US Army: NEJournal

8/14/2019 US Army: NEJournal

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-army-nejournal 1/48

Northeast Journal October 1, 2006

Journal Journal Journal Installation

Management

Agency,

Northeast Region

Volume IV, No. 10

October 1, 2006

“City in a Box” p. 3

89th Trans Co. deploys, p. 7

TACs instead of Drills? p. 11

“Lucky Seven” life changers, p. 25

Hoosiers head to Kosovo, p. 39



Northeast Journal 2 October 1, 2006

Front Page: TAC Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Yolanda Vaughters, Company C, 143rd Ordnance Battalion is part of an experimental

program at Aberdeen Proving Ground to replace the Drill Sergeant in Advanced Individual Training with a ‘Trainer, adviser, coun-

selor.’ Please see page 11 for more on this pilot program. Photo by Yvonne Johnson, APG News

By Travis Edwards

Community Relations Director

Fort Meade Public Affairs Office

This past week's long-anticipated, yet painful release of "World

Trade Center" and the foiled terror plots in London made my first

visit to New York a humbling one. It was a trip where reflection

and resolve seemed to have clouded my memories of ascending in

the Empire State building and cruising past the Statue of Liberty.

The trip to New York was a mixture of business and pleasure as

my U.S. Army Reserve unit, the 80th Institutional Training Divi-

sion, was sending 20 Soldiers and their spouses to participate in

the "Good Morning America" show. The event was part of Opera-

tion Tribute to Freedom, a program developed by the Army to

recognize Soldiers who have served in support of the global war on

terrorism.

My wife Jana and I began our trip the day after the planned attacks

on multiple U.S.-bound airplanes were foiled by English law en-

forcement agencies. This caused heightened security measures that

banned all liquid and gel substances from carry-on luggage. The

changes turned my normal five-minute wait for screening at the

airport into a four-hour adventure. Sadly, most of the wait was

caused by passengers begging to keep liquid products during the

screening process and not a lack of screeners - there were plenty of

screeners.

We waited in line and talked with other travelers and answered

general questions about the Army. The questions were posed be-

cause, for the first time since returning from my combat tours in

Afghanistan, I traveled in my uniform.

Policy changes have recently authorized Soldiers to travel that way.

Seeing Soldiers in uniform, traveling among us, gives a strong

sense of safety to those who travel and for those wishing to do us

harm, it shows resolve. It is a simple reminder that our nation is at

war.

After successfully arriving in New York, we settled in at our hotel

in downtown Manhattan. We planned to relax and see the city

before our 15 minutes of fame the next day. We sought out the

historic Ziegfeld Theater, located several blocks from Ground

Zero, which was showing "World Trade Center." That sounded

like a fitting place to watch a film that I knew would evoke my

emotions.

My wife and I watched the film sitting side by side with dozens of

New Yorkers. People who needed nothing more than their dreams

or brief flashbacks to remember the sights and sounds of Sept. 11.

Many wept openly during the film. For some the tears rolled from their

cheeks, while others held their emotions in check. Either way, we all

gasped when the first airplane to strike the WTC appeared. Althoughthe plane was never actually shown, the shadow that was visible signals

the change in our world.

I felt the film was truly amazing. It had no political slants or statements.

And it captured the most important emotions of that challenging day

in world history - it showed courage and it showed pain.

We left the movie in silence, but somehow renewed. We were alive and

ready for any challenge that may come our way. Many of us vowed once

again to never forget that day of terror and courage.

The next day's events were a blur as the city grabbed my attention. We

walked the streets in our uniforms with our spouses by our side. Doz-

ens of people we had never met, thanked and hugged us and gave usspecial attention even when we tried our best to turn it down.

(Continued on page 3)

Foiled terror plot, release of 'WTC' strong reminders of threat

The Northeast Journal is an authorized publication of the U.S.

Army Installation Management Agency, Northeast Region, Fort

Monroe, Va. It is published electronically the first of each month.

Contributions are welcome and may be submitted to the editor via

e-mail: <[email protected]>

Director, Installation Management Agency (IMA)

Brig. Gen. John A. Macdonald

Region Director, Northeast Region, IMA

Ms. Diane Devens

Director of Public Affairs, Northeast Region, IMA

Mr. Sandy Goss

Department of the Army, IMA

Northeast Region Office

ATTN: IMNE-PA

Bldg. 5A

Fort Monroe, Va. 23651

Phone: (757) 788-2321 FAX: (757) 788-5408

2nd Place Winner

Newsletters category

2004 U.S. Army Keith L. Ware

Newspaper Competition

Commentary




We were given a very special privilege by a WTC foreman who gave

us access to the observation area designated for families of the vic-

tims of Sept. 11. "Soldiers are always welcome" was all he said as he

allowed us time to stare somberly into Ground Zero.

At the edge of Ground Zero, I saw a fireman headed my way with

his hand outstretched. I reached out to shake his hand. Our eyes

met and I saw his were full of tears. The handshake turned into a

bear hug that last several moments. His only words were "Thank

you."

It is the traveling with wary passengers at the airport as a Soldier,

crying with dozens of New Yorkers while watching "World Trade

Center," viewing Ground Zero with victim's families and spending

time with New York's bravest that will forever change the way I re-

member New York.

Editor's Note: Travis Edwards is the Fort Meade Community Relations Direc-

tor and also served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve's

80th Institutional Training Division Public Affairs Office.

(Continued from page 2)

Story and photos by Stephanie J. Santos

Fort Drum Blizzard Staff Writer

Although their job titles are different

and their work varies, a common thread

joins Rita Barker and Cynthia Cohen:

service to the community and an unwav-

ering commitment to help those in need.

Both Cohen and Barker have turned

their work in preventing alcohol and

substance abuse into labors of love ex-

tending far beyond the Fort Drum gates.

Their active involvement throughout

the community was recognized at the

local alcohol and substance abuse com-

munity’s annual awards breakfast Sept.

21 in Watertown.

More than 160 local supporters gath-

ered at the Elks Club to honor out-

standing leaders in the substance abuse

field. Each was recognized for his or her

role in supporting preventive organiza-

tions in the community.

Both Fort Drum awardees were

praised by their supervisor, Chet Harac-

zka, installation alcohol and drug control

officer, for their dedication and enthusi-

astic demeanor.

“They have been in the field a long

time, and they always put the welfare of

our clients first,” Haraczka said. “Having

two award winners coming from one

agency is just outstanding.”

Barker, Fort Drum prevention coor-

dinator, received the Gerald DeGroot

Award for her more than 25 years of

service in the alcohol addiction field. She

said the presentation was both profes-

sionally and personally rewarding since

she knew DeGroot.

Barker said “Gerry” was an advocate

for alcohol prevention and played an

active role on the Jefferson County Com-

mittee on Alcoholism. But DeGroot, a

New York State Police zone sergeant, was

coming home after completing his shift

in June 1978 when his vehicle was struck and he was killed by an 18-year-old

drunken driver.

She added that his dedication en-

couraged her to take a more active role in

alcohol awareness and prevention.

“I am sincerely humbled and hon-

ored by this award,” Barker said. “I am

grateful for the vision and confidence

that has been placed in me.”

In addition to her involvement in

community prevention forums, the Wa-

tertown native serves on the Alcohol and

Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson

County Board of Directors.

Through her role as prevention coor-

dinator, Barker said she has seen a dra-

matic increase in the alcoholism andmentoring services offered in the commu-

nity.

At Fort Drum, Barker gives alcohol

abuse prevention classes to incoming

Soldiers. She described her job as giving

service members the tools they need, so if

they decide to drink, they will do so re-

sponsibly.

“I ask the hard-hitting questions


Fort Drum employees receive community awards

Rita Barker, Army substance abuse preventioncoordinator at Fort Drum, received the GeraldDeGroot Award for her active role in preventingalcohol abuse in the community.

Cynthia Cohen, employee assistance programcoordinator, received the Marsala / WertmanAward for her service to the community in sub-stance abuse prevention.




Force Provider Module upgrades to ‘City in a Box’

Soldier Support

by Mike Strasser Fort Lee Traveller Staff Writer

Soldiers deploying to Afghani-

stan and Kuwait become quickly

familiar with tent cities. For many

service members, the term evokes

memories of life in a forward oper-

ating base, where all amenities and

activities are conducted behind

the durable plastic cover of vast

tent arrangements.

Most Soldiers may not realize

the technical names or the labor

required to erect these self-

contained camps – only grateful of

their existence when a quick

shower, a load of laundry or a

place to rack out for the night be-

comes necessary.

The U.S. Army Combined

Arms Support Command and

Fort Lee was host to the latest pro-

totype of a 150-Soldier Expedition-

ary Base Camp – or Force Pro-

vider.

The two-day demonstration pro-

vided tours and discussions of the

new module, a smaller and moremobile system of the 550-Soldier

Force Provider. The older module

has been in service for several

years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan

and stateside in New Orleans

(during hurricane relief opera-

tions).

The set-up and tours were con-

ducted by U.S. Army Product

Manager Force Sustainment Sys-

tems. A technical assistance team

deploys with the module to pro-

vide training and technical assis-

tance. Annual inspections are also

required by the team to assess the

condition of the equipment.

These inspections provide the

PM FSS with ‘lessons learned’ and

knowledge necessary to upgrade

and correct problems in the mod-

ules caused by time and age.

It was from such inspections

that the PM discovered by word of


The Base Camp configuration is easily adjustable depending upon local conditions

Living quarters are tight and the traditional “bunkbed” is new and improved….




mouth and action that the 550-

man camps should not be the

smallest building block of the

Force Provider system.

According to Lee O’Donovan,

PM FSS representative, what trig-gers the greatest reaction among

visitors is the fact that the entire

system can be set up with eight

personnel in a span of four hours.

The price tag for the system av-

erages at $1 million, while the lar-

ger 550 model can cost as much as

$6 million.

But the price is hardly a consid-eration to most when other vari-

ables are factored in.

The price is not a surprise,” said

Maj. Charles Nordan, FA 90 Pro-

ponency Officer, CASCOM.

“The ability for us to have our

own systems rather than rely on

host nation or contracted support

that’s not standardized, enables us

to provide a standardized quality of life support that we can meas-

ure. We have the command and

control and ability to push the

systems out or forward to where

we need them. The standardiza-

tion of this system enables us to

train Soldiers to where it can be

rapidly set up and torn down and

the fact that it all fits on one C-17makes it an ideal system. I’m im-

pressed, personally.”

“I think the Expeditionary Life

Support System is going to be a

valuable component of the Army’s

Force Provider system,” said Col.

James Meyer, 49th QM Group

commander. “The relative ease of

set-up and operation coupled with

reduced manpower and transpor-tation requirements will give us

tremendous flexibility in provid-

ing needed support to the war-

fighter.”

Sgt. Mark Peer-Lee, 506th QM

Co., 530th Combat Sustainment

Support Battalion, is one of 11

Soldiers from the Force Providerunit travelling with the module.

Peer-Lee recently spent close to a

month at Fort Pickett erecting the

550 module. From that experience

and from overseas deployment, he

is familiar with the “homes away

from home,” and finds this newest

prototype far superior to what he

has seen before.

“It’s definitely where weshould be at,” said Peer-Lee.

“What takes 70 to 100 personnel

over three weeks to set up could

take only eight Soldiers an eight-

hour day ... there’s no compari-

son.”


The Goal: small footprint, fast setup

The goal of the 150-man expeditionary camp was toprovide a self-contained camp in the smallest footprintpossible, that sets up in minimal time (eight Sol-diers/four hours, complete set-up).

The major components in the camp, as currently con-figured are: one Expeditionary Tricon System kitchen,latrine, laundry, shower and shower water reuse, sevenair beam billeting shelters, 150 cots, one air beamkitchen shelter and two air beam hygiene shelters, six 60-

kilowatt generators and all associated hose and cables to

interconnect the electrical and water systems. When packed, the camp occupies 18 standard palletpositions and will fit on one C-17 aircraft for transport.

The largest Force Provider camp, to date, consisted of seven modules. The camp housed more than 8,000troops at its peak.

Numerous Forward Operating Bases have been spunout of standing modules as 150-person camps.

At its peak usage, there were 37 modules deployed in

four countries housing U.S. Soldiers, airmen, sailors,

Marines and international troops.

The Dining Facility capabilities rival those of a permanent facility.

(Photos courtesy of Fort Lee Public Affairs Office)




By K.P. Rowe

Fort Meade SoundOff! Staff writer

The space sat empty for more than a year. A big corner area

on the first floor, near a side exit that was a gathering place for

students, faculty and staff of the Defense Information School

(DINFOS) located on Fort Meade.

DINFOS has always had a place where everyone could go

before classes and between classes to grab a cup of coffee, soda or

a snack, even when the school house was at Fort Benjamin Harri-

son, Ind. Back then, there used to be a full restaurant where they

served hot meals throughout the day. In the morning, you could

smell the cinnamon rolls as soon as you entered the building.

Sadly, the coffee shop that was DINFOS for years closed

last spring, depriving students and faculty of that needed caffeine

boost. After more than a year of planning, that space is no longer

empty. The Stars and Stripes Cafe opened to serve the people of DINFOS Aug. 28.

The cafe is an Army and Air Force Exchange Service

(AAFES) concession that is being run by a company fittingly

called "The Cup."

"We serve gourmet pastries, coffee, espresso, teas and

smoothies," co-owner Tracy Siler said. They are currently in dis-

cussions with a vendor to be able to provide sandwiches and

wraps.

Siler partnered with Karol Huelsbeck to open the first The

Cup in Bel Air, Md., in April 2005. The two women wereneighbors before they decided to become business partners. One

of their original customers, Laura Magsamen became the third

partner soon after.

"The key to success is finding the right contractor to pull it

off," John Shiroky, AAFES services business manager said. AAFES teamed up with The Cup to open a coffee shop at Aber-

deen Proving Ground, Md., and will soon open up another shop

at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Minutes after the ribbon cutting, students and faculty

members began lining up, all becoming some of the first custom-

ers of what hopefully will be a long-term addition to DINFOS.

"Sometimes I don't feel like going to the dining facility,"

said one student. "This is great." Another student in line said

that after a few hours in class, his eyelids get heavy and he needs

a shot of caffeine. "This hits the spot," he said.

The Cup's mission statement is "Serving America's Finest ...the Finest Cup of Joe."

"It's all about what is best for the troops," Siler said.

“Cream and sugar, please”

Business was brisk as soon as the new coffee shop at DINFOS opened.

(Photo courtesy of Fort Meade Public Affairs)

Picatinny

celebrates 126th

birthday PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Mili-

tary and civilian workers here ob-

served Picatinny Arsenal’s 126th

birthday Wednesday, Sept. 6.

The installation eatery Choices

served a piece of a special birthday

cake to the first 300 patrons.

The post was established on

Sept. 6, 1880, by the U. S. War De-

partment as a powder storage depot

called “Dover Powder Depot” on the1,866 acres the War Department had

purchased from various landowners.

Four days later, the site was re-

named the Picatinny Powder Depot.

Since then, Picatinny has played

an important role in all of the na-

tion’s military conflicts.

Currently, the installation em-

ploys approximately 3,000 military

and federal civilian workers and

1,000 contractor personnel who re-

search, develop and sustain current

and future military armaments andmunitions systems for all of the

armed services.

In May 2005, the Defense De-

partment announced that it is creat-

ing a center of excellence for guns

and ammunition at Picatinny.




Collage and story by Zack Shelby

Fort Eustis Wheel

More than 150 Soldiers from the 89th Trans. Co. depart

for a year-long deployment in support of the Global War on

Terror Aug. 17 at Anderson Field House.

While deployed, the unit will conduct deployment and

retrograde operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

and will transport supplies and equipment. It is the unit’s third

deployment in support of OIF.

Friends and family members gathered inside the field

house for a brief departure ceremony and said final ‘goodbyes’outside.

While emotions ran high, there was also optimism shown

by Col. Ronald Shun, 6th Trans. Bn. commander.

“These Soldiers are warriors and well-trained,” Shun said.

“Encourage each other and come home safely.”

Alice Simone will look for strength from another source.

Of her husband Sgt. Anthony Simone’s third deployment, she

said, “We’ll need a little of this,” as she pointed to her Super-

man shirt. Simone is the guidon bearer for 89th Trans. Co.

89th Trans. Co. Soldiers deploy in support of the War on Terror

6th Trans Bn (Truck) The 6th Transportation Bn.

(Truck) provides command andcontrol of units engaged in CargoTransfer, Line Haul, Direct and Gen-eral Marine Maintenance, Cause-way Operation, Reverse OsmosisWater Purification and Army Divingoperations.

The unit is a subordinate ele-ment of the 7th TransportationGroup and is unique because itincludes Transportation, Mainte-nance, Marine Terminal Quarter-

master, Causeway and Diving as-sets.

The 89th Transportation Co. isthe only truck company in theGroup. Their mission is to provideline haul and port clearance sup-port, using M915 tractors andM872 trailers. The 331st Transpor-tation Co. is the only floating cause-way company in the Army. This unitprovides the ability to set up atemporary beach site floatingcauseway pier, a rapid discharge

sealift interface between RO/ROships and literage and direct ship-to-shore movement of cargo usingcauseway ferries. The 551st Trans-portation Co. performs arrival anddeparture airfield control groupoperations and other inland termi-nal functions such as operating arailhead or a barge site. The 558thTransportation Co. is the only activeduty DS/GS Marine MaintenanceCo. in the Army. It provides supportto the 68 watercraft assigned tothe 7th Transportation Group. The26th and 30th Quartermaster Dets.

are responsible for the barge-mounted water purification systemcapable of generating high volumesof potable water. The 74th, 86th,511th, 544th and 569th EngineerDets. are capable of conductingArmy Diver Operations to includebeach survey and reconnaissance,obstruction marking and removal,recovery and demolition. The Trans.Augmentation Det. performs truckoperations in support of the U.S.Army Transportation School.




By Yvonne Johnson, APG News

Noncommissioned officers of the

U.S. Army Ordnance Mechanical Main-

tenance School’s 143rd Ordnance Bat-

talion are continuing a commitment toease the recovery process for fellow ser-

vice members wounded in the War on

Terror.

The NCOs have held three car

washes - Aug. 19 and 26 and Sept. 9 - in

the parking lot of Precision Tune on

Route 40.

The effort was conceived by Sgt. 1st

Class Troy L. Weaver, a Headquarters

and Headquarters Company instructor,

and his wife Kelly.

The couple led a fundraiser withinthe battalion and on Kelly’s job, DaVita

Dialysis in Baltimore, two months ago

that netted thousands of dollars in cash

and merchandise that was donated to the

Red Cross at Walter Reed Army Medical

Center for use by hospitalized warriors

and their family members.

“So far we’ve raised $750 from the

car wash benefits and $850 in donations

from Davita Dialysis and Day-Timers,

Incorporated,” Weaver said.

He and the group made another

drop off run to the WRAMC Red CrossSept. 11 led by battalion commander Lt.

Col. Linwood Clark who also visited

recovering Soldiers on the wards.

“The battalion commander has

been behind us one-hundred percent,”

Weaver said.

He thanked the members of Basic

Noncommissioned Officer Course Class

33-06 for helping with the car wash and

the staff of Precision Tune for “so gra-

ciously letting us use their parking lot

and water,” and he encouraged anyoneinterested in donating to the effort to

contact him.

In addition, Roger Thompson from

the OMMS Directorate of Instruction

provided coolers and bottled water for

the volunteers.

The Red Cross provided a list of

items needed by service members hospi-

talized at WRAMC, and Weaver said the

money raised will be used to purchase

those items.

“But we also need a lot of help,”

Weaver said. “A lot of people want to dosomething for our wounded warriors but

they don’t know what to do so we just

want to get the word out that there is

something they can do to help make a

difference in the quality of life for these

Soldiers and their families who have

given so much for our country.”

Items can be dropped off at

Downer Hall in the Chief Instructor Of-

fice. The group also plans to deliver bas-

kets to hospitalized Soldiers during the

Thanksgiving holidays.

To make a donation, contact

Weaver at 443-866-2096.

According to the WRAMC Red

Cross Patient Represen-tative and Red

Cross Liaison, the following items are

needed for service members rehabilitat-

ing or recovering from injuries:

• Portable DVD players

• Portable CD players

• Electric shavers (male and female)

• Batteries

• Solid black backpacks/ book bags

• Squishy neck pillows (filled with thesoft small conforming beads preferably)

• Tennis shoes, male sizes 8-13, prefer-

able Velcro closures

• Athletic shorts

• Boxers/briefs

• Ankle socks

• Sunglasses

• Postage stamps

• Restaurant coupons

• International phone cards

• DVDs and CDs

Monetary donations can be made

with a check or money order made out to

the American Red Cross, placed inside

an envelope with a note saying the dona-

tion should to be used for the wounded

Soldiers from OIF/OEF at WRAMC.

The Red Cross Liaison will provide

a receipt for all monetary donations for

tax purposes.

APG Soldiers continue to work for fallen comrades

Members of Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course Class 33-06 wash cars in the Precision Tuneparking lot on Route 40 during a 143rd Ordnance Battalion fundraiser Aug. 26 for wounded ser-vice members recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

(US Army photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Troy L. Weaver, OMMS)




by Jacqueline Boucher

Public Affairs Office

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. —

Depot technicians have Reset 50,000

pieces of secure communications equip-

ment being returned from OperationsIraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

This milestone marks more than two

years of repair work supporting Army

units around the world. Working in

coordination with the Army Reset Pro-

gram, Communications Security

(COMSEC) Division employees repair

and overhaul systems heavily used in

combat.

“This achievement is a result of the

hard work performed by hundreds of

people at all levels of Reset,” said BobDittman, Support Services Branch chief.

“It takes a team effort to support a mis-

sion of this size.”

During Reset, systems and equipment

are returned to their pre-deployment [in

OIF] condition. The objective is to re-

store the item to operational readiness

based on established maintenance stan-

dards.

Warfighters returning from a deploy-

ment exchange their worn items for re-

stored, mission-capable equipment to

support future requirements. Reset itemsare exchanged one for one in a direct

exchange program or repaired and re-

turned to the user. The direct exchange

program uses condition code A assets

from Tobyhanna (also called seed assets).

If seed assets aren’t available at the depot,

the equipment is repaired and returned

to the unit. The number of Reset mis-

sions has increased from three in fiscal

year 2004 to an estimated 77 this year.

“The Reset mission is COMSEC’s

largest workload,” said Mark Costello,logistics management specialist, Commu-

nications Systems Directorate. He ex-

plained that when the mission started in

2004, workflow needed to be customized

to suit the Reset project.

Everyone from the administrators who

handle the paperwork, to the packers and

shippers on the floor, track the items

through every step of the Reset process—

receiving, maintenance, packing and

shipping.

“We know what’s going on with each

piece of equipment at every phase of re-

pair,” said Costello. The organization

boasts a 100 percent accountability rate.

There’s a 60-day window to get Reset

items repaired and returned to the user,

according to Costello. “We’ve never

missed a suspense date; we provide on-

time delivery, every time,” he said.

“Everyone here does a great job sup-

porting the combat Soldier,” said Ditt-

man, pointing out that sand, dirt, and

exposure to combat takes a toll on the

state-of-the-art communications equip-

ment.

Reset work can be accomplished on-

site or at the depot. COMSEC employ-ees also provide OIF and OEF in-theater

support from two Forward Repair Activi-

ties.

Equipment items sent here for Reset

range from AN/CYZ-10 (V3) Data Trans-

fer Devices to KY-68 Digital Subscriber

Voice Terminals.

Data Transfer Devices provide the

means to secure a wide variety of commu-

nications equipment used throughout

the services; KY-68s are secure tactical

field telephones. Other COMSECequipment being repaired for the reset

effort includes trunk encryption and net-

work inline encryption devices.

“The people who work here really care

about the Soldier in the field,” said

Wayne Monroe, Shipping and Packing

Branch chief. “They understand how

their work affects the front-line war-

fighter.”

Teams travel to installations such as

Fort Bragg, N.C. (XVII Airborne Corps);

Fort Campbell, Ky. (101st Airborne Divi-

sion); Fort Carson, Colo. (534th Signal

Battalion); and Fort Stewart, Ga. (3rd

Infantry Division).

“The Army units are very supportive

of our work,” said Paul Fick, electronics

mechanic. “They make sure we have

what we need to do the job.”

As the Army’s primary source for

COMSEC reset, employees here know

that the work they do directly affects the

Soldiers in the field.

“Our equipment allows Soldiers to

communicate with each other in a secure

manner,” said Bob Smith, electronics

mechanic. “It’s a great feeling knowing

we’re helping them accomplish their mis-

sion.” Smith has worked in COMSEC

since 1994.

“It’s an honor to work for the combat

Soldier,” said Michelle Young, another

electronics mechanic who has been re-

pairing COMSEC equipment for two

years. She’s preparing to deploy to Ger-

many as part of a Reset mission.

Picatinny recyclingpays dividendsBy Nicholas Stecky

The Picatinny Voice

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Who

would believe the new service trucks run-

ning around Picatinny are made from

recycled waste?

Well, it’s true. Wastes suitable for

recycling, such as glass, plastics, metals

and other materials, are collected and

sold off to recycling companies through a

recycling program administered here by

Sue Curtiss and Bruce Roberts of the

Picatinny Garrison Utilities Section.

The waste stream then becomes a

cash stream, which in turn can be used

for the garrison’s needs in accordance

with Army regulations.

Another benefit is the avoided cost

of waste disposal for these recycled mate-

rials. If Picatinny had not separated them

and sold them for cash, the installation would have had to pay for their disposal

as solid waste. So, the program reduces

costs and generates income.

Recently, after accumulating suffi-

cient funds, the utilities section pur-

chased four electric vehicles to replace

several of the aging gasoline-powered

trucks. Significant advantages of the vehi-


COMSEC Resets 50,000 communications components




cles include avoidance of fossil fuels,

emissions free and a quiet run.

The electric vehicles were built by

Global Electric Motorcars, LLC, a Daim-

lerChrysler Company. The vehicles are

called GEM for short and were built in

Fargo, N.D.

GEM has developed a lineup of

vehicles based upon a basic motor and

battery platform which includes, two and

four passenger vehicles as well as the flat-

bed pickup truck-style, like the ones Picat-

inny has.

The environmentally friendly

GEMs are powered by rechargeable bat-

teries. Simply plug them into a 110 volt

outlet overnight and the next day they

have a max speed of about 35 miles per

hour and a range of 30 miles.

They are perfect for running er-

rands and service calls on post. There is

some heat available in the GEMS, but no

air-conditioning. However, there’s plenty

of ventilation and fresh air when the

vents and windows are open.

Installation workers have had a

couple of months experience with the

GEMs now, and everyone has been im-

pressed.

When asked about their experi-

ences with the electric trucks, some of the

typical responses included:

It is fun to watch people stare as we

silently cruise by.”

“They’re like cell phones, plug ’em

in overnight, and they’re ready to run.”

“We’re always being asked how fast

they can go.”

“People think they’re cute.”

One specific response came from

Curtiss. She said she likes them because

“they are energy efficient and emissions

free.”

In addition to the obvious benefits

of recycling waste into a service fleet, the

vehicles demonstrate Picatinny’s commit-

ment to and alignment with the Army’s

Sustainability and Energy Initia-

tives. Sustainable because they do not use

fossil fuels and there are no polluting

emissions. And fossil fuel efficient as they

don’t consume gasoline or diesel.

Next time you think it might be

easier to dispose of recyclable materials

into regular garbage, please remember

Picatinny’s recycling program and themultiple benefits that can be derived

from properly recycled materials.

(Editor’s note: Nicholas Stecky is a contractor who

supports Picatinny Garrison Public Works.)

LEAD offers the

warfighter more

“bang for thebuck”

(Chambersburg, PA) In a ceremony wit-

nessed by depot employees, Letterkenny

Commander Colonel Robert A. Swenson

presented a ceremonial “key to the

HMMWV”—the High Mobility Multipur-

pose Wheeled Vehicle--to Major General

James Pillsbury, Commanding General of

U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Com-

mand.

Standing amidst a fleet of 27

HMMWV’s, Colonel Swenson explained

that these are 27 extra vehicles available

for use by Soldiers that otherwise would-

n’t have been available. The overproduc-

tion of 27 HMMWV’s results from effi-

ciencies achieved through Lean manufac-

turing and Lean Six Sigma.

Colonel Swenson explained: “We

found that through efficiencies and sav-

ings accumulated through Lean and Lean

Six Sigma, without extra cost to the de-

pot, we could raise monthly production

from 276 HMMWV’s to 303. Our em-

ployees should be proud. It meant we

could maintain the production line effi-

ciently while overproducing at a rate of

about 10%. This means that 27 extrarecapitalized HMMWV’s will be available

to Warfighters each month”.

Major General Pillsbury saluted the

employees. “Rather than slack off, you

saw the need and kept your sights on the

single purpose that brings us to work

each day. Our Soldiers! These vehicles—

in a like new condition—are invaluable to

our efforts in the Global War on Terror.


(Continued on page 11)These 27 extra HMMWVs available for use by Soldiers due to the resultsof efficiencies achieved through Lean manufacturing and Lean Six Sigma.




I salute each and every one of you. It is

no secret to me why Letterkenny was the

only Army depot to win the Shingo Prize

Public Service two years running”.

The Shingo Prize for Excellence in

Manufacturing is named for Japanese

industrial engineer Shigeo Shingo who

distinguished himself as one of the

world’s leading experts in improving

manufacturing processes. Dr. Shingo has

been described as an “engineering gen-

ius” who helped create and write about

many aspects of the revolutionary manu-

facturing practices which comprise the

Toyota Production System.

Letterkenny has won the Shingo

Prize Public Service Silver Award two

years in a row. The 2005 prize was

awarded for Patriot while the 2006 prize

was awarded for efficiencies introduced

to the HMMWV line.

Coincidentally, Letterkenny’s Dep-

uty Commander, Dr. John Gray, and

Director of Maintenance, Mr. Michael

Murray are in Reno, NV this week to

attend a workshop and accept the 2006

Shingo Prize.


Story by Heather Tassmer, APG News

Photos by Yvonne Johnson

Trainer, adviser, counselor--these

may seem like three separate jobs but in

an Army pilot program underway at Ab-

erdeen Proving Ground, they are all

rolled into one.

The Army is conducting a TAC

Sergeant Pilot Program to see if TAC

sergeants can replace drill sergeants at the

Advanced Individual Training level. The

U.S. Army Ordnance Mechanical Main-

tenance School is conducting the pro-

gram within its 143rd Ordnance Battal-

ion.

Along with APG, the TAC Sergeant

Pilot Program is being conducted at Fort

Lee, Va., Fort Jackson, S.C. and Fort Sill,

Okla.

Drill sergeants began a four-week

training period for TAC sergeants, regu-

lar noncommissioned officers who were

selected for the program by their com-

manders, in May. During the last two

weeks of the training, the drill sergeants

observed the TAC sergeants as they in-

structed and led their troops.

The TAC sergeants have the same

duties and responsibilities as drill ser-

geants.

"They let us know if we were doing

anything wrong or needed to make a

change," said Staff Sgt. Yolanda

Vaughters, a TAC sergeant with Com-

pany C 143rd.

Some people volunteered to be

TAC sergeants, according to the battal-

ion Command Sgt. Maj. Luis Rivera,

who said that he and battalion com-

mander Lt. Col. Linwood Clark, chose

others for the positions.

"TRADOC leadership will make the

ultimate decision whether or not to ap-prove" replacing drill sergeants with TAC

sergeants, Rivera said, referring to the

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Com-

mand which oversees all Army schools.

TRADOC leadership will use two

methods to evaluate the TAC sergeant

program after the program ends in De-

cember.

One way will be based on the level

of Soldier misconduct during the pro-

gram, Rivera said.

Looking at feedback from each

graduating class will be another way the

leadership will evaluate the program.

Rivera discussed how the replace-ment of drill sergeants would be benefi-

cial for the Army.

"The position will be given back to

the operational Army." he said.

Rivera said he and Clark would like

the TAC sergeants to receive formal

training if TRADOC decides to elimi-

nate the drill sergeant position.

"It would be the same kind of train-


Ordnance Soldiers conduct TAC Sergeant Pilot Program

TAC Pilot Program underway

Advanced Individual Training students in the 143rd Ordnance Battalion perform pull-ups duringmorning physical training.




ing that drill sergeants receive," Rivera

said.

In addition, TAC sergeants would

go through the same kind of background

checks as drill sergeants.

"We didn't have the opportunity to

do that with the TAC Sergeant [Pilot]Program," Rivera said.

He said that time did not permit

background checks to be conducted and

the checks were not planned to be con-

ducted during the development of the

program.

"With background checks we can

avoid harassment and other issues," he

said.

Overall, the program is "a good

intent but it just needs to be planned

and organized," Rivera said.

A day in the life of a TAC sergeant

Vaughters and the other TAC ser-

geants in the battalion conduct physical

training five days a week.

After physical training is finished

and the Soldiers shower and eat break-

fast, they attend classes during the day.

When the TAC sergeant is not teaching,

he or she completes administrative work.

One of the tasks Vaughters has to

complete is in- and out-processing of

Soldiers.

She also counsels them and gives

them the do’s and don'ts of their stay at

APG.

"We give them a courtesy inspec-

tion and walk them through how their

rooms should be set up," Vaughters said.TAC sergeants also discipline Sol-

diers who do something wrong just as

drill sergeants do.

"If someone does something wrong

we give them extra [physical training] and

we talk to them and counsel them,"

Vaughters said.

She talked about what it was like to

have the position in the program.

"You have your good classes and

bad," Vaughters said. "It gives you the

opportunity to instill something in the

Soldiers. Hopefully they learn something

that you taught them and make a differ-

ence."

Although she said the program was

interesting, the job can be challenging at

times due to the different backgrounds

of the Soldiers.

"Some Soldiers haven't had a good

relationship with their mom and dad,"

Vaughters said. "Some never have had

physical training or played sports before

they joined the Army."

She said she also has to "motivate

those who are unmotivated."

NCOs share their opinions

Vaughters said she believes a nor-

mal NCO could do the job of a TAC

sergeant.

"I still think TAC sergeants need

the same kind of formal training that a

drill sergeant gets," she said, adding that

leaders have different styles of teaching

and "formal training provides consis-

tency."

Before she became a TAC sergeant,

Vaughters was an Operations NCO. She

was selected by Rivera and Clark to par-

ticipate in the pilot program.

Another TAC sergeant, Sgt. 1st

Class Dexter Trotter, shared his opinions

on how TAC sergeants differ from drill

sergeants.

Trotter said since times are chang-

ing so is the Army.

"The Army is trying to transition to

becoming more gentle and friendly,"

Trotter said.

These changes come from the Sol-

diers being in Genera-tion X and today's

parents not spanking their children to

discipline them, he said.Trotter said TAC sergeants still

discipline Soldiers if they are doing some-

thing they're not supposed to but don't

yell as much.

"We try to listen to their problems

and talk to them as a person," Trotter

said. "When I was a private you didn't

need to yell to get your point across."

Trotter said the Soldiers "should be

treated like the adults they are."

"They joined the Army during war-

time and go straight to Iraq," he said."They should be shown respect."

TAC sergeants are someone Sol-

diers can turn to when they have a prob-

lem, Trotter said.

On the other hand, Vaughters said

"all NCOs are approachable."

"I've seen Soldiers go to drill ser-


(Continued on page 19)Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Michelle Bryant, Company B, 143rd Ordnance Battalion, keeps time asshe leads Soldiers in sit-ups.




Installation Support Story and photo by Ken Perrotte

Fort A.P. Hill Public Affairs Office

Tracer rounds zipping toward targets at a distant wood line,

white phosphorous flares drifting under tiny parachutes in the night

sky, high-explosive warheads detonating courtesy of artillery fire —

things can really get hot at Fort A.P. Hill even when summer tem-

peratures aren’t blistering the landscape.

Wildfire management, especially south of U.S. 301 where

most flashes and bangs that can start a blaze take place, is serious

business for post range and infrastructure managers, and installa-

tion firefighters.

With the “Visual Guide to Forest Fuels and Fire Hazard on

Fort A.P. Hill,” they now have a new tool that can help them better

understand and communicate the fire threat.

Developed by Jason Applegate, a longtime contracted team

member in the Public Works’ Environmental Division, the spiral

bound 20-page booklet shows examples of various habitats found on

Fort A.P. Hill with a corresponding fire hazard rating based on

worst case scenarios, such as drought and high winds.

Hurricanes, ice storms, insects and more contribute to

downed trees, limbs and twigs creating “coarse woody debris” and

“fine woody debris” — or “fuel” as a fire may know it.

Fallen leaves, snags (dead trees still standing) and the density

of the forest understory such as shrubs and saplings are also factors

in the ability of a wildfire to spread.

“The Visual Guide was developed in-house by Range and

Training Land Assessment (RTLA) as a means of communicat-

ing wildfire hazard to range/training, and fire-fighting person-nel. This came out of a larger forest fuels assessment conducted in

2005 by RTLA,” Applegate explained.

Applegate worked with Installation Foresters Larry Capelle


Guide provides wildfire management tool

This photo shows the various types of forest fuels assessed in the Visual Guide to Forest Fuels and Fire Hazard on Fort A.P. Hill.




Expansion Management Maga-

zine has included Letterkenny Army Depot and Franklin County among

its top 20 communities in the maga-

zine’s “2006 Military Communities of

Excellence” survey. Defense commu-

nities were ranked in the survey on

12 broad categories used to measure

quality of life from a middle-class per-

spective.

The Aug. 25, 2006 issue of De-

fense Communities Newsletter is a

weekly perspective on the news andissues facing communities with active

and closed military bases. Letterk-

enny received a score of 93, seventh

from the top in the list of 126 com-

munities. Letterkenny is also the

only depot, plant or arsenal to make

the list.

According to the magazine, with

a number of exceptions, the highest

ranked communities had relatively

strong scores in the measures for pub-lic schools, affordable childcare, stan-

dard of living and spouse employ-

ment opportunities. The remaining

eight categories used to create the

rankings are: housing affordability,

recreation and leisure, healthcarecosts, crime and safety, continuing

education opportunities, traffic and

commuting, commercial air service

availability and state legislation affect-

ing military families.

Colonel Robert Swenson, Depot

Commander said: “It is a tribute to

the leaders of Franklin County that

the quality of life we enjoy in this

area is recognized by a national publi-

cation which is mailed to more than45,000 CEO’s, vice presidents direc-

tors and other executives of compa-

nies that have indicated they are con-

sidering expanding into new geo-

graphic areas.”

David Sciamanna, President of

the Greater Chambersburg Chamber

of Commerce said: “Letterkenny has

been recognized as Number One in

military value. It is nice for others to

read what we already know. Thequality of life cannot be beat.”

Mike Ross, Chairman of Frank-

lin County Area Development Cor-

poration who also chaired Opportu-

nity ’05, the ad-hoc local committee

advocating for the depot agreed: “Itis time for leaders around the country

to realize what Letterkenny not only

survived BRAC ’95, but actually

gained jobs. Our Business Opportu-

nity Showcase last May and the one

scheduled for May, 2007 is designed

to reinforce the points that this analy-

ses confirms. The depot is a great

place to work and Franklin County

enjoys a quality of life rated seventh

among military communities in the

country.”

“Pennsylvania was enormously

supportive during the BRAC proc-

ess,” said Ross. “They set up a mili-

tary affairs office to coordinate the

BRAC process and the legislature

passed appropriations to support

Pennsylvania’s interests. A crucial

piece of this survey is the state’s in-

state college tuition for dependents of

military service members, and unem-

ployment insurance for military spouses who are forced to leave their

employment in order to accompany

their service member spouse upon

change of duty station.”

Franklin County ranked seventh in

national military communities

and Anne Ulrey on the fire hazard ratings associated with the differ-

ent habitat conditions.

Applegate said the U.S. Forest Service has requested copies of the booklet.

“Much of my work involves regular coordination with the

Forest Service because we utilize their techniques here in terms of

assessing land condition. We routinely share findings of a technical

nature with them to demonstrate how we use their methodology,”

he added.

This transfer and sharing of technology and technical infor-

mation dates to 1998 when a cooperative agreement was established

between Fort A.P. Hill and the Forest Service.

The document will be posted on the Reimbursable Programs

Tracking System as a technical reference for other installations look-

ing to perform similar work and on the Defense Environmental

Information Exchange (DENIX) as part of a DOD Fire LearningNetwork

Fort A.P. Hill has long used controlled burns as a tool to con-

sume forest fuels on the installation’s terms versus the whims of

Mother Nature and the inherent r isks posed by military training.

That practice, along with careful maintenance of a series of fire-

breaks throughout the range complex helps mitigate the opportu-

nity for wildfires. The Visual Guide gives managers one more tool

in the box.





Working with the budget crunch

How Fort Meade

is handling

IMA's financial

strainsSecond in a three-part series

By Travis Edwards

Community Relations Director

It has been several weeks since the Installation Management Agency announced its financial shortfalls and enacted immediate

measures to protect installation budgets across the Army. Relief will

not come in large bundles of cash, but from the innovative ways

employees and service members use the resources they currently

possess.

Managers are in survival mode and employees are feeling the

strain. The mission is simple: do what we can to avoid passing the

strain on to the supported service members, their families and garri-

son customers.

The immediate measure enacted included a 100 percent civil-

ian hiring freeze; the release of all temporary and term employees

who are not directly supporting life, health, safety and the Global War on Terrorism, the development of spending plans by com-

manders; identification of contracts that can be reduced, cancelled

or deferred until next year; and reduction of automation and daily

operations expenditures in order to save money.

"Fort Meade has to find ways to save money to assist the na-

tion in prosecuting the Global War on Terrorism. This will require

looking at all processes and identifying improvements and changes

that will allow us to complete our missions," said Col. Kenneth O.

McCreedy, Fort Meade installation commander. "Best management

practices can change the mindset of many employees and once they

see the merit in doing things more effectively and efficiently, they

will respond in a positive way."

According to a message from the Vice Chief of Staff of the

Army, Gen. Richard Cody, "the Army will continue to push for

increases to our budget to fight the Global War on Terrorism; it is

imperative that we redouble our efforts to become more efficient in

our day-to-day operations. We must adopt a leaner business ap-

proach in order to maintain the momentum of the Army Campaign

Plan. I know I can count on your support and leadership."

The Army Performance Improvement Criteria is one such tool

employed by the command to help capture ways to do more with

less.

According to Anne Warren, Fort Meade APIC program man-

ager, "The (Army Performance Improvement Criteria) is a frame-

work that can help Fort Meade and the Army examine how well we

are managing our processes and identify areas where we can im-

prove."

"This approach is not merely about doing more with less;

rather, it is about finding smarter ways of doing business and elimi-

nating inefficient or wasteful practices so that we can use our limitedresources on the things that matter to our customers," Warren said.

Other programs and initiatives have also been employed to

look for additional savings.

"The Employee Innovation Program was created this year as a

catalyst for increasing productivity, improving quality, improving

services, improving methods, improving the environment, reducing

cost, preventing waste and preventing accidents," said Kirsten Allen,

Fort Meade employee innovation program manager. "It recognizes

garrison employees and service members for suggesting new and

innovative ways of doing business on the installation."

Not all savings come from process improvement programs andinnovative ideas.

"The budget issue is about stretching my budget to continue

providing quality service and customer support to the Fort Meade

community and make that happen as transparent as possible to our

customers," said Fort Meade Director of Logistics, Mike Sloan.

"When making purchase and repair decisions using govern-

ment funds, the best way to ensure the money goes the farthest is to

treat the funds the same way you would if it was your own money,"

Sloan said. "That really puts perspective on the decision. More often

than not, we make the right decision when there is invested interest

in the project. We all strive to do this each time we make a pur-

chase, but now it helps put perspective on our choices."

"Our employees and service members have always been good

stewards of the government's money and have continued year after

year to find more cost savings," McCreedy said. "We've got to get

better."

One example of savings for the garrison comes from the re-

looking of processes within the organization. Club Meade, the in-

stallation's club for service members and federal employees, looked

into how its additional phone lines were being billed in an attempt

to cut costs. In doing so the office was able to switch to a business

plan saving more than $2,200 annually.

"Also, we must look at everything we do to be watchful for wasteful practices, to include water and energy conservation. That is

just as important as cost savings," McCreedy said.

"Fort Meade continues to focus on process improvement in

many ways, to include Lean Six Sigma training," Warren said.

"Learning to manage and work with process improvement in mind

with every aspect of your job truly makes a difference in cost and

quality of products and services provided to customers in every

arena."





Partnerships have proved to be very effective in maintaining emer-

gency service training during the budget crunch.

According to Fort Meade Fire Chief Albert Daley, the Fort

Meade Directorate of Emergency Services has had partnerships with

surrounding jurisdictions for at least the last 34 years. The director-

ate jointly trains on a continuous basis in hazardous materials re-

sponse, technical rescue, emergency medical, firefighting, code en-

forcement and administration.

"We have training requirements from the Department of the

Army and many others to include the State of Maryland," Daley

said. "We recently met many of our training requirements by attend-

ing a free Aircraft Crash Rescue Training and Hazardous Materials

Training Course at the Baltimore-Washington International Air-

port. It is these types of partnerships that help everyone involved."

And there obviously will be programs and requirements that

will be unfunded, even with increased savings and more efficient

employment of the reduced resources.

"The budget shortfalls will in no way reduce the quality or

amount of force protection and law enforcement support provided

to the installation," said Charles McGee, Fort Meade chief of police.

"It does impact on needed improvements for police vehicles and

equipment, but Fort Meade will continue to be a safe place to work

and live."

Fort Meade Emergency Services works with many community partners to ensure that the proper levels of training and certification

are maintained."

"Even the more efficient use of our office supplies can produce

savings." said McCreedy. "Nickel and dime savings eventually lead to

big dollar savings. We have to think in those kinds of terms. Amer-

ica's federal employees and service members are masters of 'doing

more with less' and we will continue to do just that."


by Henry Kearney

Fort Monmouth Public Affairs Officer

Fort Monmouth will host a three-

phase disaster preparedness exercise

Wednesday, Oct. 4, and Thursday, Oct.

5, involving several federal, state, re-

gional and municipal health and safety

and emergency planning organizations.

Participants in the “Timely Alert”

exercise will include: the fort’s Director-

ate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and

Security and other major fort director-

ates; Patterson Army Health Clinic; the

New Jersey Office of Homeland Security

Preparedness and Department of Health

and Senior Services; the New Jersey State

Police; the Monmouth County Office of

Emergency Management and Monmouth

County Health Department; and the

Offices of Emergency Management of

Long Branch, West Long Branch, Eaton-town, Oceanport, Tinton Falls, Shrews-

bury, Little Silver, and other local mu-

nicipalities.

The exercise will simulate an avian

flu pandemic in the region to test prepar-

edness of federal, state and regional or-

ganizations for such an influenza out-

break and also will test and fully stress

the organizations’ planning and respon-

siveness by simulating a fast-moving hur-

ricane endangering coastal New Jersey at

the height of the pandemic.

The first phase of the exercise will

be a “table top” exchange involving all

exercise participants from 6 p.m. to 10

p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The second phase on Thursday

morning, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon,

will feature a full-scale exercise play on

the fort’s main post including the logis-

tics of staging and distributing medicine

to counter the influenza outbreak as well

as a simulated release of hazardous mate-

rials incident.

A final table top phase from 6 p.m.

to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, will con-

clude the exercise.

“The focus for Fort Monmouth and

all the first-responder organizations par-

ticipating in this exercise is to test our

planning and responsiveness under the

most stressful circumstances and also to

help educate our community to enhanceour readiness for real emergencies,” said

John E. Occhipinti, director of Fort

Monmouth’s Plans, Training, Mobiliza-

tion and Security Directorate.

“Creating worst case scenarios in

exercises helps Fort Monmouth, federal,

state and regional professionals identify

their capabilities and refine or modify

their emergency preparedness plans,”

Mike Ruane of the James Thomas

Group, Inc., the chief controller of theexercise, said.

“This helps develop improved com-

munication and coordination among all

partners in the military and civilian com-

munity,” he added.

Disaster preparedness exercise to help federal, state,

county and municipal organization emergency planning




by Dennis Ryan

Pentagram staff writer

There is one tried and true

test of a manager’s ability. Did he

improve the organization’s bottom

line? Did they make more money?

These are not the only ba-

rometers of success but they cer-

tainly apply to Abdul Qayyum of

the Fort Myer Bowling Center and

Azeb Aweke of the Officers’ Club.

Both employees recently received

the James A. Carroll, Jr., Award

for excellence in management.

In fiscal year 2004 the bowl-

ing center earned only $479 be-

fore depreciation. The bowling

center under Qayyum’s innovative

programming garnered a profit of

$56,553.

The bowling center manager

studied physics, chemistry andmath in his native Pakistan. He

worked at the American Embassy

in Islamabad before emigrating to

the U.S.

Qayyum improved the overall

condition of the lanes and offered

a wider range of specials to com-

munity groups and increased the

number of bowling leagues.

The bowling center even had

a wedding there. Qayyum asked

his superiors for 90 days to imple-

ment a test breakfast program.

The trial period is still ongoing

but business is brisk and the

breakfast program will almost

surely continue.

Joan Curry, Director, Morale

Welfare and Recreation, nomi-

nated Qayyum for the award.

“Abdul Qayyum is exception-

ally dedicated to the mission of

providing an outstanding service

to the bowling center customers

and their guests,” she said. “In a

very short time he has displayed

an uncommon ability to consis-

tently stay focused on all critical

aspects of our goals and objectives.

He is keenly aware of what a cus-

tomer needs and does everythingpossible to deliver it.”

It is only fitting that a show-

case Army post should have a

showcase officers’ club. According

to Curry the average officers’ club

has a net profit before deprecia-

tion of eight percent. Under the

management of Aweke the Fort

Myer Officers’ Club showed a 14

percent net profit of $652,409 for

2005 . This was $172,337 more

than the previous fiscal year.

The club has a 200-seat din-

ing room and two cocktail

lounges. They celebrate a wide

range of events from Hawaiian

luaus to Oktoberfests. The club

can attract as many as 2,000 mem-

bers on special occasions such as

Mothers’ Day or Easter. Its seven

banquet rooms have a total capac-

ity of 1,000 guests.

The Old Guard Lounge

serves a daily cafeteria style lunch

Tuesday through Friday.

“Azeb Aweke is the personifi-

cation of complete dedication in

her profession,” Curry said when

nominating her for the award.“She is most deserving of the

honor of this prestigious James A.

Carroll award for excellence in

club management, as she has al-

ready demonstrated a strong busi-

ness sense in managing this show

case of Army clubs.”

Garrison Commander Col.

Thomas A. Allmon is proud of the

managers’ success.

“Azeb Aweke and Abdul Qay-

yum typify the hard-working inno-

vative manager needed in today’s

difficult financial atmosphere,” he

said. “They ensure resources are

used efficiently and stand as exam-

ples for all managers to emulate.”

“Azeb Aweke is the personification of complete

dedication in her profession” (US Army photo)

Fort Myers awards of excellence




By Rona S. Hirsch

Fort Meade SoundOff! Staff writer

The dog days of summer turned

into the champion season for two Fort

Meade K-9 teams.

The pair of dogs and their handlers

scored five trophies in the weeklong Mili-

tary District of Washington (MDW) Ca-

nine Competition for military working

dogs held Aug. 21-25 at Fort Belvoir, Va.

A dozen dog teams from kennels at

Fort Meade, Fort Belvoir and Fort Myer,

Va., participated. "My guys were like

David and Goliath," said Sgt. 1st Class

Chad Benansky, kennel master of the

Fort Meade K-9 unit. "We took them allout with my two dogs."

It was the MDW's first military

working dog competition. Next year's

event will be at Fort Meade.

"The competition promotes esprit

de corps," Benansky said. "It gives the

handler the opportunity to prove how

good they are and get some recognition.

And dog competitions just make better

handlers. They get a lot of cross- train-

ing."

Twelve teams competed including

six from Fort Myer and four from Fort

Belvoir. Eleven trophies were presented

at the awards ceremony and barbecue on

Aug. 25. Fort Belvoir won four trophies

and Fort Myer took two.

The ceremony was attended by Maj.

Gen. Guy C. Swan III, commander of

MDW, and Col. Arnaldo Claudio, pro-

vost marshal and chief of staff of MDW

and Joint Forces Headquarters, National

Capital Region (NCR). "I was extremely

pleased with the results," Claudio said."The competition was really tough, the

results were so close. We want to take it

to another level next year."

Claudio's office provides oversight

for the Military Working Dog program,

which directly supports the Secret Service

and security of the president, vice presi-

dent, Joint Chiefs of Staff, visiting heads

of state and military installations.

"The competition gives us a first

look at the skills and readiness of the

Military Working Dog program," Claudio

said. "It also motivates the handler andthe dog to go a little beyond their normal

preparation and readiness for the execu-

tion of the job. It is just like other profes-

sional organizations that check each

other out. Then you celebrate and learn

from each other."

Although the event was restricted to

Army kennels, other branches will be

able to participate in future competitions.

"This will serve as a blueprint as we open

it up to the other services," Claudio said.

The competition tested skills inpatrol aggression and handler protection;

tactical obedience; explosives/narcotics

detection; building search; and a 3.5-mile

run past strategically placed obstacles that

the handler and dog had to negotiate

along the course.

For the building search task, dogs

were taken into barracks. "Live human

scent makes it hard on dogs," Benansky

said.

The competition was designed by

David Reiter, MDW's K-9 program man-ager. Reiter and three MDW kennel mas-

ters including Benansky judged the com-

petition.

"All the dogs did well, all the dogs

exceeded normal standards just to be in

the competition," Benansky said. "They're

all winners and they're all excellent

teams. Next year there will be stiffer com-

petition because we know what to expect.

We will look back and see where we need

to work harder and stay proficient in

other areas."

The Fort Meade team was presented

the Top Dog Kennel Award, which was

determined by adding the scores and an

inspection of each kennel.

Sgt. Timothy Roey and his dog,

Benno, a Belgian Malinois, took first and

second place in explosives detection. The

team also came in first in patrol. Sgt.

Scott Warner and Junior, a long-haired

German shepherd, took second place for

patrol. (The Fort Meade teams did not

compete in narcotics detection.)

"This is a building process,"

Benansky said. "From the moment we geta new dog or a new handler, we start the

training. That's why these guys did so

well. It's a team effort - dog and handler

have to work well together."

Fort Meade's K-9 unit, which is part

of the 241st Military Police Company,

has five dogs and six handlers, in addi-

tion to Benansky and Staff Sgt. Warren

Bias, the K-9 training noncommissioned

officer.

"We did real good," Bias said. "We

placed real high, but there's always roomfor improvement."

To prepare for the event, Bias and

Benansky developed a training program

over an elaborate obstacle course. "I tried

to train in real world scenarios, to get

them to think on their feet and come

through the problem," Bias said.

That included teaching the pups to

walk along the field past such distractions

as rubber toys and a decoy in a bite suit.

"It is basically a command control meas-

ure between the handler and dog," Biassaid.

The handlers erected a few obsta-

cles beyond the scope of typical obstacles

- a barrel jump, elevated tunnels, ex-

tended catwalks and ramps, and chain

link hurdles. "Dogs don't like to jump

over something they can see through,"

Benansky said. "But each competition

keeps coming up with something new, so

you have to change your training to bet-

ter prepare that dog and handler for that

challenge or task."But it wasn't only the competing

that was grueling. Each morning of the

competition, the dog-tired Fort Meade

teams left for Fort Belvoir at 3 a.m. to be

there by 5 a.m. and help set up the

events. They returned between 5 and 7

p.m.

"All the late hours, weekends, being

pushed, critiqued, all the hard work these

guys did paid off," Benansky said.

Fort Meade K-9 unit takes five trophies in kennel

competition testing military working dogs




geants when they need someone to talk

to," she said.

Vaughters does just that for Sol-

diers, according to Pfc. Warren Martinez.

"She's one of my favorite TAC ser-

geants," Martinez said. "I like how she

gets things done. If you have a problem,she'll help you out with it."

When Martinez was asked what

Vaughters has done to prepare him for

war he said that the Soldiers have gone

through a lot of weekend training includ-

ing "warrior lanes."

"Warrior lanes set you up to see

what it's like during an ambush," he said.

Martinez also said he notices a dif-

ference between a drill sergeant and a

TAC sergeant.

"With TAC sergeants you can go upto them and talk about your problems,"

he said.

He said drill sergeants aren't as

available to talk to as TAC sergeants are.

Spc. J. White has a different view

on TAC sergeants.

"I think [TRADOC] should keep

drill sergeants," White said. "Privates re-

spect drill sergeants more than TAC ser-

geants."

White said this is because the pri-

vates just came from basic training andthey are used to the drill sergeants.


Drill sergeants’ pride

is in the final

‘product’By Yvonne Johnson, APG News

Most Soldiers who attend drill ser-

geant school don’t go there willingly--they are selected by the Department of the

Army then issued orders requiring them

to prepare to attend one of the Army’s

toughest schools--like it or not.

The Drill Sergeant School consists

of a nine-week, 45-day course that inten-

tionally strains the endurance and mettle

of those who would train America’s fu-

ture warriors.

Not everyone goes there willingly,

but those who emerge are arguably the

sharpest noncommissioned officers inthe Army.

Drill sergeants take their mission of

training the Army’s Basic and Advanced

Individual Training Soldiers seriously.

They realize that they are training future

warfighters and that commanders count

on them to produce quality ‘products.’

“We are the hallmark of training,”

said Drill Sgt. Alfonzo L. Branch, a ser-

geant first class with Company B, 143rd

Ordnance Battalion. When not training

troops, Branch is overseeing the unit’sother drill sergeants or tending to admin-

istrative duties, often serving as acting

first sergeant.

Branch completed the nine-week Drill

Sergeant Course at Fort Jackson, S.C.,

nearly two years ago. He said he wears

the distinctive drill sergeant hat proudly.

“We represent the (non-

commissioned officer) corps as far as

these young Soldiers are concerned, and

it’s our duty to train them more than just

physically,” he said. “We train their

minds.

“I love being a drill sergeant,” he

said. “Out of every job I ever had, this is

the most rewarding. Our job picks up

where the basic training drill sergeant left

off. It’s up to us to make sure that when

these young Soldiers get to permanent

party they have the right discipline and

motivation.”

For this and other reasons Branch

and other ‘drills’ have “reservations”

about the TAC Sergeant Pilot Program

underway in Company C, 143rd. In the

experimental program, ordinary NCOs

are tasked to receive four weeks of train-

ing and then perform the same tasks as

drill sergeants, in regard to training and

supervising troops.

“The intent is to see if the TAC

Sergeant can do the job of the drill ser-

geant and produce the same result,”

Branch said, adding, “but the TAC does-

n’t go to drill sergeant school which

means he misses out on valuable informa-

tion and training that is tailored to the

Soldier.”

The same view is shared by Com-

pany B, 143rd commander Capt. Hurcu-

les Murray.

“Our drill sergeants are outstanding

professionals and some of the best Sol-

diers I ever worked with,” Murray said.

“It would be a huge blow to the AIT com-

munity,” he added, noting that the TAC

sergeant has to become proficient in exe-

cuting and teaching required training in

a much shorter amount of time.

“The TAC just doesn’t get the nine

weeks of training the drill sergeant does

and that could be a big disadvantage,”

Murray said.

“They don’t wear the hat, they

don’t get the patch, they don’t get the

pay,” Branch added. “But most impor-

tantly, they don’t receive the same

amount of training that teaches you how

to interact, communicate and empathize

with Soldiers because sometimes you

have to be able to put yourself in their

shoes,” he said.

Sgt. Richard Castillo is a drill ser-

geant in training who is attached to the

unit. He applied for, was accepted and

will attend Drill Sergeant School at Fort

Jackson in October.

“The bottom line to me is that

NCOs are programmed to work and drill

sergeants are programmed to train,” Cas-

tillo said.

“We don’t have a 9-to-5 job, and we

have to put our best foot forward at all

times,” he said, adding that the level of

discipline doled out by TAC sergeants

will be “extremely different.”

“Discipline is not about punish-

ment,” he said. “It’s about what the Sol-

dier accomplishes on his own when no-

body’s watching. Creating that disci-

plined mindset is what the drill sergeant

is trained to do.”

Another Company B, 143rd drillsergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Horace Jackson,

added a different perspective.

“A drill sergeant is still an NCO

and an NCO is going to do his job, re-

gardless,” Jackson said. “I think Soldiers

respond better to drill sergeants, but as

an NCO you are still going to demand

discipline.”




ARDEC recognized

as Army’s best

large-development

laboratory

By Audra CallowayThe Picatinny Voice

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — The

U.S. Army Armament Research, De-

velopment and Engineering Center

here has been named the Army’s top

large-development laboratory in the

2006 Research and Development

Laboratory of the Year Awards, Dep-

uty Assistant Secretary of the Army

for Research and Technology Tho-

mas H. Killion announced recently.

The award is presented each year

to the large-development laboratory

that demonstrates an exceptional de-

gree of excellences in its technical

accomplishments, management initia-

tives, programs, human resources

management and financial manage-

ment.

“The competition as usual is

very close and it certainly is not an

easy task choosing the Army’s best,”

Killion said in a letter announcing

the winners. “I extend my congratula-

tions and personal thanks to each

member of the winning organiza-

tions.”

Killion said formal presentations

of the awards will be made at the

U.S. Army Acquisition Corps Awards

Ceremony Oct. 8.

Since the competition began in

1975, this is the sixth time ARDEC

has received the prestigious award.

The center also won the award in

1986, 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2004.

“I congratulate each (ARDEC

team member) for a job well done,”

said ARDEC director Dr. Joseph A.

Lannon. “It is through your efforts in

supporting our Soldiers that we have

achieved this recognition. Thank you

for the great support.”

Among the accomplishments

that led to the center’s selection was

the fielding of the M101 Common

Remotely Operated Weapon Station,

known as CROWS, which was ur-

gent-materiel released to the troops in

Iraq in fiscal year 2005.

CROWS is a remotely-operated

weapon for mounting on top of a

Humvee. It allows Soldiers to operate

successfully from within the safety of

the Humvee’s armor without beingexposed to the threat of improvised

explosive devices or small-arms fire.

CROWS provides crews the

ability to locate, identify and engage

targets with better accuracy and im-

proved range, while keeping the gun-

ner inside, protected by the vehicle’s

up-armor improvements.

Other significant accomplish-

ments include the Bradley Reactive

Armor Tile A2 Vehicle Set that was

urgent materiel released to troops

earlier this year, as well as the devel-

opment of the M782 Multi-Option

Fuze for Artillery. The MOFA pro-

vides proximity, precision time, delay

and point detonating impact func-

tions in a single fuze and was also

recognized as one of the Army’s top

10 inventions for 2005.

during my classes, and I want Soldiers to

know they are in control of their ac-

tions,” Barker said. “I want them to know

that if they have a problem with alcohol,

it won’t hurt their career if they seek

help, but it can hurt their career if they

don’t.”

William Bowman, ASAC executive

director, described Barker as a go-getter.

“Rita has a natural ability to reachout,” Bowman said. “She has that ‘get in

the trenches’ attitude, and she doesn’t

pass judgment. She truly cares about peo-

ple, and it shows.”

Cohen, who has worked in the field

more than 25 years, received the Mar-

sala / Wertman Award, which is given to

an individual who has provided out-

standing community service in the sub-

stance abuse field. She graciously ac-

cepted the award on behalf of the com-

munity.

“In this field, you meet all kinds of

people from all walks of life. I feel so

much a part of this community, and it’s

truly a team effort,” Cohen said. “It’s

never just one person who makes a

change, but the whole group of people

coming together.”

Cohen, Fort Drum civilian program

coordinator, recognized her husband forallowing her to dedicate much of her “off

time” to drug-free nights, Red Ribbon

campaigns and youth services programs.

She also serves on the Community Cen-

ter for Alcoholism board.

Currently, she is working on a cam-

paign to targeting under-age drinking.

“The kids know what’s out there

before we do,” Cohen said. “It’s never

too early to talk about the dangers of

drugs. Prevention involves education.

Kids need to learn early to like them-

selves and the importance of self-esteem.

They need to know it’s OK to talk about

their problems.”

Cohen, affectionately known as a

“champion of tough love,” also offers

counseling to military family members

and retirees on everything from stress in

the workplace to caring for the elderly.

She said her true reward is when some-

one she has counseled comes back to tellher how things are going.

“I think almost everyone in this field

has to care, because if we didn’t care,

there’s no way we could keep on doing

what we’re doing,” Cohen said. “Without

a doubt, our clients are the energy that

keeps us going.”





Training Support

By Ken Perrotte

Fort A.P. Hill Public Affairs Office

Fort A.P. Hill’s detailed Organizational Self-Assessment

answering the Army’s Performance Improvement Criteria

(APIC) was submitted to the Installation Management Agency

July 14 for consideration in the next Army Communities of Ex-

cellence ACOE) award program.

Fort A.P. Hill has finished in third place each of the last

two year. Fort Stewart, Ga., was last year’s top winner.

The assessment package is a thorough look at how the in-stallation conducts its strategic planning, measures and analyzes

data and business results, designs its business processes, and un-

derstands and supports its customers. It also explores the post’s

leadership focus and its human resources focus.

The package is now reviewed at both the regional and head-

quarters level of IMA, with a board of senior examiners deter-

mining which installations will receive weeklong site visits from a

team seeking to “verify and clarify” information in the nomina-

tion.

According to an ACOE process timeline provided earlier

this year, site visits could occur by early November.

A.P. Hill’s hat in ring again for Army

Communities of Excellence award

Letterkenny Army Depot Commander, Colonel Robert A.

Swenson, opened the annual General purpose Electronic Test

Set (GETS) International Users Conference with remarks wel-

coming the visitors to Chambersburg and Letterkenny.

Sponsored by Lockheed-Martin, the conference is hosted

annually by Letterkenny Army Depot, one of the most experi-

enced users of GETS Testing Equipment. Letterkenny uses

GETS equipment to test circuit cards on Patriot and HAWK

missile equipment.

About 50 users of GETS equipment from around the

world travel to Chambersburg each year for the week-long con-

ference, held at Four Points Sheraton. Foreign nations repre-

sented at the GETS conference include Japan, Saudi Arabia,

Taiwan, and Israel.

The conference includes a GETS Quarterly Program Re-

view, a tour of Letterkenny Army Depot and country-specific side

meetings and discussions of new technology.

LEAD hosts GETS Conference in Chambersburg

GETS equipment users from around the world travelled to Chambersburg

for the week-long conference. (Photo courtesy LEAD Public Affairs Office)




Region People Picatinny policemen cited for saving life

Picatinny Public Affairs Office release

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Picat-

inny Installation Commander Maj. Gen.

Paul S. Izzo recently recognized two Picat-

inny Police Officers for their heroic ef-

forts in possibly saving a fellow officer in

2004.

Police Sgt. John A. Berrie and Po-

lice Officer Bryan T. Simm, Picatinny

Garrison Law Enforcement Branch, were

first on the scene at a government all-

terrain-vehicle accident here on post Oct.17, 2004. The location was at a remote

area along the perimeter fence of Picat-

inny.

Their actions are credited with pos-

sibly saving the life of fellow Police Offi-

cer Jason Moreland.

It was during Moreland’s patrol of

the perimeter fence on a government

ATV deep in the woods within the Rob-

inson enclosure that he suffered many

severe and life-threatening injuries during

an accident with his ATV.His face was torn open from his lips

to his ear. He had a compound open

fracture of his scapula, shoulder and

clavicle. He had internal bleeding from

his liver, spleen and

pancreas. And, More-

land also suffered a

lung contusion.

Berrie and Simm

were first on the scene

and did everything in

their power to keep

Moreland calm while

using their bare hands

to control Moreland’s

facial and back bleed-

ing.They guided the

ambulance and emer-

gency personnel to the

scene by radio. Because

the accident took place

on a remote hill, it was

difficult for the emergency medical ser-

vice team to find the accident scene, and

they got lost on the way to the scene.

This in turn prolonged the amount of

time that Berrie and Simm had to keep

Moreland from going into shock andlosing consciousness.

The award justification said that if

it weren’t for their quick response, train-

ing and dedication to duty, Moreland

would have very probably died at the

scene of the accident.

In response to the accident, both

law enforcement officers were cited for

exceptional performance of duty in that

their lifesaving actions were “in keeping with the highest standards of federal civil-

ian service.”

Police Sgt. John A. Berrie (l) and Police Officer Bryan T. Simm (r)were commended for their actions after fellow officer Jason More-land’s ATV accident.

(Photo courtesy of Picatinny Public Affairs Office)

Story and photo by

Heather Tassmer

APG News

A military employee with the U.S.

Army Medical Research Institute of

Chemical Defense took second place in

the Military Idol finals at Fort Myer, Va.,

Sept. 7 in the Spates Community Club.

Maj. Scott Willens, a veterinarian

with a doctorate in pharmacology, sang

Josh Groban’s "You Raise Me Up" dur-

ing his last round of Military Idol. He

dedicated the song to those who died on

Sept. 11, 2001, from the terrorist attacks.

The judges gave Willens many posi-

tive comments on his performance.

"I was very touched by it," said Jeff

Westerman from Fort Myer’s Directorate

of Logis-tics. "You have great stage pres-

ence but I’d still like to see more person-

ality."

"You raised my spirits up. It is a

pleasure to hear you sing," said Leah

Rubalcaba from Fort Myers Public Af-

fairs Office.

More than a dozen people attended

the round to cheer him on including his

wife, Melanie, their children Matthew,

Emily and Haley, coworkers from

MRICD and longtime friend Rich Davisfrom West Chester, Pa.

This wasn’t the first time Davis had

heard Willens perform. Davis said he

heard Willens sing the national anthem

on “Philadelphia’s WPHT 1210 AM.”

Davis shared his opinions on the

outcome of Military Idol 2006 winner

Spc. Vicki Golding with the National


APG’s Military Idol competitor places second in finals

Hometown heroes




Guard’s 257th Army Band in Washing-

ton, D.C. He was disappointed Willens

didn’t win.

"Scott had a better voice and was

the most talented of the three," Davis

said. "He also had a better song."

Willens received a check for $250for coming in second place.

Although Willens didn’t win Mili-

tary Idol this year he still has a positive

attitude.

“I’m very grateful of my family, my

unit and others who voted for me and

supported me,” he said.

“I wish Vicki Golding the best,”

Willens said. “I think she should stick

with her 30s swing style.”

He said the outcome of Military

Idol is not what matters for him but the

opportunities it brings.

Because he has participated in Mili-

tary Idol, he has had the chance to sing

the national anthem for several ceremo-

nies and become involved with other

musical events.

“Military Idol gives me more oppor-

tunities to serve,” he said.

During the Aug. 31 round at Fort

Myer Willens performed Air Supply’s

"All Out of Love."He said he sang the song because

the band is Australian and his friend,

Capt. Scott Hahn with the Royal Austra-

lian Army Medical Corps, came along to

watch him perform.

His family and coworkers were

there again to cheer him on.

After Willens sang the classic rock

song, the judges said that he exuded con-

fidence and his performance was “very

mature.”

Willens and Staff Sgt. Venus Sims,a drill sergeant with Company C, 16th

Ordnance Battalion, also performed on

Aug. 24., during which Willens sang

“This is the Moment” from “Jekyll and

Hyde.”

Willens said that the words were

arranged for the 231st Army Ball per-

formance that gave it a patriotic tone.

This is the second year of Military

Idol for Willens.

"It's nice to have some recognition,"

Willens said, commenting on his second

time around. "Sinbad is the same DJ

from last year and he is very personable.

The same Morale, Welfare and Rec-reation people are involved. Some are

judges."

Last year Willens made it to the

Army-wide competition in Fort Gordon,

Ga., after singing classic rock songs like

Styx’s "Babe" and Bon Jovi's "Blaze of

Glory."

He sang Billy Joel’s "Lullaby" for the

a cappella [first] round of Military Idol

2006 while holding his 1-year-old son,

Matthew.

"One judge said he almost fellasleep," Willens said. "The other two

judges said it was the perfect song to sing

a cappella."

Sims was the last of 10 contestants

to perform and was eliminated during

that round.

"I'm not as nervous as last time but

the closer it gets for me to perform the

more nervous I get," Sims said.

During this round she sang "Full

Moon" by Brandy.

"I think I'm kind of taking a risk

with a fast song," she said. "But I wanted

to sing something more upbeat."

Philip Key, an assistant adjutantofficer at the Pentagon attended the Aug.

10 and Aug. 24 rounds to watch the Sol-

diers perform.

"She [Sims] has an excellent voice,"

Key said. "She has the potential to be the

next Military Idol."

After Sims performed, the judges

said she had "the right attitude for the

song" and her singing was enjoyable.

The downside was that the judges

couldn’t hear her voice over the music.Sims asked Patricia Jacobs, MWR

marketing director of Fort Myer, to have

the audio people turn down the music.

Sims said it didn't seem like they

turned down the music enough.

"It's okay," Sims said. "I'm not sad.

It was a good and fun experience. I

might compete next year."


Maj. Scott Willens with the Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense sings Air Supply’s “SoLost Without You” during the Military Idol semifinals on Aug. 31 at the Spates Community Club inFort Myer, Va.




by Matt McFarland

Pentagram staff writer

The Military District of Wash-

ington recognized its Soldier and

NCO of the Year Sept. 18 at Fort

Myer’s Town Hall. Additionally, 10

Soldiers were inducted into the Ser-

geant Audie Murphy Club, which

consists of NCOs who best emulate

Murphy’s traits.

Murphy, who served in World

War II, is the most decorated Soldier

in Army history.

Spc. Xeriqua Garfinkel, an MP

at Fort Meade was named the Mili-

tary District of Washington Soldier of

the Year.

“It feels great, I guess. I was just

doing what I do,” Garfinkel said. She

thanked her husband, who serves at

the White House Communications

office, for his support. The Washing-

ton area native joined the Army in

2004, has served in Korea, and is

working towards a master’s degree in

history.

Old Guard Sgt. Jesse Henery was

named the MDW NCO of the year.

“It was a lot of hard work and a

lot of support from the chain of com-

mand,” Henery said afterwards.

“Their accomplishments are con-

siderable. They displayed the kind of

persons they are, the Soldiers they

are,” Military District of Washington

Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Greer

said during the ceremony.Military District of Washington

and Joint Force Headquarters, Na-

tional Capital Region Col. Arnaldo

Claudio spoke in place of Maj. Gen.

Guy C. Swan III, commander of the

Military District of Washington and

Joint Force Headquarters, National

Capital Region. Swan was unable to

attend because of a delayed flight.

“I’m a product of an non-

commissioned officer. I’m a product

of a sergeant major, I’m proud to tell

you that,” Claudio said. He added

that pinning the medals on the

NCOs’ chests brought back vivid im-

ages of his father, who is buried in

Puerto Rico’s national cemetery.

The inductees to the club in-

cluded Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Mal-

colm. He has served as a platoon ser-

geant, drill sergeant, squad leader,

gunner grenadier retention, Bradley

commander, operations, and rifle-

man. The other inductees included

Henery and Sgt. Matthew Jones.

As Jones was called to the stagean enthusiastic Greer interrupted the

ceremony’s narrator to ask,

“Somebody refresh my memory. How

long has it been since we tried to get

this medal hung around Sgt. Jones

neck?”

A handful of Soldiers in the

auditorium yelled out “14 months.”

Fort Myer Garrison Command

Sgt. Maj. Abe Vega mentored Jones,

Henery and Malcolm as they went

through the competition. “We’re rec-

ognizing Soldiers who sacrifice a lot

of things. They turn off the TV, they

do away with some extracurriculars so

they can practice, rehearse and study

for these competitions to do well,”

Vega said.

Soldiers given honorary inductions

included: Command Sgt. Maj. Tracey

Anbiya, Command Sgt. Maj. Juan

Caez, Sgt. Maj. David Dallman, Sgt.

Maj. Melvin Lamar, 1st Sgt. Bobby

Small, 1st Sgt. Willie Martin, Sgt. 1st

Class Edward Henderson.

The newly inducted Soldiers will

mentor Soldiers and perform commu-

nity service.

Murphy stood only 5-foot-5 and

weighed under 110 pounds. He was

once pictured on the cover of Life

magazine. His grave is one of the

most visited spots in Arlington Na-

tional Cemetery.

Audie Murphy club recognizes inductees

Audie Murphy’s final resting place is at Arlington National Cemetery.

(US Army photo by Sandy Goss)




by Robyn Bennett

Fort Monmouth Public Affairs Office

Despite the blistering heat, hundreds of Fort Mon-

mouth personnel left their cool offices, walked across a

hot, crowded parking lot, and hunted for the few remain-

ing seats left in Pruden Auditorium. It was standing room

only by the time Andy Andrews, author and motivational

speaker, hit the stage for his “Seven Decisions” seminar.

“This seminar will be different than anything you’ve

ever seen,” Andrews told the audience of more than 500.

When he was a young man, Andrews went through a

period in his life when he made a series of bad choices and

found himself alone and homeless.

He wanted a better life so he went on a quest to fig-ure out how to make it happen.

n his search for answers he read several hundred biog-

raphies of famous people and realized they had a lot in

common.

What they had in common were the decisions they

made in their lives, what Andrews calls, “Seven Decisions

that Determine Personal Success.”

Making those decisions turned Andrews’ life around

and he used them as the basis of the seminar.

According to Andrews, the seven decisions that deter-

mine personal success are:

1). The Responsible Decision: I am responsible for my

past and my future; I will not let my history control my des-

tiny. * The Buck Stops Here.

2). The Guided Decision: I will be a servant to others. I

will seek wisdom.

3). The Active Decision: I seize this moment. I choose

now. I am a person of action.

4). The Certain Decision: My destiny is assured. I have

a decided heart.

5). The Joyful Decision: I am the possessor of a grateful

spirit. Our very lives are fashioned by choice. First we make

choices; then our choices make us. Today I will choose to be

happy.

6). The Compassionate Decision: I will forgive myself.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.

7). The Persistent Decision: I am a person of great

faith. Reason can only be stretched so far, but faith has nolimits. I will persist without exception.

To illustrate how quickly the decisions can change

your life, Andrews invited 25 audience members on stage

to learn how to juggle.

“Ninety percent of you will be juggling in a few min-

utes,” Andrews told the volunteers. Sure enough, most of

them were juggling by the end of the brief lesson.

“You’ll all be juggling within the week,” he promised

the audience.

Andrews explained that juggling is not that hard as

long as you know the pattern. It is the same with the

Seven Decisions.

Once he saw the pattern in the lives of the people

whose biographies he read, he realized how quickly the

Seven Decisions could change his own life. Then he real-

ized how quickly they could change anyone’s life.

“The Seven Decisions work every time,” Andrews

guaranteed. “No matter how old you are, what financial

situation you are in or what part of the world or country you live in, there are seven principles you can harness to

help you live the life you choose.”

During the seminar Andrews drove home the idea

that every minute of every day, the choices an individual

makes have dramatic consequences for the rest of his or

her life.

Andrews also wrote a book based on the Seven Deci-

sions called “The Traveler’s Gift.” It was on the New York

Times’ best-seller list for 17 weeks and has been translated

into 20 different languages.

It is part novel and part self-help. The main character

loses his job early in the story and feels inadequate because

he can't provide for his family.

He wrecks his car and finds himself traveling through

time meeting famous historical figures. Each one gives him

one of the seven decisions for success and helps him come

to grips with his situation.

Lucky seven decisions that can change your life




by Renita Foster

Fort Monmouth Public Affairs Office

Reception Day at the United States

Military Academy Preparatory School

(USMAPS) may be over. But after in-

processing, receiving field gear, and uni-form fittings, Cadet Candidates (CCs) are

next required to take the Cadet Fitness

Assessment (CFA).

A prerequisite for entry into the

United States Military Academy (USMA),

the CFA includes pushups, situps, one

mile run, shuttle run, basketball toss, and

pull ups. The CCs are also tested in swim-

ming.

“We began the CFA testing last year

on all six athletic events. Each one must

be passed by the cadet candidates for en-trance into West Point,” explained Bob

Mueller, USMAPS athletic director.

The CFA replaces the Physical Apti-

tude Examination (PAE) previously ad-

ministered at USMA. Mueller explained

how USMAPS had a successful pass rate

with the PAE which has continued with

the CFA.

For those who find the events chal-

lenging, USMAPS provides a remedial

fitness physical education class. Based on

the CFA and swim test results, CCs are

placed in the area where they need help.

“That’s why it’s an advantage coming

to USMAPS first where CCs can get help

improving their athletic skills as well as

academics,” added Mueller. As the USMAPS Athletic Director

for over 25 years, Mueller has seen sub-

stantial positive reactions to the required

athletic events which he attributes to the

positive leadership exhibited by USMAPS.

At a recent briefing for the CCs by

Col. Tyge Rugenstein, USMAPS Com-

mandant, and 1st Sgt. Mark Kauffman,

USMAPS first sergeant, Mueller empha-

sized how both men were so motivating,

not just about the CFA, but all aspects of

CC life.“And I think 1st Sgt. Kauffman com-

ing to the gym and cheering on the CCs

during CFA made a lot of difference,”

added Mueller.

Since motivating CCs to compete

and excel is one of the objectives of US-

MAPS and USMA, results of the CFA are

posted so CCs can understand where they

rank and where they need to improve.

“It’s also about doing the best you

can and helping those with problems,”

added Mueller. “Understanding the

buddy system is one way to make sure they

all qualify for West Point.”

Cadet Candidate Blake O’Hara who

served in Iraq, and was in great Army

shape, says he was glad for the CFA oppor-tunity. And compared to a “normal Army

day during a conflict,” the new CC found

the CFA relatively easy.

“The CFA events were a great time

for me, a chance to work out again,” said

O’Hara. “I knew athletics would be a ma-

jor part of USMAPS so it’s kind of like

basic training.”

Despite enjoying 30 days of leave

prior to reporting to USMAPS, CC

O’Hara also maxed most events and

praised how the CFA helps new Soldiers.“An event like this helps new Sol-

diers find fortitude, to push themselves

and go a lot harder than they normally

can,” said O’Hara. “You know you have to

do it for a grade and therefore want to do

your best. Something like this helps you

find that strength in your heart; and

teaches you that maybe there is more to

‘me’ than what I thought. I found that out

while serving in Iraq.”

Cadet Candidates push through fitness assessment

Picatinny employees

support Army-effort to

develop future

scientists, engineersBy Audra Calloway

The Picatinny Voice

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Four Picatinny

employees are helping develop potential scien-

tists and engineers by volunteering their talents

to an Army-sponsored scholastic competition.

eCYBERMISSION is a national Web-

based science, math and technology competition

for sixth- through ninth-grade teams.

Armament Research, Development and

Engineering Center employee and eCYBERMIS-

SION volunteer Jaxon Teck, said the Army de-

veloped the program to help progress U.S. stu-

dent’s scientific interests.

“The U.S. (education system) is going

downhill, while other countries are going up-

hill,” Teck said.

For the competition, the teams collaborate

to select a community problem to study, discover

the source of the problem by using the scientific

method and determine viable solutions to the

problem.

The teams were judged on application of

science, math and technology; innovation, origi-

nality and creativity; benefit to the community;

as well as team collaboration and communica-

tion.

Winners of the competition receive EE

savings bonds totaling from $2,000 to $8,000.

Local winners

A local eCYBERMISSION team won the

2005 to 2006 eighth-grade Northeast Region

Innovation, Originality and Creativity Award for

their work on Allamuchy Lake pollution. Alla-

muchy Cyberkid teammates Alexandra Rut-

kowski, Alexandra Magistro and Patrick Fragale

from Allamuchy Township School, studied the

Allamuchy Lake water and determined that it

was suffering from eutriphication, which is

caused by an excess of nutrients.

Teck said the team heard about the com-

petition through Bill Turoczy, an ARDEC em-

ployee and former eCYBERMISSION volunteer.

Turoczy told his wife, a secretary at Alla-

muchy Township School, about the program

and she passed the information on to Seth

Cohen, the school’s principal.

Cohen praised eCYBERMISSION as a

well-organized competition students can get

involved in.

“I served as a facilitator, but I didn’t have to do

too much. They took the ball and ran with it,”

he said.

Last year, 17 Picatinny employees volun-

teered with eCYBERMISSION, Teck said.

ARDEC employee Vincent Marchese wasa virtual judge for last year’s eCYBERMISSION

competition, which required him to grade 20

teams’ completed projects. However, Marchese

said he enjoyed his work and requested addi-

tional projects to grade, so he scored 30 teams.

Marchese said eCYBERMISSION is a

great opportunity for students because the

organization of the competition is very simi-

lar to the work structure of real scientists

and engineers.




by Leah Rubalcaba

Fort Myer/McNair

Community Relations Officer

The Patriot Sports Zone was the

site of a standing room only crowdSept. 7 as Fort Myer named its Mili-

tary Idol for 2006. Spc. Vicki Gold-

ing, a percussionist with the 257th

Army Band of the District of Colum-

bia’s Army National Guard, won the

title in the singing competition for

active duty service members that be-

gan Aug. 3.

This marks the second year Mili-

tary Idol competitions are being held

at Army installations world-wide andthis is the second time that Fort Myer

was tapped to host this area’s compe-

tition.

The contest began with a field of

20 singers who were whittled down

over a series of weekly competitions

leading up to Sept. 7, when three

finalists vied for the title.

Along with Golding, the three

finalists included Staff Sgt. Patricia

Ruth, of the Office of the Chief of

Army Reserves in Arlington and Maj.

Scott Willens, with the U.S. Army

Medical Research Institute of Chemi-

cal Defense at Aberdeen Proving

Ground, Md., and Fort Myer’s own

2005 Military Idol winner.

“It was really hard to pick a win-

ner this year,” said competition mas-

ter of ceremonies, Lee Purnell, aka DJ

Sinbad, noting that this year’s Mili-tary Idol contestants were all very

talented singers.

“Everybody brought their ‘A’

game tonight,” Parnell announced

during the evening’s competition;

but, ultimately, it was Golding with

her rousing rendition of Sam and

Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming,” that

sealed the decision.

“I am so excited about

winning and feeling very

lucky,” said Golding after

being named Fort Myer’s

Military Idol. “I am so

grateful to my commander,Chief Warrant Officer

Sheila Klotz. She is the one

who suggested I enter the

contest in the first place.”

Golding’s win gar-

nered her a $500 cash prize

and a duplicate cash prize

for her unit. Willens was

named second place winner

and was awarded $250, and

Ruth came in third, receiv-

ing $100.

“All three of our Mili-

tary Idol finalists were ex-

ceptional,” said Fort Myer

Military Community Garri-

son Commander Col. Tho-

mas A. Allmon.

“I was very impressed by our

winner. Spc. Golding is a great talent

and a very good showman,” headded. “We certainly wish her all the

best in the finals.”

Golding will go on to represent Fort

Myer at the second national Military

Idol competition to be held Oct. 28

to Nov. 6 at Fort Belvoir where the

winners from 31 Army installations

will gather to compete for the final

crown. The national winner secures

the ultimate Military Idol bragging

rights and a $2,000 cash prize.

Golding is a native of Brisbane,

Australia and a graduate of the

Queensland Conservatorium of Mu-

sic where she earned a bachelor of

music degree majoring in tuba per-

formance. She was a member of the

Royal Australian Artillery Band, an

army reserve unit, and later trans-

ferred to active duty with the Austra-

lian Army Band Brisbane.

Arriving in the WashingtonD.C. three years ago, Golding offi-

cially became a member of the Army

National Guard Band in August

2005. Along with percussion, she also

plays the euphonium and keyboard

for the 257th.

“My unit has been the best — I

love them,” Golding said of her fel-

low band members. “They were so

welcoming when I first got here and

have been so supportive ever since.”

Golding’s victory has already

gained her some local notoriety as she

was invited to sing the national an-

them at the Baltimore Orioles game

honoring the USO of Metropolitan

Washington on Sept. 11.

Idol champ is crowned

The eventual winner, Spc. Vicki Golding, sings during thecontest. (US Army photo by Adam Skoczylas)




Six show commitment

to professionalism

by Cheryl Miller

Fort Monmouth Child Development Center

Six Child Development Center (CDC) caregivers—Moreen

Blackstock, Maria Fisher, Elfriede Gordon, Olga Morrison,

Clara Welch and Amy Westgate, renewed their Child Develop-

ment Associate (CDA) Credentials during calendar year 2006.

This award recognizes continued competence in working with

young children and their families.

Subject to CDA renewal requirements, they had to provide

documentation of current work experience with young children,

certification in first aid, a recommendation from an early child-

hood professional, membership in an early childhood organiza-

tion, and must have successfully completed at least 4.5 continu-

ing education units/contact hours of training in relevant early

childhood subject areas, or a three-credit hour college course

during their respective credential renewal periods.

The veteran staff members mark this achievement with

more than a century of teaching experience among them. Along

with thousands of active CDAs nationwide, they continue to do

their part to improve the quality of care for young children.

Soldier lauded for her

volunteerismby Michael Norris

Pentagram assistant editor

Sgt. Renee Kraus, the administrative noncommissioned

officer for Fort Myer Command Sgt. Maj. Abe Vega, received the

American Legion Spirit of Service Award Aug. 29 at the service

organization’s 88th convention in Salt Lake City Utah.

The award recognized Kraus’ volunteer work on a number

of fronts, including heading up the installation Better Opportun-

ities for Single Soldiers program, assembling USO care packages

for Soldiers and helping to prepare meals at a District of Colum-

bia homeless shelter.Kraus, who came to Fort Myer from the Pentagon, where

she worked in the protocol office of the secretary of defense, said

she’s always done volunteer work, an outgrowth of her upbring-

ing and involvement with the church.

“I volunteer because there are others out there that are less

fortunate and need the help,” she said. “Not everybody can make

monetary donations.”

At the So Others Might Eat shelter in the District, Kraus

helps in food preparation and cleans up the seating area where

clients are served.

“I like to be at

the end [of the serv-

ing line] and hand

them the plate be-

cause of the gratifica-

tion they show, their

thankfulness. That’s

what really makes it

pay off,” she said.

“You reap the

rewards by seeing

the smile on the face

of the people you’re

helping; by them

saying thank-you,

telling you how

much they appreci-

ate it …”

She said peo-

ple from all walks of

life come throughthe shelter doors,

including veterans.

Some are well-

dressed, others wear

hand-me-downs.

Kraus said you can’t determine one’s station in life by what

they wear. Some of the resident, she said, “wear really nice suits.”

“When it comes down to it, they have money for [clothes]

because they have to go to work,” she explained, “but they really

don’t have money for food so they come to the shelter.”

Kraus has revamped the BOSS program since becoming

president of the organization, said Vega.

He said Kraus has “established processes” that make it run

smoother, “So we’re not constantly reinventing the wheel, just

changing the tire from time to time.”

Vega insists he didn’t draft Kraus into her leadership. “I

didn’t ask her,” he said. “She just saw the need and volun-

teered.”

“Our nation needs Soldiers such as Sgt. Kraus to represent

the very finest our nation has to offer,” said American Legion

Commander Thomas L. Bock at the August ceremony. “For

both her military service and her community service, Sgt. Kraus

is a credit to her uniform and to her country. She makes me and

all her comrades in the American Legion proud.”

In addition to the volunteer work Kraus was cited for in

getting her award, she also volunteers time behind the sales

counter at the post thrift shop. Not surprisingly, she’s headed up

the Army Emergency Relief effort and Combined Federal Cam-

paign drive in the offices she’s worked in.

When not involved with volunteer work, she said she loves

going to the gym and doing weight training. She joked that lend-


Sgt. Renee Kaaus cleans up around Bldg. 59as part of her many volunteer activities on theinstallation.

(US Army photo by Adam Skoczylas)




Community involvement

Story and photo by Yvonne Johnson,

APG News

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, the city of

Aberdeen hosted its first Freedom

Walk in collaboration with the St.

Joan of Arc School.

Col. John T. Wright, APG Gar-

rison and deputy installation com-

mander served as the master of cere-

monies for the program which was

hosted by Dr. Jane Towery, the

school’s principal.

The America Supports You Free-

dom Walk is a memorial to victims of

the 2001 terrorist attacks and a show

of support for those serving in the

military.

The Department of Defense or-

ganized the first America Supports

You Freedom Walk last year. More

than 15,000 people participated in

the walk from the Pentagon to the

National Mall. This year, hundreds of towns and cities across the nation

organized their own Freedom Walks.

In Aberdeen, teachers led the

school’s students on a walk to Festival

Park where they were greeted by

Wright and Mayor Fred Simmons.

The APG Fire and Emergency Ser-

vices Division color guard, consisting

of Capt. Howie Travers; Andre´

Fournier, fire prevention specialist;

Chris Starling, fire inspector and fire-fighter George Dorbert, carrying the

Maryland and U.S. flags, escorted the

children.

Wright led the Pledge of Alle-

giance and talked to the youngsters

about patriotism and supporting the

military.

“Those of us in uniform today

serve not only for ourselves but for all

of you,” he said. “We wear the flag on

our uniforms to remind us every day of our solemn responsibility to you,

our nation and our liberty.”

To demonstrate their connec-

tion to the military, Wright told all

children to stand who had a parent in

the armed forces. From there he

asked for everyone who had a family

member, a neighbor or a friend in

the armed forces. Finally, he asked

for anyone who had a parent who

works on APG and just about every

child was standing.

“Look at the strength of our

country with your parents, your rela-

tives, your friends and your neighbors

supporting our military,” Wright

said.

The guest of honor was retired

New York City firefighter Capt. Ar-

thur DePew, who was at Ground

Zero just hours after the 9-11 attacks.

A veteran whose father served

on APG during World War II, De-

Pew said that he was not working on

9-11 but that he went in when he

learned of the attacks.

“When I saw those towers on

fire, time stopped for me,” he said. “I

went in and called my division and by

11 a.m. there was a total recall of all

firefighters in New York.”

He said he didn’t reach Ground

Zero until later that evening and was

struck by the sheer size of the rubble.

“We are trained to react under

stress but I tell you everyone there

was in shock. Everyone was in awe,”

DePew said.


City of Aberdeen hosts first America Supports You Freedom Walk

Col. John T. Wright, APG Garrison and deputy installation commander, addresses children from theSt. Joan of Arc School during the Freedom Walk festivities at Festival Park in Aberdeen, Md. onSept. 11.




“Twenty-five thousand people

were evacuated out of the towers be-

fore they collapsed, making it the

greatest rescue in history,” he said,

adding that he lost dozens of friends,

including 70 firefighters and several

police officers.

“What can we do about it?” he

asked the children. “We can remem-

ber and never forget those who diedto keep this country great.”

The older children got their

chance to express their feelings about

9-11 during the reading of three es-

says, which were part of the school’s

observance, by Olivia Webster, 6th

grade, Olivia Dunbar, 7th grade and

Phillip Loi, 8th grade.

Fifth graders Sydney Stone, 10and Emily Cassidy, 10, commented

that they remembered that day.

“I was at home that day,” Stone

said. “I remember being surprised,

then everyone was scared and sad.”

“I was in kindergarten,” Cassidy

added. “I remember being sad with

all my friends and I think my mom

cried.”

In the kindergarten class,

Tammy Wright, the wife of the garri-

son commander who works as a

teacher’s assistant, said that most

were too young or were not even

born in 2001.

“We’ve been talking about what

happened and they understand,” she

said. “Many of them have relatives in

the service. One’s father is a fire-fighter and another’s is a drill ser-

geant,” she said, adding, “Mostly we

talk about our feelings and we pray.”

America Supports You

America Supports You is an on-

going nationwide program launched

by the Department of Defense to rec-

ognize citizen support of America’s

armed forces. Since its launch in No-

vember 2004, the program has wel-comed more than 225 grassroots or-

ganizations and more than 25 corpo-

rate team members. To plan a Free-

dom Walk or to learn more about the

program, visit the Web site at

www.AmericaSupports You. mil/

freedomwalk.


Story and photo by Heather Tassmer

APG News

The spouse of a Maryland Army

National Guard staff sergeant was the

main organizer of an America Sup-

ports You Freedom Walk on Sept. 11in Oxford, Pa., in honor of those

who sacrificed their lives to save oth-

ers five years ago and those who con-

tinue to do so today.

Sarah DalPorto, the wife of Staff

Sgt. Gene DalPorto with Company B,

3/126th Aviation, in Edgewood,

came up with the idea for the Free-

dom Walk for her hometown.

Sarah provides volunteer sup-port to the MDARNG’s Family

Readiness Program.

She said she decided to plan the

Freedom Walk because she was

“looking for something that the fam-

ily support group could do” to serve

military families and the community.

“I stumbled across the America

Supports You Web site and [read

about the Freedom Walks],” she said.

“I thought ‘what a good idea.’”

Sarah said that she wanted to

“instill patriotism” in the members of

the Oxford community.

She said she also wanted to rec-

ognize the “hometown heroes” such

as the military, firefighters and police

officers who sacrifice their lives to

save others.

She talked to her neighbor, Lin

Mannion, vice president of the Ox-

ford Borough Council, and other

members of the borough council

about holding the event. They formed a committee to organize the

Freedom Walk.

The Freedom Walk started at

the Oxford Diner with Maj. Scott

Willens, a veterinarian with the U.S.

Army Medicine Research Institute of

Chemical Defense, singing the na-

tional anthem and the honor guard

from American Legion Post 535 pre-

senting the colors.

Willens’ wife, Melanie, and their

two daughters, Haley, 8, and Emily,

6, also attended the event.

Pennsylvania Congressman JoePitts made a speech about the events

of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We should never forget Septem-

ber 11 [2001] when innocent people

were killed for no good reason...just

for being American," Pitts said.

He said also that Americans

should remember the firefighters who

died in the twin towers.

Pitts said that gathering together

for Sept. 11 also reminds the commu-

nity of the "debt of gratitude

[Americans] owe to the military."

He also commended those who

gathered for the event.

"You’ve all taken a stand for


APG military spouse organizes Sept. 11 Freedom Walk




freedom today," Pitts

said.

Pennsylvania Rep.

Arthur Hershey also had

a few words to say about

the day.

"It changed the na-

tion forever and the

wounds are too fresh to

heal, but we must always

remember [those Ameri-

cans who lost their lives

on Sept. 11],” Hershey

said..

After the speeches,

everyone walked to Me-

morial Park where severalleaders of the community

made additional

speeches.

Willens sang Josh

Groban’s “You Raise Me

Up,” Lee Greenwood’s

“God Bless the USA”

and “God Bless Amer-

ica.”

During “God Blessthe USA” he invited retired and pre-

sent military to come and sing with

him.

The freedom walk was a “good,

well rounded tribute to [Emergency

Medical Services], firefighters and

military” who sacrificed their lives on

Sept. 11, Willens said.

“I was honored to be a part of

it,” he said.In addition, Willens talked

about his memories of Sept. 11.

He said that at the time he was

attending North Carolina State Uni-

versity for his Ph.D in pharmacology.

“I was up late the night before

studying for preliminary exams,” Wil-

lens said. “I slept in until 10:30 a.m.

the next day and watched reruns [of

the planes crashing into the twin tow-

ers.]”

He said that a few days later he

attended a candlelight vigil where

people spoke only about our toler-

ance of “others.”

The leaders of the vigil “did not

address the fears and anxieties of the

students” and that is what bothered

him the most about it, Willens said.

He said Sept. 11 is what made

him join the military.

“After the Holocaust everyone

said ‘never again,’” Willens said, not-

ing that Americans were killed just

because of their beliefs just as the

Jews were in the

Holocaust. “But after

watching the replays

[of the Sept. 11 foot-

age] I knew I had to

do something to keep

it from happening

again.”

DalPorto said

about 750 attended

the Freedom Walk

and the committee

plans on organizing

another Sept. 11

America Supports

You freedom walk

next year.

She said she was

thankful for thosefrom APG who came

to the Freedom Walk

and are thankful for

those in the service

who protect Ameri-

cans.

“I just want eve-

ryone to thank a Sol-

dier for serving the

United States when

they see them,” Dal-Porto said.

In addition to Willens’ singing

and the Freedom Walk, the

MDARNG Havre de Grace provided

a high mobility multi-purpose

wheeled vehicle display at Memorial

Park.

Freedom Walks are a “new na-

tional tradition,” according to the

America Supports You Web site,http://www.americasupportsyou.

mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx.

America Supports You is an

“ongoing, nationwide program of the

Department of Defense that helps

showcase Americans’ support for the

men and women of the armed forces

and their families,” states the Web

site.


Maj. Scott Willens with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defensesings Josh Grobin’s “You Raise Me Up” at a Sept. 11 America Supports You FreedomWalk at Memorial Park, in Oxford, Pa. Willens was a finalist in the Military Idol 2006competition.




New partnership creates opportunities

for military and state

NATICK, Mass. - The U.S. Army

Natick Soldier Center and the Mass. De-

fense Technology Initiative entered into a

partnership today with the signing of a

Cooperative Research and Development

Agreement (CRADA).

The CRADA creates a formal part-

nership between the NSC and MassDTI

that allows these organizations to work

together to enhance the transition of

technology in to and out of the NSC and

to increase economic development in the

Commonwealth.

Philip Brandler, director of the

NSC, and Alan Macdonald, executive

director of MassDTI, signed the CRADA

at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Centerin Natick today.

"We see this CRADA as recognition

that not only is Soldier-related military

research and development a generator of

high tech jobs but that the leverage of-

fered by this public/private partnership

will enhance the ability of the Natick

Soldier Center to accomplish its mission,

while at the same time, it will strengthen

the economic growth and competitive

advantage of the region," said Brandler.

Macdonald agreed, adding "This

partnership will help us maximize the

NSC's technological and economic con-

tributions to the region - as well as deliv-

ering critical technical solutions to theU.S. Warfighter. The Commonwealth

has shown in the past that it is commit-

ted to supporting Natick, and the John

Adams Innovation Institute grant and

CRADA are tools to build on the vision

for enhancing Natick's connections to

the state's premier defense technology

cluster."

The NSC is responsible for protect-

ing and sustaining America's Warfighters

through research, development, and engi-

neering of unique human-centric itemsand systems such as food, clothing, shel-

ters, airdrop and Soldier support equip-

ment as well as integrating the technolo-

gies necessary for the creation of the Sol-

dier System. NSC supports the entire

Department of Defense as well as other

federal agencies such as NASA and the

Department of Treasury.

The MassDTI is a member organiza-

tion of leading defense technology firms,

research facilities, and universities work-

ing to establish Mass. as the definitive

global leader in the defense technology

industry. Its mission is to bolster the

competitiveness of the local technology

cluster, promote the expansion of new

missions at Mass. military installations,

enhance the image of the state's defensetechnology center, and generate growth

opportunities for Mass. employers.

This CRADA is supported by a

$207,000 planning grant to MassDTI

from the John Adams Innovation Insti-

tute at the Mass. Technology Collabora-

tive. Other partners of the planning grant

are Mass. Technology Transfer Center at

the University of Mass. and Grayhead

Associates.

For more information on the Mass.Defense Technology Initiative, please

visit their website at: www.massdti.com.

For more information on the Natick Sol-

dier Center or the Soldier Systems Cen-

ter, please visit our website at:

www.ssc.army.mil.

By Audra Calloway

Picatinny Public Affairs Office

Approximately 300 military and

civilian Picatinny personnel gathered in

front of the post headquarters building

here Sept. 11 and remembered the vic-

tims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks five years

ago.

Picatinny Commanding General

Maj. Gen. Paul S. Izzo and Picatinny

Chaplain Maj. Rick Moore spoke to the

gathering of civilian employees, Soldiers,

Marines and family members.

Izzo recalled the horror that many

Americans experienced five years earlier

as they watched the terrible events of that

morning unfold on national television.

“Our nation still grieves the loss of

so many innocent lives,” he said. “This

morning we remember all of the victims

and their families in our prayers.”

Izzo paid tribute to the many indi-

viduals who responded to the attacks that

day and saved countless other lives.

“Today we also salute the many

individuals who responded to the attacks.

Were it not for them – the police offi-

cers, EMTs, Soldiers and civilians – many

more Americans would have died,” he

said.

He also remembered the nation’smen and women in uniform and federal

civilian workers on the front line of the

war on terrorism, particularly those who

“have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the

latest of our nation’s wars.”

He was followed by Moore who led

the gathering in prayer for the victims

and their families.

Following the prayer, the gathering ob-

served a moment of silence.

An honor guard formed by fire-

fighter John Vidal, EMT Jim Miller, po-

lice officer Mark Mazur, Staff Sgt. Issac

Allender and civilian employee Debbie

Franek lowered the flag that was flying

over the installation and raised another

flag in memory of all that lost their lives

five years ago.

The American flag they raised was a

gift to Picatinny that had flown over the

Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2002, in honor of

the men and women of the United States

Armed Forces who lost their lives Sept.

11, 2001.

The flag was then lowered to half-

mast and the gathering recited the pledge

of allegiance and sang God Bless America

to conclude the observance.


Picatinny community observes Sept. 11, 2001, five years later




Many Picatinny personnel said they

thought it was important for Americans

to remember the tragic events that oc-

curred on 9-11.

“It reminds us all that evil is not

limited to just movies. That there are

good people in the world, but there arealso very bad people that don’t care who

or what they hurt as long as they get what

they want,” said Johnny Tsang, an execu-

tive fellow in the Armament Research,

Development and Engineering Center.

Mary Manser, director of the

ARDEC Financial Management Office,

said, “Allowing people to congregate and

share reflective moments regarding that

fateful day allows for personal validationof strong emotions.”

She said that “All of our lives have

been forever altered since Sept. 11, 2001,

yet we collectively stand behind the free-

doms we have fought so hard to obtain.”

“Also important was Major General

Izzo’s reminder that we not only mourn

the losses of 9-11, but the continuing

sacrifices that are made by citizens serving

in harm’s way,” Manser said.


By Carol Kerr

U.S. Army War College Public Affairs Office

September 20, 2006 -- He openedby correcting an apparent rumor –

that he is not quite 89 years old –

and went on to pepper his speech

with personal anecdotes about John

F. Kennedy and other U.S. presi-

dents.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr.

James MacGregor Burns spoke to

almost 200 USAWC students, faculty

and staff, a fair number of their chil-

dren and community members at theannual Roberge lecture at an evening

event in Bliss Hall, Sep. 20.

He recounted the time when presi-

dent-elect Kennedy broke the news to

Burns, then a Massachusetts politi-

cian, that he was considered number

two or three in line for appointment

to Kennedy’s vacated Senate seat. “I

was so euphoric about being pro-

moted from number 95 to 2 or 3 that

it was only later I realized: there’s

only 1, and I did not get that

seat.” Burns’ insight into Kennedy’s

appealing character set the stage for

his argument that a president who

runs alone, without his party, will

undoubtedly govern alone. Since

President Kennedy’s time, he said,

presidents have tended to run alone –

with implications for political parties

and citizens’ voting habits.

“Parties I consider to be absolutely fundamental to democracy,” said

Burns.

Political parties play out the con-

flict over the enduring values of the

nation: life, liberty and the pursuit of

happiness. “I think that by ‘life’ they

meant the security of the nation. It’s

security modified by liberty,” he said.

“Happiness is a mystery, but I think I

know what they meant: equality.”

Burns’ address launched this year’s

monthly Perspectives in Military His-

tory series sponsored by the Army

Heritage and Education Center; the

Roberge lecture is supported by the

Army War College Foundation.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. James MacGregor Burns spoke to USAWC students, staff andfaculty. (US Army photo by (Megan Zeller)

Pulitzer Prize winner James MacGregor

Burns initiates AHEC lectures series




ing her time to so many projects leaves

her little time for a social life.

“I’ve had a really good upbringing

from my family, from my parents. They

set a great example. They gave me the

morals to live by,” said Kraus.

“I always say you can succeed in lifeno matter what you do if you have Army

values and part of that is selfless service,”

she said. “Army values — you live by that.

Loyalty and honor, duty and respect —

it’s all that stuff that makes you who you

are..”

For the past seven years, the Ameri-

can Legion has given out Spirit of Service

Awards to one member of the Army, Air

Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard

each year.

Ord. School

hosts 9-11

remembrance

ceremony Story and photo byYvonne Johnson, APG News

On the fifth anniversary of the

worst attack on American soil since Pearl

Harbor, the U.S. Army Ordnance Center

and Schools hosted its second 9-11 Re-

membrance Ceremony at Ordnance Cir-

cle Sept. 11.

The ceremony hailed the courage

and sacrifices of America’s armed forces

as well as those of its emergency respond-

ers - firefighters, law enforcement officersand the thousands of Department of

Defense civilians and contractors who

have become partners in the defense of

the nation - during the War on Terror.

Maj. Gen. Vincent E. Boles, com-

mander of OC&S and Chief of Ord-

nance, hosted the ceremony, assisted by

OC&S Regimental Command Sgt. Maj.

Daniel A. Eubanks.

On behalf of Boles, OC&S and the 61st

Ordnance Brigade led by Col. Bobby A.

Towery and Command Sgt. Maj. An-

thony Slater, the program’s narrator, Sgt.

Maj. Michael J. Striffolino, welcomed all

to the memorial and retreat ceremony,

“honoring all warriors, and especially

those ordnance warriors who have sacri-

ficed their lives for the freedom of oth-

ers.”

“We honor these warriors and oth-

ers who have given the ultimate sacrifice

and their selfless service to the United

States armed forces and our nation,”

Striffolino said.

OC&S chaplain Douglas Duerksen

delivered the invocation.

Boles thanked all for attending the

ceremony, particularly singling out the

389th Army Band (AMC’s Own) whichprovided music and the many organiza-

tional leaders, local politicians, OC&S

employees and family members in atten-

dance, as well as a group of first and sec-

ond graders from the Aberdeen Youth

Center.

“All of you, by your presence here

make this all the more special,” Boles

said.

He noted that the memorable song,

“Where Were You When the World

Stopped Turning,” by Alan Jackson came

out shortly after 9-11.

“With that song, like so many other

dates in our history, 9-11 had marked

itself,” he said.

Quoting the speech Presi-dent Bush

made among the rubble of Ground Zero

in the days following the attacks, Boles

said that “terrorist attacks can shake the

foundations of our buildings but they

cannot shake the foundations of Amer-

ica.”

“Today’s ceremony provides us the

opportunity to remember and it provides

us the opportunity to commit to never

forget,” he said.

Reminding listeners that civilians

have also lost their lives serving alongside

warriors in the War on Terror, Boles

added, “Let us never forget those na-

tional treasures who gave so much for us.

They believe your security; your freedom

is worth their sacrifice.”

The ceremony was highlighted by a

roll call of the ordnance warriors lost in

the War on Terror. Command Sgts. Maj.

Eric Williams, NCOA; William Hart,

16th Ordnance Battalion; Luis Rivera of

the 143rd Ordnance Battalion and

USMC 1st Sgt. Felix Acosta of the U.S.

Marine Corps Detach-ment called the

roll. As each name was called, Soldiers

and Marines from the U.S. Army Ord-

nance Mechanical Main-tenance School

stepped forward and placed dog tags on

the traditional military symbol of a lost

comrade - a helmet, weapon and a pair of

boots that stood near a plaque contain-

ing the tags of the 93 warriors honored

during last year’s ceremony.

After placing the tags, each Soldier

and Marine delivered a slow salute, exe-

cuted a crisp left turn and marched

slowly away to rejoin their comrades in

formation.

A lone bagpiper playing “Amazing

Grace,” in the distance added to the sol-

emn grace of the procession.



A Marine from the U.S. Army Ordnance Me-chanical Maintenance School’s U.S. MarineCorps Detachment places a set of dog tags ona memorial to fallen ordnance warriors duringthe 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony at OrdnanceCircle Sept. 11.




Boles and Eubanks laid a wreath at the

memorial to conclude the tribute.

The OC&S Firing Team delivered a

21-gun salute and the band played

“Taps,” followed by the Retiring of the

Colors by the OC&S Color Guard. All

remained standing as a joint Flag Detailmade up of Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, a

firefighter, a police officer and a Depart-

ment of Defense civilian marched onto

the field to recover the flag which was at

half staff. As the band played “Retreat”,

the detail raised and then lowered and

folded the flag, and marched away in

unison.

“God bless America and God bless

our military and the civilians who sup-

port our great nation,” Striffolino said as

the program ended. “Thank you for at-tending today’s ceremony to honor those

great warriors who gave the ultimate sac-

rifice.”

After the ceremony Boles praised

Striffolino for spearheading the event.

“This means so much to him and

he puts his all into it,” Boles said. “The

[61st Ordnance] brigade got it right, pre-

senting a very simple, yet elegant pro-

gram.”

Striffolino said the coordination

and practice took weeks of preparation

but that it was all worthwhile.

“This is about honoring those who

sacrifice their lives to keep our country

free,” he said. “They do it because they

know if we stop terrorism before it comes

to us we won’t have another 9-11.”

Joint Flag Detail

The event marked the first time a

Joint Flag Detail was used in an OC&S

ceremony. The noncommissioned officer

in charge, Sgt. 1st Class Lester Dowdell,

an instructor with the Basic NCO Acad-

emy, formed the detail soliciting volun-

teers from OMMS units and the APG

Fire and Rescue Services Division as well

as the Directorate of Law Enforce-ment

and Security. Dowdell said that there was

no problem in obtaining volunteers or in

rehearsing the participants.

“There was no hesitation,” he said,

adding that the group, which stood at

attention in front of the headquarters

building throughout the ceremony, prac-

ticed together “about five times.”

“They only needed a few hours

practice and it was smooth sailing from

there,” he said.

The members included police Capt.

Nicholas Stamos, firefighter Loren R.

Brown Jr., Staff Sgt. Justin Erickson, Staff

Sgt. Jeremy Morris, Sgt. Fredrick Carpen-

ter, Sgt. Vascorey Smith, Sgt. Lawson

Carr, Marine Lance Cpl. Bernard Soto,

USAF Staff Sgt. Clint Haynes and civil-

ian Theresia Logan, a training specialist

with the School of Military Packaging

Technology.

Logan, an Army veteran, wore the

desert brown uniform she wore while

deployed to Kuwait in 2004 with SMPT

as an instructor for troops preparing to

redeploy.

“This was truly an honor for me,”

she said of her participation in the detail.

“I jumped at the chance. I hadn’t done

this since basic training but Sergeant

Dowdell worked us hard and it all came

together. I think all of us will stand a

little taller after this.”


Spc. Kyndal Hernandez,

45th Sustainment Brigade

Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq (Army News Service)

– Five years after the attacks ofSept. 11, 2001, an Army captainand World Trade Center survivor

commands a New York unit de-ployed to Iraq.

Capt. Thomas Sullivan, com-mander of the 773rd Transporta-tion Company at Q-West, experi-enced the attacks on the WorldTrade Center from the 95th floorof the South Tower.

Sullivan worked for FiduciaryTrust Company International as a

performance analyst since 1996.Until the attacks, the company’soffice occupied four floors of theSouth Tower.

On that day, Sullivan arrivedat work at 7:30 a.m. just like anyother day, but a broader smilemay have revealed he had goodnews to share.

“I had gone into my office tosend out e-mails to friends andfamily members to tell them thenews that my wife was pregnantwith twins,” Sullivan said.

After clicking the “send” key,he made his way to his boss’ of-fice to share the exciting newswith him.

“As we sat there in his office

laughing and joking,” Sullivan ex-plained. “I noticed something outof the corner of my eye.”

At that moment – about 8:46a.m. – the first plane hit the NorthTower.

“We both jumped to the floor,and I could feel the concussionand the heat immediately,” Sulli-

van said.As the deputy fire warden for

his floor, Sullivan instinctively be-gan evacuating all personnel onhis floor after the explosion.

Within minutes his section wasclear, and Sullivan made his wayto the stairwell. He began his de-


Captain survives WTC, fights war on terror

A Sept. 11 remembrance:




AROUND THE ARMY

Captured Sgt. KeithMaupin promoted

to Staff SergeantARNEWS

The Army promoted its onlySoldier listed as captured toStaff Sergeant with an effectivepromotion date of August 3,2006.

Keith “Matt” Maupin is a mem-ber of the 724th TransportationCompany from Bartonville, Illi-nois. On April 9th, 2004, StaffSgt. Maupin’s convoy was at-tacked by enemy forces withrocket propelled grenades and

small arms fire. Missing after theattack, he was immediatelyplaced in an accountabilitystatus referred to as “DutyStatus: Whereabouts Unknown.”On April 16, 2004, his statuswas changed to “Missing-Captured.”

The U.S. Army’s Warrior Ethos – “I will never leave a fallen com-rade” – makes clear the Army’sunwavering commitment to find-ing Staff Sgt. Maupin. Coalitionforces continue to actively searchfor Staff Sgt. Maupin, and will

do so until he is found. Until thattime, he remains on active dutystatus with all rights and privi-leges for pay and promotions.

New law expandsIRA options formilitary; many canstill contribute for

2004 and 2005

WASHINGTON — Members of

the military serving in Iraq, Af-ghanistan and other combatzone localities can now putmoney into an individual retire-ment account, even if they re-ceived tax-free combat pay,according to the Internal Reve-nue Service.

Under the Heroes EarnedRetirement Opportunities (HERO)Act, signed into law on MemorialDay, taxpayers can now count

tax-free combat pay when de-termining whether they qualifyto contribute to either a Roth ortraditional IRA. Before this

change, members of the militarywhose earnings came entirelyfrom tax-free combat pay weregenerally barred from usingIRAs to save for retirement.

“The HERO act is one moreway to let our fighting forces incombat areas know that wesupport them,” said IRS Commis-sioner Mark W. Everson. “This isa good way for people servingin combat zones to save more oftheir earnings for retirement.”

In addition, the HERO Act

allows military personnel whoreceived tax-free combat pay ineither 2004 or 2005 to go backand make IRA contributions forthose years. Eligible militarymembers will have extra time,until May 28, 2009, to makethese special back-year contri-butions.

For those under the age of50, the IRA contribution limit was$3,000 for 2004 and $4,000for 2005. For those 50 andover, the limit was $3,500 for2004 and $4,500 for 2005.

Taxpayers choosing to putmoney into a Roth IRA don’tneed to report these contribu-tions on their individual tax re-turn. Roth contributions are notdeductible, but distributions,usually after retirement, arenormally tax-free. Income limitsand other special rules apply.

On the other hand, contribu-tions to a traditional IRA areoften, though not always, de-ductible, and distributions are

generally taxable.

Deductible or not, contribu-tions to a traditional IRA must bereported on the return for theyear made. Deductible contribu-tions are claimed on Form 1040,1040A or 1040NR. Nondeduct-ible contributions are reportedon Form 8606, which is normallyattached to one of these individ-ual return Forms.

If a return has already been

filed for a particular year, con-tributions should be reported onan amended return, Form1040x. Depending upon the

circumstances, military personnelwho choose to put money into atraditional IRA for 2004 or2005 may qualify for additionaltax refunds.

For those planning ahead, theIRA contribution limit for 2006 is$4,000 for those under age 50and $5,000 for those 50 andover.

1st AD leader talksto families aboutdeployment

extensionBy Spc. Tanya C. Polk1st Armored DivisionPublic Affairs

FRIEDBERG, Germany – TheDepartment of Defense an-nounced Sept. 25th a six-weekextension to the deployment ofthe 1st Armored Division’s 1stBrigade Combat Team, origi-nally slated to return home mid-January.

The decision allows the 3rd In-fantry Division’s 1st BrigadeCombat Team to complete itsone-year dwell time, or to re-equip, retrain and rest since itsprevious deployment.

“Their presence here is critical,”said Col. Sean MacFarland,1BCT commander, during anearlier meeting with division’scommand team.

Since deploying, the Ready FirstBrigade has helped decrease

violence in their region by 25percent, MacFarland said.

According to Maj. Gen. Fred D.Robinson Jr., 1st Armored Divi-sion commanding general, theimpact of the extension in Iraq istwofold.

“It allows the Ready First tomaintain the spectacular momen-tum they have gained in theirassigned region,” he said. “But,

most important is that the exten-sion of the Ready First enablesthe Army to provide the combat-ant commander with a force

from CONUS that has completedthe full dwell time necessary toensure the Soldiers and theirfamilies are fully ready to takethe fight.”

Understanding that the extensionwould concern 1st BCT familiesand friends, Robinson invitedthem to Ray Barrack’s Old Iron-sides Movie Theater Sept. 27 toanswer questions.

“I’m glad they told us months inadvance,” said Ginger Gunter,spouse to Sgt. James Gunter with

the 1st Battalion, 37th ArmoredRegiment. “I’d rather know nowand get prepared.”

The division is supporting fami-lies by linking them with mentalhealth representatives and chap-lains. The rear detachment teamand family readiness groups arealso providing additional sup-port.

“I’m going to miss my husbanddearly,” said Gunter, “but, if Iwas in the other wife’s shoes,

where my husband’s not going tobe home for 12 months, I would-n’t want that to happen to me,as well. I am honored, on myhusband’s behalf, that they arestaying to help them.”

“We’ve made it this far andwe’re strong,” added Kim Shoff-ner, spouse to Maj. ThomasShoffner, the brigade’s trainingofficer in charge.

Additional combat stress teamshave been sent to the deployedbrigade’s main location.

“My main concern is to providewhatever is required to helpsupport the mission,” said Robin-son. “We will continue to takecare of the families back here.”





Missing World War ISoldier buried atArlington National

CemeteryBy Steven Donald Smith

American Forces Press Service ARLINGTON, Va. – Eighty-eightyears after being killed in actionalong the not-so-quiet WesternFront of World War I, Army Pvt.Francis Lupo of Cincinnati wasburied today with military hon-ors at Arlington National Ceme-tery.

Lupo is the first U.S. servicemem-ber classified as missing in actionfrom World War I to be identi-fied.

“Based on our search of therecords, this appears to be thefirst (WWI Soldier) ever thatwas missing in action, found andreturned home,” said LarryGreer, spokesman for the Penta-gon’s Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, whichleads the national effort to ac-count for personnel missing asthe result of hostile action. “Noone would have ever thoughtthat he could have possibly beenfound, but he was found.”

Lupo’s casket was carried by

horse-drawn caisson through thecemetery today before receiv-ing a 21-gun salute. Lupo’s next-of-kin, Rachel Kleisinger, 73, waspresented with an American flagduring the burial ceremony.Kleisinger is Lupo’s niece. Shewas born to Lupo’s youngestsister 15 years after the end ofWWI.

Several French military officerswere also in attendance.

Lupo, the son of Sicilian immi-grants, was 23 years old whenhe was killed in July 1918 whileparticipating in the combinedFrench-American attack on theGermans near Soissons, France,in what came to be known as theSecond Battle of the Marne.Lupo was buried in a shallowgrave alongside another Ameri-can Soldier. Lupo was a memberof Company E, 18th InfantryRegiment, 1st Infantry Division.

In 2003, while conducting a

survey in preparation for a con-struction project, a French ar-chaeological team discoveredhuman remains and other items ashort distance from Soissons.Among the items recovered werea military boot fragment and awallet bearing Lupo's name,DoD officials said.

The French handed over the

remains and personal effects toU.S. officials in 2004. They werethen brought to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, atHickam Air Force Base in Hawaii,to begin the analysis and officialidentification process.

“It’s our mission at JPAC to iden-tify all those missing from ournation’s past wars,” said TroyKitch, JPAC deputy director ofpublic affairs.

The command was activated

Oct. 1, 2003, created from themerger of the U.S. Army CentralIdentification Laboratory andthe Joint Task Force Full Account-ing. The laboratory portion ofJPAC, referred to as the CentralIdentification Laboratory, is thelargest forensic anthropologylaboratory in the world, officialssaid.

Kitch explained that the com-mand uses several methods topositively identify people. Theylook at material evidence, suchas the Lupo’s wallet, as well as

anthropological evidence foundin bones to identify basic traitslike height, sex and age.

“We look at mitochondrial DNA,which will tell us if that person isrelated to other people in afamily line,” Kitch said. “Wetake a sample of DNA from theremains, and we try to matchthat up with a family referencesample of someone we think is afamily member of the person.”

They also use historical evidenceto demonstrate that the personbeing identified “was in thatarea at that time in that point inhistory,” Kitch said. “We alsolook at dental.”

Teeth are often the best way toidentify remains because theyare durable, unique to eachperson and may contain surviv-ing mitochondria DNA, the JPACWeb site states.

On average, JPAC identifies

about six missing-in-action ser-vicemembers each month. Todate, the U.S. government hasidentified about 1,300 people.

“As of the end of last year, wehad identified about 840 peo-ple from Southeast Asia(Vietnam-era), about 50 or sofrom the Korean War, about360 from World War II, and

around 60 from the Cold War,”Kitch said.

Forty-nine Americans were listedas prisoners of war or missing inaction during the 1991 GulfWar. DoD has now accountedfor 48 of those 49. Only oneAmerican from Operation DesertStorm, Navy Capt. Michael"Scott" Speicher, remains unac-counted for. In addition, ArmySgt. Matt Maupin, who partici-pated in Operation Iraqi Free-dom, has been missing in action

in Iraq since April 2004.

World War I, which lasted fromAugust 1914 to November1918, involved many Europeancountries, the United States andother nations throughout theworld. More than 10 millionpeople were killed and morethan 20 million wounded duringthe war. The United States ini-tially remained neutral, but fi-nally entered the war in 1917on the side of the Allied powers.

During the course of the war, the

United States lost 116,000troops to combat or illness. Ac-cording to a recent WashingtonPost article, about 4,500 ofthose killed are unaccounted for.The other Soldier buried withLupo is among them.

Only about 12 U.S. WWI veter-ans are still alive.

Greer stressed that even thoughthe recovery and identificationprocess may take years to com-plete, the U.S. is committed toidentifying all of its missingtroops. Lupo’s story is a case inpoint, he said.

“I think it shows for those whowear the uniform, that this nationis committed to bringing themhome even if it takes 60, 70, 80years,” he said. “He (Lupo) wasbrought back and identified byour scientists and now returnedto his family here on this hal-lowed ground at Arlington ceme-tery.”

NASCAR driverssay ‘thanks’ to

wounded warriorsBy Bernard S. Little

Walter Reed Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – NASCARdrivers and executives re-turned to Walter Reed Army

Medical Center Sept. 21 for aday-long tribute to the nation’swounded warriors, their fami-lies and hospital staff mem-bers.

Also on hand were some of thecars that would be racing thatweekend at Dover Interna-tional Speedway in Delaware,including the cars driven byDale Earnhardt Jr., DennyHamlin and Joe Nemechek,driver of the Army-sponsoredcar.

As people gazed at the ma-chines and asked questions ofthe pit crew members, Ne-mechek and fellow driver KyleBusch signed autographs andthanked Soldiers for their sac-rifices.

Drivers and crew members alsovisited wounded Soldiers in thehospital.

Evening events included a din-ner in Wagner Sports Center.

NASCAR commentator andformer driver Darrell Waltripwas the master of ceremonies,while singers Scott Stapp, for-merly of the group Creed, andDaniel Rodriguez, a formerNew York City police officer,provided entertainment.

Other drivers attending thedinner included Greg Biffle,driver of the National Guard-sponsored car and AshtonLewis, driver for the MarineCorps team.

Waltrip recognized the popu-larity of NASCAR, but addedthat NASCAR is a “big fan” ofthe nation’s military. “We thinkabout you every weekendwhen they drop that greenflag,” he said.

Brian France, NASCAR’s chief






executive officer, said NASCARhas a history of supporting thearmed forces: “What most of usknow is that the real heroesaren’t in sports or business,they’re those who keep us safe365 days a year.”

Personnel recoverytraining to begin for

all SoldiersBy J.D. Leipold, ARNEWS

WASHINGTON – The WarriorEthos, “I will never leave a fallencomrade,” makes clear theArmy’s commitment to recoverSoldiers, Department of theArmy civilians and its contractorsshould they be lost, isolated,missing, detained or captured

while in an operational environ-ment.

Beginning in November, theArmy’s Personnel RecoveryBranch will kick off formal per-sonnel recovery training to allunits slated for deployment. Thegoal is to train all Soldiers inpersonnel recovery tactics, tech-niques and procedures within thenext 24-48 months according toCol. Timothy Waters, chief, Per-sonnel Recovery Branch.

“The chief of staff of the Army

and the director of the Armystaff find personnel recoverytraining to be a vital require-ment for every operations plan,”said Waters. “Even though wecan train all Soldiers initially,training will have to be main-tained.

“Personnel recovery training willbe included in all Soldier readi-ness programs, in unit training,drill schedules for the Reserveand National Guard, and inmonthly training schedules forthe active component so it be-comes second nature,” he said.

Personnel recovery training willeventually be taught at basicand advanced individual train-ing, as well as officer basic andadvanced training.

In the past, personnel recoverywas relegated to a specificforce, but publication of FieldManual 3-50.1, “Army PersonnelRecovery,” makes it official doc-

trine that applies to all Soldiers.This is a significant change, Wa-ters said, because now a proce-dural system will be in place thatis understood at individual tocommand levels.

Waters said the first 15 of 60Reserve and National GuardSoldiers are in the final stagesof their formal training as in-

structors in personnel recoverytactics, techniques and proce-dures. Following completion, theywill be deployed to force de-ployment platforms and conti-nental U.S. replacement centersto train Soldiers preparing todeploy, and in-theater to trainSoldiers already deployed.

Personnel recovery training willinclude such recovery tasks asreporting, locating, supporting,recovering and returning/reintegrating.

Individual training will also beavailable in classified and un-classified formats and includesurvival, evasion, resistance andescape techniques, as well as theCode of Conduct

Today, in an asymmetric battle-field where it’s hard to distin-guish friend from foe, FM 3-50.1formally acknowledges it’s nolonger solely special operationsor aviation units at risk of cap-ture or detainment, it’s all Sol-diers – including transportation

specialists, military police, civilaffairs units and transition teams.

“We’ve always gone after thosewho are isolated, missing, de-tained or captured; there’s nochange in mindset. We nowrecognize all Soldiers to be atrisk because of a battlefield thatdoesn’t have lines and an enemywho could be around the cor-ner,” Waters said. “Before,when you put a Soldier in Bagh-dad in a truck and he made awrong turn he could, in fact, fallinto enemy hands without our

expectation of that. Now, we’llbe preparing for those things tohappen through the trainingstarting in November.”

FM 3-50.1 is available at ArmyKnowledge Online,www.us.army.mil and at theTraining and Doctrine digitallibrary, www.train.army.mil.

Fake calls nowtarget Soldiers’

familiesBy Don Kramer

Fort Lewis Northwest Guardian

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (Army NewsService) – The Army HumanResources Command is research-ing a particularly callous type offraud aimed at military familymembers – false casualty notifi-cation calls to families of de-ployed Soldiers.

One such call took place in theFort Lewis area within the pastthree weeks, according to FortLewis public affairs spokesmanJoe Piek. Investigators intend toestablish how widespread thepractice is.

Fort Lewis Provost Marshal Col.Katherine Miller published an

advisory to warn family mem-bers of this uniquely personaltype of fraud. The advisory saidsomeone who claimed to beaffiliated with the Casualty Af-fairs Center gave a local familya false notification that a de-ployed Soldier had beenwounded.

“These calls are fake,” said thePM advisory, “made with theintent of harassing and exploit-ing our family members. While itis possible that a Soldier may beinjured or killed in combat, casu-

alty notification is always han-dled in a professional and car-ing manner.”

The post’s chief law enforcementofficer published the advisorybecause false notifications areconsidered harassing telephonecalls, a crime in that state.

The Fort Lewis Casualty Assis-tance Center manages localnotifications. The CAC chief,Patricia George, stressed thatnotifications to loved ones are

easily verified. In the case of aninjury, the Soldier will personallycall the family if he or she isable. If not, the Casualty andMemorial Operations Center inU.S. Army Human ResourcesCommand will call the family.

The center provides the family atoll-free telephone number toget more information about theSoldier’s condition.

There will always be a follow-up

call from HRC, George said.That call “will ask for informationfrom them in case the physicianfeels it’s appropriate for thatfamily member to be there tohelp with the recovery of thatSoldier — they need informationto do invitational travel (orders)and to help with passports.”

Death notifications, George said,

are never made by phone.

“They should never get a call,”George said. “We will nevermake notification of an active-duty death by telephone, ever.There are no circumstances thatwe would do that … If you geta telephone call (about adeath), it’s not a real notifica-tion.”

In most cases, two Soldiers arriveto deliver the news of a Soldier’sdeath; a chaplain will accom-pany the notification officer

when possible. George and herstaff routinely advise familymembers of notification proce-dures during predeploymentbriefings and often speak atfamily readiness groups. TheCAC chief said the systemworked in the case of the localfalse notification. A suspiciousfamily member recognized thesigns of fraud and followed upwith authorities.

In another part of the country, afamily member’s home report-

edly was burglarized after sheleft in response to a call to goimmediately to a governmentagency for casualty details. Inother incidents, family membershave been asked for money forfuneral or memorial expenses.

“There should never be anyexchange of money for any ofthis,” George said. The Armymakes arrangements for parentsand next-of-kin to attend ser-vices without paying up front.

George stressed that Soldiers

can help ensure notifications aretimely and accurate by correctlyfilling out and updating emer-gency data on DD Forms 93.

Outdated addresses or postoffice box numbers instead ofstreet addresses make it difficult,she said, for notification person-nel to perform their duties withinthe guidelines set by HRC.





By Staff Sgt. Les Newport, USASpecial to American Forces Press Service

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – While a multi-national assembly met at the United Na-tions in mid-September to evaluate pro-

gress on the Kosovo situation, a multi-state task force of National Guard sol-diers prepared to assume responsibilitiesof U.S. peacekeeping efforts in the re-gion.

Kosovo Force 8 will depart Camp Atter-bury in October after several months oftraining, much of which included a seriesof command-post exercises designed totest command-and-control elements ofthe force.

The exercise consists of three cycles that

become progressively more involved,Army Maj. David Webber, plans andoperations officer for 3rd Brigade, 85thDivision, said.

Webber’s primary responsibility is man-aging the scenarios and exercises thattake place in the 33,000 acres of train-ing area at Camp Atterbury, as well asat the Muscatatuck Urban Training Area,where KFOR 8 has been training.

“The first phase involved just the com-mand decision makers, and those deci-sions affect what commanders will facein phases two and three,” Webber said.“As the exercises unfold, more of the taskforce is brought in to participate.”

In order to maintain a realistic trainingenvironment that reflects what KFOR 8will see in Kosovo, many of the trainingareas have undergone remodeling. Simu-lated Iraqi villages have been convertedto resemble villages that KFOR will see inthe Balkans. Changes include new roadsigns, maps, even political posters andgraffiti scrawled on buildings.

In keeping with U.S. 1st Army’s “theater-immersion training philosophy, 3rd Bri-gade also has adjusted training to re-flect the differences between the twoareas of operation. Interpreters from theBalkans have been brought in to assist incultural awareness training and negotia-tion training, and U.S. soldiers of the87th Division are role-playing liaisonofficers of coalition forces.

“In Kosovo, (KFOR 8) will be working

with the armed forces of several othercountries: Greek, Italian Carabinieri(national military policing force) and thePolish/Ukrainian contingency just to namea few,” Webber said.

Webber stressed that managing commu-

nication flow and meeting reporting re-quirements are the keys to maintaining asuccessful training mission, as well as asuccessful yearlong peacekeeping mis-sion in Kosovo.

“Decisions that commanders make areactually affecting soldiers in the field (atCamp Atterbury),” Webber said. “Themore they exercise those skills here, themore effective they will be on deploy-ment.”

Camp Atterbury’s multi-million-dollar

Joint Simulation Training Exercise Centercomplex serves as the command postduring the exercise. The facility is fittedwith the latest in an array of communica-tion systems for commanders.

The command and staff elements ofKFOR 8 filled the Virtual SimulationsFacility, a sprawling 20,000-square-footstructure, establishing a tactical opera-tions center, as well as supporting ele-ments to manage the exercise.

Among the supporting elements is TaskForce Patriot, a battalion of New Eng-land National Guard soldiers chargedwith force security missions. TF PatriotCommander Lt. Col. Erick Furey empha-sized that the exercise was key for his

staff and battalion.

“The training during this CPX has beenvery realistic,” Furey said. “I havetrained without contractors role playingthe media and local government officials,and that realism has made the trainingexcellent."

Furey also said the CPX has been valu-able for his battalion staff because theyhave worked on procedures for coordi-nating staff functions and proceduresand for synthesizing and analyzing infor-

mation.

Task Force Patriot will leave with thebalance of KFOR 8 in October for fur-ther training exercises at the CombatManeuver Training Center, in Hohenfels,Germany, before deploying to Kosovo.

(Army Staff Sgt. Les Newport is a staff reporter forthe Atterbury Crier.)

Soldiers train at Camp Atterbury, Ind., to take part in Kosovo Force 8. The soldiers are receiving a

realistic training scenario, as well as classroom and cultural exercises.

(US Army photo by Spc. Tim Sproles)

Indiana Soldiers prepare for Kosovo mission




America's Army Real Heroes Program

Through the America's Army Real Heroes Program which launchedrecently, the U.S. Army is offering a glimpse into the accomplish-ments of Soldiers who have distinguished themselves in combat andearned citations for bravery and valor. The program features he-roic Soldiers and highlights the actions for which they wereawarded citations for valor.

The Real Heroes will be included in the Army's exceptionally popu-lar computer game, America's Army , along with a new line of actionfigures. The game can be found at www.americasarmy.com.

Introduction of Real Heroes into the online world of America's Army provides young adults with concrete examples of how young Sol-diers from across America make profound contributions in the de-fense of freedom and how their contributions have fundamentally

shaped their personal development.

With the release America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch), the22nd installment in the America's Army game series, the Real Heroes and their stories will provide the game's over 7.5 million registeredusers with new insights into Soldiering in the U.S. Army. The RealHeroes will also be highlighted on the official U.S. Army sitewww.goarmy.com and as collectable action figures available atmajor retail outlets in the coming months.

Army Well-Being What is it? Providing for the well-being of the Army Family is afundamental leadership obligation. Army Well-Being holistically

integrates and continuously assesses services and programs whichprovide for the needs of its people and supports senior leaders indetermining priorities in support of their Joint Warfighting humancapabilities requirement. Army Well-Being directly links to the rele-vance and readiness of our Army, focused on the support of theArmy Family (Soldiers [active duty, Army National Guard andArmy Reserve] Department of the Army Civilians, Veterans, Retireesand Families) before, during, and after deployment.

What has Army done? In 2005 the Army continued to identify,assess, and evaluate the way the Army supports Well-Being andquality of life for our Soldiers, Civilians and their families. The Armyplaced special emphasis on programs and services that support theneeds of U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiersand their families. This emphasis is commensurate with the expand-ing contribution of those components to the overall Army missionand represents a needed paradigm shift from installation based tocommunity centric support systems. Additionally, the Army ex-panded support for our severely wounded Soldiers and their fami-lies through the Army Wounded Warrior Program.

Campaign Quality Force What is it? We are aggressively reshaping the force to becomean Army of campaign quality with joint and expeditionary capa-bilities-transforming to win the war today while simultaneously posi-

tioning ourselves for future challenges. Today's operations require

Army forces to respond rapidly with forces that move quickly andcommence operations immediately upon arrival in distant theatersof operations. These capabilities are key to our goal to becomemore expeditionary. Our strategic and operational requirementscompel the Army to maintain forces with expeditionary agility andresponsiveness and possess staying power, durability, and adapta-bility once deployed. The Army must sustain decisive operations foras long as necessary to allow politically favorable resolutions tooccur. Army forces must be ready to adapt to changes across therange of military operations and against learning and adaptiveadversaries. Having these capabilities produces an Army that is acampaign quality force.

What has the Army done? To maximize force effectiveness, theArmy is reorganizing to a modular, brigade-based force to achieve

three primary goals:

* Increase the number of available Brigade Combat Teams to meetoperational commitments while maintaining combat effectivenessthat is equal or better than that of previous divisional BrigadeCombat Teams.* Create combat and support formations of common organizationaldesigns that can be tailored to meet the varied demands of theCombatant Commanders-reducing joint planning and executioncomplexities.* Redesign organizations to perform as integral parts of the JointForce-making them more effective across the range of military op-erations and enhancing their ability to contribute to joint, inter-agency, and multinational efforts.

Civilian Education System What is it? The Civilian Education System (CES) concept originatedfrom a Chief of Staff, Army (CSA) mandate to implement and sus-tain a CES that provided enhanced training and education opportu-nities for Army civilian leaders comparable to that provided toofficers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned officers. The CESleader development program includes the Civilian FoundationCourse (for new Army civilians) and three levels of leader develop-ment training - the Basic Course (for First-Line supervisors), the Inter-mediate Course (for more senior supervisors), and the AdvancedCourse (for managers of supervisors or programs). The CES learningstrategy is progressive and sequential with each course providingrequired leader training for the current role and the building blocks

for the next. The CES training strategy is a combination of distrib-uted learning and resident instruction. CES courses are based onleadership competencies from the Office of Personnel Managementand the Center for Army Leadership's FM 6-22, Army Leadership.In order to promote full participation across the Army, training poli-cies will support mandatory training for civilians in leadership posi-tions and a life-long learning approach.

What has the Army done? In accordance with the CSA-approvedArmy Training and Leader Development-Civilian (ATLD-Civ) Imple-mentation Plan (dated June 2003), proponency for civilian leader





development was transferred from the Deputy Chief of Staff(Personnel) to the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) with Trainingand Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as executive agent.

Integrated Global Presence and BasingStrategy What is it? The United States' global defense posture is repre-sented in the size, location, types, and roles of forward militaryforces and capabilities. The ability to project power and undertakemilitary actions beyond our border depends on it. Together with ouroverall military force structure, our global defense posture enablesthe United States government to assure allies, dissuade potentialchallengers, deter our enemies and, if necessary, defeat aggres-sion.

What has the Army Done? The Army will realign 48,500 Soldiersbetween 2004-2011 and restructure overseas facilities to supportthe expeditionary nature of the transformed Army. We will retain atransformed, forward-stationed force in Europe and Korea.

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future?Thenew global defense posture will be adapted to the new security

environment by: 1) expanding allied roles, building new partner-ships, and encouraging transformation; 2) creating greater opera-tional flexibility to contend with uncertainty; 3) avoiding concentra-tion of military forces in a few locations for particular scenarios; 4)focusing both within and across various regions of the world; 5)developing rapidly deployable capabilities; and 6) working from adifferent paradigm than in the past whereby effective militarycapabilities, not numbers of personnel and platforms, create deci-sive military effects and will enable the United States to execute itssecurity commitments globally.

Why is this important to the Army? The Global War on Terrorism,in combination with other geopolitical circumstances, has led to im-

portant changes in the U.S. security and defense strategy. This newsecurity environment requires a more global perspective.

Major Acquisition Programs: LongbowApache Attack Helicopter (AH-64) What is it? The Longbow Apache Attack Helicopter (AH-64) is atwo-engine, four-bladed, tandem seat, attack helicopter armedwith a 30mm cannon, 2.75" rockets, and Hellfire missiles. It is theheavy attack helicopter of the current and future force. It is capa-ble of conducting the full spectrum of warfare from Stability andSupport Operations to Major Combat Operations. It conducts themissions of armed reconnaissance, close combat, mobile strike, and

vertical maneuver when required in day, night, obscured battlefieldand adverse weather conditions, in support of the joint/combinedarms commander's scheme of maneuver.

What has the Army done? The Apache helicopter has continued todemonstrate its high level of effectiveness, survivability, and lethal-ity in combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Opera-tion Enduring Freedom. Nonetheless, the Army determined criticalcapability gaps that currently exist in the areas of aircraft per-formance, digital interoperability, operations and support, multi-spectral sensors, and cognitive decision aiding. These identifiedcapability gaps served as the basis for determining the corre-sponding requirements and next set of upgrades to the Apache

helicopter.

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future? TheArmy is modernizing the Apache fleet to the Block III configuration(AH-64D). Longbow Block III addresses the critical capability gapsin the areas of aircraft performance, digital interoperability, op-erations & support, multi-spectral sensors, and cognitive decisionaiding. These capability gaps are being addressed through theincorporation of several hardware and software technology inser-tions into the aircraft.

Military OneSource What is it? Military OneSource (MOS) is a virtualcommunity support service that the Army implementedin August 2003, which is available world-wide 24hours a day to Soldiers, deployed Department ofDefense (DoD) civilians and family members. Eachmilitary service has its own OneSource. The DoD cre-ated Military OneSource as a portal to access all themilitary services' OneSource programs.

What has the Army done? Utilization shows stronggains in 2006. From the time MOS was first providedto the Army in August 2003 to May 2006 there havebeen 111,285 calls to the daily 24 hour call center,302,258 visits to the website, and 28,754 referralsfor non-medical counseling. Current utilization in2006 (259,541 uses) has already reached 23.6 per-cent, far exceeding the 2006 target of 15 percent.The Army leads the other branches in referrals fornon-medical counseling with a monthly referral rateof 0.2 percent with a referral rate of 1.2 percent as

of May 2006. Nearly two-thirds of all users (65.9percent) are Soldiers and 6 percent are repeat users.

Satisfaction data from January to March 2006(surveys for 1402 calls, 96 shipments of educationalmaterials and 91 online visits) continues to show over95 percent overall satisfaction with Military One-Source.

Military OneSource is a referral option on the Post-deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) Comple-tion of the PDHRA is required for all Soldiers within

90 - 180 days after returning from overseas deploy-ment to the CENTCOM area of operation.

The OneSource Connection newsletter provides up-dates on Military OneSource to the Army community.This newsletter is distributed to over 190 Army lead-ers in the Active and Reserve Component whom dis-tribute it to Soldiers and Family Readiness Groupleaders.






Modular Conversion What is it? The Army is converting to a modular forceto make the operational army more powerful, moreflexible, and more rapidly deployable. Driven byboth wartime necessities and the need to support thehomeland, we are aggressively reshaping the force

to increase fighting capabilities. This will enable us tosustain worldwide commitments with rotational forcesneeded for the changing security environment thatwill be dominated by a prolonged war on terrorism.

What has the Army done? Since 2000, we have in-creased our capabilities through the modular conver-sion of brigades, centered on Brigade Combat Teams(BCTs), and by rebalancing capabilities in both ouractive and reserve components. This total redesign ofthe operational Army includes converting to Brigade

Combat Teams, and standardizing Support Brigades,Theater Commands, and Headquarters that are allorganized for immediate deployment and employ-ment.

Active and Reserve Units with Common Organiza-tional Designs

Brigade Combat Team (BCT): • Three types (Infantry, Heavy, Stryker)• More self-sufficient, standardized• Primary warfighting unit and headquarters; con-

ducts battles and engagements

Support Brigades: Multi-Functional and FunctionalBrigades:Multi-Functional Brigades: • There are five kinds: (Combat Aviation, CombatSupport (Maneuver Enhancement), Sustainment, Fires,Battlefield Surveillance Brigades)• Designed to "plug" into operational formations com-manded by corps or division commanders and to sup-port BCTs once deployed• Conduct tactical level tasks and support

Functional Brigades: • There are several kinds: (i.e. Air Defense Artillery,Engineer, Explosives Ordnance, Military Police, etc)• Designed to "plug" into operational formations atthe theater level or those commanded by corps ordivision commanders performing as the Army ServiceComponent Command (ASCC) once deployed• Conduct operational or theater level tasks or sup-port

Theater Commands • Serve as Component Command for five geographicCombatant Commands: Army Central (ARCENT);Army North (ARNORTH); Army South (ARSOUTH);United States Army Europe (USAREUR); Army Pacific(ARPAC)• Designed to function as Joint Forces Land Compo-nent Commander (JFLCC)

• Commands and controls the five functional com-mands tailored to each theater and other forces asassigned

Stability Operations Capabilities What is it? Stability Operations is defined by theDepartment of Defense (DoD) Directive 3000.05,"Military Support for Stabilization, Security, Transi-tion, and Reconstruction Operations", as: "Militaryand civilian activities conducted across the spectrumfrom peace to conflict to establish and maintain order

in States and regions." Stability operations in 2005emerged of as a mission area for DoD, the U.S. Gov-ernment (USG), our multinational partners, interna-tional organizations and non-governmental organiza-tions.

What has the Army done? The Department of Stateestablished the Office of the Coordinator for Recon-struction and Stabilization to enhance USG capacityto respond to crises involving failed, failing, andpost-conflict states and complex emergencies. TheArmy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense

(OSD) support this effort with personnel and staffassistance. DoD Directive 3000.05 directs a broadDoD-wide effort to improve stability operations ca-pability and supports the development of USG ca-pacity to plan for the execution of stability opera-tions. The Army has undertaken several initiatives toimprove Army capability and capacity to conductstability operations, many of which correspond to theService responsibilities in DoD Directive 3000.05.Several USG agencies, including the U.S. Agency forInternational Development, OSD, the Joint Staff and

the Army are considering, or have already estab-lished offices to posture themselves to better managebroad stability operations and international securityforce efforts. Deputy Chief of Staff for Operationsestablished a Stability Operations Office and theU.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Com-bined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas willhost the Joint Center for International Security ForceAssistance.






Sustainable Range Program What is it? The Sustainable Range Program is theArmy's roadmap for how it designs, manages anduses it ranges in order to essure the capability, avail-ability, and accessibility of its ranges to meet itstraining mission. It is the Army's response to the in-creasing challenges brought about by encroachmentand meeting the ever increasing need for ranges andtraining land brought about by the Global War onTerrorism, the Army Campaign Plan, Base Realign-ment and Closure, and Integrated Global Positioning

and Basing Strategy. Because many programs andfunctions affect the management of our ranges andtraining lands, the Sustainable Range Program is theArmy's overarching guidance for integrating opera-tional, training, facility, safety, and environmentalrequirements to improve the management of itsranges and ensure their sustainability to support mis-sion requirements now and into the future.

The Army's Sustainable Range Program is made up

of its two core programs: the Range and TrainingLand Program (RTLP), which includes the day-to-day

management of its ranges as well as new range con-struction; and the Integrated Training Area Manage-ment (ITAM) Program for the repair and maintenanceof its maneuver lands.

Integral to the success and support of the two coreprograms is the SRP Outreach Program, dedicated toeducating the public on the importance of live-firetraining and improving the Army's understanding ofpublic concerns related to how we train and manageour ranges.

What has the Army done? The Sustainable RangeProgram provides the framework for addressing en-croachment challenges and optimizing resources andpolicies through the development of new tools, proce-dures, and initiatives that ensure the capability of ourranges into the future. These tools, procedures, andinitiatives include:

For more information on this and other topics see Adden-

dum J in the Army Posture Statement.


scent running and jumping downthe stairs.

Sullivan was 30 floors closer toescape – on the 65th floor stair-well – when the second plane hitthe South Tower just 13 stories

above him.“The building shook unbelieva-

bly. I could feel a subtle burst ofwarm air and light debris anddust coming down the stairwell.”

By then, a throng of peoplepoured into the stairwell for thelong journey to the ground floor.But when they finally made it,they could not exit the buildingbecause of falling glass and de-

bris.Sullivan turned back to the

stairwell in hopes of finding an-other exit through the basement.

“When we finally exited thebuilding, there was fire, smokeand debris everywhere,” Sullivansaid. “I told my coworkers that I

was going to head to the StatenIsland Ferry.”

A few minutes after he made itto the street, the South Tower be-gan to collapse.

“When the building started tocollapse, I started to run but thethick cloud of dust that came

made it very difficult to see andbreathe,” Sullivan said.

He made it to the Staten IslandFerry but to his dismay, it wasclosed. Like thousands of otherpeople, he began walking towardthe Brooklyn Bridge for the longjourney home.

“As we were walking to thebridge, the North Tower col-lapsed. It collapsed right in front

of our eyes.”After walking about eight

miles, Sullivan found a phone tocall his family. He said it hadbeen more than two hours sinceanyone had heard from him. Hisfamily had feared the worst.

“The next few days were

worse than the event itself,” Sulli-van explained. “I had receiveddozens of calls from my friends’and coworkers’ family members,asking if I had seen their lovedones.”

Months later, Sullivan continuedto have trouble coping with the

tragedy he had been through.“I went to ground zero once

to assist, but I could not bear fortoo long. They seemed to have allthe help they needed, and I wasnot up for the task physically ormentally.”

Sullivan said it took him a fewmonths to deal with the eventsthat transpired that day.

“My service to this country and

being here on the memorable dayof Sept. 11 is how I honor thepeople who lost their lives thatday. That was a day that shouldbe remembered forever, a daywe as Americans should pay trib-ute to, and a day that I will neverforget.”





Picatinny Public Affairs Office news release

PICATINNY, N.J. - All Army em-

ployees, military and civilian, now have

membership privileges with the American

Productivity and Quality Center, a non-

profit benchmarking and research organi-

zation.The newly created Army-wide mem-

bership will allow Army staff access to

APQC's consulting and advisory services,

as well as the opportunity to participate

in consortium benchmarking studies,

training courses and customized work-

shops at a discounted rate.

Each Army employee with an Army

Knowledge Online e-mail address is now

eligible for the program. Army employees

can register individually at www.apqc.org,

select their own password and be recog-nized as a member by using their

"us.army.mil" e-mail addresses.

APQC, located in Houston, is a

non-profit organization chartered to work

with organizations worldwide to improve

productivity and quality. They discover

effective methods of improvement,

broadly disseminate their findings, and

connect individuals to each other and to

the knowledge they need to improve.

By analyzing the top-notch ap-

proaches of others, employees can apply

best practices to their own organizationsand give the organizations a competitive

lead. This process, known as benchmark-

ing, allows organizations to use improve-

ment efforts that may already exist within

the organization. It helps to blend con-

tinuous improvement and breakthrough

improvement into a single-change man-

agement system.

The Army-wide APQC membership

grants each Army employee access to the

Online Knowledge Base Repository, an

online portal that houses all of APQC's

previous research, case studies, metrics,best practices and tools. The resources

offered through the Knowledge Base are

relevant and specific to nearly every func-

tional area of an organization.

The APQC Army-wide membership

opportunity is the result of two Army

organizations that are current APQC

members. The Army Community and

Family Center and the Armament Re-

search Development and Engineering

Center here, were both in the process of

renewing their affiliation with APQC for

the July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007

term.

ARDEC representatives currently

involved in leadership development and

portfolio management benchmarking

studies with APQC discussed the possi-

bility of an Army-wide membership. The

idea was accepted, and for an additional

fee, ARDEC representatives signed the

membership agreement giving all

"us.army.mil" e-mail recipients member-

ship in APQC.

ARDEC Director Dr. Joseph Lan-non, who has personally participated in

site visits and had input in studies, said,

"The value-add of study participation

cannot be conveyed in words. I encour-

age my own managers to participate and

'see for themselves.'"

Civilian Education System

incorporates leadership classby Gregory Bily, DCSOPS

Sustaining Base Leadership and Management (SBLM)

recently graduated its final class before its transition into

the Civilian Education System (CES). Graduates included

two Software Engineering Center team members, Susan

Jackson and Rose Satz.

“I took away from this training that the Army is grow-

ing its future leaders to be ‘pentathletes,’ capable of lead-

ing in a fast moving, highly technological, diverse environ-

ment,” Jackson said. “The class offered me an opportunity

to learn leadership, values and networking I might not

otherwise have had the privilege of doing.”

With an increasing civilian role in today’s Army goes

the necessary leadership training.

CES provides such training through its four-tier, pro-

gressive course, thus enhancing leader development and

education opportunities.

The “Foundation Course” helps provide students an

understanding and appreciation of Army values and cus-

toms, serving professionally as a member of the Depart-

ment of the Army, acquiring foundational competencies

for leader development, developing effective communica-

tions skills and readiness to assume a first leadership role.

The “Basic Course” is designed for those who exer-

cise direct leadership. It provides an understanding of

basic leadership skills to effectively lead and care for small

teams, apply effective communications skills, and develop

and mentor subordinates.

The “Intermediate Course” follows. In that course

students learn skills to manage human and financial re-

sources, direct program management and systems integra-

tion, and display flexibility, resilience, and focus on the

mission.

The fourth and final course, “Advanced,” is the venue where students become skilled in leading a complex or-

ganization, managing human and financial resources,

leading change, inspiring vision and creativity, directing

program management and systems integration, and dis-

playing flexibility and resilience while focusing on the mis-

sion.

The application and selection process for the course is

posted on the Army Management Staff College website at

http://amscportal.belvoir.army.mil.

All Army employees now eligible to use American Productivity and Quality Center




By Chris Rasmussen, ARNEWS

FORT JACKSON, S.C. – Recruitershave shed the sales approach in at-tracting new Soldiers in favor ofsounding more like career counselors.

The way the Army conducts recruitinghas undergone a massive transforma-tion during the past two years. Theevolution was developed and imple-mented at the Army Recruiting andRetention School at Fort Jackson.

“The way we used to do business isnothing like we do now,” said MasterSgt. Ivan Santana, Recruiting Divisionchief. “We were known as sales reps,now we are in the counseling busi-

ness. We show people the differentroutes in life, not just the Army. Theword “sales” is not allowed to beused here. It’s like a curse word.”

Part of the change stemmed from anArmy survey that found the targetage population of 17 to 24, alsoknown as the Millennial Generation,was more receptive to the counselingapproach.

“The Millennial Generation has been

sold to all their life,” said CommandSgt. Maj. Anthony Gales, commandsergeant major of the school. “Wehave found that they want to make adifference and are patriotic. Theyjust need some guidance about howto accomplish their goals.”

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Towne, instruc-tor, said the new approach to recruit-ing is working well.

“You look at the public today, and

what do they fear most? Telemar-keters and salesmen,” Towne said.“We don’t want to convince anyonethe Army is the way to go. We pro-vide them with a guide to achievetheir goals in life.”

The biggest challenge in implement-ing the doctrine has been to retrainestablished recruiters in the newcounseling philosophy.

“It’s difficult to teach old dogs newtricks,” Santana said. “But we havefound the successful recruiters hadbeen doing this all along.”

The course includes six weeks of

training and a week of evaluation.Much of the coursework involveshands-on training and role-playingexercises where students conduct in-terviews with other students acting aspotential applicants.

Students go to local malls and cam-puses, where they speak with thepublic about joining the Army. Leadsgenerated from the talks are givento local recruiters. The school also hasa telephone work station where stu-

dents make phone calls around thecountry. Last year, 120 Army con-tracts were signed as a result ofleads generated from the school.

“This experience gives them confi-dence. If they fail, they have instruc-tors to counsel them to get better,”said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Kinsey, cur-riculum developer for the school.

Last year, 5,041 Soldiers graduatedfrom the school, which is the only one

of its kind in the Army.

“We look for Soldiers with interper-sonal skills,” said Staff Sgt. CharlesWarner, instructor. “The tactical andtechnical skills will come for them, butthe big thing is for them to be able tocommunicate back and forth.”

About 75 percent of the students at-tending the school are selected byDepartment of the Army, accordingto Santana.

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Boyd, who is inhis fourth week at the school, saidthat despite being DA-selected he isup for the challenge.

“I am excited to do it. To me it is justanother challenge,” said Boyd, whowill be assigned to a recruiting sta-tion in New Jersey following gradua-tion. “We went out to a mall the

other day to practice talking withpeople and I was really surprisedhow open they were to speak withus.

Especially the kids, they were eager

to talk about the Army.”

The Army chooses Soldiers in the top10 percent of each military occupa-tional specialty to go to recruitingschool.

“We need Soldiers with extraordi-nary integrity, self-discipline andtime management skills becausewhen they get out there they will beby themselves and away from theirArmy installation,” Warner said. “In a

normal Army setting you see yourfirst sergeant daily. As a recruiteryou might see him weekly.”

Not all students attending the schoolare DA selected, however. Sgt. Cyn-thia Ramos, a student at the schoolwho holds a logistics MOS, volun-teered to become a recruiter.

“I like to help people achieve theirgoals,” she said. “The Army helpedme achieve my goals and I wanted

to give back.”

Staff Sgt. Antionette Pitts, who is inher third week of the course, said hermain motivation in attending theschool was so she could help today’syouth.

“It is not just about the numbers,” shesaid. “It is about helping individualyoung people make educated deci-sions about their future. A lot of themdon’t know what they want to do, or

which direction to go in. For me this isa way leading them in that right di-rection.”

(Editor’s note: Chris Rasmussen writes for TheLeader at Fort Jackson, S.C.)

Changes help recruiters, career counselors get, keep the best




CASCOM Majortakes charge inAfghanistanby Jorge Gomez

Fort Lee Traveler Staff Writer

Maj. Heather Weigner, Head-quarters and HeadquartersCompany commander, CombinedForces Command-Afghanistan,deployed from Fort Lee in April

2006. Weigner provides admin-istrative and supply support tomore than 500 Soldiers, Marines,Sailors, Airmen and coalition ser-vice members. She is from EastBerlin, Pa., where her parentsawait her return.

How did she end up in Af-ghanistan?

“I was called by my aviationbranch manager and asked if I

wanted to deploy and serve asthe HHC commander. I agreed todeploy and have no secondthoughts about it.”

This wasn’t the first timeshe’d been deployed, however.

“I have been in the Army for11 years. I’m an aviation officerand a UH-60 helicopter pilot. Ideployed in support of Opera-tion Iraqi Freedom I from Janu-

ary - August 2003. I served asthe Charlie Company com-mander, 2-3 General SupportAviation Battalion, 3rd InfantryDivision. Our battalion supportedthe 3rd Inf. Div.’s combat bri-gades as they conducted themarch to Baghdad.”

“I did not have the opportunityto fly during OIF. Sometimes it’s

hard to not be able to fly. Ireally enjoy flying, but I also en-

joy being in the aviation mainte-nance field. My company’s jobduring OIF was to keep the air-craft flying so they could supportthe 3rd Inf. Div. Keeping the air-craft in the air is just as importantas flying the mission.”

Weigner denied that notflying during OIF might havecaused her to lose her “touch”after a while.

“I guess you could say flying islike riding a bike. You get rusty,but it comes back to you. I willhave to go through a refreshertraining before I fly again. Whilethis job keeps me away from fly-ing. I love this job. I couldn’timagine being any other placeright now.”

Being in Afghanistan forabout five months has beenbeneficial. “The knowledge I

have gained working with jointand coalition service membersand working with the strategiclevel staff will help prepare mefor future assignments in theArmy. I hope to go back to anaviation unit after this.”

Weigner relies upon whatshe learned at Fort Lee to helpget her through tense times. “Theinstruction I received during Inter-mediate Level Education Phase 1

last fall at Fort Lee (Army Logis-tics Management College) pre-pared me to work in thisjoint/coalition command. ILEPhase 1 teaches strategic andoperational level war fighting. Italso teaches a lot on leadershipand the joint/coalition environ-ment.”

Weigner does manage toget out and into the countryside.

“I enjoy all the Volunteer Com-munity Relations trips, not just theones with children, although mostof them involve helping childrenor families in need. The VCR pro-gram provides donations to Af-ghan schools, medical clinics, in-ternally displaced persons campsand orphanages. The programreceives donations of clothing,medical supplies, personal hy-giene items and school suppliesfrom all over the United States.The program has really openedmy eyes to how the Afghan peo-ple are disadvantaged and af-fected by the years of fighting.They have nothing, every little bithelps.”

Army secretaryvisits Soldiers inAfghanistanBy Staff Sgt. Carmen L. Burgess

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (ArmyNews Service) – After spendingtime with Soldiers in Afghanistanlast week, Secretary of the ArmyFrancis Harvey says he continuesto be pleased with progress be-

ing made in the war-torn country.

Harvey’s Sept. 25-27 tripwas his third into Afghanistan dur-ing his nearly two-year tenure. Hefocused on visiting 10th MountainDivision Soldiers, from whom hereceived updates on equipment,


From the Front Lines….




training and building of theAfghan infrastructure.

“It’s always good to bewith Soldiers,” said the secre-tary. “I applaud their dedica-

tion to support and defendour country, and what theyare doing for Afghanistan.”

Maj. Gen. BenjaminFreakley, 10th Mountain Divi-sion commander, shared withthe Army’s top official thegreat success his troops havehad in building and maintain-ing good relations in a land30 percent larger than Iraq

and whose population is 15percent greater.

He explained the divi-sion’s key priorities, which in-clude massive construction ef-forts in roads, water andpower plants, schools and districtcenters.

One project that’s impactedthe lives of Afghans in the Nan-garhar Province is a recently con-structed bridge over the PichRiver. Before its construction, resi-dents were often cut off from re-sources – women had to wadethrough the river to get food andwood, and children had difficul-ties getting to school for the samereason.

“(These projects) have had a

positive change in this country,”said Freakley. “Children are go-ing to school and they are happy.People think that the improvementis good.”

“I’m impressed with the pro-gress in building the infrastructureof Afghanistan,” agreed Harvey.“It is necessary in building the na-

tion’s economy.”

Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin,commander, Combined SecurityTransition Command, briefed thesecretary on the progress beingmade in with the Afghan NationalSecurity Forces.

“We are building up both thearmy and the police to adequatelevels, with priority being placedon the police,” said Durbin. “Thekey is quality, not quantity.”

The transition command is

focusing on making the Afghanforces self-reliant. To date, theAfghan army has contributed inroute clearance and de-miningoperations while also providingsecurity for road construction ef-forts

Harvey said he is happy withthe sound plan that Durbin and his

team have set up for the country.

“The security forces are start-ing to expand in a quality way,”he said.

While visiting troops in Jala-labad, Harvey stressed that win-ning the confidence of the Afghanpeople is vital to success. Hethanked Soldiers there for assist-ing in the security and reconstruc-tion missions.

“The locals have to believethat they will be better off tomor-

row than today and are betteroff today than yesterday,” saidHarvey. “Following the fifth anni-versary of 9-11, we have to re-member that five years ago thiswas the land where evil peoplewere hiding, and this is where jus-tice will be done.”


Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey greets Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division stationed in Jalalabad,

Afghanistan, Sept. 26. The secretary visited the country Sept. 25-27 to talk with troops and receive updates

on operations.

(US Army photo by Staff Sgt. Carmen L. Burgess)



By Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV Spokesman, Multi-National Force - Iraq

BAGHDAD — Let’s put the bad news upfront: Extremist elements in Iraq are vy-ing for political and economic power andare seeking to take advantage of thisdelicate stage of transition in Iraq’s his-tory. Sunni and Shia extremists are usingbrutal and provocative tactics againstone another. Baghdad is the center ofgravity for this increasingly sectarianconflict. The conflict is complex: There arealso foreign terrorists infiltrating the bor-ders, renegade death squads, an insur-gency, and foreign governments whoseek to exert influence on Iraqi politics.

This, however, is only part of Iraq’s pre-

sent story. The violence belies the grad-ual but remarkable transformation thisnation is experiencing. Focusing on justviolence would miss telling the biggerstory of how — despite it —Iraqis havemade enormous steps toward self-sufficiency in both the security and politi-cal realm.

Iraqi Security Forces are taking

control

Three years ago, there were virtually nosecurity forces in Iraq. Today - Iraqis arestanding up military and police forcesthat number over 300,000. In comingmonths, the Coalition and the Iraqi gov-ernment will reach the goal of 325,000trained and equipped force members.

Quality is improving with quantity. InApril 2004, almost all Iraqi forces fled inthe face of a militia uprising in Najaf.This August, when militia attacked anIraqi Army outpost in Diwaniyah, theIraqi army counterattacked and killed50 militiamen in the ensuing battle. Bythe end of August, Iraq’s special-ops

brigade, with U.S. combat advisers, hadnetted 1,320 detainees in 445 opera-tions all over the country this year, includ-ing three senior militia leaders and 20most-wanted individuals. This month, Iraqiforces provided a safe environment for

h f illi Shii il i

A functioning command structure. Thismonth, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki be-came commander-in-chief of Iraq’s mili-

tary in more than name only. That is, theMinistry of Defense and the Joint Head-quarters –who report to the prime minis-ter—assumed operational control of theIraqi Ground Forces Command, Navyand Air Force. Before Sept. 7, CoalitionForces exercised control of all of Iraq’smilitary. Now, two of Iraq’s 10 ArmyDivisions fall under this command struc-ture. More will soon follow.

Of Iraq’s 10 Army divisions, six divisionheadquarters are “in the lead” in theirareas of responsibility, which means they

are capable of coordinating, planning,and executing security operations inde-pendent of Coalition forces. Twenty-sixbrigades and 88 battalions have thisoperational lead as well.

Healing a fractured society

Security will only improve with simultane-ous political and economic progress. Un-der Saddam, government served the willof the dictator and primarily served onesect. Today,

Iraqis are learning to share power andwealth. Local governments—from prov-inces, districts or

neighborhoods—are beginning to takeresponsibility for their citizens. The gov-ernment must work to heal the wounds ofthis fractured society by getting all fac-tions to reconcile. Leaders must promotelaws that encourage investment and pro-vide jobs. Recent initiatives show Iraqismeeting these challenges head on.

In Baghdad, several hundred Iraqi civilsociety representatives renounced vio-

lence this past weekend at the second offour conferences that are part of PrimeMinister Maliki’s overall 24-point na-tional reconciliation and dialogue plan.

On Sept. 21, the governor of the south-i f Dhi Q k i il

The Iraqi government met with represen-tatives of neighboring and Europeancountries to form an “International Com-pact,” aimed at getting help to transformIraq's economy. At the Sept. 10 meeting,Iraq pledged economic reforms in ex-change for greater international support.

Several hundred companies from over20 different countries attended the third

annual international expo, held lastweekend in Erbil aimed at promotinginternational investment.

Iraq’s new unity government is movingforward and will continue grappling withtough political challenges, such as: how tobalance power between central andregional governments (federalism); howto divvy up the country’s oil revenues (ahydrocarbons law); how to assimilateformer members of Saddam’s Ba’athparty (de-Ba’athification) and integrateand/or disarm militias. But Iraqis have

succeeded in setting a road map forresolving these essential issues. Likewise,there is still significant work to be done indeveloping the security forces so theyare capable of defending a democraticIraq from both internal and externalthreats. But for such a young force, theiradvances have been impressive.

Iraq is living a critical moment in whatIraqis, and all our allies supporting themission here, hope is the beginning of along history of democracy for both thisnation and the region. The process may

seem arduously slow for Americans –whovalue expediency and want our belovedservice members out of harm’s way— and for Iraqis, many of whom live theviolence daily. Iraqis have many difficultchoices to make to bring unity, securityand prosperity. As Iraqis persevere, we

Commentary

Iraq's transformation is subtle

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV

Documents

US Army: NEJournal