November 2010 Arrowhead

Est. 1919 Vol 2, Issue 8

Div. HQ (Fwd), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Arrowhead 7 Sends

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ver the past few weeks, I have stopped by each of your sections and checked on your progress. I was happy to learn that all of you are leaning forward in your foxholes and completing the tasks needed to get this division headquarters trained and validated for our mission in Iraq.

Ever since arriving at Joint Base Lewis McChord our operational tempo has been high and you probably feel like you are drinking from the fire hose. Don’t be frustrated by this experience. Learn from it. At basic training your drill sergeants pushed you to be your best.

The same is true for this operation.

This exercise is specifically set up to get you tired and rattled. The

purpose is to see if you can handle it. From my vantage point, I am proud to say all of you are handling it just fine. Yes, we may have some internal section processes that need to be polished, but overall I have seen our staff process getting better and our Soldier skills improving. Remain vigilant and continue to improve.

Remember we are the headquarters for subordinate units spread throughout southern Iraq.

Your staff actions will directly affect the safety and security of thousands of Soldiers. It’s a big responsibility and it is my hope that each of you remember this when you are conducting your duties.

Veterans Day was last week and I would like to thank each of you for your contributions to our great nation. While all veterans deserve our respect, there is a special bond between veterans who have been deployed — all of you are now part of this group. I am very proud of the group of Soldiers that make up this division headquarters. All of you have volunteered for this deployment and are willing to put your lives on the line for our country.

In my mind, you truly are a part of the next great generation.

Make no mistake, we are deploying to a war zone and over

November 2010

the course of the next year you will undergo a variety of experiences with the Soldiers to your left and your right. Some of these experiences will be challenging, rewarding and will have a positive effect on the rest of your life. Other experiences, quite frankly, may be difficult. You may have a battle buddy who experiences depression from being away from home, or, heaven forbid, we may lose a fellow Soldier. In these times it is important that all of us support each other through some type of positive interaction.

There are a lot of bad guys out there who would like nothing more than to ruin our mission.

We will never defeat the enemy if we are defeating ourselves. It is the responsibility for each Soldier to keep a positive attitude, help your fellow Soldier, and keep this division moving in a positive direction.

This is a historic mission for this division headquarters. Each of you was chosen for your specialized talents and effectiveness in your military occupational specialties.

There is no group of Soldiers that I would rather serve with. Thank you again for all you do.

In Spite of Hell!

Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson Early

Client Services Office

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Bldg. 11D6 Command Operating Base Needham Phone: 253.967.3953

Phone: 253.967.2856 Email: genevie.plaza@us.army.mil Email: barbara.k.kerrane@us.army.mil

Client Services can help with...

he Client Services Program helps eligible personnel find a solution to their personal legal matters in a timely and professional manner. Attorney - client confidentiality begins the moment the client discusses his or her concerns with a client services attorney. The in- formation discussed cannot be disclosed to anyone without the client’s consent; unless the attorney feels it is imperative in order to prevent wrongdoing. Persons eligible to receive client services include:   

Divorce, financial nonsupport  Child custody & visitation  Paternity cases  Wills and power of attorneys  Trusts for minors and guardianships  Landlord-tenant issues  Personal property purchase/cancellation  Debt /banking  Identity theft  Name change  Citizenship and naturalization  Financial liability rebuttle  OER & NCOER rebuttal  Flags  IG investigations  Reprimands  Torts/civilian lawsuits  Advise on the preparation of income tax returns  General advice on civilian criminal

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Servicemembers and their Family members.

DOD/DA Civilian employees Retirees and their Family members

The Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act USERRA offers employment and re-employment protection to servicemembers who are forced to be absent from their job due to entering an active duty status. In order to qualify for re-employment several conditions must be met. See the following website for details. http://www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm The Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act SCRA is a federal law that gives soldiers who enter an active duty status certain rights and protections. SCRA protects matters associated with mortgage & credit card interest rates, foreclosures, rental agreements, court and administrative proceedings, eviction, installment contracts, and income tax payments.

The Arrow Head Staff:

36th Infantry Division:

PAO - Maj. Eric N. Atkisson Deputy PAO - 1st Lt. Adam J. Musil Supervising Editor Sgt. 1st Class Merrion LaSonde Layout & Design Sgt. Jeremy Spires Sgt. David A. Bryant Staff Master Sgt. Brenda Benner Sgt. Katie Danielson

Commander - Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson Early Division Special Troops Battalion Commander - Lt. Col. Doug DeVries Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Richardson Headquarters Support Co. Capt. Brent A. Middleton A Co. - Capt. Omar Davila B Co. - Capt. Kadett Derry C Co. - Capt. John F. Kerby D Co. - Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeff Lightsey 2

SNAPSHO S: WHO WE ARE

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PC. JUAN M. PONCE DE LEON – Ponce de Leon is a 28-year-old native Chicagoan who now calls Hutto, Texas, home. He has been in the Texas Army National Guard for four years, deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a convoy guard with the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and will now deploy to Iraq with the 36th Infantry Division as the driver for Brig. Gen. Stephen G. Sanders, the assistant division commander for support, for Operation New Dawn. Ponce de Leon enjoys working with animals in his free time with his wife, who is a veterinarian technician.

“I volunteer at animal shelters,” Ponce De Leon said. “I spend a lot of time working with abused animals; doing puppy-mill rescues and such.”

Ponce de Leon originally joined the National Guard for the education benefits and intends to get his degree as a cardiology technician.

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TAFF SGT. EDMUND “MATT” ANDEL – Andel is a 30-year-old military policeman now serving as a civil affairs noncommissioned officer with the 36th Infantry Division preparing to deploy to Iraq for Operation New Dawn.

The Bastrop, Texas resident has been in the Texas Army National Guard for 10 years and has served much of his time on active-duty orders; as a MP at Ft. Hood, Texas, and as a MP instructor and quality assurance officer at the Regimental Training Institute at Camp Swift, Texas to ensure National Guard schools met the training standards provided by Training and Doctrinal Command.

“I’m looking forward to getting over (to Iraq) and helping finish out what we (the United States) started,” Andel said. “This will show a different side of the Army; people are used to the ‘shock and awe’ and now they will be able to see us helping to rebuild and giving back to the Iraqi people.”

The Leander, Texas native intends to get his peace officer certification after the deployment and become a full-time police officer.

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HAPLAIN (LT. COL.) J. CRAIG COMBS – Being in the 36th Infantry Division, Combs, who hails from Argyle, Texas, is a 22-year veteran of the Texas Army National Guard who started his service the same way he serves it today, as a chaplain.

“I started out in the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment out of Lubbock, Texas,” said Combs. There he worked as the battalion chaplain and even deployed as their chaplain in 2004.

This seasoned man of faith is married and has five kids ranging from 18 to 32 years of age.

“My oldest son is actually getting married on our (36th ID) four-day pass. I plan on presiding over the ceremony,” he said. “I even got the opportunity one night to ‘Skype’ and take part in the rehearsal dinner.”

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CHIEF SHAW’S SAFETY SLICE

By Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Shaw, 36th Infantry Division Safety Office

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No one is more important to you than your buddy and o one knows what is going on in your area of operations more than you do. This leaves everyone your responsibility to them is powerfully stated in this with the implied task that they are responsible, directly, message by Mr. Don Merrell: for their own safety.

I could have saved a life that day, but I chose to look the other way.

It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I had the time, and I was there.

A few simple rules will help you maintain your situational awareness and help preserve life, limb, and eyesight. We all want to deploy, perform our missions successfully, and return to our loved ones in one piece.

But I didn’t want to seem a fool, Or argue a safety rule.

I knew he’d done the job before, If I called it wrong, he might get sore.

The chances didn’t seem that bad, I’ve done the same, he knew I had.

RULE NUMBER ONE: Follow the rules. Precombat checks and pre-combat inspections exist for a reason. Follow patrol orders, convoy rules, vehicle load plans, use restraint systems, and understand and rehearse individual and team drills.

RULE NUMBER TWO: Wear your gear. The Army gave it to you; use it. Your brethren learned hard lessons not having fire retardant ACUs, eye protection, and hearing protection, etc. Use it so you don’t have to learn those lessons for yourself.

While there are catastrophic events, such as rollovers or debris from IEDs, which are high visibility that everyone hears about; there is another type of exposure that your personal protective equipment is also designed to protect you from: chronic exposure.

Wear your eye and hearing protection to protect yourself from dust and noise to maintain your eyes and ears. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

So I shook my head and walked on by, He knew the risks as well as I. He took the chance, I closed an eye, And with that act, I let him die.

I could have saved a life that day, But I choose to look the other way.

Now every time I see his wife, I know I should have saved his life.

That guilt is something I must bear, But it isn’t something that you share.

If you see a risk that others take, That puts their health or life at stake.

The question asked, or thing you say, Could have them live another day.

RULE NUMBER THREE: Learn and be familiar with the WAVES alarm system and its various tones.

Hit the ground when there is incoming: don’t try to run to the bunker. A horizontal target is much smaller than vertical no matter how fast you are. Establish section accountability when the “all clear” sounds.

If you see a risk and walk away, Then I hope you never have to say, I could have saved a life that day, But I chose to look the other way.

RULE NUMBER FOUR: Maintain SA. fatigue and complacency (Human Factors) are root or contributing causes in 80 percent of all accidents. Watch your buddy and make sure your buddy watches you.

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dOLLARS

By Staff Sgt. James M. Roach 36th Infantry Division Finance Office

“W

hat chu wanna do is di-versi-fy wi ur munny. First u take half ur munny, put it in a coffee can and burry it in ur back yard. The other half u take down to the track and bet on the horse that does his biness b’fore the race.” (Jeff Foxworthy, comedian)

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Why should I put my money in SDP?

How does 10 percent annual return on a $10,000 investment sound? At this time, banks are offering an average annual return of 1.25 percent or less; 2.40 percent (5-years) on most certificates of Deployment equals cash, deposit. Contact your bank for details and minimum requirements. cash equals stuff, right?

What if you took those extra entitlements listed on your LES (family separation, hazardous duty and hardship pay) and invested it instead? In my opinion, money you cannot get to right away is always a good idea for investments (i.e. Thrift Savings Program, Certificates of Deposit)

Want a higher-yield and quicker access to funds upon return from deployment?

How do I participate and what are the rules?

Soldiers are only allowed to deposit up to their net take home monthly pay each month. So, even if you have $10,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can only make a deposit of what you have been paid at the end of each month. This is the only aspect of the program that many have found to be unfair and unreasonable. There is nothing you can do about it so please, be nice to your finance office cashier - they are just doing their job.

The Savings Deposit Program is a big bang for your buck. Those who participate are guaranteed a How do I monitor deposits reasonably high-yield in a relatively short period of time. and withdraw my money?

Go to https://mypay.dfas.mil/ mypay.aspx to monitor your deposits. A withdrawal request can be made here as well. Withdrawing the money before leaving the combat zone is not authorized, unless there is an emergency. If

30 days in a hazardous zone

needed to invest in the SDP $1,000 amount received with $10,000 SDP investment 3 easy ways to invest your money while deployed 10 percent of annual return on your SDP 90 days after your return your SDP will be deposited into your bank account

you have any questions, feel free to ask at your local finance office.

I highly encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. So, when you get home, resist the urge to splurge. Rest and re-invest! See you next month.

In Spite of Hell!!!

Additional Information: For more information about the Savings Deposit Program, visit the local finance office or the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website: http://www.dod.mil/dfas https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay. aspx For more advice on how to save while you are away try: www.militarywallet.com www.militaryonesource.com

You can’t win if you don’t play 5

Communicating through waves of Story and photo by Sgt. David A. Bryant, 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

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OINT BASE LEWISMCCHORD, Wash. – The transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn will provide a unique communications challenge as operating bases across Iraq close up shop, dismantle in-place systems and head for home.

That challenge was readily taken on by Soldiers of Company C, Division Special Troops Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, who set up their communications satellite systems here Oct. 21 as they prepare to provide a seamless transmission of information for United States forces departing Iraq.

“We’re basically doing a (communications exercise), turning on all the equipment, communicating with each other and making sure everything works,” said Sgt. James M. Naven, a computer communications technician with Company C. “Each satellite dish talks to a satellite in space, which in turn sends the information back down to our main hub.”

There are three signal platoons and the division’s network communications section in the company, said Naven, a 27-yearold native of Whitney, Texas. Some Soldiers will be stationed in Kuwait with the main communications hub, some will remain with the division’s command group and still other Soldiers are prepared to take mobile satellite terminal trailers out into the field to provide communications for bases in Iraq as they close down.

“We’re just testing to get any bugs out of the system,” Naven added.

RADIATION

For the Soldiers operating the equipment, the exercise was a chance to get hands-on training with the mobile system, said Spc. Brandon S. Dawson, a satellite maintenance and operator controller with Company C. Setting up and firing off the satellite systems has increased the Soldiers’ eagerness to utilize the equipment in the real-world setting of Iraq.

“The wealth of knowledgeable noncommissioned officers available to train us has been invaluable,” said the 25-year-old native of Nederland, Texas. “I’m loving it; this is what I’ve been waiting for.”

None of the training would have been possible without the active assistance of Joint Base LewisMcChord units, however, said Maj. John Kerby, Company C commanding officer.

“If it had not been for the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this,” said Kerby, a 34-year-old native of Coppell, Texas. “They provided us with a location to set up, the fuel to run our vehicles and everything.

Because of their help, our Soldiers will be ready for anything they may face in Iraq. We are very grateful to them for everything they have done for us.”

“This is the latest equipment on the market and we have it,” said Dawson, who left his day job as a chef at the San Louis Resort and Hotel in Galveston, Texas, to deploy with his unit.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to come out and use this,” said Dawson.

“It’s like Christmas, and we finally get to play with our new toys.”

Spc. Brandon S. Dawson, a 25-year-old satellite maintenance and operator controller with Company C., Division Special Troops Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, ensures the connections are secure on an AN-TCC187 satellite dish.

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