:: Commander COL David G. Cotter :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Michael D. Howard :: Deputy Commander LTC Scott S. Naelitz :: Public Affairs Coordinator Lakia Clarke-Brown :: Public Affairs Photojournalist Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager William R. McLeod :: Desert Mesh Contributors LTC Curtis Muldrow 1SG Donald Williams DESERT MESH IS NOW ONLINE: http://www-qa.arcent.army.mil http://www.dvidshub.net Your feedback is important to us. See the back cover for details. CONTENTS DM57: Season of support THE WIRE n Soldier begins fourth fundraiser overseas 3 n Soldiers help voters beat state deadlines 8 n USO Qatar increases support for family connections 10 n New ambassador to Qatar honors 9/11 with troops 12 n ASG-QA Soldier and NCO of the Quarter 13 n Ambassador tours Qatar base 14 n Hispanic heritage celebration 16 n Sweethearts for Soldiers support troops 17 n Ask the chaplain (continued from below) 18 Commander’s corner n MWR events schedule 19 n USARCENT 4-5 n ASG-QA 6-7 FITNESS Soldiers n 20 support Commit to fit voters in Qatar n Soldier Strong – Fitness Q&A 22 8 CULTURE USO introduces reading program n Top Qatar general invites troops to Iftar 24 10 n Soldiers experience Ramadan tradition 26 DOHA LIFE Edition 57 n Troops visit Qatar shops during respite 28 This Army magazine is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Mesh SAFETY are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Depart- n Rain arrives to Qatar 30 ment of the Army. The editorial content is n 31 the responsibility of the Area Support Group Chemical safety Qatar public affairs office. General comments should be addressed to [email protected] or call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN: 318-432- 2572). Ask the chaplain Desert Mesh layout and design By Lt. Col. Curtis Muldrow by Dustin Senger. Comments should be ad- A. For over seven years now, dressed to [email protected] or Installation ministry team call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN 318-432-2800). our nation has been engaged in the third longest war in America’s COVER PAGE: (Insert) Area Support Group Qatar servicemembers and Q. This is my first history and the longest war civilians line up in an A-formation at d e p l oy m e n t a w a y our nation has ever sustained Camp As Sayliyah, Oct. 16. (Bottom) Qatar Army Maj. Gen. Hamad bin from home during the without a draft. This military Ali Al Attiyah, armed forces chief of holidays. How can I conflict will continue into the staff, greets U.S. Army Maj. Frank foreseeable future resulting O. Pfau, from Butte, Mont., prior make this separation to a traditional Islamic feast during easier for my family? in numerous deployments, the holy month of Ramadan, Qatar, separations and... Sept. 23. (Cover Photo-illustration by Dustin Senger) (Continued on page 18) Desert Mesh : : October/November 2008 CONTENTS DM57: Season of support Camp profile: Walumbala continues a tradition of giving Soldier begins fourth representatives strive to reach 100- and credit card. If required, cash fundraiser overseas percent contact. can also be accepted, including foreign currency. Walumbala arrived to the Qatar By DUSTIN SENGER base in December 2004; the As a local charity, donating to Family ASG-QA public affairs year’s campaign had begun but Youth and Support Programs he immediately became involved benefits the installation of origin. In CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – The nonetheless. According to Lumbala, 2007, the CFC-O campaign raised 2008 Combined Federal Campaign the installation commander over $714,000 in FYSP pledges. Overseas fundraiser has officially recognized how well he interacted ASG-QA FYSP raised almost begun at Camp As Sayliyah, with people and told him: “the $3,000 to support the U.S. Central Qatar, Oct. 14. From now until CFC needs people with your Command rest and recuperation Dec. 12, several servicemembers communication skills.” pass program at Camp As Sayliyah will operate as local CFC-O – recharging over 165,000 war representatives to help charitable “I have gained a lot of experience fighters since its 2004 inception. organizations change lives. U.S. over the past four campaigns,” Army Sgt. Lumbala Walumbala, said Walumbala. “Experience is a “I donate what I can in the spirit of from Sacramento, Calif., had a key ingredient for success. It helps helping Soldiers,” said Walumbala. commemoration of his own: this people adapt to changes faster “There is need here, just as there is his fourth consecutive year and work more productively. I also is back home. People have always promoting philanthropy at the U.S. have a lot of confidence – I know helped my family while I have been military installation in the Gulf exactly what needs to be done overseas, so I feel this is a way for state. and how to do it. We me to give something back.” have a command “With your help, we raised over that supports us, and $15.7 million in 2007,” said Bruce more people than Dreger, CFC-O Central Command ever excited about coordinator, while meeting with it. Even though the servicemembers at Camp As economy is doing Sayliyah, Sept. 28. Only legitimate poorly, I am sure this organizations with low-overhead will be our best year costs qualify under CFC-O’s supporting CFC-O strict guidelines. With over 2,000 charities at Camp As national and international charitable Sayliyah.” organizations listed, Dreger insists “there truly is something for Local representatives everyone.” do not influence U.S. Army Sgt. Lumbala Walumbala, from anyone’s choice. Sacramento, Calif., explains the Combined “We’ve been setting up this kick-off It’s the individual’s Federal Campaign Overseas fund raiser at ceremony since early this morning,” decision to select Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 14. Walumbala said Walumbala, Area Support which organizations is the Area Support Group Qatar CFC-O Group Qatar unit coordinator and w a r r a n t t h e i r unit coordinator and alternate community/ alternate community/area project support. Donations area project officer for the installation. He officer for the installation. “We can be accepted in is thrilled to begin his fourth consecutive wanted to be sure everything was a variety of ways to year supporting the CFC-O mission. “I have ready – first impressions count.” ensure a successful gained a lot of experience over the past four At the installation level, a CAPO fundraising year; campaigns,” said Walumbala. “Experience is assigns unit coordinators, who then such as payroll pass information to key persons to a key ingredient for success.” (Official Army deduction, personal Photo/ Dustin Senger) provide potential contributors with check, money order one-on-one assistance. Campaign Desert Mesh : : October/November 2008 James J. Lovelace Lieutenant General Commanding General USARCENT am encouraged to see that we leader or a staff directorate, must take I met our retention goals for fiscal the time to talk to Soldiers about how year 2008. We closed out our mission important they are to accomplishing during the last week of August our complex missions. with all subordinate commands accomplishing their respective We have a great team of retention missions… great job to all of you personnel that are here to support who worked so hard to make this our command. They can assist happen. Soldiers with making important career decisions and processing Retaining quality Soldiers We should be very proud of this reenlistment options and incentives, accomplishment; however, the but it’s the leaders who can impact business of reenlisting quality a Soldiers decision to reenlist on a Soldiers is never complete. I ask all daily basis. to continue to encourage our Soldiers and Families to stay with the team To reenlist during a time of war is and in the Army. Routinely discuss a powerful commitment. It says a reenlistment options and how the great deal about our Soldiers, their Army can best support their personal Families and the Army as a whole. and professional goals, as well as the Leaders must involve the Family needs of their Families. in discussions about a Soldier’s decision to reenlist. We must ensure Retaining quality Soldiers is the that our appreciation for all the job of all leaders and begins very sacrifices of our Families are echoed early on with the chain of command. in all that we do. As many of you have Reenlistment starts before Soldiers heard me say before… Soldiering is and their Families arrive in the an affair of the heart. organization by creating positive expectations. Leaders must then Our Army’s doing a lot of great work to fulfill these expectations things… make sure you know what by providing a climate of dignity they are and share them with your and respect where Soldiers are people. Our Soldiers are the vital challenged, developed as leaders, ingredient to accomplishing the and empowered to contribute to the mission and protecting the force. overall success of the team. I ask us all to make a point, each and every day, to ask a Soldier to Meeting retention goals is a start, reenlist and stay with the team. Talk but an even better measure of our to them, but more importantly create success is our ability to meet the an environment in which they want to expectations of our Soldiers over work and live… and feel personally the long-term. When our Soldiers and professionally rewarded. and Families move on to their next assignments… we want them to We need everyone to get involved to measure all others against U.S.