Special troopS battalion, 1Sb baGraM airFielD, aFGHaniStan

BATTALION COMMANDER

reliable newSletter october 2012 – voluMe i

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STB

RELIABLE 6 On September 6, 2012 the Special Troops Battalion began their path into the

history books by sending the first wave of Reliable Soldiers into Afghanistan to begin preparation for the arrival of the main body. On 21 September 2012 the main body arrived safely in Afghanistan and started their nine month rotation in theater. In order to further prepare our Soldiers, we sent them to a weapons range and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) familiarization class. I am personally invested in keeping our Soldiers trained to face any situation which they might encounter. Within two short weeks of being on ground we successfully conducted a transfer of authority with the 10th Sustainment Special Troops Battalion “Work Horse”. During that time our Soldiers worked directly with the Workhorse team in order to learn how business was conducted in Afghanistan. Once trained, our Soldiers started taking the wheel as their counterparts provided over watch. Shortly thereafter on October 6, 2012, we officially relieved the 10th Sustainment Special Troops Battalion from their duties in Afghanistan and assumed the mission. For only the third time since 2007, the 1SB patch was presented to our Soldiers at a deployment patch ceremony. In this time honored tradition, the Soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan under the 1st Sustainment Brigade are authorized to wear the unit patch on their right shoulder sleeve. When the Soldier moves on he/she is allowed to continue wearing the deployment patch, distinguishing them as a Combat Veteran from then on. I have the utmost confidence in all of our Soldiers and expect that they will all perform above and beyond their duties. We are all very excited to be here and look forward to accomplishing our mission so that we can get back home to our loved ones. Before ending this month’s newsletter I would like to thank all of the Soldiers, Civilians and Families that support us in the rear. Our rear detachment commander, CPT Karr, and our FRSA, Trish, have been doing a great job keeping Families informed. Please do not hesitate to contact either of them with questions or for support. We are all part of the Reliable Family and we would not be successful without your support and for that we thank you! Wishing you all a safe and happy Halloween from Afghanistan.

Respectfully, LTC Charles A. Stamm

“Reliable 6”

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1SB Colors flying proudly in Afghanistan.

LTC Stamm and CSM Moore uncase the STB Colors in Afghanistan during the Transfer of Authority Ceremony.

BATTALION COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR

REQUEST FOR THE NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL: jimmy.plata@afghan.swa.army.mil

The Reliable Battalion at the Transfer of Authority ceremony

held 6 October 2012.

RELIABLE 7

Greetings to all of our Soldiers and Family members back at Fort Riley. Let me start off by saying that all of your Soldiers and loved ones arrived safely in Afghanistan. It has been a long road but the time is finally upon us. I would like to take a moment and reflect on our fast paced tempo which allowed us to get here today. Prior to my arrival to the Special Troops Battalion I received a phone call asking me when I’d be arriving, little did I know what I was in for. As soon as I arrived I was welcomed with a “Boy are we glad that you’re here!” This was partly due to not having a Command Sergeant Major for the past five months but also because I was one of the missing links in the STB chain of command. Within a week of being at the STB I was prepped to go to Afghanistan in order to conduct a reconnaissance and see where the unit would be deploying to in a few short months. Upon my return I was fully engaged in all Soldier actions to include our own unit training. I was going to personally make sure that everyone who was deploying was fully trained for the mission. Rest assured all of our Soldiers are trained and ready for our mission. I would not have chosen them if I had any doubt they weren’t ready. Once we arrived in Afghanistan our Soldiers had a short time to train with the Soldiers they were replacing in order to take over the mission. As was expected, our Soldiers were ready and excited to take on the mission at hand. Within a week we were in the seat and had taken over from the 10th Special Troops Battalion. They were very excited as well because they knew that after a yearlong deployment they could go home now that we had assumed the mission. As our Soldiers settle into their work pace please be assured that they will communicate back home. We have a place called the “Durable Drop Zone,” where our Soldiers can go and use the internet and phones to communicate with Family and loved ones, play video games, ping pong, or to just watch a movie and eat popcorn. We always focus on the mission first, but I assure you that your Soldiers safety is my number one concern and part of that concern is ensuring they have adequate time for resiliency. If your Soldier has not contacted you please feel free to email the HHC, 1SG at robert.p.mcelyea@afghan.swa.army.mil and he will ensure that the Soldier communicates with you. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Respectfully, CSM Thomas R. Moore

“Reliable-7”

Family, Friends and Soldiers of HHC, first and foremost, your Soldiers are safe, secure and in good spirits. It has been a busy last few weeks as we have moved forward and taken over operations from the 10th Sustainment Brigade. The Soldiers are doing great things to support the Warfighter, every piece and everything that our Soldiers do makes a difference.

Bagram Air Field (BAF) is a unique area. We have fallen into a built up area with many amenities. We have inherited some very nice facilities such a gym and day room. The gym which our predecessors just recently expanded houses treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, free weights as well as other weight machines. Our day room has plenty of TVs and video consoles, a theater able to seat 25+ along with a computer and telephone center. Most of our Soldiers live and work within walking distance of most of their needs.

In the last month we have had 10 Soldiers reenlist. We have also been privileged to honor the achievements of seven Soldiers by promoting them. Of the promotions most notable are those of Master Sergeant David Murph and Chief Warrant Officer Four Vincent Renaldo, Congratulations to them on a career of dedicated service as they have demonstrated hard work and potential for increased responsibility.

Regards, Van

C.P. Van Delist “Black Knight 6”

HHC, STB

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This has been an extremely productive month for our Detachment. We rigged and dropped 772 Container Delivery Systems (CDS), low cost low altitude (LCLA), and Joint Precision Airdrop Systems weighing over 1 million pounds which consisted of various supplies. We performed a total of 52 missions in support of 15 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area.

Always striving to improve our support capabilities, we took a leap forward this month by utilizing T-10 cargo parachutes for LCLA bundles for the first time. We spent countless hours inspecting and packing over 250 T-10 cargo chutes. These improvements have enabled us to provide greater sustainment as we were able to increase the amount of weight and commodities delivered per LCLA bundle. SPC Foose, SPC Madera, SPC Sanchez, SPC Pelkey, SPC Mosqera, SPC Flores, all received impact recognition by the Brigade Commander (COL Ryan) for their contributions on this milestone.

We were giving the opportunity once more to promote another well deserving Soldier to the rank of Sergeant. Newly promoted, SGT Jernigan has joined the NCO ranks and has stepped up to the position of squad leader, increasing the effectiveness of day to day operations for the Detachment. SGT Jernigan joined his peers, SGT Peterson and SGT Tabor as they all participated in the NCO induction ceremony which gave them a warm welcoming into the NCO Corps. We also had SPC Madera dedicate three more years of service to our Nation as he re-enlisted this month.

The month of September has been full of changes as we said our farewells to SGT Casasus and SGT Aicher as they returned home due to the force draw down as well as promotions and changes in leadership roles. SGT Sharp has stepped up as our floor supervisor in order to provide guidance and mentorship to younger leaders with-in our ranks.

“AIRBORNE” 1LT Carrea Johnson Detachment Commander

11TH QUARTERMASTER COMPANY

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SGT Jernigan walks across the stage during the NCO induction ceremony.

SFC Austin motivates our troops before rigging in full combat gear.

What makes the Army a unique career field is the diverse background and skills that each Soldier brings to their organization. SPC Alfonzo Lopez has distinguished himself as an exceptional 89B (ammunition specialist) but his popularity with the Soldiers and leadership of 60th Ordnance Company is for a completely different skill set. For as long as he can remember SPC Lopez has spent his free time in the family business of styling hair. Growing up in San Antonio, TX, SPC Lopez refined his skills over years of offering to cut others hair as he learned his craft. His brother now owns and operates his own barber shop in San Antonio and when SPC Lopez goes home for leave he typically will spend a few days at the shop learning new techniques and sharing what he has learned. During NTC rotation and even here in Afghanistan his services are requested by everyone, during lunch, after work whenever he can make the time; the Barber shop is open. SPC Lopez cranks out high and tights, fades and line ups making him vital to the Soldiers of this organization.

60TH ORDNANCE COMPANY

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SPC Lopez enjoying himself at the ASP.

At the 9/11 run.

Saying goodbye to his newborn daughter.

What does it take to run efficient postal operations in Afghanistan? The Soldiers of the 147th HR

Company can tell you. They are responsible for postal operations in RC-North, RC-East, and RC-Capital. This venture takes a joint team effort, with emphasis on the word joint. The 147th HR Company is made up of a Headquarters which is a National Guard Unit, the 376th Army Reserve Postal Platoon, the 909th Army Reserve Postal Platoon, two United States Navy Postal Platoons, and the 350th Army Reserve Plans and Operations section.

The key to successful postal operations is the distribution of mail. The Regional Mail Distribution Center on Bagram is responsible for mail distribution throughout RC-North, RC-East, and RC-Capital. They average moving 100,000 pounds of mail a month. They coordinate mail movement using both ground and air transportation and have had a successful tour with no backlog throughout their tenure.

AM3 Beltran was recently promoted to Petty Officer Third Class. He is part of the 1st Naval Postal Platoon up in FOB

Sharana.

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147TH HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND

The 147th HR Company Headquarters Team.

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As we get closer to our re-deployment date, the Enforcers have taken a step back in order to reflect on the lessons learned during a year long deployment and to prepare for the RIP / TOA process that looms in the near future with the incoming 396th MP Det. It has been a period in which our Soldiers have gone above and beyond their call of duty and played a key role in the retrograde / downsizing process that will see our troops heading home for good. Many were the tasks that the Enforcers have accomplished so far and as we set our sights in the near future, we can see how many of these experiences will open new doors to our Soldiers in their return to civilian lifes as most of them have already applied for federal jobs taking advantage of the rich experiences that the deployment left them. Our troops have become subject matter experts when it comes to Customs and Border clearance procedures and are using all the available resources to take this mission to a higher level of efficiency each and every day. The regulations and processes that govern our daily duties are critical in nature as in our hands fall the responsibility of clearing hundreds of passengers and equipment each day in order for this flights to cross many borders and safely arrive into their final destinations. The Month of October has brough, so far, many changes to our Operational scene with the departure of our now former Battalion [10th STB], to which we wish a safe journey home and Kudos for a job extremely well done. Changes are a necessary part of life as we are pleased to welcome the 1STB Commander and his troops. A lot of things were accomplished with the 10Th STB and I know that many more will be achieved in the near future with our new Battalion. A different Operational mindset and new COA’s have been developed in order to enhance the Operation we are so proud off, as we look forward to quickly grasped the new Battle Rhythm and make the most of our remaining time in BAF. Safety continues to be our number one priority and we would like to thank all of our “customers” for showing great respect and cooperation in maintaining our very high standards.

The Customs mission is not an easy task due to its complex regulations and rigorous inspections and just to give you a rough idea, this are a few of our numbers for only 15 days into the month of october: 51 Flights, 4,210 Passengers, 11,733 bags, 72 Connexes, 403 Containers, 140 Pallets and 151 Customers serviced thru our Customer Service Counter. We look forward to close out the Month of October on a high note.

SSG (P) Fabian Rodriguez Detachment Sergeant Unit Public Affairs Representative

215TH MILITARY POLICE

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Bagram, Afghanistan: Second

row from left to right, CPL’s from the

215th MP Det are inducted into the

NCO Ranks as part of the final 10th STB

NCO Induction Ceremony

Greetings from Hairatan Gate. It’s been a very busy month since the advance elements of the 267th Signal Company has touched ground on Afghanistan. For this newsletter, I will layout what we’ve accomplished so far to give you an idea of what your Soldiers have experienced. The journey began in Kansas, but where we really earned our pay was when we arrived in Bagram. The company started with equipment validation at Bagram Airfield where crews worked 24 hour shifts for five days until the signal equipment passed in-theater testing. Your Soldiers worked through many issues associated with operating new equipment but in the end we completed the validation ahead of schedule.

After our equipment was validated, we moved on to our new homes. The Warbirds are spread throughout three bases in Afghanistan: Bagram Airfield (BAF), Camp John Pratt, and Hairatan Gate (HGATE). I have been to all of the sites and each has its advantages and disadvantages, but there isn’t one that stands out as the best. BAF is located over 5,000 feet in the mountains, is crowded, but it has a PX and chow halls. John Pratt is a dusty camp and everyone is living in open bay tents. Someone mentioned to me the surroundings look just like Kansas. Unless he was talking about old footage of the dust bowl, I haven’t been anywhere in Kansas that looks like John Pratt. HGATE is a small base surrounded by some dusty hills near the border with Uzbekistan. HGATE has a decent little gym and a small MWR for Soldiers to use.

Now, getting back to the work, there was no rest for the company as we were shuttled from BAF to Mazari Sharif. The stay at Mazari Sharif was short, and upon arrival, the majority of the company convoyed to HGATE and went straight to work. The relief in place transition was briefer than expected, and our Soldiers jumped into the driver’s seat and started operations. Soldiers did inventory layouts, equipment shifts, or tower guard. Other Soldiers supported the convoys that depart HGATE, ordered supplies and equipment, or assisted with operations in the HGATE TAC building. I was very proud of our Soldiers and their accomplishments in spite of a tight schedule and minimal rest. The first month of a deployment is always challenging, and everyone contributed to our Signal mission. Not to leave out the CPN teams working at BAF and John Pratt, they have been busy these last few weeks and under many constraints. They have been overcoming configuration issues and improving their positions – rewiring buildings, digging trenches for cable, and coordinating with their counterparts. I was very satisfied with their progress and site setups during my site visits.

Some other notable events the 267th accomplished since arriving were the 1SB combat patch ceremony and uncasing ceremony. It is the first deployment for the majority of the company, and 1SG and I were honored to award your Soldiers their combat patch. The wearing of the combat patch on the right shoulder is a big deal, and it designates a Soldier as a combat veteran allowing them to wear the 1SB patch wherever they may go.

Sincerely,

Oliver B. Highley Commander

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267TH SIGNAL COMPANY

Uncasing the 267th Signal’s guidon in Afghanistan.

The Warbirds are awarded their 1SB combat patch