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It’s mission essential at local bases ahead

of Isaac

INSIDe

Briefs ...............xx

Philpott ...........xx

Army unveils Special Operations

semi-truckPage 4

Welcome home

page 2

Page 2 | THE ReD 7 | Friday, August 31, 2012

By Staff Sergeant ramon m. marrero

7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

egLIn afB – More than 50 Sol-diers from the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Support Battal-ion and the Groups’ Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company returned from a seven-month de-ployment to Afghanistan on Satur-day, Aug. 25.

As the Soldiers arrived at Duke Field, they were welcomed home by the Group’s Deputy Com-manding Officer, Colonel Miguel Howe, the Group’s rear Detach-ment Command Sergeant Major Michael Fields and the Group’s Command Chief Warrant Officer Tommy Austin.

The Soldiers departed for their deployment earlier this year and as the anticipation of their arrival back to the 7th Special Forces Group compound, you couldn’t help but notice the emotions and smiles on the faces of their family members and friends.

As the busses pulled into the compound they were welcomed home by numerous family mem-bers and fellow Soldiers from the

Group; all who gathered together and waited excitedly for their loved ones to depart the busses.

“I feel excited, it’s about time!” said Carrie Conception, wife of Sgt. David Conception, a parachute rigger with the Group’s Support Battalion, as she waited for her husband to get off the bus.

“It feels great, that’s how it feels!” said Specialist Dennis

Thomas when asked how he feels about his return from another successful deployment. “I plan on going home, taking my little girl out to eat, go to a few places and pick up my other boy that’s it,” he said.

The 7th Special Forces Group command team and approximate-ly 700 Soldiers remain in Afghani-stan as part of the Combined Joint

Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan.

Soldiers return home

Year No. 2 edition No. 36

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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Friday, August 31, 2012 | THE ReD 7 | Page 3

By DUStY rICKettS

Northwest Florida Daily News

Isaac is not expected to have a major impact on the Emerald Coast, but area military bases were not taking any chances and closed to non-essential personnel Tuesday.

Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, the Army 7th Special Forces Group and Duke Field all were operating with essential personnel only.

“We’re going to mission-essential personnel only starting (Monday), and that’s expected to be in ef-fect Tuesday and Wednes-day,” said Col. Donald Johnson, 96th Operations Group commander.

Johnson said emergen-cy personnel — the base’s fire, rescue and hospital staff — will be in, as will people working the air field. He added that the air field will be kept open for Northwest Florida Region-al Airport, which has an agreement to use Eglin’s runways, as long as sus-tained winds do not reach 43 knots.

Pilots from Eglin’s 53rd Wing and 96th Test Wing on Monday flew all of their flyable F-15s and F-16s to other bases to wait out the storm. At least nine F-15s were flown to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina and 10 F-16s were flown to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

“The weather’s good at those locations,” said Col. David Hicks, command-

er of the 53rd Wing. “We can take the airplanes up there with no problem, bed them down for a few days and probably bring them back home Thursday. It’s really more of a precaution than anything else, just in case the storm decides to make an unexpected or unplanned turn in either direction or strength in the next couple of days.

“We err on the side of caution and of precaution when it comes to the air-planes,” Hicks said.

Eglin’s 19 F-35s attached to the 33rd Fighter Wing remained at Eglin. Those jets were stored Monday in one of three new hangars built to withstand up to 145 mph winds. Five F-15s

and four F-16s that couldn’t make the trip to other Air Force bases because of mechanical issues were also stored on Monday.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Brown-lee, public affairs officer for the 7th Special Forc-es Group, said one of the main reasons to keep non-essential personnel home is to give those people a chance to take care of their families.

“That’s one of our big-gest issues and concerns, taking care of the families of those who are deployed,” Brownlee said

“We just trying to make sure that everybody is safe and secure and that if they need anything, definitely tell us now sooner than later,” he added.

It’s mission essential at bases ahead of Isaac

SamUeL KIng Jr. | USAF

A four-ship of F-15s taxis toward the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Aug. 27. The 96th and the 53rd Wing evacuated their aircraft due to the impend-ing arrival of Hurricane Isaac. The Wings’ F-16s flew to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the F-15s flew to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

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Staff Sgt. ramon m marrero | U.S. Army

Col. Miguel D. Howe speaks to the Soldiers from the Group Support Battalion and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company from the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) when they arrived at Duke Field on Aug. 25. The Soldiers returned from a seven month long deployment in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. ramon m marrero | U.S. Army

Family members wait as the plane bringing the Soldiers from the Group Support Battalion and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) arrives at Duke Field on Aug. 25. The Soldiers returned from a seven month long deployment in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. ramon m marrero | U.S. Army

A Soldier hugs his daughter out-side of the Group Support Battal-ion Headquarters on Aug. 25.

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Page 4 | THE ReD 7 | Friday, August 31, 2012 Friday, August 31, 2012 | THE ReD 7 | Page 5

By CheLSea BISSeLL

U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Public Affairs

VILSeCK, germany — Post-military life for service members can be difficult. Leaving the sequestered culture of the military may presents challenges such as finding jobs, obtaining health care and translating military jargon into civilian locution.

The Transition Assis-tance Program, or TAP, part of the Army Career and Alumni Program, is set up to ease this bumpy shift and to provide out-process-ing Soldiers, veterans and dependents with the neces-sary skills and realistic ex-pectations for a new life.

Though TAP has been part of the Army for years, it is currently undergoing a facelift thanks to the Veter-ans Opportunity to Work Act passed by Congress in Octo-ber 2011. This revision — the program’s first in 20 years — is designed to make TAP more intensive, involved and in line with current econom-ic trends. The new initiative, which begins Nov. 21, also makes TAP mandatory for all departing Soldiers.

For Ben Petersdorff, transition services manag-

er for ACAP Europe-East, the new TAP is timely and forward-thinking.

“It’s more hands on,” said Petersdorff. “The material’s been updated. There’s a lot of new websites out there geared toward getting Sol-diers employment. The Sol-diers will be able to go (to the websites) in the class. They’ll be able to apply for jobs in the classroom and even interview.”

The class will also cover interviewing skills, search-ing for employment, resume writing, salary negotiation and tips for translating military-speak and skills into language civilians can understand.

“It gets the Soldiers in the frame of mind of think-ing like a civilian,” explained Petersdorff.

Along with the three-day TAP class, Soldiers will be obligated to participate in a preseparation briefing, a Veterans Affairs briefing and initial counseling. Also start-ing Nov. 21, service mem-bers must begin their ACAP training at least a year prior to their exit date, a signifi-cant change from the cur-rent timeline of 90 days.

In conjunction with their TAP class, ACAP offers a host of support classes near-ly every day for ETSing Sol-

diers and their families. Classes take students in-

to the intricacies of the USA-Jobs.gov job website, and offer a practicum for those wishing to apply to federal positions with on-site expert help. Community members may also take ACAP classes which delve into VA bene-fits, resume writing, online career research and small

business administration.If exiting Soldiers desire

a federal career, they may

also turn to Army Commu-nity Service for post-Army career assistance. While

Soldiers may take the USAJobs course hosted by ACS, Rhani Ellis, Employ-ment Readiness Program manager, offers one-on-one guidance. Ellis will take job seekers through the entire process, from discovering their career goals, to hitting “submit” on the application.

“The process is different for each Soldier because what everyone wants is dif-ferent,” said Ellis.

Though there is a glut of career assistance in Grafen-woehr, Ellis notes that the key element in preparing for the outside world is time.

“I really advise that as soon as they know they’re getting out they need to start planning for their fu-ture,” she said.

Petersdorff emphasized the value of time, as well.

“Start early. It’s easier to look for work when you’re not hungry,” he said. “When you start to look when you’re already discharged, you get panicky. It’s easier when you start early.”

BY CheLSea BISSeLL | U.S. Army

Theresita Cliett, Army Career and Alumni Program career counselor, talks Spc. David Kinney, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regi-ment, and his wife, Jenifer, through the USAJobs.gov job website, as they finish their ini-tial counseling. Other Soldiers work on completing their counseling online.

new training prepares Soldiers for civilian lifefort Bragg, n.C. (USA-

SOC News Service) – The U.S. Army Special Opera-tions Command and the U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade will unveil the Spe-cial Operations Trailer in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 28 at the Fort Bragg South Post Exchange park-ing lot.

Over a period of sever-al months, USASOC staff provided design support, photographs, graphics and video support to the trailer upgrade.

The semi-truck is one of the Support Brigade’s rolling display assets designed to attract civilian members to enlist directly for Army Spe-cial Operations Forces.

“Rolling displays are part of the brigade’s mis-sion support battalion and helps connect Americans with America’s Army,” ac-cording to Col. Mark A. Rado, U.S. Army Accessions Sup-port Brigade commander. That mission extends to our troops in uniform as we support USASOC in recruit-

ing highly qualified Soldiers needed to fill the Army Spe-cial Operations Forces units. The USAASB supports U.S. Army Recruiting Command and U.S. Army Cadet Com-mand with their enlisted and officer accessions mission across the United States.

Through six different ele-ments of the trailer, visitors hear, see and experience Army Special Operations. Parachute simulator:

Allows visitors to strap into a harness and hang from the display van as part of a virtual

reality skydiving experience. Participants wear headgear that provides a view of the action as they descend down to a drop zone. Ground mobility vehicle

(GMV): Team simulator op-erated by a driver and a gun-ner. The driver uses monitors to maneuver through a city while avoiding obstacles. The gunner wears a helmet with a display screen to identify and engage enemy targets. Immersa Dome: Al-

lows participants to hear, see and feel the action of

Army Special Operations Forces . As you sit in a chair, domes lower, immersing you in the sights, sounds, and even smells, of Army Special Forces Operations. Videos include Special Operations Soldiers conducting various types of training. Career Navigator:

Touch screen monitors al-low participants to navigate a myriad of Army career pos-sibilities. Also included is in-formation on Army benefits, installations and educational opportunities.

Gear displays: Man-nequins dressed as a diver with amphibious gear and as a combat ready Special Operations Soldier pose with some the latest equipment and weapons used today. Medal of Honor Kiosk:

Includes the bios and stories of Army Special Operations Forces Soldiers and their outstanding service in war and peacetime operations. Their sacrifice often meant a choice between saving their own lives or those of their fellow Soldiers.

Army unveils Special Operations semi-truck

WaShIngton (Army News Service) — Unem-ployed veterans between 35 and 60 years old have an opportunity to begin a new career in one of more than 211 high-demand oc-cupations by applying for enrollment in the Veterans Retraining Assistance Pro-gram launched as part of

the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Sponsored by the Vet-erans Administration and the Department of Labor Veterans Retraining Assis-tance Program, or VRAP, offers up to 12 months of educational assistance to veterans enrolled in a VA-approved program of

education offered by a com-munity college or technical school.

The program the vet chooses must lead to an as-sociate’s degree, a non-col-lege degree or certificate and train the veteran in one of the labor department’s list of high-demand occupa-tions. Online courses may

be approved for VRAP. Pro-grams of study at vocational flight schools, correspon-dence courses, on-the-job training, apprenticeship and work-study are not approved.

Applicants to VRAP will have until March 31, 2014 to apply. After that date, the funding program ends. While enrolled in a full-time educational program, participants receive direct monetary assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program. That rate is currently capped at $1,473 per month. Vets are respon-sible for paying tuition, fees and books.

Eligible VRAP appli-cants must be unemployed at the time of application and have other than dis-honorable discharges. Ad-ditionally, they cannot be enrolled in a federal or state job training program or receiving VA compensa-tion due to being unemploy-able. Veterans eligible for other VA education benefit programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill or Vocational Reha-bilitation and Employment are not eligible for VRAP.

For Julius Ware II, an Army veteran who served with the 82nd from 1977 to 1981, his application and acceptance into the VRAP came at a time when he’d

just lost his job with the Capitol Heights, Md., public works department.

Shortly after paying a visit to the Washington, D.C., unemployment office and filing necessary paper-work to get himself back into the working world, he received a call from his vet-eran’s job counselor who told him about the VRAP program.

“When this VRAP pro-gram came up, she immedi-ately called me because she thought I was well-quali-fied, so I was interviewed and selected to be one of the first participants,” said Ware, who while in the Ar-my was a chemical opera-tions specialist.

After he left the Army he used his VA educational bill to become an electrician and member of the Interna-tional Brotherhood of Elec-trical Workers. Ware also co-founded the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, a national organization that represents the interests of minority electricians.

“I think it’s a good time to be a veteran,” Ware said. “Those of us in the 35-60 age range often fall through

DOD to improve voluntary education safeguards

the cracks, so I think it’s wonderful the government has come up with this pro-gram to address our needs. Oftentimes, between 35-60, if you’re out of a job, it’s a lot harder to get retraining. If the opportunity is there, you can’t afford to capital-ize on it because life gets in the way, so I think this a great opportunity.”

Ware begins classes in construction manage-ment next month at Prince Georges Community Col-

lege in Maryland. After he earns his associate’s de-gree, he wants to work with a construction company or government agency which is devoted to identifying local residents and veter-ans and putting them into entry-level positions in the building trades.

“Helping people get jobs is important to me, so my goal upon graduating is to be in a position where I can assist myself but also reach out and help veterans in

advancing their positions,” Ware said.

While many might con-sider 53 on the downhill side of a working life, Ware has no intention of retiring.

“People don’t necessarily retire when they love what they do and enjoy the rigor-ous atmosphere of going to work, doing fulfilling things, getting gratification from a job-well-done and seeing the fruits of their labor,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll re-tire; I’ll just slow down.”

The program the vet chooses must lead to an asso-ciate’s degree, a non-college degree or certificate and train the veteran in one of the labor depart-ment’s list of high-demand occupations. Online

courses may be approved for VRAP. Programs of study at vocational flight schools, correspondence courses, on-the-job training, apprenticeship and

work-study are not approved.

See DOD Page 5

DOD FrOM Page 4

Absentee ballot requests from military members and spouses are alarmingly low this election year, a voter advocacy group contends.

It blames the Depart-ment of Defense for foot-dragging on absentee voter reforms that were enacted after the last presidential election.

A four-page report, “Mili-tary Voting Update: A Bleak Picture in 2012,” builds its worrisome conclusions on what arguably are some thin reeds of data on early ballot requests across nine states, all of which have

large military populations and can track voter re-quests for absentee ballots.

They are Florida, Virgin-ia, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana and Nevada. Two states with the largest mili-tary populations, California and Texas, lack real time data on ballot requests.

Eric Eversole, execu-tive director of the Military Voter Protection Project (MVPP), is comfortable sounding this alarm to urge the military to improve sup-port of absentee voters in these critical weeks before

the Nov. 6 election.

Disap-point-ment with military participa-tion in the 2008 elec-tion, which totaled 53 percent

versus 64 percent for the general electorate, spurred Congress to strengthen military and overseas vot-ing protections in 2009 with passage of the Military and Overseas Voter Empower-ment (MOVE) Act.

It requires states to establish more standard procedures to accommo-date military and overseas voters. Voter registration requests and absentee bal-lot applications now can be emailed. States are re-quired to transmit absentee ballots no later than 45 days before an election, which means by Sept. 22 this year.

The Act also requires the services to set up voting

assistance offices on every military base. These of-fices, the MVPP says in its report, are “to provide mili-tary voters with an opportu-nity to register, update their voting address and request an absentee ballot ‘as part of the administrative in-pro-cessing … upon arrival at a new duty station.’ ”

That isn’t happening, the report says. Not only are military people not being offered voting assistance each time they report to a new duty station, but follow-on department guidance from 2010, that military voter assistance be compa-rable to what civilians re-ceive at state driver license branches and social service offices as mandated by the National Voter Registration Act, also has been ignored, the report contends.

As proof, it cites perfor-mance data filed by voting assistance offices last year and posted on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

“For example,” the re-

port says, “in the second quarter of 2011, the Air Force reported it provided assistance at only seven of 22 installation voting assistance offices. In its third quarter report, the Air Force indicated only five service members received assistance from these offices.”

Asked to comment, the Defense Department’s Federal Voting Assistance Program issued a state-ment that it respects “the perspectives” in the report. It also “is committed to facilitating the absentee registration process” and makes “resources available to the greatest extent pos-sible, communicating the availability of resources via myriad media.”

Data on yearly totals on voter assistance by the services, posted on the same FVAP website from which MVPP pulled quirky Air Force data, show that the service helped 104,000 voters last year. Army voter assistance offices said they helped 61,348, Marine Corps offices helped 13,671 and the Navy offices helped fewer than 4,000 voters.

The MVPP projects a “remarkable decline” in military absentee ballots by comparing total ballots requested to date by mili-tary voters across the nine states with total absentee ballots requested in 2008. The disparity, which is as wide as 49,000 ballots in Florida, for example, “will be difficult to make up” in what time remains, the re-port concludes.

Eversole, who authored the report, conceded he couldn’t make an exact comparison of total ballot requests two months be-fore the 2008 election and ballot requests today. But Eversole said he is in close contact with state boards of election, and officials share

his concern that the size of the surge needed just to match 2008 absentee voting levels “is staggering.”

Data obtained Wednes-day from the Virginia Board of Elections shows that in 2008 more than 36,000 military voters requested absentee ballots. So far this year, fewer than 2,000 mili-tary voters have requested ballots.

Don Palmer, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, said he doesn’t challenge critics who say the Department of Defense and the services have “work to do” to implement reforms mandated by the MOVE Act.

“I am a reservist in the Navy. I’ve been doing it for 22 years. And obviously (voter support) isn’t their first priority,” Palmer said. “We struggle sometimes to have DOD show the same urgency because they have other missions. I under-stand that.”

Terry Wagoner, absentee voter coordinator for Vir-ginia’s board of elections, said it is “still very early” to try to assess the level of military participation. The number of ballot requests will surge, she said.

“Where I would start to become very concerned would be at that 45-day mark” if numbers aren’t up sharply by then, she said. On Aug. 24, Wagoner was set to host an afternoon of training on absentee voting procedures for voter assis-tance officers from Virgin-ia’s nine military bases.

Wagoner said she views Eversole as a partner in turning out the military vote, and she understands why his report sounds so gloomy.

“Eric’s job is to paint a bleak picture so he can go out there and make it bet-

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Page 6 | THE ReD 7 | Friday, August 31, 2012 Friday, August 31, 2012 | THE ReD 7 | Page 7

Report blames DOD for fewer military absentee votes

ter. I support him wholeheartedly,” Wag-oner said. “But I refuse to let statistics stop me from doing everything I can” to help absentee voters.

Wagoner soon expects to be fielding 200 queries a day, via phone and email. Completed ballots will still have to be mailed. But with registration and ballot distribution now possible via email, she said, wait times should drop significantly and word should spread that the process

has improved.“The disappointment here is we’re

going to have difficulty meeting 2008 num-bers,” Eversole said, “which Congress said was the basis for sweeping reform. So are we really shooting for status quo?”

tom Philpott is a syndicated columnist. You may write to him at military Update, P.o. Box 231111, Centreville, Va 20120-1111, or at milupdate@aol.com.

Tom Philpott

See vOTeS Page 7

vOTeS FrOM Page 6

By KeVIn gooDe

Paraglide

fort Bragg, n.C. — Thanks to technology, military families who are separated by thousands of miles, vast countries and even wars can be brought together in an instant with just the push of a button.

For Jordyn Pritchard, a family member and new mom, taking advantage of that technology meant the difference between her de-ployed husband, Spc. Bran-den Pritchard being a part of the birth of the couples first child and missing out com-pletely. Prichard, a medic, is deployed with the 274th Forward Surgical Team.

“We found out we were pregnant in December and decided we wanted to do ma-ternity and deployment pic-tures because we knew he was deploying” said Jordyn.

Like many military fami-lies, the Pritchard’s found themselves faced with the challenge of trying to keep both parents actively a part of the impending birth.

“I found a photographer on craigslist.com,” said Jor-dyn. “We met up with her (Melissa Rees owner of Me-lissa Rees photography) and she did some really great pictures for us. We talked about how he (Branden)

was going to be gone for the birth.”

What started out as an effort to capture as much time together as a couple, turned into how they were going to make memories that included them together witnessing the birth of their first child — Courtney Pearl Pritchard.

“I told them I would film the birth for her,” said Rees, local birth and newborn in-fant photographer. I knew I just wanted somehow to make Jordyn’s husband a part of this day.”

During the birth, Rees not only captured moments of the event using her cam-era, she also used her Ipad to Skype broadcast a live feed

of the birth for the couple.“In the delivery room I

was there more as a friend (first) and the photogra-pher second because I re-ally wanted to be there for her (Jordyn),” said Rees. “I really think people meet people for a reason. She has really opened my eyes up to a new adventure in pho-tography now and I want to follow that.”

Military families some-times miss out on important moments, but thanks to technology, a father was able to be a part of his daughter’s birth. My husband was so excited,” said Jordyn. “He just stared at her (Court-ney). He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.”

U.S. armY

Jordyn Pritchard, family member takes her first family pic-ture with her deployed husband, Spc. Branden Pritchard and their first child, Courtney Pearl Pritchard, at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C., July 30.

Fort Bragg Soldier witnesses daughter’s birth on Skype

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NEW P: (850)423-4538 | F: (850)423-4539

OPEN SATURDAYS!MOGO

SPECIAL FORCES BRACELETS.

diamondgirl536@centurylink.net2080209

Page 8 | THE ReD 7 | Friday, August 31, 2012

from staff reports

Buccaneer Pirate Cruise

Get your discount tickets for Destin’s newest cruise attraction at Eglin ITT. The pirate tour interactively en-tertains passengers with sword fights, water gun battles, storytelling, sing-ing, dancing and treasure hunts. The Salty Dogs Club evening cruise offers a more mature entertainment expe-rience for adults to cut loose and enjoy a unique pirate adventure of their very own. Cost for adults (Mateys) and seniors (Landlubbers) is $29. Tickets for ages 4-14 (Scallywags) are $16.50 and ages 3 and under (Lil’ Bucks) are free. ITT dis-count prices save a family of 4 over $20!

11th annual Freedom run

Heritage Cycle and Em-erald Coast Harley Owners Group Chapter #0672 are

sponsoring the 11th Annual Freedom Poker Run Sept. 9. Supporting sponsor is Re-sort Quest. The event begins and ends at Heritage Cycle’s in Fort Walton Beach. Reg-istration starts at 8:30 a.m. with departure at 9:30 a.m. The last bike in no later than 2:30 p.m. Door prizes, mu-sic, food, 50/50 drawing and award for the largest par-ticipating club. Mid point of run will be at the Pensacola Vietnam Veterans Wall for a remembrance prayer at 11:30. Entry is $10 per rider/ passenger. All proceeds will be donated to The Special Operations Warrior Foun-dation to benefit education of the children of our fallen military heroes. For infor-mation, call Bill Branch at 850-598-0511 or Heritage Cycles at 850-862-4706.

Fisher House golf Tournament, gala

Each year Fisher House of the Emerald Coast serves nearly 400 guests. The mission of the Fisher House is to provide a safe,

comfortable lodging facil-ity for families in need. Join L-3 Crestview Aerospace in sponsorship of the upcom-ing Fairways for the Fisher House Golf Tournament and Gala. Sponsorships are still available, ranging from $50 to $15,000. Any donation amount is welcome.

The golf tournament will take place Sept. 13, 1:30 p.m., shotgun start at Kelly Planta-tion. The gala event will take place Sept. 14, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at Eglin AFB Bay View Club with dinner, entertainment, and silent auction. Several sponsorship levels are avail-able. Gala tickets may be purchased in advance for $50. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. For more information, visit www.fisherhouseemeraldcoast.org or call (850) 259-4956.

Hops for the HouseJoin Carrabba’s Italian

Grill in Sandestin as they support the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. A limited number of tickets are avail-

able for ‘Hops for the House’, a beer tasting and dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4. Tickets are a $45 donation and include beer tasting, ap-petizer and dinner, consist-ing of entrée, side and salad. All proceeds benefit local military families and stay in the local community.

The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast provides a home for military families when a member of their family is undergoing medi-cal treatment at a local facil-ity. This service is provided free of charge to families with a service member that has served in any branch of the military. It is not only for active duty personnel, but is also available to retirees, guards, reservists and veter-ans. For information on the Fisher House, including how you can support these fami-lies, contact Kim Henderson at 259-4956 or Kim@Fisher-HouseEmeraldCoast.org.

to submit an item for the briefs, e-mail us at news@eglindispatch.com. Deadline for friday’s edition is noon monday.

Mickey is a Schnauzer mix and just over a year old. He makes friends with people, kids and all other animals. He only weighs 9 pounds, making him a perfect fit for any situ-ation. He likes to play, but cuddling is his favorite thing. He will soon be neutered and be ready to go to his new home. For more information on Mickey please visit www.petwel-fare.net or call 850-678-5066.

WaNTeD: a place to call homemILITARy BRiefs