The Real McCoy, produced by the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office, 100 E. Headquarters Road, Fort McCoy, Wis., is an authorized publication for members of the Department of the Army. All editorial content is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Public Affairs Office. All photos are U.S. Army photos unless otherwise credited. Contents of The Real McCoy are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or Fort McCoy. For reasons of security, the online version of The Real McCoy may not contain all articles appearing in the print version. Contact Fort McCoy Public Affairs by calling 608-388-2769 or at DSN 280-2769 or by sending email to usarmy.mccoy.id-readiness.list.pao-admin@mail.mil
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News Notes -- Feb. 25, 2022
Wooden pen workshops planned throughout March
Wooden pen workshops will be hosted throughout March at the Army Community Service Workshop, building 1133.
Spend time with your family making memories. Start with a blank block of wood, use the lathe to customize it, and finish it with a high gloss coat of wax.
Workshops are 4 to 6:30 p.m. March 3, 8, 10, 17, and 31. All materials are provided. Space is limited, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Army Community Service events are open to service members, family members, civilian workers, retirees, and registered Fort McCoy volunteers.
To register, call 608-388-3505.
Sit, Sip & Paint set for March 9
Ten Point Pub (at Whitetail Ridge Ski Area) will be hosting a Sit, Sip & Paint night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 9.
Participants will be able to create their own works of art to take home. The cost of supplies and instruction is $35. Both alcoholic and nonalcoholic everages are available for purchase at the pub during the event.
Ten Point Pub is accessible to the public. Space is limited. To register, visit www.thepaintshack.net.
Family craft day planned for March 19
Crafting for Resilience, a family craft day, is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 19 at the Army Community Service Family Building, 2161.
Spend time together as a Family creating (crafting) and learning skills to increase your resilience. In this workshop, we will focus on journaling for all ages.
Register for a two- to three-hour block of time. Early start time is available for Exceptional Family Member Program families. All craft stations will be open as well.
Register with your name, block of time, number of family members attending and ages of children.
Army Community Service events are open to service members, family members, civilian workers, retirees, and registered Fort McCoy volunteers.
Registration is required by March 16. To register, call 608-388-6507.
Commissaries assess mission, adjust direction for 2022
“We have made great progress this first year. Now we need to assess where we are and adjust our way ahead based on what we’ve learned, along with the dynamics of our rapidly evolving environment.”
That’s what Bill Moore, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) director and CEO, told agency senior leaders who gathered for the agency’s Transformation Summit at its headquarters in mid-December 2021. The event assessed how the agency was performing in its year-old vision of being “THE grocery provider of choice for our eligible patrons — delivering a vital benefit exclusively for our military community and their families.”
In 2022, the focus remains on the customer but with lessons learned from the continuing pandemic. The vision embraces ways that will better serve the military community with a patron focus while saving them money on their groceries.
“2021 was another challenging year due to the ongoing pandemic for us to make sure our customers had the items they wanted and needed,” Moore said. “Moving forward, and by adjusting our focus, we will work harder with our industry partners to ensure we have a steady distribution of product and the personnel available to get it onto our shelves, providing great customer service, as well.”
The agency’s mission statement, to “deliver a vital benefit of the military pay system that provides grocery items at a significant savings in order to enhance quality of life and readiness,” focuses on the agency’s priority to deliver patrons savings as mandated by Congress. Leaders discussed each of DeCA’s existing six lines of effort (LOE), created to address how the agency can better serve customers and improve the shopping experience.
Moore noted that DeCA had achieved major successes in the information technology and workforce investment LOEs. The agency was able to offer Commissary CLICK2GO online ordering and payment services at all stores worldwide. DeCA also improved its training and customer service components to ensure employees have more opportunities to advance within the organization, while also providing them the tools they need to provide premier customer service.
Some of the more challenging LOEs were in the logistics and supply chain. Ongoing shortages of products and delivery trucks due to the pandemic have made it difficult to keep store shelves stocked.
The group noted these problems are affecting grocery stores nationwide and are not unique to the commissary. Different ideas to combat the problem, such as sourcing more trucks as well as direct delivery of product to the stores, were discussed.
Another area DeCA will concentrate on is patron outreach. This effort focuses on expanding patronage by educating and conducting informational events to get more of the newest patrons — disabled veterans — into the stores. The agency also wants to increase focus on customer feedback by better responding to comments provided on the annual Commissary Customer Service Survey and ForeSee customer feedback tool.
Looking to the future, DeCA is striving to anticipate emerging patron needs and do what it takes to be the grocery provider of choice for eligible patrons.
“The pandemic has taught us that customers are looking for more convenient ways to shop,” Moore said. “We learned from our focus group of new, young, single enlisted service members that they value the convenience factor more than price, and they want low cost, healthy options. One of our main priorities moving forward is offering them that convenience and healthy meals while still saving them money by shopping at their commissary.
“Look for Commissary CLICK2GO delivery services where you live, near the base, on the base, and even in your barracks,” he said. “Look for more dietitian- and nutritionist-approved meal planning solutions to help ensure you and your family are mission ready. Look for choices, pricing, and a modern shopping environment — not only better than we’ve ever been, but as good as we need to be to in order to be your preferred grocery provider.”
Students win gift cards for good grades at AAFES
Hard work and good grades pay off! Three high-achieving military students received $4,000 in Exchange gift cards in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s You Made the Grade worldwide sweepstakes.
Fourth-grader Brooke Eskew scored the grand prize — a $2,000 Exchange gift card presented at the Camp Foster Exchange. Fourth-grader Sydney Taliaferro received the $1,500 second-place prize at the Fort Knox Exchange. Ninth-grader Alexander Popovich was awarded the $500 third-place prize at the Camp Humphreys Exchange.
Brooke is the daughter of Gunnery Sgt. Phil Eskew. Sydney is the daughter of retired Master Sgt. Nick Taliaferro and Chief Warrant Officer Jonte’ia Taliaferro, who is assigned to Fort Knox. Alexander is the son of recently retired Air Force Master Sgt. David Popovich.
“Brooke has always been a wonderful student … full of curiosity, ambition, and very well-behaved,” her mother, Jamie said.
The students were randomly selected from more than 400 military children who entered the worldwide sweepstakes.
“I was really excited when I found out,” Sydney said. “I would like to thank my mom, because I would not have won without her.”
The Exchange’s You Made the Grade program rewards students who maintain a B average or higher with a $5 PX/BX gift card each grading period during the school year.
“The You Made the Grade program definitely motivates Alexander to get good grades,” Popovich said. “He always looks forward to picking up his gift cards every quarter.”
Recipients of the $5 gift card can enter the worldwide sweepstakes for a chance to score a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card. The program is an illustration of how the Exchange is committed to serving those who serve.
“The Exchange is honored to reward another group of high-achieving students in this 22nd year of the You Made the Grade program,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, the Exchange’s senior enlisted adviser. “Brooke, Sydney, and Alexander met the challenges of military life with resiliency in their educational efforts, and their hard work has paid off.”
The next sweepstakes drawing will take place in June. Visit aafes.com/about-exchange/you-made-the-grade/ for more information.
Rumpel Fitness Center offering free classes
Rumpel Fitness Center is currently offering free fitness classes.
Classes available are Body Blast from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Abs from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, and Cycling from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Thursdays.
Registration at the front desk is required.
Call 608-388-2290 for more information.
24/7 access available at Rumpel Fitness Center
Rumpel Fitness Center offers 24/7 access.
Fitness equipment has been spaced 6 feet apart and the social distancing will be strongly enforced.
Patrons are expected to wipe down equipment before and after use. Limited equipment is available.
Masks will be required when entering and exiting the facility and while in the locker room.
Masks do not have to be worn while exercising.
Advance registration is required.
Call 608-388-2290 for more information.
Next issue of The Real McCoy
The next edition of The Real McCoy will be published March 11. Previous issues of the paper can be found online at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO or https://home.army.mil/mccoy/.
The deadline for submissions or article ideas is March 2.
For more information, call 608-288-4128.