SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

Welcome to the first publication of our Battalion-wide Family

Readiness Group newsletter. Suzanne and I are honored to be part of the 3d EOD

BN and are still getting somewhat settled in. We come to Fort Lewis from Fort

Bragg, NC where we were stationed for over nine years, three 12 month

deployments to Iraq and multiple additional deployments including Thailand,

Philippines, Korea and Jordan.

The intent of this newsletter is to provide a forum for each of the

company FRGs to show what they are doing and also provide a place for us to

inform our families of activities, installation support agencies and their capabilities,

and consolidated calendar. This is NOT a replacement for all the great products and

work that each of our company FRGs produce. This is also not a consolidation of all

our FRGs into a single battalion-level FRG. I am a big supporter in allowing and

encouraging company FRGs to maintain their individualism and identity. You know

your Soldiers and Families the best. We are here to help you.

I encourage all of us to make this and future installments of this

newsletter helpful for all families. It is important that relevant information is provided

to our families and that we are doing everything possible to assist them when our

heroes are deployed. Please feel free to provide any feedback that will make this

product better and I personally thank you for your support. Families can never be

thanked enough for their sacrifice and hard work when the Soldier is deployed.LTC Bill Downer

I also would like to welcome you the to the Battalion Family

Readiness Group newsletter. I recently arrived from Fort Leonard wood, Missouri

and it is a privilege for me to be selected as your Command Sergeant Major and

serve the Soldiers and families within the battalion. I am here as a single Soldier

but I do have two children of which have become adults and moved on with their

own lives.

I have always been an avid supporter of the FRG and understand

the value that each group brings to the families and Soldiers of the organization. It

is vital that we maintain that presence throughout the battalion in order to support

the families within it. With units continually deploying and redeploying it is

imperative that we have a support network in place to help our families and

Soldiers at all times. I am confident that we have that here and look forward to

being a part of it.

I personally thank all the families for their support and dedication

to their Soldiers and I look forward to meeting you all in the coming weeks.

CSM Robert Doig

Inside This

Issue:

BN

Newsletter:

Page 1

HHD:

Page 2

53rd Co:

Page 3

129th Co:

Page 4

707th Co:

Page 5

710th Co:

Page 6

759th Co:

Page 7

787th Co:

Page 8

Chaplain:

Page 9

FRSA:

Page 10

Command Sergeant Major

From the Battalion Commander

Volume 1 Issue 1

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

Upcoming Events:

MRX to Fort Riley

(28 Sep - 9 Oct)

4 Day weekend

(9 Oct—12 Oct)

Hail & Farewell…

In the past few months

we’ve said goodbye to:

LTC Nordmeyer

MAJ Elder

MAJ Nikkila

CPT Dawson

CPT Laase

CPT Lee

CSM Puig

1SG Daniels

SFC Williams

SSG Clovis

SGT Anderson

SGT Stankevicius

And we’ve had the

opportunity to welcome:

LTC Downer

MAJ Better

MAJ Schoonover

CPT Wessling

CSM Doig

SFC Leon

SPC Morris

SPC Stamper

PFC Strawser

PV2 Darby

As the beautiful Fort Lewis summer tapers away, the HHD

finds itself heading into a busy fall season. We have had a successful

reintegration following our deployment. We’ve said farewell to members of

our family who have moved to other units or have completed their military

careers. And we’ve welcomed new members-from our new E-3’s to our

Battalion Command team.

Now as we continue to support our companies in their mission,

we begin the preparations for our own upcoming deployment. These

preparations will include our individual training (Weapons ranges, classes,etc)

and our unit training (mission rehearsal exercises (MRX) held in Fort Riley,

KS). Our ultimate goal ? To ensure we as a unit are set up for total mission

success while continuing to provide staff support. We plan on achieving that

goal through training that is efficient and worthwhile. We understand how

important it is that our soldiers are given the maximum amount of time with

their families and friends, and therefore plan on making the most of each

training event to minimize redundancy.

It will be a busy six months., But the support of our families will

undoubtedly help pull us through. As always,, we appreciate your patience as

we ask your loved one’s for their valuable time. We assure you that we are

doing all we can to balance the demands of training and work with down time.

Unfortunately, we do not have an active FRG right now. However, with the

help from the Battalion FRSA (Ms. Tammy Flores), an FRG would be a great

way to ensure that our families are kept informed and connected during the

time leading up to and through the deployment. If anyone is interested in

taking the lead on this endeavor, please let us know ! We will provide all the

support we can. Again thank you for your continued support, patience and

time !Congratulations !

•To MAJ Better for his promotion,

effective 2 Sept.

• To SPC Whitted for competing

in the 71st Ordnance Group

(EOD) Soldier of the Quarter

Board. He represented himself,

the HHD, and the Battalion very

well !

Birthday’s!

MSG Ryan – 19 Sept

PFC Ruybal – 8 Oct

SGT Diaztorres – 11 Oct

SPC Gonzalez – 14 Oct

CH Buchanan – 15 Oct

SPC Frisk – 15 Oct

CPT Do – 18 Oct

SGT Castleberry – 24 Oct

SGT Sheets – 31 Oct

Something to add ?

If you have anything you’d

like to share with the families

of the HHD or suggestions of

what you’d like to see in our

newsletter, please feel free to

send them to LT Emily

Worthing at

emily.worthing@us.army.mil

HHD COMPANY

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

Hello again from the Spartan Company Headquarters in Yakima Training Center. I

hope everyone is healthy and in good spirits. The company has been conducting an

aggressive training schedule. The coming months promise to be busy and we

appreciate your support at home.

We are continuing to develop our first FRG event and complete the establishment of

our FRG chapter with regular monthly meetings. These possible events include but

are not limited to a trip to the Silverwood Amusement Park, White Water Rafting,

Paintball, Pool Parties and BBQ’s, and even local Yakima Bears Baseball Games

As most of you know, we have just recently welcomed our new FRG Leader,

Stephanie Applegate. She is doing a wonderful job supporting the families and the

soldiers of the 53rd Company. Thank You Stephanie for what you do each and

everyday to support the company !

Thanks for all you do !

CPT Edward R. Runyan

Commander

53RD COMPANY

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

COMPANY COMMANDER

Welcome to the first issue of the 129th Ordnance Company (EOD) Family

Readiness Group (FRG) newsletter. Our newsletter will cover; upcoming

events, promotions, births, FRG Meetings, etc. Information on local events

and activities will be provided by the battalion Family Readiness Support

Assistant (FRSA) within the newsletter. Please ensure you read about

these activities.

I would like to thank all the soldiers and families for being active

participants in our previous FRG Meetings. We will continue to give the

Soldiers and Families of the 129th the opportunity to provide input on what

they would like to see in future FRG meetings. Based on the recent FRG

Survey’s we will conduct meetings once every two months on a weekday

evening. We will continue to reassess this as we get closer to deployment.

.

As a new FRG we are required to fill two volunteer positions. I would like to

thank Mrs. Ellie Hite for volunteering to be our first FRG Leader. Our other

required position is the FRG Secretary. This position is currently vacant. If

you would like to volunteer for this position, or would like to help with the

FRG in any other capacity, please feel free to call myself or the Battalion

FRSA, Tammy Flores. As we continue to grow we will have additional

Volunteer opportunities.

As a former single Soldier and now married with four children, I understand

how important families are to a Soldier. I look forward to hearing from you

and just know I am here to help. Thank you for all the support that you

provide to your Soldier.

CPT Jason Hite

Upcoming EventsCompany Mountain climb

1 Oct 09

FRG Meeting

1 Oct 09—1800

At the company

Company FTX

13-16 Oct 09

WelcomeSSG David Knight coming to us

from Fort Bragg, NC

FarewellSGT David Cook—he is ETSing

after 6 1/2 years in the Army

First Sergeant

I would also like to welcome everyone to the Family Readiness Group Newsletter. Helena and I have always

been supporters of the FRG and we look forward to continuing to help the unit grow.

As we get closer to our one year anniversary as a unit here on Fort Lewis, I want to welcome Staff Sergeant

Knight from Fort Bragg, N.C. he is a much anticipated addition to our growing family. We must also bid farewell

to SGT Cook who joined us from the 707th EOD CO for a short period and ETS’d this month. He served the

Army for over six years and deployed two times to Iraq. His first deployment was as a Signal Specialist and his

second deployment was as an EOD Team Member. His contributions to the Army, EOD and our Unit are

greatly appreciated by all and we shall miss him. Thank You SGT Cook for your service.

In closing, I want to Thank all of our Families of the 129th EOD CO for their continued support of the FRG and

all of your Soldiers. Your contributions to this company is what makes this Company such a success.

1SG Frey

129TH COMPANY

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

From the company commander

Welcome to the first publication of the 710th EOD Company newsletter. I come to

the 710th from the HHD, 3d EOD Battalion. I assumed command on 6 August 2009, so

currently we are in the process of re-shaping the company to better support our growing need.

Currently we have no established positions in the company FRG. So we are

looking for volunteers that would be interested in being the FRG Leader. If interested in a

position, you can contact Tammy Flores (FRSA) at 253-967-9969

We would like to also take this time to bid farewell to our soldiers that have

departed the 710th.

MAJ Chavez MAJ Better MAJ Better SSG Peltz SSG Hooks CPT Vail SSG West

SFC Wilson SFC Rolfe SGT Macialek SSG Cohen SPC Wojtwowski

Thank You all for your Support

CPT Ty DawsonFirst Sergeant

I would also like to welcome you to the company

Family Readiness Group newsletter. I arrived to the

710th from the HHD, 3d EOD Battalion as well in the

middle of June.

I would just like to say with the coming changes we

are making to the Company, there will be TDY for

most members of the 710th after the new Year.

Establishing a FRG for the 710th is something that

will provide value to all the family members of the

710th and we will need at least an FRG Leader that is

willing to take on this rewarding task. If interested in

fulfilling the FRG Leader position, you can contact

Tammy Flores (FRSA) at 253-967-9969.

1SG Daniels

710TH COMPANY

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

To all 707th Families,

Thank You all for your support. We could not have done it without you all.

At this time, the soldiers are all doing great, just continuing to move forward into theater at this

time. It is a busy time as you can all imagine.

A great big Thank You to everyone for the Goodie Bags and all of the hard work you contributed to help get the company ready for the deployment. We appreciate it.

From 707th Company

707th Company

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

759th CompanyThis month the soldiers of the 759th EOD Company are

wrapping up final preparations for the company’s first deployment since

2006. 12 Soldiers from the 759th, 5 more from sister companies across

the 20th SUPCOM, 1SG Simeroth and CPT Ralston completed the

seven-week Weapons Intelligence Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona to

meet the requirements for our upcoming deployment.

For this deployment, we have been tasked with a new mission

for Army EOD-Weapons Intelligence. In the past, the EOD member of the

Weapons Intelligence Teams (WIT) has been filled by Air Force and Navy

Techs. This rotation, the Army is fielding the entire WIT task force.

The deploying soldiers of the 759th reluctantly leave behind our

families and friends for the next 8-12 months, as we partner with members

of the 203d Military Intelligence Battalion as the WIT Task Force. During

our deployment we will conduct battlefield forensic investigations to help

identify and capture bomb makers and other insurgents attacking coalition

forces and the people of Iraq.

The company rear detachment, led by SSG Robert Fortney and

SGT Adam Stoffel, will continue our stateside EOD Mission and support

our FRG until we return. The company FRG Leader, Jana Ralston, will

remain at Fort Irwin to assist the families of our deployed soldiers.

CPT Jonathan Ralston

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

The families and friends of the 787th EOD Company welcomed home their soldiers on Tuesday,

September 15th. It was a joyful experience for everyone involved. The Family Readiness Group (FRG) began

homecoming preparations in August with an FRG meeting and a reunion workshop with Army Community

Services (ACS). Baskets were prepared for the single soldiers and generous donations were collected for all the

soldiers. Every soldier received a welcome home gift from the FRG.

Our August FRG meeting included a special guest, LTC Downer. LTC Downer shared

deployment and homecoming from a soldier’s perspective. We appreciated his insight and expertise. Also at the

meeting we formed a group to prepare the single soldier’s welcome home baskets. We discussed our FRG

calendar for the remainder of the year, and would like to reevaluate our plans for fun events with the FRG since

the soldiers are home. Our September recipe exchange is cancelled until further notice.

Also in August, Pamela Allen, from ACS, conducted a reunion and homecoming class for our

FRG. Kristi Nicholls donated pizzas and drinks for our Friday evening gathering, helping to make it a relaxing and

fun experience for all. Mrs. Allen gave us some practical tips and tools to help make the homecoming transition

easier for our families and relationships. We have enjoyed working with Mrs. Allen throughout the deployment

process, and this class was as interactive as her others, and she got everyone involved in discussion.

Lastly, our single soldier gift baskets were a group effort that was lead by Tammi Moen. Our first

wave of soldiers that returned in August had a basket prepared for them by Stephanie Tilley. The rest of the

baskets were a group effort amongst the FRG including a donation from Mary and Dale Kelly. The highlight of the

welcome home donations were the gift certificates collected by Kari Bross, including a complimentary 16‖ pizza

from Farrelli’s for each and every soldier in the unit. A huge THANKS to all of you that made these welcome home

gifts a success.

The 787th FRG would like to continue to support those soldier’s and families that are in waiting for

the return of their loved one. If you have any special ideas that you would like to have our FRG work on, please let

Sue Ho know by email hos@theho-family.com or phone 208 866 4689.

Thank You,

787th Company

787th Company

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

By Chaplain (CPT) Stephan H.

Buchanan

The 3d EOD Battalion Unit

Ministry team is a relatively new

addition to the Battalion. SGT

Clarence Slaughter and I, yes, my

assistant has the cool name of

SGT Slaughter, deployed with

the Headquarters Detachment

(HHD). We returned in early

May. After Block leave, and

PCSing to Fort Lewis, we are now

on the ground and ready to serve.

SGT Slaughter and his wife

Cynthia come to the battalion with

a wealth of knowledge and

experience as they have served

in many units through out the

world. Most notably, they spent

4 years in Korea in both battalion

and brigade positions.

Some of you may have seen Mrs.

Cynthia Slaughter here at Fort

Lewis. She works at the ID Card

Facility in Waller Hall.

Prior to becoming an Army Chaplain

I was serving in a local church

ministry in Springfield, MO. Four

weeks after putting my packet in for

the Active Duty Chaplaincy, I

received a call from my branch

accepting me to the Army and with

short notice orders to move to Fort

Lewis and deploy. Within one week I

was at fort Lewis and 28 days later I

was with the 3d EOD HHD in

Afghanistan. Because of the short

notice, my wife and I decided to wait

until we returned from the

deployment to move.

My lovely bride, Alaine Buchanan,

comes to us with a lot of knowledge

and experience. She taught

Religious Studies / Philosophy at the

university level for four years and

she is currently working on her PhD

in Biblical Theology from Regent

University, Virginia Beach.

As a team, as a family, we are all here

to serve throughout times of stress,

deployments, redeployments and

reunions. In the next weeks and

months to come, SGT Slaughter and I

will continue to circulate to the EOD

Companies. Lastly, if any one, Soldier

or spouse, needs help or assistance,

please do not hesitate to contact SGT

Slaughter or myself.

A Short Note

Life, especially in the Army can be a

hard venture for the whole family.

When life unexpectedly throws me a

curve ball, I try to remember :

Philippians 4:13 ―I can do all things

through the LORD God who

strengthens me.‖ When life gets hard,

do not hesitate to call on God, he can

handle it. If you do not know how to call

on God, ask a friend, or even your

Chaplain, I am sure he would be happy

to help.

St. Barbara, The Patron Saint

of EOD

Chaplain Stephan H. Buchanan

Email: stephan.h.buchanan@ us.army.mil

Phone Numbers:

Office: (253) 966-6651

Cell: (253) 973-3428

SGT Clarence D. Slaughter

Email: Clarence.slaughter@us.army.mil

Phone Number:

Cell: (253) 548-4883

PROTESTANT RELIGIOUS SERVICESChapel next sun 1000 Four Chaplains Memorial Chapel

Liturgical Sun 0800 Main post Chapel

Collective Protestant sun 1000 Main Post Chapel

Collective Protestant Sun 1030 Soldiers Chapel

Contemporary Sun 1100 McChord Chapel

Gospel Sun 1100 North Fort Chapel

CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICESReconciliation Sat 1600 Main Post Chapel

Mass Sat 1700 Main Post Chapel

Mass Sun 0900 North Fort Chapel

Mass Sun 1200 Main Post Chapel

Mass Daily 1150 Main Post Chapel

Unit Ministry Team

SERVICE NOT GLORY

3RD Ordnance Battalion (EOD)

FRG Newsletter

Family Readiness Support Assistant newsletter

Battalion FRSAHello, my name is Tammy Flores and I am 3rd EOD’s Family Readiness

support Assistant. I am fairly new to 3rd EOD, but not new to the Army. I have

only been in my current position for 6 months and during this time, I have

learned so much from so many different people, so thank You to all of you. My

husband has been in the Army for 22 years and we have had the opportunity to

travel the world and during that time, I have played an active role in volunteering

within my husband’s Units. I have been an FRG Leader and also have held

other volunteer positions for approximately 10 years of our 22 Year career. We

have three beautiful children and one granddaughter. Since, I have been in this

position I have met a lot of wonderful people both in this Unit and beyond. To

the Soldiers, Spouses , volunteers and the supporters within 3rd EOD I just

want to say THANK YOU for what you do each and everyday to support the

families and more important, your Soldier.

FRG Leadership TrainingOct 21st/22nd 9:00-2:30 Call FRC

@ (253) 967-9496 to register.

Registration opens one month prior.

Childcare available with prior

registration. Optional Food Handlers

course available for training

participants from 2:30-3:30 on the first

day of training.

Resource of the MonthThe United States Postal Service

offers free packing material to

spouses and family Members

who’s Soldiers are deployed

oversees. To take advantage of

this offer, you will need to call

1-800-610-8734 and press option 1

for English and then option 1 to

speak to a Representative. The

package includes, 6 boxes, Tape,

Address Labels and customs

forms. These boxes are all flat rate

boxes.

Welcome HomeWell this is a really busy and also bittersweet time for the Battalion right now, as most

of you already know; As you are probably reading this, we have great news to share.

We have just welcomed home one of our company's (787th) from their deployment.

We wish the families the best, and as they get to spend a lot of fun wonderful times

getting to bond their family together again, rekindle their marriages, soldiers meeting

their brand-new babies for the first time, and get lots of hugs and kisses from the

children that have grown up in the time that there soldier was deployed. We can’t

forget about the people back home that have supported our Soldiers during the

deployment. From Wives, Moms, Dad’s and even Strangers ; all donating treats, care

packages to as simple as sending money and making phone calls. We couldn't have

done it without the support from you all. I would also like to send out a Great big

Thank You to Sue Ho for her dedication as an FRG Leader in supporting the families

of 787th during the deployment, all the while raising her own family. You are a great

asset to 3rd EOD and we could not have done it without you and your duty to

volunteering.

FAREWELLSWe also have to say goodbye for a short period of time, to our fine soldiers from

(707th) as they departed in Sept for a 12 Month deployment. These fine soldiers

said goodbye to their families so they can go out and support the mission. Soon

enough the soldiers and their families will start planning for the day that they will be

reunited with there loved ones again. While they are away, please keep our

Soldiers and their families in your prayers each and everyday. During the

deployment I would recommend for family members to get to know one another,

join a support group or attend a class that you have always wanted to attend. First

and foremost make sure to take care of yourselves.

As most of you know, we have recently had the honor of having Melissa Fitzgerald

take on the responsibility as the FRG Leader for 707th Company. I know that she

is going to do a wonderful job in supporting the Family members as well as the

soldiers. I have to say that in the short time that I have known Melissa, I have to

say that she is kind, and a dedicated spouse. I have no doubt that she will do a

wonderful job in supporting the families. (Between her and the families of 707th,

they have already arranged a goodie bag for soldiers while they are on the plane) I

look forward to getting to know her better and also working with her, so that we can

assist you all in getting through this deployment together.

FRG Treasurer TrainingOct 28th 6:30 –7:30 p.m.

Covers fundraising, guidelines for

FRG Funds, Maintaining FRG

Account/Audit, Forms. Call FRC

@ 253-967-9496 to register.