come our new battle buddies and we look forward to working with them and sharing our vast knowledge we have gained through our experience throughout this deployment. 396th TC continues to succeed in-and- out of the wire. Leaders have ensured that numerous Soldiers have been given the opportunities to attend civil- ian and military education courses. Promotion and Soldier of the Month boards have been held every month allowing our soldiers to succeed and further their careers. As our seventh month in Afghanistan passes us by, Soldiers of the 396th TC can almost feel the American soil beneath their feet. We are eager to complete the mission and return home to our loved ones. -SGT Wilkerson, Ashten Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” -John F. Kennedy The decrease in temperature and the ongoing snowfall has not slowed down the force of the 396th Transportation Com- pany (TC). The start of a new year has made the Soldiers jump into high gear. Missions have picked up to an all time high with the drawback in Af- ghanistan approaching. Con- voy Escort Teams (CETs) are moving large sums of retro- grade and sustainment supplies throughout the battle field. In the last couple months a new battalion has assumed command over the 396th TC, the 157th Com- bat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), Task Force Chain, has entered the country motivated and with high expectations, 396th Soldiers are already stepping up to the plate. One notice- able difference in missions since the 157th CSSB arrived has been the utili- zation of our entire fleet of vehicles, which has afforded drivers the opportu- nity to operate various types of wheeled platforms. Another change to Task Force Chain has been the addition of the 514th Mili- tary Police Company. The 514th MPs have demonstrated their willingness and proven abilities with the battalion’s demanding requirements. We are look- ing forward to working with them. 396th has become the big dogs on cam- pus, so to speak. As the other “original” companies have all served their tours and departed, “Big Wheels” has assumed the role as the veterans of the battalion. Our soldiers have eagerly helped the new companies integrate into the fight. We would like to wel- A New Year 396TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY “Big Wheels” FEBRUARY 2013 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 HIGH ROLLER AWARDS (DECEMBER) SGT Tonneson SGT Riley SPC Watkins SPC Powers SGT Ackley S SGT Rios SPC Fortune HIGH MILER SSG Harris Company Miles 20,472
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Transcript
come our new battle buddies and we
look forward to working with them
and sharing our vast knowledge we
have gained through our experience
throughout this deployment.
396th TC continues to succeed in-and-
out of the wire. Leaders have ensured
that numerous Soldiers have been
given the opportunities to attend civil-
ian and military education courses.
Promotion and Soldier of the Month
boards have been held every month
allowing our soldiers to succeed and
further their careers.
As our seventh month in Afghanistan
passes us by, Soldiers of the 396th TC
can almost feel the American soil
beneath their feet. We are eager to
complete the mission and return home
to our loved ones.
-SGT Wilkerson, Ashten
Let every nation know, whether it
wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay
any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose
any foe, to assure the survival and
success of liberty.”
-John F. Kennedy
The decrease in temperature
and the ongoing snowfall has
not slowed down the force of
the 396th Transportation Com-
pany (TC). The start of a new
year has made the Soldiers
jump into high gear. Missions
have picked up to an all time
high with the drawback in Af-
ghanistan approaching. Con-
voy Escort Teams (CETs) are
moving large sums of retro-
grade and sustainment supplies
throughout the battle field.
In the last couple months a new
battalion has assumed command
over the 396th TC, the 157th Com-
bat Sustainment Support Battalion
(CSSB), Task Force Chain, has entered
the country motivated and with high
expectations, 396th Soldiers are already
stepping up to the plate. One notice-
able difference in missions since the
157th CSSB arrived has been the utili-
zation of our entire fleet of vehicles,
which has afforded drivers the opportu-
nity to operate various types of
wheeled platforms.
Another change to Task Force Chain
has been the addition of the 514th Mili-
tary Police Company. The 514th MPs
have demonstrated their willingness
and proven abilities with the battalion’s
demanding requirements. We are look-
ing forward to working with them.
396th has become the big dogs on cam-
pus, so to speak. As the other
“original” companies have all served
their tours and departed, “Big Wheels”
has assumed the role as the veterans of
the battalion. Our soldiers have eagerly
helped the new companies integrate
into the fight. We would like to wel-
A New Year
3 9 6 T H
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N
C O M P A N Y “Big Wheels”
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4
H I G H R O L L E R
A W A R D S
( D E C E M B E R )
SGT Tonneson
SGT Riley
SPC Watkins
SPC Powers
SGT Ackley S
SGT Rios
SPC Fortune
H I G H M I L E R
SSG Harris
Company
Miles
20,472
P A G E 2
HIGH OP-TANE
Commander’s Corner “Luck is what happens when
preparation meets opportunity.”
-Unknown
There are many things within ones
personal life and professional ca-
reer that are outside of our control.
Not having the ability to directly
decide a particular outcome can be
frustrating and challenging on
many different levels. There are
many things that we “want” to hap-
pen, although we are not the final
decision maker or approval author-
ity. Although frustrating and filled
with disappointment, there will always
be a time when opportunity presents
itself. Ultimately, we as individuals
are responsible for taking advantage of
those opportunities. What we can do
is place ourselves within a position to
capitalize on a particular moment.
These actions continue to resonate
throughout the 396th Transportation
Company (TC). In addition to con-
ducting the mission at hand, Soldiers
continue to place themselves in posi-
tions for professional growth and per-
sonal advancement. These exam-
ples are evident when Soldiers are
seen in the education center com-
pleting college courses, attending a
promotion board for advancement to
the next rank, attending worship
service on Sunday morning, or par-
ticipating in a local 5K run. Have
been giving opportunities, Soldiers
of the 396th TC continue to surpass
the standards that have been set be-
fore them.
-CPT Willson
healed and integrated we become, the easier it is
to find and stabilize that deeper, higher, larger
connection. One could call this larger connec-
tion a spiritual connection with God, Whole-
ness, Ultimate Reality, Christ Consciousness,
All That Is or the ultimate Truth from your
spiritual tradition. It is these uncomfortable
personal issues that keep us blocked from open-
ing to the grace and wholeness that is always
available to us. When we have a more healed
ego, life feels easier and we don’t experience
extreme ups and downs. This allows us to grow into who
we came to be. This encourages the unveiling of our
deeper wisdom, inner mystic and inner guidance. We
feel more in harmony with all of life. A relaxed ego can
be flexible and is not preoccupied with itself. Therefore,
we can be self reflexive rather than self conscious and
always concerned with how we are doing. A
relaxed or healed ego can move well through
life. The person with a relaxed ego is able to
find his or her place in the world. From this
more healed state and in our own unique way,
we can take appropriate actions to help our-
selves and others.
First Hand from the First Sergeant Let go of the Ego so you can grow!
The difficult parts of our personality and
the wounded aspects of our ego cause us to
be preoccupied with nonproductive sabo-
taging thoughts and feelings that don’t
allow us to relax. Ego could be defined as
our conscious mind or our conscious ex-
perience of our own identity. When we’ve
integrated these painful parts of ourselves
or painful parts of our ego enough, we are
able to relax, sink down and live from
more of our greatness. Sinking down into
our greatness allows us to go beyond the
ego into a larger context that contains all
aspects of who we are, including our ego,
body and our spirit. The more refined,
As 396th reaches the latter half of the
deployment, all of Operations is con-
tinuing to stay motivated and upbeat to
ensure convoys operations continue to
run smoothly and without any delay.
From the heart of the 396th Transporta-
tion Company (TC), we would like to
thank you again for all the support you
have given us during these long
months. We would also like to con-
gratulate and recognize SPC Voth who
was named the157th CSSB Soldier of
the month for January, she will com-
pete in the battalion Soldier of the
Quarter board, and was selected as
Task Force Chain’s enlisted repre-
sentative to attend a question and
answer forum with the Chief of
Staff of the Army, GEN Raymond
T. Odierno. Additionally, SPC
Roberts continues to keep the com-
pany communication section oper-
ating superbly, SGT Ackley keeps
all weapons ready for any mission
and SGT Rios will not let any per-
sonnel action go uncorrected. The
company travelled over 2,000
miles during the month of January
and escorted the most National Af-
ghan Trucks (NAT’s) in the battal-
ion. Congratulations are in order for
SGT Williams, who was selected as
operations “High Roller” for the
month of February. This section
continues to perform at the highest
level, which has enabled the com-
pany to surpass all expectations.
BIG WHEELS!
-SFC Lapsley
BULLDOGS
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4
For the month of February, the Bulldogs have
been polishing their trades, preparing for up-
coming missions, executing necessary com-
pany taskings, and conducting maintenance on
vehicles and equipment to ensure proficiency
in our trade. As transporters, we are fully
aware that our vehicles are instruments that
make our jobs successful, along with our train-
ing and hands on experience. The Bulldogs
have completed several convoy escort mis-
sions and now are working hard executing a
company tasking helping out Bagram Air-
field’s Ammunition Supply Point. The Bull-
dogs would like to thank all family members
for their sacrifices and understanding thus far
this deployment, because with you by our
sides anything is possible. Your letters, pic-
tures, and care packages have kept us moti-
vated and determined to get back to our loved one’s
arms.
In recognition of actions on the battlefield, SPC Her-
nandez Eliel was presented a Army Achievement
Medal and was named “High Roller” for the month of
January due to his continued dedication to the mis-
sion. SPC Hernandez also attended a recent promo-
tion board and excelled, therefore becoming promo-
table. The Bulldogs would like to recognize SPC
Mandelik Lindsey who was awarded a coin from the
3rd Sustainment Brigade Commander and Command
Sergeant Major, Colonel Novack and CSM Daniels.
SPC Mandelik was named the “High Roller”
for the month of February; congratulations
SPC Mandelik! The Bulldogs would like to
congratulate SGT Lewis and SGT Crowley,
who have been operating the Heavy Equip-
ment Transporter (HET) system in support of
missions throughout Regional Commands
(RC) South, pulling the “heavy” load. All
Soldiers are performing superbly, at a high
tempo, utilizing training and skills that have
prepared them for this deployment. The team
is constantly improving.
-SSG Grimes
to give a “shout out” to SPC Fredy Marin
for receiving the company’s “High Roller”
award for the month of January. As we roll
into February what better way to start off the
month than with promotions. Congratula-
tions are in order for SSG Shawn Oncza for
his recent promotion. SSG Oncza is the
Assistant Convoy Commander for the Out-
laws and has done an outstanding job for us.
We would also like to give a shout out to
SPC Enrico Quezada for receiving the com-
pany’s “High Roller” award for the month
The Outlaws are doing well. For the month
of January we took a break from the road as
we were tasked out to perform guard duty
for the Host National Truck yard. It af-
forded us the opportunity to send some of our Soldiers to specialized training to better
prepare them for upcoming missions such as
Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station
(CROWS) training. This system allows the
gunners to operate a weapon system remotely
from inside the vehicle. Aside from having to
perform guard duty, maintenance is an ongo-
ing endeavor and we have been extremely
busy ensuring that our vehicles continue to
stay mission ready. We also participated in
the M16 qualification range this month to en-
sure that our Soldiers stay proficient with their
individual weapons. The Outlaws would like
of February. This has been a
busy month for us as we con-
tinue to provide security while
escorting equipment throughout
the region. In order to stay proficient in first aid our medic
has volunteered his time to
conduct several classes for us
while on mission. It has been a
cold winter so far and we have
had plenty of snow. The snow
capped mountains that surround
Bagram are a beautiful sight to
see. We would like to thank our
families and friends for the sup-
port that they provide us. We
love you all.
-SSG Bowden
BONE CRUSHERS
OUTLAWS Do your duty in
all things. You
cannot do
more. You
should
never wish to do
less.”
-Robert E.Lee
portunity to recognize the team’s ability to multi-
task which has enabled the 396th TC to fulfill its
operational necessities such as retrograde, security,
and sustainment. The Bone Crushers are lucky to
have SGT Love as their Assistant Convoy Com-
mander. SGT Love, a leader with unquestionable
character and strong family values, has made sure
that we always maintain the combat readiness de-
manded to conduct operations throughout RC- East.
For the month of January, SPC Bowen was
awarded the "High Roller" in recognition of his
superior knowledge on multiple weapon systems.
Congratulations are in order for PFC Quijano, who
was selected as the "High Roller" of the month.
Family members, loved ones, and friends can rest
As February comes to a close, the Bone Crushers
have continued to complete missions exceptionally
well. We continue to emulate the Army Values,
always ensuring that our actions while conducting
full spectrum operations create a positive rapport
with the local population. We've continued to de-
velop Soldiers with great leadership potential into
strong unique, and adaptive leaders. Leaders that
fully understand the dynamics of the battle field is
what the Army continues to call for, therefore we
take great pleasure in welcoming the following
newly promoted Sergeants (E-5); SGT Butler, SGT
Daniels, SGT Marquez, and SGT Wilkinson to the
ranks of the U.S. Army Non Commissioned Officer
corp. On this occasion I would like to take the op-
assured that the Bone Crushers will continue to
operate with effectiveness, always ensuring that
the safety of our Soldiers is not overlooked. This
is my commitment to you, to my country, and
every one in my team . Thank you for supporting
our team!
-SSG Barrero
DOG POUND
P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4
The Dog Pound has successfully completed
multiple missions in the months of January
and February, covering more than 1,000
miles throughout Regional Commands (RC)
East and Capital. Our team has proven to be a
valuable asset to the 396th Transportation
Company (TC), spearheading the unit’s mis-
sion by providing security for National Af-
ghanistan Trucks (NATs) during this highly
visible retrograde operation supporting the
US draw down. In addition to successfully
completing the challenges of the daily tasks
of convoy security, three Soldiers have been
promoted from SPC to SGT: SGT Stewart,
Mitchell, SGT Wilkerson, Russell, and SGT
Wilkerson, Ashten. A very heartfelt congratu-
lation is sent out to these newly promoted Non
Commissioned Officers and their families for
this milestone in their careers. After a very
demanding couple of months, the Dog Pound
has awarded SPC Wagner and SGT Jackson as
January and February’s “High Rollers”. There
are no two Soldiers more deserving of this
honor for their devotion to the mission. We
are wrapping up the last couple of months
here, and as I look at the Dog Pound I can’t
help but become overwhelmed with pride.
This exceptional and very passionate group
of Soldiers makes a team. A team that takes
care of each other and in doing that they take
care of this unit, thus making them the very
heart beat of the 396th TC.
-SSG Baker
sides the normal day to day work. SGT
Wilkerson did very well at the range, firing
40 out of 40, SGT Davidson attended and
successfully attended and completed a mili-
tary educational class, and SPC Flores com-
pleted two courses that has added to his profi-
ciency as a equipment receiving parts special-
ist. PFC Baker was awarded the “High
Roller” for the month of January, SPC Cotton
was awarded the “High Roller” for the month
of February, and last but not least SGT Mcin-
nis, SGT Wilkerson, SPC Fellows, and SPC
Watkins successfully completed three hours of
college education. SPC Hunter is now SGT
Hunter after being promoted at the beginning
of February. He also competed in the body
building competition and placed second. Dur-
Initiative and lead-
ership has shown
the Maintenance
team how to be-
come a leader in-
stead of a follower
in our chosen field
of endeavor. The
past two months
we’ve accom-
plished every mis-
sion with a “can
do” attitude; there
has been no task too difficult. Individually, the
Soldiers of the maintenance team went above
and beyond the call of duty and single handedly
added to their performance in other areas be-
ing the 3rd Sustainment Bri-
gade Commander visit, COL
Novack recognized SGT Hunters’ achieve-
ments by giving him the Brigade’s coin of ex-
cellence. All sections continue to excel within
their areas of expertise and we look forward to
continuously doing well in support of the mis-
sion. We would like to take the opportunity to
thank the maintenance families at Fort Stewart
for their support and prayers.
-SFC Gasu
will drive it. Noteworthy achievements by
Soldiers within this Convoy Escort Team
(CET) include SGT Tonneson being promoted
to E-5, PFC Flannery for his promotion to E-3,
SPC Wood for this selection as the “High
Roller” for January, SPC Gargis as February’s
“High Roller” recipient and SGT Wooten for
his 40/40 qualification at the M16 range. For
the month of February, the theme for Friday
Nights Lights was a Marti Gras. Soldiers en-
joyed a good laugh, some snacks, a game of
washers and tossing a couple of bean bags
around. The Soldiers within the Rough Rider
CET are doing extremely well, and will un-
doubtedly finish this deployment strong.
Thank you for your continued
support.
-1LT Liberator
During the past two months the Rough
Riders enjoyed a change of pace, travelling
to new Forward Operating Bases (FOBs),
experiencing different terrain and new lo-
cations. The Rough Riders are looking
forward to continuing missions and captur-
ing all the experiences this deployment has
to offer. In addition to providing gun truck
support during retrograde operations, the
Rough Riders have recently been tasked
with operating Palletized Load Systems
(PLSs), which has assisted the transport of
equipment for units who are deploying and
redeploying. The bottom line, if it’s got a
steering wheel and tires, the Rough Riders
ROUGH RIDERS
Maintenance
The greater the
difficulty, the
greater the victory”
-Cicero
SGT Young
Pfc Livingston
Spc Peterson
Sgt Patterson
Spc gullotti
Spc fellows
Spc Watkins
Spc Campbell
PV2 schapp
Sgt Hawkins
Sgt Kershaw
Ssg miller
Spc rael
Ssg Johnson
Spc hall
Sgt reid
Sgt marquez
Pfc mead
396th held their monthly Friday
Night Lights celebrating everyone’s
birthdays for the month of December by sharing cake and singing them all a