Staff Sgt. Alqua Stephenson, the electronic warfare non-commissioned officer in charge for 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Spc. Christopher Lambert and Spc. Zachary Leser chat briefly during an inspection of the electronic warfare systems on vehicles prior to a convoy departing on a mission. Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks

While Staff Sgt. Alqua Stephenson was conducting her normal inspection of the electronic warfare systems on several vehicles and taking notes in her notebook, she saw something was different.

“What the heck is this [antenna] doing here?” thought the electronic warfare non-commissioned officer in charge at 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. “How did this antenna get up here?”

What Stephenson saw stood out like a sore thumb to her trained eye. The antenna, used to jam the signals of remote-detonated improvised explosive devices, wasn’t mounted in its usual place.

She spoke with Sgt. Erika Collins, a logistic specialist from the unit, who explained that her MaxxPro Plus Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle had been turned in to the repair shop earlier in the day to repair a mounting bracket holding an antenna in place. The bracket had been damaged by overhanging trees while on a convoy escort mission the night before.

Curious to find out how this would affect the antenna’s signal jamming capabilities, Stephenson and fellow Soldiers in the battalion’s EW section ran a few tests and discovered that the change in location provided the vehicle with better coverage than the original configuration.

Stephenson, a Las Vegas native, said that after seeing the improved signal coverage, she decided to explore the possibilities of using this configuration on every MaxxPro Plus in her unit.

She called the Warlock Shop, which handles the repair of the specialized equipment, to inquire about the modification and to inform them on the drastic improvement of the jamming coverage. She was informed by a staff member that the antenna was only moved due to the fact that the original location was rendered unusable from the tree damage.

In order to get this configuration approved for other vehicles, they would need the “ok” from Joint CREW Composite Squadron, the organization who maintains overall authority and standardization for the counter-IED systems in Iraq.

The 702nd BSB EW section created a presentation that would compare the capabilities of this new configuration versus the standard currently in place on the MaxxPro Plus.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joel Azpeitia, the EW officer in charge for the brigade, reviewed the presentation and was once again impressed with the battalion’s EW section.

“That section is so proactive and will always go the extra mile to ensure the safety of Soldiers,” said the Tampa native. “They are always making some corrections to improve many of the systems.”

With his support, the proposal was sent to JCCS at United States Forces – Iraq. The JCCS wanted to verify the results of the testing conducted by Stephenson and her section, so they put the modified vehicle through a series of tests over three days.

On the third day, the 702nd Soldiers were notified of the good news; their configuration would be the new standard for mounting the antenna on the MaxxPro Plus for USF-I.

Collins said that even though this whole thing started as a mistake, it is a great feeling to somehow be a part of it.

“We were so happy to hear the news,” said Sgt. Aquime Duclairjeune a CREW noncommissioned officer from Brooklyn, N.Y. “When they asked us what we wanted the configuration to be named, the first [name] that came to my mind was Staff Sgt. Christopher Worrell.”

The antennae’s configuration was named GR-7 or Ghostrider 7, the call signal of the late Worrell, a 702nd transportation non-commissioned officer, who died in April 2010 in a non-combat related incident.

As the unit sets itself to redeploy in the coming months, the EW team has kept their focus on the task at hand, but will be departing Iraq with the knowledge that because of their curiosity, hard work and a minor run-in with a tree, lives could potentially be saved.

“If having this boost in coverage saves one life,” said Stephenson, “then it is worth the time and the effort.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks

Lt. Col. Mitch Rambin, commander of 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Divison, gives colored pencils to a girl at the Summer Camp for Kids in Baqubah, Iraq, June 9. Soldiers from 5/20 Inf. were at the camp delivering soccer balls and school supplies dontated from elementry school kids in America. (US Army photo by Pfc. Adrian Muehe)

It’s summertime in Diyala province, Iraq. While school is out so is the sun, and many children are seen playing outside all over the province. For a few, their summer experience will be quite different this year as they are attending a Summer Camp for Kids. This program is organized by the Red Crescent, the Middle East’s equivalent to the Red Cross, and designed for the orphans and special-needs children of Diyala province from June 1 to July 31.

There are camps set up throughout the province in the cities of Baqubah, Muqdadiyah, Balad Ruz, and Al-Abarra. To assist the Red Crescent and to show their support, Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, delivered soccer balls and school supplies to the children at the Baqubah camp, June 9.

“We mixed students from all five qadas [a region comparable to a county in the U.S.],” said Hazim Sarraj, Red Crescent director for Diyala province. “We mix different ethnicities, different sects, different colors, Kurdish, Arabic, Sunni, Shia, we bring all these people here to Baqubah.”

While the program is designed for orphans, camp administrators invite children who are talented in arts, or who excel in class, to the camp to enhance their skills. While attending, young ones participate in many activities and classes such as drawing, music, drama, and English.

“I can’t imagine elementary age kids in America learning Arabic this good,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Dallas, command sergeant major of 5/20 Inf., after hearing a demonstration during an English class at the camp.

Attendees also take time out of their academic studies to play sports and mingle with other children in the camp every afternoon. A courtyard complete with soccer goals, a basketball hoop, volleyball court, and ping pong tables lies in the middle of the classrooms.

“We have new developments every day,” said Mr. Hazim. “We meet every week to come up with new activities for the kids.”

This is the first year a summer camp is offered to the children, and the Red Crescent is taking action to work with the Ministry of Education to implement this as a permanent program led by the Government of Iraq in the future.

“We [the Red Crescent] are a social organization, not an education organization,” said Mr. Hazim. “We were chosen to organize it this year because of our reputation with other programs around Diyala.”

According to Mr. Hazim, the future of this program, although uncertain, does look hopeful. So far they have received recognition for their curriculum from the Education Directorate of Diyala as well as Diyala University.

The Soldiers of 5/20 Inf. played no role in establishing or running the camp, but assisted the Red Crescent by delivering gifts from another group of kids.

“The soccer balls and school supplies were sent to us from schools all across the United States,” said Lt. Col. Mitch Rambin, commander of 5/20 Inf. “It’s a way for kids back home to show their appreciation for the challenges these kids have had to go through in the past seven years, being in a war torn country and losing parents to sectarian violence. It’s not fair, no kid should ever have to go through that.”

After the Soldiers delivered the gifts they took a guided tour of the facilities. Many children preformed demonstrations to show what they’ve learn to the visitors. Many of the Soldiers were impressed. A few even stated that the curriculum seemed more fun than summer camps they went to as children.

“If I was a kid growing up in Baqubah, I would definitely want to come here,” exclaimed Capt. Brett Sim, of Buffalo, N.Y., and the fire support officer for 5/20 Inf.

The Summer Camp for Kids not only encourages children to be creative, learn new skills and participate in fun activities, it also enables young boys and girls to walk away with something they may have not had in their lives before, hope.

A guest speaker visits the students each week to speak of their own personal experience in overcoming specific challenges to help foster a sense of optimism within these young children.

“Today they had a doctor come speak to them who grew up as an orphan,” said Lt. Col. Rambin. “This is a way to show them that even being an orphan, there is a still a future for them.”

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Adrian Muehe

The master beekeeper passes out a section of buzzing bee hive during a women beekeeping training program graduation March 27. Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks

A blossoming new program organized by the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team-North is creating a buzz and giving area widows and divorcees a much sweeter future.

But the buzz being generated around the program is more than just a figure of speech, as the Iraqi women involved are learning the ins and outs of beekeeping.

On March 27, a graduation ceremony was held for 25 Iraqi women who completed the beekeeper training program here.

“These women are the heads of the household, many (because of) the sectarian conflict,” said Mary-Denise Tabar, the public diplomacy and women’s affairs advisor for ePRT-North. “The program aims to train local rural women on the theoretical and practical applications of basic beekeeping.”

ePRT-North is embedded with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division whose subordinate battalions provide security for the team, allowing them to work safely on projects such as this in the area north of Baghdad including Tarmiyah and the city of Taji.

Taught in four hour sessions over a period of six days, the course covered the proper care of bees and techniques to harvest their honey.

“The women were chosen by the non-government organization, Rafedain Foundation who know the community and the women who need it most,” explained Tabar.

The master beekeeper shows off a comb containing hundreds of buzzing bees during a women's beekeeping training program graduation ceremony March 27. Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks

Interest in the beekeeping course proved to be extremely high, explained Tim Lowery, an agricultural specialist with the ePRT, and having received more applications than there were available seats, the team is already planning more courses for the future.

Upon completion of the training each women received their own active and healthy beehive, containing thousands of the buzzing insects, along with all the necessary equipment to operate it.

In total, the entire beekeeping training program including the 25 beehives for the graduates, tools and supplies cost approximately $23,450, said Tabar.

Each beehive houses anywhere between 10,000 and 30,000 bees, that on the average can produce about 15 to 20 kilograms of honey a year. Bees also provide a valuable resource for local farmers, pollinating their crops.

“For most of these women, this is how they earn income for their households,” said Tabar. “They can sell a kilo of honey anywhere from $20 to $50.”

During the graduation ceremony, family and friends looked on as the new beekeepers were called forward receive their certificates and beehives, and showed their support for this accomplishment with rounds of applause.

Honey has brought these women dealing with great adversity together, and with this new skill, it will reduce their image as a burden on their family or society.

One graduate was so overwhelmed that she was brought to tears during the ceremony.

“A women told me that she was so thankful for everything and can remember having bees as a child,” said Lowery, “She said that she would raise the bees like they were her own children.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks

The ziggurat at Aqar Quf rises 180 feet above the desert west of Baghdad. Soldiers of the 16th Engineer Brigade's Survey and Design Team traveled to the ancient ziggurat in Aqar Quf, March 11, to assess and verify the electrical needs of two modern structures on the site. The U.S. Army 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and Iraq's Ministry of Antiquities is seeking to restore the modern buildings around the site in an attempt to revitalize tourism in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Robbins)

Soldiers from the 16th Engineer Brigade Survey and Design team conducted a site assessment on several buildings at an historic site in Aqar Quf, 20 miles west of Baghdad to assess and verify the electrical needs of renovating two modern structures at the base of an ancient ziggurat there.

The ziggurat, a stepped, temple tower, is the Mesopotamian equivalent of the Egyptian pyramids. Aqar Quf’s ziggurat, rising 180 feet above the desert floor, was considered to be built more than three and a half millennia ago.

Recently, the Iraqi Ministry of Antiquities approached 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, for help with restoring some modern structures at the temple in order to attract visitors to the site which would revitalize the economy and preserve the temple.

The modern structures at the base of the ziggurat, built in the 1960s, functioned as a museum and administrative building throughout the second half of the 20th century. However, after years of war, the site is not what it once was.

“The administrative buildings have been degraded and looted,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Markel, from Chillicothe, Ohio, a member of the survey and design team.

According to Markel, the ziggurat and temple areas have suffered no damage but the modern buildings are in need of restoration work. The restoration, still in the planning stages, will eventually be completed by local Iraqi contractors.

“We came to the site to look at the electrical installation and to validate the existing scope of work for the electrical project,” said Markel.

“The museum had nothing electrical left in it; no lights, no switches, and wires have been literally pulled out of the walls,” said Spc. David Robbins from Cincinnati, Ohio, a member of the team, also sent to assess the site.

According to Robbins, even the electrical panels were removed from the museum and administrative buildings at some point, leaving holes in the walls.

“This was a functioning facility,” said Markel. “It’s now not functioning at all.”

Providing security, a member of the U.S. Army 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, looks down from the steps of the ziggurat at Aqar Quf, March 11, during a site visit by Soldiers of the 16th Engineer Brigade Survey and Design Team. The engineers traveled to the ancient ziggurat in Aqar Quf to assess and verify the electrical needs of renovating two modern structures on the site. The ziggurat, more than 3,500 years old, was once a popular tourist destination in Iraq. The site now lays dormant. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Robbins)

During their visit to Aqar Quf, Robbins and Markel had the opportunity to explore the ruins. They said the experience deepened their understanding of the significance of the museum and administrative buildings.

They were awe struck after exploring the ancient ruins.

“When I climbed the steps and was able to see the monument up close and the fine details about how it was constructed; it’s impressive to think that 3,500 years ago someone had constructed this,” said Markel. “It’s an engineering feat because it is still standing after all these years.”

Both Robbins and Markel said they hope their work will help reopen this historical site someday and bring tourists back to the area; including them.

DVIDS
By Spc. Brian Johnson

Reprinted from March 4, 2007

By Spc. Courtney Marulli, 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

Pfc. Evelyn Williams of Temple Hills, Md., is the only woman in the Personal Security Detachment for the command group of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Her role isn’t one of support, but rather one of combat as the 7.62 mm machine gun operator. This role isn’t something that surprised Williams. She would have been a gunner if she had stayed with her military police company.

As she sits in the turret of the lead vehicle, she must keep a sharp eye for snipers, grenade attacks, suicide bombers, and improvised explosive devices.“Basically, I feel if something happened, I would be responsible because I am the eyes for all the vehicles,” Williams said.

If her eye catches anything that seems suspicious, she calls it down to her noncommissioned officers. With the abundance of litter and debris lining the sides of the roads and alley-ways, Williams said it can be difficult to distinguish a serious threat from regular garbage.

She is grateful for the support she has received from her team.

Fellow Soldiers took her in as one of their own, Williams said. She hasn’t had any problems being the only woman, and was accepted immediately.

“I enjoy being the only female,” she said. “If I hear ‘only female,’ I feel special.”

Although Williams is manning a deadly weapon, going out of the wire also appeals to her softer side.

Seeing Iraqi youth while on patrol is her favorite part of leaving the wire, which she does on a regular basis. She also enjoys seeing the Iraqi people do their part to help, such as clearing paths or helping direct people to the sides so the vehicles can go through.

Joining the Army was something Williams always wanted to do and choosing her job was natural. She had wanted to be a police officer in the civilian world.

She was taking college courses in criminal justice and passed the test to become a police officer. However, she was required to wait six months while background checks were conducted, and that was just too long to wait; so she joined the Army.

Her desire to be in law enforcement stems from her desire to help children, stop domestic abuse, and combat drugs. She is also passionate about stopping people from drinking and driving.

Williams, who has been in the Army for 13 months, enjoys her work but she looks forward to returning to her husband and two children.

“I have kids,” she said. “They need me.”