Apache Newsletter AUG12

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COP Penich, Afghanistan
s
APACHE COMPANY
Is
M O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R
Steadfast
 L o y a l
A Week in the Life
of the Cop Dog
S H O T , O U T o! n
Ruiz train
PFCs moss &
mortars
Apache Soldiers hanging a few rounds in a
Call for Fire Class makes for a great Monday
afternoon at COP Penich
d
l
r
o
W
s
Dino’
Monday
Run
I woke up today at 0700 and took my
master for his morning long-run. PFC
Bradley McVicker is a good human. I
trained him myself for four months.
Tuesday
Eat
Today I had my favorite food in the whole
world; Science Diet! How do I keep
getting this lucky?!
Wednesday
Dog?
Today, I met Hank and his
master, CPT Kopp. We
didn’t get along. I asked
him what his job was, but
he didn’t speak Dutch.
Tr a in in g o n t h e T e r r a i n
hrough a pair of M22
binoculars, First Platoon’s
Second Lieutenant Covey
scouts the barren hillsides across from
COP Penich. As puffs of white smoke
appear in the distance, Specialist
Burdge, First Platoon’s Forward
Observer, lets out a satisfied whistle.
“You’re on it,” SPC Burdge smiles as
the sound reaches the COP, “Fire for
effect!” Down in the mortar pit below,
soldiers from Second Platoon follow
the mortar section’s guidance and drop
seven live rounds into the Kunar.
T
Taking the fight to the enemy begins
with a solid foundation of training.
Even on deployment, training never
stops. Apache Company prides itself
on giving its soldiers and leaders the
assets to become better warriors.
Firing 20 live HE rounds of 81mm and
120mm mortars is a rare opportunity.
Work like this will pay dividends for
Apache Company and 2-12IN.
Specialist Frank Button is the new Fire
Support NCO at COP Penich. A
former member of Third Platoon, he
has stepped up after Staff Sergeant
Kerrins redeployed. He
has so far exceeded all
expectations and
continues to
motivate Apache
Forward Observers.
Thursday
Play
I hung out with the platoons today. We
played with my tennis ball. I jumped on
SGT Maher’s bed and dropped it there.
What can I say, I’m a giver.
Friday
Veteran
I’ve been thinking today. I’m three years
old and I still don’t have a girlfriend!
What the heck? I’m a German Shepherd,
a two-deployment veteran, and I have a
strobe-light on my combat vest. C’mon!
Apache 6: Commander’s Update
T
o my new family of Apache
Company,
Greetings from the beautiful
Southern Kunar River Valley. Let me
first introduce myself, I am CPT
Donovan Duke, the new Commander
of Apache Company. On the 11th of
August, I had the honor and privilege
of following CPT Jason McPhee as the
Commander of this great and
honorable Company. On behalf of all
the Soldiers of Apache Company, I
would like to personally thank CPT
Jason McPhee and his wife Kim for
their hard work and dedication to the
families of Apache.
CPT Duke prepares to cut the cake a!er the Change of Command ceremony
#
Things in Afghanistan are
going well. We will continue to send
these newsletters to share pictures and
stories from our time deployed. While
we're deployed, the best way to reach
me will be via email, my address
is: [email protected] please
do not hesitate to contact me if you
have any questions or issues. To all the
loved ones back home, thank you for
the sacrifices you're making while
we're over here. The months are
ticking away, and we're counting down
the days until we're back home in
Colorado. I'm looking forward to
meeting everyone of you. Until we can share a beer together...
CPT Donovan Duke
Apache 6
The summer-Kunar heat doesn’t faze Second
Platoon Soldiers during CQM Training
PFC England took some pointers from
Army Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
on proper firing techniques for the minigun. 1SG Cashman selected him
because of his non-stop work ethic. The
ODA Team was happy to let PFC
England try out the mini; he worked with
their radio operators periodically on the
Close your eyes; step onto the COP Penich range during the middle of the day. The
crisp, salty smell might fool you into thinking you’re at the beach. Only the absence of
the ocean, seagulls, and women in
bathing suits will bring you back to reality.
That and firing over 100 rounds each with
an M4 rifle in a Close Quarters
Marksmanship Range run by SGT
Huggins and SGT Dickson. In this picture,
PFC Renteria and Moss work on their
shooting stance, target identification and
acquisition, and firing. For infantry
soldiers, this refresher on shooting tactics
almost beats a day at the beach.
First Platoon Drives On:
Dominating the Kunar from Penich to Fiaz
N
othing can slow down First
Platoon. Recently relocated to
COP Penich, the soldiers are
glad to be back with Apache Company.
They are diving into their work, from
their role as Afghanistan Uniform
Police Advisors to COP Force
Protection. The days are getting
longer, but the deployment is going by
quicker.
SGT O’Brien, formerly the Team
Leader of First Platoon’s Fiaz
detachment, has redeployed and is
recovering from injuries sustained in
the line of duty. When 1st traveled to
COP Fiaz for personnel changeout,
they managed to get a picture with
most of the platoon together for SGT
O’Brien. They wish him a speedy
recovery and are anxious to see him
when they redeploy. SGT Dufour has
now stepped into the role as Fiaz TL.
Training has ramped up with First’s
return to Alpha Company and with
their new Platoon Sergeant, SFC
Liddiard. An upcoming company team
competition has Team Leaders like
SPC Rairdon taking SPC Rowley and
First Platoon takes advantage of the rare opportunity of combining it’s Fiaz
detachment with its main element to take this picture for SGT O’Brien.
PFC Smith out for an easy, full-kit run
to get in shape (pictured right). The
competition will require solders to run
from stations that involve medical, call
for fire, stress shooting, and cross-fit
challenges. Squad leaders like SGT
Toulouse are eager to have the winning
team. “Whooo!” exclaims SGT T.
during a training event, “It’s all pop-off
now!”
Avalon Grace Kerrins
The newest addition to the Apache Family!
SPC Adair tests out the Army’s new
protective head device. It allows the
wearer increased protection from enemy
brainwave-reading devices. SPC Adair
serves as 3PLT FO and recently earned a
battlefield promotion because of his
expertise and motivation.
SSG Kerrins, Apache Company FSNCO and
Battle Captain redeployed just in time.
On August 22nd at 0001 he became
the proud father of a healthy baby
girl, Avalon. Speculation abounds
as to why Avalon insisted on
being born on 22AUG. Inside
sources attribute the event to her
apparent desire to share a birthday
with General Norman Schwarzkopf
and not “Sex and the City” star, Kim
Kattrall.
Apache FET secures over $2500 worth of
medical supplies for women in the Kunar
t a local village in the Kunar,
women give birth in their
homes without medical
equipment or proper training. Their
local clinic does not provide a female
medical specialist. Because of cultural
restrictions, infection and maternal
death are rampant in the village.
A
The FET reached out to the
Afghanistan Midwifery Project (AMP)
to help these women. AMP responded
with over $2500 worth of medical
supplies. The FET will deliver these
medical supplies to women who pass a
basic hygiene and midwife course.
Afghani maternal mortality rates are
the second highest in the world. For
every 100,000 pregnancies there are
1,700 deaths (compared to just 12 in
the US). The American Medical
Association places part of the blame
on widespread women’s rights
violations. Women having access to
and using proper medical facilities
when giving birth will ultimately drive
this number down. In the meantime,
these kits and knowledge will help
prevent some illness and death.
The mission of AMP is to provide
humanitarian aid in the form of
medical training and supplies to
women in Afghanistan. They exist so
that in Afghanistan's near future, every
birth is safe, every woman has access
to medical care, and every woman is
treated with dignity and respect in
times of medical need.
Re g ar d s f r o m A p a c h e 7
Greetings from COP Penich,
Afghanistan. Another month down and
our Soldiers are still doing an
outstanding job. The weather is still
HOT and has gotten really humid this
last month.
This last month has been just as
busy as the first five months. We have
received 1st PLT from FOB Joyce. 3rd
Platoon has gone to COP Fortress to
help out the unit over there. We are in
the process of making some adjustments
on COP Penich and rebuilding some
structures. 1st Platoon is now providing
support to the Afghan Uniform Police.
2nd Platoon is still working with and
training the Afghan Nation Army. Both
Platoons are doing an excellent job and
the Commander and I could not be
more impressed. As we transition into a
more supportive role for the Afghan
National Security Force we will continue
to train their Soldiers in the aspects of
logistic, medical, call for fire, and
planning so the ANSF can take the lead.
shop. We have a new Platoon Leader
2LT Joshua Covey who is taking over
2nd PLT for 1LT Knorr. 1LT Knorr is
going to the S-3 shop to help the
battalion. I want to thank 1LT Knorr
for all the hard work his platoon has
done for the ANA. Congratulations to
SSG Kerrins and his wife on their new
baby girl.
Once again, I would like to
thank everyone for their continued
support. Your Soldiers are doing a
wonderful job that will make a lasting
impression on the Afghan people.
I want to welcome our new
Commander CPT Donovan Duke to
APACHE Company. He will be a great
fit for this company and will continue to
make this company great. I want to say #
goodbye to my Ranger Buddy CPT Jason
McPhee. CPT McPhee will be sorely
missed but he is not going far to the S-4
#
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1SG Mark A. Cashman
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Apache Company welcomes Captain Donovan Duke to the Family
Your letters and packages motivate all of us here at COP Penich. Thank you for keeping our
spirits high on this deployment!
A Co 2-12IN
TF Lethal Warrior
COP Penich, APO AE 09310
Distance between two hearts is not an obstacle; rather a beautiful reminder of just how strong true love can be