LIFELINER WEST WEST “If you want it done, call the 101!” Crash Dance plays QBC MWR. Page 6 IA: Operation Dragnet. Page 5 71st CSB builds learning center. Page 3 Volume 2, No. 11 Deployment Edition Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ March 15, 2006 142nd CSB marks ‘One Million’ milestone Icing flies as the 142nd CSB commanders celebrate reaching the unit’s millionth mile of combat logistical patrols. Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune By Sgt. Rachel A. Brune Editor LSA DIAMONDBACK, Iraq – Soldiers of the 142nd Corps Support Battalion celebrated their millionth mile of ground covered in Iraq with a cake cer- emony and toasts here March 7. “The millionth mile is not the end of the line,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Green, battalion commander. Green and his subordinate unit commanders used a saber to cut the cake, before Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, rolled out of the gates to complete the battalion’s millionth mile of combat logistical patrols. Along the battalion’s wall of fame, Pfc. Joseph Hackett, an artilleryman from Blacksburg, Va., put the finish- ing touches on a new painting depict- ing an odometer showing one million miles and the date. Hackett, of B/2-5, contributed his unit’s mural to the col- lection in front of battalion headquar- ters. Soldiers from each unit under the battalion raised their glasses and made toasts to their units, the Army and to their fellow Soldiers. Remembered in the toasts was Sgt. Ivan Alarcon, 473rd Quartermaster Retail Explosion: New shops add to Q-West Base consumer ops Col. James E. Grayson, Mehmet Katar and Fatos Sahin cut the ribbon for the opening of Katar Plaza. On March 5, a ribbon-cutting ceremony recog- nized the grand opening of Katar Plaza here at Q- West Base Complex, Iraq. “I have been waiting over a year for this day to come,” said Mehmet Katar, owner of Katar Plaza, minutes before the ceremony was to begin. During the ceremony, Fatos Sahin, manager, delivered a brief speech to Soldiers who patiently waited for doors to open. Col. James E. Grayson, commander, 153rd Field Artillery (Forward) from Mesa, Ariz., assisted Katar in the ribbon cutting. The Katar Plaza is an addition to the growing pop- ulation of retailers, and allows Soldiers to purchase items such as jewelry, fabric, rugs, leather and glassware. Some of the same items are available at other locations to include the Troya Turkish Mall, De Ja Vu, Seven Eleven, Red Leg Shop, The Club and Old Bill’s General Store; all of which carry their own merchandise. Some of the retailers have been serv- ing Soldiers since they first occupied the base when the war began. Shops like the Troya Turkish Mall features a Turkish restaurant, which is located near the dining facility, while others, like De Ja Vu, recently extend- ed their business by opening a new barber and beauty shop. The base also has a barber shop where soldiers can get a free haircut which is located next to the Red Leg Shop. “Soldiers will most likely shop at those closest to their living area,” said Captain Jesse Ballenger, Q- West Base Complex retail manager. Ballenger, an Arizona native, ensures both parties of the retail Continued on Page 3 Photo by Renee Favors By Sgt. Patricia Tso Brigade Multimedia Illustrator Continued on Page 2
Transcript
LIFELINERWESTWEST“If you want it done, call the 101!”
Crash Dance plays
QBC MWR.
Page 6
IA: Operation
Dragnet.
Page 5
71st CSB builds
learning center.
Page 3
Volume 2, No. 11 Deployment Edition Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ March 15, 2006
Icing flies as the 142nd CSB commanders celebrate reaching the unit’s millionth mile of combat logistical patrols.
Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune
By Sgt. Rachel A. BruneEditorLSA DIAMONDBACK, Iraq – Soldiersof the 142nd Corps Support Battalioncelebrated their millionth mile ofground covered in Iraq with a cake cer-emony and toasts here March 7.
“The millionth mile is not the end ofthe line,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Green,battalion commander.
Green and his subordinate unitcommanders used a saber to cut thecake, before Battery B, 2nd Battalion,5th Field Artillery Regiment, rolled outof the gates to complete the battalion’smillionth mile of combat logisticalpatrols.
Along the battalion’s wall of fame,Pfc. Joseph Hackett, an artillerymanfrom Blacksburg, Va., put the finish-ing touches on a new painting depict-ing an odometer showing one millionmiles and the date. Hackett, of B/2-5,contributed his unit’s mural to the col-lection in front of battalion headquar-ters.
Soldiers from each unit under thebattalion raised their glasses andmade toasts to their units, the Armyand to their fellow Soldiers.
Remembered in the toasts was Sgt.Ivan Alarcon, 473rd Quartermaster
Sahin cut the ribbon for the opening of Katar Plaza.
On March 5, a ribbon-cutting ceremony recog-nized the grand opening of Katar Plaza here at Q-West Base Complex, Iraq.
“I have been waiting over a year for this day tocome,” said Mehmet Katar, owner of Katar Plaza,minutes before the ceremony was to begin.
During the ceremony, Fatos Sahin, manager,delivered a brief speech to Soldiers who patientlywaited for doors to open. Col. James E. Grayson,commander, 153rd Field Artillery (Forward) fromMesa, Ariz., assisted Katar in the ribbon cutting.
The Katar Plaza is an addition to the growing pop-ulation of retailers, and allows Soldiers to purchaseitems such as jewelry, fabric, rugs, leather andglassware.
Some of the same items are available at other
locations to include the Troya Turkish Mall, De JaVu, Seven Eleven, Red Leg Shop, The Club and OldBill’s General Store; all of which carry their ownmerchandise. Some of the retailers have been serv-ing Soldiers since they first occupied the base whenthe war began.
Shops like the Troya Turkish Mall features aTurkish restaurant, which is located near the diningfacility, while others, like De Ja Vu, recently extend-ed their business by opening a new barber andbeauty shop. The base also has a barber shop wheresoldiers can get a free haircut which is located nextto the Red Leg Shop.
“Soldiers will most likely shop at those closest totheir living area,” said Captain Jesse Ballenger, Q-West Base Complex retail manager. Ballenger, anArizona native, ensures both parties of the retail
Continued on Page 3
Photo by Renee Favors
By Sgt. Patricia TsoBrigade Multimedia Illustrator
Continued on Page 2
March 15, 2006LIFELINER WESTPage 2
LIFELINER WESTSTAFF
Brigade CommanderCol. James D. Scudieri
Brigade Command Sergeant MajorCSM Stephen D. Blake
Public Affairs OfficerSgt. 1st Class Lori Simmons
Lifeliner West EditorSgt. Rachel A. Brune
Art & GraphicsSgt. Patricia TsoSpc. Rachel Moore
Contributing WritersSgt. 1st Class Jason ArnesonSpc. Spencer CasePfc. Paul MolanSpc. Amber MoodySgt. Ashly N. Rice2nd Lt. Suzanne K. SchultzSgt. Marshall Thompson1st. Lt. Norman TidmoreRachael Van HornSpc. Richard Vogt
The Lifeliner West, Deployment Issue: Vol. 2, No. 11,is published bimonthly by the 101st Sustainment
Brigade Public Affairs Office to disseminate com-mand information throughout all subordinate ele-
ments of the brigade and units residing on Q-WestBase Complex, and to raise and promote the moraleof the troops. • Contents of this publication are notnecessarily the official views of or endorsed by, theUnited States government or the Department of theArmy. • The editorial content of this publication is
the responsibility of the 101st Sustainment BrigadePublic Affairs Office. • Articles and photos of inter-est to the brigade and its elements are invited andmay be submitted to Sgt. Rachel A. Brune, Editor. •To contact the PAO, please call: 302-243-5104, or
Company, who was killed Nov. 17, 2005, in a vehicularaccident in the vicinity of Tal Afar, Iraq.
Soldiers also toasted Cpl. Frank M. Sandoval, B/2-5artilleryman, who was wounded in action.
“Coming here, I never imagined we’d drive one mil-lion miles,” said Capt. Thomas Caldwell, battery com-mander. The Charlotte, N.C., native, explained thatalthough operating gun truck escorts is not a primaryfunction of field artillery, the unit is trained to movefrom firing point to firing point, so “convoys are whatwe do.”
Bravo’s first sergeant has another thought on whathas made the unit successful in its eight months intheater.
“Disciplined Soldiers [are] the key to a successfulArmy. Bravo/2-5 proves that every day,” said 1st Sgt.Thomas Parsley, of Lawton, Okla.
The millionth mile combat logistical patrol rolled outof the gates to Forward Operating Base Sykes under thesupervision of Staff Sgt. William Willoughby, of Sumter,S.C. Willoughby, a “quiet professional” according toCaldwell, recently assumed duties as CLP commanderafter several months acting as assistant CLP command-er.
“Every time I come out, it’s never the same,” saidWilloughby.
Backing up Willoughby were gunner Spc. FranToledo, an artilleryman from Salt Lake City, Utah, anddriver Pfc. Eric Ray, an artilleryman from St. Louis, Mo.Although Toledo has three years of service, Rayreceived his orders for deployment the day he arrived atthe unit from advanced individual training, or AIT.
“I just know what training and coming out here islike,” said Ray, who has previous driving experiencefrom working on his grandparents’ cattle ranch.
Fellow artilleryman-driver, Pfc. Michael Pierce, ofExeter, Maine, used to work as a truck driver beforejoining the military. He and Ray went through basictraining and AIT together, arriving at the unit anddeploying together as well.
“It’s a difficult mission to explain,” said Pierce. “It’schanging all the time.”
The landscape the battery travels is different thanToledo had expected.
“I thought it would just be desert,” said Toledo, whohas been a gunner for more than six months on theCLP commander’s team. The hardest part of his job isthe decision calls he needs to make to respond to secu-rity threats, he said.
Toledo is also responsible for communications in histruck.
“I’ve just been out here for more than six months,”said Toledo. “I’ve learned a lot.”
Willoughby joined the Army at the age of 26, and hasserved for four years. This is his second deployment insupport of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“It’s a thinking man’s game,” said Willoughby. Hecredits his crew with knowing their jobs so well thatthey taught him what he needed to know as CLP com-mander.
“If you could have privates as convoy commanders,they could do it,” said Willoughby.
Although the different mission has its challenges, thebattery commander’s troops have adapted and over-come those challenges throughout their deployment.
“As artillery, these guys have adopted this mission,”said Caldwell. “They bring pride to the artillery andtransportation corps.”
Pierce and Ray said they do not mind the change inmission.
“[The mission] is fun,” said Ray.“I think it’s a blast. I love it,” said Pierce.Unit cohesion is also a factor in the battery’s ability
to adjust to the mission.“Bravo keeps the morale up by being one big family,”
said Pierce.“We have a lot of fun together,” said Ray.Toward the end of the ride, Ray inquired if he could
give a “shout out” to his parents, Mitch and Kathy Ray,and sister Kristen, of St. Charles, Mo.
“I’ve never given a shout out before,” said Ray.When asked if he had a message for people back in
the United States, Ray replied: “Thanks for your sup-port.”
Pfc. Joseph Hackett, Battery B, 2-5th FA, paints a mural
commemorating the 142nd CSB’s millionth mile.
Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune
The 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2ndDivision Iraqi Army struck anotherblow recently against the terrorists inthe Tigris River Valley.
The Desert Fox Battalion, under thecommand of Brig. Gen. Ali Mullah,recently conducted multiple opera-tions in the villages of Al Hawd andSert that resulted in the apprehensionof 10 suspected members of anti-Iraqiforces.
These operations were the directresult of local civilians coming forwardwith information on terrorists.
The first operation consisted of acordon and search that yielded twodetainees, 10 blasting caps, more than100 sticks of TNT, detonation cord,and 2x155mm, 2x152mm and 1x130mm artillery rounds.
The cache also yielded large
amounts of small arms ammunitionand a vehicle that was being convertedfor use as a possible vehicle-borneimprovised explosive device.
During the second operation, alsothe direct result of civilian involve-ment, the 1st Battalion received smallarms fire from multiple houses whileconducting a cordon and search for asecond possible VBIED. The IA sol-diers returned fire, utilized their train-ing and detained eight individuals sus-pected of terrorist involvement.
Along with the detainees, the IA alsoseized a large quantity of materialsused in the production of improvisedexplosive devices, or IEDs.
These actions continue to demon-strate to both coalition forces and localresidents that the Q-West-basedDesert Fox Battalion is firmly in con-trol of its battle space and leading thefight in the Tigris River Valley.
Desert Fox Battalion finds weapons cacheBy Sgt. 1st Class Jason Arneson4-11th Field Artillery Regiment
Jackpot! These explosives are a part of the cache uncovered by Iraqi Army troops
from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, during a recent operation.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cornelison
Page 3March 15, 2006 LIFELINER WEST
“We plan to arrange for more seating areas,” saidBallenger as he pointed to the table and chairs out-side Subway.
Residents on Q-West may expect more changesand additions. New shops on the installation are stillpossibilities for the future.
world are content and satisfied. The Army and Air Force Exchange Services, or
AAFES, also has a history here at Q-West BaseComplex. The post exchange, or PX, first opened inJuly 2005 after months of renovation and recon-struction to the building.
“We were supposed to open in June 2005, but themerchandise never made it here,” said AnaCardenas, AAFES Manager, from San Antonio,Texas. Cardenas has seen the PX go from its renova-tion stage to its present stage and knows what it islike for Soldiers in need.
“Soldiers at the time were overwhelmed to seeAAFES,” said Cardenas. “They hugged us, kissed usand even offered to help us.”
AAFES is working on expanding the PX in thenear future to accommodate the Soldiers and civil-ian workers better.
For now, Soldiers enjoy Subway and Green BeanCoffee, both of which opened a month ago and arelocated in the vicinity of the PX. Green Bean recent-ly changed its hours and is now open 24 hours.
RReettaaiill EExxpplloossiioonnContinued from Page 1
Photo by Sgt. Patricia Tso
A Soldier browses the merchandise in a clothing store
at the Katar Plaza grand opening March 5.
Congratulations!
Staff Sgt. Erik
Duiker
Brigade NCO of the Quarter
BrigadeSoldier of
the Quarter
Spc. Christopher
Mercado
It took 80 sheets of plywood, 80four-by-sixes, 100 two-by-sixes, 35six-by-sixes, 40 Soldiers on extra dutyand 90 days to build. But even with allthe needed material, the new 71stCorps Support Battalion MendezLearning Center could not have cometo fruition without spirit.
The center is open for business, butthe dedication and ribbon-cutting cer-emony is scheduled for March 16.
“The colonel and [Command] Sgt.Major Spencer never asked me out-right to do any of this,” Spc. MarceloBalboa said. “They just brought mehere and asked me to look at thisbuilding and tell them what I saw.”
What Balboa saw was beyond any-one’s imagination or ability to visual-ize, said Command Sgt. Maj. JimSpencer, 71st CSB, based on Q-WestBase Complex.
“This Soldier truly has been the lifebehind this project,” Spencer said.
The project is a 3,000 square footlearning center that includes fourclassrooms that seat 24 students anda 50-station computer lab -- allperched atop an old, dilapidated Iraqiconcrete masonry building that hasalso benefited from Balboa’s skills.
The Mendez Learning Center wasnamed for Pfc. Antonio Mendez of the40th Transporation Company, killedOctober 2005.
The learning center was the brain-child of the 71st leadership whodesired an opportunity for theirSoldiers to continue to expand theireducation, even while fighting theglobal war on terrorism.
The supporting structure for theMendez Learning Center serves ashome to the headquarters for the 71stCSB. But it was in dismal shape uponSpencer’s arrival. Before he everthought about a learning center,Spencer had to make the building atleast habitable.
“It was terrible,” Spencer said. Quite by accident, while out and
about doing some “sensing sessions”
at the 305th Quartermaster Company,Spencer noticed some desks and doorsthat were obviously newly constructed,and he asked who had made them.
Enter Spc. Marcelo Balboa, a familyman from Texas, who at 35 followedhis son into the military just a shortyear ago. He now finds himself plyinghis civilian trade, but in a wholly dif-ferent way for the Army.
Indeed, the work on the desks anddoors was impressive, but whatSpencer didn’t know was that Balboareceived the tasks with nothing morethan the raw wood, a saw, a rock andsome nails.
With that same tenacity and dedica-tion Balboa, the father of five, beganthe work toward turning an old Iraqiconcrete structure into, easily, themost impressive building on Q-WestBase Complex.
The FoundationA simple desk was how his relation-
ship and eventual attachment to the71st CSB started, Balboa said. “Theyjust brought me here and asked me tobuild this desk in the S-1 shop,” hesaid.
That November night, Balboa andhis partner throughout the larger proj-ect, Cpl. Brad Woolley, worked allnight on the desk for the S-1 shoptogether. After seeing the work, therequests just kept coming, Balboasaid.
“They now have me attached to the
71st,” said Balboa.So began Balboa’s realization that
just because he was in the Army, hisdays of working with leftovers andodds and ends were not over. Thatincluded the people assigned to histeam, with whom he would accomplishthe project.
“I had Soldiers who had no idea howto use tools or do any of this work,” hesaid. “I had to teach them while wewere building the project, how to usethe tools. That first day, they cut thecords on the new saw we built.”
Indeed, most of the labor providedfor all the improvements made at the71st CSB Headquarters was achievedbecause someone had misbehaved.
Spencer combined his passion forthe complete renovation of the head-quarters and the creation of the learn-ing center with his disdain for undisci-plined actions and created the perfectwork crew for the building party.
“With what these guys learned doingthis, they will leave here and never bethe same,” Balboa said.
With the same determination thathe used teaching Soldiers, Balboa cre-ated an idea for how the projectworked.
Before a piece of wood was laid, andbecause the space for the buildingresided on the roof of an existingstructure, Balboa had to visualize andplan how much wood he thought hewould need and began to build the
learning center “backwards,” he said. “I’m not an educated person,” said
Balboa. “I just tried to imagine what[materials the building] needed, and Ihad the forklift put up here on the roof[all the materials] I thought I wouldneed.”
Workers didn’t even have stairsthat first few weeks to bring things upwith, they hadn’t been built yet.Soldiers used every scrap of wood theycould find construct the center,including some “dunnage” four-by-sixes that are normally discarded. Thewindows are out of discarded Humveedoors and the beams are the gussetedfour-by-sixes.
The cement they used was whatthey could find.
But despite these roadblocks andothers such as rain and ruined tools,90 days later, the center is nearingcompletion.
It is comprised of not more than$10,000 of wood, but looks like a loghome any self-respecting woodsmancould be proud of. Its “lap and gap”siding makes one think of better days.
The building bears the uniquemarks, in some places of a Soldier’smiscalculation, and on others, anotherSoldier’s creativity. Its sturdy desksare in place and nearly ready for stu-dents to tap their feet under. Otherutilities, such as air conditioners andwiring stand by as a silent testamentto “other help” who have declined to bementioned, but who have had equalpleasure in watching the project devel-op.
The same structure, built by car-penters in the U.S. would have beenupwards of $50,000 said KBR con-struction manager, Edward Parham.
But the most value was not in whatwent into the building, said Balboa.The value is what was realized fromthe construction of it.
“When I went into the Army, I tookthe Army values seriously,” he said.“This project, whatever becomes of itafter I leave, has given me the chanceto teach those values to Soldiers whilewe build.”
By Rachael Van HornKBR LNO
Soldiers get education building learning center
Soldiers work on building the Mendez Learning Center during construction.
Photo by 1st Lt. Norman Tidmore
March 15, 2006LIFELINER WESTPage 4
FOB SPEICHER, Iraq - The 506th QuartermasterCompany, 561st Corps Support Battalion, is privi-leged to work closely here with a tactical water dis-tribution system, or TWDS, team from the 610thQuartermaster Company.
The team consists of Staff Sgt. Myron Fredericks,team leader, Sgt. Roanne Dowe, Spc. SherelleFreeman and Pfc. Dianne Fox. Their parent unit iscurrently working out of Logistical Support AreaAnaconda; however, when not deployed, the unitoperates out of the Virgin Islands.
Their mission here at Speicher consists of check-ing, servicing and replacing more than 25 miles ofhoses. Before pumping more than 25,000 gallons ofwater through these hoses every day, the team mustensure that everything is operational.
In addition to these maintenance tasks, the TWDSteam is responsible for the 12 separate holding bagsinto which the water is pumped.
Two Soldiers remain at the pump and at thedownload site in order to fill the bags. They commu-nicate via radio since they are often as far as 800
meters apart. Distance is not the only inhibitor to communica-
tion for the team. The greatest challenge is working
with individuals who speak foreign languages. Fredericks views this opportunity as a rewarding
experience, because he must accomplish a missionwith people of many backgrounds who do not speakthe same language, but still find a way to communi-cate effectively. Fredericks said that this experiencehas afforded him the ability “to meet with many peo-ple from different walks of life.”
Although there is also a lack of communicationwith friends from their parent unit, the TWDS teammembers still enjoy free time by working out togeth-er, participating in sports or simply relaxing withbooks or games.
Dowe is a regular participant on the 506th QMbasketball team, and Freeman has joined thewomen’s basketball league here.
All of the team members agree that what theymiss most is the food that their home base has tooffer. The fish and passion fruit of the Virgin Islandsare particular favorites.
Fredericks remains diligent as the team leader,and his goals during this deployment are to “alwaysremain positive and ensure everyone returns to theirfamilies safe and healthy.”
Virgin Islands Soldiers keep Speicher-dwellers pumped By 2nd Lt.Suzanne K. Schultz506th Quartermaster Company
Sgt. Roanne Dowe and Pfc. Dianne Fox, (left to right)
work together to fill and inspect a water storage bag.
Photo by 2nd Lt. Suzanne K. Schultz
Maj. Andy Ingalsbe, 401st Civil Affairs Battalion, and Tahseen
Omar, Makhmur District water manager, inspect the Sultan
Abdullah water pumping station March 3.
MAKHMUR DISTRICT, Iraq –From the rooftop of the SultanAbdullah water pumping sta-tion, fields of green stretch tothe base of the Makhmurfoothills.
An ancient tel overlooks abend in the Tigris River, as itcurves lazily past the station,glinting brightly in the after-noon sunshine.
Inside the station, noisefrom the pumps roared overthe conversation as TahseenOmar, Makhmur districtwater manager, and Maj. AndyIngalsbe, Company A, 401stCivil Affairs Battalion, dis-cussed the scope of workneeded on the district’s waterstations.
The Makhmur water sta-tions provide water forapproximately 50,000 peoplein the district, according toSgt. Brian Hawthorne, 401stCA, civil affairs NCO. TheSultan Abdullah stationpumps water to the local area,then to the Aliyawa station.
From Aliyawa, the watertravels to Makhmur and thenearby villages.
The civil affairs team, anArmy Reserve unit fromWebster, N.Y., contracts localnational workers to work onthe stations, according toHawthorne. The work rangesfrom building a plant from theground up, to simple repairs.
Soldiers from Battery B, 4thBattalion, 11th Field ArtilleryRegiment and Iraqi Armytroops from the Makhmurbased-3rd Battalion, 3rdBrigade, 2nd Division, escort-ed Ingalsbe’s team.
At a location near the IraqiArmy compound, Ingalsbe andOmar inspected a water toweroriginally built in 1964. Withthe help of the civil affairsteam, local contractors fixedthe many leaks and replaceworn-out supports.
Contractors also installed anew fence and poured 144square meters of concrete.
“The district of Makhmur is
a mixed Kurdish/Arab area,where ethnic issues some-times impede progress,” saidHawthorne in an e-mail inter-view. “The money we spendbenefits both groups equally,and this is a very importantconsideration with each of ourprojects.”
A scope of working is thelist of funding requirements,including materiel to be pur-chased and the price. The civilaffairs team visited each sta-tion personally to ensure thatthe projects required therepairs listed on the scope ofwork.
“It puts [us] as the cus-tomers and the contractor onthe same sheet of music, sothat we can hold themaccountable for what we arepaying,” said Hawthorne.
Once the scope of work isset, troops from Battery B willreturn to check on theprogress, according to Capt.Michael Bugaj, battery com-mander.
Working with the locals toprovide the area with cleanwater is one of the many func-tions of civil affairs in theTigris River Valley.
“Providing the people withcritical infrastructure such aswater, electricity, educationand roads helps them see thatIraq is a good place to live,”said Hawthorne.
Better living has wide-spread effects.
“The money we have spenthelps the government help itspeople, as the work is beingdone by Iraqis,” saidHawthorne. “They see theirgovernment employees over-seeing the work, [which] givesthe government credibility andhelps maintain peace.”
Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune
IA, CA, FA visit water plants
MAKHMUR, Iraq —The armored vehicles rolled across theopen fields and left behind a trail of dust as Battery B, 4thBattalion, 11th Field Artillery Soldiers viewed their newarea of responsibility during a civil affairs mission con-ducted on March 3.
The artilleryman provided security with Iraqi Armytroops as the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion conducted themission.
The Soldiers, who recently relocated to Q-West BaseComplex from Mosul, must also take on the challenge ofworking with the Iraqi Army, or IA Soldiers, based inMakhmur, Iraq.
Capt. Michael Bugaj, battery commander, led the areafamiliarization mission, which gave the Soldiers a betterview of the district they will soon be working in.
Battery B Soldiers plan to improve the Iraqi Army’straining, but first they must resolve equipment issues forthe IA Soldiers based near the pipeline in order for them tobegin the new operation.
“One of the main concerns is training,” said Bugaj, whobelieves his Soldiers can accomplish this mission.
“Instead of handing the IA soldiers a vest [and] an AK-47 rifle and demanding that they guard the pipeline, weneed to train them,” said Bugaj with concern.
Battery B Soldiers plan and look forward to improvingthe IA Soldiers’ tactical skills through better training.
Once a training site has been established, Battery BSoldiers will begin training the IA Soldiers to standard,which should better prepare them to safeguard thepipeline.
Battery B, 4-11th FA Soldiers wait for the civil affairs team to
wrap up a site inspection as they conduct an area familiar-
In honor of Women’s History Month, we bring you ... Ladies Night, Iraq!Going back to my room the other night, I popped
my head into Staff Sgt. Michelle McNeill’s room tofind her and Spc. Kate Grieshaber talking andlaughing.
I joined in, as Grieshaber told me to ask McNeillabout her trip to the shower. Our unit, Company A,101st Brigade Troops Battalion, is sharing showerswith Company B, 101st BTB, until we get showersfor our building, and McNeill found a “pond.”
The story ended with McNeill standing in a mopbucket full of ammonia to kill “macro organisms,” asshe said. Somewhere on Q-West there is a picture ofMcNeill in the bucket looking helpless.
Laughing, we all proceeded to another topic, thisone funnier than the last. I don’t know when Ilaughed that much in the space of one hour but itwas great.
We were joined by McNeill’s roommate Staff Sgt.Anne Schock, and Spc. Carrie Blanton. That is whenthe real fun started.
We talked about all the things that females talkabout, bonded more and shared a night of laughter.
By Spc. Amber MoodyCompany A, 101st Brigade Troops Battalion
It was our own version of “Sex and the City,” with-out the high heels and New York background.
Pfcs. Tyeshia Edwards and Chantel Smith joined,
and then conversation went to cheerleaders and theflyers they have. McNeill was a cheerleader, and wewere sharing stories about our high school cheer-leaders.
Blanton said that there was a flyer in her schoolwho was constantly dropped. The other cheerlead-ers didn’t like her.
The comment I made, “My school was too poor tohave flyers,” had Schock choking on her water andeveryone else rolling with laughter.
Laughter is good medicine for all kinds of things.Sometimes, it is the cure-all for the blues andmelancholy atmospheres.
“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best curesin the doctor’s book,” is a quote from the Web site,http://www.itsmardan.com/quotes. I don’t know ifit is true, but laughter does seem to refresh thesenses and gives a person a different, if not better,viewpoint.
It was a way for us females in Co. A to releasesome stress, share a few stories, and just let loose.
So if you are ever in the mood, stop by! Co. A hasmany interesting people, and we live up to ourmotto: OUTLAWS!
Staff Sgt. Anne Schock, Company A, 101st Brigade
Troops Battalion, demonstrates her “King Kong”
impression for the amusement of her fellow Soldiers.
AL QAYYARAH, Iraq – As a young boygrows up in the shadow of his olderbrother, there can be at times an over-whelming desire to please that oldersibling. This view can change withtime as he grows older and moremature and steps out from under thatshadow.
At this stage, the older sibling lookson with pride as the brother sets outon his own. The members of TaskForce Thunder and the MilitaryTransition Teams, or MiTTs, feel thisway about their Iraqi Army brothers inarms.
These soldiers are charged with theprofessional development of the IraqiArmy into full-fledged, combat-capableunits ready not only to take the fightagainst the terrorists but also todefend their country against foreignenemies. These Soldiers, NCOs andOfficers work and, in most cases, livewith the Iraqi units they train.
As the U.S. Army increasinglyhands over “battlespace” to the IraqiArmy, it is a credit to both Task ForceThunder and the MiTT advisors whogot them to that point.
A prime example of this joint train-ing effort was exemplified as the 3rd“Mountain” Battalion, under the com-mand of Lt. Col. Salahaddin Hogar and1st “Desert Fox” Battalion, 3rdBrigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army,assumed their own battlespace onDec. 27, 2005 and Jan. 28, 2006,respectively. This Transfer of Authoritymeant that now the Iraqi SecurityForces would take the lead withCoalition Forces being in a supportingrole if called upon.
On one cold and rainy morning theDesert Fox Battalion, under the com-mand of BG Ali Mullah, would demon-strate its capabilities. Coalition forcesnotified the battalion that an impro-vised explosive device, or IED, cell wastargeting coalition forces convoys on amajor supply route.
Through the battalion’s intelligencesection, its leaders determined thatthe possible members of anti-Iraqiforces were operating within a nearbyvillage. Based on this analysis, thebattalion decided to conduct a “cordonand knock” of the village in question.
With the assistance of their MiTTadvisors, the battalion troops planneda mission involving local Iraqi Police.
With its plan firmly laid out, the sol-diers of 1st Bn. geared up and con-ducted Pre-Combat Checks in the coldrain prior to heading out.
“They don’t even really need us any-more. They have checked their fuel,ammunition, vehicles and even madelast minute changes to their plan with-out us having to say a word,” said Sgt.1st Class Vela, a 1st Bn. MiTT memberwho watched the Iraqis’ preparations.
The Iraqi Army moved out in a col-umn of Nissan pick-ups, trucks and afield medical section that utilized acivilian ambulance. The Soldiers areaccustomed to fighting the terroristswith the equipment on hand.
The IA forces quickly established anouter cordon of the village with theassistance of Iraqi Police, and proceed-ed to search and clear all the houses.
The operation ultimately resulted inthe capture of three suspected terror-ists.
The IA units of the 3rd Brigadewould take their training to the nextlevel with Operation Dragnet. On thisoperation, more than 350 soldiersfrom both battalions launched asimultaneous cordon and search of 12homes on both sides of the TigrisRiver. Executed under the cover ofdarkness, this operation tested andvalidated the IA’s ability to conductmultiple battalion operations inde-pendent of coalition forces.
Before this night was over, 22 sus-pected AIF members were in Iraqi cus-tody. Unlike before the transfers ofauthority, when detainees were rou-tinely handed over to coalition forces,these detainees would be questionedand then processed through IA facili-ties.
What is of even greater significanceis that this whole operation was at therequest of the Mosul Police. The policehad identified these terrorists andasked the army for assistance inapprehending them.
These soldiers are taking the lead insecuring the Tigris River Valley.
An Iraqi Army jundi, or soldier, from 1st “Desert Fox” Battalion, stands guard over
three detainees captured in a recent cordon and search operation.
IA battalions conduct “Operation Dragnet”By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Arneson4-11th Field Artillery Regiment
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Arneson
The Army has announced theexpansion of the Referral BonusPilot Program to include Soldiersperforming duty in the hometownrecruiter program.
The program gives Soldiers theopportunity to assist in theArmy’s recruiting efforts.
Eligible active duty, Reserveand National Guard Soldiers canreceive a $1,000 bonus for refer-ring qualified applicants, otherthan their immediate family.Referring Soldiers receive thebonus in a lump sum after theapplicant completes basic train-ing and advanced individualtraining, or AIT.
The Defense Financing andAccounting Service, DFAS, willdeposit the money directly intothe referring Soldier’s militarypay account at that time.
Not all Soldiers are eligible toparticipate in this program.Ineligible Soldiers include anyactive, Reserve or National Guardmember serving in a recruiting orretention assignment, receivingspecial duty assignment pay forrecruiting or retention orassigned duties perceived to be aconflict of interest.
To find out more on this pro-gram, Soldiers should contact theUnited States RecruitingCommand, National GuardHeadquarters or their unit’sretention office.
AArrmmyy eexxppaannddss rreeffeerrrraallbboonnuuss ppiilloott pprrooggrraammBy Sgt. 1st Class Lori SimmonsBrigade Public Affairs Officer
Monday through Saturday
9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Seven Days a Week!
101st Finance DetachmentHours of Operation:
NCOIC: Staff Sgt. Melvin Williamson
March 15, 2006LIFELINER WESTPage 6
March is...Women’s History
MonthWatch for upcoming EO
announcements regard-
ing Women’s History
Month.
And call your Mom.
Crash band heats up stage at Q-West MWR
Illustration from photo by Spc. Richard Vogt
“Versatile.” That’s what Frank Ortado, a repre-
sentative of AK Productions, and roadmanager of Crash Dance, said in oneword to describe the band.
In the five-piece band is: singerBecky Moon from Chicago, Ill./ LosAngeles, Calif., bass/sax playerPatrick Langford from L.A., guitaristplayer Sean Hall from Orange County,guitarist Erich Schnieder from L.A.,and drummer Tim Williams from Reno,Nev.
I was lucky enough to ask the banda few questions before their perform-ance.
Who inspired you to become amusician?
BM: “I really didn’t discover my tal-ent till I did karaoke when I was 28years old.”
PL: “I’d have to say my dad. Musicwas always around the house.”
SH: “Eddy Van Halen inspired me tobe a guitarist.”
ES: “My father was a guitarist.”TW: “The other kids in my neighbor-
hood, the Beatles and JimiHendricks.”
How has it been so far performingfor the troops in Iraq?
BM: “Iraq rocks and I love it. TheSoldiers make it worthwhile.”
PL: “It’s been a blast and full of
energy.”SH: “It’s a blessing and a real
honor.”ES: “A real adventure and a great
opportunity to support the troops.”TW: “The military kicks butt. It
makes you feel safe from what youwatch them do.”
What has been a highlight for youso far?
BM: “For me, it’s been talking oneon one with the Soldiers, and themtaking part in the show.”
PL: “I’ve never been out of the coun-try, so just being overseas is huge forme.”
SH: “Getting the chance to hang outin one of Saddam’s former palaces wasa shock.”
ES: “The time off in Germany wasvery enticing.”
TW: “Getting to shoot different riflesand riding in helicopters.”
Who do you listen to on your iPodor CD player when you travel frompost to post?
BM: “Right now I’m listening to RaulMidon, Maxwell, Gretchen Wilson,Stevie Wonder and some Christianrock.”
PL: “I like jazz, so CannonballAdderly and John Coltrane.”
SH: “Some rock and classical likeVan Halen and the Church.”
ES: “I’d say Pink Floyd and EricClapton.”
During the show, they played every-thing from Rick James to 3 DoorsDown, from Lynyrd Skynyrd to theEagles. After the show, I caught upwith a few Soldiers to get their reac-tions to the night.
Spc. Kevin Clank, 725thTransporation Company, who got upon stage and sang Nirvana’s “SmellsLike Teen Spirit,” said: “It got me riledup.”
“The best part was the crowd surf-ing,” said Sgt. Stephanie Honeycutt.
Pfc. Jerry Leal, of the 101Sustainment Brigade said: “It felt like Iwas back in California.”
Pfc. Rodger Garcia, of 2nd Battalion,20th Infantry Regiment, who rockedout to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,”said: “It’s my best memory of Iraqever.”
All in all it was a great show. Loudmusic, different genres and crowd par-ticipation makes this a must-see showif Crash Dance ever makes anotherstop in Q-West.
By Pfc. Paul MolanHHC 101st Sustainment Brigade
As more and more Soldiers are issued ImprovedFirst Aid Kits to replace the old first aid pouch, thereis an increasing need to understand the equipment.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Hayes, who works for the 30thMedical Brigade as the course manager for theCombat Lifesaver course at the Jameson CombatMedical Training Center, said that the ability ofSoldiers to use this equipment can save lives.
“I think it is a good tool to promote lifesavingskills,” Hayes said about the new kits.
Some of the items in the pouch that some Soldiersmay not be familiar with:
The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT)The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) is one
of the most valuable life-saving tools in the pouch,said Hayes, who also trains instructors at semi-annual Medical Skills Validation Trainer Training.
Hayes advises Soldiers to remove the plasticwrapping from the tourniquet. Removing the plasticallows for quicker access and gives Soldiers thechance to practice slipping on the tourniquet.
“The CAT tourniquet, because it’s so important,should remain outside of the packet so that it’sready to go,” Hayes said.
After removing the plastic, make sure to keep the
tourniquet inside the pouch because dirt can weardown the Velcro and make it ineffective, said Sgt.Scott Stewart, a CLS instructor at the JamesonCombat Medical Training Center.
The Nasal Pharyngeal Airway (NPA)The NPA replaces the oral pharyngeal, or J-tube.
Like the J-tube, the NPA is inserted to keep the air-way open. Unlike the J-tube, it is inserted throughthe nose to avoid triggering a gag reflex.
Before inserting the tube, Soldiers must makesure the length of the NPA matches the length fromthe corner of the casualty’s nose to the bottom tip ofthe casualty’s ear and that the diameter of the tubeis no larger than the casualty’s pinky finger.
If surgical lubrication is available, it helps forinserting the tube. The tube should be inserted withthe angled hole pointed towards the septum of thenose. The person giving aid should stop inserting thetube if there is resistance.
Trauma bandage or “Israeli dressing” The trauma bandage replaces the field dressing
found in old first aid pouches. The main purpose ofthe trauma bandage is to serve as a pressure dress-ing. Soldiers can also use the bandage for a “tourni-quet-like effect” to slow blood circulation, thoughHayes emphasizes that Soldiers should use a CAT asa first choice if a tourniquet is needed.
Unlike the CAT, it must be kept inside the pack-age to keep it clean. Directions on how to use thebandage can be found on the back of the package.
“I think it’s a big improvement from the fielddressing,” Stewart said about the trauma bandage.
The kit also contains a bag of compressed gauze,a role of surgical tape and a pair of sanitary gloves.
Each kit is designed to treat only one Soldier, so itis recommended that Soldiers keep it accessible,especially when going off post, said Spc. AlfradoVarela, a CLS instructor at the Jameson CMTC.Varela recommends that Soldiers keep it attached totheir Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) at all times.
Since all of the items in the kit are intended forone use only, all of the items are expendable, exceptfor the pouch itself, which is durable, said Sgt. 1stClass David Hooker, the unit supply NCOIC for the19th Support Center. Soldiers are expected to payfor any lost pouches unless they are determined tobe field losses.
If Soldiers are unfamiliar with any one of theitems in the Improved First Aid Kit, they should con-sult the nearest medic, or speak with their trainingNCO about registering for the Combat Lifesavercourse. Training NCOs or anyone else who has ques-tions about the course can contact Hayes by e-mailat [email protected].
MedNews: An introduction to the new, Improved First Aid KitBy Spc. Spencer Case207th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Ready for your 15 minutes of fame?Contact the brigade public affairs office!
(302) 673-5142
*Hometown News Releases...
*Unit Events...
*Missions...
*Anything cool!
Page 7March 15, 2006 LIFELINER WEST
SundayQBC Unplugged Coffeehouse 2000
MondayTournaments Galore!
TuesdayActing Class 2000
WednesdaySalsa Lessons 1900Guitar Lessons 2000
ThursdayTournaments Galore!
FridayAlternating Country & Hip Hop Night
2100
SaturdayFlea Market 0800-1600
Alternating Karaoke & Latin Night 2100
FFUUNN
FFIITTNNEESSSSSunday
Take a break!
MondayAbs & Core Conditioning 0530
4-Week Weight Training Program 1000Spinning Class 1600Dynamic Abs 1700
Yoga & Mat Pilates 1900High Impact Step Aerobics 2000
Spinning Class 2000
5K RUN! March 17
6:30 a.m., Sign up at the fitness center!
561st CSB Soldiers shine on the Speicher stage FOB SPEICHER, Iraq -Lights! Camera! Action!Dancing, singing, spoken-word talent and rhythmicallyrics graced the stage dur-ing A Night to Shine, talentshow held at the SpeicherGym Feb. 25 here.
Units under the 561stCorps Support Battalion,from Fort Campbell, Ky.,participated in the first561st CSB talent show.
The show opened with asurprise guest, who isn’treally a surprise to the sol-diers of 561ST CSB,Command Sgt. MajorClinton L. Jackson, recitedan “old-school” rap with twojunior enlisted soldiers togive it a new-school feel.
The opening act broughtto us by Command Sgt.Major Jackson openedmouths for laughter andcreated anticipation as weawaited the next acts tocome.
Two professionally-trained salsa dancers,deployed here in Iraq,
By Sgt. Ashly RiceStaff Reporter
approached the stage as aflavorful salsa beat gracedthrough the crowd. Thecrowd cheered as sheturned and he dipped tothe fast tempo upon thestage.
A wonderful crowd-pleasing event that I amsure will be talked aboutfor the rest of the deploy-ment is the amazing danc-ing talents of the various561st CSB unit command-ers and first sergeants.
During intermission, thecommanders and first ser-geants displayed what theybelieved to be talent andshook, jerked, and almostbroke a leg, dancing withsportsman-like enthusi-asm across the stage.
The crowd however wasthe deciding factor on whothe winners of the “Firstand Last,” dance, asnamed by Jackson, com-manders and first ser-geants.
Some participants hadmore talent than others,and some were there forjust pure comical enjoy-
ment. With seven individ-ual talents, Sgt. EricMiller, of Battery A, 2ndBattalion, 5th FieldArtillery Regiment, of FortSill, Ok., walked away withthe first place trophy in theindividual event category.
Miller, of Sedalia, Mo.,sang an original song hewrote for his wife duringOperation Iraqi Freedom I.He accompanied his laidback vocals with anacoustic guitar.
“I am happy that I wasable to win, I have writtenother songs as well, butthis is the song I wanted togo with,” said Miller.
Spc. Richard Alston of506th Quartermaster, ofFort Lee Va. and Pfc. JohnPickens, from Little Rock,Ark., of Headquarters andHeadquarters Detach-ment, 561st CSB, beat outfive other group contest-ants.
Alston and Pickenswrote and rapped an origi-nal song, and did well per-forming in front of thedemanding crowd.
Both seemed poised andwell prepared for their per-formance, and even added afew dance steps with eachverse. With the crowd obvi-ously enjoying the show, itwas like an actual rap con-cert, and not just a talentshow.
“That is how the game isdone,” said Pickens in fulljoy over winning first placein the group category.
The show ended withmore salsa enjoyment.Master Sgt. FranciscoRamos, from Miami, Fla., ofHHD, 561st CSB walked outon stage with a swagger andconfidence that only a truedancer posseses.
Ramos showed that whatis parents taught him paidoff, since his parents arecredited teaching salsa,merengue and other tropicaland American music sincethe age of five. Thirty-fiveyears later, dancing onstage in Iraq was a pureenjoyment for Ramos.
Ramos added: “This was agreat event, and a greatmorale booster.”
A language programdesigned to help Soldierscommunicate better whilein a foreign country is upand running on the Army’se-learning Web site.
“Rosetta Stone” is animmersion-based languagesoftware available on theInternet or on CD ROM thatuses pictures and audio tosimulate the way a personlearns his native language.Fairfield Language Tech-nologies, the developers ofRosetta Stone, announced a$4.2 million contract withthe U.S. Army on Sept. 27,2005.
The agreement makescourses in over 25 lan-guages available via theInternet to both activeduty and reserve-compo-nent Soldiers andDepartment of Defensecivilians.
“Critical foreign lan-guage capability andskills are increasinglyimportant to our Army.Rosetta Stone provides theArmy with an immediate,interactive language train-ing tool to train ourSoldiers, leaders andcivilians for operationaldeployments and profes-sional development,” saidBrig. Gen. James M.
Milano, the Army’s directorof training, in a pressrelease on Oct. 3, 2005.
Among others, a Soldiercan take courses inPashto, spoken inAfghanistan, or Arabic,spoken in most of theMiddle East, and 3rdCorps Support CommandSoldiers might be particu-larly interested in Germancourses. Upon completionof each unit, the studentwill receive a certificate viae-mail for four credit hoursfrom Army e-Learning.
To access the software,log on to the ArmyKnowledge Online Web siteand click on My
Education. This goes to theArmy e-learning Web sitewhere there is a link toRosetta Stone. Or, go direct-ly to https://usarmy.skill-port.com.
Soldiers need to registerat the site and get a user-name and password sepa-rate from their AKOaccount. Once registered,the Soldiers can start learn-ing. The software uses anon-traditional approach.
There is no verb conjuga-tion or memorizing lists ofvocabulary words. Instead,the student compares pic-tures and infers the mean-ing of the words, just as ababy does when he learns.
Sgt. Marshall Thompson207th Public Affairs Det.
Immersion language software here free for Soldiers
Lifeliner West Caption Contest!
Can you think of a funny, printable caption? Send your
times as you like. Prize: One Free Green Beans item.
March 15, 2006LIFELINER WESTPage 8
OFF THE WIRE: News from the American Forces Press ServiceUU..SS.. aammbbaassssaaddoorr:: IIrraaqqii lleeaaddeerrss mmaakkee pprrooggrreessss ttoowwaarrdd uunniittyyWASHINGTON, March 12,2006 – Iraqi leaders took a"very positive step" todaytoward establishing a gov-ernment of national unity,the U.S. ambassador to Iraqsaid moments after anemergency meeting withIraqi leaders.
"It was a good day todayin Baghdad," ZalmayKhalilzad said today in aninterview from Baghdad onCNN's "Late Edition" withWolf Blitzer.
The meeting, called to ini-tiate progress in the forma-tion of a new government,was an indicator that lead-ers "are taking the problemsof the country seriously,"the ambassador said.
Khalilzad said he wasencouraged by the meeting'sresults. "Leaders decided tobring forward the opening ofthe assembly now ratherthan on the 19th," he said,adding that the first sessionof the new parliament willbe held March 16.
Leaders from all factionsalso agreed there is "no redline in terms of the inclu-
sion of any faction in theformation of the govern-ment," the ambassadoradded.
Khalilzad said leadersplan to meet continuouslyas of March 14 until there isagreement on the govern-ment, including a primeminister, one of the primaryconcerns of the country'sleaders. "Everyone agreesthe prime minister has to besomeone who can bring thiscountry together, someonewho is competent in termsof dealing with the problemsof Iraq," he said.
"That is one of the keyissues in the coming daysthat Iraqi political leaderswill have to decide on; therewas a lot of flexibility on allsides," he said.
Khalilzad said he wasunable to predict just howlong decisions like the selec-tion of a prime ministerwould take. "This decision,the formation of a govern-ment of national unity isextremely important," hesaid. "If they (Iraqi leaders)make the right decisionforming a national unity
government -- competentministers, good processwith a good program gov-erning from the center -- itwill put Iraq on the righttrajectory; it will be a majorstep forward for Iraq."
However, he said, "It'sstill going to take a bit oftime.
"We'll work with themand do it as quickly as pos-sible. They understand it'san urgent matter."
Khalilzad also comment-ed on a neighbor to Iraq thathas been prominent in theheadlines - Iran. "We haveconcerns with regards fortheir support for some ofthe militias and some of theextremist groups," he said."We want good relationsbetween Iraq and all itsneighbors. And, at the sametime, we do not want any ofits neighbors to dominateIraq, and that is our policywith Iran as well."
The ambassador saidIraqi leaders are "concernedabout aspects of Iranianpolicy interferes with thedevelopment of a successfuldemocratic Iraq."
High Flight
Clockwise from left, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an A-10 Thunderbolt
II, an F-4 Phantom, and an F-22A Raptor fly in diamond formation
over the mountains outside Tucson, Ariz., during the final portion of
the Air Combat Command Heritage Conference March 5, 2006.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker, U.S. Air Force
A TF-51 Mustang, right, and an F-15 Eagle fly in formation with
another TF-51 over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during the
final portion of the 2006 Heritage Flight Conference March 5, 2006.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Veronica Pierce, U.S. Air ForceStories and photographs reproduced on this page were com-
piled from information released through AFIS. For more infor-
mation, or for news released by the Department of Defense,
visit: http://www.defenselink.mil/news.
AMERICAN FORCES INFORMATION SERVICE
Senate Youth Program students get ground-level view of PentagonBy Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, March 10, 2006 – High School sen-iors involved in the Senate Youth Program learnedabout life in the Pentagon and got to ask questionsof senior military leaders as part of their Washingtonprogram today.
A total of 104 students from throughout the coun-try and DoD schools overseas got a tour of thePentagon and a chance to ask questions of Army Lt.Gen. C.V. Christianson, Joint Staff director for logis-tics.
The two DoD Education Activity students are bothfrom Japan. Anthony Soroka is a senior at KadenaHigh School, and Elizabeth Michael is a senior atYokota High School. Both participated in theDoDEA-wide competition for the program, whichincludes an all-expense-paid "Washington Week"and a $5,000 scholarship.
Soroka, who hopes to attend Princeton Universityin the fall, said the week gave him an excellentoverview of the federal government. "We visited themuseums, of course, and then spoke to people at theState Department, the Supreme Court, here andother agencies," he said. He said he was especiallyexcited to meet Pakistani Ambassador to the UnitedStates Jehangir Karamat.
Michael said she appreciated the opportunity tomeet students from all over the United States. "It'sbeen a great experience," she said. "I'm glad I did it
and would recommend it to everyone." The U.S. Senate and the William Randolph Hearst
Foundation sponsor the program. It began in 1962to expose student delegates to the highest-rankingmembers of government.
Accompanying the delegates are military officerswho also go through a selection process. This year,Navy Lt. Janelle, a lawyer at Little Creek, Va., wasone of those selected. She is no stranger to the pro-gram, having been a delegate herself from Hawaii in1997.
"It was an amazing experience for me then,"Kuroda said. "It was one of the most significantweeks of my life in helping me choose what I wantedto do.
"Coming from Hawaii, I didn't know how well Iwould deal with people from all over the country,"she said. "After meeting the delegates, I found thatanything is possible, if you apply yourself."
The lieutenant volunteered to be an escort officeras her way of "paying back" to the program. "I hopeI can make it as great for these students as theescort officers made it for me," she said.
Christianson spoke about the role of the militaryin the United States, saying that the most importantaspect of the U.S. military is that it is under civiliancontrol.
"The only body that is authorized to raise an armyin this country is the Congress of the United States,"said Christianson.
Civilian control of the military is important to thecountry, and that's why the students see militaryofficers and civilian officials from the DefenseDepartment on Capitol Hill. "There are not manycountries in the world who have that kind of conceptembedded in their constitution," Christianson said.
Checks and balances in the federal system pre-vent any one portion of the government from grow-ing too powerful, he said.
"Day to day the military works for the Departmentof Defense," Christianson said. "But we answer toCongress and ultimately work for the people of theUnited States."
