• No SAT/ACT Required<br />

• CreditTransferability & Credit for<br />

Military Training<br />

• Convenient Day and Evening Classes<br />

• Small Class Sizes<br />

• Career Services Assistance<br />

for Graduates<br />

• Scholarships and Financial Aid are<br />

Available toThose who Qualify<br />

• Yellow Ribbon Program<br />

Start Today, Give Us A Call:<br />

877-316-0264<br />

www.VistaMilitary.com<br />

Most of our programs can be completed in less than a year. Contact us to find out more. Get Started Now.<br />

ONLINE | AMARILLO, TX | BEAUMONT, TX | EL PASO, TX | LAS CRUCES, NM | LONGVIEW, TX | LUBBOCK, TX<br />

Consumer Information may be viewed at www.VistaCollge.edu.Vista College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.<br />

16 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! Vista College Online is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Peter Carrillo,<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Working with children<br />

has always been<br />

a passion for Elizabeth<br />

Jusino. Having two<br />

daughters of her own<br />

and being a military<br />

spouse for 20 years now,<br />

Jusino knew that she<br />

would someday be helping<br />

military children and<br />

their families.<br />

Jusino is the newly<br />

appointed director of the Milam School Age<br />

Center, one of the newer additions to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>’<br />

Child, Youth and School Services program.<br />

Milam SAC provides care for children in first<br />

through fifth grades.<br />

Anyone who knows and who has seen the<br />

way Jusino works would have to agree, this is<br />

the perfect fit for her and for Family and <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

With a smile always on her face and confident<br />

and calm tone to her voice, Jusino makes anyone<br />

feel respected and comfortable.<br />

“I have passion with what I do,” Jusino said.<br />

“Teamwork and respect are essential to bring<br />

more children into this program.”<br />

As director, Jusino plans to spread the word<br />

that programs like SAS are here to help military<br />

members and their families.<br />

“I understand what families need,” says Jusino.<br />

Jusino began her career with Family and<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> as a lifeguard at the young age of 19, in<br />

Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico. Driven by her passion<br />

to work with and help children, Jusino earned a<br />

bachelor’s degree in education from the University<br />

of Puerto Rico.<br />

Jusino’s journey from Puerto Rico to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

did have its pit stops, courtesy of being a military<br />

spouse. These stops consisted of South Carolina<br />

and Chicago. Throughout this time frame, Jusino<br />

showed great work ethic by teaching at various<br />

institutions and volunteering her time as a coach<br />

and as an official in multiple sports.<br />

Here at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, Jusino was first a very active<br />

staff member at Logan Heights Physical<br />

Fitness Center as recreational supervisor before<br />

her move to the position of director at the Milam<br />

SAC.<br />

On top of her many responsibilities, Jusino<br />

continues to volunteer her time to coaching and<br />

officiating and also to lend a helpful hand to anyone<br />

who simply asks for it.<br />

Jusino and her family have been at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

for three years now and she says she plans to<br />

stay in El Paso for good.<br />

<strong>MWR</strong><br />

CIRCLE<br />

AWARD<br />

Winner’s Circle<br />

Employees go above and beyond<br />

Each quarter, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> holds the Winner’s Circle award<br />

ceremony to recognize employees who have gone above and beyond<br />

to provide excellent service for the Soldiers, families, retirees<br />

and civilians we serve. Winner’s Circle is a directorate-level incentive<br />

awards program primarily designed to recognize outstanding customer<br />

service and teamwork by Family and <strong>MWR</strong> staff members. Each<br />

quarter, staff members are nominated by their peers, patrons of Family<br />

and <strong>MWR</strong> or outside agencies, or are identified by name in an ICE<br />

comment.<br />

The following staff members<br />

are “Commitment to Excellence”<br />

winners for routinely going above<br />

and beyond to provide exceptional<br />

service to internal and external<br />

customers.<br />

2ND qUARTER 2012<br />

KRISTINE WOODSON<br />

Underwood Golf Complex<br />

VIRGINIA COGER<br />

The Centenniail<br />

BELINDA JONES<br />

Soldier and Family Assistance Center<br />

GUADALUPE MORALES<br />

Desert Strike Lanes<br />

SSG KEITH FAY<br />

Southwest Adventure Volunteer<br />

COLEEN O’BRIEN<br />

Desert Strike Lanes<br />

JOSEPH FEDALIzO<br />

Desert Strike Lanes<br />

APOLINAR FERNANDEz<br />

Team <strong>Bliss</strong> Sports, Fitness & Aquatics<br />

KENNETH COPPEDGE<br />

Southwest Adventure Outdoor Rec<br />

VERONICA WITT<br />

Financial Readiness Program<br />

GREGORY MAI<br />

Southwest Adventure Outdoor Rec<br />

DEANA GARCIA<br />

Employment Readiness Program<br />

WILLIAM SUTTON<br />

DPTMS<br />

MELISSA MILLER<br />

Logan Child Development Center<br />

The “Effective Team” award is<br />

given to recognize the accomplishments<br />

of a team who work together<br />

in harmony to produce outstanding<br />

results. The selection committee<br />

decided that the team below was<br />

deserving of the award.<br />

2ND qUARTER 2012<br />

OPENING OF THE NEW<br />

GOLDEN TEE CLUBHOUSE AT<br />

UNDERWOOD GOLF COMPLEx<br />

Claudine Morgan<br />

Silke Holmes<br />

Myshelle Loosemoore<br />

Olga Saenz-Reyes<br />

Rosa Diaz<br />

Margarite Cannon<br />

Eduardo Duran<br />

Raul Licon<br />

Rhonda Olivarez<br />

Kyle Burris-Woodson<br />

Eddie Milner<br />

Victor Lorena Rodriguez<br />

Manuel Vasquez<br />

Luis Solis<br />

Edna Mclamore<br />

Ruben Rodriguez<br />

Bobby Kaerwer<br />

Michael Maciolek<br />

Carl Wiesenthal<br />

David Galaviz<br />

Efrain Marzan<br />

Tianna Bowden<br />

Joerg Robeson<br />

James Hamilton<br />

Isaac Pepper<br />

Deanna Woodson<br />

Robert Rodela<br />

Kristine Woodson<br />

To nominate a Family and <strong>MWR</strong> employee for a Winner’s Circle award,<br />

contact Melinda Scott at (915) 568-3500. To submit a compliment or<br />

suggestion for improvement for any Family and <strong>MWR</strong> program, check<br />

out the ICE system at http://ice.disa.mil.<br />

recognition FAMILY and <strong>MWR</strong><br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 17


2012<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> M A G A ZIN E<br />

(Very) Short Essay Contest<br />

“How Family<br />

and <strong>MWR</strong> Is<br />

Part of My<br />

Summer”I am grateful for Family and <strong>MWR</strong><br />

Fun in the El Paso Sun<br />

I love summer because I get to<br />

stay home with my family. We like<br />

to ride bikes, read books, play board<br />

games and play outside. My favorite<br />

thing to do in the summer is playing<br />

at Biggs Park. I can go to the splash<br />

park, play at the playground and<br />

have a picnic at the park. I got to play<br />

laser tag at the park for my brother’s<br />

birthday party. I also like to eat ice<br />

cream at Dairy Queen at Freedom<br />

Crossing and go to the movie theatre.<br />

I learned how to read this year and<br />

I get to be in the reading club at the<br />

library and read lots of books with<br />

my brothers. This summer I get to<br />

join cub scouts on post as a Tiger cub<br />

scout and do fun things. My daddy<br />

deploys soon and I hope we get to go<br />

to Disneyland before he leaves.<br />

How family and <strong>MWR</strong> will be a part of my summer!<br />

Hello, my name is Natalie Harden. I have been part of the Military<br />

community for years; actually it has been most of my life.<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> has always been a big help for me. With all<br />

the wonderful events to take away stress, their helpful signs all<br />

over post to keep me informed about upcoming events, and of<br />

course the awesome customer service from the great people<br />

who work there. This summer I have many plans, and looking<br />

back at each one, most involve F<strong>MWR</strong> in a different way.<br />

Just to name a few, the amazing, fun camps are arranged by<br />

CYSS, the Recreation Division keeps the pools inviting and<br />

clean, and the bowling alley is a great place to play and<br />

make memories. F<strong>MWR</strong> is an excellent option for great<br />

fun. I am definitely going to beat the heat and enjoy my<br />

vacation with my family doing as many F<strong>MWR</strong> activities<br />

as I can! I will conclude my essay by<br />

adding, thank you to all who work for<br />

F<strong>MWR</strong>, for always being there when<br />

someone needs a helping hand or a<br />

nice smile. So thank you!<br />

18 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com<br />

www.blissmwr.com<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> are a major part of my families’ life. To start this out, every day<br />

after school and during summer we go to Youth Services (YS). I have so much fun at<br />

the YS not just because of the activities but because of the friends I make there. Dur-<br />

ing the school year, the YS is also fun but during the summer it’s breathtaking. The<br />

kinds of camps they have are fun even to teenagers. The types of camps they have<br />

are bowling, paintball, computer animation, cooking and much more. To me there<br />

was a certain camp that defined summer fun and had fun activities for all of us; that<br />

camp is Survivor Camp. Survivor Camp has it all and they’re going to repeat the camp<br />

again. I’m excited about what fun that I will have this year at Survivor Camp.<br />

Another activity that I love to be a part of is the <strong>MWR</strong> White Sands Camping<br />

Trip. I’ve gone three times. The first time was with only with my mom and brother.<br />

The second time my dad came along and third time my God sister came along. The<br />

camping trips seem to get better every year and I can’t wait until the next one. On the<br />

camp trip, they provided us with snacks, water, dinner, boogie boards which is pretty<br />

good because sometimes we forget stuff at home. Even though we go home with<br />

sands in just about everywhere uncomfortable; it’s always good to see the smile on<br />

my families face.<br />

The last activities I want to talk about are at Biggs Park. The first thing I would<br />

like to talk about is the Easter Extravaganza, it had tons of activities for me do that I<br />

enjoyed. The second is the Christmas event, there were so many activities that I could<br />

not go to all of them. Finally, the last event was the 4th of July concert. Both the con-<br />

cert and the fireworks were amazing. I was impressed that the Commanding General<br />

was there and even led the concert. There are tons of activities provided by Family<br />

and <strong>MWR</strong>; my family and I are grateful that we have opportunity to enjoy them all.<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 19


2012<br />

how Family and mwr are part<br />

of my summer<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> provides many wonderful activities for my family<br />

and me to enjoy. We have picnicked at Biggs Park and<br />

Kelly Park and explored the multiple play structures, athletic<br />

fields, and splash parks. The pools are a short drive and<br />

short walk from our house, which is very convenient. We<br />

have already swum in both Replica Pool and community<br />

Pool and will swim there again. Additionally, we will bowl<br />

at Desert Strike Lanes. <strong>MWR</strong> has motivated me to read<br />

quality books by running a summer reading program. I am<br />

also thankful for the Baseball league on <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. It has<br />

given me a chance to practice and improve my skills. All of<br />

Ask About Our<br />

MW R MA G AZINE<br />

(Very) Sho rt Ess ay Contest<br />

taylor eastes, 6th grade<br />

age group winner<br />

For active duty, reserve service members, honorably discharged veterans<br />

or National Guard members, and their dependents.<br />

(Applies Only Towards Tuition)<br />

these great opportunities are provided by <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

My Mother and Father have planned some great activities<br />

for this summer. After we drive through Santa Fe and<br />

other parts of new Mexico we will camp near the Grand<br />

Canyon and tour the surrounding area. We will also splash<br />

around at the Wet ‘n Wild water park. But most of all we will<br />

spend time together as a family, taking walks, and playing<br />

sports.<br />

Summer has just begun and I plan to make it special<br />

with my family and <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

Jana<br />

baadte,<br />

7th<br />

grade<br />

age<br />

group<br />

winner<br />

how family and mwr is part of<br />

my summer<br />

Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (<strong>MWR</strong>)<br />

have been a part of summer for as long as I can remember.<br />

I am sure that both will be a part of my summer in 2012!<br />

My family will be a part of my summer because we<br />

do everything together! We are an Army family, we move<br />

a lot, and we always stick together. During the summer<br />

months we go to the pool, travel throughout the commu-<br />

nity, and sometimes, meet my grandparents in Ocean City,<br />

new Jersey. Since we are relatively new to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> we<br />

haven’t experienced everything <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> has to offer. But<br />

we do know that the Freedom Crossing is a great place<br />

to eat and shop and the Grand Theater is a great place to<br />

watch some fantastic movies! no matter where we go we<br />

are always together having fun.<br />

I am positive that <strong>MWR</strong> will be part of my 2012 summer<br />

vacation. <strong>MWR</strong> operates and sponsors things like, the pool<br />

were we can go swimming, the gym where we can work<br />

out, the library to get a good book, bowling, golf and so<br />

much more. <strong>MWR</strong> also sponsor fun soccer and volleyball<br />

camps. Without <strong>MWR</strong>, life would not be as exciting. With<br />

all the things <strong>MWR</strong> has to offer I am sure that my summer<br />

will be jam packed with fun things to do all summer long.<br />

I love all the things <strong>MWR</strong> has to offer and before I know it<br />

summer will be over.<br />

With all those things in mind I am sure that this summer<br />

and for many summers to come will be filled with fun, new<br />

experiences with my family and <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

tristen winburn, 4th grade<br />

how Family and mwr will be a<br />

part of my summer<br />

Hi my name is Tristen Winburn. I would like to tell you<br />

how Family and <strong>MWR</strong> help me and my family every summer.<br />

I love going to spend afternoons at Biggs Park; we<br />

play paintball, laser tag and have family grill outs! I also<br />

love to play in the water park and playground areas. We get<br />

to watch lots of concerts and the fireworks display on the<br />

fourth of July. I love how they have events for almost every<br />

holiday, I have been too the Easter egg hunt, Halloween<br />

11 Programs Of Study!<br />

MAIN EASTSIDE CAMPUS<br />

9624 Plaza Circle, El Paso, Texas 79927<br />

• Automotive Technology<br />

- AOS Degree<br />

• Advanced Welding Technology<br />

• Diesel Technology<br />

• Automotive Fundamentals<br />

and Performance Tuner<br />

• Medical / Clinical Assistant<br />

• Refrigeration & HVAC<br />

Technology - AOS Degree<br />

Customized Training!<br />

Do You Need Specific Training<br />

To Meet Certain DOD Directives?<br />

NORTHEAST BRANCH CAMPUS<br />

9451 Diana, El Paso, Texas 79924<br />

• Electronic Engineering<br />

Technology - AOS Degree<br />

• Information Systems & Security<br />

- AOS Degree<br />

• Health Information Technology<br />

• Massage Therapy TX# MS0111<br />

• Medical / Clinical Assistant<br />

• Physical Therapist Assistant<br />

- AAS Degree<br />

Visit Us On July 21st At<br />

Classes Forming Now!<br />

(877) 816-4337<br />

Individual in this photo is not actual wtc student or staff. For more information about our graduation<br />

rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please<br />

visit our consumer website at westerntech.edu/academics. Revised 6/1/2012.<br />

events, Holiday nights, and<br />

more! I go swimming in the<br />

Replica indoor pool and at<br />

the outdoor community pool.<br />

The pools provide life jackets<br />

so I do not get scared in the<br />

water and they have great<br />

slides! I also enjoy going to<br />

play golf at the George Underwood<br />

golf course. They<br />

have golf carts we can ride, and a great new restaurant.<br />

Sometimes, my family and I go to eat brunch at the Centennial<br />

and it is so good! I love how friendly everyone in<br />

F<strong>MWR</strong> is and I want to say thanks you!<br />

andrea Davis, 4th grade<br />

how Family and mwr will be a<br />

part of my summer<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> is part of my summer in many ways. They provide<br />

information for my parents to<br />

be able to take me to concerts<br />

at freedom crossing called let<br />

freedom sing.<br />

They provide information<br />

on cool trips and fun things<br />

to do as a family for little or no<br />

money; example; the fishing<br />

tournament at ascarate lake<br />

for kids of all ages, fathers day<br />

bowling at desert strike lanes and fun family trips such as<br />

camping at white sands monument. Information on things<br />

like camping and boating and and tangle tower are also given<br />

20 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

by <strong>MWR</strong>.<br />

Wagon trails market is neat because there are cool things<br />

to look at and buy, and we get to look at old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Museum<br />

while there for the wagon trails market. We plan to continue<br />

going to wagon trails market throughout the summer.<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> advertised swim lessons through replica pool and now<br />

my mom is signing me up for swim lessons when I thought I<br />

wouldn’t be able to take them because my gymnastics class<br />

through Skies is during my level of swimming. Swim lessons<br />

are so important because the make summer safer and more<br />

fun. I also make new friends in my swim lessons.<br />

Last year <strong>MWR</strong> sponsored the fireworks at biggs park<br />

and great concerts for the whole family.<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> makes it possible for me and my family to stay fit<br />

and have fun at the same time with the fun runs. My family<br />

always tries to compeat with each other to see who will get<br />

the best run time.<br />

The trips <strong>MWR</strong> sponsors and gives information on helps<br />

families reduce the stress caused by being a military family.<br />

We learn about our surrounding area not just fort <strong>Bliss</strong> or El<br />

Paso. I know I will have a great summer because of all <strong>MWR</strong><br />

provides to fort bliss and to my family.<br />

logan J.<br />

leeworthy,<br />

1st grade<br />

my Family’s<br />

summer with<br />

mwr<br />

My Mom and me will go<br />

swimming almost every day<br />

on post. We live by Biggs<br />

park and can walk up there to eat lunch and play. Then<br />

we will visit my Dad at work at USASMA. We have lunch<br />

with him and then play basketball and ride bikes at the park<br />

when he gets home. I love to play and have fun with my<br />

Mom and my Dad. It’s nice to live by parks where we can<br />

have a good time together as a family. Sometimes we go<br />

with our friends to concerts at Biggs park. We can go to<br />

see the fireworks like we did last fourth of July. There is a<br />

lot of fun stuff to do at Biggs with my family.<br />

haylee adams, 4th grade<br />

my summertime Fun<br />

When we were at the<br />

pool my family would play<br />

down the slides and play<br />

chasing under water. We go<br />

to the pool because it was so<br />

hot out. Every time I go to the<br />

pool with my family I go and<br />

swim in the water. Sometimes<br />

when we are at the<br />

pool I play with my sisters.<br />

We bring our own things to make a little picnic to enjoy<br />

a lunch at the pool. When we are going to the park I play<br />

chasing with my sisters. When my sisters and I are finished<br />

our chasing game we would play on the swings. After the<br />

swings we would sit down for a little bit. After we are done<br />

at the park we would go home. Sometimes when we come<br />

home I feel like I need to eat a whole bowl of Ice Cream.<br />

Thanks to <strong>MWR</strong> for providing these cool thimgs for my<br />

family and I to enjoy! My sisters and now my brother will<br />

get to enjoy all the great things this summer.<br />

FirstLight Federal Credit Union can supply you with a full<br />

range of products and services deployed specifically for our<br />

members that want to manage their finances.<br />

✪ Special Military Auto Loans<br />

✪ VA & Special-Need Home Grants Available<br />

✪ Loans for Children’s Education<br />

✪ Financial Planning & Consulting<br />

✪ Personal & Business Accounts/Loans<br />

“It’s a great day to be a soldier’s credit union”<br />

www.military.firstlightfcu.org<br />

1741 Marshall Rd. • WBAMC - 1st Floor • 20727 Constitution Ave.<br />

915 562-1172<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 21


feature‘EMBEDDED REPORTER’<br />

Boots on the ground<br />

Our latest intern gets up close and personal with ‘Iron Focus’<br />

Peter Carrillo, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Zero five hundred hours, or what most people would call too<br />

early in the morning. A handful of reporters and I were assigned<br />

to meet with Capt. Moore in front of 1st Armored Division Headquarters.<br />

The purpose for this meeting was to give journalism/communication<br />

students from local colleges the chance to be embedded with<br />

company sized-units in 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, which<br />

was participating in the “Iron Focus” training exercise. Iron Focus<br />

is the largest training exercise in the Army in the last 10 years and<br />

is meant to train Soldiers for combat operations with scenarios they<br />

may encounter while deployed.<br />

This training is not only beneficial for the reporters, but also<br />

helps train Soldiers on how to handle working with the media in<br />

deployed locations. For most of us, it was the first time we had been<br />

given an opportunity to be reporting in the field with our troops.<br />

All of us were treated like any other journalists and were required<br />

to follow the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Media<br />

Ground Rules. Upon arrival, we were given body armor, paired<br />

up with another reporter and assigned to a unit. My partner and<br />

I quickly learned that if we could not keep up, we would be left<br />

behind. This little fact was demonstrated when we arrived to the<br />

training site and learned our unit was already on the move. We<br />

were then assigned to a German unit who were in support of the<br />

American forces in this scenario.<br />

During our short attachment with the Germans in the village,<br />

we learned that the scenario was in full swing. The combination<br />

of the role players who never broke character, the anxiousness of<br />

the Germans and a village that was completely realistic – down to<br />

the smallest details – made me for a second feel like this was real.<br />

As the Americans made their way to the village, we were turned<br />

over to them. We moved along with the troops through the village<br />

when, suddenly, we were hit by an apparent suicide bomber.<br />

Slightly stunned, I began to snap as many pictures as I could. As<br />

I did with my camera, the Soldiers did with their tactics and rendered<br />

aid to all who were injured, while maintaining the security<br />

of them and of us. Before I really knew it, we were surrounded by<br />

“Afghan” villagers and things were getting pretty crazy. After all<br />

injured personnel (civilian and military) were taken away, we ran<br />

along with our unit toward the outskirts of the village.<br />

At the end of this intense scenario, observers of the exercise critiqued<br />

the performance of the soldiers. Overall, the debrief seemed<br />

to be good; however, disappointment soon shrouded the unit. During<br />

the scenario, two Soldiers were said to have been killed and,<br />

even though this was an exercise, reality seemed to hit. The division<br />

involved in this exercise is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this<br />

fall.<br />

After it was all said and done, we had a few hours with these<br />

troops and, though they did not seem happy to see us at first, most<br />

of them eventually opened up and we were able to just sit down<br />

and talk. What people fail to realize is that behind the gear, weapons<br />

and serious faces, these are just normal people – people with<br />

the same likes and dislikes as any other American. Being prior service<br />

myself, this opportunity allowed me to see military training<br />

from the eyes of a reporter and gave me a whole new perspective<br />

on how the media looks at our military.<br />

PETER CARRILLO \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

U.S. and German forces joined together May 1 for the portion of the “Iron Focus”<br />

training exercise detailed here. The scenario involved a patrol through<br />

a mock Afghan village (pictured above) during which the Soldiers took a<br />

hit from a suicide bomber and cared for the civilian and military casualties.<br />

Afghan villagers portrayed by reenactors add authenticity to the exercise.<br />

Iron Focus was the largest training exercise to take place on <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. The<br />

four-week event involved the entire 1st Armored Division.<br />

22 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Spotlight on<br />

Michele Wiernicki, Sponsorship and Advertising Coordinator<br />

The sponsor spotlight shines brightly on one of our most dependable<br />

partners. Costco has been supporting the Soldiers, their families and <strong>Fort</strong><br />

<strong>Bliss</strong> Family and <strong>MWR</strong> for many years. Whether it’s water at the German-<br />

American Oktoberfest Night Run or beautiful cakes for our tireless volunteers<br />

and military spouses, Costco is there ready to lend a hand.<br />

At Family and <strong>MWR</strong>, we basically have two types of corporate sponsors:<br />

those that support with cash contributions and those that provide<br />

merchandise. Costco falls into the latter category, which is just fine with<br />

us. Some of the events they have unquestioningly supported this year<br />

include Fitness Resolution 2012, AFTB Basket Bingo, Military Spouse<br />

Appreciation Day and the Speed Dating for Dogs adoption event.<br />

Costco has all the certificates of appreciation proudly displayed<br />

on the warehouse walls. This is a business that sponsors<br />

for the right reason: They believe wholeheartedly in supporting<br />

the military.<br />

Michelle Pascha, Costco marketing manager, explained where their passion<br />

comes from: “Costco recognizes <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> as an integral part of this community,<br />

and we appreciate all that the Soldiers and their families do for our freedom.<br />

The support we provide is the least we can do to show our gratitude.”<br />

Hopefully we’ll see you at all of our amazing summer events – and while<br />

you’re there, stop at the Costco table and let them know how much you notice<br />

and appreciate their support.<br />

sponsorSPOTLIGHT<br />

having trouBle Buying<br />

a car?<br />

Check out MILES.<br />

MILES is a leading auto financing source for active duty military with<br />

limited credit. We’ll provide you vehicle purchase training, make sure you<br />

never overpay for your car, and help you to build your credit foundation.<br />

Over 100,000 Active Duty served... and counting!<br />

USMILES.COM<br />

APPLY TODAY DRIVE TODAY<br />

Apply for an auto loan today At USMILES.COM<br />

Or call a MILES Rep. at 800.514.6309<br />

@MILESProgram | facebook.com/milesprogram | usmiles.com<br />

Paid Advertisement - No Federal endorsement implied<br />

®<br />

Apply<br />

Now:<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 23


Carlsbad New Mexico<br />

24 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Back, and better than ever<br />

The new Mega Bingo offers not one, but two grand prizes<br />

Webster University/<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

632 Taylor St BLDG B<br />

Hours: M-TH 0900-1700 FRI- 0900-1200<br />

POC: Julie Smith (smithj@webster.edu)<br />

Telephone: (915) 562.4400<br />

Programs:<br />

Master of Business Administration<br />

*Master of Health Administration<br />

Human Resources Development<br />

Management and Leadership<br />

Business and Organizational Security<br />

Information Technology Management<br />

*Community Counseling<br />

*Evening class from 1730-2130<br />

FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG PHOTOS<br />

Mega Bingo is back at the Centennial August 11 and offers two grand prizes: the<br />

UTV pictured above, courtesy of Viva Powersports, and $10,000 cash. Advance<br />

tickets go on sale July 9 and cost $100 for an initial buy-in or $175 for an initial buyin/electronics<br />

bundle. Tickets at the door cost $125 for an initial buy-in and $100 for<br />

electronics – buy your tickets early and save!<br />

Mega Bingo offers 25 chances to win $600 or more, and $10 chances to win $1,000<br />

or more. You could take home cash, like the lucky winners above – both are actual<br />

winners from Mega Bingo in February.<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Mega Bingo at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center<br />

just keeps getting bigger! In August, the bingo team will offer<br />

the first Mega Bingo featuring two grand prizes.<br />

Would you like to win a UTV, courtesy of Viva Powersports?<br />

How about $10,000 in cash? Both are up for grabs this time. The<br />

Centennial has a total of more than $40,000 in cash and prizes to<br />

give away, and you can’t win if you don’t play.<br />

Advance tickets go on sale July 9 and cost $100 for an initial<br />

buy-in or $175 for an initial buy-in/electronics combo. The electronics<br />

feature 56 faces and nine jackpot faces, and quantities are<br />

limited. Purchase tickets in person or by phone from 8 a.m.-5<br />

p.m. Monday-Friday at the Centennial.<br />

“The cost represents a great value,” said Leesa Sheppard, bingo<br />

programs manager for Family and <strong>MWR</strong>. “You’re looking at<br />

25 chances to win $600 or more, and 10 chances to win $1,000 or<br />

more. You can’t beat it!”<br />

Once the initial buy-in is purchased, additional bingo packets<br />

may be purchased at discounted prices. Individual cards for jackpot<br />

games and other special games are offered, as well.<br />

Get your tickets early – at the door, initial buy-in pricing goes<br />

up to $125, and electronics will run an additional $100. Electronics<br />

quantities are limited.<br />

Mega Bingo wouldn’t be possible without the aid of sponsors<br />

who provide the prizes that make it “mega.”<br />

“We’re so excited to be able to continue with another Mega<br />

Bingo,” Sheppard said. “We’re proud to continue to provide our<br />

customers with some of the most exciting and innovative bingo<br />

programming in the Army, and we couldn’t do it without sponsors<br />

like Viva Powersports.”<br />

Since hosting the Army’s first-ever Mega Bingo last summer,<br />

the Centennial has received visitors from several installations<br />

that hope to emulate the program. No wonder: Mega Bingo won<br />

an Army Family and <strong>MWR</strong> award for best single-facility event<br />

in 2011.<br />

Mega Bingo will take place August 11 at the Centennial<br />

Banquet and Conference Center, located at Bldg. 11199 Sgt. E.<br />

Churchill St. on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. Doors open at noon and games<br />

begin at 2 p.m.<br />

For more information, visit blissmwr.com/bingo or call (915)<br />

744-1171.<br />

clubsFOOD&FUN<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 25


clubsFOOD&FUN<br />

Beat the heat<br />

Desert Strike Lanes offers air-conditioned family fun<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Everybody knows that summer<br />

means family fun, and there’s no<br />

better way to have family fun on a<br />

budget than by taking advantage of<br />

the great summer specials at Desert<br />

Strike Lanes.<br />

Declare your independence from high prices in July as Desert<br />

Strike Lanes celebrates the Month of the Patriot in July.<br />

Don’t miss the Patriot Day Kickoff, starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday,<br />

July 4. Enjoy limited free cake and snacks, plus $1 hot dogs,<br />

$1 12-ounce slushes, $1 candy and $ 12-ounce fountain sodas all<br />

day long! To honor those who protect our freedom, active-duty<br />

armed forces personnel who show valid ID will receive one free<br />

bowling game with the purchase of a game.<br />

The fun continues with Freedom Glow, also set for Wednesday,<br />

July 4. Take advantage of unlimited bowling 6:30-9:30 p.m. for just<br />

$6 per person, shoes not included. (The bowling center reserves<br />

the right to assign multiple parties to a lane based on business<br />

demand.) To get things “glowing,” the first 100 youth to ask for<br />

“Desert Glow” at the front desk will receive a free mini glow stick.<br />

Because it’s the Month of the Patriot, and not just the Day of the<br />

Patriot, the deals continue with the Patriot Lunch Time Special.<br />

From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each Tuesday, enjoy $1 bowling games and<br />

$1 shoe rental.<br />

And the fun doesn’t stop there: From noon-6 p.m. each Sat-<br />

RENT RENT-A-CAR<br />

RENT CAR<br />

urday, active-duty military who<br />

show valid ID and ask for the Patriot<br />

Special will receive one free<br />

game of bowling. (Must sign log<br />

sheet to receive free game.) The<br />

first 100 active-duty military with<br />

valid ID also receive a free mini glow stick.<br />

July is also Patriot Glow Month ... See the Desert Strike Lanes<br />

staff about buying your glow novelty items and rock the party<br />

every Friday and Saturday during Dezert Nightz glow bowling!<br />

There are even more specials coming your way in July and<br />

August.<br />

Beat the heat and stay indoors at Desert Strike Lanes! From 11<br />

a.m.-5 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday in July and August, kids<br />

bowl one free game (shoe rental not included).<br />

Every Wednesday from July 11-August 29, bring the family<br />

to dinner at Desert Strike Lanes and receive a large one-topping<br />

pizza plus a pitcher of soda, and one lane with one hour of bowling<br />

for just $25, shoe rental included ... and nobody has to do the<br />

dishes!<br />

Thursdays in July and August are great for late-night family<br />

fun, and there’s no need to be afraid of the dark: From 7-10 p.m.,<br />

take advantage of unlimited glow bowling for just $6 per person,<br />

plus shoe rental.<br />

For more information on any Desert Strike Lanes program or<br />

promotion, call (915) 568-6272 or visit blissmwr.com/bowling.<br />

CASA CASA NISSAN NISSAN IS IS NOW NOW AVAILABLE AVAILABLE TO TO SERVE<br />

SERVE<br />

ALL ALL YOUR YOUR RENTAL RENTAL RENTAL CAR CAR NEEDS! NEEDS! COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE PRICING PRICING<br />

PRICING<br />

AND AND MILITARY MILITARY DISCOUNTS<br />

DISCOUNTS! DISCOUNTS<br />

DISCOUNTS ! CONVENIENT CONVENIENT CONVENIENT LOCATION<br />

LOCATION<br />

TO TO TO FORT FORT BLISS, BLISS, JUST JUST OUTSIDE OUTSIDE THE THE JEB JEB STUART STUART GATE.<br />

GATE.<br />

915 915-772 915 772 772-1488 772 1488<br />

5855 5855 MONTANA MONTANA AVE.<br />

AVE.<br />

26 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Hot links<br />

The weather’s just right for Underwood Golf Complex<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Summer has arrived, and there’s no better time to hit the links<br />

at Underwood Golf Complex. The sun is shining, the wind is gone<br />

and the fairways are green and inviting. Join us for great golf specials<br />

all season long.<br />

July is PGA Family Golf Month, and at Underwood that means<br />

spouses and children, with valid military ID, pay no greens fees<br />

when they play with their active-duty service member. The family<br />

that golfs together, stays together; pack up the spouse, the kids and<br />

the clubs and join us for great family fun on a budget.<br />

In August, work on your long game for half the price. It’s PGA<br />

Driving Range Month, and we have a great special on range balls:<br />

buy one bucket and get one free.<br />

August 3-5, there will be limited tee time availability at Underwood<br />

due to the El Paso Men’s City Championship Tournament.<br />

There will also be limited play during the morning September 14,<br />

as both courses will be occupied by a private function.<br />

Underwood Golf Complex offers two 18-hole courses: the desert<br />

landscaping of the Sunrise Course and the lush, parkland-style<br />

Sunset Course. Take advantage of the lighted driving range, two<br />

practice putting greens and the brand-new, state-of-the-art Golden<br />

Tee Clubhouse, which features a full Pro Shop, the Golden Tee<br />

Restaurant, high-tech locker rooms and more.<br />

To request a weekday tee time, call (915) 568-1059. To request a<br />

weekend tee time, visit blissmwr.com/golf and complete the online<br />

tee time request form.<br />

JULY<br />

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat<br />

1 2 3 4 5 6 7<br />

@ SC<br />

LA LA LA LA CA<br />

7:05 6:30 7:05 7:05 7:05<br />

8<br />

9 10 11 12 13 14<br />

CA CA CA<br />

@ LN @ LN @ LN<br />

6:05 7:05 7:05<br />

15 16 17 18 19 20 21<br />

@ LN @ AM @ AM @ AM<br />

LN LN<br />

7:05 7:05<br />

22 23 24 25 26 27 28<br />

LN<br />

@ GP @ GP @ GP AM AM<br />

6:05<br />

7:05 7:05<br />

29 30 31<br />

AM<br />

GP<br />

6:05<br />

7:05<br />

2012 SEASON<br />

TICKET SPECIAL<br />

CALL KELSEY<br />

GOLACKSON AT<br />

915-755-2000 FOR<br />

DETAILS<br />

2<br />

HOME<br />

MILITARY<br />

AWAY<br />

SEPTEMBER<br />

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat<br />

3 4 5 6 7 8<br />

SF SF<br />

6:05 12:05<br />

AUGUST<br />

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat<br />

5 6<br />

@ AM<br />

1<br />

7<br />

SF<br />

7:05<br />

1<br />

2 3 4<br />

GP GP @ AM @ AM<br />

7:05 7:05<br />

8 9 10 11<br />

LA LA LA SC SC<br />

7:05 7:05 7:05 7:05 7:05<br />

12 13 14 15 16 17 18<br />

SC<br />

6:05<br />

@ WC @ WC @ WC @ WC @ GP @ GP<br />

19 20 21 22 23 24 25<br />

@ GP @ GP WC WC WC @ LA @ LA<br />

7:05 11:05 7:05<br />

26 27 28 29 30 31<br />

@ LA @ WC @ WC @ WC @ WC SF<br />

7:05<br />

ALL MILITARY<br />

NIGHTS FREE<br />

GENERAL<br />

ADMISSION WITH<br />

MILITARY ID AT<br />

COHEN STDIUM<br />

BOX OFFICE.<br />

JULY 31: $3 FOR 2 TACOS & AN IMPERIAL BEER<br />

AUGUST 8: $3 FOR A HOT DOG & BEVERAGE<br />

AUGUST 31: FIREWORKS AFTER THE GAME<br />

THInKSTOCK PHOTOS<br />

In July, celebrate PGA Family Golf Month at Underwood Golf Complex. Spouses<br />

and children, with valid ID, pay no greens fees when they golf with their active-duty<br />

Soldier. Enjoy a little family fun in the sun for a great price!<br />

Need It Now? Yes!<br />

3910 Dyer Street • El Paso<br />

915-566-OMNI(6664)<br />

(Next to Papa John’s)<br />

Hours: M-F 9AM to 7PM and Sat. 10AM to 4PM<br />

Come To The People<br />

Who Love To Say Yes.<br />

F I N A N C I A L<br />

© Omni Financial. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All loans subject to approval.<br />

See website or ask your loan representative for details of satisfaction guaranteed cancellation policy.<br />

clubsFOOD&FUN<br />

Need Money For Something Important? Yes!<br />

For over 60 years Omni has<br />

been making loans exclusively<br />

to the military. In need of a<br />

personal loan for any good reason? Come to Omni.<br />

ÿ Fixed rate loans from $500 to $10,000 but only with your<br />

ability to repay in mind<br />

ÿ Fast, friendly and above all trustworthy service and you can<br />

apply by phone<br />

ÿ Satisfaction Guaranteed or we’ll cancel your loan at no<br />

cost to you<br />

Come in, call, or apply online at www.yesomni.com<br />

“We love to say yes” ®<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 27


ecreationSOUTHWEST ADVENTURE<br />

The great outdoors<br />

Laser tag, paintball, backpacking and more ... at your leisure<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

The sun is shining ... and, from the looks of things, it’s going<br />

to stay that way for quite a while. Why not take advantage of the<br />

weather by getting yourself off the couch and into the outdoors?<br />

Whether you’re looking to stay close to home or have a yearning to<br />

hit the road, Southwest Adventure has an activity for you.<br />

In the mood for some laser tag? How about laser tag at night?<br />

Midnight Laser Tag at Soto Gym and BIGG Laser Tag at Biggs Park<br />

are right up your alley. This isn’t your little brother’s laser tag setup<br />

... Southwest Adventure has top-of-the-line, high-tech equipment.<br />

The different venues each offer different challenges, said John<br />

Limon, recreation specialist with Southwest Adventure.<br />

“For the Midnight Laser Tag at Soto Gym, it’s more fun to just<br />

run around and shoot,” Limon said, noting that while kids are always<br />

welcome, the environment is also better suited to older players.<br />

“Generally, the younger ones are less tactical and the Soldiers<br />

come out and just dominate the younger players.<br />

“At Biggs Park, you’ve got the whole park and all these wideopen<br />

spaces to run around in,” he continued. “With the BIGG Laser<br />

Tag, we’re going to run multiple scenarios and do more of a tournament<br />

format, where we have brackets and winners.”<br />

If paintball is more your speed, don’t miss the Paintball Swap<br />

Meet at the Biggs Park Paintball Field. It’s free for individuals to<br />

come in and buy, sell or trade their used paintball equipment. Paintball<br />

field and air fees are waived during the event.<br />

“It’s basically a big garage sale-swap meet kind of thing,” Limon<br />

said. “Everyone who’s a paintball enthusiast is welcome to stop by.<br />

It’s a great way to pick up something new, or offload gear you’re<br />

no longer using. “<br />

For those looking to get out of town, there are several options.<br />

“The Air Up There” is new addition to the calendar. Organizers<br />

plan to head to the Creston Ridge at the Rio Grande National Forest<br />

in Colorado for a multi-day camping and backpacking adventure.<br />

“What we plan on doing is backpacking in about four miles<br />

to where there’s an alpine lake with lots of trees, pretty water, the<br />

whole nine yards,” Limon said. “This lake is centered right in the<br />

middle of a series of really tall mountains, some of them with 14,000foot<br />

peaks. We plan on summiting at least one – that’s our whole<br />

mission – and if people are up to it, we can do two or even three.”<br />

Because this trip will be especially strenuous, backpackers are<br />

asked to honestly evaluate their physical fitness levels before registering.<br />

“We just want to make sure people aren’t going in over their<br />

heads, because then nobody has a good time,” he explained.<br />

Speaking of strenuous, Southwest Adventure will lead a hutto-hut<br />

mountain biking excursion from Durango, Colo., to Moab,<br />

Utah. The route will involve mountains, passes as high as 11,000 feet<br />

and rides that range from 10 to 40 miles each day.<br />

Speaking of high altitude, the Wheeler Peak Bagger offers a<br />

chance to summit the highest peak in New Mexico and catch views<br />

that you can’t find anywhere else.<br />

“Just the claim of going to the top of New Mexico is pretty sweet,<br />

but as you’re going up Wheeler Peak there are views that ... You<br />

can’t look them up, you can’t find them online because you’re actually<br />

prohibited from taking any photography. The area has great<br />

significance in Native American mythology, and the only way to<br />

see it is to go.”<br />

SOUTHWEST ADVEnTURE PHOTOS<br />

Get outdoors and soak up the sun this summer. Looking to stay local? Southwest<br />

Adventure has new, high-tech laser tag equipment and a great paintball<br />

setup. Hit the road for backpacking, camping, climbing and mountain biking<br />

trips, all led by our outdoor recreation experts.<br />

Wheeler Peak tops out at an altitude of 13,161 feet, just in case<br />

you’re counting. The hike doesn’t run through any steep grades, Limon<br />

said, but the tradeoff is that it’s long.<br />

If you’d rather take it easy, check out the overnight family camping<br />

trips to White Sands National Monument. Load up your family,<br />

maybe some snacks, and leave the rest to Southwest Adventure.<br />

“White Sands trips are huge, and I think it’s so popular because it’s<br />

kind of carefree,” Limon said. “You just show up with you and your<br />

kids, you don’t have to pack the gear, you don’t have to cook dinner.”<br />

Southwest Adventure provides all the camping equipment you’ll<br />

need – including sleeping bags and tents – and takes care of the water,<br />

dinner arrangements and entertainment options.<br />

“Basically, you just open your car doors, the kids hit the dunes and<br />

they’re out there for the rest of the day,” Limon added. “You wait for<br />

nighttime, the kids pass out, and when you wake up in the morning,<br />

the kids hit the dunes again and then you go home. The whole thing<br />

is no big deal.”<br />

Backpacking trips to the Gila National Forest are also quite popular,<br />

Limon noted.<br />

“The hot springs are always a big hit,” he said. It’s comfortable.<br />

There’s a river. It’s a nice place to be.”<br />

For more information about any Southwest Adventure program,<br />

visit blissmwr.com/southwestadventure or facebook.com/blissodr,<br />

or call (915) 317-5618.<br />

28 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

FREE NALGENE WATER BOTTLE<br />

when you sign up for a trip with Southwest Adventure!<br />

*Offer available while supplies last.<br />

DATE: ACTIVITY: LOCATION: $$ INCLUDES:<br />

July 5 9pm-12am Midnight Laser Tag Soto Physical Fitness Center $10 Entry fees, laser tag equipment<br />

July 7 Family Camping White Sands national<br />

Monument, n.M.<br />

July 13-16 The Air Up There<br />

Backpacking & Camping<br />

July 22 9:30am-3pm Paintball Swap Meet:<br />

Buy, Sell, Trade, Play!<br />

Crestone Ridge, Rio Grande<br />

national Forest, Colo.<br />

$15 or<br />

$50/family<br />

Biggs Park Paintball Facility Free to<br />

swap<br />

Equipment, park entry fees, guide services, evening cookout<br />

with hamburgers and hot dogs<br />

$50 Transportation, equipment, park entry fees, guide services,<br />

some meals. *Trip capped at 11-13 participants. Trip is<br />

especially strenuous.<br />

Come out to buy, sell or trade the paintball gear you no<br />

longer use - and play a round or two while you’re here!<br />

July 27 8pm-12am BIGG Laser Tag Biggs Park $10 Entry fees, laser tag equipment<br />

July 28 10am-4:30pm Tower Day Tango Tower, Biggs Park $6 All-day use of Tango Tower<br />

August 4 Family Camping White Sands national<br />

$15 or Equipment, park entry fees, guide services, evening cookout<br />

Monument, n.M.<br />

$50/family with hamburgers and hot dogs<br />

August 10-13 Gila Camping and Hiking Gila national Forest, n.M. $40 Transportation, equipment, park entry fees, guide services<br />

August 16 9pm-12am Midnight Laser Tag Soto Gym $10 Entry fees, laser tag equipment<br />

August 18 10am-4:30pm Tower Day Tango Tower, Biggs Park $6 All-day use of Tango Tower<br />

August 21-31 Durango to Moab Colorado to Utah TBD Transportation, equipment, park entry fees, guide services,<br />

Cross-Country<br />

some meals. *Trip capped at 11-13 participants. Trip is<br />

Mountain Biking<br />

especially strenuous.<br />

August 31-September 3 Wheeler Peak Bagger<br />

Summit new Mexico’s<br />

tallest peak!<br />

Wheeler national Forest, n.M. $35 Transportation, equipment, park entry fees, guide services<br />

*Trip capped at 11-13 participants<br />

September 6 9pm-12am Midnight Laser Tag Soto Gym $10 Entry fee, laser tag equipment<br />

September 21 8pm-12am BIGG Laser Tag Biggs Park $10 Entry fee, laser tag equipment<br />

September 22 Roped Rock Climbing Rough & Ready Hills Range, n.M. $15 Transportation, equipment, park entry fees, guide services<br />

September 29 Family Camping White Sands national<br />

Monument, n.M.<br />

$15 or<br />

$50/family<br />

Equipment, park entry fees, guide services, evening cookout<br />

with hamburgers and hot dogs<br />

SOUTHWEST ADVENTURE<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 29


Looking for Maximum Value In a New Home?<br />

Discover Classic American Homes<br />

Great features:<br />

• Front yard landscaping and<br />

other upgrades.<br />

• Builder pays closing costs<br />

and prepaids plus<br />

appliance package –<br />

refrigerator, washer, and<br />

dryer – with preferred lender<br />

Rocky Mountain Mortgage * .<br />

* excluding west side communities<br />

Prices Range from<br />

$106,000 to $350,000<br />

Building the American Dream for over 20 years.<br />

Classic American Homes has built and sold more than 8,000 El Paso homes.<br />

Call Century 21 APD Associates at (915) 779-5611<br />

Models Open Daily (noon until dark).<br />

We have communities in the Westside,<br />

East Side and Northeast<br />

Westside Communities<br />

• Camelot Heights<br />

• Chaparral Park Unit 44<br />

Eastside Communities<br />

• Tierra Del Este 59<br />

• Tierra Del Este 60<br />

• Tierra Del Este 62<br />

• Tierra Del Este 63<br />

Northeast Communities<br />

• Mesquite Hills Unit 5<br />

• Mesquite Hills Unit 4<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

With competition for the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Commander’s<br />

Cup well under way, the action will<br />

only get more intense as the summer blazes<br />

on. This quarter, Team <strong>Bliss</strong> Sports, Fitness<br />

and Aquatics offers everything from minigolf<br />

to a sprint triathlon.<br />

The Golf Championship Tournament<br />

kicks off the summer schedule with a bang.<br />

Set for July 13-15, the tournament features a<br />

four-person scramble format, as well as individual<br />

competition. Registration is free and<br />

open to active-duty Soldiers only.<br />

Competition continues with the Individual<br />

Aquathlon July 20. The race consists of<br />

a 5-kilometer run, 400-meter swim and final<br />

5-kilometer run. The event is open to activeduty<br />

military, family members and DoD/DA<br />

civilians.<br />

The Dodgeball Championship Tournament<br />

is slated for July 28, and should offer a<br />

fun time for competitors and spectators alike.<br />

The tournament is open to active-duty only.<br />

“We had a couple teams last year that did<br />

the whole thing: dressed up, had a theme ...<br />

all of them really had fun with it. It was fun<br />

to watch,” said <strong>MWR</strong> Sports Director Aaron<br />

Jones.<br />

Speaking of fun, the Mini Golf Championship<br />

Tournament will take place August<br />

14-15 at Kelly Park. Registration for the tournament<br />

is free and open to active-duty only.<br />

“It’s really one of those unsung heroes<br />

of the intramurals calendar,” Jones said. “ I<br />

think a lot of people just overlook it on the<br />

calendar – but mini golf is awesome.”<br />

www.classicamerican.com<br />

Prices, terms, conditions and availability subject to change without notice<br />

30 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW!<br />

EQUAL HOUSING<br />

OPPORTUNITY each office independently<br />

owned and operated www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

2 – 10 YEAR STRUCTURA L DEFECT WARRANTY<br />

1<br />

YEAR<br />

LIMITED<br />

WARRANTY<br />

Mercury rising<br />

As temperatures climb, intramural competition heats up<br />

intramurals<br />

calenDar<br />

TEAM BLISS SPORTS, FITnESS AnD AqUATICS<br />

Competitors swim for the finish line during the<br />

2012 Team Aquathlon held June 1 at Replica<br />

Aquatic Center. The 2012 Individual Aquathon is<br />

set for July 20.<br />

The Ten-Miler in the Heat Run is set for<br />

August 11, and will serve as the final qualifier<br />

for <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>’ Army Ten-Miler team.<br />

The Ten-Miler in the Heat is open to all<br />

runners, including the El Paso community.<br />

Register early at active.com, or Soto or Stout<br />

Gym. Early registration is free for active-duty<br />

military. Late registration will be held on-site<br />

the day of the race.<br />

The intramural flag football league begins<br />

play the week of August 20.<br />

“Last year we had 72 teams,” Jones noted.<br />

“Flag football is slowly becoming the No. 2<br />

sport on the installation, right behind softball.”<br />

The intramural indoor soccer league begins<br />

play the week of September 28. This<br />

league has seen growth, as well.<br />

“Indoor soccer was a huge success last<br />

year,” Jones said. “We had 28 teams – the year<br />

before we only had 18 teams,” Jones said.<br />

eVent name anD eligibilitY Date location<br />

“Really, we’ve increased our visibility<br />

across the installation, and that has helped<br />

contribute to the growth of our programs,”<br />

Jones said. “Our Facebook page has really<br />

helped increase our visibility, as well as some<br />

new marketing strategies. Our program just<br />

truly gained some notoriety, and also gained<br />

some trust and confidence from the Soldiers<br />

that we’re running a great program.”<br />

The Fall Open Softball League begins play<br />

September 22, and is open to active-duty,<br />

family members 18 and older, and DoD/DA<br />

civilians. The open league is a paid league,<br />

and costs pay officials fees and ball fees.<br />

“We just try to break even,” Jones said.<br />

“That way, we’re not overcharging our players,<br />

and we’re still able to provide them with<br />

a recreational opportunity.”<br />

The inaugural Iron Soldier Sprint Triathlon<br />

closes out the season September 29. The<br />

triathlon format is traditional, “in the sense of<br />

swim-run-bike,” Jones said.<br />

“But we’ll use alternate courses from the<br />

ones we used in the Armed Forces Day Triathlon,<br />

so it will be a triathlon with a twist,”<br />

Jones said.<br />

The race will still consist of a 400-meter<br />

swim, 15-mile bike and 5-kilometer run, he<br />

noted.<br />

The Iron Soldier Sprint Triathlon is part of<br />

the Southwest Challenge Series. Register early<br />

at active.com, or Stout or Soto Gym. Early<br />

registration is free for active-duty military.<br />

For more information on any Team <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Sports, Fitness and Aquatics event, call (915)<br />

744-5790.<br />

OPEN TO ACTIVE-DUTY FORT BLISS MILITARY<br />

Golf Championship Tournament July 13-15 Underwood Golf Complex Yes<br />

Dodgeball Championship Tournament July 28 Soto Gym Yes<br />

Mini Golf Championship Tournament August 14-15 Kelly Park Yes<br />

Intramural Flag Football League Begins August 20 Various Sites Yes<br />

Intramural Indoor Soccer League Begins September 10 Biggs Gym Yes<br />

Border Rumble Boxing Smoker (See Page 14)<br />

OPEN TO ALL MILITARY ID HOLDERS<br />

September 21 Stout Gym no<br />

Individual Aquathlon July 20 Replica Aquatic Center Yes<br />

Fall Open Softball League Begins September 22 Omar Bradley Complex no<br />

Strongman Competition (See Page 13)<br />

OPEN TO FORT BLISS AND EL PASO COMMUNITY<br />

September 22 Soto Gym no<br />

Ten-Miler in the Heat Run August 11 Soto Gym no<br />

German-American Oktoberfest night Run September 8 Freedom Crossing no<br />

Inaugural Iron Soldier Sprint Triathlon September 29 Replica Aquatic Center no<br />

commanDer’s<br />

cup eVent?<br />

recreationSPORTS&FITNESS<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 31


ecreationLEISURE<br />

Parallel ‘park’-ing<br />

Head to Biggs Park or fun in the sun ... or shade ... or water<br />

Darline Goyea, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Parents, do you have a child who will be celebrating a birthday<br />

during the summer months? What better place to celebrate<br />

than Biggs Splash Park?<br />

Get the invitations mailed out and bring the food, and Biggs<br />

Park will handle the rest. There are three accommodating pavilion<br />

sizes to choose from for any occasion. The small pavilion has<br />

a capacity of 30 individuals, medium can hold up to 75, and the<br />

main pavilion welcomes 1,000 people. Each pavilion has its own<br />

barbecue grill, picnic table and serving table. Bounce houses are<br />

available for rent, as well.<br />

Even if you’re not celebrating a special occasion, there’s no<br />

cooler place for youngsters to make a splash. The splash park let<br />

the H2O flow Memorial Day weekend, and is now open for the<br />

summer. The splash park is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days<br />

a week – it’s closed each Tuesday – and is open to all Family and<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> patrons, including active-duty military, family members,<br />

retirees, DoD/DA civilians, and their guests.<br />

If you’re more of a landlubber, there are a plethora of activities<br />

that can be enjoyed right alongside the splash park – but on dry<br />

land. While at the park, sports equipment can be checked out,<br />

including football, tennis, volleyball, basketball and softball gear.<br />

Horseshoes are available, as well. The park also supports Southwest<br />

Adventure outdoor recreation programs and activities such<br />

as paintball, laser tag, disc golf and climbing at the Tango Tower.<br />

Edgar “Butch” Perkins, the facility manager, speaks of hopes of<br />

expansion and upgrading services to make the park more appeal-<br />

HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

Children enjoy the mushroom feature at Biggs Splash Park. Located at Biggs<br />

Park on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, the splash park is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednes-<br />

day-Monday, and is closed Tuesday. All Family and <strong>MWR</strong> patrons are welcome.<br />

ing to all. Wounded warriors and military units are permitted to<br />

use the facility and its equipment for free; Family Covenant Card<br />

holders receive a 10 percent discount on rental costs.<br />

During the summer months, it is best to make reservations<br />

early for a specific location. For more information on Biggs Park<br />

and its amenities, check out blissmwr.com/biggspark or call (915)<br />

744-8087.<br />

32 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

DARLInE GOYEA \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

Community Pool, located at Bldg. 253 Club Road, offers an<br />

easy solution for beating the summer heat. The facility boasts<br />

two large water slides, pictured above, and a smaller one for<br />

younger swimmers. There are covered lounge areas, a snack<br />

bar, a kiddie pool and more. The pool is open from 11 a.m.-7<br />

p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.<br />

All Family and <strong>MWR</strong> patrons – Soldiers, family members, retirees<br />

and DoD/DA civilians – and their guests are welcome<br />

to use Community Pool.<br />

FREE<br />

CONCERTS BEGIN<br />

st<br />

MAY 31<br />

EVERY THURSDAY<br />

M c K e l l i g a n C a n y o n<br />

MORE INFO AT KISSELPASO.COM<br />

TOWNSQUARE CARES BROUGHT TO YOU BY<br />

Beat the heat<br />

Cool off at Community Pool<br />

Darline Goyea, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Did you know that the highest recorded temperature in El Paso was set in<br />

1994 at 114 degrees? During the months of July through September temperatures<br />

can average from 88 to 95 degrees. So, what’s the solution? <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Community<br />

Pool, of course!<br />

Conveniently located at Bldg. 253 Club Road – next to the Family Resilience<br />

Center – <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Community Pool is the perfect solution to beating the summer’s<br />

scorching heat. The pool is approximately 65 feet by 85 feet, with a starting<br />

depth of 3.5 feet and a maximum depth of 9 feet; it holds a whopping 270,000 gallons<br />

of water. It’s the perfect size to accommodate young children (with supervision,<br />

of course), teens and adults as well – family fun can be had all summer long.<br />

Swimming classes or activities are not available at Community Pool, but pool<br />

parties are certainly not exempt. During regular pool hours, a party of less than<br />

30 can enjoy themselves for $25 an hour. A maximum of 50 persons can splash<br />

to their heart’s content at $75 an hour; more than 50 party-goers will raise the<br />

rate to $100 an hour. The pool is equipped with several slides, tented picnic areas<br />

and lawn chairs for soaking up the sun.<br />

We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t tell you about some of the dos and<br />

don’ts of poolside rules. It helps to know how to swim, but if you don’t, only<br />

flotation devices provided by the pool are allowed. Patrons age 13 and up do<br />

not have to be accompanied by an adult. No pets or glass containers are allowed<br />

and, of course, all Family and <strong>MWR</strong> facilities are family-friendly – bad language<br />

is a no-no. An entire list of pool rules and hours of operation are available online<br />

at blissmwr.com/pools.<br />

If you don’t know by now, pool season has officially opened, so grab your<br />

cutest suits and shorts, and head outdoors ... the water awaits!<br />

recreationLEISURE<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 33


34 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Adventures in learning<br />

School-age summers provide new experiences, close to home<br />

Darline Goyea, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Let’s admit it: Summer is the<br />

best season for great family fun.<br />

The temperature is great, the silver<br />

screens are filled with blockbuster<br />

hits, and the activities are<br />

unlimited!<br />

When the staff tends to rotate<br />

in the world of Child, Youth and<br />

School Services, new ideas tend to<br />

flow accordingly. Laila Soltero at<br />

the <strong>Bliss</strong> School-Age Center has a<br />

few fresh faces and they brought<br />

along fresh ideas to make the summer<br />

an unforgettable one.<br />

July is filled with excitement.<br />

For the week of Fourth of July,<br />

Soltero and her team will have a<br />

field day. The day will consist of a<br />

dunking booth, a pie-eating contest<br />

and a huge Slip-n-Slide. There<br />

will be food, games and activities<br />

for the whole family to enjoy. The<br />

staff has also included a community<br />

service commitment project:<br />

In order to participate in the dunk-<br />

ing booth, students will be asked to bring an item of clothing or<br />

canned good for donation to either a local food shelter or the Lee<br />

and Beulah Moor Children’s Home.<br />

The following week, in honor of Nutrition Week and as part<br />

of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative, Soltero is<br />

taking advantage of an offer that was extended to Child, Youth and<br />

School Services. Students are invited to take a field trip to Ardovino’s<br />

Desert Crossing to learn about healthy cooking habits from<br />

Chef Jon-Paul Delamotte, who is the El Paso area representative<br />

of the “Let’s Move” initiative. Chef Delamotte’s goal is to make it<br />

so easy for kids to prepare a healthy meal that they will be able to<br />

show their parents at home.<br />

Soltero has also added her own spin to the “Let’s Move” initiative.<br />

July 15-20, Soltero will take advantage of the Buddy Lee training<br />

that was demonstrated a few months ago to create her very<br />

HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

Summer fun is the name of the game at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> CYSS’ school-age<br />

centers. Each facility has a calendar packed with fun activities that help<br />

develop the bodies and minds of participating children. Youth at Milam<br />

School-Age Center (above), Logan School-Age Center and <strong>Bliss</strong> School-<br />

Age Center (detailed in this article) will all have a variety of opportunities<br />

to ward off summer boredom.<br />

own curriculum of “Let’s Move.”<br />

The week will consist of a jumprope<br />

contest, a dance clinic and, at<br />

the end of the week, the students<br />

will be asked to do a presentation<br />

for parents.<br />

August is a time for science<br />

education, craziness and kicking<br />

it old-school! <strong>Bliss</strong> SAC will take<br />

special field trips to the planetarium<br />

(with a 20-guest maximum)<br />

and the Insights Museum. Just to<br />

add a little twist, “Crazy Week”<br />

will consist of craziness such as<br />

crazy socks, crazy hair and crazy<br />

clothes days. The week of August<br />

20-24 will ring in music activities<br />

with tunes from the 1950s to today.<br />

September is usually kept for<br />

last-minute fun and getting the<br />

mind right before school starts.<br />

To get that kicked off on the right<br />

foot, <strong>Bliss</strong> School-Age Center will<br />

host an Open House dinner to<br />

welcome school-age children back<br />

– and parents are welcome, as well. There is also a fun Family Picture<br />

Day September 6, and a special project to commemorate 9/11.<br />

During the latter part of the month Soltero will celebrate Hispanic<br />

pride in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing the<br />

culture and history of various Spanish countries.<br />

Throughout the entire summer, kids can also look forward to<br />

field trips to the various pools on post, a trip to Desert Strike Lanes,<br />

movie days and a trip to the El Paso Zoo. All trips are separated<br />

by grades and students must have signed permission from parents<br />

to participate. And parents can certainly take advantage as<br />

well; volunteers are always needed, and a nice discount is offered<br />

for lending a helping hand. Milam and Logan school-age centers<br />

have similar programs scheduled for the summer; please call your<br />

child’s particular center for details or visit blissmwr.com/sas for<br />

more information.<br />

familyCYSS<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 35


familyCYSS<br />

Sprint is the only national carrier<br />

with truly Unlimited data.<br />

The Everything Data plan for all phones. No throttling.<br />

No metering. No overages. All while on the Sprint network.<br />

Special offer for members<br />

of the Army.<br />

Unlimited data on the Everything Data plan<br />

$ 69. /mo.<br />

49<br />

Click: sprint.com/dod<br />

Call: 866-639-8354<br />

Visit a local Sprint Store: sprint.com/storelocator<br />

Price after discount. Reg. $79.99/mo. ($69.99 Everything Data Plan 450 + nondiscountable $10<br />

Premium Data add-on.) Requires a two-year Agreement. Roaming and prohibited network use<br />

limitations apply. Other monthly charges apply. See below.**<br />

Building blocks<br />

Strong Beginnings sets young learners on the right path<br />

Darline Goyea, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Fruits and vegetables aren’t the only necessities for a good start<br />

for a child. Child, Youth and School Services provides the Strong<br />

Beginnings pre-kindergarten program for youngsters starting at<br />

age 4.<br />

Strong Beginnings is a developmental curriculum that spotlights<br />

social, emotional and physical disciplines for an advanced<br />

start to your child’s education.<br />

“The Strong Beginnings program jump-starts the early learning<br />

process and provides an excellent foundation for children to build<br />

upon as they transition into the public school system,” explains<br />

Michelle Evans, director at Milam Child Development Center.<br />

The difference between preschool and Strong Beginnings? Preschool<br />

aids in the development of the “whole child” from birth to<br />

age 4, focusing on social, emotional, physical and cognitive enhancement.<br />

Strong Beginnings supports all these; however, the<br />

program concentrates on kindergarten readiness, targeting academic<br />

skills, learning self control and the basics of simple mathematics,<br />

numbers, colors, shapes, writing and reading.<br />

“Strong Beginnings is a wonderful program and is highly competitive<br />

with other pre-kindergarten programs that are run in the<br />

surrounding El Paso school districts,” said Evans.<br />

Strong Beginnings also includes activities through Schools of<br />

Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills (SKIES) as an extracurricular<br />

learning opportunity. These classes can range from<br />

FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG PHOTO<br />

Strong Beginnings students take part in a graduation ceremony to mark<br />

their completion of the curriculum, which concentrates on kindergarten<br />

readiness.<br />

cooking and crafts to sewing, language, dance, tumbling and a<br />

lot more.<br />

If your child is 4 prior to the September 1 deadline, Strong<br />

Beginnings is a great option for getting your child kindergartenready.<br />

All children must be registered with CYSS through Parent<br />

Central Services to participate in Strong Beginnings. All fees are<br />

based upon total family income.<br />

For more information, please check out blissmwr.com/cds or<br />

contact Parent Services at (915) 568-4374<br />

Mention this code to claim your<br />

discount. GA1AR_ZZZ<br />

ID or other information will be required.<br />

**Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge of up to 17.9% (varies quarterly), Administrative Charge (up to $1.99/line/mo.), Regulatory Charge ($0.40/line/mo.) and state/local fees (approx. 5%-20%)]. Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or gov’t-required charges and are subject to change. Details:<br />

sprint.com/taxesandfees.<br />

May require up to a $36 activation fee/line, credit approval, deposit. Up to $350/line early termination fee (ETF) for advanced devices and up to $200 ETF/line for other devices (no ETF for Agreements cancelled in compliance with Sprint’s Return Policy). Everything Data: Offer ends 3/10/12. Includes 450 Anytime Min./month. Add’l Anytime Min.:<br />

Up to $0.45/min. Nights: Mon-Thurs. 7pm-7am; Wknds: Fri. 7pm-Mon. 7am. Partial min. charged as full min. Requires $10 Premium Data add-on for smartphones. Any Mobile, AnytimeSM : Applies when directly dialing/receiving standard voice calls between domestic wireless numbers as determined when the call is placed using independent<br />

third-party and Sprint databases. Standard roaming rates/restrictions apply. Only available with select Sprint plans and while on the Nationwide Sprint or Nextel ® National Networks (excludes calls to voicemail, 411 and other indirect methods). Messaging: Includes text, picture and video for domestic messages sent or received. International messages<br />

sent or received from the U.S. are $0.20/msg and from outside the U.S. are $0.50/msg. SMS voice messages may incur an additional data charge of $0.03/KB. Data: Premium content/downloads (games, ringers, songs, certain channels, etc.) are add’l charge. Text to 3rd parties to participate in promotions or other may result in add’l charges.<br />

Sprint TV ® includes select channels. For full Sprint TV lineup, visit sprintchannels.mobitv.com. Content and channel lineup subject to change. GPS reliability varies by environment. International services are not included. Email includes use of Sprint Mobile Email, Microsoft Direct Push technology via Active Sync, Versamail, IBM Lotus Notes Traveler ®<br />

or BlackBerry ® Internet Service (BIS). Voice/Data Usage Limitation: Sprint reserves the right, without notice, to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if off-network usage in a month exceeds: (1) voice: 800 min. or a majority of minutes; or (2) data: 300 megabytes or a majority of kilobytes. Prohibited network use rules apply. As<br />

advertised, and notwithstanding those restrictions, engaging in such uses will not result in throttling (limiting data throughput speeds) for customers on unlimited data-included plans for phones, but could result in other adverse action. See in-store materials or sprint.com/termsandconditions for specific prohibited uses. Direct Connect ® : Nextel and<br />

PowerSource devices operate on the Nextel National Network. Sprint devices operate within certain EVDO Rev A coverage areas on the Sprint 3G network. Group Connect ® : Group Connect (21 max. participants) currently operates between parties on the same push-to-talk network platform. International Direct ConnectSM not included. Individual-<br />

Liable Discount: Available only to eligible employees of the company or organization participating in the discount program (requires ongoing verification). Discounts are subject to change according to the company’s agreement with Sprint and are available upon request for select plans (monthly service charges only). No discounts apply to secondary<br />

lines, Add-A-Phone lines or add-ons $29.99 or less. Other Terms: Nationwide Sprint Network reaches over 280 million people. The Sprint 3G network (including roaming) reaches over 282 million people. Coverage not available everywhere. Not combinable with other discounts. Other restrictions apply. See store or sprint.com for details. ©2012<br />

Sprint. All rights reserved. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the properties of their respective owners.<br />

N125033<br />

MV1234567<br />

36 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Beating the summer blahs<br />

MST keeps youth active, engaged throughout vacation<br />

<strong>MWR</strong> BRAnD CEnTRAL PHOTO<br />

The Middle School and Teen Program provides fun activities<br />

to keep your teen active throughout the summer.<br />

GUARANTEED APPROVAL<br />

OR WE’LL GIVE YOU<br />

SPECIAL MILITARY<br />

FINANCING AVAILABLE!<br />

Find Us On The Web At www.bestwayautos.com<br />

1115 AIRWAY<br />

843-2378<br />

Darline Goyea, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

In our last issue, we gave you a<br />

preview of what to expect this summer<br />

with Middle School and Teen<br />

Program activities at the YouthPlex.<br />

This issue, we continue to keep you<br />

abreast of all the “to-do” for the summer.<br />

Parents, this summer there is no<br />

need to dig too deep to entertain<br />

your teen. The staff at the YouthPlex<br />

at Bldg. 195 Chaffee Road will gladly<br />

assist.<br />

Do you have what it takes to survive?<br />

In July, the YouthPlex’s third<br />

season of “Survivor” will challenge<br />

four tribes to various daring obstacles<br />

with daily rewards, and one tribe<br />

is declared the sole survivor! July can<br />

be the hottest month of the year; to<br />

diminish some of El Paso’s heat, the<br />

MST team ventures out to the pools<br />

for a whole week of not just complete<br />

refreshment, but they include activities<br />

such as water polo, diving games<br />

familyCYSS<br />

1831 JOE BATTLE<br />

845-2378<br />

Our Newest<br />

Location<br />

NOW OPEN<br />

and swimming challenges.<br />

August is the month for catching<br />

last-minute summer fun. A journey<br />

through El Paso’s history is not a bad<br />

way to see the summer off. A sightseeing<br />

trip downtown is a great way<br />

to get to know the city we live in;<br />

youth will visit the downtown murals,<br />

Plaza Theater and Concordia<br />

Cemetery, and stop at an authentic<br />

Mexican-cuisine restaurant for lunch.<br />

YouthPlex Director Phillip Puett<br />

and his crew also aid in taking care<br />

of the youths’ minds, bodies and<br />

health. A Healthy Choice Cooking<br />

Camp instructs teens on how to prepare<br />

meals including turkey veggie<br />

meatloaf, Greek chicken pesto and<br />

grilled chicken teriyaki; the camp<br />

is to encourage the teens to make<br />

healthy meal choices.<br />

For a full summer schedule of<br />

MST activities, please visit blissmwr.<br />

com/mst or call (915) 568-5437 for<br />

more information.<br />

.com<br />

BAD CREDIT?<br />

NO CREDIT?<br />

NO<br />

PROBLEM!<br />

We support our Soldiers!<br />

8980 GATEWAY EAST AT ZARAGOZA<br />

834-2378<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 37


familyCYSS<br />

For your information<br />

Need info on local schools? Don’t miss the education fair!<br />

THE MOnITOR \\ FORT BLISS GARRISOn PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE<br />

Tupu Murphy and her son Josh speak to Socorro Independent<br />

School District Superintendent xavier De La Torre and<br />

Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, 1st Armored Division and <strong>Fort</strong><br />

<strong>Bliss</strong> commanding general, about options the district can<br />

provide for students during last year’s education information<br />

fair. The 2012 PK-12 Education Information Fair is set<br />

for 8:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 26 at the Centennial Banquet<br />

and Conference Center, Bldg. 11199 Sgt. E. Churchill<br />

St. on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>.<br />

It Works!<br />

WRAP YOUR ABS<br />

PATRICIA<br />

INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR<br />

(575)-791-5819<br />

(The fair) gives<br />

families a chance<br />

to learn about the<br />

many school choices<br />

and school programs<br />

available in the El<br />

Paso area.<br />

“<br />

”<br />

itriminches.com<br />

FOR MEN AND WOMEN<br />

NEED TO MAKE TAPE?<br />

SEE RESULTS<br />

IN AS LITTLE AS 45MINUTES!<br />

• Detoxifies & Deeply Hydrates<br />

• Tightens, Tones, & Firms<br />

• NO Pain, Bruising, or Surgery<br />

• Immediate & Lasting Results<br />

• NOT WATER LOSS, ACTUAL FAT LOSS<br />

FEATURED AT THE EMMY<br />

& OSCAR AWARDS<br />

CELEBRITY GIFT SUITES!<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

If you’re in the market for information about area schools, don’t miss the<br />

School Liaison Office PK-12 Education Information Fair. From 8:30-11:30 a.m.<br />

Thursday, July 26, the Centennial will be packed with representatives from local<br />

public school districts, charter, parochial and private schools, home-schooling<br />

organizations and more. <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>’ Child, Youth and School Services will be<br />

on hand to provide information about before- and after-school programming<br />

and extracurricular activities; Army Community Service will also have program<br />

representatives present.<br />

The PK-12 Education Information Fair provides military families with onestop<br />

shopping for their children’s education, said Mary Avila, <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> school<br />

liaison officer.<br />

“It allows parents to meet face-to-face with school administrators,” she said.<br />

“It also gives families a great opportunity to learn about the many school choices<br />

and school programs available in the El Paso area. Families will get to meet the<br />

school principals and counselors, ask questions and learn about programs at the<br />

schools – all in one place.”<br />

The fair hosts nine Texas school districts: Anthony, Canutillo, Clint, El Paso,<br />

Fabens, San Elizario, Socorro, Tornillo and Ysleta independent school districts.<br />

This year, the Gadsden, N.M., independent school district has also been invited<br />

to attend.<br />

Each school district will have on hand representatives from programs including<br />

special education, magnet programs, gifted and talented, athletics, fine<br />

arts, guidance and counseling, health services, transportation, early college high<br />

school and more. All told, more than 100 entities are expected to be present. This<br />

means parents and students can find out what they need to register for school or<br />

for individual programs before registration, making the process easier.<br />

Pre-registration for families new to the El Paso ISD will occur at campuses<br />

with the highest military populations Thursday, August 2, from 8:30-11:30 a.m.<br />

and from 1-4 p.m. The campuses participating in pre-registration are <strong>Bliss</strong> Elementary<br />

School, Burnet Elementary School, Hughey Elementary School, Logan<br />

Elementary School, Milam Elementary School, Nixon Elementary School, Powell<br />

Elementary School, Tom Lea Elementary School, Travis Elementary School, Bassett<br />

Middle School, Richardson Middle School, Ross Middle School, Andress<br />

High School, Austin High School, Burges High School and Chapin High School.<br />

Contact the campus for further information. Pre-registration is only for military<br />

families new to the EPISD; students already enrolled in the district will have to<br />

register during normal registration.<br />

For more information on the PK-12 Education Information Fair, call the<br />

School Liaison Office at (915) 569-5064.<br />

38 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 39


communityACS<br />

‘Hire’ expectations<br />

Make a good impression at the next <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Hiring Fair<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

At the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Hiring Fair in February,<br />

more than 700 job seekers were present – and<br />

at last report, 176 of them had found jobs<br />

with the more than 70 employers present. But<br />

when you’re just one face in a crowd, how do<br />

you make yourself stand out to potential employers?<br />

The next <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Hiring Fair – open to<br />

DoD ID card holders only – will be held from<br />

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, August 9 at the Centennial<br />

Banquet and Conference Center on<br />

East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>. The Employment Readiness<br />

Program at Army Community Service can<br />

help you take steps to become one of the most<br />

desirable candidates in the room.<br />

“You want to make sure you’re dressed<br />

for success, because your appearance is the<br />

first thing a potential employer will see,” said<br />

Deana Garcia, an employment readiness specialist<br />

with ERP.<br />

“Don’t show up in your tank top and flip<br />

flops,” she said. “Come dressed professionally,<br />

in business casual. If you have a nice<br />

dress, wear it.”<br />

Neutral colors are generally best, Garcia<br />

added. “Nothing too bright, and make sure<br />

it’s flattering – nothing too tight or too loose.”<br />

When in doubt, enlist the help of the professionals:<br />

Run your outfit by an employment<br />

readiness specialist to make sure it’s up to par.<br />

“And if you don’t have appropriate attire<br />

to wear and a new outfit doesn’t fit in your<br />

budget, we have the Attire for Hire program<br />

as part of our partnership with Workforce Solutions,”<br />

Garcia said. “Registered clients can<br />

come in and choose an outfit from a closet full<br />

of gently used business attire. If we don’t have<br />

anything in our office, we can refer you to another<br />

one of the Workforce Solutions offices<br />

in El Paso.”<br />

The next thing an employer will see is your<br />

résumé, so make sure it’s in top form.<br />

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated<br />

Maury Solano, MBA<br />

REALTOR/US ARMY (Retired)<br />

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER<br />

Tough Housing Market? – Don’t worry, call MAURY!!<br />

Ready to assist the most deserving customer in<br />

the world, the SOLDIER!<br />

Whether BUYING or SELLING a home, call me TODAY!<br />

915-309-6513<br />

Visit me at: www.maurysolano.com<br />

E-Mail me at: maury.solano@yahoo.com<br />

EMPLOYMEnT READInESS PROGRAM<br />

Job seekers interact with employers during the<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Hiring Fair held in February. The next<br />

hiring fair, open to DoD ID card holders only, is set<br />

for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. August 9 at the Centennial.<br />

“Your résumé very important,” Garcia<br />

said. “You want to prepare in advance and<br />

have a good résumé printed on high-quality,<br />

neutral paper to make it stand out.<br />

“Because the résumé is so important, we<br />

encourage individuals to get with us beforehand,<br />

so we ensure your résumé represents<br />

your skills and experience,” she continued.<br />

While we’re hitting the high points, don’t<br />

forget to hit your high points.<br />

“When you approach an employer at the<br />

hiring fair, you should know what to say,”<br />

Garcia said. “You should have a 30-second<br />

commercial ready. You want the employer to<br />

know about your experience and skills. What<br />

do you bring to the table? If you’re talking to<br />

the Exchange, for example, you want to talk<br />

about your customer service skills.<br />

“The employers attending our hiring fair<br />

have positions available,” she continued.<br />

“They’re looking for employees. Don’t just<br />

say, Do you have a job for me? Let the employer<br />

know you have experience in that<br />

field and would be a great addition to their<br />

company.”<br />

So, the three key aspects to working a hiring<br />

fair are the attire, the résumé and the introduction<br />

– and job-seekers who are working<br />

with ERP already know that, Garcia said.<br />

“Working with ERP proves to be a great<br />

resource in a military spouse’s job search. We<br />

help ensure they are prepared with a great résumé<br />

and are confident with their interviewing<br />

skills,” she added.<br />

The first step to working with ERP is attending<br />

the orientation session.<br />

“We ask that you come through the orientation<br />

so that you’ll truly understand what<br />

we have to offer,” Garcia said. “We are not a<br />

placement agency, but what we want to do is<br />

give you the tools you need so you have a productive<br />

job search. We want to prepare you so<br />

that if you go to another location that doesn’t<br />

have an ERP, you know what to do.”<br />

ERP services range from résumé building<br />

to networking. In the month leading up to the<br />

hiring fair, many classes will focus specifically<br />

on the skills you can use there; one example is<br />

the July 11 Working a Hiring Fair workshop.<br />

“We’re going to discuss how to walk up to<br />

an employer, we’re going to talk about that<br />

30-second commercial and the importance of<br />

researching the employers that are attending<br />

the hiring fair,” Garcia said.<br />

A hiring-fair focused interviewing class<br />

August 2 will give attendees a chance to polish<br />

their 30-second commercial, and two weeks<br />

prior to the hiring fair, ERP will release a list of<br />

employers scheduled to appear at the event.<br />

July 30-August 3, the program will offer<br />

quick 15-minute résumé checks for those who<br />

haven’t been able to take advantage of the résumé<br />

writing class or schedule a appointment<br />

with a ERP specialist. The checks are offered<br />

on an appointment-only basis, and are not as<br />

extensive as the resume writing class.<br />

“It’s just an extra way to help job seekers<br />

gain an edge,” Garcia explained.<br />

For more on the hiring fair or other ERP<br />

programs, visit blissmwr.com/erp or call (915)<br />

569-5838.<br />

40 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Relocation fair provides a warm welcome to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> area<br />

Heather Wilburn, Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Whether you’re new to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> or just want to learn more<br />

about your community, the Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> Relocation Fair is<br />

for you. Mark your calendars: Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> is set for 1-5 p.m.<br />

Wednesday, August 8 at the Centennial Banquet and Conference<br />

Center, Bldg. 11199 Sgt. E. Churchill St. on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> ... and you<br />

don’t want to miss it!<br />

The fair, an annual showcase presented by the Relocation Assistance<br />

Program at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Army Community Service, provides<br />

“one-stop-shopping” to help those new to the area acquaint<br />

themselves with the programs and services offered on post and<br />

in El Paso. The setup includes informational tables staffed by programs<br />

ranging from Child, Youth and School Services to William<br />

Beaumont Army Medical Center to the Directorate of Emergency<br />

Services, and everything in between. Every Army Community<br />

Service program is represented. Area nonprofit organizations and<br />

associations, and state and local governmental agencies also put in<br />

appearances. Local businesses are on hand to inform new residents<br />

about the products and services they offer. All told, more than 180<br />

agencies were present at Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> 2011; organizers hope<br />

to see even more participation this year.<br />

“It really is one-stop shopping,” said Cher Poehlein, Relocation<br />

Assistance Program manager. “And the best part is that it doesn’t<br />

matter whether you’ve been at <strong>Bliss</strong> for one week or one year,<br />

there’s always something for everyone. I hear people all the time<br />

saying, ‘I’ve been in El Paso for 18 months and I didn’t know about’<br />

IHG Army Hotels on <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, TX<br />

The right place to stay<br />

is right on post.<br />

With comfortable, pet-friendly* rooms, three fi tness<br />

centers, complimentary breakfast, and courtesy<br />

on-post shuttle service, IHG Army Hotels on <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

offers everything you need, right on post.<br />

RESERVATIONS: 877.711.TEAM (8326)<br />

or 915.565.7777<br />

IHGArmyHotels.com<br />

1744 Victory Avenue<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, TX 79906<br />

* A non-refundable pet fee applies.<br />

© 2012 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved.<br />

IHG Army Hotels are independently owned by Rest Easy, LLC,<br />

an affi liate of Lend Lease (US) Public Partnerships LLC, and<br />

operated by an affi liate of IHG.<br />

HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

Newcomers to <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> stop by the TriWest Healthcare Alliance booth during<br />

Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong>, the Relocation Assistance Program’s annual relocation<br />

fair. This year, Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong> is set for 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, August<br />

8 at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center on East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>.<br />

some agency or service.”<br />

The event also includes a volunteer fair, which allows fresh faces<br />

to explore the volunteer opportunities available in the area, and<br />

entertainment including dancing, martial arts demonstrations and<br />

more. The Armed Services Blood Program will conduct a blood<br />

drive during Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong>, as well. All blood collected during<br />

the drive will directly benefit U.S. troops deployed downrange.<br />

To learn more about Bienvenidos a <strong>Bliss</strong>, or any Relocation Assistance<br />

Program activities, call ACS at (915) 569-4ACS (4227).<br />

communityACS<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 41


communityACS<br />

A helping hand<br />

SFAC supports wounded warriors with a variety of programs<br />

Soldier and Family Assistance Center Staff<br />

The Soldier and Family Assistance Center<br />

is an established one-stop service facility<br />

for Soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition<br />

Battalion. The convenience of receiving<br />

services and the accessibility of the facility<br />

and personnel make it so much easier and<br />

stress-free for not only the Soldiers, but for<br />

the WTB family members as well.<br />

There is no further need for traversing<br />

around the installation looking for buildings<br />

and standing in long lines, sometimes<br />

only to find out that you’re in the wrong line<br />

anyway. The customer service provided is<br />

genuinely geared to each individual Soldier<br />

and family member; it is more of a personal,<br />

one-on-one service relationship developed<br />

to assist in a smooth transition to the civilian<br />

world or return to military service.<br />

The SFAC provides the following services:<br />

HUMAN RESOURCES<br />

• Retirement transition services and transition<br />

management<br />

• Review and update Enlisted (ERB) and<br />

Officer (ORB) Records Briefs<br />

• Federal and state benefits counseling<br />

• Sponsor and family member ID cards<br />

• DD 93, SGLI and DEERS updates<br />

• i-Perms and OMPF updates<br />

EDUCATION SERVICES<br />

• In- and out-processing<br />

• DA Form 669 (ACES Education Records<br />

Sheet) provided for final out-processing<br />

• GI Bill benefits counseling<br />

• College and vocational technical education<br />

and career guidance<br />

• Financial aid and scholarship assistance<br />

• GoArmyEd Tuition Assistance Program<br />

• GoArmyEd Course withdrawals,<br />

school and degree changes<br />

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES<br />

• WTB and post orientation materials<br />

• Comprehensive resources list<br />

• Information and resources<br />

• Visitors’ lodging information<br />

SOCIAL SERVICES<br />

• Spouses’ support groups<br />

• Direct administrative and social services<br />

support<br />

• Stress- and anger-management tools<br />

• Crisis intervention counseling; sub-<br />

stance abuse prevention education, intervention<br />

and information; and community<br />

resource referrals<br />

CHAPLAIN COUNSELING SERVICES<br />

• Pastoral care<br />

• Spiritual, family and life experience<br />

counseling services<br />

• Referrals for religious and spiritual support<br />

FINANCE SERVICES – WTB<br />

• Military pay<br />

• Travel<br />

• DTS<br />

FINANCIAL COUNSELING<br />

• Money management and problem resolution<br />

• Budget development<br />

• Investment planning<br />

• Army Emergency Relief (AER) referrals<br />

• Consumer complaints and resolution<br />

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM (AW2)<br />

Assists ill and injured Soldiers with:<br />

• The application process<br />

• Future career plans and employment<br />

opportunities beyond Army careers<br />

• Referrals to subject matter experts<br />

(SME) familiar with non-medical benefits<br />

ARMY CAREER AND ALUMNI PROGRAM (ACAP)<br />

• Federal employment information<br />

• Resume preparation assistance<br />

• Job fairs<br />

• Pre-separation briefing (mandatory)<br />

• DOL/TAP workshop (mandatory)<br />

• VA benefits and DTAP briefings (mandatory)<br />

MILITARY TESTING CENTER<br />

In addition, the SFAC offers a Military<br />

Testing Center that is available to Soldiers<br />

assigned to the WTB. All test are web-based<br />

and require the unit commander’s signature<br />

on a DA Form 4187. Available tests include<br />

Armed Forces Classification Test, Defense<br />

Language Aptitude Battery, Defense Language<br />

Proficiency Test, Oral Proficiency Interview,<br />

typing and proctored exams.<br />

EDUCATION MINI-FAIRS<br />

SFAC clients can explore higher education<br />

opportunities during education minifairs,<br />

held in the SFAC lobby from 9 a.m.-2<br />

p.m. the last Tuesday of each month through<br />

September. Upcoming education mini-fairs<br />

are set for the following dates:<br />

• July 31, with guests Park University,<br />

Trident University, University of Phoenix,<br />

Western Technical College, Southwest Career<br />

College and El Paso Community College.<br />

• August 28, with guests Coastline Community<br />

College, Kaplan College, Vista<br />

College, University of Maryland College<br />

(UMUC), Western Technical College and<br />

Tri-State Cosmetology Institute.<br />

• September 25, with guests Wayland<br />

Baptist University, Ashford University,<br />

Franklin College, Grand Canyon University<br />

and Excelsior College.<br />

SFAC-PARK UNIVERSITY<br />

The SFAC has teamed up with Park University,<br />

a regionally-accredited school, to<br />

bring college classes to the SFAC facility.<br />

A total of eight college-level courses are<br />

offered to Soldiers assigned to the WTB, providing<br />

three hours of transferable semester<br />

credit for each course. The courses, designed<br />

for four-eight students, meet twice a week<br />

in eight-week sessions. Afternoon and evening<br />

options are available. Courses offered<br />

include :<br />

• EN 105 – First Year Writing Seminar I<br />

• EN 106 – First Year Writing Seminar II<br />

• CA 103 – Public Speaking<br />

• PS 101 – Introduction to Psychology<br />

• PO 202 – Introduction to Law<br />

• MA 105 – Introduction to College Math<br />

• MA120 – Basic Concepts of Statistics<br />

• MA 135 – College Algebra<br />

An academic adviser, education service<br />

specialist and guidance counselor are always<br />

on-site at the SFAC to ensure students are<br />

headed in the right direction.<br />

STRESS AND ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES<br />

WTB Soldiers and family members may<br />

also take advantage of stress and anger management<br />

classes offered at the SFAC. Stress<br />

management and anger management techniques<br />

are taught, and comfortable clothing<br />

is recommended. Classes are offered<br />

as needed from 1-3 p.m. every Thursday at<br />

Bldg. 2445 Chaffee Road. Schedule a class by<br />

calling the SFAC.<br />

CONTACT INFORMATION<br />

The Soldier and Family Assistance Center<br />

is located at Bldg. 887 Marshall Road on<br />

main post. The facility is open from 7:30<br />

a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information<br />

on any SFAC program or service,<br />

call (915) 568-6879.<br />

42 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

Happy birthday!<br />

ACS celebrates 47 years of service to Soldiers and families<br />

Heather Wilburn,<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

From its humble beginnings<br />

in 1965 to the integral<br />

role it plays today in the lives<br />

of Army families across the<br />

globe, Army Community<br />

Service has been working to<br />

provide “Real Life Solutions<br />

for Successful Army Living.”<br />

July 25, ACS celebrates 47<br />

years of service to Soldiers,<br />

families, retirees and DoD/<br />

DA civilians.<br />

At <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, Army Community<br />

Service will celebrate<br />

its birthday with a customer<br />

appreciation week July 23-<br />

27, said Sally Gonzalez, the<br />

Information, Referral and Outreach Program manager at ACS.<br />

“We’ll have tables set up to help provide information on the<br />

programs and services ACS offers, along with small giveaways<br />

at the tables to say thank-you to our customers.”<br />

As ACS grows older, it also grows wiser, Gonzalez noted.<br />

“We are always committed to meeting the needs of our community<br />

and catching up with technology and resources to better<br />

improve our services,” she said. “We’re always working to offer<br />

more.”<br />

The concept of humanitarian concern for the welfare of others<br />

has existed as a foundation of the Army way of life since<br />

pioneer days. For years, Army wives operated lending closets<br />

and thrift shops, raised funds to help the needy and contributed<br />

significantly to the stability of the Army community. Unfortunately,<br />

many of these programs would disappear or stagnate<br />

whenever their originators transferred to another duty station<br />

or left the service.<br />

Enter Army Community Service, designed to provide a flexible<br />

framework for the operation of a viable system of social services.<br />

ACS came about when then-Lt. Emma Baird was assigned<br />

to the Army Emergency Relief Office, at the time dubbed the Per-<br />

HEATHER WILBURn \\ FAMILY AnD <strong>MWR</strong> MARKETInG<br />

In celebration of ACS’ 47th birthday, <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> ACS will host a customer appreciation<br />

week July 23-27, during which ACS programs will offer informational tables<br />

(like the one pictured above) to help promote their services.<br />

sonnel Affairs Branch. AER<br />

had been operating since the<br />

1940s to help alleviate the<br />

social welfare problems of<br />

Soldiers and their families. In<br />

her post as allowance and allotment<br />

officer, Baird gained<br />

the experience that helped<br />

her plan the structure and<br />

organization of a family services<br />

program, which would<br />

eventually become ACS.<br />

July 25, 1965, then-Army<br />

Chief of Staff Gen. Harold K.<br />

Johnson dispatched a letter<br />

to all major commanders announcing<br />

the approval and<br />

establishment of ACS. With<br />

the publication of Army Reg-<br />

ulation 608-1 in November 1965, ACS was welcomed as a viable<br />

and important Army program.<br />

In 1966, Baird – now a lieutenant colonel – traveled to Europe<br />

to assist commanders in establishing ACS centers. By 1967,<br />

most installations on U.S. soil had initiated ACS centers and, by<br />

1969, 155 ACS centers and points of contact had been established<br />

Army-wide. Since its inception, many programs and services<br />

have been added under the ACS umbrella, including the Family<br />

Advocacy Program and the Relocation Assistance Program.<br />

Today, ACS centers worldwide remain an integral part of<br />

the Army family. The core programs and services provided by<br />

ACS centers have grown from its early days to include Army<br />

Emergency Relief, Army Family Action Plan, Army Family Team<br />

Building, Army Volunteer Corps, Employment Readiness, Exceptional<br />

Family Member, Family Advocacy, Financial Readiness,<br />

Information and Referral, Mobilization and Deployment,<br />

Relocation Assistance, Soldier and Family Assistance Center and<br />

Survivor Outreach Services. ACS continues to grow and evolve<br />

to meet the changing needs of the global Army Family.<br />

To learn more about ACS programs and services at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>,<br />

visit blissmwr.com or call (915) 569-4ACS (4227).<br />

communityACS<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 43


communityACS<br />

Raise your hand and volunteer to make a difference<br />

Tephanie Hopper, Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator<br />

Is there a cause that you are passionate<br />

about? Do you often wish you could<br />

be more directly involved in making a<br />

difference in something? Are you unable<br />

to volunteer for things you care<br />

for because of your job, school or other<br />

everyday demands?<br />

Saturday, September 8, <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> will<br />

celebrate the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Day of Service.<br />

Think about getting into something extremely<br />

fulfilling and make the day productive and meaningful. It<br />

doesn’t matter if your passion is animals, kids, homelessness,<br />

education or the environment – there is a call for you<br />

to share what you know toward a community cause. Plan<br />

to make a difference with this day off, and get out and volunteer<br />

your time and talent helping individuals, families<br />

or organizations in your community.<br />

So what can you in your part of the<br />

world, community or street to make<br />

a difference? There are many nonprofits<br />

and government organizations<br />

that are in great need of your<br />

help. They need men,<br />

women and children like you to help their<br />

organizations ... make the world a better<br />

place for all. Maybe you can paint a<br />

room, collect shoes or toys, or even share<br />

a warm meal with a neighbor. All this<br />

can be done in a day or less.<br />

Here are a couple of reasons you should<br />

get involved in the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Day of Service:<br />

• There are many people struggling and in need<br />

of support. Your volunteer efforts could help someone<br />

in need.<br />

• Many <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> and El Paso non-profit organizations<br />

have seen their budgets slashed due to funding cuts.<br />

• A number are organizations are doing work that is<br />

critically needed in support of children and families and<br />

are run completely by volunteers because their organizations<br />

do not have the financial ability to fund paid staff.<br />

• Organizations flourish when they have active and<br />

involved volunteers, and you could be the positive difference<br />

to a great cause.<br />

• The <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Day of Service is a great way to commemorate<br />

9/11.<br />

Raise your hand, and volunteer to make a difference in<br />

the lives of others: Be a part of the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Day of Service.<br />

Contact the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Army Volunteer Corps at (915)<br />

569-7733 or like us on Facebook at “<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Volunteers”<br />

to keep up with service opportunities available<br />

during the <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Day<br />

of Service.<br />

44 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com<br />

www.blissmwr.com<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 45


FORT BLISS & FAMILY AND <strong>MWR</strong> FACILITIES<br />

McKELLIGON<br />

CANYON RD<br />

ALABAMA ST<br />

ALABAMA ST<br />

LOUSIANA<br />

ST<br />

ALABAMA STFRED WILSON RD FRED WILSON RD<br />

19<br />

ALABAMA<br />

GATE<br />

ELM ST<br />

ELM ST<br />

PIEDRAS ST<br />

PIEDRAS ST<br />

1<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

9<br />

10<br />

11<br />

12<br />

13<br />

14<br />

15<br />

16<br />

17<br />

18<br />

19<br />

20<br />

21<br />

22<br />

23<br />

24<br />

25<br />

26<br />

27<br />

28<br />

29<br />

30<br />

31<br />

32<br />

33<br />

34<br />

35<br />

36<br />

A Little Bit of <strong>Bliss</strong> Gift Shop<br />

Adjutant General<br />

American Red Cross<br />

Armed Services YMCA<br />

Army Community Service<br />

Automotive Skills Center/Auto Crafts<br />

Bowling Center/Desert Strike Lanes<br />

PIERCE AVE<br />

Car Wash<br />

Chaplain<br />

Child Development Center, Main<br />

Child Development Center, Replica<br />

Civilian Personnel Office<br />

Commissary<br />

Community Pool<br />

Family and <strong>MWR</strong> Headquarters<br />

Family Resilience Center<br />

Framing <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Garrison Command<br />

Hospital: WBAMC<br />

Information<br />

VAN BUREN AVE<br />

Ambulance<br />

MONROE AVE<br />

COPIA ST<br />

Appointments<br />

TRICARE Service Center<br />

Red Cross<br />

Housing: On-Post/Balfour Beatty<br />

Housing: Off-Post<br />

McKINLEY AVE<br />

IHG Army Hotels at <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

In-Processing/Welcome Center<br />

Inspector General<br />

Kelly Park<br />

Legal Assistance<br />

Leisure Travel Services (ITR)<br />

Mainstreet Expresso<br />

FORT BLVD<br />

ALTURA AVE<br />

RICHMOND AVE<br />

AURORA AVE<br />

WHEELING AVE<br />

FORT BLISS LEGEND<br />

No. Organization<br />

Bldg. Telephone<br />

Mickelsen Community Library<br />

Milam Fitness Center<br />

Military Police Station<br />

Old Ironsides Museum<br />

Old <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> Replica Museum<br />

Omar Bradley Softball Complex<br />

Parent Central/CYSS Registration<br />

Freedom Crossing<br />

Post Exchange, Grand Theatre<br />

Third-party Shops<br />

Post Office<br />

POV Car Resale Lot<br />

Recycling Center<br />

Replica Aquatic Center<br />

SKIESUnlimited Gymnastic Center<br />

School-Age Center, <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

School-Age Center, Replica<br />

COPIA ST<br />

2011<br />

500B<br />

45<br />

7060<br />

2494<br />

820<br />

2949<br />

197<br />

112<br />

1730<br />

5036<br />

504B<br />

1717<br />

250<br />

11<br />

RUSSELL ST<br />

250<br />

820<br />

1<br />

7777<br />

7777<br />

7777<br />

7777<br />

7777<br />

7777<br />

1991<br />

1741<br />

1744<br />

503<br />

8<br />

1991<br />

113<br />

1743<br />

1310<br />

2<br />

2499<br />

125<br />

1735<br />

5054<br />

2968<br />

1743<br />

1611<br />

37<br />

38<br />

1733<br />

39<br />

1334<br />

40<br />

5035<br />

41<br />

131<br />

42<br />

2010<br />

43<br />

5037<br />

44 Soldier and Family Assistance Center 887<br />

45 Soldier and Family Medical Clinic 2496<br />

46 Stout Physical Fitness Center 2930<br />

47 Survivor Outreach Services 241<br />

48 Tennis Club & Fitness Zone 262<br />

49 Thrift Shop, OCSA<br />

1301<br />

50 Transportation<br />

Inbound Transportation<br />

Outbound Transportation<br />

503B<br />

51 Unit Funds<br />

1743<br />

52 USO<br />

2408<br />

53 Vehicle Registration<br />

503A<br />

54 Veterinary Services<br />

6077<br />

55 Youth Services<br />

195<br />

EMERGENCY NUMBERS<br />

Fire Emergencies<br />

Housing Areas<br />

Military Police<br />

Ambulance<br />

Poison Information<br />

Information Operator<br />

RUSSELL ST<br />

(915) 562-7467<br />

(915) 568-3301<br />

(915) 568-4849<br />

(915) 562-8461<br />

(915) 569-4227<br />

(915) 568-7280<br />

(915) 568-6272<br />

(915) 630-8669<br />

(915) 568-1519<br />

(915) 568-5689<br />

(915) 569-7199<br />

(915) 568-6287<br />

(915) 568-4022<br />

(915) 568-5380<br />

(915) 568-3500<br />

(915) 569-5500<br />

(915) 568-5563<br />

(915) 568-2833<br />

(915) 742-2121<br />

(915) 569-2331<br />

(915) 569-CARE<br />

(888) 874-9378<br />

(915) 742-2483<br />

(915) 564-0795<br />

(915) 568-2898<br />

(915) 565-7777<br />

(915) 568-3035<br />

(915) 568-1241<br />

(915) 566-1133<br />

(915) 568-7141<br />

(915) 568-7506<br />

(915) 564-5275<br />

(915) 568-6156<br />

(915) 568-7318<br />

(915) 568-2115<br />

2116/2117<br />

(915) 568-5412<br />

(915) 568-4518<br />

(915) 568-7393<br />

(915) 568-4374<br />

PX:<br />

(915) 562-7200<br />

(915) 562-4036<br />

(915) 568-7506<br />

(915) 568-1537<br />

(915) 568-7431<br />

(915) 568-7187<br />

(915) 568-2178<br />

(915) 568-6923<br />

(915) 569-3858<br />

(915) 568-3264<br />

(915) 568-5970<br />

(915) 569-5449<br />

(915) 562-5451<br />

(915) 568-4339<br />

(915) 568-9699<br />

(915) 568-7506<br />

(915) 569-5644<br />

(915) 568-1890<br />

(915) 742-2266<br />

(915) 568-KIDS<br />

568-1117<br />

565-4100<br />

568-2115<br />

569-2331<br />

533-1244<br />

568-2121<br />

46 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

4<br />

DYER ST<br />

1<br />

HAYES ST<br />

PERSHING DR<br />

TROWBRIDGE<br />

GATEWAY BLVD SOUTH<br />

54<br />

CASSIDY<br />

GATE<br />

EL PASO, TEXAS<br />

GATEWAY BLVD NORTH<br />

To Alamagordo<br />

SHERIDAN<br />

GATE<br />

PIKE RD<br />

47<br />

CLUB RD<br />

48<br />

16<br />

14<br />

42<br />

1<br />

SHERIDAN RD<br />

PERSHING<br />

GATE<br />

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT<br />

MILITARY AREAS<br />

MILITARY GATES<br />

BUILDING LOCATIONS<br />

LOCATIONS WITH WI-FI<br />

RADFORD AVE<br />

PERSHING RD<br />

ADAIR<br />

RD<br />

31<br />

26<br />

9<br />

41<br />

15 3<br />

18<br />

24<br />

SLICER AVE<br />

VICTORY AVE<br />

WORK AVE<br />

McNAIR RD<br />

HUMPHREY RD<br />

HAAN RD<br />

ARTILLERY RD<br />

29<br />

SLATER RD<br />

DONIPHAN RD<br />

PERSHING<br />

CIR<br />

25<br />

8<br />

49<br />

55<br />

28<br />

DONIPHAN<br />

RD<br />

SHERIDAN RD<br />

BORDER RD<br />

CUSTER RD<br />

20<br />

39<br />

MARSHALL RD<br />

SUMNER<br />

RD<br />

HOWZE ST<br />

44<br />

2<br />

53<br />

21<br />

35<br />

51<br />

27 22<br />

36<br />

17<br />

6<br />

WILLARD HOLDBROOK RD<br />

12<br />

50<br />

13<br />

38<br />

23<br />

32<br />

MERRITT<br />

RD<br />

ASHBURN ST<br />

TROWBRIDGE ST<br />

PLEASONTON RD<br />

PLEASONTON RD<br />

33<br />

PLEASONTON RD<br />

37<br />

43<br />

10<br />

11<br />

PIKE RD<br />

CASSIDY<br />

CHAFFEE RD<br />

CARTER RD<br />

TAYLOR ST<br />

DUDLEY ST<br />

PERSHING RD<br />

40<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

National<br />

Cemetery<br />

SHERIDAN RD<br />

DICKMAN RD<br />

JEB STUART RD<br />

JEB STUART RD<br />

JEB STUART RD<br />

30<br />

HAAN RD<br />

HINMAN RD<br />

MORGAN AVE<br />

CHAFFEE GATE<br />

45<br />

RICKER RD<br />

CHAFFEE RD<br />

HINMAN RD<br />

5<br />

STONEMAN<br />

RD<br />

CHASE RD<br />

JEB STUART SOUTH<br />

MAGRUD<br />

S<br />

EARL H. BRUNS RD<br />

SHANNON VAN VALZAH RD<br />

7 34 54<br />

ROBERT E. LEE RD<br />

FORSYTH RD<br />

CARRINGTON<br />

RD<br />

GERONI<br />

ST<br />

Bridge to East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

HOOD RD<br />

STENNIS ST<br />

CRAMER<br />

HUGHEY<br />

CARTER RD<br />

SCALES RD<br />

YAQUI WY<br />

46<br />

AIRPORT RD<br />

REMAGEN GATE<br />

ROBERT E.<br />

LEE GATE<br />

AIRPORT RD<br />

FOUNDERS BLVD<br />

BUTTERFIELD TRAIL BLVD<br />

LEIGH FISHER BLVD<br />

AIRWAY BLVD<br />

MONTANA AVE<br />

El Paso<br />

International<br />

Airport<br />

BOEING DR<br />

CONVAIR DR<br />

62<br />

180<br />

AIRWAY BLVD<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 47<br />

To I-10To Lubbock<br />

52<br />

Bridge to East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>


EAST FORT BLISS<br />

1<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

9<br />

10<br />

11<br />

12<br />

13<br />

14<br />

15<br />

EAST FORT BLISS LEGEND<br />

No. Organization<br />

Bldg. Telephone<br />

Biggs Express<br />

Biggs Gym<br />

Biggs Park<br />

Centennial Club<br />

Catering<br />

Dining Room<br />

Habanero<br />

Java Cafe<br />

Primo’s Express<br />

Takeout Orders<br />

Metro Bingo Bar<br />

Child Development Center, East <strong>Bliss</strong><br />

Child Development Center, Milam<br />

Community Center Troop Store<br />

East <strong>Bliss</strong> Mini Mall<br />

Ironworks Gym<br />

School-Age Center, Milam<br />

Soldier Activity Center<br />

Soto Physical Fitness Facility<br />

BOSS Headquarters<br />

Leisure Travel Services<br />

Unit Funds<br />

Youth Activity Center, Milam<br />

USO/FirstLight Federal Credit Union<br />

USO<br />

FirstLight Federal Credit Union<br />

U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy<br />

AAFES SMA Bookstore<br />

BIGGS GATE<br />

AIRPORT ROAD<br />

11284<br />

11251<br />

11388<br />

11199<br />

20707<br />

11896<br />

20752<br />

13471<br />

T20700<br />

11898<br />

20732<br />

20751<br />

10960<br />

20727<br />

11291<br />

RANDOLPH<br />

SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD<br />

(915) 562-8442<br />

(915) 744-8730<br />

(915) 744-8087<br />

(915) 744-8427<br />

(915) 744-1711<br />

(915) 744-9600<br />

(915) 744-8427<br />

(915) 744-3731<br />

(915) 744-7879<br />

(915) 799-3156<br />

(915) 566-5479<br />

(915) 744-8697<br />

(915) 744-2274<br />

(915) 744-5788<br />

(915) 744-5792<br />

(915) 744-5105<br />

(915) 744-5105<br />

(915) 744-2278<br />

(915) 744-3480<br />

(800) 351-1670<br />

(915) 744-8009<br />

(915) 562-5645<br />

CSM E. SLEWITZE<br />

SSG SIMS<br />

SGT MARKLE SGT MARKLE<br />

DUNCAN<br />

6<br />

MSG R MILLER LUKE<br />

4<br />

BOLLING<br />

SGT E CHURCHILL<br />

10<br />

SGT C THOMAS<br />

LUKE<br />

LUKE<br />

1<br />

SHORT<br />

BIGGS<br />

SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD<br />

48 • Summer 2012 • ¡blissNOW! www.blissmwr.com www.blissmwr.com<br />

FOUNDERS<br />

2<br />

13<br />

WRIGHT<br />

MSG R MILLER<br />

15<br />

BIGGS ARMY AIRFIELD<br />

PETERSON<br />

3<br />

BARKSDALE<br />

SCOTT<br />

CHANUTES<br />

WENDOVER<br />

IRON SOLDIERS WAY<br />

OLD IRONSIDES DR<br />

8<br />

GLOBAL REACH<br />

GATE<br />

SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD SERGEANT MAJOR BLVD<br />

VELEZ<br />

GEORGE PERRY<br />

THUNDERHORSE<br />

OLD IRONSIDES DR<br />

GULF VICTORY WAY<br />

SAPPER ROAD<br />

GLOBAL REACH<br />

87<br />

SABER ROAD<br />

12<br />

11<br />

PALADIN ROAD<br />

WALTER JONES<br />

14<br />

CONSTITUTION DR<br />

5<br />

9<br />

MINUE DRIVE<br />

ARMOR<br />

KASSERINE WAY<br />

El Paso<br />

International<br />

Airport<br />

ANSBACH WAY ANSBACH WAY<br />

ANZIO WAY<br />

OLD IRONSIDES DR<br />

STRIKE<br />

EAGLE WAY<br />

GENERAL HARMON<br />

GATE<br />

GULF VICTORY WAY<br />

1<br />

ORAN<br />

ROME-ARNO<br />

TUNISIA<br />

EL PASO, TEXAS<br />

SHERMAN<br />

MINUE DRIVE<br />

EAGLE WAY<br />

BLACKHAWK TANK TRAIL<br />

SPUR 601<br />

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT<br />

MILITARY AREAS<br />

MILITARY GATES<br />

BUILDING LOCATIONS<br />

LOCATIONS WITH WI-FI<br />

BLACKHAWK TANK TRAIL<br />

MINUE DRIVE<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 49


family and mwrDIRECTORY<br />

ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE<br />

ARMY COMMUnITY SERVICE Bldg. 2494 Ricker Road (915) 568-1132<br />

FAMILY RESILIEnCE CEnTER Bldg. 250 Club Road (915) 569-5500<br />

SOLDIER AnD FAMILY ASSISTAnCE CEnTER Bldg. 887 Marshall Road (915) 568-6923<br />

SURVIVOR OUTREACH SERVICES Bldg. 241 Sheridan Road (915) 568-5970<br />

GYMS & FITNESS FACILITIES<br />

SOTO PFC Bldg. 20751 Constitution Avenue, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-5788<br />

STOUT PFC Bldg. 2930 Cassidy Road (915) 568-3264<br />

MILAM PFC Bldg. 2499 Cassidy Road (915) 568-7318<br />

LOGAn HEIGHTS PFC Bldg. 4797 Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights (915) 568-5198<br />

BIGGS PFC Bldg. 11251 Biggs Street, East <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-8730<br />

IROnWORKS GYM Bldg. T20700 Anzio Way, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-8697<br />

TEnnIS CLUB & FITnESS ZOnE Bldg. 262 Club Road (915) 569-5449<br />

COMMUnITY POOL Bldg. 253 Club Road (915) 568-4825<br />

REPLICA AqUATIC CEnTER Bldg. 5035 Dickman Road (915) 568-7431<br />

FOOD, LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT<br />

CEnTEnnIAL BAnqUET AnD COnFEREnCE CEnTER Bldg. 11199 Sgt. E. Churchill Street, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-8427<br />

UnDERWOOD GOLF COMPLEX & GOLDEn TEE Bldg. 3193 Coe Avenue, Logan Heights (915) 568-1059<br />

DESERT STRIKE LAnES Bldg. 2949 Ricker Road (915) 568-6272<br />

FORT BLISS ROD & GUn CLUB Bldg. 3730 Roy Johnson Lane, northeast El Paso (915) 565-4867<br />

BIGGS PARK Bldg. 11388 Sergeant Major Boulevard, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-8087<br />

MICKELSEn LIBRARY E-Wing, Basement, Bldg. 2 Pershing Circle (915) 568-6156<br />

RV PARK Bldg. 4130 Ellerthorpe Road (915) 568-0106<br />

FRAMInG BLISS Bldg. 820 Marshall Road (915) 568-5563<br />

AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS CEnTER Bldg. 820 Marshall Road (915) 568-7280<br />

ITR - MAIn Bldg. 1743 Victory Avenue (915) 568-7506<br />

ITR - FREEDOM CROSSInG KIOSK Freedom Crossing, Bldg. 1611 Marshall Road (915) 569-6446<br />

LEISURE TRAVEL SERVICES - SOTO GYM 2nd Floor, Bldg. 20751 Constitution Boulevard, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-5105<br />

OLD FORT BLISS MUSEUM Bldg. 5054, Pershing Road & Pleasonton Road (915) 568-4518<br />

CHILD, YOUTH & SCHOOL SERVICES FACILITIES<br />

CYSS PAREnT CEnTRAL Bldg. 1743 Victory Avenue (915) 568-4374<br />

CYSS PAREnT CEnTRAL SATELLITE OFFICE Bldg. 503B Pershing Road (915) 568-2146<br />

CHILD DEVELOPMEnT CEnTER - EAST BLISS Bldg. 20707 Kasserine Way, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-3731<br />

CHILD DEVELOPMEnT CEnTER - LOGAn Bldg. 3500 Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights (915) 568-3989<br />

CHILD DEVELOPMEnT CEnTER - MAIn Bldg. 1730 Pleasonton Road (915) 568-5689<br />

CHILD DEVELOPMEnT CEnTER - MILAM Bldg. 11896 Haan Road, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-7879<br />

CHILD DEVELOPMEnT CEnTER - REPLICA Bldg. 5036 Sheridan Road (915) 569-7199<br />

SCHOOL-AGE CEnTER - BLISS Bldg. 2012 Sheridan Road (915) 568-2178<br />

SCHOOL-AGE CEnTER - LOGAn Bldg. 3505 Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights (915) 569-5784<br />

SCHOOL-AGE CEnTER - MILAM Bldg. 11898 Haan Road, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-2274<br />

YOUTHPLEX Bldg. 195 Chaffee Road (915) 568-5437<br />

YOUTH ACTIVITY CEnTER - MILAM Bldg. 10960 Haan Road, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-2278<br />

SKIES UnLIMITED - MAIn Bldg. 3508 Ellerthorpe Road, Logan Heights (915) 569-7732<br />

SKIES UnLIMITED - GYMnASTIC CEnTER Bldg. 131 Doniphan Road (915) 568-5544<br />

FAMILY CHILD CARE (FCC) Bldg. 3503 Story Road, Logan Heights (915) 568-4198<br />

SCHOOL LIAISOn OFFICER Bldg. 503B Pershing Road (915) 569-5064<br />

MORE FAMILY AND <strong>MWR</strong> PHONE NUMBERS<br />

DF<strong>MWR</strong> HEADqUARTERS 2nd Floor, Bldg. 11 Pershing Road (915) 568-3500<br />

PRIVATE ORGAnIZATIOnS & SOLICITATIOn 2nd Floor, Bldg. 11 Pershing Road (915) 568-4444<br />

UnIT FUnDS Bldg. 1743 Victory Road (915) 568-7506<br />

UnIT FUnDS - SOTO GYM 2nd Floor, Bldg. 20751 Constitution Boulevard, East <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> (915) 744-5105<br />

VET SERVICES Bldg. 6077 Carter Road (915) 742-2266<br />

www.blissmwr.com<br />

FORD LINCOLN NISSAN<br />

SUMMER<br />

SERVICE<br />

Specials<br />

MILITARY ID REQUIRED<br />

Behind the Jeb Stuart gate.<br />

FORD<br />

THE WORKS FUEL SAVER PACKAGE<br />

$39.99 OR LESS<br />

Oil Change, Tire Rotation and Pressure Check,<br />

Brake Inspection, Multi-Point Inspection,<br />

Fluid Top-Off, Battery Test, Filter Check<br />

and Belts and Hoses Check<br />

ANY MAKE & MODEL<br />

*Up to five quarts of Motorcraft Synthetic Blend<br />

and Motorcraft oil filter. Taxes, diesel vehicles<br />

and disposal extra. Hybrid battery test excluded.<br />

See dealership for details and exclusions.<br />

NISSAN<br />

15% OFF<br />

PARTS, LABOR & ACCESSORIES<br />

¡blissNOW! • Summer 2012 • 51


<strong>MWR</strong> Marketing<br />

Bldg 12, Pershing Rd.<br />

<strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong>, Tx 79916<br />

HUGE SAVINGS!<br />

on every 2012 HONDA<br />

I-10<br />

Lee Trevino<br />

PROUD<br />

TO<br />

OUR<br />

SUPPORT TROOPS<br />

EASY TO FIND NEAR FORT BLISS<br />

CALL FOR A FREE RIDE!<br />

LARGEST SELECTION<br />

ALL PROTECTED UNDER A GIANT CANOPY<br />

20 %MILITARY<br />

DISCOUNT<br />

FULL<br />

SERVICE<br />

BODY<br />

SHOP<br />

PRESORTED<br />

STANDARD<br />

US POSTAGE PAID<br />

EL PASO, TX<br />

PERMIT #296<br />

on PARTS & SERVICE<br />

FREE TINT<br />

With every car<br />

purchase<br />

52 • 1Summer 4 9 0 L2012 E E T• R¡blissNOW! E V I N O 9 1 5 - 5 9 1 - 6 1 0 0 W W W . E L P A S O H O Nwww.blissmwr.com D A . C O M

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!