August - September 2009 Call of the W LF OIF ‘08-’09 Oct. 27, 2008 - Sept. 12, 2009 Volume 1, Issue 10 The Wolf’s Howl! r e e t i n g s t o t h e G c o m b a t t e s t e d Warriors, Families and f r i e n d s o f t h e 1 / 2 5 SBCT Arctic Wolves. By the time you read this, we will be completing t h e 1 2 t h m o n t h o f o u r O I F deployment and most of our Arctic Wolves team will be back home at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. We started this journey on September 11, 2008 with our Deployment Ceremony at Fort Wainwright. From day one of this operational deployment we started strong and we w i l l f i n i s h o u r c o m b a t operations, redeployment, r e i n t e g r a t i o n a n d l i f e c y c l e s t r o n g . As CSM Cervantes and I reflect back on the team’s time here in Diyala, Iraq, one thing has remained constant throughout this entire deployment. You all have never ceased to amaze us with your ability to serve somewhere else friendships, friendships to accomplish any task and in another capacity, forged in the heat of regardless of difficulty perhaps less dangerous battle and based on shared and you exceeded every and demanding, but you sacrifice and hardship in expectation. We thank did not. The fact that you the Arctic cold of Alaska you for your dedication, chose to wear the uniform and desert heat of Iraq. commitment and sacrifice. and serve our Army in It is nearly impossible We are also grateful to combat says much about to keep up with your each of your families for you – you are all patriots. many accomplishments. the many sacrifices they We a r e a l l p a r t o f It has been absolutely have made on behalf of you an exclusive team… i m p r e s s i v e t o w a t c h our Army and our Nation. the Arctic Wolves…the t h i s Te a m i n a c t i o n E a c h o f y o u h a d a Army. We are bound by performing tasks that choice, the choice to our traditions and our r a n g e f r o m c o m b a t serve your Nation during core values. Throughout patrols, to include Stryker a time of great need. our lifecycle, we have all company operations in You could have chosen developed a lifetime of Mosul, clearing palm Call of the Wolf, OIF 27 Oct ‘08 - 12 Sept ‘09 2 groves, working water governance and planting traditions and military irrigation projects, a seed of hope for the values, our diversity humanitarian assistance Iraqi people. With your and most importantly operations, participating security force partners each other. Each of in tribal reconciliation you have established is accountable for our m e e t i n g s , l o c a l a n d a s a f e a n d s e c u r e actions, for our mission, provisional governance environment in Diyala, for each other and for our councils, to overseeing which will continue to Nation’s treasures. Let’s c o u n t l e s s p r o j e c t s serve as a catalyst for not compromise on our throughout all of Diyala. progress in this critically commitment to discipline, In the past 12 months important Province. respect, accountability you have executed every I n s h o r t , y o u h a v e and teamwork. We have task from stability and provided the citizens a l l w o r k e d t o o h a r d support missions to full here in Diyala with an during this lifecycle spectrum operations. incredible opportunity to and deployment to lose You have identified, prosper and exercise their focus and momentum. registered and transferred sovereignty. Although We ask that all of you over 9,000 Sons of Iraq the Iraqis face many continue to keep our (SOIZ). You have assisted challenges, because of wounded Warriors and our ISF partners in the your tireless efforts there their Families in your planning, preparation, is a strong undercurrent thoughts and prayers, s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n a n d of hope and optimism many of them continue execution of Diyala wide for the future of Diyala to have a long and tough elections in a Province with and her citizens. We road to recovery and over 1.5 million citizens. t h a n k y o u f o r y o u r need your prayers and You have defeated AQI dedication to the cause. support. Drop them a in the volatile region We would ask that every note or better yet, give of South Balad Ruz and Soldier and Leader in our them call, as they need throughout all of the combat team continue and deserve our continued province, negotiated and to strive to master your support – we must never facilitate unprecedented individual skills, take care f o r g e t o u r w o u n d e d c o m b i n e d I S F, P e s h of your battle buddy and and fallen comrades! M e r g a a n d C o a l i t i o n you must continue to hold Again, CSM Cervantes Force operations in the each other accountable. and I thank you all for what Kurd/Arab disputed zone. We challenge leaders at you have done on behalf Planned, prepared for and every level to l e a d , t o of Diyala, Iraq, the Arctic supported two major ISF set the right example and Wolves, the U.S. Army led clearance operations. continue to stay focused and our Nation. It has Prepared for and executed on discipline, respect and been our honor to lead and a relief in place and maintaining standards. serve with our Nation’s transition of authority Discipline is the glue that most precious resource – to 3/2 Stryker Brigade bonds together the leader her sons and daughters. setting conditions for their and led commitment and Yo u m u s t s t a y s a f e , success in execution of a discipline is developed r e m a i n t r u e t o e a c h responsible drawn down b y m a i n t a i n i n g h i g h other, serve with honor of Coalition Forces and standards and demanding a n d – FINISH STRONG! Parliamentary Elections S o l d i e r l y h a b i t s . at the national level. I f d i s c i p l i n e i s t h e “ g l u e ” Perhaps your greatest that bonds the leader and contribution has been the led, then it is re s p e c t HE OLF partnering with Iraqi that is the “cement” that T W S e c u r i t y F o r c e s , holds the team together. WOLF 7 o v e r s e e i n g p r o p e r We m u s t r e s p e c t o u r Call of the Wolf, OIF 27 Oct ‘08 - 12 Sept An Iraqi policeman with the Diyala Police Dog Program, works with his dog to find a mock explosive device during a joint training exercise with U.S. Soldiers from Headquarters Headquarters Company K-9, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, on Forward Operating Base War- horse, near Baqouba,Iraq, Aug. 2, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Ali E. Flisek) OIF 27 Oct ‘08 - 12 Sept 09 4 Contents The Wolf’s Howl......................Page 2, 3 Iraqi Mechanics Training.......Page 26 TOA 2008.......................................Page 6 Retrans.........................................Page 27 Redeployment Assistance..........Page 7 Legion Pursuit II.......................Page 28 Soldier’s Medal.............................Page 8 Walking the Line.......................Page 30 The Hunter, The Hunted............Page 9 Patrol Southern Balad Ruz....Page 32 ERF Training..............................Page 10 Tiger Sharks...............................Page 34 Archangel....................................Page 12 Border Patrol..............................Page 36 It’s A Jungle Out There...........Page 14 Village Reconstruction.............Page 38 HBIED Clearance.......................Page 16 Maintaining Security...............Page 40 Hear Them Roar........................Page 18 Joint Training.............................Page 42 Bringing the Boom...................Page 19 Alpha 1-5 IN in Mosul............Page 44 Joint NCO Induction.................Page 20 Chaplain’s Corner......................Page 46 Training the Iraqi Police.......Page 22 Fallen Wolves..............................Page 47 Combat Life Saving..................Page 24 1/25 SBCT Commander The Call of the Wolf, a command information magazine, Col. Burdett Thompson is authorized for members of the U.S. Army and the 1/25 SBCT community. Contents of the The Call of the Wolf are 1/25 SBCT Command Sgt. Maj. not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.