1

gives each platoon a chance to

change things up.

“We find ourselves trying

hard to fight complacency,”

Hurd said. “With this in mind, I

developed a strong mission

rotation allowing a different

platoon each week to rotate

onto the Guardian Angel

mission.”

That doesn’t mean the other

companies are playing in

“Kandyland” when they are not

doing Guardian Angel missions.

“This also allows time for the

platoons to train and refit for

when it is time for them to

rotate back onto SECFOR

missions,”

when it is time for them to rotate

back onto SECFOR missions,”

Hurd said. “The Soldiers have

done a great job taking

advantage of the opportunities to

take online college courses as

well as army distance learning

courses.”

But Dagger, being the largest

entity in support of Regional

Supper Command-South, also

operates its own command post

while providing personnel to the

RSC-S command center.

SEE DAGGER PAGE TWO

Dagger’s stab at rotating works in Kandahar

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan

– They call it “Kandyland”

because the air base in the

southern part of the country has

been built into a small city,

complete with a boardwalk that

offers everything from donuts

to pizza or everything from

electronics to cigarettes. There

is even a TGI Friday’s there.

Soldiers from other parts of

Afghanistan even go to

Kandahar Airfield for a couple

of days of rest and relaxation.

But for the Soldiers of Task

Force Centurion Prime’s

Dagger (Delta Co. out of

Sylacauga), working out of

Kandahar is no picnic.

Between training and

helping secure the nearby

Afghan National Army

Kandahar Regional Medical

Hospital or taking on a host of

Guardian Angel and security

movement missions, Dagger’s

time in Kandahar is more about

work than play.

Capt. Will Hurd, Dagger

commander, said he has

implemented a curfew to help

minimize the distraction of the

boardwalk and other diversions.

He has also put into place a

rotation on the company’s

Guardian Angel missions that

gives

Task Force Centurion Prime’s Dagger (Delta Co.) is commanded by

Capt. Will Hurd (left) and 1st Sgt. Ricardo Melendez.

2

Dagger’s medics have also set

up a small clinic to see Dagger

and other RSC-S Soldiers with

minor injuries and ailments.

Dagger’s work supporting security

at the KRMH has earned high

praise from officials of the most

active hospital of its kind in

Afghanistan.

The reason the hospital is so

active is because Kandahar

remains one of the most active

areas for enemy activity in

Afghanistan. Dagger is adjusting

its operations even as coalition

forces begin a drawdown of forces

in Kandahar and other parts of

Afghanistan.

“One of the biggest challenges

that we have faced is constantly

adjusting to the evolving situation

on the ground with the enemy

adjusting TTPs to combat ours

and the transition of training bases

as we drive forward with reducing

the total force structure in our area

of operations,” Hurd said.

It’s hard to imagine anything in

Kandahar has been reduced when

one looks at how busy

“Kandyland” is on any given day.

Thankfully, Dagger seems able to

tune out the distractions and keep

the mission first.

DAGGER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

The platoons of Task Force Centurion Prime’s

Dagger (Delta Co.) rotate between Guardian

Angel and movement security missions at

Kandahar.

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Soldiers, families and friends of Task Force Centurion Prime,

I must be honest; I procrastinate. My bride, Cyndi, is smiling already in agreement with

my statement. Of course, she is probably also shaking her head wondering what I am about to

say next. Here it is the day after MAJ Tomberlin’s newsletter deadline and I am just writing

this message to you all. Please understand; it is not because I don’t believe that this is an

important document. I simply find it difficult to keep up with all the necessary and important

requirements in addition to the daily pop-up events that catch me completely by surprise.

As I think about my struggle to keep up, it occurs to me that many of our Soldiers in

Afghanistan and absolutely every spouse and teenage son or daughter back home are feeling

the exact same way! Just this past week, I was talking to my son, John Allen, as he finished

the laundry so that he and Cyndi would have clean clothes for the next day. What caught my

attention as we talked was that it was almost 10 p.m. at home on a school night and he still had

a lot to do. Our family is no different than yours and I am sure that you each have examples of

family members stepping in to keep up with the extra burdens created by our absence.

All the extra burdens and requirements will naturally bring a greater level of stress into

our lives. How we choose to manage that stress can have significant impact on our physical

and mental well-being and a direct affect on the sounds our neighbors may hear coming from

our homes. Our ability to recognize that stress is inevitable may be the first step in reducing its

effects on our lives. For me, success means continually refining my coping skills as well as

adopting new ones to control the stress and then setting aside some time to implement them. I

personally use many of the time-proven methods like prayer, reading, exercise, fellowship and

laughter along with some time management techniques and carefully considering priorities.

Let me emphasize, in this area I am definitely the student and not the teacher! You can go to

many sources to get ideas on your own stress-coping skills including our Family Readiness

Support Team and www.militaryonesource.com.

Although we are way over the hump on this deployment, the risks, and the stress, will be

present until the very last day. We will do everything possible to manage both on this side of

the Atlantic and we are counting on everyone at home to do the same. Although those of us

wearing the uniform get the most recognition, I remain firmly convinced that it is the family at

home who bears the greatest burden. We are truly families who serve our Nation together.

May God continue to bless and protect the 4th

Alabama!

Drive Forward,

J. R. Bass

Lt. Col. J.R. Bass

Commander

Task Force

Centurion prime

10

Csm John black

Command

sergeant major

Task Force

Centurion prime

Hello friends and families and welcome to February. Praise God that one of the months that stands

between us and coming home is the shortest of the year. I trust that everyone is doing well and we all look

forward to the reunion with you in a few months.

In January, a few members of our replacement unit stopped by for a short visit known as a Pre-

Deployment Site Survey (PDSS). They are a cool bunch of Islanders from Guam and we were happy to

meet them. I believe that they are motivated and ready to take over the task from us. Of course they have a

short training requirement prior to coming back to relieve us. We really enjoyed meeting them and getting

them acquainted with the mission while touring the different areas of the country. Chaplain Jackson said it

best as they were departing for home, “As much as I look forward to the return of Jesus Christ, I really

look forward to the second coming of Guam.” I was presented with a coffee cup from CSM Hennegan

with the inscription “I love Guam” on it. I will use it daily until they return.

During recent visits throughout the country and one to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, people are still

raving about the job that the “Fourth Alabama” continues to perform. This pleases me to no end. I try to be

modest and humble during these meetings but inside I am bursting with pride. I am certain that the best

Soldiers in the Army are members of the 167th

Infantry battalion. They work very hard to ensure mission

success.

Remember my letter from January when I mentioned stress? I would like for us to continue to prepare

for our homecoming by considering the changes that all of us have experienced. This is to include the

changes that you at home have gone through. There are many adjustments to include emotional ones that

contribute to stress. Whether you have lost family members, had babies, puppies or kittens, there are many

changes that have occurred in each of our lives. Please research www.militaryonesource.com, the

Veterans Administration (VA) or Army Community Service (ACS) websites for helpful information

concerning combat stress, redeployment, and reconnecting with families.

Thanks to all of you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Ours remain with you also and will

continue until we return home in a few months.

4th

ALABAMA!

CSM John Black

11

Cpt Robert jackson

chaplain

Task Force

Centurion prime

This month was Groundhog Day. Over here the running joke is, like the movie starring Bill Murry, every

day is Groundhog Day; meaning that every day is the same as the last. The wonderful reminder from God's

word is that no matter how we feel about each day, His mercies are new and never-ending. This makes life with

our Lord an exciting, never-ending adventure. When I feel like the days are dragging on and each day is like

the last, when I can find myself in danger of becoming lax and careless, all I need do is be reminded that today

is an exciting gift that I do not want to squander. Today is given to me by God's mercy to live to the fullest. The

schedule may look the same as yesterday, but today is a new day, bringing me closer to loved ones. Enjoy each

day of this deployment and cherish each moment as a God-given opportunity to live for Him and look forward

with great anticipation for the day when we get to once again be with those we love.

Serving Those Who Serve,

Your Chaplain

CH CPT Robert Jackson

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never

come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your

faithfulness.” -- Lamentations 3:22-23

HAPPY VALENTINE’S

DAY

PPOOSSTT--DDEEPPLLOOYYMMEENNTT

YYEELLLLOOWW RRIIBBBBOONN

Yellow Ribbon I: July 13-14

Yellow Ribbon II: August 10-11

Birmingham Sheraton Hotel

More Info to Follow

Task Force Centurion Prime is on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TaskForceCenturion

Battalion T-shirts can be purchased for $15 each plus $2

shipping (add $1.50 for 2X or larger). An order form and

mailing information can be found on the battalion’s

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/TaskForceCenturion

If you have any questions, contact Kristie Grund at (256)

347-3093.