The Sustainer Vol. 2 issue 7

THESUSTAINERSUSTAINMENT WARRIORS SUSTAIN THE FIGHTDecember 2013 Vol. 2 Issue 7

371st Command Team VisitsRemote Soldiers for Christmas

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. JoelGottke

Col. Gregory W. Robinette, aBowling Green, Ohio native and thecommander of the 371stSustainment Brigade, and CommandSgt. Maj. Scott M. Barga, aVersailles, Ohio native and thecommand sergeant major of the371st SB, traveled to the ManasTransit Center, Kyrgyzstan to seesoldiers in the brigade during

Christmas week.

“Seeing the command team is alwaysa pleasure - especially duringChristmas,” said 1st Lt. EvanHoward, a Dayton, Ohio native andthe Plate Carrier Collection PointWarehouse officer in charge with the371st SB. “Everyone had a greattime sharing stories and pictures.”

The soldiers with the 371stSustainment Brigade in Manas havebeen separated from the main bodyof their own unit in Kuwait.

“Those soldiers working in Manas,whether they are working in the PlateCarrier Collection Point Warehouseor whether they are working in thetransit center, they have beenworking for about seven monthsremotely separated from ourheadquarters here in Kuwait,” saidRobinette. “They have beenworking a seven-day week, 24 hour aday schedule, and they have had alittle bit of a different environment towork in. They have had a differentmission set than those soldiersstationed here (in Kuwait) and Isimply wanted to thank them andspend Christmas with them.”

Col. Gregory W. Robinette wishes soldiers of the 371st Sustianment Brigade a merry Christmas at a diningfacility at the Manas Transit Center, Kyrgyzstan on December 25, 2013.

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Soldiers of the 847th HRC managepostal operations at Camp AsSaliyah, Qatar.

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. KimberlyHill

Soldiers with the 847th HumanResources Company, 371stSustainment Brigade, have beenoverseeing and managing postaloperations at Camp As Saliyah, Qatarfor the past eight months whiledeployed in support of OperationEnduring Freedom.

“You get to learn a lot about the postalworld and you get to see a lot of happyfaces,” said Spc. Christopher Gorski, ahuman resources specialist with the847th HRC and a Waseca, Minn.native.

Soldiers working at the post office arechargedwith overseeing the pick-up ofunit mail, aiding contractors who workat the post office, handling officialmailand providing customer service toservicemembers deployed toCampAsSaliyah, said Sgt. Matthew J. Bach, thenoncommissioned officer in charge of

postal operations and a Brooklyn Park,Minn. native.

Bachandhis soldiersworkcloselywithciviliancontractedpostalworkers,whosort and process the majority of themail, as well as provide customerservice to servicemembers at CampAsSaliyah.

“I’m fortunate to have the contractors Ido, all of them are veterans and all ofthem are very knowledgeable andexperienced,” said Bach.

The 847th HRC has soldiers workingpostal operations throughout theater,including Camp Arifjan, Kuwait andthree soldiers currently working atCamp As Saliyah’s Post Office.

In addition to overseeing and workingwith contractors, the Camp As SaliyahPost Office acts as a distribution pointfor arriving mail.

“The truck arrives with the day’s mail;we unload and distribute it at 1400when a unit representative will comepick it up,” said Gorski.

Gorski also conducts unit mail room

inspections, 32 in total, ensuring mailrooms are up to military and postalstandards and mail is being handledcorrectly, he said.

“We also give unit mail personneltraining classes,which trains personnelin mail room operations," said Gorski.

Deployed military postal workers alsoface the challenge of complying withnot only U.S. postal and military mailstandards, but must also comply withanother country’s regulations, saidBach.

“One of the challenges is keeping up todate with changing procedures andQatari customs,” he said.

Although postal operations can bechallenging and even stressful,especially during the holiday season,soldiers of the 847th HRC enjoy theirwork and feel they are providing avaluable service.

“The better we take care of them theeasier it is for them todo theirmission,”said Bach

Spc. Christopher Gorski, a human resources specialist with the847th Human Resources Company and a Waseca, Minn. native,supervises Staff Sgt. Scott Dunn, an administrative sergeant withthe 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery, as he picks up his unit’smail behind the Post Office at Camp As Saliyah, Qatar on Nov. 14,2013.

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861st QM Co. Rigs for SouthwestAsia

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. KimberlyHill

The young specialist removes his redhat and smiles as he remembers his firstmission while deployed.

He shakes his head and runs his fingersthrough his short hair as he remembershow exhausted yet proud, he and hisfellow soldiers felt at the end of thatlong day.

“Our first big mission was 14 hours,everyone stayed on it and workedtogether; we stayed as long as we hadto, until two in themorning just tomakesure we got it sent out,” said Spc.Daniel Faulk, a parachute rigger with861st Quartermaster Company,Detachment 1.

Parachute riggers with the 861st QMCo., Detach.1, are currently deployedtoanundisclosed location inSouthwestAsia in support of Operation EnduringFreedom, where they are serving as the

only riggers operating in theater.

The Army reservists are based out ofNashville, Tenn., and have beendeployed since May where theirmissions focus on aerial resupply, saidMaster Sgt. Troy W. Shoemaker, thedetachment noncommissioned officerin charge of the 861st QMCo., Detach.1 and a Nashville, Tenn. native.

“Our job is to rig up loads to send toAfghanistan or wherever we need tosend them. We rig up the loads, sendthem to the flight line and they go to thefrontlines,” said Shoemaker, aShelbyville, Tenn. native.

While the unit is capable of rigging allclasses of supply, the main needs intheater have been food and fuel, saidShoemaker.

“Over here you’re making sure thetroops on the frontlines get what theyneed to survive and keep on with themission,” said Faulk.

Parachute rigging is a job that requiresattention to detail and precision, said

Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Shoemaker, thelanes supervisor with the 861st QMCo., Detach. 1 and a Nashville, Tenn.native.

While parachute rigging can be achallenging job, especially for a smallArmy detachment that serves all oftheater, Sgt. 1st Class Shoemakerbelieves her job not only helps troopson the frontlines but also helps savetime, money and lives, she said.

“You’re saving lives, sometimes it’ssafer to drop things from the air than byconvoy because of improvisedexplosive devices and it’s also quick,”she added.

Despite the demands of being the onlyparachute riggers operating in theater,most riggerswouldn’t have it any otherway.

“Parachute riggers don’t idle well, welike to stay busy because it’s such arewarding job fromstart to finish,” saidSgt. 1st Class Shoemaker.

MasterSgt.T.WadeShoemaker, aNashville,Tenn.native and thenoncommissionedofficer in chargeof the861stQuartermasterCompanyDetachment 1 speakswithhis soldiers at thebeginningof theworkdayat anundisclosed location inSouthwestAsia onNov. 16,2013. The861stQMCo. is theonlyparachute riggingdetachment currently in theater.

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Ohio Guardsman oversees TroopMedical Clinic at Camp AsSaliyah, Qatar

Story and photo by Staff Sgt.Kimberly Hill

The 25-year-old medic walksconfidently through the halls of themedical clinic, popping his head intoopen offices and knocking on closeddoors to say hello and makeintroductions.

His friendly blue eyes and easygoing

manner appears to be a welcomesight to the employees, who greethim with jokes and smiles of theirown.

“It was really intimidating at first,but I couldn’t have been prouder ofthe outcome; it’s been anoutstanding experience,” he sayswith a smile.

When Sgt. Daniel Bamford, aMillersburg, Ohio native and acombat medic with the 371stSustainment Brigade was deployed

to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in July of2013, he had no idea the needs of theArmy would bring him to the TroopMedical Clinic (TMC) in Camp AsSaliyah, Qatar to work as theoperations sergeant of the TMC.

“My job combines two differentpositions abovemy rank and I’m justa sergeant trying to do it all, so it’s alot,” said Bamford.

As the operations noncommissionedofficer in charge at the TroopMedical Clinic, Bamford is

Maj. Jacob Kiser, a primary physician for the Camp Arifjan Troop Medical Clinic, smiles for a photo with Sgt.Daniel Bamford, a combat medic with the 371st Sustainment Brigade on Sept. 23, 2013 at Camp Arifjan,Kuwait.

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responsible for overseeing allmedical training on Camp AsSaliyah, revamping standardoperating procedures, inventoryingand inspecting medical equipmentand certifying soldiers in combatlifesaving classes, said Sgt 1st ClassRussell Nurse, thenoncommissioned officer in chargeof the Troop Medical Clinic and aBrooklyn, N.Y. native.

While the job may come with plentyof responsibilities, the young medicalso took it upon himself to

formulate a plan to replace the MassCasualty (MASCAL) kits on base,kits used in the event of acatastrophic emergency to treatcasualties, that were out of date ordamaged, said Bamford.

“When I inspected them they werepretty messed up, so I went to workgetting them replaced and it’s endedup saving the Army around$250,000,” he said.

“Without the new MASCAL kits,any serious accident or medical

emergency event would have endedin absolute chaos,” said Bamford.

Besides his medical duties as theoperations noncommissionedofficer of the TMC, Bamford hasalso done volunteer work, acted asthe medic for physical fitness testsand helped mentor and train servicemembers around base, said Russell.

“He’s kept everything runningsmoother and he’s really kept thesunshine up in here,” said Russell.

Service members and civilians at Camp As Saliyah, Qatar participate in a mass casualty exercise near thehospital October, 2013. The MASCAL exercise is a post wide event that trains and tests participants inemergency response procedures

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Soldiers with 371st SB receiveChristmas joy in Kuwait

Story and photo by Staff Sgt.Kimberly Hill

Over 1,000 soldiers with the 371stSustainment Brigade receivedChristmas stockings packed by thebrigade’s chaplains and theresiliency center with goodies andtreats donated from variousorganizations on Dec. 25, 2013 atCamp Arifjan, Kuwait.

“I get my jollies out of doing this, it’snot only to help out the soldiers, butalso a way to connect with those backhome,” said Maj. Jim Lewis, thebrigade chaplain with the 371st Sus.Bde. and a Kent, Ohio native.

Lewis was first introduced to the ideaof passing out Christmas stockings

during his first deployment in 2005to Afghanistan, where he and thechaplain he worked with stuffedroughly 10,000 Christmas stockingsfor the troops deployed inAfghanistan at the time, he said.

He carried on the tradition when hewas deployed with the 371st Sus.Bde. in 2008, with his team packingand passing out roughly 3,000stockings, said Lewis.

One of the challenges with managingthe Christmas stocking program, isacquiring and sorting the treats thatfill the stockings, he said.

“For a long time, I’ve beennetworking with those interested indonating,” said Lewis. “I’ve alsoencouraged the senior enlisted toreach out to their communities fordonations.”

“My VFW sent 15 boxes of candyand toiletries, as a VFW, they’reconscious of veterans,” said ChiefWarrant Officer 4 Martin Sutton, themaintenance readiness officer incharge with the 371st Sus. Bde.,whose VFW, the Hilliard MemorialVFW, Post 4931 sent in donations forthe Christmas stocking program.

Lewis hopes that the Christmasstocking program is a way of not onlyspreading Christmas joy to thesoldiers of the 371st Sus. Bde, butalso helps families and friends backhome feel connected, he said.

“For a soldier that’s away, it’s notwhat’s in the stocking that’simportant, but the thought thatsomeone back home is reaching outand trying to touch them,” saidLewis.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Miller, the chaplain’s assistant for the 371st Special Troops Battalion, 371st SustainmentBrigade, gives a Christmas stocking to Sgt, 1st Class Manuel Perez, the human resources sergeant for the 371stSTB, 371st Sus. Bde on Dec. 24, 2013 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Season’s Greetings, FellowSustainers!

By Lt. Col. Barbra Herrington-Clemens

As we celebrate this holiday season,many things come to mind – mostnotably family and friends. Holidaysare those occasions when we carvetime out of our busy lives to seeeverybody we love and celebratewhat’s important. I don’t know whatit’s like when your family and friendsget together, but when my hillbillyclan gets together, the phrase “free-for-all” comes to mind. Big family,big events, big laughs…I miss it somuch, as I’m sure you miss yourfamily too.

When your attention turns to home,make that effort to connect withfacebook, SKYPE or any of the otherwonderful technological ways we arelucky enough to have readilyavailable. I can tell you fromexperience that it brings everybody alot closer than the actual 6,500 milesaway that we are.

I know firsthand how easy it is to feellonely and potentially sad during thistime. As amember of amilitary familywe have experienced 10 deploymentssince 2002 between my husband, mychildren and now me. This isn’t thetime to turn inward; you need to sharewith your battle buddies, your familyand your friends to instill hopefulfeelings and cheerful thoughts. Thishelps everybody…

They say happy people relive happymemories. The holidays are not only atime when good memories are made,they should be a joyful time ofreflection and remembrance.

Make sure you hold onto andreflect on the good stuff, thosehappy memories which allow thebetter part of our angels to shine.Share your memories and joy withyour battle buddies and anyoneelse that looks like they need areason to smile. Listen to theirhappy memories as well, andencourage their joyful holidayspirit.

Many of my fellow Soldiers haveheard about my children’s and mygrandchildren’s adventures withthe traveling magi of our familyNativity. Some have heard aboutthe reckless lengths my husbandand I have gone in attempting tomaintain their innocence and beliefin Santa. All I can say is thankgoodness for a well-placed and oldsturdy TV antenna tower and asubstantial snow drift!

I know I have already begun toreflect on the holiday memoriesI’m making with the folks aroundme right now, and I hope you are

too. My vision of SGT CoreyBrinkman as Buddy the Elfdecorating our tent and MAJ BrianCrock as Santa will forever bring asmile to my face and I’m thankfulthat I had such wonderful peoplewith which to share this holiday.

I know I’ve made many friendssince deploying with the 371st SB,some are like family that I will holdclose to my heart forever! So, taketime to consider that the memoriesyou’re making this holiday seasonwith your 371st SB family andfriends will continue to make yousmile next year when you’resurrounded by your family athome.

I know I speak for many inleadership when I say thank you allfor your camaraderie this season,we wish you a Happy Holidays andlook forward to sharing yourstories of holidays happilyremembered.

God Bless!

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