3rd Infantry Division The Frontline May 13, 2010 - Fort Stewart ...

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The Frontline May 13, 2010
Gen. Charles C. Campbell
Commander, United States Army
Forces Command
3rd Infantry Division
Marne Faces Marne Places
Marne Voices
Speak Out
“India because I grew up next
door to a family from there and I
would love to experience their heritage
and ancestry in their country.”
Capt. Emily Erlandson
HHC, 26th BSB, TF Marne
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visit www.stewart.army.mil
FORSCOM Message: Armed Forces Day 2010
"United in Strength" is the theme
for the 61st anniversary of Armed
Forces Day planned for Saturday.
Each year since 1949, Americans
pause on the third Saturday in May to
show gratitude for the commitment,
dedication, and sacrifice of the men
and women in our nation's military.
The national significance of this
annual observation perhaps was
best summed up by President John F.
“Thailand. I collect Siam ware,
which turned into an obsession,
and I would like to buy some
originals from there.”
Bruce Muncher
IT Specialist, NEC
The
C 2010
Kennedy during his message
to the nation in 1962:
"Guard zealously your
right to serve in the
Armed Forces, for without
them, there will be no
other rights to guard."
Those profound words
ring true today for each
Soldier, active or Reserve
Component. Each of you
volunteered to defend the
way of life we cherish. Joined by
your brothers and sisters in arms
from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air
May is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month. If you could travel to one of the
countries in the Asian-Pacific area, where would you go?
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“The Pitcairn Island, located off
the coast of Austrialia. I used to
live in England, and they are a part
of the British Territory.”
Princess Brown-Burkert
Marketing Manager, ACS
Force and Coast Guard,
you are vital to our continued
national security.
During the past year,
America's Army demonstrated
courage and
compassion time and
again in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and over
100 other nations. But,
it was not just in battle
that you proved your mettle. When
the devastating earthquake hit Haiti
in January 2010, American Soldiers
“Okinawa with my wife. With her
being a Marine brat, she could
show me some back roads and
stuff like that.”
Staff Sgt. Mario Lipkins
G 26th, 1/9 FA, TF Marne
“Fiji. I've heard they have
beautiful scenery and clear
waters."
Pfc. Warren Maxwell
1/64 Armor FSC, TF Marne
“Hawaii because I have never been
there. I would like to experince their
unique culture and the people seem
to be really laid back.”
Chris McCormick
Safety Specialist, Installation Safety
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 HBCT NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Jennifer Menger
1st HBCT staff writer — Spc. Jared Eastman
2nd HBCT staff writer — Spc. Dustin Gautney
2nd HBCT staff writer — Pfc. Crystal Bradley
3rd HBCT NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Natalie Hedrick
3rd HBCT staff writer — Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT staff writer — Pfc. Erik Anderson
3rd Sust. Bde. NCOIC — Sgt. 1st Class Rhonda Lawson
3rd Sust. Bde. staff writer — Sgt. Gaelen Lowers
3rd Sust. Bde. staff writer — Sgt. Patience Okhuofu
4th IBCT NCOIC — Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas
4th IBCT staff writer – Sgt. Robert Schaffner
and Army Civilians rushed to aid the
people of the small island nation.
There are countless other examples
of this ethos, bravery, and selfless
service.
Your service makes U.S. Army
Forces Command and the citizens of
this great country proud and grateful
that you choose to live your life
by your oath to "support and defend
the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and
domestic."
Thank you for your service and
sacrifice. Army Strong!
Spartan Soldier earns prestigious NCO honor
Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden,
2nd HBCT Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq –
Since 1986, with the establishment of the Sergeant
Audie Murphy Club, the U.S. Army has recognized
noncommissioned officers who have displayed the
leadership abilities and personal ethics exemplified
by Audie L. Murphy, the 3rd Infantry Division’s World
War II Medal of Honor winner and America’s most
decorated war hero.
The Fort Stewart Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
members were selected based on demonstrated
leadership, professionalism, and overall general military
knowledge.
Sergeant Sandra M. Ospina Velez, a military police
officer with the Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy
Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is the
newest member of this time-honored organization.
She now joins her platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class
Michael Odle, and first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Matthew L.
Chase, as the only other Sergeant Audie Murphy
Club members within the 2-3 BTB.
The 33-year old native of Colombia, South
America, said she wanted to attend the Audie
Murphy Board ever since she became sergeant.
After competing, and losing at the Brigade NCO of
the Quarter board, Sgt. Ospina felt she could do
better. “I told my first sergeant I wanted to go
before the Audie Murphy board and he said, ‘Yes,
you’re going in April.’ I’d been studying, delving
into the books and learning all I could about Audie
Murphy and the club. The more I learned, the more
I wanted to become a part of it.”
It rapidly became a passion for the Elizabeth, N.J.,
resident.
“Once I knew I was going, I started reading everything
I could about him. I memorized his biography.
I bought his movie, ‘To Hell and Back.’ I saw where
he started from, his life, his childhood. What he did
as a private was amazing. He was the greatest combat
Soldier in the history of the U.S. Army.
“And it’s not just what he did as a Soldier, but as a
civilian, as an actor, as well. He was a man with a lot
of talent. He wasn’t afraid to explore that talent and
work for what he wanted to gain.”
It was an honor, Sgt. Ospina said, to sit in that
chair in front of that board. “They put you under a
lot of stress to see if you can manage to do what you
do under pressure. English isn’t my first language.
Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden
Sergeant Sandra M. Ospina Valez, a military
police officer with HHC, 2-3 BTB, 2nd HBCT,
3rd ID, is the newest member of the Sergeant
Audie Murphy Club. She is currently deployed
to Mosul, Iraq.
When I get nervous, I tend to speak in ‘Spanglish.’
However, I was able to control myself and answer the
questions with no problem.
“You have to believe in yourself and go in there
with the mentality ‘You have nothing to lose and
everything to gain.’ The bottom line is you’re not
going up there for yourself. Your Soldiers are the
ones who put you there. Your Soldiers are your
credentials.”
She said it was those Soldiers – Sgt. Orlando
Lott, Spc. John Woerner and Spc. Justin Watson –
who helped make it possible with their support
and assistance.
While she’s been a sergeant since 2005, she said
she’s now ready to be promoted and to see her other
Soldiers get promoted to sergeant.
“There are some Soldiers who are on the fast track,
progressing rapidly in their careers, but being a (sergeant)
is the best rank of your career. You can directly
influence your Soldiers. You can either go for your
career and neglect your Soldiers, or care for your
Soldiers and put your career on hold,” she said.
Sergeant Ospina joined the Army when she was 24
years old, but “wished I had joined at 18.” After
working as a government sales person for a micro
semi-conductor company in Madison, N.J., Sgt.
Ospina didn’t like the thought of where she’d be in 10
years – working in the same office and doing the
same thing.
“I’m the type of person who likes variety. The
Army has its routine, but there’s something different
each day. The Army isn’t a boring job. I wanted to do
something different, something adventurous.”
Sgt. Ospina originally joined as a chemical operations
specialist. However, each time she deployed,
she said she was doing things a brigade MP would
do, such as patrols, convoy escort, and checkpoint
operations. So, she switched over to the military
police field.
This is her fourth deployment. She was part of
Operation Iraqi Freedom I, with Company A, 123rd
Signal Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID;
OIF III, with HHC, 1-3 BTB, 1st BCT, 3rd ID; and OIF
V with HHC, 1-3 BTB, 1st Brigade, 3rd ID; and her
current deployment with 2-3 BTB.
“I’m hardcore, a hard charger,” the feisty, 5 foot, 1
inch tall Soldier said. “I don’t back down from anything.
Females have a bad rap. As a female, you face
many big challenges. You have to do everything and
you have to work harder than everyone else to prove
yourself on a daily basis.”
She is married to another 3rd ID Soldier, Sgt. 1st
Class Michael Ospina, Company B, 1st Battalion,
64th Armor, stationed at Joint Security Station in Tal
Abatah, Iraq. Her future goals are to either attend
Drill Sergeant School, or become a member of the
Army Criminal Investigation Command.
She recently received orders to Hawaii, where
she’ll be stationed at Schofield Barracks, with her
husband at Camp Smith following their Iraq deployment.
This, she said, is a bittersweet development.
“I’ve been at Fort Stewart with the 3rd ID all my
Army career. It’s the only thing I know.
“I’m a Dog Face Soldier for life. This is my home,”
she said with a sigh.
3rd CAB NCOIC — Sgt. 1st Class Kim Green
3rd CAB staff writer — Spc. Monica Smith
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
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.
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