News - Fort Stewart Frontline Online

Operation Proper Exit
See Page 14A
Town Hall notes
See Page 10A
WTB Soldiers train
service dogs
See Page 13A
Frontline
THE
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid
Permit no. 43,
Hinesville, Ga. 31314
Vol. 45, Issue 15
Serving the Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield communities • www.stewart.army.mil
Hunter Soldier qualifies for
Boston Maration See Page 9B
April 15, 2010
Spc. Gregory Gieske, 2nd HBCT Public Affairs
2nd HBCT snipers train Iraqi Army
Using tall grass for cover, a Soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat
Team, 3rd Infantry Division, sets up his shot using the “buddy-supported” firing postion, taking aim with his M110 Sniper Rifle. The snipers trained Iraqi
Army Special Forces soldiers as part of a two-week sniper training course in Mosul, Iraq. See story Page 3A
Two Fort Stewart
Soldiers killed in Iraq
Jennifer Hartwig
Fort Stewart Public Affairs
Two Fort Stewart Soldiers were killed after their
vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device
in Mosul, Iraq, April 7. First Lieutenant Robert W.
Collins and Spc. William Anthony Blount were both
assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor
Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry
Division.
According to their Company Commander Capt.
Thomas Carroll, the Soldiers were returning to the
Joint Security Station from a mission, traveling a road
that is traveled and cleared frequently. The Soldiers
were both in the second vehicle of the convoy – Spc.
Blount as the driver, and 1st Lt. Collins as the vehicle
commander, also in the front seat. Their MRAP hit a
crushed-wire IED, approximately 4-6 feet in front of
explosive.
First Lieutenant Collins was a 2004 graduate of
Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School, and a 2008 graduate of
the U.S. Military Academy. He arrived at Fort Stewart in
June of 2009. He is survived by his parents, Lt. Col.
(Ret.) Burkitt (Deacon) Collins and Lt. Col. (Ret.)
Sharon L.G. Collins, and his fiancée, Nicolle Williams.
Specialist Blount was a 2007 Petal (Miss.) High
School graduate. He joined the Army in September
2008, and arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2009. He
is survived by his wife, Amanda, who is eight months
pregnant; his parents, Billy and Kay Blount; and sisters
Laken and Lori.
Captain Carroll said that the Explosive Ordnance
Disposal team is calling the explosive 70-80 lbs of HME
(homemade explosive) or UBE (unknown bulk explosive)
that was buried underneath the pavement.
See SOLDIERS Page 13A
Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry
Georgia DoD Public Affairs
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue joined
Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s
Adjutant General, and other senior Guard
and state leaders gathered outside
Truscott Air Terminal to welcoming
home Col. Lee Durham, 48th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team commander from
Afghanistan, April, 7.
Also receiving the governor’s personal
greeting were Command Sgt. Maj. Michael
Hurndon, the 48th’s top enlisted leader, and
more than 250 other citizen-Soldiers.
“Governor Perdue is the most involved
commander-in-chief I’ve ever known in my
4th IBCT arrives at NTC
Sgt. Robert Schaffner Jr.
4th IBCT Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Fort Stewart-based Soldiers
assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
3rd Infantry Division began arriving to Fort Irwin,
Calif., March 30, and by April 12 more than 3,200
pairs of boots were on the ground, ready to march
into a pre-deployment mission rehearsal exercise
at the installation’s National Training Center.
Upon their arrival, the light infantry brigade’s six
organic battalions quickly settled in at Forward
Operating Base Ruba and began preparing themselves
for the month-long training mission ahead.
The Vanguard Brigade’s primary focus at the
beginning of NTC was reception, staging, onward
movement and integration, which is key to a successful
mission for the remainder of NTC, said 1st
Final 48th IBCT Soldiers return from Afghanistan
40 years of service,” Maj. Gen. Nesbitt said.
“He’s followed our troops stateside as
they’ve trained for deployment, and he’s
taken every opportunity to visit our folks in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I know our Soldiers, as I do, really appreciate
him taking time to be here to shake
their hands and thank them for a job well
done,” he added.
Among the units to return this time were
the 48th’s Headquarters Company and
Company C of the 48th Brigade Special
Troops Battalion, both home stationed in
Macon; Forsyth’s 148th Brigade Support
Battalion – to include its commander, Lt.
Col. Perry Carter– and the 148th’s Company
B out of Jackson.
See 48 IBCT Page 10A
Lt. Scott Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 4th IBCT executive officer.
At any given hour during RSOI, Soldiers could be
found diligently working on their respective tasks
at hand to prepare for their unit’s combat rehearsal.
Some Soldiers could be found working outside
under the hot California sun, honing their infantrymen
skills by conducting Military Operations in
Urban Terrain training.
“Slow is smooth; smooth is fast,” said Staff
Sergeant Clarence Sillik, squad leader assigned
to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry
Regiment, 4th IBCT, as he observed his Soldiers’
room clearing procedures from a cat-walk above
the MOUT site.
Platoon Leader 1st Lt. Matthew Schmiedicke,
Co. B, 3/15 Inf., said his troops began training
within the first day of arrving to NTC.
See NTC Page 11A
Garrison awarded for fire prevention program
Jennifer Scales
Fort Stewart Public Affairs
The Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Fire and
Emergency Services are the recipients of the Installation
Management Command-Southeast Army/DoD Fire
Prevention Program for calendar year 2009.
This is the first time the directorate has won this
award, but it will definitely not be the last, notes Chief
Donald Hollis, the Stewart-Hunter Fire Chief.
Chief Hollis, along with assistant chief Paul Crowell
and fire protection inspector Mike Minnie, are all confident
in the complete services they provide, along
with the knowledgeable staff of the Stewart-Hunter fire
services.
“Prevention starts first,” said Chief Hollis, adding
that continuous training is offered through fire services
with the aid of their mobile trailers and “Patches and
Pumper.”
Minnie explained that their training aids are kid
friendly.
“Children can go into either one of the trailers, either
here or at Hunter, and learn how fires can be prevented
in their homes, such as in the kitchen or bedroom,” he
said. “Simulated smoke can be activated, and they can
learn how to safety get out of their home.”
See FIRE PREVENTION Page 7A
Nancy Gould, Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs
Colonel Lee Durham, 48th IBCT commander, steps onto the tarmac at
Hunter Army Air Field and shakes hands with Gov. Sonny Perdue, April 7.

2A The Frontline April 15, 2010
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips
3rd ID Deputy Commanding General-
Rear
Late one recent night, Command
Sgt. Maj. Ashmen and I, returning
from Hunter Army Airfield and seeing
off Soldiers to Iraq, visited the headquarters
of a Marne battalion – a random
visit. (We assumed the day had
by then quieted down and the staff
duty NCO would have time to chat.)
The SDNCO was doing his premidnight
unit checks in accordance
with the unit Standard Operating
Procedure. Two runners were left at
the desk, both specialists. Both were
very visibly overweight. They
responded well enough to our questions;
they knew their duties, and
soon the SDNCO returned. He was on
top of his game and evidently a good
sergeant; we talked for a few moments
and went on our way.
It brought up an important issue –
that obesity is a big problem in this
country, and it is a major problem
with our children. The First Lady has
made fighting childhood obesity one
Workshop preps voting assistance officers
Randy Murray
Fort Stewart Public Affairs
Voting assistance officers of Fort Stewart and Hunter
Army Airfield participated in a Federal Voting Assistance
Program Workshop at the Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith
Education Center, April 6.
Erin E. St. Pierre, communications/survey and data/
program analyst for the Federal Voting Assistance
Program with the Department of Defense conducted
the one-and-a-half-hour workshops that morning and
afternoon for military and Army Civilian VAOs.
Before introducing St. Pierre, Thomas A. Allmon,
director of the Directorate of Human Resources, first
reminded everyone how Americans recently watched
the Iraqi people go through their second national elections
and how we are pleased to see democracy growing
in that country.
“Unfortunately, many Americans take their right to
vote for granted,” he added. “It’s your job as Voting
Assistance Officers to talk to your Soldiers, your coworkers
and explain to them why it’s so important to
From the Senior Commander
of her priorities. More
about that in a moment –
suffice to say, it is also a
major concern of ours at
Fort Stewart and Hunter.
The 3rd Infantry
Division is a combat division
with a battle record
not bested by any unit in
the U.S. military. Short of
health reasons, there is
little justification for a
Marne Soldier to exceed
the Army’s standards for weight. And
health reasons are handled through
a deliberate system that should
include adjusted PT and appropriate
dietary choices.
We are a team of teams, dependent
on each other for our strength,
which is the strength of the nation.
Yet a Soldier is responsible for his or
her condition; a Soldier out of shape
is less ready to meet the challenges
accepted in our oath, those that
make our way of life the stuff legends
are made of.
That’s not empty talk – think about
which institution in this country is
rated by the American people
as more deserving of
trust and confidence than
any other. That institution
is the U.S. military (Gallup
Poll, 2008 and 2009), and
that rating is earned one
Soldier at a time.
Weight gain is insidious
– it goes on one gram, one
ounce, one calorie at a
time; one poor decision at
a time. Even the supersonic
metabolisms of young Soldiers may
not be equal to the caloric onslaught
of undisciplined eating.
The same goes with kids. Research
shows without a gram of doubt that
an overweight child faces the likelihood
of an overweight adolescence
and an overweight adulthood.
Overweight children don’t magically
become slender teens. They face an
overweight life, with its health challenges
and other challenges, often
cruel and unjust.
That’s why we are focusing on obesity
in kids. Thirty-two percent of
kids in Fort Stewart and Hunter
exercise their right to vote.”
Allmon asked everyone to take the workshop seriously
and give their full attention to St. Pierre, so they
could return to their units or directorates armed with
the information needed for absentee voting and voter
registration.
“I’m here today to talk about absentee voting,” St.
Pierre began as she stood behind her students to make
adjustments to her slide presentation. “This workshop
will prepare you with timely information needed about
absentee registration and the voting process for U.S.
citizens stationed outside their home state or overseas.”
She began by reminding everyone there are 50 states
with 50 different rules regarding absentee voting; there
are also five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
St. Pierre said each of the services have their own way of
assigning voting assistance officers but that all work
within the Voting Assistance Guide under the authority
of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act (1973).
To emphasize the importance of their roles as VAO, St.
Pierre talked about a few recent elections that were
Families are overweight or obese –
that’s no better than the nation itself.
Our children deserve the best shot in
life we can give them. We are working
with our schools on post to ensure
they have healthy food and physical
exercise to match a fine education.
Our educators care deeply about
their students.
This is tough stuff: we are arrayed
against a culture of snack and junk
foods, super-sized portions, beguiling
food and drink ads, parents heroically
juggling busy lives, and the decline of
physical activity.
And because some of these children
will grow up to be the young men and
women on whom our nation will call
in her need, it is a matter of great
importance that we make the right
decisions on their behalf and teach
them well. But that is not the most
important reason. The most important
reason is that they are our kids,
and we owe them our best.
And we Soldiers? In our life, we are
making our own decisions. Let our
decisions ensure that we can give our
team and our nation . . . our best.
3rd Sustainment Brigade inducts new NCOs
Sgt. Patience Okhuofu
3rd Sustainment Bde. Public Affairs
Twenty-two newly promoted 3rd Sustainment NCOs
were inducted into the Noncommissioned Officer
Corp, March 30. The ceremony was hosted by the 260th
Quartermaster Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield.
During the ceremony, three fallen NCOs, who served
with pride and distinction, were acknowledged. Sgt.
Nathaniel Hart, Jr., of Valdosta, Ga., died of injuries he
received when his vehicle went off the road and rolled
over in Tillil, Iraq, July 28, 2003. Sergeant Hart was
assigned to the 416th Transportation Company, 260th
Quartermaster Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield. Staff
Sergeant Ivan V. Alarcon, of Jerome, Idaho, died in Tal
Afar, Iraq, when his Humvee accidentally rolled over
during combat operations, Nov. 17, 2005. He was
assigned to the Army's 473rd Quartermaster Company,
Hunter Army Airfield. Sergeant William J. Beardsley, of
Coon Rapids, Minn., died Feb. 26, 2007, in Diwaniyah,
Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive
device detonated near his vehicle. Sergeant Beardsley
was assigned to HHD, 260th Quartermaster Battalion.
Command Sergeant Major Jerry L. Taylor,
Commandant, 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart
Noncommissioned Officers Academy, was the guest
Bob Mathews
DFMWR Marketing Publicity Specialist
Fort Stewart’s Cottrell Field, site of many
ceremonies marking milestones in 3rd
Infantry Division history, will be the rallying
point April 24 for an expected 1,000
Spouses, Family Members and others who
want their deployed Soldiers to know they
are always front and center in their
thoughts and prayers.
The occasion will be the 3rd ID Yellow
Ribbon Run/Walk, an event marking what
is described as the half-way point of the
division’s Walk to Iraq/Afghanistan. The
program, themed “Walking for Our
Heroes,” was launched in January as a way
for those on the home front to honor and
remember those deployed.
Since that launch, the miles have been
piling up and the pounds dropping off, said
Jacqui Coffman, one of the top organizers
of the program. Her deployed husband, Lt.
Col. Richard R. “Ross” Coffman, is commander
of the 1/64 Armor Bn.
Yellow Ribbons, assembled by Family
Readiness Group members, will be plentiful
and prominent in the day’s event. Each
participant will be given one and the rib-
speaker at the ceremony
where he advised the
newly promoted NCOs to
let the Creed of the
N o n c o m m i s s i o n e d
Officer serve as a compass
to guide them down
the right paths.
The newly inducted
NCOs are: Sgt. Harold
Mitchell and Sgt. James
Stephens, 172nd Medical
Detachment; Sgt.
Francisco Villavicencio,
24th Finance Company;
Sgt. Josiah Rubi and Sgt.
Aaron Perkins, 258th
Movement Control Team;
Sgt. Astrid Castillo and
Sgt. Thaao Little, 16th
Transportation Company; Sgt. Patience Okhuofu,
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment; Sgt.
Mario Clark, Sgt. Yanwulu Sarwon, Sgt. Terrence
Conyers, Sgt. George Charles, Sgt. Brent Sellers, Sgt.
Maasjo and Sgt. Evelyn Howell, 135th Quartermaster
Company; Sgt. Joseph O. Cassels and Sgt. Jacqueline M.
bons – many with Soldiers’ names written
on them – will be placed on trees in the
median on Gulick Avenue during the
march.
“The yellow ribbon symbolizes each
deployed Soldier, wherever he or she may
be – Iraq, Afghanistan, all around the
world”, Coffman said. “The yellow ribbon
honors them and is a reminder that we
won’t forget that we have Soldiers
deployed around the world.”
Yellow T-shirts bearing the logo of the
Walk to Iraq/Afghanistan will also be prominent
in the event. The T-shirts will be given
to participants who have logged 100 miles
since the January launch.
Following the walk, participants will form
a human yellow ribbon on Cottrell Field.
Although the marchers will be made up
primarily of Spouses and other Family
Members, Coffman emphasized that anyone
who wants to do so may participate.
They need not be signed up for the Walk to
Iraq/Afghanistan program.
Much of the interaction of the Walk/Run
to Iraq/Afghanistan is taking place on a
dedicated Facebook page, where unit leaders
and other participants can log the miles
they walk, run, swim, jog, stroll or otherwise
Sgt. Refugio Medina, 416th Quartermaster Battalion
Command Sergeant Major Jerry L. Taylor (far left) and Sgt. Maj. Jorge L. Rosa (far
right) stand with the newly-inducted NCOs of the 3rd Sustainment Bde., March 30.
accumulate. As of last week, 72,596 miles
had been logged. Infoplease calculated the
distance from Fort Stewart to Baghdad,
Iraq, as 6,739 miles.
The dedicated Facebook page has helped
members of the extended Army community
around the nation to bond and communicate
in honoring deployed Soldiers,
Coffman said. Posted photographs, comments
and mileage create excitement
among parents and grandparents.
The link to the Facebook page is www.
facebook.com/pages/3rd-ID-Walk-to-andfrom-IraqAfghanistan/261713572337
.
The April 24 walk will begin at 9:45 a.m.
and start at West 6th Street and Gulick
Avenue, travel down Gulick Avenue to West
13th Street, then follow Bundy Avenue back
to West 6th Street and the starting point.
“I think there is still a lot of excitement
about this program,” Coffman said. “So, I
think it is going to be a wonderful tribute to
all of the Soldiers deployed. A lot of ladies
are really taking this to heart. A lot of pounds
are being lost.”
She added, “We are encouraging Family
Members who are not here at Fort Stewart to
be a part of us. They may not be at the event
physically, but they will get to see pictures on
Jefferson, 473rd Quartermaster Company; Sgt. Charles,
V. Dukes and Sgt. Thomas A. Cowart, 110th
Quartermaster Company; Sgt. Daniel Kinsey and Sgt.
Jameica Wright, 90th Human Resources Company; Sgt.
Timothy Wachtarz, 512th Quartermaster Company.
Each new NCO received a copy of the NCO Creed
and a Charge to the Noncommissioned Officer.
potentially decided by “uniformed services, their
Families and overseas voters.” Some of these close elections
included the presidential election in 2000, U.S.
Senate elections in Virginia in 2006 and U.S. Senate elections
in Alaska and Minnesota in 2008.
“Who can tell me how many (U.S.) Senate and House
of Representative seats are up for re-election this year?”
she asked. There were some guesses but none that were
close to the true number, so she answered her own question.
“Thirty-eight Senators and all 435 seats on the
House of Representatives will be decided on this
November.”
Just because this year is not a presidential election
year, it is an important election, she told them. In fact,
every election should be viewed as important and that
every American voter should vote.
“Those who don’t vote shouldn’t complain when they
don’t like the results of the election,” she said. “It’s your
job to let your Soldiers and co-workers know this.”
If you have questions about absentee voting, contact
your unit or directorate VAO or call Louisa Sigman,
Human Resources VAO, at 912-767-2381.
Yellow Ribbon walk to recognize Division half-way mark
Facebook, log their miles and find out how
many miles the units have walked.”
For more information, please call
912-767-4316.
3rd ID Yellow Ribbon Walk
Schedule
9 a.m.: Participants can pick up
their Yellow Ribbons at the Brigade
Family Readiness Group tents at
Cottrell Field, and then take seats in
the bleachers.
9 a.m.: Shoutouts begin on
MarneTron.
9:30 a.m.: Remarks from members
of Command Group.
9:45 a.m.: Walk begins. It will
start at West 6th Street and Gulick
Avenue, travel down Gulick Avenue
to West 13th Street, then follow
Bundy Avenue back to West 6th
Street and the starting point.
After the walk, participants of the
program who earn Yellow T-shirts by
walking 100 miles and who are
wearing them for the walk event will
form a human yellow ribbon on
Cottrell Field.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 3A
Behind The Lens
Spartan provide Iraqi Army
with 'combat multiplier'
Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden
2nd HBCT, 3rd ID Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq –
While “one shot, one kill,” may be the sniper
axiom, it doesn’t begin to describe the sniper
experience.
Not only must snipers be excellent shooters,
they must also be disciplined and patient. They
must have expert field skills, including concealment
and camouflage, in order to infiltrate, detect
and stalk a target through all types of terrain and
distances - before firing their shot.
It was exactly those concepts that snipers from
1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy
Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division,
taught to 22 Iraqi Army Special Forces soldiers during
a recent sniper course held at the Al Kindi Iraqi
Army base. The Iraqis learned basic sniper techniques,
stalking and detecting targets, then spent
days firing at the range.
The instructor Bob did not want to give his
actual name due to security concerns.
Bob has served as the unit’s sniper section leader
for the past two years since joining the unit at Fort
Bliss, Texas.
“A sniper is a combat multiplier for a battalion,”
said “Bob” the 1/36 Inf. sniper section leader and
sniper course instructor. “Their first mission is to
provide long-range precision fire, anywhere from
600 yards to over one thousand yards. Our second
mission is to observe and report what we see on
the battlefield to the commander. If the target
presents itself, we then engage and get rid
of it.”
“The reward comes from the interaction
with my teams and being able to mold
them into great snipers,” he said. “Just seeing
them engage targets at those distances,
where most Soldiers only hit targets at three
hundred yards, is awesome. We not only
consistently hit at three hundred yards, but
we triple that distance.”
As a Stability Transition Team advisor to
the 7th IA Brigade, 2nd IA Division, it’s Lt.
Col. Michael Haber’s job to train, advise
and assist his Iraqi counterparts. The Iraqis
identified sniper training as a battlefield
weakness, he said, which they wanted to
correct.
Just watching the Jundis, or lower enlisted
soldiers, interact with the U.S. Soldiers
on a day-to-day basis has been impressive,
he said.
“The Iraqis are doing very well,” Lt. Col. Haber
said. “They had a lower baseline than most U.S.
Soldiers, so there were some things we had to do to
get them up to a functional level before we could
teach some of the higher-end, specialty characteristics
of being a sniper.”
According to Capt. David Fierner, commander of
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1/36
Inf., his Soldiers provided a definitive, hands-on
education based upon their practical knowledge
and experience.
“Our snipers trained the Iraqis in all the proper
basics of sniper training, so we can eventually take
them out on mission, and they can start covering
their own sectors,” he said. “We’re training them on
all the fundamentals – from stalking, shooting, target
detection, gathering dope on their weapons
and firing at longer ranges than they normally
would.”
“I think it’s great for our Soldiers to actually
interact with the Iraqi soldiers,” Capt. Fierner
added. “I also think it’s great for the Iraqi soldiers
to see that our enlisted Soldiers can train them;
that they have the proper skills and can broaden
their spectrum.”
“At first, it was somewhat of a culture shock for
the Iraqis, going from their everyday army life to
living the life of a sniper,” Bob said. “They’re finally
starting to understand that, as a sniper, you won’t
always have ideal conditions, or even ones you’ll
like. You have to make do with what you have.”
Once the classroom portion ended, Iraqi soldiers
began building their own ghillie suits from
Photos by Spc. Gregory Gieske
After crawling through grass and brush toward their target,
a sniper team from HHC, 1/36 Inf., 2nd HBCt, 3rd ID, set
their sights on their target during a two-week training
school where U.S. Soldiers trained Iraqi Army Special
Forces at the Al Kindi Iraqi Army base in Mosul, Iraq.
burlap bags and camouflage material. The ghillie is
a camouflaged suit used to conceal an individual
as they’re stalking. The term came from Scottish
gamekeepers, known as “ghillies,” who developed
a suit, which allowed them to blend into the scenery
in search of poachers.
Using two-man teams of a shooter and a spotter,
the Iraqis then got the opportunity to stalk targets
in the lush vegetation of the Al Kindi Iraqi
Army base.
“We started out with a preparation phase of
about five hundred meters,” the sniper leader said.
“A sniper can stalk anywhere from two hundred to
three thousand meters before settling into their
final firing position. From there, they engaged
their presented target.”
The course concluded with the Iraqis shooting
at the firing range at Forward Operating Base
Marez in Mosul. Beginning at 50 meters, they fired
a variety of U.S. weapons as well as their own
Army-issued MK76 Yugoslavian sniper rifles, ultimately
reaching the 400-meter-limit of the range.
“The Jundis out here today are definitely building
confidence and acquiring new skills in shooting,”
Capt. Fierner said. “They’ve definitely grown,
and we’ve built up their confidence. We’ll continue
to push them and improve their skills.
“U.S. forces have learned a tremendous amount
of skills working with the Iraqis, such as how they
learn and how they function as a unit. We’re building
friendships, and we’re building partnerships.
That’s something that was unexpected, but it’s
definitely a gain for us,” Capt. Fierner said.
“They’re obviously better
off now then they were at
the beginning,” said Bob.
“We gave them a good baseline;
however, being a sniper,
you have to keep up on
your sniper skills. It’s very
important, due to it being a
perishable skill. If you don’t
practice, it’ll fade away.”
“This has been a very
good partnership,” Lt. Col.
Haber said. “This is the
advent of a sniper program
for this division. I think in
the future, there will only be
good things that will come
out of this, benefiting both
the brigade and the division.
Most importantly,
however, are the effects we
want to have on the battlefield
in the future.”
ABOVE: Iraqi Army Special
Forces soldiers crawl
through low-lying vegitation
to avoid being detected
before they reach their target
during a two-week training
exercise taught by U.S.
Soldiers from HHC, 1/36 Inf.,
2nd HBCt, 3rd ID, at the Al
Kindi Iraqi Army Base in
northern Mosul, Iraq.
LEFT: Stalking to their objective
while using the high
grass for cover, two Soldiers
from the sniper team of
HHC, 1/36 Inf., 2nd HBCt,
3rd ID, pursue a closer
observational vantage point
to sight their target during a
training exercise at a forward
observation base in
northern Mosul, Iraq.

4A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch
Commanding General, IMCOM
Resilience is the ability to bounce back
in the face of adversity… it’s mental toughness!
Webster defines resilience as, “the
capability of a strained body to recover its
size and shape after deformation caused
especially by compressive stress” and “an
ability to recover from or adjust easily to
misfortune or change.”
The strength of our nation is only as
strong as the Soldiers, Families, and civilians
that courageously support and defend
it. Over the last eight years, more than one
million Soldiers have deployed to combat,
over 3,900 Soldiers have sacrificed their
lives, and more than 25,000 have been
wounded in service to our country. Army
units and Families across the globe are
relocating in compliance with the Base
Realignment and Closure Law, and we
continue to transform our business practices.
To remain strong in this dynamic
environment, leaders must proactively
maintain and develop resiliency programs
and services to enable the total Army
Community (Soldiers, civilians, Families,
and retirees) to maintain healthy relation-
“Put it into a saving account.”
Sgt. 1st Class Ignacio
Meldrom
Intelligence Analyst
3rd Infantry Division
Marne Faces Marne Places
Bob Mathews
DFMWR Marketing Publicity Specialist
Reagan Williams, 16, attended the Operation Purple
Leadership Camp in Alexandria, Va., last summer and
was encouraged to go back into her community and
make an impact.
She did.
Reagan, who taught herself to read and has loved
books ever since she was big enough to hold them,
decided to pour her energy and enthusiasm into improving
conditions and obtaining more books for Diamond
Elementary School’s Library.
The choice was an easy one for Reagan. Children she
babysits told her how old the books in the school library
were and that there were not many of them. Plus, the
school is within walking distance of her home.
Reagan’s parents are Lt. Col. Thomas and Dina
Williams. Her mom home-schools Reagan and the four
other Williams children. Their home is filled with books
– perhaps as many as 1,000 volumes contained in seven
bookcases.
Reagan said she has “always loved books” and doesn’t
like “the absence of books in my life.” In a letter asking
Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Milton to be a participant
in Read Across America week, she described how
books are a comfort to her, a way to “block out the stress
and emotions of the day.”
The letter’s opening line showed her pride in being a
Military Child: “My name is Reagan Williams and I am
an Army brat,” it said.
Her father, commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Field
Artillery, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry
Division, is serving his third tour in Iraq.
“While my father works to improve the quality of life
for the Iraqi people,” Reagan said, “I am trying to do the
same for the local children of deployed Soldiers here at
Fort Stewart.”
To accomplish her goal, Reagan wrote more than 30
letters to individuals as well as private and public com-
Marne Voices
Speak Out
Write a letter to
the editor!
Send to:
Marne TV & The Frontline
Attn: The Frontline, Editor
112 Vilseck Rd., Suite 109
Fort Stewart, Ga. 31314
or email to:
stewfrontline@conus.army.mil
or fax it to (912) 767-9366
visit www.stewart.army.mil
“Either invest more shares in
Carnival Cruise Lines; or maybe get
that Chevy Avalanche that I have
been promising myself for years.”
Jennifer Scales
Air Force veteran
The
C 2010
Frontline
112 Vilseck Rd., Suite 109
Building 419
Ft. Stewart, Ga. 31314
ADVERTISING: (912) 368-0526
THE Frontline OFFICE: 767-5669
HuNTER NE w S BuREAu: 315-5617
Defender 6 Sends - Resiliency
ships and happy lives.
Our approach to supporting
resiliency for the
Army Community is to
enhance their ability to
adapt to stress by supporting,
maintaining, and
developing programs and
services that promote
total wellness. As I have
said before, I am convinced
that the Army
spends too much time fixing
Soldiers after they
break, evidenced by the rise in suicide
and substance abuse rates. We should be
spending our time, energy,
and resources to make the
Army Community resilient to
prevent them from breaking.
We will use the Public Health
Model of assessment, education,
intervention, and treatment
to integrate and deliver
services to help prevent
Soldiers, civilians, and Families
from breaking. By applying
this model before a crisis happens we will
be better able to keep the Army Community
strong in all dimensions of resiliency.
Today is the last day to file income tax returns.
If you are getting a refund, what do you plan to do with it?
This civilian enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication
for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the Frontline are not
necessarily the official views of, or are endorsed by, the U.S.
Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army,
or U.S. Forces Command. It is published weekly by the Public
We are -
the Army's home
“I plan to pay off my credit
cards.”
Mark Geary
Contractor
Individuals must be fit
mentally, physically, and
spiritually to achieve optimum
resilience. The
Installation Management
Community will provide
the best care, support, and
services for the Army
Community by improving
quality of life through initiatives,
such as the Army
Family Action Plan, the
Army Family Covenant, the
Army Community
Covenants, the Installation Management
Campaign Plan and the Comprehensive
Soldier Fitness Program.
When I was the senior commander
at Fort Hood, I built a
Resiliency Campus to enable
the Army Community to
become resilient before deployments,
during deployments,
and to solve many other chal-
lenges faced by Army Families.
Other IMCOM garrisons are
also focusing on resilience. Fort
Bliss has a Restoration and Resilience
Center that offers a Warrior Resilience
Program and a Family Resilience Program.
panies asking for donations of books. The library has
received some positive responses, including monetary
donations.
She wrote more than 40 letters asking city and county
government leaders, school officials and military leaders
to be a part of the school’s Read Across America
week activities. Fifty-one volunteers filled the week’s
calendar of readers.
And Reagan pitched in to help in the library itself with
Lisa Romans, the librarian.
Romans praised Reagan’s effort.
“I am excited that she cares so much,” Romans said.
“For her to take on a project like this was really great.
Even if we hadn’t gotten one book from it, she is learning
a life lesson about how to communicate with people.”
She added that Reagan’s Read Across America letterwriting
campaign to community and military leaders
“was very successful. It brought awareness to our
school. It brought awareness to the library and made a
“Save money for a house. I have
been since my last deployment.”
Spec. Erica Humphries
Behavioral Health Specialist
Affairs Office, Fort Stewart, Georgia. 31314-5000. All editorial
content of the Frontline newspaper is prepared, edited, provided
and approved by the Public Affairs Office of Fort Stewart,
Georgia and the 3rd Infantry Division, and is printed by Morris
Newspaper Corporation of Hinesville, Inc., a private firm in no
“Put the money in savings and
pay bills.”
Maj. Brian Smith
BRAC Team OIC
“Put it in the bank and save it
for down payment on a
house.”
Kendrick Thomas
AAFES Employee
3RD INFANTRY DIVISION COMMANDER MAJ. GEN. TONY CUCOLO
3RD INF. DIV. DEP. CMD. GEN. REAR, SR. CMDR. FS/HAAF BRIG. GEN. JEFFREY E. PHILLIPS
USAG FS/HAAF CMDR COL. KEVIN W. MILTON
HUNTER AAF CMDR LT. COL. JOSE L. AGUILAR
3rd ID PAO — Maj. Jeff Allen
3rd ID NCOIC — Master Sgt. Marcia Triggs
3rd ID staff writer – Sgt. Joseph McAtee
3rd ID staff writer — Sgt. Johnathon Jobson
3rd ID staff writer — Spc. Michael Adams
1st Bde. NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Jennifer Menger
1st Bde. staff writer — Spc. Jared Eastman
2nd Bde. staff writer — Spc. Dustin Gautney
2nd Bde. staff writer — Pfc. Crystal Bradley
3rd Bde. NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Natalie Hedrick
3rd Bde. staff writer — Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Bde. staff writer — Pfc. Erik Anderson
3rd Sust. Bde. NCOIC — Sgt. 1st Class Rhonda Lawson
3rd Sust. Bde. staff writer — Spc. Gaelen Lowers
4th Bde. NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas
4th Bde. staff writer – Sgt. Robert Schaffner
Avn. Bde. NCOIC — Sgt. 1st Class Kim Green
Avn. Bde. staff writer — Spc. Monica Smith
Fort Jackson is planning to open a Master
Resilience Training school that will offer a
10-day Master Resilience Training Course
to equip leaders to teach coping skills to
unit members. At Fort Campbell, the
Family Resiliency Council has teamed up
with key organizations to be one of the
first installations to publish an online
resource guide to provide accurate and
accessible information to Soldiers,
Families, and civilians. These are but a few
initiatives underway dedicated to enhancing
Soldier, civilian, and Family resilience.
The strain of multiple deployments and
other stress factors may continue into the
future. Therefore, I challenge leaders and
personnel throughout the Army
Community to think of new ideas to
enhance installation resiliency initiatives
and to send your ideas to your installation
leadership or me.
I also challenge each of you to take
advantage of existing programs and
services on your installation and in
your community to remain mentally,
physically, and spiritually fit. The
Army Community is strength of our
nation and IMCOM garrisons are the
Army’s Home!
Support and Defend!
great fun project with Read Across America.”
Reagan’s siblings are Kayla, 18, who is graduating
from high school this year and has been offered Army
and Navy ROTC nursing scholarships; Christopher, 13,
in the seventh grade; Aiden, 7, in the first grade, and
Malia, 3, in pre-school.
Dina said she was proud of her daughter's community
project, but not surprised that she would take on
the challenge.
“Reagan has always been a giving child. She has
always wanted to give to other kids, she has always
wanted to give to other people," she said. "I see her
going into some kind of service industry, where she is
helping others."
For her efforts on behalf of the Diamond Elementary
library, Reagan has been nominated for the Marne
Spirit Award, a high honor given to those who have an
extraordinary impact on the Fort Stewart-Hunter
Army Airfield community.
Garrison PAO — Rich Olson
Command Information Officer — Jim Jeffcoat
Assistant CIO — Jennifer Scales
Editorial/Design Staff
Managing Editor – Jennifer Hartwig
Public Affairs Specialist — Randy Murray
Production Manager — Sherron Walker
Graphics — Mark Geary
Advertising Mgr. — Cynthia Barnes
Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs
Hunter Army Airfield PAO — Steven Hart
Assistant PAO — Nancy Gould
Bob Mathews
Dina Williams, Reagan Williams and Diamond Elementary School Librarian Lisa Romans discuss some books
recently at the school library. Reagan, as a personal project, worked to improve library conditions, solicit books
and monetary contributions and to recruit participants in the recent Read Across America observance.
way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive
written contract with Fort Stewart, Georgia. The civilian
printer is responsible for commercial advertising. Subscription
rates are $12/3 months, $20/six months and $36 for 12 months.
Rates are Third Class mail inside the continental U.S.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 5A
Juanita Lazenby
ACS Financial Counselor
Arm y FA m i ly Co n v e n A n t: Keeping the Promise
ACS offers solutions to paying debts, starting savings
Beth Curran
Financial Readiness Program Manager
Even if you're living paycheck to paycheck, this report
will show you how to start paying down debt, build
emergency cash reserves, and even set aside money for
investing.
You're living paycheck to paycheck, and it's causing a
lot of stress. Bills and credit card payments are eating up
most of your income. You know you need to rid yourself
of debt and save some cash - a cushion of three to six
months' living expenses to use in case of emergency.
And you'd like to begin investing on a regular basis to
build some financial security.
But how can you get ahead with the bills you already
have, not to mention the unexpected ones that seem to
crop up automatically whenever you have a little extra
cash? Chances are you find it difficult to do anything
because you don't know where to start.
Relax. A lot of people are in your situation. What you
need to do is face up to the matters at hand and set up
a plan of action. The time to do that is right now. With a
little self-discipline and some faith in yourself, your
financial picture can potentially change for the better in
about six months.
Paying Debt and Saving: What should you do first?
Reduce your debt or start saving? The following strategies
may help you control your cash flow, pay off
your debt, and encourage saving so you can handle
the unexpected expenses that may have gotten you
into debt in the first place. In time, you'll be ready to
invest. But first you have to know what you owe and
what you're spending.
Step #1: Create a personal balance sheet. Make a list
For the past seven years, a large percent of Americans
resolved to filing consumer bankruptcy, whether
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In 2008, the numbers increased
by more than 30 percent from 2006, to well over one
million. Was the increase due to mismanagement or not
having an understanding of sound financial practices?
In 2003, Congress passed the Financial Literacy and
Education Improvement Act (Public Law 108-159; 117
Stat. 2003), which designated the Month of April as
‘‘Financial Literacy Month’’ to raise public awareness
about the importance of personal financial education
and the serious consequences that may result from a
lack of understanding about personal finances, especially
in the areas on consumer awareness.
Credit is an established part of American life. We are a
nation who thrives on the availability of credit. Current
reports from IndexCreditCards.com indicate the average
American adult is carrying $3,752 in revolving debt
(mainly credit card debt) and the average American
household is carrying $7,394 in such debt. Although
surprisingly high, these figures are down from 2007-
2009 reports. Like many things in our society, utilization
of credit can be a controversial subject. If a consumer
were to ask three different Financial Counselors or
Consumer Credit Advisors about the pros and cons on
the usage of credit, he or she will most likely get three
different answers. As a consumer, it is important to
remember there is “wise and unwise” usage of credit.
The most important element to consider is that it’s not
the credit card that causes the financial burden but the
behavior of the consumer.
A financial rule of thumb is to use credit for items for
assets in which their future value is most likely to
of all of your debts in order from lowest balance to highest.
Don’t forget to make note of the minimum payments
and interests rates these debts cost each month.
Step #2: Next, you'll want to keep track of your typical
expenses for one month or so, to find out where your
money is going. Also figure your unexpected expenses
for a year's time - auto and home repairs, gifts, vacations,
etc. - and divide that number by 12. You can use
one of the personal finance software programs available
to track your spending. Once you have a record of your
spending, compare your monthly expenses to your
monthly income. If you have a surplus, this is the
amount you can apply each month to paying down
debt and building savings. If you have a shortfall, you'll
need to cut expenses.
Step #3: Pay extra and save. You can eliminate debt
and save money by paying more than the minimum
monthly amount on your credit cards.
How to Build Savings: A key to establishing good
saving habits is to make saving even easier than
spending. One of the best tools that Soldiers have is
the military allotment system. If the Soldier will set
up an allotment to his/her savings accounts then
they are less likely to miss the money and the savings
can be growing before you know it.
The most common mistake people make when
setting up this allotment is they try to put too much
into the savings then spend the rest of the month
withdrawing it. Start with a small amount like $25 a
month, that’s only $12.50 every two weeks. As you
fine tune your budget and get debts paid off, you can
increase the amount.
How to Reduce Debt: Paying off debt is easier once
increase such as investing in an education or purchasing
a home. Credit can also be used as a means of convenience
- as a means to eliminate the need for carrying
large amounts of cash, purchasing a big ticket item, or
taking advantage of a sale or discount. This method
assumes you are making a purchase and paying off the
purchase in full at the end of the month.
On the contrary, most consumers tend to use credit
for consumable items such as meals, vacations, clothing,
entertainment, and everyday living expenses. This
practice establishes a hefty balance that most consumers
are unable to pay off at the end of the month, which
leads to the majority of our “credit problems.” There is a
fine line between taking advantage of an available line
of credit and utilizing more than what we can afford.
Understanding ones true capacity to repay debt is an
element in money management that many consumers
skip. If an individual does not know his or her debt-toincome
ratio (the portion of income that goes to pay
debt), the individual will not know if he or she has taken
on too much debt. This lack of knowledge often leads to
financial stress, delinquent account payments, low
credit scores, inability to obtain new credit, or even
bankruptcy.
Warning Signs of too much debt:
Yellow:
1. Not being able to pay off most credit cards each
month and being able to afford only the minimum
monthly payments on credit cards.
2. Falling behind on payments and receiving late
notices.
Amber:
1. At or near credit limits on credit cards most of the
time.
2. No “emergency savings” account.
you stop using and start paying off your cards.
There are two thoughts on how to do this. Some
experts say that you should start with the highest
interest rate card(s) due to the large amount of
interest you are paying each month.The other half
of the experts say to start with the lowest balance
card to start the elimination process.
The financial counselors at Army Community
Service would recommend starting with the lowest
balance first – and here’s why. We want you to feel
the excitement of success and accomplishment.
As you start paying these debts, you will feel the
power of being debt free quicker if you can scratch
something off your debt list every few months.
You also need to set up a realistic payment timetable
and stick with it. If you need to readjust your
timetable, do so.
If you have trouble doing this on your own or not
sure where to start, please call Army Community
Service and request an appointment with one of
the financial counselors. They can assist you with
creating a plan that is both successful and realistic.
One way that they do this is with a software program
called “Power Pay.” They can create a calendar
of payments for you with your individual situation
in mind that can show you month and year
that you would be out of debt.
Put Time on Your Side: You may not be able to
solve your debt problem overnight, but you can
solve it over time. Not only will a combined debt
reduction and saving strategy begin to lighten the
load now, it will help you feel better about your
future.
Understanding credit classes offered by ACS
Red:
1. Rotating bills - paying some this month, some next
month.
2. Hiding bills or being dishonest with Family
Members about debts.
3. Seeking additional debt from predatory lending
sources such as payday loans or refund anticipation
loans.
If a consumer finds him or herself experiencing any
of the listed warning signs or feels overwhelmed with
credit debt, all is not lost. Find comfort in the fact that
there are options available to assist in your journey.
Army Community Service can assist Soldiers and
Families with devising a plan and utilizing Power Pay to
successfully pay off debt.
Counselors are also available to assist with reviewing
credit reports, understanding credit scores, and assisting
with credit correction. The benefits of having access
to credit and a positive credit report are numerous.
Conversely, not understanding credit and making
unwise decisions can affect a consumer negatively for
years to come.
ACS will facilitate a class on how to read and understand
credit reports and credit scores and how to go
about correcting your credit and credit report.
The 3 C’s of Credit will be held at Fort Stewart (ACS,
building 86) and Hunter Army Airfield (ACS, building
1286) on April 29. The first part of the class will be a
workshop, 9-11:30 a.m., followed by one-on-one credit
report review by appointment, 1-3 p.m. Advance registration
is required and clients will need to bring all three
of their credit reports. To obtain copies of your credit
reports, go to www.annualcreditreport.com. Please call
and register in advance at (Fort Stewart) 912-767-5058
or (Hunter Army Airfield) 912-315-6816.

6A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
MyCAA resumes for existing accounts
The Department of Defense resumed operations
of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account
program for the 136,583 military spouses who had
existing MyCAA accounts. Only those who created an
account have access to the entire Web site, including
the ability to generate and have financial documents
approved.
Until DOD re-opens this popular program, no new
accounts can be created. Education and Career
Consultants will continue to be available to provide
career exploration, assessment, employment readiness
and career search assistance. For additional
details, call Military Once Source at 800-342-9647
and to access a six page list of alternative Educational
Funding Opportunities, see the Web site, www.militaryonesource.com/mycaa.
Hope Grant for College Credit offered
Of special interest to those who cannot use My
CAA at this time, Savannah Technical College has the
Technical Communications Specialist program,
which is a great option to fulfill the General Education
Requirement courses for your degree. Under this
particular certificate program, the Hope Grant will
cover the cost of Composition and Rhetoric, Literature
and Composition, College Algebra, Public Speaking,
Psychology, Sociology and Computer Concepts.
These classes can later be transferred to most other
colleges and universities.
Many other HOPE eligible diploma and certificate
programs are offered by Technical Colleges throughout
Georgia, including Savannah Technical College,
Airport Road in Hinesville. Some classes are even
available on-line or in the Fort Stewart Education
Center. For more information, click on www.gsfc.org
and www.savannahtech.edu or call Savannah Tech:
Education Center, 408-2430; Hinesville, 408-3024;
Savannah, 443-5700. For additional online classes,
explore the Georgia Virtual Technical College Web
site at www.gvtc.org.
Family Member scholarships offered
The ThanksUSA Scholarship Program will award
Spc. Jessica Zullig
135th MPAD, 3rd ID Public Affairs
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER,
Iraq – In a small room where the 3rd Infantry Division
Band usually pumps out rock music, five Soldiers
and nine Ugandan security guards attended a presentation
on day one of a driver’s training course at
Contingency Operating Base Speicher.The course
emphasized the safe operation of Humvees and the
Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.
Sergeant Jesse Henschel, Headquarters and
Headquarters Support Company, Division Special
Troops Battalion, 3rd ID, is a battalion master driver
and the instructor for the five-day course that certifies
and licenses students to drive Humvees and the
FMTVs.
“The course teaches the students how to properly
perform preventative maintenance checks and services
but mainly focuses on safety,” said Sgt. Henschel,
a Ludowici, Ga., native. “We focus on that because
when an accident does occur, it will happen with
minimal damage.”
As part of the training, slideshows help students
numerous scholarships for $3000. All dependent
children, 24 and under and all spouses of activeduty
U.S. military service personnel are eligible to
apply. Applicants must plan to enroll full-time in an
accredited two-year or four-year college, university
or technical school. New this year, spouses may
now use the award for non-degree licensure/certification
programs, and this is the case regardless of
whether an undergraduate degree has already been
completed.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of
financial need, academic record and demonstrated
leadership and participation in school and community
activities. Online applications must be submitted
by May 15; however, only the first 10,000 applications
to arrive will be evaluated. For complete
instructions, see www.thanksusa.org/main/scholarships.html.
Free Online Tutoring available
The Department of Defense now provides eligible
U.S. military Families the ability to get help from a
professional tutor anytime you need it — FREE. You
and your children can work with a professional tutor
online 24/7 to get help with homework, studying,
test prep, resume writing and more. School subjects
supported are all grade levels of math, science,
English, and social studies. Also available are study
sources for Standardized Tests to include all GED,
college entrance exams and state standardized
exams. In addition, there are helpful links for career
transitions, writing resumes, studying for exams and
helping children with homework. Best of all, it is very
easy to access and get started. Just go to www.tutor.
com/ and click on the purple “Military” symbol or call
800-411-1970 or 212-528-3101.
Source available for Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33, is a non-contributory
benefit (no up-front payment required by
Soldiers) for those who served on active duty on or
after Sept. 11, 2001. The Veterans Administration
Web site at www.gibill.va.gov provides in-depth eligibility
information and a link to the on-line application.
It also includes all information and steps con-
understand the importance of taking two extra minutes
to follow, perform and enforce the standards of
safety to help save lives by preventing accidents and
assessing any variables that might hinder their driving
ability, such as sleep deprivation and limited visibility
due to fog or dust.
Sergeant Vincent Mugisha, a Ugandan security
guard stationed at COB Speicher as an entry control
point guard, said that the class taught him to be more
aware of his surroundings.
“The course is a good thing,” he said. “It’s teaching
me to be conscience of my life and other people’s
lives while driving. It’s practical, which makes it
interesting and will also help me back in the rear in
Uganda.”
Staff Sergeant Joshua Troche, a paralegal noncommissioned
officer for the 166th Regional Support
Group, 1st Mission Support Group, 81st Regional
Readiness Group out of Puerto Rico, says that the
course taught him how to be safe on the road.
“I’m in the course so that I can learn how to drive
responsibly,” said Staff Sgt. Troche, a San Juan, Puerto
Rico, native. “Once I get my license from the course,
I will be able to assist in range operations, which
3rd Infantry Division
cerning transferability to Family Members. If you
have questions after exploring the Web site, call 888-
442-4551.
Take Pearson VUE exams locally
The Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Army Education
Center is a Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Center.
Community members can take advantage of on-site
IT certification testing and hundreds of other professional
certification and licensure exams right on Fort
Stewart. Just go to www.pearsonvue.com to register.
Upon approval to take the exam, you will receive a
candidate identification number. Then schedule the
exam date by contacting Blondell Francis, room 165
or call 912-767-9569.
CLEP now at Stewart, Hunter
The College Level Examination Program and
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests are now available
at both education center sites. The exams are
free for military personnel. CLEP tests are $92 and
DSSTs are $100 for non-military examinees. The
Hunter Test Center requires pre-registration: www.
ccis.edu/nationwide/main.asp?Hunter. Contact the
Columbia College test administrator by calling 912-
352-8635 at Hunter or 912-767-7588 at Fort Stewart.
Online academic skills course available
The Peterson's Online Academic Skills Course is
now available to all the services, DoD Civilians, and
Family Members. OASC is designed for individuals
who want to build their math and verbal skills to
excel in their jobs, pass their exams, advance their
careers, or continue their education. The course will
diagnose the individual’s current level of reading
comprehension, vocabulary, and math abilities and
teach the concepts and skills needed to increase proficiency
in each of these academic areas.
This course is available free of charge and can be
accessed on any computer at any time. To register,
click on, www.petersons.com/dantes. The same site
also provides free study resources for GED, SAT,
CLEP, ASVAB, etc.
TF Marne driver’s education focuses on safety
needs a licensed Humvee driver.”
Not only did the course help teach the drivers
safety, but it also taught what to do if the unexpected
happens.
“My favorite video is the one where they show how
to self-recover a Humvee,” said Sgt. Mugisha, a
Kampala, Uganda, native. “It was very informative. I
didn’t know a Humvee could do that.”
On the fourth day of the course, students put all of
the information they had learned and applied it to a
day- and night-time driving test in a Humvee and
light medium tactical vehicle.
The students drove while the instructor graded
them on speed, turning corners, stopping and their
awareness of other motorists and pedestrians.
After receiving passing grades during the driving
and written test, students earned their accident
avoidance certification and license, which is valid for
four years or until the unit has a change of command.
On COB Speicher, the driver’s training course is
offered once a month. Soldiers who would like to
attend the course can submit a request to their company
training NCO.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 7A
Beware of
vacation scams
Capt. Scott C. Reitor
Legal Assistance Attorney
There has been a recent rash of vacation scams in the
Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield area. To avoid becoming
a victim of these scams, consider the following before
signing for or paying for a vacation:
• Use an established business. A door-to-door salesman
or someone who calls on the phone may be legitimate, but
they may not. The internet is also full of both real and scam
businesses. The only way you can be sure is to use a local
travel agency or an internet/phone travel service that you
know is a real business. As well, most wholesale clubs,
professional societies/clubs, and banks have travel services
that can help you find a deal.
• Don’t ever give out your information to anyone by
telephone, e-mail, regular mail or in person unless you can
verify their identity.
• There are many types of scams; if you receive any offer
that seems too good to be true, then it probably is. There is
no free lunch.
• If anyone is promising anything for free, they will not
need your credit card number or payment of any kind.
• Offers of free airfare once you pay for your hotel room
and meals are usually a scam that ends up with you paying
far more than if you had purchased the airfare.
• Offers to sell you coupons or vouchers for goods, services
or upgrades should only be trusted if they come from
the business they are used for or a reputable travel service.
• Do your research. There are Web sites online that help
consumers investigate companies as well as offers. Some
of these Web sites include:
• www.scambusters.com
• www.ripoffreport.com
• www.ftc.gov/sentinel
• www.bbb.org
• Never allow yourself to be pressured into agreeing to a
deal now. The sting of getting scammed lasts far longer
than the sweetness of getting a rare deal. Most legitimate
offers will be available tomorrow, after you have researched
the legitimacy of the deal.
• Never make out a check to an individual person, and
never pay cash. Always use a credit card for vacation-related
expenses. Credit cards offer additional protections in
the event of fraud and many offer free vacation insurance
if you purchase your tickets with their card.
• In addition, search engines such as Google and Yahoo
will help you research businesses to find out if they are
legitimate.
• Use your Legal Assistance Office – we are happy to
assist you in determining if an offer is legitimate.
• Never agree to a vacation rental home or villa sight
unseen unless it is owned by a reputable resort you are
familiar with. Many companies have Web pages and brochures
offering a steeply-discounted price on a vacation
villa that looks like it was plucked from a movie. You place
a deposit of a few hundred dollars to lock your reservation
in and when you arrive, the property is nothing like the
pictures and is sometimes nothing more than an abandoned
shack.
The bottom line on avoiding vacation scams or scams
of any kind is to be a savvy consumer. Researching a
potential vacation salesman, travel agent or offer will yield
comments from others who have bought from them in the
past. Five minutes with a search engine could save you
from a $1,000 mistake.
If you believe that you have been the victim of a scam,
you should contact your local law enforcement as well as
file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at
www.FTC.gov. Additionally, if the scam occurred in
Georgia, you can file a complaint with the Governor’s
Office of Consumer Affairs. Complaints filed with this
agency alleging fraud may form the basis for an investigation
and may give rise to legal action.
If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact
the Legal Assistance Office. We will also be happy to assist
you in determining the validity of any offer. Please make an
appointment to speak with a legal assistance attorney. Fort
Stewart – building 621, call 912-767-8809/8819; Hunter
Army Airfield - building 1211, call 912-315-5115.
A nyone
LEGAL NOTICE
having claims against, or who is indebted to the estate of Sgt.
William Burnett, 224th MI Bn., Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., 31409, please
contact Capt. Lyndsey Thompson, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., 31409, 912-315-
4951.
Anyone having claims against, or who is indebted to the estate of 1st Lt.
Robert Collins, B Co., 1/64 Armor, 2/3 HBCT, Fort Stewart, Ga., 31314,
please contact Capt. Bradley W. Hudson, Fort Stewart, Ga., 31314, 912-435-
5089 or 904-422-3524.
Anyone having claims against, or who is indebted to the estate of Pfc.
William Blount, B Co., 1/64 Armor, 2/3 HBCT, Fort Stewart, Ga., 31314,
please contact 1st Lt. Melissa J. Brown, Fort Stewart, Ga., 31314, 912-435-
5089 or 404-384-6087.
FIRE PREVENTION from Page 1A
“Our equipment has been used in various locations around the area,” said
Crowell. “We have been able to support the communities of Richmond Hill,
Glennville, and Port Wentworth, to name a few.”
Though the directorate was recently notified of their winning, the award
is based upon all of their tasks and missions that were accomplished in 2009,
said Hollis.Check out just some of their 2009 accomplishments:
•Meticulously inspected over 19 million square feet of buildings, spanning
over 284,000 acres.
•More than 3,500 inspections included canvassing outlying areas used for
training of war-fighting forces.
•Conducted 260 plans reviews-researched building requirements for vehicle
repair operations, medical facilities, daycare, single and family housing.
•Performed 84 Day Care and Youth Center inspections, Home Day Care
visits.
•Provided comprehensive hands-on fire extinguisher training for over
3,500 personnel-doubled attendance.
•Tailored age specific instruction to 3,652 students at on and off-base
learning institutions.
•Trained 355 home day care providers-joint efforts with CDC to accommodate
safety and welfare of kids.

8A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
New mental health program implemented to support TF Marne
Pvt. Zachary Zuber
Task Force Marne Public Affairs
DIYALA, Iraq – A new initiative to
preemptively identify and ease
mental health issues for Soldiers
during deployment is being implemented
throughout Task Force
Marne, beginning this month.
The Primary Care Behavioral
Health Initiative utilizes medics
and initial medical care providers
to screen for potential mental
health issues. It was created by Maj.
Keith M. Lemmon, surgeon for 1st
Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment,
3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division.
The program is designed to establish
more trusting relationships
between Soldiers, creating a comfortable
outlet to speak of any mental
or emotional issue they face
while deployed. These new methods
are designed to empower the young
medics and physician’s assistants
who already develop a close connection
to the Soldiers. Educating
caregivers about subtle indicators of
a personality change may draw
attention to a small problem a
Soldier may be dealing with prior to
the situation becoming a crisis.
“I’m an adolescent medicine
specialist, and one of the biggest
tenets of adolescent medicine is
that there is usually something
going on in a young adult’s life that
is a bigger threat to their health,”
said Maj. Lemmon. “The concept
here is that we do a psychosocial
interview to get to know them, and
when we ask them about emotional
and behavioral health, things will
come out that wouldn’t normally
without that relationship.
“We still treat a sprained ankle or
cold, but we also establish this [aid
station] as a place they can come
when they are having emotional
and behavioral issues.”
Originally, the concept of the
program was to combat the everyday
stresses that Soldiers experience
by helping to provide them
with coping tools before their problems
can escalate to violent or suicidal
actions. The easiest place to
introduce this concept and nurture
a trusting relationship is during the
initial level of care with the medics
that take part in missions, side-byside
with those they treat.
“When you look at what medics
do, taking care of our Soldiers, if
medics can deal with these issues
as well, that’s accomplishing the
mission of taking care of the health
of Soldiers,” said Maj. Lemmon.
“Traditionally, that has not been a
medic’s job, but with a program
like this, they can do even more
good in an environment where
there are not many trauma incidents
for them to take care of.”
Once a trial period was completed
with the 1/14th Cav. at Forward
Operating Base Cobra, the initiative
was presented to division medical
and mental health officers for
implementation throughout USD-
N. With the help of Maj. Jacob
Richardson, Task Force Marne
behavioral health officer, the program
is now being introduced to
medical teams from each brigade
in the division.
“We [the division medical officers]
decided, based on Maj.
Lemmon’s brief to us, that we wanted
to push this program out to the
division,” said Maj. Richardson. “I
am participating actively with the
founders, collaborating, adding
some behavioral health tweaks for
the course.”
In order to introduce this new
process to an entire division of
medical care providers, conferences
will be held at a central FOB
within each brigade in the division.
At each seminar, medics and officers
from the respective battalions
will learn methods designed to
identify any potential mental health
issues early and be given the tools
to train their colleagues.
“We are providing ‘train-thetrainer’
seminars for the different
units and once they receive the initial
introduction, we are giving
them four weeks to go back and
train their units,” said Maj.
Richardson. “Once that is complete,
the program can be implemented
immediately.”
After the introduction of the program,
it will be reviewed to assess
its affects on Soldiers, and accep-
3rd Infantry Division
Pvt. Zachary Zuber
Captain Elrico Hernandez, battalion physician assistant for 2nd
Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division, and Spc. Erica Humphries, mental health tech
for the 3rd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion discuss a training
scenario that is part of the first Primary Care Behavioral Health
seminar. The new program is being undertaken by medical care providers
throughout United States Division-North in order to provide
better mental health screening for Soldiers.
tance among the Task Force Marne
medical providers. Success in the
program will be measured by an
increase in patients assisted, and a
decrease in violent or suicidal incidents.
If proven effective, the new
process could easily be continued
by medical professionals after their
deployment is finished.
“I am definitely looking at the big
picture, and I’m very excited for the
potential of this system,” said Maj.
Richardson. “There is great potential
for this to be carried into the garrison
environment and a wider spectrum.”
Once it has proven the difference it
can make, the Primary Care Behavioral
Health Initiative could be an essential
tool for health care providers.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 9A
Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Briefs
Come to The Great MWR Yard Sale
Come out Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., to Club Stewart
and Hunter Army Airfield Credit Union parking lots, onpost
housing and the NAF excess property sale, on Fort
Stewart at building 1501. Yard sales open to publics.
Goodwill Industries on hand for donations 2 p.m., until
truck is filled at both parking lots. All spaces to sell at
Club Stewart parking lot are taken, only space available is
at Hunter Credit Union parking lot.
Military Youth Idol Trials set
Show off your talent April 30, 6-8 p.m., Stewart Youth
Center, building 7338. Youth (ages 8-18) may register at
the Youth Center to compete in the first round trials.
Winners of this round compete at the Military Youth Idol
Talent Show on June 12 for cash prizes. Call now to enter!
For details, call 912-767-4491.
Officer, NCO Call set at Club Stewart
Officers and noncommissioned officers are invited to
attend Officer and NCO Call at Club Stewart every Friday
at 5 p.m. in Club Stewart's Liberty Room. Department of
Defense civilians are also invited to join in the camaraderie.
AER Campaign continues
The Army Emergency Relief program, which has
helped Soldiers and their Families since 1942, is ongoing.
The Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfied Campaign continues
until May 15. The installation goal is $125,000.
Soldiers and civilians may contact their unit representatives
or call ACS at 912-767-5058.
DCO Renovations scheduled
Renovation of the Fort Stewart Dial Central Office and
Telecommunications Control Center in building 9, is
requiring a two-stage re-configuration of power systems
in the facility.
The first stage will be Saturday from 8-10 a.m., and
could impact garrison and tactical SIPRNET connectivity
intermittently for short periods during that time frame.
The second stage will occur April 23, from 8:10-9 p.m.
through the morning of April 24, and could disrupt local
and off-post telephone and NIPRNET availability intermittently
for short periods during that timeframe.
Since backup generator support will be provided for
both stages, little to no disruption of data and voice services
is anticipated. Please report any conflicts or problems
with this schedule to scott.blake@us.army.mil as
soon as possible but noon tomorrow.
2010 Census completions required
Complete and return your 2010 Census questionnaire
today. The results of the 2010 will affect Federal and state
funding allocations, Congressional representation, community
planning decisions and much more. Soldiers and
Army Family Members should fill out Census forms for
where you are currently residing, not your home of
record.
If you did not receive your Census form, please pick
one up from any of the locations:
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith Army Education
Center, your respective City Halls, Hinesville Branch
Liberty, Liberty County Recreation Dept., Liberty County
YMCA Savannah Tech, Liberty Campus.
The forms are available at all Chatham County libraries
and YMCAs. There are Question Assistance Centers
manned by a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau
at the following locations until Monday:
Free admission for servicemembers, Families
to golf tournament
Active duty servicemembers get free admittance to the Liberty Mutual
Legends of Golf tour, April 23-25, at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf
Resort and Spa in Savannah.
Highlights for the military include complimentary admission for active
duty, retired and reserve military personnel and their dependents. Valid
military ID is required at the admission gate. Military Appreciation Day is
Sunday, April 25, with a special ceremony of the 1st tee to kick off the final
round of competition at 8:30 a.m.
The military hospitality tent will be located on the 17th green for all
active duty, retired and reserve military personnel and their dependents.
Open Friday through Sunday with complimentary food and beverages.
Fort Stewart Commissary Tues. - Sat., 3 p.m. - 6 pm
Savannah Tech (Liberty) Mon. - Wed., Thurs.,
2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Walthourville City Hall Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Flemington City Hall Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Riceboro City Hall Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
11 a.m - 2 p.m.
Midway City Hall Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Hinesville City Hall Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Regency Apts. Cmty Ctr Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
9 a.m. - noon
Hinesville Library Mon. - Wed., Thurs., Fri.,
9 a.m. - noon
For more information, call Pam King, Education
Services Officer, 912-767-2866.
Free admission to Verizon Heritage
Golf Tournament, April 15-18
Active duty military and their Family
Members get free admission with their military
ID to the Verizon Heritage Golf
Tournament from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., April
15–18. Servicemembers and their Families
can also get complimentary food and beverages
at The Patriots’ Outpost, a hospitality
tent on the 18th fairway. For more information
about the tournament, go to www.verizonheritage.com.
Visit historic cemeteries on Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield holds its 2010 Spring
Cemetery and Historic Site Tour April 26 with visits to
Cypress Slash, Trinity, Todd cemeteries and the site of
historic Fort Argyle. All are located on Fort Stewart.
Sponsored by the Fort Stewart Cemetery Council, the
event is free and open to the public, although space is
limited to about 80 participants. A box lunch is available
for $4.25 for adults, $3.65 for youth. Individuals can learn
more or register by calling Public Affairs at 912-435-9872.
Paintball tournament set at Fort Stewart
Registration deadline tomorrow; tournament is
Saturday, 8 a.m. (captains meeting), 9 a.m. (start time).
Stewart Skeet Range Orchard, Holbrook Outdoor
Recreation Area. Five person double elimination speedball
tournament. Open to all Military ID cardholders
(ages 15 & older). Fees: $100 per 5-person team (includes
2 cases of paint and free air), $25 per individual (includes
500 paintballs and free air). Prizes awarded. For more
information and pre-registration, call 912-767-2515.
Coin and covenant event slated
The next recurring Coin and Covenant event for
Spouses of Deployed Soldiers is today from 6-7:30 p.m. at
the Fort Stewart Marne Chapel (6th St and Gulick). The
Coin and Covenant is a Chaplain led program and began
as units deployed. An event recurs every third Thursday
of the month for Spouses of the Deployed from 6-7:30
p.m. at Fort Stewart.
Similar events occur monthly at Hunter Army Airfield.
Coin and Covenant assists married couples in remaining
connected from a distance. All spouses who have a
Soldier deployed are welcome to attend. Food is provided
Building 525 parking lot closing temporarily
by the chapel congregations. Child care is also free and
now provided on site at the chapel. Children must be
enrolled with CYSS. If you will use child care you must
send the names and ages of children to Ms. Bolton at
Blanch.Bolton@us.army.mil or by phone at 912-767-
7708. For questions or to RSVP call Blanch Bolton at (912)
767-7708.
Free sewing of patches and insignia
Did you just arrive at Stewart or Hunter? Recently promoted?
Whatever the reason, if you are an enlisted
Soldier, you can have authorized patches and insignia
applied to your Class A's free of charge. Just report to the
warehouse entrance at DOL, building 2916, Stewart, or
building 612, Hunter Army Airfield, and the sewing ladies
will apply your patches and insignia while you wait.
Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday- Friday;
closed noon to 12:30 for lunch. Take advantage of this
service - it's fast, it's easy, and best of all, it's free. If you
have any questions, call Debbie Wood at 435-0375.
Parking limited to official vehicles
Parking at building 275, Personnel Processing Center
for privately owned vehicles is by permit only. To ensure
safety of Soldiers, Army Civilians and contractors working
and receiving service at that building, parking must
be limited to government vehicles, buses and POVs with
parking pass only. Soldiers who are scheduled to go
through SRC must be bused to the site.
Individuals receiving service from the MPD
Section or ID card section must park outside the
gate or across the street in the parking area. For
units conducting SRC, if your leadership needs
parking passes for their POVs, please contact Judy
Waynick, Chief, MPD to receive passes. Call 767-
5253 or e-mail judy.waynick@us.army.mil.
Holocaust Remembrance Day at Hunter
The 3rd Infantry Division Equal Opportunity Office
presents Holocaust Remembrance Day/Days of
Remembrance Program at Hunter Chapel from 2-3 p.m.,
April 21. Guest speaker will be Rabbi Kenneth Leitner. For
additional information, contact 912-315-3849.
Absentee ballot deadlines approaching
Military and civilian voters, submit your ballot request
for the May and June state primaries.
The following States will hold Primary Elections, May-
June, 2010 on the dates indicated:
May 4: Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio
May 11: Nebraska, West Virginia
May 18: Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania
May 25: Idaho
June 1: Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico
June 8: California, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada,
New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Virginia
June 22: Utah
Register and request your ballot now. All members of
the U.S. Uniformed Services, government employees,
and their Family Members who are residents from these
states and have not yet submitted a registration and ballot
request for the 2010 calendar year, should do so as
soon as possible.
For more information, visit the FVAP Web site at
www.fvap.gov. If you'd like more information on the
Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with
the absentee voting process, please contact FVAP at
www.fvap.gov, 1-800-438-8683, DSN 312-425-1584, or
at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.
There is a scheduled closure of the parking lot serving building 525 from 7 a.m., Monday until 5 p.m., April 22. Subject closure is necessary to
perform work on the chilled water lines in the area. Detour signs and traffic control devices will be displayed and posted for the closure duration.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid this area to minimize traffic congestion and to be alert to changes in traffic patterns around the area. For information,
contact Terry Wheeler, Army Corps of Engineers, at 912-228-7451.
Jennifer Hartwig, Fort Stewart Public Affairs
Enjoy Wednesday Pasta Night at Club Stewart
Enjoy a variety of pastas, sauces, a fresh garden salad, garlic bread,
assorted rolls and butter, the Chef’s special dessert, coffee and tea every
Wednesday from 5-9 p.m. in Club Stewart’s Palmetto Room. Don’t feel like
dining out? Take advantage of the “Pasta to Go” take out – call ahead and
we’ll have it ready.
Cost is $9.95 per adult. Children 5-10 are half price; and children 4 and
under are free, or enjoy a complete meal for four for $24.95.
For more information or to call in your order, call 912-368-2212.

10A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
3rd Infantry Division
Leaders respond to Town Hall meeting issues
Special to the Frontline
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield
conducted Town Hall meetings, Feb. 4 and
Feb. 3, respectively. Leaders responded to
many issues at the meeting. Their responses
and updates are listed below:
Question: Resident stated the
pavilions near the lakeside are
very expensive to rent and this is the
reason why they are not used. FRG
leaders and spouses have made comments
on how expensive they are. She
also stated she thought the purpose of
these areas was for use by FRGs and
spouses.
Answer: HGC replied that currently
the rental price is $175 and
a reduction should be addressed. He
stated that the residents’ concerns
about the price were understandable;
however, some of the funds used on
renovating the pavilions need to be
replaced.
Q
: Resident complained children
should not have to be registered
with CYSS just to participate in activities.
A
: CYSS representative stressed
that regulatory guidelines require
children be registered when they participate
in events and that registration
numbers are also used when requesting
funding from Congress.
Q
: Resident stated she has a relative,
who was a prior major
league football player, who could assist
in having retired football players come
to post but needs to know with whom
to coordinate.
Update: DRMWR is currently working
with Charles Scales in hopes of having
him participate in our youth sports
football clinics this summer.
Q
: Parent asked DFMWR about
the rules on late fees for childcare.
He stated he was billed a late fee
over a weekend involving a holiday.
Additionally, resident was concerned
with the way parents signed their children
up for field trips at School Age
Services. The present process does not
allow all parents equal opportunity
for signing their children up.
Update: CYSS Coordinator spoke
with parent and clarified the late fee
policy.
The policy provides three days of
grace period after the 1st and 15th of
the month. Should pay day be on a
weekend, an additional day is granted,
not three additional days. It was also
reiterated that all fees are due in
advance.
The field trips the parent referred to
are under the EDGE program and spaces
are limited to five children from the
SAS program as this program is mainly
tailored for Middle School /Teens, not
SAS children. The DFMWR CYSS
Partnership Specialist contacted the
customer and clarified the program
and space; customer seemed to be satisfied
with the clarifications of both
issues.
Q
: Resident expressed concern
about cars picking up children
at SAS. Although all children are to be
with their parent, occasionally a child
takes off alone. There is a real risk of a
child being hit by a car, as many parents
picking up their children are
parking in “no parking” areas and not
being cautious of children other than
their own. He requested that a child-
care staff member be there during busy
pick-up times to enforce the parking
rules and ensure the safety of the children.
A
: The DFMWR representative said
the situation would be looked into
immediately. The DES Director agreed to
assist in assessing this issue.
Update: Joan Styles, SAS Director,
contacted DES who agreed to send patrol
cars to monitor traffic in front of the
building. Additionally, a note to the parents
was distributed 16 Feb, asking for
their cooperation in parking in the designated
spaces and not in front of the
building.
Q
: Resident asked AAFES why there
is not more WIFI available on
post. Off post you can find free locations
everywhere, but on post Soldiers are
paying for WIFI.
A
: AAFES representative replied that
this issue is already being worked
at their headquarters.
Additionally, the food courts next to
the main PX and the furniture PX have
WIFI available.
Safety Message: How to survive spring cleaning
Installation Management Command
Spring is the traditional time of year when we
seriously clean our homes. While this is a rewarding
activity, it can also be a risky one. Falls, cuts,
chemical burns, and electrical shock are just some
of the injuries which can occur.
You can survive spring cleaning by following
these safety tips:
•Wear protective clothing. Sturdy shoes will
protect your feet if you drop something, bump
into an object, or step on something sharp. The
soles of the shoes should be made of non-slip
material. Wear vinyl or rubber gloves when you
use liquid cleaning products. Cloth or leather
gloves will protect your hands from minor injuries
which can occur while you are dusting, moving
furnishings, and handling debris.
•Beware of electrical hazards. Keep moisture
away from electrical appliances and outlets. Don't
spray cleaning products directly onto light switches
or the fuse panel area of an electrical stove.
Ordinary household vacuums must not be used
on damp surfaces.
•Watch for overhead electrical hazards. Never
touch a light fixture while you are on an aluminum
Virginia Jackson
New Parent Support Program
Have you learned a new way to play recently? A
great opportunity to do this may be with your child.
Of course, their response will probably depend on
their age. As adults we consider weekends to be our
‘playtime.’ The Oxford dictionary defines play as “a
verb, to amuse oneself, sport, frolic, or employ oneself
in a game.” Do you know that the work of children
is actually ‘play’? Play is how we all learned as
children to socialize with others.
An easy and fun way to play with your infant is with
your face and their eyes. It is important to keep in
mind that a parent's face is the most familiar face to
an infant. You can also make your baby laugh and
mimic you simply by changing your expression,
changing the tone of your voice, and winking your
eyes. Playing the well-known game peek-a-boo, hiding
your face behind a book or your hands, will
delight your infant! There are also other fun games
that can be used to teach your infant about body
parts. These games include ‘this little piggy’ with their
toes, ‘horsie ride’ on your leg, and ‘airplane’ as you lift
them up as if they can fly. Remember all of these
games should be played gently and slowly.
ladder. When using an extension pole to clean
ceilings or wash windows, stay away from lights
and power lines.
•Slips, trips, and falls are common household
accidents, and they can occur easily when the
house is in disarray during spring cleaning. Keep
traffic areas clear of buckets, cords, boxes and
other obstacles. Clean up spills promptly, and
move carefully on damp surfaces.
•Look over your shoulder before you back up.
Many housekeeping accidents happen as a result
of tripping over objects or bumping into obstacles
when backing up.
•Read the directions before using any cleaning
product. When using the product, keep the work
area well-ventilated. Many chemicals used for
house cleaning can cause irritation to the respiratory
system as well as burns to the eyes and skin.
•Never mix bleach and ammonia because this
creates a deadly gas. Avoid using ammonia cleaning
products in the bathroom at the same time as
cleaning products containing bleach. Another way
which this deadly mixture accidentally occurs is
by pouring a bucket of ammonia cleaning product,
which has been used for cleaning floors or
windows, into a toilet bowl already containing a
*Optional: An opportunity
to teach your infant
about their body exists
within the Army
Community Service New
Parent Support Program at
Fort Stewart and Hunter
Army Airfield in the form of
Infant Massage classes.
These classes help promote
better sleep, boost your
baby’s immune system,
relieve teething pains, and
make your baby feel loved and secure. For more
information call (Stewart) 767-5058 or (Hunter) 315-
6816.
Music can also be a tremendous source of fun and
play between parent and child. Any type of music will
expose your child to many types of sensory activities,
giving them the opportunity to be creative with their
own bodies, sing, and develop rhythm. They can also
be given rattles which make sounds. An exhilarating
form of play is walking in various types of outdoor
conditions such as soft rain, wind, falling leaves, and
sun. Of course, always dress yourself and your little
one appropriately for the weather. Play can be recre-
bleach product.
•When you use cleaning products to remove
soap scum from shower doors and walls, keep in
mind this soap residue is slippery. Clean the bathtub
or shower floor thoroughly so the soap does
not create a slipping hazard.
•Ladders are involved in many serious injuries
at home. Make sure the ladder is in good condition.
Place the base of the ladder on a solid, even
surface. Do not stand on the top few rungs of a
ladder. Do not lean away from the ladder because
this can cause it to tip over.
Use sturdy scaffolding and good sense when
doing work at heights such as cleaning stairwell
ceilings or second story windows. Consider hiring
an expert for this kind of work.
•Lift safely. Plan how you will pick something up
and where you will set it down. Get help if necessary.
Use the strength in your legs, not your back,
to pick up a load. Bend your knees, and keep the
load close to your body.
•Supervise children and keep cleaning chemicals
out of their reach.
Follow these suggestions this spring and yearround
to prevent accidents while you are housecleaning.
Child Abuse Prevention Month: ‘Can you come out to play?’
All had a hand in the IBCT’s mission of
helping bring the Afghan army and
Afghan National Security Force to the
point where they head up their country’s
fight against the Taliban.
Standing at the bottom of the passenger
stairway, Perdue never missed a hand
as the Guardsmen left the aircraft that
brought them here from Bagram Air Base
near Charikar in Parwan province.
“I couldn’t let the moment pass without
being here to welcome home one of
the last contingents of our Citizen-
Soldiers to leave Afghanistan,” Perdue
said. “Speaking for all of Georgia, we’re
glad to have them safely back. They went
away to do a job, and they did it. They
made us all proud.”
Staff Sergeant Jonas March and his
wife, Spc. Nicole Aitkens, of Statesboro,
agreed they expected someone to meet
them, but never the governor.
“I can’t tell you how proud I felt seeing
Gov. Perdue standing there,” said Staff Sgt.
March, the noncommissioned officer-incharge
of supply for Macon’s Headquarters
Company, 48th IBCT. “It’s really an honor
to have shaken his hand, and have his
thanks.”
“Same goes for me,” said Spc. Aitkens,
an electronic warfare technician with
Macon’s Company C, 48th Brigade
Special Troops Battalion. “I was a bit
overwhelmed standing there, him shaking
my hand. It’s something I’ll remember
for a long, long time.”
Inside the air terminal, Perdue again
thanked Col. Durham, Command Sgt.
Maj. Hurndon and the Guardsmen
who formed up behind them, for the
job they’d done.
“They went there [Afghanistan] with
a job to do, and they did it great success,”
Perdue said before leaving the
terminal. “These are ordinary citizens
who put on the uniform and put their
lives on hold to serve their state and
their nation… and they continue to do
it with great distinction.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them,” he
concluded. “And while we continue to
grieve for the eight lost in combat, the
wounded and their families, we’re glad to
have those who’ve come home safely
back on Georgia soil.”
As for Maj. Gen. Nesbitt, his only
words to the formation were to the
brigade commander.
“Colonel Durham, take charge of your
troops and get them back to their
Families,” he said with a wide smile.
Before putting his Soldiers aboard the
buses that would take them to Fort
Stewart’s Cottrell Parade Field and the
loved ones and friends waiting to greet
them there, Col. Durham cited the fact
that at least 20 brigade members remain
in Afghanistan. That rear detachment, he
said, is “cleaning up,” after the brigade.
The 48th was signed for more than six
and a half million dollars in property during
its deployment, Col. Durham
ational, free play, or structure as a specific game. Play
can be creative, imaginative, constructive, and physical.
Toys or items used to play with can be free, handmade,
and do not have to be expensive. There are
many ways to go about play, and there does not have
to be a correct way to do it. Play may be hard for some
adults as it may cause a mess around the house. An
alternative to playing in your house would be to join
Play Morning held by the New Parent Support
Program. Play Morning is an interactive group which
incorporates music, stories, crafts, and of course toys!
It includes activities Mommy and/or Daddy can do at
home with baby. Play Morning is held at Stewart
(Bryan Village Youth Center) on Thursdays from
10-11:30 a.m. and Hunter Army Airfield (New Gannam
community Center) on Tuesdays from 10-11:30 a.m.
These opportunities of play only come around for
a short time as time you have with your little one is
fleeting. Let go of your inhibitions as an adult and go
out and play!
Note: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Make
use of your installation’s Family Enrichment Center at
Army Community Service. Family Enrichment Center
offer various courses to enhance your parenting skills
and more. Call (Stewart) 912-767-5058 or (Hunter)
912-315-6816 for more information.
48 IBCT from Page 1A
explained. With that property spread all
over Afghanistan, and much of it now
handed over to other units, it takes time to
make sure everything remains properly
documented and accounted for.
The rear detachment, he said, has finished
about 98 percent of that work.
“Nearly all of our personnel actions are
also complete, but there’s always those
‘onesies and twosies’ that have to be completed,”
Col. Durham said. “My S-1 [personnel
officer], Maj. Thomas Meeks, is in
Bahrain and scheduled to brief the Army
G-1 on Soldier issues that have come out
of this deployment, and it’s a opportunity
for us to highlight the great job our Soldiers
have done and the things we’ve learned.”
The 20 left to finish the brigade’s work,
he said, will be coming home in the next
six to seven days. Command Sergeant
Major Hurndon added that no one from
the 48th “remains operational.” No one,
he emphasized, is left on the battlefield,
engaged in combat.

Rock of the Marne
“Things are moving fast,” he said. “The Soldiers are learning doctrine
and fundamentals to move on to bigger and better things.”
Not all Soldiers could be seen in the high-action, adrenaline rushing
tempo, but that didn’t make their job any less significant. The brigade’s
S6 section was extremely busy, testing and validating all communications
systems on the network.
“Things are going good,” said Master Sergeant Larry Karns, 4th IBCT
communications noncommissioned officer in charge. “Back at Fort
Stewart we have more access for secondary means, versus here at NTC,
we have to learn to work around different issues and facilitate the
requirement. Things are always non-stop in the signal world.”
Not all of the 4th IBCT’s NTC preparations were limited to operations
on FOB Ruba. For some Soldiers, a large amount of time was dedicated
to transporting vehicles from the railhead at Yermo Annex, Marine Corp
Logistics Base.
“The distance from the railhead to FOB Ruba is approximately 40
miles, and the minimum requirement
for a convoy is 20 vehicles,” said 1st Lt.
Johnson. “Before the vehicles can be
driven from the railhead, the vehicles
go through an inspection to check for
any maintenance issues and to ensure
safe operation. The whole process
from the railhead to FOB Ruba can
take several hours.”
Mission rehearsal preparations are
scheduled to complete Friday, and the
4th IBCT will transition to “the box”
where observer controllers will validate
the team for their summer deployment
to Iraq.
April 15, 2010
The Frontline
Deployed couple finds strength through each other, faith
Spc. Dustin Gautney
2nd HBCT Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq –
Marriage can hold many different opportunities,
adventures, difficulties, and strengths for both spouses.
However for one 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd
Infantry Division couple deployed to Iraq, adventure
and strength comes from their deployment together.
“Well it definitely saves you money off the cost of
internet,” said Chief Warrant Officer Doris Santiago,
2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd HBCT, with a laugh.
“When you want to unwind after work or just need to
talk to someone, my husband is there unlike other
deployments.”
“It is easier than waiting in line to buy a phone card,”
said Chief Warrant Officer Eliud Santiago, Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 2nd HBCT, in agreement
with his wife.
Both Santiago’s agreed that the most prevalent benefit
of being deployed together was the strength and
support that their spouse can give every day.
“There are still hard times; with both of us here in
Iraq it is difficult for our children not having a parent
with them,” said Chief Warrant Officer Doris Santiago.
Of the couple’s four children, who currently stay with
family back home, Chief Warrant Officer Eliud Santiago
said. “We find strength through each other and God to
keep our children safe.”
Having met each other about three years ago
through online military connections, the couple quickly
found their soul mates within each other.
“She was stationed in Savannah, and I was at Fort
Stewart; after talking to each other for awhile online we
thought it would be fun go on a date; from there we just
Lady Night Stalkers recognized for volunteer service
Kimberly Tiscione
160th SOAR Public Affairs
Lady Night Stalkers of 3rd Battalion,
160th Special Operations Aviation
Regiment (Airborne), were recognized
for their volunteer efforts during
a ceremony at Hunter Army
Airfield, April 8.
This ceremony, conducted during
National Volunteer Month, was an
opportunity to recognize the many
people who support the unit’s Soldiers
and Families.
In addition to 38 spouses, eight
individuals outside of the unit were
also recognized.
“The goal of the dinner was to cre-
ate an event where the entire Family
could see spouses and local civilian
supporters receive proper recognition
for the support they give the unit on a
daily basis,” said Lt. Col. Kirk Keepers.
Each volunteer received the battalion
Southern Belle Award certificate of
appreciation in recognition of their
outstanding service.
Volunteers do everything from family
readiness training and support, to
organizing special events for spouses
Families and single Soldiers, to supporting
Families during a time of need.
They also volunteer in the local community.
“Our volunteers have very positive
and enthusiastic attitudes,” said Cindy
Keepers, battalion Family readiness
advisor. “They are committed and go
over and above what they are required
to do.”
For many of the volunteers, that
commitment comes from the unique
bond formed among the spouses of a
highly deployed unit with an often
undisclosed mission.
“The women of the 160th are unique
within an already exemplary group of
military wives,” said Shannon Graham,
a company Family readiness leader.
“The women of this unit endure constant
deployments and arduous schedules
all while maintaining commitments
in their everyday lives. (They)
give a great deal of themselves and
11A
when called upon give even more.”
Ginger Cucolo, the spouse of 3rd
Infantry Division commander Maj.
Gen. Tony Cucolo, said the commitment
these volunteers show to one
another, their Soldiers and the community
were no surprise to her.
“The Army attracts a wonderful type
of patriotic, caring and selfless volunteer
who doesn’t quit – and your motto
of ‘Night Stalkers Don’t Quit’ is a perfect
match for you.”
For additional information on the
160th Special Operations Aviation
Regiment (Airborne) and the U.S.
Army Special Operations Command,
visit the USASOC News Service at
news.soc.mil.
NTC from Page 1A
Soldiers from B Co., 3/15
Inf. Regt., practice room
clearing procedures during
the RSOI phase of NTC at
Fort Irwin, Calif., April 11.
Task
Force
Marne
For more
information, visit
Task Force Marne
online at
www.stewart.
army.mil/tfm/
homepage
hit it off,” said Chief Warrant Officer Eliud
Santiago.
For both Santiago’s, this was their first time
deploying with their spouse.
“We’ve both been previously married, but
having a spouse that is a servicemember has
been a blessing,” said Chief Warrant Officer
Doris Santiago.
“Oh, definitely,” agreed Chief Warrant
Officer Eliud Santiago. “It’s the small things,
we both understand what we go through on
a daily basis, whether it is work issues, or
things like military jargon, we can easily
relate to each other; and it is a good thing she
is also my best friend.”
The Santiago’s both agree they are privileged
to have been deployed together.
“We count our blessings that we’ve had the
privilege of being deployed together, because
it might not be that way next time we deploy,”
said Chief Warrant Officer Eliud Santiago.
For the Santiagos’, communication and
faith has been their strength, for both their
children and themselves.
“We are a Christian Family, and thank God
for all that we have and the blessing of being
able to stay together during the deployment,”
Spc. Gregory Gieske, 2nd HBCT
Leaving behind Family and friends, the
Santiagos say they work together for
something bigger than themselves while
serving together in Iraq during Operation
Iraqi Freedom at Forward Observation
Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq.
Photos by Sgt. Robert Schaffner Jr.
Vanguard Soldiers gather their bags and prepare to settle into their temporary living
quarters at FOB Ruba at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., April 11.

12A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
Spc. Monica K. Smith
3rd CAB, Task Force Falcon Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The inaugural
class of the Afghan National Security Forces Air Assault
Academy made history with their graduation at Bagram
Airfield, March 20.
“These 31 students were the first of 100,000 Afghan
National Security Forces to graduate from the course,”
said tactical operations officer and primary trainer for the
air assault academy Chief Warrant Officer Chris Hinkle,
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force
Falcon. “This class signified a turning point in history for
the ANSF and served as a milestone for the Afghans to
take control of their country.”
The 22 Afghan National Army Commandos, along with
four pilots and five ANA Air Corps crew chiefs made up
the first air assault academy. This academy was the sec-
ond of three academies within the 3rd Combat Aviation
Brigade, TF Falcon, Combined Action Program, the first
being the ANSF Crew Chief Academy and the third being
the ANAAC Flight Medic Academy. It was the second time
the five ANAAC crew chiefs were part of an inaugural
class, taking the skills they learned from the crew chief
academy and applying it to air assault missions.
“The academies were good,” said Abdul Wali, one of the
ANAAC crew chiefs. “We learned how to fly and how to
work with others (to conduct) air missions. We flew to villages
and helped them. I am glad to be part of (these
academies) so I can help my country.”
The academy taught subjects such as map reading and
how to conduct air assault briefs and included both classroom
instruction and flying. The training also included
performing air assaults during which the commandos
performed material assistance missions by handing out
supplies.
“They exceeded all expectations,” said Chief Warrant
Officer Hinkle. “They were eager to learn and apply what
they were taught.”
The graduation ceremony included speeches from Col.
Don Galli, commander of the 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, and
Brig. Gen. Mohammed
Barat, the Kabul wing commander
of the ANAAC and
Brig. Gen. Dadaan Lawang,
Afghan Commando Brigade
Commander.
“We have learned that
even though we come from
different countries and different
armies, we share
many values and ideals in
common,” said Col. Galli.
“We have learned that an
incredible love of country
resides in each and every
Afghan soldier who trained
with us. We have learned
that dedication and professionalism
are displayed in
everything they do.
Motivation to learn and
3rd Infantry Division
Afghan National Security Forces
Air Assault Academy graduates inaugural class
Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly A. Green
The inaugural class of the Afghan National Security Forces Air Assault Academy poses for a photo following their graduation ceremony at Bagram Airfield, March 20.
This is the third installment of a four-part
series from the 3rd Combat Aviation
Brigade highlighting the Air Assault
Academy in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly A. Green, 3rd CAB Public Affairs
Afghan National Army commandos cheer on their fellow graduates during the
Afghan National Security Forces Air Assault Academy graduation at Bagram
Airfield, March 20.
bravery in the face of adversity are their hallmarks. The
Afghan soldiers here today displayed these values and
ideals throughout the weeks of training. Because they did,
each of them is more than deserving of the graduation
certificate and badge they are about to receive.”
During the graduation ceremony, a video played which
showcased images taken throughout the two-week academy.
Following the ceremony both the ANAAC, the commandos
and the U.S. Soldiers shared an Afghan-American
lunch.
“I have seen a glimpse of the future between our armies
and our nations during these last weeks,” said Col. Galli. “I
was inspired to see - and be a part of - the strong bond of
brotherhood between our armies and our countries. We
are truly making history together. Shoulder to shoulder,
brother to brother.”
Sgt. 1st Class Beverly Wolf
Colonel Don Galli, 3rd CAB commander, presents
Abdul Wali, an Afghan National Army Air Corps
crew chief, a graduation certificate during the
Afghan National Security Forces Air Assault
Academy graduation, March 20.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 13A
WTU Soldiers train service dogs
Mindy Anderson
Winn Public Affairs
In partnership with the paws4vetsTM
program, Winn Army Community
Hospital’s Warrior Transition Battalion is
the chosen pilot site for the Army’s Service
Dog Training Program. Wounded
Warriors are being given the opportunity
to learn how to train service dogs that will
be placed with disabled Soldiers or children
with special needs.
“This being the first program of its kind,
we will be setting the guidelines and standards
for how this program will be reproduced
at other settings,” said Debra Dehart,
occupational therapist, WINN’s WTB.
Through the paws4vets Assistance Dog
Placement Program, veterans, active duty
Servicemembers or their dependents
with physical, neurological, psychiatric
or emotional disabilities can receive
Psychiatric Service Dogs, Mobility Service
Dogs and Rehabilitative Assistance
Dogs, free of charge.
All paws4vets Assistance Dogs are
trained by federal inmates within one of
five federal prisons (www.paws4prisons.
org) and/or the paws4vets Wounded
Warrior PTSD Intervention and Assistance
Dog Training Program.
The paws4vets program has two primary
goals:
•Provide Wounded Warriors with a
unique opportunity to experience the
“Special Therapeutic Powers” of the K-9/
Human Bond enabling the Soldier to
recover from, or at least learn to better
cope with, handle and manage their Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder, Complex-Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or
Traumatic Brain Injury symptoms.
•Train, certify and place Assistance
Dogs with veterans, active duty servicemembers
or their dependents with physical,
neurological, psychiatric or emotional
disabilities.
Dogs attend Basic Training
Rehabilitation Access Dogs and Service
Dogs go through their basic training in
the prison system first before “being
assigned” to the WTB paws4vets program.
“After the dogs complete their basic
training, we take them through their
advanced training which is getting them
SOLDIERS from Page 1A
“The thought is it had been there
for awhile and somebody came in
that day, connected wires and concealed
wires,” Capt. Carroll said.
“The explosion was four feet behind
where the front wheels were, which
took apart the vehicle.”
There were five other Soldiers in
the vehicle – a gunner and four dismounts,
who all survived.
According to Capt. Carroll, it was
the leadership of 1st Lt. Collins, 24,
that saved these Soldiers’ lives.
We are a Family
and Families pull
together in tough
times. We survive
and remain missionfocused
because
we don't have a
choice.
Capt. Thomas Carroll
B Co., 1/64 Armor commander
“He was a company commander’s
dream; he was a platoon leader who
was very young, but at the same
time very mature,” he said of the
Tyrone, Ga., native. “(First Lieutenant
Collins) always made sure his platoon
was doing the right thing, and
that is very evident that everyone
else in the vehicle survived; they
were wearing all of their protective
equipment, all seat belted in.”
Captain Carroll said that he and
the 1/64 Armor leadership didn’t
Team
Stewart
www.
stewart.
army.mil
familiar with common access areas like
businesses or restaurants,” said Staff
Sgt. Vernon Ward, noncommissioned
officer-in-charge, paws4vets program at
WINN’s WTB.
Both types of dogs are trained-up to
the 68 basic commands together – commands
like sit, stay, down, up, eat, drink,
kennel, and up-on, Staff Sgt. Ward said.
On to Advanced Individual Training
After basic training, Service Dogs transition
to a more advanced training where
they learn commands like, ‘light’ to turn a
light on, then ‘switch’ to turn the light
off.
“The command ‘pull’ where they learn
to open refrigerator doors, use door handles
to open doors, and open drawers for
people who are handicapped,” Staff Sgt.
Ward said. “Plus, laser beams are used to
train the dogs to pick-up items for people,
for example, if someone is in a wheelchair
and can’t reach an item on a bottom
shelf, they are trained to retrieve the item
and give it to the individual.”
There are the common advanced commands,
but some of the Service Dogs can
be trained additional commands depending
on the needs of the individual’s needs.
have to worry about mission accomplishment
when it involved 1st Lt.
Collins’ platoon.
“He was able to accomplish any
mission, easy or hard, and he always
accomplished it to the fullest meaning
of the word,” Capt. Carroll said.
Like his vehicle commander, Spc.
Blount, of Petal, Miss., made his
leader’s lives easier.
“He was incredibly disciplined,
unselfish and always thought of
the well-being of others,” Capt.
Carroll said. “He made the leader’s
lives very easy. He was always
doing the right thing and making
sure his peers were doing the right
thing. In short, he was the model
Soldier.”
Task Force Marne held a memorial
for the Soldiers in Iraq, April 13.
“I said it today in my speech at
their memorial; you can’t explain it.
There are no answers as to ‘why,’”
said Capt. Carroll. “Their vehicle
was the second in the convoy;
crushed wire is meant to explode on
first impact, but it blew on the fifth
and sixth tires – how do you explain
that? You don’t.
“We’re very fortunate that we
spend so much time together as
infantrymen, training and living
together,” Capt. Carroll continued.
“We realize that we have to come
together, and we rely on each other
to keep everybody going. We are a
Family, and Families pull together
in tough times. We survive and
remain mission-focused because
we don’t have a choice. We still have
six months left, and we still have a
lot left to accomplish, and that’s
what keeps us going right now.”
Photos by Mindy Anderson
DeJa soaks up some love from Spc. Raymond Roberts, Rehabilitation Access
Dog Trainer with the Warrior Transition Battalion. DeJa is one of two
paws4vets program dogs currently being trained by Soldiers from Winn Army
Community Hospital's WTB.
For example, one of the WTB’s Service
Dogs will be going to a 6-year-old little
girl who has epilepsy.
“This dog has been trained to alert the
parents when the child has a seizure,
then once the parent gets to the child, the
dog will retrieve a medical bag so the parent
doesn’t have to leave the child’s side,”
Staff Sgt. Ward said. “When necessary the
dog will then go to the door, open it, and
wait for the paramedics to arrive.”
Warriors transition to K-9 trainer
According to Dehart and Staff Sgt.
Ward, the program has been wellreceived.
In fact, most Soldiers are anxious
to go through the assessment process
so they can become part of the program.
In the first step, Dehart will assess
Soldiers’ physical/cognitive/emotional
and technical learning status to identify
ways they may benefit from being a trainer.
Then the Soldier's nurse case manager
and social worker will assess medical and
behavioral status as well as potential benefits
in participating in the program.
Finally, a Soldier’s chain of command
provides a ‘go’ to participate in the program.
Once approved, the Soldier will
participate in a Dog Training Boot Camp
and pass a test to progress to become a
K-9 trainer for the RAD Dogs with more
levels of training to follow.
Program enhances Soldiers’ lives
Specialist Evan McQuiston, Warrior in
Transition and RAD Dog Trainer, said the
program has changed his life.
“Being a trainer has made me more
sociable,” Spc. McQuiston said. “Being a
part of this program has gotten me out of
my room, and given me more patience in
dealing with not only animals, but people,
too.”
Specialist McQuiston urges anyone
thinking about the program to seriously
consider it.
“It makes me feel good about myself
because I’m giving back to the community
and to a person who is in need of
special care,” he said.
For more information about the
paws4vets program, go to www.
paws4vets.org.
Pumpkin, along with DeJa, are the
two paws4vets program dogs currently
being trained by Soldiers from
Winn Army Community Hospital's
Warrior Transition Battalion.

14A
The Frontline April 15, 2010
Spc. Jared Eastman
1st BCT-A, 3rd ID, USD-C Public
Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Soldiers from 1st
Brigade Combat Team-Augmented,
3rd Infantry Division, stationed at
Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah,
gathered to welcome eight Wounded
Warriors returning to Iraq for some
closure, April 6.
The high of 93 degrees didn’t deter
Soldiers from thanking the wounded
veterans for their service in what has
been dubbed “Operation Proper Exit.”
“It’s a great opportunity for our
Soldiers and the Wounded Warriors;
for them to gain closure, and for our
guys to see that when a Soldier is
wounded over here, it’s not over,” said
2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment
Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Cook.
“There are programs out there that
have helped these guys along the medical
system, and these guys are a testament
to the care of the people back in
the States.”
The eight Wounded Warriors were
welcomed by the 2/7 Infantry commander,
Lt. Col. Gregory Sierra, and
were given an overview of current
operations in Iraq.
“Everything you guys have put into
this has paid off, and it’s paying off,”
said Lt. Col. Sierra. “Things have
changed. It didn’t happen by accident,
by Iraqis alone. You kicked in the ante
and allowed it to be where it’s at
today.”
The event was coordinated with the
help of multiple organizations.
“’Troops First’ is really what I do,”
said Richard C. Kell, executive director
of the Troops First Foundation. “But
the program Operation Proper Exit is
an initiative that we started under the
Troops First umbrella. Prior to this trip,
we’ve had 23 Soldiers back, and I can
tell you that, without question, I have
seen 23 men change in front of my eyes
in five days. They all gained some measure
of getting better.”
The Wounded Warriors also held a
question-and-answer session outside
so Soldiers could ask questions in a “no
holds barred” session. The Wounded
Warriors answered questions ranging
from what improvements could be
made to the stories surrounding their
injuries.
“I would love to meet the medic that
helped me out,” said Staff Sgt. (Ret.)
Brian Neuman, who was hit with an
explosively formed projectile on
Veteran’s Day during the 2004 push
into Fallujah. “When I got hurt,
although it was scary, I knew I was
going to be okay. That medic had stuff
I’m sure you’re medics do but I hadn’t
seen before.
“My tourniquet was in the pocket [I
lost], and he put a ratchet strap on my
arm,” he continued. “It was a Walmart
ratchet strap with a metal buckle that
hurt like hell, but it stabilized and
stopped the bleeding.”
The Wounded Warriors also spoke
highly about the treatment they
received back in the United States after
their injuries.
“The team of doctors, nurses and
therapists in hospitals are unbelievable
people. They are my heroes,” said
Maj. Dave Underwood, 31st Aviation
Group, 97th Army Reserve Command,
injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom V
from a house-borne improvised explosive
device. “Those guys go to work
every day and look at guys like me.
They go in there with a smile and they
motivate guys and get them going.
They are the ones that push you to get
back to a normal life.
“They talk to you from day one. It’s
not a question of what you can’t do; it’s
a question of what you want to do and
how they can get you there.”
One of the Wounded Warriors recently
discovered he would be allowed to
return to the Army, and jumped at the
opportunity.
“As far as transitioning over back to
the active duty side, ask yourself this
one question, ‘What would that do to
your self-esteem if you got beaten by a
one-legged man?
He’s out there
pushing himself
even harder and
faster than you
are,’” said Sgt.
Robert Brown, a
Wounded Warrior
and military mentor,
who lost his
right leg in combat
and is pursuing
entrance to the
2012 Olympics for
track and field. “I
stayed on active
duty because I love
my job. The camaraderie
that you
experience within
the Army is like
none other. ... The
bonds of brotherhood
and sisterhood
that you guys
get here is like
nothing you will
ever experience.
Just being away
from that is enough
to drive a guy insane.”
Although some of the Wounded
Warriors admitted they had bad experiences
during past deployments, they
were glad that 2/7 Infantry took the
time to provide a static display for
them.
“I have to thank you guys for the
static display,” said Neuman. “You guys
may see this equipment every day, but
for those of us who have been out of
the fight for a little while, it’s really cool
to come back and just see the advances.
The last time I left a [M2] Bradley
[Fighting Vehicle], it was me jumping
out of the back crew door, [badly
injured], and running to the medic. To
be able to walk back up that ramp
today and sit in there was really inspiring.”
Amid all the stories of comedy and
grief, the main focus of the questionand-answer
session demonstrated the
wounded U.S. Soldier’s fighting spirit,
said Maj. Underwood.
“You go through the hospital and
you get Soldiers that come out the
other end and go to the Olympics,” he
said. “They go through the whole thing
and think, ‘Well, I can do anything.’”
On day two of the five-day visit, the
Wounded Warriors left a lasting impression
upon many of the Soldiers of
Mahmudiyah.
As three Blackhawks carrying the
Wounded Warriors turned into the
Iraqi sunset, several 2/7 Infantry
Soldiers turned and drifted back to
where they came, recounting the stories
shared by the visitors as they went.
Sergeant Brown joined them, concluding:
“Keep fighting your fight; we’re
here behind you.”
The Wounded Warriors visited Task
Force Marne at COB Speicher.
Major General Tony Cucolo, TF
Marne commanding general, gave a
speech to the eight Heroes.
“What we’d like—all these troopers
right here—they want you to know,”
said Maj. Gen. Cucolo, pointing to
more than 100 servicemembers and
civilians, gathered in the division main
headquarters foyer. “That your pain
and sacrifice—most importantly your
service—means so much to us; you
inspire us … we’re going to end this
right.”
The Heroes were able to witness
exactly how TF Marne plans to “end it
right” with a visit to the task force’s
joint operations center floor and the
joint expeditionary forensic facility.
At both these places, Soldiers
explained what U.S. forces are doing to
ensure Soldiers remain as safe as possible
when out on mission and how
they’re ensuring Iraqis will be prepared
to take care of themselves after the
drawdown of American forces in Iraq.
Editor's note: Task Force Marne portions
of this article were conributed by
Sgt. Chad D. Nelson, 135th Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment, 3rd Infantry
Division Public Affairs.
3rd Infantry Division
Raider Brigade hosts Operation Proper Exit
Spc. Jared Eastman
Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Mike Schlitz holds the the 2/7 coin during an Operation Proper Exit
visit to Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, April 6.
Sgt. Chad D. Nelson, TF Marne Public Affairs
Sergeant (Ret.) Juan Arrendondo, who was injured during a previous deployment
to Iraq, receives a hero’s welcome at Task Force Marne Headquarters
on COB Speicher, April 8. Sergeant Arrendondo was in Iraq as part of
Operation Proper Exit, which helps Soldiers who experienced traumatic injuries
attain psychological closure.

Rock of the Marne April 15, 2010 The Frontline 15A
Bandit Troop brings books to Baghdad schools
Spc. Jared Eastman
1AAB, 3rd ID, USD-C Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – Three schools in Baghdad received
books from B Troop, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd
Infantry Division and Iraqi Security Forces, April 11.
The U.S. Soldiers assisted the ISF in distributing the
books along with assisting in security.
“Today we went on a book drop mission to try and
give the Iraqi schools English-Arabic books,” said Sgt.
Alexander Hudson, of B Troop, and a native of
Pittsburgh, Pa. “The benefit is the Iraqis see the U.S.
and ISF working together to help Iraq as a whole.”
With the atmosphere of a ‘bring-your-child-towork-day,’
Soldiers found the situation reversed and
sat with Iraqi school kids and rehearsed vocabulary.
Their whole-hearted attempts caused laughter
amongst the children.
“I feel like this is an important mission,” said Spc.
James Shapiro, of B Troop, and a native of Casagrande,
Ariz. “As this is my first deployment, I was expecting
a lot more firefights, but stuff like this is important.
It not only shows the Iraqi kids that we care about
them and their future, but it also helps give them an
education.”
Soldiers and ISF members alike carried in the
Arabic Scholastic books to each headmaster’s office.
Members of the school thanked the ISF and U.S.
Soldiers for providing the books. For the scouts of the
squadron, this was a scenario that required both
security and friendly behavior.
“All my guys are professionals, and they are trained,”
said Sgt. Hudson. “That’s my focal point. When we go
out – let’s say for a book drop – our discipline level is
so high that we can hold our weapons down. You don’t
always have to be in [an offensive position], but we are
always watching our sectors. You can greet and smile,
but you are always on guard.”
Sergeant Hudson, who has been on four deployments,
three to Iraq, pinpointed the changes he has
seen in the nation.
“I was here when the war started and for the first
elections,” he said, “So, I’ve seen a lot of differences.
We used to have improvised explosive devices popping
off all the time. You really don’t see that stuff as
much here in Baghdad.”
Sergeant Hudson’s viewpoints have passed on
to Spc. Shapiro, who could be seen pulling security,
playing with children and hauling books into
the mission.
“I think this transition from combat to assisting
operations is important because this country will
finally stabilize and there will be less violent actions
against one another,” said Spc. Shapiro. “If we can
help stabilize the nation, younger generations will
have a better life.”
For a brief moment
in a once war-torn
country, a glimpse of
the future brought
nothing but smiles to
Iraqi youth.
“It was heartwarming
to see the kids’
smiles,” said Spc.
Shapiro. “I get a feeling
of accomplishment
out of these missions.
When I can go
and see a result like
that, I know that this
deployment was worth
it to me.”
The books won’t last
forever; in years, their
bindings may be
cracked and their
pages faded. But, with
hope, these books will
see the healing of a
country, and the addition
of more books on
school kids’ desks.
Photos by Spc. Jared Eastman
TOP: Specialist Chad Cardenas, B Troop, 5/7 Cav., repeats vocabulary while schoolgirls
watch at Ishtar Primary School during a book drop conducted jointly with Iraqi
Security Forces, April 11.
BOTTOM: An Iraqi Federal policeman and Sgt. Alexander Hudson, 5/7 Cav., carry
boxes of books for distribution at Ishtar Primary School in Baghdad, April 11.