GUARDIAN east September 2011, Vol. 19, Issue 13
The official magazine of Multinational Battle Group East
Military Police COMPANY 9/11 remembered page 16
page 6
Kfor 1999-2011 page 24
Contents 8
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Military police do it all The multiple responsibilities of the MPs keep them all busy
Meet the investigators Military police investigators and traffic investigators have very interesting jobs
Sept. 11 Remembered Locals host memorials to honor the decade anniversary
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Liaison officers Multinational Liaison Officers keep lines of communication open Fathers and Sons Three sets of Soldiers share a family tie and bond while on deployment
Mailing items back home? Get the necessary, need-to-know information to make the post office trip smooth International Cook Off A tasty treat for those who participated in the first international cook off competition Joint law enforcement liaison team Many parts to the moving puzzle, read about the team which interacts with local and international law enforcement entities Personal Security Detail Meet the team who shadows the command’s every move
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MNBG E Chief of Staff and CSM Military & civilian police These two serve in similar capacities both military and civilian law enforcement Warrior Leader Course Recap U.S. and Kosovo Security Forces train tomorrow’s leaders today
Bondsteel Vet shares knowledge Local animal care providers learn techniques for humane animal population control Kosovo Forces 1999-2011 Journey through the beginning to the present state of the Kosovo Forces mission
200th Public Affairs Detachment Commander 1st Lt. Casey Staheli
Commanding Officer, MNBG E Col. Michael D. Schwartz
Editor, Layout, Photojournalist Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
Command Sergeant Major, MNBG E Command Sgt. Maj. Abel Villesca
Photojournalist Spc. Evan Lane
Public Affairs Officer, MNBG E Capt. Valerie Palacios
Front cover: The Personal Security Detail forms a military formation.The members of the Personal Security Detail are Staff Sgt. Alvie Lucero, Spc. Albert Nelson, Spc. Leif Watkins, Spc. Tonna Harrison, Spc. Jude Gabaldon, Pfc. Christopher Byers, Spc. Bernard Harrell, Sgt. Danny Apodaca and Sgt. Jaime Carrillo. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo) Back Cover: A photography competition was held on the Facebook website for submissions from service members of sunsets of Kosovo. The winner, Master Sgt. Roxann Garcia,Joint Implementation Commission noncommissioned officer in charge, received the most votes for her photograph of the sun setting over Camp Bondsteel’s flags. (Photo courtesy of Master Sgt. Roxann Garcia)
flickr.com/photos/kfor-14
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Mental Health Fitness Legal Safety Chaplain
Photojournalist Spc. John A Montoya, Jr.
“ G u a rd ia n Eas t is p ro d u ce d fo r p erso n n el o f MNBG E, and is an authorized publication for members of the Depar tment of Defense. Contents of Guardian East are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. government, the Department of the Army, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, or MNBG E.”
facebook.com/KFOR.MNBG.East
Broadcast Journalist Pfc. David Sherwood Photo Credits for editorials: Safety, Legal, Chaplain: Staff Sgt. Anna Doo Mental Health: Spc. Evan V. Lane
youtube.com/KFORPAO
LNOs force multipliers
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story and photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane
In the case of LMTs, soldiers liaise with civilians and public officials in Kosovo, so that KFOR has a better idea of the problems confronting individuals in their own words. The JLELT couples KFOR with Kosovo law enforcement entities to allow both peacekeeping branches to operate harmoniously throughout Kosovo. The final liaison segment is not so much a specific section as it is a group of soldiers who keep communication flowing. The KFOR liaison officers, or LNOs, all hail from different countries, one for each nation participating in KFOR.
Capt. Jean Kozak, the French LNO, said that his job is mainly to keep information moving between the French contingency and the battle group.
As reports come in to the joint operations center battle desk, Kozak and his counterparts relay pertinent information to their component nations and ensure that all soldiers, regardless of their Englishspeaking comfort level, have mission-essential knowledge available to them. “Although it’s difficult, it is essential to get a good understanding of the briefings,” said Kozak.
Part of the transferring of information also includes interpretation of a different kind, noted Maj. Christian Zwick, the German LNO.
“We have to sort out different kinds of military procedures as well,” said Zwick. In NATO military environments, a comprehensive dictionary helps keep different nations’ soldiers on the same page, but often there are slight differences in usage.
“For instance, the term ‘RIP’ in NATO’s dictionary means ‘Rest in Peace’, but American Soldiers use it to mean ‘[Relief] in Place’,” said Zwick. “It can be very confusing when an order comes down for soldiers to RIP.”
Frequently, American military jargon comes across in briefings at Camp Bondsteel, an American camp. LNOs like Kozak and Zwick must maintain the essential meaning of that jargon and interpret it so that the units’ actions in the field correspond to the battle group commander’s intent. Each LNO, as a communication enhancer, also relays information to the battle desk from his or her country’s units in the field. With timely information, the KFOR Soldiers involved in planning and operations know more accurately what resources KFOR has at its disposal and how best to apply assets from all the nation’s contingents. Kozak, who was a logistical officer for KFOR in 2009, knows the ins and outs of his contingency’s operations, but misses being part of the planning aspect. LNOs, P. 19
The liaison officers from each nation represented within Multinational Battle Group East pose for a photograph. These personnel are integral to smooth communication occurring between the command and soldiers executing missions.
The End
n the Kosovo Forces day-to-day interactions, the word “liaison” is used frequently. KFOR has liaison monitoring teams, joint law enforcement liaison teams, and of course, liaison officers. Liaison means a close interaction, and each one of these sections is meant to enhance interactions between what could be quite disparate groups.
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MNBG E Chief of Staff CSM M
ultinational Battle Group East has experienced an eventful period over the last two months and there is no greater evidence of this than with the primary and special staffs. The escalation of civil unrest that began July 25 and is still ongoing in the northern area of Kosovo has exercised the staff’s capabilities to the fullest. Throughout the post mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, the battle group’s staff was challenged with a broad spectrum of events to prepare them for the “worst day in Kosovo.” Utilizing the knowledge gained during this invaluable training, the battle group staff developed effective plans and directed operations enabling the multinational force to successfully respond to developing situations. Day after day the staff has worked diligently to synchronize actions and provide the needed support to forward deployed elements, conquering “the worst day in Kosovo,” day after day. The battle group’s ability to conduct continuous operations throughout our area of responsibility, during this ongoing situation, is a direct result of the primary and special staff sections exemplary performance.
We have successfully increased our presence of troops in northern Kosovo. The staff’s collaborative actions has enabled the battle group to sustain a significant commitment of forces in northern Kosovo that continues to greatly influence and control the freedom of movement and safe and secure environment for all in Kosovo.
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Lt. Col. Thomas Womble, chief of staff the battle group. Lt. Col. Anthony Rivera and his staff worked around the clock to support forward deployed elements with needed supplies and equipment. The staff and pilots of Task Force Aviation, however, were the true heroes during the battle group’s initial response. Flying almost aroundthe-clock, the crews of the UH-60 Blackhawks provided the air support to move personnel and equipment in support of northern Kosovo operations. It would also be remiss not to mention Capt. Joshua Schatzman and the soldiers serving with the Forward Command Post in Camp Novo Selo who provided the vital link in coordinating all operations.
The senior leadership at United States Army Europe, Kosovo Forces and the battle group could not be more proud of the contributions of each and Maj. Nathaniel Carper, operations officer, and every member of Multinational Battle Group East. the operations staff contributed significantly to the Every participating nation’s soldiers have brought on-going operations. The operations staff continues credit to their respective flags and distinguished to work tirelessly to assure that all operations and themselves as true professionals. developing situations are addressed with accurate planning and directions making them instrumenThe battle group continues to support operations tal to the success of the mission. The staff of the in northern Kosovo and our soldiers carry on the logistics section proved to be the work horses for tradition of excellence.
“Bata a n
~
Never
Broken”
Key points from the CSM: • • • • •
reached final quarter of the deployment leave things better than we found them take measures to prevent complacency redeployment preparations undergoing long sprint to the finish as opposed to coast downhill, stay focused
duct a comprehensive hand off to our sister brigade. A lot has changed in the operational environment that we inherited.
Those changes, the new tasks associated with them and the modifications to tactics, techniques and procedures need to be passed along to our counterparts so what we consider the “new normal” or new “steady state,” is just “normal” to KFOR 15.
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Command Sgt. Maj. Abel Villesca
all is finally here and we should expect cooler temperatures as we lean forward into the seventh months we’ve been boots on ground here in Kosovo. The change in seasons also marks a significant milestone in our deployment. We have entered the last quarter of our deployment.
Many of you are involved in the planning and preparation for our KFOR 15 replacements. Everyone in the battle group has a counterpart coming in and I encourage each of you to reflect on the period shortly after we arrived, our activities during Relief in Place and our experiences after the Transition of Authority. It’s a standard practice in our profession that we “leave things better than we found them” and I am confident that we will apply that standard in our preparation for our eventual replacements.
In the coming month, our preparations for redeployment will increase and accomplishing those tasks will rise higher on our priority list. As we clean out and prepare containers for shipping, coordinate with home station for Yellow Ribbon and other welcome home activities and pack personal items for mailing back home it is natural to feel that we are on “the downhill slope” of our journey. While there is no doubt our time is definitely “getting short” here, I prefer to think of this period as a long sprint rather than coasting downhill. We’ve got a lot of work to accomplish to set the conditions for redeployment along with all of our increased operational requirements.
The increase in tasks and the sense that we are running out of time to accomplish them can be stressful, though we are all looking forward to getting back home to our families and friends.
I know I can count on each of you and all of your leaders to manage priorities, balance work and rest periods and maintain the discipline and professionalism that has been the hallmark of this great team so far. Though we are in the short stretch (not quite the final stretch) of this deployment, our vigilance and attention to detail is as important as ever. Let’s double our efforts to keep each other safe, keep spirits high and stay out of trouble.
To that end I am asking you to recall the transition experience and identify those things that you wished you had learned during your left seat, right As always I am proud of you, proud to be a memseat. Recall those moments when you may have dis- ber of this team and am confident that together covered something your counterparts could have we will wrap up this mission with honor and bring prepared you for that caught you off guard. Capevery one home. ture those valuable lessons and collect them at the “Bata a n ~ Ne v er Brok en” squad, platoon and company level so we can con-
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Poignant remembrance for all
On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, local high school students from the Ferizaj/Urosevac municipality performed a play to honor the victims of the attack and show their solidarity with the American people. Students light candles outside of the Adriana Theater as part of the memorial. (Photo by Spc. John A Montoya) story by Spc. Evan V. Lane & Spc. John A. Montoya
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en years after the twin towers fell, many Americans honored the lives lost with memorial ceremonies and quiet moments of reflection. Both at home and abroad, Americans sought to remember the details of where they were when they heard the tragic news. While Americans may have felt alone on 9/11, they certainly were not alone this past month in paying their respects. People all across Kosovo came together at memorials, just like they have since 2001.
and Scherzo” written by Henry Cowell performed by Sgt. Eric Roberts. His light movement through the score well matched the hope of recovery and mending in the wake of Sept. 11. Roberts is deployed to Kosovo with the 111th
In Pristina, the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated in song the sacrifices of the heroes of Sept. 11. Beginning with “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” the KPO’s associated choir took the audience through the dark moments of 9/11 with two haunting musical arrangements, sung by candlelight.
Ergin Brahimi, first tenor with the KPO and a world-respected classical vocalist, said afterward that he enjoyed the performance very much and accented the importance of remembering those who have been lost.
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He and the singers moved out quietly and were replaced by a full orchestra. The mood lightened with the playing of several stirring pieces, which were accented by a beautiful solo of “Air” from “Air
A participant reaches to light a candle in Mother Theresa Square in Pristina, Kosovo during a 9/11 memorial event. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)
people of Kosovo have for the United States. Every Kosovar keenly felt the tragedy of September 11; everyone remembers exactly where they were on Sept. 11, 2001.”
In addition to playing in Pristina, Bandsteel also played a set earlier that day to a group of U.S. Soldiers and local citizens in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Kosovo, as part of the municipalities’ Sept. 11 memorial service. The set included classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “Johnny Comes Marching Home”. A local girl, Beltine Biqmeti, sang the “Star Spangled Banner” as a show of support to the Americans serving in Kosovo.
Joint Regional Detachment Commander, Lt. Col. Daniel Stark said their memorial service helps maintain ties with the local community. “They’re honoring our loss and that just reinforces our friendship,” he said.
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and plays saxophone in his free time. Roberts is a member of the 44th Army Band from Albuquerque, N.M., when not on deployment.
Several more musical performances rounded out a lovely night and the audience, led by Atifete Jahjaga, the president of Kosovo, gave the orchestra a standing ovation, with the president herself thanking Roberts.
With such a vast outpouring of support from a country so far from the United States, Americans can take solace in friendship. “For the Soldiers who are in Kosovo, we love the friendship of the people and when we go back home with our families, we’ll tell them about events like tonight,” said Stark.
The End
Sgt. Eric Roberts, a saxaphonist with the U.S. Army National Guard, performs a solo with the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra during a 9/11 memorial concert in Pristina on Sept. 11. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)
Later in the evening students from a local school performed a play at Ardiana Theater honoring the victims of 9/11 by playing angels contemplating their loss and the senselessness of the tragedy. Naim Ferati, the Ferizaj/Urosevac director of culture, youth and sports, said, “We express our deepest condolences. It was very shocking for everyone around the world.”
She said later, “The performances were all beautiful. The American Soldier was astonishing and I enjoyed his playing very much.”
Ambassador Christopher Dell, U.S. ambassador to Kosovo, also complimented the orchestra and said it was an interesting touch to incorporate a U.S. Soldier in the memorial, calling it unique and refreshing.
Music was not the only way the people in Kosovo commiserated with Americans Sept. 11. Following the performances, a candlelight vigil was put together by the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pay silent respect to those who were lost. Locals flooded in to Mother Theresa Square to light their own tapers and to help their children do the same, telling them their memories of 9/11. Petrit Selimi, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, stated, “This event was organized in order to express the deep gratitude and sympathy the
Master Sgt. Roxann Garcia and Capt. Aleida Barrera, both of the Joint Implementation Commission, participate in a Sept. 11 memorial walk hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo)
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Meet the Camp Bond robert famiglietta Q: What’s your most and least favorite things about the deployment? story and feature photos by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo and Spc. John A. Montoya
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he military police investigators and traffic investigators gather all the information related to an infraction and put the puzzle pieces back together to form the big picture. Additional training was required for these four military police officers to acquire the special investigator skill set. The MPIs investigate crimes with penalties less than one year confinement, with monetary value less than $1,000 and simple “possession and use” non-narcotic drug crimes. They collect, catalogue, store and eventually destroy evidence. The two MPIs on deployment with Task Force Falcon work hard to ensure fairness and complete coverage during their investigations.
Camp Bondsteel’s two traffic accident investigators are responsible for classifying traffic accidents by type and severity. In order to do so, they must collect evidence typically at the scene of the accident in order to put together the big picture of what happened and who was at fault resulting in properly citing the responsible party.
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david been Q: So far, what are your favorite and least favorite things about deployment? A: I like the gym. The lack of variety in food; it’s always the same meals and you do get tired of it. Q: What are you looking forward to back home?
A: Hanging out with my 2.5 year old son and my wife. I’m looking forward to taking a couple trips. Q: What’s the best part of the job?
A: The paperwork; I love the paperwork (said sarcastically). Really, getting to work with different crime scenes gets you thinking. It’s a different way of looking at things. Also, working with the locals, doing interviews. Q: What do you like about Kosovo? A: The views; it’s a very pretty country. The food is good too. I like the chicken cordon bleu.
A: It’s almost over. Leaving family. Even after rest and recouperation, leaving the kids is hard. It’s even harder the second time. Q: What are you looking forward to when you get home?
A: Real food. Golf. Spending time with the kids. I coach my son’s soccer team so I’m looking forward to getting back into doing that. Q: What’s the best thing about your job?
A: Working so closely with the criminal investigation detachment. They are really good leaders in CID, going out of their way to train us beyond what we would have ever learned just as military police investigator.
dsteel investigators dana baldwin Q: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done in Kosovo? A: I participated in the Bataan Death March and I ran the whole thing non-stop. That’s the most I’ve ever ran, thirteen miles.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception other Soldiers have about the military police?
michael duran Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests you pursue in your free time? A: Softball.
A: Doughnuts. They think we eat doughnuts all the time. I don’t. Q: What’s the most difficult part about being an MP Soldier?
A: I wouldn’t say there’s anything difficult, but it’s just knowing that you always have to do the right thing, because there are eyes on you at all times.
Q: What’s the most enjoyable part about being a traffic investigator? A: Going outside the wire to investigate crashes. Q: Do you guys deal with the Kosovo Police?
A: We deal with them a lot. We investigate crashes that happen outside the wire and respond to them. We get reports from them and we log them in conjunction with our work.
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Family teams strengthen bonds
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Story and photos by Spc. Lucreita Wilcox
hinking about deployments often leads to thoughts of families being apart for long periods of time. Some deployed service members are continents apart, but some are only miles apart. There are a few lucky soldiers who are deployed together. On the Kosovo Forces 14 deployment, there are three sets of fathers and sons here. Staff Sgt. Michael Thomas Matheny and his son Spc. Michael Thomas Matheny II are both from the 1-150th Aviation Battalion based in Wheeling, W. Va. Staff Sgt. Matheny is serving as a helicopter mechanic as well as a team chief. Spc. Matheny is spending the deployment as a fuel handler for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
Staff Sgt. Michael Thomas Matheny and his son Spc. Michael Thomas Matheny II take a coffee break here at Camp Bondsteel together. The father and son said they are thoroughly enjoying their deployment together.
“It feels good to have my son around,” said Staff Sgt. Matheny. “This is my one last time to spend quality time with him before he takes off into the real world. My wife was happy at first then she realized we were both gone. Then she started taking it hard. My son bought her a dog before we left so that’s helping her through.” “My mom is sad but at the same time glad my dad is here to see me go through things and to help me out,” said Spc. Matheny.
Both agree that the time they have spent here in Kosovo has gone by fast and the tour seems short because they are here together. Another father and son team are serving in the
111th Headquarters and Headquarters Company based in Rio Rancho, N.M. Master Sgt. Theodore Robert Skibyak and his son Spc. Theodore Robert Skibyak II did not originally plan to deploy together but ended up serving on the mission together. Master Sgt. Skibyak is serving as the deputy provost marshal here on Camp Bondsteel while Spc. Skibyak is the engineer noncommissioned officer in charge. “This is not something we planned; it just happened,” said Master Sgt. Skibyak. “I taught my son everything I know about engines and now I’m learning from him.”
Spc. Skibyak said one of the reasons the deployment is easier is because his friend is here.
“I get along with my dad, so us being deployed together works well,” said Spc. Skibyak. “We have a lot of the same hobbies and pastimes.”
Chatting over refreshments at the Camp Bondsteel coffee shop, the Skibyaks were reminiscing about home and the pastimes they missed the most. “We can’t wait to get home to the bikes,” they said almost in unison.
Master Sgt. Theodore Robert Skibyak and his son Spc. Theodore Robert Skibyak II take a look at the latest technology gadget. Father and son have learned from one another and continue that bond while on deployment.
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Staff Sgt. Jerry H. Mendez and his son, Sgt. Brian Joseph Mendez, are both members of the Liaison Monitoring Team based in Roswell, N.M. Sgt. Mendez is serving with Team 5 and Staff Sgt. Mendez is with Team 3. “Not only am I here with my dad but he is also my best friend,” said
Sgt. Mendez. “It’s easier to have someone here that knows you and who you can go to with problems.” The elder Mendez echoed his son’s statement.
“I love being with my son. I love spending time with him,” said Staff Sgt. Mendez. “It has been an honor to have him here with me. I would volunteer to go anywhere with him.” They both agree their bond has grown stronger since the start of the deployment.
They all left mutual loved ones at home but are working hard while here and building memories together to fill a lifetime. Wherever they may be, deployed or not, they say they are lucky to have each other.
Staff Sgt. Jerry H. Mendez and his son, Sgt. Brian Joseph Mendez, both members of the Liaison Monitoring Team during Kosovo Forces 14 deployment say they enjoy spending time together and are best friends.
The End
Military families find themselves on opposite sides of the globe at times. For these three teams of father and son service members, military service is shared on this deployment.
Preparing to redeploy
What you need to know before you go to the post office
Footlocker Mailing Procedures Use Paint Pens or Labels for From and To Addresses
Zip Tie the sides if possible
Tape over the latches
John Doe TF – Falcon Camp Bondsteel APO AE 09340
Jane Doe 1234 Main Street Somewhere, FL 33637
70 lbs Maximum weight, 130 in Total girth
Locks are optional
NOTE: This type of small black foot locker is recommended for shipping. Larger green (Issued) and King Kong Boxes exceeding 108 in. will incur a oversize surcharge.
Remember: dangerous and illegal items cannot be shipped. Every package is x-rayed and inspected. 11
Women’s Equality Day
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ultiple events were held to celebrate Women’s Equality Day Aug. 27, 2011. A morning 10 mile, 10 person team relay race began the day. Lt. Col. Elaine Berkowitz shared her life story with a captivated audience speaking of her time in the Women’s Army Corps through her current position as the dentist for Camp Bondsteel. The final festivities of the day were a kickball game played on friendly turf.
Above: Spc. Leslie Rivera, left, and Lt. Col. Elaine H. Berkowitz represent the generations of female soldiers in attendence of the Women’s Equality Day activities on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Aug. 27. An afternoon barbecue, cake cutting and speech delivered by Berkowitz, Camp Bondsteel dentist, was followed by sporting events. The day, typically celebrated Aug. 26, commemorates the 1920 passage of the 19th Ammendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo) Right: Sgt. Sherry Burch, a member of Liaison Monitoring Team connects with the ball during an evening kickball game. (Photo by 1st Lt. Casey Staheli)
Teams cheer on their fellow teammates and competitors during the 10 mile relay race shared between 10 team members. Four teams participated in the Women’s Equality Day kick off event. (Photo by Capt. Valerie Palacios)
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Comedic magicians wow crowd
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orld renowned magicians visited Camp Bondsteel during Labor Day, Sept. 5, to entertain the soldiers and civilians here. Chris Mitchell’s specialty is touted as a healthy dose of comedy with a handful of magic. Joel Ward’s high energy show aims to teach the audience the tricks without letting them know how to perform the magic. Finally, George Sateriale is magic’s only two-time Gold Medal Champion and brought his successful show to the troops here. The night was filled with laughter and sounds of astonishment as the three entertained the crowd.
Clockwise from above: Chris Mitchell licks squashed banana from his fingers following a magic trick where he attempted to simultaneously learn magic and Spanish through a cassette recording.
Joel Ward’s explosive antics kept him bouncing all over the stage while attempting to pull a bushel full of rope from under his suit. Ward also wooed a soldier with a red rose produced from only a burst of flame. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo)
The End
George Sateriale stands behind Lt. Col. Michael Martinez controlling his arms while he performs comedic sleights of hand. Sateriale performed rope tricks and attempted to hypnotize the crowd while Martinez was under his spell.
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Culinary Smorgasbord
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story and photos by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
he first International Cook Off provided a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. While celebrating Labor Day here on Camp Bondsteel, eight teams entered to vie for the top award Sept. 5. Teams were judged based on culinary creations cooked over barbecue pits, open flames, in traditional cookware, and fried in pans over outdoor burners. Six categories were scored by six judges and included appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, food temperature and uniqueness.
The teams were as varied as the spices used to add kick and pizzazz to the culturally diverse cuisine and embody the international flavor of Multinational Battle Group East. Teams representing Croatia, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and three teams from U.S. Soldiers and civilians slaved over hot fires for hours in preparation of foods from their homelands.
Sgt. 1st Class Matt Hogsett, center, introduces the foods he and his team
The teamwork displayed by created during the first International Coof Off competition on Camp Bondsteel. each of the groups made the Visiting magicians turned judges for the event, Joel Ward, left, and George workload well dispersed. “It took Sateriale, right, sample the homemade barbecue, vegetables, southern style all five team member’s hard work sweet ice tea and dessert of apple crisp with ice cream. and a couple extra last minute volunteers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Matt Hogsett, team such as polenta stuffed with plums and cheese and leader for the U.S. Aviation crew. “As a team, we grilled to a crisper outside. Or the dessert created all have a special position and know what we need by the grand champions of the competition, Hogto do when the time comes. We all have a love for sett’s Aviation team managed to cook a platter of cooking and enjoy made-from-scratch meals.” homemade apple crisp on the grill. The competition began mid-afternoon and ended when the judges sampled the fare created by each nation. A gastronome’s paradise, the foods offered were worlds apart but shared some staple elements. Each nation prepared at least one meat dish and one vegetable dish. Even these, by virtue of cooking methods and seasoning infused into the types of meats, represented diversity in taste. Nearly every team roasted peppers, but one team then breaded and fried them into crispy strips, and another used them as garnish beneath a plate of grilled liver with sesame seeds topped by a fresh fig.
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Some foods were spicy hot due to regional peppers used in just enough quantity to add flavor without taking away from the pleasure of eating. Other foods were sweeter and touted as desserts
“We made smoked and barbecued beef brisket, with a secret homemade barbecue sauce, homemade cole slaw, southern style wax green beans, buttered potatoes with cabbage and parsley, southern style sweet tea with a lemon slice and homemade apple crisp with vanilla ice cream,” said Hogsett. “Everything we prepared was cooked on the grill and served like a Sunday dinner.”
Soldiers perusing each nation’s booth enjoyed beautiful visual presentations of the food prepared that day. After the judges were able to sample enough of the fare to fairly review, anyone who happened to be lured by the aromas were able to taste the treats. Polish grilled, stuffed peppers alongside potatoes with an herb sauce plated with meats seasoned with a secret blend; Greek sausages and grilled feta cheese; Slovenian tomato and onion salad in pumpkin seed Cook Off, P. 21
Legal Relations
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story by Spc. Evan V. Lane
o work effectively, Kosovo Forces must know of dangerous and inflammatory situations cropping up throughout Kosovo. The Soldiers of the Joint Law Enforcement Liaison Team of Multinational Battle Group East work hard to keep KFOR informed so that its operations can stay relevant to the challenges Kosovo faces. “Our primary focus is maintaining a relationship that facilitates information flow between the battle group and law enforcement,” said Sgt. Major David Wade, noncommissioned officer in charge of the JLELT.
The JLELT builds those relationships between the battle group and many different law enforcement entities operating in Kosovo.
“We work closely with the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program; members of the European Union Rule of Law mission; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; the Kosovo Border Police, which are tasked with patrolling Kosovo’s borders; and the Kosovo Police themselves,” he continued.
Wade, who retired from the Albuquerque Police Department with over a decade of service as a street officer and the remainder spent as a major crime scene investigator, brings invaluable experience and assets to the JLELT.
“Sergeant major, being a former police officer, is on the spot,” said Lt. Col. Charles Montoya, the officer in charge of the JLELT. “I was really fortunate to have him here. Law enforcement guys bond, and he knows how best to talk with his counterparts in the various services.”
reports, the JLELT also attends between six and ten meetings per week with external entities to include the KP, KBBP, EULEX and ICITAP. MNBG E’s vast area of responsibility requires more than just two people to sort through the data influx and be available to liaise with each of the elements outside the battle group. Sgt. 1st Class James Bowman and Capt. Paul Lauritzen augment the JLELT staff to keep the workload manageable.
“They’ve done a kick-butt job,” said Montoya. “They’ve certainly got their hands full,” he said, noting that both Soldiers also work as members of the Joint Implementation Commission.
Capt. Henry Theisen and Capt. Ryan Mirabel have also been great assets to the JLELT team. All of these Soldiers effectively manage a huge repository of timely information and ensure that the essentials are made available so that KFOR works effectively and appropriately within the country. “What we do here is an important and integral part of the battle group,” Montoya said. “We’ve proven how important we are time and time again, and I think what we do has really paid off for everyone.”
The interaction between KFOR and local law enforcement has been shown to be an essential relationship in the mission to grow Kosovo into a fully developed, self-governing nation. Multinational elements from throughout Kosovo supply valuable information to the battle group so that soldiers may continue to be a helpful and appropriate asset in Kosovo’s growth.
Wade said he is seen as someone with whom law enforcement officers have a lot in common.
Reports flow in to the JLELT’s desk from all around the country. Everything from purse snatchings to major riots is put together in flash reports by regional KP stations and submitted to the JLELT for dispersion to the appropriate decision makers within the battle group. Policing entities have submitted almost 600 reports to the JLELT since March, and with that volume, another part of the job is to determine what information is pertinent to MNBG E’s operation. EULEX submits an average of a dozen reports daily, and accounts for a large portion of the battle group’s information regarding Kosovo’s daily events. In addition to receiving and processing
Capt. Paul Lauritzen, left, and Sgt. Maj. David Wade, right, walk and speak with European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo advisor, Marius Cristea. Lauritzen and Wade are members of the Joint Law Enforcement Liaison Team. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo)
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“That commonality and professionalism helps them be more forthcoming with information,” he commented.
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Multipurpose protectors Military Police serve many roles, functions story and photo by Spc. John A. Montoya
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he 126th Military Police Company based in Albuquerque, N.M., has been, and continues to be an integral part of the Kosovo Forces 14 rotation on Camp Bondsteel. MP Soldiers help keep the base secure along with personnel and equipment when they are out in the field.
The military police have many different duties and tasks assigned to them, but they all center around keeping the Soldiers and civilian employees safe and secure here on Bondsteel and throughout Kosovo. The 126th provides Soldiers to the Provost Marshal’s Office and the command group’s Personal Security Detachment. They also perform many other security details such as security escorts for convoys, site security, event security, monetary escorts and securing vehicle breakdowns outside of Camp Bondsteel, said 1st Lt. Winston Holyan, officer in charge of the 126th.
“We’re kind of an all purpose force. We cover anything that needs protection, essentially,” said Holyan.
Although many Soldiers may only see the military police performing the more mundane tasks such as the continuous vehicle patrols around Bondsteel, they must also stand ready for any
security issue which may arise. Master Sgt. Lacey Macias, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 126th, admits the vehicle patrols is one of their most routine and boring tasks. But he said there are many occasions where he gets his Soldiers moving at a moment’s notice and has them working on a security assignment on or off Bondsteel. Being flexible and capable of taking on different assignments and tasks is almost a prerequisite for being a good MP Soldier, which helps explain the other acronym that is often affixed to it. “MP also stands for multipurpose,” said Macias.
Any movement, any action, any crises calls upon the military police to provide security, whether that be securing a convoy on the road to another camp or simply providing routine escort for a food delivery to the dining facility, said Holyan.
The military police are very visible and actively make their presence known when needed, but are also behind the scenes involved in things that aren’t normally thought of as police responsibilities.
Every time Soldiers eat on Bondsteel, handle physical cash or fill up their vehicle somewhere along the way, the military police provided security to makes those things possible in a safe and secure manner. “Anything that comes onto Bondsteel needs to be escorted,” said Macias.
Spc. Jennifer Castillo patrols with her partner, Sgt. Alex Trujillo both from the 126th Military Police Company based in Albuquerque, N.M. Together they make their nightly security rounds on Camp Bondsteel to ensure all buildings are secured and are on the lookout for unusual activity.
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The Soldiers of the 126th will continue to perform their daily police work and remain flexible and ready for any situation which needs their security expertise.
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In addition to handling all the different aspects of security of personnel and material, the military police enforce basic law and order on Bondsteel, which ranges from traffic policing to enforcing command policy. One of the most frequent issues the MPs deal with is people jogging, off the track, while wearing headphones which is against post policy.
The commander’s shadows
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story and photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
The ten Soldier team of the Personal Security Detachment demonstrates the type of posture they would assume when arriving at a location before the commander exits a vehicle. The Personal Security Detachment ensures the safety and security of the commander and his staff at all times and in all locations.
The team members mentioned that being part of the PSD is a thinking person’s game requiring them to be on alert at all times. This high operational tempo keeps the group in a ready state of preparedness to always fulfill their mission of keeping the commander safe and secure.
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lways watching, always ready, always entry and exit strategies should the need arise. protecting. The mission of the Personal Security Detail is to protect and serve the It’s a job without accolades though, said Lucero. commander. The three tenets of the PSD “There are many facets, but we are always in the are to protect the commander from bodily injury back,” he said. “There’s very little glory in it except or death, to protect from kidnapping and to protect for personal glory. We always have to show a presfrom embarrassment. The team of ten soldiers is ence but at the same time not be in the area.” assigned to serve as the commander’s senses while simultaneously maintaining a low profile. One of the key abilities of this team is their state of constant readiness. Many nights are short, and Staff Sgt. Alvie Lucero, noncommissioned officer days are long. in charge, said they received additional training during pre-mobilization and ongoing training “Everyone has an overnight bag packed,” said Spc. throughout the deployment on driving techniques, Jude Gabaldon, the assistant to the chief of staff. weapon handling techniques, urban operations and “Our gear is always staged, ready to go.” methods of blending in while simultaneously shielding the commander. As trained military police, each The most difficult part of being a member of the of the members of the PSD has a background in close protection team is to explain their function military law enforcement and the schooling that is and purpose to those who do not see them as a required to be awarded the occupation. Some of the necessary entity, said Lucero. But on the flip side, members have additional civilian training. the ability to work with so many other nations’ protection teams is one of the best facets of the job, “I’m in law enforcement back home,” said Spc. Gabaldon said. One example of this integration was Bernard Harrell. “I’ve worked as personal security during the Pristina 9/11 remembrance at the opera detail with the Secret Service. It’s more challenging house in Pristina. on the military side because it can be more intense depending on the situation.” Gabaldon said, “At the opera the other night we got to work with the [Kosovo] president’s close proThat situation is wholly dependent on the locatection team. We get to be the first line of defense tion, time of day, posture of the local residents for other leaders. We work hand in hand with maytoward the commander, and a slew of additional ors. It’s great to work with other nations. We got to factors that each member of the team must be work with the Germans and Austrians and others.” aware of prior to ever jumping into their vehicles. Amongst their numerous daily duties, the PSD must This interaction and total coverage is what keeps reconnoiter unknown sites before the commander the job exciting. Sgt. Kevin Wilkinson said he enjoys travels to them in order to understand the lay of the the constantly changing battle field. land, obstacles, threats and to be able to brainstorm He said, “One second we are in a city at a meeting with politicians. The next second we are in a helicopter going to the middle of nowhere. It’s exciting being in an urban environment looking for the dangers and then in the natural environment looking for different dangers.”
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Law Enforcement Training Spa story by 1st Lt. Casey Staheli
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amp Bondsteel provost marshal, Capt. Andy Montoya, and deputy provost marshal, Master Sgt. Theodore Skibyak, both from Rio Rancho, N.M., have led lives serving citizens.
give credit to dealing with certain problems, traffic safety for example. That experience has provided us with the ability to set sound standard operating procedure policy here in Kosovo and provided Area Support Team Balkans with a great tool that Both come from backgrounds in law enforcement. they want to take from here and establish in AST Montoya is currently the District 5 commander Balkans Bulgaria and Romania Provost Marshal’s for the New Mexico State Police and Skibyak is a offices.” retired police officer. While there are lots of similarities between miliMontoya, who had been a security forces enlisted tary police work and civilian police work, there are airman from 1988-1994, again had the urge to also some stark operational differences. protect and serve citizens following the Sept. 11 attacks. In the Army, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, military police only have jurisdiction over “9/11 had a big effect on me, but it wasn’t the certain people, not geographical areas like civilian right time,” said Montoya. “The death of Pat Tillpolice back home, said Skibyak. man had an immense impact on me. I had wanted to come back and after his death it felt like the right Another difference according to Skibyak is what time. His sacrifice made me want to give more and kind of cases can be handled. shortly after I found myself in the recruiter’s office.” “In the civilian world a police officer can take any Skibyak was already a Soldier when he chose to case to capital felony,” Skibyak said. “In the Army serve citizens in another capacity and credits mili- military police are restricted to traffic and petty tary training for gaining employment. misdemeanor.”
“The military got me in the door for my job as a Montoya agreed that the Army can be more police officer because at the time I was a medic and restrictive on MPs in some cases than being a civilthat was a requirement to get on the force,” Skibyak ian police officer and less in others. said. “An MP is responsible for any crime that can The skills and experiences from military and result in confinement between six months and a police work have translated well and both men year and criminal investigation command handles have found them beneficial in each line of work. any crime that can result in confinement for over a year,” said Montoya. “But getting search warrants “The Army leadership program has definitely can be easier because the commander has a lot of helped on how I do my job on the civilian side for authority in such matters.” such things as operations planning and investigative incidents,” said Montoya. “On the civilian side, I While any organization is a microcosm of society,
Master Sgt. Theodore Skibyak, left, and Capt. Andy Montoya pose near the sign describing their duty while on deployment to Kosovo. Both Soldiers have distinguished careers serving in law enforcement capacities as civilians and brought those skills to the military police job. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)
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ans Military, Civilian careers “Soldiers, because of discipline and training are not as prone to trouble as civilians,” said Montoya. “Most Soldiers lead by example and understand what it is to be responsible for one’s actions and know the great role that comes with being a member of the Army.”
Being a police officer is not just about catching or busting the bad guy; it is a lot more about helping people and that is where the most rewarding part of the job comes from. “Many times you don’t remember the individual
LNOs
“I don’t have a chance to apply my logistical knowledge in this position, but I do get to improve my English skills,” said Kozak, who noted his language skills have grown greatly due to LNO work. Improving English language skills was part of the draw for several of the LNOs to include Zwick.
or circumstances when someone comes up to you on the street and thanks you for helping them when they were in need,” Montoya said. “But they remember you and that’s the best part, knowing that you made a difference.”
Whether it is being a police officer, an MP or a Soldier, Montoya takes a lot of pride in the uniforms he wears and the jobs he performs and expects the same of others who serve in those capacities.
“I’m a firm believer that you should walk the walk, both on and off duty,” said Montoya. “Being a police officer, an MP or a Soldier comes with an awesome responsibility that a mature individual has to manage.”
“I’m happy to fill this position,” he said. “It lets me get my English back in line and prove my capabilities in many ways.” That coupling of hard-earned military experience and communications skills makes the LNOs invaluable assets to the battle group. Without both characteristics, said Zwick, there could be confusions with a serious military impact.
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Montoya said he has not had to deal with as many problems as he does on the civilian side.
It is only through the continued effective coordination of its many parts that KFOR continues to be a reliable and stabilizing force in the growth of Kosovo. KFOR LNOs ensure the information and orders necessary to affect that coordination reach their own countrymen and help KFOR continue operating as a well-oiled machine.
Command Sgt. Maj. Capel visits Bondsteel
Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas R. Capel, U.S. Army Europe command sergeant major, standing center, visits with soldiers stationed in Kosovo as part of the peacekeeping mission here. Capel and Command Sgt. Maj. Abel Villesca, Multinational Battle Group East command sergeant major, answer a soldier’s question during a town hall meeting Sept. 19. (Couresy photo)
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Partnering for training Kosovo Security Force members attend U.S. Army training staff story
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oncommissioned officers are referred to as the “backbone of the Army” because they are required to be mentally and physically strong as well as dependable, reliable leaders as they compose the central support structure of the Army. Three Warrior Leader Course instructors of 1st Battalion, 640th Regiment Regional Training Institute, out of Camp Williams, Utah, conducted two WLC classes for U.S. Army Soldiers and four members of Kosovo Security Forces at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, beginning July 16.
WLC is a course designed to teach junior enlisted Soldiers the basic skills needed to lead small groups of fellow Soldiers and prepares them to advance to the rank of sergeant.
“What WLC students should remember is that they are leaders and they need to act like one,” said Sgt. 1st Class Casey Page, instructor from Herriman, Utah.
Staff Sgt. Shaun Tucker from Washington, Utah, added, “The most important things to remember are the Army Values, live up to every aspect of the NCO creed. If you sincerely and honestly do that, the rest will follow.”
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Students attending the second Warrior Leader Course during the Kosovo Forces 14 rotation trained on skills leading to becoming strong noncommissioned officers. Four Kosovo Security Forces members attended all the training alongside their U.S. Soldier counterparts during the two iterations of the WLC. (Staff photo)
The mission at hand takes precedence over training and the first WLC class was disrupted by tensions in northern Kosovo. At the end of July, tensions along the Administrative Boundary Line with Serbia greatly increased requiring a number of the year-long deployment, two members of Kosovo troops to be moved from Camp Bondsteel to Jarinje Security Forces attended each class alongside their Gate in northern Kosovo. The instructors managed U.S. Army counterparts. to incorporate the current situation that took many of the students away into the training. Churchtown said, “KSF members have done very well academically, they participated in everything, Page said, “It influenced and interrupted our turned in all the assignments, they were held at the schedule on the first class. I lost students for two same evaluation standards as the American studays, but on the other hand the realities of being a dents.” leader and the lessons we teach fell into place.” He also said that it was a little different this time Staff Sgt. James Churchtown, an instructor from having two KSF members attending WLC. South Jordan, Utah, agreed with the ability to use real world missions in the training. He said, “We “They were quite an asset during the training, were able to tailor our situational training exercise and they brought in the local news so we can incorcombat orders to current events and incorporate porate current events to our training about the culture and other aspects of deployed and combat area,” Churchtown said. life in Kosovo.” Sgt. Azem Gashi, a KSF member, said, “We have Students attending the second WLC class durlearned a lot and I believe that we can spread this ing the Kosovo Forces 14 rotation were trained on knowledge back to our units, to train our memskills that lead to becoming strong NCOs. Students bers the same way we have trained here at Camp attending WLC must demonstrate proficiency in Bondsteel. We were treated like one, there was no a number of NCO tasks. The training combines difference that we were from KSF; we were treated classroom instruction with practical applications equally by instructors and the rest of classroom.” WLC, P. 23 in the field. During both courses offered through
Cook Off oil with spicy peppers and grilled meats; Croatian stew that had simmered in a cook pot all afternoon; and honeyed ribs grilled by one of the U.S. civilian teams are just a sampling of the multitude of flavors offered.
A Romanian dish of fresh figs, carrots and raspberries was placed as part of the visual appeal of their competition area.
Everyone enjoyed the culinary delights including the judges. Greek Maj. Mylosis Konstantinos, U.S. Capt. Todd Kontny and Della Hodges with Area Support Team Balkans made up half the judge pool. The other half was comprised of three visiting magicians who performed their feats of comic magic later that evening. Chris Mitchell, Joel Ward and George Sateriale arrived at Camp Bondsteel to entertain the troops with a magic show, and were given the opportunity to sample the multinational make-up of the Kosovo
Forces 14 mission.
Appetites for culinary delights satiated, participants, judges and passers-by slowly made their way to the magic show after enjoying an afternoon of flavors sure to be reminisced about for months to come. Renee Favors, morale welfare and recreation aficionado, said the event was a great success and hoped there will be many more like it in the future.
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The Romanians grilled skewers of shrimp with sesame seeds and fruit, roasted zucchini and made a soup of it, as well as a spread of roasted eggplant and berries. The Liaison Monitoring Team from New Mexico made fajitas on a traditional disco and served them with Spanish rice and beans along with fried green chile strips.
Three of the judges sample the food prepared by the Polish team. Grilled meats, stuffed and grilled peppers and potatoes made up part of the dishes offered. All the foods were regionally specific making the spread quite diverse.
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Bondsteel vet performs
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story and photos by Capt. Valerie Palacios
any things have changed since Lt. Col. David Rice graduated from veterinary school at Colorado State University and began working as a new graduate for a Texas A&M graduate practitioner in a ranch and small animal practice in 1983. Rice said when he first started as a veterinarian, spaying a dog cost around $60 and now it is about $300-$500 in the United States.
Today safer gas anesthetics can be used, every vital sign can be monitored closely, preoperative blood parameters evaluated, good circulation can be maintained and body temperature can be controlled so that surgeries can be performed with a much lower risk of fatality. These technological advancements have greatly lowered the risk of spaying or neutering. Thus the increase in price is not much of a factor when it comes to the life and health of a beloved furry companion. In Kosovo there are ways to still safely operate without additional costs of increased electronic technology and gas anesthesia. Rice, along with veterinarian technician, Sgt. Monica Hepker, visited a local veterinarian clinic located in Ferizaj/Urosevic and met with Dr. Mexhid Haxhimusa and Dr. Fazli Shabani to jointly perform a spay operation. The purpose of the visit was to learn about each other’s methods and perhaps provide some insight on possible ways to improve spay and neuter practices in Ferizaj.
ing more harm than good. Feral dogs hide and the domesticated dogs are more likely to be shot. When a dog is shot but not killed, not only does this cause unnecessary disability but this can cause further potential for disease, infection or other illnesses which can also spread to humans. Shabani is also against dog culling and hopes to open some kind of shelter or organization which can provide more humane services as an alternative. He says hunters are paid to go out and shoot stray dogs as a way of potentially decreasing the spread of rabies and preventing the dogs from biting humans. Shabani lacks the funds and help required to install a shelter program in Ferizaj, but he is open to ideas and any kind of resources anyone may have to offer. “People abandon their dogs for many reasons such as they want a smaller one or it is too expensive to feed,” said Shabani. “Even though there are laws against abandoning dogs, people still do it with no punishment because police say there are
Spaying and neutering dogs can be very expensive and it is also very difficult to obtain all the resources necessary to perform them in large numbers especially for a small municipality with little funding. Sometimes, dogs can appear to be very healthy. Then when an anesthetic and surgical procedure is to be performed on the dog, many complications or potential risks can take place, said Rice. Rice demonstrated a successful spay performed with very few supplies and without the use of all the high-tech equipment he would normally use at his practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Culling seems like it would be a cost effective way of handling the overpopulation of stray dogs but it has many other dangers associated aside from being inhumane. Taking the “bullets are cheaper” attitude does not make the activity any better because, according to Rice, firing weapons at dogs in public can possibly kill or injure humans. Another big problem with shooting is that the dogs do not necessarily die. They can be shot in a limb or injured by the bullet and will then become a disabled stray dog caus-
Lt. Col. David Rice performs a spaying procedure with local veterinarians, Dr. Fazli Shabani and Dr. Mexhid Haxhimusa. Rice hopes to help train more veterinarians about the practice of spaying and neutering dogs to help prevent culling.
surgery
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bigger things to worry about.”
Spc. Trevis Reese, a student from the Liaison Monitoring Team, said, “KSF members came in, and they were like one of our own. They understood the concept and the methods. KSF showed good leadership skills.”
Rice hopes to visit more municipalities throughout Kosovo to teach more about spaying and neutering. Rice has almost 30 years of experience as a veterinarian in the United States, with an estimated average of performing 200 spays and or neuters a year.
He hopes that by teaching some basic methods for performing the procedures at lower costs, this may influence more municipalities to take this route instead of conducting dog culling.
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“Spays are more complicated and potentially a very risky operation, but veterinarians do them so often it makes it a much safer procedure,” he said. “Neuters are much simpler. By giving the large animal Kosovar veterinarians small animal surgical experience within their economic capabilities, we are hoping to make spay/neuter procedures sustainable here.”
In total, 73 U.S. Soldiers and four KSF members completed the WLC class. They all received certificates of completion and some earned awards for meritorious action given by the 640th Regiment Regional Training Institute.
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The second WLC class graduated Aug. 24, and the KSF Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Genc Meta attended. He said, “This is very important training for KSF members, WLC is the course that sets up the foundation of a soldier and teaches an NCO how to act as a leader. The NCO in KSF has started to have a much stronger role. The structure of the NCO corps and its troops in KSF now has a leading role, and they are treated as leaders.”
Operation Rising Star
The male contestants perform together during a round of Operation Rising Star. The males and their fellow female contestants have been competing each week in various musical genres to earn the coveted top award from the judges and service members on Camp Bondsteel. The final competition will be Sept. 25 and the last two participants will battle it out for the opportunity to advance to the Army-wide competition. (Photo by Spc. Evan V. Lane)
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Operation Joint Kosovo Forces from 1999-2011 (Editor’s note: This edition of the printed magazine for Multinational Battle Group East is the final one. Since this is the last printed magazine, the battle group wanted to present an overview of KFOR from its beginning to the current state. Subsequent command information products will continue through electronic sources.) by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo, editor
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une 10, 1999, was the end and the beginning. The end of a 78 day air campaign by NATO, waged to stabilize the environment in Kosovo following decades of oppression. Military and paramilitary forces from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army were locked in daily engagements, thus the citizens were trapped between the opposing forces. Death tolls reached historic highs, millions fled Kosovo as refugees, and ethnic tensions were extreme. Thus the United Nations Security Resolution 1244 was adopted June 10, 1999, and two days later Kosovo Forces, or KFOR, entered Kosovo.
KFOR began under NATO’s initial mandate to, “deter renewed hostility and threats against Kosovo by Yugoslav and Serb forces; to establish and maintain a secure environment in Kosovo; to demilitarize the Kosovo Liberation Army; to support the international humanitarian effort; and to coordinate with and support the international civil presence,” Above: Soldiers from the 65th Military Police Company according to NATO’s website on the conflict. secured the road outside Stublina as units from the 82nd By May 2002, KFOR sectors had been established allowing for coverage of, and quick reaction to, the landmass and its residents. The northern area was headquartered in Kosovska Mitrovica and led by the French Contingency. The British troops, headquartered in Pristina, controlled the center sector. Italians controlled the western portion of the area based out of Pec. The Germans held the southern area from a base in Prizren. Finally, the eastern portion of Kosovo was controlled by American forces located on the newly constructed Camp Bondsteel near the town of Ferizaj/Urosevac.
An early view of Camp Bondsteel overlooking new construction of the airfield. At the bottom of the picture are the shower tents and the dining facility tent before they were replaced with SEAhuts. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. David Casey, December 1999)
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Engineer Battalion began their search in the early morning fog. KFOR soldiers carried out a carefully planned and orchestrated operation March 15, 2000, to search and confiscate illegal weapons at five separate locations near the Serbian border. A total of 22 crates of ammunition, hand grenades, mines, rifles, other explosivies, and chemical protective masks were found. KFOR is the NATO-led, international military force in Kosovo on the peacekeeping mission known as Operation Joint Guardian. (Courtesy photo 00315-A-0000K-001) Below: A Military Police squad from the 709th Military Police Battalion crosses a bridge in Sevce, Kosovo, where several hundred Kosovar Serbs were blocking the road on March 4, 2000. The crowd gathered to protest the arrest earlier in the day of a local who was suspected of possesing munitions. ( Released, DoD photo by Drew Lockwood, U.S. Army)
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onstruction of Camp Bondsteel borrowed from lessons learned from logistics and soldier quality of life issues during the Bosnian peacekeeping mission. These lessons fueled the Department of Defense’s plan to erect Southeast Asia huts (SEAhuts) almost immediately on the nearly 1,000 acres of land leveled to house the U.S. troops as opposed to living long-term in tents. By December 1999 contractors were in the process of building about 600 SEAhuts, as well as dining halls, fitness centers, places for worship and other facilities at Camp Bondsteel and Camp Montieth near Gnjilane where U.S. troops were also stationed.
flying more than 40 hours of support missions per month, a number said to be four times the normal rate for a unit in the States. The chief of staff said the initial security situation had improved considerably only seven months after the end of the air strikes.
According to NATO’s website for KFOR, nine months after the start of Operation Joint Guardian, the named KFOR operation, KFOR soldiers conducted between 500-750 patrols per day, guarding 500 key sites and manning 200 vehicle checkpoints. Daily life for American service members from the More than 100 soldiers lived with and guarded or Army and Marines saw non-stop operational tempo, escorted minority families to and from their daily lack of weekends and long hours. The then chief of errands. Numerous stories of valorous acts perstaff for Task Force Falcon, the designation given to formed during the years of KFOR presence speak the U.S. Army task force, said his troops conducted of soldiers putting out maliciously set house fires, approximately 350 squad-size security opera- responding to errant gun shots, breaking up viotions every day. Foot patrols and mounted patrols lent mobs and aiding injured locals with every asset occurred in all parts of the 23,000 square kilometer available to the multinational conglomeration of eastern sector. In addition, the aviation assets were service members. Left: A member of the 82nd Airborne looks out over the perimeter of Camp Bondsteel June 14, 1999. The road in the center has been cleared of mines and will serve as the perimeter that circles the camp. The U.S. Army arrived last night and have quickly started to construct a camp. M1A Abrams tanks can be seen in the background. The tanks are all around the perimeter of the new facility. (Photo by Ron Alvey) Below: Contractors are building about 160 troop SEAhuts, dining halls, fitness centers and other facilities at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, headquarters of U.S. Task Force Falcon. The SEAhuts are wooden structures with a male and a female latrine and six rooms housing six service members each. The huts have heat, hot water, air conditioning, plumbing, electricity and telephones. (Photo by Linda D. Kozaryn Dec. 27, 1999)
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Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo have mingled with one another and the local populace fueling enhanced cultural awareness of the vast array of nations represented here. They have trained together and with the Kosovo Security Force, Kosovo Police, Kosovo Boundary and Border Police, as well as conducted boundary and border patrols with law enforcement officials from neighboring countries. KFOR’s health care professionals have taught community medical professionals techniques for identifying treatable diseases, proper teeth brushing and numerous animal care practices. Each rotation of U.S. Soldiers has adopted at least one school and donated their free time, expertise and gifts from their own pockets in the form of teaching English, passing out backpacks filled with notebooks and pencils, and simply showing up on a regular basis to ask after the needs of the children. A legacy has already been built by KFOR in Kosovo and will continue to be added to for the duration of troop presence in the region.
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n response to NATO mandates and rightsizing to necessary numbers of personnel, subsequent Lt. James Slevin, evaluates the eyes of a local man force restructuring into two multinational battle seeking medical attention in Gornje Kosce, Kosovo, on groups occurred March 2011. Multinational BatJan. 19, 2000. Slevin and other members of Headquarters Company, 1-63 Armored Battalion, Medical Platoon, tle Group East is led by the U.S. Contingent based at Camp Bondsteel and Multinational Battle Group West worked at a school in Gornje Kosce to provide local located in Pec is led by the Italian Contingent. Both of people with first aid and treatment. Slevin is deployed from Vilseck, Germany, to Kosovo as part of KFOR. (DoD the battle groups fall under Command Kosovo Forces photo by Spc. Sean A. Terry, U.S. Army. Released) or COMKFOR, headquartered in Pristina. According to NATO, as of Aug. 3, 2011, KFOR troop numbers FOR troop numbers reached 50,000 at its hover around 5,800 speaking to the success of the height and represented 39 NATO and non- mission and ability of Kosovo to grow and stabilize. NATO countries. The structure of Kosovo Forces and the make-up and numbers of perT he c u r r ent K osovo For c e s 14 r ot at ion sonnel has evolved over time; so too has the mission h a s ac h ie ve d nu mer ou s m i le s t one s s i nc e of KFOR. Currently, KFOR is “focused on building a t a k ing over t he U. S . m ission Apr. 2, 2011. secure environment in which all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origins, can live in peace and, with international aid, democracy and civil society are gradually gaining strength,” according to NATO’s KFOR website. Numerous tasks are mandated by NATO that include assisting NGOs with the return or relocation of displaced persons and refugees; demining and reconstructing; medical aid; security of all citizens; border security; protection of patrimonial sites; and support for the establishment of civilian institutions, law and order, a judicial and penal system, electoral process and additional elements of political, economic and social life in the province.
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Over the past dozen years, KFOR has continually adapted to the changing, stabilizing environment in Kosovo by refocusing time to be spent more on training. Training has included riot control exercises, smuggling deterrence, aviation sling loading and fire fighting measures, as well as health care training and a plethora of additional exercises. Soldiers stationed
A convoy of Serb villagers from Zitinje is escorted by KFOR vehicles and helicopters through the Kosovo Albanian village of Radivojce, Aug. 1, 1999. Scores of Kosovo Serbs have been slain and the homes of many more seized or looted and burned since NATO air strikes forced Belgrade to halt a brutal war against pro-autonomy Albanians and withdraw its forces from Kosovo. (Photo by Hazir Reka, REUTERS)
As of Sept. 2, 2011, KFOR 14 has responded to 93 unexploded ordnance calls. In addition to numerous other significant actions, the battle group responded to Red Cross messages from service member’s families, local vehicle accidents, and a plethora of roadblocks. Additional statistics include the sheer number of orders published internally covering communications, operations, administrative, exercise and training orders. KFOR 14 has performed more than 70 Administrative Boundary Line patrols, hundreds of synchronized patrols, over three hundred vehicle checkpoint operations and scores of additional missions. There are continued events in coordination with the Serbian Armed Forces Team for Cooperation with KFOR, border meetings with law enforcement professionals from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Kosovo Border and Boundary Police. Task Force Aviation has performed admirably as well. From the period of July 25 through Sept. 12, four medical evacuation missions occurred and eight additional patients were transferred by air. More than 60 sling load operations were successfully completed as well as more than 40 internal loads. The number of personnel transported by the KFOR 14 air assets during this short time frame is more than 2,000. Over 1,150 hours of flight time have been logged and greater than 280,000 pounds have been hauled.
Spc. Tiffany Huley, a surgical technician with Task Force Medical, prepares for surgery during a mass casualty event as part of pre mobilization training. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo) Below: Task Force Aviation performed hundreds of sling loads in support of Kosovo Forces 14 rotation shattering previous records held. (Photo by Spc. Lucreita Wilcox)
Even in light of these impressive statistics, the soldiers of KFOR 14 have been able to attend a staggering amount of training and planned exercises. At least fourteen exercises were conducted including mass casualty exercises, quick reaction force validations, cross training with multinational crowd and riot control professionals as well as aviation hot and cold load operations.
Tr a i n i n g f o r t h e s e r v i c e m e m b e r s h a s included online courses for professional development, four iterations of level 1 combatives, mandatory cyclical ethics and conduct training, two warrior leader courses, German proficiency badge events, and numerous weapons qualifications.
Kosovo Forces 14 arrived March 2011 ready to accept the mission set forth by NATO and fulfilled to the fullest by each U.S. forces rotation that preceded it. The mission to contribute to a safe and secure environment in Kosovo in accordance with UNSCR 1244 and to support the development of security institutions remains. KFOR 14 is committed to this mission and will continue to conduct the mandate in a professional manner until it is handed over to the next group of U.S. service members.
The End
As of Sept. 9, Task Force Medical has seen more than 1,274 patients during sick call hours, taken 413 x-rays, filled more than 5,419 prescriptions and ordered 208 pairs of eye glasses. More than 233 service members have been seen by the local dentist and 791 appointments have been completed by the physical therapy clinic. Medics have also supported 44 explosive ordnance detachment missions. During this same time frame, many community outreach programs have occured such as oral hygiene education, vision testing, scoliosis testing and general hygiene and hand washing. More than 24 internal Grand Rounds lectures and 13 external lectures have been completed.
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Mental Health A
s you enter the final quarter of the deployment, it is a good time to revisit four basic concepts to help maintain your psychological wellness, which in turn will help ensure a successful KFOR rotation.
sleep. Besides enhancing your resiliency, exercise groups or sports leagues build camaraderie with your peers. If you have let fitness slip, make a commitment to add it to the daily routine. You’ll be glad you did!
2. Stay fit: Exercise is more effective than medication for cases of mild to moderate stress, and it yields a slew of health benefits too, including better
If you have any questions or want to learn more, call Maj. Barry at extension 3170 or send an email, matthew.j.barry@us.army.mil.
3. Eat right / sleep right: Ok, this is two concepts instead of one, but they are simple and related. Our nutrition directly impacts our health; our health status impacts our sleep. So, make good choices at the dining facility – do not load up on fatty, fried or spicy foods, and avoid the caffeine, especially Maj. Matthew J. Barry at dinner time. A healthy light meal in the evening Psychiatrist will help your sleep architecture. And, when we are 1. Beat the boredom: There is no doubt that we sleeping well, our overall disposition is better, our all crave routine, but monotony and boredom can problem solving is better, our concentration is betsometimes be a byproduct of a routine. And, monot- ter … it makes it easier to make the best decisions! ony and boredom can devastate your motivation and attitude. So, beat the boredom by being mindful 4. Stay connected: Even the crabbiest person of your daily activities and staying future oriented, has, and needs, a social support network! Be sure or possibly taking an on-line class, pursuing spirito nurture friendships with trusted peers, mentors, tual interests, reading a book, engaging in healthy friends and loved ones. Relationships can be hard social activities and exercising. When we are bored, work, but a little “PMCS” will help you establish and our mind is inactive. In fact, our minds often gener- maintain meaningful connections that will pay diviate distorted thoughts and perspectives, so take the dends for years to come. As always, be sure to take fight to boredom! care of yourself and take care of your buddy!
Change of Command
The commanding officer for the Kosovo Forces mission changed from German Maj. Gen. Erhard Buhler to German Maj. Gen. Erhard Drews Sept. 9, 2011 at the KFOR headquarters in Pristina. Standing in salute are the multinational forces under thier command. Spc. Armando Gonzalez is the flag bearer for Multinational Battle Group East alongside the MNBG E commander, Col. Michael D. Schwartz. (Photo by Spc. John A. Montoya)
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By Capt. Jason D. Barber
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Fitness
peed, Agility, and Quickness
A Soldier Athlete should train using a variety of agility drills in order to reach their optimal agility How does it help me? levels. So now that you have a better grasp on what agility means, how are you going to improve your As we progress our training it is important agility? to break down the aspects of how we become better Soldier Athletes. Previous articles have disQUICKNESS: Quickness can also be referred to as cussed: program development (PROVRBS), strength reaction time, or the Soldier Athlete’s ability to read and core training. This month we will cover how and react to event situations. From a more scienSpeed, Agility, and Quickness contribute to the tific standpoint, quickness is the ability of the body improvement of the Soldier Athlete and how we can to achieve maximal force production through the train this component. three planes of motion during the movement phase. In other words speed is how fast you get to the You may be asking yourself why this aspect of building you are clearing, while quickness is how training is important for you. It is true that we are fast you get through each room that you clear. Both not all Infantry Soldiers whose daily operations rely are essential and necessary components of being a on a high level of fitness. But at the same time, as Soldier Athlete. members of the U.S. Army we are all expected to be able to perform as an Infantry Soldier. In conclusion there are three essential components to Speed/Agility/Quickness training include: Think back to the mobilization tasks that we had Core Strength, Balance Training and Flexibility. to perform and how sore you may have been when they were all over. Speed, Agility and Quickness Core strength will allow the Soldier Athlete were key components to completing these tasks to transfer power from the feet and legs to the and this month we will cover this training and upper body, then transferring that energy from the some exercises that will enhance these aspects of upper body back down to the lower body. This will the Soldier Athlete. help make changes in direction take place more smoothly. SPEED: Speed is an important component of the Soldier Athlete. Simply put speed is defined as: disBalance training refers to a Soldier Athlete being tance divided by time. A more accurate definition in control of their body at all times in order to make might be: the ability of a Soldier Athlete to move the right moves. For example: if you are clearing a as fast as possible, through the optimal range of group of buildings and have to move around cormotion, in a deliberate and intentional manner, in a ners with full gear on, your body depends on core particular direction. strength and balance to make this move.
Speed can be beneficial to many different parameters of soldiering, for instance having to move from building to building while clearing an area, perhaps evading someone or something or having to make it to specific point to continue the mission. Your ability to cover a specific distance over a given time is paramount to the mission. Incorporating speed training into your weekly workout can make you a better Soldier Athlete.
AGILITY: Agility is more properly recognized as side to side or lateral speed. Agility is also defined as the ability to control changes in direction while maintaining speed, balance, and posture. Agility, in terms of mission performance refers to the Soldier Athlete’s ability to change direction quickly and appropriately while maintaining maximal speed, balance, and power.
If you are weak in these areas you will have to compensate by exposing more of yourself to see around the corner which could cost you your life.
Lastly, flexibility will allow a Soldier Athlete to move their body in an efficient manner through the required range of motion. Flexibility training directly improves movement fluidity by loosening up tight muscles. Eliminating tight muscles means less force required to overcome natural muscular tension because the optimal length-tension relationship has been restored.
Working on all these components will not only make you a better Soldier Athlete but will also give you a healthier lifestyle. This type of training only needs to be done one day a week to see improvements. Good Luck!
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JAG
deployments, frequent temporary duties and required residence training, powers of attorney have become a necessity. The powers given under an executed power of attorney make it possible for the appointed agent to handle certain issues that may arise during a Soldier’s absence.
Sgt. 1st Class Kristeen Thomas Chief Legal NCO
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power of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. Due to the nature of being a Soldier in today’s Army with numerous
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The type of power of attorney you choose to grant depends on the actions you wish your agent to be able to perform. Generally, the two most often used powers of attorney are the general power of attorney and the specific power of attorney. The general power of attorney is a broad power of attorney and is not, in most cases, recommended as the authority it grants is wide. The specific power of attorney
Safety
e are now at a crucial point in our deployment to Kosovo. Army accident statistics demonstrate that the first and the last 90 days are the periods of time in a deployment when most accidents occur. Army operations are inherently dangerous and require that both leaders and Soldiers take the appropriate steps to lower the risks to personnel and property. This is true whether your duties involve aviation, checkpoints, security, patrolling, medical, resupply, communications, heavy equipment, motor vehicle, or many other operations not included here. The most significant challenges to taking these steps to reduce risk in the last 90 days are an increased operational tempo, fatigue, overconfidence, and complacency.
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is more often recommended as it states exactly what you wish the grantee to have the authority to accomplish. This specification of authority protects the grantor from possible misuse of authority.
It is important to remember that many companies, particularly banking institutions and lending organizations have their own specific powers of attorney.
If you are closing on a house, applying for a loan or re-financing it is best to check with the agency first to determine if they require a specific format be used. This will save you a lot of time.
If you need a power of attorney or have questions please stop by the Legal Office located in Admin Alley, building 1330 N 3 C or call DSN: 5071/7575.
As we approach the final days and weeks of our deployment many tasks that each of us perform on a daily basis have become routine. This is when overconfidence in our abilities to perform can lead to disaster. We need to avoid the temptation to take unnecessary short-cuts in established procedures. For example, failure to follow the precise steps of maintenance can lead to an oversight with Maj. Harvey Johnson, tragic consequences. MNBG E safety officer
Multinational Battle Group East has had an increased operational tempo for the past several weeks. This can be a major contributor to increased fatigue. It is essential to maintain an adequate Overconfidence also leads to complacency. work-rest cycle, proper nutrition, hydration, and Leaders must provide an adequate amount of superexercise to the greatest degree possible. Leaders vision and refresher training to ensure standards need to ensure that Soldiers have had eight continu- are understood and adhered to. ous hours of rest within a twelve hour period prior to operating vehicles or equipment. We have entered the final 90 days of our deployment and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Only properly trained and licensed personnel As we continue to perform our duties each day we should operate equipment and vehicles. need to constantly remain vigilant against unsafe practices and hazardous conditions. We need to be Know your Soldiers’ qualifications, skills, and aware of the light at the end of the tunnel and make provide opportunities for training when possible. sure it does not turn into a freight train coming While mission accomplishment is paramount, doing right at us that could become a deadly accident. We it safely will help prevent unnecessary accidents. need to take everyone home safely!
Chaplain
In the middle of the room was a “It is simple,” said the Lord. “In large round table. In the middle of this place the people have learned the table was a large pot of stew to feed one another.” which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.
Chaplain (Capt.) Jeffery Hicks, MNBG E Deputy Chaplain
Heaven and Hell Fictional narrative, Author Unknown
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holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.”
But the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’
They then went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the The holy man said, “I don’t doors and the holy man looked in. understand.”
Included are three verses for emphasis from Galatians 6:2, 4-5:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” As squared-away soldiers we have the obligation and are expected to carry our own load and stand ready to perform our duty. Our physical, mental and spiritual training has prepared us to perform with competence, effectiveness and efficiency.
MNBG E, Task Force Falcon, battalion, section, staff and each of us soldiers interact by displaying loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. While fulfilling our duty, may we be mindful of all we can accomplish by working together and helping each other.
Aviation medevac Warrant Officers
Medevac pilots typically use call signs when conducting radio communication amongst themselves. From left to right Chief Warrant Officer 2 Doug Penn Call sign “Diego”, CW3 John Fefolt Call sign “Rocket”, CW2 John Fisher Call sign “Slope”, CW2 Jason Murtha Call sign “Legend”, CW5 Spencer Myers Call Sign “Dutch”, and Dan Muthler call sign “Pop Pop”. (Courtesy Photo)
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Never Broken From Bataan to the Balkans