March 2012 geronimo journal Paratroopers with 2nd Platoon Comanche Compa- ny clear a field while patrolling in Terezayi District. Task Force Blue Geronimo and 1-501 Infantry Family and Friends: We are continuing to make progress in our piece of Af- ghanistan. In some instances progress is quite tangible and rewarding - our Afghan part- ners do something we’ve been working with them on or we detain someone we know is bad - other times progress is hard to measure. The men of Team Delaware have been working closely with a partner Afghan National Army (ANA) Battalion, or Kandak, in build- ing their ability to operate in- PFC Grigg teaches some of her ABP counterparts dependently in the Southern portion of our area of operations. Critical field medical procedures on JCOP Bowri Tana. to Team Delaware’s ANA counterpart’s success is their move to a new barracks and operations facility. CPT Dovie and his team have been working diligently with their partners in constructing facilities that are acceptable, in the eyes of the ANA Com- mand, for their Soldiers to move into. While the negotiations continue on what is acceptable, it does appear that a Company from the ANA partner unit will be moving to the facilities Team Delaware has been working hard to build. The negotiations, bartering and posturing required to make this move happen are something completely outside the norms of American culture, however here it is a way of life and almost an expectation. Progress in these conditions can be much more challenging; many steps forward and backward are taken before solidly moving on to new business. Fortunately there are still other areas where rapid progress can be made, off-setting the patience required in our more challenging en- deavors. The remarkable support from Fami- lies and Friends for our Soldiers continues to be a source of stability across the Battalion. While weather tends to jam up mail movement ev- ery so often, it is something that ev- eryone continues to look forward - from packages from loved ones, to the “Any Soldier” packages that get spread across the Battalion. The un- sung, and under appreciated, heroes at home are the ones who will con- tinue to allow us to do our jobs here in Afghanistan. GERONIMO! SPC Lejune walks back from a mission in Gorbuz District. LTC Patrick Ellis Geronimo Families and Friends, Greetings from Afghanistan! It’s March already and we are get- ting busier and busier. Our Soldiers love it though as it makes the time go by fast. They’re also really getting a sense of accom- plishment for all the great things they are doing. Over the last month we held our second promotion board since our deployment started. 10 out of 21 who started were selected for promotion and will advance in both pay and responsibility in the near future. Our promotion boards are not easy and all the Soldiers have to invest a lot of extra time and energy into preparing for these boards, especially while deployed. Our Soldiers and your loved ones have been getting positive recognition from all across Eastern Afghanistan by all levels of Command. They have been receiving praise for their creative ways of collecting Biometrics, which helps us keep track of where people live and who we have talked to. Our medics are also getting some attention as they continue to do an outstand- ing job training Afghan medics, ensuring that they are able to treat and sustain themselves. They have proven themselves com- SFC August Alombro promotes SGT David Tracy, 2nd Pla- toon Apache Company, during his promotion ceremony on petent and capable on many occasions already and will soon be FOB Salerno, Khost Province, AF. running their own training program. These are just two exam- ples of things our Soldiers are doing with the Afghan Army and Police Forces to win the fight, build confidence and earn the trust from the Afghan People. Thank you to our volunteers that are in Alaska. All of the Family Readiness Group Leaders, Key Callers and all of the other unsung heroes back at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson who keep things running smooth, and our Families safe in our ab- sence. We have been able to stay incredibly focused on the task at hand, and a large part of it is ac- credited to the support you give us every day. We are hearing of reports from Families all across the nation reading our newsletter and follow- ing us on Facebook. To all your generosity that you are showing us through letters and care packages is remarkable. We wish all of you much health and happiness. Sincerely, CSM Kirk E. Johnson CSM Johnson stops for a photo with his Afghan counterparts while on patrol with 1st Platoon Comanche Company in Terezayi District. 1-501 Family Readiness Group (FRG) Up Coming Battalion Meeting Schedule BN FRG FRG Meeting Childcare Reservation Child Care Drop Cancellation Date for Meeting Date Location Deadline off Time and Child Care (must be in (must be in writing send Pick up writing send to Michelle. to Michelle.Kimball@ [email protected]) us.army.mil) March 20, 2012 JBER - Elmen- March 5, 2012 1815 - 2000 March 12, 2012 1830-1930 dorf Theater 1600 April 19, 2012 JBER - Elmen- April 4, 2012 1815 - 2000 April 11, 2012 1830-1930 dorf Theater 1600 May 15, 2012 JBER - Elmen- April 30, 2012 1815 - 2000 May 7, 2012 1830-1930 dorf Theater 1600 June 19, 2012 JBER - Elmen- June 4, 2012 1815 - 2000 June 11, 2012 1830-1930 dorf Theater 1600 July 17, 2012 JBER - Elmen- July 2, 2012 1815 - 2000 July 9, 2012 1830-1930 dorf Theater 1600 Note: >In the subject line please title it: BN FRG CHILDCARE AND THE DATE OF THE MEETING >Please include the following information for childcare reservations in your e-mail: -Soldier’s name and last 4 of Social Security Number -Children’s names, ages, to include date of birth -Name of person requesting childcare, contact phone number and e-mail address Paratroopers from 1st Platoon Commanche Company prepare for a combat patrol in Gorbuz District. Family Readiness Group Questions and Answers What is the FRG (Family Readiness Group)? FRG’s are established to provide activities and support to enhance the flow of information, increase the resiliency of unit Soldiers and their families, provide practical tools for adjusting to military deployments and separations and enhance the well-being and esprit de corp within the unit. The activities emphasized will vary depending on whether the unit is in pre/post deployment, deployed, or in a training/sustainment period at home station. Since one of the goals of an FRG is to support the military mission through provision of support, outreach and infor- mation to family members, certain FRG activities are essential and common to all groups and include member meetings, staff and committee meetings, publication and distribution of newsletters, maintenance of virtual FRG websites, maintenance of updated rosters and readiness information, and member telephone trees and e-mail dis- tribution lists. Ideally, all Army units sponsor FRGs as an avenue of mutual support and assistance, and as a net- work of communications among the family members, the chain of command, chain of concern, and community resources. The FRG also provides feedback to the command on the state of the unit “family” and is considered a unit commander’s program. I have not been contacted by my husband’s unit FRG since he has been deployed, why not? Before, deployment each soldier goes through a DCS (Deploy- ment Cycle Survey). At the DCS the Soldier fills out a “Soldier Data Sheet” and lists a primary Point of Contact (POC). The Primary POC will be one who is contacted by the FRG and FRSA. This individual would be respon- sible for passing any information on to the other family members or friends. Sometimes changes happen in between the time a Soldier goes through the DCS and when they deploy (i.e. mar- riage, birth, change of informa- tion, etc.) and someone may not A view of the Afghan countryside through the windshield of one of our armored vehicles. be listed as a POC on the data sheet. If there is an error or oversight it is the Soldier’s responsibility to inform the FRSA of any changes. Please remem- ber that information is only given to the Primary POC to ensure the safety and security of the Soldier and the unit. If you know of a POC that is not receiving information have them contact Michelle Kimball at 907-384-0708 or send a e-mail to [email protected]. Why does the Rear-D Chain of Command issue a statement that is sent by e-mail when a Soldier is injured? One reason for this practice is to keep families informed so that we can stop rumors before they start. This practice provides reassurance to a spouse that if they are getting the e-mail then their Soldier is fine. The e-mail notification will only go out after the family members of the wounded Soldier have been notified. Out of respect and privacy for the wounded Soldier and their Family the name of the wounded Soldier will not be disclosed. Security Force Assistance Team 1 - Team Salakar (Advisor in Pashto) Since last month we have engaged in the con- tinued development of our partnered Afghan Kandaks (Battalions). Our efforts focus square- ly on increasing the capability of Afghan units to plan, execute and sustain security operations, while decreasing their dependence on US and Coalition Forces and systems.