March 1, 2005

By John ValceanuAmerican Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan —The tide is turning against anti- coalitionfighters in Afghanistan, a senior Britishgeneral serving there said.

Speaking about the progress of ongoingoperations in the central Asian country, BritishArmy Maj. Gen. Peter Gilchrist, deputycommanding general of Combined ForcesCommand Afghanistan, said Feb. 19 that theremany indicators the coalition’s strategy isworking and that anti-coalition forces arelosing steam. Enemy fighters in Afghanistaninclude members of the al Qaeda terroristnetwork, the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin — orHIG — terrorist group, remnants of the formerTaliban regime and other forces.

When he arrived in Afghanistan threemonths ago, Gilchrist said, he was readingdaily incident reports about attacks oncoalition forces. Now, the reports tell adifferent story, mostly describing caches ofweapons and ammunition turned in tocoalition forces by Afghan citizens.

“The whole thing seems to me anyway tohave shifted significantly, which demonstrates

to me that the people are on our side. Thepeople are working very much with us, notthat they weren’t before, but it’s gone anotherstage further,” Gilchrist said. “It has subtlychanged. Does that mean you’ve ruined theinsurgency? It doesn’t. But you’ve gone anawful long way toward it.”

Humanitarian assistance work by thecoalition is one reason why Afghans areincreasingly supportive of the coalition andwhy anti-coalition fighters are losing support,Gilchrist said.

An example of this is the support providedto the Afghan government by the coalition indelivering hundreds of tons of food, medicineand supplies to villages cut off from the restof the country by recent severe snowstorms.The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan hasdeclared a state of emergency in the countryfollowing severe snowstorms that createddrifts up to 20 feet tall in the mountains andheavy rains that turned roads into impassablemud bogs.

Helping the Afghan people shows them thecoalition is trying to help them, Gilchrist said,adding that he was impressed by the way theAfghan government responded to thesituation. Afghanistan’s central government

coordinated efforts between the coalition,international humanitarian relief agencies, theUnited Nations and other organizations.

“The great thing, the really good bit ofnews, is that it’s been coordinated by theAfghan government and it’s been well-organized,” Gilchrist said. “Once they realizedthey had an impending crisis, they’vemitigated it. To me, that shows that we’regaining maturity in this government, slowlybut certainly.”

It is becoming obvious to many insurgentsthat they will not be successful in theirattempts to overthrow the Afghan government,the general said. That is one reason why someanti-coalition fighters may be willing to putdown their arms.

“The signs are out there that a resurgencewon’t probably work,” Gilchrist said. “Theycan carry on the fighting for a fair bit of time,but their chances of winning anything strategicare getting to be pretty small, if not infinitelysmall.”

Though hardcore extremists may not quitfighting unless they are captured or killed,Gilchrist said he thinks many rank-and-fileanti-coalition fighters are prepared to stopfighting and adapt to a peaceful way of life.

To help them reintegrate into the new Afghansociety, the coalition is working to help theAfghan government create and implement are-integration program for former anti-coalition fighters.

“There are rumors that there are quite a lotof people who want to come back,” Gilchristsaid, adding that he believes people will turnthemselves in to be reintegrated “once wedemonstrate that the people who do come backcan come in and not be arrested and interferedwith, and go back home and start a normallife.”

The reintegration program would allowformer fighters to register with governmentauthorities. They would then be placed underthe supervision of a local elder or chieftainfor a probationary period in their local district.The program does not exonerate thoseresponsible for crimes, Gilchrist pointed out.

“It’s not an amnesty. There are nopreconditions for this. If they have done a warcrime and subsequent investigations comealong and find that these guys are guilty ofwar crimes, they will be tried for them,”Gilchrist said. “What we will be doing ishelping the Afghanistan government tofacilitate their return.”

Coalition leader says tide turning in Afghanistan

Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya (center), commander of the Southern European Task Force andCombined Joint Task Force-76 along with Command Sgt. Maj. Iuniasolua Savusa, SETAFcommand sergeant major, prepare to roll up the SETAF unit guidon, held by a 13th MilitaryPolice Company soldier, during a casing of the colors ceremony held at the CasermaEderle Theater Wednesday. SETAF, along with various other units from Europe and theUnited States are deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.The SETAF colors will be uncased in a ceremony to be held in Afghanistan next month.(Photo by Photo Studio, 7th ATC, Vicenza, Italy)

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2 THE Outlook March 1, 2005

If you have an issue that you would liketo submit, e-mail your issue toCAC@setaf.army.mil or call 634-5222 or0444-71-5222 from off post. This forum isto discuss issues that affect the community.

Childcare is offered during the CAC at$2.50 per hour, per child for children ages 6weeks through kindergarten from 8:45-11:15a.m. Pre-registration is required.

Children will be cared for in the ChildDevelopment Center, Building 395. Childrenmust be registered with Child and YouthServices. Contact CYS Central Registrationat 634-7219 or stop by their new location inDavis Hall.

The next CAC is March 23 at 9 a.m. inthe Ederle Theater.

Issue: Since our family moved here lastsummer, we have had numerous problemswith having our telephone line to ourquarters in Villaggio installed, as well as theneed for a service call when our telephoneline unexpectedly went dead for a week.

Luckily, we know a kind Italian civilianemployee on post who has made the calls toTelecomItalia for us, on her own time, as wedo not speak enough Italian to be able tocommunicate with the Telecom operatorsand none of them speak English.

I am aware there is a translator in theHousing office and we have used her servicesin the past with TelecomItalia. However, theHousing office is not forthcoming with this

CommunityAction

Councilinformation, and we have been told by theHousing office that the translators could notbe used to help us for this purpose.

I also understand that the Tax ReliefOffice does not get involved any further thanproviding the documents to apply fortelephone service.

Has any thought been given to creating aliaison office or even just one person who isbilingual on Caserma Ederle dedicated tohelping all of us communicate with Telecom?

Response from Directorate Morale,Welfare, and Recreation: For several years,the MWR Tax Relief Office providedassistance to telephone customers.

However, the telephone program operatedby the Tax Relief Office no longer providessavings to customers or a customer-friendlytelephone package.

Therefore, the service provider TelecomTop Business South has been provided acancellation notice and the program has beendiscontinued.

Customers still enrolled with the programwill continue to receive services throughApril 2005. Customers requiring telephoneservice after May 1 will receive assistancein transitioning to services from TelecomItalia. This will be done at no cost to thecustomer and must be completed before April30, 2005. Therefore, the telephone programwill no longer be handled by TRO and isclosing as it stands.

As you suggested, a position is beenestablished at the Housing Office to assistcommunity members with telephoneservices. The position will be advertised foremployment shortly. Once on board, the staff

member will assist with all services listedabove.

In the interim, the MWR TRO willcontinue to provide assistance to communitymembers who require assistance with theactivation or deactivation of private phonelines through TelecomItalia.

Army Community Service also managesthe Translator Interpreter Program Services(TIPS). Italian-speaking volunteerinterpreters are available through TIPS fortwo hours each day to assist with issues likeutility bill translation. Customers may call634-7500 for hours when volunteers areavailable. Customers may also make anappointment for a volunteer to assist themwith interpreting.

Issue: The commissary displays a posterthat stresses the importance of using safetybelts in shopping carts. The irony is that atboth the commissary and the post exchange,it can be difficult to find a shopping cart thathas functional safety belts for children.

Could the PX and commissary considerordering the appropriate parts and makingthe repairs so that a parent can pull out acart and plop their child down in it withouthaving to cull through multiple carts in orderto find one with a functioning belt?

Response from AAFES: We maintain aninventory of safety belts and continuouslyreview the condition of our carts.

Our process at the moment is a weeklyreview, but we will dedicate more resourcesto this to update more often.

The most common reason for no safetybelts on the carts is that they are cut off orremoved by some other means.

We currently have on our inventory over150 carts but are never able to maintain morethan 60 at the store as they are often missing.We conduct weekly reviews of the Casermato collect stray carts. We would certainlyappreciate the community’s support inreturning the carts to the store and assistancewith leaving the safety belts intact as it ispotentially our children who will suffer.

Response from the Safety Office: TheSafety Office has coordinated this issue withboth the commissary and PX. Our positionis that if belts are provided, they must bemaintained to standard.

Parents may want to consider bringingtheir own harness or safety belt with themwhen shopping. However, even if belts areused, parents should never be more than anarm’s length away from their child. Falls fromcar seat-type baskets are the most commonshopping cart-related injury.

Bottom line–the safety of a child in ashopping cart is the direct responsibility ofthe parent.

DECA: It is a commissary requirementto provide safety belts on all shopping cartsand to replace those safety belts that arebroken.

Unfortunately, these safety belts are veryprecious commodity, we often experiencesafety belts being cut and stolen from thecarts.

We have replaced and installed safetybelts on all the carts in the commissary.Additionally, more safety belts have beenordered.

Brigade Soldiers honored for sacrificesBy Staff Sgt. Jacob CaldwellPhotos by Spec. Jon Arguello173d Abn Bde Public Affairs

“The Purple Heart is an award the most Soldiers hope neverto receive, but one that recipients deeply cherish,” said Lt. Col.Mark Stammer, commander, 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry(Airborne), during a ceremony to honor two 173d AirborneBrigade Soldiers Feb. 17 on Hoekstra Field. “You don’t earnthe purple heart by doing some great heroic feat, building thebest PowerPoint presentation or road marching a 100 miles.The Order of the Purple Heart is one of the most exclusiveorganizations in the United States. No amount of politicalconnection, money or influence matters. The Purple Heart isawarded for spilling one’s blood for your comrades, your unitand your country.”

On Feb. 19, 2004, Soldiers from Headquarters andHeadquarters Company, 173d Abn Bde, left Kirkuk, northernIraq, in a convoy headed for Camp Victory, Kuwait. The convoyof over 50 vehicles and 200 Soldiers was the last of the brigadein Iraq, and its purpose was to move the brigade’s vehicles toKuwait for shipment back to Italy.

The trip, which normally can take four days, was going to be

shortened to three, with the Soldiers passing up their first stopand continuing through the day to stop at a Forward OperatingBase near Baghdad, where they arrived around 3 p.m. in theafternoon. They had dinner in the mess hall and slept in theirvehicles for the night, getting up at 4 a.m. the next morning tohit the road by 5:30.

Just like clockwork, the convoy was heading out of the FOBat 5:30 a.m. Feb. 20, preparing to enter onto a main four-lanehighway, part of their route towards Kuwait.

“The ADVON [advanced party] was on the highway. Itconsisted of two vehicles, which were about 1000 meters aheadof the main body. Our vehicle was the lead vehicle in the mainbody with Sgt. [Andrew] Bayang driving, I was the trackcommander, and [1st] Lt. [Lawrence] Lee as a passenger,” said1st Sgt. Patrick Fatuesi, who at the time of the movement wasSgt. 1st Class Fatuesi, brigade operations NCO.

Once the main body was on the highway, the convoy beganto pick up speed for the trip. “We stayed in the middle of theroad,” said Fatuesi, “I think that is what saved us.”

Within a moment of picking up speed, their vehicle was hitby an Improvised Explosive Devise.

“The IEDs we always hear so much of on the news,” saidStammer. “Both First Sergeant Fatuesi and Lieutenant Leereacted like the true warriors they are. In spite of their wounds,they quickly exited their vehicle, issued orders to follow onpersonnel and secured the area – all before receiving any medicaltreatment.”

Within minutes the area was secured and a helicopter wasproviding added protection from the air.

Once it seemed everything was in place, “I noticed that myknee felt wet,” said Fatuesi.

Shock set in and he collapsed.“The next thing I remember was I was laying there and the

medics were working on my knee,” he said.The shrapnel from the IED had peppered their vehicle;

shredding the doors, smashing the windshield and causingdamage to the tires.

A piece had shot straight through Lee’s right boot and footand some had created cuts on his face. Another piece had lodgeditself into Fatuesi’s knee, where it remains today. The Oakleysunglasses they both were wearing, broken from the attack, savedtheir eyes, according to Fatuesi.

Both Soldiers were transported back to the FOB where theyhad stayed the night and received medical attention. They weregiven the options of continuing with their unit or beingmedivaced to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.They chose to stay, spending the next two days of travel in theback of the medic’s vehicle and the next three weeks in bed atCamp Victory, Kuwait, before returning to Vicenza.

During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, SETAFcommander, presented Lee with his Purple Heart. Lee iscurrently the executive officer with the 74th Infantry Detachment(Long Range Surveillance), 173d Abn Bde.

Maj. Gen. Kamiya stepped aside though, and SETAFCommand Sergeant Major Iuniasolua Savusa, a fellow Samoan,presented Fatuesi with his award. Fatuesi is the first sergeant ofAble Co, 2-503d Inf (Abn).

“The Purple Heart was a decoration that I, or anyone else,would never have wanted to receive,” said Lee. “It was just amatter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am,however, honored to have received this award and still be ableto deploy to Afghanistan and continue the fight against the waron terrorism.”

“I don’t feel that I deserve the award,” said Fatuesi humbly.“There are Soldiers who have lost their arms or their legs – theyreally deserve it.

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”Both Soldiers will be deploying to Afghanistan in support

of Operation Enduring Freedom.Editor’s note: Gen. George Washington established the

Purple Heart, the Army’s oldest award, in 1782. It is presentedin the name of the President of the United States to any memberof an armed forces who has been wounded or killed in actionagainst enemy or hostile forces.

Purple Heart recipient, 1st Sgt. Patrick Fatuesi, firstsergeant, Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry(Airborne), speaks with SETAF Commander Maj. Gen. JasonKamiya and SETAF Command Sergeant Major IuniasoluaSavusa during a ceremony Feb. 17 on Hoekstra Field.

1st Lt. Lawrence Lee, executive officer, 74th InfantryDetachment (Long Range Surveillance), receives thePurple Heart from SETAF Commander Maj. Gen. JasonKamiya during a ceremony Feb. 17 on Hoekstra Field.

March 1, 2005 THE Outlook 3

SETAF CommanderMaj. Gen. Jason Kamiya

22nd ASG Commander/PublisherCol. Donald G. Drummer

EditorKelli Covlin

The Outlook is an unofficial publica-tion authorized and provided by AR 360-1. All editorial content of the Outlook isprepared, edited, provided and approvedby the 22nd Area Support Group PAO inBuilding 34 on Caserma Ederle in Vice-nza, Italy. DSN 634-7000, FAX 634-7543,civilian telephone 0444-71-7000, fax0444-717-543. E-mail:editor@setaf.army.mil

The Outlook is published weekly bythe 22nd ASG Public Affairs Office, Unit31401, Box 10, APO AE 09630. It isprinted by Centro Stampa Editoriale SRL,Grisignano (VI) 0444-414-303.

Editorial publication is an authorizedsection for members of the U.S. Armyoverseas. Contents of the Outlook arenot necessarily the official views of, orendorsed by, the U.S. government, De-partment of Defense, Department of theArmy, Installation Management Agency-Europe, 22nd Area Support Group or theU.S. Army Southern European TaskForce.

The editor reserves the right to editall submissions for style, brevity and clar-ity.

Circulation is 2,500.

OutlookThe

March 1, 2005 Vol. 38, Issue 8

Vicenza, Livorno celebrate Black HistoryMonth with luncheons, special speaker

How are we doing?

Community Force Protection, SafetyOffice of the Provost Marshal22nd Area Support Group

Parking violatorsAs we are all aware, parking on

Caserma Ederle is an ongoing battle.When a ticket, DD Form 1408, isissued for a parking violation, onecopy is forwarded through commandchannels to the servicemember’scommander, to the commander of themilitary family member’s sponsor, orto the civilian’s supervisor oremployer.

Each violation carries with it apoint assessment value.

Accumulating 12 points within 12months or 18 points or more within24 months carries a mandatory one-

year suspension of driving privileges.Parking in unauthorized locations

on Caserma Ederle compromises thesafety of our installation and requiresevery driver’s assistance incomplying with the established trafficstandards.

DA Form 1408s issuedfor February:

Reckless driving (1)Speeding (11)Improper passing (1)Improper display ofinsurance(2)No drivers license inpossession (2)Expired insurance (2)No registration in possession(1)

Seatbelt violations (10)Parking (172)Impeding the flow of traffic (87)Parked against flow traffic (4)Failed to yield for pedestrian(1)Failure to stop at posted stopsign (16)

February StatisticsTraffic Accidents = 30 (injuries involved= 1)Drunk Driving = 5 (involving accidents= 2)Drunk & Disorderly Conduct = 0Assaults = 4Domestic Disturbances = 1Lost ID Cards = 39 (Repeat Offenders= 4)

Clad in a black hat and a single-breasted blue wool jacket with a exact replica of the 1862 Medal ofHonor on his chest, and yellow sergeant chevrons to indicate cavalry on each sleeve, Lee N. Coffee, Jr.steps into his alter-ego, Buffalo Soldier Emanuel Stance. It’s a role this retired Soldier has assumed forthe past decade - traveling the world, educating audiences about the first Black professional Soldiers ina peacetime Army. The term professional is attributed to the fact that men of African heritage had servedin the Army from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War in various units as State militia, but it waspost Civil War that they attained the status as federal Soldiers. Coffee was the guest speaker for the Black History Month celebrations in Livorno on Feb. 22 and inVicenza on Feb. 24. When Coffee walks into a gathering in full military regalia, and introduces himselfas a Buffalo Soldier, he is Sgt. Emanuel Stance. He wants people to understand this was a real person.

Stance was cited for gallantry in action as an Indian scout at KickapooSprings, Texas, on May 20, 1870. He was presented the Medal ofHonor on June 28, 1870, and was the first African American Medal ofHonor recipient, post-Civil War. (Photo by Chiara Mattirolo, CampDarby Public Affairs.

Mary Generelli’s 3rd grade class performs “Kye Kye Kule,” a songand game from Ghana. The song was part of the mini-concertpresented at the South of the Alps Dining Facility to celebrate BlackHistory Month Feb. 24. Generelli recently visited Africa and sharedher experiences with her class, who has studied the continent. Theclass performed three numbers for the luncheon. (Photo by LauraKreider, Outlook Staff)

Provided by Linda CollierArmy Community Services22nd Area Support Group

The Family Member Network is a new program beginning inMarch for family members of deployed servicemembers. It providescamaraderie, education, and support services for spouses ofdeployed servicemembers. FMN will meet together from 9:30-11a.m. at the Caserma Ederle Chapel to share and learn.

Topics to be explored include keeping yourself healthy andmentally fit, financial and time management, parenting as a singleparent and strengthening your marriage during separation.

During the FMN events, free childcare is provided at the chapelby the Childwatch program and starts at 9 a.m. All children must besigned in by 9:30 a.m. in order to participate that day. Parents shouldprovide a sack lunch for their children. From 9-9:30 a.m., parentsare invited to share in coffee and pastries.

Following FMN meetings, moms will have personal time offfrom 11 a.m.-3 p.m. while their children are in the Childwatchprogram. On special occasions, they will have the option ofparticipating in a special activity such as Italian cooking.

Dads whose spouses are deployed are also invited to attend theFMN meetings as well as utilize the extended free childcare.

FMN will run for eight meetings. Due to childcare staffing andprogram funding considerations, participants must register andcommit to attending a minimum of six sessions. Registration isrequired by March 11. To register, stop by Army Community Servicein Davis Hall or phone 634-7567/7500.

Here are the topics for the upcoming meetings:March 16 – How to get what you need from the command and

support organizations. Here we will talk about how to work withyour Rear Detachment and Family Readiness Group as well asprovide you with a list of local resources with tips on how to bestuse the services they provide. We will also talk about who to call incases of emergency and where to go for help.

March 23 – How to get your children successfully through thedeployment. Here we will look at the typical reactions children haveto deployment and knowing the signs that a child may be strugglingwith a parent being away. We will talk about how to support a childthrough these periods and develop strategies for keeping your childconnected with the deployed parent. We will also look at what booksare available on helping children through deployment and providea list of local activities and places where you can take your childfor fun and growth.

March 30 – How to make your finances flourish. Here we willlearn how to read an LES, pay Italian bills, budget and save forretirement and or college. We will learn about finances and costcutting through fun games such as financial bingo and scavengerhunt. Plus, we will share information on the best places to shop inItaly.

April 6 – How to stay happy and limit your stress. We will lookat the indicators of stress and depression and discuss ways tocreatively manage your stress. We will also talk about the dangersof drug and alcohol use during periods of stress in your life.

April 20 – How to stay healthy and fit. We will look at theimportance of eating well, maintaining your weight andunderstanding women’s health concerns. We will provide greatrecipes and other methods for taking care of yourself.

April 27 – Maintaining romance in your marriage while separatedfrom your partner. We will talk about ways of communicating withyour spouse during deployment that will enhance your bond as wellas reduce the stress and loneliness of being separated from eachother. We will also talk about knowing what not to say to thedeployed parent and shielding yourself from possible problems suchas infidelity.

May 4 – How to be a successful “single” parent to your children.We will talk about strengthening your relationship with your childrenthrough good communication and effective techniques thatencourage good behavior from your children. We will also discusspositive alternatives to spanking that work as well – or even better.

May 11 – Indulge yourself with beauty, massage, and fashion.For our last group we’ll talk about beauty tips and the joys of gettinga facial. We’ll also talk about choosing clothes and knowing whatfashions really show you off.

Special activities for moms:March 16 – Italian cookingApril 27 – Aerobics class and personal training orientationMay 11 – Special luncheonThis program is sponsored by the Post Chapel, Vicenza Health

Clinic and ACS Parent Support Program.For more information contact Richard Adams at 634-7177,

Joanne Hersh at 634-7604, or Linda Collier at 634-7567.

Family Member Networkprovides workshops,childcare for spouses ofdeployed Soldiers

4 THE Outlook March 1, 2005

She steps up, She commits, She leads

Recognizing modern-day Rosie women of our communityBy Cindy PiersonEqual Employment Officer22nd Area Support Group

In l942, Rosie rolled up her sleeves anddemolished the little-woman stereotype of hertime. She took over the jobs the men left behindas they headed off to war, and she never reallygave them back.

Rosie’s contributions went far beyondhelping to win a war. They redirected oursociety.

Rosie’s unyielding spirit lives on as wesalute 10 modern-day Rosies from the Vicenzamilitary community throughout the month ofMarch in celebration of Women’s HistoryMonth.

Even though the Outlook will only highlight10 nominees, the Equal Employment Officereceived an overwhelming response from thecommunity wanting to recognize today’s Rosiewomen. EEO wants to thank everyone fortaking the time to nominate wives, co-workers,supervisors and friends. All of these nomineesshould feel proud that people believe they havethe guts, moxie and confidence in making thisa better world.

Name: Margaret Bryant-RashidBackground: Born in Louisiana and 18 yearsas an Army spouseCurrent profession: Family member and fulltime volunteer with the ProfessionalVolunteer Corps of Vicenza. A member ofthe high school Parent Teacher StudentAssociation, chair of the Student AdvisoryCouncil for the elementary school andcoordinator for the school’s Celebrity

Reader Week program. Active with GirlScouts and the Caserma Ederle Chapel asa teacher. Served as the Protestant Womenof the Chapel outreach coordinator,coordinating events such as the angel treeprogram, summer bible camp and thechapel service spotlights to get people inthe community engaged in the differentservices that the chapel offers. In addition,is a certified project manager with thenational organization, Project ManagementInstitute.Family: Married to Lt. Col. Clinton Rashidand has two children, daughter Kiak, age12, and son Kameron, age 9.

What is your secret to juggling work andfamily successfully?

Definitely having good time managementskills. Being able to dedicate blocks of timefor different tasks. Such as, at our home, 3-8p.m. is dedicated to family time.

How has the Army changed your life?I have become unselfish, and I’ve had to

reinvent myself with each move and considereach move a new adventure and an opportunityfor growth.

Who has been the most inspirational andmotivating person in your life?

My father. He was killed by a drunk driverwhen I was 14. He was a very giving personwho would always share some of life’s lessonswith me. He always talked about the importanceof doing three things in life. First - continue toeducate yourself. Second - make family apriority. Third - always help those who are inneed.

I remember him telling me, “There is alwaysmore in life to learn and never think to yourselfthat you know everything.”

Continuing the tools of academics, givesupport to my family, and give first to others;those are the principles I live by and it works.

What have you yet to accomplish?I would like to publish some of my written

work. I’ve written a couple of children’s books.I’m working on a one-woman motivationalbook and a teen book, and I also enjoy writingpoems. Most people don’t know about mywriting. I want to start researching, take writingcourses and attend writing conferences. I amgoing to hone the craft. My husband actually

Name: Karen Lynn HuffmanBackground: Born in Ohio and 21 years asan Army spouse.Current profession: Homemaker and fulltime volunteer as President of the VicenzaMilitary and Civilians’ Spouses Club for twoconsecutive years. Active leader with theCombined Italian and AmericanOrganization (CIAO) conference.Family composition: Married to Master Sgt.Wade Huffman. Has two children, daughterSarah, age 17, and son Eric, age 12.

What is your secret to juggling work andfamily successfully?

If I had that secret, I would be rich. It’sjust prioritizing what I think is mostimportant to me, making sure those thingsget taken care of first and the little thingswill fall into place. Being organized andhaving lots of practice helps quite a bit. I have

encourages me to write for Hallmark.What are you proudest about?My children and just being a mom. I’ve

always worked real hard to be successful incorporate America but I’m prouder aboutworking at being a homemaker. Cooking,cleaning, and just being there for my family –I’ve had more fun doing that.

If you could be the president for one day,what would you do? Why?

Balance the budget. Just to allow mychildren and their children’s children anopportunity to live in a fiscal and responsibleenvironment so they don’t have to stress inliving in a nation that has a struggling economy.

held a few paying jobs but I prefer tovolunteer. My family enjoys it, and they areproud of the fact that I do what I do and myheart and soul is given to it. I’m not gettingpaid – I’m doing it to better the community.

How has the Army changed your life?Definitely made me more flexible and

self-reliant. When you think you haveeverything set in stone, Uncle Sam comesand throws you a curve and you have to rollwith the punches.

Who has been the most inspirational andmotivating person in your life?

My father. He was a wonderful man; neverhad anything bad to say about anybody.Family always came first with him. He neveroffered unsolicited advice but if you askedhe was there with many words of wisdom.

What have you yet to accomplish?Getting a degree in anything, possibly in

conference planning. Who knows, I ammotivated to do anything.

What are you proudest about?I would have to say that I never ask or

expect anything of any volunteers that Iwould not do myself.

What is one thing that most people don’tknow about you?

I use to work in an escort service inEngland. It was a security escort service. Imanaged a security escort contract to providecleared personnel to escort unclear personnelin a secure area. It had nothing to do withdating but my husband gets a kick out of itand tells everybody I was an escort with taxfree money and worked when I wanted.

How do you provide encouragement toothers?

I encourage other family members to getinvolved in the community in any way whatso ever, whether it’s their child’s school orthe Soldiers’ Theatre. Just to get out thereand do something. I know a lot of people,especially overseas, tend to do what theyneed to do on post and then they leave. Andthat’s great if they are doing something intheir community. I know there are peoplesitting at home bored and moaning there isnothing to do. Just get out there and get busy,meet people and get involved with all kindsof wonderful opportunities here.

Story and photoBy Laura KreiderOutlook Staff

Last September, the sounds of Broadwayfilled the air at the Soldiers’ Theatre with theopening song “Welcome to the Theatre” fromthe Broadway play “Applause.”

Enthusiasts of this and other musicals arein for a treat with the upcoming show, amusical theatre celebration of the works ofBroadway and film composer Charles Strouse,who wrote music to the film “Bonnie andClyde” as well as the theme song to the populartelevision show “All In the family.”

“By Strouse” features songs from“Applause,” “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie,”as well as a series of improvisations,movement stories, and creative characters.

More than 40 songs including “One LastKiss,” “Tomorrow,” and “Those Were TheDays” are featured in the show directed byBonnie Daniels, who has worked withSoldiers’ Theatre in the past.

“I’ve always enjoyed having theopportunity to perform,” said Aaron Talley,AFN audiovisual production specialist, andone of the characters in the show. “It’s whatmakes all the hard work worth while.

“I really enjoy having the chance to workwith Bonnie [Daniels] again because she is agreat director with a lot of interesting ideas.”

Talley is one of the many theatre volunteerswhose dedication has put some 14, 000 hours

a year into the community theater’sproductions. The theater offers the volunteersa place to discover new talents and also toimprove their skills.

“The show is very challenging, as we haveto play a bunch of different characters,” Talleysaid. “But that also makes it fun, too. And thecast is very talented. It’s nice to see some newfaces come out, and some of the children withmore experience have grown a lot, too. So thecast is really strong from top to bottom.”

One of the new faces is 13-year-old

Elizabeth (Bizzy) Buffington.“It’s a great experience,” Buffington said

after one of the rehearsals. “It’s teaching me alot about music and drama, and I am veryproud to be in the show.”

Featured performers in “By Strouse” alsoinclude newcomers Deborah Beauchamp andDana Bowyer.

“As a newcomer here I love theprofessionalism, excitement and thefriendliness of all of the people,” saidBeauchamp. “I feel at home at Soldiers’

Theatre and love the opportunity to share thetalent that God has given me.”

In addition to Talley, veteran performersLinda Dahlstrom, Allen Ebert, Soldiers’Theatre entertainment director, AndrewFantacone, Sheri Mahadeo and Jamie Kamiyawill be performing. Some of these actorspreviously performed in “Selkie,” and wonin the One Act Play Festival in Heidelberg,Germany, this past year.

“My role in ‘Selkie’ was very emotional,”said Kamiya. “But this show allows me tobring out my inner child each night. Theaudience will be on their toes from the minutewe begin to play!”

The cast is also supported by MusicalDirector Valentino Piran, pianist for the show,who is also joined by Brad Van Cleve on bassguitar, Lorie Van Cleve on trumpet andGraziano Colella on drums.

Assistants to Director Bonnie Daniels areKaren Ebert and Stephanie Graham.

“By Strouse” is Vicenza’s entry into theUSAREUR Tournament of Plays.

Shows are scheduled for Thursday-Saturday and March 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. Aspecial matinee performance will take placeon Sunday.

Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for youth,with special group rates for parties of ten ormore. Call the Soldiers’ Theatre ReservationHotline at 634-7755 or stop by weekdayafternoons to purchase or reserve tickets.

March 1, 2005 THE Outlook 5

Camp Darby Public AffairsNews Release

Even though shipping equipment is a

routine function of Camp Darby, when the497th Movement Control Team received over750 pieces of equipment to ship toAfghanistan for the Combined Joint TaskForce-76 as part of Operation EnduringFreedom, they new it was going to takecooperation from all agencies, American andItalian, to make the operation go smoothly.

“This deployment represents the largestmovement of U.S. troops and equipmentfrom Italy in 15 years,” said Maj. ToddJohnson, transportation officer, SETAF G4

Logistics. “The strong host nation workforcehas proven to be a valued asset, bringing agreat deal of experience and ensuring superbsupport from other Italian authorities.”

Elements of the Directorate of Logistics,22nd Area Support Group and Area SupportTeam-Livorno, 839th TransportationBattalion, 497th Movement Control Team-Livorno, Dogana (Italian customs),Carabinieri and local contractors workedcollectively and continuously to execute themission.

Once the containers arrived from Vicenza,it was up to the 839th Trans Bn to find astaging area at the Port of Livorno largeenough to accommodate the 400 pluscontainers. This was not an easy task sinceeach 40 foot container was stackedsometimes three high.

And, if preparing for and shippingapproximately 400 containers of equipmentwas not enough, both 22nd ASG and 22ndAST-L DOL received an additional task toup-armor some of the equipment and vehiclesbefore they left the port. This created quite alogistical challenge since the equipment, 13specific containers and five vehicles, had tobe located within the 400 containers waitingto be loaded.

“This was the harder phase – identifyingamong stacks of containers the 13 that neededto be transported back to the Leghorn ArmyDepot, armored and returned to the portagain,” said Roberto Provenzano, trafficmanager, 497th MCT-Livorno. “In order toaccomplish this, a number of containers hadto be removed to extract the individual oneidentified as needing the armor from themany in stock.

“The peculiarity of this shipment requiredthe cooperation of each and every unitinvolved,” Provenzano said.

In order to perform this kind of vehiclemovement, there are many steps each agencymust go through, and each step requires themaximum cooperation of each unit involved.

“To bring a vehicle from the Port ofLivorno to the Leghorn Army Depot andback, each vehicle has to go through customsclearance,” said Idimo Iori, transportationofficer, Directorate of Logistics. “Forexample, after the armor kit has been placedon the vehicle, each vehicle has to beweighed and proper customs documentsprepared and presented to the transportationofficer before the vehicle can be brought backto the port.”

This series of steps would have beenimpossible without the cooperation betweenthe customs specialists, DOL, the 497th MCT-L, the Carabinieri, the Livorno Port Authorityand the 839th, said Iori.

“Together, with James Risek, a DOLlogistics management specialist, and with thesupport of all the transportation motor pool

personnel here, who worked long hours toachieve the objective; we are glad to say thatthe shipment went smooth and within theexpected timeframe,” Iori said.

Once more, the units and agencies, bothAmerican and Italian, who work together tomake large shipments of this nature happen,have distinguished themselves with excellentteam work, said Provenzano.

“We have received excellent support fromall host nation agencies involved to includethe Carabinieri, Dogana (Italian Customs), andthe Livorno Port Authority,” said Johnson.“Camp Darby is an excellent facility for thistype of operation. The professionalism of theworkforce, the atmosphere of cooperationbetween the installation and Italian agencies,and its close proximity to the Livorno portmake it an ideal deployment platform.”

Team effort makes large shipment a success

From left: People from different units and agencies discuss the loading of containersof equipment onto a ship in support of Combined Joint Task Force-76, heading forOperation Enduring Freedom in Afganistan. (Photo by Elena Baladelli, Livorno PhotoLab)

One of the containers loaded withequipement is placed on board the ship.The equipment is for Combined Joint TaskForce-76, heading for Operation EnduringFreedom in Afganistan. (Photo by ElenaBaladelli, Livorno Photo Lab)

Battle Command TrainingCenter, SETAFNews Release

Recently commanders from 1stBattalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne)took time to plan and execute missionrehearsals for company level leadersat SETAF’s Battle CommandTraining Center in anticipation oftheir upcoming deployment toAfghanistan.

Encouraged by Lt. Col. TimothyMcGuire, 1-508th Inf (Abn)commander, company commandersfrom both Alpha Company andBravo Company, along with theirsubordinate leaders, participated in

BCTC creates realistic training for Red Devil leaders preparing for deploymentthe training.

“I wanted to get my platoonleaders, radio operators, andforward observers in the propermindset prior to our deployment.,”said Capt. Josh SeGraves,commander, Bravo Company, 1-508th Inf (Abn). “It helps to teachthem how to think, not what tothink.”

With the limited time SeGraveshad to conduct complex training withhis leaders due to their upcomingdeployment, the BCTC was just theplace to provide a customizedsolution to his training requirement.

Given the low overheadrequirements and minimal

preparation time, the SETAF BCTCis an excellent option to exercise thecompany leadership in criticalcommand and control tactics,techniques, and procedures,according to Gene Catena, BCTCdirector.

The contract staff of the BCTC,all former NCOs and officers andadept at training small unit leaders,assisted the commanders in theplanning and execution of thetraining.

The motto of the SETAF BCTC,Train-Plan-Rehearse, could not havebeen more apropos during these rapidmission planning and rehearsalsessions in which the leaders andSoldiers were infused with situationalexperience. Digital terrain andimagery of the area of operations forthe upcoming mission weresupplemented with role playersacting out a shura so that 1-508thjunior leaders could meet with anAfghan district mayor, responsiblefor local police forces and requiringthe use of translators.

These mission rehearsals areinvaluable in forming adaptive juniorleaders and exposing them to thechallenges they will face once theyarrive in the Combined JointOperations Area, said Catena. Foreach situational experience, the goalis to immerse the Soldier in thatoperational environment so that whenhe deploys, his level of familiarityand confidence is significantlyheightened.

Wanting to take full advantage of

the remaining time on CasermaEderle to continue to teach andmentor his subordinate leaders, Capt.Joe Geraci, commander, Alpha Co,1-508th Inf (Abn), said the trainingat the BCTC gave him one moreopportunity to share his vision andprovide guidance to his platoonleadership, fire support personnel,and communications experts.

The BCTC is a multi-complexmission support capability in which,among other tasks, training expertsconstruct an environment that allowsunits to train on tasks that have beenidentified by the units. This helps takethe planning burden off the units, sothat they can spend their time actually

training, said Catena.Does your unit need to work on

communications and reporting skills?Rehearse actions on enemy contact?Plan for convoy security? Practiceyour MEDEVAC or call for fireprocedures?

The BCTC’s door is open and thestaff is ready to help.

To begin coordination for missionrehearsals and other training, contactCatena at 634-6776/8088 or via emailat gene.catena@setaf.army.mil.

Units can also stop by Building371, across from the Bowling Centerat Caserma Ederle, or contact thecontract staff at 634-7245 orbrian.mulligan@setaf.army.mil.

Battle Command Training Center staff members role play a meetingbetween an Afghan government leader, his translator, and the platoonleaders from Bravo Co, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne).

Bravo Co, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne), Soldiers plan theirnext move with a BCTC instructor/trainer, during a mission rehearsalat the SETAF Battle Command Training Center on Caserma EderleFeb. 17, in preparation for deployment in support of OperationEnduring Freedom. (Photo by Laura Kreider, Outlook Staff)

6 THE Outlook March 1, 2005

Now Showing

Admission: Adults age 12 and over $4, children $2.The Ederle Theatre box office opens one hour prior to show time.

Tickets to blockbuster shows are presold at Baskin Robbins.

LEMONY SNICKETS - Jim Carrey, Timothy Spall - Violet,Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are three intelligent young childrenwho receive terrible news that their parents have died in a fire andhave left them an enormous fortune not to be used until the eldestchild is of age. They are taken in by a series of odd relatives andother people, including Lemony Snicket, who narrates the film,and the cunning and dastardly Count Olaf who is plotting to killthem and snatch their inheritance from them.

THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU - Bill Murray,Owen Wilson - Internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissouand his crew —Team Zissou — set sail on an expedition to huntdown the mysterious, elusive, possibly non-existant Jaguar Sharkthat killed Zissou’s partner during the documentary filming of theirlatest adventure. They face overwhelming complications includingpirates, kidnapping, and bankruptcy.

RACING STRIPES - Voice of Frankie Muniz, HaydenPanettiere - In the middle of a raging thunderstorm, a travelingcircus accidentally leaves behind some very precious cargo, a babyzebra. The gangly little foal is rescued by horse farmer Nolan Walsh,a champion thoroughbred trainer, and brought to his Kentucky farm.The Walsh farm borders the Turfway Racetrack, where highlyskilled thoroughbreds compete for horse racing’s top honor, theKentucky Crown. From the first moment Stripes lays eyes on thetrack, he’s hooked. He knows that if he could just get the chance,he could leave all those other horses in the dust. What he doesn’tknow is that he’s not exactly a horse. But with the help of the misfittroupe of barnyard friends and a teenage girl, he sets out to achievehis dream of racing with thoroughbreds.

SPANGLISH - Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni - When the beautifulnative Mexican woman Flor, the mother of a 12-year-old girl,becomes the housekeeper for an affluent Los Angeles family,cultures collide. Of all the horrifying pitfalls she worried about inthis new culture, Flor had never fathomed the peril of being trulyembraced by an upscale American family.

7 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.2 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.2 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.

Caserma Ederle Theater

Camp Darby Theater

March 4 Phantom of the Opera (PG13)March 5 The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (R)

7 p.m.7 p.m.

March 2 Closer (R)March 3 Flight of the Phoenix (PG13)March 4 Racing Stripes (PG)

Lemony Snickets (PG)March 5 Racing Stripes (PG)

Lemony Snickets (PG)Spanglish (PG13)

March 6 Lemony Snickets (PG)Racing Stripes (PG)

March 9 Lemony Snickets (PG)March 10 Spanglish (PG13)

Movie Synopsis

By Dorothy Spagnuolo&Out AboutExhibitions

Venice: Sea-goers are in for atreat at Venice. An exhibition andmarket, the Venice InternationalFloating Show, said to be the mostprestigious boat show of the world,will offer to seafarers, operatorsand shipyards equipment and usedand new sailing boats.

There are 136,000 square metersof water that will not onlyaccommodate the hundreds ofcrafts in the fair, but will act as astage for many sports events suchas sailing regattas, demonstrationsof junior dinghies and models.Also, sailing accessories andsportswear fashions will be at themarket.

Find the exhibition by followingthe signs just after crossing the longbridge which links Mestre toVenice by car.

Opens Saturday until March 13.Weekends from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. andweekdays until 6 p.m. Entrance feeis 11 euro. Full information anddirections are available atwww.salonenauticodivenezia.com

Verona: The exhibitionAgrifood will present some 600agricultural companies who haveinvested in the rebirth ofagriculture.

Three hundred carefullyselected products and 100 dishesbased on local products will becreated by masters of Italian cuisineand can be tasted.

At the fair, which starts onThursday, there will be exhibitorsfrom all over Italy and visitors willbe presented with detailedinformation regarding thecharacteristics, origin and variousstages of the production process,

especially of fruit andvegetables.

Visitors who love a refined butgenuine cuisine will be presentedwith an ideal context for samplingexclusive dishes and menus, allcreated with products presented atthe fair.

Opening hours: Thursday-Sunday 9:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. Entrancefee is 8 euro. Exit Verona sud,south, and follow the signs for theFiera.

Parma: Anyone with theslightest interest in collecting andbrowsing amongst antiques shouldvisit Mercanteinfiera Primavera,held at the Fiera di Parma.

One of the biggest and mostimportant fairs for collectors andantique-buyers in Italy, it offersmore than a 1,000 stands withfurniture, paintings, silver, jewelryand china, with something to pleaseall tastes and budgets.

Mercanteinfiera runs fromSaturday-March 13 and will beopen everyday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.,Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Entrance fee is 9,50 euro.

For further information anddirections consult the sitewww.fiere.parma.it

International motorshow

The 75th International MotorShow and Accessories, held inGeneva, attracts over 5,000journalists and over 700,000visitors of whom 44 percent comefrom over 100 different countries.Find the very latest in cars andaccessories. The grand opening ison Thursday. Doors will be openon weekdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and on

weekends 9 a.m.-7 p.m. throughMarch 13. Entrance fees are 12Swiss francs for adults and children6-16 years of age cost 7 Swissfrancs. For tickets online or furtherinformation visit www.salon-auto.ch

Women’s DayMarch 8 is Women’s Day in

Italy. Feminist associations usuallycelebrate this day, organizingmeetings and demonstrations todefend women’s rights and femaleemancipation. The symbol of thisday is the mimosa and manyhusbands and boyfriends give thisflower to their loved ones. Theorigin of this occasion goes backto 1929, when many women diedduring a fire that broke out in atextile factory in the city of NewYork. The workers couldn’t escapebecause they were locked into thebuilding from the outside. Mimosatrees were on the grounds of thebuilding.

On this day, groups of womenenjoy themselves first havingdinner in restaurants or pizzeriasand then going to discos or clubs,where special shows have beenorganized. The dinner usually endswith the so-called Mimosa cake.

Rome MarathonRun around the monuments.

This year, the Rome Marathontakes place on March 13 with a starttime of 9:30 a.m. Offering one ofthe most beautiful routes in theworld, this is a major sporting eventand a day of celebration andspectacle for the city as a whole.

Visit www.maratonadiroma.itfor full details of the occasion,including registration, big-namecompetitors, and regulations.

Most interest to non-runners isthe beautifully illustrated accountof the architectural wonders passedalong the route.

The starting point for themarathon is between ViaConciliazione and the Coliseum,and the marathon winds its wayaround the center of the city tofinish up back at the Coliseum, thistime along Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Observatory MuseumHow was the universe studied

in days gone by? If you areinterested in this subject, aninteresting museum to visit is theobservatory museum in Padova,that began construction in 1767.

Called the Specola Museum,the tower, which is visited by foot,reaches over 40 meters in height.

See the Meridian Room, thefirst room which is at 16 metersabove ground level. You can findon the east side of the room a largefresco of the Solar System as itwas known before 1780,represented with geometricprecision. On the west side of theroom is the great mural quadrantof Ramsden of 1778, the greatestexisting in Italy, with a diameterof 240 centimeters. At the extremenorth side you can find a transitinstrument used to evaluate theexact instant of time in which a startransits at the meridian. On thefloor of the room is the meridianline, used to measure the exactmoment of noon (that is the exact

Attention DeficitHyperactivity

DisorderArt Auction

On March 12 at 4 p.m. therewill be an Art Auction of 150paintings by local artists tobenefit awareness of ADHDhere in the Veneto Region. TheAuction will be held at thePadua Art Gallery, Via dellePiazze, 28, Padova.

For more information oneither of these events, call 049-652-057 or 329-231-2572.

moment in which the sun arrivesat the highest point over thehorizon) in Padova.

Climb, climb, and climb morestairs (good exercise) and findalong the way telescopes,pendulum clocks and frescos onthe walls.

A complete itinerary and ticketinformation is available in Englishat www.pd.astro.it

Cyrano de BergeracThe Down Syndrome People of

Italy Association will presentCyrano de Bergerac on March 24in Livorno at Teatro la GranGuardia.

There will be twoperformances, one at 4 p.m. andone at 9 p.m. Tickets cost 13 eurofor the 4 p.m. show and 21 eurofor the 9 p.m. show.

Tickets can be purchased at thetheater. For additional informationfeel free to contact the CampDarby Public Affairs Office at633-7229 or emailPAO@darby.setaf.army.mil

SETAF Lions soccer player # 10, left, defends at midfield againstFrancesco Tagliapietra of the local Bertoliani 991 team during asoccer game held at Costozza di Longare Feb. 19. SETAF Lionswon the game 4-1 and are currently in third place of the local Italiansoccer league. The Lions are scheduled to play every Saturday at2:30 p.m. at the field in Costozza di Longare. On Saturday the teamwill play the local Beppe’s Snack team. On March 12 they face offagainst Amatori Setteca’ and March 19 they face Longobarda. Forthose interested in practicing and playing, the team meets everyTuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. at the North 40. For moreinformation call the coach Angelo Baso at 634-7304. (Photo byLaura Kreider, Outlook Staff)

SETAF Lions play in local Italian league

JazzChris Potter will play at the

Giotto Theater, in the town ofVicchio, located 95 miles fromLivorno, on March 11 at 9:30 p.m.Tickets cost 13 euro.

Call the Florence Tourist Officeat 055-23320 for moreinformation.

8 THE Outlook March 1, 2005

Story and photosBy Diana Bahr22nd ASG Public Affairs

“You need to do your job betterthan you’ve ever done it before,”said Lt. Col. William Hogan,deputy commander, 22nd AreaSupport Group, to the group of 15or so individuals clustered aroundhim in the Fitness Center gym Jan.20. “The commander’s intent is forthis pre-deployment process to bea one-stop shop for the deployingSoldier. To the best of our abilities,we will make it so that every Soldierwho walks the line of this pre-deployment process area will leave

One Stop Shop for deployment needs

Pre-deployment process readies Soldiers for Afghanistan

This was the scene in the Fitness Center gym Feb. 10 as Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne),173d Airborne Brigade, began their pre-deployment process. The intent is to have a one-stop shop for thedeploying Soldiers, thus making it faster and easier for the Soldiers to ensure their paperwork is taken careof and any issues are resolved quickly before they deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation EnduringFreedom. (Photo by Spc. Jon Arguello, 173d Abn Bde Public Affairs)

this building ready to deploy.“I will be going through every

station just as if I were deploying,”continued Hogan. “When I get toyour desk, you will have to tell me,in detail, exactly what you needfrom me and exactly what you willdo for me, as a deploying Soldier.”

With the intent clearly stated, theSoldiers and civilians responsiblefor the various sections of the PDPwent back and manned theirstations. While the event was moreof a dry run to work out any kinksin the system, there were still sixSoldiers, belonging to an advanceteam, who would actually be goingthrough the PDP.

Within a few minutes, Hoganbegan his inspection. Beginning atthe sign-in desk, he made his waydown the line to Finance, Legal,Transportation, and so on. At everystation he drilled the personmanning the desk on their part ofthe mission.

“I just want to remind everyonethat this is a long process,” saidHogan. “There’s going to be atendency for frustration when webegin this process in full. But weneed to remember that theseSoldiers are leaving their homesand families for a year. They needall of our support to get them outthe door safely.”

Less than one week later, thestaff at the PDP geared up for itsfirst real test—the PDP of Soldiersfrom the SETAF HeadquartersSupport Company who are leavingfor Afghanistan soon.

Pre-deployment processing isone of the most important thingswe can accomplish to ensure weleave, without leaving itemshanging in the air, said Sgt. 1stClass Steven Day, a paralegal with

the Office of the Staff JudgeAdvocate. A native of Pinconning,Mich., Day was impressed withthe efforts of the PDP staff. “Thisis a very coordinated effort,” hesaid as he filled out forms at astation. “Every station has had aprofessional and helpful staff.”

A member of the 173d AirborneBrigade who deployed in 2003,Sgt. Jeffrey Bradford, 173dCombat Support Company, gavethe PDP high marks. “It’s obviousthat lessons learned from thebrigade’s deployment last year arebeing applied,” he said. “It’s muchmore squared-away than before.We’re not rushed, and we’re beinggiven time to get our paperworkin order.”

Those working to process theSoldiers echoed the orderliness ofthe operation.

“Everything has been goingsmoothly,” said Sgt. MichaelTowner, Detachment B, 208thFinance Battalion. “The Soldiersare coming here with their packetspre-filled out, and most Soldierstook their own initiative to take

care of problems by coming to theFinance Office before cominghere.”

Pleased with the apparentsuccess of the operation is AlexPalomo, 22nd ASG S1 and PDPofficer in charge. “ColonelDrummer thought that we shouldmake the pre-deployment processa one-stop shop for the Soldiers,”he said as he watched the lines ofSoldiers make their way throughthe gym. “We got together with thedifferent agencies involved and thedecision was made to set up thePDP in the guy. This way, theSoldiers have one location foreverything, except medical, and ifa problem arrises, we can addressit immediately.

“At this point, we are meetingthe commander’s intent and wehope that the After Action Reportwill show that we not only met ourgoal, but exceeded ourexpectations,” he said.

The Fitness Center gym will beclosed for PDP on the followingdates: March 7-11 and March 14-16.

A Soldier looks over the Home Town News Release paperworksubmitted by Pfc. Brad Long. Long, a Soldier with Headquarters andHeadquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne), isdeploying with his unit to Afghanistan in support of OperationEnduring Freedom. The purpose of the Home Town News Releaseprogram is to inform the people in the town where Long’s parentslive of his service to his country. The Home Town News Releaseprogram also highlights the efforts and accomplishments of Soldiersin such events as promotions, awards and honors, specialachievements, and more. (Photo by Diana Bahr, 22nd ASG PublicAffairs)

By Becky LienemannPublicity ChairmanAmerican Red Cross, Vicenza

What does the International Red Cross havein common with Italy?

You probably didn’t know, but the very ideafor the Red Cross was born right here inNorthern Italy.

About 60 miles west of Vicenza, in the townof Solforino, a Swiss businessman named HenryDunant witnessed a horrific battle between twoarmies. After seeing the many dead andwounded soldiers on the battlefield, Dunant feltcompelled to assist. He joined in the relief bysending his coach for supplies and writing hisfriends back in Switzerland for aid. Though hecontinued with his travels, the experience wasnever forgotten by Dunant. What he had seenwould not allow his conscience to rest.

He later wrote a book about the awfulinhumanities he had witnessed called A Memoryof Solforino (Un Souvenir de Solforino). Thebook, which was printed in Geneva in 1862,emphasized two main concerns: a need for anorganized group of trained volunteers and thenecessity for international cooperation for thesake of humanity. These ideas were the seedsthat lead to the International Red Cross and thefoundation from which the Geneva ConventionInternational laws were enacted. These two ideas

March is Red Cross Monthare linked through the fact that currently, anycountry desiring to have a Red Cross Societywithin its borders, must sign on to the GenevaConventions.

In 1881 Clara Barton founded what is nowthe American Red Cross and the very next yearthe United States signed on to the Genevaconventions.

Though the American Red Cross is not agovernment organization, it is an importantchannel that works very closely with governmentagencies to offer aid to members of the U.S.Armed Forces and to disaster victims at homeand abroad.

The President of the United States makes thedeclaration of March as Red Cross Month eachyear. The Red Cross uses this opportunity topromote its services to the American public forawareness, education, volunteer recruitment andmost importantly for fundraising.

The American Red Cross depends on thegenerosity of the American people to help thosein need during times of natural or manmadedisasters. Your local Red Cross has been acompulsory part of pre-deployment preparationsand will continue to serve as an important linkbetween our Soldiers and their loved ones.

For questions regarding the American RedCross or services offered, call the office at 634-7089 or stop by their new location in Building108, the Family Readiness Center at Davis Hall.

Soldiers for a day

A Soldier from Headquarters Company, SETAF, shows Vicenza Elementary Schoolstudents, and their parents, what is inside Meals Ready to Eat during the Soldier fora Day event Feb. 10. In addition to MREs, which participants had a chance to eat,the students also learned about map reading and tested out different militaryequipment such as body armor. They also learned about military vehicles. Theevent was a joint effort between many units on post. It was coordinated by BessWills, a second grade teacher at the school, and Navy Cmdr. Ken O’Brien, SETAFRear Detachment chief of staff.(Photos provided by Bess Wills)

Soldiers for a day