More Than Work in Iraq
The Holidays are over for the most part, but most of us who spent it with our families may not have given much thought to the men and women who are still serving over in Iraq. While they work very hard over there – just look at all they’ve accomplished – they do take time out every now and then to relieve some stress. Soldiers from the 716th Quartermaster Company, 80th Ordnance Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), of out Jersey City, N.J., have found time to relieve some stress, and play some football. The team, called the “Dark Knights” gather at Killeen Field on Joint Base Balad to compete weekly in a game of flag football.
“Having a company flag football team is good for morale,” Staff Sgt. Robert Rivera said. “I would like to thank our fans for all of their support so far this season.”
“It’s a great thing to come out here and cheer on our team. I’m very proud of my Soldiers,” said 1st Sgt. Nilsa Davila-Aranda, the 716th’s senior non-commissioned officer.
Meanwhile, the 1483rd Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), held a truck rodeo on December 29, 2009 in the company’s motor pool on Camp Taji, Iraq.
The 541st CSSB chaplain Capt. Nathan White, a native of Wichita, Kansas, made an appearance at the truck rodeo, and with Soldiers from the unit encouraging him, he decided to test his driving skills at the straight line backing station. Even though he had never driven a HET before, the chaplain earned a time better than some of the competing Soldiers.
“The truck rodeo was a good test of all of our skills,” said Spc. Brian Ginett, a motor transport operator with the 1483rd Trans. Company and an Antigo, Wisconsin, native.
As you can see, our soldiers are fighting for freedom, but they also know how to take some much needed (and deserved) down time.
Sgt. Stryker Out.
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It’s Not Always Work, Work, Work
Dark Knight’s Spc. James Blamah-Sah, with the 716th Quartermaster Company (center), runs past an Air Force “49ers” defenseman during a game against the Air Force’s “49ers” Jan. 10 at Joint Base Balad.
Dark Knight’s Quarterback Spc. Todd Boban, with the 716th Quartermaster Company, runs the football up the sideline during a game against the Air Force’s “49ers” Jan. 10 at Joint Base Balad.
Rodeo Brings Excitement to Soldiers
A Soldier from the 1483rd Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), knocks over cones while attempting to do straight line backing with a heavy equipment transporter Dec. 29, 2009 on Camp Taji, Iraq, as Sgt. Josephine Beal, an operator with the 1483rd Trans. Company and Ohio native, sets the cones back up and grades the driver.
Spc. Brian Ginett, an Antigo, Wis., native, and Spc. Josh Crisenbery, a Cridersville, Ohio, native, both motor transport operators with the 1483rd Transportation Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), perform preventive maintenance checks and services while competing in a truck rodeo Dec. 29, 2009 on Camp Taji, Iraq.