1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Updates October 2010 Page 1

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1st Battalion Newsletter

October 2010

BN CO, HHC, Chaplain

Families and Friends of the Regulars,

Task Force Regular and our Afghan Partners continued to make tremendous strides in bringing security
and stability to Kandahar Province as we transitioned to a new set inside the city. With the conclusion
of major clearance operations, the team is now focused on supporting governance and development efforts/initiatives
with our civilian counterparts at the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT). Even though
we still have work to do on security you can absolutely feel a noticeable change in the security situation in and around
Kandahar City. That has everything to do with the incredible work your Soldiers have done over the past three months.

With this change in focus, there’s also been a transition in command relationships with some of our companies
as we added the outstanding Soldiers and leaders of L Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
to Task Force Regular. As most of you have already found out from our great Family Readiness Group,
C Company is now working for our sister battalion (1st Special Troops Battalion) while B Company has moved
to the Arghandab River Valley to support 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Battalion and the incredible work
they are doing to defeat a former Taliban safe haven. In addition to L TRP/4-2 SCR, all of our companies
added Military Police platoons and squads to their formations. Even though we have companies and platoons
scattered throughout Kandahar Province, rest assured that everyone is being well taken care of and continuing
to take the fight to the enemy every day.

Throughout this past month, the CSM and I cycled through almost every one of our platoon combat outposts
to award Soldiers their 4th Infantry Division combat patches in recognition of their wartime service in Afghanistan.
Many of you may not realize that your Soldier represents less than 1% of the population of the United States
that have chosen not only to serve their country but have volunteered to serve their country during a time of war.
During the ceremony, I asked all the Soldiers to reflect on “where they are, where they are going,
and who they are taking with them.” I know most of the Soldiers in formation appreciate the bonds they’ve formed
with their brothers and sisters in arms while serving in combat...and realize these bonds are unbreakable and will last
a lifetime. As they continue to reflect on their accomplishments, it goes without saying that they have joined
an elite warrior fraternity of former Regulars who served in their Nation’s wars since the War of 1812…
they should be understandably proud and awed by their accomplishment.

As we continue to build capability and capacity within our partnered Afghan National Security Forces,
we added Afghan National Police to our growing list of partnered forces. Our attached Military Police platoons
are essential components of our primary mission to build capability and capacity of the Afghan National Police
so they can take over the primary responsibility of protecting the population within Kandahar City down the road.
I’m impressed every day watching our Soldiers build relationships with their Afghan counterparts that are crucial
to our overall mission success. However, it’s the relationship our Soldiers are building with the local nationals
that’s absolutely remarkable. The photos below are just a few examples of how your Soldiers are building rapport
with the people we came over here to protect.

With the Holiday Season approaching, I know this can be a challenging time to be away from and for your Soldiers.
Our phenomenal FRG, led by CPT Brandon Chapman and SFC Clint Battaglia, remains committed to serving you
and your Families…do not hesitate to contact them with your questions or concerns. Never forget that the sacrifices
you make allow your Soldier to make a substantial difference towards the future of Afghanistan. I also encourage each and every one of you to get the Christmas packages mailed early so they arrive in time for the holidays.

I remain awed by the incredible efforts our Soldiers put forth every day as we fight our Nation’s enemies
and bring peace and security to the people of Afghanistan. In honor of Veteran’s Day, I’d be remiss
if I did not thank all our veterans for their service to our country…your legacy remains in the Soldiers serving today
throughout our armed forces. Thank you.

May God continue to bless Task Force ‘Regulars’, our Soldiers, and our Families.
Regulars, by God!
LTC Clay Padgett
Regular 6

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Friends and Families of the Regulars,

From the “Regulars” Command Sergeant Major corner greetings and salutations. As always, straight to the point,
you will never see the extraordinary gratitude Soldiers exhibit to their fellow Soldiers for your continuing support.
I cannot articulate the precise words to depict the joyful Soldiers faces every time they receive a package
from new and old supporters. With limited capacity to purchase shaving cream, razors, manly baby wipes,
snacks and other items from the main PX at Kandahar Airfield, your boxes of kindness have saved Soldiers
from becoming the mirror image of Grizzly Adams. This month I had the honor of attending a ceremony
at company outpost Hotel California where Soldiers from the Dirty Platoon held a promotion and reenlistment
ceremony in the prison yard. The Outlaw Platoon assigned to Bravo Company is performing phenomenally
in the Arghandab River Valley even with limited cold weather gear, hot coffee and Rip-its.

This month SPC Keller earned the promotion to Sergeant; welcome to the NCO Corps. PV2 Sojourner, Truxel, Morrow,
Madden, Orlowski, and McKeanhogan earned their promotion to PFC, and PFC Latine earned his promotion to SPC.
Congratulation to all! Additionally, the “Regulars” had numerous reenlistments for the month of October
and to cite a few, SPC Topham reenlisted to stay at beautiful Fort Carson, SPC Siel Hawaii, SGT Menchaca, Texas,
and SSG Rodriguez reenlisted for an assignment to the National Training Center in California.

Regulars, by God!
CSM Samuel D. Coston
“Regular 7”

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Captains Log:
Greetings Hammer Families,

I learned something new this month. Apparently Afghanistan has seasons. The weather during the day
has dropped from a 100 degrees to the 70’s and 80’s. At night it actually gets cold enough now to turn on the heat
and wear cold weather jackets while pulling guard duty on our perimeter. Fortunately we all packed in accordance
with the packing list and were prepared for such an event. If you are thinking what to send in the mail next,
think of something warm, just make sure it’s within regulation to wear.

ANCOP keeps getting better each month. New shower trailers are being installed, hot water tanks have arrived,
our chow tent has A/C and heat, and the phone and internet trailers are in working order. Some things happen
quicker than others but the end state is a better quality of living.

One of my favorite things to do is promote Soldiers to their next rank based on the potential we see in them.
This month I was privileged to promote SPC Grayson, SPC Iban, and SPC Davison. In each small ceremony,
we have the War Hammer present and held by the individual being promoted as I explain what the next level of rank means.
After that the order is recited out loud while I remove the rank and whom ever they choose to pin on their next rank
steps forward and puts it on their chest with a small punch to make sure the Velcro sticks.

We are coming up on the Holiday Season very quickly. For Thanksgiving the Army does its best to give us
a little piece of home. So we have some turkey and pumpkin pie to look forward to. Towards the end of the month
I know the Hammer FRG is getting together to help send some gifts our way. If you have an hour or so to spare
maybe you could stop by and support the FRG with some stocking stuffing. Keep in mind the postal service
gets overloaded with boxes this time of year. If you want to wrap a present to be opened on X-mas day
I suggest you send it out in the beginning of this month.

HHC is starting to send more and more Soldiers on leave. We are required to send a certain percentage home
each month. Based on missions being executed here your husband or wife may not get the date they originally wanted
or requested. Please be understanding about that. The 1SG and I are doing what we can to get them home
when they requested, but sometimes it’s just not possible. Keep in mind this leave is not charged towards the Soldier,
and you get to see them. When the tour is over they should still have a good amount of leave dates built up so you can
enjoy after tour block leave without draining your leave account.

In the back of this letter you will see a lot of pictures from the Battalions Combat Patch Ceremony. The combat patch
was created in 1945 and is worn on the right shoulder sleeve symbolizing “former wartime service.”. Only Soldiers
who have deployed to a foreign country fighting to protect and support the United States of America are authorized
to wear them. The patch on their right sleeve will always be that of the 4th Infantry Division, the unit they went to war with.
The left shoulder patch changes as Soldiers transfer to different units. Enjoy the pictures!

-Hammer 6

From the Top

From the desk of Hammer 7

Stay the Course…..Stick with it this ghostly time of year!!!! I think this is the second best season coming up.
Fall is here, Halloween, Baseball World Series, Ice Hockey starting up, Football games, Families getting together
leading into Thanksgiving. I think you all realize summertime is my favorite time of year but Fall season back home
makes it cozy for all, even as the Soldiers here continue their missions from Guard duty, patrols, and daily challenges
on the ground. This leads me to bring up the good times you all back home can provide us! Pictures of the little ones
going out in their costumes, sent through email or the Face Book page, show us here that our loved ones are doing fine!
So send those scary photos of the those little goblins and help us stay involved.

I think some of the most exciting things I saw this past month were the smiling faces on Soldiers when we actually
had three meals served from our Container Kitchen. For instance; breakfast: eggs, hash browns, pancakes grits and drink.
For lunch: lunch meat, cheese and…BREAD!!!! Dinner: Chicken Cordon blue with vegetables and potatoes and with drinks!!!
WOW, I am not much into sodas or these energy drinks. I do like my coffee though.

Since our last Newsletter we have increased from two to three cold storage containers , our living space from 9 tents
to 14, added some hot water heaters, and began work on some shower trailers to keep us out of the cold weather
as we shower and shave.

As part of the Hammer family I need your help to get your Soldier to order new equipment while deployed
instead of you sending items the Army supplies us. Every month our Soldiers get to order the basic
wear and tear items like uniforms, T-shirts, and socks while deployed through an online site. So please ask them
about their ADO order through your conversations ; it is a really helpful site that will enable your Soldier to get items
replaced for free! They just have to place the order. We need more Soldiers to take advantage of this or we could lose it.
Using this site saves all of us money. All orders have to be in by the 23rd of each month while we are deployed.

Hammer Company is spread out and far from each other but, through this Newsletter and the internet we are
brought back each and every month at this time. I see our Soldiers as they come into the BDOC to check on mail
or some personal actions need to get signed. I can honestly say, our Soldiers are doing well focusing on missions
and staying the course. Make sure you continue your support of them. I thank all those who did respond last month
contacting me reference sending mail to a Soldier who has not gotten mail or has not received that much mail.
Great response, thanks again!!!! Continue sending your love and support!

Until next month…Hammer 7 out!

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Scouts "Saber"

Behind every great leader is a great PSD. While this may not be an actual saying, the Scouts are attempting
to give the maxim legitimacy as we continue to roam Kandahar, protecting anyone who outranks us.
September has been a fruitful month for the Scouts as the platoon continues to learn its new job and continually
evolve new tactics, techniques and procedures to stay a step ahead of the enemy. The brigade has expanded
its battle space into the Arghandab River Valley and the Scouts have stayed busy, learning a new area of operations.
Our actions have allowed the Brigade Commander to influence the battlefield in some of the most hotly contested
territory in Kandahar. The Scouts have also begun patrolling independently in their basic capacity as a recon organization
in support of 1/STB operations in the northern portions of Kandahar City.

New leaders continue to emerge in the platoon as Sgt Rojas, from Alpha Section, has taken to his role
as the lead Truck Commander, riding along with Col. Martindale. Despite going to a new location almost every day,
Sgt Rojas’ diligence and unwavering sense of direction has set the Colonel up for success with each visit.
SSG Prince got a chance to meet General Petraeus for the second time since the legendary General re-enlisted him
in Iraq. Apparently, SSG’s Prince’s stature did not faze the General as he did not remember him.
Pvt Schroeder is preparing himself for a new career as a New York City taxi driver while negotiating the unforgiving traffic
of the city, although driving a massive armored vehicle gives him a bit of an edge.

Bravo section continues to receive inspiration from their travels with the Sergeant Major as they spread joy
and encouragement across the battlefield. SFC George has been utilizing his master resiliency training
to cope with many corrective lessons from the Sergeant Major while Sgt Shaeffer has been learning the idiosyncrasies
necessary to survive in a truck with the senior enlisted member of the brigade. Sgt Shaeffer has joined the Sergeant Major’s
fictive kinship network as a nephew, signifying the great appreciation he holds for the tremendous work
SGT Shaeffer continues to do as his gunner. CPL Pearce has added pounds of muscle from an intensive weight program
during his downtime and is considering a second career as a body builder.

The Scouts continue to carry the Regular standard throughout the brigade and look forward
to future challenges and the chance to stomp some Taliban.

-CPT Hartwig (Friendly in Nature)

Medics "Blood Platoon"

Greetings from Kandahar!
In a month where the leaves are changing back home, we too have experienced a shift in weather.
Kandahar has gone from highs in the upper 90s and lows around 55 to much welcome highs in the 80s
and lows in the 40s. In result the mighty Medics have pulled out the cold weather gear to start bundling up at night.
Rest assured, we're all prepared for whatever Afghanistan has to throw our way, knowing it could never be as cold
or wet as Raider Blitz back at Fort Carson. We still shiver thinking about that great experience.

Otherwise, the Afghan medical mission progresses. We continue to build up our Aid Stations-recent additions include
walls in the Main Aid Station and a much-needed zen rock garden at the Forward Aid Station- train our Afghan partners,
and help keep the Battalion healthy. Luckily, recent injuries have only consisted of Taliban vampire bites
and post-ghost sighting stress. We joke, but in all seriousness the Medics have been giving out flu shots
(make sure you guys get yours too!) and getting ready for the rash of sure-to-come sniffles.

In this latest edition of "The Hammer," we've decided to add a shoutout section for outstanding Medic performance
s from across the battlefield:
SPC Biggers and CPL Newton; carpenters extraordinaire. These two have been vital to the improvements
found at your local friendly aid stations.
LTC Rand, PFC Maxwell, CPT Sacheli, SSG Haas; hammerers supreme. Construction can't happen without raw labor,
and these are the best in the business.

As always, we think of you back home constantly and hope that Halloween finds you each carving pumpkins
and be-decked in costume.

- 1LT Rob Modlin

Mortar Platoon "Thunder"

Family and friends of the mortar/sniper platoon,
October has been a month of changes for the mortars. We are no longer working the checkpoint with
Cobra Company but instead are on the southern side of Kandahar City with Dealer Company in Malajat.
SSG Jureki and his 16 man squad of MPs have been attached to increase man power and assist in force protection.
SSG Diaz and his team of snipers have been moved to 3rd platoon to help provide precision fires as U.S. forces
move throughout the battlefield. We look forward to their return to the mortar platoon when their current mission
is complete.

Near the end of September we were notified that the platoon would be pulled from its checkpoint operations
to move to Dealer Company. The shift off the checkpoint was a welcome change to the guys.
Once we got to Malajat we conducted a relief in place (RIP) with 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company who showed us
our area of responsibility and key facts about our new area. Though the two towns we now control are small
and close together there is much to be done to get to know the locals and build relations with the elders.
The men quickly realized they were “not in Kansas anymore.” The swing from living in an Afghan hotel
to living out of a school with little resources was a good reminder to appreciate the luxuries you have
while you have them. However, a new site has been built with tents and high walls for protection which is much larger
than the old school house. There is plenty of room for the Soldiers to spread out and get comfortable.
Though MWR computers and internet are not here there are plans to have them installed as soon as possible.

SSG Jureki and his band of MPs assist in force protection while simultaneously conducting local patrols
around a nearby village. Their presence on the ground outside the wire allows the mortars to move further
into the battlefield and disrupt enemy movement. The new asset is greatly welcomed and will continue to prove
a lethal element as the deployment drives on.

A good sign that time is going by quickly is when the men start to go on mid-tour leave. PFC Brandsasse,
PFC Chacon, PFC Welch, and PFC Meeks were sent home from the mortars while PFC Ruiz was sent home
from the Snipers. May you enjoy the brief company of your sons while they are home
as they have earned the much needed break.

The Mortar Platoon, along with the men attached, are proving to be a unique asset as we provide dismounted
combat patrols and indirect fire support. The guys are upbeat and morale has seen a rise since coming off
the checkpoint and being attached to Dealer Company. As I watch the men patrol, work out, and goof off
with one another I am proud to lead your husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. They are a diverse group of men
capable of accomplishing any task set before them. I send you my thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Until the next news letter may you be blessed. God speed.

1LT Rich Dunkin
“Regulars, By God!”

Assault CP "Punishers"

Hello Punisher Families! Another month has passed and the Platoon continues to drive forward here in Afghanistan.
Your Soldiers are out every day, circulating around the Battlefield, interacting with the locals, even sharing their food.
The Platoon truly has grown together as brothers. Nicknames like Butters, Radio, and Scarebear (not Cupcake)
have started to stick. We’ve adopted a kitten that was sentenced to death by the Military Police and brought her
into our hearts. “Combat Kitty” patrols the ANCOP, ever vigilant while we sleep.

Your boys remain ready for whatever mission is thrown at us, always pushing forward to win.
We have had a major role to play in the Battalion’s Patch Ceremony. With your Soldier’s help, we have turned
what can be considered an insincere event by some into a moving ceremony for the entire Battalion.
We miss our families and friends with each passing day, especially with the holiday season approaching.
Please know that you are in all of our hearts and we cannot wait to be with you all at home again soon.

Be proud of your Soldiers. They all remain dedicated to our mission to bring security to the Afghan people and,
in turn, to our own homes in America. Please continue to give your Soldiers support throughout this deployment.
We would not be nearly as successful without it as we are with your love and care. Thank you all for everything
that you do for us. Look forward to some funny Halloween pictures next month. Take care!

-CPT Cary Fitzpatrick

HQ Platoon

On a daily basis Headquarters Platoon is as busy as a crew on the launch deck of a supper aircraft carrier,
with a million things going in a million different directions all at supersonic speeds. Now don’t get me wrong,
it’s not always hard work that the guys in HQ fill their days with. We find time in our busy schedules to make fun
of one another: typically finding the “weakest link” in the bunch and sending hundreds of one liners at him.
Also, talking up our favorite college football team, to the detriment of other teams, is the best.
I am a Texas Longhorns fan. Hook’ em Horns!!! Yes I know that they are not doing so well this year,
but give them until next season and they will be putting numbers back on the board. We use this to break up
the day by day monotony here on ANCOP. Without humor we would never survive a year tour away from our families.

Our most eventful days seem to be when we have a Combat Patrol go to KAF (Kandahar Air Field). I look forward
to this day, because it’s a break from all the tasks that are stacked up in front of us at ANCOP. This is also the day
when we get clean laundry and resupply ourselves with the simple things that most people take for granted.
The trip is usually rapped up with lunch at one of the fine eating establishments on the KAF boardwalk,
a quick safety brief, and then back on the road for another 45 min of wondering where these people over here
learned to drive.

Since Headquarters Platoon involves a variety of different jobs, we often work outside of our main skill sets.
Some jobs are more popular than others. For example, the one that no one wants to tackle is dealing with
the forklift operator. A mixture of hand movements and a lot of patience are required for the task.
Anyone interested? But just like any Soldier we quickly find our place among new and old friends
in the Headquarters platoon. This turns my extended forecast for this deployment to sunny with partially
cloudy skies rather than cloudy with hail and wind. While none of us have ever worked with one and other,
we have come together as a team to make things happen. It’s too easy.

- SSG Mendoza

S1 (Personnel) "El Jefe's Corner"

Greetings from your Human Resources Service Center! We all hope this newsletter finds you in good health
and brings you an uplifting sense of joy! We are in the full swing of the Environmental and Morale Leave (EML) process,
and it is a nonstop job for our personnel at KAF. They are doing an unbelievable job receiving Soldiers
from all over the battlefield, getting each of them to their required briefings, and making sure they get to their
scheduled flight on time! Also our KAF S1 personnel continuously improve and update our mail systems
to make sure the overwhelming amount of mail that we receive each day is ready to go out to your loved ones.
Don’t get me wrong, though the amount of mail we get is mountainous, our team is doing a great job separating,
tracking, and distributing all of the mail. “The Mail never stops” as it is said. See the picture for proof:
SPC Perez is working hard but needs a little help to ensure all the mail goes to the correct locations for each Soldier!

We have moved SGT Gezymalla from ANCOP to the KAF ALOC in order to prepare for SGT Kittle’s departure!
Yes, if you haven’t heard our very own SGT Kittle is departing not only from the deployment,
but soon from the Hammer Company, the “Regulars” Family and the US Army altogether. He has done
a phenomenal job during his tenure with this unit! SGT Kittle is one of the most creative, adaptive,
and outstanding Human Resources Sergeants and Noncommissioned Officers currently in the Hammer Company!
SGT Kittle’s positive and proactive attitude has always kept our Soldiers smiling and working hard,
and has even kept me on my toes when I first became the BN S1! His presence in this unit will surely be missed
and we wish him the best of luck outside of the Army and pray for his well being!

-CPT “El Jefe” Behler/Battalion S1

S2 Military Intelligence

As the S2 shop enters the month of November, we are deeply engaged in targeting personnel in our AO
who persistently intimidate the local population and target ANSF/CFs. We continue to work with our
Afghan counterparts day in and day out to secure AO Regulars. The atmospherics amongst the local nationals
are very positive towards Afghan security forces as well as Coalition Forces and there has been a noticeable change
in security throughout the AO. SGT Deb has been working with the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP)
and enrolling them in the BN Biometrics Automated Tool Set (BATS), to ensure the ANCOP working with
TF-Regulars receive their badges. The “think tank” with the guidance of LT. Wang has also been busy
rolling up detainees throughout the AO and ensuring they are correctly processed and turned over to our
ANCOP counterparts for further exploitation. With constant enhancement of products the TF-Regulars S2 shop have been
actively in the hunt for targets to ensure the Afghan people can enjoy the same freedoms as we do back home.

S3 Operations

The S-3 shop has been busy this month tracking the battle and absorbing all the information submitted to the battalion.
Due to the sensitive nature of what we deal with we have no pictures to submit this month because it is all classified secret.
We all do something at different stations in the Tactical Operating Center (TOC). In a way we are like the bridge
of the Star Ship Enterprise making a lot of critical decisions in one location to effect the outcome of the battle.
MAJ Sandoval directs the assets we receive from higher headquarters to help our guys on the ground win the fight.
CPT Hardin makes a lot of slides from the accumulated information from all the companies. PFC Duncan steers
everyone in the right direction on the radio to make sure we all know what is going on. SPC Shields has become
the TOC handy man making sure the walls don’t fall in on us. All this goes on while SFC Lawson stands back
and watches the madness and brings order to everyone keeping focus on what is important.

- Nemesis Main

S4 Logistics

We at the 4 Shop have been maintaining our positive attitude in order to reinforce the Soldiers of
Task Force Regulars. With the determined Soldiers working at both ALOCs and their die hard mentality,
nothing is impossible for us to complete. We have been working innumerable hours to better prepare and supply
Soldiers in our battle field with necessities to win the good fight. Every bit of preparation made before the
main body arrived in Afghanistan continues to show more and more, each and every day. Re-supply missions
are going smoothly, supply statistics are keeping up to date, and Soldiers are receiving the necessary materials
to maintain combat effectiveness. It is an everyday struggle dealing with an asymmetric war, as our number
of locations, soldiers, and the needs of those soldiers are constantly changing. The task is not an easy one,
but we are truly dedicated in ensuring that our Soldiers get what they need. The task is an enduring one,
but the reward is well worth the effort. I am proud of all the efforts put forward by our Soldiers
and constantly see above standard performance. As we get further into the depths of the tour, the S4 welcomes
a new face to the ranks of logistics. 2LT Shane Lisius arrived on ANCOP a few weeks ago; promptly being tasked
to the 4 Shop, 2LT Lisius has been assisting and taking ownership of tasks needed to be completed
and ensuring it is completed beyond the normal standards. We welcome him to the 4 Shop and TF Regulars!
2LT Lisius is married to Halley Flammer, has no children, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

ANCOP is a small location where the hard work is being conducted. SFC Zelinsky and all the supply SGTs
are continuing to work hard across the board at the KAF ALOC; their countless hours in receiving supplies,
pushing them out to units, and accounting for supplies and equipment for the companies are the spears tip
in getting all vital equipment to our guys throughout the areas of operation. The hours never seem to stop for them,
but they never cease to amaze in their firmness, hard work, and fortitude attitude. Across the board,
everyone is doing a phenomenal job in supporting the troops. I am extremely proud of all the efforts
of the “The Regulars” S4 Soldiers. Keep up the good work!

S6 (Signal)

The S6 continues to provide Signal support for all of TF Regular. We have been busy but there is always time
to work out and blow off steam. With all the patrols the battalion is conducting our vehicles take a lot of abuse.
The S6 section spends many hours testing the commo equipment and replacing parts to make sure all
the vehicles can communicate. Vehicles can have up to four different radios (FM, Tacsat, and HF) and a computer.
The radios provide voice communication and the computer gives us situational awareness by showing us where
we are at on the ground, maps, adjacent units and recent events. It can even send e-mail like text messages.

-CPT Mike Holm

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FET : Courageously Going Where No Infantryman Has Gone Before

The Army is full of so many acronyms it can make your head spin, so what is this FET??
It is the Female Engagement Team of 1-22 IN BN. The FET is PFC Khristian Cotoio, PFC Tasia Brooks,
PFC Beth Olson, SPC Eustolia Metts, SPC Monet Robinson, SSG Lori Soto, and 2LT Charleigh LaFronz-Emberger.
We are a hodgepodge of MOSs and were brought together for this awesome journey which is so far off
from any of our typical Army jobs. We are the spirit behind FET, what FET does is what our journey is about.

We have been staying busy bouncing around from one company to the next, patrolling through villages,
talking with the Afghan women and fighting off the children who are shocked to see females patrolling
through their streets. Our patrol gradually grows with the local children tagging along with wide eyes
and expectant hands. Once they realize we have candy in our pockets we get swarmed by little hands and
dirt streaked faces eager for any gift we have to offer. We also spend our time working at TCPs
(traffic control points) searching female Afghans and taking each opportunity to share a smile
or hand out a lollipop to a clinging child.

As females we have access to the untapped female population in this country. Often we go inside the homes
and sit with the women and share some chai tea. We get to hear their stories while we nod and smile,
until the translator finishes and we finally understand what she was saying. Our days outside the wire prove
to be eventful even if we do not come into contact with women. In the past months we each have turned down
many marriage proposals from Afghan teenage boys and continually break their hearts after they declare their love.
Undaunted and persistent, the boys often turn to the next female on the team hoping for better luck.

Each day is another day doing what the Infantrymen can not; we go behind the scenes of the Afghan home
and get to have some girl talk.

-2LT LaFronz-Emb

Hammer Family Readiness Group

Thanks to all of the ladies who made it out for our Oktober Fest meeting. We had a great time sampling
some authentic German food and had a great turnout! Please be sure to join us on Sunday, November 21st
at noon at Brigade Headquarters to assemble and decorate stockings for the soldiers of our company.
We will have some munchies and holiday music to get us in the holiday spirit! We are accepting donations
for stocking items if you are feeling generous- just contact Nicki or myself for some more information.
Hope that time is flying by for everyone!
If you need to contact Nicki or myself, we can reached via e-mail.
We always welcome comments, questions, or suggestions!

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Greetings to the 1-22IN Regulars Family,

Though the road has not been without trial or difficulty the 1-22IN Battalion, Regulars by God,
are now approximately quarter of the way done with this deployment, praise the Lord! No matter how difficult
these past few months have been we can and should all pause and take a moment to reflect on just how far
we have come this deployment, as well as how far we all have yet to go.

No matter if you are the one who is deployed or the loved one back at home we all have been through a lot
in the short time we have been deployed. For those back home, your days are consumed with keeping
the daily affaires of the house in order as your loved one is deployed. This includes for many, but is not limited too;
the raising of children and all that entails, to paying the bills, to cherishing those special moments
when your loved one is able to speak with you via email, Facebook, or a phone call. For those of us deployed,
our days have been certainly been kept busy with the individual missions that we each have in our specific job areas
which have all contributed to the great success that this unit has enjoyed in the major operations that we have been
a key part of during our time here.

I would like to congratulate everybody on making it thus far in the deployment and would encourage everyone
to keep up the phenomenal job that you are doing. For those back home who have been “holding down the fort”
while your loved one is here serving, your sacrifices are certainly appreciated by your Soldier over here as well
as the rest of us in Task Force Regular. Not a day goes by that I don’t have Soldiers telling me here just how much
it means to them to speak with their loves ones when they have the opportunity to do so, or how excited
they are when they receive a care package from that special someone. You truly are the silent heroes of this war
and I want to let you know from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you.” You all have and will continue
to remain in my, and many others, prayers.

Regulars, I am so proud of what you are doing here for our country. Stay the course and realize that we are
only here in Afghanistan but for a brief period of our lives and “that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” To those at home, we could not do
what we do over here without your love, support, and prayers. Please know that these things mean more to us
than anything and that we look forward to seeing you during our mid tour leaves that are fast approaching.

May the Lord continue to bless and pour out His protection on the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment!

REGULARS BY GOD!
DEEDS, NOT WORDS!
Chaplain Chip Satter

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