WWE Superstars Help Raise Air Cav Morale by Sgt
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Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Friday December 4, 2009 WWE superstars help raise Air Cav morale By Sgt. Alun Thomas 1st ACB Soldiers at the Forward what Soldiers go through and all Layla added. 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Af- Arming and Refueling Point and the hard work they do.” Layla also had the opportu- fairs the 615th Aviation Support Bat- Mizanin said he talked to sev- nity to sit on an AH-64D Apache CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Profes- talion maintenance hangar to an eral Soldiers who had been in attack helicopter, which she said sional wrestlers from World enthusiastic response. perilous situations on previous was a nerve wracking experi- Wrestling Entertainment are Mizanin said the tour is his deployments, something that left ence. used to being cheered by thou- second trip to Iraq, but still an him in awe. “It feels like a toy and look- sands of fans, night after night, eye opener. “I can’t imagine that … being ing at all the buttons I wanted to during their grueling schedules “It’s funny because you al- blown up fighting for our country, touch them …but if I did some- every year in arenas throughout ways see news clips about what’s for us. It gave me a whole new thing bad would probably hap- the world. going on out here, so you have appreciation for [the Soldiers],” pen,” Layla said. “I got a les- Seven WWE superstars found an idea … but you don’t really Mizanin said. son from a couple of [Apache] themselves receiving the same know until you’re actually here,” Mizanin said he was appre- instructors and it was very, very cheers from the 1st Air Cavalry Mizanin said. ciative of the response from the impressive. It was definitely the Brigade, Dec. 2, when they vis- Mizanin, current WWE Unit- 1st ACB and all the Soldiers they first time I’ve seen anything like ited Soldiers, here, as part of ed States Heavyweight Cham- met in Iraq during their visit. it.” a WWE Morale, Welfare and pion, said he didn’t realize how “The troops are always one of Meeting the wrestlers was a Recreation tour, which comes to monotonous a deployment can the loudest crowds that we have, thrill for Spc. Marcus Archibald, deployed areas every year since be. so it’s always a great time,” Mi- from San Antonio, a fueler for 2003. “Morale can get so low here zanin said. “It’s been awesome Company A, 615th ASB, who The wrestlers, including Mike because there isn’t much to do being here, seeing the people and said being a major WWE fan ‘The Miz’ Mizanin, Fit Finlay except sleep, work, eat and work their smiling faces.” made it a memorable occasion and Mark Henry, signed auto- out,” Mizanin said. “That helps WWE women’s competitor for him. graphs and posed for photos with gives me a new appreciation of Layla, who was also part of the “I’ve seen them on TV and visit, said it was amazing to be in been to live events before, but Iraq for the first time. never sat down and shook hands “It’s surreal to even think that with one of them in person,” Ar- I’m out here in Iraq,” Layla said. chibald said. “I appreciate them “It’s very touching and soothing taking the time to come over and to the heart and lifts my spirits.” meet us because I’m a big fan of “It reminds me we’re very [theirs].” fortunate and blessed to be able Telling his sister back home to go back home and be in our about the WWE visit was some- beds and be comfortable and thing Archibald was anxious to safe,” she continued. “Just this do. brief glimpse of what [Soldiers] “I want to send my auto- go through is pretty scary and I graphs to her and tell her ‘this is have a lot of respect for everyone who I met and who I shook hands here.” with,’” he said. Layla said the WWE never Archibald said that appear- Photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski forgets the military, which is why ances can be deceiving however. World Wrestling Entertainment superstars Mike ‘The Miz’ they come back to Iraq every “I noticed they weren’t as tall Mizanin (left) and JTG (center), sign autographs with year. as look on TV,” said Archibald, a Soldiers from the 615th Aviation Support Battalion,1st “We do remember what [Sol- towering figure himself at over Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, here, Dec. 2, diers] do and even though we’re six feet tall. “Some of them were as part of a Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsored far away this is our way of say- shorter than me. The camera WWE visit. ing thanks to everyone out here,” makes them look taller I guess!” PAGE 2 December 4, 2009 Greywolf leadership returns to Fort Hood By Sgt. Karl Williams, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAO Col. Gary Volesky, commander of 3rd Heavy Brigade Com- bat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, salutes as he reports to the Col. Gary Volesky, commander of 3rd Heavy Rear-Detachment commander, as the brigade’s Command Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Sgt. Maj. James Pippen, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regi- rejoices with wife Lee Ann and his 11-year-old ment, commander, Lt. Col. Michael Fadden and 1-12, Com- son, Alex, during 3rd HBCT’s homecoming at mand Sgt. Maj. Eddie Del Valle, stands at attention during 3rd Cooper Field at the division headquarters, HBCT’s homecoming at Cooper Field at the division head- Dec. 3, at Fort Hood, Texas. quarters, Dec. 3, at Fort Hood, Texas. With the American flag waving in the background, Col. Gary Volesky, commander of 3rd Heavy Brigade Com- bat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and 3rd HBCT’s Command Sgt. Maj. James Pippen, leads more than 300 Soldiers across Cooper Field at the division headquarters to awaiting Family members during 3rd HBCT’s homecoming, Dec. 3, at Fort Hood, Texas. The brigade completed a 12-month deployment in northern Iraq, where they successfully withdrew from the inter-city of Mosul. PAGE 3 December 4, 2009 ‘New Walter Reed’ Effort On Track, Officials Say By Samantha L. Quigley Walter Reed National Military budget requests, he added. separately and subsequently, she American Forces Press Service Medical Center on the Bethesda Another senior Defense De- added. WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2009 campus is more than 60 percent partment official noted that in Robyn acknowledged the con- - Realignment of military medical complete. New inpatient and out- addition to construction being on solidation is a large and complex facilities in the national capital re- patient additions are under con- schedule, the department is on the undertaking, but said it represents gion ordered by the Base Realign- struction, and work is beginning right track with respect to the new a reasonable and balanced ap- ment and Closure Commission is for wounded warrior lodging, a Walter Reed. proach. The result, she told the on track to meet the commission’s dining facility, an administrative “First of all, there was a grow- panel, will be a superior health- deadline, senior Defense Depart- complex, a gym and a parking ga- ing mismatch between the loca- care delivery system. ment officials said here yesterday. rage complex, Middleton said. tion of eligible beneficiaries, with Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) John Walter Reed Army Medical Meanwhile, the Fort Belvoir active duty families concentrating M. Mateczun, commander of Center here is consolidating with Community Hospital is more than in the southern part of the region, Joint Task Force National Capital the National Naval Medical Cen- 50 percent complete, and will and the location of the major med- Region Medical, agreed. “This ter in Bethesda, Md., and a new provide a total replacement of the ical facilities to the north,” said transformation will allow the hospital is under construction at existing community hospital, he Dorothy Robyn, deputy under [Defense Department] and the Fort Belvoir, Va. said. secretary of defense for installa- military services to capitalize on “Recommendations proposed “We acknowledge that com- tions and environment. their collective strengths, main- a transition from a legacy service- pletion of construction activities With the estimated cost of tain high levels of readiness, [and] specific medical infrastructure represents only part of the story,” $500 million to renovate or $700 provide world-class health care to into a premier, modernized joint Middleton told the lawmakers. million to replace the existing our armed forces and their fami- operational medicine platform,” “Although our primary focus has Walter Reed facility, and the six lies,” he said. said Allen W. Middleton, acting been completing BRAC recom- to 15 years that would be needed The admiral also reassured principal deputy assistant secre- mendations before the deadline, to accomplish that process, the re- the lawmakers that patient care tary of defense for health affairs. we understand that ‘world-class’ alignment was the right decision, remains as his top priority during “We are making great progress, health-care facilities is a long- she said. In addition, she noted, the consolidation. and I am pleased to report that term commitment to improve- the existing facilities at the Na- “We are committed not just to we are on track to implement the ment beyond BRAC, and that ad- tional Naval Medical Center in world-class care, but to the best BRAC recommendations by the ditional investments are required Bethesda and Walter Reed Army care that can be provided any statutory deadline of Sept. 15, to achieve that end state.” Medical Center had excessive time, any place, to the wounded 2011.” The department is willing to inpatient capacity, and Walter that are coming to us from the Middleton testified before the support Joint Task Force Capital Reed’s infrastructure was deterio- theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan,” House Armed Services Com- Medical Region and the military rating from heavy use and chronic Mateczun said.