:: Commander COL Maxine C. Girard :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Michael D. Howard :: Deputy Commander LTC Dana Johnson :: Public Affairs Coordinator Lakia Clarke-Brown :: Public Affairs Specialist Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager Devin Butler :: Photographer Ding Alcayde :: Desert Mesh Contributors Robert A. Baldrate LTC Jeffery Bruns SGT Jason Douglas Joel Pattillo TSgt. Cedric H. Rudisill SSgt. Joseph Swafford Your feedback is important to us. See the back cover for details. CONTENTS DM63: Sustain the fight THE WIRE n Airman recalls 9/11 from Arlington 3 n Fontaine reviews Qatar sustainment capabilities 6 n Strykers adopt desert tan color 7 n Qatar facility helps expedite Humvee safety upgrades 8 n Battlefield coordination leader redeploys, liaison to Shaw 10 n Base bike patrols increase officer presence in Qatar 12 Security forces: n Fiesta: Hispanic Heritage Month 14 “more mobile n ‘Angelz’ finish Afghanistan troop support tour 16 and visible” 12 n Rams cheerleaders complete tour of Afghanistan 16 n Celebrities show appreciation for deployed servicemembers 17 Qatar kicks off first film n Soldiers explore Stryker facility at Qatar base 18 festival 38 n ‘Pro vs. GI Joe’ is hit overseas and in Tampa 20 n Soldiers enter Army NCO corps 24 Edition 63 n Leader Always: Professionalism empowers performance 26 This Army magazine is an authorized pub- lication for members of the Department of n Red Ribbon Week drug prevention 28 Defense. Contents of the Desert Mesh are not n necessarily the official views of, or endorsed Season to care and give 30 by, the U.S. Government or Department of the n MWR and USO events; AAFES movie schedule 31 Army. The editorial content is the responsibil- ity of the Area Support Group Qatar public affairs office. General comments should be FITNESS addressed to [email protected] or call 011- 974-450-2714 (DSN: 318-432-2572). n Soldier Strong: Carbohydrate cylcing 32 Desert Mesh layout and design by Dustin n Exercise prescription for improving immune function 35 Senger. Comments should be addressed to [email protected] or call 011- CULTURE 974-450-2714 (DSN 318-432-2800). n Rise of Qatar’s royal family 36 COVER PAGE: (Top) A U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Lee Bolding, from Gulfport, DOHA LIFE Miss., watches a team of mechanics retrofit an M1151 up-armored Humvee n Troops attend opening of Doha Tribeca Film Festival 38 to Fragmentation Kit Seven inside the 1st Battalion, 401st Army Field Support SAFETY Brigade vehicle maintenance facility n at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 10. Motorcycle safety coaches certified at Qatar base 40 (Bottom) A Stryker armored combat n Fire Prevention Week focuses on electrical safety 42 vehicle sits inside a Stryker battle n damage repair facility staging area at Chemical safety 43 Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 5. The n Troops gather for fire muster 44 Stryker infantry carrier vehicle had n been restored after deterioration during Seasonal protection from influenza 46 enemy engagement in Iraq. It’s the first n Qatar rain on the horizon 47 vehicle to adopt a new desert tan color in Southwest Asia, in preparation for a planned phase out of the Stryker’s current deep green color. (Cover Photo- Illustration by Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : 2 : October/November 2009 CONTENTS Camp profile: Smith explains duty as top general’s aide Airman recalls 9/11 one of four aides reporting for duty community of over 20,000 military from Arlington at the general’s house. and civilian personnel. “Our job was to take care of the little About eight miles west of the house, By DUSTIN SENGER details so the general didn’t have American Airlines flight 77 was ASG-QA public affairs to,” said Smith. “We cooked and obtaining runway clearance at served when he hosted guests at his Washington Dulles International CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – U.S. home. We made sure his uniforms Airport in Chantilly, Va. The six- servicemembers, Department of were pressed and well presented. person flight crew was preparing Defense civilians and contractors We cleaned and took care of all 58 passengers for departure to Los observed a shared moment of silence the necessary chores around the Angeles International Airport on during a Patriot Day ceremony at house.” a Boeing 757, a mid-size twinjet Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Sept. airliner. 11. With the flag unfurled and “We coordinated mostly with Mrs. flown half-staff in Arabia, each Myers because of the long work “I was walking into the kitchen while citizen privately recalled their own hours General Myers kept,” said taking a break from some yard 9/11 story. While serving as an Smith, referring to Mary Jo, the work,” said Smith. “Then, I saw it on aide to a top military officer, Air general’s wife. “She was wonderful.” the news.” American Airlines flight 11 Force Tech. Sgt. Julie Smith, from had slammed into the north tower Plymouth, Mich., remembered the By 8 a.m., Smith and other aides of New York City’s World Trade day a tremble rolled across Arlington were tending to their duties around Center at 8:45 a.m. Then, only 21 County from the Pentagon. the house. Mary Jo was upstairs minutes later, United Airlines flight working. On the other side of Arlington 175 crashed into the World Trade The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, National Cemetery, contractors were Center’s south tower. Two jets, felt like any other day for Smith. completing office renovations at carrying 158 passengers and 17 It was exactly 12 years since she the Pentagon’s western corridors, crewmembers, were lost in terrorist flew out of Detroit Metro Airport to an area of the building that faces attacks. attend basic training in San Antonio, the Myers’ residence. The effort (Smith, continued on page 22) Texas. The early morning offered was to better support the building’s nothing strange, aside from signs of unusually warm fall weather. Since April, she had been working at the residence of Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Fort Myer, Va. She always started the 20-mile commute from her home in Waldorf, Md., by 6 a.m., to miss the morning rush-hour traffic surrounding Washington. She was FBI agents, fire fighters, rescue workers and engineers work at the Pentagon crash site on Sept. 14, 2001, where a hijacked American Airlines flight slammed into the building on Sept. 11. The terrorist attack caused extensive damage to the west face of the building and http://www.army.mil/ followed similar attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center yearofthenco/ in New York City. (Official Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Cedric H. Rudisill) Desert Mesh : 3 : October/November 2009 Maxine C. Girard Colonel Commander Area Support Group Qatar his Desert Mesh, edition 63, The Combined Federal Cam- T should reach you the first paign Overseas fundraiser is week of November. underway. The list of approved organizations benefits people Veterans Day, Nov. 11, is a time from all walks of life. I encour- of service and reflection. At 1630 age everyone to make a gener- hours, a memorial service will ous pledge this season and help honor our nation’s vet- those in need. Chari- Our Army erans of wars, past and values include table giving is a great The installation present. We will dis- demonstrating way give back and commander play our gratitude for selfless service support programs that the men and women and respect for reinforce our way of responsible for uphold- those who came life. ing our freedoms. before us. The holiday season is During this day of remembrance, an occasion to count our bless- take a moment to consider why ings and be thankful for our op- we pay tribute to our veterans… portunities, friends and family. If and why you serve. Too often, we you’re spending this time with us hear “the price of freedom isn’t at Camp As Sayliyah, be sure to free,” but what does that really participate in the holiday events mean to you? scheduled inside this Desert Mesh, page 31. Our Army values include demon- strating selfless service and re- During this busy period, don’t for- spect for those who came before get to practice and enforce safety us. This devotion to duty exem- management to identify and re- plifies the warrior ethos inculcat- duce hazards. Enjoy the holidays ed in all of us, as we guard and and stay safe! protect our freedoms. Countless Americans have ensured that Commander’s Cup, the instal- future generations would enjoy lation’s premier fitness event, is life, liberty and the pursuit of hap- Nov. 6 and 7. After earning the piness, as promised by our na- coveted trophy last spring, Area tion’s forefathers. We are forever Support Group Qatar is fired up indebted to their exemplary and to retain it this fall. If you’re not selfless service. participating as an athlete, cheer on your teammates to victory! Many thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Hispanic Patton’s Own! Heritage Month. Hispanic Ameri- cans continue to make signifi- cant contributions to our nation and Armed Forces, at home and abroad. In November, we will continue to honor diversity with a spotlight on Native Americans. Desert Mesh : 4 : October/November 2009 Michael D. Howard Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Area Support Group Qatar e are in the final quarter of the for an installation gathering in W Year of the Noncommissioned the large dining facility on Officer, a Department of the Army Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. A generous initiative.