Topic: Jennifer Andersson

101st Airborne Division Veteran receives award for leadership during Vietnam War

February 26, 2013 |

Written by Spc. Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – “Better late than never” is the saying. For retired Platoon Sgt. Class Cecil Wiggins, the Honorable Order of St. Michael Bronze Award has been a long time coming for the impact he made on his unit during the Vietnam War. He received the award during a ceremony February 22nd at Fort Campbell, KY.

The Honorable Order of St. Michael Bronze Award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of Army Aviation in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers.

Retired Platoon Sgt. Cecil Wiggins expresses emotional gratitude as his wife, Gwen, looks on after receiving the Order of St. Michael Bronze Award during a ceremony here Feb. 22. The award lauds the leadership skills he used to turn around the production and morale of the 507th Transportation Company Detachment, attached to the “Condors,” Company C, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jennifer Andersson, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

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101st Airborne Division’s 159th Combat Aviation Brigade continues the standard of excellence

November 10, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – “A Thunder Warrior is highly trained, disciplined and fit — a member of a team built on trust and respect, devoted to the mission, soldiers and families,” is the creed for the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Command Sgt. Maj. Ron Dvorsky, the 159th CAB’s command sergeant major, said the brigade’s soldiers continue to exemplify this creed by repeatedly showing exemplary performance during the Warrior Leader Course at Fort Campbell, KY.

Soldiers attending the Warrior Leader Course at the Staff Sgt. John W. Kreckel NCO Academy at Fort Campbell, KY, display their military bearing and discipline as they wait in line for lunch Oct. 7th. Numerous soldiers of the 159th CAB have graduated on the Commandant’s List in the last four consecutive classes. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jennifer Andersson)

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Fort Campbell’s 563rd Aviation Support Battalion couples retreat builds Family Resiliency

November 2, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Sevierville, TN – “‘Man up?’ What does that even mean?” The women on the right side of the room burst out into laughter. The men seated on the left side of the room began to defend their answer to “Ten things you want and need from your partner.”

The 20 couples attending the 563rd Aviation Support Battalion marriage retreat in Sevierville, Tennessee, shared their answers to demonstrate the differences in priorities men and women have in a relationship.

Sgt. Michael Retoff, the operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Company C, 563rd Aviation Support Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, tries to keep his wife, Heather, warm while waiting for a shuttle during a Strong Bonds marriage retreat in Sevierville, TN, Oct. 27. The retreats are intended to teach proper techniques for better communication within relationships between soldiers and their families, as well as fortify their home lives and build trust and teamwork. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jennifer Andersson)

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Fort Campbell Units push to reduce Medically Non-deployable Personnel

September 26, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – During 2012, the medically non-deployable population at Fort Campbell, KY, has fluctuated within the Division’s overall assigned strength, according to medical profile data reported by Blanchfield Army Community Hospital and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System.

To enhance readiness posture and fitness levels, all units must continue to reduce the medically non-deployable population by half, no later than the end of 2013.

Capt. Jonathan Strobel, the brigade surgeon for 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, makes notes during a patient appointment Friday at Fort Campbell, Ky. Medical providers and unit commanders are working together to decrease the number of medically non-deployable Soldiers by 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jennifer Andersson, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

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Resiliency Training essential for Successful Soldiers

September 25, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – Soldiers are not just in the Army – they are the Army, and when they overcome personal hurdles, the Army is that much stronger from it.

Resiliency training is just one part of the Army’s holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to suicide prevention. Discussing theories and practical techniques to integrate into every day activities provides soldiers and their families essential tools for success.

“Soldier resiliency is a soldier’s ability to bounce back from adverse situations much wiser, stronger, and better equipped,” said Capt. Vincent L. Hardy, the chaplain for 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. “Each experience shows a person a new facet about themselves and it brings out new coping mechanisms. The bottom line is that the information, if utilized, can help a person or family unit bounce back from adversity wiser and stronger.” «Read the rest of this article»

Fort Campbell Soldiers attend Stigma Reduction Communications Campaign workshop

September 23, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – Soldiers of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade and other 101st Airborne Division soldiers participated in a Stigma Reduction Communications Campaign workshop September 18th at Fort Campbell, KY.

The objective of the workshop was to reduce the stigmas associated with seeking help for personal issues. Emotional problems, substance abuse, domestic violence, discrimination and sexual assault and harassment are surrounded by negative perceptions, which might prevent someone from seeking professional help.

Spc. Patrick Tercius (center), a help desk specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, shares his perceptions of an image displayed during a Stigma Reduction Communications Campaign workshop Tuesday at Fort Campbell, Ky. The SRCC’s goal is to produce an over-arching message to address Soldiers with serious personal issues that perceived stigmas are not a barrier to seek help. (Photo by Jennifer Andersson)

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Fort Campbell’s 159th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers attend Suicide Prevention Awareness event

September 22, 2012 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – Soldiers of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade attended an all-day training event to increase suicide awareness, reduce suicidal and high-risk behavior, and improve the health and discipline of the force.

“We will accomplish this in-part by educating the force of the warning signs, risk factors and the resources available to our Soldiers,” said Maj. Edward J. Yurus, the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade’s chaplain.

The Department of the Army has designated September as Army Suicide Prevention Month. Communicating with others is the first step toward preventing suicide. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign of strength.

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Vietnam vet still in the fight

September 16, 2011 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan – A $5.00 bill dollars transformed Roy Brown’s boyhood dream into reality in 1971.

“My mother asked me how I knew I wanted to be a pilot if I’d never flown, so I went to the local airport, paid $5.00 and rode in a Piper 140 airplane for about 20 minutes,” Brown said. “Then I walked right into the Army recruiting office and said, ‘Send me to flight school.’”

The recruiter told then-19-year-old Brown about a program called “High School to Flight School.” Still in his first semester of college, he knew flight school was a good opportunity, so he took it. His mother had reservations about him going to war, but knew that flight school was something her son would never be afforded any other way.

Roy Brown, now a chief warrant officer 5, poses in front of his helicopter in the 1970s. Brown joined in the Army in 1971 as a Cobra pilot, and he has since been certified on 11 different aircraft models. Today, he is serving the C27J Spartan liasion officer for Task Force Thunder (159th Combat Aviation Brigade) in Afghanistan.

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HUMS allows helicopter repairers predictive maintenance

September 5, 2011 |

Written by Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan – Despite increased operation requirements, the Army’s Class A aviation accidents – which are the most costly accidents in terms of money or people – have decreased dramatically this fiscal year.

“We’ve had only one Class A since we deployed six months ago,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Timothy Burke, the safety officer for Task Force Thunder, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. “That is down from previous deployments. We had no Class A through C aviation accidents at all from November 2009 to February 2011.”

The numbers are down for Class A accidents, and that’s remarkable, he said, because Afghanistan’s environment is more stressful on the aircraft – given the types of missions Task Force Thunder flies, the terrain and the temperature.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joel Sizelove, the production control officer in charge for Task Force Lift, checks the readouts from the integrated vehicle health management system on a UH-60M Black Hawk to determine, among other things, track vibrations in the rotors. IVHMS ultimately saves maintainers hours or even days of work and gets the aircraft and its crew back into the fight faster. (Photo by Jennifer Andersson, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

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Task Force Thunder welcomes Alaskan assets

August 26, 2011 |

Written by Spc. Jennifer Andersson
Task Force Thunder Public Affairs

Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan – The 100-degree heat of Afghanistan differed drastically from what the soldiers of Team Denali (1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment) left behind at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

They joined Task Force Thunder (159th Combat Aviation Brigade) at three forward operating bases to bolster aviation assets in southern Afghanistan, beginning in June.

While they are attached to Task Force Lift (7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment), Team Denali, composed of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Companies B (The Sugar Bears) and D, is technically self-sustaining. «Read the rest of this article»

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