The Eagle Eye-jan 2011

8/8/2019 The Eagle Eye-jan 2011

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TheISSUE 6, JANUARY 2011

EAGLE EYE

eagle pride!


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ISSUE 6, JANUARY

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The EAGLE EYEF I G H T I N G E A G L E 06

LTC Christopher C. Prather

F or those who dont know me, my name is Mark Lent and I am the Executive Officer for the Task Forcewear many different hats on a daily basis, and one of those is to command the Battalion in the absence of Fightin

Eagle 6. While LTC Prather has been enjoying a well-deserved Rest & Recuperation Leave with his family over th

holidays, the Fighting Eagle Task Force has continued to provide world-class aviation support. In December, we

enjoyed great flying weather and logged some serious blade time. By now, the operation is a well-oiled machine

and after all this time we know how to work together to get the job done. You should be extremely proud of yo

Fighting Eagle Soldiers- they do amazing work day in and day out.

Your Fighting Eagles enjoyed a quiet Christmas Holiday, doing what they do every day- flying, fixing,

feeding, or fueling. The incredible team of Soldiers and civilians that make up the organization did steal away fo

delicious and well-prepared meal at the DFAC, and those whose schedules allowed attended religious services o

otherwise took a short break before returning to the mission.

A s we prepare to close the 2010 chapter and look forward to 2011, I notice everyone getting very ex-cited. They can see the preparations for redeployment, and while everybody knows the pain associated with mo

ing a large organization across the world on an extremely tight timeline, they all are diving in and getting to work

because they are anxious to get back home. Many changes have occurred for the year we will have been gone, a

certainly there will be an adjustment period, for all of us and all of you. We are committed to ensuring that we a

have the resources necessary to re-integrate with our families and our communities, and prevent or reduce any

issues that may arise.

K now that as we get closer to coming home, our focus will be on ensuring that our replacements areready to assume our mission. That means that to ensure their arrival is seamless, we will be moving out of our

homes so they can move right in. During the critical last 30 days, as we go back to living out of our rucksacks, t

communication you may have enjoyed up until this point may be strained by work schedule or computer access,

even bandwidth. Hopefully, knowing in advance that this may be coming will make it easier for everyone to dea

with.

R est assured that the Fighting Eagle Leadership is committed to transitioning our mission successfullythe next Task Force Headquarters (including C/3-126 (MEDEVAC) and B/1-147 ASLT, that will continue on under

new leadership for a few more months) and ensuring that those redeploying get back safely, and that we do our

absolute best to inform you of when your Soldier is going to arrive Fort Riley. Some things will be beyond our co

trol, but we will pass all the information we have, as it gets closer to the reunion date.

Happy New Year, and well see you soon!-Fighting Eagle 5


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The EAGLE EYECSM Jake W. Werner

F I G H T I N G E A G L E 07Fighting Eagles and Family,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope

this finds your spirits high as we turn the page on yet an-

other year. This year has been busy to say the least and it

will continue as we roll into 2011; not slowing down until

we return. With the New Year we turn the page on one

chapter and begin another. For the vast majority of War-

riors and Families this spring cant come soon enough,

LOL. With the many things we have to look forward to

upon getting back home it easy to lose sight of the task at

hand. We must continue to stay diligent and focused on

the mission while taking care of Soldiers and their fami-lies. The last couple of months of a deployment can be

dangerous for many reasons. We must avoid compla-

cency and stay sharp by adhering to standards and disci-

pline. Weve accomplished a lot this year and everyone

has done a phenomenal job. I ask that YOU stay on your toes and double check your azimuth. We will be home

before you know it..

Who hasnt heard the term Monday morning quarterback? Well if you have then bear with me and if y

havent then keep this in mind. It is very easy to point out faults after the game or stand on the side lines blamin

others. It takes the whole TEAM to be successful which includes the Coach, the players, the staff, and of course

fans. Part of a winning team is individuals knowing what their role is and making positive contributions. Not eve

one can be the Coach or the quarterback! The ball doesnt get down the field without the efforts of everyone an

when there is a member of the team not pulling their wait the whole team suffers. So you ask where he is going

with this! Our Fighting Eagle team is now in the playoffs and it is now more important than ever for us to play as

one. Dont be that member that stands on the side line or sits in the stands throwing trash.

Since I wasnt able to reach out to each and every one of you during the Holidays Ive included a little poem for

you.

I t wa s t h e mo r n i n g o f Ch r i s t ma s a n d S o l d i e r s s c u r r i e d a r o u n d t h r o u g h t h e d u s t & s a n d c o v e r i n gt h e g r o u n d

T h e So l d e r s we r e i n I r a q n o s n o w t o b e f o u n dRotors were turning, weapons slung with care and Big Red One patches were everywhere

Now everyone knew and it was clear, Duty First before Christmas cheerDespite all the work that had to be done, it wouldnt keep Soldiers from having some funThe sounds of well wishes and Merry Christmas filled the air, but it wasnt Saint Nick spre

i n g t h e c h e e rT h e ma r r y v o i c e s t h a t c o u l d b e h e a r d a b o v e a l l , we r e t h o s e wh o c o n t i n u e t o a n s we r t h e c a l lS o , f r o m t h e S o l d i e r s o f 1 s t I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , 1 s t CA B , a n d 2 - 1 o n t h i s d a y we c e l e b r a t e t h eb i r t h o f o u r L o r d s S o n .

Merry Christmas to All and Happy New Year!

Thanks again for all you do, we cant do it without you. Stay Demon Strong, Eagle Ready, and Duty First.


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The EAGLE EYEF I G H T I N G E A G L e 09

CW4 Jess McGee

Greeting families and friends,

a s we finish another historic month of Operation New Dawn I cant help but to reflect upon our deployment and the next few months as our time here is coming to an end. We have completed more milestones in av

tion and have surpassed last deployments flying hours, passengers carried and cargo carried. This is all because

the outstanding teamwork your Fighting Eagles demonstrate each and everyday. It is nothing short of remarkab

and speaks volumes of the leadership and skills that our Soldiers possess. As with all things, none of this could b

achieved if it wasnt for the support we get from you, our families and friends. In keeping with tradition-thank yo

for your support.

Since last time I wrote, we have celebrated Christmas and are preparing for the New Year. Christmas was

incredible this year as the Battalion had multiple gatherings around company work areas and even some bon fire

equipped with smores. This year everyone celebrated with grandeur and supported VIPs in Fighting Eagle fashi

Some of the pictures in the back of this newsletter will show how our crew members donned Christmas hats and

apparel on the flight line. I will say that it was a sight to see the crewmembers with hats on their helmets. One

crewmember was even wearing antlers. I can say that they looked like they were into the season and smiles wer

everywhere.

As we head into our final months of this deployment and New Years, I see the same enthusiasm amongstthe team. In short order we will be having another celebration in HHC. This will include movies and yes smores

with a bon fire. I cant wait to post the pictures of the gathering and include them in the next newsletter. As we

celebrate we will be celebrating the upcoming New Year. This New Year will bring us home to our families and

friends and much awaited beginnings for all of us. These beginnings will be sweet with tears and hugs as we can

see the light at the end of this deployment.

As we head into the final days of the deployment

will no doubt remain strong and vigilant in everything we

do. We will keep with the professionalism that has been

expected by the Fighting Eagles. In a few short weeks wewill start moving towards the journey home. This journe

will be marked with celebration and I cant wait to see ev

ryone reunited with their families. To my family-thank yo

for all you have endured over the last year and I cant wa

to see you soon and give you a huge hug. Also, to my wif

thank you for being so wonderful.


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The EAGLE EYECPT Matthew Christensen

c h a p l a i nFinish Well

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

St. Paul wrote the words above as he neared the end of his life. Paul spent the early years of his life pe

cuting Christians, but through a life-changing experience he spent the later years of his life doing mission work a

promoting Christianity. His life was not easy and his work placed him in several dangerous situations. In his s

ond letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:24-28) he described the difficulties in his life:

Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was

beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift

at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own peo-ple, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from

false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often with-

out food, in cold and exposure. And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my

anxiety for all the churches.

Through all the danger and difficulty, Paul drove on and persevered. Even though Pauls life was cut sh

probably through beheading (no pun intended!), he finished well. He fought the good fight, he finished the ra

he kept the faith.

A few weeks ago, I made a silly wager with a Soldier. The details of the wager arent important, but the

ger itself is. Our wager involved running 10 miles. We plotted the course and planned the event. We set up a

ter point at the five mile mark and on a Saturday morning, we started the run. The problem with our little wa

was that none of us had done any training for the event. Needless to say, the first five miles werent too b

Miles six and seven were a little harder and by the time we hit miles eight and nine, things were getting downri

difficult. In the end, we fought the good fight, we finished the race; we kept the faith, but it wasnt easy. Hone

the only reason that I finished the race was because I had a buddy to the left and right and I didnt want to let th

down. Ok, honestly they were a little to the front and I kept running simply because I didnt want to be the

that quit . . . but my point is that we finished the race, even though it was difficult.

As we come to near the finish line for this deployment, things can get very difficult. Weve been runn

long and hard. Weve asked our families to run long and hard. Weve come to the point where it would be easycut some corners, easy to stop and walk, easy to downright quit running. This is where we all dig a little deep

This is the point where we look to the left and the right and give some encouragement. This is where we fin

well so that we can say with St. Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

In His Service,

CH (CPT) Matthew C. Christensen

2-1 GSAB, CAB, 1ID


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HHC headhunters

The EAGLE EYE

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Headhunter Family and Friends!

By the time you read this newsletter, it will be 2011! We here at Taji hoped you enjoyed your Holiday Season and the start of a brand new y

As we enter into 2011, remember that this year brings your Soldiers back home to you. As you begin preparing for our homecoming, we are strong at

work preparing for our replacements to show up. We are diligently preparing ourselves for redeployment and the incoming unit with the necessary to

to excel at the Mission.

The S4 is currently tackling the huge task of resetting our equipment. RESET is one of the most important tasks for redeployment as this giv

the Battalion the opportunity to repair and/or replace mission essential equipment. Along with RESET we have been planning our movements from T

Iraq to Fort Riley, Kansas. This entails moving over 600 Soldiers, 150 containers to two locations and 34 aircraft around Iraq and the United States. Al

efforts of the S4 Section are concentrated on redeploying equipment and Soldiers back to Fort Riley and the Families of the Fighting Eagle Soldiers.

The HHC Supply Section has been busy working vigorously on RESET planning. However, on top of working on RESET, they planned, organize

and ran a M16/M9 qualification range for HHC as well as some other companies in the Battalion. A special recognition goes

out for the commendable rating they received from USF-I J4 during a surprise IG inspection. SSG Wynn was recognized with

an Army Commendation Medal for the success of the inspection. Also, SPC Julian Owens attended and excelled at the pro-

motion board earning 149/150 points giving him promotable status. The S1 Section and the Orderly Room have been hard

at work gathering all the necessary administrative paperwork to get all the Soldiers redeployed. As the Holiday seasonwraps up, S1 continues to be busy as ever sorting mail. A special thanks goes out to the Soldiers working in HHC Orderly

Room for all the support they have given and the cheer they receive when the LMTV drives up filled with mail! The S2 Sec-

tion continues to provide excellent intelligence to the crews leaving the wire. Congratulations goes out to SSG Sykes who

was recently accepted into Warrant Officer Candidate School. Also, we would like to welcome 1LT Morrison to the S2 from

HHC CAB.

The month of December has been full of joy and laughter in the TOC. On a daily basis, the Soldiers of the S3 Section constantly prove to eve

one that they are the best S3 section within the Combat Aviation Brigade. SPC Rosa did an outstanding job this month at the Company mock board an

will be competing in January at the Battalion Soldier of the Month Board. Congratulations to SPC Strugnell, who recently graduated from the Demon

Academy. The Demon Academy was a weeklong course that taught young junior enlisted Soldiers the building blocks for success as a non-commission

officer. This course will become valuable when these Soldiers attend Warrior Leaders Course (WLC) when we return home. The S3 Section continues

groom its Soldiers into Leaders by promoting PFC Nichols to Specialist and SPC Johnson to Sergeant. Also two new additions

to the shop include CPT Tesauro from A/2-1 and CPT Malkowski from B/2-1. These Captains will take on the responsibilities

of S3 Plans and Battle Captain.

S6 smoothly welcomed C/3-126th (Air Ambulance) into the Battalion's network architecture, providing data, voice,

SATCOM, and other automations capabilities to this very important unit. PFC Buck, who was selected as the January Head-

hunter of the Month, was tasked with the mission of standing up the automations piece of integrating C/3-126th into the

Battalion. PFC Buck performed this mission flawlessly and with great praise from all levels of leadership within the MEDEVAC

Company. By demonstrating high motivation and a 'can-do' attitude, he personally ran a total of 48 NIPR/SIPR lines and

added 15 phones and 22 computers in a limited time span that contributed directly to C/3-126th being able to assume MEDEVAC coverage throughou

our area of responsibility. PFC Buck also created in excess of 40 user accounts, to include key leadership and operations personnel. S6 also got togeth

on Thanksgiving evening for a BBQ and movie event to celebrate the holiday.

This past month, the Unit Ministry Team went out to remote sites to visit Soldiers. They also conducted an Ap

plied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) class for Brigade, training 45 Soldiers in Suicide

Intervention. Right now, along with the Medical Section they are conducting redeployment

briefings for 2-1 GSAB. The Medics are hard at work providing excellent care for our Soldiers

and are currently conducting flight physicals throughout the Battalion.Headhunter 6,

CPT Jordan Earley

Hello Headhunter Families,

As we all have heard the great news, we are rapidly preparing for homecoming. The FRG has had a great few months. We have had several fun socials a

will be having another social on January 22nd

. Everyone is invited to attend. We will also be having a luncheon for all family members of HHC on Februa

5th

. If you would like to come, please contact the FRG to RSVP. Please keep in mind that the FRG will be calling to confirm your contact information for

special dates/times of return for your Soldier.

Sincerely,

Charity Lent

HHC FRG Leader


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a Company wraiths

The EAGLE EYE

Wraith Family and Friends,

Greetings from Iraq! I recently took over command of A Company on the 7th

of

December and am truly proud to say how great the company is performing. Coming

from another company within the battalion is a difficult task as it was hard to leave F

Company and the Soldiers that made up that great team. However, as we all know,

change in the Army is inevitable.

The company is probably busier than ever, flying missions every day, but also

trying to focus on the tasks that will set us up for redeployment. Every one of the Sol-

diers is maintaining their focus on the current mission, but sometimes its hard, espe-

cially with Christmas and the pending reunion with our families just on the horizon.

My wife Rachel, will be taking over the FRG leader position until we redeploy.

Please expect a phone call or an email from her in the near future. This check in is to

ensure that we have the correct contact information for the families and that we can

pass down information concerning the redeployment activities. I would also like to ex-

tend the opportunity to any of the family members for volunteer positions such as key

caller, or possibly FRG leader in the future. Our goal is to try and inject a little bit of mo-

tivation and camaraderie into the FRG within the next few months to ease the transition

after a yearlong separation.

I look forward to serving the Soldiers and Families of A Company and even moreso to meeting the Families upon our return.

CPT Richard Polen

Wraith 6

Hello and Happy New Year Alpha Families!

I always find myself taking a long range view at the beginning of each year, thinking about all the things th

are going to happen. This year our baby will turn four, our wee baby will have his first birthday, and very shortly

the Soldiers will be coming home. Soon, this time apart will be only a memory.

The FRG will be busy in the next couple of months; hopefully several of you will have a chance to help dec

rate the hanger and airfield and prepare the barracks rooms for the single Soldiers. It is most important now tha

we have current contact information for everyone, as well need to know how to get in touch with each of you w

arrival information.

I cant wait to meet each of you and look forward to getting to know the Alpha families. Well have a mee

ing early in JanuaryIll send out an email with the details. See you all soon!

Rachel Polen


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The EAGLE EYEB company diesel

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Success has many forms. In Army Aviation, success is a units abil-ity to safely and consistently get the job done. Army Aviators must forge astrong foundation in safety, standards, and mission execution. Soldiers

learn early on that such a base is built only through positive habit transfer.

Experience shows that a hard won reputation can easily be thrown away.

Knowing the importance of consistency each mission, Diesel has continued

to invest in its Soldiers through a skilled cast of Instructors. Bravo Company

Soldiers have built their foundation one flight at a time.

A single flight requires a team effort. Each Soldiers training, of

course, goes back to flight school for Pilots and Advanced Individual Train-

ing for Crew Chiefs and Flight Engineers. Diesel Standards, headed by CW3

Brian Green and SSG Alan Moody, conducted Readiness Level Progression for each crewmember. This progression is done t

set a baseline expectation for everybody, but to also train mission tasks. It is as extensive as it is thorough. Flight Engineer I

structors and Instructor Pilots take pride in developing each crewmember. There is a sense of responsibility present in each

instructor as they know they are building teammates.

Beyond training, Maintenance Test Pilots ensure the aircraft is ready for the flight. CW2s Dan Hodge, Wes J

kins, and Todd Misurelli carefully tend to all the aircraft. They work hand in hand with each crewmember to ensure inspec-

tions are up to date, the aircraft get the tender love and care they need, and any impromptu maintenance is taken care of.

The Maintenance Test Pilots provide their experience 24 hours a day, and take great pride in their product given to the fligh

crews.

Mission planning is extensive to ensure deliberate operations. Two pilots spend time planning each mission, buildin

the required products, and ensuring a quality control for each plan. Finally, the day of the flight, three crewmembers ensurthe aircraft has undergone a daily inspection that takes on average two hours to complete. Pilots show early to brief the pla

for the flight and to conduct pre-flights. All of these processes run smoothly, but safety and excellence require constant att

tion. Bravo Company pursues excellence through a team effort.

The Army teaches units to be prepared for the next mission. In aviation this takes the form of more experienced cre

members sharing with those with less experience. Instructors compound learning by putting in the legwork necessary to te

and maintain the standards that ensure safety. December was a month where all of these investments showed returns. In

short, crewmembers have passed important milestones in their careers. CW2s Drew Streit, Jeff Bledsoe, Benjamin Martin, a

C.J. Mather, for example, became Pilots-In-Command. SPC Cody Kresser and SGT Thaddeus Walz became Flight Engineers. A

pilots learn and progress to become Pilots-in-Command, Crew Chiefs pursue the role of

Flight Engineer. Each new position is earned, but each has increased responsibilities.Bravo Company has grown by investing in its younger crewmembers.

Success can truly come in many forms. For Bravo Company, solid training ensures

that each Diesel Crew is best prepared for each flight. They stand ready to accomplish

each mission safely. Reputations are built through repetition. Flight-by-flight, and day-by

-day, Diesel has accumulated more than 7000 hours of flight time. Since March of 2010,

the Chinooks of Bravo Company have moved 3.8 million pounds of cargo and nearly

66,000 passengers. These staggering numbers can only be earned one flight at a time.

Ensuring each crew executes to standard has created a credibility that units around Iraq

have come to rely upon.


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The EAGLE EYEc Company boomer

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Commander

Boomer Family,

Alas! The New Year is here! I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas surrounded by

family and friends. Here, most of us were surrounded by our deployed families, but had our loved

ones back home on our mind. Hopefully, you were able to talk, or even Skype with your Soldier on

Christmas. On Christmas Eve, CSM Werner, 1SG Simmons, myself, and an entourage of other indi-

viduals flew to each team site to spread some Christmas cheer. It was great to see al l the Boomer

Soldiers in such great spirits. Every team site had a plethora of holiday snacks and care packages

that had been sent from home. I was able to present each Soldier with a Company coin for all their

hard work and dedication that they have shown through the deployment. I would like to thank the

Company and Battalion FRGs for the stockings and cards, as they were much appreciated by all.

For the first time since I have been in command, I have no new baby announcements for

this month! As we head into January, we find ourselves conducting redeployment tasks and prep-

ping for our highly anticipated return to Fort Riley. Please continue to be strong and send encouraging words to your Soldier. Our job is not yet done,

and we must continue to stay focused and safely perform our mission.

Sincerely,

MAJ Sam Fricks

Boomer 06

First Sergeant

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what joy injured Soldiers have knowing

MEDEVAC is on the way. Dashing to the aircraft, dual engine start; the thought of saving Soldiers

lives is joy in our heart. Okay, probably not going to make the top 100 hits, but it is what we do.

And we do it extremely well! December is here and almost gone, which means we are even closer

to the people we love. The work we do here does not compare to what our loved ones do back

home. Not only do you have to take care of home, kids, finances, make sure everything is in order

for the holidays, go to school and work but you have to make sure your loved ones here are taken care of. To the spouses and significant others of the

Boomer soldiers who are deployed, know that we are humbled and very appreciative of what you do and chances are, we would not trade places withyou. Too much work in what you do. Lol

Although we are getting closer to the end, we must remain vigilant and focused on the mission. A big part of coming home safe is the contin

ued use of OPSEC (Operation Security). Information will be posted and sent out at appropriate times to ensure we arrive safe. Dont be alarmed if you

ask your loved one for information and he/she does not know. We definitely need your help in ensuring whatever information you do get is not poste

on Facebook or in any other chat area.

Keep the pictures of the litt le ones coming. I wish you all could see the smile on your spouses face when they start showing off the baby pic

tures. All I ask is that you all make sure they have that same smile when they change the diapers when they get home. Lol

Some Boomer Humor:

Rene was sitting down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, "What's on the TV?" I said, Dust". The next night I was looking at TV

and sleeping in the garage. Rene was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, "I want something shiny that goes from

to 150 in about 3 seconds." I bought her a bathroom scale. Later that day I had to stay at SSG Werts house in the

spare room. A little something from our hearts for the people we Love back home:

As long as the wind keeps on blowing,my Love for you will keep on growing.

Your Love has forever set me free,

all I ask is that you keep Loving me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; Happy Holidays

Team Speicher

Holiday greetings from COB Speicher. As Christmas approaches the sounds of Christmas music fill the air

and holiday decorations abound in each office. There is no limit to the amount of cookies and treats that continue

to arrive in the mail on a daily basis from the good folks back home. With the month of December half over, morale

remains high as the Soldiers of Charlie Company have directed their attention to the conclusion of college football

and the BCS bowl games. With the new year approaching fast, thoughts are slowly turning toward our return to Ft.

Riley and our loved ones. We also celebrated a birthday this month. SGT Steven Graham turned the big 30 this

month. Happy birthday SGT Graham, and well see everyone soon.


10/18

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The EAGLE EYEc Company boomer

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Team Mosul

With another month down, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have kept busy

here at Mosul with our mission, daily duties, and beginning to prep for re-deployment. With the summer heat finally

subsiding, the weather has been extremely good to us with an average daily high in the 70s which has made all activi-

ties much more enjoyable.

This past month, our team NCOIC, SGT Ethan Rogers, instructed and certified all of the Soldiers at our team

site on the American Heart Associations Basic Life Support course. This course consists of instruction on airway ob-

structions as well as CPR certification on adults and infants. SGT Rogers excellent instruction is one of the many examples of excel-

lent work that our Soldiers in Mosul perform on a daily basis.

In celebration of Thanksgiving we had an afternoon grill out and movie night. Every-

one had a great time relaxing and enjoying the afternoon. We have continued our weekly tradi-

tion of movie night every Friday night which is an event that we all look forward to. With the

Christmas season upon us, we have put up our Christmas tree in the day room and are partici-

pating in a secret Santa gift exchange as well as holding one of our traditional afternoon grill

outs. We would like to wish all of our family and friends back home a Merry Christmas and a

happy New Year! That is all for now..until next month.

Team KirkukAnother exciting month has gone by at Kirkuk. We had a delicious Thanksgiving meal at the lovely Cav Country

Caf (CCC) - our little diner here next to our living area. Although we missed being at home, we were lucky to eat our

Thanksgiving meal together. We look forward to our next Thanksgiving at home! And now we are looking forward to

opening up the many presents on Christmas that loved ones from back home have been faithfully sending to us.

We welcomed two new members to the DUSTOFF family this past month: SGT Giersdorf and his wife Abby had

Gavin Matthew Giersdorf at 8 lbs., 3 oz., and 21 on November, 5th

. SGT Jellison and his wife Elysia had Lucas Ryan Jellison at 8 lbs., 6 oz., 21 on Nove

ber 20th

. They were both lucky enough to make it home for the birth of their babies, and they are counting the days to get back home to see their new-

born children. We congratulate both these families.

As has been the case the last two newsletters- the weather has been absolutely gorgeous this t ime of year in

Northern Iraq. We have truly enjoyed this nice break after the warm summer. It is starting to get slightly colder here as the

winter approaches, but we are sure it is not nearly as cold as Manhattan or Junction City these days!

We always maintain proficiency in our MEDEVAC duties by conducting training flights. Our crew chiefs make sure

our aircraft stay in tip-top shape, medics stay up to date on their medical tasks with training, and pilots constantly study to

stay on top of their game while out here. We are very serious about the mission, but we also have a lot of fun doing

it. We are honored to provide MEDEVAC services to the true heroes on the ground out here in Iraq.

Until the next newsletter- stay safe and well be coming home soon!

Team Talafar By: SPC Godbee

November is becoming a bug in the rearview mirror now and December is upon us. Theres no doubt

winter has hit our region of the country. Some of us are pulling out our cold weather gear. We welcome the colder

weather with open arms. It is a sign that we are getting that much closer to being home with our loved ones. We

welcomed back SGT Melton and SSG McGhee from R&R and have welcomed SPC Godbee from Speicher. The mis-

sion level is low here at Team Talafar. With that we have had several Point of Injury (POI)

training events to help keep all of us here at the top of our game. We have also had several

joint training exercises with the firefighters here. Weekly classes are constant and profi-

ciency training flights are very frequent. We constantly do small things to raise morale, such

as cook outs, volleyball games between enlisted and officers, play our own little games and

just try to keep things as stress free as possible. We also appreciate everything everyone is

doing for us back home. The care packages and small things that are sent are very much

appreciated. We thank everyone for their love and support. With the deployment end get-

ting ever so close, we are getting more and more eager for the end of every week. However,

we keep in mind that we must keep focused on the mission and each others safety. As a

strong team, everyone continues to help each other out with anything that may come up.

The one thing that doesnt change for us while we are here is each other. For us, it is one

team and one mission which we are always ready to serve: MEDEVAC.


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The EAGLE EYE2- 1 G s a b r e a r d e t a c h m e n t

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

C CO 2 -1


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C / 3- 126 witch doctorsThe EAGLE EYE ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Three months after leaving the cool September temperatures and early colors of the northern New Enland Fall foliage, Soldiers of C Company 3-126 Aviation (Air Ambulance) have settled in and fully assumed their

MEDEVAC mission for northern Iraq. The four Forward Support Medevac Team (FSMT) sites at Alasad, Balad, Kal

and Taji took control of their areas dur-

ing December with the final team at

Camp Taji taking over the calls in mid

December.

The first month of operations for the

Witchdoctors has proven to be event-

ful and successful for the first ever mis-

sions using the new Mike Model HH60

helicopters.

FROM THE FIRST SERGEANTOn behalf of all the "Witchdoctor's" here in Iraq and our families, I would like to take a moment to send a

holiday message to all. The Soldiers of Company C 3-126TH Avn (AA) have currently gone through our first full

month in Iraq, and this first month has been very busy for all. Every unit member has been fully engaged with th

individual & additional unit responsibilities to the fullest. All team sites have been performing our "MEDEVAC" m

sion for several weeks now and are performing our mission in an outstanding and professional manner.

Across our entire unit locations we continue to improve our work and living sites, this will continue throug

out our stay in Iraq. The health and welfare of our Soldiers and families continues to be my primary concern and

will continue to keep close watch on all.

At all of our team sites the Witchdoctors are spending the holidays in the best spirits. Our means of commun

tions with our families and love ones are pretty good for the most part, although at times interrupted for short pe

riod of time for normal maintenance and upkeep. I encourage all Soldiers and family members to keep up the gr

lines of communications on a continuous basis as this will increaseawareness for how we are all doing in a timely manner.

Currently our battalion has been one of the best supporting ele-

ments that I have had the pleasure to work with over our past de-

ployments. They have proven to be a great bunch of professional

Officers and Noncommissioned Officers which makes our units mis-

sion that much better.

Respectfully,

1SG Kris A. Sample


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The EAGLE EYE I SSUE 6, JANUARYd Company roughnecks

Merry Christmas to all our families back home!! The holidays are upon us and with Thanksgiving passing only a few weeksago, the excitement of Christmas is in the air knowing that it is right around the corner. This season brings us one step closer to cominghome and that indeed is improving morale on all levels. Our stockings are hung by our CHUs with care, Christmas trees are po pping up

in our company areas complete with the latest holiday trappings and ornaments to boot and the Christmas baking of our loved ones at

home have already started to appear in the mail. We were hoping for a White Christmas, but that will probably have to wait till we get

back to Riley! May this letter remind you of how much we are thinking about all of you back there keeping the home fires burning as you

await our return and hopefully bring you up to speed on whats been going on over on this side of the world.

ELVES in SANTAs WORKSHOP

Never have I seen such committed professionals as these Soldiers of Delta Com-

pany. Our aircraft hangars particularly this month are consistently full with Shops and Maintenance personnel alike doing wh

they do best to crank out the next aircraft for a mission which is only shortly followed by a broken one that comes back from m

sion desperately needing some TLC. Its an ant farm of activity, like elfs working in Santas workshop cranking out toys for the

coming Christmas season. Our Soldiers are washing aircraft, inspecting them constantly, replacing radios or engines, hammer

out or riveting sheet metal and the like, and all in short order, one after the other in an effort to continue the capabilities of th

Brigade to fight and win our nations wars. Last month our maintainers helped support 2 different companys need to fly over

1000 hours a piece due to the demand for aviation assets in our area of operations. Both companies are on pace to duplicate

1000 hour mark this month also! It would be an egregious error to think that this amount of flying could be sustained or evenpossible without the support of each one of your Soldiers. The 2-1 Fighting Eagle Battalion flew over 3,200 hours of flight time

the end of November, our highest month this deployment and our maintainers worked off just under 6,000 maintenance fault

during that timeframe, as well as our CH-47 maintenance section completing 2 400HR phase inspections on the side. Their e

forts are truly remarkable and a credit to their creative ability and talent in each of their respective fields of expertise. They are a committed team and do their jobs with t

utmost professionalism and degree of excellence this battalion has come to expect.

SOLDIERS IN THE SPOT LIGHT

Delta Company this past month has been a flurry of change. In our formation, many are distinguishing themselves for their tireless work and dedication to do

above and beyond whats asked of them. Among such individuals are PFC James Roach and SPC Jesse Sampson. Both earned the Maintenance Awards of the Month and

been selected based on their performance and maturity to fly as door gunners for Alpha Company 2-1 to help aid some of their critical personnel shortages and help suppo

the VIP and Command and Control mission that A/2-1 does without fail every day. We are sad to see them go to our sister company, but know that they will do very well

this new family they are stepping into.

Our Delta Co Team witnessed several promotions as well. On the 47 Maintenance side of the house, Christopher Schmidt was promoted from PFC to the rank o

E4 (Specialist). The 60 Maintenance group saw PFC Joshua Lee promoted from the rank of PFC to SPC and Shops Platoon witnessed Ian Gardner progress in his career to

rank of SPC as well. All three Soldiers have done an incredible job and are ready for increased responsibility. Congratulations to you and your families!

In the coming weeks and months more information will be posted through Rear Detachment and the Company FRGs regarding work s chedules and block leav

dates upon our arrival so continue to stay plugged into those for information. As of right now the Fighting Eagles first period of block leave will be 19 March 03 April. T

second period will be 30 Apr 15 May. Our work schedules from the time we get back will vary and more guidance will continue to come. For the first several weeks up

our arrival back at Fort Riley during the Reintegration Training period, the work day will be from 0800-1200 Noon. Following the first block leave period, Soldiers during t

week Resiliency Training time will be expected to show from 0600-0700 for PT; then 1000-1430 for work. Following the 2nd

Block leave period, the normal work schedule

0630-0730 PT; then 0900-1700 will commence. This is only to give you a heads up on what to expect when your Soldier returns home and to prepare accordingly.

Thank you for all your mail, packages, letters and the like that continue to

boost morale and put a smile on our faces. Going home with a box under your arm

after a long day of working on aircraft can be just the motivation and encouragement

that speaks directly to our hearts (and stomachs!) that only you can provide. Thank you

so very much for all your support, your prayers, love and understanding that you give us

on a daily basis as we finish what we started back in March. Delta Company is strong

and resilient, because they are backed and supported by the strong and resilient fami-

lies that hold them up each day through email, phone calls and daily prayers for safety

and a quick return home. Were almost there and with less than 2 months to go, we

shall be home before you know it. Thank you for all your sacrifices and service to help

us do this mission weve been asked to accomplish; we could not do it without you.

Attached are a few pictures from the Christmas Party Obstacle Course-our D CO Maintenance Soldiers who took 1st

place!

Hello Roughnecks!

Were getting closer to welcoming home our Soldiers! Mine is leaving on January 5 from his R&R and Im looking forward to being able to say See you next month! whe

leaves. If youre in the local area, our last FRG meeting of the deployment will be Tuesday, January 25 in the Yellow Ribbon Room starting at 6pm. Well be giving out mo

details about the redeployment and making our banner to hang for the Welcome Home Ceremonies. If youre not in the local area and planning to relocate, start making

plans NOW! Rentals off post are already starting to go fast and the list for on-post housing is getting long. Also, please remember to tell the FRG when you do get back t

local area so we can update our information so you can be notified about your Soldiers status as they begin their journey ho me. As for parents of Single Soldiers, other f

ily members, and friendsif you plan to come for your Soldiers Welcome Home Ceremony, let us know if you need help finding hote l accommodations, etc.

Stay warm the rest of the winter! Miki FettD Co FRG Leader [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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The EAGLE EYEe Company hellbenders

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of the Family and Friends of the Hellbenders,

We are headed into the Holiday season with our heads up. We are all missing our loved ones, but the bonds that have been built over the yehere in Iraq are helping us through the season. Thank you for all of the sacrifices you have made for your service member. I am honored to get to spe

my Holiday season with this outstanding group of Soldiers. Since last month, the Hellbenders have stayed busy supporting the Turkey trot and Christm

Party and helping our Coalition brethren with the maintenance of their combat vehicles. Our Soldiers stood out and continue to excel at all that they d

The Soldiers of Echo, both from the maintenance and the Distribution Platoons, came together to assist the new unit in the Battalion. We no

only helped them with our normal support but we also helped them emplace and secure a movable landing pad. The hard work of our Soldiers and the

efforts to make the new unit feel welcome, did not go unnoticed. The Company Commander and the First Sergeant of C/3-126 have gone out of their w

to let SFC Johnson and myself know that they truly appreciate the support that they received from our company.

Being as it is almost Christmas, I cant leave out the story of our Company Christmas tree. The Battalion was lucky enough to receive live Chr

mas trees sent from the states to us. Echo Company received one and the Soldiers in the Orderly room decided they would put it out side and decorat

with the ornaments we had that would not be destroyed by the weather. SGT Miller was asked what he thought of the tree and it being almost Christ

He replied that it did not feel like Christmas without snow. SPC Fasano used his creative mind and used some of the resources we had around the com

pany and decorated the tree with artificial snow. The Holidays being here is seen by a lot of the Soldiers as both a good and a bad thing. They are gladthey are here because that means that the deployment is almost over but sad because they do not get to spend the Holidays with their families and lo

ones. The Hellbender Company is a Family and we will get through this but the Family we build in the Army will never be able to replace the Family we

back home.

Merry Christmas to All and to all a Happy New Year!

Hellbender 6 Out

HELLBENDER OF THE MONTHPFC Quamarkus Williams Motivates as the Step Aerobics Instructor

Headquarters Platoons PFC Williams Shows Off His Leadership Abilities

PFC Quamarkus Williams is one of many Soldiers who have come to realize that physical fitness is a great

way to increase morale. With his newfound knowledge, he has been on a mission to motivate others as the Camp Taji

Step Aerobics Instructor. PFC Williams, who is from Tallahassee, Florida, has been in the Army for two years now,

and has grown tremendously during his short stint. After graduating high school, he joined the Army as a way to gain

self-confidence. This now outspoken Soldier has certainly achieved his goal and more. Since the beginning of the

deployment, he has obviously grown stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually.

In June, PFC Williams decided to assist in the physical and mental

strengthening of others by volunteering as the new step aerobics instructor.

Prior to redeploying, the previous instructor approached PFC Williams, requesting that he become the new instr

tor for the class. When asked about being selected to take on such a large task, Williams stated, she thought I h

the most motivation and drive to carry out the mission. Carry out the mission is an understatement of his role

and accomplishments thus far. Since becoming the instructor, not only has the attendance grown drastically, bu

due to popular demand, the class is now conducted on a daily basis, rather than the previous three day a weekschedule. In addition, he created and implemented three new steps to add a little variety to an already challeng

routine.

When discussing why he initially began attending the class, he noted, I really enjoyed the workout. I

thought it was a great motivational exercise class where you could let go and release all types of energy. When

asked about his favorite aspect of being the instructor, he indicated that he enjoys watching others having fun and

receiving all the positive feedback from the Soldiers, as well as the civi lians that also attend the class. PFC Williams

has been approached by multiple attendees, thanking him for his efforts, which resulted in their increased PT

scores, decrease in weight, and the wealth of self-confidence theyve gained. Deployments can be very stressful

with the increased workload and separation from loved ones, but the efforts of Soldiers like PFC Williams definitely

make it easier to cope and remain motivated.

For his dedication and, PFC Quamarkus Williams is this months Hellbender of the Month!

LT Brown, SFC Maldonado, and the la

following participate in PFC Williams'

tense workout during a Wednesday S

Aerobics class.

PFC Williams created three new ste

add a little variety to the workout.

PFC Williams leads the way as the instruc-

tor for the Camp Taji Step Aerobics In-

structor.


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The EAGLE EYEf Company phantoms

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

S easons Greetings to everyone! I am pleased to report to all family members,readers, and friends that the magnificent Soldiers from F Co are doing a phenome-

nal job at all three locations. We continue to provide a unified effort of air traffic

control and maintenance support throughout theater. It is pride in the mission,

pride in self accomplishments, and pride in serving our great country that continues

to motivate us to success.

All of our Warriors here are doing a great job so please allow me recognize

a few for their recent accomplishments. SSG Hatcher located out of Mosul has re-

cently reenlisted for 4 years and continues to impress with his successful ways. SSG

Miller out of the Taji group has been accepted into Drill Sergeant School. This is

another fine example of how versatile the Phantoms are. SPC Forrester and SPC

Colvin both received accolades from General Austin when he presented them with

US Forces-Iraq coins recognizing their success during operations here.

And last but not least, I would like to take a moment and thank CPT Richard

Polen and his family for all that they have contributed in the success of F Co. We

have come a long way since their arrival and what the Polen family has meant to

our organization cant be expressed in words. CPT Polen has assumed command of

A Co and Rachel has accepted the responsibility as the FRG leader for A Co. Both of

you will have continued success and I wish you the best. We welcome Pam McKay

as the new FRG leader for F Co 2-1. She is an excellent choice and well prepared to

handle the mission of family readiness for the Phantoms.

CW2 Freeman, Robert

Ibelieve the saying goes something like this; Its never goodbye in the Army, only until we meet again.In early December, Rick left the Phantoms to take command of Alpha Company, which means that Alex, Lukas and I are heade

that direction as well. Rick told me early on that one of the best things about commanding a company is the direct connection and influ

ence you have with the Soldiers. We have truly enjoyed getting to know all the Phantom families and welcoming several new add itions

during our time with Fox. As some of the families are moving back, Im seeing those new ones again, and cant believe how much they

grown.

Thank you all so much for letting us be a part of your lives for awhile. Were excited to have a chance to get to know more fam

lies in Alpha, and we will always remember our time with Fox. I hope you continue to participate in FRG activities and support each oth

as we all finish up this deployment.

Until we meet again,

Rachel Polen


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The EAGLE EYE2- 1 G s a b r e a r d e t a c h m e n t

ISSUE 6, JANUARY

Happy New Year!

At this time, we are on the final stretch of the deployment. I know tensions are high with the excitement and anticipation of th

return of your loved ones. We are preparing everything for their return daily. In the month of February, there will be a Brigade redeploment operations phone number that can be reached 24/7 at 785-239-6565. This will have the most recent updates on flights, manifests

and any information on delays, or weather, ect. Please note that you will be contacted by the rear detachment or your FRG with your S

diers flight information before the Soldiers are set to arrive. However, if you have further questions or have heard of certain delays, th

would be the best number to call. Soldiers will be returning February through early March, depending on which flight they will belong t

Rear Detachment will be conducting a 100% phone contact with all families in early January. Please note that if you receive a c

it is to confirm we have your information correct so well be able to notify you when your Soldier is returning. If you havent received a

call by 15 January, please contact your FRG Leader or our FRSA at 240-1325.

In the month of January, the Combat Aviation Brigade is hosting a Spouse and Family Reunion Resiliency Training session. It w

have great training to increase preparedness for the Soldiers transition home, and building family strength. Additionally, there will be

briefs by commanders on topics to include OPSEC, timelines for redeployment, expectations, finances, and question/answer sessions. T

times and locations are listed below. Please note the evening sessions also include childrens training. If you have any questions, wouldlike to register, or want any more information, please contact our FRSA, Rae Waller or your FRG.

Thursday, January 6, 2011, 6-8pm at NEW ACS Bldg # 7285*

Monday, January 10, 9:30-11:30am at the ACS Annex Bldg #1020 (Huebner Rd)

Monday, January 10, 6-8pm at the ACS Annex Bldg #1020 (Huebner Rd)

Tuesday, January 11, 6-8pm at NEW ACS Bldg # 7285*

Wednesday, January 12, 1-3pm at NEW ACS Bldg # 7285*

Wednesday, January 19, 1-3pm at NEW ACS Bldg # 7285*

We also have a facebook page now, which has photos and the newsletter posts on it. If you would like to see whats new throu

that, you can search 2-1 Fighting Eagles.

To those returning to the Fort Riley area, have a safe trip back here, and we are excited to see you all and greet our Soldiers an

Heroes upon their return!

Happy New Year Fighting Eagle Families!

Hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas and now the Eagles are truly on the downhill slide for getting the Soldiers home

safely. January the FRGs will have more information for the date/time of your Soldiers return and what to expect for the ceremony an

pick-up procedures. We will also have guidance for hanging of banners and other important details. Rear-Detachment will be making

100% contact prior to the return of the Soldiers as well. Expect to be contacted so we are certain to reach you to let you know when

your Soldier arrives and of course if there are delays. The Advance Party will start in February already so we are less than 60 days o

getting people back from Iraq.

If you are planning on moving back to the Fort Riley area start looking now because housing will be at a premium. This wibe the first time in a long while that all the Brigades will be back and housing will be hard to come by. Please do not forget to keep

your FRG Leader informed of your move, address, and phone numbers.

December has been a fairly easy month for the weather in Kansas but be vigilant for possible weather in January. If you en-

counter snow and ice, go slow and make sure your headlights are on so others can see you (from the front and rear) as well. There a

a few happenings in January that will be a lot of fun. On 28 January there will be a Womens Conference at the RCC. There is free

childcare and there are several classes to choose from. Register early for best choice of classes. Registration ends 21 January. Get mo

information at www.rileymwr.com. Also, Outdoor REC has a Colorado Ski Trip with the date and time to be determined. Check the

MWR website for updated information.

If you have any questions about the redeployment, be sure to contact your company FRG Leader or myself at

[email protected]. A New Year means all things are made new! Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Blessings,Brenda Werner BN FRG Co-Leader
http://www.rileymwr.com/http://www.rileymwr.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.rileymwr.com/


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ISSUE 6, JANUARYThe EAGLE EYE


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ISSUE 6, JANUARYThe EAGLE EYE

The Eagle Eye-jan 2011

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