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September 2011

OEF XI-XII DEPLOYMENT NEWSLETTER

In this fight we are all united and stronger as one Catamount family

The Duty and Life of a Squad Leader


I try to have the guys do normal daily tasks from cleaning living areas and going to the gym. We are all aware that we can go on a moments notice. Once that call comes we find out if it's a mounted or dismounted patrol and if anybody extra, like EOD is going with us. I may go with the Lieutenant to go get the broad details of the mission so I can give them to the Team Leaders and we can make sure we have everything we need. This is a day in which I am always ready to go out at a moments notice but hope we don't have to. Force Protection days are about as close as we get to actual down time. I will do a four hour SOG shift and then have twelve hours off. This is the time I make sure my squad is making contact with loved ones and are relaxing when they can. During this down time there is a lot of movie watching and time spent in the gym working out. I try to go around and talk to all the soldiers during this time and see how they are doing, how things are back home and just try and fix or just listen to problems they may have. This is also the time I use to do any paper work that I may need to do and talk to the Lieutenant about future missions and how things are going. So as you can see the life as a Squad Leader can change and does change on a regular basis. But some things never change. Take care of your men and equipment, stay in shape, and keep in touch with your loved ones.

Adirondacks Squad Leaders Ever Changing Days


By SSG Jeremy Simon Life on COP Senjaray with A Co 2-87 IN can be completely different from one day to the next for a Squad Leader. Day one, you may find yourself doing a 5 hr patrol, QRF and escorting EOD, or going after a High Value Target. The next day you may be doing force protection for the COP. No matter what you are doing, some things never change in my squad, for instance, doing pt, calling loved ones on a regular basis, and sleeping when you can. On a typical Patrol day the alarm clock goes off early so we can get going on the patrol before it gets too hot. I go around and make sure all my guys are up and moving. I will spot check the Team Leaders and make sure everyone has all the mandatory equipment for the mission. We receive the Patrol Brief; go over routes, last minute details with our ANA counterparts. We then push out and do the mission whether it's in the city of Senjaray or the orchards and grape fields of the green zone. Once we return I make sure all the men get food and cold drinks. Thats followed by weapons maintenance and some rest. I then push to the gym and get a good workout in and bring some of the guys along to join if they aren't doing it on their own. It's then time for some more food and then notes from the daily meeting. Which then leads us to the preparations for the next day? Beginning PreCombat Checks/ Pre-Combat Inspections (PCC/PCI's), and completing a manifest for the next mission. Thats followed by a quick call to loved ones back home, which is done as regularly as possible. Once that done then its time to get some sleep. A normal QRF day, if there is one, is a lot of waiting to get the word that you need to go out. You hope all day that call never comes and you are on a kind of stand-by mode all day.

3RD Platoon Blackhawks Squad Leader plays the Parental Role


By SSG Kenneth Keith I have always compared being an Infantry Squad Leader to being a parent. As a parent you watch your child come into the world, you then get the privilege of imparting life experiences

The Duty and Life of a Squad Leader


on them as they begin their journey: that is the ups and downs of seeing him or her grow into their personality, enjoying success, enduring challenges, failures, and sometimes loss. You try to teach them right from wrong and hope they listen to at least a portion of what you are saying. Then, before you even realize it, they are gone. There are two differences however, between being a Squad Leader and a parent. First, while being an education assumption, most parents have two, three, or maybe even four children; Squad Leaders have eight. Secondly, parents have eighteen years to make their mark. Squad leaders have typically between three and five. My day begins before his does because I must ensure I took the part and practice what I preach. Next I wake him up. I have to ensure that he is not only prepared for whatever may get thrown at him/us today, but that he is dressed for the occasion. As a parent I must make sure my child cleans and takes care of themselves. As a squad leader I must make time for personal hygiene to occur. A parent prepares their childs lunch; I again must make my soldier eat because he is so fatigued that all he wants to do is sleep. I teach my child to be the bigger person and use violence only as a last resort. I teach my soldier to squeeze the trigger without hesitation, never giving a warning shot, but shooting to kill. My children and I talk about their day. My soldiers and I have an after action review dissecting every single detail in order to improve. I let my children relax before beginning homework. I ensure my men clean, review, prepare, and prepare some more for the following day before relaxing is even a thought. I will go to my childrens games and support extra-curricular activities. As a squad leader my soldiers physical fitness is at the core of every task. I hope I have prepared my children for college and to live their life. I cannot fail my soldiers or their life will be lost. As a parent I have eighteen years to impart lasting lifelong lessons. As a squad leader I have less than a quarter of that time. I have to prepare them to take my job at any given time. A day in my life is never dull and will never be exactly as the day before. However, there will always be one constant, there will always be one thing that never changes for a day in the life of a squad leader; I must get up every day and want to do this job, because the first day I do not, is the day I lose one of my kids.

Creeks Newest Squad Leaders Insight


By SGT Gabriwl DAchille My name is SGT DAchille and I am the newest squad leader in Comanche Company. Before I came to Comanche company I was a recruiter just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Being a squad leader at COP Kandalay is both stressful and rewarding. As squad leaders we take turns making sure the force protection is running

The Duty and Life of a Squad Leader


smoothly and that the towers are squared away and soldiers are staying in the right uniform and doing the right thing. While we are out on patrol in the green zone or in the city itself, the squad leader is responsible for making sure that security is tight and that everyone is doing their jobs. Over all it is the squad leaders role to ensure that the standards are being upheld and the men are being safe. and platoon leader match the number of troops available to the tasks given, and prepare for the missions and tasks. The squad leader gathers his team and the orders are given. The squad leader supervises the communication of his orders given to the soldiers and solves any problems that might arise. If the squad has guard, work begins at midnight with a guard inspection and movement to the guard points. If its a mission, pre-combat checks and sleep. For missions, the day starts early. At around 0300 the squad leader stirs the squad for personal hygiene, breakfast and getting dressed. Then pre-combat inspection and rehearsals on the landing zone. Convoy brief and mount up for the mission. Once out on the mission, things are actually easier. Its just the squad and the mission. Buildings, sectors of fire, heat, civilians, dust, the weight of the body armor and weapons, grape rows, wheat fields, marijuana and the hated pomegranate orchards. Its good to get off the COP, get away from the details and work. Just the squad and the mission. The mission over, and the squad leader is back, safe and sound with his soldiers. The exhilaration of successfully completing the mission, the squad goes back to the COP, where they have showers, food, safety and the ability to unwind. The squad goes to dinner and the day begins anew.

Destroyers Squad Leaders Day begins at Night


By 1SG Casey McFall A day in the life of a squad leader can be arduous. It may be the most difficult job in the Army. Nowhere else is success or failure of a mission or daily tasks so focused. It is all on him. The Commander and the Platoon Leader have the plan, but the squad leader actually executes it. The day for the squad leader actually starts the night before. The platoon sergeant returns from the platoon sergeant meeting with the latest

notes and details for the next day, the platoon leader comes back from the update with his orders. The squad leaders, platoon sergeant

Feedback from Facebook

Feedback from Facebook

I visited the Korean War Memorial Park in D.C., I saw a statement that was engraved on a stone wall which reads Freedom is not free. I took it as This country earned and harvested the freedom from the sacrificial seeds sown in the Korean peninsula. Their blood and personal sacrifice sprouted, grew and became full kernels. It brought not only physical but also a mental state of freedom. In 2011, we are here in Afghanistan once again. Our Catamount Soldiers and families are sowing the hope of a better future for Afghanistan and a world peace where there is no place for terrorists. We can visualize our purpose for being here in this country. We know for sure that we cannot harvest without sowing. It takes courage, sacrifice and patience. We are sowing through the sacrifice of our relationships, family, individual potential, well-being and even lives. In the past six months, though we had to shed sweat and blood in this foreign country, we have achieved many positive results such as eliminating terrorists from villages one by one and opening new schools for Afghan children to brighten their future. One day, the blood that Catamount Soldiers shed, and our families ultimate sacrifice will sprout and grow up for many to enjoy, and for the rest of the world to be thankful. Ten years after September 11, on my way to one of the Combat Outposts, I saw some pomegranate and corn next to Highway 1. It must have been planted by someone who dreamed of sweet pomegranate and juicy kernels of corns to harvest. I pray for Catamount Soldiers and families to have a greater dream and vision to sow and harvest through our service and sacrifice. Chaplain Brian Oh He speaks Southern accent (He is from South Korea). He and his wife Kari have 3 kids (Lauren14, Ryan10 and Megan 5). He was ordained from Southern Baptist Convention in 1997. He became a Catamount on 23 August 2011.

Chaplains Corner
Sowing Seeds In 2007, while I was deployed to Afghanistan, I bought some seeds to plant. I bought Corn and Sunflower seeds to represent Kansas. My humble hope was to enjoy watching them grow. This reminded me of Mark 4:26-28: A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produce grainfirst the stalk, than the head, then the full kernel in the head. Our troops presence in Afghanistan takes tremendous sacrifices from the National level, State level all the way down to the individual level. Families are separated. Parents worry about their sons and daughters safety and well being in a foreign country. Some married Soldiers have to miss out on seeing their kids growing up at home. There are many different types of sacrifices. In the 1950s, many U.S. and allied service members came to Korea and fought against communism. Sixty years later, the national Gross National Product (GNP) produced over $20,000. Many Soldiers who fought in the Korean War never heard about Korea, yet they came to sacrifice their time and lives. When

TRUE SUCCESS
By, SPC Gary Ashby When I returned from my second tour in Iraq I had a drinking problem. I loved to drink and party. If I didnt have to work, then I would head to the bar immediately after the bar opens. For three months straight all I did outside of work was drink, party, and eat fast food. Since my unit was closing and all of us were PCSing to new units and bases, nobody even noticed or cared that I was rapidly gaining weight in the five months between my Post Deployment to Ft. Richardson, AK and my PCS to Ft. Drum, NY. I had gotten up to almost 300lbs and didnt even notice. It wasnt until I had gotten home for leave on my way to check in at Ft. Drum, and all of my family started commenting on how much weight that I had gained, thats when I realized how much weight I had gained. I had put on 70lbs in those five months. I reported to Ft. Drum and had my first weigh and tape since I had gotten back and was immediately flagged, put on the overweight program, and stripped of my promotable status. I struggled for a few months trying to get my weight back down to where it should be. I was barely making the 3lb a month loss requirement for those first few months, until I met the woman that I now call my wife. When she decided that she wanted to lose a few pounds herself it made it easier for us to change our eating habits. With her support I started losing much more weight each month. Before the deployment I reverted back to my old eating habits, because I thought that this would be my last chance to eat good food for a while. By the time this deployment started I was down to 250lbs and still had a long way to go before I reached my goal of 225. With my wife back in the states, my friends and NCO's worked harder and continued the support and encouragement. I started working out and doing sit-ups every time I went to and from the motor pool with one of my NCO's, and by the end of most days we had done 200 plus sit-ups. Thanks to the support of my wife, encouragement of my friends, and help of my NCO's I have finally passed my weigh and tape and will hopefully be going back to the board soon.

Destroyer family,
September was a busy month for us as we came out of Ramadan. We said goodbye to two long standing officers in the company. 1LT Paul Deehan moved up to battalion to assume duties as the Battle Captain in the TOC before he moves on to a regular position on the Staff. 1LT Josh Walker moved in the last few days of the month over to our cousins Task Force Wolfpack (4-25 Field Artillery Regiment) to lead a platoon. We also welcomed in two new officers. 2LT Pete Bauleke arrived from Fort Drum to take over 1st Platoon and 1LT Josh Welte came to us from TF Wolfpack. We conducted a highly successful company operation that received praise from CAT6. Your Destroyers planned and executed a great operation. They also eradicated over $15,000 of marijuana and completed $50,000 worth of projects that provided visible change to the AO. Im happy to report that Team Destroyer was able to open a new school (Now Ruzi School) in an area thats never had one and renovated another (Bagh-e Pol School). These schools will have a generational impact on the people of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is changing before our eyes and its due to the hard work and dedication of your Destroyers. I cant be more proud of their accomplishments. We welcome back PFC Walczak from rehabilitation from his wound and congratulate SPC Griffin for his Army Commendation Medal for Valor. LTC Anderson stopped by and awarded your Destroyers their Combat Infantrymans Badges as well as a few Combat Action Badges and Combat Medic Badges. Again, your men are doing outstanding work here, and Catamount 6 is proud of their hard work. We are starting to see the rewards of 6 months of hard work (wow, half way already!). We truly appreciate your support as we pass the half way mark and get ready for the fall and winter. Captain Jeffrey Auer Destroyer 6

HUGS FROM HOME


Robbie, Mama, and Mason love Kyle Faircloth! Thank you to him and all the Catamounts for their service! PFC Torey Bailey Happy Anniversary Torey!!! We love and miss you!! To HHC Co, I'm proud of all of you and pray for your safety. Come home soon. Climb to glory. "Fight the good fight of faith" ~The Holy Bible Victoria Patole Dear SPC Silverman (My hubby) We love and miss you so very much! Both kids are starting school Michael Kindergarten, Abigail Pre K. Don't worry they are ready to spread their wings learn, grow, and to dream. I am excited and so proud of them both. I often wonder where time has gone, and I know you feel just the same. I love you, the kids love you, We are proud of you. You work very hard for us, you allow me to finish my degree, and be at home with the kids to see them grow, that is the most precious gift I am thankful that you give me. Keep your faith up, keep your smile on your face, and know we love you very much because those SOB's of a bad guys can never take that away..keep going baby your strong and most wonderful man I know. Love Your Wife, Lora Silverman

HUGS FROM HOME


Dear Everyone, Here back home at the Drum/ or where ever we may be are so proud of you. Its a sacrifice what you have to do. A lot of people may never understand what you do or what it takes, but we are proud. Back here at Drum summer is leaving us, and winter days (cause we all know theirs no such thing as fall up here) are upon us. Us ladies back home have come together and what I have seen such great strength in friendships, bonds. We are holding down the home. The children are growing, time is ticking sometimes slow or fast all depending on the day. Through and through just know back home you are loved and missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers each day, we are so proud. Thats one thing those SOB's of bad guys can never take away, is how proud we are of you, how much ya'll are loved, and how much ya'll are family together united. Smiles, Lora Silverman From Kayla Wood To SPC Wood

HUGS FROM HOME

PFC Oden...we miss you and love you. Can't wait until you come home. We're saving tons of Texas tamales just for you. Love, Dad, Mom, Stephanie, Dee Dee, and Alex

To SPC Phillip Marshall from Rita Marshall

HUGS FROM HOME


For all the troops From Sgt Eric Browns mom, Kathy

PFC Nazer...we love & miss you bunches and we're so proud of you! We missed you Daddy on our first day of school but don't worry as usual Mom took LOTS of pictures and here are a few. And just always remember GLYSDI!

HUGS FROM HOME


To SGT Eric Brown

"Uncle Eric we got tired of waiting for you to come home. We miss you Love Parker and Mia"

Hi Uncle Eric I miss you, come home soon Love Parker

"We miss you Eric, Love Brian and Parker"

HUGS FROM HOME

For Jackson Taylor Hey Jack! I hope your birthday was a good as it could be and I'm looking forward to celebrating with you next year with a weekend full of fun!! The leaves are beginning to change now which means it's going to get cold before we know it! But this kind of weather always is beautiful - warmer days and cooler nights! Keep up the great work you guys are doing and know that you are always in my thoughts. Be smart, be safe and take care. We love you! Mom and Dad

HUGS FROM HOME


To All the Catamounts, Stay strong, stay true to yourself, You are a wining group! You are why we sleep peacefully every night. We are all waiting for your return. I am so proud to be an American, so proud to say you are the ones protecting our freedom. Each and every one of you are in my prayers. Thank you for all that you have sacrificed for me. From a ProUD armY mom

We love you and miss you. Always praying for you. Thank you for your service and for doing this for our family. Linda

HUGS FROM HOME


Dear SPC Sandesh Patole, Sending you hugs from home. You're my favorite soldier and my hero. I love you and am praying for you daily. Your Wife, Victoria Patole This is for PFC Robert Ross I love you & miss you so much. I'm so proud of you; you're doing such a great job. Keep it up! You're on my mind constantly & I am praying for you all the time. We can't wait until you come home. I love you! You're my hero! Love Kayla

HUGS FROM HOME


CPT Giffin, We love you and miss you dearly. Stay strong! Counting the days till our family is whole again! Love, Jessica, Brogan, Caitlyn, and Ryleigh. xoxo

From Emily Fournier To SGT Gary Fournier

HUGS FROM HOME

You known I'm watching over you PFC Palmer! Jim White

We think of you each and every day. Cant wait to see you again!!

Your Guardian angel's are watching over you, PFC Palmer.


We love and miss you!!! Lisa D. Davis

We Miss you Darrin!!! Come home safe!

To PVT Hankins

HUGS FROM HOME


Hi Mike!
It is Gator football time in Florida! Saturday 09/03/11 Saturday 09/10/11 Saturday 09/17/11 Saturday 09/24/11 Saturday 10/01/11 Saturday 10/08/11 Saturday 10/15/11 Saturday 10/22/11 Saturday 10/29/11 Saturday 11/05/11 Saturday 11/12/11 Saturday 11/19/11 Saturday 11/26/11 Saturday 12/03/11 Florida Atlantic Owls Won 41-3 UAB Blazers Won 39-0 Tennessee Volunteers Kentucky Wildcats Alabama Crimson Tide at LSU Tigers at Auburn Tigers Open Date Georgia Bulldogs Vanderbilt Commodores South Carolina Gamecocks Furman Paladins Florida State Seminoles SEC Championship Game

This year we won't just be cheering for the Gators- we'll be cheering for the Catamounts, too! It is because of the dedication of soldiers like you that we have the freedoms and lifestyle that we have! Thank you for the hardships you endure- we'll have a comfy chair, a remote control and a cold one waiting for you when you come home!

We miss you in the pool, Uncle Mike!

Remembering our pre-deployment time in NYC and the reasons you are where you are!

We love you! Thanks to ALL of the Catamounts!

HUGS FROM HOME


From Sams Club # 6448 4330 U.S. Hwy 19 New Port Richey, Florida 34652 To the CATAMOUNTS

Thanks for all you do. Come home safe and soon. We appreciate all that you do for us, We support you!

HUGS FROM HOME


Pictures from the Battalion Half-Way party sent in by Angie Cufaude. Thank-you.

HUGS FROM HOME

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HUGS FROM HOME

From Behind the Grill: a Cooks Perspective

Through a Cooks Eye at Combat Outpost Senjaray


By SGT Patrick Leibacher
At COP Senjaray, there are three food service Soldiers from Fox Company, 2-87 Infantry Forward Support Company attached to Alpha Company, 2-87 Infantry: PFC Quintanar, PFC Regelbrugge and myself, SGT Leibacher. The Soldiers at COP Senjaray are served three hot meals a day. On Sundays they get a Brunch meal and on Sunday evenings they get steaks or ribs straight off the grill. We work long hours every day, but it is a privilege for us to serve the Soldiers from Adirondack and their chain of command. Our day usually starts around 0500 in the morning to prepare the breakfast meal which is served from 0700 to 0900 in what we call the chow hall. By 0900 we start preparing the Lunch meal and have it ready to serve by 1130 until 1300. We get a short break in the day and then at 1500 we start cooking the dinner meal. At 1700 the Soldiers are ready to sit down and have their dinner meal. If the Soldiers are coming home late from patrol, we still keep food for them so they can enjoy a hot cooked meal. We order our own food which is delivered weekly, usually every Friday. This is why we are able to serve a variety of different menus. We also receive fresh fruit, cereal and yogurt, which are always on hand. The food we order is palletized at a warehouse in Afghanistan and shipped on trucks. When the trucks come in we are responsible for downloading and storing everything in the refrigerator or freezer. Its a lot of work being a cook, but the rewards of serving Soldiers is worth it!

Two sides of a Cooks Service at COP Senjaray


By SPC Isaura Quintanar
Being a Food Service Specialist at Combat Outpost (COP) Senjaray can be a challenging experience. We are responsible for serving three hot meals for over 250 U.S. Soldiers, Local Nationals, and U.S. Government civilians on a daily basis. We take pride in our work to ensure every meal is prepared to a standard and every Soldier no matter what time it is has a hot meal. We see our infantry counterparts coming in after a mission and we want to ensure they have a good meal. They are outside the wire everyday interacting with the Afghan People and fighting off insurgents. This is the reason that I feel it is my duty as a 92G to prepare the most enjoyable meal for them. Not only do we prepare meals we are also responsible for ordering all Class 1 rations. Yes it may be a routine, but each day is different. As a cook, I am in charge of setting up the serving line, garnishing the food items, as well as applying food protection and sanitation measures. We achieve this daily as a team here in Senjaray. The team I belong to consist of my DEFAC/COP NCOIC SGT Patrick Leibacher 92G, PFC Scott R Regelbrugge 92G, and with the help from PVT Kirk Irace 13F and myself also a 92G. The chow hall here consists of a wooden building where Senjaray dwellers have access 24/7. They are equipped with fresh cold bottled water, refreshments, dairy drinks, and snacks during and, in between meals. This being my first deployment and serving the U.S. Army for two years has made a difference in me. Being here has made me see cooking from another angle. Serving U.S. Soldiers

From Behind the Grill: a Cooks Perspective


as well as local nationals, U.S. Govt. civilians from limited merchants and the Main Forward-operating Base (FOB) Pasab has taught me to utilize the kitchen in the most adequate way to the limited equipment, and resources. Although 92G is my primary MOS, being a female I am also a part of the Female Engagement team. In doing so, Im afforded the opportunity to engage the female populace within the Senjaray area of operation as well as the surrounding areas. I am able to help create a better view of the everyday life of the Afghan people and provide information that is able to help the Soldiers that are going out on missions each day. On a personal note, I am able to ask the women about their main food source and how they are able to provide for their families in the harsh climate. I have learned that the Afghan people consume many of the same foods that we as Americans consume. They believe in using many spices and that help to make their food delicious while still maintaining its nutritional value. Working at COP Senjaray, I was able to observe the Afghans prepare many of their meals and I was surprised to see that, like Americans they believe that a good meal will help a persons overall well being and not just their body. Working on COP Senjaray helped me to improve my skills as a 92G and it has brought me in contact with the people of the country, it is an opportunity that many are not able to share. I have learned many things from my peers as well as from the local population and I can only hope that many people will feel the same.

The Busy Life of a Cook on COP Makuan


The life of a cook is honestly no different than any other MOS in the Army. One day you are working with all equipment in garrison then you get deployed with nothing but the knowledge and guidance of the NCOs that have been assigned to be in charge of the food service section. As far as the schedule of a cook, we usually get up to start breakfast about two hours before serving time which gives us time to prepare a well-balanced and nutritional start to their day. After we have pretty much served the soldiers we clean any little messes that were made during the serving time. Then the NCOIC of the Food Service Section on the COP will adequately inspect every piece of equipment to insure that the proper sanitation steps were taken so no one gets sick. After that we are pretty much square little things away like food storage containers insuring that all our food is rotated out from old to new so when its time to cook we dont have to worry about trying to figure out whats expired and whats not. When all our work is done and the sanitation is done you have pretty much down time. Usually during down time you make sure your uniform is serviceable, watch movies, chill and make friends with the platoons you cook for, and just hope everything goes by smooth. From what I have personally experienced since being here is, if your food is good and doesnt make any of the soldiers sick you are the infantrys best friend. It makes you feel a little accomplished when the guys shake your hand out of appreciation for them having a hot meal after coming back from a long tiring battalion mission or after a patrol where they come in contact with enemy. Just like the infantry, sleep some days is very little because our schedule is based on the start of the mission and sometimes the end of the mission with that being said we as the cooks have to ensure that either our serving line is filled for the guys on mission, or we set aside enough portions so that when guys come back from their mission they have also have a hot meal and dont have to eat MREs. As you can see the daily life of a cook can be very tedious from the early morning hustle and bustle so you can get breakfast done, until the late nights scrubbing excess dirt off equipment. The life of a cook on a COP is truly busy.

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

The Battalion would like to congratulate all of our promoted Catamounts: From PVT TO PV2 BERNARD SANABRIA

From PV2 to PFC JEMAL JOSHUA WILLIAM WATLER ZIEGER COPELAND

From PFC TO SPC JOSEPH TRAHON CAMERON MAXWELL CHRISTOPHER HRYHORCHUK MICHAEL MADORE QUINTEN HILBERT BRITTNI CANNON CORISSA CARON From SPC TO SGT

MANUEL RODRIGUEZ NATHAN ELOBARI MATTHEW ANDERSON

The Battalion would like to congratulate all of our Catamounts on the awards they have earned: Army Commendation Medal
SPC GREGORY MCDONALD SPC PFC PFC 2LT SGT

Bronze Star Medal


KORAN CONTRERAS JESSE DIETRICH DOUGLAS JEFFRIES TIMOTHY STEELE ANDREW TOBIN

Purple Heart
SPC PFC PFC PFC PFC PFC 2LT SGT PFC PFC SFC SGT SSG KORAN CONTRERAS JESSE DIETRICH JULIO GONZALEZ DOUGLAS JEFFRIES EDWARD N. MOINET NICHOLAS NICELY TIMOTHY STEELE ANDREW TOBIN BRIAN BIRD COLIN JONES JOSEPH LEBRON MARCUS LOVE DANIEL CARYK

Army Achievement Medal


SPC PFC SGT SSG PFC SPC SHERLANDO BUCKLAND MICHAEL COSTELLO LARRY L. HAYES DANIEL RICHMOND ROBERT LIETZ SANDESH PATOLE

Combat Infantrymens Badge SPC 1LT PFC PFC SPC PFC SPC PFC PFC SPC PVT SPC SPC SPC 2LT SPC IAN BROWN PAUL DEEHAN RYAN LANGLEY DAVID LONG CARLOS QUARRIONEX CHASE SHERMAN PIER TAPIA CHAD VANHORN JASON WALCZAK SUE XIONG ZACHARY HANSEN BLAKE HOMAN BLAKE BOWEN MATTHEW FLANAGAN DANIEL MOULTON DAVID SHARP Combat Action Badge PV2 PFC SGT SGT PFC KEITH L. SOULES CLAYTON CAMERMAN CHRISTOPHER JORDAN PATRICK LEIBACHER SCOTT REGELBRUGGE

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PLATOON SPONSORS: FROM BAE SYSTEMS: Robbie Bergin Doris Newhart Brian Luschen Gregory Fedor Suzanne Lupo Eric Eaton Tara Feathers Dennis Kriowx Peter Patten Jerald Homsher Cindy Pinney Debra Hayes Martin Hayes Sharon Cronk Carla Sives Nicole Darrow Stephen Kupski Mike Reagan Thank-you to Annapolis High School for your continued support. Long Shot Bar and Grill Dennis Kriowx Oswego University Elizabeth Wealtherby

CATAMOUNT RETENTION

There have been changes in retention since the last newsletter. Big Army have released the new IN/OUT calls and 53 Moss are now BALANCED. What that means to you? Now more soldiers HAVE options for CONUS and OCOUNS assignments or they can stay at Drum. Phase I mission starts 01OCT2011. Phase I focuses on soldiers with ETS dates from 01Jan2012-30Sep2012. If you fall into this window you will HAVE to reenlist by 31JAN12. There will be NO exceptions for soldiers who fell in that window and wants to reenlist after the 31st of Jan. All soldiers that fall into the Phase I mission window will be counseled on his/her options.

SSG Anthony Nelson 2-87 IN BN Career Counselor anthony.nelson3@afghan.swa.army.mil

CATAMOUNT FACES

TEAM APACHE/ ADIRONDACK

TEAM BLACKHAWK

TEAM COMANCHE/ CREEK

TEAM DESTROYER

TEAM HURON

FIGHTING FOX

CATAMOUNT STAFF

SCOUTS

NEWS RELEASE Provincial Education, Zharay District Officials Distribute Schoolbags, Talk Importance of Education at Press Conference ZHARAY DISTRICT, Afghanistan Officials from the Kandahar Provincial

Ministry of Education joined with the Zharay District Governor and other district officials, September 6, to kick off a tour of four schools in eastern Zharay district, and distributed school supplies and backpacks to Afghan children during the first day of school throughout Afghanistan. Abdul Basir Agha, Deputy Director of Education for the Kandahar Ministry of Education (MoE), Mohammad Ewoz Nazari, Deputy Administrative Director, and Mohammed Shah Khan, Director of Plans and Communications for the Kandahar MoE, traveled with Niaz Sarhadi, the Zharay District Governor, and his education official, to three schools and broke ground on a fourth. Starting at the Now Ruzzi school in eastern Zharay district, the senior government officials formally declared the start of the school year to a small crowd of Afghan children and their teachers. Now Ruzzi is located in southeastern Zharay district near the Bagh-E-Pol bridge. Once the officials handed out school supplies and backpacks to the children, they then traveled to the Bagh-E-Pol school, and hosted an outdoor press conference for Afghan media in attendance. District Governor Sarhadi, a former school teacher himself, spoke about the value of education to a childs life, and how education is the future of Afghanistan. In the audience were long rows of desks where the schoolchildren, both boys and girls, were sitting anxiously awaiting the gift of a new backpack. From Bagh-E-Pol, the group moved to Pir Mohammad School near Senjaray, and met briefly in a classroom to discuss plans for school openings throughout Kandahar province, then before leaving, they handed out bags of packed schoolbags and supplies to the children. Finally, the officials traveled west to Kandalay, where they participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the temporary school being opened. A throng of excited children played on playground equipment nearby, and had an opportunity to each cut their own section of ribbon during the ceremony. This year in Zharay district, Afghan government officials are planning to open 14 schools throughout the area, versus two that were opened this time last year. Government and education officials attributed the increase in school openings to effective security throughout the region, and encouraged the local children to continue going to school.

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