Boot Camp: Kick-off 2013 with a Challenge

As the last of the holiday desserts slowly disappear, it’s time to refocus on your health this New Year. Family & MWR offers many options when it comes to staying active, with 5K runs, two Physical Fitness Facilities (PFF’s), disc golf, or golfing at Silver Wings Golf Course.
    
One of the most unique fitness options for patrons is Boot Camp at the Fortenberry-Colton PFF. This six week program encourages participants to think outside of the box when it comes to working out and tracks your progress along the way. Boot Camp meets five a days a week with two sessions to choose from, 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. or 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. The next session begins on Jan. 7.

Never heard of Boot Camp before?
Kris Rach’, Fitness Specialist and certified Personal Trainer explained the basics of the program. 

“Every day there’s cardio. Even if we do weight lifting one day, we cross-train and do cardio.” For this reason Kris suggested that participants have done some kind of cardiovascular exercise before trying Boot Camp. “We do a lot of things outside the box,” she said. “About 95% (of the class) is outside. It gets you out of the closed gym environment and you can be free to just do what you want.”

Boot Camp exercises are very diverse, consisting of plyometrics, agility drills, running, weight lifting, yoga, cross-training, and maintaining a high energy environment.
  
“A lot of working out is mental for some people,” Kris said. “They can set a glass ceiling for themselves that they’re afraid to push through. At Boot Camp we encourage them to push through it…There’s no I can’t. Only I can.”
    
Boot Camp is for Authorized Patrons, ages 18 and older. Authorized Patrons include DoD Civilians, Retirees, Active Duty Soldiers, Spouses and dependent Family members. Fort Rucker Contractors may also participate. Kris spoke of a mother and daughter that recently completed Boot Camp. The mother was a military spouse and the daughter, age 19, was preparing to go into the Air Force.
    
Kris also mentioned there being Boot Camp participants in their late 50’s and early 60’s who completed all six weeks. “They still continue working out and doing the 5K’s. There aren’t any age restrictions, but there are health restrictions if you are not able to complete it.”
    
For those who do complete Boot Camp, the results are more than rewarding. Weight isn’t used to track progress, but rather body fat percentages, lost inches, how the participant’s clothes fit, and how they feel.
    
“It’s a great way to start off the New Year,” Kris encouraged. “You’ll start it off with a challenge, meet new people, and better yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and for some people even spiritually. I love doing it and that’s why I’m here. We have phenomenal instructors in all of our classes. We like to see people challenge themselves. To challenge yourself as an individual is the greatest thing.”

Space is limited, so register early at either PFF. Cost is $100 per participant and includes weekly consultations to track progress, access to all group fitness classes during the six weeks, and T-shirts to those who complete the training.
    
Orientation takes place Jan. 4 at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. at the Fortenberry-Colton PFF. For more information, call the Fort Rucker PFF at (334) 255-2296.

A Lending Hand: The ACS Lending Hangar

Lending Hangar
Soldier Service Center, Rm. 177
(334) 255-2887/3161

Everyone knows that moving is no easy feat. That’s why the Fort Rucker Lending Hangar is here to ease the transition for those PCS-ing to or from the installation. Located in Room 177 on the first floor of the Soldier Service Center, the Lending Hangar offers free use of appliances including coffee pots, toasters, dishes, pots and pans, roll away beds, kids’ items, and even televisions.

Ruth Gonzalez, Relocation Readiness Program Manger, encourages the Fort Rucker community to utilize the Lending Hangar’s free service. “It saves you money and can help you be proactive when moving,” says Ruth. “You can ship your household goods early, so you know they will be there when you arrive and still be able to sleep and cook at home without having to pay for fast food. Financially, it’s a good call.”
 
The most popular items people look for at the Lending Hangar are cookware and sleeping mats. Microwaves are also a popular choice for those moving on post as the Picerne housing does not come furnished with that particular appliance.

Ruth said people are often surprised to learn that the Lending Hangar has televisions available. “Our TV’s are a big hit because not all lending closets have them,” she explained. “People come looking for kitchen and cooking items, but then they see the TV’s and think ‘Yes, entertainment!’” Televisions are available for Soldiers that are PCSing with family. They are available for check-out for a period of 30 days.

The Lending Hangar is open to all government ID card holders including Soldiers, Army Civilians, Family members and Retirees. Service is also available if you’re not in transition. When Family comes to visit for the holidays, the Lending Hangar is there to ensure you are fully equipped to enjoy your visitors.

So how does it work?
If you’re arriving or leaving Fort Rucker you can check out items for up to 30 days (exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis). You will need to bring the following:

• Current ID card
• PCS orders (if necessary)
• International travel orders (for foreign students)
• Gaining unit & duty phone
• Local address & telephone number

For permanent party or retirees who have Family visiting and need items for short-term lending, simply bring in your ID card.

Every installation has a lending closet that provides free use of basic household items. The inventory of items can vary depending on where you go, so be sure to look into what is available at your destination ahead of time.

The Lending Hangar is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. however customers are encouraged to call ahead of time at (334) 255-2887/3161 to ensure someone is available to assist. The Lending Hangar is part of the Relocation Readiness Program with Army Community Services.

Holiday Planning on a Tight Budget

The holidays are just around the corner, and the ACS Financial Readiness Program would like to provide you with some helpful tips to budget your holiday spending this year.
Holiday  shoppers, like Santa Claus, could stand a little belt tightening. With the economy still on the ropes, shrunken investment portfolios and dramatically rising costs for such things as health and homeowner’s insurance, many families should be keeping their holiday spending in check. That’s easier said than done. Americans routinely overspend what they plan to every holiday.

Here are some tips from Certified Financial Planner™ professionals to help you keep your spending in check and the New Year free of burdensome holiday debt.

• Put a bright bow on your budget. Shopping for gifts during the holidays is no different from shopping the rest of the year—determine how much you can realistically afford to spend.
• Don’t count on money you don’t have.
• Make a gift list and stick to it.
• Start early. You may not be in the holiday shopping mood yet, but shopping early provides several advantages.
• Start late. The opposite strategy is to start late—after the holidays, when retailers hold big post-holiday sales.
• Pay cash. If you’ve got the discipline and the cash to pay off all credit-card charges every month, fine. But even then, it’s easier to overspend with a credit card than by paying cold hard cash.
• Be creative! Homemade gifts or offers to baby sit or do something special for someone can be an inexpensive yet very personal gift.
• Start saving for next year.

 

Holiday Alerts!

• Gift Cards: Out of $80 Billion purchased, $8 Billion will never be spent.
• Bank Gift Cards: Cards cost up to $10 and the recipient pays an extra $1 on each transaction.
• Be aware of advertisements in stores, direct mailings and internet.
• Watch out for online scams!
• Be aware of debit card fraud.
• Inventory your credit cards after each shopping trip.

 

Holiday Blunders to Avoid!

It may seem too basic to bother with, but sit down now and draw up a holiday budget -- yes, right now. This helps for two reasons:

1. It will give you some perspective on what you think you spend versus what you actually do.
2. You can panic now before you actually go out and spend the cash.

But even careful spenders can find themselves in post-holiday panic when the January credit-card bills roll in. The holidays are an emotional minefield, and one misstep can blow your budget to smithereens. Think before you buy!

For more information on how to keep your wallet and bank account happy, be sure to check out an upcoming ACS Financial Readiness class or contact the ACS office at  (334) 255-3815.

Coffee makes cold weather more merry!

Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit more than a warm, delicious coffee drink...

Stop by one of our Coffee Zone locations today to try one of our yummy, holiday-inspired beverages. Our Peppermint Mocha blends the cool, refreshing taste of peppermint with the comforting sweetness of mocha chocolate and espresso. The Eggnog Latte spices up the beloved, classic seasonal drink with espresso for a kick. The Gingerbread Latte will have you feeling nostalgic as the taste of gingerbread cookies marries with espresso to get you going.

These holiday drinks are for a limited time only, so stop by before the New Year!

• Coffee Zone at Lyster Army Health Clinic
• Coffee Zone at The Landing Zone
• Coffee Zone at Bldg. 5700

For more information, call Coffee Zone at The LZ at (334) 598-8025. Be sure to check our website for holiday hours at www.ftruckermwr.com.

Through The Eyes of a Flight School Spouse

The room is silent, everyone is focused, no one dares lift their hand to take a drink of their complimentary beverage, and the tension is continually mounting. Suddenly, the silence is broken by someone yelling the dreaded word that causes everyone else to groan and whine. BINGO! That’s right, this is no game for little school children, but an intense battle that takes place in the Cobra Lounge at the Landing every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

In Ohio, I never heard of adults playing Bingo, so when I decided to attend the Bingo session this month with my mom who was down to visit, I had absolutely no idea what I was in for. We each purchased a pack of game boards and then took a seat to let the games begin. One of the workers was very patient with us and explained what each of the different games were, and what formation we would need in order to win. The proceeding games were a mixture of confusion, excitement and fun. Although we weren’t lucky enough to win a game, we had a great night out and I would definitely love to go back and try again to win.

After that exciting night playing Bingo, I decided a bit of relaxation was just what I needed. I had heard so many good things about the group classes offered at the physical fitness facilities, but I was slightly apprehensive. How many people would be in the classes? Would the classes be too physically demanding for me? Would the instructors be welcoming and helpful?

I finally put those questions behind me and decide to try out the yoga class at the Fortenberry-Colton PFF. I was pleasantly surprised that there were seven women in the class who were ranging in age and abilities, some had never taken yoga and others were pros.

The instructor, Wendy, was great as she led us through the relaxing session. Some parts of the class were challenging, but I felt no pressure to overexert myself, and I found that I felt rejuvenated afterwards. Although the classes are regularly $3 each, the first class is free, so it can’t hurt to try it out!

I have been so pleased with the variety that Family and MWR activities have offered me. From the exciting Bingo sessions, to the soothing yoga classes, Family and MWR truly offers something for everyone.

Thanks,
Kathleen Montion, a Military Spouse

Fort Rucker Oktoberfest

Get out your Lederhosen or Dirndl because it’s that time again - Oktoberfest at Fort Rucker!

Traditionally Oktoberfest starts the third weekend in September and ends the first Sunday of October. The first Oktoberfest was held to celebrate a royal wedding in 1810. The festivities were so popular, the local population decided to celebrate again the following year. Since its origin, the Oktoberfest in Munich is one the world’s largest fairs with more than 6 million visitors annually! Like in Germany, we celebrate Oktoberfest at Fort Rucker with German food, music, activities and, of course, beer. Does this sound like fun to you?  Then join us at the 10th annual Fort Rucker Oktoberfest on September 28th from 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Fort Rucker Festival Fields.

This 10th annual event will be bigger and better than ever with over 3,500 revelers expected to attend! Featuring live German music by Sonnenschein Express, German food and beer, vendors, games and activities for all ages, rides, this is a don’t miss event!

For the 5th consecutive year, Sonnenschein Express will be entertaining the Ft. Rucker community. Their performances include sounds from the Alpine region including ringing cowbells, horns, and yodeling.  And don’t be shy, crowd participation is always a big part of the performance, so be prepared to do the Chicken Dance!

In addition to the Biergarten and live music, there will be Keg Toss competitions, Bier Barrel Rolling challenges and ‘Don’t Spill Your Bier’ contests. This is event is more than just a beer fest, there are activities and fun for the entire family. Children will enjoy the kids free inflatables area and craft activities will be available for their entertainment. For the more adventurous at heart, there will be carnival-type rides, pony rides and a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, and an RC stock car racing booth activity available for minimal fees.  A variety of food and craft vendors will also be on site for your enjoyment. So join us in celebrating Ft. Rucker’s 10th Annual Oktoberfest! Prost!

Admission to the event is FREE and open to the public. Please no coolers or pets. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to The Landing. Stay up to date on event schedules on Facebook with Fort Rucker FMWR .

Through The Eyes of a Flight School Spouse

Time flies when you’re having fun. When you’re not having fun, well that’s another story. The day my husband left for SERE I decided it was time to take advantage of some more Family & MWR events, otherwise it was going to be a long three weeks. I paged through the Fort Rucker At Ease magazine and the first thing I noticed was that the Auto Skills Center was offering free holiday vehicle inspections in the days leading up to Labor Day. What a perfect opportunity for someone who is without her handy man! I took my car in and after offering me a chair they checked the fluids, lights, and all the other essentials. They even answered my questions about a funny noise in the car. I was thrilled to find out that my car was in tiptop shape and I shouldn’t be having any problems with it any time soon. To my surprise, I also found out that should I have any problems with it, they have a mechanic on staff with whom you can schedule an appointment to have any issues fixed. That could prove to be very helpful someday!

After getting my car’s clean bill of health, I headed over to the Arts and Crafts Center next to the Exchange for a lesson on framing. I wasn’t aware that they offered framing classes until one of my friends recommended it to me, and I am so glad that she did! It was a one on one lesson and Beth was a very patient instructor, ensuring that I knew how to use the machines well enough that I could come back any time and use them by myself. For the lesson I brought in my husband’s commissioning certificate, picked out two colors of mats and the frame, and then we built the entire thing. The whole process took about two hours and included cutting the frame pieces, gluing and stapling them, cutting the mats, assembling the finished product, and finally filling in any rough corners with putty. When I looked at my finished product I felt like a little kid who had just completed their first finger painting. I was so amazed that I could make something that looked so professional! The best part about doing your own framing is that you only pay for the materials, so you save an incredible amount of money by framing it yourself. Now everyone can afford custom framing. Beth suggested that in order to keep my newly learned skills sharp, I should come in and frame something on my own within two weeks. I plan to be back there even sooner!

Thanks,
Kathleen Montion, a military spouse.

Through the Eyes of a Flight School Spouse

This is a special feature column that will follow a flight school spouse for several months as she gets acquainted with her new role in the military. We hope this column will share the insight on life on Fort Rucker and how Family & MWR can help make the transition from being a civilian spouse to a military spouse an informative and fun experience! Check back each month to see Family & MWR thru the eyes of a military spouse.

By Kathleen Montion

Poisonous snakes, a field of chin-up bars, and ninety degree weather with one hundred percent humidity. These were some of the first things I noticed upon arriving on the Fort Rucker post in early June, and needless to say, I was not the happiest person in the world. My name is Kathleen Montion, and I am a brand new military wife. I moved to Fort Rucker with my husband who is going through flight school, and I truly had no idea what to expect.

Getting back to my first impression of Fort Rucker, I had been driving for fourteen hours straight and arrived here at midnight and I was not a happy camper. The hot weather and the threat of being forced to be a stereotypical military wife seemed too much to bear. However, a long night’s sleep did me good, and I woke up excited to find out more about what was now my new home, whether I liked it or not. After moving into a cute little house on post, I went with my husband to get an ID card at building 5700. Apparently it was quite obvious that we were new, because a nice man asked if he could help and showed us around a bit. He took us to ACS where I signed up for several trainings like Get REAL and Family Resilience, even though I had no clue what they were.

I quickly realized that signing up for these classes was the best decision I could have made during my first days of military life. By attending these classes I not only met some great people, but I also was able to witness the passion that the instructors had for living the military life. It might sound cheesy, but they inspired me to make the most of being a military spouse by getting involved on post in every way possible. On top of completely changing my perspective on military life, I also learned acronyms, rank structure, how not to dress for a military ball and other important bits of information at Get REAL. And at Family Resilience Training I learned how to be a person who can “bounce back” from adversity, not just when it comes to military lifestyle, but in every aspect of my life. After attending these two trainings, I decided that I was going to make a point to take advantage of every activity, training, and event that is offered on post. I immediately went through the Fort Rucker At Ease magazine and made a list of everything that I want to do while living here, and over the next several months I plan to make it through my entire list, just consider it my bucket list for my stay here at Fort Rucker. Each month, I will share my Family & MWR experiences and insight to great programs and activities that every military spouse, whether a newbie like me or a veteran spouse, can appreciate it.

Maybe this military life won’t be so bad after all!

Thanks,

Kathleen Montion, a military spouse!

Happy Birthday LZ

It's been three years since our beloved Landing Zone was brought into the world. And that is cause for celebration! Join us at The Landing Zone August 18 - 24 for specials all week long.

• Buy 1, Get 1 FREE entrees after 4 p.m. August 18 - 24
• Saturday, August 18 - complimentary smoothies & games by Splash Pool from noon - 6 p.m. Prizes for participating kids.
• Sunday, August 19 - Session Bingo will have special games and prizes and you just might win the always-growing jackpot!
• Tuesday, August 21 - Complimentary chips & salsa with purchase of a beverage from 5 - 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 22 - "Come party with Jack, Jim, and the Captain" and enjoy some awesome drink specials while you're at it!
• Thursday, August 23 - Two kids (ages 12 & under) can eat for FREE off of the kid's menu with purchase of an adult entree, 5 - 8 p.m.
• Friday, August 24 - LZ Birthday Bash, Hawaiian Style (ages 18+). Read more about it below...

The Landing Zone Birthday Bash Hawaiian Style

It's time to bring Aloha to The Landing! Wear a bright shirt, a grass skirt, or a lei because we're going to celebrate the tropical way! In celebration of The Landing Zone's 3rd birthday, The LZ and Tiki Bay is hosting a Birthday Bash Hawaiian Style on Friday, August 24, 6 - 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy a Hawaiian-style dinner from 6 - 8 p.m. and drink specials all night. DJ Dave will provide music to keep the party going! This event is for adults 18 and over. Advanced tickets are available for purchase at The Landing Zone. For more information, call The Landing Zone at 334-598-2426/8025.

Helping our Fort Rucker community

Have you ever thought about making a difference and getting involved in your community. Here at Fort Rucker you have the chance. Be a part of CYS Family! Click on the flyer for more information or visit Fort Rucker CYSS or call 255-3446.