Comments on: Iraq in the rear view mirror

By: AbdulGhaffar

AbdulGhaffar — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:15:59 +0000

Dear Friend,
I have read your blog now I know that you have been to US, As it is long time we are not in touch, I hope you have arrived safely at home and start job in US.

Please have a short reply for me it will make me feel happy!

Thank you,
Ghaffar

Kabul - Afghanistan

By: SGM Troy Falardeau

SGM Troy Falardeau — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:13:19 +0000

Hello sir — 19 out of 20 enlisted promotions is indeed impressive, but you are comparing apples to oranges. I said 70 percent of the ENTIRE unit (officers AND enlisted) were promoted. Do you know how many officers in the 318th were promoted during that same period you mentioned? We had 21 out of 30 TOTAL promoted for 70 percent.

Looking forward to your updated information.

By: Mike Walton

Mike Walton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:08:39 +0000

Hey SGM Troy!!!

While I know that you’re proud of your 70 percent of the Soldiers assigned to the 314th PAOC got promoted during their time in Iraq, may I remind you of a small factorid with regard to promotion:

During the first rotation of the 318th PAOC in Baghdad, 94 percent (all but one!) of the enlisted Soldiers assigned to the 318th were promoted — 19 during a promotion ceremony in the “Freedom Palace” and SGM Beth DePoint was promoted a month later to her present rank.

The only two enlisted Soldiers who did not get promoted (we could not get them promoted) were the two AGR Soldiers — MSG Dave Zerbe (who was SFC Zerbe during that time) and SGT Tracy Christmas (who is now SSG Tracy Christmas and my understanding is that he’s no longer in the AGR program).

Of the nine officers assigned to the 318th PAOC, three were promoted in rank during the time or within three months of our “recovery period”.

As you know, promotions reflect on the leadership of the unit — and their ability to motivate, encourage and inspire their Soldiers toward meeting the demands for that next grade. As I place your unit’s excellence at the foot of you and your senior NCOs…I place my unit’s outstanding acheiveement not as anything I did other than signing the order — but rather at the foot of Dave Zerbe and Beth DePoint. The two of them did much to make me and our unit look good.

I know where you are now… *smiling* and I hope to be trading stories with you over some great German beer in the coming months before I have to take off to get back to the States!!

LTC Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
former Commander, 318th PAOC
“Blackhawk Communicators”

By: del Tull

del Tull — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:50:41 +0000

This blog site was wonderful! Thank you SGM and the soldiers who wrote the articles. It really help all our families cope with the seperations.

By: MikeM

MikeM — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:00:26 +0000

YYYeeeEEEE HHHaaaWWWWW !!!!!!!! …. stay frosty…

By: Lisa-in-DC

Lisa-in-DC — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:36:16 +0000

Found my way here via Mudville Gazette… Congratulations on a very successful deployment, and thank you all so much for your service. We’re so very proud to call you all “ours”.

Godspeed and best wishes!

By: Laurie Clifton

Laurie Clifton — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:09:20 +0000

Yea! We are so ready to see everyone! Thanks for keeping us updated and for staying and getting the group settled in for the Warrior Leader Course! We appreciate all you do!
Laurie

By: David M

David M — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:13:24 +0000

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 11/13/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

By: del tull

del tull — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:13:54 +0000

We can’t wait to see you all!