Edition 85 June 2013 - Defense Visual Information

The Official Publication of Camp As Sayliyah

Edition 85 June 2013

The Desert Mesh

Head Start Class. Back cover

Who lit my fire? Page 6Army Birthday history. Page 3

DOHA, Qatar - A LCAC, Landing Craft Air Cushion, lands at Massaeid Port during the the retrograde of Eagle Re-solve 2013 a multi-national exercise

(Photo by Jeremiah J. Clark)

DOHA, Qatar - Camp As Sayliyah is a small camp with a large foot-print often enough assisting the en-tire area of operations with crucial tasks. The assistance of Area Sup-port Group - Qatar and the tenant units of CAS were indispensible for the U.S. armed forces involved in a multi-national exercise named

Eagle Resolve. “Eagle Resolve is an annual exercise conducted by U.S. Cen-tral Command with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. A GCC country hosts it annual-ly and this year it was in Qatar,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sean Heg-gem, the Navy Central Command Liaison officer stationed in Doha, Qatar. “Through NAVCENT, the Navy and Marines conduct annual training with the Qatari military

through the Eastern Series exer-cises. This year these events were brought underneath the Eagle Re-solve exercise” “This year’s events included counter terrorism events on land and sea; air and land forces train-ing; and a simulated weapons of mass destruction attack that in-volved not only the Qatar military, but also involved the civilian au-thorities such as civil defense, po-lice and civilian medical staffs,” said Heggem, who has spent most of his 24 year career with the Navy Reserves. “As the NAVCENT LNO, I at-

Camp As SayliyahA small camp with a big foot printBy Mr. Jeremiah J. Clark,ASG-QA, Photojournalist

see FOOTPRINT on page 8

This Army tabloid is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Content of the Desert Mesh is not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Govern-ment or Department of the Army. The editorial content is the responsibility of the Area Support Group - Qatar public affairs office. All photos are official U.S. Army Photos unless otherwise credited.

COMMANDER U.S. Army Col. Wayne C. Grieme, Jr.

DEPUTY COMMANDER U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph A. Harvey

EXECUTIVE OFFICER U.S. Army Maj. Nikolitsa Wooten

SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Aaron A. Huber

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR,

EDITORMrs. Polli Ogilvie

PHOTOJOURNALIST Mr. Jeremiah J. Clark

Desert Mesh : 2 : June 2013

COMMAND CORNER

Wayne C. Grieme, Jr.Commander

Area Support Group - Qatar

This month the United States Army celebrates its 238th birth-day. For 238 years, the Army has remained the strength of our nation and worked endlessly to protect our citizens and interests around the world. We have Soldiers stationed around the world in over 150 coun-tries. These Soldiers represent our country, the moral and ethical val-ues that they bring forward, they represent America; the greatest country in the world. They are a representation of who we are and what we do. And who we will con-tinue to be as we move forward. From the Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, our Army has defeated oppression and advanced the cause of freedom. Following the attacks of September 11, the Army decisively engaged in Iraq and continues to serve in Afghani-stan combatting violent extremism and keeping terrorism from our shores. What I’ve learned during my military career is that the men and

women of the U.S. hold a deep re-spect for the Army. It is an earned respect. As we celebrate this great birthday we need to remember, it’s really about celebrating the mil-lions of Soldiers, men and wom-en, who have come before us. It’s about those who stand here today with us, and it’s about those who will come in the future. This is what our Army is about. The Army remains true to its professional values, honoring the sacred trust bestowed by the Na-tion. As we look towards the next 10 years and beyond, we will re-main vigilant, preparing for the challenges of an uncertain future, while always remembering to val-ue the strength of our Soldiers and the support of our families, as it is these people who make our Army Strong. Why is this so important to cel-ebrate our birthday each year? Be-cause, we need to make time and create an opportunity to reflect on the birth of our Nation as well as the establishment of our great Army. We also celebrate the Sol-diers, Family members and Civil-ians that make up the Army com-munity and say thank you to all of you, who have stood by the Army Family for more than 10 years of conflict. The strength of the Nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our Families. This is what makes us Army Strong! I am honored to be a part of this history, and to serve here with you. You epitomize not only our Na-tion’s ideals, but also our military values: loyalty, duty, respect, self-less service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. It is an honor to be with all of you; so many mem-bers of that Army Family.

Aaron A. HuberSenior Enlisted Advisor

Area Support Group - Qatar


This month in U.S. Army History

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Per-sonal Courage-these are the Army Values that we live by. As we cel-ebrate the Army’s 238th birthday, I am reminded of this portion of the Non-Commissioned Officers Creed…I realize that I am a mem-ber of a time-honored corps, which is known as “the backbone of the Army.” I am proud and honored to be a member. The NCO Creed also states that my two basic responsibilities are: accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers. With this in mind and as I sit in as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Area Support Group-Qatar until Command Sergeant Major Red-dock arrives, I see a lot of changes coming in June; not only to per-sonnel on camp, but to the weather as well. Summer is definitely here and we all need to be aware and take precautions. As Soldiers, we are required to maintain physical fitness stan-dards and the hot temperatures may force some of us to adjust our physical training schedules. Don’t let the hot temperatures change your workout regime, just make

the adjustments needed, hydrate more and watch your supplements intake. You must stay strong and Army fit. If you get too hot, cool off in our luxurious pool and have a fruity summer drink from Chili’s. There are also a lot of personnel changes happening. Be prepared to step in and help out when need-ed, so we ensure the command’s missions are executed. This brings me to training. Training is impor-tant to our organization. It keeps us strong, unified and on target. Make sure you always have a backup in your office. Know your job and know the job of the per-son next to you. Learn what your supervisor does and why. This will create continuity in your sec-tion when people change over and it also shows that you are seeking out responsibility and showing ini-tiative, which is the hallmark of a good leader. Remember there is a bigger picture to Camp As Sayli-yah, with its real world missions and support to this region. CAS is a small camp with a large foot-print and everyone here has a part to play. Mission first, Soldiers and Family always. Don’t forget about your personal growth as well. There are many courses available to you while deployed to Camp As Sayliyah. Taking college courses can help you grow professionally and per-sonally. You never know what the next duty station has in store for you, so take advantage of the time you have here and make it work for you. Check with the Educa-tion Center to see what options are available. I want to welcome all the new members who arrived since our last issue to our outstanding CAS team. Farewell and good luck to all the service members, civilians and Family members departing us. Thank you for all the support and the impact you left on the mis-sions, CAS community and team. ARMY STRONG, “PATTON’s OWN!”

When the American Revolution broke out, the rebellious colonies did not pos-sess an army in the modern sense. Rath-er, the revolutionaries fielded an amateur force of colonial troops, cobbled together from various New England militia com-panies. They had no unified chain of command, and although Artemas Ward of Massachusetts exercised authority by informal agreement, officers from other colonies were not obligated to obey his orders. The American volunteers were led, equipped, armed, paid for, and sup-ported by the colonies from which they were raised. In the spring of 1775, this “army” was about to confront British troops near Bos-ton, Massachusetts. The revolutionaries had to re-organize their forces quickly if they were to stand a chance against Brit-ain’s seasoned professionals. Recogniz-ing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ap-pealed to the Second Continental Con-gress in Philadelphia to assume authority for the New England army. Reportedly, at John Adams’ request, Congress voted to “adopt” the Boston troops on June 14, although there is no written record of this decision. Also on this day, Congress resolved to form a committee “to bring in a draft of rules and regulations for the government of the Army,” and voted $2,000,000 to support the forces around Boston, and those at New York City. Moreover, Congress authorized the for-mation of ten companies of expert rifle-men from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, which were directed to march to Boston to support the New England militia. George Washington received his ap-pointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army the next day, and for-mally took command at Boston on July 3, 1775.

By John R. Maass, Historian U.S. Army Center of Military History


Be Prepared! Military Volunteers support Scout Emergency Preparedness skills trainingBy U.S. Army Maj. D. Marshall Bornn, Jr.ASG-QA, Boy Scout Volunteer Coordinator

DOHA, Qatar - Now, more than ever, the motto of the Boy Scouts of America; “Be Prepared,” still rings true. We see all around the world examples of natural and man-made disasters that contin-ue to find whole segments of the population completely unpre-pared to cope whether directly or indirectly affected. In Doha, 35 military volunteers from the local Army and Air Force bas-es challenged 26 skilled Boy Scouts and Leaders to become more proficient in responding to emergencies ranging from torna-does to animal attacks. Back in December, Troop 970’s Senior Patrol Leader, J. Mundy, wanted to have a disaster day to give his troop the ability to work on their Emergency Prepared-ness Merit Badge; complete re-quirements towards the BSA Emergency Preparedness Badge and better prepare the scouts for stressful situations that they might be involved in their lives in scouting and beyond. Work-ing with the Troop Committee Chair, S. Sherman and Scout-masters, T. Yearout and J. Sulik; they asked the volunteer coordi-nators from Camp As Sayliyah and the Jar Saleh organizations to give them an idea of what they could provide to facilitate this endeavor. What they came up with was a realistic, scenario driven day of training with four stations that had elements of a tornado, wa-tercraft, hiking and animal disas-ter. Using the Air Force exercise moulage team from the 379th

Expeditionary Medical Group; victims were given realistic inju-ries that for Star Scout, C. Goul-den were, “intense, exciting and made the training even more re-alistic than we could have imag-ined.” As patrols navigated the different scenarios, role players yelled for help, cried and gave the scouts a good understanding of what they would encounter during a typical disaster situa-tion. Each Patrol was graded on team work, medical treatment, and understanding how to triage the most seriously injured, sta-bilize and safeguard them until first responders could take over. As one patrol came upon the hiking and animal attack station, they were initially frozen by the chaotic scene and enormity of the situation. Their Patrol Leader M. Crookshanks went into action providing direction and organizing the patrol mem-bers into smaller teams to triage the wounded and administer first

aid. At the Tornado Disaster Sce-nario, chairs were flipped, debris was everywhere and under most of it were the role players ask-ing for help from the Scout Pa-trol. Again, the scouts assessed the situation and provided the needed aid to save the most in-jured and comfort those who were less seriously injured. At the Watercraft Accident Station, the scout patrols encountered a drowning victim. Using lifesav-ing techniques learned during a recent Swimming Merit Badge, they saved the victim. The pa-trol pulled another victim from an overturned boat, administered CPR, placed the victim (a 180 lb CPR dummy) on a C-Spine back-board, and carried the victim to safety. An amazing feat for the scouts that averaged far less than the weight of the victims or the

see PREPARED on page 13

(Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class John Logan)

DOHA, Qatar - Sgt. Inti Chabert, from 308th Medical Logistics company, instructs Boy Scouts on proper procedures of first aid during Disaster Day.

INSIDE THE WIRE


DOHA, Qatar - Above: U.S. Army Col. Wayne C. Grieme, commander, Area Support Group - Qatar, 1st Sgt. Aaron A. Huber, senior enlisted advisor, Area Support Group - Qatar, and Ian McCary, deputy chief of mission, pay their respects during the wreath ceremony on Memorial Day. Below Left: Members of Camp As Sayliyah’s vast community pay their respect during the retreat of the colors. Below Right: Staff Sgt. Jason Carrier, signal noncommissioned officer in charge, Area Support Group - Qatar, carries the U.S. flag during the retreat of the colors.

Camp As Sayliyah celebrates Memorial DayPhoto essay by Mr. Jeremiah J. ClarkASG-QA, Photojournalist

INSIDE THE WIRE


Who lit my fire?

DOHA, Qatar - My Father, Louis P. Wehlage is my great-est hero! Raised in the depres-sion era, he came from a small Kansas farm town and grew up relatively poor. After the attack on the United States bases in Pearl Harbor, he was the first U.S. Army enlistee in his hometown of Parsons, Kansas. He trained diligently to fight America’s enemies and departed for a five-year deploy-ment, long before the days of email, or abilities to call home. When he returned from war, Dad would meet and marry my mother, Mildred, the only woman he ever loved. To prove this love, they remained married until the day she died, just after their 50th anniversary. Along the way, they had a couple of kids: a cute little girl and an or-nery redheaded boy. Above all, my father was a man of faith. He would kneel often with our family and pray. He led us to church and taught us what was most important us-ing The Lord as his authority, his life as an example and love as his guide. Although my Father loved

and served his country, he al-ways seemed to know how to prioritize our family. I guess I never fully understood this until a just few summers ago. While snooping through an old closet at my parent’s home, I came across a canvas-lined suit car-rier containing my father’s fully assembled—yet quite dusty— Class A uniform. Immediately impressed, I began to survey the myriad of awards and dec-orations representing his 30+ years of service in our Army: Ten knots on his good conduct medal; Ten hash marks on his left sleeve, eleven on his right sleeve; And the Korean service ribbon with five battle stars. Perched above his three rows of ribbons was his retirement award— the Meritorious Ser-vice Medal. Today, maybe no big deal, but in 1977, this award was quite unusual for an enlist-ed Soldier. As I began to put it all together and reflect on my own respon-sibilities as a father, I came to a sobering realization which caused me to re-examine my own priorities. You see, all the symbols of my father’s military accomplishments, while valued by his country, had hung unno-ticed in a dusty closet for the 30 years since his retirement— but he still had his family! I think the thing that made dad

my hero more than anything is that he was not my friend or pal; but that he was my father. He made me want to follow his God, because I witnessed the reality of his faith daily. He af-firmed what was right, rebuked what was wrong and always knew the difference and could explain it in terms a young man like me could apply. I still call him for advice and will until the day he dies. This Father’s Day, my prayer is that when I am his age, my children will remember me in such favorable light. I pray I lead them toward my Lord and his book—Just like my Hero!

By U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Wehlage,ASG-QA, Command Chaplain

DOHA, Qatar - Louis P. Wehlage and his son, William Wehlage out side a U.S. Army Dental Clinic.

(Courtsey Photo)


Service member well being

DOHA, Qatar - I would like to take this opportunity to address the installation and reintroduce myself after a period of hiber-nation. My name is Kevin and I have served as the installation mascot for six years. The other smaller lizard you often see is Leo. He steps up and fills the position when I am on tempo-rary duty or chargeable leave. It was a long winter, and when I went to sleep last Fall, I never expected to see so many new faces in the Spring. I would like to say that Camp As Say-liah operations appear to be as efficient and well maintained as I would expect. You may be familiar with my quarters, on the north side of the Dining Facility underneath the Texas barrier by the yellow gate. Many of you have mar-veled at my tremendous size and tactical intensity. Rest as-sured, I pull staff duty every day with your wellness and safety in mind. Not a day goes by that I don’t observe service members traveling to and from the gym, or for a well deserved meal at the DFAC, and I am witness to uniform and safety violations. I often comment to Leo, that if I see another per-son without a reflective belt or cross the road with headphones in their ears, I will literally shed my skin. These folks of-

ten lack situational awareness and several have almost stepped on my tail! Clearly not paying attention, considering my tail is two feet long. Let’s police that conduct up. I am impressed with the vari-ety of treats that have been pro-vided. However, I prefer to hunt for my food as part of my ser-vice to the installation and my contribution to insect and ro-dent control. Some agitators say I am a herbivore, but you know the deal. I do appreciate the massive number of pictures I am subjected to. I am very pho-togenic and frankly, I have been to the Top Off. I am pretty cer-tain I am one of the most attrac-tive things on CAS. Keep your distance though, as I don’t like people crowding my personal space. I am endangered and you should not seek to bother me. Also, try not to run me over when you are driving past the DFAC. I can grow my tail back, but let’s not make that neces-sary. I would also like to encourage you to be good stewards of this home that we share and perhaps, step up your game a bit. Don’t litter, and if you see any, pick it up. Keep your hands out of your pockets while in uniform and tuck in your shirt when wear-ing your Army physical fit-

ness uniforms. I watch you take your fitness tests several morn-ings each week. You could use a few more hours in the gym. Don’t think I am a slouch. I can run up vertical surfaces and tap dance across a jersey bar-rier without breaking a sweat. I can also hang upside down and catch insects at the light set by the hand washing station. Can you do one dead hang pull up? Next time you are passing my quarters, remember there is no air conditioning underneath Texas barriers, so I know what it is like. Be patient with De-partment of Public Works. They work hard to keep all the air condition units running. Please be sure to admire my natural scales from a distance and know that I should only eat organic meals that I scavenge. I want to contribute to the success of the mission, just like you. Fi-nally, all too often I hear com-ments like “I don’t know” and “nobody told me.” Come on, that is not what I expect from warriors like you. Read the in-stallation policies. I write and recommend them to make sure they keep you informed. B e s t regards.

-Kevin Spinytail

By Kevin SpinytailASG-QA, Installation Mascot


tended the various planning con-ferences and tried to ensure that the visiting NAVCENT planners were working with their respec-tive Qatari planners to ensure they were creating scenarios that would meet each countries respective training objectives,” said Heggem, who normally assists with engage-ments that include Qatari Navy and Coast Guard. As the LNO, Heggem arranges training, as well as exchanges and shares tactics, techniques and procedures with his Qatari counterparts. He also engages in foreign military sales to include maritime aircraft, vessels and weapons systems. “During the final planning con-ference in March, it was apparent that the Marine Expeditionary Unit needed additional information on the port at Mesaieed,” said Heg-gem. “I had met Ryan Molina of the Surface Deployment Distribu-tion Command Detachment, sev-eral months before and I contact-

ed him to see if he could provide some of the additional information on the port, because they work with at the port weekly and have a great relationship with the Qatari’s there.” “Marines and Qatari Soldiers went to both the Harbor Master, Captain Ron Murray and the Gen-eral Directorate of Customs at Me-saieed, Mr. Mubarak Al-Bouainain to ensure no issues would occur for Operation Eagle Resolve,” said U.S. Army Cpt. Ryan Molina, com-mander, SDDC. “Both Officials were unaware of any missions tak-ing place at Mesaieed and had no paperwork for clearance to do any-thing. The Marines then called the U.S. Embassy and informed them of this problem. I then received a call from Sean Heggem asking if I could help facilitate the correct actions to ensure mission success.” Molina’s normal duties include coordination and execution of all surface deployment distribution and water term port operations in Qatar that directly support and sus-tain forces in the CENTCOM area

of responsibility, primarily dealing with Al Udeid Air Base and CAS. He is also responsible for supervis-ing and executing the cargo docu-mentation process and verifying the accuracy of movement control documents of Department of De-fense cargo by commercial vessels. Molina regularly conducts coordi-nation between the U.S. Embassy, Military Sealift Command, Host Nation Coordination Cell, Qatari government agencies, supporting contractors and different custom-ers to ensure both CAS and AUAB receive cargo. “During the actual exercise, Area Support Group - Qatar pro-vided security teams to the port and diligently worked with the Qatari Customs and Immigration official to get the Marines ashore,” said Heggem. “They then escorted the Marines to the Al Gulayl train-ing site in southwestern Qatar.” Molina explained his part, “I en-sured that the U.S. armed forces, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Af-fairs, U.S. Embassy, Qatari mili-tary, Ministry of Economy and

DOHA, Qatar - U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Johnson, part of the operations section for Area Support Group - Qatar, as-sists marines during the retrograde operations of Operation Eagle Resolve 2013.

(Photo by Mr. Jeremiah J. Clark)

Footprint (continued from page 1)


Finance, Ministry of Interior, and port officials, were all aware or re-ceived the proper documentation to conduct operations at the port. I also ensured that immigrations were complete; customs paper-work was complete and approved; customs inspections were done; helped with a medical evacuation; and coordinated with Sgt. 1st Class James Johnson to ensure ASG-QA’s security forces, escort team, ambulance and the Qatari Military Police were all locked on for each day of the mission.” U.S. Army 1st Class James Johnson, the noncommissioned of-ficer in charge of port operations for ASG-QA said, “I made all the coordination for both the U.S. and Qatari armed forces to be support-ed by the ASG-QA security force and escort team, which involves the coordination and execution of all port, escort, and personal secu-rity detachment missions through-

out Qatar. “The purpose of the security force team’s involvement,” ex-plained Johnson, “was to ensure the beach was swept for ordnance and cordoned off to ensure the Ma-rines were able to safely operate during each landing of the LCAC or Landing Craft Air Cushion de-ployment from the USS San Anto-nio. The escort team’s mission is to ensure that there is a U.S. security element present when U.S. military cargo is being moved from point A to B. This element works closely with the Qatar Military Police and the Qatar Special Police to ensure not only the safety of the convoy, but also the civilians on the road, and ensures that all Qatari govern-ment rules and regulations are be-ing followed during convoy opera-tions.” Additionally, Johnson coordi-nated the operations for other el-ements involved in the event in-

cluding some of the tenant units on CAS such as 8th Military Working Dog Detachment and 3rd Battal-ion, 116th Field Artillery Regi-ment of the Florida Army National Guard. In the end, the Eagle Resolve exercise was successful with the help of Camp As Sayliyah. “They provided excellent customer ser-vice on a short notice request and worked rapidly to get the Marines ashore,” said Heggem. “The entire staff was great in validating some of the questions that the Marines had about using the port as a pos-sible entry point during the final planning meeting.” “Without the help of CAS and the SDDC detachment, I don’t be-lieve we would have been success-ful in getting the Marines ashore as well as getting back aboard USS San Antonio at the end of the exer-cise,” said Heggem.

DOHA, Qatar -Marines board the LCAC during the retrograde of Operation Eagle Resolve 2013. Area Support Group - Qatar, as well as other units from Camp As Sayliyah, played a pivitol role during the operation. They assisted U.S. Central Command with logisitics and security force support.

(Photo by Mr. Jeremiah J. Clark)

INSIDE THE WIRE


DOHA, Qatar - At dusk we’re during through Doha, nine adults crammed into a foreign mini utility van; alpha personalities, all of us. One behind the wheel and eight of us perfectly capable backseat drivers all talking about noth-ing in particular at full speed and full volume. The excitement is palpable as we slam on the brakes only to push the gas pedal to the floor two seconds later. We’re driving like everyone else on the road and off the road. Pausing briefly at roundabouts and then rac-ing through them in every lane! No amount of driving experience in the states could have prepared us for this. We wobble in unison with each swerve of the vehicle.

Doha is populated with every exotic and insanely expensive car imaginable. We saw Bentleys, Bugattis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Chevrolet Camaro SS, Victory Red with black stripes pushing 440hp. Cars jump into the emergency lane (is there such a thing?) and rocket to the next traffic light! I imagine Doha as the modern Al-exandria: The crossroads of the Arab world with more than a hint of the West; surprisingly cosmopolitan pre-senting a culturally diverse atmo-sphere. The high spirit of the Qatari is evident in the proud and prospering people. At a restaurant called Damascus, we tried traditional Syrian cuisine. Fresh hummus with warm flatbread, Turkish coffee, pineapple juice, and Frika with Lamb. It may be possible that the only thing understood between our polite waiter and us was that we were hungry. We all smiled and nodded (the uni-versal sign of hopeless acknowledge-ment) attempting to pronounce the ex-otic Damascene dishes. In the end, we

By U.S. Army Cpt. Bryan Joseph Pitchford,HHB, 3-116TH FA Bn., Plans Officer

were all satisfied passing plates around the table. Afterward, we slouched comfort-ably into the furniture smoking hookah pipes and laughing. We could have been there for years for all the time that seemed to pass. In Doha after dark, the streets fill up beyond capacity. Vendors line the sidewalks selling every product imaginable. Crowds flowing through the alleys in seemingly synchronized patterns, speaking English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Tagalog, Ara-bic, all melding together in one univer-sal language. Children laugh and play in the maze. Shopkeepers grin and in-vite everyone to look around in shops that ranged from kiosks to strip mall sized outlets, “just come in and look.” Like personal auctioneers, they barter and haggle expertly. Incense burners lined the alleys mixing with the aromas of international foods and sweet, lin-gering hookah smoke. Wheelbarrows slalom with precision and patience fol-lowing the money.

Saturday nightINSIDE THE WIRE


Annually, Operation Homefront hosts a Military Child of the Year Award with one winner from each branch of military service. It is a special recognition of children in military Families who demonstrate leadership within their Families and communities. This year we are proud to announce the nomination of one of our own! Ander Barker, the eldest son of Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Barker and Mrs. Wonda Barker was one of this year’s Army nomi-nees. A 16 year old sophomore at Mesa Ridge High School of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ander participates in the Ad-vancement Via Individual Determination program at school and maintains an average grade point of 3.81. In his free time, he supports his mother, a two year Breast Cancer survivor, by volunteering for the America Cancer Society. His goals before reaching the age of 21 are to visit Hawaii, Japan, and Italy and to learn to speak French. His favorite quote “Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishment. The present is theirs, the future, for which I have really worked, is mine,” Nikola Tesla. Congratulations Barker Family. We are proud to call you our own! Congratulations Ander and Barker Family!

(Photo by Wonda Barker)

HOME FRONT


CAS Housing Contact Information:

Camp As SayliyahBase Operator: 4460-9869 + 7 Digit Ext

Building 418 Front Desk: 432-2663

Building 106A Front Desk: 432-2351

Director of Public Works: 432-2391

Housing Director: 432-2392

Fire: 432-2758 or 5588-2801

Police: 432-3534 Or 432-2337

Troop Medical Clinic: 432-2255 or 432-3506

ITT Housing Staff:

Supervisor: Margarita Rasool432-2700

Asst. Housing Supervisor: Sharyn Adams432-2351

Off Post Housing Specialist: Samantha Navo432-2700

On Post Housing Specialist: Jesusita Flores432-2663

On Post Housing Specialist: Jennifer Bachner432-2663

DOHA, Qatar - Well, hello there my fellow bookworms! I read several great books over the last month and hope that you have done the same! The book that kept me the most riveted from the New York Times Bestseller List in April was “Gone, Girl”; a psychological thriller written by Gillian Flynn. The beginning of the book seems to lay the groundwork of a plot that we have all seen in recent news: a husband and wife (Nick and Amy), seemingly in love but having some marital

problems. It’s their fifth anni-versary, and she disappears with what appears to be a struggle. There was no trace left, except a treasure hunt gift that no one but Nick will understand. The story starts with Nick explaining his side of what happened the day of Amy’s disappearance, and progresses so that every other chapter re-veals the last seven years from Amy’s journal. As more and more information is exposed to the reader that could implicate rather than exonerate Nick, it becomes harder and harder to believe that Nick is innocent in Amy’s disappearance. At this point, I cannot tell you anything more, because it may change your opinion before you take the time to read it. As I delved deeper into this book, I became very angry with all of the characters, which is what I imagine the author had intended. Nick and Amy are brought into sharper focus at different points throughout the book, and at times all of the rapid changes with and without added information can be over-whelming. By the end of this book, I was just plain angry at both characters, but very deep-ly affected by how everything turned out. This book had me hooked from the beginning and kept me all the way through the end.

Book Review:“Gone Girl”By U.S. Army Sgt. Sarah Maxwell,ASG-QA, PMO COPS Administrator


INSIDE THE WIREPrepared (continued from page 3)

Cider is one of the most popular beverages in Europe, and becom-ing increasingly popular in the United States. English style cider has two varieties: the sweet Kent cider and the tart, dry (not sweet) West County cider. Savanna is the latter variety, drawing its name from the African Savannah known for being ‘Dry and Out There.’ The brewers live up to that slogan by developing a brand image of being a little odd. Their ads are good for a laugh and worth looking up. It’s apparently working, because Sa-vanna is the third-best selling cider in the world. Savanna Dry is made from Gran-ny Smith and Golden Delicious apples grown in the Elgin valley of the South Africa’s West Cape. The apples are crushed and fermented with water and cider yeast. At this point, sweet ciders like Magners add extra sugar to produce a high residual sweetness while Savanna skips this step and remains dry. Dry beverages are different, and taste fantastic as long as you’re prepared for their lack of sweet-ness. They are more similar in consistency and flavor to a white wine than a beer. Guinness Stout is a dry stout, and its unique fla-vor is largely derived from the lack of sweetness (and calories!) pres-ent in most other dark ales. Many people enjoy mixing a dry Guin-

ness with a sweet cider to create a Snakebite. While this can be done with Savanna, combining two dry beverages won’t create the sought after sweet-dry combination. In-stead, try blending the Savanna with a beer known for its sweet-ness, such as Fosters or Kilkenny. Appearance - Extremely clear and light gold colored with little to no head. Aroma - Hints of apple and pear, but not overly fruity. Flavor - They’re right when they say it’s dry; the sweetness you expect from a cider like Magners that simply never arrives. Cider shouldn’t taste like apples; in the same way that wine doesn’t taste like grapes. If it does, the flavor has been added after fermentation. Mouthfeel - Ciders should have a low level of carbonation, and Savanna is no exception. It has a slight acidic nature that gives it a slightly tart finish and lingering af-tertaste. Think of drinking a more full and slightly carbonated char-donnay or some other dry white wine. Drinkability - Highly drinkable, and perfect for a hot summer day…or any day in Qatar. The company recommends adding a lemon slice, much like a lime in a Corona, to in-crease its “Refreshability.” Speak-ing of ‘out there,’ they also want you to know that it’s 100% Vegan, and contains no gluten, peanuts, eggs, or shellfish. Until next month, remember to celebrate diversity in your drinks, but always enjoy them responsibly.

The Gnarly BarleyBy Mr. James HobbsASG-QA, Resident Connoisseur

CPR dummies used as training aides. After every lane, each patrol conducted an after action review on how things went and ways to im-prove their skills and leadership to address similar incidents facilitated by the military volunteers that were assigned to each of the lanes. In the end, the scouts and the lead-ers were very appreciative of the efforts and support provided by the military volunteers and the co-ordinators of the event: Lt. Col S. Frazier, Sgt. 1st Class P. Charles, 1st Lt. R. Ramo. Scoutmaster J. Sulik stated that, “the continued re-lationship with the military volun-teers has had a tremendous impact on all the scouts, and has solidified the much deserved positive opinion of the military in the Doha commu-nity. Our scouts are truly better pre-pared because of their efforts which will make them better scouts, men and citizens.”

DOHA, Qatar - Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Barker from Area Support Group - Qatar, displays the moulage placed on him for disaster day with the Boy Scouts.

(Photo by U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ramon Ramos)


Jump your way to successBy U.S. Army Master Sgt.Montgomery MillerASG-QA, Installation Master Fitness Instructor

DOHA, Qatar - If you are try-ing to lose weight; increase your vertical jump; lower your 2 mile time; increase your push-ups; increase your sit-ups; or lower your body fat, then Plyometrics are the way to go. Plyometrics were invented by Russian professor, Yuri Verkhoshanskyis in the 1950s, and are widely used by pro-fessional athletes in all sports today. Inside the big gym, you will see different sized boxes for Soldiers and civilians to jump on depending on their fitness level and their fitness goals. We have Plyometric boxes ranging from 6 inches to 50 inches. Yes, that is right. Fifty inches! We do have Sol-diers and civilians jumping on 50 inch boxes. Plyometrics strengthens your upper body, lower body and your core depending on what type of activity you are doing. You are probably ask-ing yourself how many reps and sets should you do? This depends on the type of Plyo-metric exercise you are doing, which is geared towards mak-

ing you faster and more ex-plosive. The great thing about Plyometrics is that you can use them in your own home, because you are using your own body weight to maxi-mize your performance. I’ve trained Soldiers and civilians for over 20 years, and I’m a firm believer in using Plyo-metrics as a way to get Sol-diers to max their Physical Training test; lose body fat and inches; as well as help-ing civilians get into the best shape of their lives. Plyometrics are no joke and if used effectively, anyone

can lose 5-7 pounds a week, because of the combination of speed and strength endur-ance used. I tell everyone that I train that if they want to lose weight, they can either take the scenic route or the jet. Ei-ther way they will get there in the end, but one way gets you there a lot faster. Good luck and let’s jump our way to suc-cess.

Editor’s Note: The informa-tion in this article represent Master Sgt. Miller’s experi-ence as a fitness instructor. Individual results can vary. Please consult your doctor

FITNESS


MWR Operating Hours

• Main and Small GymsOpen all day, every day

• Cyber Cafe, Phone Ctr.Open all day, every day

• Video Hut9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Swimming Pool5:30 a.m. to midnight, closed for cleaning 9 to 10:30 a.m.

• Mini Golf Course6 a.m. to midnight

• Driving Range8 a.m. to midnight

MWR Hours

MWR events and more!

MWR Key StaffMWR Director Mr. Antoine T. Randall DSN: 432-3033

MWR NCOIC U.S. Army Master Sgt.Montgomery MillerDSN: 432-3755

Community Services ManagerGina Gutzy DSN: 432-3758

CAS Fitness InstructorChester De GuzmanDSN: 432-3760

RUN TO DUBAI CHALLANGEthroughout June.

Gina Gutzy: Spinning class - 6:00 pm Monday and Wednesday.

Chester De Guzman: Tae Bo - 6:00 am Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.Spinning class - 11:30 am Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. 4:30 pmSunday, Tuesday and Thursday.6:00 pm Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

To register for these events or any MWR-sponsored trip, stop by the MWR office, in building 109, Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or call DSN: 432-3049.

You can register for trips up to three days prior to the trip departure date. Payment is required at the time you register for any trip.

MWR

(Photo by Mr. Jonald Lalas)

Memorial Day 5K Run/ Walk Winners(27 May 2013)

Men’s Run:1st Place: Mike Tizer 18:522nd Place: David Smith 19:343rd Place: Kyle Streak 19:37

Men’s Walk:1st Place: James Graves 37:012nd Place: Alfonso Niñez 37:033rd Place: Phillip Charles 38:00

Women’s Run:1st Place: Robynn Soriano 21:222nd Place: April Rountree 22:103rd Place: Sarah Mastin 22:35

Women’s Walk:1st Place: Tabitha Phillips 38:402nd Place: Venette Jones 38:473rd Place: Sarah Maxwell 45:10

TOTAL NO. OF PARTICIPANTS:348

DOHA, Qatar - U.S. Army Cpt. Hildred Matthews, an operations officer for Area Support Group- Qatar, plays basketball during American School of Doha’s Volun-teer Appreciation Day.

We would like your feed-back!The editorial content is the responsibility of the Area Support Group-Qatar Public Affairs Office, located in building 112. Gen-eral comments should be addressed to the PAO Mail box at: [email protected] or calling DSN (318) 432-2572 or (318) 432 - 2800.

Documents

Edition 85 June 2013 - Defense Visual Information