Sustainer - July 2012

Transporters inspect vehiclesPage 5

SustainerJuly2012

Published in the interest of Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan Soldiers and their Families

Soldier serves to honor his fatherPage 7

Volume2 Sustainer July2012

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On the inside ...

On the cover: Specialist Adrian Smith, a motor transport operator with the 233rd Transportation Company, inspects a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle for ammunition and explosives at the 401st Army Field Support Brigade’s Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin)

The Sustainer magazine is an authorized publication for members of the DOD. Contents of Sustainer are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by,

the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Public Affairs Office.

Brig. Gen. Kristin French, Comanding General, 3d ESC

Maj. Jim Bono, Public Affairs Officer

Sgt. 1st Class Rob Strain, Sustainer Editor

Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin, Sustainer Staff Writer

Contributing Writers: Sgt. Gregory Williams, Capt. Henry Breton, Capt. James Crump, Sgt. Jessica

Gradney, Amy Dyer, Lt. Col. George Trawick, 1st Lt. Donny Skinner

The Sustainer staff can be reached by email at [email protected], by phone: (502) 624-8523, or by mail to 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary),

ATTN: PAO, 1747 Old Ironsides Ave, Fort Knox, KY 40121.

Commander’s CornerPage 3

The Chaplain’s OfficePage 3

Transporters inspect vehiclesPage 5

School works for the futurePage 5

Keeping Soldiers in the fightPage 6

233rd reduces waste Page 7

Honoring his father Page 7

Hot and heavy Page 9

Motorpool hit ground runningPage 9

And much more ...

From the editor: Welcome to the second edition of Sustainer magazine - a monthly publication by the Joint Sus-tainment Command - Afghanistan Public Affairs Of-fice.

This magazine is for you - Soldiers and Fami-lies of the JSC-A. We’d like to get your feedback on the content and anything you’d like to see in future issues, so send me an e-mail, or write on our Face-book wall (www.facebook.com/3dESC).

The 3d ESC rear detachment just had the second monthly town hall meeting of the deployment, and it’s now summer, which means kids are out of school, and many Families go on vacation or to see family out of town.

But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the information discussed during the town hall meetings. You can check in live during the town hall to our Facebook page and see the information as it is discussed, as well as take part by posting comments or questions.

So, if you are out of town, or just unable to make it to town hall meetings, we’ll see you on Face-book.

Sgt. 1st Class Rob Strain Sustainer Editor

CSM’s CornerPage 4

Legal issues? No problemPage 10

http://www.facebook.com/3dESC


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Joint Sustainment Command - AfghanistanBrig. Gen. Kristin French

Commander’s CornerSustainer Families and friends,

Greetings! For those of you back in the United States, I hope you are enjoying your sum-mer vacations. JSC-A has had an extremely exciting June – and July will be just as busy! Along with our regular sustainment support, I want to take the chance to men-tion one very special event where I had the opportunity to speak…JSC-A hosted a naturalization ceremony recently at Kandahar Airfield.

During the naturalization ceremony, 44 service members from 24 different countries gained their citizenship. These young people did more than just take a test and sign some required docu-ments. Before they applied to be-come citizens, they enlisted in the military and made a commitment to defend the United States by self-lessly serving in the Armed Forces, and each of them had a unique story to tell about the journey that

led them to the United States.

As we celebrate our Na-tion’s independence, we are re-minded that for more than two centuries, America has been a beacon of hope and opportunity.

These service members

remind us of just how precious our citizenship is. These new Ameri-cans demonstrate that being a citizen is not just a collection of rights, but a set of responsibilities. Collectively, we are all responsible for America’s success.

JSC-A is now three months into our deployment. We are no longer the “new unit” in Afghani-stan – we are fully embedded into all logistics support. As we review our duties and make small ad-justments, we continue to sup-port and sustain the Warfighter.More importantly, we continue to be thankful for what we have as Americans.

Have a great July! I con-tinue to be extremely proud of you and your families and everyone that supports the hard work JSC-A is doing.

Sustaining the Line! Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French

Sustainer 6

Blooming in the Desert

A very well know phrase is, “Bloom where you are planted.”

We often find ourselves in places or circumstances that we would not choose for ourselves, if we had total control of our lives.

We volunteer to serve in the military, and soon find our-selves in the aortic cold of Alaska, or on the plains of Kansas, or strolling in the green hills of North Carolina.

Then, we turn around, and before you know it, and we are baking in the hot desert sands of Afghanistan.

From heat to cold, from the known to the unknown, from home to foreign lands, and our lives change and flow like the tides of the oceans.

Never constant, never the same, and never able to plant our roots deeply into the soils of any one place.

So how do you “Bloom” with all this constant change? We bloom, because we carry our roots with us. We don’t have to start from nothing.

When uprooted from one place to another. That which makes us strong comes with us.

Our values, our hopes, our calling, and our training are strong roots that are quickly set deep into any soil that we find ourselves in.

The stronger the roots are that we carry with us, and the sooner we are able to “Bloom where we are planted.”

Strong roots, nourished with personal honor and faith, and furthered nourished by the love of a grateful nation sustain us as we sustain the line here in Afghani-stan.

Chaplain VanderJagt

Chaplain David VanderJagtThe Chaplain’s OfficeJoint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan


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Command Sgt. Maj.’s CornerJoint Sustainment Command - AfghanistanCommand Sgt. Maj. Karl RobertsGreetings from Kandahar Air-field,

First, I would like to thank the families and friends of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expedi-tionary) for all of the support they continue to show our Soldiers as we complete our first 100 days in theater. Since deploying to Af-ghanistan, our Soldiers have con-tinued to exceed our expectations.

As the senior enlisted leader of the 3d ESC, one of the biggest challenges our command continues to tackle is coping with combat stress. While the dangers our Soldiers face may be high and the missions challenging, our command continues to battle com-bat stress.

During our command’s stay at Kandahar Airfield, we have actively promoted camaraderie

between our Soldiers through vari-ous activities. With this said, our

main focus is to promote stress relief, which will be essential in maintaining a stress free environ-ment.

We encourage Soldiers to read, stay in touch with fam-ily members, work out, and play sports as stress relief methods.

Once again I would like to thank our families, friends, and the Fort Knox communities for their tremendous support as we continue our mission as the Joint Sustainment Command – Afghani-stan. We miss you and we look forward to coming home soon.

Sustaining the Line! CSM Karl A. Roberts

Sustainer 7

The Center for Army Lessons Learned rapidly collects, analyzes, disseminates and archives OIL, TTP and op-erational records in order to facilitate rapid adapation initiatives and conduct focused knowledge sharing and transfer that informs the Army and enables operationally based decision making, integration, and innovation

throughout the Army and within the JIIM environment.

Find something that worked - or didn’t work? Let CALL knowCALL LNO to JSC-A: Lt. Col. Mike Poss [email protected]

CALL Lessons Learned NIPR website: https://call2army.mil

Army Professional Forums: https://forums.army.mil

CALL SIPRNET Homepage: http://call.army.smil.mil

CALL SIPRNET OEF Current Operations: http://calloif.leavenworth.army.smil.mil


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Transporters inspect vehicles for munitionsStaff Sgt. Michael Behlin

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Since their change of mission, Soldiers of the 233rd Trans-portation Company have been busily involved in the retrograde process.

With the end of United States combat role in Afghanistan quickly approaching, the retrograde pro-cess, which involves the movement of equipment and material from a deployed theater to another theater of operations to replenish unit stocks, will be a major topic of discussion in the near future.

While the process has begun and will con-tinue until complete, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes before equipment is actually shipped out of country. One of the processes related to the retrograde mission involves searching and clearing vehicles of ammunition, in which Soldiers of the 233rd Trans. Co. are spearheading.

“What we do is insure that every vehicle is free of ammunition and explosives,” said Sgt. James Dixon, a motor transport operator with the 233rd Trans. Co. who’s now working as a member of the munitions abatement team. “We do a thorough check of the vehicle and its’ hotspots to make sure it’s safe to move to its next destination.”

The process to sterilize vehicles of muni-tions is one that is both rigorous and thorough. This involves checking a vehicles exterior, interior, cargo bed, compartments and turrets, to name a few.

If ammunition is found, it is then consolidated and turned in to the proper authorities, unless it is found to be unstable. Munitions found to be unstable must then be properly handled by explosive ordnance disposal.

Spc. Adrian Smith, a motor transport operator with the 233rd Transpor-tation Company, inspects a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle for ammunition and explosives at the 401st Army Field Support Brigade’s Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard at Bagram Airfield, Afghani-stan. (Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin)

“Making sure vehicles are clear is important because it’s a key part of safety,” said Spc. Adrian Smith of the 233rd Trans. Co. “If ammunition is left in a vehicle, someone could possibly get hurt. All in all, we are all trying to make it back home, safety is the key.”

See SCHOOL, next page

Bazaar school works to brighten futureSgt. Gregory Williams

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan. -- At 11 o’ clock on a hot Saturday afternoon, Af-ghan kids ran out of a school and hurried to form a line. Their faces painted with dirt and cray-on marks, the kids pushed and shoved one another causing a mini riot.

“Stop fighting or no one will get candy later,” said Roma-nian Army Master Sgt. George Prodan, a morale wellness and

recreation staff assistant with Commander, Kandahar Airfield headquarters barked in a loud voice causing erratic hands to stop in mid-air. As the children start-ed the process of washing their hands, choosing a yogurt or fruit, and taking a sample pack of cook-ies, the Romanian Soldier smiled as calmness had finally set in…if only for another minute or two.

“I like to help the kids be-cause they don’t have many things and they deserve all the things we

do for them…and not just because they behave well,” said Prodan.

Prodan said the Bazaar School has been open for five years at Kandahar Airfield and reaches out to over 50 Afghan children every time the Bazaar opens. The Bazaar is the marketplace where customers can buy merchandise sold by local nationals and par-ents usually will employ their own children as merchants.


Page6See AMMO, next page

“The parents who’re a ma-jority of the shop owners thank us because we take care of their kids while they set up,” said Prodan. “The school is important because it may change not only child’s view of soldiers, but maybe the parents too.”

Each week the Bazaar school opens, International Se-curity Assistance Force Soldiers and officers can contact Prodan to volunteer to work with the Afghan children.

“In some way I think this puts us in touch with the local population and it gives the kids an opportunity to meet people from different countries,” said Spc. James Gorman, an intelligence analyst, with the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion.

Gorman said he had fun playing soccer and interacting with the children, which is a good change of scenery. “Doing this is a good change of pace for me be-cause I work a 12-hour shift every day, so it’s a good way to get away from the command for a bit.”

All Bazaar school volun-

SCHOOL, from previous

Soldiers hand out toothbrushes to Afghan children as the kids leave the Bazaar School. ISAF volun-teers are given the opportunity to interact with afghan children before the Kandahar Bazaar opens for business. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Gregory Williams)

teers are ordered to put up their weapons and are encouraged to let loose their inner child once the kids arrive on site.

“We’re like the Muppets, but with standard operating pro-cedures,” said Prodan. “In a lot of ways the boys here remind me of my son and my wife, who’s a teacher, is happy I’m doing this.”

Once word spreads that

it’s noon, the children start to line up by the exit because they know what time it is. As each child takes two pieces of candy, they say their goodbyes to Prodan and tell him they’ll see him next week.

“If something like this would’ve existed twelve years ago, who knows how things might’ve changed in Kandahar,” said Pro-dan. Who knows Indeed?

395th Ordnance Company keeps Soldiers in the fightStaff Sgt. Michael Behlin

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Since their mobilization in July of 2011, Soldiers of the 395th Ordnance Company have been busy keeping Service Members serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom supplied with the ammunition needed to accomplish their respective missions.

An Army Reserve unit based out of Apple-ton, Wis., the 395th Ord. Co. is responsible for issu-ing and distributing ammunition to units deployed throughout Afghanistan. Working mainly out of Ba-gram Airfield’s ammunition supply point, the 395th Ord. Co. is also responsible for ensuring the base’s munitions is kept safe and secure.

“As far as ammunition is concerned, noth-ing in RC-East (Regional Command) moves unless it comes through the 395th,” said Staff Sgt. Gregory Duzinske, a movement noncommissioned officer with the 395th Ord. Co.

Deployed now for nearly a year, the 395th Ord. Co. provides munitions support to troops lo-cated at 9 different locations throughout Afghani-stan. On a daily basis, Soldiers of the 395th Ord. Co. working at the ASP handle both the issuance and shipping of ammunition through directives. Both began with a request for ammunition, and then once approved, the 395th Ord. Co. either issues or ships depending on the request.

Another mission the 395th Ord. Co. has been busy with involves ammunition amnesty. During an amnesty day held earlier this year, the 395th Ord. Co. partnered with the Joint Munitions Command, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, Explosive Ord-nance Disposal, 10th Sustainment Brigade , and Ba-gram Installation Safety Office to aid in the collection of more than 120, 050 ammunition and explosive items. Events of this type allow units to turn in am-munition not recovered through the normal supply channels.


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“For example, if a Soldier finds ammunition, there are amnesty boxes located at various points on base to allow them to turn it in,” said Sgt. Gregory Pollack, an ammunition NCO with the 395th Ord. Co. “Our Soldiers then collect these boxes and en-sure that the ammunition is disposed of properly.”

While manning the ammunition supply point, the 395th Ord. Co. has made many improvements

AMMO, from previous to the facility and are currently preparing for their transfer of authority with their replacements.

Nearing the end of their deployment, Soldiers of the 395th Ord. Co. said they were proud of all they’ve accomplished in the past year.

“In the ammunition world there’s a saying that you can survive weeks without food, days with-out water and minutes without air, but you can’t survive a second without ammunition,” said Pollack.

233rd Trans. Co. Soldiers help to reduce waste at Retro-Sort yard(Left) BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Staff Sgt. Norman Morse, a motor transport operator with the 233rd Transportation Company, prepares items to be shipped out of the Retro-Sort Yard at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The Retro-Sort Yard distributes serviceable items no longer needed by units to those in need, thus reducing waste and the need by units to order them. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin)

(Right)Spc. Antonio Martinez, a motor transport operator with the 233rd Transportation Company, uses rough terrain container handler to move a container of serviceable items for shipment at Bagram Airfield’s Retro-Sort Yard. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin)

Soldier lives dream of serving in military, honors fatherStaff Sgt. Michael Behlin

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - It’s not every day that someone gets to live out their dreams and goals, but for Spc. John Liddle Jr., a member of the 822nd Movement Control Team of the New York Army National Guard, the opportunity to do so is now.

A native New Yorker who calls Long Island home, the 42 year old father of one is getting the chance to do something he’s always dreamed of, serving his

country and honoring his late fa-ther.

The son of a Vietnam vet-eran, Liddle is a 3rd generation Soldier as his grandfather fought in World War II. He said that their selfless service is what led to his wanting to join the military.

“I’ve always wanted to know what my father went through, and overall just thought that joining the military was my calling,” said Liddle. “I’m proud of everything my father did and what our country called him to do. We

volunteered for this, but he was drafted.”

Liddle’s dream of becoming a Soldier began during his time as a young boy mimicking his father. He explained that during this time, he spent countless hours playing with toy Soldiers wanting to be just like the guys on the war movies and TV shows.

After years of working as a welder and playing semi-pro-fessional football for the South-

See FATHER, next page


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FATHER, from previous

ern Tier Warriors, Liddle’s finally got the opportunity to fulfill his dream.

At 36 years old, Liddle enlisted in the National Guard as a motor transport operator, the same military occupation special-ty as his father.

Affectionately known as “Lids” by teammates and friends, Liddle said that his experiences with sports helped him perse-vere while dealing with dyslexia, amongst other issues that prevent-ed him from enlisting earlier in life. He compares most of his life experiences to football and feels that his dedication is what has led to him being in his current posi-tion.

“When I get up in the mornings, every day to me is game day,” said Liddle. “We fight every day in our lives inch by inch, yard by yard until we reach the goal line.”

After years of not being able to deploy, he’s finally getting the opportunity as an inspector for the 401st Army Field Support Brigade’s ammunition abatement mission.

Even though this mission calls for Liddle to operate mainly at Bagram Airfield and not on the roads, he still feels as though he’s making a difference in Afghani-stan.

“We inspect every vehicle that enters our yard and check for ammunition and anything else that shouldn’t be there,” said Liddle. “We make sure our battle buddies are safe.”

Liddle admitted that while he’s proud to be serving, he hit a definite low point when his father passed away just two weeks into his deployment. But even with his circumstances, his father’s words have stuck with him.

“Not long before my father passed he told me to make sure I come home to him and my moth-er,” said Liddle. “He said that he was proud of me and what I was doing. Those words have stuck with me.”

Liddle said that his fu-ture in the Army looks bright as he plans to reenlist later in the year and possibly reclassify as an infantryman. He also plans to continue his career by becoming an active-duty Soldier.

And while he feels he has many years of football left in him, he said that he may soon plan to retire while jokingly admit-ting that many of his teammates once played on a peewee team he coached years ago.

“I like to think of myself like the Brett Favre of the semi-pro’s,” said Liddle, referring to the retired National Football League quarterback.

Overall, Liddle said that ev-eryone has been supportive of his dream to include his current unit. He admitted that every now and then he gets down when thinking of his father, but that everyone rallied around him to help him get through.

“I have my days that I real-ly miss my father, but my officers and NCO’s here encourage me,” said Liddle. “But I know that he’s proud of me for all that I’ve done.”

At age 42, Spc. John Liddle Jr., a member of the 822nd Movement Control Team of the New York Army National Guard, is living his dream of serving his country and honoring his late father, who was a Vietnam Veteran. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin)


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Endurance contest gets hot and heavyCapt. Henry Breton

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – It’s another routine day in the Joint Sustainment Com-mand Afghanistan J4, or logistics, office.

Two titans of bicep, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Haynes, the JSC-A food service noncommissioned of-ficer in charge, and Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David Vander-Jagt, the command chaplain, have been displaying their fortitude in a test of muscular endurance.

Since the unit arrived in Afghanistan, the competition has been heavy, with both contestants competing to see who could best the other in a “friendly game” of bicep curls. The favorite to win if not by pure physical stature, Haynes completed 101 bicep curls to VanderJagt’s 84.

Not one to be deterred, VanderJagt exclaimed, “The match is still running, we’ve got plenty of time left. It’s David versus Goliath!”

“I told him if you raise [the bar] more, I’ll do at least 100, so I stopped at 101 so I didn’t discourage anyone,” bragged Haynes as he clinched the lead.

Since the 3d Sustainment Command (Expe-ditionary) deployed in mid-April, both champions have been training hard, besting one another again and again with Haynes recently going from 74 to 101 bicep curls, topping the chaplain by 27 curls.

“[Sergeant] Haynes is a big guy, while the chaplain has heart,” said Sgt. Mike Wittstock, a J4 noncommissioned officer. “I’d say it’s a tough call!”

Motor pool Soldiers hit the ground runningCapt. James Crump

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Greetings from Afghanistan to all of our friends, family and loved ones. The 3d Sustainment Command (Expedi-tionary) motor pool has been very busy since arriving in Afghani-stan.

The first part of a deploy-ment is usually filled with projects that establish and improve the unit’s footprint and living condi-tions. Your Soldiers have made many positive changes to their liv-ing quarters, their work areas and themselves.

Not long after we arrived here we started training. There were several courses required to bring the motor pool up to speed. Since arriving, two Soldiers have attended the Standard Army Maintenance System training. They now manage parts, supplies and work order contracts for the whole command.

Four more Soldiers attend-ed the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) driver’s course. Your Soldiers are the only personnel in the com-mand currently qualified on the newest version of the MRAP, and they can make that truck do some

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d ESC, motor pool section. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Crump)

pretty amazing things both on- and off-road. Along with driving the M-ATV, four Soldiers attended the Field Level Maintenance course, learning the new vehicles inside and out. All of this training has been conducted in addition to the many other things that motor pool Soldiers do every day.

In addition to training, the motor pool has done a lot to improve the command’s work

areas and help establish the unit’s footprint here in Afghanistan.

Erecting sunshades, build-ing clearing barrels, and bringing new mattresses and wall lock-ers to the living quarters are just some of the things your Soldiers have done since arriving here.

They have also assisted in conducting many inventories both

See HHC, next page


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HHC, from previous

here on Kandahar and at other sites throughout our area of opera-tion. Your Soldiers recently assist-ed the arms room with inspecting and inventorying ammunition and magazines and replacing anything that was found unserviceable.

These are just a few of the

many tasks your Soldiers do every day.

Motor pool Soldiers are busy everyday and we don’t expect the tempo to slow down any time soon. There is always more train-ing or another mission coming up.

In the midst of all of this, your Soldiers are improving them-

selves with weight loss goals, fit-ness routines and furthering their college education at the Kandahar Education Center.

Your Soldiers are making great things happen for the 3d ESC, our subordinate units and themselves.

Sustaining the Line!

Legal Issues? No Problem! KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – While deployed, Soldiers often encounter legal problems back home or in theater.

Luckily for them, the Army has established le-gal assistance offices in their deployed environments to help assist and address Soldiers’ legal needs.

All 3d Sustainment Command (Expedition-ary) Soldiers can obtain legal assistance from the Kandahar Legal Assistance Office, which provides le-gal services throughout Regional Command – South and Regional Command - West.

Services are provided to Soldiers, Department of the Army and Department of Defense civilians, retired military, military dependents, and contractors (if their contract makes them eligible for services).

Legal assistance attorneys provide advice on most personal legal matters to include family law (di-vorce, separation, custody), consumer protection law, landlord-tenant issues, and economic matters (debts, tax, bankruptcy) to name a few.

Attorneys will also review legal documents,

Sgt. Jessica Gradney

such as contracts and leases, and will prepare wills, living wills, health care power of attorneys, and other legal documents.

Most importantly, attorneys will help Soldiers draft financial liability investigations of property loss and general officer memorandum of reprimand rebut-tals.

In addition to these services, the Legal As-sistance Office will also provide notaries and special power of attorneys.

Although legal assistance attorneys will pro-vide legal advice to their clients, they are not autho-rized to appear with you as your attorney of record in any court proceeding or draft any legal documents that will be filed with a court.

All services of the Legal Assistance Office are provided free of charge.

Legal services are provided on a walk-in, first come-first served basis. Appointments are not neces-sary.

The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday – Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The office is located in building 245 on Chi-nook Road, which is directly across the street from the KFC and German PX on the boardwalk. If you have any questions please call (813) 841-1163.

The 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) legal assistance team, from left to right: Staff Sgt. Matthew Sullivan, Sgt. Marshall Stevens, Sgt. Jessica Gradney, Capt. Patrick Barrett. (Courtesy photo)


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Supporting Our Troops: HRC supports the 3d ESCAmy Dyer and Lt. Col. George Trawick

FORT KNOX, Ky. - For several months now, the Human Resouces Command’s Project Management Division has been supporting an effort to send care packages to deployed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The effort started in No-vember 2010, when Lt. Col. George Trawick wanted to find a method to connect the members of the Project Management Office with their customer, the Soldier.

With the holidays ap-proaching, PMO sent Christmas care packages to deployed Soldiers in Iraq and continued to send more care packages on major holi-days until that unit returned in mid-November 2011.

But PMD was not satisfied with that - they wanted to do more for the Soldiers.

So, in October 2011, PMD reached out to a local unit prepar-ing to deploy.

Amy Dyer, Kem Greenwell, and Jenny Murphy in HRC Sup-port Systems led the way to build-ing a true sponsorship program.

Trawick found a local unit that could be supported from the time of deployment until they returned. The four of them held a

meeting with the 3rd Sustainment Command, Expeditionary (3d ESC) Rear Detachment Command-er, Lt. Col. Robin Higgins, and the 3d ESC Family Readiness Group leader, Karla Schuster. From that meeting, a new sponsorship pro-gram was born.

But, the 3d ESC would not be deploying until April 2012. PMD would not sit idle for that long.

So the team searched and found the 2nd Battalion, 5th In-fantry “Bobcats”, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, and quickly organized and shipped eight boxes of goodies at Christmas, and several more box-es for Valentine’s Day and Easter.

PMD employees got their children involved, too. Several local youth groups helped fill the care packages with letters, cards, popcorn, and other goodies.

In February 2012, PMD

began supporting the 3d ESC in earnest, helping with the Pre-deployment Fair and other FRG activities.

Trawick, now with Infor-mation Assurance, recruited Staff Sgt. Mirta Cabrera to help get the word out to the rest of PERSINSD.

Volunteers from all over PERSINSD supported the depar-ture of the 3d ESC ADVON and Main Body with snacks, drinks, and volunteers to help setup, serve, and clean up.

The FRG Leader could not thank us enough, saying our ef-forts allowed the FRG team time to say goodbye to their own Soldiers and to provide support the other families as they deployed.

The support effort con-tinues today. In May, PERSINSD mailed over 100 pounds of cof-fee to the 3d ESC Soldiers. Also, volunteers donated snacks, drinks and time for the FRG Mother’s Day Movie Night for the Soldiers’ wives and children here at Fort Knox.

PERSINSD will send care packages to the deployed Soldiers until they return. The next pack-ages to the 3d ESC will have a patriotic theme for Independence Day, and the soldiers have re-quested chips, since they can only get Pringles in their store.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan has partnered with the Kandahar Warrior Recovery Cen-ter to lend its support to our war fighters.

Led by a determined effort from Sgt. 1st Class Mi Pak and the JSC-A surgeon’s office, a total of 17 volunteers have donated more than 40 hours volun-teering to help Soldiers who are recuperating from injuries sustained in support of Operation Endur-ing Freedom. Activities have included morale visits, equipment set-up, fly fishing classes and facility beautification.

3d ESC surgeon cell partners up to support Wounded Warriors1st Lt. Donny Skinner On Saturday, June 9, Soldiers from the 3d

ESC helped organize the first card night for the wounded warriors.

Sgt. 1st Class Summer Pressley and Staff Sgt. Hector Lugo from the knowledge management office set up the games and provided friendly competition for the Soldiers.

They, among others, have made it a point to visit the WRC during their personal time as a show of solidarity and concern for their fellow servicemen and women.

See WRC, next page

Care packages for the 3d ESC (Courtesy photo)


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WRC, from previous The WRC at Kandahar is a joint, multidisci-plinary center that provides Soldiers with a program of coordinated medical management and rehabilita-tion.

The WRC is currently comprised of five clinics covering specialty care in physical therapy, occupa-tional therapy, traumatic brain injury, combat opera-tional stress control and general medicine.

Their mission is to provide outstanding healthcare to aid our Soldiers in the transition back to their units.

The WRC has proven to be a valuable theater resource for both Soldiers and Commanders.

One of the Warrior Recovery Center clinic areas on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (Courtesy photo)

One text or call could wreck it allJSC-A Safety Office

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Af-ghanistan – Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways.

In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a dis-tracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.

18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes. 11% of all driv-ers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.

This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. 40% of all Ameri-can teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.

WHAT IS DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a per-son’s attention away from the primary task of driving.

All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

•Texting

•Using a cell phone or Smartphone

•Eating and drinking

•Talking to passengers

•Grooming

•Reading, including maps

•Using a navigation system

•Watching a video

•Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Because text messaging re-quires visual, manual, and cogni-tive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distrac-tion.

KENTUCKY LAWS

•Ban on all cell phone use (hand-held and hands-free) for bus driv-ers (Primary law)

•Ban on all cell phone use (hand-held and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

•Ban on texting for all drivers (Pri-mary law)

•Preemption Law prohibits locali-ties from enacting distracted driv-ing bans

If you want to know the state laws involving distracted driving and cell phone use, go to http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/state-laws.html#top.

http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/state-laws.html#top




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Sustainer - July 2012

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