Bhutan Festival
Bhutan Festival 2008 will be held 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Texas at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center. The event will feature performances of folk and mask dances by members of the Bhutanese Royal Academy of Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public.
Off Duty is a compilation of military-affiliated information and events focused for the Soldier, their family members and veterans. Information should be 100 words or less and contain no editorializing. An informational brief that is not time specific will not run for more than 30 days. All submissions are due no later than Friday for publication in the following week’s paper.
JEFC beach BBQ
A concrete beach barbecue hosted by the Junior Enlisted Family Center will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 812 at McKelligon Canyon. The barbecue is being held to honor the Warrior Transition Battalion. There will be free food and games for Soldiers and their family members. Cake, soda and water will be available for a small fee. After the barbecue, free El Paso Diablos tickets will be made available for that evening’s game and the Fourth of July fireworks show at Cohen stadium.
WTB Soldiers who would like to attend should contact Beth Brown at 568-70291 or (417) 989-0071, or sign up at Bldg. 2445. Early sign-up is encouraged so the JEFC can tally a final head when preparing the food.
Drinking age change
The drinking age at all Fort Bliss MWR facilities is 21 years of age. Staff at all facilities will be carding everyone. MWR facilities serving alcohol will assist with courtesy taxi rides to off-post residences within the El Paso city limits. Individuals who volunteer to be designated drivers receive free soft drinks.
People Encouraging People
This is a three-day newcomers’ orientation geared toward spouses. The first day is an informational classroom day with lunch at the DFAC. The second day is a tour of Fort Bliss, Biggs Army Airfield, WBAMC and El Paso, with shopping downtown. The third day is a trip to Mesilla, N.M. The next class is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, call 568-1132.
Homebuyers’ seminar
Buying a house can be overwhelming. This class addresses how much money you need to close on a house, and explain the different types of loans and expenses related to becoming a homeowner. The class will be from 1 to 3 p.m. July 11 at ACS. Seating is limited, so register early. For more information, call 568-7088.
Berlin Airlift anniversary
The 60th anniversary celebration of the 1948 Berlin Airlift will be held 2 p.m. July 11 at the Fort Bliss Museum, Bldg. 1735 on Marshall Road. For more information, call 568-4320.
Speed dating
Speed dating will be held at 7 p.m. July 11 at the Centennial. There is no entry fee. Space is limited. Walk-in registration is from 6:30 to 7 p.m. the day of the event, but space is limited to the first 25 male and female participants. All off-post guests should enter with current car insurance, car registration and valid picture ID through Biggs Gate to obtain a gate pass. For more information, call 562-5969.
BOSS goes to Anaheim
BOSS is offering a trip to Anaheim, Calif., July 18 through 21; departure is at 10 p.m. July 17. Single Soldiers are invited to attend and friends are welcome. Participants must be at least 18. Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and the beach are on the itinerary. Interested patrons may sign up at ITR locations in Bldg. 1743 or the PX Mall. The trip costs $200 and includes van transportation and a three-night stay at the Anaheim Marriott Convention Center. Discounted tickets for the amusement parks are also available. The deadline to sign up at ITR is July 11. For more information, call 526-4264 or your unit BOSS representative.
Domestic violence production
The Center Against Family Violence is presenting Domestic Violence: The Musical to raise awareness of domestic violence. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. July 11 at the EPCC Transmountain Theatre, 7:30 p.m. July 12 at the Chamizal National Memorial Theatre, and 2 p.m. July 13 at the Plaza Philanthropy Theatre. For more information, call 544-0341 or 577-9922.
Zoo volunteers
The El Paso Zoo will hold training for those interested in volunteering at the zoo. Jobs will include guiding tours or helping within the garden area. Interested individuals will meet at 8:45 a.m. July 12 at the front gate of the zoo. Training will be from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. For information, call 351-5340.
Saturday Socials
Saturday Socials is a cultural enrichment program that allows O’Club members and their guests to participate in an afternoon of sophistication, socializing and enlightenment one Saturday every month. This program consists of talks and demonstrations by local experts in visual art, horticulture, wine, ballroom dance, sports and culinary art. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served to all members. The next Saturday Social will be held at 2 p.m. July 12 and is an instructional pastry class.
Events are limited in size to the first 50 people. For more information, call 569-5715.
Credit repair workshop
If your credit report needs work or you want to learn how to improve your credit score, come to ACS’ Credit Repair Workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. July 16. For more information, call 568-7088.
O’Club dinner
The O’Club will feature its Wine and Dinner Pairing at 7 p.m. July 18. Each course of the meal will be paired with a corresponding wine. Artwork by local artists will be highlighted at this event. Prices are $30 per person for members and $35 per person for non-members. For more information, call 568-7013.
Concert at the Plaza
The 62nd Army Band will present a Patriotic Pops concert at 3 p.m. July 20 at the Plaza Theater. Joining the band will be about 20 El Paso music educators, musicians and several Soldiers from other active-duty and National Guard bands.
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 15 on Slater Road. Seating will begin at 2 p.m. for ticket holders and general seating will begin at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call Terri Sirois at 568-4505.
Sesame Street workshop
Sesame Street has partnered with the USO to bring Fort Bliss families Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Home-comings, Changes, a multimedia program designed to support military families with children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are experiencing deployment, multiple deployments, or a parent’s returning home changed due to a combat-related injury.
Workshops will be held Aug. 7 and 8 at Stout Gym and will include a 60-minute main event, mini show, giveaways and outreach materials.
Admission is free, and doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets will be available at all CYS facilities beginning July 28. For more information, please call 569-5040, or visit blissmwr.com or http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/.
Women and money workshop
Women, come learn about investing, life insurance, credit, budgeting and more. The class will take place from 9 a.m. to noon July 23 at ACS. For more information, call 568-7088. Child care is available for children registered with CYS; call the CDC at 568-5689 to make a reservation, or Central Registration at 568-4374 to schedule an appointment for CYS registration.
Freedom Team Salute
It is now time to salute dedication by nominating Soldiers to receive recognition. Selected candidates will be honored at the 2008 Soldier Show and will receive framed certificates of recognition, letters of distinction from the secretary of the U.S. Army, Army pins and more.
Obtain a nomination form at www.freedomteamsalute.com and click on the “Honor Someone Now!” tab. For information, call 568-6741.
Stress management
Learn about what stress is, and receive coping skills and relaxation techniques to take with you. Choose between lunch or a tai chi/yoga class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 29. For more information, call 569-7743 or 569-7749. Registration is required. Child care is free for children registered with the Fort Bliss CDC.
Household exchange program
Do you have items you would like to donate? ACS can link you with Soldiers in need of these items. Donations help support junior enlisted Fort Bliss Soldiers and their families. Contact the Financial Readiness Program and provide them with a list of items to donate, and we will match them with Soldiers in need. The Soldier in need of those items will contact you to coordinate delivery or pickup. For more information, call 568-7088.
Lending Closet
The closet is stocked with household items to use before your household goods arrive or after you have packed up for your new assignment. Items may be borrowed for 30 days. An ID card and a copy of your PCS orders are required. For information, call 568-1132.
Junior enlisted nights
Hang out with your friends and meet new ones from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday at the Centennial’s Club Metro! There is no cover charge. Stop by and enjoy music, music videos, pool tables, no-stakes poker and video games. For more information, call 562-5969.
Designated driver rides from staff duty will be offered from Highlander Village to the Centennial from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday. The staff duty desk can be contacted at 744-1607. For more information, call 744-1631.
Karaoke
The Fort Bliss Bowling Center hosts karaoke nights for MWR patrons and their guests Friday and Saturday. Karaoke begins at 7:30 p.m. in the center’s lounge. For more information, call 568-6272.
PCS/ETS strip maps
ACS offers Soldiers clearing Fort Bliss strip maps showing the location of all agencies that must be cleared. In addition, ACS provides incoming and outgoing Soldiers and families with information packets on Fort Bliss or any DoD military installation worldwide. For information, call 568-6291.
Club Metro
The Centennial’s Club Metro, a nightclub for all enlisted ranks, is open from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday. There is no cover charge. The Centennial Club and Club Metro will assist with courtesy taxi rides to off-post residences within the El Paso city limits. Individuals who volunteer to be designated drivers receive free soft drinks.
Lock and Leave
Your official on-post storage center offers a variety of storage options. For more information, call 566-8321 or come by Bldg. 643 on Taylor Street.
Hot dog special
The Fort Bliss Bowling Center offers special pricing on Hebrew National hot dogs and combos through July 31. Guests may fill out a frequency meal card and can enter in a sweepstakes drawing. Prizes include a New York Yankees trip, recliners, 36-inch HD LCD flat screen TV and much more. For more information, call 568-6272 or come by the bowling center.
Waiting Families
Fort Bliss Waiting Families is a program designed to assist families who are geographically separated from their military sponsors due to mobilization/deployment, TDY or PCS/relocation. The focus of this group is to build friendships and ease the stresses and demands on families during times of separation. Waiting Families also serves as a liaison between military and civilian agencies to ensure assistance is provided for family members. Free monthly dinners and bowling are available for all registered waiting families. For more information or to register, call 568-1132 or 569-7088.
Yellow Ribbon Room
The Yellow Ribbon Room is a facility that supports the waiting family members of Fort Bliss. It is equipped with 10 Internet-connected computers, cameras and DVD recorders to produce DVDs to be sent to our Soldiers. Also accommodated are two gaming areas, three TVs, a play area for children, a writing and reading area, and a wide variety of support information for families. For information, call 568-6291.
ACS classes
ACS offers a variety of free educational classes, ranging from financial and employment readiness to newcomers’ orientations and parenting classes.
Child care is free for all children registered with CYS. For more information, call 568-1132.
Parenting classes
ACS’s Family Advocacy Program offers various parenting classes.
The next Early Childhood Class is scheduled to start Monday. The course lasts six weeks, two hours per week and free child care is available if children are registered with CYS and reservations are made prior to the class.
Baby Care 101 will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. July 11.
Expectant Sibling Class, scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. July 16, is designed for children ages 3 to 8. They will learn how to hold, feed and play with a new baby. Registration is encouraged. For more information, call 568-4878.
Brass Bartending
The Fort Bliss O’Club invites your unit, battalion or brigade to have a Brass Bartending event. Unit, brigade or battalion commanders assist in tending the bar in exchange for tips to go toward their unit funds. For more information, call 569-5715 or 568-7013.
Furniture sale
The Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Fort Bliss will be selling excess furniture until all excess property is sold.
Available items include tables, chairs, barstools, bar chairs, TVs, bed frames, sofas, cabinets, light fixtures, refrigerators and much more.
For more information, call 568-3779 or 568-4501. Viewing hours are from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday at Bldg. 643 on Taylor Road.
All transactions will be on a cash or credit card basis and all items are sold as is. There will be no exchanges or refunds. Off-post visitors must present valid drivers license, vehicle registration and insurance to get a day pass from the pass office.
ACS coordinators
The Unit Service Coordinator program at ACS has been implemented to assist commanders and rear detachment commanders with meeting the needs of their Soldiers and family members. The USC for each unit serves as the unit’s single point of contact to coordinate ACS services and training, and ensures command teams get the support and assistance they need from ACS.
For more information, call 568-1132.
Refer a Friend
MWR and the O’Club present the “Refer a Friend” program. Members receive more than $50 in free food and beverage gift certificates to use at the club for each referred individual who joins. Every referred individual will receive one month’s dues free with their paid year-long membership.
For more information, call 568-7013.
AFTB
Army Family Team Building is an educational program that provides training to prepare America’s Army to function at the highest level. Learn about community resources, military terms, benefits, leadership skills and more.
Classes are free and Spanish-language classes are available, as well. For more information, call 568-2382.
Auto Crafts
Auto Crafts offers an online tool that helps do-it-yourselfers by providing step-by-step instructions on automotive repairs. This is a free service to any Auto Crafts Shop patron who requests help at the customer service window. The Fort Bliss Auto Crafts Shop is also offering free tire rotation and brake inspection for all passenger cars with original wheels when an oil change is purchased. Texas vehicle safety and emissions inspections are also available. For information, call 568-7280.
Employment opportunities
The following MWR positions are available: summer life guards, and child and youth program assistants.
Flexible hours are available and active-duty personnel may apply. To apply, visit Bldg. 504B or call 568-0640. For more online employment information, visit www.blissmwr.com/jobs/.
O’Club membership
The Fort Bliss community is reminded that an Officers’ Club membership is open to all officers; civilian personnel GS-7 and NF-03 and above; sergeants major; and members of the El Paso, Hispanic and Black chambers of commerce. For more information, call 568-4444.
Newcomers’ Orientation
This class covers all programs offered by Army Community Service, as well as community resources. This is a mandatory class for all newly-assigned Soldiers, private through staff sergeant. Classes are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the ACS ballroom. Child care is free for all children registered with Child and Youth Services. For information, call 568-1132.
English as a second language
Classes meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at ACS.
Conversational Spanish
This class offers conversational beginners’ and advanced Spanish from 9 to11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, or Fridays at ACS.
Family Advocacy Program
If domestic violence is to end, each person in this community must form a partnership that focuses on creating a safe, violence-free environment.
The Family Advocacy Program reinforces that everyone has a right to feel safe and takes a stand against domestic violence. Contact Yadira Velasco at 569-7749 or e-mail Yadira.velasco@ us.army.mil for more information or to schedule your unit’s annual mandatory domestic violence awareness training.
Consumer advocacy
Make sure your complaints are taken seriously by taking the appropriate steps. There are several avenues to take to effectively complain. Your complaint can make a difference for all. For more information, call 568-7088.
The Golden Tee
The Golden Tee Restaurant and Lounge is located inside the clubhouse at the Underwood Golf Complex. It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to dusk Saturday and Sunday. Stop by for breakfast or daily lunch specials during the week. Lunch specials are viewable online at blissmwr.com/lunch/. There is also a bar available for patrons. For more information, call 562-3559.