Bn jul 2012 newsletter

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PACESETTERS PAGE 2



Dear Family and Friends of the Pacesetters,

Although I thoroughly enjoyed my mid-tour leave last month, it is great to return to my deployed Pacesetter family as we continue our efforts to “finish strong.” Returning to a deployed environment can be mentally

taxing and emotionally draining; however, it also provides a great opportunity to reflect on the true reasons why our men and women continue to make important sacrifices in their service to our nation. I am always humbled by my interactions with our Pacesetter Soldiers, NCOs and Officers. I truly believe they are an amazing group and represent the best in all of us. Their dedication to our nation and fellow Soldiers is remarkable. They are selfless and loyal, and I consider myself fortunate to lead the Pacesetters throughout Operations NEW DAWN and SPARTAN SHIELD. It is hard to believe that our time in theater is nearing an end. I have told the Pacesetters to avoid counting the days. Instead, make every day count. I can assure you that they have been doing just that. Although, we are less than 60 days from our redeployment date, the Pacesetters continue to make a difference. Throughout the past month, the 541st CSSB has played a key role in the reception of over 2,000 vehicles and almost 20,000 pieces of equipment throughout the Army Prepositioned Stock replenishment efforts. Their efforts ensured 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division made it home to their families in a timely fashion. The selfless service and dedication demonstrated by the Pacesetters made this happen. Additionally, our team continues to

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support multiple other important efforts throughout the CENTCOM AOR. Needless to say, they are definitely making every day count! Our Battalion staff continues to work hard to prepare a seamless return to our families anxiously standing by within the Fort Riley community. I want to take this time to personally thank each and every one of our family members for your support and prayers throughout this deployment. We could not have accomplished all of the monumental tasks without your support. My goals are for the Battalion to finish strong and return every member of our Battalion back to you, safe and sound! I assure you that the staff here and our rear detachment at Fort Riley are working hard to ensure the Battalion puts the same level of effort into our homecoming as we have into this deployment. I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at the “Finish Line.” Again, thank you for your support and we all look forward to reuniting with our loved ones very soon. May God continue to bless the Pacesetter Team. No mission too difficult, No sacrifice too great. Duty First! All my best,

LTC Bill Cain

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Hello to the Pacesetters and Families Another month has come to an end bringing us that much closer to getting back home. June was very busy for us. We said goodbye to the 22th QM Company as they completed their deployment and returned back home to their loved ones. It was a bittersweet

moment. On the one hand we bid farewell to a hardworking and motivated group while on the other hand it we remained excited to get Soldiers back home safe and sound. During the month the Pacesetter team proved its mettle in assisting the 1BCT, 1Cav in transferring their property as they completed their deployment and head back home. The team was ever professional, capable, agile and motivated. Great work! As the 4th of July approaches it is important to take a few minutes and ensure we have a safe and enjoyable celebration. Enjoy the day of barbecues, fireworks and camaraderie but be safe during the season. The weather is hot and dry. Be vigilant! The team here is winding down while the Rear Detachment is spinning up. We have many new members to the Pacesetter family. Hello to all. There is much left to do so remain focused and finish strong.

No mission too difficult, No sacrifice to great. Duty First! CSM Bryan Witzel Pacesetter 7

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“The LORD watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Psalm 121:5~6 (NIV Version) This bible verse has great meaning because as we near the end of this deployment, many Soldiers are growing tired and weary. However, this verse encourages the Pacesetter team to rely on God’s strength to get them through any personal or professional challenges they may be facing. Allowing God into their lives helps our Soldiers to “Finish Strong.” With God, the hot desert becomes bearable. With God, the loneliness associated with missing families and loved ones can be overcome. With God, all things are possible. In Psalms 40:1~5; King David says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” Please think about this verse as well in order to get you through any life’s troubles you may be dealing with, just as King David did. The King David gives us an eternal principle regarding our circumstances. The King David was in a bind. He was at a low point in his life. It would have been easy for him to look only at his circumstances, which may have caused him to go into a deep depression. However, he chose to look up to the Lord. This bible verse is a reminder to us that we have choices in our lives. One of these choices is to look around at our circumstances and be depressed. The alternative is to have a more joyous outlook on life by looking up to the Lord. He always hears our prayers and shares our burdens. He will help us if we put our trust in the Lord, Our Savior.

May God continue to bless each and every one of you! CH Joung, Yong At Camp Virginia in Kuwait [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]

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Being given the privilege of commanding HHC, 541st CSSB for the past year has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. As I prepare to change command in just a few short weeks, I’ve thought often about the Hurricane Soldiers and Family Members. Seeing how well-trained, mature and dedicated our Soldiers are reminds me every day how extraordinary the members of the US Army truly are. I can’t think of a better group of individuals I would want to deploy with, no matter what the mission or location is. It has been my pleasure and honor to

be a part of such an outstanding organization. Every one of you should be proud of yourselves, both Service Member and Family Member alike, for an outstanding job well done. As I move on to whatever assignment awaits me next, I want you all to know I will be forever grateful for the amazing opportunity to be a part of such a unique organization. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Stay always safe and strong. Larry Cook “Hurricane 6” CPT, QM Commanding “Hurricanes”

As we prepare for redeployment back to Fort Riley, I want to take a moment to thank all the Soldiers and Families for the outstanding work and support that has been provided during this past year. The professionalism and commitment to duty that our Soldiers in HHC have shown is among the best I’ve witnessed in over twenty years of service in the Army. This would not have been possible without the love, support and patience that the many Family members and friends. We’re almost through the home-stretch and will be home before most

of us realize it, so just remember to stay focused and finish strong. Kevin Phelps “Hurricane 7” SFC, USA First Sergeant “Hurricanes”

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For the month of June the S2 continues to operate at a steady pace as 1LT Smith, Joshua provides support for the OSC-I mission in conjunction with planning and preparing for redeployment. Additionally; he is synchronizing with his counterpart at the AFSBn SWA to ensure the transition of the 98th SMC is seamless.

1LT Smith (S2) and CW2 Dickinson (S6) before the Company Volleyball Game.

PACESETTERS PAGE 8



The S3 Section’s mission is never done, even though it is time to wind things up in

preparation for the Battalion’s redeployment we still manage to leave our mark.

When the word of our possible redeployment came down, the S3 Section took the

reins of our redeployment package and has worked diligently with other staff

sections to ensure the entire end of mission requirements were completed. As we

wait patiently on our approval of our expected departure, we the S3 section continue

to coordinate with our rear detachment in order to ensure Non Commissioned

Officers on the back log are enrolled in schools. We have ensured that the 541st

Combat Sustainment Support Battalion as a whole has the required trained personnel

to fulfill Fiscal Year (FY) 13’s Mandatory Training needs.



The S4 Section has been very busy this past month! We have been

preparing for the change of command ceremony scheduled for the month of July

between the outgoing HHC Commander and the incoming Commander. We are

very sad to see our outgoing S4 OIC, CPT Ellenburg, leave. She will be taking

over duties as the Commander for HHC, 541st CSSB. On another good note, the

S4 family welcomes 1LT Tagulao to the S4 section taking over for CPT Ellenburg

as the new S4 OIC. SFC Graves is excited to teach another Officer the ways of the

supply world!

We have been tasked to conduct additional missions to allow for the

smooth transition for the transfer of authority (TOA) of 98th SMC and getting

geared up for redeployment. SSG Walcott has been extremely busy managing the

changeover in the battalion’s fleet. He has been such a great facilitator in

acquiring all the necessities needed for the quick, “get it done now” missions.

SGT(P) Magee has been working diligently as the S4 representative working

between Camp Virginia and Camp Buehring. SGT Gearhart and SGT Magnus

have been working for the ARCENT Dining Facility (named the Oasis). SPC

Dodson was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for

volunteering over 100 hours at the USO. SPC Dodson dedicated his free time to

serve and assist the Camp Virginia USO during his free time. In doing so, he was

recognized for his selfless service. Now, the S4 is highly engaged in preparing to

redeploy back to Fort Riley, Kansas. We all cannot wait to get back to our family

and friends!

CPT Ellenburg (Outgoing S4 OIC)

1LT Tagulao (Incoming S4 OIC)

SFC Graves (S4 NCOIC)

SSG Walcott (Fleet Manager)

SGT(P) Magee (Supply NCO)

SGT Gearhart (Food OPS NCO)

SGT Magnus (Food OPS NCO)

SPC Dodson (Supply Specialist)

PACESETTERS PAGE 10



541st CSSB Team SPO, 98

th Maint Co, and Soldiers from the 1/1 CD units, lead the way for its

participation in the Army Pre-positioned Stock-5 (APS-5) turn in on Camp Buehring from 29 May-

30 June 2012. They maintained 100% property accountability and transported equipment from

Camp Buehring to Camp Arifjan for reset and re-issue.

CW2 Tanner, celebrated his birthday “TEAM SPO STYLE” as he turned a new age of

(@!#%$#). Chief your secret is safe with us!

SSG Anderson, 1st CAV Soldier, and local nations prepare to load a M1 Abrams

tank.

CW2 Tanner surprise birthday party came with a fully ignited cake. t



PFC Punto was presented the Pacesetter of the Month, by LTC Cain, for his active

participation the APS-5 turn in located on Camp Buehring. He was responsible for

submitting 370 rolling stock (RS) packets and 1929 non-rolling stock (NRS) packets in a

timely manner to AWARDS and PBUSE operators, worth well over 10 million dollars.

PFC Punto presented Pacesetter of the month by LTC Cain.

PACESETTERS PAGE 12



The month of June the S6 has been stretched thin working long arduous hours. 1LT Oates has assumed the BDE S6 OIC duties due to emergency circumstances at BDE. SSG Aguirre and SPC Spillane have been setting the pace in Camp Buehring providing outstanding signal support for the BDE elements located there and the BN’s APS5 mission. SPC Gabel the “One Man Wrecking Crew” is working in Camp Virginia on the clean up of the battalion’s footprint there. While CW2 Dickinson, SGT Andrews, and PFC Mardoyan keep the battalion talking here at Arifjan.



APS-5 Mission in full swing

T h e W o l v e r i n e

98th Support Maintenance Company,

Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring—Kuwait

Just as the month of May came to an end, the APS-5 retrograde mission kicked off in full swing. The Allied Trades Platoon, headed by 1LT Kaizer and SFC Drummond, tackled the fast-paced job and did it with proficiency. From one major processing job to another, the team was always ahead of schedule. It was already known that the task was to be an enormous undertaking, even months before it began. The mission drew a lot of attention so naturally; many rehearsals were conducted throughout the month of May before actual execution. (Left pic: 1LT Kaizer briefs an overview and answers questions as he will take the reins in this mission; Top right: a panel of senior leaders and key personnel are the audience; Bottom right: 1LT Traverzo, Automotive Platoon Leader and RPAT OIC, briefs his piece of the pie regarding

theater provided equipment)

Oh, the memories … …for

those who have been to

Camp Anaconda (Balad),

Iraq before the days these

bases were referred to as

FOBs (forward observation

base). This painted T-wall

barrier became a landmark

on Anaconda during

Operation Iraqi Freedom II

(2004). A maintenance unit

had it painted, making their

location indisputably easy

to find. The wall has been

preserved and relocated to

the front of our future

battalion here in Kuwait.

Initial days. We’re past the halfway mark now!

Headquarters, Camp Virginia. Do you recall the random motivational PT conditioning that came out

of nowhere?

Here’s AUTO platoon attending the RPAT Academy training in February of this year. Not only has 98th become expert at this, we run the Academy

now.

PACESETTERS PAGE 14



5K RUN...times two Just about every month, Camp Arifjan hosts a five kilometer run within the post. Sometimes they’ll host longer routes but the 3-miler is the norm. Besides getting a decent cardio workout, a free t-shirt seems to be an incentive for many. Runs such as these are open to everyone on post, service members and Department of the Army civilians alike. The start point, like a pep rally, is filled with music to pump you up. Right before the “On your mark, get set, go!” signal, a prayer is said and a salute rendered to the flag during Reveille. Then, it’s a race against time before the

morning gets

unbearably hot. There were two runs within weeks of each other this month. One was at the end of May, celebrating Memorial Day and the other on May 14 recognizing the Army’s birthday. (Below, 1LT Jimenez displays his collection of t-shirts that he’s collected from

the runs he participated in.)

MWR tour to Kuwait City A group of eight from our company had the opportunity to travel to the heart of Kuwait this month. On the agenda for this particular trip: The Kuwait War Museum, the Science Center and the Radisson Blu Hotel restaurant.

The morning began with waiting at tables and chairs set up right beside Green Beans Coffee at the PX. Our group was huddled in one area while two other groups gathered in spots of their own, each of us waiting for our assigned tour guide. One by one they arrived, each with separate itineraries than the next. One group, I overheard, was headed to the mall, which the guide explained to us later wasn’t unlike a mall in the states except in architecture. And, the sports stores are incredibly partial to soccer shoes and attire. Not surprising in a country that televises soccer daily. The mall wasn’t on our list; however, we’d see a few of them along the way surrounded with a more metropolitan view than what we’re used to. We traveled via a truncated bus on the highway. The drive started out with a barren landscape on either side of the road but eventually became populated with more indigenous housing structures, very square in geometry and solid in structure. As rural turned into urban, buildings and houses got bigger. At one point a series of mansions were posed off to our right and they looked nearly identical. We were told a very wealthy man housed each of his four wives in them; one spouse could not live more lavishly over the other, so the story goes. It was in a residential neighborhood that our bus came to a halt. The first stop was the Kuwait House of National Works War Museum (continued next page)

1LT Erhard stands with newly promoted PFC Guerrero.

Congratulations!

PFC Thomas and PV2 Kohlmeyer pose while on an ice run. Ironically, ice is a

HOT commodity. 402nd Army Field Support Brigade’s CSM Canterbury (center) and 98th’s 1SG Fox (second from right) pose

while observing an AMATS class.



T h e W o l v e r i n e

where we immediately began snapping pictures after exiting the bus. We hadn’t even made it into the museum proper before stopping in the gift store. Before going on the narrated tour, the group of us sat down in a comfortable room and exercised the custom of sipping some hot sweet tea offered in small almost toy-like glasses. The museum is an educational statement that houses a no-holds-barred look at Kuwait’s history and events surrounding Iraq’s invasion of the country. Through its renditions, pictures, and displays, our departure left us with a much more sobering sensation from when we first entered.

After leaving the memorial museum we loaded in the short bus and headed toward the water. As we closed in to our destination, palm trees and seawall set the background. It was the Arabian Gulf and it was filled with boats and Wave Runners on this day. It was a beach kind of day, ideal for this trip. The bus had parked, and like our first stop at the museum, our cameras were immediately employed coming out of the vehicle. We were at the Science Center which was wisely located against the inlet. We circumnavigated around the building, enjoying the picturesque sites and docked examples of wooden-frame boats, before entering. Not unlike being in a mall, we window scanned a few minutes—a candy station, 3-D theater, and hands-on museum being eye-catchers among the stores, but since we were on a schedule, we hit the highlight of the stop—the Aquarium. Roaming through the dark halls of glass and fish was no different than visiting one at home; it was a refreshing feeling, really. The main attraction was the large tank full of exotic fish and sharks with a couple divers among them, cleaning the rocks. The tour guide waited for us at the exit. When she tapped on her watch we knew it was time to go.

The final experience was topped off with a lunch trip, taken place at the Radisson Blu Hotel restaurant. Wanting a little morsel of everything, we collectively decided on the buffet. All dishes tasted as exquisitely as they were displayed. And the dessert bar?…a motley chock full of irresistible calories. At the end of the feast, we all unwound with a diversity of after-meal drinks, ranging from tea to cappuccino to thick Turkish coffee. Right outside the hotel was the Al Hashemi II, a structure deemed the largest wooden dhow (sailing vessel) in the world. With its affiliated Marine Museum and homage to its maritime heritage, we spent our last hour (and final camera battery life) walking through the tribute. Although we had only been away from base for about six hours, the day was very fulfilling. Return to base brought us back to reality and our barren environment, but at least for a moment, although brief, it felt like a vacation.

Outside and aboard the Al Hashemi II

Buffet—Radisson Blu, Kuwait City

Dessert!

Wooden sailboats on display

Overlooking Kuwait City from Arabian Gulf

Perspective

PACESETTERS PAGE 16



“…….What kind of training, son?”

“Arrrrrrrrrrrmy training, Sir!” ——Stripes (1981)

The Company conducts IED and Rollover Training

SPC Woods is postured through a

machine gun ring mount in an up-

armored HMMWV displaying the

practice of watching your 5s and 25s.

When you're on a mounted patrol (in a

vehicle on a convoy, for example) and

you come to a stop in the road, you

make two passes with your eyes. One

pass is for immediate harm to you—

things within 5 feet of you, like IEDs

and mines. The second pass is 25 feet

from you, and involves stuff like

fortifications, people, possible threats

and so on. Every time you stop, you

employ this visual screening of the

environment.

Soldiers get a refresher lesson on VBIEDs (vehicle born improvised explosive devices). The instructor in the left picture holds up a mock electronic detonator; the right picture portrays a mortar propellant hardwired to the device in the vehicle’s trunk.

A realistic look at a destroyed HMMWV. SPC Huerta and 1LT Jimenez pose at the ready position with

simulated rifles in hand.

ROLLOVER

TRAINER

For this training event, Soldiers buckle in inside a chamber which is framed exactly like the inside of an MRAP vehicle. The point of this exercise is for the Soldiers to react to the simulated MRAP being toppled to its side or upside down from, for example, an IED blast or being in an accident. The slides above show members of GSE platoon strapping in their seatbelts. Once settled and buckled in, the machine is rotated belly side up. The slides to the right exhibit Soldiers safely exiting the vehicle, helping their comrades’ exit, and

pulling security as protocol.

Bn jul 2012 newsletter

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Transcript of Bn jul 2012 newsletter