12 The Eagle -...

The EagleU.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command Volume 13, Number 5, May 2006

InsideThe

Eagle

MissileDefenseBrigadechange ofcommand,page 5

EuropeanRegion namesNCO/Soldier ofthe Year, page12

Safety —drivingdefensivelypage 7

CET returns from yearlong deploymentBy Sharon L. HartmanSMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— A hero’s welcome awaitedeight Colorado Army NationalGuard members of the 193rdSpace Battalion, as theyreturned from a yearlongdeployment in Bahrain onMarch 22.

Excited spouses and childrenheld welcome home signs andballoons, and bystanders at theColorado Springs Airporterupted in cheers as themembers of the CommercialExploitation Team ran into thearms of family and friends.

The returning members ofthe CET were Capt. MatthewBowes, 1st Lt. Matthew Pollock,Master Sgt. John Fennern,Staff Sgt. Brett Mills, Sgt. BrianSingmaster, Sgt. NicoleBogenschutz, Sgt. MollyPatterson and Spc. BrianFitzgerald.

1st Lt. Matthew Pollock greets wife Missy and son Alex upon returning from a yearlong deployment inBahrain. Pollock was able to be home for Alex’s birth during his mid-tour leave in October 2005.

Photo by Sharon L. Hartman

By LuAnne FantasiaSMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

Command receives award from NISH

See NISH on page 8

Photo by Dottie White

Robert D. Adkins, a Phoenix Service employee, distributesmail for SMDC/ARSTRAT on Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Adkins isthe supervisor for the mail center.

According to the 2000 Census, only one-third of the 31 million United States residents between the ages

of 21 and 64 who have disabilities areemployed. Approximately 50 of thoseAmericans are contractor employees inthis command under the NISH program —a federal program designed to set uprehabilitation companies nationwide thatmake goods for or provide services to U.S.government organizations.

NISH recently selected the U.S. ArmySpace and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Commandfor its 2006 NISH Government Award forServices, citing that the command hasa long list of ongoing activities in itspromotion of employment for people withdisabilities at all levels of the organiza-tion.

Michael Schexnayder and Mark Lumerattended the award banquet in Chicagoearly this month to accept the award forthe command. Respectively, Schexnayderis the command’s deputy director for

research and development andLumer is principal assistantresponsible for contracting.

Lumer said that partneringwith Phoenix Services inHuntsville, Ala., and Tresco, Inc.,of Las Cruces, N.M., “ … is a win-win situation, because thesecompanies have competitivesalaries, good employees and lowturnover.

“By working with Phoenix andTresco, and other NISH firms, wehave chosen to improve lives.The best day I ever had inprocurement was the day weawarded contracts to Phoenix andTresco.

“It’s rare to meet someone wholoves paying taxes, but I met ayoung man working for Tresco atWhite Sands [Missile Range] whois thrilled to have his first job …his own apartment … and payingtaxes for the first time.

“We in the contracting office

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 May 2006

See Space Cadre on page 3

As the weather becomes warmer; the flowers and trees starting to blossom; with the end of school in sight; and while families make plans for the summer, it can be easy

to forget we are a nation and an Army at war. Although the pressprovides reminders through various media venues on eventssuch as the latest suicide bombing or the latest tape recording byal-Qa’ida, it can be difficult to comprehend we have been fightinga global war on terrorism longer than the 19-months we fought inWorld War I, and longer than the time America fought in WorldWar II.

This month I am addressing an area of great concern to ournation and the American people by focusing on who the war onterrorism is directed against and what we are doing about it.Fifty-six months ago, our country and other peace-loving nationsaround the world, were attacked by an enemy motivated byideologies antagonistic to freedom, tolerance and moderation. Asthe nation and its coalition partners prosecute the global war onterrorism, who the enemy is can be hard to understand at times.This is not a war against a particular culture or religion, ratherthis is a fight against violent extremism whose members oftensee the West and the United States as primary obstacles to theirability to achieve their aims or political ends.

These extremists use terrorism — the calculated use ofviolence against innocent people — to coerce or intimidategovernments or societies in the pursuit of political, religious orideological goals. The enemies’ long-term goal is to “turn backthe clock” by undermining Western influence and redefining theglobal balance of power. These extremists want to fundamentallychange the nature of the world order.

How do you defeat an enemy consisting of a transnationalmovement of organizations, networks and individuals who haveno standing army, no uniforms, who live among the populationwith state sponsors and non-state supporters, who is aggressivelypursuing weapons of mass destruction, and who uses theglobalization of information technology to spread their ideology?The answer is by supporting national and international activitiesto counter the enemy’s ideology; denying the enemy what theyneed to operate and survive; enabling partner nations to counterterrorism; and by attacking extremist groups and their capacityto operate effectively at home and abroad — exactly what theUnited States, our men and women in uniform, and our coalitionpartners are doing! A vital part of this effort is supportingmainstream efforts to reject violent extremism, as marginalizingideology requires patience and promoting reform from within.Some of our most adamant supporters are men and women whobravely vote in local elections; enlist in police and securityelements; report suspicious activities to coalition forces and defythe activities of the extremists.

It is important for all of us to understand the nature of theextremist threat and the nature of the global war on terrorism.The United States, along with partnering nations, is helping tocreate a global environment that is inhospitable to violentextremism which promotes the existence of free and opensocieties. It will be a protracted war, but it is a war we will win!

We can all do our part by helping others understand this is afight against hatred, indiscriminate violence and intimidation.

In closing, the month of May offers numerous opportunities toexpress our love, admiration and gratitude to many individualswho have done so much for us. Memorial Day is one suchopportunity — perhaps the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., a

See War on terrorism on page 4

In September 2005, the Army made real progress towardestablishing an Army Space Cadre and, with it, an enlistedSpace Cadre. The Space Cadre Force Management Analysis

(FORMAL) General Officer Steering Committee approved theSpace Cadre definition and organizational construct and assignedthe Army Space Cadre Office to the U.S. Army Space and MissileDefense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command.These recommendations were accepted by the vice chief of staffof the Army in January 2006.

Enlisted positions within the Army Space Cadre are identifiedas “Space Enablers.” These Soldiers assist the space operationsprofessionals (FA 40s) or perform other tasks critical to theArmy’s space operations mission (such as satellite control).

There will be no Space Military Occupational Specialty.Enlisted members of the Space Cadre will be drawn from theSignal, Air Defense Artillery, Military Intelligence and Engineerbranches. The FORMAL recognized the need for additional skillindicators, to identify Soldiers serving in space operationspositions (such as ASI “1C” which identifies satellite controlspecialists within Signal-MOS 25S).

SMDC/ARSTRAT was authorized to recommend ASIs forSoldiers serving in Space Enabler positions and receivingfunctional training in order to perform space operations tasks.As of this time, ASI request has been submitted for the Soldiersin MOS 14J (ADA: C4I TOC operations specialist) who serve inthe Theater Missile Warning (JTAGS) detachments.

Preventing other ASI-initiatives is the lack of formal spaceoperations training for Soldiers assigned into Army SpaceSupport Teams, Commercial Exploitation Teams and SpaceSupport Teams Elements. These Soldiers receive no recognizedand formalized functional training in order to perform thesemissions. The Army Space Support Team Certification is notsufficient as a formal space operations course.

Until the SMDC/ARSTRAT Future Warfare Center specifiesthe doctrinal missions of these teams and designs courses totrain Soldiers in these missions, there will be no attempt to gainASIs for these Soldiers.

Space Enabler positions will be identified by all the ArmyCommands and Army Service Component Commands by Aug. 31.SMDC/ARSTRAT has already identified its Space Enablerpositions.

The number of Space Enabler positions in SMDC/ARSTRATwill grow over the period 2007-2011. During this period, 27 newModified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE)-organizations will be added to SMDC/ARSTRAT. These units willbring the strength of SMDC/ARSTRAT (minus headquarters staffand civilians) to 1,864. Most of these Soldiers will be SpaceEnablers.

In addition to these organizations within SMDC/ARSTRAT, 27Space Support Elements will be assigned to 18 divisionheadquarters (Active Component and National Guard), threeCorps headquarters and six Theater-Army headquarters. Forty-eight sergeants and staff sergeants, MOS 25S, will fill theenlisted positions in these elements.

When compared to the number of Soldiers performing spaceoperations missions between 1997 and 2005, this growth isconsiderable and is a tribute to the success of the Soldiers ofSMDC/ARSTRAT when supporting OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM andIRAQI FREEDOM. To their excellence, we owe the Army’s recognitionof the importance of space capabilities in support of the

May 2006 The Eagle 3

maneuver force.Despite progress in creating the Space

Cadre, enlisted Soldiers spend theircareers exclusively in space operations.Without a Space MOS, our enlistedSoldiers must move to other organizationsand gain experience in non-spaceoperations in order to meet their branchrequirements and become ready forgreater responsibility and promotion.

That imperative is at the heart of thiscommand’s decision to limit Soldiers to nomore than two consecutive tours inSMDC/ARSTRAT. After these five to six

years in space operations, Soldiers mustmove to perform missions as directed bytheir branch assignment managers.Without a doubt, the experience andknowledge they have gained in spaceoperations will make them much morevaluable members of their conventionalunits.

The Space Cadre Proponency Office willgradually expand in order to track enlistedas well as commissioned personnel withspace operations experience. This officewill work with the branch managers tobring experienced space operationsnoncommissioned officers back intoSMDC/ARSTRAT. Ideally, many of our

Safety awarenesscontinued from page 2 best enlisted Soldiers will serve again in

SMDC/ARSTRAT, but this time as seniorNCOs.

The two greatest obstacles remainingalong the path toward a strong enlistedSpace Cadre are the lack of accessible andspecialized courses in space operationsand the lack of additional skill indicatorsfor most of the enlisted specialtiesengaged in space operations. Both mustbe solved, and the solutions will take time,funding, and cooperation between the AirForce and Army Staffs, SMDC/ARSTRAT,and the traditional branches of the Army.

ON POINT!

What We ThinkThe Eagle asks:What does Memorial Day mean to you?

To me, Memorial Day’s meaning is connectedwith the Declaration of Independence — thosewho fought helped guarantee the right to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whileattending a military class recently inCharlottesville, Va., I had the opportunity to go toArlington National Cemetery with two class-mates. During our short stay, we saw the statueof the Marines hoisting the U.S. Flag at theSands of Iwo Jima and watched the Changing ofthe Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Itwas a dreary and rainy day, but it seemedappropriate. Afterward, I walked away from theceremony with a feeling of deep respect andpride, and it’s that same feeling I will take withme into Memorial Day this year. MemorialDay honors those who have made the ultimatesacrifice for our country. Their sacrifices allowme to enjoy time with my family and friends. Theholiday also remembers those who are stillmissing in action, as well as the Soldierscurrently out there fighting to uphold the free-doms some Americans take for granted.

Staff Sgt. Kurtiss ClarkParalegal NCO100th Missile Defense Brigade(Ground-based Midcourse Defense)Colorado Springs, Colo.

Philip BallardSYColeman, Force Protection LeaderBallistic Missile Defense, System Manager OfficeArlington, Va.

It’s a reminder of theultimate sacrifice thatour Armed Forceshave made to protectour freedoms. Itshould be a call toserve a cause greaterthan yourself.

To me, Memorial Day is a time to reflect andremember those who have given the supremesacrifice for OUR country. This includes all menand women who have died in conflicts fromfighting for our freedom before we were anestablished country, all the way through to today,where our men and women are dying in Iraq andAfghanistan. I thank those that have paid theultimate price so that I may enjoy freedom. I feelso blessed to be an American citizen.

Barbara C. DixonExecutive AssistantTechnical Interoperability and Matrix CenterHuntsville, Ala.

What Memorial Daymeans to mepersonally isremembering thoseSoldiers and peoplewho we lost inOPERATION IRAQI FREEDOMfrom my platoon andcompany. It meanstaking a minute tohonor their memoryeveryday like wepromised to do.

Capt. John BrockG-3, Current Operations BranchColorado Springs, Colo.

Memorial Day meansfallen comrades. It isthe day that we chooseto remember our fallencomrades. If youhaven’t rememberedthem the other threehundred and sixty fourdays, this is the one dayyou should take timeout to think about ourfallen comrades.

Master Sgt. Frances Sanchez-JonesG-6, C4 PLEX BranchColorado Springs, Colo.

Maj. Dennis CarmanStaff, Ballistic Missile DefenseSystem Manager OfficeArlington, Va.

This is a time to stepback and rememberthe people gonebefore us. We’rebuilding on somethingpretty costly, and thatgives significance.

John W. DavisIntelligence OfficerG-2Huntsville, Ala.

On Memorial Day myfamily always visits amilitary memorial orcemetery. This helpsus remember not onlythose who fell, buttheir families as well. We try to offerassistance to widows,widowers, andchildren who remainbehind. Theirpain goes on longafter the last bugleplays on MemorialDay.

It is an opportunity forthe country toremember those whohave given us thefreedoms we enjoy.

Don RodgersG-3, Force Modification DivisionColorado Springs, Colo.

To me, Memorial Day means a day to reflect onall those who have lost their lives in all thecountry’s battles, wars and conflicts. It is a dayto reflect on those who we can thank for ourfreedom today.

Shelly BowerG-4, Transportation Branch ChiefColorado Springs, Colo.

I am a Soldier myself with loved ones overseas. —It is a time to reflect on all the brave sacrificesmade by our veterans and to pray for the safereturn of our friends and loved ones. This MemorialDay will be very special to me because my fiancéwill be back for R&R.

Syreeta WilliamsSecretary to the Chief ScientistArlington, Va.

4 The Eagle May 2006

A letter from the Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission said, “That thisis a new era in the quest for talent. OurGovernment should reflect the richdiversity of America and provideopportunities to persons of all back-grounds, origins and abilities. It isessential that we use the resources,talents, and skills of one of the country’suntapped resources, people withdisabilities.”

Many managers and supervisors arereluctant to hire people with disabilitiesbecause of a lack of understanding andawareness of their capabilities andachievements along with a few negativeattitudes. Managers and supervisorssometimes have the misconception thatindividuals with disabilities requiremore sick leave and experience moreaccidents than people who are notimpaired. This misconception is simplynot true. Some of the benefits to theemployer when employing individualswith disabilities are that morale andcommitment of employees increasewhen visible commitments are made tohire people with disabilities; hiringpeople with disabilities projects apositive image that promotes the organ-ization; employers experience reducedemployee turnover; and organizationsretain committed employees who haveskills and experience. Employers shouldnot assume that persons withdisabilities are unemployable; do notwant to work; lack the necessaryeducation and training for employment;that certain jobs are more suited topersons with disabilities; and that thework environment will be unsafe if anemployee has a disability.

Core disability laws such as theRehabilitation Act of 1973, ArchitecturalBarriers Act of 1968, Americans withDisabilities Act of 1990, RehabilitationAct Amendment of 1992, and 29 CFR,Part 1614, Section 203, Federal SectorEqual Employment Opportunity, providethat no agency shall discriminateagainst a qualified individual with adisability because of the disability ofsuch individual in regard to jobapplication procedures, hiring,advancement, or discharge, employeecompensation, job training, and otherterms, conditions and privileges ofemployment. A qualified individual with

Individuals with disabilities: Access the possibilitiesBy Johnetta R. GravesEqual Employment Opportunity Office

a disability is one with a disability who,with or without reasonableaccommodations, can perform theessential functions of the position thatthe person holds or desires.

In the formulation of the Americanswith Disabilities Act of 1990, some ofissues the Congress raised were:• Some 43 million Americans have oneor more physical or mental disabilities,and this number is increasing as thepopulation as a whole is growing older;• Historically, society has tended toisolate and segregate individuals withdisabilities, and, despite someimprovements, such forms ofdiscrimination against individuals withdisabilities continue to be a serious andpervasive social problem;

• Unlike individuals who haveexperienced discrimination on the basisof race, color, sex, national origin,religion or age, individuals who haveexperienced discrimination on the basisof disability have often had no legalrecourse to redress such discrimination;• Individuals with disabilitiescontinually encounter various forms ofdiscrimination, including outrightintentional exclusion, the discriminatoryeffects of architectural, transportation,and communication barriers,overprotective rules and policies, failureto make modifications to existingfacilities and practices, exclusionaryqualification standards and criteria,segregation, and relegation to lesserservices, programs, activities, benefits,jobs or other opportunities;• The nation’s proper goals regardingindividuals with disabilities are toassure equality of opportunity, fullparticipation, independent living, andeconomic self sufficiency for suchindividuals; and• The continuing existence of unfairand unnecessary discrimination andprejudice denies people with disabilitiesthe opportunity to compete on an equalbasis and to pursue those opportunitiesfor which our free society is justifiablyfamous, and costs the United Statesbillions of dollars in unnecessaryexpenses resulting from dependency andnon-productivity.

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of1973 and the Americans withDisabilities Act of 1990, an individual isclassified as being handicapped if he orshe has a physical or mental impairmentthat substantially limits a major lifeactivity; has a record of suchimpairment; or is regarded as havingsuch impairment.

Impairment is any physiologicaldisorder or condition, cosmeticdisfigurement or anatomical lossaffecting one or more of the followingbody systems:

• Neurological• Musculoskeletal• Special Sense Organs• Cardiovascular• Reproductive• Digestive• Respiratory• Genitourinary• Hemic & Lymphatic• Skin and Endocrine

Any mental or psychological disordersuch as:• Mental Retardation• Organic Brain Syndrome• Emotional or Mental Illness• Learning Disorders

The Department of the Army isrequired to take steps to preventdiscrimination and remove barriers toequal employment opportunity in thefederal workplace. Individuals withtargeted disabilities are targeted foremphasis in affirmative action planning.Targeted disabilities are deafness;blindness; missing extremities; partialparalysis; convulsive disorders; mentalretardation; mental illness; and geneticor physical condition affecting limbsand/or spine.

Each employee and/or applicant is alsoafforded reasonable accommodationsshould accommodations be requested andthe individual can provide proof that theyhave a condition that requiresaccommodation. An agency shall makereasonable accommodations for theknown physical or mental limitations ofan applicant or employee who is aqualified individual with a handicapunless the agency can demonstrate thatthe accommodation would impose anundue hardship on the operations of itsmission/program. If an agency makessuch a claim, it must be justified inwriting. Accommodations may include,but shall not be limited to the following:• Providing readily accessible and usablefacilities for persons with disabilities toinclude workstation accessories, chairs,and/or automation equipment.• Job restructuring, part-time andmodified work schedules, acquisition ormodification of automated equipmentand devices, appropriate adjustment ormodification of examinations, theprovisions of readers and interpreters,telecommunication aides and othersimilar provisions.

As a Department of the Armycomponent, it is U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command/U.S. ArmyForces Strategic Command’s policy toensure increased understanding ofindividuals with disabilities by allemployees. This is a new era in thequest for talent. We should reflect therich diversity of America and provideequal opportunities to all persons. It isessential that we use the resources,talents, and skills of one of the country’suntapped resources, people withdisabilities.

Additional information related todisability issues, can be obtained bycontacting Johnetta Graves, Individualswith Disabilities Program Manager,Equal Employment Opportunity Office,(256) 955-4008 or DSN 645-4008.

War on terrorismcontinued from page 2

U.S. Supreme Court Justice andveteran of the Civil War, are mostappropriate for a Nation at war: “So tothe indifferent inquirer who asks whyMemorial Day is still kept up, we mayanswer, it celebrates and solemnlyreaffirms from year to year a nationalact of enthusiasm and faith. Even ifthose who come after us forget all thatwe hold dear, and the future is to teachand kindle its children in ways as yetunrevealed, it is enough for us that thisday is dear and sacred.” I encourageeveryone to remember and reflect onthe courage, valor and ultimatesacrifice made by so many so that wemay continue to live in freedom.

SECURE THE HIGH GROUND!


Historic brigade has first change of commandBy Maj. Laura KenneySMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. —The nation’s only missile defense brigade,with headquarters here, underwent itsfirst change of top leadership April 18, asCol. Gary W. Baumann relinquishedcommand to Col. Michael L. Yowell.

The 100th Missile Defense Brigade(Ground-based Midcourse Defense),U.S. Army Space and Missile DefenseCommand/U.S. Army Forces StrategicCommand, is at the forefront of thenation’s emerging missile defensetechnology. The brigade, a multi-

component unit, falls under the overalldirection of Northern Command during anoperational mission.

The assistant adjutant general of theColorado Army National Guard, Brig. Gen.Thomas D. Mills, hosted the ceremony.Baumann, first commander of the brigade,assisted in its formation prior to activationOct. 16, 2003, in response to presidentialdirective. Lt. Gen. Larry J. Dodgen,commanding general, SMDC/ARSTRAT,presented Baumann the Legion of Meritfor his role in establishing the historicunit.

Yowell assumed command in a tradi-tional flag-passing ceremony held in the

Air Force Space Command Auditorium.The former commander of the brigade’sheadquarters battery and the first to holdthat position, Capt. Stephen Elisha, sangthe Star Spangled Banner to open theceremony.

The 100th Brigade, largely composed ofColorado Army National Guardsmenoperating in their time-honored mission ofdefending the homeland, has interceptorslocated in Alaska and California. Thebrigade oversees the Soldiers operatingthe ground-based midcourse portion of thenation’s emerging missile defensecapability.

Baumann said, “It’s going to be hard tostop thinking, ‘missile defense, missiledefense’ 24/7, but at least I can sleepeasily at night knowing that the unit haspassed into the more than capable handsof its new commander. It was a truepleasure to be a part of bringing somethingso important to the American people. It’snot every day one can say, ‘I (the unit)protect(s) almost 300 million people.’”

Yowell approached the new challengewith enthusiasm. “We’ve come a long waysince the days of Paul Revere awakeningfellow citizens to the threat facing them,”said Yowell. “With today’s technology, wecan now defend against a threat not evenimaginable then. The unit will build onthe outstanding foundation that ColonelBaumann has ensured, and I’m glad that Iwill assist it in doing so.”

Yowell comes to the commandimmediately after graduating from theMissile Defense Operators Course.Branched Field Artillery, Yowell is a certi-fied space operations officer, and servedpreviously as the first commander of the193rd Space Battalion, which frequentlydeploys space operators to Kuwait, Oman,and Iraq as well as to numerous exercisesin Korea and the United States. He servedas the Colorado Army National Guarddeputy chief of staff for personnel prior tohis assumption of command of the 100th.

Col. Michael L. Yowell, incoming 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense)commander, accepts the brigade colors, symbolizing his assumption of command. From left to right:Col. Gary W. Baumann, outgoing brigade commander; Col. Michael L. Yowell, incoming brigadecommander; Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel L. Marques, brigade command sergeant major.

Photo by Dennis Plummer

Missile Defense Brigade farewells first commanderBy Maj. Laura KenneySMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. —“What’s it like to be the first?”

Col. Gary Baumann, firstcommander of the nation’s onlymissile defense brigade,pondered the question as heprepared to give up the reins toincoming commander, Col.Michael Yowell.

“It was certainly an honor tohelp stand up this unit.Getting a presidential directiveto do something on anexpedited time schedulecertainly lends urgency to themission. And President Bushasked for exactly that after theevents of 9/11; he wanted thenation to be able to defenditself — and he tasked us withthat mission.”

The 100th Missile DefenseBrigade (Ground-basedMidcourse Defense) wasformally activated Oct. 16,2003, in a ceremony held onPeterson Air Force Base, alittle more than a year afterconstruction had begun on themissile defense complex at FortGreely, Alaska. Baumann, who

had assisted in the unit’sformation prior to itsactivation, formally began hiscommand that day. He had sixSoldiers and no weapons.

Today, interceptors arelocated in Alaska andCalifornia. The unit, includingits battalion at Fort Greely,Alaska, is manned by hundredsof Soldiers, mostly full-timeColorado and Alaska NationalGuardsmen, with an activecomponent contingent. Whatdid it take to get to that point,36 months later?

“The dedication of a lot ofpeople, both Soldier andcivilian, is what made thisaccomplishment possible. Ofcourse this was a huge teameffort with Boeing and othercontractors, as well as thesuperb Soldiers who man thesystem and staff theheadquarters. Those Soldierswere chosen from a nation-wide search, which is how weensured we got the best of thebest,” said Baumann.

The first commander of the100th put much of himself intostanding-up the trail-blazingunit. A conservative estimate

had him traveling to and fromAlaska, California,Washington, D.C., and Alabamaas many days as he actuallyspent here.

AlthoughBaumann islookingforward to aneasier pace oflife as hereturns tocivilian lifeandtraditionalGuard status,he will missthe Soldiersand the job heis leaving.

“Youcouldn’t askfor betterSoldiers, or abettermission.DefendingAmericameans you’redefendingyour ownfamily andfriends, aswell as our

Lt. Gen. Larry Dodgen, SMDC/ARSTRAT commander,presents Col. Gary Baumann, outgoing 100th MissileDefense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense)commander, with a Legion of Merit for his service to theunit during the change of command ceremony April 18.

Photo by Sgt. Sara Storey

great nation. But I know theSoldiers and the unit willcontinue to do so, to the best oftheir very great ability.”


D Company conducts first aid trainingBy 2nd Lt. Clint M. RutterUnit reporter

CAMP ROBERTS, Calif. —Amidst the torrential rain,pools of mud and gusts of wind,the Soldiers from DeltaCompany, 53rd Signal Battalion(SATCON), recently conductedbasic first aid training. Byfocusing training on a few corecompetencies such asevaluating a casualty,controlling bleeding,transporting a casualty andpreventing or controllingshock, the Soldiers were ableto become proficient.

First aid is a corecompetency. This is the firstcare given to casualties beforetreatment by medicalpersonnel is available.

“With the way the Army ismoving and transforming today,practicing first aid skills is amust for any unit,” remarked1st Sgt. Mark Gehrt.

“We try to incorporate ascenario into all of ourtraining,” said Capt. Conway

Lin, Delta Companycommander. “In this scenarioa Soldier is on patrol and findsa casualty. Their trainingtakes over from there andallows the Soldier to renderfirst aid properly.”

All Delta Company Soldiershad to evaluate the casualty,treat for bleeding, treat forshock, call in a 9-LineMEDEVAC for the casualty, andfinally, evacuate the casualty.

Realism was added to thescenario by using fake woundkits on other members of thecompany. “Sometimes wewould have the casualty crying,sometimes unconscious andsometimes screaming in pain,”explained Gehrt. “With ourresources, we put as much ofthe sights and sounds of a realsituation into the scenario aswe could.”

Spc. Joel Wilson provided themost memorable reaction tothe scenario. While acting asthe casualty, Spc. Paul Prestonstarted acting scared andbegan screaming. Wilson took

control of the situation byreassuring him that he wasgoing to be okay.

“He did the best of all theSoldiers who evaluated me,”Preston said. “My acting andantics did not faze him one bit.

He turned me over to treat mywound, and I startedscreaming. He grabbed me andtook control of the situation.”

Added Gehrt, “Spc. Wilson didnot let the situation controlhim.”

Spc. Joel Wilson assesses a simulated wound on Spc. Paul Preston duringa Delta Company first aid training session.

Photo by Capt. Ryan R. Renken

Cutest baby contest raises moneyBreanna Frank was announcedthe winner.

Kailey was born in Hender-sonville, Tenn., on May 26,2004, to Sgt. Jason and AubreyFrank. Kailey is the youngersister to Chase and her proudgrandparents include TheresaMorphis, Ted and Lorie Frankand Sheila Wilkinson.

Kailey’s favorite activitiesare playing with her bigbrother, dancing to all types ofmusic and helping hermommy.

Sgt. Frank and his wife saidthey are honored to haveparticipated in the SMDC/ARSTRAT Ball fundraiser andsincerely appreciate all ofthose who voted for Kailey bymaking monetary donations.

Kailey Breanna Frank, daughter of Sgt. Jason and Aubrey Frank, wins thecutest baby contest in Colorado Springs. The contest raised funds for theSMDC/ARSTRAT Ball.

Courtesy photo

B Company has one-day record reenlistment

Photo by 1st Lt. Matthew Kisner

Four Bravo Company NCOs, from left to right, Sgt. William Steiner, Staff Sgt. Patrick Anderson, StaffSgt. Chandler Dixon and Sgt. Joseph Kelly reenlisted together on March 31 setting a one-day recordfor reenlistments at Bravo Company.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE,Colo. — To help support theU.S. Army Space and MissileDefense Command/U.S. ArmyForces Strategic Command Ballin Colorado Springs, Colo.,members of the ball committeeconducted several uniquefundraisers.

One such fundraiser was theColorado Springs Cutest BabyContest. Members of thecommand in Colorado Springssubmitted photos of theirchildren (under the age of two),which were then placed onjars. To vote, donations wereplaced in each jar and the babycollecting the most amount ofmoney won.

In the end, the event raiseda total of $268.33, and Kailey

FORT MEADE, Md. — March 31 was agreat day for Bravo Company, 53rd SignalBattalion as four noncommissionedofficers reenlisted at the same time.

“This is Bravo Company’s one-dayrecord,” said Capt. Jermaine Sutton,Bravo Company commander, afterreenlisting Sgt. William Steiner, StaffSgt. Patrick Anderson, Staff Sgt.Chandler Dixon and Sgt. Joseph Kelly.“It is always a great day when I have theprivilege to reenlist Soldiers.”

The four NCOs were motivated toreenlist after the March commander’sinformation call when the Fort Meadereenlistment NCO came to the companyand gave a brief to all the Soldiers abouttheir options for reenlistment.

Currently, the bonuses are high foreveryone in the Army, especially 25S.

“The bonus is not why I reenlisted,”stated Anderson. “I reenlisted because Iam proud to serve my country and be partof the best military organization in theworld.”


SafetyDriving defensively - How to prevent collisions

On the lookout

Be alert when you drive and ready toanticipate sudden or obscured actions.Watch for public transportation vehicles,such as buses, taxis and commuter vans.Also, allow a “circle of safety” aroundchildren, student drivers, motorcyclists,bicyclists, signaling vehicles, emergencyvehicles with flashing lights, crosswalks,construction signs, animals and anydriver who might not be able to see youin a rear-view mirror.

Maintain an escape route

Try not to get boxed in when driving onmultilane roads. That way, if someone

makes a wrong move, you’ll be able to goleft or right rather than having to stopdead in your tracks. On a two-lane road,your escape route is to the right, off theroadway. Watch for roadside hazards thatcan make this difficult. Adjust yourspeed so you’ll meet up with oncomingcars at a spot where you have room tomaneuver. If another vehicle is followingyou too closely, tap your brakes lightly toflash your rear brake lights, signalingthem to back off.

Use your brakes carefully

The impulse in a dangerous situation isto hit the brakes. If your vehicle is notequipped with antilock brakes, slammingon the brakes can cause you to skidcompletely out of control. To use yourbrakes in an evasive maneuver, stab atthem repeatedly, letting go before theylock. This way you’ll slow down withoutlosing control. However, if your vehiclehas antilock brakes, don’t stab at thebrakes but apply firm pressure until thevehicle comes to a stop.

Swerve, don’t brake

Whenever possible, use your steeringwheel instead of your brakes. Beprepared to swerve around theunexpected obstacle. Drive with yourhands on opposite sides of the steeringwheel to give you the leverage needed toturn it 180 degrees in either direction.Be prepared to swerve sharply and thenreturn the wheel to its normal positionas quickly as you swerved. Guide yourvehicle back to the path it was followingbefore the hazard. If necessary, go off theroad to avoid hitting a vehicle head on.Even going into a ditch is better than ahead-on collision.

• A door of a parked car opens suddenly infront of your car.• A taxi, ahead of you on your left, dartsacross your lane to pick someone up.• A cat crouching on the sidewalk boundsin front of your car across the street.

You know you’re a good driver, but areyou prepared for the unexpected or whensomeone else’s poor driving puts you in atight spot? Keep the following principlesin mind.

When it’s best to speed up

Sometimes you can get out of a jam byspeeding up. If you’re already in anintersection and someone is coming atyou from the side, it’s best to step on theaccelerator rather than slamming on thebrakes. If you did stop suddenly, youmight not only lose control and swerveinto oncoming traffic, you might also behit by the car coming from the side —and the one behind you.

Making a hard choice

What if you can’t avoid colliding withsomething yourself? Even then, you mayhave some choices. If you have a chanceto choose what you hit, hit somethingsoft, such as bushes or shrubs. The nextbest choice is a vehicle that’s moving inthe same direction as you. Pick astationary object rather than one that’scoming at you. A target that will absorbenergy, such as a parked car, is betterthan one that’s rigid, such as a wall.Whatever you hit, try to sideswipe itrather than hit it head-on.

Maintaining a cool head

Even though you can’t control someoneelse’s behavior, you can control yourown. When another driver upsets you,breathe deeply as you count to 10 andlisten to soothing music. Remindyourself that retaliatory measures aren’tworth the risks of a ticket, a collision orhigher insurance premiums. Try to viewthings from another driver’s point ofview; perhaps he or she is elderly, new tothe area, a student driver or someonelost or looking for an address. Don’t takethe actions of inconsiderate driverspersonally.

Most drivers are pretty confident on the road or they wouldn’tget behind the wheel in the first place. Sometimes theybecome over-confident and thus compromise their safety andthe safety of their passengers. Take this quiz to find out howmuch you know about some of the finer points of safe driving.Use it as an opportunity to remind yourself to drive cautiouslyand defensively.

True or False?1. Vehicles already on the freeway have the right of way overvehicles entering the freeway, even trucks and school buses.2. If you get caught in a skid, step on the brakes as hard aspossible.3. Use low gears when traveling on slick surfaces.4. When entering a patch of fog, turn off your defroster and turnon your high beams.5. On icy days, bridges and overpasses tend to freeze first andstay frozen longer than the rest of the road.6. Driving through deep puddles is not only safe; they clean thebottom of your car.7. You’re much more likely to be killed or injured during acollision if you’re thrown from a vehicle than if you’re restrainedinside by safety belts.8. Most injury-producing collisions involve a burning, explodingor submerged vehicle.9. You can sober up before driving by drinking a cup of coffee.10. If the oil light comes on when you’re driving, you should drivestraight to the nearest service station and have a mechaniccheck your engine.11. In cold weather, you should raise the tire pressure when the

average temperature drops 10 degrees.12. If you want to back up your vehicle but can’t see out your rearwindow, you should honk before moving.

Answers1. True, but don’t push the point if it might lead to an accident orclose call.2. False. Take your feet off both the gas AND the brakes and turnthe steering wheel in the direction you want to go. Gentlysqueeze your brakes only after you’ve stopped skidding. Jammingon the brakes can cause them to lock, making your vehicleimpossible to control.3. True. Low gears give added traction, especially up and downhills.4. False. Turn on both your defroster and your windshield wipersand use only your low beams. High beams produce too muchglare in fog and may bounce back to blind you.5. True. The shade of these structures prevents sunlight frommelting icy patches as quickly as the ice on exposed areas. Slowdown when approaching them.6. False. If you think the water level is above the bottom of yourhub caps, drive around puddles. The water can make your brakestemporarily less effective and can also get into your engine andcause serious damage.7. True. 25 times more likely8. False. These types of collisions account for less than .5percent of all vehicle injuries.9. False. The only way to sober up is by waiting it out.10. False. Pull over immediately and stop. Add oil if you have anyand check the light again or call for emergency roadside service.Driving any further may ruin your engine.11. True.12. False. You should get out of your vehicle and check behind it.

Are you a safe driver?


NISHcontinued from page 1

Photos by Dottie White

Phoenix Service employees provide support for various organizations within SMDC/ARSTRAT on Redstone Arsenal, A

Renee M. Scruggs organizes files as part of herjob as a secretary with the Contracting andAcquisition Management Office, SMDC/ARSTRAT.Scruggs is a graduate of Oakwood College with abachelor’s degree in communications.

John Lendeborg works on files for the Small andOffice at SMDC/ARSTRAT. Lendeborg, a Manhattdegree in business administration from Columbi

James Talley (front) and GeorgeAlexander make the daily maildistribution for the SMDC/ARSTRATmail center on Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

should never forget that our decision toaward a contract changes lives,” he added.

When a window closes,a door opens

Garfield Boon Jr., deputy director ofSMDC/ARSTRAT’s Contracting andAcquisition Management Office, said theArmy draw down a few years ago limitedthe command from filling employeevacancies.

“Six years ago this was an experiment.But, over time, this program hasflourished and has provided opportunitiesfor these employees to be part of ourworkforce. I think they’re all happy to behere,” Boon said.

NISH also recognized Boon with an

individual outstanding contributionsaward for his efforts to promote andsupport employment opportunities forpeople with severe disabilities.

“We embraced this program and havefostered our relationship with thecompanies and the employees,” Boon said.“It’s a robust program, and the employees’transition into our workforce has beenseamless.”

Lumer feels the command was selectedfor this award because it allows disabledemployees to stretch and learn more thanexpected.

“Generally jobs are food services andcustodial, but we’re unique in that weprovide opportunities in administrativepositions here in Huntsville and out atHELSTF [High Energy Laser System Test

Facility]. Thepositions fromLumer said.

The way

According taking anothrequiring a cto either havworkforce, orsubcontracts

Some of thGoodwill InduNational EasInternationalVocational Se


Michael C. Calhoun types an agenda for his supervisor, William M. Congo, director, Public Affairs, SMDC/ARSTRAT. Calhoun has abachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College and a master’s in education from Alabama A&M.

la.

d Disadvantaged Business Utilizationton, N.Y., native, has a bachelor’sia College.

Ed Layne, left, of the FutureWarfare Center asks MauriceNewby for assistance withediting some briefing charts.

Randy Pendleton, whoworks in G-8 for SMDC/ARSTRAT, assists visitorsas part of his many duties.

(Related story, page 4)

The employees are filling all jobrom — administrative to logistics,”d.

ahead

ng to Lumer, the command isther step with a new initiative

a contractor of a major solicitationave a one percent disabled or award one percent of theircts to NISH organizations.f the founding agencies of NISH arendustries International, theaster Seal Society and the

nal Association of Jewishl Services, to name only a few.


Awards/PromotionsCivilian Promotions

Donna Bowden, Huntsville,G-8, Accounting DivisionJoshua Brown, ColoradoSprings, G-3, MissionManagement Center BlueForce Tracking BranchGwyne Copeland, KwajaleinAtoll/Reagan Test SiteYvonne Dublin, Huntsville,G-8, Accounting DivisionStillman Maxwell, ColoradoSprings, G-3, MissionManagement CenterDavid Moore, Colorado Springs,G-6, Consolidated WidebandSSE and TransformationalCommunicationsBrenda Schultz, ColoradoSprings, G-2Cynthia Smith, Huntsville,Contracting and AcquisitionManagement Office,Operations-South DirectorateLouis Torrez, ColoradoSprings, G-3, MissionManagement Center BlueForce Tracking BranchRita Turner, Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site

James White, ColoradoSprings, G-3, Blue ForceTracking Branch

Military Promotions

Staff Sgt. Donald Amos,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON),C CompanyMaj. Matthew Anderson,Colorado Springs, Colo., 1stSpace Battalion, 2nd SpaceCompanySpc. Emmanuel Angulo, FortMeade, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), BCompanyMaj. Anthony Behrens, FortBliss, Texas, 1st SpaceCompany, A DetachmentMaj. Michael Belton,Huntsville, Future WarfareCenterSgt. Christa Dunne, Pacific,1st Space Company, CDetachmentSgt. Jeremy Franklin,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON), CCompany

Spc. Martin Jensen,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON),C CompanyMaj. Timmy Johnson, ColoradoSprings, Colo., 1st SpaceBattalion, 2nd Space CompanySgt. Heidi Jugovic, Pacific, 1stSpace Company, C DetachmentSgt. 1st Class MichaelLherisson, Fort Buckner,Okinawa, Japan, 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), ECompanySgt. Patrick Mann, Landstuhl,Germany, 53rd Signal Battalion(SATCON), C CompanyStaff Sgt. Nicholas Neilson,Pacific, 1st Space Company,C DetachmentSgt. Albert Nestler, Landstuhl,Germany, 53rd Signal Battalion(SATCON), C CompanyPfc. Brian Sennharrington,Fort Bliss, Texas, 1st SpaceCompany, A DetachmentStaff Sgt. Dawn Westrum,Landstuhl, Germany, 53rdSignal Battalion (SATCON),C Company

Staff Sgt. William Strong,Fort Detrick, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), CCompanySpc. John Wischmeier, FortMeade, Md., 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON), BCompany

On-the-Spot CashAwards

Beverly Atkinson, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixPhilip Avery, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixMary Byrd, Huntsville,Technical Interoperability andMatrix Center, MDA MatrixTimothy Clardy, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixVicki Cody, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixVeronica Collins, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center, BattleLab, Frontiers DivisionJim Griggs, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixKaren Larson, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD Matrix

Photo by Dottie White

ConstructioncontinuesThis photo, taken May 12,shows the progression of theVon Braun Complex onRedstone Arsenal, Ala., asconstruction continues. Theproject, which has beenongoing for seven months, willeventually become home to theMissile Defense Agency. It willcontain approximately 234,000square feet and house nearly1,000 employees. The contractwas awarded to TurnerUniversal ConstructionCompany Inc. of Huntsville,Ala., for more than $30 million.The scheduled completion dateis May 2007.

The 2006 Acquisition Excellence and Business Transformation Conference will take place June 6-7

at the Bob Jones Auditorium, SparkmanComplex, located in Building 5304, MartinRoad, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

This first-time conference is sponsoredby the U.S. Army Space and MissileDefense Command/U.S. Army ForcesStrategic Command in partnership withthe U.S. Army Aviation and MissileCommand; the Missile Defense Agency;the Program Executive Office, Missiles andSpace; the Program Executive Office,Aviation; and the National Aeronauticsand Space Administration, Marshall SpaceFlight Center.

This event will provide an unprece-dented opportunity to hear and learn fromsenior officials, chief executives, andleaders in industry and academia who will

be addressing current trends, bestpractices, and current legislative andregulatory changes in the areas ofacquisition excellence and businesstransformation. Highlights include aroundtable discussion with senior acquisi-tion officials and principal assistantsresponsible for contracting, and aContractor Awareness and Issues Forum.

Attendees will be able to select one ofthe seven different workshops offered eachafternoon. Some of the workshopsavailable are Contractor ManpowerReporting Requirements; ContractorIssues and Awareness Forum; LeadershipDevelopment/Career Development; andProper Use of Non-DoD Contract Vehicle.

This conference is free and open to thepublic, but seating and attendance will belimited. Registration for the conferencecan be completed at http://

Acquisition Excellence, Business TransformationConference scheduled for June 6-7 at Redstone

www.smdc.army.mil/aebt_conference/.On-post access is authorized for all

individuals who possess a Common AccessCard or retired military/civilianidentification card. For individuals who donot possess those forms of identification,the registration form allows you to submitinformation so that you can be cleared foraccess to the post. A valid driver’s licenseand certification of automobile insurancecoverage is required for clearance to driveon-post. Vehicle search is required andfirearms are not permitted on post. Allvisitors without valid decals andidentification must enter the Arsenal andcheck in at the Visitors Reception Centerat Gate 9, Rideout Road entrance.

Additional information about theconference can be obtained by contactingAdrian Epps at (256) 955-1644 or LeslieDuncan at (256) 955-4169.


Awards/PromotionsMark Little, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixDebbie Mitchell, Huntsville,Research, Development andAcquisition OfficeRobert O’Connell, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Simulations and AnalysisDirectorate, Studies andAnalysis DivisionBrenda Partain, Huntsville,Technical Center, TCOperationsSimone Philson, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center,Operations DivisionKenneth Shipman, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD Matrix

Special Act Awards

James Ball, Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test SiteUlpala Chiyyarath,Huntsville, Technical Center,GMD MatrixTimothy Clardy, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixGwyne Copeland, KwajaleinAtoll/Reagan Test Site

William Dionne, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixRichard Gonzalez, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixAnne Greene, Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test SiteSeyed Hamidi, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixWalter Ivey, Huntsville,Technical Center, MatrixMark Little, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixJohn McGary, Huntsville,Technical Center, MDA MatrixRandal Norton, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixDavid Parsons, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD MatrixRichard Prescott, ColoradoSprings, Chief, InformationOffice, InformationManagement DivisionHenry Sikes, Huntsville,Technical Center, GMD Matrix

Time-Off Awards

Karol Boutwell, ColoradoSprings, G-3, Plans andExercise Division

Michael McGarvey, ColoradoSprings, G-6, ConsolidatedWideband SSE and Transforma-tional CommunicationsTeresa Lockner, ColoradoSprings, G-3, U.S. StrategicCommand DetachmentGeorge Parsons, Huntsville,Technical Interoperability andMatrix Center, SystemsIntegration DirectorateLeondra Robinson, Huntsville,Chief, Information Office, Plansand Operations DivisionKatherine Schaper,Huntsville, Chief, InformationOffice, Plans and OperationsDivisionJanice Williams, Huntsville,Future Warfare Center, BattleLab

Length of Service

15 Years

Scott Wilson, Huntsville,Technical Center, Test andEvaluation Directorate

Christopher Wood, Huntsville,Office of Command Counsel

20 Years

Jan Morgan, Huntsville, Chief,Information Office, Plans andOperations DivisionJoel Shady, Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site, Office of theGarrison Commander, SafetyBranch

25 Years

Rena Calzada, Huntsville,Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan TestSite, Office of the GarrisonCommander, Safety AnalysisBranchEneals Moore, Huntsville, G-4,Logistics Support Division

30 Years

Stephanie Johnson, ColoradoSprings, Future WarfareCenter, Battle Lab

Major GMD players graduate from GTEC’s Operator CourseBy Sgt. Sara StoreyPublic Affairs NCOand Maj. Laura KenneyPublic Affairs Officer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Althoughcontent of the eight-week Operator Coursewas identical to classes before it, the classgraduating April 11 was unique. Of the 14students graduating, three are majorplayers in the 100th Missile DefenseBrigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense)and 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD).

These students are the incomingbrigade and battalion commanders — Col.Michael. L. Yowell and Lt. Col. Ted E.Hildreth, respectively — and the 100th’sHeadquarters/Headquarters Battery firstsergeant — 1st Sgt. Herbert O. Rodriguez.

Patricia O. Gargulinski, director forlogistics and operations support, Ground-based Midcourse Defense, said successfulcompletion of the Operator Course is agreat way to begin command of the unitsthat stand ready to operate ballisticmissile defense against an evolvingthreat.

“This particular class of graduates is adifferent mix — not only Soldiers andcrewmen, but also contractors andcivilians,” Gargulinski said. “I’m veryproud of all of them, as they will be makinga daily contribution to ensuring ournation’s defense.”

Instructors used a combination oflecture and hands-on training techniquesto teach students. Evaluations consistedof both written- and performance-orientedtests. Students must receive 90 percenton all graded tests and practical exercises.Successful completion of this trainingsignifies mastery of the GMD operatortasks and qualifies Soldiers to operate theGround-based Midcourse Defense FireControl System.

“After almost three years as firstsergeant, I must say this course has givenme a new perspective on what ourcrewmen do. Sitting on the other side of

the console offers a whole differentpicture,” Rodriguez said.

Capt. Christopher Berisford received thetitle of “honor graduate” with an overallcourse grade of 99.9 percent. Hildreth wasnamed “distinguished graduate” for

earning 99.3 percent on all graded events.The course is held at the GMD Training

and Exercise Center here.The next phase of training, conducted

by Sparta, will consist of positional crewtraining and certification.

Students from the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) man theconsoles while attending the eight-week GMD Operator Course in April. From front to back: Spc.Russell Smith, Staff Sgt. Jason DeLange, Capt. Mark Kiraly.

Photo by Carol Floyd, JNIC


SMDC European Region names NCO/Soldier of the YearBy Spc. Joshua PlylerUnit reporter

LANDSTUHL, Germany — “If they ever tellmy story, let them say I walked with giants.Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, butthese names will never die.” These wordsfrom Homer’s The Iliad seemed to resonatewith relevancy during the U.S. Army Spaceand Missile Defense Command/U.S. ArmyForces Strategic Command European RegionNoncommissioned Officer and Soldier of theYear Board that took place in Landstuhl,Germany, on April 21.

The Soldiers who attended this boardwere among the top Soldiers of their respec-tive units and were now gathered togetherfor one last competition to determine whowould represent at the SMDC/ARSTRATBoard that will be held in Colorado Springs,Colo., in June.

To get to this point was no easy task.Each Soldier in Charlie Company had toedge out their peers at Soldier of the month,quarter and year boards to represent theirunit at the regional board. Soldiers from theJoint Tactical Ground Station Europe(JTAGS), 1st Space Battalion, were alsopicked from their peers to represent theirunit in two days of competition, camara-derie, and the chance for the Soldiers to gettogether and share their experiences within1st Space Brigade.

Sgt. Patrick Mann and Staff Sgt. DonaldAmos represented Charlie Company whilePfc. Michael Moore and Sgt. Brian Sibilarepresented JTAGS for the Soldier of theYear and NCO of the Year titles,respectively, for the European Region.

“I’m really looking forward to this,”commented Sibila during the momentsleading up to his board appearance.

This year, the board was very lucky tohave as its president, Command Sgt. Maj.Kevin McGovern, 1st Space Battalioncommand sergeant major. McGoverntraveled halfway around the world simply, sohe could be a part of something that hefirmly believes in; Soldiers being more thanjust “eight-hour Soldiers.”

McGovern understands that to get to thislevel, the Soldiers need to spend a great dealof their spare time studying, researchingand preparing for the competition, so theycan proudly represent their units. He alsounderstands that a Soldier’s generalmilitary knowledge is crucial to theirsuccess in the U.S. Army.

“You never know where you’ll be tomor-row,” McGovern said to the Soldiers duringtheir first introduction briefings with him.“You never know where the Army will needyou next, but I have no doubts that you willall go on and do great and wonderful things.”

In addition to McGovern, the boardincluded 1st Sgt. Martin Chaffee, CharlieCompany first sergeant, Master Sgt. JerryMobry, Charlie Company support platoonsergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Keese Pond, JTAGSEurope first sergeant, and Sgt. 1st ClassKevin Newman, Charlie Company opera-tions platoon sergeant. With the stage set,the actors were ready, and the show wasabout to begin.

The night of everyone’s arrival markedthe official beginning of the eventsscheduled. But McGovern wanted to haveall the Soldiers feel at ease for their board,so his first order of business was food. StaffSgt. Trinity Peterson, the main organizer forall of the scheduled events, picked a verynice and quiet restaurant near the Land-stuhl military base called the Pfeffermühle,which translated means the Pepper Mill.

At the dinner, McGovern set the tone bygiving the Soldiers words of encouragementand advice, not only for the upcoming board,but for military life in general. He offered

insight on what his expectations were forthe following day and explained how gratefulhe was to be able to be a part of it.

“I am honored to be with you Soldiershere today,” remarked McGovern doing hisvery best to make sure all of the Soldiersattending the board were comfortable andunderstood what was expected of them.

Physical fitness is a very important partof a warrior’s path, and all warriors mustensure they keep themselves in a highstate of fitness at all times. The Armyincorporates physical training into theconcept of the 24-hour Soldier, because itknows that a warrior’s level of fitness has adirect impact on his or her combatreadiness. The many battles in whichAmerican troops have fought underscore theimportant role physical fitness plays on thebattlefield.

So, at 6:30 a.m., the Soldiers gatheredtogether with their minds and their bodiesprepared to compete, not only against theirfellow Soldiers, but against themselves. Thescore they would receive on this PT testwould directly translate into points towardthe competition, so they all needed to dotheir absolute best.

The day started with a height/weight andstrangely, it was found that all the Soldierscompeting were exactly the same height.

Afterward, everyone moved to the PT site,a misty German field right on the outskirtsof Ramstein Air Base, located just a fewmiles from Charlie Company. A morebeautiful and perfect setting could not havebeen asked for during a PT test. Theweather was perfect, and the Soldiers weremotivated.

Here, McGovern read aloud the officialrequirements from the PT manual andadded a few pointers on the best way toperform each event. Each Soldier didabsolutely outstanding, with Mannachieving a perfect 300 score. Afterward,the Soldiers were given a little time toshower and get into their Class A uniform.

The NCO portion was first, with Amosdrawing the proverbial short straw. Hisboard lasted approximately 45 minutes andupon emerging from the board room, singingthe Army song; his face was full of relief. “Atleast I didn’t get kicked out,” he said as hewiped the sweat from his brow.

Next went Sibila to finish the NCOportion. Mann and Moore were left tocompete in the Soldier portion. Each Soldierwas in the board for about an hour and allemerged also singing the Army song.

Afterward, some laughs were shared,especially when it was learned that one ofthe Soldiers had to do his board with onesock and shoe removed.

Then it was decision time. “I am notcomfortable labeling Soldiers as winners,”said McGovern. “This implies a loser andthere is no loser here today. However, weneeded to choose the individuals who moreexemplified all of the Army values and whowould best represent the EuropeanCommand at the SMDC board.”

After a little bit of tension, McGovernannounced that Amos would represent theEuropean Region as NCO of the Year, andMann would represent as Soldier of theYear.

He also explained that although Sibilaand Moore were not directly chosen, theystill needed to be prepared to go in caseAmos or Mann were unable to attend.

Now, perhaps the most important part ofany learning or evaluation event is knowingwhat you did wrong so you can correct it inthe future. This was the next item on theMcGovern’s list. He and the rest of theboard members “pulled no punches.” Theyall gave their post-board advice and notedthe mistakes each Soldier made. This way,the Soldiers knew what to do or not to do inthe future.

So, after months of getting their mindsand their bodies in sync and two days ofcompeting for great honors, the 2006 Spaceand Missile Defense Command EuropeanRegional Soldier and NCO of the YearChallenge was over. It felt at the end as ithad felt at the beginning, that on these twodays, one had walked with giants.

Sgt. Patrick Mann (left) and Staff Sgt. Donald Amos (right) take a few moments to catch their breathafter the two-mile run event during the Army Physical Fitness Test of the SMDC/ARSTRAT EuropeanRegion Soldier of the Year Board on April 21.

Photos by Stephanie Plyler

Mann takes a moment to gather his thoughts andtake a deep breath before entering the boardroom.


Bravo Company sweeps Eastern Regional BoardBy Spc. Alicia BrogdenUnit reporter

FORT MEADE, Md. — BravoCompany, 53rd SignalBattalion, Soldiers provedthemselves to truly be “Abovethe Rest” at the EasternRegional NoncommissionedOfficer and Soldier of the YearBoard.

The Eastern Regional Boardwas held March 28 and 29 forthe Soldiers and NCOs of FortMeade, Md., Fort Detrick, Md.,and the Continental UnitedStates Regional SATCOMSupport Center located atMacDill Air Force base, Fla.

This Year the Soldiers ofBravo Company swept thecompetition with Sgt. StacyLynn De La Hoz being namedthe Eastern Regional NCO ofthe Year and Spc. Levi Ingersollbeing named the EasternRegional Soldier of the Year.

The Regional Board was atwo-day event with one full dayof events and the other with anawards luncheon.

The first day the Soldierswere required to complete anArmy Physical Fitness Test,where each Soldier was gradedon their push-ups, sit-ups anda two-mile run for points.Ingersoll had an especially good

day at the track, lapping hiscompetition.

The Soldiers were alsorequired to give a five- toseven-minute class on amilitary subject of theirchoosing in which they weregraded on time, oratory skillsand appearance.

Lastly, the Soldiersparticipated in a question andanswer portion where theywere graded on their militaryknowledge in various subjects,their demeanor and theirmilitary bearing.

Both Bravo CompanySoldiers commanded acomfortable lead after the ArmyPhysical Fitness Test and heldonto the lead throughout thecompetition, each giving solidclasses and maintaining theirbearing through the questionand answer portion of theboard.

When asked if they had doneanything special to ensuretheir readiness, De La Hozsaid, “We took extra time toprepare. We held regular studysessions with one another,studying beyond the ArmyStudy Guide and digging intothe Field Manuals and ArmyRegulations, and we preparedfor our classes by imple-menting our ideas into the

daily routines of our squads. Ithink it made all thedifference.”

Apparently all the extra timeand hard work did pay off asboth De La Hoz and Ingersollare now preparing for a trip toColorado Springs, Colo., wherethey will go on to compete atthe U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces StrategicCommand, NCO and Soldier ofthe Year Board in June. Both

Soldiers are continuing theirstudy sessions and havestepped up their physicalfitness regiment to prepare forthe higher altitudes inColorado.

“This is a great opportunityfor me and I am excited to beable to represent BravoCompany this way,”commented Ingersoll whenasked how he felt about theupcoming SMDC Soldier of theYear Board.

Bravo Company Commander, Capt. Jermaine Sutton, far left, and BravoCompany 1st Sgt. Lucin Crawford, far right, with the Eastern RegionalSoldier of the Year, Spc. Levi Ingersoll, center left, and the Eastern RegionalNCO of the Year, Sgt. Stacy Lynn De La Hoz, center right.

LANDSTUHL, Germany — The path topromotion can be likened to climbing asteep mountain … the resistance istremendous but the reward makes itmore than worth the climb.

Capt. Andre Reed, commander ofCharlie Company, 53rd Signal Battalion(SATCON), had the honor of recognizingfive of his most promising noncommis-sioned officers for their hard work andefforts by promoting them to new levels ofleadership during a momentousceremony on March 31.

The ceremony was the culmination of

Charlie Company promotes new leadersBy Staff Sgt. Woody ScottUnit reporter

years of hard work, dedicationand motivation for these controlwarriors.

To the rank of staff sergeant,Reed promoted Staff Sgt. DonaldAmos, 2005 U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command/U.S.Army Forces Strategic CommandEuropean Region NCO of the Yearand Staff Sgt. Dawn Westrum.

To the rank of sergeant, Reedpromoted Sgt. Patrick Mann,2005 SMDC/ARSTRAT EuropeanRegion Soldier of the Year, Sgt.Jeremy Franklin and Sgt. AlbertNestler.

Reed also promoted two juniorenlisted Soldiers,Spc. Martin Jensenand Pfc. JosephWilliams. The recentlypromoted Soldiersdisplay a high levelof general militarybearing and posi-tive attitude. Allhave well-groomeduniforms, high ArmyPhysical Fitness Testscores, high weaponsscores, and most impor-tantly, high standards forthemselves and those whoserve with them. They are also technicalexperts who put their heartand soul into their jobs andstrive for excellence intheir mission everyday.Their contribution to theunit’s mission and esprit-de-corps positivelyreinforce and display theArmy values.

Sgt. Patrick Mann’s father stands by proudly as his son is pre-sented his promotion certificate by Charlie Company commander,Capt. Andre Reed, during a recent promotion ceremony at CCompany, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON).

During the ceremony Reed noted, “Iam proud of these Soldiers and I amhonored to reward their excellence. Youshould all strive to emulate theirexample.”

Mann imparted a bit of knowledge tothe junior enlisted Soldiers in hopes ofplacing them on the path to successsaying, “Look at these folks in front ofyou. They put in the work and wererecognized for their accomplishments.Most of the folks standing here wereboard winners. The boards are a greattool for recognition so get out andparticipate. Show them that you areready and that you are hungry foradvancement!”

Capt. Andre Reed presents Staff Sgt. Donald Amos with hispromotion certificate during a recent promotion ceremonyat Charlie Company, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON).

Photos by Master Sgt. Jerry Mobry

Photo by Sgt. Tashana Coleman


Military NewsCivilian NewsArmy safety programThe Chief of Staff of the Army has mandated several initiativesaimed at enabling commanders in the field to manage risk asthey accomplish the demanding missions of fighting a Global Waron Terrorism and transforming. The following link providesguidance on developing a thorough safety program: https://crc.army.mil/commanderscorner/.

Bill introduced to reducereserve retirement ageH.R.783 has been introduced to reduce the age for militaryretired pay eligibility from 60 to 55 for members of the Reservesand National Guard. The bill would lower the retirement age forthose who have served at least 20 years to begin to draw theirretirement pay at age 55. Active duty forces have no agerestrictions once their 20 years of service is complete. Membersof the National Guard and the reservists in the Navy, CoastGuard, Army, Marine and Air Force, would qualify at age 55 forretirement pay based on individual participation in theretirement plan. This bill has been introduced to helpcompensate Reserve and Guard members for their expanding rolein the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Emissary of hope honoredVeterans recently honored the real-life volunteer introduced to75 million Doonesbury readers as “Jim the Milkshake Man” forhis bedside visits to wounded vets at the Army’s Walter Reedhospital. Jim Mayer was recognized at Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter for his 500th peer visit. It is called a peer visit becauseMayer, like many of the war-wounded veterans in hospital beds,lost his legs in a land mine explosion in Vietnam. Besides theoccasional milkshake, Mayer brings to their bedside a messageof hope based on lessons learned since his own traumaticinjuries 37 years ago.

Heroes of the year soughtStaff Sgt. Robbi Smette of Makoti, N.D., was the first citizen-Soldier to be nominated as the Hero of the Year in a uniquenational campaign that Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. hasinitiated to honor this country’s Army Guard members. JacksonHewitt will honor one Army Guard Soldier each month for therest of this year, and a panel of judges will select a Hero of theYear from those candidates. Family members, friends oremployers can nominate Guard Soldiers for the monthly honorsby logging on to www.supporttheguard.com and explaining in 500words or less how a Soldier exemplifies the time-honoredtradition of the Army National Guard.

Charity scams target military personnelServicemembers and veterans should be careful when makingdonations to solicitors claiming to be charities in support of ourtroops. Fraudulent activities associated with donations maycome in the form of an email or a telephone call. Before makinga donation, verify the legitimacy of the organization usingMilitary.com’s Support Our Troops Center(http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1/?file=support_troops) or the Department of Defense Web site,America Supports You, (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx).

Medical records to go globalMedical facilities across the entire Department of Defense are inthe first phase of a transfer from the Composite Health CareSystem to Armed Forces Health Longitudinal TechnologyApplication, a new, global medical record database. The AHLTAsystem makes patients’ health information immediatelyavailable to civilian and military medical professionals aroundthe world via a computer global database. The new systemeliminates a lot of problems related to paper medical records.When the program reaches full functionality in 2011, AHLTA willalso contain laboratory information, in-patient records, X-raysand pharmaceutical information. The ultimate goal of themedical database is to completely eliminate the paper healthrecord.

TSP returns for G, F, C, S and I fundsRates of return were updated on March 1.

April 2006 Last 12 months (5/1/05 - 4/30/06)

G Fund 0.44% G Fund 4.52%

F Fund (.19)% F Fund 0.76%

C Fund 1.35% C Fund 15.40%

S Fund 0.34% S Fund 30.54%

I Fund 4.83% I Fund 33.58%

Percentages in ( ) are negative.

GSA updates travel regulationsThe General Services Administration amended the FederalTravel Regulation (FTR) recently to clarify the use of federalfunds to pay for early conference registration fees and servicesfor employees with special needs on official travel. The firstchange amends the FTR to allow for travel advances soemployees can take advantage of “early bird” discounts forwork conferences. GSA noted that employees had beenreluctant to register early, under the impression that theycould not file a claim for reimbursement until after theconference was over. Authorized employees can, in fact,register early and claim reimbursement to obtain thediscounted rate. In addition, “to provide reasonableaccommodations for travel of an employee with special needs,”GSA has authorized agencies to reimburse expenses, such astravel and per diem, for an attendant that must travel with theemployee for the trip to be feasible. Information on the FTR isavailable on GSA’s Web site, at http://www.gsa.gov/ftr.

Pentagon issues pay tablesfor new personnel systemBy Karen Rutzick, GovExec.com, May 9 —The Defense Department released the official pay tables Fridayfor its new personnel system, which is in place for 11,000employees and is slated to eventually cover 700,000 civilianworkers. The pay tables for the National Security PersonnelSystem represent a monumental shift from the decades-oldGeneral Schedule compensation system for federal employees.In place of the 15-grade pay ladder, the new tables have broadpaybands with large salary ranges divided by occupation.Separated by four career groups — standard, medical,investigative and protective services, and scientific andengineering — the bands are based on the General Schedule,although the upper pay limits exceed those in the currentsystem. Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=34034&dcn=e_gvet

New tracking system now in placeAt the direction of the SMDC/ARSTRAT chief of staff, no staffactions or taskings will be accepted without being logged intoand forwarded via the HQDA Staff Action Tracking Systemeffective immediately. All other staff tracking systems will bediscontinued. The HQDA Tracking System was selected forSMDC/ARSTRAT to streamline and consolidate the commandstaffing process. It primarily falls under the control of thesecretary of the general staff. It is an HQDA-hosted systemthat is controlled by the Information Management Center inArlington, Va. The command holds a total of 250 licenses thatare issued to action officers throughout the command who areresponsible for uploading documentation into the system.Each area also has several organizational administrators toassist with training and licensing, as well as being thedesignees for the flow of taskings and actions across thecommand. The goal of the SGS as well as the organizationaladministrators is to make this transition as transparent aspossible to assure no loss in man hours and productivity.Although the administrators can help with some issues,system specific problems should go through the IMCENhelpdesk at (703) 693-5014 or e-mail:[email protected].


Echo Company undergoes inspectionBy Spc. Elizabeth PrechtUnit reporter

FORT BUCKNER, OKINAWA, Japan — TheEcho Company Eagles of the 53rd SignalBattalion (SATCON) recently received avisit from their Battalion headquartersstaff and inspection team from ColoradoSprings, Colo., as part of the annualCommand Inspection and EvaluationProgram.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Hae-SuePark, Maj. Frank Smith, Master Sgt.Kenneth Tompkins, 1st Lt. Ted Perry, Sgt.1st Class David Redenbaugh, Staff Sgt.Robert Lewis, Staff Sgt. Michelle Shockley,Sgt. Roger White, Spc. Ivan Melendez,

Mike Cornett and Grace Rushing arrivedin Okinawa to begin the inspection onApril 4.

For the testing crew to be able toproperly assess the skills and knowledge ofEcho Company Soldiers, the inspectorscreated difficult scenarios for the squadsto react to on the operations side of thehouse. The scenarios tested theSoldiers’ knowledge base and teamworkability to better show how well EchoCompany would react in a crisis ormalfunction. By putting their best footforward, the Echo Company Soldiersreacted and negotiated the multiplescenarios that the testers threw at themwith finesse and skill.

Members of Echo Company, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON), gather with the visiting battalion staff during a town hall meetingin Okinawa, Japan.

Photo by Capt. Jason Shin

The inspection continued with theevaluation of the training noncom-missioned officer, Staff Sgt. ClaytonVanlangendonck, who received exemplarymarks due to his diligence and dedicationto training. While in town, the CIEP teamalso reviewed the first sergeant program;administration; supply; maintenance; andnuclear, biological and chemical. Havingthe entire battalion staff on-island provedto be a rewarding experience. Not only didthe CIEP team learn more about EchoCompany and its improvements over thelast couple of months, but they were alsoable to teach and train while here.One Soldier said, “They gave some greatways to improve and maintain

organizational levelsand efficiency. Thevisit was veryproductive and allowedthe Soldiers to see andmeet a command thatis headquartered sofar away from ourown.” The visit was notall about work though.During the week, Parkhosted a town hallmeeting with theSoldiers and familymembers, and thebattalion staffparticipated in achallenging physicaltraining run with EchoCompany Soldiersalong the KadenaSeawall. All in all, the visitwas a success. TheBattalion team testedthe Soldiers, providedteam building skillsand training that willfurther improve EchoCompany’s readiness.

Consideration of Others: Contributing to mission readinessBy Sgt. 1st Class Jason W.Porter, Equal OpportunityAdvisor, SMDC/ARSTRAT

Our Army is in a period of great transformation, while concurrently

supporting our Nation’ssecurity requirements in morethan 120 countries.

We are reminded daily of thegreat dedication and sacrificesmade by our Soldiers, many ofwhom are stationed overseasand serving in harm’s way.

Now more than ever ourArmy relies on individuals’collective capabilities andcohesive units committed tomission accomplishment.Underpinning this imperativeis the recognition thatindividual actions affect others.Clearly, respect between andfor individuals of all races,creeds, gender and national/ethnic heritages is importantto our Army and its mission.

Recognizing the relationshipbetween mission readiness,unit cohesion, andcommitment of individuals’talents to organizational goals,the Army in 1998 developed the

Consideration of OthersProgram.

The intent of theConsideration of OthersProgram is to build teamworkand cohesion. The focus of thisprogram goes well beyondhuman relations and focuseson facilitating actions to enableunit members, military andcivilian, to internalize Armyvalues and recognize the vitalimportance thatdiversity and respectfor others bring tomission accomplish-ment.

In essence,Consideration of Othersis defined as “thoseactions that indicate asensitivity to andregard for the feelingsand needs of others andan awareness of theimpact of one’s ownbehavior on them;being supportive of andfair with others.”

Commanders, leaders, andsupervisors are responsible forthe establishment of anenvironment conducive tomission accomplishment and

individual development. Theyhave many tools available intheir “leadership toolbox” tobuild confidence, mutualrespect, and facilitatecohesiveness.

The Consideration of OthersHandbook, available at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/co2/CO2_book/Co2_TOC.htm,describes the rationale for theConsideration of Others

Program and has some lessonplans to assist facilitators.

The Command’s equalopportunity advisor, chaplain,and inspector general arealso available to provide

professional advice on theprogram.

At the individual level,everyone, in some way, has theability to make an impact —positive or negative — on otherpeople. As people go to workeach day, including those of usserving as Soldiers andcivilians with SMDC/ARSTRAT, some will say “hello”or “good morning” with a smile

while others will not.Some people may showconcern when they see aperson having a bad dayand offer a few words ofencouragement. Theselittle gestures conveygreat meaning whencoupled with heartfeltconcern and acts ofselflessness.

Please take the time —perhaps even during aquiet moment at yourdesk or while walkingdown a hallway — to show

consideration for others. Asmile or simple “hello” goes along way in forging long-termrelationships that ultimatelyaffect our role in supporting theCommand’s mission.

‘At the individual level,everyone, in some way, hasthe ability to make an impact— positive or negative — onother people.’

— Sgt. 1st Class Jason W. PorterEqual Opportunity Advisor

SMDC/ARSTRAT


FORT DETRICK, Md. — Withan overall record of two winsand nine losses, an unimpres-sive but fun volleyball seasonfor the Probes of AlphaCompany, 53rd SignalBattalion, came to an end onApril 18.

The one point loss in thesecond round of the playoffs tobitter rival USAMRIID (U.S.Army Medical Research Insti-tute for Infectious Diseases)knocked Alpha Company out ofcontention for the Fort DetrickChampionship. Despite apopular pick to win it all inmany preseason polls, AlphaCompany fell short ofexpectations despite animpressive collection of talent.

Sgt. David Smith, the team’scaptain, was the most skilledand experienced member of theteam. He and phenomenalteammate Spc. Aaron Deir bothexcelled at intramural volley-ball while at Fort Gordon, Ga.,during Advanced IndividualTraining.

Spc. Adam Fairchild and Spc.John Campbell, two of AlphaCompany’s most giftedathletes, both played solid nomatter where they were on thecourt.

1st Lt. Patrick Smith wasthe team’s emotional leader,who inspired the team with hispre-game speeches. He alsoled the team in blocks while

By Sgt. Clayton TuttleUnit reporter

Alpha Company’s volleyball season comes to an end

Sgt. Alexander White was theteam’s premiere setter. Whathe lacked in height he morethan made up for with sharp,precision passing and sets.

Sgt. Justin Jacobsenrounded out the lineup as theteam’s power player. He wasthe most fearsome andintimidating hitter on theteam and led the team in kills.

With so much talent on theteam, some may wonder whythe Probes had such adisappointing season.

“Stupid mistakes,” believesSgt. Smith. “Whether we weregetting called for carries, netviolations or made too manyservice errors, it seems wealways managed to defeat

(Left to right) Spc. Aaron Deir, Spc. Adam Fairchild, 1st Lt. Patrick Smith,Sgt. Alexander White, Capt. Joseph Schaefer, Spc. John Campbell, Sgt.Justin Jacobsen (Sgt. David Smith not pictured)

Photo by Heather Jacobsen

ourselves.”“We were too inexperienced,”

said Deir. “We were a bunch ofgreat athletes, but we did notwork well together as a team.Our opponents had bettercohesion, better communi-cation.”

Alpha Company’s gradualimprovement throughout theyear was proof that they simplyneeded more time to work outthe kinks.

Perhaps most of all, manningwas a huge obstacle for theProbes once the playoffsstarted. Their two losses inthe double elimination playoffsboth came to USAMRIID as aresult of a lack of players.

The first time around, the

team forfeited when only fourplayers showed up to the game(two Soldiers were on leave andtwo chose to play soccer). TheProbes then upset the civilianteam Diggit, the third rankedteam in the league. This wasthanks in large part to thedominant performance of Capt.Joseph Schaefer, who was alate addition to the team.

However, when the Probesfaced USAMRIID again in arematch, they played with onlyfive people. Their best playerSgt. Smith was on leave, andCampbell and Fairchild onceagain chose to play for AlphaCompany’s championshipsoccer team instead. “Weplayed as well as we could withfive people. Even though halfour starting lineup wasn’tthere, we still only lost by onepoint,” said a dejected Jacobsenfollowing the season-endingloss.

Despite coming up shortduring the 2006 season, theteam remains positive for nextyear. “We made a lot ofimprovement and showed greatpotential throughout the year,”Sgt. Smith summarized. “Andthe majority of our team will beback next year. Hopefully wewon’t lose anyone to socceragain.”

With Alpha Company’svolleyball team poised for astrong comeback next year, theteam now focuses its attentionon the upcoming softballseason.

Echo Company Family Readiness Group camps outBy Staff Sgt. David SizemoreUnit reporter

FORT BUCKNER, OKINAWA, Japan — Itall came about as a result of a duck-hunting trip in 1947 between Gen. FredHayden, Lt. Col. Arch McGee and apersonable Okinawan named Shinzo.

At the end of the day, the general lookedover the area, part of which was farmed insweet potatoes, andsaid, “Mac, you’ve got alot of imagination, let’ssee you build a restcenter here.”

“How much money?”asked McGee.

“None,” repliedHayden.

And with that McGeeset out on a creativejourney.

Fifty-nine yearslater, Echo Companyalso set out on ajourney, to explore thevision McGee created.

On March 24, theEcho Company, 53rdSignal Battalion(SATCON) FamilyReadiness Group andcommander invitedSoldiers and familymembers to attend EchoCompany’s firstcompany camping trip.The event was held onOkinawa’s northwestshores at the Okuma

Joint Service Recreation Facility, atropical paradise that proved to be theperfect spot for a little rest and relaxation.

With such amenities as golf courses,miniature golf courses, bike trails, boatingand other watercraft acivities, and a hostof diving and snorkeling related services,no one could claim they were at a loss forsomething to fill their day.

Soldiers and family members were

encouraged to explore as much of thefacility as they wished during the three-day event, and many did just that. Groupswere quickly formed for SCUBA andsnorkeling excursions, as well as hikingtrips to Hiji Falls, a local waterfall locatednear the Okuma facility.

“The part I liked about the camping tripthe most was having the opportunity formy daughter and me to explore the island,

to visit a location wehad never been to,”said Staff Sgt. MerlMckerrow. “It wasgreat just to let herrun wild!” Sgt. JamesHalbritter affirmedMckerrow’s remarks,“I just think it was agreat chance for theSoldiers and theirfamilies to interactwith one anotheroutside of work,outside of the FRGmeetings.” “This weekend isabout the EchoCompany family” saidCapt. Todd Vick,Echo Companycommander. “Iwanted to dosomething for theunit, to show that theFRG was not justabout the marriedSoldiers, but theentire Echo family.”

Staff Sgt. Jerry Brown and his family enjoy lunch during an Echo Company Family ReadinessGroup camping trip.

Photo by Capt. Todd Vick

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