PoM employment specialist assists military dependents in finding employment and growing careers

Story and photos by John Goulette

January 27, 2025

The U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey Employment Readiness Program helps Monterey area military dependents secure a job opportunity while they are stationed in the area.

Finding employment can be a significant challenge for military spouses and dependents due to the unique demands of military life. Frequent relocations, sometimes with little notice, can disrupt their careers and make it difficult to establish a stable work history. Military spouses often struggle to find employment that matches their skills and experience, leading to underemployment or unemployment.

“My role is to provide people with the opportunity to achieve their career and educational goals,” said Mark Maynard-Cabrera, PoM’s ERP program manager. “One of my main focuses is our military spouses. When it comes to employment and our labor force, our military spouses are highly underserved. Military spouses are part of the backbone of our United States forces, and the responsibilities that they face as a spouse include being able to contribute to the workforce.”

Military spouses are also eligible to apply to federal jobs non-competitively through the military spouse hiring authority. With the relatively high number of federal agencies in the Monterey area, including PoM, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Naval Postgraduate School, this method of hiring has become increasingly popular with spouses in the area.

PoM welcomes new Family Life Chaplain

January 2025

From the historian: Three lieutenants and the Monterey redoubt

January 3, 2025

Three young lieutenants among those who departed the USS Lexington in Monterey Bay in 1847 would leave a mark on the history of California and the United States. These were Henry W. Halleck, William T. Sherman, and Edward O. C. Ord. Halleck and Ord graduated together from West Point in 1839, Sherman in 1840. Already friends, they became much closer on the long voyage with Sherman taking to Halleck as a mentor. Later in life, the two became estranged, but in Monterey they lodged together in an old adobe known today as “Sherman and Halleck’s Headquarters.”

Experience-wise, both Ord and Sherman had participated in the Second Seminole War in Florida while Halleck, less known today than his peers, had already emerged as an able military engineer and leading scholar who was well regarded by senior Army leaders. He saw his first action during the war when he accompanied Commodore William B. Shubrick to seize the port of Mazatlán. A striking fact about Ord and Sherman, on the other hand, is that neither saw combat during the Mexican war, unlike many of their peers later to command troops during the American Civil War. Nevertheless, in that conflict, all three became commanding generals and key contributors to U.S. victory.

Ord, the lieutenant most eager for martial action, had been tasked in late April 1847 to oversee the unglamorous completion of and garrison duty at Fort Mervine. “Tis disagreeable work and makes the men grumble and desert,” he wrote home. The Monterey redoubt was surely a forlorn duty station and became increasingly irrelevant as the Gold Rush proceeded. The Army withdrew Company F in 1852 and closed the post.

In the 1930’s the Army named a camp after him on a training reservation near Seaside. After that reservation expanded during 1940, the Army designated the entire installation as Fort Ord. Today, the Ord Military Community, an annex of the Presidio of Monterey retained from the closure of Fort Ord in 1994, continues to remember the young lieutenant from the USS Lexington.

PoM's Religious Support Office fosters spiritual resilience

Story and photos by Jennifer Leggett

December 23, 2024

The PoM RSO currently coordinates the general protestant service, Catholic mass and confessions, Buddhists meditations, Islamic Jum'ah, and transportation to Jewish and LDS services in the Monterey community. There are even target language Bible studies, offering both opportunities to build community and practice their language of study.

Beyond religious support, the RSO serves as a hub for connecting people with other resources at PoM like financial counseling, run clubs, jujitsu groups, MWR activities and B.O.S.S activities.

"We want to meet with people as much as they need, but we also work closely with the other support services at ACS and look to connect service members with specialists who can provide on-going and practical support," said Sgt. Brian Bills. PoM religious support NCO.

Sgt. Bills enjoys his work as a religious support specialist because of the meaningful connections that he makes with service members daily. In carrying out his duties to provide religious support and advisement to all service members who seek it, Bills says bigger topics often begin with basic introductions and simple conversations.

Presidio of Monterey housing chief retires after 32 years of service

Story by Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

December 13, 2024

Oscar Ordonez, U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey housing chief, retired after 32 years of devoted service to the U.S. Army, including 22 years at PoM. Garrison leadership, teammates, family and friends congratulated him on his retirement at the housing office conference room on Dec. 13.

Col. Dan Artino, garrison commander, presented Ordonez with a meritorious civilian service medal, certificate of retirement, certificate of appreciation and a lifetime pass to the installation. Artino thanked Ordonez for his commitment to service and the leadership qualities which drove significant improvements to PoM’s housing services during Ordonez’s tenure.

Ordonez brought a unique perspective to his nearly 20 years working in housing – that of a young, enlisted Soldier who first arrived at Fort Ord in 1989. He lived in installation housing for six years at the former Fort Ord, now the Ord Military Community, and always credited that experience for helping him understand the mindset of military families working through the challenges of a PCS.

Ordonez’s story is one of growth, selfless service and hard work. His work ethic and professionalism has always been recognized by leaders across PoM.

PoM celebrates Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024

PoM religious support office gifts 100 Thanksgiving meal baskets

Story and photos by John Goulette

November 27, 2024

Cars lined up at the General Stilwell Community Center on Nov. 21 to pick up their free Thanksgiving meal baskets reserved through the religious support office. The PoM religious support office supports this event annually, which is designed to alleviate some stress of the servicemembers stationed at PoM who already have extremely busy schedules.

Along with the annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway, the religious support office supports numerous events around PoM. This includes the National Day of Prayer and Four Chaplains Day. They receive their tithe funding through the donations given during the weekly religious services they provide, which include Catholic, Protestant, Islamic and Mormon services. They also assist servicemembers of other faiths which they do not cover in finding a local institution that can provide them service.

PoM’s religious support office plays a vital role in providing spiritual support and services to military personnel, their families and civilians within the garrison community. The office is led by Chaplains and Religious Support Specialists, which are some of the only uniformed servicemembers serving U.S. Army Garrison PoM. Their primary responsibilities include providing pastoral care, counseling and spiritual guidance for all individuals, regardless of their faith background. By offering a range of spiritual services and programs, the religious support office helps to foster a sense of community, promote resilience and support the overall well-being of all those on the garrison.

PoM represented at the Monterey County Veterans Day Parade

November 11, 2024

PoM restoration project protects endangered orchid

Story and photos by John Goulette

October 30, 2024

An environmental restoration project at the U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey aims to protect an endangered plant located on the installation. Yadon’s Piperia, also known as Yadon’s rein orchid, is a rare and endangered species of orchid that is native to PoM and only found in Monterey Pine forests.

Despite its small size, Yadon’s Piperia plays an important role in the local ecosystem, serving as a food source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The flower is characterized by its slender stem, small white flowers and distinctive green stripes on its leaves. It was listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998 due to its dwindling population.

On PoM, Yadon’s Piperia is primarily found near the dormitories and along the fence of the Huckleberry Hill Preserve. The population of Yadon’s Piperia has declined significantly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, making conservation and restoration efforts like this essential to ensure the survival of this unique species. Deer browse, non-native plants and future development are also threats to the survival of this orchid. The PoM environmental division is closely monitoring the plant and managing impacts to it, including this restoration project.

Service members, staff and visitors to PoM can reduce impacts to the Yadon’s Piperia by staying on established walkways, honoring signs posted for closed areas and not disturbing or collecting plants.

PoM hosts annual organization day

October 25, 2024

Presidio of Monterey Fire Department stresses importance of fire safety and prevention

Story and photos by John Goulette

October 17, 2024

The Presidio of Monterey Fire Department held multiple events during Fire Prevention Week to educate civilians and service members across PoM and the Ord Military Community on the importance of fire safety. One of these events was held at the Porter Youth Center, where young students received a safety briefing, met PoM firefighters, held and wore equipment, and even met Sparky the Fire Dog.

The PoM Fire Department also made stops to the Army and Navy childhood development centers located in Seaside to make sure that they could relay this important information to all the children they can. The week-long effort ensures that everyone has an opportunity to learn about fire safety.

The first National Fire Prevention Week proclamation was signed in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge. The week is observed during the week of Oct. 9 every year to memorialize the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Since its inception Fire Prevention Week has had an annual theme to its events, with this year being “Smoke alarms: make them WORK for you.”

Ord Community commissary serves Monterey’s military families with savings and convenience

Story and photos by Jennifer Leggett

October 4, 2024

Nestled within the Ord Military Community, the local commissary offers more than just groceries—it’s a vital resource for military families, retirees and eligible veterans, providing exclusive savings and high-quality goods.

The commissary is part of the military benefits system and is funded primarily by the Department of Defense and operates under the Defense Commissary Agency. It’s designed to help military families save money, which is especially helpful in a high cost of living area like Monterey. Retirees, eligible veterans, service members and their families stationed at the Presidio of Monterey and the Navy Support Activity Monterey can rely on the commissary for the best prices on essentials like fresh produce, meat and everyday household items.

The commissary also offers a range of health-conscious products, clearly marked with “Dietitian-Approved Thumb” or “DAT” labels to help customers make nutritious choices. Whether looking for organic, gluten-free, or dietitian-approved foods, the commissary ensures access to healthier options at competitive prices.

PoM shows support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 2024