DSS ACCESS, Volume 1, Issue 3 - Defense Security Service (DSS)

Around the regionS
Alexandria Field
Office Builds
Their Team
HEAVY LIFTING: From left, Lanie
Peckar, Annie Backhus and Brian
Linnane work to flip a 200-pound tire,
while Field Office Chief Matt Roche
(background) offers encouragement
and Dan Finucane (right) keeps time.
By Beth Alber
DSS Public Affairs Office
To get a better sense of how the DSS mission supports
the warfighter, employees from Alexandria Field Office
#1 travelled to Marine Corps Base Quantico for a day of
briefings, exhibitions and a teambuilding event.
“I wanted the team to have a firm understanding of why
it is so important to protect classified information and
sensitive technologies being developed by our industrial
base,” said Matt Roche, Field Office Chief. “When they
conduct their next assessment, I want them to be thinking
about the Marines we met, and the military men and
women who are end users of the technologies being
produced.”
The day started with a demonstration by members of the
U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Center for Excellence (MACE).
The goal of the MACE program is to “develop a professional
Marine who is an arms-carrying-combatant who cannot
only fight, but understands the moral dimensions of
conflict, makes ethical decisions in any situation, and
upholds the image and high moral fiber [of] the Corps.”
30 —— http://www.dss.mil
LISTEN UP: Marine Staff
Sgt. Thomas M. Lee, U.S.
Marine Corps Martial Arts
Center for Excellence
instructor, provides a
history and overview
of the program to the
Alexandria Field Office.
While Marines demonstrated a variety of moves to disarm
an enemy combatant, the Alexandria team was briefed
on the history of the program, and the extensive and
intensive training each MACE participant received.
“To get to that level, we are constantly training,” said Marine
Capt. Philip D. Palmer II, Operations Officer, MACE. “We
have moved to high intensity, short duration workouts to
simulate combat conditions.”
After signing hold harmless agreements, the Alexandria
team stepped out into the rain for the teambuilding
exercise. As they broke into groups of four, Palmer
explained the mission — work together to achieve
success. The mission for each team was to either flip a
200-pound tire or drag a 250-pound chain for a distance
of approximately 20 feet. Back and forth the teams went,
taking breaks and switching places, as the rain turned the
dirt into mud that made the going tougher as time wore
on. A friendly competition broke out to see which team
could flip the tire the most times during the time limit.
“I learned that success can’t be achieved individually; in
order to achieve any goal, you need the support of your