Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 89 Feb. 04, 2012
204th sling loads supplies to help their fellow Soldiers Story and photo by Sgt Ruth Pagan 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
T
he packing process of a sling load will never be on an adrenaline junkie’s list of things to do but hooking a load to a helicopter hovering 150 feet in the air might. Soldiers with Company A, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division are supporting their fellow Soldiers through sling load missions. “A lot of it is on the fly,” said Staff Sgt. Jesse Payton, the noncommissioned officer in charge of sling load operations. “It all depends on the aircraft’s schedule. Some are last minute and some are planned out a week in advance; it’s a rush.” “For me it’s about the adrenalin,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Lewis, a supply sergeant who is a sling load inspector. “There’s something about when the helicopters come in and I stop everything and just go off instincts.” “We are supplying (Soldiers) in Lam, Chenar and Darishan,” Payton said. “They can’t be reached by ground so all their supplies have to come in by air.” Sling loads are transported by helicopters.
A helicopter with a cord and hook flies in, a Soldier will grab the hook, attach it to what is being transported and then the helicopter will fly off to the receiving destination. “(We) figure out the weight (of the load) and what type of aircraft is going to come pick it up, because it has to be compatible with the aircraft,” Payton said. “Depending on what (is being moved) we determine what kind of equipment is going to be used according to the (field manuals), then we stage it, the aircraft comes in, hooks it up and they take off.” Though there are three schools needed to be certified: sling load inspector certification course, air assault school and pathfinder school, a Soldier does not necessarily need to be certified to help with the sling load. “We try to get Soldiers out there,” Payton said. “They aren’t qualified to inspect loads but they can do everything else. They can rig it and they can hook it up, but we are right there with them to make sure everything’s safe.” “I helped rig up a Humvee,” said Pfc. Devryann Robertson, an ammunitions specialist with Co. A. “We had to make sure that all the glass was taped up so that if it
Staff Sgt. Christopher Lewis, a supply sergeant who is a sling load inspector, and Staff Sgt. Jesse Payton, noncommissioned officer in charge of sling loads, both with Company A, 204th BSB, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. wait on top of a load for a helicopter.
breaks during the lift it won’t fly off and hurt anyone. We had to make sure everything was secure that way when the (helicopter) lifted it, it would be safe. I’ve learned a lot.” “Having additional Soldiers trained on helping with sling loads is important so supplies can get out to the Soldiers who really need them,” Payton said. “(It gives) me great joy is to know we are actually helping those guys out there who are living rough,” Lewis said. “We work hand in hand with each other. They do their job, I do my job, everybody is happy and the Army is successful.”
Breaking new ground for a better tomorrow Story and photo by Capt. Michael Newman achievement for all.” 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
A
ground breaking and ribbon cutting ceremony were held in the Shah Wali Kot district to mark the beginning of a long time plan to build government living quarters. Prior to the ribbon cutting, SWK District Governor, Obeidallah Popal talked about how proud he was of the hard work and dedication of the district leadership. SWK has come a long way in improving security, stability and development. This success is driven from the district leadership level. “A few months ago, I could not imagine being able to have government living quarters here at the District Center,” said Popal. “This is a great
Currently, district leadership has to sleep in their offices or go home for rest. The new quarters will boost morale and enable SWK leadership to bring in new leaders. The living quarters will allow leadership to do their jobs without having to commute from far away, which decreases work efforts. “(SWK leadership) is expanding their government and making room for filling vital government positions, said Lt. Col. David Raugh, commander of 5th Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment. “As we say in (5th Sqdn., 1st U.S. Cav. Reg.), they are making stuff happen. “This is their efforts (district leadership). We are really proud of their accomplishments and it
is an honor to witness history in the making.” Later this month, SWK leadership plans to open a new school to expand educational goals for the district. This will be the second school opening this year. These projects are a beacon of light for all of SWK to see and to know that their communities are important to not only the success of SWK, but also for Afghanistan.
Page 2
Warhorse Pride
Issue 89 Feb. 04, 2012
Finance support gives Soldiers peace of mind Story and photos by Sgt Ruth Pagan 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
S
oldiers with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division can rest a little easier at night knowing their financial needs are being taken care of by the Soldiers from the 33rd Financial Management Company, 7th Sustainment Brigade. “We provide financial support through Eagle Cash Card, any other military pay functions—allotments, (thrift savings plan) and we disperse the cash throughout the battlefield,” said Staff Sgt. Stephanie Hawkins, noncommissioned officer in charge of the finance mobile office located at Forward Operating Base Walton. The finance Soldiers issue money out to units in order for them to pay Afghans. “I usually draw (money) once a month,” said Staff Sgt. Philip Wynn, an NCO with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We draw money to pay local contractors who do work on Camp Nathan Smith.” Being accurate when issuing money is crucial in the finance office. “Attention to detail--in this job you have to be on point,” Hawkins said. “You’re dealing with the government’s money and they look at you as an overseer of that money,
Three Soldiers are promoted from private first class to specialist during a promotion and awards cermony held at Camp Nathan Smith, Feb. 1. The Soldiers are from left to right: JC Holt, Brady Pierce and Robert Vickery.
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski.................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner............................................2nd BCT PAO Sgt. Seth Barham..............................................PAO NCOIC Sgt. Ruth Pagan..................................Layout and Design Sgt. April York......................................Layout and Design
Staff Sgt. Stephanie Hawkins, finance NCOIC with 33rd Financial Management Company, 7th Sustainment Brigade feeds Afghani currency into a money machine under the observation of Staff Sgt. Philip Wynn, an NCO with 1st Sqdn, 10th Cav. Reg., 2nd BCT, 4th Inf.Div.
Spc. Deshawn Daniel, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, feeds his Eagle Cash Card into the Eagle Cash Kiosk. The Army is moving towards a cashless battlefield where Soldiers’ primary source of payment is the Eagle Cash Card.
so you have to be able to trust each Soldier and NCO. If you don’t have that (trust), there is no finance, so integrity really, really counts here.” The five Soldier team is currently operating a mission that would normally take about 25 Soldiers. “We’ve had to adapt and overcome a lot since we hit boots on ground,” said Sgt. Belinda Jones, a finance NCO. “The missions we go on and the support we give Soldiers is very important.” The Soldiers go on about eight missions each month to outlying FOBs around the Warhorse area of operations. “We could stay in a place anywhere from two to five days,” Jones said.
The finance Soldiers bring money, are able to load funds onto Eagle Cash Cards and help Soldiers with any financial problems they may have. Eagle Cash Cards are a secure way for Soldiers to pay for things without businesses having direct access to a Soldier’s account, Jones said. “(When we go out to FOBs) we can load funds on the cards, change account information and unlock cards,” Jones said. “The majority of our customers come from the missions we do,” Hawkins said. “Having finance is like a relief for Soldiers. They might not ever have to come in here but to know its available makes their day go by a little bit better; it’s like a peace of mind.”
Three sergeants are awarded Army Achievement Medals during a promotion and awards cermony held at Camp Nathan Smith Feb. 1. The Soldiers are from left to right: Daniel Burkey, Jared Dillon and Timothy Foster.
Col. John S. Kolasheski, commander of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., gives a congratulation speech to Soldiers of the Personal Security Detachment for a job well done at a promotions and awards ceremony held at Camp Nathan Smith, Feb. 1.
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public
Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook. com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor: seth.barham@afghan.swa.army.mil