1st edition june newsletter

8/6/2019 1st Edition June Newsletter

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June 2011-1st Edition

D a k o t a T r o o p 3 - 4 C A V N e w s l e t t e r

Commander & 1SG Section:

Dear Dakota Families,

As always, it is an honor to write to you from Nangarhar

Province amongst some of the finest Soldiers in the U.S. Army. Our

mission of supporting the squadron gives us little time to rest, but all

three platoons took a moment to reflect on the past months events.

Well let each platoon tell you what theyve been up to, but we will

brag about our Soldiers who are rapidly rising through the ranks.Since we last wrote, we were proud to promote Private Emillieanne

Canasa, Private Anthony Brown Jr., and Private Heavenly Redding to

the rank of Private First Class.

Whether your Trooper is in our Headquarters, the Dining

Facility, Maintenance Platoon, or the Distribution Platoon, their

service to the nation has made a significant impact on our squadrons

efforts here in eastern Afghanistan. This month has been a hot one,

and your Soldiers continue to battle the heat and do a fantastic job

out here, all the while planning to return to our Families. I assureyou all back in Hawaii and the Mainland that your Soldiers think of

you day and night, and your calls, letters and packages often set the

tone for a whole week. Thanks for all your efforts in the rear. We

couldnt do this without you.

Dakota!

CPT Brian Hughes and 1SG Robert VanHoose

Dakota Troop 3-4 CAV

COUNTDOWN

down and only 9 moreto go........


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Dining Facility:

Since April 23rd, our cooks have been working hard to

overhaul the existing dining facility. Working in conjunction with

other cooks from the 307th Military Police, our cooks have been

working long fifteen hour days to serve our Troopers. Despite a

dramatically increased customer base, the cooks began cooking

three hot meals a day for 650 personnel, a huge morale boost for

Soldiers coming off patrol.

The Dining Facility is always a key part of the happier days

here on FOB Shinwar. Whether it is Mothers Day, Fathers Day, o

a Soldiers birthday, the dining facility strives to highlight special

days and provide holiday meals, even if its just for one Soldiers

birthday. All Soldiers can reserve a table along with a cake and

sparkling cider for another Troopers birthday. The Dining Facility

worked overnight preparing extravagant meals for both Memorial

Day and the Army Birthday. Soldiers were afforded a choice of 7

main entres, assorted sides, and desserts. When LTC Hayes, the

Squadron Executive Officer was preparing to leave the squadron to

take over the Brigade Executive Officer position, our cooks ensuredhe had a proper send-off. CPL Cordell and SPC Smart worked hard

to provide a special barbecue for Raider-5. The cooks also cater al

VIP events welcoming leaders to include Ambassador Eikenberry,

Brigadier General Richardson, and Colonel Kim to FOB Shinwar.

The cooks continue to develop the dining facility, and with

the arrival of more equipment. The cooks are planning a dining

facility renovation, an improved menu, and luxuries like making

eggs to order, specialty bars, and cakes designed by CPL Cordell fo

birthdays or holiday meals.

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms, no blues or greens.But, I am in the military, in the ranks

rarely seen.I have no rank upon my shoulders.

Salutes I do not give.But in the military world is where I

live and am rarely seen.I am not in the chain of command,

orders I do not give or get.But my husband is the one who does,

this I can not forget.I am not the one who fires a weapon,

Who puts his life on the line.But my job is just as tough, Im the one

who is always left behind.My husband is a patriot, a brave and

pride filled man.And the call to serve his country not all

can understand.Behind the lines, I see things needed to

keep this country free.My husband makes the sacrifice, but so

do my kids and me.I love the man I married. The military

is his life.

So I pledge to support my hero andstand among the silent ranks known as

THE MILITARY WIFE.


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Maintenance Platoon:

As the summer heats up in Eastern Afghanistan so does the

Outlaw Platoon as they equip, sustain and ready the fighting force of

3-4 CAV. The tireless work of the Outlaw Platoon has helped turn aheap of rocks into a full functioning forward motor pool. Over the last

three months the Outlaw platoon moved over 149 tons of gravel, built

maintenance bays, established force protection for the safety of our

Soldiers and implemented specialty shops to ensure the rapid repair of

critical weapons and NVGs necessary to the Squadron mission.

The Outlaws have also been busy supporting our Afghan National

partners by teaching and coaching our allies in the field of maintenance

The hard work by the Outlaws will ensure the Afghan Army and Police

will be able to conduct their own maintenance operations in the future

which will be critical to the countrys future security and stability.

While working with our Afghan partners the Outlaws have kept all

cylinders running on our support missions with the successful and safe

completion of 16 recovery missions, the repair of 162 weapons, 58

night vision optics and 89 communication systems. These repairs have

protected 3-4 CAVs ability to shoot, move and communicate in its

COIN operations. The power generation team has been busy as well

conducting 65 repairs allowing FOB Shinwar the ability to keep power

generation throughout the FOB. Our MSTs have been busy as well

working daily on the vehicles of Apache, Comanche, Dakota and HHThere at Shinwar. Blackfoot has been working hard on their own at FOB

Hughie. Their dedicated hours have won the respect of the Squadron fo

enabling a high percentage of Fully Mission Capable vehicles.

During all this hard work the Outlaws ensure they make time for

some fun by playing basketball, baseball, relax and other sports.

Members of the Platoon have also taken the lead in creating the Troop

Tee Shirt for Dakota Troop and taking on special projects around the

FOB to increase the quality of life for every Soldier. Whether the

Outlaws are busy repairing and maintaining mission essential vehicles,

repairing weapons and communications equipment, training our Afghan

partners, or out on the road bringing downed vehicles back to safety

one thing is clear, the Outlaw Platoon stands ready to complete its

mission no matter the obstacle or challenge.

There is nothing like beingan Army Soldier

Yes there is...Being a ProudArmy Parent


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Distrobution Platoon:The Distribution Platoon has conducted over 35

missions, travelling some 2400 miles through Afghanistans

cities and countryside. Your Troopers have driven day and

night in order to resupply a total of 9 different locations

spanning a 120 mile radius around the Raider Area ofOperations. They have run missions throughout Nangarhar

province, from the Pakistani Border to the bustling city of

Jalalabad and to remote platoon outposts.

Distro has exhibited a tremendous esprit de corps as they

build a Distribution Operations Center from scratch with

several junior Soldiers demonstrating incredible initiative and

drive throughout the process. With minimal supplies, the

platoon has built a place for Soldiers to relax, have fun and

plan missions. Distro hosted their first barbecue to say

farewell to their platoon leader 2LT Alex Miller as he moves

to take over a cavalry scout platoon in Blackfoot Troop. 1LT

Aaron Hale will be taking over his position. The platoon plan

to integrate their new platoon leader into what has become

one of the tightest-knit and strongest performing platoons in

the squadron.

With the help of AmericaSupporting Americans (ASAadopt a unit) Dakota Troopis fostered by theHillsborough PoliceDepartment, Patrol and

Investigations Division.They have sent 88 boxes toour troops and showedtheir support by making abanner with the the unit'sinformation and marchingin a parade!

Thank you to all thevolunteers from DakotaTroop, the FRG, and the

families of the soldiers!!!

Words from the FRG:

Its been a busy few months for all of us holding down thehomefront, but we are staying strong and continuing to do what weneed so our troops are supported. The FRG is planning bake salesand coming up with new idea's for care packages. There will bephotos of our FRG meetings and events in the followingnewsletters. Also, families, send me your favorite photos, specialevents, birthdays, receipes, words of encouragement, etc... and Ican add that to our newsletters! Let's make it a group effortbecause this newsletter goes to everyone in the troop and to familymembers! Thank you for all that you do!

Christine [email protected]

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