1/34 BSTB February Newsletter

Wild Times 1/34 BSTB February 2012

Vol 2, No. 10

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Kuwait Polar Plunge!

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (Feb. 4th, 2012) – The time is finally here, the moment the Brigade Special Troops Battalion Soldiers have either been anxiously awaiting or dreading; jumping into a pool of ice water at a staggering 32 degrees just after 6:00 A.M. is exactly what over 110 Soldiers from the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1/34th Brigade Combat Team, 1-125 Field Artillery, 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Company, 788th and 202nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Companies did on an already frigid sub 40 degree Saturday morning.

Although a fun, morale building event for Soldiers participating in the Kuwait Polar Plunge, the organization of this event to make it as comparable to the actual Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Minnesota was a challenge with the limited resources available in Kuwait. A 3,000 gallon “military issue” fabric self supporting tank was filled with two pallets (600 bags) of ice and water awaiting the first brave plunger. The idea of the plunge was presented by 1st Lt. Ryan Doliber, Elk River, Minn. as a small company morale event. 1st Lt. Doliber participates in the Maple Grove Polar Plunge annually and simply suggested we just get a small pool, fill it with ice and water, jump in and send pictures to family and friends back home. The word spread fast about the event, and it turned viral. Both Fox 9 News (KMSP) and Channel 5 Eyewitness News (KSTP) stations based out of Minneapolis, Minn. have jumped on board to celebrate and promote our participation some 6,000 miles away. Ian Leonard, Fox 9 News meteorologist took it a step further and dressed up as a “Red Bull” for the Plunge in Maple Grove, Minn. supporting “Team Red Bulls”. The Polar Plunge committee in Minnesota designed a special T-shirt and donated them to the troops who participated in the plunge. “We had a great turn out, and it looked like everyone had fun! Most of my family thought it was done as a way to cool off from the desert heat, but this time of year it is cold enough to see your breath” said 1st Lt. Ryan Doliber, Signal Officer, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. The Polar Bear Plunge was originated in 1998 by the Law Enforcement for Special Olympics Minnesota raising $20,000 with 65 participants. Last year the organization raised $2,200,000 with over 11,000 participants. Several “Kuwait” plungers chose to raise money through family and friends on their own for the Minnesota Special Olympics, but it was not a requirement to participate in the event. “I look forward to continuing the tradition next year and have talked with several people who expressed interest in joining my team in Maple Grove [Minnesota]” said Doliber.

by: Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Thingvold


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Serving our Troops! Camp Arifjan, Kuwait - The great state of Minnesota is at it again with

another triumphant victory of supporting the troops overseas. Minnesota

National Guard supporters have broken yet another record; astonishing

Soldiers, families, and citizens alike by leaving their footprint in the now

‘muddy’ desert sands of Kuwait. The organization Serving our Troops was

originally developed over some “beer and steaks” at a dinner table with the

guys in 2004. These local businesses (mentioned below) thought it would be

so great to show their support if only they could get the Minnesota grown steaks to the Minnesota

troops overseas. Indeed they were able to do that and it has since evolved into one of the biggest

military support events in overseas history. To date, 75,000 steaks have been served to troops and

their families from Kosovo, to Iraq to Fort McCoy and just a day ago 13,000 steaks back to Kuwait

and Saint Paul, Minn.

One can count on their hand how many times it has rained here in the desert since arriving in Kuwait

eight months ago; one of those days being yesterday when the gracious business owners, Minnesota

Sports Teams former players and spokespersons, and even a musician from Minnesota flew the 6,000

some miles to grill the steaks themselves for the Soldiers. Still, there was nothing but smiling faces and

determination from the volunteers during the chilly grill out in the muddy sands of Camp Arifjan,

Kuwait. Pete Bercich, KFAN Vikings Broadcaster and former Minnesota Vikings linebacker and coach

said “I guess we brought the Minnesota weather with us!” as he and drenched John Mancini, owner of

Mancini’s Char House, St. Paul, Minn., Dan Ogara, owner of O”Gara’s Bar and Grill, St. Paul, Minn.

joked after the many thank you’s they received from troops, senators and commanders of four Kuwait

bases, not to mention, Minnesota National Guard Commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Nash.

The event was held simultaneously in St. Paul, Minn. where families and friends gathered at the

Rivercentre and enjoyed the donated slab of top quality beef from Mancini’s Char House ©, some

Shell’s © brew, Coca Cola ©, and Sweet Martha’s Cookies ©. Also a notable mention to at least 50 more

sponsors and 600 volunteers from Delta Airlines © who have arranged for this incredible occasion to

happen. Soldiers here in Kuwait were able to Skype© with families or listen to the performance given

by legendary Minnesota native musician, GB (Brian) Leighton. “It’s nice to give back to our troops;

musicians and actors are not heroes. To me, soldiers, firefighters, policeman, those who sacrifice so

much are the true heroes.” Leighton said humbly. This is also not the first time he has jumped the

sands and oceans to perform for the troops; he has made several trips to Iraq, and CONUS bases and

sincerely enjoys every moment of it.

On behalf of all the Soldiers, a warm, heartfelt thank you goes out to all of those who made this special

day happen and the families for their continued love and support. “Ante Up, All In!”

By Sgt. 1st. Class, Brittany L. Thingvold

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Wild Times 1/34 BSTB February 2012

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February 2012

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From St. Paul to Kuwait

“Serving Our Troops” Event


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February 2012

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1/34 BSTB Soldiers Fighting the Daily Grind

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait – As the 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion

rolls through the eighth month of their deployment to Kuwait, Soldiers

get creative in their methods to break up the day to day business. Some

play video games, some go to the gym, but others fulfill their need for

speed with remote controlled (RC) cars.

RC Cars, much like full size cars, come in many different styles, options,

and price ranges. The RC cars are approximately 18 inches long and are driven by a battery powered electric

motor. The battery is the biggest factor in the speed of the car. Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries can push the

RC cars to speeds of 80+ miles per hour. Other battery types such as Nickel-Cadmium don’t provide the

speed; provide more user time between re-charging. Other aftermarket parts such as aluminum frames,

improved shock absorbers, or tires, can also be purchased to improve the handling and overall performance of

the RC car.

At Camp Arifjan there are many tenant Soldiers that use RC cars as a source of recreation. Camp Arifjan has

an outdoor race track for RC cars, as well as a large area on the inside of a one-half mile running track

designated for RC car use.

Within the 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, there is a wide range of experience with RC cars. 1st Sgt.

Jeffrey Kasprzyk from Oakdale, Minnesota has 15 RC cars total. He enjoys the RC cars because they are fun

to play with and he enjoys working on them in his downtime. One of 1st Sgt. Kasprzyk’s RC cars was won

from “RC CarAction” for a photo that he submitted. When he is in Minnesota, he enjoys taking his RC cars

to Taylors Falls, Minnesota and camping areas near Stillwater, Minnesota.

Sgt. 1st Class Derek Bronson from Eagan, Minnesota is new to RC Cars. He recently bought his RC car

before the deployment. He purchased it for something to pass the time while he is in Kuwait. “It’s a lot more

fun than I expected, and the area we get to use for it makes it even better” said Bronson. All of the Soldiers

from the 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion with RC cars meet up one night a week to race their cars and

have fun while sharing a common interest.

by: 1st Lt. Aaron Rindahl

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TASK FORCE WILD Soldiers, Families and Friends: The Battalion Commander and I are blessed with fantastic Soldiers. They all work hard, do the right things at the right times, are focused on their assigned tasks and mission and truly care and watch out for each other. I'm asking that the families do the same back home. Check in on someone and see how they are doing. Do they need some help or maybe just someone to talk to that is in the same predicament. Most people outside of the military family think they know but only you doing the hard work back home know the real deal. Use your FRG, they are there to help you. Thanks for what you do. We can't be successful without all of you back home. For HHC, the Soldiers will be heading home soon. Be careful who you share coming home information with, safeguard yourselves and your Soldiers. BSTB Soldiers, keep up the good work. We have much to do, please be safe. CSM Bruce Stowe 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion

Friends, Families and Soldiers of the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, In two and a half months the vast majority of the 1st Brigade "Minnesota Red Bulls" will have completed their missions in Kuwait and Afghanistan and will be back home in Minnesota! Not long after your Soldier's return we will begin the reintegration process -- highlighted by the 30 and 60 day Beyond the Yellow Ribbon events. As a husband and father I know that deployments can be difficult not only for Soldiers but also for families. I recently had the opportunity to go home for my 15 day R&R leave and was reminded of all the great people back home that the Army and our unit are working and fighting for. It's important for you to know that your Soldier's time over here has been well spent. The time away and sacrifice have been worth it. The Red Bulls have done a fantastic job during a period of significant transition and unrest in the region. For the HHC at Camp Arifjan, your Soldiers have done tremendous work and have made major contributions in many areas. I'll provide more detail in the next newsletter but the Camp Arifjan Camp Command Cell has achieved great things in the areas of: cost savings and financial stewardship, safety and security for all the ser-vice members that live here and mission readiness. Best wishes and we will see you soon! Thanks for everything you do. Ante Up -- All In! Lieutenant Colonel Gary Mundfrom

The Army Family Readiness Group (Army FRG)

website provides a secure environment in which

information, resources, and support are available to

Soldiers and their Family Members 24 hours a day,

regardless of their geographic location. The 1/34

BSTB vFRG site promotes a community feeling by

providing a place that is customized to the Battalion

and contains content that is controlled at the Battal-

ion and unit levels. Army FRG website provides all

of the functionality of a traditional FRG in an ad-

hoc and on-line setting to meet the needs of geo-

graphically dispersed units and families across all

components of the Army. A homepage is dedicated

to each company in the Battalion for unit specific

information and events.

SIGN UP FOR THE VIRTUAL FRG SECURE WEBSITE

1. Go to http://www.armyfrg.org

2. Click “Find an FRG”

3. On the map click “Minnesota”

4. Click on 1/34 BSTB

5. Choose to subscribe as a Soldier or family member.

6. If you are subscribing as a Soldier, once your account is set up

you can invite family members or loved ones to the website. All

you need is their name and email address. They will be approved

automatically.

7. If you are subscribing as a family member and your Soldier has

not registered you will need your Soldiers full first and last name

and the last 4 digits of their SSN. The vFRG administrator will

need to verify the information before approving and granting

access.

8. Once your subscription is approved, login at

http://www.armyfrg.org.

9. Select “1/34 BSTB” from drop down box and click “View”

1/34 BSTB vFRG Includes:

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1/34 BSTB Calendar

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Resource Links

News

Photo Galleries

Surveys

and MUCH MORE!!!

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For updates and photos go to the link below and “like” our page to

get continuous updates on Soldiers in the 1/34 BSTB.

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Battalion/197347730301711


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Vol 2, No. 10

Divine wisdom says that, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Prov. 29:18)

We also know "that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."

Odysseus was a Greek warrior and Company Commander who fought the

Persians. He was a brilliant fighter and staff officer, but his traumatic experiences at

the battle of Troy led him to make poor decisions later that resulted in the deaths

of all his battle buddies. He failed to trust them, and turned advantages into

failures. He ultimately went hyper-vigilant, proved he was untrusting of outsiders with whom he had

nothing in common, and in the end, erupted in violence and took off.

This is not an uncommon experience for today’s warrior. Circumstances over which we have no

control conspire to leave us unprepared to navigate the road home in front of us all. Successfully

returning to our lives home doesn’t happen by accident – it’s the result of a carefully assembled and

well-executed plan.

What is your personal reintegration plan? You’ve changed, and your family has changed. Have you

put any thought into how life will be different when you get home? The changes you'll likely

experience when this tour is complete? The tools you’ll use to respond to adversity, disappointment, or

failure? How does your faith play a role?

Through hard work and thoughtful consideration, Odysseus’ reintegration plan helped him survive both

physical and psychological trials, and learned to be a better person; He returned home, capable of

using his newfound knowledge to destroy evil and serve as a mature husband, father, and king. He

successfully completed his journey. He achieved his goals and was a better person for it. Odysseus not

only proved his physical abilities, but also learned the psychological lessons of survival. Using these

lessons, he realized success, a more mature and capable

man, able to use all of his abilities together to lift himself

and those around him closer to greatness. I have no doubt

that you, like Odysseus, can experience that growth.

I encourage you lean on your leadership to help you take

this next step. Take advantage of countless resources

available to help you through the reintegration process,

and build your future on the foundation you’ve established

in this season of deployment. Best regards, CH (MAJ) Buddy Winn

Chaplain’s Page

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Ministry Team Contact Information

CH (MAJ) Buddy Winn (Brigade Chaplain)

Phone: DSN: 430-7478 / CELL: 9720-7536

Email: [email protected]

SSG Bradley Novacek (Chaplain Assistant NCO)

Phone: DSN: 430-7476 / CELL: 9902-8836

Email: [email protected]


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February 2012

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The COR is at it Again!

Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team -- It has been this latest addition to our workload that has led us to making our biggest impact on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait since October, 2011. The Zone 6 Camp Command Cell’s Contracting Officer Representative (COR) section has removed over ten KMS trailers (government leased shower latrine trailers), 40 ILUs (government owned porta-johns), and 140 APU’s (government leased porta-johns). It has recently reached a high point when in a four day period, the COR section removed 103 leased APU’s from service. This was a major muscle movement in the Army’s initiative to save millions of dollars on showers and latrines in Kuwait. Our mission did not originally include this duty however, once the transition of soldiers out of Southwest Asia began, it only made sense to reduce the amount spent on unneeded items. There are several steps involved in the removal of unneeded latrines with the first step identifying those units that are underutilized and/or expendable, which takes a tremendous amount of time. This is done by a careful analysis of current population levels and anticipated future usage. The second step involves discussing with tenant units to see what their preference is as to which units are taken or left behind based on their needs. Finally, the logistics of the moves can begin. These include ensuring the latrines have had all plumbing and electricity disconnected and that the contractor is able to supervise their movement. The COR section must also submit composite risk management statements for approval and adjust their schedule to allow these moves to be done. Spc. Jonathan Card of Las Vegas, Nev. who extended with the Brigade Special Troops Battalion after already serving a year in theater said “I am responsible for escorting the contractors, placing and finding areas of the latrines and making sure they are completely empty and nothing can break in transit. It’s a lot of work, but at the end of the day it’s fulfilling knowing we are saving the government money. Maybe they’ll give us an increase on our pay” Card said jokingly. The COR section has also recently taken on minor repairs of government owned showers and latrines such as replacing shower heads, shower curtains, lights and fire extinguishers. The biggest addition to their work load has been removing showers and latrines that are no longer needed from service while simultaneously conducting the primary mission of daily latrine and laundry trailer inspections and Camp Command Cell work orders. Sgt 1st Class Paul Hoffmann, COR Representative from Sleepy Eye, Minn. who is an Army Engineer with the

Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team said “One thing that needs to be noted is that we

take a high level of satisfaction from these moves. First, we realize that we are saving the taxpayers large

amounts of money. Second, this provides a chance to

interact with contract workers who assist us and has given

us the chance to experience a different culture than that of

the normal American military. I can say that I have had the

chance to get to know people from many countries such as

Egypt, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the

Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Finally, it is a good

feeling to be able to see the results of your efforts and be

able to say that I helped

accomplish that.”

By: Sgt. 1st Class Brittany L. Thingvold; contributions courtesy of Sgt 1st Class Paul Hoffmann

Kuwait Living—Life as we know it


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February 2012

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Documents

1/34 BSTB February Newsletter