25 July 2010

Good afternoon and greetings from Balad, Iraq!

The temperatures were fibbing today I believe.  For those of us wandering around Joint Base Balad, it felt really toasty, but our friends managing the weather said it was merely 107 degrees.  Hmmm...

Before I transition to the highlights of this week's edition of the Expeditionary Times, it is important that I draw your attention to a special message from 103rd ESC Commander, BG Mark Corson, encouraging our Soldiers to participate in the Absentee Ballot Voting process - Ensure you make your vote count!
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=91209

On that note, I am delighted to be sending you this week's early edition of the Expeditionary Times, and all of the news stories of our Troops and their units across Iraq.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and here are some highlights from this week's Expeditionary Times:

- Scania Base transfer marks progress.....
- 278th ACR transfers authority to 156th Infantry Regiment.....
- Infantry company reacts, bonds under fire.....
- With the drawdown, what about the ammo?.....
- 278th, contractors work together, clean Taji.....
- Vehicle operator uses civilian skills, saves contractor.....

I am excited to share this week's unique holiday with everyone - the fourth Sunday in July is recognized as National Parents Day.  It is a special day focused on spending time with your mother and father, and a time to celebrate the family structure and family values.

If you talk with our Soldiers they will tell you - it's our Family that gets us through these tough times away from home.  Their love, unwavering support and willingness to fill the gaps on the things we would typically be doing if we were there, allows us to wholly focus on our purpose here while knowing everything will be ok.

So - since today is about spending time with your parents, instead of gift giving - pick up the phone, sit down and write, or... if you happen to be in a location where a personal visit is possible, spend the afternoon playing a board game and catching up on all the things you miss when time passes.

Your service members want to hear from you... so if you want to send a message to your loved one, send it to escpao@iraq.centcom.mil and we will make sure it gets placed in the next edition of The Expeditionary Times.

View the award winning newsreel "Balad and Beyond," at:
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=90605

If you do not want to receive this weekly electronic newspaper, please email me to remove you from the distribution list.

Warm Regards,

V/R - Angel Wallace
MAJ, AD
Chief OF Public Affairs
103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Joint Base Balad, Iraq
DSN: (318) 433-2412
SVOIP: 241-1225
SIPR: angela.wallace@s-iraq.centcom.smil.mil
On the web: www.armyreserve.army.mil/103rdESC
TWITTER PAGE: http://twitter.com/103rdESC
FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/103rdESC
Flickr PAGE: www.flickr.com/photos/103rdesc

18 July 2010

Good afternoon and greetings from Balad, Iraq!

The temperatures were cooler for most of the week and currently we are enjoying 111 degrees on our Sunday.

As the world has been closely following, the drawdown in Iraq now continues along a timeline that ends with the retirement of US operational forces.  U.S. combat operations in Iraq will end on 31 Aug 10, and U.S. Forces present in Iraq will be at or below 50,000 troops.  In accordance with U.S. Forces' shift from combat to stability operations, Brigade Combat Teams will be replaced by Advisory and Assistance Brigades, and their mission will focus on supporting development of Iraqi civil capacity, as well as training, advising, and assisting the Iraqi Security Forces.

This transition will mean a lot in the logistics world and 'The Expeditionary Times' will continue to show you how those changes are directly impacting our Sustainers as they provide support throughout Iraq, while assisting in movement of personnel and equipment during the final stages of this reposturing phase.

On that note, I am delighted to be sending you this week's early edition of the Expeditionary Times, and all of the news stories of our Troops and their units across Iraq.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and here are some highlights from this week's Expeditionary Times:

- 400 Iraqi workers receive certification.....
- JBB ammo point downsizing for drawdown.....
- Personal security detachment conducts first mission.....
- 159th SOC donates shoes, improves lives.....
- All American Square accommodates PAX overflow.....
- New Jersey unit fine tunes amnesty yard operations.....
- Infantry Battalion prepares for redeployment.....

I haven't forgotten about the special holiday - today the United States is celebrating 'Peach Ice Cream Day'.  This is a favorite normally only seen on the shelves during this time of year due to crop productions and availability of the delicate fruit. 

This summer treat invokes memories from my childhood in New Mexico where the children would all take turns cranking the handle on an old-fashioned ice cream maker in order to create that special summertime dessert, and since it took a significant amount of effort - I still believe it beats anything bought in the store, hands down.  Sooo... peach ice cream is the way to go today. Enjoy it on an ice cream cone, in an ice cream soda, in a sundae, or simply in a dish.

Your service members want to hear from you... so if you want to send a message to your loved one, send it to escpao@iraq.centcom.mil and we will make sure it gets placed in the next edition of The Expeditionary Times.

View the award winning newsreel "Balad and Beyond," at:

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=88346

If you do not want to receive this weekly electronic newspaper, please email me to remove you from the distribution list.

Warm Regards,

V/R - Angel Wallace
MAJ, AD
Chief OF Public Affairs

103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Joint Base Balad, Iraq
DSN: (318) 433-2412
SVOIP: 241-1225
SIPR: angela.wallace@s-iraq.centcom.smil.mil
On the web:http://editor.qbsoft.com/www.armyreserve.army.mil/103rdESC
TWITTER PAGE: http://twitter.com/103rdESC
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://editor.qbsoft.com/www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/103rdESC
Flickr PAGE: http://editor.qbsoft.com/www.flickr.com/photos/103rdesc