Soldier Re-enlists at Concerned Local Citizen Headquarters

Capt. Troy Thomas, from Litchfield, Minn., the commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, re-enlists Sgt. Sharif Sidberry, from Philadelphia, a communications specialist in Troop A, at the Concerned Local Citizen’s Headquarters in Al Khargulia, Oct. 20. Sidberry requested to have the ceremony at the headquarters to show his commitment to the people of the area.

Abu Ammosh, the leader of the concerned local citizens in Al Khargulia, congratulates Sgt. Sharif Sidberry, from Philadelphia, a communications specialist in Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, following Sidberry’s re-enlistment ceremony held at the Concerned Local Citizens Headquarters Oct. 20. “The people here understand that we are here to help them,” said Sidberry. “They appreciate what we are doing. I hope this is just another way to let them know that we care about what happens here to them.”

Capt. Troy Thomas, from Litchfield, Minn., the commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, congratulates Sgt. Sharif Sidberry, from Philadelphia, a communications specialist in Troop A, following his re-enlistment at the Concerned Local Citizens Headquarters in Al Khargulia, Oct. 20. Sidberry requested to have the ceremony at the headquarters to show his commitment to the people of the area.

Sgt. Sharif Sidberry, from Philadelphia, a communications specialist in Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, enjoys some tea given to him at the Concerned Local Citizens Headquarters in Al Khargulia, Oct. 20, prior to his re-enlistment ceremony. Sidberry requested to have the ceremony at the headquarters to show his commitment to the people of the area.

By Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Surrounded by his platoon and the Iraqis, a Soldier from Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment raised his right hand and re-enlisted at the Al Khargulia Concerned Local Citizen Headquarters, Oct. 20.

Sgt. Sharif Sidberry, from Philadelphia, a communications specialist in Troop A, who has been stationed in Korea and Fort Bragg, N.C., the past six years, added four more years to his service contract.

“I re-enlisted because I love the Army and enjoy what I do,” said Sidberry. “I like working with computers and being in a line unit with other Soldiers.”

Sidberry requested that his re-enlistment ceremony take place at the Concerned Local Citizens Headquarters in Al Khargulia.

“This is where I’ve put in a lot of my time,” said Sidberry. “Out here is where you get to be a Soldier. Troop A has put a lot of time getting this AO (area of operation) set up. I wanted to tell these guys (concerned citizens) that we aren’t just here for nothing. We are invested in them and this area.”

Sidberry, who helped set up the communications system between Combat Outpost Assassin and the Concerned Local Citizen Headquarters, enjoys working with the concerned local citizens on a daily basis.

“We work with them everyday,” said Sidberry. “We do route recons with them. We check on their checkpoints to make sure they are doing ok. We are very friendly with each other and work well together.”

U.S. 1st Sgt. Meko Johnson, from Saginaw, Mich., the first sergeant for Troop A, was at the ceremony and praised his Soldier.

“He’s an outstanding Soldier,” Johnson said. “He is a combat multiplier as a communications specialist. He makes sure the communications at Patrol Base Assassin are up all the way to Baghdad. He worked hard to ensure the communications between the Concerned Local Citizens (Headquarters) and Assassin were up and running. He did a great job.”

Capt. Troy Thomas, from Litchfield, Minn., Sidberry’s commander, said he was impressed that Sidberry requested to have his re-enlistment ceremony held at the headquarters.

“It meant a lot to him, me, the troop and the concerned local citizens,” said Thomas. “For them to see how much we care about them meant a lot.”

Before the ceremony Thomas explained to the concerned citizens that when a Soldier re-enlists he is allowed to choose where he wants to re-enlist and that Sidberry requested to have the ceremony performed at their headquarters.

“Every little gesture like that makes another friend,” said Thomas. “He’s a communications specialist, but he does much more than that. Today he made a statement that we are doing great things for the people here and he feels safe here. It was great.”

After the ceremony all of the concerned citizens present lined up to congratulate Sidberry and thank him for his service.

“The people here understand that we are here to help them,” Sidberry said.

“They appreciate what we are doing. I hope this is just another way to let them know that we care about what happens to them.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt., is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.