1. Bad Boy
Beacon
MARCH 1, 2012
V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3 F CO 3-82, TASK FORCE CORSAIR, FOB SHANK
Buckeye Pride Down Range O-H-I-O
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
College 1
Football Pics
Ok ok!!! Maybe we took
TOWER 2 advantage of someone else’s
News good nature. We used and
GCA News 3 abused a couple of BIG 12
fans in order to get this photo.
From The
Pictured is the international
4
Top Ohio State Buckeye sign, not
a YMCA sign! Thanks to all
New Soldiers 4
who participated regardless of
your team.
Soldier 5
Spotlight
SGT Jeremy Hendershot
Contacts/ 6
Pictures
Commander’s Corner
Hello Bad Boys families and friends: knowing that we are taking very good care of
The Bad Boys Forward are doing well. Eastern them.
Afghanistan has been pretty In FRG news, Denise Coffee has
snowy and cold for awhile as relinquished command as the FRG
Snow-pocalypse rolled by in Feb- Leader to Lori Darner. You may go to
ruary, but the weatherman has her for any Family Readiness issues
promised that it will start to warm and recommendations for fun family
up next month. Who knows? activities. Additionally, my husband,
Maybe the snow will melt, and we Ben Blane, has taken over the posi-
can start getting back to some tion as Treasurer. He is, however,
occasional games of GCA vs. Tower taking a company command in 2nd
volleyball. Brigade in May, so if there’s anyone
In the last month, traffic has who would like to volunteer for the
been slow due to weather, but job, please do. If you’d like to volun-
everyone has been keeping busy teer for ANYTHING, big or small, just
with regular operations, random contact Lori or me, and we’ll find
details, maintenance, and daily something for you to help out with.
games of ping pong. The verdict is And if you didn’t know, we are about
still out for the best ping pong half way there! Time is starting to fly
player in the company, but every- as we have already started prepar-
one seems to think that they are. ing the way for the unit replacing us.
We’ve also had the opportunity to So continue to stay strong as we
welcome a couple of new Soldiers push through the second half of the
that you will get to know later in deployment.
this issue. To the new Bad Boys
families out there, take comfort in BB6

2. Tower News
PAGE 2
This month Tower Platoon ties, which gives her a break cility becoming CTO certified
received two new trainees, from her normal company op- and it’s required that our con-
one of which is also new to erations duties. trollers take a more advanced
Fox Company. These two new test to become certified to be
soldiers are SPC Hamilton L. Fortunately, all our rated able to control traffic from our
and PFC Shelley. SPC Hamil- controllers passed their Con- tower here at FOB Shank.
ton L. is now splitting her trol Tower Operator (CTO)
time between operations and exam. This was due to our fa- Our platoon has also been
studying for her CTO exam to preparing 10th Mountain’s equip-
Shank Tower
become a rated controller. ment, which they left for us to
PFC Shelley, who is fresh out use when we initially got here, to
of AIT, has hit the ground be moved to reset where it can be
running trying to study for his revamped and sent back as a
CTO and become part of his working unit.
new shift. Both new trainees
are excited to be in the train- SPC Palmer, Robert
ing program and SPC Hamil-
ton L. is enjoying the change
of scenery and controller du-
Above & Beyond
Blankets for Babies is a little handmade blanket
project that SPC Hamilton, made solely to bring com-
Laura and I started back in fort for those in need.
early January. We hand I’m really excited to have
crochet baby blankets to SPC Hamilton’s help and
donate to babies in the NICU see how many blankets we
or to the parents of babies can make during this de-
who don’t make it. These ployment.
blankets are made to bring
comfort to sick babies or to
parents who lose their chil- PFC McClure, Jen
dren. We are teaming up
with a group called The
Moms Club out of Washing-
ton, where we make
the blankets, mail
them to this club, and
they donate them for
us since we’re de-
ployed.
Crochet is a lot like
knitting, except instead
of two needles, you
only use one and the
stitches are different.
The end result is the
same though-a nice
BAD BOY BEACON

3. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 PAGE 3
GCA News
Another month has passed here at invigorating and challenging at times. GCA in which drinks and snacks were
Shank GCA and still a lot is going on. With the inclement weather this past served to accompany the great game
We are now halfway through the de- month, we have found ourselves put- that ensued. With all this happening,
ployment and many of us have our ting our skills to the test. The snow has we have definitely put our best foot
eyes set on the end of it! We all con- come in small amounts and it has come forward and continue to drive on with
tinue to engage in training and sharp- in large amounts! And with the snow the mission. We look forward to seeing
ening our skills. Recently there was a have come ice and many hazards you all and continue to have you in our
new Air Traffic Control publication throughout the FOB. Many of us have thoughts.
that was revised and published which become semi-pro ice skaters and some
we use daily. Refreshing ourselves of us have become professional ice SPC William Scott Thompson
with the new information has been tumblers! Though it can be funny at
times, thankfully nobody has been
injured. During the month we have
had many accomplishments within
the facility. Specialist Andrews and
Sergeant Aker were promoted to the
ranks of Sergeant and Staff Ser-
geant. SGT Andrews attended and
won NCO of the month for our com-
pany, further showing the great lead-
ership that comes from the GCA!
We have also had time to throw in
some fun as well. Many of the sol-
diers and NCOs attended a Super
Bowl party that was hosted at the
C&E News
Ello’ all, from C&E! With eve- back to us. Soon another of us Even with all the long hours put in while
rything that has been going will be leaving us for a few working we have managed to grow
on lately, time seems to have weeks; we all hope he has closer with our fellow Bad Boys as a
slipped by. It’s already near- whole, bringing us closer as a company.
enough fun for all of us while
ing the half way mark in our
time here, and even though he’s back home with his loved
the past months have flown ones, and has a smooth trip
by, it seems like an eternity home.
till we reach the end.
This last month has kept us SPC Garrett, Joshua
moving over here. Due to the
recent snowfall and recent
system issues, we’ve had a
chance to both refresh and
learn the ins and outs of
some of our equipment.
Over all it has been a good
Some of us aren’t used to the month for us, I’d also like to
cold, but snowy weather gives us welcome back SSG Pierce
a chance to become accustomed
from his R&R and say we’re
to it every day. all glad he made it safely

4. PAGE 4
From The Top
Bad Boy family, the Battalion NCO of the Month decisions on continuing Army ser-
Board. He blew away the competition vice and career progression through
I swear I just wrote an article for the and it was amazing witnessing him professional development.
newsletter a couple days ago, but gladly blaze through all of the other First
I'm doing another only because it means Sergeant's questions. Our NCOs and We are currently going through
one more month has passed. As usual a Soldiers recently had the opportunity some leadership changes. SSG
lot is going on. We as a company have to sit down with our Task Force Com- Nance has left us to go home due to
been sharpening our soldier skills by mand Sergeant Major, SGM Lowrey an upcoming surgery. Don't worry,
rehearsing our Battle Drills to include to discuss upcoming changes to the he left on good terms and health.
first aid and other life saving steps. The Army. The information put out was SSG Nance (AKA Wildebeest) has
NCOs are extremely thorough when informative and helpful both with been a blessing to the operations of
instructing the junior Soldiers and this company not only as a sea-
the junior Soldiers are extremely soned NCO, but also an out-
receptive to all instructions given. standing advocate for all Soldiers.
He will be greatly missed. SSG
Our Soldiers are doing a great job Plemon Aker will be filling the
from controlling traffic, fixing equip- big shoes replacing SSG Nance.
ment, airfield management and daily SSG Aker has what it takes. If
tasks on the FOB. We have figured you look up the definition
out what happens after it snows here. "Backbone" in the dictionary, you
What happens is mud. What hap- will see a picture of SSG Aker. I
pens after mud is more mud. After believe he will increase the capa-
PT Soldiers have mud splattered all bilities of the GCA section as the
over their uniform and it is tracked in facility chief and continue men-
every tent and building we walk in. toring our nation's greatest asset
Needless to say, it is messy and I've into outstanding leader like him-
given up on telling Soldiers to clean self.
because of the obvious. We take this
as a one for one trade since now it is 1SG Ross Coffee
starting to warm up and the showers
are getting warmer.
SGT Andrews our youngest most
energetic NCO competed and won
Strengthening the Corps of NCOs
SSG Aker, Plemon SGT Andrews
SSG Aker & SGT Andrews promotion
SSG Aker made points to E6 SGT Andrews made points ceremony.
through his hard-work and to E5 this month. He
can-do attitude. has worked far above
SSG Aker was assigned to the pay grade of E4 for
Cp. Humphreys, Republic of several months now.
Korea then Ft. Rucker, Ala- SGT Andrews has been
bama prior to F Co 3/82. stationed at F Co 3/82
His ratings include: AT- since he completed
NAVICS, Fixed Base GCA, training. This is his sec-
ATCT, CTO, and an addi- ond tour in Afghanistan.
tional GCA. The degree he His ratings include GCA
is pursuing at Embry-Riddle and ATNAVICS. He
is a Bachelor’s of Science in also won the NCO of
Professional Aeronautics. the month right after
getting his stripes!!!
BAD BOY BEACON

5. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 PAGE 5
Soldier Spotlight
SPC Laura Hamilton is the Spot completion and college courses. I have
Light Soldier for the month of Feb- witnessed SPC Hamilton on many occa-
ruary. She is from River Side, CA sions working early mornings or late
and is married to SPC David Ham- nights either in the MWR facility or at her
ilton and they both have a beautiful desk earning points in preparation for her
1 year old daughter named Lilly. upcoming promotion board appearance in
SPC Hamilton currently holds March. SPC Hamilton doesn't stop there,
down the fort working in our Com- also on her off time she spends many
pany Operations and also due to her hours crocheting blankets for a charity
ability to multi-task she was re- group where people donate like items for
cently assigned to work part time in those in need.
the tower to earn her first CTO.
The Operations job is a frustrating I commend SPC Hamilton for her sacri-
job nearly always because within fices and accomplishments both at home
the company SPC Hamilton ulti- and here in Afghanistan. There are many
mately works for the Commander duel military parents out there serving, but
and First Sergeant making coordi- commonly when it comes to deployment
nation between Battalion Staff both are not deployed at the same time. It
sections, creating spreadsheets/ is also common when this happens for one
trackers for numerous reasons, coordi- full of Pine Oil. She claims to love the smell of the parents to get out of the Army to be with
nating company boards, ensuring your and it results in a headache for me. Honestly I the child. SPC Hamilton made a hard decision
Soldiers get out on leave on time, pick- feel this is a tactic she has mastered to get me to continue her service leaving her baby girl
ing up mail, tracking documents sent to out of the office so I don't ask her to complete Lilly home in the states. In my opinion this
higher, and ensuring Troopers training is more tasks. takes great strength, heart and commitment.
being tracked properly. At times I feel SPC Hamilton and I have talked about her
she is a mind reader because 9/10 before SPC Hamilton is a Soldier not unlike all decisions while on this deployment and she
I ask for something she is already walk- others but a Soldier within a small category I'd has told me she believes that Lilly will one day
ing in my office to hand it to me or it is consider a few other. She is very through greatly appreciate the extremely hard decision
already waiting for me on my desk. In when performing her duties. She accom- her mother made to prove we all need to fulfill
my opinion the only thing I'd wish SPC plishes missions to the fullest and hates failure, our commitments.
Hamilton would change is she cleans but learns from her mistakes. She is hungry
way too much. Every time she mops the for the next level in the ranks and pushes her-
floor she claims she is only using a cap self both with Army Correspondence hours 1SG Ross Coffee
New Bad Boys!!! Soldiers on Leave
PV2 Culwell, John of Riverside, CA, joins the Bad Boy family as a member February:
of the GCA Platoon. He is working towards attaining a PT score of 270 or SPC Bradford
higher.
SGT Strittman
PFC Shelley, Zak of Lititz, SPC Orso
PA joins the Bad Boy fam- SPC Hamilton, L.
ily as a member of the SPC Hamilton, D. March:
Tower Platoon. He has the SGT Andrews
same goal as Culwell, SGT Hendershot
which is to get a PT Test
score of 270 or higher. SPC Smith
SPC Thompson
SPC Chance

6. Foxtrot Company 3-82 ATS FRG Leader:
Task Force Corsair Lori Darner
FOB Shank IdleNoMore@Yahoo.com
(910) 890-0895
APO, AE 09364
We’ll have more info on the t-shirts
next month. Right now, we’re ensuring
CPT Janice Blane:
janice.tapay.blane@afghan.swa.army.mil
the shirt is what we requested.
1SG Ross Coffee: F CO. MISSION STATEMENT
ross.coffee@afghan.swa.army.mil
F/3-82nd Combat Aviation
Brigade (CAB) on order will,
Find Us On Facebook! provide tactical air traffic
services in support of United
www.facebook.com/#!/groups/fco382frg/
States joint forces and its allies.
Bad Boys at FOB Shank