It's Official!!!

Sunday at 3:00 PM Iraq time, it became official that Nick took command of Troop C. This much anticipated day was so well deserved! I know Mom and Dad must be extremely proud of his accomplishment, as I know his second Mom and Dad are!!!

I know Troop C is in very competent and caring hands and are lucky to have Nick as their new Commander.

Congratulations, Captain James!

3rd Heavy Brigade Coping in New Role

BY LILY GORDON - lgordon@ledger-enquirer.com

The soldiers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division have passed the 90-day mark of their yearlong deployment to Iraq.
The brigade is no longer the leading military unit as it was in the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. That role now belongs to their Iraqi counterparts, the men American forces are tasked with turning into warriors. Training an army and empowering a nation to stand on its own is a tremendous challenge, according to 3rd Brigade Commander Col. Peter Jones, but he said his unit is up to the task.

Speaking from Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Babil Province, Iraq, on Jan. 22, Jones said his soldiers are currently spread across five provinces and working every day with Iraqi Security Forces to identify and fix problems in each region.

‘Nothing is ever easy ... in Iraq’

The brigade’s mission hasn’t changed since it received its marching orders last summer. American forces are there to advise and assist the Iraqi military and police as these entities transition into a leadership role. With all U.S. combat troops scheduled to pull out of Iraq by Aug. 31, it’s imperative that the country’s military and police prepare in advance to operate without an American safety net, Jones said.

“Nothing is ever easy or quick in Iraq, whether you’re dealing with the U.S. military or the U.S. government or now the Iraqi military or the Iraqi government,” Jones said. “So we’re learning tactical patience and we’re helping the Iraqis solve their problems and at the same time ensuring that there’s a safe and secure environment for the upcoming religious holiday, which is called Arbeen.”

With the second national election coming up in early March, American soldiers and Iraqi trainees are feeling the pressure to provide sufficient security for this potentially volatile event. Patrol operations and daily tactical training coupled with security briefs and classroom work are slowly turning inexperienced recruits into capable soldiers and leaders.

“Iraq is still a dangerous place,” Jones said. “We already lost one soldier to sniper fire. Soldiers do still encounter IEDs (improvised explosive devices). The security environment has definitely improved. Now the question is ensuring that the atmosphere — and I call it the perception of security in the eyes of the Iraqis — has improved to make them interested in going through what will really be the third election process.”

Then and now

Each time the brigade deploys to Iraq, it’s received with less caution and more optimism by the native people, Jones said. Children welcome soldiers to their neighborhood. Rarely do American troops go out on patrol without bringing bags of candy to hand out to boys and girls, and impromptu games of street soccer are not uncommon.

During the unit’s previous three deployments to Iraq, there was an ever-present, palpable feeling of mutual distrust that’s less apparent this time around, Jones said. For example, roadways are now shared between soldier convoys and civilian motorists.

“So you have folks drive by and wave whereas before we wanted to keep them away from us because of what we thought was the VB/IED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) threat back then and there is not one now,” Jones said. “So we’ve become more partners and enablers in their mission — I say their mission being the Iraqi Security Forces’ mission of protecting the population versus us being in the lead.”

The local leadership is also stepping up, with higher-ranking officials accepting more responsibility than ever before, Jones said.

It’s been four years since Staff Lt. Gen. Othnan took control of the 8th Iraq Army Division. Over the years, the colonel said he’s seen his Iraqi counterpart grow as a leader.

“And when I go see him he tells me right up front what he needs just like a U.S. general would tell me what he needs and he understands our capabilities and he understands the capabilities of his soldiers and how he as the leader in charge of providing security needs our assistance to make it happen,” Jones said. “So he knows he’s the one in charge and he is the one not only in charge, but more importantly, he is the one responsible.”

On Jan. 22, a unit of Iraqi soldiers and police conducted 18 operations in one night, Jones said. During those operations they made three arrests and detected three IEDs. They also suffered five casualties. One police officer was killed and four others were wounded.

“So they are truly out in front taking responsibility for protecting the population,” Jones said. “They look to us for key things like intelligence, explosive ordinance protection, aviation in terms of what we call air weapons teams and the ability to move around the battle site. And then they also look to us as a back-up in terms of medical and also our combat fighting capabilities. They’re out there every night without us doing what they believe needs to be done and also paying a price to secure their people.”

Progress

Signs of progress are everywhere, the colonel said. Humanitarian missions are driving provincial reconstruction and once embattled provinces are beginning to shake their violent pasts. Jones recalled a day in 2004 when he conducted a walkabout of an area he was responsible for in north Babil. It was a dangerous and desolate place, one where American troops could not go without getting hit by an IED or being subjected to threats and taunts. “It just had this sense of stagnation,” Jones said.

While on his patrol in 2004, Jones visited a police station that had been blown up four times in six years. The station has since been rebuilt and it is currently staffed with Iraqi police and Army officials, Jones said. It is on a street that boasts a market once deemed unsafe for American soldiers. Now, it is a bustling hub of business and commerce.

“Sure enough, I walk down the street, kids are playing, kicking soccer balls, I’m kicking soccer balls back,” Jones said. “I go up to a guy that may have been setting IEDs against me back in ’04, but he now has a fruit shop and he’s trying to figure out a way to expand his business to take care of his family. And he is looking toward to the future instead of looking to the past.”

HAMMER - hardships, hearts & heroes - Episode 2

During the fall of 2009, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. 3rd Infantry Division, deployed for their fourth tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From the spearhead to the surge, the Sledgehammer Brigade has seen sweeping change in their mission. This is their story.

VIEW VIDEO

Veterans See Improvement in Iraqi Army

Staff Sgt. Mark Lowe, an infantryman assigned to "B" Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, instructs a squad of soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 3rd Brigade, 8th Division, during a room-clearing exercise at Combat Outpost Hamiyah, Iraq, Jan. 14. Since taking over the patrol base in October, "B" Company has held several joint training exercises with their Iraqi counterparts.

Story by Spc. Ben Hutto

COMBAT OUTPOST HAMIYAH, Iraq – On an overcast day at Combat Outpost Hamiyah, Soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 3rd Brigade, 8th Division, listened intently as they received instruction from Soldiers of the U.S. Army's, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

Waiting for his interpreter to translate his instruction, Staff Sgt. Joseph Strauch, an infantryman assigned to "B" Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, patiently demonstrated the finer points of clearing a building.

When his Iraqi-counterpart asked if his Soldiers were doing anything wrong, Strauch quickly reassured him.

"No, you guys aren't doing anything wrong," he said. "You've just reached the point where we can move on to the next level. Your guys are ready for more advanced training."

With a satisfied nod from the Iraqi sergeant, the training continued.

According to Strauch, the situation was a far-cry from what he experienced when he was trying to train the Iraqi Army for the first time five years ago at Forward Operating Base Justice.

"They showed up drunk with their weapons loaded, fingers on the triggers and no safety on," the native of Buffalo, N.Y., recounted. "There was so much chatter; every time we tried to show them anything there was a conversation. Rounds were going off left and right. It was crazy."

Since "B" Company's arrival at their patrol base three months ago, Strauch and his fellow sergeants have held several of these training events. What he is seeing from the Iraqi army these days is unrecognizable from his experiences during his prior deployment, he said.

"Back then, a lot of us had a sense that a lot of Iraqi Soldiers were just there for the paycheck," he said. "Now you can see that they have a lot more pride in the uniform they are wearing. In everything they do, it is obvious they want to do it well."

Staff Sgt. Mark Lowe, also with "B" Company, and Philadelphia, Tenn., native, agreed with Strauch.

"They are very eager to learn better tactics," he said. "They focus a lot more on safety now. It is encouraging when you see them looking at the cause and effect scenarios when they plan scenarios. That wasn't always there."

Lowe recounted his first experience with the Iraqi army during Operation Desert Storm.

"We had heard so much about Iraq's million-man army," he said. "To be honest, it weighed on a lot of our minds. At the beginning stages of that war, I think both sides realized, very early on, just how ineffective a lot of their tactics were and how well ours work."

Lowe sees the Iraqi army improving at a rapid pace every time they train.

"Their doctrine has come a long way from Desert Storm," he said "You can see it in the way they run checkpoints; in the way they conduct raids and plan operations. Everything runs smoother and more efficiently."

As far as the Iraqi army has come, both Strauch and Lowe see ways they could improve.

"First and foremost, every Army unit has something they can improve on, but the Iraqi army has a ways to go as far as supplying their Soldiers," said Strauch. "Their flow of supplies doesn't always trickle down effectively. They have good equipment; it is just a matter of them getting it to the people who need it."

As the United States prepares to pull out of Iraq, Strauch is concerned that this need will become more apparent.

"We help out as much as we can with providing supplies, but we won't be here forever," he said. "Without ammo or equipment, it's almost impossible for any Army to be successful."

Strauch also said that the training he conducts with his counterparts will need to continue in his unit's absence.

"The United States Army has been working on and adjusting their tactics for 200 years now," he said. "The current incarnation of the IA started in 2004. They definitely have some catching up to do."

Still, Strauch is heartened by the progress the Iraqi Army has made.

"That's not to say that it's an impossible task, it will just require a lot more work," he said. "To see how far they have come in five short years is encouraging to me."

Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team Troops Assess Hospital in Kut

Photos by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees
Members of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team speak with the hospital director during a visit to assess the equipment and training needs of the facility in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 20. The assessment was part of the ongoing program to increase the medical infrastructure of the Wasit province.
U.S. Soldiers from 1-10 Field Artillery Battalion escort Dr. Hafid Al Daffaee, health advisor for Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, to a local hospital to assess the equipment and training needs of the facility in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 20. The assessment was part of the ongoing program to increase the medical infrastructure of the Wasit province.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Derek Bennett, platoon leader for Blue Platoon, B Battery, 1-10 Field Artillery Battalion, briefs his platoon prior to escorting members of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team to a local hospital to assess the equipment and training needs of the facility in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 20. The assessment was part of the ongoing program to increase the medical infrastructure of the Wasit province.

Familiar Faces???

It's so nice to run across a photo with familiar faces...

IRAN/IRAQ BORDER

SSG Gipson talks border operations

WATCH VIDEO

2010 Cold Bowl

Highlights from the Sledgehammer Cold Bowl, where NCOs take on Officers. Up for grabs are bragging rights for the whole year.

WATCH COLD BOWL

HAMMER - hardships, hearts & heroes - Episode 1

During the fall of 2009, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. 3rd Infantry Division, deployed for their fourth tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From the spearhead to the surge, the Sledgehammer Brigade has seen sweeping change in their mission. This is their story.

WATCH VIDEO

Saying Goodbye to Bravery

Story by: Sgt. Ben Hutto

FOB KALSU, Iraq – As an American Soldier, I've witnessed bravery in a variety of forms. Whether it was observing my battle buddy overcome his fear of heights and repel down a 20 foot tower during basic training or watching one of my best friends overcome the amputation of both his legs and become an amazing non-commissioned officer, I've seen countless instances of men and women setting aside their fears and and doing what they had to do.

To be honest, I've sort of come to expect it.

I believe this determination is instilled in most Soldiers during basic training and is further developed as we serve around people who have learned to push through their anxieties in order to fulfill the oath they took to defend our country.

As I returned home from my 15 day leave, I saw it again in the most unlikely of places.

My six year old son isn't a warrior. He didn't volunteer to be the child of a Soldier. In all honesty, his opinions have very little effect on me when I start talking about deployments and how long I'm going to be away.

He is put in the unfortunate situation of being stuck with my decision to serve our country.

I'm sure he is proud of me most days, but there are sacrifices he must endure in my absence.

Dad isn't there for every holiday or birthday.

I can't tuck him into bed every night.

When he goes to Cub Scouts, he is one of the few boys whose father isn't there.

The list of every day things that I'm absent for could go on for pages and it takes a toll on his young psyche.

He has nightmares some nights. Most nights, he sleeps in my bed with his mother for reassurance.

Many days, he asks her if I'm going to come back home. He has been pulled out of school to deal with separation anxiety, further making him "different" from the children around him and hindering his ability to be a good student.

It isn't fair. I'll admit that.

Despite my best efforts to provide for him and his younger brother, they are both forced to live in a single parent home every deployment.

Both of them live with the specter of Daddy not coming home or returning home with an injury they can't understand. My oldest has seen one of Daddy's injured friends, the one with the "robot" legs, and noticed that Daddy walks with a limp now.

A six year old might not understand all of the details, but he has a unique perspective of what war is and he also understands what that could mean for me.

Unfortunately, I ask him to accept this and not worry. I ask him to go about his life "like normal" and await my return.

To be honest, I try not to think about what a huge task that is.

For many of us, "talking to the kids about deployment" is one bullet on a huge list of important things we have to get done before we get on the plane to go overseas.

I wish I could say that I've eased my child's mind and he is performing normally, I wish I could say he doesn't cry when he talks about Daddy being gone, I wish he wouldn't worry that Mommy is going to leave him now, as well; but that isn't the case.

There are a lot of days he struggles with it, and I hope one day I can help him understand how proud I am of him for the sacrifice he is making.

I want to pull him close and thank him for being as brave as any Soldier I've ever served with.

Armed only with a child's hope that "everything will be ok," he has done a wonderful job of getting through this deployment.

Unlike me, my kids will never get an award for their service. Generals typically don't give "Hooah" coins to children.

The only award they will receive is the countless toys and kisses they'll get from me when I get off the plane next October.

For them, it is enough.

As I got out of my car at the airport, I walked around to the backseat to give him a kiss goodbye.

I opened the door to see him, his eyes shrink wrapped in tears, trying to give me a gapped tooth smile despite a quivering lip.

I smiled my best reassuring smile, gave him a big hug and kiss, and told him "It's going to be all right, bud. I'll be home soon. I promise."

Without shedding a tear, he just gave me another quivering kiss on the lips and whispered, "I know, Daddy. I love you. Please come back quick."

That, folks, is as brave a thing as you'll ever see. Take it from someone who sees it every day.

What Was Your Name Again?

Story By: SGT Natalie Rostek

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq – You never really know who someone is until you care enough to ask. I'll be the first to admit that there are many people in my life I would say that I know, but when I try to think of their names I draw a blank.

I know I'm not alone on this.

A wise man -- I'll call him Sgt. Maj. Richard Hairston -- once told me, "there are a lot of Soldiers with interesting stories but no one talks to them long enough to hear them."

I thought about that and you know what? It's true.

That Soldier at the dining facility who watches you swipe your card. You know, that guy. He may have just had a baby. Maybe his dog died. Who knows?

What about the guy at the laundry facility? The one to whom you give your underwear. Do you know him? Do you even know his name?

I used to make fun of my dad, Joe Rostek. He could start at one end of a room and by the time he reached the other side he would have interacted with everyone there.

"Hi. Good morning. How are you today? Nice seeing you. Take it easy." Or he would just shake their hand.

I noticed myself doing it when I went away to college. On my way to class I found that I could not pass someone without making eye contact, smiling, and saying something. Anything to let that person know, "I acknowledge your presence."

I do it now too. "Good morning. How are you? Looks like you're having a good day. So where do you work?"

I just find it awkward if I don't.

I am my father's daughter which may be why I went into public affairs. I love talking to people. There are so many people out there with stories, really, really good stories. Sometimes when I'm conducting an interview, we get off topic. Then the person tells me something and I'm blown away.

Did you know there are Soldiers out there who play in rock bands back home? Did you know there are Soldiers who are on their fifth deployment? Did you know there are privates and specialists who were restaurant managers, teachers, and lawyers but left their jobs to join the Army?

The funny thing is, I not only know, but I can remember the names of these Soldiers: Jorge, Scott, Ryan, Jonathan, and James (but he goes by his middle name, Brad.)

I know their names because they left footprints in my life. They weren't just passing faces, they were voices. I feel confident saying I know these people. I don't just know "of" them but I know them. If I saw them out on the street I could approach them and they would remember me too. It's all because I took the time to talk to them.

Now, you don't have to be public affairs like me to talk to people. I just got lucky. My dad is a contractor in Baltimore city but I bet if I asked, he could tell me the names and family members of his work crew, his customers, their neighbors, the homeless guys on the corner, the vendors at Camden Yards, and the waitresses of every diner in the city.

And I'm sure they know him too.

Delta Tour

Photos by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

U.S. Army Spc. Joshua McCarthy, attached to Commanche Troop, 3-1 Cavalry Squadron, pilots a Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle as Iraqi soldiers and journalists watch during a tour of Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 11. The tour was to show the type of training conducted on FOB Delta and to help build positive relationships the Iraqi military and the Iraqi media.
U.S. Army Sgt. Armando Fernandez, attached to Commanche Troop, 3-1 Cavalry Squadron, watches as an Iraqi soldier prepares to launch a Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during a tour of Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 11. The tour was to show the type of training conducted on FOB Delta and to help build positive relationships the Iraqi military and the Iraqi media.
U.S. Army Sgt. Armando Fernandez, attached to Commanche Troop, 3-1 Cavalry Squadron, demonstrates a Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during a tour of Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 11. The tour was to show the type of training conducted on FOB Delta and to help build positive relationships the Iraqi military and the Iraqi media.

U.S. Army Spc. Joshua McCarthy, attached to Commanche Troop, 3-1 Cavalry Squadron, pilots a Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle as Iraqi soldiers and journalists watch during a tour of Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 11. The tour was to show the type of training conducted on FOB Delta and to help build positive relationships the Iraqi military and the Iraqi media.

Eliminator Company Clears Routes in Dragon AO

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
Courtesy Story

Staff Sgt. Natalie Hedrick

FOB ECHO, Iraq – It was late. While most of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, at Forward Operating Base Echo were in bed the evening of Jan 2, Soldiers from "E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, were preparing for another day of work.

It was 1st Platoon's day to go out. After receiving their mission brief, the engineers made their way to the motor pool where their chariots awaited. Soldiers quickly prepped their Caiman armored vehicles, their Buffalo mine protected clearance vehicle, and their Husky engineering vehicle. They had a long night ahead of them.

"I can't believe the Army is paying me to do this," Pvt. Evanan Elias said as he jumped down from the back of his vehicle. "I love being an engineer."

When it was just about time to leave, the protective gear was put on and the last of the cigarettes were put out. Drivers, gunners, truck commanders, medics, and mechanics made their way to their assigned seats.

Their mission this deployment sounds simple enough - to provide freedom of movement for friendly forces throughout the "Dragon," or operational environment. Yet, the details in gaining "mission complete" status, in reality are anything but easy.

"We are the first line of defense for everyone who travels in this [operational environment]," said Sgt. Eric McFarland, truck commander for the Buffalo that day. "It's pretty rewarding knowing that our job is finding [improvised explosive devices] so no one gets hit."

Although most of the Soldiers agree their job is gratifying, there are difficulties they endure before, during and after each mission.

Spc. Sean Bryant is a mechanic assigned to 1st Platoon. Although he is not an engineer by trade, he travels with them on every mission.

"I had to learn the engineering equipment," he said. "It's difficult sometimes because I have to stay up all night to work to keep their vehicles on the road."

McFarland, although proud of his work as an engineer, admits there is always a tinge of anxiety when he rolls out the gate.

"Even though we are the ones that clear the roads, we never really know when we might get attacked or something might go off," he said.

Pvt. Jocue Valencia, who drove the Buffalo that night, appreciates the hardships he goes through.

"After hearing the stories from Sgt. Mac [McFarland] about last deployment, I really can't complain," he said. "I wasn't expecting this coming into the Army."

One thing that many engineers from 1st Platoon said keeps them motivated is that they are not going through anything alone.

The chatter overflowed from each truck in the convoy. Games such as "name your top five hottest celebrities" or "name your top three best movies of all time" bounced from truck to truck via radio. Each engineer with something to say made sure to include everyone in their conversation, regardless of which vehicle they were riding.

"It's like when we're out on the road, everyone starts flappin' their gums and gets their frustrations out," Bryant explained. "But when we get back, everyone's copacetic. We joke around with each other out there but no one gets [their feelings] hurt."

"We are pretty tight in the platoon," added Staff Sgt. Vincent Oliver from over the radio. "There are no real 'cliques' and everyone gets along."

"Except for the medic; he's an attachment," Oliver's driver jokingly added with the platoon medic sitting directly behind him.

Six hours and countless wise-cracks later, the convoy pulled back into the gates of FOB Echo.

"Every time we come back through the gates and no one got hurt," Valencia said, "now, that's the most rewarding part of this job."

Soldiers ran down the list of what they were going to do after they parked and closed down their vehicles. Some were tired and couldn't wait to get back to their rooms. Others were going to the gym. Others were meeting for breakfast as soon as it opened.

Most Soldiers on FOB Echo were still sleeping. The mission of clearing another route in the Dragon Operation Environment was complete - until the next day.

Pfc. Anthony Pascarella, 1st Platoon,"E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, wipes down one of the headlights of his vehicle before a route clearance mission, Jan. 2, at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

Spc. Karlon Heileman, 1st Platoon,"E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, prepares a radio before a route clearance mission, Jan. 2, at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

Soldiers from 1st Platoon, "E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are briefed before a route clearance mission, Jan. 2, at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

Spc. Joseph Jones, 1st Platoon,"E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, prepares a radio before a route clearance mission, Jan. 2, at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

Spc. Dillon Mitchell, 1st Platoon,"E" Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, prepares a radio before a route clearance mission Jan. 2 at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

Members of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team inspect an open septic system during a post construction inspection at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8. The inspection was conducted to insure that the school was being well maintained following completion of construction a year ago.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nekolas Portella, a member of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, waits for a school caretaker to begin post construction inspection at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8. The inspection was conducted to insure that the school was being well maintained following completion of construction a year ago.
U.S. Army Sgt. Ronnie Rojas, a member of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, discusses maintenance issues with other PRT members at a post construction inspection of a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8. The inspection was conducted to insure that the school was being well maintained following completion of construction a year ago.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dan Popowski, platoon leader for White Platoon, B Battery, 1-10 Field Artillery BN, talks with Iraqi children during an inspection at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8. The inspection was conducted to insure that the school was being well maintained following completion of construction a year ago.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Larry Jones from White Platoon, B Battery, 1-10 Field Artillery BN escorts members of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team to a post construction inspection at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8. The inspection was conducted to insure that the school was being well maintained following completion of construction a year ago.

Dinner at Delta

Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

U.S. Army Col. Peter L. Jones, commander of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, welcomes an Iraqi general to a dinner on Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. U.S. Soldiers from 3rd HBCT and Iraqi commanders from throughout the Wasit province met for the chance to build camaraderie between the two nations.

U.S. Army Capt. Darrel Hull, commander of the 252nd Military Police Company, compares cell phone pics with an Iraqi police commander during a dinner at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi commanders from throughout the Wasit province met for the chance to build camaraderie between the two nations.

U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Aeillo, public affairs officer for the 1-10 Field Artillery Battalion, shows off his photo during a dinner at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. The dinner was a chance for U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi commanders from throughout the Wasit province to meet to build camaraderie between the two nations.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gary Tondre and Sgt. Matthew Hayes, both attached to HHB, 1-10 Field Artillery Battalion, discuss music selections for a dinner held at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi commanders from throughout the Wasit province met for the chance to build camaraderie between the two nations.

U.S. Army Maj. Ron Sargent, deputy team leader for Stability Transition Team 14, speaks with an Iraqi commander at a dinner held on Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Heavy Combat Team and Iraqi commanders from throughout the Wasit province met for the chance to build camaraderie between the two nations.

U.S. Army commanders and officers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and officers from all branches of the Iraqi military in Wasit province meet for chance to mingle and build camaraderie at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010.

Midwife Graduation Ceremony

Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

Jimmy Garza and Dr. Hafid Al Daffaee, advisors with the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, present certificates to new midwives at their graduation ceremony in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 5. More than 30 Iraqi women spent six months training as midwives in the PRT-funded training program.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shareka Best, a member of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, talks to graduates following a graduation ceremony for new midwives in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 5. More than 30 Iraqi women spent six months training as midwives in the PRT-funded training program.

Members of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team present certificates during a graduation ceremony for new midwives in Kut, Iraq, Jan. 5. More than 30 Iraqi women spent six months training as midwives in the PRT-funded training program.

Keeping the Iraqi Borders Safe

A student from the 5th Department of Border Enforcement Academy's advanced noncommissioned officer course jumps a hurdle in an obstacle course Dec. 29 during the class's morning physical training session in their compound on Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.
Carlos Carrillo, a retired U.S. border patrolman, plays the Iraqi national anthem, Dec. 29 at the 5th Department of Border Enforcement Academy, as 99 advanced noncommissioned officer course students practice singing in preparation for their graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq.

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
Courtesy Story

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq – The commands, "parade rest, attention," and "double time" could be heard clearly through the early morning chill Dec. 29 at FOB Echo, but not in a way most American Soldiers could understand.

Ninety-nine Iraqi border patrolmen stood in formation, motivated to start the day. Physical training was first, led by a student who quickly earned the respect of his peers and instructors, according to Staff Sgt. Jammie Tucker, senior noncommissioned officer of the Diwaniyah stability transition team. The team is part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

The men running to an Arabic cadence were only days away from graduating from the 5th Department of Border Enforcement Academy. It is the largest advanced noncommissioned officer class the academy has seen.

The 5th DBE consists of border patrol, border police, customs, and two quick reaction force battalions. The units cover four provinces including Diwaniyah, Najaf, Karbala and Muthana. The class that was close to graduation consisted solely of border patrolmen.

After physical training, the students ate breakfast, practiced drill and ceremony in preparation for graduation, and then moved into a classroom for instruction. Day 42 of the 45-day-long course was already in full swing; it was only nine o'clock.

According to Maj. Ryan Yedlinsky, an STT deputy team chief, the students had already been through a vigorous course agenda including port of entry operations, personnel searches, check-point operations, reaction to terrorists and suicide bombers, and drugs and weapons smuggling. These topics were taught in the classroom and with practical exercises.

"The students might sit in the classroom and learn about check-point operations for example," Yedlinsky explains. "Then they actually come outside, set up a mock check point and go through what they just learned."

Yedlinsky commends the academy's curriculum but believes the course is more than just a refresher for border patrol operations.

"We want to help them understand what they are capable of as NCOs," he said. "Initiative is the biggest thing we try to instill in the students. We hope they walk away with that."

Yedlinsky explained, until recently, the Iraqi Security Force Noncommissioned Officer Corps was not recognized in terms of leadership. Instead, NCOs took on roles of runners to the officers.

"In addition to explaining the role of the NCO to the students here, we also explain it to the officers that we work with," Yedlinsky said. "We explain to the officers that they are very busy men and can rely on their NCOs. What we are starting to see now, especially in the staff sections, is the officers really using their NCOs."

"Patriotism, honor, duty and service," said Carlos Carrillo, a retired U.S. border patrolman. "Appreciation of their service is what every warrior seeks. Their motivation is commendable."

Yedlinsky explained, with the 3rd HBCT's current advise-and-assist mission in Iraq, American instructors, like Tucker and Carrillo, show the students how American NCOs operate, then let them build their own style of leadership.

"The Iraqis are capable people," Yedlinsky said. "This works for them because they live the culture and they know the people better than we ever could."

Lt. Hider, dean of the 5th DBE Academy, agreed and added a touch of pride to his already growing confidence in his students.

"The students take this course seriously," he said through a translator. "They are the first barrier of defense to protect this country. They should be proud. They represent the Iraqi security forces and they protect the people of Iraq."

The students will graduate Jan. 4th at the academy compound on FOB Echo. Kadom, a student enrolled in the course, said he is proud and happy that he will be one step closer to becoming an NCO and said he is ready to become a role model for his subordinates

That's What We Do

Let's take time to remember those in the armed services on active duty, reservists, or have fallen in the line of duty. Think of the fearless men and women that put on a uniform everyday to make freedom - because there are no freedoms without those willing to fight for them.

This video tribute to those on the front lines is the story of true patriots, as told by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North at the NRA Annual Meeting in 2009. It is a stirring profile of the spirited, courageous guardians of our precious freedom. America's best...

THAT'S WHAT WE DO...WE'RE AMERICANS
WATCH VIDEO

Baker Boys: Inside The Surge

If you didn't get the opportunity to watch this last night, set your DVR's for the next three Tuesdays. This will also be out on DVD soon.

On Tuesday, January 5, HDNet will premiere a four-part documentary series called BAKER BOYS: INSIDE THE SURGE.

The series, which will air every Tuesday throughout the month of January, is an intimate, inside look at Baker Company, an elite group of Army soldiers on an extended tour in Iraq as they 'surge' into a notoriously dangerous Al Qaeda stronghold. "BAKER BOYS: INSIDE THE SURGE" was filmed over three months in 2008 by veteran combat photographer Jon Steele.

As the Baker Boys' three-month deployment unfolds, viewers get a gripping look into the everyday lives of our soldiers on the front. The documentary features first-person, real-time storytelling as the soldiers of Baker Company negotiate new alliances with local Iraqi militias, pay off tribal sheiks for their cooperation, and deal with the fear and uncertainty of being thrust into the middle of counter-insurgency warfare, where money and trust are their most effective weapons. This is a deep penetrating look into the life of a soldier that exposes the raw personal emotion and the honest physical experience of combat soldiers operating in Iraq.

Director Kern Konwiser explains, "The documentary bears witness to the physical and emotional cost paid by American soldiers who, after years of fighting to win the war in Iraq, are now cast into an unfamiliar and unsettling role of winning the peace with non-traditional weapons: talking, trust building, and cash. These tactics stopped the violence and saved lives; it is fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, to see our own soldiers helping and handing out weekly payments larger than what most soldiers earn in a year to the very people who were trying to kill them just weeks before."

Baker Company is led by a tough but measured Army captain, Rich Thompson of West Palm Beach Florida, who has to keep his tired men motivated and safe in one of the most dangerous places in the world - all this during the last months of their extended tour. The Baker Boys thought they were about to go home; instead, they found themselves on a whole new mission.

"This documentary series is extremely powerful," said Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder of HDNet. "Our viewers will be deeply moved by these soldiers and the stories that they tell us in their own words. We're proud to be a part of this project and to present our viewers with this inside look at life in Iraq."

The documentary gets inside the lives of the men of Baker Company like very few war documentaries ever have. The Army allowed Jon Steele into a world that is glamorized in films and television, but inside Jon's camera we get to see that world honestly and deeply, not dramatized or glorified. "I wanted to hook up with a combat unit to look in their eyes, hear their voices ... get them to open up about their feelings and emotions," said Steele. "I made a deal with them; I'd be willing to die with them if they'd be willing to talk to me."

This 4-part program was Directed by two-time Emmy Award winner Kern Konwiser, Executive Produced by Cal Boyington and David Pritchard for Gigapix Studios and Vincent Gonet and David Rihs for PointProd, and Produced by Kip Konwiser and Jon Steele. The film was edited by Derek Boonstra and Davon Ramos.

Dennis O'Brien is the Executive Producer of News and Documentaries and Lucia McCalmont is the Director of Program Acquisitions for HDNet.

For more information on the program, including clips and photos please visit the following links:

BAKER BOYS: INSIDE THE SURGE WEBSITE
HDNet Baker Boys: Inside The Surge

Technology is Awesome

It absolutely amazes me that we have such awesome technology these days that we can actually video call Itaq and see our loved ones. It's the next best thing to seeing them in person. I spoke with Nick this weekened via Skype and it was so great to be able to see him as well as hear his voice.

Nick looked and sounded great and seemed to be doing quite well. He is very excited that he will be changing jobs soon. Joey was at work when I called Nick and was so jealous when he found out that we had talked. Now he can't wait to give him a call...which I'm sure will be chocked full of laughs. The two are hilarious together!!!

Skype video calls are totally free and enable families to keep in better touch with there loved ones while deployed. I just started using Skype and am now trying to get my friends in England and Italy to sign up. It is absolutely the next best thing to being there.

Thanks Skype!

SGT Natalie Rostek Enjoys Work as Photojournalist

SGT Natalie Rostek enjoys her work as a Photojournalist. Listen to her story.