The document summarizes volunteer efforts by soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard's Task Force Longrifles to help with the Beira Antelope Preserve project in southern Djibouti, which aims to protect the vulnerable Beira antelope population. It discusses how the soldiers helped paint boundary markers and increase local community involvement. It also provides an update on promotions and awards within the Task Force and reflections from the chaplain on maintaining the earth.

1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY
A publication of the 2/138th FAR December 14, 2012
Volume 1, Issue 9
CPT’s Corner Antelopes, Soldiers and
As everyone else has expressed, I wish
everyone a happy holidays. We all look Paint, Oh My!
Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. Steve Tressler, 2/138th PAO
forward toward Christmas and presents.
Our office is starting to look a lot like
Christmas with reefs, trees, and window
décor but without the cold and snow. The
giving spirit has arrived with presents being wrapped for
our Soldiers within the company’s Secret Santa program for
Christmas day.
Keeping with the holiday spirit, many of our soldiers have
been donating their time and spreading goodwill.
Sgt. Michael Bryant has led most of our efforts by volunteering
the most hours. He has completed the CPR instructor course
and used it to qualify 7 other Soldiers in our company months
prior to our required training time. He has also been to the
Cheetah Wildlife Refuge several times prior to the rest of the
company, and has started to discover the english discussion
DJIBOUTI - Sgt. Greg Newman, a Lexington Ky. native, helps paint boundary markers for
group. Sgt. Scruggs and Spc. Compton have done just about the Beira Antelope Preserve project in southern Djibouti on Dec. 12, 2012.
everything else as far as volunteer work to include the wound
clinic. Both Soldiers were commended for their efforts in the DJIBOUTI – The US Army Joint Civil Affairs Team
cleanup of St. Barbara’s Dining Out. Before the detail arrived, 4482 teamed up with 30 Soldier-volunteers from the
they jumped in and assisted tearing down decorations and Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Longrifles
putting stuff away. Because of these daily acts, our company recently to assist the Djiboutians with the Beira
continues to represent the pride associated with Task Force Antelope Preserve project in southern Djibouti.
Longrifles.
The Beira Antelopes inhabit the mountainous areas
~Capt. William Riley
of Djibouti, Somalia (Somaliland) and Ethiopia in the
Horn of Africa, where it lives in small family groups.
1SG Thoughts Major Sean Malis, a native of Santa Barbara, Ca. and a team
With the EPS (enlisted promotion selection) leader for civil affairs team 4482, said the Beira Antelope
boards just around the corner, I would Preserve project was a huge step for the people in this area.
like to encourage all of our Soldier’s to be
proactive and ask questions now instead “It was something that Djiboutians decided
of after the board. The famous question I on their own. They recognized they had a
receive from Soldier’s is “Why was –insert resource and wanted to protect it” said Malis.
name- was promoted and I wasn’t?” For E-4’s and E-5’s, The going hasn’t been easy. The Djiboutians in
my response is always the same. Your leadership rates you this area approach Malis’ team with projects they
for your performance (up to 400 points) and the remaining want done all the time. Rarely will the locals put
600 points are up to you. The APFT, marksmanship score,
in their own efforts to make a project go forward.
correspondence courses, college courses and awards are what
separate those who land at the top of the lists from those who The biggest challenge to the civil affairs team has been
don’t. Take charge of your own military career today. getting the local people in the area more involved. “They
In closing, I would like to thank all of the different FRG’s see Americans doing the work on a project and they say, ‘oh
across the Battalion. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed well the Americans are doing it and then don’t get involved.’
and we thank you for all you do. From all of the Soldier’s of We’ll help but, we want them to take ownership of this
the 2/138th, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, we’ll see thing” Malis continued. “So we’ll do a little bit and then
you soon! ~1SG Marty Cottrell CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >

2. WEELCHAIR REVIVAL CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > > Promotions & Awards
back-off and say ’OK, now it’s your turn.’ If they don’t do • Pfc. Luke James advanced to Spc.
their part we’ll stop our efforts until they meet us halfway.” • Spc. David Norman promoted to Sgt.
Increasingly, the Beira antelope, according to Malis, are in • Spc. Steven Plunkett promoted to Sgt.
competition with livestock, like camels and goats, for food
and water resources. The Beira Antelope is now listed as • Spc. Travis Berthold promoted to Sgt.
vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation • Pfc. David Jordan advanced to Spc.
of Nature, (IUCN.) Adding to their struggle for survival • Sgt. Alexander Luzama promoted to Staff Sgt.
are droughts and increased urbanization to the area.
• Pfc. William Richie advanced to Spc.
“That’s why this project is so very important,” says
Malis, “There may only be a few hundred in the world • Spc. Russell King promoted to Sgt.
left and they’re concentrated right here along the • 1st Lt. Oscar Ortiz awarded the AAM
mountainous borders of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.”
• Staff Sgt. Kenneth Winninger awarded the AAM
The Kentucky Soldier-volunteers loved the experience as well.
• Spc. Christopher Johnson awarded the AAM
“I really wanted to see more of the antelopes, but this trip has
been great. Meeting some of the local people and seeing this • Staff Sgt. Bobby King awarded the AAM
part of Africa has been an incredible experience” said Spc.
• Capt. Michael Roberts awarded the AAM
Angel Martinez, a ‘C’ Battery Soldier from Bardstown Ky.
“Having all these volunteers from Kentucky has been a
breath of fresh-air for us. We need their enthusiasm and
Chaplain
energy to help us keep going. They were fantastic!” said Malis.
Reflections
No doubt the Djiboutians were grateful for the help as well. A farmer’s distant cousin came to visit
after many years and commented, “The
Lord sure has blessed you with a beautiful
farm.” The farmer replied, “You should
have seen it when the Lord had it all by Himself.” This
illustrates a core truth about life. When left alone things
tend to rust, break down, fall apart, and become overrun
with weeds, thorns, and trash. God has called us to be co-
laborers in maintaining the earth – partners!
My dad taught me to leave a place better than I found it.
As a young boy, I did not understand the powerful value
that he was imparting. It just seemed like hard work to
me. This value, you might say, has historically been an
DJIBOUTI - Here Soldier-volunteers from the Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force American value, passed on to us through our deep religious
Longrifles climb and mark the mountainous areas of Djibouti in support of the Beira
Antelope Preserve project on Dec. 12, 2012. roots. Deep within us is a desire to make the world a better
place, even if it is hard work. As a result our nation is
Soldier to Soldier characterized by a spirit of charity and volunteerism used
by God to bless the world over.
• Any Soldier interested in participating in a shout-
out should stop by the Public Affairs office located I saw that value at work this week in our Task Force as we
picked up trash along a neglected roadside just outside
in building 150, Monday through Friday from 1300-
our gate. We picked up trash because that is who we are.
1600. POC is Capt. Van Horn, ext. 4807.
Many of us have caught a glimpse of what our life could be
• We are trying to reach 2,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook by like without God’s investment in us. God in similar ways
Christmas, make sure to invite your families and comes into our life and clears out the weeds, the briars, and
friends to ‘Like’ our page the trash. As a result, with thankful hearts, we join God as
• Soldiers who have pictures of training should send partners in the mission of making the world a better place.
them to their battery UPAHR for submission to PAO ~Chaplain Mark Slaughter
Longrifles Weekly
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