Story and photos by Sgt. Edwin Gray, 29th MPAD BAGHDAD – Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division and United States Division - Center came together Oct. 7 to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at Camp Liberty, Iraq.The purpose of the gathering was to reflect on the Hispanic commitment in the U.S. military and to inform others about the history of Hispanic culture through dance and ceremony.The cultural backgrounds of 22 Hispanic countries were displayed and represented at the celebration, and many Soldiers were pleased with the diverse turnout.“I think the diversity is most important...
Story by 1st Lt. Patrick Leroy Beaudry, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Soldiers of Company D, 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center recently handed over Joint Security Station Deason to the 17th Iraqi Army Division. Closing JSS Deason, where they had spent the previous ten months of their deployment in support of Operation New Dawn, was a difficult task that required several months of methodically-planned equipment and personnel movement in order to maintain security and...
Story and photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Quick—how many nations were present at the signing of the Geneva Convention? What are the six groups individual awards can be grouped into? What are three field-expedient methods of land navigation? Now, imagine pondering these questions having completed—all in the previous 36 hours—an 8-mile road march in full body armor, immediately followed by a rifle range, a mentally-taxing battery of Soldier tasks and drills, and a full Army Physical Fitness Test with chin-ups.That’s exactly what seven candidates did—three...
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Mike C. Norris 4th AAB, 1AD, Public AffairsCONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE, TAJI—Contingency Operating Base Taji is split into two sides. On one side there are U.S. forces, who are preparing to transition their partnership with Iraq, to the U.S. State Department. On the other side is a thriving Iraqi Army base filled with the commotion of Iraqi Soldiers busy at work.As part of the transition U.S. forces have been working with civilian contractors to advise the Iraqis in the training of several technical aspects such as, logistics, weapons repair, vehicle maintenance...
Story and photo by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky COB ADDER, Iraq – With the sun still low in the sky, Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Steel Dragon, secure the structures of the excavated city of Ur, Dhi Qar province, Iraq. This mission: to provide security for a tour of the ancient site.Although originally trained as a personal security detachment, these “Steel Dragons” have performed a variety of missions outside of the safety of Contingency Operating Base Adder since they deployed here in support of Operation...
Story and photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Proving that the desire for the latest and greatest in back-to-school fashion is not solely an American phenomenon during the late summer months, Iraqi families came out by the dozen at two local schools to receive humanitarian assistance in the form of school supplies, notably backpacks, from the 9th Iraqi Army Division Sept. 20 in the vicinity of Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad. Soldiers with Company A, 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States...
Story and photo by By Spc. Darriel SwattsCAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers of the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, an Attack-Reconnaissance Squadron consisting of OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, took the lead as the first aviation unit in Iraq to close a Forward Operating Base (FOB).The 6-17 CAV, in conjunction with 4th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, close FOB Diamondback in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, in October as part of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade’s reposturing of forces in preparation for the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq.“The...
Their faces might be different, but the expectation of the 34th class of George C. Marshall award winners remains the same: Effectively lead soldiers.The annual event honoring the top cadets in each of Cadet Command’s 273 programs got under way in mid-April on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.At the seminar, the Army’s top brass encouraged the soon-to-be second lieutenants to take up the challenge of leading the Army through an anticipated prolonged period of change."You will forever be known as a winner of the George C. Marshall Award," Gen. Martin Dempsey, then...
After the Vietnam War, the United States Army was demoralized.But the establishment of U.S. Army Cadet Command provided structure and quality leadership training – aspects of the organization that have continued to today, which were showcased at a ceremony June 3, 2011, marking the command’s 25th anniversary at its new headquarters at Fort Knox, Ky.Cadet Command was formed in April 1986 at Fort Monroe, Va. It is the largest officer-producing organization in the U.S. military.It has commissioned more than a half million second lieutenants since its inception.The Army Reserve Officers’ Training...
More than 6,340 Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets were trained and tested this summer at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) for their fitness to join the future United States Army officer corps and lead American soldiers.Also known as Operation Warrior Forge, the advanced leadership course is held every summer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.It is the single point of common training and assessment for cadets from across the country who hope to become lieutenants through U.S. Army Cadet Command’s ROTC program.About 270 second lieutenants were commissioned upon...
As the U.S. Army continues to face challenges in Iraq and in Afghanistan – the longest war the United States has fought with an all-volunteer force – the U.S. Army remains in the forefront of not only military operations, but also stabilization, humanitarian, peacekeeping and nation-building efforts during these threatening and uncertain times.As these global missions evolve, the Army – active, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve – must develop the leaders of today and tomorrow who must be trained to adapt to these changes not only in the unique battle spaces of the 21st century, but...
America’s Army is a world-class, value-based institution comprised of some of our very best, brightest, and bravest young men and women who have answered the call to duty during a time of war.That’s the Army we have today.The question is: How do we ensure that America’s Army remains the best in the world? The answer can be found in Army recruiting stations and training centers.It starts with noncommissioned officers who select and train soldiers to take their places in today’s formations; NCOs who perform the minor miracle of transforming young men and women from civilians to soldiers. It...
USA’s Institute of Land Warfare has released a new publication, "U.S. Army Training for Unified Land Operations" (Torchbearer National Security Report, September 2011), that discusses the Army’s ongoing efforts to train the force to prevail across the entire spectrum of possible conflict types.The Army forms the backbone of a new, strategic triad of landpower, comprising the Army, Marine Corps and special operations forces, that will prosecute future conflicts.Accordingly, the Army requires an operational concept that addresses not only the full spectrum of operations – offense, defense...
Career Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, who came out of retirement as an ambassador from the United States Foreign Service to become the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, will receive the 2011 George Catlett Marshall Medal, the highest award presented by the Association of the United States Army.Nominated to the Afghanistan post by President Obama in April 2011, he was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent on June 30.In retirement, Crocker served from 2010 as dean and executive professor at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.Awarded annually to an...
he Army’s newest campaign may not be on the battlefield, but its goal is to continue to be victorious.The Profession of Arms Campaign, mandated by John M. McHugh, secretary of the Army, and Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, then Army chief of staff, assesses the state of the Army and takes a critical look at how the past decade of war has impacted the military and civilian workforce."The overall objective of the campaign is for soldiers and leaders to refine their understanding of what it means to be professionals – expert members of the Profession of Arms – after over nine years of war and to recommit...