NEWS ARCHIVES / MARCH 2005

160th SOAR receives funding for aquatic training facility, helicopter upgrades
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (USASOC News Service, March 30, 2005) — The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) here received a symbolic $9.5 million check March 29 from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

New USASOC deputy commanding general announced
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 30, 2005) — A former staff officer at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command here was named the deputy commanding general of the organization March 28 by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker.

Rangers awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device
FORT LEWIS, Wash. (USASOC News Service, March 30, 2005) — For nearly a decade, they shared rigorous training and lasting camaraderie. Among family, they shared childhood dreams of serving their country. And on March 21, they shared a moment of recognition.

Gen. Brown visits special operations Soldiers
FORT LEWIS, Wash. (USASOC News Service, March 30, 2005) — Hundreds of Fort Lewis special operations Soldiers here gained insight and reassurance concerning their role in the Global War on Terrorism from their commanding general March 21.

Civil affairs Soldier accepted into U.S. Military Academy
TIKRIT, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 29, 2005) — While on combat duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom here, Spc. Matthew J. Robbins learned just before Easter that he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

St. Louis PSYOP unit helps distribute sneakers to Iraqi children
SADR CITY, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 29, 2005) — Operation Happy Feet brought smiles to children of Sadr City as Soldiers of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry, distributed sneakers at Marakah al-Taf elementary school Feb. 28.

426th Civil Affairs Soldiers provide aid, equipment to Chubaka citizens
CHUBAKA, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 27, 2005) — Soldiers from the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion visited this village Feb. 28 providing medical care, and distributing blankets and soccer balls to the village's citizens. It was the first time U.S. Soldiers had visited here.

Widows of combatants killed in Iraq, Afghanistan meet
ARLINGTON, Va. (USASOC News Service, March 27, 2005) — They’d talked on the telephone and in Internet chat rooms for a few months, but had never met face-to-face until March 22, when nearly 40 young widows of servicemen killed in Iraq and Afghanistan attended a luncheon sponsored by the Gold Star Wives here.

Rangers score big during the All-Army Small Arms Championships
FORT BENNING, Ga. (USASOC News Service, March 27, 2005) — Rangers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment won three team and 15 individual awards during the All Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning March 12 - 24.

Course prepares special operations comptrollers for work down range
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 27, 2005) — Approximately 50 comptrollers from various military branches met at the Special Operations Academic Facility here March 14 - 18 to sharpen their resource management skills prior to deploying in support of a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in a combat theatre.

422nd Civil Affairs Battalion awarded Presidential Unit Citation
GREENSBORO, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 23, 2005) — On the second anniversary of the start of combat operations in Iraq, the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion received the Army’s highest unit award, the Presidential Unit Citation, during a ceremony at the Reeve Reserve Center here March 19.

Army increases special duty pay for enlisted Special Forces Soldiers
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 23, 2005) — Enlisted Green Berets currently occupying authorized billets within the Special Forces career field are eligible for an increase in special duty assignment pay to $375 per month, the Army announced in a military personnel message earlier this month.

Ranger School now open to qualified combat support Soldiers
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 23, 2005) — Qualified male Soldiers serving in combat support and combat service support specialties throughout the Army are now eligible to attend Ranger School, service officials announced in a March 9 military personnel message.

VIDEO STORY: Civil affairs Soldier transfers from office to field
SAMARRA, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 23, 2005) — This narrative video follows Staff Sgt. Carleen Levy of Company B, 411th Civil Affairs Battalion as she transitions from an office job to civil affairs field work.

Kabul compound renamed in honor of fallen Soldier
KABUL, Afghanistan (USASOC News Service, March 22, 2005) — He may be gone, but U.S. Army Capt. Daniel W. Eggers is not forgotten.

Eggers remembered for humor, compassion
KABUL, Afghanistan (USASOC News Service, March 22, 2005) — Capt. Daniel W. Eggers, who was killed in Afghanistan with three other servicemembers May 29, 2004, near Kandahar, was remembered March 20 by those closest to him after a ceremony that renamed Kabul Compound in his honor.

Civil affairs Soldiers assist in reconstruction of Iraqi public facilities
SAMARRA, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 22, 2005) — The four-man civil affairs team from Forward Operating Base Brassfield-Mora patrols the city of Samarra and the surrounding villages, aiding in the reconstruction of Iraqi public utilities and offices.

Country star Travis Tritt to honor special ops involvement in Iran hostage rescue
TAMPA, Fla. (American Forces Press Service, March 22, 2005) — Country music star Travis Tritt will join the Special Operations Warrior Foundation at an April 24 dinner honoring the special operations servicemembers killed 25 years ago during an ill-fated secret mission planned to rescue American hostages being held in Iran.

Around The World Run to showcase Bragg civil affairs unit’s global deployments
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 21, 2005) — One of the Army’s most-deployed battalions is bringing its worldwide area of operations home to Fort Bragg so Soldiers and civilians can run — or walk — a few kilometers in the shoes of a civil affairs Soldier.

Special operations forces kick off NASCAR's Golden Corral 500
HAMPTON, Ga. (USASOC News Service, March 20, 2005) — Twelve special operators took center stage with the commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command here at NASCAR's Golden Corral 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway today.

VIDEO STORY: Civil affairs battalion gets Iraqi city running smoothly
SAMARRA, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 18, 2005) — This narrative video follows Soldiers of Company B, 411th Civil Affairs Battalion as they assist in helping to re-establish civic programs in Samarra.

Specials ops requests funding to modernize, transform
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 18, 2005) — A continued need for modernization and transformation of special operations forces brought that community’s leaders to Capitol Hill March 17 to testify on their portion of the president’s military spending request.

Bush notes Operation Iraqi Freedom's accomplishments
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 19, 2005) — Two years ago today, U.S. and coalition forces disarmed a brutal regime, freed the Iraqi people and defended the world from a grave danger, President Bush said today in his weekly radio address.

Rangers win team match in All-Army Small Arms Championships
FORT BENNING, Ga. (USASOC News Service, March 18, 2005) — Four sniper platoon Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment were victorious in the first team match of the All-Army Small Arms Championships here March 16.

Calif. civil affairs unit trains Iraqi police in civil disturbance response tactics
DAHUK, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 18, 2005) — Northern Iraq, commonly referred to as Kurdistan, is now one of the most peaceful areas of the country.

VIDEO B-ROLL: Female civil affairs Soldiers in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 18, 2005) — This non-narrative B-roll video follows Maj. Mary Prophit and other female civil affairs Soldiers pulling guard duty and conducting a medevac procedures briefing in Iraq.

USASOC officer competes in gentlemen’s sport
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 18, 2005) — Fencing is a sport that is considered by some to be outdated. Since he was a youth living in Berkeley, Calif., Maj. Don Davis has always enjoyed the sport for its competition and its style.

Fort Bragg drill sergeants assist in live-fire training
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 16, 2005) — For the first time ever at Fort Bragg, a live-fire convoy exercise was conducted by drill sergeants and civil affairs instructors, training newly minted active-duty and Army Reserve Soldiers here March 13.

Right service, right job, right stuff: Astronaut's daughter enlists as PSYOP specialist
HOUSTON (USASOC News Service, March 15, 2005) — For recent high school graduate and new Army enlistee Kelly Wetherbee, choosing the right service and the right job was something that not only required research, but also enlisting the help of someone with “the Right Stuff.”

Reconstruction team helps restore Afghan cultural art form
HERAT, Afghanistan (American Forces Press Service, March 14, 2005) — In 1997, Taliban leaders drove a 600 year-old Afghan art form to near extinction when they fired 22 of the 30 craftsmen at the Blue Mosque Tile Factory.

Soldier creates art, inspires youth to fulfill potential
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Mar. 14, 2005) — It’s been said that his artwork is personally moving, not just a pretty picture, but an experience — it’s not just a decoration to hang on a wall.

Army Rangers recognized for outstanding combat service
FORT BENNING, Ga. (USASOC News Service , March 10, 2005) — Three awards for combat valor were among those presented to Army Rangers during a ceremony here March 8.

Special Forces Soldiers decorated for combat valor
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 10, 2005) — Approximately 250 Soldiers and civilians gathered at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Meadows Memorial Plaza March 9 to recognize the valorous actions of 47 Special Forces Soldiers while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan last year.

PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces school to transform training model
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 7, 2005) — Beginning this month, all Soldiers entering the Special Forces training pipeline here will be taught using a new training model that represents the most significant change to Special Forces Qualification Course in more than a decade.

U.S. Special Forces Soldiers train South Korean SF to call fire from the sky
YONGSAN ARMY GARRISON, Republic of Korea (USASOC News Service, March 6, 2005) — After spending two weeks in the classroom studying under U.S. Special Forces Detachment-Korea instructors, 30 Republic of Korea special forces soldiers from across the Peninsula successfully called in U.S. Air Force precision air strikes March 2 at a range in South Korea.

Europe-based special operations units may consolidate in Spain, Sicily
ARLINGTON, Va. (Stars and Stripes, March 4, 2005) — U.S. military officials are in negotiations with host nations to consolidate Army, Navy and Air Force special operations units now spread throughout Europe to a consolidated outpost either in Spain or Sicily, according to the top commander of military forces in Europe.

Civil affairs Soldiers’ NGO conference encourages private agencies to assist Iraqis
TIKRIT, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 4, 2005) — The Morale, Welfare and Recreation palace at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit was the hub of activity in Iraq Feb. 26-27 as the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion conducted the New Dawn NGO Conference, the third in a series of conferences for nongovernmental and international organizations that began during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Special ops plays key role in terror war while transforming
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 4, 2005) — The global war on terror has increased the operational tempo among special operations forces “greatly,” said Thomas W. O’Connell, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, and “we don’t see any decrease on the horizon.”

Special ops working to retain seasoned operators
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 4, 2005) — A new incentive package is expected to help the military better compete against other federal agencies and the private sector for skills possessed by special operations forces, according to DoD’s top official on special operations and low-intensity conflict.

VIDEO STORY: Ride-along with civil affairs Soldier in Afghanistan
HERAT, Afghanistan (USASOC News Service, March 2, 2005) — This non-narrative video story follows Staff Sgt. Lawrence Lentz of the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion as he drives through downtown Herat to assess school construction and other coalition projects.

Special operations ‘uniquely suited’ to fight terrorists
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 2, 2005) — Special operations forces are deployed worldwide “in the right place at the right time” in the fight against global terrorism, the Defense Department’s top special operations officer told a Senate panel March 1.

Ranger medics earn Expert Field Medical Badge at Fort Benning
FORT BENNING, Ga. (USASOC News Service, March 1, 2005) — For the first time in five years, medics from the 75th Ranger Regiment received the Expert Field Medical Badge during a ceremony here Feb. 25.

Anatomy of an assessment: Civil affairs Soldiers visit Iraqi village
AL BUTOMA, Iraq (USASOC News Service, March 1, 2005) — Flocks of children pour from the houses and other buildings of the village of Al Butoma, Iraq.

Special ops aviator's son among families of Gulf War casualties honored in D.C.
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, March 1, 2005) — Families came here from 18 states on Feb. 26 to attend a reception at Kuwaiti Embassy so Ambassador Sheik Salem al-Sabah could personally thank them for the ultimate sacrifice their loved ones made to liberate his country during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

An MH-47E Chinook helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) delivers the pace car with racing legend Darrell Waltrip to the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 20. (U.S. Army photo by Gillian M. Albro, USASOC PAO) Click for high-resolution photo...

A U.S. Army Ranger team observes its surroundings during a mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo) Click for high-resolution photo...

1st Lt. Keith Curran, 353rd Civil Affairs Command, hands out Frisbees to young Iraqi children at French Village, Baghdad, Iraq, on March 7. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lapedra P. Tolson) Click here for high-resolution photo...

Sgt. 1st Class Todd Wilhite, a diver with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), assists in the recovery of a submerged vehicle March 8 in MacArthur Lake at Fort Bragg, N.C. The combined efforts of the 3rd SFG and Fort Bragg officials led to the successful recovery of an automobile from the lake. (U.S. Army photo by Gillian M. Albro, U.S. Army Special Operations Command) Click for high-resolution photo.. .

A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier mans an M-2 .50-caliber machine gun atop an up-armored Ground Mobility Vehicle recently in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas) Click for high-resolution photo...

U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers scan an area during a recent patrol in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas) Click for high-resolution photo...

Capt. Michael P. Solovey of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. entertains questions from the Irwin School Art Club there Feb. 23. Solovey, a successful artist specializing in drawing military scenes, unveiled his newest print during the session and surprised his audience by donating $3,200 to the club. (U.S. Army Special Forces Command [Airborne] photo) Click for high-resolution photo...

Athena Rushforth, widow of Staff Sgt. Bruce Rushforth, joined members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at the Night Stalker Memorial on Fort Campbell, Ky., Feb. 22 to honor the fallen servicemen of "Wild 42." Rushforth, seven other 160th SOAR Soldiers, and two Air Force pararescuemen were killed Feb. 22, 2002, when their MH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed off the coast of the Philippines while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Killed were: Maj. Curtis Feistner, Capt. Bartt Owens, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jody Egnor, Staff Sgt. Kerry Frith, Staff Sgt. Paul Dorrity, Rushforth, Sgt. Thomas Allison, Sgt. Jeremy Foshee, Air Force Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II and Air Force Staff Sgt. Juan Rideout. (U.S. Army photo by Kelly Ann Tyler, 160th SOAR) Click for high-resolution photo...

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