WINTER 2014 1

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE 79TH SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT COMMAND

FalcoN

The

Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura

Army Reserve Center

Memorialization 

Page 20

Winter 2014

TRAINED, READY, COHESIVE, WELL-LED

SUSTAINMENT UNITS FOR WORLD-WIDE DEPLOYMENT
2 The Falcon

79TH SSC Command Team

Commanding General

Maj. Gen. Megan P. Tatu

Command Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert N. Roberson, JR.

Command Chief Warrant Officer

Chief Warrant Officer Charles W. Durham

TheFalcon Contents

Two Star Notes

Retirement And Your Benefits 

By Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu

4

CSM On Point

Make A Positive Impact - TODAY 

By Command Sgt. Maj. Robert N. Roberson, Jr.

6

Spiritual Fitness

Service To God And Country 

By Chaplain (Col.) Robert Ewing

8

Equal Opportunity

EO Does Equate To Recruiting And Retention

By Ms. Rita Cossio

10

Suicide Prevention

Never Quit On Life

By Chaplain (Col.) Robert Ewing

11

Ask Jag

Unsatisfactory Participation

By Col. Jere Diersing

12

Safety

Being Safe As A Way Of Life

By Mr. Ricky Payne 

13

Medical Matters

Individual Medical Readiness...It’s Your Responsibility

By Col. Sridhar Natarajan

14

Families In The Fight

Strong Families Assist In Retention 

By Ms. Maritza Ramirez

16

Deputy Commanding General

Brig. Gen. Kurt A. Hardin
WINTER 2014 3

79TH SSC Public Affairs Office

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Col. Bettina K. Avent

Public Affairs Chief

Sgt. 1st Class James K. Lilly

Public Affairs Specialist

Spc. Heather S. Doppke

The Falcon, a U.S. Department of Defense publication, is published biannually by the 79th Sustainment Support Command Public Affairs Office located at 4201 Saratoga Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720-5170. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5120.4, this DoD magazine is an authorized publication for the members of the U.S. military. Contents of The Falcon are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsedby, the U.S. government or DoD.

79th SSC Dedicates New Headquarters Building

By Spc. Heather Doppke, 79th SSC PA Specialist

20

451st Soldier Completes 100 Mile Endurance Run

By Spc. Heather Doppke, 79th SSC PA Specialist

22

A French Town and The Cross of Lorraine

By 79th SSC Public Affairs Staff

24

311th ESC In Review

Highlighting Summer Training Events

26 - 29

79th SSC Surgeon Receives “A” Proficiency Designator 17

By Sgt. 1st Class James Lilly, 79th SSC PA Chief

Cover Photo by: Spc. Heather Doppke 

79th SSC Public Affairs Specialist

AR Connelly Competition Winner Announced 19

79th SSC Gains 2 New Officers...Loses 2 NCOS

4th ESC In Review

Highlighting Summer Training Events

30 - 31

364th ESC In Review

Highlighting Summer Training Events

32 - 33

451st ESC In Review

Highlighting Summer Training Events

34 - 37

19
4 The Falcon

Two Star Notes:

Retirement And Your Benefits

The Army Reserve is a life-saving, lifesustaining force for the nation. We have emerged 

from over thirteen continuous years of war as a 

proven and respected component in service to 

America. As the defense budget is reduced, political focus shifting and economies struggling, maintaining the all-volunteer force with quality Soldiers 

is essential. Fortunately, the Army Reserve as 

a whole is equipped with the tools to assist both 

individuals and commands across this great nation 

to do just that, recruit and retain quality Soldiers. In 

this issue of The Falcon, I am focusing on retention-providing information on how you can manage 

your career, as well as on the benefits of staying in 

the Army Reserve.

Career Management

The Army Reserve Careers Division 

(ARCD) has over 1400 Army Reserve Career 

Counselors that assist Army Reserve Citizen Warriors with reenlistments, present career progression 

opportunities and manage accession programs. In 

addition, they are available to provide direction and 

assist Army Reserve Soldiers who wish to become 

Army Reserve Career Counselors or Active Guard/

Reserve (AGR) Recruiters. They help warrant 

officers and officers through the Officer Direct 

Commission (ODC) Programs and officer reappointments (REFRAD). To locate the Army Reserve 

Career Counselor nearest to your headquarters, go 

to https://arcdlocator.usar.army.mil.

The Army Reserve Career Management 

Office (CMO) provides comprehensive career 

management to Troop Program Unit (TPU) officers 

in order to facilitate career awareness, meeting 

education requirements, assignment opportunities 

and career path progression. Career Management (CM) Officers work with their assigned TPU 

population by rank and branch, providing personto-person management. CM Officers are responsible for providing career counseling, assisting with 

assignments and maximizing the number of educationally qualified Officers. CM Officers manage 

commissioned officers in the ranks of 2nd Lt. to Lt. 

Col. and warrant officers in the grades of Warrant 

Officer 01 to Chief Warrant Officer 04. The center 

of gravity focus is on “at risk” officers that lack the 

civilian or military education required for promotion. 

CM Officers provide professional development 

information through Career Management Forums, 

the CMO Website, and the CMO Facebook page. 

For more information on the Army Reserve CMO, 

contact information and forum dates and location, 

go to http://stayarmyreserve.army.mil/cmo/cmo.

html.

Benefits

Veterans of the United States Army Reserve are entitled to many benefits. The benefits 

for veterans who retire after 20 years of reserve 

service are much greater than for those who leave 

the service before retirement. These benefits cover 

pay, health care, and other privileges. Take a moment to review the list of benefits below; the list is 

not all inclusive, but focuses on some key benefits 

and privileges that you may not be aware of for 

those who stay for “20 good years.”

Social Security

Retired Soldiers also qualify for Social Security benefits when they reach at least 62 years of 

age. You will not receive full Social Security benefits unless you wait to claim them until you are 67 

years of age. Income from Social Security is based 

upon the amount earned during your career.

Health Care

Veterans who leave the Army Reserve with 

less than 20 years are not entitled to health care 

from the Veterans Administration (VA), unless they 

leave the Reserve due to a disability. Those who 

retire with 20 or more years of service are entitled 

to full health care benefits at any VA hospital or 

medical facility.

By Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu

79th Sustainment Support Commanding General
WINTER 2014 5

Retirement Pay

Soldiers receive between 40 and 100 percent of their base pay during retirement and receive cost 

of living increases each year. This amount is based upon the Soldier’s rank and years of service. Retirement pay for reserve members is based on their unit training pay. The table below gives an idea of what 

the retirement pay for various ranks is estimated to be, based on the number of points (50 or 130) earned 

in each year. Soldiers are also eligible to contribute to the federal Thrift Savings Plan. Income from this 

plan is based upon the amount the Soldier contributed and how much his or her investments grew.

 Current Rank: CPT w/7 years of service w/50 pts w/130 pts w/50 pts w/130 pts

 

 Grade at Retirement: LTC / O5 LTC / O5 COL / O6 COL / O6

 Year of Retirement: 2044 2044 2044 2044

 Total Points at Retirement: 3255 4375 3255 4375

 Approximate Value of a Point: 0.584 0.584 0.669 0.669

 Estimated Monthly Pay in Today’s Dollars: $1,900.92 $2,555.00 $2,177.60 $2,926.88 

 Estimated Monthly Pay in 2044 Dollars: $2,631.32 $3,536.72 $3,014.30 $4,051.48

 Current Rank: SGT w/7 years of service w/50 pts w/130 pts w/50 pts w/130 pts

 

 Grade at Retirement: MSG / E8 MSG / E8 SGM / E9 SGM / E9

 Year of Retirement: 2044 2044 2044 2044

 Total Points at Retirement: 3255 4375 3255 4375

 Approximate Value of a Point: 0.34 0.34 0.394 0.394

 Estimated Monthly Pay in Today’s Dollars: $1,106.70 $1,487.50 $1,282.47 $1,723.75 

 Estimated Monthly Pay in 2044 Dollars: $1,531.93 $2,059.05 $1,775.24 $2,386.07

VA Benefits

Retirees are eligible for the GI home loan 

guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

If the retiree has a service-related condition, injury or disability, he or she may be eligible for free 

medical care, rehabilitation and compensation from 

the VA.

ID Card/Military Installation Access

Only Army Reserve veterans who retire with 

20 years or more of military service are granted a 

retiree military identification card and lifetime access to military installations.

PX/Commissary

Army Reserve veterans must be retired with 

a minimum of 20 years of military service to enjoy 

unlimited shopping privileges at any Army/Air Force 

Exchange Service (AAFES) Post Exchange or 

Base Exchange, or any Defense Commissary location.

Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance 

(SGLI)

Army Reserve veterans who retire with a 

minimum of 20 years of military service may take 

advantage of SGLI policies in amounts of up to 

$400,000 at very low premiums. 

The Army Reserve must retain it’s quality 

Soldiers and provide our Soldiers with opportunities 

to grow and manage their careers. It’s incumbent 

upon all leaders to inform, counsel and mentor our 

Soldiers about career opportunities and to inform 

them of additional career counseling resources 

to include ARCD and CMO. Additionally, leaders 

must inform Soldiers and their Families of the benefits of staying in the Army Reserve, and the entitlements which are so important to the well-being of 

our Soldiers and their Families after they retire from 

service. Together, we will retain our quality force 

and continue to maintain our operational focus to 

provide the Total Army with our indispensible, 

life-saving, life-sustaining capabilities. 

To Do For Country!
6 The Falcon

Make a Positive Impact - TODAY!

By Command Sgt. Maj. Robert N. Roberson, Jr.

 At the end of each day we hope 

that somehow, someway we made 

a positive impact on someone’s 

life, be it a Soldier, Civilian, Family, friend, neighbor, employer, 

even a stranger. I know that on 

June 19th, 2003 one Soldier, SPC 

Paul T. Nakamura, made such an 

impact. SPC Nakamura, a medic 

assigned to the 437th Medical 

Company (Ground Ambulance), 

lost his life at the hands of insurgents while rendering aid 

to a patient being transported 

in the back of an ambulance 

through the treacherous roads 

of Iraq. The loss of SPC Nakamura touched hundreds. Eleven 

years later, on June 21st, 2014, 

hundreds of current and former 

Soldiers, friends, community 

members, Family members and 

yes, strangers converged on the 

79th Sustainment Support Command Headquarters Building, 

Joint Forces Training Base, Los 

Alamitos, California, to celebrate 

the dedication of the Headquarters Building in honor of SGT 

Paul T. Nakamura. We honor his 

memory, his Family, his friends 

and his community. As promised, we will Never Forget!!!

 And as always, I ask that we 

not forget the sacrifices of ALL 

Fallen Warriors, Wounded Warriors, Warriors and our Civilian 

workforce still in the fight, and 

their Families. Know that ALL 

are in our daily thoughts and 

prayers.

 I had the opportunity to attend 

a leadership forum presented 

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR ON POINT

HOOAH Soldiers!!! by SMA Chandler. His message has been 

consistent, and is in keeping with the CSA’s 

number one priority- Leadership Development- followed by: Trust, the cornerstone 

of our Profession; top down guidance- bottom up feedback; finally, reinforcing the 

ethics of our Army Profession. We must 

continue to reinforce our commitment as 

Professionals. For the Noncommissioned 

Officer Corps- we are reminded by the first 

and last sentence of the NCO Creed, we 

are Professionals.

 It’s been a busy time for all of us, so let 

me start with an introduction of our new 

FORSCOM Command Team, Gen. Mark 

A. Milley and Command Sgt. Maj. Scott 

C. Schroeder. Gen. Milley assumed command in August, while Command Sgt. 

Maj. Schroeder came on board in July. 

Please ensure you update your Command 

Boards. 

 On our home front we continue to focus 

on Soldier care, PME attendance, promotion eligibility, conduct of promotion 

boards, retention of qualified Soldiers, 

concentrated effort on the removal and or 

placement of appropriate flagging actions, 

re-enlistments, unsatisfactory recoveries, 

medical readiness- all requiring patience, 

persistence and a concerted effort by all 

Leaders- Officers and NCOs alike. This 

takes team work, trust and as important, 

systems familiarity. You’ve all done an 

exceptional job rolling your sleeves up, 

getting the job done and improving the 

foxhole. Every day you have the opportunity to have a positive impact on someone, 

somewhere, make it a point to make each 

day count.

 The CG and I are honored and privileged to serve alongside each and every 

one of you. Your sacrifices and those of 

your Family members are absolutely appreciated. Stay focused, stay safe and be that 

Professional...HOOAH!!!
WINTER 2014 7

Brig. Gen. Hardin

comes to the 79th from 

the 104th Training Division (Leader Training), 

located on Joint Base 

Lewis McChord, Washington, where he served 

as Division Commander 

since June, 2011 and 

was appointed as the 

United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) DCG 

for Army Reserve Support and Accessions. BG Hardin 

worked at USACC this past summer at Fort Knox on 

Army Reserve support requirements for Cadet Summer Training (CST). Commissioned as an Air Defense 

Artillery Second Lieutenant out of the ROTC program 

at the University of Florida, BG Hardin spent nine years 

on active duty which included duty at Fort Bliss, Texas 

(twice); Germany; and Fort Lewis, Washington. He 

served as a platoon leader, Assistant Operations Officer, 

Battery Commander, and Aide de Camp for the Deputy 

Commanding General of I Corps. He was also awarded 

the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara Medal for outstanding contributions as an Air Defender.

Upon joining the Army Reserve, BG Hardin served in 

the 91st Division as a Battalion Operations Officer; an 

Assistant Inspector General in the 70th RRC; a Battalion 

Commander and Deputy Brigade Commander in the 

104th Division; and he was a BCT Brigade Commander 

in the 95th Division before serving as the Chief of Staff 

for the 104th Training Division (Leader Training). He 

was selected as the Commander, 104th Division in June 

2011.

His initial focus is on readiness, assisting with improving unit and Soldier metrics. This includes the Army 

Reserve Operation Full Court Press on recruitment and 

retention.

BG Hardin and his wife, Krystal, live in Olympia, 

Washington, with their daughter, Sabrina. In his civilian 

position, BG Hardin is the State Coordinating Officer 

for Disaster Recovery Operations in the Washington 

Military Department Emergency Management Division 

overseeing six open disaster recovery operations. He is 

also a fanatical University of Florida football and Seattle 

Mariners baseball fan who believes (every year) that 

both teams are on the verge of greatness. 

Command Chief 

Warrant Officer 

Durham enlisted in 

the US Army in June 

1975 as a 31E (Radio 

Repairman), assigned to 

Fort Hood, Texas, to the 

2d Armored Division 

(“Hell on Wheels”). He 

joined the Army Reserve 

in 1979 and became a Personnel Records Specialist, 

moving through the ranks to Sergeant First Class. In 

1992, he was appointed to the Warrant Officer Corps in 

the Adjutant General branch. 

CW5 Durham deployed with the 354th Civil Affairs 

Brigade in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 

serving at Camp Slayer, Baghdad. His most recent assignment was as the Command Chief Warrant Officer 

for the 80th Training Command.

CW5 Durham will be concentrating his efforts on getting out to the field to meet with the Warrant Officers 

of the command, and he plans to focus on mentorship 

of junior Warrant Officers and management of military 

and civilian education – keys to the leadership development of our Warrant Officer cohort. As stated during his 

first BTA with the Headquarters, he will be asking 79th 

Warrant Officers what they need to move ahead in their 

professions and he will be recruiting to fill the Warrant 

Officer ranks by asking NCO’s to accept the challenge 

and join those already serving as Warrant Officers.

CW5 Durham and his wife, Rita, live in San Antonio, 

Texas. He is a proud Dallas Cowboys fan who enjoys 

golf, cycling, cooking, and spending time with his family, 

which includes his two sons and 3 grandchildren.

Hail and Welcome! - New additions to the Command Team of the 79th 

Sustainment Support Command- our new Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Kurt A. 

Hardin, and our new Command Chief Warrant Officer, CW5 Charles.“Chuck” Durham. 

BG Kurt A. Hardinn CW5 Charles Durhamn
8 The Falcon

Spiritual Fitness

Chaplain (Col.)Robert Ewing

79th SSC Chaplain

Service to God and Country 

 “Have you heard of the four Chaplains?” a 

WWII veteran asked. You can’t be in the Chaplains Corps and not know. In Febuary of 1943, 

somewhere in the Atlantic, aboard the USS 

Dorchester, four Army Chaplains set the example for service to God and country. Our Corps 

motto, Pro Deo Et Patria, For God and Country, sparks images of their sacrifice. The four, a 

Rabbi, Methodist, Catholic priest and a Dutch 

Reformed minister, gave their life jackets and 

ultimately their lives to save others. They did it 

with such dignity for others that all, regardless 

of faith, have been deeply moved by their sacrifice. If you are ever at Ft Benning, you can visit 

the chapel dedicated to their memory.

 Those four were not the first, nor will they 

be the last to answer the call to serve god and 

country. Today, there are many faith groups 

represented within the Chaplain Corps. They 

include Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, 

Buddhist, Islamic and others. The Army is as 

diverse as the American people and in order to 

meet the religious needs of our Soldiers, Chaplains from many faith groups are called.

 For those unique individuals who are called 

to ministry and willing to serve their nation, the 

Army Chaplaincy can be the most rewarding 

profession. However, becoming a chaplain takes 

a lot more then walking into the local recruiting 

office or joining ROTC. 

 Chaplains are directly commissioned into the 

Army. They are officers not because of OCS, 

ROTC or a military academy. Their commission is based and granted on their professional 

standing and education. In the case of chaplains, that is a four year undergraduate degree 

followed by a three to four year Master’s degree 

program. Then in addition, each individual’s 

denomination or religious affiliation has requirements to meet before someone is approved 

for service. 

 While it may seem like a lot to accomplish 

just to become a 1st Lt., there are people and 

programs that can help. The Chaplain Candidate program is for those who have completed 

their undergraduate studies and are enrolled in 

seminary. It allows them to start their Army 

training before they become a chaplain. This is 

good because once commissioned as a Chaplain, your first assignment could well be a deployment.

 On the opposite page is a photo of Chaplain 

Brown and a letter he wrote to his congregation, 

Chaplain Brown is currently in Afghanistan. 

His willingness to serve both God and Country, 

to meet and exceed the entrance requirements 

for the chaplaincy, enabled him to be with 

Soldiers and make a difference. If you know 

a religious leader that is interested, encourage 

them to contact a chaplain about service to God 

and Country. 
WINTER 2014 9

Good Sunday Morning All,

 As I prepare to preach this morning, I wanted to drop a 

note and say “thank you” for all the support you’ve shown 

to the troops, my family, and myself. 

 Although I spent my birthday and Father’s Day in 

Afghanistan, the prayers, cards, emails, Facebook posts, 

and packages sent really made the day special. I appreciate 

each and every one of you.

 Things here are going well. Our battalion continues to 

run 80% of the missions outside the wire in our area of Afghanistan. My Chaplain Assistant and I keep busy with 

counseling, providing services, teaching classes, and travel 

throughout the region. We just returned from another 

trip to Kabul. We spent three days there ministering and 

providing religious support to our Soldiers. In July, we’ll be 

traveling throughout country almost every week.

 My office is in the motor pool where most of our Soldiers 

work. Next to my office is a fitness center, a movie room, 

and a resiliency center where Soldiers can read, play pingpong, throw darts, shoot, pool, or just sit. When we got 

there it was a mess. My Chaplain Assistant and I started 

a volunteer program to get the Soldiers engaged and to take 

ownership. Last week we had 17 Soldiers volunteer about 

100 hours to cleaning. What’s cool about this is that as 

they work, I get to know them and hang out with them, 

which allows me to be a missionary to them.

 This morning, I get to preach to our troops. I’m preaching from Exodus 4:1-5 about obedience. It’s something 

all of us here understand on some level but when we are 

obedient to God we see a greater purpose and no longer run 

away from life. Pray that as I preach, I show God’s and 

present the Gospel clearly.

 I’ve included another photo. This is an official photo 

from our brigade public affairs officer. When he took the 

photo, I didn’t know he was even around. It’s a photo of 

me providing a devotional before a mission. Before every 

mission outside the wire, I provide a devotional and prayer 

service. It’s doesn’t take long - about 5 minutes. Some 

attend because they believe, others because their buddy 

attends, and others simply because tradition/superstition. 

Regardless, before they go outside the wire, they hear God 

loves them.

 Continue to pray for our troops. We’re all in the place 

of realizing we’re not going home next week. So pray 

for healthy relationships here and back home. We find 

ourselves in the largest military withdrawal with enemy 

contact in American history. Keep praying for our safety.

 My family is doing well. The love and support they’re 

receiving makes being away a little easier. Neely is due 

with our 3rd daughter next month. Mara and Hannah are 

growing so fast it’s hard to believe. Continue to love on 

them and pray for them. Until next time -

 PRO DEO ET PATRIA
10 The Falcon

 How do you correlate the Army’s Equal Opportunity 

Program with Recruiting and Retention? 

 Well, to begin, when I ask Soldiers “Why did you join 

the Army?” and “What makes you stay in the Army?” 

a lot of our Soldiers, enlisted and officers, answer that 

“they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves, and that it is loyalty to our “people” that compels 

them to stay Army. The correlation is that Recruiting 

and Retention is about people and the Army Equal Opportunity Program is a “people” program, part of the 

Army’s Human Relations readiness training (AR 600-20, 

para 5-13). As a “people” program, we are charged to 

“sustain a comprehensive effort (by leaders) to maximize 

human potential and to ensure fair treatment for all 

persons based solely on merit, fitness, and capability in 

support of readiness.” This program directly impacts the 

Soldiers who are recruited into the Army by enriching 

the environment in which they work and supporting the 

far-reaching opportunities afforded them to reach their 

maximum potential as a “Soldier For Life.” 

 While the value of the Equal Opportunity (EO) Program is recognized in our day-to-day operations, the 

value it brings to our recruiting and retention efforts is 

often not considered or underestimated. 

 First, the EO program directly supports Recruiting. Specifically, we recruit from our nation’s diverse 

society and that diversity adds significant value to our 

Army teams. Our recruiters are taught to recognize and 

capitalize on the strengths a diverse team brings to the 

Nation’s defense. This recognition of diversity did not 

happen by accident. The tenets of the Army’s EO Program, ‘to maximize human potential and to ensure fair 

treatment for all persons’, apply to the recruiting command, as well. 

 Second, the EO program supports retention. At first, 

leaders may not think so, because retention is a result or 

outcome-commanders and leaders must recognize their 

present contribution to “long term culture change”. Allow me to explain.

 Through the consistent, progressive education of new 

Soldiers and commanders, the EO Program proves its 

value to retention over time by creating cultural change. 

The EO program trains Equal Opportunity Advisors 

(EOA) and Equal Opportunity Leaders (EOL) to help 

commanders create healthy work environments through 

command climate awareness, EO subject training, and 

special/ethnic observances. Essentially, EO training 

events educate Soldiers about human relations and how 

important it is to “value differences.” This training 

creates better leaders, who in turn create opportunities 

for Soldiers to reach their maximum potential, develop 

trust and cohesion and ultimately fuel the camaraderie 

that may actually be the single reason whether a Soldier 

decides to leave or stay. Why? Because environments 

free of discrimination forge relationships and truly serve 

as the basis for camaraderie.

 Further, diversity does not instantaneously create 

“cohesion.” Unfortunately, values, attitudes, beliefs and 

prejudices gained before enlistment or commissioning 

do not automatically dissolve or change when someone puts on an Army uniform. Too often these values, 

attitudes, beliefs and prejudices can lead to the misunderstanding, frustration and suspicion of others, thereby 

inhibiting unit cohesion and trust among it’s Soldiers. 

Our EO training subjects strive to prevent prejudice or 

pre-conceived attitudes, such as racism, sexism, genderbias, and extremism. This, coupled with learned EO 

standards, creates the foundation for building a healthy 

command climate. Fueled further by officers and NCOs 

who adhere to the Army Professional Ethics, Army Values and maintain the Warrior Ethos, we contribute to the 

Army’s mission of retention.

 Together we create the EO Program. Everyone in the 

Army is part of the EO team, and all team members have 

responsibilities inherent in belonging to that team. A 

positive, proactive EO environment helps units’ effectiveness and readiness. Our leaders count on each of us to 

mentor, coach, teach and retain our workforce through 

good leadership and a thriving mentorship program. 

So, add some more tools to your leadership kit - reach 

out to your EOAs and EOLs - help us recruit and retain 

all of our Soldiers by establishing the healthy command 

climate and cultural change to build the very best Army 

teams.

Equal Opportunity

does equate to Recruiting and Retention

Ms. Rita Cossio

79th SSC EO Program Manager
WINTER 2014 11

 When we talk about death by suicide there is only 

one number that really matters. That number is 

one. The one person you may be able to help keep 

safe for now. All the statistics are simply a tool to 

help us see the importance of each one of us doing 

all we can not to leave a fellow Soldier behind. The 

numbers give us some idea of what is happening, 

but they don’t give us the tools to make a response 

to a person in need. 

 That effort of response is up to each of us. We 

want to be able to be there when someone needs 

us and know someone will be there for us should 

we be the person at risk. So while we know suicide 

prevention is a total Army effort, it will take each of 

us looking out for one another that truly makes the 

impact. Most of us remember our fist drill instructor. I remember mine, an old Vietnam vet, who 

would come to tears at times when telling us how he 

never left a fellow Soldier behind. Over the years I 

have come to understand how important that commitment is to each of us. Suicide prevention is what 

we as Soldiers are about, looking out for each other, 

never leaving one behind. Each of us needs to be 

ready to help when called on.

 What you and I are called to do is be ready. 

Ready to help those who are willing to consider life 

in a time of risk. If we take the training seriously, 

and are ready to listen and ask the hard questions, 

we can make a difference. Individually we can get 

better using ACE-SI and ASIST suicide prevention training. ACE-SI or Ask, Care, Escort-Suicide 

Intervention training is the program that all first 

line leaders are set to go through this year. It gives 

anyone who takes the course the basic skills to help 

a person at risk. ASIST or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is a two day course that also 

teaches the listening and intervention skills needed 

to act when called on. In addition, it gives great 

practical exercises that will give you the confidence 

to step in when needed to help a person a risk. 

 The next step is to make sure your unit is ready to 

respond should the need arise. We are part of the 

greatest army in the world. Our ability to get the 

job done is built on training. Suicide prevention is 

no different. We can’t wait until someone says they 

are thinking of killing themselves to come up with 

a plan. Come up with the plan now. Have a copy 

of the list of local resources. Know where you take 

a person at risk for more care. Understand how the 

differences in duty status affect where a person may 

get help. Then have a drill. See if your plan will 

work. Make it part of your training.

 Back to that number one. Have you checked in 

with your section this week? Has someone checked 

in on you? If not, take the time to find out what 

is going on with your fellow Soldier. If you think 

there is a concern, ask! Together we can take care 

of one another. One by one, that will truly make a 

difference. 

Suicide Prevention

Chaplain (Col.)Robert Ewing

79th SSC Chaplain

Never Quit on Life

ESC Suicide Prevention Program Managers

4th ESC - Edwin Ahl 210-466-2638 311th ESC - Kenneth Gesch 310-235-4290

364th ESC - Jerico Deveyra 360-403-2318 451st ESC - Kelli Johnson 316-681-1759 ext. 1450 

For Training Resources visit the Army G-1 Website http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/ 

Military Crisis Line 24/7 1-800-273-8255
12 The Falcon

Col. Jere Diersing

79th SSC Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)

Q. What is unsatisfactory participation (UNSAT)? 

A. You can be considered UNSAT by missing Battle Assembly (BA) or Annual Training (AT) without authorization.

Q. Will I be considered an unsatisfactory participant if I miss only one BA or AT? 

A. It takes only one unexcused AT or nine (9) Unit Training Assemblies (UTAs). One day of BA 

is normally scheduled for two (2) four hour UTAs. Therefore, you can be classified as an unsatisfactory 

participant after missing 5 days of BA without authorization.

Q. Can I be discharged for being an unsatisfactory participant? 

A. Yes. Soldiers will be processed for discharge when determined to be an unsatisfactory participant as defined in Army Regulations. 

Q. What type of discharge will I receive if discharged as an unsatisfactory participant? 

A. Although all three administrative discharges (Honorable, General under honorable conditions, 

& Other Than Honorable) are technically available, Army Regulation 135-178 states that the characterization of service for unsatisfactory participation will normally be under Other Than Honorable (OTH) 

conditions.

Q. What is the military impact of an OTH discharge? 

A. You will be automatically reduced in rank to E-1; you will generally be barred from enlisting in 

to any other component of the armed forces; and you will be barred from most veterans’ benefits through 

the Veterans Administration (VA) or other agencies. 

Q. What are the civilian impacts of an OTH discharge? 

A. You will not be entitled to any unemployment compensation based on your military service; 

you may be required to report the OTH on employment applications; and the OTH will be reported on any 

background or security clearance check and could impact future employment. 

Q. What if I have more questions? 

A. Schedule an appointment with a legal assistance attorney.

Ask Jag:

Unsatisfactory Participation

FAQ
WINTER 2014 13

Mr. Ricky Payne

79th SSC Command Safety Office

Safety: Being Safe, As A Way Of Life 

My Thoughts on Safety. As I come to the end 

of my career, I am sure of some things and others will 

always be a mystery. I’m sure “Safety is something we 

can live with”. 

 I started my military career in Naval Aviation in 

1962. I retired in 1990 as an Aviation Structural Mechanic Senior Chief Petty Officer, (E-8). In all those 

years I was never involved in an accident. I attribute 

this to two things that happened in my formative 

years. First, my initial aviation maintenance training 

included very large doses of care to be correct and safe 

in everything I did. My work equated not only to an 

aircraft ready to fly, but to a safe aircraft, ready to fly. 

The crew’s safety rested very heavily on my work. 

 Next came reinforcement of my training. The command lost an aircraft. During the investigation board, 

everyone who had worked on the aircraft was called 

in front of the board and questioned. I was only an E3 

who had greased and lubricated the aircraft. However, 

the board made me question myself and my commitment to a quality job. I told myself that I would never 

have that feeling again, and I didn’t. I became the real 

‘do it right, safety first person’ and that attitude has 

served me well to this day. I use it at home as well as 

work. My family sometimes has problems with my 

demands, but they’re alive and well. 

Safety Information You Need I want to 

provide insight and information on some of the most 

questioned requirements and campaigns presented by 

safety. Why, what regulation, and what does it say are 

some of the things I’m asked. So, I’m going to list some 

of the items and where the requirement comes from. 

TRiPS (Travel Risk Planning System) risk 

assessment, is the most often questioned requirement 

and most misunderstood. The requirement comes 

from both AR 385-10 (Army Safety Program) and 

USAR Regulation 385-2 (Army Reserve Safety Program) As with most everything I discuss concerning 

safety, I’ll most often reference USARC Reg. 385-2. So, 

here’s what you need to know. 

 When you’re TDY and use a rental car, you’re driving a rented/GSA (General Services Administration) 

vehicle. Anytime you drive a rented/GSA vehicle more 

than 50 miles outside the local area of your owning 

duty station you must complete a TRiPS risk assessment. 

POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) operators 

departing on leave, pass, TDY or PCS must complete a 

TRiPS risk assessment that addresses hazards associated with the POV travel. This TRiPS risk assessment 

is to be completed for all planned trips outside the 

Soldier’s immediate local area (50 miles).

 Soldiers who travel a distance greater than 50 miles 

to the Reserve Center will complete the TRiPS risk 

assessment and give results to the commander. This 

requirement must be completed upon initial inprocessing and reviewed during quarterly performance 

counseling. 

Driver Education. Again, the requirements 

are in AR 385-10 and USARC Reg. 385-2. Specifically, 

the Army Traffic Safety Training Program is required 

training for all Army personnel. The Army Accident 

Avoidance Course (AAAC) located on the USACR/

Safety Center Web site (https://safety.army.mil) fulfills 

this requirement.

Bring It Home (Don’t Leave Your Professional 

Discipline Behind) Campaign. This campaign is sponsored by the Chief of the Army Reserve, Commanding 

General USARC.

 The campaign considers you a skilled and highly 

trained professional. Yet 93% of FY13 fatal accidents 

occurred in your assumed “SAFE” environment, not 

in a duty status or at your place of employment. Your 

military skills and professional discipline have a direct 

application in your life as a citizen. Your professional 

discipline is expected and a critical countermeasure 

for your safety.

 Monthly campaign information documents, presentations and posters are distributed for use in training 

and posting. One hundred percent distribution of 

these documents to Soldiers is required.

In closing, be safe in everything you do!
14 The Falcon

Col. Sridhar Natarajan

79th SSC Medical Advisory Office

79th SSC Medical Matters

 Each Soldier has a duty to ensure that they are 

medically fit for deployment per AR 40-501 Standards of Medical Fitness. It is the responsibility of 

RC Soldiers to maintain their medical and dental 

fitness. This includes correcting remedial defects, 

avoiding harmful habits, and controlling weight. 

RC Soldiers are responsible for seeking medical 

advice and treatment quickly when they believe 

their physical wellbeing is in question. RC Soldiers must report to their unit commander, any 

change in their health status that impacts on their 

readiness status.

 All RC Soldiers are responsible for providing 

What am I due and when?

There are certain medical readiness requirements 

that are due on an annual basis and others that 

are required when a Soldier is deploying. 

Annually

Influenza

Periodic Health Assessments (PHA)

Dental Examination 

Vision Screen (if the Soldier wears glasses a Vision Examination will be scheduled as required)

Audiogram

HIV – Every 2 years

CVSP and EKG – Every 5 yrs after age 40 

Routine Immunization – HEP A HEP B, Tetanus, 

(Other immunizations are required if a Soldier deploys)

the unit commander all medical documentation, 

including civilian health records, and completing 

the annual physical health assessment. Civilian 

health records documenting a change which may 

impact their readiness status will be placed in the 

Soldier’s military health record.

Why is Medical Readiness Important?

 Individual Medical Readiness determines a 

Soldier’s ability to deploy or mobilize. It can also 

determine if a Soldier is eligible to serve on Active 

Duty for Operational Support (ADOS) tours, attend schools or special training.

Individual Medical Readiness...

It’s Your Responsibility
WINTER 2014 15

How to schedule an LHI appointment 

 Soldiers can schedule or cancel an appointment, 

or ask questions about the appointment, by calling 

Customer Service at 1-800-666-2833 ext. 3555. The 

call center is open Monday through Friday 0700-

2200 and Saturday 0700-1500 CST.

Soldier Responsibilities for In-Clinic Appointments

 Soldiers are to report to their appointment at 

the date and time scheduled. If they are unable to 

comply, they must call the Reserve Health Readiness 

Program Customer Service Department at least 24 

hours prior to the appointment: 1-800-666-2833, 

option 3. Failure to keep the appointment as indicated (or to reschedule or cancel at least 24 hours 

prior to the appointment) will result in a report to 

the unit and a charge to the USAR. 

• Kit Items – Soldiers should receive a kit containing all that is needed for the appointment approximately 72 hours before their appointment. Prior to 

the appointment, read and review all the documents 

provided and make any necessary corrections to the 

pre-printed information. Soldiers should bring the 

Checking Medical Readiness. 

Soldiers can log into AKO to check their medical readiness. AKO gives printable reports of Immunization 

Records, Individual Medical Readiness (IMR), Vision Summary and Profiles. AKO will go RED when a 

Soldier is overdue a category in medical readiness.

ENTIRE contents of the kit, including the box they 

received them in, to their appointment and give it to 

clinic staff upon arrival. 

• Identification – Bring military ID card or photo 

ID to the exam facility. 

• Current Profiles, Boards, and Medical Conditions – Bring copies of previous medical exam, 

any current profile (DA Form 3349) temporary or 

permanent, and any civilian medical documentation that may impact evaluation or examination as 

appropriate. Copies of these documents will be sent 

with your exam paperwork to RHRP/LHI.

• Medications – Bring current medications with 

you. Keep them in their original containers.

• Immunizations – Bring your immunization records.

• Eyewear – If a Soldier has corrected vision, they 

must wear eyeglasses to the examination. Vision 

testing with contact lenses is not permitted.

• Special Instructions – Please refer to specific and 

special appointment instructions. For example, you 

may be required to fast for your appointment. 
16 The Falcon

Ms. Maritza Ramirez

79th SSC Family Programs Director

Strong Families Assist in Retention

Families in the Fight

 79th SSC Family Programs had a very busy 2014 

year supporting and assisting our Family Readiness 

Command Teams.

 Family Programs strives to establish effective 

FRG command teams by providing commanders 

with information, guidance, services and resources 

to promote the well-being of our Soldiers and their 

families.

 By offering life training that includes: Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness; Financial Readiness; Stress Management; Parenting; Army Family 

Team Building; Chain of Command; Volunteer; 

Deployment Education; and Resilience Training, 

the entire family can prepare for a deployment. It 

also helps commanders maintain an effective Family 

Readiness Program.

 When a Soldier knows that his or her family is 

ready for their deployment, it makes it less stressful 

for the deploying service member and has a direct 

impact on Soldier retention.

 Family Programs continually supports Yellow 

Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) events 

which are designed to maintain contact and give 

more resilience training to the family members after 

the Soldier has been deployed. 

 If you need assistance, please contact Army Reserve Family Programs Fort Family Support & Outreach Center @ 1-866-345-8248 - Serving Soldiers 

and Families 24/7/365, or visit our Family Programs 

website for more information and volunteer opportunities at www.arfp.org. 

Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense

to service members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns

including money management, spouse employment and education, parenting 

and child care, relocation, deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of

families with special-needs members.

www.militaryonesource.mil

1-800-342-9647

Children and youth of Soldiers in the 79th SSC 

had a busy year of events and activities that were 

offered by Army Reserve Child, Youth & School 

Specialists.
WINTER 2014 17

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – The 79th SSC Command 

Surgeon, Col. Sridhar Natarajan, was selected by 

the Office of the Surgeon General to receive the “A” 

Proficiency Designator. This award is the highest 

recognition for professional excellence in the Army 

Medical Department.

 This award recognizes the highest level of professional recognition within each Army Medical 

Department Corps’ specialty or subspecialty.

Each year the Office of the Surgeon General selects 

medical professionals for this highly selective and 

prestigious award. Some of the criteria for selection 

include: be considered eminently qualified to chair 

a department, division or service or have attained 

full professional status, and have obtained national 

prominence in their field; must be a leader in their 

specialty and have made significant contributions to 

the advancement of knowledge in a particular field; 

and must be a distinct asset to the Army Medical 

Department, both as officers and as professional 

specialists.

 Col. Natarajan is currently the Chief Medical Examiner and Director of the Medical Examiner’s Office for the County of Lubbock, Texas, and a clinical 

professor at the School of Medicine Department of 

Pathology, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Col. Natarajan received a Bachelor of Arts degree 

in 1979, followed by a Master of Science degree in 

1982, and finally received his Medical Doctorate 

degree in 1992. His postgraduate studies include: 

Col. Sridhar Natarajan

79th SSC Command Surgeonn

Transitional Medicine Internship, Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center 1992-1993; Anatomic/Clinical Pathology Residency, Brook Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 1993-1997; Medical Microbiology Subspecialty Training, Brook Army Medical 

Center, San Antonio, Texas 1997-1999; Forensic 

Pathology Fellowship, Bexar County Forensic Science Center and Officer of the Medical Examiner, 

San Antonio, Texas 2001-2002.

79th SSC Surgeon Receives “A” Proficency Designator 

 Story by Sgt. First Class James Lilly

 79th Sustainment Support Command 
18 The Falcon

Best Sustainment Command (EXPEDITIONARY)

653rd Regional Support Group

Best Battalion Best Company

FalcoN

The

Awards

FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOLDIER AND UNIT READINESS 

THE 2014 FALCON AWARD IS PRESENTED TO...

451st Sustainment Command (EXPEDITIONARY) 

Best Brigade

419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion 288th Quartermaster Water Purification and Distribution Co.

The 79th SSC Falcon Awards Program was established to recognize excellence at each level of command 

(ESC, BDE/RSG, BN, CO, DET) which best demonstrates the highest standards of sustained readiness. 

The Falcon Awards Program features positive measurements of current Army and 79th SSC goals within 

22 readiness metrics.
WINTER 2014 19

 The Department of the Army and the 

Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort 

Lee, Virginia. announced the winners of 

the Philip A. Connelly Awards for Excellence in Army Food Service. Taking first 

place in the Reserve Field Category was 

the 443rd Transportation Company, from 

Elkhorn, Nebraska.

 The annual Connelly Awards Program 

has three main objectives: improve the professionalism of food service personnel, thus 

providing the best quality food service to 

supported Soldier diners; provide recognition for excellence in the preparation and 

serving of food in army troop dining facilities and during field kitchen operations; 

and provide added incentive to competitive 

programs of installation management command and army commands by adding a 

higher level of competition and appropriate 

recognition.

Front row from the left, Staff Sgt. Kris Weddell, Sgt. 1st Class Constance Oberg. Back row from the left, Spc. Kerrington Hawkins, Spc. 

Dillon Marco, Sgt. 1st Class Keith Jones, Spc Christopher Strayer. 

Not Pictured: Staff Sgt. Jeffery McLaughlin (First Cook)

451st ESC Unit Wins 1st Place in Cooking Competition

 Story by Sgt. First Class James Lilly

 79th Sustainment Support Command 

79th SSC Gains 2 New Officers...Loses 2 NCOs

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Dual military couple 2nd Lt. Adriana Phann, 4th 

Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and 2nd Lt. Chankrisna Phann, 

79th Sustainment Support Command, were commissioned here during a 

ceremony November 12th. Administrating the oaths of office were Brig. 

Gen. Norman B. Green and Lt. Col. Winnifred D. Croteau respectively.
20 The Falcon

 Immediately following the ceremony, Tatu escorted Nakamura’s family to the front entrance of the 

building to unveil a plaque that names the building 

in Sgt. Nakamura’s honor, and then inside for a tour 

of the facility. 

 The centerpiece of the tour was a permanent 

memorial display which included many of Nakamura’s personal items including his service uniform, 

a teddy bear from the 437th Medical Company, a 

placard of the red cross from his ambulance, and his 

Combat Medical Badge-Nakamura was the first Reserve Soldier to receive this badge, which until that 

point had only been awarded to active duty medics.

 His devotion as a medic drew Caranza to Nakamura-they were close friends for two years. 

 “I knew Paul for, in the grand scheme of things, 

such a small amount of time...the impact that he 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Maj. Gen. Megan P. Tatu, 

Commanding General of the 79th Sustainment Support Command, hosted a ceremony dedicating the 

79th Headquarters building to Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura, the first Reserve Soldier killed in action during 

Operation Iraqi Freedom, at Joint Forces Training 

Base Los Alamitos, California, June 21, 2014.

 Nakamura had been rendering aid to a patient in 

the rear of his ambulance on June 19, 2003, when it 

was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade just outside 

of Baghdad. The attack killed Nakamura and injured his battle buddy, then-Sgt. Cory Caranza and 

the patient. Nakamura had been on more than 220 

medical evacuation missions and treated 80 individuals during his time in Iraq.

 More than 400 attendees of the dedication included Soldiers, civilians, veterans, family and friends 

that came to honor Nakamura. Of the 400 attendees, 

approximately 200 were Nakamura’s family members, including his parents Paul and Yoko Nakamura, who were taken by surprise by the magnitude 

of the event.

 The event included comments by Maj. Gen.

Tatu, retired Maj. Gen. Robert Ostenberg, Santa Fe 

Springs city mayor Juanita Trujillo, retired Staff Sgt. 

Cory Caranza, and Nakamura’s parents. 

 For Paul and Yoko Nakamura, speaking about 

their son, Tokuzo-the family nickname for Sgt. 

Nakamura-was bittersweet.

 “As long as we live, we have Tokuzo in our hearts,” 

said Sgt. Nakamura’s father, choking back tears.

 “Sgt. Nakamura, by all accounts, was the embodiment of the Warrior-Citizen that every Army leader 

hopes to have in their unit,” said Tatu. “Focused, 

disciplined, both mentally and physically: Always 

with a smile, always with a positive word, always 

with a positive attitude, the consummate teammate.”

79th SSC Dedicates Headquarters Build

Story by Spc. Heather Doppke

79th Sustainment Support Command 
WINTER 2014 21

ding in Honor of Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura 

has had on my life since then has been absolutely 

tremendous,” retired Staff Sgt. Caranza said.

 For Caranza, memories of Nakamura live on in 

the legacy of Caranza’s children.

 “Here I am, 11 years later, and I find myself looking at my children: my son, named after him, and 

my daughter, who completely coincidentally was 

born on his birthday, and I think to myself how 

those two years have completely and utterly dominated my life in a positive way,” he explained.

 Caranza said that one of the ways he honors Nakamura is by appreciating his life.

 “The last thing I said to him before they took him 

to the hospital to bring him back here to the states, 

I said: now I have two lives to live for you, not just 

mine but yours as well.”

 Caranza explained that while he was consumed 

with self-pity and sadness after the death of his 

friend, he had a commitment to uphold.

 “I realized it’s about me fulfilling that promise I 

made to him back in 2003, and I’m not finished living that life, obviously, for him.”

 And when Nakamura’s parents questioned why 

they had chosen to dedicate the 79th’s building to 

their son, Tatu replied, “the answer as to ‘why Paul?’ 

comes in the words from the Chief of the Army 

Reserve, Lt. Gen. Talley who stated, ‘...Sgt. Paul Nakamura died a hero on June 19, 2003, but he lived as 

one for 21 years. We, as Army Reserve Soldiers and 

Civilians, do not forget our fallen warriors.’ ...and 

so, Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura, thank you for allowing 

us to honor your son’s character, his commitment to 

our Nation...his sacrifice, and yours.”

(left) Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, commanding general of the 79th Sustainment Support Command, giving remarks at the 

79th SSC building dedication. (right) The immediate family of Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura pose for a photo in front of the 

display cases containing some of Sgt. Nakamura’s personal and military effects. The headquarters building was dedicated to the memory of Sergeant Paul T. Nakamura on Saturday, June 21, 2014. Sgt. Nakamura, an Army Reserve 

Soldier who was assigned to the 437th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), March Air Reserve Base, Riverside 

California, was killed in action on June 19, 2003 in Al-Iskandariyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A 

Southern California native, Nakamura was a model Warrior-Citizen, recognized as a leader in his community. (U.S. 

Army photos by Spc. Heather Doppke/released)
22 The Falcon

SQUAW VALLEY, Calif. - Most Soldiers strive for a 

great two-mile run time, but two miles makes up a 

mere fraction of a normal run for Lt. Col. Jess McNeely, Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics, Headquarters, 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 

who just finished his seventh 100-mile run.

 Running 100 miles is pretty extreme, but the run 

that McNeely just completed covered 100.2 miles 

of mountainous terrain and temperatures ranging 

from below zero to over 100 degrees, it’s called, “The 

Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.”

 To accomplish such an undertaking, it’s all about 

taking it on bit by bit, says McNeely, “How do you 

eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do you 

finish one of these events? One step at a time, if you 

just keep going you’ll eventually get there.”

 As an outsider looking in at what seems like the 

ultimate physical challenge, you’d probably assume 

that these runners would appear to be the most elite 

of athletes, but you quickly learn that you can’t let 

first appearances fool you. McNeely, standing at five 

feet four inches explains, “The biggest challenge is 

that you will have mental lows, and this type of race 

is more mental than it is physical.” Keeping a positive mindset and staying focused on the fact that 

there is a finish line at the end of every race is key to 

getting past those mental lows says McNeely, “When 

I first hit lows, I ask myself - what was I thinking, 

when I signed up for this? Why am I doing this? 

And so I ask myself those questions, when I was 

really hitting a low point mentally, but somehow I 

knew that...you know what, there’s a finish line and 

I’m going to finish.”

 In addition to being a Lieutenant Colonel in the 

Army Reserve, he is a husband and father of three. 

McNeely’s passion for running has made quite the 

impression on them, “I think my kids see that I’m 

driven to do these events, that I’m goal oriented and 

that has inspired them to be physically active.” 

 Not only has distance running influenced his 

personal life, but it has had quite an impact on his 

military career as well. Having been deployed three 

451st ESC Soldier Completes Weste

 Story by Spc. Heather Doppke

 79th Sustainment Support Command 

times, distance running has been a learning tool. 

“Like people say on deployment, it’s a marathon 

not a sprint, endurance running kind of helps you 

learn that and embrace it even more...it helps give 

you a more long range sustainable perspective on 

everything.”

 Even though McNeely’s high school track career 

wasn’t prestigous enough to continue in college, 

he began long distance running again at his first 

duty station in Germany. “Some guys I knew there 

had run the Berlin Marathon, one of the biggest marathons in Europe...I said oh, hey that’s 

on my bucket list, before I die I want to run one 

marathon!” So along with a few others in his unit, 

McNeely completed his first marathon. “I ran it in 

3 hours 30 minutes and I absolutely loved it, when 

I crossed the finished line I was like, that was the 

coolest thing I have ever done in my life!” 

 “You’re a holistic person and your body was 

meant to move,” expressed McNeely. He not only 

believes it’s important to have an active lifestyle but 
WINTER 2014 23

ern States 100 Mile Endurance Run 

had made the cut, he said, “Somebody take me to a 

casino right now because this is the luckiest day of 

my life.”

 With trails climbing 18,090 ft. and descending another 22,970 ft. from start to finish, McNeely knew 

it would be challenging but rewarding, “Running is 

certainly the toughest thing I’ve ever tried but I just 

feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to get to 

do it. I’ve probably been wanting to do this race for 

about 7 years.” 

 So at 5:00 am on June 28, with approximately 400 

other runners, the race began. The runners had up 

to 30 hours to run the 100.2-mile mountain terrain 

trail from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California. Out 

of the estimated 400 runners that began, only 296 

finished the race-one of which was McNeely, who 

came in at 7:03 am on Sunday morning, and even 

after the last 26 hours 3 minutes and 39 seconds of 

racing , he said, “I feel fantastic, I mean I’m very 

tired and I’m in a lot of pain but I mean it’s a huge 

sense of accomplishment and I’m really happy that I 

finished.”

Editors note: Lt. Col. McNeely is now the commander of the 600th Engineer Facilities Detachment in Des 

Moines, Iowa.

also conveys the fact that life has so 

much more meaning when you find 

something you enjoy. “There are way 

too many people who have sedentary 

lifestyles and if they get out and find 

what they like doing, their life will be 

much more fulfilling.” he added. 

 Running became his passion and it 

definitely has made quite an impact 

on his life.

 After reading and learning about 

other ultra marathons, (anything 

over 26.2 miles is considered an ultra 

marathon,) McNeely found out about 

the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, he said, “Wow, that’s the 

one I really want to do, I want to do 

the Western States 100.”

 Since the WSER is the world’s oldest and most 

prestigious trail race, getting picked was like winning the lottery for McNeely. When he found out he 
24 The Falcon

A French Town and The C

Long ago those who proceeded us – the 79th Infantry Division (ID) Soldiers 

were on the battlefield in La Haye du Puits, France. Thanks to the courage and 

the sacrifices of the Cross of Lorraine Division Soldiers, who fought houseto-house on July 8, 1944 to save a community and the people in it from Nazi 

occupation, the people of La Haye du Puits were liberated. 70 years later, the 

people there still remember and honor their selfless service.
WINTER 2014 25

Cross of Lorraine

Continued on page 26
26 The Falcon

Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division stand in formation 

as school children from La Haye du Puits recite poetry 

at the village’s 79th Infantry Division Monument.

 Today, Soldiers of the 79th Sustainment Support Command (SSC) proudly wear the Cross of 

Lorraine upon a blue triangular shield on their left 

shoulders. On each shield the Cross of Lorraine is 

a symbol of triumph and commemorates the sacrifices made to earn victory. 

 Soldiers of the 79th SSC are renowned for their 

relentless work ethic and dedication to duty; a 

reputation that derives from a lineage of immense 

sacrifice. The 79th (Division) earned the name of 

“Cross of Lorraine” for gallantry in battle during 

World War I while defending an area of France 

known as the Meuse-Argonne. Only a few decades 

later, the 79th (Infantry Division) found itself back 

in France where they encountered a formidable 

German Army.

 Amidst the fighting, the 79th Infantry Division 

found themselves up against a Nazi stronghold in 

Megan P. Tatu, to attend the 70th anniversary of 

the village’s liberation. The celebration provided an 

invaluable opportunity for the village’s citizens and 

leaders to engage with Maj. Gen. Tatu and re-connect with a profound aspect of their past. Many of 

the people involved with the ceremony had relatives 

that witnessed the battle and some knew of relatives 

wounded as a result of collateral artillery fire. 

 Regis Giard, an instrumental component in 

bringing the event to fruition, remembers hearing 

of the battle while growing up in the village and 

infers that the inter-generational storytelling has 

built a sustained appreciation for the 79th Division’s 

Soldiers in the town. “The people are very proud of 

the American Soldiers and what they did during the 

war, even my generation knows how the US Soldiers 

sacrificed,” states Giard. He also commented on the 

Cross of Lorraine and remembers specifically meeting someone who received the symbol of hope from 

an American Soldier. He says, “I know for instance, 

of a young girl who is still living and participates 

in all the ceremonies and has the Cross of Lorraine 

patch she was given by a Soldier.” 

 The visit had a profound impact on Maj. Gen. 

Tatu who recognizes that the values that inspired 

the selfless sacrifices of the WWII generation 

remain the unit’s core values today, “As with our 

brothers in arms from generations past, we strive 

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, La Haye du Puits Mayor Alain 

Aubert, Sous-Prefete Florence Ghibert-Bezard and 

French National Assemblyman, Depute Stephane 

Travert march in a procession to commence the 70th 

anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du 

Puits by the 79th Infantry Division in July 1944.

the German-occupied village of La Haye du Puits. 

Bearing the Lorraine Cross, then a symbol of hope 

to the French people of a “Free France,” 79th Soldiers successfully liberated the French village despite sustaining heavy casualties and losses. 70 years 

later, the people of La Haye du Puits still remember 

the gallantry displayed by the Soldiers of the 79th 

Division and the symbol of hope the Lorraine Cross 

served to provide. 

 Recently, the community of La Haye du Puits invited the current 79th SSC Commander, Maj. Gen. 
WINTER 2014 27

French Veterans from multiple service branches and 

wars, march through the streets of La Haye du-Puits 

following the 70 anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du Puits.

Mr. Claude Fenouilliere, French veteran, Mr. Herb 

Griffin, 314th Infantry Regiment veteran and Mr. Michel Traisnel, French veteran prepare to lay a wreath 

at the base of the 79th Infantry Division monument 

during the 70th anniversary ceremony of the liberation 

of La Haye du Puits.

Members of the 79th Infantry Division advance into 

the town of La Haye du-Puits, France during the liberation of that town held by the Nazis in July 1944.

to abide by the motto of the 79th Infantry Division 

and the 79th Sustainment Support Command, To 

Do For Country; we share the same sense of selfless 

service, we share the same traditions and values.”

 More than five hundred people attended the 

commemoration event as well as several French 

dignitaries. In a special display of appreciation, the 

Mayor of La Haye du Puits presented Maj. Gen. 

Tatu with the “Medal of the City” while he received 

a commemorative plaque from the American General in return. But had it not been for a fortunate 

encounter between Giard, a U.S. Soldier, and the 

recognition of the Cross of Lorraine, this profound 

interaction of gratitude may not have occurred. 

 During one of his visits to the U.S., Giard happened to notice the Cross of Lorraine displayed on 

the left shoulder of a passing 79th SSC Soldier. “I 

saw the patch,” he says, “and seeing it, there was no 

way for me to not ask (the passing Soldier.)” Giard 

explained to the American Service member that 

Soldiers wearing the Cross of Lorraine patch had 

liberated his village in France in WWII. During his 

encounter with the Soldier, Giard made the initial 

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, La Haye du Puits Mayor Alain 

Aubert and Sous-Prefete Florence Ghibert-Bezard 

lay a wreath at the base of the 79th Infantry Division 

monument. 

Continued on page 28
28 The Falcon

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu presents a plaque to La Haye 

du Puits Mayor Alain Aubert during the 70th anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du Puits.

connection that led him to the 79th SSC. 

 Following his fateful encounter with the 79th SSC 

Soldier, Giard worked tirelessly to bring the descendants of the 79th Infantry Division to the battlefield 

of their predecessors. Giard searched through After 

Action Reports from WWII records, and collected 

personal testimonies from witnesses of the liberation, in order to provide Maj. Gen. Tatu with a historical walk through of the battlefield; an experience 

that she will never forget. In a letter composed by 

the General to Giard following her visit she states, 

“Your battlefield tour that you provided... will never 

be forgotten by any of us. For me personally, it will 

serve as a constant reminder for those of us who 

are privileged to wear the Cross of Lorraine on our 

shoulder, to act in honor and respect of those with 

whom we share our heraldry and who 

sacrificed so much; we are honor-bound 

never to forget and to continue the 

proud legacy.”

 The 79th SSC is incredibly proud of 

it’s heritage. The Cross of Lorraine has 

served as a steadfast symbol of hope and 

triumph for Soldiers of the 79th Division for close to a century. It is fitting 

that this small symbol of a “Free France” 

has re-connected the people of La Hay 

du Puits with the descendants of the 

79th Division 70 years since the village’s 

liberation. Time will always pass but 

never shall anyone forget. 

Family members of Pfc. Kenneth McDonald, 79th Infantry Division Soldier, are presented his wrist watch, 

which was found on the battlefield several years ago, 

at the La Haye du-Puits Cultural Center immediately 

following the 70th anniversary ceremony at the 79th 

Infantry Division Monument.

79th Infantry Division historian Regis Giard discusses the ceremony details with Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, La Haye du Puits Mayor 

Alain Aubert, and Sous-Prefete Florence Ghibert-Bezard before the 

70th anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du Puits.

“To Do For Country!” 
WINTER 2014 29

Members of the 4th Infantry Division perform color 

guard duty and lead the march to the 70th anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du Puits.

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu thanks service members of 

4th Infantry Division for their participation in the 70th 

anniversary ceremony of the liberation of La Haye du 

Puits.

Continued on page 30
30 The Falcon

79th ID Commander 

Maj. Gen. Ira T. Wyche

The 79th Infantry Division’s WWII 

operations through France began 14 

June 1944 and continued through 29 

August, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ira 

T. Wyche. The 79th served as part of 

the VII Corps and sustained 2,376 

total battle casualties: 240 KIA, 1,896 

wounded and 240 missing during 

battles from Utah Beach to Cherbourg, 

into La Haye Du Puits and beyond.
WINTER 2014 31

21st Army Group

Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery

First Army

Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley

VII Corps

Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins

4th Infantry Division

Maj. Gen. Raymond 0. Barton

8th Infantry

Col. James A. Van Fleet

12th Infantry

Col. Russell P. Reeder

Lt. Col. James S. Luckett

22d Infantry

Col. Hervey A. Tribolet

Col. Robert T. Foster 

9th Infantry Division

Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy

39th Infantry

Col. Harry A. Flint

47th Infantry

Col. George W. Smythe

60th Infantry

Col. Frederick J. de Rohan

79th Infantry Division

Maj. Gen. Ira T. Wyche

313th Infantry

Col. Sterling A. Wood

314th Infantry

Col. Warren A. Robinson

315th Infantry

Col. Porter P. Wiggins

Col. Bernard B. McMahon

304th Engineer Combat Battalion

82d Airborne Division

Maj. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway

505th Parachute Infantry

Col. William E. Ekman

507th Parachute Infantry

Col. George V. Millett, Jr.

Col. E. D. Raff (15 June)

508th Parachute Infantry

Col. Roy E. Lindquist

325th Glider Infantry

Col. Harry L. Lewis

90th Infantry Division

Brig. Gen. Jay W. MacKelvie

Maj. Gen. Eugene M. Landrum

357th Infantry

Col. Philip D. Ginder

Col. John W. Sheehy (

Lt. Col. Charles M. Schwab

Allied Chain of Command and Order of Battle

(Source: VII Corps, G-1 Reports, June 1944)

Col. George B. Barth

358th Infantry

Col. James V. Thompson

Col. Christian H. Clark, Jr. 

Col. Richard C. Partridge

359th Infantry

Col. Clarke K. Fales

l0lst Airborne Division

Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor

50lst Parachute Infantry

Col. Howard R. Johnson

502d Parachute Infantry

Col. George V. H. Moseley, Jr. 

Lt.. Col. John H. Michaelis

506th Parachute Infantry

Col. Robert F. Sink

327th Glider Infantry

Col. George S. Wear

Col. Joseph H. Harper

4th Cavalry Group

Col. Joseph M. Tully

4th Cavalry Squadron

Lt. Col. E. C. Dunn

24th Cavalry Squadron

Lt. Col. F. H . Gaston, Jr.

6th Armored Group

Col. Francis F. Fainter

70th Tank Battalion

Lt. Col. John C. Welborn

746th Tank Battalion

Lt. Col. C. G. Hupfer

Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
32 The Falcon

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, Poland - When I heard 

there was a call for volunteers to man a public affairs 

mission to Europe, I immediately threw my hat into 

the ring; little did I know that this was a mission 

that supported U.S. Army Europe and the 173rd 

Airborne Brigade, and the mission was called “Operation Atlantic Resolve.”

 The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, 

Italy, is the U.S. Army’s contingency-response force 

in Europe and is capable of projecting forces to conduct the full of range of military operations across 

the United States, European and Central African 

Command’s areas of responsibility.

 Operation Atlantic Resolve is training that reassures our allies and partners in the eastern part of 

Europe that America is committed to our defense 

responsibilities. This bi-lateral training with NATO 

includes Soldiers from Germany, Poland, Latvia, 

Estonia, Lithuania and Romania. 

 I was assigned to the four person Team Poland, 

my fellow 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command co-worker, Sgt. 1st Class Walter Talens, was 

assigned to the four person Team Latvia and our 

mission commander and 201st Press Camp executive officer, Maj. Heather Roelker, was part of Team 

Wiesbaden, Germany, which coordinated the mission’s operations.

 During Operation Atlantic Resolve, Soldiers from 

NATO’s allies conducted combined training to both 

sharpen their skill sets and build a more solid foundation to their NATO alliance.

 This was the first U.S. Army Reserve Mobile 

Public Affairs Detachment to support Operation 

Atlantic Resolve. Twenty Soldiers from 16 different 

U.S. Army Reserve units came together to produce 

written stories and video news reports. Soldiers 

from the U.S. National Guard also supported this 

operation in previous assignments.

 “Telling the story of Operation Atlantic Resolve 

through public affairs resources is a key for the 

overall mission to succeed,” said Roelker. “The U.S. 

Army Reserve Public Affairs team provided public 

affairs support through photography, video acquisition, production and community engagements that 

created media relations.”

 When I first arrived in Poland, I was happy to 

see that the local economy had many signs of a free 

society. This was evident when I met Sgt. 1st Class 

Gregory Sabiniewicz, 1st Squadron, 91st Calvary 

Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and unit translator. His story was compelling because he had lived 

in the U.S. until the age of eight until his mother 

and father decided to move from Chicago back to 

their native Poland in 1991, when the communist 

regime was dissolved. 

 Sabiniewicz remembered when 

he went through a culture shock, 

moving from Chicago where 

everything was readily available. 

When he got to Poland his family 

The 311th ESC Supports 

 Story by Capt. Fernando Ochoa

 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
WINTER 2014 33

s Operation Atlantic Resolve 

had to wait three to five hours to get basic groceries. 

 “Our rations were meat, milk and commodities 

with life sustaining manners,” said Sabiniewicz. “A 

family of five rationed two kilos of meat a week. 

There were other times we had to drive several 

hours out of town to get a pound of sugar. It was a 

huge culture shock for a kid.”

 Sabiniewicz joined the U.S. Army to serve his 

country and felt honored to be part of the 173rd 

Airborne. His dream of serving the United States 

came full circle, going from an American citizen to 

a Polish refugee to an American Soldier and nothing pleased him more than seeing how his ancestral 

country had evolved.

 Talens, who helped lead Team Latvia, supported 

coverage featuring the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry 

Regiment, 503rd Infantry Regiment, of 173rd AB, 

and enjoyed traveling to a 

foreign country, eating the local 

cuisine, interacting with the 

local population and developing 

junior NCOs to become better 

public affairs operators.

 “I had the opportunity to develop junior Soldiers 

from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, while working 

with 173rd AB paratroopers and Latvian infantry 

Soldiers,” said Talens. “Latvia is a beautiful country 

with a rich history and friendly people. The Latvians 

I met were warm and educated. The country itself is 

green and full of nature activities.”

 The exercise that brought all the forces together 

was called “Steadfast Javelin.” This movement combined NATO allies and involved over 2,000 troops 

from five nations, and took place across Estonia, 

Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This exercise focused on increasing interoperability and 

synchronizing complex operations between allied 

air and ground forces through airborne and air assault missions. 

 I felt that it was a privilege to be part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. This was a rewarding experience and opened my eyes to what was happening 

in this part of the world, seeing how the NATO 

allies have come 

together to create 

a deterrent to aggression.

 Operation 

Atlantic Resolve is 

training that reassures our allies and partners in this 

region of the world that America’s commitment to 

our defense responsibilities and is designed to foster 

cohesive relationships.
34 The Falcon

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Army Reserve Soldiers from 

the 143rd, 310th, and 311th Sustainment Commands (Expeditionary) have fully integrated with 

each other to simulate providing disaster relief to 

the Bay Area as part of their annual training starting 

July 21, 2014, at the Port of Alameda.

 “We’re working in a port that could be used in 

a national emergency; working on the ships that 

could be involved and that makes it very realistic,” 

said 1st Lt. Douglas Miller, commander of the 711th 

Sea Port Operations company located in Vallejo, 

California. “We have been able to coordinate with 

the 489th transportation company to bring units 

from both sides of the country and put them together for this operation. We’ve mixed them all together 

into the different platoons so it’s just one company.”

 One of the three operations being conducted 

simultaneously is known as roll-on roll-off. The 

Soldiers are practicing getting Army vehicles on 

and off the USS Orlando, a ready reserve cargo ship. 

Once the vehicles have been driven into the ship 

the Soldiers practice maximizing space and securing the vehicles to the vessel for safe transport; later 

the Soldiers offload the vehicles. The vehicles would 

then be used to distribute supplies and transport 

personnel, said Miller.

 Sgt. David Hue, a cargo specialist for the 

past 10 years and a distribution supervisor 

with Safeway, is in charge of the operation 

and said the crew has been adapting to the 

real world scenario well and integration of 

the units has been great.

 “My civilian job has taught me valuable 

skills in helping me make the crew efficient, 

enhanced my managerial skills and helps 

me keep everyone on the same page so Soldiers don’t fall behind in the training,” said 

Hue, “We have had challenges like finding 

the right equipment aboard the ship, we 

haven’t been on this ship before, but the 

civilian personnel and Lt. Douglas Miller have been 

a big help.”

 “I’ve been helping with technical expertise; as a 

merchant mariner I have worked on these ships before in my civilian job. I’ve been helping them find 

the gear they need and just being a point of contact,” 

said Lt. Peter Spencer, a Navy Reserve officer and 

a Merchant Marine, “They’re learning and figuring things out; but it’s also been a good experience 

for me to see how the Army handles these types of 

operations.”

 Cpl. Erin Bridges, of Benicia, Calif. and recent 

winner of the 311th’s Best Warrior Competition, 

said that the experience and the training has been 

great. 

 “Nothing happens until something moves. You 

can have a great fighting force but if it’s not moved, 

fed, or supplied it’s not doing anything,” said Bridges 

who has been overseeing the entire operation 

aboard the crane ship the Gem State; which conducts load-on load-off operations, “We keep track of 

all the moving pieces.”

 Spc. Damanjeet Gidda, a UC Berkley graduate, 

said that he’s done training with the movement control team but this training is putting it all together 

for him. 

Simulating Disaster

 Story by Staff. Sgt. Felix Fimbres

 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
WINTER 2014 35

Soldiers with the 143rd, 310th, and 311th Sustainment Commands (Expeditionary) practice load-on, load-off operations in the Port of Alameda, Calif., July 21, 2014. Over 150 Soldiers are practicing providing emergency port operations in the event of a natural disaster as part of their annual training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Felix R. Fimbres)

 “We don’t normally get the opportunity 

to actually move and track this amount of 

equipment,” said Gidda, “We’re getting the 

opportunity to see equipment and material 

move from one platoon to another.”

 The Soldiers have also had the unique 

opportunity to live aboard the USS Hornet, 

an aircraft carrier and museum, which is 

docked at the Port of Alameda. Miller said 

the quarters are the same as they always 

were so living space is limited but his Soldiers have enjoyed being able to experience 

the history of the ship during the mission. 

 The operation at the port of Alameda 

is part of another simultaneous disaster 

simulation in Camp Parks, California.
36 The Falcon

4th ESC Participates in Combatives Training

 Story by Spc. Antonio Valcarcel

 90th Military History Detachment

JBSA FORT SAM HOUSTON, 

Texas – (Left to right) Sgt. 1st 

Class Megan Ortega, Sgt. 1st 

Class. Angie Tamez, and Sgt. 1st 

Class Jennifer McShane, 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), practice army combative maneuvers here, Nov. 2. (U.S. Army 

photo by Spc. Antonio Valcarcel, 

90th Military History Detachment) 

JBSA FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – Sgt. Manning 

Williams, 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) 

and instructor Staff Sgt. Randy Malacas, 32nd Medical 

Brigade, demonstrate man-to-man contact maneuvers 

here Nov. 2. (Army photo by Spc. Antonio Valcarcel, 

90th Military History Detachment)

JBSA FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Soldiers pose for a 

photo following army combatives training here Nov. 2. 

Instructor Staff Sgt. Randy Malacas (center), 32nd Medical Brigade, demonstrated and coached participants in a 

variety of maneuvers. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Antonio 

Valcarcel, 90th Military History Detachment)
WINTER 2014 37

4th ESC Host 1st Comprehensive Fitness Course

 Story by Staff Sgt. Nina Ramon

 90th Military History Detachment

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Twenty-six Soldiers from throughout the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) participated in a holistic 

and comprehensive approach to encompassing the 

physical, mental, emotional and spiritual domains 

program called “Fit for Life.” A diverse group of 

mentors and coaches from within the command 

committed to assisting participants develop a personal plan to be stronger, healthier and ultimately 

“Fit for Life.”

 The Army has been burdened by almost a decade 

of war and beset by increases in suicides, substance 

abuse and combat stress. To combat these elements, 

the 4th ESC embarked on a comprehensive course 

to instill psychological strength in Soldiers the same 

way it teaches physical fitness.

 The Soldiers started the course with a diagnostic 

fitness training test and height/weight screening, 

followed by classroom training to evaluate and better understand themselves.

 “As the ‘Fit for Life’ participants arrived,” said 

Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Moreno, lead coach/

mentor, “I noticed that most, if not all, had a look of 

uncertainty and defeat.” 

 The Army culture is changing. The “suck it up and 

drive on” mentally is shifting to better recognize the 

past decade of physically, mentally and emotionally draining hardships due to rigorous training and 

multiple deployments. 

 “One of the primary initiatives was to enable and 

empower participants with the “tools” necessary 

to build a successful and realistic individual fitness 

and nutrition plan,” said Moreno. “Given participant 

feedback, I believe we achieved that.”

 The overall goal of Fit for Life is to encompass the 

“whole body” in efforts to not only become a better 

Soldier but a better person for oneself, family and 

community. 

 “The program further emphasized disciplined 

initiative, teaching our Soldiers how to think rather 

than what to think,” said Moreno. “These types of 

skills are imperative in developing and growing our 

future leaders.”

 Soldiers developed actionable individual fitness 

and nutrition plans and left with the tools to execute 

them as part of their everyday lives. At the end of 

the Program, Soldiers were administered a record 

Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and height/

weight test. Soldiers that met the standards were 

given the opportunity to reenlist at the end of the 

event.

 “At the completion of the program, they transformed, they believed in themselves and one another,” said Moreno. “They went from uncertainty and 

defeat to one of purpose and determination.”

 Of the 26 Soldiers that participated in the program, 21 Soldiers showed vast improvement in 

their overall physical fitness score. On the final day 

of the program, Brig. Gen. Norman B. Green, 4th 

ESC commanding general, administered the oath of 

reenlistment to the 15 Soldiers who either extended 

their contract or reenlisted.
38 The Falcon

The 364th ESC Brings Big Trucks to Community Event

 Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

MARYSVILLE, Wash. - The 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command supported the city of 

Marysville, Washington, Parks and Recreation Department’s 10th Annual Touch-a-Truck event Sept. 

13 at Totem Middle School.

 Touch-a-Truck is a unique interactive event that 

allows children to see, touch and safely explore big 

trucks and heavy machinery. 

 Great end-of-summer sunshine and nearly 45 big 

rigs helped make an estimated 3,000 visitors enjoy 

the event.

 Organizers said the event is a great opportunity 

for members of the community to meet the people 

who serve and protect the city. 

 Among the 45 vehicles from various local, state 

and federal agencies were fire trucks, police cars, 

military tactical vehicles and sanitation trucks. 

Some of the children’s favorites included the fire 

engine and a dump truck. 

 Since its establishment at the Marysville Army 

Reserve Center in 2012, the 364th has supported 

several community relations events to strengthen 

community alliances. In the future, the unit plans 

to support several community holiday and school 

events.

The 364th Expeditionary Sustainment 

Command supported the city of Marysville, Washington, Parks and Recreation 

Department’s 10th Annual Touch-aTruck event September 13 at Totem 

Middle School.
WINTER 2014 39

 Whether the 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) is sustaining service members working to contain Ebola in Western Africa or advisors 

headed back to Iraq, it must be ready to operate 

under uncertain and challenging conditions. One 

thing that can help its Soldiers overcome these 

obstacles is training. That’s why Soldiers in the unit 

regularly prepare for their logistics command mission during battle training assemblies and annual 

training.

 The 364th ESC validated their staff functions in 

support of their command during a Mission Command Staff Integration exercise Oct. 26 through 

Nov. 2 at the Army Reserve Center in Bothell, 

Washington.

 The exercise tested the staff ’s ability to establish a 

command post that included secure network communication for every staff section. “It’s complicated,” 

Capt. Amanda Wielgus, Mission Command Center 

Officer-in-Charge, said. “It’s kind of like building 

a five-bedroom house from the ground up,” she 

added.

 The command post included setting up several 

Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter or DRASH tents 

to contain and organize their equipment, infrastructure and work areas.

 The most important thing to set up first is communications, Wielgus said.

 During the week-long exercise, Wielgus and her 

leaders worked to develop better ways to work together as a staff. Capt. Caitlin Hinterman, an operations officer in the unit’s support operations office, 

said “We are learning our strengths and weaknesses. 

We are seeing Soldiers demonstrate critical skills we 

didn’t know they had.”

The 364th ESC Conducts Mission Command Exercise

 Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Capt. Amanda Wielgus of the 364th ESC gives a briefing in the command post during a Mission Command 

Staff Integration exercise at the Army Reserve Center in 

Bothell, Washington. Oct. 29 

Capts. Caitlin Hinterman (sitting) and Amanda Wielgus 

(standing) of the 364th ESC tests the units communications systems during a training event for the unit’s staff 

Oct. 29 at the Army Reserve Center in Bothell, Washington.

More than 50 Soldiers in the 364th ESC validated their 

ability to establish a command post used to control the 

flow of logistics during a recent training event at the 

Army Reserve Center in Bothell, Washington.
40 The Falcon

BELTON, Mo. - More than 100 Soldiers from the 

89th Sustainment Brigade have gathered here to 

participate in a Command Post Exercise-Functional, July 24-31, 2014. The 89th SB is the first Army 

Reserve unit to conduct the multi-echelon training 

exercise termed CPX-F. 

 Sustainment units like the 89th SB provide logistical support to units across the wide spectrum of 

army operations. The CPX-F is a first-of-its-kind 

proof of principle test to ensure the 89th accomplishes its mission in a simulated wartime environment. 

 “As a sustainment unit, [the 89th SB] supports the 

warfighters or tank drivers,” said Capt. Randy McCoy, supply and services branch chief with the 89th 

SB. “The CPX-F will test us on our ability to carry 

out our logistics role.”

 More than a hundred 89th SB Soldiers from various states and residences are scheduled to participate in the event, including the 304th Sustainment 

Brigade and the 75th Training Command.

 “The 75th is here to oversee the execution of the 

exercise,” said Lt. Col. Bernie Stabinski, exercise 

project officer with the 75th Training Command. 

“We’re also helping coach and mentor 89th SB Soldiers.”

 The eight-day exercise was filled with a variety of 

Soldier training, physical training, and simulated 

logistics operations. These were all designed to 

simulate overseas conditions, giving Soldiers tactical 

experience in the field. 

 “My role is to do research to help my NCOs better 

brief the captains so they can better brief the commander,” said Spc. Bailey Carroll, an ammunition 

stock control and accounting specialist with the 

89th SB Support Operations section. “It’s important 

we get this experience, so if we ever do go out into a 

real-world situation, we’ll already have a little background and understand what is expected of us and 

how to conduct ourselves.”

 The CPX-F does more than just hone Soldier 

skills. It is also an opportunity to build a sense of 

camaraderie and unit cohesion between Soldiers of 

the 89th.

 Everybody’s doing an outstanding job,” said Sgt. 

1st Class Steven Sanford, platoon sergeant of the 

SPO section. “Spirits are high, and everybody’s challenging each other to step up to the occasion.”

 “If this was the real thing, we’d be gone for 

Spc. Melissa Pearson, an intelligence analyst with 

the 89th Sustainment Brigade and native of West Des 

Moines, Iowa, operates a Command Post of the Future (CPOF) console during the 89th SB’s 2014 Annual 

Training, July 25 in Belton, Missouri. The 89th SB is conducting the new Command Post Exercise-Functional, 

a simulation of wartime conditions, to assess the unit’s 

battle readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kathleen 

Embrey, 89th SB)

89th Sustainment Brigad

 Story by Sgt. Hector Corea

 366th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
WINTER 2014 41

de conducts CPX-F 

Spc. Bailey Carroll, of Adrian, Mo., and Pfc. Yevgeny Novikov, of Wichita, Kan., both ammunition stock control and 

accounting specialists with the 89th Sustainment Brigade, research a Class Five related issue during the 89th SB’s 

2014 annual training, July 25 in Belton, Missouri. The 89th SB is conducting the new Command Post ExerciseFunctional, a simulation of wartime conditions, to assess the unit’s battle readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. 

Kathleen Embrey, 89th SB)

Second Lt. Amy Becker, a Bolivar, Missouri., native and Field 

Services OIC for the 89th Sustainment Brigade, goes over mortuary 

affairs procedures with Sgt. Sam 

Sisavoth, the Field Services NCOIC for the 89th SB and Olatha, 

Kansas, native, during the 89th 

SB’s 2014 annual training, July 

26 in Belton, Missouri. The 89th 

SB is conducting the new Command Post Exercise-Functional, a 

simulation of wartime conditions, 

to assess the unit’s battle readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. 

Kathleen Embrey, 89th SB)

months to a year, so it’s important to get along with 

the people you’re going to be spending this much 

time with,” said Spc. Melissa Pearson, an intelligence 

analyst with the 89th SB. I’ve only been [with the 

89th SB] for five months, so this is my first time 

actually working with my section, and communication is really good.”

 While the exercise was scheduled to end by 

August, future exercises will be modeled off of the 

89th SB CPX-F. This is only the foundation of many 

future training events for sustainment units like the 

89th SB. 

 “This [CPX-F] is pivotal because we need to prove 

the Army Reserve can train,” said McCoy. “And it 

will shape the way the Army Reserve trains in the 

future.”
42 The Falcon

Cadets from Reserve Officer Training Corps, Southern Illinois 

University, Carbondale, Illinois, hook supplies to the bottom 

of a UH-60 Black Hawk during joint training at Scott Air Force 

Base, Illinois. USTRANSCOM conducts training missions 

to stay proficient at various air operations as well as build a 

rapport with local emergency services. (U.S. Army Photo by 

Staff Sgt. Francis Horton, 363rd Public Affairs Detachment)

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Service members 

with the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air 

Force Base, Illinois, held a joint training exercise 

with emergency service civilians Sept. 6.

 Participants practiced sling-load operations, 

attaching supplies and vehicles to the bottom of a 

hovering helicopter with a harness, demonstrating 

the capabilities to take emergency necessities into 

disaster areas.

 “The training mission was to maintain proficiency 

in air assault operations and familiarize our civilian 

counterparts with helicopter operations,” said Maj. 

Brant Gunther, Joint Mobility Action Officer, USTRANSCOM and executive officer of the mission. 

 Service members from the 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion provided vehicles and 

Soldiers for the joint training operation said Maj. 

Brad Haury, Executive Officer, 620th CSSB.

 Haury was assigned to USTRANSCOM in the 

past and wanted to volunteer himself and his Soldiers for the training, he said. He was also instrumental in bringing cadets from Southern Illinois 

University, Carbondale, Illinois, to the training 

operations

 “That’s where I went to school,” Haury said. “I 

figured it might be something they would be interested in.”

 Along with service members, emergency service 

specialists from Massac County, Ill., as well as the Illinois Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. 

Air Force, trained with Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors 

on proper sling-load operations, Gunther said.

 Training started early on Scott AFB with classes 

on the basics of military vehicles and helicopters, as 

well as safety precautions during the training. After 

classroom training, participants moved to the flight 

line for practice. 

Story by Staff Sgt. Francis Horton

363rd Public Affairs Detachment

 Hook-ups for sling-loads require two people 

because of intense winds created by a low hovering 

helicopter-one to make sure the cargo is secured 

and one to prevent the first from toppling over in 

the rotor wash. 

 Not only is the training important in the event of 

a disaster, it also helps build a rapport with the civilian emergency service personnel USTRANSCOM 

may rely on in the future, Gunther said.

 Disaster recovery for a state is generally handled 

by the state’s National Guard, however U.S. Army 

Reserve units may provide support if needed and 

with proper authorization, said Lt. Col. Doug Sharp, 

commander, 620th CSSB.

 While the training is good familiarization for 

civilian emergency services and service members, it 

Joint Training Now Prepa
WINTER 2014 43

Service members working with U.S Transportation Command 

and members of the Civil Air Patrol hook a trailer to a UH60 Black Hawk during a training mission at Scott Air Force 

Base, Ill. USTRANSCOM conducts training missions to stay 

proficient at various air operations as well as build a rapport 

with local emergency services. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. 

Francis Horton, 363rd Public Affairs Detachment)

Members of the 620th Combat Sustainment Support 

Battalion take a moment with Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Kim, mobilization assistant to the Commander, 

U.S. Transportation Command, during joint training at 

Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. USTRANSCOM conducts training missions to stay proficient at various air 

operations as well as build a rapport with local emergency services. (U.S. Army Photo Maj. Brad Haury, 

620th CSSB)

ares for Future Emergencies

also offered a rare opportunity for a group of cadets to get out of the classroom and into real world 

experiences.

 “It’s a good opportunity to do some of the fun 

things we do in the Army,” said Master Sgt. Gary 

Villalobes, senior military science instructor, SUI 

Carbondale.

 Villalobes received an email from Haury, inviting 

as many cadets as he could bring, he said. 

 Despite the early morning, the cadets were eager 

to learn and happy to make the trek to Scott AFB 

for extra training. They were on the road at 5 am 

Saturday to make it in time, said Villalobes.

 “We’d like to get more ROTC programs involved,” 

Haury said. “We’re giving the cadets an opportunity 

to see some of the things we do during Battle Assembly.”

 “This will help the 620th CSSB recruit more officers who would like to stay in the St. Louis area.” 

Haury said.

 So far, the cadets are impressed. “ROTC has a lot 

of good training, but it’s not as hands on,” said Cadet Allison Lampe, ROTC, SIU Carbondale. “Nothing makes me happier than riding in a helicopter.”

 “The other cadets missed out. This was definitely worth coming out for and was a great morale 

booster,” said Cadet Eduardo Sanchez, ROTC, SIU 

Carbondale, Illinois.

 USTRANSCOM is a joint operations command, 

which oversees and coordinates transportation assets to allow the government to project and sustain 

forces wherever needed.
44 The Falcon

Editor

The Falcon

79th SSC Public Affairs Office

4201 Saratoga Avenue

Los Alamitos, CA 90720-5170

2014 Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

ARMY RESERVE

SGT Antwan Smalls

25U Signal Support Systems Specialist Instructor

CIVILIAN

Regional Prophet Field Software Engineer

Engility Corporation

THE ARMY RESERVE

WHERE ARMY AND

CIVILIAN LIFE CONNECT.

In the Army Reserve you can build your civilian 

life while keeping all the benefits you’ve 

earned. If you transition to the Army Reserve, 

you’re guaranteed deployment deferral for two 

years, giving you more time with family and 

friends. You may also qualify for a $20,000 

bonus. And since your skills are valued by 

civilian employers, you’ll gain an edge in the 

workplace, too.

To learn more, speak to a Reserve 

Component Career Counselor or visit 

goarmyreserve.com/hood

As Army Reserve Soldiers, 

members of the 79th Sustainment Support Command 

proudly bridge the gap between 

Military and Civilian communities. Living and working as both 

Citizens and Soldiers not only 

fundamentally binds our forces 

to the Nation they serve, but 

also enhances unit capabilities 

by applying civilian experience 

to military specialties.

Additionally, Army Reserve 

Soldiers bring their military 

skills and training to the civilian 

workforce, as well as their ingrained Army Values of Loyalty, 

Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, 

Integrity and Personal Courage.

The 79th Sustainment 

Support Command’s

Sphere of Influence

232 Units in 19 States