EDITION 17 COMPLIMENTS OF THE IRONHORSE BRIGADE 31 JUL 2007 Sheiks gather in reconciliation effort By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 1BCT, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks from the Iraqi villages of Aqar Qaf, Bassam, Salamiyat and Fira Shia moved closer to reconciliation July 16 during a meeting facili- tated by the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regi- ment. The sheiks, who are put- ting aside their differences to band together to end vi- olence and bloodshed in their villages, met to dis- cuss ways to start neigh- borhood watch programs made up of volunteers to protect their communities and improve the security U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st BCT, 1st Cav . Div. Public Affairs situation there. Sunni and Shia sheiks from the areas of Bassam, Aqar Qaf, Salamiyat and Fira Shia, Iraq discuss the issue of According to Lt. Col. creating volunteer neighborhood watch programs in their villages during a reconciliation meeting, facilitated by the Kenneth Kamper, com- 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, on Camp Taji, Iraq July 16. mander, 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt., whose Soldiers cur- “This is the first time in “It has been the result of control points and report- rently operate in the more than three years that about six weeks of work to ing insurgent activities to sheiks’ villages, one of the these tribes have sat down bring them to the table and both coalition and Iraqi se- major reasons for the to talk—leaders from the for this first meeting we’re curity forces, the sheiks meeting has been that the west side who are Sunni offering them a neutral opened the discussion on sheiks are tired of attacks and those from the east ground here on Camp how best to implement on innocent civilians and which are Shia. Taji.” their own volunteer pro- coalition forces in their “This has been a very Following on similar ef- gram. neighborhoods and want to positive step on their parts, forts in Anbar province and During the meeting, put an end to the presence and it’s important to have other places, such as Fala- sheiks determined that each village will be respon- of Al Qaeda and other in- them involved in the gov- hat, Iraq, where neighbor- sible for providing its own surgent groups operating ernment process that will hood watch programs are volunteers for security there. lead to volunteers provid- showing success in reduc- within their own respective “This is a monumental ing security for their own ing violence with volun- meeting,” said Kamper. villages,” Kamper added. teers manning traffic (See SHEIKS, page 4) “It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most-likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.” Arnold Toynbee, English historian and philosopher Taji Times Page 2 CSM Ciotola sends...........mentorship This letter was written by As it relates to trust, remind and hold accountable all your Command Sgt. Maj. Neil young seargeants to this axiom: All men are valorous and all Ciotola, the Multi-National women are virtuous until proven otherwise. We as the leader par- Corps - Iraq command sergeant ent must first extend trust in order for our subordinates to prove major, to a staff sergeant who is that they are trustworthy. becoming a sergeant first class Leadership is all about assuming a modicum of risk. We don’t soon. This doesn’t just apply to gamble with the lives of our troopers--that’s why we check every- the staff sergeant, but rather to thing! all NCOs. Teach your lieutenant everything you possibly can. Do not per- On to the issue at hand; any mit your troopers to address the lieutenant as “LT.” If they want additional words of advice for a to use a short term of endearment of respect for their officer or Sergeant Audie Murphy Club leader, have them try the one syllable word that does it all: Sir or member and soon-to-be senior Ma’am. NCO? Well staff sergeant, you Ensure your lieutenant understands he is there to lead, not make CSM Neil Ciotola know me, I always have some- friends. If your officer wants to be a private, he should have be- Command Sergeant Major thing to say. come one. Show your officer what it is to be selfless. Teach him Multi-National Corps - Iraq Insomuch as leadership is there is no such thing as sergeants’ business; everything that hap- concerned, I’ve forgotten more than I ever hope to remember. I pens in a unit is the officer’s business. used to worry about that until I finally realized that this is a team We as NCOs do our job--we spell it DUTY! And finally, remind sport. So long as we can lean on one another we’ll all be fine. your officer they are not necessarily smarter than their enlisted. As I mentioned to you a while back, you are a top 10 percenter; To lead is a test of character. Teach your officer to LEAD! your @#! is forever staring people in the face as they look up at I’ve got lots more advice, but I’m not going anywhere. All we that flag pole. Never forget that you are being watched, observed, senior NCOs and officers are here for you and your battle bud- assessed, measured and scrutinized even when you think you are dies. You don’t have to have all the answers. Together, all of us not. do. Sometimes we forget that we’re all here to lean on one an- Be the first and last in everything; first to arrive and last to go other. We’re all here to teach, to inspire, to carry one another, to home or sleep. Check everything and force your platoon leader to recognize and bring out the best in not ony ourselves but every- do the same, even if it’s after you put everyone down for the one around us. night. Some of my fondest memories with my platoon leaders I was and remain very proud of you young staff sergeant. Take and company and troop commanders were trooping the line in the charge, train your troopers, move out, draw fire, PID those sons- late hours of the evening or early hours of the morning--just the a-@#! and kill or capture ‘em all. Teach your Soldiers to recog- two of us. nize and embrace all the good people both here in Iraq and back Remember to be consistent with your troopers. Be perpetually home. optimistic. Lift up you troopers spiritually, emotionally and pro- And finally, please tell all in your brigade how very, very proud fessionally every day. Be that guy or gal who literally lifts up the I am of them all. After 31 years in the Army, I can’t help but have youngster who stumbles on patrol or in life. strong feelings for our combat support and combat service sup- Don’t permit phallic measuring contests in combat. This is a port troopers. All of you, every one of you, lifts and sustains team sport. You do everything as a team: clear a house, climb a those at the tip of the spear every day. wall, walk a street, conduct a combat logistics patrol, prep for any Our logistics troopers seldom reap the recognition our trigger mission and any task. Scrutinize each other. pullers do, yet they fight to provide superlative support to them Be an overt example. Ask one of your privates to check you out every day. each day to show your troopers that it takes a village. Praise your Now that’s devotion, that’s love, that’s selflessness. That, young youngsters overtly when they ID a deficiency and do it correctly sergeant, is commitment! and respectfully. This has nothing to do with trust; it has every- This letter originally appeared in the MNC-I publication thing to do with preserving the fighting strength. Phantom News, and has been re-printed here in its entirety. 1st Brigade Combat Team Commander, Col. Paul E. Funk II Taji Times is authorized for publication by 1st Brigade Combat 1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer Team, 1st Cavalry Division for the Camp Taji community. The Maj. Randall Baucom contents of the Taji Times are unofficial and are not to be con- Public Affairs NCOIC sidered the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Govern- Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp ment, including the Department of Defense or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Taji Times is a command information newspaper in accor- dance with Army Regulation 360-1. The Public Affairs Office is on Gamecocks Ave. in building 543, VOIP 242-6914. Taji Times, HHT 1st BCT 1st CD, APO AE 09378. Contact the 1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer Maj. Randall Baucom at [email protected] Taji Times Page 3 U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs Left:Sgt. Anthony Santos, a combat engineer for Sapper Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment who hails from Santa Rita, Guam and Killeen, Texas, and his counter- part, an Iraqi Army engineer with the 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) observe as an Iraqi Army back hoe clears reeds from a canal near Al Awad, Iraq July 18. Inset photo:An Iraqi Army en- gineer gives hand signals to a back hoe operator, another Iraqi Army engineer, directing him where to dig during an ef- fort to clear areas where insur- gents have hidden weapons in the past. Stallion engineers assist Iraqi Army in Al Awad By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp nearby patrol bases that have been recently Spears, who hails from San Antonio, of 1st Brigade Combat Team established to maintain a presence and how things used to be when the Sapper Co. 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs keep the area secure. first arrived in country about eight months Sapper Co. commander, Capt. John ago. “Now as time has gone on, they are AL AWAD, Iraq -- Engineers from Com- Burrescia, a Dickinson, Texas native, said taking over, and they’ve been doing most pany E “Sappers,” 2nd “Stallion” Battal- he sees the significant role the IA engi- of the work. They have been learning very ion, 8th Cavalry Regiment are continuing a neers and his Soldiers play in assisting the quickly and providing us input which is partnership here with their Iraqi Army combat missions of his fellow Stallion something they weren’t doing that much counterparts from the 3rd Brigade, 9th troops in Co. B and C and their ISF coun- before.” Iraqi Army (IA) Division (Mechanized) to terparts. “They are getting better everyday and rob insurgents of the ability to wage at- “We’re brand new to this area and its it’s their country and they are taking more tacks against civilians, Iraqi security forces all about dominance and the ability to re- responsibility and taking pride in the own- and coalition forces. spond quicker,” said Burrescia. “We didn’t ership of their country,” added Spears. The partnership here was evident have a presence here before and now we Sgt. Anthony Santos, a team leader for July 18 as they worked in a joint effort to have hard tank assets and other capabilities Sapper Co. who hails from Santa Rita, re-shape terrain by clearing reeds and and we’re very focused on enemy activity. Guam and Killeen, Texas, said he enjoys knocking down structures in which insur- (For our role) we’re opening fields of fire working with the IA engineers. gents could hide and from which they and making a lot of engineering improve- “They’re using their own personnel to could launch their attacks. Using Iraqi ments that help with force protection.” do the work and their own equipment, Army backhoes, Iraqi troops pulled reeds “We also know that buried IEDs are a we’re just here to observe as well as pull out of drainage canals and also used the very real threat and we’re working to shut- security to help them as they work,” said equipment to take down man-made struc- down that threat,” he added. “We’re very Santos. “They’re really good engineers and tures in a field as the Sappers pulled secu- effectively minimizing the enemy’s ability we help each other, and we only step in if rity and observed the work in the event to affect what we’re doing here.” they need our help.” their Iraqi comrades needed help. According to 1st Lt. Daaron Spears, a “When they got here today, we didn’t Both the IA and U.S. engineers platoon leader for Sapper Company, the have to tell them what the job was, what to worked in support of the local civilian work Sapper Co. is doing with their Iraqi do or how to do it,” added Santos, noting populace as well as Iraqi security forces Army counterparts will be very helpful in that the IA engineers are no longer relying and Soldiers from Companies B and C, leading to their transition and he’s seen a as much on their support but are becoming 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. currently operating gradual change towards just that. more self-reliant. “They just came out here out of the area. Troops from Co. B and C “When we first got here, we were and started working.” along with IA troops are working from doing a 100 percent of the work,” said (See ENGINEERS, page 5) Taji Times Page 4 MND-B assists in Iraqi Police recruiting By Staff Sgt. Mary Mittlesteadt 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment BAGHDAD — With Al Qaeda op- eratives plaguing the western Abu U.S. Army photo by Ghraib neighborhood, local tribal Staff Sgt. Mary Mit- leaders and volunteers have taken a tlesteadt, step forward in the political process 7th Mobile Public Affairs and fight for security. Detachment Local sheiks, Iraqi Police offi- Volunteers get their cials have teamed up with Multi-Na- recruitment application tional Division – Baghdad Soldiers packets checked by Iraqi to recruit 1,900 new Iraqi police of- Police officers and workers ficers. from the Ministry of “We have 6,000 people who put Interior at the police their names on the list to volunteer,” compound in Baghdad’s said Capt. Lawrence Obst, com- Abu Ghraib June 28. . mander of Company E, 2nd Battal- Forces in and the Iraqi government. Obst said he’s seen a difference “The markets in Nasir Wa ion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st “A lot of these people have not in the neighborhood. Salam, where I operate, were closed Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry been supporting us (the Coalition) “Attacks have decreased dra- when we got here. Now they are Division. over the past four years,” said Obst, matically in my sector,” said Obst, a open. People are going about their The plan for the new officers is who has been working closely with native of Summit, N.J. “They have business and constructing houses to refit three new stations which sheiks in the area. “Just now, we helped a lot in securing the area al- and the economy is getting started were undermanned and add two have been able to sit down and talk ready by providing intelligence and again,” Obst continued. “There is a new stations in the area to enhance with the local leaders on why we are providing security around their own huge improvement for both us and the security through what is known here. At the same time, they are real- homes.” the lives of the Iraqis who live as the ‘Gateway to Baghdad,’ Obst izing what a bad influence Al Qaeda Obst said his area of operations there.” said. has been on the area.” had been a hot-bed of violence, with Even with this improvement, The process of getting these new Hussein Kadhein Zaydan, an roads littered with improvised ex- Zayden still knows there is much recruits into training, and on the Iraqi Police recruit, said many in the plosive devices. that needs to be done on the part of streets securing their neighborhoods area are tired of the violence brought “There was one day in March, the Iraqis themselves in the area. starts with an identification screen- on by Al Qaeda operatives. where one patrol hit three IEDs in “We cannot seek the help of the ing process. This process is being “We saw oppression and depres- the same day,” he remembered. “In Americans forever. One day, they conducted by Soldiers from 2-5 sion and they killed our women and the last month, since we have been will leave us and we will be on our Cavalry and Ministry of Interior our children and we want to stop working with them, we have had own,” Zayden said. “The Ameri- workers. them,” he said through a translator. two IEDs in my sector.” cans have helped us, but we need After the selection process, the Zaydan added that the only solu- When they first arrived in Octo- to depend on ourselves.” best applicants are selected to begin tion to confront Al Qaeda is to partic- ber 2006, Obst said his company had Zayden said that support for training as Iraqi Police officers. ipate in the political process, become small arms fire attacks nearly every his country will endure long after The recruiting comes shortly part of the political reconciliation, other day. Now, they have had one Coalition Forces depart. after the call from local tribal leaders and to be legitimized as an Iraqi Po- small arms fire attack in the past “Until we die,” he said, “we for reconciliation with Coalition lice officer. month. will defend Iraq.” (From SHEIKS, page 1) village. There will also be areas, training, inducting them into the progress with service projects,” lieves the sheiks will make or fault lines, where combined Iraqi security forces, according to said Kamper. “(Reconciliation) progress in their process of recon- Sunni and Shia volunteers will Kamper. The reconciliation of will build a foundation for work- ciliation. “Overall, I feel really work in places that borders for the sheiks will open the doors for ing service projects and issues. good about seeing that the two villages overlap and areas such as villages working with the Iraqi When the Sunnis and Shia can sides are clearly engaged in a di- on bridges and at traffic control government and coalition forces come together and agree on secu- alogue and are committed to points. to pursue future projects to im- rity and it improves, eventually working together,” said Kamper. In the longterm, some of the prove the quality of life for vil- we will be able to fix water and “The key thing is each of the volunteers will actually become lagers. work other projects and begin leaders have pledged themselves policemen and will make up the “There has to be a stable se- making dents in the services gap.” to support the Iraqi government nucleus of a police station after curity environment or we won’t Kamper said that the meeting and to resist Al Qaeda and receiving official government be able to make any great was very positive and that he be- militias.” Taji Times Page 5 Pulling with all their might U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan Hoskins, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Public Affairs Office Soldiers from the 615th Aviation Support Battalion “Cold Steel,” 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, pull with all their might as other Cold Steel warriors do the same on the other end of the rope in friendly tug-o-war competition during the battalion’s sports day July 8 at Camp Taji, Iraq. ENGINEERS Continued from page 3 Santos said he hopes his Soldiers have learned some valuable life lessons and ex- periences from working with the Iraqi en- gineers. “We’re from two different armies,” said Santos. “They can’t expect the Iraqi Army to operate the same way that the U.S. Army does. They have to realize that the U.S. way of doing things isn’t always the best way, and to open themselves to other ways of doing things. I hope they understand the need to be respectful of cultural differences and be sensitive to other people’s ways of operating.” Burrescia praised the Sapper partner- ship with the IA engineering platoon. “They’re the reason why we’ve Above:An Iraqi Army engineer from the 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) been successful here,” said Burrescia. knocks down an abandoned shack near Al Awad, Iraq July 18 to prevent its use by insurgents as an “Their company commander has been area from which they could potentially launch attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces. very helpful. They have a lot of equip- ment that we don’t have. If we need nership built neers assisted in the discovery and dis- bucket loaders, they’ll be proactive and on mutual respect.” posal of three improvised explosive de- let us take what we need to get the job Just over the past week and joined by vices in the area. They also partnered done. Whenever they need our help, we’re Soldiers from the 20th Engineer Battal- recently to emplace a bridge for an assault glad to help them as well. It’s been a part- ion, Sapper Company and the IA engi- mission. Taji Times Page 6 Falahat returns to normal as kids play in fun day Dagger Troop brings fun day to children, parents in Falahat By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office Falahat, Iraq – The sounds of laughing girls and boys could be heard as Soldiers from Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Ar- tillery Regiment brought the children here a day of fun through painting as well as other activities July 7. The Soldiers handed out paint brushes and paint and watched as the children painted pictures and their names on concrete U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp barriers. They also played with the children, Soldiers from Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, greet local villagers in Falahat, kicking soccer balls to them. When the paint- Iraq July 7 during a “fun day” for the village’s children sponsored by Trp. D. ing was done, the troops gave the children dren and their parents a day that they can “They’re taking ownership in taking toys and candy. enjoy together that allows for them a time to back the streets here,” said 1st Lt. Mike In addition to the children, the Trp. D have fun and some normalcy in their lives.” Blake, a platoon leader in Trp. D and a native Soldiers continued building relationships “It also allows us the chance to get out of Baltimore, Md., whose troops work out of with parents and other adults in the village— on the street to get to know the locals better an outpost in the village. a place that was once plagued by daily vio- and talk to each other,” Wohlgemuth added. “It’s not much different than what hap- lence. Interacting with children in a setting that pens in the states when gangs try to come Things in the village have changed, was once wrought with violence has been an into an area and take over, the people get fed thanks to area sheiks gathering together with interesting experience, said Trp. D Soldiers up with it and fight them—that’s exactly their people and the local government to end who have been performing cordon and what the people here are doing against the sectarian violence and promote reconcilia- searches and other major operations in the insurgents,” said Staff Sgt. Danny Garner, a tion in this town which just a month ago was area for the past seven months. Trp. D squad leader, who claims Cherokee, shaken by constant improvised explosive de- “This is unique, and it’s really quite dif- Ala. and Longbeach, Calif. as his home- vice attacks and gunfire, according to Capt. ferent than when we first started coming towns. “It was not something we came up Martin Wohlgemuth, commander, Trp. D down here,” said Spc. Matthew Dixon, a for- with, but it was the people who came to us and a native of Anchorage, Ala. ward observer with Trp. D who hails from and said they were fed up with the violence. Now, mainly quiet, thanks in part to a Pottstown, Pa. “You can definitely see a I remember seeing a brother of a man who neighborhood watch--made up of local con- change in the neighborhood—adult males was killed by insurgents crying and saying cerned citizens--that informs on insurgents, are not afraid to come out of their houses and that he was ready to fight the insurgents right reports terrorist acts and notifies Coalition you see kids playing outside. It’s becoming now. and Iraqi Security Forces if caches are found, like any typical neighborhood again.” In recent weeks, locals working in Fala- the village is beginning to come back to life, “I feel really good about it, because you hat’s neighborhood watch program have led said Wohlgemuth, and the fun day was a can actually see the results, before it didn’t Trp. D Soldiers to several weapons caches good sign that soon the focus on security can feel like anything was happening and there and improvised explosive device materials. move more towards reconstruction efforts was no proof that anything would ever They have also reported on insurgents lurk- and projects. change,” added Dixon. “Now you actually ing in their neighborhoods. “This has been something we’ve been see people waving and smiling at you.” “The people here are the ones who knew hoping to do since we got here, turning from Soldiers explained what it means to who the foreign fighters were in their neigh- more of a security operations role to helping have villagers here taking on their own fight borhoods and they have helped rid the area the people which is great news,” said against the insurgency. (See, FALAHAT, page 7) Wohlgemuth. “Today, we are giving the chil- Taji Times Page 7 Col. Paul E. Funk II, commander, 1st “IRONHORSE” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division addresses six members of Congress, who represent districts in Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas, on Camp Taji, Iraq July 22 during a special presenta- tion for the distinguished visitors that was held in Taji’s Ministry Center. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp) FALAHAT Continued from Page 6 of those foreign fighters,” said Blake. “This has been a great step forward, see- ing this community stand up, and this is truly a blessing,” injected Garner. Also at the request of the villagers, Trp. D Soldiers set up a newly established out- post in the village to assist with security when necessary. One of the next steps to getting the vil- lage back to normalcy will be working short term projects in conjunction with the local Iraqi government to get the people back to work. “We will be working with them on proj- ects that will pay them and employ them,” said Wohlgemuth. “Some of the projects will be similar to the Conservation Corps back in the 1920s and 1930s in which peo- ple were hired to clean canals and pick up garbage.” In addition, said Wohlegmuth, Pfc. Charles McVey, a tanker with Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd the village will soon be moving ahead with Field Artillery Regiment, who hails from Lakeland, Fla., opens a some projects to refurbish schools, fix can of paint in Falahat, Iraq July 7 during a “fun day” for the chil- water mains and electrical lines—things dren of the village which was sponsored by Trp. D. In the event, that, until now, could not be given a green the children painted their names and small pictures on concrete light due to security concerns. barriers. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp) Taji Times Page 8 Messages from the Homefront To: SSG James Velesky To: CPL David J. Weckwerth (4/9, A Co) and all Days are continuing to pass as nights fall, some the U.S. Soldiers at Taji, pass roughly while others you blink and they All your family and friends back home are are gone without you really knowing. But what- proud of your contributions during Operation ever these days may be i hope that we can con- Iraqi Freedom. You stand between what is tinue to find strength, courage, determination good and bad every day and we want you to and faith, in our friends, family, God and more know that your service is commendable. We so in eachother. You said it wouldn't be easy look forward to your safe return. To all the 4/9 ,but we are doing it together! Here's to one year Manchu’s, “Keep up the Fire!” of marriage and the rest of our lives to go! Bill, Lavonne, William and Weston Happy Anniversary honey! I love you and I'm waiting! To my Cubby Bear, All My Love Forever and Always, I’m spending all your money and the kids Your Babydoll have destroyed your DVDs. Kidding. Can’t wait to see you again. We miss you everyday. To: Enrique Avalos Jr Love, Cathy Bear Happy 10th Anniversary! I am looking forward to many more anniversaries with you. You are my best friend and I have loved every minute of our marriage. I Thank the Lord everyday for bless- ing me with your love. I know we promised to renew our vows on this day, but we will when you return. Remember I want to grow old with you! Your loving and always appreciative wife, Sandra Ministry Center/Tigris River Chapel Weekly Events Schedule WEEKLY EVENTS Ministerial Staff EVERY Sunday: 0830 Hrs Sunday School Ministry Center 0830 Hrs New Believers Chaplain Leader 1000 Hrs Worship Service (CPT) DAVID SCHLICHTER [email protected] 1st & 3rd Monday: 1900 Hrs Leadership Tigris River Chapel Training Pastoral Lay Minister 2nd & 4th Monday: 1900 Hrs POWER (WO1) CURTIS JOHNSON Tigris River Chapel Prayer [email protected] 1st Tuesday: 1900 Hrs Marital Minister of Music Tigris River Chapel Enrichment (CPT) MATTHEW MILLER [email protected] 2nd Tuesday: 1900 Hrs Women’s Tigris River Chapel Fellowship 3rd Tuesday: 1900 Hrs Singles’ Tigris River Chapel Fellowship 4th Tuesday: 1900 Hrs Men’s Tigris River Chapel Fellowship EVERY Wednesday: 1900 Hrs Bible Study Ministry Center EVERY Thursday 1900 Hrs Choir Rehearsal *** & Saturday: Ministry Center EVERY Friday: 1900 Hrs Open Circle (RM 31) Ministry Center Ministry Center 1900 Hrs Joy Nite! Taji Times Page 9 Healthy steps toward re-deployment By Staff Sgt. Mary Mittlesteadt to fill out the Post-Deployment Health Assess- wellbeing. 15th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs ment form and complete a one-on-one with a The information Soldiers put on the PDHA 13th SC (E), LSA Anaconda PAO medical care provider. form is protected medical information, not puni- “During the one-on-one we annotate what we tive, and will be put in their medical record. CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- After a long year in Iraq feel the Soldier needs, so when they return they “There is no reason not to be honest. It is to filled with stressful and physically demanding can get care,” Hartstein, a native of Rockfield, help individual Soldiers,” she said. moments, the word ‘re-deployment’ is like sweet Md., said. She added that the assessment is also For example “some people worry about dust music in a Soldiers ears. Although, excitement is intended to track trends and large scale problems and environmental exposures and shouldn’t be high and boarding the flight home may be the so they can be addressed in the future. afraid to voice those concerns,” Hartstein said. focus for some, all must complete a mandatory For all Soldiers, this brief and assessment has to However, she added the assessment is not for ad- re-deployment medical threat brief and health as- be completed within 30 days prior to leaving the- dressing short-term issues that should be handled sessment prior to leaving theater. ater. Soldiers can expect to learn about common by going through a local troop medical clinic for “The goal of the brief and assessment for Sol- health problems, such as upper respiratory infec- sick call. diers is to screen for problems that may have tions primarily associated with the environment For National Guard and Reserve component been developed during the deployment and prob- and bowel disturbances caused by change of diet Soldiers, completing this assessment properly is lems that may develop after returning home,” and eating habits. equally important, said Hartsein. Medical issues said Maj. Bonnie Hartstein, brigade surgeon, The brief also covers infectious diseases like documented on the PDHA are used to ensure ac- 15th Sustainment Brigade from Fort Hood, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, malaria and sexually curate referrals when they return to their demobi- Texas. transmitted diseases. lization site or home station. The re-deployment medical threat brief gives To prepare for the health assessment and help She recommends Soldiers keep the Soldiers knowledge of documented health con- this process run smoothly and quickly, Hartstein PDHA form available and not to pack it cerns and threats from the region they are sta- suggested Soldiers should “anticipate the ques- in their luggage, because they will need it tioned in and informs them of the possible joys tions that the will be asked and be ready to an- to depart theater. and stresses of reintegration with family and swer them.” Completion of these re-deployment friends. A few of the topics covered are health changes steps will take Soldiers that much closer “It lets Soldiers know what they need to know during the deployment, sick call visits, medica- to their family and friends and give tools about their health prior to re-deploying,” she said. tions taken during the deployment, vaccination and knowledge to use for their health and After the brief, Soldiers will have the opportunity history, combat related incidents and emotion successful reintegration home. 113th Medical Company Combat Stress Control “Never Leave A Fallen Comrade” We are currently offering classes and groups everyday!!! No appointments are necessary!!! All classes take place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on days listed below. Mornings: 10 to 11 a.m. Afternoons: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Classes Monday (Morning Only): Anger Management Monday (Afternoon Only): Relationships Tuesday (Morning Only): Stress Management Tuesday (Afternoon Only): Money Management Wednesday (Morning Only): Coping Skills Wednesday (Afternoon Only): PTSD Group Thursday: Conflict Resolution Thursday (Afternoon Only): Drug/Alcohol Group Fridays (Morning Only): Relaxation Techniques Friday (Afternoon Only): Smoking Cessation Directions: 113th CSC is located at the corner of Sooner Ave. and 37th. Directly east of the light tower. 113th MEDICAL COMPANY Combat Stress Control, Building 632 Sooner Avenue DSN: 318-834-1050 VOIP: 302-242-6950 (OIC) LTC: [email protected] (NCOIC) SFC: [email protected] Taji Times Page 10 CCHHAAPPLLAAIINN’’SS CCOORRNNEERR Getting over the hump By Chaplain (Capt.) David Johnston or on the home front, and encourage ourselves that this too shall pass, that we are 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Chaplain making a difference over here, that things won’t always be the way they are—they will get better. While running, it is a great feeling reaching the half way point because you know that all of your efforts now are carrying towards your destination, towards the In the book of Hebrews the author compares life to a race and encourages finish line. However, the half-way point is also a difficult on a long run because after those who are running it to “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that all that you have done you are only half way there. You know that you are heading so easily entangles us.” A runner wouldn’t wear any additional clothing than nec- towards the finish line but it is still no where in sight. That is where many of us find essary in a race or tether themselves to some heavy object; rather, they get rid of ourselves in this deployment. Everyone has been working hard for quite sometime everything that is not essential to helping them win. Many times in we can add a now and there is still quite as ways left to run. The question is how do we finish lot of unnecessary things in our lives, that that slow us down, that pull our focus away strong? from the finish line. These things can be a poor attitude, a bad habit, harboring anger towards someone, and the list could go on and on. Spend some time thinking First, pace is everything. If you begin a marathon at the same pace you would about those things that really hold you back, those things that weigh you down as a 100 meter sprint then burnout is eminent. Now is a great time to look at how you you run and ask yourself, “What needs to change here?” are holding up under the stressful conditions you are placed in everyday. Are you getting enough rest? Making time, however little it may be, to take care of yourself? Finally, think about how you want to finish this race. What state do you want Are you fulfilling the personal and professional goals you set before you came to be in when you go home? What do you want to accomplish over here profes- over here? Now is the time to look at those things and adjust fire if necessary. sionally and personally? List thosethings and ask yourself, “What do I Secondly, keep a log of all of your successes since you have been here. need to do to get there?” What attitude do I need to embrace to Throughout the Old Testament when God would do significant things in the lives carry me through to the end? What things do I need to put in place of his people they would build an alter. Every time they, or others, passed by that to help run this race? We need to constantly keep the finish line be- altar they would be reminded of something great God did. We all have those mo- fore our eyes and if we do, then we will finish strong. We will look ments when we feel overwhelmed, when we feel that nothing is going our way, that back over all that we have done and have something to be proud of. we just can’t seem to get a break. When we have those moments we need to be We will look back and be satisfied knowing that we gave it our all, able to look back over our accomplishments, whether they happened in the field that we ran well and finished strong. CAMP TAJI RELIGIOUS SERVICES SCHEDULE Rawhide Chapel (Bldg. 639) Warrior Chapel (Bldg. 510) POC: SPC Leathermon 834-1049 POC:SSG Drain 242-6501 Sunday Sunday 10 a.m. Protestant 10 a.m. Traditional Protestant 2 p.m. LDS Service Wagonmaster Chapel (Bldg. 97) 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Protestant POC: SGT Kimp 834-1124/1161 Saturday Saturday 1 p.m. Catholic Mass 10 a.m. Catholic Mass Sunday 10 a.m. Church of Christ Tigris River Chapel 10 a.m. Contemporary Protestant (Theater) POC: SSG Drain 242-6501 Tuesday/Thursday Sunday 7 p.m. Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Traditional Protestant 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Protestant Friday 2:00 p.m. Spanish Protestant 6 p.m. Communion Service Friday Saturday 12:00 p.m. Islamic Prayer (Jummah) 7 p.m. Catholic Mass 1:00 p.m. Islamic Q & A Service 7:00 p.m. Jewish Service Special Forces Chapel POC: CH (CPT) Black 246-1032 Saturday Sunday 10:30 a.m. SDA Service 2 p.m. Protestant 8:00 p.m. Catholic Mass Saturday For Gospel Services/Weekly Activities at the Ministry Center and Tigris 4 p.m. Catholic Mass River Chapel, please see Page 4 of the Taji Times.