Story and photo by Spc. Darriel Swatts, Public Affairs, 40th CABCAMP TAJI, Iraq – The lights dimmed as the chants grew louder, “Toby… Toby… Toby…”In a flash of light, country music superstar Toby Keith emerged onto the stage April 26 at the Jon Schoolcraft Pavilion, rocking one of his hit songs as an overflow crowd of Soldiers erupted into cheers. The “Locked and Loaded Tour” had come to Camp Taji, Iraq.Over the past nine years, Keith has done more than 160 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he feels good about spending time with the troops. His father was in the Army and is now passed, so...
Story by 2nd Lt. Donald Gillilan, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-CBAGHDAD—Soldiers with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center had the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of navigational technology during a training mission April 17 with members of the 1st Iraqi Federal Police Division at Joint Security Station Loyalty, Iraq.Recently, the 1st IFP Div. was issued GPS devices to assist them on their patrolling and quick reaction force missions. In some cases before the training began...
Story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, 29th MPAD, USD-CCamp Liberty, Iraq - The U.S. military has seen a tremendous amount of change over the past decade, and further changes are still to come, said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff while visiting Camp Liberty, Iraq, and service members with United States Division – Center.“We live in a time of extraordinary change,” said Mullen. “Look at what we’ve become as a military, almost on the fly. We started off a heavy, kinetic-focused conventional force and we have now become the best unconventional irregular warfare...
Story and photo by Sgt Isolda McClelland 29th MPAD,USD-C BAGHDAD – At Forward Operating Base Hammer, home of the Besmaya Combat Training Center, the usual sounds of the day are the booms emitted from the various training ranges. Recently, the booms didn’t come from the ranges, but rather the small stage area on the FOB. The booming sounds of drums hammering away and the low rumble of bass guitars meant that Show of Force, the 25th Infantry Division Band’s rock band ensemble, was warming up and getting ready to bring together a crowd of Soldiers and civilians to the stage.This nine-member...
Story and photo by 2nd Lt. Daniel Elmblad, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Over the course of a three-day competition, Soldiers with 6th ‘Saber’ Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center competed for the right to be recognized as the squadron’s top marksman. The ‘Saber Shooter’ competition, unlike static ranges, measured how effectively an individual Soldier could accurately engage multiple targets in a timely manner while maneuvering and changing out ammunition. Designed to expose...
Story by 2nd Lt. Devin Osburn, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Troopers with 5th “Longknife” Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, recently trained their Iraqi counterparts in the 2nd Iraqi Federal Police Division on land navigation techniques and passed on lessons learned from their own training on the subject.Knowing how to read a map and navigate from one point to another is an important skill to have in any military branch and is emphasized in U.S. Army basic training. “[At basic...
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle looks less like an eagle and more like a giant robotic insect. Its alien-like head and dragonfly form give it a futuristic look.
Story and photo by Spc. Darriel SwattsCAMP TAJI, Iraq – “MEDEVAC, MEDEVAC, MEDEVAC!”It’s a cry for medical assistance that is enough to make even the most combat-hardened Soldiers cringe when they hear it cross the radio waves. For the Soldiers of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment (Air Ambulance), Army National Guard, the call starts a race to respond in 15 minutes or less.Charlie Company, based out of both Westfield, Mass. and Burlington, Vt., is currently attached to the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, which is deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. The...
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division-Center Public AffairsRAMADI, Iraq – “Today is the kind of day where it makes you proud to be a Soldier,” said 1st Lt. Jonty McCoy, platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division –Center.McCoy was referring to April 2, a day that fellow 4th AAB Soldiers spent at the Anbar Operations Center in Ramadi, Iraq, distributing 21 pediatric wheelchairs to disabled Iraqi children.“This is by...
Story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, 29th MPAD, USD – C CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The Soldier was a little apprehensive at first. His eyes got a little larger with hesitant anticipation as it came closer to being his turn to step to front of the room. A few jokes and teasing were passed between him and his fellow Soldiers, which livened the mood for some and for others it accentuated the uneasiness. For some in the room, the task at hand—starting an intravenous line on a live person rather than a training aid—was a little daunting as it meant sticking someone with a needle. But, as the...
Master Sgt. (P) Mark Morgan, the senior enlisted aide to Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at the Feb. 25 morning session of the Association of the United States Army’s Winter Symposium and Exposition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.Dempsey, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the Army chief of staff-designate, cited Morgan for his singular accomplishment in winning a Gold Medal at the international Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.Morgan competed as a member of the American Culinary Federation’s Culinary National Team as a pastry...
The goal of Army acquisition, science and technology (AST) is to provide soldiers a decisive advantage in all phases of combat, particularly in dismount where soldiers are fighting one-on-one with the enemy, according to the assistant secretary of the Army for AST.Speaking Feb. 23 – designated "Science and Technology Day" – at the opening session of AUSA’s Winter Symposium and Exposition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Malcolm R. O’Neill, said he wants to equip soldiers to be more than dominant – they should be decisive so every enemy or potential enemy doesn’t want to fight them.O’Neill said his...
Three soldiers selected as the athletes and coach of the year for 2010, were honored at the Association of the United States Army’s Winter Symposium.
As the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) continues on its road of transition brought on by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, AMC commander, views the change not as series of challenges, but as opportunities to "redouble our efforts to support soldiers."Speaking Feb. 24 at the Association of the United States Army’s Winter Symposium and Exposition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dunwoody told Army and industry leaders that the BRAC move is affecting 11,000 AMC personnel and shifting the command’s "center of gravity" to Huntsville, Ala.She highlighted recent...
Army Ten-Miler race officials have announced changes to the registration date and procedures for signing up to run in the 2011 race.This year, there will be a priority registration for all U.S. service members and runners who have participated in at least seven Ten-Miler races. Approximately one-third of the total 30,000 race entries – the race’s runner cap – will be reserved for this new priority registration program.Priority registration will open May 1 and U.S. service members must use a ".mil" address to register. A searchable data base will be posted for seven-time plus race participants...