Page 3 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, May 2022

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High Desert Warrior 3 May 2022
Community
Updated Army directive to help new parents care for children, maintain health
by Joe Lacdan
Army News Service
WASHINGTON — Just before the ceremony when she assumed command of a U.S. Army Reserve company in 2012, then-Capt. Kelly Bell felt nauseated. Concerned, her fellow Soldiers checked on her.
Bell explained that she just had morning sickness, after re- cently learning she had become pregnant with her first daughter. She wanted to attend the Army’s pre-command course but under the Army regulations at the time, pregnant Soldiers could not attend training classes.
“My application kept getting denied because I was pregnant even though it was 100% classroom settings,” said Bell, now a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. “I had a temporary profile, and I couldn’t go to the class. So, I had to wait until after she was born.”
Bell, the 7203rd Medical Support Unit commander in Hobart, Indiana, has known pregnant Soldiers who have been facing challenging situations in the Army since she had her daughter nine years ago.
So, in February 2021 Bell joined together with other Soldier- parents to submit a white paper from the field that identified five obstacles that pregnant and postpartum Soldiers face in the Army. That white paper inspired a working group at the Army Headquarters, which has been comprehensively reviewing the Army’s pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood policies over the last year.
The result of that effort is the new Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum Army Directive which has updated regulations for parents and families into the 12 policy changes included in the omnibus directive.
The policies will not only help new Soldier-moms transi- tion back to duty but help all Army parents better care for military children and expand their families while advancing their military careers.
“We recruit Soldiers, but we retain families,” said the Army’s Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville. “Winning the war for talent means making sure our best and brightest people don’t have to choose between service and family.”
Army Secretary Christine E. Wormuth approved the initia-
tives on April 19 and released the directive, which will strive to alleviate many of the administrative burdens Army parents face, today.
The Army working group that built the proposal included members of the Army Manpower and Reserve Affairs director- ate, Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Army Office of the Surgeon General, and Army G-1.
To help inform the changes, Amy Kramer, lead author for the directive and Maj. Sam Winkler, a contributor to the directive, incorporated feedback from the various social media parent based groups, such as “The Army Mom Life,” and from leaders throughout the Army. Army leaders have supported the sweeping changes to prioritize people throughout the directive writing process, Kramer said.
Fort Irwin celebrates Month of the Military Child with Spring Fling
Story by Casey Slusser
National Training Center and Fort Irwin
Fort Irwin, Calif.— Fort Irwin commu- nity members and families came together for a Spring Carnival, April 23, here, in recognition of the Month of the Military Child.
Each April provides a chance to recognize and thank the children of service members and veterans, highlighting the important role military children play in Armed Forces communities.
Col. Jason Clarke, the Fort Irwin garrison commander, said he was glad the community could all be together and celebrate military children at the event.
“If anyone deserves recognition for their selfless service and sacrifices, it’s our military children,” Clarke said. “I am proud of all the work and effort our garrison team has put into this event in support of them and our community.”
Saturday’s event featured bounce houses, multiple inflatable slides, carnival games, a book give away, and food, including specialty coffees, shaved ice and food trucks.
“I liked the bounce house because it was like an obstacle course!” said 4-year-old Charlotte Cain, daughter of Capt. Evan Cain,
the public affairs officer with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Carnival attendees tried their luck at dunking multiple command sergeants major, including Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Haydt from the National Training Center, Com- mand Sgt. Maj. Justin Larson from garrison, and Command Sgt. Maj. Montrell Kea from 916th Support Brigade, at the dunk tank event run by the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program.
The Military and Civilian Spouses Club donated $500 to United Through Reading, a nonprofit organization, to assist with the UTR summer reading program.
For over 30 years, United Through Read- ing has partnered with military families to support literacy by providing opportunities for sharing stories across even the greatest distances.
United Through Reading gave away over 400 books at the carnival to children of all reading levels.
Cherry Langston, the Villages at Fort Irwin Marketing Manager, said she loves the carnival event.
“We [The Villages at Fort Irwin] enjoy finding fun ways to give back and bring joy
to our residents, especially during the Month of the Military Child,” Langston said. “This event turned out so great because the entire community came together to make it work, it’s truly a testament to what these kids mean to this community.”
Archeological and environmental teams from Fort Irwin Department of Public Works also set up interactive booths in celebration of Earth Day where participants received infor- mation on water resources and conservation, native plant life, and viewed reptiles including desert tortoises.
At the archeological booth kids were shown how to dig and search for their own desert artifacts and had the opportunity to handle artifacts found in the local training area.
“Our sense of community is growing every
day,” Clarke said. “It’s great to see, and be a part of.”
The Fort Irwin community participated in several events throughout the month celebrat- ing the resiliency of military children.
Families kicked off the month with a Superhero Run, community members wore purple throughout the month in recogni- tion of the strength and sacrifices of military children, supported young entrepreneurs at a Youth Business Fair, and ended with the Spring Carnival.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin