Jun 24, 2009

Pride in Service is the June 2009 theme for the Year of the NCO. MSG Marion E. Benson II from Headquarters and Alpha Company, 442nd Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon, Ga, is our NCO in the spotlight this month. Not only does MSG Benson proudly service his country as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer, but he also serves his community as a Volunteer Firefighter for the Department of Public Safety in Grovetown, Ga.

Jun 24, 2009

The Year of the NCO theme for May 2009 is Leadership in training. SSG Nohea L. Nako'oka is a Senior Leader Course student in the 25U 011-09 class and is also a faculty member in the Training and Development Department at the Signal Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Gordon, Ga.

Jun 24, 2009

SFC Marcus T. Mustin is the NCO in the spotlight this month at the Signal Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy (RNCOA)in Fort Gordon, Ga. SFC Mustin is a newly inducted member of the Prestigious "Sergeant Audie Murphy Club" and is also a member of the Elite "Sergeant Morales Club". SFC Mustin is a Senior Small Group Leader for the BNCOC at the RNCOA and is a shining example of "Pride in Service".

Jun 24, 2009

Diversity is the theme for April 2009 at the Signal Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Fort Gordon, Ga. Wherein, the Commandant, Command Sergeant Major Vernon R. Praymous states that "Diversity is the building blocks of a strong institution and Leadership is that mortar that holds them together".

Jun 23, 2009

ST. MERE EGLISE, FRANCE - German and American paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) stand side-by-side in front of the church at St. Mere Eglise here on Jun 6. Soldiers from various countries were taking part in commemorative ceremonies at the square for the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy.

Jun 23, 2009

LA CAMBE, FRANCE - German, American, British and French Soldiers stood side-by-side, along with over 30 German, American, British and French WWII veterans, to honor the fallen and commit to path of cooperation and partnership for peace here on June 5. The German Ambassador reiterated that we must learn from the past so as to not make the same mistakes and create a peaceful future. Over 200 people attended the commemoration service.

Jun 23, 2009

Hundreds of veterans, fans, and present day paratroopers gather near the Merderet River by the La Fiere bridge for the 65th D-Day Anniversary ceremonies here on Jun 6. Around 300 American, British, French and German paratroopers jumped to commemorate the airborne drop 65-years ago. The ceremony, held at the Iron Mike statue, was highlighted by the presence of over 25 Second World War veterans who participated in an airborne wing exchange between German and American paratroopers.

Jun 23, 2009

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE - U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the crowd and highlights the legacy entrusted to us by the WWII combat veterans that surround him here on Jun 6. The president was in Normandy to attend the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy.

Jun 23, 2009

RAF LYNMANN, ENGLAND -- British Paratroopers, or "PARAS" as they are called, trained here on Jun 30 with U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers as part of Operation Air Drop Warrior, a joint-training exercise. The U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) is the sole airborne command within the U.S. Army Reserve and is supporting the 65th D-Day Anniversary ceremonies.

Jun 23, 2009

POINTE-DU-HOC, FRANCE -- Col (Ret) Keith Nightingale, a former commander of both Ranger and 82nd Airborne battalions, and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade, lectures U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers at the monument atop of Pointe-Du-Hoc overlooking Omaha beach on June 5. The Rangers scaled the sheer cliffs to take out this German gun turret that watches over the coast. Today the site has a granite memorial to honor the 2nd Ranger Battalion and their heroic assault. The U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) is the sole airborne command within the U.S. Army Reserve and is supporting the 65th D-Day Anniversary ceremonies.

Jun 19, 2009

After 234 years the Infantryman gets his due. The National Infantry Museum opened Friday on a stretch of land that joins Columbus, Ga. to Fort Benning, the Home of the Infantry. Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff GEN(R) Colin Powell served as the guest speaker and cut the ribbon on the state-of-the-art museum. Fort Benning has been the Home of the Infantry since 1918.

Jun 19, 2009

On today's complex battlefield, company commanders make decisions quickly - and that is sometimes difficult without a staff trained to analyze the constant flow of information. As a result of a concept developed by Col. Harry D. Tunnell IV, the commander of 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the company commanders in his maneuver battalions will have more of the resources they need to make timely, effective decisions.

Jun 18, 2009

Soldiers are carrying unnecessary weight into battle because many units do not realize that newer, lighter batteries with more capacity are sitting unordered in the Army supply channel.

Jun 17, 2009

Jun 17, 2009

Former President George H.W. Bush celebrates his 85th birthday jumping with the Army's Golden Knights.

Jun 15, 2009

Former Staff Sgt. Johnathan Holsey was distinguished June 5 as the first amputee to graduate from the Fort Rucker Warrant Officer Career College.

Jun 12, 2009

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, has a message for the Army Family on its 234th Birthday.

Jun 12, 2009

Landing inside Drop Zone T off the coast of Normandy, 34 Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, participated in a historic parachute jump with paratroopers from around the world June 7 commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

Jun 11, 2009

Jun 11, 2009

When Lt. Heather Cupitt was a small child she had a dream of being a pilot. Aca,!A"My dad was in the Marines and when I was very young he would always show us clips of him being on the USS America during Vietnam working on the F4 Phantom,Aca,!A? she recalled. Aca,!A"Seeing him around aircraft made me realize that if my dad could work on them then maybe I could fly them. That got me interested in aviation just being around that environment.Aca,!A? Now, at the ripe old age of 23, Cupitt has not only learned to fly, she diversifiedAca,!"and added a transcontinental air race for women into the mix just for fun. CupittAca,!a,,cs voyage started with a patriotic desire, and financial consideration.

Jun 9, 2009

Former President George H.S. Bush will celebrate his 85th birthday by jumping with the U.S. Army Parachute Team.

Jun 9, 2009

VIDEO: Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston wishes the Army a Happy 234th Birthday in the Year of the NCO.

Jun 8, 2009

Jun 8, 2009

Safety briefings my be full of cliche's but they carry wisdom from decades of painful, and deadly, experience.

Jun 8, 2009

The USACR/Safety Center launches a Year of the NCO micro page to highlight the role of NCOs in safety, as part of National Safety Month.

Jun 6, 2009

At the top of a small hill here there is a 15-foot-tall concrete memorial framed on each side by the American and French flags. On the face of the memorial is a life-sized image carved in stone of a U.S. Army paratrooper descending from the sky.

Jun 5, 2009

The Airborne community is about to reach a milestone. Saturday will mark the 24th anniversary of the official ground breaking of the Airborne Walk, the granite and concrete walkway next to Eubanks Field honoring the Airborne qualified, and used for Airborne School graduations.

Jun 5, 2009

June 2 marked the 5th Annual Chief of Staff of the Army, Combined Logistics Excellence Awards ceremony and banquet.

Jun 5, 2009

Commentary written by one of the chaplains in the National Capital Region to appear in the Pentagram's weekly "Chaplain's Corner."

Jun 5, 2009

NCO highlight features a senior soloist with the Army Chorus who treasures singing the National Anthem

Jun 5, 2009

In the days before the landings at Normandy June 6, 1944, the small town of Gourbesville was the site of a German aid station. In the days following the allied invasion the town and others in the surrounding countryside became scenes of intense fighting as the U.S. Army moved into France.

Jun 4, 2009

597th Ordnance Maintenance Special Repair Activity deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq on May 28. This was the unit's 13th deployment.

Jun 3, 2009

SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France -- Near the Normandy beaches Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, federal employees and contractors from across Europe and the United States are now living and working under the same roof, so to speak.

Jun 1, 2009

This third poster features SGM Barbara A. Hunter who is Fort Gordon's School of Information Technology SGM. During March (Woman's History Month), SGM Hunter was quoted for saying that "Leadership is like a 4 x 4 relay; Set the Standard and Pass it On".

Jun 1, 2009

This poster is the first in a series of monthly posters. January's poster highlights SFC Katrina Richardson, who has made a significant difference at Fort Gordon and within the Signal Corps.

Jun 1, 2009

Arlington National Cemetery serves as a final resting place for generation upon generation of American heroes. Other cemeteries like it house the remains of veterans who have served this country throughout its 233-year history. But what happens when Soldiers from the past aren't given proper honors' Are they destined to rest forever in anonymity' Not if certain groups, like the Missing in America Project, have anything to say about.

May 28, 2009

U.S. Army Parachute Team makes history for the second time as they jump onto the grounds of the Statue of Liberty.

May 28, 2009

Story offers overview on the three phases of Army's new suicide preventive training and notes that the Army's 2009 suicide rate -- if it continues -- will surpass last year's total of 143.

May 27, 2009

May 27, 2009

With the passing of the symbolic NCO sword, Command Sgt. Maj. Tod L. Glidewell became the 12th Aviation Branch senior enlisted NCO.

May 26, 2009

With nearly 200,000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves expected in the approaching season, it is important for Department of Defense personnel to note several broad changes to the personal property shipment process.

May 26, 2009

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. visited Afghanistan last month for the third time in a year and spoke on several issues affecting Soldiers.

May 26, 2009

The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy graduated 614 senior noncommissioned officers from Sergeants Major Course at the Centennial Club on Fort Bliss May 21. Another 30 students graduated earlier this month due to the needs of the Army in the field.

May 21, 2009

Chaplain's Corner is a weekly column in the Pentagram managed by Installation Chaplain (LTC) Barry White, whereby multiple chaplains in the National Capital Region provide their commentary on life in the military.

May 21, 2009

Every Memorial Day since 1948, Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have made their way through Fort Myer's Selfridge Gate, rucksacks filled with American flags.

May 21, 2009

Local high school graduates can cross the stage knowing that deployed loved ones won't miss their proud moment. Upcoming graduation ceremonies for seven area schools will be broadcast live via Web streaming.

May 21, 2009

The Corpus Christi Army Depot went live here at 5 a.m. May 14, with the Logistics Modernization Program, an innovative enterprise resource planning package specifically designed for the Army. In partnership with Computer Science Corporation, CCAD replaced their 35-year-old logistics Standard Depot System used to manage operations. This was the largest SAP deployment worldwide to date, which added 5000 users. It's the second implementation by Army Materiel Command - CCAD's major command.

May 21, 2009

The "Children of Valor" book is created to honor the children who have a parent who was killed or died as a result of the War on Terror since 9/11 and now rests in Arlington National Cemetery.

May 21, 2009

Chief of Staff Gen. Casey takes a few moments to offer words of support and encouragement for Soldiers, Civilians, contractors and their families around the world as we look toward Memorial Day.

May 21, 2009

The U.S. Army Materiel Command can now be found on many of your favorite social media Web sites including Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, iReport, LinkedIn and Twitter.

May 18, 2009

May 16, 2009

May 15, 2009

This is a story of the Executive Dining Facility whose Soldiers serve up masterpiece meals to the likes of Secretary Geren.

May 15, 2009

One evening, a casualty officer and I drove down the road on our way to inform a Soldier's spouse that her husband had died in Iraq. As an Army chaplain, many thoughts entered my mind. I thought about how difficult it would be for this young mother and how empty the two children's lives would be without their dad. On our way to the house, the casualty officer had assured me that he would be able to deliver the sad news. But when we got to our destination his confidence disappeared.

May 14, 2009

No Slack wives strapped on their Kevlar and combat boots during 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment's annual GI Jane Day May 1. The spouses got to spend a day in the life of a Soldier and the chance to learn a little bit about what their Soldier does at work, both in garrison and overseas.

May 14, 2009

For the first time at Fort Campbell, Soldiers are being trained on the Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected vehicle.

May 13, 2009

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of the Army's 2009 Logistics Excellence Awards.

May 12, 2009

A new command to provide sole guidance and policy for the Army's 36 Warrior Transition Units and the nine Community Based Warrior Transition Units was debuted May 11, in the Pentagon courtyard.

May 8, 2009

Giving combat-injured veterans outdoor adventures has been the mission of "Camp Patriot," a nonprofit organization founded in Montana, since 2006. While most of the outings revolve around hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, the annual Mount Rainier Climb has become the organization's signature event. The third annual climb will take place July 5-10.

May 8, 2009

The U.S. Army Pathfinder School is not only one of the toughest courses in the Army, but it is also one of the most coveted schools among Soldiers in combat arms. Thirty-four Soldiers from the 864th Engineer Battalion counted themselves lucky this month to be among the latest students to attend the course run by a Fort Benning mobile training team at Fort Lewis.

May 8, 2009

It is no great revelation that young people start using tobacco to "fit in," or from peer pressure. Especially in combat units, lighting up, sharing a dip, or stuffing a cheek is a social occasion. Part of the bonding that takes place, especially in a combat zone, involves sharing a habit that is deeply ingrained in our image of Soldiers at war. The tragedy of it all, is that it makes so little sense.

May 8, 2009

Physical training is one of the constants of Army service. No matter what you do, no matter where you are stationed, you will get to earn your daily ration of sweat. Soldiers have to be fit to do their jobs.

May 8, 2009

As Soldiers move toward their objective, a brick-built home with a known insurgent inside, they quickly notice the door is impossible to take down. They call up a squad of engineers to see what they can do to quickly breach the door.

May 8, 2009

When evading capture in the South African bush, grassy juice from an impala's stomach quenches thirst. Noisy hippos mean water is nearby, as does sighting an African fish eagle.

May 8, 2009

Soldiers from U.S. Army Africa continue to build noncommissioned officer capacity in Rwanda through a partnership effort with British counterparts. During a recent visit to Rwanda, senior U.S. Army Africa NCOs met with British and Rwandan officers to prepare for an upcoming assignment to mentor Rwandan NCOs on leadership.

May 8, 2009

Midday sun beats down upon a long line of Liberian infantry waiting for a ladle-full of palm stew over rice. The soldiers from the Armed Forces of Liberia's Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Brigade, shuffled along the hot, dusty ground, exhausted and soaked in sweat from morning maneuvers.

May 7, 2009

The Army is taking steps now to save fuel by revitalizing a 40-year old insulation method. But this method does more than decrease fuel consumption; it also helps save lives.

May 7, 2009

The Army has a partnership with NASCAR team Roush-Fenway Racing to discover and test technologies that can transfer from the race track to the battlefield.

May 7, 2009

Nearly 11 years ago, Staff Sgt. Alan Fullerton came into the Army as a combat medic to render aid to any Soldier found wounded on the battlefield. He also had another goal in mind - to earn the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge.

May 6, 2009

Shannon Grammel, a junior at Heidelberg High School, is one of 80 students who will be a member of the Research Science Institute, a highly competitive six-week internship for students who excel in math and science.

Apr 30, 2009

Two hundred and seventy-eight Soldiers came out vying for the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge, but when the smoke had cleared 12 days later only 30 Soldiers were left standing.

Apr 29, 2009

Former Iraq War POW and current APG NCO Instructor at the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and Schools shares experiences with students

Apr 24, 2009

During a recent visit to Kandahar, Afghanistan, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey talked with Soldiers over dinner, delivered a brief address and answered questions during a town hall meeting.

Apr 23, 2009

Once upon a time, when a Soldier in the Army wanted to get married there was a good chance he would hear someone say, "If the Army had wanted you to have a wife, it would have issued you one." While the Army certainly didn't issue spouses, its outlook on married soldiers has changed dramatically. Just ask Warrant Officer Steven Kambouris and his wife, Staff Sgt. Adrienne Kambouris-who he met while in the Army.

Apr 23, 2009

I wasn't very old in April of 1974, but it made a heck-of-an impression on me. That was the year I added the word "tornado" to my vocabulary. It is remembered as "the year of the great tornado outbreak" because of the 148 tornados that were spawned in 13 states over a 16 hour period. I was too young to understand anything but, "hide from the wind." End: There are countless emergency situations that can arise, and when one community is called to help another the best possible scenario is that everyone involved took the time to be prepared.

Apr 23, 2009

The state of Kentucky was not surprised during the last week of January this year by an incapacitating ice-storm. But while residents in the storms path had adequate warning, many of them did not understand the severity of the warning. Countless people throughout the state were stuck in homes with no heat, electricity, or water, and few options. Area shelters were open to feed thousands of people who were without, and provide shelter to those who needed a warm place to sleep, as temperatures dipped into the teens.

Apr 23, 2009

Story was designed to be a "call to action" for disaster preparation by recounting the F5 tornado that hit this area 35 years ago this month. It is a two-part story that ends with the ice storm that crippled most of this state earlier this year. The interviews were with people who were affected by both events, how they handled them, and how they prepare. It includes information from Emergency Management Operations, and talks about "Ready Army."

Apr 16, 2009

Corps of Engineers, Ohio River Division, seeks Veterans for Civilian positions.

Apr 16, 2009

Joint Combat Assessment Team identifies ways to help protect future aircrews, passengers and aircraft through the collection of forensic evidence.

Apr 13, 2009

The religious support team for Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan ministered to troops April 8 and 9 on multiple austere forward operating bases as part of the joint-service mission Easter Contingency Operations to provide religious support in Southeast Afghanistan.

Apr 13, 2009

Soldiers of the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command participated in an Easter sunrise service at Kanahar Airfield, Afghanistan, April 12.

Apr 10, 2009

FORT CAMPBELL, KY - Noncommissioned Officers from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), lead the way through a variety of training events and award ceremonies since redeploying late last year. 101st CAB returned to Fort Campbell in December 2008, after a 12-month tour in Afghanistan.

Apr 10, 2009

Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz, Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan commanding general, along with British Air Commodore Les O'Dea, commander of U.K. Joint Force Support, toured the camps to view plans and construction sites. Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan (JSC-A), presently led by the 143d Expeditionary Sustainment Command, plays an integral role in the planned troop build-up because it controls all personnel and supply movement into and throughout the war-torn South-Asia nation.

Apr 10, 2009

The 143d ESC recently assumed responsibility for sustainment operations in Afghanistan after assuming the lead role in Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan.

Apr 8, 2009

For years Hollywood has presented Army drill sergeants as gruff, in-your-face, yelling, and spitting Mad Max machines. And perhaps once-upon-a-time its stories portrayed an image that was partly deserved.

Apr 3, 2009

Soldiers from the Joint Logistics Command trained members of the Afghanistan National Army's Central Movement Agency on radio procedures March 23 through March 28 here. Proper radio communications will allow the Afghan soldiers to communicate to the Tactical Operations Center, which tracks information on current operations.

Mar 31, 2009

Two soldiers with the 143d Expeditionary Sustainment Command each lift a 60 kg barbell March 28 during the '60 Kg Challenge' held in the U.K. Fitness Centre at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. As part of the competition, each lifter bench-pressed as many repetitions as possible in one minute. The first place winner received a percentage of the cash prize, while the remainder went to Help for Heroes, a British charity for wounded troops.

Mar 28, 2009

For the third leg of his eight-day tour of seven Army installations, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli visited Fort Campbell on March 26 to discuss suicide prevention following the recent one-month stand-down of all Army units.

Mar 28, 2009

Sgt. Francisco N. Aponte, 143d Expeditionary Sustainment Command maintenance noncommissioned officer, and Sgt. Sean M. Sloan, 143d materiel readiness branch, played with the Kandahar Hawks ball-hockey team in a game March 4 against visiting Team Canada at Kandahar Air Field (KAF), Afghanistan.

Mar 27, 2009

Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, carry the coffin of CWO4(R) Benjamin C. Reese. Reese, a member of the original Parachute Test Platoon, died March 19. He was 92. In 1940, he volunteered for the test platoon, predecessor of the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, earning an extra $21 a month in jump pay. Reese made two combat parachute jumps during World War II. The first was in Normandy on D-Day with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. The second was during Operation Market Garden. Reese retired from the Army in 1969 with 30 years and 90 days of service. Reese is survived by his wife of 66 years, Verne, two sons, Benjamin and COL David Reese, and three grandchildren.

Mar 27, 2009

The 143d Expeditionary Sustainment Command held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 16 to officially open the new Joint Sustainment Operations Center at the 143d's Joint Sustainment Command Headquarters here at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

Mar 27, 2009

Soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan honored Women's History Month by hosting an event hosting a decorated woman veteran who led an MP battalion into combat in Iraq.

Mar 25, 2009

Six Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company received medals of valor for combat actions July 13, 2008, in Wanat, a village in northeast Afghanistan. Nine of their comrades lost their lives during the fight.

Mar 22, 2009

During a gathering of Soldiers organized by the G-2 section at division headquarters on COB Speicher, the memories of two fallen intelligence Soldiers is revived for a new Soldiers serving OIF.

Mar 19, 2009

Heroes are honored Thursday as they add soil from Revolutionary War to Iraqi battlefields during the Sacred Soil Ceremony at the new National Infantry Museum.

Mar 18, 2009

The 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command send its Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) to Fort Bragg for a month to test the Army's exportable training concepts.

Mar 16, 2009

The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army's official parachute demonstration team, kicked off their 50th anniversary during a special ceremony that celebrated the team's half century of serving the country as Army ambassadors while also representing more than one million American Soldiers.

Mar 13, 2009

Ceremonial kickoff at APG to celebrate the Year of the NCO

Mar 13, 2009

The Cat in the Hat made an appearance Saturday afternoon in a Lake Ridge community center to promote reading. The event is held yearly to generate interest in reading and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. He would have turned 105 this year. The event featured sevA,AA,Aeral activities for children, including games, free books, and pictures with ' the Kat,' guest readers, puppet shows, book distriA,AA,Abutions; free reading reA,AA,Asources, and a book fair.

Mar 13, 2009

Fort Belvoir welcomed 15 Soldiers into the noncomA,Amissioned officer corps Friday, during an induction cereA,Amony at the DAU auditorium.