Dear Interested Reader,
Enjoy a splendid story of Navy air traffic controllers with Marine Air Control Sqdrn. 1 at Al Asad Air Base. Training continues for Iraqi Emergency Response Unit, and Defense Distribution Center Cmdr. Talleri visits IA logistics units at Taji. Many criminals detained.
Joanna
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Sept. 24, 2008
Blackanthem Military News
MACS-1 sailors earn FMF badges
By Lance Cpl. Fredrick J. Coleman
(From left to right) Petty Officer 2nd Class Serena Robertson, Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Collard, Petty Officer 2nd Class Shannon Boddie, Petty Officer 1st Class Joanne Saalfrank, Petty Officer 1st Class Beyonava Kendall, and Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Diaz.
AL ASAD AIR BASE - Six Navy air traffic controllers (ATCs) with MAC Sqdrn 1 joined a small group of air traffic controllers Sept. 2 when the sqdrn. comm. officer, Lt. Col. Jeff Kojac, presented their Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist badges during a ceremony here.
Of more than 2,500 Navy ATCs, only about 15% have FMF badges, according to Master Chief Petty Officer Jeff Brown, who works at the Navy Personnel Command and manages assignments for Navy ATCs.
Navy ATCs rarely find themselves attached to Marine units. "When I first saw my deployment orders, I was nervous because I had no idea what ‘MAG' was short for," said Petty Officer 1st Class Joanne Saalfrank, an FMF badge recipient.
The sailors, whose sqdrn. falls under 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd.), completed a 4-month course that taught basic Marine Corps knowledge. During the course, Saalfrank and her fellow sailors not only learned that MAG stands for Marine Aircraft Group, but also gained in-depth knowledge of Marine Corps structure, missions, and combat skills. The sailors had to take their sea legs to the dusty hills of al-Asad to complete a land navigation course, pass the Marine Corps physical fitness test and complete a 150-question comprehensive course exam.
The instructors, primarily Marine NCOs and Navy petty officers who've earned the badge, challenged the sailors with an intense physical training program and provided hands-on lessons in combat life saving and weapons handling skills.
Sgt. Emilio Luna, an armorer with MAG 16, 3rd MAW (Fwd.), led the sailors through basic weapons handling classes. The classes taught the sailors how to identify weapons conditions, breakdown various weapons for maintenance and cleaning and basic weapons handling. "They all had a hunger for the knowledge and were eager to get hands-on with the weapons, which motivates me to teach them everything I can," said Luna.
As the sailors progressed through the condensed curriculum - stateside sailors have up to 18 months to complete the self-paced curriculum - they continued to perform their regular duties. "The hardest part was balancing demanding work schedules with the course schedule," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Shannon Boddie, a badge recipient.
Sailors do not have to earn the FMF badge to serve with Marine units. The MACS-1 sailors saw earning the badge as an opportunity for professional development that they couldn't pass up. "It's something we wanted to do," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Diaz, a badge recipient. "By demonstrating our knowledge of the Marine Corps structure, we become even bigger assets to our commands."
Once the sailors complete their tour with MACS-1, they will return to their duty stations, ready to pass their knowledge and experience to other Navy controllers.
MAC Squadron 1 comm. officer, Lt. Col. Jeff Kojac, hands a certificate to Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Diaz. "I am very proud of the hard work and time the sailors put in to earning something that isn't required for their job," said Kojac.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Collard stands at attention as 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Command Master Chief, Chief Petty Officer Perfecto Cronemeyer, pins a Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist badge onto his chest.
A Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist badge.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
MND-B Soldiers train Iraqi ERU
CAMP TAJI -
Iraqi ERU members and IP watch as Soldiers from Troop Comanche, 2nd Sqdrn, 14th Cav Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, demonstrate positioning of individuals while conducting vehicle search techniques in Falahat, a village northwest of Baghdad, Sept. 19.
(U.S. Army Photos courtesy of 1st Lt. Brian Rieser)
Sgt. Jeffrey Boone (left), team leader, Troop Comanche, demonstrates proper positioning of a person taken into custody.
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DDC Commander visits IA logistics units at Taji
TAJI - Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, cmdr, Defense Distribution Center, stationed at New Cumberland, Pa., visited the IA's General Truck Regiment during a visit to Camp Taji, Sept 21.
Talleri met with Iraqi Col. Muhammad, cmdr., General Transportation Regt, where he was given an update on the progress of their capabilities and was briefed on the future campaign for improving Iraqi logistics capabilites.
"We are working together, in a partnership, to build a bridge with our experts to grow the capability the IA wants," said Talleri. "By utilizing our subject matter experts we're able to establish an effective system together with them that is working well."
"The most important thing I saw today was their eagerness, aggressiveness and excitement to work with the US military partners," Talleri stated. "The warfighter in the foxhole needs the support and we are helping them do it in the most efficient and effective manner and they do it in defense of their Nation."
Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri is greeted by Iraqi Col. Muhammad.
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins)
Marine Cmdr., Lt. Col. Robert Burke (left), cmdr. of 1st Sqdrn, 152nd Cav regt, 1st Sustainment Bde, briefs Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, on the progress of the General Transportation Regt, as Iraqi Col. Muhammad listens.
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Seven suspects detained in Salah ad Din
TIKRIT - Seven suspected members of AQI were detained in Salah ad Din province, Sept. 21.
Acting on a tip from a SoI group leader, IP detained a suspected member of a VBIED cell in Sharqat. The IP handed over custody of the detainee to a JSS.
On the same day in a separate op southeast of Balad city, CF detained 5 suspected members of AQI.
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MND-B Soldiers detain six suspected criminals in Baghdad
FOB FALCON - Sep. 23, Soldiers of Co B, 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 5 suspected special groups criminals at approx. 1:30 a.m. Sep. 23, during an op in the Risalah community of the Rashid district.
At approx. 2:30 a.m., Soldiers of Co. A, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected criminal in the Risalah community located in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
"Raider Soldiers are doing an outstanding job of policing up criminals in the Rashid district," said Lt. Col. Paul Hossenlopp, dep. cmdr., 1st BCT, 4th ID. "Their efforts, combined with the Iraqi SF, continue to make Rashid safer for its citizens."
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