march frg newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Newsletter from 1BSTB in Iraq!TRANSCRIPT
1st BSTB - 1st BCT Camp Ar Ramadi Iraq
CONTACT INFORMATION
REAR DETACHMENT
CPT MIKE RICCITIELLO
SSG ANTONIO ESPARZA
FRG LEADERS
Family Readiness Support Assistant
Crystal Cavalier
Office: 910-396-5812
HHC FRG LDR: JESSICA BURT
A CO FRG LDR: ROCHELLE HALL
B CO FRG LDR: LAURA FUSZ
C CO FRG LDR: ANNA GARDEL
Devil Strike Dispatch
Devil Strike Family and Friends,
Hello again from Anbar Province. It is that
time again to talk about the men and women
of the Devil Strike team making it happen
here in Iraq each and every day. Our deploy-
ment is moving along. The
elections went extraordinarily
well and that was due in
large measure to the hard
work and dedication of Devil
Strike Paratroopers. Spring
has sprung in Iraq and al-
though Ramadi turns into
"Ramuddy," things are going
well.
For this month's newsletter
I offer a glimpse into Charlie
Company, the Coyotes. This
company is a tight-knit group
and provide the "Voice of the
Devils" across the province.
LT Nathan Oglesbee, SSG
Kent, SGT Hiatt and SGT
Kefauver work hard in the
headquarters element - ensuring operations,
logistics and planning are on track. SPC
Christen, Dixon, Webster and PFCs
Emanuel, Greer, Rhodes, Rodriguez and Wil-
liams assist work tirelessly at the Ramadi
Help desk, JNN 1, partnering at Fallujah with
the Iraqi signalers, or just ensuring the daily
tasks stay on track. SPC Wayne Charpentier
is recovering at the Fort Bragg WTU and we
wish him a speedy and safe recovery.
JNN 1 at Ramadi keeps the BCT talking
and communicating under the leadership of
SFC Phillips and 1LT Ed Pope. SSG Bark-
felt, SGTs Magana, Mccoach, Tillman and
Wardlow are always on point to keep the sys-
tems up and running. There might even be
some time in the day to get some eArmyU
and education coming as the Coyotes pursue
additional civilian education.
JNN2 at the remote site in Ubaydi serves
as the distant end. In northern Anbar these
personnel are far away, but definitely not for-
gotten. Great work by SSG Mebane, SGTs
Hicks, Kramer and Lee to keep us talking,
and Madecky, Herrera and
Cuellar for constantly being
on watch and ensuring all
systems are good. Great
work up in the "U"!
Demonstrating their awe-
some flexibility, the Coyotes
don't just focus on their daily
tasks - they are huge con-
tributors to our partnership
efforts here in Iraq with the
1st and 7th Iraqi Army divi-
sions. Forging friendships
over work, missions, and the
odd game of pool, the Coyo-
tes are moving along with
their partners at Camp Fallu-
jah and Al Asaad. SGTs
Fields, LaFlamme, Negron,
Crouch, Hancock, CPL Giles and PFCs Alva-
rez and Schwartz do tremendous work each
and every day with the 7th and 1st Iraqi divi-
sions, respectively. SSGs Allen, Spivey and
SGTs Daniels, Teveras and PFCs Correa,
Haddix, Hudson and Kropp do work across
Ramadi, Baghdad and the Brigade Head-
quarters, facilitating our computer networks
or serving as liaisons. Working behind the
scenes they are vital to every aspect of our
communications architecture and capabilities.
Coyote 6 and Coyote 7 - CPT Gardel and
1SG Bell - thank you for the outstanding con-
tributions and successes of the entire Coyote
Team.
ATW!
LTC Douglas F. Stitt
DS6
From the Commander’s Desk
"The DEVIL STRIKE FRG is for the benefit of the FRG members only and is established exclusively for charitable purposes and to provide support to Soldiers and family member as the Soldiers and families adapt to Army life. It is not a business and is not being run to generate profits. It is not an instrumentality of the United States Government." "The inclusion of some unofficial information in this FRG newsletter has not increased the costs to the Government, in accordance with DOD 4525.8-M."
2 4 M A R C H 2 0 1 0 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
INSIDE
THE ISSUE
Command Team 1-2
Headquarters Co 2
Alpha Company 3-4
Bravo Company 5
Charlie Company 6-7
Chaplain’s Corner 7
Photos 8
This Month’s Feture Section:
Charlie Company!
Check out the 1BSTB Facebook page for
hundreds of pictures SPC Herrera checking the FDMA EbNo.
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY This month has brought many changes to HHC. We were very sorry to lose 1SG John Bell as he returns to Charlie Company, but extremely fortunate to have him replaced by 1SG Robert Jordan, an outstanding NCO coming to us from the White Devils. The 1SG and I have been extremely impressed with the discipline and motivation of the Paratroopers as we go through this transitional period. The Company continues operations across Al Anbar Province, while at the same time preparing equipment and containers for our return to Fort Bragg. Our partnership operations with the 1
st Iraqi Army (1
st IA) Division
have matured as we have begun medical and tactical training with the Personal Security Detachment and increased involvement with 1
st IA
Field Work Shop. Our maintainers have had to experience a lot of on the job training. Recently they were asked for training on the maintenance of In-ternational and Ford trucks, neither of which they have experience with. SFC Radebaugh and CW2 Dawkins have done an amazing job of learning the systems and educating their Para-troopers so that they can instruct the Iraqi main-tainers. SFC Rade-baugh has been heavily
involved in learning the Iraqi maintenance supply system and at-tempting to make it operate efficiently in order to fill many of the deficiencies the Field Work Shop is experiencing. As always I want to take a moment to congratulate the Army’s newest Non-Commissioned Officers: from the Military Police Platoon, SGT Christopher Watson, SGT Chika Nkata from the Medical Section and SGT Alberto Nunez from the Mainte-nance Section. Congratulations to these outstanding Troopers and their families. The 1SG and I wish to thank all the families who have given so much to our Paratroopers throughout this deployment. Our Family Readiness Group has been responsive to the needs of our families and have eased the burdens of Troopers across the formation. Thank you for what you all do every day. Until next month we ask that you keep us in your prayers as we keep you in ours. ATW! CPT Bob Yerkey HHC Commander
P A G E 2 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
SSG Michael Kelly, Special Weapons Exploitation Team NCOIC, in-
structs members of the Intelligence, Security and Reconnaissance Battal-
ion, 1st Iraqi Army Division, on evidence identification, handling and
packaging as part of an overall sensitive site exploitation course.
Lt. Gen. Jacoby awards a coin of excellence to SSG Michael Herr
PFC Carlson, and SGT Bailey instruct the soldiers of 1st Iraqi Army (1st IA) Division in the
procedures of Clearing a building and then SGT Bailey, PFC Carlson, SPC(P) Galbraith and
PV2 Houghton put it on display.
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
Alpha Company Newsletter— “ROCK STEADY!”
Alpha Company continues to do great things in Iraq. As the tempera-ture starts to warm up, the Soldiers are getting ready for the hot months ahead. We have witnessed a successful national election here in Iraq, and the Soldiers’ efforts ensured a stable and successful democratic election.
1st Platoon continues to have success with the 1st Iraqi Army Division at Camp Fallujah. They recently led a 20 day training course to certify the Iraqi Engineers on route clearance. Now the Iraq Army has an increased capability to maintain stability in the area. The Soldiers continue to conduct route clearance themselves and are keeping the roads clear for all the civil-ian and military traffic. The guys are motivated and continue to develop their relationships with their Iraqi counterparts.
2nd
Platoon has spent the last month fully engaged with the 7th Iraq Army Division at Al Asad Airbase. In preparation for the national elections, the platoon conducted 10 joint route clearance missions with their Iraqi counterparts. The platoon also served as a key enabler to the Iraqis providing advice and assistance to prepare all the polling sites in the area for the elections. The platoon continues to conduct route clearance missions almost every night and is keeping the area stable.
3rd
Platoon was recently recognized by the Brigade commander during an awards ceremony. Fourteen Soldiers received the Combat Action Badge for their efforts during route clearance op-erations in Iraq. The Soldiers have been working hard, and received the recognition they deserve. The platoon continues to con-duct patrols almost every night and just recently had a chance to conduct some training on the demolitions range.
Headquarters platoon is keeping the company going. They have had some changes over the last few weeks with SSG Wade be-coming the 1st Platoon Sergeant and 1LT Curley becoming the Executive Officer. The section continues to run smoothly and the Soldiers are doing a good job.
ATW! Captain Kurt Zortman and First Sergeant James Stuckey Alpha Company Command Team
1st Platoon and the Iraq Route Clearance Platoon at Camp Fallujah.
SGT Johnson getting the grapnel hook ready
for some training at Al Asad.
CSM Knowles pinning the CAB on SPC Grimsley
3rd Platoon standing in formation for their CAB awards ceremony at Camp Ramadi.
SPC Poulnot, SPC Baker, SGT Gamblin, SPC Ritchie, and SPC Ab-
zalov having lunch in the Iraq chow hall.
P A G E 4 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
I am SPC Andrew McVay, a Combat Engineer in the 82nd Airborne Division and currently assigned as night RTO in Alpha Company, 1BSTB. I monitor the phones, radios and BFT closely, and act as the first responder to any situation that may occur to our troops outside the wire. As a Radio Telephone Operator, it is my responsibility to track the pla-toons every movement throughout the duration of their mission. I receive every report from our pla-toons and decide what information needs to be passed up to appropriate personnel. I am respon-sible for knowing the location and status of four platoons at all times. In my free time, I enjoy talking with friends and family back home. I also enjoy listening to music, watching movies, doing Sudoku puzzles all while I
am painting. I have recently become known through-out the battalion for my artistic skills. My artwork is displayed throughout the Battalion area representing Alpha Company, 1BSTB, the 82nd Airborne Division, and more importantly our profession as Engineers. The paintings are proudly displayed in the Battalion Conference room and Company TOC. ATW! SPC Andrew McVay
Alpha Company “From The Foxhole” Article Written by SPC Andrew McVay
Bravo Company: The Black Dagger Bulletin MAR 2010: Ar Ramadi, Iraq. This month Iraqis went to polls throughout Al Anbar for the national elections, and B Company was heavily involved in supporting the Bri-gade Combat Team and our Iraqi Part-ners in preparing for that. Troopers from the company helped keep the Brigade informed before, during, and after the election with vital intelligence, putting in long hours and making great efforts in support of this vital event in Iraq’s history. The HUMINT Platoon continued their great work across the province, and this month SPC Silverman will give you some insight into how they are spending their time, on duty and off duty. The SIGINT pla-toon continued integrating with other Brigade intel elements to successfully accomplish mis-sions with our Iraqi partners. The TUAS platoon has had an especially busy month, working on some remodeling and reconstruction projects on site. Each month our troopers continue to experience ex-citing personal and professional milestones. This month was no different. PFC Morris, one of our HUMINT para-troopers, and his wife welcomed their newborn son, Koen,
on 23 February, 2010. SPC Barker passed this month’s promotion board and is now promotable. SFC Jakob Kaivo was selected as a warrant officer candidate. On March
19th, SGT Mitchell, also in the TUAS platoon, reenlisted for six years to stay with the platoon and B company. We also welcomed three new troopers to the Black Dagger team this month: PV2 Aaron Winslow of Hawaii, PV2 Joshua Powell of Texas, and PFC Lonnie Pettigrew of Oklahoma. We could not be happier to have them on the team for the home stretch. Thank you sincerely for all of the love and support that you continue to show our Paratroopers, and for the sacrifices that you are making back at
home. Talking to our men and women, I get to personally see the effect that support has on them here, day in and day out, as they do their jobs in support of the battalion and brigade. Our best to you at home. ATW! CPT Bill Fusz Bravo Company Commanding
Bravo Company “From The Foxhole” Article
Written by Samuel Silverman, HUMINT (Human Inteligence) Platoon
Greetings from Camp Korean Village! The HUMINT Platoon has a different dynamic from all others. Our platoon is scattered between four different locations, allowing for a variety of experiences from all the squads. Our Operations Management Team in Ramadi stays busy as the link holding all of our teams together, coordinating between the teams and the rest of the company, and of course checking over our reports and telling us what needs to be corrected. Being separated from the rest of the platoon and company, by many miles of desert, has its advantages and disadvantages. We are placed on a team of about four members and set a schedule that works for our team, as opposed to working our schedule to fit in with company activities. On the other hand, when we need assistance from the rest of our company in Ramadi, communication is not always the easiest. Servers go down, phone lines can be busy, and we cannot just walk over to the office of the person we need to reach. For the most part, our platoon has handled these issues without any major complications. As HUMINTers we deal with the local nationals on a daily basis, conducting meetings on base and traveling to local villages to meet the Iraqi citizens in their own element. Not only do we meet with the people of Iraq, but there are also encounters with the local wildlife. There are the wild dogs at the Ports of Entry, rats the size of small dogs, goats and sheep herded
throughout the desert, and even the occasional scorpions. I would like to congratulate the newest father in our platoon, PFC Morris. PFC Morris was able to take leave to see his newborn son Koen, and spend time with the newest addition to his family. We are now past the halfway point of our deployment and will all soon be returning home to our families, who have been patiently waiting for our homecoming.
Above: Our Bravo Company soldiers are busy conducting Change
of Command Inventories
Pictured: CPT Fusz, SPC Silverman, and
SSG Wright
Hello friends and families of the Coyotes, Charlie Company, 1BSTB. There has been little change in the Company this past month. 1LT Oglesbee has become the Executive Officer and will manage the team in getting our equipment reset and ready to return back to the United States. He will team up with SSG Kent whom is now the Platoon Sergeant for the Headquarters element. SGT Hiatt, SPC Dixon, and SPC Christen have an enormous task in front of them in getting all of our equipment prepared to move back to the states. While still ac-complishing our mission in providing communication assets to the Brigade Com-bat Team and Partnering with the Iraqi Forces, we have begun the initial planning phase of our return to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
We are shifting gears and starting to create rough drafts of the timeline for the Coyotes to return home. As the time gets closer and dates get locked in, we will no doubt share the information with the Coyote friends and families. Please be patient as we continue with our main mission of providing communication assets to the Brigade Combat Team and Partnership with our Iraqi Counter-parts.
As for major operations that have taken place over the past month, 1LT Pope and SGT Hancock conducted a combined operation with the Iraqi Forces earlier this month to conduct troubleshooting on the Iraqi Army retransmission site near Habbaniya, Iraq. The combined operation went well and all technical issues were resolved. 1LT Pope is still working with his Iraqi counterpart on the positioning of the retransmission site in order to properly use their resources. More may come of this partnership operation. The Iraqis are setting up a second retransmission site in order to reduce the distance in between the radios. Great strides have been made in friendship and trust with our Iraqi counterparts in this combined operation.
In other partnership news, SGT Fields and SGT Negron are evaluating Iraqi led classes on radio communica-tions and data. They have also begun a partnered operation in linking the Iraqi Army in with the rest of the US Forces on
Al Asad Air Base by laying fiber optic cable. The cable will provide a communica-tion source between the two militaries. Their partnered Iraqis will be leaving Al Asad for approximately 30 days in April/ May to attend communication classes in Taji. SGT Fields and SGT Negron are working with their counterpart and other US Forces in order to get approval to attend the communication classes with their Iraqi Army counterparts. SSG Barkfelt has taken lead of JNN 1 temporarily while SFC Phillips has filled in for 1SG Bell, whom was on leave for a portion of this past month.
During his time he has been putting his creativity to good use in teach-ing his troops about the “wireless high five.” Yes, commo personnel can have some unique ideas at times. He has also designed and built an enclosure for our Satellite system to reduce the effects that the heat will have on our communication systems. We may be getting close to coming home, but we are also getting close to summer in Iraq. One hundred plus degree temperatures are right around the corner.
Airborne! All The Way CPT Jason Gardel and 1SG John Bell Charlie Company Commander and First Sergeant
P A G E 6 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
Charlie Company— “Coyote Chronicles”
Recently promoted, SPC Onuffer at the JNN site at Ramadi playing
the guitar.
SSG Barkfelt’s project in progress to shelter and cool the satellite
components during the approaching summer.
SGT Kramer provides a RIGEX class for the JNN 2 team in Ubaydi
V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4 P A G E 7
I have been a member of Charlie Company since our last deployment to Iraq in 2007-2008. Of all the missions that I have been part of with Charlie Company, none have been more chal-lenging or rewarding than the current mission, working side by side with our Iraqi Army counterparts. In December of last year a small group of soldiers, including myself, ar-rived on Camp Fallujah to begin opera-tions with the Iraqi Army’s first division signal battalion. Since December, the Charlie Company, 1st IA partnership team has conducted over 400 hours of classroom training and practical hands on exercises with emphasis on Radio operation and theory and computer automations with the 1
st IA Signal Battal-
ion. In addition to the training, our team has spent countless hours working with the IA providing knowledge and feed-back for the Signal Battalions daily op-erations, ranging from establishing Ra-dio Retransmission points, troubleshooting the vehicular
mounted radio systems and existing stations, and most recently a communications exercise in which the Iraqi sig-
nal soldiers established a tactical opera-tion center. It is not all work out here on Fallu-jah though, to fend off boredom during the down time I enjoy smoking a cigar or two, reading a book, playing spades and dominoes with the other soldiers and the interpreters. I have also had the op-portunity to spend some time with the Iraqi soldiers outside of training, shoot-ing pool, enjoying a meal or a cup of chai, or just putting our feet up. The time I have spent with Charlie Com-pany has been incomparable; I look for-ward to continuing being a part of Char-lie Company and all of our endeavors well into the future.
Charlie Company “From the Foxhole” Article Written by CPL Richard A. Giles
CPL Richard Giles with one of his new Friends!
Chaplain’s Corner I hope you are enjoying the first days of Spring. The Unit Ministry Team is still very busy, conducting religious services and traveling throughout the Provence. The months of March and April are very important to us, con-sidering the numerous religious holidays they entail. One particular success is the Battalion’s Facebook page, due to the hard work of many individuals. Please continue to use this source to bring encouragement to your friends, family, and soldiers. We welcome requests for pictures, and are doing everything we can to bring them to you.
Stay Off The Couch And Enjoy Life I want to talk this month about staying off the couch. The couch is a dangerous place, if we linger there too long. It can lead to an unoccupied mind, an anxious body, and a depressed spirit. It is important that we continue to enjoy life, even when separated from our loved one. Here’s some ideas: 1) Outdoor Activities: As the weather heats up, there are
various opportunities for outdoor activities. Take the family to the Botanical Gardens. Read a book outside. Ride the bike, or take a jog.
2) Vacation: As school lets out for Spring Break, take advantage of your vacation. Go somewhere that will
be low on stress and high on enjoyment. 3) Faith: If you are a person of faith, take advantage of
the religious holidays. Faith is a great source of inter-nal strength and maintains the soul. It’s also a great way to bring people with like minds together.
4) On Post Opportunities: If you live on post, check out the MWR for activity ideas. Contact your FRG Leader or Rear Detachment for Battalion Events. Also, our Division Chaplains can provide you with information on spouse retreats that will cost you little to nothing.
The mission in Anbar Provence has kept the 1BSTB very busy, but your soldiers still find time to do things they love. Our soldiers continue to play cards, play sports, work out, learn guitar, and many other activities. Follow in their good example. Continue to work towards enjoying life as the months continue. God Bless, CH (CPT) Matt Miller 1BSTB Chaplain
P A G E 8 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4
Charlie Company In Pictures Want More Pictures? Check out 1BSTB 82nd Airborne on Facebook!