Belvoir Briefs

International spouses
The International Spouse Group has an informational meeting Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in Vernondale Village Community Center, 9532 Troth Way.
The group is ideal for foreign-born spouses who want to meet other spouses.
Spouses who attend are asked to bring a favorite dish from their home country to share.
More information is available from Christine Robinson, Christine.Robinson5@us.army.mil or 703-805-3436.

Troops to Teachers briefing
A Troops to Teachers briefing is at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Room 108 of Barden Education Center. The briefing will explain benefits that TTT offers to Soldiers interested in considering or becoming teachers. Benefits include up $10,000 in stipends/bonuses.
Belvoir base colleges will be available to explain the education and licensure programs available at Belvoir.
More information is available from the Web site, odu.edu/troopstoteachers.

Arts and crafts throughout housing
Staff from Child and Youth Services bring arts and crafts activities to the housing community centers. The events are free and open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Events are from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday and Feb. 10, Vernondale; Jan. 21 and Feb. 12, George Washington; and Feb. 4, Lewis;
More information is available by calling 805-9117.

Army warrant officers
The Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter, US Army Warrant Officer Association has its monthly membership meeting Jan. 15 at the Kingstowne Library on the corner of Beulah and Telegraph roads. The meeting begins at 5 p.m.
All active, reserve, and retired warrant officers are invited and encouraged to attend.
More information is available by calling CW3 Patrick Morris, chapter president, 703-945-3140.

Home educators
Upcoming field trips and events of the Fort Belvoir Home Educators are: Friday, Air and Space Museum; Jan. 27, Fort Belvoir Credit Union; Jan. 29, spelling bee; Feb. 10, Valentine party; and Feb. 26, science fair.
FBHE also has a Daisy and Brownie Girl Scout Troop which meets every other Wednesday morning.
Registration for FBHE Co-op Session Three, from Jan. 15 to Feb. 19, ends Friday. The co-op is at Markham Center, South Post.
FBHE is a group of military and DoD families dedicated to the home education of their children from preschool through high school. It is also a support group and conducts activities that enrich the lives of members' families.
Monthly events include bowling, rollerskating, teen's night out and mom's night out.
More information is available via e-mail to FBHEmoms@gmail.com or from a Web logs at fbhomeeducators.com and groups.yahoo.com/group/belvoirhomeschoolers/.

Flu shot final rounds
Army Public Health Nursing administer flu immunizations to all eligible beneficiaries through Jan. 31 during normal business hours. The clinic is in Building 815, the two-story brick building across the parking lot from the family practice clinic. The main reception desk is in Room 123.
Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Thursdays when it closes at 11:30 a.m. for training. The facility is closed Jan. 19 and 20.
More information is available by calling the Army Public Health Nursing front desk, 703-805-0942.

Family night
Fort Belvoir Elementary School PTO hosts family night Jan. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The event is a sock hop with oldies music and popular songs by children's favorite groups.
The free event is open to all Belvoir families.
Costumes are welcome or people can attend in everyday clothes.

Connect with Belvoir's nature, wildlife
Beginning in January, the third Sunday of each month, Outdoor Recreation joins with Environmental to explore a part of the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, with each hike focusing on an environmental lesson.
The wildlife refuge, established in 1980, includes more than 1,315 acres of marsh and hardwood forest in the post's southwestern corner. Plans are to explore and experience the nine miles of public trails that wind through the refuge during the winter and early spring.
Dates are: Jan. 18, Feb. 22, March 15 and April 19 and starts at 8 a.m. each time.
More information is available by calling 703-805-3081 or 703-805-1226. Participation is free but each hike will be limited to 20 people.
Call to register and reserve a spot. Pets are not permitted.

Bird-watching group
Fort Belvoir Outdoor Recreation has a bird watching interest group for people interested in observing or learning to identify different birds.
The group will travel to observe and identify wild birds of Virginia and Maryland in their natural habitat.
More information is available by calling 703-805-3081.

Shrek on Broadway
Fort Belvoir ITR has a New York City Broadway show trip to see Shrek The Musical May 16.
The bus departs Fort Belvoir Community Center at 5:30 a.m., for the show which begins at 2 p.m. The cost of $145 per person includes bus transportation and premium seating tickets. The trip is canceled if tickets are not sold by Jan. 31.
More information is available by calling 703-805-3714.

AFAP training, symposium
Training for the annual Army Family Action Plan is March 9, with an alternate date of March 10.
Belvoir's AFAP Symposium is March 12 and 13. The AFAP and the symposium is an Army-wide program that enables all members to raise issues of concern, make recommendations to improve quality of life and to ensure the standard of living keeps up with the changing times, on a global level.
Information and registration for the training is available from Colandra Sealey, program manager, 703-805-5556.
Information and registration for the symposium is available from Cassandra Walker, AFAP coordinator, 703-805-1150.
Training and the symposium are in Barden Education Center.

Searching for a job?
Army Community Service's Employment Readiness Program offers several workshops and training for potential employees. Class registration and information is available by calling 703-805-4590.
Federal Resume Preparation is Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Respite Care Provider Training, where people receive training to care for exceptional family members and possibly earn $15 to $30 per hour. Orientation and Part 1 Training is Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Employment Program Orientations, an overview of local employment, including federal jobs, resume assistance, registration for job skill training classes, are Tuesdays from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at ACS. Registration is required.
ACS Career Training Academy, with courses in computer skills, administrative assistant field, medical terminology and medical office specialist field are offered at ACS in January. Registration is open for a limited number of spaces and is available by calling 703-805-3126.
Other classes are: KSA Preparation, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Career Development, call to register.
Career Assessment, Jan. 29, 11 a.m. to noon, register by calling 703-805-4590.
Found items
The Directorate of Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Lost and Found Property Custodian have collected several unclaimed bicycles and other items. Items are held for 90 days before they are turned over to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office.
People who have lost any items and want to find out if they have been recovered by DES Police may contact Tim Brown, lost and found property custodian, 703-806-0146. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and voice mail is available after normal duty hours. Some reasonable proof of ownership is required to claim any found property.

Religion

PWOC
The Protestant Women of the Chapel meets today from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Belvoir Chapel.
The meetings offer free child care for ages 6 weeks to 5 years and the home-school room for school-aged children. Parents are asked to bring work for the children.
The PWOC also has two weekly evening studies: Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Religious Education Center and Wednesdays from 7 to 8:45 p.m. in the center's library.
More information is available by calling Nilda Navarro, president, 703-868-6452 or via e-mail to president@pwocfortbelvoir.org.

Protestant Confirmation Classes
A Protestant confirmation class will be conducted through March, for Protestant children, 7th grade or older, who were baptized as children or want to be baptized. Parent approval is required to attend.
Chaplain Major Saul Cardona, Director of the Family Life Center, will lead the class. More information will follow. More information is available from Mike Webb, 703-806-4179.

PraiseMoves
PraiseMoves, the Christian alternative to yoga, is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. It includes deep stretching, gentle movement and scripture. Everyone is invited. The classes are free and registration is not needed.
People who attend should wear loose or athletic clothing, sneakers and bring an exercise (yoga) mat. Watchcare is provided.
More information is available from Cynthia Thomas, a certified Praise Moves instructor, 703-499-3380.

Catholic
Catholic Holy Hour is every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Adoration is the first Friday of every month from 9 to 11:30 a.m. K of C
The Knights of Columbus meet every second and fourth Thursday. Location information is available from Kevin Palgutt, 703-781-4048.

Jewish
Fort Belvoir Jewish Congregation is in search of all new Jewish Soldiers and families. The Fort Belvoir Jewish Congregation has weekly Friday night services at 8 p.m. at Belvoir Chapel.
Information is available from Sara Astrow, 703-806-4196.

Islamic services
The following are Islamic services in the area.
Salat Al Zuhr, afternoon prayer, 1:30 p.m. daily, Washington Navy Yard Chapel, Washington, D.C. Point of contact: Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Saifulislam, 202-433-2611
Jumah, Friday prayer, 1:15 p.m., Quantico Prayer Center, Quantico Marine Corps Base POC: Mohammad Mukhtar, 703-670-0894
Jumah, 2 to 2:45 p.m. Fridays, Pentagon Room 1E438, Zadil Ansari, 703-602-7462
Salat Al Zuhr, daily from 2 to 2:45 p.m., Pentagon Room 1E474, POC: Zadil Ansari, 703-602-7462
Jumah, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Dar Ul Huda, 6666 Commerce St., Springfield POC: 703-922-0111.

Barden Education Center

NOVA special hours, closure
Offices at Northern Virginia Community College are open today until 7:30 p.m.; Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday through Jan. 15, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
NOVA is closed Jan. 20 for Inauguration Day, with all classes canceled. This is a change from the published spring semester schedule and in addition to an already-published closure Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Junior Day.
Students can log on to nvcc.edu or call 703-323-3770 to register for the spring semester if the college is closed.
NOVA offers thousands of classes in more than 100 programs during the spring semester that begins Monday. Additional classes start March 16.
Day, evening and weekend classes are available at NOVA's six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge, and in three centers in Arlington, Innovation Park in Manassas and Reston. Active duty and their dependents may attend NOVA.
Students who prefer independent study can take distance learning courses offered by the Extended Learning Institute.
More information is available by calling 703-323-3000 or from the Web site.
The community college has degree and certificate programs. After degree completion, the school offers transfer grants to help with tuition toward a bachelor's degree. NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 four-year schools and offers hybrid classes on post and online.
NOVA offices in Barden, Bldg. 1017, are in Room 127. The local office number is
703-360-8524.

Park University
Park University offers undergraduate programs in computer science, criminal justice administration/law enforcement, management, and social psychology. Associate degrees are also available in some disciplines.
Online Spring I classes begin Monday, with registration closing Friday.
More information is available by calling 703-781-8456 or from park.edu/Virginia.

UMUC
University of Maryland University College is registering for spring classes. Face-to-face classes start Jan. 26 and March 23.
UMUC has four spring online sessions with the first one starting Jan. 18.
Some of UMUC's Belvoir evening and weekend spring courses will be offered in a hybrid format. Students meet once a week in Barden Education Center and also in an online environment. Hybrid classes offer a great deal of flexibility for working adults.
UMUC is in Room 128 of Barden. Office hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

ODU spring semester registration
Old Dominion University's semester begins Saturday. New students beginning the Military Career Transition Program register as non degree students.
ODU's MCTP program is designed for active/retired military, military spouses and qualified government personnel wanting to teach elementary, middle, or high school.
It is an initial licensure Master of Science program in Education for personnel. The teaching license is good in 44 states and DoD schools around the world.
Live classes are offered at Barden Education Center during the evening. Live satellite video streamed classes are offered at Quantico Marine Corps Base on weekends. Online courses are offered using the Smart online technology.
For more information, go to www.odu.edu/mctp or call 703-781-8203.

Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University classes are available at six locations in the D.C metro area, including Belvoir. Registration is underway.
The university offers a master of science in administration degree. Concentrations are available in human resources, leadership, public administration, acquisition, information resource management and general administration.
CMU accepts applications year round. Classes meet on alternating weekends or weekday evenings and new sessions begin every six weeks. Degrees can be completed in 18 months or less.
More information is available from Mary Pat Mabeus, 703-360-5336. CMU is in Room 139 at Barden.

Webster University
Programs offered at Fort Belvoir include Master of Business Administration, Business & Organizational Security Management and Procurement & Acquisitions Management.
The GRE/GMAT is not required for admissions.
Evening classes are held at Barden Education Center.
Office hours are Mondays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More information is available by calling 703-781-7942; stopping by Room 143 of Barden, via e-mail to Belvoir@webster.edu or from www.webster.edu/dcmetro.