Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Friday, August 28, 2009 Customs speed up redeployment process By Sgt. Joshua Risner MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Soldiers from all over Iraq gathered at Hope Chapel on Camp Victory, here, to attend a two-day class to certify as custom border clearance agents. The class is intended to help streamline the transition of units out of country, according to Sgt. 1st Class Travis Huggard, from Kodiak Island, Alaska, assigned to Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Div. Their main purpose when they leave here is to conduct custom clearance of personal gear that is going in containers, military equipment, rolling stock and anything that has to do with customs in the unit, he said. They re supposed to be subject matter experts when it comes to customs. We trained more than 300 people, this class here was totally filled up, said Huggard. I think this chapel has 300 seats and every seat was full, and that s units from everywhere: north, south, east and west that came here to train for two days. The large amount of students is due to the need for more customs inspectors, Huggard explained. The problem is we don t have enough agents certified in theater to conduct inspections. This class will hopefully fix that problem and give the units enough inspectors within the brigades or the separate units to make a seamless transition out of here, he said. If you don t have very many inspectors, it s a long day for them out there. A high turnout is also a result of the scarcity of a customs class for Soldiers in Iraq, Huggard added. This is due to the necessity of having a customs official from the U.S. brought in to conduct the training. There s no train-thetrainer program. You can t just send a sergeant first class or an officer to Kuwait to get training and come back here, it doesn t happen like that, he said. The training usually only happens maybe once or twice a year. Students learned what to look for when inspecting containers, equipment and vehicles. They became familiar with restricted and prohibited items according to current Department of Defense regulations. Instructors taught them the importance of eliminating biological threats to the U.S. in the form of soil, plants and animals in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They were also schooled in the process of performing customs checks for outgoing units. For Sgt. 1st Class Veral Sullivan, from Sugarland, Texas, assigned to Co. B, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div., the training is invaluable to the Soldiers who took part and the units they return to. I think it s going to speed up the process of us going home, he said. We are going to be able to handle this part of the process ourselves instead of having some civilians come in and do it. The training is allowing the graduates of the course the ability to speed along the gradual drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq. Their new knowledge is one more piece of the puzzle falling into place. Photo by Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAO Sgt. 1st Class Travis Huggard (right), from Kodiak Island, Alaska, assigned to Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Div., explains bag inspection procedures during a customs class at Hope Chapel on Camp Victory, here, Aug. 25. Soldiers who graduated the class became certified customs border clearance agents who will take part in redeployment operations.
PAGE 2 August 28, 2009 Ironhorse Soldiers visit Iraq Museum Photos by Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti 1BCT, 1CD PAO Soldiers from B Company, 2nd Lancer Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, look in awe at the historical relics during a visit to the Iraq Museum. Mineral Wells, Texas native, Pfc. Jason Savage, an infantryman with B Company, 2nd Lancer Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, reads about Iraqi history. Eaton Rapids, Miss. native, Pfc. Daniel Owen (left), a radio telephone operator, and Madison, Ala. native, Pfc. Zachary Goff, both in B Company, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div., discuss a piece of art. BAGHDAD Shreveport, La. Native, 2nd Lt. Matthew Morgan, platoon leader for B Company, 2nd Lancer Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, reads about ancient artifacts at the Iraq Museum Aug. 12.
PAGE 3 August 28, 2009 Sunburn, not your typical rock band By Sgt. Mary Phillips 30th HBCT PAO BAGHDAD Sunburn, like many other rock bands, had a packed schedule for their current tour, playing six shows in four days. The crowd at their show on Aug. 24 made sure to let them know. In many ways, Sunburn is your typical rock band, catering to college-aged, modern rock listeners; practicing anytime work does not get in their way, and loving every minute of it. However, they re not touring in the United States, they re in Iraq. They rocked a small stage set up on the basketball court at Forward Operating Base Falcon in Baghdad, not a bar. Sunburn, part of the Multi- National Corps Iraq Band, is serving like other Soldiers, only carrying both instruments and weapons. This is exactly what we came [to Iraq] to do, said vocalist Sgt. Jennifer Champagne, of Houston. We wanted to be able to get out and spread our music to all the places that don t have an opportunity to hear live music. The band is currently hopping from FOB to FOB, and seeing who s out there, said keyboardist Staff Sgt. Michael Johnson of Ellensburg, W.Va. This is the first time we ve actually scaled down our rig to a small sound system, hopped in the MRAPs [mine resistant ambush protected vehicle] and convoyed around the country, said Johnson. It s been an awesome trip. Staff Sgt. Sheila Sawyer, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, was one of many Soldiers who enjoyed the concert. They re great, said Sawyer, It s a good change from the usual (routine). Soldiers have always found it easy to connect with others who share the experience of a deployment. Guitarist and lead vocalist Spc. Michael Nelson thinks this gives Sunburn an edge over other bands that play for military audiences in Iraq. This is a unique opportunity, said Nelson of Scarborough, Maine. We have this brotherhood and sisterhood because we re all over here together. I think even though Soldiers get taken aback a little bit when they see a band in uniform playing, and in their head they re thinking Wow, this is kinda cool, these guys are playing some music but they know what we do, because they are what we are, Houston native and drummer, Sgt. David Champagne, with the band Sunburn, plays during a concert at Forward Operating Base Falcon. Spc. Michael Nelson plays guitar and sings lead with the band Sunburn at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Aug. 24. Sunburn is part the Multi-National Corps Iraq Band and performs for Soldiers throughout Iraq. Sgt. Jason Lane plays bass guitar while performing with the Army rock band Sunburn at Forward Operating Base Falcon.
PAGE 4 August 28, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1941 With the nation on the verge of entering World War II and prices threatening to skyrocket, the government chose to take action against inflation. On this ROOSEVELT day, President Franklin Roosevelt handed down an executive order establishing the Office of Price Administration (OPA). Charged with controlling consumer prices in the face of war, the OPA wheeled into action, imposing rent controls and a rationing program which initially targeted auto tires. Soon, the agency was churning out coupon books for sugar, coffee, meat, fats, oils, and numerous other items. Though goods were in tight supply, Americans were urged to stick to the system of rationing. Some even took the Homefront Pledge, a declaration of their commitment to avoiding the black market in favor of buying the OPA way. The end of the war didn t prompt an instant shutdown of the OPA. MND-B Pic of the day! YUSIFIYAH, Iraq Soldiers of Troop B, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Eleanore, W. Va., with soldiers of 1st Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, local police and members of the Sons of Iraq distribute clothing, shoes, toys, and hand-powered radios to residents of Arab Jassam, Iraq, Aug. 17. The troop s Family readiness group, the Teays Valley Church of God, and the Putnam County Assessors and Clerks Office donated the items. Soldiers enjoy this as much as the kids, said 1st Sgt. Steve Deweese of Scott Depot, W. Va. Pvt. Murphy Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Edwin L. Wriston by Mark Baker Famous Feats of Chuck Norris Did you know? Chuck Norris uses Tabasco Sauce for eye drops.
PAGE 5 August 28, 2009 Quote For Today For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. John Kennedy, 1917-1963 35th President of the U.S. Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 111 F 80 F Tomorrow 111 F 80 F Sunday 105 F 82 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 # 142 was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The August 27 newscast includes the following two stories: 1. Paratroopers patrol rural areas. Although paratroopers no longer patrol in big cities they remain focused on helping to provide security for the country of Iraq. The patrols are more of a transition from an urban environment to a rural environment. 2. Fighting for camaraderie. Hand to hand combat has evolved TRIVIA TIME!! What is alloyed with steel to make it stainless? Last Issue s Answer: The Sony Walkman a lot over the years in the Army. Combatives are more intense and it builds camaraderie by encouraging one another to keep fighting and to never give up. Combatives make Soldiers mentally tough. 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/ 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. 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: Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell 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