June 23, 2009

“Our mission is to provide security for military and civilian teams out here and to assist in professionalizing the Iraqi Border Security Forces,” said 2nd Lt. Cody John, 2nd Plt. leader, C Troop. He said in only a short time, he has seen improvements in the BSF perfor-mance and is optimistic of their future capabilities to maintain border security without assistance.

“If at the end of each day, the Iraqis are a litt le bett er at doing their jobs by themselves, it means we’re doing our job and makes it all worthwhile,” said John.

COB BASRA – The Soldiers of “Cra-zy Troop,” 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are currently working with Iraqi Border Security Forces near Forward Operating Base Minden.

The troop has been providing addi-tional security at a border entry point, monitoring the steady fl ow of people leaving and entering Iraq and working with the civilian and military teams to professionalize the BSF.

“We’re working by, with and through the Iraqi Border Security Forces to get them up to speed,” said Sgt. 1st Class Matt hew Maloy, 2nd Plt. sergeant, C Troop. “I think our mission is one of the best missions the brigade currently has.”

“Our Soldiers are more than up to the task. They are motivated, put in long hours, don’t complain, get the job done and I think they are some of the best Soldiers in the Army,” he said proudly.

The cavalry Soldiers and the Iraqi BSF have been working well together, said Maloy, who comes from St. Johns, Ariz. He said the members of the BSF have been working hard and show their determination to protect the citi-zens of Iraq.

“We work together for the people of Iraq,” said Ali, a member of the BSF, as he smiled and pointed to himself and American Soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Maloy, 2nd Plt. sergeant, C Troop, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., communicates over a radio as he pulls security near FOB Minden June 16. In the background, people walk with their luggage to exit Iraq. Maloy comes from St. Johns, Ariz.

Photos by Sgt. Staff Sgt. Rodney Foliente

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Crazy Troop works with Iraqis to strengthen border security By Staff Sgt. Rodney Foliente2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Bde.

For more of Staff Sgt. Foliente’s stories, visit:www.TheRedBulls.org/Foliente

“I love working with these guys. We’re gett ing to know each other pret-ty well and are building good working relationships,” said Spc. Adam Sugg, cavalry scout, C Troop.

“It makes me feel like we’re doing something really important here. If not for us, Iraqis and Americans, there’d be a greater chance that more threats would get past the border to hurt more people,” said Sugg, who comes from Suff olk, Va.

Within an hour’s drive of St. Johns are Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Petrifi ed Forest National Park, the Painted Desert, and Lyman Lake State Park, as

well as Indian reservations such as the Navajo Nation, Fort Apache Indian Reserva-tion, San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, and Zuni Indian Reservation.

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Soldiers

June 23, 2009 Page 2The Red Bull Report

34th Inf. Div. PAO: Lt. Col. Kevin OlsonOIC, Command Information: Maj. Page BaldwinNCOIC: Staff Sgt. Dave LankfordManaging Editor: Staff Sgt. Derek SmithAssignment Editor: Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw Graphics Designer: Sgt. Eric JungelsPhoto Editor: Spc. Tyler MauldingLayout/Design: Spc. Stephanie CassinosStaff Writers: Sgt. Frank Vaughn,Sgt. Brandon LeFlore, Spc. Darryl Montgomery,Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence

172nd Brigade Combat Team2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division4th BCT, 1st Armored Division 41st Fires Brigade343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment193rd Military Police BattalionSpecial Troops Battalion, 34th Inf. Div.Task Force 28450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)

Media Queries please contact 34th Inf. Div. Public Affairs Offi ce at MND-S_PAO@iraq.centcom.mil

The Red Bull Report is an authorized publication for members of MND-S. Contents of The Red Bull Report are not necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 34th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Red Bull Report is prepared, edited provided and approved by the 34th Infantry Division Public Affairs Offi ce.

FOB DELTA – The Romanian con-tingent here signaled the end of their army’s operations in Wasit province with a ceremony at their headquarters building June 16.

The ceremony gave both the Roma-nians and U.S. Soldiers the opportunity to show appreciation for each other.

“We can say we have done a sig-nifi cant amount of work,” said Col. Ion Manci, Romanian senior national representative, who came to Forward Operating Base Delta for the ceremony. “Our achievement and success would not have been possible without the support of our American partners.”

The sentiment was echoed shortly aft er by Col. Dick Francey, 41st Fires Brigade and FOB Delta commander.

“You can go home and stand proud,” Francey told the formation.

Francey added that due to increased security in Iraq from the combined ef-forts of coalition forces and Iraqis “we’ve given Iraqis a chance” to turn their coun-try around.

As thanks, the Romanians presented Francey with the Honor Emblem of the Romanian Gener-al Staff . They also presented Lt. Col. Brian Pierce, 41st FB,

deputy commander and FOB Delta garrison commander and Maj. Jennifer Finch, 41st FB, military intelligence offi cer-in-charge, with the Honor Emblem of the Romanian Land Forces.

Francey presented Col. Cornel Pavel, FOB Delta Roma-nian contingent commander, with a Rail Gunner Certifi cate of Appreciation. Certifi cates were given to the entire contin-gent.

The Romanians have provided intelligence and un-manned aerial vehicle support to FOB Delta since 2003. They are scheduled to depart in late July.

For all of Sgt. Churchill’s stories, go to:www.TheRedBulls.org/Churchill

Romanians prepare to head home

Photos by Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence

Col. Ion Manci (right), Romanian senior national representative, presents the Honor Emblem of the Romanian Land Forces to Lt. Col. Brian Pierce, FOB Delta garrison commander, during a ceremony at the Romanian contingent headquarters June 16. Manci also presented the award to Maj. Jennifer Finch, 41st Fires Brigade military intelligence offi cer-in-charge.

By Sgt. Allison Churchill41st Fires Bde.

The Rom

The Red Bull Report June 23, 2009 Page 3

There was a time when noncommissioned offi cers took pride in knowing regulations. Even the lowliest privates, usually through their own violations, were taught to research regulations and correct their own shortcomings. Please tell me those days have not gone the way of the dinosaurs.

Terms like “page and paragraph that for me” were commonplace. That seems to have been replaced by blank stares and phrases like, “I know I heard it somewhere.”

Let me give an example from MNF-I Uniform Wear, Appearance, Conduct and Standards. This is a regula-tion which changes occasionally, and therefore demands frequent att ention. In particular, let’s talk about smoking while walking. As a smoker this is not a regulation I am especially fond of. Back when I joined the Army you could smoke in the barracks, at route-step march and even while running, (no, I’m not kidding). Well, times have changed.

The memo states there is no eating, drinking, smoking or talking on a cell phone while walking in uniform. Most Soldiers only seem to know the part about smoking. This can lead to embarrassing situations. I encoun-tered a prime example of this during my last trip to the sandbox.

I had just landed at Catfi sh Air in Balad aft er many hours of FOB hopping. I needed a cigarett e. I was walking to the coff ee shop right off of the airfi eld when I slid a cigarett e and lighter out of my pocket. I didn’t light the cigarett e. I just had it at the ready when I noticed a group of of-fi cers walking toward me from the direction of the coff ee shop. Aft er the salutes and greetings, the junior offi cer in the group, I won’t mention his rank but he did still require a booster seat, looked at my left hand and simply said “lose the cigarett e”.

I responded with “yes sir, but I’m not sure I understand your reasoning.” The more sea-soned offi cers in his party seemed to sense the les-son about to be imparted. They just stood back, covering their smiles.

The young offi cer began to inform me of the policy prohibiting smoking and walking. I, putt ing on my best confused face, informed him I was not smoking. I was simply carrying my coffi n nail a few more steps to the coff ee shop, but this was not going to do it for him. He informed me that poli-cies were in place for a reason

and they must be followed, no matt er how ridiculous we think they are.

The senior ranking in the group saw what was com-ing. He, out of sight of the younger, grinned and gave me a slight nod. That was my signal to begin the lesson. So, I said I believe the policy he was referring to was actually MNF-I Uniform Wear, Appearance, Conduct and Stan-dards, and that page R-1-10, paragraph eight states military personnel will observe service customs by not smoking, drinking, eating or talking on cell phones while walking in uniform.

I then pointed out that I was only carrying my cigarett e, as he was only carrying his coff ee, and though I didn’t believe either of us were in violation of any regulation, if I was wrong so was he. I looked him square in the eye and said, “Sir, if you were right you would pour your coff ee out on the ground right now, but I don’t think you will.”

With only a slight hesitation, the young Soldier popped the lid off of his chi-latt e mocachino and poured it out on the ground. The look of victory in his eyes was brilliant, and short lived. I looked at his boss, who by now could hardly contain his enjoyment, and said, “Wow, I really

didn’t think he’d do it.” Then I lit my cigarett e.You would have thought the poor young Soldier’s

dog just died. He began to instruct me to put my cigarett e out when his boss stepped in. Young Sol-dier, he said, the sergeant is standing, not walking, in a designated smoking area. With a smile and a pat on the back he said, “This is how we learn, young man; this is how we learn.”

The moral of the story is, don’t be afraid to make on the spot corrections. Just make sure you know the regulations and use tact when you do. If you don’t know the specifi c regulation you may want to ap-proach the correction more gingerly. You may say, for example, “Soldier, I am certain there is a regulation which requires you to wear pants on guard duty. I will look it up and get back to you with the page and para-graph. In the meantime; put some pants on.” This could save you considerable embarrassment (though it won’t do much for the guard).

So, if you don’t know the regulation, look it up. If you do know it, look it up anyway, and impart your wisdom on our next generation of leaders.

Good ol’ fashion smoke sessionWhat happened to the good-old days, when army regulations,

fi eld manuals and standard operating procedures were regarded as more than just booster seats for 2nd lieutenants?

Commentary by Staff Sgt. Dave LankfordMND-S

ommiss

For more of Staff Sgt. Lankford’s comments, or to leave comments

of your own, go to:www.TheRedBulls.org/

Lankford

The Red Bull Report June 23, 2009 Page 4

You have heard it referred to a million times, but you may be ask-ing yourself … what the heck is the SCRA? The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act was passed by Congress in 2003 to protect the men and women called to active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces when their legal rights and fi nancial obligations are involved. The date a service member enters into active duty is usually the date the individual becomes eligible for the protections of the SCRA, and the protections usually end some-where between thirty days and six months aft er release from active duty status. The SCRA is not intend-ed to let a service member off the hook for lawful obligations. It does, however, allow for the reduction of interest rates on some debts, the ex-tension of time limits for repayment of debts, the suspension of garnish-ment of wages, delays for court and administrative proceedings and vari-ous other protections for deployed service members.

For instance, under the SCRA, a military member can have the interest rate for most obligations capped at a six percent interest rate, as long as the service member’s ability to meet the obligations are materially aff ected by being called to active duty. In order to apply for the reduced interest rate, the military member must provide writt en notice

to the creditor as well as a copy of their orders. The six percent cap on interest begins the fi rst day and lasts for the duration of active duty service. Although service members may be able to have interest rates reduced, this does not mean that the SCRA allows payment on credit cards and loans to stop. However, in certain cases, a petition may be fi led with the court to suspend payments on obligations if a service member cannot aff ord to make payments be-cause of being called to active duty.

The SCRA also provides protec-tions when it comes to a military member’s residence. The SCRA al-lows the termination of a residential lease when writt en notice and a copy of orders are provided to the land-lord. Once writt en notice is given, the lease should be terminated thirty days aft er the next date the rent is paid. In addition, once the lease has been terminated, the landlord must return any rent paid in advance, as well as the security deposit, if there is no damage to the dwelling. The SCRA can also protect from eviction if renting an apartment or house. The home must be occupied by either the military member or their dependents and rent cannot exceed $2,400 per month. The military mem-ber must also be able to show that being called to active duty materially aff ected their ability to pay the rent. This is also true for mortgages. The SCRA can provide temporary relief

from paying the mortgage if the agreement was entered into prior to being on active duty. However, this does not mean that service members can stop paying rent or mortgage. Those unable to meet the obligations set forth in rental agreements or mortgages should see a legal assis-tance att orney.

There are various other protec-tions off ered by the SCRA, includ-ing being able to cancel or suspend your cell phone bill without an early termination fee and being able to get out of an automobile lease. For more information on the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act, stop by your local JAG. We’re happy to help.

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The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act

For more of Jag’s comments, visit:www.TheRedBulls.org/TheGavel

By Spc. Jennifer AgaMND-S

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The Red Bull Report June 23, 2009 Page 5

For puzzle solutions visit: www.TheRedBulls.org/puzzlesolutions

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The Red Bull Report

World News: ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia –– The president of the Russian republic of Ingushetia was hospitalized in serious condition June 22 aft er an assassination att empt, offi cials said. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, 45, was out of mortal danger, however, offi cials of the unstable republic’s interior ministry told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Yevkurov reportedly was hurt when a bomb planted along the roadside or in a parked vehicle exploded as his motorcade drove near Nazran. “The president’s life is now out of dan-ger,” Kaloi Akhilgov of the Ingushetia Interior Ministry said. “Yevkurov’s liver was operated on. He suff ered (a) shrapnel wound … Doctors said the operation was a success.” Health offi cials earlier told RIA Novosti Yevkurov had also suff ered head injuries and burns.

U.S. News:JUNEAU, Alaska –– A Coast Guard helicopter crew has rescued two men on board a disabled 15-foot skiff adrift in Alaska’s remote western Aleutian Islands. Coast Guard Chief Steve Harrison in Juneau says the men were hoisted by basket into the helicopter June 21 and taken to a clinic in Adak for evaluation.Harrison says the men are in good condition, but possibly dehydrated. The men were heading to Amatignak Island June 20 to pick up surveyors aft er leaving the 50-foot fi shing vessel Larisa M. The surveyors on shore saw the boat adrift in rough seas and called the Coast Guard.

Sports News:RUSTENBURG, South Africa –– On the verge of elimination and facing long odds, the United States came up with its best performance at a major international tournament in seven years and an improbable semifi nal berth at the Confederations Cup. Manchester native Charlie Davies scored in the fi rst half, and Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey added goals in the fi nal half hour to lead the United States over Egypt, 3-0, yesterday. The United States needed to win by three goals and have Italy lose by three, and that’s exactly what happened. “Big surprise, but we knew we were capable of this and Brazil helped us out as well,” Landon Donovan said. “Now we have a diffi cult game ahead of us and a very big match.”

Odd News:COVENTRY, Vermont. — Vermont dairy farmers Tim Maikshilo and Kristen Dellert, mindful of shrinking their carbon footprint, have changed their cows’ diet to reduce the amount of gas the animals burp — dairy cows’ contribution to Co2 levels. Coventry Valley Farm is one of 15 Vermont farms working with Stonyfi eld Farm Inc., whose yogurt is made with their organic milk, to reduce the cows’ intestinal methane by feeding them fl axseed, alfalfa, and grasses high in Omega 3 fatt y acids. The gas cows belch is the dairy industry’s biggest greenhouse gas contributor, research shows, most of it emitt ed from the front and not the back end of the cow.

Around the world in 34 seconds

June 23, 2009 Page 6