September Newsletter

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THE BLACK SCARF NEWS FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS OF TASK FORCE BLACK SCARVES VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2011 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 Rock Report Venom Update Drop the Hammer Greetings from ABLE Company Whatever it Takes : Keeping Families Informed Sergeant Major Says… From the Commander This issue

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Transcript of September Newsletter

THE BLACK SCARF

NEWS FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS OF TASK FORCE BLACK SCARVES

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2011

2

3

4

4

5

6

7

Rock Report

Venom Update

Drop the Hammer

Greetings from ABLE Company

Whatever it Takes : Keeping Families Informed

Sergeant Major Says… From the Commander

This issue…

2

CPT Roesler

Venom friends and family,

Venom Company is arrived safely

on the ground in Afghanistan.

Everyday your soldiers are actively

working to secure a better future for

Afghanistan. You should be

extremely proud of the excellent

work they are doing.

Please keep us updated on the

goings-on back in Germany. I hope

that you will continue to support

each other as wholeheartedly as

you support us. Thank you.

Below: 2nd Platoon poses for a picture

Above:

SSGs Gill, Young and Rosa on patrol

Right:

PFCs Denton and

Marek pose in their

room

PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 2011

Greetings from ABLE Company

PAGE 4 OCTOBER 2009

1LT Colbert

PAGE 3 JULY 2011 PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 2011

2LT Romanowski Drop the Hammer

Hammer Company has arrived to Afghanistan! With

the Transfer of Authority to TF 1-2 completed on the

13th, the Black Scarves and the soldiers of Hammer

Company officially takes control of AO Black in

Nangarhar. Morale is high as the men and women of

Hammer Company get settled on the FOB and become

familiar with the terrain in the AO. Recon and Support

platoons have been very active meeting with locals and

assessing the area.

The mortars, medics, and staff sections have been

working hard getting the BN moved into the FOB and

creating a support network to ensure that the BN can

complete its mission.

Thank you for your prayers and care packages! You are

always in our hearts.

(Above) Black 6 promotes 1LT

Casey Close, and CPT Aaron

Silver.

(Above) SFC Carr’s venerable

mustache, “Morris” is MIA!

(Right) SSG Carrasco, SPC Reese,

PFC Ojeda inventory Noble Rabbit

2’s BII

(Left) 1SG Baczek never sleeps, he

only lies in wait.

Greetings from Cop Xio Haq, Afghanistan. It is

still pronounced “Zee-O-hawk”.

Able Company has completed the move of all

personnel and equipment off of COP Bad Pakh.

COP Xio Haq has a 24-hour dining facility,

indoor showers, and a local national bazaar. The

Spaware center provides ample phones and

computers for Soldiers to use to contact their

loved ones.

Able Company is attached to Task Force

Cheyenne; it is the Brigade Special Troops

Battalion in the Oklahoma National Guard. The

reputation of Able Co. preceded our arrival; The

Commander and Command Sergeants Major are

excited to have us join their task force.

Rest and relaxation leave is kicking off at the

end of this month! It is non-charge-Able leave.

The Soldiers of Able Co.

Your loved one has a new mailing address.

“Name of Soldier”

Able Company

TF 1-2 IN

COP Xio Haq

APO AE 09310

CPT Stewart addressing Able Co. on COP Xio Haq

on 10 Sep 2011.

PAGE 5 SEPTEMBER 2011

WHATEVER it TAKES: Keeping Families Informed

(Left) During the

BBQ Daddy dolls

were passed out to

all the children

(Right) These

young ladies know

how to enjoy

themselves at a

Barbeque.

(Right) C CO FRG had

a BBQ get together.

This was a great event

that brought spouses

together in order to get

to know each other.

PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 2011

Sergeant Major Says… CSM Brian Woodall

Black Scarves Soldiers and Families,

Our Soldiers have done a tremendous job transitioning to Afghanistan and

beginning COIN operations in the Nangarhar Province. We are now fully

operational, and our presence is being felt in the area by friend and foe alike.

As we continue to strive to streamline our teamwork and maintain our high

levels of discipline, we will continue to grow more effective at protecting the

population and ensuring a stable Afghanistan.

Safety remains a primary concern for the Soldiers and Families of 1-2

Infantry. Downrange, Soldiers rely on prior planning and coordination in order

to minimize unnecessary risks while on mission. The same principles apply in

garrison and we must look after our battle buddies and family members with

the same acumen as if we were on patrol. Before your next night on the town,

invest a little time in planning for transportation or a designated driver.

Nothing has kept up the Soldiers’ morale like letters and packages from our

loved ones back home. The steady stream of mail from our families provides a

constant reminder of what we are here to defend. Napoleon is cited as having

said “an army marches on its stomach”, and the homemade goods you send

ensure that our Soldiers can march up and down the Tora Bora Mountains to

complete their missions. Thank you for your continued support.

Facebook photos are one way we try to connect our Soldiers with Family

members. There is a process for photos to be approved to keep our Warriors

safe. First Sergeants and Platoon Sergeants continue to take photos. If you are

not seeing the section or platoon you wish to see, please have your loved one

drop off digital photos to me and I we will get them posted.

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is

better to be alone than in bad company. -George Washington

Do not touch me,

Brian Woodall

CSM, USA

Black7

PAGE 7 SEPTEMBER 2011

From the Commander LTC Earl Higgins

To the TF1-2 IN Team,

The torch has been passed from the Panthers of 1-61 CAV and now the

Black Scarves are guiding Afghan National Security Forces and the civil

government of western Nangarhar closer to becoming solely responsible for

their future. Black Scarves’ soldiers teach and mentor their Afghan National

Army counterparts while on patrol on a daily basis. It is obvious that the warrior

toughness and consummate professionalism of the Black Scarves is starting to

rub off on the Afghan National Army Soldiers they mentor.

Additionally, the Black Scarves are building relationships with local leaders

and initiating projects aimed at dramatically improve quality of life and capacity

of the government in the area. It is humbling to witness the incredible effect our

soldiers have on the people in the area. Our team is truly part of an effort

greater than any individual.

The relative ease of transition from garrison to deployment is a testament not

only to the professionalism and skill of Black Scarves soldiers, but also to their

families and friends who provide the support needed to keep every soldier

focused on the mission. I could not be more proud of the Soldiers and families

of Task Force 1-2. In the long months ahead of us, I know these attributes will

be what makes our units successful both on patrol and back home.

I cannot overstate how proud I am of the work our Soldiers continue to do,

and I know that without your love and support it would not be possible. Thank

you for keeping our warriors focused on the fight. We look forward to when our

mission is complete and we can reunite at home with the ones we love. Until

then, we ARE…

BACK IN BLACK

Earl B Higgins Jr.,

LTC, IN

Commanding

PAGE 8 SEPTEMBER 2011

STAY CONNECTED WHEN NOT CONNECTED!

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WHAT WHEN DATE TIME

HHC FRG Meeting Tue 10/4/2011 6:30 PM

A Co FRG Meeting Wed 10/5/2011 5:00 PM

B Co FRG Meeting Mon 10/3/2011 11:00 AM

C Co FRG Meeting Fri 10/14/2011 10:00 AM

D Co FRG Meeting Tue 10/11/2011 5:30 PM