For the last few years there has been an event back home called the Troop Support Ride. This like many of the events and activities that riders across the country participate in and run are not always understood by the majority of people.
I've never participated in the Troop Support Ride because we have been overseas during the time it has been active, but both my husband and I have been on the receiving end. The riders that participate in the TSR start planning for the next year, the day after the event is over. They fund raise and find sponsors, they collect items and plan. And the end result is sending hundreds of care packages to soldiers who are currently deployed.
I happen to know a good number of the people that participate in these kinds of events, they have supported my husband and I throughout our time in service, through deployments, welcomed us home and sent us off again. But for most that receive these boxes, they don't know nor will they probably ever meet.
During both of my deployments, I have had amazing support from my family, but what always floored me was the boxes and letters that people from across the states had sent. People I would never meet saying how much my service meant to them and how they wanted us to have a little comfort of home, whether it was a little Christmas tree, homemade cookies or something as simple as a homemade card from a child who had done their rendition of a flag or a soldier. Many of the letters and cards I still have tucked away in a box.
When you are deployed and you receive that random box from someone you don't know, it takes you aback. It helps you to realize that there are other people out there besides your immediate family and friends that know where you are and appreciate what you are doing. Not only are they aware, but they have actively made an effort to let you know they support you. Mail is one of those things that is listed as a morale lifter and for good reason... a good number of days during deployment just plain suck, whether it has just been excessively hot, you didn't get a chance to eat or on those horrible days when one of your missions was a Hero Mission. When you arrive back and stop by to check to see if you have mail and there is a box or letter waiting for you, it shows a light at the end of the tunnel.
Too many times, troops are extremely busy forward and they don't always have the chance to write a thank you to these individuals, so often they don't know the impact they have made. But all those hours planning events like the Troop Support Ride or a send off/welcome home or any other event that supports our troops is beyond appreciated by those who reap the benefits of that work. I know I am just one former soldier, but if I could have captured the looks on service members faces over the years as they have received these boxes or received a welcome home - it would be clear how much all of this truly means. So from the bottom of my heart - Thank you!!!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
It's amazing how people come into our lives
I was walking through the craft section at Wal-Mart Friday night trying to find something to add to a project I was working on. A small package of purple beads caught my eye. I glanced down at the rubber bracelet I had been wearing for a couple months in honor of Kathy, a family friend who had been battling cancer, and the words were barely readable. Friday had been a month since she had lost her fight with cancer.
I quickly started going through the other beads and looking at the other components that I would need to make what I was envisioning. The concept was there, but the final product was going to be iffy. Once we were home, I sat down and started putting everything together.
The final product actually looked like what I had pictured. I was pretty proud of my first piece of jewelry, so like many people I took a picture and shared it on facebook. I didn't think anything of it until someone asked me how much I would charge for them. I posted the price annotating that half of the price would be going into the donations for the half marathon walk I'm doing later this year for cancer research. I was suprised that by yesterday afternoon, there were orders for nine bracelets.
So today I found myself back at Wal-Mart trying to get everything I would need to make those and a few extras. As I was checking out, the lady working the register stopped as she was ringing up the beads and made a comment about how pretty they were. I showed her my bracelet and explained the whole thing including who they were in honor of and where the money that was made from them was going.
She stopped for a second and then went on to tell me that her dad had participated in some walks for cancer research in the past and she continued by telling me that he had multiple melanoma. She paused again for a second and told me that she had just found out that she had cervical cancer. I was floored. The look on her face told that she was having trouble still saying it and it seemed that this is something she hadn't shared with many people. I think she had even surprised herself by saying it. She told me that she was always interested in supporting a good cause and asked for a way to contact me. I gave her a few of my photography cards and said good-bye.
As I walked out to my car, I was fighting back tears... This woman had maintained a smile on her face, while she explained all of this and the fact that she had three small children. She had told me how much of a blessing her children were in keeping that smile on her face and how she believed that's why God gave them to us. It was an extremely humbling experience, it's truly amazing how God works in our life.
I quickly started going through the other beads and looking at the other components that I would need to make what I was envisioning. The concept was there, but the final product was going to be iffy. Once we were home, I sat down and started putting everything together.
The final product actually looked like what I had pictured. I was pretty proud of my first piece of jewelry, so like many people I took a picture and shared it on facebook. I didn't think anything of it until someone asked me how much I would charge for them. I posted the price annotating that half of the price would be going into the donations for the half marathon walk I'm doing later this year for cancer research. I was suprised that by yesterday afternoon, there were orders for nine bracelets.
So today I found myself back at Wal-Mart trying to get everything I would need to make those and a few extras. As I was checking out, the lady working the register stopped as she was ringing up the beads and made a comment about how pretty they were. I showed her my bracelet and explained the whole thing including who they were in honor of and where the money that was made from them was going.
She stopped for a second and then went on to tell me that her dad had participated in some walks for cancer research in the past and she continued by telling me that he had multiple melanoma. She paused again for a second and told me that she had just found out that she had cervical cancer. I was floored. The look on her face told that she was having trouble still saying it and it seemed that this is something she hadn't shared with many people. I think she had even surprised herself by saying it. She told me that she was always interested in supporting a good cause and asked for a way to contact me. I gave her a few of my photography cards and said good-bye.
As I walked out to my car, I was fighting back tears... This woman had maintained a smile on her face, while she explained all of this and the fact that she had three small children. She had told me how much of a blessing her children were in keeping that smile on her face and how she believed that's why God gave them to us. It was an extremely humbling experience, it's truly amazing how God works in our life.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Boards
One of the 'events' that most enlisted soldiers find themselves in at some point in time are Soldier of the Month boards. I was no exception to this... My first board was a few months into my first deployment and lets just say I flopped, miserably.
About eight months later, I was sent to the Battalion Soldier of the Month board again. Since it was the last opportunity individuals who were trying to get recommended for the promotion board had to be recommended, there was a total of 22 soldiers competing. There were also ten NCOs competing for NCO of the month and promotion board recommendation. My last name started with an S, so I became the bottom of the list of 'compete'. The board began at 9am and it was 830pm before I finally went in. I did very well and ended up finishing on top.
A month later, I found myself at the Brigade board. I came in second there, which was a good thing. The division board was two weeks from that time and I was in the middle of my APART (annual flight evaluations) and finals for my college classes.
The remainder of the deployment and my time at Fort Hood I managed to avoid these boards.
It started all over again when I got to Germany. Our 1SG made all soldiers being considered for promotion attend a company Soldier of the Month board before being recommended for promotion. Within my first 60 days in the unit, I attended and won the board and was recommended for promotion.
I attended my promotion board a few weeks later and about halfway through, the CSM stopped the 1SGs from asking questions and told me to say the NCO Creed. I said the creed and then he promptly kicked me out of the board. As I stood outside, I thought I had done something wrong until my sponsor came out. He had a huge smile on his face and my nerves calmed for the most part. Later in the day when the scores were read I had received 150 out of 150.
This prompted a whole other round of attendance at boards though. Just three weeks after I was officially pinned SGT, I was at my first NCO of the Quarter board for Battalion. I ended up coming in second because the total points counted weapons qual and more recent APFT (I was on a permanent profile for my back, so points are calculated differently). I assumed that had ended me being a 'Board Baby'. Was I ever wrong!!
When the next quarter board came up, the CSM told me I WOULD be there. I attended and this time I won the board, so off to the Brigade board I went. I took first at the Brigade board, but by saving grace, I would be able to attend the NCO of the year board. Our company was offset from everyone else for deployment at the time, so the NCO of the year board was going to take place a couple months into our deployment. That didn't stop them from talking about sending me back from Iraq to compete in the board.
A little over a year later, I found myself in my last board. I was standing in front of the CSM and 1SGs in this capacity for the last time as I tried at attain promotable status to SSG (Staff Sergeant). I walked out of that board promotable. Within a month, my medical board was initiated and less than a year later I was medically retired. When I was going through the boards and all the studying and prep, I hated it. Looking back now, I know that a lot of that 'useless' knowledge I had memorized as fallen into place in many different situations and continues to now.
About eight months later, I was sent to the Battalion Soldier of the Month board again. Since it was the last opportunity individuals who were trying to get recommended for the promotion board had to be recommended, there was a total of 22 soldiers competing. There were also ten NCOs competing for NCO of the month and promotion board recommendation. My last name started with an S, so I became the bottom of the list of 'compete'. The board began at 9am and it was 830pm before I finally went in. I did very well and ended up finishing on top.
A month later, I found myself at the Brigade board. I came in second there, which was a good thing. The division board was two weeks from that time and I was in the middle of my APART (annual flight evaluations) and finals for my college classes.
The remainder of the deployment and my time at Fort Hood I managed to avoid these boards.
It started all over again when I got to Germany. Our 1SG made all soldiers being considered for promotion attend a company Soldier of the Month board before being recommended for promotion. Within my first 60 days in the unit, I attended and won the board and was recommended for promotion.
I attended my promotion board a few weeks later and about halfway through, the CSM stopped the 1SGs from asking questions and told me to say the NCO Creed. I said the creed and then he promptly kicked me out of the board. As I stood outside, I thought I had done something wrong until my sponsor came out. He had a huge smile on his face and my nerves calmed for the most part. Later in the day when the scores were read I had received 150 out of 150.
This prompted a whole other round of attendance at boards though. Just three weeks after I was officially pinned SGT, I was at my first NCO of the Quarter board for Battalion. I ended up coming in second because the total points counted weapons qual and more recent APFT (I was on a permanent profile for my back, so points are calculated differently). I assumed that had ended me being a 'Board Baby'. Was I ever wrong!!
When the next quarter board came up, the CSM told me I WOULD be there. I attended and this time I won the board, so off to the Brigade board I went. I took first at the Brigade board, but by saving grace, I would be able to attend the NCO of the year board. Our company was offset from everyone else for deployment at the time, so the NCO of the year board was going to take place a couple months into our deployment. That didn't stop them from talking about sending me back from Iraq to compete in the board.
A little over a year later, I found myself in my last board. I was standing in front of the CSM and 1SGs in this capacity for the last time as I tried at attain promotable status to SSG (Staff Sergeant). I walked out of that board promotable. Within a month, my medical board was initiated and less than a year later I was medically retired. When I was going through the boards and all the studying and prep, I hated it. Looking back now, I know that a lot of that 'useless' knowledge I had memorized as fallen into place in many different situations and continues to now.
Friday, April 27, 2012
SPAM!
During my time in the MEDEVAC in Germany, we pulled med duty at both Grafenwohr and Hohenfels any time there was training going on. The crews would go out and stay for about a week at a hooch that had been established there until the next crew came out at the end of a week to rotate.
Since most rotations were pretty quiet (a very good thing), we did quite a few training flights while we were out there. The first rotation I was on, I was actually doing my refresher training since it had been a year since I had flown. During one of our training flights, we had left one of the pilots at the hooch (we had three out on the rotation with us). As we were landing and shutting down, we saw fire trucks screaming down the road next to the flight line.
Our first thought was that the trucks were heading the hangar that the OC (Observer-Controllers) used for their aircraft. That thought went out the window when the trucks turned in next to the hooch. The aircraft was almost completely shut down, so the pilot told us to go see what was going on.
We quickly headed down off the flight line and worked our way around the fire trucks to see what was going on. As we walked around to the front of the hooch, we could see fans running in the doorways. Finally, we saw the pilot who had been there and a couple of the firefighters.
Apparently, the whole ruckus had been caused by some SPAM that had been overcooked and started smoking bad enough that it had set off the detectors. Since it was the middle of January, leaving the doors and windows weren't the best option so the rest of the week it smelled like burnt SPAM throughout the hooch. The pilot left there with a new nickname and a few pictures to remember the event by....
Since most rotations were pretty quiet (a very good thing), we did quite a few training flights while we were out there. The first rotation I was on, I was actually doing my refresher training since it had been a year since I had flown. During one of our training flights, we had left one of the pilots at the hooch (we had three out on the rotation with us). As we were landing and shutting down, we saw fire trucks screaming down the road next to the flight line.
Our first thought was that the trucks were heading the hangar that the OC (Observer-Controllers) used for their aircraft. That thought went out the window when the trucks turned in next to the hooch. The aircraft was almost completely shut down, so the pilot told us to go see what was going on.
We quickly headed down off the flight line and worked our way around the fire trucks to see what was going on. As we walked around to the front of the hooch, we could see fans running in the doorways. Finally, we saw the pilot who had been there and a couple of the firefighters.
Apparently, the whole ruckus had been caused by some SPAM that had been overcooked and started smoking bad enough that it had set off the detectors. Since it was the middle of January, leaving the doors and windows weren't the best option so the rest of the week it smelled like burnt SPAM throughout the hooch. The pilot left there with a new nickname and a few pictures to remember the event by....
Thursday, April 26, 2012
We don't want your brain to boil
During my last FTX (Field Exercise) in basic training, I came down with the flu. The weather wasn't the greatest, it was early February in South Carolina and it has been sleeting, rainy and cold the whole time, which probably hadn't helped the situation. I was taken to the hospital and spent the next day on quarters with IVs hooked up.
Each morning, a doctor came through and evaluated whether you could go back out to your training unit. I was still running a low grade fever, so the doctor wanted to keep me there for another day. Throughout the whole cycle, the drill sergeants had been telling us that if we missed so much of certain training events and missed the final ruck march (13 miles) in from the field that we wouldn't be able to graduate and would be moved to another BCT unit to complete the training. My parents had already purchased plane tickets to come out and I didn't want to get shifted back, I wanted to complete training on time with my battle buddies.
I begged the doctor to release me and after about 15 minutes of going back and forth, he told me he would release me, but he would keep the bed set up since he knew I would be back within 24 hours. I considered what he said for about two seconds before I asked again for him to release me and he did. I was taken back out to my unit in the field. I arrived back in time to help tear everything down and to pack my rucksack for the march.
I was feeling okay as we headed out. As the sun started to set and it started getting cooler, I couldn't seem to keep up with my nose running and I'm not sure how tactical sneezing is, but I tried to cover the sound as much as possible. By about halfway through, I was feeling pretty cruddy. Finally, as we were marching down the street that we all knew led back to the our basic training barracks, we all felt the sense of accomplishment. We still had over a mile before we would be in the clear, but we had 12 miles in our rear view.
As we arrived back to the barracks, there was a bonfire going and music to celebrate the completion of training. Everything from that point forward was the outprocessing and graduation of BCT. After the ceremony was complete and we had each received our Army Values tag, we went inside to have cookies and punch. This may seem a little weird, but after not being able to have sweets during training, it was a reward.
By this point, I still wasn't feeling well, so I said something to one of the Drill Sergeants. He sent me to the duty Drill Sergeant to have my temperature taken, it was 104.3. The duty Drill told me to go up to my locker and back a bag with a couple nights worth of personal hygiene and clothing. I was upstairs less than ten minutes getting everything together and then I reported back down to the duty Drill. He told me that an ambulance had been called to take me to the hospital and he decided to check my temperature again. It had risen to 104.7.
About that time, the commander walked out of his office and was told I was the soldier being sent to the hospital. In a poor attempt to comfort me, he looked me square in the eye and told me in a voice like he was explaining something to a two year old that they had called an ambulance for me because they didn't want my brain to boil. At the time, all I could think was 'is this guy serious?!?', he already proven to be a little less than intelligent, so this kind of encouragement just topped the cake.
I was taken to the hospital and ended up being there for two more days and missed the huge dinner to celebrate the end of BCT, but I finished all my training and was able to graduate with the rest of my rotation the following Friday.
Each morning, a doctor came through and evaluated whether you could go back out to your training unit. I was still running a low grade fever, so the doctor wanted to keep me there for another day. Throughout the whole cycle, the drill sergeants had been telling us that if we missed so much of certain training events and missed the final ruck march (13 miles) in from the field that we wouldn't be able to graduate and would be moved to another BCT unit to complete the training. My parents had already purchased plane tickets to come out and I didn't want to get shifted back, I wanted to complete training on time with my battle buddies.
I begged the doctor to release me and after about 15 minutes of going back and forth, he told me he would release me, but he would keep the bed set up since he knew I would be back within 24 hours. I considered what he said for about two seconds before I asked again for him to release me and he did. I was taken back out to my unit in the field. I arrived back in time to help tear everything down and to pack my rucksack for the march.
I was feeling okay as we headed out. As the sun started to set and it started getting cooler, I couldn't seem to keep up with my nose running and I'm not sure how tactical sneezing is, but I tried to cover the sound as much as possible. By about halfway through, I was feeling pretty cruddy. Finally, as we were marching down the street that we all knew led back to the our basic training barracks, we all felt the sense of accomplishment. We still had over a mile before we would be in the clear, but we had 12 miles in our rear view.
As we arrived back to the barracks, there was a bonfire going and music to celebrate the completion of training. Everything from that point forward was the outprocessing and graduation of BCT. After the ceremony was complete and we had each received our Army Values tag, we went inside to have cookies and punch. This may seem a little weird, but after not being able to have sweets during training, it was a reward.
By this point, I still wasn't feeling well, so I said something to one of the Drill Sergeants. He sent me to the duty Drill Sergeant to have my temperature taken, it was 104.3. The duty Drill told me to go up to my locker and back a bag with a couple nights worth of personal hygiene and clothing. I was upstairs less than ten minutes getting everything together and then I reported back down to the duty Drill. He told me that an ambulance had been called to take me to the hospital and he decided to check my temperature again. It had risen to 104.7.
About that time, the commander walked out of his office and was told I was the soldier being sent to the hospital. In a poor attempt to comfort me, he looked me square in the eye and told me in a voice like he was explaining something to a two year old that they had called an ambulance for me because they didn't want my brain to boil. At the time, all I could think was 'is this guy serious?!?', he already proven to be a little less than intelligent, so this kind of encouragement just topped the cake.
I was taken to the hospital and ended up being there for two more days and missed the huge dinner to celebrate the end of BCT, but I finished all my training and was able to graduate with the rest of my rotation the following Friday.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Hero Missions
During my first deployment, I was assigned to an Air Assault battalion. Although, we did many different missions besides the occasional assault, there is one that was more difficult than the rest.
My first Hero Mission was at the tail end of my progression. As we were landing at the hospital pad in Washington (downtown Baghdad) to pick up the KIA (killed in action) soldier, I wasn't sure what to expect. The FI, the other crew chief and I all got out of the helicopter and stood at attention waiting for them to bring the soldier out. Once the medical crew had verified it was okay to approach, they proceeded forward with the stretcher that had an American flag draped over it, which covered the black body bag that was underneath. As they proceeded closer, the rotor wash from the helicopter started blowing the flag around and the body bag became visible. The medical crew worked diligently to try to keep the flag in place.
As they approached the aircraft, the other crew members and I saluted as the stretcher was moved in front of us. We helped the medical personnel place the soldier in the aircraft and get him properly secured. My hands were shaking, I tried to steady them, but it wasn't working. As we made the flight from Washington to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) for the soldier to be transitioned to be taken back to the States, the only sound you would hear was the sound of the helicopter blades.
When we took off from BIAP and were heading back to Taji for the end of our missions, little was said. Although normally, there is chatter going on between the crew to try to keep things a little lighter, this wasn't the time. Even though we had already provided the transport for the soldier, we each now carried a weight with us, as we knew that somewhere on the other side of the world there was a family that was being notified that their soldier had been killed.
After landing and shut down, we went through our typical post flight and closing out of the flight. I had been fighting back tears the whole time, there was an overflow of emotions I was feeling, but I was trying to 'appear' like things didn't affect me because I was still the only female door gunner in our brigade and working around all guys - that appearance of strength was a necessity.
Before I headed 'home' for the night, the FI stopped me and wanted to talk for a few minutes. He wanted to check on me after the Hero Mission. He then enlightened me to his thoughts - no matter how much any of these guys act like those kind of missions don't affect them, don't believe it for one minute. He told me that many of them held things in until they got back to their room at night or until they could find a quiet place and reflect on it alone. The bottom line - having the honor of transporting a soldier that has was KIA is beyond words. That even flying hundreds of hours during a deployment and feeling like each day was just a repeat of the next and how all the missions blurred together and there wasn't much of a memory of whether you did a mission the day or the week before- every detail of every Hero Mission had stuck and been clear as day.
Throughout the rest of the deployment, I had the honor of being on the crew for six other Hero Missions, each one unique and each one permanently etched in my mind. I can only imagine what goes through the mind of a family member after they have been notified of their service members death, but I would imagine that knowing they are handled with the utmost respect on their journey home would be one of them. If I could reach out to those soldier's families, I would tell them that although we never knew their soldier and we carried them a very short period on a flight, that in each one of ours hearts and minds we forever carry them.
My first Hero Mission was at the tail end of my progression. As we were landing at the hospital pad in Washington (downtown Baghdad) to pick up the KIA (killed in action) soldier, I wasn't sure what to expect. The FI, the other crew chief and I all got out of the helicopter and stood at attention waiting for them to bring the soldier out. Once the medical crew had verified it was okay to approach, they proceeded forward with the stretcher that had an American flag draped over it, which covered the black body bag that was underneath. As they proceeded closer, the rotor wash from the helicopter started blowing the flag around and the body bag became visible. The medical crew worked diligently to try to keep the flag in place.
As they approached the aircraft, the other crew members and I saluted as the stretcher was moved in front of us. We helped the medical personnel place the soldier in the aircraft and get him properly secured. My hands were shaking, I tried to steady them, but it wasn't working. As we made the flight from Washington to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) for the soldier to be transitioned to be taken back to the States, the only sound you would hear was the sound of the helicopter blades.
When we took off from BIAP and were heading back to Taji for the end of our missions, little was said. Although normally, there is chatter going on between the crew to try to keep things a little lighter, this wasn't the time. Even though we had already provided the transport for the soldier, we each now carried a weight with us, as we knew that somewhere on the other side of the world there was a family that was being notified that their soldier had been killed.
After landing and shut down, we went through our typical post flight and closing out of the flight. I had been fighting back tears the whole time, there was an overflow of emotions I was feeling, but I was trying to 'appear' like things didn't affect me because I was still the only female door gunner in our brigade and working around all guys - that appearance of strength was a necessity.
Before I headed 'home' for the night, the FI stopped me and wanted to talk for a few minutes. He wanted to check on me after the Hero Mission. He then enlightened me to his thoughts - no matter how much any of these guys act like those kind of missions don't affect them, don't believe it for one minute. He told me that many of them held things in until they got back to their room at night or until they could find a quiet place and reflect on it alone. The bottom line - having the honor of transporting a soldier that has was KIA is beyond words. That even flying hundreds of hours during a deployment and feeling like each day was just a repeat of the next and how all the missions blurred together and there wasn't much of a memory of whether you did a mission the day or the week before- every detail of every Hero Mission had stuck and been clear as day.
Throughout the rest of the deployment, I had the honor of being on the crew for six other Hero Missions, each one unique and each one permanently etched in my mind. I can only imagine what goes through the mind of a family member after they have been notified of their service members death, but I would imagine that knowing they are handled with the utmost respect on their journey home would be one of them. If I could reach out to those soldier's families, I would tell them that although we never knew their soldier and we carried them a very short period on a flight, that in each one of ours hearts and minds we forever carry them.
Two crews from 25th Infantry Division salute the fallen soldiers they transported
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Cobras
Somehow while we were NTC, a 'group' was formed by a friend of mine. It was started out as more as a joke, but somehow in the mix of all the other stresses and other miscellaneous stuff going on, within in a few months into deployment it had become an 'in' thing.
The Cobras started out as a group of 15P's in our section and soon expanded beyond that. My friend went to the patch show on the FOB we were on and had little banners made for everyone in the group. Before too long, individuals you would consider senior ranking were also sporting the 'Cobras' banner. Although it was more of an elementary school thing, in the midst of most of our first deployment and adjusting to being where we were, it allowed a chance to laugh at something dumb from time to time.
The Cobras started out as a group of 15P's in our section and soon expanded beyond that. My friend went to the patch show on the FOB we were on and had little banners made for everyone in the group. Before too long, individuals you would consider senior ranking were also sporting the 'Cobras' banner. Although it was more of an elementary school thing, in the midst of most of our first deployment and adjusting to being where we were, it allowed a chance to laugh at something dumb from time to time.
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