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From Sept. 11–14, Visit Fairfax and Hyatt Fair Lakes will host more than 30 military reunion planners who are members of The Reunion Friendly Network (RFN), a national organization dedicated to educating military reunion planners. The planners in attendance will represent groups from all four branches of the Armed Services and are looking to get together with their “brothers and sisters in arms” in Fairfax County, Va., in 2009, 2010, and beyond. The RFN serves more than 15,000 qualified military reunion planners.

Military reunions especially are valuable to Fairfax County hotels because they fill traditionally slower weekend periods. Fairfax County and the Capital Region are  attractive to military reunion groups because of the wide variety of area attractions celebrating the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans.

Among the many Fairfax County attractions favored by reunion groups are George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Proximity to the monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C., Civil War battlefields, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico all make Fairfax County a popular choice for veterans groups.

Following two days of planning seminars and an exhibitor marketplace, Visit Fairfax and several cosponsors will host a familiarization tour showcasing the county as a “Military Reunion Friendly” destination.

Reunion planners can contact Visit Fairfax directly at (703) 790-0643 for personal assistance.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) gas stations in CONUS, Alaska, and Puerto Rico are being programmed to reflect a discount of three cents a gallon for drivers who pay with a Military StarSM Card.

“Anytime a customer uses a bank-issued debit or credit card, the retailer pays a portion of the transaction to a third party financial institution,” said AAFES’ Chief of Corporate Communications Lt. Col. Dean Thurmond. “Because the Military StarSM Card is administered by the Exchange Credit Program, AAFES is not subject to the additional fees incurred through other ‘pay at the pump’ options. As a result, we’re able to pass savings on to authorized exchange shoppers.”

The three cent a gallon discount currently is being applied to transactions at 13 installations: Minneapolis-St. Paul JARS, Columbus AFB, Redstone Arsenal, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Fort Gordon, Patrick AFB, Robins AFB, USMA, Laughlin AFB, Yuma Proving Ground, Mountain Home AFB and Nellis AFB, MacDill, Scott, JRB Carswell.

All remaining facilities in CONUS, Alaska, and Puerto Rico (177 facilities) were expected to begin applying the three cent a gallon discount as of Tuesday, Aug. 19.

“I encourage drivers during the first week or so of this new effort, to touch base with the attendant at their local gas station to ensure the software upgrades have taken effect before fueling up,” said Thurmond. “As is the case with anything technical, we expect a few glitches could occur during the first few weeks of the program.”

Officials hope to extend the Military StarSM Card three cent a gallon discount at all AAFES facilities, but do not have a time table for worldwide implementation at this time.

“This effort is a priority of AAFES command,” said Thurmond. “Entire teams are dedicated to working through the technical challenges to extend the Military StarSM Card discount to drivers at all AAFES locations.”

Body armor keeps soldiers alive, but scores of veterans are coming home with serious brain trauma. Popular Science takes a look at whether blast waves could be fueling this new breed of injury.

Army Specialist Frederick Hussey was involved in five attacks in Iraq that left him shaken but OK. He is one of thousands of soldiers who manage to walk away from explosions but may actually be suffering terrible, yet invisible, brain trauma. In the September issue, Popular Science takes a comprehensive look at this new kind of injury.

Initially, Hussey was told that he had PTSD, a psychological condition that can develop in the emotional aftermath of a life-threatening event, and mild traumatic brain injury, except there is nothing mild about it. Within five months of his return home, Hussey was suffering from mental lapses, constant headaches, nausea, garbled hearing, insomnia, and alarming memory lapses. He was diagnosed with severe brain injury.

Hussey is not alone. Of the 2,500 soldiers who returned home in 2006, 62 percent reported  they had been exposed to two or more explosions. The trend has researchers wondering: Is there some unaccounted-for mechanism in the blast itself that’s causing hidden brain injuries?

Some scientists believe in the blood-wave theory. Ibolja Cernak, a medical director at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, thinks the blast might do more than just rattle the head. The shock waves also compress the torso, which may cause pressure waves to ripple through blood vessels like miniature tsunamis, rushing into the brain and damaging tissue.

Studies conducted on soldiers who had extremity wounds but no head trauma concluded that 30 percent of the group showed signs of long-term physiological changes in the brain. Scientists have been studying blast waves since the dawn of ballistics, but they have never looked at what pressure waves do to the brain. The conventional military wisdom is that although the eardrums, lungs and bowels are vulnerable to bursting, the brain, protected by skull and helmet, is relatively immune.

But last year, Congress earmarked $300 million for basic science research on brain injuries and PSTD. The military needs to know what is causing these injuries before it can better design gear to protect soldiers. Until then, Hussey will continue with his regimen of 20 clinical visits a week, including a neurologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and pain specialist, as well as PTSD and Alcoholics Anonymous group meetings.

To read the entire article in the September issue of Popular Science, visit http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-%2526-space/article/2008-08/shock-system.

The Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Embassy of Afghanistan will present a stirring collection of images that document everyday life in Afghanistan. The photo exhibit by Dutch photographer Hans Stakelbeek, titled “In Afghanistan,” will be displayed for the first time in the U.S. from Sept. 10 through Oct. 4 at the Touchstone Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Stakelbeek was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to document the reconstruction of Afghanistan during ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability to the country. Stakelbeek made four trips there, photographing in Kabul and Uruzgan, as well as other remote areas. Stakelbeek’s photos capture the essence of the people, the country, and the reconstruction efforts.

“In Afghanistan” presents images that pay tribute to the determination of the Afghan people to survive and live as normally as possible through the upheaval, building homes, going to school, and working and playing in trying times. Stakelbeek’s accompanying written commentary reveals the personal stories in each of the photographs.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Location: Touchstone Gallery, 406 7th Street, NW, 2nd floor, Washington, D.C., 20004
Exhibition Dates:  Sept. 10–Oct. 4 (Admission is free)
Opening Times: Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.touchstonegallery.com, www.netherlands-embassy.org, or www.embassyofafghanistan.org.

Thousands of facilities nationwide will participate in the second annual Patriot Golf Day during Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 29 – Sept 1). Golfers across the country have the unique opportunity to donate a minimum of $1 to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty.

Maj. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and USGA Member from Broken Arrow, Okla., created Patriot Golf Day in 2007. This nationwide event is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association.

Participating public facilities will request a minimum of $1 for each green fee that is processed Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, while private facilities will accept donations.

Rooney will once again lead Patriot Golf Day in 2008 before he reports for his third tour of duty in Iraq as an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard immediately following Labor Day weekend.

The inaugural Patriot Golf Day held Sept. 1, 2007, resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million dollars to support the families of military servicemembers who have been injured or died in the line of duty. Contributions were received from more than 3,200 golf facilities, and approximately 200 scholarships have already been awarded due to the efforts of PGA Professionals nationwide hosting 2007 Patriot Golf Day.

Patriot Golf Day is The PGA of America’s second extension of DoD’s America Supports You program, which is an ongoing nationwide effort to showcase and communicate America’s support to the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. The PGA initially joined America Supports You in May 2007 with The PGA of America/Disabled Sports USA Military Golf Program.

For more information about Patriot Golf Day, visit www.patriotgolfday.com.

Military Spouse magazine (MSM) now is accepting nominations for its 2009 Military Spouse of the Year (MSOY) award, sponsored by USAA. The MSOY honoree represents the millions of military spouses who are unsung heroes maintaining the homefront, giving back selflessly to their communities, and providing support to our nation’s troops. Often, these spouses also have full-time jobs and raise families.

In recognition of their countless contributions, MSM will honor one exemplary military spouse from each service branch and also select one overall winner. The 2009 MSOY will be announced and honored nationally in the June issue of Military Spouse magazine and at the second annual MSOY Awards Ceremony to be held during the week of May 4, 2009, in Washington, D,C,, in conjunction with National Military Spouse Appreciation Week. The winner will make additional public appearances, write a monthly column to appear in Military Spouse magazine, and maintain a blog during his or her reign, which will last through May 2010.

MSM and its readers will select the winner based on his or her inspirational representation of all military spouses. Nominees must be the spouse of a current member of the U.S. armed forces. Criteria for selecting the recipient include: impact on community change, volunteerism, personal sacrifice, education and career pursuits, and other military spouse-related efforts. Last year’s award generated hundreds of nominations from across the country, culminating in the selection of Army wife Chelle Brewer as MSOY 2008.

MSM encourages individuals to submit a nomination for themselves or for an eligible nominee of their choice. To submit a nomination, individuals must complete the nomination form online at www.msoy.milspouse.com. The nomination period ends Oct. 8, 2008.  Judges will review all submissions and select 10 finalists from each military service branch, after which readers will select one branch winner. Judges include a hand-selected portion of MSM’s “Who’s Who of Military Spouses,” a list of influential military spouses.

From Moron, Spain to Enid, Okla., Americans are walking to remember victims of Sept. 11, 2001, and honor first responders and veterans, past and present through America Supports You Freedom Walks. The largest, the National America Supports You Freedom Walk, takes place in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, at 9:00 am. Walkers will gather at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, and proceed to the crash site at the Pentagon.

Since the first America Supports You Freedom Walk in 2005, the event’s national significance has continued to grow. With more than 200 walks in all 50 states already being planned for 2008, this new national tradition is quickly becoming part of the fabric of our country. America Supports You organizations are planning walks across the country, along with schools, citizen groups, veteran and military organizations, businesses, cities and individual citizens. Walkers will be making their way through communities, parks, schools, office buildings, and shopping malls.

Elementary schools, high schools, universities, and individual students across the United States are also hosting their own America Supports You Freedom Walks. In Killeen, Texas, these walks take on a special meaning. All 50 schools in the Killeen Independent School District, part of the Department of Defense Education Activity, are hosting walks. Most students have at least one parent on active duty in the military.    

“We are honored to celebrate all that our soldiers do every day to keep us safe,” said Olga Vacadurr, coordinator for parent and community involvement at the Killeen Independent School District. “Our yearly America Supports You Freedom Walks on Sept. 11 are just one more way of saying thank you to our soldiers who are our heroes.”

Eleven-year-old Colton Lockner is organizing three walks this year. For the third year, he is planning a walk in Sebring, Ohio, where he has enlisted the winner of the Nashville Star competition, 14-year-old Jesse Galchick, to perform. He also is planning inaugural walks in Canton and nearby Lake Milton, his new hometown. Joey Rizzolo, 14, is organizing his second walk in Paramus, N.J. He has written a book for students on how to organize an America Supports You Freedom Walk, and has successfully petitioned the Board of Education to request that Sept. 11 be a homework-free night for the entire school district.

In Baton Rouge, La., Dani Lamana, organizes an ASY Freedom Walk to honor the memory of her brother, Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, a member of the U.S. Navy who died at the Pentagon.

“After experiencing the Freedom Walks in D.C., my family and I were inspired to share the remembrance of my brother, Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, with our community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana — a community that has honored my brother’s life and continues to honor his memory,” said Lamana. “We wanted to share our memories of him and how imperative it is, that on a day-to-day basis we remember and never forget Sept. 11, 2001.”

What began as one walk in Washington, D.C. in 2005 grew to 130 walks worldwide in 2006. In 2007, the number of America Supports You Freedom Walks increased to 255 across the United States and around the world.

To learn more about the America Supports You Freedom Walks happening across the country or to register to participate, visit www.americasupportsyou.mil/freedomwalk.

The 67th National Convention of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will be held in Fredericksburg, Texas, on December 4 -7, 2008.

The public is invited to three free events to help honor these heroes of World War II:

• On Friday evening, December 5, all of the Pearl Harbor survivors attending the national convention will be the honored guests leading the Fredericksburg Lighted Christmas Parade down Main Street, with parade kick-off at 6:00 p.m.
• On Saturday, December 6, approximately 20 World War II aircraft will be on display from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for public viewing at the Gillespie County Airport, located three miles south of Main Street off of Highway 16 South.
• A memorial service, open to the public, will held on Sunday, December 7, starting at 12:25 p.m. (the time of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941) at the National Museum of the Pacific War, located at 311 East Austin Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

For convention registration information, please contact Jim Evans of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association at (760)727-9027. For information on the National Museum of the Pacific War, please visit www.nimitz-museum.org. For Fredericksburg lodging information, please visit www.FredTexLodging.com or call the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau at (830)997-6523 or toll free 1-866-997-3600 (U.S. only).

Because the vast majority of job failures arise out of differences in style, personality, and cultural compatibility, organizations often will have job candidates meet with employees who have different levels of responsibility during the interview process.  Skilled and prepared interviewers will try to extract three important pieces of information from the candidates: can they do the job in a trustworthy and reliable manner; will they fit into the organization’s culture; and will they have a good relationship with their coworkers.

But how should a candidate handle an unskilled interviewer who is excessively chatty or a harried manager who is reading the résumé for the first time as the candidate sits down across the desk? Either situation puts more pressure on the candidate to steer the interview in a productive direction.

For the unprepared or unskilled interviewer, try to move the conversation in a helpful direction by acknowledging that time together might be limited and offer to tell the interviewer a little about yourself. In crafting your introductory remarks, include elements of data, structure, vision, and the human touch from your résumé — as you summarize your employment goal, education, qualifications, and the specific attributes that match your experiences to the demands of the position. Keep it positive and upbeat, even if you are leaving your last employer because of a missed promotion or a conflict with a coworker. If the interviewer is distracted by office technology or persistent phone interruptions, make a mental note of the point you were making and offer to step out of the office if this is not a convenient time. When the discussion resumes, reiterate the point you were making before the interruption.

Many unskilled interviewers will be excessively chatty, making it difficult for a candidate to highlight the greatest strengths from their résumé. While it might feel impolite to interrupt, it’s important to jump into the conversation with short sound bites that spotlight relevant successes from your work history.

The best interviews will be more like a conversation, with an equal blend of listening and speaking. Combine this comfortable banter about work experience and qualifications with an engaging personality and confident style, and it’s easy for an interviewer to make a positive hiring recommendation.

Finally, don’t be too critical of an unprepared or inexperienced interviewer. A poor interviewer easily could be an excellent leader. Moreover, many of us struggle with competing priorities, and sometimes 24 hours isn’t enough. It’s forgivable if the interviewer overlooked the read-ahead of your résumé for more pressing priorities the previous evening.

About the author: Jim Carman is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management and a retired Navy Captain.  He writes and lectures on career transition topics.

The Documentary Channel will offer two documentaries about the Iraq war featuring unique and controversial Iraqi and American viewpoints of the conflict during the network’s “Primetime Premieres” Monday, August 18.

The special programming event begins with the exclusive U.S. television premiere of “The Price for Paradise” at 8 p.m. ET/PT, which reveals candid interviews by Iraqi citizens and refugees about the war in their homeland. The event also features “My War, My Story” at 9 p.m. ET/PT, which follows several U.S. war veterans who have returned home with mixed emotions after serving in Iraq.??

“The Iraq war is fraught with controversies from many directions, and it is important to offer our viewers films that document more in-depth viewpoints than those typically presented in the network news cycle,” says Tom Neff, Documentary Channel founder and CEO.  “We hope that by presenting two under-publicized perspectives of Iraqis and U.S. service men, it will help build a greater understanding of this current conflict in Iraq and its residual effects.”

In “The Price for Paradise,” filmmaker Jeffrey Kramer travels to the Middle East to initially document the training and graduation of the largest class of Iraqi Police Cadets. Once he arrives, he shifts focus as he encounters a number of Iraqi refugees, professional athletes and police cadets, who offer moving accounts of their daily struggles to survive in a war-torn country.  “The Price for Paradise” follows the personal experiences of Iraqi individuals and families as they cope with war on their native soil and rebuild their lives under horrific circumstances.

“My War, My Story” focuses on 18 U.S. veterans, both men and women, who share their personal experiences about the war in Iraq, the difficulties they’ve had to adjust to since returning home and the moral conflicts they felt while serving their country.  Writer and director Andy Blood discovers that while many of these veterans remain loyal to their military service, they stand in opposition to the war.   

The Documentary Channel is available on DISH Network (channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.