Air Force Senior Airman Lanea Trevino, a command post controller with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, prevented a tragedy when she acted quickly to help a female comrade who collapsed from dehydration. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon

Department of Defense
By Air Force Senior Airman Michael Charles
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

While preparing for her night shift, Air Force Senior Airman Lanea Trevino noticed something odd about the shower stall next to hers.

The shower supplies, visible through the half-opened curtain, had remained untouched for the entire time she had been there.

“It was strange,” Trevino said. “I had seen nobody else in the facility so it was odd that an entire set of supplies would be left.”

While some might dismiss the empty shower stall and shower supplies as a case of forgetfulness, Trevino decided to walk through the facility to be sure. After noticing an occupied female toilet stall, Trevino knocked on the door and asked the person inside if she had left her shower supplies.

There was no response.

“I immediately began to worry,” Trevino said. “I could see that she was in the stall but wasn’t moving.”

Trevino reached her hand under the stall and shook the girl’s leg but there was no response. She quickly peeked under the stall and noticed the airman was unconscious. Taking immediate action, she ran to the nearest trailer and told the first person she saw to call emergency responders.

“My first instinct was to get help,” Trevino said. “I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not but I knew that she would need additional medical assistance either way and ran to get it.”

Fearing the worst, she grabbed a male, who had been walking by on his way to lunch to help her get the unconscious individual out of the stall. The door had been locked from the inside and the only way into the stall was to climb over top of it. The male lifted her over the stall and she opened the door from the inside.

Using a fireman carry, Trevino dragged the unresponsive female out of the stall and laid her flat on the ground. Moments later, paramedics from the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group arrived on scene and begin caring for the individual, who was later diagnosed with severe dehydration.

Being vigilant and watching out for your fellow wingman is the responsibility of all airmen, said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Harner, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s command chief.

“Trevino displayed the ethos we expect from all our Air Force teammates,” Harner said. “She paid attention to her surroundings, noticed that something was not right, and acted accordingly. Her vigilance yielded a life or death result.”

Heat-related injuries can include dizziness, confusion, heavy breathing or unconsciousness, Trevino said.

“It’s our duty to look out for each other,” she said, “especially in the summertime when the heat takes its toll on your body.”

Thanks to Trevino’s actions the service member is due to make a full recovery.

“I would expect anyone else to do the same for me,” Trevino said. “As airmen in the U.S. Air Force, we are part of a unique family and you never have to have a reason to look out for your family members.”

Royal Naval Reservist Aircraft Engineer Mechanic Michelle Ping was mentioned in dispatches for her bravery during her first tour of Afghanistan last year. Ping usually works for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in Leeds, but during her tour she was a paramedic attached to various foot patrols. When one of her team was shot while on a rooftop, she lay on top of him to protect him from further injuries.

Members of the Naval Service took four of the ten awards presented at the Sun Military Awards – better known as the Millies – a glittering event in London also attended by royalty and celebrities. …

Billed as ‘a night of heroes’ at the Imperial War Museum in London the fourth annual awards – endorsed by the Ministry of Defence and better known as the Millies – saw soldiers, sailors and airmen rub shoulders with royalty, military and political leaders, including Prime Minister David Cameron, and celebrities such as footballer David Beckham, Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson, Little Britain’s David Walliams and Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were guests of honour with four of the ten awards being presented to members of the Naval Service.

Navy News

Undeterred by the blizzard of gunfire around her, paramedic Michelle Ping sprinted on to a roof to shield a stricken comrade and give him first aid.

The 27-year-old’s bravery and quick-thinking saved the life of critically wounded Highlander Craig Paterson who had been shot in the head.

Today Air Engineer Mechanic Ping, a paramedic with the Royal Navy Reserve, is rewarded for her courage when she is Mentioned In Despatches.

East Anglian Division on WordPress

Michelle Ping the daughter of one of Ability’s Handlings engineers (Graham Ping) received a very prestigious award at the Military Awards Gala yesterday! She was recognized as the Reservist of the Year for her bravery and dedication in saving a soldiers life whilst under fire!

Michelle who is also known as “Mother” by squaddies sprang into action after the compound was attacked and she heard: “Man down!” She jumped straight on the compound’s roof where Highlander Craig Patterson had been shot in the head whilst manning a gun post on the roof, despite the fact that the Taliban were still shooting at the roof.

She said: “I thought he was dead at first and thought, ‘How am I going to tell the boys?’ Then I remember thinking, ‘I’m not going to have this. I couldn’t hear anything, my focus was on him. I got the boys to get him down off the roof and I patched him up.’”

Ability Handling Ltd

“We landed on the helicopters at dawn, it was like something out of the computer game, Call of Duty.

“All day long while we were there, British platoons were being shot at. In the afternoon, we went into a compound to resupply with ammunition and we then got smashed by Taliban fire for a few hours.

“Some of the boys were on the roof and one – Highlander Craig Paterson – got shot in the head.

“The other guys up there evacuated to safety and thought he was dead. I went up on the roof and all the Taliban who had been shooting at the boys turned their attentions on me. Someone had taken Craig’s helmet off and he was lying with his eyes open not moving. I thought ‘I’m not going to let you die’. I shook him and he came round.”

Michelle said that due to the trauma 22-year-old Craig had received he did not know what was happening and wanted to sit up.

She recalled: “I had to lie on top of him to stop him. Some of the boys came up and gave me a hand, and we pushed him off the rooftop into the arms of two other boys below, then we had to run with him for half a mile to a secure helicopter site so he could be evacuated.

Sheffield Telegraph

While this category is normally used to recognize women in the U.S. military, we do find our allies providing their best to the fight as well.

Canadian Forces Medical Technician Cpl Christine Borkowski measures the blood pressure of a soldier stationed at Camp Alamo in Kabul, Afghansitan. Image by Master Cpl. Chris Ward

With a smiling, reassuring face, she places the thermometer in the soldier’s mouth and tightens the wrap around his arm to take his blood pressure. “Most likely, you’ve got the virus that is going around the camp,” she says, “but we’ll check you out.”

Cpl. Christie Borkowski, from 150 Mile House, B.C., is living the twin goals she set for herself in her youth – a medical and military career.

A medical technician with 1 Field Ambulance from Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Cpl. Borkowski is serving in Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces contribution to the NATO training mission.

Cpl. Borkowski works in the unit medical station at Camp Alamo, the coalition camp located within the Afghan National Army’s Kabul Military Training Centre on the east side of Kabul. She has served in the Army – wearing an Air Force uniform – for four years and plans to make the military a career.

Cpl. Borkowski’s introduction to medicine was first aid training during a babysitting course she took at the age of 12.

“I always enjoyed the medical field,” said Cpl. Borkowski. “I kept up with my first aid training all through high school and I took some athletic first aid courses. I was part of a volunteer fire department back home for four years, both as a first responder and as a firefighter.”

“I grew up near my grandfather’s ranch where I had to do a lot of veterinary type of stuff for the horses and cows,” said Cpl. Borkowski. “It was great.”

Her family encouraged her passion for the military. “Both of my grandfathers were in the Royal Canadian Air Force… with my interest in medicine, I just sort of fell into combining the two.”

Although some Canadian Forces medical personnel serving on the training mission have duties advising Afghan Army doctors and support staff, Cpl. Borkowski’s role is different. “I serve in an integral support role, supporting our troops,” she said. “This deployment has been different than what I had expected.”

“I came prepared to treat injuries like they had seen in southern Afghanistan battling insurgents,” said Cpl. Borkowski. “But our mission is now in a training role. That means we see things like viruses and sprains – things you normally see back in Canadain a walk-in clinic on a base.”

Cpl. Borkowski’s smile these days likely seems even brighter because she is nearing the end of her five month deployment. By the end of March she will return to Edmonton where she and her fiancé will finish planning their summer wedding. Like Cpl. Borkowski, her fiancé Pte. Adam Blackwell of St. Thomas, Ont., is a medical technician in the Canadian Army.

By Gary Hengstler
Kabul Military Training Centre
Nato Training Mission – Afghanistan

U.S. Army Spc. Tiffany Larriba, team member from Civil Affairs Team 4902, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, raises six fingers to children during the "Soldier in the Classroom" program at Karabti San, Djibouti, Jan. 3. The program is designed to teach children basic English. DoD Photo by Senior Airman Jarad Denton

U.S. Army Spc. Tiffany Larriba held her hands in front of her, fingers closed, as children from Karabti San, Djibouti, waited in eager anticipation Jan. 3.

Suddenly, Larriba smiled and raised six fingers.

“Six,” the children exclaimed in unison.

This was the children’s second exposure to learning the English language through a program Larriba, a team member with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team 4902, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion and Dallas, Texas, native, calls: “Soldier in the Classroom.” The program broadens the horizons of the children, while giving them a long-lasting memory of their relationship with U.S. soldiers. Karabti San is the first village to experience the program, which was introduced Nov. 29. Larriba said she hopes to see “Soldier in the Classroom” introduced in other villages throughout Djibouti.

“We wanted the kids to remember us for something good,” she said. “So we came up with this project where we go to schools or villages and teach some lesson they can’t learn anywhere else. It’s simple enough that the students understand, but yet it helps open their mind and leaves a standing memory.”

Just as Karabti San is the first Djiboutian village to receive eco-dome materials and construction training from the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, it is also the first place to experience “Soldier in the Classroom.” Larriba hopes the participation she sees here will extend to other villages.

“They are all involved in it,” she said. “Every kid [in the village], young or old, all came. They wanted to come. They made some pretty good progress.”

According to Larriba, who is affectionately referred to by the children as “Lorouba,” which means “cowgirl” in Somali, the progress will provide these children with opportunities previously unavailable.

“[We want to] help them see there is a big world out there and a lot of opportunities,” she said. “That’s our goal.”

The children are not the only ones learning from this program. Larriba said her outlook on life has changed dramatically since coming to Africa and interacting with the local population. She hopes her friends and family back home will see the change in her and embrace it themselves.

“You can be happy with the smallest things, she said. “This village, for example, they’re happy. You can live without a lot of things and still be happy.”

Larriba said the happiness she shared with the children of Karabti San is compounded and reinforced with each new lesson, with every new number learned.

“It was good. I liked it all,” said Mohamed Bourito, a student in the program. “We practice what Lorouba has taught us. After I learn the English language, I want to go to the school. I want to continue my education.”

Bourito smiled broadly after sharing his dream for the future. He held up his hands and repeated what he had learned only minutes ago, from Larriba. Slowly, but surely, he counted to ten – in English.

At barely 39 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the two women of Female Engagement Team 6 warmed their red, sniffling noses by drinking hot chocolate out of canteen cups. It was early morning and they had little sleep from the cold night before. The Marines began dressing in their body armor, preparing for their upcoming day of work.

Sergeants Jessica Lugo and Autumn Sekely were getting ready to go out in support of Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and the Afghan National Civil Order Police during a recent security patrol through their area of Sangin district, Helmand province.

Sergeants Jessica Lugo -left- and Autumn Sekely -right-, of Female Engagement Team 6, walk into a village leader’s compound in Sangin district, Helmand province. Sekely, of Pittsburgh, and Lugo, of San Pedro, Calif., are assigned to support 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, by engaging with the local women and children, building trust and rapport between local residents and the Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Katherine Keleher

The purpose of the day was to familiarize Marines new to the unit with the area, while also giving Lugo and Sekely the opportunity to interact with local women and children.
While supporting the infantry Marines with 2nd Marine Division (Forward), FET socialized with local children passing by, handing out candy and pencils while sharing smiling faces through the language barrier.

“Establishing a good relationship with the children and their families is very important, and it’s one of our primary tasks here,” said Sekely, a reservist from Pittsburgh. “It helps build trust and rapport. They really appreciate that the Marines make an effort to respect their culture by having FET out here.”
When wrapping up the introduction of the area to the new Marines, 1st Squad made a pit stop at one of the village leader’s compounds while on its way back to the patrol base.

The village leader opened the doors to his home with open arms, allowing FET inside to talk with his wife and children.

“The women, they stay in the compounds while the men are in the bazaars and farming fields working,” explained Lugo, also a reservist who is from San Pedro, Calif. “They hear a lot of things from the people who come in and out of their compounds. So when we get there, these women are just aching to talk. They’re just like we are, and they want their voices to be heard.”

Sergeants Jessica Lugo and Autumn Sekely, of Female Engagement Team 6, walk into a village leader’s compound in Sangin district, Helmand province. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Katherine Keleher

During their visit with the village leader and his family, the Marines and Afghans used an interpreter to discuss the possibility of building a water well in the village, as well as raising money to build a mosque.

“Things like this take a lot of money and time,” Lugo, the FET 6 team leader, told them.

While carrying on the conversation with the adults, Lugo and Sekley played with the children, giving them crayons and paper, showing them how to color.

“We have the capability of talking to one-hundred percent of the population,” Lugo, a military policewoman by trade, explained. “It’s not only engaging the women of Afghanistan for us, it’s engaging with everyone. Like today, the village leader talked to us. You would think in (this culture) the men wouldn’t want to talk to us, but they do. They’re kind of intrigued by having women in military clothing around.

“The (local residents) are very intrigued by us. They see us, the color of our skin, the color of our eyes, us carrying a rifle walking alongside the males. They see that we’re equal,” Lugo added.

Working side-by-side, FET and 3/7 have until spring to continue working together, winning over hearts and minds and helping the Afghan people toward a brighter tomorrow.

By Cpl. Katherine Keleher
DVIDS

U.S. Air Force medics, Staff Sgt. April Deluna -right-, from San Antonio, assigned to the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Rose, from Coleridge, Neb., assigned to the Nebraska Agribusiness Development Team, demonstrate proper arm-bracing techniques at the provincial women’s development center, Nov. 1. The medics taught basic first-aid skills to 13 women from the province. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Katherine Williams

Thirteen Afghan women received life-saving first aid training at a provincial women’s development center shura held in Paktya province, Nov. 1.

U.S. servicemembers assigned to the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Nebraska Agribusiness Development Team, both located on Forward Operating Base Goode, taught the women how to treat burns, lacerations and abrasions.

U.S. Air Force medics Tech Sgt. Rebecca Rose, with the ADT from Coleridge, Neb., and Staff Sgt. April DeLuna, with the PRT from San Antonio, conducted an interactive training program for the women.

During the one-hour course, the medics emphasized proper hygiene techniques such as hand washing and the use of gloves while treating wounds.

“The women learned the ‘cold, clean’ method,” DeLuna said. “They’d never heard to clean with cold, clean water and were using alternative methods to treat wounds.”

The women shared stories about their previous home-medical treatments during the shura.

“I’ve used cold potatoes on my children’s wounds to stop the burning,” one student said. “Potatoes and egg yolk both help to prevent the burn from spreading.”

Along with l training, the group also received first-aid medical kits, stocked with bandages, a gauze compress, gloves, antibiotic ointment and other supplies.

The shura was coordinated through Khalema Khazan, the Paktya Director of Women’s Affairs and the Team Paktya Women’s Advocacy Group.

The DOWA is an Afghan ministry-appointed position, with the authority and obligation to raise awareness of concerns and advocate for Afghan women.

“I want a common understanding for every woman to know their rights and freedoms under Islam,” Khazan said. “We have shuras in the women’s development center for Paktya women to teach them important skills.”

In the past, Khazan has organized town meetings, or ‘shuras,’ health workshops and media engagements for women in Paktya.

“Education is very important,” she added. “Our center is focused on teaching the more than 40,000 women in Paktya.”

DVIDS

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Enriquez, a communications specialist with Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, received the Navy Expeditionary Warfare Badge at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 28. Photo by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Johnson

Beyond the pride one carries by simply being a member in today’s all-volunteer U.S. military, there is no greater honor for a service member than accomplishing a challenge in an expeditionary environment, especially when that achievement is normally accomplished by a different branch than the one you serve.

This statement holds especially true when attached in support of Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa, a forward-deployed base comprised of airmen, sailors, soldiers and Marines, all sharing in the responsibility of strengthening defense capabilities and stability in the region.

On Sept. 28, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Enriquez, a native of Baguio City in the Philippines, became the first non-Navy service member assigned to CJTF-HOA to receive the Navy Expeditionary Warfare Badge. The award of the warfare device, first introduced Navy-wide in 2006, attests to a sailor’s proficiency of combat tactics, expeditionary fundamentals and core Navy knowledge. At CJTF-HOA only 79 sailors have received this pin since it was re-introduced in April of 2011. The distinction and honor of wearing the device is now shared by an airman here.

“Being in a diverse unit and a joint environment showcases many interesting bits of tradition from the Air Force, Navy, Army and the Marine Corps,” said Enriquez. “I felt this was a fascinating part of Navy culture and I really wanted to be a part of it.”

The EXW badge is not an easy device to achieve. To begin this process, a service member must make a special request through their chain of command. After being approved and committing to complete the necessary training and qualifications, prospects must complete Personal Qualifications Standards of core Navy knowledge, unit-specific corps training and practical knowledge of communication radios. After passing a written exam and practical exercise with a M16A2 semi-automatic rifle and Portable Radio Communication series field radios, there are two oral boards among peers to test all EXW knowledge.

Enriquez’s decision to achieve the EXW device did not go unnoticed among her co-workers.

“Here at CJTF-HOA, we are faced with a unique mission and an opportunity to work closely with all services, militaries, coalition partners and civilians,” said U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Josh Hildreth, Enriquez’s senior enlisted leader. “By Enriquez embracing that jointness and stepping up to the challenge of completing a Navy-centric warfare qualification, I believe that she has set a new standard here. With that, perhaps she has inspired others to follow in her path to have a better understanding of our mission as a whole and how each service is part of that mission.”

Enriquez was not alone in the pursuit of the warfare device. Her shop supervisor, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Haupt, an electronics technician, studied and tested alongside Enriquez and was awarded the badge at the same time.

“I’m ecstatic for her,” said Haupt. “There was no doubt, even early on, that she had the necessary study habits down. She definitely made the Air Force – and all of us – proud.”

Enriquez’s impact at CJTF-HOA goes beyond the EXW device. Day to day, she shares responsibility for ensuring vital communications equipment is functional and ready for any mission. When the workday is over, she doesn’t simply go home for the day; she volunteers at multiple locations in the Djibouti City area.

“We are guests of Djibouti and it’s important that we give back to our hosts,” said Enriquez. “I find it to be a very rewarding experience. The most important part of volunteering is loving what you do for others.”

Enriquez spends time weekly caring for orphaned babies at a church in Djibouti City, and she also teaches English three days a week to Djiboutian students, policemen, and members of the Japanese military.

She began teaching English at her home station at Misawa Air Base, Japan, where she is a communications specialist with the 35th Communications Squadron. She began working with the Japanese two years ago, when she decided she wanted to learn Japanese. Members of the Japan’s military offered to teach her Japanese in exchange for English lessons.

By day, Enriquez ensures smooth communications, and when the workday is through, she selflessly donates her time to help others. Now, she holds to her name the first non-sailor to achieve an Expeditionary Warfare Device, setting the bar for others at CJTF-HOA to step up and go the extra mile.

Story by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Johnson
DVIDS

New York native Staff Sgt. Vanessa Parrish, assistant supply chief for 2nd Marine Division (Forward), holds a photo of her with her husband and son. Parrish’s husband, Staff Sgt. Timothy Parrish, is also a deployed Marine, and their son stays with her sister. Parrish said communication with her son is the key to keeping their relationship strong. Photo by Cpl. Jeff Drew

Her family arrived in the United States from San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic more than 28 years ago. She grew up as the second youngest in a family of eight children. Her mother, with four children, married her step-father, also with four children, and they lived as a modern-day Brady Bunch. They loved having large Dominican meals and dancing. It was never a dull moment in their three-bedroom New York City apartment.

“It was loud; it was fun; there were always a lot of people around – you could never be bored,” said Staff Sgt. Vanessa Parrish, the assistant supply chief for 2nd Marine Division (Forward). “Every holiday is always a lot of fun; any excuse to have a party — birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, whatever – we’re always trying to have fun.”

The resilient bond Parrish built with her family at a young age endures, providing strength to her as a Marine currently deployed to Afghanistan. Parrish, the mother of a four-year-old, knows well the sacrifice of giving up priceless time with loved ones to serve her country.

“The hardest part of deployment is being away from your family,” said Parrish. “Not being able to be with my son is very hard. As a mother you want to spend every second with your child, but I had to leave him with one of my sisters.”

Being a deployed mother and having to leave her son is difficult, but another challenge she faces daily is the fact her husband, Staff Sgt. Timothy Parrish, is also deployed to Afghanistan as a supply chief with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. Parrish explained that in the case of a dual-military household such as hers, communication is the key when keeping in touch with family back in the United States.

“You have to send constant e-mails – because of the time difference you can’t just always pick up the phone, and sometimes the lines don’t work,” said Parrish, a 2000 A. Philip Randolph High School graduate. “My husband is with (an infantry unit) and out in the battle space, so whenever he gets a chance to communicate, he sends an e-mail to let the family know everything is alright. It can be just a one-liner, just to let them know. It doesn’t seem like much, but it means a lot.”

Parrish said she knows being absent for those big moments in a child’s life, like the first day of school, is important, but may be difficult for deployed service members to be a part of. For the moments she can’t be there, Parrish has her sister e-mail pictures.

Parrish said, “It doesn’t matter (what it is); it can be pictures of him playing in the park or going to the carnival. I’d like to see him every day, but I can’t so I ask for a picture every week, and it doesn’t seem like I’m missing as much.”

She displays the photos near her desk and in her room as a way of keeping her family near.

Parrish’ situation as a dual-military household is not unique among military members, but it is also not overly common in the Marine Corps. The Marines she works with said they appreciate the challenges Parrish faces and are very supportive.

“I’ve never had a Marine work under me (who was part of) a dual-military family,” said Baltimore native Gunnery Sgt. Bryan J. Alberts, the supply chief for 2nd Marine Division (Forward). “Being a parent myself, it’s hard (being away) from my civilian wife, but being dual military must be really hard, especially with both of them deployed. I think she deals with it very well. She’s very patient; I see pictures and they communicate all the time.”

Parrish is nearly two-thirds of the way through a year-long deployment, and although she must be away from her son, she is thankful for all the opportunities and benefits the Marine Corps has provided her family.

“I’d like to stay in the Marine Corps,” said Parrish. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people, and I’m hoping to make a career out of it and retire at 20 or 30 years.”

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew
DVIDS

Sgt. Allysa Turner hand paints each letter on the new regimental sign on Rose Barracks. Photo by Sgt. Audrey Glynn

Every now and then, a soldier who embodies the true meaning of the word professional steps forward. Someone to whom the Army values are not just words but rather a guide to live their life.

Sgt. Allysa Turner, a young paralegal in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, is one of those individuals. After joining the regimental legal team as a private, this motivated soldier worked her way through the enlisted ranks and became a non-commissioned officer in less than 12 months. Not only was that an amazing accomplishment, but Turner was also named the distinguished honor graduate of her Warrior Leadership class, the non-commissioned officer development school.

Joining the Army was like carrying on a family tradition for this 24-year-old Augusta, Ga., native. Turner’s mother and father both served in the military and her older sister is currently stationed in Europe. While she admits the idea of being a soldier was instilled in her at a young age, it wasn’t until after two years of college that she decided to signed up.

“I was just managing a restaurant,” she said, “and I decided I wanted to do more.”

“I wanted to have something I could be proud of doing,” she added. “That is what helped me make the decision.”

According to Turner, it’s the discipline and structure instilled by the military she enjoys the most. To her it cultivates a type of honor not found in many civilian jobs.

“It’s more than just putting on the uniform and going through the motions,” she said. “It is something I can truly be proud of everyday.”

Since joining Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Turner has continued to impress her supervisors and coworkers.

“Her attitude as a soldier and now as a young sergeant inspires me to be a better example and mentor for soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alejandra Robinson, non-commissioned officer in charge of the Vilseck Legal Center. “Many young soldiers and NCOs work for themselves, but she truly epitomizes what it is to be a leader.”

“She takes her role as a leader very seriously,” Robinson said. “She is giving back to the lower enlisted, molding them to be great soldiers and eventual NCOs.”

Turner’s dedication to the regiment extended well beyond the normal duty day while deployed to Afghanistan. An amateur artist in her spare time, she applied her talents to creating designs for the regimental coin, t-shirts and several inspiring murals including a memorial honoring the Dragoon’s fallen heroes. While her efforts have brought her accolades from her superiors, Turner admits she never did it for the recognition.

“It gave people something to look at around the FOB [Forward Operating Base] that wasn’t dull and drab,” she said. “It was more of a morale thing.”

“I never signed any of my work because I didn’t need the recognition,” she continued. “Seeing other people taking pictures in front of it to send home, made me happy.”

It is this type of pride in a job well done without the pursuit of recognition that epitomizes the Army value of selfless service. It is this type of dedication that most leaders try to instill in their young recruits.

Though Turner has left the regiment and is headed back to Georgia to join the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, she has left behind one last mural of the regimental crest which will adorn the Dragoon’s home on Rose Barracks for many years to come.

Story by Sgt. Gerald Wilson
DVIDS

The Devil Dog Derby Dames roller derby league played its quarterly bout at the gymnasium here Sept. 24 to keep their competitive edge.

The league, which was created a year ago, is made up of status of forces agreement personnel and service members, and boasts two teams, the Machine Gun Mollies and the Blitzkrieg Betties.

The league has a month-long training evolution, called the “dog pound,” where participants learn proper sportsmanship and the safety rules of roller derby.

“The dog pound lasts about a month and trains the girls in roller derby,” said Alisa Helin, a skater for the Blitzkrieg Betties. “It starts with the basics of how to roller skate and teaches players the rules of the sport.”

Roller derby is a contact sport, so the rules must be followed or players can easily be hurt.

“We wear protective gear from head to toe,” said Erica Kelcinski, the assistant captain of the Blitzkrieg Betties. “We wear a helmet, mouth piece, elbow pads, gloves and knee pads to help prevent injuries.”

In addition to the protective gear, there are strict rules regarding good sportsmanship that keep the competitors playing fair.

“It’s a very aggressive sport,” said Nikki Hacker, the main pivot for the Machine Gun Mollies. “You can’t push opponents with your hands; you can only use your hips and shoulders, and it must come from the front.”

There are three different types of skaters, and all are identified by their helmets.

There is a jammer, who is identified by a star on her helmet. This player scores points by completing laps around the track. There are three blockers who form a wall, so the opposing team is unable to pass through. The pivot, identified by a stripe down the center of her helmet, clears the path for the jammer to get through the pack of blockers.

Even though the sport is naturally aggressive, the members of the league still operate as a family-oriented team.

“What happens on the rink stays on the rink,” said Hacker. “We are all very aggressive and competitive, but after the jams, we all hang out. It’s almost like a sisterhood.”

A “jam” is the term roller derby uses instead of game.

The newly established league plays every three months, using the off months in between to recover.

“(The derby) is a new concept on island,” said Kelcinski. “We are always looking for more girls to come out and join the team.”

For more information on the Devil Dog Derby Dames, visit devildogderbydames.com or look for the team on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Devil-Dog-Derby-Dames/158946617476048

Story by Lance Cpl. Alyssa Hoffacker
DVIDS

1st Lt. Eboni Sherrer displays her prize for winning first place in the Operation Rising Star singing competition. Fellow contestants Spc. Candace Heishman -left- and Sgt. Sherri Burch -right- show their support for the winner. Released photograph by U.S. Army Specialist John A Montoya

Camp Bondsteel has wrapped up its Operation Rising Star competition and chosen the soldier who will represent Kosovo Forces 14 in the main competition in the U.S. 1st Lt. Eboni Sherrer, an intelligence officer with the 221st Military Intelligence Company based in Fort Gillam, Ga., won over Bondsteel by singing hits like “At Last” by Etta James and Tina Turner’s version of “Proud Mary.”

Since the competition began in early August the soldiers on Bondsteel had the opportunity to watch it live and vote for their favorite singer to represent them in the main competition held in the U.S. in October. The competition began with eight vocalists and Sherrer was chosen after several rounds of voting. Each round had the singers perform different musical genres such as country, oldies, Broadway and classic rock.

Sherrer said the most difficult part of the competition was choosing songs in genres she was not familiar with. She said, “Anything gospel or soul, Christian music or anything on the contemporary side I’m comfortable with. When we got to the week where we had to sing a country song, I had no idea. ‘What do I sing?’”

As well as learning new genres of music, Sherrer was able to make new friends through the competition. Many times deployed soldiers may only spend time with soldiers in their individual sections, but this competition gave the contestants a chance to mingle over shared interests. “It gave me the opportunity to know some of the people from other sections and it broadened my friendship spectrum,” said Sherrer.

Another unique part of this competition is the fact that Bondsteel is the only deployed environment where soldiers compete in Operation Rising Star. That can add another layer of difficulty in two different ways. First, the soldiers must perform their duties above all else to keep the mission going, and second, they now compete against soldiers and their families in garrison.

“The things you want, you make time for,” said Sherrer. “Yes I’ve lost some sleep, because I still have to work. I still have tasks and things I have to complete and it’s always mission first.”

Renee Favors, the Moral, Welfare and Recreation program specialist for Camp Bondsteel, said, “It’s difficult when you’re in a deployed area. Garrison is so much easier, because you have so many more people to pull from, plus you also have family members and such in garrison, whereas we just have our soldiers here.”

In addition to winning the competition Sherrer also won a $500 gift card to the Post Exchange. The runner up, Sgt. Mario Montoya, won a $250 gift card and the third place contest, Capt. Kellie Whittlinger, won a $100 gift card.

Even though the competition is complete on Bondsteel, the excitement and anticipation is only beginning for Sherrer. If the past is any indication of the future, Sherrer has a lot to look forward to. Previous contestants who’ve won at the Bondsteel competition have also done well in the U.S.

“The last two years we’ve actually gotten to the first round in D.C., so we’re hoping for a third year. The third time’s the charm,” said Favors.

Although hopes are high, the rest of the competition is still very daunting for Sherrer. Favors and Sherrer are submitting a video package to the judges in D.C. which highlights Sherrer’s singing abilities. But for the one video Bondsteel sends to the capitol, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of submissions from service members and their families worldwide. After the judges go through all the videos only 12 contestants are chosen for the next phase of the competition, said Favors.

Despite the odds Sherrer holds out hope for a chance to represent Kosovo Forces 14. “Me personally, I believe in prayer, and I’m going to pray over my envelope, cover it with a special blessing and make sure when they open it, it has that special glow that comes from within,” said Sherrer.

Although she is a natural singer, Sherrer wouldn’t have signed up for the contest without being persuaded by her fellow contestant Sgt. Sherry Burch, who brought her the application. “I’m thankful for Sergeant Burch, because she’s the one who said, ‘Hey ma’am! You should do this!’,” said Sherrer. “Without someone like her, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Even with the joy of her personal triumph, Sherrer has a lot of respect for her fellow singers and she gained some deep and meaningful friendships with the other soldiers in the competition.

“It’s not easy, whether you have a great voice or a not so great voice, the courage to stand before people is worthy of an applause,” said Sherrer.

With the Bondsteel competition behind her all she can do is wait until the 12 contestants are chosen from the different worldwide contests on Oct. 13. The winner of the entire 2011 Operation Rising Star wins a trip to Los Angeles, where they record a three track demo compact disc. The trip also includes air fare, lodging, $1,000 spending money and three days and nights of studio time with the support of top-rate musicians and recording technicians.

Story by Spc. John Montoya
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Tech. Sgt. Nicole Wrisley, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces area supervisor, stands in front of a Humvee tactical vehicle at Joint Base Balad. Wrisley is deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and is on her second deployment to JBB since 2009 and has witnessed the changes the base has undergone since that time. Photo by jeffrey schultze

With security forces being the largest career field in the Air Force and the many locations to be deployed, what are the odds of deploying to the same base twice?

While there is no actual statistic, there is at least one 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces sergeant who has been to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, twice.

Tech. Sgt. Nicole Wrisley, 332nd ESFS area supervisor, arrived at JBB in August for the second time.

“When I found out I was going to JBB again, I was excited because I knew the base and I had never been part of closing a base,” said Wrisley, who is deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. “I also started some programs the last time I was here so I wanted to see how they evolved.”

In 2009, Wrisley was deployed to JBB with what was then called the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron to maintain quality assurance for the Iraqi and Ugandan security contracts.

“Balad was like a metropolis, anything you needed, you could get at Balad,” said the Greenfield, Mass., native. “With the theater, pool and restaurants, it didn’t feel like you were deployed. JBB used to be a major stop over point for convoys so there were a lot of people here.”

Compared to her last deployment, Wrisley says it looks emptier.

“I like the attitude though,” she said. “Everyone understands the base is closing, everyone has resigned to this is not going to Balad and there are going to be changes. We expect what’s coming all in good nature.”

As a result of the drawdown, there are more opportunities at JBB.

“Last time all I did was security forces, but now there are more things to do here that normally would not be an option for me,” said Wrisley. “There are more job-related opportunities, but there’s also more volunteer opportunities and things to do outside of my [Air Force Specialty Code].”

“What you are doing today, you may not be doing tomorrow,” she continued. “It’s always something different.”

Throughout both deployments, Wrisley says she enjoys working with the Ugandan and Iraqi nationals.

“The Ugandans are the most hardworking and respectful people I’ve worked with,” she said. “I see what they are doing and they are impressive people.”

“The Iraqis have worked so hard, they are such brave people, it’s humbling,” she continued. “Looking back at our history when our country was building up, it reminds me of where the Iraqis are now. I salute the Iraqis that have helped us here and I am hopeful for their future.”

Story by Senior Airman Amber Kelly-Herard
DVIDS

“She’s aggressive and compassionate, she doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and if she runs into a roadblock she finds a way around it,” said Herndon, Va., native Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Martinez, the leading petty officer with 2nd Marine Division (Forward) surgeon’s office. “She takes very good care of her subordinates [and] tries to keep us laughing.”

Lima, Ohio, native Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Waterfield, a corpsman with 2nd Marine Division (Forward), knows the seriousness and importance of her job. She is responsible not only for the welfare of the junior sailors within her care, but also for tracking all Marines and sailors in Southwest Afghanistan who are involved in blasts and those who have sustained concussions throughout her year-long deployment.

“If you suffer a concussion, then your brain needs to take a time-out in order to heal itself,” said 33-year-old Martinez. “If we catch a Marine who’s had a concussion early enough and we prevent him from getting further concussions, then we can help him get back to the fight. If we don’t, then that minor traumatic brain injury could turn into a full TBI, and that’s when you see the memory loss, amnesia and anger issues.”

During the summer months, an increase in insurgent activity and improvised explosive device placement leads to a higher rate of concussions. Waterfield tracked several hundred service members involved in blasts in June alone, of which a relatively small percentage had concussions. She is the lone corpsman in charge of tracking concussions within her section and has only 72 hours from the time of the blast to coordinate with the Marine’s or sailor’s unit and report the information to Marine Corps Forces Central Command. Waterfield said it isn’t the short timelines or the busy workdays, however, that are most challenging, rather it can often be difficult to watch the events unfold through reports on a computer.

“It’s tough to let go of things,” said Waterfield. “I can watch the events happen [through the reports] and there’s not really anything I can do while the Marines are out there. We do our work here so they can go back, but watching and not being able to physically do much is the hardest part.”

The 28-year-old woman has a personal connection to the Marines in the fight as well, as her husband is also a Navy corpsman who returned from a deployment with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, October 2010.

“Seeing the events take place day-in and day-out and seeing the things my husband went through when he was here with [an infantry battalion] makes me realize just how precious life is,” she explained.

Waterfield’s desire to ensure service members get the care they need begins with the units providing information for her to track the members’ status. The injured count on her to make sure she gets the information she needs to track their cases and she doesn’t disappoint, overcoming all challenges in her way.

This tenacity has followed her outside the office and into the martial arts tent as well. There she spends some afternoons increasing her knowledge in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and taking a break from the stressors of the day. She’s taken the initiative to attain four out of the five belts and continues to work hard to achieve the coveted black belt.

“She has the dedication, motivation and willingness to learn,” said Chicago native Sgt. Quinton King, a MCMAP instructor with 2nd Marine Division (Forward). “It’s [great] to have a corpsman go from very little martial arts training and stick with it the way she has.”

Waterfield’s dedication in and out of the office makes her a tremendous asset to her section.

“She’s an outstanding sailor and professional,” said Martinez. “She jumps on every task, stays late if she needs to, and is all about mission accomplishment and taking care of the Marines.”

Photos and story by Cpl. Jeff Drew
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Tech. Sgt. Kelli Sweeney is interviewed by local media before deploying as part of Task Force Irene on Saturday, August 27. Air Force Photo/SMSgt Ray Lloyd

Tech. Sgt. Kelli Sweeney, member of the 107th Airlift Wing Security Forces, was on her way home after working at the base on Friday, August 26. She was almost to her home in Middleburgh, NY, nearly 300 miles away, when she got the call from the 107th saying they needed all available personnel to report. Hurricane Irene was headed for downstate New York and anyone who could volunteer would be appreciated. She agreed to help out and stopped at her house to gather her gear. There were concerns that Middleburgh would have some flooding, so she made some minor preparations.

“I picked up anything near the floor and put it up higher. I thought maybe we’d get a few inches of flood water, so I wasn’t too concerned,” she said.

With that, she packed up her gear and headed back to Niagara Falls where she and 44 other members of the 107th Airlift Wing processed and boarded the unit’s C-130 in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 27. They proceeded to Camp Smith near Albany, NY the base from which they would work throughout the hurricane response.

They assisted the citizens of Sloatsburg, NY. They brought aid in the form of supplies, water and ice. They also used their Humvees to transport people through the flooded area.

Meanwhile, back at Tech. Sgt. Sweeney’s home, Middleburgh was hit hard by Irene, which by that time had been downgraded to a tropical storm. Flooding rains made rivers rise to record levels and knocked out power. Complicating issues, a petroleum spill leaked fuel into the water soaking homes in the foul-smelling water.

Monday morning Tech. Sgt. Sweeney received a call from her landlord with some bad news. Unfortunately, her home was one of those affected by the severe flooding. It was not only flooded by the petroleum-contaminated water but it was swept off of its foundation and displaced about 40 feet from its original location.

Although it was offered, Tech. Sgt. Sweeney did not rush home to attend to her own affairs. She stayed the course and continued to help in the relief efforts.

“There was not much I could do at home. I may as well have been helping out,” she said.

Senior Airman Michael Maio worked with her through the hurricane response. “She stayed positive through it all. Absolutely,” he said.

Upon returning to Niagara, Master Sgt. Jason Folckemer, Master Sgt. Michael Owczarczak, and Staff Sgt. Shawn Hare drove with Sgt. Sweeney to survey the damage and to see what could be saved.

Nearly all of Tech. Sgt. Sweeney’s belongings were destroyed. Only a few wooden furniture items could be salvaged.

Governor Andrew Cuomo declared the Catskill Mountains region a disaster area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse Tech. Sgt. Sweeney only for what they deem to be ‘essential items.’ She has found a new apartment to live in as she attends college in nearby SUNY Cobleskill, majoring in wildlife biology.

The 107th Airlift Wing family has responded to Tech. Sgt. Sweeney’s needs. Security Forces Squadron was able to give her money to use immediately from their flight fund. Contributions were also given by individual security forces members. In addition, they helped her by purchasing items that she needed like a microwave, dishes, and silverware.

Family Readiness Group and Security Forces applied for two grants in her name, one federal grant and one from the National Guard and Naval Militia Relief Society of New York, Inc. The wing plans to provide additional assistance to alleviate her hardship.

by Elaine J. Nowak
107th Airlift Wing
New York Air National Guard

U.S. Army Sgt. Shelly Amborn, a native of Atwater, Calif., and Spc. Sonja Prentiss, a native of Peoria, Ill., both with the Army's cultural support team, speak with a young Afghan girl in Darvishan Village, Khakrez district, Afghanistan, June 10, 2011. Photo by Spc. Kaimana-Ipulani Kalauli-Mendoza

In the harsh reality of southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, it’s not uncommon for any soldier, regardless of their job, to find themselves in a dangerous situation while operating in the field.

That’s what happened one afternoon when two members of a cultural support team, working with coalition special operations forces, assigned to Special Operations Task Force–South Afghanistan, came under fire by insurgent forces during what should have been a routine mission in Kandahar’s Khakrez district.

Sgt. Shelly Amborn, a native of Atwater, Calif., and Spc. Sonja Prentiss, a native of Peoria, Ill., are both members of SOTF-South’s CST, a team comprised of female soldiers who support coalition special operations forces by engaging the female population in an area where such contact may be deemed culturally inappropriate if performed by a male service member.

On that day, Amborn and Prentiss traveled to a small village in Khakrez with coalition special operations forces to take part in a major clearing operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the northern part of the district.

Amborn and Prentiss would help provide security and once the SOF team finished clearing the building, the CST would go in and search the females, which, according to a coalition special operations forces team member, greatly augmented security.

”This was our fourth clearing mission with coalition special operations forces, and up until this point we hadn’t received any enemy contact,” said Prentiss.

“The CST was taking part in a major clearing operation with us,” said a coalition special operations forces team leader with SOTF-South. “Around mid-afternoon, a four to five man insurgent element engaged us with small-arms fire and [rocket propelled grenades].”

“You know it’s a possibility that something like this can happen,” said Amborn. “But until it does, you never think it’s going to happen to you.”

“We were pulling security when we first heard the shots,” she added. “Right off the bat I didn’t know what was going on, but that’s when the training kicked in and we reacted.”

“During the entire operation, the CST acted very professionally,” said the SOF team leader. “We were able to set up a support by fire and sent a maneuver element to destroy the enemy. Soon after, the enemy broke contact and retreated.”

“When it happened, my adrenaline was pumping, but you just do what you’re supposed to do,” said Prentiss.

For their part in the event, Amborn and Prentiss were presented with the Combat Action Badge at their combat outpost by Combined Special Operations Task Force–Afghanistan commander, Col. Mark C. Schwartz.

The Combat Action Badge is awarded to members of the Army who, while serving in a hostile environment, are personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement.

“To experience that is kind of cool, but at the same time I was very nervous,” Prentiss concluded. Both receiving the award and being involved in the engagement “was a very proud moment for the both of us.”

Story by Sgt. Warren Wright
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