april 12, 2006 serving the u.s. and coalition forces in...

DESERTDESERT VOICEVOICEServing the U.S. and Coalition Forces in KuwaitApril 12, 2006

Marine

Page 7

sets pace

CFLCC Commanding GeneralLt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb

CFLCC CommandSergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj. Franklin G.Ashe

CFLCC Publ ic Affa irs Off icerCol. Barrett King

CFLCC Publ ic Affa irsOff icer , ForwardLt. Col. Debbie Haston-Hilger

Commander, 1 1th PADCapt. Chevelle Thomas

NCOIC , 1 1th PADStaff Sgt. Kerensa Hardy

Desert Vo ice Ed itorSgt. Jonathan M. Stack

Desert Vo ice AssistantEditorSpc. Robert Adams

Desert Vo ice Staff WritersSpc. Janine CooglerSpc. Debralee P. CrankshawSpc. Michael R. Noggle

1 1th PAD BroadcastersSpc. Christina BeermanPfc. Jheridiah Anderson

2 Desert Voice April 12, 2006

Volume 27, Issue 38The Desert Voice is an authorized publication for membersof the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Voiceare not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, theU.S. Government or Department of the Army. The editorialcontent of this publication is the responsibility of theCoalition Forces Land Component Command Public AffairsOffice. This newspaper is published by Al-Qabandi United, aprivate firm, which is not affiliated with CFLCC. All copy willbe edited. The Desert Voice is produced weekly by thePublic Affairs Office.

CONTENTS 38

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DESERTVOICE

EditorCFLCC PAO/Desert VoiceCamp ArifjanAPO AE 09306

[email protected]

Find us online at www.dvidshub.net

55

On the coverIllustration by Spc. Robert Adams

Lt. Col. Steven Schmid begins one ofhis daily long-distance training runs atCamp Arifjan Friday.77

Back page Need for speedPhoto by Spc. Robert Adams

Michael Murphy flies out of the startingblocks during 100-meter dash time trialsat the ASG-Ku Track Meet Saturday.

PPaaggee 33 Troops work together

Page 9 Women: Builders of dreams

Pages 6 Buehring hosts marathon

Page 4 Georgians accident

Page 11 Community Events

Command Sgt. Maj. Ashe talks about theresponsibilities that come with working ina joint environment.

Command Sgt. Maj. Stuart talks about thestory of women in American history andwhat they have accomplished.

Troops from around Kuwait gather atCamp Buehring to run in a 26.2-mile raceMarch 19.

Georgian Forces credit Humvee EgressAssistance Trainer for lack of fatalities ina humvee rollover accident.

Upcoming events: Charlie Daniels Band,Kite Flying Day, Easter 5-k race, TexasHold ’em tournament.

Page 5 For the love of the gameSgt. Gregory Garza had a promising futurein baseball until tragedy struck. He carrieson his love for the game through softball.

Page 10 ReDVAL adds accuracyThe 377th TSC and 321st TMMC devel-oped new software to improve propertyaccountability to troops.

Page 8 LSA connects to MWRNETThe Army Life Support Area provides ser-vicemembers with a computer network atno cost.

Pages 7 Run, Schmid, runMarine long-distance runner enjoys run-ning and showcases his talent by winningroad races in Kuwait.

Leaders know best. Leaders have beentrained to give legal orders. And regardless ofwhat your branch of service is – Army, AirForce, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard —your leaders know what’s best.

I recently noticed some servicemembersdon’t seem to understand what working in ajoint-services environment really means. Solet me clear that up so you can better under-stand your role in the big picture.

Some servicemembers use the “it’s-not-in-my-job-description” excuse to shirk duties.But regardless of what service you’re in,what your military occupation specialitystates, you will do what you’re told.

Servicemembers don’t have just “one job.”We are all multi-functional. We have to be towin this war.

This is a joint fight. We are one team andthis is one fight. We all have the same mis-sion regardless of our branch of service. Weall must step up and do our job and help oth-ers do their jobs to win this war.

All of us took the oath to obey the presi-dent and “the orders of the officers appointedover me.” That statement, regardless of whatbranch you are in is not service-specific.

As the command sergeant major of theCFLCC AOR, if you’re attached to, assignedto operate, or controlled by Third U.S. Army,I have the legal authority to tell you what to

do … so do all the leaders in yourThird U.S. Army chain of com-mand regardless of your or theirbranch.

I will take care of all service-members fairly and equally. Idon’t care what your branch is,whether you’re active duty or aReserve component service mem-ber, or if you’re a civilian, every-one will get 100 percent of myattention at all times. I also expectthat regard from all leaders regard-less of the difference in every-one’s branch.

I respect the differencesbetween the services, our various traditions,regulations and history. I don’t want everyoneto be the same. All of us joined our branchesbecause it offered us what we want to betterourselves. But don’t let the difference in ouruniforms get in the way of accomplishing themission.

If you’re an Airman working for a Soldier,a Sailor working for an Airman, or a Soldierworking for a Marine, active or Reserve, youare legally bound to do what your supervisortells you to do. If you bypass that, it’s disre-spectful and you’re disobeying a legal order.

The Uniform Code of Military Justicedoes not discriminate or specify laws basedon the branch of service. It considers all ser-vicemembers as one: the United States ofAmerica’s military. All servicemembers fallunder the same rules and must obey theirleaders regardless of their leader’s branch of

service.Throughout our AOR,

liaison offices are set upwithin various headquarters.The liaison officers are thereto help their respective ser-vicemembers with workissues, such as promotions.The LNOs are not in yourchain of command. They arenot there because the ser-vicemember has issues witha member of his/her chain ofcommand.

If you work in an Armyunit and you have a problem

with your Army leader, whether you’re in theArmy or not, use the chain of command.

I’ve heard excuses about why it’s hard towork with servicemembers from otherbranches. I’m tired of them. There should beno excuses. We all have the same mission andI report to an Airman – Command ChiefMaster Sgt. Curtis L. Brownhill, the com-mand chief master sergeant for U.S. CentralCommand. We have no issues because of thedifference in our services. We both work andfight for the United States and CENTCOM.

In recent years, we have and will continueto work and fight in a joint environment.That unity has helped us and will continue tomake us a stronger force. Soldiers, Airmen,Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen willwork and fight for their leaders regardless ofwhat branch we’re in. WE ARE ONE TEAM,ONE FIGHT!

3Desert Voice April 12, 2006

Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin G. AsheThird U.S. Army/ARCENT/CFLCC Command Sergeant Major

Troops work together for a common goal

Command Sgt. Maj.Franklin G. Ashe

Air Force Staff Sgt. Bradley C. ChurchAir Force Staff Sgt.Matthew Loughlin,Army Staff Sgt.Michael Petrelli andSenior AirmanAndy Gerdemanrespond to a simu-lated vehicle acci-dent April 3 at AliBase, Iraq. Thesimulated accidentwas a joint exercisewith Company C,3rd 126 AirAmbulance and the407thExpeditionary CivilEngineerSquadron.

Servicemembers deployed toKuwait became citizens of theUnited States Thursday during anaturalization ceremony at theZone 1 Chapel.

Fifty-seven Soldiers andSailors from 26 different coun-tries were presented a certificateby Army Lt. Gen. R. StevenWhitcomb, Third U.S. Armycommanding general, and Mr.Matthew H. Tueller, charge d'af-fairs of the U.S. EmbassyKuwait.

"It is a great day to bean American," Whitcomb said.

"I am not only happy and proudto be here as a Soldier, but as anAmerican as well."

"As new citizens to the UnitedStates, I salute you," Tueller said."From today on, you have theopportunity to pursue theAmerican Dream."

To become eligible for U.S.citizenship, one must demon-strate good moral character, anunderstanding of U.S. history andgovernment and comprehensionof the English language.

The ceremony was the firstone conducted since mid-December as troops from all overKuwait, Iraq and Qatar took theoath to become U.S. citizens.

Learning how to react inextreme circumstances saved thelives of a few Georgian soldiers.

A Georgian gunner and hiscrew walked away from ahumvee rollover accident withminor injuries April 1 at UdairiRange.

Georgian Forces receivedtraining on the Humvee EgressAssistance Trainer the day beforethe accident and credit that forthe lack of fatalities in the acci-dent.

“We did what we were trainedto do to survive,” said GeorgianCpl. Levani Lomtadze, humveegunner.

Traveling on the counter-improvised explosive devicelanes, Lomtadze’s humvee hit ahill and turned over. The vehicledid a complete 360 degreerollover.

Lomtadze said he and hiscrew felt the car turning andimmediately assumed the correctabrasive positions to survive.

The HEAT provided theGeorgian troops with knowledgethat helped save their lives,Lomtadze said.

“If we didn’t take the class wewouldn’t have known what todo,” he added.

HEAT is a Coalition ForcesLand Component Command pro-totype as a proactive measure toreduce injuries in rollover acci-dents.

“This was the first rolloveraccident with soldiers that havegone through the training,” saidMaj. Bill Kehoe, CFLCC safetyofficer. “It is important to knowthe training is effective and cansave lives.”

The soldiers involved in theaccident were trained together inthe HEAT.

“One of the goals duringtraining is to keep normal crewstogether so they are familiar withcommands, reaction drills andhave confidence with one anoth-er,” Kehoe said.

During HEAT troops learnhow to trust one another, staycalm and communicate, saidStaff Sgt. Gerald Naidu, HEATnoncommissioned officer incharge of Georgian training.

Simulating the point when thevehicle is expected to rollover,during the training the humveecab is tilted to a 30-degree angle.By the end of the training the cab

rotates to a complete 180-degreeangle to suspend the vehicleupside down.

The troops learned how toreact quickly and trust the equip-ment, said Sgt. Antonio Lucero,HEAT instructor during Georgiantraining.

Once they realized the seat-belts could hold their weight withall their gear, the soldiers wereable to focus on the safety posi-tions and communication drills,Lucero said.

“The Georgian soldiers werevery attentive and quickly pickedup on what they were supposedto do,” he said.

While the Georgians were

training, soldiers had smiles ontheir faces and seemed to beenjoying the HEAT as theylearned, Lucero said.

“Whenever training can bepresented in an enjoyable way,soldiers pick up on it and learnfrom it. And it goes on to savetheir lives,” he added.

Military training is developedto help troops maintain theirsafety during missions, and inthis accident the HEAT trainingsaved the lives of Georgian sol-diers, Lucero said.

Lomtadze added, “If everyonefollows the rules set during thetraining they will avoid seriousinjury during rollover accidents.”


Georgians credit training for lack of fatalitiesHEAT saves lives

Spc. Janine CooglerCFLCC PAO/11th PAD

Spc. Janine CooglerA Georgian soldier exits the HEAT trainer at Camp Arifjan March27.

Pfc. Joshua RameyFifty-seven servicemembers cite the oath of allegiance during anaturalization ceremony Thursday at Camp Arifjan’s Zone 1 chapel.

Servicemembers take oath to be naturalizedSpc. Michael R. NoggleCFLCC PAO/11th PAD

Growing up on the ball fields of SanAntonio, Sgt. Gregory Garza was atypical young baseball player with a

dream to be a big-league star.Having played baseball until college,

Garza was well on his way of pursuing thedreams he had as a youngster until an acci-dent in college forced him to the sidelines forgood.

At the age of 4, Garza’s first encounterwith baseball was going to batting cages withhis father.

“I remember a crowd would gather aroundmy cage,” he said. “I was in the 70-miles-per-hour cage at 4 years old hitting balls. Inot only was making contact, but I was hit-ting the ball with velocity behind it.”

From there the sky was the limit for theyoung ballplayer. He began playing in hisfirst organized competitive league as histeam’s second baseman during his elementary-school era.

Garza’s game was based on one of the all-time best, former Chicago Cubs second base-man Ryne Sandberg.

“I always thought the guy was smooth,”Garza said. “I tried to emulate him when Iplayed.”

While Garza said he idolized Sandberg, itwas his parents who pushed him to becomethe player he was all through high school andinto college. His father would spendevenings with him in the backyard practicinghis pitching and fielding, while his motherwas the proverbial “soccer mom.”

“My parents always pushed me and neverlet me quit,” he said. “They were my inspira-tion and were involved in all my athletics.”

In high school, Garza’s athleticismexpanded to other sports, however, it wasbaseball at which he stood out. As a sopho-more he played on the varsity team throughhis senior year.

“I was fortunate to play football and bas-ketball, but baseball was the one sport Iexcelled in,” he said.

Upon graduating from his local SanAntonio high school, Garza decided to playlocally for Texas Lutheran, a smaller collegewith just as much talent.

Lacking commitment, he grew discontentand lost interest, which led to pursuing otherendeavors. Garza occasionally played in

Mexican League Baseball, which broughtresurgence to his career once again.

With the knack to play once more, Garzaintended to transfer to another university as afull-time pitcher. But in the summer of 1995,he was struck by an automobile - ending anyhope of a comeback.

“It left me messed up pretty bad,” as herecalled that day. “I had a broken collarbone, two broken ribs in the front and backand a collapsed lung. I was strapped downfor a bit.”

After a long rehabilitation period, Garzasaid he knew his playing days were overalong with his dreams.

“I was trying to make a comeback, but thecar accident left me messed up,” he said.“As a pitcher it affected my mechanics and Ididn’t have the work ethics in baseball that Ishould have had. I had to let go.”

Upon finishing his degree, Garza gave theplaying field one last shot. Playing in intra-mural leagues and a team his father’s compa-ny played for, Garza found a passion forslow-pitch softball.

“I guess I’ve become obsessed with soft-ball,” he said. “As I have gotten older andheavier, my response time and reflexes havegotten slower. I guess that’s why softball ismore my speed.”

When he enlisted in the Army in 2000,Garza said he thought his softball-playingdays would be put on hold and he wouldfocus on training and education. Little did heknow, there would be chances for him to con-tinue playing.

“I’ve been honored to play with some ofthe best softball players the Army has,” Garzasaid. “Luckily, there have been ample oppor-

tunities for me to play,”The torch has now been passed to Garza

as manager/player of the 1st Medical Brigadefrom Fort Hood, Texas. A unit with a win-ning legacy, Garza said he hopes to have asmuch success as those prior.

With his knowledge of the game, Garzahas willingly shared advice with the youngerplayers on his team.

“After playing with him, I have gotten alot better,” said Spc. Brad Hapner, teammate.

He added, “He won’t get on us if we messup, he’ll tell us what we need to do and we’llfix it.”

Hapner said he feels Garza’s commitmentto the game is deeper than anyone else’s.During the off-season he spends three to fourdays a week practicing hitting and throwing,and six to seven days a week during the sea-son.

“Not only does he get his job done in theoffice, but he’ll lose sleep to work and play,”Hapner said.

“He takes it serious… He’ll go out to thefield at night with 40 balls and practice hit-ting, then picks them all up and does itagain,” he said.

Garza said he believes his playing dayswill continue for another 15 years but hiscoaching will be everlasting.

“I feel I have a lot of knowledge to spreadto other players,” he said.

He added, “My children will be playingsoon and I want to be there when they startplaying.”

Garza and the 1st Med. Brigade will becompeting in this year’s Area Support Group-Kuwait softball season, continuing to play thegame he loves.

With tragedy comes loss of dream, but ...

Soldier continues playing game he lovesSpc. Michael R. NoggleCFLCC PAO/11th PAD


Spc. Michael R. NoggleSgt. Gregory Garza talks to his team about what strategy they need to have going into thespring softball season.


The history of the marathondates back to Pheidippides, awounded Greek Soldier who,according to legend, ran fromthe city-state of Marathon toAthens to announce that thePersians had been defeated inthe Battle of Marathon.

He died shortly afterannouncing the news. Theidea of organizing the racecame in 1896 as part of thefirst modern Olympics Gamesin Athens, Greece. The actualdistance of a marathon wasofficially set in 1921 by theInternational Olympic GamesCommittee at 26.2 miles, thedistance Pheidippides ranbetween Marathon and Athens.

Soldiers from militarycamps around Kuwait gatheredat Camp Buehring to partici-pate in the legendary 26.2-mile marathon at 4 a.m. March19.

The run began at the BaseSupport Battalion commandcell with a safety briefing fromViolet Kelly, Morale, Welfareand Recreation staff member.

She made sure everyoneknew the route, where to findthe water points and wheremedical services were avail-able. The route circled thecamp four times and endednear the main MWR stage.

Lt. Col. Steve Schmid,Marine Forces CentralCommand sustainment liaisonofficer, won the race complet-ing the run in only 2 hours and43 minutes. “I’ve been run-ning about 70 miles per week,but it was still a difficult run,”he said. “We had perfectweather, no winds – couldn’task for a better day.”

There were 115 people whobegan the race and 80 peoplecompleted the run. ChiefWarrant Officer 2 RichardWills, Company B, 47th

Forward Support Battalion,finished in 3rd place and 1stplace in the 30-39 age groupwith a time of 3 hours and 9minutes.

“I run a lot, but this runwas still really tough,” Willssaid.

Spc. Rogelio Renteria,Company C, 40th EngineerBattalion, finished the run in 3hours and 25 minutes, 5thplace overall - 2nd in the 30-39 age group.

“This is the first time I’verun a marathon,” Renteriasaid. “My mind feels great, butmy body is in agonizing pain,I only run once a week.”

Around the 10-mile mark,the runners started to havelooks of pure, unrestrained tor-ture in their faces. The die-hard runners in the group soonrealized that the only way outwas to keep running, so theypushed through to completethe marathon.

Just as Pheidippides ofancient Greece, these warriorsrecognize the inseparablenature of stamina, physical fit-ness and overall combat readi-ness.

The run was considered asuccess with no injuries.

Camp Buehring hosts marathon Pfc. Joshua Ramey2nd BCT, 1st AD PAO

Photos by Pfc. Jashua RameySpc. Rogelio Renteria, Company C, 40th Engineer Battalion, finishes5th place in the marathon with a time of 3 hours and 25 minutes.

Violet Kelly, MWR, gives troops a safety briefing prior to the Camp Buehring marathon March 19.


For one Marine, running farand fast is a daily routine.

At 41 years of age, Lt. Col.Steven Schmid, Marine ForcesCentral Command sustainmentliaison officer, is in excellentphysical condition and has noplans of slowing down in thenear future.

Since arriving in Kuwait Jan.8, Schmid has won all four roadraces he has entered.

In his latest victory, Schmidwon the Camp Buehringmarathon in 2hours and 43minutes, which isa 6-minute, 13-second-per-milepace.

How does oneget to be in the shape Schmid isin at his age?

For one, Schmid’s family isgifted in long-distance running,but the underlying reason is thathe enjoys running 70 to 80 milesa week.

“Running is a way of life,”Schmid said. “I believe in run-ning everyday because I love torun everyday.”

A runner since the age of 14,Schmid has strived in 5-k racesto marathons throughout his run-ning career.

Schmid also ran cross countryin college prior to joining theMarines.

Selected to be a runner on“Team Marine,” which is com-prised of the Marines’ top dis-tance runners, Schmid ran in fourMarine Corps marathons. One ofhis best finishes was at the AllArmed Forces Marathon in 1998where he placed second overall.

Schmid has been an inspira-

tion to many servicemembers hehas talked to about running andeven helped one runner reach hergoal of finishing the Buehringmarathon.

After viewing a flyer twoweeks prior to the marathon,Maj. Oni Regil, Coalition ForcesLand Component CommandLogistics executive officer,decided she wanted to run it.

With minimal training andrunning knowledge, Regil lookedto Schmid for advice on how totrain for and run the marathon.

Since the marathon date wasso close, Regil said Schmid told

her to focus on fin-ishing the race andnot on time. Shesaid he also gaveher stretching,hydration and pac-ing advice.

“He was supportive, saying,‘If you want to finish themarathon then you will,’” Regilsaid.

Now that she has onemarathon under her belt, Regilsaid she has already signed upfor another marathon in thefuture. And this time she saidshe’s going to run to compete.

Schmid said anyone can run amarathon and Regil’s experienceis a good example of that.

“I enjoy talking to peopleabout running,” Schmid said. “Itell them to just be dedicated, setgoals and stick to them.”

With an already accomplishedcareer, Schmid said he has onemore goal to meet: get below 18minutes in a 5k while pushing histwo daughters in a doublestroller.

Schmid’s next competitionwill be at the Camp ArifjanSpring Fling 5k at 6 a.m.Thursday.

Marine runner: Camp Arifjan’s Schmid is astep ahead of competitionin local running eventsSpc. Robert AdamsAssistant Editor

Courtesy photoLt. Col. Steven Schmid, MARCENT sustainment liaison officer,runs runs along the Camp Buehring marathon course uncontest-ed March 19. Schmid won the event in 2 hours and 43 minutes.Schmid, 41, is no stranger to marathons, who was the top runneron “Team Marine” not too long ago.

“Running is a way of life... I believe in runningevery day because I loveto run every day.”

Lt. Col. Steven Schmid

Your hands are shaky from the massamount of soda you have consumed and yourheart is pounding as fast as a six-cylinderengine as you anticipate the birth of yourchild.

You are able to watch this momentousevent thousands of miles away on a computerscreen in a tent in the middle of the desert.

With the help of the Space and NavalWarfare Systems Center, a naval engineeringand acquisition command, and Morale,Welfare and Recreation, have made it possi-ble for servicemembers to witness the birth oftheir children through webcams and commu-nicate with their loved ones with the use ofthe internet or telephones setup throughoutIraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

The growing need for communicationbetween family members and servicemem-bers has made it possible for the Army LifeSupport Area to establish its own MWRNetwork.

“My goal was just to have somethingavailable (at no cost) to the troops,” said AirForce Capt. Tamara Duke, Detachment 1,386th Expeditionary Mission Support Groupservices branch chief.

The LSA MWRNet offers free high-speedinternet services for servicemembers enteringand exiting Iraq and Kuwait 24/7.

Military personnel are allowed to browsethe web, check their e-mail and chat onlineusing 20 computers. The entire café includingsmall desktops and voice over Internetphones, was purchased by the U.S. Navy.They meet a certain criteria based on stability,dependability, size, ease of operation anddurability. The expected life span is slightlymore than two years in this environment;according to Stan P. Rhorer, Multi-NationalCorps-Iraq SPAWAR program manager.Troops also have access to three web cams.

“This is the first time in the history of war-fare that the common Soldier, on the frontline, has the capability of real-time access tocommunicate with their loved ones backhome, via either the Internet or telephonical-ly,” Rhorer said.

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines canmake low-cost telephone calls around theglobe using eight VOIP phones. VOIP phonesuse a broadband Internet connection insteadof a regular phone line. The result is deployedservicemembers can make calls home for 4cents per minute.

“I look at other camps,” Duke said. “I seewhat they have and I want to have prettymuch everything they have down here.”

The MWRNet is one of severalnew improvements at the LSA.

The LSA continues to grow andprovide more recreational activi-ties and services for deployed ser-vicemembers. Over the past fivemonths, the LSA has erected aUnited Service Organizations tent,the MWR recreation center, twofitness tents and more.

The MWR recreation center isnot only equipped with the

MWRNet but has other items to pass thetime. Many of the items were acquired withthe help of other military installations inKuwait, friends and family.

The center has a growing collection ofDVDs. With more than 2,500 DVDs, familyand friends continue to donate.Servicemembers can sit down and watch amovie on one of several individual televisionsets equipped with a DVD and VHS players.As well as enjoy a game of pool, pingpong,air hockey or foosball.

Deployed servicemembers can play thenewest video game systems on the market.The recreation center has a wide array ofvideo games.

“I can kick off my shoes and relax as Imake calls back home in the comfort of theUSO tent,” said Petty Officer 2nd ClassDarrel Darling, U.S. Navy customs.

Military personnel can take their shoes offat door as they enter the 60s-themed USOtent. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marinescan put their feet up and watch a movie on abig-screen TV.

Computers are available for Internetaccess. Servicemembers can lounge on one ofthe several couches spread throughout thetent as they make a phone call back home.

“This camp has come a long way,” Darlingsaid. “Each improvement raises the moralefor everybody.”

The LSA recently began receiving MWRfunding to finance future projects. Futureprojects are to include a miniature golfcourse, basketball court and extending thePost/Base Exchange.

The LSA continues to place the service-members morale first, according to Duke.

“Morale is a weapon in itself,” Rhorersaid. “All the technology in the world is notgong to win a … war without maintaininghigh morale and support from home front.”


Spc. Marcos Alices KinchCFLCC PAO

The story of women inAmerica is one of strong, coura-geous and persevering women,whose challenges to inequitiesand other injustices helped formour nation.

As we continue to marchstrong in our world, let’s remem-ber our past to shape our future.From pre-colonial time to pres-ent, women have made signifi-cant contributions to America.Today’s generation owes theremembrance and honor for allwomen of courage and vision.The theme for Women’s HistoryMonth 2006 was Women:“Builders of Communities andDreams.” There’s a great honorin celebrating women who areinstrumental in building commu-nities and inspiring others todream because they have certain-ly paved the way for others tofollow and thus hope forAmerica’s future.

Many women, past and pres-ent and hopefully years to come,have provided major contribu-tions to our communities as wellas their visions for a brighterfuture. These women with

exceptionalachievements andaccomplishments tothe world havebrought inspirationto many. Theyhave made durablecontributions andbrought socialchange to our coun-try.

Women such asHarriet Tubman,the first blackwoman to be honored on a U.S.stamp and guiding more than 300slaves to their freedom; PatsyMink, the first Asian-Americanwoman elected to congress;Pocahontas, a Native-Americanwoman who worked to keeppeace between their societies andthe Europeans and saved Capt.John Smith during his capture;Clara Barton, the founder of theRed Cross and Condoleeza Rice,the first woman selected asnational security advisor and cur-rent secretary of state are just afew women who significantlycontributed to our society.

These women, who wereinstrumental in building some ofour communities and inspiredvisions for our future, are reflec-tions of memorable moments in

our country’s his-tory. Their storiescelebrate theevents and person-alities that shapedAmerica. Theydepict ourfounders, leaders,scientists, inven-tors and artists aswell as our dis-coveries andinventions. Wecan clearly see

that the trends, visions andcourageous stories of thesewomen have transformed theworld we live in. Hopefully, thiswill continue to encourage otherwomen to explore, take risks,succeed and transform.

Women have challenged thesocial traditions that limited theirpotential. They have traveled along journey and suffered,endured and triumphed to suc-cess. Many women in our coun-try have assumed roles that wereonce the exclusive domain ofmen. Some topics such as edu-cation, health care, family andenvironment that were oncecalled women’s issues affecteveryone now. Women haveamassed expertise on domesticissues and influence business and

politics with new styles of lead-ership. Women are becomingsocial activists and major leadersin other countries as well; just toname a few are: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia’s first womanpresident and Michelle Bachelet,Chile’s first woman president.

Exploring the history andpositions of women in Americaand around the world, helps usunderstand the human connec-tions we share across genera-tions.

Our society would surelybecome a pluralistic one, if ourdifferences are freely expressedand celebrated.

We must join in on partner-ships and friendships for thegood of all humanity.Celebrating women who arebuilders of communities anddreams further contributes to thisprocess.

Throughout the year let uscontinue to learn about womenwho are builders of our commu-nities and dreams to give us rea-sons for hope in the future.

Take the opportunity for therest of this year and explore thenumerous achievements and sig-nificant contributions womenhave made to America and theworld.


Women: Builder of communities, dreamsCommand Sgt. Maj. Kevin B. Stuart1st Medical Brigade

Commentary

Graphic by Sgt. Robert ScottA graphic representing many of the important women to U.S. history. Many women have provided major contributions to America’s com-munities.


The 377th Theater Support Command andthe 321st Theater Material ManagementCenter have joined forces and developed anew software tool that is not only savingtime, improving property accountability andincreasing equipment readiness - but alsocatching the attention of logisticians andmaintenance professionals throughout theArmy.

Required Data Validation is a softwareprogram that reconciles Property Book UnitSupply reports with Unit-Level LogisticsSystem reports - a necessary process thatuntil now was done by hand. PBUS trackson-hand equipment in the supply arena whileULLS-G tracks on-hand equipment, mainte-nance status and usage rates.

“The two systems need to communicate tocreate an accurate picture,” said Sgt. Maj.William Shimer, 377th TSC supply andmaintenance noncommissioned officer incharge, who has more than 30 years of expe-rience in both the civilian and military sector.

Shimer is also part of the team training377th TSCSoldiers onReDVAL in theIraqi theater ofoperation.

“Our primary focus was to provide thewar fighters a tool to save time, while accu-rately accounting for property to improvereadiness,” said Chief Warrant Officer A.R.Ballard, 321st TMMC, who is one of the pro-grams original developers. “ReDVAL doesjust that.”

The process is quite simple. Users loadPBUS and ULLS-G/A reports into ReDVALwhich does a software comparison, creatingthree reports: a match report, a PBUS mis-match report and a ULLS-G/A mismatchreport.

These reports give supply and mainte-nance Soldiers the information needed to cor-rect errors - a process that with ReDVALtakes minutes instead of hours.

The outcome is producing accurate reportsthat commanders use to track and reportunit’s equipment readiness and the Army’sLogistics Support Activity, or LOGSA, per-sonnel use to analyze maintenance trends andtrack equipment usage as well as allocatemaintenance dollars.

Commanders submit monthly and quarter-ly reports on their equipment status, Shimer

said. It is these reports that help senior lead-ers evaluate a units’ equipment readiness,ultimately determining if the unit is preparedto conduct its mission in peace time or inwar.

The reports also supply LOGSA withinformation to make decisions about futurefunding, equipment fielding and much more.

While ReDVALmakes managinglogistics andmaintenance athome station easi-

er, commanders in theater find its use indis-pensable when they also become accountablefor theater provided and stay behind equip-ment.

ReDVAL’s creation began in California’s63rd Regional Readiness Command in 2003with Col. Mark MacCarley, then the directorof logistics.

“I saw a significant unmet need for paritybetween two different systems,” MacCarleysaid, who is currently serving as the 377thTSC chief of staff.

He envisioned a computer program thatwould allow PBUS and ULLS-G to commu-nicate and exchange information and then hemobilized an information systems expert todevelop such a database. The final product,ReDVAL was created and employed through-out the 63rd RRC. But then MacCarley andBallard deployed to Kuwait and found theyweren’t the only ones struggling with thesupply and maintenance systems’ inabilitiesto communicate.

“It was time to employ ReDVAL,” he said. They worked with the 321st TMMC to

update the program for use in theater and cre-

ate the 321st TMMC Fleet ManagementReDVAL Tiger Team with the following sub-ject matter experts that included Ballard, Lt.Col. Anthony Scioli and Staff Sgt. JefferyHinsman, 321st; Chief Warrant OfficerRobert Devore, 143rd TransportationCommand; Master Sgt. April Roman-Lomeli,Staff Sgt. David Knight and Sgt. RenatoBasco, 115th Area Support Group; andMacCarely and Shimer, 377th.

Units in theater are still conducting manu-al reconciliations between the two systems,MacCarley said.

Leaving too much room for error especial-ly on the battlefield, he added.

Ballard, who runs an equipment concen-tration site in the 63rd RRC now takes theReDVAL Tiger Team to visit 377th TSCunits, demonstrating the software and trainingusers - which also gives the team a testgroup.

Follow-up visits have shown that unitsusing ReDVAL have had a 50 percentimprovement in property accountability asshown in decreased mismatch reports, hesaid.

But users aren’t the only ones impressed.The Army’s logistics automation supportproviders, Logistics Information Systems,have agreed to reproduce and distribute thesoftware throughout the Army once the testphase is complete.

And the LOGSA personnel says ReDVALis light years ahead of anything their softwareexperts have developed.

The ReDVAL Tiger Team is currently test-ing ReDVAL by fielding it to deployed unitsin Iraq and Afghanistan and eventually hopesto field it throughout the Army, Ballard said.

Maj. Jackie Guthrie377th TSC PAO

“Our primary focus was to provide the warfighters a tool to save time, while accuratelyaccounting for property to improve readiness.”

ReDVAL increases accuracy, accountability

Chief Warrant Officer A.R. Ballard

Staff Sgt. Terri RugglesThe ReDVAL Tiger Team works together to update the program for use in theater.


For information call 442-2005

WednesdayPull-up competition sign-up, through April21, Zones 1 and 6 Fitness CentersThursdaySpring Fling 5k, 6 a.m., Zone 1 FitnessCenterZone 6 first anniversary party, 7 p.m., Zone 6Community CenterBallroom dance class, 8 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterFridayCharlie Daniels Band, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6stageSaturdayNight of the Stars talent show, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterSundayYard Beautification/Egg Hunt/Egg decorationcontest, 2 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterMother’s Day e-cards, TBD, Zone 6Community CenterMondayKaraoke Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterTuesdaySinging in the Shower Karaoke, 7 p.m., Zone6 stageBallroom dance class, 8 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterWednesdayBingo, 7 p.m., Zone 6 Community CenterFor more information call 430-1205/1302

WednesdayWeekly fun run, 5 p.m., Zone 2 Green BeansMadden tournament, 7 p.m., PalmsSoftball league, through April 30ThursdayPingpong tournament, 7 p.m., PalmsFridayKaraoke Night, 7 p.m., MWR stageStepper competition, 5 p.m., gymSaturdayScavenger Hunt, 4 p.m., MWR stageSundayKite-Flying Day, 10 a.m., PalmsBingo, 7:30 p.m., events tentBunny fun run, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Green Beans

RC Monster truck races, 6 p.m., UdairiSpeedwayMondaySpades tournament, 7 p.m., OasisTuesdayCoffee House, 8 p.m., OasisWednesdayWeekly fun run, 5 p.m., Zone 2 Green BeansTexas Hold ’em tournament, 7 p.m., OasisFor more information call828-1340

WednesdayStep Class, 6 p.m., Aerobics RoomFoosball tournament, 7 p.m., RecreationCenterHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomThursdaySoftball league registration and coachesmeeting, 8 p.m., Fitness CenterLatin Dance Night, 7 p.m., Aerobics RoomHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomFridaySpin Class, 6 p.m., Aerobics RoomBingo Night, 7 p.m., MWR stageHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomSaturdaySports challege, 11 a.m., soccer fieldTae Kwon Do, 6 p.m., Aerobics RoomScrabble tournament, 7 p.m., RecreationCenterHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomSundaySpring Egg/Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m.,Recreation CenterHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomMondaySpin Class, 6 p.m., Aerobics RoomHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomTuesdayPaul Revere’s Midnight 5k, 6 a.m., West ECPLatin Dance Night, 7 p.m., Aerobics RoomHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomWednesdayStep Class, 6 p.m., Aerobics RoomHip-Hop Night, 9 p.m., Aerobics RoomFor more information call839-1063




WednesdaySpa Day, 9 a.m., MWR dayroomBazaar, 9 a.m., MWR courtsFinal pingpong championship, 3:30 p.m.,MWR dayroomThursdayLast Classic Rock and Country Night, 7 p.m.,MFTFridayThe Last Big Tesxas Hold ’em tournament, 6p.m., MRW dayroomSaturdayThe Last Hip-Hop and R&B Night, 8:30p.m., MFTBase closure run, 5.3 miles, 7 a.m., gymparking lotMondayKuwait City Tour, 8 a.m., Al Kout MallFor more information call823-1033

WednesdayBackgammon, 7 p.m., Community CenterThursdaySpades, 7 p.m., Community CenterFridayDominoes, 7 p.m., Community CenterSalsa Night, 8 p.m., Dusty RoomSaturdayVolleyball tournament, 6 vs. 6, 6 p.m.,Volleyball courtSundayEaster 5k, 10 a.m., Community CenterEaster Spring Fling Hunt, 10 a.m.,Community CenterA Night at the Movies, 2 p.m., theaterMondayPingpong tournament, 7 p.m., CommunityCenterTuesdayUnit Feud, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomWednesdayPoker Night, 7 p.m., Community CenterCountry Night, 8 p.m., Dusty RoomFor more information call832-1045

Virginia

Buehring

Navistar

Victory

Spearhead/SPOD

Kuwait Naval Base

Ali Al Salem

Community happenings for April 12 through April 19

LSA

Arifjan

Tearingup thetrackFor the ASG-Ku Track Meetstory see the April 19 edition ofthe Desert Voice.

april 12, 2006 serving the u.s. and coalition forces in...

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