Taji Times Camp Taji, Iraq Information Newsletter November 15, 2009 4TH Edition CAMP TAJI, Iraq—An AH-64D Apache attack helicopter (left) flies alongside an Iraqi UH-1 Huey (right), dur- ing a joint air mission between 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and 2nd Squadron of the Iraqi Air Force, Oct. 21. See full story on page 9. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) Taji Times, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 November Contents 7 1st ACB Assists in Joint Air B 3 Pacesetter Retrograde Yard U Assault A 4 Taji Talent Show N 8 Cavalry, IA Troopers Share S I Struggle to Earn Silver Spurs E 5 "Great Escape" 10K Run 9 Air Cav, IAF Fly Joint Mission E 14 Operation Back to School: T Over Baghdad V Mission 2 E 12 96th Sustainment Brigade 16 Happy Birthday Marine S Combat Patch Ceremony N Corps! T T 13 96th Sustainment Brigade As- S 19 Halloween Party Scene O sumes Authority at Camp Taji 16 Tiger Academy Teaches Iraqi R Soldiers Medical Procedures 17 Brighter Day Ahead as Twin I Schools Open E 23 Situational Training Tests IA S Capabilities Every Month Also This Month 3 Safety information 11 Camp Taji Mud House 6 MWR Athletics 12 Push Up Contest 10 Camp Taji at a glance 18 Alpha Co., 115th BSB Wins Flag 15 Upcoming MWR Events Football Championship 20 Chaplain's Corner and Religious Info 18 Long Drive Contest 22 This Month in History 21 Bus Stop Interviews 24 Camp Taji Hours,Phone Numbers and Fire Department information 25 Combat Stress Info The Taji Times is a publication of the 155 Garrison Command, Camp Taji, Iraq. Requests for reprints should be addressed to CPT Brent Lindley ([email protected]). Past issues of the Taji Times can be found at http://www.dvidshub.net/index.php?script=pubs/pubs_show.php&id=229 Page 2 Taji Times, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 Pacesetter Retrograde Yard By Capt. Brent Lindley 155 BCT The Pacesetter Retrograde Yard has a mission: turn in excess equipment now instead of later. The yard takes all types of equipment with minimal requirements from the unit. The unit can turn in a 20-foot container full with equipment and only needs to provide a two to four man detail to download it. Soldiers from the 541st CSSB will sort, classify and code the equipment for turn in. Additional help (from units turning equipment in) is always welcomed. Returning excess equipment into the Pacesetter Regrograde Yard is easy for units and helps save money for the United States government. The process is outlined below. FIRE WARDEN & FIRE By Capt. Brent Lindley, EXTINGUISHER 155 BCT he temperature is getting cooler, and there may CLASSES be temptation to have a space-heater mailed from WSLLC Fire & Emergency Services Thome, or purchased off the local market. The Camp Taji Garrison Command strongly discourages the use of space heaters. "Annex Q" of the Tenant SOP lists the requirements for having a space heater. However, this policy is being currently being revised to ulimately ban space heaters due to the risk of fire. Most fires due to space heaters arise from combustibles being placed too closely to the space heater. Because space heaters, in general, do not regulate how much heat is released, the danger of causing a fire is ever present. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimate that space heaters, including both fixed and When: Every Wednesday at 0900 portable varieties, are associated with about residential Where: Bldg 150 near Taji PAX Terminal fires every year in the United States. Approximately 300 people die each year in fires started by heaters. No need to sign up, First Come, First Serve According to the National Fire Protection Association, Any questions please contact Ron Bailey at number or email below. supplemental heating equipment, such as electrical and kerosene heaters, is the leading cause of home fires WSLLC Fire & Emergency Services Ron Bailey Phone: 713-970-3619 in the United States during the months of December, Fire Inspectors Office DSN: 834-3372 WSLLC / C5 E-mail: January and February. APO, AE 09378 [email protected] Page 3 Taji Times, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 Taji talent show By Capt. Brent Lindley Coordinator, I would like to 155 BCT thank each of our talented per- amp Taji hosted a talent formers and all who attended show on Oct. 30. Twen- for making the event such a Cty-five Soldiers, Airmen, success. The next talent show Sailors and civilian contractors will be Dec. 31. performed to a crowd of nearly 700, filling the Jon Schoolcraft Pavilion. The show allowed the con- testants to showcase their tal- Pfc. Sarah Stevens, from Arizona, performs "modern dance" at the Camp ents. Performance acts included Taji Talent Show Oct. 30. Pfc. Stevens singing, guitar playing, modern is with the 3666 Service Maintenance dance, hip hop dance, poetry, Company. hula dancing and more. Spc. Terrence Upchurch of Grand First Lt. Charles Ramsey, Rapids, Mich., 3-227 Avia- Nearly 700 military personel and civil- ians attend the Camp Taji Talent Show 2-107 Cavalry, tion Regi- on Oct..30. (photo by Capt. Anthony finishing his step ment, served John) show performance as the em- with a crisp salute. Photo by Capt. cee for the Anthony John. event. This was the larg- Pfc. Michael Ham- est attended ilton, 26th Military Sgt. Jathan Price of event since Police Detachment, from Colorado the 155 Brigade Com- the 155 bat Team opening the Springs, Col., show with Sgt. Mark Garrison presents a hip hop Shell, singing a song Command dance during the Sgt. Price wrote dur- arrived at Participants in the Camp Taji Talent Camp Taji Talent Show on Oct .30 gather for a picture at Show. (Photo by ing his time at Camp Camp Taji. Taji. (photo by Sgt. the conclusion of the show. (photo by Capt. Anthony Beverly Price) As the MWR Capt. Anthony John) John) Warrior Chapel (Bldg 510) Monday thru Saturday (by appointment) 0900 - 1700 hours POC: SGT Dinsmore Cooper Reese, an Iraqi Air Force Aviation Advisor, performs during the first open mic night at the Jon Schoolcraft Pavilion, 242-6501 or 834-3329 Friday, Oct. 6th. Open Mic night is open to singers, guitar players, etc who would like to perform on the first and third Fridays each month, beginning at 1900 hours. (photo by Capt. Lindley) Page 4 Taji Times, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 Service Members Run Great TIFRC Escape 10K By 1st Lt. Casey Schroeder Combat Support Hospital. was an impressive show of tenacity, TIFRC Personnel Officer The run started at 0700 hours at courage, and camaraderie.” The event really was a fantastic the Burn Pit MWR facility on North Senior Airman Matthew Klundt, combination of organizational ef- Taji. The route took the runners with the 732nd Expeditionary Se- “fort from the sponsoring Theater from the TIFRC towards Tomahawk curity Forces Squadron Detachment Internment Facility-Reconciliation Center (TIFRC) clinic and great participation from both the TIFRC and Taji,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Hepburn, TIFRC clinic chief medical Officer. One hundred and twenty- seven Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and civilian employees ran The Great TIFRC Escape 10K Run on Nov. 1st, 2009. This was the first Camp Taji run that started at the TIFRC. The sponsoring unit was the Taji TIFRC Medical Clinic, which is composed of the 294th Area Support Medi- Soldiers, Sailors and civilians start the "TIFRIC Great Escape 10K Run Nov. 1. (photo cal Company (ASMC) and the 14th by Sgt. Beverly Price) Village and up around Stryker Vil- 3, won the race by completeing the lage. course in 34 minutes. He was fol- Capt. Joseph Provateare, 294th lowed by Staff Sgt. Jason Schoen- ASMC executive officer, said “you feld, of the 96th Sustainment Bri- could not have asked for a better gade. The 3rd Place Male Runner day. The weather was perfect and was Sgt. 1st Class Jose Pereyda, the event well organized.” The run Multi-National Security Transition consisted of units from the TIFRC, Command - Iraq. The fastest female as well as numerous units from the runner was Petty Officer 2nd Class main post. Good fun was had by all Celeste Dunlap, Navy Provisional participants. Detainee Battalion, who ran the All runners completed the course race in 43 minutes. The 2nd Place in just over an hour. While the Female Runner was Sgt. Kami Car- roads were a little slick and in some penter, 294th ASMC, while the 3rd cases bumpy, there were no injuries Place Female Runner was Sgt. Kari among the runners. All runners Dietch, 294th ASMC. were determined to challenge them- Maj. Michael McVey, 294th ASMC Senior Airman Matthew Klundt, 732rd selves and complete the course in Commander said, “I am proud of all Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron the quickest time possible. Maj. the Clinic Soldiers for not only doing Detachment 3, is first to cross the finish Kenneth Coy, TIFRC dental OIC extremely well, but for just partici- line (photo by 1st Lt Schroeder) from the 204th ASMC, said “the run pating and supporting the event.” The needs are greater than ever 5 October through 4 December Improve the quality of life in the communities you serve locally, back home and around the world. Give today at cfcoverseas.org or contact your unit’s CFC-O Representative. Your choice. Your opportunity. 2009 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN–OVERSEAS Page 5 Taji Times, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 MWR ATHLETICS Coaches Meeting Nov 29,2009 @ 1800 Bldg # 621 T Referees come from the units PUNT, PASS & KICK POC : [email protected] Starts Nov 30th Bldg 621T Coaches Meeting Nov 29, 2009 @ 1800 Bldg # 621 T Referees come from the units (coach must be E6 or above.) REGISTRATION CLOSES: Wednesday, Nov 25th 1545 POC: [email protected] CONTEST: Wednesday, Nov 25th @ 1600 PLACE: TAJI SPORTS COMPLEX (across from swimming pool) ELIGIBILTY: ALL SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS DIVISIONS: MEN’S AGE GROUPS 18-29, 30-39 & 40+ WOMEN’S AGE GROUP 18 & UP EVENTS: PUNT, PASS AND KICK FROM A TEE WILL BE USED.