U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army

The EagleU.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command Volume 13, Number 8, August 2006

InsideThe

Eagle

Soldier vs.grizzly inAlaskanwilderness,page 11

1st SpaceBattalion is‘Home on theRange,’page 15

Armyparticipatesin Air ForceSports Day,pages 8-9

Coffin assumes command of Army’s 1st Space Brigade

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE,Colo. — Col. Timothy R. Coffinassumed command of the 1stSpace Brigade from the unit’soutgoing commander, Col. KurtS. Story, as Col. Roger F.Mathews passed the brigade’scolors to the new commanderduring a July 27 ceremony.

“Since November 2002, unitsof the brigade have beendeployed continuously inAfghanistan and Iraq,” saidMathews. “The Army SpaceSupport Teams, CommercialExploitation Teams, and JTAGS[Joint Tactical Ground Station]crews have rotated Soldiers butthe units have remained. AndSoldiers have returned to theselocations after short stays inthe United States betweenrotations. This continuousrecord of excellence could onlyhave been accomplished by ateam of seasoned, well-trainedwarriors who live the Armyvalues and epitomize theWarrior Ethos.”

“The 1st Space Brigadestands before you a combatproven force that has met andcontinues to meet every mis-sion. This brigade is as it isbecause of the great dedicationfrom an exceptional team ledby Colonel Kurt Story,”Mathews added.

Mathews, deputy commanderfor operations, U.S. Army Spaceand Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces StrategicCommand (SMDC/ARSTRAT)hosted the ceremony for the1st Space Brigade, which is theoperational element of SMDC/ARSTRAT.

“Over the last two years, theSoldiers of the 1st SpaceBrigade have exemplified thesewords [contained in John F.Kennedy’s inaugural speech] intheir continued outstandingsupport to the Global War onTerrorism. In addition to itsfixed-base, 24/7 operations,the brigade supported numer-ous combatant commanderexercises and maintained acontinuous forward deployedpresence in the CENTCOM[U.S. Central Command] AOR[Area of Responsibility] provid-ing direct support to the ‘bootson the ground’ warfighter.”

The quote from JFK’s 1961inaugural address reads, “Weshall pay any price, bear anyburden, meet any hardship,support any friend, oppose anyfoe to assure the survival andthe success of liberty.”

In his remarks Coffin said,“The 1st Space Brigade mis-sion remains unchanged. It isto conduct continuous spaceforce enhancement, space sup-port, and space control opera-tions supporting U.S. Strategic

Command and supported com-batant commanders, enablingand shaping decisiveoperations.”

The 1st Space Brigade has

three one-of-a-kind battalions,the 53rd Signal Battalion

Col. Timothy R. Coffin (right) receives the 1st Space Brigade colors from Col.Roger F. Mathews, deputy commander for operations, U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, onPeterson Air Force Base, Colo. Coffin assumed command in a ceremonyheld July 27.

Photo by Dennis Plummer

By Ed WhiteSMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

See 1st Space Brigadeon page 4

Missile Defense System goes operational during Korean missile crisisBy Maj. Laura Kenney, 100th MissileDefense Brigade (Ground-basedMidcourse Defense) Public AffairsOfficer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) head-quartered here was brought tooperational level by U.S. NorthernCommand in response to the recentKorean missile crisis.

With interceptors located in Alaskaand California, the unit, which hadpreviously been maintained in testmode, was moved for the first time tooperational status. Composed of full-time Colorado National Guardsmen anda contingent of active Army Solders inColorado and manned exclusively byactive Alaska National Guardsmen in

Alaska, the 100th MDB remained at highalert status for the duration of the crisis.

The crisis culminated in North Korea’smultiple test launches July 4. It wasdetermined quickly that none posed athreat to the United States or itsterritories. All seven (six July 4, one earlythe next morning) landed in the Sea ofJapan. The long-range Taepodong-2 failedin the early stages of its launch.

Members of the brigade and itsbattalion, the 49th Missile DefenseBattalion (GMD) in Alaska, rose to theheightened mission requirements withgreat spirit. Although vacations andmilitary schooling had to be canceled, nocomplaints or grumbling was heard. Thiswas the mission all training had beenfocused on for years.

A Soldier who’d been enroute to Hawaiifor leave with a spouse prior to the

spouse’s departure for an Iraqideployment was called back. Cruisesleft for exotic locations with familymembers aboard as the Soldiersreported back to headquarters for duty.

The mood throughout the crisis wasof taut readiness to do whatever wasrequired.

“As we saw this play out over a span ofweeks, every single Soldier wanted to beon the crew that would respond indefense of the nation. We weren’t calledupon to do so, but we were ready,” saidbrigade commander, Col. Michael Yowell.

Intelligence from multiple sourceskept the crews informed and on theirtoes.

“We had excellent situationalawareness,” said the brigade’s

See Korea on page 5

The Eagle ... is an authorized unofficial newspaper published for military and civilian members of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command published under the authority of AR 360-1. The editorial style applies the industry standard Associated PressStylebook. Contents of The Eagle are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Departmentof the Army, or SMDC/ARSTRAT. This monthly newspaper uses offset reproduction and has a circulation of 2,250. Reader input is solicited andwelcomed; however, no payment will be made for such contributions. For more information about SMDC/ARSTRAT or to view The Eagle on-line, visitour Web site at www.smdc.army.mil.

SMDC/ARSTRAT, ATTN: Editor, The Eagle,P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801

Phone (256) 955-3887 (DSN 645) FAX: 645-1214e-mail: [email protected]

CG DIRECTWant to communicatedirectly with the CG?Call (866) 243-4732

Publisher..........................................Lt. Gen. Larry J. DodgenDirector, Public Affairs................................William M. CongoEditor...................................................................Dottie White

Lt. Gen. Larry J. DodgenCommanding General

CSM David L. LadyCommand Sergeant Major

The Command Corner2 The Eagle August 2006

I t is a great feeling when one can congratulate those who have done very well. Last month, we were able to recognize the outstanding Soldiers who competed for SMDC/ARSTRAT

NCO and Soldier of the Year. This month, we can recognizethose noncommissioned officers selected for promotion oradvanced schooling by the Army Sergeant Major PromotionBoard.

Congratulations to our four selectees: Master Sgt. HaroldLincoln, operations sergeant with the SMDC/ARSTRAT G-3,selected for promotion to sergeant major and appointment ascommand sergeant major; Master Sgt. Frank Cota, operationssergeant with the Reagan Test Site (Kwajalein), selected forpromotion to sergeant major and the Sergeant Major Course;Master Sgt. William Manchester, operations sergeant with theSMDC/ARSTRAT G-3, selected for promotion to sergeant major;1st Sgt. Virgil Ebrecht, Headquarters and HeadquartersCompany 1st Space Brigade, selected as an alternate attendeeto the Sergeant Major Course.

Our four selectees have distinguished themselves as unitleaders. They have succeeded as section sergeants, platoonsergeants and as first sergeants. No mission is moreimportant than leading and training Soldiers. No matter whatthe military specialty, expert leaders will be selected fromamong their peers for promotion and greater responsibility.

These four Soldiers are combat veterans with severaldeployments apiece: to Germany, Korea, Alaska, Saudi Arabia,Iraq. They are veterans of OPERATIONS DESERT STORM and IRAQI

FREEDOM. No experience is more valued than recent combatexperience. This is an Army at war, supporting a nation inwar. It will be an Army at war for our lifetimes.

All four of these senior NCOs have completed advancedschooling: First Sergeant Course, Advanced NCO Course,Battle Staff NCO Course. They have completed advancedcivilian education, all having years of college credit and one amaster’s degree.

These sergeants have been excellent throughout theircareers. Their evaluation reports show success andexcellence at every level and in every job. All have had non-troop leading assignments as drill sergeants, instructors, orReserve Component trainer/evaluators. All have served onunit staffs. These people have proven their flexibility andadaptability by succeeding in every position.

Soldiers, if you want to be like these four sergeants, andgrow into command sergeants major, follow their example.Seek leadership opportunities in a variety of assignments;gain combat experience; pursue advanced military and civilianschooling; excel at whatever the Army tells you to do, whereverthe Army tells you to go.

The NCO Education System has done its job. The Army haschosen well. We will all benefit from the values and abilities ofthese outstanding noncommissioned officers.

ON POINT!

See Commander on page 3

M issile test launches in the Far East, rocket and missile barrages and intense combat in the Middle East, and construction of a large plutonium-production reactor in

southern Asia; these events have captured intense newscoverage, front page headlines, and our attention over the pastmonth. They are also examples of how the current securityenvironment is evolving quickly and the manner in whichseemingly disparate events can move us to a crisis of globalimportance. As noted by Dr. Francis J. Harvey, Secretary of theArmy, “This security environment, which is characterized byasymmetric adversaries, transnational terrorists, non-linearbattlefields, and intense post-conflict operations, is, perhaps,more complex than at any other time in our Nation’s history.”

As we move into the summertime personnel turnover season,I believe it is important in this month’s Command Corner toprovide the context between the evolving security environmentand the changes and decisions that are currently underway inthe U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/ArmyForces Strategic Command. Three over-arching concepts aredriving our way ahead:• Support to Joint Warfighters. First and foremost, SMDC/ARSTRAT’s efforts are focused on the provision of robust andresponsive space-based, missile defense, and research anddevelopment capabilities in support of our Nation’s jointwarfighters. The ongoing support provided by Regional SatelliteCommunications Centers and Joint Blue Force SituationalAwareness Mission Management Center contributeimmeasurably to the operational capabilities of our jointwarfighters. Other SMDC/ARSTRAT activities, in the UnitedStates and deployed in theater, provide a variety of responsivecapabilities. In support of Army initiatives, our steps to reducespending also contribute to the support of joint warfighters byfreeing up resources that are essential to our Nation’swarfighting requirements.• Enhancing Capabilities. The recent world events emphasizethe importance and urgency of transforming our militarycapabilities and processes to meet 21st century securitychallenges. The 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-basedMidcourse Defense) and 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD)are trained, ready and capable of executing their mission todefeat ballistic missiles in their midcourse phase of flight. Theformation of the Measurement and Signatures IntelligenceAdvanced Geospatial Intelligence (MASINT/AGI) Node expandsour capability to provide tailored MASINT and AGI products towarfighters. Our contributions in the areas of training andequipping Space Support Elements in each of the Army ModularForce headquarters and research, development, test, andevaluation contribute to enhanced capabilities. Realignmentsand restationing in support of the Base Realignment and Closurerecommendations will also contribute to aligning ourselves tobetter meet future strategic and operational requirements.• Increasing Efficiencies. Not only is it our responsibility toprovide relevant and timely products and services, we mustensure support is delivered to joint warfighters in a streamlinedand efficient manner at the lowest cost. The results will befaster and more effective support to joint warfighters. Lean SixSigma implementation will ensure that our processes areeffective and efficient and our leadership, management, andtechnology are focused on our most critical systems. Ourtransition to the National Security Personnel System provides us

August 2006 The Eagle 3

What We ThinkThe Eagle asks:

Michael CalhounAdministrative AssistantPublic Affairs OfficePhoenix ServicesHuntsville, Ala.

I stopped carrying penniesprobably 20 years ago. During mymilitary career, I lived in Europefor more than 12 years andanything purchased on base waseither rounded up or down. Evennow, I let cashiers keep thechange when pennies areinvolved. Yes, I think the pennyshould be taken out of service.

As long as retailersare going to sell theiritems using one tofour cents as part ofthe price, then no, Idon’t want the pennyto be discontinued. Besides that, I don’twant retailers to hiketheir prices up byfive cents either. Anickel is a nickel,and every pennycounts in my budget.Maj. Edward P. Pfeffer

G-8Arlington, Va.

The Penny is iconic as an American Institution reinforced by the nostalgia-inducing aphorism: “Find a penny, pick it up; all day long you’ll have goodluck.” As for removing it from the currency inventory because it doesn’tbuy anything; neither does a nickel, dime, or quarter by themselves. Should those coins be removed as well? If you put them together, soonyou have “real money” to spend. If it’s purely a matter of productioneconomics, you could justify production cessation … but, is that the onlyconsideration? The result of removal from our circulating currency is atechnique used by merchants to round up/down to the nearest five-centincrement. No more $0.99 sales … Just convince the Marketeers to price infive-cent increments. $90 just isn’t as good a buy as $89.99. I don’ttypically carry any coins. (It’s not polite to jingle in public. ☺☺☺☺☺) I usuallykeep them in a desk drawer or in the car; then use them a short time later.

Elaine WaldrepExecutive Assistant to the Deputy to the Commander for Research, Development and AcquisitionHuntsville, Ala.

My first thought was yes, get rid ofpennies because I do throw them in ajar. However, after thinking about it forawhile, pennies are well worth keepingin the American currency. When theprice of gas goes up, if there were nopennies, would that mean the pricewould go up a nickel? How about anincrease on postage stamps; sales tax;regular consumer items — a nickel at atime? No, I vote to keep the penny; itmay not buy much, but it would impactour pockets if it were gone.

I think we should keep the penny in the currency. I think that with theremoval of the penny, we would have to round everything up and eveneverything out … taxes would change, the products we buy would needto change. I really believe the first time I purchase something and don’tget my four cents back, there’s going to be trouble. I don’t considermyself to be a penny pincher, but members of Congress don’t live outamong the common folks like most. And they don’t see that man usingthose pennies to put gas in his car to get to his two jobs, nor do theysee that woman who barely had enough change to get those Pampersfor her child. What happens when we can’t buy anything for a dollar …do we get rid if it? To answer your question yes, I do carry pennies, andyes, I save them in jars. For children, it starts off as a fun game, but youactually start teaching them their first lesson in saving.

Sgt. 1st Class Lloyd Wesley1st Space Company1st Sapce BattalionColorado Springs, Colo.

Diane SchumacherPublic Affairs SpecialistArlington, Va.

There’s a bill before Congress to take the penny out of the American currency, stating that itdoesn’t buy anything anymore — not even a piece of bubble gum. How do you feel about that?Do you carry pennies around and use them or put them in a jar?

I grew up in Colorado, andas a kid always likedgoing on the horse ridesat King Soopers. I stillappreciate the fact that Ican take my girls to thesupermarket and usethose same horse ridesas an incentive to keepmy young ones in lineduring grocery shoppingtime. Those dangedhorses still only cost apenny!Capt. Andy R. Lee

U.S. Marine Corps1st Space BrigadeHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyColorado Springs, Colo.

Goodriddance!

Robert KynistonG-1Colorado Springs, Colo.

Commandercontinued from page 2

the tools to shape a more effective andefficient workforce.

Another area in which we areresponding to an evolving securityenvironment is the development of a well-trained Space Cadre for the Army. Thereare currently 180 Army officers in theFA40 (Space Operations) functional area.The Space Operations Officers comprisethe core of our Space Cadre, the SpaceProfessionals. These officers complementthe actions of signal, intelligence,information operations, and engineer staffofficers to integrate space into operationsat all levels of Army commands and in theJoint Combatant Commands.

We have teamed with the NationalSecurity Space Institute (NSSI) and theAir Force Space Command in the areas ofeducation and training of our Army SpaceProfessionals. In fact, the NSSI’s Space200 (S200) course has been integratedinto the curriculum of the Army’s SpaceOperations Officer Qualification Course to

establish a space fundamentalsfoundation. Further enhancing the Army -Air Force partnership in education andtraining, four FA40 officers at the NSSIprovide instruction and trainingdevelopment across NSSI courses,contributing an Army perspective as one ofthe largest consumers of space support.

Assignments of FA40 field grade officershave increasingly expanded to positionsoutside the Army to include Joint andsister Service commands as well as otherDepartment of Defense agencies. Thissummer, we will expand the strategicplacement of our FA40s by placing colonelsat the Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency, the Space Policy Divisionof the Office of the Secretary of Defense,the 3rd Army Space Support Element, theArmy Training and Doctrine CommandSpace Liaison Office, the Air Force Spaceand Missile Systems Center, and the U.S.Strategic Command’s Joint SpaceOperations Center. We will also increaseour FA40 presence at the NationalReconnaissance Office by providing a

resident member of the emerging ArmyCoordination Team. FA40s will continueto support the Space Radar IntegratedProgram Office and will join the MobileUser Objective System Joint ProgramOffice team. Additionally, we will provide aFA40 officer (non-Astronaut) to the NASAstaff to work in their operations center.

Almost two years ago, General Peter J.Schoomaker, Chief of Staff, Army, stated,“The world has changed. Ambiguity is therule. Uncertainty is the norm. And so ourArmy must change to build the force thatcan defeat the challenges that lie ahead.Our Army is transforming to bettercontribute in this new strategicenvironment with relevant capabilities.And we must have a sense of urgency.”These remarks are as relevant now asthey were then. It is important to remindourselves that with every challenge, asignificant number of opportunities arisefor us to excel through innovation anddetermination. That time is now.

SECURE THE HIGH GROUND!

4 The Eagle August 2006

(Satellite Control), the 1stSpace Battalion and theColorado Army National GuardSpace Support Battalion. The53rd Signal Battalion has themission of providingdependable, secure, long haulsatellite communications toU.S. warfighting forces aroundthe world and a variety ofgovernment agencies. Thisbattalion provides 80 percent ofthe in-theater satellite

1st Space Brigadecontinued from page 1

What do you know about Women’s Equality Day?By Sgt. 1st Class Jason W. Porter, EqualOpportunity Advisor, SMDC/ARSTRAT

Our men and women, both military andcivilian, make sacrifices each day formission readiness across the world in allbranches of service in the Department ofDefense. In 1971, Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY)introduced a Joint Resolution to Congress.The resolution was passed designatingAug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day. Thedate was selected to commemorate the1920 passage of the 19th Amendment tothe Constitution granting women the rightto vote. The observance of Women’sEquality Day is essential to recognize thecontributions of others who madesacrifices that impacted our culturetoward diversity. Today, continuing effortstoward full equality impact all of us. Hereare some events in history that explainwhy Women’s Equality Day is celebrated:

1866

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.Anthony form the American Equal RightsAssociation, an organization for white andblack women and men dedicated to thegoal of universal suffrage.

1869

The women’s rights movement splitsinto two factions as a result ofdisagreements over the Fourteenth andsoon-to-be-passed Fifteenth Amendments.Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.Anthony form the more radical, New York-based National Woman SuffrageAssociation (NWSA). Lucy Stone, HenryBlackwell and Julia Ward Howe organizethe more conservative American WomanSuffrage Association (AWSA), which iscentered in Boston. In this same year,the Wyoming territory is organized with awoman suffrage provision. In 1890,Wyoming was admitted to the Union withits suffrage provision intact.

1872

Susan B. Anthony is arrested andbrought to trial in Rochester, N.Y., forattempting to vote for Ulysses S. Grant inthe presidential election. At the sametime, Sojourner Truth appears at a pollingbooth in Grand Rapids, Mich., demanding aballot; she is turned away.

1878

A Woman Suffrage Amendment isintroduced in the United States Congress.The wording is unchanged in 1919 (41years later) when the amendment finallypasses both houses.

1916

Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomesthe first American woman elected torepresent her state in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives.

August 26, 1920

The Nineteenth Amendment is ratified.Its victory accomplished, NWSA ceases toexist, but its organization becomes thenucleus of the League of Women Voters.

Below is the Joint Resolution ofCongress:

Joint Resolution of Congress,1971 — Designation Aug. 26 ofeach year as Women’s EqualityDay

WHEREAS, the women of the United Stateshave been treated as second-class citizensand have not been entitled the full rightsand privileges, public or private, legal orinstitutional, which are available to malecitizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United Stateshave united to assure that these rightsand privileges are available to all citizensequally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States

have designated Aug. 26, the anniversarydate of the passage of the 19thAmendment, as symbol of the continuedfight for equal rights; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United Statesare to be commended and supported intheir organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, theSenate and House of Representatives ofthe United States of America in Congressassembled, that Aug. 26 of each year isdesignated as Women’s Equality Day, andthe President is authorized and requestedto issue a proclamation annually incommemoration of that day in 1920, onwhich the women of America were firstgiven the right to vote, and that day in1970, on which a nationwide demonstra-tion for woman’s rights took place.

Freedom and equal rights for all peopleregardless of race, color, gender, religionand national origin are some of the mostimportant elements as a nation wetreasure and enjoy. Women as well asmen in the Armed Forces, both militaryand civilian, make important contribu-tions each day that impact our nation andway of life. The United States Army ishard at work to create and sustaineffective units by eliminating discrim-inatory behaviors or practices thatundermine teamwork, mutual respect,loyalty and shared sacrifice of the menand women of America’s Army.

Women of Protest: Photograph from the Records of the National Woman’s Party, Manuscript Division,Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

communications for OPERATION

IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION

ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.The 1st Space Battalion has

had a continued presence inIraq since the beginning of thewar. The deployed Soldiershave provided space productsthat enhance both planningand operations for all forceswithin the region. TheColorado Army National GuardSpace Support Battalion is alsounique in that it is a NationalGuard element also with

Soldiers deployed to the MiddleEast and supporting warfighterswith products and capabilitiesfrom space. One of the uniquefeatures of this brigade is thatit is composed of Active Duty,National Guard and ArmyReserve Soldiers.

Products provided by thebrigade to the warfightingcommands include: Spaceweather and its constantlychanging effects on satellites,communications and GlobalPositioning System accuracy;

satellite imagery in the form ofmaps and 3-D fly-throughs ofterrain; early warning ofmissile attacks and satellitecommunications in a seamlessgrid allowing all levels ofcommand to talk to each otherwhenever necessary.

Under Story’s leadership thebrigade has grown from about450 Soldiers in 2004 to nearly600 today and the brigade willreach its full compliment ofpersonnel at more than 1,300in 2011.


Look out Arnold! There’s a new Strong Man in townBy Staff Sgt. Charles MercierUnit reporter

FORT DETRICK, Md. — On atypical day, Fort Detrick’s NalinPond is a peaceful oasis, aquiet home to a largepopulation of Canadian geeseand deer. However, on July 7,it was host to a competitionunlike any other that militarycommunity had ever seen;when the greatest athletes ofAlpha Company, 53rd SignalBattalion, competed in theinaugural Strongest ManCompetition.

The contest coincided withthe unit’s annual OrganizationDay, and quickly became thehighlight of the festivities.Onlookers of the competitionincluded such distinguishedguests as 53rd SignalBattalion’s Commander, Lt.Col. Scott Geiger andCommand Sgt. Maj. TerrenceFarmer.

The monoliths of men andwomen clashed in sevengrueling events, each testingthe limits of human strength,endurance and willpower. Theevents included the Farmer’sCarry, the Crucifix, the TruckPull, the Stone Throw, theWeight Drag, the Tumble Dry,and finally, a Tug-of-WarTournament.

The competition was fierce,as the 14 challengers for thetitle of Alpha Company’sStrongest Man struggleddesperately to earn thebragging rights granted to thechampion. Highlighting thediversity of the competitors wasSpc. Justin Tjernlund (theplanner and organizer of theevent), who adorned himself ina kilt and the Swedish flag. “Iwanted to bring somethingdifferent to the table whilepaying tribute to myScandinavian roots,” saidTjernlund. “I even entered myname in the competition asBjorn Vasa Hammarskold, as

homage to the great MagnúsVer Magnússon.”

Early in the competition,there would be no one personthat dominated the field.Tjernlund took the lead in theFarmer’s Carry, where theathletes carried two five-gallonwater jugs over a set course,displaying finesse and agilityin addition to strength. 1st Lt.Patrick Smith answered backwith a dominant performancein the Crucifix; an event inwhich the contenders hoisted25-pound buckets of water andheld them at shoulder level foras long as they could endure.

The Truck Pull was thehighlight of the competition.The punishing event requiredthe muscle men to haul a two-ton truck 50 yards. ShurreceKovalski, wife of Staff Sgt.Christian Kovalski, managedan impressive upset over thetop-rated male contenders,even while wearing sandals.Avid cyclist Sgt. 1st ClassKenneth Demars was the easyfavorite to win the event, butcould only manage a secondplace finish. “I think everyoneunderestimated her [Shurrece

Kovalski] strength and power,”said Demars. “I simply couldn’tmatch it.” Even Farmer caughtthe strongman fever and wascompelled to attempt the event.

Before the next series ofevents took place, the fivelowest scoring athletes wereeliminated from thecompetition. After the firstthree events, Smith had aslight lead due to one first andtwo third place finishes. Duringthe next three events, Smithcontinued to distance himselffrom the competition with winsin both the Stone Throw andthe Tumble Dry. In the StoneThrow event, the iron menhurled a 25-pound concreteblock as far as they could. Inthe Tumble Dry, thecontestants rolled a dryer endover end for 25 yards.

In a desperate bid forposition, Tjernlund once againout-finessed his opponents inthe Weight Drag, where theathletes pulled a 15-poundconcrete block along theground on a rope. Tjernlundbarely edged out Sgt. StuartRansom, aka “Liquid Sweat,” toadvance to the final event, the

Tug-of-War. “At that point inthe competition, every pointcounted, and everyone foughttooth and nail for them,” saidRansom.

The final event of the daywas a four-man Tug-of-Wartournament, where the top fourstrongmen would make theirfinal bid for the title. By thistime, Smith had all butsecured himself the victory,however the resilient Demarsfound himself still withinstriking distance. In the firstmatch up, Smith (1) defeatedTjernlund (4) in a back andforth struggle. Next in thetournament, Demars (2)demolished Spc. Josef “V Diddy”Vasquez (3) in what wascompared to as a David versusGoliath showdown.

The final match wasbetween Smith and Demars —the culmination of sixpunishing strongman eventstaking their toll on the men.The competitors poured forthall of their remaining energyinto this clash of the titans.After the dust had settled,Demars proved himself thebetter and defeated Smith inthe event, but Demars’ latesurge in the competition wasnot quite enough to overcomeSmith’s almost insurmount-able lead, thus leaving Smiththe title of Alpha Company’sStrongest Man.

“I am thrilled the years oftraining have finally paid off,”said Smith. “Thankfully thecompetition was not just basedon pure strength, but combinedathleticism, technique, andmost of all intestinal fortitude.I look forward to defending thetitle.”

In the end, every rivalrepresented themselvesvaliantly. Other notablefinishes were ShurreceKovalski winning the Women’sDivision and Sgt. ChristopherJanzen winning the SeniorDivision.

Spc. Justin Tjernlund pulls the two-ton truck while Sgt. Jonathan Hooverkeeps time during Alpha Company’s Strongest Man Competition.

Photo by Angela Lavalle

intelligence officer, Maj. Porter Grant.“From the initial preparations to the day theNorth Koreans fired, our Soldiers knew whatthey needed to know to perform theirmission.”

On the day of the actual launch, Echocrew was on duty.

1st Lt. Scott Slaughter, battle analyst forEcho crew at the Fire Direction Center inAlaska, said, “We’ve always understood howimportant our mission was; that theprimary reason for our existence as a unitis defense of our nation. That day, ifpossible, we understood it even more clearly.As a student of history, I can say that bothwe and the North Koreans will learn a lotfrom what happened. Before and during theincident, I [we] had complete confidence inthe system and our training. After theactual launches, we continued scanning thehorizon because you can never let yourguard down.”

The FDC director on duty July 4 was Capt.Chad Haman, dual certified as a battleanalyst and director.

“The real world intelligence made all thedifference in the world. In the five yearsI’ve been with the system, there were neverany doubts that we would be ready. After allthe building, practicing and rehearsing, andthen the additional build-up to this particu-lar event, we were ready for anything.Afterward, we were able to capture excellentlessons learned,” said Haman.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. TedHildreth, who took command May 8, saidthat on the big day there were no surprises.

“There was an integrated sight pictureof the potential threat posed by the[Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]between Cheyenne Mountain, the brigadeand the battalion. Our crews drilled andrehearsed any number of potential threatscenarios to practice and refine providedfiring doctrine, to include defined tactics,techniques and procedures. I was there inthe node the day they launched, and ourresponse was exactly the same as had beentrained for. This one just happened to bereal.”

In Colorado Springs, Maj. Ron Hoard andhis crew came on duty at the Missile

Defense Element shortly after the first twoshort-range missiles had been fired. TheMDE and FDC crews mirror each other, withMDE having a larger command and controlrole, and FDC taking the lead tactically,although they can act interchangeably.

Hoard said the prior launches hadeveryone in an immediate heightened stateof awareness.

“Very shortly after we assumed duty, theTaepodong-2 was launched. It failed almostimmediately, and we were informed prettyclose to instantaneously of that failure. Thecrew reacted magnificently — exactly aswe’d trained — going into crisis action modewithout the slightest hesitation.”

The GMD System, while not utilized inresponse to any of the launches, wasavailable when needed to defend the UnitedStates and its allies. Trained and readymissile defense crews were at their stationson systems prepared to respond asnecessary. USNORTHCOM had the primaryresponsibility to direct missile defenseoperations to protect the home-land, allies,friends and other national interests frompotentially hostile acts.

Koreacontinued from page 1


Military NewsCivilian NewsNo free credit monitoring for veterans

The White House withdrew its funding request recently for freecredit monitoring services for the 26.5 million veterans andfamily members whose information was thought to be impactedby the May 3 theft of a Department of Veterans Affairs computer.Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson announced therecovery of the stolen computer June 29. Meanwhile, the FairCredit Reporting Act requires each of the nation’s consumerreporting companies — Equifax, Experian and Trans Union — toprovide one free credit report a year to each citizen, per theindividual’s request. To receive a free credit report, go towww.annualcreditreport.com or call (877) 322-8228.

$1,000 Referral Bonus Program expanded

The latest recruiting incentive that will pay Soldiers a $1,000lump payment for referring applicants who enlist, complete basictraining, and graduate advanced individual training has beenexpanded. The Secretary of the Army may pay a bonus to anySoldier who refers to an Army recruiter a person who has notpreviously served in the Armed Forces and enlists in the ActiveArmy, the Army National Guard or the Army Reserves. Thereferral may not be an immediate family member and the Soldierreferring may not be serving in a recruiting or retentionassignment. The referral must be made by the Soldier at http://www.usarec.army.mil or http://www.1800goguard.com/esar priorto the new recruit’s first meeting with a recruiter.

2006 Fall/Winter Exchange Catalog available

The 2006 Fall/Winter Exchange Catalog is now available. Thenew catalog includes nearly 600 pages of popular, name brandmerchandise geared to help military families decorate, organizeor just indulge. The 2006 Fall/Winter Exchange Catalog isavailable at all main stores and online at http://www.aafes.com.Prices in this all-services catalog are valid through Jan. 15,2007, for any authorized exchange customer. Orders can beplaced by mail, fax or phone. Toll free orders can be placed fromthe United States, Puerto Rico or Guam at (800) 527-2345.

SchoolQuest helps military parents, students

An organization devoted to the unique education challenges thatface the children of military families is using the World Wide Webto help transitioning parents and students get information aboutschools across the nation. SchoolQuest is organized so that youcan access information that the Military Child EducationCoalition (MCEC) has gathered to help you make decisions onfuture schools for your children. MCEC officials have toutedSchoolQuest as a powerful Web tool, backed by boots-on-the-ground research, dedicated to helping families achieve aseamless academic and social transition for their childrenduring a move. For more information, visit the SchoolQuestwebsite at https://schoolquest.org/authvb/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2findex.aspx.

Angels support wounded troops

An Internet community of support for troops overseas calledSoldiers’ Angels works to support wounded Soldiers withbackpacks filled with needed items and by making personal visitsand phone calls. One project, “Project Valour-IT,” provideswounded troops with laptops to use from their homes and hospitalbeds. More than 80,000 “angels” are registered all over the world,not including the many schools, churches and otherorganizations that participate as communities. For moreinformation, visit the Soldiers’ Angels Web site at http://www.soldiersangels.org and the Project Valour-IT Web site athttp://www.soldiersangels.org/valour/.

Servicemembers getting free CDs

The Armed Services YMCA is sending Servicemembers free CDswith new and old popular country music hits that express pride inAmerica. Under the “Send a CD to a Soldier” program, the ArmedServices YMCA is sending the CDs to units supporting the globalwar on terrorism. Since the program cannot send them to “anysoldier,” the CDs are being sent to units that were identified bythe different branches of the services. Individuals wishing tosupport the program can purchase copies of the CDs to be sent totroops at http://www.sendacdtoasoldier.com.

TSP returns for G, F, C, S and I fundsRates of return were updated on Aug. 2.

July 2006 Last 12 months (8/1/05 -7/31/06)

G Fund 0.44% G Fund 4.84%

F Fund 1.32% F Fund 1.42%

C Fund 0.65% C Fund 5.42%

S Fund (2.79)% S Fund 5.35%

I Fund 0.98% I Fund 24.00%

Percentages in ( ) are negative.

GSA warns of e-mail scam

The General Services Administration (GSA) is alerting the publicof online schemers who send intended victims bogus e-mailspurportedly from the FirstGov online portal operated by theagency. The e-mail tells recipients that — because of fraudulentactivities on Money Access Online — they should confirm thattheir accounts have not been stolen or hacked by clicking on aprovided link and entering information pertaining to theirpersonal credit card accounts. GSA warns that the fraudulente-mails, which do not originate at FirstGov or GSA, only appearto be sent from a FirstGov e-mail address. GSA, which isinvestigating the matter, advises users to delete unsolicitede-mails without opening them.

Senate appropriations committee OKs pay raise

The Senate Appropriations Committee July 20 approved a 2.7percent pay raise for federal civilian workers as part of itsmarkup of the fiscal 2007 Transportation-Treasury Appropria-tions bill. President Colleen Kelley of the National TreasuryEmployees Union (NTEU) called the raise “welcome recognition ofthe important role fair pay has in agency recruitment andretention efforts.” The increase in the Senate bill matches oneapproved in June by the House. Kelley noted, however, that theincrease proposed by the White House in its 2007 budget proposalstill stands a half-percentage point lower, at 2.2 percent.

FDA announces future improvementsto advisory committee process

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced July 24planned reforms to the agency’s all-important advisorycommittees, which are composed of outside scientists to pose andanswer probing questions in the course of protecting the publicfrom dangerous food, drugs and drug devices. The announcementsaid that the changes should lead to greater “clarity andtransparency in the disclosure of waivers of relationships thatcould present the appearance of conflicts of interest,” amongother changes. The reforms include issuing a guidancedocument “identifying more clearly the conditions under whichconflict of interest waivers are granted.” The reforms will beimplemented in the “coming months,” the agency said. Formore, go to www.fda.gov.

Federal employees indicted

A federal grand jury announced July 21 it has indicted twocurrent and two former Department of Energy (DOE) employeesalong with a businessman from whom the federal workers agreedto accept gratuities in exchange for assistance procuring afederal contract. Current DOE employees Timothy A. Calkinsand Michael S. Craig, former DOE employees Donald S. Bragg andCharles W. Hornburg, and businessman Ernesto A. Sanchez havebeen charged in a conspiracy involving gratuities totaling morethan $390,000. The four government men worked together atthe DOE’s Phoenix-based Western Area Power Administration(WAPA). They are charged with assisting Sanchez to secure acontract for temporary dispatchers with his company, MicroBusiness Technology. All five suspects have been charged withlying to federal law enforcement agents. A conviction for givingor receiving gratuities carries a maximum penalty of two yearsimprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, while the falsestatement charge carries the same maximum fine and a five-year maximum prison sentence.


Bravo Company visits GettysburgFORT MEADE, Md. — On July18-20, Bravo Company, 53rdSignal Battalion, traveled 145years back in time to thehistorical site of the Battle ofGettysburg. The Soldiers ofBravo Company were treated tovisual military lessons whilebeing guided through themonumental battlefield.

The trip began in the quainttown of Gettysburg, Pa., onlytwo miles from the heart of thebattlefield site. The Soldierswere guided through a day-by-day account of the battle, whichlasted for the first three days ofJuly 1863.

As the tour bus movedthrough the wooded areas out-side of the town and into therolling hills of the battlefield,the guide set the stage for dayone. The Soldiers were able tovisualize the Confederatetroops moving in to flank theUnion troops in the woods,pushing them into open fields.Armed with cannons capable offiring up to two miles and usingnew rifling technology, theoutnumbered Union troopssustained a devastating blowthe first day. The tour movedquickly from the Confederatevictory of day one into thebrutal battle of the second day.

The Union Army held theadvantage by 20,000 troops onday two as reinforcementsmade their way to the site.They needed a victory.

With Gen. Robert E. Lee’sCalvary away, Lee had todepend on information from hisConfederate troops movingthrough the field instead of his

usual reconnaissance. Thesecond day of battle would proveto be all about gaining position.Lee, acting on bad informationregarding the Union troop’slocation, pushed his troopstoward the highest point of thebattlefield. The Confederatetroops were able to hold theUnion Army, but were unableto win the high ground. On thetour, the Soldiers of BravoCompany were able to walk tothe highest vantage point andsee the importance of theposition so desperately foughtfor.

The bus moved forward tothe last day. The ConfederateArmy claimed victory on thefirst two days.

They settled in on the West,cannons ready to fire one mileEast across the open, rollingfield toward Union troops. Asthe cannons fired, the smokesettled over the field like athick fog allowing no visibility.The Union Soldiers absorbedthe cannonade but sustainedvery little damage, as theConfederate cannons overshottheir target and could not seeto make adjustments.

The Union Army ceased fireto allow the smoke to clear.The Confederate troops,assuming sure victory with thecease fire, began the milecharge through the open fieldrunning up and down therolling hills and over fences.The Union troops then began toopen fire, inflicting nearly8,000 causalities out of 12,000.

The leader of the UnionArmy at the time, Gen. GeorgeG. Meade sat atop his horseoverlooking his inevitablevictory, having secured the

high ground and decimatingthe Confederate Army.

“It is really amazing to walkthrough this historical site andactually see the relevance ofthis battle in the training wedo in the Army today. BravoCompany Soldiers arefortunate to live so close to areal life battlefield lesson suchas this,” said 1st Lt. MatthewKisner, when asked what he

thought about the tour.The Soldiers of Bravo

Company were able to see theimportance of battle position,strategy and logistics. Theywere also shown a real lifeexample of the Warrior Ethos.Union troops, suffering harddefeats the first two days, wereable to claim victory over theBattle of Gettysburg throughsheer perseverance.

Members of Bravo Company, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON), stand before amonument during their tour of the historical Gettysburg Battlefield.

By Sgt. Alicia BrogdenUnit reporter

Courtesy photo

Col. Stevenson Reed, U.S. ArmyKwajalein Atoll commander, met withRepublic of the Marshall Islands leaders inMajuro July 22.

Having taken command two weeks ago,Reed is hitting the ground running inmeeting with local leaders and extendingthe hand of partnership. “We are going tobe good neighbors,” he said in a meetingwith Minister of Foreign Affairs GeraldZakios, as the subject of the current powerproblems on Ebeye was raised. Reed seesthe current situation as a humanitarianissue and is standing by with twogenerators to provide immediateassistance to Ebeye.

“Kwaj may look small, but there is muchto do,” advised Zakios to the newcommander. “I look forward to workingtogether with you and the leaders onKwajalein.”

During a subsequent meeting withPresident Kessai Note, Reed offered histheory on partnering and being a goodneighbor. “We are greatly appreciative toall from the RMI who serve in the U.S.Army. We work together in Iraq andAfghanistan; why not work together here?”

Reed meets with leaders in MajuroBy Sandy MillerUSAKA Public Affairs

Saturday’s visit was in conjunction witha farewell ceremony for Ambassador GretaMorris, who will be leaving the RMI nextweek.

July 17, President George W. Bushnominated Clyde Bishop, PhD, of

Delaware, to serve as the next U.S.Ambassador to the Republic of theMarshall Islands. Bishop, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,currently serves as counsel general inSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic.

From left, Kwajalein Range Services President John Pickler, Col. Stevenson Reed, USAKA commander,Ambassador Greta Morris and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerald Zakios meet to discuss currentissues.

Photo by Sandy Miller


Army participates in Peterson

Scott Chappell of G-3, Plans, shoots for a ringer.

Tim Duncan with U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army FoCommand’s G-6 makes a kill during a volleyball match during Peterson Sports D

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Members of U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Commandparticipated in Peterson Air Force Base’s Annual Sports Day July 20.Events of the day ranged from volleyball to bowling, archery to golf, poker tosoccer and much more. Although SMDC/ARSTRAT did not take home aunit trophy at the end of the day, members fared well in their individualand team events and did the command proud.

Mike Winchester goes for a strike during a bowling match.Photo by Sharon L. Hartman

Chief Warrant Officer3 Todd Buckhouse

serves the ball duringa volleyball match.

Photo by Sylvia Hartman


n Air Force Base Sports Day


Sydney Hartman, daughter of Sharon Hartman from the Public Affairs Office,passes to Tim Duncan during a volleyball match.


Members of SMDC/ARSTRAT dig in during the tug-of-war. Photo by Sharon L. Hartman

Members of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) give it their all during the tug-of-war.Photo by Sylvia Hartman

orces StrategicDay on July 20.

Photo by Sharon L. Hartman

Capt. Adam Brink battles a member of a Peterson Air ForceBase soccer team to gain control of the ball.

Photo by Sgt. Sara Storey


Safety

D id you know that the number of new cases of skin cancer and the

number of deaths caused bythe most serious type of skincancer are rapidly rising in theUnited States? This is particu-larly troubling since the num-bers for most cancers havebeen declining. Sunlight is themain source of ultravioletradiation known to damage theskin and to cause skin cancer.The amount of UV exposuredepends on the strength of thelight, the length of exposureand whether the skin isprotected.

A little sunshine and freshair is good for you, but, at leastfor the former, a little goes along way. If you overdose onthe sun, you could definitelypay for it sooner or later bygetting hide like an elephantor skin cancer.

Sun exposure at any age cancause skin cancer — the skinand eyes are most susceptibleto sun damage. You need to beespecially careful in the sun ifyou have numerous moles,irregular moles, or large moles;freckles or if you burn beforetanning; fair skin, or blond,red, or light brown hair; or ifyou spend a lot of time out-doors. You can prevent theseproblems by minimizing yourexposure and protectingyourself along the way.• Cover up. Wear clothing toprotect as much of your skin aspossible. Wear clothing thatdoes not transmit visible light.To determine if the clothingwill protect you, try this test:Place your hand between thefabric and a light source. If youcan see your hand through thefabric, the garment offers littleprotection against sunexposure.• Use a sunscreen with a SunProtection Factor, or SPF, of 15or higher. Experts recommendproducts with an SPF of at least15. The number of the SPFrepresents the level of sunburnprotection provided by thesunscreen. An SPF 15 blocksout 93 percent of the burningUV rays; an SPF 30 blocks out97 percent of the burning UVrays. Products labeled “broadspectrum” block both UVB andUVA radiation. Both UVA andUVB contribute to skin cancer.Apply sunscreen liberally atleast 15 minutes before goingoutside. Reapply every twohours or more frequently if yousweat a lot or are swimming.

Do not depend on sun-screens alone. Combinesunscreen with wide-brimmedhats, UV-protective sunglasses,and tightly woven clothing to

Protecting yourself against harmful sunlight

increase protection against UVradiation. UV rays are most intensewhen the sun is high in thesky, between 10 a.m. and 4p.m. If you are unsure aboutthe sun’s intensity, take theshadow test: If your shadow isshorter than you, the sun’srays are the strongest. Seekshade whenever possible.

SMDC/ARSTRATSafety Office

You may also want to checkthe UV Index for your area.The UV Index usually can befound in the local newspaper oron TV and radio news broad-casts. It gives the expectednoon-time UV radiation on ascale of one to 10+. The higherthe number, the greater theexposure to UV radiation. TheIndex helps determine when to

About 75,000 people are treated in emergency rooms annually for injuries caused bylawnmowers. Most injuries are the result of human error. To be safe:• Know your equipment. Read the instruction manual prior to use.• Keep blades sharp and lawnmower in good working condition.• Gas up before you start mowing, not when the engine is hot.• Dress for safety — wear heavy shoes or boots (not tennis shoes or sandals), goggles,gloves, long pants, and hearingprotection. And don’t forget thesunscreen!• Clear the yard of rocks, sticksand debris.• Wait until the grass is dry.• Never stick hands or feet intoa mower. Stop the mower anduse a stick or broom handle toremove grass or debris.• Keep children indoors.Never give a child a ride on amower.• No drugs or alcohol before orduring mowing.• Be cautious on hills andslopes. Mow up and downslopes, not across, with ridingmowers.

Lawnmower safety reminders

avoid sun exposure and whento take extra protectivemeasures.

Have respect for ultravioletrays from the sun. Skindamage from overexposure tothe sun is cumulative over theyears and cannot be reversed.Once the damage occurs, itcannot be undone. Mostserious and lasting damageoccurs before age 18.

Protection should start early,particularly with children whoenjoy outdoor play on sunnydays.

Skin cancers detected earlycan almost always be cured.The most important warningsign for skin cancer is a spoton the skin that is changing insize, shape or color over aperiod of one month to twoyears.

The most common skincancers — basal cell andsquamous cell — often take theform of a pale, wax-like, pearlynodule; a red scaly, sharplyoutlined patch; or a sore thatdoes not heal; whereasmelanoma often starts as asmall, mole-like growth.

So it’s important that youexamine your body, and see ahealth care clinician if you findan unusual skin change.

Additional information onskin cancer can be found atthe American Cancer Society(http://www.cancer.org) andthe Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/).


Soldier vs. grizzly in Alaskan wildernessBy Maj. Laura Kenney, 100thMissile Defense Brigade(Ground-based MidcourseDefense), Public Affairs

Photo courtesy of Capt. Dale Titus

Capt. Dale Titus shows the injuries received from arecent battle with a grizzly at Fort Greely, Alaska.

FORT GREELY, Alaska —Fantasies about the Alaskanwilderness feature glacialbeauty, stark forests, exoticwildlife — but they usuallydon’t include getting up closeand personal with a grizzly bearin the middle of that starkforest. In real life, however,that’s exactly what Capt. DaleTitus was faced with — some-thing tall, dark, not ugly butdefinitely frightening —towering over him, and onlytwo bullets left in his rifle’smagazine.

Titus, a battle analyst inCharlie Crew, 49th MissileDefense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense)stationed here, came to thisshowdown May 18, during awalk with his black Labradorretriever, Jake. (Do not expectheroics from Jake — asenergetic and lively as he is,the bear proved a bit much forhim to voluntarily tangle with.)The two, dog and man, werewalking through a fairlyremote spot in the DonnellyTraining Area. Coming off amorning shift, the 31-year-oldTitus grabbed his dog and,thankfully, his gun beforesetting off on an expected-to-berelaxing stroll through thespring-green trees.

Titus and Jake had comethis way before; it was afavorite walk of theirs, show-casing, in his (Titus’) words,“incredible views of the AlaskaRange and Granite Mountains.”

This day, however, turnedout not to center on scenery.

After about a mile, Titus, anexperienced hunter, discoveredfresh bear scat on the ground.He’d frequently seen suchsigns, including paw prints,and never experienced trouble

Bravo Company conducts car wash in record heatBy 1st Lt. Matthew KisnerUnit reporter

FORT MEADE, Md. — On July 18, BravoCompany, 53rd Signal Battalion, had itsthird of five car washes to be conducted thissummer. On average, the company raisesabout $200 per car wash, so by September,the company should reach its goal to raiseenough money to purchase a companyvending machine.

Each car wash, a squad is assigned to bein charge. July 18, the Soldiers of companyheadquarters were the lucky ones to be incharge. The car wash began at 10 a.m.under an already sweltering 90 degrees.But that was nothing compared to the pro-jected high in the low 100s by midday. Dueto the scorching heat, the company safetyofficer 1st Lt. Matthew Kisner ensured therewas plenty of water and sunscreen availableon site. Kisner and the noncommissionedofficers ensured Soldiers were consistentlydrinking water and staying out of the sunwhen they weren’t washing cars.

Sgt. Luis De La Hoz turns for the camera as hecontinues to wash rims.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Kelly washes off the car asquickly as possible, so the drying detail can beginbefore water spots start to form.

“Customers could not believe we wereconducting a carwash in the extreme heat;however their donations were extragenerous to help compensate for theweather,” said one of the Bravo CompanySoldiers.

Photos by 1st Lt. Matthew Kisner

before, so didn’t pay too muchattention. That quicklychanged, however, when hecame across the carcass of amoose that had recently beenchewed upon.

“Jake started sniffing theground and acting extremelynervous. I kept my rifle at theready, but was pretty sure thebear was gone. I returned tothe road and started piling upsome rocks along the side tomark the location. As I placedwhat was to be the last rock, Iheard something runningtowards me and grunting.”

Titus looked up, and saw ahuge mound of grizzly runningat him full speed about 20yards away.

“I immediately got a shot offfrom the hip, thinking thateven if I didn’t hit him, (itturned out to be a “her”) thesound would scare him away.It didn’t work.”

He worked the pump actionrifle (a .30-06 Remington) andshot again from the hip — thebear was coming so fast Titusdidn’t have time to aim. Theshots were fired at a range ofabout five feet. Although thenext two bullets seemed tograze the oncoming leviathanin the back and shoulder, thebear didn’t appear to notice andkept on coming.

Titus by this time was back-pedaling, trying to put somedistance between himself andthe huge animal. Jake had bynow wisely departed the scene.The bear reached Titus andreared up on two legs directlyin front of him. It swiped athim with long claws, leavinglong bloody scratches on oneside and a huge muddy pawprint on his chest, both onlydiscovered much later.

“The bear’s head was justabove mine.” (Titus, a husky,strongly-built six-feet-tall, feltdwarfed.) “I pressed the barrelof my rifle up against its head

and pulled thetrigger. Thebear’s headslammed back,and I knew theshot had beenmortal. The bearstill stood for aminute, lookinglike a boxerwho’d beenknocked out butrefused to fall,then, finally, hefell.”

Not dead yet,the bear wasrolling around onthe forest floor inagony, and Titusused his last andfinal bullet tofinish it. Jakethen came up toinvestigate.

But that’s notthe end of thestory. Titusheard a noise,and looked up to see yet anoth-er bear approaching at a fastclip. He quickly reloaded witha new magazine, and preparedagain to defend himself and hisdog. The bear changed hismind, and reversed course,fortunately for all concerned.

Titus said everythinghappened too fast for him toreally be scared. As an exper-ienced hunter who obeyed allsafety rules and had prudentlyfollowed the unwritten butingrained Alaskan standardoperating procedure of neverventuring into the wild un-armed, he originally felt confi-dent that he could handle thethreat. But, as his first threebullets failed to stop the grizzly,he remembers thinking, “Thisis going to hurt.”

The injuries he did receive,serious bruising and longscratches, were painful butnothing in comparison to whatcould have happened if it were

not for Titus’ quick actionwhich saved himself and hisdog. As he walked back to histruck, he said he thanked Godrepeatedly that he and Jakewere still in one piece. He alsoremembers being consciouslygrateful for the reliable gun athis side, a present from hisfather at the age of 14, whichhad accompanied him on everyhunting trip he’d ever taken.This time, it had saved his life.

Maj. Wayne Hunt, ExecutiveOfficer of the 49th and also anavid hunter, said that Titus dideverything correctly to protecthimself.

“You have to know yoursurroundings. And up here,terrific and beautiful as it is,it’s still wild. You need to beable to protect yourself, andthat’s what Titus did. You needto know the laws, and knowwhere you are, and how toreact. Titus did, luckily forhim.” And for Jake.


Awards/PromotionsMilitary Promotions

Capt. Erich Atkins, ColoradoSprings, 1st Space Brigade,Headquarters CompanyCapt. Adam Brink, ColoradoSprings, 100th Missile DefenseBrigade (Ground-basedMidcourse Defense)Sgt. Alicia Brogden, FortMeade, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), B CompanySgt. Christopher Brumwell,Camp Roberts, Calif., 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON), DCompanyChief Warrant Officer 3Donald Campbell, KwajaleinAtoll/Reagan Test SiteSgt. Matthew Decicco, CampRoberts, Calif., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), D CompanyStaff Sgt. Stacy-Lyn De La Hoz,Fort Meade, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), B CompanySgt. 1st Class Timothy Drye,Colorado Springs, 1st SpaceBattalion, 2nd Space CompanySpc. Michael Easley, ColoradoSprings, 1st Space Battalion,2nd Space CompanyCapt. Michael Euperio,Colorado Springs, 1st SpaceBrigade, Headquarters CompanyStaff Sgt. Enrique Lopez,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON), CCompanySgt. Christopher Page,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON), CCompanySgt. Joshua Plyler, Landstuhl,Germany, 53rd Signal Battalion(SATCON), C CompanyStaff Sgt. Thomas Schmenk,Germany, Regional SatelliteCommunications SupportCenter-EuropeSgt. Aaron Schneider, FortBuckner, Japan, 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), E CompanySgt. Travis Smith, FortBuckner, Japan, 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), E CompanySgt. Eric Wannberg, FortMeade, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), B CompanyStaff Sgt. Alexander White,Fort Detrick, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), A Company

Civilian Promotions

Adrian Epps, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateJoseph Motley, Huntsville,Research, Development andAcquisition Office, CommandAnalysis DivisionBarbara Tooley, Huntsville,Technical Center, TechnologyDirectorate

Special Act Awards

Edwin Barber, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center, Studiesand Analysis DivisionTerrance Bauer, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA Matrix

Victoria Binford, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateGarfield Boon, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateHeidi Bowman, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixRobert Burks, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixBarbara Cantrell, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixJacqueline Crepeau, Huntsville,Technical Interoperability andMatrix Center, SystemsIntegration DirectoratePatricia Duggan, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateSteven Eacret, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixDouglas Engle, Huntsville,Technical Center, InterceptorDivisionPeter Feuerstein, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Simulations and AnalysisDirectorate, Models andSimulations DivisionRodolfo Gil, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixKenneth Hislop, Huntsville,Technical Center, BallisticMissile Defense Flight TestDivisionCarolyn Lucas, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateJay Patty, Huntsville, ChiefInformation Office, AutomationDivisionRobbie Phifer, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateCristina Rodriguez, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateTerri Lynn Washburn,Huntsville, Contracting andAcquisition Management Office,Operations Directorate

Time-Off Awards

Pamela Fuhrman, ColoradoSprings, G-6Mary Miller, Colorado Springs,Future Warfare Center

On-the-Spot CashAwards

Deborah Childress, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateLeslie Duncan, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateAdrian Epps, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateCassandra Gilmore, ColoradoSprings, G-8Philip Eric Gresh, ColoradoSprings, G-8

Elaine Hanson, ColoradoSprings, G-8John Mason, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateDavid Pederson, ColoradoSprings, G-2Susan Tidwell, Huntsville,Research, Development andAcquisition OfficeDianne Trimble, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectoratePamela Willis, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement Directorate

Length of Service

15 Years

Peter Feuerstein, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Simulations and AnalysisDirectorate

20 Years

Michelle Bower, ColoradoSprings, G-4Edith Coleman, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixIvan Martinez, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixBeth Whitaker, Huntsville,Huntsville, Research,Development and AcquisitionOffice, Command AnalysisDivision

25 Years

Daisy Barnett, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Innovative Ventures Office

FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska — A Soldier from the 49thMissile Defense Battalion (Ground-based MidcourseDefense) received three awards during the Warrior LeaderCourse here July 10–24. Spc. Sasha Wenberg, military police officer, was placed onthe Commandant’s List, received the physical trainingaward, and earned the title of Distinguished Honor Graduatefor her performance at WLC. “I was a bit surprised,” Wenberg said. “I just went withthe intent to do well in the course — I never expected to doso well!” The course was very educational and had many practicalexamples of what will be required upon becoming anoncommissioned officer. The information presented byinstructors was applicable to the students’ units, accordingto Wenberg. “They showed us how to use the skills they taught oncewe returned to our home stations,” she said. Also from the 49th and earning a spot on theCommandant’s List were Sgt. Jeanette Padgett andSpecialists Lisa Druga and Karen Hurst. Also graduatingfrom the course were Specialists Daniel Garner and RussellSmith.

49th Soldier sweeps WLC awardsBy Sgt. Sara Storey100th Missile Defense Brigade(Ground-based Midcourse Defense)Public Affairs NCO

Latika S. R. Becker, Huntsville,Technical Center, AdvancedTechnology DivisionLionel Brown, White SandsMissile Range, N.M., TechnicalCenter, Directed Energy TestDivisionMichael Cantrell, Huntsville,Research, Development andAcquisition Office, IntegratedCapability Management DivisionHugh Mason, Colorado Springs,Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineer,Operations Branch-WestElizabeth Moulder, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement DirectorateJohn Ryan, Colorado Springs, G-4, Readiness BranchZakiyyah Shakoor, Huntsville,G-1, Plans, Policy and TrainingDivision

30 Years

Julie Hanson, Huntsville,Technical Center, BallisticMissile Defense System TestDivision

35 Years

James Ball, Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site, CommunityRelationsJohn Crown, Omaha, Neb., G-3,U.S. Strategic CommandDetachmentNorven Goddard, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Innovative Ventures Office

40 Years

Gayle Kirby, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office, AcquisitionManagement Directorate


Soldiers experience deep-sea fishing charterBy Sgt. 1st Class MichaelLherisson, Unit reporter

Staff Sgt. Clayton Vanlangendonck (left) is all smiles after catching thisyellowfin tuna that Cap’n Billy has a hold of.

Photo by Capt. Todd Vick

FORT BUCKNER, OKINAWA,Japan — Living on a tropicalisland offers many uniqueactivities not available at mostduty assignments. One ofthose activities, which theSoldiers of Echo Company, 53rdSignal Battalion, partake in ona regular basis, is deep-seafishing.

Each of these fishing trips isunique in one way — you neverknow what is going to happenwhen you go out. On June 17,six Soldiers and one familymember led by Echo Companycommander, Capt. Todd Vick,set out on what they hopedwould be a good day of fishing.

The day started at 3 a.m.With coolers, water bottles,coffee, and Dramamine inhand, the group met up with“Cap’n Billy” outside the gate ofCamp Foster, one of the largestMarine bases on the island.He was the only American onOkinawa with the requiredJapanese captain’s licensethat is needed to operateleisure charters. Some of theservices he offers includewhale watching, divingcharters and fishing charters.

It took almost an hour as thegroup followed Billy down to thesouthern part of the island tothe harbor where his 60-footboat, the Seiya Maru, wasdocked. After receiving thenecessary safety brief andrules, the lines were cast offand the two-hour ride out tothe fishing grounds began.

On the ride out, the groupexperienced what the captaincalled a “little chop,” as thevessel cut through the three-and four-foot waves, spraying

anyone who was brave enoughto stay on the forward section.

On the last leg into thefishing grounds, fishing lineswere set off the back of theboat, and in quick succession,each person onboard got to haulin their first fish of the day.This type of fishing is trolling.

The fishing ground wasmarked by large yellow deep-

water buoys where schools offish congregated. The boat wasmaneuvered to a positionwhere the wind and currentwould push it close to the buoy.Each person took their rods anddropped a line over the side.This was drift fishing.

When the boat was well pastthe buoy, all lines were hauledin and once again the large

lines were cast off the back asthey trolled back to a pointwhere they could once againstart to drift.

In the early part of the morn-ing, the sound of people callingout “fish on!” could be heard ata regular interval. That is howthe captain and his mate knewsomeone had landed a fish andwas going to need help to get itinto the boat. One of those twohad to be the ones to take holdof the catch, as the fish haveteeth and have no problem withtaking a chunk out of some-one’s thumb if they get tooclose.

As the day moved on, thefishing died down as the areabecame crowded with morethan 10 other boats all trying toget the same fish. Thatchanged with a little less thana hour remaining beforeheading back into port. Almostas if the fish had decided it waslunch time, the sound of “fishon!” rang out almost constantly.

Cap’n Billy finally decided itwas time to head back intoport, and the long returnjourney began. It was at thispoint that almost everyonedecided to catch a nap. Onceback in port, Billy cleaned andfilleted the day’s catch — anendeavor that took two hours.

At the end of the day, all hada great time, and most hadsunburns to prove it. Amongthe seven members of the Echofamily, there were 53 fishcaught, an assortment ofyellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna,blue jacks and one mahi-mahi.

Of course, it would not be afishing trip without the onethat got away — an estimated100-pound tuna which snappedthe line when it was right atthe edge of the boat.

By Sharon L. HartmanSMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

Behind the scenes at a weapons range

See Range on page 14

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Weapons rangesare nothing new to the Army. Soldiers,officers and enlisted alike, are requiredto qualify on their primary weaponbi-annually.

In order to ensure Soldiers have agreater opportunity to get familiarized andmore comfortable with their weapons, the1st Space Battalion “Space Warriors,”conduct quarterly range weeks — the mostrecent was July 12-17, and a behind-the-scenes look at the event brought to thesurface the intricacies of running asuccessful range.

The range was more than just abattalion event in that members of the 1stSpace Brigade headquarters, members ofthe 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON), andbattalion Reservists joined in with theSpace Warriors to fire. To keep up withthe large turnout of firers and multipleranges, the 1st Space Battalion deployed aTOC to the range field. “We’ve not donethat before,” said Lt. Col. Lee Gizzi,commander, 1st Space Battalion. “It waschallenging because we had up to threeranges running at one time. Plus, we

were shooting outside units, but thebattalion did a great job.”

The members of the TOC,predominantly staff members of thebattalion, worked day and night to ensurethe range ran smoothly. Capt. WindyWaldrep, the assistant S-3, worked withthe battalion S-3, Maj. Gary Prater, indeveloping the warning order andsubsequent fragmentary orders. “They putout the order based on the commander’sintent. So with him giving his intent,that’s when the staff started makingpreparations for the range,” said Capt.Erich Atkins, the battalion S-4. “The S-6,Captain (Jae) Yu, was in charge ofcommunications, command and signal;the S-1, Lieutenant (Brandy) Morris, wasin charge of personnel; as the S-4, I was incharge of supplies and logistics; the S-2,Captain (Scott) Weaver, was in charge ofsecurity of the TOC and also worked withweather and operational issues.”

An additional challenge for the hostbattalion was getting their Soldiers whowere running the ranges qualified as well.“Now you have to coordinate to move thosepersonnel off the ranges to go qualify andsend someone to go backfill. And you haveall these different moving pieces that have

to be taken into consideration,” addedAtkins.

Gizzi supported Atkins’ commentssaying, “You look at 4th Space Companywho ran the zero range for the first coupleof days. All their Soldiers were out thereas safeties, helping score, helping coach,running the tower, running ammo forthree days, and then they had to go outand shoot and qualify, so nobody wasexempt from range detail. HHC ran arange that was on the opposite side of theimpact area, but they were also oursupport company. When ammo had to bemoved, you had to find Staff SergeantFowler, who’s our ammo NCO, and say getammo from here to there. We needed tomove food, water; that was the S-4 shop.They were out there trying to shoot andmove coffee and get Kool-Aid out to theranges and back to the mess halls and getit the next day. All that stuff happens inthe TOC under the nerve center there forrange week. Everybody knows whatbattalion TOCs do in combat; well for us itwas a little different. It’s tracking thecurrent fight — being able to adjust as thesituation changes.”


Rangecontinued from page 13

In the photo above, a 1st Space Battalion safety displays a white paddlesignaling to the tower that the firers are ready to proceed.

In the photo below, Capt. Erich Atkins, 1st Space Battalion, S-4, right, briefsBattalion Commander, Lt. Col Lee Gizzi in the Tactical Operations Center(TOC) set up for the range. This is the first time the battalion has deployed aTOC in support of a range.

1st Lt. Brandy Morris, 1st Space Battalion, S-1, keeps track of the rangescoring on a board in the Tactical Operations Center.

Working the ammunitiondetail requires more than justhanding out rounds to firers.According to Sgt. Taurus Joneswho was on Ammo detail, “Wecould have anywhere fromthree to seven people workingammunition. You have onewho signs for it and tracks it.”

Once the magazines areloaded, the ammunition detailkeeps track of the magazinesgoing out to the firers andcoming back in, as well as thenumber of firers out on therange. “We keep track of thenumber of rounds they firedand didn’t fire and then use upwhatever is leftover to give theSoldiers more practice,” Jonessaid.

Safety is a critical piece ofany range. Each range has asafety detail headed by therange safety officer. “Part ofour job as safeties is to makesure these guys keep theirweapons down in a safe posi-tion in the low ready. Whenthey finish shooting we makesure they put the weapons onsafe, drop their magazines, andclear any rounds from thechamber that may be left inthere. We just watch foroverall unsafe acts. If we getan unsafe act, we’ll signal thetower with a red paddle andthey’ll call a cease fire and stopthe range from firing,” saidStaff Sgt. Michael Hardin, asafety on the 9mm range.

The “voice” in the rangetower controls the flow of theentire range. No one firesunless the voice in the towertells them they can. Theperson behind the voice at this9mm range was 1st Sgt. JohnBruce, the range NCOIC, butprior to the range going hot,Bruce had a few other detailsto take care of with othermembers of the range detail.The detail had to arrive at therange approximately two hoursprior to the firers to get therange ready. “When we firstgot here, we had to set up the

tables and flick the switches topop up the targets,” said Sgt.Paul Lizer, a member of the9mm range detail. “The firstsergeant then went out to eachlane and punched the targetsto see if they would fall down.The ones that didn’t workproperly were annotated andfive or six targets needed to befixed. Range control came outand fixed them because therange was degrading with theweather we’ve had over thecourse of the past few days,”added Lizer. “We went from all10 lanes working to six lastnight which was not goodbecause we can’t run as manypeople with fewer lanes so ittakes longer.” After the lanesand targets were inspected, asafety briefing was given, andthen the tower called in a coldtime to range control andwaited for a go before puttingup the red flag and calling in ahot status.

The tower also had toperform hourly checks withrange control to ensure theyhad communications, “becauseif we lose communications, wehave to shut down the range,”Lizer said.

With other units partic-ipating in the range hosted bythe 1st Space Battalion, carefulplanning and execution madeit successful. Reservists andcounterparts spent the week intemperatures over 90 degrees,and those out on the night fireM16 range had lightning andrain.

“This was an excellentrange. I really appreciate theway 1st Space Battalion coordi-nated it,” said Staff Sgt. RobertLewis. “It was smooth. Not alot of hiccups and not a lot ofwasted time. We thought theweather was going to be afactor, but it really wasn’t. It’swarm out here. Obviously thewind is blowing, but it was avery well coordinated, well runrange.”

Minimum qualifications areaccording to STRAC standards,but the 1st Space Battalion

exceeds them. “We haveranges quarterly so theperishable skills that comewith Soldiers and theirweapons are not forgotten soreadily,” said 1st SpaceBattalion Command Sgt. Maj.Kevin McGovern. “We alsoincorporate a lot morefamiliarization fires, stressfires, reflective fires as well asclose quarters marksmanship.Then we bring them out to zeroand they go ahead and do thequalification, so you’re notgoing into it cold … we try to doit quarterly and give them sev-eral hundred rounds throughthe other associated tables andfirings that they would see in acombat situation.”

Added Gizzi, “We shoot fourtimes a year because marks-manship is that important tome. It’s going to make adifference when you go downrange. If you can’t hit whatyou’re shooting at, they’ll hityou. That’s the mentality weput into this. We go out, andwe qualify in the first and third

quarters of the year. That’sthe program we’re setting up.The second and fourthquarters, we’re going to doadvanced rifle marksmanship.We’re going to do reflexivefires, we’re going to continue towork on entering a building,clear a room, the convoyoperations … the skills thatthey need when they go downrange, because everybodyleaves here. That’s the thing.It’d be one thing if you were inone infantry battalion movingto another infantry battalion.Here, you’re in a spacebattalion. You’re going to leavehere because most of thesefolks as a battalion will notdeploy to combat. Teams will,but as a battalion they probablywon’t, but when they leavehere and find themselves backin a provisional or brigade sizeunit and that unit going to war,if I haven’t trained them beforethey go, I’ve put them at risk.We’re not willing to assumethat kind of risk. As leadersyou cannot afford that.”

Photos by Sharon L. Hartman


1st Space Battalion is ‘Home on the Range’By Capt. Scott WeaverUnit reporter

The Soldiers of 1st Space Battalion, the Space Warriors, had one thing

on their minds from July 12 toJuly 17 — putting steel ontheir target.

They were on location at FortCarson where the heat waspunishing during the day andthe rain, wind and lightningominous at night. None ofthese obstacles deterred theSpace Warriors who packed upall of their tactical vehicles andheaded south to the FortCarson ranges for a week ofweapons training.

This unique unit is com-prised of a diverse mix of ven-erable veterans and tenaciousfuture leaders all sharing the1st Space Brigade patch, as

well as sound Warrior Ethos.Those Warrior Ethos were

illustrated during range week.“It was the unfettered deter-

mination of our Soldiers thatwe should all be proud of,” saidLt. Col. Lee P. Gizzi, com-mander, 1st Space Brigade, ashe addressed the battalionstanding before him. He wasprimarily referring to thoseSoldiers who chose to firemultiple times in order to raisetheir marksmanship scores toqualify.

Over the course of the range,some Soldiers raised theirscores nearly 20 points, afterstarting with dismal initialattempts. It was the combinedefforts of the coaches, leader-ship and the determinedSoldiers that made the rangessuch a success.

Soldiers fired basic qualifica-tion tables for the M-16 which consisted of40 pop-up silhouettesranging from 50 to300 meters. Soldiersfired at the silhou-ettes from the proneand the supportedfoxhole positions. M-9pistol participantsfired at silhouetteswhile both stationaryand moving. TheSoldiers engaged innight fires on bothweapons, and a knowndistance range wasalso run in order togive Soldiers moreexperience and tofine-tune theirmarksmanship skills. A battalion tacticaloperation center wasestablished for the

Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander Capt. AlyssaAarhaus loads M-9 magazines with 1st Space Battalion Soldiers, Sgt. JustinWilliams and Staff Sgt. Alicia Scott.

first time in the field to consol-idate information from allranges and coordinate logistics.There were many movingpieces since there were fourranges operating with 1stSpace Battalion Soldiers, 53rdSignal Battalion, and 1st SpaceBrigade Soldiers moving to andfrom the ranges.

The myriad of variablescaused the operations plan tochange frequently, but it wasthe flexibility of the staff thatmade the changes relativelysmooth.

The weather offered an addi-tional challenge as well. Thesun burned down with a taunt-ing consistency from morningto early evening when it gaveway to vicious gusts of wind,nearly uprooting the TOC, with

Sgt. Chase Givens fires his M-9 with his coach,Staff Sgt. Allan Tidd, looking on.

lightning and rain. Still, withsome delays for safety, thetraining forged ahead.

In a final act of cohesion andtactical proficiency, the battal-ion performed a convoy fromPeterson Air Force Base to FortCarson, Colo. The convoy wasexecuted flawlessly, eliciting anumber of waves, as well asimpatient drivers. Companiesthen began recovery operationsand returned to Peterson.

The training event not onlyqualified Soldiers on theirweapons, meeting annualtraining requirements, but italso served to develop them forfuture conflicts. So whenfacing the enemy, SpaceWarrior Soldiers will strikefaster and harder with perni-cious effect.

Readings for Professional Development availableSMDC/ARSTRATHistorical Office

Professional development forDepartment of the Army Soldiers andcivilians can take many forms. Oneeasily accessible method is theProfessional Reading List issued by thechief of staff of the Army. The readinglist addresses an extensive array ofsubjects related to the military andarmed conflict from the Ancient Greeksto the modern era. As Chief of Staff ofthe Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker statesin the preface to the current edition,these readings are “a way for leaders atall levels to increase theirunderstanding of the Army’s history, theglobal strategic context, and theenduring lessons of war.”

To facilitate this course of study,SMDC/ARSTRAT leadership haspurchased the publications from Sublist4, designed for Senior Leaders AboveBrigade Level. Copies of these booksare available for loan from the G-1Offices in Arlington, Va., and ColoradoSprings, Colo., and the Historical Officein Huntsville, Ala. We will be happy towork with those SMDC/ARSTRAT

Soldiers or civilians who are not stationedat these locations to ensure the widestavailability.

Sublist 4: For Senior LeadersAbove Brigade Level

The Challenge of Change: MilitaryInstitutions and New Realities, 1918-1941— Harold Winton and David Mets, Editors

The Clash of Civilizations and theRemaking of World Order — SamuelHuntington

Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson,Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs ofStaff, And The Lies That Led to Vietnam —H.R. McMaster

The Dynamics of Military Revolution,1300-2050 — MacGregor Knox andWilliamson Murray

The Lexus and the Olive Tree — ThomasFriedman

Makers of Modern Strategy fromMachiavelli to the Nuclear Age — PeterParet, Editor

The Making of Strategy: Rulers, Statesand War — Williamson Murray,MacGregor Knox and Alvin Bernstein,Editors

The Peloponnesian War — Donald Kagan

Surprise, Security, and the AmericanExperience — John Lewis Gaddis

Thinking in Time: The Uses of Historyfor Decision Makers — RichardNeustadt and Ernest May

Transformation Under Fire:Revolutionizing How America Fights —Douglas Macgregor

Victory on the Potomac: The Goldwater-Nichols Act Unifies the Pentagon —James R. Locher III

War in European History — MichaelHoward

An annotated copy of the completereading list may be found on the Centerof Military History’s Web site at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/CSAList/CSAList.htm.

Photos by Capt. Scott Weaver


T he United States Army announced on June 6 that the suite of Army

service uniforms would bestreamlined to one blue dressuniform to be known as theArmy Service Uniform.

The Army green uniformwill be phased out, and theuniform previously known as“dress blues” will become thenew “Class A” uniform. It willbe authorized for wear for anysituation where the old greenuniform would have beenappropriate. The blue uniformwill also continue to be wornfor formal occasions.

For many, this may seemlike a break from tradition,but the shift back to blue isactually a return to theuniform colors that have beenin use in America sincebefore the Revolutionary War.

In the generations leadingup to the change to olive drabin 1902, a Soldier’s uniformwas intended as both a dressuniform and combat uniform.When most of the Europeanpowers began to experimentwith green and gray-greencombat uniforms at the end ofthe 19th Century, the U.S.Army followed their examples.

After 104 years … it’s back to blue!By Mark HubbsSMDC/ARSTRATHistorical Office

The new uniform color wasapproved in 1902, and Soldiersbegan to receive the new olivedrab uniforms in 1906 asstocks of the old blue uni-forms ran out. The shade ofgreen has changed throughthe years from the olive drabsused until after World War II,to the deeper green used inthe current uniform.

The American associationwith blue as a uniform colorbegan in colonial times whenmany militia units chose bluefor their uniforms instead ofthe red of regular troops. Thiswas most likely done to easelogistics, as indigo for blue dyewas grown in the colonies,where most red dyes wereimported from Europe.

The first standardizeduniform used by the fledglingAmerican Continental Armywas also blue. In early 1777,the Continental Congress letcontracts for ready-madeblue uniforms in France. Ashortage of blue wool broad-cloth resulted in the deliveryof only 15,000 blue uniformcoats faced with red lapels andcollars. Another eightthousand brown uniform coatswere also delivered. Thetroops, however, desired blueuniforms and detestedanything other than blue.

As a result Gen. George

Washington “in order to preventdisputes & jealousy among theTroops of the Main Army … andto give them all an equalchance” was forced to hold alottery, to determine which ofhis regiments would receivethe blue coats and whichwould receive the brown.

Blue became so associatedwith the U.S. Army and ournew nation that the U.S. ArmyUniform Regulations of 1821open with the statement“Dark blue is the NationalColor.”

As the uniform evolvedthroughout the 19th Century,the enduring constant wasthe color blue for the uniformcoat. The trousers emergedas light blue in the 1820s.The wool cloth used for

trousers was called kerseyand was a coarser, cheapercloth compared to theexpensive wool broadclothused for uniform coats. Thecheap cloth could not take aconsistent deep blue dye asthe better quality broadclothcould.

As a result, kersey wasdyed a lighter blue. Thistradition in the difference inshades of blue between thecoat and trousers is carriedon in the modern blue ArmyService Uniform.

So, in the near future whenyou start to see our youngSoldiers in their blue uni-forms, don’t think of it as abreak from tradition. Con-sider it a return to our heri-tage of the “National Color.”

U.S. Army changes service uniforms

Recreated French Contract Coat,c.1778

The Army Blue Service UniformInfantry Sergeant, c.1861Photo courtesy of Todd Post Courtesy photo Courtesy photo

‘When a Soldier can be brought to take delightin his dress, it will be easy to mold him towhatever else may be desired, … thereforeevery method should be pursued toaccomplish what may so justly be looked on,as the foundation of order and economy in aCorps.’

— Lt. Col. Bennett Cuthbertson, 1768

Documents

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army