The document summarizes activities of the Kentucky National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment (Task Force Longrifles) deployed to the Horn of Africa. It discusses how soldiers from the unit provided medical training to soldiers from the Union of the Comoros islands, located off the coast of Eastern Africa. The training focused on first aid, casualty evacuation, CPR, and field hygiene to help the Comoran military better respond to natural disasters like flooding. The Kentucky soldiers were thanked for helping improve the medical response capabilities of the Comoran soldiers.

1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY
A publication of the 2/138th FAR March 15th, 2013
Volume 1, Issue 21
Commander’s Corner Kentucky Soldiers Make Big
It has been a while! Task Force Longrifles
Soldiers continue to do great things across Impact On Small Islands
Story by Capt. Daniel Van Horn, 2-138th PAO, Photo credit: Airmen 1st Class Nicholas
the Horn Of Africa. Besides our enduring Byers, 1st Combat Camera Air Squadron
missions in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya,
we have Soldiers down range doing great
things in Burundi. We are planning
missions in Mauritius, Comoros, Rwanda, and Uganda as
well. Families should be proud of the hard work that their
Soldiers are doing here. The battalion’s leadership gets
compliments daily from all over on the new standard that is
being set by Longrifles troops.
Let’s talk about home! We see the light at the end of the
tunnel and from what I see it’s not the train. For those of
us who do not have full-time employment when we return, I
ask you to remedy that now! Prepare a resume, pay attention
to opportunities from the Kentucky network, talk to people
back home and register at WWW.VETCAREERFAIR.COM. MORONI, Comoros - The last place Soldiers from the
Check out what they have to offer. Stay tuned on this, more Kentucky National Guard ever thought they would be is
to follow! on the Comoros Islands (officially called the Union of the
In the meantime stay focused, stay safe, and finish strong! Comoros) off the coast of Eastern Africa. After all, they were
deploying to Djibouti, 1,600 miles north of the Comoros.
~ Lt. Col. Rob Larkin
But that is exactly where Capt. Matthew Doughman, 1st
CSM Thoughts Lt. Justin Gilliam, and Spc. Ryan Stull would end up. The
mission was a 1-week military-to-military exchange to
Greetings from the Task Force Longrifles provide 28 Comoran soldiers “best practices” in first aid.
Command Sgt. Major! The Comoros is roughly twice the size of Louisville, Ky.,
I hope all of you are feeling well and and is made up of three islands of over 700,000 people. It
acomplishing some of the goals you have is strategically located in the mouth of the Mozambique
made for yourself while you are here. Channel in the western Indian Ocean roughly 200 miles east
If you are currently in Warrior Leadership Course (WLC) of Mozambique and 200 miles northwest of Madagascar.
I congratulate you and hope you are learning as much as In April 2012, the Comoros was inundated by heavy rains,
possible about the additional responsibilities that come with causing the worst flooding in decades. These downpours
wearing non-commisioned officer rank. This class is one of caused landslides, collapsed bridges, contaminated fresh
the most important in your career and is even more special water supplies and isolated many communities from
because it is being taught in Africa! evacuation. With approximately 46,000 people displaced,
We are fortunate that this class was able to come together France and India, along with the Red Crescent and Red
during this time of sequestration. My hope is that this will Cross and funding from the U.S.’s USAID, began sending
reinforce your dedication to learning as much as possible disaster-relief teams and supplies to the affected regions of
from your instructors and classes. Had we not been deployed the country.
it would have taken nearly two years to get the same number
To better prepare Comoros to handle future disasters,
of Soldiers through WLC.
the country submitted a request to the U.S. Embassy in
For those of you who were not able to get into WLC here, stay Madagascar, which also serves as home for the U.S. Chargé
motivated, we will do our best to get you enrolled after our d’Affaires to the Comoros, for a U.S. military-to-military
return home. Thanks for continuing to uphold our Longrifle team. The team would provide medical training on first aid,
Standard and represent the best that Kentucky has to offer! casualty evacuation procedures, CPR, and field hygiene to
~ Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Gividen the Comoran military, who are often the first responders to
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2. Kentucky Soldiers - CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > >
Soldier to Soldier
a disaster. After receiving the request at the embassy, it was • April 1st is the deadline for Soldiers planning on
sent to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-
HOA) offices in Djibouti, where the Kentucky National using their State Tuition Assistance for the fall term.
Guard’s Task Force Longrifles was selected for the mission. To submit application, go to https://ky.ngb.army.mil/
Doughman, a native of Crestview, Fla., served as mission tuitionstudent/frmLogin.aspx
commander and said he was thrilled to get an opportunity • The deadline to file taxes is April 15. If you need
to visit the Comoros and work with the Comoran military. to file for an extension, the website to do so is
“You can probably count on your hand the number of times CombatZone@irs.gov . You will need to state
National Guard Soldiers of any state have gotten to train in that you are a Soldier deployed to Djibouti and
this beautiful country,” said Doughman. “You could tell the qualify for combat zone tax exclusion, and you are
Comoran Soldiers had a huge sense of accomplishment and
requesting an extension for filing and paying your
took the training very seriously as well,” he added.
2012 federal income tax.
Gilliam, from Lexington, Ky., a medical services officer for
Task Force Longrifles was also selected to provide support • WO2 Jody Lyddane will provide information on
for the mission. His responsibilities included teaching how to become a Warrant Officer in building 150,
preventative medicine, CPR, and casualty-evacuation on 06 APR from 1000-1100hrs.
techniques.
“Many of these Soldiers have never received formal CPR Chaplain Reflections
training and I think the floods of 2012 have really provided Romans 12:11 “Don’t burn out; keep
them an experience that emphasizes why it is so important,” yourselves fueled and aflame”
said Gilliam.
If constant stress has you feeling
1st Lt. Yasser Said, the Comoran Liaison Officer who helped disillusioned, helpless, and completely
coordinate the mission, is excited about future partnerships worn out, you may be suffering
as well. from burnout. The unhappiness and
“It’s a good thing to have the U.S. Soldiers here and we hope detachment burnout causes can threaten
to have more of these kinds of partnerships in the future,” your job, your relationships, and your health. However,
said Said at the completion of the training. burnout is treatable. You can regain your balance by
All of the Task Force Longrifles Soldiers agreed the best part reassessing priorities, making time for yourself, and seeking
of the exchange was seeing how proud the Comoran soldiers social support.
were to have first aid skills so that they can better serve their
Burnout recovery strategy #1: Slow down
fellow soldiers and civilians in times of crisis.
Adjusting your attitude or looking after your health isn’t
“The Comoran Soldiers were incredibly thankful to receive
this training and I hope we made as big an impact on them going to solve the problem. You need to force yourself
as they have on us,” said Doughman. to slow down or take a break, and cut back on whatever
commitments you can. Give yourself time to rest, reflect,
and heal.
Burnout recovery strategy #2: Get support
Our natural tendency is to protect what little energy we
have left by isolating ourselves. Turn to your loved ones for
support. Simply sharing your feelings with another person
can relieve some of the burden.
Burnout recovery strategy #3: Re-evaluate your goals and
priorities
Burnout is an undeniable sign that something important
in your life is not working. Take time to think about your
hopes, goals, and dreams. Are you neglecting something
that is truly important to you?
2nd Lt. Justin Gilliam demonstrates with a Comoran Soldier the buddy assist carry method Finally, if you are struggling with burnout see a Chaplain or
during a casualty evacuation class on January 23rd, 2013. Photo credit: Airmen 1st Class
Nicholas Byers, 1st Combat Camera Air Squadron your Health Care Provider.
Longrifles Weekly
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