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INSID E
THIS
ISSUE:
- CDR’s
Corner
1
- CSM’s
Forum
2
- Soldier’s
Angels
- Rear-D
- Lunch with
The KAW
3
3
4-5
Saint
Patrick’s
Day
6-7
Soldier
Photos
8-9
T A S K F O R C E
W O R K H O R S E
6 0 3 R D A S B , 3 C A B , 3 I D
S T . P A T R I C K ’ S D A Y
E D I T I O N The Workhorse Chronicle 1 M A R 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
The Commander’s Corner by LTC Andy Gignilliat, TF Workhorse CDR
February proved to be an exceptional month
for the Workhorse Team. Every Sol-
dier within our unit continues to
proudly serve their Nation and their
teammates. As their commander, I
couldn’t be more impressed with the
team. While spread across six loca-
tions within Afghanistan, our Sol-
diers continue to provide world-class
logistics, communication, training
and maintenance support to the 3rd
Combat Aviation Brigade and our
Kandahar Air Wing Partners.
Whether it’s the Soldiers of HSC within our
ground maintenance partnership, motorpool,
battalion staff or support operations office,
the Brigade couldn’t function without them.
Our HSC/A Company combined team sus-
tains the fight through providing essential
supplies consisting of fuel, ammunition, re-
pair parts and helicopter movement control
across Southern Afghanistan.
The B Company “Bulldawgs” continue to
generate combat power by accomplishing
amazing efforts and maintaining up to 16
simultaneous AH-64, UH-60 and CH-47
aircraft phase inspections. Finally, C Com-
pany sustains the tactical communications
capabilities of the Brigade and its critical
MEDEVAC stations.
The vast role of an Aviation Support Bat-
talion is best appreciated when deployed
and there’s no doubt the Workhorse Team
is respected and appreciated by our peers
and higher headquarters. Although our du-
ties may provide a continuous challenge,
they are noticed by those we serve and re-
spected by those who couldn’t accomplish
their combat mission without the profes-
sional accomplishment of our tasks.
Finally, I ask for the continued emotional
support of our Family Members. Deploy-
ments can be tough for each of us but the
family members provide the essential sup-
port network that enables our Soldiers to
endure the challenges and stressors of sepa-
ration and long work hours. Just as leaders
must appreciate the contributions of each
Soldier, every successful Soldier has a
family member to thank for their success.
Sincerely,
LTC Andy Gignilliat
WORKHORSE 6
TF Workhorse Continues to Maintain and Sustain the
Brigade’s Fleet of Chinook, Blackhawk, Apache, and
Kiowa Warrior Aircraft.
Caption
describing
picture or
graphic.
P A G E 2
“I am proud to be the
Command Sergeant
Major for this great
Battalion. The Soldiers
exhibit pride in the unit
as well as spirit de corps
with each other.”
-CSM Grant Stange
As we end another
calendar month on
this current deploy-
ment, I wanted to let
the Soldiers, War-
rant Officers and
Officers of the Task
Force WORK-
HORSE team know
I am extremely
proud of the daily accom-
plishments they are perform-
ing. Soldiers always seem to
amaze me with their dedi-
cated drive and initiative. As I
walk around the KAF foot-
print, I see Soldiers of all
ranks, diligently exercising
their military skills to benefit
both the brigade as well as
our NATO partners.
I want to emphasize a few
things in this month’s article,
the first being SERVICE. As
we commit to the mission of
supporting the Aviation Bri-
gade’s role in Afghanistan,
the means to conduct daily
activates brings with it times
of high OPTEMPO as well as
times of low demand. Sol-
diers need to realize when
and how to balance their
daily schedules. The tour is
likened to a marathon, it is
not a sprint. This terminol-
ogy has been utilized many
times before in many situa-
tions, but holds as true as
always. The focus always
needs to be the mission and
the individual particulars that
all Soldiers bring to that end
state. Soldiers need to un-
derstand the time when not
on duty, needs to be dedi-
cated to rest, reset for the
next duty shift, physical fit-
ness and maintaining those
relationships at home. There
is no clear-cut plan on how
to do all well without sacri-
ficing something within one.
Leaders need to watch their
Soldiers, know their routines
and ensure they are resting
purposefully when they have
the time to do so. Technol-
ogy can be a great thing or it
can be a distracter. The abil-
ity to connect to the internet
as well as telephonic ser-
vices here in theater, are
great morale boosters. Do
not let them become distrac-
ters that negatively affect the
work and physical perform-
ance while conducting du-
ties.
The second thing I will ad-
dress is RESPECT. Soldiers
of all ranks need to under-
stand that when we deploy as
an Army, we forget the trou-
bles and stressors of the life
we left in the states as a
norm. The Army is a family
in many ways, the social
interaction and camaraderie
we enjoy fosters a mental
state that those not in the
military usually do not un-
derstand. Respect the con-
ditions and environment
you left in the states prior
to deploying. Respect the
commitments that you
made to your family mem-
bers and friends as you
would if they were here
with you. Respect any fi-
nancial responsibilities you
have individually ventured
into. Respect the career you
have chosen, and all the
tangibles that being a mili-
tary service member en-
tails. When we all under-
stand and apply RESPECT
to all facets of our lives, we
build a stronger army, a
tighter-formed team as well
as functional families.
Everyone is doing very
well. From what I see,
Leaders are staying en-
gaged with their Soldiers,
Squad and section level
teams are reacting to mis-
sion change and complet-
ing the task that they are
being handed. Soldiers are
engaged in the myriad of
task that makes the
WORKHORSE Battalion
as successful as it is. I
thank you all for being the
Soldiers that you are and
for building a legacy of
Teamwork and Diligence.
CSM Stange
WORKHORSE 7
T H E W O R K H O R S E C H R O N I C L E
The Command Sergeant Major’s Forum by CSM Grant Stange, TF Workhorse CSM
SPC Timothy Guyer
serves as a CH-47 Phase
Team Leader for B Co, TF
Workhorse
“Soldier’s Angels Send Many Blessings” Coverage by SSG Victor T. Wright., Bravo Company Quality Control NCO and 1LT Donald F. Ingham, C Co Executive Officer
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
Deployment offers many challenges:
longer work hours, emotional uncertainty,
fear, loneliness, and many more. Every
Soldier deals with stress in their own
unique way.
One of the most comforting and stress-
relieving events we experience is mail,
especially care packages. Some Soldiers
get them regularly, some rarely. For single
Soldiers, or those with families who are
less engaged in the deployment, mail and
packages may be less common. For these
individuals Mail Call is often a disappoint-
ment. This article highlights two separate
instances in which Company level leaders
have worked to bridge this gap.
SSG Wright recognized early in the de-
ployment that care packages can be a tre-
mendous morale booster. In an effort to
improve the lives of his subordinates, he
contacted Soldiers Angels. They are an all
volunteer force of men, women and fami-
lies who dedicate themselves to providing
care packages to soldiers they adopt. Sol-
dier’s Angel’s motto is: “May No Soldier
Go Unloved.”
SSG Wright signed up to be adopted be-
fore the deployment began, and the out-
pouring of support has been tremendous;
when the unit arrived in Kandahar
they had 9 packages and several
letters waiting for them. The pack-
ages covered everything from snacks
to toiletries.
When asked why she volunteered to
be a Soldier’s Angel, Anna Dokko
of San Francisco remarked: ‘If
someone improves our quality of
life, why not proactively give
thanks? I believe every service
member embodies valor and right-
eousness. It feels like a crime to
overlook the sacrifices a fellow citi-
zen has made to perpetuate all that
we take for granted: safety, comfort,
and freedom. “
Soldier’s Angels is supported by
people from all walks of life. You
can be adopted or have your entire
shop adopted simply by visiting their
website and filling out the online
form. It is well worth it and can
certainly make the deployment eas-
ier to handle.
1LT Ingham, the Executive Officer
from Charlie Company, also went
above and beyond in order to pro-
vided a morale boost to his com-
pany. He has established a “pen pal”
program amongst the Soldiers of C CO
and college students in Florida. Each
soldier was asked if they wanted to par-
ticipate in December, and a list of Sol-
diers, and their address was compiled
and forwarded to a representative from
the school.
The first batch of letters arrived a few
days ago to a great deal of fanfare. Each
letter included some basic information
about the student who was going to be
the Soldier’s pen-pal, a few questions
directed to the Soldier. Additionally, the
letters contained bits of humor and enter-
tainment; Cat Memes in particular seem
to be very popular at the moment. Many
of these clippings now decorate the areas
around where the Soldiers work, and are
a constant reminder of their new friends
back home.
The hardest battle that deployed Soldiers
fight is the battle against loneliness.
This program greatly benefits Soldier
morale and helps them maintain a
healthy connection to the world outside
Afghanistan.
“From the Rear Detachment” Coverage by CPT Dave Hernandez, Rear D Commander
“Workhorse” families, we thank you for your sup-
port. The rear detachment has moved into a steady
battle rhythm. The Soldiers in the rear detachment
worked hard to send TF Workhorse forward. All of
this hard work has paid off. 603rd has established
itself to be leading the way in operations for 3rd
CAB. As we enter this period of the deployment,
stress has really started to build on some of our
families. The Army has multiple support agencies
that provide excellent care and support.
We continue to work with all of the company
FRG’s to best support you and our Soldiers. If you
have any ideas or suggestions, please let your FRG
Leader know. This program is intended to be for
you and designed by you!
The rear detachment team continues to serve our
great Soldiers and families. The 603rd Headquarters
is located in BLDG 307on HAAF. If you have any
questions or need assistance, please contact you
FRG leader but you can also contact our Family
Readiness Assistant, Mrs. Celena Smith.
CPT Dave Hernandez
Caption
describing
picture or
graphic.
P A G E 4
The Kandahar Air Wing
(KAW) recently invited the
Workhorse Ground Mainte-
nance Partnership Team to
their compound to enjoy a
traditional Afghan meal.
This invitation to break
bread was a departure from
the ordinary. Prior to TF
Workhorse’s arrival, the
KAW did not feel that the
Ground Maintenance Part-
nership was being utilized
to its full potential. The
Soldiers of TF Workhorse
realized this, and have
dedicated countless hours
to tailoring the program to
the specific needs of the
KAW. To show their ap-
preciation for our contin-
ued support, the Afghan
military leadership decided
to host the team at their
quarters as op-
posed to the din-
ing facility. This
action carries
huge cultural
significance; TF
Workhorse is the
first unit to be ex-
tended this cour-
tesy.
Soldiers from the
Maintenance Pla-
toon have worked
tirelessly teaching
the Afghan’s how
to properly main-
tain their military fleet and
this unexpected invitation
was confirmation that their
hard work and dedication is
paying off. The Soldiers
who were afforded this
unique opportunity were:
Captain Stuart, First Lieu-
tenant Moe, Staff Sergeant
Atchison; Sergeants
Bower, Cole, Dion; and
Specialists Allen, Craig,
Higginbotham, and John-
son. The Afghan Soldiers
were eager to host the team
in their quarters; so much
so that one of the Staff Ser-
geants met us at the gate to
personally escort us to our
destination.
As we entered their quar-
ters, the team was greeted
by numerous senior Afghan
Military officials before
being escorted to our re-
spective dining areas.
We immediately felt a
sense of camaraderie due
to the overwhelmingly
warm reception. We
suddenly realized how
appreciative they were of
the team.
I must say that we were
not mentally prepared for
the feast because of the
vast differences in cul-
ture and culinary flavors.
Nonetheless, the team
remained optimistic and
prepared for an afternoon
of good conversation,
laughter and merry mak-
ing.
T H E W O R K H O R S E C H R O N I C L E
“Luncheon with the Afghanistan Kandahar Air Wing”
by 1LT Scott Moe, HSC XO
“The Soldiers of TF
Workhorse have
dedicated countless
hours to tailoring this
program to the specific
needs of the KAW. To
show their appreciation
for our continued
support, the Afghan
Military leadership
decided to host the
team at their quarters.
-1LT Scott Moe
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
For the first time, we saw them
for who they really were: a happy,
prideful, family oriented, people
who place a tremendous emphasis
on personal relationships.
The team also learned some inter-
esting cultural lessons. When of-
fered food / drink for the first
time, it is considered rude to say
no; you must try it at least once
before you can refuse subsequent
offers. Before entering the dining
areas, we had to remove our
boots. Once the elders offered us
a sit, we had to sit cross legged;
another cultural lesson learned
painfully; absolutely brutal on the
knees and ankles.
Despite the team’s initial appre-
hension, the food was amazing!
The menu included rice with rai-
sins, carrots, peppers and beef
(we think!). The raisins made the
rice especially sweet but quite
delicious; who knew? They also
served "meatballs," salad, fruits,
yogurt and flat pita bread; for the
team, the pita bread doubled as
the napkin. The meatballs were
cooked slightly over medium-rare
with some very interesting spices
added. We quickly found out that
a man with an empty plate is a
man who is still hungry. They
ensured that our plates stayed full
and our cups of chi were never
empty. Apparently, the best cup
of chi is the one with the leaves
and stems visible in the cup.
After 4 hours of uncontrollable
laughter, great food and camara-
derie, the Afghans thanked the
team for attending, the great work
they have accomplished since
assuming the mission. The
team in turn expressed their
gratitude for the phenomenal
hospitality, the incredible rela-
tionships they have fostered,
and continuation of efforts to
strength the US / Afghanistan
partnership.
The team has been doing phe-
nomenally since arriving in
theater and has received multi-
ple accolades from the Brigade
Command Team. Most re-
cently, the Partnership Team
was featured in a report from
the Armed Forces
Network (AFN).
Under Leadership of the HSC
Command Team, SSG Atchison,
SGT Dion, SGT Cole, and SGT
Bower serve as our primary
trainers for the Kandahar Air
Wing Maintenance Partnership
T H E W O R K H O R S E C H R O N I C L E
P A G E 6
“So you’re looking for
me pot of gold, eh?
“The History of Saint Patrick’s Day and Savannah, GA”
Coverage by CPT Aaron Green, AS3
My Grand-Father Patrick
O’Malley was born in Dub-
lin, Ireland on St. Patrick’s
Day 71 yrs ago this March
17th. You would be hard
pressed to meet a more
patriotic man, who counts
the day he earned his U.S.
Citizenship as, “the greatest
day of his life.” He loves
and admires U.S. Soldiers, and if you
happen by the VFW outside of Fort
Carson, CO odds are you will find him
volunteering his time entertaining
Veterans young and old. If you have
never seen a giant leprechaun who is
in fact one of the best Elvis imper-
sonators outside of Las Vegas, I can
tell you he is quite a sight. So in
honor of a great man born on another
great man’s birthday; allow me to
share with you some tidings of the
long tradition and strong connection
that our home city has to this holiday.
Did you know that St. Patrick’s day is
only a legally recognized holiday in
Suffolk County, MA and Chatham
County, GA?
Though it is widely celebrated
throughout the U.S., the City of Savan-
nah, Georgia has hosted the St. Pat-
rick's Day celebrations officially since
1824, with recent attendance rivaling
that of celebrations held in New York
City (Savannah, New York and Chicago
having the largest celebrations in the
country). Unlike any other cities,
Savannah's historic parade is always
held on March
17, not on the
neighboring
weekend.
So why do we
celebrate the
holiday most
associated with
green-dyed
rivers and beer?
Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the
Festival of Patrick" commemorates
the most prominent patron Saint of
Ireland who lived c. AD 385–461 on
the anniversary of his death. He was
born into a wealthy Romano-British
family but was kidnapped by Irish
raiders at the age of 16 and held as
slave. Claiming that God came to him
in a dream and showing him the
means of his escape to the coast, Saint
Patrick freed himself returned to
Britain and went on to Gaul (France)
to study in the priesthood.
In 432 he returned to Ireland, and for
the 29 yrs until his death attended his
calling of evangelism. It is said that
he used the three-leafed shamrock as
a means of teaching about the
Trinity in Christianity and that is
why it is associated with the holi-
day today.
As Kenneth Moss of the Journal of
Social history pointed out, St.
Patrick’s Day led the way for the
creation of a “new parade” which
gained in adherents and absorbed
“elements of American patriotism
and full-fledged nationalism.”
The end result was such that the
Irish- American community came
to regard itself in the 1870s as a
community that defined itself by
dual loyalties on one hand, and in
another as “a unified common
organism” which gathered in
FSGA and HAAF Soldiers march in the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
CDR: CPT David Hernandez 912-315-2092
1SG: 1SG Shane Latty 912-315-2094
XO: 1LT Denise Bernard 912-315-7970
FRSA: Mrs. Smith 912-315-2093
603rd ASB Home Detachment Contact
Information
603rd ASB Deployed Contact
Information
BN CDR: LTC Andy Gignilliat
BN CSM: CSM Grant Stange
BN XO: MAJ Curtis Perkins
BN Adjutant: 1LT Marisha McLean
Check Out Our Nearly 1,700 photos on Facebook
“603rd Aviation Support Battalion”
To see how our Soldiers are doing in Afghanistan
strength on the basis that they had a com-
mon past.
And in more recent times it has become far
more a holiday that celebrates Irish culture
spread by the Irish Diaspora throughout the
world. Most prominently in the U.S., how-
ever, it is a celebration of the deep connec-
tion of Irish immigrants to their adoptive
home and by extension all immigrants who
built this Nation to greatness with their bare
hands; hence, “everyone is Irish on St. Pat-
rick’s Day.”
The first recorded parade in New York was
by Irish soldiers in the British Army in 1766.
In 1780, while camped in Morristown, NJ,
General George Washington, who com-
manded soldiers of Irish descent in the Con-
tinental Army, allowed his troops a holiday
on 17 March
"as an act of solidarity with the Irish in
their fight for independence." This
event became known as The St. Pat-
rick's Day Encampment of 1780.
So this year whether you will be enjoy-
ing the festivities down on River Street
(and if you do please do so safely with a
plan) or here on KAF (sadly minus the
green beer); whether you’re Irish in
ancestry or just for the day, it is my
sincere hope that you raise a glass,
cheer, and feel a connection to the spirit
of a hard and dogged group of survivors,
The Irish, like my Grand Father Patrick
O’Malley!
T H E W O R K H O R S E C H R O N I C L E
P A G E 8
These Pictures
represent the great
Soldiers within TF
Workhorse as they
accomplish our
Nation’s mission,
continue to
develop through
professional
training, and find
the opportunities
to enjoy their
fellow Soldiers!
Hard Work, Great Training, and Some Fun!
P A G E 9 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
