143rd Su stain ment Command (Ex pedition ary)

ESC Today
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 “Sustinenoum Victoriam” DECEMBER 3, 2007

In This Issue Soldiers battle in cooking

The Full Spectrum p. 2 competition final round
Warrior Citizen
Awards p. 4
Training
Conference p. 5
Loggerhead p. 6
Command Sgt.
Major’s Corner p. 7
Change of
Command p. 7
Presidential Visit p. 8
Veteran’s Day
Parades p. 9
Welcome Home p. 10
The Fine Print p. 11
Recognition p. 11
Arabic Rosetta
Stone p. 12
On-Line Courses p. 12
Pvt. Murphy’s Law p. 13

143rd Sustainment
Command (Expeditionary)
Commander
Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz
Command Sgt. Maj.
Thomas H. LeGare
Public Affairs Officer
Capt. Steven J. Alvarez
ESC Today Editor
Sgt. Yvonne C. Vairma
Staff Sgt. Ralph L. Stout of the 196th Palletized Loading System Co. leads his troops at the Con-
nelly Award Competition during a tactical exercise that provided security for the field kitchen.
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Christine L. Soldiers of the 143rd Sustainment
Andreu-Wilson Command (Expeditionary) competed for
204th Public Affairs Detachment the Philip A. Connelly Award Nov. 17.
The prestigious award, established in
AVON PARK AIR FORCE RANGE, 1968, is presented annually to the best
Fla. - Early in the morning, as a bright food service personnel in the Army. This
blue sky with huge white clouds pro- is the eleventh year the 143rd has com-
vided perfect shade, 20 Soldiers who peted for the award.
had worked non-stop for two weeks en- “This is the Super Bowl of food ser-
sured that they had completed all tasks
for their competition. (See Connelly Award p. 3)

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 PAGE 2 E SC T O D AY V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5

The Full Spectrum

Safety is the greatest gift of all
By Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz
Commander, 143rd Sustainment
Command (Expeditionary)
As we prepare to celebrate the
upcoming holiday season, I send
my heartfelt thanks and apprecia-
tion to all of you, to the men and
women who are serving around
the world and to all of your fami-
lies.
Historically, during the holi-
days, the Army loses approxi-
mately 15 to 20 Soldiers to pre-
ventable and devastating acci-
dents. With the exception of com-
bat fatalities, vehicular accidents
continue as the leading cause of
Soldier deaths. Alcohol is a major
contributor to vehicle accidents.
Across America, alcohol related
accidents kill 71 people and injure
2,000 every day; that’s more than
25,000 deaths per year.
As you celebrate the holidays, I
ask each of you to take time to
carefully plan your activities and
remain mindful of the hazards
that routinely accompany holiday
celebrations. Recognize the spe-
cial hazards associated with
changing weather and take pre-
cautions necessary to protect
yourself and your Army Family. I
want each and every member of
our 143rd ESC team to return
safely to their formation after the
holidays.
I encourage leaders at every
level to employ tested and proven
accident preventative measures to
protect our Soldiers, civilians, and
Army Family members. 143rd
ESC leaders and supervisors must
address each member of their
command to increase awareness
as individuals prepare their travel
plans and holidays activities.
Leaders must ensure that Sol-
diers traveling for the holidays
use the Travel Risk Planning Sys-
tem located at the Army’s Safety
Web site (https://crc.army.mil/). It
is imperative that those of us who
will use America’s busy roadways
effectively plan our travels and
routes. We should all coordinate
with unit leadership to safely exe-
cute holiday travel.
Supervisors should ensure
safety belts are being worn as Sol-
diers arrive and depart from their
Reserve Centers. Above all, we
should remember that we are all
safety officers. As we attend em-
ployer-hosted parties, unit holiday
gatherings and family get-
togethers, we should all keep
safety in our minds and make a
safe holiday season our objective.
In most states it doesn’t take
much to become legally under the
influence of alcohol. Don’t put
yourself and others at risk - take a
cab, use a designated driver or
call someone in your unit to help
you if you feel you’ve had too
much to drink. Don’t risk your
career or your life.
I expect that the coming year
promises excitement for us all. I
wish all of you a wonderful, joyous
and peaceful holiday season. As
we gather around with family and
friends please take a moment and
think about those who are cur-
rently standing in harm’s way in
Afghanistan, Iraq and other
places around the world. Keep
them and their families in your
thoughts and know that our
peaceful holiday season is due to
the efforts of all that serve!
Sustaining Victory - Army Strong!

ESC Today is the monthly command information newsletter of the 143rd

Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and is an authorized publication for
members of the Department of Defense, according to the provisions afforded
by Army Regulation 360-1. The opinions and views expressed in ESC Today
are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or
the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this publication is the
responsibility of the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public
Affairs officer. This publication is written, edited, and published by the pub-
lic affairs office of the 143rd ESC, 9500 Armed Forces Reserve Dr., Orlando,
Fla. 32827. Editorial and photographic submissions can be submitted to
steven.alvarez@usar.army.mil

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 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5
(From Connelly Award p. 1)
vice,” Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harring-
ton, one of the contest evaluators
stated. “There are no higher acco-
lades at this level. It means that
the Soldiers who win are the
cream of the crop.”
After completing a preliminary
round July 14, 2007, and winning
against seven other units, the
143rd ESC was invited to the De-
partment of the Army’s final
round to compete in the Army Re-
serve’s Field Kitchen category.
The 143rd ESC’s team was the
last of the three teams evaluated.
Its Soldiers were competing
against two other Army Reserve
units, the 352th Combat Support
Hospital and the 376th Personnel
Support Battalion.
The cooking team was evalu-
ated on their ability to plan and
execute the creation of a tactical
feeding and cooking area as if in a
combat situation. Various areas
were graded to include: admini-
stration, field sanitation, appear-
Soldiers from the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Headquarters Co.
participate in the Connelly Award food service competition Nov. 17.
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E SC T O D AY
Staff Sgt. Pamela J. Pierre, 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) gives in-
structions to Pfc. Wilma Castellano at the hand washing station at the Connelly
Award competition. Sanitation practices were one area rated at the competition.
ance, kitchen site selection/layout,
serving, equipment, and food
preparation.
Soldiers of the 143rd ESC were
judged by three evaluators, Sgt.
Maj. Harrington, Dave S.
Mitchell, from the International
PAGE 3
Food Service Executives Associa-
tion and Chief Warrant Officer
Five Daniel W. Ormsby, an Army
Reserve food advisor.
Sgt. Maj. Harrington is no
stranger to the competition. He
oversees the Army’s food service
schools and also contended in the
competition for four years. Accord-
ing to Harrington, many units
don’t attempt to compete because
of the intense work involved.
“Detail! Detail! Detail!” stated
Mitchell. “This is key to winning
this competition,” he said as he
walked along the evaluation sites,
pointing to important things that
the evaluators were looking for.
“The 143rd had one of the best
site presentations that we’ve
seen,” stated Mitchell.
Soldiers of the 196th Palletized
Load System Company supported
the competition. They simulated
the security force and also acted
as taste testers for the food.
“If Soldiers went to combat,
they would need good food and
need an opportunity to relax while
eating,” Staff Sgt. Bill E. Ander-
(See Connelly Award p. 4)
 P AGE 4
Citizen Warriors’ war
service recognized
By Capt. Steve Alvarez
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
CAMP BLANDING, Fla. - Sol-
diers from the 257th Transporta-
tion Battalion (Movement Con-
trol) received their Welcome
Home Warrior Citizen awards in
a ceremony held Oct. 14.
“It has been a long time com-
ing for some of you and I am
proud to present you warrior citi-
zens with a well earned award,”
outgoing 257th Commander, Lt.
Col. Barry Bort said.
“I thank you for the sacrifices
you make on a daily basis and
also your Families for the burden
they bear and the unmatched
support they provide,” Lt. Col.
Bort continued. “You are all he-
roes in my book and I salute you
for your selfless service and devo-
tion to duty and country.”
The Soldiers were recognized
Soldiers of the 257th Transportation Bn. stand for the National Anthem before re-
ceiving Welcome Home Warrior Citizen awards. Photo courtesy of 257th Trans. Bn.
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E SC T O D AY
for the major contributions that
each of their units made while
serving in Iraq.
Some of the recognized Sol-
diers were responsible for the off-
load of thousands of containers at
the ports in Kuwait. Others were
responsible for moving containers
and traveling in excess of one mil-
lion miles over the dangerous
highways of Iraq. Additionally,
other units managed and tracked
more than 5,000 convoys and
were responsible for the safe
stowage and distribution of water
used by coalition forces and the
people of Iraq. A total of 149 Sol-
diers received the award.
“In over 25 years of military
service, this award is the one that
I really wanted and it means the
most to me,” Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.)
Adrian Allen said. Sgt 1st Class
Allen is the former detachment
sergeant for the 399th Transpor-
(See Citizen Warriors p. 8)
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
(From Connelly Award p. 3)
son, a security team sergeant
from the 196th said. “This is a
place where we help combat
stress,” he said. “If Soldiers do not
feel safe, then they are not able to
enjoy their food.”
Spc. Joseph J. Callet, motor
transport operator from the 196th
has participated in the competi-
tion as both food taster and as a
member of the competing team.
“Every time I go to one of these
competitions it gets better,” Spc.
Callet said. I’ve noticed that there
seems to be better sanitation
practices and the food has been
real good.”
Staff Sgt. Pamela J. Pierre,
field sanitation non-
commissioned officer in charge for
the 143rd ESC, explained there is
more to the competition than just
cooking.
“We have to ensure that the
food is served at the right tem-
perature, all the dishes are
washed properly, traps are set for
rodents, and oil is disposed of
properly,” Staff Sgt. Pierre said.
“It’s also good practice for us to
work together like this. We simu-
lated and practiced so that we’ll
be ready when we go to war.”
Results will be announced in
December 2007 and the award
will be presented in April 2008.
One Soldier from the winning
team and one runner-up will be
selected by their command to go
to a professional culinary arts
school, according to Chief War-
rant Officer Ormsby.
Spc. Patricia D. Lilly, a food
specialist of the 143rd ESC, sum-
marized the importance of the
competition in simple terms:
“There’s nothing like a hot plate
of good food!”
Get Army News at:
www.army.mil/news
 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5 E SC T O D AY PAGE 5

Army Reservists support

conference, gain training
Story and photos by Capt. Steve Alvarez
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

ORLANDO, Fla. - As the Humvee tumbled side over

side, the soldiers inside shouted: “Rollover!”
They braced themselves as sand and debris once
on the floorboards now fell on them, sprinkling them
with dust. After quickly assessing the situation, the
soldiers got themselves out of the upside-down vehi-
cle and pulled a wounded comrade out with them.
The unique thing about this rollover is that it did-
n’t happen in Iraq or Afghanistan but inside the Or-
lando Convention Center, where members of the
armed forces, government, defense industry and aca-
demia had gathered for the Interservice/Industry
Training, Simulation and Education Conference. The
Staff Sgt. Scott Zeman of the 76th Terminal Supervision
Nov. 26-29 conference promoted cooperation between Team responds to a sniper's ambush at the Interservice/
organizations to improve training and education pro- Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in
grams and identify common training issues in the Orlando, Fla., Nov. 26, 2007. The ambush was part of a
development of multi-service programs. simulator training scenario.
Soldiers from 143rd Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary), partnered with the Army’s Program item. We know Soldiers are getting killed this way,”
Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instru- Segreaves said.
mentation (PEOP STRI) to support the conference The 16 Soldiers supporting the conference were
since both organizations are based in Orlando. from units of the 143rd ESC and from Florida. All
PEO STRI provides interoperable training and were Reservists from the 196th Transportation
testing solutions and program management as well Company, the 1159th, 194th and the 76th Terminal
as life-cycle support for the Army’s advanced training Supervision Teams. Many of the Soldiers supporting
systems. The 143rd ESC commands and controls the conference have served as transporters in the
units, provides logistical planning and support opera- U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
tions and provides combat service support forces ca- “This is really good training,” Sgt. Laura Jordan
pable of supporting full-spectrum logistics. said. Ordinarily, Sgt. Jordan drives a palletized
The partnership enabled soldiers to receive train- loading system truck with the 196th, but she in-
ing and provided the defense industry with real sol- sisted the Humvee training is still beneficial. “It
diers to demonstrate and test emerging technologies. gives you the idea of what it is really like.”

“We want to take advantage of doing some train-
ing as well as supporting,” Sgt. 1st Class Michael
Segreaves, of the 143rd, said.
“Repetition in demonstrating this stuff has its
benefits. Being upside down and extracting yourself
from a vehicle -- there are hardly any opportunities
to get this type of training; (the conference) provides
this opportunity,” he said. “Rollover training is a hot
About 100 feet from the rollover simulator, three
Soldiers were patrolling an Iraqi street. The sce-
nario was simulated on a large color screen as the
Soldiers moved throughout the warren of streets
carrying M-4 rifles at the ready.
Suddenly gunfire erupted, and the team leader
shouted, “Sniper!” The Soldiers assumed firing posi-
(See Conference p. 6)

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 P AGE 6 E SC T O D AY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

(From Conference p. 5) scenarios and monitored and scored each driver

tions and opened fire, aiming and shooting their ri-
fles at the screen. As the rifles cracked, rounds
bounced off the building where the sniper was
perched atop a roof.
“Reloading!” one Soldier shouted as he knelt to
reload his weapon. The other two kept a steady flow
of rounds on the target to protect the Soldier reload-
ing. Before he finished, they killed the insurgent.
On an adjacent roof in the simulation, a civilian
peeked out at the firefight. One of the Soldiers
watched him carefully, but did nothing more. Below,
villagers scrambled about on the busy streets.
The simulator is an extension of the Army’s
marksmanship training program, but it introduces
the added elements of non-combatants, an urban
environment and other Soldiers in the mission.
“This does help with unit cohesion,” Staff Sgt.
Scott Zeman, of the 76th Terminal Supervision
Team, said after he and two other Soldiers encoun-
tered a sniper ambush in the simulator. He also
noted that the rifle’s recoil was realistic, and his
teammates added that not only did the scenario
simulator training help prepare them for duty on the
frontlines, but it also taught them to communicate
with each other during hostile actions.
On the other side of the show hall, Spc. Richard
Abreu stood near a driving simulator, waiting for
another shot at driving the Stryker simulator. The
simulator consists of a vehicle cab, instructor opera-
tor system, a visual system, freedom motion system
all linked by computer systems.
The instructor selected visual and mechanical
trainee. The instructor could introduce malfunctions
and emergencies in both tactical and nontactical envi-
ronments.
“It feels real,” Spc. Abreu said of the movement.
“Especially when off-roading, the bouncing seems so
real.” Spc. Abreu served as a scout in Operation Iraqi
Freedom with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment,
and said he believes simulators would help those en-
tering vehicular professions.
“It would be real good for people just coming into
the military,” Spc. Abreu said.
The simulators can familiarize Soldiers with vari-
ous conditions without traveling to actual locations.
Desert, mountain and snowy environments can all be
trained from one location when the simulator is pro-
grammed accordingly.
For his first try behind the wheel of the Stryker
simulator, Master Sgt. Daniel Lopez asked his in-
structor to introduce 100 mph winds into his scenario,
with snow and hills.
“I was trying to drive up a hill and didn’t give it
enough power, and I started to slide back down the
hill,” Master Sgt. Lopez said, smiling. “I also overcor-
rected with the wind.”
Master Sgt. Lopez said such training for new sol-
diers would be beneficial. Having been involved in
rollover accidents, he said he knows the value of simu-
lators firsthand. With simulators, vehicles aren’t dam-
aged and, above all, soldiers aren’t injured.
“It’s high-speed,” Lopez said. “I’m going to have
these guys coming through [the simulator] all night,”
he added, referring to his Soldiers.

Loggerhead Test your U.S. Army knowledge

1 - How many variants of the 3 - How many inches above the c) 1/8 inch d) 5/8 inch
M998 High Mobility Multipur- pocket are ribbons worn on the
pose Wheeled Vehicle are there male Class A uniform?
5 - What is the nation’s largest
in the Army’s inventory? a) ¼ inch b) 1/8 inch employer?
a) 11 b) 17 c) 9 d) 29 c) ½ inch d) Zero. They are a) U.S. Postal Service
flush with the pocket
b) WalMart
2 - How deep a river can a
4 - Branch insignia on the female c) U.S. Department of Defense
HEMTT ford?
Class A uniform is worn how d) General Motors
a) 2 feet b) 3 feet high above the collar lapel seam?
b) c) 4 feet d) 5 feet
a) ¼ inch b) ½ inch (See Loggerhead Answers p. 13)

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 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5 E SC T O D AY PAGE 7

Command Sergeant Major’s Corner

Changes equal NCO challenges
By Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas H. LeGare
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
The Army Reserve has become
an operational organization, and
this calls for noncommissioned
officers to step up to the plate in
their leadership roles.
Every level of the Army Re-
serve has been affected by this
transformation. Many NCOs out
there have already seen it affect
their own organizations drasti-
cally. Some units have folded
their colors and been replaced by
new organizations. Others have
received new commanders. Some
units have been placed in new
chain-of-command structures un-
der unfamiliar units. Many have
had to retrain and re-staff much
of their personnel to meet a new
mission. And some units have ex-
perienced all of the above.
For some leaders these
changes are not evident in their
own formations at the unit level,
but have taken place in their
changed command structure.
NCOs cannot allow themselves
the illusion that everything is
“business as usual.” Now, more
than ever, the Army Reserve
needs Soldiers who are sharp,
keen, and on-point to handle the
changes and adjustments the
transformation has brought, and
will continue to bring.
As leaders, NCOs must be able
to adapt and adjust to new organ-
izational climates, and guide their
Soldiers through these changes.
For this to take place, NCOs
must take their role as first-line
leaders very seriously. Communi-
cation is a must. Leaders should
engage themselves in becoming
fully informed and engage their
Soldiers in active communication.
Mentoring Soldiers is key in
this process as they face the chal-
lenges of new training, new lead-
ership, new expectations, and de-
ployment schedules. NCOs need
to ensure that Soldiers are given
all the tools they need in the
workplace, the field, and in their
personal lives, in order to focus on
and accomplish their mission.
It is also very important to es-
tablish working relationships with
new organizations as command-
and-control relationships change
between organizations.
Most importantly during this
period of change, do not focus on
maintaining the status quo.

257th Transportation Bn. changes command

By Capt. Steve Alvarez
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

CAMP BLANDING, Fla. - The 257th Transportation

Battalion (Movement Control) in Gainesville, Fla.
changed command this fall when Lt. Col. Barry Bort
transitioned command of the battalion to Lt. Col.
Ellen S. Clark.
“I have truly enjoyed my time commanding the
257th Transportation Battalion,” Lt. Col Bort said.
“The Soldiers consistently adapted to meet the
changing needs of the Army Reserve and did an out-
standing job in the performance of their duties. It is
my hope that the battalion will continue to build on
the many successes we’ve enjoyed over the past 18
months and remain a vital force in the global war on
terror.” Bort is being reassigned to the 641st Re- Lt Col. Ellen Clark, incoming commander of the 257th Trans-
gional Support Group in St. Petersburg, Fla. portation Bn., receives the battalion colors from Col. Larry
Smith, commander of the 641st Regional Support Group.
Photo courtesy 257th Transportation Bn.
(See Change-of-Command p. 8)

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 P AGE 8
(From Change-of-Command p. 7)
The 257th’s primary mission is
command and control of assigned
movement control teams. The unit
plans and coordinates movement
programming, highway regula-
tion, transportation support and
maintains movement in-transit
visibility within a geographical
area of responsibility.
“It is truly an honor to com-
mand the 257th Transportation
Battalion,” Lt. Col. Clark said. “It
is one of the few movement con-
trol battalions in the United
States Army Reserve and has
been commanded by Lt. Gen. Jack
Stultz, the current chief of the
Army Reserve and Brig. Gen.
Guest of Honor
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion,
34th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Nov. 2, 2007. Bush spoke about progress in Iraq and was the guest of
honor at the center's graduation ceremony. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone
Walker, 319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
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E SC T O D AY
Daniel Schultz, the 143rd ESC
commander.
“I intend to uphold the high
standards they set,” she contin-
ued. “I look forward to leading the
Soldiers of the 257th in this time
of transformation and transition
and welcome the challenges that
come with battalion command.”
Clark recently rejoined the
unit after a 14-month mobiliza-
tion. She was previously the bat-
talion’s operations officer.
The 257th Transportation Bn.
deployed in 2003 to Fort Eustis
and to Afghanistan in 2004 in
support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
(From Citizen Warriors p. 4)
tation Detachment.
“Sen. Nelson sends a heartfelt
congratulations and welcome
home to the Soldiers of the 257th
Transportation Battalion,” said
Ms. Michelle Barth, a representa-
tive from the office of Sen. Bill
Nelson (D-Fla.).
“Your contributions and sacri-
fices are greatly admired and ap-
preciated,” Ms. Barth added. “You
are the reason why this country is
so great and on behalf of the
United States Senate, thank you!”
Soldiers from the following
units received the award: the 81st
Tr an spor tation Detach men t
(Movement Control Team); the
196th Transportation Company
(Palletized Loading System); the
HHD, 257th Transportation Bat-
talion (Movement Control); the
317th Transportation Detachment
(Movement Control Team); the
318th Quartermaster Detachment
(Tactical Water Distribution Sys-
tem); the 322nd Transportation
Detachment (Tactical Water Dis-
tribution System); the 399th
Tr an spor tation Detach men t
(Movement Control Team); the
410th Quartermaster Detachment
(Tactical Water Distribution Sys-
tem); the 489th Transportation
Company (Seaport Operations);
the 536th Transportation Detach-
ment (Movement Control Team);
and the 993rd Transportation
Company (Medium Truck Pallet-
ized Motor System).
The Welcome Home Warrior
Citizen program is an Army Re-
serve program that honors Sol-
diers who have answered the na-
tion’s call to war. It consists of an
encased U.S. flag, a commemora-
tive coin, a lapel pin set, and a
Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen
flag. The program was enacted in
2005 by the U.S. Congress and
signed into law by President
George W. Bush.
 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5 E SC T O D AY PAGE 9

143rd Heritage Veterans’ Day

Honoring Soldiers who came before

Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Clyde Minor

143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Right: At Universal Studios, Sgt.

Maj. Robert Ireland, of the 143rd
Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary) is joined by a U.S.
Marine Corps gunnery sergeant in
a parade honoring veterans.
Driving the vehicle is Sgt. 1st Class
Felix Blanco, noncommissioned
officer-in-charge of the 143rd ESC
color guard .
Soldiers from the 143rd ESC par-
ticipated in Veterans' Day celebra-
tions throughout Orlando, Fla.

A Soldier from the 196th Transportation Co. (Palletized Loading System) waves to the crowd as his unit participates
in the city of Orlando's Veterans' Day Parade, Nov. 10 in downtown Orlando, Fla. The 143rd Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary) Color Guard leads the parade through the intersection ahead of the 196th Transportation Co.

Dates to Remember
Dec. 5 - Hanukkah begins Dec. 25 - Christmas
Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Day Dec. 26 - Kwanzaa begins
Dec. 22 - Winter Solstice Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve
Got News? It’s not news unless others know about it!
Submit your articles, photographs, opinions, editorials, and
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 P AGE 1 0
1188th comes home to warm embraces
By Spc. Morrene E. Randell
204th Public Affairs Detachment
DECATUR, Ga. - The sun was setting behind au-
tumn leaves and the temperature was dropping in
the chilly Georgia wind. However, the inside of the
U.S. Army Reserve Center in Decatur, Ga., was full
of warmth and excitement for the return of the
1188th Transportation Terminal Battalion.
Family and friends gathered in the drill hall and
talked about their anticipation for their Soldiers’ re-
turn as they waited.
Among the family members were Kathleen Askins
and her three-week-old daughter, Mary Isabelle
Askins, who would be meeting her father for the first
time in her life.
“It’s just great, that he’s coming home safe,”
Askins said with a smile. “But he’s probably more
excited to see her more than any thing else.”
The excitement in the drill hall was not limited to
Lt. Col. Harold Askins, 1188th Transportation Terminal Bn.
commander reunites with his wife, Kathleen Askins, and
meets his new born daughter, Mary Isabelle, for the first time.
Photo by Spc. Morrene E. Randell, 204th PA Detachment.
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E SC T O D AY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
Soldiers from the 1188th Transportation Terminal Bn. listen to
speakers at their unit's Welcome Home Warrior Citizen cere-
mony Nov. 14 at Camp Shelby, Miss. The Soldiers were pre-
sented with the award after returning from a year-long deploy-
ment. Photo courtesy of Camp Shelby Public Affairs.
family members alone, extending even to perfect
strangers. Volunteers from the Collier Baptist
church drove from Comer, Ga. to welcome home men
and women who they had never met.
“It’s not so much about the church, it’s about 100
percent support for our Soldiers,” Brandi Hallan, a
church volunteer, said.
The church members had supported the unit dur-
ing its deployment. Recently they held a barbeque
which, according to Hallan, raised $2,500 that the
church used to support a care package effort for the
1188th Transportation Bn. The church sent the unit
packages twice per month.
“Even though we don’t know them, we love to see
them come home. We cheer and clap just as loud as
everyone else,” Anita Gresham, a volunteer from
Collier church, said.
As the soldiers of the 1188th Transportation Bn.
entered the building an explosion of cheers and ap-
plause rung out, flags waved, and tears fell.
Lt. Col. Harold Askins, commander of the 1188th
Transportation Bn., hugged his father, kissed his
wife, and held his daughter, Mary, for the first time.
The unit spent a little more than a year overseas
in Baghdad, Balad, Afghanistan and Kuwait. It man-
aged more than 150,000 containers of cargo across
14 countries. According to Askins, the unit saved
(See Welcome Home p. 11)
 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5
The Fine Print
Soldiers should beware
of predatory lenders
By Lt. Col. David H. Ward
642nd Regional Support Group, Staff Judge Advocate
Congress passed a law that
caps lending to military personnel
at 36 percent annual percentage
rate (APR).
Soldiers have become a prime
target for lenders who charge high
rates or a combination of fees and
rates.
The Defense Department cited
concerns that payday lending ex-
acerbated Soldiers financially,
jeopardized security clearances,
and even interfered with deploy-
ment schedules to Iraq.
Predatory lending is the prac-
tice of a lender deceptively con-
vincing borrowers to agree to un-
fair and abusive loan terms, or
systematically violating those
terms in ways that make it diffi-
cult for the borrower to defend
against.
Predatory loans are short-term
loans with disproportional high
fees, such as payday loans, car
title loans, tax refund anticipation
loans and can include credit cards,
mortgages, and rent-to-own con-
tracts or any other credit transac-
tion where the terms are abusive.
Payday loans are small loans
secured by the borrower’s per-
sonal check or by an agreement to
electronically withdraw payment
from the borrower’s bank account.
These loans average about
$350, are due in full on the next
payday, typically in 14 days, and
cost from 390 to 780 percent an-
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E SC T O D AY
nual interest rate.
A 2004 survey of Internet pay-
day lending found that finance
charges range from $25 (650 per-
cent APR) to $30 (780 percent
APR) per $100 borrowed for two-
week terms with loans ranging
from $200 to $2,500.
Car title lenders make loans
secured by the title to vehicles
owned free and clear by borrow-
ers. The typical loan is for a frac-
tion of the car’s value, costs 300
percent APR, and has a one-
month loan term.
Tax refund anticipation loans
are very expensive short-term
loans secured by the taxpayer’s
expected tax refund. These loans
can cost 40 to 700 percent annual
interest rates for 10 day loans.
The annualized interest rate for a
loan of the average refund size of
about $2,150 is 178 percent APR.
Rent-to-own programs allow
consumers who cannot qualify for
a credit purchase to immediately
take possession of a desired item.
The lender charges the consumer
three-to-four times the value of
the item in rental fees and does
not disclose the true cost of the
rental/purchase.
The Defense Department
wants every commander to ensure
his or her soldiers are aware of
these practices, and seek legal
assistance if they are already in-
volved with one of these lenders.
PAGE 11
(From Welcome Home p. 10)
approximately $2 million in opera-
tional costs during its deployment
due to its efficient and effective
operation. Reducing container
management costs earned the bat-
talion the Army’s Deployment Ex-
cellence Award.
“I could not have asked for a
better group of Soldiers to go
with,” Lt. Col. Askins said.
Now that the Soldiers of the
1188th are home, many at the
ceremony asked the Soldiers and
their families what they had
planned for the future.
“We plan to just settle back
into family life and enjoy spending
time together, like we used to,”
Kathleen Askins said, smiling.
143rd ESC
recognized
Chief, Army Reserve, Lt. Gen.
Jack Stultz recognized the 143rd
Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary) Nov. 30 for
achieving its reenlistment mis-
sion. Stultz gave the recognition
at an Army Reserve senior leader
conference in Phoenix, Ariz.
The 143rd surpassed its re-
enlistment goal of 64 first-term
enlistees by reenlisting 74 first-
termers, achieving 116 percent of
its goal. The command also re-
enlisted 188 career Soldiers sur-
passing the goal of 165, achieving
114 percent of its goal.
“The CSM and I would like to
thank those Soldiers for reenlist-
ing as well as thank leaders for
establishing cohesive units and
good environments that help Sol-
diers decide that its worth re-
enlisting,” 143rd ESC Com-
mander, Brig Gen. Daniel I.
Schultz said.
 P AGE 1 2
Army provides Arabic Rosetta Stone
By U.S. Army Distributed Learning
System
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The U.S.
Army recently announced that
Rosetta Stone Inc., the creator of a
computer-based language immer-
sion program, developed a new
Arabic program for the U.S. Army
that has a military focus.
The military version includes
123 military terms and an empha-
sis on military language tasks
such as talking with civilians at a
vehicle checkpoint, reacting to an
improvised explosive device (IED)
attack, and training allied Sol-
diers. The new Arabic Military
version, available online exclu-
sively, was released via Army e-
Learning Nov. 19, 2007.
Rosetta Stone on-demand for-
eign language training is avail-
able at no cost to all active Army,
National Guard, Reservist and
Department of the Army Civilian
personnel worldwide, through
Army e-Learning. Army e-
Army Workforce trains free online
By Sgt. Yvonne C. Vairma
143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
All Soldiers and Department of
the Army civilian employees, are
authorized access to more than
1,500 information technology,
business skills, and interpersonal
skills courses from any location,
around the clock, at no cost to the
individual or their organization.
The courses are available
through a program called Army e-
Learning, which is available to
any individual with an Army
Knowledge Online (AKO) account.
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E SC T O D AY
Learning is the latest component
of the Army’s Distributed Learn-
ing System, a product under the
Program Executive Office Enter-
prise Information Systems.
Units preparing to deploy
across the globe, especially in sup-
port of Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF), are now able to use Army e-
Learning for pre-deployment for-
eign-language instruction through
courses in Arabic, Farsi and
Pashto.
Available on Army eLearning
since November 2005, 115,000
Soldiers have spent 600,000 hours
studying Rosetta Stone’s 30 lan-
guages. In just the three OIF and
OEF related languages (Arabic,
Farsi, and Pashto), Soldiers have
completed 90,000 hours of lan-
guage training.
In May 2007 the Army ex-
panded Rosetta Stone options to
include a network version for a
single language for units deployed
to locations with unreliable Inter-
net access that could be loaded on
Registration is completed through
the Army Training Requirements
and Resources System (ATRRS),
although an actual ATRRS ac-
count is not required in order to
register for Army eLearning.
According to Human Re-
sources Command Enlisted Pro-
motions Branch, effective imme-
diately, promotion points are
valid under military education for
completion of vendor-based e-
Learning courses.
One promotion point is
awarded per every five training
hours, under the same guidelines
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
the unit’s computers. Twenty
units in Iraq and Afghanistan
have requested licenses for 300
such computers.
The Army also provides access
to Rosetta Stone language train-
ing to both Army and non-Army
students at all Army schools that
include language training as part
of the curriculum.
“I have been using the Rosetta
Stone program to teach myself
Arabic for the last month,” Pfc.
James L. Tollefson said. “I have
studied Arabic off and on for the
last year, but it has been very dif-
ficult to make much progress with
no teacher and no real guidance.
The Rosetta Stone program pro-
vided me with both.”
“I believe every platoon in the
Global War on Terror needs at
least one individual with the lan-
guage skills to communicate with
local allies and the indigenous
populations. I intend to be that
person by the time my company
deploys to Iraq,” he added.
as correspondence courses.
Course completion with credit
hours must be reflected in
ATRRS prior to awarding promo-
tion points.
Twenty-eight Army e-Learning
courses have been approved for
college credit by the American
Council on Education (ACE).
For documents describing the
procedures for receiving ACE
credit, log into AKO and visit My
Education>Army e-Learning.
For more information visit
www.atrrs.army.mil/channels/
eLearning/smartforce.
 V O LU M E 1 , ISSU E 5 E SC T O D AY PAGE 13

Loggerhead Answers
1.(A) M998, M1038, M1043, M1044, M1045, M1046, M997, M1035, M1037,
M1042, M1097 2.(C), 48 inches, or 4 feet. 3.(B), 1/8 inch. 4.(D), 5/8 inch.
5.(C), Department of Defense employs 1.3 million men and women on active
duty and 669,281 civilian personnel. Another 1.1 million serve in the Na-
tional Guard and Reserve forces.

Pvt. Murphy’s Law Mark Baker

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