Archive for April, 2011
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4th BCT ready for new digs
Special to the Courier
April 30, 2011
x3Cpx3EArea residents have watched steel beams go up, red and tan bricks get placed and green roofs installed on new buildings inside the new brigade complex off Highway 144 just across from Liberty Woods. With construction moving along and several buildings completed, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is preparing to move to its new home.x3Cbr /x3EThe 4th IBCT, or Vanguard brigade, currently is deployed to Iraq, but early redeployers will begin moving into the complexx26rsquox3Bs barracks in late spring, 4th IBCT rear detachment commander Lt. Col. Michael Todd said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BMidx2DMay will be our first redeploying flight, then starting again in early to mid June,x26rdquox3B Todd said.x3Cbr /x3EThe complex can house up to 1,438 soldiers, he said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BThe brigade will maximize the capacity available with the number of single soldiers assigned,x26rdquox3B Todd said. x3Cbr /x3EIn addition to soldiers moving into the barracks, the brigadex26rsquox3Bs equipment and vehicles also will be transported to the new complex.x26nbspx3B x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BInitially, flatbed trucks will be used to move equipment containers to the new brigade complex, then later in July tactical vehicles will move to the Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facilities (TEMF) once we draw them,x26rdquox3B the commander said.x3Cbr /x3EThe initial set of the brigadex26rsquox3Bs vehicles, roughly 90, as well as the remainder of the brigadex26rsquox3Bs vehicles will be driven to their new TEMFs, minus some engineer equipment that will be hauled on trailers, according to Fort Stewart public affairs.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BSince we are an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, we donx26rsquox3Bt have tracked vehicles such as M1 Abrams Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles or M109A6 Paladins,x26rdquox3B Todd said.x3Cbr /x3EDesigned with a light brigade in mind, the new complex also is special because it is the first contiguous brigade complex to be built at Fort Stewart, said Directorate of Public Works Technical Services Branch Chief Will Abrams.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BEverything the brigade needs to fulfill daily operations from the Combined Brigade Battalion Headquarters to the Company Operations Facilities, motor pools, dining facility, the physical fitness facility and the medical clinic x26mdashx3B when completed x26mdashx3B are all on one 400x2Dplusx2Dacre site, and all of the facilities are easily within walking distance of one another,x26rdquox3B Abrams said. x26ldquox3BWe had the opportunity to design and build everything a brigade needs from physical training and training areas to daily operations and support facilities into one complete secured site.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EPvt. 1st Class Patrick Lindstrom of 4th Brigade is excited about moving into the new barracks. Lindstrom said he likes the privacy and size of the rooms, the bedsx26rsquox3B thicker mattresses and washers and dryers in every room. Having his own oven in the kitchen is extra special, he said. x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BI enjoy cooking,x26rdquox3B Lindstrom said.x3Cbr /x3EAbrams looks forward to hearing more soldiers express their anticipation about the new complex.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BIt has been a true honor and a privilege to be able to work on this project since the first shovels went into the ground through to the closing out and turnover of these facilities to their new owners, the 4th brigade,x26rdquox3B he said. x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BI can honestly say that this is a beautiful, wellx2Dbuilt facility, and I canx26rsquox3Bt wait to see reactions and hear soldiersx26rsquox3B comments as they take occupation of it after serving our nation proudly overseas.x26rdquox3Bx3C/px3E
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Area residents have watched steel beams go up, red and tan bricks get placed and green roofs installed on new buildings inside the new brigade complex off Highway 144 just across from Liberty Woods.
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Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31463/
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Fort Stewart job fair draws record crowd
Organizers also see more employers looking
Denise Etheridge
detheridge@coastalcourier.com
912x2D876x2D0156
April 29, 2011
x3Cpx3EIn the annual career expo held at Fort Stewartx26rsquox3Bs Club Stewart on Tuesday, 227 job seekers arrived in the first hour of the event to meet with 41 employers. x3Cbr /x3EUniversities, representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other governmental entities and about 15 private corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Fluor and URS, were recruiting future civilian employees from the military community. x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BWex26rsquox3Bre seeing more employers sign up for these eventsx3B we have twice the number (of job seekers) here than we did the same time last year,x26rdquox3B Vicki L. Washington, CivilianJobs.comx26rsquox3Bs director of job fair operations, said. x3Cbr /x3EWashington said she will facilitate 32 such job fairs this year and already has 36 career expos planned for next year. These job fairs are held at military installations across the United States, she said.x3Cbr /x3EWashington said there are more positions available in the job market today than there were last year, which is good news for veterans and activex2Dduty service members transitioning out of the military.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BThe job market is opening up but is still driven by locale,x26rdquox3B she said. x26ldquox3BWe are seeing almost double the number of employers participating in job fairs and posting vacancies to job boards this year.x26rdquox3B x3Cbr /x3EMilitary experience can translate into civilian workforce jobs, Washington said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3B(Employers) want someone who is trained, skilled in their specialties,x26rdquox3B she said. Service members tend to be disciplined, exhibit integrity, have a tremendous work ethic and come to new careers with realx2Dworld experience, the job fair director said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BSoldiers donx26rsquox3Bt watch a clock,x26rdquox3B she said. x26ldquox3BAs soldiers, wex26rsquox3Bre used to working weekends and holidays. And, obviously, wex26rsquox3Bre loyal.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EJob seekers were asked to prex2Dregister for the career expo, Washington said. x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BTheir job skills and geographic preferences were matched against the needs of the attending employers, and those employers received the job seekersx26rsquox3B resumes in advance of the job fair for review,x26rdquox3B she said. x3Cbr /x3EWashington advised military members transitioning out of the service to carefully x26ldquox3Bplan their exit.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BIf youx26rsquox3Bre a soldier and the only source of your familyx26rsquox3Bs income, plan 18 months out (from separation),x26rdquox3B she said. x26ldquox3BAnd research, research, research. There are websites you can go to that will translate your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) to a civilian job.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EWashington said soldiers leaving the military utilize the Army Career and Alumni Program. ACAP provides such services as mandatory prex2Dseparation counseling for soldiers, jobx2Dsearch workshops, interactive computerx2Dbased jobx2Dassistance training and smallx2Dbusiness workshops. The program also facilitates employer recruitment visits, she said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BThey give you every tool you need,x26rdquox3B Washington said. x26ldquox3BBut you have to be motivated and do your own due diligence.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EPfc. Travis Bakewell is leaving the Army in three months after five years of service. He attended the job fair to see x26ldquox3Bwhat the job market is like.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EOne of the employer representatives Bakewell spoke to was E.W. Wylie recruiting manager Bob Sweeney. E.W. Wylie Corporation is a flatbed and heavyx2Dhaul trucking company currently seeking drivers for Southeast routes, Sweeney said.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BWex26rsquox3Bre wellx2Dpositioned to offer drivers some good opportunities,x26rdquox3B he said. x26ldquox3BThe trucking industry is experiencing the worst driver shortage since the early 1990s.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EMilitary dependent Jennifer Walsh was x26ldquox3Blooking for anything thatx26rsquox3Bs available.x26rdquox3B She said she had more than 25 years of experience in customer service. She found the fair helpful.x3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BIx26rsquox3Bm taking business cards and telephone numbers,x26rdquox3B Walsh said. x26ldquox3BSome of the vendorsx26rsquox3B tables Ix26rsquox3Bve visited will call back for interviews.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3Ex26ldquox3BYou must be qualified,x26rdquox3B Kevin Green, regional veterans employment coordinator with the Department of Veterans Affairs, told a crowd of job seekers. x26ldquox3BJust because youx26rsquox3Bre a veteran doesnx26rsquox3Bt mean you automatically get a job.x26rdquox3Bx3Cbr /x3EFor information, go to www.civilianjobs.com.x3C/px3E
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Denise Etheridge
In the annual career expo held at Fort Stewart’s Club Stewart on Tuesday, 227 job seekers arrived in the first hour of the event to meet with 41 employers.
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The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to Oct. 21, allowing those eligible more time to apply for the benefits they’ve earned under the program guidelines.
The deadline extension is included in Continuing Resolution H.R. 1473, signed by President Obama on April 15, providing funding for federal government operations through Oct. 21.
The RSLSP was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service involuntarily was extended under Stop Loss Authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a stop-loss status.
When RSLSP began Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts over the past 18 months. Outreach efforts, including direct mail and engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue through Oct. 21.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31421/
The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to Oct. 21, allowing those eligible more time to apply for the benefits they’ve earned under the program guidelines.
The deadline extension is included in Continuing Resolution H.R. 1473, signed by President Obama on April 15, providing funding for federal government operations through Oct. 21.
The RSLSP was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service involuntarily was extended under Stop Loss Authority between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a stop-loss status.
When RSLSP began Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts over the past 18 months. Outreach efforts, including direct mail and engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue through Oct. 21.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31421/
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Hundreds of soldiers gathered at Memorial Hall to witness the end of the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company (Outlaws) tour in Iraq.
In true Army tradition, the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, conducted a transfer-of-authority ceremony April 12 with the 1729th Field Support Maintenance Company, from Havre De Grace, Md.
The Outlaws, who will return to Fort Stewart, served as the lone heavy maintenance company in Iraq.
Capt. Jesus Pena, commander of the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company and a Del Rio, Texas, native, shared his company’s accomplishments during his remarks at the ceremony.
He also went on to thank his soldiers and honor a fallen comrade the company lost late in the deployment.
Lt. Col. David Ceniti, commander of the 749th CSSB, spoke in praise of the Outlaws.
“Your accomplishments were extraordinary,” he said. “You should feel honored for your world-class efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.”
Ceniti also addressed his new maintenance counterparts, the 1729th FSMC.
“It’s up to you to write the next chapter in maintenance history,” Ceniti said.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31423/
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Hundreds of soldiers gathered at Memorial Hall to witness the end of the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company (Outlaws) tour in Iraq.
In true Army tradition, the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, conducted a transfer-of-authority ceremony April 12 with the 1729th Field Support Maintenance Company, from Havre De Grace, Md.
The Outlaws, who will return to Fort Stewart, served as the lone heavy maintenance company in Iraq.
Capt. Jesus Pena, commander of the 632nd Heavy Maintenance Company and a Del Rio, Texas, native, shared his company’s accomplishments during his remarks at the ceremony.
He also went on to thank his soldiers and honor a fallen comrade the company lost late in the deployment.
Lt. Col. David Ceniti, commander of the 749th CSSB, spoke in praise of the Outlaws.
“Your accomplishments were extraordinary,” he said. “You should feel honored for your world-class efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.”
Ceniti also addressed his new maintenance counterparts, the 1729th FSMC.
“It’s up to you to write the next chapter in maintenance history,” Ceniti said.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31423/
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Crime scene photos shown at murder trial
Denise Etheridge
detheridge@coastalcourier.com
912x2D876x2D0156
April 27, 2011
x3Cpx3ESgt. Joseph Bozicevichx26rsquox3Bs murder trial picked up again Tuesday morning with government attorneysx26rsquox3B presentation of gritty crimex2Dscene photographs and diagrams. The mothers of Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson and Sgt. Wesley Durbin, the men Bozicevich is accused of shooting and killing Sept. 14, 2008, greeted each other warmly before the capital court martial of their sonsx26rsquox3B accused killer got under way. The deceased soldiersx26rsquox3B parents placed tissue boxes by their seats to prepare for reliving the worst day of their lives.x3Cbr /x3EBozicevich, 41, of Minneapolis, Minn., faces two counts of prex2Dmeditated murder in the deaths of Dawson and Durbin, his former squad leader and fellow team leader, respectively.x3Cbr /x3EAll three soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID and were deployed to Patrol Base Jurf at Sahkr, Iraq.x3Cbr /x3EBozicevich could face the death penalty if all 12 jurors find him guilty and are unanimous in sentencing, Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson previously said. Bozicevich entered a nonx2Dguilty plea in March.x26nbspx3B x3Cbr /x3EThe panel, or jury, consists of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major, two captains, a warrant officer, three command sergeants major, one sergeant major and two first sergeants, according to Larson. There are nine men and three women on the jury, he confirmed.x3Cbr /x3EGovernment attorney Maj. Scott Ford questioned Special Agent Michael Herod, a CID agent and Army warrant officer who was one of three primary investigators to arrive at the crime scene April 14, 2008, just hours after the shootings. Herod testified that he helped process the crime scene for four consecutive days at Patrol Base Jurf. x3Cbr /x3EHerod said he and his fellow investigators along with a paralegal first went to a temporary detention facility where Bozicevich was being held. They tested the accused for gunshot residue and took blood and urine samples, he told the court. Then the CID agents journeyed on to the forward operating base, he said.x3Cbr /x3EHerod said when they arrived at Patrol Base Jurf, they began to process the crime scene. The CID agent testified that he and his team took 950 crimex2Dscene photographs, interviewed 85 witnesses and took 28 written witness statements.x3Cbr /x3EFord proceeded to walk Herod through a series of crimex2Dscene photos that showed the base from various perspectives and depicted gunshot holes in the joint security station buildingx26rsquox3Bs walls and door, and blood stains on the building floor and wall. Bozicevich allegedly shot 27 bullets at Dawson and Durbin, reportedly fatally wounding Durbin inside the joint security station and allegedly chasing Dawson, who ran from the station building. Herod testified that he and the other investigators recovered spent rounds inside and outside the joint security station. x3Cbr /x3EBozicevichx26rsquox3Bs civilian defense attorney, Charles Gittins of Middletown, Va., objected to a number of photographs shown, protesting that the prosecution should not ask Herod to describe the photos in detail before they were marked as evidence. Gittins also said exhibiting multiple photos of the same piece of evidence would be x26ldquox3Bcumulativex26rdquox3B and were not relevant to the case. Larson explained the defense was concerned that exhibiting graphic images like closex2Dups of blood stains and spatter could create bias toward Bozicevich, thereby compromising his right to a fair trial. x3Cbr /x3EThe trial is expected to continue for several months.x3C/px3E
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Denise Etheridge
Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich’s murder trial picked up again Tuesday morning with government attorneys’ presentation of gritty crime-scene photographs and diagrams.
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Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31379/
FORT GORDON — Loved ones said their good-byes to members of a Georgia-based National Guard unit preparing to help civilians in southeastern Afghanistan how to better grow and market their food.
The Augusta Chronicle reports that the 201st Agribusiness Development Team held a send-off ceremony Monday at Fort Gordon near Augusta. The unit will soon depart for Camp Atterbury in Indiana before deploying to Afghanistan in late May.
National Guard Maj. Greg Worden says that after two generations of war, some of the infrastructure for agriculture in Afghanistan has been destroyed and farmers there have to learn to rebuild.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31373/
All American troops will be out of Iraq at the end of the year in accordance with the security agreement signed in 2008, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.
“There are no plans — nor has there been any request from the Iraqi government — for any residual U.S. force presence here after December,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during a news conference.
Roughly 47,000 American service members are in Iraq now. Since signing the agreement, the United States already has withdrawn more than 100,000 personnel; at the height of the surge, the U.S. military had about 170,000 personnel in Iraq.
Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces-Iraq, has a plan in place to complete the withdrawal on time, Mullen said. “There are no official discussions with respect to any extended presence of United States forces,” the chairman added.
Though Iraqi security forces have the capability to defend their country, Mullen said, they still have vulnerabilities that will not be closed by the end of the year. The Iraqi Air Force, which has no fighter jets, will not be up to the task of defending its airspace, he noted. Intelligence capabilities and command and control capabilities need to be filled out, he added, and sustainment, maintenance and logistics capabilities need to be much more robust.
“For our part, the United States military will remain committed to helping Iraqi security forces improve their readiness in these areas,” Mullen said. “We will continue to help our State Department as they now assume the mantle of leadership in this relationship.”
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31275/
Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield will host its first Facebook town-hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 4 for soldiers, family members, Army civilians, retirees, veterans and anyone else with questions about the installation.
The hour-long online forum is a chance for the community to offer input on installation leadership, services and other topics.
“Taking our town-hall meeting online with the power of social media just makes sense,” Fort Stewart-Hunter garrison commander Col. Kevin Milton said. “Our Facebook page is liked by many of the spouses and soldiers who call Stewart-Hunter and the surrounding communities home. Using our Facebook page takes the conversation to a new level and brings the discussion into their homes.”
With a solid fan base, getting soldiers and families to participate in the Facebook town hall should prove less challenging than with the traditional in-person town-hall meetings, post officials said. Using Web-based resources makes interacting easier and more accessible for all participants, Milton said.
“Facebook is an excellent way to communicate with our soldiers and families, providing real-time two-way communication,” he said. “Also, by using the Web-based power of social media, more people can participate in the discussion and ask questions, possibly about topics that haven’t been brought up in past in-person town halls.”
Representatives from Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Army Community Services, Housing, the Religious Service Office, Installation Legal Office, Directorate of Emergency Services, AAFES and the commissary will be online taking and answering questions during the Facebook town hall.
“Essentially, what we’re doing is duplicating the in-person town halls we had at Club Stewart but bringing the discussion directly to our soldiers and families through social media,” Milton said. “My directors and I will be gathered around computers in a central location, watching the Facebook town-hall conversation and responding to your questions.”
The leadership of those offices also will be creating official government profiles on Facebook to interact directly with town-hall participants online.
“Having my directors create Facebook profiles for themselves is another way to reach out to and interact with our soldiers and their families,” Milton said.
Topics that the installation leadership can address include housing, medical care, life on Stewart-Hunter, youth programs, moving to Stewart-Hunter and schools.
Once the town hall is under way, patience is requested as the staff works to respond to questions. Courtesy and decorum during the town hall also are requested; derisive questions or comments strongly are discouraged. The town-hall posts will be monitored and offensive posts removed, but the anticipated flow of questions and answers will make that a challenge, according to Fort Stewart public affairs.
“I’d ask that all participants be open and polite during the town hall, allowing everyone a chance to ask a question or voice a concern,” Milton said.
To participate in the Facebook town hall, go to www.facebook.com/pages/3rd-Infantry-Division/78701778561.
Article source: http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/35/article/31277/
