The ivy leaf, volume 1, issue 19

Volume 1, Issue 19 March 11, 2011

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ter several months of guid-ing 5th Iraqi Army Division soldiers through the 25-day training cycles of Tadreeb al Shamil, U.S. advisors took a step back, allowing Iraqi in-

structors to take charge of the exercises at Kirkush Military Training Base.

U.S. Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, “Gimlets,” 2nd Ad-vise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division led Iraqi cadre through a dry run of the day’s live fire maneuvers, March 9, providing guidance before allowing the Iraqi Army

units to run their own classes.Cadre hand-picked Iraqi

instructors, alumni from previ-ous Tadreeb al Shamil training rotations at KMTB, to lead the development of Iraqi soldiers as U.S. forces transition the base to the control of the Iraqi Army.

“As we know, the U.S. Army is going to pull out from Iraq, so we need to be our

own army and be dependent on ourselves,” said Staff Sgt. Ayad, a 5th IA Div. instructor at KMTB.

Ayad said leading classes at a fundamental level will help the Iraqi jinood, Arabic for soldiers, retain the information and bring the training to their respective duty stations.

Iraqi instructors take the reins at KMTB

Sgt. Shawn Miller109th MPADUSD-N Public Affairs

Staff Sgt. Ayad, 4th Battalion, 21st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, teaches Iraqi jinood, Arabic for soldiers, a maneuvering class prior to a live fire exercise at Kirkush Military Training Base, Iraq, March 9, 2011. U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, assumed a supervisory role as Iraqi instructors led the Iraqi courses. Currently conduct-ing the third iteration of the 25-day training cycle, known as Tadreeb al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, U.S. forces are transitioning control of the Iraqi military training initiative to IA units.

see KMTB, pg. 3

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shawn Miller, 109th MPAD, USD-N PAO

KIRKUSH MILITARY TRAINING BASE, Iraq – Af-

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The Ivy Leaf March 11, 2011

Soldiers train vigorously to hone their skills, reinforcing each aspect of their training until every Soldier performs critical tasks as second nature.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chase McGann, scout pilot assigned to Troop A, “Aces,” 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Saber, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, demonstrated years of training while conducting counter-indirect fire patrols in a U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa helicopter, Feb. 23.

“We were pulling missions in Diyala province that day,” said Capt. Phillip Vaughn, commander, Troop A, 6th Sqdn., 17th Cav. Regt. “We received a call about a threat to forces.”

The threat to forces manifested in the form of rocket attacks fired from improvised rocket launchers and impacting at Contin-gency Operating Base Warhorse, said Vaughn.

“He flew to the location and conducted a recon of the threat area, where he identified five improvised rocket launchers, with four rockets still to be fired,” said Vaughn.

McGann assessed the situation, determining there was insuffi-cient time for ground forces to react, and engaged the targets with three 2.75-inch rockets, which resulted in direct hits, destroying two rockets and disabling the remaining rockets on the IRL.

McGann then secured the site until ground forces arrived and assumed responsibility of the area.

“He was quick to react. One (rocket) could have launched at anytime,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Abimael Hernandez, the troop standardization instructor pilot attached to Aces Troop. “He saved the lives of many Soldiers by his actions.”

In addition to his reconnaissance duties, McGann also acts as an instructor pilot for the unit’s aircrew training program, mentor-

ing new pilots and instilling unit standards to the troops.“He brings the best out of the pilots,” said Hernandez. “He’s

very energetic, and we are glad to have him on our team.” McGann’s decisive actions resulted in the destruction of an

enemy threat, ensuring security for personnel at COB Warhorse and earning him recognition as “Ironhorse Strong” Soldier of the Week.

THE Ivy LeafThe Ivy Leaf is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Ivy Leaf are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. All editorial content of The Ivy Leaf is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the United States Division-North Public Affairs Office.

Do you have a story to share? The Ivy Leaf welcomes submissions from readers. Send to the USD-N PAO at [email protected]. The Ivy Leaf reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions or comments, email USD-N PAO or call DSN 318-849-0089.

Commanding General – Maj. Gen. David G. PerkinsCommand Sergeant Major – Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey

TF Ironhorse PAO – Lt. Col. Steve WollmanTF Ironhorse PA NCOIC – Master Sgt. Carmen Daugherty-Glaze

The Ivy Leaf Layout & Design – Spc. Thomas Bixler

2nd Advise and Assist Brigade

25th Infantry Division

1st Advise and Assist Task Force

1st Infantry Division

4th Advise and Assist Brigade

1st Cavalry Division

Task Force Ironhorse

Task Force Ironhorse Public Affairs

Page 4 Page 5 Page 8 Page 10

Support Soldiers take Operation New Dawn

mission, logistics to heart

Iraqi mechanics keep army rolling along

‘Chaos’ Soldiers enhance proficiency, clear path for

‘lost art’ of engineering

Officer brings years of experience to ond

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chase McGann, scout pilot assigned to Troop A, “Aces,” 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, Task Force Saber, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, earned recognition as “Ironhorse Strong” Soldier of the Week, during a counter-indirect fire patrol near Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, Feb. 23, 2011. McGann, who pilots a U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa helicopter, identified and destroyed several im-provised rocket launchers aimed at COB Warhorse, resulting in the destruction of an enemy threat and ensuring security for personnel at COB Warhorse.

U.S. Army photo

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“We realized we were giving these guys training, but they re-ally had nothing to sustain it af-ter they received the training,” said Sgt. Christopher Mola, an infantryman assigned to Com-pany A, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt.

Mola said U.S. Soldiers hand-picked Iraqi jinood, who displayed leadership poten-tial during previous Tadreeb al Shamil training cycles, to be used as instructors at KMTB. Tadreeb al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, is an Iraqi training program to build IA units’ capability to conduct national defense operations.

“After we leave, they’ll have the instructors here to continue the training, whether it’s here at KMTB or at their own indi-vidual units, to ensure that the soldiers retain the knowledge they gained by coming here,” said Mola, a native of Valpara-iso, Ind.

Under the direct supervision of Gimlet advisors, Ayad and fellow instructors taught indi-vidual movement techniques to the Iraqi jinood before conduct-ing practice runs at the squad and team levels.

Operating in four-man teams, Iraqi soldiers of 4th Bat-talion, 21st Brigade, fired live rounds as they rushed their objective, practicing proper movement techniques to com-plete the assault.

U.S. Soldiers carefully ob-served the training and served

as range safeties, while Ayad and other Iraqi instructors ran with each team, coaching the firers and making on-the-spot corrections.

“It’s actually very motivat-ing seeing these instructors take over,” noted Mola, serving his second deployment to Iraq. “You can tell that they want to be here, and they want to see their army get better.”

The Iraqi squads and pla-toons learned to work together and put aside any cultural dif-ferences in order to achieve their mission, Mola added.

Ayad said under the current training model, IA units will work their way through squad and platoon exercises to com-pany and eventually battalion-level maneuvers as they build confidence during the month-long cycle.

“It’s very, very useful for us. We are doing the train-ing, and we are the instructors now,” said Ayad. “We know (U.S. forces) will try as much as possible to help us stand for

ourselves. We’re trying to get the most important training that we’ll need to defend our people and our country.”

While two-man teams com-pleted the firing course, Iraqi instructors led the other jinood through concurrent training, such as weapon disassembly and maintenance, room clear-ing and firing positions in order to keep their skills sharp and maximize their time at the base.

Following the April train-ing iteration at KMTB, Iraqi leadership is slated to take full control of Tadreeb al Shamil, he said.

In order for the IA to suc-ceed, unit leaders need to en-force a training regimen for the jinood to retain their skills and knowledge when they return to their areas of responsibility, Mola explained.

“It’s going to be a big re-sponsibility for us, since we’ll need to keep the same path we are going through and keep up the good training for the sol-diers,” said Ayad.

Continued from KMTB, pg. 1

Sgt. Stephen Miller, an infantryman from Batesville, Ark., assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st In-fantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assisst Brigade, 25th Infantry Division mentors 5th Iraqi Army Division instructors prior to the start of a live fire exercise at Kirkush Military Training Base, Iraq, March 9, 2011.

Staff Sgt. Ayad, 5th Iraqi Army Division, coaches two soldiers through a live fire exercise at Kirkush Military Training Base, Iraq, March 9, 2011. As U.S. forces transition KMTB to full Iraqi control by summer, Iraqi instructors are taking the lead in teaching the 25-day Tadreeb al Shamil classes for battalions of the 5th IA Div.



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In addition to daily responsi-bilities, the Security platoon of Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st In-fantry Division ensures critical supply convoys arrive at mul-tiple locations throughout the Kirkuk province in northern Iraq.

Tracking Iraqi Police check-points; communicating with U.S. forces at contingency op-

erating sites; maintaining mil-lions of dollars of equipment and sensitive items and con-ducting security for logistics patrols, sound like the respon-sibilities of commanders and their staffs—not the actions of a single platoon, said Staff Sgt. Brent Budd, track vehicle re-pairer, Company A.

Logistics are the heart of Operation New Dawn, and the Soldiers of Company A take the mission to push needed sup-plies to the men and women de-ployed to U.S. Division-North seriously, said Budd, who serves as a Security platoon convoy commander during lo-

gistics patrols. “The routes we travel every

day are like the veins, and like a heart we’re moving all the time,” he said.

The Security platoon en-sures rations, medical supplies, fuel and ammo are delivered regularly to the contingency operating sites in Kirkuk prov-ince, said Budd, a native of El Dorado Springs, Mo.

The supply Soldiers oper-ate from Contingency Operat-ing Site Warrior traveling tens of miles to deliver supplies to the Soldiers conducting U.S. forces’ advise, train and assist mission.

After leaving COS Warrior, the logistics convoy must be prepared to overcome any ob-stacle that might prevent them from their objective, he said. If the supplies do not reach their destinations, it is like blood not making it to vital organs in the body, said Budd.

The Security platoon Sol-diers are charged to provide safe transport for the supplies needed at the outlying bases in the province, said Budd.

The Soldiers who maintain security for the logistics mis-sion place a lot of stock in their responsibilities, taking every logistics patrol as the most im-portant mission of the day.

The mission requires vigi-

lance on the part of Security platoon Soldiers, who begin preparing at least four hours before each mission, conduct-ing pre-combat checks and in-spections, validating commu-nications and verifying route conditions, said Budd.

The squad leaders of Secu-rity platoon are responsible for ensuring that the mission is ac-complished successfully and the Soldiers are prepared for any contingency, he said.

“We even check the truck loads,” said Budd. “If some-thing falls off that truck, and we get stuck out there on the road, we’re a sitting duck.”

“Prior to the convoy brief we (inspect) everyone and ev-erything to ensure the convoy is ready to roll,” said Sgt. Corey Eggers, automated logistical specialist, Company A. “Then we will announce ‘Red Con One’ over the radio.”

Red Con One means they have full accountability of all personnel and sensitive items and are prepared to travel to the next location, said Corey, a Campaign, Ill. native.

Spc. Juan Marcial, a land combat electronic missile sys-tem repairer, Company A, 101st BSB, said the Soldiers of Security platoon believe they have one of the most im-portant missions in 1st AATF, Task Force Devil, and are ready to meet any challenge or make any sacrifice to accomplish the mission.

“Our Mission is important,” said Marcial, a native of Mars-ing, Idaho, who serves as a truck gunner. “How would any-one like it if they were stuck out there, and food, fuel and mail couldn’t make it to them?”

Support Soldiers take Operation New Dawn, logistics mission to heart Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux1st AATF Public Affairs1st Infantry Division, USD-N

Spc. Matthew Hackbarth, a motor transport operator from Phoenix, Ariz., assigned to Security pla-toon, Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Di-vision from Fort Riley, Kan., per-forms preventive maintenance checks and services on his vehi-cle, March 1, 2011, to ensure the vehicle remains operational for the platoon’s next sustainment mission in support of Operation New Dawn.U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Dedeaux, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div, USD-N

CONTINGENCY OPERAT-ING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq –

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line of Iraqi Army humvees, truck opera-tors and mechanics from 4th Battalion, 21st Brigade, 5th IA Division systematically worked to get their vehicles mission ready.

As the IA continues to develop its forces during Operation New Dawn, U.S. advi-sors assigned to Task Force 225, Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division focus the 25-day training cycles at Kirkush Military Training Base on getting Iraqi mechanics ready to assume independent operations.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Roger Peterson, the BSB noncommissioned officer in charge of the maintenance training, said beyond the basic preventive maintenance checks and services procedures, the goal of the course is to get the Iraqis comfortable conducting in-depth operations by the book.

“We’re trying to show them not just PMCS, but taking them to the next level so they’re able to quickly identify the fault, fix the fault and get the truck back on the road in order to go on with their mission,” said Peterson, a native of Nebraska City, Neb.

Throughout the month-long training rotation at KMTB, known as Tadreeb al Shamil, the Iraqi mechanics learn through classroom training and hands-on practical exercises how to keep their army running smoothly. Tadreeb al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, is an Iraqi military training initiative providing individual and collective training for Iraqi Army units to create a modern, self-sustaining Iraqi Army.

American instructors teach the course employing a train-the-trainer concept, Pe-terson explained. U.S. Soldiers provide the guidance necessary to complete the task, and in turn give the responsibility of teach-ing the class to the students.

Kalid Mahde Mosser, a jundi awaal, similar to an U.S. Army private, said that although the IA started using humvees a few years ago, the Iraqi Army never used technical manuals or systemized parts or-dering for maintenance operations.

“I’ve dealt with these humvees for three or four years, but I need to learn more de-

tails about these trucks in order to com-plete our missions,” said Kalid, a mechanic with 4th Bn., 21st Bde. “Working with the manuals (U.S. forces) gave us makes the training very easy to go into detail and do it step by step.”

After teaching the Iraqi jinood, Arabic for soldiers, how to use the new guide-books, Peterson required the Iraqi mechan-ics to go through a practical test.

Peterson and BSB Soldiers disconnect-ed random wires and unhooked parts as a test to see if the students retained their newly learned troubleshooting procedures.

Technical manuals in hand, the students poured over every angle of the trucks look-ing for the fault.

Peterson said the Iraqi jinood learned to conduct vehicle maintenance using the methodical order prescribed step-by-step in the technical manual.

“We take them through the process of identifying the fault so that they are not just replacing parts that aren’t the actual issue,” he added, noting the mechanics will save the Iraqi Army time and money by doing so.

Rather than ordering parts from local merchants and paying on their own as they used to, the mechanics now utilize a data-

base parts ordering system through supply units within the division.

Spc. Brooke Lohuis, a mechanic as-signed to BSB, said Iraqi and U.S. leader-ship are collaborating on streamlining the parts ordering system to make it more ef-ficient for units in the field.

Originally from Alliance, Ohio, and serving her second deployment to Iraq, Lohuis tutors her Iraqi counterparts to take over her job once the U.S. withdraws from Iraq.

Lohuis said the 5th IA Div. mechanics work through language and cultural barri-ers with the BSB mentors and quickly pick up the skills necessary to act autonomously.

“This isn’t their first time working on the trucks,” she said. “We’re focusing more on trying to get their system on how they order parts, how they fix parts, how they get their tools and teaching them easier ways we know on how to fix the problems they have.”

After learning mechanic fundamentals as a civilian, Kalid said the more in-depth maintenance course at KMTB now com-pletes his skill set.

“I’m ready to deal with anything with these trucks now,” he stated.

Iraqi mechanics keep army rolling along Sgt. Shawn Miller109th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentU.S. Division-North Public Affairs

U.S. Army Spc. Brooke Lohuis, a native of Alliance, Ohio, and an instructor assigned to Bri-gade Support Battalion’s Task Force 225, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Divi-sion, points out maintenance manual guidelines to Iraqi mechanics conducting preventive maintenance during a training course at Kirkush Military Training Base, Iraq, March 10, 2011.

KMTB


KIRKUSH MILITARY TRAINING BASE, Iraq – Spare parts lying around a

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day the “The Shield of the Ironhorse” guards the Gates of Contingency Operat-ing Base Speicher, protecting the men and women serving as part of Task Force Iron-horse.

Deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, Soldiers of Company D, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Di-vision, are charged with the execution of the COB Speicher defense and force pro-tection mission, said Capt. Wayne Stratton.

“Our job is to maintain base defenses and force protection for the COB so that the units stationed on Speicher can conduct their advise, train and assist missions with-out having to worry about base security,” said Stratton, commander, Company D.

The base defense mission can be broken down into three separate operations at COB Speicher; maintaining and running the en-try control point, the base reaction force, and the command staff’s personal security detail, explained Stratton.

For each facet of the base defense mis-sion, Company D coordinates with the Base Defense Operations Center for plan-ning, intelligence and support, explained Stratton.

“If there are any significant events relat-ed to enemy activity or force protection, we push that information down to Company D so that they can take the appropriate actions to increase security at the entry control point and increase readiness of the base re-action force,” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Lam, BDOC noncommissioned officer, assigned to Headquarters Support Company, DSTB.

Providing the personnel and planning needed to ensure the execution of the base defense mission, Soldiers of Company D, known as “The Shield of the Ironhorse,” must maintain a high level of mission read-iness, situational awareness and flexibility with the mission-set, said Stratton.

The Shield of the Ironhorse conducts weapons familiarization exercises, crew drills, pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections of equipment and weapons to remain mission ready.

“There is a lot that goes into this mis-sion,” said Staff Sgt. Philip Hackler, non-commissioned officer in charge of the BRF. “We are a small company to begin with, so planning is a big part of making sure all the pieces are in the right place.”

The BRF has the task of ensuring the integrity of the COB perimeter, and acts as a quick reaction force should the base be-come the target of enemy attacks, Hackler said.

“We are on call 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week because the enemy is unpre-dictable, and we need to always be ready,” said Spc. John Rohrback, a cook assigned to the Company D BRF.

The BRF conducts routine patrols inside and outside the COB perimeter wire to en-sure the integrity of the base and the safety of its Soldiers.

The Soldiers of Company D place equal importance on all parts of its mission and realize the significance of the mission at the entry control point.

“The ECP is the main avenue on and off of the COB,” said Spc. Joshua Burch, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, who serves as a gunner and driver for Company D.

“If someone with bad intentions is going to attempt to enter the COB, chances are they are not going to jump over the wire or do something crazy,” said Burch. “They are going to try to sneak through the ECP. That’s why we have to stay ready.”

Burch said Company D Soldiers remain committed in their efforts to ensure that the multi-faceted base defense mission is ex-ecuted to standard.

‘Shield of the Ironhorse’ performs multi-faceted base defense missionSgt. David Strayer109th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentU.S. Division-North Public Affairs

Spc. Joshua Burch, Company D, Division Spe-cial Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, assumes a good firing position to make ac-curate, precise shots during weapons famil-iarization training at Memorial Range located near Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Jan. 14, 2011. Burch, a wheeled vehicle mechanic who serves as a gunner and driv-er for Company D, is part of the unit’s Base Reaction Force. The Company D mission of upholding force protection standards on the COB means that Soldiers, who serve as “The Shield of the Ironhorse,” must maintain a high level of mission readiness.

Spc. Hezel Donre, a signal support specialist from Pohnpei, Micronesia, assigned to Com-pany D, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, conducts daily preven-tive maintenance checks and services on a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, March, 1, 2011. “The Shield of the Ironhorse,” Soldiers of Company D are responsible for maintaining and running the entry control points, maintaining the Base Reaction Force and providing security for the command of 4th Inf. Div. and U.S. Division-North.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Strayer, 109th MPAD, USD-N

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Ingram, USD-N PAO

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Twenty-four hours a

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“Fire in the hole,” yelled “Cha-os” Soldiers of Company C, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battal-ion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., follow-ing the second simulated deto-nation of an explosive-laced wire. A path cleared, the Sol-diers continued breaching the notional “minefield.”

Combat engineers conduct-ed In-Stride Breach training at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, March 5.

The training provided ju-nior enlisted Soldiers of Com-pany C the opportunity to re-fine skills that are becoming a “lost art” for combat engineers, explained Staff Sgt. Patrick Si-erbert, acting platoon sergeant and combat engineer serving with Company C, 1st STB, 1st AATF.

“What we’re doing today is a squad manual minefield breach drill,” said Sierbert. “As combat engineers, our task is to enable mobility for our sup-porting units with breaches, like the one we’re practicing.”

Engineers deployed in sup-port of Operation New Dawn conduct primarily route clear-ance missions, which leaves some of the Soldiers, especially the junior enlisted troops, with-out the actual experience or training on the breaching skills relevant to their military oc-cupational specialty, explained Sierbert, a Jackson, Mo. native.

Tasked to advise, train and assist Iraqi Army engineer units in military exercises such as In-

Stride Breaching, Siebert said validating his Soldier’s abilities through tough, realistic training remains important to the devel-opment of his Soldiers and the successful accomplishment of the mission.

Since the majority of the Sol-diers had not practiced manual breaching since basic training, Siebert began the breach train-ing with simple familiarization.

As the event progressed, Soldiers completed different scenarios, combining situations such as casualty evacuation exercises, to make the training more varied and realistic.

Spc. Kevin Gibson, a com-bat engineer from Pulaski, Tenn., Company C, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., said he liked the hands-on training because it added to the fundamentals he was taught during basic train-ing.

In the days prior to the training exercise, engineers practiced mine breaching tech-niques without using vehicles. Once the training began, in-dividual teams positioned their vehicles approximately 50 me-ters from the breach site.

The ‘grappler,’ the Soldier charged with the light weight grapnel hook, exited the ve-hicle and made his way toward the minefield, throwing the grapnel hook into the minefield while taking cover. The grap-pler pulled the grapnel hook through the notional minefield to clear a path for the Soldiers, searching for any trip wires that could be harmful to his team in completing the mission.

After the grappler reached the minefield, the demolition team moved out. The team, responsible for breaching the concertina wire surrounding the

field and clearing a lane for the vehicles, assembled and deto-nated an explosive line charge.

Once the squad leader ap-proved the breach lane, a Sol-dier marked it with traffic cones that formed a funnel to guide the following vehicles through

the pathway.Siebert said a successful

search is conducted within a 10-minute standard, which Chaos Soldiers of Company C will validate during a live fire exercise in the near future.

‘Chaos’ Soldiers enhance proficiency, clear path for ‘lost art’ of engineering Spc. Kandi Huggins1st AATF Public Affairs1st Inf. Div., USD-N

U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alyxandra McChesney, 1st AATF PAO,1st Inf. Div., USD-N

Spc. Nathan Miller, combat engineer, Company C, 1st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Inf. Div., casts a grap-nel to clear an area of notional trip wires during a breaching exercise at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, March 4, 2011. Miller, a combat engineer from Rexburg, Idaho, practiced the minefield breaching ex-ercise as part of proficiency training conducted by “Devil” Brigade en-gineers to maintain and develop skills required of combat engineers. The engineers, serving with U.S. Division-North in support of Opera-tion New Dawn, began training on core tasks in January to maintain proficiency.


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a 12-month deployment, Soldiers perform the same tasks daily, establishing and rein-forcing a routine to increase their efficien-cy in a skill or profession. A negative and potentially dangerous side-effect to rep-etitious performance of routine tasks and missions, is that even the most dedicated Soldiers can become complacent.

The Department of Defense employs knowledgeable professionals to assist troops in maintaining high safety standards and counter complacency to accomplish their missions.

“The Army doesn’t train Soldiers to do the wrong thing; it’s not that kind of insti-tution,” said David Longa, Safety officer of 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. “Sometimes, however, Soldiers get complacent, and my job is to curb that complacency.”

A native of Mangilao, Guam, Longa said he provides professional and tactical advice to commanders regarding individu-al and unit-level safety policies and proce-dures.

In addition to advising commanders on creating a safe environment for their Sol-diers, Longa combats complacency by con-ducting routine safety inspections of living and working areas around post.

“You can never find him in his office, because he’s always out at each of the units seeing how he can help them,” said 1st Lt. Olha Vandergriff, assistant personnel offi-cer, Headquarters and Headquarters Com-pany, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd AAB, 25th Inf. Div.

Longa randomly inspects Soldiers’ per-sonal protective equipment for quality con-trol, and advises commanders on imple-menting policies for Soldiers’ safety.

“I always stress the importance of safe-ty, even if it takes a few extra minutes to do something the right way,” he said. “It takes less than that for someone to get hurt, so I check for the proper uses of all safety

devices.”In addition to providing safety standards

for Soldiers, Longa visits various operating areas around Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, ensuring civilian contractors use safety gear according to policy.

Preventing accidents and eliminating complacency allows Soldiers and civil-ians to accomplish daily duties with mini-mal danger to themselves and others, said

Longa.Longa’s eye for safety developed during

21 years of U.S Army service as a weapons technician, which, he said, has greatly as-sisted him during his eight years as a safety inspector.

“Safety for me started out as an addi-tional duty while in uniform,” he said.

Safety manager combats complacency through diligence and dedicationCpl. Robert England2nd Advise and Assist Brigade PAO25th Infantry Division, USD-N

See SAFETY, pg. 11

David Longa, a veteran with 21 years of service with the U.S. Army and the Safety officer of 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, inspects the electrical grounding for a generator Mar. 2, 2011, at Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, in the Diyala province of Iraq.

U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Robert England, 2nd AAB PAO, 25th Inf. Div., USD-N

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – During the course of

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“I was the first female in my Family to join the military,” said Capt. Kim Walter, opera-tions officer serving with 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division. “I didn’t join for the money, and I didn’t join for school. I joined to serve for my country.”

Walter credits her military experience in helping to ensure the Soldiers of 101st BSB, 1st AATF, succeed in accomplish-ing their mission in support of Operation New Dawn.

The journey began for Wal-ters, who calls Crowley, La. home, when she enlisted into the U.S. Army as a private in 1990. One year later, at the age

of 18, Walter deployed for the Persian Gulf War as a combat medic and the only female in her company assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Calvary Regi-ment, 3rd Armored Division.

Recounting the memories of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, a distant look settled on Walter’s face, describing some of the experiences that made her the Soldier and officer she is today.

“It was my first time away from home—I had no idea what to expect,” said Walter. “I was exposed to things I had never seen before.”

“When we moved from Ku-wait to Iraq ... the moment we engaged the enemy we had to jump out of the vehicle, dig fox holes and get into our fighting positions, until the enemy fire was suppressed,” described Walter.

Walter said even though she

was the only female, her lead-ers and peers didn’t treat her differently.

“Being the only female I was never asked to do less than the male Soldiers fighting next to me,” she said. “I was expected to do the same as everyone else, and that’s what I did.”

In 2004, Walter deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a platoon leader and flight medic with 50th Medical Company, 101st Air-borne Division, also known as the Air Ambulance unit, based out of Fort Campbell, Ky.

“I’ll never forget the expe-riences I had in OIF. I still re-member every patient I worked on, every detail of their injuries and every face. Those are some of the things I will never for-get,” said Walter.

While deployed as a flight medic, her job was to respond to medical evacuations by heli-copter, where in most cases the wounded Soldiers were seri-ously injured or killed in action.

“I joined as a combat medic to help people,” she said. “Until then, I didn’t realize the capac-ity in what I could do to save people’s lives.”

Walter was recognized for her achievements in a National Geographic Book “Count On Us: American Women in the Military” by Amy Nathan, pub-lished in 2004.

“Count On Us” paid tribute to the American women in the military, women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces from the Revolutionary War to Opera-tion Iraqi Freedom and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to the nation.

“Females in the army are significant; we are important. Our military needs us, and our country needs us,” said Walter, referring to the book and to her own service.

“I was fortunate enough to have leaders that didn’t single me out as a female,” she said. “They gave me the same oppor-tunities as every other Soldier under them. They pushed me to strive and work hard to be the best Soldier I could be.”

In 2007, Walter decided to make the change from enlisted to officer.

“I have seen the Army change … in so many different ways since I joined,” she said. “I have seen it go from ‘Be all that you can be’ to ‘Army of One,’ and now ‘Army Strong’,” said Walter.

“I do miss being (a noncom-missioned officer) and working directly with my Soldiers. An officer’s job does more of the preparation and planning of missions and the NCO works directly with the Soldiers to execute, and get the missions done.”

Walter uses her experience and knowledge to help her staff and Soldiers grow in their mili-tary careers and overcome any obstacles they may face while deployed.

“Because of her experience as an NCO, we can turn to her for any questions, advice or concerns we may have,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Grape, battle operations NCO of 101st BSB, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., U.S. Division-North. “She teaches me new things about the Army every day, and I use her as a learning tool to help me grow as an NCO.”

Walter said she is approach-ing 21 years of active military service and plans to continue active service until 2017.

“I am honored and proud to say that I serve and fight with the most diverse organization in the world, the U.S. military,” said Walters.

Officer brings years of experience to ONDPfc. Alyxandra McChesney1st AATF Public Affairs1st Inf. Div., USD-N

Capt. Kim Walter, operations officer with 101st Brigade Support Bat-talion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, then a Sgt. 1st Class flight medic serving with 50th Medical Company, 101st Airborne Division, in front of her U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicop-ter in Taji, Iraq, 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Army photo courtesy of Capt. Kim Walter, 101st BSB, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N


11


Did you know that when the average person gets in a car buying mood, they usually buy it within 48 hrs?

It’s called the forty-eight hour phenom-enon and it’s understood by car dealer-ships everywhere. That’s why cars are displayed so seductively.

I asked a friend who was a car dealer whether this was true. He told me, “People in the car buying mood are really some-thing … they’ll often get fascinated with or fixate on one single feature of a car they’re looking at and they’ll make a decision to buy that car primarily based on their excitement about that single feature. And you never know what it is. Some-times it’s the radio. They’ll get in and fall in love with it so much they’ll buy the car. Sometimes they are fascinated by the design of the dash board. Makes them feel like they’re in a 747 cockpit. Sometimes it’s the wheels; they always wanted a car with raised lettered tires.

They don’t read Consumer’s Report—don’t check the repair record of that mod-el. They neglect to analyze how quickly the car’s going to depreciate. They don’t even look at the warrantee information.

They’re in the ‘mood.’ So they do the deal, sign the papers and drive it usually within 48 hours from the time they got in the ‘mood.’ I wonder how they feel two or three days later, when buyer’s remorse sets in—when reality comes—

when they get a payment book about as thick as a Bible.”

Some of you say, “But you’re only talking about a $15-, $20- or $30,000 car. No one would ever get that careless about making a really important decision.”

Well, I talked with a real estate agent once and asked him, “What happens when people get in a home-buying mood?”

He replied, “You got to work real fast because the mood doesn’t last that long. You have to close within a day or two … because when the home buying mood passes it’s all over; but when the mood is there, it’s unbelievable … a woman will walk in and fall in love with the laundry room or a man will walk into the garage and envision where his shop can be some day. They don’t call someone to check the heating, plumbing, electricity, attic, basement, the roof … not if they are in the mood.”

Well that is only a house. Surely no one would ever make a quick decision about something really important, like say, a life-time partner. Surely no one would slip into the marrying mood and make a decision of that magnitude.

Surely no one would be foolish enough to fixate on one or two features of another human being, get engaged and set a wed-ding date without carefully scrutinizing the other factors—but it happens all the time.

“I’ve got to have it. I can’t wait.” We’ve all said those words. We tend to think we have to have certain things in order to be fulfilled, and, usually, we want

it now! Each of us has a “never enough” activ-

ity, food or behavior—and we are ready to throw a grown-up tantrum when we don’t get it.

The problem is that our wants and de-sires can actually starve out our true needs. The more we starve what we really need, the greater our hunger grows, causing us to stuff ourselves with more and more of our wants.

After stuffing ourselves full of our wants, we find that we’re still starving, empty and desperate—and the mad cycle repeats.

What was a desire now becomes a necessity, and then a necessity prolonged becomes an emergency. Our “wants” begin masquerading as “needs.”

When we spend too much time focus-ing on our wants, we lose sight of the deeper needs of our lives. Needs like relationships with others, love, peace, pur-pose, hope, security and needs that only our Creator can meet. When those needs are met, there is contentment in life and the “wants” lose their stranglehold on us.

Are you spending so much time trying to get what you want that you have no energy left to get what you really need?

My encouragement to you, as well as to myself, is to focus on our true needs, and remember the words of the warrior King David who said in Psalm 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Chaplain’s Corner:

Maj. Paul ForemanFamily Life Chaplain4th Infantry Division, USD-N

Tame Your Inner Two-Year Old, buy with sense

Continued from SAFETY, pg. 9

“My job in the service dealt with weapons and explosives, and I didn’t want my Soldiers to get hurt, so we were always safety-conscious.”

As a Soldier, Longa said he attended a week-long training program where he learned the administrative responsibilities of being a safety officer; how to properly gather and report information during an accident

investigation.He also learned to gather in-

formation from the field, during the interactive segment of the class, which allowed trainees to correctly identify safety viola-tions and hazards.

“We were taken to a han-gar with all of the violations already in place,” Longa said. “We were split into groups as trainees and were tasked with

finding and noting all the viola-tions. When we got back to the class, we used what we were taught in the previous class-room portion of the training to generate our own reports.”

After completing inspec-tions at COB Warhorse, Longa compiles data, using his train-ing and relays it to his counter-parts at U.S. Division-North.

Longa cited his extensive

military experience and love for Soldiers as the primary reason he has devoted so much of his life to promoting the benefits of living and working safely.

“To do this job and be suc-cessful, you need to understand how the military operates as a whole,” he said. “That and you have to want to save Soldiers’ lives.”

12


“Hey Doc, I’m a big fan of the television series, “Mon-sters Inside Of Me.” Unfortu-nately, I’m also prone to worry. Recently, the series featured a disease called Leishmania … something or other. You Preventive Medicine folks are protecting us aren’t you?” – Signed “Nervous Nelly”

Dear “Nervous Nelly,” I’m sorry you are nervous about this. Welcome to my world. I’ve been worrying about Leishmaniasis for a while now. This disease is indeed worthy of “careful consideration.”

As the rainy season ends and warmer months approach, insects such as sand flies, mos-quitoes and ticks will begin to emerge.

Along with the pesky nuisance comes the inevitable resurgence of insect-borne diseases.

As our presence in Iraq becomes more expeditionary in nature, the threat of insect-borne disease becomes greater.

Leishmaniasis, also known as the “Bagdad Boil,” is one of the most worrisome insect-borne diseases. In Iraq, Leishmaniasis is characterized by chronic nonhealing skin lesions.

We acquire the disease through the bite of infected sand flies. Indeed, Preventive Medicine personnel are taking measures to reduce disease, and one of our primary mea-sures is Soldier education.

What you can do to protect yourself?

1. Understand the enemy: Sand flies make no sound when they fly and are very difficult to see. Generally, sand flies feed at dusk and during the night. The first sand fly bite you receive may not be noticed; however, successive bites become painful quickly.

2. Wear your permethrin treated uniform properly as a physical barrier.

3. Use insect repellent 20 to 50 percent DEET—N, N-di-ethyl-meta-toluamid—to cover exposed skin.

4. Don’t feed or shelter feral animals, which are reservoirs of disease.

“Nervous Nelly,” fear is a proper and healthy motiva-tor in some instances. I’ve included pictures which will help others acquire the same respect for this disease. Spread the word sister, and Task Force Ironhorse keep those questions coming!

Hey Doc:

Capt. Nathan TeaguePreventive MedicineU.S. Division-North

Hey IRAQ! ReAd stoRIes And cHeck out ouR pHotos And moRe on u.s.

dIvIsIon-noRtH’s socIAl medIA sItes!

‘Should we be worried about

Leishmaniasis?’

Leishmaniais, a degenerative skin disease, infected this Sol-diers’ hand. Sand flies, a prevel-ant pest in Iraq, carries the virus which it transfers after biting and feeding on the host. The disease is not to be taken lightly as some types of Leishmaniasis can be fa-tal if not treated promptly.

“Like” the United States Division-North, 4th In-fantry Division Face-book page to get all the recent news on events taking place in U.S. Di-

vision-North, such as Tadreeb al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, where our troops stationed throughout north-ern Iraq advise, train and assist our Iraqi counterparts in creating self sustaining training modules in conjunction with learning modern tactics and increasing their external war fighting capabilities. Don’t forget to look over this issue of the Ivy Leaf, as well as past issues!

www.facebook.com/UnitedStates-DivisionNorth4thInfantryDivision

Is your work station pre-venting you from access-ing social media sites? Worry not, as CNN iRe-port makes it possible to keep up with recent news

in U.S. Division-North, along with vivid photos of U.S. Soldiers during Operation New Dawn, as they perform route clear-ance missions, parterned patrols with Iraqi Security Forces and provide secu-rity for Provincial Reconstruction Teams as they assist local Iraqi communities re-build their infrastructure.

www.ireport.ccn.com/people/4thInfDiv

The ivy leaf, volume 1, issue 19

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