Story and photos by Army Sgt. Cooper Cash, TF Patriot
Pfc. Aaron Mauk, a designated marksman assigned to the personal security detail, 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, 4th IBCT, 10th Mtn Div, TF Warrior returns fire as insurgents attacked U.S. and ANA Soldiers at the Chak Dam, May 16. Mauk and other TF Warrior Soldiers assessed security and economic conditions in Chak during the 2-day Op Compass.
WARDAK PROVINCE - As helicopters lifted off the moonlit field, Soldiers blended into the surrounding landscape. Slowly, each infantryman rose to his feet and scanned his sector of fire. As plt. leaders motioned to move out, night-vision optics revealed the flashing infrared lights attached to each Soldier as they formed a single line.
Soldiers of Blackhawk Co, 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, 4th IBCT, 10th Mtn Div, and ANA troops moved though orchards and farmland toward the Chak District Center, unaware of the fierce enemy opposition they would encounter, May 15-16.
Co. B previously worked to secure hostile areas in and around the Tangi Valley, and recently redirected attention to Chak District. “We're working to expand the security bubble along Route-1 by pushing further out,” said TF Warrior cmdr. Lt. Col. Thomas Rickard.
ANP met TF Warrior and Afghan Soldiers at the district center, and immediately began taking up security positions. Soon after the sun climbed over the tall peaks of the Hindu Kush Mountains, the valley erupted with mortars, RPGs, rockets and recoilless rifle fire from insurgent fighters. U.S. and Afghan Soldiers returned precise small arms and 60mm mortar fire into the lush farmland, where Taliban fighters were concealed.
Rickard explained that Chak has the 2nd highest population of southern Wardak, and is a major economic and cultural center for locals. "As a large community center, it's vital that Chak’s residents receive security and support from the GoA," he said.
Gunfire and explosions rang out throughout the 1st day of the op. Once they identified Taliban mortar positions, motormen assigned to Co. B rained precision fire on them, but mortar sites located in more densely populated areas required a different strategy.
JTACs, or joint terminal attack controllers, are Airmen assigned to Army infantry units who direct aircraft from the front lines. The JTACs relayed coordinates and other info to fighter jets circling high above the battle field. Within minutes, the first 500-lb JDAM, or joint direct attack munition, hit its mark, destroying an enemy qalat.
Fighting continued until after dusk, and then Afghan and U.S. troops regrouped and prepared to move deeper into the valley. "Though moving into areas that have had limited GoA presence is dangerous, it is vital," said Rickard. "Pushing into these hostile areas is important, because we have to get these key districts under GoA control," he said.
As the near-full-moon climaxed, U.S. and Afghan Soldiers began their movement south toward the Chak Dam. Platoon by platoon, the men quietly moved through lush fields, avoiding streets and trails. The occasional pot-shot rang out as insurgents prodded blindly into the darkness, trying to get a reaction out of the disciplined warriors.
After crossing the dam, Co. B cmdr. U.S. Army Capt. Mark Balboni directed his men to take up security positions in a school compound. As dawn approached, Soldiers rotated between resting and providing security. Then, just before 8 a.m., a large explosion rattled the concrete area Soldiers sheltered in. “Most people wake up to the smell of coffee, but we wake to explosions and shrapnel,” said Sgt. Freddy Hughley, a combat medic assigned to Blackhawk Co.
Machine-gun fire accompanied the battlefield alarm clock, and each Soldier leapt to their feet to take up firing positions around the compound. Civilian activity was absent from the village streets, as the fierce battle from the previous day continued throughout the second. U.S. forces dropped 3 more JDAMs and placed mortars onto enemy positions the last day of the op.
“Chak seems worse than Tangi so far,” said Pfc. Alexander Duckett, a rifleman assigned to Co. B. “This place has been everything we expected." That night, TF Warrior Soldiers and their ANA counterparts once again assembled and moved through thick vegetation toward an improvised helicopter landing zone (HLZ). AH-64 Apache Helicopters moved into the area to assist with securing the HLZ, and minutes later CH-47 Chinooks landed. Soldiers moved quickly into the helicopters, and moments later were on their way back to their COP.
Although the previous 2 days were filled with immense firefights and indirect fire, TF Warrior Soldiers were able to stave off serious injuries. "With the success of this mission, Co. B is able to build upon it and slowly increase the reach of the GoA security bubble," said Rickard.
Soldiers assigned to Blackhawk Co, move to the Chak Dam, May 16.
U.S. and ANA Soldiers examine a bridge as they cross at the Chak Dam.
ANA Soldiers return fire after insurgents fired RPGs and machine guns, at the Chak Dam.
Pfc. Alexander Duckett, a rifleman assigned to Blackhawk Co, provides security at the Chak Dam.
RC-East, Bagram Media Center
Villagers give warm welcome to cool storage, Nevada ADT Story and photos by AF Staff Sgt. Eric Ritter, Nevada ADT
Nevada ADT Agriculture Specialist Master Sgt. Shane Jensen holds the ceremonial ribbon, while other members of the Nevada ADT cut the ribbon marking the official opening of 3 cool storage facilities in Jelga Village. The cool storage facilities will help the villagers financially, by keeping harvest items fresh throughout the winter months.
LOGAR PROVINCE - It’s a cool new concept to the people of the tiny Afghan village of Jelga. The village recently set the stage for agriculture success, with some simple cool-storage cellar projects in their village. The Nevada ADT project mgr, Master Sgt. Shane Jensen, said that cool storage is a very simple concept that is inexpensive, easy to maintain, and about as difficult to install as digging a large hole in a backyard.
“It’s basically a walk-in cellar that uses the coolness of the Earth to create an atmosphere that will maintain fruits and vegetables longer than other non-cooling, above-ground storage techniques,” said Jensen. “Many villagers use methods that have no cold or cool benefits to maintaining food freshness, such as leaving them on a truck or in bins after harvest.
“It can spoil very quickly like that, and that negatively affects the income they receive from the sale,” continued Jensen. “They often have to sell it at lower than market price, just to unload it. It also affects their food source during the winter. Since they no longer have any of the food they harvested, they now have to buy food during the winter. More often than not, the food they’re buying is sold to them from an outside source, such as Pakistan, at an astronomically elevated price.”
The NVADT pitched the idea of cool storage to Jelga elders, but they weren’t initially on board with the idea. “The farmers had never heard of this technique before,” Jensen said. “We had models and diagrams developed for them to see what it would look like, but they still didn’t quite get it, until we convinced them to break ground and get one started. Once it started to take shape, they quickly began to love the idea.”
The ability to sustain fruits and vegetables longer is incredibly important to local Afghans farming livelihood. "The preserved products such as apples, onions and potatoes will have an immediate effect on them economically," said Jensen.
NVADT’s Logar District Provincial Agriculture Team Dir., AF Col. Bartley O’Toole, said that cool storage success is as simple as doing the math. “Now, they would no longer need to sell off their products at a loss,” said O-Toole. “They currently have 3 cool-storage units. Each holds 40 metric tons of products. If they can live off that each year, they’re saving about $19,000 a year per storage unit.
“The money they're saving will go right back to them and their village,” said O’Toole. “That’s a huge surge in the local economy they haven’t seen in years.” A huge side benefit the NVADT sees with economic success with villages like Jelga is security. O’Toole said there are a great number of Taliban members who aren't hardcore insurgents, and are in it just for the money.
“A great economy will keep a lot of desperate people from joining the insurgency,” said O’Toole. “Creating a more secure Afghanistan through agriculture has been our mission since day one. I think we may have just found the formula for that. I think the Afghans are on board with it too.”
Jelga elder Haji Wahidullah said that his village is united in establishing the cool-storage projects. “We didn’t know what cool storage was when we first heard of it, but it’s turning into something we'll want to continue to use,” Wahidullah said through an interpreter. “My village is very excited at the prospect of the value these projects will bring.”
Wahidullah said he is encouraged the projects will be safe from anti-govt forces. “This is our village,” said Wahidullah. “We know everyone here. We know when there are outsiders here. We will never let bad people into our village, and do harm to any of these projects. We've a lot of police around our village. If we find anyone who wants to do bad things in our village, we'll have them arrested immediately.”
Wahidullah said that the local GoA is very supportive of the projects, and is offering everything it can, such as additional security and legal assistance, to help with land leases to ensure its success. “They want to see the projects succeed,” said Wahidullah. “They're very interested in putting cool storage projects through the rest of our district. They think this will bring success everywhere.”
O’Toole said that Afghans’ desire for the projects in the village, can be measured just by the villagers offering their land for more storage facilities. “Every time we visit the village, there's someone who has paperwork ready to sign away their land, so they can get cool storage put in on their properties.”
Adding to the success of the projects, O’Toole said that they're having villagers from Jelga hired as the labor for the projects. “Unemployment is really high in these villages,” O’Toole said. “I don’t think the people of Jelga would be as supportive of the cool-storage projects, if the contractors we hire were to bring in labor from outside the village. They're very excited to be working on these cool-storage cellars.”
O’Toole said he sees word spreading fast about the benefits of the cool-storage projects. “The Nevada ADT is working on installing dozens of other storage cellars in other districts,” said O’Toole. “We even have leaders from outside the areas we cover, asking how they can get these in their villages.
“Who would have thought that something as simple as putting a cellar in the ground was going to impact the Afghan people so positively?” he continued. “I really think this is going to be a defining project that will help lead to the success of our mission here.”
Members of the Nevada ADT inspect a cool storage facility in Jelga Village, after its recent completion.
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DVIDS
Rocky Top Marine Gets Out of Driver's SeatStory by Sgt. Earnest Barnes
Cpl. Jonathan Booth stops to observe the area on a recent security patrol in southern Helmand prov. However, the daytime Supply and Logistics watch clerk, 2nd Marine Div (Fwd), spends most days recording and analyzing data, to track convoys and air assets that carry supplies and equipment to the troops throughout the battle space.
CAMP LEATHERNECK – Each Marine in the Marine Corps is assigned a specific job, and performs tasks to assist the unit in accomplishing its mission. Sometimes Marines must perform duties which seem completely unrelated to their skill sets.
One Marine has traded in his steering wheel and duties as a motor vehicle operator, to support his fellow Marines with OEF. If something goes wrong, like a sand storm delaying a convoy, or an IED disabling a vehicle’s ability to maneuver, known as a mobility kill, it's Booth’s job to monitor the activity and report to his superiors. When Booth relays this info to the commodity section leaders, they can then take action to fix the problem.
Booth’s job requires him to constantly monitor the communication systems he works with, and maintain verbal communication with all the commodity sections in the Logistics Ops Center. Booth is a key player within the division LOC, but being a team player has not has always been his strong point. Booth attended 3 separate high schools in 4 years prior to joining the Marine Corps.
“I was what you could call a problem child in high school,” said Booth. “I didn’t get along with other kids. I was small for my age, and kids picked on me regularly. I didn’t really like high school much, and I wanted out.”
Booth was still active in school, despite the rough path he had. His participation in the Young Marine Program and JROTC helped shape his future. Booth said that after graduating he wanted to join the Corps.
Booth had been in the Marine Corps for just over a year the first time he was asked to step outside of his original occupation during a deployment. He was attached to a Marine Security Element with Joint Special Ops TF—Philippines in 2007. He and the Marines he served with during this four-month deployment performed duties as the Personal Security Det. for the comm. officer of the TF.
He also stood security posts and preformed regular security patrols within the vicinity of the compound as part of his duties. At one point, Booth’s unit was on high alert because the unit had received intel of planned attacks and insurgent activity within their area of ops. Booth noticed some unusual activity outside the main gate during one of his posts, and quickly relayed this info through his chain of command.
“I was patrolling around the front gate of the compound. I noticed there were 2 fellows outside the gate in a white pick-up truck. One was doing something on the other side of it, and one was looking directly at us like a lookout,” Booth recalled. “I was asked to identify them, and I pointed them out in mug shots. According to the reports, they'd been planning an attack on the colonel’s convoy for the next day.”
It was because of his attention to details and quick reaction that 2 known high-profile-terrorists were indentified and eliminated. Booth and 3 other Marines with his detachment were awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, for their contributions during the deployment.
It has been a collaboration of his experiences in high school, his family’s support, and his determination to perform, which has made Booth successful during his career and his current deployment. “He's a very dedicated and loyal Marine,” said GnrySgt. Matthew McLaughlin, the div Supply and Logistics watch officer. “He does whatever it takes to get the job accomplished.”
“He has definitely stepped up to the plate,” said McLaughlin, who is Booth’s direct supervisor. “He’s working on something he has never done before. It was a new challenge, and he’s been able to grasp that and run with it.”
“Regardless of what I’m doing at the time, somewhere in the system I'm helping out someone else. It may not look like it, but sometimes you have to look past the smaller picture to get to the bigger picture,” said Booth. “I look at it like this; if I wasn’t here some Marines might not be getting their gear. The thing I love about being a Marine is knowing I’m making a difference, and having that pride in doing so."
Cpl. Jonathan Booth stops to greet a group of Afghan children during a recent security patrol.
Cpl. Jonathan Booth briefs Cpl. Jervoris Hewey, the nighttime Supply and Logistics watch clerk, during a shift turnover. Booth records and analyzes data to track convoys and air assets, that carry supplies and equipment to the troops throughout SW Afghanistan.
Cpl. Jonathan Booth monitors a convoy's progress.
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DVIDS
2nd MLG CG Visits COP Shukvani Photos by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe
COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Helmand prov. -- Brigadier Gen. Michael Dana, the comm. gen. of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, is escorted through the outpost by the comm. officer of Georgia’s 33rd Light Inf Bn, May 23. Dana was ensuring that the Marines and soldiers are receiving proper support from 2nd MLG, and assessing what can be done to further ensure their mission success.
Marines with RCT 8 and 2nd MLG walk with Brig. Gen. Michael Dana. “He was out here making sure that they (33rd Bn) were being supported to the best abilities that his Marines can support them.” said Master Sgt. Andrew Michaelson, the Georgian Liaison Team Chief.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
PRT, GIRoA, ANSF build trust, distribute supplies in Paktya Story and photos by AF 1st Lt. Sybil Taunton, Paktya PRT
The Ahmad Abad District AUP Chief, along with village elders, hand out backpacks to young boys as part of a school opening ceremony in Ahmad Abad, May 29. Officials from the GoA and AUP partnered with the Paktya PRT for the event, which was part of a province-wide education initiative to promote education, and help increase trust and support for the govt and ANSF.
PAKTYA PROVINCE – The initiative, which kicked off in March, consists of opening ceremonies for new schools and the distribution of school supplies, and will continue through June. Approx 4,000 backpacks, cases of pens and pencils, and small Afghan Flags, all made in Afghanistan and purchased as a way to infuse the local economy, have been distributed.
Additional school supplies and other items such as toys, clothes and athletic equipment, were donated by people and orgs from the U.S. “The level of support we received from families and orgs. in the U.S. was phenomenal,” said AF Capt. Donna Laulo, of the PRT. “They sent us enough supplies to fill thousands of backpacks, which shows that our level of commitment to this country goes beyond just our service men and women.”
The PRT collected the supplies and put together more than 12,000 backpacks containing basic school supplies, educational coloring books, flags, hand-crank radios and toys.
Mehrabbudin Shfaq, Paktya dir. of the DoE, and his staff coordinated the outreach missions that included visits with the principal of each school, as well as district sub-govs., and village elders. “It's very important for us to improve education in the prov., and the children need those supplies,” said Shfaq.
Haji Mohammad, vice president of the Mami Khail Construction Co., also participated in the project. Mohammad had recently completed renovations to a school in the Jani Khel District, and volunteered to deliver backpacks to the students to celebrate the school’s completion.
“People are very poor, and they can't afford to buy notebooks and supplies," said Mohammad, "I'm very proud to deliver this, and I'm very happy to help the kids."
“We didn't put on this uniform just to provide security,” said ANA Sgt. Akhund, of Zormat District. “We want to help people and help the children get an education so they can have a better life and have peace.”
A young girl takes a backpack full of school supplies after a short ceremony celebrating the completion of a school in Paktya Province.
ANA soldiers distribute backpacks to young Afghans at the Gardez Orphanage in Gardez City, April 3. The backpacks contained school supplies and humanitarian aid and were used to build trust between the ANA and the local population. (Photo by AF Staff Sgt. Barry Loo)
Afghan girls from the Baladeh School look through backpacks of supplies, distributed by ANA soldiers in Gardez District, April 7. ANA soldiers partnered with the Paktya PRT to deliver the supplies and promote education for young girls.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
TF Gambler pilot remembered at FOB Sharana Story and photos by Army Pfc. Michael Syner, TF Falcon
Soldiers with TF Gambler, an aviation unit from 4th CAB, 4th ID, attached to TF Falcon, 10th CAB, 10th Mtn Div, pay their final respects at FOB Sharana, May 28, to Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Thibodeau, an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot. Thibodeau died 2 days prior while conducting a mission in Paktika Prov.
PAKTIKA PROVINCE – “Chris died doing what he loved doing, and what he volunteered to do, flying. Just like all of us, he signed up to serve this great country,” said Capt. Casey Rumfelt, the cmdr. of Co. C Sidewinders. “The biggest compliment he gave to me about the Sidewinders was how he wanted to stay one of us when we got back to Hood, and on to Bliss. He looked me right in the eye and said ‘Sir, fight for me…’ with that I guaranteed him that I would; and I’ll never stop. Chris will always and forever be a Sidewinder, even after the colors have been cased.”
Lt. Col. Charles Bowery, the cmdr. of TF Dragon and Thibodeau’s former cmdr., highlighted the fallen pilot’s professional skills. “Chris impressed me with one salient character trait -- enthusiasm, and a willingness to pitch into any task,” said Bowery. “He worked hard at learning his trade as a pilot.”
Thibodeau is survived by his wife, Leesandra Thibodeau, and parents, Bob and Doreen Thibodeau. Thibodeau’s awards include the Air Medal, 2 Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon.
Lt. Col. Charles Bowery pays his respects.
Soldiers with TF Gambler pay their final respects.
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IRAQI STORIES:
DVIDS
A Treat for the TroopsStory by Spc. Darriel Swatts
Saddam Hussein’s Al-Faw Place, now the headquarters for USF-I (U.S. Forces – Iraq) located on Victory Base Complex, May 4.
VICTORY BASE COMPLEX – Soldiers from the 40th CAB stationed at Camp Taji, were rewarded for their hard work with a guided tour of historic sites on Victory Base Complex, the Baghdad HQ of USF-I.
“We were trying to find a way to recognize the soldiers for all of their hard work,” said 2nd Lt. Sarah Cooley, 40th CAB adjutant. “All too often, soldiers who come to Iraq never get to see anything outside of their office, so we figured this would be a good way to reward them, and let them see a little bit of the history of the war, too.”
"Once the plans were set and everything was good to go, the decision on who to send was left up to the soldiers’ command," said Lt. Col. Raymond Watts, the 40th CAB liaison officer to USF-I. Eighteen soldiers were selected for the trip. They woke up early the morning of May 4 and loaded up onto 2 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. For many, it was their first time leaving Camp Taji since arriving in Feb.
“I haven’t had the chance to leave the base and actually see what Iraq looks like, because I arrived at Taji at night,” said Pfc. Rolando Zapata, an aviation ops specialist for the 40th CAB. “I enjoyed the flight a lot. We were lucky enough to fly with the doors open on a clear day. I could see for miles all around.”
Upon arriving at VBC, the soldiers were bused to Saddam Hussein’s Victory over America Palace, where they were given a guided tour by USF-I personnel. The palace was still under construction when it was hit by a bomb in the opening stages of the war.
“It was awesome to see where the bomb hit the building,” said Zapata. “The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and walked us all around the building, explaining everything as we went along.” They next toured the Ba’ath Party House where Saddam is known to have murdered people, sometimes allegedly for his amusement. Also on the tour was the largest palace on VBC, the Al-Faw Palace, which Saddam intended to use as a site for major meetings with foreign delegates after its completion in 2000. It was taken over by American forces in April 2003.
“When I walked into the Ba’ath Party House, I got shivers down my spine,” said Sgt. Maria Rosario Chua, bde paralegal NCO-in-charge for the 40th CAB. “Just being in a place like that, where so many innocent people were killed by Saddam and his people; it just feels weird.”
“When we toured Saddam’s palace [Al-Faw Palace] I was in awe with all the attention to detail in the stone work,” said Spc. Alfonso Contreras, air mission request processor for the 40th CAB. “There was marble everywhere.”
"With the trial run of the 40th CAB reward program being a success, it's hoped that a trip like this will happen every quarter for those soldiers who stand out, due to their hard work and dedication," said Cooley.
“My favorite part of the whole experience was getting to spend the day with my fellow 40th CAB Soldiers,” said Watts. “Having them here and getting to share in this experience with them, makes me happy to see them happy.”
The 40th CAB is an aviation brigade consisting of NG, Army Reserve and active-duty Army units from 22 states. With more than 3,000 personnel and 250 aircraft, the brigade is providing full-spectrum aviation ops in Iraq in support of OND.
(Left to right) Spc. Andrew Goodall, Spc. Ryan Stevens and Spc. Andrew Gaspar pose for a picture prior to starting their tour of some of the historic sites on Victory Base Complex.
A view from atop the Ba’ath Party House located on Victory Base Complex.
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USF-Iraq
Deployed Advisors, Trainers Earn Education HonorsStory by Spc. Breeanna DuBuke
The USF-I Dep. Comm. Gen. for Advising and Training (A&T), recognized 17 members of the A&T team for their commitment to post-secondary education, during an awards ceremony at the Babylon Conference Center, May 4.
BAGHDAD – The awards ceremony is part of a new Quarterly Education Excellence Recognition Program, designed to honor individual commitment to advanced education. Honorees include service members – enlisted, NCOs and officers – as well as civilian employees.
Among the 17 honorees, 2 are working towards associate’s degrees; 6 towards bachelor’s degrees, 6 towards master’s degrees; and 3 are working towards doctorate’s degrees. The most junior person recognized was Army Pfc. Ashley Powell, a finance mgt. specialist with the 1153rd Finance Mgt Det, who is working toward an associate’s degree in nursing from Saint John’s River Community College in St. Augustine, Fla. Since her arrival here last Dec., Powell has worked hard to master the art of time mgt., in order to achieve her degree.
“We work a good 50, 60, sometimes 70 hours a week,” said Powell. “I had to learn how to really manage my time to get in everything I want to. It’s nice to know that all these sleepless nights weren’t for nothing,” said Powell, an Army Reserve Soldier, who aspires to become a physician’s asst.
The majority of those honored have already attained one collegiate degree, and this event recognizes their efforts towards life-long learning. Many hope the recognition will serve as motivation to their peers to seek new educational challenges.
Sgt. 1st Class Naomi Gilbert, a senior enlisted aid to the DCG (A&T), looked at the ceremony as just that – a way to motivate other service members to work towards a higher degree. “I think this will help others to understand how important education is,” said Gilbert. “I hope this will inspire them to excel in their own educational efforts.” Gilbert is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Business Mgt at Phoenix University, where she maintains a grade-point-average of 3.8.
During the ceremony, Gilbert was also presented a certificate of achievement from the American Society of Military Comptrollers, along with a $200 scholarship from ASMC’s Desert Eagle Chapter, for her dedication to education excellence.
Santia Davis, a senior infrastructure engr with USF-I’s J7 Engr. Program Mgt. Div., received great praise during the ceremony, not only for her work towards a doctorate’s degree, but also for her invitation to attend the 13th Int'l. Symposium on the Mgt. of Industrial and Corporate Knowledge in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Davis has been working towards her doctorate in engineering mgt. and systems engineering at the George Washington University, since August 2010, and says that she's thankful for the support of her peers. “I’ve received so much support from my command,” said Davis. “If it weren’t for people giving me opportunities and encouragement, I don’t think I would've made it this far.”
Maj. Gen. Bradley May, executive dir. to the DCG (A&T), presented the awards on behalf of the DCG (A&T). “I think everyone knows the value and the premium we put on training and education,” May said. “This is a big deal. Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, the DCG (A&T), wants everyone to go out of Iraq a better person.”
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