Face of Defense: Day Makes Difference for Deployed Siblings

From a 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team News Release

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2012 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Mica Snell and his brother, Army Staff Sgt. Justin Snell were born and grew up in Derby, Kan. Less than two years apart in age, they went to the same schools at the same time and more often than not, had the same friends.

Justin moved to Green Valley, Ariz., when he was 16 and graduated from high school there, while Mica stayed and graduated from Derby High. After high school, Mica attended two years of college before joining the Army in early 2001. After Justin graduated, he went to the University of Arizona for three years.

When Mica joined the Army, he enlisted as a Patriot launching station enhanced operator and maintainer. He was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, and took advantage of the location, visiting Justin numerous times in Arizona.

Like many big brothers, when Justin came to him and said that he wanted to join, Mica advised him to first finish school. And if Justin was still interested in the Army after graduating, he should seek an officer’s commission, Mica advised. Like many younger brothers, Justin didn’t listen and enlisted anyway, as an infantryman.

Mica was still at Fort Bliss when Justin joined and was assigned to the 112th Signal Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2005. Later that year, Mica was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team and what followed would be a time in his career he’s never forgotten. He and Justin were able to train together, jump together, attend unit functions together and Justin was even able to pin Mica when he was promoted to staff sergeant.

Soon after, the brothers would be separated by multiple deployments and changes of duty stations that made seeing each other almost impossible. After a deployment to the Philippines, Justin deployed in November 2005 and was assigned to the scout platoon of 1st Armored Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Bliss.

“In the summer of 2009, Justin called me and told me that he was getting married in Houston and wanted me to be his best man,” Mica said. “Of course, I accepted and met him in Houston. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would see him for over four years.”

Before Justin returned from his first deployment, Mica had been deployed to Iraq. Justin returned to Fort Bragg, switched units and deployed to Iraq before Mica returned to Bragg. Justin followed suit, changing units and quickly deploying to Iraq for 12 months.

The deployments continued, and the brothers continued to just miss each other.

In 2008, Mica was assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, in Vicenza, Italy, deploying to Afghanistan’s Logar and Wardak provinces in May 2010.

After the 173rd’s return from Afghanistan, Mica stayed busy and began to prepare for his next deployment, less than two years away. During that time, Justin called to tell Mica that he would be walking in his footsteps, as his unit would also be in Logar and Wardak.

The closer it got to Mica’s next deployment, the more he was able to find out, ultimately learning that the 173rd was headed back to Logar and Wardak. More importantly, Mica’s unit would be replacing Justin’s.

“I can remember driving to Rome with my dad during Thanksgiving of 2011, and at that time I knew there was going to be a chance we could meet,” Mica said.

That feeling became stronger when Mica found out the brothers would be moving through the same outposts and operating bases at the same time.

“I knew we could meet when I found out that I was going to [Forward Operating Base] Altimur, and that Justin was moving from his combat outpost to Altimur during the same time that I was going to be there,” Mica said. “When we left Aviano, there was no doubt I was going to see him.”

Mica and soldiers of the 173rd left Aviano Air Base, Italy. Expecting to arrive at the transit center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, in less than 10 hours, the soldiers instead found themselves in transit for almost a week.

While the days passed by, Mica feared that his opportunity to see his brother was passing with them.

When he finally arrived at here, Mica already was tracking his brother’s movements, and knew Justin made it to nearby Altimur. The brothers were separated by no more than a short drive.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mickey Rutledge, command sergeant major of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, stepped in and bridged the gap. Rutledge let Mica stay in place here an extra day. That extra day was all the brothers needed, as Justin rolled in shortly after.

The 1st Battalion representative there brought joy to another Snell family member, bringing the brothers to the other side of base, where they could have a hot meal and call their mother to let her know her boys were safe.

“There it is again,” Mica said. “Another amazing experience in my career that involved my brother, the greatest warrior I know.”

Pictures from the Front Lines

Ghazni Briefing

U.S. Army Second Lt. Mark Lucas briefs his soldiers before a combat logistics patrol mission on Forward Operating Base Arian in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, July 8, 2012. Mission briefs are mandatory for every soldier who will take part in the mission. Lucas, a platoon leader, is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Cannon Demonstration

U.S. Army paratroopers fire an M777A2 cannon during a firing demonstration for visiting Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, ISAF - Joint Command command sergeant major, on Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province, Afghanistan, July 12, 2012. The paratroopers are assigned to Battery A, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and are on their 4th deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sangin Patrol

U.S. Navy Hospitalman Derek Happel, front, and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexander Vanny, team leader, conduct a patrol in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 11, 2012. Happel and Vanny are assigned to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6. The Marines conducted the patrol in support of Afghan forces during Operation Gospand-Sia.

Illinois, Texas Guards certify Afghan National Army soldiers in engineer training

U.S. Army 18th Engineer Brigade report

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (3/21/12) – National Guard Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard's 661st Engineer Company and the Texas Army National Guard's 236th Engineer Company presented certificates of completion to 26 Afghan National Army soldiers at Forward Operating Base Shank, Feb. 6.

The ANA soldiers from the 4/203rd Corps Engineer Company recently completed several months of basic horizontal and vertical engineer training with the 7th Engineer Battalion, from Fort Drum, N.Y.

Army Sgt. Jarrod Brummett, the 661st non-commissioned officer in charge, said the joint-coalition training was a major success. "When we first started training and working with the ANA soldiers, some had never worked with coalition forces before. They were excited to start operating the equipment and using the tools."

"I'm excited to see the end-state of this partnership, which is an ANA engineer company that will be able to plan and execute their own projects and missions," Brummett said. "What can be a better deployment than that? Helping other soldiers accomplish things they may have never had the opportunity to do otherwise."

During the certificate presentation ceremony, many of the U.S. Soldiers who were part of the training process had the opportunity to say a few words of encouragement to their fellow ANA soldiers.

Army Cpl. Alexander Serpas, a vertical team leader from the 236th, said, "I am proud to be part of the transition process and give Afghanistan back to the Afghan people."

In attendance were ANA colonel Gul and lieutenant colonel Malikidin, who also offered their own words of wisdom as the partnership program moves into its next phase.

The training was originally planned in two separate phases where horizontal training would be conducted first followed by vertical training. As many missions changed, so did the partnership training program.

Early on, it became apparent that there would not be sufficient time to execute this training as planned. In an effort to complete the training, Brummett moved his team to another base and added two additional Soldiers to help execute the two training programs concurrently.

Afghanistan: Georgia Army Guard member presented award by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

By Army National Guard Sgt. Christopher Hall
Georgia National Guard

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (2/23/12) -- Georgia Army National Guard Spc. Robert Schrader was awarded the Army Commendation Medal Feb. 10, by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan.

Schrader serves as an agricultural specialist and security force specialist with the Georgia Agribusiness Development Team 1.

"It was an extreme honor to be awarded this medal by General Dempsey," Schrader said. "It's not every day that you get to meet the highest ranking officer in the United States military- much less get presented an award by him."

On Sept. 10, 2011, Combat Outpost Sayed Abad suffered a major enemy attack when a vehicle born improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated outside the main gate.

The VBIED was packed with approximately 1500 pounds of homemade explosives (HME).

Schrader was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his actions following the attack.

The blast caused extensive damage to the COP, causing dozens of buildings to collapse as a result. Schrader was in his living quarters preparing to go to chow when the VBIED detonated.

“I was getting ready to go eat when I heard the boom," Schrader said. "Initially I thought one of the [Howitzers] had malfunctioned, but, when I stepped out and saw the mushroom cloud of dust I knew that was not the case."

According to the narrative that accompanied the award, Schrader maintained his military composure while the COP was experiencing chaos and confusion.

He immediately reported to his noncommissioned officer in charge and worked toward physically locating all members of the Civil Affairs and Military Information Support Operations (MISO) elements.

 "My main focus after I had accounted for my fellow team members was to just do the right thing," he said. "As soon as I stepped out of the office my training kicked in."

Schrader rushed down to the impact area and began the difficult and arduous task of extracting wounded personnel from damaged buildings and moving them to the casualty collection point for evaluation. He assisted medical personnel by providing buddy-aid and ensuring casualties with head injuries stayed awake.

 "When Schrader ran off to help, I didn't have to worry about him," said Army Master Sgt. James Horne, Wardak-South NCOIC for the Georgia ADT. "I knew he would do the right thing."

For the remainder of the day and into the night, Schrader assisted the medical staff and helped load casualties on aircraft. In the midst of uncertainty and immediate danger, Schrader consistently put the welfare of others above his own.

"I definitely did not expect to get an award for my actions that day," Schrader said. "My Command Sergeant Major is always telling us to 'do the right thing,' that's all I was trying to do."

Task Force Patriot Commander and Senior Civilian Representative to Brief Live from Afghanistan

U.S. Army Col. Bruce Antonia, commander of Regional Command East’s Task Force Patriot drawn from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and Eva Shinagel, senior civilian representive for Task Force Strike, will brief the media live from Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar Province, Afghanistan, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, Apr. 27, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations.

Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.