SPECIAL TROOPS BATTALION, 2AAB 1ID

Griffin Gazette
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Memorial Service for SPC Jose A. Torre, Jr.

The memorial service being held at Fort Riley to honor our fallen Soldier, SPC Jose A. Torre, Jr. will be held on 3 February 2011 at 1100. Ceremony will take place at Morris Hill Chapel, Jackson and Ewell Streets, Fort Riley, Kansas. Friends and Family

Griffin 7 Sends...
Griffins, Hello from the desert! As we enter into our 3rd month of deployment, we do so minus one Griffin. As you know, our Brother in Arms SPC Jose Torre Jr. will be laid to rest today in his ers and sisters standing side by side with us on the blacktop to render honors to SPC Torre. It has been a long time since I personally felt such sorrow and pain. We all stood there and helped each other through the emotional event as every Soldier and Airman paid final respects to SPC Torre. It does not stop there. SPC Torre was escorted from Dover by a Griffin Soldier to his hometown. That Griffin Soldier will be with him until he goes to his final resting place. After that, the roles will change and SPC Jose Torre Jr. will take watch over us from the heavens above. Please keep SPC Torre and his family in your prayers. The Commander and I are so proud of you all. HOOAH! Griffin 7 Verne J. Washington, Sr. 2/1 BSTB Command Sergeant Major

CSM Verne J. Washington, Sr.

2/1BSTB Command Sergeant Major

hometown in California.

I just want to let you all know the Commander and I have been truly proud of not members of the Griffin Battalion and only the Soldiers here on our end, but the Dagger Brigade are Soldiers and Family members back at Fort Riley. The Griffin nation truly takes care encouraged to of its own. This was clearly evident when attend this public we were the FIRST battalion in two years memorial service. to conduct a Ramp Ceremony. You would have all been deeply moved as six Griffin Soldiers brought our brother onto the C-130 Hercules aircraft to have a prayer rendered by a Griffin Chaplin. You would have been even more moved when you witnessed our Air Force broth-

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FRG Events
A Night Out! Customs and Courtesies for Military Events Come out to this class about the dos and donts when it comes to ceremonies, events, balls, etc...This is a valuable class for anyone! When: 16 FEB 2011 Time: 9:00AM to Noon Where: BLDG 7285 Normandy Drive, next to ACS
The following FRG events are scheduled for the month of February. If you are not sure which FRG you belong to, contact Miss Julie at griffinbn2ndbstb@gmail.com and you will be directed to the correct FRG:
B CO 2/1 BSTB Phoenix FRG will have their monthly FRG meeting on Tuesday, 1 FEB 2011, 6:00PM at the ACS Annex. For more information , contact Kimberly Rieckmann and Denise Avery at bco2nd1stfrg@yahoo.com HHC 2/1 BSTB Hellraisers FRG will hold a social gathering for its members on 5 FEB 2011 starting at 4:00PM at the Forsyth Neighborhood Center, Hitching Post Drive in the Forsyth Plan, Fort Riley. For more information, contact Sylvia Hurlburt-Rickert and Stephanie Layug at hhchellraisersfrgleader@gmail.com HHC 2HBCT Silver Lions FRG will hold a Potluck social for its members on 19 FEB 2011 from Noon to 3:00 PM at the ACS Annex. Bring a dish to share with your fellow Silver Lions and relax! For more information, contact Jennifer Hester and DJ Purvis at hhcsilverlionsfrg@gmail.com. B CO 2/1 BSTB Phoenix FRG will have their monthly social outing on 19 FEB 2011 from Noon to 3:00 PM at the ACS Annex. For more information on this months event, contact Kimberly and Denise at bco2nd1stfrg@yahoo.com

Free Childcare is available upon request and pre-registration by 1 FEB To Register, call ACS at 239-9435 or email rile.dmwracs@ conus.army.mil

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In order to ensure that we are able to get critical information to you in the fastest time possible, please let us know where you will be going and for how long. Past experiences have proven that when the unit does not know you have left to travel, relaying important information suffers terrible time delays and is much more difficult. You can e-mail your FRG leader or Miss Julie at griffinbn2ndbstb@gmail.com with your dates of travel, address of location, and a good phone number to reach you. You can also call the Rear Detachment with this information. All privacy will be protected and will be used only in For Official Use Only (FOUO) situations:

CPT Guillermo Guandique, 2/1 BSTB Rear Detachment Commander: (785) 230-9280 (24 hours) SFC Makieda Odejobi, 2/1 BSTB Rear Detachment First Sergeant: (785) 307-0850 (24 hours) Mrs. Julie Petruccelli-Treen, 2/1 BSTB FRSA: (785) 240-3011 (Monday-Friday 0830-1730); (785) 307-0658 (24 hours)

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Join 5-4 CAV and Walk to Iraq and Back

5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, one of our fellow battalions in the Dagger Brigade, has invited the Family members of the Griffin Battalion on a quest to walk to Iraq and back! Family members and friends are coming together and walking 13,820 miles, the distance from Fort Riley, KS to Baghdad, Iraq, and back again. This exercise program is meant to meet several purposes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Enhancing physical fitness through leisure time activities and a change in lifestyle Build camaraderie Enhancing community readiness with physical activity Providing an enjoyable and challenging activity in a non-competitive atmosphere Providing an activity to reduce stress during the deployment

Who is eligible? All Family members and friends, rear-detachment personnel, and parents and siblings of single Soldiers Where can you do this activity? Anywhere! You dont have to be on Fort Riley to participate; you simply just have to send in your miles. How? Whenever you exercise, keep track of the miles you walk or run. Your can also keep track of the time you are working out and convert it into miles. Recording of miles will be done individually on the honor system. Miles for each participant will be collected by Miss Julie and she will report them to the 5-4 CAV program coordinator. What constitutes one mile? 1 run/walk mile 4 biked miles 15-20 minutes of low intensity aerobics/weight training/swimming 10-15 minutes of high intensity aerobics/weight training/swimming 2000 steps on a pedometer actively walking 5000 steps on a pedometer doing normal daily activities 1 miles recorded on any workout machine other than a bike 1 hour of active play outside for kids Enrollment is strictly for fun and any eligible person can enroll or stop participating at anytime! Who to contact? Enroll by joining the group page on Facebook, 5-4 CAV Walk 2 Iraq and Back. The program coordinator is 1LT Josh Jones, Rear Detachment Commander for 5-4 CAV. If you have questions about the program, please e-mail 5.4walk2iraq@gmail.com. Recorded miles will be accepted now through the first main body flight back from Iraq upon redeployment.

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Be Vigilant! Be Sure to Check Mail

Excepted from A Self-Help Guide to Antiterrorism

Is your mail always as safe as it could be? The answer is not always. In this day and age, terrorists are always trying different avenues of attack on innocent civilians and the mail system is no exception. You as a Soldier or Family member has the ability to protect yourself and your family by taking some precautions before handling any mail that arrives in your mailbox. Suspicious characteristics to look for include: Unusual or unknown place of origin No return address Excessive amount of postage Abnormal or unusual size or shape Protruding strings, aluminum foil, or wires Misspelled words Differing return address and postmark Handwritten labels, foreign handwriting, or poorly typed addresses Unusual or balanced weight, either heaviness or lightness Springiness in the tip, bottom, or sides Inflexibility Crease marks, discoloration, or oily stains Incorrect titles or title with no name Excessive security material, such as masking tape, string, etc. Ticking, beeping, or other sounds Marked with special instruction such as Personal, Rush, Do Not Delay, or Confidential Evidence of contamination, such as a powdery substance that is out of place in the package or not normally received from the sender Even with all of these indicators, the terrorist may be much more sophisticated and may not leave any indicators that are detectable. The lack of the above indicators does not guaran-

tee a package is safe. Use your best judgment. In the meantime, these actions will be useful in protecting yourself and others:

If you have questions or comments concerning the content of this newsletter, please contact Julie Petruccelli-Treen, Family Readiness Support Assistant at (785) 240-3011 or GriffinBN2ndBSTB @gmail.com

Do not handle suspicious packages unnecessarily. Never cut tape, strings, or other wrappings on a suspect package or immerse a suspected letter or package in water. Such action could cause an explosive device to detonate. If the object has already been moved, place the letter or package in a plastic bag or some other container to prevent leakage of contents. If you are not certain whether a package or letter has been moved, avoid touching or moving it. If handling mail suspected of containing chemical or biological contaminants, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Make a list of personnel who were in the room or area when the suspicious envelope or package was recognized Report any suspicious mail or packages to Law Enforcement officials immediately. Isolate the item if possible.

If you have questions or would like more information on how to protect yourself and your Family from terrorist activity, the following websites are very useful and provide lots of excellent information to arm yourself with: US Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov and http://www.ready.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) http://www.fema.gov The American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.bt.cdc.gov and http://emergency.cdc.gov

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Add a Little Flair to Your Soldiers Next Care Package

Sometimes it can be difficult to find ways to make your Soldiers care package exciting. However, here are a few tips we received from Fort Drum, NY, of some really creative and inventive ways to show your Soldier you care. As you read through, some items may seem frivolous, such as teddy bears and toys, but if they ever encounter non-combatant Iraqi civilians or children, those things would be great to give to them to show that American are not bad people and that they are there to help them, Surviving the Sandstorms Eye wash, nasal spray, Chapstick, bandana, etc Laundry Load Laundry soap (sample sized or Tide Tablets) to pack in with their clothes. In case there are no washers or dryers, fabric softener sheets, clean socks and undershirts Lotta JavaTea, cocoa, coffee singles, creamer, sugar, International coffee tins, cookies for dunking in coffee Thanks a Million!! Things that may seem expensive such as Grey Poupon, small amount of cash, wrap items in green tissue paper, or an electronic game of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Hang In There Stuffed animal monkey, banana bread, banana chips, banana pudding, monkeys in a barrel game, card with a monkey on it A Day at the Beach Sunscreen, beach towel, beach snacks, flip flop sandals (shower shoes), Aloe Vera Gel Medicine Cabinet Aspirin, band-aids, Neosporin cream, A&D Ointment, cold medicine, Alka Seltzer, Rolaids, etc Staying Healthy Nutrition/health bars, i.e. Powerbar, Tigers Milk, Myoplex; vitamins, Nutrigrain bars, Gatorade or other sports drink MRE/Mess Hall Survival Kit Restaurant size condiment packs of BBQ sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, relish, salt, pepper, taco sauce, ranch, cheese in a can, dip, etc Correspondence Carton Notebook paper, stationary, pens, pencils, stickers (who knows they may even play with these!), envelopes, address book (filled out already of course), camera with a note to send back once it is full Action Heroes Powerbars, squirt guns, Red Bull Drinks, small Army figurines, comic books, etc To Be A Kid Again Silly String (They will have a ball with this!), bubbles, small bouncy balls, hacky sacks, brain teaser toys, deck of cards, dominoes, etc Bathroom in a Box TOILET PAPER!! (the soft stuff), razor refills, foot powder, bars of soap, washcloths, travel size shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc Tube O Tasties Just as something different, send a package in a tube instead of a square box. Make sure the parameters are acceptable. Stress Reliever Back scratcher, bubble wrap, yo-yos, bubbles, squeezy tension ball Sloppy Kisses since we know chocolate melts over there, send a bunch of Hersheys Kisses in a sealed bag. Bound to be sloppy kisses! Im Nuts About You! Peanuts, Cashews, Pistachios, Peanut butter cookies, any candy or cookies with nuts in them Rocks On Pop Rocks candy, Music CDs And This Little Piggy Went to the Sandboxfoot care kit Foot powder, Dr. Schools boot inserts, foot lotion, foot file, fresh socks, toe nail clippers Chili Today, Hot Tamale Hot Tamales (candy), small cans of chili, red pepper flakes, salsa sunflower seeds, Cajun flavor Pringles, Spicy Chex mix, Boston Red Hots, peppered beef jerky, Taco Bell hot sauce packets, Extreme Doritos, chili powder, Nacho cheese in a can How Do You East Your OREOs?? Regular Oreos, Peanut butter Oreos, Double Stuff Oreos, low fat Oreos, Chocolate filled Oreos, Chocolate covered Oreos

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Irwin Army Community Hospital News

IACH to Offer VTCs for Childbirths
by SFC JoAnna Granado, IACH Unit Public Affairs

Beginning 1 FEB, Irwin Army Community Hospitals labor and delivery department will begin providing virtual teleconferences during birthing to connect a deployed father or a distant grandparent to the delivery suite. With video conferencing, every participant has the ability to see the childs birth and is immediately introduced to the newest member of the Family. The system that will be used is a secured portal through defense (connection) online. Any Soldier at a remote location with Internet access and a webcam can participate, said SFC David Meditz, IACH Womens health Center NCOIC. Participants can communicate by voice, instant messaging chat and see each other by video conference. IACHs labor and delivery department current has one laptop with a video camera ready to serve the 10 to 15 percent population of expecting Families whose fathers are deployed. This service also is for Families who want to share the birth with a Family member who is miles away. It is a very good thing for the community and will have a positive outcome, said CPT Christina Steimle, IACH Women's Health Center head nurse.

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Post Has Super Bowl Viewing Options

Story by: Parker Rome, 1st Inf. Div. Post

It's the biggest game of the year, and people at Fort Riley will have options on where to watch it. Both the Warrior Zone and the USO Fort Riley Center are planning special events for the Super Bowl Feb. 6. The Warrior Zone will start festivities early with a tailgate party on the outside patio beginning at noon. The game will be shown on all of the televisions, and free pizza will be available at halftime. A raffle will follow the game with a surround sound system set to be the grand prize. "Everybody loves football," said Shawn McClane, Warrior Zone manager. "Everybody should be able to see the game, and it should be a lot of fun." The USO Fort Riley Center is planning a Family -friendly event for the game. "We know we have a lot of troops and Families that probably like watching the Super Bowl together," said Director April Blackmon. The USO Center will serve "football-type" snacks during the game, she added. "It's an opportunity to get out of the house and watch it in a positive Family-friendly, alcoholfree environment with others," Blackmon said. "It's more fun to watch football with other people than by yourself." For more information, call the Warrior Zone at 785-240-2782, or the USO at 785-240-5328.

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Battalion Headquarters BLDG 7630 Shanks Street Fort Riley, Kansas 66442 Staff Duty NCO (24/7): (785) 239-9648 LTC Shilisa D. Geter Battalion Commander CSM Verne J. Washington, Sr. Battalion Command Sergeant Major

The Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade (Heavy Brigade Combat Team), 1st Infantry Division is an integral part of 2AAB, providing specialized combat mission operational support to the maneuver battalions within the Brigade to include the Brigade Command Group, Military Intelligence, Communication Operations, and Combat Engineer support. 2/1 BSTB is commanded by LTC Shilisa D. Geter. CSM Verne J. Washington, Sr. is the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Battalion. The Battalion FRG Advisor is Mrs. Tracy Attar, and the Family Readiness Support Assistant is Mrs. Julie Petruccelli-Treen This is the informational newsletter of the Special Troops Battalion, 2AAB 1 ID Family Readiness Group (FRG) that contains both official FRG information and non-official information. The inclusion of non-official information in this FRG newsletter has not increased the cost to the United States Government, in accordance with DoD 425.8-M.

Griffins! Point of the Dagger!

Enlisted Spouses to Hold Mardi Gras Event

The Enlisted Spouses Club is hosting a Mardi Gras Wine and Cheese on Feb 16th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the OCSC/ESC Hut Building 259 on Historic Main Post, Fort Riley. They will have a homemade mask contest, prizes, Cajun food & wine and cheese. They will also be taking up a non-perishable food item collection for the Open Door Shelter. Please bring any food items you would like to donate to the meeting. Free childcare is available. Children must be registered with the ASYMCA in Junction City. RSVP's for the childcare are due no later than Feb 7th to escpresident@hotmail.com or via the website at http://fortrileyesc.web.officelive.com. If you are not a member and would like to join or would like more information on the program, please email the ESC president at escpresident@hotmail.com.