From Many, One

By Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Cripe, Multi-National Task Force-East Command Sergeant MajorJanuary 21, 2010

"E pluribus unum" - a Latin quote, that, I feel represents Multi-National Task Force-East. "From many, one," An accurate description after the experiences we have shared over the past months. We learned about this mission long before we hit boots on the ground, in late October. We started working and learning together during pre-mobilization training. At Camp Atterbury, Ind., our Soldiers officially met and started to build a working relationship. During the Command Post Exercises and Mission Rehearsal Exercise (M.R.E), we worked as a team for the first time. We shared experiences and learned together. At Hohenfels, Germany, our newly formed team was tested once again through an intense and, sometimes, frustrating M.R.E. In Germany, we built our bond as a team and in the end accomplished our goal. Once in Kosovo, we met the rest of our Multi-National partners, those of Task Force Hellas, and the Polish/Ukraine battalion and the 322nd Civil Affairs Detachment. During the Relief in Place process we were given the tools to continue the successes of those before us. The Soldiers of the 40th Infantry Division helped us to orientate to our mission and surroundings. Some of the Soldiers even volunteered to stay, to become a part of our team. These Soldiers helped further by giving us experience and continuity. I ask you continue to be professional and well-disciplined Soldiers. I challenge you to continue to better yourself, both professionally and militarily. I urge you to keep your family informed and talk with them often. Of course, keep in contact with your employers, I am thankful to them for loaning you out to be a part of this mission. We became a team over the last few months, with many successes, and we will continue to be a team through the reminder of the deployment. I would like all of us to return home safely. ROUGHRIDERS!