On April 14th, 1948, then president Henry S. Truman ordered the United States Air Force Reserve's formation to provide combat-ready forces to Fly, Fight and Win. Today, the AFR completes 73 years. Currently, the Air Force Reserve Command headquarters is Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Its current commander is Lieutenant General Richard W. Scobee, son of one of the Challenger Space Shuttle crews.

The Air Force Reserves Command also supports the newly established Space Force, which lacks a reserve component, through the 310th Space Wing.

Aim right, fly, fight and win!

The Alpha Company Award Ceremony is a special occasion occurring monthly to recognize the achievements of 3rd Infantry Division Realism Gaming Unit Soldiers.

This past Sunday, Major John LaFlash presided over the April Ceremony at Fort Irwin National Training Center.

Ceremony Notes

Alpha Company will deploy with 2IBCT, 3rdID to Agadèz, Niger today!

All Soldiers should familiarize themselves with Operation Silver Guardian by watching the intro video and reading about the Operation on the website.

Soldiers, keep an eye out for upcoming WARNORDs/OPORDs in the Alpha Company Dispatch forum.

Once we arrive in Agadèz, Soldiers are to remain on the tarmac until given further orders. Company leadership will provide a tour of the base and its facilities.

Later this month, we will finish migrating to a new server for our events and operations. More details to come.

Major LaFlash would like to thank everyone who completed a Command Staff Evaluation. Your feedback is important!

This month, Major LaFlash recognized…

The following Soldiers were promoted to:

E-4A Corporal

Corporal Nico Agricola

E-4B Specialist

Specialist Alexander Vandle

E-3 Private First Class

Private First Class Zoren Bernardino

Private First Class Garrett Earlywine

Private First Class Simon Johnson

The following Soldiers were awarded:

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, MOVSM

Humanitarian Service Medal, HSM

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock

Sergeant Emil Poltorak

Corporal Arthur Pendergast

Specialist Paul Liwa

Specialist Ryan LeFaivre

Armed Forces Service Medal, AFSM

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock

Staff Sergeant Kalin Grigorov

Staff Sergeant Giancarlo Tucci

Sergeant David Sklenar

Sergeant Anthony Sam

Sergeant Emil Poltorak

Corporal Arthur Pendergast

Specialist Tomas Unger

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, AFEM

Staff Sergeant Eric Abel

Specialist Kit Ohnira

Specialist Yarden Nissan

National Defense Service Medal, NDSM

Specialist Kyle Holmes

Private First Class Garrett Earlywine

Good Conduct Medal, GCM

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert

Warrant Officer 1 Rob Paxton
Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Staff Sergeant Kalin Grigorov
Staff Sergeant Eric Abel
Staff Sergeant Giancarlo Tucci
Sergeant Anthony Sam
Sergeant Kyle Skitz
Sergeant Emil Poltorak

Warrant Officer Candidate Steve Klein
Corporal Jeremy Nichols
Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Corporal Johnny Ayers
Specialist Giancarlo Orsini
Specialist Tomas Unger
Specialist David Marsh
Specialist Ryan Leng
Specialist Caue Moalli
Specialist Paul Liwa
Specialist Hazel McMahon

Private First Class Andrew Reed
Private First Class Joe Harris
Private First Class Kailob Kimball

Army Achievement Medal, AAM

Warrant Officer 1 Rob Paxton

Corporal Nico Agricola

Specialist Vinny Garcia

Specialist Hazel McMahon

Joint Service Achievement Medal, JSAM

Staff Sergeant Eric Abel

Army Commendation Medal, ACM

Officer Candidate Alex Cruze

First Sergeant Jannes Drake

Joint Service Commendation Medal, JSCM

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock

Specialist Paul Liwa

Meritorious Service Medal, MSM

Soldier’s Medal, SM

Basic Parachutist Badge

Officer Candidate Alex Cruze

Sergeant Emil Poltorak

Corporal James Kiheri

Specialist Caue Moalli

Specialist Alexander Vandle

Specialist Ryan LeFaivre

French Fourragère

Corporal James Kiheri

In closing, Major LaFlash told Alpha Company to stay tuned for the 3rd Infantry Division’s upcoming quarterly podcasts. The first episode will have an interview with Soldier of the Quarter Corporal Pendergast.

Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing to deploy to the Agadèz region, Niger, Africa as reinforcement and tasking to secure the Agadèz Airbase. Alpha Company “War Eagles” preparation consisted of four weeks of intensive pre-deployment training at Fort Irwin National Training Centre to acclimate themselves with similar terrains features they will encounter in Africa. In order to stem terrorist attacks in the Mopti region of African, the 3rd Infantry Division will set up operations at the US Army's Agadèz Drone base. The unit's leaders plan to establish a strong presence in the area, working with regional governments and local residents to maintain security and aid prosperity.

After the withdrawal of French troops from the region, terrorists launched an armed attack on a United States Drone Base in Agadèz, killing 15 American personnel. Drone reports also state that 2 American personnel have been taken hostage and moved to neighboring Mali, where United States President Joe Biden already negotiated an operations area in the zone French troops deployed to previously. After the initial mission in Agadèz, 3rd Infantry Division will redeploy to Mali, where most combat is expected to take place.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III dispatched more resources to US-AFRICOM and tasked them with engaging in direct combat against local Islamists and rebel groups Al-Qaïda, ISIS, and Boko Haram. The 3rd Infantry Division is attached to AFRICOM as QRF (Quick Reaction Force).

Publisher: Specialist Caue Moalli, Journalist

Congratulations to the soldiers of Combat Lifesaver Course class 21-03 (ARMA3) for the successful completion of Combat Lifesaver training! The Combat Lifesaver Course is the official medical training course conducted by the US Army, intended to provide an intermediate step between the buddy aid-style basic life support taught to every soldier. The combat lifesaver is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at the point of wounding on the battlefield, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.

Graduates:

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Private Second Class Zoren Bernardino
Private Second Class Garett Keeler

Aviation:

 Warrant Officer Candidate Ben Inka
 Warrant Officer Candidate Quinten Stain

Instructors:

Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Specialist Paul Liwa

Congratulations to the soldiers of OSUT class 21-12 (ARMA3) for successful completion of training! These soldiers have been awarded the Army Service Ribbon and have earned the right to be fully active members of their squad and the unit! This is merely the first step in your career here at 3rdID, we look forward to your continued success! Hooah

Graduates:

Private Second Class Garett Keeler 
Private Second Class Kristians Nils 
Private Second Class Kurt Craven 

The situation in central Africa has been tense for the last 20 years, War chiefs and rebels have been fighting over territories, contesting the local forces and authorities. Worse, a lot of those War Chiefs and rebels became terrorist Islamist groups, pledging allegiance to Al-Qaïda or ISIS. France tried to help Sahel’s countries, but with a high number of losses and a conflict everlasting, they quickly lowered the numbers of deployed personnel there, leaving a vast area out of control.

The US has a history of having troops deployed in Africa, but mostly on the “Horn of Africa”, in Somalia and in Djibouti. Nevertheless, the United States helped France during operation Barkhane, offering no less than 800 US military personnel to work toward building a drone base in Agadez, and also deployed Green Berets to train local armies.

With the withdrawal of French troops, the local terrorist group got a boost in confidence, launching an armed assault on the not-yet finished drone base of Agadez, killing 15 US personnel in the attack. Drone Reports also state that at least 2 US personnel have been taken hostage and have been sent to central Mali.

US President Joe Biden, freshly introduced into his mandate, stated that this attack is an attack against the United States, and toward a free world. Needless to say that the 46th president needs to affirm his position with this attack, and cannot stay passive. He ordered the deployment of a force in central Africa, and negotiated an area of operation in central Mali, where the now withdrawn french forces were previously deployed.

The Secretary of Defense dispatched more resources to the U.S. AFRICOM, and tasked it to enter direct combat with local Islamist and rebel groups, including Al-Qaïda, ISIS and Boko Haram. General Stephen J. Townsend said that “the life of the two hostages is of utmost importance and saving them is a top priority”. He also stated that terrorist groups in the area will be hunted in order to free the population of the actions of local terrorist groups.

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division "Spartans" will be deployed in the Mopti region, where the two hostages were last sighted. The Report also states the presence of multiple leaders of different Islamist groups. With the weakening foreign military presence in the region, Al-Qaïda and ISIS made a truce.

The Mopti region is known to be one of the last strong bastions of African terrorist groups. With its dense jungle and empty flat desert area, the duality of the terrain makes it a difficult terrain to navigate and fight on. Many small villages are dispersed all around the area, making it a perfect place to hide assets. It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.   

Every April 5th, we celebrate the Gold Star Spouses Day to honor the surviving loved ones of all military members that made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States while on duty. A US Senate resolution established the annual event in 2010. The first iteration of the GSS Day was celebrated on December 18th of that same year. In 2012, the current date of April 5th was officialized.

Initially, the date was called Gold Star Wives Day, but after 2012 the Senate changed it to Gold Star Spouses Day to be more inclusive, although both names are interchangeably used. The group's initial meetings started shortly before World War II ended, and had the participation of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, one of Gold Star Spouses early organizers and founding members. Currently, Nancy Menagh, widow of Captain Philip S. Menagh from the USMC who was killed in a training accident, is the non-profit organization president and is on her second term.

In honor and memory of all fallen heroes of the US Armed Forces,  Hooah!

Lt. Col. Erin Frazier, commander of the 5-306th Brigade Support Battalion, 188th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East, and native of Norfolk, Va., at her change of command ceremony, March 2020, on Fort Stewart.

Women are an integral part of the military, and Women’s History Month recognizes their contributions.

“Women’s History Month means recognizing those women before us whose shoulders we now stand on,” said Lt. Col. Erin Frazier, commander of the 5-306th Brigade Support Battalion, 188th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East. “The groundbreaking women who’ve made service possible for all of us, needs to be recognized and remembered today, tomorrow, and always.”

 “I was raised by a strong woman and I want to do my part to live up to that legacy and continue to provide honest, strong, caring leadership for the Soldiers that I’m privileged to lead, past, present, and future,” said Frazier.

Frazier, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, joined the Army after graduating college, said she earned an Army ROTC scholarship to help pay for school.

“I was daughter number three to go to college, so by the time it was my turn to go to school, there just wasn’t any money left. I had to find a way to stay in school and earning the ROTC scholarship my sophomore year was the solution to my financial woes.”

Frazier, who is the third child of four, said her parents supported her decision to join the military.

“They were proud of me and relieved that there was a way to finish my degree and serve my country,” she said.

Frazier is an ordnance officer and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in communications, and a master’s degree in public administration. She loves serving her country and continues to serve despite obstacles she has faced during her time in service.

“The biggest obstacle I have faced serving as a female in today’s Army, is the balance of being tough and not being labeled a certain way for holding up the standard,” she said. “Often times as women we are labeled either a “pushover” or the “b” word, there is very little in between.”

Staying true to self is how she overcame those obstacles.

“I let my actions and personality stand on their own,” said Frazier. “Eventually, subordinates, superiors, and peers knew and understood that my toughness was to either make them or the organization better and it was never personal.”

Frazier, who is fast approaching her 20 year time in service anniversary, said her first duty assignment was the most influential in her career.

“My first company command team was all male and they showed me what it meant to be tough and fair,” said Frazier. “Six short months later my entire chain of command was female and they taught me what it meant to be tough, empathetic, kind, and resilient.

“[Retired] Command Sgt. Maj. Vickie Hopson, [retired] Lt. Col. Karen Saravia, and [retired] Chief Warrant Officer 4 Marsha Kelly-Evans, are still impactful women in my life. I count myself blessed to have been molded by such amazing women as a young lieutenant.””

Frazier, who is currently the only female battalion commander serving alongside her male counterparts in the Ready Brigade had this to say about her role in the unit.

“It feels empowering and awesome to stand shoulder to shoulder with my male counterparts and know that I deserve to be here just as much as they do. Being a battalion commander has been my dream since I left company command all those years ago,” she said. “Having it realized has been so amazing. I hope that I can be a good example for those inside my battalion and across the brigade as a strong female leader who cares about the individuals, the organization, and the mission of this unit.”

Though most Service Members choose to retire at the 20 year mark, Frazier, who has been assigned to 11 duty locations, including Fort Stewart, has no plans of doing that anytime soon. She said she will serve until she is no longer having fun.

“So far, being in command has absolutely been the highlight of my career and I’m loving it every day,” said Frazier.