centurion scroll march newsletter (vol. 1, issue 7)

11
1 can do just about anything anywhere.” When you have so many “moving parts” traveling in different directions at different times, the reliance on everyone in the chain of command doing his or her part is critical and company leaders have to fight the urge to keep too tight of a grip grip at the company CP. “From the formation of Echo Company my goal as first sergeant has been to empower the junior leaders of our company,” said Easy 1 st Sgt. Daniel Blair. “It was also one of our greatest challenges. Through the mentorship program the junior leaders of Echo Company have stepped up to the challenges and kept our company operating as a professional and above-standard unit.” If you look for “Echo Company, 1 st of the 167 th Infantry” back in Alabama, you won’t find it. That’s because the unit along with Foxtrot Company were created so the battalion could be best structured for the Afghanistan mission. The unit was created primarily out of Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company in Talladega and the Forward Support Company in Oxford with a few other Soldiers from other units rounding out the formation. It’s a hodgepodge that quickly gelled. The unit excelled during its mobilization training at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center and has had an impressive SEE EASY PAGE TWO If only it was that easy for Easy! MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan Don’t let their name fool you. From their creation through a complex and robust deployment, nothing has been effortless for Task Force Centurion Prime’s Easy (Echo Company). They just make it look easy. Easy is split into two entities, with its headquarters, a movement platoon and Guardian Angels operating out of Camp Mike Spann and another platoon in FOB Kunduz conducting similar operations. Together, they provide the security force for NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan in Regional Support Command- North. The Soldiers there have to cover a lot of ground and maintain a steady operation tempo. “The secret to our success is timeless and simple: We have great corporals, sergeants, and lieutenants,” said Capt. Sherrad Hayes, Easy commander. “Our leaders are dedicated to the mission and especially to the outstanding Soldiers they serve. When you match good junior leaders with some truly exceptional Soldiers, a company can Task Force Centurion Prime’s Easy (Echo Co.) is commanded by Capt. Sherrad Hayes (center), 1 st Sgt. Daniel Blair, and 1 st Lt. Morrecus Foster, executive officer. They are standing in front of a memorial to Mike Spann.

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March newsletter for Task Force Centurion Prime

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Page 1: Centurion Scroll March newsletter (Vol. 1, Issue 7)

1

can do just about anything

anywhere.”

When you have so many

“moving parts” traveling in

different directions at different

times, the reliance on everyone

in the chain of command doing

his or her part is critical and

company leaders have to fight

the urge to keep too tight of a

grip

grip at the company CP.

“From the formation of Echo

Company my goal as first sergeant

has been to empower the junior

leaders of our company,” said Easy

1st Sgt. Daniel Blair. “It was also

one of our greatest challenges.

Through the mentorship program

the junior leaders of Echo

Company have stepped up to the

challenges and kept our company

operating as a professional and

above-standard unit.”

If you look for “Echo Company,

1st of the 167

th Infantry” back in

Alabama, you won’t find it. That’s

because the unit along with Foxtrot

Company were created so the

battalion could be best structured

for the Afghanistan mission.

The unit was created primarily

out of Soldiers from Headquarters

and Headquarters Company in

Talladega and the Forward Support

Company in Oxford – with a few

other Soldiers from other units

rounding out the formation.

It’s a hodgepodge that quickly

gelled. The unit excelled during its

mobilization training at the Camp

Shelby Joint Forces Training

Center and has had an impressive

SEE EASY PAGE TWO

If only it was that easy for Easy! MAZAR-E-SHARIF,

Afghanistan – Don’t let their

name fool you. From their

creation through a complex and

robust deployment, nothing has

been effortless for Task Force

Centurion Prime’s Easy (Echo

Company).

They just make it look easy.

Easy is split into two entities,

with its headquarters, a

movement platoon and Guardian

Angels operating out of Camp

Mike Spann and another platoon

in FOB Kunduz conducting

similar operations.

Together, they provide the

security force for NATO

Training Mission-Afghanistan in

Regional Support Command-

North. The Soldiers there have to

cover a lot of ground and

maintain a steady operation

tempo.

“The secret to our success is

timeless and simple: We have

great corporals, sergeants, and

lieutenants,” said Capt. Sherrad

Hayes, Easy commander. “Our

leaders are dedicated to the

mission and especially to the

outstanding Soldiers they serve.

When you match good junior

leaders with some truly

exceptional Soldiers, a company

can

Task Force Centurion Prime’s Easy

(Echo Co.) is commanded by Capt.

Sherrad Hayes (center), 1st Sgt.

Daniel Blair, and 1st Lt. Morrecus

Foster, executive officer. They are

standing in front of a memorial to

Mike Spann.

Page 2: Centurion Scroll March newsletter (Vol. 1, Issue 7)

2

run in Afghanistan. Its superb work

with the Special Inspector General

for Afghanistan Reconstruction

garnered the enter battalion accolades

from SIGAR and made the “Fourth

Alabama” the preferred organization

for SIGAR missions throughout

Afghanistan.

“Headquarters Platoon has

overcome many obstacles since we

first arrived at Camp Shelby, Miss.,

and even more when we got on the

ground at Camp Mike Spann,

Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Jamie

Johnson, headquarters platoon

sergeant. “This has been the most

challenging time of my life. And I

think I can speak for everyone in

Headquarters Platoon when I say it

has been hard on all of us.”

For the platoon at Kunduz, there was

a sense of being removed from the

rest of Easy.

“We have completed our mission due

to the fact our soldiers have grown

and learned a lot,” said Staff Sgt.

Jonathan Thompson, platoon sergeant

at Kunduz.

EASY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

The platoons of Task Force Centurion Prime’s Easy (Echo Co.) are

based at Camp Mike Spann (above) and FOB Kunduz (below).

Sgt. Jackson said the mission load has required everyone to meet

the challenges head-on.

“We as a platoon have been challenged beyond our expectations

during this deployment,” he said.

As Easy’s successes mount, so does the pride.

“The dedication of these men and women to complete the

mission no matter what, has impressed me on a level that I cannot

put into words,” Sgt. Jackson said.

“I am proud to be the first sergeant of Echo Company, 1st of the

167th

Infantry, the ‘4th Alabama,’ and would like to say ‘thanks’ to

all the junior leaders of this company for a job well done,” 1st Sgt.

Blair said.

Like I said, they just make it look easy.

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Soldiers, families and friends of Task Force Centurion Prime,

It feels like springtime in Kabul as I write this month! I have always said that I love living in

Alabama for many reasons, one of which is the warm weather, so sunny days here with high

temperatures over 60 degrees is a welcome surprise. An even brighter aspect to this month is all of the

preparations underway to receive our replacement unit and prepare for our return to the Heart of Dixie.

Many of our key leaders will meet later this month for a planning conference to ensure we are

prepared for the incoming battalion and the transferring of this mission. Also on the agenda will be a

detailed review of our re-deployment process and what to expect over the next few months. I would like

to share some important events in the coming months with all of you now, but keep in mind that all dates

are approximate. More importantly, remember that the needs of the Army could easily change these

plans completely!

Currently, it looks like we will arrive in Gulfport between May 10th and the 12

th. That should make

for a terrific Mother’s Day for the entire Fourth Alabama family! Of course, we will return in several

flights over a two or three day period much like our departure. We have been told by Camp Shelby that

our out processing there will take 12 days due to the large size of our battalion and the numerous

requirements. MAJ Hare and MAJ Tomberlin are already working creatively to minimize the time we

must spend there. Also rest assured that once we leave Afghanistan, my primary mission is to get our

Soldiers back to their families as quickly as possible while accomplishing all the necessary actions. One

big question that remains is what restrictions the command at Camp Shelby will place on our family

contact while we are there and my staff is working on that answer now. Many more details will follow

about that and we will put it out through the FRG channels.

If you already worked the math, you realize that our Companies should be arriving at their Armories

around the 22nd

through the 24th of May. All Soldiers must leave Camp Shelby on a bus and report to

their Armory where you can expect to have your Welcome Home Ceremony. Unfortunately, there will

be some requirements to account for and secure equipment after the ceremony. We may need the

Soldiers to return to the Armory the following day to complete these tasks, but I am making every effort

to avoid this extra day! The current plan is for HHC, E, and F Companies to have a combined Welcome

Home Ceremony at the Talladega Speedway due to the renovation of our Talladega Armory and there

will be more information when this plan is confirmed.

Remember, the Army can change all of these plans as the mission requires!

And finally, I ask that those of you at home help our leaders keep the Soldiers focused on their

mission! Please continue to take care of the issues at home while freeing your Soldier to maintain their

attention on the threats and the risks they face here.

May God continue to bless and protect the Fourth Alabama; We Shall Drive Forward!

J. R. Bass

Lt. Col. J.R. Bass

Commander

Task Force

Centurion prime

Page 10: Centurion Scroll March newsletter (Vol. 1, Issue 7)

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Csm John black

Command

sergeant major

Task Force

Centurion prime

Well here we are looking at the middle of March and the arrival of spring. What else are we looking

forward to? Setting our clocks forward, the first yard mowing, Easter or Spring Break? All of these

events are getting closer and mostly irrelevant here in Afghanistan excluding Easter of course. The

event we’ve been discussing since departure is our arrival back home in a couple of months. Surely

you are ready as I.

A previous article mentioned planning and preparation for redeployment. We are now early in the

execution phase, meaning that we have packed nonessential items away and they are ready for

shipping. This process will continue until everything and everybody has left for home.

I was checking out www.militaryonesource.com recently. There are two pamphlets on the site

entitled “Coming Home,” one for the Soldier and one for the family. They are both sensible, easy to

read papers with tips about homecoming and the reintegration of the family. I would ask that you have

a look at them soon in preparation of our reunion.

The reminders I offer on the subject of “Family Reunions” and redeployment are not aimed at

frightening you. The intent is to assist in the event being less awkward. There is a certainty that Family

Readiness Groups have covered down on this subject and shared their previous experiences with those

who have not walked this path before and as a reminder for those who have. Don’t expect raging

monsters of us and we won’t of you.

Again, we have all grown or changed in some small way since our last time together.

The April newsletter will not contain this type of format or information. This is my last attempt to

remind you that your Soldier has changed and that you have likely changed also. Be prepared for a

slow, deliberate and beautiful reunification. Thank you all for your continued support.

4th

ALABAMA!

CSM John Black

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Cpt Robert jackson

chaplain

Task Force

Centurion prime

Deployment reminds me of Lent and Easter. I can think of no better time for Easter to come than at this

point in the deployment. As a Christian Chaplain I must say that I prefer the term "Resurrection Sunday" but for

simplicity I will use the term Easter. Either way you know what I mean. It is the time of year when Christians

celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though I am not from a

liturgical background I love the season of Lent. This is the time leading up to Easter, the time we are in now. Lent

represents the 40 days that Christ spent in the wilderness before he began his ministry that ends on Easter. This is a

time that reminds of what it is like to wander in the desert – a time of loneliness, of struggle, of thirst. But it is a

time ended in celebration. So even though the desert can be a bad place to be in, it is also a place where one grows

stronger and wiser. It is often in the desert of life that God teaches us our greatest lessons. And also it strengthens

our faith to remember that the time in the desert ends with hope – the hope of the Resurrection. In many ways the

events that will soon be taking place in the "4th Alabama" remind me of the things I love about Lent and Easter.

We are getting close the end of our time in the desert, and our family's time in their own desert. Soon there will be

rejoicing. Many of you reading this would agree that this has not been the most pleasant time in your life. But you

could also agree that in many ways all of us have grown. When your loved ones return you will see they have

changed, but not necessarily for the bad. Soldiers, I hope that you will also see how your family members have

grown and learned things about themselves they never knew possible. And when this season is over do this:

Celebrate! This is how deployment reminds me of Lent and Easter.

Serving Those Who Serve,

Your Chaplain

CH CPT Robert Jackson

Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but has risen..."

PPOOSSTT--DDEEPPLLOOYYMMEENNTT

YYEELLLLOOWW RRIIBBBBOONN

Yellow Ribbon I: July 13-14

Yellow Ribbon II: August 10-11

Birmingham Sheraton Hotel

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DON’T FORGET TO SPRING FORWARD

MARCH 10 (U.S. only) HAPPY EASTER!

HE IS RISEN!