SUMMER 2015 1

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE 79TH SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT COMMAND

CSM Ted Copeland 

Assumes Responsibility of the 79th SSC

Page 24

Summer 2015

TRAINED, READY, COHESIVE, WELL-LED

SUSTAINMENT UNITS FOR WORLD-WIDE DEPLOYMENT

FalcoN

The
2 The Falcon

79TH SSC Command Team

Commanding General

Maj. Gen. Megan P. Tatu

Command Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Ted L. Copeland

Command Chief Warrant Officer

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael A. Hanten

TheFalcon Contents

Two Star Notes

Innovative and Proactive in Fiscally Constrained Times

By Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu

4

CSM On Point

My Two Part Philosophy

By Command Sgt. Maj. Ted L. Copeland

6

Spiritual Fitness

Working With Less ... Achieving Miracles 

By Chaplain (Col.) Robert Ewing

8

Comptroller- G8

Conquering Funding Challenges

By Col. Mark Moses

9

Equal Opportunity

EO Programs in a Fiscally Constrained Environment

By Ms. Rita Cossio 

10

Warriors Have Courage - Seek Help

By Way of Introduction

By Lt. Col Bettina Avent

12

Ask Jag

Planning Events in a Fiscally Constrained Environment

By Col. Jere Diersing

14

The Inspector General

The Impartial Fact Finder 

By Col. Juliana McCauslin

15

Medial Matters

Medical Coverage on a Budget

By Col. Sridhar Natarajan 

16

Deputy Commanding General

Brig. Gen. Kurt A. Hardin
SUMMER 2015 3

79TH SSC Public Affairs Office - 562-936-7660 - www.facebook.com/79ssc

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Col. Bettina K. Avent

Public Affairs Chief

Sgt. 1st Class James K. Lilly

Combat Documentation/Production 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 endorsed by, the U.S. government or DoD.

79th SSC Best Warrior Competition

By Spc. Heather Doppke, 79th SSC Combat Documentation/Production Specialist

20

79th SSC Change of Responsibility

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

24

311th ESC Highlights 26 - 33

Cover photo illustration by: Spc. Heather Doppke 

79th SSC Combat Documentation/Production Specialist

Hail and Welcome 19

Command Chief Warrant Officer

4th ESC Highlights 34 - 37

364th ESC Highlights 38 - 41

451st ESC Highlights 42 - 43

Families In Support

Our Mission

By Ms. Maritza Ramirez 

18
4 The Falcon

Two Star Notes:

Innovative and Proactive 

 in Fiscally Constrained Times

Fiscal constraint has been a central topic of 

discussion over the past few years and will 

continue to be for the foreseeable future. Prior 

to beginning my discussion on operating in a 

fiscally constrained environment, it is necessary to propagate the operational realities facing the 79th Sustainment Support Command 

(SSC) heading into Fiscal Year (FY) 16. First, 

there will be no greater resources in FY 16 

than what we have seen in FY 15. And second, 

the requirements of the 79th SSC are independent of the fiscal environment. The mission of 

the United States Army Reserve (USAR) is to 

provide trained, equipped and ready Soldiers, 

Leaders, and units to meet America’s requirements at home and abroad, and it remains 

steadfast. Understanding and accepting these 

realities turns us to the rightful inquiry of overcoming the challenges inherent to a fiscally 

constrained environment. Simply stated, commanders must achieve and maintain readiness 

with fewer resources.

Proactive and Innovative Leaders Thrive 

in a Fiscally Constrained Environment

 Increasing organizational efficiency is central to adapting to fiscal constraints. Commanders who are proactive and capable of developing innovative approaches to training will thrive 

By Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu

79th Sustainment Support Command, Commanding General

in our fiscally constrained environment. In 

order for commanders to be the proactive and 

innovative Leaders they are needed to be, the 

Chief of the Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Talley, has 

continued to cultivate a localized framework 

of operations. Lt. Gen. Talley’s decentralized 

approach to training provides commanders 

with the autonomy needed to be empowered 

decision-makers to address the unique needs 

of their respective commands. This should be 

a welcome opportunity for those Leaders eager to champion beneficial change within their 

organizations. 

Proactive Leadership, an Absolute at 

the Individual Soldier Readiness Level

 I find it necessary for Leaders to be especially proactive at the individual Soldier readiness level. It is paramount that Leaders forecast the needed training requirements for their 

Soldiers well in advance of the coming fiscal 

year. “In-year” training requests, submitted 

through the Army Training Requirements and 

Resources System (ATRRS), are detrimental 

to both the Soldier and the unit. For the Soldier, it is difficult to receive the needed training 

due to abundant demand and limited course 

space. For the unit, “in-year” training requests 

compound their own funding issues. During the 
SUMMER 2015 5

formation of the defense budget, the amount 

of training requests in ATRRS serves as a 

demand signal to the Department of Defense 

(DOD) for the amount of funding needed for 

Soldier training requirements in the forthcoming fiscal year. Units that are not enrolling their 

Soldiers for courses in ATRRS in advance of 

the fiscal year, create a nominal (and lessened) demand signal to be analyzed by the 

DOD during fiscal planning; which results in 

under-allocated funding for schooling opportunities. Logically, if units submit an abundance 

of “in-year” training requests, they essentially 

increase the demand for Soldier training while 

having already decreased available training 

opportunities. Reactive leadership is never the 

right answer and is especially problematic in 

a fiscally constrained environment. I expect 

Leaders within the 79th SSC to be proactive, 

especially at the individual Soldier readiness 

level. 

Innovative Leadership is Essential at the 

Collective Training Level

 Innovative Leaders separate themselves 

from other Leaders, particularly in the collective training arena during fiscally constrained 

times. The deliberate narrowing and flexing of 

mandatory training requirements by Lt. Gen. 

Talley provides more time for commanders 

to shape training to the distinctive needs of 

their units. With this added autonomy comes 

a greater expectation for leaders to engage in 

diligent and creative planning. Multi-echelon 

training and collaborative training partnerships 

with adjacent units are essential and need 

to be incorporated in unit training plans if it 

is not already. Additionally, maximizing time 

and resources during battle training assembly 

weekends has never been more critical than it 

is now. I expect Leaders within the 79th SSC 

to be creative planners and innovative when 

developing BTA schedules. Never lose sight 

that Soldiers want to do the things that they 

joined the Army Reserve to do; which is to train 

in their specialty and support the fight that wins 

wars for our nation. 

Evolutionary Leadership

 My charge to the Leaders within the 79th 

SSC is to be evolutionary and build the solutions and efficiencies that will guide the USAR 

for years to come. Ultimately, the challenges 

presented by a fiscally constrained environment are overcome by adaptable Leaders 

who proactively forecast unit needs, creatively 

plan and collaborate, and remain continually 

grounded in the mission and the Soldiers who 

will accomplish it.

“To Do For Country,

Falcon Strong!”

Lt. Gen. Talley’s decentralized approach to training provides commanders with the autonomy needed to be empowered decision-makers to address the unique needs of 

their respective commands.
6 The Falcon

My Two Part Philosophy

By Command Sgt. Maj. Ted L. Copeland

First, I want to say I am honored to be the 79th Sustainment 

Support Command’s second 

Command Sergeant Major. It 

is truly humbling and I look 

forward to working with each 

and every one of you. Now that 

I have had the opportunity to 

travel with Maj. Gen. Tatu over 

the last five months on battlefield circulation, I am incredibly 

impressed with the caliber of 

Soldiers, Civilians, and Families 

we have in the 79th SSC. The 

visits have reinforced what I 

have always known-America’s 

best serve in uniform. Now that 

I’ve settled in, I would like to 

share my command philosophy, 

goals and expectations with 

you.

My philosophy has two parts: 

Soldier readiness and inspiring leadership, especially within 

the Noncommissioned Officer 

Corps. Although my philosophy is simple in nature, I am 

aware it may not always be 

simple in execution. Ultimately, 

the philosophy centers on the 

fundamental tenant to support 

the 79th’s Commanding General’s philosophy along with the 

Army Reserve Commanding 

General’s intent spelled out in 

Rally Point 32.1. While serving 

as the most senior NCO within 

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR ON POINT

the 79th SSC, it is my intent to 

lead by example and inspire our Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers 

to aspire for excellence in all we do for 

our country and the Army.

The first part of my philosophy is that 

I expect Soldiers to meet all Army 

requirements in order to be a fully 

“Trained and Ready” force, capable of 

answering the call of our nation when 

we are needed either domestically or 

abroad. These requirements are vast 

and its attainment requires buy-in at 

all levels of unit leadership. I expect 

basic individual readiness to be met at 

all times. Unit leaders need to emphasize that basic readiness does not 

deal solely in the medical and physical realm, but in the primary military 

education arena. Military occupational skill training, additional skill identifiers and professional military education courses are of utmost importance 
SUMMER 2015 7

and will be crucial to our success. I 

expect Soldiers to take charge of their 

Army career with the support, mentorship, and guidance of their first-line 

leadership every step of the way. 

Also, let’s not forget that readiness is 

not solely internal to the Soldier but 

is very much external to the Soldier. 

The 79th SSC values the Families of 

our Soldiers and the Civilian enterprises and organizations that employ 

our Soldiers. Maj. Gen. Tatu and I will 

ensure equal emphasis and efforts are 

exerted to provide the command’s 

Families and employers with information and services they need as they 

sacrifice for our nation alongside their 

Soldier. 

The second part of my philosophy is 

centric to the NCO Corps. In my personal opinion there is no better job in 

the United States Army than that of an 

NCO. The NCO Corps is where the 

rubber meets the road. I expect the 

aforementioned guidance to be especially embodied in the NCOs of the 

79th SSC. 

A leader must lead from the front and 

set the proper example for others to 

follow. I expect all 79th SSC NCOs to 

lead from the front by ensuring they 

themselves meet the Army’s entire 

individual readiness requirementsperiod; no exceptions! Does it take 

sacrifice on the part of the NCO? It 

absolutely does. And, although the 

Army Reserve is demanding and may 

take time away from Family, Civilian 

employment, and personal leisure, 

the 79th SSC command team seeks to 

minimize situations where training 

and operations may require time away 

from such important things. 

I expect 79th SSC NCOs to foster a 

command climate of respect and Soldier care. To me, Soldier care is much 

more than just caring for Soldiers. It 

starts with the NCO first embodying 

the unit’s standards and expectations. 

Then transforms into the NCO enforcing the same standards and expectations through well-planned and 

executed training, timely and focused 

counseling at the individual Soldier 

level, and engaged mentorship. Caring for our Soldiers means all of these 

things! I challenge the command’s 

NCOs to be innovative and resourceful; whether it is planning training 

or setting aside time for one-on-one 

counseling, 79th SSC Soldiers deserve 

the very best from their NCOs. 

In closing, my final goal is to ensure 

a Soldier’s mindset is not set to just 

meet minimum standards. In all we 

do at the 79th SSC, let’s do it to the 

very best of our abilities. This will be 

the message that I embody as your 

Command Sergeant Major. I am honored to be a part of the 79th SSC and 

truly am looking forward to continuing to visit and meet with the myriad 

of Soldiers, Civilians, and Families 

that comprise this great unit. 

To Do For Country! 

Falcon Strong!
8 The Falcon

Spiritual Fitness

Chaplain (Col.)Robert Ewing

79th SSC Chaplain

Working with Less ... Achieving Miracles

In January of 1945, a small group of U.S. Army 

Rangers set out on an impossible mission. The Japanese Army was in retreat, and they were destroying 

their prisoner of war camps. Word had gotten to 

the U.S. Army, that as they left, large numbers of 

allied prisoners of war were being executed. It was 

a desperate and risky action on which the Rangers 

embarked. 

 There was little time to plan and few personnel 

available to support the operation. Yet one thing 

was clear, if the Rangers could not reach them in 

time, the POWs would die. They would have to 

move quickly and quietly. It would not be possible 

for the Rangers to carry a heavy load and maintain 

the pace and stealth required. If they were to reach 

their objective they would have to go fast and light.

 At one point in the mission they lay silently as 

a large force of Japanese soldiers marched right by 

them. Having opted for speed, they choose not to 

bring enough ammunition for a prolonged fight. So 

they waited. Once the enemy passed, they moved 

on. The 121 Rangers reached the POW camp and 

were able to free over 500 captives.

 If ever there was a group that did so much with 

so little, it was the Rangers, the POWs, and those 

who helped them. Their heroic acts are recounted in 

the book Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides. If you 

read it, you will discover for yourself the inspiring 

actions of so many, who did so much with so little.

 Today it would be all too easy to focus on what 

we can’t do. But I believe that if we focus on what 

we can do, there are still great things to be accomplished. It is a choice each of us will make. The 

POWs who were set free had to make a choice simply to live. It would have been easier to look around 

them, see the starvation and disease that was over 

taking the camp, and choose to give up. 

 Now is not the time for us to give up simply because there is not as much time or money available 

to accomplish our missions. We must focus on what 

matters most. Look at what we do best. Discern 

what we do best and go after it. Go after it like there 

is no tomorrow. 

 For the Unit Ministry Team, as it is for each staff 

section, we have tasks and missions that only a 

select few can perform. They are missions that if we 

allow them to fail, no one else will complete. That is 

where we must focus our resources. That is where 

we start. If we fail, there is no one else to fall back 

on. 

 In the case of the Unit Ministry Team, Chaplains, 

and Chaplain Assistants perform their mission 

based on three core values: nurture the living, care 

for the wounded and honor the dead. First and foremost, above all else, those three tasks tell us what we 

must do. 

 In times of limited resources, we are forced by necessity to really identify what we must do. It worked 

for the 121 Rangers. They took just enough, made 

do with less than they might have liked, and found a 

way to succeed. They were able to do what mattered 

most. For the Unit Ministry Team, and for all of us, 

we can draw on the efforts of those heroes and focus 

on success of the missions we must accomplish.

 We don’t have all the resources we would like 

these days, but we have more than enough to get 

the important things done. The POWs truly had 

nothing but hope, and with that they were able to 

survive. Today we have so much, we can do more 

than survive. We can choose what we focus on and 

we can make a difference for one another and for 

our country.
SUMMER 2015 9

Conquering Funding Challenges in a 

Fiscally Constrained Environment

Due to the Congressional budget uncertainty, 

along with on-going federal sequestration, the 

79th SSC, as well as the Army, is operating with 

less funding for Fiscal Year 15. It is very likely, 

beginning October 1, 2016; Fiscal Year 16 will 

open with a new Continuing Resolution Authority. This will result in a continuation of the fiscally 

constrained environment throughout FY 16. 

 While the 79th SSC operates in the current and 

future fiscally constrained environment, Soldiers, 

Soldiers can:

*Submit Request for Orders for missions and other events a minimum of 90 days in advance.

*Submit a Defense Travel System authorization with flight, rental car, and hotel reservations completed, for missions and other events a minimum of 60 days in advance.

Leaders and Staff can:

*Always use funds in accordance with applicable laws and regulations to protect government funds 

from fraud, waste, abuse, and over spending of available funds.

*Reserve charter flights and buses for group travel a minimum of 120 days in advance.

*Plan to conduct conferences/workshops via Defense Collaboration Services/teleconferences versus 

attendees traveling to the same location.

*Confirm all personnel who manage and execute funds are properly trained and certified, receive 

delegations of authority to execute funds, and have the proper access to all financial systems.

Leaders, and staff throughout the 79th SSC can 

help conserve and use funds wisely by implementing the following tips. 

 Implementing the steps below will assist the 

Command in “navigating through this fiscally 

constrained environment.” With the Leaders and 

Soldiers working together to conserve and spend 

funds wisely, the 79th SSC will accomplish all of 

its missions. 

Col. Mark Moses

79th SSC Comptroller 

Money Matters
10 The Falcon

Fiscal year 2015 has seen many changes in the 

distribution of Army funds and the strategies we are 

using to access and expend these funds. 

 How do we overcome funding challenges and 

still accomplish the mission? To begin with, we as 

leaders must thoroughly understand our program’s 

end state, only then will our analysis of constraints 

be fruitful. The Equal Opportunity Program is an 

ever-evolving program with an end state which 

helps commanders develop and maintain a healthy 

and professional working environment; an environment that ensures every individual is treated equally 

and ensures the talent, ability, and initiative of every 

Soldier and Civilian flourishes throughout the command. It further safeguards that discrimination or 

harassment based on race, gender, color, religion, 

or national origin will neither be tolerated nor 

condoned. It’s very important to note that this end 

state is not something achieved simply by applying 

funding to it.

 As our budget and funding changes this year, and 

in coming years, we have to review our programs 

and develop strategies that will allow us to do better 

with less. How will we do that? We will review our 

program and its effectiveness, we look at the overall 

issues in our command, and lastly we examine our 

personnel and resources to ensure availability and 

readiness. Our Equal Opportunity Program is about 

Soldiers, and Soldiers are about readiness! 

 The first step in establishing an effective program 

is to have developed and enforced EO policies posted in the unit. Next, have the EO policies reviewed 

by all incoming Soldiers and Civilians as part of 

their in-processing. Finally, look at your Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOA) and Equal Opportunity 

Leaders (EOL) to ensure you have a person who is 

committed and has the right skills to execute your 

program and meet your intent. If not, replace them. 

This is NOT a “check the block” duty. Review the 

selection criteria in Army Regulation 600-20, Army 

Command Policy, because your program’s credibility, and desired end state, depends on your informed 

selections. 

 For successful program execution you must complete the command climate assessment and ensure 

you are complying with AR 600-20, Army Command Policy, on the implementation and execution of your command climate survey. Assessment 

surveys do not work unless they are conducted, and 

commanders provide feedback directly to Soldiers 

within the established time frame. As the old adage goes, timing is everything and it’s importance 

cannot be overstated. Also, you should provide 

opportunities for your Soldiers and units to work 

cohesively in an environment that applies the policy 

of dignity and respect, and encourage team building events and utilize your subject matter experts to 

enforce your intent.

 To effectively create a realistic and applicable 

spend plan, you should know the funding process 

and its limitations. Commanders, with their EOAs 

and EOLs, must outline a spend plan in writing. The 

plan should include identification of all the special 

observances, training of EO candidates, assistance 

visits, Initial Command Inspections (ICI), and Subsequent Command Inspections (SCI), as required. 

Budget and plan out for the whole year. To be effective and unyielding in your execution of funds, 

practice to be a good steward of funding!

 Lastly, look at the costs of investigations, site 

visits, Soldier training, and your overall EO requirements. Operating in a fiscally constrained environment will never be easy, but if you research, plan, 

and execute with a systematic strategy, you will 

succeed and have a successful EO Program.

Ms. Rita Cossio

79th SSC EO Program Manager

The EO Program is truly about “human relations readiness.”

Equal Opportunity Programs in a 

Fiscally Constrained Environment 
SUMMER 2015 11

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

221 Units in 19 States

SFC Dorys Morey

Recruiting & Retention

562-936-7672
12 The Falcon

Welcome to Peter Dubinin, the 79th SSC Suicide 

Prevention Program Manager. Although this is 

his first posting as a Department of the Army 

Civilian, he arrives to this position with more 

than 18 years of military service as an Army 

chaplain; 17 years of those in Active Federal 

Service. This experience means he has for a long 

time actively and decisively engaged in the Army’s 

suicide prevention effort. Prior to his time in the 

military, he also served as a pastor, probation 

officer, and counselor in the Job Corps, where 

suicide prevention and intervention comprised 

an essential part of his work. He says “I know 

firsthand the pain that is the loss of a close friend 

to suicide, but I also know the satisfaction that 

comes with successful intervention. While I’ve 

only been on the job since April, I have to say I’m 

impressed with the work of our Suicide Prevention Program Managers in each of our ESCs. The 

quality of training they provide is excellent, and 

the frequency of training events they conduct is 

exhausting, it is a tremendous expression of professionalism and deep concern for our Soldiers, 

Family Members and Civilians. I’m proud to be 

part of the team.” In addition to the annual requirement for all Soldiers and Civilians to receive 

90 minutes in Ask, Care, Escort (ACE) training, the Army’s focus this year is to prioritize all 

junior leaders (Sgt. through Sgt. 1st Class, Warrant Officer One through Chief Warrant Officer 3, 

2nd Lt. through Capt.) and first line supervisors 

for ACE – Suicide Intervention (ACE-SI). ACESI is a four-hour block of instruction received 

once in a career. Our Suicide Prevention Program 

Managers instruct the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), which is a two day 

training program for those identified as gatekeepers. Dubinin says, “These are in my opinion 

some of the best, if not the best, applied suicide 

intervention training opportunities available. I’m 

energized to be part of the 79th team and look 

forward to a productive and successful tenure to 

be measured by a reduction in suicide, and an 

increase in the number of team members trained 

in suicide prevention and intervention.” 

Warriors Have Courage-Seek help

Mr. Peter Dubinin

79th SSC Suicide Prevention Program Manager

By Lt. Col. Bettina Avent 

ESC Suicide Prevention Program Managers

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

364th ESC - Chaplain (Ltc.) Tim Bohr 604-701-1772 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 ARMYSTRONG

ACE

Suicide Intervention
SUMMER 2015 13

Boating Safety

- Always wear a life jacket

- Get the boat checked

- Watch the weather to prepare for local conditions and electrical storms

- Communicate trip details in event of an emergency

- Do not swim or wade near a boats exhaust pipe

- Have CPR instructions and local emergency numbers on the boat

Beach Safety

- Check with the lifeguard on surf conditions before swimming

- Never swim alone 

- If caught in rip currents, relax and swim toward the shore at a 45 degree angle

- Never swim intoxicated

Summer Water Safety

Mr. Keith Humphrey

79th SSC Safety Director

562-936-7664

keith.l.humphrey.civ.mail.mil
14 The Falcon

Col. Jere Diersing

79th SSC Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)

The Joint Ethics regulation requires each and 

every one of us to be good stewards of taxpayer 

dollars. One of the most important ways leaders can support this requirement is in the planning of training events and conferences. We must 

always use the venue that will both be suitable for 

the event and the most cost efficient. By USARC 

policy, the first consideration must always be to 

conduct the event, training, or conference on a 

military or other Government installation. 

 An excellent example of how military installations are the best and most cost effective venues 

is to look at the options offered at Fort McCoy. 

Fort McCoy’s Moral, Welfare and Recreation 

offers competitive conference room and “set 

up” package prices ranging from $175 to $325 

for a full day, and as little as $100 to $175 for a 

half day. Additionally, having the conference on 

Fort McCoy allows those traveling on temporary 

duty (TDY) to take advantage of the installation’s 

on-post hotel, offering convenience in location, 

complimentary continental breakfasts, and competitive pricing. 

 Hosting events on military installations not 

only saves taxpayer dollars, it also provides muchneeded business for installation MWR programs. 

Installation MWR programs are run mostly on 

non-appropriated funds and need to be self-sustaining to stay in existence. Thus, hosting events 

and conferences on installations like Fort McCoy 

Ask Jag:

not only saves the Army money, it also supports 

the installation’s Soldiers and Family Members. 

This helps to ensure similar support will continue 

to be available for future conferences and events. 

 In addition to being the most cost efficient, 

hosting events on military installations has many 

other benefits. For one, it is the safest option 

available for personnel attending an event or 

conference. It also increases the likelihood that 

an event or conference request will be approved. 

Requesting an event or conference to be held in 

a commercial facility is not only more expensive, 

it causes the request to go through a more extensive approval process, and could ultimately be the 

reason why the event is disapproved. Additionally, 

the cost of many conferences are capped, so finding ways to keep the cost down goes a long way to 

increasing the approval of a conference.

 A great resource for finding a list of available 

venue sites for your next planned event or conference can be found at https://securecac.hqda.pentagon.mil/oaacustomer/conferences.aspx under 

Informational Documents titled “Government 

Owned Facilities.”

 For more information about Fort McCoy’s 

MWR conference packages, visit http://mccoymwr.com/home/catering.html. Information about 

Fort McCoy’s on-post hotel can be found at http://

www.ihg.com/armyhotels/hotels/us/en/fort-mccoy/zyyma/hoteldetail. 

Planning Events in a Fiscally 

Constrained Environment
SUMMER 2015 15

The Impartial Fact Finder

The 79th Sustainment Support Command maintains many attributes from our lineage in the 79th 

Infantry Division. It consists of motivated Soldiers 

who never quit, Non-Commissioned Officers who 

take charge, and make things happen and Officers 

who lead from the front. Thankfully, one change 

since WWI is the perception of the Inspector 

General. General George S. Patton described IGs 

in the following manner: “A typical IG is cold, 

passive, non-committal, with eyes of a codfish, 

polite in contact, but at the same time unresponsive, calm ... with a heart of feldspar and without 

charm or friendly germ ... minus passion, or a 

sense of humor.” Times have changed and so has 

the IG!

 The IG has an important mission within the 

79th SSC. We are tasked to be the eyes, ears, voice, 

and conscience of the Commanding General 

across the spectrum of operations. We conduct 

thorough, objective, and impartial inspections, 

assessments, and investigations. We provide assistance and training. We advise and assist our 

leaders to maintain Army values, readiness, and 

effectiveness in the promotion of well-being, good 

order, and discipline. To fulfill our mission we 

select and train only our best Soldiers to be IGs. 

The nomination and vetting process is rigorous, 

so when you approach an IG with a question, you 

know you will get timely and professional assistance addressing your issue.

 In a constrained environment it is critical that 

command teams have timely and accurate common operating pictures of their commands. The 

IG assists this role through inspections of subordinate units. In 2015, the IG staff will perform 

special inspections of more than 40 subordinate 

units of the 79th SSC. These inspections will assist unit commanders and leadership throughout 

the command to provide an accurate assessment 

of how well we are implementing United States 

Army Reserve Command and 79th SSC policy 

for minimizing Soldier losses due to expiration 

of term of service, or transfer to the Individual 

Ready Reserve. The inspections will also indicate 

how well we are recovering Soldiers who desire to 

come back into the Army Reserve. The IG inspections provide excellent training opportunities 

for the inspected units to learn best practices from 

peer units and share their methods with the IG 

team for dissemination throughout the command. 

 The IG team is standing by and ready to assist you and your Soldiers with any issue - no 

challenge is too small or too tough for our team. 

However, we urge you to use your chain of command and allow them the opportunity to do what 

they do best - take care of Soldiers, before coming 

to the IG. We look forward to assisting you. 

Col. Juliana McCauslin

79th SSC Staff Inspector General (IG)

Droit Et Avant! 

(Right and Forward)

I.G.
16 The Falcon

Col. Sridhar Natarajan

79th SSC Medical Advisory Office

79th SSC Medical Matters

Medical Coverage on a Budget

Many Soldiers who are self-employed, unemployed or living on a tight budget tend to think of 

health insurance as an optional expense. This is 

especially prevalent among younger Soldiers who 

have not experienced a serious injury or illness. It 

only takes one injury, one car crash, one persistent 

condition or illness that just won’t go away, to put 

a Soldier’s health and financial security at severe 

risk. 

The TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) program is 

a premium based insurance plan that is available 

worldwide. It is available for qualified members of 

the Selected Reserve and their Families. If you are 

on military duty for less than 30 days (or not activated) – which includes inactive duty for training, 

annual training, and active service for 30 days or 

less - then you may qualify for this plan. TRS is 

considered minimum essential coverage under 

the Affordable Care Act and is perfect for Reserve 

Soldiers on a constrained budget. 

Members of the Selected Reserve (and their families) who meet the following qualifications:

• Not on active duty orders

• Not covered under the Transitional Assistance 

Management Program

• Not eligible for or enrolled in the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits program or currently 

covered under FEHB, either under their own eligibility or through a family member

Note: Those members in the Individual Ready Reserve including Navy Reserve Voluntary Training Units do not qualify to 

purchase TRICARE Reserve Select.

Soldiers are responsible for paying:

• A monthly premium

• A co-pay or cost share for certain medical services

• An annual deductible 

Soldiers can schedule an appointment with any 

TRICARE authorized provider, but like all insurances, if they visit a non-network provider, the 

share of the costs will be higher. No referrals are 

needed, but Soldiers may need prior authorization from a regional contractor for some types of 

services.

The TRICARE Reserve Select Program is run 

like any other insurance program, with monthly 

premium payments which authorize certain types 

of care at a discounted or free rate. 

The current premiums are:

• Member Only: $50.75 per month

• Member plus Family: $205.62 per month

Annual Outpatient Deductibles 

The annual deductible (the amount you must pay 

out-of-pocket before insurance begins paying) is:

• Sponsor rank E4 and below: $50 per person with 

a maximum of $100 per family

• Sponsor rank E5 and above: $150 per person 

with a maximum of $300 per family

For more information on Tricare Reserve Select 

visit the Tricare website: http://www.tricare.mil/

Plans/HealthPlans/TRS.aspx

Who is Eligible

What You Pay

Getting Treatment

Premiums
SUMMER 2015 17

Army Reserve Soldiers have a responsibility for medical fitness outlined in (AR 40-501, section 9-3) 

Standards of Medical Fitness.

 It is the responsibility of Reserve Component (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 their readiness status.

 All RC Soldiers are responsible for providing the unit commander all of their medical documentation to 

include civilian health records. They must complete 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.

 RC personnel previously deployed to a combat theater are eligible to access health care through the 

Department of Veterans Affairs for up to 5 years after discharge. For more information on VA eligibility and Combat Veteran Enhanced Eligibility and Enrollment visit: 

https://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/CombatVets.asp

TRICARE® Resources for Service

This overview provides a snapshot of TRICARE service and support resources 

offered through a variety of convenient Internet options and toll-free call centers.

This overview is not all-inclusive. For additional information, please visit www.tricare.mil. November 2014

Visit the “I want to... ” section 

at www.tricare.mil to:

• Enroll in or Purchase a Plan

• File or Check a Claim

• View Referrals and 

Prior Authorizations

• Find a Doctor

• Go Paperless

• Change Your Primary 

Care Manager

• See What’s Covered

• Compare Plans 

• Manage Prescriptions

...and more

TRICARE Regional Contractors

Regional contractors work with the Department of Defense to administer the TRICARE medical benefit.

STATESIDE

North Region

Health Net Federal Services, LLC 

1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273)

www.hnfs.com

South Region 

Humana Military, a division of 

Humana Government Business 

1-800-444-5445

Humana-Military.com

West Region 

UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans

1-877-988-WEST (1-877-988-9378)

www.uhcmilitarywest.com

OVERSEAS

TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP)

International SOS Government Services, Inc. 

www.tricare-overseas.com

TOP Regional Call Centers

Eurasia-Africa 

+44-20-8762-8384 (overseas)

1-877-678-1207 (stateside)

Latin America and Canada 

+1-215-942-8393 (overseas)

1-877-451-8659 (stateside)

Pacific (Singapore) 

+65-6339-2676 (overseas)

1-877-678-1208 (stateside)

Pacific (Sydney) 

+61-2-9273-2710 (overseas)

1-877-678-1209 (stateside)

Did you know
18 The Falcon

Ms. Maritza Ramirez

79th SSC Family Programs Director

Cost Effective Solutions To 

Your Needs

During these times of budget constraints, remember, Family Programs provide no cost resources 

and information to educate and empower members of our military community for a multitude of 

unit and community-based services that foster the 

growth, development, and readiness of Soldiers 

and Families assigned to the command. 

 Although our Army Reserve Soldiers and 

Families are geographically dispersed, numerous 

support programs and services currently exist for 

our Soldiers, Families, and Civilians.

 Through a cooperative and coordinated effort, 

Family Programs provides free services with benefits, training, education, awareness, outreach, information, referral, and follow-up services. Some 

of these services are provided through programs 

like Child, Youth and School Services, Survivor 

Outreach Services, Financial Planning, Community Outreach Assistance, and Fort Family.

 Fort Family is a live support line available 24/7, 

365 days a year, that connects Soldiers and their 

Families with the right service at the right time. 

Fort Family is a virtual extension to Army installation services and is available simply by calling 

1-866-345-8248.

 Fort Family Outreach and Support Center provides relevant information for responsive family 

crisis assistance. It provides a unit with community based solutions to connect people to people. 

Fort Family Outreach and Support Center established this community based capacity by engaging 

our nation’s “Sea of Goodwill” to support Soldiers 

and Families closest to where they live.

 These services are available to military service 

members, their Families, transitioning military 

members, military retirees, and Civilians for 

needs such as: temporary housing, emergency 

funds, disaster relief, debt management, emergency home repair, assistance with locating the 

nearest installation, separation or coping issues, 

information on how to find a ID card office, and 

much more.

 This information can be helpful during and 

in the areas of: deployment, reunion, relationship struggles, grief, spouse and service member 

employment searches, education, parenting, and 

childhood development. 

 Family Programs also establishes, develops and 

maintains partnerships with community, state, 

and federal resources, which are beneficial to our 

Soldiers and their Families at NO COST. Resources like the Employer Support of the Guard and 

Reserve, which develop and promote supportive 

work environments for service members in the 

reserve components. Through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase 

awareness of laws, the Employer Support of the 

Guard and Reserve helps resolve employer conflicts between service members and their employers.

 Military One Source is a confidential Department of Defense funded program providing 

comprehensive information on every aspect of 

military life at NO COST to Soldiers in the active 

component, National Guard, and Army Reserve, 

along with their Families.

 Have a need? Come talk with us or call 562-

936-7612 and give us an opportunity to support 

you!

Families In Support
SUMMER 2015 19

Welcome 

Command Chief Warrant Officer New addition to the Command Team of the 79th SSC 

Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael A. Hanten

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael 

A. Hanten grew up in rural 

Southern Oregon and attended 

Oregon State University where 

he graduated in December of 

1980 with a Bachelor’s Degree 

in Business Administration and 

a Commission as an Ensign in 

the U.S. Naval Reserve. After 

attending the Surface Warfare 

Officers School and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer’s School 

in San Diego, California, CW5 

Hanten reported aboard the 

USS Buchanan (DDG-14) as 

Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer.

 He left active duty in 1984 

after two deployments on the USS Buchanan. He 

returned to Oregon State University in 1987 to 

pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering and was 

hired at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Washington in July of 1991. While 

attending OSU, he affiliated with the Maritime 

Defense Zone Sector Alaska Naval Reserve Unit as 

Assistant Coastal Defense Officer. 

 He resigned his Naval Reserve Commission and 

accepted a direct Commission as a CW2 in the 

National Guard as a Marine Warrant Officer in 

December of 1992. He has held numerous positions in various watercraft units since then including Commander of the 805th TC Det and Master of 

the USAV Gen. Brehon B. Somervell (LSV-3) from 

January 2001 through December of 2006. 

 In March of 2002, the unit was mobilized and deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation 

Enduring Freedom. The 805th operated in the

Arabian Gulf, the Indian 

Ocean, and the Gulf of 

Aden for six months, earning the Army Chief of Staff 

Deployment Excellence 

Award and the National 

Defense Transportation 

Association Small Unit of 

the Year under his command before returning to 

Ft. Eustis, Virginia. 

 After his departure from 

the 805th Transportation 

Detachment in December 

of 2006, Chief Hanten attended the Warrant Officer 

Staff Course at Ft. Rucker, 

Alabama and then transferred to the 548th Transportation Detachment 

(LSV) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as Master of the 

USAV Ssgt. Robert T. Kuroda (LSV-7). He Commanded the LSV-7 until September of 2010, when 

he was selected as the Command Chief Warrant 

Officer (CCWO) for the 9th Mission Support Command. 

 He attended Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, 

graduating on October 1, 2010, and was immediately promoted to CW5. Upon mobilization of the 

548th Transportation Detachment in November of 

2011, Chief Hanten transferred back to the 548th 

and deployed as the commander for the duration of 

the deployment. 

 After his return, he was again selected as the 

CCWO for the 9th MSC in September of 2014 

where he served until selected as CCWO for the 

79th Sustainment Support Command, assuming 

that position on March 5, 2015. Welcome Chief!
20 The Falcon

Pvt. 1st Class James Freed (left) 

and Sgt. Spencer Burton

Both Soldiers representing the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command headquartered in Marysville Wash., placed 1st as Soldier and NCO in the 79th SSC Best Warrior 

Competition. The awards ceremony wrapped 

up three long days of intense competition 

where nine competitors pushed themselves to 

their physical, mental and intellectual limits. 

These two 79th Warriors represented our 

command at the United States Army Reserve 

Command’s Best Warrior Competition at 

Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

79th Sustainment Support 

Cpl. Bryan Ohlendorf, a water purification specialist with the 383rd Quartermaster Company, 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, conducts a 6.2 mile ruck march during the Best Warrior Competition, hosted by the 

79th SSC at Camp Pendleton Calif. 

20 The Falcon

Story and photos by Spc. Heather Doppke

79th SSC Public Affairs Specialists 
SUMMER 2015 21

79th SSC Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Kurt Hardin, (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland, (right) 

take a photo with the Best Warrior competitors and their sponsors following the awards ceremony. 

Pfc. James Freed, an intelligence analyst with the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, assembles a M249 

Squad Automatic Weapon as part of a Mystery Event during the Best Warrior Competition hosted by the 79th Sustainment Support Command. 

2015 Best Warrior Competitors

Continued on page 22

79th SSC 

Staff Sgt. Xavier Garcia

311th ESC

Sgt. Erin Bridges

Spc. Ethan Berton 

451st ESC 

Spc. John Searles 

Cpl. Bryan Ohlendorg 

364th ESC 

Sgt. Spencer Burton 

Pfc. James Freed 

4th ESC 

Sgt. Yessenia Silva 

Sgt. Kristen Franka

t Command Best Warriors!

SUMMER 2015 21
22 The Falcon

Spc. John Searles, a transport management coordinator with 

ary Sustainment Command, performs elevated push-ups as 

petition, as Sgt. 1st Class Steven Burns grades for correct fo

22 The Falcon

Sgt. Spencer Burton, a motor transport operator with 

the 146th Transportation Company, 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, finds a point during the 

land navigation course portion of the Best Warrior 

Competition. 

Sgt. Kirsten Franka, an intelligence analyst with the 

647th Regional Support Group, and Staff Sgt. Xavier 

Garcia, the training noncommissioned officer for the 

79th Sustainment Support Command, plot points on a 

map during the land navigation course portion of the 

Best Warrior Competition.

Sgt. Yessenia Silva, a water purification specialist with 

the 961st Quartermaster Company, 4th Expeditionary 

Sustainment Command, uses binoculars for a Mystery 

Event during the Best Warrior Competition.

Continued from page 21
SUMMER 2015 23

Staff Sgt. Xavier Garcia, the training noncommissioned officer for the 79th Sustainment Support Command, renders first aid as part of a Mystery Event 

during the Best Warrior Competition. 

Sgt. Erin Bridges, a transport management coordinator 

with the 711th Transportation Company, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, sits at an appearance 

board during the Best Warrior Competition. 

Sgt. Spencer Burton, a motor transport operator with 

the 146th Transportation Company, 364th Expeditionary 

Sustainment Command, carries a 40 lb. sandbag as part 

of the Endurance Event during the Best Warrior Competition. 

h the 473rd Transportation Detachment, 451st Expedition

 part of the Endurance Event during the Best Warrior Com

orm. 

SUMMER 2015 23
24 The Falcon

Story by Sgt. 1st Class James Lilly

79th SSC Public Affairs Chief

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, (left) 

commanding general of the 79th 

Sustainment Support Command, 

outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. 

Robert Roberson and incoming 

Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland, render salutes during the 

posting of the colors. 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.— The 79th Sustainment 

Support Command held a Change of Responsibility ceremony at its headquarters on Joint 

Forces Training Base, Sunday, February 8, 2015. 

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

officially retired from the Army Reserve in June 

after 42 years of service, relinquished his duties as 

the Command Sergeant Major of the 79th SSC to 

Command Sgt. Maj. Ted L. Copeland.

 The event was attended by more than 75 guests 

including local civic leaders, retired, and active 

military members, as well as family and friends of 

Roberson and Copeland.

 The ceremony represents the pride, discipline, 

and teamwork of the Army and in particular, is a 

military tradition which honors and provides official recognition to the five year tenure of outgoing 

Command Sgt. Maj. Roberson, and to incoming 

Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland. 

 Roberson was the first Command Sgt. Maj. assigned to the 79th SSC, and had been an integral 

part of the modern activation of the 79th SSC, 

which officially activated on December 1, 2009. 

 Command Sgt. Maj. Copeland, a native of 

Wapakoneta, Ohio, previously served as the Command Sgt. Major of the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Los Angeles, Calif. He has 

participated in five mobilizations and operational 

The 79th SSC Change of Respo

Photos by Spc. Heather Doppke

79th SSC Combat Documentation/Production Specialist
SUMMER 2015 25

deployments to: Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Kansas, Iraq 

and Afghanistan. Copeland has served in every 

leadership position from team leader to Command Sergeant Major and twice as a company 1st 

Sgt.

 The 79th SSC executes command and control 

of the 4th, 311th, 364th, and 451st Expeditionary 

Sustainment Commands. These one-star commands account for approximately 21,000 Army 

Reserve Soldiers and Department of Army Civilians assigned to 221 sustainment units dispersed 

across 19 states west of the Mississippi River. 

These units all participated in the ceremony and 

this is important in developing and maintaining 

unit pride, building esprit de corps, and preserving tradition.

 The 79th SSC lineage dates back to the 79th 

Inf. Div. which first activated in WWI, in August, 

1917. The 79th Infantry Division saw extensive 

combat in the Meuse-Argonne area where it 

earned the name of “Cross of Lorraine” for the defense of France. The division inactivated in June, 

1919 and returned to the United States.

 The division again activated for WWII in June, 

1942. After training in the United Kingdom from 

April 17, 1944, the 79th Infantry Division landed 

on Utah Beach, Normandy, June 12-14, and entered combat on June 19, 1944. 

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu congratulates Sgt. Maj. 

Robert Roberson for receiving the Legion of Merit for 

his tenure with the 79th SSC, also pictured is Bert 

Roberson, wife of Sgt. Maj. Roberson.

Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland receives the 79th 

SSC unit colors from Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, during 

the Change of Responsibility ceremony. 

onsibility Ceremony
26 The Falcon

211th Transportation Compa

“To get suppli

SOUTHPORT, N.C. - Army Reserve Soldiers with 

the 211th Inland Cargo Transfer Company located 

in Garden Grove, California, traveled across the 

country to the largest military terminal in the world, 

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, to assist in 

Operation Transmariner 15 during their annual 

training. 

 The mission brought Soldiers from California, 

Florida and Puerto Rico together to improve not 

only their transportation skills but to accomplish a 

national strategic mission as well.

 “We are downloading a vessel that contained 

cargo that needed to be placed into storage,” said 

Staff Sgt. Davian Gray, officer in charge of the mission for the 211th. “We are working with our own 

unit, as well as other Army units and civilians.”

 Once the cargo is unloaded the Soldiers transport 

it with MH-878s, known as “yard dogs” to staging 

points throughout the installation. Material handling equipment and fork lifts are used to off load 

cargo from the truck at inspection locations where 

Soldiers then unload and inspect the cargo. Once 

everything has been inspected, repaired, or removed 

due to deficiencies, the cargo is then ready for shipment to its final destination. 

 The Army units have been integrated to improve 

team building skills, and civilian port workers are 

there every step of the way either assisting or providing guidance. 

 Gray said working with the other Army units here 

has gone smoothly because he and his Soldiers are 

used to working with other Army units. 

 “The pace has been good,” said Spc. Terrence 

Leonard, who is a motor transport operator with the 

211th. “This is my eighth day here and the mission 

has been very smooth. There’s no rush because we 

want everything to be done safely.”

 Leonard has enjoyed the mission so far since the 

work environment is different from what he is used 

to operating in. 

 “Usually we’re in the field, putting up tents and 

working on our soldiering skills, but for this mission, I get to take a warm shower every night in a 

nice clean environment,” said Leonard.

Story & photos by Sgt. Felix Fimbres

311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Train cars stand by while soldiers and civilians load 

cargo for inspection during Transmariner 15 in Southport, N.C., on March 3, 2015. Thousands of containers 

will be offloaded, inspected and shipped to other locations by Army Reserve soldiers. 

Capt. William Yee, 1394th Transportation Brigade safety 

officer, talks with Spc. Idelisse Diaz, a motor transport 

operator and a cargo specialist with the 390th sea port 

transportation company in Puerto Rico, before moving 

her cargo during Transmariner 15 in Southport, N.C.

 311th ESC
SUMMER 2015 27

any and Operation Transmariner 15

ies back into the fight” 

Spc. Terrence Leonard, an Army Reserve motor transport operator with the 211th Inland Transportation 

Company in Garden Grove, Calif., stands in front of the 

M-878 which he will use to transport cargo during Transmariner 15 in Southport, N.C. 

 Beyond safety and hot showers, the 211th has 

enjoyed the opportunity to train and get practical 

hands-on experience with the equipment in a real 

port environment. 

 “I’m a driver but I’m also a Noncommissioned 

Officer, so I’m making sure all of my Soldiers get 

time behind the wheel for the experience and the 

training,” said Sgt. Yesenia Markel, a cargo specialist, who is also a stay-at-home mom with two boys, 

ages 2 and 9 months old. “Being in the Army Reserve gives me something to do besides being home. 

I enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to serve 

my country.” 

 An unusually cold winter here has been a challenge for the unit from sunny California, who are 

not used to the freezing conditions. 

 “The weather has been cold; so cold. It rained and 

then it froze, and operations were shut down for a 

day because of the conditions. We definitely had to 

adjust being from California. But it’s been fun and 

it’s been a good experience because it gets us outside 

of our element,” said Markel.

 The conditions are also a reminder to other leaders that Soldiers need to be prepared for a wide 

variety of conditions regardless of where they might 

Army Reserve Sgt. Yesenia Markel, cargo specialist with 

the 211th Inland Transfer Company in Garden Grove, 

Calif., stands in front of one of the material equipment 

handlers that will be used during Operation Transmariner 15 in Southport, N.C. 

A material equipment handler loads a cargo container 

onto an MH-878 for transportation to an inspection station. Thousands of containers were offloaded during 

Transmariner 15 by more than a dozen different Army 

Reserve units.

be going.

 “When you’re going anywhere, make sure your 

Soldiers have all their gear and are ready for all sorts 

of weather,” said Gray. 

 The 211th Inland Transportation Company 

return home to North Carolina to their friends, 

family, and their civilian lives. However, they return 

better prepared for future missions.
28 The Falcon

CHICAGO, Ill. - First Lt. Teresa 

M. Gonzalez, 63rd Brigade Support Battalion officer in charge of 

this year’s 63rd BSB field feeding 

team, traveled to Chicago with 

three Soldiers to accept the Department of the Army Connelly 

Award for best U.S. Army Reserve 

Field Kitchen at the 47th Annual 

Philip A. Connelly Awards Program at the Armed Forces Foodservice Awards ceremony May 

15th.

 Co-sponsored by the Department of the Army and the International Food Service Executives 

Association, units from throughout the Army are evaluated against 

the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence standard. 

 Sgt. 1st Class Silverio Aguirre, 

Sgt. Samuelito Quijano and Pfc. 

Diana Guzman also traveled to 

Chicago to personally accept the 

prestigious Connelly Cup; a big silver bowl.

 Gonzalez said that she was extremely proud of 

all the Soldiers involved in this year’s competition, 

from the cooks to the field sanitation team and administrative supporters; the effort and solidarity was 

beyond expectation. 

 “As a new battalion, having only stood up in 2010, 

the skepticism was there, but the Soldiers took the 

challenge and triumphed,” said Gonzalez. “Through 

respectable feedback and countless hours of practice, these Soldiers were able to perfect their skills, 

earning them the win!”

 The 63rd BSB, Sloan, Nevada, competed by 

cooking and serving a meal in this higher round of 

competition. They were evaluated on categories that 

range from field food safety and head-count operaStory by Capt. Fernando Ochoa

311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

tions to effective use of manpower and the appearance and attitude of the food service personnel. 

 Aguirre, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Detachment, 63rd BSB, senior food operations sergeant, described the meals that promoted 

the success of the team, which included a healthy, 

hearty vegetable rotini and turkey meatball entre’e, a 

lightly oiled and steamed broccoli side and a pleasantly light double chocolate cake topped with fresh 

strawberries and whipped frosting.

 “We are very proud of the 63rd BSB, and winning 

the DA Philip A. Connelly shows the true value of 

teamwork; by using all of the team’s strengths, we 

were able to close the gap on any weaknesses and 

create a winning team,” said Chief Warrant Officer 

4 Alan Owens, 79th Sustainment Support ComThe 63rd BSB Brings Connelly Award 

 311th ESC

Pfc. Diana Guzman, 1st Lt. Teresa M. Gonzalez, 63rd Brigade Support Battalion officer in charge of this year’s 63rd BSB field feeding team, Brig. Gen. 

Ronald Kirklin, quartermaster general and the commandant of the U.S. Army 

Quartermaster School, Sgt. 1st Class Silverio Aguirre and Sgt. Samuelito 

Quijano traveled to Chicago to accept the Department of the Army Connelly 

Award for best U.S. Army Reserve Field Kitchen at the 47th Annual Philip A. 

Connelly Awards Program at the Armed Forces Foodservice Awards ceremony May 15.
SUMMER 2015 29

mand logistics specialist. “The 79th SSC supports 

this competition and the Soldiers involved. It gives 

the 79th SSC a great feeling knowing its Soldiers 

performed with the best of the best and came out on 

top.”

 The Philip A. Connelly Awards Program is the 

 Home to Las Vegas

Army’s ultimate cooking competition, which began 

in 1968 and includes active Army, Army Reserve 

and National Guard mess sections from across the 

globe in order find the best Army cooking operations.

 To simulate a down range environment, the unit’s 

operation was set in the Nevada desert, where a 

real-life scenario could reflect a deployment to Iraq. 

 Part of the competition scenario is preparing a 

meal in a combat zone environment: Stations where 

security is observed, hands can be washed, Soldiers 

can be signed in, meals can be eaten, utensils can be 

washed, and a fully-functional kitchen is displayed.

 “Attitude plays a significant role when working as 

a team,” said Gonzalez. “The Soldiers attitudes were 

very professional, yet fun when working together, 

and I think that this type of attitude was what really 

got them through those wearisome times.”

 This program was named after Phillip A. Connelly, a leader in the Food Service Management 

Corp and a former President of the IFSEA, who 

worked diligently and earnestly throughout his life 

to promote professionalism in food service, in both 

the civilian and military services.

 The 63rd BSB was the second unit out of four to 

demonstrate their talents and to be evaluated by the 

Department of the Army back in March. 

 The honor in receiving the Connelly Cup, recognition plaques from the NRA, 79th Sustainment 

Support Command, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, as well as all the individual Soldier 

awards and coins given by Brig. Gen. Ronald Kirklin, quartermaster general and the commandant 

of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, 

Virginia, was well deserving, Gonzalez expressed. 

 The 63rd BSB is one of three U.S. Army Reserve 

units that are structured to support the Maneuver 

Enhancement Brigades with all classes of supply, 

field maintenance and transportation in a constantly 

changing environment. The battalion support can 

rapidly mobilize and deploy anywhere in the world 

and provide sustained logistical support organic to 

the theater of operation.

 The 63rd BSB officially conducted its activation 

ceremony Oct. 21, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base in 

Las Vegas.

Pfc. Diana Guzman, 63rd Brigade Support Battalion field 

feeding team member, participated during the competition stage of the Department of the Army Annual Philip 

A. Connelly competition. 

Soldiers from the 63rd Brigade Support Battalion field 

feeding team pose with their unit crest during the 

competition stage of the Department of the Army Philip 

A. Connelly competition, where they were named best 

U.S. Army Reserve Field.
30 The Falcon

PORT HUENEME, Calif. - Army Reserve 

Soldiers from the 481st Transportation 

Company (Heavy Boat) stay shipshape by 

conducting joint operations with the United 

States Navy. The Army’s 2000 series of 

Landing Craft Utility boats, also known as 

LCU 2000’s, have a capability unmatched by 

the Navy.

 The 481st TC has five LCU 2000’s, each 

with a crew of 13-18 soldiers commanded 

by a Warrant Officer. The LCU 2000’s each 

have a 10,000 mile range, hold 90,000 gallons of fuel and have three coffee pots. They 

have exceptional maneuverability due 

to fore and aft propulsion. LCU 2000’s 

have outlived the typical lifespan for 

military equipment and due to their 

operational success, the Department 

of the Army has decided to conduct a 

Service Life Extension Program on the 

class of vessel.

 Because of a draft of less than ten 

feet, even with a heavy load, the U.S. 

Navy is working with the Port Hueneme, Calif., based Army Reserve unit 

to haul heavy equipment from the 

California coastal port to their faciliArmy Reserve Heavy Boats Condu

Story by Maj. Gregg Moore 

311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

 311th ESC

A 481st Transportation Company (Heavy Boats) soldier works the 

lines as the Landing Craft Utility 2000 disembarks from Port Hueneme, Calif.,to make a 16-hour round trip to San Clemente Island.

30 The Falcon
SUMMER 2015 31

ties on California’s Channel Islands. This 16-hour 

round trip voyage yields tangible and intangible 

benefits for the Navy and the Army Reserve.

 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jerry Mitchell, 311th Expeditionary Support Command Watercraft Officer, 

said, “Doing these missions helps the Army and 

the Navy better learn each other’s language. Our 

relationship with the Navy is further enhanced, and 

we are better prepared for exercises such as J-LOTS 

[Joint Logistics Over the Shore] and for our deployment missions.”

uct Joint Operations

Soldiers from the 481st Transportation Company (Heavy Boats) lash 

two U.S. Navy rock crusher trucks to the deck of their Landing Craft 

Utility 2000 in preparation for a 16-hours round trip sail from Port Hueneme, Calif., to the Navy’s quarry yard on San Clemente Island.

SUMMER 2015 31
32 The Falcon

The 250th Transportation Company M

 Story by Sgt. 1st Class Deborah Runkles-Jenkins

 304th Sustainment Brigade 

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Army Reserve 

Transportation Companies want to provide fundamental, hands-on training for their Soldiers using 

the vehicles and equipment they were trained to 

employ. To do that, TCs need missions that allow 

for the time and road distance that battle training 

assemblies can’t always afford.

 The Nationwide Move 2015 (NWM 15) is an 

Army Reserve-approved functional training exercise designed to provide Reserve component transportation and support units with valuable, realistic 

training, by conducting operations in support of 

continental U.S. activities. 

 The 250th Transportation Company out of El 

Monte, California, is one of many TC units tasked 

to participate in NWM 15, explained Master Sgt. 

Christian Beeler, lead planner of operations for the 

821st Transportation Battalion based in Topeka, 

Kansas.

 “The 250th Soldiers welcomed the opportunity,” 

said 1st Lt. Elliott Dill, 2nd Platoon leader with 

the 250th, and officer in charge of movement. He 

said his unit has conducted many support missions 

throughout continental United States and Canada, 

but this one is different. 

“Nationwide Move is built with the transportation 

companies in mind.” said Dill. “It’s one of the few 

times we can get behind the wheel and actually run 

long-haul missions.”

 The task is to load and transport vehicles and 

large storage containers for the 189th Infantry 

Brigade (Training Support) from Joint Base LewisMcChord, Fort Lewis, Washington, and convoy 

back down to Fort Hunter Liggett, California, where 

the 189th will support the Combat Support Training 

Exercise. Once the exercise is complete, the 250th 

will conduct the same mission, in reverse order.

 The 250th will simultaneously transport containers of real-world medical supplies for the Regional 

Training Site-Medical from Camp Parks, California, 

to six locations at Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp 

Roberts, California, supporting CSTX and Warrior 

Exercises over the next several months.

 “It’s what the Soldiers want,” said Dill. “They want 

to drive; they want long-haul missions; they want to 

physically load equipment- and that’s exactly what 

we are going to be doing.”

 The 250th Motor Transport Operators (88M), 

along with those of the 208th and 289th Transportation Companies out of Arizona who augmented the 

250th, agree that this type of mission is just what 

they’ve been waiting for. 

 “It’s awesome, I love it,” said Spc. Elizabeth Walker, a San Bernardino, native and motor transport 

operator with the 250th. 

 Walker, who has been driving trucks in the Army 

Reserve for 5 years, said she became an 88M because she likes to travel and is anxious to see the 

sites on the road.

 “This is the first time I get to do a true long-haul 

First Lt. Elliott Dill (left), officer in charge of movement 

and 2nd platoon leader with the 250th Transportation 

Company in El Monte, Calif., reviews the route map 

with his convoy commander, Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Lubin 

(right) and two of his convoy drivers on Feb. 6, 2015, at 

Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., prior to a long-haul convoy 

mission to Fort Lewis, Wash.

 311th ESC
SUMMER 2015 33

Moves Nationwide

mission,” she said. “It’s‚ going to be a great experience.”

 This particular long-haul will include approximately 2750 round-trip miles for the Soldiers, 

confirmed Beeler. 

 “We’re always looking for opportunities to put 

miles on the trucks,” said Beeler. “To get these Soldiers out using their equipment and trusting their 

equipment - you can’t put a price on good training 

for the troops.”

 Sgt. 1st Class Jerry M. Lubin, convoy commander 

for the movement, said the Soldiers will be driving 

M915A5 and A3 truck tractors, similar to the civilian semi-tractor trailer. 

 “In a mission on this level, the drivers really get 

to see how their trucks handle,” Lubin said. “They 

can critique each other and give us feedback. There’s 

a lot of differences when driving with a loaded 

trailer, especially in changing weather.”

 Known well for its rainy climate, the northwestern states did not disappoint. From the first day in 

convoy there were very few dry areas to be found. 

Heavy rains were forecasted for much of the first 

week of the trip.

 Lubin said there are many adjustments that have 

to be made for the rain, but safety is the number one 

priority. 

 “We don’t get to train like this in Southern California‚ but our Soldiers are ready,” said the Beaumont, California, native. “They know to slow down, 

keep the right distances and report obstacles they 

might see on the roads.”

 This real-world activity provides more than training benefits for the Soldiers who are driving.

 “We as leaders get to know the Soldiers in our 

units better,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Cesar Trujillo, 

assistant convoy commander and Palmdale, California, resident. “We get to just step back and let the 

Soldiers do the jobs they’ve trained for.”

 Trujillo said this exercise will give him the opportunity to identify his Soldier’s strengths and weak 

spots. He can use the information and feedback he 

gets to plan for future training back home, he said.

 Supporting units for this mission include the 

192nd Quartermaster Company from North Canton, Ohio and the 375th Trailer Transfer Point out 

of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

 The 250th TC is part of the 304th Sustainment 

Brigade. The 304th, based at March Air Reserve 

Base, Riverside, California, is responsible for planning and executing life support efforts (sleep sites, 

meals, showers, etc.) at multiple overnight rest locations across the United States for NWM 15.

Spc. Elizabeth Walker, a motor transport operator with 

the 250th Transportation Company in El Monte, Calif., 

performs preventive maintenance, checks and services 

on her vehicle Feb. 6, 2015, at Fort Hunter Liggett, 

Calif., prior to a long-haul convoy mission to Fort Lewis, 

Wash.

Soldiers of the 250th Transportation Company, based 

in El Monte, Calif., perform preventive maintenance, 

checks and services on their vehicles on Feb. 6, 2015, 

at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., prior to a long-haul convoy 

mission to Fort Lewis, Wash.
34 The Falcon

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - The Army Reserve’s premier logistics sustainment command held 

their change of command ceremony here on the 

historical MacArthur Parade Field May 3rd.

 Brig. Gen. Norman B. Green relinquished command of the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command to Brig. Gen. Kenneth D. Jones. 

 Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, commander of the 79th 

Sustainment Support Command, Soldiers, friends 

and Family attended the change of command 

ceremony, which is a time honored tradition that 

represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility.

 Green took command of the 4th ESC in July 2012 

and next moves to the 377th Theater Sustainment 

Command in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Green assumed command just as the 4th ESC returned from 

a deployment to Afghanistan and rebuilt the command to its current mission ready status. 

 “The Army Reserve is built on the strength of 

America’s strongest citizen,” said Green, “a point 

proven by the warrior citizens here today.”

 Green says that Army Reserve Soldiers are a testament that there are people from the community 

who have the value, character, and fortitude which 

are instrumental to the Army Reserve and total 

force.

 “During the past three years, Soldiers and Civilians of the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command have achieved exemplary unit readiness 

performance levels ascending and attaining the top 

readiness results within the 79th Sustainment Support Command,” said Green. 

 Jones, previously the commanding general of 

the 451st ESC in Wichita, Kansas, is a Texas native 

from Bryan and graduate of Texas A&M University. 

Jones joins the 4th ESC as the command prepares to 

deploy to Kuwait. 

“Soldiers in these formations have long established 

Change of Command Ceremony

their value and commitment to our nation’s defense,” said Jones. 

 “We will not settle for being ‘good,’ but will always 

strive to be a ‘great’ military organization,” said 

Jones, “by sustaining the excellent traditions which 

this unit was founded upon over seven years ago.”

 As the 4th ESC continues their preparation for 

deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this summer, Jones will continue the momentum of his predecessor.

 “For the headquarters here in San Antonio,” said 

Jones, “we are once again being called upon and will 

soon be departing to support current operations in 

the CENTCOM area of responsibility.” 

 The 4th ESC will once again join the more than 

300,000 Army Reserve Soldiers who have mobilized 

and seamlessly integrated into the active component 

and the joint force over the past 13 years. This will 

be the fourth time the 4th ESC headquarters has 

deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism 

with the last deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. 

 “For the Soldiers deploying forward, I know these 

mobilizations come at a high cost to Families and 

it takes personal sacrifices to get the mission done,” 

Jones said.

The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) held a 

change of command ceremony May 3 at the MacArthur 

Parade Field located at JBSA Fort Sam Houston. The 

ceremony recognized Brig. Gen. Norman B. Green, 

outgoing commander, and Brig. Gen. Kenneth D. Jones, 

incoming commander.

Story & photos by Staff Sgt. Nina Ramon

4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

 4th ESC
SUMMER 2015 35

Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, commander of the 79th Sustainment Support Command, participated in the change of 

command ceremony for the 4th Sustainment Command 

(Expeditionary) May 3 at the MacArthur Parade Field 

located at JBSA Fort Sam Houston. 

 The 4th ESC, a subordinate command of the 79th Sustainment Support Command, conducts distribution management for Army, joint, interagency, and multinational forces when mobilized in support of military operations and supports its four subordinate brigades with collective training, mobilization, deployment, and redeployment.

Spc. Daniel Concepcion awaits the signal to begin the 

ceremonial cannon salute. The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) held a change of command ceremony May 3 at the MacArthur Parade Field.

4th ESC Soldiers Compete in Mini-Triathlon

Story & photos by Staff Sgt. Nina Ramon

4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Seven 

Soldiers from the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment 

Command competed in a Joint Base San Antonio 

mini-triathlon June 15, 2014.

 The competition consisted of a 200-meter 

swim, five mile bike ride and a one mile run. 

 Physical fitness has a direct impact on a Soldier’s combat readiness. When Soldiers are physically fit, they are more likely to have a pleasurable 

and productive career and life. 

 Competitions such as this embodies the Army’s 

demands on Soldiers to be physically fit in order 

to perform many challenging individual tasks as 

well as perform tasks as a team.

Soldiers from the 4th ESC that competed are: Staff Sgt. 

Jerome McKinney, Staff Sgt. Antonio Espinoza, Chief 

Warrant Officer 3 Denrick Mills, Capt. Vernon Nauls, 

Maj. Keri Molina, and Pvt. Uriel Rangel, and Sgt. 1st 

Class Damon Hood. The competition consisted of a 200 

meter swim, five mile bike ride and a one mile run.
36 The Falcon

CONROE, Texas - Some things are more important 

than the Olympics, like god, country, and family. That 

is what Capt. Chad Stoermer says motivated him to 

make the difficult decision to postpone his long held 

dream of training and participating in the Olympics to 

join the U.S. Army. 

 Stoermer was raised in San Antonio and attended 

Judson High School, which he says is known for training athletes to compete from the heart. He then attended and received his commission from Texas A&M 

University in 2009. 

 Though he was not recruited into college for any 

sport, he managed to demonstrate his talent during 

a walk-on tryout, made the team, and helped build 

a National Championship Track program at Texas 

A&M. 

 “I was never a first string kind of athlete. I’ve always 

had to start at the bottom and fight my way to the 

top, in every sport, on every team, at every level,” says 

Stoermer. 

 During his senior year, they won their first ever 

National Championship Track title under Head Coach 

Pat Henry.

 Soon after he received his commission, Stoermer 

deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Sustainment 

Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. His four years on active duty in the Army made it very difficult to pursue 

his dreams in track and field. Though he feels his development for Olympic level competition declined, he 

remained positive and recognizes that the Army gave 

him the opportunity to further develop his character 

and provided him with rare life experiences that he 

could not have received in any other profession. 

 While deployed to Afghanistan, he realized he 

needed to fulfill his dream of training for the Olympics. He began training for the long jump since the 

environment did not allow him the capability to pole 

vault. He says the approach and take off are similar in 

long jump and pole vault. 

 After four years of active duty service, he then made 

the decision to join the 310th Quartermaster Detachment, an Army Reserve unit based in Conroe, Texas, 

Potential Olympian Says Being in the A

so that he could return to his former alumni and 

continue training for the 2016 Olympics. He joined 

the Army Reserve to continue serving his country 

and because it allows him the opportunity to train to 

meet standards which could lead him to be part of the 

Army’s World Class Athlete Program. 

 Even though he did not pole vault for four years 

while on active duty, he was able to return and jumped 

higher than ever before. 

 Stoermer says there are open competitions all over 

the world which allow him to compete without having sponsorship. He is very confident and hopeful 

that he will be accepted into the WCAP, in which he 

would then be sponsored by the U.S. Army in the 2016 

Olympics. 

 “I would love to represent the U.S. Army,” said 

Stoermer. “The Army Reserve has been fantastic and 

is truly a great program to pursue two careers at once 

without having to compromise.”

 As long as he stays in the Army Reserve, he has 

access to world class training to help get him into the 

Army’s WCAP. Once in the program, he would then 

get put back on active duty to train full time in preparation for the Olympics. 

Story & photos by Capt. Valerie Palacios

4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Capt. Chad Stoermer, 310th Quartermaster Detachment petroleum officer, recently jumped 17’1” during 

Oklahoma University’s John Jacob Track Classic. In this 

picture, he stands with his former college coach, Jim 

Van Hootegem, who is now the head track coach for 

Oklahoma University.

 4th ESC
SUMMER 2015 37

Army Reserve is a Bargain Deal

 “I believe our country is always in need of positive 

influences and role models who do things for the right 

reasons,” says Stoermer. “I push my mind, body, and 

soul so that I may be one of those role models.”

 Stoermer thrives on the adrenaline that accompanies dangerous activities which attracted him to pole 

vaulting, which he explains is fast and dangerous.

 “I train to be able to compete at my absolute very 

best,” says Stoermer. “My goal is not to show the world 

that I am a world class athlete; my goal is to remind 

our country what one person is capable of doing when 

they use ALL of what they got.”

 Stoermer serves in the 310th Quartermaster Detachment as an assistant petroleum officer and says 

his commander, Lt. Col. Rose Bean is very supportive 

of his goals and training. She says he is a very positive 

person and an inspiration to others.

 “I would not have been able to get where I am at or 

where I go if it weren’t for the Army Reserve being so 

flexible and working with me,” Stoermer said.

 Aside from being in the Army Reserve and training for the Olympics, he also started two local art 

businesses and is working on his dissertation for his 

4th ESC Soldiers Receive Body Composition Training

Story & photos by Staff Sgt. Nina Ramon

4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Soldiers from the Headquarters, and Headquarters Company, 4th Sustainment 

Command (Expeditionary) were selected to attend a 

Body Composition Training workshop at University of 

Texas at San Antonio, June 18, 2014.

 The training was conducted by Dr. Donovan Fogt 

and his team at the Exercise Biochemistry and Metabolism Laboratory on the UTSA campus.

 Soldiers learned the proper techniques when conducting the U.S. Army Body Composition tape test as 

well as other body composition analysis methods.

 The EBML was established in 2005 to investigate 

mechanisms by which the body adapts to short-term 

and chronic exposure to stressors such as exercise, 

environmental, or dietary manipulation.

A UTSA student demonstrates proper use of Harpeden 

skinfold calipers for body composition. Soldiers from the 

HHC, 4th Sustainment Command (EXP) were selected 

to attend a Body Composition Training at University of 

Texas - San Antonio.

doctorate’s degree in education research. 

 He says he does not see any excuse for not being in 

the Army Reserve. 

 “I feel that’s a bargain deal for what they pay us and 

for what we get out of the deal, “Stoermer says, the 

amount of time I put in the Reserves is certainly worth 

it.”

 While deployed he came to the realization that our 

education system has a lot of room for improvement 

and that the next generation of our country is going to 

face some rather difficult challenges over the next 20 

years. 

 His research mathematically defends universal 

methods to optimize the learning process. He plans to 

apply the processes to our national education system 

with the goal of improving the efficiency of our public 

education system. 

 He is using himself as practical evidence of his research, thus training for the Olympics is very important so that he can provide hard proof of what we are 

all capable of when we maximize the capacity of our 

mind, body, and soul.
38 The Falcon

TACOMA, Wash. - The last remaining 100’ (FLT III) tug boat in 

the U.S. Army Reserve fleet, was 

removed from the Bishop Reserve 

Center, pier 23 at the Port of 

Tacoma. 

 The 100’ tug boat was a single 

engine ocean tug boat in service 

since the 1950’s. In the 1990’s 

the vessels were refitted with a 

modern diesel engine and due to 

stability concerns, were reclassified as “harbor tugs”. The 100’ 

tug boats have been systematically removed from the Army and 

Army Reserve inventory and 

replaced with a fleet of six modern, twin engine 128’ ocean going 

tug boats. The last major mission 

for the Anzio was supporting the 

Joint Logistics Over The Shore 

(JLOTS) exercise at Camp Pendleton, CA in 2008. The vessel now 

belongs to the Native Village of 

Eyak, Alaska. 

Last 100’ Tug Boat in the Fleet Retires

Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

 364th ESC

The Anzio, last remaining 100’ (FLT III) tug boat in the U.S. Army Reserve 

fleet, was decommissioned and then removed from the Bishop Reserve 

Center at the Port of Tacoma, Wash. April 17, 2015. The Anzio was then ferried to it’s new home, the Native Village of Eyak, Alaska.

The replacement tug for the FLT III is the Large Tug (LT) 800 

series tugboat, shown here in this stock photo, the Army began 

fielding these vessels in the early 1990s.

The primary purpose for a Large Tug (LT) 800 

series tugboat in a floating craft company, is 

to transport the barge derrick (BD). This photo 

was taken at the “Yokohama North Dock” in 

Yokohama, Japan. 
SUMMER 2015 39

709th TC Soldiers Train for Shipboard Emergencies

Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

TACOMA, Wash. - During the April 

Battle Training Assembly, the 709th 

Trans. Co. conducted shipboard fire 

fighting and damage control training 

at the Joint Fire Training and Emergency Services Readiness Response 

Center in Bremerton, Washington. 

Participants ranged in rank from Private to Chief Warrant Officer 3.

 Fifty Soldiers, under the direct 

supervision of 10 instructors, participated in basic marine fire fighting 

and damage control training in order 

to maintain their proficiency in these 

highly perishable and life-saving 

skills. Following the crawl, walk and 

run principle, Soldiers began each 

day with a classroom session reviewing fire fighting principles followed 

by a hands-on walk through (ROC 

Drill) and finally a culminating event 

of fighting actual fires in a controlled 

environment. 
40 The Falcon

Veterans Visit 364th ESC Watercraft Unit

TACOMA, Wash. - Six 

members of the Washington 

State Amphibious Forces 

Association visited Soldiers 

in the Tacoma, Washington 

based 805th Transportation 

Detachment March 2. 

 The non-profit fraternal 

veteran organization members have military experiences ranging from service 

in WW II through Vietnam 

and consists of former Navy, 

Marine, and Army service 

members.

 During the visit, the veterans listened to Chief Warrant 

Officer 2 Michael Nishida 

and Chief Warrant Officer 3 

Richard Martin, crew members of the Logistical Support Vessel-3 of the 805th 

Transportation Detachment, 

discuss the unit’s five-month 

mission on the LSV-3 last 

year, which sailed nearly 

11,000 nautical miles and 

relocated 480 tons of cargo.

 The one-day visit aimed to 

develop relationships between local veteran service 

organizations and Marysville, Washington based 

364th ESC Army Reserve 

units in the Pacific Northwest. It also helped increase 

interest and awareness of the 

unique capabilities within 

the 364th ESC.

Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Six members of the Washington State Amphibious Forces Association visited 

Soldiers in the 805th Transportation Detachment March 2.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Richard D Martin Jr. of the 709th Transportation Company discusses the capabilities and unique missions of the 364th ESC’s logistics support vessels with members of the Washington State Amphibious Forces 

Association. The group of veterans, who previously served on watercrafts, 

visited Soldiers and toured the vessel in Tacoma, Wash. in order to re-connect 

to their past and learn more about Army boats.

 364th ESC
SUMMER 2015 41

364th ESC Soldiers Share Stories of Success with Students

EVERETT, Wash. - More than 2,500 high school 

and middle school students from Snohomish, King 

and Skagit counties participated in the 13th Annual Students of Color Career Conference at Everett 

Community College March 25. 

 The yearly conference aims to inspire confidence 

in students by hearing from professionals who were 

once where they are now. This year’s conference 

focused on careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

 Over 100 professionals from local businesses and 

organizations hosted break-out sessions to share 

real-life stories of their challenges and triumphs. 

For the first time, Soldiers from Marysville and 

Everett were invited to join the discussion. Capt. 

Marvin Baker of the 364th Sustainment Command 

(Expeditionary), Capt. Eder Bennett and Staff Sgt. 

Michael Arneson, of the U.S. Army Everett Recruiting Company, discussed their personal experiences, 

Story by Capt. Marvin Baker

364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

challenges and successes of their military careers. 

 Baker, who started his military career in the 

Army Reserve, said he enjoyed sharing his personal 

experiences with the young adults and that he probably learned as much as the students did during the 

mutually beneficial discussions. 

 As a Soldier in the 364th ESC, part of Baker’s job 

is to help his unit connect with private organizations 

working together toward goals that benefit Reserve 

Soldiers and civilian sector businesses. The unit’s 

participation in the career conference moved them 

a step closer toward that goal and had a tremendous 

benefit to the students. 

 “The students seemed truly enthusiastic and 

interested in learning about the career options,” said 

Baker. 

 “I wanted them to know they had the ability to 

pursue anything they like,” he added.
42 The Falcon

Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Neil Simmons

451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

WICHITA, Kan. – Each 

summer Army Reserve 

units across the country gear up as the peak 

season for annual training kicks off. This year, 

units from the Army 

Reserve’s 451st Expeditionary Sustainment 

Command participated 

in Warrior Exercise 86-

15-02, centered largely at 

Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. 

The culminating exercise tested the collective 

skills of units involved 

by placing them in a 

simulated deployed 

environment where they 

were presented numerous scenarios they might 

encounter during a realworld deployment. 

 This year’s exercise introduced a new element to 

the scope of training not typically seen during these 

events. From May 6 -18, the 451st ESC headquarters participated directly in an exercise typically 

designed for lower eschelon units at the brigade 

level and below. 

 Commanding subordinate units and managing 

support operations from afar is exactly what an ESC 

headquarters would expect to do when deployed. 

So to add to the challenge and realism, the Headquarters, and Headquarters Company for the 451st 

ESC remained at their home station in Wichita, 

Kansas. This required the command’s leadership to 

direct operations at Fort McCoy across a geographiTraining Exercise Tests Sustainment 

 451st ESC

cally diverse area with long lines of communication. 

Completing the atypical training setup were observors from the 75th Training Command out of Houston, Texas, which provided feedback and guided 

the unit in discussion. The 75th identified areas of 

success and areas that needed improvement, and the 

command’s leaders were able to find plenty of both.

 “The staff has improved tremendously from day 

one to what I’m seeing now,” stated Col. David 

Scheideler, the 451st ESC Assistant Chief of Staff for 

Operations, following a briefing by the staff. “Now 

we can focus on the little things,” he added, highlighting that there is always room for improvement 

no matter how well the unit performs.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s 

Headquarters, Headquarters Company collaborate with each other, civilian contractors, 

and even Navy personnel May 6 at the Army Reserve Center in Wichita, Kansas as 

they prepare for the start of Warrior Exercise 86-15-02. 
SUMMER 2015 43

 Command’s Readiness

Spc. Kimberly Nelson, signal support systems specialist, 

and Spc. Tyler Grimes, information technology specialist, both with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 

451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, work 

diligently to troubleshoot any issues that arise with the 

tactical network that 451st Soldiers are using for Warrior 

Exercise 86-15-02.

As part of Warrior Exercise 86-15-02, Command Sgt. 

Maj. Donald Langworthy, the command sergeant major 

for the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and 

Col. Laura Wisch, commander of the 451st ESC, listen 

May 11 as each staff section briefs them on the day’s 

significant events during the daily commander’s update 

briefing.

Navy Lt. Hugh Wilson, Supply Department Head for SEAL Team 17, provides 

Army Reserve Soldiers with the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s 

Support Operations staff an overview on the Navy May 17 at the Army Reserve Center in Wichita, Kansas. During the brief, Wilson explained how Army 

logistics will likely interact with their Navy counterparts during a deployment 

and provided his expertise during the 451st ESC’s annual training May 6-18.

 The headquarters staff had to 

overcome numerous challenges, 

such as shortages in equipment, 

technical issues communicating 

with their units at Fort McCoy, 

and conflicting exercise data. 

However, these issues pushed 

the staff to work together and 

to find effective solutions to 

continue the mission. By the 

end of the two-week event, the 

commander of the 451st ESC, 

Col. Laura Wisch, was pleased 

with her staff ’s performance.

 “You have all done a superb 

job,” Wisch said, addressing a 

packed room of officers and 

non-commissioned officers 

from the command. “I would 

deploy with any one of you 

tomorrow if I could.”
44 The Falcon

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www.preventsexualassault.army.mil

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