DESERT MESH IS NOW ONLINE: Your Feedback Is Important to Us. See the Back Cover for Details
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:: Commander COL David G. Cotter :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Michael D. Howard :: Deputy Commander LTC John A. Kizler :: Public Affairs Coordinator Mrs. Lakia Clarke-Brown :: Public Affairs Photojournalist Mr. Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager Mr. William R. McLeod :: Desert Mesh Contributors Capt. Kevin Hudson Mr. Jim Hinnant Mr. Robert East Mr. Jemmy Castro Mr. Lannie Oldham USARCENT Safety 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 DM54: Troop Suppor t THE WIRE n Medical logistics conference (continued from below) 8 n Qatar air ambulance available to rush military casualties 9 n From ‘lean’ concept to ribbon cutting – in 18 months 10 n NASCAR racers greet servicemembers 11 n Women’s History Month observance 12 n USARCENT troops win safety award 13 Commander’s Corner n Third Army 4-5 n Firefighters provide real-life training in Qatar 14 n ASG-QA 6-7 n Ambassador’s of Hollywood show support 15 n Ask the chaplain 16 n MWR Events Schedule 17 An air ambulance from Hamad General Hospital lands at FITNESS Camp As Sayliyah, n Exercise selection, structure and sequence 18 March 6. Life Flight personnel welcomed n Fitness Q&A 20 by U.S. military officials page 9 n Commander’s Cup 21 Qatar armed forces chief of staff invites over 400 servicemembers to enjoy CULTURE beach activities, water n 22 crafts, falcon exhibitions, Evening events offer cultural familiarity camel rides, all-terrain n Clothing constraints in Qatar 23 vehicles and Arabic cuisine. page 25 Edition 54 DOHA LIFE This Army newsletter is an authorized n Host nation military sports competitions 24 publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Mesh n Qatar general invites over 400 troops to beach home 25 are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Depart- SAFETY ment of the Army. The editorial content is the responsibility of the Area Support Group Qa- n Electrical safety in the workplace 26 tar public affairs Office. General comments should be addressed to [email protected] n Prevent slips, trips and falls 27 or call DSN 318-432-2572. Desert Mesh layout and design Medical logistics conference by Dustin Senger. Comments should be ad- dressed to [email protected] or focuses on saving lives call DSN 318-432-2800. By DUSTIN SENGER The discussion forum COVER PAGE: (Top) A Soldier ASG-QA public affairs combined medical logistics from Area Support Group Qatar consultants, unit commanders slam dunks a basketball during and individuals trained as CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, the Commander’s Cup fitness medical logisticians throughout event at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar – Over 130 southwest Asia and the United April 18. (Bottom) A Humvee is participants gathered to States. transported outside a new 6,000 begin a three-day medical square-foot auto body repair logistics conference at “We are here to save lives... facility at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, April 17. (Cover photo- Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, illustration by Dustin Senger) on March 11. Continued on page 8 Desert Mesh : : April/May 2008 CONTENTS DM54: Troop Suppor t Camp profile: Byrne offers important tax assistance Troops overseas benefit tax returns are increasing at Camp who made less than $75,000 are As Sayliyah,” said U.S. Army Maj. entitled to a full payment – as are from economic boost Theodore P. Byrne, from Redondo couples earning less than $150,000 Beach, Calif., who provides legal on a joint return. By DUSTIN SENGER services for the Camp As Sayliyah ASG-QA public affairs installation commander, in addition April 15 was the official due to offering his guidance as a certified date for filing 2007 tax returns. CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – Tax accounting professional and tax Servicemembers in declared assistance is at an all-time high at lawyer for the installation populace. combat zones are allowed to delay Camp Sayliyah, a U.S. installation in “The news of a refund is spreading filing to accommodate overseas southwest Asia supporting the Global amongst members of the military. To deployments, but earnings must be War on Terrorism. On Feb. 26, the support the demand, the installation reported after returning to the United Area Support Group Qatar legal office tax center is staying open until States – generally within 180 days. opened a fully-capable tax center to the beginning of May, so every Camp As Sayliyah, situated in the help deployed servicemembers file servicemember has an opportunity Gulf State of Qatar, is located in a 2007 tax returns. Furthermore, troops to get help qualifying for the 2008 designated combat zone. may benefit from a recently signed economic stimulus refund.” bill, requiring the U.S. Treasury to This year’s tax season presents start sending economic stimulus According to Byrne, a 2007 tax two great opportunities for payments to more than 130 million return must be filed in order to be servicemembers at Camp As households in May. To receive considered for a payment – even Sayliyah: the chance to qualify for payment, tax payers must have a if it’s otherwise not required. The an appreciable rebate, as well as valid Social Security number and file criteria used to verify eligibility is the ability to meet with a legal officer a 2007 federal return – the Internal based on information provided in specializing in accounting and tax Revenue Service will take care of 2007 tax returns. Since the IRS laws. the rest. needs this documentation, a delay in filing will be met “ The news of a refund is spreading “Helping our economy requires us by a delayed payment. amongst members of the military. To to take action,” said U.S. President support the demand, the installation George W. Bush on Feb. 13, minutes “Most eligible individuals will tax center is staying open until before he signed the Economic receive between $300 and the beginning of May, so every Stimulus Act of 2008 in Washington. $600,” said Byrne. “Those servicemember has an opportunity According to Bush, the intent is filing a joint return can to get help qualifying for the 008 to “provide a booster shot for our expect to see between $600 economic stimulus refund.” Maj. economy – a package that is robust, and $1,200 as a rebate; as Theodore P. Byrne, Redondo Beach, Calif. temporary, and puts money back in well as an additional $300 the hands of American workers and for each qualifying child.” businesses.” Household incomes will determine the amount a tax “Requests for assistance with 2007 payer is refunded. Individuals U.S. Army Maj. Theodore P. Byrne, from Redondo Beach, Calif., offers tax advice to servicemembers at the Camp As Sayliyah tax center in Qatar on April 15. On Feb. 26, the Area Support Group Qatar legal office opened a fully- capable tax center to help deployed servicemembers file 2007 tax returns. Furthermore, troops may benefit from a recently signed bill, requiring the U.S. Treasury to start sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million households in May. (Official Army Photo by Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : 3 : April/May 2008 Jim Lovelace Lieutenant General Commanding General USARCENT here is no one-size-fits-all solution not as command-centric as we used T on how to develop professionally to be. Officers want command … they as an officer … on how to experience are hungry for opportunities to excel your career … and truly there never … to lead. Opportunities to excel are has been. necessarily based on moments in time, however … and those moments Training, education, and experience may not always and necessarily afford … accompanied by you bringing command opportunities. Our top the Warrior Ethos to every job and leadership knows this… and nowadays, every facet of your development, is there are opportunities to the top as close to a formula for success that transcend the command-centric Leadership officer as there is. Officers are still their own model. Again, it comes down to training, development best career counselors, and while the experience, and education, tempered factors that define success are many with the Warrior Ethos. and varied, much will also depend on one’s own personal, subjective view … Our officer education remains invaluable, how you —personally and professionally but there is an important difference — define success. between education and training. Training is not education ... and education is not We demand of our officers nowadays an training. Education is generally measured amazing breadth and depth of skills and by tenure: you spent several months in capabilities. Officers must be competent Intermediate Level Education or four along a spectrum of operations that years in college. Training, on the other range from high-intensity conflict to hand, is measured by what you can do counter-insurgency operations … and when you’ve completed it. We educate they must possess a depth of expertise for uncertainty … we train for certainty. in their particular specialties. They Training is doing. Training improves achieve this through training, education, performance. Education, valuable in its and experience. own right, doesn’t train. Commissioned Officer Professional Regardless of branch or functional Development and Career Management area, officers must use challenging (DA PAM 600-3) is still a good mentoring assignments at all levels to help them tool for leaders at all levels — and is hone – through experience – what an important personnel management they have learned through their guide for assignment officers. But formal education and their training it does not claim to prescribe the about leading and training Soldiers. path of assignments or educational Operational factors (the constraints requirements that will guarantee success of time, Army requirements, positions … it can’t and it shouldn’t.