D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 V O L 1 , I S S U E 1

AI-EE-YAH! 3d Armored Cavalry Regimental Newsletter

A local Iraqi child waits with his mother at a clinic in

A group of Iraqi students raise the Iraqi flag during
the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Al Shitiaa school
in Babil, Iraq Oct. 2, 2010, The school was built by
Iraqi contractors.
the village of Al Hamza, Iraq, during a medical
assistance event held by King Battery, 1st Squadron,
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Capt. Miranda Fowler, Squadron Surgeon, Regimental Support

Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, completes a check-up on a
Iraqi child in the village of Al Hamza, Iraq. Fowler is a member of a
team of 3rd ACR and local Iraqi doctors who worked with King
Battery to bring medical services to the village.

Inside
COL Reginald
E. Allen and Facts From Feature Story:
CSM Jonathan the Front Keeping Family
Ties
J. Hunt

New Dawn Upcoming Facebook

Update Events Catch The
Bug!
 AI-EE-YAH! December 2010 VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Happy Holidays from COL Allen

Season’s greetings from southern Iraq! This is
the first edition of several monthly AI-EE-YAH!
newsletters we plan to send back home to let our
Brave Rifles Families know some of the great
things your Soldiers are doing here in Operation
New Dawn.
We’ve already accomplished a great deal in just
four short months. The Regiment has assisted in
opening schools for Iraqi children, improving the
infrastructure in cities and villages, training Iraqi
military and police, and providing new hope to
tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens. You can be
proud of your Soldiers, and we are likewise proud
of you. We know the great sacrifices you are
making back home as your Soldiers are deployed.
Know that our thoughts and prayers are with
you always as we finish the mission in Iraq.
Brave Rifles! Veterans!

Seasons Greetings from CSM Hunt

Happy Holidays to all the Family and friends
of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, As we
continue with our mission in Operation New
Dawn here in Iraq, we are reminded that we
are supported by our loved ones back home.
Your support is essential to our success as we
put the final “Regimental” touches on our
mission of completing America’s involvement
in Iraq.
Your sacrifice and faithful support of your
Soldiers has made our time here easier to bear.
All of your efforts have reminded us of the
importance of Family during this deployment.
Brave Rifles!

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 AI-EE-YAH! December 2010 VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Brave Rifles New Dawn Update

The end of December marks the final
year of American military forces
involvement in Iraq under the current
security agreement. The Brave Rifles
Regiment has been busy during the
month of December, working hard to
ensure that we continue to prepare Iraq
for the eventual U.S. withdrawal. The
Regiment continues to train, share “best
practices” with Iraqi military and police
units around Iraq, and remind our
leaders and Soldiers that alertness and
professionalism remain our best
defenses.
Brave Rifles leaders across Iraq are
meeting daily with leaders in the Iraqi
Security Forces in order to help them
strengthen their personal and
organizational abilities to serve the
Iraqi people effectively. Most recently,
we concentrated on coordination for
support to the Iraqi military and police
as well as implementing training for the
Iraqi border enforcement authorities.
Due in part to these key leader
meetings, heightened security on the
part of Iraqi Security Forces has
resulted in fewer acts of violence in our
area. Again, the efforts of your
Troopers are the key to providing the
training, support and confidence that
the Iraqis need to be self reliant and self
sufficient.
While Sabre Squadron concentrated
on conducting meetings with local
leaders, Tiger and Thunder Squadrons
prepared to support our Iraqi Army and
Police partners during the Muslim
religious holiday of Ashura in December.
Our task was to advise, train and assist
the Iraqi Security Forces to secure key
religious shrines and protect the nearly
four million pilgrims travelling
throughout Regiment’s turf. Terrorist
groups have historically launched high
profile attacks on individuals and holy
sites with the hope of undermining the
Government of Iraq’s remarkable march
toward stability and self-reliance. The
Regiment, with the help of 1st Infantry
Division and the Iraqi Air Force, was able
to ensure that our Iraqi partners executed
one of the most effective large-scale
security plans in the country’s recent
history. Due to this assistance, Ashura
observance was not marred by a single
violent attack. With this unprecedented
success, our Troopers made a significant
and indisputable contribution to the Iraqi
Security Forces.
Another of the important functions of
the Brave Rifles in Operation New Dawn
is to oversee critical improvements to the
Iraqi infrastructure. Our efforts to build
civil capacity within the five provinces
for which we are responsible are
evidenced in the 144 assistance projects
worth $91,000,000 on which we are
currently working. These projects are
geared to create more stable local
economies. In coordination with our
Iraqi partners, we distributed the first
of four waves of humanitarian
assistance packages of food and
personal items to thousands of
pilgrims during Ashura, with more to
be distributed to the Iraqi people in the
coming months.
We have all heard the old adage, “If
you give a man a fish, he eats for a
day. If you teach a man to fish, he eats
for a lifetime.” Our Troopers – your
Troopers – are teaching the Iraqis to
fish. It’s a slow process, and it’s a
mission unlike any that has ever been
undertaken by an American (or any
other) Army before. In this historic
mission, the Troopers of the Regiment
are performing their mission well, and
because of their efforts, so are the
Iraqis.

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 AI-EE-YAH! December 2010 VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Facts From the Front:

R&R Leave

With the unit’s deployment in its fourth month, the

rest and recuperation leave program is well underway.
In order to give Families a full understanding of this
program, we’ve highlighted the main points below in
question and answer format. We hope that, with a full
understanding of the process, your mid-tour visit with
your Soldier can be an enriching, enjoyable experience.

Q: Who can take Q: How does the Q: Can my Soldier take Q: How much advance
R&R leave? process work? leave to a place outside notice will our Family
of the continental United have of when our Soldier
States? will be home for leave?
A: All Soldiers A: Soldiers will
projected to serve designate their leave A: Yes. Soldiers going A: R&R leave slots are
at least 270 days in address upon arrival on leave outside of the allocated on a monthly
Iraq receive 15 to Ali-Al Salem Air continental United basis. Soldiers leaving in
days of rest and Base, Kuwait. This States will fly from the upcoming month
recuperation leave address will Kuwait International should know by the first
leave, which is not define the final stop Airport to Germany, of that month the
charged against where the Soldier will and from there, they will approximate day they
their annual leave be flow to and from fly to the airport nearest will be leaving theater.
authorization. for the leave period. their leave destination. The date given to
If Soldiers travel Soldiers traveling abroad Soldiers is the day they
during leave they will wear appropriate will fly from Iraq to Ali-
must return to the civilian clothes for the Al Salem Air Base in
airport where they duration of their travel Kuwait. Once in
arrived once the leave and must have the Kuwait, Soldiers will
period is complete. appropriate passport for receive flight information
Soldiers will not be their destination. All for their flight out of
able to arrive at one return flight procedures theater and their
airport and get a are the same as those connecting flight from
return ticket from a traveling to the Dallas or Atlanta to the
different airport. continental United airport nearest their leave
States. Return tickets address.
are stamped for return at
the nearest airport to the
original leave
destination.

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 AI-EE-YAH! December 2010 VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Upcoming Events at Fort Hood

Army Community Service, Soldier & Family Readiness Branch
Army Family Covenant - Focus on Families
Operation Military Youth Mock Deployment IV
“I ALSO SERVE”
Registration is Limited!Register Your Child Now!
*Open to school age children (5 years and
older)
Saturday, 12 February 2011
0800-1300
Comanche Chapel, Bldg 52024
Fort Hood, TX
Registration packets available on
3 January 2011
Bldg 121, Rivers Building
Bldg 16005, Lane Volunteer Center 288-2794
Bldg 18000, Oveta Culp Hobby Soldier Family
Readiness Center
or download the forms at
http://hoodmwr.com/acs/sfrb_mobdep.html

All packets must be received at or faxed to

Lane Volunteer Center (Fax: 288-3650)

Deployment station points include:

- Platoon Assignments
- Pre-Deployment briefing
- Hands-on Tactical Gear Demonstration
- Camouflage Face Painting
- Mock Shot/Dental/Eye Exam
- Military Vehicle Static Display
- Mini-Road March And more.....
KOS (Kids on Site) child care available.
Child must be registered with CYSS to use this service.
For reservations call ACS/SFRB, 288-2794.

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 AI-EE-YAH! December 2010 VOL 1, ISSUE 1

Nature In Lights
Nature In Lights
November 19 – January 2: Nightly, 5:30 – 11 pm
Enjoy the drive through over five miles of holiday-
inspired scenes. Like magic, BLORA is once again
transformed into a winter wonderland for all to
enjoy: kids and kids at heart. The 14th Annual
Nature in Lights display will be picturesque and the
experience will be pleasing to the eye! So, drive
through BLORA during the evenings from 5:30
p.m. to 11:00 p.m. to watch as lights twinkle and
glisten with beautiful Christmas colors.

Army vs. SMU

Thursday, December 30, 2010
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
11:00 a.m. Kickoff
Ask Your MWR For More Information!
Purchas Tickets: 1-877-849-2769

Bowl In The New Year - New Year’s Eve Party

at the Phantom Warrior Lanes
December 31

10 pm – 1:30 am

Reservations begin December 1

$70 per lane with free shoe rental (up to five bowlers) includes unlimited
bowling, shoe rental, party favors and pizza

Live DJ, Door prizes

Tickets are non-refundable

Phantom Warrior Lanes

Clear Creek Road at
Santa Fe Avenue, Bldg.
49010
254-287-3424
Club Hood Family Pasta Night
Thursdays from 5-7pm

Budget-friendly dining never tasted so good!

Each Thursday Night Club Hood hosts a Family Pasta Night in the
Mesquite Dining Room. The delicious weekly buffet includes spaghetti and
fettuccini, marinara and Alfredo sauces, macaroni and cheese, meatballs,
bread sticks and a mixed salad.

Club Hood dining is open to all.

$6.95 adults, $3.95 (5-12 years of age) and FREE (4-under)
24th Street and Tank Destroyer Boulevard 532-5329

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AI-EE-YAH! December 2010
Featured Story from Iraq
Keeping Family Ties
BABIL PROVINCE – Two soldiers sit inside a small
office full of computer network routers on Contingency
Operating Site Kalsu and talk quietly under the noisy
equipment. Both are fixing the computers and joke with
each other as they look over the screens. The two resemble
one another. Their eyes have the same shape and color, and
their smiles seem interchangeable. Their uniforms are the
same from the boots to the hats and even bear the same rank
and name tape. One Soldier a female and the other a male.
That is the only obvious difference.
Sgt. Christina Gutierrez, 26, and brother, Sgt. David
Gutierrez, 24, both signal systems support specialists from
Mesa, AZ, are currently serving tours together in Iraq.
Christina is serving her third tour while David serves his
second, two of which they have served at the same time,
separated by their units. They recently had the opportunity to
share a few days together on COS Kalsu.
The two are part of a large family that traces many roots
to military service.
“Our father served in the Army as a rotary wing
mechanic,” said Christina. “We have uncles who have prior
military service, and a couple of our cousins are Marines.”
Before the Army Christina was working full time and
trying to keep up with school. She said it was then she began
looking at the Army as an option.
“I wanted to make sure my education continued and had
considered serving,” Christina said.
Christina was the first to join beginning active duty Apr.
23, 2003. She picked 25U for her military occupational
specialty.
“My recruiter told me that I would be working with
computers, and I felt like that would be useful later on,”
Christina said.
Christina served her first assignment in Germany with
Fifth Corps. She was assigned to their Special Troops
Battalion, monitoring automated connectivity. Her service
during this time was a major influence on her brother.
“My sister was basically my recruiter,” said David. “She told
me how good it was, especially being in Germany.”
David began his service in the Army Feb. 16, 2005 and,
closely following his sister’s advice, chose 25U just as she
did. He even managed to get assigned to the same command
in Germany.
“I was supposed to go to the same unit my sister was in,”
David said. “I guess there would have been some conflict
there, so I was sent to a separate unit within the command.”
At the time David was a specialist and his sister a
sergeant. They agreed that there would have been a problem
with her being his supervisor.
“I’m sure I would probably let him get away with more
than the average Soldier,” Christina said laughing.
Both spent time together in Germany traveling and
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VOL 1, ISSUE 1
Left - Sgt. Christina Gutierrez and Sgt. David Gutierrez
inspect the cable of an antennae mast.
Right - Sgt. Christina Gutierrez and Sgt. David Gutierrez
pose in front of a painted barrier on Contingency Operating
Site Kalsu.
US Army photos by Staff Sgt. Garrett Ralston
seeing things around the area where they were stationed.
They both deployed to Iraq and were stationed on Camp
Victory for the entire tour. This marked their first
deployment where both brother and sister were operating in
a combat zone together.
After their tours in Germany, they were assigned to Fort
Hood, TX. Christina was assigned to Headquarters and
Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, while
David was assigned to the 21st Combat Support Hospital.
“My brother deployed before I did this time and has
been operating near Mosul,” said Christina. “Our
deployment has overlapped, so I will be here after he goes
home.”
The two always make sure the other is doing well and
try to keep in touch as much as possible.
“We keep each other motivated by talking about our
plans when we get home,” David said. “It’s still hard to be
away from each other for so long.”
The two talked about their families’ feelings about their
service and their future plans.
“Since we have had so many family members in the
military, our family really supports us and our service,”
David said. “I’ve always been really proud of my sister
too.”
“I will stay in the Army for awhile, I’m sure,” said
Christina. “I’m getting a lot of good experience that will
help later on.”
David said he plans to stay too but will probably change
his MOS. He said he is looking at a job in electronic
warfare.
“We often go long periods of time without seeing each
other, but we are glad for times like these when we get to
visit,” Christina said. “We will eventually try to get back to
Germany together. We really want to stay close, so I guess
we will just keep trying to follow each other around as long
as we can.”
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