c 106 august newsletter 2013
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106 FMSU GermanyTRANSCRIPT
August
Newsletter
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Charlie106th Financial Management
Support Detachment
August News Letter
United States Army Finance Corps
CONTENTS
Page 2 ….. From the Commander Page 3 ….. From the Detachment Sergeant
Page 4 …… Prime Time Leaders Training Page 5 ……. Change of Command
Page 6 ……. Military Education Page 7-8 …….. Soldier’s perspective on
Leadership Page 9 - 11 ……… Hail & Farewell Charlie
Cobras Page 12 …….. Det. Hero of the Month
Page 13 …….. Upcoming Events
August
Newsletter
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From the Commander
Cobras,
“Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in
war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the Nation will be
destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty,
Honor, Country.” Although spoken in 1962, this oft-quoted statement by
General Douglas MacArthur still holds tremendous implications today. As
a Soldier, especially one serving the Nation during a period of prolonged
and continuing conflict, you must completely dedicate yourself to standards
and ideals that are higher than those of the average citizen because you cannot fail to succeed. I
guarantee you will succeed in every way, in any activity or pursuit, on or off duty, if you follow my
and SFC Santos’s expectations: live above the common level of life, choose the harder right rather
than the easier wrong, never compromise, and live the Army values. In regards to living above the
common level of life, just being a Soldier mandates that you do so. Your actions and behaviors will
always be held to a higher degree of accountability than those of a civilian because your mission is
too great. This concept is all encompassing – morals, ethics, thoughts, words, and deeds – you must
act with the intent of being the best. Along the same line, when faced with a decision you must
choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong. Never disregard the standard because it appears
too difficult or seems too inconvenient. Your leaders, your subordinates, and your peers count on you
to always do what is right. By choosing the harder right, you are also expected to never compromise.
Whether it is the standard, your integrity, or what you know to be true, you must not adjust and settle
for less. Finally, inculcate the Army values into your daily life. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless
Service, Integrity, Honor, and Personal Courage should always be considered. By following these
expectations, the Detachment will continue its tradition of success. I commend you for doing an
outstanding job this summer, and I know you will continue to do so this fall.
2LT Nicholas S. Bayer
“Lead from the Front”
August
Newsletter
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From the Detachment Sergeant
Did you know that the Army has a program called Military Tuition
Assistance? This program is aside from the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
and Post 9/11 GI Bill. With the Tuition Assistance program, the Army will
pay 100% of the tuition to the college that you choose to attend. This is one
of the benefits that the Army offers us, and most service members do not
take advantage of this great benefit.
Currently each Soldier gets $4,500.00 a year, the date range being 1
October to 30 September of the Fiscal Year. There are plenty of Colleges
and Universities that have online degrees available to Service Members. Take advantage by enrolling
in a College that assesses your military schooling and training to advance your education. Colleges
that consider your military schooling and training will, in many cases, apply a certain number of
semester hours towards your degree.
There is no reason for us not to take advantage of a free education. Certain schools will even pay for
your textbooks as well. If you are looking for a school that is highly considerate of Soldiers I
recommend looking into Columbia Southern University, which is out of Orange Beach Alabama.
My challenge to you is to get enrolled in a school before 1 September 2013. Furthermore, I am
challenging you to enroll in at least one class before 25 September 2013 to take advantage of the
unused benefits that are provided to us. Not only will you benefit from expanding your knowledge,
but also you will be opening up new doors for your future.
On the military side, furthering your education will not only benefit you but also will set you apart
from your peers for promotion. A college education goes a long way, even once you are done with
your military service. Take the challenge and seek to further expand your knowledge base.
SFC Melvin H. Santos
“Lead from the Front”
August
Newsletter
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PRIME TIME LEADERS TRAINING
SSG Mais led Charlie Det. Soldiers through a realistic simulated convoy exercise.
The convoy exercise demonstrated how well the unit was able to move from
one point to another, how to react to IEDs, pulling proper
security, and how to send tactical reports.
SSG Herter and SGT Maquis led the
detachment through “shoot don’t shoot
scenerios” at the EST 2000.
August
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CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY “Training tomorrow’s Leaders”
After successfully completing his command, CPT Hossain relinquished command to 2LT Bayer. CPT Hossain led the Charlie
Cobras through a successful deployment that required him to maintain command and control over personnel located in three geographically separated locations throughout Afghanistan. CPT
Hossian ensured the Detachment, tasked with running FMST missions to 11 separate austere locations during the
deployment, always completed the mission. No other detachment had such a demanding tasking during the
deployment. CPT Hossain also led the detachment through a smooth transition of taking over Military Pay Operations from
the Italy Finance Office.
August
Newsletter
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MILITARY EDUCATION “Building Tomorrows Leaders”
SSG Mais and SGT (P)
Kimbrough attended SOC40
Unit Safety Officer / NCO
Course. The Unit Safety
Officer / NCO Course
teaches future Safety
Officers & NCOs how to
reduce risk within their
unit. The course was
established by the Combat
Readiness Center to ensure
the safety of Military and
DoD Civilians.
SGT Cheruiyot, SPC Killion,
and PFC Ramos attended
HAZ 11 Hazardous
Materials Drivers Training
Course. HAZ 11 teaches
Soldiers how to transport
hazardous materials such
as Ammunitions and Fuel.
This course is crucial
because it allows the
detachment to sustain its
mission.
August
Newsletter
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What Leadership Means to Us…..
Leadership means that
you are the standard and
you lead by example. A
leader should show his or
her Soldier, as well as
other Soldiers, the correct way to do things. If
they fall short, let them know what they did
wrong and show them different ways they could
have handled the particular situation. A leader
should act like a leader at all times whether at
the workplace, out on post, or in the mall. A
good leader admits when he or she is wrong and
makes the correction. A good leader respects his
or her Soldier as a person and treats him or her
as an adult and not as someone who is lesser.
Leadership, and being a leader, is an everyday
journey, not a destination. Every day is a new
start and a new way to show a subordinate what
right looks like.
Carmen Ramos
PFC, USA
Pay Clerk, Customer Service
A good leader is strong,
courageous, decisive,
and knowledgeable. In
times of pressure a good
leader needs these
qualities because it is hard for people to follow
someone that is weak, indecisive, scared, and
does not have expertise. Also, a good leader is
not only someone who directs and orders his or
her people from the front but also is someone
who is able to lead alongside and behind his or
her soldiers. A good leader is not only an expert
in his or her field but also of his or her Soldiers.
A good leader can extricate his or her Soldiers
of their weaknesses and aid them in becoming
better, so that they also may be able to lead one
day. A good leader displays all of the army
values, is not hypocritical, and does not
discriminate. Under pressure a good leader does
not fold, when it is time to train a good leader
can adjust, and when it comes to his or her
expertise a good leader knows the answer.
Avery Woods
PFC, USA
Pay Clerk, Processing
August
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The world is composed of all different races, genders, ethnic groups and
ages. Leaders come in all different shapes and sizes. I have been
exposed to various leadership styles and my comprehension of good
leadership is measured by the quality of the individuals’ prior examples
of leadership and the individual leader. Good leaders will always be
prepared, communicate effectively with their team, build trustworthy relationships, be honest,
stand for what is right, and never act without knowing the facts. Good leaders know the
company they keep. They also have a positive outlook on every situation regardless of the
circumstances. Good and effective leaders are not afraid to take the lead and do what they
must in order for their team to obtain a high level of excellence.
Camela J. Parker
SPC (P), USA
Terminal Access Security Officer
August
Newsletter
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HAIL & FAREWELL COBRAS
NAME DEROS NEW DUTY STATION POSITION
CPT KHANDOKER HOSSAIN 28 JULY 13 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI MEPS
SGT (P) ALICIA DAVIS 02 AUG 13 HAWAII 125Th FMSU
SPC JOHN THRIFT 11 AUG 13 KOREA 176TH FMSU
SPC HASSAN WILLIAMS 19 AUG 13 FT. HOOD, TX 15TH FMSU
These Charlie Cobras will continue to “Strive for Excellence and Lead From the Front” in all their
future endeavors.
August
Newsletter
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2LT Bayer and SFC Santos present
SGT (P) Alicia Davis with her farewell
plaque for her hard work and dedication to
the detachment. SGT (P) Davis has served in
several positions while assigned to Charlie
Detachment. SGT (P) Davis served as the
Camp Eggers Finance Office MILPAY
NCOIC in Afghanistan and she also served
as an Auditor for the Processing Section in
Garrison.
Charlie Cobras enjoy an elegant meal at a
local Italian restaurant as a farewell dinner
for SGT (P) Davis, SPC Williams, and SPC
Thrift. Charlie Det. also welcomed SPC
Acostaramos and PFC Woods to the Cobra
family.
2LT Bayer presents SPC Williams with
plaque as a token of the detachment
appreciation for his commitment and
fortitude. SPC Williams served as a Cashier
at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan and a
Processing Technician in Garrison.
August
Newsletter
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Welcome to the Cobra Family
PFC AVERY J. WOODS
HOMETOWN: SUMTER, SC
BCT: FORT JACKSON, SC 24 February 2013
AIT: FORT JACKSON, SC 09 May 2013
PREVIOUS DUTY STATION:
AIT, FT. JCKSON, SC
SPC (P) HIRAM ACOSTRAMOS
HOMETOWN: CABO ROJO, PR
BCT: FORT JACKSON, SC 18 January 2011
AIT: FORT JACKSON, SC 01 April 2011
PREVIOUS DUTY STATION:
CAMP HENRY, SOUTH KOREA
August
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Detachment Hero of the Month
SGT ANTHONY ALVAREZ
SGT Alvarez’s strong leadership skills and
commitment to assisting Soldiers is noteworthy.
SGT Alvarez has greatly contributed to the
detachment’s success through his determined
efforts, and his attention to detail allows the
detachment to successfully support military
operations in Italy, Africa, Spain, and Turkey.
SGT Alvarez serves as the detachment MilPay
Review/Debt Management NCO. He is
responsible for ensuring that all Finance
submissions are accurate, as well as monitoring
Debt Management issues. In addition, SGT
Alvarez’s duties include assisting the Vicenza
Finance Director analyze monthly pay inquiries
and monthly entitlements by providing detailed
transaction listings and reports. In one
noteworthy instance, SGT Alvarez briefed over
300 re-deployed soldiers from the 173rd
ABCT
on finance entitlements upon redeployment,
which enabled our Soldiers to experience a
seamless financial reintegration. SGT Alvarez
also volunteers daily at the local USO and every
community events in Vicenza. SGT Alvarez’s
Volunteer Supervisors have time and again
applauded his volunteering spirit and outgoing
personality. SGT Alvarez is a true Leader and
lives out the Army Values on the daily basis and
he is a prime example of selfless leader.
August
Newsletter
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Detachment Events
SGT Kimbrough prepares bratwurst for the detachment to sell to help raise unit funds. Mrs. Bayer (2LT Bayer’s wife) Attempts to
take control of the grill.
SSG Cortez (the money man) counts out change for a supporter. The
detachment sold bratwursts, chips, and soda to help raise money for an
upcoming trip.
Italy Finance Office Local Nationals, GS Civilians and Charlie Cobras came together
to enjoy a delicious potluck. PFC Ramos hands Mrs. Green a dish from the potluck
August
Newsletter
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CHARLIE DETACHMENT, 106TH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT UNIT
VICENZA, ITALY
PROUDLY SERVICES
ITALY – SPAIN – TURKEY - AFRICA
UPCOMING EVENTS AND SCHOOLS
15 August Detachment Fundraiser 1100 – 1400
19 August Detachment Fundraiser 1100 – 1400
19 - 23 August Combatives Level 1 0800 - 1700
24 August Organization Day 0900 - Complete
16 – 20 September HAZ 11 / SOC 40 0830 - 1600
26 September Hail & Farewell 1100 - 1400