The official magazine of Multinational Battle Group East

east

More than three months of training and years of preparation led to this stage. Read about the ceremonies that officially started KFOR 14’s control of this AOR.

Transfer of Authority rings in KFOR 14

Check out a puppy F e e l i n g d o w n ? Soldiers can sign up to walk dogs to help combat stress and give the puppies some well deserved a f f e c t i o n .

F e e l t h e b u r n C a m p B o n d s t e e l ’ s exercise and health professionals weigh in on fitness techniques, supplements and track-ing aids to get great results.6 2716

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Laughter roared through the South Town Fitness Center here on Apr. 16, 2011 when three come-

dians Jennie McNulty, Chris Simpson and Bruce Jingles performed a comedy show for the Soldiers stationed here.

The show gave Soldiers an opportunity to relax, laugh and enjoy themselves as the come-dians preformed their routine.

Spc. Isaiah C. Lujan, a Sol-dier in the personnel section of the 111th Headquar ters and Headquarters Command based in Rio Rancho, N.M., said he attended the show because it was something fun to do.

“I came for some entertain-ment and to relax, because t h e r e ’s n o t m u c h t o d o around here and just to get my mind off of work,” said

Spc. Curtis M. Poole, a member of the 678th Postal Detachment.

Spc. Terrie D. Charlie, from the 111th HHC, Material Man-agement Cell, said, “We’re all doing serious business and we need some time to relax.”

The comedians performed their st and up rout ine for about and an hour and a half and then signed autographs. The Soldiers in at tendance said they enjoyed the show.

“Oh dude, they ’re hilari-ous,” said Lujan, “next time I ’ l l be a l it t le louder and maybe they ’ll pick on me.”

Poole thought Chris Simp-son was the most entertaining.

“He’s just a funny guy. He was real relaxed when he was on stage and he loosened up

the crowd a lot,” said Poole.

Comedian Chris Simpson has performed over 50 comedy shows for deployed Soldiers since 2007, but this was his first time performing comedy in the Balkans and he enjoyed entertaining the Soldiers here.

“I had a blast , I ’m hav-ing fun and I dig these shows more than anything else. I could do these shows for the rest of my life,” said Simpson.

The Soldiers in attendance could agree that the MWR should host more shows like these.

Poole said they should defi-nitely have more comedy shows and Spc. Stephanie Stock, a 111th HHC Soldier in the signal and communication section said, “I think these shows are good because they boost morale.”

story and photo by John A. Montoya

Bruce Jingles, Chris Simpson and Jennie McNulty sign photos for soldiers following a comedy show performed at the South Town Fitness Center on Camp Bondsteel.

Comedy tour tears through Bondsteel

Contents

Fresh Focus KFOR 13 and KFOR 14 participate in the transfer of Authority

Puppy Love Relieve some stress by visiting three local dogs

Fitness and Health Tips Work hard, stay healthy and fit, head home in better shape

Meet the _______ A monthly introduction of a few soldiers

Self defense for self preservation Women learn tactics to fend off an attacker

Comedy trio tears through Bondsteel Three comedians visit Camp Bondsteel

A hike of faith Soldiers participate in pilgrimage

New team takes on responsibility Transfer of authority for LMTs

LMT 5-4: Day 1 First day on the job for team 5-4

MNBG E Commander and CSM

Dancing together Final fitness class lead by KFOR 13

U.S. Soldiers support peers U.S., German Contingencies prove readiness

Supplements Q&A Health professional weighs in on exercise supplements

SafetyLegalChaplain

Commanding Officer, MNBG E Col. Michael D. Schwartz

Command Sergeant Major, MNBG E Command Sgt. Maj. Abel Villesca

Public Affairs Officer, MNBG E 1st Lt. Valerie Palacios

200th Public Affairs Detachment Commander1st Lt. Casey Staheli

Editor Staff Sgt. Anna Doo

Layout and Design Spc. Evan Lane

Photojournalist Spc. John A Montoya, Jr.

Broadcast Journalist Pfc. David Sherwood

“Guard ian Eas t is produced for personnel o f MNBG E, and is an authorized publication for mem-bers of the Depar tment of Defense. Contents of Guardian East are not necessarily the off icial views of the U.S. government, the Department of the Army, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, or MNBG E.”

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Front cover: Transfer of authority ceremony between KFOR 13

and KFOR 14 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo on April 2, 2011.

Each country within Multinational Battle Group East participated

in the ceremony rooted in militvary history transfering the

responsibility of leadership from one commander to another.

(Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)

Back Cover: C. Company, 1/200th Infantry Brigade, plays the

part of Kosovo police during a quick reaction force vaildation

exercise at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Wednesday. Alpha

platoon of the German Maneuver Company stationed in Novo

Selo, Kosovo, was being tested for its abililty arrive at and quell

a riot at any location in Kosovo. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)

Photo Credits for editorials: Fitness: Spc. Lucretia Wilcox

Supplements: Spc. Evan V. Lane

Safety, Legal, Chaplain: Staff Sgt. Anna Doo

flickr.com/photos/kfor-14 facebook.com/KFOR.MNBG.East youtube.com/KFORPAO

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MNBG ECommander

CSM

On Apr. 2, we executed the Transfer of Authority ceremony between KFOR 13 and KFOR 14. For all of the Soldiers of MNBG E that event was a significant

milestone in the journey we all started together in the months prior to mobilization. At every stage of that journey the Soldiers of MNBG E have performed in an exemplary manner.

All of you reported to Camp Atterbury, Ind., with a significant amount of mobilization training already accomplished. The mobiliza-tion readiness of each individual Soldier and each of the units was key to our success while conducting post mobilization training and mission readiness certification in Indiana. Your motivation and spirit were noticed by all of our mobilization partners at the installa-tion and by leaders in 1st Army Division East. The positive attitude, mission focus and out-standing discipline of KFOR 14 Soldiers set a standard and established a reputation as a “learning organization” that we can be proud of.

We moved on together to Joint Maneuver Read-

iness Center, Hohenfels, Germany. The training was more demanding than we’d faced previously. The “base camp” living conditions were more constrained than we’d experienced in Indiana. New complexity to our operations was added as we linked up with and integrated multinational partners into our formation. The days were lon-ger and the training more intense. Despite all of that the Soldiers of MNBG E, KFOR 14 maintained remarkable discipline, spirit, motivation and pos-itive attitudes. Once again you came together as a team and exceeded the expectations of the train-ing and validation team charged with ensuring we were ready to move forward into Kosovo. The accomplishments and reputation of KFOR 14 was reported to the highest levels in USAREUR and to the Commander of Kosovo Forces and our arrival here at Camp Bondsteel was eagerly anticipated.

On Mar. 18, the main body of KFOR 14 Sol-diers arrived in Kosovo and Camp Bondsteel. We kicked off a whirlwind of activities and tasks as part of our left seat and right seat ride in preparation for the Transfer of Author-ity from KFOR 13 to us. Individually and as an organization we once again had to adapt to a new environment, new living conditions, new techniques and procedures and minor reor-ganization. We linked up with and integrated multinational partners and established rela-tionships with our higher headquarters and adjacent units. All of this was accomplished with the same degree of mission focus and discipline that the commander and I have come to antici-pate you will deliver and for that we thank you.

As I write this, the Transfer of Authority was two weeks ago. Together we have embarked upon the next stage of our journey and have assumed responsibility for the mission we have trained for over several months. We started this journey together and it is the intent of the com-mander and leaders at every level that we all finish it together. To that end, individually and collectively, we must incorporate composite risk management into everything that we do. Until we have become fully acclimated to our operat-ing environment and identified what tasks and activities are critical to mission accomplish-ment, there is a tendency to elevate everything to unwarranted levels of urgency. It’s during this period more than any previous that we all must exercise the discipline that has contrib-uted to our success so far. Remember that there is nothing the commander and I will ask of you that is so urgent it warrants endangering you, your fellow Soldiers or the people in Kosovo.

Once again I want to thank you for the outstand-ing performance and dedication that has made the journey from home station to Camp Bond-steel so successful. I am truly proud of each and every Soldier in MNBG E. I have great confidence in you and your leaders and know that there is no challenge ahead of us that we can’t overcome.

We are finally on the ground in Kosovo and conducting our daily duties. The last month or so has been both excit-ing and busy. We have accomplished

many good things in training and are now set to accomplish even better things in Kosovo. I have only three brief topics to cover so you can spend most of your time reviewing the news stories pro-vided by our fabulous Public Affairs Detachment.

First, I would like to thank all the Soldiers for making this deployment one of the best I have witnessed. Deploying over 700 Soldiers from all over the United States, linking up with our multinational partners in Germany, then moving on to Kosovo to work with still more multinational partners has all gone off without a hitch. Every Soldier has been very hard working, industrious, studious and mis-sion focused throughout the last 90 days. We have had no significant discipline issues and when given the chance to “spread our wings” with a scarce day off, everyone has diligently followed the rules and has made the organiza-tion proud. This has not gone unnoticed by our contemporaries and our higher headquarters throughout our training. I very much appreci-ate the dedication of each and every one of you.

Second, it is very important to establish a base-line operating tempo within the first 30 days or so in country. There are an overwhelming num-ber of tasks which must be accomplished and a number of “legacy” tasks we must identify and eliminate. This will be a difficult road to travel as we desire to accomplish all tasks we believe are our charter but may no longer be support-able. As we move forward, we must continually ask ourselves if the task we are accomplishing is appropriate given our current mission focus. In general terms, we are here to provide a safe and secure environment in order to provide the opportunity for governing institutions to take on the enormous task of sustainable self governance.

Lastly, I would like every Soldier to consider SAFETY. There is no task so important that we

compromise the safety of our Soldiers. We will surely find ourselves in circumstances which require timely response, but we cannot put our-selves, or the populous, in danger by our actions. Traffic accidents are the most dangerous event we will likely encounter, so please use cau-tion and drive defensively as you conduct your daily operations. Furthermore, keep your work hours and work days manageable. Fatigued Sol-diers are less efficient than well rested Soldiers. Therefore, as a general rule, Soldiers and lead-ers will work six scheduled days per week and limit workdays to not more than 12-14 hours per day. There will be exceptions, but it is up to leaders and Soldiers to monitor Soldier fatigue and modify their daily activities accordingly.

In conclusion, I would again like to thank all the Soldiers of Multinational Battle Group East, KFOR 14, on a very successful train up and deployment. Keep up the GREAT WORK and continue to strive to improve each and every day you are in Kosovo!

“ N e v e r B r o k e n ”

&Col. Michael D. Schwartz, commanding Command Sgt. Maj. Abel Villesca

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Under my paw

Camp Bondsteel has a resource avail-able to Soldiers here that provides them

with an opportunity to bond with some little four-legged friends. That resource comes through the veterinary office, which takes care of the non-human creatures here.

While the primary mis-sion of the veterinary office is vaccinating local wildlife, a sec-ondary mission, and one that has a lot of Soldiers smiling, is the Camp Bondsteel Human Animal Bond Dog Program in the veterinarian’s office.

Camp Bondsteel Veterinary Treatment Facility, located in Bldg. 630 suite #6, has three local dogs for Soldiers to play with: Abby, Dante, and Hannah. The office is open to visitors during normal working hours between 0800 and 1700 on weekdays, 0800 and 1300 on Saturdays and requests can be made for other hours. The dogs can be reserved for individual playtime for up to an hour by signing a waiver stating you take responsibility for the animal, said Staff Sgt. Jerome A. Rabanal, Food Inspector.

“They’re from the local pop-ulation, but we work with them to civilize them,” said Maj. Donna DeBonis, Veterinary Officer in Charge. “Soldiers can actually come up here, sit down in our ‘living room’ and just hang out and play with the dogs.”

The dogs can be an asset for Soldiers having a tough time or needing to take their mind off of work for a while.

“Working with the therapy dogs is a great stress relief,” said Rabanal, “they can help calm us down when stress levels go up during the day.”

Spc. Andrew J. Gassner, a Sol-dier working in the personnel section of 111th Headquarters and Headquarters Company, spent a little time walking the dogs and playing with them.

“My kids would love these dogs, this is a great program. Everyone should know about these dogs,” said Gassner.

In addition to being great stress relievers, the dogs are really gentle and they have had a lot of Soldier interaction.

“Since the program started in July they’ve had over 3,000 Soldier contact hours,” said DeBonis.

Abby, Dante, and Han-nah have been vaccinated, groomed, dewormed, and are on preventative medi-cations, making them safe for Soldiers and civilians to pet and play with.

“Any animal that comes through here– I have the option of micro chipping for permanent (identification) purposes. I also medicate them with flea and tick pre-ventative,” said DeBonis.

The Human Animal Bond program is unique to Camp Bondsteel in two different ways. First, it is one of the few HABs in a deployed envi-ronment. Second, it is the only deployed bond program where local national dogs are used because rabies is almost unheard of in the Balkans region. The last case of human rabies in Kosovo was thirty years ago, said DeBonis.

Although the dogs in the HAB program are domes-ticated and safe to pet and play with, DeBonis cautioned against interact-ing with local animals.

“Roundworms are a big problem in Kosovo and you can be infested if you touch an infested animal then go off and eat without washing your hands,” said DeBonis.

Conditions here on Bond-steel and installation guidance have provided the opportunity for this program to flourish.

“There’s a lot of U.S. Army

regulations and doctrinal guidance on how to keep these dogs on Bondsteel. We have our own SOPs (Standard Oper-ating Procedures) and base policies signed by the prior commander,” said DeBonis.

DeBonis, who spends much of her free time towards devel-oping a training program for local nationals on how to run a humane society here in Kosovo encourages Soldiers to checkout their Facebook page by searching for “Camp Bondsteel Human Animal Bond Program” if they’re inter-ested in getting involved.

Soldiers can take a proactive outlook during their deploy-ment by getting involved in such activities as the Human Animal Bond Therapy Pro-gram or volunteering to help create a Kosovo Humane Society, said DeBonis.

For now Soldiers can visit the new Facebook page: Kosovo Humane Society and join the effort virtually. All are welcome to participate.

Spc. Andrew J. Gassner holds Abby, one of the three therapy dogs here on Bondsteel. The dogs are available for Soldiers on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

Spc. Andrew J. Gassner walks Abby and Hannah, two of the therapy dogs from the vet facility on Camp Bondsteel Kosovo. It’s a chance for Gassner to release some stress during a break from work.

Maj. Donna DeBonis poses with one of her puppies, Hannah

story and photos by Spc. John A. Montoya

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anna doo

Currently, I am the non-com-missioned officer in charge of the 200th Public Affairs Detachment, a position I’ve held for almost three years. I’ve always held a love and passion for visual creativity; graphic and web design, and photography. In addition, I fear I’ll never be able to satiate my thirst for travel and under-standing the unknown-to-me.

Thus, deployments such as this offer me the opportunity to travel, absorb the culture surrounding me, and do it all through the viewfinder and lens of a camera. I look forward to telling the story of our soldiers, multinational partners and people in Kosovo throughout the duration of this deployment.

Feel free to email me with s t o r y i d e a s , c o m m e n t s , concerns , or correct ions .

david sherwood

I am a Broadcast Specialist with 200th Public Affairs Detachment.

What that means is, instead of using a still camera like the print journalists, I use a video camera and make news stories that appear on television (i.e. Armed Forces Network). I also record audio for radio stories.

I’ve been in the Army since spring of 2008. I have been studying acting for the past three years.

After this deployment I plan to move to Los Angeles to further my education and video career.

casey staheli

I love to read and write, a n d I ’ m a n e w s j u n k y.

During my time in the Army I’ve come to love and respect the men and women who’ve volunteered to become part of the military family. I’ve seen the sacrifice military members make and I’ve seen the dedica-tion they have. Their actions, your actions, have garnered my respect and admiration.

When I learned the Utah National Guard had a Public Affairs unit I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to speak up for the military and be a voice for those in uniform. I enjoy try-ing to define and show the American public what a U.S. Soldier is. We come from dif-ferent backgrounds, we have different experiences and we perform different jobs. We are a diverse group that works together to accomplish varied tasks. I take pleasure in sharing the individual service members’ story with the U.S. populace. I also love relating to the pub-lic the similarities between Soldiers and civilians; that members of the military are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives.

valerie palaciosI grew up in San Antonio, Texas in a Hispanic neighborhood so it wasn’t until I went off to col-lege in Philadelphia, Pa. that I was exposed to other cul-tures and ways of life. I used to be very judgmental and had a very narrow way of look-ing at the world because all I knew was the Hispanic culture, so going away was definitely an enlightening experience.

The Army has also allowed me to travel plenty and has greatly enhanced my experience with learning more about the world and its diversity. Some experi-ences have had a strong impact on my life because they have really made me appreciate all the things we, as Americans, take for granted like indoor plumbing and electric i ty.

I am very happy to be here in Kosovo because it is a place full of history, culture and beauty that I will be able to share with my friends and family when I return home.

evan lane

I ’m writing this in a rush. As I speak, I’m hustling to get the layout done for this first edition of our ‘new & improved’ Guardian East .

Fingers flying over a key-board brings home my check on the civilian side, and I suppose it does here too.

At home I run a graphic design business; I build logos, brand identities and other things that sound like they belong in an episode of Mad Men. But I vol-unteered for this deployment because I’d rather be taking pic-tures and learning than sitting at home playing with Photoshop.

I joked with the other members of the PAD about just throwing a book list up here, and I fig-ure it wouldn’t be that far off. The world seems to unfold a new side of itself to me when-ever I read a new book– I’m able to see things in a new light.

I enjoy learning about all the different jobs that have to be accomplished to keep us run-ning, and I love to ‘talk shop’ about my job so if anybody wants to learn how to take better photos I’m always will-ing to lend a helping hand.

Meet the Public AffairsEach month The Guardian will feature a few soldiers from one of KFOR 14’s units. This month we’re introducing ourselves, so you can see what we do and give you an idea of what to submit.

john montoya

I’m just a regular guy from a small town. I like the usual red-neck stuff, but I enjoy reading and watching old movies as well as hiking, shooting and rid-ing motorcycles. I try to travel as much as possible and this deployment is an opportunity for me to see a part of the world I might not have seen otherwise.

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Self defense for self preservation

story by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo | photos by Spc. John A. Montoya

Spc. Anastasha Fox, as a team mem-ber of a Liaison Monitoring Team, practices knee kicks while Staff Sgt. Eric Solano, CAT-C instructor, holds a cushioned pad. 10

A shiver runs up your spine. That little voice deep inside your sub-conscious says to be

careful, be cautious, be aware. You instinctively look around for what may be causing your senses to react and see a large figure loping toward you with ma lic ious intent ions . You automatically react by estab-lishing a solid base with which to f ight back as the human figure is already too close for you to run away. The training and repetition of techniques learned in a self defense class unconsciously kick in and you are able to successfully fight off a would-be attacker and run for safety and assistance.

The training techniques that coursed through the potential victim’s veins were learned in a women’s self defense class taught on Camp Bondsteel April 12 and 14 by members of Task Force Falcon, Combat Arms Training Company. The highly skilled instructors hold quali-fications as military combative instructors as well as a wealth of civilian certifications for martial arts, self defense tech-niques, and numerous other law enforcement and personal protection training. Females wishing to build a skill set to ward of a potential attacker took the time to attend the training.

During the self defense class instruction, Staff Sgt. Kevin Johnson, CAT-C instructor, began by discussing methods to prevent such attacks by making oneself a so called “hard target”.

This means walking the streets and alleys of Camp Bond-steel in groups, trekking with an air of confidence, and being aware of the surroundings at all t imes. Students learned multiple techniques to employ

in order to fight to get away.

Johnson ment ioned t hat t here a re mu lt iple met h-o d s of s e l f de f en s e a nd students need to find tech-niques that work for them.

“My way is not the only way; it ’s just another way,” said Johnson. “You need to learn techniques that you can put into practice should any-thing bad happen to you.”

He added the importance of learning mult iple tech-niques so that women have an arsenal of options with w h i c h t o f a l l b a c k o n .

He a lso said t hat prac-t ice is the key to success.

“The more you practice the basic skills taught in this class, the more confident you should feel. You have to be able to sim-ply react in a situation instead of stopping to think about what you should do,” Johnson said.

According to the “Depart-ment of D e f en s e A n nu a l Report on Sexual Assault in the Military” for fiscal year 2010, there were a total of

3,158 reports of sexual assault involving service members.

Employing basic preven-t ive mea su r es a nd bei ng prepared if an attack should occur are two ways that could bring those numbers down.

The self defense class is designed to do exactly that; keep the numbers of sexual assault on Camp Bondsteel non- ex i s t ent . T he cou r se taught fresh techniques that have been proven effective.

“There are quite a few new techniques that I had never seen before and some use-ful awareness tips,” said Sgt. Patricia Salazar, 75th Combat Support Hospital ground ambu-lance non-commissioned officer in charge. “It was helpful that the male instructors interacted with us. That usually doesn’t happen. But you could get that strength and positioning where you could actually see how the moves really do work. It’s very helpful. I was very surprised!”

S a l a z a r a l s o r e c o m -mende d t h i s c la ss t o a l l f e m a l e s s t a t i o n e d h e r e .

“I think once they came here they’d see it’s not wrestling or ground fighting techniques. I think they would be some-what surprised,” said Salazar.

C A T- C w i l l b e o f f e r -ing addit ional self defense c l a s s e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e deployment as well as mul-tiple combative style classes.

Soldiers should ask their unit’s training non-commissioned officer for dates, or check out the MWR boards in the South Town and Medal of Honor Hall gyms for upcoming training.

A hike of Faithstory and photos by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo

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From the vantage point on the balcony of a local restaurant a half dozen tour buses could be seen

piling into the narrow streets of Gornja Stubla / Stubëll e Epërme, Kosovo on Apr. 9. The tour buses released their contents of passengers into a multi-hued mass of families young and old, gaggles of friends and devout religious persons in the dress of their worship. Fashionable women were seen swapping high heeled shoes for practical sneakers. Picnic lunches were clutched in one hand with the other occupied by the hand of a small child. The hundreds of people arriving in town by bus mingled with resi-dents and those who arrived by automobile to participate in a mass movement up the hillside above the small town.

A zigzagging trail cutting across and up the mountain could be seen from Stubëll e Epërme dotted with markers along the way. The markers are tablets depicting the scenes of the Stations of the Cross, a

religious remembrance hon-oring the passion of Jesus.

The Stations of the Cross trail up the mountain is visited daily by some, said Robert Martini, a local shop owner. Martini said there was a time when it was forbidden, but now that there is freedom of movement; wor-shippers frequent the steep trail especially during par-ticularly holy times. Martini’s wife, Suzanna and two of their young sons participated in the Apr. 9 pilgrimage. Their voices mixed with the hundreds of other worshippers in response to readings by the religious leaders at each of the stations. It was as though the prayers spoken by the devout were carried up and away by the breeze that accompanied them.

At the top of the mountain, and the end of the Stations of the Cross, a mass was held for those who had made the sacri-fice to walk the steep distance. Catholic leaders dressed in white vestments with deep pur-ple stoles offered the service on

the hilltop standing below an erected cross at least 15-feet tall. The brightly shining sun was covered momentarily by skittering clouds, however the mood remained stoic yet festive.

After the service and nour-ishment of the soul, it was time to nourish the body with lunch at a local establishment that has been part of the face of Stubëll e Epërme for many years. Lunch began with fresh tomato, cucumber, olive and local mozzarella cheese salad.

This was followed by cold meats and cheese platters. The main course consisted of serving dishes filled with meats grilled and fried in numerous fashions.

The Soldiers and interpret-ers from Liaison Monitoring Team 4 munched happily away on the flavorful food and remi-nisced about the day spent with the people in Kosovo and relished the fact that many more days were to fol-low during the deployment.

Soldiers with Liaison Monitoring Team 4 participate in a pre-Easter pilgrimage up a mountain flanking the city of Gornja Stubla/Stubell e Eperme. The pilgrimage stopped at monuments along the way denoting the fourteen stations of the cross in Catholicism.

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Lt. Col. Kevin Bricker, left, commander of KFOR 14 Task Force Aviation, uncases the

company colors along with Command Sgt. Maj. Troy Johnson, KFOR 14 Task Force

Aviation sergeant major. (Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)

Camp Bondsteel gains new leadership

TF

Av

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ion

Fin

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EOD

HHC

KFOR 13’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team’s commander helps Col. Francisco Neuman detonate a charge during the EOD Transition of Authority ceremony. The cloud may be seen in the background.

(Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)

The transfer of authority ceremony from the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Head-quarters and Headquarters Company, KFOR 13, to KFOR 14's 111th Maneuver Enhance-ment Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company took place Mar. 24. Commanders from both rotations offered congratulations on a job well done, and expectations for the current rotation.(Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)

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Hundreds of service members representing ten countries, participated in the off icial transfer of authority ceremony

of Multinational Battle Group East from Col. Francisco J. Neuman to Col. Michael D. Schwartz here, Apr. 2. The MNBG E sector of responsibility, including all of Kosovo, supports the NATO mission to maintain an envi-ronment of protection and wellbeing as well as allowing for freedom of movement for the people in Kosovo.

The transfer of authority is rich in history and ritual, dating back to the eighteenth century during the reign of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Dur-ing that time, flags were created with symbols and colors unique to each unit. To the flag as a representation of the unit, and to the commander, sol-diers would dedicate their loyalty and trust. During a transfer of authority or a change of command, the flag would be passed to the individual taking command showing a shift of authority.

Fresh Focus

story by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo | photos by Spc. Evan V. Lane

Responsibility of MNBG E transferred to new leadership

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This act ion was per-formed with the unit present so all could see who was assum-

ing responsibility of the group. The allegiance of the troops belonged to the f lag and the leader who held it. This tradi-tion is still in practice today.

As part of the transfer of authority ceremony, the com-mander performs a review of the troops’ condition and state of readiness prior to battle. During the Apr. 2 ceremony, the Kosovo Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Erhard Buehler was afforded the opportunity to review the incoming MNBG E Kosovo Forces 14 soldiers. Standing in front of him were soldiers from France, Germany, Greece (Hel las), Morocco, Poland, Turkey, United States of A mer ic a a nd U k r a i ne . T h e s e n a t i o n s c o m p r i s e MNBG E now led by Schwartz.

Schwartz, of Clovis, New Mexico, commander of the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and the soldiers under his command, officially accepted responsibility of MNBG E from Neuman, Ponce, Puerto Rico, commander of the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Bri-gade, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the soldiers in his battle group.

“It is an honor to assume the KFOR mission, and I look forward to continuing to build on the work accomplished by my predecessors,” said Schwartz. “It is apparent that KFOR has proven its ability to maintain a safe and secure environment as well as ensur-ing f reedom of movement for all residents in Kosovo.”

More than three months of training and years of prepa-ration led to this stage of a

year-long deployment for the U.S. Soldiers representing 22 states and U.S. territories. Home station training began in January for many of the Soldiers which led to collective training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and then to the Joint Maneuver Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, before arriving at Camp Bond-steel, Kosovo, in late March.

“We have come together from all over the United States and have built a strong, cohesive organization,” said Schwartz. “As commander of Multina-tional Battle Group East I look forward to building a strong relationship with all our mul-tinational partners. Together we are a more mobile and deployable battle group, able to respond on a moment ’s notice anywhere at any time.”

Prior to and during the ceremony, the multinational

aspect of the NATO mission here was apparent. A U.S. Soldier, 2nd Lt. Chris-topher Tebo, a platoon leader of the Maneuver Contingency, and French soldier, Sgt. Quillien, a patrol leader in the French Contingency were dis-cussing their duties in their respective formations. Both Tebo and Quillien lead patrols and missions and both are looking forward to the deploy-ment as a way to gain more experience.

“ I w i l l le a r n a lot ; f r om my Soldiers, f rom my chain of com-m a nd , a nd f r om ot her f r iend ly Soldiers who are around,” Tebo said.

Quillen added the same sentiment of gaining experience for his fellow ser-geants, and for himself while here in Kosovo. Tebo and Quillien are both glad to have the opportunity to meet soldiers from many parts of the world adding to the overall experience of the deployment.

The ceremony itself was a multina-tional affair with the Greek (Hellas) Band playing the sharp resounding notes of all the ceremonial music and marches, and each nation standing in formation responding to the com-mands of their respective leaders with crisp movements. The multihued uniforms aligned in front of Buehler, Schwartz and Neuman were all dif-ferent, yet when mixed together in the melting pot of the NATO mission create a force focused on providing a sense of security for those in Kosovo.

“It’s an honor for me to lead Mul-tinational Battle Group East as we represent the best of the international community,” said Schwartz. “We come from many areas of the world and from many different cultures with a shared goal of maintaining a safe and secure environment with freedom of movement throughout Kosovo.”

As the soldiers of KFOR 14 wish those who comprised KFOR 13 fare-well, they look to the months ahead and the mission set forth before them. The professionals will spend their time here maintaining the liberty of move-ment for those in Kosovo, allowing for the people to conduct their daily business with a sense of safety and working with the institutions in Kosovo to continue to grow and strengthen.

Maj. Gen. Erhard Bühler, right, commander of Kosovo Forces, congratulates Col. Michael D. Schwartz on his assumption of command of Multinational Battle Group East.

Transfer of authority ceremony between KFOR 13 and KFOR 14 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo on Apr. 2. Each coun-try within Multinational Battle Group East participated in the ceremony rooted in military history transfering the responsibility of leadership from one commander to another.

19

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The Liason Monitoring Team Soldiers receive their patches during the LMT Transfer of Authority. (Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)

Sgt. Bradley Kalbinger raises the 126th MP Co. Forward Guidon. (Photo courtesy of Puerto Rico National Guard)

Capt. Sergio Hands unrolls C. Com-pany 1/200th’s guidon during their

Transfer of Authority. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)

Col. Mary Bolk, commander of Task Force Medical, and 1st Sgt. James Lawrence prepare Task Force Medi-cal’s guidon. (Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)

Liaison Monitoring Team

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Ch a r l i e C o m p a n y , 1/200th Infantry Bri-gade, played the part of Kosovo police dur-

ing a quick react ion force validation exercise at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo on Apr. 6.

The exercise tested the Ger-man Contingency’s ability to react rapidly and appropriately to quell disturbances that may affect safety throughout Kosovo.

4th Platoon of C Co. was asked to put its own riot quell-ing skills to the test during the multinational exercise. They formed ef fect ive lines and rebuffed the rioters until Maj. Omar Ruiz, the exercise plan-ner for Multinational Battle Group-East, decided it was time to test the Germans’ abilities.

Ruiz called in a request

f o r i m m e d i a t e s u p p o r t , which brought in the Ger-man platoon from Camp Novo Selo in nor t her n Kosovo.

Upon la nding , t he G er-man soldiers reinforced 4th Platoon and allowed them to pull back from the riot .

During the exercise, mock rioters tested several fac-ets of the German platoon’s response. Each soldier had to respond accordingly to ver-bal taunts, frontal attack and thrown projectiles. The con-tingent was also required to appropriately call for medical support of injured comrades.

Task Force Medical’s Sgt . Bud Cordova aided the Ger-man team leader in this task, helping him call in a airborne medical evacuation request

for a s imu lated c a sua lt y.

During each part of the vali-dation, multinational forces worked together to provide an environment that truly tested the soldiers’ abilities.

The soldiers of the Ger-man platoon succeeded at all tasks presented to them a n d a r e c u r r e n t l y v a l i -dated t hrough September.

Spc. Joseph Serna, of C. Company, plays the part of a Kosovo policeman during the validation.

Task Force Aviation pilots land an UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to offload German soldiers during the Germans’ QRF validation exercise.

U . S . S o l d i e rs support peers

German riot control unit tested at Camp Bondsteel

The transfer of author-ity ceremony between t he 192nd L i a i son M o n i t o r i n g Te a m ,

from Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and the 717th Liaison Monitoring Team, from Roswell, N.M., took place at the theater here Mar. 26. The 717th is now respon-sible for LMT operations and will be working alongside sol-diers and units from other NATO and allied countries.

The teams have an impor-tant mission here in Kosovo often acting as a resource to the people and keeping track of what normal l i fe is like in the villages, cities and municipalities through-out their respective areas o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .

“Their mission is to feel the pulse of Kosovo and to get to know the people and listen to their feelings and opi n ion s about d i f fer ent issues,” said Lt. Col. Daniel M. Stark, Deputy Joint Regional Det achment Comma nder/Lia ison Monitor ing Team Commander. “They are also a resource for the communities that they serve, to help facili-tate communication between i n s t i t u t ion s i n K o s ovo .”

With KFOR 14 taking over t he Mu lt i n at ion a l B at t le Group East’s monitoring team operation, a new command structure is being implemented throughout MNBG E’s area of interest which is called the Joint Regional Detachment or JRD.

As a result of this com-mand restructuring, the JRDs will impact how the battle group works with the moni-tor ing teams, said St ark .

“At gate two, the JRDs are the landowners, it ’s their area of operations. The battle groups have areas of interest, so it’s important that the battle groups keep the JRDs informed of their activities,” said Stark.

“JRD East is a very unique J R D w i t h i n t h e o v e r a l l structure because the JRD commander is Col. (Michael D.) Schwartz (MNBG E com-mander) and the battle group commander is Col. Schwartz.”

A lt hough t he command structure has changed for the monitoring teams, their mis-sion has not. The teams are still structured as they were in prior KFOR rotations, said Stark.

In addit ion to the com-ma nd r es t r uc t u r i ng , t he monitoring teams also have the challenge of working with a mindset many Americans may not be accustomed to.

“When we see a problem or see something that needs to be fixed, our inclination is to go fix it,” said Stark. “Now LMT’s are having to retool, re-learn and be more diplomatic and facili-tate people in Kosovo helping t hemselves . So I ac t ual ly think it’s more challenging.”

Some aspects of the moni-t or i n g t e a m’s work w i l l remain the same. As in the past, they will still be an open resource for local communi-ties to use and speak with.

“We’re available and we main-tain office hours and we have discreet field offices in many of the municipalities, so citizens, officials and anybody can come visit the LMT’s,” said Stark.

“We’re available for them to do that, but we also go out and initiate contact and meet with people and solicit their views and opinions.”

New teamtakes on

responsibilitystory and photo by John A. Montoya

story and photos by Spc. Evan V. Lane

Staff Sgt. Andrew L. Quesada, a member of Team 4 on the 717th Liaison Monitoring Team based in Roswell,

N.M., places his monitoring team patch under the N.M. National Guard patch as they take over operations from

the Puerto Rico National Guard.

24 25

The first day running a new mission can be har-rowing or difficult, but the Soldiers of Liaison

Monitoring Team 5-4, fell into their new roles as monitoring team members with ease and skill. Their affable and inviting personalities allowed the team members of 5-4 to quickly take on their roles as facilitators of resources between those who need assistance and the variety of organizations and govern-ment agencies who provide it.

After the morning briefing and daily vehicle inspection, team 5-4 rolled out of Camp Bondsteel with their transla-tor in tow. Team leader Sgt. 1st Class Wil l iam Rosado was ready to meet the chal-lenges of the day. He said, “The most important thing you need is confidence and the

ability to speak with people.”

On the way to Ferizaj, Rosado and team member Spc. Socorro G. Loyafierro stopped at the Task Force Hellas Camp to pick up another member of the team, Greek Master Sgt. Aris Tsam-peris, a native of Kavala, Greece.

“He makes our team kind of cool, because we are one of the few teams that are mul-tinational,” said Loyafierro. “He (Tsamperis) brings a lot to the team with his experience and years of military service.”

Ts a m p e r i s s a i d w o r k-ing with U.S. Soldiers was a good experience and he had great rapport with his team.

“ We u n d e r s t a n d e a c h other and we are friends,” said Tsamperis. “It ’s been a

very nice experience work-ing w it h A mer icans, t hey are all ver y professional .”

When team 5-4 arrived in Ferizaj they linked up with one of their local points of contact and proceeded to discuss what was happening in the area. Rosado found out about the Disbave/Lisnaje Community Center on the outskirts of the city which is geared towards helping t he et hnic minor-it y Ashkali/Roma children in Ferizaj. Team 5-4 was also informed of the fact that many of the teenaged youth were going to participate in activities celebrating International Envi-ronment Day on Apr. 1 in Ferizaj.

After their meeting, Moni-toring Team 5-4 decided to pay the community center a visit and speak with the direc-

tors and teachers in person. They wanted to get an idea of what the non-governmen-tal organizations were doing and how they were helping the locals, said Loyafierro.

Loyaf ierro also said the center was sponsored by an organization called Caritas, which is a Catholic based chari-ties organization designed to reduce poverty through edu-cation and by providing basic health care. This particular community center provided the local children with an addi-tional resource to help them with their schoolwork and it also provided them with medicine and immunizations.

Ndrek Augustini, one of the directors of the Disbave/Lisnaje Community Center, said, “We check all the kids to make sure they are not spreading disease.”

Aug ust ini a lso said t he clinic in the community cen-ter can treat 50 to 60 patients a day and the medicine is

supplied by the government.

The community center has several classrooms where chi ldren were engaged in a variet y of act ivit ies and lessons, one of which was read-ing. The classes ranged from preschool to fourth grade.

Children in Ferde Ze Goli-gi’s class were reading books written in Albanian and were attentively studying. Gatlimete Asllani’s preschool class was circled around as she held their attention for her lessons.

A sllani said, “They (t he preschoolers) are div ided into smaller groups, so it ’s easier to work with them.”

W hen the team was f in-ished reviewing the facility, they spoke with the directors to discuss the impact of the center on the city of Ferizaj.

During the monitoring team’s meeting with the directors, the coordinator of activities, Burim

Karmeta said, “Our primary goal is to instill educational awareness in the students and we have a strateg y in place to facilitate that goal.”

After the discussions con-cluded, the team decided to break for lunch and do some local reconnaissance of their a rea of oper at ion s . T hey disc ussed what had been accomplished that day and prepared for the next day.

“It was a good day, we got some really good information, spoke with some NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) and we went to go visit the com-munity center,” said Loyafierro.

When the day came to a close, Loya f ier ro dec ided he had a good first day and w a s lo ok i n g f or w a r d t o the rest of the deployment.

“I can say it was a good expe-rience and I’m going to enjoy this mission,” said Loyafierro.

LMT 5-4: Day 1story and photos by Spc. John A. Montoya

Sgt. 1st Class William Rosado, the team leader of Liason Monitoring Team 5-4, and Spc. Socorro G. Loyafierro dis-cuss the activities of the Ashkali Community Center on Mar. 28. They find out what role the center fills for the children who use it and what resources the center is lacking.

A student at the Ashkali Community Center takes a quick break from his studies. The children receive education and healthcare at the community center.

26 27

It is amazing what can be accomplished while we are away from our friends and families. Some Soldiers on

this Kosovo Forces rotation will finish up a lot of school, some will progress their mili-tary careers and most will find time to get back in shape again. Of course, the mission is first and everything else is second-ary, but the operational tempo in Kosovo allows for some extra-curricular act ivit ies.

Fitness is an important part of operational readiness, mission accomplishment, and indi-vidual readiness. As “Citizen Soldiers” we aren’t necessar-ily afforded 90 minutes every day for physical training like our active duty counterparts. A deployment is a perfect oppor-tunity to spend time getting into shape. This article will help you in getting started.

If you are just getting started in your exercise regimen, here are some tips you might want to consider. Avoid over-doing it, this is called over training. If you have gone from sitting at your desk back home, to exer-cising for an hour every day, that may be too much. This may cause some muscle sore-ness, which is an easy mark of over training, or you may have some joint pain, which could be a sign that you are causing some damage to your body.

With cardiovascular exer-cise, try not to increase time by more than 10% a week.

It is also important to look at other forms of exercise that cause less strain on joints and

less damage to muscle. For example, running every day for an inexperienced runner can really cause some problems. Instead, ride the bike on your days off or the elliptical. Both of these are non-weight bear-ing exercises, and much less damaging to your body, but still train the heart. If you are an outdoors person, then spend 30 minutes walking up and down Radar (aka “Cardiac”) Hill. Your heart rate will be elevated but walking is easier on the joints.

In regard to resistance train-ing, you can elicit a certain response by how you do your workout. If your goal is to get purely stronger then doing a resistance training workout with weight that only allows you to accomplish 6-8 repeti-tions is where you want to be. If muscle building is your goal then the 8-10 repetition range is where you want to be. If muscu-lar endurance is your goal then 15-20 repetitions will elicit that response. My recommenda-tion is that you incorporate all facets of strength by doing one of those workouts per week. For example, take a strength work-out plan with 6-8 repeti-tions and lower the amount of weight used and work on mus-cular endurance by doing 15-20 repetitions of each exercise.

Changing your workouts fre-quently will avoid falling into a rut. Change up your workout every 6 weeks (the body adapts in about this amount of time). It could be as simple as going from flat bench with bar to dumb-bells, or leg press to squats.

Ensure to keep track of what you are doing weekly. Your program may be simple enough that you have remembered your lifts and weights in your head. If your program is more com-plicated, jot your workout down

and then track it. This helps you look back and see your progress.

Engaging in activities you like will help you stay motivated. T ry to find someone with similar interests and goals so that you can keep each other accountable and motivated. Sometimes it is discouraging to have a workout partner that is at a completely different level of fitness than you might be. Staying moti-vated is the most important part of all. It is important to try to create a habit that you can continue once you return home.

You will find that after the first week or two of exercising you will feel better through-out the day. Your mind will be clearer when you are work-ing. Your clothes will fit better and your outlook will improve.

Exercising is a powerful med-ication but just remember they haven’t figured out how to bot-tle it yet so you have to get out there and do it. Good Luck!!

So l d i e r s a t t a c h e d t o the Puerto Rican 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade joined locals in

dancing for fun and exercise on Mar. 26 at the University of Pristina gymnasium. Over 100 people of all backgrounds were in attendance for the last class led by Spc. Emilio Rivera.

Rivera, a Soldier attached to Multinational Battle Group East for KFOR 13, has been leading dance exercise classes here for the majority of his deployment.

“I started offering Zumba™ classes to Soldiers when I got to Camp Bondsteel,” he said. “Af ter a few months, several people in my chain of command approached me and said, ‘This is great. How would you like to teach it to the communities as well?’ I

jumped at the opportunity.”

Rivera said he has been instructing Zumba™ in Puerto Rico for four years. Zumba™ is one of many types of fit-ness programs that focus on high-energy dance in an effort to make exercising more fun.

All ages were welcome to dance at the University, and the audience clapped along as the participants worked out . R ivera said he would miss teaching the class when he returns to Puerto Rico.

KFOR 13 is being succeeded by KFOR 14 Soldiers in its mission to ensure a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.

Rivera is planning on hand-ing over the reins of instruction to a member of KFOR 14 to

keep the dancing , exercise and fun going for both Sol-diers and local communities.

“I teach two messages at these classes: everyone enjoy and everyone dance,” said Rivera.

“I ’ve loved it . It ’s won-derful to watch all kinds of people and ethnic groups com-ing together just to dance.”

Dancing Together

Soldiers from the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade join Pristina locals in a dance-fitness class led by Spc. Emilio Rivera.

Rivera jumped at the chance to lead dance classes in Kosovo during his deployment.

story and photos by Spc. Evan V. Lane

FitnessCPT Jason D. Barber, fitness expert and personal trainer, speaks to Soldiers on how to stay fit while deployed.

Capt. Jason D. Barber: Certified Physician’s Assistant and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

28 29

Q&A As Soldiers, we all have an indi-vidual responsibility to ensure that we are physically condi-tioned and prepared to perform when called upon. This means that we must work to stay phys-ically fit to go beyond routine or administrative functions as our mission dictates. It also means that we need to keep ourselves healthy and free from injuries that take us out of action and render us unable to perform the full range of duties required of us. Striking that balance is where the challenge lies.

Injuries can occur when conducting physical training. The worst of these types of injuries over the years here at Camp Bondsteel have been the unfortunate result of Soldiers participating in extracurricu-lar sports activities. Some of these past injuries include frac-tures, sprains, strains, hernias, dehydration, and even cardio-vascular events. The good news is that these accidents can often be prevented. Here are a few tips for what you can do to prevent injuries when conducting PT:

1 Dedicate time in your workout to stretching, warm up, and cool down

2 Include exercises that strengthen the core of your body

3 Balance your workout with both cardio and muscle strengthening exercises

4 Gradually build on your condition-ing over the course of weeks and months

5 Set realistic goals and reach new plateaus to avoid overexertion

6 Drink water to replace loss due to sweating

7 Maintain a nutritious diet to re-place body salts

Extracurricular sports are a great way to relieve stress and build unit cohesion. When com-peting we need to keep things in perspective and consider the

potential for injuring ourselves and our fellow Soldiers. Here are a few things we can do to avoid serious sports related injuries:

1 Wear protective gear (i.e., basket-ball shoes, eye protection, helmet, pads, weight lifting belt)

2 Avoid hard impacts and unneces-sary roughness

3 Know the rules of your sport be-fore playing

4 Set limitations to avoid unneces-sary injuries (i.e., no sliding into base, play “flag” football; not

“tackle” football)5 Ensure that games are officiated

(i.e., basketball, soccer)6 Don’t play if you’re already in-

jured; let yourself heal

The most common injuries resulting from physical activi-ties are musculoskeletal in nature. The most severe of these types of injuries, such as frac-tures and dislocations require immobilization (splinting) and emergency medical treatment. From DSN dial “911” or ”3778” on Camp Bondsteel or if using a cell phone dial “038-5133-3778” for emergency response to these severe injuries. Other musculoskeletal injuries, such as sprains/strains, pulled mus-cles, or joint injury (ligament, cartilage, or meniscus dam-age) can be mild, moderate, or severe. When these injuries do happen, taking the right actions quickly can help to begin the healing process. Seek medical care for proper diag-nosis and treatment of injuries. When applying first aid, the objective is to limit inflamma-tion and prevent actions that make your condition worse. Think of the acronym PRICE:

• Protection – Stop playing and putting weight on the injured body part that can make the injury worse

• Rest – Torn muscle, tendon, and/or ligament fibers need time to repair themselves

• Ice – Applying ice both limits swelling by reducing blood flow to an area and controls pain by activating temperature receptors thus overriding pain receptors

• Compression – Wrapping an injured joint in an elastic bandage helps limit swelling and stabilizes injured tissues; if you feel throb-bing pain, the bandage is too tight and should be loosened

• Elevation – Raise the injured body part above the heart to limit swell-ing. For example, place a cushion under your sprained ankle while lying supineOther musculoskeletal inju-

ries can have an insidious onset and generally result from overuse, such as different forms of tendinitis or frozen shoulder. First, if it hurts to do something, then stop doing it. Seek medical care for situ-ations that don’t resolve in a rea sonable t ime f ra me.

Camp Bondsteel has much to offer us in the way of gyms and recreational sports activi-ties. This is a great place for each of us to improve our indi-vidual physical fitness before our tour of duty is complete and we head back home. We can also create memorable experiences in the spirit of com-petition which is what many of us are looking for as part of our military life. We can do all of these things and stay safe too!

Maj. Ethan Gallery, officer in charge of the Camp Bond-steel pharmacy, answers soldiers’ questions regard-ing the efficacy of workout supplements.

Question: What are supple-ments?

Answer: They’re basically anything that hasn’t been ap-proved by the FDA that people take for some kind of thera-peutic use. There are several different categories of supple-ments, one being those that are used mostly in the body building realm.

Question: What does “not being approved by the FDA” imply about a pill?

Answer: Well, the FDA sets two criteria that a manufac-turer has to meet if it wants its product to be approved by the FDA: “does it work?” and “is it safe?” When manufactur-ers don’t send their products through the approval process, you have to question why. They’re either lacking on the safety issue or they’re lack-ing on the effectiveness. And when you read the over-the-top claims that these supple-ments make, they’re probably lacking in efficacy.

Question: Which claims are excessive?

Answer: Anything that deals with massive muscle build-ing without work is typically not factual. You have to work to build muscle. The same thing is true with tremendous weight loss. There are people who are so desperate to lose weight that they will take

these claims at face value. Many of the products I’ve seen claim steroid-like effective-ness. Most of those products are either not recommended by the FDA or have been banned by the FDA. They’re pretty bad news. They can cause all sorts of issues with the liver. Hydroxycut™ and S-Drol™ are both examples of products that the FDA has recommended against using because they’ve been linked to liver damage. Andro ™ as well.

Question: A few years ago, ephedra-based products were banned for weight loss, despite being considered effective. Why was that?

Answer: Several medical stud-ies proved that those pills caused heart problems and liver problems.

Question: What about the safety of “ephedra-free” weight loss pills?

Answer: The things manufac-turers use instead of ephedra - ma huang, green tea extract, psuedoephedra, bitter orange - they all basically get convert-ed to ephedrine or ephedra like products in the body. So even though they don’t have ephedra in them, they can still be dangerous just like ephe-dra-based pills.

Question: So far this has been mainly what NOT to take. Are there any supplements that can be useful during working out?

Answer: Working out isn’t so much a supplement thing as it is a nutritional situation. Most doctors recommend a decent

multivitamin supplement. If your goal is to build muscle mass, I’d also suggest whey protein. To get the amount of protein you need to build muscle mass, you’d need to eat a lot of meat. With that comes a lot of fat as well and whey protein is a good way to avoid the extra fat.

Question: Any recommenda-tions for the weight loss side of things?

Answer: Not for supplements. Honestly no. I’d say eating smaller meals more times a day and at least three to five servings of fruits and vegeta-bles. Couple that with regular exercise and that’s about it.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Answer: Proper nutrition and a good workout plan are far more important than the wide variety of supplements avail-able. They’re not the wonder drugs people make them out to be.

SafetyMaj. Harvey Johnson, MNBG E safety officer

Maj. Ethan Gallery, pharmacy officer in charge

30 31

Ca m p B o n d s t e e l …f i n a l l y ! We ’ v e p u t Camp Atterbury, Ind., a nd Joi nt Ma neuver

Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, behind us – thank GOD! Though both had their moments, we’ve all learned valuable, unforgettable lessons.

The Army has seven excellent values to guide our actions as Soldiers: loyalty, duty, respect, self less service, honor, integ-rit y and personal courage. These values guide our behav-ior as we serve our command and interact with staff sections and units to fulfill missions. Life based upon Army values is important at the lowest, high-est and all levels. Living the Army values is the minimum standard and aligns our efforts with our commander’s vision, mission, goals and objectives.

Two individuals, among many, remain perpetual reminders of living the Army values with an attitude of optimism. “…In 1776, the Continental Con-gress picked this untested officer to be the general of the Continental Army—George Washington,”[1] our first Com-mander-in-Chief. Washington and his troops lived the Army values in the midst of severely adverse conditions. This Army adapted and overcame to form our United States of America.

Jose Quintero, a native of New Mexico and an American POW in a Japanese Prison Camp dur-ing WWII, lived the Army values in the face of horrible and dire conditions. His actions led to American lives being saved and to their subsequent freedom!

Our lives are f illed with obstacles and tests, sharp

turns, sudden starts and stops, both uphill and downhill grades and often much waiting. If you travel the road, you know the bumps, yet at times, we may find ourselves charting a course we have not yet traveled. Much of King David’s life is recorded in several Old Testament books of the Bible. He experienced cel-ebration and heartache, joy and sorrow, victory and defeat. His sins are recorded, but God for-gave and restored him. David concluded that God works through all times in our lives.

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my Life.”[2]

Back home our families await us as we focus on completion of our mission here. Several holidays have passed while apart from our families and several lie ahead. As always, let us communicate often with our families and friends with optimism, faith, hope and love.

As a Soldier, I base my life upon faith in the Savior, Creator and Sustainer and incorporate the Army values. Both work simultaneously to guide and order the course of my life activ-ities. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from begin-ning to end.”[3] May we live each day by the Army values, from an eternal perspective, with the bigger picture in mind! Be Blessed and Stay Strong!

– CH (CPT) Jeffrey A. Hicks

U n i t M i n i s t r y T e a m ( U M T ) C o n t a c t i n f o :

CH ( Maj .) Michael Lind-say / DSN 5008 / cel l # 0 4 9 -7 74 - 6 4 6 , M N B G E Task Force Falcon Chaplain

CH (Capt.) Jeffrey Hicks / DSN 5007 / cell # 049-774-660, M N B G E T a s k F o r c e Fa l c o n D e p u t y C h a p l a i n

CA (Spc.) Heath Wragge / DSN 3538 / cell # 049-774-557, M N B G E T a s k F o r c e Falcon Chaplain A ssist ant

CA (SPC) Michael Aton / DSN 5009 / cell # 049-774-542, M N B G E T a s k F o r c e Falcon Chaplain A ssist ant

You’r e goi n g t o d ie . Maybe not today, and probably not tomorrow, but someday you will

die. You’ll leave everything you own behind: the house, the car, the book collection, the fine china, the sparkling jewelry. All of it will linger long after you’re gone. And that’s why you should consider an estate plan.

Many of us do not under-st and t he impor t ance nor reason behind estate planning. Estate planning is important because what you do now will help spare your loved ones from additional responsibilities in the future, especially when they should not be expected to make difficult decisions. While no one is required to draft an estate plan, a good estate plan will help you navigate compli-cated state and federal laws and provide for those people as you choose, not as the gov-ernment decides. An estate plan typically incorporates the basic principles of asset pro-tection and control. A good estate plan incorporates insur-ance planning, family planning, health and welfare planning and even retirement planning.

A last will and testament is a guiding document often included in an estate plan. A last will and testament is one of the best ways to ensure your estate is settled and distrib-uted according to your wishes. A properly drafted last will and testament designates spe-cifically who will receive your assets. It can be used to create a trust for the benefit of your chil-dren or even make charitable donations upon your death. It may even prevent unanticipated disagreements after your death. A will created ten years ago,

however, may no longer hold the protections it did at the time it was drafted. It is important to regularly update your last will and testament to verify its applicability with current law.

For those who choose to draft a will, there are many options available. Basic pre-printed and ready-to-fill-in wills are available, but quite often these documents will not provide you with the needed level of customization. Your last will and testament is an opportu-nity for you to decide upon the disposition of your assets, and a properly drafted will allows more f lexibility. A properly drafted last will and testa-ment should incorporate who should be guardian of children.

Often times single people with no children do not think they need to have an estate plan but this is simply not the case. Without an estate plan, your property will go by opera-tion of the laws of the state in which you are a resident at the time of your death. This often times may lead to both parents, regardless of whether they were involved in your life, being enti-tled to your property and assets. This in some cases is not what the individual wants to happen.

Besides a last will and tes-tament being an integral part of your estate plan, you need to have mechanisms in place to protect your personal well being. Always ensure that you have enough life insur-ance and disability insurance to provide for the lost income that would not be available if you were no longer able to provide for your family.

Also, when considering your

estate plan, documents should be prepared in the event that you cannot make decisions on your own behalf. These docu-ments include: a living will, health care proxy, and on many occasions, a springing power of attorney. A springing power of attorney is a specialized power of attorney which only becomes effective when you are incapaci-tated, so it is very limiting as far as when it can be used, unlike a general power of attorney.

After creating these docu-ments and keeping them current with varying laws, there is still one more common reason to update these documents

— changes in your life. Mar-riages, children, divorces, and major increases or decreases in your net worth are all rea-sons to revisit and possibly revise your existing documents. Drafting and maintaining your estate plan is time well spent both for you and your family.

Chaplain

1 General Richard B. Myers (RET.), USAF. USO: On Patrol: Spring 2010, pp. 60-61.

2 Holy Bible, Psalm 42:83 Holy Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:11

JAGCapt. Donnial Hinds, legal assistance & claims officer

Chaplain (Capt.) Jeffrey Hicks, Deputy Chaplain