News Digest

The following Appropriated Fund employees have been accepted in the Leave Recipient Program: Etai Gamliel, 2nd Brigade Combat Team; Michael Day, Sarah Doherty, Jennifer Gotham, Benjamin Grass, Ann Hooley, Lisa Jefferds, Megan Kemper, Sara Reinhardt, Susan Ruiz, Colleen Shear, and James Tebo, all of MEDDAC; and Samuel Thesier and Shawn Walker, of Directorate of Public Works.

Appropriated Fund employees who wish to donate annual leave should complete an OPM 630A, Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient Under the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program, and forward it to the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, Bldg. 430A, for processing.

The Fort Drum Command Safety Office staff will conduct courses in winter driving and snow blower operation for Soldiers, family members and Department of the Army civilians in Bldg. 20621, Munns Corner Road.

The Winter Driving Course will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 as well as Oct. 24, Nov. 7 and 21, Dec. 5 and 19, Jan. 9 and 23, Feb. 6 and 20, and March 5 and 20. The course also will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, and March 5.

The Snow Thrower Operation Course will meet from 3:15 to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 as well as Oct. 24, Nov. 7 and 21, Dec. 5 and 19, Jan. 9 and 23, Feb. 6 and 20, and March 5 and 20. The course also will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, and March 5.

Class size is limited to 12 students.

For more information or to register for courses, contact the Command Safety Office at (315) 772-0310 or 772-3022.

WATERTOWN, N.Y. – Jefferson Community College (JCC) has partnered with The CDL Schools to offer a four-week Class A Master Tractor Trailer Driver Program for individuals 21 or older who are looking to meet the qualifications for the Class A CDL Skills test. Training will be held at the Lewis County JCC Education Center in fall 2023 and on JCC’s campus in Watertown in spring 2024.

The training encompasses hands-on experience in operating a tractor trailer, allowing participants to gain practical skills in driving. The curriculum is 192 hours and consists of three parts. The first part is 80 hours of classroom, lab, and learning management system (LMS) instruction. Completion of this part leads to the ELDT Theory certification and Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). The second part is 110 hours of Behind the Wheel (BTW) vehicle instruction to prepare the student for FMCSA Range and Public Road ELDT proficiency requirements for the Class A CDL skills test (road test). The final portion of the program is allotted for two hours to complete the state skills test (road test).

Participants must complete the Department of Transportation physical as prerequisites for admission and a drug test must be taken upon passing the CDL A permit during class.

Registration is $9,495 and funding may be available for qualified individuals. Space is limited, and early registration is recommended.

For more information, visit www.sunyjefferson.edu/workshops or contact JCC Workforce Development office at (315) 786-2233 or email ced@sunyjefferson.edu.

Federal protective services civilian employees who are in a position of the following series of the General Schedule at a military installation are now eligible to shop in their local commissary store:

*Security Administration (GS-0080)

*Fire Protection and Prevention (GS-0081)

*Police (GS-0083)

*Security Guard (GS-0085)

*Emergency Management (GS-0089)

For more information, call (315) 774-9130.

Transition centers are now able to create and sign DD Form 214s and separation orders! Soldiers who experienced a delay can contact their transition center for separation orders and schedule an appointment to receive their DD Form 214s.

Soldiers who are already on transition leave or separated, but who did not receive their DD Form 214, will receive a copy in the mail and in IPERMs. DD Form 214s for Soldiers who are on transition leave or separated will state “service member not available for signature.” DD 214s marked this way instead of signed by Soldier are completely valid.

If you haven’t received your DD Form 214 in the mail, and you have not had contact with your transition center, Army officials encourage you to contact the transition center at the installation you departed for a status update.

If you have corrections to your DD Form 214 after you have separated, contact the Army Service Center 24-hour line at 1-844-474-7772.

The Fort Drum Medical Activity offers secondary COVID-19 booster shots based on updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

*Patients age 50 or older may choose to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the first booster dose.

*Patients age 18-49 who received a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series and booster dose may receive a second booster dose using an mRHA COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the first Janssen booster dose.

*Patients 12 or older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the first booster dose.

MEDDAC beneficiaries who fall under one of those categories may call (315) 772-2778 to schedule an appointment.

Fort Drum’s Directorate of Emergency Services encourages everyone to contribute to community security by reporting suspicious behavior or activities to (315) 774-8477 (TIPS).

Callers to the anonymous tip line should report odd behaviors and activities, such as people measuring or asking for blueprints of important buildings; strangers asking about security protocols; a briefcase, suitcase, backpack or package left behind; vehicles left unattended in front of buildings; and chemical smells or fumes coming from a residence or business. The effort is part of iWatch Army, an antiterrorism program.

Weingarten Notice

Right to Representation During Investigatory Interviews

In accordance with the requirements of 5 USC 7114(a)(3), this is to advise bargaining unit employees that:

An exclusive representative of an appropriate bargaining unit in an agency shall be given the opportunity to be represented at any examination of an employee in the bargaining unit by a representative of the agency in connection with an investigation if (a) the employee reasonably believes that the examination may result in disciplinary action against the employee and (b) the employee requests representation.

Please call the labor relations specialist in the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) or your union at the appropriate number listed below if you have any questions.

•Labor Relations Specialist: (315) 772-5023

•AFGE Local 400: (315) 772-3039

•NAGE Local R2-61: (315) 772-3306

•IAFF Local F-105: (315) 772-5114

•NAGE Local R2-63: (617) 376-7208

Alcoholics Anonymous meets from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Guthrie Clinic, Patient Care Wing, Patient Service Center conference room. For more information, call (315) 772-0035.