505th EN BN September newsletter
-
Upload
north-carolina-national-guard -
Category
Travel
-
view
710 -
download
3
Transcript of 505th EN BN September newsletter
fessional development is
a must!
Sustain healthy commu-
nication both here and
with your friends and
family back home. As
busy as we are, it is easy
to get caught up in the
“rumor mill” when the
true answer can simply
be had by asking a ques-
tion through the chain of
command. Regular com-
munication with our
families also keeps us
grounded and con-
nected; assuaging fears
or false impressions and
bolstering mutual sup-
port.
We have the right to be
proud of the work we
have done so far; of our-
selves, our companies,
and the 505th. Under-
stand that you are work-
ing important, enduring,
historic missions.
Keep improving, keep
communicating, and
keep up the hard
work!
“FROM THE
GROUND UP!”
Castle 6
We have indeed had a
busy month. Thankfully,
we are seeing tempera-
tures moderate as we
continue to learn our
jobs, conduct engineer
operations, and
“improve our foxholes”. We all knew when we
deployed that world
events would ebb and
flow beyond our con-
trol. The current situa-
tion with the embassy
attacks around the Mid-
dle East and the height-
ened tensions, however,
serve to underscore the
importance of what is in
our control. We have the
control to remain vigi-
lant; retain situational
awareness, communi-
cate, pursue self-
improvement, and look
to our battle buddies,
leadership, and families
for support and guid-
ance.
CSM Scott and I had the
good fortune to travel to
Afghanistan to visit our
soldiers there. The mis-
sion is going very well
considering its con-
straints; leaders and sol-
diers alike are motivated
and dedicated to the
tasks at hand. This huge
undertaking is the larg-
est single project in this
battalion’s history and is
the most important mili-
tary construction mis-
sion in theater.
Projects in Kuwait are
also critical and impor-
tant to the US mission.
505th Soldiers are all
over the area of respon-
sibility and remain en-
gaged and busy. Several
upcoming projects are
vital and of the highest
priority to ASG-Kuwait
and the host nation.
Among the many things
that we are tracking is
Soldier education. We
have been fortunate to
get several Soldiers to
the Warrior Leader
Course and have made a
big push to fulfill indi-
vidual on-line Struc-
tured Self Development
requirements. There are
many Soldiers pursuing
civilian education on
line as well. The battal-
ion is also finalizing
plans for the “Engineer
Academy” to further our
education as engineers
between missions. Pro-
September 2012
From the Ground Up
505th Engineer Combat Battalion
“Make no little plans.
They have no magic to
stir men's blood ... Make
big plans; aim high in
hope and work ..."
- Daniel Burnham
“The germ of gossip may
be likened to the germ of
cancer – as the latter con-
taminates and rots the
healthy flesh, so the for-
mer contaminates and
rots the social fabric, har-
mony, and happiness of
the unit.”
– Officers Manual,
1917 ed., Major J.A.
Moss
“Don’t sweat the things
you can’t control”
- Robert Wilks
Page Content
1 BN CDR
875 EN CO 2/3
4/5 FSC
6/7 497 EN CO
8/9 HHC
10 882 EN CO
11 Birthdays
12 927 SDT
13 BN Staff
14/15 Photos of Kuwait
16/17 544 EN CO
18 BN Maintenance Shop
and 544 (last shot)
2 Page 2
1st Platoon’s second
month has been as busy as
the first. They have com-
pleted an ammo pad, spread
reclaimed asphalt at the
Kuwait Naval Base, built a
pad for the veterinarians,
and repaired several roads
and yards on Camp Arifjan.
Soldiers are becoming more
experienced at operating
heavy equipment everyday.
As shown to the right, SPC
Martin is operating one of
the more skill-required
pieces, the motor grader.
Many of our Soldiers are becoming so proficient enough
that the platoon is able to complete missions days ahead of
schedule. LT Robinson states, “We have our sights set on
many more projects ahead and look forward to the coming
months. in Afghanistan.”
movement forward to Afghanistan later
this month and has packed containers
with spare parts, oil, and lubrication.
They have truly came together as a
team and have made all of the missions
possible. After all, nothing can be done
with equipment that won’t run!
The maintenance crew has
put in relentless hours in order
to fix and maintain the neces-
sary equipment to complete the
engineer missions in Kuwait
and in Afghanistan.
The equipment in Kuwait is
up to 90% mission capable,
which is a huge turn around
from when the team (shown
left) arrived two months ago.
The maintenance team in Af-
ghanistan is working an aver-
age of 15 hours each day to
improve the initial mission
capability of 30% when they
arrived one month ago.
The crew in Kuwait is
making preparations for their
875th’s Maintenance... Defining “Busy”
2nd Platoon, Construction at Camp John Pratt, Afghanistan
2nd PLT worked tirelessly in their
first few weeks in Afghanistan battling
the unfamiliar terrain, constant climate
changes, unforgiving dust storms and
being away from their loved ones in
NC. During 2PLT’s short time at
Camp John Pratt, they have worked on
12 different sites and completed three
projects. They work two shifts a day
dedicated to completing the mission
and representing the Workhorse repu-
tation.
“New missions are
given daily and
Soldiers are never
doing the same
thing as the day
before.” -1LT
Morrison
Engineers: From the Ground UP!
SPC Martin operating the grader for the
W7A yard improvement project.
SSG Hardenberger operating the
HYEX.
From left: SPC Shoaf, SPC Dennison, PFC
Wyatt, SPC Highsmith, SSG Creighton, SPC
Avalos, SGT Grogg, SGT Faw, PFC Jones,
and PFC Jarman. SPC Mitchell from 2PLT operating
the pan.
3
3rd Platoon is working with 2nd platoon to
complete three large projects and several
smaller projects in Afghanistan. Each day
brings a new challenge and 3rd Platoon is hard
at work for two shifts each day.
3rd platoon’s main project, the 110 acre
motor pool is being constructed by rough
grading existing soil, laying two inch rock,
and then capping it off with base material.
They are also preparing many tent pads as
part of this project which must be between at
3% grade.
As a whole, 3rd platoon has adapted to the
challenge of living and working in Afghani-
stan and is working seven days a week.
3rd Platoon, Ready To WORK! Camp John Pratt, Afghanistan
Commander’s Comments
been working on a variety of pro-
jects improving roads and prepar-
ing grounds for future construction
on Camp Arifjan and the Kuwaiti
naval base. October looks to be
even busier as we will begin 24
hour operations on our project sites
in Afghanistan.
I am also excited to say that our
whole company will soon be united
in Afghanistan and will continue to
uphold our tradition of excellence
that we have become known for.
This month has seen Work-
horse Soldiers going full speed
ahead in both Afghanistan and
Kuwait. Our Soldiers in Af-
ghanistan have hit the ground
running and have been working
on preparing motor-pools that
will be used in retrograding
equipment out of Afghanistan,
preparing grounds for a new
American dining facility and
digging a storm-water retention
pond.
Our Soldiers in Kuwait have
Members of 3rd Platoon working with Red Horse on a hasty Entry Control Point .
Soldiers from 3rd Platoon working at the LOCGAP site.
SPC Martin operating the grader for the
W7A yard improvement project.
CPT William M. Dudley, Company Commander
Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page 3
4
Page 4 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
FROM THE COMMANDER’S DESK:
The Alpha Dawgs have now been in country for a little over two months. Time for most of us is flying by. The
Alpha Dawgs have settled into a battle rhythm and work is steady. Below is just a portion of what we do and have been
doing to support “From the Ground Up”
The Distribution Platoon has been supporting a two front mission with troops in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Their
fuel handlers have pumped over 20,000 gals of fuel between the two locations, and with the start of our third month,
their truck drivers (88Ms), have become very familiar with all the Kuwaiti roads. They have driven in excess of 15,000
miles in our short time here.
The Field Feeding section of the Alpha Dawgs has been tasked out to several locations, where they manage food
service operations that have resulted in an average of 100,000 meals a month being served. SSG Duckworth and SGT
Hinks are working on their Contracting Officer Representative certification so they can help manage the food service
contracts and ensure the contractors follow the proper contracting rules and guidelines. This certification also ensures
that the Government receives the most cost effective solutions to feeding our soldiers. Other duties include PV2 Geor-
ges and SPC Jones inspecting and certifying the connex shipments coming into the DFACS (dining facilities also known as
mess halls). SPC Palmer serves as the Fire Marshal ensuring compliance with the fire codes and that the DFACS have
emergency plans in case of fire.
The Maintenance Platoon has fully inspected all equipment left from the departing unit and is showing the rest of
Arifjan how real maintenance is done! They have repaired over 105 vehicles from a non-mission capable status to fully
mission capable. In addition, we have supported six other Companies with their maintenance work load. The welding
section of the maintenance platoon has completed 14 jobs to date and is currently working on six more. The jobs have
ranged from fabrication and installation of a flag pole to the fabrication and installation of load bearing supports for build-
ing structures.
This is only a small portion of what this Company does to support our Battalion and sister units. Know this;
that the Alpha Dawgs are staying busy and doing a great job to support our mission. Once again, I want to say thanks to
all our loved ones and friends back home. As I’ve said before, our support here is what we do for our country; the sup-
port our family and loved ones send are for our drive to come home and to finish this deployment with great pride. Un-
til next month, know the Alpha Dawgs are leading the pack! GO ALPHA DAWGS!!!
-FSC Company Commander Rodney Woody
SPC Atha and SPC Garner receive Certificates of
Appreciation for their welding skills
5
PFC Miller and SPC James washing a M916 at the wash rack at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
A D9 bulldozer at the Battalion Motor Pool.
Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page 5
6
Greetings Devastator friends and family! It is difficult for me to believe it has
already been a month since I wrote my
last article. The time is flying by. On
the 1st of September, we had a the whole
company together for a large ceremony
in which we awarded “combat patches”
to all of our Devastator Soldiers. It was
an awesome event that included some
promotions, certificates of achievements,
and coins. The following day we had an
early celebration of our Company Organ-
izational Day. The Devastators woke up
early and conducted a 7 km company run
on Camp Arifjan. Following that, we
had some friendly platoon-level sports
competition and a BBQ. Congratula-
tions to the mighty 2nd Platoon who
won the ultimate football bracket, and
to Headquarters who took the dodge
ball bracket. It was a great day to get
together as a company for the first
time in four months. It hasn’t been all fun and
games though. By the time you all
read this, we will have past the half-
way point of the deployment. It has
been somewhat busy so far, with a lot
of operating time and everyone get-
ting some valuable experience. Al-
though we are over the hump, the fun
is far from over. Soon we will begin a
large project that will
involve most of the
nation, we managed to
pull the entire com-
pany together in one place for two days
of relaxation and fun. The entire event
included BBQ, sporting events, awards
and promotion ceremonies. One of the
highlights was the “Patching” ceremony,
officially recognizing your Soldiers sac-
rifice in deploying overseas in the de-
fense of our Country. I had the opportu-
nity to “patch” all the first time deploy-
ers in HQ PLT, proud of their hard work
and tireless efforts. But the best part of
the entire month was that realization that
we are half way done. By the time you
read this we will have passed the four
and a half month mark in theater, put-
ting us over the hump and on the way
back down. Of course we still have a lot
of work ahead of us, but the end is in
sight and we could not be more excited.
This last month also brought a lot of
changes to HQ. We received a new
NCO in his place, SGT Petro. SGT
Petro is a very hard charging and
motivated NCO and we are lucky to
have him. Up until now he has been
applying his leadership to 1st PLT
and I know that he will be missed
there. We also welcomed back SSG
Fichter from Afghanistan, and we
couldn’t be more excited. I am also
proud to say that HQ has a newly
“promotable” Soldier. SPC (P) Wil-
cox has proven himself to be ready
for the responsibilities and duties of
a NCO, demonstrating that fact by
receiving a unanimous recommen-
dation from a board of Senior
NCO’s. Congratulations SPC Wil-
cox!
As always we are grateful
for the continued support. I know
from experience that these “hump”
months can often be the hardest
time in a deployment. Your support
and continued backing are the life
blood that keeps us going.
HQ PLT:
Well another month has
come and gone here in Kuwait,
leaving us a little cooler, a little
more tired, and ALOT more ready
to come home to friends and fam-
ily. Your Soldiers have spent the
last 30 days reintegrating 2nd PLT,
planning and organizing several
big events, and most recently mov-
ing to another location in support
of a big project. This most recent
move marks the fourth location in
two countries that HQ has estab-
lished its operations in just fewer
than five months. It just goes to
show how versatile and resilient
these Soldiers really are. One of
the biggest highlights of the last
month was the Company Organ-
izational Day over the Labor Day
weekend. After weeks of meticu-
lous planning and endless coord-
Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page 6
By CPT
John
Makar 497th EN
CO
company. This particular project
will be great, as it will challenge
Soldiers and NCOs at all levels to
complete the work on time and to
standard. We are all really looking
forward to breaking ground. As always, I want to thank
you all again for the support you
give us. All of the letters and pack-
ages that we receive from you moti-
vate us to no end. I want to give a
special thank you for those who are
actively participating in the FRG.
Your help and participation means a
lot to both me and Lauren.
Devastator 6 Out!
7 Page 7
Engineers: From the Ground UP!
friendly strife. With the exception of the
Labor Day trip we have been hard at
work at Camp Buehring. As Septem-
ber comes to a close, the weather is
thankfully beginning to turn the cor-
ner from miserable to slightly less
miserable. With this change of sea-
sons our work hours have increased
and our productivity is at its highest
right now. Every Soldier is gainfully
employed working on one of our
multiple projects, and the experience
and equipment hours that the Outlaw
Soldiers are gaining while over here
will work wonders towards their
development and future abilities on con-
struction projects. We would like to extend be-
lated congratulations to PFC Benson
and SPC Cygan and their families on the
birth of their children, Alexander Mi-
chael Benson and Denver Cygan were
born happy, healthy, and eager to join
the Outlaw team on August 24th! Fi-
nally, we would once again like to thank
all the family and friends who have been
so supportive to us throughout our
deployment, you are all the reason we
are over here, thank you so much!
Outlaw 1-6
1ST PLT: To kick off the month, the
Outlaws took a platoon trip to visit
the rest of the company for some
camaraderie, games and food. While
we left the Labor Day picnic event
without any champions in Ultimate
Football or Dodge ball, we realized
something even more important while
visiting the company; “Its not always
about winning, sometimes its about
letting other platoons win so that they
don’t hate 1st Platoon for being so
incredibly awesome”, and that lesson
was worth surrendering our other-
wise assured victories on the fields of
2ND PLT: Hello family and friends of the
“Renegade” platoon!
The last few weeks have
been filled with fun, HEAT, busyness
and excitement as we adjust to our
new surroundings in Kuwait. It has
been almost a month since the major-
ity of the Platoon returned from Af-
ghanistan and reunited with each
other and the 497th EN Company
Headquarters. To recap some of our
accomplishments as a platoon during
the past few months, the Renegade
Platoon moved over 275,000 cubic
yards of earth in just over two
months in Afghanistan – that’s enough
dirt to fill an Olympic-size swimming
pool over 84 times! Back in Kuwait,
our PLT detachment repaired over
2100 meters of a severely damaged
road leading to a fuel farm.
We’ll end with some con-
3RD PLT: The first half of September has been restful
for 3rd Platoon allowing for some time to re-
cuperate from our projects. During this time
some of the platoon has been afforded the
opportunity to visit some historical sites in
Kuwait. One of the sites was the Grand
Mosque in Kuwait City. The trip proved to be
very educational and a great time away from
the daily tasks on the Camp.
The second half of September should prove
to be busy for not only 3rd Platoon but the
entire Company. The Devastators have been
given a large construction mission that should
last almost all of the rest of the deployment.
The mission should be a good learning ex-
perience for all and improve the relationship
between the United States and Kuwaiti gov-
ernment.
We are looking forward to the work ahead of
us and will enjoy the construction experience
that we will gain. This project will be the
gratulatory notes for
Soldiers who have demonstrated
excellence through outstanding
achievements. Congratulations to
SGT Fielding for his promotion to E-
5 and SGT Delinois who was also
promoted to SGT earlier during this
deployment and recently graduated
Warrior Leaders Course with the
Distinguished Leadership Award.
Also, congratulations to SPC Ku and
SPC Harris on their merit-based field
promotions from PFC to SPC in
Afghanistan.
We are proud of all we
have accomplished thus far, glad to
be back, and look forward to the
rest of the deployment as we gear
up for another high-priority con-
struction project within our unit’s
area of responsibility. We are proud
to represent the 497th EN CO,
52nd EN BN, and 505th EN BN as
we continue to execute our jobs to
a very high standard the Renegade
way!
8 Page 8
Engineers: From the Ground UP!
Warrior leader course Warrior Leader Course or WLC is a course given here in
Kuwait for current and future Noncommissioned Officers
(NCOs) of the U.S. Army. Active duty, National Guard, and
Reserve Soldiers from all over Theater come together for a
two week course given at Camp Buehring, Kuwait to learn the
basic skills needed to lead a team of Soldiers. WLC teaches
Soldiers to lead from the front, while leading by example.
Upon arrival at WLC, day zero, we staged our bags outside
the main building and arranged ourselves into several forma-
tions; reserved slots, E-5s not reserved, and lower enlisted not
reserved. All Soldiers who had a reserved slot began in-
processing while everyone else waited for a slot to open. It
was a very swift process compared to the usual “hurry up and
wait” game. We finished in less than an hour. After in-
processing, we had a briefing to meet the Small Group Lead-
ers (SGLs), review the rules, and meet the Commandant.
Then, the First Sergeant
called out our names and
our assigned SGLs took
over. We took all of our
bags to our tents and
inventoried our equip-
ment. We had three days
to come up with any
missing equipment or be
sent home.
Following day zero,
week one officially be-
gan. The general atmos-
phere of WLC is depend-
ent upon the SGL’s per-
sonality. My SGL
wanted to get everything
done in the first week so
we would have ample
time to practice Tactical
Leadership, Squad Drills,
and Physical Readiness Training (PRT), the three most trou-
bling evaluations for most. Needless to say, my first week of
WLC was extremely hectic. Day three was our first written
examination and all three Military Writing assignments, the
essay about the Soldier’s Creed, and the Oral History brief
was due on day five. Our SGL gave us the entire week to
accomplish these tasks, but with class not finishing until after
dinner chow, we really had to put forth an effort and stay after
class to complete all the assignments.
Sunday, day seven, kicked off the beginning of week two of
WLC. It also marked day one of PRT evaluations. Evalua-
tions were tough and to go first, even tougher. My partner and
I had no one before us to learn from. We set the stage for eve-
ryone else. Everyone was allowed a partner so the SGL could
evaluate two people at once, but evaluations still took four
days. During this time, we also worked on Individual Training
presentations, prepared for two more written exams, and
worked on Tactical Leadership for the Situational Training
Exercise.
The Situational Training Exercise (STX), which lasted for
three days, was part evaluation and part grand finale for the
end of WLC. Day one, I was the Opposing Force (OPFOR)
and day two, I was evaluated on Tactical Leadership as a
Squad Leader. I was in charge of Alpha and Bravo team as
we maneuvered through a Mobile Urban Training (MOUT)
Site to complete our mission. We had a combination of
blanks, smoke rounds, and artillery simulators at our dis-
posal. The most important part of the evaluation was not
completion of the mission or how well it was completed,
but the execution of the Troop Leading Procedures. We had
to receive a mission, issue a warning order, and prepare our
troops accordingly. The third and final day was used as a
structured “free-for-all”. When all evaluations were over,
we were issued twenty sim-rounds (paint rounds) to engage
the enemy and were divided into platoons with specific
tasks to complete the overall mission. One platoon acted as
OPFOR, while the other
three were Blue Forces
(BLUFOR) or Friendly
Forces. The entire mission
lasted an hour and was a
successful ending to two
weeks of evaluations.
The day following the STX
was graduation, the day that
every one longed for from
day one. It meant we were
done and we were ready to
go out and do what NCOs
do, lead. I had an amazing
squad throughout WLC and
80% graduated at the top of
the Commandant’s List. My
squad and I learned to work
together right from the start
and our SGLs gave us the latitude to grow and rely on each
other for success. Because of their absence at times, we
thought that they did not care, but they were really teaching
us that NCOs lead, but they also have to follow and work
together in order to get the job done.
I left WLC with a new outlook on what an NCO really is,
what we stand for, and with a new level of motivation to be
a better NCO and to help future NCOs better themselves. I
came back to Camp Arifjan and started holding classes for
505th Engineer Battalion Soldiers who want to attend WLC
while in country. My goal is to give them a firm foundation
for some of the more important evaluations they will face at
WLC, so when they arrive, they will have the confidence
and the tools to graduate with honors. I could not imagine
learning more from any othercourse than what I learned
from WLC.
-SGT Brittany Swain
9 Page 9 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
SGT Brittany Swain at Warrior Leader Course Graduation
The Warrior Leader course is a demanding and leadership focused class. It helps prepare
Soldiers to advance to the rank of sergeant and hones the skills of junior NCO's.
Congratulations to the following Soldiers for completing the Third Army NCO Academy.
Command Sergeant Major Carlos V. Scott
SGT Schoate 544th SGT Swain HHC
SGT Jones 882nd SGT Busick FSC
SGT Inman 544th SGT Hayes 882nd
SGT Griffin 882nd SGT Hoffman FSC
SGT Hervey 544th SGT Bogacki 497th
SGT Mackey FSC SPC Delinois 497th
Soldiers of the 497th at work
10 Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page
10
Most Soldiers keep up with themselves every
day without fail. Diet, personal hygiene, and
physical fitness are all cornerstones of a fit
and healthy military-minded man or woman.
Oftentimes, however, they don’t treat their
equipment and vehicles with the same care.
Even when they do, different machines,
trucks, and tools just naturally need periodic
maintenance. When something breaks, leaks,
or stops functioning, SFC Tyndall’s team of
mechanics gets the job done and then some.
Here at Arifjan, the mechanic shop has been
full of vehicles on an almost daily basis. The
goal of the mechanics is to have all vehicular
or equipment faults fixed in an expedient man-
ner every time and, as we near our second
month in country, SSG Honeycutt and others
have done just that.
While maintaining vehicles and equipment,
our mechanics are also responsible for teaching . This past week,
they assisted with the driver’s training program which is responsi-
ble for issuing licenses to soldiers on base. Soldiers are required
to take the course and have a military-issued license provided
before they are allowed to drive any vehicle on or off-post. In addition to Driver’s Training, the mechanics of the 882nd have
been working hard to spread the word about PMCS.
This could be something as simple as refilling the window
washer fluid or as complex as lubricating bearings. Unfortunately, many younger Soldiers lack the base knowledge to
perform PMCS and, again, the mechanics are there to help them
“learn the ropes.”
Oftentimes, Soldiers overlook their mechanic element until some-
thing breaks or a tire goes flat, but little do they know the hard
work and dedication they put in every day at the garage repairing,
maintaining, and adding functionality to the equipment essential
to everyone’s mission at the 882nd and for that, we say “thank
you.”
Spc. James Benefield Public Affairs Officer 882nd En Co.
Spc. Naylor repairs the bearings on a 5-ton truck
Soldiers from the 882nd work long hours on construction projects at military
installations around Kuwait.
11 Page
11 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
PFC Albright
SPC Furr
LTC Gilbert
WO3 Knuutila
SSG Rodriguez
SGT Chadwick
OV2 Georges
SPC Harris
1LT Richardson
SPC Shelby, A
1LT Stocker
PFC Byrd
PV2 Pierson
PFC Winebarger
PFC Kasuke
SPC Brogen
SPC Childress
PFC Dover
MSG Houck
PFC Humphrey
SFC Collings SPC Cope
SSG Prevette SPC Slater
SSG Crull
SPC Cygan
SPC Fitzgerald
SPC Elward
SGT Doherty
PFC Jimenez
SPC McCready
SGT Mendyka
SPC Rohr
SPC Thate
PFC Wright
SGT Helms
PV2 Hendrix
SPC Hopper
SPC Ivester
SPC Maddox
SPC Mayberry
SPC Lawton
1LT Pelusi
SGT Beck
October Military History 2 1863 President Abraham Lincoln designates the last Thursday in November as "Thanksgiving Day" in re
sponse to the vast casualties taken at the Battle of Gettysburg earlier in July.
5 1863 Confederate submersible torpedo boat CSS 'David' damages USS 'New Ironsides' with a spar torpedo off
Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.
7 1780 Revolutionary War Battle of King's Mountain, North Carolina, the American “Over the Mountain Boys” defeat
Loyalists and British troops led by Colonel Banester Tarelton
9 1942 On Guadalcanal the Marines encircle the Japanese 4th Infantry Regiment near Henderson Field.
13 1944 The Pacific island Peleliu is secured by the 1st Marine Division suffering 1,200 KIA while exterminating the
12,000 man Japanese Army garrison.
19 1781 At the Siege of Yorktown British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washing ton's Franco-
American forces serving as the effective end of the Revolutionary War.
24 1944 Due to severe damage inflicted by Japanese torpedo bombers during the vast naval Battle of Leyte Gulf, the
heavily damaged aircraft carrier, the USS Princeton (CVL-23), sinks in spite of the courageous efforts of her
surviving crew to keep the ship afloat.
25 1415 On the Feast of Saint Crispin, English King Henry V routs a numerically superior French foe at the Battle of
Agincourt . Henry’s motivational speech to his troops, in Shakespeare’s version of the battle, includes the line
that they are a band of brothers.
1943 In the Pacific theater of World War 2, the Battle of Cape St. George rages in which five US destroyers sink 3 of 6
Japanese destroyers encountered in open waters.
26 1966 A fire aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Oriskany (CV-34) in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam, re
sults in the death of 43 American sailors.
12 Page
12 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
CAMP ARIFJAN –
Greetings from Kuwait! We are now closing in on
two months ‘boots on ground’ here at Camp Arifjan.
The extreme summer heat of August seems to be ta-
pering off and has averaged out to around 110 degrees
near the middle of September. While getting used to
this heat is near impossible, these ‘cooler’ days seem
to make it more bearable. Our team has been busy with survey projects all
throughout Kuwait and as well as Afghanistan. We
sent three Soldiers to Camp Marmal, Afghanistan
nearly three weeks ago to provide additional survey
support for other construction units within the battal-
ion. Those individuals have been working very hard
to keep up with the workload. Back in Kuwait, we have sev-
eral projects located on or near Camp
Arifjan and also a few projects in the
works near Camp Buehring. Our pro-
jects disbursed throughout Kuwait also
allow us to get off base and see some
of the country, which our Soldiers
definitely make the most out of if
you’re checked out our Facebook
page. Overall, morale is high and the
living conditions are comfortable. The
dining facility provides as good, if not
better, than some of the military dining
facilities that we’ve been to before.
There are also numerous amounts of
fast-food establishments, theaters,
gyms, and basketball courts for us to
take advantage of. During the past month, some of our Soldiers
have participated in some 5K runs to include Labor
Day and Patriot’s Day. T-shirts are awarded for par-
ticipating in these events and it’s almost turned into a
friendly competition between the team members on
who can collect the most t-shirts.
All in all, things are going smoothly and we’re
starting to grind it out for the long haul. All of us
from the 927th want to thank all the family and friends
that continue to show support. All the care packages,
letters, emails, and skyping are what keep us going.
Thank you!!
Top:
927th Soldiers that
completed the Pa-
triot’s Day 5K run
Left: PFC Tyler Kasuske
works hard staking
out a job site
Bottom: PFC Kasuske spends
a long day taking
ground shots
By
SPC Antonmarchi
13
The Soldiers who make up the Battalion Aid Station have been providing medical care since we hit the ground in
Kuwait. Our days are filled with evaluating and treating conditions including skin rashes, musculoskeletal issues,
gastrointestinal infections, respiratory illnesses, and much more. We are also thrilled to have so many Soldiers
come in and request assistance with smoking cessation. Our medics are always ready and able to impart their
knowledge on the environmental dangers and preventative measures that can be taken to keep our Soldiers mis-
sion ready. We also recently completed a very successful immunization exercise (SHOTEX) to get Soldiers
caught up on their required vaccinations. Our next SHOTEX for the influenza vaccine will be coming up in the
next few weeks and we are looking
forward to 100% of Soldiers being
vaccinated. Of course, our medics
are also staying abreast of the con-
stant changes in medical care
through weekly education and train-
ing exercises. As we head into the
cold weather months, we may see
different medical issues but we wel-
come the challenge. It’s what we
do…….keeping our Soldiers “in the
fight”.— Battalion Physician’s As-
sistant, 1LT Jerome Menendez
O ur nation has faced the war on terrorism for eleven years from today (9/11/2001). The hatred from many wishes the
worst upon the United States. However, I am reminded what King David wrote in Psalm 27: 1-3. “1 The LORD is my
light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the
wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.3 Though an army besiege
me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” I encourage everyone to take a
moment and remember the fallen, the courageous, and the sacrifices America has taken to fight for our freedom and liberty
for us all! I pray, “May God continue to bless our great nation and in God we trust.”
505 Staff: Battalion Chaplain
Engineers: From the Ground UP!
From left to right: SPC Justin Torres, SPC Erin Woodruff, SPC Sarah Bennett,
SSG Melinda Hamilton, SPC Tiffany White, PFC Shannon Lee, 1LT Jerome
Menendez
505 Staff: Battalion Aid Station
14 Page
14 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
Rear: CPT Sigmon, SGT Burgess, SPC Arnold, SSG Kopczinsky, 1LT Waweru, SSG Rodriguez, MSG Smith, CPT
Lane, CW2 Hutchins, PFC Degree
Front: SSG Gibson, 1SG Rogers, SGT Tilley, SPC Dalton, MAJ Moody, CPT Gauldin
Upcoming Races
October 10 - Navy 5k
Zone 1 MWR
October 21 - Army 10
Miler at Camp Buehring
October 30 - Halloween
5k Zone 1 MWR
SSG Tobin and SPC Paganetti participate in one of the many 5k runs on Camp
Arifjan at the Zone 1 MWR.
3rd Platoon, 497th Engi-
neer Company at the
Grand Mosque in Kuwait
city on an MWR trip.
15 Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page
15
Mail Call for HHC 505 EN BN, SPC Robinson and SPC Bigelow unloading packages.
PUSHING SAND. A member
of the 497 Engineer Company
at work with a grader.
BMO, Chief Jay Hutchins, demonstrates a proper sandstorm driving posture.
16 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
Commander's Corner
CPT Tyler J. Scheidt
As we prepare to cross the half-way
point in this deployment, I want to
let you know that the Soldiers of the
Spartan family are making major
contributions across multiple coun-
tries. Our mission in Afghanistan
has changed slightly and the Sol-
diers there are doing what they do
best to drive on and complete the
mission. The remainder of the
company eagerly awaits their return
to both share stories on project ex-
perience and to recognize them for
their significant contributions.
The Soldiers are starting to consider the
possibility of pulling out their running
jackets as the morning temperatures con-
tinue to drop. Although we are still in
the mid-70s each morning, the cool air is
a welcome addition and only a small step
in the direction of preparing for the frigid
temperatures we expect in Colorado dur-
ing our return in February.
3rd platoon is doing a great job covering
all vertical projects for the northern
camps while 1st and 2nd platoons balance
work between two of the southern camps.
The quality of work and craftsmanship
coming from all of our Soldiers is at such
a level that multiple units continue to
request us by name. And of course we
Greetings to the family and friends of the Operations, Supply, and
Maintenance sections!
The Soldiers and NCOs continue to work tirelessly week after week
to support the company’s construction activities. Operations proc-
essed over one hundred trip tickets to keep the platoons and leader-
ship moving around the area of operations to all of our construction
sites. They also prepared Soldiers from across the company for
schools, to include Combatives Levels I and II, the Warrior Leader
Course, and many other classes. The Supply section continues to keep
the company well-stocked with tools and materials so we can com-
plete all of our missions. The Field Maintenance Team has consis-
tently kept the platoons rolling, repairing and servicing generators,
vehicles, and anything else that needs fixing.
As always, we appreciate your support.
1LT Peter Friedewald, Spartan 5
Hello Families of First Platoon!
First platoon has been busy over the last month completing construc-
tion projects at several different camps throughout Kuwait. First
squad built a great looking guard shack and second squad built offices
for the leadership of an aviation task force out here. Both projects
really demonstrated how far the platoon has come with its construc-
tion skills. SGT Keen and SPC Amaro helped out 2nd Platoon with
their skills as plumbers during a large scale project installing latrines.
3rd Squad has been wrapping up their projects in Afghanistan and
should be joining the rest of the platoon in Kuwait soon.
The platoon welcomed PV2 Retzlaff to 1st Squad, where he has al-
ready been an asset in assisting with the completion of projects. The
platoon also has a few new members at home: the Wells family and
Holmes family each grew by one with the birth of babies. A big con-
gratulations to SSG Jach and SPC Kropp on their promotions this
month. SPC Otieno graduated Combatives Level I and SPC Taylor
graduated from Combatives Level II, both are impressive accomplish-
ments.
544th Engineer Company
couldn’t make it all happen without the
headquarters and maintenance sections
keeping everything moving.
This month’s focus was on career pro-
gression planning as well as proper
counseling and evaluation procedures.
Leaders at all levels are benefitting
from these opportunities to further their
professional development and really
learn what they can do to be successful
in the military.
Thanks again for all you do to keep us
going. I look forward to bringing eve-
ryone home to their friends,
family, and loved ones.
Spartan 6
CPL Gange trims plywood for guard shack wall sheathing
1st Platoon Soldiers install tin roofing on a building. Soldiers utilize full body
harnesses and tethers for safety when working off the ground.
17 Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page
17
Over the past month, 3rd Platoon has taken on a multitude of elec-
trical projects for the benefit of the varying members of the Life
Support Area (LSA) and Camp Buehring communities. A highlight
includes the lighting of the Navy Customs Yard in LSA, a once
shadowy open space structure for Servicemen leaving Kuwait. The
facility is now illuminated with five times the amount of light and
contains a state-of-the-art photocell that helps save energy. Another
is the upgrade of electrical systems in server rooms throughout
various office facilities in Camp Buehring. These upgrades per-
form the critical function of protecting computer networks during
power outages by keeping them connected online. A third project
was for the Theatre Air Operations Group, where our engineer sol-
diers installed new lighting in their dark, gloomy offices. It has
been a pleasure providing our services and contributing to the over-
arching efforts of Camp Buehring and beyond.
We would also like to congratulate SGT Falcon, one of our 1st
Squad’s team leaders, on achieving promotable status. We’re very
proud of his success at the Promotion Board and for his notable
hard work and dedication within 3rd Platoon.
2nd Platoon Family and Friends,
We have been hard at work this
past month working on a number
of construction projects across
Kuwait. We completed a major
upgrade to an operations center,
demonstrating our abilities in car-
pentry finishing and detailed elec-
trical work. We’ve also completed
a number of shower and latrine
trailer renovations for one of the
camps – not the most glamorous
work, but vitally important!
This month is full of new faces.
First, we would like to welcome
PV2 Otto, PVT Bright, and SPC
Diaz to the platoon. The recently
promoted SSG Haulbrook has also rejoined the pla-
toon has a Squad Leader. Congratulations to SPC
Cruz Bonilla on his recent promotion, as well. Sep-
tember provided a number of excellent training op-
portunities for 2nd Platoon: SGT Hervey and SGT
Schoate both graduated Warrior Leader Course, and
SPC Reinhardt graduated Combatives Level I and
SGT Boyer has just graduated Combatives Level II.
All in all, this month has been filled with individual
and team successes. Be proud of your Soldiers and
know that your support means everything!
1LT Karen DeLoria
Spartan 2-6
1st Platoon Soldiers install tin roofing on a building. Soldiers utilize full body harnesses and
tethers for safety when working off the ground.
SPC Wile prepares wire connections during a power up-
grade project.
CPL Brefeld and PV2 Luttrell demonstrate fine craftsmanship while upgrad-
ing electrical fixtures in a command building.
18
Members of the maintenance platoons
from the various companies in the
Battalion service the tactical vehicles
and construction equipment used in
the Battalion’s daily operations. There
is a wide variety of types and models
of equipment across the 505th. Our
maintenance Soldiers have hundreds
of vehicles and other pieces of equip-
ment they are responsible for keeping
operational.
Page
18 Engineers: From the Ground UP!
...The End