Each year, one out of five employees faces a significant problem that disrupts life at home and reduces productivity at work. The Employee Assistance Program is designed to help protect your office productivity and offer assistance to every civilian employee and⁄or family member in a time of need.
The EAP supervisor Orientation is a one hour class designed to introduce the supervisor⁄manager to the parameters of the Employee Assistance Program at Ft. Detrick, MD.
Class will be today, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Bldg. 1520, Classroom 4.

To register contact usagdctee@amedd.army.mil. If you have any questions call (301) 619-1751.

Combined Federal Campaign

The 2009 Combined Federal Campaign is from Oct. 13 through Nov. 20.
Each organization has a Key Worker to assist with the CFC process. If any Soldier, Civilian or Contractor would like to make a donation they can see their respective key worker.

If you have questions call Olga Pete at (301) 619-3314 or olga.pete@amedd.army.mil.

ASAP

It's a new fiscal year and ASAP is offering exciting new training. Training is still at the Strough and no preregistration is required.
If you do this mandatory training early you will not have to rush at the end of the year.
Oct. 30 - Drinking and Driving 1 p.m.

For more information call Randy Underwood at (301) 619-9703⁄3409.

Nallin Farm playgrounds currently off-limits

The Nallin Farm Recreation playgrounds located near the pavilions are under repair and are “off-limits“ for approximately seven days.
For your safety, please do not go pass the taped barrier or use the playground equipment. For more information contact Harry Geesaman at (301) 619-3237.

H1N1 vaccination

Barquist Army Health Clinic will provide the H1N1 vaccination⁄nasal Mist (currently only nasal mist) at the Capt. Jennifer Odom Fitness Center, Bldg 1507, today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 3 & 4 to Military Dependents and Retirees (Not Active Duty Service Members or DoD civilians).
Updated information regarding the receipt of the H1N1 vaccine shot and dates
For service members and DoD civilians will be posted as soon as it comes available.

For additional information call the FLU INFORMATION HOTLINE at (301) 619-6921.

Operation Happy Holidays information

Military families may submit their applications for 2009 Operation Happy Holidays assistance from Oct. 1 to Nov. 16.

The next sponsor meeting will be today. Drop-off and pickup of OHH items is scheduled for Dec. 16 and 17 Dec. at the H.O.T. Dome, 834 Gardner Street.

The OHH program eligibility is limited to Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison and Mission Partner military personnel, E-6 and below, reviewed, approved, and submitted through the immediate chain of command.

Local military Families not assigned to Fort Detrick will also be eligible to apply and qualify directly through the ACS Center. Except for food assistance, OHH assistance in the form of clothing and gifts will be limited to children only, high school seniors and younger.

Civilians and contractors will be referred to external agencies and organizations providing similar programs for support.

Operation Happy Holidays information and guidance for military families and sponsors is available online at www.detrick.army.mil⁄frp⁄ohh.cfm.

Other holiday support for Fort Detrick civilian and contractor families is potentially available through the Salvation Army’s annual ‘‘Christmas Assistance” program.

Another possible support opportunity may be the Seton Center in Emmitsburg, Md., at www.setoncenterinc.org.

The Commissary gift vouchers program is now in place. These vouchers are available in $25 denominations. Anyone may acquire gift vouchers; however only commissary authorized patrons may redeem them.

Vouchers will be available at the customer service area, cash office and cashiers at full-service checkout lanes.

No additional fees will be added to the cost of purchasing or redeeming the voucher.

Bus driver and forklift classroom training

The following is the upcoming schedule for bus driver and forklift classroom training.
Forklift training is available to all DoD civilians and active duty members whose unit has a valid forklift mission. Bus driver training is available to active duty military members.

Dec. 9 – Forklift Training
Jan. 6 – Bus Driver Training
Feb. 4 – Forklift Training
March 4 – Bus Driver Training
April 13 – Forklift Training

The cut-off date for registering for these classes is one week prior to the class date. For more information contact Don Vierra at the Fort Detrick Motor Pool, (301) 619-3059.

Blood drive

The upcoming Blood Drive is scheduled for Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Balfour Beatty Communities Neighborhood Center, Bldg. 6000.

Construction beginning on all Fort Detrick gates

The construction to enhance security measures at all Fort Detrick Gates will begin as early as Nov. 9.

Below is a breakdown of the planned construction:

Veterans Gate- 7th Street
This will be the first gate to receive upgrades. Construction will commence Nov. 9, and is anticipated to be completed by the middle of January 2010.
During construction the following plan will be in effect:
Monday- Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Only decal vehicles will be able to enter this gate.
Non-Decal Vehicles must enter through Old Farm Gate.
After 6 p.m. and weekends - All Vehicles may use this gate.
Increased traffic at Old Farm Gate is anticipated during peak hours since it will be the only entry for non-decal vehicles.
It is recommended that all decaled vehicles enter through either Veteran's Gate or Opossumtown Gate.

Opossumtown Gate
Improvements for the Opossumtown Gate are scheduled to begin Jan. 18, 2010 and end in early April, 2010. This gate will be closed during construction. All traffic entering Fort Detrick must go through Veteran's Gate or Old Farm Gate.

Old Farm Gate Construction
This gate is scheduled to begin construction April 12, 2010 and be completed by the end of June 2010. Two lanes will be closed however we anticipate minimal impact to normal traffic.

Newcomers Briefing
USAG Public Affairs will be providing a New Comers Briefing at the Community Activities Center on Nov. 4, beginning at 10 a.m.
The purpose to is provide military members and their families as well as civilian personnel (seasoned and new) an overview of the different organizations and services available to them here at Fort Detrick.
If you, or anyone on your staff, has not attended a Newcomers Briefing and would like to attend, please notify the USAG Public Affairs Office.
For planning purposes we do request that you notify PAO if you plan to attend.
Point of contact is Lanessa Hill at (301) 619-3324 or Lanessa.hill@amedd.army.mil.