F r i d a y , J u l y 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 T H E R E D 7 . n E T

Army reviews diversity in combat

arms leadershipPage 4

aLSO INSIDe

Briefs...............................7

Philpott............................6

Senate passes bill honoring fallen Soldier

Page 3

Ranger Hall of Fame welcomes 2016 InducteesU.S..Army

Retired Lt. Col. Jim Tucker of Fort Walton Beach was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame on July 14. Tucker served as the commander of the Florida Ranger Camp from 1969 to 1971.

Page 2 | THE RED 7 | Friday, July 22, 2016

Year No. 6 edition No. 29

The Red 7 is published by the Northwest Florida Daily News, a pri-vate firm in no way connected with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the U.S. Army.

This publication’s content is not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of Defense, the Depart-ment of the Army or 7th Special Forc-es Group (Airborne). The official news source for 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is http://www.soc.mil/.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the Northwest Florida Daily News for products or services advertised. Ev-erything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori-gin, age, marital status, physical handi-cap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the North-west Florida Daily News.

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khumphrey@nwfdailynews.com By.Air.Force.materiel.Command.Health.and.Wellness.Team

WrIGHT-PATTErSON.AIr.FOrCE.BASE,.Ohio.— State parks and woodlands are favorite places for many people who enjoy outdoor activities. Unfortunately, contact with poisonous plants can make these outings a miserable experience.

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac all contain the plant oil urushiol, which can cause severe skin rash when any part of the leaves, stem or root is touched. Allergic reaction can occur directly by touching the plant, or indirectly by coming into contact with the oil on animals, tools, clothes or other items. Even the smoke from the burning of these poisonous plants contains oil particles that can be inhaled and cause lung irritation.

Interaction with these plants is preventable. This article is designed to help individuals learn how to identify poisonous plants in order to avoid exposure.

PLaNT IDeNTIFIcaTIONPOISON.Ivy.– The old saying

“Leaves of three, let it be” is a reminder of the consistent leaf characteristic of this plant. Leaflets can be 2-6 inches long and may be toothed or have smooth edges. Leaves emerge with a shiny reddish tinge in the spring and turn a dull green as they age, eventually turning shades of red, yellow or orange in the fall before dropping off the plant.

There are different types of poison ivy found throughout the Unites States. Eastern poison ivy is typically a hairy, ropelike vine with three shiny green (or red in the fall) leaves budding from one small stem. Eastern poison ivy is one of the most common poisonous plant species in the United States, and is found throughout the Midwest to the east coast. It can grow as a shrub or as a vine that climbs high on trees, walls and fences or trails along the ground. Western poison ivy is typically a low shrub with

three leaves that does not form a climbing vine.

POISON.OAk.– Similar to poison ivy, poison oak consists of three leaflets. One distinguishing feature of poison oak is its lobed leaves, which gives it the appearance of an oak leaf. Leaflets emerge with a reddish tinge in the spring, turn green and then assume varying shades of yellow and red in the fall. Atlantic poison oak can be found as ground vine and shrub, while Pacific poison oak grows as a ground vine, a shrub and a climbing vine.

POISON.SUmAC.– More allergenic than poison ivy and poison oak, poison sumac is a tall shrub or small tree that has a stem that contains seven to 13 leaves arranged in pairs. Distinctive features include leaflets that are elongated, oval and have smooth margins. The leaflets are 2-4 inches long, 1-2 inches wide, and have a smooth,

velvety texture. Leaves are orange in early spring, and later become dark green and glossy. In the early fall, the leaves turn yellow, red or orange. Poison sumac prefers to grow in very wet areas such as bogs or swamps.

SYMPTOMS OF SKIN cONTacT

Signs or symptoms associated with dermal contact with poisonous plants may include:l Red rash within a few days

of contact that can last two to three weeks l Itchingl Swellingl Possible bumps or weeping

blistersl Difficulty breathing, if you’ve

inhaled the smoke from the burning of these poisonous plants

FIrST aIDIndividuals who have come

in contact with poisonous plants should:l Immediately rinse with

rubbing alcohol, specialized poison plant washes, degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap) or detergent, and lots of waterl Apply wet compresses,

calamine lotion or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the skin to reduce itching and blisteringlUse an antihistamine such

as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to help relieve itching l Seek professional

medical attention if the rash is widespread, on the face or genitals, does not improve within a few weeks, or if you have difficulty breathing from inhaling the smoke from burning poisonous plants.

Civilian Health Promotion Services will be offering educational briefings on summertime safety during July. For more information, visit AFMC Wellness (www.afmcwellness.com) or contact your local CHPS team. Comprehensive information on poisonous plants can be found on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov).

nature’s hazards: poisonous plants

There are different types of poison ivy found throughout the Unites States. Eastern poison ivy is typically a hairy, rope-like vine with three shiny green (or red in the fall) leaves

budding from one small stem.

Friday, July 22, 2016 | THE RED 7 | Page 3

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WASHINGTON — Last week, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-1) designating the United States Postal Service facility at 3957 2nd Avenue in Laurel Hill as the Sergeant First Class William “Kelly” Lacey Post Office.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation in May.

Lacey was completing

his second tour in Afghanistan for the U.S. Army when he was killed during a rocket propelled grenade attack.

“Without question Sgt. Lacey embodied the true American spirit and that of a warrior,” said Miller in a press release from his office. “He bravely dedicated his life to protecting our freedom, and naming this post office after him in his hometown is just a small way of saying thank you and memorializing his

ultimate sacrifice.”Lacey died Jan.

4, 2014, from injuries sustained in the attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. The 38-year-old was born in Niceville but raised in Laurel Hill.

“I am humbled to take on this effort to honor Kelly’s sacrifice to our great nation,” Miller said. “He is a true hero and a fitting example of service, dedication and excellence in our community.”

Senate passes bill honoring fallen Soldier

By.LINdSAy.mArCHELLO

U.S. Army

FOrT. BENNING,. Ga.,. — Fifteen retired Rangers were inducted into the 2016 Ranger Hall of Fame class, and one retired Soldier was recognized as an honorary inductee, during a ceremo-ny held July 14 in Marshall Auditorium.

The Rangers inducted into the Hall of Fame were retired Brig. Gen. William Bond, Command Sgt. Maj. David Dalton, Command Sgt. Maj. James Gibson, Col. Glenn Hale, Sgt. Maj. Ron-ald Hart, Gen. P.K. Ken Keen, Sgt. Gary Linderer, Capt. Stephen Maguire, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger, Master Sgt. Jesus Moncada, Staff Sgt. Robert Passanisi, Staff Sgt. Raymond Schuder, Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Shook, Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Snow and Lt. Col. James Tucker.

Retired Col. Robert Poy-dasheff, a former mayor of Columbus, was inducted as an honorary member of the

Hall of Fame.Each inductee was given a

bronze Ranger Hall of Fame medallion.

“We are proud to have a whole bunch of Rangers here,” said retired Ranger Col. Robert “Tex” Turner, the guest speaker for the cer-emony. “I am very proud and very honored just to get to talk to them.”

Turner shared some per-sonal anecdotes about a few of the Rangers he knew, in-cluding Maguire and Tucker.

“I wish I could say a lot more about each and every one of you, but I don’t know you all that well. I’ll get to know you though, I promise,” said Turner.

Each inductee was invited to speak after receiving their medals.

One of the inductees, Hale, explained his first experience with the Ranger creed.

“When I looked at the Ranger creed for the first time I was shocked. Every-thing it said, I believed in,” said Hale. “There are three particular phrases in there that caught my attention right

away and that is: I’ll never fail my comrades, I’ll never leave a fallen comrade and I will complete the mission.”

Hale explained that those three phrases are the most important out of the entire Ranger creed.

“It is why Rangers are respected around the world and why Rangers are feared around the world,” said Hale. “It is a great honor to serve in a regiment and a great honor to be included with these men in the pantheon of American warriors.”

To be inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Rang-ers must be deceased or have been separated or re-tired from active military service for at least three years. Inductees must have served in a Ranger unit in combat or be a successful graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger course.

Honorary inductees must have made a considerable contribution to Ranger units, the Ranger foundation or the Ranger community, but do not meet the normal criteria for induction.

mArkEITH.HOrACE..| U.S. Army

Retired Ranger Capt. Stephen Maguire is guided back to his seat by Col. Douglas Vin-cent, the commander of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, after being induct-eed into the Ranger Hall of Fame July 14 in Marshall Auditorium.

Ranger Hall of Fame welcomes 2016 Inductees

Page 4 | THE RED 7 | Friday, July 22, 2016

CAE USA Inc. is an EOE/AA employer and gives consideration for employment to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please visithttp://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdfPAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants becausethey have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensationinformation of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who donot otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation,proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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By.C..TOdd.LOPEz

U.S. Army

FOrT.EUSTIS,.va..— The Army has done a good job of increasing diversity in the force in terms of both race and gender. But there’s still work to be done.

At Fort Eustis, Virginia, July 12 through 14, the Ar-my’s Training and Doctrine Command convened the 2016 Army Diversity Summit to examine the reasons why the top tiers of leadership remain so homogeneous while much of the rest of the Army has become increasingly diverse. The summit was convened, in part, to solicit subject-mat-ter experts for proposed solu-tions to the problem.

Diversity in race, gender and even social and econom-ic background bring value to

the Army, said Under Secre-tary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy at the summit, be-cause diverse teams of peo-ple produce better outcomes. And as the demographics of the United States change, so too must the Army.

“The Army is in the people business,” Murphy said. “And to be here with subject-mat-ter experts to figure out how to make us an even better force that is more diverse, that is more adaptive, and is more innovative is critically important to our future.”

While the Army as a whole is a diverse force, there is still a lack of diversity in the top ranks, said Warren Whitlock, the Army’s deputy assistant secretary for diversity and leadership.

“Somebody can look and say the Army is diverse,” said Whitlock. “But that’s not tak-

ing into account inclusion. Inclusion is when you have a synergistic relationship of

people who are historically under-represented in posi-tions where they can weigh in on the current and future operations of the organiza-tion. Inclusivity means hav-ing those diverse faces, those diverse perspectives, the diverse demographic perspectives at high levels of the organization.”

Going into the summit, the Army provided insight it views as a starting point for those subject-matter ex-perts to consider: first, that 65 percent of Army general officers are drawn from ei-ther combat arms or special operations forces. And sec-ond, that minority officers are underrepresented at the ranks of colonel and above in the combat arms branches of infantry and armor.

“I think one of the unfor-tunate trends is that we have seen some African Ameri-cans in our Army, officers specifically, not go into the infantry or armor branch-es,” said Murphy. “We need to double down in recruit-ing them to go into those branches. When you look at our three and four star gen-erals, the majority of them come from combat arms.”

At the summit, three teams of about 20 experts each, made up of both Army officers and civilian subject-matter experts, were asked to develop recommendations on how best to improve the diversity of combat arms of-ficers in the Army. Teams examined the problem from three different perspectives: accessions, development and employment, and retention.

At the conclusion of the three-day summit, those teams briefed senior Army leaders, including Murphy, on their recommendations.

Among the recommen-dations was the proposal to review how Human Re-sources Command distrib-utes combat arms branches to the various sources of commission, which include the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Reserve Officers Training Corps; and Officer Candidate School.

A review of the branch distribution could potentially better allocate infantry and armor branches across a more diverse pool of candi-dates. Ensuring the Army provides the best opportu-nities to the best qualified is an important step toward talent differentiation and inclusion.

Another proposed solu-tion presented to Army se-nior leaders was increased mentorship opportunities for minority officer candidates before they choose their branch.

While at West Point, ca-dets are exposed to a wide variety of officers from mul-tiple Army branches. But in Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments across the country, cadets are ex-posed primarily to their pro-fessors of military science. Studies show that cadets tend to emulate their profes-sor of military science when it comes time to choose a branch in the Army.

Increasing the number of infantry and armor officers who serve as professors of military science and assis-tant professors of military science at ROTC detach-ments around the country, while targeting schools with high minority attendance in the ROTC program, would put combat arms officers front and center in the lives of minority cadets.

That increased oppor-tunity for mentorship from combat arms officers could increase the likelihood that those cadets would choose combat arms for their branch. As a result, more minority officers might vol-unteer to serve in the combat arms branches and, when the time comes to choose general officers from their officer cohort, there would be a larger number of minority officers competing for those positions.

Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoff-ner, director of the Army Tal-ent Management Task Force, said that good mentorship must exist throughout an officer’s career to help guide officers to where they should serve in the Army, such as in what units, installations and jobs.

“We can do better at the role of mentoring, and at the role of coaching,” Shoffner said.

The recommendations briefed at the summit will be considered by the Army as possible ways to increase minority representation in senior Army leadership. They were heard by Murphy, Whitlock, Shoffner, and Lt. Gen. James C. McConville, the Army’s G-1.

“We have to have a plan of action, and we have to have a way to follow up,” said Shoff-ner. “One of the recommen-dations is we use the Army Diversity Council as a way to make sure we implement the recommendations we are making today.”

U.S..Army.

Capt. Lou Cascino, commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), pulls security while Staff Sgt. Eric Stephens and 1st Lt. James Kromhout verify their position during a partnered patrol in Madi Khel, Khowst Province, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2013.

Army reviews diversity in combat arms leadership

Friday, July 22, 2016 | THE RED 7 | Page 5

2138143

By.STAFF.SGT..LArrAINE.WHETSTONE

U.S. Army

ILLESHEIm,. Germany.— On July 11 a helicopter task force of four UH-60L Black Hawks and Soldiers from the Colorado, Utah and Kansas Army National Guard arrived here to sup-port components of Spe-cial Operations Command Europe during training and exercises throughout Europe.

The mission, which will last several months, is meant to allow National Guard Soldiers the oppor-tunity to strengthen their unit deployment readiness while at the same time augmenting the training of U.S. and partner nation special operations forces.

“Moving from a good idea around a water cooler to actually executing this idea gives the Soldiers an opportunity to focus on the training objectives of their customers (U.S. Army Eu-rope, 12th Combat Aviation

Brigade and Special Opera-tions Command Europe),” said Lt. Col Anthony D. Somogyi, the task force commander and Colorado National Guardsman

Since September 2001, the National Guard has deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism alongside the active com-ponent, which has allowed Soldiers to build capabili-ties and relationships with the active components.

“This is a great mis-sion for (National Guard) aviation, because we find ourselves being asked to work with special forces in (global contingency opera-tions) quite a bit, and this is another way we can work with them and figure out how to support them,” said Somogyi.

As a direct support avia-tion task unit, the Nation-al Guard helicopter task force will provide Special Operations Command Eu-rope with air movement support, static and mili-tary freefall support, and fast-rope insertion and

extraction system capabil-ity. When not meeting Spe-cial Operations Command Europe requests, the task force will support the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and United States Army Europe.

This is the first phase of what is hoped to be an en-during mission set, said So-mogyi. The National Guard helicopter task force is the “proof of concept” and is scheduled to rotate back to the U.S. at the beginning of October. If approved, the aircraft will remain in theater to allow follow on forces from the National Guard to gain experience and build readiness on lon-ger rotations.

By the end of the mis-sion, this first wave of National Guard Soldiers should have demonstrated their value, said Somogyi, as well as their capacity to support Special Opera-tions Command Europe in future support aviation task unit missions in the European Command area of responsibility.

STAFF.SGT..LArrAINE.WHETSTONE.| U.S. Army

An Army National Guard helicopter lands at Illesheim, Germany airfield on July 11. The UH-60L Black Hawk is one of four helicopters in a task force made up of Soldiers and aircraft from the Colorado, Utah and Kansas Army National Guard. The task force will be support-ing components of Special Operations Command Europe for the next few months.

national Guard helicopter task force bolsters Special operations Command Europe

Page 6 | THE RED 7 | Friday, July 22, 2016

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Before Donald Trump or House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) or a panel of health industry executives called this month for a leadership makeover to save VA healthcare, a separate committee of VA advisors asked critics this election year to stop ignoring an unprecedented transformation occurring across the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veteran service organizations echo a similar message, noting, for example, that key parts of Trump’s 10-point plan to improve VA healthcare, unveiled Monday in Virginia Beach, were embraced months ago by VA and are being implemented or awaiting new authorities or funding from Congress.

In an era of bitter partisanship, politicians can shine no light on achievements by the opposition party, even on issues critical to veterans.

The risk of such strategy, the MyVA Advisory Committee suggests, is that politics will steal momentum from real reforms,

and return VA to crisis mode, even as candidates vow that their highest priority is to help veterans.

MyVA Advisory Committee is a dozen leaders and subject matter experts on veteran issues, business and higher education. The twelve were appointed in March 2015 to advise VA on implementing Secretary Bob McDonald’s “MyVA initiatives” with its goal to create “a high-performing and customer-focused culture” across VA. Though McDonald appointed them, MyVA committee members operate independent of VA, tracking and evaluating

progress for improving access to benefits and quality care.

Given the drumbeat of criticism still being leveled at VA, and a feint by the congressionally chartered Commission on Care to propose dismantling VA healthcare and have veterans rely solely on for-profit care, the advisory committee released a preliminary report card on MyVA three months early.

Its members unanimously agreed “the change we have witnessed over the past 15-months – at all levels of the Department – is unprecedented.” Though significant challenges remain to modernize VA, the committee said, the transformation underway “is right, appropriate and does set a course for long-term reform and excellence across the department.”

The committee “strongly urges those who would…politicize the ongoing reform at VA to consider first…the debt of honor that’s been earned” by veterans and “how a grateful nation best pays on that debt.”

The committee chair

is retired Army Major Gen. Josue (Joe) Robles, Jr., former president and chief executive officer of USAA, an insurance and investment association for military and veterans. Its vice chair is Air Force veteran Michael Haynie, vice chancellor at Syracuse University and executive director of its Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

In a phone interview, Robles and Haynie confirmed that their worry election-year politics and the Commission on Care report might derail current reforms had sparked the MyVA progress report months ahead a fall deadline.

“This is the political season and I know there’s a lot of pressure on a lot of people to make statements or take positions,” said Robles. “And we wanted to make sure it’s clear the direction we’re heading” on assessing VA.

Haynie said he wouldn’t have supported releasing the statement last week if he had seen only marginal changes to VA programs and performance.

“Instead, what we have seen has truly been

fundamental change in accountability, in transparency and in culture. It’s the kind of change that really does set a long-term direction for VA that is drastically different from the course VA was on two years ago.”

“We all agree,” Haynie added, “that the worse thing we can do is politicize veterans issues such that veterans are the last folks people are thinking about.” Inside VA, he said, a wave of reforms has been driven by “authentic and purposeful focus on how do we do better by veterans.”

Nothing merits or demands a collaborative approach to developing good policy, programs and services than those aimed at veterans, Haynie said. So it serves everyone, regardless of political orientation, that the VA transformation “not be political or parochial or motivated by self-interest. It the definition of where citizenship should be the prevailing logic.”

Trump and Miller, who introduced Trump at his Monday speech, had other goals in mind. Miller, who is retiring, has led criticism of VA for years, including through the wait-time scandal that found scores of VA executives protecting their bonuses by hiding lists of patients while waiting for care.

Despite a near wholesale change in top VA leadership, Miller and GOP colleagues are keeping the focus on fresh pockets of executive abuses, and rail against VA’s inability to fire or swiftly discipline career bureaucrats.

Trump signaled that Miller might be his nominee for VA secretary. In his introduction to Monday’s speech, Miller said veterans have been

ill served by VA, not for lack of budget dollars, which have “quadrupled” since 2001, but due to scandal after scandal allowed by failed leaders. He called VA “a model of government dysfunction” and tagged former senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton “a career bureaucrat” who would allow more scandals.

Trump, Miller said, “doesn’t view VA’s problems as a fantasy that’s been created by the opposition party. He knows that they’re real.”

Point one of Trump’s 10-point plan to fix VA healthcare, Trump said, is to appoint a VA secretary of “great competence” and “not be a political hack,” as he labeled McDonald, a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger and former chief executive of Proctor & Gamble Corp.

Trump promised to give “every veteran” in America access either to VA or private sector health care, a move veterans service organizations oppose, fearful that ballooning costs would put the entire VA health system at risk, a special concern for severely disabled veterans on rely on VA the most.

Other Trump ideas that had vet groups confused were his call to move veterans to the front of the line for visas, and to relax “confinement rules,” perhaps a reference to criminal sentences given veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress or service-related brain injury. But Trump didn’t elaborate.

Send.comments.to.military.Update,.P.O..Box.231111,.Centreville,.vA,.20120,.email.milupdate@aol.com.or.twitter:.Tom.Philpott.@military_Update

VA advisory group: Critics wrong to ignore ‘MyVA’ reforms

Tom Philpott

Friday, July 22, 2016 | THE RED 7 | Page 7

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From.staff.reports

Poker tournamentEglin’s Hangar 3 is host-

ing a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, open to all base personnel, on Satur-day, July 23 at 1 p.m. Entry is free.

Prizes will be awarded and pizza will be provided. Seating is limited, so call 850-882-9308 now to reserve your spot.

extreme jet skiingJoin Eglin Outdoor Rec-

reation on Saturday, July 23 and Aug. 6 for an extreme jet skiing adventure along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Guid-ed by an experienced pro-fessional, this fun excursion is a perfect opportunity to safely explore the water-ways and experience some amazing sights.

Cost is $25 per person. This as a SAPI (Single Air-men Program Initiative) event for Air Force active duty or reservists who are single or unaccompanied by a spouse. Call 850-882-5058 for more information.

ScUBa classesEglin Outdoor Recre-

ation hosts “Discover SCU-BA” introductory classes to underwater diving, open to all base person-nel and family members. This course is designed for potential divers who are interested in SCUBA but aren’t quite ready to plunge into a full certifica-tion course.

Cost is only $40 per per-son and includes use of all equipment required for a beginner’s first real excur-sion into the water, under the direct supervision of a PADI professional. Those interested in taking the next steps toward a more advanced diving experi-ence are welcome to par-ticipate in Outdoor Rec’s

PADI Open Water Diver course, a four-day class with focus on knowledge and skill development, practice, exploration, and certification.

Cost is $325 per person for instruction and class materials. Even more ad-vanced diving courses are available upon request, including Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, & Master Diver courses. For upcoming class dates and times, contact Eglin Out-door Rec at 850-882-5058.

Ultimate zip-lineEglin Outdoor Recre-

ation invites you to soar with them over scenic landscapes on an ultimate zip-line trip on Sunday, July 24 at Adventures Unlimited near Milton. This thrilling outdoor ex-perience features 12 plat-forms, an exhilarating sky bridge, and zip lines span-ning up to 900 feet, some crisscrossing over Wolfe and Coldwater Creeks.

Cost for the excursion is only $25 per person and includes transportation, all adventures, and all equip-ment. Participants should bring money for meals and snacks. Participants must weigh at least 70 pounds. and not more than 250 pounds, and are asked to please wear closed-toed shoes.

Visit Outdoor Rec to sign up. This is a RecOn resiliency event espe-cially designed for those gearing up or returning from a deployment, in-cluding Air Force active duty or reservists and eligible family members. Call 850-882-5058 for more information.

Youth soccer & flag football

Registration for soccer and flag football is now open

thru August 15 from Mon-day – Friday, 12-6 p.m. at the Eglin Youth Center. Cost is $50 per child, or $100 per family.

Soccer players must be age 5 prior to Aug. 23, and under age 12 prior to Nov. 5. Flag Football players must be age 6 prior to Aug. 23, and under age 12 prior to Nov. 5.

Player evaluations for ages 9-11 will be held Aug. 17 for Soccer and Aug. 18 for Flag Football, at 5:30 p.m. on Field 4. (Players under age 9 will be placed on teams according to age groups, without evaluations.)

Practices begin the week of Aug. 22, with games played every Saturday from Sep. 17 to Nov. 5 at either Eglin or Hurlburt. A man-datory parent orientation meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Eglin Youth Center Gym.

All youth participating in sports must have a current sports physical, shot record, and a birth certificate on file before participation can be-gin. Full registration details and forms are available at the Youth Center.

Volunteer coaches and officials are needed. Con-tact Terry Evans at 850-882-5074 for more information or to volunteer.

Family fun golf Sundays

It’s family fun on the Fal-con Course every Sunday afternoon! Each adult ac-companied by a child age 17 or under pay a half-rice green fee, and the child plays for free.

Golf carts and equipment rentals are available at full price. To make playing as a family easier and more fun, forward tees will be used on the course, along with a new 15-inch cup.

The 15-inch cup will be located on the Falcon greens every Sunday for

Family Golf, along with the regular 4 1/4-inch cups for regular play. Visit the Pro Shop for information on us-ing the new Relaxed Rules for golf! 850-678-8726

For more informa-tion, please contact Chap-lain Capt Micah Baker at 882-2111.

Thursday game night

The Eglin Chapel will host a Game Night every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lighthouse Airmen Center - Dorm 18 D, 3rd floor (Behind White Sands Inn). Game Night is de-signed for dorm residents as an opportunity to relax, connect with friends (or make new ones) while play-ing the latest Xbox and Play Station games as well as a variety of card games.

Free food will also be available. For more informa-tion, please contact Senior Airman Jeremy Wortham at 882-2111.

Offshore party boat fishing

Experience the thrill of offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the popu-lar Sweet Jody charter fish-ing boat on Sunday, July 10. Cost per person is $25 for an 8-hour excursion open to 40 people.

Military members and family members ages 6 and above are welcome to sign up. All items will be provided, including but not limited to boat trip, tackle, bait, fishing poles, instruc-tions, bagging of fish to take home, plus other inciden-tals needed to make the trip an experience to remem-

ber. Contact Eglin Outdoor Recreation at Postl Point to make reservations.

Payment is due when signing up. This is a RecOn resiliency event especially designed for those gear-ing up or returning from a deployment, including Air Force active duty or re-servists and eligible fam-ily members or a guest. Call 850-882-5058 for more information.

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Page 8 | THE RED 7 | Friday, July 22, 2016

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