Commander COL Maxine C. Girard
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:: Commander COL Maxine C. Girard :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Michael D. Howard :: Deputy Commander LTC Edward Gifford :: Public Affairs Coordinator Lakia Clarke-Brown :: Public Affairs Specialist Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager Devin Butler :: Photographer Ding Alcayde :: Desert Mesh Contributors Hani Abukishk LTC Jeffery Bruns Dr. Nikole Scott Conerly CPT Michael Greenberger CPT Tina Hill Joel Pattillo Your feedback is important to us. See the back cover for details. CONTENTS DM62: Honoring Ramadan THE WIRE n Thompson earns top leadership award 3 n Army leader returns to Qatar base as commander 8 n Summer change in leadership 10 n Qatar base fundraiser proceeds, participation doubles 12 n War fighters support social networking sites 13 n College football coaches support troops overseas 14 Commander’s corner n Basketball coaches travel overseas to say ‘thanks’ 15 n USARCENT 4-5 n n ASG-QA 6-7 Leader Always: What is it to be an Army leader? 16 n CAS celebrates women’s rights 18 Girard back in n Camp approach to alcohol education and prevention 20 Qatar and in n Patriots cheerleaders support tour 21 command 8 n Alcohol abuse camp education 22 n Cheering for the CAS troops 24 Vodafone CEO greets R&R n Ramadan affects everyone on camp 26 warriors 44 n Historian studies Army Central 27 n Texas band Flyleaf delivers high spirits to troops overseas 28 n Edition 62 What is spiritual fitness? 30 n MWR events 31 This Army magazine is an authorized pub- lication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Mesh are not FITNESS necessarily the official views of, or endorsed n by, the U.S. Government or Department of the Soldier Strong: Fitness Q&A 32 Army. The editorial content is the responsibil- n Training journals provide a path for progression ity of the Area Support Group Qatar public 34 affairs office. General comments should be addressed to [email protected] or call 011- CULTURE 974-450-2714 (DSN: 318-432-2572). n ‘Head Start’ in Arab cultural awareness 36 Desert Mesh layout and design by Dustin Senger. Comments should be ad- n Servicemembers prepare for Ramadan 38 dressed to [email protected] or call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN 318-432-2800). DOHA LIFE n Gulf countries start religious fast 40 COVER PAGE: (Top) Ahmad Ali Al n Qatar general invites troops to fast-breaking meal 42 Mohannadi, Qatar Customs and Ports n Troops attend Ramadan suhur celebration in Qatar 44 General Authority chairman, greets other Muslims prior to an evening fast-breaking meal during Ramadan, SAFETY Islam’s holy month, in Doha, Qatar, Aug. n Personal protective equipment 46 25. (Bottom) U.S. Army Col. Maxine C. Girard salutes the national ensign n Office safety 47 during the Third Army/U.S. Army Central Area Support Group Qatar change of command ceremony at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, July 25. (Cover Photo- Illustration by Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : 2 : August/September 2009 CONTENTS Camp profile: Thompson earns top leadership award Airman recognized as Combat Command; Air Education stutter, Thompson said: “It can’t recipient of AMC Lance and Training Command; Air Force be as stressful as being shot at in Global Strike Command; Air Force Afghanistan.” P. Sijan leadership award Materiel Command; Air Force Reserve The prestigious Air “I found a lot of By DUSTIN SENGER Command; Air Force Force Lance P. Sijan improvised explosive ASG-QA public affairs Space Command; leadership award, devices and got into Air Force Special named after a Medal a lot of fire fights,” CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – Operations Command; of Honor recipient, s a i d T h o m p s o n , U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kerry Pacific Air Force recognizes airmen recalling Afghanistan. Thompson, from Camden, Ark., Command; U.S. Air for remarkable For his actions, he performance and received a certificate of recognition received an Air Force Force in Europe; and conduct. from Col. Maxine C. Girard, Third Air Mobility Command, Commendation Medal Army/U.S. Army Central Area r e p r e s e n t e d b y w i t h Va l o r, A r m y Support Group Qatar commander, Thompson. Commendation medal, Air Force for exceptional performance as Combat Action Medal and Army a military investigator at Camp His AMC-level Sijan package Combat Action badge. As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug. 27. highlighted actions while assigned Girard congratulated Thompson to an Army special forces unit in “Most of all, I want the Sijan board for earning the top Air Mobility Afghanistan, where he spent six members to understand that the Command leadership award for months serving as a canine handler security forces are in the fight – professionalism, selfless service in 2008. Although competing for we are a credible fighting force,” and courage in combat. a top leadership award at the he said. Pentagon may cause most to (Thompson, continued on page 17) “Please help me in congratulating Tech. Sgt. Kerry Thompson for receiving the AMC Sijan award,” said Girard. The prestigious Air Force Lance P. Sijan leadership award, named after a Medal of Honor recipient, recognizes airmen for remarkable performance and conduct. Next, Thompson will present himself confidently at the Air Force level to a panel of senior enlisted leaders and general officers in Washington, D.C. Airmen from 10 major commands will compete: Air Third Army/U.S. Army Central senior enlisted leaders stand proudly with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kerry Thompson (center), from Camden, Ark., after the airman was awarded for exceptional performance as a military investigator at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug. 27. Command Sgt. Maj. Todd S. Holiday, 513th Military Intelligence brigade, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Howard, Area Support Group Qatar, congratulated Thompson for earning the top Air Mobility Command http://www.army.mil/ leadership award for professionalism, selfless service and courage yearofthenco/ in combat. (Official Army Photo/Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : 3 : August/September 2009 William G. Webster Jr. Lieutenant General Commanding General USARCENT o the Third Army/USARCENT is often a violation of host nation T Team, law, as in Kuwait, but what is most important is that we show respect Aug. 22 marked the beginning of to the sacred beliefs and practices the holy month of Ramadan, a of our hosts. Muslim period of fasting. Ramadan is a month-long celebration of With the setting of the sun each Allah’s/God’s revelation of the evening during Ramadan, the Qur’an (the Muslim Holy Book) to restrictions are temporarily lifted. Honoring Ramadan the Prophet Muhammad, which On Sept. 17—the twenty-seventh occurred in the year 610 AD (or CE, night of Ramadan this year— for “Common Era,” Muslims will observe to non-Christians). Our host nations of Lailat al-Qadr (“The During Ramadan, Kuwait and Qatar, Night of Power”), observant Muslims like most other commemorating the do not eat, drink, nations in our Area of night of the revelation use tobacco, or have Responsibility (AOR), of the Qur’an to the intimate relations are predominantly Prophet Muhammad. Muslim countries. In during the hours of Muslims mark the fact, nine of the top daylight. This period, 20 largest Muslim end of Ramadan with during which they populations in the world the celebration of are not to have fall within our AOR. Eid al-Fitr, beginning impure thoughts or on Sept. 21 this commit impure acts, year. Eid al-Fitr is a is intended to foster personal three-day holiday of feasts, family reflection, spiritual growth, gatherings and the giving of gifts. charitable acts toward the poor, gestures of peace, and grateful Third Army/USARCENT is a worship of Allah. Many religions disciplined team with a proud practice similar periods of prayer, history. Continue to show personal fasting and reflection. discipline and respect to our hosts during the month of Ramadan. Our Our host nations of Kuwait and behavior sends a strong message Qatar, like most other nations about our Team, and it shows i n o u r A r e a o f our Muslim partners R e s p o n s i b i l i t y Continue to show everywhere that we ( A O R ) , a r e personal discipline and are respectful and p r e d o m i n a n t l y respect to our hosts reliable friends. As Muslim countries. In during the month of we begin the second fact, nine of the top Ramadan. Our behavior half of the summer, 20 largest Muslim sends a strong message continue your focus populations in the about our Team, and on the Mission, world fall within our it shows our Muslim continue to take care AOR. We expect partners everywhere of your Soldiers and that we are respectful every member of their Families, and and reliable friends. the Third Army/ maintain the great USARCENT Team level of Teamwork to be aware of and respect the that we will build upon during rules of Ramadan in public when LUCKY STRIKE. off-post, even when traveling in an automobile. To break these rules Patton’s Own! Desert Mesh : 4 : August/September 2009 John D. Fourhman Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major USARCENT ur people deserve a quality gestures, language or behavior. I am O of life that is commensurate a warrior and member of a team. I with the great service they provide will intervene. this country. They deserve positive command climates that represent Act: You are my brother, my sister, and uphold our Army Values and my fellow Soldier.