The document summarizes the change in leadership of C Co, 2-82 AHB from CPT Dan Mendez to CPT Nerea M. Cal in January 2013. It introduces the new leadership and their backgrounds. It also discusses how the company recently proved its air assault prowess during a two week joint operational access exercise supporting 2BCT and Canadian forces, conducting various missions including an air assault inserting over 150 troops. Finally, it highlights Specialist Michael Watley as Viper of the month for his performance graduating at the top of his warrior leader course class.

1. Viper Newsletter
C Co, 2-82 AHB, 82d CAB, 82d Airborne Division
A New Chapter for
the Vipers
March 2013
Volume 1, Issue 1 CPT Nerea M. Cal
This Month’s Events On January 31st, the leadership of C
Co, 2-82 changed from CPT Dan
21 Mar Mendez to me, CPT Nerea M. Cal.
1800, Carolina Ale Hous Not long before, 1SG Jon Ramsey
BN Hail & Farwell took responsibility from 1SG Peralta.
Greet our new members and bid We have had the pleasure of meeting
several members of the Viper family, Vipers Change of Command Ceremony
farewell to those moving on
($20/person, E-7 & above).. but want to take this opportunity to
introduce ourselves to you as well as technician before working with
23 Mar thank you personally for the sacrifice UAVs. “Top,” as I like to call him, is
1300-1600, 2-82 HQ, Longstreet and support you offer the Soldiers of a seasoned Paratrooper and
BN Easter Party C Co. We are a successful Company Jumpmaster and can recall the “good
Join us for an afternoon of Easter fun because we have a solid foundation ole days” when the CAB used to jump
and consistent support from our out of perfectly good airplanes. He
filled with an Easter egg hunt, a
family and friends. Not enough can brings a wealth of knowledge,
bounce house, races, and a visit from experience, and motivation to the
be said in gratitude of your service.
the Easter Bunny! As an Army brat, I have a special Viper command.
appreciation of the military family. As I said in my comments during
1 April the change of command ceremony, I
Global Response Force
My father served for twenty years as
an Infantry Officer before he retired am incredibly humbled to stand in
C CO assumes the GRF mission, and made the transition to civilian life front of such an accomplished and
posturing for contingency aviation professional group of Soldiers. In
in Miami, Florida. My sister and I
support. little over a month, they have
followed in his footsteps by attending
the United States Military Academy, exhibited their superior technical and
TBD April tactical proficiency during Aerial
Company BBQ from which I graduated in 2006.
Ironically, my three younger brothers Gunnery, a two week Joint
With the weather warming up, we are Operational Access Exercise, and
wanted nothing to do with the
working on the time, date, and ongoing preparations for assumption
military! Since flight school, I have
location for a family friendly Company of the Global Response Force
BBQ . Stay tuned for more been stationed in Savannah, deployed
to Iraq and Afghanistan, and spent a mission, all the while accomplishing
information! the myriad of daily administrative
year in Korea as an Aviation Liaison
Officer. I’m excited to be back in the tasks required in garrison. We lead the
States closer to family and back in the Battalion in maintenance and continue
cockpit. to fly and progress our new Pilots and
1SG Ramsey has been in the Army Crewchiefs.
almost as long as I have been alive! Top and I are honored to be a part
Originally from the Asheville area, he of the Viper family and look forward
enlisted in 1989 and has led a to meeting the rest of the Viper
distinguished career as a Cobra Family.
armament technician, Kiowa avionics
VIPERS!
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2. March 2013
Vipers Rule the
Skies During JOAX
C Co proves its Air Assault prowess
in support of Canadians and 2BCT
In the last cold weeks of late February,
a strange sight emerged at the southern
end of Simmons Army Airfield. A city of CW2 Sylvester, SPC Pratt, SSG Burns, and SFC McClung enjoy a beautiful day
tents and camouflage netting, setting up tents for JOAX.
accompanied by the humming of The purpose of JOAX was to train and The Vipers executed a variety of missions
generators, sprung up out of the mud as conduct missions in support of 2BCT in during the exercise. Most notably, they
TF Saber operated in support of 2BCT’s preparation for assumption of the Global conducted OPN Maple, a seven ship Air
Joint Operational Access Exercise Response Force mission. We also had the Assault with two CH-47F Chinook
(JOAX). In this austere field environment, pleasure of working with our neighbors to helicopters and five UH-60M
the Pilots and Crewchiefs of C Co proved the north, the 3rd Royal Canadian Blackhawks. Despite several
once again that they are the best Air Regiment, who also participated in the contingencies and changes to the plan, the
Assault Company in the Brigade. training exercise. Vipers successfully inserted over 150
Canadian troops and enabled the
evacuation of over forty simulated civilian
non-combatants.
Vipers in Action:
Left: Viper aircraft staging for an Air Assault during JOAX.
Bottom Left: SPC Watley and SGT Schlorff after WLC
graduation
Right: SPC Watley sporting his new outfit.
Viper of the Month
SPC Michael Watley earned the
honor of “Viper of the Month” due
to his superior performance at the
Warrior Leader Course, where he
distinguished himself by graduating
on the Commandant’s list. A native
of Andalusia, Alabama and one of
eleven children, SPC Watley aspires
to be a monster truck driver, as
evidenced by his parking lot driving
maneuvers. He likes to express his
unique personality through his
wardrobe and I’m pretty sure he’s a
University of Alabama fan.
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