March BN Social

Hello Tigersharks!
I just wanted to remind you all of the 1-10 ATK March BN FRG Social for Saturday, 28 March 09 from 2pm – 4pm at Hill of Beans in Savannah Mall.
Soft Play Area for younger kids.
Older kids, join us at Star Watch (next door to Hill of Beans)at 3pm to record a CD to send downrange.
PLEASE RSVP to Iwana Bruns at iwanabruns@comcast.net by 26 March

*Homecoming Banners*

Now here is a company that is Supporting our Troops and putting a smile our soldier's faces when they come home...BuildASign.com

If you are interested in making a sign for your loved one's R&R homecoming or for their homecoming down the road...go to www.buildasign.com/troops. There you will be able to create a free...YES FREE...sign. You do have to pay shipping which is approximately $20, but you can get a huge vinyl sign to hang up for your loved ones homecoming. This is anywhere from a $50-$120 dollar savings depending on how large of a banner you order! Please allow 6 weeks for delivery time, otherwise you will have to pay a little more for faster shipping. Also, they are only honoring 20,000 of these banner orders and I am not sure how many orders have already been placed since Veteran's Day '08. So hurry and get yours soon...and be sure to email them a big thank you for doing such a wonderful thing :)

Updates from CPT Ashley

Hello Hurricane Families! I hope this finds you and your family doing well. We continue to remain hard at work here on COB Speicher in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. Spring has finally arrived and we are beginning to prepare each Hurricane for the unique challenges the harsh climate of this region will soon present. My head began to spin the other day, as the Air Force Weather man briefed us regarding the 120 degree days and frequent dust storms (called either Schmaal’s or Haboobs) we can expect in the coming months. I failed to mention last month that 1SG Pilkinton, SPC Sager, and SPC Mood all successfully erected an Internet SPAWAR café here at our company headquarters complete with telephones and computers (web cam available). I truly hope that your spouses and friends have utilized either e-mail, telephone, or web cam to stay in touch with you. Speaking of our headquarters, the building itself is located in an old Iraqi Air Force hangar with 24 hour security. The offices have state-of-the-art computer equipment that operates on secure lines. Our company headquarters is located within walking distance of our living areas, gymnasium, MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) facility, and the South dining facility which has a wide range of meal choices ranging from healthy, to short-order, to traditional meals (equipped even with Baskin and Robbins ice cream too). Since I’m on a roll here, everyone has 24 hour access to DOC Kneff or DOC Schano (our Flight Surgeon team) to receive either immediate medical attention, or to get prescriptions filled. The combat support hospital on COB Speicher is a major regional hospital with all the technology and staff necessary to accomplish its wide and important mission. Open 24/7, the hospital provides the Soldiers and civilians with the best health care that can be offered.
SGT Companion, and his wife Patricia, along with their two children Iyan and Shayleigh recently welcomed a new addition to their family. Maiyah Grace Companion was born 18 February 2009, just in time for SGT Companion to be there on R & R! Along with this wonderful news, we recently conducted the Army Physical Fitness Test, and I am proud to announce we awarded ten individuals the Army Physical Fitness Badge. Congratulations to Chaplain (CPT) Crawley, CPT Schano, CW4 Osborne, MSG Grainger, SGT Rodriguez-Bertha, SGT Hall, SGT Carter, SGT Blasingame, SPC Lee, and SPC Nyanankpe. I would also like to say congratulations to all those who will soon celebrate a special day (birthdays and anniversaries). Happy Birthday to SGT Hightower (01 APR), Mrs. Langlois (07 APR), CW4 Brian Hawkanson (19 APR), Mrs. Jessica Bucher (23 APR), Mrs. Nicole Carambot-Perez (26 APR), and SPC Algie Westfield (28 APR). Happy Anniversary to SGT Hall (04 APR).
We think of you all every day, and I pray for your health, security, and happiness. Tracy, thank you, and keep up all the tremendous hard work you are doing back there for each Hurricane Family. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at a moment’s notice for any information or problems you may have.

Sincerely,
Aaron D. Ashley
Hurricane 06

From the Desk of Chaplain Crawley

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not at all mechanically minded. This lack of giftedness means that I am not naturally drawn to the maintenance of equipment. But have you considered that engines and other mechanical components are not the only items that need to be maintained? People and relationships need maintained as well. As this newsletter finds us about halfway through this deployment, evaluate what in your life may need a little TLC and maintenance. Be careful not to run yourself or your relationship into the ground simply because you are too busy to give them a little tune up. If you run your vehicle too long without giving it an oil change, it will eventually stop and force you to do something about it. If you don’t change out the oil on your own time and terms, the engine will eventually require it on its terms. How much better to stop on the way home from the store than to be stranded on the way home from the store! As the responsibilities of life continue to mound up, be sure to give yourself and your true priorities the time that they require. So, whether or not you know how to fix a transmission, we all can maintain ourselves if we simply put forth the time and effort. Don’t run yourself so hard that you break, but rather, put forth the time and effort to do some personal maintenance. You and all your loved ones will be glad you did!

HHC hosted 1-10 ATK BN Social

(click picture to enlarge)
Thanks to all the ladies who came together to make the February Social a success!

Community News and Notes

Volume 3, Issue 9
02 March 2009

If you did not receive this via email and would like a copy, please contact me!