sion and then prepare to tran-

sition the area so that no more

US forces will have to deploy

to this area again.

Due to some heavy

snow falls (think Fort Drum

Winter Lite) we still may

have some movement of

forces around the battlefield

before we are set. All Soldiers

should have already contacted

home via email or phone.

Living conditions are good.

Our Afghan hosts are wonder-

ful, and everyone remains

excited to get the mission

underway.

Thank you again

for all of your support.

Remember to contact the

Rear-Detachment com-

mand team or any of our

Family Readiness Advisor

is there is anything we can

do for any of you. It is

humbling to lead this ex-

emplary unit to Afghani-

stan for the first time in our

history. It is all the more

exciting because of the

Troopers (that you support)

who fill our ranks, and who

are poised to excel at every

task.

Ready Now! Com-

mandos! Climb to Glory!

Greetings from

Western Paktika, Province, in

the southeastern part of Af-

ghanistan! It is truly a great

honor to sit in command of

such wonderful Troopers un-

der the colors and battle flag

of Combined Task Force

Wolverine.

The entire Task

Force is in country, though

not all are at their final desti-

nation quite yet. I cannot

thank all the families enough,

friends and supporters who

spent those countless

hours ensuring we began

this journey knowing we

have your full support.

The strength of our family

support system remains

humbling to the command

and will always be a foun-

dation of who we are,

critical to all of our suc-

cesses.

On 03 February,

we assumed authority and

command for US opera-

tions in Western Paktika. We

inherited space about three

times the size of Rhode Island

from the Army’s most accom-

plished cavalry unit, 1-4 Cav-

alry out of Fort Riley Kansas

as part of the Army’s 4BCT,

1st Infantry Division. The

Troopers of 1-4 CAV have

really done a remarkable job

working with the Afghan Se-

curity Forces to keep the en-

emy in check. Our task is to

finish the job.

Over the duration of

our tour, we will work to en-

sure that the Afghan National

Army’s 1st Kandak (Battalion)

and 6th Kandak of their 2nd

Brigade, 203rd Corps, are

able to operate independently

and have the programs and

systems in place to be a for-

midable military force in sup-

port of the national govern-

ment. Along with the Afghan

Uniform Police and other

security entities, our Afghan

brothers in arms are good

enough to keep the enemy at

bay. In our advisory role;

we’ll make them better. With-

out a doubt, the leaders and

Soldiers of the entire Task

Force will complete the mis-

GREETINGS FROM AFGHANISTAN

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

Promotions 2

RIP/TOA

Ceremony

2

Battle Bud-

dies: Not just

for Soldiers

5

D E P A R T M E N T O F

D E F E N S E

The Growler F E B R U A R Y 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 I I

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Greetings

From

Afghanistan

B, C, D Troop

Updates

A letter from

the Chaplain

How to send

care packages

P A G E 2

CSM Jusino and an

ANSF Partner

Promotions a Plenty

The Sergeant Major Corner Hello to all the friends and

families of the CombinedTask

Force Wolverine from West-

ern Paktika, in the southeast-

ern part of Afghanistan. It’s

been a long trip for the men

and women of the Task Force

but most of us have arrived at

out final destination.

The Squadron Commander

and I would like to thank all

the friends and loved ones for

supporting their Soldiers dur-

ing the final send off at the

Brigade Support Battalion mo-

tor pool at Fort Drum.

The support system

remains awe-inspiring to the

unit and will keep our Soldiers

focused on the task at hand.

It’s important that our Soldiers

balance mission while still stay-

ing connected with their

friends and families back home.

Soldiers have a variety of ways

to stay connected to home.

Although it can vary by loca-

tion, mail is received regularly

in our area of operations. You

can expect upwards of 10 to

14 days for your Soldier to

receive their package. Please

be aware of the restricted

items while your Soldier in

theatre. If you have any ques-

tions please feel free to con-

tact your FRG. So keep the

packages coming, I know the

Soldiers appreciate that.

As always I like to put in a

good word in for our FRG.

Please stay plugged in; it’s the

Squadrons direct link to the

ones who support our families

while deployed. Please do not

hesitate to contact our out-

standing FRG leaders. They can

direct friends and family mem-

bers in the right direction if

assistance or information if

needed. Thanks for all that you

do to support our Soldiers

while deployed on this historic

mission. It’s an honor and a

privilege to be the Command

Sergeant Major of such a great

organization, be safe,

Ready Now! Com-

mandos! Climb to Glory!

First Class roles both at home

and currently while deployed.

In addition, on 09

February 2013 SGT Jeffery

Grahn, Bravo Troop, was also

promoted to Staff Sergeant.

SSG Grahn who has been with

the unit for most of his Army

career has a major impact on

the Soldiers not only in Bravo

Troop but across the Squad-

ron. Congratulations to you

both from everyone in the

Wolverine Family! Ready

Now!

On 01 February

2013 SGT Spencer Toth,

HHT Medic, was promoted

to Staff Sergeant (SSG). SSG

Toth has served as one of

the senior NCOs in the

Medical Platoon and while

deployed will be serving as

the Medical NCO for all med-

ics. SSG Toth has performed

above and beyond the call of

duty, serving in senior Sergeant

N E W S L E T T E R T I T L E

Keeping Your FRG Informed Are you leaving town on a trip? Perhaps you’re going back home for a

few months. Not only does the Squadron wish you the very best but we’d love to

keep you all informed! If you’re leaving town please let your FRG leaders know so

they can send you information about the Squadron.!

P A G E 3

Bravo Troop - Black Hawk mander. There time however

is spent on more than just

formations and ceremonies.

SPC Nicholas Ott

and PFC Gilbert Lee, mortar

men for Black Hawk Troop

state, “[we] are holding down

the mortar pit. Waiting for

people to go on mission to get

a hot gun. We are establishing

Black Hawk Troop is

hard at work establishing their

battle rhythms and fortifying

their positions at Super FOB.

On 09 FEB 13 Soldiers gath-

ered for a promotion cere-

mony (see Page 2), a visit from

Wolverine 6 (the Squadron

commander) and Major Gen-

eral Mayville, RC-East Com-

our [Standing Operation Pro-

cedures] and getting into good

rhythms.”

The two mortar men

are amongst the dozens of

Black Hawk Troopers that

wish there families the best

and “[they’ll] be home when

our mission is complete.”

SPC Ott and PFC

Lee at Super FOB

N E W S L E T T E R T I T L E

Combined Task Force Wolverine Takes the Lead

On Sunday 03

February 2013 Combined

Task Force (CTF) Wol-

verine assumed responsi-

bility of West Paktika.

LTC Matthew Cody,

Commander of 1-4 CAV

and CSM Matthew

McDowell spent the last 9

months training our ANSF

(Afghan National Security

Forces) partners in numerous

Soldier skills from patrolling to

medical support.

“Transition will be

[LTC Griggs’] biggest chal-

lenge, reducing the footprint.”

LTC Cody reiterated that he is

confident in our units role as

advisors and has great faith in

our unit. TF 1-4 CAV, over a

number of months, has helped

the Wolverines transition into

our combat role through what

is called a RIP/TOA (Relief In

Place/Transfer Of Authority).

LTC Griggs and CSM

Jusino are looking forward to

the nine months ahead. They

have repeatedly stated they

are prepared for the challenges

that lie ahead but are confident in

their Soldiers.

Seated amongst the

distinguished guests at the RIP/

TOA ceremony were the Wolver-

ines’ Afghan counterparts, 1/2 and

6/2 Kandak(Afghan Battalions)

commanders and Sergeants Major.

Our ANSF partners are as eager

to work with us as we are with

them and feel by the end of the

next nine months they will be able

to conduct unilateral operations

without US support.

Command Teams for

TF Raider 1-4 CAV

and CTF Wolverine

How to Contact Your Soldier Many of you have asked ‘how can I send my Soldier care packages?’

Though we cannot give out individual mailing addresses without Soldiers’ permis-

sion we have included the generic mailing address for all Soldiers. We will collect

all the packages at this location and distribute it to all your Soldiers! Until then we

recommend digital communication with your Soldier.

Joe Snuffy (no rank)

“Troop (which ever one your Soldier’s in)” 1-89 CAV, 2BCT, 10MTN DIV

APO AE 09311

Charlie Troop - Crazy Horse

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 I I

Charlie Troop Soldiers

are beginning to arrive at FOB

Rushmore from Bagram Airfield.

The few that have been on FOB

Rushmore for the

last week have con-

ducted numerous

training events in

preparation for the

rest of the Troop

arriving. Soldiers

have done training

on dozens of combat and logistical

vehicles to include the 10K forklift

and various others.

Soldiers have also been

busy with the RIP process with 4-1

BSTB from Fort Riley, Kansas. The

4-1 Soldiers have been a huge help

and assisted our Soldiers with all of

their duties and Charlie Troop is

beginning to take over the respon-

sibilities of the FOB.

1LT Daniel Warner, ex-

ecutive officer of Charlie Troop

states, “[We are] currently con-

ducting a RIP with 1-4 CAV, secu-

rity operations as-well-as retro-

grade operations for the FOB.

Charlie Troop is looking

forward to continuing the hard

work that 4/1 BSTB displayed and

beginning our own part here at

FOB Rushmore.

Element at both Super FOB and

COP Sar Howza. These two ele-

ments will have the important job

of directly supporting Bravo and

Alpha Troops from fixing vehicles

and weapons to cooking chow.

A lot has happened in the

past month, but Delta is motivated

and excited to face the challenges

this deployment has put in front of

us so far. We look forward to re-

ceiving care packages and any mail

from our loved ones. Sharana has

limited personnel internet access

that we have to pay for, but Sol-

diers at all three places will have

access to free internet at the

MWRs or USOs on each location.

Thank you for all your support, we

hope that everyone is doing well

back in the states.

It has been a month since

the first group of Delta Troop Sol-

diers began to depart for Afghani-

stan. On 08 Feb 13, all Delta Sol-

diers have made it to Afghanistan.

Delta Company Soldiers

are based out of Sharana, the cen-

tral hub of our area. From Sharana,

Delta is just now beginning to plan

and prep our support of 1-89 CAV.

We will have a Forward Logistics

1LT Dan

Warner if

front of the

Arms

room.

Delta Company - Dark Horse

P A G E 5

“Our presence is

to ensure a

smooth transition

for not only the

Afghans but the

US Forces as well.”

-1LT Jason Sexton

Civil Affairs

Battle Buddies: Not Just for Soldiers B Y : C H A P L A I N D A N I E L M O E N

T H E G R O W L E R

“deploymate” and go do some-

thing for them or with them.

Your reward is the satisfaction

that you’ve helped someone else

and it provided a brief distraction

from your own issues. Believe it

or not, you can actually find joy

in life when you spend time help-

ing others.

So if you haven’t found

a battle buddy or a “deploymate”

yet it’s not too late. You can find

them at the FRG meetings, the

monthly prayer meeting, they

volunteer at the USO or around

the community. “Deploymates”

are everywhere, you just have to

look for them.

Ingrained into the mind

of an enlisted Soldier’s basic

training experience is the con-

cept of having a battle buddy. I

still remember my battle buddy

from my enlisted days. I was an

18 year old kid from Long Island

and my battle buddy was a 20

year old from a rural part of

South Carolina. I loved music and

he loved tractor trailer trucks. It

was an odd match for sure, but

we made it work well. Time man-

agement is a constant stressor in

basic training; you almost never

get a break. But with the battle

buddy system you could get most

of your tasks done. Every morn-

ing I made our bunk beds while

he waited on line to fill our can-

teens with water. Together we

always made it to our first forma-

tion of the day on time. Without

each other it would have been a

long 8 weeks.

The battle buddy sys-

tem can be applied to the greater

military community to include

spouses and kids too. The con-

cept is simple: two people with

similar stressors that help each

other out can endure those

stressors better than dealing

with them alone. I’ve heard

some spouses call it

“deploymates”, two friends

that are loyal to each other

throughout the deployment of

their Soldier spouse. They

may do dinners together,

watch each other’s kids, give

rides when needed or just call

them to say, “How’s it going?”

Those spouses and families that

have “deploymates” tend to en-

dure the separation with less

stress and anxiety. The wisest

man in the Bible, King Solomon,

wrote this observation about life,

“Two are better than one, be-

cause they have a good return

for their work. If one falls down,

his friend can help him up. But

pity the man who falls and has no

one to help him up...A cord of

three strands is not quickly bro-

ken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

There is no doubt that

the battle buddy system works,

but it requires courage and coop-

eration from both individuals. It’s

a commitment to each other that

we will stick through this adven-

ture together. Sometimes you

may not feel like reaching out or

going the extra mile, but those

who are quick to help and go out

of their comfort zone get to

experience the rewards of the

battle buddy system. The best

way to deal with your own loneli-

ness, sadness, stress or anxiety is

to reach out to your