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support and operations, you

have different platoons with

different personalities and

planning styles. Getting

everybody on the same sheet of

music – especially when it

comes to hitting timelines,

training requirements, logistic

requirements – everybody is

able to do their own thing, but

tying it into one common

operating picture for the

company has definitely proven

difficult.”

But Capt. Brown said the hard

work of the NCOs and officers

is paying off. Brown and First

Sgt. Tad Cummings regularly

ons to assist with issues.

travel to the different locations

to assist with issues.

“I’ve gotten nothing but

praise from everyone,” Capt.

Brown said. “All of our

‘customers’ seem very happy

and a lot of folks in different

locations are asking for us

because they see and like how

we operate.”

Capt. Brown said the same

professionalism exists with his

headquarters platoon and those

running the support operations

for the entire company.

SEE CHAOS PAGE TWO

Managing Chaos in Afghanistan BAGRAM AIRFIELD,

Afghanistan – They go by the

name “Chaos,” and with the

decentralized way Charlie Co.

operates, one could see how that

might become a self-fulfilling

prophecy. But with strong

platoon-level leadership and the

most recent combat experience of

any “Fourth Alabama” company,

Chaos has kept its deployment

under control.

Chaos has units operating in

Bagram, Jalalabad and Ghazni in

NATO Training Mission-

Afghanistan’s Regional Support

Command-East. The soldiers are

responsible for protecting and

transporting NTM-A personnel,

contractors, government officials

and other VIPs throughout the

battle space.

Those three locations are far

apart from each other and offer

distinct operating environments.

It forced Capt. Heath Brown,

Chaos commander, to rely

heavily on the platoon leadership

at each site.

“Decentralized is certainly a

harder way to do business,” he

said. “When you look at man-

power, maintenance, logistics

support

Task Force Centurion Prime’s Chaos

(Charlie Co.) is commanded by Capt.

Heath Brown (left) and 1st Sgt. Tad

Cummings (above).

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“I get to focus on operations

because everybody else is doing

their job,” he said.

Charlie Co. has several

Soldiers who were part of the

Alabama National Guard’s

Cullman, Ala.-based unit when it

last deployed to Iraq in 2007-

2008. Other veterans of Iraq and

Afghanistan have also joined the

unit since then. Capt. Brown said

that experience among his

company is a net positive.

“Afghanistan is completely

different from Iraq, but the fact

that these guys have done this

before – some more than once

before – has helped us pick up on

the learning curve that comes with

a deployment,” he said.

In other words, it helps manage

what could easily become chaos.

CHAOS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

Task Force Centurion Prime’s Chaos

(Charlie Co.) has a platoon operating in

Bagram (top), Ghazni (center), and

Jalalabad (below).

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Soldiers, families and friends of Task Force Centurion Prime,

Chaplain Jackson, Command Sgt. Maj. Black, Sgt. Lowe, and I just returned from a six-

day trip to visit all of our Dagger and Atlas Soldiers. While the travel itself is never really

enjoyable, seeing our teams in action as they safely move and protect other coalition forces is

well worth the hassle of moving across the country. On this particular trip we were able to

participate in common but important events that are changing the way of life in Afghanistan

and are essential to set the conditions for security here after we are gone.

First, Cpt. Hurd took us to meet with an Afghan Uniformed Police General and attend a

graduation of police sergeants who were trained by the people we protect. We were considered

honored guest and even presented diplomas to the new sergeants. Command Sgt. Maj. Black

also discovered that he enjoys chai (Afghan tea) and has a knack for relating to our Afghan

partners during Key Leader Engagements.

With Atlas, Cpt. Gray and his Soldiers allowed us to accompany them on a visit to an

Afghan National Police headquarters where we observed a meeting to assist with fuel

requesting procedures and documentation. We also went to an Afghan National Army training

base where our Soldiers secure numerous facilities that provide a wide range of specialized

instruction to the new Afghan Soldiers. Somewhere along the way, the command sergeant

major and I even toured a latrine and got involved with hot water heater troubleshooting, but

that is a story for another day!

Everywhere we go, the most important part of our mission is to listen to Soldiers, provide

them information, and be available to answer their questions. Lately, I have emphasized that

we have passed the halfway mark in this deployment and that our performance is praised by

the NTM-A leadership. However, I stress that every day requires the same level of preparation

and complete focus to drive forward with continued success in this mission.

We also have announced the important drill dates this summer for everyone’s planning

purposes. Those dates are July 13th

and 14th

for Yellow Ribbon I and August 10th

and 11th

for

Yellow Ribbon II including the Freedom Salute Ceremony and the Formal Dining Out. These

drills will be with the complete battalion at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel and should serve

as a fitting culmination to this deployment!

To all of our Fourth Alabama family and friends, I thank you for your prayers and

amazing level of support! May God continue to bless and protect us all in this New Year!

Drive Forward,

J. R. Bass

Lt. Col. J.R. Bass

Commander

Task Force

Centurion prime

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Csm John black

Command

sergeant major

Task Force

Centurion prime

Hello January and Happy New Year! We have reached the halfway point of this deployment. It’s all

downhill from here. You must know that it takes a great deal of planning and preparation to move a unit

this size. There were many months of planning, preparation and training to get us here and it will require

several months of the same to get us home. I am happy to report that the planning phase to return home

has begun and we are excited to begin the preparation process.

Having said that please be aware that our mission here is not yet complete. In fact many of our

Soldiers will not truly see the affects of this planning process for some time but the rumors of it will

spread rapidly. Here lies the most important part; staying focused on the mission. The most unpopular

word between Lt. Col. Bass and me is “complacency.” Complacency and stress can be our biggest

enemies. This is where you can help in this battle. We as leaders must keep our Soldiers focused on the

mission. That’s right, you leaders at home have as much and sometimes more influence on Soldiers than

the officers or NCO’s here in Afghanistan. As we work hard to reduce stress levels here, we need you to

keep it at a manageable level at home. I wouldn’t ask you to keep secrets from your Soldier but I am

asking you to be careful not to dramatize a simple situation.

I know that each family is preparing for a homecoming and it’s on our minds also. Just as it took us

months to prepare for this deployment, it will and should take time to prepare for homecoming. I ask

that you start looking at information to help with this transition. Army Community Service (ACS) and

Military One Source are places that you can read about the stressors of deployment for you and your

Soldier. We will discuss these areas more in the coming months. I want us all to be prepared for the

reintegration of family. We have all changed during our time apart. Each family member must be

reintroduced. Those of you who have done this before know what I am talking about. I hope today’s

technology has reduced the need for formal introductions.

Please accept my sincerest gratitude for everyone’s support during this deployment. Your kindness

and generosity is unmatched. I am touched by the families of this battalion and the communities in

which you reside. You make me proud to be an American Soldier and even prouder to be an Alabamian.

4th

ALABAMA!

CSM John Black

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Cpt Robert jackson

chaplain

Task Force

Centurion prime

The New Year is upon us! This can be a time filled with both excitement and trepidation. For many of

us we are excited for the New Year because it is also the year we are to return home. But with all new things

there is uncertainty. What will the future hold? What life events will happen in this year that I may not be

prepared for? The Psalmist reminds us that there are two things in this life that we can look to for comfort.

There is the physical and there is the spiritual. In his day chariots represented an advantage on the battlefield,

and horses were needed to pull the chariots. But the Psalmist also reminds us that none of these bring security.

As a matter of fact he draws the distinction in the next verse, "they collapse and fall." However, the one who

trusts in the Lord will "rise and stand up." Here is the point: When the future is set before us, what or who will

we trust in? Will we look to our earthly leaders for comfort? Will we look to our possessions and banks

accounts? Will we set our hope on plans that may or may not happen? Or will you look to the Lord this New

Year and find your hope in him? One will collapse and fall, the other will rise and stand. The battalion is

cresting the hill of the deployment and what will happen in the coming months none of us know for sure. But

we can be comforted that God holds us in His mighty hand, and there you will find security like no other. It is

in the loving arms of his grace that we find peace, and the dream of a Happy New Year comes true.

Serving Those Who Serve,

Your Chaplain

CH CPT Robert Jackson

Psalms 20:7-8 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we

trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but

we rise and stand upright."

The Yellow Ribbon dates for the 1st of the 167th Infantry’s post-

deployment have been set. Yellow Ribbon I will take place July 13-14 and

Yellow Ribbon II will take place August 10-11. Both will be at the

Birmingham Sheraton and include the entire battalion. More information

will follow as the dates near.

Task Force Centurion Prime is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaskForceCenturion

To make a submission, email the PAO at: michael.s.tomberlin@afghan.swa.army.mil

SSAAVVEE TTHHEE DDAATTEESS