Happy New Year

The Rolling Review 821st Transportation Battalion

JANUARY 2012

233D TC

129th TC

1452nd TC

ISSUE THREE

651st THOD

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 411th TC DET

481st TC DET

824th TC DET

“SAIL ARMY”

“SAND DEVILS”

548th TC DET

821st TC BN COMMAND & CONTROL LTC Rodney Sell Transitions Back home in Missouri, January is a time to hunker down, stoke up the fireplace and ride out the winter. Here in Southwest Asia, this January will be remembered as the one in which we retooled, hitched up our belts and moved on to the next big phase of our deployment. We've clearly proved the old adage "all great changes are preceded by chaos." Sometimes things have to fall apart a little bit in order to fall together. I'm always tempted to resist change because it's uncomfortable and stressful. With very few exceptions, though, once the dust settled I've found that the change was for the better.

This month we bid farewell to our friends from the 163rd, 203rd, 709th and 949th Transportation Detachments, and welcome new ones from the 411th, 548th, 481st and 824th. Brothers and sisters in our Battalion will soon be moving on to other missions, doing tasks that they have never done before in places where they've never done them. Yet in the fine tradition of American Soldiers, they go into an uncertain future with their heads held high, confident in their ability to adapt and overcome. They are emissaries of this battalion - members of our extended family, and we will continue to support them as we have been.

The rest of us will continue with our critical task of adapting the Kuwait footprint to better meet the Army's future needs in the Persian Gulf region.

I challenge our battalion's leaders to continue reinforcing our high standards through these difficult transitions. Now more than ever we must be alert to our surroundings and the well-being of our Soldiers. These rapid changes cause confusion and uncertainty, which can lead to safety, behavioral, and property and personnel accountability issues.

Thank you for all you do, and for doing it safely. I'm very proud of all of you for what you've accomplished, and for your unwavering professionalism.

CSM Alma Ocasiosantiago Social Media Technology is one of the greatest assets afforded to us all. It allows us to stay in touch with loved ones and friends when we are away from home thousands of miles away. Social media can also cause confusion and unrest; we must understand the second and third order effects it can have in our lives. We must also be cautious about the information that we put out through the technological waves. I ask that we all make a greater effort in controlling the information we share with loved ones. We serve the greatest nation in world, and as we fight for freedom and democracy, we must protect those privileges that so many lives have been lost protecting.

Practice good judgment and apply order and discipline when communicating on social medias.

In everything that we do, SAFETY FIRST! CSM Ocasio

821st Headquarters Detachment

SFC Dennis Crump HHD, 821st Transportation Battalion Soldiers, I would like to congratulate PFC Miller on his promotion. I wish him much success in his new grade and hope he continues to progress through the ranks.

With all the changes and the moving of the sections, I want to thank those that had a part in making the transitions as smooth as possible. Your professionalism and dedication shows great credit to the 821st Transportation Battalion and the United States Army.

The first 821st Transportation Battalion “Iron Wheel Competition” was a great success thanks to all those that supported it. I would like to give kudos to SFC Ellsworth and CPT Schneider for all the planning and preparation that it took for this event. I would also thank the S1 section for completing the awards in a timely manner and those that provided and set up the equipment needed to conduct this event.

I would also like to thank the friends and family members back home for all the support they have shown thus far during our deployment. Your support helps in keeping moral high and assists our Soldiers in the ability to maintain focus on the missions.

“One Team, One Fight”

Capt. Jonathan Schneider

SEMPER GUMBY!

“SAND DEVILS”

PAO Adventures “How We Put it Together”

821st Iron Wheel Challenge

The smell of the damp sand and the apprehension of team competition hung in the air the morning of January 14th as soldiers from Camp Arifjan starting stretching. 14 teams in all, warming up, ready to go head-to-head in this rigorous competition designed to see which team of Soldiers would be deemed the fittest. The event, sponsored by the 821st Transportation Battalion, was a huge success thanks to all of the event staff, participants, and all of the units who showed up to cheer on their fellow Soldiers. Brig. Gen. Ives and some of his staff from the 364th ESC were also on hand to cheer on the IWC competitors.

The teams were made up of one all-female team, three co-ed teams and ten all-male teams.

There were two teams from the 325th CSH, seven teams from the 233D Transportation Corps Company, two teams from the 129th TC Company, one team from the 1452nd TC Company, one team from the 113th Sustainment Brigade, and one from the 59th Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear.

There were six events that they had to compete in that consisted of a Ruck Run, Tire Flip, Litter Carry, Truck Push, Weapons Disassembly/Assembly and the Push-up, Pull-up, Sit-up event.

The teams had to scale over barriers while carrying a litter with 150lbs for 100 meters then turn around and do it all over again, simulating carrying

By 821st Staff

a 150lb casualty on the battlefield. They had to push a pickup truck through mud and sand while keeping up their momentum to avoid letting the truck come to a stop on the course. The teams had to work together to achieve a combined effort of 2550 pull-ups, 100-200 push-ups and 200 sit-ups.

They assembled individual and crew serve weapons (M9, M16, M249, and M240B) while not missing a step then, after being verified by an Armorer, broke them down again for the next team to try. They flipped a 300lb tire, end over end, for 50 meters and back again. They had to use effective communication among teammates to avoid injuries or a risk a runaway tire. All the while they were running a mile between events each carrying a loaded rucksack for combined team weight of 120-200lbs, and for a total of 5 miles. Safety was of the utmost concern and considering the grueling pace and difficult events that this competition demanded, the fact that there were no injuries is a testament to how well the teams trained and the events managed.

The winners of the all female category were SPC Mitchell, PFC Smith, PFC Johnson and SGT Brooks (team captain) from the 233D, completing the event in just under 2 hours and 14 minutes.

The winners of the co-ed category, also from the 233D, were 1st Lt’s Chang, Worth, Schwartz and Cuenca the team captain. 1st Lt. Chang said “the competition was definitely challenging.”

SGT Scott, SSG Hogue, D., SSG Upshaw and team captain SSG Gray were the winners of the all male category from the 129th.

All first place teams received Army AchieveIsiah Clodfelter (far left), MatMedals from the thew Nixon (far right),1452nd ment st Battalion Comtransportation company, 821st 821 nd Transportation Battalion jump mander and CSM. All 2 rd barriers simulating carrying a and 3 place teams rewounded soldier in the Iron ceived Certificates Of Wheel Competition.

Achievement from the 821st Command as well.

PAO Adventures “How We Put it Together”

821st Iron Wheel Challenge By 821st Staff

(Continued from previous page)

The Iron Wheel Challenge was a success thanks to Capt.

Jonathan Schneider and Sgt 1st Class Carl Ellsworth. When asked about the idea for the events, Sgt 1st Class Ellsworth responded, “It was a combination of past experiences, the Reserve Officers Training Corps and also input from the1st Sgt’s within the Battalion.”

Even though only 14 teams of the 27 teams anticipated ended up competing the competition was still captivating. Soldiers who were just passing by stopped to watch and began cheering on the competitors. Some spectators were motivated by the challenge and began planning to join in on the next round of the competition slated for February.

Sgt 1st Class Ellsworth said “There was already much talk about next month's event from the spectators, especially for the all female and co-ed categories, as there was a limited number of teams as you know. All acknowledged the difficulty factor but thought it to be a great challenge, mentally and physically.” Chief Kenneth Wash, also commented “There was a bigger turn out then I expected, and it really shows support for the competition.”

Sgt 1st Class Carl Ellsworth (far Left), Capt. Jonathan Schneider (middle), and 1st Lt Christopher Blair, 821st Battalion, 113th Sustainment Brigade, all smile for the camera in the 821st Battalion LAM the morning of the competition.

Soldiers from all over Camp Arifjan, participate in all of the events competing for the 1st place award at the 821st transportation Battalion.

Riding The AJ Short Bus Personal Observations from Around Camp Arifjan And Beyond

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes...

It would appear that change is the theme this month as we make the transition from the war with Iraq to one of support for our Afghanistan mission and the continued movement and drawdown of the equipment we removed from the OIF theater. LTC Sell made a point that change should not be resisted but embraced, and I am not saying this just to kiss up, but I agree.

Change is all around us. It has been the catalyst for both historical wins and losses during wartime as well as the wins on the sports field. All changes are not planned, but those that bear the scars of slow progress and a rich history are what made our country what it is today. Those who scoff at that statement need to see it from the perspective of those who do not share our form of freedom and democracy.

Those who look at our recent history will no doubt see failed policies and monetary issues. Our country is in debt, reliance on our sometimes too in your face government is at an all time high and to some, the future looks bleak.

But leave America’s shores and the appreciation for all that we have, meager or otherwise, can be placed into perspective. As much as I don’t want to leave home for such a long duration, I can appreciate the return to normalcy once I am reunited all that much more. As a mature (at least by age) adult with the responsibilities of a large family, change is absolutely inevitable and almost daily. One can only hope that the changes you experience are for the better. Either way, as my son Andrew wrote in one of his songs “Things always change.”

As a teen I was faced with major changes. Having dropped out of high school and trying to make my way in the “real world” I ended up working for a small mom and pop shop. The work was mundane, the wages were poor and everyday was Groundhog Day. Boring. There was an older guy that worked there. He was probably 35 years old with a military background. He wore green cotton fatigue shirts with no sleeves and was angry that he did not stay in the military. Every day he would say to me, “What the hell you doin here, boy? Didn’t I tell you to go see a recruiter.” And everyday I would stammer and stutter that I was only 16. I couldn’t join even if I wanted to.

For three months or so I listened to that man as he told me about duty, honor, and country. He told me how much he loved America and in the same breath all of the things he hated about it. He never made excuses for his life.

I learned from him that we each are responsible for our own destiny and, although he made some wrong choices and his life was not what he expected at his age, he blamed no one but himself. “Nobody owes you nuttin,” he would say, “If you don’t get it for yourself ain’t no one gonna give it to you.

By CW4 Kenneth M. Wash Jr.

On July 27 1979 I turned seventeen. I didn’t show up for work that morning because I was with an Army recruiter.

He picked me up at my house at 0530 the day of my birthday and took me to take the test for my GED and, immediately following, the Army Entrance Exam. “Happy Birthday Mr. Wash. You passed,” I was told at about 1600 that afternoon.

Then at 1700 we were back at my parents house getting their signatures on the documents that would change the direction of my entire life.

The next morning, when I showed up for work, I waited for the storm that would come because I wasn’t there the day before. As expected I was read the riot act by my fellow worker. He told me about responsibility and being where you were supposed to be. Finally I told him what I did on my birthday. The bear of a man picked me up, hugged me and told me that I had made the best decision of my life. “Get ready,” he said, “your life is about to change.”

This wasn’t some small insignificant change, this was a three year regular army enlistment that would take me out of St. Louis for the first time in my life, send me to wonderful training bases like Ft. Dix, NJ, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and on to Germany where the beer flows like water and it was legal for me to drink.

Since then there have been many changes for me, some great and others relatively insignificant. On a scale of what changed my life the most, I would have to say it was the decision to join the Army. It was based solely on the insistence of a man that I barely knew, but trusted because of his honesty, openness and sense of self responsibility, traits I was sure he learned as a soldier. When I look back and ponder the things I would change if I could go back in time, there are only a few. One would be that I wish I could have better understood the ramifications of the greatest change in my life before it happened. Had I done that I would probably have remembered the name of that guy who rode my butt until I joined. The second would have been to thank him for setting me up for success.

Yes, those are skeeter wings on my collar.

Didn’t make rank too fast with all that hair.

This picture was taken at an ammo storage site just outside of Czechoslovakia. Who kept you safe from a Russian invasion?

I did.

Remembering Dr. King Story and photos by SPC Leticia Samuels and Prentes Potts

“If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, ‘There lived a great people—a black people—who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.’” (Martin Luther King Jr.) From an address given in Montgomery, Alabama, December 31, 1955 “I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) From "Rediscovering Lost Values," February . 28, 1954 “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) From Strength to Love, 1963. “The poorest man in the world is the man without a dream. The most frustrated man in the world is the man with a dream that never becomes reality.” (Myles Munroe) As we embark into a new month and a new mission we should take time to reflect and on our past accomplishments and failures. The month of January is a time of remembrance because of the life and death of a very powerful civil rights leader named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His famous speech, “I Have a Dream” can still be heard in classrooms, on the internet and broadcast all throughout world, but as we continue to struggle for freedom and equality, the question arises are we living Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream?

Dr. King believed poverty for African-Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics and Asians was the cause for much of the unrest in America. He also believed that the United States’ involvement in Vietnam was a factor and the war poisoned the atmosphere of the whole country, which made the solution to local problems of human relations unrealistic. As a result, Dr. King’s beliefs caused friction between himself and other African-American leaders who felt their problems deserved priority and African-American leadership should concentrate on fighting racial injustice at home. But despite this battle amongst other leaders, by early 1967 Dr. King had become associated with the antiwar movement and he continued his quest for world peace. Dr. King traveled across America to support and speak about civil rights and the rights of the underprivileged. He continued to spread his message until his death on April 4, 1968.

One of Dr. King’s quotes opens with, “I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute.” Dr. King’s quest began January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia with his birth. His parents Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King Sr. raised him and allowed for a proper education upon which at age 15 he graduated from high school and continued his education at Morehouse College and received a B.A. in Sociology. Between 1951 and 1955, King received a degree from Crozer Theological Seminary along with his Ph D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University. Son of the pastor to Ebenezer Baptist Church, King was ordained in 1947 and in 1954 became minister of a Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama. He led the Black Boycott from1955 to 1956 of segregated city bus lines and in 1956 gained a major victory as a civil-rights leader when Montgomery buses began to operate on a desegregated basis.

Dr. King organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which gave him a base to pursue further civil-rights activities, first in the South and later nationwide. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which he studied in India, led to his arrest on numerous occasions in the 1950s and 1960s. His campaigns had mixed success, but the protest he led in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963, brought him worldwide attention. He spearheaded the March on Washington in August and brought together more than 200,000 people. On December 10, 1964, at age 35, King became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When he learned of the honor, he announced that he would donate all of the prize money ($54,123) to the civil rights movement.

Continued on the Next page

In Remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Story and photos by SPC Leticia Samuels and Prentes Potts (Continued from the previous page)

“Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle, and to a movement which has not yet won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize. After contemplation, I conclude that this award, which I receive on behalf of that movement, is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) King's leadership in the civil-rights movement was challenged in the mid-1960s as others grew more militant. His interests, however, widened from civil rights to include criticism of the Vietnam War and a deeper concern over poverty. On April 4, 1967, at Riverside Church in New York City he gave a speech entitled “Beyond Vietnam”. “Perhaps the more tragic recognition of reality took place when it became clear to me that the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home. It was sending their sons and their brothers and their husbands to fight and to die in extraordinarily high proportions relative to the rest of the population. We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. So we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. So we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would never live on the same block in Detroit. I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) In 1968 Dr. King had plans for a Poor People's March to Washington were interrupted with a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, in support of striking sanitation workers. On April. 4, 1968, he was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. In 1991 this became a monument as part the civil-rights museum. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, pleaded guilty to the murder and was convicted, but he soon recanted, claiming he was duped into his plea. Ray's conviction was subsequently upheld, but he eventually received support from members of King's family, who believed King to have been the victim of a conspiracy. Ray died in prison in 1998. In a jury trial in Memphis in 1999 the King family won a wrongful-death judgment against Loyd Jowers, who claimed in1993 that he had arranged the killing for a Mafia figure. Many experts, however, were unconvinced by the verdict, and in 2000, after an 18-month investigation, the Justice Department discredited Jowers and concluded that there was no evidence of an assassination plot.

King wrote Stride toward Freedom (1958), Why We Can't Wait (1964), and Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967). His birthday is a national holiday, celebrated on the third Monday in January. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, during her life carried on various aspects of his work. She also wrote My Life with Martin Luther King (1989).

129th Transportation Company 1SG Michael Brown, The 129th Transportation Company has been busy staying fit and healthy preparing for another successful and prosperous New Year. We had a great turn out for the National Guards birthday 5K run, and the Christmas Day 5k run to finish up the month of December. January started with a Martin Luther King birthday 5K run, which was a great lead in to the 821 st Transportation Battalions, “Iron Wheel Challenge”. The 129th took 1st Place in the all men team category, and 2nd place in the CO-ED team. We also have a large number of Soldiers preparing for the Camp Buehring marathon, scheduled for early February. I would like to thank all our Soldiers that went above and beyond the standards to show how strong and resilient the 129th can be, and I would like to challenge all the other Soldiers in the company to do the same. As we get closer to going home we need to remember to stay focused on the mission we have of completing this deployment, and taking every one of our 129th Soldiers home to their families. to do that we need to avoid complacency; continue to strengthen our minds and bodies; and continue to adapt and overcome.

“Knights of the Road”

“Knights of the Road”

SSG GRAY CROSSING THE FINISH LINE SATURDAY AT THE IRON W HEEL CHALLENGE

“Knights of the Road” Story and Photos by SPC Kevin Wendt

AROUND ELEVEN TEAMS COMPETING

129TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY TAKES FIRST PLACE IN THE MALE DIVISION

Iron Wheel

“OVERALL IT’S A GOOD STAMINA AND TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE; IT’S A GREAT COMPETITION BETWEEN THE COMPANIES” -SPECIALIST MATTHEW CLARKE th

Recently service members of the 129 Transportation Company participated in the Iron Wheel Challenge and took a sweeping victory placing first in the male division and second in the CO-ED division. The challenge took place January 14th, 2012 starting at the 1482nd’s motor pool and ending near the battalion resiliency center; consisting of six different events: Weapons assembly/ disassembly, truck push, tire flip, litter carry (with obstacles), five mile ruck march (run) and pull ups- push ups- and sit ups. The 129th had two teams representing, an all male and a CO-ED team. The boys of the 129th carried the flag vigilantly across the finish line in only an hour and a half’s time placing first in the male division, with the CO-ED team close behind placing second in their division and fourth overall. Staff Sergeant James Upshaw - male team leader – found the Iron Wheel Challenge to be a little more challenging than he was expecting; “It really pushes your mental and physical capacity… breaks down your body…

Challenge

next time I’ll be observing,” he said with a grin on his face and with a hearty chuckle. Upshaw’s team mutually agreed that their least favorite event had to have been the truck push.

Competitors had to push the truck some two hundred meters down and back a line. Staff Sergeant Ian Gray was discontent, “… it seemed like it went on forever.” Gray did find satisfaction in the five mile ruck march (run) however, “this was probably the hardest event because you really had to push yourself through it.” Specialist Matthew Clarke and Sergeant Tammi Welton also brought honor to the 129th placing second in the COED division and fourth overall. Clarke was impressed with the Weapons Assembly/ Disassembly event, “I had never really been so challenged… it was a good team building experience.”

Welton was in good spirits as they finished the challenge – “The best part of it all was the support from the crowd.” Welton is ambitious for the next Iron Wheel Challenge.

Each member of the teams placing first received an Army Achievement Medal from Lieutenant Colonel Sell, Battalion Commander of the 821st Transportation Battalion, and the teams placing second and third received a certificate of Achievement.

Around eleven teams we’re present this past Saturday with prospects of more come the next Iron Wheel Challenge. Other members not interviewed but who participated in Saturdays events include Sergeant Ryan Scott, Staff Sergeant Dustin Hogue, Staff Sergeant Richard Hogue and Specialist Maverick Petz.

m

233D Transportation Company

Capt. Jonathan K. Neal

Our heavy Truck Soldiers were once again part of the History Books by being a part of the final convoy closing Iraq. The hard work and dedication that Soldiers have put in over the last ten years in Iraq was represented well by the professionalism which our Soldiers displayed while closing many of the forward operating bases throughout Iraq. Since the last mission in Iraq we have been busy preparing all our equipment for turn in, while meeting training requirements and supporting local convoys within Kuwait. The 233D stands ready to accept and adapt to any mission the Army chooses necessary for our remaining deployment time. Our Soldiers are the best in the Army at their individual jobs and stand ready to excel at any task.

1SG Kerstin Montoya As the mission in Iraq came to an end, it certainly did not mean “sit back and relax” for the 233D Transportation Company. The main emphasis has been Maintenance over the past few weeks in order to accomplish the grueling task of having all rolling stock thoroughly inspected, cleaned and repaired for permanent turn in. All platoons have been working together and signifying the Esprit the Corps more than ever.

Maintenance platoon along with 3rd platoon successfully coordinated and directed the Battalion M16 and M9 range qualifying close to 200 Soldiers on their assigned weapon system. Congratulations to SGT Derrick William who attended the January promotion board and thereby received his promotable status. Also, a job well done to SPC Kelan MClain and SGT Jeremy Storey who won the Battalion Soldier and NCO of the month for December 2011. SGT Story distinguished himself further by winning the Brigade NCO of the Quarter board and therefore is in the shoot to compete at the 364 th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) board competition on 19 January 2012. Furthermore, everybody is looking forward to the 821st Iron Wheel Competition that is kicking off for the first go around here on Saturday. I wish good luck to all competitors; with the remainder of the “Heavy Truck” team cheering them on.

“HEAVY TRUCK”

233D Transportation Company 233D Iron Will By 1LT Sean Chang Camp Arifjan, Kuwait – January 14, 2012 Soldiers from the 233rd Transportation Company, 821st Transportation Battalion participated in the 821Sst TC Iron Wheel Challenge. The competition – created and manned by the 821st – is a camp wide competition that involves ruck marching, tire flips and litter carry amongst many other physical tasks. The goal was to start a competition that would be conducted in five phases; the first 4 would be qualifying rounds with the final competition being held in May. After hearing about the competition the 233rd quickly put together 7 teams to participate. The Soldiers swiftly got started familiarizing themselves with all of the events. Weapons assembly and disassembly was quickly mastered with most teams managing less than three minutes for complete assembly and disassembly including a functions check. Many teams also began ruck marching to prepare them for the grueling eight kilometer march.

For 1st Lt. Karina Cuenca, a platoon leader from Manhattan, NY and the team captain for the “Heavy O’s, the part that needed the most work was weapons assembly and disassembly.

“It is a little embarrassing, but for our all officer team I was most concerned with the weapons, the crew served especially. We don’t deal with them enough to be as fast as we could be.” said Cuenca.

The morning of the Iron Wheel Challenge proved to be some of the best weather Camp Arifjan had seen in the past week. Instead of rain the sun was out with no sign of clouds anywhere. Competitors grouped up and began weighing their rucksacks to make sure each team had the correct amount of weight. After weighing and signing in the rules were given out and the teams were marched to the start point to begin the competition.

While the participants spent the morning dueling with teams from across the post, the rest of 233rd company was seen at the competition cheering on their fellow Soldiers. Every hundred meters groups of Soldiers could be seen yelling words of encouragement.

“I was awed by all the support that I got from my platoon and the rest of the company. Every time I started getting tired and slowing down someone would be there to tell me to keep going,” said Cory Krajewski, a heavy wheeled vehicle operator from Ft. Stewart, Ga. For the 233rd Trans Co the event was not just a competition for those participating, it was a time to show their unit pride and fighting spirit. Capt. Jonathan K. Neal, company commander of the 233rd Transportation Company, thought the Iron Wheel Challenge perfectly show cased the unity and esprit de corps of the Unit.

“More important than winning or losing is that we came together as a team, not just guys and gals in the Iron Wheel, but everyone else who showed their team spirit by being there and encouraging those grinding out each step,” said Neal.

All in all the 233rd came out of the Iron Wheel Challenge with more than pride, two of the teams achieved first place within their respective categories. While the teams have done well they continue to train for the finals in May. Sgt Kappel Brown and James Dixon( far left), Soldiers at the starting line, and Sgt Chelsea Brooks, 233D transportation Company, 821st Transportation Battalion, 113th Sustainment Brigade, all compete in the Iron Wheel Competition sponsored by the 821st TBN.

“HEAVY TRUCK”

1452nd Transportation Company Major Teonnie Dotson We are dedicating this month's edition to 1SG Jeffrey Crisco. After working closely with him throughout this deployment, I have noticed his strong work ethics and love for the Soldiers. He is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that Soldiers are taken care of. He worked long hours prior to the deployment to make sure the company would meet any tasked mission. He is dedicated to the work that he does and we truly miss him. Here are a few reasons why I couldn't have asked for a better right hand: (list accomplishments). We continuously pray for him and his family and send our blessings for a healing recovery.

1. Brought the 1452nd from a unit not expecting to deploy to an overall strength of 98% during the mobilization phase of the deployment.

2. Implemented a remedial APFT plan for Soldiers not making the minimum Army standards to improve the unit pass rate from 61% to 87% prior to the deployment.

3. During the deployment he implemented the same APFT program run by two E-5’s and supervised by the XO to bring the unit to a pass rate of 92%.

4. His thorough efforts in personnel readiness ensured a 92% pre-mobilization validation rate, despite the addition of a large number of filler Soldiers.

5. Selected as First Sergeant of the largest company in the state of North Carolina with 291 assigned out of the 299 authorized strength. This was accomplished by 1SG Crisco’s hard work and dedication to carefully streamline Soldiers prone for Return From Theater (RFT).

6. Responsible for the unit conducting a highly successful 3-week Annual Training with the tasking of convoy training, weapons qualification, and Warrior Task training without incident or accident.

7. Instrumental in the organization and completion of the validation phase of the deployment at Ft. Bliss with a 100% validation of our Soldiers in support of Operation New Dawn.

8. Established a successful Family Readiness Group for the company prior to deployment.

9. Company was part of history utilizing convoys to haul equipment during the closing of VBC in support of the Iraq drawdown in DEC 2011.

10. Company had the last convoy to cross over the Iraq/Kuwait border during the final phase of the drawdown. This drew attention from CNN, Geraldo and several news reporters.

11. Company has organized and conducted two HET Academies to cross-train Soldiers in support of Operation New Dawn and contingency operations.

We continuously pray for him and his family and send our blessings for a healing recovery.

“ROUGH RIDERS”

1SG Jeffrey Crisco

651ST THOD Watercraft

SFC Darrell Bell

Greetings and Happy New Year from the THOD at KNB!! December and January 2012 has been busy here as the vessels wrap up their final missions in preparation for the handover. We say Good-Bye to the 203rd, 709th, 949th and the 163rd as they depart and join their loved Ones back in Baltimore, Tacoma and Hawaii. We welcome our newest members to Kuwait, 548th, 481st, 824th and the 411th as they are coming to us from Hawaii, California, North Carolina and Ft. Eustis. New missions are being scheduled, Soldiers are motivated and the tide is high, the THOD and Watercraft here at KNB got our course plotted and ready to set sail for an interesting 2012.

SAIL ARMY!!!!

The Crew of the 824th Transportation Detachment for the Land Cruising Utility 2002, from Morehead city, NC land on the sands at Kuwaiti Navel Base.

LAND

“SAIL ARMY�

HO!!!

!

Over the Edge Stories From The High Seas Commander of the Army Reserve Visits Camp Patriot Story and photos by SPC Rolando Foster On December 25, 2011 General Stultz came to Camp Patriot, Kuwait to make his yearly visit to troops overseas during the holidays. General Stultz is the acting commander for the entire Army Reserve force and has made the trip to deployed areas for many years. Members of the 651 st THOD from Houston, Texas and 548th from Hawaii, had the opportunity to meet the General and hear his words of wisdom and motivation.

The General addressed the soldiers and shared how meaningful it was to him to spend Christmas day with each and every one of them. General Stultz described his past trips to Camp Patriot and how times have changed the location, but the mission to be the best was the same. General Stultz described how the role of the Army boat field was critical in sending supplies up to Iraq at the start of the war, and how the boat field performed admirably in the draw down as well.

The sincere words from the General struck a chord in the hearts and minds of the members of the 651st and 548th, giving them extreme boost in self confidence. Spc. Michael Miller of the 651 st had this to say about the General’s visit, “I thought it was really cool. He is an extremely busy man first of all and then to come at a very important time of the year, Christmas! I mean he gave up time with his family to visit his soldier’s. Shows that he really does care for the well being of those appointed under him.”

For the members of the Army’s boat field this was an eventful day. Full of excitement and an uplifting visit. General Stultz left a lasting impression on all those who met him. Not soon shall he be forgotten.

“Sail Army, Hell Yeah!”

Soldiers of the 651st Transportation Harbormaster Operations Detachment, listen attentively as General Jack C. Stultz comes to Camp Patriot for his Holiday visit to Soldiers.

THINGS TO DO Zone 1 Events 30 JAN-Afijan Idol Competition-Comm. Ctr.-1900 31 JAN-Bench Press Competition-Fitness Ctr.-1300

Zone 6 events 31 JAN-Pop Night– Comm. Ctr.-2000 Zone 6 Fitness Center 430-7475 open 24/7 Zone 1 Pool - Lap Swim 0500-0700 Open Swim 1000-2200 Zone 1 Fitness Tent 430-4607 open 24/7 Zone 1 MWR 430-1205 open 24/7

The Funnies

Zone 6 MWR 430-7482 open 24/7 Zone 1 Fitness Center 430-1302 open 24/7 Zone 1 Library 430-1200 open 1000-2200

THINGS TO DO

Open 24/7 Come enjoy a cup of coffee and have some snacks while you watch Sports-center or a movie. Located near 821st ALOC next to the bus stop.

Serving waffles every first and third Saturday.