Halloween Events with Fort Rucker MWR

Get into the season with Fort Rucker Family & MWR. We have lots of fun planned for you to get your chills & thrills this October!




Click to enlarge

 

October 23 & 24

Frite Nite at the Riding Stables
Frite Nite returns to the Riding Stables on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 from 7 pm - 11 pm. This is event is open to the public. For more information call the Riding Stables at (334) 598-3384.

 

 

 

October 27

Center Library Fall Carnival
Center Library invites you to come join us for some fun fall activities on Tuesday, October 27 from 4–5:30 pm.  Light refreshments will be served. There will be a Costume Contest, Pumpkin Carving Contest, and Halloween Craft. Stop by or call the Center Library (334) 255-3885 for more information or to register. Open to authorized patrons.





October 31
Spooky 5K


Click to enlarge

On Saturday, October 31, the Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Center will host the annual Spooky 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run, and Costume Contest. Registration on the day of the event will begin at 7:30 am through 8:45 at the Fort Rucker Festival Fields. The run will start at 9 am. The 1-Mile Fun Run is free and open to all children and will begin after the 5K is completed. Each Fun Run participant will receive a medal. There will be a costume contest with 1st place trophies for Overall Best Costume, Scariest Costume, and Most Original Costume for both adults and children. The costume contest is free to enter and will start at 8:15 am. Cost for the run is $20 until October 25 with a t-shirt, or $25 from October 26 through race day (includes shirt while supplies last). There is also a $12 no shirt option. Teams cost $120 per 8-person team (each additional person pays normal registration fee) through October 25, which includes shirts, or $160 from October 26 through race day (includes shirts while supplies last). Trophies will be awarded to Overall Male/Female, 1st place trophies in 14 age categories and medals for 2nd and 3rd place in 14 age categories; team trophy to 1st place team and team streamers awarded to the top 10 teams. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the event at either PFC. For more information, contact Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Center at (334) 255-3794.

October 31

Monster Bowl Join us for Monster Bowl on Saturday, October 31 from 9 pm to 12 am at Rucker Lanes Bowling Center. For more information, contact Rucker Lanes at (334) 255-9503.

October 31
Trick or Treating
Get your Halloween costumes ready! Trick or Treating will take place on Fort Rucker from 6-8pm for on post residents.

 

US Army Soldier Show August 20 & 21

The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show is coming to Enterprise High

School Performing Arts Center on August 20 and 21!

Showtime is 7–8:30 pm each day.

 

 

It’s Army entertainment like you’ve never experienced before. The Soldier Show is a live Broadway-style variety performance featuring our best talent. It’s singing, it’s dancing, and it’s amazing. This year’s production, “We Serve” explores the foundational elements of what it means to serve, in and out of uniform, as well as how our country in return serves them. The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show honors our Army’s continued service, resilience, and strength with its mission to effectively inform, educate, and inspire our audiences into action. It celebrates this great Nation, our Army, and the Families and communities that serve and support our service members in return. We are honored to share this experience of service with you, and are confident that the performance of “We Serve” will leave behind a positive and uplifting reminder of what makes our Soldiers and our Army Family ‘Army Strong.’ This year’s show is proudly sponsored by GM Military Discount and CHASE. Admission is free. No tickets required. Doors open 1 hour prior show. Seating is first-come, first-served. For more information, contact Family & MWR at (334) 255-9810.

Girls Night Out at Fort Rucker, August 14

Ladies, get ready for a night out with the girls!

Join us on Friday, August 14 in The Landing Ballroom from 6–9 pm for an evening full of fashion, fun, and prizes. Enjoy DJ entertainment while visiting with numerous organizations from throughout the community that cater to women. Prize drawings will be held throughout the evening, with a grand prize drawing at 9 pm. (Must be present to win all prizes.)

This event is open to the public for ages 18+. Tickets go on sale starting July 13 for $10, which includes one drink stub. For more information, please contact The Landing at (334) 598-2426 or Family & MWR Special Events at (334) 255-1749.

A Letter from the Fort Rucker School Liaison Officer

The bell is about to ring in the new 2015-2016 school year! Hope you all had an excellent and relaxing summer. As we look forward to an upcoming school year filled with learning and growth, here are a few tips to hopefully help smoothly transition your family from the laid back summer schedule to the more structured school schedule:

• The first weeks of school can be tiring as students get reacquainted with morning routines and demands of the school day. A few weeks before school starts, reestablish bed time routines so that when the first day rolls around, your children can begin their educational endeavors well rested. Plenty of rest will help facilitate a less anxious student over new teachers, classes and possibly a new school.

• Try a dress rehearsal before the first day. Get up in enough time to get ready for school and see how you do. Include time for a great breakfast and include a time buffer for unforeseen circumstances like misplaced shoes, gathering a lunch/lunch money or forgetting to brush teeth. A couple of trial runs and your family should be well rehearsed in the morning routine.

• Try new recipes for school lunches during the summer. Work with your children on helping prepare nutritious lunches that they will enjoy eating and will help get them through the rest of their school day energized. If you’ll be buying lunches, check on the school website to see about loading their lunch  account with  money so you don’t have to scramble to come up with the right change for lunches.

• Set up a central bulletin board to hang schedules, notices and reminders. This will help not only parents, but students as well to keep well organized all through the school year. Determine a homework area that will facilitate finishing homework in a well lit, quiet area away from distractions.  Keep this area stocked with necessary school supplies.

 

• While you bring in new clothes and school supplies, it’s the perfect time to clean out dressers, closets and desks. Start the new year with organization, which will add to the excitement for beginning a new school year. Also, take advantage of the Back 2 School Tax Free weekend: Florida 1-3 August 2015 and Alabama 7-9 August 2015.

 

• If your child will be starting school for the first time or attending a new school, it may help to soothe anxieties if you take a trip to the school before it starts, to familiarize your child with the cafeteria, where they will catch the bus or be picked up, and their classroom.  Use this time also to answer any questions they may have and to assure them that they will have plenty of support on the first day to help guide them until they are accustom to their schedule.

~ Kim Kozel
Fort Rucker School Liaison Officer

Beat the Heat at SPLASH!

Summer’s here, school is out for the kids, and it’s hot in lower Alabama. Come out and take a dip at SPLASH!

If you like the comforts of a water park, then SPLASH! Pool and Spray Park is your best bet. This favorite summer pool hangout has plenty of room to soak up some summer rays, along with double flume slides, a diving board, and spray park for the kids. At SPLASH! you also have the comforts of Tiki Bay, a pool side snack bar, located behind The Landing Zone, that offers a variety of menu items and beverages. SPLASH! is open during the summer season and can be rented out for private parties.

Daily admission fees and season passes can be purchased at SPLASH!, MWR Central and both of the Physical Fitness Centers. SPLASH! is open to the general public, no military chaperone required. For information about summer swimming on Fort Rucker, please contact Swimming and Aquatics at (334) 255-9162, or visit us online at www.ftruckermwr.com for a complete list of hours of operation and fees.

Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to use the facility without an accompanying adult.

Novosel St., Bldg. 113 (Located behind The Landing)
Aquatics Office, (334) 255-9162    
Open to the Public

PCSing? What Should You Do?

Spring and Summer are very busy times for Soldiers and their Families since it is high PCS season. PCS: Permanent Change of Station or in one word: moving. Once your spouse gets an RFO: Request For Orders, it is time to start researching your next duty assignment. With today’s technology and social media, there are several ways to find information; i.e., www.militaryonesource.mil and www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil. Involving the children in the research will ease some of the stress of the unknown. It may even turn a PCS to a great adventure.

This is a perfect time to inventory the items you have and do some “spring cleaning,” hold a yard sale or donate items that have not been used or that you have outgrown.
If you rent, your landlord or the leasing company must be notified of your pending move. If you own your home, you must decide whether to rent or sell. If you decide to rent and use a real estate company, even more research will be needed. This is a good time to talk to your legal office and verify if any local companies are on the off limits list.

Depending on where you will be moving, you will need to decide if you are going to do a Personally Procured Move (DITY move) or set up the shipment of your Household Goods (HHG) on www.move.mil. If this is your first time on this website, I recommend you visit your Transportation office and ask for assistance from a transportation counselor.  The www.pcsmypov.com webpage has links to videos which will provide information on shipping or storing your vehicle when moving overseas.

The following programs are services that you should contact after receiving orders to move: ACS Information and Referral and Relocation Readiness Program, the Transportation Office, the Housing Office (on and off post), Temporary Lodging at your next duty station, and if you have children, the School Liaison Officer. All these services will be able to assist you with gathering the necessary information that you will need to make a more educated decision on where you will live and possibly what school you will enroll the children.

Visit your Relocation Readiness Program. They will have information on your next duty station, websites that can assist you before your move and classes to prepare you for your overseas move, as well. If you decide to ship your household goods, don’t forget to check out the Lending/Loan closet inventory. If this is your first move, make an appointment for Individual Relocation Counseling, or see page 17 for more information on ACS Relocation Readiness Workshops.


DID YOU KNOW?
Installation Locator is a computerized database that contains Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine installations. It contains important information about relocating that every Soldier and spouse should know. This information can be printed as a booklet.  Also visit Installation Locator on-line at www.militaryonesource.mil.

2015 Freedom Fest

Join us in the celebration of our nation’s independence on July 2 from 4–10 pm for a day of food, activities, and fun, culminating in one of the area’s largest fireworks show. Freedom Fest is Fort Rucker’s premier event hosted by the Commanding General. The 98th Army Silver Wings Band will perform. Activities include a variety of displays, kid’s inflatable fun zone, rides, and a variety of local and regional vendors. This event is free and open to the public. Gate Access Badge Required. There are a few items prohibited at the Freedom Fest 2015, including no coolers, backpacks (except for medical and baby care items), no pets, no fireworks of any kind, no glass containers, no weapons (guns, knives, pepper spray, etc.), and no bicycles, scooters, roller blades, or skateboards. This is for the safety of all patrons. Fort Rucker Festival Fields, 4–10 pm. 

For more information, contact DFMWR at (334) 255-1749 or visit http://www.ftruckermwr.com/freedom-fest-2015/