April Dispatch

Wolfpack Dispatch
Vol 1, Issue 7 FOB Salerno,
Afghanistan
The Farewell Edition

April 2012 1

Dear Families and Friends of the Wolfpack,

We hope you enjoy the seventh edition of the Wolfpack Dispatch, our unit newsletter from
Afghanistan. The intent of this publication is to keep everyone on the home front up to date with the
unit activities at FOB Salerno.

April was another busy month for the Task Force, but inclement weather over the last couple of
weeks has limited the number of flying hours. Afternoon thunderstorms are commonplace but the
temperatures remain moderate and overall the conditions are among the best in Afghanistan. On the
ground, activity in the area of operations is beginning to increase. We remain focused on supporting
ground forces the best we can.

Between two-thirds and three-quarters of those members of Task Force Wolfpack from Fort Bragg
have now completed R&R. This statistic is another measure that most of us are closer to the finish
line than the starting line.

We had to say farewell to three exceptional officers at the end of April. CPT “Doc” Shin, our Task
Force Flight Surgeon, is departing to attend medical residency in Hawaii. CPT Kim White, the S1,
is moving to another assignment with the Brigade Headquarters in Bagram. MAJ Scott Myers, who
served the Wolfpack as our Executive Officer at Fort Bragg and the Operations Officer in combat has
returned to Fort Bragg to serve as the Aide De Camp to the Commanding General of XVIII Airborne
Corps. All three of these outstanding officers will be sincerely missed, and we greatly appreciate their
service with the Wolfpack. In particular, the departure of MAJ Myers was difficult. Scott is truly one
of the finest officers I have ever had the privilege to serve with. We wish all three the best and
remember – you are Wolfpack For Life!

The next Wolfpack Dispatch edition will highlight the latest additions to Task Force Wolfpack…our
new MEDEVAC F/1-171 team known as “Valkyrie Dustoff” from Texas and Mississippi.

All the Way, Airborne!

V/r

LTC John M. Cyrulik

Commander, Task Force Wolfpack

Wolf 6

2

CONGRATULATIONS!
GOOD LUCK MAJ SCOTT MYERS!

3

greywolves
It has been a good month for the Greywolves. The Change of Command with CPT Alicia
Stahlberg and I went well. We had a lot of visitors from the Brigade (82nd CAB) come to FOB
Salerno, as well as a few members from Task Force 4/25. The support both Alicia and I re-
ceived was tremendous and much appreciated. As for the NCO’s and Troopers of the company,
they looked outstanding in formation. 1SG Nathan Mahaney did an amazing job getting them
ready. My extreme admiration and gratitude goes out to them for their outstanding
professionalism,. This company truly is one of a kind. I want to wish Alicia best of luck with her
future endeavors as she heads to the Captain Career Course and then on to her future job. Good
luck and God Bless Alicia, let us know if you ever need anything.

April was another busy month for re-enlistments. We had 2 of our phenomenal NCOs decide to
extend their Army service. SGT Breeanna Taylor and SGT Ryan Lucas, It has always been an
honor and privilege to re-enlist Troopers and I was extraordinarily happy to be asked to re-enlist
both. We did SGT Taylor’s with her husband SPC Gene Taylor of Echo Company on the flight line.
They were both re-enlisted together in front of an Apache. SGT Taylor re-enlisted for 6 years and
an assignment of choice, Ft. Lewis, Washington. SGT Ryan Lucas’ re-enlistment was a first for me.
We did his re-enlistment from a MEDEVAC aircraft. SGT Lucas was lowered on the hoist and then
re-enlisted. After that he was hoisted to the ground. It was a spectacular event and one that I will
not soon forget. SGT Lucas re-enlisted for 4 years and a PCS to Hawaii. Congratulations to both of
you. We are all extremely proud of you. We also awarded 1LT Kaitlin Ellis, SPC Bridgett Gomez,
and PFC Ian Jones the Army Achievement Medal. They have preformed outstandingly in their jobs
and their awards are well deserved. Congratulations to all of you for a job well done.

SPC Jessica Thompson also made points on 1 April and will be promoted to the rank of SGT. We
are all extremely proud of her. She has worked hard to attain her rank. Great job.

Members of the Greywolves have participated in 2 FOB runs this month 1 of which was to
remember Pat Tillman. All who participated in the run not only completed it, but did so in a good
time. They showed the rest of the FOB what the 82nd Airborne Division is known to do, PT and
PT hard. Way to represent the Wolfpack and the Greywolves.

The S6 shop has had a good month as well. We recently had Officers from Ft. Rucker come to FOB
Salerno and the S6 shop did a phenomenal job assisting them and getting them set up with all of
their automations. It was an extremely important task and they excelled like we knew they would.
So great job and keep up the great work.

I would like to give special recognition to the FRG for this fantastic company. All of you are truly
the backbone of this company and motivate all of us to keep going. I want to personally thank you
for all of the hard work that you have done to this point and the work that you will continue to do.
It means a lot to me and the rest of the company. Thank you for your time and effort; please know
that none of it goes unnoticed. I look forward to working with all of you throughout the duration of
my Command. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Until next month, stay safe. And have fun. We will see all of you soon.

Mike Fager– Greywolf 06 Nathan Mahaney-Greywolf 07

4

titans
Titan Family and Friends, I would also like to congratulate
SGT Barnhardt on an excellent
If Afghanistan shares performance during the Soldier of
anything with Ohio or Michigan, it the Month Board and moving onto
is “If you don’t like the weather the quarterly board. AIRBORNE!
here, wait 20 minutes.” We have
been fighting through the weather Operationally, our Soldiers
here lately, hoping that all the April both in the flight company and in
rain showers will bring May Delta 1-82 continue to do an
flowers. However, we don’t see too excellent job. Everyone is starting
many flowers here in Afghanistan. to fall into their niche, and
We have noticed that the wildlife operations are running smoother as
has started to come out of we begin to ramp up for a busy
hibernation here the past month. season supporting the ground
Our Soldiers have noticed a family troops here in Afghanistan. It is a
of lizards that occupy the flight line privilege to be able to provide
logistical and
tactical air
movement support
to the finest
Soldiers in the
world.

In closing,
we would like to
wish all the
mothers and
mothers-to-be in
the WOLFPACK,
during the day. Thankfully, our a happy Mother’s Day as we move
reptilian friends seem to be friendly into the month of May.
and keep to
themselves. The
best news is that
rumor has it they
enjoy a steady diet
of snakes!

This past month
we were able to
have the privilege
to watch 3 of our
Soldiers promote
to Sergeant. I
would like to take
a moment to CPT Morrison
congratulate SGT Coe, SGT Carr,
and SGT Conn. Titan 06
5

roughnecks
Dear Roughneck Families, Friends, and one of the cars is sporting the Roughneck
former Troopers, and Bam Bam logo. I don’t see how they
can lose now.
Let the countdown begin! As I write this
newsletter A Troop is now on the As always, I would like to thank all of our
downward slope to redeployment back to friends and families from the bottom of our
Fort Bragg, NC. Very soon TF Wolfpack hearts for all the continued support that
will begin loading MILVANS and you give us. Everything from packages to
containers for shipment! Most of your letters continue to make our days, and the
Troopers have returned stateside for R & R fact that you take time out of your busy
leave. If your Troopers have not been lives to make ours a little brighter means
home they will be there in the next month the world to us. I would also like to
and half. We will then be 100% R & R encourage all of the family members in the
complete. Fort Bragg area to take advantage of the
free trips that the chaplain is offering. Like
As always Pilots, Crew Chiefs, and all good things, these trips will be coming
Electricians have been leading the BDE in to an end in 2013, so I would highly
hours flown and operational readiness rate. recommend all family members to jump on
We did however receive some help from this great opportunity.
Task Force
Saber Pilots
and
Troopers. I
would like to
personally
thank the
following
individuals:
CW3 Beau
Axton (and
his 9 Terra
bytes of
movies),
CW2 Sean
Byard (no
soccer
skills), CW2
Mike Spivey, CW2 Dana Kelly, CW2 Ron
Smith, and SPC Christian Gil. These guys I may be repeating myself, but it goes
were a tremendous asset during their stay without saying how much of a joy and
here and are always welcome in the honor it is to serve with these amazing
Roughneck Troop! Troopers day in and day out. They
continue to amaze me with their tireless
In addition to all the hard work and the work ethic and strive to be the best in order
Troopers we rewarded with new Troop to ensure that our comrades on the ground
T Shirts and pins for our Stetsons. continue to receive coverage and support
Modeling the T shirts and pins are SPC without the need for recognition or praise.
Bates and SPC Footes. Good thing they’re Thank you again to all of the support,
in the Army lol. We also got to model which give us such a morale boost and
some more awesome Denbeste shirts that drive to get the job done so that we can
were graciously sent to us by Lori come home and see you again. We cannot
Denbeste. Thanks again for those, we wait to get home and see you all again.
always love the chance to get an excuse to
go and stand in front of the glorious CAV Mike Muller
wall and take some pictures. We are very Roughneck/Bam Bam 07
excited about our insignia getting out in the
NASCAR world, as we have learned that
6

lonewolves
Greetings from the Lonewolves! Until next month.

Another month has come and Airborne, All the Way!
gone for the Lonewolves, the
Troopers continue to work hard and CPT Simmons
morale seems to be high as we get Lonewolf 6
closer to our return to Fort Bragg.

The Distribution Platoon’s
ammo sections received Certificates
of Appreciation from CSM Inniss
for issuing over 7,000 2.75 rockets
for the last six months. Also, this
month Distribution Platoon began
providing Troopers to assist in the
guard tower duties for FOB Salerno,
while continuing to operate the best
FARP in all of RC-East. We issued
an average of 10,000 gallons of
JP-8 a day. This is a real testament
to the hard work and dedication of
the Troopers in Distribution
Platoon.

The motorpool continues to
provide maintenance and vital tower
guard support for the Task Force
and FOB Salerno. I had the honor of
promoting PFC Boone of the
motorpool, PFC Ellis of HQ, and
PFC Acosta to Specialist this
month.

Also for the month of March,
Echo Company began planning for
our redeployment to Fort Bragg
which is slated for sometime in
September.

As always, to the families’ back
home thank you for your
self-service and support for the
Troopers of Echo Company.

7

redhawks
Redhawk Family and Friends, cutoff score for Sergeant. SPC
Musson will be promoted on or
As April comes to a close, the about 1 May and will be a fine
Redhawks continue to set records addition to the NCO Corps.
for UH-60M hours while we Congratulations!!! We are proud of
operate in the austere conditions of you.
RC-East. We are flying at a pace
never seen before in the UH-60 Unfortunately, we had to say
community, providing continuous goodbye to SGT Johnny
support to ground forces by flying “Missiles!” Madden. SGT Madden
more than 500 flight hours for the had to redeploy early for personal
month of April. The Redhawks reasons and we wish him the best.
lead the Brigade in hours per He was an asset to this company in
airframe, in spite of having the the conduct of our daily aviation
smallest UH-60M fleet in RC-East. operations, flying 291.2 hours as a
More importantly, 8 months down, door gunner.
4 to go!!
As we continue through the final
Some of the highlights for the 120 days or so of this deployment, I
month of April include the would like to take this time to thank
re-enlistments of three more all of the spouses and family
non-rated crew members. members for their unwavering
Congratulations to SPC Spikes, support for their Soldier and the
SPC Grabotin and SPC Nicholls Redhawks as a whole. Everyone
for choosing to continue their army remains in good spirits in spite of
careers. The Redhawks and Task the daily grind, and the support you
Force Wolfpack thank you for your provide for your Soldier and this
continued service to the nation. team plays a huge role in that. It is
CW2 Hoover completed a an honor to serve with these
“shadow” Boston Marathon at Soldiers daily, and they represent
Bagram Airbase, no small feat the very best America has to offer.
considering Bagram is nearly 5,000
feet above sea level. Sadly, being Until next month, keep your heads
stuck here at Salerno, we missed up and stay positive…we are
the patented “Hoover maneuver.” getting there.
We would also like to take this 1SG Jason K. Friedly
opportunity to congratulate SGT
Tom Kealy on his recent promotion Redhawk 07
to Sergeant. SGT Kealy provides
excellent support to the Redhawks
through his maintenance of our
Aviation Life Support Equipment
as well as aircraft maintenance and
crew duties. It is a promotion that
is long over-due. The Redhawks
would also like to congratulate SPC
Damon Musson on making the

8

timberwolves
Timberwolf Friends and Family, last month’s newsletter. SFC
Ronald Stewart was promoted to
To start off this month’s newsletter the rank of Master Sergeant. MSG
I would like to thank the members Stewart will definitely be leaving
of the Timberwolves FRG family. the Timberwolves in the future to
Thank you for your continued take on even greater
support. The Easter parcels were responsibilities. His dedication to
received with great enthusiasm duty will be missed. Task Force
from the Soldiers and they greatly Trooper of the Month honors go out
appreciate all that you have done to SPC John Strothers for the
for them. Your love and kindness is month of April while SPC
felt by all of the Timberwolves. Raymond Brown took the honors
for the month of May.
It is good to see the month of April
come and go. With more than half In summary, the Timberwolves are
of the deployment behind us, the working hard, hitting the gym and
Timberwolves will not and have not making history with all of the great
stopped performing above and
maintenance actions performed to
beyond everyone's expectations.
As the Task Force continues to fly date. Our Troopers are performing
record amounts of hours, the at a level far beyond most
Timberwolves will be there to give maintenance companies and
them the support that they need to making the most complex tasks
keep the aircraft in the air. Despite seem routine. Safety is still first in
the bad weather with thunderstorms any mission and quality of the final
and rain just about every afternoon,
product is still our priority. Thanks
our Troopers have remained highly
motivated and dedicated to their to our Troopers for performing so
task. well and keeping the Task Force in
the fight.
April was filled with awards,
reenlistments and promotions. SPC CPT Kirk Shands
Jacob Ohlde and SPC Marcus
Calderon received Army
Achievement Medals for their
excellent contributions to the
mission here at FOB Salerno. SPC
Calderon also reenlisted to Stay
Wolfpack for 6 years. His
continued service is a great combat
multiplier for the Timberwolves.
Soldiers that advanced in their
careers in the month of April
include SPC Garrison Martin and
PFC Joseph Beckett. We
erroneously omitted the biggest
enlisted promotion of the year in

9

redwolves
REDWOLF Family and Friends, than any other aviation unit out
there.

April showers bring May flowers is The REDWOLVES would also like
a statement that holds true in to let our families back home know
Salerno as well. As the rainy month that the Brigade Aviation Ball is
of April comes to an end, the
November 29th. The REDWOLVES
REDWOLVES are looking forward
to the sunny month of May. April would like to continue to thank all
again was another month full of the friends, families, and supporters
accomplishments for the for their care packages, emails, and
REDWOLVES. letters.

The month of April saw two
REDWOLVES move up in rank.
First we would like to congratulate CPT Robert Sickler
SGT Dehnel. It is not easy to
become a non-commissioned
officer but SGT Dehnel has shown
the leadership and technical skills
required to be a NCO in this great
unit. REDWOLVES would also
like to congratulate the newly
promoted Chief Warrant Officer 4
Steve Crandall. With the number of
CW4 being reduced, CW4 Crandall
has shown through his technical
and tactical skills in an Apache
helicopter, that he has what it takes
to reach this level.

In keeping with the finest tradition
of REDWOLF greatness we are
proud to announce that SPC
Morales and SPC Bratton were
awarded Maintainers of the Week
for the first and second week in
April. This makes six month in a
row that a REDWOLF was
awarded this honor.

This month the REDWOLVES
marked a milestone. 5000 combat
hours of flying. This is no easy feat,
and it just goes to show how hard
the REDWOLVES are working. To
fly 5000 hours the REDWOLF
crew chiefs are performing better

10

Congratulations!!!
Listed below are the Troopers who were promoted, received an award,
or reenlisted. Below those, are our Troopers with recent Birthdays!

Promoted Awarded

SPC Elysse Acosta Army Achievement Medal Bronze Star Medal

SPC Steven Boone SPC Christopher Bratton Maj Scott Myers

SPC Christopher Ellis SPC Marcus Calderon

SPC Bryant Footes
SPC Garrison Martin
SPC Christian Gil
SGT Ethan Carr
SPC Bridgett Gomez
SGT Nicholas Coe
SPC Ian Jones
SGT Matthew Conn
SPC Keith Neal
SGT D Dehnel
SPC Jacob Ohlde
SGT Devin Kays
1LT Kaitlin Ellis
SGT Tom Kealy

Happy Birthday!!
PFC Morgan Mayes SPC Russell Lueschner SSG William Allen
PFC Jarrod Swanger SPC Stephanie Mason SSG Jonathan Hohman
SPC Ricardo Anderson SPC Jacob Ohlde SSG Sherman Inanod
SPC Jordan Barrett SPC Ruiz Smith SSG George Negron
SPC Matthew Bates SPC Ivory Smith CW2 David Christman
SPC Shawn Bresnahan SPC Larraine Whetstone CW2 Laura Dye
SPC Rian Fischer SPC James Woodward CW2 Wayne Loeser
SPC Ricardo Gonzalez SGT John Covarrubias CW3 Brian Bartee
SPC Alexander Grabotin SGT Alvin Morgan CW3 Donald Bullock
SPC Candice Green SGT Lance Neeley 1LT Stefan Cormier
SPC Curtis Kelley SGT Brandon Sutton CPT Mary Boyle
SPC Ronald Kerr SGT Adam Turner MAJ Scott Myers

11

tf wolfpack rst
Grace and peace from the Wolfpack Religious
Support Team. Thanks be to God for his continued
blessing, provision and protection on us over the last
month. April continued another great month of ministry
for the Wolfpack RST. Congratulations to SPC
Thompson on her promotion to Sergeant.
Our Chapel Services have been a blessed
celebration of the Easter season. In our Religious
Education program we continue reading our way through
the Bible in the E100 Bible study. We have just started
the Gospel of Matthew. If you would like to read along
with us go to MilitaryE100.AmericanBible.org. We also
started the “Day of Discovery” video series, which helps
us, better study the Bible in context of the Holy Land.
Our mid-week prayer meeting continues to reveal God’s
protection, healing, and empowering work in our lives.
During our Christian movie night our faith was
encouraged and challenged by viewing “The Flywheel”
and “China Cry.”
As we are beginning to see significant changes in
the Army and its funding of programs, I wanted to take
this opportunity to encourage all spouse’s and families to
take advantage of the 82nd CAB Deployed Spouse’s
Retreats. They are held the 3rd weekend of every month.
Points of contact for these retreats are: CH Randy
Croel randy.l.croel.mil@mail.mil and Mrs. Lauri Trotter
hikerbear@hotmail.com. Retreats are still planned for
May through August.
Again we greatly appreciate all of your
encouragement and support. We continually lift you up in
our prayers and thank God for you. Many thanks and
blessings, Chaplain Shenton

12

Spotlight on Troopers
Every month each 1SG picks an outstanding Trooper to represent his Company/Troop.

B/2-328 GSAB, SGT Dave Lemons
MOS: 15U2F- CH-47 Helicopter Repairer
Hometown: Elyria, Ohio
SGT Lemons is engaged to be married.
Q: What recreational activities do you participate in here on FOB
Salerno?
A: I work and sleep.
Q: What do you like most about this deployment?
A: I like that we are with the 82nd ARB. They are great people. I am
lucky to be here at Salerno.
Q: What is your opinion of FOB Salerno?
A: Great place.
Q: How does your MOS impact this deployment?
A: I wanted to fly missions. We do our best to accomplish missions.

3 Goals for Deployment:
Educational -“Work on electrical courses.”
Professional – “Be prepared for all missions at all times.”
Personal – “Work out more and more time in Prayer.”

HHC/1-82, SPC Jessica Landers
MOS: 15P- Aviation Operations Specialist
Hometown: Liberty, Texas
SPC Landers is married.
Salerno?
A: Working out and eating.
A: The opportunity to work out.
A: Quiet, friendly, and small, just the way I like it!
A: Making the mission happen. Tracking aircraft and making sure they are
safe.

Educational -“Go to college and get some classes in.”
Professional – “Strive to make Sergeant.”
Personal – “Come home safe and run a half marathon.”
13

A Troop/ 1-17 CAV, SGT Kenneth Higginbotham
MOS: 15J-Aircraft Armament/Electronic/Avionic Systems
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina
SGT Higginbotham is married.
Q: What recreational activities do you participate in here on
FOB Salerno?
A: I watch movies and got to the gym.
A: I like how the FOB is set up. The proximity to location.
A: Nice pace.
A: Enables Kiowa’s to do what Apache’s can’t do..

Educational -“Complete online classes.”
Professional – “Prepare to exit the army (ETS).”
Personal – “Make myself look better for my wife. Keep making
SFC Rivera angry.”

A/1-82, SGT D Dehnel
MOS: 15R- Apache Repairer
Hometown: Military Brat
SGT Dehnel has a girlfriend.
FOB Salerno?
A: I play video games, sports, and read.
A: I stay extremely busy.
A: It is quant.
A: This is my second tour. We keep the birds in the air. Birds keep
the bad guys off of our good guys.

Educational -“Max out on correspondence courses. Start on new
degree.”
Professional – “Learn the ropes of an NCO.”
Personal – “Read all books on my kindle and beat all my video
games.”

14

A/2-82, SPC Justin Albert
MOS: 15T- UH-60 Helicopter Repairer
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
SPC Albert has one daughter.
FOB Salerno?
A: I play video games on the PS3 and workout at the gym.
A: It’s almost over.
A: It is the best FOB in Afghanistan.
A: The aircraft wouldn’t move without us.

Educational -“Start my degree .”
Professional – “Get promoted to the rank of Sergeant.”
Personal – “Out bench Mr. Ortiz.”

F/5-159th, SPC Dena Schaeffer
MOS: 15T- UH-60 Helicopter Repairer
Hometown: Deland, Florida
SPC Schaeffer is married.
FOB Salerno?
A: I like running marathons and playing football.
A: I like having my own bedroom. I like the maintenance.
A: It is pretty nice.
A: We help maintain aircrafts to save lives.

Educational -“Finishing paying off my last student loan.”
Professional – “More maintenance experience.”
Personal – “Be able to do a pull-up.”

15

D/1-82, SPC Matthew Cox
MOS: 15R- AH-64 Apache Helicopter Repairer
Hometown: Ellicott, Colorado
SPC Cox has one daughter.
FOB Salerno?
A: I like hunting and fishing but neither are available here on the
FOB.
A: I like the people that I work with. They make a bad day go
better.
A: Nice and organized.
A: We maintain the aircrafts to keep them in the fight.

Educational -“Complete as many credits as possible. I am working
toward my associates.”
Professional – “Do as much as I can to get promoted to the rank of
Sergeant.”
Personal – “Plan to save and invest earned money in theatre for my
future.”

E/1-82, SGT Heather Gibson
MOS: 89B- Ammunition Specialist
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington
SGT Gibson is single.
Salerno?
A: I work and I workout at the gym.
A: I like the crew I work with, the AHA gang.
A: This FOB is not too bad. It is nice and quiet.
A: We provide the aircrafts with ammo so the pilots can complete their
missions.

Educational -“Start working towards my next degree.”
Professional – “Attain the rank of Staff Sergeant before we re-deploy.”
Personal – “To get into better shape.”

16

NCO INDUCTION CEREMONY

17

Below are the addresses for
Each of the Companies/Troop.
Feel free to send letters and
boxes to your Trooper.

GREYWOLVES VALKYRIE DUSTOFF
Rank, Last Name, First Rank, Last Name, First
HHC/1-82, TF Wolfpack F/1-171, TF Wolfpack
FOB SALERNO FOB SALERNO
APO, AE 09314 APO, AE 09314

ROUGHNECKS REDWOLVES
A Troop/1-17, TF Wolfpack A/1-82, TF Wolfpack
APO, AE 09314 APO, AE 09314

REDHAWKS TITANS
A/2-82, TF Wolfpack B/3-238, TF Wolfpack
APO, AE 09314 APO, AE 09314

TIMBERWOLVES LONEWOLVES
D/1-82, TF Wolfpack E/1-82, TF Wolfpack
APO, AE 09314 APO, AE 09314

20

April Dispatch

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