Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Soldiers mark progress of hospital By Sgt. Jon Soles MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Iraqi citizens in the Abu Ghraib area of Baghdad have improved healthcare options following the latest round of hospital renovations part of a $1 million effort by Coalition forces. Soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, escorted members of the Iraqi media, here, July 12, to showcase the hospital s improvements and upgrades. Hospital upgrades include new paint, floors, ceilings and a Photo by Sgt. Jon Soles, MND-B PAO Spc. Ray Kling of Pittsburgh pulls security outside the Abu Ghraib Hospital, here, July 12. Kling is an infantryman assigned to 2nd Bn., 112th Inf. Regt., 56th SBCT. newly furnished waiting room. Some of the medical hardware includes an incinerator, ultrasound equipment and communications technology. The doctors and staff members of the hospital have been very grateful for what we have done, said Capt. Michael Nau, project manager for the 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. They wish honestly that we could do more and honestly, we wish we could do more too. According to Nau, $800,000 has been spent on the hospital and another $200,000 in renovations and improvements are planned. A satellite Internet suite and 24-hour electricity were some of the upgrades in technology that are essential for a modern hospital, added Nau, a native of San Diego. If you can imagine having a hospital without an Internet connection, it s the equivalent of having to send a person out, in order to coordinate for repairs, said Nau. That resulted in back and forth trips from the Ministry of Health back to the hospital. Nau said the process of rebuilding a hospital starts with communication and is followed up with many meetings. We visit the site, we talk to the various directors and officials at the site and we see what exactly they need to do their jobs better, said Nau. We then focus on the very things they need the most and provide them with it. Projects such as the Abu Ghraib hospital contribute to security by providing Iraqis with basic needs to be self-sufficient. With a project like this it helps with security because now we are meeting the basic needs of the people, Nau added. Now they have less of a reason to be upset and that helps with the overall situation. It s a small piece, but it is a piece. According to Nau, helping meet the needs of the Iraqis in Western Baghdad not only strengthens security, but boosts the sense of cooperation and pride of the Soldiers involved in such projects. We have an utmost care for the Iraqi people, wherever they are, whether they are in the city, the countryside, or somewhere out in between, Nau It s extremely rewarding for me to see and know we are making a difference. That s all the reward I want. Caring for the Iraqi people, boosting their morale and healthcare facilities brings Coalition forces one step closer to transitioning Baghdad back over to the Iraqis - one piece at a time. Photo by Sgt. Jon Soles, MND-B PAO An Iraqi doctor molds an arm cast for a patient at the Abu Ghraib Hospital.
PAGE 2 July 15, 2009 56th SBCT, 1st ACB commanders swap roles By Spc. Alun Thomas 1st ACB PAO CAMP TAJI, Iraq For an aviation unit, the concept of performing missions on the ground is perhaps an alien thought, just as being in the air is to the Stryker teams who are helping to keep the Iraqi streets safe. When the roles are reversed however, and both sides are able to see operations from each other s point of view, the importance of air-ground integration is magnified revealing how crucial both are to complete these missions. The commanders of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team were able to experience this reversal, as both undertook joint training working together to obtain a new perspective on AGI and better understand how it works. Col. Marc Ferraro, from Cherry Hill, N.J., commander, Pennsylvania National Guard s 56th SBCT, Multi- National Division Baghdad, said the working relationship between the 1st ACB and the 56th SBCT began last November at Fort Polk, La., when the two trained together in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at the Joint Readiness Training Center. Things started at Polk with our mission rehearsal exercise when the 4-227th (4th Battalion, 1st ACB) stepped up and came to support our aviation element that we needed for the rotation, Ferraro Prior to the assistance of the 1st ACB s 4th Battalion, the opportunities to train for AGI had been slim for the 56th SBCT, Ferraro We didn t have the resources to do it and because of our transformation from a mechanized brigade to a Stryker brigade, time just wasn t available, Ferraro This was the first time we had the opportunity to work with air, so we focused on AGI. The 4th Bn., 1st ACB, helped train the 56th SBCT from the brigade to platoon levels in order to prepare them for training exercises involving AGI, Ferraro We started doing actual missions together with them at JRTC and since we ve been here we have been able to take it to the next level with the 1st Air Cav, Ferraro Ferraro stressed the importance of AGI and said it isn t as complicated as it appears to be. It s seamless in my opinion, Ferraro said of the process. During the AGI mission planning they will exchange call signs and frequencies to operate on. During an air assault mission the air will be in constant communication with the ground commander and they will execute the mission. During the JRTC training Ferraro had an opportunity to fly in an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter which he jokingly stated wasn t his preferred method of traveling. I love to fly, but I like being on the ground, Ferraro laughed. It s very different. From the sky you get to see the vastness of it compared to being on the ground, which is almost tunnel vision. The perspective from above was an eye opener for Ferraro, who said it helped him understand how to plan from both sides. As you re looking out trying to gauge distances and so forth it gives you a new perspective, Ferraro But it s good to see thing from both sides so when you start doing your planning you have those perspectives to draw on. Going up in the air was well worth it. As a measure of goodwill between Ferraro and the 1st ACB, Col. Douglas Gabram, from Cleveland, Ohio, commander, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a Stryker patrol to get a look at proceedings from the ground, in a reversal of Ferraro s experience flying in an Apache. We thought it was important that we go out and get the ground experience in our operating environment, Gabram We wanted to take a look at the terrain and see what they see on the ground that will better help us implement our air assets to cover them. Gabram said he and members of his command group undertook the Stryker patrol and were exposed to a vastly new viewpoint of AGI. One very important difference is you have very minimal time to react, Gabram My function was to be an air rear gunner. So my responsibility was up in the hatch covering a briefed sector in conjunction with the other rear air gunner and the gunner up front. Gabram was also able to observe the Apaches from below and interact with them in unfamiliar circumstances. We had Apache coverage as do most of their (56th SBCT) convoys and it gave me a perspective on how they operate from the ground, Gabram Both Gabram and Lt. Col. Charles Dalcourt, commander, 1st Bn. 1st ACB, talked to the pilots over the radio, which was quite a different experience for the Apache pilots hearing their commanders voices from the ground. When giving spot reports to a Stryker there is a lot more to consider on the ground, Gabram said, with a limited viewing distance opposed to an Apache. It has to be taken in to consideration, especially when they dismount, Gabram said of the reports. Once they dismount, the report from the air has to be accurate and be from the perspective of what they re seeing. We re not done yet and we will try to go in the Stryker s again and get more of the younger leaders out there to gain some experience, he Gabram said the relationship with Ferraro and the 56th SBCT is based on trust and is working out well for both so far. The 56th SBCT, callsign Independence, is an extremely capable and professional organization and we are proud to serve with them, Gabram The air-ground integration is about performance on the battlefield, but behind that you have to know each other, Gabram You have to have trust and he (Ferraro) knows that we re coming when they need us.
PAGE 3 July 15, 2009 Rare downtime allows for golf, guitars By Pfc. Kelly LeCompte 30th HBCT PAO, MND-B BAGHDAD War can be stressful, and sometimes, Soldiers say, it s the littlest things that can have the biggest impact when finding some relief during their rare downtime. At Joint Security Station Saydiyah in southern Baghdad, Soldiers of Company B, 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, take some of the comforts from home in simple activities to pass the time. Free time is precious for the Soldiers, squeezed in between their missions, standing guard duty, and helping preparing meals. Sgts. Dustin Butcher, Joseph Jones and Daniel Tripp share a tiny living space together and enjoy playing video games when not working. It s a little away from here time, said Tripp, of Chapel Hill, N.C. Sporadic clicking and beeps, and bursts of laughter and booing could be heard from the dimly lit room as they played a game of golf on their Xbox game system. I play every minute that we re not outside the wire, Butcher, of Wilson, N.C., said, joking about the time he spends playing video games. We play first-person shooter games. You know, shoot em up games, and we can t get enough of the golf game. First-person shooters such as Ghost Recon and Call of Duty are their favorites, as are those from the Tiger Woods golf series. The trio said they plan to expand their gaming hobby with other Soldiers at the JSS by linking Xbox game systems together so more players can battle at once. Butcher said they have one additional connection set up with their neighbors in the living quarters beside them, and they plan to link even more together. I wish we had NASCAR, Jones, of Boomer, N.C. That way we could play about six-wide on a 42-car field. Spc. Norman Freese, a radio repairer from Baxter, Tenn., prefers writing to wargaming. I wrote poetry before, but just started writing the other stuff now, he said about his fantasy, fiction and sciencefiction pieces. It seemed like a good opportunity to do some other stuff I haven t done before. Another Company B Soldier, Spc. Eric Trivett, from Hickory, N.C., enjoys playing an acoustic guitar in his down time. He said playing the guitar reminds him of home, which helps him relax. I got a couple of guitars at home, Trivett And even though the ones I have at home are electric, it still makes me think of playing them. Trivett works long hours in the company s tactical operations center, but he said he still makes time to play his guitar. It s hard cause by the time I get done, somebody s almost always asleep, Trivett said of his roommates. I don t have a lot of time for it, but I still play a couple times a week at least. It just gives me something else to think about, Trivett Engineers turn old hangar into new digs Photo by Lt. Col. Simon, 225th Bde. PAO BAGHDAD Cpl. Nathan Hoover, Carpenter, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), a native of Lilly, PA sets up a partition wall while helping to build housing units for Soldiers moving to Forward Operating Base Shield July 11. MND- B engineer Soldiers are turning an old hanger into a housing complex of 50 double-stacked rooms. I like working on a project from scratch, said Hoover. It s pretty special especially for the incoming Soldiers. The project is expected to be completed by mid August.
PAGE 4 July 15, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1971 In a surprise announcement, President Richard Nixon says that he will visit Beijing, China, before May 1972. The news, issued simultaneously in Beijing and the United States, stunned the world. Nixon reported that he was visiting in order to seek normalization of NIXON relations between the two countries and to exchange views on questions of concern to both sides. Privately, Nixon hoped that achieving a rapprochement with China, North Vietnam s major benefactor, would convince Hanoi to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Vietnam War. The announcement was preceded by an April 6 invitation for the U.S. Table Tennis team to visit China, and by Nixon s end to the 20-year U.S. trade embargo against China. On July 22, the North Vietnamese announced that they viewed Nixon s visit to China as a divisive attempt by the United States to drive a wedge between Hanoi and Beijing. Famous Feats of Chuck Norris Did you know? Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one. MND-B Pic of the day! Photo by Maj. Kone Faulkner, 2nd HBCT PAO BAGHDAD Tom Aspell of NBC conducts an interview with Inverness, Fla. native, Capt. Eric Evans, commander, Co. A, 1st CAB, 63rd AR, 2nd HBCT, 1st Inf. Div. during a mission July 10 in the Abu Ghraib district. Aspell and his crew reported security improvements made by Soldiers of the Dragon Battalion and their Iraqi Security Force counterparts. Letterman s top 10 Questions Bernie Madoff asked today in prison 10) Has it been 150 years yet? 9) Who do I have to swindle to get a freshly pressed jumpsuit? 8) Which way to the penthouse cell? 7) Because of my business dealings with the Latin Kings, can you keep me away from the Crips? 6) What mixes better in a toilet, Sangria or Daiquiris? 5) Will I get special treatment if I help the guards hide money from the IRS? 4) Could I get an order of truffle-crusted halibut? 3) Did I mention that it was an April Fools prank that just got out of control? 2) Will someone TiVo America s Got Talent for me for the next 149 years. 1) Is it ok if I decline a conjugal request from my wife?
PAGE 5 July 15, 2009 Quote For Today There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there s the United States of America. Barack Obama, 1961-44th President of the United States Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 109 F 86 F Trigger s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in. Tomorrow 107 F 86 F Friday 111 F 89 F Cav Round-Up radio newscast available MND-B PAO BAGHDAD The Cav Round- Up is a three-minute radio newscast from Baghdad covering military units and events across Multi-National Division Baghdad. Today s Cav Round-Up # 110 was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The July 14 newscast includes the following two stories: 1. Patrolling the rural areas of TRIVIA TIME!! What were the code names for the 5 beachheads invaded by the Allies on D-Day, June 6, 1944? Last Issue s Answer: An Army mule Baghdad. Service members have moved to the countryside. Routine operations continue from the outside in. Mission hasn t really changed. Partnering with ISF is still the same. Cordon searches continue. Outside of Baghdad city limits, intelligence pinpoints areas and searches try to confiscate illegal weapons. 2. Getting college level education while deployed. Education center counselor tells how Soldiers can take advantage while deployed. Tuition assistance is distributed. Education is not about rank. Education center is open from 08:00 to 22:00, 7 days a week. NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up Check out more news at the 1st Cavalry Division s homepage: www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/ Yesterday s Answers Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Office Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Philip Smith Public Affairs Chief: Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner Editor: Spc. Howard Alperin Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner Sgt. Jon Soles Spc. Laura Johnson Spc. Phillip Adam Turner The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised. All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division Baghdad Public Affairs Office. Do you have a story to share? The Daily Charge welcomes columns, commentaries, articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs NCOIC nicholas.conner@mnd-b.army.mil and include author s name, rank, unit and contact information. The Daily Charge reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, email the Editor at howard.alperin@mnd-b.army.mil