TThehe MMountainountain VViewiew www.taskforcemountain.com January 28, 2009 Mechanic teaches new troops tools for success

Photo by Pfc. Terence Ewings Spc. Ramijio Gonzales, an all-wheel mechanic from Corpus Christi, Texas, 2nd Bn., 12th Cavalry Regt., 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, conducts a PMCS on a tactical vehicle before a combat patrol on COB Adder Jan. 23.

PFC. TERENCE EWINGS hicle convoy Jan. 23. Gonzales is one of the junior enlisted 4TH BCT, 1ST CAV. DIV. “Every chance I get I pass down my Soldiers in the motor pool that ensures years of experience to give them the the vehicles undergo preventive main- tools to be successful,” said Ramirez, tenance checks and services so the ve- COB ADDER – Maintaining tactical a native of Brownsville, Texas with 16 hicles and the accessories inside meet vehicles and ensuring they are combat years of Army experience. “We instill Army safety standards before leaving ready can be considered a challenging a sense of pride and ownership in the the base. task, but for Soldiers assigned to the drivers, because no one appreciates “The mechanics are very helpful get- 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Bat- their vehicles as much as they do.” ting us in and out of the motor pool as talion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cav- Ramirez and his troops service all fast as possible and up to standard,” alry Division who work in the ‘Thunder the vehicles for their battalion, and they said Pvt. Kris Nagengast, a 2nd Bn., Horse’ motor pool on base here it’s a also assist the drivers and operators of 12th Cav. Regt., infantryman from routine operation. those vehicles by teaching them how to Flint, Mich. Staff Sgt. Fernando Ramirez, a me- correctly sustain their machines when The Soldiers in the Thunder Horse chanic assigned to the 2nd Bn., 12th a trained mechanic is not available. motor pool not only strive to sustain Cav. Regt., mentored his Soldiers and “I like assisting my fellow Soldiers,” the vehicles, they also try to pass on other troops on the importance of sus- said Spc. Ramijio Gonzales, an all- their knowledge to their fellow Soldiers taining their vehicles before they rolled wheel mechanic and a native of Corpus so the information goes down to the out of the front gate embarking on a ve- Christi, Texas. lowest level. Page 2 • January 28, 2009 Th e Mountain View First sergeants share own view from the ‘top’

STAFF SGT. MICHEL SAURET MND - C

CAMP VICTORY – Sometimes, the role of a fi rst ser- geant in the Army is not so much like that of a juggler, but like a spinner - trying to keep all the plates spinning at once on several poles. The instant the spinner forgets to check up on one of the plates, things start to unravel. At least, that is how 1st Sgt. Mark Wokasch described it. He has been a fi rst sergeant a little longer than a year, now serving as the top noncommissioned offi cer for Headquar- ters Support Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, th Photos by Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret 10 Mountain Division. (Left) The number one rule for 1st Sgt. Mark Wokasch, of Be- “One of the hardest parts about being a leader is following midji, Minn., fi rst sergeant for HSC, DSTB, 10th Mtn. Div., is al- up on every situation that Soldiers have,” said Wokasch, a ways take care of family matters fi rst. (Right) The number one native of Bemidji, Minn. “A lot of Soldiers have many prob- rule for 1st Sgt. Clifford Lo, of San Francisco, fi rst sergeant for lems, and as leaders, we’re always the guy that’s standing HHC, 445th CA Bn., is to never stop learning. there spinning the plates on the spindles.” “That’s true,” said 1st Sgt. Clifford Lo about the metaphor. up to him for advice and help with personal and professional “I’m always putting out fi res. Things come up that either problems. That’s quite a lot of plates to spin. should have been taken care of, or just came up last min- “(We are) with the Soldiers on a daily basis … to make ute.” sure that (NCOs) conduct training with them, conduct daily The nickname “Top” didn’t come from the spinning toy business, conduct inspections, making sure the Soldier is favored by children, although that may be what it feels like living right, taking care of any type of matters at hand with to be a fi rst sergeant, always spun in different directions by Soldiers,” Wokasch said. his own Soldiers. The nickname is given to fi rst sergeants be- For Lo, however, there is no such thing as reaching cause they serve at the highest NCO level that still mentors the top. The view changes constantly as Soldiers move up and trains enlisted Soldiers. His role is that of a caretaker through the ranks, but it’s still a climb, even now, after 19 and a problem solver. Once an NCO reaches the level of ser- years in the Army. geant major, his role is more involved with policy-making. “The learning doesn’t stop where we are,” said Lo, of San “(We’re) the ones who make stuff happen. In order to Fancisco. “We’re always adjusting, learning … You can al- let the offi cers do their job, we have to ensure we do ours: ways get better (than) where you are. Just because you’re make sure we uphold a standard and move along everyone good, that doesn’t mean you should stop (improving).” as supposed to,” said Lo, the fi rst sergeant for Headquarters In fact, Lo said his number one rule in life is to always & Headquarters Co., 445th Civil Affairs Bn. fi nd ways to advance, fi nd ways to grow. In his view, fi rst The view from the Top can be quite a sight. Suddenly, a sergeants should never be afraid to learn, even from their fi rst sergeant fi nds himself in charge of a hundred Soldiers own junior Soldiers – whether it be a in a fi refi ght or in their or more. As a young sergeant, he was working one-on-one daily jobs. with a small group of privates and specialists. Then, his re- For Wokasch, his number one rule in life is always to sponsibility grew to squad, then platoon … Now, the whole company is before him, and every pair of eyes looks straight See TOP, page 3

TASK FORCE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE THE Commanding General - MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL L. OATES Command Sergeant Major - COMMAND SGT. MAJ. JAMES W. REDMORE Mountain View Editorial Staff Contributing Units TF Mountain PAO — Lt. Col. Paul Swiergosz 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team The Mountain View is an authorized OIC, Command Information – Maj. Page Baldwin 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division publication for members of the U.S. NCOIC – Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division Army. Contents of The Mountain View Managing Editor – Sgt. Derek Smith 41st Fires Brigade are not necessarily official views of, 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Copy Editor – Spc. Josh LeCappelain Department of Defense, Department Editor/Design — Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw 793rd Military Police Battalion of the Army or the 10th Mountain Photo Editor -- Pfc. Tyler Maulding Division Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mtn. Div. Division. All editorial content of The Staff Writers – Sgt. Frank Vaughn, Task Force 449 Mountain View is prepared, edited, pro- Spc. Darryl Montgomery, Spc. Tiffany Evans vided and approved by the Task Force Mountain Public Affairs Office. Media queries please contact TF Mountain Public Affairs at [email protected] Th e Mountain View January 28, 2009 • Page 3 4-3 ACR completes Iraq tour

CAPT. KATHERINE ZYLA size,” said Frombach, a Bay Village, Ohio native, “Our pilots TF 449 fl y more and aircraft maintainers work longer hours.” After eight months in theater, 4-3 began supporting MND-C operations. Longknife provided the same Aerial CAMP STRIKER – The 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cav- Weapons Team, Command Aviation Company and logistical alry Regiment relinquished command to 1st Battalion, 4th support it did within MND-B; however, the regiment also Attack Reconnaissance Bn. in a transfer of authority cere- assumed operational control of MND-C’s Unmanned Aerial mony at Baghdad International Airport Jan. 20. System unit. The regiment completed its 15 month deployment and Completing three intra-theater moves and maintaining a will return home to Fort Hood, Texas, after fl ying more than high operational tempo throughout the entire deployment, 34,000 hours and supporting two divisions’ operational en- 4-3 Armd. Cav. Regt. Soldiers’ morale remained high. vironments. “The Soldiers understand why we are here and working “The exemplary air-ground integration within both divi- with people of such a high caliber, who are the epitome of sional operational environments led to exceptional results,” excellence and duty, has made this a good deployment,” said said Maj. Lance Van Zandt, 4-3 Armd. Cav. Regt. executive 1st Sgt. Richard M. Bonney, Quicksilver Troop senior enlist- offi cer. “The squadron produced unmatched battle damage ed advisor and a Ranger, Texas, native. assessment, utility and Unmanned Aerial System support as As Longknife redeploys, 1-4 Attack Recon. Bn. assumes well as provided a variety of logistics throughout its time in the reins and is assigned to Task Force 449 Aviation Bri- Iraq.” gade. The Longknife Regiment has approximately 750 Soldiers “(They are) defi nitely prepared to take on the mission and is the largest aviation battalion sized element in the here; they are al- Army and the only heavy air cavalry squadron. They sup- ready doing it,” said ported both Multi-National Division – Baghdad and MND- Frombach. “They Center during their deployment. have been here eight While serving in MND-B, Longknife played a signifi cant months and similar role during the increase in extremist violence that plagued to us, they probably Sadr City from March to June 2008. look forward to see- “Our most defi ning moment during the deployment was ing something differ- our Sadr City mission,” said Capt. Matt Frombach, assistant ent.” operations offi cer and an Apache helicopter pilot. “Many of our The regiment conducted more than 150 successful engage- junior pilots have ments of insurgent forces and fl ew more than 3,800 hours, gained a tremendous making Longknife the fi rst battalion-sized Apache unit to fl y amount of experience more than 3,000 hours in a single month. and will return home The unit is unique in that it has a UH-60 Black Hawk troop and become instruc- and the ability to support itself from an aircraft maintenance tor and maintenance perspective. The unit is equipped with aviation intermediate test pilots,” he said. maintenance capability, which includes extensive and time He added they are Photo by Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall consuming maintenance, and an aviation unit maintenance ready to go and share Lt. Col. Brian D. Bennett, 1-4 Attack capability. Both allow 4-3 Armd. Cav. Regt. to be self-suffi - their deployment ex- Recon. Bn., and Command Sgt. Maj. Lloyd G. Morant, senior-enlisted cient. periences and help leader, uncase the battalion colors to “We have fi lled all mission requirements, normally per- continue to further signify taking command during a cer- formed by a combat aviation brigade, which is twice our Army aviation. emony at BIAP Jan. 20.

with it, they’ll see down the road a lot of From there, responsibility builds, tasks TOP things will fall apart, whether it’s their grow, and eventually more Soldiers From page 2 job or conducting daily business.” come under a fi rst sergeant’s mentor- take care of a Soldier’s family. Staying That obviously falls in line with the ship. They cannot do this all at once, in touch and handling family matters NCO Creed, which states, “I know my and defi nitely not all on their own. should come fi rst because they affect Soldiers, and I will always place their “You can only have time to really every other aspect of a Soldier’s life. needs above my own.” Very often, a fi rst mentor anywhere between maybe fi ve “That’s a big rule of mine to follow. If sergeant has to place himself second, and eight Soldiers (at a time),” Lo said. your family is not straight, a lot of other or even last, depending on the needs of “So you think as a fi rst sergeant you try things won’t be straight in your life,” his troops. Understanding the Soldiers’ to work with your senior enlisted fi rst said Wokasch, who attends regular needs and communicating with them so that way they could pass down their family reunions at Disney World with is a big part of that.The communica- knowledge to the lower enlisted.” his wife, Maria.“I try to make sure that tion starts at an early stage as an NCO, With so many plates on the spindles, Soldiers understand that family is very Wokasch said. It starts as early as being it’s always better to have a few more important. If they don’t follow through a young sergeant or even staff sergeant. hands to help out with the spinning. Page 4 • January 28, 2009 Th e Mountain View Staff Section Round-up Chaplain’s Corner: Thou shall not... Our families, our faith communities, our society, and our vocabulary used in addressing one another or responding to military are fi lled with statements that begin with “thou shall a situation. not”. However, we often turn from these statements to do As I refl ect on the language commonly used, I would not that which we want, regardless of how it may affect us or want my mother to hear the language that is being expressed others. in the work areas. Nor would I ever want my children (if I One example of this is thou shall not take the Lord’s name had any) to visit my work, for the words that are readily pro- in vain or use foul language. Yet, how often is this prohi- claimed are totally unacceptable. bition broken in the regular conversation of our work and Though the Lord’s name is being professed loudly and of- common areas and is accepted? When did it become accept- ten, I do not believe that He is being invited to truly respond able to be offensive to others and to God? to the call of His name. In recent weeks, I have noticed that the language ex- As we continue to interact with one another, may each of pressed in the work areas has become more offensive and us be more conscious in selecting the words we speak. May vulgar. No longer does it seem that one is embarrassed or we communicate without offense and may we seek only to apologetic if they turn to profanity. Nor does it seem that call upon the Almighty using His name in humble reverence the profanity is nothing less than the normal conversational and awe. Opet’s Odyssey Classics Th e Mountain View January 28, 2009 • Page 5

Headline Round-up What do you World News: think of the President Barack Obama’s administration will engage in “direct diplomacy” mural? with Iran, the newly installed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Mon- day. Not since before the 1979 Iranian revolution are U.S. offi cials believed to have conducted wide-ranging direct diplomacy with Iranian offi cials. But U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice warned that Iran must meet U.N. Security Council de- mands to suspend uranium enrichment before any talks on its nuclear program. U.S. News: President Obama’s $825 billion stimulus package has begun making its way through the labyrinth of House committees, overcoming a key hurdle last night as it was passed by the House Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Com- mittee, which is responsible for examining the $358 billion swath of the package that goes toward spending measures, passed the marked-up American Recovery and Reinvestment bill by a vote of 35 to 22. The hearing also gave Republicans their fi rst formal chance to air their concerns about the stimulus bill, which they worry is too large and being pushed through with too much haste.

Sports: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—It turns out that the fi nish of the 47th Rolex 24 sports car race at Daytona International Speedway was closer than anyone realized. After the Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype co-driven by David Donohue, Buddy Rice, Antonio Garcia and Darren Law nipped the Lexus Riley of Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas by 0.167 seconds Sunday, Grand-Am Rolex Series offi cials said it was the closest fi nish in the history of the race. Monday, they up- dated the record to include all major international 24-hour endurance races. Photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Emery “I think it is great! It motivates me Odd News: when I come into work,” said Lt. TOKYO – Tourists are known for acting silly, but licking the tuna? Overwhelmed Col. Chris Forbes, 10th Mountain by a growing number of misbehaving tourists, Tokyo fi shmongers banned all visi- Division chief of plans and native tors from one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations — the pre-dawn tuna of Ft. Benning, Ga. auctions at the world’s largest seafood market. The ban, imposed during the peak New Year buying season, was front-page news before it was lifted last week. Now, the tourists are back, but the debate goes on: Can tourists be trusted around the tuna? Quote of the Day “A superior man is modest in his speech, But exceeds in his actions.” - Kung Fu-tzu Confucius

S For the answer to u today’s puzzle, d go to: o Photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Emery “I wish I was that artistically talent- k ed,” said Capt. John Driscoll, 10th www.taskforce Mountain Division G-3 Air battle mountain.com captain and native of New Glouc- u ester, Maine.