gs hub sorts it trv security q-west academy all out. page ...dummies.’” capt. justin redfern,...

LIFELINERWESTWEST“If you want it done, call the 101!”

Q-West Academy

trains Iraqi NCOs.

Page 5

TRV security

council meets

Page 4

GS Hub sorts it

all out.

Page 4

Volume 2, No. 8 Deployment Edition Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ February 1, 2006

445544 TTrraannss:: OOnn tthhee rrooaadd aaggaaiinn

A gun truck from the 454th Transportation Company, a Reserve unit from

Delaware, Ohio, waits to roll out on another mission Jan. 19.

Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune

By Sgt. Rachel A. BruneEditor

Soldiers, start your engines!One by one, the huge tractor trail-

ers and tankers rumble to life, fillingthis muddy corner of Q-West withthe sound of diesel.

It is mid-afternoon on a cloudyJanuary day, and the 454thTransportation Company is about toget back on the road.

One large trailer, loaded with con-tainers, idles as Spc. KeithHawkins, a truck driver fromColumbus, Ohio, tightens a loadstrap. Sitting on the hood of thetruck cab, Sgt. Justin Jacobs, atruck driver from South Amherst,Ohio, polishes clean an already-sparkling mirror.

On the other side of the motorpool, the gun truck crews pull ontheir gear, make a final check oftheir vehicles and make sure theirweapons are ready.

At the center of activity, Staff Sgt.Daniel George, the mission com-mander from Lansing, Mich., seemsto be in three places at once as hemakes sure the vehicles and per-sonnel of the Delaware, Ohio,Reserve unit are ready to get themission rolling.

“Everything that happens on aconvoy falls back on the convoycommander,” said George. “Our unitseems to work pretty well gettingthings done.”

Preparation for a mission beginsthree days prior to a mission, saidGeorge. The commander makessure that the right amount andtypes of vehicles are available andthat any Soldiers on the mission arecorrectly manifested.

The commander is also responsi-ble for preparing a risk assessment,making sure mission personnel getenough sleep and rest, ensuringlogistics such as ammunition andother gear are ready and conductingpre-combat checks and inspections.

As the sun sinks closer to theContinued on Page 2

IIAA ttaakkeess cchhaarrggeeooff llooccaall aarreeaaBy Sgt. Rachel A. BruneEditor

With musical pomp and colorfulpageantry, the troops of another Iraqiarmy battalion assumed responsibilityfor the safety and security of theircountry in a ceremony Jan. 28 here.

Commanded by Brig. Gen. Ali, the1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd IraqiArmy Division, will now be the author-ity for an area of operations stretchingfrom west of the Tigris River to theMosul-Baghdad highway.

“The terrorists are taking their lastbreaths, and the end is near,” said Ali,through an interpreter, during hisremarks. “They are looking for a placeto hide, but there is no place for them.”

Ali spoke before an audience thatincluded such distinguished guests asDuraid Kashmoula, governor ofNineveh Province, Brig. Gen. Rickey L.Rife, assistant division commander,101st Airborne Division, and Maj.Gen. Jamal, 2nd IAD commander.

The 101st Airborne Division Bandplayed a stirring rendition of the Iraqinational anthem, as all the guestsstood. A local leader, Sheik Achmed,recited verses from the Koran, hisvoice ringing tunefully across the bat-

Continued on Page 2

Coalition forces transfer authority to

Brig. Gen. Ali’s 1st Battalion Jan. 28.


February 1, 2006LIFELINER WEST

LIFELINER WESTSTAFF

Brigade CommanderCol. James D. Scudieri

Brigade Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj.

Stephen D. BlakePublic Affairs Officer

Sgt. 1st Class Lori SimmonsLifeliner West Editor

Sgt. Rachel A. BruneArt & Graphics

Sgt. Patricia MarquezSpc. Rachel Moore

Contributing WritersJames F. JenningsDan Lucas

Brook McClain

1st Lt. Michelle Menges

Capt. A. Michelle Moore, M.D.Tech Sgt. Sean E. RisnerJohn Williamson

The Lifeliner West, Deployment Issue: Vol. 2, No. 8, ispublished bimonthly by the 101st Sustainment

Brigade Public Affairs Office to disseminate com-mand information throughout all subordinate ele-

ments of the brigade and units residing on Q-WestBase Complex, and to raise and promote the moraleof the troops. • Contents of this publication are notnecessarily the official views of or endorsed by, theUnited States government or the Department of theArmy. • The editorial content of this publication is

the responsibility of the 101st Sustainment BrigadePublic Affairs Office. • Articles and photos of inter-est to the brigade and its elements are invited andmay be submitted to Sgt. Rachel A. Brune, Editor. •To contact the PAO, please call VOIP: 243-5104,

or e-mail: [email protected] Lifeliner West can be viewed online in the

“Military Publications” section of:http://www.dvidshub.net

445544tthh TTrraannss..Continued from Page 1

Staff Sgt. Daniel George confers with a gun truck NCO

prior to heading out on a mission Jan. 19.

horizon line, the tractor trailers begin to move out tothe Convoy Support Center, or CSC.

A small amount of confusion arises. The medicscheduled to ride with the CLP has not arrived. Georgetasks a gun truck to wait to see if he or she arrives atthe motor pool.

Soon the word comes that the medic reported to theCSC, and the gun truck also heads for the CSC. At theCenter, troops listen to a brief on recent activity in theareas scheduled for travel.

George then takes the floor to give a safety brief.When he is done, the gun truck crews go over drills,then join their fellow troops in helping themselves tosnacks and drinks for the road ahead.

Before leaving, George makes sure to delegate all thetasks for completion at the mission destination. OneSoldier is given charge of the fuel trucks, while anoth-er is tasked to accompany the third country national,or TCN, drivers to the TCN yard.

“Once we hit the gate, we split up our separateways,” said George. “Nobody needs their hand held.”

The road is long, winding and extremely cold. In therear gun truck, assistant driver Sgt. Steven Seward,truck driver from Alma, Mich., sweats with the heatturned all the way up as gunner Spc. Tyson Todd, fromVermilion, Ohio, fights frigid winds and extremely coldtemperatures from his seat in the turret.

In the driver’s seat, Sgt. Corey Malone, from BerlinHeights, Ohio, keeps his eyes on the road.

This is George’s fourth time acting as CLP command-er. He has not yet had to face any serious incidents, butfeels confident his troops would revert to their trainingto handle any situation successfully.

George relies on his Soldiers to know their jobs, free-ing him up to handle any mission changes. On this

night, for example, five more TCN trucks are added tothe mission.

“[My Soldiers] do all the work,” said George. “Youdon’t see me doing a lot of hair pulling.”

On this night, the mission takes the 454th toForward Operation Base Warrior. The fuel trucks down-load their cargo, and the trailers get new loads.

The gun truck crews head for the dining facility to gethot meals and bring them back for the tractor trailerand tanker drivers. All drivers conduct another check oftheir vehicles, including fluids and hoses.

When George returns from receiving another intelli-gence brief, he conducts another safety brief, caution-ing the drivers about staying alert on the trip home.

“They know what their jobs [are],” said George. “Itmakes my job a lot easier.”

The temperature drops as the trucks get back on theroad and dawn draws nearer. A light rain begins to fallon the gunners up in their turrets.

Once again, the CLP completes the mission with lit-tle incident, although the lead gunner fires a flare onceto alert a local national driver venturing too close to theCLP.

The job isn’t over until the paperwork is complete.George heads back to finish the administrative tasksassociated with the mission, including the after-actionreview and the vehicle dispatches.

On this night, the mission makes it back before thesun rises over the other side of Q-West. As Georgereturns, another mission commander readies his troopsand trucks, and the 454th gets ready to get back on theroad.


talion parade ground.“Today, 1st Battalion is

receiving complete authorityover its area of operations,”said Lt. Col. Ebrahim, battal-ion executive officer, afterreading a short history of theunit.

As an interpreter translatedhis words, the clouds gath-ered, then parted to let thesun shine warmly over theassembled troops and guests.

“The battalion has earnedthis honor through its greatperformance,” said Ebrahim.“[We] have given a number ofmartyrs to help defend thecountry and achieve security.”

At one end of the paradefield, a blue-shirted honorguard carried a huge Iraqiflag. When approached for aphoto, one rank knelt down,careful not to let the flag fall tothe ground, as the other rankrippled it enthusiastically.

Iraqi army TOA

Iraqi soldiers of 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army

Division, march in a transfer of authority ceremony Jan. 28.


On the other end of theparade field two large, colorfulsigns proclaimed positive mes-sages in flowing Arabic script.

“The twenty-eighth ofJanuary is the birthday of theheroes of 1st Battalion,” pro-claimed one of the signs. “Thisday will remain a sunny day inhistory.”

After the opening remarks,the band struck up a march-ing tune as the honor guardled the way for a pass-in-review. Preceded by the giantIraqi flag, six color bearerscarried six smaller Iraqi flags.

Each company passed thereview stand, where Jamal,Rife and Ali waited to salutethe troops.

Wearing colorful sashesand cravats that correspondedwith the company colors, thetroops marched by in waves ofwhite, yellow, green, purpleand red.

The ceremony marked the

second transfer of authority inthe Tigris River Valley in asmany months. On Dec. 27,3rd Battalion, 3rd Bde., 2ndIAD, assumed control of about4,000 square kilometers at aceremony in Makhmur.

“Congratulations to Brig.Gen. Ali and the sergeantmajor, your troops looked verygood out there today,” saidMaj. Glenn Gambrell, 4thBattalion, 11th Field ArtilleryRegiment, executive officer.“You and the people of Iraqshould be proud.”

Battery A and HeadquartersBattery, 4-11th FA, previouslyowned the battle space Ali’stroops will now be responsiblefor. Gambrell praised thetroops’ hard work, and saidthe transfer would not havecome about without their ded-ication to security.

“They have caught manywho did not want to see a newand prosperous Iraq,” said

Gambrell. He later added:“The markets are open, andthe people are not afraid to goout on the streets.”

In his final remarks, Aliquoted a verse from theKoran, praising God and vow-ing not to support criminals.

“This day is a festival for allIraq – Kurds, Arabs and all therest of the ethnicities thatmake up Iraq,” said Ali. “Wewill not forget the Americanforces whose blood mingledwith our own martyrs’ to freeIraq.”

Continued from Page 1

The 454th CLP rolls out of the Convoy Readiness Center

yard on a mission Jan. 19.


February 1, 2006 LIFELINER WEST

LSA DIAMONDBACK, Iraq – “It reallyis Combat Logistics Patrols forDummies.’”

Capt. Justin Redfern, day battlecaptain, 142nd Corps SupportBattalion, is joking, but the battalionSoldiers and staff have made a seriouseffort to distill their experiences run-ning CLPs in Iraq into an easily acces-sible handbook.

The handbook, the brainchild ofbattalion commander Lt. Col. RonaldGreen, consists of two volumes.

“Volume One can be picked up byany unit coming into theater to learnhow to run a CLP,” said Capt. JohnGray, Volume Two project OIC.

1st Lt. Erik Heil, executive officer ofthe 494th Transportation Company,which recently returned to FortCampbell, Ky., compiled Volume Onein November 2005. The book, nowavailable on the Logistics Network sec-tion of Army Knowledge Online, focus-es on company-level CLP operations.

Gray, who is originally from LakeAlfred, Fla., traveled to Iraq to earn hiscombat certification before returningto Fort Polk, La., to take command ofthe 603rd Transportation Company.

“I was the outside eyes [for VolumeOne],” said Gray. After he reviewed thedocument, Green tasked him to con-struct Volume Two.

By Sgt. Rachel BruneEditor

Gray began by soliciting informationfrom each battalion section, from per-sonnel and operations to the chaplain.

“There’s a lot of specialized data, butit was articulated in a manner thatcould be understood,” said Gray.

Gray emphasized, each section pro-vided its own material. He was simplythe editorial control to make sure thecontent could be understood by anoutside reader.

After each section submitted itschapter, Gray tasked each staff officerto read the others’ sections for furtherremarks. He then sat with the originalauthors to go over the suggestions.

“I can delete anything that doesn’t[need] to be there, but I can’t add any-thing,” said Gray.


Capt. John Gray, editor, 142nd CSB

Combat Logistics Patrol Handbook,

Volume Two, outside the battalion TOC.

The project was not without chal-lenges. Staff officers at the battalionare often pressed for time and sittingdown to write out everything their sec-tion does is difficult.

“You don’t realize how complicatedit is,” said Redfern, from Salisbury,N.C. He first assisted in reviewingVolume One and repeated his dutieson this volume.

Capt. Faith Chamberlain, opera-tions OIC, from Hopewell Township,Pa., wrote the chapter describing howthe S-3, or operations, section tracksthe battlefield, including the matrices,procedures and reports the sectionutilizes for that job.

“It’s difficult to distill an operationinto words,” said Redfern. The battal-ion arrived in Iraq in mid-July 2005,and has been running this mission forabout six months.

“Some of the products created earlyon have changed,” said Redfern.“Some initial things required intensereview in order to make [them] rele-vant.

Redfern used the imagery of anadobe hut to describe the constructionof the handbook. First, one beginswith one room, then begins addingrooms until completing a large com-plex.

One of those rooms belongs to thechaplain. Capt. John Smith, battalionchaplain, from Elk City, Okla., initially

FOB SPEICHER, Iraq — The 1058th Gun TruckDetachment, Air Force, is fast approaching the endof its tour of duty in Iraq. The operations tempo,however, is doing anything but slowing down due tothe coordination and logistical planning involvedwith deactivating the unit.

All tasks required to completely and correctly con-clude the Air Force gun truck security tenure hereare coordinated like pieces on a chess board.Everyone is dependent on another to ensure thingsare done according to plan.

From dispersal and turn-in of equipment andvehicles to the left seat/ right seat training beingconducted with the Bravo Battery element, ensuringthe mission is successfully passed on is the respon-sibility of all personnel.

The Detachment began training for thisdeployment to Iraq in July.

The deployment was originally scheduled to be asix-month tour. Official word came from Lt. Col.Waggoner, 732nd Expeditionary Logistics ReadinessSquadron Commander, that the unit would departsooner than expected, and there would be no moreAir Force units coming to assume the responsibili-ties of the gun truck unit.

The responsibility of ensuring all historical infor-mation is recorded accurately for the Air ForceMuseum falls on the unit as well.

“The era of the 1058th is quickly coming to aclose,” said Capt. Christopher Rosales, detachmentcommander.”

Two years ago, the 1058th was formed when theAir Force was tasked to provide in-lieu-of forces toperform combat convoy operations. Since that time,more than 600 Air Force personnel have passedthrough as a member of this history-making team.

“We came from all over the Air Force across sever-al career fields to fill these critical Army shortfalls,”

FOB SPEICHER, Iraq — Out with the old and inwith the new, had more than one meaning to the584th Maintenance Company, 561st CorpsSupport Battalion, as the unit performed a changeof command Jan. 9 here.

Capt. Michael Kern took on the responsibilitiesof commanding the 584th Maintenance Co. fromCapt. Allen Crenshaw, who will go on to serve onthe other side of the airfield here in support oper-ations maintenance for the 96th Aviation SupportBattalion, 101st Aviation Brigade.

Crenshaw commanded the 584th for 20months. During this time, he successfully trained,prepared and deployed the company of 187 sol-diers to Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07.

When asked of his fondest memory of his timein 584th, Crenshaw said: “[It was] the Christmasparty last year, with all of the Soldiers and fami-lies together sharing gifts.”

Kern comes to the 584th from battalion head-quarters, where he served as operations officer. Hewill lead the company through the remainder ofthe deployment and redeployment back home.

said Rosales. At the end of January, the 1058thended its gun truck mission.

“In our short existence, we have performed morethan 2000 missions transporting critical cargo, fueland passengers for over 2 million miles,” addedRosales. “Needless to say, this is not a traditionalmission for Air Force personnel, but our trainingand professionalism ensured we were ready for thetask.

“We have gone by many names: Jumper’s Aces,Gunslingers and finally the Road Hawgs, but allhave had the same dedication to the mission and todoing our part to usher in a new era of democracyfor the Iraqi people. HOOAH!”

Airman Catherine Karl, 1058th Gun Truck Detachment

gunner, sets her M240B in the turret during prepara-

tions for a mission Nov. 10.


584th changes hands AF Road Hawgs: Mission accomplishedBy Tech Sgt. Sean E. Risner1058th Gun Truck Detachment

thought nobody would want to read achaplain’s section, thinking the hand-book would focus on the tactical sideof operations.

“There’s a lot more involved,” saidSmith. “I surprised myself.”

Smith tries to accompany CLPs asoften as he can, after making sure thatthe forward operating base has reli-gious coverage, in order to bring serv-ices to Soldiers on the mission andstationed in outlying areas.

“The key thing is, I’m there to makesure these Soldiers are spirituallyequipped whenever they go out,” saidSmith. He later added: “Much of ourmission is on the road every singlenight, [and] I have to go on CLPs tofully minister to the people we havehere.”

Other sections were more prosaic.“The S-4 [supply] section is the wish

list,” said Gray. Some of the items onthat wish list are non-lethal ammuni-tion and hand-held thermal devicesthat can aid in identifying potentialthreats.

The handbook is geared specificallyfor units operating in the 142nd CSB’sarea of operations, MultinationalCoalition - Iraq North.

“It [the handbook] may not apply toBaghdad,” said Gray. For example,certain procedures such as the rulesfor escalation of force may not apply inother areas under other conditions.

By 1st Lt. Michelle Menges561st Corps Support Battalion

The 584th Maint. Co. leadership, old and new.

Photo by 1st Lt. Michelle Menges

““CCLLPPss ffoorr DDuummmmiieess::”” 114422nndd wwrriittiinngg tthhee bbooookk,, aaggaaiinn


Pfc. Christopher Field, Pfc. General

Walkers, of Richmond, Va., and Pfc.

Andrew Geesaman put the finishing

touches on a pallet of tires Jan. 3.

71st CSB Hub aims high to keep Soldiers off roadsAs the mechanics throughout the

101st Sustainment Brigade labor tokeep Soldiers on the road, these troopsare working hard to keep them off thehighways of Iraq.

At the General Support Hub, or GSHub, here, Soldiers and civilian con-tractors conduct logistics operations,including building about 20 pallets perday for transport by aircraft.

“We’re ... flying out [materiel in Iraq]to keep Soldiers off the road,” said Sgt.Elsira Wedderburn, 317thMaintenance Company, 71st CSB.

“I can tell you that every four palletsmeans one trailer and two Soldiers offthe road,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Wolfe,305th Quartermaster Company, 71stCorps Support Battalion. Wolfe, fromHavre, Mont., is the GS Hub OIC.

Wedderburn, from Philadelphia,

Pa., is the retrograde materiel NCOIC.Retrograde materiel consists of anyused turn-in items such as tires, tankparts, tracks or gun truck equipment,said Wedderburn.

When cargo arrives, the Hub work-ers download the pallets from the trail-ers and determine whether each palletcontains equipment going to a singledestination.

If a pallet contains equipment des-tined for multiple locations, theSoldiers sort the equipment andrebuild the pallets, a process known as“transloading,” said Wedderburn.

In addition to troops from the 317thMaintenance Co., an active-duty unitfrom Bamberg, Germany, contractorsfrom Kellogg, Brown and Root workalongside Soldiers from 551st CargoTransfer Company, an active-duty unitfrom Fort Eustis, Va., and 305thQuartermaster Co., an active-dutyunit stationed in Korea.

Each metal Air Force pallet, knownas a 463L pallet, must fulfill Air Forceheight and weight standards andinspection to make sure there is nodamage to the pallet or the cargo net-ting, said Wedderburn.

At the cargo yard, Spc. Isaac P.Managan, 317th Maintenance Co.,automated logistics supply specialistfrom Montgomery, Ala., used a forkliftto maneuver pallets off waiting trailersand deliver them to the air pallet con-struction area.

Managan estimated he drives atleast 15 miles each day, just maneu-vering pallets.

“I like working out here … becauseof the different jobs you can do,” saidManagan. On the days Wedderburn isabsent from the Hub, he steps up to fillher boots.

Spc. Dennis Arnold, 317th Maint-enance Co. logistics specialist fromWashington, D.C., and MarkusLoehnert, KBR warehouse worker from

Hinesville, Ga., walked around a cargonet spread out on the ground. Pushinga strap here and pulling a strap there,they inspected the lattice for any irreg-ularities that would cause quality con-trol to reject a pallet at the airfield.

Next to them, a team of threeSoldiers winched down a net on a463L pallet of tires.

“Instead of putting more trucks onthe road, we’re building pallets so theycan go on aircraft,” said Pfc.Christopher Field, 551st CTC cargospecialist, of Dixfield, Maine.

With fellow 551st cargo specialistsPfc. Andrew Geesaman, ofWaynesboro, Pa., and Pfc. GeneralWalkers, of Richmond, Va., Fieldpulled the straps tightly and madesure the stacked tires adhered to theAir Force standards.

None of the pallet’s contents extend-ed over the edge. The team eveninspected the underside of the pallet tomake sure it was serviceable.

Although the 551st has been in Iraq



since July 24, 2005, the unit arrived atthe GS Hub about a month and a halfago. Some of the Soldiers build palletswhile others operate the forklift andrough terrain cargo handler.

“It’s hard work right here,” saidField.

“If a convoy comes in at any time,we have to download it,” said Spc.Daniel Coleman, 305th QuartermasterCo. multiclass NCOIC, from Clyde,N.C.

Some missions leave the same nightthey arrive, so the Soldiers mustdownload the trailers as soon as thetrucks arrive.

When the trailers of pallets arrive,whether from trucks or from the air-field, Coleman and his troops inspectthem to make sure each trailer is“pure,” or going to the same destina-tion.

“We make the trailer pure and sendit where it has to go,” said Coleman.Each mission might bring in 12 to 15trailers of materiel of all kinds.

Sgt. Elsira Wedderburn, 317th Maintenance Company, directs an Air Force pallet of

tires at the Q-West General Support Hub Jan. 3.


The security situation in the Tigris River Valleywas the topic of interest again at the RegionalSecurity Council Meeting Jan. 26 at the Morale,Welfare and Recreation Theater here.

“The ambition of every honest Iraqi is to live in hiscountry in peace,” said Imam Ahmed Fathi, a localreligious scholar, speaking through an interpreter.“Peace won’t be achieved until every citizen goes outto defeat these criminals, the terrorists.”

Continuing the theme of community participa-tion, Brig. Gen. Ali chided audience members fordeclining attendance at the security council meet-ings. Ali is the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2ndDivision, Iraqi army commander.

“I hope the reason for the decline is a good one,”said Ali, through an interpreter. He thanked the cit-izens of the local area who watched out and forbidterrorists to operate by reporting them.

Ali’s battalion assumed responsibility for the areawest of Qayyarah between the town and the Mosul-Baghdad Highway in a ceremony here Jan. 28.

“Security continues to be great … mostly due tothe good job the Iraqi army and Iraqi police aredoing,” said Maj. Glenn Gambrell, Task ForceThunder executive officer.

Gambrell spoke for TF Thunder commander, Lt.

Col. Scott Wuestner, who is currently on leave.Gambrell congratulated the attendees on the suc-

cessful December elections and on the recent trans-fer of authority Dec. 27 in Makhmur between coali-tion forces and 3rd Battalion, 3rd Bde., 2nd Div.

“If you’re east of the Tigris River, the Iraqi army isin charge,” said Gambrell.

Gambrell addressed concerns regarding therecent rise in number of escalation of force inci-dents, urging the leaders to let local people know topull over to the side of the road when coalition forcespass.

Brig. Gen. Khalil, Mosul Chief of Police, addresseda recent reduction in the Qayyarah police force. Thepolice situation in Qayyarah is developing for thebetter, said Khalil, and urged the citizens to cut backon the amount of celebratory fire.

A physicians’ assistant from the TF Thunder172nd Brigade Support Battalion, Capt. CharlesRoberts, spoke to the assembly regarding recentincidents of avian bird influenza occurring inTurkey. Roberts explained the causes and transmis-sion of the disease to the leaders, many of whomdwell in farming communities where the populacecomes into daily contact with poultry.

Ali concluded the meeting by addressing ques-tions from various attendees regarding topics ofinterest to each of their communities.


TRV leaders meet, discuss security situation


In Memoriam...Residents of Q-West Base Complex gathered

Jan. 12 to bid farewell to the crew and passen-gers of “Icy 33.”

The Company B, 207th Aviation flight waslost in the line of duty Jan. 7.

Chief Warrant Officer (2) Nate Maplesdenplayed a special musical tribute to an assemblyof friends and fellow troops.

A 1-10th Aviation firing detail gave honors,then presented arms for the playing of “Taps.”


Spotlight on the Q-West NCO Academy: Part OneJJooiinntt ccaaddrree ttrraaiinn IIrraaqqii aarrmmyy NNCCOO CCoorrppss

NCOA PLDC: Q-West school develops IA NCO skills


Tricks of the trade...An Iraqi army soldier, a student at the Q-West NCO

Academy, watches intently as Sgt. Marki Hall, instructor,

demonstrates a tip on how to hold the AK-47 rifle.

The IA students underwent four days of rifle marks-

manship as part of the primary leadership and develop-

ment course at the Academy. The course is designed to

train IA NCOs.

The four-day course consisted of pointers on the four

fundamentals of firing, zeroing, shooting and reflexive

fire. The Iraqi NCOs also received a chance to fire the PKC

crew-served weapon.

The course wrapped up with a “stress shoot.” After

doing a number of exercises, the students attempted

shooting with an increased heart rate.

The light rain that began as adrizzle in the early morningturned into a downpour, cover-ing Perimeter Street in a thickcoat of mud.

Down the long, gray road, thefirst three runners drew nearer,pelting as quickly as they couldin their desert combat boots.Sgt. 1st Class Wesley E. Derrick,a senior instructor at the NCOAcademy here, looked down athis watch and began countingtime out loud.

Breathing hard, the soldiers intheir distinctive “chocolate chip”-patterned fatigues crossed thefinish line and stood, single file,to catch their breath. Jan. 23marked the third day of trainingat Q-West Base Complex for IraqiNCOs, beginning at 6 a.m. with aphysical training, or PT, test.

The test, a modified version ofthe U.S. Army test, consisted ofthree events. The soldiers hadone minute each to do as manysit ups and push ups as possi-ble, then completed a one-mile,timed run.

As Staff Sgt. Edwin R.Sanchez, an infantryman from

1st Battalion, 17th InfantryRegiment, read the instruc-tions, he paused frequently toallow interpreters to translatehis words into Arabic andKurdish. Fellow instructorStaff Sgt. Willie Signil, also of1-17th Infantry, demonstratedthe proper way to completeeach exercise.

The Iraqi soldiers havenever taken this kind of a PTtest and most do not performgroup PT on a regular basis,said Sanchez.

“They’re a little rough rightnow,” said Sanchez, inbetween test-takers. “In a fewdays, they’ll be rolling.”

Alongside the Americaninstructors, Iraqi armyinstructors Sgts. 1st ClassNeshwan and Mohammedpushed the soldiers to poundout more push ups or exertthemselves for one last sit up.Neshwan got down on thefloor and did push ups alongwith the soldiers to keep themfrom giving up.

“Once they start the cyclehere, we challenge them every

day,” said Mohammedthrough an interpreter. Headded, the point of the courseis to push the soldiers.

“If the training is too easy,after graduation they willknow nothing,” saidMohammed. “Then they willgo out, and the terrorists willbe able to kill them.”

This is the challenge theinstructors face. This NCOcourse is not just for promo-tion points - these Iraqi NCOSand their soldiers will go backto facing terrorists shortlyafter they receive their gradu-ation certificates.

“The day after graduation,these guys can be on a mis-sion,” said Signil, who is origi-nally from Philadelphia, Pa.

Each instructor teachesblocks of information such asthe “Iraqi Army Values” or“Law of Land Warfare.”

“The most importantinstruction is the Iraqi armyvalues, because if they learnthese, they will do everythingthe right way,” saidMohammed.

Sgt. 1st Class Ala marches his platoon out of the

schoolyard on the way to the AK-47 range Jan. 25.

Sgt. 1st Class Ala received what used to be knownas a battlefield promotion.

About a year ago, Ala was a jundi, or private, inthe Salamiya Company, near Mosul. The unit wasthreatened by “bad guys,” and some of the soldiersdecided to quit.

The commander asked his soldiers, Who wouldlike to go on a mission to fight terrorists? Ala wasone of only a few who volunteered, and upon suc-cessful completion of the mission, was chosen toreceive training to become a sergeant.

As he spoke, interpreter “Chuck” leaned in closeto translate his words above the clatter of a class-room full of Iraqi NCOs cleaning their AK-47 rifleswhile trying to listen in on the conversation.

Ala, a soldier with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2ndDivision Iraqi army, is currently a platoon guide atthe NCO Academy here. Another cycle of the primaryleadership development course, taught by Americanand Iraqi cadre, began Jan. 21.

This course is designed to train Iraqi NCOs anddevelop a strong NCO Corps for the Iraqi army, mod-eled on the U.S. Army NCO Corps. For soldiers likeAla, the course unearths their potential as leadersand gives them the necessary skills to lead theirtroops.

“The will and the desire to succeed [are] there inthe Iraqi army,” said Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell, NCOAcademy commandant.

Murrell, from Melbourne, Fla., and his instructorsare from various units within the 172nd StrykerBrigade Combat Team, from Fort Wainwright,Alaska.

The curriculum is based on training developed bythe United States Army Sergeants Major Academy,and uses the NCO schools program as its base doc-ument, said Murrell. The Iraqi Ministry of Defenseprovided the NCO Academy with the Iraqi Soldiers’Creed, the Iraqi Army Values and the NCO Creed.

The NCO Academy is a small building tucked into

a corner of the base near the 4th Battalion, 11thField Artillery Regiment tactical operations center.Inside, there are four classrooms, a storage roomand a small covered area for formations.

Outside, the cadre have constructed a combativespit, a mock traffic control point and an obstaclecourse. A one-mile road march down PerimeterStreet leads to the rifle range.

The U.S. Army NCO Corps has a proud traditionthat traces its lineage back to the time of theRevolutionary War. The Iraqi NCO Corps, as thecoalition forces are trying to develop it, is somethingnew for these troops.

The training consists of practical ranges, as wellas classroom training on professionalism, disciplineand soldier skills. From Ala’s words, it seems healready has formed the basis of what it means to bean NCO.

“Kurdish, Arab, Shiite, Sunni – I have to treat allof my soldiers with respect,” said Ala. “All of themcame to protect my country, so I have to be fair tothem.”

In order to become an NCO, Ala first took anexamination. He was then given the responsibility ofleading missions to see if he could lead troops andtreat them with respect.

When Ala arrived at the Academy to attend theNCO course, his initiative once again came to thefore.

“After we began the cycle, the instructors asked,who can march the platoon?” said Ala. He raised hishand and, after demonstrating that he could marchthe troops, was chosen as platoon guide.

The first few days of instruction took place insideone of the small classrooms. A dark red rug coversthe floor, and enlarged photos depicting varioustraining events decorate the light blue walls.

The cadre are compulsive photographers, and thestudents often get into the swing of things, muggingfor the camera.

During the actual class time, however, theinstructors run a tight ship. On the third day oftraining, Ala marched his soldiers in and they stoodat attention by their seats until he gave the com-mand to sit down.

Sgt. Ben Huminski, an infantryman from MerrittIsland, Fla., began teaching a class on the Law ofWar. After every couple of sentences, he paused toallow Chuck to translate his words into Arabic. ThenSgt. 1st Class Neshwan, an Iraqi cadre member,translated into Kurdish.

Huminski, who came to the school fromHeadquarters Battery, 172nd SBCT, put forth a sce-nario. Troops are patrolling outside Qayyarah, andsuddenly they take fire from inside the village. Whatdo they do?

Ala raised his hand. Standing, he said he wouldcall his commander for further instructions beforefiring on the civilians.

To Be Continued...Check out the next issue of the Lifeliner West for more!



Since the last safety article waspublished in the Lifeliner West, wehave had two Soldiers come into con-tact with humvees on Q-West BaseComplex. We were fortunate that theyescaped without serious harm, but itshould serve as a warning to all of us.

Pedestrians and vehicles don’t mixvery well. And when they come intounexpected contact with one another,the vehicle usually wins.

Humvees, especially those withAdd-On-Armor, or AOA, have extreme-ly poor visibility. Unless you have aLevel 1 humvee with no armor and nometal or vinyl back panel, you’ve gotan obstruction of some kind to thefront, side or rear.

The risk management tool we use tocounter this problem is the groundguide. When you back up, follow theArmy guidance on ground guides.

The new problem we face with AOAis the inability to see out the smallsquare windows, which are oftencloudy. How many times have youapproached an AOA humvee trying topull into traffic as the driver is leaningforward, straining to see out the pas-senger side window?

Have you seen this? A driver slowlyeases out into the road, hoping for thebest because he or she can’t very wellsee to the right side. Or what about thedriver who doesn’t ease into the road,but just takes his or her chances andpunches the accelerator pedal?

Talk about living dangerously! As a response to the two humvee

versus pedestrian/bicyclist incidents,the commander of the 101st BrigadeTroops Battalion, enacted a policyrequiring an assistant driver, or TC, inall 101st BTB military vehicles on thebase.

If you’re moving, you’ve got a TC. Will the policy require additional

coordination before you can travelfrom place to place around Q-West?Yes, it probably will.

But the policy will be an effectiverisk mitigation tool; a way to protectthe pedestrians and bicyclists who arein danger.

Talking about safety and risk man-agement only gets you so far. Takingspecific steps to build safety into nor-mal daily operations shows the com-mand is serious.

If you’re in the 101st BTB, you knowyour commander places your safetyvery high on his list.

Safety: Drive to arrive ... safelyBy James Fraser JenningsBrigade Safety Officer

What is leadership? That’s a question I’ve been asked since the day I

stepped in front of a panel of senior noncommis-sioned officers at my first promotion board. As ayoung specialist with only a few years in the Army, Ineeded to prove to them I was capable of being aleader of troops.

Leadership is a constant theme running deeplyinto the ranks of every unit in the Army.

But, do we as Soldiers and NCOs really under-stand what leadership is?

The Army leadership manual, FM 22-100, definesleadership as “influencing people — by providingpurpose, direction and motivation — while operatingto accomplish the mission and improving the organ-ization.”

By the time I made staff sergeant, I found myselfsitting on promotion boards as one of the NCOs whohad to decide whether some young specialist couldlead troops.

When asked what leadership is, most of theSoldiers stated the definition straight out of themanual.

Although it’s the correct answer for promotionand Soldier-of-the-Month boards, I do not believethis one sentence definition captures everythingSoldiers and NCOs must be, know and do to be a

good leader. Leadership is not simply something you can learn

in a book. True leaders must have the ability tolearn from their mistakes.

Newly-promoted sergeants may have the knowl-edge from the leadership manual, but it takes timeto become a leader.

More than 6,000 troops fought on the beaches innorthwestern France June 6, 1944, during the inva-sion of Normandy in World War II.

This defeat of the German forces in France pavedthe way for Allied forces to liberate Europe fromHitler’s army.

Why would so many troops willingly run into abloody battle, knowing they would face possibledeath on the shoreline?

The Soldiers on the Normandy beaches were dis-ciplined, but they also believed in what their leadersasked of them and put the task above their person-al safety.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else todo something you want done because he wants to doit,” said Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Just because a Soldier does what a leader ordersis not an indication of good leadership.

It’s merely a sign of a well-disciplined Soldier. Most good Soldiers will do what their NCOs ask,

but only true leaders can obtain the level of loyaltywhich enables their Soldiers to put the mission

above everything including self-preservation.Being assigned to support and non-deployable

units most of my career, I can’t say I have had to putmy life in danger like an infantryman has done whenhe is doing door-to-door searches in Iraq looking forinsurgents.

But, I have met many Army truckdrivers whoneeded the same kind of loyalty as the infantrymanto follow their leaders out on the Iraqi roads whereinsurgents place roadside bombs and set upambushes.

Over the years I have had many leaders who eachhad their own style of leadership. But, the leaders Ifearlessly followed were those who knew themselves— the good and bad.

These were the leaders I trusted would not see mesimply as the means to make them look good. Theysaw me as a Soldier and a person.

Only leaders who develop their own character canunderstand how leadership is affected by the humandimension.

As a leader, I have learned I must constantly lookwithin myself and assess who I am as a humanbeing. Knowing myself helps me understand mySoldiers and make the best possible decisions.

I believe true leadership is a matter of the heart.In this series, I will look at leadership from the

leaders’ and subordinates’ perspectives, and howour beliefs and values affect how we lead.

There has been a lot of attention inthe media recently regarding theAvian Influenza Virus, alsoknown as “bird flu.” This articleis meant to give you a briefsummary of the facts, withoutany hype.

Avian Influenza Virus is astrain of influenza virus thatinfects and can kill poultry. Therehas been a recent outbreak of thisdisease in Southeast Asia, Turkeyand Iran.

Currently this virus does not easi-ly infect humans, but health author-ities have reported isolated cases ofbird-to-human transmission.

The virus infects humans throughclose contact with infected poultry orpoultry fecal material, such as clean-ing coops, slaughtering poultry andliving with poultry. Fully-cookedmeat and eggs do not transmit thevirus.

The concern is that this virus willgenetically change and develop theability to spread from human tohuman. If human-to-human trans-mission occurs, a pandemic, or

On Leadership, A Series: What is leadership?By Sgt. 1st Class Lori SimmonsBrigade Public Affairs Officer

This photo was taken on Q-West. The

mirror is gone, probably the result of

smacking a concrete barrier.

Think about the hazard presented by

the metal brackets that remain. They’re at

head- or shoulder-level to a pedestrian or

bicyclist.

This is an accident waiting to happen.

When you get into your humvee, think

about how your actions as a driver can

endanger others. Pedestrians don’t stand

a chance against humvees, especially

ones with metal pieces sticking out.

Pedestrians, beware!

MedTalk: Bird Flu and YouBy Capt. A. Michelle Moore, M.D.Brigade Surgeon

worldwide outbreak, could result. Humans have no protection

against this strain of virus. The cur-rent flu vaccine will NOT provide pro-

tection.The World Health

Organization, or WHO, ismonitoring for outbreak ofthis virus in humans. If thisoccurs, the Center for DiseaseControl, or CDC, and similar

organizations across the world willtake measures to slow the spread.

Health authorities may prohibittravel to regions of the world andquarantine the infected. Also, wear-ing masks will slow the spread of dis-ease.

Once the new virus is identified inhumans it will take six to ninemonths for a vaccine to become wide-ly available. In the absence of a vac-cine, anti-viral medication can treatand prevent the spread of the virus.

The Department of Defense’s toppriority for the use of antiviral med-ication or vaccine is in forward-deployed units.

For more information, visithttp://chppm-www.apgea.army.milor www.cdc.gov.

A new uniform policy will affect howSoldiers wear the Army CombatUniform, or ACU.

As of Jan. 12, Soldiers may onlywear black embroidered rank, the U.S.Army tape and name tapes on digitizedACU-pattern fabric with hook fasten-ers. Majors and second lieutenantswill have bronze embroidery.Chaplains are the only Soldiersauthorized to wear branch insignia.

Instead of olive drab, the new hookfastener shoulder sleeve insignia isnow foliage green with black or brown.

Soldiers may not wear ACU-patternfabric covers over the loop-faced padson the ACU sleeves or any embroi-dered badges on the ACU coat.

Soldiers may wear the black orfoliage green fleece as an outer gar-ment with the ACU, battle dress uni-form and desert battle dress uniformwhile deployed or in garrison, unlessthe commander directs otherwise.

These are only a few of the changes.Soldiers should ask for a complete listof changes from their supervisors orfirst sergeants.

Army Combat Uniform changes in effect


Got News? Get in touch with the Lifeliner West!Contact: [email protected] for your 15 minutes of fame.

FFOOBB--uulloouuss EEvveennttssSunday

QBC Unplugged Coffeehouse 2000

MondayTournaments Galore!

TuesdayActing Class 2000

WednesdaySalsa Lessons 1900Guitar Lessons 2000

ThursdayTournaments Galore!

FridayAlternating Country & Hip Hop Night 2100

SaturdayFlea Market 0800-1600

Alternating Karaoke & Latin Night 2100

FFUUNN

FFIITTNNEESSSSSunday

Take a break!

MondayAbs & Core Conditioning 0530

4-Week Weight Training Program 1000Spinning Class 1600Dynamic Abs 1700

Cardio Kickboxing 1800High Impact Step Aerobics 2000

TuesdayExtreme Abs & Core Conditioning 0530

Yoga & Mat Pilates 1900Abs & Glutes 1800 & 2000

Spinning Class 2000

WednesdayAbs & Core Conditioning 0530



ThursdayExtreme Abs & Core Conditioning 0530

Yoga & Mat Pilates 1900Abs & Glutes 1800 & 2000

Spinning Class 2000

FridayAbs & Core Conditioning 0530



SaturdayAbs & Glutes 1800

Yoga & Mat Pilates 1900High Impact Step Aerobics 2000

Spinning Class 2000

Deadline! February 25

ART & POETRY CONTESTS!

SSAAVVEE TTHHEE DDAATTEE!!FEB 1

Chess Tournament 2000FEB 2

Shuttle Run Contest 19008-Ball Tournament 2000

FEB 4

All Star Game

FEB 5

Air Hockey Tournament 2000Open Volleyball 1900-2300

FEB 7

Football Bull’s Eye 1900Texas Hold ’em Tournament 2000

FEB 8

Spades Tournament 2000FEB 9

Cricket Tournament 190040-Yard Dash 1900

FEB 11

Open Volleyball 1900-2300FEB 12

301 Darts Tournament 1900Open Basketball 1900-2300

FEB 13

8-Ball Tournament 2000FEB 14

Run For The Heart 5K 0630Dominoes Tournament 2000

FEB 15

9-Ball Tournament 2000FEB 16

Jump Rope Contest 1900Chess Tournament 2000

FEB 18

Open Basketball 1900-2300FEB 19

Madden Tournament 1900Open Volleyball 1900-2300

FEB 20

Checkers Tournament 2000FEB 21

Spades Tournament 2000Push Up Contest 2000

FEB 22

Shuffleboard Tournament 2000FEB 23

Open Dodgeball 1900-2300Texas Hold ’em Tournament 2000

FEB 25

Open Basketball 1900-2300FEB 26

Powerlifting Competition 1800FEB 27

Ping Pong Tournament 1900FEB 28

Halo 2 Tournament 2000Pull Up Contest 2000

Powerlifting? Just Do It!One day I was in the gym working out, still doing

my same old “I wanna be skinny” workout and Ithought why am I killing myself? I can only get in asgood as shape as my genetics will let me!

People let me tell you, was I wrong!That cold December day, I saw some guys in the

gym wearing funny looking shirts, suits and beltsthat were 10 times too small for them.

They looked like Baby Huey, but the looks on theirfaces were of intense determination. Each one wouldsquat down, grabbing a barbell and dragging it upthe front of his body, giving it everything he had inhim until he stood up straight.

It was an awesome sight! As it turned out, theseguys were powerlifters training for the state champi-onship.

I thought to myself, I can do that! With theirencouragement, one year later I was squatting,benching and deadlifting with the best of them.

Guess what! I got in the best shape I have everbeen in!

This was the greatest and happiest challenge ofmy life. I eventually ended up winning my divisiontitle.

If I can set and achieve this goal, you can set andachieve any goal you want. What a rush!

If this sounds like something you would like totry, come to the Q-West Powerlifting CompetitionFeb. 26 at 6 p.m. Set some goals and achieve some-thing you never thought possible.

Be your own champion and have a good time. TheMWR staff is looking forward to seeing you there.NO EXCUSES!

Have questions? Need help? Come ask for John atthe Q-West Fitness Center.

By John WilliamsonMWR Representative

AT is team to beat in B-Ball League

On the gym side of your Morale, Welfare andRecreation Center, we have the MWR BasketballLeague playing every Monday, Wednesday andFriday night starting at 7 p.m.

We have nine teams of 12 players per team, withthree games played per night on those days.

Leading the charge for the top spot in the leagueis the 52nd AT (3-0).

Second in the standings are the Phantom Fuelersof the 53rd Quartermaster Company.

The 101st Sustainment Brigade is currently thirdin the standings (3-1), boasting an all-around strongteam.

Rounding out the top four teams in the MWRBasketball League are Da Contractors of Kellogg,Brown and Root. Levi Williams is not only the cap-tain of Da Contractors, he is also their leading scor-er.

Only the top four teams will move on to the Marchplayoffs. The season is young, and there is sure to bemovement among the teams in the playoff hunt.

By Dan Lucas and Brook McClainMWR Representatives


OFF THE WIRE: News from the American Forces Press ServiceIIrraaqqii,, AAmmeerriiccaann ssoollddiieerrss eennggaaggee,, ddeeffeeaatt tteerrrroorriissttss

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29,2006 – Iraqi and Americansoldiers successfully en-gaged terrorists and otheranti-Iraqi forces in a seriesof recent operations, U.S.military officials reported.

Soldiers from 1stBattalion, 71st CavalryRegiment, 1st MountainDivision, discovered twodead Iraqis with spent 9 mmcasings next to them duringa patrol in central Baghdadtoday.

Elsewhere, a checkpointmanned by Iraqi police andcoalition forces in Kirkukturned up four suspectedterrorists today. Iraqi policeand U.S. soldiers from the1st Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division,established the surprisecheckpoint early this morn-ing in an area of town noto-rious for terrorist activity.

As the police were admin-istering the checkpoint, avehicle was seen reversingits direction to avoid beingchecked. U.S. and Iraqi sol-diers pursued the vehicle asit drove across open fields

and empty lots to avoidbeing checked.

Soldiers fired at the vehi-cle, killing three male occu-pants. Another male wasunhurt and was detained.All of the men were wearingIraqi police uniforms, butnone of them had officialIraqi police identificationdocuments.

The four men tested posi-tive for explosives residue. Asearch of the vehicle yieldedthree AK-47 rifles, one sub-machine gun, and two pis-tols, officials said.

Multinational DivisionBaghdad soldiers also useda tip from a local Iraqi citi-zen to help detain a sus-pected kidnapping cellleader yesterday. The sol-diers, from 1st Battalion,87th Infantry Regiment, 1stBrigade, 10th MountainDivision, detained the sus-pected criminal.

In his home, they found apistol, a sniper rifle, IEDbatteries, timers and circuitboards.

While searching threeother houses in the area,the U.S. patrol detained

three additional suspectedcriminals or terrorists.These searches yielded four155 mm rounds, two withcell phones attached andrigged for detonation,numerous IED triggerdevices, one AK-47 rifle,and anti-Iraqi forces litera-ture.

Also Jan. 27, Iraqi securi-ty forces backed up by U.S.soldiers from 4th BrigadeCombat Team, 4th InfantryDivision, responded Jan. 27to a call stating that organ-ized terrorists had killedseveral civilians inside amosque in central Baghdad.

Subsequent reports indi-cated that 30 to 50 terror-ists were operating withinthe mosque and were firingrocket-propelled grenadesand small arms at Iraqipolice nearby.

Three suspected terror-ists have been detained inconnection with the inci-dent.

Tips from local residentshave helped Iraqi and coali-tion forces stop dozens ofattacks in Samarra, officialssaid.

Mean Streets

A U.S. Army soldier listens as an Iraqi interpreter explains the anti-

American graffiti scrawled on a wall in the city of Bi'aj, Iraq, Jan. 26.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon, U.S. Air Force

Marine Lance Cpl. Eliot Yarmura leads Iraqi Army soldiers through

an alleyway as they conduct a security patrol through the streets of

Barwana, Iraq, on Jan. 15, 2006. The Marine and Iraqi soldiers are

looking for signs of anti-coalition activity in Barwana.

Photo by Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh, U.S. Marine CorpsStories and photographs reproduced on this page were com-

piled from information released through AFIS. For more infor-

mation, or for news released by the Department of Defense,

visit: http://www.defenselink.mil/news.

AMERICAN FORCES INFORMATION SERVICE

Military ‘stars’ shrilled by role in new DOD documentaryBy Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2006 – Eleven service-members featured in a new documentary aboutopportunities in the military said they were over-whelmed by its message and honored to representthe men and women of the armed forces.

The one-hour documentary, "Today's Military:Extraordinary People; Extraordinary Opportunities,"provides a glimpse into the lives of active- andreserve-component members of the Army, Navy, AirForce, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Troops featured in the film were selected from2,600 nominations, based on their unusual careersand their common drive to do something exception-al with their lives, defense officials said.

The documentary was launched today and will bedistributed widely to help educate the Americanpublic, particularly adults who influence young peo-ple's decisions regarding military service, aboutopportunities it offers.

The 11 participants got their first look at the newdocumentary during a Jan. 26 screening at thePentagon.

Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen Giove, placement direc-tor and conductor for the Marine Corps MusicProgram at Parris Island, S.C., said he was flooredby the documentary's impact. "If I was to say myreaction in a word, it would be, 'Wow!'" he exclaimed.

Giove called it an honor to be among "these amaz-ing men and women in uniform" featured in the doc-umentary. "This is wonderful," he said. "It's anhonor. I'm beside myself."

"Very inspiring," Coast Guard Petty Officer 1stClass William Armstrong said of the film. "It showsthat there's stuff you can do in the military that youjust can't do in the civilian community," he said.

And while offering unique opportunities, the mili-tary also entrusts its members with unparalleledresponsibilities, Armstrong said. He cited himself asan example, driving his own ship as a surfmaninstructor. "That's huge," he said.

Army Sgt. Chet Stugus, a medical animal-carespecialist for military working dogs at Marine CorpsBase Hawaii, called the documentary "very over-whelming" and said he was impressed by how pro-fessionally it was done.

Stugus said he's hopeful the documentary willhelp open people's eyes to the truth about militaryservice and help dispel misconceptions he said manypeople have. "People don't know that we have a nor-mal life. They think we live in a hole or tent all day,"he said. "But it's not that way. We're real people withreal lives."

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Dingle, anaviation survival instructor, said even he gained newinsights into the military as he watched the docu-mentary. "As I watched it, I was thinking, 'Wow!These people have cool jobs!" he said.

The documentary demonstrates that militaryservice offers a huge array of careers beyond whatmany people think of, Dingle said. "It made meproud to see the diversity and the fact that you canhave these kinds of jobs and opportunities," he said.

In 11 individual segments, the servicemembersfeatured in the documentary provide a candid lookat their jobs, the challenges and gratifications theyface and the unique opportunities they're offered inthe military.

Among 11 servicemembers featured in a new DoD

documentary, "Today's Military: Extraordinary People;

Extraordinary Opportunities," are (from left) Navy

Reserve Lt. j.g. Fernando Rivero, Coast Guard

Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Trish Carroll, Marine

Capt. Vernice Armour, Air Force Master Sgt. John

Holsonback and Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen Giove.

Army News Service

Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad McNeeley, USN

gs hub sorts it trv security q-west academy all out. page ...dummies.’” capt. justin redfern,...

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