WHY THIS SECTION IS CALLED "THE BIG PICTURE"...
From the 1950s through the 1960s, the Army produced a ground-breaking television series called "The Big Picture" from the Army Pictorial Center (APC) in Long Island City, Queens, NY.  Much like this fine newsletter you're reading, The Big Picture covered a wide range of subjects, telling the Army's story in history and current events of the time. The half-hour weekly program featured famous -- or before-they-were-famous -- actors and actresses in top quality productions, all filmed on the stages of what is now known today as the Kaufman Astoria Studios (where "The Cosby Show" was shot for NBC in the 1980s, and has been the permanent residence for PBS' "Sesame Street").

From 1942 to its closure and relocation in 1970 to the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, the APC produced training films for Soldiers and documentaries for the public, telling the Army's story on the big and little screens.

In a future edition of The BAYONET, we'll explore the former Army Pictorial Center -- the big studio that was also a small Army post that occupied several blocks in Astoria, NY; and just minutes from Manhattan.

DoD's Pentagon Channel shows The Big Picture films in their "Battleground" series that airs daily at 2:30am, 7am, 3pm & 11pm (eastern).  If you don't receive The Pentagon Channel from your cable or satellite provider, you can watch a live stream of the channel 24/7 at www.pentagonchannel.mil. Click on "watch live" tab in the upper right hand corner to view the streams.

NOW you know where the name for this section came from...

THOUGHTS ON MEMORIAL DAY 2009...
What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Beyond the Monday off from work, the annual picnic, the camp-out, the parade, the backyard barbecue and the never-ending holiday retail sales lies the heart of the matter. It is a time to pause and reflect on the lives lost by those in-uniform for the defense of freedom.

While we honor our past and present heroes in America’s armed forces, remember President Abraham Lincoln’s thoughtful words: “Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”

As we gather together for the many festivities and commemorative ceremonies on Memorial Day, I hope everyone will take a moment to demonstrate our continuing appreciation for those who have fought, and who continue to fight, to ensure that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

TAPS...
The staff of Army TWS and The BAYONET send our deepest condolences and prayers to the families of the five servicemembers killed at the Camp Liberty combat stress counseling center.

In the wake of this tragedy, if you know someone -- or you need help yourself, don't be afraid to ask for it. The stigma that some "leaders" put on a service member that asking for help is a sign of weakness. That, in my opinion, is for fools and idiots. It's a human condition -- and none of us are super-human. And certainly those "leaders" who go by the "suck it up and press on" mentality when you're hurting back in-garrison or back home are the certainly the LAST ones I want to lead me.

We aren't Rambos, superheroes or immortal gods.

I'm reminded of a phrase one of my military leadership mentors told me years ago when I was going through a rough patch in my life: "How can you lead others if you cannot lead yourself?"

If you need help, seek help.

Until next time...

Jon Yim
Editor

Combined news sources

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A Soldier based in Bamberg, Germany has been charged in the May 11 deaths of five fellow servicemembers at a combat stress center at Camp Liberty, Iraq after he allegedly wrested a gun from an armed escort as he was being removed from the mental health clinic and then returned to the clinic and opened fire, according to The Associated Press.

SHOOTER IDENTIFIED
Military officials in Baghdad identified Army SGT John M. Russell, 44, of Sherman, Texas, as being held in military police custody at Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, and has been charged with five specifications of murder and one of aggravated assault, said Army MAJ Hunter Holliday, a military spokesman in Baghdad.

Russell is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, based in Bamberg, Germany.

Holliday said the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command is investigating the incident, and that a separate investigation is looking at the overall behavioral health services being offered in Iraq.

VICTIMS' NAMES RELEASED
Defense Department officials released the names of the five servicemembers killed at the Camp Liberty combat stress clinic.

The dead were identified as:
-- MAJ Matthew P. Houseal, 54, of Amarillo, TX, assigned to the 55th Medical Company in Indianapolis;
-- SGT Christian E. Bueno-Galdos, 25, of Paterson, NJ, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany;
-- SPC Jacob D. Barton, 20, of Lenox, MO, assigned to the 277th Engineer Company, 420th Engineer Brigade, Waco, Texas;
-- PFC Michael E. Yates Jr., 19, of Federalsburg, MD, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany, and;
-- Navy Commander (O5) Charles K. Springle, 52, of Wilmington, NC, a mental heath specialist at the Camp Liberty stress clinic.

In a briefing in Iraq, Army MG David Perkins, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, told reporters that the two officers killed were staff members at the Combat Stress Control Center at Camp Liberty, where Russell was being treated. The three enlisted soldiers were at the clinic at the time of the shooting. Russell was apprehended by military police outside the clinic just after the shooting, Perkins said.

Russell was referred to the clinic for counseling about a week before the shooting. Russell’s commander had taken away his personal weapon, and how and where Russell was able to get another weapon is part of the investigation that’s under way, Perkins said.

All soldiers in Iraq typically carry a weapon and ammunition, even while on a base.

Russell’s unit was based at Camp Victory, and was preparing to leave Iraq. He had been deployed to Iraq at least two other times, Perkins said. Camp Victory is part of the Victory Base Complex, and it houses the headquarters for Multinational Corps Iraq. Camp Liberty also is on the complex. The clinic is located near the headquarters of Multinational Division Baghdad.

Army MG Daniel Bolger, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad said that if there’s one thing leaders have learned from the war, it’s that not all injuries are physical. “So you’ve got to have that door open for the guys,” he added.

In Iraq, soldiers can be referred for treatment at the clinic by unit doctors, or they can self-refer. But, despite senior leaders’ best efforts, Bolger said, some servicemembers still perceive a stigma attached to seeking mental-health treatment. It is especially difficult, he noted, for those in leadership positions to seek the help they need.

“[Russell is] in a leadership capacity, and to make that trip down there is a tough decision for either him or his chain of command to make,” Bolger said. “But…we have those facilities and care available.”

Alongside the criminal investigation, Army officials are formally investigating the policies and availability of behavioral health services in Iraq, officials said.

“One of the goals on mental health on the battlefield, just like with a bullet wound, [is that] you always want to treat it as far forward as possible,” Bolger said. “So we try really hard to get those folks … to meet with folks to see this early.”

SECDEF EXPRESSES HORROR, REGRET OVER SLAYINGS
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Defense Department will devote its “highest-priority attention” to the slaying of five US servicemembers in Baghdad.

“I would like to express my horror and deep regret over today's shooting incident at Camp Liberty in Iraq,” Gates said at a Pentagon news briefing. “I offer my sympathy and condolences to the families of those who were killed."

”Such a tragic loss of life at the hands of our own forces is a cause for great and urgent concern, and I can assure you that it will get this department's highest-priority attention,” Gates said.

Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said the incident underscores the need for the US to ramp up efforts to relieve stress related to combat.

“It does speak to me about the need for us to redouble our efforts…in terms of dealing with the stress, dealing with the whole issue of those kinds of things. And it also speaks to the issue of multiple deployments, increasing dwell time, all those things that we're focused on to try to…relieve that stress.”

Gates and Mullen joined a chorus of defense officials that reacted to the incident with horror and regret, offering condolences to the victims and their families.

“Any time we lose one of our own, it affects us all,” said Army COL John Robinson, Multinational Corps Iraq spokesman. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all the servicemembers involved in this terrible tragedy.”

Featured Updates

TWS Blogs
Hot on the heels of last months new 'SitRep' feature comes another addition to your profile page - Blogs:

Like any right page section, adding an entry could not be easier - just hit the Add button. You can also upload photos in support of your blog. However unlike most sections (though similar to SitRep entries) we also list the latest blog entries on the Home tab, which means it could not be easier to quickly see who has posted new entries since you last visited the site:

Member Groups
As well as Blogs we have added another new Profile right page section - member groups:

Again just click the Add button to affiliate with any of our comprehensive list of suggested groups. If you dont see what you are looking for just let us know and we will update our list.

By joining a group you will not only be able to locate like minded members, but participate on dedicated forum boards (we created a board per group but restrict visibility to the members of the group).

Latest Photos
You will now see a set of thumbnails for your latest photos and videos uploaded to your profile (in any album):

On the Home tab (What's New) where we list all member's latest photos you can now opt to see that list filtered to just Assignment, or Combat photos:

Pie Charts
Lastly they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we have added pie charts to our Statistics - Top 20 Lists feature (Home Tab) to help you visualize the distributions we give. For example this is Top 20 Decorations worn by our members (based on a total of almost 1.3 million decorations listed!):

Edited by Jon Yim
Special to The BAYONET

SAN DIEGO - News of the shooting at Camp Liberty stirred reactions from our Army TWS forum members. Featured here are some of their thoughts of the shooting in Iraq that killed four Soldiers and one Sailor.

Here's a sampling of posts we received.

(My) first tour was 15 months -- only 3 months after AIT, and then PCS'd; and 10 months later, here I sit in Iraq once again with 6 months in and 6 months left to go! I was in that area where it happened just a hour prior, that could have been me, who knows?

But the question we are all askin (sic) here is how much "combat" stress could he have had with his MOS. We don't know, but fact remains that what he did was unspeakable! Like someone else mention(ed), he was supposed to protect me and our fellow brothers and sisters in arms! Not harm us! Many soldiers sadly suffer from Combat Stress but they don't go and shoot 5 innocent people! I do not feel sorry for the guy at all! I say "guy" because he is far from a man! He is a coward who just flipped 6 families lives upside down to include his own, SELFISH! Very selfish!

A father, a son, a brother, a friend was lost on that day! What will he say to the children of the father that he killed? 'Oh, I was stressed and flipped out!" Give me a flippin' break!
My heart goes out to the families and my prayers are with them!
- SPC E. (QM)

May God have mercy on the shooter.  I have absolutely none.
- LTC G. (IN)

So hard to believe. I joined the military to have a bigger family -- someone I can really depend on. Now I'm questioning my actions. If you can't trust your fellow brothers, then who can you trust?
- PFC C. (JA)

It's terrible, but...I'm not going to play Monday Night Quarterback on this, but it is obvious that extended/repeated tours of duty, combined with the neature of combat in iraq have created high levels of stress and anxiety among our fighting men and women. Suicide rates have increased, even among military recruiters, who are pushed to the breaking point to get recruits; soldiers being extended (or Stop Loss) on their tours is also a factor in this.

Our military is stretched thin; young people are not recruiting as much as before the war and older soldiers are being retired with very few people to fill their spots, so more and more servicemen and women are being sent back to the frontlines.

Being in the military is not easy, specially during wartime. We go through a lot of stress, stress that is not common to your average 19-year-old PFC; we saw this in Vietnam a lot and it goes by many names "Shell Shock", "1000 yard Stare", "Battle Fatigue"... Nobody can prepare you for real combat, no amount of intense training and no yelling from a Drill Sergeant can ever prepare you for the realities of life in the combat zone.

I feel terrible for the families of the soldiers slain and for the family of the soldier that is responsible for this; the true answers may never be known, but it is sadly a byproduct of this war and of all wars.

We cannot blame this on a single person or entity or government agency... All we can do is just hope that we can prevent it from happening again.
- SPC R. (MP)

Story by Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates named Army LTG Stanley McChrystal to replace Army GEN David D. McKiernan as the top US commander in Afghanistan, citing the need for fresh leadership as the US takes a new approach to the region.

Gates recommended that McChrystal, currently the director of the Joint Staff, replace McKiernan as commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force and US forces in Afghanistan.

The defense secretary said he reached the decision following consultations with Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army GEN David H. Petraeus, commander of US Central Command; and after gaining approval of President Barack Obama.

"I made these decisions only after careful consideration of a great number of factors, including the advice of Admiral Mullen and General Petraeus," he said. "In the end, I believe my decisions are in the best interest of our national security and the success of our mission in Afghanistan."

Gates also recommended David Rodgriguez, the defense secretary's senior military advisor, for the position of deputy commander US Forces Afghanistan.

New Discounts added this month to our new links section on the TWS Home page highlighting Free and Deeply Discounted services for Soldiers.

The providers listed below have agreed to offer their services for free or at deep discounts to members of Army TWS - please take a look at what they have to offer.

If you or someone you know provide a product or service that you are willing to offer for free or at a deep discount to fellow Soldiers on TWS, please us know so that we can add your link to the TWS home page and possibly feature it in a future newsletter.  Please email the link(s) to  wtprater@togetherweserved.com

These are Free listings and not paid advertisements.

Free Music Download for TWS Members!

Story by C. Todd Lopez
Special to The BAYONET

WASHINGTON - For fiscal year 2010, the Army has requested in its base budget $142 billion dollars for a range of expenditures that include a focus on taking care of Soldiers and their families.

Also significant in the budget request, forwarded last week by the president to Congress, are items that have been trimmed. Portions of Future Combat Systems have been cut, for instance, as has the Army's ownership of the Joint Cargo Aircraft. And both enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses have been reduced.

"One of the main themes is taking care of families and Soldiers," said William H. Campbell, acting director, Army Budget Office. "That's a theme both the secretary of Defense, the secretary of the Army, and the chief of staff of the Army have emphasized as we built this budget."

Included in those family- and Soldier-friendly budget requests are funding for Soldier programs, wounded warrior programs, increases to child care centers and services, and an increase in family-support activities. Also included are increases in the quality of facilities, Campbell said.

The costs of providing for such things as warfighter and family services; childcare and youth programs; morale, welfare, and recreation; and voluntary education/tuition assistance are part of a more than $40 billion operations and maintenance expenditure. Those O&M funds also include recruiting, training, and maintenance of equipment, facilities and infrastructure.

The budget also includes provisions that will affect the wallets of Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians -- a pay increase of 2.9 percent for Soldiers and 2 percent for civilians, said Lt. Gen. Edgar E. Stanton III, military deputy for budget.

This year there's funding in the military personnel budget for 547,400 active-duty Soldiers, 358,200 Army National Guardsmen, and 205,000 Reserve Soldiers. With the increases in Soldier funding, the Army has met its growth goals. More Soldiers in the mix translates to more time at home and more robust training, according to Stanton.

"The Army in all three components has achieved its projected strength levels and we will stay at those strength levels both in the short term and the mid-term," Stanton said. "The focus now will be on utilizing the Army Force Generation model as we hope to increase dwell and reduce deployed time. That will allow us to refocus training for the full spectrum operations as opposed to the current emphasis on COIN (Counter-Insurgency)."

Campbell also said the Secretary of Defense decided to not stand up three additional brigades and to instead use those Soldiers to bolster the manning of other units.

"That will help fill out units," Campbell said. "It'll decrease the need to cross-level between units as forces begin to deploy. And combined with a structured delivered drawdown plan that will reduce demand, we should see an increase in dwell time for units."

Re-enlistment bonuses have gone down from 2009 to 2010 because of the success of the Army in both re-enlistment and recruitment, said Campbell.

"We still have some moneys in the budget for re-enlistment bonuses -- but there is a decrease in the budget for bonus payments," he said.

From FCS, the entire line of manned ground vehicles -- eight systems all based on a common chassis -- have been canceled.

"(Secretary of Defense Robert Gates') guidance...directs that the Army will restructure its Future Combat Systems," Stanton said. "This includes halting the development and production of the manned ground vehicles and directs that the Army relook at the requirement for the vehicle in the context of the current fight as well as the future fight and come forward with a new concept for an MGV."

Stanton said Gates, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. have directed research into a new manned ground vehicle be completed by the Army's Training and Doctrine Command.

Despite the loss of FCS's MGVs, the fruits of the work done by researchers will continue to be pushed to the field through "spinouts," Stanton said.

"We will roll out the spinouts, these are tactical unmanned sensors, unmanned aerial sensors and the non-line-of-sight launch system," Stanton said. "That technology, as it comes to fruition, will be rolled out to all brigade combat teams and done so in an accelerated manner. We will do it to all 73 BCTs and not just 15 BCTs. We are going to start in 2011 and finish in about 2025. It's going to take time, clearly, to get to all 73."

Also significant about the FY 2010 budget cycle is that both the base budget and the $83 billion "Overseas Contingency Operations" budget were submitted at the same time -- in prior years that OCO budget was called a "supplemental" and was submitted after the base Army budget.

The base budget is specifically for funding training and equipping of the Army. The OCO budget is meant to address expenses related to actual Army operations.

Story by AF Capt. Shannon Collins
Photos by AF SSgt. Bennie J. Davis III
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center Public Affairs

DOVER AFB, DE - An Airman irons the long sleeved shirt, giving it sharp military creases. A Soldier and a Marine spend hours building ribbon racks, making sure every ribbon is correct and that the devices are equally polished and bright. A Sailor looks over the jacket, trousers and shirt, ensuring all "Irish pennants" are cut, before steaming them one last time.

The Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors who work in the uniform section of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center here take their job very seriously. The uniforms they work on will be the final uniforms fallen servicemembers will wear as they are cared for with dignity, honor and respect and then sent home to their loved ones.

Air Force SSgt. Charles Anthony Bell, a mortuary technician, has been with the center since June 2008. He oversees the uniform section, working with the liaisons from the Army, Marines and Navy, as well as making sure the section is stocked with uniforms, rank insignias, ribbons, patches and more. The team spends hours preparing uniforms for the fallen, even though the uniforms may never be seen.

"I want everything to be as perfect as possible," Sergeant Bell said. "Even though the shirts are covered by the jackets, we still take the time to clip the strings on all of the buttons, around the collars and the pockets, making sure there are no strings. We polish the devices on the ribbons, making sure they're equally nice and shiny. We check every detail, making sure the uniform is 100 percent correct."

Details are very important for Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Van Orden, a hospital corpsman and Navy-Marine Corps liaison, who has been at the center for two years.

"Everybody, everybody is treated with respect, dignity and honor," the ten-year military mortician said. "We take pride in what we do.

"We know that when the uniform leaves here, it has our stamp of approval, our name on it," she continued. "We know that people are going to be viewing their loved ones at funerals. When they open that casket, they see the military creases; they see that we took our time."

Taking their time to make sure everything is correct, the joint team uses a variety of tools such as a ruler crafted specifically for the uniforms, stand up steamers, mini grinders and more. They also engrave urns and produce uniform nametags.

Army SFC Jimmy Toro, Army liaison and uniform section Army NCOIC, said measurements are taken as soon as the servicemember begins processing.

"We get sizes as soon as (the fallen heroes) arrive in the building," said the deployed Army Reservist from the 311th Quartermaster Company, Puerto Rico. "We put together their uniforms and take (the items) to the alterations shop, getting the patches and stripes sewn on the uniform. We verify the proper awards and decorations for that (servicemember), and we put it together."

The team works around the clock to get the uniforms put together as quickly and accurately as possible, so that the fallen can be sent home to their families.

"Everyone is taken care of here to the 100 percent-level of everyone's ability," said Marine LCpl. Adam Knebler, a Marine liaison from Marine Corps Casualty, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. "Sometimes I'm here 12 to 14 hours. I don't want to leave until the mission's accomplished. I stay until the mission's done. The mission is first here for everybody."

A Marine reservist from Wichita, Kansas, LCpl. Knebler volunteered for a one-year assignment here. He plans to become a chaplain so that he can serve Marines both downrange and here.

SFC Toro took a one-year deployment here but enjoyed the work he did so well, that he volunteered for two more years.

"This is an honor for me, having this opportunity to serve those (servicemembers) who have given their lives in combat," said the 22-year veteran. "That's my satisfaction. I will do it for as long as I can. It's the best job I've ever had in the Army, serving these past two years at Dover. I feel I'm doing something for servicemembers and their families who await the return of their fallen heroes back home."

Though 21-year-old Army SPC Xavier Gonzales has only been with the center for four months and with the Army three years or so, he is fully committed to the mission for the families of his fellow Soldiers and for his home, the US territory of Puerto Rico.

"I'm here for a reason, for the mission," he said. "This mission is the most respectful thing I can do for a servicemember who's died in combat. It's an honor. I've got to do something for the United States; they always do something for us in Puerto Rico; it's important for Puerto Rico. Most importantly, it's important for the families of the fallen."

For Sergeant Bell, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan gave him a deeper appreciation for his current mission.

"I've been in some very dangerous areas during my deployments to Kirkuk, Iraq, and Kandahar, Afghanistan," said Sergeant Bell, his voice quavering. "I've been in a few situations myself and can remember many nights of standing on the flightline, saluting and paying respect to those who have given their lives as they were being loaded onto an aircraft to return home. It just creates a level of respect for our fallen that is hard to explain."

The hardest part for the team is leaving.

PO2 Van Orden is only one of 16 morticians in the Navy's Hospital Corpsman (HM) rating. She was a small town funeral director and licensed mortician for 10 years before she joined the Sea Service. She said she always dreamed of working here. Now that her two-year assignment is up, she may turn in the Navy uniform, just so that she can stay and perform the mission here.

"My enlistment is up in November, and I plan on dedicating all my time to here," she said, holding back tears. "I always dreamed of working here. The Navy brought me here, and I'm not going to leave. It's all about helping the families. I really, truly care about them and what they're going through. I want to help them."

As a Navy liaison, she meets with the escorts, who are sometimes family members. This week, she met with and supported a husband of a fallen Sailor.

"As I was pressing a uniform," she said, "I thought about that husband who came today and how hard it must be to lose your wife or your husband. You're just glad that you can be here, even if it's just to hand them a tissue, anything to make it better for them."

The families and the mission are why SSgt. Bell, who's been in the Air Force eight years, wants to stay here as long as he can.

"I wish I could finish out my career here, helping the families and caring for our fallen," he said, choking with emotion. "This is definitely a special place. This mission is so important because it gives the families one less thing they have to be concerned about while they are already going through such a rough time.

"Their loved ones are cared for and treated with the utmost respect and dignity here," he continued. "Everything we do here is to honor those who truly lived 'service before self' and to honor those families who have supported their loved ones as they protect our great nation."

As fallen servicemembers arrive at the center, the uniform section team takes measurements, puts together the uniform items and sends them to alternations. Then they carefully put together the ribbon rack, ensuring accuracy and that all of the devices are of equal brightness. After ironing and steaming, the team delicately dresses the fallen in their final uniforms for their final resting places.

- What was your best duty station or assignment and why?
- What is the recipe for that good chow you know how to make out of an MRE?
- Where's the coldest beer in Korea?
- Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, or things to watch out for if you have a disease?

These are just a few of the topics that are covered by the many Forums on Army TWS. Our forums provide you, the members, a variety of places to discuss with other members the many topics we have in common. Those members still on active duty would probably like to know about good assignments when they make out their "dream sheets" or talk to their Retention NCOs.

Those who have worked as Retention NCOs or served on a selection board might want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to talk about their next assignment.

If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you give others about the disease and things to watch out for with diabetes? Encourage a fellow Soldier to keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time.

These are but a couple of topics that are available for you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with other Soldiers...or just vent your frustrations.

So pull up a foot-locker and start shooting the breeze, the forums are for YOU!

PURPLE HAZE - SFC Ricardo Gutierrez runs to the next obstacle while testing for the Expert Field Medical Badge at Camp Bullis, TX. The course tests a soldier's mental and physical toughness during a real time medical evacuation.
- Photo by Benjamin Faske

HOME SAFE - More than 200 Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, came back to a homecoming ceremony earlier this month on Fort Hood's Cooper Field after a year-long tour in Iraq.

SIGHTING-IN - Using his TOW missile launcher, PFC David Mitchell scans the landscape surrounding Vehicle Patrol Base Badel at the mouth of the Narang Valley in Konar Province, Afghanistan. Mitchell is assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Battalion. The base has closed down enemy activity in the valley and in Narang, Chowkay and Nurgal districts.
- Photo by SGT Amber Robinson

KEEP 'EM MOVING - SPC Janice Parisi, an intelligence analyst assigned to Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, keeps traffic flowing through her entry control point (ECP) by giving commands from a loudspeaker. Parisi, from Fort Wayne, IN, whose husband is deployed to Afghanistan with the Army, keeps safe by constantly monitoring her lanes and checking people's badges daily.

BLUES BROTHERS - "Blues Platoon" Soldiers of Company F, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, move forward shoulder-to-shoulder, with live ammo while practicing team movement drills at an Advanced Close Quarters Marksmanship course, at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait. The ACQM course sharpens Soldiers' skills before moving north to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

RE-UPPED BY SECDEF - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates reenlists Soldiers based out of Forward Operating Base Airborne in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan.
- DoD photo by MSgt. Jerry Morrison, USAF

AT THE READY - Civl War reenactors pass with sabers drawn during the opening ceremonial parade at Fort Jackson's Armed Forces Day celebration. Visitors braved rain showers, high humidity and sweltering temperatures to enjoy static displays and trips back in time with living military history exhibits from the 1870 Buffalo Soldiers through current combat operations. 

'THE LAST 100 YARDS' - One of the life-sized dioramas at the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center outside of Fort Benning, GA, depicts infantry Soldiers in Operation Iraq Freedom. The Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle used in this life-size exhibit came from the 4th Infantry Division after being damaged during combat operations in Iraq. This is one of several full-size displays along a 100-yard-long gently inclining ramp, signifying the Infantry’s role in taking the last 100 yards of any battle. The museum is slated to open to the public in June.

VA Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it has received more than 25,000 claims for education benefits during the first two weeks that Veterans and servicemembers could apply online for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

“We are very pleased with the tremendous interest in the Post-9/11 GI Bill,” Patrick W. Dunne, VA’s under secretary for benefits, said. “The number of applications submitted in the first two weeks clearly shows the value and importance of this new benefit for Veterans.” 

Passed by Congress last year, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original Veterans Educational Assistance Act was signed into law in 1944.  It provides eligible individuals with tuition payments to assist them in getting a college education. 

Many participants will also receive a housing allowance while they are studying and a stipend for books and supplies.  Under the new GI Bill, certain members of the armed forces may transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent children. 

With the large numbers of Veterans and servicemembers expected to apply for the new program, VA projects a 20 percent to 25 percent increase in the total number of participants in VA’s education programs.  

Qualified people will receive a “Certificate of Eligibility” and information about their benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  Applicants may expect to receive their certificate within 24 days of submission.  Under federal law VA cannot pay benefits until Aug. 1, 2009.  The new education benefit is for Veterans, servicemembers, reservists, and National Guard members who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001.

Veterans can also apply online through the GI Bill Web site at www.GIBILL.VA.gov.  Additionally, paper applications are accepted at VA regional processing offices located in Muskogee, OK; Atlanta, GA; St. Louis, MO; and Buffalo, NY.  Veterans who apply online and provide a specific e-mail address will receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of their claims. 

The number of education benefits’ applications submitted in the first two weeks is more than three times the rate of benefit applications usually received through the Veterans Online Application system (VONAPP).  VONAPP is used for all education benefit programs, as well as for submission of applications for VA disability compensation and pension benefits. 

As a result of this unprecedented volume, some applicants experienced slow response times or error messages on Friday, May 1.  VA immediately increased system capacity, and by May 2, system performance was fully restored. 

“Because of the large number of applications expected to be received, we encourage Veterans interested in attending school this fall to apply early online,” Dunne added.

Additional information about the new program and VA’s other educational benefit programs can be obtained by visiting VA’s Web site or by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (442-4551). 

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Story & photos by Michael A. Glasch
USAG Fort Jackson

FORT JACKSON, SC - While the vast majority of new Soldiers arrive to Basic Combat Training in a bus from the airport, the Army's newest private arrived in a style befitting his cult-like status. Private Stephen Colbert, of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, showed up in front of the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) earlier this month, in a stretch limousine ready to begin his in-processing.

Colbert got off on the wrong foot when he dropped his bag in front of his drill sergeant and promptly asked, "Can I get a bellman?"

Colbert and a production crew spent the day filming scenes of Colbert being put through various BCT training events under the instruction and watchful eye of his drill sergeant, SFC Demetrius Chantz, an instructor at the US Army Drill Sergeant School.

The scenes are for The Colbert Report's upcoming trip to the Persian Gulf. The show will broadcast for an entire week from the region.

"We were invited last July, but I wasn't able to go over at the time because I was committed to finishing the election cycle," Colbert said. "But as soon as that was over, I approached General Petraeus' office to see if the offer still stood. We couldn't be more thrilled to be going over there and having the honor of taking a shot at making the troops laugh."

From drill and ceremony, to team building exercises, to rapelling down victory tower, Chantz knew he would have his hands full with the political satirist.

"I had seen his show before, so I knew going in how funny he was," said Chantz.

The drill sergeant added that he knew ahead of time what scenes they would be filming, but that the crew did not give him any specific lines to say.

"It was all ad-lib," Chantz said. "I just responded like I would on the trail."

When asked how PVT Colbert did, Chantz just shook his head in disgust.

"He wouldn't graduate," he said. "We would be in trouble if he was in uniform."

Colbert admitted that his character wouldn't perform well in the team atmosphere of the Army.

"He's all for himself. When we did the five wall obstacle I didn't put any effort into it. I just went limp like a rag doll (and let the other Soldiers push me over the wall)," Colbert said. "But that's my character; he's just all for himself. He's a terrible team member."

While that aspect of his character does not reflect the real Stephen Colbert, he does share his on-air personas admiration for servicemembers. Through his show, he has helped raised money for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, and is currently helping to raise money for the Support Our Troops' Children organization.

Colbert sees taking his show on the road as one more way to thank all of those who serve.

"One of the reasons we are broadcasting the shows, is that while we are doing it for those who are going to be there that night in person, this is a great opportunity to salute all the troops for everything they do," he said.

Sincerely,
The ATWS Administration Team
http://army.togetherweserved.com