DESERTDESERT VOICEVOICEServing the U.S. and Coalition Forces in KuwaitJuly 27, 2005

Arifjan celebrates Puerto Rico Day

Pgs. 6-7

2 Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Volume 27, Issue 01The Desert Voice is an authorized publication for membersof the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Voiceare not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, theU.S. Government or Department of the Army. The editorialcontent of this publication is the responsibility of theCoalition Forces Land Component Command Public AffairsOffice. This newspaper is published by Al-Qabandi United, aprivate firm, which is not affiliated with CFLCC. All copy willbe edited. The Desert Voice is produced weekly by thePublic Affairs Office.

Page 3 Cultural awareness

PPaaggee 99 Koreans offer support

PPaaggeess 66&&77 Puerto Rico Night

PPaaggee 88 Marines load vehicles

PPaaggee 44 QRF supports border

PPaaggee 55 Red Horse trains for Iraq

PPaaggee 1111 Community Events

BBaacckk ppaaggee Fun in the Sun

The Morale Welfare and Recreation tripsto Kuwait will resume to offer service-members a look into Kuwaiti culture.

Marines from Combat Service SupportGroup 3 load vehicles and supplies ontothe Cape Douglas at the Seaport ofDebarkation.

Korean compound offers support bycoming to the aide of other Coalitionpartners.

Arifjan Soldiers held a Commonwealth ofPuerto Rico celebration. Events of thenight included Salsa dancing, dominoes,Jenga and pool.

Airmen from the 577th Red HorseSquadron train on convoy live-fire beforethey depart for their mission in Iraq.

Servicemembers enjoy a day at theCamp Arifjan pool. Photo by Spc.Janine Coogler.

On the coverPhoto by Spc. Michael Noggle

Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Myatt knocksover the Jenga tower at theCommonwealth of Puerto Rico Day atCamp Arifjan July 22.

CONTENTS 01

PPaaggee 1100 DOL provides suppliesDOL oversees supplies for all units inKuwait. It is responsible for 4 million gal-lons of fuel a month and storage of morethen 100,000 cases of water.

55

6

44

1100

The Navistar QRF conducts missions inand around the Iraq and Kuwait border insupport of U.S. and Coalition convoystraveling in and out of theater.

Summer Night’s Sundae and Movie,ping-pong tournament, UNO tournament.

DESERTVOICE

EditorCFLCC PAO/Desert Voice Camp ArifjanAPO AE 09306jonathan.stack@arifjan.arcent.army.mil

Find us online at www.dvidshub.net

CCFFLLCCCC CCoommmmaannddiinngg GGeenneerraallLt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb

CCFFLLCCCC CCoommmmaanndd SSeerrggeeaanntt MMaajjoorrCommand Sgt. Maj. Franklin G. Ashe

CCFFLLCCCC PPuubbll iicc AAffffaa iirrss OOffff iicceerrLt. Col. Debbie Haston-Hilger

CCoommmmaannddeerr 11 11tthh PPAADDCpt. Chevelle Thomas

NNCCOOIICC 11 11tthh PPAADDStaff Sgt. Kerensa Hardy

DDeesseerrtt VVooiiccee EEddiittoorr Sgt. Jonathan M. Stack

DDeesseerrtt VVooiiccee AAssssiissttaanntt EEdd iittoorrSpc. Robert Adams

DDeesseerrtt VVooiiccee SSttaaffff WWrriitteerrssSpc. Janine CooglerSpc. Debralee P. CrankshawSpc. Michael R. Noggle

11 11tthh PPAADD BBrrooaaddccaasstteerrSpc. Christina BeermanPfc. Jheridiah Anderson

3Desert Voice July 27, 2005

The country of Kuwait was once influencedby the Ottoman Empire, the greatest Islamicgovernment of its time. It also had severalmutual agreements with the British Empire,which had protected Kuwait and its interna-tional interests for decades. Upon recognizingits potential, Kuwait began to pursue inde-pendence in 1896.

These and many other facts, as well as his-torical sites in Kuwait, are some of the reasonsI have decided to resume Cultural Awarenesstrips in Kuwait. While famous for its oilreserves this country has a rich history of pearldiving, fishing, trading and shipbuilding.

When conditions permit, we should takeevery opportunity for men and women to learnand understand the history, culture and peopleof our host nation country. We must also learnhow this country fought for its independenceand has prospered in a free and democraticsociety for quite some time.

My intent is for the military residents ofKuwait (not for transiting units) to visit someof the sites that reveal the illustrious history ofthis country, as well as the more modern andcultural evolutions that make Kuwait an oasis.To make these trips safe and enjoyable, thereare two imperatives I want service men andwomen to adhere to and leaders to enforce.They are: force protection and discipline and

standards.First and foremost, force protection is an

absolute. Safeguarding military personneltraveling into the city is paramount. Nothingwill be executed unless the leadership is rea-sonably assured that off-post activities can beconducted safely. There will be periods, I amcertain, where because of force protection con-cerns, I will temporarily suspend this program– so expect the inconvenience.

The second is discipline and standards; thisis non-negotiable. Our service men andwomen will adhere to military standards andconduct themselves honorably. The face ofAmerica is the face of our military men andwomen in uniform. We will present a profes-sional, mature and respectable image ofAmerica.

As this program is developed under ASG-Kuwait control, your chain of command willgive you the specific details on execution. Wewill start on a smaller scale, but there will alsobe provisions to expand the program at a laterdate. The Cultural Awareness program will beavailable to all service components on all U.S.camps in Kuwait through coordination andtraining of unit representatives.

Each unit’s leadership will be required tocomplete short but mandatory cultural aware-ness training prior to being allowed to partici-pate. The purpose of the training is to famil-iarize and to sensitize our troops with the cus-toms and courtesies of the local culture.

People seeAmerican troops asprofessionals and areflection of theattitudes of ournation. We reallyare ambassadorsfor our country andwe don’t want tooffend anyonebecause of a lackof understanding ofthe beliefs and traditions of Kuwait or theArab culture.

After certification, units will coordinatewith the ASG-Kuwait office, select a brochurefor the locations they would like to visit, andunder the unit’s chain of command, will taketheir trip. Transportation will be provided byASG-Kuwait.

Mission success in Iraq begins with mis-sion success in Kuwait. Our Soldiers,Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coalition part-ners must be ready to support our forces bothin and out of Iraq. This program is an indi-cation of the success we have achieved inthis region. This does not mean that ourmission is complete or that the threat of ter-ror no longer exists. We will still exerciseoperational awareness and force protectionmeasures that reinforce our current andfuture stance on fighting terror. “PATTON’SOWN”

Soldiers offered chance to experience Kuwait

Korean Support Group lends helping hand

Troops in Iraq need all the sup-port they can get to continue car-rying out their missions. Somehelp comes directly from the U.S.military units in Kuwait orCoalition partners lending a help-ing hand.

A Feb. 26 ribbon-cutting cere-mony marked the official openingof the Korean Support Group ofZaytun Division in Kuwait onCamp Virginia.

Since then, the Koreans havebeen lending support to otherCoalition partners and offering liv-ing quarters to distinguished visi-tors of any Coalition, said Cpl.Joon Oh, Korean Support Grouptranslator.

“Our main support (to thetroops in Iraq) is transportation,”said Lt. Col. Yong Kim, KoreanSupport Group commander.

While completing its deliveryof resupply missions the supportgroup is able to offer services toother Coalition partners who needtransportation to or from Iraq.

The Korean soldiers of a smallseven-trailer compound has takenon the task to support their troopsheaded to and from Iraq. AllKorean soldiers deployed to Iraqmust pass through Camp Virginiato in-and-out-process. Nothingcan go directly to Iraq, so thesmall support group has a largetask to keep its troops in Iraqequipped with the things theyneed, Oh said.

“We have a good relationship

with all the Coalition, and we arealways willing to lend our supportwhenever we can,” Kim said.

Examples of such generosity tothe Coalition happened on April13 when Lithuania’s troops, head-ed home from Iraq, missed theirconvoy to the Kuwait InternationalAirport, Kim said. Ready to lenda helping hand, the support groupvolunteered to make a convoy.With the help of U.S. military guntrucks, the convoy was a success.

“They almost missed theirflight back home,” Kim said. “Itwas an honor to help our Coalitionpartner.”

The Korean Support Group hasa sense of family with otherCoalition partners. In fact, part ofthe seven-trailer compound is opento use by all Coalition partners.

These living quarters are avail-able for Korean troops to relax inas well as any VIP stoppingthrough Kuwait by way of Iraq.

“We were ready to offer ourtrailers to the generals,” Kim said.“We take care of these trailers andmake them comfortable not onlyfor ourselves ... but we take careof them for all the Coalition part-ners.”

In support of the Global War onTerrorism, the Korean army con-tinues to make its presence known.Contributing to the war efforts, thesmall Korean Support Group dili-gently works on its cause to sup-port Korean troops going to andfrom Iraq, Kim said. Along withthis, the support group continuallyoffers its assistance to all partnersin the Coalition.

Spc. Janine Coogler 11th PAD

Lt. Gen. R. Steven WhitcombCFLCC Commanding General

Lt. Gen. Whitcomb

4 Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Faster than you can say, “mount up,”Camp Navistar’s quick-reaction force reactsto calls for support and security in andaround northern Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Manning observation towers 24 hours aday and scanning its territory in gun trucks,the QRF is the eyes and ears of the main con-voy route into Iraq.

The crew is made up of National GuardSoldiers from Headquarters and HeadquartersDetachment and Company C, 172nd MilitaryPolice Battalion, Task Force Green Mountain.

The QRF Soldiers hold many differentArmy jobs like Infantry, cavalry scout, cook,mechanic, medic, etc., but are deployed toKuwait to perform the QRF mission at CampNavistar.

“They all came together under this mission… and they melded right off the bat and havedone an excellent job,” said Sgt. 1st ClassJeff Schembeck, HHD, 172nd MP Bn., pla-toon sergeant.

Prior to deploying, the Soldiers got thechance to practice firing the .50-calibermachine gun to prepare for their mission insupport of the Global War on terrorism.

Everyone in the platoon shot well duringthe training, said Sgt. 1st Class AndrewCampagne, HHD, 172nd MP Bn., squadleader. “This is unique since most of themachine gunners were from different job

fields.”Since arriving Jan. 1, the QRF has carried

out several daily missions. One of the missions is to pull security

along the Kuwaiti and Iraqi border.The QRF protects the military’s northern-

most camp, where the population canincrease far above normal when convoys rollthrough.

Another part of the QRF mission involvesleaving the camp gates for route reconnais-sance throughout northern Kuwait.

During these trips, the team looks for any-thing out of the ordinary (possible improvisedexplosive devices, obstructions, etc.) alongconvoy routes to ensure the safety ofCoalition convoys entering and returningfrom Iraq.

Though the QRF area of operation ismostly in Kuwait, there are times they haveto cross the border.

“The guys responded across the border forthe IED that went off next to a convoy inApril and have gone across to assist in vehi-cle accidents to Coalition vehicles,”Schembeck said.

If a situation calls for artillery operations,the QRF provides support and security to 1stBattalion, 178th Field Artillery Soldiers.

After the call comes down, they have aspecific amount of time to get to the borderand help out, Campagne said.

The QRF also provides security for week-ly meetings across the border.

“They take their job very seriously,” saidCapt. Stephen Bragg, HHD, 172nd MP Bn.commander. “There are a few law-enforce-ment people within the platoon, so they knowhow to handle themselves and react underpressure.”

Though hostile situations rarely occurwithin the QRF area of operation, the team isconstantly on watch.

Spc. Sean Whittemore, HHD, 172nd MPBn. added, “It’s a tough job, but somebodyhas to do it.”

Navistar QRF: Kuwait’s border support

Soldiers man observation towers 24 hoursa day, keeping an eye on the border.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Jason EatonWhile on an alternate mission in Iraq, the Navistar QRF came upon a truck on fire. The scene was secure and they moved out to com-plete their mission. The platoon performs several support and security missions around the Kuwait and Iraq border.

Spc. Robert Adams11th PAD

5Desert Voice July 27, 2005

It’s an exercise that all ser-vicemembers must prepare forbefore deploying into the Iraqitheater: reflexive and convoylive-fire training.

While the threat of insurgencyremains, the United States andthe Coalition Forces are findingfaster and safer ways for supplyconvoys to minimize the dangerand complete the mission.

Airmen of the 557thExpeditionary Red HorseSquadron, a combination ofactive Air Force, Air NationalGuard and Reservists took part ina convoy live-fire and reflexivefire excersice at Udairi Rangenear CampBuehring aspart of theirthree-daytrain-upbeforeheading into Iraq to start theirtour of duty.

The first day consisted of thereflexive fire portion of the train-ing, with each member of theunit engaging paper targets fromseven to 25 meters away.

Before going on the convoylanes everyone must be comfort-able with his weapon and be ableto engage the enemy from closerange, explained David A.Ocasio, Udairi Rangeobserver/controller.

Once they completed therange, the unit moved on to theconvoy lanes. The convoy con-sisted of more than 100 memberstraveling through a zone, wherethere could be a potential threat.

The team encountered enemysniper fire or improvised explo-sive devices during four scenar-ios, which either forced the teamto treat casualties or recover ablown-up vehicle. If the casual-ty’s injury was too severe then amedical evacuation wasarranged.

After each scenario, the O/Con the range reviewed and cri-tiqued what the convoy did right

and what needed to be improved.It gets crazy when explosions

and bullets are flying around, butthey need to be able to reactwithout a second thought, Ocasiosaid. Getting the convoythrough the danger zone as fastas possible is the key to success.

The after-action review was-n’t only for the team to knowwhat went wrong but also foreach member to learn the differ-ent jobs in the convoy, said AirForce Capt. Jason Moschella,convoy commander. The Airmenwere determined as a unit to beattheir previous time and carry outthe mission swiftly.

“They need to know how tooperate within a convoy,”Moschella said. “They must

know whatthe differentpositions ina convoy doand how toreact to

those different scenarios.”“We’ve been doing rehearsals

on aid and litter teams, recover-ing vehicles and landing zones,”said Air Force Airman 1st ClassAdam Haviland, heavy equip-ment operator. “It has been agood recap from what we wentthrough at Fort McCoy,Wisconsin.”

Sgt. Benjamin Scott, engi-neer, said he felt the training wasa valuable asset because heacclimated to the heat and ter-rain, something they weren’t ableto do at McCoy.

The squadron, which is con-figured with Active dutyAirmen, Reservists and AirNational Guardsmen, not onlyreceived crucial training, but gotto know each other in the unit.

“We’ve met up with peoplefrom across the United States,”said Air Force Tech Sgt. JuanBuitron, an electrician andreservist from San Antonio.“We were thrown in together atFort McCoy, trying to learn whatwe will be doing and workingwith one another.”

The unit will be conducting

electrical technician and engi-neering operations throughoutIraq such as building airport run-ways, reconstructing buildingsand repairing roadside cratersfrom IEDs. The “dirt boys,” asMoschella referred to the heavyequipment operators, will be themost active as they help outwherever needed.

“We’re supposed to go in thecountry and put up buildings anddo some electrical wiring,among other things, and wewere never really trained onconvoys besides what wereceived at Fort McCoy,”Buitron said. “So if we need toleave the forward operating base

for any reason by convoying to acertain location to do somework, then this training will helpquite a bit.”

Buitron, like others in theunit, works as an electricianwhen he is not mobilized. Heand the rest of the unit were pos-itive and felt capable of com-pleting the mission and gettingeveryone home.

“This training will preparethem for those situations thatnobody wants to face, but they’llbe able to handle it,” Moschellasaid. “We’re ready to put CampBuehring behind us, where wegot a lot of great training, andmove forward to Iraq.”

Red Horse Squadron prepares to travel northSpc. Michael R. Noggle11th PAD

Spc. Michael NoggleAirmen of the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron carry acasualty during their convoy battle drills at Camp Buehring.

“They must know what the differentpositions in a convoy do and how toreact to those different scenarios.”

Air Force Capt. Jason Moschella

Music, dancing, dominoesand pool set the scene for agood cultural time.

The Zone 1 CommunityCenter was filled Friday for acelebration of Puerto Rico’scommonwealth status.

“It’s very simple (why weheld this celebration),” said Sgt.1st Class Armando Rosario,event coordinator. “First, we’refar away from home. Anotherreason is that in July of 1950,Puerto Rico wrote its own con-stitution to become a common-wealth of the United States. Wealso wanted to see the Hispaniccommunity on Arifjan enjoythemselves.”

The festivities includedauthenticPuerto Ricanfood, Jenga,dominoestournamentand Salsa dancing.

“(We choose these activities)because they are typical of a(Puerto Rican) family gathering.Almost every house is like thison a holiday,” said Staff Sgt.Gustavo Vega, event coordina-tor.

The night started off with aPuerto Rican dinner, includingrice with chick peas, slow-roast-ed pork, jibaritos fritos (bananas

breaded and fried), and alcohol-free pina coladas.

The pork was hard to findand a chore to cook, accordingto Sgt. 1st Class Hector Catala,who helped prepare the pig.

There is no pork on the localeconomy, but one of the diningfacilities had a pig that wasordered, but never picked up,according to Catala. Upon find-ing the pig, coordinators hopedto prepare and serve it for thecelebration. The pig was 209pounds and took six hours toroast.

Dominoes, pool and Salsatournaments got underway afterthe food had been served.

Everything was judgedaccording to Puerto Rican rules.

“It’s a great thing (to win)because it’s something we’vepracticed. I taught my partner

in threehours – onehour forthree days.She knew a

little when we started,” Catalasaid, Salsa winner. “I just want-ed to have fun. I wanted to bein the contest even if I didn’twin.”

The turnout was somethingthat some of the organizers wereexpecting, while others weren’t,they said.

“At the beginning of thenight I expected 100 to 150 peo-ple to show up, but I think there

were more. We got good sup-port from the community outhere,” Vega said.

While Vega said he wasimpressed by the turnout, anoth-er organizer, Rosario, said itwas anticipated.

“I expected the turnout to bethis big. (Morale, Welfare andRecreation) did a great jobadvertising,” Rosario said. “Allof the Hispanic community waslooking forward to coming

tonight.”Because of the large turnout,

Vega said organizers are consid-ering holding another celebra-tion for Hispanic HeritageMonth, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15.

Vega said the work theorganizers put into the nightmade it a success.

“It was well worth the timeand effort to put together,” headded. “I would do it allagain.”

6 Desert Voice July 27, 2005

People danced the night away,played dominoes, ate authentic

cuisine and shot pool at theCommonwealth of Puerto Rico

Day celebration.

BBaaiillaammooss

Spc. Debralee P.Crankshaw11th PAD

Photos by Spc. Michael NoggleSgt. 1st Class Hecta Catala and Sgt. Vasti Gomez practice a fewdance steps before the Salsa dance contest at the Commonwealthof Puerto Rico Day at Camp Arifjan.

“It was well worth the time andeffort to put together. I would do itagain.”

Staff Sgt. Gustavo Vega

7Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Spc. Debralee CrankshawA Puerto Rican Soldier competes in the pool tournament at Camp Arifjan. Second Lt. John Atkinson won the fieldof 10 competitors. He won a gold medal and a pocket watch for winning the event.

Alcohol-free Pina coladas were a popular drinkamong the celebrators. The frozen drink along withother Puerto Rican cultural food were served.

A group of domi-noes players beginthe domino tourna-ment which fea-tured six players.The participantsplayed for prizesand fun.

Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Myatt laughs after knocking over the Jenga tower.

Feet were mov-ing at a fastpace toHispanic musicduring theSalsa dancecompetition.

8 Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Marines from Combat ServiceSupport Group 3, 2nd MarineExpeditionary Force, were back atthe Seaport of Debarkation, tooff-load and load supplies andvehicles onto the Cape Douglasroll-on, roll-off ship, June 18 - 22.

This load of equipment wasrecently pulled out of Iraqbecause it was found to be nonop-erational for the 2nd MEF.

“Right now we are shippingexcess equipment and vehiclesthat are no longer serviceable,”said Marine Warrant Officer JohnBradley, Movement CoordinationCenter Kuwait assistant air offi-cer.

A month ago, the maintenanceunit based at Kaneohe Bay,Hawaii, off-loaded new MarineArmor Kit Humvees, Abramstanks and tank-retrieval vehiclesthat were distributed to the unitswith 2nd MEF in Iraq.

Bradley and his crew ofMarines spent three days workingto off-load more than 150 MAKHumvees and then reloadedalmost 600 vehicles and contain-ers that were no longer functionalor excess to the unit.

Most of the equipment loadedon the ship was either destroyedin a fight or the parts were bor-rowed to fix other vehicles,Bradley said. Five-ton truckswere missing tires and trailerbeds, M-2 Bradley tanks had notracks and Humvees were missingdoors.

“It’s pretty much like a clean-up mission,” said 1st Lt.Benjamin Gorman, ServiceDistribution DeploymentCommand, 595th TransportationGroup night shift officer incharge.

Most of the equipment on theloading ship belongs to theMarines, Gorman said.

He added, they went throughall their redeployment yards,motor pools and camps, and gath-

ered anything they found of nouse and shipped it home for repairor spare parts.

While the plans for stagingand loading the equipment of theship seemed perfect, excecutingwas difficult.

Gorman and his team ofSoldiers organized and assistedthe Marines in their mission.

The Marines, Soldiers andcontractors here have been work-ing hard these past few days,Bradley said.

He added, Operations wereslow due to moving the brokenvehicles as well as only havingone operating crane.

Though it was a little difficult,the three were able to accomplishthe mission in the three-daytimetable and send the shipmentsto Jacksonville, Fla., Gormansaid.

The shipment wasn’t as easyas expected, said Staff Sgt.Robert Charles, terminal opera-tions non-commissioned officerin-charge 1185th TerminalTransportation Brigade,Lancaster, Pa. At some points theports had to load more than 1,000vehicles and containers – not an

easy task. It is a long process for a unit

coming into the port to beallowed on the ships, Charlesexplained. When units are rede-ploying, the vehicles and suppliesmust be staged, washed and thencleared through customs beforethey can be shipped.

As for the vehicles that cameoff the ship, all of the MAKHumvees will convoy their wayup to Iraq to the Marines in the2nd MEF.

One of the Marines on the

loading team, Sgt. Jose Gaucin,heavy-equipment mechanic, hadbeen at the port for a few daysseeing everything going on andoff the ship.

Gaucin said it sends a strongmessage to the rest of the Marinesthat the equipment is becomingadvanced and well-equipped.

“It’s good to see the Marinessending equipment home andspending the money to get it fixedor replaced,” Gaucin said. “Itshows that they really care for usand want us to have the best.”

Spc. Michael R. Noggle11th PAD

Marines deliver, receive equipment Out with the old, in with the new...

Spc. Curt CashourA Marine from Combat Service Support Group 3 directs a Humvee onto the back of a loading truckthat will transport the vehicles to the SPOD to be shipped back to the United States.

Staff Sgt. Robert CharlesAn overview of vehicles to be loaded on to ships.

9Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Tears ran down the faces of a few service-members while others grinned from ear to earas they were congratulated.

The emotion that filled the room madepeople cheer, hug, smile, laugh and cry. Thiswas not an ordinary day. It was a day thatsome servicemembers dreamed about foryears: the day they became American citizens.

Servicemembers who were permanentAmerican residents became American citizensJuly 20 in a naturalization ceremony on CampArifjan. The ceremony was the first per-formed in Kuwait. This joyous day cameafter a long process of paperwork and years ofwaiting to become citizens.

To recognize the contributions of theimmigrants in the U.S military, section 329 ofthe Immigration Nationality Act allows non-citizens to expedite the naturalization eligibili-ty through their active-duty status in the mili-tary during times of war.

Applicants for naturalization must be per-manent residents, submit background infor-mation, fingerprints and be very patient.Although the process was hurried alongbecause they were military, servicemembersstill had to wait for the paper trail to gothrough the proper channels.

“The process of the paperwork takes atleast three months, said Karen Landsness,director of U.S Citizenship and ImmigrationServices, Moscow Office.

Current military members have advantages

when applying for naturalization, Landsnesssaid. The application fee and the three- tofive-year waiting period are waived. In addi-tion, the ceremony does not have to be donein America.

“Soldiers don’t have to wait until theycome back from deployment to finish theprocess and become citizens, we come tothem,” Landsness said.

The expedited naturalization process forthe U.S. military has positively affectedSoldiers, Landsness said.

Equipped with their U.S citizen certificate,these servicemembers are able to pursue theirdreams.

Spc. Paul Defay, 844th Engineer Battalionengineer, originally from Haiti, said not hav-ing his citizenship was the only thing that wasstopping him from going ahead with hisgoals.

“I have a Bachelor of Arts in electricalengineering, with a minor in mathematics, andcan speak four languages fluently. So I thinkI have the credentials to be an officer,” Defaysaid.

As a citizen, he is realistically able to pur-sue such goals.

As permanent residents, the Soldiers car-ried most rights and privileges natural-borncitizens have, but not all.

“If the people are considered the voice,then I wanted to be part of that voice,” saidSgt. Franklin Rivera, 40th Finance Division,originally from Nicaragua. “I’m ready to beable to make political decisions,” he said.

Standing proud with their right hand in the

air, servicemembers took the oath of alle-giance. They were ready to becomeAmerican citizens and pursue all their goalsand dreams.

They walked into the chapel as residents.They left as proud American citizens.

First naturalization ceremony held in KuwaitSpc. Janine Coogler11th PAD

Staff Sgt. Alex Lopez PhilippinesSgt. Eknow Aentwi GhanaSgt. Andrew Armstrong CanadaSgt. Ayi Ayayi TogoSgt. Amanda Bunch CanadaSgt. Maribel Castro PeruSgt. Gino Caspillan PhilippinesSgt. Valery Doh CameroonSgt. Eugene Gault S. KoreaSgt. Maria Gregg MexicoSgt. Rodrigo Palacios MexicoSgt. Bernard Gyan GhanaSgt. Seifu Kassa EthiopiaSgt. Adriana Frias MexicoSgt. Juan Zarate-Chevarria MexicoNavy PO2 Romuel Agaton PhilippinesSpc. Divine Agbale GhanaSpc. Richard Bamfo GhanaSpc. Lesline Bennett Jamaica Spc. Rafael Bigai-Baez Dominican Republic

Spc. Vichous Charles GrenadaSpc. Norka Celentano EcuadorSpc. Tae Chung KoreaSpc. Paul Defay HaitiSpc. Evroy Forsythe JamaicaSpc. Adeyemi Gbogboade NigeriaSpc. Yair Hodge-Marta PanamaSpc. Sergio Toscano-Jara EcuadorSpc. Tivia Jarrett JamaicaSpc. Wen ShaoLoftis Peoples Republic of ChinaSpc. Rames Morris LiberiaSpc. Kerry-Ann Nicely JamaicaSpc. Ralph Nichols Dominican RepublicSpc. Alvaro Padilla NicaraguaPfc. Edwin Albeno-Aguirre El SalvadorPfc. Joseph Kokotiuk-Braaten Costa RicaPfc. Marie Laurent HaitiPfc. Reina Rivas-Bonilla El SalvadorPfc. Alba Armenta-Rivera MexicoPfc. Jairo Torres Honduras

41 servicemembers cite oath of allegiance

Servicemembers who took the oath of allegiance and their countries of origin

Spc. Janine CooglerServicemembers cite oath of allegianceduring a naturalization ceremony July 20.

10 Desert Voice July 27, 2005

DOL fuels Soldier trainNapoleon said, “An army marches on its

stomach.”The Directorate of Logistics is here to make

sure those stomachs stay full as well as to pro-vide other services to the troops.

DOL provides combat service supportincluding food, water, fuel, maintenance, trans-portation services, property book services andammunition resupply and is responsible for con-tracting services to all units operating inKuwait.

“In short, we provide anything needed toarm, fix, fuel or feed the Soldiers,” said Lt.Col. Joerle Blackman, director of logistics,Area Support Group – Kuwait.

DOL oversees distribution of nearly 4 mil-lion gallons of fuel a month, 1.8 million bags ofice annually and storage of more than 100,000cases of water.

They also operate the 1,000 light sets onCamp Arifjan and have rebuilt more than 350battle-damaged, up-armored High-MobilityMulti-Wheeled Vehicles.

DOL has approximately 60 Soldiers and 10Department of the Army civilians supervisingthe different operations.

“We are here to oversee, we don’t actuallyput our hands in to do the work,” said Sgt. 1stClass Linwood Nelson, support operations non-commissioned officer in charge, ASG –Kuwait.

DOL employees may only supervise, butaccording to Nelson, they have an importantjob.

“Without DOL,you would have nosupport, no supply –nothing. There is noone else in theater to control all these entities,”Nelson said.

DOL’s mission has been a little more diffi-cult lately with the task of moving their servic-es from Camp Doha to Camp Arifjan and CampBuehring, according to Blackman. They arealso transitioning out Kellogg, Brown and Rootand establishing a sustainment contract.

“We’ve had activities at Doha since the GulfWar. There was so much there we couldn’t justpick it up and move it,” Blackman said. “Wehad to phase the service out and transition intoa new facility as it became available.”

DOL missions here and in the states are very

similar, Blackman said, but one major differ-ence is the numbers of Soldiers supported intheater.

“We’ve got essentially nine installations tosupport with Soldiers coming in and out from(Operation Iraqi Freedom and OperationEnduring Freedom),” Blackman said. “Threehundred thousand Soldiers come through hereon an annual basis. A tremendous amount of

logistics goes into sup-porting those forces.”

To keep up with somany Soldiers,Blackman said he is con-

stantly trying to get ahead.“The biggest challenge is to keep pace with

this operation. Requirements are so large youhave to stay on top of it every day,” Blackmansaid.

“No day is the same. A situation will arisethat you have to react to. You have to be for-ward-thinking and prepare for something (to gowrong),” he said.

Blackman said he is always trying to pre-pare for something to go wrong, but knows hesometimes needs to take it easy.

“A big challenge I have is knowing when toturn off the light,” Blackman said. “You need

to relax. Just when you think you have some-thing taken care of – the next day there isanother hurdle for you to cross.”

Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw11th PAD

Using food, water, services, maintenance ...

“In short, we provide anything needed toarm, fix, fuel or feed the Soldiers.”

Photos by Spc. Debralee Crankshaw

Thomas Josephkutty (left) and Prasad Bhagawan, Directorate of Logistics contract work-ers sort a shipment of items that need to be delivered to units.

Ansari Reyazuddin, DOL contract worker,begins removing bolts and screws toremove the grill and repair an engine.

Lt. Col. Joerle Blackman

For more information call828-1340

FridayLeg-press competition, 6 p.m., MWR gymFor more information call839-1063

TuesdaySmoking cessation classes, 10 a.m., Rec.tentEducation/Awareness/Prevention, 1 p.m.,Rec. tentFor more information call844-1137

For information call 825-1302

For information call 823-1033

WednesdaySpades tournament, 7 p.m., MWR tentThursdayKaraoke Night, 8 p.m., Dusty RoomFridayDominoes, 7 p.m., MWR tent SaturdayHip Hop Night, 8 p.m., Dusty RoomSundayFoosball, 7 p.m., MWRFor more information call832-1045

Arifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6gym Lap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolLegs, butts and guts, 5:30 a.m., Stretchand Flex, 8 a.m., Step aerobics, 1 p.m.,Circuit weight training, 3 p.m., Zone 1gymTuesdayBingo Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch andflex, 8 a.m., Circuit weight training, 1 p.m.,Step aerobics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymWednesdayHip Hop Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food Court Country Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 StagePingpong Tournament, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolFor more information call430-1205/1302

WednesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4ThursdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleTae-Kwon-Do class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1FridayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleWeight-lifting competition, 7 p.m., MWRGymSaturdayTae-Kwon-Do Class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1SundayWalking Club (10 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleMondayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4TuesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleTae-Kwon-Do class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1WednesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., com-mand cell flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4

WednesdayHip Hop Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food Court Country Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 StageLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolThursdayCountry Western Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterMexican Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 FoodCourtR&B/Old School Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6stage Cardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch andflex, 8 a.m. Circuit weight training 3 p.m.,Zone 2 gymLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolFridayArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6gymSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolInterval training, 5:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3p.m,. Zone 1 gymASG-KU Softball Championships, 6a.m., 7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 6 p.m., 7:30p.m., 9 p.m., Zone 1 Softball FieldSaturdayUNO tournament, 7 p.m. Zone 1Community CenterJazz Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterASG-KU Softball Championships, 6 a.m.,7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9p.m., Zone 1 Softball FieldCircuit weight training, 5:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 1p.m. and 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolSundayMexican Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterHip Hop Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 FoodCourtSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageASG-KU Softball Championships, champi-onship game, 6 p.m., Zone 1 Softball FieldLap swimming, 5 - 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch andFlex, 8 a.m., Circuit weight training, 1p.m., Step Aerobics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymMondayA Summer Night’s Sundae and a Movie, 7p.m., Zone 1 Community Center, movie isXXX - State of the Union

11Desert Voice July 27, 2005

Arrive

s

DohaDep

arts D

oha

Stop 2*

Arrive

s

Arifjan

Depart

s

Arifjan

Arrive

s Doha

Stop 2*

Depart

s Doha

Stop 1*

Doha/Arifjan Shuttle Schedule

* Stop 1 is behind the Building 6 PAX TentStop 2 is between Buildings 28 and 31

Victory

Virginia

Spearhead/SPOD

Navistar

Buehring

Kuwaiti Naval Base

Community happenings for July 27 through August 3Arifjan

Send event and activitylistings to the Desert Voiceeditor at the e-mail addresslisted on page 2.

101514451900

0700102514501910

0715 104015051925

0830120016152045

0545084513001630

100014301745

FFuunn iinntthheessuunn ......