Opet Art, original color cartoon and illustrative black and white pen work.: December 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Fort Irwin AT 2005

Here is the 354th MPAD at Fort Irwin, CA, NTC (National Training Center) for annual training in 2005. NTC was tradionally desert tank warfare training with Soviet scenarios. Now, it is the Middle East with towns and villages populated with Iraqi nationals living here. SGT Venturini (2nd, bottom right) will be coming home soon from his second deployment (1st in Iraq, 2nd in Afghanistan). SGT Jennings (bottom right) received a direct commission to 2nd LT in the Nevada National Guard. CPT Carlisel (commander, middle right) has earned his PHD and is a professor at California University of Pennsylvannia. 1SGT Lapic (upper left) earned his cred as a military historian, and served with the 316th Expeditionary Support Command in Iraq. SGT Brucker (upper right) served in Iraq with the 356th BOD in 2007. Me (driving van), SSG Emery (riding in van), and SSG Sauret (getting choked), served together with the 10th Mountain Division, Iraq, 2008-2009.

Army War College 1996

Once again, the fightin' 354th MPAD is called into the fray to train up the future generals of the U.S. Army in how to deal with the media! We put out 3 different video news broadcasts and 3 newsletters a day per each class at the War College that reflected what each was dealing with. We did ambush interviews and helped these future generals on how to present the Army message and deal with hostile and friendly media. Since we were role-playing civilian media, we guys got to grow our facial hair, and didn't shave or appear in uniform until the last two days of the 3-week exercise. Our commander, Major Terri O'Brian (lower, 2nd from right...that's me, 1st lower right) is now Brigadier General O'Brian!

Panama 1998

Just check it out...we did a great job and had a great time!

We'll Always Have Panama!

Ask Scott and Jackbo about that quote! LoL, the 354th MPAD performed AT in Panama 4 times while I was with them (also; Belize, Guatamala, Honduras). Another great team of egocentric public affairs Soldiers! Public Affairs does attract the strange, eclectic, creative types!!!! That's me in the tree...not lower left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Japan 04, Operation North Wind

Another older toon found on a thumbdrive. AT in Sapporo, Japan in 04. A great team, who performed exceptionally!

354th MPAD at Fort Polk 2007

My team at Annual Training with the 101st at Fort Polk, LA. We were all sleeping in coed field barracks, hence the underwear reference. SGT Amber Emery did a great job as print NCO. SGT Michel Sauret got tactical with the 101st and got valuable experience which helped him become an excellent NCO in Iraq, 2008. SSG Desiree Wright, just out of DINFOS (Defense Information School), also got a good start on tactical broadcasting which contributed to the exceptional job she did as a broadcast NCO for the Screaming Eagles in Iraq. 1st LT Julie Glaubach was an excellent Team Leader during this exercise, and also turned this knowledge into real life leadership while serving in Iraq.

COL Staub

I found some toons on an old thumb drive. This is COL Staub. He was the top civilian for the 99th at Coraopolis and now at Fort Dix.

Field Laundry

Turns out that Army cots stood on end are good supports for drying clothes you washed in your ACH (Army Combat Helmet).

Field Shower Fort Polk

At least they had shower trailers at the FOB while we were in the box at Polk. Trouble was running out of water and the floor drains clogging up with all of the mud resulting in 3 to 4 inches of muddy water on the floor. Lesson#1, buy the shower shoes with the thicker soles!