2nd Ed., Vol. 2: Aug./Sept. 2011
AIR CAV tAKES TO THE SKIES OF AFGHANISTAN
1s
a l r v y a B C r r i i g A ad t Commanding Officer Col. John E. Novalis, II
e
Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela
Public Affairs NCOIC/Editor Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
Public Affairs Layout/Design Sgt. Richard Wrigley
In accordance with AR 360-1 and the regulations set forth by the U.S. Army Public Affairs Center, the Air Cav Journal is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of Air Cav Journal are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry Division or the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. All editorial content of Air Cav Journal is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs Office. The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs Office is located in Camp Marmal, Afghanisian
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Commander’s Corner Dear Families and Soldiers of the 1ACB, First and most importantly everyone is safe and sound to date. Mostly everyone has been in country for more than 120 days… 1/3 complete…but who is counting? The 1ACB is entering a time of sustained combat operations. We have systems in place and the newness of the mission has worn off. We are now performing our mission as you would expect from a high performing unit. The level of execution is off the charts…over two million gallons of gas pumped, over 20,000 flight hours flown, and 300 MEDEVAC missions accomplished to standard. Furthermore, maintenance on our aircraft is at a higher standard than what I expect in garrison, and over 1.2 million gallons of water have been produced and delivered. We’re also ensuring our Soldiers have some fun with events such as a 5K and 10 mile runs, and dodge ball and volleyball tournaments. I can ensure you we are staying busy! As proud as I am of our operations in Afghanistan I am equally proud of our rear-d cadre and the FRG’s. The rear-d continues to amaze me with their level of performance. They have simultaneously prepared and moved over 100 Soldiers forward into theater while maintaining maintenance of over 1100 vehicles. They’ve also moved our footprint from West Fort Hood to Hood Army Airfield, as they have also assisted Soldiers as they depart the Army and join the civilian work force. Add on the hundreds of little things necessary to maintain our operations forward… It is clear we left the right folks at Ft Hood! I want to personally thank the FRG for taking care of our families. The emphasis we placed on strong resilient families is reflected by the lack of drama I and the commanders must be involved with on a daily basis. Information flow is critical and Facebook is a huge success for each and every TF. As I write this letter the ACB’s first two FRG events are ready for execution: the Lady Spur Ride and the Halloween Boo Bash. Both are receiving a high level of support and participation. Thanks to everyone in making these events successful. The mission continues to be demanding and the terrain and weather are unforgiving but I am extremely proud of our Soldiers and the level of execution. We are and remain a disciplined unit that has developed a reputation for a high level of success and safety. You can be extremely proud of your Soldiers’ accomplishments!!! Thank you for your selfless sacrifice to our nation. God bless. v/r COL John E. Novalis II 1ACB, Commander
From left to right: Col. John E. Novalis II, Col. (Ret.) Danny McKnight, Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela
csM’s Corner Greetings from Regional Command North, Afghanistan! I hope that this edition of the Air Cav Journal finds you well. First, let me start by saying our Troopers are performing magnificently… they are truly American heroes. Here at Camp Marmal, the weather is finally giving us a break. We are transitioning from the summer months to the fall, which is being welcomed by all. We’re now in a steady state of operations and have established a nice daily battle rhythm. Achieving this steady state increases opportunities for our Soldiers to have a regular and predictable work schedule, continue education and most importantly keep in contact with loved ones back home. While deployed, the Army has a way of recognizing outstanding Soldiers and Non-Commissioned with a ‘battlefield promotion’. COL Novalis and I are able to select the best of the best Soldiers for promotion to the rank of SPC through SSG that have demonstrated outstanding performance and enduring commitment to the mission. Thus far we have recognized SSG Jennings, Darwin (4-227),SGT Pixler, Marcus (615) SGT Badger, Tony L. (615th),SPC Sloan, Matthew (3-227th), SPC Ouyang, Ridong (4-227th), SPC Huertaslopez, Louberto (615th) and SPC Lupercioalcala, Heriberto (4-227th). This achievement by Soldiers and Non Commissioned Officers reflects distinct credit on themselves and is an achievement only few have attained during combat operations. We are all very proud of them. Being here in Afghanistan has afforded us the opportunity to work with many other coalition nations. The first sergeants and sergeants major have gone NATO! In an effort to maximize our NATO environment and joint operations here at Camp Marmal, the Diamond Club has hosted several functions with our NATO counterparts. We have participated in German Marksmanship Training and conducted a base wide Labor Day fun run to name a few. One thing is for sure: between all Soldiers no matter which Army they belong to, nobody wants to lose; all events have been very completive Thus far this deployment has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I have ever had. From the brigade commander and myself, please continue your outstanding support. Before you know it, we will be home safe and sound! Warrior 9 CSM Glen Vela Team First, First Team Warriors!!!
1 ACB CONDUCTS RARE SLING LOAD OPERATION By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas and Sgt. Richard Wrigley
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Soldiers from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a rare sling load operation July 6, utilizing a CH-47F Chinook helicopter to transport another Chinook helicopter from Camp Kunduz to Camp Marmal. Hovering over the airfield at Kunduz, the transporting Chinook helicopter gradually lowered. As a cloud of dust lifted, crew members stationed on top of the other helicopter stood ready to bond the two airframes together, setting the stage
for the pending sling load to commence. The realization of what was about to occur imbued one of the crew members with emotion as he waited to execute his task. “It was an adrenaline rush for sure,� said Sgt. Shawn Hartford, a Chinook helicopter mechanic, assigned to Company B, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st ACB, originally from Elko, Nev. Aside from the adrenaline rush, Hartford said that as the aircraft lowered and he did his part to join the two airframes together, his main focus was on utilizing
the basic skills required to conduct the sling load procedure in a safe manner. Hartford, along with the other crew members involved, had a considerable amount of experience conducting sling load operations, although an operation of this magnitude and in this type of environment was a first for the vast majority of them. To ensure smooth and safe execution, the crew members went through vigorous preparation drills that acted out different scenarios that could possibly come about during the actual sling load procedure.
The preparation drills paid great dividends in the end, according to Hartford. “After the drills, everyone knew where they needed to be, what they needed to do and when they needed to do it,” said Hartford. Transporting the Chinook across the northern Afghan landscape required extensive pre-mission planning as well, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy Rossi, a CH-47 Chinook pilot with Company B, Task Force Lobos, 1st ACB, originally from Syracuse, N.Y. Rossi touched on the challenges this
unusual mission presented. Rossi explained that at certain airspeeds, the sling-loaded Chinook with its aerodynamic structure could in essence deviate from the helicopter above and create its own flight path: an issue that wouldn’t arise during most other normal sling load operations. “The main challenge for us was keeping our aircraft in trim [balancing the flight controls] so that the sling-loaded aircraft wouldn’t move back and forth or sway side to side,” he said. Once the flight arrived at Marmal, crew
members on the ground helped carefully guide the sling-loaded aircraft down toward its final landing spot. The sling-loaded aircraft, which was transported to Marmal for maintenance purposes, finally touched ground safely. Roughly 100 feet above, cargo hooks disengaged as the bond between the two airframes finally broke. The transporting helicopter took off amid another brilliant cloud of dust that had engulfed those within the vicinity. The mission was complete as a sense of pride filled the crewmembers.
TF LOBOS CONDUCTS RESCUE HOIST TRAINING WITH GERMANS By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
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ince arriving in theater in late May, the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division has established its place in the NATO footprint and has forged partnerships with NATO allies. The 1st ACB and the German armed forces have been conducting joint training exercises in an effort to solidify and complement each other’s operational capabilities. As part of this joint effort, Soldiers from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division conducted rescue hoist training with a German extrication team July 16. The training rendered an opportunity for the extrication team to gain familiarization with the aircraft hoist as an alternative method for insertion into an area where a
Brown added, “Having the extrication team members work with us gives an extra capability we wouldn’t have otherwise,” Doused in sunlight, the extrication team members began the day with crew briefs, loaded up their equipment and took off in a black hawk medevac helicopter to the training site. There, the training consisted of multiple iterations and a plethora of opportunities for the teams to practice rising and lowering with the aircraft hoist. The extrication teams also garnered experience dealing with the dusty conditions caused by the powerful rotor wash from the sweeping rotor blades of the black hawk
vehicle rollover could occur. The ultimate goal is for the extrication teams to partner with TF Lobos’ flight medics by using specialized tools to assist patients who are stuck inside of a vehicle with no other means of extraction during medevac missions. “A vehicle rollover can happen anywhere especially when you consider the environment we are in,” said Staff Sgt. Travis Brown, flight medic, Company C, Task Force Lobos, 1st ACB, originally from Bakersfield, Calif. Furthermore, Staff Sgt. Chad Farris, of Salisbury, N.C., a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, assigned to Company C, TF Lobos, 1st ACB, talked about the importance of aircraft hoist familiarization for the Germans. In the mountainous and rugged terrain found throughout austere areas of Afghanistan, he said, insertion via aircraft hoist can be the only option for medical evacuation personnel or extrication teams.
helicopter. Moreover, Brown, who coordinated the training, said that positive communication between his crew and the extrication team was a key aspect in enhancing the training experience for both sides. Brown touched on the enthusiastic attitude of the Germans. “They were very eager to start this training,” he added. “They were very hands on and anxious to familiarize themselves with our equipment.” One of the members of the extrication team, a master sergeant, said his crew gained a valuable learning experience from the day’s training events. Furthermore, he noted that the training was very realistic and helpful since his team did not have prior experience working with helicopters. “This was a great first step for us,” he added.
TASK FORCE ATTACK DRAWS THE LINE IN THE
E SAND
By: Sgt. Richard Wrigley
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hen the challenge is drawn in the sand…the Soldiers step up,” said Maj. Paul Berg, a native of Stuttgart, Ark., executive officer of Task Force Attack. No statement could be closer to the truth when in regards to the Soldiers of TF Attack, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, who are conducting operations in Regional Command East, Afghanistan, and are currently attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. “We have a very good team here,” said Berg. “This is my fourth deployment, and this is the best team I’ve been with so far.” The best team is exactly what is needed right now in RC East, as the operational tempo is incredibly high. Lt. Col. Douglas Brockhard, a native of Colombia, S.C., and commander of TF Attack, compared the escalated operational tempo to a NASCAR pit-team functionality when he described the demand for aviation support. “The demand outweighs what we have on hand,” he said. Brockhard elaborated how due to the demand, the task force is forced to operate under launchrecover-launch conditions, so that when an aircraft lands, maintainers, armament, and fuelers must be out there with the aircraft preparing it for the next team to take off, making for a NASCAR mentality. However, when any unit flies as much as TF Attack is flying, maintenance becomes an issue and a challenge: one that Berg describes as an everyday battle that requires team effort. This team effort is evident throughout the ranks of TF Attack, and can be seen in the actions of much of the leadership, said Berg. One way they are combating this maintenance challenge is through the sacrifice of non air-crew Soldiers within TF Attack. Usually, door gunner slots in Army aircraft are filled by the crew chiefs themselves. However, in TF Attack, from the battalion command sergeant major on down, non aircrew Soldiers have been volunteering to man the guns during missions,
allowing the aviation maintainers the necessary time they need to work on the aircraft, and to recover. Yet sheer demand for aviation support is not the only challenge TF Attack has faced in Afghanistan. One other major challenge they faced is their separation from their parent brigade, the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, and their attachment to the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. Nevertheless, this transition took place without nary a hiccup, which Brockhard attributes to the great relationship between 10th CAB and TF Attack, and their respective leadership, which consists of senior leaders in both units that have worked together prior to this deployment. Furthermore, Col. Pedro Almeida, a native of New Bedford, Mass., commander of 10th CAB and TF Falcon, talked about the apparently seamless integration of the Soldiers of TF Attack into the 10th CAB. “TF Attack Soldiers have blended in with their Task Force Falcon counterparts extraordinarily well and made a difference in accomplishing this tough mission at the incredible kinetic and flying operational tempo that defines RC-East,” said Almeida. In the end the success that TF Attack has already garnered speaks volumes of the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication that the Attack team has brought in RC East. When asked if TF Attack can maintain this operational tempo successfully throughout the year’s deployment, Berg replied confidently. “We’ll be great, this is what we’ve trained for; this is why we do what we do,” he said. “We came here prepared and ready, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team in order to execute the mission in the most difficult terrain, with the toughest enemy, everyday.”
TF ATTACK REA
MA MAKE
ACHES NEW HEIGHTS:
AINTENANCE ES IT POSSIBLE By: Sgt. Richard Wrigley
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ask Force Attack made history when Night Fury, one of their AH-64D Apache helicopters, became the first Apache Longbow to reach 10,000 flight hours in the United States Army June 28. “This accomplishment could not have been possible if it were not for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of our maintainers,” said Maj. Paul Berg, battalion executive officer, TF Attack, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, currently attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. The maintainers are the crucial element within TF Attack which enabled Night Fury to reach 10,000 flight hours. “They are the rubber on the road”, said Sgt. 1st Class Gabe Loftin, a native of Wink, Texas and platoon sergeant, Company C, TF Attack, as he talked about the crew chiefs within Company A and C. Both Apache attack companies merged in order to combine their efforts in response to the mission demand and to allow for mission success, said Loftin. Loftin went on to say that the crew chiefs are the “cream of the crop” of maintainers, blessed with either a lot of experience or natural aptitude that allows them to complete necessary jobs quicker than most, and correctly the first time. When we got here, we assigned a two person crew chief team to each aircraft, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Shaun Steines, a native of Alpha, Ill,. and a maintenance test pilot for TF Attack, 1st ACB. We did this, and had each crew name their bird, so as to instill pride and ownership within the crews. Indeed, pride and ownership is quite apparent throughout the crews of both Co. A and C. Both Spc. Dan Pfundtner and Pvt. 1st Class Michael Reynolds, the crew chiefs assigned to Night Fury, Co. A, TF Attack, natives of Milwaukee, Wis. and Jacksonville, Fla. respectively, give testament to this through their hard work and accomplishment. In fact, Pfundter explained that the name Night Fury was a collective effort between Reynolds and himself, adopted from a dragon character from the movie “How to Train Your Dragon.” Many would think that Night Fury with all of its flight hours would have the most maintenance problems due to wear and tear. Ironically, that is not the case. “With all the flight hours she has, it has just made her more broke in…she can fly longer than most without having any major problems, which is pretty great for us,” said Reynolds. In the end though, it is quite apparent that the true story of Night Fury, the first Apache to reach 10,000 flight hours, and the success of the flight companies in TF Attack is the pride and skill of the maintenance crews.
CAPTIVATING CHAPLAIN BOLSTERS SOLDIERS’ FAITH By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
It’s another hot and dusty Sunday morning, and service is about to begin at the Camp Kunduz Chapel. No, this place of worship isn’t nestled in a small town in the heart of the Bible belt. It’s about as far away from there as one can get. Furthermore, the small plywood structure is nothing reminiscent of a massive cathedral capable of housing a huge congregation of worshipers. Still, for Soldiers of faith stationed in the heart of northern Afghanistan, the place serves its purpose quite well. It’s a place where Cpt. Emmanuel Woods, chaplain for Task Force Guns, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, charismatically finds a way to get his message across to the troopers in attendance, with sermons that emphasize spiritual resilience. The emotion Chaplain Woods invokes during his sermons makes for a lively atmosphere, according to Pvt. Brandon Blocker, originally from Tuscaloosa, Ala., assigned to Company D, TF Guns. Another Soldier who normally attends church service at Kunduz agrees. “He has a unique and humorous way of delivering his messages,” said Spc. Shyteria Miller, a supply specialist, originally from Houston, assigned to Headquarters Company, TF Guns. Blocker added, “You can tell that everyone is engaged during the service when he is preaching.” Woods’ message of spiritual resilience is one that he attributes to personal experiences that tested his ability to endure hardships earlier on in his life. He cites spiritual resilience as one of the main
factors that allowed him to overcome an impoverished lifestyle and the loss of his father in war-torn Liberia back in the 1990’s. “It was my belief in a higher power [during tough times] that gave me hope,” he said. As a refugee, he managed to make his way to the United States and eventually became inspired to join the Chaplain corps. Now as a chaplain, Woods has a way of connecting with people, said Sgt. 1st Class Chaka Grant, the brigade chaplain’s assistant, originally from Jacksonville, Fla. “He establishes a comfort level with people and that makes him very approachable at any time,” said Grant. Grant said she appreciated the opportunity to practice her faith alongside Woods this Sunday morning, and says her faith is what keeps her moving forward. As Woods concluded his sermon, the Sunday service ended in song. An abundance of smiles filled the chapel. It was obvious that he had achieved his objective on this day, which was to imbue those in attendance with a message of faith that resonates in each and every one of them. Afterwards, Woods talked about why he feels spiritual nourishment is important in a combat theater like Afghanistan. “One of the basic human rights that we have in our Constitution is religious freedom,” said Woods. “If we can exercise that right here in Afghanistan, it shows that we are a powerful country.”
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TF Guns building the blocks for success By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
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T hey started from scratch. Arriving at Camp Kunduz in mid May, Soldiers
from Task Force Guns, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, had their work cut out for them. The Soldiers were tasked to convert an area of operations that was suited for a small platoon-sized element into one in which a battalionsized element could thrive in. “We anticipated austere conditions prior to getting out here, and austere conditions are exactly what we found,” said Lt. Col. Jeff White, commander, TF Guns, 1st ACB, originally from Boston.
Despite the challenging conditions and lack of amenities, Task Force Guns hit the ground running. The task force assumed responsibility for its combat mission almost immediately after touching ground, providing ground elements with air weapon teams, air medical evacuation and air assault capabilities. The command placed key emphasis, White said, on establishing sound relationships and a high level of trust and confidence with the ground forces, recognizing that supporting those forces is TF Guns’ primary objective in Regional Command
North. The demand for that support is constant in Kunduz. Day and night, seven days a week, TF Guns’ aircraft take to the skies, providing air assets wherever needed. Moreover, building up the area of operations and sustaining combat operations simultaneously has proven to be quite the balancing act, added White. The brigade commander, Col. John Novalis, credits the task force’s motivated Soldiers and engaged leadership with taking initiative and going above and beyond their normal duties to continuously support
Top right:
A Uh-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter from Task Force Guns touches down during medevac training with German medical personnel July 29.
Bottom right: An AH-
64D Apache attack helicopter braces the runway here following a mission in support of ground forces Aug.1. Left: Two CH47F Chinook helicopters assigned to Task Force Guns take off during a mission July 30.
Novalis: Positive attitude, passion and discipline of Guns’ troopers have ‘exceeded my expectations’
the combat mission and work to improve living and working conditions at the same time. The hard work is paying off, as improvements in force protection and living conditions are becoming more evident each and every day, added White. Furthermore, TF Guns Soldiers are not only contributing to the overall mission success of RC North. Troopers from the task force can also be found flying over the skies of Regional Command South. Guns’ element in the south is currenttlyattached to the 159th Combat Aviation Bri-
gade, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky. White touched on what Guns’ element in the south has accomplished so far. “Our team in the south is primarily supporting special operations forces and has already executed a considerable amount of successful combat missions to this point,” said White. Finally, a recurring theme from both commanders is that the mentality and demeanor of the Soldiers from TF Guns have been key elements to the overall success of
the task force in Afghanistan. “These Soldiers attacked their difficult mission from the beginning with a positive attitude, passion and displine that has exceeded my expectations,” said Novalis.
PA GERMAN
1 ACB FORMS ARTNERSHIP WITH N COUNTERPARTS By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
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enior enlisted members of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, welcomed their counterparts from the German Armed Forces in Regional Command North to a Diamond Club meeting Sept. 1. The Diamond Club, which is comprised of senior enlisted members from the 1st ACB, meets on a weekly basis here at Camp Marmal and this was the first time senior enlisted advisors from the German Armed Forces attended. “The partnership between our two nations here in the regional command is flourishing by the day,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela, senior enlisted advisor, 1st ACB, originally from Fort Worth, Texas. The meeting was what Vela called ‘the next step’ to enhance the relationship among the enlisted leadership of the two nations. Another senior enlisted member, Sgt. Maj. Jason Speede, operations sergeant major, 1st ACB, originally from Norfolk, Va., attended the event and talked about how events like this have enhanced his relationship with his German counterparts. “I’ve been stationed in Germany for 13 years out of my career, and this is the most interaction I’ve had with German Soldiers,” said Speede. He added, “I think it’s ironic that here in Afghanistan the enlisted partnership between our two nations has come full circle.” Vela and the newly minted command sergeant major for German Armed Forces in Regional Command North, Command Sgt. Maj. Maurizio Grandesso, are already working togeth-
er, having toured other forward operating bases in the regional command on previous occasions. Grandesso sees the new relationship as an opportunity that bears mutual benefits for both leaders. He said that he hopes that as enlisted leaders, they can learn from each other in the coming months and make improvements for the betterment of the enlisted corps within their respective units. Vela said that although different cultures and languages distinguish the two nations from each other, the similarities between the two nations’ militaries are abundant. “When you look closely, the way our enlisted leadership chain is structured, it’s almost identical to that of the Germans,” Vela said to the group of enlisted leadership. He noted that a first sergeant in the German Armed Forces plays a very similar role to that of a first sergeant in the United States Army. The evening’s meeting was marked by a plethora of camaraderie, laughter and interaction between the two nations. “It was a great opportunity for us to come together, get to know one another, and share information,” said Speede. “Everyone was having a good time.” Grandesso also opined about the event. “It was great that the 1st ACB invited us to attend and we hope to be a part of many more Diamond Club outings,” said Grandesso. Finally, as the sun disappeared into the distance, giving way to the darkness of another Camp Marmal night, the dawning of a new partnership between senior enlisted members of two different nations was on the horizon.
SOLDIERS AT CAMP MARMAL REFLECT ON THE TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas
September 11, 2001 started like any other normal day in America. People were in the midst of their daily routines; sending their children off to school, going off to work and about their normal business and not knowing what their fate would hold. That day, the United States suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history, but just like for many in the U.S. and around the world, images of that tragic September morning remain clear for Soldiers of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. The Soldiers of the 1st ACB, along with members of the coalition here at Camp Marmal, paused from their normal routines to reflect on the events of Sept. 11 with a prayer breakfast on the ten-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. “Today, we pause to remember where we were and what it was like to watch the unfolding destruction of a familiar New York City horizon,” said Cpt. James Ward, chaplain, Task Force Lobos, 1st ACB. “We remember a desperate rush to save as many lives as possible, not knowing how many more lives it would cost,” he added as he addressed those in attendance. Memories of Sept. 11 are poignant for 1sg. Tanisha Geter, Company A, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st ACB, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. During the luncheon, Geter gave her thoughts and recollections of that September day. “I remember it vividly as if it was this morning and not ten years ago,” she said. Geter’s aunt worked three blocks away from the World Trade Center and usually walked by the WTC around the same time that both planes had struck the twin towers. Moreover, Geter remembers the sense of desperation that she felt as she tried to call her family back home in New York. “I just kept trying to call home that morning, as I cried and prayed that my family would be okay,” she explained. “The thought that my aunt might have
been part of this tragedy made my heart stop.” With the phone lines congested and no bridge of communication available between her and her family, she remained glued to the television in her office that afternoon as the masses crossed the Brooklyn Bridge covered in ashes as she wondered if her family had survived the attacks. “It took days to find out that my family had survived,” she said. Sgt. 1st Class Steven Alejandro, who is assigned to Task Force Atlas, also spoke about his memories of Sept. 11. Alejandro was in New York City that day due to sheer coincidence. His grandmother required an emergency heart surgery and he had taken leave from his duty station in Korea to be by her side. He looked through the window in the hospital as he had a clear view of the horrible events that unfolded that crisp September morning. “I’ll never forget it,” he said. “I began to pray like I never had before.” He described the situation inside the hospital immediately after the attacks. “Everybody started running, screaming and crying,” he said. “The hospital had become a mad house.” Amidst the chaos, Alejandro said he saw that emergency response teams immediately responded. “I’ve never seen New York City come together like it did on that day,” he said. Furthermore, Ward also touched on how the attacks managed to bring people together. “We watched as people from every creed and every color met at Ground Zero to dig through rubble and search in hope,” said Ward. “Whatever our differences were, the curtain was pulled back on the American spirit that day.” That day would go down in infamy for the thousands of lives that were changed forever, and it’s that day that brought together a group of service members from a vast array of backgrounds and nations to reflect ten years later.
1 ACB-GERMAN RELATIONS BOLSTERED OVER GUN FIRE By: Sgt. Richard Wrigley
Soldiers of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and members of the German Armed Forces in Regional Command North conducted joint marksmanship ranges Sept. 12-13. The events served as an opportunity to amplify the partnership among the enlisted corps of both countries and they also marked the first time that joint ranges were conducted since the 1st ACB deployed to Afghanistan. First, the Soldiers from the 1st ACB went to a German marksmanship range outside of Camp Marmal, as they took aim at obtaining the coveted Schutzenschnur, which is the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency, one of the few pre-approved foreign awards that does not require approval from the U.S. Senate. The following day, the Germans went to an American marksmanship range and qualified with M4 carbine rifles, obtaining American marksmanship badges in the process. Finally, at a joint awards ceremony Sept. 15 at the USO here, Soldiers of both nations were presented with their marksmanship badges.
VIPs VISIT CA Bottom Middle: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimoto, command sergeant major of RC-East Top Right: Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addresses Soldiers. Botton Right: Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, the IJC command sergeant major, is briefed on the mayor cell’s operations.
AMP MARMAL Top Left: Sec. Thomas Kossendey, Germany’s deputy defense minister, sits in the cockpit of an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter Bottom Left: Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin L. Hill, ISAF command sergeant major Shakes a Soldier’s hand.
TF COLDSTEEL DOMINATES LABOR DAY EXTRAVAGANZA By: Staff Sgt. Joseph Armas and Sgt. Richard Wrigley
Soldiers at Camp Marmal celebrated Labor Day with a 5K run and a volleyball tournament Sept. 5. Task Force Coldsteel showed their strength and ruled the day, with teams in both events winning first place. As dawn broke, the 5K began and Soldiers and coalition members navigated the course, dashing toward the finish line in an effort to obtain the fastest run time possible. Following the run, the volleyball tournament commenced with teams from the German Armed Forces and the 1st ACB taking part in a double-elimination format that saw plenty of spikes, dives into the sand and camaraderie. Team “Bieber Fever�, representing Company B, TF Coldsteel, took home the top prize after defeating the Warlords from brigade headquarters in the semi-finals and convincingly taking down a team from the German contingent in the final. The Mother of All Bands, from the 1st Cavalry Division Band, provided musical entertainment for the event. All in all, Soldiers of the 1st ACB marked Labor Day with fun, food, music and physical fitness.
TEAM BIEBER FEAVER VOLLEY BALL CHAMPIONS
TF Spearhead ‘will pump you ...with fuel By: Sgt. Richard Wrigley
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henever a unit deploys, milestones are achieved as they execute their mission, and stories are often written about units reaching these milestones. For most units, pumping over 1 million gallons of fuel on a yearlong deployment is a common occurrence. However there is nothing common about Task Force Spearhead of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and their pumping over 1 million gallons of fuel in less than four months of being deployed. TF Spearhead, of the 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, pumped their millionth gallon at Camp Victory Sept. 25. One reason why TF Spearhead’s numbers are so high out here is that they are servicing coalition members and civilian contractors as well as our traditional military customers, said Lt. Col. Blake Alex-
ander, a native of San Antonio, commander, TF Spearhead, 1st ACB. Staff Sgt. Patrick Sayles, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Forward Arming and Refueling Point at Camp Victory for TF Spearhead was one of the fuelers present when the millionth gallon of fuel was pumped. “We’ve safely pumped the million gallons between everyone; everything is running smoothly out here,” said Sayles. “What else can you ask for?” In the end, the success of the task force is due to the efforts of the soldiers, said Alexander. “Hitting this benchmark so early is really a testament to how much hard work, effort and dedication the Soldiers are putting into the mission,” said Alexander. “Overall, they are doing an outstanding job.”
I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.