DESERT MESH IS NOW ONLINE: Your Feedback Is Important to Us
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:: Commander COL David G. Cotter :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Michael D. Howard :: Deputy Commander LTC Scott S. Naelitz :: Public Affairs Coordinator Mrs. Lakia Clarke-Brown :: Public Affairs Photojournalist Mr. Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager Mr. William R. McLeod :: Desert Mesh Contributors CPT Thomas Crane Capt. James Hendrick CW5 Robert B. Reynolds Mr. Robert East DESERT MESH IS NOW ONLINE: http://www-qa.arcent.army.mil http://www.dvidshub.net Your feedback is important to us. See the back cover for details. CONTENTS DM56: Ramadan in Qatar THE WIRE n Soldiers celebrate right to vote 8 n Register to vote 9 n Qatar base accepts proceeds from fund-raiser 9 n Ramadan affects everyone at Camp As Sayliyah 10 n Defense public affairs advisor tours respite facilities 11 n Dingo promotes pet adoption to deployed troops 12 n NCO induction ceremony 14 n American Idol legends support troops 15 n Ask the chaplain 16 Commander’s corner n MWR events schedule 17 n USARCENT 4-5 n ASG-QA 6-7 FITNESS n Williams promotes a stronger community 2 n Concurrent training conditions 18 American Idol n Mixed martial artists meet war fighters 21 legends 15 n Fitness Q&A 22 CULTURE Ultimate Fighting Championship n Ramadan mubarak (continued from below) 24 contenders 21 DOHA LIFE n Qatar enters fasting period 26 Edition 56 SAFETY This Army magazine is an authorized publica- n Personal protective equipment minimizes injuries 28 tion for members of the Department of De- fense. Contents of the Desert Mesh are not n Office spaces host numerous hazards 29 necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Department of n Safety is thicker than skin 30 the Army. The editorial content is the respon- sibility of the Area Support Group Qatar pub- lic affairs Office. General comments should be addressed to [email protected] or call Ramadan Mubarak 011-974-450-2714 (DSN: 318-432-2572). By HANI ABUKISHK The major annual event affects Desert Mesh layout and design ASG-QA civil affairs by Dustin Senger. Comments should be ad- Muslims around the world by dressed to [email protected] or bringing concentrated religious call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN 318-432-2800). “Ramadan mubarak” COVER PAGE: (Insert) After battling focus to their lives. It is a period enemy insurgence for a Baqubah is an Arabic phrase of religious commitment and stronghold, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Jonathan Hicks attempts to access the upper u s e d t o e x p r e s s reflection. Americans must levels of the bombed-out building religious blessings in Baqubah, Iraq, on Jan. 22, 2007. remain aware of... (Official Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacy during the holy month Pearsall). (Cover Photo-illustration by Dustin Senger) of Ramadan. (Continued on page 24) Desert Mesh : : August/September 2008 CONTENTS DM56: Ramadan in Qatar Camp profile: Williams promotes a stronger community Soldier brings serious that, resistance training – even just “In high school, I competed in a little bit – can help anyone become several bench press competitions strength building more athletic overall.” ASG-QA each year – I always won,” said overseas executes the U.S. Central Command Williams. “I was the first student rest and recuperation pass program, to lift 400 pounds. Soon after, I By DUSTIN SENGER recharging over 165,000 war fighters started to train my little cousin and ASG-QA public affairs since its inception in 2004. ASG-QA he eventually became the first to lift provides participants an opportunity 500 in high school.” Anthony Clark CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – Active to relieve stress through organized moved on to earn the national honor duty Soldiers travel to numerous sports and strength challenges. as the first teen to bench press 600 military installations throughout their pounds in a sanctioned event. As an careers; few leave a lasting impact. “Before I retired from competitions in adult, he is the first man to reverse- U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Donald Williams, 2006, I became the post powerlifting grip press 700 pounds. At the Arnold from Houston, Texas, is committed champion everywhere the Army Classic 1997, a crowd watched to leaving a legacy of strength sent me,” said Williams, completing Clark become the first to push 800 training at Camp As Sayliyah, since 25 years of active duty service pounds. According to Williams, receiving responsibilities as the Area in January 2009. In 1998, while many people contested the judge’s Support Group Qatar headquarters- stationed at Fort Polk, La., he set a approval of the sport’s milestone lift, headquarters company first sergeant state record by bench pressing 350 so Clark later pushed 815 pounds to in May 2008. pounds, while weighing only 170 hush the outcries. pounds. “Powerlifters don’t have Williams first started powerlifting to be big – they have to be tough, (Continued on page 20) over 34 years ago. He no longer pound-per-pound,” competes but continues to coach, he said. After his sharing his passion and experiences state record, Williams in a way that echoes like a started to advance motivational speaker for physical in weight classes. performance. His successful and He competed at 181 extensive training history is readily pounds until 2000, and exhibited after encountering him; then moved up to 198 a barrel chest, thick back, and dry, before retiring. “I once cracked hands marked by numerous lifted 500 pounds, but calluses – battle scars that never the most I ever did seem to clear. The look is typical in competition is 450 for most men in his sport. Today, – feet flat, back on the the Soldier spends most evenings mat, down to my chest hovering over the free-weight area with a pause.” at the Camp As Sayliyah gymnasium in Qatar, a Gulf country seated on “I have a lot of strong the eastern coast of the Arabian people in my family,” Peninsula. said Williams. He started weight training “Strength training helps prepare while growing up in Soldiers for combat situations,” said Texas during the Williams, a veteran who served in 1970s. The emerging U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Donald Williams, from places like Panama, Kuwait, Iraq, athlete entered and Houston, Texas, grabs a triceps extensions Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. won his first local bar at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug. 27. He “Carrying body armor and moving competition at 10 entered his first powerlifting competition at 10 heavy equipment causes injuries in years old, the age years old. In 1998, while stationed at Fort Polk, untrained people. I have seen a lot of he started strength La., he set a state record by bench pressing Soldiers suffering from hernias due training. 350 pounds, while weighing only 170 pounds. to insufficient strength. Aside from (Official Army Photo/Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : : August/September 2008 James J. Lovelace Lieutenant General Commanding General USARCENT he summer months bring not Everyone … regardless of rank T only a change in the season, but … is a leader in this organization. also a change in the faces of entire Our Soldiers are incredibly smart and organizations across our Army. No one capable of just about any task we ask understands this better than Soldiers of them. You will be challenged in this and Families… and it’s no different here assignment… I am confident you will in U.S. Army Central. rise accordingly. For those who are leaving us… Gail It’s not a right to wear the uniform; it’s and I cannot begin to express our a privilege. It’s a privilege to be in the Time of transition appreciation for your tireless efforts, best armed forces on the face of the selfless service and sacrifice to your earth and an honor to defend our great Nation. Military life is not for everyone Nation. … especially in a time of war…but you have made a huge difference in the USARCENT Soldiers are disciplined, success of this organization. respect the uniform and demonstrate enthusiasm for their part of the In USARCENT, like many other combat mission. Take a look at the USARCENT formations, Families have endured Standards Book or ask your NCOs if long hours, deployments of loved ones you have any questions. and unpredictable schedules … thank you for your flexibility, patience and Be physically, mentally and ethically understanding. ready… at all times. Stay in shape… it’s our duty to do PT and lead a healthy If you have been assigned to our lifestyle. Continuously improve your Atlanta headquarters for two or three fighting position. years, you have likely participated in deployments to Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Noncommissioned officers are the Afghanistan, the continent of Africa backbone of this organization. We or even elsewhere in our vast area have the most gifted NCO Corps in the of responsibility. Deployments to any world… we will challenge them to do and all of these locations may have what they are capable of doing. I expect been for one year or come less in leaders to be engaged and fix issues duration but with much more frequency, through their chain of command. routinely involving many trips to the theater – several three to six month We have a responsibility to hold deployments – over the course of a ourselves to a high ethical standard… three year assignment. we are a values based organization and consistently rank at the top of the Again, from this command team… list of most respected organizations. thanks you for all that you have done to Our individual actions reflect directly make USARCENT a winning team. on USARCENT and the entire U.S.