providers go the extra mile - defense visual information

Volume 1, Issue 2: March-May 2013 Heart of the Rock!

Providers go the extra mileProviders go the extra mile

INSIDE THIS EDITION

3

Task Force Provider CommanderCol. Ron Novack

Task Force Provider Senior Enlisted AdvisorCommand Sgt. Maj. Forbes Daniels

Task Force Provider Public Affairs

Editor:Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Green

Staff Writers:Sgt. Tanjie Patterson

Spc. Rochelle Krueger

Provider Point is an unofficial publication produced under the provisions of AR 360-1, published by Soldiers of the 3rd Sustain-ment Brigade-Task Force Provider. Editorial views and opinions expressed are not neces-sarily those of the Department of Defense, the Army or the 3rd Sustainment Brigade. All photos are Army photos unless other-wise noted. Story and photo submissions are welcome; contact DSN (318) 421-6891.

On the cover: Maj. Carlos Kavetsky and Chief Warrant Officer (3) Miguel Castro, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, take part in the Provider Mother’s Day 10K run at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, May 10. The two Soldiers placed 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, at the event which hosted more than 750 service members and civilians. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

Heart of the Rock!Vol. 1, Issue 2: March-May 2013 Provider 6 Sends

Provider 7 Sends

4

5

Providers welcome newCSSB to Afghanistan

Best Warrior competitiondetermines best of the bestArmament team supports

the warfighter

Soldiers share expertisewith Bulgarian counterparts

6

8

9

KAF HR yard closes 12

Signal Soldier remains competitive 14

18

Michigan based transportation company completes tour 22

Troops celebrate Ordnance Corps’ 201st Birthday 24

Providers celebrate Women’s History Month 26

10K honors motherhood,fosters camaraderie 28

Dealing with deployment 30Chaplain’s Corner 32Wellness Workshop 33

Task Force supports Troops’ final mission 10

Gun Truck Academy implements new SOP 17

Task Force Provider Team,

I’d like to first to first thank you all for your selfless service to our nation, Task Force Provider and the U.S. Army. We are grateful for all of our Sol-diers’ hard work and dedication, and thank everyone for their support and their tireless efforts to ensure mission success.

I have seen our Soldiers and leaders doing great things as I visit their loca-tions throughout Regional Commands South, Southwest and West. We have seen the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and 495th CSSB conduct some great ceremonies that were extremely professional and repre-sent their battalions and this brigade very well. We understand the details of planning and executing these kinds of events and our Soldiers can be proud of their efforts, those who participated and all of those who worked behind the scenes.

The days are passing by quickly as many of our Soldiers are more than halfway through their deployment. Be proud of all of your accomplishments, but remember to maintain standards and discipline. Leaders, it is impera-tive that we help shape the environment to promote continued success on the battlefield and protect our force. It’s getting hot here in Afghanistan. Ensure your Soldiers stay hydrated and pay close attention to those taking medication. It is also very important that leaders ensure we are implementing an effective rest plan, especially for our Soldiers who traverse long hours on the road to support the war-fighters. Continue to conduct effective pre-combat inspections and pre-combat checks, and we must ensure all of our vehicles and equipment are main-tained to standard. Make no mistake, we will not send our Soldiers into harm’s way without having everything they need to be successful on their missions.

Upon returning from missions, Soldiers must conduct and supervise correct clearing procedures “leaders verify” on all weapons systems and account for all assigned equipment immediately. Ensure all equipment is accounted for by conducting correct sensitive items checks and services. Remember, the environment in which we operate is ever changing and we need to remain vigilant—always ready. Together, let’s complete this deployment with a tremendous level of discipline, motivation and pride. Let’s run the mission through the tape—safely.

Congratulations to all of our newly promoted Soldiers and all who have decided to stay on the Army team and reenlist for another term. We thank you for your dedicated service to this grateful nation. We encourage others to continue to strive for a successful career and seek to be the best you can be everyday- Someone is counting on you. Lastly, to our Families and friends back home, we look forward to the day we will be together again. Thank you for your continued support and sacrifice to our Soldiers, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade and the United States Army.

Heart of the Rock! Sincerely,

Command Sergeant Major Forbes Daniels Senior Enlisted Advisor, 3rd Sustainment Brigade

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Provider 6 Sends: Provider 7 Sends:Task Force Provider Team, We’ve settled in our mission here as we approach our sixth month in Afghanistan, and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of each and every Provider who continues to help write our portion of sustain-ment history while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Throughout all three regions of our operational environment—Re-gional Command South, Southwest and West—you can find a Provider facilitating logistical support and retrograde to the war-fighters who are counting on them. This shows the depth and breadth of our mis-sion in Afghanistan.

In March we bid farewell to Lt. Col. Louis Feliciano, Command Sgt. Maj. Josue Maldonado and the Task Force Taino Team. The 393rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned to Puerto Rico, after spearheading more than 260 tactical convoys while their Soldiers tra-versed over 1.2 million miles, transporting sustainment and retrograding equipment. These numbers speak volumes of the TF Taino Soldiers and of their successes during their deployment.

As we said good bye to one outstanding sustainment formation, we welcomed another—the 87th CSSB—one of our home station battalions from Fort Stewart, Ga. Led by Lt. Col. Lance Curtis and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Simpson, the Base Warriors are no stranger to Afghanistan having served in Regional Com-mand – North in 2010-2011. They understand the complexities of sustainment operations, and I entrust that they will perform the tasks at hand, to standard.

The Brigade Headquarters has past their halfway point in the deployment, but whether you’ve recently ar-rived or are on your way home, we must keep the momentum going. And with that, I remind you to also, ‘Go slow to go fast.’ This deployment is a marathon, not a sprint. Leaders must stay engaged with our Sol-diers and remember to also take the time to stay connected with our families who support us back home. To our Families and friends: the unwavering support you provide is truly the foundation of the 3rd Sustain-ment Brigade’s strength. Every day, I am amazed at the morale and determination of our Soldiers and I know that this strong will and dedication to the mission stems from a powerful support structure back home. Thank you for your continued support throughout this deployment, your service and sacrifice does not go unnoticed. Until next time…

Heart of the Rock!

Sincerely, Colonel Ron Novack Commander, 3rd Sustainment Brigade

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Lt. Col. Lance Curtis (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Simpson, 87th Combat Sustainment Support Bat-talion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade command team, uncase their unit colors signifying their official assumption of responsibility for sustainment operations in Regional Commands Southwest and West at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, March 29. The 87th CSSB hails from Fort Stewart, Ga., and is slated for a nine month deployment. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Green)

FAREWELL

By Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Green3rd Sustainment Brigade

As one chapter comes to a close, so must another begin. For Soldiers with the 393rd Combat Sustainment Support

Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, their nine-month deployment to Afghanistan concluded March 29, as logistical operations transitioned to a new team who will continue to scribe the sustainment story in Regional Commands Southwest and West. In what’s more commonly known as a transfer of authority ceremony, the 87th CSSB, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, officially assumed their sixth combat-mission in the last 10 years as their unit colors unfurled at Camp Leatherneck and the 393rd’s were cased. “We’re truly grateful for the professional-ism and seamless transition with the 393rd,” said Lt. Col. Lance Curtis, who leads ‘Task Force Pyramid’ with Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Simpson. “We’re ready to perform the mission.” The 87th CSSB command team replaces Lt. Col. Louis Feliciano and Command Sgt. Maj. Josue Maldonado, who spearheaded more than 260 tactical convoys while their Soldiers traversed 1.2 million miles through-

out Afghanistan, transporting more than 38,000 short tons of sustainment; 760,000 gallons of fuel and retro-grading more than 4,800 pieces of equipment during their tenure. “The numbers speak volumes for the Soldiers of ‘Logistical Task Force Taino,’” said Feliciano. “I dedicate the success of this deployment to those who have set the standards of courage and true com-mitment, standards expected of an Army Reserve force.” Feliciano compared his team to the 65th Infantry Regiment ‘Borinqueneers,’ who partnered with the Marines during the Korean War. “It is once more that we wrote history as we fought side-by-side in partnership and collaboration with the Marines of the 1st and 2nd Expeditionary Groups, gal-lantly and with honor,” he said. Col. Ron Novack, who presided over the ceremony, said that good relationships are the bedrock to mission success while deployed. “Task Force Taino built a fantastic relationship with their number one customer in RC-Southwest; first with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and now with the 2nd MEF from

Camp Lejeune, N.C.,” said Novack. “This relationship was built on mutual trust and respect and TF Taino remains a logistical combat multiplier for our Marine brethren.” Novack went on to say that the 393rd CSSB lived up to their motto ‘We support the best.’ “It is hard to find a sustainment formation like the 393rd CSSB whose standards and discipline, caring for Soldiers and families, and level of professionalism and execution of their support-mission during Opera-tion Enduring Freedom is nothing like I have seen in my 31 years of Army service.” After thanking the Puerto Rico-based Soldiers, the brigade commander welcomed the 87th CSSB—one of his assigned battalions at home station, Fort Stew-art, Ga. “This is a tremendous sustainment formation steeped in recent history of supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and OEF,” Novack said of TF Pyramid. “They understand the mission, they understand the ter-rain and they understand the complexities of providing sustainment and retrograde support in Afghanistan. “I know that they are ready for the task at hand, and they will build on the successes of TF Taino.”

Lt. Col. Louis Feliciano (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Josue Maldonado, 393rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve Puerto Rico, case their unit colors at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, March 29.

WARRIORS

Providers bid

to

Assume logistics mission

TF TAINO,Base

“I dedicate the success of this

deployment to those who have set

the standards of courage and true

commitment, standards expected

of an Army Reserve force.”

Lt. Col. Louis Feliciano

Commander, 393rd CSSB

9

Sgt. Jason Dailey, the master driver for 3rd Sustainment Brigade, quizzes Senior Sgt. Rumen Zonev, a force pro-tection soldier assigned to the 61st Mechanized Brigade, Bulgarian Land Forces, on the parts of a mine resistant ambush protected all terrain vehicle’s engine, as part of a driver’s training course April 5, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Dailey taught his Bulgarian counterparts proper operator-level maintenance during a week-long course. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

Not only are 3rd Sustainment Brigade Soldiers pro-viding the war-fighters with logistical support in Afghanistan, but they are also helping to improve

the readiness state of their coalition partners. “One of our missions out here is the Lift and Sustain Mission,” said 1st Lt. Shemonia Lea, the executive officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade. “That is where we provide all logistical aid such as supplies, medical, and maintenance to the Bulgarian [Land Forces].” In the maintenance bay on Kandahar Airfield, mas-ter driver and all-wheeled vehicle mechanic, Sgt. Ja-son Dailey, offered up his technical expertise to force protection soldiers assigned to the 61st Mechanized Brigade, Bulgarian Land Forces, April 1-5, instructing a driver’s training course for the mine resistant am-bush protected-all terrain vehicle. “We want to get the soldiers comfortable with the M-ATV so it will lower the risk of roll-overs and damaging equipment,” said Dailey, who taught the

By Spc. Rochelle Krueger3rd Sustainment Brigade

Bulgarian forces the importance of preventative maintenance checks and services. “It is important to teach them how to properly take care of and drive the vehicles [and they in turn can] train their soldiers.” Dailey, a Eutawville, S.C., native said teaching the class became chal-lenging because of the language bar-rier. The Bulgarian counterparts under-stood some English, but relied heavily on Senior Lieutenant Dimitar Dimitrov to translate to his team. Dimitrov has been in the Land Forces for eight years. He agreed that the language barrier offered some chal-lenges, but what wasn’t understood verbally was picked up during the hands-on portion of the training. He said that after completing the course he now feels confident in his abilities to perform operator-level maintenance on the M-ATV. “The class was very good,” said Dimitrov. “We got to know the vehicle really well with [all of the hands-on] training. We need this training for our mission here, so we are appreciative of the [3rd Sustainment Brigade Soldiers] teaching us on the M-ATV.” The driver’s and PMCS training taught to the Bulgarian soldiers is the same operator-level course offered to U.S. Soldiers. Spc. Marten Sentance, HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, also attended the course. He said he has taken several military classes, but this one was his first one alongside coali-tion forces. “To me there is no difference in working side-by-side with other na-tions,” said Sentence, a Vero Beach, Fla., native. “We are all here working together, so we should help them because they help us.” The 3rd Sustainment Brigade will continue to partner with, and support, the 61st Mechanized Brigade through-out the duration of their deployment.

MAINTAIN READINESS

While working from dawn to dusk, the ‘Provider’ arma-ment team has one mission in mind—to support and sustain the war-fighter. Chief Warrant Officer Ra-chel Schneider and Staff Sgt. Brian Redding, with Head-quarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, worked side-by-side with Spc. David Campagna, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, Combined Team Uruzgan, and Spc. Kenneth Dodson of the 702nd Brigade Support Bat-talion to service and repair a M777A2 Howitzer at Forward Operating Base Hadrian in Uruzgan Province, Afghani-stan, March 6-8.

An annual service is required on the 9,000-pound weapons system that be-longs to the 1-9 Field Artil-lery Regiment in order to ensure the canon’s ability to fire effectively. The Soldiers performed a thorough check of the canon—a process that they completed together in 64 hours. Schneider said support-ing the war-fighter is her main focus. “It’s great to be able to do your job,” Schneider said. “It’s a perishable skill.” Schneider, a native of Cherry Creek, N.Y., said she is responsible for overseeing all weapons maintenance for the CTU. “We’re here helping the war-fighter maintain a means of defense,” said Schneider.


Armament team supports the war-fighter in Uruzgan province

Chief Warrant Officer (2) Rachel Schneider uses a

crank wheel to ad-just the elevation of an M777 towed 155 mm howitzer

during routine maintenance at

Forward Operat-ing Base Hadrian,

Afghanistan, March 6. Schnei-

der is assigned to Headquarters

and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sus-

tainment Brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rochelle

Krueger)

Coalition Forces

PARTNERED TRAINING

through

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LEFT: Spc. Matthew Nevarez, a petroleum supply specialist, and Sgt. Johnathan Hal-bert, a motor transport operator, inspect ammunition turned in by redeploying units at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 30.

BELOW: Spc. Matthew Nevarez ensures commodities are sorted and loaded onto a palletized load system truck and trans-ported to the retro-sort yard at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, March 30. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Tanjie Patterson)

the ammunition supply point for further inspection and stocked for redistribution or properly disposed of if it’s no good.” “Because of the sensitivity of the Class V and VIII supplies, it was appropriate to have qualified individuals to handle those specific commodities,” said Sgt. Maj. Ricky Davis, the support operations senior enlisted adviser for the 3rd Sus-tainment Brigade and native of Temple, Texas. Once all of the supplies are sorted by classification, the Soldiers with the 135th Quartermaster Company loaded the equipment onto a palletized load system truck to transport to its next destination. “This was our first mission,” said Bricker. “It was a rather small one, but it was a good first run. We got a taste of what’s to come and we now know what to sustain and what to improve on for the next go-around.” “We were honored to be a part of the process in helping Warriors achieve one more step in returning home,” Davila said.

Sixteen Stryker vehicles rolled into Kandahar Airfield, March 30, sig-nifying the completion of a combat

tour for some Soldiers, and the beginning of a new mission for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade-Task Force Provider.

At the Joint Nation Maintenance Facility on KAF, Soldiers assigned to the Provider’s headquarters element and the 135th Quartermaster Company facilitated a turn-in of mission-essential rolling stock, equipment and supplies for rede-ploying Troops. “The 3rd Sustainment Brigade is the mission command element for returning, redeploying, redistributing, retrograding and disposal of equipment for units that are conducting their last tactical mile con-voy,” said Capt. Paola Davila, the officer in charge of this retrograde operation, and native of Miami, Fla. “Because this was our first mission, we came in early to conduct a safety rehearsal and set up the lanes.” There were three lanes orchestrated for the turn in. The two outside lanes were used to accommodate the rolling stock and the center lane was aligned with a number of containers used to store each category of Army supplies and equip-ment. After the vehicles were parked, the commodities were downloaded and taken to their appropriate storage bin. Task Force Provider Soldiers were on-hand at the JNMF to examine the equipment. Spc. Shane Calvert, a health care spe-cialist with Headquarters and Headquar-ters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and native of Roseburg, Ore., inspected for Class VIII, or medical supplies. “My contribution to the mission is to check for controlled substances and sort the medical equipment,” he said. “The medical supplies will be taken to the retro-sort yard.” Sgt. Steven Bricker, an ammunition stock control and accounting specialist, also with HHC, inspected for Class V, or ammunition. “I check for safety issues, and then I segregate it by the different types of am-munition such as .50 caliber and 7.62mm rounds, pen flares and smoke grenades to name a few,” said Bricker, a native of Toledo, Ohio. “Once the ammunition is checked and separated, it is then taken to

By Sgt. Tanjie Patterson3rd Sustainment Brigade

Task Force sets up Troops’ last mission

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Over the past four months, 3rd Sustainment Brigade Soldiers have been managing the humanitarian relief yard at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. This yard houses commanders’

emergency response items such as food, clothes, tools, hygiene products and temporary shelters, as well as items donated by churches and other stateside organi-zations to Afghan people in need. Since assuming KAF’s humanitarian relief op-erations in December 2012, ‘Task Force Provider’ completed 32 missions—providing a value of approxi-mately $2 million in CERP items to help support more than 35,000 Afghan citizens.

The yard—which was es-tablished in 2009 to provide assistance in response to nat-ural disasters and to support the Afghan people during reconstruction efforts—ren-dered its final humanitarian mission, April 3. “Humanitarian relief op-erations will not cease, how-ever,” said Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thorpe, the HR yard manag-er assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and Greensboro, N.C., na-tive. “It will continue on another forward operating base here in Afghanistan.” For their last HR mission at KAF, the Soldiers pal-letized 28 cases of cooking oil, 13 bundles of tarps, 22 bundles of sandbags, five bundles of prayer rugs, 15 bundles of educational kits, 10 bundles of children and women’s clothing, 20 bun-dles of first aid kits and 20 bundles of dental kits. While the U.S. Soldiers assist with packaging, the Afghan security forces and government officials distrib-ute the CERP items to the Afghan people. Second Lt. Kenisha Wilk-erson, the HR yard officer in charge and member of HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, said it’s important to assist

Sgt. 1st Class Larry Walker, assigned to the 993rd Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Palatka, Fla., and Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thorpe (left) load palletized commander’s emergency response products at the humanitarian relief yard at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, April 3. The CERP items will be delivered by members of the Afghan Security Forces and government officials to Afghan families in need. Thorpe is the humanitarian relief yard manager assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sus-tainment Brigade. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Tanjie Patterson)


support to Afghan people continuesHumanitarian Relief Yard closes,Kandahar

the Afghan government as they provide sup-port to their people. “Even though we don’t physically hand out the items, I think we have one of the most rewarding jobs,” said Wilkerson, a native of Goose Creek, S.C. “We get to see the product before it goes out, and we get to see the items

in the hands of families through pictures that are brought back to us. “To see the smiles on the faces of those families, espe-cially the children, is a heart-warming and rewarding feel-ing,” she said. Sgt. Jacob Todd, an HR yard supervisor assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 1487th Transportation Company, said the efforts Task Force Provider has made while working in the HR yard has helped to support and promote positive changes among the Afghan people. “We are also helping them to sustain themselves,” added Todd, a native of Dayton, Ohio. Now that operations at Kandahar Airfield’s humanitar-ian relief yard are complete, the process has begun to close the facility down. This includes moving all the containers to the central receiving and shipping point, closing out property hand receipts and turning in account-able items, said Wilkerson. “I feel that we had a huge responsibility and mission here on KAF, and that was to provide humanitarian relief to Afghan families in need,” said Thorpe. “I believe that we com-pleted that task to the best of our abilities, and just knowing that we did something to help better people’s lives will always remain with me.”

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thorpe, the humanitarian relief yard manager, assigned to HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, loads bundles of com-manders’ emergency response products onto pallets at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, April 3.

15

As the Army downsizes, many leaders agree that to avoid the chopping block, Soldiers need to stay com-petitive and stand out among their peers. One Soldier making strides to stay ahead of the pack is Spc. Rohan Malcolm, a signal support systems specialist with Head-quarters and Headquarters Detachment, 87th Com-bat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and a native of Miramar, Fla.

Malcolm, who was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, moved to Miramar when he was 14. He completed high school there and then attended college at the University of Dubuque in Iowa on a partial football scholarship. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and had his first thoughts of joining the military while he was there. “I never thought about a career in the military until a [fraternity] brother of mine told me about the Army,” said Malcolm, now 25. “I then did some research and decided that I would give the Army a try.” Malcolm said he’s the only member of his family to serve in the military. He didn’t know what to expect, he said, because he’d heard so many myths about the organization. But now that he’s joined, he added, he loves the Army and wants to make service to his country his career. Malcolm has been setting himself apart from his peers since basic combat training at Fort Jackson, S.C., where he was recognized as Soldier of the Cycle and earned his first Army Achievement Medal in November 2010. “It felt good to have been recognized and awarded by the general of Fort Jackson,” Mal-colm said. “All I kept saying to myself was, ‘Wow, I’m getting a chance to meet important people at such an early [point] in my career.’” After basic combat training, Malcolm attend-ed advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga., followed by his first duty station in South Korea. His current home station is Fort Stewart, Ga., and he is serving his first combat tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Malcolm not only fulfills his duties as a signal support systems specialist, but also serves as the communications specialist on his command team’s personal security detachment. He has worked in other positions outside of his military occupational specialty before, he said, including duty as a gunner while traveling along some of Afghanistan’s most-dangerous routes. He added that he’d do any job that sup-ports the team and the mission. When not at work, Malcolm is taking struc-tured self-development and correspondence courses. His off-duty studies helped him to earn a new title: Battalion Soldier of the Month.

“I didn’t think I was going to win, because I had been laying cable 30 minutes prior to the board, so I was all dirty,” he said. “I arrived at the board and looked at my opponent, who was all clean and creased up, and I thought to myself, ‘Man, this guy is squared away. He’s going to win this for sure.’ But once I cleaned myself up, I went in and just went at it.” Malcolm credited his success to his dedica-tion and hard work, and made light of the fact that he competed against only one other Soldier at the board. “I guess when everyone else found out I was going to the board, they got scared and backed out,” he joked. Malcolm said he will attend as many boards as he can. “Being No. 1 is a good feeling, and not win-ning is just not an option,” he added. So when he’s not on the job or studying, he most likely is in the gym, working to improve his already above-average Army physical fitness test score, or out on a 5-kilometer morale run. Malcolm said his next step toward success is to attend the promotion board in May. Although achieving the rank of sergeant is his short-term goal, he added, he also is looking to earn a com-mission. “My long-term goal is to elevate my career, and for me, I think that I can achieve that by moving to the next level, which is to become an officer,” he said. “Either way,” he added, “en-listed Soldiers and commissioned officers need to stay competitive to succeed in the Army.” Malcolm, who is a newlywed, said he is hap-py with all he has accomplished in his 32 months of service, but he won’t stop working hard and seeking self-improvement. “My advice for my peers is that you have to separate yourself from your peers,” he said. “You have to sit down with yourself and decide what it is that you really want while serving in the military, and once you figure that out, you need to go and get it. You can’t care about what others think about you. You have to do what you know is right for yourself and your family.”

Signal support Soldier Strives for success

Spc. Rohan Malcolm poses for a photo at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 19. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)


17

With an emphasis on keeping Soldiers safe as they traverse along some of the most danger-ous roads in Afghanistan, the 495th Combat

Sustainment Support Battalion-Montana National Guard, is perfecting a new standard for their subordi-nate transportation companies. During a three-day course known as ‘Gun Truck Academy,’ truck commanders and drivers with the 1487th Transportation Company, Ohio National Guard; 1048th Transportation Company, Connecticut National Guard and the 993rd Transportation Compa-ny, U.S. Army Reserve, Palatka, Fla., joined together to synchronize their convoy tactics and lessons learned in an effort to help build the best standard operating procedure for their Troops who travel to sustain the war-fighter. The three companies—which support the 495th CSSB’s logistics operations in Regional Command-South—hail from separate commands throughout the United States. Not every unit trains with the same equipment before deploying to Afghanistan, says Sgt. 1st Class Adam Bell, Gun Truck Academy facilitator with the 495th CSSB. “As new units come in, what we are trying to do is have a smoother transition,” said Bell, a native of Helena, Mont. “There are things we can get compla-cent on throughout the deployment, and we cannot afford that, so (by hosting this class we can) ensure we are doing the right things to help the Soldiers be prepared.” Bell taught the importance of pre-combat checks and inspections and demonstrated proper battle drills to those in attendance. First Lt. Dan Bushnell, current operations officer-in-charge with the 495th CSSB, said that the class will help orientate incoming units. “We want to provide each company with all the right tools, so when they have to train the next com-pany, the standard will be set,” he said. The Soldiers that attended the academy were mostly experienced transportation veterans and shared

ideas with each other to get the best outcome. “I think the Gun Truck Academy is a very great tool for us to use,” said Staff Sgt. Warren Barrett, a convoy commander for 1487th Transportation Com-pany, and Franklin, Ohio, native. “This is my third (combat) tour, and it would have been nice to have this class before, so everyone is on the same sheet of music.” There were 14 courses taught at the Gun Truck Academy, some of which were class-room discussions and others included hands-on instruction. Instructor Sgt. 1st Class Clayton Felton, a maintenance supervi-sor in 495th CSSB, taught the soldiers how to properly perform preventative maintenance checks and service on Mine Resistance Ambush Protected vehicles. “The importance of maintaining equipment proper-ly is due to mission readiness,” said Felton, a Helena, Mont., native. “We don’t want to create more problems out on the road. There are certain things we can dictate; if we maintain the standard it will help with our overall mission.” Along with unit readiness, the 495th CSSB’s goal is to minimize safety concerns. Since arriving to Afghanistan in January, the battalion has decreased safety violations by almost 80 percent. The Gun Truck Academy is predicted to aid the battalion in increasing that percentage even more, so long as Soldiers main-tain the training they received. According to Felton, the experienced Soldiers already understand how important it is to have a good transition. “It’s really critical that we develop a process that allows us to have a standardized hand-off,” he said. “Deployment is a marathon, not a sprint, so you need to be physically and mentally prepared and able to maintain it the entire deployment.” The 495th CSSB plans to host more Gun Truck Academy courses throughout their deployment. “The Gun Truck Academy taught me some things today,” said Barrett. “And, it helped to get other units’ input on ideas and operations to make all of our units better overall.”

Shared tactics help shape standard


TOP: Soldiers complete preventive maintenance checks and services on a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle at Kandahar Airfield, April 10. A course, known as Gun Truck Academy, was hosted by the Montana Army National Guard’s 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion to help transportation leaders develop standard operating procedures for Soldiers conducting patrols in the Regional Command-South area of operations.BOTTOM LEFT: Sgt. 1st Class Clayton Felton, left, with the 495th CSSB, and Staff Sgt. Warren Barrett with the Ohio National Guard’s 1486th Transportation Company, complete preventive maintenance checks and services on a MRAP vehicle at Kandahar Airfield, April 10. BOTTOM RIGHT: Cpl. Logan Betteridge with the 993rd Trans-portation Company reads a technical manual while participating in operator-level training on the MRAP vehicle at Kandahar Airfield, April 10. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

for deployed transportation Soldiers

PREVAIL

19

Continued on Page 21

Seven Soldiers and eight noncom-missioned officers battled their way through a three-day competition to determine the 311th Expeditionary Sus-

tainment Command’s ‘Best Warrior’ during a Soldier and NCO of the Year competition, March 25-27, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghani-stan. Staff Sgt. Andrew Webb, with Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustain-ment Brigade, and native of Prince George County, Va., outshined his competition by more than 50 points. He and Spc. Ronald Minas, an all-wheeled vehicle mechanic with


PREVAIL

(1.) Sgt. Cassandra Bustillo, with the 541st Transportation Company, demonstrates her first aid proficiency during the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s Best Warrior Competition at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 26. (2.) Spc. Ronald Minas with the Connecticut Na-tional Guard’s 1048th Transportation Company searches a Humvee during the warrior tasks and drills segment of the Best Warrior Competition. (3.) Spc. Casper Phiri with the Headquarters and

the 1048th Transportation Company, Con-necticut National Guard, will represent Task Force Provider and move on to compete at the 1st Theater Sustainment Command competi-tion slated for later this year. “The competition was tough,” said Webb, a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer and member of the 3rd Sustain-ment Brigade’s personal security detachment. Webb’s competition hailed from the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 311th ESC and the 39th Joint Movement Control Battalion, who all underwent physically and mentally demand-ing tasks to determine who will be the best of the best. The competition kicked off with an Army

Physical Fitness Test, where the Soldiers and NCOs were tested on their ability to complete two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile-run. “What better way to start your day than with a PT test?” asked Webb, who was the only competitor to score a perfect score on the first event. After finishing the APFT, the competitors then completed a written exam and an essay, and then qualified with their M4 or M16-car-bine rifle and an M9 pistol. “I’m a people person, communication comes easy to me,” said Minas, who said he did well on the written exam and essay. “It felt great writing my thoughts out about what

I would change if I were a command sergeant major for a day. My thoughts just started flow-ing onto paper.” Minas said the most challenging part of the competition, however, was the land naviga-tion, where he had five hours to plot and find locations throughout Kandahar Airfield while wearing his full-combat gear. “Every time I would try to shoot an azi-muth there was always a (barrier) in my way,” he said. Despite the challenges, Minas and the rest of the competitors completed the roughly eight-mile course and found all eight points. But their day wasn’t over just yet.

PROVIDERSPROVIDERSBest Warrior competition determines best of the best

Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, races to assemble equipment during the Best Warrior Competition, March 26. (4.) Staff Sgt. Andrew Webb, with HHC, 3rd Sustainment Bde., prepares to assemble a .50-caliber machine gun, March 26. (5.) Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Cope-land, presents an Army Achievement Medal to Spc. Ronald Minas, 1048th Transportation Com-pany, after he placed second in the Soldier of the Year, Best Warrior Competition.

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Next on the list was to complete hands-on warrior tasks and battle drills like putting to-gether crew-served weapons systems, provid-ing first aid to a simulated casualty and clear-ing a building. “The purpose behind these tasks and drills is to help develop soldiers,” said Sgt. Maj. Gregory Green, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade’s operations noncommissioned officer in charge and Forrest City, Ark., native who helped set up the competition. “I remember doing stuff like this when I was coming up through the ranks. This builds confidence, builds a better warrior and an all-around Soldier; competition is healthy.” Webb agrees. “Competition is among the things I love to do,” he said. “I’ve spent weeks preparing for this. You have to want it. If you train for something long enough and put in enough time into something that you want, then you are able to win.” The sun set and the Soldiers were still finishing all of their tasks on Day 2. Bright and early the next morning, they reported to a formal board preceding where they were quizzed on an array of Army regulations, subjects and manuals. A panel of senior NCOs and sergeants major graded the competitors on the accuracy of their answers and also on their military bearing and professionalism. “When I woke up the last morning for the board I was sore and feeling beat, but then I thought to myself, ‘Just, one more day,’” said Webb.

“I hold myself to such a high standard that I always walk out thinking that ‘I could have done better,’ but, I know I did my best.” Webb and Minas will be training together for the upcoming 1st TSC competition. “Spc. Minas is a good Soldier,” said Webb. “I look forward to working with and training him to give him whatever knowledge I have. As a leader, I’ve always encouraged Soldiers to go to boards and compete against other Sol-diers because it allows you to figure out what you are capable of.” Webb said the competition required being mentally prepared. “Yes, you have to be prepared physically, but having mental toughness will get you though the physical aspects. Without a strong mind, your body won’t follow it.” Minas joined the National Guard mostly because his family served in the U.S. military. Webb said his patriotism pushed him to join the Army. Both Soldiers said they enjoy their jobs and are anticipating their next move in their military careers. Minas said it was an honor just to be able to participate in the event. “I’ve gained so much experience and knowledge while training for this challenge,” he said. Webb said preparing for the competition helped him and Minas to the win. “The training that we did was intense and rigorous,” he said. “But it was what we needed to give Task Force Provider the edge.”

Spc. Casper Phiri with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, as-sembles an M249 light machine gun while competing in the 311th Sustainment Command’s Best Warrior Competition at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 26. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

The training that we did was intense and rigorous. But it was what we needed to give

Task Force Provider the edge.“ ”Staff Sgt. Andrew Webb3rd Sustainment Brigade

Continued from Page 19

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After supporting more than 100 combat logistical sup-port missions while traversing 120,000 miles throughout Afghanistan, Soldiers with the 1461st Transportation Com-

pany are now ready to make one final haul—this time, transport-ing their team back home to Jackson, Mich.

‘Combat HET’completes tour377th Transportation Companycontinues logistics mission

The National Guard unit officially completed a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, May 15, and transferred authority of their operations to the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 377th Transportation Co., during a ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. “The 1461st is a combat-tested unit of highly trained professionals…one of the only units in Afghanistan to operate over three regions,” said Lt. Col. Lance Curtis, commander of the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sus-tainment Brigade, who presided over the transfer of authority ceremony. During their tour, the 1461st Trans-portation Co. supported operations throughout Regional Commands South, Southwest and West, conducting emer-gency recovery missions, providing gun truck crew enhancement teams and turning in more than $5.4 million worth of equipment. The team, whose motto is ‘Combat HET’ due to their frequent use of heavy equipment transporter vehicles, was awarded with the Army’s Meritorious Unit Commendation for their deploy-ment’s successes. Additionally, 15 Soldiers were awarded with the Bronze Star, four received the Purple Heart and eight Soldiers received the Combat Ac-tion Badge. Capt. Melody Taylor, the 1461st

By Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Green3rd Sustainment Brigade

commander, credited the unit’s accom-plishments to the efforts made by her leaders and Soldiers. “It is from your dedication and your commitment that we have been success-ful,” Taylor told her Troops who stood before her after their unit colors were cased-signifying the completion of their mission. With the 1461st Transportation Com-pany’s guidon encased, the 377th’s unit flag unfurled, and the inbound team led by Capt. Jonathan Bender and 1st Sgt. Derek Cook were charged with continu-

ing to build upon their predecessor’s achievements. Curtis said this task would certainly be executed as the 377th Transportation Company has a “tremendous reputa-tion.” “I have no doubt they are ready to assume the mission,” he said. The new team’s company commander agrees and said the 1461st assisted them through a smooth transition into their new operational environment. “The 377th is ready as ever,” said Bender. “It’s time to go to work.”

ABOVE: The 377th Transportation Company, from Fort Bliss, Texas, assumes their new Afghanistan mission and officially begins their deployment, May 15, after a ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. The 377th assumed authority of operations from the 1461st Transportation Company-Michigan National Guard who com-pleted their 9-month tour. LEFT: Capt. Melody Taylor (right) and 1st Sgt. James Aguilar, 1461st Transportation Company command team, case their unit guidon, signifying the completion of their 9-month deployment, May 15, at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. The Michigan National Guard unit transferred authority of operations to the 377th Transportation Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Tanya Green)

Task Force Provider Soldiers gathered to celebrate the 201st birthday of the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps May 12, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

The celebration, which was hosted by Maj. Ryan Frye, the future operations plans chief for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and native of Greenville, Pa., took the ‘Provid-ers’ back in time as they explored the Corps’ history.

Seven ordnance Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Com-pany, 3rd Sustain-ment Brigade, spoke about their Corps’ inception and in-volvement in multi-ple conflicts from the American Revolu-tionary War through Operation Enduring Freedom. “Being picked among my peers to participate in the ceremony was a great feeling,” said Sgt. Jason Dailey, a wheeled vehicle me-chanic with HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade. “I got to learn a lot about the Corps that I didn’t know, so for me that was big deal.” Frye said that the celebration was personally special as it allowed him to reflect back on his time spent commanding an ordnance company at Fort Lee, Va. “I think that the turnout for the ceremony was very good,” said Frye. “I’m glad the brigade came together and celebrated the birth-day.” The ceremony continued with recognition of the Corps’ 15 Medal of Honor recipients. Then, the 3rd

ABOVE: Master Sgt. Quarry Harris, 3rd Sustainment Brigade maintenance noncomissioned officer in charge, reads an excerpt of the Ordnance Corps’ history during his branch’s birthday celebration, May 12 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghani-stan. LEFT: Third Sustainment Brigade Command Team, Col. Ron Novack (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Forbes Daniels, (right), join the unit’s oldest and youngest deployed ordnance Soldiers; Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Warthon and Spc. Christian Caviness, to cut a cake in celebration of the 201st Ordnance Corps birthday, May 12. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Tanjie Patterson)

Sustainment Brigade commander and the senior enlisted advisor joined the oldest and youngest ordnance Soldiers present to cut a cake—a ceremonial tradition. “It was an honor for me to be part of the cake-cutting ceremony,” said Spc. Christian Caviness, a 21-year-old wheeled vehicle me-chanic with HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and native of Sumter, S.C. “(Participating in the ceremony) gave me an opportunity to learn the history and background of my Corps.” The Ordnance Corps is one of the U.S. Army’s oldest branches. It

Deployed Soldiers celebrate Army Ordnance 201st birthday


was founded May 14, 1812, and is the home to 33 enlisted, nine warrant officer and two commissioned-officer military occupational specialties. Approximately 300 ordnance Soldiers are currently deployed to Afghanistan sup-porting Task Force Provider—serving in a number of different jobs from ammuni-tion supply specialist to wheeled vehicle mechanic. Though the celebra-tion was to honor the Ordnance Corps, it was

not limited to just ordnance Sol-diers. Several Soldiers attended the event to show their support. “It was good that Soldiers from other branches came out to cel-ebrate with us because it showed that we are all an Army of one,” said Frye. “It truly showed the unison between all branches.” The 3rd Sustainment Brigade plans to continue to celebrate the Army’s branches. “I will definitely attend some of the other branch birthdays so that I can learn some of their history as well,” said Frye.

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In honor of Women’s History Month, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade recognizes its female Sol-

diers who help shape the organization. The origins of Women’s History Month, which is observed from March 1 through 31, began March 7, 1982, as Women’s History Week. It wasn’t until 1987 that Congress passed Pub-lic Law 100-9, designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Since the American Revolutionary War, wom-en have held a major role in the U.S. military. Although not in uniform, they served as nurses, seamstresses and cooks for the Troops. Others carried messages to the battlefield, transported contraband and served as spies who would alert

the American Soldiers about enemy movement. Approximately 20 percent of 3rd Sustainment Brigade-Task Force Provider—currently deployed throughout Afghanistan’s Regional Command-South, Southwest and West—is female. That per-centage includes service members with the 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Montana National Guard; the 393rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico and their attached Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve-component companies. “I am very grateful that there is a month re-served to show honor, appreciation and respect to women for all that they do,” said Chief Warrant Officer (3) Rosaline Ricketts, the senior sup-ply systems technician for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and a native of Gaithersburg, Md. “Since

the beginning of time, women all over the world have strived for equal rights with their male counterparts, so this month helps recognize females whose accom-plishments may have been overlooked throughout history.” Someone who shares similar sentiments is Sgt. Serena O’Brien, a unit supply spe-cialist for the 495th CSSB, and native of Helena, Mont. “I think having this month for women is a good idea because sometimes people forget where they came from and the struggles that we women have,” said O’Brien. Even though there is a month to help recognize women, there are still adversi-ties that females may face, said Master Sgt. Sundi Ganaway, the senior human resource noncommissioned officer for 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and native of Rock-ford, Ill. “I try to ensure that I am the best non-commissioned officer that I can be, by al-ways remaining tactically and technically proficient and hopefully that will establish my credibility,” she said. Ganaway, who had a female mentor her throughout her Army career, said that the best advice she was given was to never give anyone a reason to doubt her. “This to me meant that I had to be a well rounded Soldier,” said Ganaway, who has 17 years of Army service. Ricketts said what has helped her be successful in the Army are the values that her parents instilled in her: to be strong, remain humble and to treat people with dignity and respect regardless of their race, rank or gender. “The advice I will give young female Soldiers that may face adversity is to have self-respect, stay strong and don’t let any-one determine their value or worth,” said Ricketts. “Never give up regardless of the situation or circumstances that they may face, and above all, make wise choices and never forget your professional attitude as a Soldier, let alone as a female Soldier representative.”


Spc. Alexandra Lebron, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 623rd Transportation Company; Spc. Sasha Ramirez, an automated logistical specialist with the 175th Transportation Co. and Sgt. Adreena Hogan-Davis, an automated logistical specialist with the 993rd Transportation Co. are a few female Soldiers who support the 3rd Sustainment Brigade-Task Force Provider while deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tanjie Patterson)

Securing her place in the U.S. Army is Sgt. Cassandra Bustillo, a motor transport operator with the 541st Trans-portation Company, who says she is determined to prove

herself capable of doing anything she sets her mind to. “I think some people put too much perception on being male and female, instead of just being a Soldier,” said Bustillo. “What really matters is how well the Soldier—male or fe-male—performs. A Soldier is defined from within.” Bustillo is currently on her second combat tour to Afghani-stan and serving at Forward Operating Base Shindand. The 21-year-old Soldier has won several company and battalion-level boards, and she joined the Noncommissioned Officer Corps in January with just three years of military service. Bustillo was also selected to compete at an upcoming Best Warrior Competition in Kandahar where she will be the only female Soldier to represent Task Force Provider. “Being the only female gives me an extra sense of pride,” she said. “I’m just really competitive.” Bustillo said she can accomplish any mission simply by setting her mind to it. The Somerton, Ariz., native said a part of her strength comes from her experiences as a child. “I came from a traditional family where females stay at home,” she said. “It never made any sense to me. I was always out to prove myself—that I can do anything. Anytime someone said I couldn’t do something I had to prove them wrong.” Bustillo is continuing to outshine her competition, but says that in reality, she just wants to do the very best she can. She encourages others to never place limitations on themselves. “Don’t let your sex be a reason why you can’t do something. If that was true, I wouldn’t have come this far.”


Female Soldier says her strength comes from within

Sgt. Cassandra Bustillo541st Transportation Co.

Providers recognize female SoldiersWOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Traditionally on the airfield, organizations spon-sor 5-kilometer runs for a particular cause. Task Force Provider decided to double the dosage, and hosted a 10-kilometer Mother’s Day race. Col. Ron Novack, 3rd Sustainment Brigade-Task Force Provider commander and Weatherly, Pa., native, said facilitating a lengthier run at Kandahar Airfield was significant.

“This run is for all of our moth-ers,” said Novack to the participants just before the race, “whether they are here in our ranks, or back home supporting us, or smiling down on us from above. Today, we’re going to go the extra mile for our mothers.” Capt. Dan O’Connor, with Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Bde., organized the event. “We wanted to do something further, harder and more challenging,” he said about the idea to host an approximately 6-mile trek. “The longer distance makes the event stand out more and it becomes more special.” A team of more than 50 Task Force Provider Sol-diers contributed to the set-up and helped facilitate the event. Throughout the route, there were select Soldiers at who handed out water, marked turn-around points, cheered on the runners and ensured everyone’s safety. “I figured I could motivate them more by running with them,” said volunteer and HHC, 3rd Sustainment Brigade Soldier, Spc. Tyrell Mitchell. “I simply love to run, and I like to help my fellow Soldiers better them-selves. “Part of the Warrior Ethos ‘I will never accept defeat, I will never quit, I will never leave a fallen comrade’ plays over and over in my mind as I run,” said Mitchell, who, after completing the race, ran back a few more times to help motivate others to finish strong. Several runners finished strong and the winners of

More than 750 service members and civilians at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, gathered together May 10, to step into an event that

fostered esprit de corps and helped celebrate motherhood.


the race were awarded with certificates of achievement and a Task Force Provider deployment coin. O’Connor said the event in itself is an overall win for the de-ployed service members. “Events like these become such a useful tool during deployment,” said the Dedham, Mass., native. “Study after study shows that physical activity reduces stress, improves moods, takes your mind off of other things, and above all, it promotes this idea of family because you’re out there and everyone next to you, motivating and pushing you, becomes a part of your family.” Mitchell, a native of Carthage, Ark., agrees. “It brings us together as a family because (while in Afghanistan) the Soldiers standing to your left and right are the only family we have,” he said. “The 10K is not a short run for most Soldiers, so it helped us to work together to accomplish the same mission. That is what the Army is all about.”

ABOVE: More than 750 service members and civilians participate in a 10K Mother’s Day run at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, May 10. The 3rd Sustainment Brigade hosted the event to honor motherhood and foster camaraderie. LEFT: Spc. Tyrell Mitchell, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, runs to the finish line of the Provider Mother’s Day 10K run, May 10. BELOW: Third Sustainment Brigade Commander, Col. Ron Novack, participates in the 10K Mother’s Day run, May 10. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

MALE WINNERS

FEMALE WINNERS

TOP PROVIDERS

Tom Bolsius, 37:00Capt. Juantonio Rivera, 37:18 Pfc. Jordan Lewis, 39.06

CW2 Jessica Lee,45:06Theresa Klosinski, 45:30 Capt. Jodie McQuillan, 47:38

Capt. Dan O’Connor, 40:38Maj. Carlos Kavetsky, 43:14CW3 Miguel Castro, 43:15

Deployed Soldiers go the extra mile to celebrate Mother’s DayDeployed Soldiers go the extra mile to celebrate Mother’s Day

A dual-military couple’s perspectiveDealing with deployment, separation

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For many military families, service to their country can include dealing with long work hours, over-night field exercises and multiple combat tours. One dual-military family, who

has been faced with these challenges, has imple-mented ways to cope with the stressors associated with separation while deployed to Afghanistan. Capt. Joshua Lee, an information assurance officer, and his wife, Chief Warrant Officer (2) Jes-sica Lee, an ammunition technician, are currently deployed to Kandahar Airfield with the Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade. The couple, who has been married for five years, shares four children between the two of them—a set of 20-month-old twins, a 15-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son.

The Lees agree there are both pros and cons to being a military family. “Some of the downfalls are missing events that you shouldn’t miss as a parent, such as birth-days, basketball games, proms and graduations,” said Joshua, who is on his third combat-tour. Jessica, who is also serving her third deployment but first away from her twins, said that the down-falls of family-separation, however, are strengthened by military perks, like a better quality of life. “Even though we miss a lot, the benefit of this life is that the military makes it possible for me to provide for my children what I didn’t have growing up,” she said. Jessica and Joshua were both born in Bellville, Ill., and family-friends during their childhood. They eventually went their sepa-rate ways, but reconnected in 2006 when the two were both stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. “Joshua is my rock,” said Jes-sica. “He helps me cope with being away from the twins because he’s been through this before with the older children. I sometimes think that it would be easier if one parent stayed behind, so that our children would at least have one of us with them.” Joshua understands the difficul-ties his spouse faces with separa-tion, but said that being on the same deployment cycle with his wife can be beneficial for everyone. “I’m glad that the both of us are deployed together because it causes minimal interruptions in the house-hold,” he said. “If Jessica didn’t de-ploy with the brigade headquarters then she would’ve deployed with another unit, and that would’ve meant that we both would’ve left and returned at different times. At

least this way we both leave and return together.” Preparing for this deployment took a little work for the Lees. Because they have young children, they wanted to make the transition as smooth as possible, relocating the twins to their grandmother’s home and replicating the kid-friendly environment in the new location. “We wanted to make sure that they had all of their toys, as well as pictures of us in their room at grandma’s house,” said Jessica, who added that it is important to help her children cope with the separation as well. “We just wanted them to have the same feel that they had at (our) home. “We also thought it would be a good idea for my mom to come down two weeks prior to us leav-ing to spend time with Madden and Mackenzie while we were still around,” continued Jessica. “So this way, they could get a feel for each other. Even though she is their grandmother, she was still a strang-er to them because she wasn’t around them that often. Sometimes I feel guilty that I’m not there for my kids. I know my mother is do-ing a phenomenal job with them, but I also know that it’s a struggle to take care of twins.” Joshua said it was a little easier to prepare for deployment with his teenage-children. “With the older kids, I talked to them about what was going to hap-pen throughout the whole year, the things that I would be missing out on,” he said. “That talk was easier because they are older and they can under-stand what is going on.”

“I’m glad that the both of us are deployed together because it causes minimal interruptions in the house-hold.”

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“Our children are very resilient.”

Even though we miss a lot, the benefit of this life is that the military makes it possible for me to pro-vide for my children what I didn’t have growing up.”

“Every morning we wake up early to speak to Mad-den and Mackenzie before they go to bed.”

”

Chief Warrant Officer Jessica Lee3rd Sustainment Brigade

Capt. Joshua Lee3rd Sustainment Brigade


Continued on Page 32

Provider Soldiers and Families,

Psalm 121: I look to the hills! Where will I find help? It will come from the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth.

The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble. The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy. The Lord is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. You won’t be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The Lord will protect you now and always wher-ever you go. Jewish pilgrims sang Psalm 121 on various journeys, and the psalm offers encouragement to us today on our deploy-ment journey. On many days you may feel as if you are in a dark, cold valley just as Israel experienced. And you can look up to the hills because the sun comes every morning and brings warmth for your soul. God created the heavens and the earth. He has created it all, and He has not given you too much during this part of your life’s journey. Many people in theater and at home lose sleep during de-ployments. You may experience days and weeks where you are tired due to the demands placed upon you over which you lose sleep. Well, God is wide awake with you. He watches over you and your loved ones each day of the deployment, and he never turns away or dozes. Sometimes, there are health concerns that cause heartache. Israel believed the rays from the moon caused lunacy and mental disorders. And God meets your needs even when you or your loved ones experience unhealthiness. God will guard you, protect you and see you through the troubles. God promises constant care to you along the way. So, remain faithful and know that God will see you through to the end. He will guide you now, and He will take care of your future assignments and plans. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that my fellow Soldiers will look to You for help. May each sense Your constant care and protection. Protect all from troubles within and troubles without. And see everyone through to a joyful return and reunion at home.

By Chaplain (Maj.) Chris Wallace3rd Sustainment Brigade

Continued from Page 27 Despite the high operational tempo and the time difference between Afghanistan and the United States, the Lees said they make it a point to speak to their children on a daily basis, to help their family, as a whole, better cope with the stresses of separation. “Every morning we wake up early to speak to Madden and Mackenzie before they go to bed, and I call them every evening before they go to day care (in the morning),” said Jessica with a smile. “Because they are still so young, their attention-span isn’t very long, so we get a good 20 minutes with them before they are ready to do other things.” Sometimes, says Jessica, it gets a little over-whelming to be away from her children, especial-ly as a new mother. She said keeping busy with extra activities like spending three to four hours in the gym and taking college courses helps to ease her mind. Joshua also spends his free time at the fitness center and is currently working on a master’s de-gree in information technology management. The couple says that using this time wisely offers an opportunity to better their family’s future. Jessica said her long-term goals include ob-taining her bachelor’s degree in human services, retiring from the military and getting a job as a school counselor, which will allow her to work during the hours that her children are in school so that she can devote her time to them once school lets out. Joshua said his long-term goals are to finish his master’s degree and to just be a good father and husband. The Lees both agree that their military children serve and sacrifice, and they are loved and appre-ciated for it. “Our children are very resilient,” said Joshua. Jessica hopes that one day their children will understand that all the sacrifices made as a mili-tary family were in an effort to provide a better life for them. Her husband agrees. “I think that right now our children may have a hard time being proud of what we are doing because the only thing they know is that we aren’t there,” he said. “But I’m sure, in the future, our children will be proud of all that we have done.”

From Page 31

In an effort to maintain a well balanced team, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade’s master resiliency trainer, Capt. Dana Cook, provided a ‘wellness workshop,’

for deployed Soldiers at Kandahar Airfield, Afghani-stan, May 3. The workshop offered Soldiers and leaders with Task Force Provider skills on how to remain resilient while in a stressful environment. The class included advice on how to stay positive, set goals and control emotions, to name a few. Cook, used excerpts from the book “The Long Run” to help Soldiers see that regardless of the situ-ation they may find themselves in, being resilient and psychologically fit can help them overcome any hurdle. “I thought the class was very informative,” said Spc. Marcus Brantley, a nodal network systems oper-ator-maintainer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and Hinesville, Ga., native. “It gave me some great information on how to overcome different obstacles and how to stay positive in a negative environment. This was the first Provider wellness class that I’ve been to, but I will definitely attend more in the future.” Cook taught a similar resiliency workshop during the beginning of the brigade’s deployment. She also offers the training to 3rd Sustainment Brigade Sol-

diers at their home station, Fort Stewart, Ga. “I was very pleased at the turnout,” said Cook, a native of Richmond Hill, Ga. “There were about 60 Soldiers who showed up to a class that was not man-datory. To me, that shows that being resilient and hav-ing the proper tools to do so is important to not only me but also to Soldiers and leaders.” One Soldier, Sgt. Matthew Pledger, said that the training was beneficial, especially during the middle of his combat-tour. “I think the training was a breath of fresh air,” said the signal support systems specialist with HHC, 3rd Sustainment Bde., and Jacksonville, Fla., native. “It comes at the right time when we are halfway through the deployment, stress kicks in and emotions are high. I would recommend that this training becomes manda-tory for all Soldiers, non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers.” The 3rd Sustainment Brigade wellness classes are part of the U.S. Army’s ongoing Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness initiative. According to the CSF2 web page, the campaign is designed to increase physical and psychological health as well as increase resilience to enhance performance of Soldiers, Fami-lies and Army civilians. “Master resilience training allows me to support the Army by helping to build a foundation here in Task Force Provider, by providing the tools to build more resilient Soldiers,” said Cook.

Capt. Dana Cook, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade master resiliency trainer, offers Soldiers and leaders a wellness workshop, May 3, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tanjie Patterson)


Resilience training helps Providers stay positive

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

A psalm of protection

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Soldiers continue to serveSoldiers continue to serveSgt. Teodoro Arosemena

Spc. Monia Caviness

Spc. Geoffrey Machaku

Staff Sgt. Joshua Erickson

Spc. Antoine Gardner

Sgt. Anna Harnack

Sgt. Matthew Hawkins

Spc. Brian Hopp

Sgt. Marjorie Jennings

Staff Sgt. Erica Klocinski

Spc. Casey Calvert

Spc. Christian Caviness

Spc. Daniel Figueroa

Sgt. Steven Gadbois

Staff Sgt. Tanya Green

Spc. Leilani Hawkins

Spc. Antonio Henriquez

Sgt. Chanda Jackson

Spc. Terry Johnson

Spc. Rochelle Krueger

Spc. Brian Reed

Sgt. David Riley

Sgt. John Kruger

Spc. Lacey Maciel

Spc. George Micu

Spc. Matthew Nevarez

Spc. Chance Peterson

Spc. Daniel Posey

Spc. Lonno McAlbert

Spc. Roberto Cardenas

Spc. Kimberly Moses

Sgt. Darrell Parker

Sgt. Meralt Pierre

Spc. Kemraj Ramdeholl

Spc. Eric Richardson

Spc. Richard Severe

Spc. Jermaine Trumbach

Sgt. Manuel TorresSgt. Michael Stewart

Spc. Azalea Villalaz

35

Know your 608-99 rights

One of the most difficult situations a Soldier may face is a divorce, especially when chil-dren are involved. It is important to remember

that a Soldier’s financial support obligation continues throughout this process. Absent a court order or writ-ten support agreement, a Soldier has an obligation under AR 608-99, para. 2-6 to provide a pro rata share of his or her BAH RC/T–WITH (based on rank) to each family member. “Pro rata” means each family member gets an equal share of the total amount of a Soldier’s entitle-ment. For example, an E-5 is required to pay $842.70 a month. If this Soldier is married with two children, then there are three family members. Each family member is entitled to one share of the $842.70, or $280.90. While family issues are a private matter, the Army may be required to get involved in certain circumstances. To start off, AR 608-99 is not punitive regulation. Soldiers are required to manage their personal affairs in a way that does not bring discredit to themselves or the Army. A commander can sanction a Soldier for noncompliance. Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to: negative counseling, reprimands, separation, bars to reenlistment and if after interven-tion by the commander non-judicial punishment or

court-martial. Because the ramifications for noncompliance can be severe, it is imperative to know when the support obligation begins and how it can be paid. In order to determine when the support obligation starts there are two criteria that take precedence: (1) is there a court order requiring spousal support, if yes, that governs; (2) is there a written agreement between the spouses, if yes that will govern. If there is neither a court order nor written support agreement then para. 2-6 enters into effect. The amount of spousal support is deter-mined by the Soldier’s rank and is determined by “Non-Locality BAH.” Payment becomes due the first of the month. Certain in-kind payments, like rent and utilities satisfy the support obligation. However, if the in-kind payment falls short of the Soldier’s support require-ment, the Soldier is still required to pay the difference. No credits are given for amounts over the requirement. Only in rare circumstances may a Soldier be excused from this obligation. Even if a Soldier claims or has proof of adultery, marital misconduct, desertion or criminal acts (unless the Soldier has been released from this provision by the appropriate authority), the obligation continues. Becoming familiar with this regulation saves time, expense and will avoid Army involvement. Soldiers with any questions or concerns should contact their local servicing Judge Advocate.

By 1st Lt. Estefania Baird Legal Assistance Attorney

In Fiscal Year 2012, Soldiers in Regional Com-mand-South, Afghanistan experienced 26 negligent discharges--15 of which resulted in medical evacu-ations from theater. Based on information reported to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, the most preva-lent mistakes that lead to negligent discharges are horseplay, improper cleaning procedures, incorrect weapon status, failure to keep the weapon on safe

and finger off the trigger when there’s no intent to fire and lack of muzzle awareness. These mistakes are a result of indiscipline, overconfidence and complacency. To combat negligent discharge, leaders must change the way Soldiers think about and handle weapons. Both leaders and Soldiers have a responsi-bility to set the example for others and make on-the-spot corrections. Drill home that your Soldiers must think weapons safety. Everyone must emphasize weapons safety at all times!

By Mark Johansen 3rd Sustainment Brigade Safety Officer

Exercise discipline to ensure safety

Sgt. Melesha Witter Spc. Precious WrennSpc. Matthew Volts

Spc. Michael Weston

Spc. Santiago Vazquezruiz

Spc. Jason Weynand

Sgt. Matthew Frazee works on arm strike combination drills with Sgt. Kevin Brown while attending Combatives Level II instruction at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, April 26. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rochelle Krueger)

Providers punch into Combatives Level II training

providers go the extra mile - defense visual information

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