1/34 BSTB Wild Times Newsletter September V2

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 1

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Wild Times 1/34 BSTB September

2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

bstb welcomes new

soldiers to Kuwait!!!

Twelve soldiers from 1/34 BSTB in

Bloomington, Minn. arrived in Kuwait on

Monday 19 September to join their unit

who have been in Kuwait since July.

We are happy to have you here!

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Brigade Special Troops Battalion Remembers the Ten Year Anniversary of 9/11

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (Sept. 11, 2011) -- September 11, 2011 marks ten years since the deadliest terrorist attack of our great Nation. The men and women of the United States armed forces honor the 9/11 generation now named “Patriot Day” by remembering those fallen citizens who have made the great sacrifice. We pay tribute to those lost on 9/11; honor those who now have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense and safety of our US borders. Since 9/11, over 3 million troops have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. This also notes a very special time to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion who have the privilege of honoring this day by flying the National flag for anyone who requests it. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardians and civilians who are stationed here in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait can fly flags for any occasion. Those who request a flag to be flown, fly them honoring fallen or fellow comrades to ex-pressing their appreciation of their family members or organizations back home who support their service. The human resources section of the Camp Command Cell (CCC) is responsible for filling the daily requests of flag flying and accompany each flag with a signed cer-tificate by the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team’s Commander Lt. Col. Gary Mundfrom and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Bruce Stowe. Since the Brigade Special Troops Battalion’s arrival to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the Camp Command Cell has flown 167 flags and 35 flags just on September 11th 2011. The Brigade Special Troops Battalion will bring home a gratifying experience of being stationed overseas during a somber and emotional day, however serving this day on its 10th anniversary is truly honorable. Camp Arifjan hosted a Weekend of Service and Remembrance with activities to include a 5K Run/Walk and a Service of Remembrance to those fallen. “NEVER FORGET” By: Sgt 1st Class Brittany L. Thingvold Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team

Soldiers of the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team reserve a moment of silence on the 10 year anniversary

of 9/11 around the National flag.

Capt. Amber Manke and Sgt. Joshua Vang fold a flag in the Camp Command Cell to prepare

for a Soldier.

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Camp Airfjan Soldiers Remember 9/11—5K Run


2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Friends, Families and Soldiers of the Brigade Special Troops Battalion,

The Battalion Headquarters has hit another milestone – it’s been four months since we were mobilized for

active duty. One third done! We’ve been in Kuwait just over two months and we’re really starting to hit our

stride as a unit. For those of you back home, you should be very proud of the great work the BSTB Soldiers

are doing. The Camp Command Cell Soldiers have risen to the challenge of solving some very complex

problems to ensure that the Zone 6 portion of Camp Arifjan remains “Clean, Functional and Safe”. As a

taxpayer, you should also know that they’re being very good stewards of the resources which have been

entrusted to them. We have several initiatives in the works that will end up saving the government

hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. As a result of a lot of hard work and ingenuity we enjoy an

excellent reputation here at Camp Arifjan.

I’m also very proud of the work that’s being performed by the BSTB

Soldiers in other parts of Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of the

mission, your “Red Bull” Soldiers are setting the standard for others to

follow. I’m looking forward to the day that we have the entire BSTB family

back together again in Minnesota. We’re going to have a lot of good stories

to tell.

In closing, I am grateful for all the love and support we have received from

our families and friends back home. We couldn’t do it without you.

Ante Up -- All In!

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Mundfrom

TASK FORCE WILD Soldiers & Families,

September seems to be flying by. The weather is changing back home and we are seeing a pleasant change

in the early morning and evening hours here. The change of seasons is one of the small things we miss from

back home. The most significant thing we miss of course is family and friends. If you didn't see the KSTP

special, the BSTB was featured with the highlight focused on mail call. Mail is looked forward to and our

mail handlers have been busy, THANK YOU! Yesterday I received two boxes of Girl Scout cookies from Lisa

Johnson's 5th-7th grade Girl Scout troop in Milltown, WI. Extremely thoughtful, thank you!

My theme each month may seem like a broken record as I describe the work your Soldiers are doing. Long

days, long weeks but at the end of the week the outcome is very measureable. I anticipate and look forward

to more of the same as we just welcomed 12 new Soldiers from MN who arrived a few days ago. They are

imbedded in a section and are learning their new jobs. Morale is good, Soldier safety is excellent, everyone

continues to look out for one another. Exactly what the Commander has

asked them to do. Thank you Soldiers for your continued energy and

dedication. Thank you families for your continued support to each other

back home. If you haven't done so, call an FRG leader and see how you

can help. The next three months will be the toughest as we all go through

the holidays separated by thousands of miles. Hang tough, stay in touch

and ask for help when you need it.

Command Sergeant Major Bruce L. Stowe

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From the Command Team

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Chaplain’s Page With every edition of the Stars and Stripes, the news seems to get worse: Economy in Shambles,

Record Unemployment, Recession Looming, Flooding, Wildfires, Housing

Market in Freefall, Unrest in the Middle East. How do you deal with the stress, the worry, the

anxiety, the uncertainty?

My faith tradition informs me that adhering to Biblical teachings is the equivalent of

building the “house” of my life on a firm foundation, so it will weather the storms. Soldiers who exhibit healthy

Spiritual behavior have core values and rules to live by, live a life of

integrity and are grounded in those beliefs.

In the midst of persistent conflict and high operational tempo, are you in this deployment

experience for the long haul, or are you just getting by? Spiritually fit Soldiers seek to

engage in regular practices which bring meaning and purpose to their lives. This includes regular church or Mass

attendance, or meeting with soldiers of like faith or beliefs on a

recurring basis for sacred rites, ordinances, or disciplines. Warriors who succeed in this area invest in

establishing supportive and objective relationships – battle buddies who will be honest and provide a “compass

check” in times of struggle or discouragement.

When you have hope as a result of intentional spiritual fitness, your confident expectation will allow you to

weather the storms and be an encouragement to those around you.

CH (MAJ) Buddy Winn

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]

Wild Times

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1/34 BSTB September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

7th Dive Team Conducts Exercise Shallow Brown by: 1st Lt. Aaron Rindahl

Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division

Kuwaiti Naval Base, Kuwait (Sept. 18, 2011) – The 7th Engineer Dive Team has

been tasked with missions that have taken its soldiers to both Iraq and Afghanistan,

but they have also taken opportunities to develop soldiers at Kuwaiti Naval Base.

The 7th Engineer Dive Team conducted exercise Shallow Brown to improve the

proficiency of the junior soldiers. According to Capt. Scott Sann, “Shallow Brown

tests our second class divers on their underwater construction and salvage capabili-

ties in preparation for advancement to the Salvage Diver rate.” The dive team

wants their soldiers to be salvage qualified around the same time that they are pro-

moted to E5 Sgt.

Exercise Shallow Brown was a small part of a lengthy checklist required for Sec-

ond Class Divers to move up to be Salvage Diver qualified. The entire process to

become Salvage Diver qualified can take between one to two years. According to

Spc. Patrick Morales some of the tasks that were performed during exercise Shal-

low Brown include, “Cutting and welding, dive knowledge, demo, charting, and

hydraulic tools” through both practical exercises and written tests.

Salvage Diver is the second stage in the U.S. Army diving hierarchy; the next step

is First Class Diver for diving supervisors and the highest rating is Master Diver.

According to second squad team leader Staff Sgt. Jeramy Bays, “Their hard work

led to attaining nearly all of their Salvage Diver check-offs and moving in the right direction to becoming a lead diver

in the field.”

Sgt. Gabriella Nnabue is standing next to equipment prior to a dive. Behind her is the platform that is used to deploy the

divers.

St. 1st Class Harrison conducts supervisor checks before sending divers into the water

during exercise Shallow Brown.

Pictured at the right, a project is successfully dewatered and

brought to the surface during an

exercise Shallow Brown test dive.

Pictured to the left, 1st Lt. David Guerdan prepares a double

waterproof firing assembly to keep blasting caps above water and dry

during underwater demolition operations.

7th EDT is on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/7th-Engineer-Dive Team/105525036159201

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

“DRAGONS OF HELL! EQUAL TO THE TASK” Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CRRN) Company decontaminates Camp Arifjan

By: Sgt 1st Class Brittany L. Thingvold

Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (Sept. 24, 2011) – Seldom seen performing their duties at Camp Arifjan in the middle of the day, the 44th

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Company’s primary mission is keeping the tenants of Camp Arifjan out

of harm’s way by decontamination. These soldiers work primarily night and early morning shifts that do not interfere with the

safety and other missions critical to the success of Area Support Group (ASG) Kuwait. “The 44th CBRN Company has been en-

trusted with the mission to provide immediate response to any CBRN situations that may arise in our AO [Area of Operations]”

said 1st Lt. Grace Rone, platoon leader, 44th CBRN Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Of the real-world missions the 44th CBRN has encountered, a recent dangerous chemical spill had occurred during the hottest time

of the year in Kuwait [August]. Due to the sweltering temperature, that makes it especially challenging as the soldiers suit up in a

chemical uniform known as the Level A Suit.

The CBRN company hosted the first ever week long CBRN Academy here on Camp Arifjan. Events included training of hazard-

ous scenarios, decontamination operations, and in-depth experience with the Fox M93A1 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Re-

connaissance System (NBCRS). The final day included a reconnaissance and decontamination mission exercising the modern day

CBRN operations including a mounted drivers training lane.

Although the Fort Hood, Texas based active duty unit is nearing the end of their tour “our soldiers continue to stay motivated and

focused on our mission. We continue to prove ourselves Dragons of Hell, Equal to the Task!” said Rone. Before the CBRN Com-

pany departs theater, they will have the opportunity to train with the Kuwaiti National Guard Soldiers, teaching them military tac-

tics gaining their confidence in the defense of their country.

Staff Sgt Harlintony Austin of 44th CBRN gives an initial block of in-

struction on the Fox M93A1 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Recon-

naissance Vehicle (NBCRS) during the first ever CBRN Academy.

Soldiers from the 44th CBRN company dawn the self-contained breathing apparatus and protective equipment to prepare for a chemical spill recon-

naissance and decontamination in the early A.M. hours.

44th CBRN Company

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

We bid farewell to Soldiers of the 319th EOD Company as they complete their

mission at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Welcome 788th and 202nd EOD Companies!!

Incoming Company Commanders are pictured above,

CPT Amir Abu-Akeel (left) and 1LT Daniel Manley

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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:

Unit Home Pages

Announcements

1/34 BSTB Calendar

Document Downloads

FAQs & Forums

Resource Links

News

Photo Galleries

Surveys

and MUCH MORE!!!

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

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

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

Check us out at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/134-Brigade-Special-Troops-

Battalion/197347730301711


2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Kuwait Living—Life as we know it

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2011

September 2011

Vol 1, No. 5

Documents

1/34 BSTB Wild Times Newsletter September V2