APRIL 13, 2005

TERROR TRAINING

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2 Desert Voice April 13, 2005

Volume 26, Issue 35The Desert Voice is an authorized publication for members of theDepartment of Defense. Contents of the Desert Voice are notnecessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.Government or Department of the Army. The editorial content ofthis publication is the responsibility of the Coalition Forces LandComponent Command Public Affairs Office. This newspaper ispublished by Al-Qabandi United, a private firm, which is not affiliated with CFLCC. All copy will be edited. The Desert Voice isproduced weekly by the Public Affairs Office.

Page 3 Medals of Honor

Page 9 Customs inspectors

Pages 6&7 Terror training

Page 8 Marathon Man

Page 4 Charlie Daniels concert

Page 5 Audie Murphy in Kuwait

Page 11 Community

Back page Soldier submissions

President George W. Bush presents the firstMedal of Honor awarded during the globalwar on terror. Also, four Vietnam War Medalof Honor recipients visit Kuwait.

Staff Sgt. Robert Schnell runs 45 miles aweek and runs two miles in ten minutes.After 20 years of doing it, he says running is20 percent talent, 80 percent hardwork.

Reserve Sailors safeguard America’s home-land beyond its borders.

After several poor performances in prior train-ing exercises, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwaitfinally got it right during a mass casualty exer-cise that proved the training provided by the60th Medical Brigade was well worth it.

After enduring a rigorous selection process,six NCOs were inducted in the newly-formed Area Support Group - Kuwait chap-ter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

A story by Maj. Justin Hall, comics by Lt.Col. Michael Verrett and a poem by Col.Gregoria Marrero. Also, a correction fromlast week’s issue.

On the Cover A can of unexploded whitesmoke sits on the ground of the U.S.Embassy courtyard during a masscasualty training exercise there.Photo by Spc. Aimee Felix

CONTENTS 35CFLCC Commanding GeneralLt. Gen. R. Steven WhitcombCFLCC Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj. Julian KellmanCFLCC Public Affairs OfficerCol. Michael PhillipsCommander 14th PADMaj. Thomas E. JohnsonNCOIC 14th PADStaff Sgt. Sheryl LawryDesert Voice Editor Sgt. Matt MillhamDesert Voice Staff WritersSpc. Curt CashourSpc. Brian TrappSpc. Aimee FelixCFLCC PAO WritersSpc. Jonathan MontgomerySpc. Alex Licea14th PAD BroadcastersSgt. Scott WhiteSpc. Charles Spears

Page 10 Tobacco cessationDeployed troops, the Army makes quittingeasy - smoking that is. Also, Behoovery.

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The Charlie Daniels Band rocked the houseat Camp Arifjan and brought out the coutnryin all of us.

Karaoke Night, Open theater movie night,Poetry Contest, Spring Dance, Spa Day.

3Desert Voice April 13, 2005

1st Medal of Honor given in GWOTFrom American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2005 – Twoyears to the day after his father died savingmore than 100 fellow Soldiers in the battlefor Baghdad’s airport, the young son of anArmy noncommissioned officer accepted hisfather’s Medal of Honor from PresidentGeorge W. Bush at a White House ceremo-ny today.

The president presented the nation’shighest award for combat gallantry to 11-year-old David Anthony Smith, son of ArmySgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith. Alongside thepresident and the boy were Smith’s widow,Birgit, and the couple’s 18-year-old daugh-ter, Jessica.

This is the first time the Medal of Honorhas been awarded for action in OperationIraqi Freedom and the global war on terror.

Smith was part of the 3rd InfantryDivision and among the first wave ofSoldiers that crossed the Kuwait border intoIraq on March 19, 2003, the first day of thewar. He died saving the lives of at least 100Soldiers who were outnumbered by enemyforces.

Bush described Smith as “a Soldierwhose service illustrates the highest idealsof leadership and love of our country.”

Smith’s mission, as the 3rd InfantryDivision moved in to seize what is nowknown as Baghdad International Airport,was to build a holding area for enemy pris-oners of war. “Sergeant Smith was leadingabout three dozen men,” Bush said, “whenthey were surprised by about 100 ofSaddam Hussein’s Republican Guard.

“With complete disregard for his own life,and under constant enemy fire, SergeantSmith rallied his men and led a counterat-tack. Seeing that his wounded men were indanger of being overrun, … Sergeant Smithmanned a .50-caliber machine gun atop adamaged armored vehicle.

“From a completely exposed position, hekilled as many as 50 enemy soldiers as heprotected his men.” Bush said. “SergeantSmith’s leadership saved the men in thecourtyard, and he prevented an enemyattack on the aid station just up the road.”

Bush said Smith continued to fire until he“took a fatal round to the head. His actionsin that courtyard saved the lives of morethan 100 American Soldiers.” Soldiers whoserved with Smith described him as a sterndisciplinarian who demanded much of themen under his command, Bush said. YetSmith also demonstrated incredible con-cern, going out of his way to make life easi-er for his Soldiers and their families, headded.

In a letter he wrote to his parents fromIraq, but never mailed, Bush said, the ser-geant called it a “privilege to be given 25 ofthe finest Americans we call Soldiers to leadinto war.” Smith said he was prepared togive “all that I am to ensure that my boysmake it home.”

In addition to being the global war on ter-ror’s first Medal of Honor recipient, Smith isthe first to earn a Medal of Honor flag,authorized by Congress in 2002.

“We count ourselves blessed to haveSoldiers like Sergeant Smith, who put theirlives on the line to advance the cause of

President George W. Bush at a White Houseceremony April 4 with the family of Army Sgt.1st Class Paul R. Smith, the first person toreceive a Medal of Honor during the globalwar on terror. The president had just present-ed the medal to Smith’s son, 11-yyear-ooldDavid Anthony. Alongside the president areSmith’s widow, Birgit, and the couple’s 18-year-oold daughter, Jessica.

Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients visit troopsMedal of Honor recipient retired Command

Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell talks with Soldiers in thecoalition operations and intelligence center floorSunday afternoon.

Littrell and four other Medal of Honor recipi-ents from the Vietnam War went on an 11-daytour through Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan aspart of an Armed Forces Entertainment inspira-tional speaker tour.

The Medal of Honor recipients made stops atcamps and forward operating bases, talking withSoldiers and posing for photos.

Littrell brought the message that back homehe hasn’t heard anyone say anything derogatoryabout servicemembers.

Retired Col. Jack Jacobs, retired Air Force Col.Leo Thorsness and former Navy SEAL and retiredFBI agent Thomas Norris. were the other threerecipients who visited the COIC.

Photo by Spc. Brian Trapp

freedom and protect the American people,”the president said.

“We thank his family for the father, hus-band and son and brother who can neverbe replaced,” Bush continued. “We recallwith appreciation the fellow Soldiers whoselives he saved and the many more heinspired. And we express our gratitude for anew generation of Americans every bit asselfless and dedicated to liberty as any thathas gone on before, a dedication exempli-fied by the sacrifice and valor of Sergeant1st Class Paul Ray Smith.”

4 Desert Voice April 13, 2005

The night country was kingStory by Spc. Curt Cashour

The Charlie Daniels Band stopped byCamp Arifjan’s Zone 6 April 9, blazingthrough a more than hour-and-a-half set fullof down-home country, southern rock andgospel tunes.

About 3,000 people squeezed into thegravel-filled pavilion outside the new Zone 6Gym as the six-piece band weaved togetherhits from the its lengthy catalogue witheclectic instrumental passages that owedmuch to Latin and jazz styles, but came outsounding undeniably like southern rock.

“I make it my business to be as politicallyincorrect as I can,” Daniels said beforelaunching into “Simple Man,” a song thatevoked massive cheers from the crowd withits tales about bringing criminals to justice.

Daniels then slowed things down with abarroom-blues tribute to those serving inIraq. “When I get back from Iraq, I’m gonnawalk through the front door, find my baby,and love her ‘till she can’t stand no more,”he sang as the crowd erupted in screams.

But nothing got the people going like theband’s cover of “Rocky Top.” The up-tempoclassic popularized by Patsy Cline broughtnearly everyone in attendance to their feet.A few songs later during a brief moment ofsilence, someone from the crowd yelled,“Rocky Top.” Within seconds, Daniels led

the band in another rendition of the song. “Rocky Top,” one of Tennessee’s five

official state songs, couldn’t have beenmore appropriate. The band’s two-week tourof the Middle East, which also includedstops in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Iraq,was arranged in partby officials from theTennessee NationalGuard, said Sgt. 1stClass Randy Harris,director of the state’sNational Guard jointpublic affairs office. The crowd was stackedheavily with members from TenneseeNational Guard and Reserve units, and Maj.Gen. Gus L. Hargett, the Adjutant Generalof the Tennessee National Guard was alsoin attendance. Members of 2nd Platoon, ACompany, from the 844th EngineerBattalion, a Reserve unit from Johnson City,Tenn., even built the stage for the event.

Throughout his career, Daniels has writ-ten and recorded several patriotic songs,and the concert had its share of patrioticmoments. At one point, Daniels recited “TheStar Spangled Banner,” following it with “InAmerica,” his rocking homage to the diversi-ty of the United States.

Although the band bears his name,Daniels didn’t hog the spotlight. He tradedcall-and-response licks with each of theband members, including drummer Pat

McDonald, who dueled with Daniels’ per-cussive runs on the fiddle.

Daniels even took a few breaks through-out the night to let the other members leadthe show. Guitarist Bruce Brown and key-board player Taz Di Gregorio led the band

in a song a piece. Butit was guitarist ChrisWormer’s acousticversion of “TheWilliam Tell Overture,”otherwise known asthe theme to “The

Lone Ranger,” that nearly stole the show.The concert was full of heroics, but the

performance was only part of the band’sday. The group spent the hours leading upto the show visiting and posing for pictureswith troops at the Coalition Operations andIntelligence Center and the U.S. MilitaryHospital Kuwait.

The 68-year-old Daniels and his bandtravel more than 100,000 miles per yearplaying shows across the United States. Inhis travels, Daniels said he’s witnessedbroad support for servicemembers in theform of sustained ovations each time heasks a crowd what it thinks of the troops.

“The media’s got their heads up theirposteriors half the time,” he said. The peo-ple of America – the people that get upevery morning and go to work and makethis country work – they care.”

Photo by Curt Cashour

Guitarist Chris Wormer picks an acoustic ver-sion of “The William Tell Overture.”

Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class James E. FinniganCharlie Daniels: In clear violation of Army Regulation 670-11, but no one seemed to care.

Charlie Daniels and company bring a messsage of support to Camp Arifjan troops

“I make it my business tobe as politically incorrectas I can.” - Charlie Daniels

5Desert Voice April 13, 2005

Story by Spc. Jonathan Montgomery

There are no qualms about it. The sixnoncommissioned officers had earned theirinduction April 7 into the Area SupportGroup-Kuwait Chapter of the venerableSergeant Audie Murphy Club.

After months of rigorous preparation, thefrontloading recipients graced CampArifjan’s theater stage amid a proud crowd.The honorees included Sgt. 1st Class IreneOliver of the 43rd ASG, Staff Sgt. GaryLaMonda and Staff Sgt. Travis Bowen of the233rd Transportation Company, Staff Sgt.Leroy Burton of the 80th OrdnanceBattalion, Sgt. Jermaine Nelson of the 483rdTransportation Battalion, and Sgt. DarnellWilliams of Third U.S. Army/CoalitionForces Land Component Command.

In order to become part of the SAMC,inductees endured a selection processinvolving everything from learning the frontsand backs of Army regulations to facingchallenges that pushed them to experiencemuscle failure. “Allof this is extra …nights, Sundays …for the Soldierswho hung in there,it’s a great feelingof inspiration,” said1st Sgt. AdrianneBerkley, ASG-Kuwait SAMCpresident.

Lt. Gen. R.Steven Whitcomb, Third U.S. Army/CFLCCcommanding general, presented theinductees with Army Commendation Medalsafter Command Sgt. Maj. Julian Kellman,Third U.S. Army/CFLCC command sergeantmajor, placed around their necks a medal-lion approximately two inches in diameterand suspended by a broad, powder-blueribbon representing the traditional color ofthe infantry. The inductees were also pre-sented with Forces Command certificates ofachievement, SAMC membership cards,crystal trophies, cash and coins.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be insuch a prestigious club,” said LaMondaabout the first SAMC induction ceremonyheld by the newly-formed Kuwait Chapter,which also will play host to Soldiers servingin Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar.

The club, which spread Army-wide to allNCOs in 1994, helps to raise communityawareness about the military throughfundraisers and other charitable acts. Inaddition to aiding the community, SAMCmembers, like all NCOs, must continue themission of training Soldiers to become

future leaders. “The [SAMC] means I canfurther help subordinate Soldiers to accom-plish what they want to accomplish,” saidBurton.

Prior to being formally inducted, the hon-orees were each introduced to the audienceby their private first class, specialist andsergeant sponsors. These enlisted Soldiersexplained how their NCO counterpartsacted as mentors to them early on in theirmilitary careers. Under such tutelage, thesponsors said they learned lessons thatexemplified the standards of leadership andexcellence, lessons like never giving lessthan your all, being all you can be, beingchallenged from the start, and leading fromthe front.

Following the induction and awards pres-entation, Whitcomb gave his remarks on theimportance of becoming part of the SAMC.“When I was up in Baghdad, I saw a lot ofSergeant Audie Murphys. Down in Kuwait, Isee a lot of Audie Murphys,” he said. “Everysingle one of you can rise to the occasion

and can be aSergeant AudieMurphy if youwant to.”

As the individ-ual Soldier rises tothe occasion, sodoes the Armyserving a nation atwar, saidWhitcomb. Thetraining of

chevrons and rockers has garnered interna-tional attention and acclaim. “Other coun-tries ask, ‘how do we build an NCO corpslike the United States does?’” he said.

The key to establishing and sustaining acohesive NCO support channel comes fromtaking care of Soldiers, said Whitcomb.“NCOs know the boot size of their Soldier,their physical training score, their financialproblems, their children’s names, and howthey work in the dark,” he said. “They takeSoldiers under their wing; take them fromthe dark side to the light side.”

Whitcomb spoke about Sgt. 1st ClassPaul R. Smith, who is the first Medal ofHonor recipient in the global war on terror-ism. “I don’t know if Sgt. 1st Class PaulSmith was a Sergeant Audie Murphy clubmember, but he is a Sergeant AudieMurphy,” he said.

The commanding general then intro-duced Kellman, an SAMC member, whoplans to hang up his desert trousers after 30years of military service. “He’s my SergeantAudie Murphy,” said Whitcomb.

“Sir, thanks for the words,” said Kellman,

who took to the floor saying “it’s a great dayto be a Soldier.”

SAMC, he said, wasn’t about exclusivity,glamour and preludes to promotion.“There’s more to being an Audie Murphythan just wearing a medallion or havinganother bullet on the NCO evaluationrecord,” said Kellman. “It benefits ouryoungsters in training our next generation ofleaders.”

“If you’re an NCO, look down and be amentor,” he said.

The history of the club’s namesake,Sergeant Audie Murphy, reads more like abook of fiction than fact, but it is heroicallytrue nonetheless. As a boy, he chopped cot-ton for one dollar a day and was noted forhis daring feats and his accuracy with agun. He had only five years of schoolingand was orphaned at age 16.

After being refused enlistment duringWorld War II in both the Marine Corps andParatroopers for being too small – 5 ft., 5 in.– and underweight – 110 lbs. – he enlistedin the Army a few days after his 18th birth-day. After basic and advanced training,Murphy was sent overseas and assigned tothe 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rdInfantry Division. He fought in North Africa,Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.

Murphy earned a battlefield commissionfor his courage and leadership ability, aswell as citations and decorations includingevery medal for valor that America gives.

He was also awarded three French andone Belgian medal. Lt. Murphy is the high-est decorated Soldier in American history.

Audie Murphy comes to Kuwait

“NCOs know the boot size oftheir Soldier, their physicaltraining score, their financialproblems, their children’snames ...” - Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb

Photo by Spc. Alex Licea

The Audie Murphy Medal given to inductees.

6 Desert Voice April 13, 2005

front gate of the embassy, an attack thatwas immediately followed by a dismountedmortar attack.

Presumably, this is how an attack wouldgo down, said Levin. The terrorists wouldlaunch an assault outside the compoundand use that as adistraction to getinside where theywould launch aneven biggerattack. And, itwould likely hap-pen during asocial event because that would maximizethe potential number of victims, said Levin.

It was a realistic exercise based on real-istic possibilities.

In the last 25 years, terrorist attacks oneight U.S. Embassies and consulatesthroughout the Middle East and Africa havecost the lives of more than 300 people.These attacks and the lack of readinessembassy personnel have demonstrated dur-ing these attacks are what have promptedmass casualty exercises, Levin said.

Also, in January, the government ofKuwait discovered there was a terrorist cellplanning to attack U.S. assets in Kuwait.

“An attack here is very possible,” said Levin.Participants gave the April 4 exercise its

merited seriousness and realism. Before the exercise began, servicemem-

bers from the U.S. Army’s 62nd MedicalBrigade and members of Kuwait’s

EmergencyMedical Servicesbegan applyingmake-up for thealmost 60 mockcasualties. Thecasualties includ-ed members of

the 62nd Medical Brigade and embassyworkers.

Some onlookers, and even participants,couldn’t keep from chuckling at the realisticinjuries and theatrics of the victims. For some, though,the realism of the exercise hit too close tohome.

Nurse Carol Henderson, one of severalevaluating the exercise, said that when shestarted hearing all the cries for help, it wastoo vivid a reminder of a time when the livesof more than a dozen people were in herhands, and they didn’t all survive. It wasDec. 6, 2004 when terrorists stormed into

“Terror” at the embassyPhoto by Spc. Aimee Felix

A Kuwaiti firefighter hoses down the flamescaused by a vehicle-bborne explosive at the frontcourtyard of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait April 4,during a mass casualty training exercise.

“Not every exercise is per-fect, but this one went sur-prisingly well.” – Col. William Kirk

Story by Spc. Aimee Felix

Smoke billowed above the few trees inKuwait after three car bombs detonated,one after the other, on the inner courtyard ofthe U.S. Embassy.

The hysterical cries of 58 casualties min-gled with the acrid smoke, including thecries of a female who screamed for – evenbegged for the aid of a friend.

Hers was one of many Oscar-worthy per-formances turned in by mock casualties in aU.S. Embassy mass casualty exercise April4 that happened when terrorists supposedlyattacked the embassy with vehicle-borneexplosives.

The purpose of the exercise was to testthe response of emergency services to anattack on the embassy, and to test theembassy’s response to a mass casualtyincident and its lines of communication withKuwait and U.S. military and medical servic-es, said Greg Levin, regional security officerfor the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.

The mock attack began under the pre-tense that the embassy was holding a socialevent to which guests had been invited.During the social, the scenario called forthree car bombs to detonate outside the

7Desert Voice April 13, 2005

her workplace, the U.S. Consulate atJeddah, Saudi Arabia, and injured ten peo-ple and killed five others.

This year’s exercise was a vast improve-ment from last year’s, said Janet Turzak, aregistered nurse with the health unit at theU.S. Embassy in Kuwait.

Last year, tempers flared in an exercisethat took much longer than it should have,she said. This year, as soon as the attackwas launched, embassy employees gath-ered, and team leaders got a head countand dispatched those among the employeeswho had been designated as first respon-

ders.First responders initiated the basic life-

saver skills they were taught by the 62ndMedical Brigade, and after assessing thevictims, they made the call for medicalevacuation. Four helicopters came to therescue, two Kuwaiti EMS helicopters andtwo U.S. Army helicopters from the 236thMedical Company (Air Ambulance). Thehelicopters, along with Kuwait EMS ambu-lances, took the victims to three local hospi-tals.

Everything ran smoothly, said Col.William Kirk, chief nurse of the 62nd

Medical Brigade and one of the exercisweobservers. He added that he was reallyimpressed with the performance of Kuwait’smedical services.

“No exercise is perfect, but this exercisewent surprisingly well,” said Kirk. Embassyworkers did so well that during the exer-cise’s after action review, one of theobservers, the regional medical director ofthe U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,said the program Levin and his peers hadestablished was light years ahead. And, sherequested that they standardize it to betaught at other embassies and consulates..

Clockwise from top left: A Kuwait Emergency Medical Services worker braces the neck of Petty Officer 2nd Class Cheryl Grenas, a Sailor withthe 62nd Medical Brigade’s Expeditionary Medical Facility Dallas. Grenas was one of several servicemembers who acted as a mock casualty forthe mass casualty exercise. Embassy workers acting as severely injured victims lay amidst chaos after a supposed dismounted attack waslaunched inside the embassy compound. A nurse tries to calm a “casualty,” who is in hysterics begging for the aid of a friend. A troop with the236th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) brings a stretcher to waiting victims as the second 236th helicopter arrives.

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8 Desert Voice April 13, 2005

Story and photo by Spc. Curt Cashour

When Staff Sgt. Robert Schnell joined theHeadquarters and HeadquartersDetachment of the 158th Corps SupportBattalion in 2003, his presence caused a little turbulence among some Soldiers in theunit.

It wasn’t that the 32-year-old ActiveGuard Reserve Soldier did a bad job or didn’t get along with his co-workers. His fellow troops were just playfully upsetbecause Schnell’s presence meant theycould no longer dominate unit races andphysical training tests.

“We have some good runners in the unit.They used to come in first all the time. Well,they have no chance any more,” said Sgt.1st Class David Lawrence, a supply sergeant with HHD, a National Guard unitbased in Tuscon, Ariz.

Schnell said he’s been running for 20years. Deployed to Camp Arifjan for thepast five months, he’s spent his time inKuwait balancing his mission requirementswith the sport he loves.

Schnell arrived in Kuwait Oct. 21, after a38-day trip accompanying his unit’s equipment on a cargo ship. But he didn’tjust sit on the boat the whole time. The vessel was equipped with treadmills thatprovided Schnell with a unique benefit.

“Running on a boat is like running up anddown hills. The waves make the treadmillgo up and down,” he said.

Three days after arriving in Kuwait, hewon the country’s version of the Army TenMiler at Camp Buehring.

Since then, Schnell has placed first in sixruns at camps around Kuwait, including afull 26-mile marathon at Camp Virginia inDecember. Schnell finished the course,which circled the perimeter of the camp fivetimes, in 2 hours, 58 minutes — a time thateven the relay teams participating in the rundidn’t beat.

Of course, Schnell’s performances arealmost to be expected. For the last sixyears he’s been a member of the men’sArmy National Guard All-Guard MarathonTeam. The 30-man team gets togetherabout five times a year at some ofAmerica’s biggest marathons to compete,and to help recruit potential National Guardmembers.

While membership on the team hastaken him to exotic locations such as

Finland and Puerto Rico,Schnell said his spot onthe squad provides himwith something more valuable than just travel privileges.

“It’s an opportunity tobe part of a program thathelps the sport of runningand also [National Guard]retention,” he said.

Success in runningdepends on a combinationof 20 percent talent and80 percent hard work,Schnell said. So, when itcomes to training, herelies on a rigorous routine to maintain hiswinning ways.

Each day, he runs atleast five miles, and onSundays, he barrelsthrough 15 miles. In all,Schnell said he spendsabout 14 hours a weekworking out in some fashion.

The hard work has paidoff. It takes Schnell just 10 minutes to complete the running portion of his ArmyPhysical Fitness Test, and in addition to hisvictories in Kuwait, he has finished third inthe U.S. Air Force Marathon and fifth in the Navy’s “Blue Angel Marathon,” he said.

Schnell first started running when he wasin middle school, competing for his school’strack team and later running cross countryand track in high school. The native ofMenominee, Mich., parlayed his successeson the field and in the classroom into a jointacademic/running scholarship to NorthernMichigan University, where he earned abachelor’s degree in computer systems in1994, he said.

Schnell joined the Army in 1995. At basictraining, his running caught the attention ofhis drill sergeants, he said.

“I was approached a couple of times togo to [Special Forces] and Ranger School,but I turned them all down,” he said.

Schnell serves as the HHD’s motor sergeant, maintaining the unit’s fleet ofHumvees, trucks and other equipment.According to Capt. Jeremy Magruder, HHDcommander, Schnell approaches his job in

much the same way as he does runningmarathons.

“He’s not super quick, but he does [hisjob] right and you don’t have to check in onhim,” Magruder said.

And Schnell even manages to integraterunning into his family life when he’s notdeployed. He often participates in familyruns with his wife and two daughters wherethey live in Tucson.

His daughters, ages six and eight, arealready starting to follow in their father’s fastfootsteps. The girls can each run 5 kilome-ters – just over 3 miles – in about 28 min-utes, Schnell said.

After this deployment, Schnell said he islooking forward to competing in large-scalemarathons. In the meantime, he just finished designing the course for a 5-kilo-meter run scheduled for April 13 at CampArifjan. The course traces the perimeter ofthe camp’s dusty Zone 6.

While Schell thinks running in the dustwill be somewhat of a challenge, he’s stilloptimistic about his hopes for the race. Howlong will it take him?

“Since it’s only three miles, 15 [minutesand] 30 [seconds],” he said.

Marathon manWhen it comes to races in Kuwait, Staff Sgt.Robert Schnell runs circles around the competition.

Staff Sgt. Robert Schnell jogs at Camp Arifjan April 4. While inKuwait, Schnell placed first in seven running competitions.

9Desert Voice April 13, 2005

Troops, check your pocketsStory Spc. Alex Licea

With rubber gloves donned and a watch-ful eye, agents search for any items thatmay be a danger to the flight and its pas-sengers.

In the last six weeks, U.S. customsagents have inspected more than 97,000Department of Defense passengers, 17,000vehicles, 2,000 containers express and362,000 bags across Kuwait and Iraq.

For Sailors assigned to the NavelExpeditionary Logistics Support Force, orNAVELSF-Oscar Forward Battalion, head-quartered in Williamsburg, Va., the tempo ofthe deployment has been very high sinceassuming responsibility of U.S. agriculturaland military customs operations across theregion.

“This is only the start of what looks to bea very busy deployment for us,” said Lt.Cmdr. Dan O’dea, executive officer forNAVELSF-Oscar Forward. “We have ourSailors operating in every camp in Kuwait,and we also have a detachment in Balad,Iraq.”

The Navy reserve battalion, specificallypicked for this mission last November, oper-ates out of Camp Arifjan. The battalion willbe in the region for six months as the first ofa two-battalion rotation that will perform cus-toms duties across the theater over the nextyear. Though the battalions are dedicated tocarry out the customs mission, the task isunfamiliar territory for the Navy.

“The Navy does not have enlisted classi-fications or military occupational specialtiesthat deal with customs,” said Master ChiefPetty Officer Bill Haddle, command masterchief of NAVELSF-Oscar Forward.

Prior to the battalion’s deployment, theSailors trained for two months inWilliamsburg with Third U.S. Army Soldiersand members of the Departments ofAgriculture, Transportation and Customs.The training gave the Sailors an idea ofwhat to expect in Kuwait and Iraq.

Along with the training, the reserveSailors also brushed up on basic militaryskills and qualified on their weapons.

“Most of the Sailors were mobilized inDecember,” said O’dea. “They receivedhands-on training and got a good vision onwhat to expect once we arrived in Kuwait.”As thousands of duffel bags, backpacks andlaptops leave the area, the Sailors keep awatchful eye for war trophies, pornographicmaterial, switch blades, maps and otherprohibited items.

Agricultural items such as scorpions,insects, rocks, sand and dirt are also notallowed.

If a servicemember is caught with contra-band, customs agents take the necessaryaction, and the troop could be in serioustrouble.

“Servicemembers are briefed a numberof times before going through the inspec-tions, and we do have an amnesty area if aservicemember has any prohibited items togive up,” said Haddle. “However, if we findone of these items during the inspection,they don’t receive another opportunity, andwe get that person’s leadership involved. Ifit is a serious offense, we get the militarypolice involved.”

Servicemembers can expect customsbriefings at checkpoints at military campsknown as Rear Area Assembly Points.Troops also get the briefing at the AerialPort of Debarkation where the battalioninspects people going home on R&R,deploying or redeploying.

The Sailors also inspect all vehiclesgoing to the United States or other militaryinstallations overseas for insects, dirt, seedand other contaminants to protect Americanagriculture and other countries from diseaseor infestation.

Recently, NAVELSF personnel took onthe challenge of carrying out thousands ofinspections during the rotation of forcesknown as the surge. At Camp New York, ateam of five to seven Sailors lived at thecamp for a week at a time conducting hun-dreds of inspections before another teamwould relieve them. “It was a very pressure-

filled period for us,” said O’dea.Although the job can be demanding, the

Sailors credit their success to their jobexperience and training throughout theyears. “We are an older, more experiencedgroup of Sailors ... and I feel it has paid offduring this mission,” said Haddle.

Photo by Chief Petty Officer Kevin Elliott

Petty Officer 1st Class Raymond Echols, right,and Spc. Harvey Bates inspect bags belong-ing to injured troops who’ve already returnedhome at Camp Navistar, March 8.

Photo by Spc. Curt Cashour

Marines from the 1st Marine Division’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment huddle up April8 at Camp Victory for one last briefing before boarding buses that will take them to theAerial Port of Debarkation. The Marines were on their way back to Camp Pendleton, Calif.,after a seven-mmonth tour in Fallujah, Iraq.

Going home

10 Desert Voice April 13, 2005

30K ARMY

No. It’s a fact that the DFAC started giving out free candy bars at the same time the gym closed.

So what does thathave to do withthe number of troopsin the Army?

ARMYCBDRATER

I think the Army has hatched a new plan to “grow the force.”

Is this another conspiracy theory?

ARMYCB ARMYDRATER

Hey guys, they lifted therestriction on how manyice creams you can eat atthe DFAC!

ARMYDRATER

Seems so.

ARMY

“Grow” is a prettyambiguous termis all I’m saying.

CBARMYDRATER

to help them kick their tobacco habits. At the meetings, tobacco users can con-

sult with physicians and nurses, receiveprescriptions for free smoking cessationmedications, hear lectures on the effects oftobacco use and participate in supportgroup-style discussions with others trying tokick the tobacco habit.

The cornerstone of the program comes inthe form of two medications: Zyban andNicotine Replacement Therapy patches.Zyban is a pill that works to curb nicotinecravings while the patches distribute asteady stream of nicotine into the system.

Zyban is actually a smaller dosage of theanti-depressant Wellbutrin. One of the rea-sons the drug is so effective is because asit works to curb nicotine cravings, it alsohelps people cope with the daily stressorsthat sometimes lead to tobacco use, Travissaid.

The patches and pills are not addictive,and the program is designed to allow partic-ipants to be totally nicotine free without theaid of medication upon completion, Travissaid.

Although statistics regarding the pro-gram’s success are not yet available, Travissaid she knows of only two instances of fail-ure. In those cases, the servicemembersrelapsed after running out of medicationwhile on long transportation missions. Toprevent the same thing from happeningagain, TMC staff now offer larger amountsof medication to those who are unable toattend the meetings.

The smoking cessation program is notjust for servicemembers deployed to Arifjan.The program is offered theater wide andcan be accessed through normal sick-callprocedures. For more information, contactyour local TMC or the Arifjan TMC at DSN430-1809.

Bell said one of the most important factorscausing increased usage is the cheaperprice of tobacco products in theater.

Cigarettes in base and post exchangesaverage about $3.25 per pack, Bell said.The average cost of a pack in the UnitedStates is about $4.12, according to theNational Center for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Despite their lower price, sales figures oftobacco products in theater total more than$6 million per month and nearly $80 millionper year. A pack-a-day smoker contributesabout $97 per month and $1,171 per year

to that amount, while a can-a-daysmokeless tobacco user chips in

around $108 per month and$1,296 per year, Bell said.

In addition to the financialburden tobacco can place onits users, a number of healthrisks are associated with the

product. More than 430,000 U.S.citizens die from tobacco-related illnesses

each year, and one-third of all cancer casesare linked to tobacco use, Bell said.

But tobacco use causes a number ofother health problems including decreasedsex drive, premature aging and one of par-ticular interest to servicemembers:decreased night vision.

Tobacco decreases a user’s ability to seeat night by 33 percent, according to NavyLt. Allison Travis, a clinical nurse specialistat Camp Arifjan’s Troop Medical Center.

Whether deployed troops turn to tobaccofor a low-cost form of entertainment or outof boredom or stress, there are ways to gethelp kicking the habit while serving inKuwait.

Travis and other TMC staff host freesmoking cessation sessions Monday nightsat 6:30 p.m. Visitors to the sessions canenroll in a free 13-week program designed

The burden of tobaccoStory and photo by Spc. Curt Cashour

Staff Sgt. Keith Mclaren takes a drag offa cigarette and expels a thick cloud ofsmoke.

When the 38-year-old isn’t deployed hesays he only smokes about three cigarettesa day. Now winding down a yearlong tourwith the 1st Cavalry Division, he burnsthrough nearly a pack a day.

“I think a lot of it has to

do with bore-dom, or the lack of things to

do,” he said.Mclaren’s increased tobacco

use underscores the fact that tobac-co usage tends to increase during deploy-ments. According to a survey done by theCoalition Forces Land ComponentCommand Surgeon’s Office, 33 percent oftroops deployed to the Central CommandTheater are smokers. That’s nearly 10 per-cent more than the smoking rate for service-members in the continental United States,said Col. Eldon Bell, a physician and sur-geon with the office.

While many troops say they turn to tobac-co on deployments out of stress or boredom,

11Desert Voice April 13, 2005

Victory

Virginia

Spearhead/SPOD

Navistar

Buehring

Kuwaiti Naval Base

Doha

Karaoke, 9 p.m., MWR bunkerTae-Kwon-Do Class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent #1Friday Walking Club, 5:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleMassage Therapy, 9 a.m., MWR tent #4SaturdaySpa Day, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tent 1Tae-Kwon-Do Class, 7 p.m., MWR tent #1SundaySpa Day, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tent 1Walking Club, 7:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleMondayWalking Club, 5:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR tent 4TuesdayTae-Kwon-Do Class, 7 p.m., MWR tent 1WednesdayWalking Club, 5:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Tent 4For more information call 828-1340

WednesdaySpring Fling Dance Night, 7 p.m., Frosty’sFridayKaraoke Night, 7 p.m., Frosty’sFor more information call 438-5637

For more information call 839-1063

For more information call 844-1137

ThursdayBingo Night, 7 p.m., Tent T-32FridayMovie Night, 8 p.m., Outdoor Movie TheaterSaturdayMovie Night, 8 p.m., Outdoor Movie TheaterFor more information call 825-1302

WednesdayBasketball practice, 6 p.m. (Call for info)FridayBasketball practice, 6 p.m. (Call for info)MondayBasketball practice, 6 p.m. (Call for info)TuesdayBingo Night, 8 p.m. (Call for info)WednesdayBasketball practice, 6 p.m. (Call for info)For more information call 823-1033

WednesdayBilliards Doubles Tournament, 4 p.m., MWR tentCountry Western Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomThursdayKaraoke Night Contest, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomKaraoke Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomFridaySalsa Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomSaturdaySpa Day, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., MWR tentHip Hop and R&B Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomSunday

WednesdayArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 gym “We run where you run” 5K AAFES run, 6 a.m.,Zone 6 gym parking lotGrand Opening, all day, Zone 6 town square9 Ball Tournament, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenter Country Western Night, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 MWRfacilityLegs, butts and guts, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex8 a.m., Step Aerobics, 1 p.m., Circuit weight train-ing, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gym ThursdayCountry Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterOpen Mic Night, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 MWR facilityKarate Class, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 MWR facility Basketball signups begin, Zone 1 gymCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and Flex, 8a.m. Circuit Weight Training, Zone 2 gymFridayArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 gymSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolAerobics, 6 p.m., Zone 6 MWR tentInterval training, 5:30 a.m., 1 p.m.and 3 p.m.Zone 1 gymSaturdayR&B Night, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 MWR facilityBattle of the Rappers, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterCircuit weight training, 5:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 1 p.m.and 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolSundayX-Box Halo 2 Tournament, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and Flex, 8a.m., Circuit Weight Training, 1 p.m., StepAerobics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymMondayArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 1 gym tentCountry Western Night, 7:30 p.m., Zone 2 stageLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolLegs, butts and guts, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex8 a.m., Step Aerobics, 1 p.m., Circuit weight train-ing, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymTuesdayPoetry Night Contest, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and Flex, 8a.m., Circuit Weight Training, 1 p.m., StepAerobics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymWednesdayBingo Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterLegs, butts and guts, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex8 a.m., Step Aerobics, 1 p.m., Circuit weight train-ing, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymFor more information call 430-1202

WednesdayWalking Club, 5:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Tent 4Thursday

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Community happenings for April 13 through April 20Arifjan

Doha/Ali Al Salem Bus Schedule

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Stop 2*

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Stop 1*

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Doha/Arifjan Shuttle Schedule

* Stop 1 is behind the Building 6 PAX TentStop 2 is between Buildings 28 and 31

Old School Jams Contest, 7 p.m., Dusty Room MondayPing Pong Tournament, 6 p.m., MWR tentMovie Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomTuesdayBingo Night, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomWednesdayCountry Western Night Contest, 7 p.m., DustyRoomFor more information call 832-1045

Are you holding an eventyou’d like to see listed inthe Desert Voice?send your event listings to theDesert Voice editor at the e-mailaddress listed on the back page ofthis issue.

Sgt. Audie Murphy ClubStudy Sessions

Saturdays at 3 p.m. Bldg. 508 Rm. 25B

For more information call 1st Sgt. Adrianne Berkley at

DSN 430-1556, cell 983-1594.

EditorCFLCC PAO/Desert Voice Camp ArifjanAPO AE 09306matthew.millham@arifjan.arcent.army.mil

By Lt. Col. Michael Verrett, CFLCC C4

In addition to those credited as having con-tributed to the April 6 submission titled “Here andgone, a border oasis remembered,” Maj. MicheleThompson-Shoats, Lt. Natasha Wayne, and CptAnthony Leach of 43rd Area Support Group

Correction

Story and photo by Maj. Justin HallRotary Wing Advisor to the Kuwaiti Air Force

On March 21, five maintenance officersand nine pilots from the Kuwait Air Forcevisited Camp Buehring’s Udairi Army Airfieldfor a static display of AH-64D Apache AttackHelicopters. Although preparing to deploy toIraq, Renegade Troop from the 3rd ArmoredCavalry Regiment’s 4th Squadron madethree of their eight AH-64Ds available toshow the Kuwaiti officers.

To thank the Soldiers, Col. Khamis Al-Ferhan, Ali Al-Salem Air Base deputy com-mander, hosted a March 28 lunch at thebase for Renegade Troop’s 39 members.

Lt. Col. Douglas Pavek, 4th Squadroncommander, not only agreed to let thetroops leave Camp Buehring, but pilotedone of three Apaches that made the tripfrom Buehring for the event.

As Renegade troopers and KAF mem-bers looked on, Pavek simulated diving fireand made hard banking maneuvers todemonstrate the aircraft’s capabilities. Onceon the ground, the troops rallied quickly topush the aircraft under a sun shade so KAFmembers could take a closer look.

Kuwaiti airmen treated troop members toa display of four aircraft used by the KAF:

the Gazelle and Puma helicopters and theTucano and Hawk planes. KAF, British andFrench personnel were also on hand to answerquestions.

The troops and airmen then ate brunch,watched a movie on KAF history and attendedtwo briefings: one about AASAB and anotherfocusing on the KAF Apache program.

After the presentations, Pavek, RenegadeTroop Commander Capt. Butch Whiting, andMaj. Justin Hall, the Army’s rotary-wing advisorto the KAF, met with Base Commander Brig.

Members of the Kuwaiti Air Force and the 3rd ACR’s 4th Squadron, Renegade Troop, eat brunchMarch 28 at Ali Al-SSaleem Air Base’s Liberation Hall.

Gen. Ali Al-Khader. The Americans sharedtraining and operational insights with Ali andhis officers, and Ali spoke of the friendshipbetween Kuwait and the United States.Pavek then presented Ali with a 3rd ACRcoin, while Whiting gave Ali a renegadeTroop poster.

Many Americans were heard throughoutthe day saying, “we should do this moreoften,” and several Kuwaitis said, “come backafter Iraq.” God bless Renegade Troop andthe KAF!

Kuwait Air Force, 3rd ACR meet and greet

ARMY LIFE

by Col. Gregoria Marrero

An open invitation to solitude,solace and stillness under a shimmering full moonA quiet place to rest, to look back and to reconsider the journey traveled so farA silent call to embrace the pain, to wipe the tearsand to let go of unfulfilled dreams….A never ending opportunity to hold on in gratitudeto the blessings received; resting assuredDo not anticipate tomorrowlet the sand and blue skies color your fears…

The Desert (deployment to)