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  <title>1016th</title>
  <tagline></tagline>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10</id>
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  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[Finally...]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2635"/>
  <issued>2007-04-11T03:01:14+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2635</id>
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  <![CDATA[Well finally, here we are bringing this tour to an end and soon we will be able to see our families and friends. It has been a long hard tour full of ups and downs, but in the end we made it through with minimal damage. I feel these are some of the world’s best soldiers and it has been an honor to have been able to serve with them. There are mixed feelings though, excitement of going home and sadness of parting with new friendships. This tour was very different from my first in many ways, but it is ok now, because soon I will be with my “better half”. Before closing, I want to thank everybody at home for all your support. 

SGT Scott Beatty, Bakersfield, Ca.
1016th QM CO
Maintenance
]]>
  </content>
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  <author>
    <name>1016th</name>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[THE day is almost here...]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2598"/>
  <issued>2007-04-08T10:43:19+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2598</id>
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  <![CDATA[The other day I was sitting on the bus on my way to chow, when I overheard a conversation from 2 other service members. They were discussing how they were on the downward slope of their deployment with only 4 months to go. I remember that exact same feeling. Thinking to myself and telling others how this day would soon come. But that day just never seemed feasible. And now it is here. The day that we have longed so much for is finally here.

It all began in the beginning of February 2006; the beginning of the rest of our lives. Well, for many of us anyways. This was the date that we left for Fort Bliss, T.X. Next is the day that we will never forget... the day we left for Kuwait.  Through all of the births of our children, Birthdays, Holidays and Celebrations that we missed, that is another day we will never forget. This was just the beginning of our long journey, which is now finally coming to an end.

Most of us will be going home to our old jobs and back to our family and loved ones. We will be rejoining the world, and once again becoming one of the lost spectators in this world. Over here, we have a mission... it is all laid out for us in black and white. We are told what to do and we do it, usually with no questions asked. But now it is all up to us. We are the ones that have to make the decisions on how to handle our lives. There will be no one telling us where to be and when to be there. Now it is just us and our decisions.
	
I know that I can’t speak for everybody, but for the most of us, we are ready to come home and excited to be with our family and friends. And I just want to personally say that this deployment has been an experience for me, either for good or bad, it has been an experience. And I would like to say to my wife, Natasha that I love you and look forward to spending my life with you.

PFC Standley
3rd Platoon]]>
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    <name>1016th</name>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[Proud of the Soldiers of the 1016th...]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2581"/>
  <issued>2007-04-06T11:26:37+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2581</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[We have been in Theater for about 49.81 weeks; 348.66 days; 8,367.84 hours; 502,070.18 minutes; and 30,124,210.61 seconds, it seems as if we just started yet time has flown by. It is hard to believe that we only have around two weeks left! We are in the great midst of getting equipment, administrative documents, personal items, and of course our #1 item, Soldiers, prepared for redeployment. The days here at the end seem to last longer, yet still not enough hours in the day to accomplish all tasks that need to be completed.

The 1016th as a unit and all the Soldiers can go home holding their heads high and being proud of the accomplishments they have achieved both individually and as a unit. I know in my mind, and I do believe our higher headquarters will say the same, that the 1016th has been the most productive, had the least disciplinary issues, the highest morale, and “espirt de corps” of any company with in Battalion and Brigade. The successes of the 1016th and the Soldiers during this deployment should make the 70th RRC (Regional Readiness Command) of the Army Reserve, the great states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington very proud of their citizen Soldiers.

Some of the 1016th’s mission accomplishments during the deployment were over 320,000 miles driven in a combat environment, hauling millions of pounds of supplies; hot re-fueling over 800 helicopters to include MEDEVAC’s; escorting and refueling many hundreds of thousands of vehicles; and issuing out life sustainment supplies to thousands upon thousands of TCN’s (Third Country National Contractors).

There has been over 40 new Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) promoted within the 1016th during this deployment. These fine young men and women are the future leaders of Americas Army. I and Captain Warner are very proud of these young Soldiers and will always brag and talk about them in the future. We will hold our heads high and tell our children that YES we served with them!

I would like to than ..]]>
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    <name>1016th</name>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[A NEW JOURNEY]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2573"/>
  <issued>2007-04-05T00:15:30+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2573</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[I originally agreed to write this with the intent that I would go ahead and get my regular day off without having to do &quot;out processing&quot; screenings.  However, I didn't get my day off AND am still doing the out-process screenings.  I had to laugh to myself at the thought of &quot;Boy, will they be sorry&quot; - but now that I am sitting uncomfortably on the puke green cot that I now call a bed, I've decided that with just under two weeks left, no bitterness is necessary.  

I wish I could cover all the things in my mind for each and every one of you.  To somehow give you a taste of everything that we have all experienced these past months, but it would be impossible.  Some months longer than others, and then some that were gone in the blink of an eye.  Just so you know, this last month.....yep, it seems to be the longest.  

We have all had many jobs.  Some of us were able to drive trucks the entire time we were here, some of us did multiple jobs from escorting Third Country National's (TCN),  Soldiers, and KBR between FOBS, to guarding fuel points (the most boring), to making sure those same TCNs were safe in the Subcontract Employee Yard, to doing our actual jobs of driving trucks. We have done so many different jobs and learned so many new things.  Some of us would call this year a &quot;waste of time&quot;; some of us would call it a personal learning experience.  Either way, we have discovered things about ourselves and each other that we didn't know we were capable of.  

I have been lucky enough to do all of the above plus a different job.  I currently work for 1016th Quartermaster Company Headquarters.  Here is a job I have purposely avoided for 10 1/2 months, now, due to an unfortunate injury; I was tasked to help them out.  This job has turned out to be almost as fun as being out on the road with my squad.  I actually have a good time everyday for the most part.  On some level I almost feel &quot;normal&quot;.   I have learned new ways to mess with the SSG in charge of the office, ..]]>
  </content>
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  <author>
    <name>1016th</name>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[EXPECTATIONS]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2563"/>
  <issued>2007-04-02T10:17:52+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2563</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[As you can tell by everyone else’s blogs, our time in he__ (Oh, I mean Iraq) is coming to an end. As with all deployments that come to an end, both families and soldiers have certain expectations about coming home. 

SOLDIER EXPECTATIONS….
We expect lots of food (real food not DIFAC food or MRE’s... something that has some flavor). 
We expect to spend lots of “QUALITY” time with our spouses or girl- or boyfriends. 
We expect to spend quality time with our children. Some of our Soldiers have newborns. So they will be spending lots of quality time with their newborns all through the night and through the day (The term &quot;your turn&quot; comes to mind). 
For some of us we expect to consume some Class six (VI, BOOZE, BEER) often (some more than others). Some would like to just make the whole process easier and just hook up an IV with Jack Daniels in it (That would be me, my wife will like that one... NOT).
Some soldiers can’t wait to be able to evacuate waste (Go Potty, that’s for those with newborns... get used to that also) or take a shower in a bathroom that is not attached to 8 others with a crowd of people waiting on you to dry off or hurry up and flush. 
Soldiers look forward to a real commercial, yes a real one compared to our 11 channels of AFN always telling us to be safe, don’t drink or drive (We just laugh at that one because of General order #1 no drinking in theater), and the ever so grand commercials about OPSEC (Operational Security). 
Soldiers expect time off, but little do they know the honey do list has been piling for over a year (kidding 6 months, they had R&amp;R leave in there). 
They expect no grumpy old Sergeant First Class’s (Me being one of them) yelling (I don’t yell just voice my opinion loud enough so everyone can hear me) at them that they need a haircut or to get to the Motor Pool to do a PMCS on their truck because it’s maintenance Monday or Commo Thursday. 
Soldiers expect to be able to drive a POV (Privately Owned  ..]]>
  </content>
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    <name>1016th</name>
    <url>http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/profile.php?id=10</url>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[MAINTENANCE PLATOON BLOG]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2558"/>
  <issued>2007-03-31T06:24:36+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2558</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[
Living in a combat zone can be very stressful. We don’t see much combat, but we are still at wits end. I sit back and watch everyone, and a lot of times we don’t see eye to eye. We have been at a running pace all year and now it is finally coming to an end and we haven’t slowed down much at all. I am not in a position to see the whole picture, but at the same time, as a Sergeant in the Maintenance Platoon, I do see what goes on around me. I see the higher leadership and the lower enlisted. I am not sure where I fit in, but I have two boys and a wonderful wife at home that make everything I go through worthwhile. I came here to do my job for the people of Iraq and the people of the US, but mostly for my family. I came here with high spirits and am leaving here a much smarter and older person. Hopefully it will all be for the best. This has been an experience to remember, even though I wish I never had to come and be away from my family. But I am here, and thank you all for your support. 

SGT John Maher
1016th QM CO
Maintenance Platoon
]]>
  </content>
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    <name>1016th</name>
    <url>http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/profile.php?id=10</url>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[FINAL COUNTDOWN]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2523"/>
  <issued>2007-03-28T14:55:36+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2523</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[According  to my calendar that I have marked and hanging on the inside of my locker we now are within our last month until we Transfer Authority of the last of we are accountable for here in country and are free to leave the area. We are scheduled to fly to Kuwait days later for a few days and then the big hop back across the Pond to Fort lewis for our final demobilization. 

Most efforts are being centered along the lines of making sure we have everything ready to go home. We gave away our HETs, moved out of our motor pool, and we are now getting ready to move out of our trailers and into tents so that the people coming in behind us have a place to stay when they get here. We in third platoon are still running missions with our tractor trailers and have another convoy scheduled to roll out the gate in a couple of days. Some of our people who were at the Subcontractor Employee Yard in Cedar for most the year are now on their first convoy with experienced truck drivers. 

We have restrictions on how much we can carry home with us and the Post Office has restrictions on what we can send home through them and they only allow cash transactions. Finance has new restrictions on how much you can get out each month, so if you didn’t budget your money right this month you might be in a pinch for mailing things home. If what you have does not fit into all the restrictions and your budget; many items are being sold, given away, or thrown away. With each new deadline and change, it brings us one step closer to home; so in our heart every order to be at a specific place at an exact time brings happiness.  

Our tour is coming to an end and we all have come and done what we could to aid the cause. There has been a lot of growing and learning for all of us.  Our motto is usually Train as you Fight during our drills and now we have no choice because this is how we are to fight. Much of it is a bit different than we were trained to do, but we now know how things are really d ..]]>
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    <name>1016th</name>
    <url>http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/profile.php?id=10</url>
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</entry>
<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[My Blog Since i Forgot to Assign it to Someone]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2514"/>
  <issued>2007-03-27T11:13:25+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2514</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[Here we are.... So close we can almost taste it. If we don’t get another, we might, maybe, possible, sort of, could be, if the stars are right, extension notice. So far so good tho (as long as the other units in our battalion can quit losing things). If we have to stay much longer, we will end up tied to our trucks, just in case the truck gets lost.... lol. If any of your family members come home from here with a strange desire to tie rope to their belt loops just smack them up side the head and they will get better. On a related subject, I probably need to tie the schedule for this blog to myself, since I seem to forget it so often.

Other than the excitement of tying our weapons to our belts loops, we are getting fantasticly exciting briefings, packing and inventorying everything (yes, everything), and our regular day to day missions. Things are going pretty decent and we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not to worry, tho, we wont let the light blind us until we are getting off the plane at home.

SFC Keller
2nd PLT SGT]]>
  </content>
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<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[Ramblings of an Ole Serviceman.....]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2502"/>
  <issued>2007-03-23T23:58:03+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2502</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[Having just over a month left in this once Mesopotamian paradise now known as Iraq, everyone is very much looking forward to returning home. 

We (1st Platoon) have finally released our trucks, Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS), to the 593rd Transportation Company. We started training them to take that mission about 45 days ago. 

We have driven the HETS from one end of the Iraq to the other, as far North as Mosul in Iraq, and recently, as far South as Arifjan in Kuwait. The long nights on convoys, the weeks spent on the road away from the comfort of our own beds, the HETS were our home away from home. Everyone liked being out on the road, even though danger was ever-present.  A lot of us have been fired upon and driven through small arms fire and had IED’s go off fairly close to us, and thankfully, nobody was injured.

Our motor pool has the makings of a good ghost town. We have gone from hundreds of vehicles to a little over forty. We are starting to clear everything out as we will be giving the motor pool to the 593rd. All of our equipment is being inventoried, the stuff staying and that which is going back to Pocatello, Idaho.

Shortly, we will be getting the vehicles in for the Cavalry unit that will be our replacements in theater. We were a line haul company and they will be gun truck escorts. We will try to get the vehicles up and mission- ready prior to them getting here. Hopefully they won’t be in too bad a shape.

Just a few of the things we will not miss around here, the porta-johns (oh! what a fragrance), all of the constant noise (generators, helicopters, motors all running 24/7), the smoke from burning trash, and don’t let me forget the bugs the dust and the sun.

Some of our teammates have spent the better part of 6 months up in An Numanyiah training the new Iraqi Army, hopefully making a difference. Most of us will forever be changed by what we have seen or had happened to us or others while over here. 


OIF 06-07

“ ..]]>
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<entry>
  <title><![CDATA[Still busy....]]></title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/1016th.php?id=2474"/>
  <issued>2007-03-22T07:45:21+00:00</issued>
  <modified>2007-04-11T03:01:21+00:00</modified>
  <id>tag:www.pocatelloshops.com,2007-04-11:/archives/10/2474</id>
  <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs">
  <![CDATA[The deployment is getting close to an end. There have been many ups and downs for the many Soldiers, families and friends of the 1016th QM CO over the past fourteen plus months. Everyone should be as proud of their soldiers as I am. We should also be proud of all the family members. For they are the ones that truly made our deployment tolerable. Whether it is from a simple letter, a care package, a phone conversation or for taking care of the things that their Soldier would normally take care of back home. They are just as much heroes as the Soldiers of the 1016th QM CO. I salute each and every one of you! 

We have been tasked to do many different missions throughout this deployment. From escorting local nationals to fueling helicopters to running convoys and everything in between. All missions and tasks assigned to the 1016th QM CO were successfully completed. Some had bumps along the way, others set the standard for other units to follow. From the “PAPER PUSHERS” to the leaders to the lower enlisted, every Soldier in the unit made a difference to accomplish all the missions we were tasked to complete.

Even though we are “GETTING SHORT”, we are probably at one of our busiest points of the deployment. We have moved to a different motor pool, we are preparing equipment and soldiers for redeployment, turning equipment in, receiving new equipment for the unit coming in behind us, training, going to mandatory briefings, packing individual equipment, preparing to move to tents and accomplishing many other tasks that need to be completed. As we do all these things, we are conducting just as many convoys now (if not more) than we have since we arrived here in Iraq. There is never a dull moment and not a lot of time for the Soldiers to let their guard down. It is very important, especially now, that we as a unit must and are remaining vigilant, focused on our tasks and missions so that we can all come home to all our loved ones. There is no time for us to let  ..]]>
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    <name>1016th</name>
    <url>http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/profile.php?id=10</url>
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