T ASK FORCE FALCON Falcon Flier - i-kirk

Page 1February 2, 2002

Produced for the personnel of Task Force FalconVolume 6, Issue 6 February 2, 2002

T A S K F O R C E F A L C O N

What’s Inside...

Dynamic Duo...

Fitness expert discussesweight training,

supplements and ephedrine.Pg. 14

Falcon Flier

Visit us on line at http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil

Sgt. Andre Grooms, a slingload team leader in Headquarters and A Company, 10th Logistical Task Force (10th Mountain Division), watches a CH-47Chinook with two nets of flour take off for the village of Arren, Albania, Jan. 21st. The 10th LTF delivered almost 40 tons of flour to three isolatedmountain villages in eastern Albania during Operation Mountain Relief, a humanitarian relief mission, during a three day period.

Spc. Bill Putnam/photo

Tenth Logistical Task Force and Task Force Dragonbring aid to stranded villagers on Albanian mountain side

KUKES, Albania— Afterbattling weather and time foralmost a week, a small group ofAmerican soldiers helped feedthree isolated mountain villagesnear this town in eastern Albania.

When a major snowstorm hitthe region earlier this month, theAlbanian government asked theAmerican government for humani-tarian relief for these strandedvillagers. Three mountain villages ineastern Albania were snowed-inwith a dwindling food supply andwith no chance of getting help untilspring.

The U.S. Governmentresponded with a humanitarianrelief operation called “OperationMountain Relief.”

The 10th Logistical TaskForce (10th Mountain Division),Fort Drum, N.Y., and the1stplatoon, C Co. 7th Bn. of the101st Aviation Reg., (101stAirborne Division), Fort

by Spc. Bill PutnamStaff Writer

Campbell, Ky., provided the manand equipment power for theoperation. A small contingent ofartillerymen from 3rd Battalion,6th Field Artillery Regiment,provided security on the LandingZones.

“The tasking came down forus to provide some soldiers tocome to this location here,” saidCapt. Michael Rivera, the com-mander for Headquarters/ A Co.,10th Logistical Task Force, “andrig some flour, and prepare to slingload it forward to provide somerelief to some people who needit.”

The mission’s importancewas stated early on by 2nd Lt.Robert Cargel, a platoon leader inHeadquarters and A Company,10th Logistical Task Force. ”These people haven’t eaten inalmost a week and a half,” he saidat the briefing. “It’s up to us thatthey get that food.”

The plan to bring thesevillages food was simple, Cargelexplained the night before the

mission started.“We’re going to fly from

Camp Bondsteel to Kukes,Albania, unload the helicoptersand rig the food onto nets,” thesling-load platoon leader in HQ/Alpha Company, said, “fromthere we’ll slingload the food tothe towns.”

Unfortunately the weatherheld up the plan. After waitinguntil midday both Jan. 19 and20, the mission was scrubbeddue to heavy fog.

Monday, Jan. 21, wasdifferent. The heavy fog that hadsocked the area in burned offearly. The two CH-47 Chi-nooks, and one UH-60 BlackHawk from the B Co. 2 of the10 Aviation Reg. (Fort Drum,N.Y.) were quickly loaded withequipment and soldiers, and thentook off for this small Albanianarmy compound.

Because the sun sets earlythis time of year, they only had acouple of hours of daylight towork with each day. The small

force of American soldiers wentto work. The helicopters wereunloaded, six cargo nets rolledout, and small Albanian armytrucks loaded with 110-poundsof flour drove onto the airfield.Albanian soldiers helped theAmericans stack a total of 13tons of flour for the village ofArren that day.

After that the Chinooksand Black Hawk took off, and asling-load crew hooked themwith their swinging cargo. Withthat the Landing Zone fell quietuntil the helicopters returned forthe flight back to CampBondsteel. The Black Hawkwould act as an observation andcontrol helicopter for the two,much larger, Rivera said. Chi-nooks during the three missions.

While the helicopters wereoff delivering their much-neededcargo, he said this mission issomething that his soldiers haverelished. As the ground com-mander for the sling loading and

Holiday Road...

Pumping Iron...

Operation Iron Fist...

KFOR soldiers search forillegal weapons.

Pg. 16.

Trip to Bulgaria offers restand relaxation.

Pgs. 8-9

Father and son servetogether in Kosovo.

Pg. 4

(Please see AID, page 14)

February 2, 2002Page 2

About the Falcon Flier...The Falcon Flier newspaper is an official publication of Task Force Falcon and is used for the intentpurpose of providing command information to servicemembers serving in the TFF area of operation. TheFalcon Flie r is produced by the 131st MPAD (Alabama Army National Guard), TFF PAO.Contents of the Falcon Flier newspaper are not necessarily official views, nor endorsed by the U.S.Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 10th Mountain Division.The Falcon Flier newspaper is published bimonthly, using offset press by the TFF Public Affairs officelocated in Building 1320, Camp Bondsteel.Submissions or story ideas related to the TFF mission are encouraged and should be directed to the editorat 781-5200; or by mail at HQ Task Force Falcon PAO, Attn: Editor, Camp Bondsteel APO AE 09340 or e-mail at [email protected]. Printed Circulation: 4,000.

Task Force Falcon Public Affairs StaffTFF Commander....................................................Brig. Gen. Keith M. HuberTFF Public Affairs Officer...............................................Maj. James T. CrewsKFOR Media Liasion........................................................Capt. John TongretCamp Bondsteel OIC..................................................Capt. Larry McDonaldCamp Bondsteel Information Officer.....................Capt. Charles DeVinnerPublic Affairs Supervisor................................Master Sgt. Robert C. BrownCamp Bondsteel Administrative Specialist......................... Spc. Lena MillsCamp Bondsteel Media Relations NCOIC...Sgt. 1st Class Melinda EarlyCamp Bondsteel Press Section NCOIC........Staff Sgt. Michael P. McCordCamp Bondsteel Broadcast NCOIC.................... ........Staff Sgt. Britt SmithCamp Bondsteel Broadcasters.....................Sgt Jeff Camp,Spc. Myra BushCamp Monteith NCOIC....................................Sgt. 1st Class Wilfred LeavittCamp Monteith Administrative Specialist..................Cpl. Jamie HenshonCamp Monteith Broadcaster................................ .............Spc. Marty Dyson

Task Force Falcon Flier StaffSenior Editor..........................................................................Sgt. Jamie BrownEditor............................................................................Spc. Taylor P. BarbareeDaily Flier/Webmaster...........................................................Spc. Terry BoggsStaff Writers.............................................Spc. Molly Jones, Spc. Bill Putnam

TFF Commanding General

No New Year’s resolutions: Using the present of today

TFF Command Sergeant Major

Look around: What you can do to make a difference today

Command Sgt. Maj.Ted Walker

Brig. Gen. Keith M. Huber

Webster definesresolution as ‘the act ofdetermining.’ When I say ‘noNew Year’s resolutions’ letme put it in a proper context.The past is history, it’s apoint in time, it’s a source ofknowledge and education,and it’s a lesson that we canlearn from. The future isuncertain, and it’s a mystery.Today is now. It is a pre-cious opportunity. It is a raregift, and that is why I think

we refer to today as a ‘present.’ So what do you dowith this opportunity?

I don’t believe in the concept of New Year’sresolutions, something that you decide to do on aspecific point in time, and typically the joke is that bythe end of January all New Year’s resolutions havebeen broken. What I propose to you is that we needto make these resolutions each and every day. Eachday, the present of the day gives us the opportunity, thegift, to go through a resolution, this act of determining,of shaping how we can become better human beingsand better soldiers.

I would like to challenge you. I want you to takethis opportunity that we have while we are deployed toKosovo. I want you to look at your spiritual health.Take a few minutes a day to focus on what you think istruly important, to improve your relationship with yourGod, with your family, with your friends, to reflectinward, as to how to be a better human being, and abetter soldier.

I want you to challenge yourself, and look criti-cally at your current physical health, possible weightloss, stopping a habit like chewing tobacco, or smok-ing, all of those activities that potentially diminish yourprivilege to share time with family and friends.

We’ve allowed ourselves the opportunity to go

without alcohol during our stay here, so for those ofyou that are seeing an improved physical condition,based upon decreased alcohol consumption, that’s agood news story. Challenge yourself to improve yourstamina, your strength and your speed. We have somegreat physical fitness facilities with the availability ofcertified trainers. You’ve got friends who will help youget in shape.

There are many of those here who have availabletime, which is a valuable resource. If you departKosovo without having improved your physical fitnessconditioning, your physical health, you can only blameyourself and a lack of discipline, a lack of focus.

So use this “present” of today. Each and everyday make that resolution that ‘today I will do things. Iwill make improvements in myself internally andexternally. I will be a better soldier.’

Challenge yourself mentally. Use the opportunityto read, to learn a different language, work on youreducation at the MWR Education Center.

Improve your financial status. Take the responsi-bility to use the advantages that you have here with thetax-exempt status, with the lack of requirements forexpenditures, and get your financial house in order.This is a great opportunity to eliminate some of thestress that comes with the financial burden of payingbills. Get yourselves out of debt. Plan and focus onhow you start saving for the future. I’ve talked to youabout the Thrift Savings Plan. There are all sorts ofways for you to secure your financial future. If you sitdown and take the time and truly map out where youare, and how you can make improvements.

Work on your friendships. This is a special bondbetween those of us who wear uniforms, and willinglysacrifice our own personal comfort to serve our nation,to serve something larger than ourselves. You will buildfriendships here, because you had the opportunity, youhad the time; you had the exposure to truly get toknow each other. Challenge yourself to be a betterfriend, to be a true friend, not an acquaintance, but a

friend, someone who will give advice, someone whowill listen, someone who will understand, someonewho will be there to assist with stress management, thegrief

and possible loneliness that accompanies toursaway from our family, to help you stand proudly as aproductive member of our team here.

Work on your leadership. Be a leader. Leadmentally. Lead physically. Improve yourself. All of themen and women, in TFF who serve in the Army, AirForce, Navy and Marines depend on each and everyone of us. You and I have to accept this awesomeresponsibility of molding our future leaders. We allhave the chance here to positively influence people toshow them by being role model what is physically andmentally the standard. We all need to challengeourselves to do this.

So don’t think about New Year’s resolutions.Don’t think about the past. Don’t worry about thefuture. Focus on TODAY. Focus on your resolutionevery morning when you open your eyes. That today‘I’m going to challenge myself. I’m going to improvemyself. I’m going to be a better member of this team.’

Webster in his definition of resolution, also at thebottom of the definition had a synonym. And thesynonym for resolution said ‘see courage.’ And that’swhat I’m asking you to do. I’m asking you to demon-strate personal courage. To recognize that there areimprovements that you as an individual, you as ahuman being, you as a soldier, you as a leader shouldmake mentally and physically everyday.

There are improvements that all of us shouldmake, and we’ve got a new challenge and a newopportunity each and every day to do that. This shouldbe your resolution when you wake up in the morning,to take that challenge, to show and demonstrate ourpersonal courage.

Climb to Glory … To the Top

You can make a differ-ence, and you have. If youhave to ask yourself thatquestion, then look aroundand pause for a moment.Maybe the answer lies in thequote, “ ask not what yourcountry can do for you, butwhat you can do for yourcountry.” Now is the time tostand up for all that is good,right and just. Look at oldglory on your shoulder. Itshould make you proud thatyou are part of an institution

that serves others. Around the world the men andwomen of our armed forces are sacrificing some partof themselves for the good of the nation, whether it’son the night shift or a day shift, standing guard in thecold on a corner, or just being in a certain place intime. You make a difference. You make a difference inthe hearts and minds of the people here in Kosovo.You may not hear it said, but you can see it in the day-to-day actions of the people.

Safe and secure are the watchwords, and free-dom of movement is what you give. You make adifference to your battle buddy when best friends, andloved ones are so far away. You are the soundingboard for the pain, for the joy and the excitement. Onpoint, because of what you do, others share in liberties

that sometimes are taken for granted. Nevertheless,you make a difference.

As positive role models you influence actions,sometimes without saying words, other times in theway you behave. High standards are your invisible signshowing others what right looks like.

Take a look at the little things you do daily thatbrighten the day for someone else. Just saying ‘thankyou’ or a smile goes a long way in bringing out the bestin people. A pat on the back, as a sign of appreciationor approval, makes others stand taller.

You are a member of the Task Force Falconteam. Did you make a difference today? If you can’tanswer that question, take a look around.


Soldier on the StreetWhat is your most memorable moment in the Army?

Pfc. Selin Eskandarian,Ammunition SpecialistHQ/A Co., 10th LTF(Camp Bondsteel)

“My most memorable moment in theArmy had to be the time I spent in thefield in February (2001) at Fort Drum.It had to be minus 40 degrees. It wasthe coldest that I have ever been.”

Staff Sgt. Thomas Walls,S-4, NCOIC TF 1-30(Camp Monteith)

“Going to the Audie Murphy Boardand getting selected and stationed atthe best ROTC program in the nation-Texas A&M University Army ROTCDepartment.”

Spc. Jessica Swann,PAC clerkTFF HHC(Camp Bondsteel)

“Finding out I was coming to Kosovo.I was excited.”

Spc. Danny Fredericksen,Mailclerk/DriverASG (Provisional) Falcon(Camp Bondsteel)

“The day that I graduated fromAirborne School at Fort Benning(Georgia).”

Spc. Geoffrey Broms,PSDTF 1-30(Camp Monteith)

“Being a part of the absolute best Bradleycrew in the Army . With Staff Sgt. (Patrick)Noling as my gunner and Lt. Col. (Audy)Snodgrass as BC, who can beat us?Battleboars, Hooah!”

— Compiled by TFF Falcon Flier Staff

Commentary

by Spc. Molly JonesStaff Writer

A story for the dinner table

Spc. Lashundra Mathis,Military PolicemanTF 504th MP (209th MP Co.)(Camp Bondsteel)

“Getting off the plane and coming here.”

Everyone in the Army has some story about their careerthat they will remember forever. It will be told to their spouses,siblings, children and grandchildren around the dinner tablemany times over the years.

I’m in a slightly different situation than most of you, inthat my father and I are in the same unit together. Yes, he and Iare over here in Kosovo together, an illustrious father/daughterduo, but we don’t see each other often. I’m at Camp Monteithand he’s at Camp Bondsteel.

Stories from our careers together will more than likelyfrequent the dinner table on Sunday get-togethers, usually withvarying differences in the tales.

On this one particular occasion, the unit was headed toqualify on our weapons, and only one person knew where therange was located, because it was new. Well, I was going todrive the second hummvee, and dad decided to hop in and ridewith me. Why not? I had no problem with that.

It was a cold and wet Saturday in November for us inAlabama, and I wasn’t too happy I was missing the Georgiavs. Ole Miss game to lie in mud while sleet hit me in the face.So we were off to the range at a high rate of speed to keep upwith the lead vehicle.

As we began to pick up speed, the water that had pooledon the roof began to pour down upon us through the soft-toproof. Once we had handled that problem by pulling on ourhoods, we realized how far behind the lead vehicle we were. Isped up because I didn’t want to be the one responsible formaking the rest of the unit lost as well.

Just as soon as we caught up, we were on a large on-ramp to the interstate, and my door flew open as I was enteringtraffic at 50 mph. I grabbed the door with my left hand whileholding the steering wheel with the right. I couldn’t get the doorto close, so I just held on to it. Meanwhile, I’ve got my dadscreaming that I’m too close to the guard rail, and now I’mgoing too fast for this kind of weather!

I continued to drive holding the door, and the windowsbecame so fogged up that I couldn’t see where I was going. Ifyou’ve ever driven a hummvee in the winter, you know howbadly they can fog. I wasn’t exactly able to reach for thedefrost controls because I had to keep at least one hand on thewheel. So, I’m beginning to get a bit nervous simply becauseI’m in fast moving traffic, holding my door closed, driving withone hand, can barely see through the foggy windows, and theroof is leaking water into my eyes. To add to the madness, I’vegot my father screaming at me. Of course I began to yell backat him, obscenities no less, enough to make a sailor blush.

About that time he sees that we should be exiting, but ofcourse I can’t signal to anyone that I’m going to turn becauseI’m having to hold the door closed! Once we exited, I knew I’dbe able to shut the door at the red light. We approached thelight and of course it turned green. The next three lights, samething! I was beginning to get very upset. My dad knew that, Iknow, and began to antagonize me like he loves to do. Heenjoys pushing people’s buttons.

I finally got to a red light, closed the door, wiped the fogoff the windows and the water off my face and out of my eyesfrom the leaking roof. At that point, I don’t think I had everbeen so furious with my father. I knew if he was riding withany other soldier, he wouldn’t talk to them like that, but since itwas me, he could.

We finally arrived at the range, and he and I had lanesnext to each other. We were still quite mad at each other. Wecoached each other just like we were supposed to, and bothqualified. I out shot him by one, which made me feel a littlebetter. Not much was said on the way home in my car thatevening.

When I woke up Monday morning I had no voice. I’mnot sure if I just lost it because I was lying on the cold, muddyground, or because I yelled at my dad so hatefully. My voicewas gone for about three weeks. By that time the tale washumorous to us all.

I’m so fortunate to be over here with my father. I knowdeployments are hard on everyone, including the ones left athome, because I’ve been on both sides.

I’m sure this deployment will make for many more talesto be told at future family gatherings. Although we are onlyhalfway through this deployment, I look forward to all thechallenges we still have left. Those will make for the greatestmemories I will have the honor of sharing with my father.


Col. Lawrence Saul

TFF Deputy Commander CMO

BlackHistoryMonth isoftenmarkedbycelebra-tions,ceremo-nies andothereventscom-memorat-ing thecontribu-tions of

African-Americans to our nation’s story.This is, indeed a rich and significantaspect of American history, and de-serves retelling. One aspect oftenoverlooked is early Black militaryhistorical figures. This chapter of ourhistory is filled with many great heroes;sadly, many are now all but forgotten. Ithink this is a sad state of affairs, for (Please see COL. SAUL, page 11)

CAMP BONDSTEEL— WhenPfc. Adam Tracy was growing up, hefelt he could turn to his dad for anything,even when the situation involved hisown undoing.

Presently, at the age of 20 andmore than 10,000 miles away fromhome, the surveyor/draftsman with(Fort Bragg, North Carolina’s) B Co.,27th Engineer Battalion (Task ForceTiger) finds himself less than a mileaway from his dad in one of the mostunlikely places- Kosovo.

“Some of my friends look at mestrange when I tell them that I am goingto spend time with my dad,” Tracy said,when asked how he is planning tospend his spare time. “I feel like I amreally fortunate to serve on this deploy-ment with him. It’s a great feelingknowing that I can turn to him when Ineed to talk. I consider him as one ofmy closest friends.”

Indeed, a father-son relationship isspecial. If you don’t believe it, just askthe elder Tracy (Robert), who is the firstsergeant of Headquarters and Head-quarters Detachment of Task ForceFalcon’s Area Support Group (Provi-sional) Falcon.

“I was up for a deploymentrotation, and asked if I could beassigned to Kosovo,” Tracy said of hisdeparture with his Fort Sheridan, Ill.Army Reserve unit (1st Brigade, 85thDivision). “I am grateful to have theopportunity to be here with my son. Ihave been on eleven deploymentsduring my 29 years in the military, so Iunderstand how difficult they can be onan individual,” he said. “While this is agreat opportunity to spend time my son,it is always a privilege for me to takecare of soldiers.”

by Spc. Taylor BarbareeEditor

While there are certainly differencesin the pair, most notably the rank interval,both father and son agree that their desireto serve in the Army as helped strengthentheir relationship.

“Our time together is limited, but Ienjoy it. We usually go down to the MWRCenter and play pool or go to a movie,”(son) Adam said.

“I am very appreciative of the timethat Adam and have together here,” as(father) Robert chimed in. “BecauseAdam’s unit has been gracious enough toallow him to spend time with me. We wereable to celebrate New Year’s and hisbirthday. We both appreciate it, and thankthem. However, I don’t consider myselfhis first sergeant, and I don’t have a desireto meddle in his unit business.”

Speaking of strong relationships, theelder Tracy mentioned that his older son,David, also serves in the military as asergeant with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 1stBrigade, 84th Division.

“Anytime you have more than onething in common, it helps build that rela-tionship. I have always thought of soldier-ing as a team concept. So you could say inour case that we are a team. I compareour desire to serve in the Army to being inthe same college fraternity,” he said, aspride beamed from his face.

“We all chose to serve in the Engi-neer Corps when we enlisted in the Armyand we all trained at Fort Leonard Wood,Missouri in roughly the same area (of thepost), so that is also a common bond thatwe share.”

Another significant, but unusualcircumstance about the trio, he said is thefact that July 29th is an important date forthe Tracy family.

“Tracy enlisted in the Army on July29th (2000), and prior to that Davidshipped out for Bosnia on the same day ofthe month. The unusualness there is thefact that July 29th is my birthday.”

Spc. Taylor Barbaree/photo

Like father, like son... Duo serve together in Kosovo

ASG (P) Falcon 1st Sgt. Robert Tracy, left, and son, Pfc. Adam Tracy, B Co. 27th CombatEngineers

Adam, stated that his father had littleto do with his reason for joining the Army.

“I did it to better myself and earnmoney to go to college. My goal is to be acivil engineer,” he said.

And how does the mother and wifeof the Tracy household feel about heryoungest son and husband being away

from their home in Naperville, Ill., andserving in Kosovo together?

“She is just glad we are bothtogether and can lean on one anotherwhen we need to,” Adam said, while hisfather added, “even though she isunhappy we are away, she takes it instride. She is the bedrock of the family.”

those who forget their history are notworthy of their ancestor’s contributions.During the course of some substantialresearch for my masters’ degree I foundsome terrific examples of incredibleheroism and sacrifices in the name ofliberty. In this column I will focus on theAmerican Revolution.

THE AMERICAN WAR FORINDEPENDENCE

Like all Americans during thecolonial era, Blacks had much at stakein the outcome of the struggle forindependence. Clearly, their freedomwas their overriding concern. If freedfrom the imperial power, the samepower that enslaved them from the start,the Black man could establish for himselfa new place in a new society. It shouldnot come as a surprise that Blacks, bothfree and slave, embraced the cause offreedom. The contributions of Blacks toour nation’s successful struggle forfreedom are unmatched in history. Sadly,this incredible chapter in our nation’shistory is often overlooked. We owe our

freedom, in part, to the contributions ofthese early African-American patriots.

Beyond a doubt, the first bloodshed in the struggle for independencetook place in Boston. That blood wasfrom a Black man, Crispus Attucks. TheBoston Massacre was the initial event inour struggle for freedom. Patriots hadbeen demonstrating and protestingagainst British oppression for some time.A strong British Army presence hadserved to suppress the local protestors,further inflaming the mood of the people.British troops occupied Boston trying toprotect His Majesty’s agents and taxcollectors, enforcing the Stamp Act,Sugar Act, Currency Act, Mutiny Act orwhatever indignity King George IIIimposed on the colonies. Citizens andtroops fought each other routinely.Among the leaders of the protests wasCrispus Attucks, (1723-1770). Attuckswas the son of a freed slave and aNatick Indian woman. In fact, the nameAttuck means deer in the Natick lan-guage.

The massacre occurred on March5, 1770. A group of patriots, led byAttucks, attacked a British sentry. Thislone Redcoat was an easy target for theprotesters; he was merely the target ofpent-up aggression. As the incident grewin proportion, a larger British contingentarrived to support the guard. The Britishtroops, after being pressed by a heck-ling, snowball throwing crowd, let loosea volley of shots. Three persons werekilled immediately and two died later oftheir wounds. The first to fall wasCrispus Attucks. He was the first man togive his life for our nation in the strugglefor independence against Great Britain.Hence the flame of liberty was lit, everso tenuously.

History tells us that of the 300,000soldiers who served in the ContinentalArmy under General George Washing-ton, approximately 5,000 were Black.They fought in virtually every battle ofthe war. For example, Blacks served asMinutemen at Concord

Reflecting on African-American heroes of the Revolutionary War


Open for business...

TF 1-32 “Chosin” assists in bringing garbage service to Vitina municipalityby Spc. Taylor BarbareeEditor

POZHARAN/POZARANJE— A head-line on a newspaper couldsimply state, “The TrashMan Cometh”, and all inthis village would be ableto relate to the meaning ofthose words, thanks to theCamp Magrath based 1stBattalion of the 32ndInfantry Regiment (TaskForce 1-32 Inf. “Chosin”).

“This is undoubtedlya great day for our town,”said Pozharan/PozaranjeMayor Fadil Ramiqi, as heand other communityleaders accepted owner-ship of a new garbagetruck from TF 1-32 Inf.“Chosin” commander Lt.Col. Robert Nye during aJan. 22nd ceremonylocated near the village’sschool. “We are alsograteful for the presenceof KFOR and the relationship wehave with (TF 1-32 Inf. “Chosin”).”

“Having this truck will allowthis community the opportunity toreceive garbage service,” said Capt.John Walton, TF 1-32 Inf.“Chosin”, civil affairs representa-tive, explaining the details behindthe momentous occasion.

“Prior to today, the municipal-ity of Vitina received a new fire andgarbage truck from the previous

task force (502nd) to begin servicethere,” he said. “From that point,we began looking at ways to extendservice. Hopefully, we can beginworking on ways to assist in provid-ing other services to this area.”

Walton said humanitarianassistance funds enabled the previ-ous Marine Civil Affairs Team theopportunity to purchase the newtruck.

“We are thankful for the rela-

tionship that we have with thiscommunity and with the UniverzalCompany (which will handle thegarbage service),” Walton said.“One of the requirements of provid-ing them (Univerzal) with a garbagetruck is that they had to employboth Albanians and Serbians in theircompany. They have done that, sowe are glad to fulfill our commit-ment.”

During the ceremony, which

occurred during one of themost sunshine filled daysof Kosovo’s rugged coldweather season, Nyegestured toward thepresence of the Moonwhile speaking to thehundreds of residentsgathered for the ceremony.

“Some of you mayremember the day manstepped on the moon,”Nye said, paraphrasing thewords that U.S. AstronautNeil Armstrong spokeduring his moment oftriumph, who stated theaccomplishment was ‘onesmall step for man and agiant leap for mankind’. “Ibelieve this dedication issimilar, this is a small stepfor Pozharan/Pozaranjeand a giant leap for theVitina Municipality.

“Thank you for beinghere today and thanks toall the people who madethis day special,” he said,mentioning Samet Dalipi

(president of the municipality),Mayor Ramiqi, Zijadin Brahimi (thedirector of Univerzal), BaftiLubastani (363rd TMK Com-mander) and his soldiers.

At the conclusion of thespeeches given by Mayor Ramiqiand Mr. Brahimi, the crowd viewedthe capabilities of the new truck asit picked up a trash container andemptied its contents into the collec-tion area.

Lt. Col. Robert Nye, Commander, TF 1-32 Infantry “Chosin”, second from left, poses with community and civicleaders of the municipality of Vitina in the village of Pozharan on Jan. 29th. Nye,on behalf of TF 1-32 “Chosin” andTask Force Falcon, presented a mock key to Univerzal (Company) Director, Zijadin Brahimi symbolizing the gift of anew garbage truck (pictured in the background).

Spc. Taylor Barbaree/photo

TFF Commander visits Fort Drum soldiers at Firebase Rock

DEBELDE, Kosovo— Thistown sits quietly on the southernedge of Multi-national Brigade(East), especially since severalfeet of snow fell here during lateDecember. Some excitement,however, was added to thisnormally serene setting, as thenew year kicked off with anunexpected visit for the soldiersof 1st Platoon, B Co., 1st Battal-ion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment(Task Force 1-32 Infantry“Chosin”), who perform missionshere daily.

During the first week inJanuary, Task Force FalconCommander, Brig. Gen. Keith M.Huber, visited Firebase “Rock”,which is an outpost in the moun-tains bordering the FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia.The visit was part of a tour ofoutlying bases in MNB-(E).

After arriving at Firebase“Rock” by helicopter, Huber setout on patrol with the soldiers of 1stPlatoon, to see the village ofDebelde first-hand.

During the patrol, soldiersshared their impressions of the

by Capt. Tyler “Hawk” SunshineTask Force 1-32

Capt. Tyler “Hawk” Sunshine/photoTFF Commander, Brig. Gen. Keith M. Huber, second row (center) with soldiers of 1st Platoon, BCo., at Firebase Rock during January.

village with the general. StaffSgt.Christopher Jacob of 1st Pla-toon, B Co. Task Force 1-32 Inf.“Chosin” spoke about his impres-sion of the village.

“Debelde is a town faced witha number of challenges such asemployment, transportation andrefugees,” Jacob said emphasizingthe importance of Bravo Company’s

mission . “I think our involvementhere plays a crucial role in pro-viding the necessary security andallowing the community to de-velop.”

For the soldiers that accom-panied Huber, the mission wasn’tbusiness as usual; “I didn’t reallyexpect a General to come out ofFire Base Rock,” said Pfc. JasonKoenighaus, excitedly.

“It was squared-away to goon a patrol with a general,” addedPFC Arthur Brantley from 1st

Platoon.The visit was not a big

surprise for 1st Lt. Nick Brandi,the OIC of Firebase Rock.

“VIPs visit (Firebase“Rock”) frequently to learn aboutour interaction with theMacedonian Army and our mis-sions along the border and arealways amazed by the panoramicview of the Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia,” he said.

Whatever the perspective,the end result was the same:soldiers had a chance to meet

their senior leadership and the TFFcommander had a chance to per-form a daily mission with soldiers.



CAMP MONTEITH— One instantsticks out in Staff Sgt. Derek Calero’smind about his deployment to Kosovo.

His civil affairs team drove throughthe village of Bostane a couple of daysafter they had given some clothes to a localleader. One little girl in particular stood outin Calero’s mind, even now that a coupleof months have passed on. She wanted apair of earmuffs the day the clothes werepassed out.

“Little earmuffs,” he called them.They were given to her and “a couple

of days later we drove by, and she hadthem on her head,“ he recalled.

As they approach the end of theirtour in MNB East, a civil affairs team fromthe 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, an ArmyReserve unit from Texas, and two of their translators satdown at this camp’s cappuccino bar to talk about howthings have gone.

In not so many words, they talked about the good,the bad, and the ugly of their deployment.

Calero is the noncommissioned officer-in-charge ofa civil affairs team based here. He, team chief, Maj.Robert Broussard, and two other soldiers, Sgt. PaulAnderson and Spc. Ron Wistrom, drive all over the NovoBrdo Opstina, talking with village and town leaders. Valand Betty, the translators, go out with them. Without them,the team’s job would be impossible. They’ve both beenwith KFOR since the beginning, and have the broadrange of experience that only someone staying on herecan acquire.

Sometimes the team’s work can be frustrating. Butthey don’t complain. They’ve enjoyed their time here.

Anderson and Wistrom have different, but similar,memories than Calero’s that will mark their deployment.

For Wistrom it’s building a friendship with a youngchild in Novo Brdo who seems to know his humvee froma distance and calls his name out as he drives by. ForAnderson, it’s having snowball fights and buildingsnowmen with children in Gornji Makresh.

Both Val and Betty’s memories of the last two yearshave been the significant steps forward in Kosovo. It usedto be that there weren’t any Serbs from the surroundingtowns walking through downtown Gjilan. Nearly threeyears later, Serbs are walking around downtown, saidVal.

“Most people probably don’t know they areSerbs,” he said.

Some Serb and Albanian politicians have evenstarted to talk to one another without the presence of

KFOR or non-government organizations, said Betty.“That’s a good thing,” she said. “Things are getting

back to normal.”But for all the good things that they’ve seen, chal-

lenges remain.For Calero, the biggest disappointment was not

getting a new fire truck for town of Novo Brdo.“The team worked on it and worked on it and

worked on it,” he said. They had assistance from NGOSand “it just fell through. That was a big let down.”

But despite that let down, the team did deliver a newgarbage truck, and 25 garbage bins for Novo Brdo.

Calero said that Novo Brdo was a town “that reallyneeded a garbage facility, garbage bins, and garbagetrucks. The team worked on it and that got done.”

The challenges that Val and Betty face are different.Every six months or so, a new group of people show up.A new set of rules, a new way of thinking, and a new setof friends come and go.

“You know, people are just coming and going, itrepeats itself. We make friends, we lose them,” Betty said.New faces are nothing new for her. She first startedworking with Airborne units in Vitina, and then moved onto working with armor and infantry units out of CampMonteith. She recently started to work for civil affairsteams. “Others come, then we lose them again. It’s a littledifficult but it gets interesting and challenging.”

Because she’s worked with high tempo units likeTask Force 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute InfantryRegiment, or armor units like Task Force 1st Battalion,37th Armor Regiment, she’s noticed the different mentalityof CA teams. TF 3rd of the 504th Para and TF 1st of the37th Armor have previously served in Kosovo.

“They seem to be too tame for my taste,” she said

laughing. “I was with other kinds ofteams—tankers, airborne—so we haddifferent missions in the past. Thesemissions are more peaceful… it’s a bigdifference, but it’s interesting anyway.”

Dealing with the politicians from thedifferent towns in the team’s Area OfResponsibility has been Broussard’sbiggest challenge. He said it was hard totalking to them at first, but they’ve madeprogress for follow-on units.

Getting the different ethnic groups “towork together has been a real challenge,”he said. “But… it’s gotten better. So wemade progress.”

“I’ve seen more cooperation be-tween the mayors in the village. I’vedefinitely seen more cooperation,” headded. Both ethnic groups didn’t worktogether for political reasons for the 10 or15 years before and just after the war,

according to Broussard. He added the biggest obstacleremaining is overcoming the mindset of noncooperation.

“It’s a mind set… it’s going to take time, lots oftime,” he said.

Getting used to the cold winters here in Kosovo canbe challenging enough. For Calero, a native of New Yorkbut resident of Texas, the cold seemed unbearable.

“For myself, the change of climate,” he said was hisbiggest challenge here. “The heavy snow, the cold.”

He hasn’t been in New York since 1989 andeverywhere he’s deployed to in the Army has been “hot.”

At some point the conversation drifted to home andwhat they looked forward to most. Reuniting with lovedones and just being home tinkering around the house,even painting picket fences came up.

“Well, I’m looking forward to heading home andgetting back together with the wife,” Anderson said. Heand his father have plans to tile a floor in his house. ButAnderson and his wife have a bigger project.

“(We’ll) eventually pick up where we left as far asadopting a child, kind of get things going again,” he said.

It’s all part of a larger share of the American Dreamthat Anderson and his wife want. The white picket fence,apple pies baking in his kitchen oven, two cars in thegarage and, “two-and-a-half kids, you know?” he asked.

Even though Kosovo is Val’s home, he expressedthe same goals. His dreams are like Andersons.

“Get married, build a house, finish (my) collegedegree, and buy (a) car,” he said.

With that, the conversation started to end, butAnderson wanted to say one more thing.

“By the way, that apple pie will be made fromscratch,” he said with a smile.

TF MESQUITE490th Civil Affairs Battalion

TFF NCO/Soldier of the QuarterStaff Sgt. Kevin C. Smith, B Co., 10th LTF, secondfrom left, and Spc. Cassandra M. O’Neil, 209thMP Co.(TF 504th MP), second from right, werehonored as the Task Force Falcon NCO/Soldier ofthe Quarter during a ceremony held at the NorthTown DFAC on January 26th. Both Smith andO’Neil were presented with Army Achievementmedals and a TFF Coin by TFF Commander, Brig.Gen. Keith M. Huber (pictured far left). They werealso presented with a complete Army PT uniformcompliments of AAFES. Command Sgt. Maj. TedWalker, TFF Command Sergeant Major, joinedHuber in presiding over the ceremony (caption andphoto by Spc. Taylor Barbaree/131st MPAD).

Members of 490th Civil Affairs look back on experiences in Kosovo


First Lt. Joseph Evans, TFF HHC, hands over to TMK soldiers a map, compass and other accessoriesneeded for the land navigation course they built for the TMK soldiers to train on.

TFF Falcon HHC builds land navigation courseby Spc. Molly JonesStaff Writer

Spc. Molly Jones/photo

It is nothing new that KFOR givesclasses to TMK soldiers that enhance theirsearch and rescue skills, but Task ForceFalcon 10th Mountain Division Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company, out ofFort Drum, N.Y., went a little further thanexpected when asked to give a session onland navigation.

The TMK had already received someinstruction about land navigation from aprevious rotation, but wanted to knowmore, so HHC went as far as constructing aland navigation course which opened Jan.23.

The course serves dual purposes,explained 1st Sgt. George Bealonis, TaskForce Falcon HHC first sergeant. “We putit out so all U.S. troops can utilize it, as wellas the TMK soldiers. Once we are gone,they can continue to teach others the skillsthey have learned on the course we builtthem.”

Also, TFF has “a lot of soldiers thatare passing the promotion board over herein Kosovo, and they need PLDC to actuallykeep their sergeant stripes on,” saidBealonis. When they actually go through theland navigation course at home for PLDC,they will definitely be successful if they do

well here, he explained.“The course is

shorter and smaller,less area to work in,but more challengingbecause of the terrainand all the extra gearour guys have to wearthat is not required athome,” said First Lt.Joseph Evans, HHC10th Mtn. Div.

The course tooka total of a week to puttogether with the helpof Bealonis, Evans andthe rest of the head-quarters company.They got engineerpickets, along withplywood to makesigns, and ventured outto plot all the points toput on the map. “Fromthere we set outbreaking it down into different lanes for each team to gothrough,” explained Evans.

The course not only has day lanes, but night lanes as well.It is broken down into different sections because some areasare too dangerous to go through at night, according to Evans.

“The terrain here is very tricky. This course will be atremendous help to the TMK, and help our soldiers preparingfor PLDC shortly after redeployment,” said Bealonis.

“They all did a fantastic job setting up thiscourse. I think it’s one of the most difficult coursesI’ve ever seen, simply because of the rough terrain.Everyone will benefit greatly from it.” said Com-mand Sgt. Maj. Theodore Walker, TFF CommandSergeat Major.

Essay or Poem

THEME: WOMEN

RULES:1. Word Limit: 800 on 1\2 x 11 papers2. Must be written on word processor - double space3. Include name, rank, unit, SS #, address, telephone and e-mail on coverpage. SSN only on all other pages.4. Must be an original writing5. Entrée must be at CBS MWR (South) no later than March 10th6. Eligibility: Military Personnel, DOD Civilians and Contractors

IDEAS:- Opinion of Women in the Military- Woman/Women who influenced your life- Women in Politics- A Woman’s Place- Etc……….

AWARDS:First place entry will be published in the “Stars and Stripes” First and secondplace entries will be published in “ The Falcon Flier “. All participants willreceive an MWR T-shirt.

For more info call Lillian Quehl at 781-3198.

MARCH IS WOMEN’SHISTORY MONTH

Writing Contest

Texas Two Steppin’Capt. Charles DeVinner, information officer, 131st MPAD (Alabama ArmyNational Guard), right, was solicited as a dance partner to one of the U.S. AirForce’s Tops in Blue’s performers, during one of the group’s country musicalselections. Tops in Blue, comprised of Air Force personnel, put on a two-hour showentitled “The Magic of Music” at the Camp Bondsteel theater Jan. 25th for TFFservicemembers. The event was sponsored in part by the KFOR MWR office(caption and photo by Spc. Taylor Barbaree/131st MPAD).


Relaxing in the city that grows, but never agesA swirling fog had settled over the land. Assembled at

Camp Bondsteel Theater, teeming with anticipation, sat 118soldiers, all in civilian clothing. As the fleet of buses pulled up,preparing to take us away, we could feel excitement in the air.Our destination: Sofia, Bulgaria, for a 4-day FMPP trip.

A delay in departure did nothing to hinder our spirits, aswe boarded our respective vehicles. All sharp objects weretaken from us, to be returned to when we get back from ourtrip. We took our seats and the adventure began.

The ride to Sofia took about seven hours, during whichwe all engaged in our own activities. Some read, some slept,others looked at the scenery out the window. The fog fol-lowed us for a while, and then mysteriously dissipated. As thehours went by and Sofia came closer, the air in the busbecame more restless. We were ready to arrive.

Upon our arrival at the Hotel Rodina, we stepped offthe bus and collected our gear. We were relaxed from theride, but ready to roll. The hotel loomed over us as weentered, and there were staff people waiting, and eager to helpus. There were also friendly MPs on hand to show us whereto go next.

The Rodina is the tallest building in Sofia, standing amajestic 22 floors up. The staff was efficient and friendly, aswe quickly discovered. The bellboys were helpful on where togo, there was plenty of hot water and the hotel food wasfantastic. Our hotel had its own bakery, which made breadand pastries on a daily basis. Each restaurant inside the hotelhas its own kitchen, and the staff works overtime to preparesome of the finest dishes available in Bulgaria. A pasta restau-rant will also be opening inside the hotel in the near future.

Rooms are available in singles, doubles, and apartmentsuites. The soldiers of KFOR enjoy rooms which, though aresimple, are clean and nicely sized. They include a bathroom,with soap, shampoo and a bathtub in every one. They alsocan make accommodations for spouses to visit. I was toldthere are almost always single rooms, in case you want someprivacy.

The price of the room includes free access to most ofthe hotel facilities. There is a large, clean swimming pool,workout room, sauna, large jet pool tub, ping-pong, darts,and plenty of seats to stretch out and relax. For a nominalcharge, they also offer a tanning bed, professional massages,and an Internet center. They also offer room service.

For the skiers, there is now a Bulgarian ski trip available,with transportation provided to and from the hotel. I do nothave the full information on the ski center, but I did bring backsome brochures. Call at 5200 or stop by the PAO for one. Itis all written in Bulgarian, but it has great pictures of the resorton it. I only brought a handful, so if you are serious and want

one, you should call as soon as you can.We went upstairs, were briefed, and given our rooms.

Those of us with less patience sampled some of the localbeverages while we waited. A bottle of local beverage costs 2Lev (or about one dollar) at the lobby bar. Some of the mixed

by Spc. Terry BoggsStaff Writer

Journalist pens his experiences of Sofia, Bulgariabeverages ran 20 Lev, or about ten dollars.

After the formalities, we were released to do our ownthing. I chose to dine on the 22nd floor at an exquisitelydecorated restaurant with a refined ambience. The meal wasdelicious, and despite the lush surroundings, reasonablypriced. The view of Sofia at night outside the window wasgorgeous. Lights shown from office buildings, homes andfactories as the night sky revealed a display of stars, and thelack of foggy weather allowed us to view the panorama of thecity at night.

After a fabulous dinner our group was aching to seesome of Sofia, so we ventured downstairs and had thebellboy summon a taxi. Some of the other soldiers werealready relaxing in the comfortable chairs in the spacious lobbyand were enjoying beverages of their own. The ground floorof the hotel was large and ornately decorated. The receptiondesk was round and brass-colored and somewhat busy for11:30 at night.

The cab arrived shortly thereafter and we climbed in.Though the driver did not speak much English except ‘dollars’and ‘quickly’, we were able to tell him where we wanted togo. Most of the destinations in Sofia are within a certain radius,and should not cost more than 5 lev, or about $2.50. Tips are,of course, not included but should be offered.

The cab ride was short and enjoyable.During our briefing, we learned of more than 2-dozen

places where we were allowed to go while in the city. Therewere several restaurants, Irish pubs and casinos there, as wellas other establishments that provided varied forms of enter-tainment. (The hotel casino is closed for now, but there areothers in the area. The Princess was a good place to go.)Most places inside the boundary were allowed by KFORpolicy to visit.

Everybody had gone their own way, but we were allrequired to return and sign in by 3 a.m. Although we had notdeparted until 11:30 p.m., we still had enough time to enjoyourselves and forget about work.

Breakfast is served every day until 10 a.m., and isincluded in the price of the room. The morning meal wasserved in the lovely Winter Garden restaurant and includedwonderful cheeses, delicious pastries (baked fresh right in thehotel bakery), and other delectable items. It redefined conti-nental breakfast, as we know it, and took it to a higher level.

After breakfast we went shopping and had blast. Wetook a taxi to the underground mall, a kind of flea marketwhere you can select from a variety of different items, fromclothing to souvenirs and not pay a lot of money for them.Leather goods are cheap, around $90 for a full-length jacket.

While outside the hotel you may wish to leave yourwallet in your room and carry your money in a front pocket.There have been known to be pickpockets around town, andthey are said to be very good at what they do.

Sofia is a very old city with a lot of history behind it.There are quite a few historical and cultural places to visit, forthose of you who are culturally minded. As we made our waythrough town, it reminded me of many other large cities I hadbeen in. The streets were laid out in bricks, as many Europeancity streets are. People went about their business, despite ourobvious presence, and the fact that we were Americantourists.

The streets were full of people, some trying to make aliving by getting us to part with our lev. Some played instru-ments, such as the violin or bagpipes. Others were moreforward, coming right up to us and asking us for money. Onelady, who I call the ‘Pretzel Lady’, offered us the opportunityto take her picture, then wanted cash for the privilege to do so.She must have thought she was Cindy Crawford. After weforked a couple of lev over for the pleasure, she offered us apretzel. I think she made out well.

Dozens of ancient buildings were scattered throughoutthe city, some as old as 1,000 years. Sofia itself dated back to7th century B.C., making it more than 2,500 years old. Andalthough some newer structures provided a slightly modernlook, there was no denying how long this place had beenthere.

The name Sofia means ‘wisdom’ and this city certainlyseemed to bear the name quite well. It possessed a certainessence which seemed to convey years of history and gave ita personality all its own.

That evening we ate dinner at Rio’s Brazilian restaurant,and were quite impressed with everything we saw and tasted.It was certainly a meal to remember. Afterward, we took insome more of the city at night, and then went to bed for ashort but comfortable night’s sleep.

The next day was a repeat of the previous one, except Itook a camera this time. We tried to get to bed early, but alaswere unable to for some strange reason. Maybe it wasbecause we were having too much fun.

The trip back was about the same as the one out, but it

Sofia is an ancient city, with many beautiful buildings andplenty of things to see and do.

This statue of Sofia stands guard over the city. It was named in the 14th century after the church Sveta Sofia.

Spc. Terry Boggs/photo


Relaxing in the city that grows, but never ages

Editor’s note: The following commentaries werewritten by TFF’s webmaster and Falcon Flier staffwriter Spc. Terry Boggs during his four day FMPP toSofia, Bulgaria.

Rio’s offers exotic mix of atmosphere and cuisineby Spc. Terry BoggsStaff Writer

SOFIA, Bulgaria— Welcome to Rio’s. Yourevening begins with a delicious, fresh salad in anexotic atmosphere. You are then served wonder-fully cooked meats by friendly, efficient waiters,whose sole purpose in life is to make you happy.During dinner, you are entertained by live guitar-ists, and brought as much as you care to eat.After dinner you are offered cigars and brandy,while live dancers perform for your pleasure.

No, you are not in South America, and youare not dreaming. You are in an authenic BrazilianRestaurant, a place where fine dining meetsimpeccable service, and everybody there worksto make your dining experience the best ever.

Rio’s, located in downtown Sofia, is a must-visit on your FMPP trip this rotation. From themoment you enter the door you are greeted by afriendly staff who will show you to your table,pull your chair out for you and provide almostimmediate service.

You are offered a menu, from which you canchoose one of several dishes, including whatwould seem to be a meat sample platter. A com-plete bar provides you with most anything youdesire to drink. You are then invited to sample thefresh salad bar, which features such mouth-watering items as Bulgarian cheese and Greekblack olives.

Once you finish your salad, your plates arequickly cleared and the first course of meat isbrought out. Do not be shy, take as much as youlike, but remember, there is plenty more coming.At least six to eight different kinds of meat areserved, including duck hearts and babyback ribs.All are grilled to perfection.

During your meal, you are treated to musicby live guitar players, who will come perform atyour table for your enjoyment.

After you finish your entree, as you sit andpoke at your belly, you will notice a humidorcontaining Cuban cigars being brought to yourtable and offered to you. If you accept, you willenjoy a unique show consisting of the lighting andplacing of the cigar in a snifter of brandy, theninto your mouth. You never have to touch it,except to enjoy.

Then, as if this were not enough, you willthen be entertained once again; this time by asmall band of Cuban dancers. The dress isexotic, as are the dances they perform. If you arelucky, one of them may actually invite you tocome join them in their dance.

As a dining experience it was incredible.And the cost? Your basic dinner: about $12.Cuban cigars started out at $20. Exquisite ser-vice: included free. All entertainment: also free.Enjoying possibly one of the best meals of yourlife with good friends: absolutely priceless.

—

didn’t seem as long. I was tired, but felt refreshed. I reflectedon the past few days and all I had experienced. I wish it couldhave lasted longer, but duty called.

As we arrived at Camp Bondsteel, I was amazed at thedifferent weather. We went from sunshine back to fog again.

If you are thinking about going, whether to relax andread a book in your room, dine at fine restaurants, or justhave a plain old good time, this trip offers it all and is highlyrecommended for everybody. You will not regret it

For more information about the Sofia trip, call WaverlyTynes at 4217. For information on the hotel, you may wish tovisit their website at http://www.rodina.bg. For more picturesof the Hotel Rodina and Rio’s, see the TFF website at http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil.

Spc. Terry Boggs/photoThis statue of Sofia stands guard over the city. It was named in the 14th century after the church Sveta Sofia.

Soldiers enjoy a meal at Rio’s Brazilian restaurant located in downtown Sofia.Spc. Terry Boggs/photo


When I was first told I had tofile a tax return with the I.R.S. I immedi-ately pictured people dressed in darkclothing, coming to sell all of my prizedpossessions and selling my home to thehighest bidder. I became so terrified bythis nightmare I created in my mind, that Ihad become overwhelmed and intimi-dated at the thought of filing a return onmy own.

Tax season can certainly be afrustrating time, and even more so formany of the younger soldiers, who maybe filing a return for the first time. How doyou figure out how much income youhave earned, what types of income toreport, which forms to use, or even if youhave to file a return in the first place!There are answers out there. The TaxCenter, Bldg 1340A in the Legal Assis-tance Office, located at Camp Bondsteel,is equipped with trained tax volunteers,and plenty of resources to get answers toyour questions. Each unit has a officer ateach of its company levels that weredesignated as your first point of contactfor any questions that you have, andinsure that you have all the paperworknecessary to file a return at the TaxCenter.The following are answers to somecommonly asked questions to get youstarted.Q: Who must file taxes?A: To determine whether or not youmust file a return, use the chart below.First find your filing status at the end of2001, if your gross income (all taxableincome in the form of money, goods,property, and services, even if earnedoutside the United States) is equal to ormore than the amount shown for yourstatus, then you must file a return.Q: What is my filing status?

Finally some answers to your tax questionsby Pfc. Tiffanie TribbleTFF Legal Office

Filing StatusYou must file a return if

your gross income was atleast:

Single

Married filing jointly

Married filing separately

Head of Household

Qualifying Widow(er) withdependent child

$7,450

$13,400

$2,900

$9,500

$10,500

This chart only applies to most people under the age of 65, who cannot be claimed as adependent on another persons return.

A: Each filing status is listed in the chart on theright. It is crucial that you understand andchoose the correct filing status. Each status istaxed differently. To insure that you are notpaying unnecessary taxes, please read thefollowing carefully:You (the taxpayer) are considered to meet thequalifications of each filing status if on the lastday of the year the either of the followingbullets applies.1. Single.-You were never married.-You were legally separated, according tostate law, under a decree of divorce orseparate maintenance.2. Married filing a joint return.-Married and live together as husband andwife.-Live together in a common law marriagerecognized in by the state the where you nowlive or where the marriage began.-Married and live apart but are not legallyseparated.-Separated under a under a interlocutory (notfinal) divorce decree.-Spouse died during the year and you havenot remarried.3. Married filing a separate return.(Taxpayers can choose to file separate returneven if one spouse has no income)4. Head of HouseholdYou must be single (divorced, or legally sepa-rated)* and have paid more than half the ex-penditures necessary to upkeep a home, if it isconsidered to be the main home. (If you aremarried with dependent children, you may alsobe able to file under the head of household sta-tus). *5. Qualifying Widow (er) with Dependent Chil-drenIn order to file under this status, your spousemust have during 1999 or 2000 and you havenot remarried before the last day of 2001, andwould have been entitled to file a joint return forthe year of the spouses’ death and have a childthat qualifies as your dependent for the year.You must also have contributed more than half

the cost of the upkeep of a home that the de-pendent child resided in the entire year.Q: Who can be claimed as a dependent?A: Claiming someone as a dependent on yourtax return entitles you to an exemption for thatperson, which lowers your taxable income.There are two types of exemptions: personaland dependent. The exemption amount for bothis the same: $2,900. However, different rulesapply for each exemption. You may claim the personal exemption foryourself, as long as you cannot be claimed as adependent on someone else’s return. In this case,you cannot claim the exemption for yourself,even if the person who could claim you doesnot exercise this right. You may also be able toclaim your spouses’ personal exemption. As longas your spouse cannot be claimed on someoneelse’s return and you were married before thelast day of the year. Your spouse can longerclaim their own exemption even if they file aseparate return.To claim someone as a dependent you mustanswer these questions.1. Is she/he a member of my household?This person must have lived with you the entireyear or be of blood relation to you.2. Was he/she for any part of the year, a U.S.citizen/resident or a resident of Canada or

Mexico?A child is usually considered to be a residentof the country that the parent resides.3. Can he/she file a separate return?You cannot file a joint return with this persononly to claim a refund, if they could file sepa-rately and not incur any tax liability.4. How much gross income did he/she earnin 2001?You cannot claim someone who grossed orexceeded the exemption amount.5. Did I provide more than half of his/hertotal support this year? *Compare your total contributions to the en-tire amount of support he/she received fromall sources. If you provided more than halfof the total support, and you met all the pre-vious requirements, then you may claim thisperson as a dependent.Where can I find more information?www.irs.gov is overflowing with information,as well as the current years federal and statetax forms and instructions.The Tax Center will begin providing simpletax services, to include E-filing, beginningFebruary 4, 2002. Clients will be seen byappointment only. The Tax Center will closeon April 15th so plan to come in early andavoid the rush.* Special restrictions apply.

The Employee/MemberSelf Service (E/MSS) allowsDepartment of Defense(DoD) to access their payaccounts online 24 hours aday, 7 days a week. E/MSSallows users to review ormake changes to their Federaltax information, financialallotments, home or corre-spondence address, and directdeposit or electronic fundstransfer (EFT) information.

One benefit of E/MSS isthe ability for all users toview and print their LESonline. E/MSS can display

by Capt. David L. Gardner10th Soldier Support Battalion

the current plus prior two LESs.In most cases, the electronicLES will be available up to twodays prior to the pay date. E/MSS eliminates the long waitfor the Leave and EarningsStatement (LES) to see that anaction was processed. Operatingin a near real-time environment,E/MSS allows users to go backinto the system a few days laterand actually see that their pay-roll record has been updated.DoD employees and militarymembers must have a PersonalIdentification Number (PIN) touse E/MSS.

Visit the Finance Office orthe DFAS home page atwww.dfas.mil/emss.

New DoD system allows servicemembersopportunity to visit pay accounts on-line

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)began on Oct. 9, 2001 for membersof the uniformed services. This wasthe first period for service membersto participate in the program. Thewindow to register closed Jan. 31,2002. Unregistered service membersare able to register during future openseasons. There are two open seasonsheld each year: May 15 through July31 and Nov. 15 through Jan. 31.There is also a 60 days grace periodfor soldiers who entered active dutyafter December 8. 2001. Members ofthe uniformed services participateunder most of the same rules andreceive the same benefits as civilianTSP participants.

KFOR service members mayenroll in the program by filling out theTSP Form (TSP-U-1) at their servic-ing Finance Office. Service members

may elect to contribute basic pay,incentive pay, or special pay (includingbonus pay) to the TSP. They mustcontribute basic pay to be eligible tocontribute incentive pay or special pay.The new 2002 Leave and EarningStatement (LES) has areas to reflect themembers’ involvement in the program.The blocks are located directly abovethe “REMARKS” area of the LES. Thefour entitlement categories are: BasePay, Special Pay, Incentive Pay andBonus Pay.There are five different types of funds:(1) Government Securities Investment(G) Fund(2) Fixed Income Index Investment(F) Fund(3) Common Stock Index Investment(C) Fund(4) Small Capitalization Stock IndexInvestment (S) Fund(5) International Stock Index Invest

by Capt. David L. Gardner10th Soldier Support Battalion

(Please see THRIFT page 14 )

Consider TSP for additional retirement needs


CAMP BONDSTEEL—To someone younger than 30-years old, the names might notring a bell of remembrance. Forthe little bit older sect of Na-tional Football League fan, thenames are instantly recognizable.The Dallas Cowboys’ CharlieWaters, and the WashingtonRedskins’, Mark Moseley,visited Multi-National Brigade-East’s Camp Bondsteel andplayed host to a night of skill,football trivia knowledge andautograph signing.

“We started on January9th in Sarajevo,” said ‘Skinslong time place-kicker, MarkMoseley. “We’ve been to Tuzlaand now we’re here in theKosovo area for four days,” hesaid.

The staff of MWR had theSouthside Gym decked out witha miniature artificial turf footballfield, orange pylon cones for anobstacle course and automobiletires hanging from a rope for a passing accuracy contest.

Waters and Moseley addressed the crowd ofsoldiers who had come to see the former football stars.The men recalled their careers, their personal highlightsand shared stories of how men and women back in thestates wanted them to tell the soldiers how proud thecountry was of them.

Charlie Waters spent his career with the Cowboy’sknocking folks down from a number of playing positions.His role in the ‘D’ started as a free safety. A defensivespot he started at for the first few years. Later he playedcornerback and his personal favorite—strong safety.“Strong safety was the position I ended up being an All-Pro at,” Waters said. “Nineteen seventy-five was a greatyear for me personally and our team had a really good runthat year,” he said. “We went to the Super Bowl as awildcard team. We didn’t win it though, —Pittsburghdid,” he said. “That was the Lynn Swann game,” Waterswinced. Swann made several circus catches in that game,which helped, put Dallas away.

Both men looked like they could still strap it up andrun onto the field and offered coaching tips during theskills competition. The first contest was the passingaccuracy one, in which the participant was allowed threeattempts to throw the ball through a tire in the neighbor-hood of 10 or 15 yards away.

The crowd got into it and cheered each pigskinplinker as they tried their hand at it. They received a giftfrom the MWR team just for trying their luck.

by Staff Sgt. Michael P.McCordPress Section NCOIC

“Looks like you’ve got a great group of soldierswho are doing a really fine job over here,” said Moseley.

Moseley was referring to their professional militaryskills.

Moseley’s career spanned almost 18 years in theNFL. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in 1970. “Iplayed with them for a while and later kicked for theHouston Oilers. I started my kicking for the WashingtonRedskins in 1974 and finished my professional career withthe Cleveland Browns in 1986,” he said. “I guess myclaim to fame is that I’m the only kicker to the named theleague’s “Most Valuable Player.” I guess most of the guysadmired that because that’s one guy out of 1,600 players.It usually goes to a quarterback or someone of thatstature, but in 1982 I had a lot of opportunities to winfootball games, and so they named me that player,”Moseley said. “I feel very honored to have had that,” hesaid.

A talented cast on that team surrounded Moseley. “Iplayed with Joe Theisman, John Riggins, “the hawgs” (biglinemen), Art Monk and Darrell Greene, —who’s stillplaying,” said Moseley. Younger fans will remember JoeTheisman today as an ESPN football personality. “Joewas my holder for 12 years and we got along great,”Moseley added.

Nowadays Moseley is busy with a weekly televisionshow in the Washington, D.C. area called, The RedzoneReport. It’s televised year round. He recently opened arestaurant in Virginia and does client relationship work

with several major corpora-tions in the United States.

Football wouldn’tpossess the following it haswithout long standingrivalries built upon theblood, sweat and badofficiating calls. A primeexample of an NFL rivalryhas been the Redskinsversus the Cowboys.

To an armchairquarterback from the oldschool mentality of anythinggoes on a football Sundayafternoon, putting twoformer members of heatedrival teams together on thesame program wouldappear to be looking fortrouble.

Not in this case.Both men are easy

going and personable,engaging each soldier whoapproached them with asmile and football talkduring the autographsession.

While signing auto-graphs the two looked onas the agility drill competi-

tion was underway. Similar to a backpedal drill; contes-tants were required to move backwards from one coneand to the starting point and do it faster than anyone else.

“We didn’t work that hard in our own drills,”Waters laughed as he watched the action. The crowdcheered loudly for each backpedaling soldier as their turnscame up.

Football talk filled the air during the signing session.“My most memorable moment was standing on the

sidelines after the game in 1977, when we beat Denver inthe Super Bowl,” said Waters. He had the fortune few getto experience—he played in five Super Bowls in his firsteight years with the Cowboys. He retired after the 1982season and went into coaching with the Broncos for eightyears. He also coached at the University of Oregon for ayear. He now works with a private company who manu-factures power generator stations.

Staff Sgt. Dave Nicholes, 560th Military Police Co.and assigned to ASG, Customs, participated in the triviacontest where right answers moved a contestant fiveyards toward the goal line in the turf mini-field. “ This wasgreat,” said Nicholes. Though Nicholes didn’t score atouchdown, he wasn’t disappointed. “ I loved it,” helaughed.

Getting to meet a football great up close meantsomething to these people. “I’ve heard of Waters before,but I’ve never had the chance to see him,” the Customssoldier added.

Staff Sgt. Michael McCord/photoMark Moseley, (left) former Washington Redskins place-kicker, and Charlie Waters, former All-Pro defensive back withthe Dallas Cowboys, keep the 'Skins and the 'Boy's rivalry alive as they play tug-of-war with an MWR football at theSouthside Gym. Waters and Moseley were on hand to talk to soldiers stationed at CBS and helped with football relatedcompetitions staged at the gym.

‘Greats of the Gridiron’ visit Task Force Falcon during MWR morale call

(COL. SAUL continued from page 4)

Lexington. A few of those early patriots include:…Cato Stedman, Cuff Whittemore, Cato Wood,Prince Estabrook, Ceasar Ferritt, Samuel Craft,Lemuel Haynes, and Pomp Blackman. At the Battle ofBunker Hill, Peter Salem fired the shot that killedBritish Major John Pitcarin of the Royal Marines.Pitcarin was the second in command of British Forcesduring the clash at Lexington. At least one Black,Caesar Brown, died at the battle of Bunker Hill.

Through the course of American history, the story of theWar for Independence rightfully remains preeminent. In song,story, verse and painting, the images of the struggle remainpowerful. One of the most significant and famous paintings isthe depiction of General George Washington and the crossingof the Delaware River. It is considered one of the mostrecognized paintings in the world. The painting was the workof the German artist Emmanuel Leutze and was completed in1851. The canvas tells the single most critical event in ournations history. On Christmas night, 1776, Washington and theContinental Army launched a surprise attack against the British

at Trenton, New Jersey. Besides the father of our country,there are three other famous Americans in the painting: JamesMonroe, another future president; Henry Knox, the father ofthe American Artillery; and Prince Whipple, a freed Blackman. He is the third man back from the prow, and is seenpulling on the oar at Washington’s knee. Whipple was a Blackpatriot who has become a minor legend of the Revolution. Asan early biographer said of him, “Prince Whipple was born inWest Africa. He was the son of wealthy parents. When aboutten years of age, he was sent by them, in company with acousin, to America to be educated. An elder brother hadreturned four years before, and his parents were anxious thattheir child should receive the same benefits. The captain whobrought the two boys over proved a treacherous villain, andcarried them to Baltimore, where he sold them as slaves.General William Whipple bought Prince off the block andtook Prince to his native New Hampshire where he workedfor the Whipple family. The irony here is that General Whipplewas one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.Prince Whipple was granted his freedom during the Revolu-

tionary war. After the war he settled in Portsmouth, NewHampshire where he died at the age of 32 leaving a widowand children. Today, in Portsmouth New Hampshire, PrinceWhipple is celebrated as a local hero.

Whipple was not the only Black soldier to cross theDelaware River with the Continental Army that night. Anotherprominent freedman served in the ranks that Christmas time,Oliver Cromwell also fought in the battle of Trenton. There isevery likelihood that there were more than just these twoBlack patriots who participated in General Washington’s greatsurprise attack on Trenton.

There are countless Black heroes of the Revolution.They made major, significant contributions to the defeat of theBritish Army, and establishment of liberty. Sadly, they did notrealize their own personal freedom. It would be a long, andoften bitter, struggle against many opponents before African-Americans would gain acceptance, freedom and liberty.

Americans enjoy a rich history, filled with heroes whogave their lives for liberty. I trust we are worthy of theirsacrifices and that we commemorate those acts.


TF 2-14 Infantry performs dual mission during “Iron Fist”by Sgt. Jamie BrownSenior Editor

BAJROVIT,Kosovo— U.S.KFOR units showedtheir versatility here onJan. 22 as they per-formed two missionssimultaneously in thissmall, isolated com-munity. As medicalpersonnel held aMEDCAP (MedicalCivilian AssistanceProgram) in the middleof the village, givingmedical care to thelocal population,members of the TF 2-14 Inf. (10th MountainDivision, Fort Drum,N.Y.) searched thevillage and its surrounding area, forillegal weapons.

This mission was part of Op-eration Iron Fist, a coordinatedeffort which utilized more than3,000 soldiers from all five Multi-National Brigades, who carried outsimultaneous search operationsacross the province. The intent ofthe mission was to disrupt criminaland extremist operations in Kosovo.

What made the mission heredifferent from the others in Opera-tion Iron Fist, was that it combinedtwo missions in one, with theMEDCAP and the search.

“We’re doing a MEDCAP,”said Spc. Christopher Adler, amedic with the 2-14th. “We cameout here to do a mission to look forweapons, and illegal activity. Andwe’re out here, also, providing aMEDCAP for these people. It’sgone well. We’re having a larger

turn out than we expected, which isgood.”

When the day was over, 34villagers had their medical needsattended to, according to Capt. JeffAlden, the provost doctor for TF 2-14.

“We set up an area of opera-tions right here, and brought out ourbox of medicines, saw the localpopulace and helped them withminor medical needs,” Alden said.“There was a gentleman who hadrecently broken his leg, and we gavesome pain medicine, helped himrewrap a foot, because he washaving complications from the cast,and we gave him some medicaladvice. Unfortunately, we weren’table to take off his cast, but wemade sure he’d be able to go in andget some help. We took care ofsome folks with some colds, andheadaches and that sort of minor

medical care. We had one family, ina tough situation with some chronicmedical problems, and we’re goingto make arrangements for them toget hooked up with a regular doctorin the area.”

At the same time as Alden andhis medics were helping the villag-ers, soldiers from TF 2-14 weresearching the area for weapons, andpossible illegal activity.

“We’re conducting a perimetersearch,” said Staff Sgt. ErnestRodriguez, a squad leader with ACo., 2-14th. “We’re looking forweapons caches, and any otheritems that someone might want tosmuggle. That could be used bypeople to hurt other people, sowe’re going to find it and confiscateit.”

“Today we’re doing a perim-eter search to search for cisternsand possible weapons caches,” said

Pfc. Shawn Staggs, anautomatic rifleman,with A Co., 2-14th“This is my secondtime out. I enjoy it. Itallows us to get outinto the countryside,and see some of thearea. The importanceof looking for weaponscaches and demolitionsis to prevent racial andethnic violence.There’s a slimmerchance of the possibil-ity of a resurgence of acivil war.”

Even though noweapons were foundhere, several soldiersthought the missionwas a success.

“Here I get to goout and help peoplewho really need help,

folks who don’t have goodhealthcare otherwise, folks whodon’t have access to a lot of things,and we help provide that for them,”Alden said. “It’s a very nice feeling.If feels good to help folks out.We’re able to do some real good,and help some people, and make adifference. We provide things thatotherwise wouldn’t be provided.”

Another soldier, 2nd Lt.Kristopher Skinner, 1st Platoonleader with A Co., TF 2-14 agreedthat the day had been a success.

“Even though we didn’t findany (weapons) the mission was stilluseful for several reasons,” Skinnersaid. “We showed our presence, weprovided medical care for thevillagers, which was a good thing,and we confirmed that there are noweapons in the area.”

Soldier’s Army career takes him from wrestling to peacekeeping

It’s a long way from the wrestlingmats of Vermont to the mountain villagesof Kosovo, but this is where his journeyin life, and a 10-year career in the Armyhave taken him.

Sgt. Robert Gallipo, 29, normallyserves with Headquarters 2-15 FieldArtillery at Fort Drum, N.Y. where he isa company fire support N.C.O. How-ever for this deployment in Kosovo, thenative of North Clarendon, Vt. andlifelong resident of Rutland County isattached to TF 2-14 Inf.

Gallipo gets a gleam in his eyewhen he talks about wrestling, a sport inwhich he excelled in high school, andone he still carries a torch for today.

“I was a wrestler all through highschool,” said Gallipo. “My wrestling waspretty good, and I even continuedwrestling into my Army career. I stillwrestle. I just keep my ear open fortournaments that come on post, and I goto everyone that I can. I’ve won all butone so far.”

The former Marble Valley LeagueChamp for the Mill River Union HighSchool Minutemen, Gallipo, was also

by Sgt. Jamie BrownSenior Editor

Sgt. Jamie Brown/photo

the post champ inhis weight class atFort Richardson,Alaska. Gallipoalso hinted that hiswrestling prowesshas helped him inhis military career.

“When wepractice hand-to-hand combat itgives me theupper hand,”Gallipo saidchuckling.

Although hetakes pride in hiswrestling accom-plishments,Gallipo said he isextremely proudof being a soldier.

“I like beingin the military, andbeing a step above everybody else,being able to do what I know mostpeople cannot,” Gallipo said. “I’mproud of serving my country. All theglory is being a soldier. I wouldn’t give itup for anything.”

Gallipo also said that he takes

pride in the jobhe is doing herein Kosovo, onethat he volun-teered to do.

“I volun-teered, becauseI always wantedto do a real-world mission,and the opportu-nity struck inKosovo, so Iraised my handand volunteeredfor it,” Galliposaid. “I’ve beenover here sinceNovember 9.I’m basicallydoing presencepatrols,medevacs andI’m usually in the

TOC (Tactical Operations Center)battle-tracking, monitoring radios,making sure everything is runningsmoothly.”

According to Gallipo, his time inKosovo has been mostly positive,although homesickness does set in

sometimes.“This tour so far has its ups and

downs,” Gallipo said. “I mostly enjoybeing out in the towns, and mingling withthe people, talking to them, getting toknow them. The down part of it is justbeing away from home and missing myfamily, especially my fiancé GenniferAlvarez.”

As he stood guard at a MEDCAP(Medical Civilian Assistance Program) inthe isolated mountain community ofBajrovit, Gallipo said he enjoyedperforming a lot of different missions thathe normally wouldn’t back at FortDrum.

“These (MEDCAPs) are a lot offun. You get to meet a lot of people,”said Gallipo. “They’ll come ask youquestions, and you get to mingle withthem. It’s not exactly my job, but it’s achange.”

Gallipo has come a long way sincehis days of pinning opponents on thewrestling mats of Vermont, and althoughhe still enjoys the sport, he has goalsbeyond collecting more trophies.

“I believe I’m getting old forwrestling,” Gallipo said. “My goals areto finish college, go to OCS, and finishmy career as an officer in the Army.”

Sgt. Robert Gallipo

Members of 1st Platoon, A Co. TF 2-14 Inf. patrol the area near Bajrovit, Kosovo. The patrol was searching for illegalweapons during Operation Iron Fist.

Sgt. Jamie Brown/photo


Day of basketball brings children of Kosovo together

CAMP MONTEITH— Playerswearing Spurs, Kings, Bulls andKnicks jerseys run around the courthelter-skelter chasing a basketball,swatting, bumping, laughing andpanting throughout the short game.

On the sidelines, coaches yell forplayers to pass the ball, or they call thefouls the referees don’t.

What makes this game different isthe players. They are from differentethnic groups: Romas, Albanians andSerbs all playing on the same teams.

Sometimes the score of achildren’s basketball game isn’t impor-tant. What’s important is that thechildren play together peacefully.

On Jan. 26, 20 children, parentsand teachers from KosovskaKamenica, arrived at the Field Househere for an afternoon of basketball andbridge building on Jan. 26.

Marina Jankovic played on theSpurs team. She said she’s neverplayed basketball with Albanians untiltoday, but she has played with Romakids in her neighborhood back home.

When asked if she will play withRomas and Albanians back home, she


Spc. Bill Putnam/photo

replied:“Yes, I will continue.”Organized into four ethnically

mixed teams with a coach and transla-tor, the day started with a free throwcontest, a dribbling contest and athree-point shooting contest.

But the day’s main events werethe two 15-minute games of basket-ball.

There wasn’t a lot of passing.There wasn’t even a lot of dribbling.But there was some teamwork amongthe players. That, to many, wasconsidered important.

“Sport has always been abovethe politics. Kids don’t know thepolitics,” said Yugoslav Jankovic, aphysical education teacher inKosovska Kamenica. “They don’tknow what the politics is about. Whatis important for them is the game,sport and gathering together.”

Indeed, games like this haven’thappened since KFOR arrived herethree years ago. Most, if not all, ofthese kids have only vague recollec-tions of the war that tore this provinceapart.

Capt. Chris Romero, a teamleader with the 490th Civil AffairsBattalion, organized the day with the

help ofJankovic.

“I spokewith the leaders,both the schooldirectors andjust emphasizedit’s important asleaders that theysee the idea (likethis game),”Romero said.“They see thevision and usethat to bring tothe twoethnicitiestogether.

“Hopefullythere was alesson learnedhere today, thatwas the wholeintent.”

For thoseof you wonder-ing, the Kingsbeat the Spurs6-4, and theKnicks lost tothe Bulls 6-0. Players from both sides congratulated each other on a well-played

game.

by Spc. Terry BoggsStaff Writer

CAMP BONDSTEEL— Sittinginconspicuously near the flight line here is alarge, metal building. From the outside itlooks perfectly ordinary, metal walls, metalroof, it appears to be made just like anyother dwelling on the base.

Enter the door and step inside,however, and there is a flurry of activitygoing on. People are running and callingout orders to one another. Many aregearing up; some are checking equipment.A group of four individuals are alreadysuited up and on their way to their destina-tion.

They arrive, and take their placesoutside of a door. From underneath thedoor, smoke billows. The four look at oneanother, and one of them nods. The oneclosest to the door opens it, and in finelyorchestrated unison, they all enter, singlefile.

A few seconds later they emergefrom the room, carrying a person. They laythe individual on the ground and beginCPR. A few seconds later, a voice calls outand the group get up to prepare forevaluation.

Fortunately, the fire was simulated,and the victim was a stuffed dummy. Butfor the men and women of the Task ForceFalcon Fire Academy, the whole scenemay as well had been real, instead of atraining exercise.

Fire Academy trainees are seriouspeople on a serious mission. Once theycomplete their two month course, they willbe fighting fires right here on base.

Martin Davila, TFF Fire Chief, wason hand to offer some information aboutthe Department and the trainees them-selves.

“You will find ten firefighters on duty,24 hours a day (at Camp Bondsteel)”, said

Davila. “Their work day starts at 0800,and they work up till 2200 hours. Duringthe work day they perform all the trainingthey have to perform, station cleanup, andmaintenance of vehicles. At 2200 hoursthey go upstairs and go to bed, then getup at 0600 and prepare the station for thenext shift coming on.”

Martin also indicated that there aretwo structural engines at Camp Bondsteel,each one capable of extinguishing thelargest projected possible fire, whichhappens to be the DFAC. In other words,the dining facility is supposed to be thelargest fire that can occur on base, andeach vehicle is able to take care of it. Eachvehicle can carry 1,000 gallons of water,which would then be supplemented bylocal hydrants.

Then there is Big Ugly.Big Ugly, according to Martin, is

aptly named and capable of carrying

2,000 gallons of water. Sitting in the stationit may look ugly, but it would be a mostwelcome sight in case of a fire.

Martin also explained how thedepartment is divided up. Each base getsits own group of firefighters, as well as oneat the headquarters, located at Brown &Root facilities in Farizaj. This is appropri-ate, since with the exception of the leaders,all of the men and women of the firedepartment are Brown & Root employ-ees. The strange thing about them is thatnone of them have any previous firefightingexperience. Don’t let that make younervous, though. Each one of them is atrained professional.

“We deliver world class fire protec-tion,” Martin added. “We deliver thatthrough qualified firefighters, experiencedinspectors and skilled instructors that aredelivering quality and realistic training tohighly motivated host country

internationals.The folks we were looking for had to

be between eighteen and thirty-five yearsold, in good health, and they had to gothrough a medical examination, and aninitial interview. In the initial interview, youhad to establish your ability to read, writeand speak English.”

The test for this was simple, accord-ing to Martin. They put the presentationout for them, (in English of course) and atthe end of the presentation, they wrote “ifyou are interested in this position, pleasestand up.” They went through roughly 300people before somebody actually re-sponded. The reason for this, he said, wasyou need to be able to understand Englishquickly so you can follow orders.

One of the unique facets of thisacademy is the makeup of the traineesthemselves. They are a mixture of Serbiansand Albanians, two groups that have beeninvolved in civil conflict for many years. Yeteverything seemed to be calm as thestudents went about their business.

Pedro Torrez, Fire Academy LeadInstructor, gave a similar account. Accord-ing to Torrez, the academy has 16 traineescurrently enrolled, six Serbian, twoMacedonian, and eight Albanian, and therehas been no trouble so far between any ofthem. This is fortunate for the thousands ofmen and women who depend on them.

The department’s mission is actuallytwofold. They train the firefighters to putout fires at the different camps in KFOR,and then send them home in the hopes thatthey will take their experience and trainingwith them. That way, if an emergencydevelops among the civilian populace,there will be some knowledgeable profes-sionals on hand to deal with the crisis.

So rest easy, but be careful. Forthough these fine men and women arethere to keep us safe, and hopefully wewill never have to use them.

Spc. Terry Boggs/photo

Fire fighter trainees at the Task Force Falcon Fire Academy gear up during a simulation atthe fire station on Camp Bondsteel recently. Trainees serve at CBS and are trained to fulfillall of the normal duties of a regular firefighter.

TFF Fire Academy prepares recruits for real-world missions


Pumping iron

Fitness expert shares views on weightlifting, supplements and ephedrine

contributed/photoWarrant Officer 1 Roy Rucker works out in the gym. Rucker often extols the virtues of strength training to his fellowsoldiers.

by Sgt. Jamie BrownSenior Editor

He’s big, strong andhealthy, and if he sees you in thegym using bad weightliftingtechniques, there is a goodchance he will set you straight. Ina weightlifting world filled withmisinformation and myths,Warrant Officer 1 Roy Rucker,TFF ACE G-2, SYSCOMOIC, has tried to shine the lightof truth on how soldiers canreach their fitness goals.

Rucker, an A-certifiedpersonal trainer, certifiedmasseuse and certified sportsstrength trainer, has been bodybuilding and competing in bodybuilding contests for almost 10years. Over this time Rucker hasacquired a lot of knowledgeabout weight training, and hewants to share it with his fellowsoldiers.

“God gave us all abilities,”Rucker said. “Your body is only going to looka certain way. Your metabolism, how you’regoing to perform on a daily basis, what you’regoing to look like. My thing is, when you seepeople who want to try, especially in theArmy, I feel compelled to help those peopleout. And that’s what I do on a daily basis.”

Rucker prides himself in helpingsoldiers who may be getting bad informationfrom other sources.

“I’ve seen over the years that there area lot of soldiers that are interested in weighttraining and bodybuilding, but they really don’tknow how, so they read magazines and seedifferent pictures, and want to do the thingsthey see in the magazines,” Rucker said. “Butthe stuff they see in the magazines, only worksfor those professionals, or so-called profes-sionals, who use drugs. Most of the people inthe magazines, that’s what they’re doing, usingdrugs to promote supplements, and weight-loss, weight-gain products, which is a billiondollar industry. I’m trying to get soldiers to seethat, you don’t need to listen to that stuff. Youneed to get with a personal trainer, orsomeone who knows what they’re doing,and try to learn about your body, becausethat’s the only way to see some kind of gainsor improvements.”

Rucker has several tips for thosestarting a weight-training program:

1. Have a plan – “Before you actuallypick up a weight, learn what your body needsto do to grow or tone or whatever you want

to do,” Rucker said.2. Use proper form and technique –

“Learn proper technique and posture first,which is very important, because withoutthem you can go to the gym and lift tons, andstill look like you never lifted weight a day inyour life, and you can possibly end up hurtingyourself,” Rucker said. “Soldiers need to beconcerned with correct form. You have guysin the gym who have read a lot of magazines,so they consider themselves professionals orcertified trainers, that’s not so. I see guystaking advice from guys who really don’tknow what they’re doing, all the time. Thoseare the kind of people I walk up to in thegym, and actually sit down and give them mycredentials, tell them who I am, and explaincertain things to them, the correct way to dothings, and if they do things the correct way,how they’ll benefit from that.”

3. Use good nutrition – “Healthyeating is important too,” Rucker said. “Ifyou’re looking at a specific goal you have toknow how to get there, via nutrition, becausenutrition is going to allow your muscles, alongwith the stimulus of weight training, to getwhere they can possibly go. Because yourbody has certain limitations, you can only looklike your body is going to allow you to look,without steroid use, which I don’t promote.”

Along with the topic of nutrition,however, comes the topic of supplements,like the kind that can fill an entire aisle in thePX.

“If everyone could eat like they’resupposed to eat, they wouldn’t need supple-ments,” Rucker said. “If you’re an extremeweightlifter or power lifter, and I do meanextreme, getting the maximum pump out ofyour muscles, draining them of everything thatis in them, supplementation is good to restorethe protein that you need, the creatine thatyour body produces naturally to aid musclerecovery. If you’re just a normal, average Joethat’s in the gym to tone, shape and have amoderate type workout to stay in goodphysical condition, food will work. Actuallysupplementation is really not needed. I seethose products, and I see soldiers gettingthem, and you can see the looks on theirfaces, they’re looking for a magic pill, and itjust doesn’t happen that way. Those productswill work for you if your body needs it, but ifyour body doesn’t need it, then it’s a waste ofmoney.”

One supplement that has been the topicof a lot of discussion lately is ephedrine.Several products containing ephedrine werepulled from the shelves of PXs located inKosovo, after it was determined that thesupplement was a contributing factor in theinjuries of several servicemembers.

“The thing about Ephedrine, it is actuallya derivative of the actual ephedra the plant,”Rucker said. “It’s been pulled, because therehave been a lot of incidents lately of peopleusing the product and not being educatedabout it. You can go in and read a magazine

and see this wonderful productcontaining ephedra, and say ‘Ineed to tone up and get allripped up.’ So you go buy it.You read the minimum dosageon the back, and you starttaking it. I would tell soldiers,before you buy any weight-loss,or dietary type product,containing ephedra or anythingelse, you read the label, beforeyou buy it, you put it back onthe shelf, you get out of thereand go do some research on theproduct. Find a personal traineror physician and ask them aboutthat product, and the ingredientsthat are contained in thatproduct. Or go to the FDAwebsite and they will explain allthat stuff to you. Once youeducate yourself, go back andtalk to the physician, and youfind out if you have any kind ofhealth problems, i.e. heartcondition, high-blood pressure,asthma, or anything that mightcause any kind of adverse

reaction when you use that product. That’sthe thing that a lot of soldiers aren’t doing.They’re not trusting the health and medicalsystem. They won’t go see the physician tofind out: is it okay for me to take this product?

I’ve been taking products that containEphedrine for about nine years, I haven’t hadany adverse affects whatsoever, and Icontribute that to education. I’ve seen soldierspass out from using the product; they’ll take itand then go overexert themselves. It doesgive you more energy than you couldprobably ever want, and you use it, notknowing you have high blood pressure, or aheart problem, and the next thing you know,you’re on your back. I’ve seen heart condi-tions and kidney failure. I’ve actually wit-nessed two people die from it, from misuse. Ifthey had been educated they would still bealive.”

If soldiers have a question aboutweightlifting Rucker said they should feel freeto contact him on the global e-mail here, orvia his website “rucker’s relics.com. Ruckersaid that he wants to share the joy ofweightlifting with his fellow soldiers, because ithas meant so much to him.

“Working out promotes a healthy life-style,” Rucker said. “It helps you feel better,makes you look better, and we as soldiersneed to be in the best of shape. That’s whyI’d recommend weight training, because itpromotes muscle strength and growth. Itmakes your whole life better.”

(AID continued from page 1)

landing zone operations, Rivera saidthis mission makes his company’s timeworthwhile.

“To see our soldiers doing theirmission, they feel a lot of pride, and I takea lot of pride seeing my soldiers work hardand getting the mission done,” he said.“They’re doing what their nation’s calledupon them to do.”

(THRIFT continued from page 10)

ment (I) FundAll service members are enrolled inthe G Fund initially, but may reallocatefunds and monitor their fund status on-

Wednesday was no different with foggrounding the flight from Camp Bondsteelto here, until midday. The mission left forthe compound and went to work loadingup seven tons of flour for the small villageof Lekbibaj. Three nets of flour were pre-stacked and readied for the next day asnearly seven tons of food would bedelivered to the village of Margegaj

Thursday, would prove to be the lastday of the mission. The fog burned offearly, and the loaded helicopters took off.Once on the ground, the slingloading of thetwo Chinooks took just a few minutes dueto the load’s preparation, and the LZ wasquiet again as the two birds raced towardtheir objective.

Even with all of the hard work put in

by the soldiers, some felt that they couldhave done more.

“It’s too bad we couldn’t have donemore,” Maj. Todd Guggisberg, 10th LTFexecutive officer, said after the operationended, “but we fought the weather andtime and its good we did what we did.”

line. Enrolled members will receive apersonal identification number (PIN)via the United States Postal Serviceafter the first contribution. For current

members, the first contribution is end-of-month January 2002. The PINallows online access for the members.

For more information on the

Thrift Savings Plan, visit our nearestFinance Office or go online at http://tsp.gov/


Chaplain’s Corner

by Chaplain (Capt.) Simon ObengTFF Deputy Chaplain

Your sacrifices are the ultimate acts of love

CBS Worship ServicePeacekeepers Chapel (North)

Sunday8 a.m., Episcopal/Lutheran

9:30 a.m., Roman Catholic Mass11 a.m., Collective Protestant

12:30 p.m., Gospel Service

Monday7 p.m., Women’s and Single Soldiers’ Bible

studies

Tuesday7 p.m., Catholic RCIA

Wednesday12 p.m., Roman Catholic Mass

6:30 p.m., Prayer Service7 p.m., Bible Studies

Thursday7 p.m., Choir Rehearsal (Gospel)

Friday12 p.m., Muslim Prayer Service

7 p.m., Gospel Joy Night Service

Saturday6:30 p.m., Stay Faithful Marriage Bible

Study

South Chapel

Sunday8 a.m., Roman Catholic Mass

9:30 a.m., Collective Protestant11 a.m., LDS Service

4 p.m., Gospel Service

Monday7 p.m., Collective Protestant

Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday12 p.m., Roman Catholic Mass

Wednesday7 p.m., Bible Study

Thursday7 p.m., Bible Study

Friday8 p.m., Jewish

Saturday11 a.m., Seventh Day Adventist Service

7 p.m., Choir Rehearsal (Gospel)

CMT Worship Service Sector WorshipProtestantSaturday

2 p.m., Debelde4 p.m., Binac Church

SundayCamp Magrath, 10 a.m.

Zintinje Church, 11:30 a.m.Klokot, 2 p.m.

Mogila, 3:30 p.m.Vrbovac Church, 4:30 p.m.

Vrbovac, 7 p.m.

Latter Day SaintsSunday

Camp Magrath, 2 p.m.

Roman CatholicMonday

Klokot, 2 p.m.Vrbovac, 4 p.m.

Camp Magrath, 7 p.m.

Other ActivitiesSunday

Movie Night- 11 p.m.

TuesdayBible Study, 8 p.m.

Sunday9 - 10:30 a.m., General Protestant Service

11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Gospel Service1:30 - 2:30 p.m., LDS Worship

7 - 8 p.m., Catholic Mass

Monday7 p.m., Chapel Movie Night w/ Discussion

Tuesday7 - 9 p.m., Gospel Worship Practice

Wednesday6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Gospel Worship Practice

7:30 - 9 p.m., Bible Study

Thursday6 - 7 p.m., General Protestant Practice

7 - 8 p.m., General Protestant Bible Study8 - 9 p.m., General Protestant Worship

Friday12 - 1 p.m., Muslim Service in Annex

7 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Seventh Day Adventist

Worship

Sacrifice has always been a part ofhuman habitation. Sacrifices have been offeredin every culture and in every generation, eitherto the Supreme God, or to other intermediar-ies. It has always been believed that, when themother earth, or a particular river that protectsthe people, or the Supreme God who createdall things is offended, the only thing that canreconcile any of them is by offering sacrifice tothem.

However, sacrifices are not only toappease God, or the gods, or to avoid God’spunishment. Sacrifices are offered to invokeGod’s blessings, or protection of the gods.Sacrifices can also be offered out of love forGod. Abraham was willing to offer his sonIsaac as a sacrifice to God, out of love forGod; and God blessed him (Gen 22:9-10).Jesus offered the sacrifice of himself out of lovefor the world (for humankind). This was totallyout of the ordinary, but it seems to me that hetook pride in doing it. To affirm his unquestion-able and unconditional love for us, he pro-claimed, “ No one has greater love than this, to

lay down one’s life forone’s friends” (John15: 13). Christiansbelieve that JesusChrist died not onlyto expiate our sins,but he died out of hisgreater lovefor us. He setthe criteriafor going toheaven. If wereceive one another, wereceive him. If we rejectone another, we rejecthim (Mt 25:31-46).Jesus knew that it wasnot going to be as easyas it sounds; so he callsit a “Cross”. “Whoeverwishes to come after memust deny himself, takeup his, and follow me”(Mt 17:24). In otherwords, he was encouraging hisdisciples of all generations to learn tomake sacrifices out of love for their fellow

human beings.He was encouraging them

to make sacrifices in order to befaithful disciples of his.

Sometimes we askourselves “Is it worth being herein the Balkans?” In one sense,we are tempted to say, it is notworth it. Sometimes, soldiersget lonely for leaving theirfamilies for such a longperiod of time. They missbeing home; they missbeing with their families

and friends. I wastalking to a youngsoldier from FortBragg, who was newlymarried. He missed his

first Christmas withhis young bride.He is going tomiss hisdaughter’s firstbirthday coming

up. And worst ofall, he is going to miss their

first wedding anniversary coming up. I knowanother soldier whose wife has left him forbeing away from her. I am sure all of us haveour own stories to tell. And all these stories canbring about low morale.

However, when we flip the coin, we seethe brighter side of the situation. We can sayfor sure that our being in the Balkans is worthbeing. We are proud Americans who neverhesitate to risk, or even sacrifice our dear livesto serve our nation. We are proud Americanswho will do anything good to defend our nationand to uphold the Constitution of the UnitedStates of America. We are free sons anddaughters of America who are willing to sharethe very freedom we enjoy with our brothersand sisters of the Balkans. Many have leftfamily, friends, fiancees, boy friends and girlfriends, loved ones, and places with which theyare comfortable. In spite of forgoing all theseprecious people and places in their lives, oursoldiers realize they are here for a just cause.This is a great sacrifice. It is a God-givingmission. In the end, you will all be proud ofbeing a part of peace in Kosovo. May Godbless all of you for your great sacrifices.

Fire safety tip’s from your TFF Fire Department

When used properly, a portable fireextinguisher can save lives andproperty by putting out a small fire orcontaining it until the fire departmentarrives. It is very important to use theright type of fire extinguisher whenputting out a small fire.Fires in paper, wood, drapes andupholstery require an extinguisherlabeled A.Fires in fuel oil, gasoline, paint, greasein a frying pan, solvents, and other

flammable liquids require anextinguisher labeled B.Fires started in wiring, overheated fuseboxes, conductors, and other electricalsources require an extinguisher labeledC.Certain metals such as magnesium andsodium require special dry powderextinguisher labeled D.A 5-lb. ABC Multi-Purposeextinguisher is the recommended sizeand type for use in the Sea Huts andoffice areas.Read the operation instructions

carefully with all family members soeveryone will be ready during anemergency.The higher the number rating on theextinguisher, the more fire it puts out.High rated ones are often (not always)the heavier models. Make sure you canhold and operate the one you mightbuy for home use or be required to useat work.Before Attempting to Fight a FireIs everyone out of the building?The fire department is being called.You know you have a class ABC

extinguisher, and you already knowhow to operate it.The fire is small and contained in thearea where it started.Can you fight the fire with your backtoward a safe escape exit?Remember that portable fireextinguishers are not designed to fight alarge or spreading fire. If you have theslightest doubt if you should fight thefire - DON’T. Just get out fast!If you have any questions about this, orany fire safety topic, call DSN 4098and ask for the Fire Prevention section.

Special to the Falcon Flier


Iron Fist

Task Force 1-30 conducts cordon and search

KRAJNI DEL, Kosovo— They looked attheir watches, and then up to the clear sky inanticipation of the prompt arrival of six UH-60Blackhawks, four OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, andthree CH-47 Chinooks. The soldiers of A Co., 1stBattalion, 30th Infantry Regiment (TF 1-30), FortBenning, Ga., lined up around the airfield preparingto jump on the inbound birds as part of OperationIronfist.

The soldiers of Alpha Company received theoperation order a week prior to the mission, andprepared using snow shoes, extreme cold weathergear, and also trained on the planning and executingof helicopter operations. The day finally arrived andthe mechanized company executed an air assault,and conducted a cordon and search in two separatelocations. They had two elements divided by twocommand and control aspects of the company,according to the commander Capt. Scott Anderson.

“We’re going into the town of Krajni Del tosearch for illegal arms, weapons and possibledetainees,” said 2nd Lt. Scott Mangum, platoonleader for first platoon, A Co. “It’s all to preventpeople from harming each other, and goes rightalong with our mission to provide a safe and secureenvironment for the people of Kosovo.”

“This is exactly what we join the Army for, todo real world missions just like this one today,” saidSgt. Michael Romero, of Alpha Co. The operationnot only benefits Kosovo by helping decrease illegalactivity, but builds the confidence of the soldiersinvolved, knowing that they can accomplish such acrucial mission.

This is the second search Alpha company hasperformed in Kosovo, but with the help of the

by Spc. Molly JonesStaff Writer

Sgt. Mikwan Jones, team leader, A Co, 1st Battalion, 30th Inf. Regiment (TF 1-30) exits a UH-60 Blackhawk during Operation Iron Fist January 22nd in Krajni Del, Kosovo.



police working dogs, a detachment from 10th Moun-tain Division, and a few Psy-Ops soldiers on thisoperation, the mission was more of a success, saidRomero.

To the casual observer, soldiers going intopeople’s yards, barns, and so on, might seem a bitextreme, but it is all to better the future of Kosovo byhelping cease the smuggle of illegal arms. “We are herefor a good cause. What we did today will definitelybenefit the children who are the future of Kosovo.That’s what this is all about,” said Mangum.

“We’re very flexible and willing to go any distance

necessary to make sure the communities are safe, andthat we’re making sure that they’re on track to havinga successful transition to a peaceful and democraticsociety,” said Anderson.

Although no arms were recovered, the soldiersmade a positive impression on the townspeople withtheir courtesy and professionalism. “Also, the missionwas a success if for no other reason than to show thatwe have the capability to complete any mission. Herewe are, mechanized soldiers, conducting air assaultsinto mountain towns,” said Anderson.

Pfc. Samuel Carbajal, 1st Platoon, A Co., 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment (TF 1-30) looks for illegal weapons duringOperation Iron Fist.

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