The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1978 Page: 4 of 32
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4 -A
THE FT. HOOD SENTINEL hursday
What do you think of
water survival training?
Water survival is a man-
datory class given to soldiers
on Ft. Hood. The class teaches
SP4 EARL WINSTON
546th PSC 13th COSCOM
“I think learning to swim
should be mandatory. When in
the field you could be in a
situation where you swim or
die. I think they have very ef-
fective techniques for the non-
swimmer. They show him how
to survive when he has to.”
SSGT. SAMUEL CARNES
HHB DIVARTY 1st CAV. DIV.
“I think it’s an excellent
idea. It would cut down a lot on
accidents that occur in pools
lakes etc. I think it should also
be done for dependents. I think
it should be a requirement
when you first come into the
service. It should at least be
mandatory to pass a swimming
test.”
SGT. JERRY SMITH
CSC 166th Arm. 2nd Armd.
Div.
“I think it should be man-
datory. You never know when
the time comes that you’re go-
ing to have to know how to
swim. There should be training
systems for people in the
Army. If you’re in a war situa-
tion and have to cross a river
and some of the platoon can’t
swim what would you do? Let
them drown? Leave them
behind when you need ever-
yone in the platoon?
SP5 DENNIS M. WADE
HHC 163rd MI Bn. HI Corps
“I think it’s a pretty good
idea. With all the drownings oc-
curing there should be some
kind of preventive measures
taken. I feel that a person
never knows when they may
need to know how to swim. If it
isn’t mandatory then a lot of
people wouldn’t attend the
class. I’m a good swimmer but
I still learned a lot of things I
didn’t know.”
people what to do in case they
are in danger of drowning.
SP5 DIANE DePASCAL
Co. A 163rd MI Bn. HI Corps
“I don’t think it’s necessary
for people who know how to
swim but for people who don’t
know how to handle themselves
in the water it would probably
help. I don’t think it should be
mandatory for those who know
how to handle themselves in
those situations.”
FORUM197813April
SP 5 O S S E
RAMSDELL
BCo. 1/7 Cav. IstCav. Div.
“It takes up a lot of time but
it’s worth it. I didn’t like it
when I went through it. I about
drowned! I think it should be
mandatory to know how to
swim. I learned a lot of things
in the class I didn’t know. It
teaches you how to use your
clothes to keep from drown-
ing.”
SSGT. JOHN YOCUM
DET. 1-1 602nd TAIRCOW 1st
Cav. ALO
It gives a person confidence
even non-swimmers. It helps
people keep from panicking.
The information on survival in
emergency situations is good. I
think swimming should be
mandatory for military person-
nel. People should take a swim-
ming class when they first
come in.”
SP4 MICHAEL McINTOSH
HHB 1/21 FA IstCav. Div.
I think Water Survival
classes shouldn’t be mandatory
for everybody. Everybody
should know how to swim.
Everybody has to go to the field
sometimes and there are
[daces that are flood hazards
like on ranges and roads. I
learned how to stay afloat. I
think a suggestion would be to
give swimming classes to ever-
ybody because even though
people have been through
water survival classes they
still don’t know how to swim.”
by the Armadillo
Letters submitted are subject to being edited!/Write: Armadi/b. Ft. Hood Texas
76544. Or call 685-2436
Dear Readers
Daring my week-end visits to the area lakes and ponds I have noticed an increasing
number of people enjoying the warmer weather. Fishing has increased in popularity
with the approach of summer.
When you break out your faithful rod and reel don’t forget to pick yourself up a fishing
license when you stop off for bait. The $4.50 cost of the license is a lot cheaper than the
possible $25 fine that you can get stuck with for getting caught fishing without one.
Everyone needs a license to fish except those under 17 and those over 65 years of age.
While
you’re out fishing or doing just about everything else remember that old Sol
can get pretty strong. And after being all bundled up in coats scarves long un-
derwear and gloves it won’t take much to burn that skin of yours.
There area variety of ways you can protect yourself from sunburn and heat stroke.
For the first few times that you are out in the sun try to regulate the amount of sun
that you get. Start out with a short exposure time and gradually work yourself up to a
longer period of time.
Sunburns besides being very painful can be dangerous. Blisters can form much like
the ones that you get from a second degree burn. Really bad sunburns third degree
burns can cause you to be hospitalized.
The wearing of light clothing during the hotter hours of the day will help to avoid caus-
ing your body to overheat and will likely make you a little more comfortable.
Wear a hat on your head when the sun is bearing down directly on you. Be sure to
drink plenty of water and to keep a good amount of salt in your diet (unless you are cm a
salt-free diet in which case consult your physician.
One of the best ways to avoid sunburn is to take periodic breaks in the shade. This will
give you a chance to cool.
The best advice that you can heed is to use your common sense about how much sun
your body can take.
P.S.
Now that the letters have started to thin out more than I’d like to see I’ve decided to
take a month off and roam around the country just taking it easy. I’ve been here in Tex-
as for most of my life and haven’t had much of a chance to see anything else.
I've got some relatives that moved to Honolulu a couple of years ago and my wife has
been begging me to take her to visit them ever since. This would be a great opportunity
to do just that.
I've been a fan of surfing for a good many years and I can’t wait to get over there on
some of those fantastic waves. Of course the hula 'dillos will be a great attraction.
If something comes up while I'm away just write it down and drop it in the mail. I'll
get to all of your letters as soon as I return. Address your letters to:
The Armadillo
Ft. Hood SENTINEL
Building 60
Ft. Hood Texas
76544
FT. HOOD SENTINEL
Published in the interest of military and civilian personnel at Ft. Hood Tex. every Thursday by Bell Publishing
Company Tem ple Tex. Policies and statements reflected in the news and editorial columns represent view of the in-
dividual writers and under no circumstances are to be considered those of the Department of the Army. Advertise-
ents in this publication do not constitute an endorsement by the Departm ent of Defense of the products or services
advertised. All news matter for publication should be sent to the Public Affairs Office Ft. Hood SENTINEL. Ft.
Hood Tex. 76544 Telephone 685-2436. This is not an official Army newspaper. However this publication receives Army
News Service material and papers are authorized to reprint noncopyright ARNEWS material without permission from
ARNEWS.
The Armadillo
RIGGER COMPANY^
THERE THEY ARE
...T E ID E OF
THE I9TH COSCOM"
THE TRANSPORTATION
COMPANIES/
'H
1
Editorial■
By RICHARD A. SMITH
A former FIRST TEAM battalion com-
mander believes that many of our officers
and NCO’s today lack moral courage. It is
indeed a strong statement. But un-
fortunately it has merit and believability
for a number of reasons. To the most
casual observer it’s apparent that many of
our officers and non-coms simply refuse to
make on-the-spot corrections when they ob-
serve a subordinate violating Army regula-
tions.
Made Appropriate
Corrections
0
1
2
3
Commentary
By LARRY GAI AN
(Ed. note Forum is dedicated to personal viewpoints expressed in editorials and com entaries. Free lance writers are invited to participate in the Forum
All comments should be addressed to: Editor Ft. Hood SENTINEL and must be signed.)
d(
Their actions or lack of them un-
dermine the basic foundations of a strong
military and contribute to a breakdown in
military discipline. As an example un-
iform violations that goe unnoticed by our
officers and NCO’s are symptomatic in my
By SANDI ADAMS
THEY'VE S RUN
THROUGH ANOTHER
FIELD E E CI S E WITH
COM END A IO N
E E S COMING
IN FROM A.LL OVER
GTHE
O
E O S I
The staff in Mr. Richard A. Smith’s office were doubting Thomases. They found it
hard to believe that the situation he had outlined was really as bad as it sounded. Sure
there were quite a few uniform violations on and off post but they still felt he might
have been crying “Wolf!” when he stated that on-the-spot corrections weren’t being
made. They decided to check it out...
On three different days staff members in the grade of E-4 were placed at various well
travelled locations on post. On one day the staffer wore no headgear outdoors on the
next an unbuttoned field jacket and on the third both no hat and unbuttoned field
jacket was tried. The results of their little survey was astonishing. This is what they
found...
ENLISTED
Last week when I arrived at my office for
work I found a friend of mine lying pro-
strate on the ground in front of our candy
machine. He was in terrible shape. He was
just beginning to go into convulsions sweat
soaked through his freshly broken
starch and he was moaning something
fierce. It didn’t take any formal training to
recognize the advance stages of “candy
withdrawal.”
Acting on sheer instinct I popped a
quarter into the machine yanked a knob
and out slid a nice sweet chocolate bar.
After feeding this to him he recovered
rapidly and was able to go about his busi-
ness in a short period of time.
Although most people in my office don’t
suffer from such a severe addiction to
sweets as this poor chap the weekly ar-
rival of the candy man is greeted with a
fanfare just short of a ticker-tape parade.
Take for instance last week when the
fudge brownies were added to our other de-
licious morsels. As the occupants of the
building casually strolled by the candy
machine on the way to their desks they
couldn’t help but notice the brownies peer-
ing out through the smeared glass. One
could almost hear the brownies saying
“Buy me.”
Girls who had been on faithful diets for
Such was the case a few nights ago at the
PX Picnic Palace when a young soldier
was observed walking through the store
dressed in fatigues with his shirt tail out of
his trousers trouser legs rolled up and
wearing shower shoes. If it matters he was
Grade Corrections
E-5 46
E-6 18
E-7 20
E-8 12
A dvertising copy should be sent to: Business Office. P.O. Box 868 Tem ple. Tex. 76501 or Business Office. P.O. Box
27 111 North Second Killeen Tex. 76541. Subscription off post $7.00 per year. $2.00 for three months. Distribution on
post free.
Unless otherwise credited all pictures are United States Army photographs. nless otherwise noted the publication
of these is not restricted except in cases involving republication for advertising purposes at which tim permission of
the epartm ent of the Army must be obtained.
Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase use or patronage without regard to
the race creed color national origin or sex of the purchaser user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of
O A N E S
COMPANY A TTE N IO N
"COM PANY A E N IO N
opinion of a more serious illness—the
degradation of established standards and
an ineffective chain of command.
Let’s pursue the uniform violations for a
moment. Where do they occur? Off-post?
On-post? During duty hours? After duty
hours? You’re right if you answered that
they occur anywhere and anytime and
they occur most of the time within sight of
me of our appointed leaders. They go un-
corrected simply because no one seems to
care enough to make an on-the-spot correc-
tion.
BONNER...
11.
Officers and NCOs lack moral courage?
Survey reveals lack corrections made
The officers and NCO’s who witnessed
the incident described above (and it actual-
ly happened) are abdicating their
responsibilities by looking the other way.
r«r
a a
also without headgear. What does matter is
this—the soldier was observed by several
individuals who out-ranked him and none
apparently had the moral courage to cor-
rect him even though he was guilty of fla-
grantly violating the uniform dress code.
It should be obvious that more is at stake
than the correct wearing of the uniform. If
we can accept violations of uniform regula-
tions and look the other way then we can
look the other way when confronted with
sloppy maintenance improper training
techniques poor administration and etc.
ad infinitum. The end result is a second
rate Army.
Made Approriate
Corrections
1
1
1
0
Made Appropriate
Corrections
0
0
0
1
Did Not Make
Sweet teeth cause candy machine chaos
months raced to their pocket books fran-
cially searching for the magic silver that
would wipe out a week’s diet in one
mouthful. Nickles dimes and quarters
became rare. Shouts of “does anybody
have change for a dollar?” filled the once
quiet office as hungry souls tried to insure
that they would get one of the brownies
before they vanished.
I was the poor guy who bought the last
brownie. With a line behind me that
stretched the length of the building I
watched the “SOLD OUT” sign plop down.
Immediately 12 bodies pounced upon me. I
felt like Mike Jagger standing in the midst
of his fans. Except they weren’t ripping off
my clothes they were ripping off my
brownie. All I was left with was a slightly
crumpled walnut and a wrinkled piece of
celophane.
Not everyone is as thrilled by the arrival
of the candy man as most of the candy lov-
ers in the building. One former sweets-
junkie picketed the machine for a week. He
was knocked unconcious by a flying peanut
cup and therefore posed no more problem.
Let me not forget the cheap candy lovers.
The ones who still think that “penny” bub-
blegum sells for a penny. One day upon my
arrival I found a sign placed on the
machine begging everyone to “Boycott 25
cent candy bars.” This lone crusade
against the rising costs of candy did about
Bob athis. 778-4444 ........
W alter M. Tillev 526-5141
April Thom ason. 526-5141
WARRANT OFFICERS
Grade
W-l
W-2
W-3
W-2
As the figures show this wasn’t a very complex and detailed survey. It was conducted
mainly to prove a point. Richard A. Smith’s staff members did prove a point. Now can
you accept it? And if you can are you willing to change it?
to it all copy to form ith S E N IN E journalistic standards.
A
...AND
THAT AS TE
l/VAC a a
1 I
mi
OFFICERS
The questions that each of us must
answer are ... when do we stop looking the
other way? When do we stop abdicating our
responsibility to uphold the oath of our of-
fice? When do we recover our collective
and individual moral courage to right those
things that we see are wrong? What price
must our country pay before we again do
the job expected of us as professional
soldiers?
Uniform violations may not seem like
much but remember the adage about the
tip of the iceberg. A problem in this one
area could be symptomatic of something
less visible and yet far more serious. In
any event we can ill-afford to tolerate an
officer and NCO corps that is content with
the way things are. They may become
permanent... or worse.
as much good as asking a person to boycott
air.
I thought that nicotine fits could be bad
but they can’t hold a candle to the fits my
office throws when the candy machine is
empty. If the office members can’t get
their morning ration of chocolate crackers
and peanuts all work ceases.
Last August when the heat outside was
busting thermometers the candy machine
went empty and the air conditioner broke
down. Immediately all phones were tied up
with people calling the appropriate office
that would remedy our situation. Twenty
minutes later 14 trucks drove up out front
all carrying candy. It seems that of the 14
calls made none were to the air condi-
tioner repair section. Needless to say all
the candy melted.
At one time someone whose quarter was
swallowed by the machine suggested that
the machine be removed for the betterment
of the office. When they did come to re-
move the machine three-fourths of the of-
fice personnel laid down in front of the
truck. Tears welled up in the eyes of some
of the worst addicts. The machine was re-
turned.
I’ve heard it said that the Army runs on
it’s stomach. Well if I have to go to war
anytime soon you can bet that one each
OD GREEN Candy Machine will be in my
duffle bag.
Did Not Make
Corrections
5
8
6
1
Did Not Make
Corrections
0
2
1
0
................ Advertising Manager
..K illeen Sales eprasentative
..K illeen Sales Representative
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The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1978, newspaper, April 13, 1978; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth309343/m1/4/: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Casey Memorial Library.