INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE JULY 15, 2010

e
From the Commanding Officer
Not only are our Marines and Sailors demonstrating from our Family Readiness Officer notifying the fami-
superior performance within their designated Mili- lies of the latest deployment news. Remember the
tary Occupational Specialties, they are also taking sensitive information of reunions should be held in
advantage of the various professional growth oppor- the strictest confidence to ensure safety for one and
tunities through on-site, resident education. I com- all.
mend our Marines for looking beyond their daily In closing, I extend a fond farewell to the Marines,
requirements to ensure our leaders of tomorrow are Sailors and families entering the normal summer
LtCol Carroll with the Headquarters Marines prepared and equipped with the requisite knowl- Permanent Change-of-Station rotation cycle. We wish
edge and skills to assume greater leadership respon- you Godspeed in all endeavors. It has been a real
MALS-16 Family and Friends, sibility. Similarly, I salute our families, friends and pleasure to serve with each and every one of you. For
volunteers for their tremendous sacrifice to ensure those who remain in MALS, you can count our entire
As our daily pace continues to increase, the Ma- leadership team to stay focused on safety and provide
our sustained support, no matter the geographical
rines and Sailors of MALS-16 continue to perform at steady, reliable support to 3D MAW Squadrons.
location.
the highest levels of excellence. Each team member
has exhibited a personal commitment for success in My sincere congratulations go out to many - now It is an honor and privilege to serve as your Com-
that we have reached the halfway point for this mander!
spite of the enormous logistical support challenges
throughout Southern California and across three portion of the OEF 10.1 deployment. Our skillful Semper Fidelis,
operating bases in Afghanistan. planners have begun to work the redeployment sched- J.C Carroll III
ules and timelines. Please stay tuned for information LtCol USMC

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Sergeant Major’s Corner

Families and Friends, Marine and NCO of the Quarter Boards. Families, thank you again for your
Standing Out Page 2 The competition was tight but only daily sacrifice! Know that your
Can you believe it is already July! one winner could emerge for each Marines are making a difference!~
Announcements Page 3 Wow - time here has been flying by category. A hearty congratulations
In Other News Page 4 for your Marines and Sailors! goes to Cpl Charpied (AVNSUPDEPT) ~Semper Fi,
A Marine’s Point of View Page 5 and LCpl Murphy (AVI DEPT) for win- MGySgt Diane M. Sharpe
June has been a very dynamic ning these prestigious awards for the
Cpl’s Course Page 6
month for us. We continue to have 3rd Quarter!
4th of July Page 7 the squadron augments check-in and
check-out - it is a good process to MALS-16 (FWD) hosted Professional
A Little Bit of Kandahar Page 9
say goodbye to the Marines we have PME this past month with the MALS-
2010 OEF Souvenirs Page 10 grown with and also to welcome 16 (FWD) Corporal’s Course 2-10. We
aboard the new Marines who are had 83 students from 9 different units
itching to get into the fight! attend our courses. Special Kudos to
Cpl Cotto (Honor Graduate), Cpl Pohl
MALS-16 (FWD) Marines constantly (Gung-Ho Award), and Cpl McLaughlin MGySgt Sharpe addressing Marines
show what they are made of. That (Leadership Essay Winner)! on the 4th of July Celebration
was never more evident than during
 How is the Marine
NC O the embodimen
t of the Corps’ hist
The Marine Non-
ory and traditions?
Commissioned Of
courage and com ficer
mitment that mak (NCO), the emulating display of
leadership traits e us our core values
pull together thos stand above all the rest. The in of hono
stration of unyiel e junior Marines spiring performan r,
ding pride in en around us in the ce of the 14
need and worthy forcin wake of our dutie
of praise. The Ma g discipline yet we show compa s. The demon-
order to be a Lead rine NCO lives ou ssion and humili
er of Marines, th r hi ty to
at is what our Co story and bleeds our traditions be those in
rps requires from cause in
Honor, courage us.
and commitmen
we landed on th t; the
ose yellow footpr values instilled in our minds an
physical, mental ints. d hear
and moral strengt A Marines will never lie, cheat or ts since the very moment
dedication to ou h to accomplish steal. A Marine
the task at hand
in our charge, “a
r Corps and to ou
r country. As NC . A Marine will ha will have
nd by example wi Os, we must dem ve the selfless
ll inspire them to and nothing less
the highest stand of those Marines
Many have asked ards possible.”
them
answer, “All of th selves which of the 14 leaders
em.” There is no hip traits is the m
in proper correla on ost important?
tion to the given e trait more essential and impera I have to
well as in combi situation, the NC tive than anothe
nation with “tra O must be able to r. When used
ining new Marin us
es and influencin e all distinctively separate as
When asked the g the old.”
question, “What
replied with a cle is the most impo
ar and concise, “D rtant characteris
what is right wh isc tics of being a Ma
en no one is look ipline.” The instant willing ob rine?” I first
forming has som ing. Although ev edience to all or
e sort of disciplin ery recruit that ders; to do
quite easy to “do e. W makes it past pr
this” and “don't ith the roar of a drill instructor ocessing and
Marine an NCO is do that.” What blasting in your
som makes face, it is
have a very diffe ething entirely different. If I we a recruit a Marine and, eventual
rent answer: hum re asked that sam ly, a
ity in knowing, ili e
understanding an ty. The humility we have for ou question today, I would
d perceiving that r ra
unit or the Corps
as a no one Marine is nk and for the Corps. Humil-
task, when put to whole. We have humility as the greater than the
mission, their
gether, adds up small unit leader
image of me.” to the accomplish knowing that th
ed mission. “The e smallest
ir performance wi
ll reflect an
Honor, courage,
commitment, be
initiative, judgm aring,
ent, justice, know decisiveness, dependability, en
tant individually led thus
in their own way, ge, loyalty, tact, unselfishness, di iasm, endurance, integrity,
Our history lives all needed and re scipline, humility
in each and ever qu . All impor-
blood down the y one of us, from ired of a Marine Non -Commissio
side of our trous the sword we ca ned Officer.
ers. And it is up rry,
it is up to us to ke
ep them alive an to us to enrich ou to the stripe marked with
d well. r traditions to ou
r junior Marines
,
 PROMOTIONS AWARDS
LCPL LASHWAY, CODY SSGT HOLTFRETER, KURT
SSGT WAGNER, ROBERT
CPL BRU, GABRIEL SSGT EDENS, MATTHEW
CPL CASAREZ, DEREK SSGT MILTON, CHERYLE
CPL DUTILE, JUSTIN SSGT PAYNE, WILLIAM
CPL FLAGG, ANDREW SSGT ROBERTS ELIZABETH
CPL FLORES, CHRISTOPHER SGT LUNSFORD, ZACHARY
CPL HARPER, CRAIG GOOD CONDUCT SGT JOHNSON, KENAN
CPL LOVETT, GORDON MEDAL CPL COLLINS, DONNOVAN
CPL MOORE, ROGER CPL CABEZAS, BRYANT
CPL PRICE, WILLIAM CPL MAXWELL, BRANDON
CPL ROBERTSON, JOSEPH CPL PEREZ, CALEB
CPL RUTTER, JONATHAN CPL CHILDRESS, CHRISTOPHER
CPL SHOLTIS, ANTHONY CPL NEWCOMB, BENJAMIN
CPL LATOUR, DANIELA
SGT COCIMANO, ANTONIO LCPL COX, CHRISTOPHER
SGT RIOS, LUIS LCPL WHITE, JAMES
SGT VEGA, ANTHONY

GYSGT HAMILTON, MICHAEL

GYSGT SIMMERS, JOSHUA

JULY BIRTHDAYS
SSGT ARNOLD, JASON 1st SGT ALVARADO, ANDREW 15th LCPL PREMACHANDRAN, DYLAN 25th
LCPL VERMILYER, MATHEW 1st LCPL CHAUTIN, BRANDON 15th SGT BALDONADO, SHERYL 27th
SGT CORONADO, VALENTIN 2nd CPL DINATALE, ANTHONY 15th LCPL HALL, ZACHARY 27th
LCPL BOBBIT, ERIC 3rd SGT WARNER, JERMAINE 15th MGYSGT SHARPE, DIANE 27th
MSGT FONSECA, ADRIAN 3rd CPL WYER, TREVOR 17th MGYSGT ALYWARD, DAVID 29th
GYSGT BARNWELL, LEONARD 4th SGT WHITMORE, SAMANTHA 18th CPL ASKIN, WESLEY 29th
CPL KNEZECVICH, NICHOLAS 5th CPL COSTA, ARTHUR 19th SSGT BENHAM, BRIAN 29th
SGT KNIGHT, MICHAEL 5th CPL BECKER, PATRICK 20th SGT FLORES, ADRIAN 29th
SGT LOVELESS, AMBER 6th CPL COHOE, DAVID 20th SGT NEIL, VINCENT 29th
LCPL NEWTON, JAMES 6th MSGT RODRIGUEZ, FELIPE 20th CPL PLACHNO, HAILEE 29th
SGT WEST, TRAVIS 8th CPL TEIXEIRA, JOHN 20th CPL VAZQUEZ, MIGUEL 29th
CPL ADRIATICO, RAMON 9th CPL ZARRABI, SEAN 20th LCPL ALVAREZBALMACEDA, JOSE 30th
LCPL CRUZ, ANGEL 9th LCPL TURNER, SPENSER 21st CPL DUTILE, JUSTIN 30th
CPL MARTINEZ, JOSE 9th SSGT CASTILLO, ORLANDO 22nd LCPL EVERETT, DAVID 30th
CPL OLIVER, LAWRENCE 10th LCPL KRIZO, DAVID 22nd CPL GERRITY, SHANE 30th
SSGT WILSON, RICHARD 10th LCPL MARTINDALE, ZANE 22nd SSGT MONTES, ALFONSO 30th
SGT MARCIAL, CHRISTOPHER 11th CPL OLIVE, JACQUELINE 23rd SGT RIOS, MERLINA 30th
SGT GARCIA, CARLOS 14th LCPL PETERSON, STEVEN 23rd CPL MITCHELL, ZACHARY 31st
LCPL RUDE, RODNEY 14th SSGT DEVOY, ANTHONY 24th LCPL RICHARDSON, STEVEN 31st
 A MARINE’S POINT OF VIEW

s to spot
r how easy it wa
fir st ar riv ed here, I rem embe
When we their
could see it in
en fo r alm os t a year. You
o had be they
the Marines wh e it in the way
ey he ld th em selves, even sens
y th n. They just
faces, in the wa amin exhaustio
yt hi ng ab ou t them was scre ically ex -
spoke. Ev er drained . Phys
em ed wo rn out, mentally
Th ey se rness
seemed ...tired. and their eage
im pa tie nt wi th this country
seemed the course of
asperated. They d become over
n by ho w lifeless they ha
be home was ov
er ru at I saw in the
l it. I fee l th e exhaustion th
to s in and, I fee ve on ly one
e, only 5 mon th 5 mon ths. I ha
pa st ye ar . And here we ar on ly be en here a meager
th e ace, and I ha ve tire year over -
M ar in es I ca me here to repl y th at ha ve ever done an en
faces of th e ch of the milit ar
n’t know if
this, in any br an do it. I just do
go . Fo r an y of you reading yo u. I do n’t know if I co uld
to out to
miration goes
t respect and ad
seas, my utmos months. gs that
out another 6 the least. Thin
bo dy an d m ind would ho ld in te re sti ng months...to say
m y July have be en
the beginning of
June and now d a half:
se of th e past an E MICE. Who
knows
m e th e m os t over the cour E– THE MICE– TH
stu ck ou t to . TH E M IC
have istan. The mice fight them
al life in Afgh an d we dare no t
One: The anim sid en ce in our clamshell an the
have taken up
re pa Mouse and
th ey co m e from , but they . M am a M ou se finally m et Pa
wher e ou se s and mices of
on e - Mama M we have m eece
W e st ar te d out wi th just fa m ily . No w
anymore. to work on their cupboard and
see
they continue e). Yo u open a
m us t ha ve hi t it off because ar e m y fa vo rit
two
e the fearless on
es (they an ut butter.
y bitty guys ar SSgt’s jar of pe
all sizes. Th e itt ile th ey sit th ere perched on and
g back at you wh Then they poop
little bla ck , bead eyes starin Th ey ju st sit there - staring.
their anymore.
attempt to flee
e or make any
They don’t mov has taken over
the
r cu pb oa rd a bacterial mes
s.
no tic ed th at a family of cats
leave ou I’v e own busi-
e will be cats. minding their
e are mice, ther have no problem
And where ther i ca ts! Th ey first
striped Afgh an r. I know this
va n pa d. Sk inny little, tiger s an d m ice , th ey have no fea
supply e the meece ite possibly ,
em . But just lik e gator. And qu
re no t touch th l” m eans of th
ness and we da m e “r oc k kil one
one or two have
almost beco meone spotted
ein g as th ou gh ug s. It wa s cute at first. So
hand se .ar e the ladyb y thirty? I m ea
nt
life adventur e.. thirty. Did I sa
e m os t su rp ris ing of this wild e tu rn ed in to
th od luck. But on sea of sand and
ir, wh ich is su pposed to be go a wh ile , lit tle red specks in a
in my ha around for BITE. Needless
to say,
ing to see them
. It was refresh LA DY BUGS THAT
thirty MILLION ER LA DY BU GS .
duced flies.
ll you find KILL as the steroid in
Afghanistan wi same category
dirt...but on ly in ce ly in to th e e desert
ent and fell ni ani animals: th
ey qu ick ly los t their endearm e m os t da ng er ous of all Afgh
th ite possibly th at to all Ma-
t least - and qu im mediate thre
And last but no e da yt im e an d don’t pose an rollably
th laughing uncont
ars on ly lurk in I hope you ar e
ar . Do n’ t wo rry. Desert be nd th is jok e,
be understa
who know and
handful of you
rines. For the er has
now that summ
no w. em in gly im po ssible to ignore
ht
rig 2 and almost se es it annoying
to breath e in
g, my number heat that mak
The other thin Th e kin d of th-
climbs everyd ay
. . They want no
, is th e te mperature. It th e ho t air you’re taking in
arriv ed nt to de ny
ur lungs just wa ember coming
u inhale and yo t. I vividly rem
the daytime. Yo so th ey ar e forced to adap rt, no
t then again...i
t’s all ther e is, No sand, no di
do wi th it, bu on ce we lan de d in Germany.
ing to air I took AIR. It was
breath of fresh DY BUG FREE
q and the first EAN, FRESH, LA
home from Ira Ju st air . CL eath
whirling about
my nostrils. out th at first br
of po rt a po tty th is tim e ar ou nd . I dr eam ab
stench to be like
what it’s going
n only im agine m.
great then; I ca to wake up fro
d of dr ea m s you don’t want
e kin
of fresh air. Th GE 9
N PA
CONTINUED O
 FACULTY ADVISORS:
Sgt Stevens, Anthony Sgt Taylor, Byron
SSgt Cardona, Diego, SNCOIC Sgt Knight, Jared Sgt Weiss, David
SSgt Castillo, Orlando Sgt Gonzalez, Karen Sgt Land, Mario
Sgt Spoon, Tyler Sgt Osorio, Gunther
ACADEMICS: DIRECTOR:
GYSGT GREENE, CHRISTOPHER MGYSGT SHARPE, DIANE
IN AFGHANISTAN
 W
I
N
N
EATING
PIE E
CONTEST R

ST OF CHAMPIONS
BREAKFA
 The heat has arrived and welcomed us with open arms. One thing that you will never forget about your time
in the desert is the heat. Something that I can say for Marines is that they are inventive; adapt and overcome. If your
AC is out, hook up a C17; if the sun is beating down your work space, build an awning; if your work space is hot, build
AC ducting using water bottles and duct tape to ventilate it. Even with the motivating Marine Corps Martial Arts Pro-
gram (MCMAP) training going on, Marines are getting up before the sun so they can get to class and get all their train-
ing before the heat hits. MCMAP is motivating in its own right. It is great to watch these Marines progress in their
belts. They are out there doing their daily Physical Training in the dust and dirt, and then continuing on the mats
learning new moves. It is awesome to see these guys and girls at the end of their training, covered in dirt, faces white
with dust and smear marks from rolling on the mats, but they are smiling and happy because it is good training.
Maintenance here at MALS is ongoing. With a month under our belt of having the F18s aboard station, we have identified most
all glitches and have quickly fixed problems or found solutions that will keep gear returning to the squadrons.
GSE has made the downed Pettibone operational in order to help the squadron with engine lifts. They have also assisted the
squadron with their support equipment to keep their maintenance running smoothly. Supply has been n the move non -stop, inventory-
ing AV8 gear being moved to a safe storage and ordering needed gear for the F18s. Tire shop is constantly turning tires around to keep
the birds I the air. An astonishing amount of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen has been produced by Cryo to not only suppor t the F18s,
but also to support the British and other contractors here in KAF.
Celebrating the 4th of July here not only helped camaraderie, but also reminded us that we are fighting for our great nation
and protecting our loved ones at home. It is going to be wonderful to get home to our families when we are done with our dep loyment.

Sgt Ihnen, Jessica

Sunset over Kandahar Cpl Gerlak after MCMAP training Training never stops

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

And now to my number 3 - the constant chit chat about our departure dates. It’s gone by quick, it really has. There is no
more getting used to this country. I think for me, as well as many others, this country has really gotten the best of us. It’s drained s
in every way possible. I’ve changed over the course of the past month and I can’t seem to put my finger on how or why. It’s almost
certain that I go into panic mode every night, I finally know and fully understand the meaning of the phrase, “running around like a
chicken with its head cut off.” I do that. I literally do that. And it’s been an exhausting experience. I want to blame it on Afghani-
stan, but I know that the underlying reason is all in my head. I know that one more month may be all that my little body can han-
dle and California has never seemed so beautiful. I see it in my dreams, the same ones where I think I taste fresh air. I see GREEN
and SHRUBBERY. I see the ocean. I see the skyline of San Diego. I see my hand wrapped around a glass of wine. I see all these
things and they are finally within reach. We are on the last leg of this deployment, ladies and gentlemen. Where that old saying,
“There’s no place like home” means more to us than it did to Dorothy and Toto.
 FOR S
ALE

Patc
h $
2.00

Coin $ 3.5
0

Coffee Mug $2.00 POINT OF CONTA

CT:
GYSGT GREENE
email: christophe
[email protected]
c.mil

MALS-16 (Fwd) Deputy Family Readiness Officer

Sgt Sheryl Baldonado

[email protected]
Newsletter Point of Contact