A Co "Aztecs" FRG

07/05/2014

A Co Friends and Family,

We have been staying extremely busy while here at Fort Knox, and even though we did not get the day off we still found some time to celebrate the 4th of July. That being said most of the conversations centered around what we’d all be doing if we were back home and how much we’d rather have been spending the holiday with our friends and family. The hard work of all of the members of A Co has not gone unnoticed, with the senior leadership both in the Task Force and within Cadet Command singling out A Co as constant source of hard work and professionalism.

As we near the end of the summer here at Fort Knox we have begun putting out to your soldiers the estimated return dates. I anticipate the first flight for A Co will leave Fort Knox around the 2nd of August and the other flight with the remainder of the Company leaving around the 12th of August. The block leave dates are still as they were briefed prior to deployment starting 28AUG – 14 SEPT.

I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing Fourth of July. We all look forward to returning home to you, our friends and family.

CPT Fichtner

11/11/2013

3-41 Ball Photos

Here is the link to the candid photos of the ball. The password is rifles.

http://proofing.sergeantmajormom.com/event/350087

I had so much fun taking pictures at your ball!! Please feel free to download the images you like. Simply add them to your cart and check out (it is free). An email with the zipped files will automatically be sent to you. If you'd like to see more of my work, or book a session check out my Faceb...

11/05/2013

4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1/1 AD

Child care for the ball

Child Care Update:

Please double check your child's status with CYSS.
Only those registered with CYSS will be admitted the night of the ball at the Riplica CDC.

Please drop them off no earlier than 4:30pm 7 NOV.
Keep in mind that the child care goes to 11:00pm

09/19/2013

4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1/1 AD

This is the Latest information for MB16.

ALL,

I have received some requests for updated flight info. I am reluctant to post what I know because it always seems to change as soon as I hit send....

For those concerned, the following info is NOT AN OPSEC violation due to the lack of exact flight times and the proximity to the actual flight dates.

For the two flights from Manas to Germany, we are currently scheduled to fly early morning on the 20th and midday on the 21st. That puts us all in Germany early evening on the 21st. The commercial flight will depart as soon as possible after our arrival and consolidation. As of the update I received at 3 AM today, the exact take off time, flight path, and arrival at Fort Bliss is pending.

I know this is incomplete but I hope this helps. Either myself or Brigade will provide updates as they are received.

Sincerely,

LTC Tom Anderson

09/16/2013

4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1/1 AD

This is the latest info

Soldiers, Families and Friends,

Please excuse the length of this post but I want to provide as much information as possible on the current status and future travel plans of MB16 (236 Soldiers from HHC/3-41IN, A/3-41IN, C/3-41IN, HHC/1-36IN, and 532 SIG CO). Bottom line up front; the current best case scenario has us departing Ramstein, Germany sometime on 22 SEP and arriving at Ft. Bliss sometime on the 22nd or 23rd. The details of that flight are being worked thru by the contract air provider OMNI. Please know that myself, CSM Kindler, the other leaders and the Soldiers from MB16 are frustrated but OK. We are working together as a team to make the best of an extremely unfortunate and frustrating situation. We will continue to watch over everyone in MB16 and work thru this and offer our apologies!

Background: The current contracted aircraft here in Manas has a significant fuel leak that can not be repaired in a timely manner and due to country clearances, etc, it would take an additional 7 days to get a replacement OMNI aircraft to Manas. The Air Force has been able to resource two C17 flights to Ramstein on the 19th and 20th which will allow us to meet the OMNI aircraft flying from the states to Germany on the 21st. Once that flight arrives, it will refuel, get the required crew rest and then fly us to the US as mentioned above. As additional details and exact flight info becomes available, we will provide it.

Once again we apologize for this extremely frustrating situation!

Sincerely,

LTC Anderson and CSM Kindler

09/15/2013

Families and friends of A Co I want to apologize to all of you for the inconveniences and frustrations the shifting of the MB16 fights home has caused. We just found out thus morning when we woke up the same timeline you were told last night. The latest update should have us arriving the evening of the 17th. I spoke with several of the liaisons here and confirmed that a mechanical issue with our aircraft had been the reason for or delay. I was also told that another aircraft is being brought in to facilitate the new timeline. I thank all of you for your continued patience and can tell you that your soldiers on this end are as anxious to get back to you as you are to see them. Any and all updates we receive we will continue to pass as timely as possible through rear detachment, the FRG and from me directly to your soldiers. I'm sorry again for all the changes in the schedule, We look forward to reuniting you with your lived ones as quickly as possible.

Kyle Fichtner
CPT, IN
ASSAULT 6

09/14/2013

Please be advised:
There has been a change to the flight labeled Main Body 16. The soldiers on this flight are scheduled to arrive on 17 September at the Army Air Field. Your welcome home ceremony will be at 5:40pm. We recommend that you arrive at 3:40 pm for family time.

We apologize for the changes. We don't know at this time why the flight has changed. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.

If you have any further questions please contact Staff Duty at 915-744-4076

09/14/2013

If you have any questions about the flight that has been delayed you can find my number in the about section of this page. Or you can call Rear D at 915-744-4076. We have been telling everyone that this is a possibility, even when flying within the states. planes are delayed for many reasons(weather and mechanical issues). We want all soldiers to arrive home safely even if we are briefly inconvienced by a time delay. Thank you.
Lynn Stovall

09/03/2013

The United States Army - Team Bliss

Be sure to check this page for information about Welcome Home Ceremonies.
https://www.bliss.army.mil/1BCT1ARM/welcomehome.html

The welcome home ceremonies are family friendly events. Bottled water and light refreshments will be available free of charge. You may also bring food and other non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated while waiting for the ceremony to start. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the welcome home c...

08/13/2013

Family and friends of 2nd PLT – We had an exciting week this past week. Two of our soldiers, SPC Komlatse and SPC Ayer, were promoted from Private First Class to Specialist. Inventories of all of our gear and equipment are finished, and we are prepared to sign over all of our equipment to the incoming unit. We continue to es**rt SFAT teams around the battlefield, most recently conducting an air assault mission with the SFAT teams riding in Chinook helicopters. It wasn’t the first time our platoon has conducted an air assault mission this deployment, but it was everyone’s first time exploring the new area. There are mandatory redeployment training events coming up that will give everyone all the information necessary for a smooth and successful transition home. Please contact your soldier overseas to make sure you get the most current and accurate information regarding redeployment.

SSG Fones / LT Bowling

08/13/2013

Headquarters Platoon, Assault Company, 3-41 IN has remained busy this past week with Company Property. All items are being accounted for, maintained, and properly placed for the coming RIP/TOA with 3-2 SCR and the redeployment back to Fort Bliss. Sergeant Damico has been vital in the assistance of inventorying items, maintaining communications within the TOC as well as accompanying the Commander on missions along with Sergeant Bojorquez and Specialist Moorehead, who also provide assistance with vehicle movements and their inventories. The TOC has been busy with their own inventories as well as day to day battle tracking of operations. Specialist Allen provides assistance in the management of personnel while Sergeant Prough and Sergeant Charon enable the TOC to properly and accurately monitor and assist elements on the ground. Nearing RIP/TOA the Company must assume additional tasks to ensure that the soldiers about to redeploy receive proper instruction as well as ensuring they hand over a good environment to 3-2 SCR. CPT Fichtner and 1SG Arrindell provide guidance and experience and ensure that the Company is ready and continues to push ahead in its final weeks of deployment.

SSG Rivera / LT Cole

08/13/2013

Friends and Family of 3rd PLT, this week our platoon turned a bunch of
equipment in at KAF. Despite getting stuck at KAF for a night due to bad
weather it was a great feeling to turn in yet another heap of equipment. In
other news we received our dates for block leave, so during our free time
most of us have been strategizing how best to spend those days. We finished
this week off by es**rting the SFAT we're responsible for to a celebratory
dinner with the ANA. This celebration is what the Afghans refer to as Eid
(a three day holiday in which Muslims feast and commemorate the end of
Ramadan). The dinner went well and there was enough tea and food for
everyone, although some wisely chose to decline the ANA's lamb surprise in
favor of DEFAC food. Check back in next week for another update, only a
handful left until you'll be able to get updates in person from your
soldier.

1LT Walcott/SFC Preciado

08/05/2013

Headquarters Platoon headed the Company effort to inventory and account for all items in their first weeks at FOB Pasab. SGT Quinones and SGT Martinez have provided guidance and assistance in the effort to ensure all materials are present after the move from COP Senjaray. While the inventories continue, soldiers maintain the Company area of operations through persistent patrolling. The work of SGT Prough and SGT Robinson, NCO's operating the TOC, ensure that the movements of personnel on the ground are monitored, tracked and reported to provide the best support possible. The Mortar section headed by SS Taylor provides aid wherever needed with his section, including, SGT Gutierrez and SPCs Frazier, Coyne, Schroder, and Mitchell, has assisted in every retrograde and inventory tasks the Company assumes as a whole.

1LT Cole / SSG Rivera

08/05/2013

Friends and Family of 3rd PLT, this week we have increased our role of providing security for SFAT. Although this is a new routine it is working out well in conjunction with our retrograde tasks and gives us a chance to pass on some of our knowledge of the Zhari district to the new SFAT team. Additionally, SPC Gonzales is officially SGT Gonzales now so congratulations again to him. Other than that we've finished up with another successful month over here and the days are starting to get shorter again, although they haven't started getting cooler quite yet. On that note being that today is the 1st of August and you can no longer send us packages just know that we appreciate all the ones you did send and we are glad all glad here that we are close enough to being home with all of you that you're not even supposed to send us packages.

1LT Walcott/SFC Preciado

08/05/2013

Friends and Family of 1st Platoon,

Life at Pasab has brought quite a few changes to 1st Platoon’s routine. In many ways this is a good thing. OP tempo has slowed a little bit as we focus on getting ready to come home. This means a little more paper work than we are used to doing. After 7 months of nothing but combat focused operations, it is more than a little humorous to see infantrymen push their way through something as mundane as paperwork. Life at Pasab has also placed more than a little extra stress on our NCO’s as the uniform standards and number of time sensitive tasks have increased. As per usual the NCO’s in 1st Platoon stepped up to the plate and delivered. Under the guidance of SSG Mesa the platoon has done an excellent job maintaining accountability of sensitive items and meeting time hacks. In fact, SSG Mesa has done an excellent job the entire deployment helping the platoon, and myself, stay up and running with little to no major issues. On an unrelated note, 1LT Newton designed and created an excellent T-shirt to commemorate the deployment for the company. Expect to see your soldiers wearing these once they are back home. The soldiers are excited to get home and frequently talk about their families. Please remain patient and you will see your soldier in no time. As always, please check back next week for another update on your soldiers.
1LT Howell / SSG Mesa

07/31/2013

1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division

1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division

CSM Russell Reimers, Command Sergeant Major of Ready First Combat Team, gives more details about redeploying back to Fort Bliss.

07/30/2013

Co Friends and Family,

We have completed the closure of COP Sanjaray. It was a bittersweet moment driving away for the last time, a lot of good memories were had at our home of seven months but it was a major step toward returning home and we all were glad to have completed one of the more monumental tasks handed us this deployment. A lot of hard work was put in by all the members of the company to ensure the COP closed on time and was successfully handed over to our Afghan Counterparts. We have now begun settling in at FOB Pasab but realize that we will be picking up again shortly to heading back to El Paso. This is evidenced by the packing and shipping containers of much of our equipment and belongings soon after our return to Pasab.
There have been several notable company events this week the first of which was 1SG Jeffers and 1SG Arrindell’s change of Responsibility Ceremony. 1SG Jeffers has moved on to take responsibility for the HHC company of 3-41 IN, his leadership will be greatly missed but we are all glad he will still be in the Battalion and right across the street. 1SG Arrindell has already picked up the reigns as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the company and is carrying the torch well keeping the men of the company focused during our final month and preparing the company for movement from theatre to home station. The other notable event in the last week is the re-enlistment of SPC Rogers from 2nd Platoon. I was given the honor of administering his oath of re-enlistment. He is a valued member of his Platoon and Alpha Company and we are all proud that he committed to an addition term of service and look to serving together for the foreseeable future.
We having been packing equipment and preparing to return as I have mentioned already, I know the pressing question both here and there is when is the exact date you will be reunited with your soldier. As of this writing there is no change to the previously published dates and I see no reason that there should be any drastic change, as we approach we will pass more precise timelines but we all anticipate being back no later than the second week of September, with a majority of the company coming in the first week of September. We will continue to look out for each other here but are all still anxious to get back home. Thank you all for you continued prayers and support.

CPT Fichtner / SFC Arrindell

07/30/2013

Untitled Album

07/27/2013

Families and Friends of 2nd PLT – We’ve had great week. Our former Platoon Sergeant, SFC Arrindell, has become the new First Sergeant for the Company. Staff Sergeant Fones is the new Platoon Sergeant of 2nd Platoon. SPC Rogers of second squad has reenlisted for another four merry years in the army. Our platoon mission has shifted a little, and we have a bit more free time now at the end of the deployment. We have been conducting training as a platoon to help facilitate our readiness when we get back to Fort Bliss. Today we were able to go to the range here at FOB Pasab and conduct training with our M9 pistols, M4 rifles, and M249 Squad Automatic Weapons. We recently packed and shipped our container home with most of our personal gear – another task complete on the to do list for redeployment. Tune in next week for another update from the platoon leadership.

2LT Bowling/SSG Fones

07/27/2013

Headquarters Platoon, 3-41 IN, 1/1 AD has lead the way in the full retrograde of personnel and equipment from COP Senjaray to FOB Pasab. The Platoon has been very active in equipment maintenance and inventories to ensure the Company is still operating at a high tempo as it nears redeployment. The tireless work of SGT Pier and SPC Stembridge has ensured all vehicles are being properly serviced and remain operational during the high tempo of moving the company between FOBs. Senior Medic SPC Hayes ensures all personnel are adjusting to the heat and are receiving any needed aid. 1SG Jeffers moved over to take responsibility for HHC and though his experience and guidance will be missed, the Company happily welcomed 1SG Arrindell and looks forward to continued success.

LT Cole / SSG Rivera

07/27/2013

Friends and Family of 3rd PLT, now that the entire company is back at Pasab our operational tempo has changed a bit. We still go out on missions almost every day but they now have a different focus and the tempo has slowed a bit. This allows us more time to focus on training and packing/inventorying equipment for the trip home. Just a few days ago we packed some containers full of some of our personal bags, which was a great feeling because it brings us yet one step closer to getting home. Congratulations are in order for SPC Gonzales who made the cut off list for E5 this week. Additionally safe travels to SGT Saechao who is on one of the first flights home in order to see his newborn baby who had complications after birth. He's been an outstanding squad leader and we'll all miss him for the last few weeks we're here, but we're also happy for him and his family. His squad is now in the capable hands of SGT Fizbeck. Thanks again for your continued support only a little over a month to go, and remember that if you have anything important you still want to mail do it before 1 AUG.

1LT Walcott/SFC Preciado

07/27/2013

Life at FOB Pasab has brought a lot of changes to 1st platoon’s routine. It took us about a week but we finally have adjusted to living on such a large piece of Tactical Infrastructure. With redeployment just around the corner the platoon has assumed additional tasks to ensure we make it home both efficiently and safely. These tasks are in addition to the regular patrols 1st platoon has been conducting the entire deployment. SSG Niles has done a good job leading the charge as the company’s movement officer by balancing redeployment tasks and still making time to come patrol with his squad. The company also said goodbye to 1SG Jeffers this week as he took over the duties of First Sergeant for HHC. 1SG Jeffers always placed the soldiers first and will be missed. Fortunately, an excellent NCO from A co, SFC Arrindell, assumed the mantle of 1SG for us. His experience and knowledge of the company will ensure that A co does not miss a beat during redeployment. There are still no changes to the schedule, so expect to see your soldier in early to mid September. As a reminder please do not send any mail past the 1st of AUG. Thank you and be sure to check back for more updates.

LT Howell / SSG Mesa

07/24/2013

Friends and Family of 3rd PLT. First and foremost congratulations are in order to SGT Hall and his family for the birth of his child, the newest addition to the Aztec team. This week we've continued doing missions and inventories in preparation for our battlefield handover, but during off hours most of us have been hitting the gym so we're looking good for you when we get home. Thank you for your continued support but don't forget that mail cut off is August 1st so if you have anything important to mail do it before then.

1LT Walcott/SFC Preciado

07/24/2013

Headquarters Platoon, Alpha Company, 3-41 In has begun the final steps of full retrograde off of COP Senjaray to FOB Pasab. Senior Leaders continue to lead the charge in movement of equipment and personnel to Pasab with completion just a few days away. Soldiers now living at Pasab are quickly adjusting to the new life style and enjoying the change of scenery. The memebrs of Headquarters Platoon allowed the Company to transition seamlwessly with SPC Allen, SPC Hayes, SGT Damico, SPC Moorehead, SGT Desomma, PFC McConnville to name just a few of the many Headquarters personel that allowed the closing out at Sanjaray and reetablishment of the Compand Command posts at Pasab. Pasab is a big change for many of them who have been living at Senjaray since the beginning of deployment, but the soldiers are happy and in good spirits with redeployment just a few months away

LT Cole / SSG Rivera

07/24/2013

Friends and Family of 1st PLT,

1st platoon had another busy week in Zharay District, Afghanistan. This week we moved to a larger FOB. The move was a little hectic but it signifies the beginning of the end of the deployment. Needless to say, this motivated the soldiers to knock the move out with little to no incident. The last week has required a lot of effort from the Platoon as a whole, but the mounted squad was asked to step up a little more than the others. Under SSG Niles, SGT Burris and SGT Stewarts’ leadership, mounted squad rose to the occasion and maintained the vehicle’s fidelity despite the intense wear and tear that has been placed on them. Ensuring that the Strykers are ready to roll at anytime is no easy task and mounted squad has managed to do just that for the entire deployment. This achievement deserves a little extra recognition to say the least. I am also pleased to say that our redeployment timeline has not changed and we are indeed near the end of our time in Afghanistan. This means that we will not be able to receive mail for too much longer. After 1 August please do not send any packages as they will be returned to sender. As always, please remember to check back in next week for more updates.

2LT Howell / SSG Mesa

07/14/2013

A Co Friends and Family,
As we near the end of our time here and Sanjaray, I am continually impress each day by the hard work and dedication I see from the soldiers and NCOs of A CO. 1SG and I had the opportunity this week to walk the Brigade and Battalion Command Sergeant Major as well as the Battalion Commander through the COP. All were taken aback and nothing short of thoroughly impressed by the progress we have made in preparing to leave the COP, this is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the members of A CO. Within the month the entire Company will be back at FOB PASAB and for the first time in the deployment the entire company will be located together. As much as most of us don’t like the idea of leaving Sanjaray, we know that closing up shop here and moving to PASAB brings us that much closer to wrapping up the deployment and heading home.
I understand that as we get closer the questions about re-deployment increase exponentially. We will do our best as a Company command team (Myself and 1SG) to push all the information that we have to you in a timely manner. I know it is frustrating being kept in the dark, but if it’s any consolation most of us are in the same boat here. Just yesterday I sat in a meeting with the BN Command Team , regarding the redeployment and reintegration process. LTC Anderson, Command Sergeant Major Kindler and the rest of the staff are working extremely hard to ensure that the redeployment and transition goes smoothly and the time with families immediately following our return is maximized. As it stands right now (understanding dates may shift as we get closer) the company will be arriving back at Fort Bliss in the first and second weeks of September. After which we will conduct about two weeks of mandatory re-integration training and then flow immediately into block leave, which is tentatively scheduled for 04-25OCT. I must re-iterate that there is potential for these dates to shift slightly (especially the flight dates) but this is the approximate dates for return and leave. Your soldier will have the opportunity prior to departure to select someone to be notified telephonically as we depart each stop as well as any additional arrival updates. As further updates become available we will do our very best to keep all of you informed, through your soldier, the FRG and through updates here.
We thank you for your continued support as we close out the deployment and patience with the redeployment process.
V/R
CPT Fichtner / 1SG Jeffers

07/13/2013

Soldiers of Headquarters Platoon, A Co continue to work on their retrograde from COP Senjaray to FOB Pasab. Full retrograde should be complete soon and senior leaders continue to lead the charge. Staff Sergeant Aguirre is at the head of retrograde and ensuring the Company stays on schedule. Partnered operations with ANSF personnel have come to an end and the Platoon Leaders are impressed with how much the ANSF have grown and learned through their cooperation. All Platoons are set to work out of FOB Pasab within the next month and all personnel are eager for a change of scenery. The Company continues to excel and the soldiers are in high spirits.
LT Cole / SSG Rivera

07/13/2013

1st PLT had another productive week in Zharay District, Afghanistan. I am happy to say that, as usual, 1st PLT safely and efficiently completed our weekly patrols. Also, SGT Stewart was able to take some of the soldiers down to the shooting range to practice a few techniques. Under SGT Stewart’s tutelage, the soldiers practiced reflexive fire drills, magazine changes and other useful skills. Additionally, we were happy to hear that PFC Serrano was promoted to the rank of SPC. He has showed a great deal of potential as SAW gunner for the entirety of the deployment and is more than deserving of his promotion. The deployment is on the down slope and because of this your support is more important than ever right now. Please remember to check back next week for more updates.
LT Howell / SSG Mesa

07/13/2013

Timeline Photos

07/13/2013

Timeline Photos

07/13/2013

Timeline Photos

07/13/2013

Friends and Family of 3rd PLT, this week we settled in to the routine of life at FOB Pasab, midnight chow is one of the more enticing discoveries made thus far. Additionally, congratulations to our Medic SPC Keilman, recently promoted from PFC. Thanks for your love and support, and don't forget to take a look at the pictures we've posted from our last few days at COP Makuan.
1LT Walcott / SFC Preciado

07/06/2013

Family and friends of 3rd PLT - We celebrated the 4th of July by completing the last final touches of closing out COP Makuan. Early the next day we arrived at Pasab and started settling into what will be our home for the remainder of our deployment. We have lots of good memories from Makuan, but arriving at Pasab brings us one step closer to getting home and we all have a sense of accomplishment in having successfully made that step. In other news congratulations to SGT Diaz, recently promoted from CPL with the additional honor of having the RC(S) Commanding General, Maajor General Abrams there to promote him. We thank you for all your continued support and will be back home before you know it.

1LT Walcott/SFC Preciado

07/06/2013

Friends and Family of 1st PLT,
First and foremost, 1st PLT would like to wish you a happy Fourth of July. We were able to celebrate the Fourth in our own small way with a steak dinner and couple modest flares. This week 1st PLT also helped cover one of our sister Platoon’s Area of Operations. The soldiers adapted incredibly well and really gave me confidence in their ability to adapt and overcome new problem sets. The weather this week was relatively mild, albeit still above 100, but it was at least below 110. Overall, it was another safe and successful week for the Platoon in Zharay district. The Platoon appreciates your continued support. Please remember to check in next week for more updates.

2LT Howell / SSG Mesa