The Guardian - May 2012

Volume XV Issue 5May 2012

The official magazine of Multinational Battle Group EastGUARDIANthe

2 GUARDIANtheMay 2012

What’s Inside

Readiness Exercise Develops KSF Skills

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Warrior Leader Course at Bondsteel

Page 6-7

DynCorp Protects the Peacekeepers

Page 8

Watch Out for Springtime Critters

Page 9

Follow the Correct Steps To File Claim

Page 12

Bondsteel Honors Bataan Memorial Page 14

The Guardian is produced for personnel of Multinational Battle Group - East, and is an authorized

publication for members of the Department of Defense.

Contents of the publication are not necessarily the official views

of the United Nations, U.S. govern-ment, the Department of the

Army, Headquarters & Headquar-ters Company, 157th Maneuver

Enhancement Brigade, or MNBG E.

Commanding OfficerCol. Jeffrey J. Liethen

Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj.

Bradley J. Shields

Public Affairs OfficerCapt. Joy Staab

172nd Public Affairs DetachmentEditor/Layout & DesignSgt. 1st Class Jim Wagner

Broadcast JournalistsStaff Sgt. Jason Alvarez

Spc. Nathan Rivard

Print Journalist Spc. Joshua Barnett

GUARDIANthe

About the

CoverSgt. Rodney Cabezas from the North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, takes

aim during Warrior Leader Course recently. See more

photos and story on Page 6. (U.S. Army photo by Spc.

Joshua Barnett)


From the CommanderWhat Can You Do With Time Remaining in Kosovo?

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Col. Jeffrey J. Liethen MNBG E Commander

MNBG E Leaders Visit Serbian Spiritual SeatU.S. Army Col. Jeffrey J. Liethen, Multinational Battle Group East com-mander, center left; Bishop Jovan of Ulpiana, center; and U.S. Army Col. Richard T. Kumlien, Multinational Battle Group East deputy command-er, center right, pose with a group in front of the Serbian Orthodox Patri-archate of Pec on Orthodox Easter, April 15, 2012. The monastery, which dates to the 13th century, is the spiri-tual seat and mausoleum of Serbian archbishops and patriarchs. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Barnett)

I think I can speak for the entire Battle Group when I say the warm spring weather is a wel-come change compared to the long harsh winter conditions we experienced during the first half

of our deployment.

As we move into the second half of our deployment, not only do we move into warmer weather condi-tions, we also move into the downward slope of our time remaining in Kosovo.

As a result, I have witnessed the morale of the Battle Group increase. Soldiers have broken out of their routine of sitting in their rooms during their personal time, and are now enjoying the camaraderie of others while playing sports, sitting at the café and working out. I encourage you all to continue to do the activities that increase your morale, but remember to keep your head in the game… and by that I mean keep focused on our mission.

The warm weather also means an increase in our operational tempo. The frequent snow storms this winter minimized the frequency of missions we could perform in order to fulfill our mission to keep a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for Kosovo residents.As we count down the days remaining on the deployment, I ask that you look at your days remaining in Kosovo with a clear perspective.

Do not allow yourself to get complacent. Stay aware of your surroundings and maintain military bearing. History shows that Soldiers get in trouble early during deployments while testing the Com-

mand’s resolve in enforcing the rules. Fortunately we are past that.

On the other hand, history also shows that non-compliant behavior hits a peak near the end of deployments as well. Again, maintain your military bearing and discipline, and don’t be

“that guy” who gets in trouble late in the game.

It’s easy to look at the calendar and see only how many days we have remaining until we go home. I encourage you to look at it this way: “What can I do with the remaining time here to make a difference?”

As each day passes, remind yourself that you only have that number of days remaining to make a differ-ence here in Kosovo. Whether it’s out on a presence patrol, meeting with Kosovo residents and leaders, or planning a training exercise, always think about what you can do to make a difference with the time you have remaining in Kosovo.

The job you’ve done here to date has been supe-rior; keep up that level of performance to ensure the gratitude of not just the people of Kosovo, but America as they see the results of your excellent service.


CSM CornerBe Prepared, Ready, Trained at All Times to Respond

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Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley J. Shields

MNBG E CSM

flickr.com/photos/MNBG-E

facebook.com/KFOR.MNBG.East

youtube.com/MNBGEast

As our Non-Commissioned Officer Corps resets we will focus on four core compe-tencies that every NCO must master to effectively lead Soldiers and execute the

Army’s mission.

Train, Educate & develop. Instructing others, coaching and mentoring. We as NCOs need to con-duct counseling focused on individual development, meeting the Army Standards and living the Army Values. Career direction on attaining those individ-ual goals and necessary education are critical.

Care for Soldiers and equipment. Knowing and understanding each of your Soldier’s personal challenges - to include family, legal and training challenges - will provide the framework to mentor and guide them to necessary resources. Equipment accountability and understanding the maintenance and operation of that equipment, will ensure their tactical proficiency and discipline to maintain.

Establish, Maintain & enforce standards. Have a clear understanding of the standards, and insist on adherence to those standards. By looking the other way, we are not only telling our Soldiers it’s okay, you are not meeting your responsibility as a leader. From our Army Values, integrity is simply doing the right thing when no one is looking. Set the standard, whether it’s the Army Physical Fitness Test, uniform wear and appearance, height and weight standards or personal conduct.

Lead. Leadership is a combination of the other core values. At the foundation of leadership are the Army Values, the NCO Creed, our professional and personal education, and experience. A successful leader will never compromise the Army Values and their core values. Every decision you make should reflect those values. For once comprised, at what point do we stop? We don’t have the option to pick

and chose what right looks like, we as NCO’s define what right looks like for our Soldiers. Making the difficult deci-sions and choices are our responsibility consis-tent with those values. Change and adjustment is constant, not only in the Army but in the civil-ian world. Your ability to adapt to change will define, in part, your suc-cess. You are salesmen of change to your subor-dinates. The manner in which you present change will significantly impact your success and that of the organization. Adjust, adapt and drive on!

You are our leaders of the future, charged with carrying on a long tradition of excellence, shepherds of freedom and respect throughout the World.

We represent every man and woman who ever wore a uniform, and who gave their lives for our country. We are responsible for preserving and continuing the traditions, customs and courtesies that honor our Warriors, present and past, and the U.S Army.

I ask you to remember this - the world will always be a dangerous place, and as American Soldiers and the leaders of this great Army, we are charged with the duty to be prepared and ready at all times. So the next time you are enforcing the standards, inspect-ing your equipment or head to the range, give 110% to the mission and task, your country and Army.

Your Soldiers depend on it!


story & photos by Spc. Joshua Barnett

U.S. Soldiers trained and supervised mem-bers of the Kosovo Security Force as they responded to and manage a simulated crisis during a readiness exercise April 3-5.

The exercise in Ferizaj tested the KSF’s ability to support municipal authorities and work with local emergency response personnel in an emergency situation, as well as provide valuable training and experience, especially for their corps of non-commis-sioned officers.

The exercise was organized by the KSF training and doctrine command, and included members of the KSF fire department as well as the explosive ord-nance disposal, and the mountain and urban search and rescue teams.

U.S. soldiers from Multinational Battle Group East (MNBG E) and the Iowa National Guard, Kosovo’s state partner, provided oversight and training throughout the event.

“Their command requested us specifically for this mission because they trust us, they know that we can support them in any way,” said Sgt. 1st Class Danny L. Belisle, MNBG E plans NCO, who is deployed with 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment. “Our mili-tary has an NCO chain and an officer chain. Officers plan and NCOs perform, they wanted us to train their NCOs in our model, to make them stronger.

“We were there to assist, and give input when nec-essary,” he added. “We were never there to tell them what to do. We were there to let them know what right looks like.”

The training event consisted of a simulated train derailment, requiring KSF to secure the area, practice responding to hazardous materials and unexploded ordnance, fight fires and perform search and rescue operations.

“We have specialized units that know their pro-cedures during incidents but in separate ways,” said KSF Brigadier General Imri Ilazi, chief of operations and training. “During a big incident we would have multiple complex situations; setting up priorities is very demanding, coordination and communication it is not easy, so I believe that during this exercise these things were tested.

“A challenge was the coordination with munici-pality and other agencies trying to help in the field,” added Ilazi. “These are all the elements we dealt with trying to return the situation to normal condi-tions, from an emergency or catastrophic situation to return it to normal. The focus of our units is how to return the situations to normal and to give it back to the municipality.”

“They came away from the exercise with a new level of self confidence, that they are fully capable of accomplishing any mission put before them,” said Belisle. “What I saw was teamwork. Often in a team, you have clashes with different personalities; they had no issues with that. They were highly motivated.”

Importantly, the exercise didn’t serve just to test the current readiness of KSF troops, but was also a learning experience to improve future readiness, according to Ilazi.

“During training and observation we repeated some scenarios to make sure that our units are able to improve during training, I am very proud with the work done during this field exercise, Ilazi said.”

Belisle agreed KSF has made improvements, “I think they performed very well. From the input we received from their chain of command, they have made major strides since just last year.

“The people of Kosovo should be really confident in the KSF,” he added. “They are there for the commu-nity. They are not a military force, they are there to help and they are fully capable.”

A Kosovo Security Force (KSF) mountain rescue team patrols a line during a search for simulated casualties

Joint readiness exercisedevelops ksf leader skills


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Soldiers from the Warrior Leader Course Class at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, participate in a situational training exercise.


Spc. Asad Khaqan, a crew chief with D Co, 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion, lies in wait during a situational training exercise. continued on next Page

Half-way through their yearlong deployment, roughly 80 U.S. Army Soldiers have taken a major step in the advancement of their enlisted careers. These soldiers have taken

time from their normal deployment duties to com-plete the Warrior Leader Course (WLC).

WLC is the first step in the Army’s Noncommis-sioned Officer Education System (NCOES), providing basic leadership training that allows Soldiers the opportunity to acquire the leader skills, knowledge and experience needed to lead small units, and serves as the foundation for the advanced NCOES courses. Essentially, the course’s purpose is to teach soldiers how to be NCOs.

“WLC teaches all the core competencies of how to be a leader, and what the Army needs for lead-ers,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Scales, an instructor with the Army Reserve’s 7th Warrior Training Brigade based in Grafenwohr, Germany. “It teaches not only classroom and garrison leadership, but tactical lead-ership.”

The course is built around an intense field training environment that involves hands-on, performance-oriented training.

“A lot of people haven’t done this stuff since basic training, and its basic soldiering that every soldier


needs to know,” said Spc. Mitch Hanson of DeForest, Wis., a horizontal construction engineer assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Company , 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

“Coming in as a specialist is going to be a great opportunity to get promoted to E-5, and coming into E-5 I’ll be confident,” he added. “That’s what they teach you is confidence, so you become a good leader.”

The course is taught at Camp Bondsteel by sol-diers from the Army Reserve’s 7th WTB. Two cycles of the course have been offered so far during this deployment, and leadership hopes to add a third this sum-mer.

By bringing the cadre to Camp Bondsteel, and train-ing National Guard soldiers who are already on active duty, the Army is able to save a sig-nificant amount of money and free up slots for other sol-diers, Scales said.

“Really, it all boils down to money and availability,” he said. “With the National Guard and Army Reservists already on orders here, it’s a lot easier for the state and for the federal government to send a mobile training team to them, instead of having to mobilize a whole bunch of soldiers at the same time to send them to school; now they can bring the school to them.”

According to Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Jarvis, an operations sergeant serving as the 157th training NCO, each class held here saves an estimated $65,000 in pay and allowances for the soldiers over activating them for training.

The overall cost savings are even greater now due to the newly-constructed training complex computer lab, built to accommodate the WLC students as well as other training courses offered at Camp Bondsteel.

Before, a contract had to be arranged with a

commercial satellite internet company to provide a distance learning environment for courses such as WLC and the officer-level Intermediate Level Education course. Now, however, they can tap into military’s existing network on post to provide inter-net access to 17 workstations in the computer lab.

That translates into 10’s of thousands of dollars in savings to the Army, potentially allowing for more courses to be made available at Camp Bondsteel.

Running the course in theatre does come with challenges, but Jarvis said that hard work and preparation before the WLC cadre arrived made for a smooth implementation.

“With all the planning and preparation that we did, from the preparation of the build-ings where the soldiers live to the preparation of equipment; it really paved the way for a seam-less transition for me handing the training complex over to the WLC instructors,” he said. “I think it led to a great, successful course”

Perhaps even more impor-tantly than the cost savings, offering the course to deployed soldiers allows them to return home and combine their deploy-ment experience with their WLC training to become effective leaders.

“The opportunity to come here and do it while I don’t have to take time away from my fam-

ily, just get here and get it done, is a great deal to me,” said Hanson. “I’ll come back and be on top of these boards back at my unit.”

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Soldiers from the Warrior Leader Course Class 12-050 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, receive a class on requesting medical evacuations in the computer lab.

ABOVE: Soldiers from the Warrior Leader Course (WLC) Class 12-051 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, participate in a situational training exercise.


While the responsibility of ensuring a safe and secure environment in Kosovo is in the hands of the multinational soldiers and Air-

men of Kosovo Force (KFOR), the responsibility for ensuring the same kind of environment at Multinational Battle Group East’s (MNBG E) largest base in Kosovo falls to DynCorp International. The Virginia-based contractor has recently assumed responsibility for security at Camp Bondsteel.

“We provide force protec-tion for Camp Bondsteel, and that is our one objective – the protection of U.S. govern-ment installations, materials, property and personnel,” said Tony Jamora, DynCorp project manager for Camp Bondsteel Force Protection. “We do this by ensuring the perimeter is not compromised and controlling access to the camp.”

DynCorp personnel are on duty 24 hours a day patrolling, manning guard towers and monitoring electronic surveillance. They also staff all gates leading on and off post, where they screen all personnel, vehicles and property entering the camp.

“It frees up the military, it allows them to do things more pertaining to the mission,” explained Clayton R. Craig, a DynCorp gate supervisor. “It’s an honor. It feels good knowing that you have an opportunity to still serve in a way, to protect the people on base.”

DynCorp has more than 160 employees at Camp Bondsteel, nearly all of whom are former military or law enforcement, said Jamora.

“We have a well-trained and motivated guard force who have met all qualifications as required by the Department of Defense,” he added.

DynCorp employees said the experience of being deployed overseas as a civilian is certainly differ-ent from being in the military. “Being prior service, it’s definitely different, but it’s something I’m really

enjoying. You get to see things from the other side,” said Craig.

“It’s nice to not be under the purview of the mili-tary anymore, that’s for certain,” said Daniel Brooks,

a DynCorp tower supervisor. “It’s good, there’s a little more personal freedom, facial hair, civilian attire, the pay is bet-ter.”

According to DynCorp offi-cials, the civilian structure actually improves security at Camp Bondsteel. It allows them to focus exclusively on their specialty instead of other military duties.

It also allows for more continuity; while Army soldiers cycle in and out of deployment, DynCorp is able to retain people with specific experience and expertise on this location.

Jamora said, “over 20% were former employees of the previous security subcontrac-tor, so there is a lot of force protection experience specific

to Bondsteel here on the contract, including most of our supervisors.”

He added that the majority of the supervisors brought over to DynCorp have been working at Camp Bondsteel for over a year, and some of the management staff have been in place for more than five years.

DynCorp: Protecting the Peacekeepers


A DynCorp employee oversees the search of a vehicle at a gate leading into Camp Bondsteel.

A DynCorp employee inspects items at a security check-point.

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Spring is upon us and we will soon be faced with a marked increase in vector exposure, creating a need for leaders to discuss and rein-force the Army’s game plan.

Rather than trying to make each soldier an expert in species identification of snakes, spiders, scorpions and the like, perhaps the best approach is simply to list out a few key “Do’s and Don’ts” that we need to be aware of while in theatre as well proper corre-sponding courses of action.

Based on the current environment and my experi-ence as a Preventative Medicine Officer, I advise you to please strongly consider the following list:

SNAKES: There are many species of snakes in the Balkan region, however only three of them are poisonous: Long-Nosed Viper, European Viper and Orsini’s Viper. There is really no point in

knowing that, however, since we all should be doing

the following:

Avoid all snakes! Despite the myths, most snakes if given a chance

will avoid confrontation. They may however become aggressive if disturbed or cornered. Be aware of common areas snakes would hide out in.

Do not stick your hands blindly into heavy brush, under planks or wood piles, rock crevices, etc. If you’re in a tent or outdoors, shake out your clothes and boots prior to putting them on.

Keep an eye out for snakes when you are walking about outdoors. If you see one, make sure others in the area know it is there, but DO NOT disturb it, play with it, or attempt to stuff it into an old chew cup.

IF you are bitten, seek medical attention immedi-ately!

DOGS: As much as we would like to make friends with Scruffy, the dogs that enter our AO have a high probability of bringing with them a multitude of problems such as rabies, ticks, fleas, worms, etc…

• Do not play with dogs that enter our area of operations and certainly do not feed them

• Keep trash sealed in cans or dumpsters to avoid attracting animals

• IF scratched or bitten, REPORT IMMEDIATELY and seek medical attention!

INSECTS/RODENTS: There are many vector-borne diseases from this group and the risk is much higher for these diseases from March-October. Crimean- Congo hemorrhagic fever, Tick- borne encephalitis (TBE), Lyme’s disease, Leish- maniasis, Typhus, Hanta- virus are all nasty diseases you would rather not have, so following a few simple do’s and don’ts here is important:

Keep your living area clean, whether you live in a single room, barracks or tent, you are definitely going to invite bugs and rodents if you choose to live in complete squalor. Keep your clothes picked up and stored. Keep food items tightly sealed. Keep trash sealed and removed regularly. Keep the floors swept and pick up clutter.

If possible, avoid areas where ticks and other insects would normally be most prevalent such as tall grasses.Keep mosquito populations low by elimi-nating any source of standing water around your camps. (i.e. Old tires, drums, drainage ditches that hold water, etc.)

Wear permethrin-treated uniforms and use DEET or other insect repellent when outdoors.

If you get bitten by a spider or tick: watch the area and report immediately/seek medical attention if the area becomes irritated (pain, swelling, discol-oration, etc.) or if you experience any medical issues such as fever, headache, body aches, etc.

Remember the basic rules to keep yourself pro- tected. Practice good personal hygiene at all times. Be aware of the environment you are in and use the resources you have available to better protect yourself. As always, watch out for each other. Speak up if you see something that doesn’t look right and seek medical attention if something doesn’t feel right. And as common sense would dic-tate: Do not attempt to cram poisonous snakes into spit bottles.

Enjoy your time here in Kosovo and stay safe.

Watch Out for Springtime Crittersby Maj. Brett GegerTask Force MED Preventative Medicine

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From the IGTake Responsibility to Save Costs

Maj. Daniel Hanson IG Officer

One of the functions required of the Inspector General Office is to inquire into and report upon the discipline, efficiency, and economy of the unit.

Current economic situations are resulting in shrinking budgets throughout the Army. This will require many difficult management decisions on where our funds will be prioritized.

How can you help ensure we maintain the best force possible?

Although your influence on current budgets may relatively small, together we can make a significant difference. I challenge you to take individual respon-sibility to reduce costs where you may. Examples can be conserving energy by shutting lights, the heating/air conditioning units, or water off when not in use.

Other examples might be to save on tire replace-ment or repair by picking up nails and sharp objects when discovered. You may also reduce fuel con-

sumption by walking to the dining facility or PX. I am sure you can also find many other ways we waste money throughout our organi-zation.

These actions may not save large amounts of funds in themselves, but the collective effort in conserving scarce resources can result in great savings.

Funds and resources not wasted can be used for other competing require-ments.

I challenge you to be a good steward of tax payer funds and ensure we are an efficient force applying funds that best help us complete our mission.

Many Soldiers in Multi-National Battle Group East are at the mid-point in their time here in Kosovo. Historically the middle of a deployment sees a higher

number of accidents and injuries due to complacency. Complacency can lead to damaged or lost equipment, lost work time, and even lost Soldiers.

You are no doubt familiar with the environment here in Kosovo and are becoming more comfortable with your mission. It is at this point that leaders must continue to enforce standards and keep safety foremost in mind. When you feel comfortable you become less aware of what’s going on around you, especially on the roads in Kosovo.

Below are six steps to avoid complacency that you can all use to keep safety foremost in your minds.

Recognize it. If you are in denial that you are being complacent you need to take that as a big sign of the presence of complacency in yourself and oth-ers. First, admit that complacency exists. Second, identify what it is and where it is occurring. Compla-cency slowly creeps in and is not noticed as it grows.

What has changed in your approach? What is different in your actions? Are you taking little things for granted? Are you doing less of what lead to past successes?

Put it in context. Success at your mission or task often leads to complacency. Make sure you celebrate your success first, then challenge yourselves to build on that suc-cess. Connect with the feelings you felt with that success and strive to make constant continual improvement to maintain it.

Set new goals. It can be easy to be complacent when you’ve reached the goals that you set out to

Safety Roundup

Maj. Peter KitzhaberSafety Officer

Don't Let Complacency Take Root

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achieve at the beginning of your mission. Great leaders recognize the accomplishment of their goals and follow that up with new and more challenging goals. Have you accomplished all your goals? Have you set new goals? Are the new goals challenging and inspiring?

Keep purpose clear. Use the KISS principle, keep it simple. Now that you’ve set new goals, make sure everyone understands the “why” behind them. Include as many others as you can in the development of new goals. If it’s a team goal then work on it together. If it is an individual goal share it with others so they can challenge you to achieve it.

Create healthy competition. We all love competition – whether it is on and individual or a team basis. Be creative and find new ways to help people exceed previous accomplishments. Inspire a healthy level of competition between individuals and teams.

Remember history and human nature. Understand that complacency is a normal part of human nature. Recognizing this helps you deal with it personally and as a team or organization. However, when you feel it or see it, don’t resort to guilt or blame; rather, acknowledge it, and use all your mental and emotional energy to focus on overcoming it instead of worrying about its presence.

Use these six steps to keep your focus on accomplishing your mission safely and successfully. Put these into practice and you will complete your rotation here in Kosovo and make it home safely to your families.

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State Leaders Visit KosovoThe governor and first lady of Wyoming, along with senior

military officials from the states of North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, visited Kosovo to witness first-hand the efforts National Guard Soldiers have been performing as part of their yearlong deployment in support of Operation Joint Eagle.

Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, the adjutant general of Wiscon-sin, talks to Soldiers during his visit, April 19-23, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Joy Staab)

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead and Maj. Gen Luke Reiner, adjutant general of Wyoming, visited Camp Bondsteel in April. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Barnett)

Members of the North Dakota Army National pose for a picture with Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the adjutant general of North Dakota, during his visit in March. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Joy Staab)


Staff Sgt. Amy SydowChief Legal NCO

Legal Corner

The Personnel Claims Act (PCA) authorizes payment of claims for loss or damage of tangible personal property incident to service. Compensa-tion for the loss or damage of intellectual property or consequential or incidental damages is generally not authorized. Also, please note that the PCA does not create an entitlement to payment. It merely permits the Secretary of each branch of service to specify rules and requirements for the potential payment of such claims.

Members of the Active component, Reserves/National Guard performing inactive-duty training or active service, and various civilian employees of the DoD may file claims under the PCA. Thus, if you, as a U.S. service member or a DoD civilian employee, sustain damage to your personal property, you may be entitled to receive compensation if certain criteria are met.

A strong personnel claim must exhibit the follow-ing:

• Theclaimmustbesubstantiated.Aclaimissubstantiatedifthepropertydamagecanbevalidated.Aclaimantwillneedtoprovideevidencethatthepropertyisdamagedorlostandprovideproofofownership.

• Possessionofthepropertymustbereason-ableandusefulunderthecircumstances.Indeterminingreasonablenessorutilityofprop-erty,theclaimant’slivingconditionsetc.willbeconsidered.Deployingwithahigh-valuepersonalcamera,agamingcomputer,orvalu-ablejewelrywouldlikelynotbereasonableunderthecircumstances.

• Nopartofthelossshouldbecausedbyanynegligentorwrongfulactoftheclaimant.Negligenceisdeterminedwhenanindividualdidnotexercisethedegreeofcarethatareasonableandprudentpersonwouldhaveunderthesamecircumstances.Forexample,ifIleavemywindowopeninmySeaHutandraindamageselectronicequipmentthatIhadsittingnexttothewindow,myfailuretoexerciseduecarewouldlikelyinvalidateanypotentialclaimthatIhave.

• Theclaimmustbefiledinatimelyfashion.Therequestforcompensationandavail-ableevidencemustbesubmittedtoaU.S.militaryestablishmentortheofficewithinaU.S.Embassywithintwoyearsafterthedamageorlossofpersonalpropertyoccurs

oratwhichtimethelossordam-ageshouldhavebeendiscoveredwithduedili-gence.AlthoughDDForm1842and1844mustbeusedbeforeaclaimsofficecanpayoutaclaim,anywrit-tendemandforcompensationisconsideredaclaimunderAR27-20,Chapter11.

Kosovo is a landlocked country, and as such has a continental climate. Continental climate is a cli-mate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby. Often, the winter temperature is cold enough to support a fixed period of snow each year, and relatively moderate precipitation occurring mostly in the summer.

Throughout June, July, and August, there are often significant lightning storms. In the last few years, lightning storms have caused significant power surges at Camp Bondsteel, which resulted in damage to electronic equipment.

If lightning strikes and a service member’s elec-trical equipment is damaged, but due caution was not taken (i.e., surge protector), the Service member would likely not be eligible to receive compensation from the government. The service member would be left to replace their equipment out-of-pocket.

Another situation in which the PCA may apply to you is when your military tote gets shipped back home. If you have personal property that is dam-aged or lost in transit, you would likely be eligible to receive compensation under the PCA assuming the four conditions listed above are met.

The moral of the story: Protect your equipment! It is better to prevent loss and damage than to wish that you had. Furthermore, even if the government does compensate you for the loss or damage to your personal property, you will be compensated at the depreciated value of the property.

If you have any questions regarding the PCA, please consult the Command Judge Advocate’s Office.

Steps to File Claim for Damaged Goods


There are a host of factors that people use in selecting a home. If there is no pre-existing home built already, the potential homeown-ers will more than likely choose their new

plot of land based on the land value and the neigh-borhood that they will be living in.

If there is an existing home already built, an entire litany of factors affect whether the home becomes a realistic option for purchase. The foundation and structure, size, layout, amenities, bonus features, landscaping, any pre-existing conditions, potential for growth, closet space, current wall painting, appli-ances, garage, neighborhood factors, and so on. All of these comprise what we call the living conditions.

Most of us, if not all of us, have a standard that we expect regarding our living conditions. We just wouldn’t accept anything nor would we be comfort-able inviting others over into living conditions that appear subpar.

The same way that we have a standard for our living conditions, Jesus has a standard for His living conditions. Isn’t it amazing that nowhere in scrip-tures is it detailed “specifically” what happened between the time when Jesus was buried and the discovery of the stone being rolled away? I think it is amazing that God doesn’t provide those details and that could be an endless theological discussion, but I think that all of us who believe in the resurrec-tion would agree that DEATH was a living condition that Jesus just couldn’t accept.

Even from his life, he was clear that everything about him was allergic to death, darkness, and defeat. His entire life purpose repelled it. This was his message, his methods, and his mission. It was repeated over and over again throughout the Gos-pels. John 10:10 (NIV) he says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” He even went further and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, NIV). The Father

was clear on why He was sending His son as such a great sacrifice. John writes, “For God did not send His Son into the world to con-demn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3: 17, NIV)

All of these, along with a host of other scriptures, paint a clear picture that Jesus was a magnet for life, living, light, and love. And He repelled death, dark-ness, and defeat.

If he was a magnet for these things, we should be as well. Our spiritual, mental, and emotional living conditions should have this standard. It should be clear from our perspective, lifestyle, and mentality that we have adopted the same living standards as Jesus. Paul encourages us, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5, NIV)

As you pick your relationships, business deals, engage in meetings, run towards personal pursuits, spend your money, participate in talking and other communications, and set military goals, they should reflect your living standard. The same way that we wouldn’t put new, expensive furniture in a house that we’ve yet to live in that’s full of termites or bugs, we shouldn’t infect our spiritual houses with things that decay our spirits and destroy our minds. Your living conditions are reflected through what you do and how you do it. If Jesus cannot live there, you shouldn’t either.

Scripture of the Day: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

- Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

Chaplain’s Corner

Military, Spiritual Standards of Living

Chap. (Capt.) Andy Shepherd

MNBG E Chaplain

Camp Bondsteel 10-Mile Relay RaceJune 3, 2012

Teams consist of 10 members, co-ed teams must have at least one female.

Sign-up deadline May 15Contact MWR at DSN x3187


The

End

More than 100 Soldiers from Camp Bondsteel’s Multinational Battle Group East honored the victims of the Bataan Death March by walking in their foot-steps, as it were, in a memorial endur-ance event in Kosovo recently.

Dozens of service members from Po-land and Ukraine joined U.S. Soldiers to commemorate America’s legendary Bataan Death March, where captured U.S. Soldiers in World War II were forced at gunpoint to march 80 miles by Japanese soldiers under appalling conditions.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Hudson, a Wisconsin National Guard member assigned to Task Force Falcon, played a key role organizing the 13.1-mile march at Camp Bondsteel on March 26, complete with gravel, paved roads and large hills. He also took part in the heavy category which required participants to carry at least 35 pounds on their backs.

“Participating in the Bataan Memorial March was a fitting way to pay tribute to all the heroic service members

who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the Philip-pine Islands during World War II,” Hudson said. “All those who entered and took part did so out of sheer preservation and determination - not unlike the Sol-diers who marched in the actual Bataan Death March.”

Bondsteel Honors Bataan Death March Victims, survivors

32nd Military Police Company members (left to right) Staff Sgt. Joseph Cur-rey, Staff Sgt. Andrew Harris, Capt. Craig. Keller, Spc. Anthony Collins, Sgt. Johnny Ferreira and Sgt. Alexander Henninger finished third in the heavy team category of a 13.1-mile Bataan Memorial Death March, held March 26 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. (Task Force Falcon courtesy photo)

The original Bataan death march was a route that wound 80 miles through the Phil-ippines. (Map courtesy of Wikipedia)

Both U.S. and multinational Soldiers from countries like Poland and the Ukraine participated in the Bataan Memorial March. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Joy Staab)


PAO is looking for photos of your experiences in Kosovo for possible inclusion in The Guardian. Email your submis-sions to SFC Jim Wagner in Global or call x5204 along with the name & rank of the photographer and caption.

The sun begins to set over northern Kosovo. (Photo courtesy Army Spc. Leland White)

Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, participate in a MEDEVAC exercise during a downpour in northern Kosovo recently. (Photo courtesy Army Spc. Leland White)

Documents

The Guardian - May 2012