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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
By Brendan P. Bartholomew, San Francisco Examiner
Crocker Middle School students packed up donated items into an Army Humvee in Hillsborough, Calif., to send to troops in Afghanistan. (Courtesy LeAnn Thornton)
HILLSBOROUGH, Calif. — U.S. Army personnel recently visited Crocker Middle School in Hillsborough, where students filled their Humvee with care packages bound for troops in Afghanistan.
The event capped what has become an annual tradition at the school, where kids reach out to their community, soliciting donations of food, personal care products, holiday decorations, and other items intended to provide soldiers overseas with the comforts of home.
Hillsborough adopted the Army’s 1st Brigade combat team, 101st Airborne Division (air assault) in 2007. Crocker Middle School began collaborating with the city and the Hillsborough Police Department on the Adopt-A-Unit campaign in 2012, when coordinator LeAnn Thornton contacted teacher Audrey Fairchild, asking if her students would sign a holiday banner for deployed troops. The students responded by asking what other forms of support they could provide.
This year, the unit from 101st Airborne is back home, so the school adopted the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 1163rd Area Support Medical Company, a team of reservists whose ranks include a police officer and a commercial airline pilot, along with doctors, nurses, and EMT firefighters.
The 1163rd ASMC is attached to an Army combat hospital in Afghanistan, where they provide emergency medical services, both to base personnel and individuals airlifted in from other locations.
The soldiers say the care packages have a positive impact on troop morale by uplifting the spirits of those serving abroad.
Army recruiter Staff Sgt. John Kaleski and reservist Sgt. Rick Nelson accompanied the Humvee at Crocker. Kaleski enjoyed talking with the students about everything from “Star Wars” to their favorite football and soccer teams. He was deployed in Afghanistan in 2003 and Iraq in
2004.
“We had all the local kids talking like Snoop Dogg,” Kaleski laughed.
According to Thornton, the care packages have played a role in establishing good will with Afghan children. Last year, Crocker students collected about 100 pounds of
Halloween candy, which they included in the care packages. This year, the students collected three times that amount.
When troops shared the candy with Afghani kids, the children responded by showing them where hidden explosives were located. “The Halloween candy literally saved lives,” Thornton said.
Kaleski noted the Army has base stores where deployed troops can acquire life’s necessities, but the inventory rarely changes. Part of a care packages’ magic is it might contain specific brands that remind a soldier of home. “When my sister was sending me a care package, all I wanted was Chef Boyardee Beefaroni,” Kaleski said.
Sentiments like Kaleski’s are part of Crocker student Jocelyn Murphy’s motivation for participating in the care package campaign.
“As they’re putting their lives on the line, they deserve something they actually recognize from home,” Murphy said.
Fellow student Christopher Mahoney also talked about the life-and-death stakes deployed soldiers might face.
“I think it’s good to support troops because they’re risking their lives,” Mahoney said, “They enlisted, and that’s very selfless.”
See the original story at the San Francisco Examiner here.
Happy Thanksgiving from around the world
Happy Thanksgiving from Kentucky’s 1163rd Area Support Medical Company currently deployed to Afghanistan. (Photo courtesy of the 1163rd ASMC)
From our family to yours, the Kentucky National Guard wishes everyone a joyous and safe Thanksgiving. We count our blessings everyday and are incredibly thankful for the men and women of our organization and their families.
This year, we are especially thankful for our Soldiers and Airmen that are unable to be home for the holidays, like the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company in Afghanistan, the 441st Survey and Design Team on their way to the Middle East, and Bravo Company, 351st Aviation Support Battalion currently preparing to return home. Keep up the great work Soldiers and Godspeed!
Around your dinner tables this holiday, we ask that you keep these brave Guardsmen in your thoughts and prayers.
By Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
University of Kentucky Men’s basketball Coach John Calipari joined Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini to speak via Skype with Kentucky Guardsmen deployed overseas Oct. 22, 2015. Guardsmen with the 441st Survey and Design Team also were in attendance prior to their deployment in October, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is steeped in traditions, especially when it comes to basketball. Head coach John Calipari helped keep a tradition alive by chatting via Skype with deployed Kentucky Guardsmen from UK’s training facility in Lexington, Oct. 22.
From the UK practice court, Calipari began by thanking the Guardsmen for what they do and how glad he was to see the gatherings of Wildcat fans on the other end again for this special meeting. Soldiers of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company in Afghanistan, Bravo Company, 351st Aviation in the Middle East shared the video screen and some time to discuss Kentucky Basketball with the coach.
In addition, three Soldiers from the 441st Survey & Design Team were on hand to meet Coach Cal and ask questions of their own.
Soldiers with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company and Bravo Company, 351st Aviation speak via Skype with University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Head Coach John Calipari from UK’s training facility in Lexington, Ky., Oct. 22, 2015. The event was the fourth conversation in the last five years between Calipari and deployed Soldiers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“We’re very appreciative of Coach Cal to take time out of his busy schedule to give back to the state of Kentucky and the military as a whole by giving us well wishes and safe travels as we leave for our deployment,” said Spc. Jermaine Higgins, a technical engineer with the 441st. “What a send-off.”
Click here for more photos.
The 441st is scheduled to depart Kentucky for Afghanistan later this month.
Calipari entertained each and every question from the Soldiers, from his concerns for the upcoming season to how he and his players manage stress. Senior Forward Alex Poythress also sat in on the conversation as an added treat for the Soldiers.
The Skype call was the fourth such event in the last five years. In 2015, a winter storm broke the streak, but Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky’s adjutant general said the meeting had to continue. He called the conversation a fun and unique way to interact with Guardsmen overseas.
“Being deployed around the globe, our Guardsmen need every reminder of home,” said Tonini. “Everyone knows Coach Cal is a member of our team and I thank him for his generosity. This special conversation could be a highlight of the deployment for many of our Soldiers, and I’m glad we could bring it to them.”
“Any chance we can get to thank the dedicated men and women of our military, we do it,” said Calipari. “They’re over there fighting for our freedoms, and if we can give them a reason to stand up and cheer or get mad at a losing a game, which last season, there was only one of those, to bring them joy, we’re honored to do so.”
Kentucky medics train for Afghanistan
Story by Sgt. Kayla Benson, 96th Sustainment Brigade
Staff Sgt. Becky Schneider, a combat medic with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company, receives a simulated emergency call during a premobilization training exercise in North Fort Hood, Texas, May 30, 2015. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan to work as an emergency response team. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kayla F. Benson)
FORT HOOD, Texas — A female Soldier sits on a bench along the inside of a green Army ambulance. Even though it is mid-day, it is almost pitch black in the confined space of the ambulance.
Light from a small window between the front seat and the trunk silhouettes her enough to make out short blonde hair framing her round face. She is wearing an Army combat helmet, eye protection and has a large, red emergency response bag at her side.
Staff Sgt. Becky Schneider, with the Kentucky National Guard’s 1163rd Area Support Medical Company, has been a combat medic for over seven years.
She calls up to the driver, a fellow medic, through the small window. They go back and forth, discussing possible injuries and best practices before the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop. The back door opens and she is on the ground and assessing the scene in only seconds.
Staff Sgt. Becky Schneider, a combat medic with the 1163rd ASMC, evaluates and treats a simulated casualty during a pre-mobilization training exercise at North Fort Hood May 30. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in support of contingency operations and will work as an emergency response team. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kayla F. Benson)
Schneider and her team member, Sgt. Duncan Wooster, also a combat medic with the 1163rd ASMC, were participating in a pre-mobilization training exercise here, May 30, in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
The team received its order: load into the ambulances and treat role players as if they were real-world casualties.
“It’s hectic and it’s crazy and you kind of come out at the end of it like, ‘I just forgot to breath for 40 minutes,’” Schneider said.
After assessing the scene, Schneider quickly approaches a role player on the ground with simulated burns and possible shrapnel wounds, surrounded by tall grass and a coiled metal fence. Wooster rushes to another role player with similar injuries underneath an observation tower. They call back up to address additional casualties.
“It’s problem solving,” She explained. “At the end of the day, you’re helping people and that’s what I really like to do. I like the puzzle of, ‘How do I put this back together again?’”
The scene is chaotic and loud. Several role players surround the medics, attempting to use their medical gear and bombarding them with questions.
Backup arrives and the casualties are moved onto stretchers and into the ambulances. Schneider jumps back into the ambulance next to her patients. As they speed back to the emergency response treatment area, she continues to assess and care for the two Soldiers on either side of her, pulling various medical gear from the many pockets of her bag and verbalizing each action.
Moments later, the ambulance stops: end exercise. She removes her helmet to reveal hair drenched in sweat. Once deployed, this scenario would only make up one hour of her 24-hour shift.
Staff Sgt. Becky Schneider, a combat medic with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company, receives feedback from an Observer Coach/Trainer after a premobilization training exercise in North Fort Hood, Texas, May 30, 2015. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan to work as an emergency response team. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kayla F. Benson)
“The training itself had very realistic patients, very realistic situations,” Schneider said. “It gives me a very real understanding of, ‘OK, in a 24-hour shift what am I going to have to do? How can I better take care of my people?’”
Her face looks tired and she allows her shoulders to sink a little as she listens to feedback from the observer coach/trainer regarding her team’s actions in the day’s exercise. Overall, her team did well and the event was a success.
“You’re constantly evolving, constantly learning, trying to build on every single run you make,” Schneider said. “You’re always trying to get just a little bit better.”
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Soldiers of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company stand at attention for the National Anthem during a departure ceremony in Shelbyville, Ky., May 2, 2015. The unit is deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — On a day of tradition in the commonwealth with the annual running of the Kentucky Derby, families and Citizen-Soldiers were reminded of another tradition, Guardsmen answering the call of their nation. Members of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company were honored during a departure ceremony in Shelbyville, May 2. The unit will deploy to Afghanistan later this month.
The mission of the 1163rd will be to conduct ground ambulance support and evacuation of patients from supported areas in the theater of operation, provide preventive dentistry and emergency dental care. The Soldiers will also provide routine administrative and operational support to a hospital and two clinics that are within the area of operation.
Maj. Ryan Irvine and 1st Sgt. Johnsy Beard case the colors of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company during a departure ceremony for the unit in Shelbyville, Ky., May 2, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“We are trained, we are ready, we are confident, and this unit has more cohesion that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Maj. Ryan Irvine, the unit’s commander. “The 1163rd is standing tall and proud as we take on this mission, and I have to thank our families, leadership of the Kentucky National Guard and Shelbyville for all the support.”
Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky was on hand to bid the Soldiers farewell. He spoke of the unit’s long history of providing medical support for operations both home and abroad, including tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and activations for Hurricane Katrina and the ice storm of 2009.
“This is the unit’s third deployment in support of the Global War on Terror, they’ve got a lot of experience and know what they are doing,” he said. “These men and women will do us proud.”
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With more than half of its members having deployed before, there’s experience the unit will rely on while overseas. This will be beneficial for the Soldiers who haven’t deployed such as Sgt. Duncan Wooster. Wooster said the close-knit family-like atmosphere of the unit will make it easier to deal with the time away from home.
“I am nervous of course, headed overseas on my first deployment, but I am ready to do my job, and am very excited to share that experience with the great Soldiers of the 1163rd,” he said.
That family environment also provides a sense of ease for the families left behind. Maj. Irvine’s wife, Carolyn has gone through this before when her husband deployed several years ago. This time he is the commander of the unit and she’s the Family Readiness Group leader.
Soldiers of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company are honored during a departure ceremony for the unit in Shelbyville, Ky., May 2, 2015. The unit will train in Fort Hood, Texas prior to deploying to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“I feel this mission is very important for them to leave for, and this unit is very family oriented, so I enjoy that, and it makes it easier on us back home,” she said. “I’m just proud of him and the unit.”
Shelbyville’s mayor, Thomas Hardesty also expressed his admiration and respect for the unit, calling them key members of the local community.
“This nation supports you, the commonwealth supports you and the city of Shelbyville supports you in every way we can. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers for as long as you’re gone,” said Hardesty.
The 1163rd will travel to Fort Hood, Texas for several weeks of training before deploying in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
National Guard chief visits, thanks Kentucky Guardsmen
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau speaks with Soldiers with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. During his three-day visit, Grass met with Soldiers and Airmen across the state, attended Thunder Over Louisville and Military Appreciation Day at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Military challenge coins are handed out everyday for excellence, but it’s not everyday that a Soldier’s first coin is from a four-star general. That was the case for Pfc. Lauren Walker, a combat medic with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company.
“That was my first coin, my first big recognition as a Soldier that I’m doing the right thing,” said Walker. “It’s a pretty big deal to me.”
Pfc. Lauren Walker with the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company speaks with Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. The 1163rd was finishing up the unit’s pre-mobilization training prior to a scheduled deployment to Afghanistan this spring. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“It means a lot to us that he came down here from D.C. to see the little 1163rd. It was a great reminder for us to stay motivated to keep up the hard work and keep driving on.”
Visit our flickr page for more photos of Gen. Grass’ visit to Kentucky.
For Soldiers with the 1163rd, pre-mobilization training was going according to schedule April 18 at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky. Then in the middle of a field training class, everything came to a brief halt as Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau rolled up on their location.
Escorted by Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky’s adjutant general, Grass visited as part of his initiative to travel to every state and territory to personally thank Guardsmen around the Nation.
“Every time I travel, one of the things I find is I learn something about the National Guard that I didn’t know,” said Grass. “Getting to visit Soldiers and Airmen here and learn about the missions that you all are doing is phenomenal.”
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau speaks with Kentucky Guardsmen of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company during a visit to the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Grass thanked the Soldiers for their service and answered questions from them on the state of the National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“You think about the number of people that serve in uniform, this is an all volunteer force, and you’ve got to thank them,” he said.
Grass observed part of the training class then spoke with the unit about their upcoming deployment and their thoughts on being a part of the Guard.
“What I find interesting everywhere I go is how young the force is, how talented and how astute they are to what is happening in the world, and they know exactly why they’re joining.”
Sgt. Duncan Wooster’s story also inspired Grass. Wooster enlisted late in life and has a stable career as an airline pilot, but is also determined to be a true non-commissioned officer to the 1163rd. Grass complimented Wooster on helping young Soldiers of the 1163rd to devise plans to be smarter with the extra money they will make during the deployment.
“I’m excited and very honored to go work with such a great group of people and just want to try to influence them to make better decisions,” said Wooster. “I took everything Gen. Grass said to heart and was very impressed that he took time to come out in the field to see us. It was an honor to meet him and speak with him one-on-one.”
The National Guard chief’s visit left a positive buzz with the unit. A drive that their leadership hopes carries them into and through their deployment to Afghanistan.
“The time Gen. Grass spent with the Soldiers indicates to me that we stood out and made a positive impression on him,” said 1st Lt. Anna Mataspha, officer in charge of the 1163rd’s training. “How many other units in the Guard have come across the Chief of the National Guard, that’s pretty special and it elevates us to be even better than what we already are. It’s a great boost right before they deploy.”
During his three-day visit to Kentucky, Grass also met with Soldiers of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade in Greenville and Soldiers with Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 376th Security and Support Aviation upon his return to Louisville. Grass was also an impressed spectator at Thunder Over Louisville, April 18 and a special guest at Military Appreciation Day at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, April 19.
Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau and Chief Master Sgt. Mitch Brush speak with Spc. Kyle Shenk with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade during Thunder Over Louisville, April 18, 2015. Grass visited with Kentucky Guardsmen on duty for the event throughout downtown Louisville. (U.S. Army national Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“Thunder Over Louisville was just phenomenal and to see how much the military was involved, the salute to Veterans, the salute the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, there was a half-million people there and you couldn’t move without bumping into a Guardsmen or their family member somewhere.”
In awe of the events and the participation of the Kentucky Guard, Grass departed Kentucky with final thoughts to the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the bluegrass.
“I would tell them thank you for serving your nation and look at the opportunities you’re getting as a member of the Guard, and thanks to their families and employers. It all becomes a family and the Guard is more family than anything I’ve seen.”
