Humvee Drivers Training Course Readies Soldiers for the Road

Desert Voice Magazine Serving U.S. and Coalition Forces in Kuwait

DVMay 23, 2007

Down and Dirty Humvee drivers training course readies Soldiers for the road Contents Reminder to Army Contractors DV uOnline applications for Common Access Cards Page 3 Chaplain ministers to u The Contractor Verification System (CVS) is an on- hundreds at Camp Buehring line process that allows Department of Defense (DoD) Page 4 contractors to apply for a Common Access Card (CAC). New U.S. Central Command It replaces the manual Department of Defense Form commander tours U.S. Army 1172-2. Central facilities in Kuwait, visits servicemembers u CVS allows a background vetting process to verify Page 6 CACs to DoD contract personnel. This system requires New humvee driver training a contracting officer to create new contractor accounts prepares servicemembers for into CVS and validate the need for a CAC. Iraq roads

Page 8 u Eligible personnel include DoD civilian employees Saturday night at Camp and eligible DoD contractor personnel deployed in sup- Buehring racetrack helps port of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring reduce stress for deployed servicemembers Freedom or other military contingency operations.

Page 10 u The ASG-Kuwait personnel office is the point of Airman receives college diploma while deployed contact for establishing accounts for personnel on Camp Arifjan who have contractors that need a CAC Page 11 issued in order to use government computers. Memorial Day events in Kuwait u Requirements for attaining a CAC through CVS Page 12 1. Copy of current contract (contract must state Stay Army Strong that contracted personnel are authorized issuance of On the cover CAC) 2. Signed DD Form 577 for verifying official Soldiers train for off-road 3. Copy of U.S. identification (passport, driver’s driving in Camp Buehring’s Uparmored Humvee license, etc.) Driver’s Training Course. 4. Letter of Authorization/Letter of Instruction

Photo by Sgt. Thomas L. Day

Volume 28, Issue 47 Third Army Commanding General 40th Public Affairs Detachment The Desert Voice is an authorized publication for Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb Commander members of the Department of Defense. Contents Third Army Command Sgt. Maj. Maj. April N. Olsen of the Desert Voice are not necessarily the official Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin G. 40th Public Affairs Detachment NCOIC views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Ashe Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes Department of the Army. The editorial content of Desert Voice Editor this publication is the responsibility of the Third Third Army Public Affairs Officer Army Public Affairs Office. This newspaper is Col. John B. Snyder Sgt. Chris Jones DV published by Al-Qabandi United, a private firm, Third Army Dep. PAO (FWD) Desert Voice Staff Writers Desert Voice which is not affiliated with Third U.S.Army. All Lt. Col. James A. Sams Sgt. Thomas L. Day Magazine copy will be edited. The Desert Voice is produced Questions? Comments? E-mail the Sgt. Sarah Scully weekly by the 40th Public Affairs Detachment. editor at [email protected]. Find us online at www.arcent.army.mil. army.mil 2 Desert Voice May 23, 2007 Chaplain offers hope, understanding to hundreds

Sgt. Sarah Scully Desert Voice staff writer

Using the shade between two tanks to cool down from the 140- degree desert heat, a chaplain carries a dusty Bible in his hands and holds impromptu spiritual services for his infantry troops in Iraq. That’s one of the scenarios Chaplain (1st Lt.) Darren Turner foresees happening in the weeks to come after his unit finishes training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait and 1st Lt. Darren Turner, a chaplain with 130th heads up north to combat. Infantry Battalion, talks “I feel like I was made to do this with one of the Soldiers – being with Soldiers in combat,” in his unit, Capt. Ricardo said Turner. “As a minister, that Swenness, a battalion thrills me. This is as real as life physicians assistant from Falls Church, Va., gets.” outside the Camp Bue- Dealing with marriage problems, hring chapel days before combat trauma, professional they headed up north. relationships and separation Photos by Sgt. Sarah Scully hardships, many Soldiers find chapel at Camp Buehring May 13 “You don’t have to say a word, and comfort in talking to a chaplain for Sunday contemporary services. that’s an immediate bond,” said the about their troubles. While most of them might not Georgia Bulldogs fan who loves both With more than 800 Soldiers know their chaplain – Turner’s only basketball and football. needing spiritual guidance, Turner been with the unit for a few months By getting to know him, the Soldiers is ready for a busy deployment. – they are grateful to have a place should feel more comfortable coming As the only chaplain for the 130th to worship and a chaplain who will to their chaplain for help. Infantry Battalion, out of Fort listen to their problems. And Turner understands many of Stewart, Ga., he’s ready to tackle “It means a lot that I’ll be able to the problems they’re facing. His the job he’s planned for since he bring my Soldiers to him and have wife, Heather, is also at home raising their children: Elie, 6, Sam, 4, and became a Christian in 1996. the spiritual support we will need to Meribeth, 10 months. The 34-year-old father of three get through this,” said Spc. Timothy “She’s got the tougher job,” said children said he immediately Klibbe, 130th Inf. Bn. Turner, with a smile. “She’s on 24/7, wanted to be in the ministry so he During a Family Day picnic and I’m only on 23/7.” could serve people and share the held at Fort Stewart before the Being separated from family for at message that helped him. battalion deployed, Turner had the least a year – suddenly thrust into a “I wanted to be with Soldiers opportunity to befriend his fellow strange environment, deadly combat when they’re going through the troops. and foreign culture – can have a crisis of their life,” said Turner. Quick to say he doesn’t believe tremendous impact on Soldiers. “I’m very excited to be here, oddly in thumping Soldiers over the head But Turner said he’s ready for the enough. I’m with Soldiers going to with a Bible, Turner prefers to play challenges ahead. war.” a game of basketball to reach his “They just want to be heard,” said Several of his Soldiers sat in the future congregation. Turner. “This is what I’m here for.”

Camp Buehring

May 23, 2007 Desert Voice 3 New U.S. Central Command commander tours U.S. Army Central facilities in Kuwait

Sgt. Thomas L. Day course, first aid training with combat training facilities, which Desert Voice staff writer a deploying unit, and the also include a video-screen Humvee Egress Assistance Adm. William Fallon, in his simulator where Soldiers are Trainer (HEAT) before flying first visit to U.S. compounds in tested on targeting in a virtual to Third Army/USARCENT Kuwait as the new U.S. Central environment, prepare troops for Command commander, toured headquarters at Camp Arifjan. the “complexities” of the Iraq The CENTCOM commander the Camp Buehring Training theater, Hardy explained. was direct when speaking with Village Sunday and met with Fallon also got to see a Soldiers deploying to Iraq. Third Army/U.S. Army Central demonstration of new counter- “You are the last of the big commanders whom oversee Improvised Explosive Device plus ups,” he told the troops. training of most U.S. forces prior technology at the Camp Fallon told the Soldiers that to entering Iraq. Buehring Training Village. His Fallon was met at Camp he would be relying on their tour of the village spanned about Buehring by Lt. Gen. R. Steven work to “stabilize” some of an hour before flying to Camp Whitcomb, the Third Army/ the hottest regions of Iraq. Arifjan. There Third Army/ USARCENT commanding Troops train at Camp general – Fallon’s top Army Buehring for 10 to 15 days USARCENT had a display of officer. Whitcomb and his before crossing into Iraq. new uparmored vehicles, which assistant commander, Maj. Gen. The training is geared toward Fallon toured before joining Dennis Hardy, escorted the building upon training Hardy and his wife, Mary 42-year Navy officer through already completed at their Fallon, for religious services a simulated urban combat duty station. The urban with troops.

Photo by USMC Staff Sgt. Houston F. White, Jr.

Staff Sgt. Demetrius Rucker (left), gives Admiral William J. Fallon, commander, U. S. Central Command, an Photo by Sgt. Chris Jones up-close and personal look at an armored heavy equip- ment truck and transport vehicle, May 13, at Camp Arifjan, At the Medical Simulation Training Center on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May Kuwait. Rucker, a squad leader with 96th Transportation 13, Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, gives a Company, used his expertise to answer any questions the motivating speech to Soldiers before they move forward into Iraq. new CENTCOM commander posed during his visit.

Kuwait

4 Desert Voice May 23, 2007

Kuwait New U.S. Central Command commander tours U.S. Army Central facilities in Kuwait

Photo by Sgt. Chris Jones Photo by Sgt. Chris Jones Admiral William J. Fallon (left), commander of U.S. Central Command, follows Soldier around an uparmored humvee Admiral William J. Fallon (right), commander of U.S. Central Command, observes a while touring Third Army/U.S. Army Central facilities and Soldier as he scans his sector of fire after successfully exiting a humvee on the visiting servicemembers at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, May 13. Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 13.

Photo by Sgt. Chris Jones Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, observes Soldiers on the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 at the Training Village in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 13. During his visit, Fallon toured the facilities of Third Army/U.S. Army Central, and met with deployed servicemembers, some of whom were preparing to move into Iraq.

Kuwait

May 23, 2007 Desert Voice 5 New humvee driver training course sending troops to Iraq ready for the road

Sgt. Thomas L. Day Desert Voice Staff Writer

avid Boykin’s previous career was as a motorcycle driving instructor. His new line of work involves a much larger D A 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker vehicle test-fires at the vehicle. Udairi ranges in Kuwait after Sgt. 1st Class John Abronski (right), a 4- His job at Camp Buehring is to train Soldiers deploying 2nd platoon sergeant, calls for fire on the radio. north to Iraq how to drive an uparmored humvee. Boykin, an Orlando, Fla., native, is the supervising instructor for the Uparmored Humvee Drivers’ Training Course, which was launched on Feb. 25. Ten such courses exist in the continental United States, but this is the only humvee driving course that puts students in the same desert environment they will face in Iraq. The course, he insists, is very necessary for troops moving across the Kuwaiti border and into Iraq. Classes begin with a safety briefing at a tent inside Camp Buehring, then Boykin takes everyone to an eight-kilometer range for the class. The class takes about four hours to complete. The course is the spawn of the U.S. Army Advanced Skills Driver Course, which trains military personnel on how to safely drive civilian vehicles. Boykin says the Advanced Skills Driver Course has trained more than 4,000 students in two years. That course includes exercises in basic steering, off road driving, and skid control. The uparmored humvee driving course includes all of those instructions – which they call the “crawl” phases – then adds more instruction in the “walk” and “run” phases. The walk phase includes climbing hills, moguls, blind turns, and hill descents. The run phase teaches the students to complete two exercises at the same time. “Our course is a familiarization course,” said Travis Henry, an Atlanta native and course instructor. “We usually train the master driver. It’s up to the master driver to train the Soldiers. “We don’t certify anybody, we don’t license anybody,” Henry added.

Camp Buehring

6 Desert Voice May 23, 2007 New humvee driver training course sending troops to Iraq ready for the road

A 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker vehicle test-fires at the Udairi ranges in Kuwait after Sgt. 1st Class John Abronski (right), a 4- 2nd platoon sergeant, calls for fire on the radio.

David Boykin, an uparmored humvee training instructor, shows what happens when a vehicle takes a steeper incline than the vehicle allows.

The M1151/1152 humvee give you a feel for what the improves the former model, the [M1114] and the [M1151] can M1114, by adding removable and cannot due,” Boykin said. armor. One door, in the M1114, “We’re trying to show them weighs “about 250 pounds,” the difference between the two according to Boykin. The new vehicles.” M1151, he said, is about three The staff has been loaned 14 times that weight. tactical vehicles for the class. If Boykin and his instructors can a student has his own vehicle, teach maneuvers in both vehicles. they can train with that vehicle

“Basically we’re just trying to as well. Buehring

Camp

May 23, 2007 Desert Voice 7 Troops: start your engines... uRadio-controlled race car competitions at Camp Buehring reduce stress: “the weeks just seem to fly right by.”

Staff Sgt. Vernon Metcalfe three years. 3rd Battallion, 297th Inf. Regt. PAO With hills, bumps and hairpin turns, the Camp Staff Sgt. Gary Smith isn’t Buehring track is a rural used to such passion involving dirt road with a row of radio-controlled race car sand bags on each side to competition. He says that in his home state of Alaska, it isn’t delineate boundaries. Like very popular. “But in the lower lifeguards, Soldiers stand at 48, it’s huge like NASCAR. each turn, waiting for a car There are multiple leagues you to jump the track and put it can get into. People get in fist back on the road. fights over this thing,” Smith The track is continuously said. being sprayed with water to It took a deployment for make the dirt sticky. “You Smith to learn how and why don’t want mud but you do RC racing is such a big deal. want it wet. Damp enough At Camp Buehring, Kuwait, the so the cars stick to it. You sport has taken over Saturday don’t want them slipping on They hold their radio transmitters nights. loose dirt,” said Smith. with a steering wheel, throttle and According to Smith, RC The participates stand break levers. At the start line, each racing has been a sport on on a platform that enables car is attended by one or two Soldiers Camp Buehring for at least them to see the whole track. holding the car off the ground. A high

Photos by Staff Sgt. Vernon Metcalfe

Five radio-controlled cars head down the straightaway doing about 35 miles per hour. The servicemembers in the viewing

Camp Buehring stand on the right use radio transmitters to control the cars.

8 Desert Voice May 23, 2007 Troops: start your engines...

(Left) Maj. Charles Nesloney controls his race car during radio- controlled race car competition at Camp Buehring. Nesloney is a native of New Braunfels, Texas, and a member of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment.

(Above) Staff Sergeant Gary Smith (right) and other “drivers” control their radio-controlled cars during a race at Camp Buehring, Ku- wait. Smith is from Eagle River, Ak., and is a member of the 297th Infantry Regiment.

pitched whine is heard as the track at speeds of up to 35 miles But you don’t need to be rich drivers rev-up their engines with per hour. to play, said Sgt. Paul Grimsley wheels spinning. As the green “These cars have a faster start of Kenai, Ak. Grimsley spent flag falls, the cars are dropped than some sport cars and will $600 on his three cars. “You to the ground and leap down the out run a Porsche for a short can compete at that level. It’s distance. So they are hard to not about how expensive your steer, especially when driving car is. It’s about how good a backwards,” said Sgt. Sherman driver you are,” Grimsley said. Stebbins of Delta Junction, For many servicemembers Alaska. deployed to Camp Buehring, “When the car is moving away RC racing is a fun way to spend a Saturday night, a great stress- from the driver, left is left and reliever, and it’s something to right is right. But when it is look forward to all week long. coming back at you it is just the “It is difficult to express opposite,” said Smith. the passion that all of us feel The sport can sometimes be when we are out there… the expensive. Smith has about weeks just seem to fly right $3,500 tied up in the cars he has by,” said Warrant Officer Paul in Kuwait, not including the cost Thompson. of the new monster truck. “It “What makes this racing so Staff Sgt. John Ruthe, a native of is relatively inexpensive if you much fun is that there is no Photos by Staff Sgt. Vernon Metcalfe Anchorage, Ak., gives his radio-controlled want to just get into it but if you rank out there,” said Thompson. car some maintenance during a race at get serious, it can be expensive,” “Everyone is on a level playing Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

said Smith. field as a racer.” Camp Buehring

May 23, 2007 Desert Voice 9 At the Third Army/U.S. Army Central broadcast studio on Camp Arifjan, May 12, Staff Sgt. Steven Poole, an aerospace maintenance craftsman in the 386th Expedition- ary Aircraft Main- tenance Squadron accepts his bachelor’s degree in human resources management from 386th EAMXS commander, Lt. Col. Richard Spillane. The degree was from Park University in Inde- pence, Mo., and a live video feed brought Poole and his family together for the ceremony.

Photo by Maj. April N. Olsen Airman receives college degree in Kuwait uLive video feed to Park University lets his parents share the moment

Maj. April N. Olsen with hard work and commitment increased. 40th PAD Commander while working on his education After returning to the U.S. following All but one of the 481 candidates through on-line courses and multiple a tour in Balad, Iraq, in 2004, Poole in the 2007 graduating class of Park deployments. was reassigned to Yokota Air Base in University sat in an auditorium in “It takes a lot of motivation,” Poole Japan. Independence, Mo., May 12, ready said of serving on active duty and “I decided that once I returned to to receive their diplomas while completing college work. “It takes the U.S. [from Iraq] and got orders to surrounded by family and friends. a lot of drive to read and complete Japan, I would complete my degree on More than seven thousand miles your assignments, a lot of motivation time,” Poole said. away, one graduate sat in the Third to stick with something and follow “It was very difficult, some all night Army/U.S. Army Central broadcast through with it.” study sessions…all of my college was studio wearing desert combat boots “I try to show it can be done,” he on my own time,” Poole said. “I spent and a graduation cap and gown, said. weekends at the library… anywhere I surrounded by his chain of command Spillane said Poole’s example is could find a computer, and I had my and fellow airmen. encouraging to fellow airmen in the books,” he said. Staff Sgt. Steven Poole, an squadron. Poole did complete his graduation aerospace maintenance craftsman “People who are willing to go the requirements on time, but his second in the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft extra mile to complete a degree add deployment came last December with Maintenance Squadron, accepted his a level of maturity [to the unit],” orders to Kuwait, weeks before his diploma for a bachelor’s degree in Spillane said. “Being able to follow graduation ceremony. human resources management from through and finish up on something Poole said being able to participate his squadron commander, Lt. Col. is the same mindset that transfers to in the commencement ceremony over Richard Spillane, at Camp Arifjan, the work ethic on the flight line.” a satellite meant a lot to him. Rather Kuwait, as his parents and the That work ethic is what helped than take a break while waiting five audience in Independence watched Poole reach his goal. months for the May ceremony, Poole and cheered via Web cast. Rather than get discouraged, instead enrolled in the graduate school The degree completed a three-and- trying to keep up with classes while and began his next journey – a master’s a-half-year journey the airman met deployed, his determination only in business administration.

Camp Arifjan

10 Desert Voice May 23, 2007 Memorial Day Events Just One Question... “In the upcoming movie ‘The Forbidden Kingdom,’ who will Camp Virginia -- Memorial Day 5K Run, Library, 6 a.m., May 28; Memorial Day win -- Jackie Chan or Jet Li?” Splash Bash, Volleyball Courts, 1 p.m., May “I’m going to have to say 27 Jackie Chan...a lot of his old movies, he does some Camp Buehring -- Memorial Day 5K spectacular stunts.” Run, Green Beans, 6 a.m., May 28; Memo- Spc. April Riddle rial Day Barbeque and Talent Show, MWR Flint, Mich. Food Inspector Stage, 12 p.m.-7 p.m. HHC ASG-Kuwait Camp Arifjan --- Memorial Day Awards “Jet Li -- He’s just more ani- mated. Jackie Chan is a little Show Celebration, Zone 6 Training Activi- old.” ties Center, 7 p.m., May 27; Memorial Day Talent Show, Zone 1 Community Center, 7 p.m., May 28 Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie Williams Millen, Ga. Dining Facility manager The Rock -- Memorial Day “Deal or No 314th Chemical Battalion Deal,”, Scorpion’s Den, 7:30 p.m., May 28; “That’s pretty tough. Jackie Memorial Day 5K Run, Location TBD, 6 Chan.” a.m., May 26 Camp Patriot -- Special Memorial Day Movie Marathon, MWR Movie Tent, 10 a.m., Spc. Christy Wizda Scranton, Pa. May 28 Training specialist 67th Signal Battalion

“Definitely Jet Li.” Hometown Hero Sgt. Reshema Horton 659th Maintenance Company 1st Lt. Flora Wildman Horton is the liaison officer for Topeka, Kan. the 659th Maintenance Leaders Recon OIC 377th Theater Support Command Company in Kuwait.

Horton talks about why she “Kung Fu is totally stupid.” misses her home, the Virgin Islands.

“I miss the weather, the beach, and the people.” 1st Lt. Brad Hamlett Greenville, S.C. Supply and Services 336th Transportation Group

May 23, 2007 Desert Voice 11