204TH BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION
Rough Rider Connection V O L U M E
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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
Holiday Message from Rough Rider 6 Black Knights Mass Production of Critical Systems Assassins Conduct Sling Load Mission SFC Braithwaite—Cobras’ Newest Sergeant Audie Murphy Club Member Rough Riders and ANA Work Together for Resupply
Dear Rough Rider Family, As we approach the holiday season we want to take the time to thank all of you and your families for your service and sacrifices over the past year. This past year has been one which has seen amazing achievements and exciting progress for our Rough Rider Battalion and we look forward to what the New Year will bring. The call to leave family and friends in order to maintain peace and to support justice throughout the world is unrelenting in its demands. You have faithfully expended yourselves providing Steadfast and Loyal support to our nation and our Army. All of you – Little Groups of Rough Riders- have been magnificent, and we are very proud to serve with you. Each of you played an invaluable role in providing excellent support throughout RC-S here in Afghanistan under extreme conditions. You have made a difference in this war, we admire you, and applaud you for your diligent efforts, especially for the work which may go unseen and unrecognized, but which is invaluable in the lives of those we support. As we approach the arrival of a new year we are thankful for the many blessings that have been given to us all and look forward to a very productive and happy 2012. It will be filled with the usual challenges of Army life: family separations, wrapping up this deployment and demanding work hours. However, our trust in each of you and in our ability to thrive through these challenges is explicit. Relying upon our collective experience and perseverance, we will move forward and embrace all of the challenges of the year to come. We want to close this letter as it began: commending and thanking each of you for your service and sacrifices of this year; may these holidays truly be a season of refreshment for you and for your loved ones. Our hope is that this holiday season will revive your souls and grant you, and your loved ones, a joyful time. We look forward to another year of serving alongside of each of you in our Rough Rider Family.
NEWSLETTER STAFF:
Rough Riders! Make it Happen!
Season’s Greetings,
CPT Ashlea Cleveland 1LT Betsy Arndt
This newsletter contains official and unofficial information. The inclusion of some unofficial information in this newsletter has not increased the cost to the Government, in accordance with DOD 4525.8-M
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Black Knights Produce Mission Critical Systems By Specialist Natasha Gaskins, Bravo Company Public Affairs Representative KANDAHAR, Afghanistan—Culvert Intrusion Denial Systems (CIDS) are the main defense against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). A culvert is a drain or waterway crossing under a road or bridge and the system prevents the placement of IEDs inside of culverts. CIDS help protect the military vehicles that are constantly traveling on those roadways. Bravo Company and civilian contractors working on Forward Operating Base Walton produce the systems that have proven to be mission critical. Bravo Company’s Search and Recovery (S&R) Section are charged with the mass production of CIDS. Specialist Gregory Coxton plays a vital role in ensuring that the systems are produced in accordance with Combined Task Force Warhorse priorities. SPC Coxton produces four 38 inch CIDS monthly as opposed to the
25 inch by 4 inch systems produced by other civilian contractors. The main item used to produce the system is rebar. Every 38 inch CIDS produced needs 180 feet of rebar. In the production of the CIDS, it takes PFC Coxton roughly a day and a half to have a system ready for installation into a culvert. The CIDS produced by S&R is circular rather than the original design of the Dehart Culvert Denial System, which was square. This design was created by engineers that were previously deployed in Afghanistan. “The bigger the Culvert Denial System, the more detail that goes into it,” says Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gene Balderman. Creating larger CIDSs ensures more proficiency and accuracy in protecting roadways from IEDs. Many Soldiers risk their lives by traveling off FOBs so that they can
secure the CIDS in the culverts. The system produced by Bravo Company is 80 pounds, so it takes roughly four people to place the metal contraption inside the culvert. The production of the Culvert Denial System is a great method to prevent the use of IEDs. The CDS helps saves lives every day and that is what PFC Coxton takes much pride in. “The work that I have done with the CIDS will save lives of Soldiers, now and in the future,” s a ys SPC Coxton. In the Photo: SPC Gregory Coxton with a Culvert Intrusion Denial System that he created.
Assassins Conduct Sling Load Operation to Resupply CTF Warhorse By Staff Sergeant Christopher Lewis and Staff Sergeant Brenda Curry, Supply Support Activity K AND AH AR, Af ghanist an — Combined Task Force (CTF) Warhorse is constantly moving throughout the battlespace. Given the current operation tempo (op-tempo), convoys are not always available to resupply the troops. The Soldiers and Non-commissioned Officers of the Supply Support Activity, A Company, 204th Brigade Support Battalion have successfully contributed to the mission by conducting sling load operations while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. One such mission came about on 24 November 2011. A day of giving thanks also turned into another mission essential evening in Afghanistan. While others were enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner in the Dining Facility, another hand-
ful of Soldiers were executing an emergency resupply sling load mission. CTF Warhorse continues to build strong bonds with Coalition Forces and cross cultural understandings. SSG Jesse Payton headed the mission by providing his expertise in rigging abilities in accordance with sling load operations policies. The Soldiers immediately palletized, rigged, and loaded pallets and cargo nets, consisting of Class IV (Lumber), Class I (Subsistence), and much more for quick transport via Chinook. The aircraft was already in route so the Soldiers had to move with haste in the dusty and frigid air. Under these conditions, the Soldiers completed the mission swiftly, safely and to standard.
Above: Soldiers and Civilians of the Supply Support Activity, A Company 204th BSB prepare a load to be slung from an aircraft for resupply.
When the mission was complete, an Afghanistan National Army General personally gave his thanks to the 204th BSB Rough Riders for a job well done, therefore a great way to end a day of thanks.
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SFC Melinda Braithwaite - A Cobra Leading from the Front By Specialist Steven Giles and Private First Class Brittny Escamilla, Combat Medics, C Company
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan— Some know of his movies, some know of his songs, but most know of him as a Soldier. Moreover, the most decorated Soldier in the history of the United States Military. Audie Leon Murphy accomplished many things during his life, but as a Soldier he set the standard for many military generations to come, displaying tenacity, virtue, mo-
Above: The newest members of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in Afghanistan.
rale and valor. "Don't let that baby face fool you, that's the toughest Soldier in the Third Division," stated a fellow sergeant from his unit. Although he was known for being the toughest Soldier, Audie Murphy was known for his role as leader. Now generations after his existence, the United States Army honors his bravery and leadership through the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC), an exclusive organization for Enlisted Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) who display qualities similar to his. Induction into this prestige club requires NCOs to “exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare and concern for families and Soldiers.” Sergeant First Class Melinda Braithwaite, a Combat Medic of
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Above: SFC Braithwaite completes a written test on land navigation.
C Company, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is just that, a leader who inspires and cares for her Soldiers. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, SFC Braithwaite was given the opportunity to compete for this prestigious award. Once she received her letter of recommendation from the C Company 1SG, SFC
Above: SFC Braithwaite is tested on various weapons systems.
Braithwaite began her rigorous journey of preparing for the BN and BDE level selection boards. The evaluation process consisted of her attendance at three Sergeant Audie Murphy Association boards (battalion and brigade level, and the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan), performing hands-on tasks (Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills) and an Army Physical Fitness Test (minimum score of 290). With help from her peers and 1SG Chanda Gaines acting as her Micky from Rocky, SFC
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Braithwaite was able to pass every assessment with flying colors. "I felt nervous through this whole process, but when I was called up to my board evaluations I felt untouchable," stated SFC Braithwaite. She passed her Army Physical Fitness Test with a solid 300 points; a score she said was the most satisfying part of the whole examination. After attending the JSC-A board, she was identified as one of the six NCO’s selected for induction into SAMC. "I was excited yet relieved to see my hard work payoff. It was a great experience and now I feel like I can walk a little taller", stated SFC Braithwaite. On 9 December 2011 SFC Braithwaite was inducted into the SAMC at KAF during an amazing ceremony where LTG Hertling, USAREUR Commanding General, was the guest speaker. She received the SAMC medallion which is hung from a powder blue ribbon. This medallion serves as a symbol of excellence for this amazing NCO. In today’s military young Soldiers look to NCO’s to exemplify the traits necessary to lead, train, develop and motivate Soldiers into becoming future leaders. SFC Braithwaite is a representation of that type of NCO… leader. For it was Audie Leon Murphy himself that stated, “Great leaders lead from the front”. Below: Standing tall during the Induction Ceremony, SFC Braithwaite, first on the left.
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Rough Riders Assist the ANA with Supplies in Distant Locations By First Lieutenant Nicholas Greco and First Lieutenant Betsy Arndt, Support Operations 204th BSB KANDAHAR, Afghanistan—On 17 and 18 December 2011, the Rough Riders worked together with the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) to assist them in providing supplies to their fellow Soldiers in locations that are hard to reach by convoy. Items were packaged and prepared to be sent by air during future aerial resupply missions. The supplies will be delivered in conjunction with missions that will also supply fellow Combined Task Force Warhorse Soldiers. After escorting them onto Forward Operating Base Walton, items such
as water, food and wood were broken down at the Supply Support Activity (SSA) where Soldiers from A Company, along with the ANA downloaded their trucks, separated and palletized the items. Once the items were placed into boxes to ensure there were no loose pieces, A Company Soldiers showed them how to strap down the boxes to pallets using an Air Force cargo net and together rigged up the load. The mission proved to be rewarding and the ANA showed their appreciation through their motivation in helping out. “They were eager to learn and quickly completed the task, so it wasn’t just us doing for them,” stated 1LT Nicholas Greco who oversaw the mission. Left: The ANA and SSA Soldiers place wood into tri-walls. Right top: The ANA and SSA Soldiers that worked together to complete the mission. Right bottom: ANA Soldiers tighten the straps on the boxes.
The SPO Shop wants to thank the FRG for the stockings of goodies. Merry Christmas!
These missions are intended for Coalition Forces to work together with the common goal of delivering needed items to our Soldiers in locations where terrain is a challenge. Ultimately the ANA will become selfsufficient and able to sustain themselves.
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