Fort Belvoir has updated its gate access control policies, introducing new measures for deliveries, identification requirements, and visitor passes. These changes aim to enhance security and streamline entry procedures for various groups.

Have you been affected by the recent changes at Fort Belvoir? Share your experiences with us.

From Facebook:

• Deliveries entering the installation that currently have or are holding existing sponsorship privileges, will be searched and continue without delay. Deliveries such as, AAFES, Quest Fuel services, Pepsi, Coca Cola, UPS, FedEx, and DHL.

• All U.S. Military and DoD Civilian CAC holders that do not work or reside on the installation will NOT need a sponsor to escort them on the installation.

• Individuals with DoD IDs and CACs that have expired are still required to produce 2 forms of identification to get a pass and will be required to have a sponsor escort them on the installation.

• Parents who no longer possess a dependent ID card bringing a child on post who has a dependent ID for the purpose of medical or school services will need to get cleared for a 24 hour pass from the Visitor Control Center to proceed to the hospital for the medical appointment or school.

• All FCPS busses, substitutes, and employees will continue coordinate with the school liaison to attain their passes from the Visitor Control Center.

• All REX, Fairfax Connector and Metro Access buses will continue services on the installation with their current passes. Coordination will continue with the Visitor Control Center to obtain passes moving forward.

• Contractors cannot sponsor another individual on Fort Belvoir.

• Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) are still allowed on the installation. The VHIC will need to be registered at the Visitor Control Center and will be valid for access not to exceed 3 years.

Individuals without DoD IDs/CACs transporting the VHIC personnel to the Hospital will need to be cleared for a 24 hr. pass from the Visitor Control Center.

• All moving companies entering the installation providing services will need to have a sponsor once they have already been vetted through NCIC at Tulley search lanes.

• Families that receive in-house medical care from nurses, home health care aids, therapists, etc. are allowed access. The family will need to sponsor them for the duration of the treatment for up to one year. The sponsor is also responsible for collecting the ID upon termination of care.

• Residents and patrons hosting ceremonies/events on the installation will need to coordinate with the Visitor Control Center to submit their list of attendees to be pre-vetted NLT 14 days prior to the event or arrival on the installation. A sponsor will be required.

Insidenova.com: Fort Belvoir announced Friday it is limiting access to the Army base in Fairfax County to those with Department of Defense identification, their minor dependents and those with sponsored passes. Read More

Insidenova: “Actor and musician Gary Sinise and celebrity chef Robert Irvine teamed up to give thousands an unforgettable experience at Fort Belvoir for Memorial Day weekend.”

“Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band travel to military bases across the country to perform free of charge to service members, veterans and their families. And on May 25, they took stage in front of the garrison headquarters.”

The U.S. Army announced today that the National Museum of the United States Army will reopen on June 14, the Army’s 246th birthday. The museum, which is located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, opened in November 2020, but was closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“June will be a month of celebration as we recognize Army Heritage Month, the Army’s birthday and the reopening of the Army museum,” said John Whitley, acting Secretary of the Army. “As the museum tells the history of our American Soldiers and honors their accomplishments and sacrifices, we will also reflect on their more recent service to our nation, including their contributions to COVID-19 and disaster-relief efforts, and the protection they provide us all.”

The Museum is the first comprehensive and truly national museum to capture, display and interpret the Army’s history by telling stories through the eyes of Soldiers. Its displays and interactive-learning exhibits illustrate the Army’s role in building and defending our nation, as well as Army humanitarian missions and technological and medical breakthroughs built on Army ingenuity.

In addition to the galleries and exhibits, the museum features a multisensory 300-degree theater, a tranquil rooftop garden and hundreds of historic treasures rarely or never-before-seen by the public.

Free, timed-entry tickets are now available through the museum’s website at http://www.theNMUSA.org. All tickets must be reserved in advance online, and there is a limit of five tickets per request.

The timed-entry tickets are part of the museum’s comprehensive plan, developed according to guidance from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Army’s Public Health Center, to protect the health of its visitors and staff.

Fairfax County officials just launched a tourism plan that could impact commerce in Prince William County in an indirect way, solidifying the global economics theory on a smaller scale.

While there is a river boundary between the two counties, the main elements in Fairfax County’s plan are within easy access to key river crossings, making it an easy trip if taken during the right time of day.

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Officials at Quantico Marine Corps Base are on alert and warn of longer than normal traffic delays for those attempting to get aboard base on Monday.

MCBQ Traffic Advisory
Travelers can expect delays at all entry points. Base law enforcement personnel will be conducting 100% ID checks of all individuals. Expect an increase in vehicle inspections and longer wait times when entering the base.
Please have IDs ready. pic.twitter.com/rcX6uh2KYX

— MCBQuantico (@MCB_Quantico) January 5, 2020

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It’ll be slow going tomorrow at Fort Belvoir, too.

The heightened security comes after a U.S. drone airstrike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Thursday, the head of Iran’s elite Quds military force and one of the most powerful figures in the Islamic Republic, in Baghdad.

FORT BELVOIR — The National Museum of the United States Army is now accepting applications for volunteers to provide visitor support when the Museum is open.

Ms. Zelpha Anderson, Chief of the Visitor Services Division, says she is looking for individuals who are passionate about the U.S. Army and sharing the stories of the men and women who have worn the Army uniform throughout our nation’s history.

There will be a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as visitor services, special events, tours, education, outdoor activities, and administration.

Through the application process, interested volunteers will have the opportunity to share their skills, interests, and abilities to help match them to a volunteer position.

The Museum anticipates approximately 750,000 visitors annually and will be open every day of the year except Dec. 25.

“The Museum will be a premier travel destination and will offer an assortment of programs and events in addition to touring the historic galleries, and we will need a robust volunteer force to ensure an outstanding visitor experience,” said Anderson.

Anderson says her goal is to gather a group of 300 volunteers who are trained and ready for the Museum’s opening in 2020.

The volunteer application is available now; interviews will begin late this summer, and training will begin in the fall.

The Museum staff also has a goal of developing a volunteer corps that will reflect the diversity of the Army and of their visitors and encourages all to apply.

“You don’t need a specific degree or work experience to be a volunteer,” emphasized Anderson. “What we need is you.”

To learn more about volunteering at the Museum, or to apply, visit online or call (800) 506-2672.

Alyson Satterwhite believes, “A School Board that is constantly distracted by politics is not able to focus.” A long-time school board member in Prince William County, she was the first to file candidacy for Chairman of the Prince Willam County School Board for the upcoming November 2018 Special Election. Satterwhite is duking it out with Interim School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef and retired Woodbridge resident Stanley Bender, who are also on the ballot.

Below, find Satterwhite’s responses to our Project: Election questionnaire.

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PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?

Satterwhite: Students, Wages, Safety & Mental Health

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Satterwhite: We must focus on putting our students first, competitive wages for our teachers and bus drivers, and reducing classroom sizes while also continuing to improve school safety and mental health.

We have to focus on our students. Parents are concerned about the education that their children are receiving. A School Board that is constantly distracted by politics is not able to focus on the work that our citizens elect us to carry out. The School Board must put students first.

Competitive wages for teachers and bus drivers must be a priority and we have to work to retain our employees. We are losing teachers to neighboring counties that offer higher wages, counties that are able to do so because their commercial and business tax base is much larger than that of Prince William County. More business growth in Prince William County will provide a better balance of the residential and business tax base, allowing us to spend more money on education. I voted for pay raises for our teachers and staff members in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. I want our teachers and staff members to feel valued and respected.

Reducing class sizes helps our students academically, reduces the workload on our teachers, and on average leads to fewer behavior and discipline problems. Last year the Superintendent gave the School Board a five year supplemental plan in the FY18 budget that would move students out of trailers and reduce class sizes. Once the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) numbers are updated, we need to revisit this plan. Working together with the Board of County Supervisors and our tax payers, we can make this a reality for our students. Reducing class sizes gives our teachers the opportunity that they need to check in with our students daily to assess academic growth as well as social and emotional well being.

Our teachers focus daily on best practices for their students in the classroom. The focus should be on their students, they should not be be armed. I am in complete support of armed school security officers who are trained in best practices in school safety. Safe schools involves the physical security of our schools and also includes student mental health. I have been a strong advocate for student mental health and suicide awareness. Last year I proposed adding additional school nurses to the budget. This year I made the proposal to hire 13 additional social workers, including a human trafficking specialist. For several years I have advocated with members of the General Assembly and will continue to advocate to change our state Standards of Quality to reduce the student to counselor, nurse, social worker, and school psychologist ratios.    

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Satterwhite: The School Board Chairman presides over School Board meetings, helps set the agenda of the meetings, and carries out such other duties as the Prince William County School Board may assign. As a member of the Prince William County School Board, you are an advocate and voice for your district, and in the case of the Chairman At Large, for all of Prince William County.

Attending School Board meetings, disciplinary hearings, professional development, responding to inquiries from constituents, attendance at school events, Back to School Nights, graduations, ribbon cuttings and school openings, and other special events are all part of the normal schedule. In addition preparation for one School Board meeting can take anywhere from 5 – 20 hours depending on the subjects being addressed.

The job is officially considered part time, but it often requires much more time and effort. This is why it is so important to have a School Board Chairman who has the time, energy, and experience to devote to the job.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Satterwhite: I bring seven years of experience and professionalism as a School Board member to the office. Through my availability and engagement with my community, I have a strong understanding of what constituents are concerned about and want to see addressed. As the mother of four children who are all graduates of PWCS, along with my bachelors degree in education, I bring practical experience and understanding of how children learn. Last year when my youngest child graduated, as a parent I completed 24 years of IEP meetings, 15 years in Prince William County Schools, and experience in three additional school systems during my husband’s active military service. I advocate for all of our students with the same passion with which I advocated for my own children.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

Satterwhite: A large part of the job of Chairman, or a School Board Member, is helping constituents learn how to navigate through our school division in order to get the information they need. Being available in the community, listening to the concerns of parents, and meeting with stakeholders is key in outreach. Keeping open communication with constituents is essential because decisions made on the School Board impact the lives of our students and families on a personal level. 

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Satterwhite: In my seven years of public service I have learned a tremendous amount. There is always more to learn, and in education, we are developing lifelong learners! You have to reflect and think about how you can do things better, how you can improve in your job. I have friends and constituents who hold me accountable, who give me feedback, give me their input on how they might have done something differently. I listen and learn from them. As a School Board Member, as Chairman, you are accountable to the people who elect you.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Satterwhite: Our School Board needs a dedicated leader with experience.

As a servant leader I realize that my job is not to make decisions for you, but to work with you to help find solutions for the problems that you might face.

As a fiscal conservative with experience with seven school budgets, I continue to work hard to see that your hard earned taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.

I will boldly stand for what is just and ethical, as I did when I led the successful censure against our former chairman after confidential documents were publicly released.

I will advocate for our students, as I did when I called a special meeting to accept over $20 million dollars for school construction.

Vote for Alyson Satterwhite, a dedicated and experienced leader who puts our students first.

With every new year come new inventions and discoveries, new risks and areas of opportunities. As even the most private and sensitive areas of our business and personal lives become digitized, new cybersecurity and IT threats arise. IT expert Chris Albright of CMIT Solutions of Centreville considers ransomware, IoT hacking, machine learning, and insufficient IT and cybersecurity to be the largest IT threats of 2018.

Ransomware

Globally, ransomware attacks grew by 56 percent in 2017, with the WannaCry attack being the largest of all time. Ransomware includes any kind of cyberattack in which a business or individual is required to pay a monetary fee in order to regain full access of their computer, breached data or Cloud. There is currently no way around regaining access without paying the ransom — and no guarantee that if you pay, the breached data won’t be compromised once paid. Most ransomware attacks are automated, so it is rare that you currently or will ever be able to determine who is behind your data or computer breach. Payments are often a few hundred dollars paid via cryptocurrency which is extremely difficult to track.

IoT Hacking

There are many personal and professional benefits to creating an in-house Internet of Things (IoT). As convenient as your smart devices or custom network may be, each come with unique IT risks. This goes beyond standard mobile devices to IoT hacks for pacemakers, defibrillators, heart monitors, video cameras and any internet-connected electronic device. This also includes the increased risk for hacking into home or office automation features.

Machine Learning

Intelligent chatbots and machine learning algorithms that get smarter with each interaction create a whole new set of IT threats. This includes the in-depth personal and business data gathered by the artificial intelligence (AI) we implement to boost productivity. For example, Amazon Echo, Siri or Google Assistant can now help us complete a long and growing list of virtual tasks. While AI can be used for a variety of legitimate and productive purposes, it can also be used to help hackers learn how to improve their hacking techniques. On the flipside, AI will be simultaneously used to detect bad bots, malicious AI and machine learning.

Insufficient IT and Cybersecurity

Training, education and a proactive IT and cybersecurity plan is the best way to minimize internal and external risk factors. Unfortunately, few families have an IT plan in place, and businesses with an IT security plan often fail to update the plan with the frequency required to remain secure. With the number of bring your own (BYO) devices, shared devices, internet-connected gadgets and IT threats evolving at a rapid place, it is essential that everyone have an IT plan in place. This includes everything from secure hosting, network security, mobile device management, data and Cloud security, in-house IT policies and procedures, and managed IT services.

The threats above are far from the only IT security concerns you should have your eye on but are some of the greatest IT threats of 2018.

CMIT Solutions of Centreville provides a strategic approach to IT consulting that improves the performance of your business technology in the most cost-effective way possible. Assisting businesses across Northern Virginia, CMIT Centreville can help you achieve the fastest return on your technology investment. Call 703-881-7738 today to see how CMIT Centreville can help your business stay in business.

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