Transcript
Contents
4
1-12 Smoking cessaon program
5
6
Local businessman helps girls school
7
984th MP trains ANP
8
Life in the Korengal Valley
What it’s like on the frontlines
10
11
12
Bullet Points: News from the AO
Chaplains Corner:
By Maj. Paul Madej
On the cover: U.S. Army Soldiers with Company B, 2nd Baalion, 12th
Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based at the Korengal Valley,
re mortar rounds at insurgent ghng posions in Kunar province,
Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, Aug. 15. The B Co. mortar team is one of
the most acve in Afghanistan. Since arriving in June, the mortarmen
have red more than 1,100 rounds. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Mahew
Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Aairs Detachment)
New equipment on frontlines
TF Lethal Medics work to save lives
Soldiers give gi of speech
1-32 Soldiers help locals
Three months
have already
passed since
our nal ight
deployed from
Fort Carson to
Afghanistan. In
that me, the
prayers you
oer for those
here and those
back home are
hearelt as we work relessly to succeed at the
mission before us. In my travels on your behalf I
meet Soldiers who are impacted by what everyone
else does in the Task force. Let’s connue to focus
on the work ahead, knowing the importance of our
mission and its impact upon those we serve with.
Moutain Warrior Staff:
Maj. T.G. Taylor -
Public Affairs Ofcer
2nd Lt. Elizabeth Silver - Deputy PAO
Sgt. Michael Masterson -
NCOIC
Spc. Eugene H. Cushing - Editor
Pfc. Elizabeth Raney - Print Journalist
Story by Air Force SrA. Erica
Picariello
1-12 IN, 4th BCT, 4th ID Public
Affairs Office
The Red Warriors of 1st Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment at Forward
Operating Base Ramrod launched
a “smoking cessation” program on
July 5, giving deployed soldiers the
tools they need to free themselves
from nicotine addiction.
“The smoking cessation
program here helps soldiers kick
their nicotine need,” said 1st Lt.
Marshall Jackson, 1st Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment medical
officer.
“We provide personnel
information on how to kick the
habit, live a healthier life and give
FOB Ramrod launches smoking cessation program
a nicotine patch to help reduce
symptoms of physical withdrawal,”
said Jackson. The class is aimed at
helping Red Warrior Soldiers live a
healthier lifestyle during a stressful
time in their lives.
“In addition to a class on how
to live a healthier lifestyle and
the patch, we also can prescribe
Wellbutrin to aid in reducing the
psychological effects of nicotine
withdrawal,” Jackson said.
According to the Food and
Drug Administration, Wellbutrin,
a drug also known as Zyban, is
a medication that was found to
significantly decrease nicotine
withdrawal symptoms such as
nicotine cravings, irritableness,
insomnia, fatigue and headaches.
“Soldiers in a wartime
environment have enough hazards
to their health, without adding
to it themselves,” said Jackson.
“Smoking, as we all know, can
lead to lung cancer, will decrease
proper hydration, and take away
from normal body functionality.”
While deployed, service
members often travel many miles
on foot, increasing the importance
of proper hydration and personal
endurance.
“When Soldiers are nicotine
deprived they display flu-like
symptoms, become jittery, anxious,
and temperamental,” said Jackson.
“If we eliminate this addiction,
then Soldiers can improve their
health and constantly keep a clear
head without needing a chemical
to balance them out.”
4
Fallen Heroes
Honoring those we’ve lost
13
Korengal Mortars
5
Story and Photos by Army Spc.
Eugene H. Cushing
TF Mountain Warrior Public
Affairs Ofce
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 2nd
Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment,
assigned to Task Force Mountain
Warrior, were among the rst
Soldiers in the Army to receive
new equipment intended to lighten
their load and make their missions
easier.
The equipment issue included a
new individual body armor, boots
suited to the mountainous terrain,
and other equipment like lighter
sleeping systems and knee pads.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Mark A.
Eckstrom, of Frazier Park, Calif.,
the rst sergeant for Company
A, 2 Bn., 12 Inf. Reg., said the
difference between the new and
old equipment is remarkable.
Eckstrom said the new equipment
provides greater freedom of
movement in addition to being
lighter, allowing Soldiers to
maneuver easier in the mountains
of eastern Afghanistan.
Eckstrom also described
a visible difference between
Soldiers wearing the new plate
carriers
and the
previously
issued
Improved
Outer
Tactical Vest.
U.S. Army
Pvt. Mark
A. Haas,
of Omaha,
Nebr., a
gunner
assigned to A
Co., received the new equipment
before deploying to Afghanistan.
He liked the boots included in the
issue because they are better suited
for the terrain of Afghanistan.
“They have a better grip, and
form to the rocks a lot better,”
he said. “You don’t get as many
blisters.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Dustin M.
Kaminiski, of Chicago, Ill., a
team leader for A Co., said the
new equipment allows full range
of motion and doesn’t restrict
movement or circulation.
“It’s lighter,” he said. “It helps
you breathe easier.”
The team leader went on to
say the plate-carrier came with
New equipment on the frontlines
U.S. Army Pfc. Alexander Bishop, a re support ocer assigned
to Company D, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, assigned to
Task Force Mountain Warrior, maintains his guard before moving
through a small village and heading up the mountains in the Kunar
Province of Afghanistan. Bishop is wearing some of the new lighter
gear issued to select units serving in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Mark A. Eckstrom, of Frazier Park,
Calif., the rst sergeant for Company A, 2nd Baalion,
12th Infantry Regiment sports the new plate carrier aer
hiking a mountain in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. Many
of Eckstrom’s Soldiers have received the new plate-carrier,
which allows them greater freedom of movement, making it
easier to get to the ght.
pouches specically designed for
the different types of ammunition
that Soldiers use depending on
their job in the unit.
“It allows you to be more agile,
and also allows you to place your
pouches so you’re not all bunched
up,” he said.
Eckstrom felt the new equipment
has given his Soldiers a denite
advantage.
“Without the equipment, we still
would have been doing the same
missions,” he said. “It lets them get
to the ght a little bit easier.”
Task Force Mountain Warrior is
currently on a 12-month rotation
in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
6
Story by Maj. T.G. Taylor
Task Force Mountain Warrior
Public Affairs Office
Photos courtesy of U.S. Army
A local businessman and
contractor in the Alingar district
delivered school supplies to the
Parwai Girls School on Aug. 17
with the help of ISAF forces to keep
more than 50 children supplied for
one year.
Abdullah Ajabgul, the owner
of Homyoun Ra Construction
Company, identied the students’
need for supplies while constructing
a protective wall around the school
as a Commander’s Emergency
Relief Program project.
Abdullah brought the need to the
attention of Afghan Security and
ISAF forces, which were able to
secure donations for the girls from
non-governmental organizations.
“Mr. Abdullah was the one who
identified the need here at the
school,” said U.S. Army Capt. Doug
Moore, the CERP project manager
for Task Force Wildhorse.
According to Moore, education
is an important part of life in
Laghman province and is helping to
defeat the enemies of Afghanistan.
“The vast majority of people in
Laghman are interested in progress
and education is a big part of that,”
said Moore. “The Taliban would not
allow girls to attend school in the
rst place and are only interested
in manipulation to achieve their
own end of gaining power.”
Abdullah’s work on the school
wall was an important project
for the security and safety of the
students. The school supplies were
an added bonus of the project.
“Boundary walls are a big deal
in this area because they delineate
property lines and provide security
for the children who attend the
school,” said Moore.
“The headmaster brought the
need for the school supplies to the
attention of Mr. Abdullah after his
company began constructing the
wall and we were very happy to
help out.”
ISAF forces gave the supplies to
Abdullah who then delivered them
to the school and distributed them
to the students, said Moore.
Local businessman helps girls school
Abdullah, the owner of a local construcon company, distributes school supplies to the
students of the Parwai Girls School in Laghman province, Afghanistan Aug. 17. The school
supplies are enough to last the y students of the school an enre school year. Task
Force Wildhorse assisted Abdullah in obtaining the supplies, which he then delivered and
distributed.
Students of the Parwai Girls School show o their new school supplies in the Alingar
district of Laghman province Aug. 17. The supplies were delivered and distributed
by Abdullah, the owner of a local construcon company who idened a need for
supplies while construcng a protecve wall for the school.
“The vast majority of people in Laghman
are interested in progress and education is a
big part of that,”
- U.S. Army Capt. Doug Moore
7
Story and photos by Spc. Eugene
H. Cushing
Task Force Mountain Warrior
Public Affairs Office
Afghan National Police in the
Kunar province and U.S. Army
Military Police assigned to Task
Force Mountain Warrior have
been conducting election-focused
training in the Kunar province, to
keep the area secure during the
August elections.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael T.
Nicholson, the platoon leader for
2nd platoon, 984th Military Police
Company, 759th Military Police
Battalion, led his unit in focused
district partnership training with
the police force at the Shigal
district center.
Nicholson, of Burnsville, Minn.,
explained the goal of the training
was to ensure the ANP stations
were able to effectively operate on
their own.
U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher C.
Silva, of Boston, Mass., a squad
leader assigned to 2nd platoon, said
the mission in Shigal consisted of
two days of meetings and training
with the ANP. He said the first day
involved meeting with the police
chief and his officers, and assessing
the station’s armament, personnel
and facilities.
“The second day we finished the
assessment and started training for
the elections,” he said.
According to Silva the training
included conducting personnel and
vehicle searches, reacting to IEDs,
conducting checkpoints, reacting
to small arms fire, searching
buildings, first aid, emergency
response, crowd control and force
protection.
Silva said the reason behind the
training was to get the Afghan
people to run their own elections,
and that the elections will not be an
International Security Assistance
Force led event.
Afghan National Police Maj.
Sali Mohammed, the operations
officer for the Shigal district police
station, said the training was highly
beneficial.
Mohammed explained that the
Afghan police officers attending
the training were going to take
what they learned back to their
MP’s train ANP to take charge of security
individual police stations and train
the rest of their units.
U.S. Army Cpl. Marcus R.
Bennett, of Thermopolis, Wy.,
a team leader assigned to 2nd
platoon, had spent a lot of time on
the road as a military policeman
before coming to Afghanistan
and was able to share some of
his experience with his Afghan
counterparts. Bennett said he taught
the Afghan Police how to search
for weapons, explosives, drugs and
other potentially dangerous items.
“I enjoyed working with the
Afghans,” he said. “That was the
first time I got to get out and teach
them.”
Nicholson described the Afghan
police his platoon worked with as
motivated and willing to learn.
“They’re very friendly,” he said.
“They share everything they know.
They’re willing to try the stuff
we teach them so it’s been very
positive.”
U.S. Army Cpl. Nicholas E. Cox, of Indianapolis, Ind., a team leader for the 985th Military
Police Company, 759th Military Police Baalion, assigned to Task Force Mountain
Warrior, demonstrates the proper use of an IV bag to ocers of the Afghan Naonal
Police during training conducted at the Shigal District center in Kunar province.
U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher C. Silva, of Boston, Mass., a squad leader for 2nd platoon,
984th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Baalion, assigned to Task Force
Mountain Warrior, discusses training opportunies with Afghan Naonal Police Maj.
Sali Mohammed, operaons ocer for the Shigal District police staon.
Story and photos By U.S. Army
Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment
As bullets started to rain down
on Baker Company’s position,
a Soldier sighed, and said,
annoyingly, “Well, here we go.”
Over the next twenty minutes the
service members fired everything
from bullets to curse words at the
invisible enemy attacking from the
surrounding hills.
“Just once I’d like to come out
here and not get shot at,” said
an exasperated U.S. Army Sgt.
Graham Mullins, of Columbia,
Mo., using a four-foot stone wall
for cover. “Just once.”
Near the end, two F-15 fighter
jets pummelled the insurgent
forces with 500-pound bombs,
and an eerie silence fell across the
battlefield. For the U.S. service
members, it was just another
morning in the Korengal Valley.
“This place is definitely its own
monster; there are a lot of other
dangerous places in Afghanistan,
but I would say this place lives up
to the hype,” said U.S. Army Capt.
Mark Moretti, B Co. company
commander, and New Windsor,
N.Y., native.
Seeing some of the toughest
fighting in Afghanistan on a daily
basis, many Baker Co. Soldiers
find humor in the idea that many of
their fellow Soldiers are envious of
their assignment, who often refer
to the almost constant battle as the
‘infantryman’s dream.’
“I would tell them to seriously
reconsider their thinking positions,”
U.S. Army Spc. Guadalupe
Gardenias, a B Co. Soldier, said,
laughing.
Living in conditions that rival
the third-world villages they patrol,
the tiny U.S outposts dotting the
valley walls are in stark contrast
to other American mega-bases
Living life in the Korengal Valley
8
in Afghanistan, such as Bagram
Airfield, which offers everything
from personal internet to American
fast food restaurants.
Here, if a resupply helicopter
gets cancelled, Soldiers miss not
only letters from home, but risk
having to ration their food.
At the Korengal Outpost, Soldiers
use outhouses and hope to shower
once a week to conserve water. At
nearby Restrepo Outpost, Soldiers
lack any running water, and eat
field rations for every meal.
“The conditions out here are
tough, and it’s a tough fight,” said
Moretti. “But given the chance, I
don’t think anyone would want to
leave.”
Despite daily gun battles, poor
hygiene and tortuous terrain, the
men of Baker Co. seem content
living their life in the Korengal.
When asked if they would take
an easier assignment, the answer
was always the same. “Not unless
everyone else came with me.”
“Before I came into the Army
a lot of people would talk about
brothers in arms, and I thought
it was kind of cheesy, but being
out here, I can definitely say that
it brings us a lot closer, cause no
matter what we say or what we
do, nobody besides us is going to
know what we went through, and
what it was like.”
U.S. Army Spc. Jesus Sanchez, a nave of Mesa, Ariz., watches for suspicious acvity,
during an early morning patrol in the Kunar province, Afghanistan’s infamous Korengal
Valley, Aug. 13.
U.S. Army Sgt. Mahew Roberts, a nave of Houston, Texas, scans the hills surround-
ing the volale Korengal Valley in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, during an early morn-
ing patrol, Aug. 13.
9
U.S. Army Spc. Jesus Sanchez, a combat medic, and Mesa, Ariz.,
nave, along with fellow Baker Company, 2nd Baalion, 12th
Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Soldiers climb down
an ancient staircase to the Korengal Valley oor in Afghanistan’s
Kunar province, Aug. 17.
U.S. Army Spc. Guadalupe
Gardenias calls in
coordinates as fellow
Baker Company, 2nd
Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, Soldiers watch
for suspicious acvity,
during a roune patrol
in Kunar province,
Afghanistan’s Korengal
Valley, Aug. 18.
A U.S. Army Soldier with Baker
Company, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, descends a rocky staircase
while on patrol in the Kunar province,
Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, Aug. 17.
The 4th Infantry Division Soldiers have
seen some of the toughest ghng in
Afghanistan since arriving in the ny
valley in June.
U.S. Army Soldiers from Baker Company, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, patrol the Korengal Valley, in Afghanistan’s Kunar province,
Aug. 18. The 4th Infantry Division Soldiers have been baling an-
Afghan forces in valley since arriving in June.
U.S. Army Soldiers patrol a ny village in the Korengal Valley, Aug. 17.
Images from the Korengal
By U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public
Affairs Detachment
Story by 2nd Lt. Liz Silver
TF Mountain Warrior Public
Affairs Office
Citizens of Nuristan and
Laghman provinces along with
Afghan National Police have
defended polling sites and election
materials from anti-Afghan attacks
in preparation for tomorrow’s
vote.
The first incident occurred in the
Afghan citizens and Afghan National Police defend polling sites
village of Kowlak, Dow Ab district,
Nuristan province yesterday. After
approximately seven anti-Afghan
forces attacked the local polling
site, several Afghans aided Afghan
National Police in returning fire,
causing the AAF to disperse and
run away from the scene.
The ballots and polling site were
unharmed.
Similar reports of villagers
protecting polling sites and
ballots have surfaced in Laghman
Province, where recent shuras
between Governor Lutfullah
Mashal and ANSF commanders
have produced positive and
encouraging results with the local
population.
The people of Afghanistan have
shown that they care about free
and fair elections, and have chosen
to work with their police to defend
their right to vote.
Story by 2nd Lt. Liz Silver
TF Mountain Warrior Public
Affairs Office
Citizens of the Asmar district
turned in an improvised explosive
device to Afghan National Police
after it was found buried under a
busy road Aug. 16.
Afghan National Police
responded to the scene, along with
Afghan citizens prevent death and injuries by turning in IED to ANP
National Directorate of Security
representatives and disarmed the
device preventing death, injuries
and damage to the citizens of
Asmar district.
Afghan National Police have
received counter-IED training
from ISAF forces in the area in the
past months. The training proved
beneficial as ANP were
successful
in their efforts on Aug. 16.
Improvised explosive devices
are frequently emplaced in the
Kunar province by anti-Afghan
forces that do not care about killing
innocent Afghans.
Local citizens, with the help of
Afghan National Security Forces,
have again proven to be the key
element in defeating the enemies
of Afghanistan.
10
Story by 2nd Lt. Liz Silver
TF Mountain Warrior Public
Affairs Office
Government officials of Laghman
province, with the assistance of the
Laghman Provincial Reconstruction
Team and Afghan National Security
Forces, met with over 200 mullahs
and village elders on August 15 at
the Dowlet Shah District Center to
discuss security, development, and
the upcoming elections.
Officials at the shura included
Afghan government, ANSF, and ISAF hold shura in Dowlet Shah
Dowlet Shah sub-governor
Mohammad Arif Kahn, Afghan
National Police Chief Gen.
Omer Yahr, Afghan National
Army Kandak commander
Mohammad Jahn, and Laghman
Provincial Reconstruction Team
commander U.S. Air Force Lt.
Col. Ben Ungerman. The Afghan
government officials encouraged
all citizens to vote, stating that the
democratic process is supported by
Islamic values. They also discussed
ways to help improve the quality
of life for citizens in Dowlet Shah.
Mashal pointed to construction
projects and operations designed at
improving security in the province
as signs that the government is
responsive to its citizen’s needs.
Mashal, along with Yahr and
Jahn, called on the citizens of
Dowlet Shah to aid Afghan
National Security forces and ISAF
soldiers in security, stating it was
the responsibility of Dowlet Shah
citizens to improve the future
of
Laghman province for their children.
Story by 2nd Lt. Liz Silver
TF Mountain Warrior Public
Affairs Office
A citizen of Sundurwa village
stopped anti-Afghan forces from
emplacing an improvised explosive
device on a highly travelled road
yesterday in the Alingar province.
The captured man was taken to
Alingar Police, and transferred
to the Laghman province ANP
Headquarters for questioning by a
counter-terrorism team.
Afghan citizen turns over IED facilitator to Afghan National Police
Afghan National Security
Forces, along with International
Security Assistance Forces,
expressed pride in villagers taking
control and responsibility of their
communities.
“The bottom line from this event
is two things,” said Lt. Col. Mike
Forsyth, commander of Task Force
Steel.
“First, it shows that Afghans
don’t want anti-Afghan forces to
use their villages as a safe haven
and have decided to take actions
into their own hands, which
provides ANSF and ISAF with
freedom of movement and security
for the villagers. Second, it shows
our effort to build relationships
with the villagers has paid off
and they believe it is in their best
interests to work with us and turn
in anti-Afghan forces.”
This is the third time in five days
villagers in Nuristan and Laghman
provinces have prevented anti-
Afghan forces from attacking their
villages.
Bullet points:
News around the AO
TF Lethal Medics work to save lives
Photos by Army Spc. Eugene H. Cushing
TF Mountain Warrior Public Affairs Office
U.S. Army Sgt. Rene Castellanos inspects a burn from a
cooking stove on a young Afghan girl’s foot aer her brothers
brought her to the clinic on Combat Out Post Honaker-Miracle
for treatment. Castellanos, of South Pasadena, Calif., is the
senior line medic for Company C, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, assigned to Task Force Mountain Warrior.
Castellanos gives comfort to the girl while treang her burn.
Her brother, who brought her into the clinic, looks on.
Castellanos and Spc. Henry D. Schorsch bandage the girl’s foot
aer treang the burn. Schorsch, of Jourdanton, Texas, a combat
medic, is also assigned to Company C, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, currently assigned to Task Force Mountain Warrior in
Eastern Afghanistan.
Castellanos treats the young Afghan girl’s burn,
while her brother assists in providing care.
Castellanos understands why simple care like
this is necessary in the austere environments of
Afghanistan. Without proper treatment the burn
may become infected and cause the girl to lose
her leg or even death.
11
12
Korengal Outpost mortar team re at anti-Afghan forces
By U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
A Korengal Outpost based U.S. Army Soldier with Baker Company,
2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division,
calibrates a 120mm mortar tube before ring mortar rounds
at insurgent ghng posions in Kunar province, Afghanistan’s
Korengal Valley, Aug. 15.
U.S. Army Soldiers with Company B, 2nd Baalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based at the Korengal Valley, re
mortar rounds at insurgent ghng posions in Kunar province,
Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, Aug. 15. The B Co. mortar team is
one of the most acve in Afghanistan. Since arriving in June, the
mortarmen have red more than 1,100 rounds.
Soldiers Give the Gift of Speech
Story courtesy of the U.S. Army
Soldiers from Task Force
Mountain Warrior’s, 1st Battalion,
32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, recently
helped a local village elder named
Jallal in the Kunar province,
regain his voice.
While patrolling during a Key
Leader Engagement February 9,
the elder’s situation was brought
to the Soldiers’ attention. Jallal’s
voice box had been removed as
part of a cancer-removal surgery
in Pakistan.
After hearing of the man’s
situation, 1st Lt. John Carlson, a
medical platoon leader with Task
Force Chosin, felt that something
had to be done.
With the help of fellow 1-32nd
Infantry Regiment Soldiers,
Carlson decided to try to acquire
an electro larynx, an artificial voice
box which costs around $600.
After Carlson’s first attempt to
acquire the voice box failed, Maj.
Jennifer Bell, the Brigade Surgeon
for TF Spartan, felt she could help
with the situation.
She turned to a friend in Chicago,
who was eager to help, and the
artificial voice box was on its way
to the C Co. Soldiers, arriving at
Combat Outpost Monti April 26.
The Soldiers of C Co. taught
themselves to properly use the
device, so they could teach the elder.
When Jallal was handed the new
device, the Soldiers all gathered
around to watch the joyful
expression on his face. Jallal’s
family was in awe as the man spoke
for the first time in years.
When Coalition Forces returned
to the village, Jallal approached
the Soldiers and greeted them with
his new voice.
According to Jallal, through
the device he received, it’s the
small things in life, such as gifts
like these, which really make a
difference.
Thanks to the dedication and
cooperation of the C Co. Soldiers
and caring people, Jallal proudly
remains the voice of the Anar Kowt
village.
13
Fallen Heroes-
July 12 through August 27
“Let me not mourn for the men who have died ghting, but rather let
me be glad that such heroes have lived.”
- Gen. George S. Patton
PFC MATTHEW E. WILDES
B CO, 1-12 IN
TF RED WARRIOR
8 December 1990 - 27 August 2009
14
Awards this month
When I Took this Job I Wasn’t expecting
us to move operations. Now I know overseas
labor costs are cheaper, but I don’t exactly
agree with the way this company is going.
Also I was expecting more oportunities for
networking. As such this is a letter declaring
my two weeks notice.
Sir, can I
talk to you?
Sir, I have to be
honest with you.
This isn’t working
out for me.
I Thought
you’d under
-
stand. Have a
good day Sir.
What do
you mean
Daniels?
Sure. Go
for it.
By Pfc. Jeremy Sprague
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment
Oh
geez
Daniels’ Dilemmas
15
Reenlistment Options are
designed to give you the
opportunity to have input
in the direction of your
military career. Eligibility
for the various options
depend on several factors
such as how many times
you have reenlisted, cur-
rent length of service,
rank, etc.
With all the factors in-
volved in option quali-
cations it is important
you utilize your Career
Counselor as your prima-
ry source for determining
which options you quali-
fy for.Especially since the
rules for qualications
change constantly. Once
the options you qualify
for are identied there is
one thing
Retention NCO’s Letter:
you should keep in mind.
That is, in some cases the
most desired option, such
as an assignment you
always wanted, may not
be the best choice career
wise. For example, if you
are in a MOS that con-
tinuously has high cut-off
scores you may
want to reclassify into an-
other specialty to increase
your chances
for promo-
tion. This
is just one
example of
possible fac-
tors to con-
sider when
making your
choice. All
of us have
unique situ-
ations that effect what
options may be best for
us and our families.
When the time comes
for you tomake your
choice use your Career
Counselor to guide you
through what options are
available and which one
is best for you.
Led By Love of Country!
By Master Sgt. JAMES L. PUGSLEY
Senior Career Counselor
Choosing the Right Reenlistment Option
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
MSG Pugsley
SFC Davis
SFC Cabana
SSG Gutierrez
SSG Herron
SGT Charley
SSG Berry
SGT Lytle
SFC Doney
SSG Holman
4th IBCT, 4th ID
1-12 IN
2-12 IN
2-77 FA
3-61 CAV
704th BSB
4th BSTB
759thMP
1-32 IN
7-17 CAV
FOB Fenty
FOB Ramrod
FOB Blessing
Bagram
FOB Fenty
FOB Fenty
FOB Finley-Shields
FOB Fenty
FOB Joyce
Jalalabad
831-6051
841-6011
481-2155
431-5102
831-6058
831-6089
SVOIP 776-9711
831-6442
481-3508
831-6152/6153
Hey There!
Want to see your pictures in the
Mountain Warrior? Shoot us an
e-mail or send your photos to:
TFMTNWarriorPAO@
afghan.swa.mil and
we’ll make sure they
get in the next issue!
