By Sgt. Matthew Hayes 1-10 FA Public Affairs Liaison
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Milton, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, has been a career counselor for six years and he has never witnessed a reenlistment quite like this one.
When Spc. Bobby Ortiz, a West Hartford, Conn. native, was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 1-10 FA Regt. was asked if there were any special requests for his reenlistment, he responded, “I want to go to Germany and I want to reenlist in a Blackhawk”.
While most retention NCO’s would have given a look of surprise, Milton simply replied “I’ll see what I can do”.
Ortiz was then asked why he wanted to reenlist in a Blackhawk,
“Because, to my knowledge, no one else in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division has ever done it before,” he said. “More than likely not during a deployment.”
After leaders of 1-10 FA Regt. were notified of the Soldier’s request, they began making the necessary phone calls to leaders of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, out of Phoenix, Arizona. They were happy to oblige.
January 26, Ortiz, along with the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Shaun E. Tooke and battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Aaron stepped into the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The group set off to host the reenlistment which would guarantee a “Rock’s Support” Soldier’s future with the United States Army.
The battalion retention noncommissioned officer, battery commander and first sergeant, two of Ortiz’s friends, and the battalion public affairs liaison were also on the flight at Ortiz’s request. The only thing missing, according to the man of the hour, was family.
“I really wish my wife and son were here,” Oritz said. “That really would have been great.”
The entire flight lasted approximately 20 minutes; however it’s an event that will be talked about in the 1-10 FA Regt. for a long time.
“You know people are only going to try to top this re enlistment,” a spectator said to Milton.
“We will do what we can,” Milton replied with a smile.
The retention NCO and leaders of the 1-10 FA Regt. took that extra step to ensure this Soldier’s desire to reenlist on a UH-60 Blackhawk was fulfilled. That’s caring, and that’s what it’s all about.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Milton, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, has been a career counselor for six years and he has never witnessed a reenlistment quite like this one.
When Spc. Bobby Ortiz, a West Hartford, Conn. native, was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 1-10 FA Regt. was asked if there were any special requests for his reenlistment, he responded, “I want to go to Germany and I want to reenlist in a Blackhawk”.
While most retention NCO’s would have given a look of surprise, Milton simply replied “I’ll see what I can do”.
Ortiz was then asked why he wanted to reenlist in a Blackhawk,
“Because, to my knowledge, no one else in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division has ever done it before,” he said. “More than likely not during a deployment.”
After leaders of 1-10 FA Regt. were notified of the Soldier’s request, they began making the necessary phone calls to leaders of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, out of Phoenix, Arizona. They were happy to oblige.
January 26, Ortiz, along with the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Shaun E. Tooke and battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Aaron stepped into the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The group set off to host the reenlistment which would guarantee a “Rock’s Support” Soldier’s future with the United States Army.
The battalion retention noncommissioned officer, battery commander and first sergeant, two of Ortiz’s friends, and the battalion public affairs liaison were also on the flight at Ortiz’s request. The only thing missing, according to the man of the hour, was family.
“I really wish my wife and son were here,” Oritz said. “That really would have been great.”
The entire flight lasted approximately 20 minutes; however it’s an event that will be talked about in the 1-10 FA Regt. for a long time.
“You know people are only going to try to top this re enlistment,” a spectator said to Milton.
“We will do what we can,” Milton replied with a smile.
The retention NCO and leaders of the 1-10 FA Regt. took that extra step to ensure this Soldier’s desire to reenlist on a UH-60 Blackhawk was fulfilled. That’s caring, and that’s what it’s all about.
Spc. Bobby Ortiz Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, reenlists Jan. 26 while riding in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter that flew over Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq. (photo by Sgt Matthew Hayes)
Posts
1 comment:
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
Post a Comment