July 2008

www.1id.army.mil

Unofficial 1st Infantry Division Magazine of Soldiers and Families

Serving

with Pride 

Distinction 

Dedication

July 2008

www.1id.army.mil

Unofficial 1st Infantry Division Magazine of Soldiers and Families
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 1 U.S. Army Photo

The Big Red One Creed

TEAMWORK is the foundation of the Big Red One. I shall

never fail my team, for I maintain the standard. My conduct and 

self-discipline sets the example for others to follow.

HONOR is what I stand for-an American Soldier on duty

for my country. My loyality is intense. I display care for

my fellow Soldiers and my chain-of-command through courage,

respect, integrity and compassion.

I have learned to ENDURE, to thrive in adversity. 

The harsh reality of combat gives me the enthusiam for

realistic training. I am physically and mentally strong to

meet the demanding situations my unit encounters.

We are one in the Big Red One. Our BROTHERHOOD

gives us strength to fight on to any objective and accomplish the

mission as our veterans have done before us. I live the legacy of

my division.

READINESS is my priority. To be ready for any mission,

anytime, anywhere. My business is first-class training and living

high standards of care and equipment, weaponry and tactical

and technical competence.

My ORGANIZATION is my strength. The BRO is bigger 

than any one individual. It gives me purpose, self-confidence, 

competitive spirit, intestinal fortitude and the desire to fight

with all my heart.

2

1st Infantry Division Commander

Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin

1st Infantry Division CSM

Command Sgt. Maj. James 

Champagne

1st Infantry Division PAO

Maj. Nathan Bond

1st Infantry Division PAO OPS NCO

Sgt. 1st Class Jake A. Newman

Editor

Sgt. 1st Class Pamella Voss

Assistant Editor

Laura Stroda

Staff Writer

Spc. Francisca Vega

Art Director

Floyd Hansford M/VISC

contents Duty First!

No Mission too Difficult. No Sacrifice too Great.

July 2008 www.1id.army.mil

The Duty First is an unofficial 

publication produced under 

the provisions of AR 360-1, 

published by Soldiers of the 

1st Infantry Division. Editorial 

views and opinions expressed 

are not necessarily those of the 

Department of Defense, the Army 

or the 1st Infantry Division. All 

photos are Army photos unless 

otherwise noted. Circulation is 

6,000 per issue, printed monthly. 

Story and photos submissions are 

welcome and should be sent to: 

1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office 

ATTN: Editor 

Bldg. 580

RM 135

Fort Riley, Kan. 66442. 

Telephone number 

785-239-8126 or 785-239-2402 

DSN 856-2402 or 856-3616 fax 

785-239-2592 

or visit Duty First online at 

www.1id.army.mil.

Command

Danger 6...... 3 

Danger 7...... 4

 

Features

Medal of Honor...... 5

Run Forrest Run...... 9

Our Partnerships.....11

Phishing.... 13

Divisional Change.... 15

BRO History – World War II.... 17

Who We are Now.... 19

Brigades

1st BDE ... 21

2nd HBCT ... 23

1st ID at War.... 24

3rd IBCT ... 25 

4th IBCT ... 27

TT Mission.... 28

1st SB ... 29

1st CAB ... 31

75th Fires ... 33
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

This is an exciting month for Soldiers of the Big Red 

One as we host “Victory Week” – a celebration of our 

Division’s lineage and history. July 14-19 will mark our 

inaugural Victory Week, but we plan to make it an annual 

event. We have a full slate of activities planned to honor 

our fallen comrades, former commanding generals and 

distinguished members of the Big Red One.

We’ll kick things off with a Division run and sports 

tournament. Fort Riley’s annual 10-5-2 Prairie Run 

will cap things off on the final day of 

Victory Week. There’ll be hands-on 

tours of our simulators, static displays, 

museum tours and an inside look at 

our headquarters building. And some 

of our former BRO Soldiers will be 

honored with their induction as 1st 

ID Distinguished Members of the 

Regiment.

As part of Victory Week, we’ll 

be hosting our former division 

commanders for the annual Danger 6 

conference. We’ll be updating former 

commanding generals on our current 

missions within our brigades and 

they’ll have the opportunity to meet 

with Soldiers in informal settings.

One of the more special events to me 

will be the dedication of Victory Park, 

located adjacent to our headquarters 

building. Many of you probably heard of and possibly 

even visited Victory Park when it was in Germany. 

When our Division came back to Fort Riley, with it 

came Lady Victory, the Fallen Soldier Statue and the 

memorial stones in Victory Park. The park was built to 

honor 1st Infantry Division Soldiers killed in Operation 

Iraqi Freedom 1 and 2. It has since been expanded to 

include all BRO Soldiers killed in Operations Iraqi and 

Enduring Freedom. 

3

Commanding General Danger 6

Victory Week...

Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin

We currently have 193 stones in the park, meaning 

there are at least 250 more granite markers that must be 

engraved and placed in the park. And until the war on 

terror ends, there will unfortunately be even more Soldiers 

who must be remembered. 

Surrounding Lady Victory are our most revered fallen 

Soldiers – our Medal of Honor recipients. We will soon 

add a stone in honor of Spc. Ross McGinnis, whose 

Family received the medal on his behalf during a June 2 

ceremony at the White House.

The Division Walkway also includes 

stones in honor of our former Danger 

6s and 7s. We currently have only a 

handful of stones memorializing our 

former commanders and command 

sergeants major. We have 71 former 

commanding generals and 18 former 

division command sergeants major. 

Any Soldier ever assigned or 

attached to our Division is eligible to 

be memorialized on a stone. Or maybe 

a leader, business or civic organization 

in the Greater Fort Riley Community 

has significantly impacted your unit. 

Say “thanks” by purchasing a stone 

for them. If you’d like to purchase a 

memorial stone, contact our division 

headquarters commandant, Master 

Sgt. John Taylor, at (785) 239-8858 or 

john.taylor6@us.army.mil. 

I encourage each of you to take a stroll through Victory 

Park. Read the stones, the names, the sacrifices that our 

Medal of Honor Soldiers made. Run your fingers over the 

hundreds of names at the bottom of the Fallen Soldier 

Statue. These names, those stones, represent the service, 

sacrifice and courage of the great men and women who 

have served honorably in our Division. They will never be 

forgotten. 

DUTY FIRST!

This month we celebrate the independence of this 

great nation. It is a celebration of men of courage and 

character that made a decision to pursue a life of liberty 

and happiness ... but those decisions came with a price. 

Then I am reminded of the hardships and sacrifices to 

gain our freedom and independence.

Our Army today is still made up of men and women 

with courage and character and still 

facing hardships and sacrifices. And just 

like that Army 233 years ago, our Army 

today would not be what it is without the 

individual, and their contributions.

Over the past several weeks I have 

transitioned into my new role as Danger 

7. Without a doubt, Soldiers of the Big 

Red One are “Getting After it!” While 

visiting the Daggers at the National 

Training Center, I was extremely proud 

to witness Soldiers and their leaders 

alike fine tuning the skills that will push 

them through the breech while fighting 

in Iraq. Not only are the Daggers getting 

ready but the Dukes are soon to be on 

their way. You can see in the Dukes eyes 

they are ready to take it to the enemy in 

the mountains of Afghanistan. 

Let’s not forget those Soldiers with 

the 1st Sustainment Brigade, Combat Aviation Brigade, 

75th Fires Brigade, and 3d ESC who are already in 

the fight carrying on the traditions of the 1st Infantry 

Division. 

4th Brigade is just back after a well earned block 

leave and will again begin to train and prepare for 

what ever the nations needs are. 1st Brigade tirelessly 

continues to train those Soldiers at an incredible pace 

to assume positions on Transition Teams. 

I believe in our Soldiers. Each and every one of them 

has something significant to add to this team through 

their experiences, talents and beliefs.

As leaders we need to identify those experiences, 

talents and beliefs and allow them to be a contribution.

If the Soldier enjoys music, they can use that to raise 

the morale of their battle buddies. If the Soldier has 

great organization skills, they can create a new way to 

track missions and tasks.

I know this may sound very obvious and simple, but 

so many times as leaders we would rather do the job 

ourselves, get it done and get over it, rather than take the 

time to seek out an individual who may be a subject matter 

expert.

But there is a Soldier that once 

couldn’t pass their run, now competes 

in marathons. There is a Soldier that 

overcame an addiction that can warn 

others. And there is a Soldier that is 

eager to step up as a leader although 

they may be shy or reserved.

We are “Danger Strong” strong 

because of the individual. We are strong 

because we can pull from literally a 

million different ideas and opinions.

Leaders, I challenge you to not to 

overlook anyone. I challenge you not to 

assume anything about your Soldiers. 

I tell you again that each one of them 

has something to contribute. That “soup 

sandwich” today, will with leadership 

involvement become a leader. 

Although you may be in a position 

of authority – it doesn’t make you an 

authority on every subject. A good leader will use their 

resources to accomplish the mission and one of the best 

resources is the ideas, imagination, and creativity and of 

our Soldiers.

I also encourage you to listen to your Soldiers, not just 

hear them. You may be surprised how much they know 

and understand and you may learn something yourself. 

Our Soldiers are that smart, our Soldiers are that strong.

I am so proud of the Soldiers of the Big Red One. Thank 

you all for your hard work. Thank you for your contribution 

to the 1st Infantry Division and its many, many missions.

Now ... Get after it!

Duty First!

4

Command Sergeant Major Danger 7

Division Command Sgt. Maj. James Champagne

I Believe in our Soldiers!
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 5

Carrie McLeroy 

Army News Service

WASHINGTON – On June 2, two weeks shy of what 

would have been his 21st birthday, Spc. Ross McGinnis 

posthumously received the Medal of Honor in a White 

House ceremony. McGinnis was only the second U.S. 

Soldier to receive the medal for actions in Operation Iraqi 

Freedom and a special Web site dedicated to his heroics 

has been created by the Soldiers Media Center at www.

army.mil/medalofhonor/McGinnis. The site includes a 

profile on the 1st Infantry Division Soldier, battlescape, 

background on the medal, video news reports and a 

number of other resources.

Story of a Hero – McGinnis began his transformation 

from scrawny boy to standout Soldier at 17, enlisting in 

the Army through the Delayed Entry Program in June 

2004. Although not remembered as a troublemaker, 

McGinnis was not interested in school, and spent his teen 

years struggling to eek by.

“He put us through our trials, definitely. From little up, 

he liked to push the limits,” his mother, Romayne, said. 

“You never knew what was going to come out of his mouth 

or out of his actions.”

In high school, McGinnis never made the honor roll or 

played sports. According to teachers, he made his mark, 

but in ways that were uniquely Ross.

“He stood out, but just by bits and pieces,” said Franki 

Sheatz, McGinnis’s ninth and 11th-grade French teacher 

at Keystone High School. “When he stood out, a lot of 

times it was because of his wit, or because he was trying 

to get away with something. He never 

did any more or less than a lot of the 

other kids I had in class, although he 

was charming in his little way.”

His parents and teachers agreed 

that the catalyst that sparked a change 

in McGinnis was his decision to join the 

military.

“He came to us and said he wanted 

join the Army, and we accepted that,” 

said McGinnis’s father Tom. The way 

we looked at it was that he had no 

intention of going to school, and there 

really aren’t very good jobs for a person 

that doesn’t have higher education. The 

Army was an opportunity for him to be 

able to get the kind of education that 

he wanted.” 

The younger McGinnis had 

aspirations of one day becoming an 

automotive technician. The Army, in 

Second U.S. Soldier Receives 

Posthumous Medal of Honor for 

Actions in

Operation Iraqi Freedom

6

Spc. Bryan Warriner, 1st BDE OPFOR, works on a mock-IED 

while preparing to attack Transition Teams in training.

his eyes, was a means to that end - a place where he 

could serve his country as an infantryman, but receive 

an off-duty education that would prepare him for a future 

career.

Once McGinnis made the decision to join the Army, 

that became his focus. “The different conversations I 

had with Ross sometimes were over academics and 

encouraging him to do his best and that he had goals 

in mind,” Vicky Walters, Keystone High’s principal said. 

“We were encouraging him to complete those goals...He 

indicated he would do what it took to get the job done.” He 

would finish high school so he could join the Army.

His parents shared 

concerns about their son 

enlisting during a time of 

war, but knew if he stayed 

in Knox, his odds of making 

something of himself were 

limited. 

McGinnis left his rural 

Pennsylvania town for 

basic training at Fort 

Benning, Ga., within 

days of graduating from 

Keystone High School, just 

before his 18th birthday. 

During the first stage 

of training, McGinnis’s 

parents received a phone 

call from him. “He said 

the first week was boring, 

a lot of, ‘Hurry up and 

wait,’” Romayne said. 

In subsequent calls, he 

conveyed his increasing 

enthusiasm. 

“He really liked the 

physical part of the training. 

Ross wasn’t one to push 

a pencil. He wanted to 

be actively involved,” she 

said. “He was really excited about the weapons training. 

While in Boy Scouts, they went to a shooting range once 

and he really liked that, so it didn’t surprise me when he 

said he wanted to go with the gunner position.”

Soldier Among Civilians – McGinnis finished basic 

and then infantry training in Georgia and headed home to 

Knox on leave before reporting to his first assignment in 

Germany. The changes in him were evident, and shocking 

to some.

“He looked so much taller. He wasn’t. I think it was the 

uniform really,” Romayne said. “But it was, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ 

and, ‘No, ma’am.’ And I was like, ‘Who is this kid?’ He had 

a lot of respect, not that Ross ever disrespected us, but 

there was definitely that attitude that the Army had bred 

into him already in that short amount of time.”

Tom echoed his wife’s feelings about the new Soldier. 

“When he came home on leave and he was around 

civilians, he felt uneasy because other people seemed 

to be sloppy and lazy as compared to what it was like 

in the military. He was definitely different and thought 

differently after he’d gone through the training. It was 

surprising, because I don’t know if I ever knew anyone 

like that before, especially my own son. He had learned 

and grown quite a bit.”

When his Family learned that McGinnis’s first 

assignment would be to a Germany-based infantry 

regiment scheduled for 

an Iraq deployment, they 

worried but wished him 

well. “I told him, ‘Be safe. 

Think before you act.’ Any 

parent would say that to 

their child, I’m sure. We 

thought he was coming 

back,” Romayne said.

Soldier’s Soldier 

– McGinnis arrived in 

Schweinfurt, Germany 

in November 2005 and 

reported to 1st Platoon, 

Company C, 1st Battalion, 

26th Infantry Regiment 

with an influx of Soldiers 

as the company was 

preparing for its upcoming 

mission to Iraq. According 

to retired Staff Sgt. Ian 

Newland, he immediately 

became in instrumental 

part of the team.

“His personality and 

humor made him stand out. 

He was the comedian out 

of everybody,” Newland, 

a squad leader with 1st 

Platoon at the time, said. “You could be having the worst 

day in the field, or the worst day in the rear “D”, and Ross 

would come in a room and everybody would be laughing 

within three minutes.”

His gifts extended beyond platoon funny man 

according to his leaders, who said he was also a topnotch Soldier.

“I had four platoons, roughly 190 Soldiers in my 

command. There were certain Soldiers that would stand 

out. McGinnis was definitely one of those Soldiers,” said 

Maj. Michael Baka, Co. C commander from June 2005 

to March 2007. 

He was also a born leader, Newland said, who knew 

how to read and react to different Soldiers in a variety of 

UNITED STATES OF AMER CI A

VALOR

 The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 

March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal Honor to

 PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROSS A. McGINNIS 

 UNITED STATES ARMY

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and 

beyond the call of duty:

 Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and 

intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber 

Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in 

connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, 

Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to 

reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was 

manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an 

insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled 

"grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. 

Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made 

the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he 

was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it 

between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private 

McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or 

death. 

Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of 

his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest 

traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and 

the United States Army. 
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 7

situations. “People responded to him, and he knew how 

to respond to people’s personalities and characters. That 

is one of the hardest traits to build as a leader, to be able 

to adapt, per Soldier. He had that naturally.”

Adamiyah – The first unit from the battalion on the 

ground, Co. C arrived in Iraq Aug. 4, 2006, following a 

week of training in Kuwait. Combat Outpost Apache in 

Adamiyah, a northeast section of Baghdad steeped in 

sectarian violence, was to be their home. The area had 

lacked a U.S. presence for eight months.

“There were a lot of kidnappings, killings and a lot 

of enemy activity in our sector,” Baka said. Insurgent 

attacks, sniper fire, grenade contact and IEDs were all 

part of daily life in Adamiyah. 

In October, just two months into the deployment, Co. 

C had already lost two of its Soldiers; Staff Sgt. Garth 

Sizemore to a sniper’s bullet, and Sgt. Willsun Mock in 

an IED explosion. In November, after Saddam Hussein 

was found guilty of crimes against humanity, the battalion 

fought a five-hour battle against enemy insurgents who 

attacked the outpost. 

By December, the men of 1st Bn., 26th Inf. Regt. were 

battle hardened, but McGinnis had a way of taking the 

focus off the tragedies. 

“He was constantly motivating and positive all the time, 

and that really helped the platoon out a lot. He was key in 

our platoon because of that,” Newland said. 

That Fateful Day – Dec. 4, 2006, 1st Plt. was gearing 

up to patrol the streets of Adamiyah and deliver a 

250-kilowatt generator to provide increased electricity 

to the area. Insurgents had been lobbing grenades at 

vehicles on patrols, and in response the platoon had honed 

its reaction skills through a series of training scenarios 

Newland likened to fire drills. He had experienced such 

an incident nine days earlier on patrol, but the grenade 

turned out to be a dud.

As they rolled out of Apache’s gates, the men in the 

six-vehicle patrol felt up to their mission, despite everpresent dangers, as they did each time they patrolled 

Adamiyah’s streets, Baka said. “We had only just left the 

gate. We were moving deliberately down the streets, and 

had just taken a left-hand turn on a main road just south 

of Abu Hanifah mosque.” 

Baka’s was the fourth vehicle in the order of movement. 

The platoon sergeant’s vehicle was the last, as is typical 

for a standard patrol, and McGinnis manned its machine 

gun.

According to official statements from Sgt. Lyle Buehler 

(the driver), Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas (platoon sergeant 

and truck commander), Spc. Sean Lawson (medic) and 

Newland, McGinnis sat in the gunner strap, .50-cal at the 

ready, facing backward to ensure rear security. Buehler 

and Thomas rode in the front of the vehicle, and Newland 

and Lawson in the back.

As the sixth vehicle made the left turn, Baka heard a 

loud explosion. His initial thought was that a grenade had 

exploded outside his own up-armored Humvee. Baka’s 

machine gunner got on the intercom and said, “Sir, it looks 

like our last vehicle got hit.” All four of the Humvee’s doors 

had been blown off. Baka ordered his vehicle and the one 

behind it to turn around. “Once I saw the vehicle I knew 

right away that we had a hand grenade that had entered 

the vehicle, and that we had a large number of casualties,” 

he said.

Baka got a new driver for the crippled but still running 

Humvee, and they headed back to Apache. He said he 

knew the Soldiers had sustained injuries, but did not know 

to what extent until arriving at the outpost. He didn’t know 

that McGinnis was dead, or that he died a hero.

Thomas pulled Baka aside within minutes of arriving at 

Apache and said, “Sir, McGinnis saved our lives today.” 

Then he told the story that would support that statement.

An insurgent on a nearby rooftop threw a grenade 

at McGinnis’s vehicle. He unsuccessfully attempted to 

deflect the grenade, and it entered the vehicle behind him. 

McGinnis quickly announced, “Grenade!” 

According to official accounts by survivors, McGinnis 

stood up and was preparing to jump out of the vehicle. 

“That is what the machine gunner is supposed to do,” 

Baka said. “He’s supposed to announce the grenade, give 

a fair amount of time for people in the vehicle to react, and 

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jake A. Newman

8

then he’s supposed to save himself. No one would have 

blamed him if he did that, because that is what he was 

trained to do.” 

This time, the 19-year-old Soldier would not heed his 

training.

The other Soldiers asked, “Where?” McGinnis’s 

response - “It’s in the truck.” 

McGinnis saw the grenade sitting on the radio mount 

behind him and realized the others weren’t aware of its 

location. They were combat-locked in the Humvee and 

would not have time to escape. As he gave his response, 

he pushed the gunner strap out from under him and laid 

his back on top of the grenade. It detonated, killing him 

instantly.

Buehler and Thomas received minor shrapnel 

injuries, and Lawson suffered a perforated eardrum and 

concussion. Newland received more of the blast and was 

severely wounded, but would survive. “The driver and 

truck commander I am certain would have been killed if 

that blast had taken full effect,” Baka said. 

Newland, who was medically retired because of his 

injuries, was able to protect himself because of McGinnis’s 

warning. “He put his arm over 

his face, which I think saved 

his life, because a piece of 

shrapnel hit him in the arm. 

Another hit him in the chin 

and some in his legs. But he’s 

alive today,” Baka added.

Within 24 hours of 

McGinnis’s sacrifice, Baka 

gathered statements from 

the survivors and wrote the 

recommendation for his 

Medal of Honor. He received 

the Silver Star, the thirdhighest award for valor, as an interim award.

Magnitude of his Sacrifice – “The first time it became 

full magnitude for me was when we were loading his body 

onto the helicopter for the hero flight - that’s standard,” 

Baka said. The unit held a small, informal ceremony and 

Baka led them in a prayer, as there was no chaplain at the 

combat outpost. As the helicopter flew away, they saluted 

the young man who laid down his life so the men he loved 

and served with could live.

For the men who survived, each breath they take serves 

as a reminder of McGinnis’s courageous sacrifice.

“By all means I should have died that day. He gave 

me a life that he can’t have now,” Newland said. “There 

isn’t a single day or hour that goes by that I don’t take in 

everything. The smell of my daughter’s hair, the smile my 

son gives me out of nowhere, the soft touch of my wife’s 

hand just driving in the car. Normally those are things 

people might take for granted. I’m able to appreciate and 

have these things all over again, every day, every hour, 

because of what Ross did.”

Regular Guy Who did an Extraordinary Thing – 

Tom McGinnis is still adjusting to the fact that his son, 

who he described as average, often to the point of being 

an underachiever, received the Medal of Honor.

“I never pictured what a Medal of Honor winner is 

supposed to look like, but I guess I would think of somebody 

like a John Wayne character in the movies, where the guy 

is macho and tough and fear is nothing,” Tom said. “But of 

course, that’s not anywhere close to what my son, Ross, 

was like. Although he had very little fear in him, he wasn’t 

a tough, macho type of person. He was just like you and 

me.” For those outside the Army closest to McGinnis, he 

was a regular guy who came through for his friends when 

it mattered.

Remembering Ross McGinnis – For his brothers in 

arms, the best way to remember McGinnis is to tell the 

story of what he did for them Dec. 4, 2006, and to live 

their lives every day with purpose and meaning.

“I think for me to thank him, is to do everything I can 

to live my life to the fullest,” Newland said. “Because if he 

can have courage like that, if he can give up his 19-yearold life, then I can live the rest 

of my life, however long it is, to 

every day’s fullest.”

The Family McGinnis left 

behind still wrestles with his 

hero status and the wounds 

that haven’t had a chance to 

heal. Tom and Romayne said 

the constant focus on their son 

and what he did honors his 

memory, but keeps already raw 

emotions on the surface.

“It’s been good, because 

people want to keep his 

memory alive, and people do things to show you that it 

really meant a lot to them,” Tom said. “But at the same 

time, it doesn’t give us a chance to just drop it for a while...

it keeps that wound fresh. It’s painful, but eventually once 

everything dies down, then I think that the healing process 

will start.”

The McGinnis’s remember their son as an average kid 

who made mistakes but found purpose and direction as 

he became a young man, just like many other kids out of 

high school. For them, it is difficult to think of Ross as the 

larger-than-life character others may see him as because 

of his sacrifice.

This story was written from videotaped interviews of 

the sources. Sgt. 1st Class Pete Mayes and Staff Sgt. 

Ray Flores of Soldiers Radio and Television conducted 

the interviews.
9 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

Bill Armstrong 

Fort Riley, PAO

FORT RILEY, Kan. – A 23-year-old infantryman with 

an Iraq combat tour under his belt, completed his Army 

service at Fort Riley June 14 and returned to civilian life. 

Instead of scanning the want ads for a job, this Soldier 

headed to Hollywood to make movies.

Sound crazy? It would if it were any other guy. But 

Conner Humphreys, formerly of 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor 

Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, got a taste of 

being on the silver screen at the age of 8, and he liked it. 

Humphreys landed the role of “Young Forrest” in the 1994 

hit, “Forrest Gump,” starring Tom Hanks.

“If I really get into a character, I think I’m decent at it. I 

don’t want to call it a talent. Some people are comfortable 

with it and some aren’t,” Humphreys said.

Undaunted by his 15-year break in moving making, 

Humphreys said his military time helped him get a new role 

in an upcoming World War II movie called “Pathfinders.”

 “It’s about the Pathfinders from the 82nd that dropped 

in prior to the air drops on D-Day. They set up landing 

zones and what not so the rest of the divisions could come 

in. They were the initial wave of 18 or 20 guys that went 

into Normandy right before everyone else showed up and 

had a hell of a time in there,” he said.

Humphreys plan to resume his acting career after 

serving his country has been successfully tried before by 

other Hollywood giants. Jimmy Stewart paused his stellar 

film career to join the U.S. Army Air Corps at the start of 

World War II, eventually flying 20 combat missions over 

Europe. Other famous actor-veterans included William 

Holden, Clark Gable and Henry Fonda. 

Run, 

Forrest,

Run!

Fort Riley Soldier to Return to Hollywood

10

Over the years, 

the lanky young man 

from Corinth, Miss., 

has lost most of the 

Southern drawl that 

brought attention to 

his lines in Forrest 

Gump. Today, the softspoken Humphreys 

credits the Army for 

giving him what he’ll 

need to survive a 

return engagement in 

Hollywood. 

““I think that having 

been in the military 

has taught me to be 

grateful for what I do 

have. I’m grounded by 

it and I think going into 

that industry, there’s so 

much craziness with 

people, I think that will 

keep me away from 

that. I don’t want 50 

mansions. I want to do 

films but still have a 

basic life,” Humphreys said.

Having a job as soon as he steps out of uniform was 

not something Humphreys planned. He said his expiration 

of term of service was a date already set before he knew 

about the filming of Pathfinders.

“It’s a lucky coincidence that some of this work I’m 

getting is all popping up this summer when I was getting 

out. It’s just good timing for me,” Humphreys said.

Another shot at movie fame is not Humphreys’ ultimate 

goal in life. As he learns his lines for his next film, he’ll also 

be searching for a college to attend later this year. His 

field of interest is archaeology.

“I think it would be a lot of fun to study. I guess I watched 

Indiana Jones too many times,” Humphreys added with a 

wide grin.
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 11

Sgt 1st Class Pamela Voss

1st Inf. Div., PAO 

U.S. Army Forces Command 

is the 1st Infantry Division’s major 

Army command, and instructs 

the division’s execution in 

providing expeditionary, campaign 

capable land forces to combatant 

commanders. This is through 

training focus to dominate across 

the full spectrum of operations; 

work jointly and interdependently; 

posture for strategic response 

when called upon; transform to 

a future force and live the Army 

Values.

The Installation Management 

Command provides Fort Riley 

the installation capabilities and 

services to support expeditionary 

operations in a time of persistent 

conflict, and to provide a quality 

of life for Soldiers and Families 

commensurate with their service.

Fort Riley’s IMCOM is a 

source of balance that ensures 

an environment in which Soldiers 

and Families can thrive, a structure 

that supports unit readiness in an 

era of persistent conflict and a 

foundation that supports Army 

Transformation.

U.S. Army Network Enterprise 

Technology Command executes 

globally based and expeditionary 

communications capabilities to 

enable joint and combined battlecommand, which is essential to 

the 1st Infanty Division during their 

support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 

and Operation Enduring Freedom. 

This enables a leveraging of the 

information grid to ensure extension 

and reach back capabilities to 

the Warfighter; while operating, 

engineering, transforming and 

defending the Army’s LandWarNet 

enterprise across the full spectrum 

of network-centric operations and 

warfare.

Medical Command promotes, 

sustains and enhances the Soldier’s 

health. This is primarily conducted 

through Irwin Army Community 

Hospital. Not only does MEDCOM 

train, develop and equip a medical 

force that supports full spectrum 

operations, it also delivers leading 

edge health services to our warriors 

and military Families to optimize 

outcomes.

SUPPORT

S

U

STAIN

DEFE

N

D

Our

Partnerships

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The history of the 1st Infantry Division is deep and rich, which is dues in large part to the 

enriching, dynamic of partnership it shares with other military commands.

12

Dental Command is a deployable 

team providing high quality dental 

care to a wellness-oriented 

population. The Fort Riley DENTAC 

provides excellent dental care and 

superb customer service whenever 

and wherever needed. They also 

provide wellness, readiness, and 

deployability for the Soldiers, as well 

as cutting edge skills and continuous 

improvement of productivity and 

efficiency.

Army Materiel Command is 

always evolving its mission and 

focus. Through new programs and 

initiatives, the command continues 

to find better ways to ensure our 

warfighters get what they need 

- where they need it - when they 

need it. Every weapon and piece of 

equipment used by the 1st Infantry 

Division is derived from AMC.

U.S. Army Intelligence and 

Security Command conducts 

intelligence, security and information 

operations for military commanders 

and national decision makers. This 

is filtered and fed to 1st Infantry 

Division leadership.

Human Resources Command 

ensures the full spectrum of human 

resources programs, services and 

systems are executed to support the 

readiness and well-being of Army 

personnel worldwide. For 1st Infantry 

Division Soldiers this reflects their 

administrative files, promotions, and 

selections.

Without these resources the 1st Infantry Division 

would fold, training would cease and mission could not be 

executed.

This interdependency does not just exist within a 

military to military partnering. The greatest partnership is 

with the members of the Greater Fort Riley community, 

which consist of seven suppounding counties and the 

communities in them.

P

R

EVENT MAINTA

NI

RESTORE

This mutual existence offers support and quality of life 

for the Soldiers and Family members of the 1st Infantry 

Division.

In addition the following agencies take a special 

interest in Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division:

Association of the US Army Central Kansas Chapter 

Junction City/ Geary County Military Affairs Council 

Manhattan Military Relations Committee 

Kansas Governor’s Military Commission/ LT. Gov’s Task 

Force 

Old Trooper Regiment- Junction City 

Little Apple Brigade- Manhattan 

Boy Scouts of America- Quivera District 

American Legion- GFRC area 

Veterans of Foreign Wars- GFRC area

Abilene Military Affairs Task Force

Flint Hills Veteran’s Coalition 
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 13

WASHINGTON – A “phishing scam” targeting the 

Families of fallen Soldiers reportedly has con artists 

promising compensation in exchange for information that 

might aid them in identity theft.

The scam artist pretends to be from the Defense Finance 

and Accounting Office or the Army Human Resources 

Command, according to an Army G3 Information Paper. 

The Families of deceased Soldiers are informed that 

they are entitled to monetary compensation in 

excess of $12 million that will be available to 

them in one week of responding to the request 

for additional information.

The Families are instructed to provide 

sensitive their personal information, such as 

social security number, date of birth, address 

and other facts about the deceased Soldier.

They are instructed to either visit the Army 

Human Resources Command offices in 

Alexandria, Va., or e-mail the information to an 

overseas Yahoo account.

Angela Sykes, an operations security 

officer with Army G3, said that the scammers 

reportedly get the name of fallen Soldiers from 

the Web, then either call or e-mail Families 

with the same last name in the Soldier’s 

hometown.

“We sent word to all the OPSEC program 

managers ... and asked them to disseminate 

the information to their personnel,” Sykes said.

The Army Human Resources Command 

asked that the field be advised of the phishing 

scam after the Casualty and Mortuary 

Affairs Operations Center learned what was 

happening. 

The Army Installation Management 

Command was notified of the scam, along with 

the Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation 

Command. These commands then alerted 

Family Readiness Group liaisons to further 

disseminate the information.

Phishing Scam 

Targets

Families of Fallen

14
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 15

Divisional

Change

FORT RILEY, Kan.– The makeup of the Army unit 

known as a division has changed drastically since the 

Army was constituted on June 14, 1775. Here’s a glance 

at how the divisional structure has changed.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, divisions were typically 

a temporary unit and varied in size and structure. They 

were used during war and had command and control of 

the regiments and brigades assigned to them.

The Army decided a permanent combined arms 

division was necessary following the Spanish-American 

War. The intent was to build a division consisting of 

three infantry brigades, a cavalry regiment, an engineer 

battalion, a signal company, four field hospitals and nine 

field artillery batteries.

A division was 

defined as “a selfcontained unit made 

up of all necessary 

arms and services, 

and complete in itself 

with every requirement 

for independent action 

incident to its operation.” 

Now, that definition is 

pushed down also to 

the brigade level.

There was no set 

strength of the Army’s 

early divisions. Instead, 

the size was dictated by how long it took for the unit 

to complete a day’s road march to the front lines. The 

formations were designed to occupy no more than 14 

miles of road space.

As the U.S. was preparing for World War I, the division 

structure was modified again. But it retained its triangular 

configuration – two combat teams for maneuver and one 

for reserve.

Because the U.S. Army division was created using so 

many small units, command and control issues began to 

arise and commanders found the units lacked necessary 

firepower. Thus, the division was restructured to consist 

of two infantry brigades – each with two infantry regiments 

– light and heavy artillery, signal and engineer troops, and 

service units.

The new “square division” concept was applied to the 

Army’s first permanent division on June 8, 1917. The 1st 

Expeditionary Division went on to become the 1st Infantry 

Division.

Following World War I, Army planners decided to 

stick with the divisional concept, giving commanders the 

opportunity to train large numbers of troops for war. Units 

were organized into brigades, divisions and Army corps.

In 1935, divisions returned to the triangular shape 

following a study that indicated an infantry division with 

three combat teams 

simplified command 

structure and provided 

more flexibility.

One of the weaknesses 

revealed during World War 

II was that the triangular 

division lacked tank, tank 

destroyer and anti-aircraft 

artillery battalions. The 

German Blitzkrieg in 

1939 prompted the 

development of a new 

type of division – the 

armored division.

The first armored 

divisions were organized into five elements – command, 

reconnaissance, striking, service and support. In 1942, it 

was modified to resemble an infantry division, with two 

armored regiments under two combat commands, with a 

division artillery.

At the end of World War II, divisions were restructured 

and kept their three regimental combat teams, but were 

also assigned the units regularly attached to them in 

combat. The strength of this division grew to more than 

19,000. The Korean War was fought using this type of 

divisional structure.

As the U.S. entered the Cold War era, Army officials 

How We

Got Here

Laura Stroda

1st Inf. Div., PAO

16

determined that the Communist bloc 

could field more men and resources 

than the U.S. and its allies. Nuclear 

firepower was their answer to this 

problem and the focus shifted to fielding 

a division with greater firepower and 

less manpower.

The new, smaller “pentomic division” 

consisted of five small battle groups that 

replaced the traditional three infantry 

regiments. Its strength was about 

13,500 Soldiers. However, armored 

divisions did not adopt the pentagonal 

structure.

The new ROAD (Reorganization 

Objective Army Divisions) divisions 

called for infantry and armor maneuver 

battalions under three brigade 

headquarters, division artillery, aviation, 

reconnaissance, engineer and signal 

battalions, along with a division support 

command.

The flexibility of the ROAD concept 

allowed modern tanks, fighting vehicles 

and field artillery weapons to be 

assigned to the divisions. By maintaining 

the base and changing the number and 

type of maneuver battalions assigned, 

divisions became more flexible.

The ROAD divisions were maintained 

until after 9/11, when the Army began 

to transform to a modular force. The 

focus shifted from the division level 

to the brigade level. Brigades are 

now designed to be self-sustaining 

units, complete with support and 

reconnaissance capabilities.

The new modular units are designed 

identically Army-wide, which allows for 

“plug and play” capabilities. Under the 

modular structure, a brigade combat 

team can deploy independently and 

fall under the command and control of 

a separate division in theater. Likewise, 

division headquarters are capable 

of deploying independent of their 

brigades.

Today’s Army consists of 10 active 

divisions, supplemented by eight 

National Guard and 12 reserve training 

divisions. The “Big Red One” remains 

the longest, continually-serving active 

duty division.

Source: The Army Historical 

Foundation
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 17 18

History from the Society of the 1st Infantry Division 

webpage

WORLD WAR II, – On Aug. 1, 1942, the 1st 

Expeditionary Division was reorganized and 

redesignated as the 1st Infantry Division. 

The 1st Inf. Div. entered combat in World War II 

as part of “Operation Torch”, the invasion of North 

Africa, the first American campaign against the Axis 

powers. On Nov. 8, 1942, following training in the 

United Kingdom, men of the 1st Inf. Div. landed on 

the coast of Algeria near Oran. The initial lessons of 

combat were harsh and many men were casualties in 

the campaign that followed and which stretched from 

Algiers into Tunisia. On May 9, 1943, the commander 

of the German “Afrika Korps” surrendered his force 

of 40,000 and North African operations for the Big 

Red One ended. The Division then moved on to 

take Sicily in “Operation Husky.” It stormed ashore 

at Gela, July 10, 1943, and quickly overpowered 

the Italian defenses. Soon after, the Division came 

face-to-face with 100 tanks of the Herman Goering 

Tank Division. With the help of naval gunfire, its own 

artillery and Canadian allies, the 1st Inf. Div. fought 

its way over the island’s hills, driving the enemy back. 

The Fighting First advanced on to capture Troina 

and opened the Allied road to the straits of Messina. 

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Big Red One stormed 

ashore at Omaha Beach. Soon after H-Hour, the 

Division’s 16th Infantry Regiment was fighting for its 

life on a strip of beach near Coleville-sur-Mer that 

had been marked the “Easy Red” on battle maps. 

As the assault progressed, the beach became so 

congested with destroyed equipment, the dead 

and the wounded, that there was little room to land 

reinforcements. Col. George Taylor, commander of 

the 16th Infantry Regt., told his men, “Two kinds 

of people are staying on this beach! The dead and 

those who are going to die! Now, let’s get the hell out 

of here!” Slowly, spurred by the individual heroism of 

many individuals, the move inland got underway. 

A German blockhouse above the beach became a 

command post named “Danger Forward.” 

After the beachhead was secured, the Division 

moved through the Normandy Hedgerows. The 

Division liberated Liege, Belgium, and pushed to 

the German border, crossing through the fortified 

Siegfried line. The 1st Inf. Div. attacked the first major 

German city, Aachen, and after many days of bitter 

house-to-house fighting, the German commander 

surrendered the city on Oct. 21, 1944. 

The Division continued its push into Germany, 

crossing the Rhine River. On Dec. 16, 24 enemy 

divisions, 10 of which were armored, launched 

a massive counterattack in the Ardennes sector, 

resulting in what became known as the Battle of the 

Bulge. The Big Red One held the critical shoulder 

of the “Bulge” at Bullingen, destroying hundreds of 

German tanks in the process. On Jan. 15, 1945, the 

First Infantry attacked and penetrated the Siegfried 

line for the second time and occupied the Remagen 

bridgehead. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, the 

Division marched 150 miles to the east of Siegen. 

On April 8, the Division crossed the Weser River into 

Czechoslovakia. The war was over May 8, 1945. 

At the end of World War II, the Division had suffered 

21,023 casualties and 43,743 men had served in its 

ranks. Its soldiers had won a total of 20,752 medals 

and awards, including 16 Congressional Medals of 

Honor. Over 100,000 prisoners had been taken. 

Following the war, the First Division remained in 

Germany as occupation troops, until 1955, when the 

Division moved to Fort Riley, Kan. 

DUTY FIRST!

History of the Big Red One

Elements of the 1st Division came ashore 

at Arzew, a few miles east of Oran.

American troops “mop 

up” while French troops 

look on.

On the first day of the invasion, the beach at Gela became 

congested with vehicles and supplies. 

The aftermath of the battle: LSTs unload tons of material 

needed to consolidate the landing.

A 1st Division infantryman resting 

during a lull in the fighting. 
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 19

Spc. Francisca Vega 

1st Inf. Div., PAO

FORT RILEY, Kan. – As the oldest division in the U.S. 

Army, history is something the Big Red One takes pride 

in knowing, but war is a different business now than it 

was in the “Lost Generation” (WWI generation.)

As weapons become more sophisticated, new and 

innovative techniques of warfare are introduced and as 

international relationships change, so does the way the 

1st Infantry Division goes about leading its troops. 

A significant change brought about by senior Army 

leadership recently is the Army Family Covenant. 

Commanding General of the 1st Inf. Div., Maj. Gen. 

Robert Durbin, has embraced the spirit of the covenant 

by making it a point to attend many Family events. Aside 

from producing free childcare services, new equipment 

in on-post gyms and a new child development center, 

Durbin has pushed for 250 new quarters on Fort Riley 

and an adventure recreation program for Soldiers for this 

year alone. By 2010 Durbin hopes Fort Riley will be home 

to a new Commissary and Post Exchange, along with 

four new child development centers and more fitness 

centers. 

It is no secret that a happy Family makes 

for happier, more productive Soldier at work. 

Chaplains have confirmed that a Soldier who 

doesn’t has to worry about their family while 

they are deployed have more mind to focus on 

the mission at hand. These changes, upgrades 

and additions are deigned to do just that; take 

care of the Army Family. 

Another change the BRO is currently 

undergoing is one that the Army is also 

undergoing, and it is the biggest restructuring 

change that it has adopted in 50 years. The 

change is one that will require significant 

cultural, organizational and personal change, 

reports a Congressional Research Service, 

Report for Congress. 

Modularization has been adopted by the 

BRO and the Army in an effort to produce 

a larger deployable fighting force to relieve 

stress on units currently deployed and possibly shorten 

deployments. 

As of July 2008, all the units that receive training 

oversight by the 1st Inf. Div. have been modularized, with 

the exception of 1st Brigade and the Division Headquarters. 

Due to the mission the BRO received from the Department 

of the Army of training the Military Transition Teams, 1st 

Brigade has worked hard to deliver to the Army the best 

advisors possible. With many Soldiers working six-day 

work-weeks to accomplish this task, modularizing has not 

been possible. 

Durbin’s list of priorities, in order of descending 

precedence has been caring, training, sustaining, and 

protecting. This varies from a time when the Army held 

training as its highest priority and didn’t realize the 

significance of other areas. Though battalion commanders 

and Soldiers will always strive to achieve and maintain 

excellence in training objective, Soldiers cannot sustain 

the standards with training alone. 

With the new direction Durbin has implemented with 

the aid of his initiatives a stronger, more dedicated and 

focused division is predicated in the future. 

Who We

are Now

stress on units currently deployed and possibly shorten 

20
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 21

ST BDE

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Lt. Col. John Nagl, commander, 1st Battalion, 

34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, is one of six 

children from Omaha, Neb. He graduated near the top of his class at 

West Point in 1988 and was selected as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford 

University in England. He provided insight and recommendations of 

counterinsurgency to Gen. David Petraeus, helping him write the Army/

Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual. He retired in June 2008 

after 24 years as an Army Officer and joined the Center for a New 

American Security in Washington, D.C. Duty First!’s Spc. Dustin Roberts 

had the opportunity to sit down with him and ask a few questions. 

Duty First!: At what point in your career did you feel you wanted to be 

involved with counterinsurgency doctrine?

Lt. Col. Nagl: My personal exposure to war began with Operation 

Desert Storm where I had a tank platoon in the 1st Cavalry Division. 

As I reflected back over the next couple of years on that experience of 

leading Soldiers in Combat and the way our enemies had fought us, the 

American Military, the most capable military in the world, took the Iraqi 

Army from the fourth largest in the world to the second largest in Iraq in a 

period of about 100 hours. The conclusion I came to was, to the greatest 

extent possible, our enemies would never let us do that to them again.

Duty First!: How did you think our future enemies would fight us? 

Lt. Col. Nagl: They would fight us not in a conventional fight, in which 

they cannot hope to win; No tank-on-tank, fighter plane-on-fighter plane 

symmetric conflict, but instead they would fight us asymmetrically. They 

would either try and go to the high end of the spectrum and acquire 

weapons of mass destruction, or they would fight us on the low end of 

the spectrum of conflict, using insurgency and terror. 

Duty First!: After Desert Storm and after commanding a cavalry 

troop in Germany, you went back to Oxford to get your doctorate. What 

did you write your dissertation about?

Lt. Col. Nagl: I decided to write that dissertation on the low end of the 

spectrum of conflict on insurgency and counterinsurgency. I looked at a 

case of the British Army in Malaya, what is now Malaysia, where the Brits 

fought a very successful counterinsurgency campaign from 1948-1960. 

I compared that with the case of the American Army in Vietnam, which 

fought a not-as-completely successful counterinsurgency campaign, 

with the major fighting happening between 1965 and 1973. So it was 

the experience of fighting in Desert Storm, a conventional war that led 

me to think that America’s conventional military superiority was so great 

that our future enemies would be likely to fight 

us as insurgents and terrorists. That’s when the 

interest really began. 

Duty First!: What was your role in writing the 

Counterinsurgency Field Manual? 

Lt. Col. Nagl: I published the dissertation a 

number of years later in a book in 2002 after 

the attacks on the World Trade Center, but 

before the invasion of Iraq. The book came to 

the attention of some people, including Gen. 

David Petraeus, who is an old mentor of mine. 

One of his tasks ahead of him as commander of 

the combined arms center in Fort Leavenworth, 

Kan. was re-writing the Counterinsurgency 

Field Manual. I had some recommendations for 

him on how I thought we could do that to best 

help the Army. 

Spc. Dustin Roberts

1st BDE, PAO

The Other Side

of the Coin

22

Duty First!: You’ve been in command of 1/34 since 1st 

Bde. took the Transition Team mission in 2006. How have 

you seen the TT evolve? 

Lt. Col. Nagl: Since I took command I have seen a 

professionalization of the training, I have seen the Army 

devote vastly more resourses to it. Two months after we 

began here the Army published The Army and Marine 

Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual. I think that the 

book drew upon lessons the Army had learned and 

codified them and then we fed them back into the Army to 

sort of level the playing field and provide a common basis 

of understanding counterinsurgency. 

Duty First!: You think the manual helped the training 

here?

Lt. Col. Nagl: I think it helped the TT program, the 

TT members and the Army. We’ve since translated it into 

Dari and into Arabic so that the Iraqi and Afghan security 

forces can also develop a common understanding of 

counterinsurgency. We’ve 

created a pretty good training 

program here that has come a 

long, long way. We’ve developed 

a product that I’m proud of, 

both in terms of training them 

for the kinetic tasks, the rifle 

qualifications and mounted 

combat patrols, but also the 

counterinsurgency training, 

some of the more intellectual aspects of this kind of 

war. This training forces TTs to find proper balance and 

shift mentally from being polite, professional and ready 

to kill and also working hard for economic and political 

development.

Duty First!: What is your best piece of advice that you 

can give to our present and future combat advisors?

Lt. Col. Nagl: The most important thing we do as 

counterinsurgents is provide security to the population 

and the most effective way to do that is not to do it 

ourselves, but to have our partner nations take care of 

their own people. There are many ways to accomplish 

a mission, and just because it’s not the American way 

doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way. While working together 

in partnership, we can make a difference in providing 

more security to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. The 

great combat advisors working with more effective Iraqi 

and Afghan security forces have made a huge difference 

and they need to keep up the fight. 

Duty First!: We know you’ve proposed the Army 

developing a permanent advisor corps. If the Army does 

develop a corps similar to what you have suggested, 

where do you see the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan 

going? 

Lt. Col. Nagl: The mission of advising our friends and 

allies around the globe is perhaps the most important part 

of our strategy as a nation for winning the Long War. The 

challenges that spur the growth of terror and insurgency 

is poor government, lack of education, lack of hope, poor 

economic opportunity, religious radicalism, all those 

things are not primarily military problems.

Duty First!:What do you suggest?

Lt. Col. Nagl: The military advisory effort is really only 

part of a broader U.S. government and all of our allies 

and friends’ advisory effort, not to just help the military 

forces. The departments of justice and the ministries of 

interior and agriculture of these countries we’re helping 

should also be advised. I think there will be a need for 

an advisory capacity and capability throughout the U.S. 

government, not just in military, for a very long time to 

come. 

Duty First!: What’s important about your proposition? 

Lt. Col. Nagl: The important thing is that we value 

and reward that advisor service 

appropriately for what I believe 

is doing the most important and 

most difficult part of waging this 

war. We can’t win these wars, 

what we can do is enable and 

empower our friends and allies 

to win it for us and really to win 

it for them and their own people. 

Advisors have a critical role to 

play in that happening. 

Duty First!: You’re retiring in June to complete 24 

years of service and heading to our Nation’s capital to 

work for the Center for a New American Security. What 

will be your role there?

Lt. Col. Nagl: I’m going to continue to think and 

write about U.S. national security policy, which includes 

information operations. One of the things I’m most 

interested in is how we win the global war of ideas. I’m 

going to continue to think about U.S. counterinsurgency 

policy in the non-uniformed elements of the U.S. 

government. It’s not big enough to do all the things that 

we’ve needed to do in the post-Sept. 11th world. I think 

we have become far better in waging counterinsurgency 

then we were 5-10 years ago, but there is still more we 

can do to make ourselves more effective with this kind of 

war. 

Duty First!: How do you feel about your accomplishment 

in the Army?

Lt. Col. Nagl: It’s been a great 24 years in uniform for 

me. I’m hopeful that I can continue to contribute to the 

security of the United States and put to use all of the great 

experiences and the great learning that I’ve had as an 

Army officer in the continued service of my nation. 

There are many ways to 

accomplish a mission, and just 

because it’s not the American 

way doesn’t mean it’s the 

wrong way. 
23 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

Sgt. Brian Tierce

2nd HBCT, PAO

FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Soldiers from 1st and 2nd 

Platoons of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery 

Regiment trained on foreign relations and insurgent 

defense May 24 at the simulated Iraqi village of Abar Layla 

at the National Training Center.

Soldiers trained with government contractors and NTC 

staff, who posed as Iraqi police, to hone their skills when 

reacting to improvised explosive devices, civilian media 

and suspected sniper fire. Exercise scenarios provided 

Soldiers with the opportunity to initiate and maintain 

traffic control points, evacuate casualties from a hostile 

environment and conduct community relations with Iraqi 

security forces. 

Simulated training situations were presented to Btry. B 

giving them experience working with “Iraqi police.” 

“The main mission of Bravo Battery is to assist the Iraqi 

army get in the lead of the operation here. We’re here to 

support them in whatever they need.” said Capt. Steve A. 

Padilla, Btry. B commander.

The two platoons followed the simulated Iraqi army 

soldiers as they conducted a road march into the town of 

Abar Layla where the coalition reacted to a possible IED. 

“We’re integrating them within our operations right now 

so we can jointly provide a safer, more secure environment,” 

Padilla said. 

Soldiers moved into the village section of the training 

area while platoon leaders entered the village on a 

community relations mission. Meeting the mock mayor, 

they talked about securing the village through traffic control 

points and patrols. 

“Specific tasks are to work jointly with the Iraqi army and 

the Iraqi police, to have them in the lead and support them 

in all their efforts to bring security, stability and governance 

to the town,” said Padilla.

Observer controllers provided critiques of Soldiers 

and leadership. Notes taken during the exercise provided 

critical feedback to the elements involved. Through these 

observations, changes can be made to better the unit’s 

cohesion and skills working with a coalition force securing 

hostile areas in Iraq.

“The coalition has faced challenges within the insurgent 

cells trying to prevent progress with them. We are trying 

to face the insurgents and get the Iraqi people the security 

they need,” Padilla said.

The simulated coalition mission concluded with Soldiers 

and leaders training on the areas noted as “needing 

practice.” The battery also discussed the tasks successfully 

completed to maintain its level of effectiveness providing 

security forces to aid the coalition.

ND HBCT

Battle

Readiness

U.S. Army soldiers work in coalition with simulated Iraqi 

army soldiers in the training Iraqi village of Abar Layla. 

Soldiers provide security while leaders speak with the 

village mayor on community relations issues.

Simulated Iraqi army Captain, Capt. Mustafah Abdelah speaks through 

his interpreter to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason E. Cady coordinating tactical 

movement between U.S. Army and Iraqi army soldiers to Abar Layla, a 

mock Iraqi training village.

Photos by: SGT Allison D. Hill, 153rd PAD

24

1st Infantry Division at War

1st Infantry Division

Oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. Over 8,000 Soldiers 

in three brigades and multiple subordinate units deployed.

Primarily located in Fort Riley, Kan.; training responsibility extends to three other 

states: Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas.

Preparing for modularization in summer/fall FY09, with deployment thereafter.

1st Brigade, Fort Riley

Trains transition team. So far more than 7,000 servicemembers trained and deployed to 

Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 1,200 redeployed.

Transition Teams live and work with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Afghan National 

Army (ANA).

Scheduled to modularize FY09.

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

Re-deployed from support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 2008.

Recently completed combat and civil military operations in conjunction with 

Iraqi Army and Police in the Rashid District of Baghdad to restore and ensure 

long term peace and stability in that region.

1st Sustainment Brigade, Iraq

Provides logistic, human resource and financial management for 80,000 Soldiers and 

20,000 civilians and contractors throughout Multi-National Division-Baghdad and area 

support for Multi-National Division-Central.

Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom September 2007.

1st Combat Aviation Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

Conducts 360-degree battlefield operations with cutting edge 

technology to support ground troops.

Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom October 2007.

3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Knox

Returned from deployment in fall 2006.

Provide theater logistics command and control for the theater commander supporting the Army Forces (ARFOR) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) mission.

Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom May 2008.

75th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill

Integrates attached ground and air maneuver forces and on 

order functions as a maneuver headquarters in support of 

full spectrum operations.

Separate battalions currently deployed in support of 

Operation Iraqi Freedom.

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

Re-deployed from support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 2008.

Recently completed combat and civil military operations in conjunction with 

Iraqi Army and Police in the Rashid District of Baghdad to restore and ensure 

long term peace and stability in that region.

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Fort Riley

Completed rotation to the National Training Center in 

Fort Irwin, Calf., in June 2008.

Scheduled to deploy in summer/fall 2008.

Provide theater logistics command and control for the theater commander support3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Fort Hood

One of the Army’s newest brigades, recently returned from the National 

Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calf.

Deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom June 2008.

1st Combat Aviation Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

Provide theater logistics command and control for the theater commander supporting the Army Forces (ARFOR) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) mission.

Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom May 2008.

75th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill

3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Knox

Returned from deployment in fall 2006.

Provide theater logistics command and control for the theater commander support-
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 25

Sgt. Todd Goodman

3rd IBCT, PAO

FORT HOOD, Texas – Biometrics literally 

translates as the measurement of life. Soldiers 

on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are 

taking measurements that will improve 

security immensely. 

“It’s the military version of CSI [Crime 

Scene Investigation],” Michael Benasutti, 

senior principal engineer, Computer Sciences 

Corporation, said. Benasutti was on hand 

to produce a DVD to increase Soldiers’ 

awareness of the system. 

There are two parts to the biometric system.

The Biometric Automated Toolset (BAT) and 

the Handheld Interagency Identity Detection 

Device (HIIDE). The BAT is a high resolution, 

fixed system on a network. The HIIDE is 

the mobile unit that Soldiers use in the field 

to gather biometric data on the populous. 

Confused yet?

Imagine going into an Afghani village of 

2,000 people with a box-like device and 

scanning their eyes. This is done to track the 

people. It gives Soldiers a genetic file on the 

people in their area of operations. Say an IED 

goes off several miles away and a hair is found 

on the scene. Well, that biometric information 

from the hair will match the information from 

the eye scan or a fingerprint, which is on file 

in the BAT. It creates a watchlist, whereby 

people on the list may be tracked and 

observed or apprehended.

“It is an absolute sure fire way of identifying 

and proving that someone was in a certain 

place at a certain time,” Benasutti said. 

The possibilities are vast. Eyes will be 

scanned at entry points and as long as the 

info from the BAT has been transferred to 

RD IBCT

CSI Tricks

Enhance Security

26

“We took devices with us on patrol in Iraq and didn’t 

capture anyone at first, but after getting people in the 

system, we tracked people and made some arrests,” Smith 

said.

“I think it will be very helpful to our Soldiers on the ground,” 

Staff Sgt. Aniruj Alfred, 1-6 FA, said. “Coming to a new 

populous, the departing unit will already have information 

on the people. We can inherit that information.” 

The BAT has been in use since 2001, and HIIDE has 

been in the field since early 2007, with great success in 

Iraq, Haemmerle said. 

“It allows us to track people globally,” He said. “You can 

change your name, but can’t change your biometrics.”

the HIIDE, gate guards can see immediately if the person 

trying to enter is on the watchlist. Fingerprints also may be 

taken at entry points. 

“This really improves force protection,” Sgt. Maj. Robert 

Haemmerle, biometrics master gunner and instructor for 

the weeklong class at Fort Hood. “This system strips 

insurgents of anonymity and restrics their freedom of 

movement.”

Staff Sgt. Joseph Smith, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery 

Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, 

has downrange experience with HIIDE in Iraq. He took the 

course at Hood and will use BAT in Afghanistan, as well 

as teach others how to use it. 
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 28

Transition Teams advise, teach, and mentor Iraqi Security Forces and the 

Afghan National Army.

Transition Teams provide direct access to Coalition capabilities such as 

air support, artillery, medical evacuation, and intelligence gathering.

Transition Teams are critical to the transfer of security responsibility to the 

Iraqi and Afghan governments.

The consolidation of training at Fort Riley provides standardization of high 

quality training and effective use of resources.

Dedicating the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters and one 

of the Division’s Brigades to the Transition Team mission 

demonstrates full commitment by the US Army.

 

TTMission

27

Spc. Francisca Vega

1st Inf. Div., PAO

FORT RILEY, Kan. – After the excitement of the 

initial homecoming there is the reset phase. Paperwork 

is filed and changed from downrange, deployed status to 

garrison and in house.

Amongst medical appointments and visits to storage 

facilities to be reunited with sorely missed personal 

affects, Soldiers can find themselves just as busy 

assimilating as they were while they were deployed. 

While all of this is going on, Soldiers are being 

reintegrated with their families and friends and what 

better way to reintegrate then to take some long denied 

leave? 

For those that have filled out a leave form, less 

commonly but more properly called a DA form 31, and 

all information associated with a leave packet, this 

can be a complicated task, especially if the company 

requires a lot of extra information. Fortunately for many 

Soldiers however, there are the “S” shops that assist 

with process.

“We need to get the mission done, so that they 

can focus on their mission,” said Sgt. Deshun Prater, 

administrative specialist supervisor with Headquarters 

and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team. “They can’t focus on their mission if they 

have a pay issues, or if their paperwork is not right.”

Block leave for 4th IBCT was slated for 30 days. Within 

that time, the Dragons experienced minimal manning and 

maximum integration. 

“They have been together of the last 14 months,” said 

Prater. “This is a time they can use to unwind and get away 

from each other before they come back.”

Home is where most of the Soldiers go to “get away 

form each other,” and for most Soldiers home is some 

where in the US.

“They scattered throughout the 50 states,” said Staff 

Sgt. Jeff Clark, administrative NCO for 4th IBCT’s Special 

Troops Battalion, who is in charge of over 400 leave 

slips.

“Most of these Soldiers aren’t mine,” said Clark. “but we 

take care of them.” 

Taking care of Soldiers is a mutual feeling administrative 

specialists share.

“Our job is to take care of them,” added Prater. “I tell 

my Soldiers, ‘one day it could be you in that chair.’ I know 

I wouldn’t want my files to be wrong.”

The importance of properly filed paperwork could be 

debatable, but for those that are in charge of making sure 

it is done correctly, the task is inarguably a challenge. 

With Soldiers at work who place taking care of their 

own as a priority, taking leave can lead to one less thing 

to worry about. 

TH IBCT

Reset
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 29

Sgt. Jennifer Schweizer

1st SB, PAO 

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Sounds of The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and 

original music by Spc. David Palmer, a Chicago native and 

member of the 515th Transportation Company, 165th Combat 

Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade in 

support of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, echoed through 

the night as the HighRollers’ band performed May 10 at the 

Camp Taji Mudhouse on an open mic night. 

Six months ago, the band 

was merely three people 

looking for something to pass 

the time.

“Barker and I started out 

with an acoustic guitar and a 

set of bongo drums,” laughed 

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Reyes, 

a Boston, Mass., native, and 

the band’s lead vocalist, 

percussionist and drummer. 

“Later that day Palmer joined 

in to give us a total of three 

‘bored’ members.”

Songwriter, vocalist and 

guitarist are among the many 

talents Palmer has brought to 

the band since he joined. He 

is also the only member who 

is able to say he was once on 

American Idol. 

“I love music and that’s all 

there is to it,” said Palmer, who 

plays rhythm guitar and sings 

vocals for the band.

Since then, many other 

Soldiers in the unit have joined 

the band looking for an escape 

from the long deployment months. Steadily growing, the 

band is presently seven deep with members from various 

ranks.

The band’s members include: Reyes, Palmer; Sgt. 

Michael Kilroy, an Egg Harbor Township, N.J., native, and 

back-up drummer; Sgt. Antares White, a New Haven, Conn., 

ST SB

HighRollers

Sgt. Brandon Jones, who serves as the bands lead bassist, performs 

an Eagles song, “Hotel California” at the Camp Taji Mudhouse.

photo by Sgt. Jennifer Schweizer, 1st Sust. Bde. PAO

native, and a vocalist; Sgt. Brandon Jones, a Whiting, Maine, 

native, and the lead bassist; Spc. Malcolm Barker, a Tupelo, 

Miss., native, and the lead guitarists who also plays the 

harmonica; and Pfc. Carl Ross, a Greensboro, N.C., native, 

and vocalist.

One goal of the HighRollers is to produce a Mudhouse CD 

and leave behind a piece of their music history. How, one 

might ask, can a small unit band 

produce such a thing?

The band has a recording 

studio built right into their unit’s 

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation 

room.

“The sound-proof room, now 

that was a crazy thing! We were 

going over some songs one 

night and Barker said how much 

he wished we had a booth to 

record in,” Reyes commented.

 Before the room was built, 

the band was using a padded 

wall locker located in a Soldier’s 

living quarters. 

“After about 15 minutes of 

brainstorming, I got up from 

behind the drums, went out back 

and got some lumber. It took me 

three days to get the majority of 

it done before the guys realized 

it could work,” he continued.

For the most part, the band 

performs its favorite songs, 

which range from rock to the 

blues. The HighRollers also 

pride themselves on giving 

their own unique twist to their all-time favorites. How often 

is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama performed with a 

beat-box, free-style rap twist to it? 

“The band has come together so much over time. It has 

been real fun and given us all the chance to be part of 

something great,” said Reyes.

30

Spc. David Palmer who serves as the band’s lead rhythm 

guitarist and vocalist, performs “Blue,” a song he wrote, 

at the Camp Taji Mudhouse

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Reyes, the HighRollers’ lead vocalist, goes 

behind the mic inside the bands new sound booth as Spc. David 

Palmer and Spc. Malcolm Barker man the controls as they record for 

their up coming Camp Taji Mudhouse CD

Members of the HighRoller Band (left to right) Spc. Malcolm Barker, 

Spc. David Palmer and Sgt. Brandon Jones perform a song called “Do 

it Again,” which was written by Palmer, at the Camp Taji Mudhouse.

Rock Out
31 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

ST CAB

TIKRIT, Iraq – Since the days of early aviation, Army 

pilots have played a key role in the outcome of ground 

battles and air missions. 

For pilots flying the AH-64 Apache Longbows of 

the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation 

Regiment in northern Iraq, the legacy of influencing the 

fight continues through careful mission preparation and 

teamwork. These pilots, known as the Gunfighters, are 

part of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry 

Division’s efforts to sustain a constant presence over 

the skies of northern Iraq in support of Task Force 

Iron.

However, before the Gunfighters jump into their 

cockpits and head out into the skies of Multi-National 

Division-North, they must plan meticulously prior to 

each mission. 

“First thing we do is get our mission data cards for 

the aircraft ready through our AMPS (aviation mission 

planning station computer) via our CP (command post) 

with all the aircraft specific data. We receive our tail 

number and we print out the knee-board cards and 

communications cards,” said Chief Warrant Officer 

Thaddeus Menold, air mission commander 1-1 ARB.

“From there we head over to the battalion tactical 

operations center and receive a mission team brief,” 

said 1st Lt. Deborah Lindeman, Co. C, 1-1 ARB.

Personnel from the operations and intelligence staffs 

Maj. Enrique T. Vasquez

1st CAB, PAO

brief the pilots on the details of their mission to insure 

they know what to expect. 

“Pilots are briefed on the five Ws- who, what, where, 

when, how and why- in respect to the operations portion 

of the brief. The crews receive instructions on what 

the ground commanders want along with any changes 

in procedures or radio frequencies,” said 1st Lt. Peter 

Huang, a battle captain for 1-1 ARB. 

“Furthermore, pilots receive any changes in battlespace 

and any updates as to what friendly forces are in the area 

of operations.”

Just as the operations officer gives a detailed briefing, 

so does the intelligence officer. Everything the enemy 

might be doing or trying to do is briefed to include the 

careful articulation of possible enemy courses of action.

“We find patterns and trends the enemy might be 

engaged in like IED, small arms fire and emplacements. 

We give the pilots an assessment so they know what to 

look for, how the enemy might act and what to expect,” 

said Staff Sgt. Floyd Perry, 1-1 ARB intelligence analyst. 

“The intel guys can give a 72-hour look of what has 

happened in the area of operations as well as a threat 

analysis to tell us where the bad guys are, based on 

previous activity,” said Menold.

Once each Apache crew is briefed and understands 

their mission set, they receive a team brief by their air 

mission commander. 

“After our intelligence and operations brief we go back 

to our CP and we do a team brief and we plan our route of 

ingress, our execution and our route of egress. We also 

discuss what our greatest threat might be, and what the 

greatest safety risk is,” said Menold

“In addition we address what to do if we loose 

communications or have an emergency. From there we 

head out to the aircraft for pre-flight checks and we also 

check the weather one more time before we go on the 

mission,” said Menold.

Although the Apache is a two-seater helicopter, both 

pilots in an AH-64 Apache Longbow has a certain job to 

perform. While both are capable of flying the aircraft, the 

The Legacy

Continues Photos by Maj. Enrique T. Vasquez

32

duties of the command pilot and the co-pilot gunner called 

the CPG; are distinctly different in a combat situation.

“The pilot maneuvers the helicopter so that the CPG can 

fire,” said Lindeman.

 “The advantage to being the CPG is that you have laser 

and you can shoot missiles or the 30mm cannon.”

The pilots must work together to accomplish in-flight tasks 

and duties. 

“We just talk to each other and I let him (the pilot) know if 

I have something, where I am looking at left or right. From 

there the pilot can see the video I am looking at through my 

screen, he then places the aircraft to where I am looking,” 

said Lindeman.

During a mission, individual Apache crews work with a 

sister gunship and are part of a weapons attack team made 

up of two AH-64 Apache helicopters flying as a pair. Mission 

success depends on the gunship crews working well with 

each other.

“I like crew coordination not just in the cockpit but in the 

team. I like to see crew coordination between aircrafts. If 

someone has a minor problem no matter how small I want to 

know about it,” said Menold.

Each Apache helicopter crew has a distinct role during a 

mission set.

“The lead aircraft is the primary shooter, navigator and 

serves as the principal communicator with the ground force 

commander. The trail aircraft covers the lead aircraft should 

the lead aircraft take fire. The trail Apache also monitors 

the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for air-to-air 

deconfliction,” said Capt. Jason Lynn, 1-1 ARB plans officer.

Supporting the ground units is what each mission is 

about. 

“Mission success is measured by supporting the ground 

units and helping them get back to their bases safely. So we 

do our best to help them in any way we can,” said Menold.

“There is nothing better than catching someone emplacing 

IEDs. The ground units are always appreciative of us being 

there.”

There are several types of missions Apache crews often 

fly. The missions vary between counter IED reconnaissance, 

to ground support.

Apache pilots say they can see the positive contributions 

they are making in defeating insurgents. 

“The violence has scaled down quite a bit since we got 

here,” said Menold. 

“We used to catch a lot of insurgents emplacing IEDs. 

However, there are not as many emplacers as there used to 

be. We are definitely having an impact on IED activity,” said 

Menold.
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

Sgt. 1st Class Kelly McCargo

75th Fires, PAO

FORT SILL Okla. – Several years ago a 19 year-old man was on 

vacation to the U.S. and a chance encounter with a U.S. Army recruiter 

changed his life forever.

“I was born on St. Thomas in the capital Charlotte Amalie, the economic 

hub of the Virgin Islands. My parents and their parents are from the British 

Commonwealth, twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda,” said 1st 

Lt. Jermaine Athill, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, battalion 

personnel actions officer. 

“I was schooled in Antigua where I attended the Cobbs Cross Primary. I 

attended the University of the West Indies Antigua Campus for a year prior 

to accepting a job at Sandals Resort Antigua where I was a purchase and 

receiving deputy manager,” Athill said.

 “I joined the Army in November of 1993 just by chance encounter with 

an Army recruiter in New York City, as I was on vacation and then decided 

that I will enlist.

“Back then it was the ‘Be All You Can Be’ Army motto and I considered 

joining the Army for some time but mom was against it,” Athill said. “(The 

recruiter) said ‘join up, travel and see the world,’ and I latched on to that 

little bit of foresight to see the world.” 

 And travel he did.

 His first assignment was in the Federal Republic of Germany with 115th 

Postal Company in Kaiserslautern, FRG, then 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry 

Mechanized Brigade in Baumholder, FRG; the 90th Postal Company, 

90th Personnel Support Battalion in Kaiserslautern, Bad Kreuznach, and 

Baumholder, FRG. 

After several years in Europe, Athill was then selected to serve in 

Hawaii. 

“The Army exceeded my expectations on so many ways and that’s 

why I volunteered to become a recruiter—to give something back to the 

Army,” he said. “I would say eighty percent of Soldiers join because of that 

recruiter—an Ambassador for the Army—sold himself to Soldiers.” 

Athill’s philosophy is that people are willing to join the Army because 

they see something in their recruiter that they want to be, Athill said. 

“When I first came into the Army, my NCOs instilled that discipline to 

go to school and take initiative for on-the-job training [correspondence 

course],” said Athill. “There’s a great opportunity to go to school in the 

Army, even though some MOSs can not go to school and can not go sit in 

a college 100-percent of the time. There are a plethora of jobs in the Army 

and if you realize that you do not like your job then there’s the beauty of 

reenlisting.”

TH FIRES BDE

Ambassador 

for the Army

33

another Soldier’s OCS packet, he realized that perhaps 

the transition to officer would not interfere with his future 

goals but in fact enhance them. 

“I now have 14 years in the Army and on the mainland. 

I look forward to a bright and rewarding future in the Army; 

however, my future goal and most ambitious attraction 

is to become a future governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands 

around 2028,” he said. “I fully believe that whatever the 

mind can conceive and believe it will achieve and so only 

time is in my way.”

“I was selected for promotion to sergeant first class in 

August 2003 with nine years then promoted in September 

2004. I was then approached by my company, battalion 

and brigade commanders about becoming either a 

permanent U.S. Army Europe Command Recruiter or 

consider Officer Candidate School, which I chose (Officer 

Candidate School),” he said. 

Athill said he never considered becoming an officer, and 

so he said took the compliment in stride and continued 

doing his duties. But after some thought while doing 

As the 1st, 17th FAR, battalion personnel actions officer, Athill (left) 

assists the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Roy Sevalia (center) with 

numerous tasks like processing awards, Soldiers finances and 

personnel accountability for the battalion.

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kelly McCargo

34
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