TheTHE OFFICIAL DEPLOYMENT MAGAZINE OF THE 172ND SEPARATE INFANTRY BRIGADE

MARCH 2012

BattlecryTHE

BEGINNING

OF THE END

Editorial Team MAJ Joseph BuccinoEditor-In-ChiefTF Blackhawk Public Affairs Officer

SSG Charles CrailLayout Editor/Writer/PhotographerTF Blackhawk Public Affairs NCOIC

SPC Robert HollandEditor/Writer/Photographer TF Blackhawk Public Affairs NCOIC

BattlecryTheMARCH 2012

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Postal Address:Task Force Blackhawk Public Affairs OfficeFOB SharanaAPO, AE 09311

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive

where we started and know the place for the first time.”

- T. S. Eliot

In ThIs Issue

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Letter from the Editor 3Blackhawk Briefs 5Tour of Ghazni 7Black Knights 23Black Scarves 29Friendliest NCO 31Fighting Boredom in War 33Black Lions 35Gomal District and ABP 37Black Talons 41Sparking Progress 43Heart Breaker 45Always Ready 47Gila 51Of Mud & Men 53Falcons 61The Big Guns 63Children of the Paktika 65Time to go Outside 69Out to Lunch 71Chaplain Letter 73March Promotions 75

Letter from the EditorThe End of Something

Since the fall of Fortress Breslau on May 6, 1945 marking the end of World War II, more than 71 insurgencies around

the world have erupted and subsequently failed. This is almost always a gradual process, with success and failure generally both on-hand until, at the sub national level, a series of events take a clear turn towards a final outcome on behalf of the formalized government.

Those events may have manifested them-selves in Paktika province. Indeed, with the improvements made by the ANSF, the security gains made by TF 3-66 and TF 2-28, and the steady hand of the provincial government, the feel of a paradigm evolution hangs over the province.

Because this conflict is defined, perhaps de-termined, by a breadth of variables difficult to identify from afar, the domestic view may be one of pessimism about the future here. However, those here with a keen understand-ing of this area believe that since December of last year, events have taken a crucial turn toward the final outcome in favor of the government.

Once deadly areas such as Yaya Khel and Marzak in western Paktika are now increas-ingly safer and relatively stable, the govern-ment has a foothold in isolated districts in

eastern Paktika, and the development of the Afghan Local Police has forced the insurgents to abandon villages critical to their fight. In short, the ground in Paktika is shifting beneath our feet.

Meanwhile, there is the human element to deploying away from you folks for such a long period. With under 90 days remaining on this deployment, the attitude in Paktika province is one of quiet anticipation. Most of the Soldiers I speak with are excited to get back to Germany and reunite with all of you. I know I certainly can’t wait to see my daughter Sadiya in the gym at Grafenwoehr at the redeployment ceremony. However, we still have a mission, and the next 90 days represents the busiest time of this deploy-ment for us. Spring fighting season is just about to kickoff, equipment must be packed out for movement back to Germany, and we are preparing to receive and transition the mission to the Dragon Brigade, 4-1 Infantry out of Fort Riley.

The title of this edition, “The Beginning of the End,” has duality of meaning here, with application for both Paktika province and the brigade. In both cases, this feels like the end of something, or perhaps the start of something else. Either way, there is a very positive feel around the brigade that I hope translates through this magazine.

On a final note, I would like to report what we, the “Battle Cry” staff have in store for the next three months. Over the past nine months, we have presented you with iconic images of your Soldiers in combat, reports from the field detailing their operational successes, videos demonstrating their valor-ous actions, and eight of the most artistic editions of a unit magazine in Army history. Alas, this bounty of released information is coming to its unfortunate end.

Before we part, however, we have a few more golden gems of prose and beauty. We will publish three more magazines and con-tinue to publish images and stories on our Facebook site. Additionally, your Soldiers will be highlighted in upcoming articles in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Jour-nal, and the New York Times, and on reports featured on NBC and Fox News. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details on times and dates.

Finally, the most important product we are working on is our brigade yearbook, a true labor of love. This 325-page book will be available both online and in print on June 1st at our “Battle Cry” website. It will feature new pictures, stories about each company, and photos of every single Soldier in the brigade.

“Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore, so do our minutes, hasten to their end.”

-William Shakespeare

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An Afghan National Army sergeant pauses in a village outside Deh Yak, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

After hours of house-to-house searching, both Afghan and U.S. force were tired, sweaty and dirty but deter-mined to press on.

As spring emerges from winter hibernation, insurgents are trying to infiltrate back into the villages and towns of eastern Afghanistan. Every step of the way they are being met by determined defenders at both the national and local levels.

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The March “Battle Cry” is here, which means that there are less than 90 days remaining on this

deployment! I know for our Families in the U.S. and Germany, this deploy-ment is probably beginning to drag along and probably feels far too long already. Take comfort in the fact that we are very close to reunited with you. Here in Paktika province, we have lots to do before we get home to you and we remain focused on assisting our Afghan partners in the military and government. At the same time, we are preparing our equipment for redeployment and preparing to receive the unit replacing us here in Paktika. Of course, we are still aggressively getting out in sector and clearing areas in preparation for the impending fight-ing season. It is a great feeling to be under the 90-day mark, but there is still much work to be done.

I am sure you have all heard about the series of misfortunes that occurred within Afghanistan over the past month. I can tell you that these events have had no impact in our part of the country. The governor and the mili-tary leaders here understand by our actions what Task Force Blackhawk represents: the very best of America, a team of professionals that treats everyone with respect. Don’t worry about us over here, we have great Afghan partners that risk all to work hand-in-hand with us to secure this province. You should know that our Soldiers are representing the United States with nothing less than class and dignity. I have found that the people of Paktika, just like all people, adhere to the golden rule, and they continue to offer us hospitality and friendship. The events that made the news did not impact our partnership one bit.

As we prepare for redeployment, we still have plenty in store for our Fami-lies and supporters. We will publish three more issues of the “Battle Cry,” as well as videos of each unit. In April, CNN, Fox News, and NBC are coming out to report on your Soldiers and we’ll be sure to let you know when the reports will air. Finally, we have a brigade yearbook that will be available for release on June 20th, featuring every Soldier in the brigade along with action photos of every Company.

Blackhawks!!

THE BLACKHAWKMESSAGES FROM THE 172ND SEPARATE INFANTRY BRIGADE

COL Edward T. Bohnemann

Edward T. Bohnemann

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MESSAGES FROM THE 172ND SEPARATE INFANTRY BRIGADE

Families and Friends of the BLACKHAWKS,

We are finally under 90 days for the last units to be complete here with our mission in Afghanistan. Some Soldiers very well may be counting the days, but every one of the Blackhawk Sol-diers is making the days count every day here.

Some strange setbacks have occurred in other parts of the Country in the past month, but not in our province of Paktika. Blackhawks continue to put their Afghan partners in the lead in all aspects of our operations. From rehearsals for a platoon joint patrol, to Afghan led brigade level operations order or after actions review. This was unheard of when we arrived. This is due to all of the teaching, coaching and mentoring of our Afghan National Security Forces by our Blackhawk

Soldiers and leaders.

The spring fighting season is loom-ing as the weather is getting warmer. We all know we have some tough days ahead as we finish this mission out. Nothing in Afghanistan is easy. However the Blackhawks will keep putting ANSF in the lead and wrap-ping our arms around them, sometimes literally…I have never given as many high-fives, shook as many hands or hugged as many bearded men in my life and it’s all good!

The Blackhawk troopers continue to do a fantastic job here in Paktika every day. One senior leader who visited the Blackhawks on a return visit put it best recently when he said, “The Blackhawks don’t need gimmicks to feel good about themselves. They feel good about themselves by adherence to discipline and standards and getting

after the mission at hand.” I would add they do the right thing, for the right reason at the right time while no one is looking for they know it’s the right thing to do.

As always, we thank our friends and families for your support and devotion to us. You our families and friends in Germany and the USA are the only “gimmick” we need. You immensely help us with our mission in harm’s way with your steadfast support. We will see you all soon and look forward to the summer of 2012 when we return to Germany. There is a lot of hard work to be done here and the Black-hawks will finish our mission Army Strong.

BRIEFSCSM Michael W. Boom

Michael W. Boom

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A Tour of GhazniEnd of Winter with

Black Knights and Black Scarves

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Exploring the Ruins

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OUT GOING!The 60mm handheld mortar system is a staple of infantry squad firepower. Able to be uti-lized like a conventional mortar in conjunction with a bipod, it can also be manually han-dled by individual Soldiers. Soldiers are able to manually launch through a trigger system, placing effective fire on the enemy in a matter of seconds.

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Greetings Black Knights fans, families, and supporters. We are now coming down to our last 100 days in Afghanistan and the final sprint to the finish line before

we change out with our replacements this summer. Your Black Knights have made an incredible and unprecedented impact on one of the poorest, most violent regions of Afghanistan, and CSM Robbins and I are exceptionally proud of their success. This progress is both fragile and reversible and we will spend our final months working with our Afghan partners so that they can hold the gains that we have fought so hard to achieve together. In short we have forced the Taliban out of the major population areas and into the mountains where they lack supplies and a supportive population. Regardless of what you may hear in the press, the Afghan people that we work with day after day are extremely grateful for our presence and consistently reject the Taliban.

I extend my condolences to the family of SSG Jerry Don Reed and all the Soldiers of Apache Company. He was a true Black Knight and an example for anyone to emulate, and his passing leaves a gap in our line that will not easily be filled.

Congratulate are in order for SGT Kyle D. Schmidt, from the battalion S1 (Personnel) for his incredible achievement in winning the United Stated Armed Forces-Afghanistan 2011 Adjutant General Corps Regimental NCO of Year. Sergeant Schmidt has absolutely excelled while providing administrative support for your Black Knights behind the scenes and it is an honor for us to recognize his achievement.

Additionally, I would like to congratulate SSG Joshua Parker from B/3-66 AR for his acceptance into the Sergeant Audie Murphy club. This exclusive group is reserved for our finest Non-commissioned officers who have demonstrated to their peers and leadership that they are the epitome of selfless service and professionalism. Finally, I would like to congradulate Command Sergeant Major Martin on his lateral promotion to CSM and a fond farewell as he leaves us to take the CSM position in 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. He and Linda have been an asset to our team here and I am sure they will make a huge impact on the Dragoons of Second Cavalry.

FULL COURT PRESSEXPELLING THE INSURGENCY IN EVERY VILLAGE

Black Knights! Mounted and Ready!

May God continue to protect and bless the Black Knights! Greetings Black Knights! I would like to start by thanking the Soldiers of the Black Knights for

their honorable and noble service and sacrifices these last nine months. Every Soldier has committed selfless to our mission. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve with such fine Soldiers!

As we approach these last 100 days, we all need to put that same focus and share our experiences to fight together to the end of mission. Leaders, I ask all of you to stay engaged and remember it is an honor to lead and serve along with our Soldiers in this time of war. All of our Soldiers are looking to us for motivation and energy. Keep the standards high and keep everyone safe. We have had tremendous outreach and support from our Families and our rear detachment leadership! Our Families have been remarkable with their endless love and untiring support and they deserve special thanks for what they

do and sacrifice every day. I would also like to thank the FRGs for their continued support. Thank You All!

I would like to take some time to address some of the changes in the Army. The military is downsizing, and being able to remain in it will become increasingly difficult. I urge everyone who would like to make the Army a career to remain physically fit and competitive. The draw down will affect Soldiers of every rank, regardless of time in service. I encourage each family to sit down together and discuss these changes and their potential impact. The Army will always maintain and retain strong Soldiers and strong Families!

I would be remiss if I did not express my sincerest condolences for the loss of SSG Jerry Reed. He was a true leader in the Black Knights, and his loss will be felt throughout the Task Force. The Black Knight Family will continue to support SSG Reed’s family and the Soldiers of Apache Company.

Curt Taylor

Daniel Robbins

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KNIGHTS22

The ChOsen

The WARRIORS of

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The DAwgs

YoSef Khel

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BlaCkJACK

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BLACK SCARVESTOGETHER AGAIN FIGHTING FOR GHAZNI

As most of you may already know, our second group of early redeploying Soldiers made it back to Germany at the end of February after an anticipated return home. These Soldiers

worked very hard while deployed in support of OEF 11-12, and we are extremely proud of their service. The Soldiers remaining here with us in Afghanistan continue to work hard day-in and day-out to accomplish their mission.

As we approach our third month of operating in Ghazni Province, it is clear that having the Battalion back together has made a positive impact on morale and effectiveness. We want to give special recognition to C/9E and the two platoons from A/9E who will be attached to the Black Scarves for the remainder of the deployment.

On March 4th, the Black Scarves held a Soldier of the Month competition, and we are excited to announce that the Task Force 1-2 Soldier of the Month is SPC Dustin Danley from Charlie “Rock” Company. SPC Danley’s hard work and dedication are a true testament of his character and willingness to excel in a tough environment.

In a combat environment, many Soldiers focus on different things during their “down time”, but for those who put extra time into their career advancement by studying for promotion boards, the Command Team makes sure to hold a promotion board each month. This month, we held our board on March 4th at FOB Andar and many Soldiers came from their respective FOBS with their sponsor NCOs in order to attend. Last month was a month of change for some company leadership, and we want to make

sure to congratulate the new 1SGs who have taken on new responsibilities. 1SG Eric Bunuan has replaced 1SG Baczek as the HHC “Hammer” Company 1SG. Although 1SG Bunuan is new to Hammer Company, he is not new to the Black Scarves family. He was the 1SG for Charlie “Rock” and deployed them to Afghanistan last summer. We also want to welcome 1SG Gus Reiley, who took over as the new Charlie Company 1SG in February. We are excited about these new changes and have full confidence in the abilities of these leaders.

One last topic that we want to address is safety. There are always injuries that can be prevented by taking extra time and precautions during normal day-to-day activities. With the winter coming to an end and the snow beginning to melt, we just want our Soldiers and families to make sure they are taking extra precautions to stay safe on the roads. From ensuring that your vehicle has the proper tires, to obeying the speeding laws, every extra precaution you take

makes a difference. We ask all of our family and friends back home to continue staying safe and smart while operating motor vehicles.

Finally we want to thank every Soldier and Spouse for their hard work and support throughout this deployment. We ask that you all continue to be resilient and stay positive. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Earl B. Higgins

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Brian Woodall

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Afghanistan’s friendliest NCO

Few can resist a smile when SGT Marshall walks by. There is this unmistakable energetic

bounce in his step while on patrol that lets everyone around know he loves his job. The smile that always graces his face brings even the mighty brigade com-mand sergeant major to his knees to be smothered in kisses.

SGT Marshall is a two and a half year old black lab mix and a military working dog.

“He is a single purpose dog,” said SPC David King, from Kansas City, Missouri, and Marshall’s handler. “He is a [explosive] detection dog.”

Military working dogs are trained in attack or in explosive detection, though some do both.

Marshall, as part of the Tactical Explosive Detection Dog program, commonly referred to as TEDD, helps the infantrymen of Company C, 1-2 Infantry, Task Force 1-2, find and avoid explosives before the explo-sives find them.

Marshall and King came together as a team about one year ago at Vohne Lich Kennels in Grisham, Indiana.

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King is in infantryman himself, origi-nally assigned as a machine gunner with Task Force 1-2 when he joined the unit in Grafenwoehr, Germany after completing basic training and infantry school.

“I heard the first sergeant talking to one of the mechanics asking him if he liked dogs,” King recalled. “I was like, ‘I LOVE DOGS!’”

When King joined the Army, he wanted to be dog handler, but that role is typically reserved for military police, and then only after two years of service and selection is never guar-anteed.

“When I heard about the TEDD program, I worked with my chain of command to volunteer,” King said. “I worked very hard to set myself apart from all of the other candidates.”

After being selected, King and the other TEDD candidates were sent to

Indiana for an initial month to meet their dogs prior to beginning formal training.

The formal portion of the training takes place at the Yuma Proving Grounds in California and lasts two months.

After the handler and dog are quali-fied, they deploy to Afghanistan for an additional month of training on local scents at Bagram before moving forward to their combat units.

“My first dog was injured in train-ing and could not deploy,” King said. “They gave me the opportunity to qualify another dog in two weeks. This is when I received Marshall.”Coincidently, Marshall is King’s middle name. “It was meant to be,” King said. “We qualified together and deployed together.”

When not on mission together outside the wire, King and Marshall practice their techniques on the combat out-post on a daily basis to keep Marshall sharp.

Practice consists of King hiding explo-sives, either hand grenades or residue from captured ordinance and then set-ting Marshall loose to find it. Once Marshall finds his target, he promptly sits or lays down to signal to King that he has located the odor of an explosive device. His reward is simple but no less appreciated by Marshall, a tennis ball.

“Most working dogs just want to chew their reward,” King explains. “Marshall has a real drive to chase and bring the ball back to me.”

As Marshall makes mad dashes across the COP, bounding and chomping on his reward, Soldiers of the company pause to watch and smile.

Occasionally Marshall will swing wide on his return to King to say hello to the watchers and receive a friendly scratch behind his velvety ears.

“He really helps keep us sane here,” King explains with a smile. “This is definitely the most rewarding job in the Army.”

Having a dog and best friend on deployment, not to mention protecting your fellow infantrymen, King’s senti-ments are hard to argue with.

Marshall’s only comment on the subject is to drop his ball and wait for the next toss or his next command to search.

His tail wagging all the time.

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FIGHTING THE BOREDOM OF WAROne inch at a time

A malevolent smile crosses the face of PFC Joshua Dennis from Arlington, Texas, “I have

two squads of Nurgle, two Deamon Princes, two squads of Blood Lusters, a Soul Grinder and a Fate Weaver.”

The other Soldiers in the crowded tent show no sign of fear.

“We are the Vassals of Chaos!” Dennis adds in menacingly.

The other Soldiers laugh and jeer that his Army is not even painted.

Closed off from the reality around them in their squad tent, the Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Bat-talion, 2nd Infantry Regiment are at war. At war and at play.

The men come together on an almost a nightly basis after the day’s patrols and details are done to play a table-top wargame called Warhammer 40,000.

Arrayed out before them on a make-

shift plywood table is a miniature battlefield of old MRE boxes, ravaged plastic buildings and inch tall warriors, some exquisitely painted.

“It’s a company event,” says SSG Ste-phen Sampson from Laguna Nigeul, Calif. “At least one guy from each

platoon plays.”

The game is played through turns as players move their pieces a few inches at a time. Combat is resolved through complicated rules and dice roles.

“I should go to the gym,” says Dennis. “But instead I’m eating animal crack-ers and drinking Sprite.”

“If I finish this tub of crackers by the end of the game, though,” Dennis adds with a laugh, “then I am going to the gym tonight.”

In an environment drenched in the stresses of combat and being away from home, the game serves as an escape and a social gathering to bleed of stress.

The platoon average on the Army Physical Fitness Test is 270, says SSG Matthew Arendt.

Looking around the room, most of the Soldiers are as muscular as their little

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futuristic warriors on the table before them.

“I’m deployed,” says SSG Reece Meyer from White Bear Lake, Minn., referring to his army on the table.

Reece serves as a sort of ringleader for the gaming group, though all have played these sorts of games in one form or another for years.

Tucked in between bunks, stacks of weapons and personal items are tables littered with half-constructed armies and bottles of paint.

Each figure takes on average 15 min-utes to paint. There are hundreds of figures scattered about the tent.

The plastic armies are purchased, as-sembled and painted before play. The detail of painting is entirely dependent upon the imagination of the player.

On average, the Soldiers have spent

around $400 each on figures and books through this deployment; one has spent over $1,000.

“I’m still building my army,” says one Soldier who refused to give his name. “They are all back there being painted.”

He refused to give his name he admit-ted, because his is embarrassed a little about how much he has spent on his hobby.

“They are funny,” says 1SG Gus Reiley. “They act like they are so wor-ried about being called dorks or nerds. Honestly, these are the last guys I’m going to need to go get from the police station on the weekends. This is a great way for them to have fun.”

The battle rages on, one inch and one di role at a time. Instead of the thunderous roll of bombs and gunfire though, the tent is filled with laughter and jokes.

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Families, friends and supporters of the Black Lions:

As the calendar moves from February into March, the weather is improving daily. The last of the snow is melting, and the temperature is steadily climbing. Soon we will move our focus from training to conducting operations. The battalion staff is busy planning for our redeployment, in addition to coordinating our efforts between now and then. Over the final three months of our tour, we will be setting the stage for our replacements so that they can get on the ground and continue the momentum that our Task Force has created here in East Paktika. It looks as if our training and mentorship of our Afghan partners will pay dividends as we increasingly show the local population that they can rely on their own government and its representatives.

I’m sure you are already aware that the battalion and brigade will case their colors in the middle of next year and deactivate. While this is certainly major news which will impact many of us, the Soldiers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Officers of the Task Force are wholly focused on our current mission, and concerned completely on ensuring that we keep our eyes on bringing all of our men and women home from the deployment. Once we are safely home we will turn our attention to the future of the brigade.

Each and every Soldier of this formation is making important contributions to our efforts here in Afghanistan. Their professionalism and determination is truly inspiring, and I am proud of the individuals who make this formation a success! Please continue to support your Soldier, because your efforts are greatly appreciated by our men and women. All of us look forward to being reunited with you in a few short months!

Friends of the Black Lions:

In February we had to send home a platoon from Echo Troop, 5th Cavalry Regiment, in addition to changing some of our companies’ First Sergeants. In HHC, 1SG Collins was replaced by 1SG Jones. Newly minted 1SG Mastrodominico switched with 1SG Jones in Charlie Company, 2-28. And Charlie, 3-66 saw 1SG Orbe replaced by 1SG Martinez. Each of these moves puts the right man in place for our Task Force as we begin to look toward the future. Change is always difficult, and each of the 1SG’s who were moved had performed in an outstanding manner. I am confident that those who assumed responsibility this month will continue the success of their predecessors.

It was certainly bittersweet to see our platoon from E/5 CAV depart. This proud Soldiers were selected because of the great success they’ve had training their Afghan partners. It is bittersweet, because they are an outstanding unit, and we will miss their contributions over the next few months. Also, we all know that they are not thrilled about leaving the fight earlier than anticipated, but I’m sure all of them are excited about seeing their family and friends upon their return home.

As we enter the final 90-100 days of combat operations, I and all of the leaders of this Task Force will be increasingly vigilant to ensure our

Soldiers stay focused on the mission, and their safety. The last months of any combat deployment can be the most dangerous if Soldiers get distracted by thoughts of going home, and we all are going to work hard to prevent this from occurring within our formation. I am very proud of each of our ‘Black Lions’, and we are all working hard to complete this deployment victoriously. Thanks for all that you do to keep your Soldier’s morale high, by supporting him and keeping the home fires burning!

SETTING THE STAGEPREPARING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER

Joseph CornelisonJohn Meyer

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Combined forces establish presence in Gomal district

Afghan National Security Forces and Soldiers from Company B, 9th Engineer Battalion, Task Force Black

Lions, patrolled areas in the Gomal district March 3.

The patrol’s goal, according to Bravo Company 1SG John Brennan, was to establish an ANSF presence and disrupt any insurgent activity. While in the vil-lage of Little Amenkhuil, coalition forces also gathered biometric data on military aged men and handed out clothes to local children.

Afghan National Army 1SG Nak Moham-mad, 2nd Coy, 2nd Battalion, 4th Kandak, said missions with U.S. forces show the cohesive relationship between the ANSF and U.S. soldiers.

“Our relationship with the U.S. soldiers has improved greatly and we hope it con-tinues,” Mohammad said.

Brennan, a native of Manchaug, Mass., explained that by getting the ANSF time with their community, they are letting the people know that they are here to protect them.

“[They] lead the convoy so the first thing the villagers saw was the face of their fel-low countrymen and that helps put them at ease,” Brennan said.

The patrol started with Afghan Border Police conducting traffic control point operations, said Brennan.

“Basically we’re trying to find any enemy insurgents that might be in the area smug-gling things.”

While conducting the patrol, SGT Peter Turo, a native of White Plains, N.Y., and team leader, collected military aged men’s biometric data. He was impressed with the level of identification the process provides.

“We get everyone’s fingerprints, DNA, pictures of the retina, and the people them-selves along with their names and family history to add to our database,” Turo said.

“With all of this information in our data-base, our chances of catching perpetrators from a previous improvised explosive attack increases dramatically.

While coalition forces conducted the biometrics, Mohammad said the ANA provided support to the local populace.

“Our soldiers distributed the clothing they received from the U.S. soldiers and the local people are happy. It’s our mission to keep our people happy and healthy.”

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At Combat Outpost Curry in the isolated and remote district of Gomal, U.S. and Afghan leaders met to plan and discuss the roadmap for the future of regional security March 2.

Afghan Border Patrol MAJ Surdar Mo-hammad, commander, of the 6th Kandak, met with U.S. Army LTC Donnie Yates, a team chief for the Security Force Advisory Team, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk.

Before the meeting started, Yates gave Mohammad school supplies for children in the district. They also reviewed previ-ous operation maps and prepared for the upcoming ABP commander’s conference in Gardez.

Yates, a native of Kenly, N.C., said he’s grateful to work with Mohammad, a 31-year military veteran.

“He has done an outstanding job of meet-ing the mission requirements out here in the district,” Yates said. “He has worked very hard to overcome any challenges and has the largest Afghan National Security Force element in Goamal.”

Mohammad and his soldiers conduct three to four patrols independently and with other ANSF on a weekly basis without participation of coalition forces. He believes they are here to help improve

security and help his compatriots stand on their own.

“Ten years ago before the arrival of the coalition forces to Afghanistan, we were going through dark times; it was a chaotic situation. There was fighting everywhere, there was lawlessness, chaos, Taliban and al-Qaida controlling most of the country,” Mohammad said. “With the arrival of the coalition forces a lot has changed. The Taliban controlled this area where we are now, which is not too far from the Paki-stan border. Things have changed tremen-dously.”

Recently the ANSF planned and executed a convoy of 31 new vehicles to Combat Out-post Curry that Yates considers a particularly proud moment for them.

“They moved a combination of pickup trucks, a wrecker and an ambulance which was equipment that they didn’t have before,” stated Yates. “They did that in conjunction with

the other ANSF, ANA, and the AUP. Not only did they do all the planning together, it was very well executed and synchro-nized. It was excellent evidence that they are moving towards independence.”

With assistance from coalition forces and international community members Mo-hammad feels his countrymen are begin-ning to defend their country effectively.

“We have tremendous appreciation for and do not take lightly the sacrifices that the international community, especially the United States, have made out here,” said Mohammad. “We are here to rebuild this country and its armed forces so that history doesn’t return to what we had 10 years ago.”

ABP commander works with coalition for independence

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2 Page Photo

Fire in the hole!When explosives are found on the battlefield, there is only one way to dispose of them; blow them up. An exhilarating, and slightly nerve-wracking experience, controlled detonations never fail to please.

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RIPPING INTO SPRINGBLACK TALONS CUT APART THE INSURGENCY

13 all on the 1st of the month! We continue to push through the challenging wintry conditions to support the Blackhawks.

A Co and HHC are providing support to another task force moving into the area, Bravo Company is picking up more maintenance support for increased convoys elements that transit our sector, and Charlie Company is continuing to provide outstanding medical support while moving their headquarters, concussion care center, and patient hold facility to refurbished buildings right next to their treatment facility.

On top of these primary missions, the companies are focused on equipment turn in and we have turned in over $11-million worth of excess equipment we did not need to accomplish our mission.

As you head into spring, stay Strong, Professional, and Together (the three themes of the Support Battalion Command Vision). I know that you and your family have the endurance to make it to

the end of this important deployment.

Come on Spring! I have no doubt that you are as ready for the end of winter as the Black Talons are – besides, we are hopeful that Spring is the last season we will welcome in

Afghanistan!

February’s highlights include:

(1) SGT Olga Burgos of Bravo Co was selected for the prestigious Audie Murphy Club – She competed at the Division board and absolutely rocked! A phenomenal achievement for a SGT!

(2) The Black Talons held an awesome football tournament here on Super Bowl Sunday. The battalion’s Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program coordinated the event, and C Co’s 1SG Mansfield served as head referee. Each company sourced one team for the tournament. In the end it was the Alpha Company Assassins that defeated the HHC Dragons in overtime to take the Commander’s Cup trophy. I was really proud of everyone for their sportsmanship for playing in below freezing conditions on a dirt field that we cleared just for the game.

(3) Chaplain Smith led relationship classes during February as a way for us to grow our relationships while apart. I strongly recommend “Laugh Your Way to A Better Marriage” and “The Five Love Languages” as great resources for relational growth. Remember, we will all leave the Army one day – let’s leave it arm in arm with our loved ones.

The Black Talons blew the door off of March by reenlisting 24 Soldiers and promoting another

Brad Eungard

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TALONS40

Sparking progress: Building capacity, one joint at a time

Soldiers from the 172nd Support Battalion, and the Afghan Na-

tional Army’s 5/2 Kandak, 203rd Corps, forged stronger bonds and Afghan capabili-ties through welding training on Forward Operating Base Sharana. “They’ve been welding for about a year,” said SGT Dustin Stringer, from Randle-mann, NC. “The only training they have received was two weeks of basic welding train-ing here on Sharana about a year ago.” By comparison, American welders go through a 19-week training course before becom-ing certified at their jobs, said Stringer. The partnered training being

conducted by the 172nd was meant to gauge their counter-parts’ skill level and form the basis for additional training program. “We see where they are skill wise, give them some guid-ance and hopefully help to re-fine their skills,” said Stringer. As his Afghan student lit the welding torch and sent sparks flying through the room. Stringer moved closer to in-spect the glowing cut through a quarter-inch metal sheet. “They apply what we tell them very quickly,” Stringer says, then turns to the inter-preter and continues, “Tell him it’s better than mine.” The compliment is not lost in translation as the young

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Afghan Soldier smiles in response. “We need more training,” said Noor Mohammad through the interpreter. “Two weeks is just not enough in the long run.” Mohammad explains that with the level of training they have received so far, simple tasks such as repair-ing leaf springs on trucks, vehicle bodies and gates is about the limit of their abili-ties.

Mohammad’s hunger for more knowledge is evident though. “We need a course that lasts

a month or more, some-thing like what the Amer-icans get at their school,” said Mohammad. “This training is good for refreshing what we know, but it is only the basics,” Mohammad said. After the Army, Moham-mad expressed interest in opening a shop back home; hopes to one day use his welding skills to make a descent living. “But with more training, more experience in weld-ing,” Mohammad contin-ued, “I will re-enlist and stay in.”

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They call them the “Jingle Whisperers.”

“On one of our first missions out,” said SGT Abigail Najera, from Deming, New Mexico, “for some reason, the jingle truck drivers just flock to us. So our fellow Soldiers gave us the name. It just stuck.”

A jingle truck is the nickname given to the local Afghan trucks due to their elaborate set of decorations from chains, bells and custom weld-ing, to extravagant paintings and tassels galore.

These trucks travel all over Afghanistan, a place where roads are rare.

Traveling through nar- row mountain passes with steep gorges on either side, it is easy to under-stand why they would flock to the crew of the wrecker; nicknamed “The heart Breaker.” “I love my truck,” said PFC Chan-telle Evangelista, from Wahiawa, Hawaii, “I love my job.”

Nejera and Evangelista came together shortly after arriving in Afghanistan last summer to form the Brigade’s only all-female recovery team.

Their specialty, Nejera explained, is devising creative ways to recover multi-ton vehicles which have be-come stuck, mired in mud, damaged or close to falling off a cliff face.

“We make our own roads,” said Nejera. “What scares us is that we

have to maneuver around these disabled trucks off the road and we don’t know if there might be an IED there, or if the road might collapse under us.”

“That’s actually how we lost one of our trucks and how one of our teammates got injured,” Nejera explained. “[The route clearance patrol] had not cleared the area they drove into.”

Mitigating the risks associated with their jobs and helping the locals has helped the Heart Breaker crew to develop themselves into a well-oiled team, Nejera said.

“When I came here, I didn’t know anything,” said Evangelista.

Joining the unit shortly before de-ployment fresh out of basic training, the majority of what Evangelista had learned was based on flat ground and the M-88 tracked wrecker.

“We started learning as soon as we got here,” recalls Evangelista. “The unit we replaced taught us a lot about vertical recovery.”

“She’s learned fast,” said Nejera who is on her second deployment. “All our NCOs have praised her for her abilities.”

“I can completely trust her when I am out of the vehicle,” Nejera said. “She knows where I will be and what action to take with the truck based on what I am doing on the ground.”

“I love my truck,” Evangelista reit-erated. “And I love my job.”

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ELM Shop ensures battlefield eyes and ears

ALWAYS READY

Tucked away on Forward Operating Base Sharana is a maintenance shop like no

other. To the naked eye it seems like your usual shop, tools neatly arranged, wires protruding from on-going repairs, service manuals arranged by order, diagnostic ma-chines on counter tops, and the air filled with the sounds of technical jargon and good-natured jokes.

What sets the 172nd Support Bat-talion’s Electronic Maintenance Shop apart from others is that most of the over 800 different types of electronic equipment being ser-viced are sensitive items. The Soldiers working in the elec-tronic maintenance shop, also

known as the ELM shop, must have a security clearance and be aware at all times the sensitive nature of the equipment they are repairing.

The equipment being repaired includes night vision devices, com-munication equipment and special electronic devices. The repairs encompass any elec-tronic device that Soldiers use on the battlefield, whether it is in a military vehicle, on their person, or in a tactical operations center.

“Without this shop nobody can see each other or hear each other [on the battlefield],” said SSG Eric Perrill, noncommissioned officer in charge of the ELM Shop, Bravo

Company, 172nd Support Battal-ion.

The Soldiers in the nine-man shop are comprised of four military oc-cupational specialties consisting of radio and communication security repairer (94E), special electronics devices repairer (94F), land combat electronics system missile repairer (94A), and signal support systems specialist (25U).

“All of these Soldiers are screened before they are ever allowed in the Army,” said 1SG Michael Johnson, Bravo Company, 172nd Support Battalion. “They have to cross-train in order to survive, especially with the missile sections.”

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Soldiers from the ELM shop are mobile as well, going where they are needed most, not just waiting for faulty equipment to arrive at the shop, said SSG Wesley Hughes, foreman of the ELM shop, Bravo Co., 172nd Support Battalion.

“We don’t just stay here, we go out to FOBs, support the line units,” added Perrill. “We send a crew out to be with them, fixing nods, repairing radios, so they don’t have to stop what they are doing, we support them”

Without radios Soldiers on the battlefield are not going to be able to communicate or call for medical evacutation, without night vision devices Soldiers can’t conduct night missions, and the ELM shop is here to make sure their equip-ment allows the Soldiers of Task Force Blackhawk to conduct all these missions, said Perrill.

“Without us the mission couldn’t get done. As long as [Soldiers] are out there, and [Soldiers] are safely conducting their missions, we know we are doing out job,” said SGT Israel Hernandez, NCOIC of quality control in the ELM Shop, Bravo Co., 172nd Support Battal-ion.

The ELM shop provides support for all of RC-EAST.

“We don’t turn anybody away, convoys coming through our FOB, or just anybody who needs our help,” said Hughes, “One team, one fight.”

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Combat AwardsIt is an honor to earn a combat action badge, combat medic badge or combat infantry badge. CSM Vimoto, the comand sergeant major for all of RC-East presented combat awards of Task Force 1-2 at FOB Andar.

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To the Soldiers, Families, and Fans of Task Force Gila, thank you for the continued support that each and every one of you shows through letters, care packages, and

communication on Facebook. As we publish this amazing March edition of the Blackhawk Brigade’s BATTLE CRY, we are impressed and proud of the outstanding performances by our Gila Soldiers as we continue our mission securing Afghanistan and building capacity in the Afghan National Security Forces.

Throughout February, the Command Sergeant Major and I have circulated around Paktika as we visit your Soldiers to check their well-being. Despite vicious cold weather and large amounts of snow, your Soldiers’ morale is high, their discipline is strong, and the friendships with our ANSF counterparts are unyielding. A large part of this is due to the support from back home, allowing your loved ones to focus on their important and essential mission. Thank you!

The MPs continued training the AUP and started an operation to train Afghan Local Police in Marzak with TF 3-66, an extremely remote and disconnected village in northern Paktika. Although difficult and trying, they are succeeding. The Sappers continued clearing the main economic corridors of the province, and started providing critical horizontal engineer support by improving routes and increasing force protection for Coalition and ANSF forces. Your Signaleers continued to install new hardware around the province, increasing the reliability of the critical command and communications network for the Brigade, while providing computer and communications training to the ANSF to increase their ability to conduct unilateral operations. The Collectors and Analysts of the 504th Military Intelligence Company are constantly providing crucial intelligence to the maneuver commanders, resulting in several successful engagements on the battlefield, and the capture of several High Value Individuals.

To all the FRG leaders and FRSAs, thank you for your tremendous effort and support to all of our Family members. A special thanks to our amazing group of spouses back in Germany and Stateside for the continual self–sacrifice and encouragement in support of the deployed Task Force. Your tireless support of your Soldier, Sapper, Signaleer, Collector and Analyst, and Policeman is greatly appreciated.

Blowing snow, cold temperatures and blustery winds marked the last month of operations for Task Force Gila. Despite an unseasonably cold winter for us all,

your Soldiers and Sappers have learned to adapt and overcome by staying vigilant, maintaining their discipline and placing the mission first during these winter months.

Our professional competence, leadership abilities, and the continuing efforts to improve our Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) capabilities have been the primary focus for every Gila Soldier. It is imperative to continue assisting our ANSF partners as we continue to move forward and open a new chapter in the history of Paktika Province, Afghanistan. We’ve

also been fortunate to have solid support from our ANSF counterparts on missions and cohesive training in support of the Paktika community.

The Task Force Commander and I have had the opportunity to get out and see the Soldiers at FOB Sharana, COB Curry, and Bande Sardeh. We are impressed with the work your Soldiers have been doing. Every day the Soldiers and Sappers of TF Gila have set the example through their dedication, professionalism, and excellence. They embody the warrior spirit and continue to make our nation proud!

I would like to continue to express a special thanks to the Task Force Gila family and love ones back home. Your unwavering love

and constant support for all our Soldiers, Sappers, Signaleers, Analysts & Collectors, and Policemen keeps our hearts warm as we reach the end of our deployment. From the bottom of my heart “may God bless you and keep you safe.”

With your continued commitment and support, I have every confidence that we will be the best we can be, and perhaps most important, be what our nation and our fellow citizens need us to be.

YOUR SUPPORTFUELS OUR OVERWHELMING SUCCESS

Jayson Gilberti Jason Stewart

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Four vehicles from Company C, 9th Engineer Battalion, left for the patrol. By the end of

the day Afghanistan had swallowed them a total of twelve times.

“This terrain is really working us over,” said 2LT David Kearns, from Tampa, Fla. “We have never had this much trouble before.”

The patrol’s goal was simple; visit an area where recent insurgent activity had been reported to be on the rise and develop the situation. The reality of an emerging spring season had other plans for the mounted patrol.

Heavy winter snows have been grad-ually receding for the past week. The result has been that normally sun-baked and rock-hard Afghan earth has been morphing into road with the consistency of peanut butter.

“Look at this!” Kearns, point to his

boots while standing a clear patch of ground. “I weigh all of 200 pounds and I am sinking just standing here.”

Multiply the weight of a man by a hundred fold, and the heavy wheeled vehicles cut waist deep grooves into the ground and turned the surface to soup.

“I told them,” said SPC Blake Garab from Rome, GA., and driver of the lead vehicle, “If we go that way, we’ll get stuck.”

Driving a 30-ton vehicle with a 7,000-pound mine roller strapped to the front end, Garab described the normally protective piece of equip-ment as a “mud plow.”

Narrow farm paths barely wider than the 30-ton vehicles marked the only trafficable routes for the patrol to take. The vehicles had no problem as long as they stayed on the paths.

Being covered in a shallow blanket of melting snow, however, these roads are not easily seen nor fol-lowed. Veering too far right or left

MUD and MENOF

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resulted in the vehicles instantly be-ing bogged down to the axle.

The mine roller vehicle in the lead always was the first to bog down. As other vehicles moved to help recover the stricken mine roller, they too would get bogged down requiring a third or fourth vehicle to maneuver from another direction to recover them.

“Sure enough, 50 meters in, we were stuck,” Garab said with a laugh. “So I guess you could say I told you so. And that’s all I have to say about that.”

The frustrating quagmire continued, with 2-3 vehicles being stuck in vari-ous places throughout the day. The patrol never made it far from their initial destination, a faint staccato of small arms fire occasionally ringing out from beyond the fields and vil-lages ringing the perimeter.

Two hours turned to four, four into eight. At dusk the inevitable hap-pened when the fourth vehicle, their final chance of recovery, slipped into a ditch as the side of the water soaked roadway gave out.

All four vehicles were now hope-lessly trapped.

“Well, that’s it,” Kearns said as the

last vehicle sank in. “Time to call for help.”

The cavalry was dispatched from nearby Combat Outpost Bande Sar-deh. Within minutes of arriving, the roadway again collapsed under the weight of the heavy wrecker.

The Soldiers could only laughed in frustrated disbelief as they huddled in their trucks for warmth, soaked in mud and muck.

By midnight, with the assistance of a second recovery vehicle dispatched from nearby Andar, all vehicles had been extracted and the patrol could finally head for home.

The six to eight hour planned patrol ended up lasting over fifteen hours.

Throughout the day, from their first moment of arrival, small arms fire could be heard in the distance. At one point the double boom of an RPG rang out just beyond the neigh-boring village, sending villagers scrambling for cover.

“I’m surprised we never got at-tacked,” said Kearns. “Being as stuck as we were and in the same lo-cation for so long. If we were maybe a mile or two further down the road, they certainly would have hit us.”

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The Month ofThe Distinguished Visitor

March was full of high profile leadership visits to our Soldiers. Leaders from all levels of the command, from the division through the headquar-ters of all of Afghanistan came to meet the Blackhawks and to tell them personally just how good of a job they are doing.

The Blackhawk Brigade has been making waves across Afghanistan. Not just for the hard work and sacrifices made by the Soldiers, but also for the concrete results they are achieving throughout eastern Afghanistan.

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Ever VigilantThe men of Margah still stand ready on the precipice of the enemy hoards. Ever vigilant, they know the coming of spring means insurgents will begin trying to return to the battle-grounds of Afghanistan. They stand in their way and the insurgents fear them.

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FALCONS

We are also preparing to “clean out our closets” for redeployment. These winter months were long, but spring looks to bring a hurried pace as we begin preparations for redeployment. Even as the light at the end of the tunnel comes into view, we stand ready to execute our mission and provide fires for the brigade until the last day. 1-77 Field Artillery Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade will go out with a “BOOM!” We enjoy seeing your support for our early

redeploying Soldiers and we greatly appreciate the continued support for our soldiers that remain in Afghanistan. It is truly amazing to work with the men and women of this battalion. As we release them back home to you, take care of them to ensure that their reintegration process is smooth as they begin to rest. See you all soon. Falcons First!

It is evident that the snow storms and cold winds of winter slowed the insurgency. They have not, however, slowed the 1-77

Field Artillery “Falcons.”

We are proud to say that even through the cold months the soldiers of 1-77 have remained vigilant. Platoon Leaders, Platoon Sergeants, and Section Chiefs conduct continuous crew drills with their soldiers in order to remain fully trained and ready to provide timely, accurate fires

Soldiers continue to do great things as and step up as most of the leaders have been on leave back to see their loved ones during the lull in the fighting. Whether it’s on the staff, or down in the Batteries and the Platoons, we continue to train and be prepared. What makes me most proud about having the honor to command this Battalion is seeing how Soldiers have matured and expertly learned their craft during deployment. We have experts at every level and they have deservedly earned my trust. The level of professionalism is beyond what I have ever witnessed in the Army.

PAKTIKA WINTER1-77 FA BATTLES RECORD BREAKING COLD

Christopher Cardoni

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FALCONSFIRST

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maintaining

the big guns

The soldiers of Bravo Battery 1-77 FA, performed annual maintenance on their M777A2

155 millimeter howitzers at Forward Operating Base Boris in the Bermel district March 5.

SSG Jose Guzman, a native of Chica-go and a section chief for Bravo, said that maintenance helps to keep the weapons fully mission capable.

“These aren’t brand new guns,” said Guzman. “These guns are older and when it comes to maintenance you have to pay special attention to them especially during the wintertime.”

Maintenance on the howitzer con-sists of everything from cleaning the muzzle, which is similar to cleaning the barrel of the M16 only on a much larger scale, to changing the fluids and tightening all the nuts and bolts. Guzman smiled as he described his top maintenance man, SGT Nathaniel Woerner.

“Woerner treats that gun like it’s his

car,” said Guzman.

SGT Woerner, a native of Lewisville, Ind., and a howitzer gunner, said he is able to perform every necessary func-tion on the piece.

“I’m one of the few people on the FOB that knows all of the systems on that gun,” said Woerner.

SGT Woerner said that he enjoys maintenance because he loves to troubleshoot and fix problems that could take the gun out of the fight. Woerner’s job is to keep that from happening.

SFC Chad Kloeckel’s, a native of New Auburn, Minn., explained the impor-tance of maintenance.

“We need to keep the guns running, especially in this province where we shoot a lot of counter-fire missions in support of other FOB’s,” said Kloeck-el.

SFC Kloeckel, a platoon sergeant for

Bravo, is universally referred to as “Smoke.”

“My nickname is what we in field artillery call the platoon sergeant of a firing platoon. It actually originated back in the Revolutionary War. The guns back then produced so much smoke it would cover the whole battle-field,” said Kloeckel. “So one of the fires supporters said when they would look back after the smoke had cleared, the first person they would see would be the platoon sergeant guiding the guns. That’s how the nickname smoke originated.”

With the maintenance completed on the howitzers, they test fired five il-lumination rounds, which lit up the battle space at night. After the conclu-sion of the evening’s fire test, SFC Woerner summed everything up with a satisfied look on his face.

“The biggest payoff is at the end of the day you really feel like you accom-plished something,” he said.

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The next generation of Paktika will be responsible for reshaping its ideas and social values. Having developed a sense of the dehumanizing brutality of the Taliban and the possibilities that lay within the state, they will offer a way into the future, perhaps into the globalized economy. More than children who grew up in peace, these boys will become men under-standing the value of the principles of freedom and education.

CHILDREN OF THE PAKTIKA

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Brother and Sister

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Seriously at Play

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Time to go outside

For the children of Afghanistan, the time between planting and school is a focal point for getting out-side, and getting back to play.

Throughout the winter we see children huddled in groups, watching us and trying to stay warm. With-out TV and video games, many Soldiers ponder what the kids do for fun. We all laugh at the fact that any time we are in one location for a given amount of time, the children flock and watch.

On a recent patrol out of Bandeh Sarde with the Soldiers of Company C, 9th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 1-2 Infantry, the children filled the streets with other activities.

A group of boys gathered in the town square play-ing with bones. Another cluster played with marbles. Outside one house bordering the square girls had created a dollhouse from the clay like mud of the yard.

Parents showed off their new children too as we walked the streets and small toddlers played with winter born-puppies.

While our focus does not shift from the mission at hand, it is still nice to see the signs of life emerge from winter hibernation in a joyful carefree manner.

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Training the TrainerThe 9th Engineer Battalion continued to make gains in their Afghan National Security Forces training programs, the most in depth and successful in all of Afghanistan. Recently medics completed a training program for new trainers so they can return to their units and teach their fellow Afghans. ANSF is not only in the lead operationally, they are quickly moving to the forefront of their own training programs.

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Out to LunchWords and images by MAJ Joe Buccino

“If music be the food of love, play on,Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die.”

-William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

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Every culture is defined, at least in part, by its food. The Italians have pasta and pizza. The Germans have bratwurst and sauerbraten. The Spanish have tortilla de patata and jamón serrano. The Pashtun have, well carbs and carbs.

An American Soldier visiting a house, district center, or village virtually anywhere in Paktika province is likely to be offered enormous helpings of warm bread and tea…and that’s just a warm-up for the carbs. Plate after plate of rice, beans, and goat are handed out. Endless servings of dried nuts, vegetables, and lamb are pre-sented. To a Westerner, lunch here represents a nuclear missile of carbohydrates. There is virtually no way to maintain an Atkins diet while following the Kilcullen counterinsurgency strategy of connecting with the local populace.

The Pashtun here tell me that food is an extension of their honor. A guest cannot enter a man’s house without being treated to a local dish. To us, lunch is simply a source of energy and nutrition. To the locals here, lunch is an expression of their dignity.

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TUNE-UP TIME

Well, by the time you read this, we will be well under three months before Task Force Blackhawk

has completely redeployed from our mis-sion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Is it just me or does it seem like it has been two years already? For many of us, the time is simply not passing fast enough. So goes the deployment, but it is almost over. When it is, many of us will find that most things in life do not improve after sitting unattended for a year. I can illustrate this concept through a true story in my own life. When Myra and I married nearly 23 years ago, our families gave us a three-layer wedding cake. We made the unwise decision to save the top layer and put it in our freezer to have on our first anniversary. On our first anniversary, I was amazed at how good the cake still looked wrapped in about 10 yards of plastic wrap. Once we got the entire wrap off and tasted it, we realized it was not as appealing as it was on our wedding day. Let me just say that wedding cake is not one of those items that improves after sitting a year. Neither of us had a second bite. The truth is that I am pretty hard-pressed to come up with anything that improves after sitting for a year. Cars require some

type of maintenance before they are fully operational again after twelve months in the garage. If you let your yard sit idle, you will have one serious mess to deal with at the end of a year. It will take far more than a regular lawnmower or weed trimmer to make it look well-manicured again. This same idea holds true for mar-riages. During this deployment, you have not been able to maximize your marital endeavors, and your marriage is now not be as strong and robust as it was in June of last year. So, many of us married folks who have experienced this deployment should invest in what I call a “marital tune-up.” On redeployment day, the day that you are reunited with your spouse, it does not even seem remotely possible that you could need to work on your marriage. That is typically a day of great joy, bliss and absolute relief. For a brief time, the world all seems right again. However, the feel-ings associated with reunion are usually temporary. Before long you realize that things are not as they were. Over the time of the deployment, both spouses have had to make adjustments and changes to make things work. The marital tune-up will help you work through these changes in your marriage. This tune-up consists of the time that you get away as a couple with an outside

source to help you make adjustments in your marriage that will put you on a path to growth. The highly technical chaplain term for this is a “marriage enrichment workshop” or a Strong Bonds Retreat. The good news is that after our post-deployment block leave, each battalion chaplain and I will be presenting a Strong Bonds Retreat at the Edelweiss Lodge in Garmisch. This will be a time to recog-nize destructive habits and replace them with love-building habits. It will also be a chance to get away and enjoy a beautiful location and a beautiful marriage. I will look forward to seeing you down there, and I promise it will be worth your time. We will get the word out about dates in the coming months. God bless you all.

Chaplain Kevin Forrester

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Top CoverThere is no sweeter sound to the dismounted infantry approaching an urban setting then that of circling air weapons teams. Flying low and fast, helicopters like the armored AH-64 Apache and the unarmored OH-58 Kiowa Warrior help keep an eye out for threats and when needed, deliver death from above.

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From Captain to MajorNicholas Sinclair

March Promotions

From Specialist to SergeantJustin D. ArmentaBenjamin A. BaumDavid N. BuckRaymond A. DawkinsMatthew J. DuffChance T. FarrellSamuel L. GlidewellAdrienne S. LiddleCrenniace L. HarrellMaurice J. HarrisEric J. HebingJustin D. HenryIsrael A. HernandezCameron K. HollingsworthAnthony N. HookerDavid R. HuffmanZachary D. HuittJames D. KendallCharles P. LaingDavid A. LiddleClayton J. LunzKevin J. ManigaultAustin C. MurphreeDarnus D. NembhartMalaya R. PetersonJared M. RossMark A. SargentMicheal K. SmallDavid S. SuttonDanny R. WashingtonRobert A. WilliamsonSharkea C. Wright

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From Warrant Officer 1to Chief Warrant Officer 2Brian Duncan

From Sergeant to Staff SergeantChristopher W. AshworthCole A. BrownTroy W. CasaresBrandon M. DavisTimothy A. DeckardGuydarly DoranteCarwee C. JohnsonEric HargravesSalvatore LarosanaranjoBuckie E. McPhersonJason A. MurphyPhillip B. SageAndrew M. SimsBryan L. TaylorEthan D. Wade

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